Rebecca was nineteen!

Well, she had been nineteen for several hours, but now was when it mattered. This year, Rebecca would be celebrating with some new friends with a simple sleepover.

She had brought the idea up to Agnes, who seemed happy to spend time with Rebecca on her birthday. Gina was also invited, as Rebecca's other favorite American so far. The plan was to hang out in the common room, with pizza and snacks and maybe a movie or games. As for where they would sleep, that was a matter they would resolve later in the night. Rebecca wondered about whether there was a policy against sleeping in the common room as she pulled a tray out of the kitchenette oven.

Rebecca had been in the mood to bake, and the kitchenette was only filled with snacks anyway, so she found a recipe for oreo-stuffed chocolate chip cookies in hopes that the other girls would appreciate the treat. She was going to wait for someone to show up before ordering pizza.

Rebecca was comfortably in her purple pajama pants and nightie. She was going to just wear the sleeveless nightie, but the thought of a student she did not know (or Agnes) seeing her bare, freckled shoulders left her blushing for some reason. She found a light sweater to toss over her pajamas, even if it left her slightly warm.

Agnes would be arriving soon, so Rebecca spent her time blushing anxiously (for reasons unknown) and looking around the kitchenette for snacks: bags of chips, sodas, juice. The kitchenette was connected to the common room, so anything they wanted was readily available.

A sleepover. She remembered in high school when her friends at the time had always suggested having one but Agnes had never been able to participate. Of course she knew what they were but to act in them while she was still living in her parent’s house was nearly considered a sin. Groups of girls sleeping together in the same room with no supervisor, she was lucky her mother did not try to flail her for even suggesting it.

But that was over with now and Agnes was happy to say that she could participate in this time honored tradition amongst her kin. It also helped that all this was being done in order to celebrate the birthday of Rebecca Grey, a fellow student of Xavier’s with him Agnes immediately hit it off with. She was a nice girl and one that she enjoyed hanging out with. Despite the invasion of thoughts that were normally occupied by Jasmine’s image, Agnes managed to keep her cool around Rebecca. She still believed that the thoughts were little more than harmless and that they would pass in time.

Agnes knew they would. They had to.

But whatever the case, she could not let them creep in and mess with her night right now. This night was not about her issues but it was to celebrate Rebecca’s birthday. She had said she just wanted a simply sleepover with a few friends and Agnes was happy to oblige. Though she wished that Gina were here already for the party. Unfortunately they needed to set up.

Dressed in deep red flannel pajamas, the insect girl sighed as she casually walked down the hall, carrying a pink cardboard box that was obviously hiding a birthday cake. That was her responsibility, to bring the cake. Though it was store bought, it was still a nice , chocolate birthday cake with buttercream frosting. It certainly was a pretty cake, one that she wished she could have baked herself, but it was the thought that counted, or so she hoped.

Getting closer to the common room, she could already hear the sounds of someone setting up. It was probably Rebecca. God, why could she help that small flutter she felt whenever she was alone with the girl. She had begged, really begged, Jasmine to join them, but she simply could not make it. She had soccer practice until late and there was no way she would have been able to make it. Agnes pouted cutely but Jasmine had merely kissed her on the forehead and said to just have fun.

She sighed. It wasn’t the fun she was afraid of; it was the people.

Once she arrived to the doorway that lead to the common room, she peeked her head in from around the corner and spied Rebecca in her own pajamas, setting up stuff. She smirked a little as she watched the girl for a second before she finally kicked the frame of the doorway with her lady bug slippers on in order to get her attention.

“Hi Becca,” she said with a small laugh. “You know when friends are throwing you a birthday party, it’s usually customary for the friends to set things up.”

Rebecca found a bag of one of those potato chips with ridges that was open and kept with a clasp. Instantly craving something salty and crispy, she opened the bag and popped a chip into her mouth, grinning to herself. Late night hanging out with the girls eating junk food? She was becoming a proper American teen!

>> “Hi Becca. You know when friends are throwing you a birthday party, it’s usually customary for the friends to set things up.”

The bag jumped out of Rebecca's hands as the voice surprised her. She managed to catch it without spilling chips, which was great; had she dropped it, she would have spent the first five minutes of the sleepover cleaning. She recognized the voice as Agnes and placed the bag on the counter.

