Sticky Situation (G&S&J)

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth couldn't help but watch the drama unfold. "Um.. Well, Jeny, this is my uh... Rose. Rose lives next door. And Rose, my half-sister, Jenyfer." His Rose? HIS Rose? Seth scowled at the floor, as a stain was being particularly stubborn. His Rose. Whatever.

Rose spoke awkwardly, and Seth gave her a sympathetic look, neither a smile, nor a frown. "Nice to meet you." Still, Seth was annoyed. Why didn't she correct the 'His' Rose thing?

Guillermo didn't give anyone a chance to speak, chiding his sister harshly. "What the hell are you doing here, little Miss-Runaway? Your mom has been on my ass, trying to find out where you are!" Seth thought back, remembering the note he had left. Oh yeah, Seth had known about his sister. Still, he shouldn't have gotten hit. It wasn't like Seth was just going to assume a pretty Spanish girl was instantly going to be Guillermo's sister.

Jeny shot back instantly. "Yeah, I see you're dripping with concern... The both of you, apparently." Seth snorted, quietly, trying clumsily into a throat clearing noise. Apparently she could take care of herself. A nessacery quality around here.

Rose moved over to assist him, which melted his frustration with her, especially since he noted she was wearing his cloths. He quite liked that. "Sorry Seth, it's my fault. I- uh- found peanut butter in my jelly."

"Don't worry about it, Chicken. It's not big deal." He muttered back, pulling another paper towel off the roll. He couldn't stay mad at her, it was part of her thing. Her allure. Her Je ne sais pas.

Seth caught Jeny's quizzical eyes, not quite aware of Rose's little quirks. He shrugged, giving her a soft grin. She'd get use to it, if she stuck around. Not that Guillermo was going out of his way to make her feel welcome or anything. Which she pointed out. "Can you pretend to be even a little happy to see me? I don't know if your aware, but El Paso is a ways away. How about some warmth?" Seth saw her point. He could have at least hugged her, after all. Perhaps that wasn't reserved for 'half' sisters? Whatever, it wasn't Seth's business.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose was clearly uncomfortable and her voice was quiet as she addressed Jeny.
"Nice to meet you."
She then went over to join Seth, cleaning the floor. Guillermo didn't pay them much mind.
"Yeah, I see you're dripping with concern... The both of you, apparently."
His eyes narrowed at her as his face flushed pink. She was a little faster on the comebacks than he remembered. Seth snorted, quietly, trying clumsily into a throat clearing noise. Guillermo whipped his head around to glare at Seth before turning back to his irritating sister.
Jenyfer was studying Rose quietly, her eyebrows raised, eyes narrowed and her head tilted to the side slightly.
He sighed deeply and her attention snapped back to him.
"Can you pretend to be even a little happy to see me? I don't know if your aware, but El Paso is a ways away. How about some warmth?"
"Well excuse me for being a little bewildered. You haven't been seen since the-" He swallowed, unable to say 'funeral.'
"Since your mom last saw you and now you're just waltzing around NYC? Then you just show up at my home as if you planned it. As if you want to see me. As if I want to see you."
He was annoyed with her. And he needed an emotional outlet.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Yeah, I see you're dripping with concern... The both of you, apparently." Rose's eyes grew wide, as Seth snorted, turning it into a halfhearted cough. While Guillermo left it at a severe glower, Rose elbowed her childhood best friend square in the ribs. "Can you pretend to be even a little happy to see me? I don't know if your aware, but El Paso is a ways away. How about some warmth?"

Rose's comfort level did not improve with Guillermo's comeback. "Well excuse me for being a little bewildered. You haven't been seen since the-" He swallowed, and Rose wished she could hug him without being made to look like some scarlet temptress woman. He covered it up deftly though. "Since your mom last saw you and now you're just waltzing around NYC? Then you just show up at my home as if you planned it. As if you want to see me. As if I want to see you."

This seemed a little personal. Obviously, these two had some issues they needed to sort out. But, so did her family. And Guillermo had stood his ground against them. And James Mercer had been way more intimidating then Jeny. Still, what could she say? She really didn't know the situation. Perhaps a look? How can you tell someone something like that with only a look. That made no sense. What would she tell him if she could? Relax, she's your little sister, don't be so hard on her. She just lost her dad too....

