Party Night
A week had passed since the day at the lake. It was a cool afternoon as Ben drove home from a day of work. As with most weekends, plans had been made for the evening. Tonight was a party celebrating a friends moving out for the first time. As Ben curved through the streets of his neighborhood, he wore a sarcastic grin at the thought of how much beer he would consume during the event. It had been three weeks since he had been drunk, and after a long day of work, he was ready for another night of fun.
The garage door was open when Ben parked his truck in the driveway. It seemed odd that it would be open without Link inside working on his motorcycle. As Ben opened up the door connecting the kitchen to the garage, he unbuttoned his tan work shirt. As he walked through the downstairs he noticed the house was extra clean and organized compared to how it normally is on a Saturday afternoon. Ben casually walked up the stairs. As he approached his bedroom door he noticed the adjacent bathroom door to the left open. Inside he could see Link grooming himself.
"Hey bro," Ben said as he opened his bedroom door and stepped through.
"Hey," Link shot quickly.
Ben peeled his grungy work shirt off and throw it into a nearby laundry hamper. "You ready to get fucked up tonight?"
"Yeah," Link shot out in the same quick and nervous tone as before.
Something seemed odd to Ben suddenly. The garage door was open with no one in it working, the downstairs was unusually clean, and Link was acting out of his normal character. Ben walked back to the doorway and leaned against the door frame. Link's appearance looked odd as well. His hair was combed instead of the mess he typically styled running his hand through his hair and then covering it with his hat. His gray undershirt was the same, but the green t-shirt he now wore was new and unfaded.
Ben hesitated for a second. "You invited Zelda, didn't you?"
As Link brushed his teeth, he responded with a muffled, "Uh huh."
"Good boy," Ben grinned. "So she's not forbidden to see you after what happened last week?"
Link spit into the sink. "Guess not. But I don't know if she told her dad where she was going."
"What he don't know won't hurt him," Ben said with a smirk.
Link rinsed out the sink and dried his face with a towel. He turned to Ben and asked, "Do I look alright?"
"You look fine."
"You sure."
"Dude, it's a party. You could go wearing nothing but jeans and you'd be fine."
"I meant the bruises. Can you still notice them?"
"Oh," Ben said as he examined Link's face. The wounds from the previous weekend were still slightly visible. "Your eye's still a little dark but you're pretty much healed."
Link shuffled through the medicine cabinet and retrieved a small black cylinder of deodorant spray. As he sprayed the fragrant missed across his body, the sudden chime of the door bell rang.
"That's her," Link said excitedly as he dashed passed Ben towards the stairs.
Link rushed down the stairs, spun around once he touched the ground floor, and stepped up to the door. He took a second to take in a calming breath, and then he unlocked and opened the front door. Zelda's near perfect image filled the doorway as the door swung open.
"Hey," She said cheerfully.
"What's up," Link asked nervously. "Was the house easy to find?" Link motioned her to come inside.
"Yeah," she said as she stepped through, holding a pink, hooded sweater under her right arm. "You're the only house on the street with the garage door opened."
For a moment Link just stood and examined her. He still couldn't believe someone so beautiful wanted to spend the evening with him.
"So," she said after an awkward moment. "What's next?"
"Oh," Link said as he snapped back to the real world. "Well I guess we're just waiting on Ben."
"You guys got a few minutes. I still need to take a shower before we go," Ben called down from atop the stairs.
"Oh," Link said surprised. "Well I guess we just chill until he's ready."
"What was under that tarp in the garage," Zelda questioned intently.
"That was my bike," Link said proudly.
Zelda raised an eyebrow. "Like, a mountain bike?"
Link laughed on the inside. "No, my motorcycle. C'mon I'll show you."
Link guided her out into the garage. Link grasped the tarp and tugged it free of the motorcycle. Zelda's jaw nearly dropped to the floor as she laid eyes on the red beast.
