Hi :) Another part for you :)

31 September, 2011

It was unbelievable. He didn't remember when the last time he felt so embarrassed and stupid. He didn't want to know what this sweet, sensitive lady was thinking about them right now. He wasn't sure if he even wanted to come back to them. What would he says to her? Alone, I'm sorry, wasn't enough to apologize her.

'You're again thinking too much.' His annoying voice reached his ears. 'I can see puffs of steam coming out of your ears.' Contrary to him, he didn't see nothing funny about that.

'I just don't believe you said that to her! I know you're a quick player, but come on!' Darren scowled at him as he finally reached him.

'Okay, maybe I was a bit too quick. But sometimes it happens when you're hitting on the gorgeous girl.' He replied casually with a shrug.

'A bit?' He knew he made few people look at them, but he didn't care and Craig seemed to not either. He just kept walking toward the bar and looked through the bottles.

'You know what? Maybe we could ask Scott for the whole bottle of vodka or some bourbon?' He suggested. 'We wouldn't have to walk for another drinks all night.'

'I wouldn't offer lady a bottle of vodka!' Darren protested. 'Did you lose your mind?'

'She's already your lady, eh?' He smirked at him. 'Just take a look at them. They're both very tall and well…they're a big women, okay? I'm sure they can handle and tolerate more alcohol than me or you.' He rolled his eyes.

'Sarah is very classy and sensitive lady. I wouldn't let her drink anything like that. Even Nancy drinks only liqueur and she's far away from being lady.' He scowled.

'Just wait until I tell that your lovely wife.' Craig chuckled at him and smirked as he noticed Scott walking toward them with abroad smile. 'Scotty! That's the man I need right now.'

'I don't believe you're going to offer them a bottle of vodka.' He murmured, watching him with disbelief.

'You're already boring with your two ladies?' The man grinned back at them.

'Nah, we just come over for more alcohol.' He was sure it was his new strategy how to get under the dress of Jacqueline and make her soft, but to be honest he didn't think it would work at her. She was even bigger than him and surely was drinking a lot more than two of them. 'But I need your favor, Scotty.'

'It depends on what is it.' The man shoved hands into the pocket of his trousers.

'Give the ladies free night.'

'Craig, they're here only because they're supposed to work, not spending a night in your company.' Scott said carefully. 'They're in need for money, so they used the occasion to work tonight for me. I can't do any exceptions.'

'If the money it's the only problem for you, I'd pay them.' Craig offered and was ready to pull his wallet out from the back pocket. 'How much you need to give them?'

'Well…' He couldn't believe Scott was even considering this offer!

'You can't pay them!' Darren protested, hands in his hair.

'Why not?' Craig stared back at him puzzled, clearly didn't see any problem.

'They'd think we're taking them for a streetwalkers!' He bristled and blushed slightly.

'You really think I'm so stupid to pay them personally?' He glared at him heavily. 'I'd give the money Scott and he'd pay them later.' He explained slowly and rolled his eyes. 'I know what I'm doing.'

'Well, I'd argue with that.'

'Then don't, if you don't want to start a fight with me.' He snapped and looked at Scotty with a cheeky smile. 'And we also need two bottle of some good stuff. What are you recommend, Scotty?' His eyes automatically moved through the bottles, only to avoid his brother's murderous look.

'I think I really have something nice here. I'm sure you'd like it.' He winked at them and with big grin moved toward the bar before he slipped under the buffet.

'It's gonna be our lucky night.' Craig grinned excitedly and rubbed his hands together. Unfortunately, Darren wasn't sharing his enthusiasm even a little…

'Don't you find it a bit strange?' Spike asked as he returned from the DJ booth and took a sit on the leather, dark couch, beside his friend.

'No, I'm sure most of people there still remember and enjoy the 80s music.' John Paul retorted with a small smile as he glanced toward the small crowd of people already dancing to the music. 'Don't worry about that.'

'No, I didn't mean music.' Spike rolled his eyes and sighed heavily. 'I meant my boss friend. Don't you think it's a bit strange that he cares about our finances, proposing we should make new friends here, so we'd have a chance to find a better job or become more popular?' He was very skeptical the guy meant it from the goodness of his heart. He just hoped he's not going to ask them for a favor later, otherwise they'd fell into real troubles.