That would be quite a look. She attempted, keeping her face soothing, inhaling slowly as if suggesting he did the same.

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

Jeny appreciated Seth's laughing at her joke. She had thought it was clever. Apparently Rose and Guillermo had no sense of humor. "Well excuse me for being a little bewildered. You haven't been seen since the- Since your mom last saw you and now you're just waltzing around NYC? Then you just show up at my home as if you planned it. As if you want to see me. As if I want to see you." Jeny's eyes turned to venomous slits, as she got off the couch, facing her brother head on.

Still the same bastard as before, apparently.

"Mi mal. No me di cuenta vecino tornillo era una prioridad más alta que ver a su hermana. ¿La encontré la razón para contestar el teléfono ese día?" Jeny glanced over at Rose, indicating her to be the said distraction. She stuck her index finger in her Brother's face, her mouth quivering in her anger. "Sigue siendo el mismo bastardo que veo. Bueno, para su información Guillermo, yo quería ver. Por lo tanto palo que en su bolsillo trasero." She smacked her forehead, as if she had just received an epiphany. "But what was I thinking? Right? My bad." She turned on heel, stopping and looking at the strangers int he room.

"It was very nice to meet you." She looked pointedly at Seth, not bothering to glance even briefly at Rose, before heading out the exit. Not that she had anywhere to go, which occurred to her when she was in the apartment hallway. No money, no place to go. Sighing, she sat on the stairs that she had climbed up for this failed experiment, and pouted sullenly too herself.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth had no grudge against the Spanish language, other than the fact that people were always trying to speak it around him. It made him feel paranoid. Like they were talking about him. Even though he couldn't understand it though, he was pretty sure Jeny was chewing Guillermo out. Rose watched with a concerned expression, trying to be a silent voice of reason. But Seth could see why Jeny would be pissed. Guillermo was being Las Uber Dick.

She turned to leave, stopping to look at him and Rose. "It was very nice to meet you."

Seth blinked, not sure what to say. "Uh, you-" She was already out the door, which slammed behind her. "-too." He cleared his throat, eyebrows raised. Damn, it might not all have been understandable, but it was intense as shit. Of course, once again, everyone seemed to understand something that he didn't. Presumably the Spanish bit. "Maybe.... you should go after her?" Seth said, carefully. It wasn't his business or anything, but he felt like it needed to be said. "I mean, you know where she is at this point. Would kinda suck for her to go missing again." Seth backed away, careful not to leave his head exposed.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Mi mal. No me di cuenta vecino tornillo era una prioridad más alta que ver a su hermana. ¿La encontré la razón para contestar el teléfono ese día? Sigue siendo el mismo bastardo que veo. Bueno, para su información Guillermo, yo quería ver. Por lo tanto palo que en su bolsillo trasero."
She shook her finger in his face, rage emanating from her.
He was glad she was angry at him.
He wasn't.
But that was life. He was only protecting her. The only solid rock in her life was him. And he would stay angry as ever, pushing her away so she would be strong enough to make it. Because she wasn't.
Jenyfer was horribly naive. She was so innocent it was nearly criminal. And he had to help her get through life by showing her the worst, so she could only see the best in everything else.
She smacked her forehead, as if she had just received an epiphany.
"But what was I thinking? Right? My bad."
She turned and headed for the door, pausing to speak to Seth.
"It was very nice to meet you."
"Uh, you too." Seth said, clearly confused as she left, slamming the door shut.
"Maybe.... you should go after her? I mean, you know where she is at this point. Would kinda suck for her to go missing again."
Guillermo sighed. He didn't want to. It was just another headache.
"Oh, and where's she supposed to go? I can't keep her here. She should go home. Her mom needs her."
It wasn't true. Her mom would get over it much sooner that she would.
He just didn't want to admit that Seth was right.
She needed him.
He gave an irritated groan and crossed the room, opening the door and disappearing behind it.
Jenyfer sat on the steps. Alone.
He sighed again, rubbing his eyes with his hand tiredly.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Mi mal. No me di cuenta vecino tornillo era una prioridad más alta que ver a su hermana. ¿La encontré la razón para contestar el teléfono ese día? Sigue siendo el mismo bastardo que veo. Bueno, para su información Guillermo, yo quería ver. Por lo tanto palo que en su bolsillo trasero." Rose wondered slightly, if Jeny was aware that Rose could understand her. She kept her face blank, keeping her focus on the stain. Had she been what had distracted Guillermo from receiving the news of his Father's passing. Guilt crawled in her gut, though their was no way that she could have known. "But what was I thinking? Right? My bad." Jeny couldn't really blame Rose, could she? But the round brown eyes grazed over her, falling to Seth, her voice tight. "It was very nice to meet you." It was obviously directed strictly to Seth.

