All In The Family

So, sleep was pretty much non-existent. I spent a good portion of the night with my back turned to Carrie, eyes closed, pretending to sleep--I don't think I've ever been more happy in my life to see the sun rise. Somewhere between seeing the first rays of light sneak through my blinds, I had managed to doze off for a while, and as I slowly began to awake, my entire body stiffened.

She's touching me...she's actually touching me. Her body is pressed intimately against my back, hand resting lightly on my thigh. Can I die now? I kept my eyes squeezed shut tightly as my teeth sank into my bottom lip, suppressing a moan that lurked inside of my throat. This definitely wasn't a bad way to be woken up. I swear I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt her lips lower to my ear, breath within a whisper, "How was I in bed?"

And I soon snapped back into reality, "Dammit, Ashley!" I shouted, shoving my best friend back with my shoulder as I rolled onto my back. I pried my eyes open and found her hovering above me with a smug look plastered all over her stupid little face, "That's not funny, I wish I never told you about the Ashli thing. And you just put really gross images in my head by the way," she laughed, and I swear I wanted to deck her ass, she probably guessed that much from the glare I was shooting her way.

She pouted at me, which meant she was about to use her irritating "baby voice," "Aw, Kell," she began, tossing one of her legs over my hip and straddling me, "Oh my god, Ash, get the hell off of me!" I shouted, completely horrified as I began to squirm beneath her. This so wasn't the way I envisioned my morning staring out.

"Obviously you don't remember much about it, so maybe I should remind you," she said playfully, trying to hold back her laughter, her face turning slightly red. And then, before I could even fully comprehend it, Ashley was leaning in towards me, "Okay, Ash, seriously, stop!" I shouted loudly, and finally, gripping her by the hips I changed our positions in a matter of seconds.

All her crazy butt did was smile up at me, "Oh, kinky Kelly, I like," and then, at that very moment, before I could say anything to her in response, my bathroom door opened and both me and Ashley's heads snapped in the direction, only to find a very confused looking Carrie standing in the doorway.

Oh, this probably looked really bad, "This is not what it looks like, I swear," I said quickly, pushing up off of Ashley and my bed. Why did I feel the need to justify my actions to her?

Carrie simply smiled at me and said, "I think I'm going to head down stairs now," and just like that, she left my room.

Ashley flew to her feet the second Carrie was out of the room, "Shit, Kell I'm sorry I didn't know you brought a girl home-"

I cut in quickly, "I didn't. That's Jason's girlfriend, not mine," Ashley's mouth formed into an "oh" expression, "Jason is dating her?" she pointed towards the door in disbelief and I nodded my head, "Yeah," I replied dismissively, busying myself with making up my bed.

"Hmm, she's more your type, I just assumed she was here for you. Especially considering she obviously slept in your bed with you last night. And what the hell was that whole 'this isn't what it looks like' shit? What do you care what it looked like to her if she's Jason's girl?"

I turned to face my friend, who was standing, arms crossed and eyebrow raised, "I don't think I like what you're insinuating, Ashley. That is my brother's girlfriend, he is family. She is off limits," maybe saying that out loud would get it through my head and stop me from doing anything stupid.

Ashley rolled her eyes, "Oh please, you don't know the meaning of the words 'off limits.' We always want what we can't have, Kell, and you definitely want the blonde one."

After I had my bed situated back to normal I fluffed the pillows a bit before I turned to reply to Ashley, "I could never do that to my brother," I spat out, "Ooh, but you didn't deny wanting her!" Ashley exclaimed excitedly.

I walked towards my door and pulled it wide open, "Ash, out. I'm going to shower and meet you and the rest of my crazy ass family downstairs in a bit. Now get out," I repeated, kindly waving my arm in a "right this way" gesture.

Ashley crossed my room, stopped in the door way, and then turned to face me, "This chick is definitely getting under your skin, I can tell, and you have no idea how to handle that. Especially since she's with your brother." And with that she turned her back to me and disappeared down the hallway.

I pushed the door shut and began walking towards my bathroom, pulling my shirt over my head in the process, leaving me now completely naked. Hopefully Carrie didn't walk in again...she probably would get a concussion this time.

