Saturday, late evening

     Well, shit. Jenna had agreed to go on a date with none other than Frey Sanders, and now she couldn't keep her eyes away from him.

While sitting at a barstool to take a break from dancing with her friends, Jenna kept following Frey around while he was working.

Three things stood out that night. First of all; Frey wasn't drinking any alcoholic drinks during his shift.

Secondly, every time he reached for a bottle on the shelves his shirt would go up just enough for her to see a thin line of his skin—it gave her giddy feelings to know she touched that skin.

And the third thing that stood out? Daniel and Frey were acting weird around each other, and Jenna didn't know Frey well enough to understand what was going on in his case. But she did know Daniel well enough to know what he was doing; he was innocently teasing Frey. He was flirting.

She had watched them going about their usual business for while, went back to dancing, and returned to find Daniel and Frey standing back to chest; Frey handling the register, Daniel grabbing something from the shelve above his head. He didn't have to stand behind Frey to grab the bottle; he could've easily reached to it from the side and leave Frey be.

But he didn't, and Jenna couldn't help but frown at the interaction between the boys. And every time Daniel touched Frey in any way, Frey's would blush a little more than he was already doing due to the heat in the club.

She wasn't the type to be jealous easily, and most especially not when it came to Daniel, since he would never do anything that would hurt her—or anyone in general. But Daniel was acting weird, and it worried her a bit, since she knew his mother was going in for treatment soon and he always acted a bit off whenever that was going to happen.

But that day, his behaviour had been off even worse, and Jenna knew him well enough to know he liked Frey, and something between them happened and caused them to no longer fight.

Had Frey taken her up on her advice and talked to Daniel about the miscommunication?

Jenna didn't really know what to think of it, so when the crowd around the bar slimmed down, and Lacy, Frey and Daniel weren't running around to get everyone as much drinks as fast as possible, she pulled Daniel aside to ask him about it.

"Wow, Jen, what's wrong?" Daniel chuckled as she squeezed his wrist painfully hard.

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing?"

"Your flirting with Frey." Jenna grumbled in annoyance. "Didn't I tell you he asked me out on a date right before you started working?"

"You did, yes. But you also said you didn't know what to think of it yet, since you don't really know him that well."

"So... that is a sign you can go ahead and flirt with the guy I'm interested in?" Jenna rolled her eyes, slumping down on a barstool tiredly. "Danny, be honest. Do you like him?"

"Yeah, and you know I do. You know I liked him from the moment I met him and the only reason I never did anything with those feelings, is because I was with Mitchel, and then I didn't want another jerk as a boyfriend."

"And because Frey is straight."

"He isn't."

Jenna—who had just taken a sip from her drink—spat the drink out to the floor. "What?"

"He... we... Eh..." Daniel scratched the back of his head. "We kissed."

"What!?" Jenna hissed, leaning to the left a bit to look at Frey, who was arguing with Lacy about something—possibly their date—and frowned. "When did that happen?"

"Thursday..." Daniel forced her to turn her head and face him again. "I'm sorry, but I like him, and I know you do too... but... I just can't help it."

"Me neither. What is it about him? I hated his guts three days ago and now I'm all giddy and excited because he asked me on a date. For crying out loud, Danny, I kissed him."

"Same..." Daniel quickly looked at Frey for a second, before facing her again. "He's confused. He told me during our break. He has no idea what to do, because he likes us both."

"That doesn't make it right to kiss us both—"

"You kissed him."

"And he asked me out." Jenna reminded Daniel of the simple fact Frey still had showed interest in her in some way. "But great. Now what?"

"Well... I suggested for him to go on a date with both of us..." Daniel drawled. "Give us both a chance to get to know him, and for him to get the two of us too."

"Do you really want to go down that path? Date the same guy? You know how that goes."

"Yeah..." Daniel lolled his head sideways when Jenna reminded him of the past. They had been interested in the same guy before, and Jenna ended up dating him. The guy was straight, so Daniel didn't even stand a chance to begin with. But the guy turned out to be an aggressive idiot and Jenna only managed to get him to leave her alone after Samuel and her father had stepped in after she had received yet another beating. She had only been fifteen, but the memory was still painful, and Jenna hadn't dared to date anyone ever since.

Something about Frey had made her discard her rules to not date, and something about him had totally let her lose her guard in front of him. She was whipped, already.

And now Daniel was here, announcing he too was interested in him, and they had already kissed?

How did she end up in yet another love-triangle with her gay best friend?

One that would prove to be more difficult since Frey wasn't straight or gay; he was bisexual—apparently.