Rose got nothing.

Because she deserved nothing.

Rose scrubbed the carpet viciously. This wasn't what she wanted!

"Maybe.... you should go after her? I mean, you know where she is at this point. Would kinda suck for her to go missing again." Seth's voice was nervous, knowing it was none of his business. Rose would have suggested the same.

Guillermo seemed frustrated, but oddly unmoved by what his sister had said. "Oh, and where's she supposed to go? I can't keep her here. She should go home. Her mom needs her." Rose left the room, moving to the kitchen.

She couldn't handle this. This wasn't her. She did not like to become involved in peoples personal matters. The hot water started in the sink, Rose heard the door close. Guillermo went after her. Good for him. She wiped up the counters and the floor, sloppily, and washed her hands. Rose kept her head down, as she exited the apartment and went to her own, wanting to be in her own cloths. There was nothing really to say.

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

Jeny heard her brother exit the apartment, though she didn't look up. Screw him. Butthole. Why did he have to be such a jerk! She could have gone anywhere! Austin, Venice Beach, Boston! But no, she came to New York, because she sincerely missed the stupid jerk retard face. And how does he greet her? In the way that she should have expected! This made it worse, because she should have known better! He sighed, like she was putting so much stress on him by existing, like she was such an inconvenience to his stupid day of screwing the neighbor.

Jeny looked up, as if asking him what he wanted, only for his skeeze to come out, looking distracted in her own right. Oh, how sad, Jeny was the ruiner of two days. Whatever! Her round eyes looked back at Guillermo, expectantly. "Don't worry about it. I should have expected this really." Jeny said, rising to her feet and heading down the stairs.

She didn't need him.

She didn't need her Mother.

She didn't need her Mother's pretend family.

Jeny was fine on her own!

She could live in the dorms at school, she could get a job! She wasn't a baby! Sure, maybe she had been hoping that they could perhaps pull together in this time for grieving. But this idea came before she remembered Guillermo had no feelings.

Jeny exited the apartment, heading for her bug, putting her sunglasses in her coat pocket as the sun was beginning to set.

She didn't need anyone.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Rose went to the kitchen, as Guillermo followed his sister out. This all seemed dramatic. Not overly dramatic or anything, just really busy. A whole lot of nonsense that he was not really suppose to be apart of. He followed Rose in the kitchen, as she cleaned in her Rose like way, noting everything that he would have to redo. She seemed upset.

What had Jeny said in Spanish, he wondered.

Rose pretended she was tough as nails, but Seth knew that deep down, she was soft as a plush toy. Her feelings, despite her denying their existence, were easily hurt. Finally, he grew brave enough to reach out to her, but she was too quick. She was ready to flee again.

Must have been bad.

Seth touched up the sloppy clean job, deciding he would have to redo all of the cleaning. Tomorrow. Too much was happening now for him to even think of cleaning.

He exited the apartment behind Rose, in time to see Jeny heading down the stairs. Why did these girls want to be around Guillermo so bad? He seemed to do nothing but anger them. Annoy them, in the lesser extent. Women were complicated. They seemed to like only what was bad for them, hard headed creatures of fancy, until they realized they were sick of being hurt and went for that good thing right in front of their noses.

Like Seth.

Taking a deep breath, he tapped on Rose's door cautiously, as he opened it. Dealing with an upset Rose was always risky business. Seth stepped in, seeing her pretty face. The face that he had fantasized about since... puberty. "Hey." He should just tell her. True, it was his mantra of sorts to say that telling Rose you loved her did no good. That she had to come to you. But, damn, this girl was stubborn. "You alright?" He knew her answer, before she even said it. Fine. She would say she was fine. Rose was always fine.