'Till he's still paying us, I don't care what we need to do.' John Paul shrugged off, irate him even more. 'I didn't know you have vinyl records with the music from 80s. Thought you hate it.'

'So, you'd be up for a small striptease if he keeps paying you?' He snapped annoyed, watching him with piercing eyes.

'I'm sure if we stick together, we'd find a way to get out of any nasty situation.' He stated, although Spike noticed he wasn't entirely convinced to his own plan. 'Well, how worse it might end than being a number one in the topic of jokes for the next ten years, eh?' Even his smile was false.

'I just hope we don't find themselves in the ambulance.' He said drily and pulled the strand of his hair off from his face.

'You smeared a bit of lipstick on your cheek.' John Paul's forefinger patted his warm skin, before he reached for his purse. 'I should have a pocket-mirror somewhere.'

'What about powder? If I clean the lipstick, I'd also clean the powder.' He said panicked and grabbed the mirror from man's hand. 'Do you have something to clean it?'

'I have Jackie's book.' He wasn't sure if he heard good, until he saw the hard cover.

'For what?' He exclaimed, wondering why on earth John Paul would bring a book with himself for a party.

'In case if I get boring.' He replied with sheepishly smile and quickly hid it back to his purse.

'Well, till these two are going keep us company, you surely wouldn't need it.' He stated with a sigh and shook slightly his head. 'So, do you have something to clean my face? Or is it just a book inside you purse?'

'I have a cotton wool and…I guess I don't need it.' John Paul muttered and rolled his eyes while he handed him the pack. 'Eyeliner, some cream, red lipstick and…err, something black. I don't know what the hell is that.' He removed a long, thick plastic thing looking like a tube, closed from the two sides. 'You know what is it?' Spike glanced at the thing with one eye.

'Do I look like a girl?' He snapped, before he understood that indeed tonight he was a one. 'Well, I don't know. I don't use it.' He shrugged off annoyed, didn't like his sly smirk. He already cleaned his face as he added. 'But you should know what is it. It's in your purse.'

'Mercy packed the purse for me, but she didn't tell me about that.' He frowned. 'Anyway, I think I saw powder somewhere.'

'Never mind. I'm looking okay.' He stated as he looked critically at his reflection in the small mirror. 'Oh, for God's Sake, give me that!' He barked annoyed seeing John Paul was still rotating the strange tube in his hands and watching it intently from each side. 'Maybe it's a spray or cream for hands.' He suggested as he grabbed it from his hands.

'It'd have something written on it if it's cream or something like that.' John Paul stated. 'Maybe it's something you're using to keep your hair the way you like it. Something like clamp?'

'You really think someone would like to put something like that in the hair?' He cocked an eyebrow at him. 'Besides how you think it'd work, eh? Maybe it's nothing and it's only waste of our time.'

'If it's nothing Mercy wouldn't put it into my purse. I'm sure it has to work somehow…Maybe it…' He was ready to slap him on the face only to stop him from more rambling about this strange device, when he sensed they weren't alone anymore.

'Typical girls. We just went over for more alcohol and they're already improving their makeup for us.' It was DeVito with his cheeky grin on his face, staring back at them with amused gleam in his eye. He was sure not only John Paul was blushing right now, when the realization hit them both.

'We just…' John Paul mumbled incoherently, didn't dare to look into him. 'Well, Sarah had a problem with her lipstick.'

'I don't think it does matter them.' He stated and smiled slightly as he noticed Darren behind the small man with cheeks colored lightly with pink.

'Great. And we bring more alcohol with themselves.' DeVito announced and to his horror, showed them two bottles with a big grin on his face. 'Darren, give the glasses.' He ordered and before they even could react, he slipped unceremoniously at one end of the couch, on John Paul's side.

'Yea, feel welcome.' His friend mumbled, while the man start pouring alcohol down to the glasses.