"You have an Epona," Zelda's voice brimmed with excitement. "Does it still run?"
"No," Link said reluctantly. "Been working on it for the past year and a half. Spent most of my extra money on all the old parts for it. Just need to find the starter and she should be road worthy."
Zelda stepped up to the bike a gentle caressed the paint as if it were a pet of the house. "This thing is beautiful." Zelda continued to examine for a moment. With a childish grin she turned and faced Link to ask, "You wanna trade?"
"Trade for what?"
"My car," She said as she pointed across the street to a red coupe.
"Ooh," Link said as he laid eyes on the shimmering vehicle. "What's that."
"That's the new Epona. Their not as cool as their predecessor."
"Tempting but I think I'll stick with my bike. I care for my baby."
"You suck," Zelda joked in an immature tone.
"You're complaining about that car?"
"Not really. My dad bought it for me as a graduation gift."
"Oh you spoiled little princess."
Zelda giggled at Link. "Shut up," she said. As she turned around she lightly slapped Link on the chest.
The first thing that shot through Link's mind as she laid hands on him was an excited she's touching me. After a moment he noticed that she hadn't removed her hand from his chest. He looked at her and made eye contact with the two hypnotizing, blue crystals that compliment her already excellent features. Once again he found himself caught in that timeless reality as the space between them seemed to become ever smaller.
The sound of the the door behind them opening interrupted their private moment. Damn, Link thought as Zelda removed her hand and broke eye contact. Link turned his head to see Mike step through the door. He wore a button down shirt, slacks, and dress shoes, all colored white. His hair was combed rather than his scruffy mess.
"Hey there," Mike said to Zelda.
"Hi," she replied.
"You kids have fun tonight," Mike said as he passed them by.
"You're not joining us," Link asked as Mike stepped out the garage.
"Parties aren't my thing," Mike said as he slid on a pair of black sunglasses. "Plus I got a dinner date tonight with Jessica."
"Alright," Link said. "See ya later."
"Tell Jon I said hi," Mike called back as he stepped into his blue sedan that had been parked on the curb in front of the house.
As the blue vehicle disappeared down from sight, it was replaced another silver coupe. Out of it stepped the friendly, familiar face of Bill. He was tall like everyone one else in the group. The first thing to notice about his face was his piercing blue eyes that were emphasized by his pale skin color. His hair was dark brown and combed into a simple bowl around his skull and his face was a little scruffy from not shaving for a couple of days. His close were as simple as his face. He wore a red shirt half covered by a gray jacket, blue jeans, and simple black shoes.
"What's up, Link," his nasally voice called out happily as he walked up the driveway.
"Hey Bill," Link called back.
Bill's attention shifted to Zelda. "Hi," he said nervously as he waved his hand like a little boy.
Link laughed silently again. "Bill, this is Zelda."
"Hi," Zelda said as she mimicked Bill's wave.
"Hi," Bill repeated. "I'm Bill." A brief silence passed between them. "I'm the computer guy," his said in an enthusiastic tone.
Link and Zelda both laugh at Bill's dorky charms. For about twenty minutes the three conversed in the garage until Ben finally emerged from the door.
The dark veil of night fell on the town as the group arrived at the lonely house that was nestled in the woods. Ben turned the engine to his truck off as he examined the one story building. The narrow dirt driveway was packed full of trucks and cars of all sorts. Link kept thinking about how the house looked like an over sized tree house. Ironically enough, that mirrored Jon's personality quite well.
"As always," Ben said as the radio turned off. "Jon picks the most redneck thing on the market."
"Well come on," Bill said enthusiastically as he quickly unbuckled himself from the passengers seat. "Let's go party." Bill quickly disappeared in the sea of vehicles that lay before them.
Confused, Link begged a question. "What is he so excited about?"
Ben was choked with laughter in the drivers seat with his head now resting on the steering wheel. "Jon told him he invited a bunch of strippers tonight," Ben was able to force out through his laughter.
