Scott

It all happened so suddenly...One minute, I was skiing on the Swiss Alps, the next, the whole world was shaking.

Damn California. And its earthquakes.

I opened my eyes to the dim hotel light, only to be greeted by one of my early-rising, ruckus-causing, impish-looking, punks of brothers. I groaned and rolled over, mumbling something incoherent about how I was having a good dream, then realized the world was still shaking.

"Holy fuck, Bob! It's an earthquake!" I screamed, bolting from my bed and proceeding to position myself under a doorway.

My heart was beating so hard I could feel the blood pulsing in my face. Surprisingly enough, though, I wasn't having any trouble keeping my balance. And neither was Bob. And the only thing shaking in the entire room...was my bed.

I let my arms relax as I finally realized I wouldn't fall over, and made my way to my younger brother. Bob had flopped down on his own double bed and was literally rolling with laughter.

"Very funny. Ha. Ha," I spat at him. Leave it up to Bob to pull a stunt with the only vibrating bed that actually survived the 70's. And leave it up to me to pick that bed to sleep in.

Bob

If I could only see that look on Scott's face every day. He was absolutely terrified, white as a sheet, and all over the stupid little vibrating bed. I crack myself up.

I was still laughing when I was bombarded with feathery softness. Hey, even pillows can hurt if they hit you hard enough.

I wriggled and squirmed as Scott pounced on me. Truth? His attack only made me giggle more.

Soon we had both been reduced to a mass of laughter and flailing limbs and linens. Yeah, it was times like these that really made me glad Scott was my brother.

Really, I was surprised that he'd taken my rude awakening so well. Scott's been pretty grumpy for, well, the pst few years. I'm really the only one in the family that can get along with him. Dave talks to much for Scott's liking, and can be a smart-ass sometimes. A smart-ass and a smart-ass do not go well together. Clint just doesn't put up with Scott's shit, and that's a little less than appreciated, so I'm the only brother left that can be stuck sharing a hotel room with him.

And I don't mind it all that much. Moments like these - fun moments - aren't all that rare with us. I mean, they sure as hell don't happen often, but a couple days in a month isn't a stretch.

I untangled myself from my brother and my bed and stood up. "We gotta be down to the bus in half an hour," I proclaimed, grabbing my bags. "We'll wait for you in the 'blondie' room." I wiggled my eyebrows and left Scott to chuckle to himself.

Scott

The "blondie room". Ha. I don't think I'll ever get used to my youngest brother's pee-yellow hair. Clint and Bob's I had gotten used to, mine as well, because they weren't...yellow. But Dave...Dave just looked rediculous.

I sighed and told myself to get up. I only had half an hour, and I hadn't even packed yet, much less showered. I cursed allowed at my stomach for rumbling. "No time for food," I told it.

I wasted about five more minutes stretching before I finally decided to throw everything except my clothes for the day into a plastic bag and just stuff it into my suitcase, then jump in the shower.

Late again.