'So, ladies, tell us something more about you.' DeVito encouraged them, but any of them seemed to be ready to say anything. 'Darren, why don't you sit down? I can handle our glasses on my own.' Again small smile crawled onto his lips as the man scratched his head embarrassed and looked nervously over his brother and then straight at him. He almost chuckled when he chose the near armchair to sit. 'If you prefer to sit there.' His brother rolled eyes at him as he handed him a glass.

'Don't be silly, Darren. You can sit beside me.' He offered and patted the couch with a small smile. 'I don't bite.'

'At least not before midnight, huh?' DeVito and John Paul grinned stupidly at each other.

'Craig…' Darren said in warning tone, before he settled down on the offered place with a nervous smile. He was so cute. 'So, what are you keeping there?' He chatted him up and pointed at the mysterious black thing in his hand about which Spike almost forgot.

'It's er…A thing.' He replied stupidly and blushed once again under his intensive stare.

'A thing?' Darren smiled at him amused. 'Can I look at it?' He bite down on his low lip as he handed it.

'It's not mine, only Jacqueline's.' It sounded childish, but he was sure John Paul wouldn't mind. 'I was wondering what is it, because I've never used anything like that.' He muttered, feeling more stupid with each second. He looked behind himself searching for support in his friend, but he was too busy chatting with other man, to even notice him.

'It's a face brush.' Darren explained with a grin and he pulled at something before flickered his fingers lightly over one of the end. His jaw almost dropped to the floor as a bush of soft hairs touched his nose playfully as Darren moved it to his face. 'My wife has one like that.'

'Well, it doesn't look like a normal face brush.' He muttered for his defense and took it back. 'It mislead me.'

'It's okay. Nothing to feel embarrassed about.' He smiled sweetly at him, making his heart beat faster. He needed something to calm down and fortunately there was a one very helpful thing with him. He took a long gulp of his drink and almost spitted it all, as he felt unpleasant burning in his throat and his eyes became watery. 'Oy, don't drink it like that!' Darren quickly pulled the glass from his fingers and gently moved his hand over his back. 'It's quite strong, so you need to slow down with it.' He advised with a small smile, didn't take his hand back. Spike wished he could stay like that forever.

'And it was you who was snapping at me, I'm a quick player, eh?' In that moments he wished he could kill this small idiot.

'So, where are you working, Jacqueline?' His question taken him aback for a moment. He wasn't sure what to tell him. 'You're a waitress, right?' Craig smiled softly at him. 'So, I'm taking you have to work in some restaurant, bar, maybe club…' At least he was trying to help him...In some way.

'Err, to be honest it's my first time working as a waitress.' He replied without thinking and quickly regret it seeing man's eyebrows moved up in surprise. 'Sarah asked me for a favor.' He added like it was changing anything.

'I heard you two have such a good recommendation…'

'It was Sarah's boss idea. He knew we both really need this job and decided to lie a bit about some things.' He mumbled with sheepishly smile, his fingers nervously gnashed the purpose on his laps.

'Hey, relax sweetheart.' Craig grinned cheekily and gently moved hand over his forearm causing Goosebumps on his skin. He has to drink a lot too much, he quickly stated, as he till now didn't notice how close they both were already sitting. 'I'm not going to tell Scotty about that. It's not my business.' He shrugged off and John Paul breathed with relief. 'So, where normally you're working?' And then again, they returned to this disturbing question, and yet, John Paul didn't think about a good answer.

'I'm…err, masseuse!' He said with a nervous smile.

'Really?' If it was possible man's grin got even bigger right now. 'A full masseuse?'

'No.' He replied quickly and blushed slightly. 'Anyway, I'm working at my sister's beauty parlor.' At least he wasn't entirely lying.

'How is it call?' He was definitely too much nosy as for his taste and he reminded him a bit of Michaela, which wasn't a good sign either. He'd like Spike to say something, save him from the oppression, but he already pushed the third empty bottle on the floor and giggled when Darren reached his hand out to lay on his arm resting on the back of the couch. They both were totally relaxed now and having a good time together…In contrary to him. He almost felt like he was interrogated.

