Noodle Soup

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"Well," announced Russel, " I would just like to say a very happy birthday to ma baby girl." Noodle blushed scarlet with all the attention, "well, I guess you ain't a baby no more."

It was her 16th birthday and so the whole of the band had, on this rare occasion, agreed with her to eat together at dinner, which today as requested was her favourite meal: noodle soup. Unfortunately, not everything was going as smooth as planned.

After a terrible day's rehearsing, Murdoc, who very much disliked this soup, had spent most of the meal complaining and grumbling whilst getting increasingly drunk; working his way through a six-pack of beer. And 2D, whose migraines had been worsening recently, due to the extra practise Murdoc was forcing everyone to do, had consumed even more brain deadening pills than normal, leaving him in an almost comatose state. His blank eyes looked even more vacant than usual, he was having trouble with his chopsticks and even speaking. In his oblivious stupor he accidently managed to flick a particularly wet clump of noodles he had been trying to scoop up, into Murdoc's shirt.

"Oh for Satan's sake, face-ache!" Murdoc scowled, thumping 2D squarely in the back of his head, and then examining the blob on his chest. 2D's face fell with a splat, straight into his noodle soup, sloshing warm broth all over the table. Murdoc smiled maliciously, pleased with himself. I hope he drowns. He thought.

"Murdoc-san!" Noodle shrieked, dropping her chopsticks.

"What? Why are you so worried about him girl? He's had worse." he glared, pointing at his eyes. He was now in an even worse mood, and so made up for it by dumping the un-touched contents of his bowl casually onto 2D's head just as it had begun to emerge from his own soup, while his intoxicated brain tried to figure out what had just happened; slowly sinking numbly back into the bowl.

"Stop it!" she yelled, pulling the dish off of 2D's head; she hated seeing Murdoc hurt him all the time, especially when he was stoned and defenceless.

"Murdoc, man, come on... I know you don't like it but will you stop moanin', please try and be nice for Noodle's birthday, I mean it's almost over anyway..." Russel said, as they watched Noodle fish the smashed 2D out of the soup by his soaked blue hair, dripping all over the table; Noodle frowning at Murdoc disapprovingly.

Holding 2D's head up, Noodle looked at him to check if he was alright: he looked so helpless and yet grateful for Noodle's help. Smiling, he made the sincerest 'thank you' face he could muster from his anaesthetized brain and face. For some reason, seeing him smile like that made her immeasurably happy and a trembling flutter she'd never felt before rippled inside her; from her belly outwards. In shock she dropped him; his head landing with a dull thud, his face blank again. Murdoc grunted in amusement and she turned scowling again. What was that feeling she had experienced? She was flustered; was she going to be sick? Was she nervous? – wait – what reason did she have to be nervous?

"Are you okay, baby girl?" Russel asked, looking concerned; but before she could answer Murdoc's face flickered angrily, "Oh fuck this," he growled standing suddenly, grabbing his beer and turned to leave, "that's it, I'm off to the Winnie; I've had enough of all this bollocks." He scowled, and left; but not before flicking the ash-covered butt of his cigarette into the slosh that was 2D's dinner. Moments later, Kong was silent, except for the howling wind and the heavy breathing of 2D, who had fallen asleep in the tepid puddle that was Noodle's birthday soup.

Scooping up the miserable and confused little bundle of clothes that she was, Russel cuddled Noodle; she was so small he held her as if she was still 10, just fresh from the FedEx box and not 16 as she had turned today. She sighed and stared out into the mysterious, dark night that surrounded Kong before Russel carried her off her room.

Tiredly slipping into the cool bed sheets as Russel left the room, Noodle lay troubled with what had just happened. What had made her feel so... so... she didn't know what she had felt when 2D had smiled at her. At least the drugs will make sure that he won't remember that I dropped him on the table when he wakes up. She thought. But something deep down wanted him to remember that she stuck up for him and for him to smile at her again like that.

Ahh! She thought. What's wrong with me! I need to sleep on this...everything will be fine in the morning...it's obviously nothing...I'm just being silly...right?

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