Vanity Fair
Beauty comes from within,
Truth is beauty,
Beauty is Truth,
But sometimes we don't know the meaning.
Striving to achieve outer glory,
But inside,
You're nothing at all…
Adelaide Van Hoosen.
' Hmm, these plain bagels taste almost as good as those fancy ones' commented Leon as he gnawed on a crusty brown bagel. He chewed and took another bite, yelping as his tongue made contact with hot butter.
' And we saved $6 !' shrieked Claire, smothering hers in butter and sitting down next to Leon on the comfortably shabby sofa. She took a huge bite from her steaming bagel, and licked a bit of butter off her finger.
' At this rate, if we continue to buy these and save up a bit of money, then we'll be able to afford a motorcycle in no time!' chattered Claire, happily, finishing off the last of her bagel and getting up to make some coffee.
Leon swallowed his last morsel of bagel and stood up to join her at the kitchen counter. The counter was decorated with wood furnishings, and smelt like pinewood.
There was the vibrant smell of Begonias by the windowsill, which had managed to survive despite Claire's neglect.
A fire was burning merrily in the place, casting a golden hue over the room, which was cosy and inviting.
Leon leant his elbows on the surfaced and watched Claire as she chattered as happily as a jay, whilst filtering the coffee. The change in her was remarkable. Her eyes were glittering and her skin glowing, her mouth stretched into a smile.
Claire poured out two cups of coffee and brought them into the living room, and set them down on the small table. The fire shed a stream of gold across her hair, making it shine a brilliant auburn.
He reached into his pocket and felt for the ticket their. It had cost a heck of a lot, and he wasn't going to lose it in a hurry. Claire took a break from her monologue of motorcycles, and was draining away her coffee. Leon began his sales pitch.
He casually draped his arm around her and cleared his throat.
' Claire I have a little surprise fro you' he said mysteriously, looking deep into her eyes. Claire narrowed her eyes at him, and slurped away at her coffee.
' Your going to a health farm tomorrow' he finished, trying to shield himself from the shower of scalding coffee that Claire had spat out over him, it was no use however and he caught a shower of coffee in his face.
He stood up yelping, and hopped around the room for the second time that day. Claire collapsed into giggles and was intently studying the ticket. She examined it closely to make sure it wasn't one of Leon's pranks.
The seal was genuine however and it belonged to the fanciest health farm in the area, ' Le Chambordoe'.
' I send you to a health farm, and I get third degree burns?' asked Leon jokingly, as he examined the red marks down one side of his face.
' Leon, I was planning to break your arm this evening' cracked Claire as she poured over the ticket.
' If you look at it any closer, you'll inhale it' commented Leon, as Claire examined it front and back, her nose brushing the ticket.
' You leave tomorrow at 7 am. I'll run you over then pick you up in the evening' said Leon, as Claire carefully placed the ticket on the fridge. Leon grinned. He had successfully carried out the first part of the plan.
Chris pulled Jill closer to him as they sat on the sofa. He nuzzled her neck and breathed in deeply the scent of her skin. Jill reached for his hands and squeezed them in hers, as Chris kissed the silky back of Jill's neck, brushing away the red locks from her neck.
The movie played on in the VCR, long forgotten, the sound blaring on in the quiet room. Jill turned around and ran her hand through Chris's spiky hair, and placed her lips on his whilst his other hand reached for the remote control, which switched off the video.
There was silence except for the sound of Chris and Jill's lips embracing. Chris's hands circled the small of her back, running up to her head and caressing her hair. He slid his hands up Jill's skintight top, and stroked the warm flesh there, touching the curve of her waist.
Jill leaned back on the sofa, and Chris's hands were just about to pry open the buttons on Jill's top when they were interrupted by the phone.
RING! RING! Blared the phone.
Chris tried to ignore it at first, but the sound of the phone-ringing cut into his thoughts. He pulled back from Jill, who sat up annoyedly and walked into the kitchen to pick up the phone.
' Hello' she said in a grumpy voice. 'All that foreplay ruined. When I get back to the sofa Chris will probably be asleep' She thought dismally.
' HI JILL!' shrieked Claire's high-pitched voice. Jill held the phone away from her ear as Chris's baby sister bellowed into her ear.
' So it's gonna be so cool, and we'll look great for the dance, hey! We can prize you into a sun bed!' shrieked Claire down the phone.
Jill grimaced and looked longingly back at the sofa, where Chris's familiar snores could be heard. Jill picked up the cordless phone and walked back to the living room, to see Chris asleep with his mouth open on the sofa, his chest rising and falling, a pillow gripped in his hands.
' Uh Claire what are you talking about?' asked Jill confusedly.
' What don't you know!? We're going to a health farm tomorrow as all the guys treated us!' yelled Claire louder than before.
' Hmm. Chris hasn't told me yet' interjected Jill, thorough Claire's screams.
' He will. Leon said that all three of us are going' said Claire breathless from her yelling. Jill could faintly hear Leon in the background groaning.
' Baby? Put the phone down and come to dada' groaned Leon in the background. Jill suppressed a laugh.
' So you had to phone me up at 2 am just, to tell me that?' asked Jill.
' Well I figure you'd still be awake, judging by the pace you and Chris left the RPD today' quipped Claire devilishly. ' Ok then see ya at 7am!' shrieked Claire before slamming down the phone and returning to her lovegod.
Jill replaced the phone and sat on the edge of the sofa, studying Chris as he slept.
His face twitched in his sleep, and the curve of his mouth was softened downwards, as he snored peaceful, his body was enveloped in shadows from the candles in the windowsill.
Jill tiptoed over to the window and blew them out quietly, her breath making misty patches on the window.
Outside the moon was up, and a bird twittered. Jill turned around to see Chris propped up on one arm staring at her, his green eyes reflecting like cat's eyes.
' Jillie? Is something wrong?' he asked concernedly, his hair dishevelled from his nap.
Jill shrugged and scooted over to him and sat down.
' Nothing at all' she assured him, studying the cushions on the sofa.
Chris gave her a probing look, his eyes seeing into the depth of her being. He cocked up an eyebrow.
' I'm fine Chris' she repeated, flashing him a flicker of a smile. The smile stayed at her lips, and did not reach her eyes. Chris placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her gently to him. He buried his head in her neck.
' Jill, I know you're not alright' he whispered into her neck.
Jill sighed and stood up.
' Chris, Claire just phoned me' she started. Chris chuckled.
' She often does' he drawled.
'And it sounded like her and Leon were having a great time' she finished.
' And we're not' questioned Chris.
His face was unreadable in the dark.
The tension in the small room was hard that you could cut it with a knife.