Excitedly, Rebecca grabbed a cookie from her tray and ran over to her friend. "But Ah wanted tae bake cookies fur ye an' Gina!"

Rebecca gave the winged girl a hug, now that their friendship was getting more familiar. Good friends hugged, right? "Here, try one!" She took the liberty of feeding Agnes the sample she brought over.

It was not until the cookie was eaten that she realized she was a bit forward. She laughed the act off. "Sorry, Ah was jist excited tae see if ye liked it."

Rebecca jumped. And she jumped high. It was almost as if someone had place an icy cube suddenly against the small of the girl’s back that made her react in such a way. Obviously that had never been Agnes’ intention but it was rather funny to watch. She did not overly laugh out loud in a cruel way, though. Instead she only chuckled as she tried to keep her mirth down. It was funny but not enough to tease the girl over…at least not yet.

“I’m sorry, Becca. I really didn-“

But before she could finish, Rebecca rebounded and beamed happily. Agnes watched the girl suddenly pick up a tray of cookies and vault herself over to Agnes position.

>> "But Ah wanted tae bake cookies fur ye an' Gina!"

“Aw, that’s really very swe—MMPH! Agnes had to pause as suddenly there was a cooke placed into her mouth.

>> "Here, try one!"

Wide-eyed, Agnes chewed, trying not to choke but she had to admit that the cookie was extremely good. Not just because it was baked extremely well but because there was the surprise of yet ANOTHER cookie hidden inside the much larger one. She marveled at the notion of baking a cookie with another cookie inside. Who would have ever thought of such a thing? Has very junk food-like as she was sure it was, she really and truly could not help herself.

She chewed and chewed until finally she could breathe again as she balanced the boxed up and hidden cake between the both of her hands. Apparently Rebecca had seen her struggles and apologized for it…

>> "Sorry, Ah was jist excited tae see if ye liked it."

She smirked as he licked the last of the cookie crumbs from off her lips. She nodded that she accepted Rebecca’s apology.

“I-It’s okay,” she said with a small giggle. “Just glad it turned out to be such a good cookie or I would have choked.” She just smirked as she stepped into the common room, carrying the cake again. “So…how does it feel to be older than me, eh, Nineteen year-old?” she playfully joked.

>> “I-It’s okay. Just glad it turned out to be such a good cookie or I would have choked. So…how does it feel to be older than me, eh, Nineteen year-old?”

That was right! Agnes was still eighteen, a "year younger" than her, sort of. It did not occur to Rebecca often that she was the older of the two, because Agnes carried herself in a way that showed the girl had lived more of life than most people twice her age.

Rebecca found the nearest counter to place her tray on. "Age is jist a number. Though Ah guess if Ah'm older, that means ye have tae listen tae me!" She laughed, smiling a toothy smile. "Kidding o' course!" Rebecca was not much of the leader-type without a ball at her feet or a goal in sight.

Examining Agnes more closely, she noticed a box. "Wa's this?" She flipped open the top of the box to see a cake for her! Her green and blue eyes sparkled, matching an ear-to-ear smile. "Ye didnae hae tae! But thank ye, Agnes!" She wrapped her arms in a hug around the shoulders of the girl-of-comparable stature. "Yer very sweet!"

She finally let go of her friend, feeling her heart flutter faintly. Still smiling, she looked at the sweets they had collected. "I say cookies and cake wait til efter pizza. Which reminds me, whit shoulds we order on it?" Rebecca was not the pickiest eater, and she was hoping Agnes would know what her sister might like on her pizza.

Plus if she knew what Agnes liked on pizza, there was always the chance she could make a pizza for Agnes as a cute little surprise on a later date.

Because friends gave each other cute little surprises.

>> "Age is jist a number. Though Ah guess if Ah'm older, that means ye have tae listen tae me! Kidding o' course!"

Even though Rebecca was older than her, Agnes did the most grown up thing at the moment; she stuck out her tongue. It was jokingly done, of course, but it was apparently something that she really felt needed to be done. Not long afterward, she broke into a series of giggles as she found a place the set down the birthday cake and sighed as she shook her head. She really did have too much fun when she was around this Scottish girl.