Link struggled to hold back a fit of laughter. Though he tried, he lost his composure along with Link.
"Is there gonna be a bunch of naked people here tonight," Zelda asked half jokingly.
"That's after all the beer," Link answered.
As Ben unbuckled his seatbelt, he continued to watch Bill. As Bill reached the front porch, he was greeted by the large bodied, half drunk, Jon. His face was round and furry with glasses covering his brown eyes. His hair was a mess of brown, uncombed spikes. He wore a tattered gray t-shirt and tan cargo shorts that lacked a much needed belt. His shoes were dirty from working and his socks were old and unclean. As the group approached the large man, who was now giving Bill an affectionate bear hug, the sent of his musk filled their noses.
"You assholes finally showed up," Jon laughed as he pulled his shorts up.
"Hi Jon," Bill said, half winded from Jon's roughly affectionate greeting.
"What's up, Big Man," Ben said as he handed Jon a case full of beer. "Since when did you start living in an overgrown tree house?"
"Shut up and get you asses in here," Jon said as he turned to return to the bustling party within, without even acknowledging Link or his guest.
As the group entered, Zelda and Link stalled for a moment. "He seems.......interesting," Zelda said in a concerned tone.
"Don't worry," Link comforted. "He's big, loud, rude, and smelly but he knows how to have one hell of a good time."
"I hope your right," Zelda replied. Link stepped forward and opened the door for her. "And I'm not getting naked for you guys either," she said with a cute grin on her face.
"Damn," Link breathed sarcastically as Zelda stepped through the door.
Dozens of unfamiliar faces littered the deceivingly large house as the group enjoyed the night of fun. The majority of the party goers crowded the living room and neighboring kitchen where the food and drinks waited to be consumed. Link pushed himself through the mass of bodies, strongly buzzed, and drink in hand. He moved toward the kitchen where Ben sat on the counter.
"Dude," Link said as he tapped Ben on the shoulder. "Asshole alert," he warned.
"Who," Ben questioned as he lowered his drink from his lips.
"Garrett showed up a few minutes ago," Link answered.
"Aw, FUCK," Ben said with a growing rage. "Who invited that guy?"
"He kinda invited himself," Jon answered from beside Ben.
"Why didn't you tell him no," Ben said in a serious tone.
"I dunno," Jon said through a drunken belch.
"Dude that fucker is gonna bug the shit outta me," Ben groaned.
"Well we could get him drunk and give him a bunch of new tattoos," Jon said as he opened a drawer and presented a fresh pack of black markers.
Ben hesitated a moment as he examined the possibilities of his situation. "Do you have a camera," he asked after a minute of pondering.
"That and hair clippers and a computer with Internet access and a large friends list of people to e-mail the blackmail to," Jon replied as he bounced his eyebrows up and down.
Ben hesitated another moment. "This may be fun," he said as he smiled and scratched his chin.
Link slipped his way back through the crowd of people with two fresh drinks in hand. As he pushed his way passed the last wall of bodies, he was met by the blue eyed smiling face of Zelda.
"I have returned," Link said as he hand one of the glasses to Zelda.
"I thought Ben was joking about the strippers," Zelda said as she took a sip from her glass.
"Huh," Link questioned as he sat down beside her.
Zelda answered by pointing a finger across the room. Against the wall sat Bill in a dusty brown love seat with two girls sharing a seat on his lap. One girl wore a white bikini with a novelty nurses hat while the other wore a gold bikini. Both of their outfits were incredibly revealing and left very little to the imagination. As the girls gently teased Bill he could only respond with a delightful grin as his face turned an increasingly bright red.
Link's expression turned surprised. "I thought he was kidding too." Link examined the trio for a moment. "And way to go Bill," Link said to himself.
An hour passed as Link and Zelda found themselves conversing about each others lives. They talked about the highlights of their experiences from their early childhood, to days in school, and up to the events of the previous weekend at the lake.