A nightingale fluttered past the window, the only sound in the still night. Chris jumped off the sofa, and turned the light on. The lights flickered on and his eyes were gleaming with their boyish glow. He jubilantly pulled her to her feet and twirled her around.
' Who says you can't have a good time without birth control?' he asked whilst he and Jill did the foxtrot across the living room, their feet tapping on the floorboards.
' Just like old times' said Jill half wistfully.
She remembered completing missions with the team, and then heading to the nearest bar and getting drunk. Richard, joking and laughing through his drunken gaze, all reserve melting away with a drop of liquor. Joseph and Forest eyeing up the talent, shaken not stirred. Barry and Enrico cutting out early to head home to their spouses. Ed taunting at Brad who refused to drink more than one pint. And her and Chris stumbling home and watching a movie, eating pizza and falling asleep on the couch together.
Chris grabbed the phone and put it on Speaker. Giggling like teenagers, they rifled through the phone book until they found an anonymous number. Chris dialled it in and waited.
'Hello?' said a crabby voice. Chris motioned to Jill who went and took over.
' Excuse me, this is the federal base for the prevention of cruelty to large novelty sized rabbit droppings' she began, her voice deep and serious.
' Y-ess?' answered the voice nervously.
' And I have had several reports of people at this address abusing these large novelty sized rabbit droppings' said Jill darkly. Chris clamped a hand over his mouth to contain his laughter. Jill smothered her mouth to stop cackling.
' W-hat are the charges?' asked the voice miserably.
' The charges are a week's worth of cleaning out the men's toilets in the RPD, bare handed and with no paper masks' said Jill, slamming down the phone and letting the tears of mirth run down her face.
Chris's body shook with the laughs, and he clutched his sides, as the laughter made them hurt.
' What's next?' asked Jill eagerly, sitting up. Chris walked over to the stereo and turned it on.
Dance music came filtering out, and he grabbed her by the arms and they began to dance. Chris twirled her around and dipped her, pinching her ass as she turned her back to him. Jill squealed and pulled on his waist whilst tugging on his left arm. Chris fell to the floor with a thud, an astonished look on his face. Jill regarded him.
' You look funny flat out on your ass' she said sweetly, before running around the room, dodging Chris, who was chasing her. She stopped short to catch her breath, and Chris succeeded in getting his arms around her.
The music changed to a slow, sexy ballad. Chris took her into his arms and they swayed to the music. Jill blissfully rested her head on his shoulder as they danced, teasingly rubbing herself against him. Chris gulped as he felt a lump grow in his body parts. The music stopped and Chris bowed formally to Jill. Jill lowered her head and curtsied perfectly.
Jill raced to the fridge and opened it. She searched frantically for something edible but could only find a lump of cheese. Snickering she took this into the living room where Chris was patiently waiting. His eyes lit up when he saw her carrying a tray.
' Ahh, Mizz Valentino, what delicacies have you brought me?' he asked in his best Italian accent.
' Shut your trap Redfield, you sound like a llama's pet piece of crap which lives on a shit farm' quipped Jill, before removing the silver dome over the plate with a flourish. Chris stared at the lumps of cheese on the plate with a bemused expression.
' Uhh. Well, it's different' he stuttered, as he regarded the hefty yellow lumps. Jill held one up tantalizingly in front of his eyes. She moved it around his face, his eyes never straying. He quickly lunged forward and nipped the cheese from her fingers in one deft motion.
Jill jumped back from the motion and watched Chris, devour the cheese with relish and then run his tongue over his lips slowly.
He picked up a lump of cheese and looked at Jill who giggled.
She opened her mouth and he popped in it. The rest of the cheese was eaten in a less suggestive manner.
Jill looked outside at the lake that their house was on. A smirk grew across her fine features and she concocted her plan.
Running back to the room, she tugged Chris to his feet and bundled him outside. Giggling and whispering they stripped off and leapt into the clear waters. Loud shrieks followed as the iciness of the water hit them, and the cold night air mingled with the freezing cold waters. Chris ducked his head and swam, feeling the refreshing waters rush past his ears, his body gliding thorough the waters gracefully. Jill bobbed up and down beside, freezing, but content.
Chris flicked some water at her and looked at her.
' Haven't you ever been skinny dipping before?' he asked as Jill experimenting, waved her arms in the waters.
' Alas no, the daredevil, raving, disco diva Jill Valentine has never been skinny-dipping before' she answered, splashing him slightly.
' Oh boy. Many of my escapades include swimming naked in some pond' joked Chris, as he floated on his back. Jill stared at him out of sapphire eyes.
' C'mon, tell' she pleaded. Chris took a deep breath.
' When Claire and I moved to the orphanage, I was 15 and she was 8' he began, wistfully. Jill's eyes softened a little and she nodded for him to go on.
' Well our orphanage was right on this gorgeous, crystal clear lake. Practically every summer night we would spend down their, swimming, or lying beside the calming lakes. We had some good times. Many of them with girls' said Chris, ducking as Jill splashed him viciously.
' Right it's President's Day Weekend. All of the kids are totalled from drinking one too many shandys and most of them are on the crapper. My friends are crashed out in the bathroom, snoring in the bathtub, that kind of thing. And there's this absolutely, mind blowingly, self contained, model with an IQ of an eggplant there. She's a new kid, needs someone to show her the ropes' said Chris, and flexes his huge biceps in the moonlight.
' Her name was Serenity. True, she walked like a goddess and had one cute ass, but, jeez, she made driftwood look intelligent. Well she's only half wasted, so giggling, I tell her that the initiation into the orphanage is to swim naked into the lake. I, so cunningly sexy and sly say that'll I accompany her on this feat. So this sexy klutz and I, strip off and swim naked in the lake. Little did we know, but the lake had been fitted with movement-censored lights. So the whole lake was illuminated, showing as in all our glory, making out naked in the lake. End of story' finished Chris, shivering in the cold waters. Jill cocks her head at him.
' What happened?' she asked sweetly.
' Jill Valentine, did I tell you how beautiful you look in the moonlight?' asked Chris, looking at her with his puppy dog expression, which had gotten him out of so many scrapes before.
' No but it can wait' quipped Jill, dodging away from Chris's arms. Chris advanced to her in the water, his movements making ripples in the crystal water.
' If you want to father my children then I suggest that you tell me what happened' said Jill warningly, her arms raised. Chris flops dejectedly back in the water.
' I was made to troop stark naked back to my dorm' he admitted ruefully.
' And Serenity?' asked Jill.
' Ditto. Cept' for all the boys fell in love with her Serene Jewels, that she was drooled on wherever she went' finished Chris.
Chris ducked his head under water, and swam across to Jill, who was still bobbing up and down.
' Gotcha!' yelled Chris, grabbing hold of one of legs, and pulling her under water. Jill gave a strangled scream, and went under, her arms flailing.