As she set the cake down she turned to help Rebecca set out more chips but before long the redhead had managed to slip by and proceeded to look at the cake box curiously. There was really no leaving it for a surprise but so she was no too upset when Rebecca had opened the box, letting her curiosity win out…

>> "Wa's this? Ye didnae hae tae! But thank ye, Agnes! Yer very sweet!"

She beamed, a sense of relief appearing on her face. She would have hated to have gotten something for Rebecca that she hated. Though she could not see the flavor of the cake, Agnes could tell that Rebecca would like it just the same. For whatever reason that made her feel just a little like she was on cloud nine but it was a momentary feeling.

Or maybe that feeling was because of the hug that Rebecca had quickly pulled her into. Before Agnes knew it she felt those pale, freckly arms as they encircled her and hugged her tight. Agnes could have only returned the gesture with just as tight a hug of her own. And for that moment, Agnes caught the scent of the Scottish girl’s hair, the softness of her pajamas, and the warmth of her breath. In that moment she took in all of those senses as they assaulted her…but she managed to remain calm until Rebecca had finally let go

Quickly she was grounded as she just grinned in a silly way at her friend. She was her friend, after all, and that was it!

“I’m glad you like it. AND there is even some ice cream left over so we can grab some to have with the cake.” she said brightly.

>> "I say cookies and cake wait til efter pizza. Which reminds me, whit shoulds we order on it?"

“Um,” she thought for a moment. She would have hated to not include Gina. But, she knew what Gina liked on her pizzas. So what was better? Arriving slightly late and having to wait for pizza or arriving with pizza, hot and waiting for you already there? Gina did love her pizza. She smirked. “I think if we have everything, we can order it now. It’ll prolly get here by the time Gina does.” She beamed.

Quickly she glanced at the phone…then to Rebecca. Her eyebrow arched, she narrowed her eyes before she suddenly snagged the phone, intent on paying for the meal. After all, it was Rebecca’s birthday sleep over and if there was one thing she could do was at least get the main course.

She smirked at the expression on Rebecca’s face. “Don’t argue with me, I’m getting the pizzas. You may be older, but I’m still young and faster.” Another stuck out tongue was given just to prove her point as she dialed.

>> “I’m glad you like it. AND there is even some ice cream left over so we can grab some to have with the cake.”

Rebecca chuckled, reminiscing. "Ye made me ice cream th' first day Ah met ye!" It had been quite a memorable day. The first time they met in the garden, a place Rebecca now routinely found Agnes. The first time she saw Agnes's wings, or the first time she realized Agnes liked girls, or the first time Agnes called her pretty, or the first time... well, the first time for everything, really.

>> “I think if we have everything, we can order it now. It’ll prolly get here by the time Gina does.”

The two girls were on the same wavelength. Gina would understand, and by the time she made her appearance, there would be cheesy pizza to give as a peace offering. Rebecca's stomach was already calling for the greasy goodness.

>> “Don’t argue with me, I’m getting the pizzas. You may be older, but I’m still young and faster.”

Well well, Agnes asserted her dominance with a quick hand getting to the phone. Rebecca thought to object, but she was met by a tongue stuck out teasing her. She rolled her eyes and grabbed a bag of chips. "Fine! Ah hae dane sae much aw ready, Ah'm jist gonnae relax!" Taking her bag of potato chips from the kitchenette to the common room, she jumped onto the couch, landing on her back.

Rebecca munched on chips happily as Agnes dialed the phone. The Scot thought about just how much junk she seemed to eat, between pizza and chips and ice cream. "Ah dunnae know how Ah keep this figure eatin' aw this food," she mused to herself, poking her stomach, thanking God her metabolism kept it flat despite her best efforts at self-sabotage.

>> "Fine! Ah hae dane sae much aw ready, Ah'm jist gonnae relax!"

“As you should be,” Agnes said with a grin.

She still could not believe that Rebecca had set so much up by herself. In her eyes that was not right. When its someone’s birthday, it should be something that is treasured, in which the person could be pampered and spoiled for nearly the whole day (within reason, of course). Rebecca did far too much already but the celebration was still young. There was plenty of time for games, movies, food, etc., for all of them to unwind, relax and just enjoy their time together.

