Chapter 19

Brett leaned in slightly, barely brushing his lips against hers. Sera wrapped her arms around his neck, unconscious of the passerby, who-granted- were not very interested in the reconcilliation of two people.

He outlined her generous lips with his tongue, running a hand through her loose, fine hair. Brett could feel Sera's smile, and tasted her laugh. He turned his face away slightly, placing a light kiss and chuckling into her ear as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and began to lead her to the car.

"I'm not going to take advantage of you while you're drunk," he told Sera, who was pouting and dragging her feet.

"It's okay," she grumbled, "I don't mind."

Brett only shook his head stubbornly. "But I mind, and it won't count if I kiss you when you're drunk."

"Count for what?" she wondered.

He shrugged, pulling out the key rings out of his pocket and opening the door for her. "Get in," Brett said.

"How 'bout Tania?" Sera questioned, stepping with one foot gingeredly.

"They'll get back somehow." Brett said bruskly, shutting the passenger side door and hurrying around to open his own. He slid in, revving up the engine. "Don't worry about them."

Sera only shrugged, accepting his judgement. She fiddled with the seatbelt for a while, before deciding to fasten it. Brett leaned over to place a quick kiss on her lips as he cut off another driver to the right of his original lane. Sera could only grin dumbly.

Brett carefully turned into the garage and turned off the headlights. No matter what he had said before, he too was at least slightly drunk. He looked over, only to see that Sera was soundly asleep, leaning with her head on the window. He laughed quietly to himself at the sight, before getting out and walking over to the other side. Brett opened the door, undoing her seatbelt and picking her up in his arms. He kicked the door closed, carrying her carefully up to Luke's apartment and fumbling for the keys. He didn't have access to Tania's place, and he knew that Tania and Luke would not be back from wherever they had gone yet.

He carried her straight to the bed in the master (one of two) bedroom, pulling off her shoes and tucking the blanket up to her chin. He smiled at her sleeping form before leaving to strip the guestroom of its sheets and pillow.

Just as Brett had set up to the best of his abilities a bed of sorts on the couch in the dark living room, reluctant to turn on any lights, he heard light treading footsteps and turned to see Sera's form.

"Brett?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.

"Hey Sera." he straightened from leaning over the sofa. "What's up?"

"Come sleep with me?" she rubbed her eyes, a wide yawn interrupting her speech.

Brett raised his eyebrow highly but declined to speak.

"It's cold," she continued, "and I miss you."

"Since you put it so eloquently," Brett murmured to himself as he again picked up the pillow, "why not?"

It was probably about eleven or so when she awoke. The sun was streaming through the curtain-less windows, and Sera felt a strange feeling of dejavu as she realized who was sleeping next to her. She contemplated getting up, or waking Brett up, but he looked so calm and at peace that she was reluctant to. She instead simply rolled over to her own side, and pulled at the blanket that Brett was somehow wrapped in.

Without any luck in succeeding, Sera resigned herself to snuggling up to Brett and his warm body- and the blanket- and hoped that he wouldn't wake up.

Her luck had never run, Sera realized as Brett sleepily opened one eye. "Sera?" he yawned, pulling her against him and putting an arm around her, "why are you awake?" He closed his eye once more, fully prepared to fall back asleep.

Sera, who was in absolutely no hurry to wake up, decided to follow his example. She pulled his pillow over a bit, using it for her own had disappeared somewhere, and smiled contently.

"It's for you."

Sera groaned, pulling the covers up over her head. "No it's not."

"Yes it is, sweetheart."

She could only blink. "What is?"

"The phone. My phone, although God only knows why she's calling on mine and not yours." Brett was already up and dressed, Sera noticed with some surprise. She yawned widely, pushing away the blankets and rolling out of bed. She took the cell phone, instinctively knowing who it was.

"Hi Tania."

"Sera!" her voice came over the other line. "I tried calling your phone, but no pick up, I guess it's dead? Luke gave me Brett's number, so here I am."

"Mmm." Sera replied, looking at herself disgustedly at the mirror, dressed still in yesterday's dirty clothes.

"Yeah, he had to crash here because Brett had his keys," Tania blathered on, "but it's okay. When are you coming up?"

"I don't know." Sera sighed. "Now, I guess."

"Not now," Brett interjected, looking too awake and...nice. "We're going out for breakfast."