I stepped into the bathroom, pulling the door shut behind me, and immediately turned towards the shower. As I reached inside and began adjusting the temperature to my liking, something in the corner of the room caught my eye. Black lace peaked out from beneath the pajamas Carrie had slept in last night. Unlike me, the girl actually wore undergarments, and I was enjoying the mental image in my head of her body clothed with that lace. And of course those thoughts only turned into very inappropriate thoughts about my brother's girlfriend.

"Get it together Kelly," I whispered, snapping my head away from her clothes. I'll have to remind her later to get them up. I slid into the shower and quickly readjusted the temperature. A very cold shower was now in order.

"Get it together Kelly," I repeated.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After dressing, I made my way downstairs and towards the kitchen where the Clarkson craziness was already beginning. When I entered I took note that my sister Alyssa was here now with her kids Noah and Isabella -sans her husband- and my brother's daughter Hailey was there as well; along with her evil mother Tracey. Thank God I had to work today so I had an excuse to get away from my mom's plan of bombarding Carrie with our entire family this weekend.

"Good morning everyone," I greeted nicely, making my appearance known while I entered the kitchen. For a moment all eyes shifted in my direction and I was quickly greeted back with good mornings.

As everyone else turned their attention away from me, my mom was naturally the only person who didn't, "You look cute, honey. That's more of an appropriate outfit for you, especially around the children. I told you that you can look sexy without over doing it," I rolled my eyes, "I never 'over do it,' you're just very old fashioned sometimes. No one else ever has a problem with what I'm wearing," I retorted, making my way over to her where she stood busying herself in front of the counter preparing breakfast.

"I'm sure the ladies never do," Ashley called out from the kitchen table, "Right Carrie?" I think I just stopped breathing.

"Ash!" I screamed, picking up a spatula and tossing it across the kitchen. Ashley was quick and ducked so it missed her, "Kelly Brianne!" my mom shouted, "You will not toss utensils around my kitchen. Now go post your bottom in a chair and behave yourself." Quietly I did as I was told, and made my way over to the table, taking the only available seat that was left. Conveniently enough, it was beside Carrie.

I plopped down on the chair beside her and felt my chest tighten when she leaned in closely to me, "For the record," she began in a whisper, "You do look very nice, and I don't think you were over doing it the other day either," Slowly I shifted my body in my seat and glanced over at her, "Thanks," I beamed, "I have to work today so I kind of have to dress the 'part' I guess you could say. Every Saturday night is Cute in Corsets night," I explained, roaming my hands over my black, satin and mesh halter corset for emphasis.

Carrie's eyes lit up, "Really? That sounds fascinating, maybe I could stop by tonight. I'll ask Jason later if he wants to go." I forced a smile. Please don't.

"Sure," I swallowed and laced my fingers together in front of me on the table. Glancing across the table I found Ashley making kissy faces at me. With a smile on my face I thrust my foot forward and kicked her.

"Ow, son of a--!"

"Earmuffs kids," My sister quickly interjected, and I watched in amusement as my nephew Noah slapped his hands over his ears and my sister covered Izzy's for her, "Bitch!"

"What's wrong, Ashley?" my mom called out in concern, "Nothing, I just got a sharp pain in my leg...that's all," she said through gritted teeth, quickly returning the kick, "Bitch," I mouthed to her before turning towards my sister's kids.

"Come here my babies, Auntie didn't get to hug ya'll yet," Noah rushed towards me in a matter of seconds and threw his little arms around my waist, "Aw, hey sweetie, I missed you," it had been a while since I'd seen them. I was almost never home when they stopped by my moms.

Noah pulled away from my body slightly and I took the opportunity to kiss his cheek, "I missed you too Aunt Kelly," he laughed as I began to now attack his face with kisses, "Okay, okay, I'm not a baby anymore Auntie!" I chuckled and released him from my arms, watching him frantically wipe at his face, "Why don't you go and grab your sister for me bud," I suggested.

From the far end of the table my sister cut in, "Izzy can walk now, Kell," she told me, hoisting Izzy up from her lap and carefully lowering her little feet to the tile floor. The second Izzy's feet came into contact with the floor, she was practically running across the kitchen to get to me.