'Papillon.' He replied quietly, almost embarrassed. 'After her dog…She loves Papillons, Yorkie and Pekingese.' He added like Craig was really cared what dog's breeds his sister like. Sometimes he wished he could shut himself up.

'Well, to be honest I'm not too much into dog's breeds.' Craig replied with a small smile as he looked uneasy at his hands. John Paul was sure he was thinking how a total blondie he is and in a minute he'd find a good excuse to run away. He was pathetic. 'I just know a few of them.'

'Me either.' He quickly explained, trying to save the situation. 'I usually like big dogs, like German Shepherd?'

'Ah, that's my favorite.' At least something good turned out of it. 'Would you like another glass?' He asked with charming smile as he reached for the next bottle with a gleam in his eye.

'I think I have enough.' He replied, feeling at himself Spike's burning gaze as suddenly became quiet behind his back. The last thing he needed it's getting a kick from him and ear bashing from Hannah when he says her how much he drank tonight.

'Nonsense!' Craig protested and frowned his eyebrows as his hand moved blindly over small table behind his back. 'Darren, do you have a corkscrew?'

'Yes, and I'm not going to give it back to you.' He replied, eyeing him up unfriendly. 'I think we all have enough.'

'Really? What about you, Sarah?'

'I still have my own.' He replied with a small smile and showed him his half full glass. 'If you want, go ahead.' Spike added and giggled slightly as he suddenly lost his balance and almost crashed with Darren's body. Well, it was quite entertainment watching him totally waste and getting so friendly with another guy. He didn't remember when the last time his friend let anyone be so close to him and it made him smile. Who like who, but he really deserved a great night and he believed it was one of them seeing how much he was enjoying Darren's company. It was shame the guy was totally straight. They could make a really cute couple.

'Someone is a bit drunk, here.' Craig said cheerfully puffing warm air on his neck. He involuntarily shivered, wondering when he moved so close to him. Their thighs were already touching and there was no space between them.

'I'm a bit dizzy.' Spike whispered into his ear as he threw his arms around his neck and moved his face closer to his. 'It'd be okay with you, if I go dance a bit? I need to move, before I stop knowing what's going on around.' He wasn't sure what was worse; the warmness and intoxication smell radiating from Craig, or Spike's breath smelling with alcohol and his sudden determination to move on the dance floor, leaving him alone with these two.

'I didn't know you're dancing.' John Paul chuckled in response and gave him a funny look.

'Sometimes, if I have to.' He shrugged off with a small grin and pulled back from him.

'You have tattoo on your arm?' Craig asked as he noticed a dark lines in the small gap on the dress between the shoulder and arm.

'Yea, have a few of them.' Spike admitted and nodded his head slightly as with some problems he got up from the couch, disappointing Darren.

'Artist!' He smirked. 'So, they're telling some stories just like Darren's photographs?' He asked curious and took a sip of his drink.

'Some of them.' He replied with a mysterious smile.

'Adventure girl, eh? That's shame. You'd get boring with Darren.'

'I'm sure I wouldn't.' Spike smiled widely and reached his hand out toward the other brother. 'Do you dance, Darren?' Now, that part was definitely going the best one this night. He was already laughing, imagining they both trying to stay still on the dance floor and not land on the hard floor to make a bigger idiots of themselves.

'Well, I'm not a good dancer…' He could tell by one look Darren was feeling very uncomfortably and wasn't forward for any dances, but Spike wasn't taking no for the answer.

'Me either.' He cut him off and grabbed his hand, before unceremoniously dragged him toward the dance floor.

'So, there's only two of us.' He almost forgot about his own partner, clearly demanding his attention now. They have all couch for themselves, but it looked like Craig wasn't going to move anywhere far from him, and either let him do it. 'So, what would you like to do?' Run away, he thought drily, as he helplessly watched his friend dancing with Darren. Maybe he'd begged Spike to play along, but now, when he wasn't around, he was afraid the things wouldn't go that way he'd like. With this charming Prince on his left with a new bottle of alcohol in hand, he just knew his mouth would be working quicker than his brain and before he notices he'd says a few words too much. And he believed he wasn't up for see how understanding Craig can be for a guy in a red dress.