When she surfaced again, her eyes shone like daggers into Chris's.
' You better take this time to tell me how beautiful I look in the moonlight' said Jill viciously. Chris raised his arms, and risked a wink. He gingerly took one of Jill's hands.
' Your absolutely mind-blowingly, sexy' he said. Jill placed two hands on his head and dunked him under water.
' What was that for?' asked Chris as he spit the water out of his mouth. Jill dived under the water and rose up, her hair slick against her forehead, the moonlight sending shadows onto her creamy body.
' Your so beautiful, Jill that I don't need to treat to a Health Spa' concluded Chris, as he wrapped his arms around her slim waist and placed soft kisses along her neck.
' Your so stupid Chris, that if you don't treat me to a Health Spa, then your going to be finding pieces of your anatomy scattered about this here lake' said Jill innocently, cuffing his ear.
' The ticket is on the kitchen table. I run you over there at 7 am and then pick you up later' said Chris quickly, rubbing his ear.
' Much Better, Redfield' quipped Jill, splashing him with the lake waters. Chris took up the challenge and a water splashing fight began.
' Truth or Dare?' asked Carlos. Bec gave a start and looked up at Carlos who was teasingly looking down at her. Carlos caught hold of her hand and swung it playfully.
' Truth or Dare' he asked again.
' Dare' said Bec coyly.
' Feisty Senorita' quipped Carlos, narrowing his eyes. He thought for a moment then told his dare.
' You have to answer one of the ads in the chronicle' he said.
' Okay' said Bec confidently, picking up the newspaper and scanning thorough the ads.
' Needed: One sausage packer, no, Le petit Liz Bette looking for fresh faces for upcoming modelling shoot, nope probably some pervy dirty old guy' read Bec, as she scanned down column. Carlos took the newspaper and looked.
' Found one that's perfect for you' he said gesturing to a small amount of text at the bottom of the page. Bec took the newspaper and read.
' Needed: One night clerk at Smithy's Motel, no way, Carlos they rent rooms by the hour for quickies' said Bec. Her eye fell upon one.
' Hmm. This is a lonely Hearts one. Wanted: Life long companion for one incredibly gorgeous Harvard University grad, blonde, blue eyed and enjoys watching discovery channel, definitely not' concluded Bec.
' Why not?' questioned Carlos.
' Probably some geek with zits, coke bottle glasses and braces' quipped Bec. ' Either Date a weirdy or watch the illicit mating habits of the unhappily married and a no-tell, motel'.
' Or you do this' said Carlos slyly. Bec leant forward to listen.
' Right Officer Clark is asleep on duty. You know about his terrible fear of dogs…' trailed off Carlos, who was running his hands through his hair thoughtfully.
' So I let one of the dogs into his office while he's sleeping' finished Bec.
' And then lock the door from the outside' added Carlos, taking a sip out of his expresso.
' Deal' said Bec, shaking Carlos's hand and then creeping out of the room. Bec flattened herself against the wall, inwardly thanking the RPD for being empty at this time of night. Carlos was following behind her, stepping quietly.
Bec walked up to the dog pound, where she could hear the smothered howls of the police dogs.
She drew back the bolts on the door and quietly turned the key in the lock.
Stepping in as silent as a mouse, she tiptoed across the vinyl floor. Carlos was behind her and he quickly turned on the light switch.
As the bright light filled the room, the disgruntled dogs shifted positions, and began to awake and bark thinking it was morning and time for breakfast.
Bec deftly turned the light switch off and slunk back in the shadows pulling Carlos behind her, as the sound of approaching footsteps neared.
Bec and Carlos crouched in the dark, and could hear the officer waiting outside. He stopped for a little while, and once hearing the noise die down, he walked back to his office. Hearing him leave, Bec and Carlos shared a sigh of relief.
' We'll have to do this in the dark' whispered Bec, as she orientated herself in the cramped room. Carlos grunted an affirmative.
Bec slowly crawled on her front to the feed store in the corner of the room. She pocketed some dog biscuits and then continued the crawl back to the pound.
She reached the nearest cage and placed her fingers reassuringly in the dog's soft head.
The dog uttered a soft whimper as she pried open the bolt and drew back the chains, wincing as the old chains rattled loudly.
Catching the dog by the collar and handing him the dog biscuits, she carefully led him to the door.
Carlos emerged from his hiding place at the sound of the dog's teeth on the biscuit and drew open the bolts on the door.
Giggling and whispering they led the dog out and down the corridor.
' Quietly, we don't want to get caught' whispered Bec, as they went down a deserted hall. Carlos's sharp ears picked up the pattering of feet.
' Bec put him in the storage cupboard' he hissed as the footsteps neared. Bec hurriedly hustled the dog into the large cupboard and dropped down on one knee as if she doing up a bootlace. Carlos casually leaned his back against the wall, hands in his pockets, whistling ' The Island of Capri'.
The figure eventually turned down into the hall and Bec's face fell when she saw whom it was.
Zoë Grimsby, a rookie cop from the anti terrorist unit, who was one of the many women who drooled over Carlos.
Her face lit up with excitement when she saw him, her podgy legs tottering in her tight jeans, round face creased with happiness.
' Hi Carlos, I didn't know you were doing the night shift!' bubbled Zoe, as soon as she saw Carlos.
There was an ominous rustling in the cupboard, and Bec looked frantically at the door. Carlos sensed her fear, as he suddenly began talking faster and hustling Zoe down the corridor much to her disappointment.
Bec tried to look cool and calm, running a hand through her shoulder length red hair, looking at the ground.
She saw Carlos and Zoe disappear around the corner for a few minutes.
The dog pawed at the door, and howled at being shoved in a dingy cupboard. Carlos returned soon. His face was screwed up into a grimace, and he was swiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
' Man, that was one gruesome experience that I plan on forgetting' grimaced Carlos, and he swiped roughly at his mouth.
' What d'ja do?' asked Bec curiously.
' The only way I could shake her was to kiss her' groaned Carlos, as his face took on the pained expression.
The door shuddered and the dog came bounding out slathering Carlos graciously in wet licks. Carlos squatted down and patted the excited dog.
' C'mon Bec, this fella's ready to play' said Carlos, grabbing the dog's collar and leading him down the hall to Officer Clark's Office.
As they neared the door, the sound of the officer's deep snores could be heard. The dingy office light was still on, and through the blurred window the sleeping figure of Officer Clark could be seen.
Thick legs in tight blue jeans, his grubby black RPD t-shirt covered in food stains. Empty boxes of donuts were on his desk along with the other piles of junk.
A true police cop. Right down to the untidy desk and big belly.
Bec cautiously opened the door, hearing the rusty clang that came from the weak joints. The officer twitched in his slumber; round face billowing slightly in between he creases of fat.
