Ashley took a step closer to Spencer, turning part of the way around to also look up the staircase.  “What, you want to put off cleaning because you have something better in mind?  Something up those stairs?”  Her hand snaked around Spencer’s waist, resting right on the small of her back.

“No, hornball,” she replied, placing her own hands around Ashley’s neck.  “I just noticed this mess goes all the way upstairs.”

“Well,” Ashley whispered, “if we finish cleaning now, we can spend the rest of the weekend upstairs…”  Spencer’s slow lean into Ashley’s embrace was all the agreement she needed.  After kissing Spencer ever so lightly, totally teasing her, Ashley grabbed a garbage bag and raced up the stairs to fill it.

Spencer walked back into the family room, a sly smile on her face.  Clay picked up a red cup that was, unbeknownst to him, still half-full.  When it emptied itself onto his foot, he dropped it, scattering the rest of the drink everywhere.  “Dammit!” he shouted.

“Woah, Clay, chill,” Spencer said, bending down to scoop the cup into her bag.  “Go grab the mop and a bucket.  I’ll get the trash.”

Clay stalked into the other room and Spencer heard her brother slamming cupboards and the water rushing full-tilt into the bucket.  When it slammed down next to her feet a minute later, it was Spencer’s turn to swear.

“Dude!  What the hell?!”

“I’m just pissed at Glen,” he snapped back, sloshing more water onto the floor then was necessary, causing Spencer to again jump back to avoid another bath.

“Yeah, well, save the water and throw it on him when he walks in the door, all right?  I got people out of here, remember?”  Spencer tied her bag and stalked into the front hall.  Ashley bounded downstairs, tying her own bag.

“I’m gonna need another,” she said as both girls tossed the garbage outside.  “Someone puked all over Glen’s bathroom.”

“Shut his door and leave it there!” Clay hollered from the other room.  Ashley shrugged, kissed Spencer quickly and ran back up the stairs.  As she watched her mini-skirted girlfriend disappear off the landing, Spencer felt the fight drain out of her.  She walked back into the living room, ready to diffuse the brewing confrontation with Clay.