"Whatever happens, let's agree to not let him get in between our friendship." She told him firmly. "I don't want a rerun of what happened with Robby."

"Not in the least because Robby really needs to learn how to treat his woman." Daniel nodded. "I agree. Frey can not get in between our friendship."

"So, we'll... accept him dating both of us?" Jenna frowned, wondering if it was a good idea—since Frey had previously proven to be a player.

"If you're okay with it? I just really like him."

Jenna sighed deeply. She had no right to claim Frey. They barely knew each other. They hadn't even been on a date yet.

But she knew she was in a disadvantage, as it would be easier for Daniel to answer Frey's needs. He wasn't a virgin like she was.

He had leverage.

She just had to find something herself too, to seduce Frey as much as possible without ignoring her own boundaries.

She just wondered, how much effort would Frey be willing to put into her, once he would find out she was damaged when it came to relationships?

Sunday, midday

     Since Daniel had to work a day-shift at his second job, Jenna had agreed to watch Hannah for the day, while Mrs. Quinn was asleep, too exhausted to get out. The cancer and her treatments were really taking a toll on the woman and Jenna's heart clenched at the thought of her possibly dying and leaving Daniel and Hannah without any parents at all.

It always had to be to good people who got ill way too early in life. Jenna wished it had been Daniel's and Hannah's father instead of their mother, since he was a deadbeat father anyway.

For as far as Jenna ever got Daniel to talk about his father—which had been once—Daniel had told her his father never really had bothered to work and provide food and other things for his family. It had always been his mother taking care of them, while his father spent all his own money on drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and hookers—always cheating on Mrs. Quinn.

Which was why neither Daniel, Hannah nor their mother had the man's last name. Jenna didn't even know what Daniel's father was called, or when exactly he had left.

"Jenna?" Hannah tucked her sleeve while they walked to the local restaurant because Jenna promised to take the girl out for a high-tea.

And this particular restaurant offered high-tea that was perfect for seven—almost eight—year old girls like Hannah.

And Hannah loved to play and pretend tea-parties, so this would be a perfect way to keep her distracted from her mother's bad health.

"Yes, honey?" She smiled down on Hannah as she grabbed Jenna's hand.

"I made a new friend this week."

"Oh, you did?" Hannah had no trouble making friends, contrary to her brother Daniel, who had been bullied during pre- and middle school.

"He's called Frey and he's Danny's friend. He bought us my favourite food and ice cream and he's coming to my birthday."

Jenna pulled up an eyebrow in surprise. When did that happen? Was this when Daniel and Frey kissed?

"Sounds like a good guy." Jenna mumbled, too consumed by her wonders about Frey.

"You're coming too, right?" Hannah yanked her hand since Jenna was still silently wondering.

"Yes, of course I'm coming. I promised your mom and Daniel to help. I'm taking the cake and a big birthday present."

"Ooh, what did you get me?" Hannah's eyes widened curiously. "Daniel is giving me barbie doll. Though it's not really a barbie because those are too expensive..."

Jenna bit her lip, trying to ignore her stomach clenching yet again as Hannah again reminded her of their poor financial status.

It was so bad, Jenna's own parents even bought Hannah a present, and all Daniel's friends did too. She wasn't getting them all for her birthday, because then she wouldn't have anything for Christmas.

They were all small and insignificant presents, but knowing Hannah, she would be happy nonetheless.

Jenna and Lacy had tried to come up with enough money to buy the thing Hannah really wanted. But since Jenna didn't have a job, and Lacy had to help out at home too, they didn't make even half of the needed amount of money.

At least last year she had been capable of demanding Mitchel to be a decent boyfriend and buy Hannah a decent present. But since he was out of the picture, Hannah was going to have to accept small presents, and fake barbie dolls.

At least Jenna's parents had given her money to take Hannah out to a high-tea as a pre-birthday gift, and Jenna was sure Hannah was going to love it.

For now, putting a smile on Hannah's face was her purpose. Anything to make the little girl forget about their shitty life for a while and pretend to be a princess drinking tea.

Which was exactly how Hannah liked to imagine her tea-parties most of the time, and she did too that day.

For a while, sitting there with a joyful Hannah, life and all its troubles were insignificant to Jenna, and she hadn't thought about dating-issues for once.

And Hannah hadn't thought about her ill mother, the lack of money, and her upcoming birthday without the present she wanted either.

In that moment, they were just two princesses drinking their tea, eating all the sweets they got along with the tea.

Words: +/- 1929