NoV: Ahaha! NoV's Rent lives on!! (really fast voice) NoV's Rent is in no way affiliated with actual Rent and/or Jonathan Larson and/or anything that actually matters. NoV does not own Rent and never will. (End fast voice) Well, hope you all really enjoy, I've got lots of fun ideas for this story!
PS/Little Note: Roger drives because he's the only one I trust with the job, and the only one I've ever seen driving.
Warning: This story contains some real life events and those involved must oblige me creative license with them, thank you!
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Quote of the day:
"Artificial intelligence is never a match for natural stupidity."
-unknown
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A plum van rolled down the highway, passing slower vehicles every so often. At the helm was Roger Davis, trying to ignore the loud rumbling talking of the other passengers and still hold a conversation with Mimi. Angel and Collins sat in the middle row, very tempted to snack on the things kept in the cooler between them. Maureen and Joanne held hands in the backseat, next to Mark who stared blankly out the window for most of the trip. This van didn't belong to any of them. When it had come down to finding a vehicle for this trip, they had asked a neighbor, NoV, if she would be able to help them. NoV had then volunteered her friend's mother's van for their use. Unfortunately due to qualifying circumstances, NoV was unable to go on the trip. (pout)
Angel had been the one who insisted on the trip. Margo Fletcher, that untouchable goddess hat designer, was giving her next lecture at Coconut Beach, some hundreds of miles away from New York where the group had unfortunately missed the previous lecture. As they had learned, the incredible hulk couldn't keep Angel from seeing Margo's lecture as soon as was mortally possible. On the other hand, the beach wasn't a particularly horrible place to visit, so objections were not given.
Roger expertly pulled the van into a spot in front of the motel they were staying at (thanks to NoV's rich daddy, we suppose), and the gang was ready to jump out and stretch their legs. Collins was a bit too eager to get out of the hot, arid van and onto the beach to frolic. As he stepped out, his foot got wrapped through the seatbelt, therefore causing the poor man to pitch forward and land on his face on the concrete.
"Woah, Collins," Mark said through his camera. "That'll make a good outtake."
Collins gave him the finger just as Angel jumped down to help him up. "Are you okay?" she asked, fondling him and wiping dirt and rocks off of him.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Collins replied, despite his stinging knee. "I could probably use a band-aid." He shrugged.
"They probably have some at the front desk," Maureen said, quickly. "Let's go check in so we can get down to the beach!"
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Half an hour later, the beach was filled with all sorts of people. There were old people who never moved from under their giant, rented umbrellas. There were middle-aged people with their excited kids running all over, making mischief. There were lots of teenagers with their stereos, bikinis and tans. One group of people, however, was impossible to miss. This group, of course, was that lovable group of bohemians that had just checked into the hotel.
They had managed to put their things away and get changed rather quickly, as they were all very anxious to start having fun. Roger wore a pair of red trunks with a blue stripe down one side, a pair of sunglasses and a pair of sandals. He carried the cooler. Mimi wore a scanty black bikini with drawstrings galore, which Roger curiously kept pulling at. Collins looked like a pro, wearing a broad-rimmed hat with a string under his chin, sunglasses, a white t-shirt, green trunks and sandals. Angel had chosen her blond wig for the beach. She wore a pink bikini top. There was no question as to whether she wore the bottoms as well, but they were concealed under a modest yellow terry cloth skirt. She also wore high heels. Maureen wore a red two-piece suit that did a good job of showing off her bustiness, along with movie star-style sunglasses. Joanne wore her favorite green one-piece with denim shorts over it and green sandals to match. Mark wore simple blue trunks, a black t-shirt and sandals.
The group put up their umbrella and set their towels and cooler near it. "Who wants to go swimming?" Maureen cried, eager to run off into the surf.
"Mmm, I want to tan a little first," Mimi replied, laying out on her towel.
"Uh, me too," Roger added, putting his towel next to hers.
Mark sat nervously under the umbrella and said, "I want to wait until my sunblock gets absorbed into my skin a little moreā¦."
"Yeah, Mark, we wouldn't want you to lose your milky white glow," Collins joked.
"Are you coming to swim, Collins?" Angel wondered, kicking off her heels daintily.
"I'll go get a float and I'll be right with you, okay?" he answered. He leaned over to give her a kiss and then trooped toward the rental shack.
"Coming Pooklit?" Maureen asked Joanne.
Joanne weighed the alternatives and shook her head yes. "All right, should be fun!"
Maureen, Joanne and Angel giddily dashed down the beach and into the water. They had to slowly adjust to the cold water, but soon were up to their waists enjoying themselves. A few minutes later, Collins joined them on a flat, red float and got splashed mercilessly by them.
Maureen was laughing so hard that she hardly felt the light, feathery touch on her abdomen. Soon, however, she couldn't ignore it as it grew sore and stung severely. "Ow, owie, owie!" she cried, rubbing the spot.
"What is it?" Joanne asked, mildly worried.
Maureen looked at the red bump right below her bikini top. "I think I got stung by a jellyfish," she whined. She seethed, saying, "Arrgh!! The salt water hurts it!"
"Let's go up to the room and get some ice," Joanne suggested, taking her by the arm.
"I heard that shaving cream will make it better," Angel said, helpfully. "You can use mine, it's in my pink bag." Giving it a second thought, she quickly said, "I only need the shaving cream for my legs."
Joanne gave her a strange look. "We can just use mine," she said, then added, "Which I also use just for my legs." She eased Maureen up the shore and onto the beach.
By the time they got to the umbrella, Maureen was quite enjoying the attention she was getting. When Roger, Mimi and Mark looked up at her in confusion, she said, "I got stung by a jellyfish." She pointed to the spot. "It looks like a third nipple." Everyone simply nodded at her.
Joanne continued to push her toward the hotel. "Let's go, Maureen," she said.
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Back in the water, Angel had laid her head on Collins' float and was hovering around in the water. "Are you having fun?" she wondered, cutely.
"I'm spending time with you," he replied. "How could I not have fun?"
Angel smiled. "Hang on right there," she instructed. "I'm gonna go see if Mimi wants to come swimming now, okay?"
"Okay," Collins agreed. He folded his hands over his stomach and closed his eyes, enjoying the serenity of the ocean waves.
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Angel talked Mimi into coming out to swim. Before she got up to leave, Mimi wondered, "Hey, Roger? Will you go get us some drinks? I think there's a bar near the pool."
"Sure," Roger agreed. "Want anything, Mark?"
"Nah," Mark said. "Alcohol actually increases your risk of sun exposure."
"Okay," Roger said in a "You're completely out of your mind," way. He hiked up the beach back toward the hotel.
Mark lay down on his towel, having pinpointed a spot under the umbrella where no sunlight would touch him or his towel or his water bottle. He closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep. A gust of wind blew by, and unbeknownst to Mark, whisked the umbrella away.
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NoV: Haha! Chapter one is complete.
Next time (!): Something falls on Roger's head, Collins goes missing, Mimi gets trapped in seaweed, and Joanne gets bitten by a shark!
