Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement! It was rewarding to hear
I "brought the funny"! I am a big fan of the funny fanfics myself. Here's
another little glimpse into my imagination. There is more to follow from
here...Chapter 3 to arrive soon. Enjoy!
CHAPTER 2 – Guys Night: A Chick Free Zone
Ryan stood in the kitchen stacking dishes in the dishwasher when Seth decided he couldn't stand it any longer.
"Come on man! Just how much work are you going to do in one day? You're cutting into Guys Night. This is a Chick Free Zone! Come on. Follow me. Walk this way." Walking backwards Seth wiggled his fingers at Ryan as if he was trying to teach him how to walk for this first time.
Since he was finished anyway, Ryan closed the door to the dishwasher and headed in Seth's direction.
"That's it. Yes! I knew you could do it! Just put one foot in front of the other. There ya go."
For a moment Ryan stopped walking and just stared at Seth. Standing frozen in his own position, Seth looked Ryan up and down. "What are you doing?"
With a flick of his eyebrows, Ryan pounced in Seth's path, grabbed the remote out of his hand and disappeared into the family room.
"Dude! What the....what was that? That's it. No more garlic bread for you it makes you goofy!"
"Yeah whatever. You gonna play or you gonna stand in the kitchen all night long?"
"No. Ryan. It's time for me to show you a little thing I like to call Ninja madness. Prepare to have your ass handed to you!"
Laughing out loud, "Oh that I'd like to see! Bring it on!"
"Mock me if you will Ryan. You won't be laughing when you feel my steel!"
"Seth, don't say feel my steel. You're making me nauseous!"
"Don't be a baby. It's probably all that garlic bread you ate!"
Two hours later, the Ninja competition was still a draw. Not only did Ryan not get his ass handed to him, at least 50% of the time he was handing Seth his own backside. Both had proven to be worthy warriors.
"I think it's time for a movie run and maybe some snacks. What do you think?" Seth could eat 24/7. Ryan often referred to him as the human vacuum. He was always hungry and he always wanted more food.
"Where are you going?" Kirsten called from the living room couch. Seeing as her reading was briefly interrupted by a scuffle over who was to do the driving.
"Video store. Snack run. We won't be gone long." Seth countered.
"Oh let me give you some money. Ryan why don't you make some of those famous nachos of yours?"
"Ah ah ah! Mom, this is Guys Night. It's a Chick Free Zone." Seth explained while Kirsten's disappointment was apparent on her face. "Sorry Mom, but for tonight you're gonna have to get your own nachos. Come on Ryan." Grabbing the keys, thinking he's won the war, Seth bolted up the steps and out the front door.
Ryan noticed a pout on Kirsten's lips at Seth's exit. He knew how much she enjoyed his nachos. Taking the folded money out of her hand with a crooked smile and shrugging his shoulders, "I don't see the harm in making two trays of nachos. I might forget one tray on the kitchen counter when we sit down to watch the movie."
"You know, there are times like this when I don't mind you being secretive."
"That's only because it's in your favor and there's nachos involved." Ryan said flatly.
"Yes. Absolutely true!"
"RYAN!" Seth bellowed from the car through the open front door of the house.
"Ah, a call from the wild. You better get going before he comes back in here." Sharing a smirk Ryan headed to the door. Kirsten followed along to see the boy's off. Waving from the doorway, she watched Seth back down the driveway. She could hear Seth drilling Ryan all the way down the drive...
"You're gonna make her some nachos aren't you? Ryan, you're ruining the sanctity of Guys Night. It's a Chick Free Zone! Moms do so count! No chicks means no chicks. No dates, no phone calls, no text messaging and definitely no nachos!" A trip to the grocery store with Seth was no easy task. It was like taking a kid to a candy store and he was just as hard to control.
"Seth, this is Guys Night. Not Guys Weekend. We don't need a cart."
"It's a grocery store. We need a cart. Never underestimate the power of snack food Ryan."
"Seth. Take a basket. We don't need a..."
"Hi ho Silver! Away!" Pushing off from the floor, he raised himself up onto the cart, gliding away from Ryan.
"Take me to the snacks!" Seth ordered. Ryan stopped walking. He tipped his head to the floor and nervously looked around hoping no one was watching Seth.