"We are?" Sera looked puzzled, still half-asleep. "I'm still in crumpled yesterday's clothes."

"Doesn't matter." Brett told her. "Let's go!"

"Mmm." Sera nodded enthusiastically, making eye contact with Brett over a table groaning with pancakes and maple syrup. "Good stuff. Where are we again?"

Brett gave her a weird look. "IHOP?" he raised an eyebrow. "I realize it's not the most classiest of places, but..."

"It's good stuff." Sera took another mouthful of the blueberry pancakes. "We'll have to come here more often."

He paused, looking up from the more than ample selection on the table. "Please, feel free?" he suggested facetiously. "Now, wheat or strawberry?"

Sera coughed. "Why do you even bother asking?" She questioned, staring at him, after taking a sip of the coffee.

"True," Brett agreed. He lifted the dish of golden brown pancakes, dotted with red berries and dripping with syrup, and placed it in front of himself.

"What are we going to do with all of this stuff?" Sera wondered after a period ofsilence, surveying the spread of different orders.

When the waiter had come to take orders an hour ago, Sera had remained indecisive for so long that Brett, in exasperation, had told her to order everything. Now, they had no idea what to do with the leftovers. The waiter had brought over a pile of white plastic takeout boxes, and the two had shrugged.

"It's kind of a waste, I suppose," Sera reflected, "but then again, what are we going to do with sixteen boxes of different flavored pancakes?"

"Eat them?" Brett suggested sarcastically.

"Would you?" Sera shot back.

He looked chagrined. "No," he admitted. Then, cheering up, "but I'm sure Luke will be more than happy to oblige us. I wonder if we can get them delivered."

Sera had to laugh. "Don't count on it."

"So, where are we going?" Sera stared out at the unfamiliar roads and freeways in front of the car. "I mean, I've been going to school here for...years, but..."

"You've never been to Santa Monica?" Brett shook his head. "Wow. I mean, I've grown up here, it's just pretty...weird. Well, I guess that's where we're going then."

"The beach?" Sera asked in a bewildered voice. "Ugh."

"Ugh indeed. Don't worry, we won't go in the water."

Twenty minutes and an uncountable number of Jimmy Eat World songs later, Brett finally pulled the car into a parking slot on the black asphault. There were bunches of tall palm trees sprouting up, and white sand and waves of the ocean crashing on shore. There were a fair amount of people in and around the water, sunning and joking around.

"Let's go," he said, jumping out. "You have socks on, right?"

"Socks?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "How random. But yes, I do."

"That's good."

They headed off.

"Where are we going now?" Sera demanded after a couple minutes of strolling on the path. Rollarbladers and bikers shot past them, as well as other strollers.

"Rent."

"Rent what?"

"Rollarblades."

"Rollarblades?" Sera laughed. "What, are we skating to, Venice?"

"Not quite." Brett smiled down, then pointed to behind them, where the silhouette of a Ferris Wheel, rollar coaster, and other equipment stood. "Just the pier. You can't not go to the pier."

They were skating along smoothly, shoes in hand.

"You do it better than I'd expected," Brett commented, surprised.

"Well, yes, they do have rollarblades back in the east coast," Sera shook her head, rolling ahead a little bit. "In fact, I'd bet I can beat you in a race. Any day."

"Any day?" Brett said in mock surprise. "How about today? Right now?"

"You got it." Sera flew forwards, almost as if she were expecting the challenge. "See you at the pier!" She turned her head for a second to blow a kiss at him, sticking her tongue out.

"You won't beat me, Sera," Brett called out as he too began to shoot forward. "After all, I am a veteran."

They were close together when the white cement split into forks. Sera slowed down just a little bit before shrugging and going to the right. Brett laughed loudly. "See you at the pier, love." he taunted. "That's just the longer way."

Sera, gritting her teeth, speeded up. She could see the wooden, splintery stairs leading up the pier anyways, and it would take a long time to turn around or cut through the sand.

"Hello." Brett was lounging around the stairs when she halted there. He grinned.

Sera rolled her eyes in mock distaste. "I'll get you next time. That just wasn't fair."

Brett shrugged, eyes still dancing. "All's fair in love and war." he quoted, sitting down on a step to change from blades to shoes.

"Oh?" Sera followed his example. "And would this be love or war?" She pulled on her old Pumas, and stood.

