AN: This is a bit of a shorter chapter, but I just wanted to get it out! (It took me like 3 weeks to write, curse writer's block!)
Thanks for your reviews, Angel, Nichole, Ali-cat and Mel! You guys are the best :)
"Most of the miseries of the world were caused by wars. And when the wars were over no one ever knew what they were about." - Gone with the Wind
Chapter 13
"So why aren't you out with Dan tonight? Or are you onto another guy now too?" James asked Aubrey, as they sat in the kitchen, eating ice cream.
The other kids were all in the living room, watching a movie.
"Yes, I'm still with Dan. And well, one, he didn't ask me to go out tonight, and two, I was out with him the last two weekends, and three, I already had plans to be here," Aubrey answered.
"Well, Care could've used those reasons to stay here too, but she's out and we're covering for her," James retorted.
"Caroline and I are two different people. Besides, she's promised to pay us back, and you know she will. She's not doing any harm," Aubrey defended Caroline.
"I suppose," James agreed. "Come on, we'd better go in with the others, or Vi will be annoyed at being the only older one there."
Meanwhile, several streets away, Madison was sipping a glass of wine, and talking to Brandon.
"So, are you working on anything at the moment?" Madison asked with interest.
"No, I did have an offer, it was some low budget film, on the civil rights movement, and I'm not interested in that stuff," Brandon said with disdain.
Veronica's keen ears picked up on that detail as she was standing nearby, talking to Mac and Lily.
"So what are you doing now?" Madison asked.
"Taking a break, I have a few other business projects off to the side, some extracurriculars," Brandon replied.
"Oh, like what?" Madison asked. "I might be involved, or I might know people that are, I'm very involved in the social clubs here and in L.A."
"Yeah, just various social clubs," Brandon answered with a smile. "I don't think you'd be involved in them."
"Well, what are they like? Maybe I might like to be," Madison pressed, eager to show enthusiasm for whatever Brandon was currently interested in.
"Maybe another time," Brandon said, but not in a dismissive manner.
"Yeah, we could get lunch, you could tell me about whatever it is that you do," Madison suggested.
"Yeah, maybe," Brandon said with some interest. Madison could be of use to him, she had money, and seemed to be the type of person who'd agree with his thoughts, but she didn't seem to be terribly subtle. He'd have to see how things panned out, but they were always looking for new, wealthy recruits.
Veronica listened to their interaction with interest. Maybe everything would be much simpler, like bugging Madison, and that would be easy enough.
"So, are you here because you and Logan are going to be working together on a movie?" Madison asked, still eager to find out about Brandon's current plans, and how she could fit into them.
"Not that I know of," Brandon said in amusement. "Of course I would be honoured to work on something of his, but no, I'm not. I'm here as your date."
"You're here as my date? I thought I was here," Madison began incredulously, but Veronica cut her off.
"Okay, I believe dinner is ready! If everyone wants to come this way," Veronica said, as she and Lily walked towards the dining room together.
"That was a close one, Aunt Ronica," Lily said, grinning. "I think you forgot to cover that aspect of your flawless plan."
"Oh well," Veronica said. "Madison will soon forget, she'll be too busy sucking up to Brandon."
"Gee Ronnie," Dick said, walking up next to her. "The table looks all fancy and nice. Celeste would be proud."
"Eww, don't say that," Veronica groaned. "I never, ever want to channel The Ice Queen. Besides, I'm pretty sure my table is more tasteful than pretentious and stuffy."
"Don't worry Veronica, it looks fine," Mac said comfortingly. "Ignore Dick, even I do sometimes."
Dick pretended to look hurt, then they all to their places at the once again extended dining table.
Back over at the Casablancas house James was pacing the kitchen.
"Where is Caroline?" James demanded.
"James, calm down, she's barely been gone an hour. They're having dinner, then seeing a movie. She'll be back by ten," Aubrey told him firmly. "You can freak out at ten thirty if need be."
"Fine," James huffed. "I hate having an older sister."
"No you don't," Aubrey corrected. "You hate having to be a protective brother, there's a difference between the two things."
"You like being right, don't you?" James asked ruefully.
"Well, yes, but I don't have anything to compare it to," Aubrey answered impishly.
"You're hilarious," James retorted dryly.