"Seth. Seth. Seth!"
Ignoring Ryan, Seth continued zipping along with the cart until it careened out of control and crashed into one of the store's displays, sending boxes of Fruit Loops in every direction.
"Andy, clean up on Isle 3 please," raged over the loudspeaker.
Folding his arms and sighing deeply, "Are you finished now?" Ryan asked through clenched teeth.
"Yes I'm done," Seth said quietly. "Can I still have the cart?" Ryan appeared to be shooting daggers out his eyes. "I just...I'll be careful," the child in Seth pleaded.
Shaking his head, Ryan narrowed his eyes, "If you hit one more thing..."
"I won't. I swear. I will follow all cart laws and bylaws."
"No more cart surfing."
"None. No cart surfing here. None at all. Maybe now would be a good time to get the stuff to make your nachos."
Twenty minutes later they were on their way through the parking lot of the video store and a new challenge of agreeing on a movie was well under way. It was obvious they had very different ideas about what a guy's movie was. The discussion was interrupted by the appearance of a petite girl. She appeared to be out of sorts.
"What is wrong with that girl? Is she drunk?" Seth questioned.
Ryan's mouth dropped open and a look of complete shock took over his face. "No. She doesn't drink. That's Jorie."
Whipping his head back to the girl, "You know her?" Seth inquired, confused.
Sighing deeply, Ryan nodded. "She's from Chino. I have no idea what she's doing up here. She's too young to drive. I should take her home."
Grabbing Ryan's arm, "Whoa whoa! You can't."
"What are you talking about? I can't just leave her here."
"Oh yes you can. Ryan, we are in a chick free zone remember? No chicks. I let the nachos slip because that was my Mom okay but I didn't mean to leave the door wide open for tiny little possibly drunk chicks from Chino."
Begging and pleading was not in Ryan's disposition so he tried the only tactic he knew would work. "I told you, she's not drunk. Seth, she grew up in a house like I did. Her past isn't pretty. She's a good kid. Never deserved what she went through. I can't leave her here."
"An innocent one. Damn it. You're right. We can't leave her here. Chino is an hour away though. Maybe she could spend the night. How does she feel about nachos?"
"She loves them," Ryan smiled.
The boys approached the girl sitting on the curb and Ryan got down on his haunches in front of her. "Hey Jorie. How ya doing?"
"RYAN! Hi ya!" she yelled with a big old smile on her face. Throwing herself on top of Ryan with her arms around his neck, she knocked him to the ground.
"Looks like she's happy to see you," Seth observed
"How about we get you out of here huh?" Ryan offered.
"That sounds nice. Where are we going?" Jorie tried to stand up. "Wait a minute. You guys are having a Guys Night aren't you?"
"How does she know that Ryan? That's very creepy of her. Sometimes you Chino people are just...creepy!" Seth stammered.
Ryan, speechless, was still sitting on the ground where Jorie tackled him, shooting Seth looks from the pavement.
"He can't be serious," Jorie questioned, looking at Ryan. "Two guys alone on a Friday night, no girls in sight. No cell phones ringing away with evening plans. Either you've both angered the Love Gods or it's Guys Night."
"There she goes again! Frankly Ryan she's starting to freak me out a little. Her head isn't going to spin around is it?"
"Seth!"
"Come on guys. Let me watch a movie with you. Please?" she begged.
Finally standing on his own two feet Ryan replied, "You'll have to get permission from Seth. It is, after all, Guys Night and this is supposed to be a Chick Free Zone."
Jorie looked at Seth and put on her best pout and puppy dog eyes.
"Well that's not fair. Look how cute and innocent she looks. Is it always this hard to say no to the Jorie?" Seth looked at Ryan for back up and all he got was a nod of affirmation.
"Okay Jorie. You're in. But NO chick flicks. Guy flicks only."
"Consider it done," she agreed and headed into the video store.
"Alright I'll admit it. The Jorie is nice and I don't mind letting her spend the evening with us, but you gotta tell her to turn off the Chino- ness. I mean, is there anything else I should know about her before this night goes forward?"
"No. She's from Chino. And at four foot, seven inches tall she could probably take you."
"Good to know. Maybe we should let her pick out the movie. Guys Night can wait."