Carlos gently placed a newspaper on his face. Bec silently watched him breathing and timed the right moment. As his chest went in, she deftly swiped his handcuffs from his stretched belt and gingerly lifted one of his hands. Carlos snapped the cuffs round his bulging wrist and then snapped the other to the table leg. Bec pocketed the shiny key, and then began untying the dog.
Nanuke, the dog was already excited from the escapades of the night. His shaggy tail was beating rhythmically on the vinyl floor and he licked Bec's hands as she struggled with the tough clasps of his collar.
Carlos kept a vigil on the Officer and impatiently tapped his boot heel on the floor.
If they were caught, they'd be in deeper shit than a llama's pet piece of crap who lived on a stink farm and had just been invaded by a stink bomb.
A cry of triumph escaped from Bec's lips as the clasp of the collar finally gave way. As soon as he was free from his entrapments, Nanuke went wild. His free head shook vigorously, and his huge feet made a clatter on the floor. Bec froze in blind panic.
' Bec! We gotta get outta here and scram!' yelled Carlos above the bedlam. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nanuke calm down and eye up the slumbering officer. Carlos grabbed her elbow. 'BEC!'.
Bec shook her head, and quickly dodged out of the room, Carlos on her heels. She paused for breath while Carlos drew back the bolts and turned the key in the lock. Already the Officer's screams of fear could be heard, mixed with the thuds of a large dog.
They sprinted around a corner into a deserted corridor and gave into laughter. Tears of mirth streamed down Carlos's face and Bec's sides began to ache.
Leaning against the wall for support, Bec regained her breath. Carlos followed suit.
' The best bit was hearing ol' Clark screaming like a little girl' said Carlos, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
' News Flash: wasted officer from the RPD records the highest pitched scream the world has ever seen!' said Bec in her best all business voice.
After all the laughter had been done, tears of mirth wiped and composure regained the two pranksters stumbled back to the STARs office, sneaking looks at each other. The door of the office was already open when they arrived.
Bec stumbled in, the long workout and hours of paper work starting to take toll. She draped herself on her chair, and propped her dainty feet up on her desk. Carlos parked himself on the corner of her desk and swung his feet.
' So amigo, what's next in your line up?' asked Bec lazily, her eyes half closed.
Carlos grinned and took up the challenge.
' You look kinda wasted yourself, so I was thinking coffee break' drawled Carlos, snapping his fingers together.
' A vatful' purred Bec, her eyes fully closed, her head nodding.
' How about a coffee chugging contest?' offered Carlos, his voice low and taunting.
Bec's eyes flew open and she regarded him out of grey eyes. Carefully entangling her legs, she leaned forward, so her face was only inches away from his.
' You're on!' she proclaimed, digging out some change.
Both of then made the quick pilgrimage to the coffee machine and stocked up. Stepping carefully back to the empty office arms full of cups of coffee, the test began.
Carlos straightened himself up and eyed the first cup of coffee.
He stealthily walked up to the tray, and picked up the cappuccino. Snatching it up in one deft motion, he held it to his lips and chugged it down in one gulp. A low cry escaped from his throat, he quickly extinguished it with a glass of water.
' Smeg!' quipped Bec gleefully from her position opposite him. ' If Chris is ruler of drinking booze, then I wonder what you are?' she questioned, batting her eyes.
' A dumb guy who decides to drink coffee straight from the machine' croaked Carlos, settling his burning throat with another glass of water. ' Your up, Chambers'.
Bec took the challenge.
She had purposefully asked Carlos to go first, so giving her time to let the coffees cool a little. He had also eliminated the lethal cappuccino. She reached down and gripped one of the polystyrene cups, and raising it to her lips she chugged.
Seconds later, she swiped her mouth, and slammed down the empty cup.
She eyed Carlos.
' Enough of this hissy stuff, just chug and throw your empty cups behind you!' declared Carlos, raising a cup.
Bec nodded quickly and a maze of flurry and confusion followed. Minutes later, a stack of empty coffee cups beside her, her feet up and her hand rubbing her stomach.
Carlos was seated opposite her in the same way, groaning as his stomach was tacking use of the caffeine.
' After all that, I bet I won't sleep for a month' groaned Bec, her hand still massaging her stomach.
' On counting the total of empty cups, It has come to mind that we have a draw. 9 cups to 9 cups' announced Carlos, dumping the empty cups into the overfilling trashcan. ' It isn't over yet though'.
' Whatdya mean? I'm outta change, and your tongue's burned' quipped Bec.
' Well it's jes' that the dance is approaching fast, and you'll need to be looking your best' said Carlos darkly.
' And I certainly will' added Bec.
' That's why us boys have clubbed together to send you girls to a health farm tomorrow' finshed Carlos, handing Bec a ticket.
Bec let out a whoop and wrapped her arms around Carlos, who lurched at having all the breath squeezed out of him. Carlos grinned at the satisfaction from a hug from Bec and by carrying out the plan successfully. Bec released him from her grip and pushed the ticket far down into her pocket.
After the energetic rush, Bec felt drained, and relaxed at her desk.
' You seem pretty tired' observed Carlos from his side of the desk.
' Yeah' answered Bec drowsily, her head drooping. Within minutes she was fast asleep on her desk, fatigue winning the final battle.
Smiling at her slumbering form, Carlos gathered up the empty containers and trash and tidied up. He gently shifted her head to a better angle, and dropped a light kiss on her cheek.
Bec stirred slightly and mumbled his name.
Carlos sighed happily and settled down to watch his sleeping beauty.
Leon paced up and down the room with the phone, listening to he rings and it was finally picked up.
' Whassup?!' said the familiar drawl.
Leon eyed the bathroom door.
' Fine, how goes the plan?' he asked uneasily.
' It goes fine. At this moment senorita is dosing contentedly at her desk' said Carlos, looking at Bec's tired form.
' You sure must've given her a workout' said Leon, rolling the words around in his mouth, making them sound R rated.
' Sure did. Chris okay with his score?' asked Carlos.
' Fine' assured Leon, glancing at the bathroom door.
' We should have the girls outta the way for long enough to finally put together the last parts of your initiation' confirmed Carlos, counting the hours down on his fingers.
' Later, man gotta run' said Leon all in one breath as the bathroom door knob started to turn.
' Latta' returned Carlos, before hanging up.
The bathroom door swung open just as Leon put down the receiver. Claire slunk out, clad in a sheer red robe, partially open.
Leon's eyes widened as he accepted her embrace. Things were FINALLY going to plan.
Chicky sez: Well whatdya' think? Sorry it took damn long to put up, but an overload of assignments prevented me from doing so.
Hehhe, looks as though the boys have some tricks up there sleeves…. Watch this space.