Once she was done dialing for the best pizzeria that she could think of, she waited on the line and agreed that she could be put on hold while the person on the line took another order.

She turned to ask Rebecca what she would like on her pizzas when she spiked her redheaded friend prodding her tummy while she attempted chewed on chips.

>> "Ah dunnae know how Ah keep this figure eatin' aw this food,"

Agnes’ wings fluttered a bit as she arched her eyebrow a bit. That really was a funny sight to behold. With a sly smirk she shook her head as she waved to get her attention.

“First of all, you really don’t have anything to worry about. You have an excellent figure that I’m sure you couldn’t lose if you tried,” she said honestly. “And second of all, what do you want on your pizza, Birthday Girl?”

Thankfully, by the time Rebecca gave her answer, the line had finally picked up again and the nice person on the phone asked for her order. She ordered a total of three pizzas, one if what Rebecca wanted on them, one what she herself liked, and a last with the toppings that she knew Gina enjoyed. Once that was completed, she blushed a little as the man, more than likely a teen boy or something, began to compliment her.

“Um…just pajamas, I guess. Why?...Uh-huh…yeah…urk! T-Thank you for calling my voice sexy, I guess,” she muttered with a shrug and glanced at Rebecca. God, she wasn’t going to hear the end of this. “What? No…uh-uh…No I don’t think that mopeds are lusty! Can I…what?” she paused for a moment on the line before she winced. “No, you really don’t have….but…no…NO…I’m not going to give you my phone number in exchange for 10% off! Uh, just…what’s the total?...Thank you!” She rolled her eyes as she hit the end button, fiercely and several times as she cast a glance at Rebecca.

>> “First of all, you really don’t have anything to worry about. You have an excellent figure that I’m sure you couldn’t lose if you tried. And second of all, what do you want on your pizza, Birthday Girl?”

Rebecca blushed at the flattery, but she had long since accepted this as nothing out of the ordinary. Every now and then, Agnes would say something that would leave the strawberry blonde feeling pretty and blushing was just her natural response to being complimented. It happened with Aedus as well, after all, so that meant it was Rebecca, not Agnes.

Thinking about what she wanted on her pizza, her mind was stuck on the least healthy choices. Bouncing between unhealthy meats, she found herself unable to choose between pepperoni or sausage. Her choices certainly seemed out of place from a tiny girl like herself, but this was her birthday with her friends and she would not be shy about what she wanted. "Whatever special pizza has th' most meats on it!" she called from the couch.

Rebecca continued to enjoy her own little world of crispy, salty goodness with an accompanying soundtrack of Agnes placing their order. She made sure to chew very softly at the end of the transaction, trying to hide a smirk as even an oblivious girl like her could get the gist of the conversation.

>> "Thank you!"

The order was very clearly done and Agnes was pressing on the phone like it had wronged her in the past. The blue eyes of Agnes hit Rebecca and she tried her hardest to hold a straight face. Unfortunately, a comment very unlike her passed by her lips. "Well, yoo're voice is pretty sexy."

The sentence barely got out before the uncontrolled laughter that followed it. She pulled her legs up to her body to make room for Agnes on the couch if she was interested in joining the girl who was unashamedly mocking her.

Trying to reel herself in, she apologized, "Really, Ah'm sorry. He was bein' rude. It was jist funny watchin' ye git flustered. Is 'at whit it's like when folk flirt wi' ye?" It was nice seeing someone else get a bit defensive and stammering when flirted with, and since Rebecca had yet to meet Jasmine, she had not yet seen anyone flirt with Agnes.

Agnes was still slightly flustered as she thought about the young man she had been on the phone with. She still could not believe that she had just gone through that. Really, what were people’s problems? What type of person hits on someone over the phone when they were trying to order pizza? She guessed that she should have been flattered but seriously, it just disturbed her to her core. The nerve that some people had.

She huffed slightly as she returned the phone to the cradle and shook her head. She really, did not like that boy on the phone. She feared momentarily that now he would be the one delivering their pizzas. If he was, she was so going to sock him in the eye!

A shake of her head and she returned her look to Rebecca. The girl was staring at her, finishing up another chip as her lips seemed to quiver, shake and contort as she tried to keep from losing her composure. Agnes just stared directly at her mismatched eyes and pretty much dared her to let it out. Rebecca apparently would take that dare…

>> "Well, yoo're voice is pretty sexy."