Stepping in further, he soothed himself slowly. Yes, today was the day, This was what he had been pumped for. He could do this! "Rose... I want to tell you something. But you have to promise not to get angry." Good, take it slow. Don't rush into it.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Jenyfer glanced up at him, an expression of scorn on her pretty round face. "Don't worry about it. I should have expected this really." Jeny said, rising to her feet and heading down the stairs.
He stood on the spot for a moment, then headed down the stairs after her.
She headed toward a yellow Volkswagon that he assumed she owned and he ran to step in front of her.
"Look, Jen.." Where did he even begin?
"I'm sorry."
That sounded more irritated. He softened his voice and tried again. Saying sorry was not easy for him, nor had he done it in a while to Jeny.
"I'm sorry, Jen. You know, you're my little sister, and you irritate the hell out of me. I don't want you around most of the time.."
Where was he going with this?
Oh, right.
"You're still family. And I shouldn't be so hard on you like that. I'm sure you wanted to get away from.. Well, from all of that."
He tried to hug her. Other than the hugs she gave him, he hadn't hugged her in a while. It felt foreign.
Guillermo pulled away, offering a sheepish smile.
"Why don't you come live with me and Seth, at least until you get your own place?"

[ROSE MERCER]

Rose was instantly relaxed, in her apartment, amongst her own things. She removed Seth's clothing, throwing on a pair of jeans. Seth had followed her, entering as she pulled her own white tee shirt down over her body. He looked concerned. "Hey." His voice was gentle, like he was afraid of breaking her.

"Hey." She dug a cigarette out of a pile on her couch. She should really clean her apartment.

Oh, Seth was definitely worried. he was doing that stupid egg dance he did, whenever he thought she was upset. "You alright?"

"Fine." She said, moving to the window.

He was unconvinced, but seemed to let it go. He seemed nervous about something. "Rose... I want to tell you something. But you have to promise not to get angry."

Rose watched as Guillermo and Jeny crossed the parking lot, letting a small cloud of smoke build around her. It looked like things were going well. "You can't promise something like that. I have no idea what you're going to say. You could say to me me what you're going to say to me, and my natural response could be to be angry. Then, through no fault of my own, I would have broken my promise." Her voice was soft, not all there with Seth.

Her mind was stuck on Guillermo. Anger, sadness, happiness. It was all of them. Why couldn't he have just answered his stupid phone? Now Jeny was going to hate her! Why did she care? Because being with Guillermo made her happy. Not WITH with him, but... well, yeah, with with him. But it was a selfish happiness. She was selfish. Guilt, frustration, loneliness.

She sighed, speaking to Seth. "But, you have to tell me now, because you've gotten my interest. It sounds interesting. So... spill."

[JENYFER SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Look, Jen... I'm sorry." She stopped, a little stunned, her keys dangling in her hands, her eyes growing even wider. Did... did he just say... sorry? When was the last time Guillermo ever apologized to her? True, he said it like a dick, but still... "I'm sorry, Jen. You know, you're my little sister, and you irritate the hell out of me. I don't want you around most of the time.." His voice grew softer, but his words... same old Guillermo. Jeny scoffed deeply, sticking the key into the lock.

Jeny turned to say good bye, but was startled by his next words. "You're still family. And I shouldn't be so hard on you like that. I'm sure you wanted to get away from.. Well, from all of that." She let him hug her, more stunned than anything else. What? Was he trying to pull something? Patting his back slowly, she let him pull away, her half dollar eyes slitting slightly.

"O-ohhhkay...?" A part of her was over joyed by the slight show of compassion. It was startling, really. Another part of her was suspicious. Her mind instantly went back to when he said he wanted to play Barbies with her when she was eight, and it turned out he just wanted blow them up with fire crackers...

"Why don't you come live with me and Seth, at least until you get your own place?" He looked sheepish. Guillermo never looked sheepish. What the hell was going on?