Beauty comes from within,
Truth is beauty,
Beauty is Truth,
But sometimes we don't know the meaning.
Striving to achieve outer glory,
But inside,
You're nothing at all…
Adelaide Van Hoosen.
' Hmm, these plain bagels taste almost as good as those fancy ones' commented Leon as he gnawed on a crusty brown bagel. He chewed and took another bite, yelping as his tongue made contact with hot butter.
' And we saved $6 !' shrieked Claire, smothering hers in butter and sitting down next to Leon on the comfortably shabby sofa. She took a huge bite from her steaming bagel, and licked a bit of butter off her finger.
' At this rate, if we continue to buy these and save up a bit of money, then we'll be able to afford a motorcycle in no time!' chattered Claire, happily, finishing off the last of her bagel and getting up to make some coffee.
Leon swallowed his last morsel of bagel and stood up to join her at the kitchen counter. The counter was decorated with wood furnishings, and smelt like pinewood.
There was the vibrant smell of Begonias by the windowsill, which had managed to survive despite Claire's neglect.
A fire was burning merrily in the place, casting a golden hue over the room, which was cosy and inviting.
Leon leant his elbows on the surfaced and watched Claire as she chattered as happily as a jay, whilst filtering the coffee. The change in her was remarkable. Her eyes were glittering and her skin glowing, her mouth stretched into a smile.
Claire poured out two cups of coffee and brought them into the living room, and set them down on the small table. The fire shed a stream of gold across her hair, making it shine a brilliant auburn.
He reached into his pocket and felt for the ticket their. It had cost a heck of a lot, and he wasn't going to lose it in a hurry. Claire took a break from her monologue of motorcycles, and was draining away her coffee. Leon began his sales pitch.
He casually draped his arm around her and cleared his throat.
' Claire I have a little surprise fro you' he said mysteriously, looking deep into her eyes. Claire narrowed her eyes at him, and slurped away at her coffee.
' Your going to a health farm tomorrow' he finished, trying to shield himself from the shower of scalding coffee that Claire had spat out over him, it was no use however and he caught a shower of coffee in his face.
He stood up yelping, and hopped around the room for the second time that day. Claire collapsed into giggles and was intently studying the ticket. She examined it closely to make sure it wasn't one of Leon's pranks.
The seal was genuine however and it belonged to the fanciest health farm in the area, ' Le Chambordoe'.
' I send you to a health farm, and I get third degree burns?' asked Leon jokingly, as he examined the red marks down one side of his face.
' Leon, I was planning to break your arm this evening' cracked Claire as she poured over the ticket.
' If you look at it any closer, you'll inhale it' commented Leon, as Claire examined it front and back, her nose brushing the ticket.
' You leave tomorrow at 7 am. I'll run you over then pick you up in the evening' said Leon, as Claire carefully placed the ticket on the fridge. Leon grinned. He had successfully carried out the first part of the plan.
Chris pulled Jill closer to him as they sat on the sofa. He nuzzled her neck and breathed in deeply the scent of her skin. Jill reached for his hands and squeezed them in hers, as Chris kissed the silky back of Jill's neck, brushing away the red locks from her neck.
The movie played on in the VCR, long forgotten, the sound blaring on in the quiet room. Jill turned around and ran her hand through Chris's spiky hair, and placed her lips on his whilst his other hand reached for the remote control, which switched off the video.
There was silence except for the sound of Chris and Jill's lips embracing. Chris's hands circled the small of her back, running up to her head and caressing her hair. He slid his hands up Jill's skintight top, and stroked the warm flesh there, touching the curve of her waist.
Jill leaned back on the sofa, and Chris's hands were just about to pry open the buttons on Jill's top when they were interrupted by the phone.
RING! RING! Blared the phone.
Chris tried to ignore it at first, but the sound of the phone-ringing cut into his thoughts. He pulled back from Jill, who sat up annoyedly and walked into the kitchen to pick up the phone.
' Hello' she said in a grumpy voice. 'All that foreplay ruined. When I get back to the sofa Chris will probably be asleep' She thought dismally.
' HI JILL!' shrieked Claire's high-pitched voice. Jill held the phone away from her ear as Chris's baby sister bellowed into her ear.
' So it's gonna be so cool, and we'll look great for the dance, hey! We can prize you into a sun bed!' shrieked Claire down the phone.
Jill grimaced and looked longingly back at the sofa, where Chris's familiar snores could be heard. Jill picked up the cordless phone and walked back to the living room, to see Chris asleep with his mouth open on the sofa, his chest rising and falling, a pillow gripped in his hands.
' Uh Claire what are you talking about?' asked Jill confusedly.
' What don't you know!? We're going to a health farm tomorrow as all the guys treated us!' yelled Claire louder than before.
' Hmm. Chris hasn't told me yet' interjected Jill, thorough Claire's screams.
' He will. Leon said that all three of us are going' said Claire breathless from her yelling. Jill could faintly hear Leon in the background groaning.
' Baby? Put the phone down and come to dada' groaned Leon in the background. Jill suppressed a laugh.
' So you had to phone me up at 2 am just, to tell me that?' asked Jill.
' Well I figure you'd still be awake, judging by the pace you and Chris left the RPD today' quipped Claire devilishly. ' Ok then see ya at 7am!' shrieked Claire before slamming down the phone and returning to her lovegod.
Jill replaced the phone and sat on the edge of the sofa, studying Chris as he slept.
His face twitched in his sleep, and the curve of his mouth was softened downwards, as he snored peaceful, his body was enveloped in shadows from the candles in the windowsill.
Jill tiptoed over to the window and blew them out quietly, her breath making misty patches on the window.
Outside the moon was up, and a bird twittered. Jill turned around to see Chris propped up on one arm staring at her, his green eyes reflecting like cat's eyes.
' Jillie? Is something wrong?' he asked concernedly, his hair dishevelled from his nap.
Jill shrugged and scooted over to him and sat down.
' Nothing at all' she assured him, studying the cushions on the sofa.
Chris gave her a probing look, his eyes seeing into the depth of her being. He cocked up an eyebrow.
' I'm fine Chris' she repeated, flashing him a flicker of a smile. The smile stayed at her lips, and did not reach her eyes. Chris placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her gently to him. He buried his head in her neck.
' Jill, I know you're not alright' he whispered into her neck.
Jill sighed and stood up.
' Chris, Claire just phoned me' she started. Chris chuckled.
' She often does' he drawled.
'And it sounded like her and Leon were having a great time' she finished.
' And we're not' questioned Chris.
His face was unreadable in the dark.
The tension in the small room was hard that you could cut it with a knife.
A nightingale fluttered past the window, the only sound in the still night. Chris jumped off the sofa, and turned the light on. The lights flickered on and his eyes were gleaming with their boyish glow. He jubilantly pulled her to her feet and twirled her around.
