Chapter 12
The Elevator of WTF
When Tennifer stepped into the MG's private dining room she was surprised to see Christmas decorations and trees surrounding the room. A glance at the buffet told her the food was Christmas themed too and she stood mouth agape until Rachel shoved her forward to their usual seat.
"Since we only get together once a year we celebrate Christmas while we're all together," she explained, gesturing vaguely at the room at large.
"Huh, sounds cool I guess," Tennifer said, finding the rushed year-squished-into-a-week thing they had going for them a little interesting. She didn't know them all well enough to actually want to celebrate Christmas with them but she guessed people like Jazz and the rest of the 'Purple Mafia' relished the chance to be together.
"Some of the older people are going out for a picnic... there's usually a lot of eggnog involved. We aren't invited, though, so we'll be hanging round here," Rachel informed her, talking and eating at the same time.
"Hey, kiddos." Tennifer and Rachel looked up to see Bekki standing in front of them. "Like the decorations?" she asked, bouncing a little on her feet, "I did it all myself," she added proudly, speaking quickly.
"Oh yeah, it's awesome," Tennifer answered, looking around appreciatively. "Anyway, so I asked Tank who that 'Erinicholas' was and he glared at me and stormed off. Who the hell is this guy that they piss him off so much?"
Bekki's eye twitched and she cracked her knuckles... "I" then her wrists... "told you," elbows... "to forget" neck... "that."
"Nervous habit," Rachel whispered as Tennifer stared.
"Right, sure," Tennifer said awkwardly. "Why won't you just tell us?
"Why won't you just play Monopoly with me? HUH??? Did you ever think of that?!" Bekki retorted, storming off before Tennifer worked out the relevance.
Rachel and Tennifer wandered the halls of the resort back to their room and sat out on the balcony.
"What do you think she meant by that?" Tennifer asked for the 29372149113158235th time. "'Why won't you just play Monopoly with me?' What the hell does it mean?"
"It could mean..." Rachel began thoughtfully, "That Bekki is in the mood for a game of Monopoly!" she exclaimed.
Tennifer rolled her eyes, annoyed by Rachel's attempt to trivialize what was obviously a secret message. "Why would she say it like that then? Why not just ask? It has to mean something."
Rachel scoffed at the very idea, "Tenni, Bekki is notorious for her randomness and her insane love for Monopoly. She's never won a Mafia game either... though that has more to do with Jazz being a math genius and pwning her all the time than Bekki being particularly bad..." she said, trailing off.
"Maybe she'll tell me if I win..."
"Maybe she'll tell you if you lose," Rachel corrected, "She doesn't respect people for beating her—she says it's too easy to do to be an accomplishment—but she does like winning."
"Maybe I should let her win then..."
"Maybe you should offer yourself up for her carnal needs," Rachel suggested blandly.
Tennifer glared at her, "This is no time for jokes."
"I so was not joking," Rachel said, grinning.
Tennifer harrumphed, "I'm going for a walk, I need to think... maybe stalk a little."
"That's the spirit!" Rachel said encouragingly, and propped her feet up on Tennifer's now empty chair.
Tennifer started walking the hall but slowed as she reached she elevator. She could hear voices coming from the stairwell and quickly pressed the call button as she recognized Jacque's voice getting closer.
"You wanted to know if anyone asked about Erin?" Tank's distinctive voice filtered up into Tennifer's hearing. "Tennifer Tblz asked me if I knew her, I didn't say anything,"
"Thanks, Tanky," Jacque said in a silky, sexy tone Tennifer wished she'd never heard.
"I didn't do it for you," Tank said, annoyed, "That brat will rule MG one day, no doubt about it. And if Jazz keeps her rule I'll never get my chance at power— if I'm going to have to beat her down I may as well start now. Anyway, I hate that Erin-whore, even if she did—"
Bing. The doors of the elevator sprung open and the voices stopped. Tennifer's eyes widened as the footsteps quickened and she leapt into the elevator car and jabbed the door-close button, feeling a flood of relief as they shut immediately.
She looked behind her as she realized she wasn't the only one in the car. Her jaw dropped at the oddly familiar people that she was sure she'd never seen before.
"Oh fuck, it's my spawn!" Lenni exclaimed, hitting the next floor's button and shoving Tennifer out as soon as the doors opened.
"Hey!" Tennifer shouted and bolted into the stairwell, hitting the call button repeatedly before the elevator made it down. She stepped inside but was promptly shoved out by a rather sorry looking Tim.
"Sorry, your mother rules me through the cro— uh, heart."
Tennifer stared and flew down the stairs once more, not stopping till she reached the lobby— the lobby button had been the only one alight before she was so rudely forced into exercise.
"Back again, Tenni? I see you've met your parents," Bekki said, looking over Tennifer with an amused glint to her eyes. Her face lit up as Lenni came closer though and Tennifer stood stunned as much squeeing and glomping commenced...