“Ugh! Why…you…!” she would have thrown a pillow directly into Rebecca’s face (playfully, of course, not really to harm) but unfortunately she was too far away.

She crossed her arms over her chest in mock indignanty as she adverted her gaze. But the laughter swirled around her like a comforting balm and Agnes could not stay mad at joyous laugh of Rebecca. She knew it was just a joke, and no serious malicious intent was meant towards her. So before she could help it, she started to try and keep herself from laughing out loud as well. A few giggles did escape her lips as she shook her head.

What she was going to do with this girl?

Space was made for her on the couch and Agnes sighed, any sign of her huff now gone, as she stepped over and took the seat that was offered. She flopped down against the couch as she glanced over to Rebecca as she began to apologize.

>> "Really, Ah'm sorry. He was bein' rude. It was jist funny watchin' ye git flustered. Is 'at whit it's like when folk flirt wi' ye?"

Agnes shook her head, still laughing at the idea as well. “It’s okay,” she said as she patted Rebecca’s knee understandingly. “I know you were just joking. And…yes, I do tend to get a little flustered when I’m, you know, flirted with. With guys it’s just plan awkward,” she honestly admitted. “And Jasmine, well…let’s just say I’m surprised I didn’t crumble to ash.”

Finally coming down from the laughter high, Rebecca felt the presence of Agnes plopping down on the couch beside her. Rebecca sat up and turned herself so she was sitting normally next to her friend.

Her excitement at new food was wearing off and Rebecca realized she was worn out from the day. She was not worried about falling asleep or anything, but she was happy to take this opportunity to rest. She let out a soft yawn. "Nae! Ah dornt want tae be tired. Th' point of a sleepowre is tae put off sleeping til really late, right?"

Trying to find a comfortable place to rest her head, she leaned to her left and decided Agnes's shoulder was comfortable enough. Surely the girl would not mind the momentary intrusion, right? Peacefully, she added, "Meh, Ah'll be fine. Mebbe i'll try one ay those energy drinks Ah've heard about."

>> “I know you were just joking. And…yes, I do tend to get a little flustered when I’m, you know, flirted with. With guys it’s just plan awkward. And Jasmine, well…let’s just say I’m surprised I didn’t crumble to ash.”

Rebecca chuckled at the thought. "Ah bet ye dae. Ye make 'er soond like quite th' charmer." There was a pause before another stray thought forced another giggle from the girl. "Ah wonder hoo yoo'd react if Ah ever flirted wi' ye?" Ha, what a funny concept. Rebecca had no clue of how to successfully flirt, and probably would not realize if she was flirting regardless.

...Had she ever flirted with Agnes? She dismissed the thought quickly, focusing on the comfortableness of her resting place.

>> "Nae! Ah dornt want tae be tired. Th' point of a sleepowre is tae put off sleeping til really late, right?"

Agnes just laughed. “That’s generally the idea.”

She shook her head. She was not surprised in the least that Rebecca was tired; she baked, she set up most of this room, and now that she was finally taking a second to herself, her body was ready to tell her that she needed to rest. But Agnes knew that once the party got into the full swing of things, Rebecca would be fine. A fine and nutritious meal of pizza, cake, cookies, chips, and soda was soon going to become available.

She was actually excited for this evening. Agnes has had yet to hang out with a small gathering of her those she was close to just to watching movie, laugh and giggle and have good food with. Yes she hung out with her sister Gina and Sveta and Liz on separate occasions, but never together. Her anticipation of this event only proved just how much fun the evening was going to be.

At least she hoped it was and that she was not simply building it up in her head to impossible lev—

Skin pressed against her flannel sleeve and Agnes paused in her thoughts. Slowly she turned her head and found that Rebecca had decided to make herself comfortable…against her. Rebecca rested and seemingly nuzzled into her shoulder and Agnes could not help the small smile that appeared on her lips, or the redness that began to rise up on her cheeks. But she ignored the blush as she reached over and patted the birthday girl’s head.

>> "Meh, Ah'll be fine. Mebbe i'll try one ay those energy drinks Ah've heard about."