' Who says you can't have a good time without birth control?' he asked whilst he and Jill did the foxtrot across the living room, their feet tapping on the floorboards.
' Just like old times' said Jill half wistfully.
She remembered completing missions with the team, and then heading to the nearest bar and getting drunk. Richard, joking and laughing through his drunken gaze, all reserve melting away with a drop of liquor. Joseph and Forest eyeing up the talent, shaken not stirred. Barry and Enrico cutting out early to head home to their spouses. Ed taunting at Brad who refused to drink more than one pint. And her and Chris stumbling home and watching a movie, eating pizza and falling asleep on the couch together.
Chris grabbed the phone and put it on Speaker. Giggling like teenagers, they rifled through the phone book until they found an anonymous number. Chris dialled it in and waited.
'Hello?' said a crabby voice. Chris motioned to Jill who went and took over.
' Excuse me, this is the federal base for the prevention of cruelty to large novelty sized rabbit droppings' she began, her voice deep and serious.
' Y-ess?' answered the voice nervously.
' And I have had several reports of people at this address abusing these large novelty sized rabbit droppings' said Jill darkly. Chris clamped a hand over his mouth to contain his laughter. Jill smothered her mouth to stop cackling.
' W-hat are the charges?' asked the voice miserably.
' The charges are a week's worth of cleaning out the men's toilets in the RPD, bare handed and with no paper masks' said Jill, slamming down the phone and letting the tears of mirth run down her face.
Chris's body shook with the laughs, and he clutched his sides, as the laughter made them hurt.
' What's next?' asked Jill eagerly, sitting up. Chris walked over to the stereo and turned it on.
Dance music came filtering out, and he grabbed her by the arms and they began to dance. Chris twirled her around and dipped her, pinching her ass as she turned her back to him. Jill squealed and pulled on his waist whilst tugging on his left arm. Chris fell to the floor with a thud, an astonished look on his face. Jill regarded him.
' You look funny flat out on your ass' she said sweetly, before running around the room, dodging Chris, who was chasing her. She stopped short to catch her breath, and Chris succeeded in getting his arms around her.
The music changed to a slow, sexy ballad. Chris took her into his arms and they swayed to the music. Jill blissfully rested her head on his shoulder as they danced, teasingly rubbing herself against him. Chris gulped as he felt a lump grow in his body parts. The music stopped and Chris bowed formally to Jill. Jill lowered her head and curtsied perfectly.
Jill raced to the fridge and opened it. She searched frantically for something edible but could only find a lump of cheese. Snickering she took this into the living room where Chris was patiently waiting. His eyes lit up when he saw her carrying a tray.
' Ahh, Mizz Valentino, what delicacies have you brought me?' he asked in his best Italian accent.
' Shut your trap Redfield, you sound like a llama's pet piece of crap which lives on a shit farm' quipped Jill, before removing the silver dome over the plate with a flourish. Chris stared at the lumps of cheese on the plate with a bemused expression.
' Uhh. Well, it's different' he stuttered, as he regarded the hefty yellow lumps. Jill held one up tantalizingly in front of his eyes. She moved it around his face, his eyes never straying. He quickly lunged forward and nipped the cheese from her fingers in one deft motion.
Jill jumped back from the motion and watched Chris, devour the cheese with relish and then run his tongue over his lips slowly.
He picked up a lump of cheese and looked at Jill who giggled.
She opened her mouth and he popped in it. The rest of the cheese was eaten in a less suggestive manner.
Jill looked outside at the lake that their house was on. A smirk grew across her fine features and she concocted her plan.
Running back to the room, she tugged Chris to his feet and bundled him outside. Giggling and whispering they stripped off and leapt into the clear waters. Loud shrieks followed as the iciness of the water hit them, and the cold night air mingled with the freezing cold waters. Chris ducked his head and swam, feeling the refreshing waters rush past his ears, his body gliding thorough the waters gracefully. Jill bobbed up and down beside, freezing, but content.
Chris flicked some water at her and looked at her.
' Haven't you ever been skinny dipping before?' he asked as Jill experimenting, waved her arms in the waters.
' Alas no, the daredevil, raving, disco diva Jill Valentine has never been skinny-dipping before' she answered, splashing him slightly.
' Oh boy. Many of my escapades include swimming naked in some pond' joked Chris, as he floated on his back. Jill stared at him out of sapphire eyes.
' C'mon, tell' she pleaded. Chris took a deep breath.
' When Claire and I moved to the orphanage, I was 15 and she was 8' he began, wistfully. Jill's eyes softened a little and she nodded for him to go on.
' Well our orphanage was right on this gorgeous, crystal clear lake. Practically every summer night we would spend down their, swimming, or lying beside the calming lakes. We had some good times. Many of them with girls' said Chris, ducking as Jill splashed him viciously.
' Right it's President's Day Weekend. All of the kids are totalled from drinking one too many shandys and most of them are on the crapper. My friends are crashed out in the bathroom, snoring in the bathtub, that kind of thing. And there's this absolutely, mind blowingly, self contained, model with an IQ of an eggplant there. She's a new kid, needs someone to show her the ropes' said Chris, and flexes his huge biceps in the moonlight.
' Her name was Serenity. True, she walked like a goddess and had one cute ass, but, jeez, she made driftwood look intelligent. Well she's only half wasted, so giggling, I tell her that the initiation into the orphanage is to swim naked into the lake. I, so cunningly sexy and sly say that'll I accompany her on this feat. So this sexy klutz and I, strip off and swim naked in the lake. Little did we know, but the lake had been fitted with movement-censored lights. So the whole lake was illuminated, showing as in all our glory, making out naked in the lake. End of story' finished Chris, shivering in the cold waters. Jill cocks her head at him.
' What happened?' she asked sweetly.
' Jill Valentine, did I tell you how beautiful you look in the moonlight?' asked Chris, looking at her with his puppy dog expression, which had gotten him out of so many scrapes before.
' No but it can wait' quipped Jill, dodging away from Chris's arms. Chris advanced to her in the water, his movements making ripples in the crystal water.
' If you want to father my children then I suggest that you tell me what happened' said Jill warningly, her arms raised. Chris flops dejectedly back in the water.
' I was made to troop stark naked back to my dorm' he admitted ruefully.
' And Serenity?' asked Jill.
' Ditto. Cept' for all the boys fell in love with her Serene Jewels, that she was drooled on wherever she went' finished Chris.
Chris ducked his head under water, and swam across to Jill, who was still bobbing up and down.
' Gotcha!' yelled Chris, grabbing hold of one of legs, and pulling her under water. Jill gave a strangled scream, and went under, her arms flailing.