"I honestly thought I was going to jail," Link said as he realized how warm his face had become. "I kept thinking to myself that my skinny ass is going downtown. Hey maybe Karen still works there."
Zelda giggled at his joke as she tried not to spit up the drink in her mouth. "I think if Mitchell was there you would have."
"Mitchell," Link asked with a cocked eyebrow.
"The one cop who's a friend of my dad," Zelda answered over her glass.
"Ah," Link said as he remembered she had mentioned him before.
"I saw him talking to the old man, trying to convince him we really didn't know it was private property."
"Well that was cool of him. Speaking of your dad, I'm surprised he let you loose tonight. He wasn't scared that his little girl was hanging out with rambunctious punks again."
"No," Zelda said as she tried not to laugh. "I had to do a lot of sweet talking and ass kissing but I convinced him you were okay." Zelda took another sip from her drink. "Your roommates are a different story though."
"Why," Link asked with a smile.
"When I was in the car with him, he kept asking 'which one are you sleeping with?! Which one are you sleeping with!? It's not the one with the tattoos is it?'"
Link laughed a little. "Normally Ben is considered the nice once of the group when Mike's not around. So I'm not gonna get my head torn off if I come over some time, am I?"
"Just don't make any sudden moves and don't make eye contact and you'll be fine," Zelda joked.
Suddenly the couch rocked forward and Link and Zelda were separated by a falling body. Upside down and and grinning hysterically was the red, fun loving face of Ben.
"Oops! My bad," Ben said giggling. "Am I interrupting anything?"
"Just a little," Zelda said casually.
"Sorry. Jon threw me," Ben said wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Jon lumbered up next to the couch and grabbed Ben by the collar. "Come here you scrawny little weasel. You weren't supposed to fly that far."
"Help me," Ben choked out as he was suddenly lifted into the air and away from the couch.
Link's face rippled with laughter at the sight of Ben being carried away over Jon's shoulder as if he were a rag doll. "You gotta love my friends," he said to Zelda.
"Yes they are interesting."
"Hey," an annoying voice called out over the grumble of the crowd.
Link's face changed to a remorsefully expression as he silently lipped, "Oh, crap."
Suddenly a thin man wearing a white colored shirt and blonde, buzz cut hair rushed out of the crowd. His face was thin and unpleasant to the eyes as dorky glasses hung from a nose that resembled a parrots beak. As he spoke, the thick sent of rum cascaded from his mouth.
"It's Little Link," the man said as he wrapped an arm around Link's neck and rubbed the knuckles of his free hand over the top of Link's skull. "How ya doin ya little douche?"
"Hey Garrett," Link said as he repositioned his hat.
"And what would your name be," Garrett asked as his attention shifted to Zelda.
"I'm Zelda," she replied. She couldn't help but display a disgusted expression at the unpleasant sight before her.
"Well I'm Garrett. The only one here who's not a wuss- I mean civilian. I'm in the navy." Garrett offered a hand that Zelda purposely ignored.
"Leave them alone, private broomstick," Ben said as he made sure to stand between Garrett and Zelda.
Garrett's tone turned defensive in the sight of Ben. "Why the hell do you keep calling me that?"
"Uh oh. He doesn't remember what he did to himself last time we partied together," Ben said to Jon who had appeared behind Garrett.
Garrett's expression turned worried. "Huh?"
"That reminds me," Jon said. "I better go hide the mop. I just bought that." Jon stepped away as Ben followed.
Garrett stumbled with his words for a moment. "You guys are just kidding...........right?" No answer came from the two walking away. "Guys, you are playing around, right?" Still no answer. "Guys!?" Garrett chased after the two who had disappeared into the kitchen.
"They were just kidding, right" Zelda asked Link nervously.
"Nope," Link answered reluctantly.
"No way," Zelda said as Link took a large gulp from his drink. "He has to be making it up."