I caught her by the waist with a smile and lifted her up onto my lap. Both of her legs fell comfortably at my sides and she quickly threw her arms around my abdomen, "Hey honey. Look at you, you're getting so big. How old are you now?" I asked, watching as she unwrapped her arms from around my stomach so that she could look up at me, "Two," she replied proudly while holding up two of her tiny fingers, "How old are you now Auntie Kwelly," I burst out laughing, "I don't have enough fingers kiddo," Izzy laughed and began reaching up, pulling on the halter straps of my corset, "Whoa, nice and easy baby girl. Are you trying to make me flash the entire room?" Izzy giggled and lowered her hands.

"You seem really good with them," my head turned in her direction at the sound of her voice, "Do you want children?" Carrie quizzed.

Before I had the chance to respond Ashley took the liberty of answering for me, "Yeah right,"

I shifted my eyes away from Carrie long enough to shoot daggers in Ashley's direction, "No one asked you for your commentary, Ash," I snapped, focusing my attention back on Carrie, "One day maybe I'll find that it'll be right for me, but for right now, no I don't see that happening. Besides," I began, slowly lowering Izzy back to her feet, "I may love my babies, but it feels so good to be able to send em back to their momma," I teased, patting Izzy on her bottom and laughing while watching her walk sluggishly back over to my sister. What could I say, the kid did love me.

"So Carrie," my mom sang out as she walked towards the kitchen table, two trays of food in hand, "How did you and Jason meet?"

Carrie's eyes unlocked from mine and she was quickly averting them in my mother's direction, "Um, well I...we uh..." she was stammering, it was kind of cute.

Since Carrie seemed to have trouble answering, Hailey who stood with her mom on the far end of the room decided she's take a stab at it, "Carrie is my teacher," I caught the hint of a smile on my nieces face as she spoke the words. It was a bit obvious that she liked Carrie. Right on Hail, I like her too.

I cut in, "Oh I bet Tracey loves that," I drew out sarcastically, catching the evil look my brother's ex wife shot in my direction. Why the hell was she even here still?

My mom set the trays down onto the middle of table, "Kell zip it, I asked Carrie a question. Now be quiet and eat," my mother ordered. I didn't always take all of her orders laying on my back. I was tired of this let's-treat-Kelly-like-a-five year old game.

Quickly I pushed up from the table, "You know what, just forget it mom. You have one less mouth to feed. I have to head to work anyways," normally I would have never even dreamt of talking to my mother like I did just now, but everyone seemed to be pushing my buttons this morning.

I exited the kitchen and stomped furiously towards the front door. As soon as I reached it my brother was walking into the house, grocery bags in hand, "Morning s-" I breezed right by him without a word and continued on silently to my car.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Days like these were the worst days to be in my profession. When I was upset, I tended to drink a lot and do even more stupid shit, and working in a bar obviously didn't help that.

I had been at work now for a couple hours, the sun had set, and along with the time that passed, I had lost count of how much I had had to drink. When women were constantly flirting with you and buying you drinks, it was easy to get caught up in it all. The bar was pretty full tonight, a usual when it came to Cute in Corsets night, but no way was I prepared, drunk or not, for what was in store for me.

I was crouched down organizing a couple of things beneath the bar, when a soft "Two shots of Chivas please," caught my attention overhead, over the loud blast of music. Before I straightened up I silently hoped it wasn't who my heart already convinced it was.

But as my eyes met hers while I stood up, leaning against the bar with my hands to hold me up for support, I knew now that it was her.

"Tiff," I said quietly, trying to mask the nerves I definitely had right now. She always seemed to pop back into my life at all the wrong times.

Slowly she smiled at it, "It's been a while. How have you been?" she asked. She was attempting small talk.

I began nodding my head like an idiot, "G-good, I've been good. How about you? I thought you moved down to LA," I responded, my eyebrows scrunching together, "I've been good too. I did move to LA...I'm back in town just visiting some family and friends and all that. I don't get a hug?" she pouted. Do not fall for any of this again, Kelly.

Hesitantly I made my way around the bar and stopped beside the stool Tiffany was sitting on. Slowly she turned on the stool until she was facing me and suddenly she was wrapping her arms around my neck. Instinctively my arms stretched out and locked around her waist. God she smelled so good...felt so good. Snap the hell out of it, Kelly. Don't do anything stupid.