When she surfaced again, her eyes shone like daggers into Chris's.
' You better take this time to tell me how beautiful I look in the moonlight' said Jill viciously. Chris raised his arms, and risked a wink. He gingerly took one of Jill's hands.
' Your absolutely mind-blowingly, sexy' he said. Jill placed two hands on his head and dunked him under water.
' What was that for?' asked Chris as he spit the water out of his mouth. Jill dived under the water and rose up, her hair slick against her forehead, the moonlight sending shadows onto her creamy body.
' Your so beautiful, Jill that I don't need to treat to a Health Spa' concluded Chris, as he wrapped his arms around her slim waist and placed soft kisses along her neck.
' Your so stupid Chris, that if you don't treat me to a Health Spa, then your going to be finding pieces of your anatomy scattered about this here lake' said Jill innocently, cuffing his ear.
' The ticket is on the kitchen table. I run you over there at 7 am and then pick you up later' said Chris quickly, rubbing his ear.
' Much Better, Redfield' quipped Jill, splashing him with the lake waters. Chris took up the challenge and a water splashing fight began.
' Truth or Dare?' asked Carlos. Bec gave a start and looked up at Carlos who was teasingly looking down at her. Carlos caught hold of her hand and swung it playfully.
' Truth or Dare' he asked again.
' Dare' said Bec coyly.
' Feisty Senorita' quipped Carlos, narrowing his eyes. He thought for a moment then told his dare.
' You have to answer one of the ads in the chronicle' he said.
' Okay' said Bec confidently, picking up the newspaper and scanning thorough the ads.
' Needed: One sausage packer, no, Le petit Liz Bette looking for fresh faces for upcoming modelling shoot, nope probably some pervy dirty old guy' read Bec, as she scanned down column. Carlos took the newspaper and looked.
' Found one that's perfect for you' he said gesturing to a small amount of text at the bottom of the page. Bec took the newspaper and read.
' Needed: One night clerk at Smithy's Motel, no way, Carlos they rent rooms by the hour for quickies' said Bec. Her eye fell upon one.
' Hmm. This is a lonely Hearts one. Wanted: Life long companion for one incredibly gorgeous Harvard University grad, blonde, blue eyed and enjoys watching discovery channel, definitely not' concluded Bec.
' Why not?' questioned Carlos.
' Probably some geek with zits, coke bottle glasses and braces' quipped Bec. ' Either Date a weirdy or watch the illicit mating habits of the unhappily married and a no-tell, motel'.
' Or you do this' said Carlos slyly. Bec leant forward to listen.
' Right Officer Clark is asleep on duty. You know about his terrible fear of dogs…' trailed off Carlos, who was running his hands through his hair thoughtfully.
' So I let one of the dogs into his office while he's sleeping' finished Bec.
' And then lock the door from the outside' added Carlos, taking a sip out of his expresso.
' Deal' said Bec, shaking Carlos's hand and then creeping out of the room. Bec flattened herself against the wall, inwardly thanking the RPD for being empty at this time of night. Carlos was following behind her, stepping quietly.
Bec walked up to the dog pound, where she could hear the smothered howls of the police dogs.
She drew back the bolts on the door and quietly turned the key in the lock.
Stepping in as silent as a mouse, she tiptoed across the vinyl floor. Carlos was behind her and he quickly turned on the light switch.
As the bright light filled the room, the disgruntled dogs shifted positions, and began to awake and bark thinking it was morning and time for breakfast.
Bec deftly turned the light switch off and slunk back in the shadows pulling Carlos behind her, as the sound of approaching footsteps neared.
Bec and Carlos crouched in the dark, and could hear the officer waiting outside. He stopped for a little while, and once hearing the noise die down, he walked back to his office. Hearing him leave, Bec and Carlos shared a sigh of relief.
' We'll have to do this in the dark' whispered Bec, as she orientated herself in the cramped room. Carlos grunted an affirmative.
Bec slowly crawled on her front to the feed store in the corner of the room. She pocketed some dog biscuits and then continued the crawl back to the pound.
She reached the nearest cage and placed her fingers reassuringly in the dog's soft head.
The dog uttered a soft whimper as she pried open the bolt and drew back the chains, wincing as the old chains rattled loudly.
Catching the dog by the collar and handing him the dog biscuits, she carefully led him to the door.
Carlos emerged from his hiding place at the sound of the dog's teeth on the biscuit and drew open the bolts on the door.
Giggling and whispering they led the dog out and down the corridor.
' Quietly, we don't want to get caught' whispered Bec, as they went down a deserted hall. Carlos's sharp ears picked up the pattering of feet.
' Bec put him in the storage cupboard' he hissed as the footsteps neared. Bec hurriedly hustled the dog into the large cupboard and dropped down on one knee as if she doing up a bootlace. Carlos casually leaned his back against the wall, hands in his pockets, whistling ' The Island of Capri'.
The figure eventually turned down into the hall and Bec's face fell when she saw whom it was.
Zoë Grimsby, a rookie cop from the anti terrorist unit, who was one of the many women who drooled over Carlos.
Her face lit up with excitement when she saw him, her podgy legs tottering in her tight jeans, round face creased with happiness.
' Hi Carlos, I didn't know you were doing the night shift!' bubbled Zoe, as soon as she saw Carlos.
There was an ominous rustling in the cupboard, and Bec looked frantically at the door. Carlos sensed her fear, as he suddenly began talking faster and hustling Zoe down the corridor much to her disappointment.
Bec tried to look cool and calm, running a hand through her shoulder length red hair, looking at the ground.
She saw Carlos and Zoe disappear around the corner for a few minutes.
The dog pawed at the door, and howled at being shoved in a dingy cupboard. Carlos returned soon. His face was screwed up into a grimace, and he was swiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
' Man, that was one gruesome experience that I plan on forgetting' grimaced Carlos, and he swiped roughly at his mouth.
' What d'ja do?' asked Bec curiously.
' The only way I could shake her was to kiss her' groaned Carlos, as his face took on the pained expression.
The door shuddered and the dog came bounding out slathering Carlos graciously in wet licks. Carlos squatted down and patted the excited dog.
' C'mon Bec, this fella's ready to play' said Carlos, grabbing the dog's collar and leading him down the hall to Officer Clark's Office.
As they neared the door, the sound of the officer's deep snores could be heard. The dingy office light was still on, and through the blurred window the sleeping figure of Officer Clark could be seen.
Thick legs in tight blue jeans, his grubby black RPD t-shirt covered in food stains. Empty boxes of donuts were on his desk along with the other piles of junk.
A true police cop. Right down to the untidy desk and big belly.
Bec cautiously opened the door, hearing the rusty clang that came from the weak joints. The officer twitched in his slumber; round face billowing slightly in between he creases of fat.