"Oh, war. Definately war." Brett jumped up, taking the stairs two at a time.

A/N: Has it been a month yet? Wow, I amaze myself with my laziness. It's okay though, I'm on a writing streak. Kind of. (: Doesn't mean that chapters will get longer, pity =/

I wrote a new story. I know I shouldn't have, but it's okay. Titled Never A Bride, please read&review! Possible update on this one soon.

And I have to say, Milo Ventimiglia (that's Jess from Gilmore Girls) came to my school on Tuesday! And I got his autograph. He's so...sexy. :) mmm.

Review Responses

Onion Ring: Just because you can't stand fluff doesn't mean it's...bad. Well, actually, I take that back. But you know my feelings on that. :) Thanks for reviewing. Lo Ciento (?) for the previous chapter.

Tragedy is Love: Oh, the pasta is so good at Olive Garden! I'd better disclaim or something...=/ but real real good stuff. It's actually real stuff haha yeah, I do eat alot I guess. Yeah, drunk scenes are like...uhh. I don't know, I can't write them. Thanks for reading!

Luv and Peace: I meant soap opera as in the typical "He loved her but she's his brother's illegitimate daughter's boyfriend's cousin" type of thing. But I'm glad you like it! Thanks for reading.

Selective Inspiration: Love the new name. Haha yeah, but they weren't really faking it, I guess. =/ Well, probably not. Thanks for reading!

StarsignLeo: Haha. Nah I don't drink wine- that's like...my parent's age, although champagne is good stuff. Was there too much fluff in this chapter? Thanks for reviewing! Love ya tons.

Casey C: Ooh that's good. I've always thought, "Ugh only in a soap opera would this whole situation happen." I'm glad you liked it! Jeff is a jerk, yes. :) Thanks for reading!

Shadow on the Wall: Haha. Maybe they'll get along...well, they've been pretty good these days. Thanks for reading!

KristiexxNguyen: I'm so sorry about the long wait! Thanks for reading!

Deanna Marie: I guess they can be...adorable, as you said. :) Yeah, I don't think anyone likes Jeff at all. Thanks for reading!

my works 87: My Valentines day was great! (Although that was about a month ago). Haha hot boys at the grocery store? Not bad, not bad, any such luck? My friend, actually, who moved last year or so moved back, and we just went out, it was great. He, he, um, yeah :) but thanks for reading!

SapphireBaby: Lol everything will probably work out well for them, this story is too much in a 'happy ending' kind of rut to end in a sad way. Thanks for reading!

Liriel87: Yeah I guess she was drunk, though only slightly (no hangover!) Thanks a bunch for reading and reviewing every chapter. You're fantastic. Thanks! (lol I get the feeling that you don't like A&F!)

Differentlyhappy: Haha yeah, there is romance after all! Lol thanks for reading!

fire-fem: lol see, the thing is, I can't really write about it because...uhh. I don't know. It's like writing about something gory, it just seems...awkward, in a sense. I guess I did the best I could, and I hope you liked it, even just a little bit. She's drunk, but not drunk drunk. She won't forget! :)

Celestial Apparition: Thank you for saying you liked it! I hope you liked this chapter as well, and sorry for the long delay. Thanks for reading!

Little Mermaid: Ahh, it's March, and there are absolutely no breaks this whole month! I live for Easter vacation. Lol yes, Jeff is a bastard. Ugh I hate him too. Umm...yes and no, alot of guys are pervs. :( Thanks for reading!

the-angelic-duo: Thanks for saying you liked it!

rootin4philly: Nice name, sports, I presume? Which? Anyways. Thanks for reading, and sorry it was almost a month. :( I really have to start working. Thanks!

TallemeraRane: No offense taken whatsoever, I was just kidding about that! Yeah, I'm really AR about grammar and stuff, but I just get lazy and not edit or run spell check, even. Bad habits, I know. Thank you for reading!

ment: Haha! Yes, I agree, Jeff is mean! Ugh. I hate him. Yeah, I hate numbers on my sns too! And here I was, thinking it was just my thing. =/ Thanks for readinggg!

xXxl1bR4: Thank you!

Qleo-chan: Thanks! Glad you liked it!

violet-eyez: Thank you for reading!

blackroseangel69: Oh, thanks for reviewing the new one. I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reading.

kaelyn29: I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reading!