"He's not," Link said after he swallowed hard. "I was there when we found him and...Broomie."
Zelda covered her mouth to hold back the waves of disgusted laughter. "That's so gross."
"Try seeing it," Link muttered as he tried to repress the horrible images. "Anyway let's talk about something that's a little less traumatic."
"Like what?"
Link searched his thoughts for a moment. "So when did you go out with Mark?"
Zelda's expression turned ashamed. She stalled a moment before she could answer. "I went out with him for a little less than two months." She raised the glass to her lips. "And I regret ever doing so," she said as she gulped down her drink.
Link became aware of the tension within her. "Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it."
"No, it's okay," she said as she wiped away a drop from her chin. "I just feel stupid for falling for a guy who was such a... such a..."
"Dick," Link finished.
"Yeah let's go with that," Zelda said as she nodded.
A growing grumble from the crowd started echoing from the kitchen. The grumble turned into a chant as a group of people lifted Garrett into the air. The group marched down the hall with Garrett in air as they all chanted "Swirly! Swirly!"
"Wait, don't," Garrett begged as he struggled to break the crowds grip. "You'll break my glasses," he whined.
"Joe, get his glasses," Ben said as a short, chubby man wearing black sweats jumped up and removed Garrett's glasses.
Though the mob had disappeared down the hall, their chants and laughs continued to boom into the living room. The voices of the intoxicated men and girls drowned out all other sound in the room. As Link looked away he returned his attention to Zelda who was trying to say something over the crowd.
"I can't hear you," Link tried to yell over the ambient noise.
After a couple more failed attempts to make her voice heard, Zelda motioned Link to follow her. Both got up and explored the house for a quiet place to talk. After several minutes of searching, the pair stumbled upon an abandoned balcony over looking the lake. The two continued talking for hours, refreshing their drinks along the way. As Link looked down at his wrist watch it read eleven forty five. Link took another sip from his drink as he looked to his right. There was Zelda rubbed the drunk from here eyes. He stared at her red face as she finished wiping her eyes clean, smudging her makeup as she did. Link giggled at her as he lowered his drink from his lips.
"What," Zelda asked with a drunk wheeze behind her voice.
"Look at you," Link said with a grin. "The mayor's daughter is drunk off her ass."
"I'm not that bad," she said as she put a hand on the balcony rail to stabilize herself.
"Oh yes you are, kiddo."
"Hey, I'm doing pretty good for the amount I've had."
"I've had the same amount as you have," Link said as he took another swig.
"Damn," Zelda said through a fit of laughter. "Well, hey! It's like you said. I'm the mayor's daughter. I'm usually sheltered all the time. So when I can have fun, I take advantage of it."
"Oh really," Link said after he swallowed.
"And I had to calm my nerves from being around you," Zelda said as she slid closer to Link.
Link's eyes widened as she brushed up against him. Link made eye contact and noticed the seductive expression in her eyes. He stumbled to speak as he gazed at her. "Wh-What?"
Zelda erupted into another fit of laughter. After a moment she calmed herself enough to say, "Why are the nice ones always so shy?"
Even with the amount of alcohol in his system, Link found himself frozen and unable to respond. Zelda finished the last of her drink and then put one arm around Link's waist. Once again, the only thing going through Link's mind was the very nervous but equally enthusiastic She's touching me. As he continued to stared into her glossy eyes Link realized it was now or never. He quickly finished the last of his drink and turned to face Zelda. As he turned, she wrapped her other arm around him and slowly drew in closer. Link mimicked her and rested his hands at the small of her back. He pulled her in closer and held his gaze on her. He was nearly shaking as her lips gently began to press against his.
Suddenly the glass double door to the balcony erupted open as a drunken, and shirtless Garrett stumbled onto the balcony. Dammit, not again, Link thought as a shocked Zelda pushed herself away.
