May 13, 2000 – Junior’s House

Noelle and Hollie could hear the party going in the backyard as they walked around to the back yard. Noelle felt her heart beating a mile a minute as they got closer. She could see Junior standing at the grill, talking to Tony Stewart. She wanted to go up to him and tell him she was sorry.

“Ok…I’ll go introduce you. Remember you’re me.” Hollie nudged her sister. “Ok?” Noelle nodded. As they walked even closer, she wondered if he’d be able to tell the difference.

“Hey.” Hollie said to Junior. He turned around and his facial expression changed when he saw who it was. “I was still invited, wasn’t I?”

“I don’t know.” Junior crossed his arms over his chest and glared at her. “Being told to go to hell doesn’t really sit well with me, Noelle.”

“I’ve told you worse, haven’t I?” Hollie asked not knowing if Noelle really had or not. Junior said nothing and glared at her. “Hmmm….silence says a lot.” She glanced at Noelle who was trying not to look at either of them. “Junior, this is my sister Hollie. Hollie this is Junior.”

“You didn’t tell me you were a twin.” Junior shot at Hollie, anger still evident his voice. Hollie shrugged and took off her t-shirt, letting him see that she had on Noelle’s string bikini that she had worn in Hawaii. Junior gave her a once over and then glanced at Tony whose eyes looked like they were going to bug out of their head.

“Dude, that’s my girlfriend.” Junior said to him without thinking. “Sorry, was my girlfriend.”

“Admitting it now?” Noelle asked and then bit her lip.

“Excuse me?” Junior looked at her. “I don’t think you know anything about what has gone on between Noelle and I.”

“I know more than you think.” Noelle crossed her arms over her chest. “Believe me.” Junior shook his head and turned back to the grill.

“C’mon, let me take you two beautiful ladies over and get you both a beer.” Tony put his arms around their waists and led them over to the cooler where he retrieved two cold beers for them. Hollie excused herself to go to the restroom, leaving Tony alone with Noelle.

“What the fuck are you doing?” He asked her.

“Come again?” Noelle asked. Tony stepped closer to her. “Would you kindly move away? You’re invading my personal space.”

“I’m really going to invade your personal space if you don’t tell me what the fuck you’re doing to Junior.”

“I don’t think you know who I am.” She pushed him away from her.

“I’m not dumb, Noelle. Junior may be, but I’m not. And to think he’s the one who slept with you and I know the difference between you and your sister.” Tony glared at her. “So explain to me why I was over here listening to him rant and rave all night because you went off on him yesterday.”

“You are sadly mistaken.” Noelle looked for Hollie, but she was no where to be seen. Come to think of it, she didn’t see Junior either. “I’m not Noelle.” She was beginning to wonder why the old switcheroo trick worked easier in high school.

“Don’t give me your shit, Noelle. I told you I’m not fucking stupid. I want to know what the fuck your deal is. All night I listened to him whine because of your accusing him he was seeing someone else. The fucking person that told you that was talking about your stupid ass. But you’re too fucking blind to realize it!”

“I don’t appreciate your tone or your language.” Noelle raised her voice. “You don’t know me and I don’t think you should be telling me what I was doing!”

“I told you that you weren’t your sister.” Tony grinned. Noelle cursed under her breath. “I don’t know what the hell is going on with the two of you, whether you’re just fucking with each other, actually fucking each other or falling for one another, but I’m not going to be going through this shit every time you two fight.” Noelle crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

“You don’t know anything about what’s going on.”

“Like I told you last weekend, I know exactly what is going on. I’m one of Junior’s best friends and he told me about you from day one. You just didn’t want to believe it.” Tony stopped to take a drink. He had a feeling he was going to need more than one tonight, especially if they kept going at it like they had been. “I know about your first time and I know about the hood incident from last weekend.” Noelle blushed and looked away. “I know about Hawaii and everything else.” He finished his beer and took hers from her hand and opened it. “I also know damn well that if you keep fucking with is head like this, it’s going to affect his driving and I’ll be damned if some chick is going to fuck up Junior’s rookie year because she’s on a power trip!”

“Are you finished?” Noelle asked.

“Yeah, I feel like I fucking became an adult in the last ten minutes.” Tony laughed slightly. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I think you know way too much for your own good.” Noelle pierced her lips together and looked at him. “One thing…how’d you know I wasn’t Hollie?”