"Oh, I hear shrieks, and they don't sound happy," Aubrey said. "Fifty bucks says Ollie has pulled some prank on Aurora."
"Nah, my money's on Tom and Honey," James replied. "So, do you actually want to make a bet on it?"
"Sure, remember, I'm always right," Aubrey said, grinning.
Violet raced into the room and said, "Ah, I think you two had better get in there."
James and Aubrey nodded, and the three of them went quickly into the living room where the younger kids were still watching a movie.
Well, they were sort of watching a movie, that is, the movie was still playing, but the kids seemed more focused on their food fight.
James looked and Aubrey and they both sighed.
James stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled, at the same time that Aubrey yelled, "Stop!"
The children all froze.
"What is going on here?" Aubrey asked.
"He threw a lolly at me," Carter began.
"She tipped popcorn on me," Ollie added.
"You put ice cubes down my back," Aurora retorted hotly.
"I believe you owe me fifty dollars James dear," Aubrey said sweetly, while James merely shook his head in reply.
"So, the rest of you thought you'd start a food fight, all because Ollie and Aurora had another argument?" Aubrey asked.
"That's about the size of it," Violet said, answering for them. "It was quite interesting to watch."
"Well, it's going to be quite interesting for them to clean up," Aubrey said grimly. "Go and get plastic bags to put the larger stuff in guys. Ollie, you're vacuuming. No buts!"
The kids trudged off, and James pulled Aurora off to the side.
"Rory, I know you didn't start any of that really, but you shouldn't have thrown popcorn on Ollie in revenge, so you have to help clean up too. Next time just come and get me or Aubrey," James instructed kindly.
"Okay, okay," Aurora agreed, walking off to join the clean up brigade.
"Wow, you handled that so well. Aunt Mac would be proud. Keep your fifty dollars," Aubrey said, in genuine admiration.
"Yeah, Mom's keen on diplomacy. Anyway, it doesn't matter if I give you the fifty, or keep it, we both have more than enough money anyway," James remarked.
"Ain't that the truth," Violet said, chiming in.
James grinned at her and Aubrey said, "You know, I've been thinking about that. We do have so much, I know Mom and Dad give to charities and attend fundraisers, but we should do something too."
"Go to fundraisers or something?" Violet asked.
The younger kids came back into the room then, armed with plastic bags, and Ollie was dragging the vacuum cleaner.
"Oh good, Aurora must've showed him where it lives," James remarked, noticing she'd got the appliance for him.
"No, I don't mean that," Aubrey continued. "Maybe we should volunteer at a soup kitchen or something. Money is easy for us to give, but time means something more."
"Okay," Violet agreed. "We can talk about it later, maybe when the vacuuming is done, or when Caroline gets back!"
James, Violet and Aubrey settled down to supervising the clean up, while Caroline was across town on her date.
Nathan pulled up out the front of the Neptune Hyatt.
"What are we doing here? I thought we were seeing a movie?" Caroline asked, with more confidence than she really felt.
"I thought we'd get a room for a bit," Nathan answered coolly.
"Well, that wasn't actually in my plans for tonight," Caroline answered with a laugh. "I could compromise and we could go makeout somewhere, in a dark street."
Nathan looked contemplatively at her and said slowly, "Well, I was actually planning on a little more than that tonight."
It was at this point that Caroline started to feel more than a little nervous.
Meanwhile back at the Echolls' the dessert was just coming out.
"Eugh, my champagne is cold," Madison said, standing up in disgust.
"Sit down, Maddy," Dick ordered tiredly. He tended to take the role of 'parenting' Madison, after all, he didn't care what she thought of him, and he'd been use to her hating him for years.
"You can't tell me what you do, Dick," Madison said haughtily. "I'm going to find that maid and watch her get me new, cold champagne."
The rest of the guests were watching on, some disgusted with Madison, but use to her behaviour. Others who had not met her before watched in astonishment.
Brandon watched with mild interest, but he was use to Hollywood stars and starlets who behaved like obnoxious divas, so he wasn't overly bothered. Besides, warm champagne was awful stuff.
Madison stood and walked quickly towards the kitchen, class of champagne in hand. As she stalked her heels clacked on the floorboards.
Just as she reached the doorway of the room, 'that maid', Rosita appeared, carrying a large, chocolate cake.