Carlos gently placed a newspaper on his face. Bec silently watched him breathing and timed the right moment. As his chest went in, she deftly swiped his handcuffs from his stretched belt and gingerly lifted one of his hands. Carlos snapped the cuffs round his bulging wrist and then snapped the other to the table leg. Bec pocketed the shiny key, and then began untying the dog.
Nanuke, the dog was already excited from the escapades of the night. His shaggy tail was beating rhythmically on the vinyl floor and he licked Bec's hands as she struggled with the tough clasps of his collar.
Carlos kept a vigil on the Officer and impatiently tapped his boot heel on the floor.
If they were caught, they'd be in deeper shit than a llama's pet piece of crap who lived on a stink farm and had just been invaded by a stink bomb.
A cry of triumph escaped from Bec's lips as the clasp of the collar finally gave way. As soon as he was free from his entrapments, Nanuke went wild. His free head shook vigorously, and his huge feet made a clatter on the floor. Bec froze in blind panic.
' Bec! We gotta get outta here and scram!' yelled Carlos above the bedlam. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nanuke calm down and eye up the slumbering officer. Carlos grabbed her elbow. 'BEC!'.
Bec shook her head, and quickly dodged out of the room, Carlos on her heels. She paused for breath while Carlos drew back the bolts and turned the key in the lock. Already the Officer's screams of fear could be heard, mixed with the thuds of a large dog.
They sprinted around a corner into a deserted corridor and gave into laughter. Tears of mirth streamed down Carlos's face and Bec's sides began to ache.
Leaning against the wall for support, Bec regained her breath. Carlos followed suit.
' The best bit was hearing ol' Clark screaming like a little girl' said Carlos, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
' News Flash: wasted officer from the RPD records the highest pitched scream the world has ever seen!' said Bec in her best all business voice.
After all the laughter had been done, tears of mirth wiped and composure regained the two pranksters stumbled back to the STARs office, sneaking looks at each other. The door of the office was already open when they arrived.
Bec stumbled in, the long workout and hours of paper work starting to take toll. She draped herself on her chair, and propped her dainty feet up on her desk. Carlos parked himself on the corner of her desk and swung his feet.
' So amigo, what's next in your line up?' asked Bec lazily, her eyes half closed.
Carlos grinned and took up the challenge.
' You look kinda wasted yourself, so I was thinking coffee break' drawled Carlos, snapping his fingers together.
' A vatful' purred Bec, her eyes fully closed, her head nodding.
' How about a coffee chugging contest?' offered Carlos, his voice low and taunting.
Bec's eyes flew open and she regarded him out of grey eyes. Carefully entangling her legs, she leaned forward, so her face was only inches away from his.
' You're on!' she proclaimed, digging out some change.
Both of then made the quick pilgrimage to the coffee machine and stocked up. Stepping carefully back to the empty office arms full of cups of coffee, the test began.
Carlos straightened himself up and eyed the first cup of coffee.
He stealthily walked up to the tray, and picked up the cappuccino. Snatching it up in one deft motion, he held it to his lips and chugged it down in one gulp. A low cry escaped from his throat, he quickly extinguished it with a glass of water.
' Smeg!' quipped Bec gleefully from her position opposite him. ' If Chris is ruler of drinking booze, then I wonder what you are?' she questioned, batting her eyes.
' A dumb guy who decides to drink coffee straight from the machine' croaked Carlos, settling his burning throat with another glass of water. ' Your up, Chambers'.
Bec took the challenge.
She had purposefully asked Carlos to go first, so giving her time to let the coffees cool a little. He had also eliminated the lethal cappuccino. She reached down and gripped one of the polystyrene cups, and raising it to her lips she chugged.
Seconds later, she swiped her mouth, and slammed down the empty cup.
She eyed Carlos.
' Enough of this hissy stuff, just chug and throw your empty cups behind you!' declared Carlos, raising a cup.
Bec nodded quickly and a maze of flurry and confusion followed. Minutes later, a stack of empty coffee cups beside her, her feet up and her hand rubbing her stomach.
Carlos was seated opposite her in the same way, groaning as his stomach was tacking use of the caffeine.
' After all that, I bet I won't sleep for a month' groaned Bec, her hand still massaging her stomach.
' On counting the total of empty cups, It has come to mind that we have a draw. 9 cups to 9 cups' announced Carlos, dumping the empty cups into the overfilling trashcan. ' It isn't over yet though'.
' Whatdya mean? I'm outta change, and your tongue's burned' quipped Bec.
' Well it's jes' that the dance is approaching fast, and you'll need to be looking your best' said Carlos darkly.
' And I certainly will' added Bec.
' That's why us boys have clubbed together to send you girls to a health farm tomorrow' finshed Carlos, handing Bec a ticket.
Bec let out a whoop and wrapped her arms around Carlos, who lurched at having all the breath squeezed out of him. Carlos grinned at the satisfaction from a hug from Bec and by carrying out the plan successfully. Bec released him from her grip and pushed the ticket far down into her pocket.
After the energetic rush, Bec felt drained, and relaxed at her desk.
' You seem pretty tired' observed Carlos from his side of the desk.
' Yeah' answered Bec drowsily, her head drooping. Within minutes she was fast asleep on her desk, fatigue winning the final battle.
Smiling at her slumbering form, Carlos gathered up the empty containers and trash and tidied up. He gently shifted her head to a better angle, and dropped a light kiss on her cheek.
Bec stirred slightly and mumbled his name.
Carlos sighed happily and settled down to watch his sleeping beauty.
Leon paced up and down the room with the phone, listening to he rings and it was finally picked up.
' Whassup?!' said the familiar drawl.
Leon eyed the bathroom door.
' Fine, how goes the plan?' he asked uneasily.
' It goes fine. At this moment senorita is dosing contentedly at her desk' said Carlos, looking at Bec's tired form.
' You sure must've given her a workout' said Leon, rolling the words around in his mouth, making them sound R rated.
' Sure did. Chris okay with his score?' asked Carlos.
' Fine' assured Leon, glancing at the bathroom door.
' We should have the girls outta the way for long enough to finally put together the last parts of your initiation' confirmed Carlos, counting the hours down on his fingers.
' Later, man gotta run' said Leon all in one breath as the bathroom door knob started to turn.
' Latta' returned Carlos, before hanging up.
The bathroom door swung open just as Leon put down the receiver. Claire slunk out, clad in a sheer red robe, partially open.
Leon's eyes widened as he accepted her embrace. Things were FINALLY going to plan.
Chicky sez: Well whatdya' think? Sorry it took damn long to put up, but an overload of assignments prevented me from doing so.
Hehhe, looks as though the boys have some tricks up there sleeves…. Watch this space.