“And women say men are stupid.” Tony laughed. “You have green eyes, your sister has blue.”  Noelle shook her head and reminded herself to smack Hollie for not taking out her contacts. “Now let’s sit and relax and wait for your sister and Junior to get done talking.”

“How do you know their talking?” Noelle asked as they sat on the side of the pool where people weren’t splashing around.

“Because I can see them over behind his truck yelling at each other.” Tony pointed toward the side of the garage. Noelle looked over and sure enough, she could see Hollie waving her arms around at him like a madwoman.

“I should go stop them.”

“No, you sit and let them talk. I’m sure Junior will get a tongue lashing like you just did.”

They were quiet for a while until Noelle spoke, “Hey Tony?”

“What?”

“Thanks.” She said and nudged him with her shoulder.

“Anytime you need a good talking to, give me a call.” He laughed.

******

“I can’t believe you fucking showed up here.” Junior yelled at her as Hollie leaned against his truck. “You fucking tell me to go to hell and then show up at my house and act like nothing is wrong? Maybe I was right when I said you were bipolar!” Hollie looked at him and said nothing. She didn’t know that he had called her sister bipolar, but then she found that kind of funny. Sometimes she, herself, had wonder if Noelle was with her sudden mood swings, but she knew she wasn’t. Noelle was just headstrong and extremely emotional. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re done. I want nothing to do with you anymore.” He glared at her and she just glared back. “I’m sick of this cat and mouse shit we’ve been doing. I’ve had it, Noelle.”

“That’s really great, Junior. I’m glad that’s out in the open now.” Hollie tilted her head and looked him over. She could see why her sister had fallen for him. He was cute, a little cocky and arrogant, but cute nonetheless. “Are you done with your little rant session, because I have a few things to say to you.”

“What can you say that you haven’t fucking said already?” Hollie glared at him harder. “Fine, say you’re peace and then I want you off my property.”

“First off, you’re a mother fucking prick. And I don’t usually call men that. Second…if you even were half as interested me as you say you were or even are, you’d fucking realize that I’m not Noelle and I’m her sister!” Junior stepped back, his jaw dropping open. “That’s right…I’m Hollie. Noelle is over there with that friend of yours, probably getting reamed out because he realized the difference.” Junior started to say something. “Keep your yap shut, I’m not finished with you.”  He quickly closed his mouth and didn’t say a word.

Hollie looked him up and down and shook her head. “You’re something else. I’m wondering if you’re really everything she’s made you out to be.” Hollie rolled her eyes. “I see you on TV every week, your little arrogant attitude and the ‘I’m better than you shit’. But you don’t fool me. You act that way because you’re afraid.” Junior went to say something and the look on Hollie’s face told him to shut up. “You’re not going to hold onto a woman very long the way you’re going. If I were Noelle, I’d have your ass dumped to the curb the minute I met you. But I’m not Noelle and I don’t put up with shit like she does. All I know is I came down here this weekend to meet this guy she’s been talking about for a month. How he’s been chasing her and she was falling for him. I get down here and find her crying.”

“Why was she crying?” Junior asked.

“Why the fuck do you think, dumbass? Over you! All fucking night I heard her in her room crying. Hell, a few times she picked up the phone to call you and hung it up.”

“Don’t call me a dumbass.”

“Well quit acting like one.” Hollie shot back. “Fuck man, if my husband even attempted to pull something like you did yesterday when she was leaving, I’d shoot him.”

“Is she as violent as you?” Junior was a little worried. Hollie shrugged. “You’re not going to tell me are you?” She shook her head. “Thanks.”

“Don’t worry; her guns are at my dad’s.” Junior laughed uneasily. “I’m kidding…she’s more talk than bite. I’m the one you have to worry about. You fuck with my sister again and I’ll make sure you don’t fuck with anyone again.”

“That a threat?”

“No, it’s a promise. That there is my sister and my best friend and I just told you the same damn thing I told her ex-boyfriends. Some of them got smart and ran like hell after they hurt her.” Hollie walked closer to him. “You hurt her again and I’m going to hurt you.”

