Here's the next chapter. This one was pretty fun to write. I remembered the two dudes arm wrestling and decided to add to it. BTW, my policy has always been to try and update when the story falls off the first page of fanfic, but sometimes it only takes a day for that to happen, so... Yea. Also, there's a note about London at the end of this chapter. Hope you guys enjoy this. Review if you like it! As usual, please forgive any errors.
Chapter Four
The Third Class General Room was alive with people of all ages and nationalities dancing, drinking beer and wine, smoking, laughing, and even brawling. An ad hoc band was gathered near a piano, honking out lively stomping music on a fiddle, accordion, and tambourine.
While Zack danced with a little girl no older than six, London had somehow become involved in a makeshift poker game. Many people had joined and now it was Jack and Rose, two Swedes, Jack's Italian best friend Fabrizio, and an Irishman named Tommy. Several random items were in the middle of the table, such as a hat, a pack of cigarettes, and even a screw. London has even thrown in one of her earrings, which got everyone to play.
One of the Swedes laid down trip Aces, causing everyone to groan. As he began to rake in the items, Tommy stopped him.
"Just a sec. Let the lady show 'er cards huh?" he said.
London shrugged. "I've only got two small pairs. A pair of fours and a pair of fours." She laid down her cards, which caused everyone to groan even louder, especially the Swede. Curses and jokes rang out in different languages as London crackled with laughter.
"Keep your things boys. We're all having a good time," London said, and everyone was slightly relieved as they took back their items. London saw the Swede she beat subtly eyeing a German woman across the room, so she leaned in to the Swede and spoke. "Du vet, ska du sluta stirra och bara gå och prata med henne." (You know, stop staring and go talk to her.)
The Swede was clearly surprised that London knew Swedish. She laughed as his dumbfounded face, adding, "Hon har kontroll du ute hela natten. Hon uppenbarligen vill dansa, så gå fråga henne. (She's been checking you out all night. She obviously wants to dance, so go ask her.) The Swede though for a moment before grinning, throwing his cards on the floor, and strutting confidently over the German woman. "Bjorn," he added as we walked away.
"Can I cut in?" Zack then grabbed London, who barely had enough time to finish her beer. "Wait!" she said as Zack brought her to the middle of the dance floor, "I-I don't think I can dance to this! I'm not very good."
"What? That's BS! You'll do fine!" Zack said, grasping one of her hands and putting the other one on his shoulder.
She glanced at the other people who were dancing. "Yes, but… I don't know this dance!" Zack just scoffed, secretly enjoying her hand in his. "So what! Nobody's gonna care." She nodded, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. Zack slid his other hand around her slim waist and pulled her closer to where they could feel each others' breath. If they had leaned in a mere three more inches, they would have been lip-locked. "Let's go!"
And they were off. London obviously didn't know the steps to the dance, but she watched the others and began to catch on, her grin growing as the two danced around the room. She was shouting in delight as Zack spun her around as the speed of the music increased. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jack and Rose dancing as well, Rose also shouting with glee.
"I thought you couldn't dance!" Zack cried, obviously knowing that London had been lying.
"So did I!" she called back, her eyes full of excitement.
They saw Jack and Rose move to the empty stage in the middle of the room, where Jack immediately began tapping and moving his feet. Zack saw this as began to drag London over. "Oh hell no!' she said, but she was grinning, nearly laughing, "Absolutely not!"
"Aw come on! Where's your sense of fun?" Zack said, pulling her up onto the stage.
"Ninety-eight years away!" she responded, but still grinning as Zack pulled her up onto the stage.
Jack and Rose were moving their feet together in sync. London looked at them, knowing she couldn't move her feet like that, so she did what she was best at. She began to sway her hips with the beat of the music in a way which was obviously very provocative in 1912. She also moved her head with the music, sending her hair flying in all directions. Many people had stopped dancing to cheer loudly at London's display.
Zack, who was amazed at her ability to move her body, took his place behind her and placed his hands on her curvy hips. He guided her along as the speed of the music increased to the point to where he was hanging on for dear life. London even began to grind her hips against him, sending waves of pleasure throughout his body and bringing out a feeling he had reserved only for that special woman.
The song finally ended, and massive applause erupted for London and Zack, as well as Jack and Rose.
"More beer?" Zack asked as the band started up another song, the two gulping for air.
"If we're going to keep doing this, hell yes!" London said, beads of sweat covering her face. Zack brought them over to the table where Jack and Rose had managed to find a seat. It was then that London saw two men, Bjorn from earlier and the Irishman Tommy arm wrestling. Neither of them appeared to be winning, but London knew their purpose was to just show off. She had been around guys long enough to know that when there were any women within ten feet, they'd be doing something to show off their strength.
