"Now what?" Colin groaned, looking down at his watch when Nicole shrieked that they had to stop the vehicle. The five of them were on their way to the Brigade ball.
"Loo!" Nicole pointed, bursting into giggles. "I'm so pissed!"
"I think she's got to piss," Finn pulled over.
"Nice wording Finn," Colin rolled his eyes as Nicole stumbled off, a gorilla mask dangling from her hand.
"I try," Finn grinned back at him.
"How smashed is she exactly?" Catherine asked, amused and a bit concerned as they hadn't even gotten to the ball, it was a touch early for her to be drunk.
"Just a couple shots of vodka," Rachel assured. "I think Reginald the arse called her, she's a bit off."
"Poor thing, no wonder she's tipsy already," Catherine winced in sympathy. Finn shot Rachel a look, not wanting her to spend the evening worrying over Nicole.
"Where's Mushu hiding? Doesn't she normally ride with you guys? Not that I'm complaining or anything," Rachel added with a laugh, hoping to lighten the mood.
"She was going to help Honor make sure the caterers had everything under control," Finn lied smoothly. After several rigorous hours spent dress shopping with Catherine he'd found the perfect dress for Asia to wear, guaranteed to knock Colin's socks off and he didn't want to ruin the effect by letting Colin see it before the ball.
"I thought Logan was doing that," Colin frowned, suspicious.
"Where did you get that crazy idea, oh, HenWen's back!" Catherine cried, spotting Nicole heading towards them.
"In Omnia Paratus!" Nicole giggled as she stumbled into the car.
"Just so you know, Rory followed Nicole out of the bathroom, and unless she's a lousy reporter she got the license plate," Rachel informed them, watching out the back window.
"Good. What, we were wondering how to approach her. Now we don't have to, she should come to us," Finn pointed out at Colin's incredulous stare.
"What if she doesn't and just prints the license?"
"That would be a slight inconvenience," Finn admitted.
"Mitchum scares Doyle, won't happen," Catherine shook her head.
"He's a prat," Nicole stated bluntly.
"Okay Finn, we pass a Starbucks on the way to the hotel, right?" Catherine asked, Finn nodding with a confused look. "She needs a coffee or she'll be flat on her face by the time the ceremony starts. You know she can't have a lot to drink."
"Black coffee it is," Finn promised.
"The way she's acting she might just tell Mitchum he's a prat, and that would be just wonderful," Rachel laughed.
"I'd pay money to see his face," Catherine giggled, picturing his reaction.
"This is Asia's inauguration into the council, we're not risking it," Colin frowned, Catherine glancing sideways at Finn, biting back a smile at the wink he sent her.
"Relax, we're getting her coffee," Finn said as he turned into the Starbucks. "Can I get anything for anyone else?"
"Grande mocha!" Rachel chirped quickly. "We need to buy this place."
"You want to buy the Starbucks chain?" Colin stared at her in confusion.
"Not the whole chain you dork! A franchise, our very own Brigade Starbucks, somewhere close to the House. Then we'll always have a supply of coffee and tea and yummy cookies. What?" Rachel pouted at the stunned looks she got.
"That's bloody brilliant!" Finn congratulated her.
"Thank you," Rachel grinned.
"We haven't decided what this year's purchase is," Catherine agreed. "And we all drink coffee to a certain extent. It makes sense."
"It is better than Finn's idea year before last," Colin shrugged.
"Hey! Just what was wrong with investing in our very own recording studio and publishing label?" Finn cried.
"You can't sing sugar," Catherine patted his arm sympathetically.
"I know that!" Finn looked insulted. "But Yale is full of up and coming bands, I'm telling you that our money will pay off, we'll discover the next Jet or Keane."
"I'm not holding my breath," Colin shook his head.
"You know I never said one thing about your stupid idea frosh year," Finn grumbled, annoyed with the ribbing.
"What did you invest in frosh year? Cat, do you know?" Rachel frowned, trying to remember.
"No, Colin?" Catherine narrowed her eyes when he avoided looking at her.
"That wasn't my fault! Stupid Robert screwed everything up," Colin muttered.
"Ever notice we blame him for everything? Why do we keep him around? Do any of us even like the moron?" Rachel asked.
"Robert's got a small one," Nicole chimed in helpfully as she sipped her coffee, effectively shattering the slight tension in the car as everyone burst out laughing, Catherine turning on the radio to avoid any more awkward conversations.
