Part 2

See Intro for disclaimer and Author's Note.

~*~*~

In the next few minutes, the group had entered the hotel, gotten their places to sleep for that one night, and headed down to the casino. Shane was acting like the big cheese, as if he lived there. One could tell he was almost more excited than Taka was, who was still scrounging around to make sure he had enough money. But would he spend it?

Shane: (off and running)

Tory: He's off his rocker!

Lee: Are you kidding? This is normal Shane behavior. He won't calm down until he burns his fingers! (chases after Shane)

Taka: (thinking out loud)To gamble or not to gamble...

Juan: That is a stupid question.

Taka: Oh? And what would your answer to it be?

Juan: I want you to have fun, but you really just pay through the nose for nothing.

Nurina: But you get the experience. I've been laying away a bit of money for this weekend.

Juan: And you want to spend it all?

Nurina: We'll see.

Taka: What about you, Tory?

Tory: (embarrassed) With my parents having such high-paying jobs, I have quite a bit of money to burn if I wanted.

Rick: Juan! I emptied my piggy bank when I was at home. Can I use some of it?

Juan: Save it for later.

Rick: (disappointed) Oh, okay.Taka: Where's Shane?Mia: Over by the one armed bandits. Lee's with him.

Tory: (astounded) Lee gambles?

Nurina: I think he's just making sure Shane doesn't break the bank yet.

Shane: (yelling over the din of the casino) I lost! Again! Come hell or high water, I will win! It shouldn't be difficult for the Great and Powerful Shane!

Everyone else: (hanging their heads)

A few minutes later...

Lee: Shane, calm down! You're going out of the frying pan and into the fire! This isn't your first half-baked scheme.

Shane: I'm having fun. Maybe you should try it some time.

Lee: I'm cool as a cucumber just watching you. At least it's not my money you're wasting.

Shane: (sticks tongue out at Lee) You should try it. Don't get cold feet.

Lee: No go, pal. You have fun. I'll just watch. And enjoy the company of my money a while longer.

Shane: Aww. You're no fun Lee. (pouts) Try it! Come on!

Lee: (glances around) No dice Shane. Just leave me alone, you're raising a fuss.

Shane: Please?

Lee: No! Don't twist my arm.

Shane: Please?

Lee: It's out of the question! There's a thousand to one chance a guy could win.

Shane: PLEASE? (gives Lee puppy-eyes and pouts) Please?

Lee: (gives Shane an exasperated look) Fine. All right. I'll do it. If it'll shut you up and make you wipe that annoyingly cute look off your face I'll do it!

Shane: YAY! You won't regret this Lee! It'll be a piece of cake! Break a leg buddy!

Lee: (takes offered token and goes to put it in the machine) Can't...move...hand...

Shane: Come on Lee, you're so close. Don't freak out now.

Lee: I'm trying, I'm trying.

Shane: Well quit attempting and just do it! Do you need me to give you a hand?

Lee: Okay. (takes a deep breath and manages to put the coin in and pull the handle)

Shane: Cross your fingers Lee.

Lee: ...

Shane: ...

Lee: I won.

Shane: ...

Lee: I WON!

Shane: How is this possible! It's not fair! I want to win!

Lee: I WON!

Shane: (cries) I don't believe it! He just started!

Lee: (smiling as he slaps Shane on back) Don't get worked up about it Shane. It's only one game after all.

Shane: But you won! These things are messed up!

Nurina: Hey guys! What's the big deal over here? You're audible from the other side of the room.

Lee: I just won!

Shane: He's an amateur for heaven's sake!

Nurina: Hey that's a lot of money Lee. I'm sure you don't need it all, and you're quite willing to aid your friend who spent a large chunk of her's already. Right?

Lee: (suspiciously) Why?

Nurina: I only have chicken feed left! (shows meager handful of coins) And you love me and want to help me.

Lee: I don't think so. I want to play some more. Not as much as a certain red-haired troublemaker though. (glances at Shane who looks VERY innocent and is whistling)

Nurina: Guess I'm going to have to bum money from Tory then. He has enough! (walks away happily to get money)

Where Juan and Rick have wandered off to:

Random Guy in Casino (RGiC): (to Juan who is leaning against the wall) You don't look like you're having much fun.

Juan: This just isn't my thing, but we're here for my friend's birthday.

RGiC: Oh. Who's the birthday boy?

Juan: My friend Taka. He's over there. (points to where Taka is)

RGiC: Tell him happy birthday for me.

Juan: I'll be sure to do that...err...what was your name again?

Rick: (comes running over) Juan! Can I have a token? Please? There's a game where they test how smart you are and I want to try.

Juan: What happened to watching Shane and Lee? These things cost an arm and a leg.

Rick: They were getting boring. Shane's down in the dumps because he's not winning and will have to live a hand to mouth existence. Lee, on the other hand, is floating on cloud nine. He hasn't lost yet!