Jack then passed two beers to London and Zack. Zack only took a sip or two, but London downed her whole pint of beer, Zack and Jack looking at her in awe.
"What?" she saw their looks, "Just 'cause I'm a first class lady doesn't make me a pussy!" She then grabbed another beer and downed it just as quickly.
Zack laughed loudly at Jack and Rose's shock. Just then, Tommy's hand was forced backward, spilling beer all over the table. "Dammit!" he cried, shaking his head, but still grinning as he paid up his end of a bet. "Shoulda known by the size of your arms." Bjorn began to boast about his victory, which got London thinking.
"So, all of a sudden you think you're the shit huh? Well let's see if you can beat me," she said, her voice full of cockiness. She knew the beer was getting the best of her, but she didn't care. Zack look surprised at her challenge, as did Bjorn. "Oh come on, Jag ska gå lätt för dig." (I'll go easy on you.)
He smirked and nodded his head, accepting the challenge. "Så länge vi inte satsar någonting." (As long as we don't bet anything.) London smirked as well, sat down and positioned her arm on the table, which Bjorn interlocked with. London saw the man's muscles bulge and hoped she wasn't doing something incredibly stupid.
"Wait, you speak Swedish?" Zack blurted out, seeing a side of London he'd never seen before.
"Và một chút của người Việt Nam cũng," she added in Vietnamese. Tommy saw what was happening and pulled more people around them to see the match.
"So I'll guess I'll referee," Zack said, leaning forward, one of his hands resting on the back of London's chair, putting him a lot closer to her than he had been.
"Hold up a minute," Rose said as she shot up out of her chair. "Well, you guys—and lady—think you're strong and all? Let's see you all do this." She took off her heals and assumed a ballet position, instructing Jack to hold the end of her dress up so it wouldn't interfere. London and Bjorn turned to Rose, as did everyone else.
Arms raised, she slowly lifted herself off the ground and on point, taking her entire weight on just the tips of her toes. Everyone gaped at her awesome muscle control as she held the position for a few seconds. She finally came back down, her face scrunched in pain as she began hopping around on one foot. "Oowww! I haven't done that in years!" she exclaimed.
London was quite impressed, but it faded as she turned back to Bjorn. His grin had also faded and was replaced by sheer determination; the crowd around them had also gone silent.
"Ready," Zack started. London and Bjorn shifted a little.
"Set."
"GO!"
"Holy hell!" London cried out as a force she never felt before was exerted on her hand as the crown began cheering and choosing sides. But she returned what was being given as she tried to push Bjorn's hand back, but nothing happened. It was hard for her to breathe without gasping. She concentrated on moving the man's hand downward, her teeth grinding as she did.
"Come on London," Zack's voice carried through the shouting and cheering, the only voice that London concentrated on. He was obviously rooting her on. "You can take him…look at him; he's not even moving your hand! You're loads stronger than this guy…"
The whole time he spoke London could feel her reserve strength building, waiting for the perfect opportunity to capitalize. Zack was still speaking less than a foot away. "You can do it London. I believe in you. I know you can do it." He paused, thinking he had said a little too much.
"Damn," London grunted out to Zack. "Don't stop talking."
With much more confidence in his voice, he continued," Come on… this is all you. Think of our friends back home. Don't let 'em down!" he added, so quietly that London barely heard it, "Don't let me down."
"Gahh-hah!"
London cried out in victory as she forced Bjorn's hand to the table, again spilling beer everywhere. The crowd around them erupted in cheers and applause. Bjorn just laughed, shaking his head. He and London then shook hands (squeezing a little harder than usual) as the crowd continued to cheer and bets were paid up. London then turned to Zack, who was grinning proudly. "Thank you," she said.
"Just trying to help," he said, his hand resting on the back of her chair, still very close to her. His eyes were so gentle, and London had a difficult time convincing herself that that wasn't love she was seeing…
"You did an awesome job," she praised, clenching her hands to stop from shaking.
Zack opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off when Rose dragged him out of his seat and into a chain of people who were dancing around the room. Zack also grabbed London, whooping and hollering in delight as the music took them away.
FanFic dot net, stop deleting my cuts!
"…the way you make me feel! You really turn me on...!"
Zack laughed as he helped a very tipsy London up the grand staircase as she shouted Michael Jackson lyrics. It was two in the morning, so there was nobody around except for Mr. Andrews, who was adjusting the clock and taking notes. He just grinned and shook his head in amusement.
"…my lonely days are gone!" she shouted once they had reached their door. One or two people poked their heads out of their doors to investigate the ruckus, but Zack just smiled apologetically as he helped London into the suite.