They looked at each other, a tenseness in the air. Junior fixed his hat and looked over toward the pool and saw Tony and Noelle in the water wrestling around.

“Damn you’re married aren’t ya?” Junior asked. Hollie nodded. “You’d be perfect for my buddy, Tony.” Hollie laughed. “Although the threatening is a little on the psycho side.”

“Like I said, piss me off and I’ll show you my real psycho side.” They started walking toward the pool. “I even did jail time for it.”

Junior gulped uneasily. “You did?”

“No…I just wanted to see what you’d do.” Hollie laughed as Junior breathed a sigh of relief. “Ohh…do I still have to get off your property?”

“Hell no…I’d be afraid to kick you outta here.” Junior smiled.

****

Junior and Hollie walked up to the pool. He motioned Noelle to get out. She glanced at Hollie who nodded as she sat own the edge and put her feet in. Noelle climbed out and took the towel that Junior held out to her.

“We need to talk.” He said simply. She nodded and followed through the people standing on the deck. They went in the house and upstairs to his room where it was quiet. Junior shut the door and then turned to watch Noelle as she dried herself off before sitting on the edge of the bed. “I’m still pissed at you.”

“Well…the feeling is mutual.” Noelle crossed her arms over her chest. Junior sat down next to her and did the same. “I’ll admit that I was wrong for going off on you yesterday.”

“Yeah, I shouldn’t have yelled at you either. I’m just hurt over seeing you with Kevin.”

“Dale, that was one time. One date. Nothing even happened. And what the hell were you spying on me for in the first place?” She glanced at him and he shrugged. “Up until last weekend, there wasn’t really anything between us. So my going out with him one friggin’ time shouldn’t have pissed you off enough to spy on me.”

“I was jealous. And if we’re on this subject, what about you yesterday? Going off on me because someone said I started seeing someone after I broke it off with Lori.”

“Jealousy is a nasty fucker, isn’t it?”

“They were talking about you, bonehead.” Junior laughed.

“I know that now.” Noelle looked down at her hands. “Were you really as upset as Tony said you were?”

“Yeah.” Junior nodded. “What about you? Hollie said you were crying all night.” Noelle nodded. “Can I tell you something?” She nodded again. “Your sister is psycho.”

“Why would you say that? You don’t even know her.” Noelle looked at him. He shook his head to tell her never mind.

“So where do we go from here?” Junior put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. She shrugged. “End it or keep going and see what it goes?”

“I guess keep going. That is if you don’t pull anything like yesterday again.”

“Same for you, babe. No more swapping with your sister.” Junior laughed as Noelle looked up at him and smiled. “C’mon, let’s see what everyone’s up to. It’s not nice of the host to disappear on these guests.” He stood up and held his hand out to Noelle. She took it and he immediately hugged her. “Can I kiss you?”

“Wow…you’re asking first?” Noelle laughed as his lips pressed against hers. He tightened his embrace as she kissed him back. Noelle felt her head swirling and she felt like she was going to pass out, but didn’t stop. Junior untied the back of her bikini top and let it fall to the floor between them. He then surprised her by picking her up and laying her down on his bed.

“We don’t have time.” She whispered as he slid the bottom of her bikini off her hips.

“Shhhh….” Junior covered her mouth with his as he took off his shorts. He moved over top of her, never breaking the kiss. “We’ll make time.”

A little while later, they were both cuddled together on the bed. Neither of them spoke, but knew that eventually things would be ok between them. They just had a few rough spots that needed worked out.

“I think we should fight more often.” Junior announced sitting up and looking at her.

“Why?” Noelle asked.

“Make up sex rocks.” He laughed as he bent down to kiss her. Noelle rolled her eyes and sat up. “Should we join the party now?”

“Mmmm…but I was enjoying this.” Noelle pulled Junior down and cuddled against him once more. “I want to stay here.”

“We can’t…we’ve been gone too long. They’re going to know what we’re up to.” Junior ran his hand along her stomach. “I think you should stay with me tonight. We can have more make up sex.”

“You’re a fucking horndog.” Noelle laughed and slapped his hand. “And anyways, Hollie is here, remember?”

“How could I forget?” Junior sighed. “It’s not like I don’t have a whole house of empty rooms. She can stay in one of those.” Noelle shrugged. “Now that’s the attitude.”

