Blackmail.

Years of friendship accumulated lots of it.

And that, my friends, is how Ralphie Tenelli was in his current position.

It wasn't anything big. Just Wanda, deciding to act on a long time irk in her system. She decided, since, well, hey. Phoebe didn't have a boyfriend, you didn't currently have a girlfriend, you should date to tie up loose ends. When a cry of shock, slight outrage and confused babble sputtered from his mouth, she held up what many boys fear.

Baby pictures. Barebutt ones she had swiped from his photo albums.

Wanda was on the yearbook committee. Better do what she says.

Moving on. His current position, at the prompting of Wanda. (More like prodding, "God damnit, Wanda, if you don't put down that fordue fork right now, I will strangle you.") He dialed the Terese phone number, something he had to look up as he didn't have it engraved in his memory like the guys, or Wanda's.

"Hello? Terese Residence, I'm sorry, but my dad isn't home right now, may I take a message?" The voice at the other end was quiet. They didn't have caller ID, apparently she wasn't called much.

"Er. Hey, Phoebe." He said, it was kind of awkward. Wanda couldn't stop grinning behind him.

"Oh, uhm, hi! Ralphie, right? Oh, shoot." There was a pause, "My phone's dying, let me grab the one with the cor-- ahh!" He could hear the phone drop, and a thud. Wanda could even hear it, she stifled a laugh and poked him with the fork. "Gah! Sorry, sorry. My dog tripped me. One minute." Another phone line picked up, and he could hear the distinct click of another being hung up.

"Okay, I'm back. Sorry about th-- Sadie! Get off me!" Sadie, of course, was the name of the hyperactive jack russel terrier Phoebe had picked up from the shelter. There was a yelp in the background, probably the dog being pushed off and hitting the ground. Once he heard the stream of apologies ("Sadie! I'msorrysorrysorrysorrysorry...") he knew that was true.

"Ah, I'm really sorry Ralphie, but I got to go! I think my dog might not come out from behind the couch now. I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay?" Click. Buzzzzzzzz.

Phoebe Terese had just hung up on him. He hadn't got a word in edgewise.

"Way to go, stud." Wanda said, poking him once in the shoulder.

Ralphie shot her a glare and snatched the fork away.

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Yes. Jumped on the Ralphobe bandwagon. '

Might make this into a two part, but who knows?