Juan: So in other words they're getting unbearable.

Rick: Pretty much. Besides, neither of them want to see how smart they are. Shane's a dumb bunny so I agree with him when he says he'll get a ten out of a hundred. (sees RGiC) Who's your friend?

RGiC: The name's Xel. You think you're a smarty pants do you? Here, I'm as curious as you are. (the man tosses Rick a coin)

Rick: Thanks! Thanks a lot!

Juan: You didn't have to do that.

Xel: I know. Now he's one of the boys, though! Give your friend free reign.

Juan: (not wanting to take advice from a stranger he just met) Brother.

Xel: (confused)

Juan: He's my little brother.

Xel: Oh.

Juan and Xel walk over to where Rick is playing. At last, his score appeared. True to his word, Rick won one hundred out of one hundred points. Shane fouled up and got a twenty-five, which was still higher than he predicted.

Back with Taka, Mia, and Tory...

Mia: Look. Here comes Nurina again.

Taka: Probably spent all her money already.

Tory: Wouldn't that be Shane?

Taka: Hmmm... I think you're right.

Mia: (whacks Taka and Tory) Be nice.

Taka & Tory: Yes ma'am.

Nurina: (beaming) Hi guys! Those tokens are selling like hotcakes!

Mia: Yeah?

Nurina: (nodding) Tory, my dear friend who loves me -

Tory: (sighs) How much? (starts counting out money)

Nurina: Me? Want something? What would ever give you that idea? (turning to Taka) Did you ever decide whether or not to spend anything?

Taka: Yeah, Mia was on a winning streak so I decided to give it a go. It was a lot of fun, but would have been even better if I had Mia's luck.

Tory: You can't cry over spilt milk.

Taka: I know. You see, when you grow up in a family with four younger siblings, like me, you realize how much a penny is worth. We got through it though.

Nurina: Sorry, Taka.

Taka: (cracking a smile) So, what do you say we get something to eat soon?

Mia: I second that!

Shane and Lee show up as Mia's stomach rumbles. Everyone besides Mia hangs their head and Shane and Lee look at each other. Mia grins sheepishly.

Mia: Sorry. Guess I'm a little hungry.

Juan: Then perhaps we should go eat dinner.

Rick: (pointing out the obvious) It is almost seven o'clock already.

Nurina: Stop being a wise-guy Rick. We all have watches.

Tory: Where should we eat?

Mia: Well, I'd suggest we eat out, as we have nowhere to cook.

Taka: (sadly) You mean we'd have to pay for food? Do you know how much that's gonna cost?

Shane: Stop being such a penny-pincher Taka.

Lee: It's your birthday, so we're going to foot the bill.

Tory: We still have the original question though. Where are we going to eat?

Xel: I'm sorry to butt in, but I couldn't help overhearing your...dilemma. Let me suggest one of my favorite restaurants. It's the number one hamburger joint in the area, the one and only Cheesies.

Juan: Cheesies?

Xel: Yes, Cheesies. Oh I know the name is a little strange, but the food is amazing. It has a nice atmosphere as well.

Mia: Ah, thank you.

Xel: (smiles) No problem my dear. (he turned on his heel and left)

Rick: Bye!

Shane: Who is that? He came out of thin air!

Juan: We met him earlier. He seems nice enough.

Lee: He seems like he's got a screw loose.

Mia: Can we go eat now?

Despite the strangeness of the encounter, the group decided to eat at Cheesies. They discovered it wasn't that far, so they walked. The waiter took down all the orders and promptly gave them their food. They were tired out from their antics of one day, so a rest was in order. The meal finished with a tremendous birthday cake and the traditional song.

Taka: (pats his stomach) Talk about living high off the hog.

Mia: I ate like a horse.

Nurina: Don't you always?

Lee: That hit the spot.

Rick: I had one too many pieces of cake.

Nurina: Then I guess you had your cake and ate it too, right? (laughter)

Shane: I'm ready to hit the sauce! What about the rest of you? (everyone stops laughing and eyes him suspiciously) Or not.

Juan: If we get to bed back at the hotel soon, we'll have plenty of time to look around more tomorrow.

Tory: Sounds good. I'm ready to hit the hay now.

Xel: (voice from behind them) You can't do that! We still have to have a toast for Taka's birthday!

Mia: (flabbergasted) You again?

Taka: He came out of nowhere!

Xel: I seemed to follow you, since I had nothing to do myself.

Shane: You're nutty as a fruitcake!

Xel: What's with all the play on words? I'm not a fruitcake! (smiling just the same)

Taka: Come join us, Xel. Nothing's going to ruin today; thanks to the best friends in the world, I've had the time of my life!

Lee: (jumping up) Three cheers for Taka on his 23rd birthday!

All: Cheers!