"H......Hey........Link!" Garrett clung to the door frame as he struggled to form a coherent sentence. "Wh....What are you you doing out here?"
"Go away Garrett," Link said with a growing rage behind his voice.
"Garrett," Ben yelled from within the house. "Get you ass back in here and leave them alone."
Garrett swiveled his head around sluggishly in Ben's direction. "F-Fuck you. I'll kick you ass, you piece of shit." Garrett returned his attention to the two on the edge of the balcony. He grinned as a stream of saliva dribbled down his chin and onto his chest.
From behind the door came the heavy steps of Ben's boots on the wooden floors. Suddenly Garrett was hurled back through the door by a pair of tattooed arms. Link and Zelda watched, amazed at how high Garrett was lifted off the ground. A second later, Ben's red face peeked out through the doorway.
"Sorry, we're gonna have to keep a leash on that little fucker," Ben said as he grasped the door handle. "Continue," he said as he shut the door behind him.
Link grinned as he watched his friend disappear from sight. Suddenly he felt Zelda's arms around him once more. As he turned to face her once more, Zelda rushed up and pressed her lips against his. All the tension Link had suddenly left. All his fear and nervousness had vanished in a heartbeat. He closed his eyes and pulled her in closer and enjoyed the sweet taste of her strawberry lip gloss. Eventually, she let go and slowly drew back.
"How was that," Zelda said gently.
Link hesitated for a moment as he held onto the feeling that rushed through him. "Whoa," he finally breathed. After another moment, Zelda drew in and kissed Link once again.
"YEAH," Jon yelled from behind the glass door.
Link and Zelda glanced over to see Jon holding back the curtain of the double door cheering with a large mug full of beer in his right hand. As the couple laughed at the lovable oaf, a sudden flash caught their attention to Jon's right. There stood Ben holding a camera smiling.
"Aw, memories," he said as he disappeared behind the door again.
As Jon disappeared behind the curtain, Link and Zelda continued laughing. "I have a question," Link said after he calmed himself. "When did Jon's house become a two story," he said as he looked over the balcony.
"Yeah, really," Zelda said as she noticed they were perched over another deck that held patio furniture.
"It looks like a one story, overgrown tree house from one side, and then a two story summer house from the other. And he even has the lake as his back yard." Link's eyes danced around his surroundings. "Not a bad house for a big, crazy redneck."
Zelda looked out towards the lake. She stared at the calm, placid water for a moment."Let's go swimming," she said abruptly.
"Huh," Link said, surprised.
"Let's go for a swim." Her eyes danced with excitement.
Link thought for a moment. "But I didn't bring my swim suit."
Zelda giggled as she kissed him again. "Neither did I," she said innocently.
"....Okay."
Zelda joyfully took Link by the hand as she lead him off the balcony. As Link turned to close the door behind him, a small red shimmer caught his attention. He looked up into the neighboring woods where he thought the red shimmer had been. Darkness and moonlight were all that filled his vision. Assuming it was nothing, Link shut the door and followed after the girl he had admired for so many years.
As the two youths disappeared from the balcony, the red shimmer emerged once again from the darkness of the trees. A single red, dimly glowing sphere lightly illuminated the massive face of an ancient creature that observed the isolated house. The shimmering flickered as the beast blinked it's one good eye. The beast waited in silence as it watched the couple hustle to the water's edge. Once they were out of sight, the beast stood up. What looked like a massive boulder unfolded into an ape like for. The massive shadow turned its back to the house and lumbered deeper into the woods. The shadow hiked alone for a few moments before the silence was broken.
"What have you learned my friend," a cold, commanding voice said. Standing between the trees stood the blonde man wearing a black cloak. He stood motionless as he gazed over the lake.
"There's no doubt in my mind anymore," the rough voiced creature said. "They are the ones of legend."
A could chill shot up the blonde mans spine. "Then we can no longer wait," he said sharply. "We must revive the master as soon as we can."