She stifled another laugh and nodded. “You know, let’s just stick to the caffeinated sodas. One sip of those energy drinks and you’re going to be bouncing off the walls…and seriously addicted.”

She’d seen it happen before…

>> "Ah bet ye dae. Ye make 'er soond like quite th' charmer…Ah wonder hoo yoo'd react if Ah ever flirted wi' ye?"

Here was where things got pretty confusing for the poor runaway. Thoughts of how much of a charmer Jasmine was invaded her mind but before she could say anything more than give a hearty chuckle at the thought, Rebecca’s sudden question invaded and placed the redheaded Scot directly next to Jasmine. Agnes felt…a momentary confusion. What would she do if Rebecca flirted with her? Heh, maybe absolutely everything that she had been doing lately?

Though she did not believe that any of Rebecca’s actions had actually been the girl flirting with her. At most Agnes believed she was simply over reading the girl’s actions. That tended to happen, right? People mistake what another person does and read too much into it? No, Rebecca had definitely not been flirting with her this whole time.

But, if that were the case, when what would Agnes do? She felt pretty embarrassed and blushing whenever she was around Rebecca to begin with? How much deeper into the pits of flirtation-induced embarrassment could she fall?

A coy smile appeared on her lips as she looked blankly ahead.

“I wonder…too…” Agnes whispered as she subconsciously found herself stroking Rebecca’s arm gently with her fingertips. Momentarily lost in thought, she had absolutely no idea she was doing it as she spoke. “Probably act like a clutz then burst into ash?” She said jokingly…but with a twinge of truth hidden beneath.

But they were just friends. So it was nothing she had to worry about.

Gina was late for a number of reason. Primarily, she was stuck on a gift. She barely knew Rebecca and didn't know what sort of things she liked, which made gift-giving a nearly impossible feat. And the birthday celebration had been so short-notice that she couldn't sew anything significant either. Gina was stuck, for all extensive purposes, and was thus flailing in the gift department. Eventually (though with much hesitance) Gina admitted a temporary defeat. She'd have to be a belated gift-giver.

Following that, Gina had really just lost track of time. She recalled that it was a slumber party, and that such a thing typically required pajamas, and so scurried back to the dorm room, and put on a pair. Her top was an oversized black shirt (technically a gown) that loudly proclaimed, in bold white font, "Sleep All Day". To accompany it, a pair of patterened, pastel-colored bottoms. God knew that, if they ended up crashing in the living room, Gina wasn't going to be caught without bottoms over her undergarments.

Thus, appropriately attired for the occasion, and fashionably late by this point in time, Gina padded down the hallway towards the living room, quietly peering in. Agnes and Becca were huddled close together on the couch, and their backs, unsuspecting of an attack, were turned. Excellent.

Gina padded closer to the couch, minding her footfalls enough to keep them silent. She would have to circle the couch to pounce, they were too wedged together to stage an attack from behind. Gina crept, closer and closer, until she was just at the edge of their peripherals... and then...

In a burst of speed, the petite gargoyle darted towards the duo and miraculously wedged herself onto their laps, half-diving and half-flopping down. She kept her wings close, as well as her tail, and the end result was a grinning gargoyle sprawled across their laps.

"Evening, ladies," Gina greeted, stretching, "Are we gossiping? Who are we talking about? I hope not me?" Her tone took on a ridiculously secretive tone, which showed that the youngest of the trio obviously wasn't serious, "I'm really sorry that I was late, I got sidetracked." Gina wasn't too late, by any means, but she was still genuinely apologetic. But now, she was here, so the party could commence.

>> “You know, let’s just stick to the caffeinated sodas. One sip of those energy drinks and you’re going to be bouncing off the walls…and seriously addicted.”

Were those drinks really so potent? Agnes spoke of them like they were a drug in their own right. Still, bouncing off the walls... did sound like a fun time. "Mebbe Ah wouldnae mind gettin a little silly!" Rebecca stifled a yawn. "Ye can keep me in check. Ah trust ye." Rebecca was sure one drink would not turn the polite girl into hell in a handbasket.

>> “I wonder…too… Probably act like a clutz then burst into ash?”