Outside, Hollie and Tony were in the pool playing volleyball with some of the DMP. Noelle and Junior walked out hand and hand and headed straight for the pool.

“You two done messing around now?” Tony yelled as Noelle jumped into the pool, followed by Junior. “You two really need to learn to keep it down.”

“We were just talking.” Junior grabbed the ball from Tony. “Hey Noelle, go on the other team with Hollie.”

“So just talking consists of Noelle saying, “Don’t stop Junior”? Hollie mimicked as she smacked her sister when she surfaced from under the water. “I didn’t need to know my little sister was having sex.”

“We were just talking!” Junior and Noelle said together and then laughed.

“Uh huh…” Hollie laughed and pushed Noelle.

“Shut up, Hollie.” Noelle pushed her back which started a wrestling match between the girls.

“Alright! Girl on girl!” Tony and Junior yelled.

“Perverts.” Noelle yelled at them. They both nodded and ducked when the girls splashed water at them.

********

Everyone except for Noelle, Hollie and Tony were gone by one in the morning. The four of them still sat in the pool, enjoying the warm night. Noelle and Junior were lying on a raft together watching Tony and Hollie on the other side of the pool.

“Ask her to the Winston.” Junior said as he played with the side of her bikini. She pushed his hand away. “She’d have fun at the race this weekend.”

“I think she’s going home Monday. But I’ll ask her tomorrow.” Noelle pushed his hand away again when he tried to untie her top. “Junior, quit it.” He laughed and kissed her neck.

“Hey lovebirds, we’re going to go watch a movie.” Tony announced as he watched Hollie climb out of the pool.

“Don’t do anything I’d do.” Junior yelled as Tony followed Hollie into the house.

“Junior, Hollie’s married.” Noelle reminded him. Junior shrugged. “She wouldn’t do anything like that to Brian.”

“You sure?” Junior asked. Noelle nodded. “Don’t be.” He pointed toward the kitchen window, where they could see Tony and Hollie kissing.

“Oh my God.” Noelle sat up and almost fell off the raft. “What the fuck is she thinking?” She slid off the raft and into the water.

“Where you going?” Junior grabbed for her and missed causing him to fall in. He grabbed her arm when he came back up. “Let her alone.”

“She’s fucking married! What the hell is she kissing Tony for?” Noelle turned and looked at Junior. “If Brian finds out, he’ll kill her!”

“Hollie is an adult. Let her make her own decisions.” Junior tried to bring Noelle closer to him and she pushed him away.

“Easy for you to say. You cheated on Hollie with me and god knows who else.” Noelle climbed out of the pool. “Men are all fucking alike!”

“That’s not fair, Noelle.” Junior yelled and she flipped him off. “If this is a fight, do we get make up sex?”

“Fuck off, Junior.” Noelle yelled as she headed inside the house.

Noelle stormed into the house and slammed the door behind her. She stood in the doorway of the kitchen staring at her sister and Tony who were still kissing. She cleared her throat and they both jumped.

“What the fuck are you doing, Hollie?” Noelle demanded when Hollie finally looked at her. “You’re married!”

“But not dead.” Hollie hopped up on the counter and smiled at her sister. “Actually, you could say that I’m separated.”

“What?”

“Brian left me a few weeks ago.” She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. “Ran off with some chick that works in the engine shop at dad’s company. They’re living together about a block away from mom and dad. Mom sees him all the time.”

“You didn’t tell me?” Noelle was stunned. Hollie shook her head. “Why?”

“Every time we talked, you were going on about Junior and how you were falling for him and you couldn’t wait for me to meet him. I didn’t want to drag you down with my shitty marriage.”

“Do you have a problem with me kissing your sister? Because I could say that I have a problem with you and my buddy right there.” Tony nodded at Junior who had snuck up behind Noelle.

“Umm…I think I’m just going to stick my foot in my mouth and go upstairs now.” Noelle backed out of the kitchen and headed for the stairs with Junior in tow.

“You can do shit that I’d do now.” Junior yelled as they climbed the stairs.

“Shit bud boy, we’ll do things that’d make your head spin.” Tony yelled back.

“I didn’t want to know that.” Noelle laughed as she raced up the last few steps.

Chapters: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20/21/22/23/24/25/26/27/28/29/30