As if in slow motion, Madison, Rosita and the chocolate cake all collided.
The chocolate cake flew into Madison, coating her with chocolate frosting. Her 'warm' champagne also managed to land on her, before the flute went crashing to the ground, along with the glass platter that the cake had been on.
Rosita looked absolutely horrified, especially after she saw the look of complete rage on Madison's face.
Nearly everyone in the room looked absolutely horrified, all except the ever incorrigible Dick and Logan. They looked completely delighted at the turn of events, dessert be damned. Madison coated in frosting was much better than a cake covered in frosting.
"You. Will. Pay. For. That," Madison said, her tone dripping with icy cool rage.
"I am so sorry," Rosita said quickly. "Come with me, and I'll help clean you up."
"I think not," Madison said rudely, wiping bits of cake off her expensive dress.
At that point Veronica stood, unsure of whether to laugh or wash her hands of the whole thing. Instead she said, "No, come with me Madison. I'll help you."
"Help me?" Madison asked a little manically. "You planned this, Veronica Mars, I know you did!"
At this, Logan and Dick could not contain their mirth anymore and started howling with laughter. Soon the whole table followed suit, needing an outlet for the tension they were all feeling.
Madison shrieked with rage, the stomped from the room, little bits of cake flying off her as she walked.
Veronica hurried after her, trying to give Logan a reproachful look, but failing.
"Madison, please wait," Veronica said, in what she hoped was a soothing tone.
Madison halted just before the front door, turned, sneered and said, "Why, do you want to humiliate me some more?"
"No, I really don't Madison. I truly didn't plan that, and I'm so sorry it happened," Veronica said sincerely. "Won't you get cleaned up and stay? I'm sure Brandon would like it if you stayed."
"He saw me get covered in chocolate cake, I doubt he's going to want to see me again," Madison said severely.
"I don't know Madison. He seemed to like you. If you came back, it would show what a good sport you are," Veronica said, practically choking over her cajoling words.
"Fine," Madison agreed ungraciously. Veronica's words had worked, for Madison very much wanted Brandon to like her. There was nothing like the allure of fame and power for Madison.
"Your dress is ruined," Veronica said apologetically. "You must let Logan and me reimburse you, but for now, I should be able to find something you could wear."
Thirty horrible minutes later, Veronica and Madison reappeared in the dining room where the other guests were just finishing bowls of ice cream. Madison was wear a shirt and skirt of Veronica's. The skirt was an alright fit, but the blouse fairly pulled across her chest, but it was the best they could do.
Everyone else around the dinner table had decided to act like nothing out of the ordinary had happened, and they resumed talking as normal.
"I'm so sorry about that," Madison said quietly to Brandon. "I don't normally act like that, but it's always a nasty shock to have cake spilt on you."
"You've had cake spilled on you before?" Brandon asked lightly, accepting her rather sort of apology.
"No, not cake, but definitely drinks," Madison admitted with some chagrin. "College was fun like that."
On the subject of fun, it was something that Caroline was not having anymore.
In the end she and Nathan had agreed that their idea of a date was different, so they had decided to cut their date short.
Caroline got out of Nathan's car, said goodbye as charmingly as was possible, then stormed up the path, to her front door.
She let herself in, then slammed the door.
"What a jerk," Caroline shrieked.
The slamming door sent Violet, James and Aubrey all towards the front door quickly.
"Oh, it's just you Care," James said in relief.
Aubrey however knew that her arrival wasn't something casual, not when she was an hour early, and clearly in a bad mood.
"What happened Care?" Aubrey asked in concern.
"That jackass and I have different definitions of what a first date involves," Caroline huffed.
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" James asked, suddenly alert.
"No, no. He's not a criminal, just a dick," Caroline said with irritation. "I'm fine, just insulted and annoyed more than anything. You don't need to fight him or anything."
James didn't look convinced, but let it slide.
"Oh well. There will be other boys," Caroline said, her spirits picking up. "At least I'm back before mum and dad. It's like I was hardly gone. Did I miss anything here?"
"Just a food fight, started by Ollie dropping an ice cube down Aurora's back," Violet answered serenely.
"I bet they're having an interesting time over at our house," Aubrey remarked. "But probably without food fights."
AN: Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it. I love getting your reviews :)