Rebecca smiled softly. That was pretty similar to how she said she reacted to Jasmine. Maybe Rebecca and Agnes's girlfriend had similar personalities. If Rebecca could be smug, she would feel so with the knowledge that her hypothetical flirtations would hold such sway over Agnes.

Why did it feel so comforting to know that? And what was more, why was Agnes so gosh darn comfortable? Rebecca nuzzled her head comfortably, feeling the soft caress of fingers on her arm. She chuckled. "'At feels nice..."

If this was how good Agnes was at cuddling, Jasmine must be rather happy with her life. Was this sort of cuddling past the "friend" line? Was it weirder still that Rebecca felt comfortable doing it? Maybe this was the sort of thing she should talk with Agnes about.

Rebecca opened her mouth to start what might have been a meaningful dialogue only to let out a squeak with Gina leaping into their laps. Rebecca's knee-jerk reaction was to sit up, removing her from her comfortable spot on Agnes.

>> "Evening, ladies. Are we gossiping? Who are we talking about? I hope not me? I'm really sorry that I was late, I got sidetracked."

Ever the silly lass, Gina made quite the entrance. Rebecca lost her train of thought and grinned at the gargirl. "Oh, Agnes was jist warnin' meh of th' dangers of energy drinks. An' yer nae late at all! We jist ordered th' pizza! Agnes knew what you'd like. Hope ye donae mind!"

A new American student could not ask for two better friends. And it was normal to feel close to good friends. "Ye should try one of me cookies! There's a cookie in th' cookie!" She pointed in the direction of the tray on a counter.

>> "Mebbe Ah wouldnae mind gettin a little silly! Ye can keep me in check. Ah trust ye."

Agnes had chuckled at that comment. Rebecca had become such a good friend but in all the time that they have talked and chatted in the past weeks, Agnes had never really imagined what the shy, Scottish girl would do if she were on a sugar rush. The idea made her chuckle, as well as want to procure a Red Bull just to see how Rebecca would react. Maybe there was one somewhere in the kitchen fridge but she would have to toy with that idea for later.

Absent-mindedly Agnes continued to stroke Rebecca’s arm without really realizing that she was doing it. For whatever reason she was just so comfortable and the action seemed so natural that she did not question it. In the back of her mind she knew her fingers to were caressing Rebecca’s arm and yet she was doing nothing to stop it. What was with that?

But still, she never made the connection that her action needed to be questioned. Instead Agnes would have continued to sit there in blissful ignorance, perfectly comfortable with this sweet, pretty, young teen, resting her head against her arm.

>> "'At feels nice..."

“Hmm?” Agnes mumbled as she suddenly began to return to reality from the depths of her imagination. As she did, she finally realized what she was doing but before any of that could form words in her mouth, she jumped when a sudden movement crossed her field of vision.

She heard Rebecca squeak and Agnes gasped in shock. Suddenly there was a 15 year old gargoyle splayed across their laps that obviously was out to kill them by surprising them to death!!

>> "Evening, ladies. Are we gossiping? Who are we talking about? I hope not me? I'm really sorry that I was late, I got sidetracked."[/color]

“Oh…my…gawd, GINA!” Agnes gasped before she suddenly fell back against the couch in a fit of giggles. There was still a blush on her cheeks but she managed to hide that pretty well with her laughter at her younger sister’s silly antics. “I almost took a swing at you.”

She shook her head with mock irritation but could not help the joyous laugh that fell from her lips. Gina was definitely the perfect little sister and Agnes could not be happier to have her around. Maybe, subconsciously, it was a good thing. After all Agnes felt that she and Rebecca were getting a little TOO[/b] comfortable back there. Yet, even as she realized it, she also realized that she didn’t stop it herself.

Absolutely NOTHING[/b] to overanalyze there!

She blinked when she heard Rebecca’s voice. She too had recovered swiftly from Gina’s surprise.

>> "Oh, Agnes was jist warnin' meh of th' dangers of energy drinks. An' yer nae late at all! We jist ordered th' pizza! Agnes knew what you'd like. Hope ye donae mind! Ye should try one of me cookies! There's a cookie in th' cookie!"

Agnes smirked and nodded. “Try one, Gina. They are REALLY good,” she beamed.

She was so ready for the festivities to begin.