"We still lack the ability to revive him," the red eyed giant said from behind his curtain of shadows.
Still gazing over the water, the blonde man formed a sinister grin across his face. "But we gained an unexpected ally who may prove useful to us."
A cloud fogged Link's memory as he stirred from his comatose slumber. He opened his eyes to see a blurry, dark world around him. His mind drifted in and out of reality as he struggled to figure where he was. The feeling in his body began to return and a continuous and faint sound of running water echoed from down the hall. As the fog cleared his memory returned and his senses realigned in his mind. He was lying on a couch in a dark living room. A flicker of morning light peeked through the closed blinds on the opposite wall. In his arms rested the sleeping Zelda underneath a thick quilt. On the floor below them rested a pallet of blankets and quilts forming a giant mattress for the random bodies that formed a small mountain range under their covers. As Link began to drift back into a dream, the room suddenly illuminated with light.
Jon's large silhouette filled the window as he pulled up the blinds. Link winced as his eyes could not adjust to the sudden change in light. The rest of the room began to stir to life as Jon walked across the field of bodies. Zelda groaned as she rolled to face Link and bury her face in the shadow of his chest. On the floor, one of the mountains of blanket collapsed into the groggy face of Ben.
"Dude," Ben said as he sat up. "What time is it?"
"Almost eight," Jon answered lazily.
"Why the hell are you up so early," the lazy voice of Joe said, from across the floor.
Jon walked over to the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator. "Someone woke me up and asked if they could use the shower." Jon pulled out a water bottle and started back toward the living room. "Then I had to get out of the tub and realized I got work today so I decided to stay up."
"You shoulda stayed in the shower you smelly ass," Joe said as Jon drank from his water bottle. Joe rolled over on his front and hid his face in his pillow.
"I need to go to work too," Bill said as he slid out of the grip of the nurse stripper. "Are we going back soon, Ben?"
Ben rubbed his face and looked around the room. "I think I'm still drunk." He continued to scan the room. He then abruptly looked down and lifted up the covers. "And where the hell are my pants?"
"Right here stud," the other stripper said from beside Ben. Next to her laid a pair of black jeans with a chain dangling from the waist.
"Now I remember," Ben said with a grin as the girl wrapped her arm around him.
The sound of running water suddenly stopped and was replaced by the quick sound of a shower curtain sliding across a rail. "You guys are gonna love this," Jon giggled as he sat down by Link and Zelda's feet.
Down the hall, the bathroom door open and a uniformed Garrett stepped through. As he buttoned the sleeve to his white uniform he looked at the group that was now grinning intently at him. His face showed a very displeased expression. Link wondered if it was from the hangover, the constant hazing the group had administered throughout the night, or the newly shaved head he had.
"You know," Garrett said calmly as he finished buttoning his other sleeve. "You guys used permanent markers on me last night."
Jon giggled as he drank his water. "Oh darn." The rest of the room refrained from laughing as much as they could. "The guy at the store told me they were water soluble." The room had to double their efforts to not laugh.
Garrett's expression deepened with frustration as the room began to breakdown with laughter. "But you guys did avoid my face and hands so I guess I can cover this up today." Garrett stepped to the door and put his sailors' hat on. "Good day gentlemen," he said in a forced sophisticated tone.
Garrett turned and stepped though the door. As his back was turned, he exposed the new tattoo of an erect penis on the back of his head. As the door shut behind him, the group lost composure and drowned themselves in laughter.
As the groups laughter died, Bill shifted his attention to Zelda. "Why does she have sand on her back?" Zelda's head shot up and turned bright red with embarrassment.
"And there's no sand on your shirt," Ben added as he arched a single eyebrow.
Zelda pulled the covers over her face as Link faced the group and offered a very enthusiastic grin. He glanced down at the embarrassed girl as he said, "If it makes you feel any better, I got a ton of sand in the crack of my butt." A muffled laughed echoed from underneath the quilt.