Jeny crossed her arms, wanting to say yes almost instantly. But she watched him closely, unable to shake the slight suspicion. "You.. want me to live with you. Really?" There was hope in her voice. Despite her being a good actress, she never really seemed able to apply it to real life. She looked around, as if trying to decide, her eyes falling on the fourth floor window. Guillermo's, uh, Rose was watching them closely.

Creep.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Fine. She was always fine. It was like talking to a child sometimes, really. Pulling teeth, dragging a mule, etc. Whatever euphemism you like. That's what it was like to deal with Rose. "You can't promise something like that. I have no idea what you're going to say. You could say to me me what you're going to say to me, and my natural response could be to be angry. Then, through no fault of my own, I would have broken my promise." Seth rolled his eyes, wishing she would just say yes. She didn't even have to mean it, but damn. It was easier than going on a whole schpeel. "But, you have to tell me now, because you've gotten my interest. It sounds interesting. So... spill."

Seth approached her, despite her obvious attention out the window. "Alright..." Seth wrapped his arms around Rose, inhaling the smell of smoke and generic shampoo. It made his nose wrinkle, as he had a far greater preference for her own shampoo. "Do you remember in third grade. When Bobby Crystal called you ugly." Seth had to pace his breathing, excitement filling him. "And you started to cry, and I told you not to worry. That I thought you were beautiful, and that someday when we got older you and I would get hitched." He gave a nervous laugh, holding her closer.

"I've been... I've been in love with you ever since that day, Rosie. And I know you don't like talking about love... but..." Seth couldn't hold it in anymore, pressing his lips down gently on her ear. It was like a wave of relief. He'd dreamed about doing that since... forever.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"O-ohhhkay...?" She patted his back awkwardly, obviously very confused with the turn of events.
When he asked her to stay, her brown eyes, nearly identical to his, lit instantly. He watched as she crossed her arms, and the slightest grin swept over his face.
Same old Jenyfer. Couldn't help but get excited.
"You.. want me to live with you. Really?"
Her voice was skeptically hopeful.
He nodded, grinning at her.
"Sure. As long as you call your mom as soon as you bring your stuff up. She's worried sick you kno-"
Jen stared up at the apartment building and Guillermo followed her gaze.
Rose stood in her window, staring out at them. Seth was wrapped around her, smiling blissfully and kissed her cheek lightly.
His insides dropped, giving Seth a kind of sad smile that said 'I should have known.'
In a slight daze, he turned back to his sister.
"You can just bring your things up. I'll.. be back. In a while..." He turned and walked from the parking lot. He walked until he was exhausted and filled to the brim with stomach churning anger, betrayal and sadness.
She cared about him. That was all. Because she loved Seth.

[ROSE MERCER]

Seth hugged Rose, and she had a sudden feeling she should have just told Seth 'not right now'. "Do you remember in third grade. When Bobby Crystal called you ugly. And you started to cry, and I told you not to worry. That I thought you were beautiful, and that someday when we got older you and I would get hitched." She nodded, slowly, wondering where he was going with this. "I've been... I've been in love with you ever since that day, Rosie. And I know you don't like talking about love... but..." As Seth kissed her gently, she saw Guillermo turn to see. Talk about bad timing. She stared back at him, like a deer in head lights, not sure what to do.

Guillermo turned away, taking off quickly. Great. Just great. Annoyed, Rose pushed Seth away, throwing her half smoked cigarette in a cup. "You fucking idiot!" She growled, rolling her eyes, though her voice never raised above a loud whisper. "Seth! Dammit, you're not in love with me. You can't fall in love in the third fucking grade."

What the hell? Was their something in the water or something? Why the hell were guys just coming out of the wood work with these stupid confessions. "Seth, I'm going out." She snapped, nostrils flaring as she grabbed her coat. "And when I get back, you better be fucking over this stupid thing." Stupid guys! All... stupid... and stupid.

Guillermo had seen. Guillermo had seen. And he was... mad? It made her gut hurt, like she wanted to throw up or something. Why though? Rose headed down the stairs, her mind racing. He obviously had the wrong idea. Not that she owed him any explan-

Wait.

Did he know about Seth's whatever-the-fuck that was?

Anger seared through her, as this dawned on her.

No. No fucking way.

Crossing the parking lot, she found Jeny, impatience deep in her voice. "Do you know where Guillermo went?"