Zack reviewed London's state. He had only seen her this drunk on last New Year's in Boston, where she had invited Zack and the lot over to celebrate (with liquor of course.) Everyone had been drinking, even Maddie. They had trashed her suite thoroughly, but nobody cared as Mosby and Carey yelled at them for ten minutes straight. It took them days to clean up with lots of punishment but again, nobody cared. Everyone's friendship with London had grown much stronger in the process.
Zack was shook from his thoughts as London ran into the bedroom door, giggling as she did. "I think you'd better lay down before you hurt yourself," he said seriously, opening the door for her. She nodded, but then turned to face him.
"Wait...uh," she continued giggling, "This is pretty embarrassing, but uh… my dress and corset—I can't get out of them by myself. I…can't reach that far back to loosen the strings and…" she trailed off. "Could you do me the favor?"
Zack blinked, once, his face quickly turning red. "Certainly," he said, helping her into the room. She then turned and faced the bedpost like she had been taught many years ago.
"You know how to do this?" she asked, grinning.
"Uh, I'll figure it out," he said, his fingers taking hold of the small metal hooks on the back. He tried his hardest to keep his hands from shaking, but he was pretty sure that London could tell he was nervous.
"Thanks for bringing down to that party," London said, her voice a little shaky. "Those guys really know how to party it up."
Zack's heart pounded in his chest as he finished with the dress, "Yea they do. Better than these shmucks." Done with the dress, his hands traveled up to the corset, where he untied the knots and loosened the strings. Goosebumps ran up his arms as he came in contact with London's bare skin, wondering if her shaky breathing was normal.
London relished the feeling as Zack touched the small of her back. No guy had ever been this close to her and it sent chills up her spine. Just as Zack finished with the corset, she did a 360 to face him and pushed him into the corner of the room, her eyes shining mischievously as she turned into the aggressor.
"So," she started, loving how nervous Zack was, "You never answered my question."
"…huh?" Zack stuttered out.
"You didn't really answer my question from last night. Why you never flirt or hit on me…?"
Zack blinked. "Oh…that. Well, um…"
London decided to tease him a bit. "Is it my boobs? Are they to small?" she pushed them together with her hands.
Now Zack's eyes were as wide as saucers as he struggled to come up with an answer, trying not to stare. "What? No-no! A-actually, they're quite…perfect," he added the last part in a barely audible whisper.
London grinned. "Hmm, well I'm flattered," she said playfully. "But… if I know you well enough, you tend to go for asses... right?" Zack's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, not even trying to hide his shock. London loved seeing him flounder, so she added, "Don't give me that. I see you checking out my ass all the time. You're not as subtle as you think Mr. Martin."
Zack stood rooted to his spot, shocked at London's advances. He had to keep reminding himself that she was toasted and probably wouldn't remember a thing. But before he could put anymore thought into it, he was yanked out of the corner and thrown onto the bed, where London then straddled him. He put up his arms in a weak defense, but she swatted them away.
"I'm in charge now," she said, eyeing him down like a piece of fresh meat. " So you settle just down or I'm going to have to punish you," she added as she began to unbutton his shirt, fumbling with the buttons.
As much as Zack liked the sound of London punishing him, he grabbed her arms to stop her from taking his shirt off. "London, you're drunk," he said.
"Your point?" she stated, obviously not caring.
Zack fought hard not to give into temptation, his respect for London overriding his own desires (and wants). He secretly dreamt about this many times, but it didn't include her being wasted. He continued to fight off her advances, but she still somehow managed to get his shirt off. She marveled at his toned chest, and Zack couldn't help but feel good that she liked what she saw.
Without warning, London threw all of her body onto him and threw her lips onto his. Zack grunted in surprise, clearly not expecting that. His mind began to reel as he kept repeating 'Don't take advantage!', but the taste of London's lips was overriding his conscious. Finally, after fighting his mind and losing, he gave in and began to kiss back, closing his eyes.
But after no more than a second, London stopped kissing, and even moving all together. Zack opened his eyes to see that London had passed out right in the middle of their makeout session. Zack groaned loudly in frustration, but after a moment, couldn't help but chuckle. He carefully moved London off of him and to the other side of the bed, where he then tucked her in as best as he could.
He decided he might as well sleep in the bed, but still keeping a respectable distance from London so she wouldn't freak when she awoke. He quickly fell asleep, dreaming of nothing but London, rather that the impending sinking.
Okay, I thought I'd make a quick note about London. I enjoy writing writing her character more than I do any other, because the donkey producers make her so shallow, which is putting Brenda Song's talent to waste. (she's an awesome actress!) So I've taken London and meshed her into who I think she could really be with the right push and encouragement. And Zack, well, is Zack. Not everybody may see them how I do, but hey, this is FanFic after all, no? Just my 2¢.