CHAPTER 2 – Guys Night: A Chick Free Zone
Ryan stood in the kitchen stacking dishes in the dishwasher when Seth decided he couldn't stand it any longer.
"Come on man! Just how much work are you going to do in one day? You're cutting into Guys Night. This is a Chick Free Zone! Come on. Follow me. Walk this way." Walking backwards Seth wiggled his fingers at Ryan as if he was trying to teach him how to walk for this first time.
Since he was finished anyway, Ryan closed the door to the dishwasher and headed in Seth's direction.
"That's it. Yes! I knew you could do it! Just put one foot in front of the other. There ya go."
For a moment Ryan stopped walking and just stared at Seth. Standing frozen in his own position, Seth looked Ryan up and down. "What are you doing?"
With a flick of his eyebrows, Ryan pounced in Seth's path, grabbed the remote out of his hand and disappeared into the family room.
"Dude! What the....what was that? That's it. No more garlic bread for you it makes you goofy!"
"Yeah whatever. You gonna play or you gonna stand in the kitchen all night long?"
"No. Ryan. It's time for me to show you a little thing I like to call Ninja madness. Prepare to have your ass handed to you!"
Laughing out loud, "Oh that I'd like to see! Bring it on!"
"Mock me if you will Ryan. You won't be laughing when you feel my steel!"
"Seth, don't say feel my steel. You're making me nauseous!"
"Don't be a baby. It's probably all that garlic bread you ate!"
Two hours later, the Ninja competition was still a draw. Not only did Ryan not get his ass handed to him, at least 50% of the time he was handing Seth his own backside. Both had proven to be worthy warriors.
"I think it's time for a movie run and maybe some snacks. What do you think?" Seth could eat 24/7. Ryan often referred to him as the human vacuum. He was always hungry and he always wanted more food.
"Where are you going?" Kirsten called from the living room couch. Seeing as her reading was briefly interrupted by a scuffle over who was to do the driving.
"Video store. Snack run. We won't be gone long." Seth countered.
"Oh let me give you some money. Ryan why don't you make some of those famous nachos of yours?"
"Ah ah ah! Mom, this is Guys Night. It's a Chick Free Zone." Seth explained while Kirsten's disappointment was apparent on her face. "Sorry Mom, but for tonight you're gonna have to get your own nachos. Come on Ryan." Grabbing the keys, thinking he's won the war, Seth bolted up the steps and out the front door.
Ryan noticed a pout on Kirsten's lips at Seth's exit. He knew how much she enjoyed his nachos. Taking the folded money out of her hand with a crooked smile and shrugging his shoulders, "I don't see the harm in making two trays of nachos. I might forget one tray on the kitchen counter when we sit down to watch the movie."
"You know, there are times like this when I don't mind you being secretive."
"That's only because it's in your favor and there's nachos involved." Ryan said flatly.
"Yes. Absolutely true!"
"RYAN!" Seth bellowed from the car through the open front door of the house.
"Ah, a call from the wild. You better get going before he comes back in here." Sharing a smirk Ryan headed to the door. Kirsten followed along to see the boy's off. Waving from the doorway, she watched Seth back down the driveway. She could hear Seth drilling Ryan all the way down the drive...
"You're gonna make her some nachos aren't you? Ryan, you're ruining the sanctity of Guys Night. It's a Chick Free Zone! Moms do so count! No chicks means no chicks. No dates, no phone calls, no text messaging and definitely no nachos!" A trip to the grocery store with Seth was no easy task. It was like taking a kid to a candy store and he was just as hard to control.
"Seth, this is Guys Night. Not Guys Weekend. We don't need a cart."
"It's a grocery store. We need a cart. Never underestimate the power of snack food Ryan."
"Seth. Take a basket. We don't need a..."
"Hi ho Silver! Away!" Pushing off from the floor, he raised himself up onto the cart, gliding away from Ryan.
"Take me to the snacks!" Seth ordered. Ryan stopped walking. He tipped his head to the floor and nervously looked around hoping no one was watching Seth.
"Seth. Seth. Seth!"
Ignoring Ryan, Seth continued zipping along with the cart until it careened out of control and crashed into one of the store's displays, sending boxes of Fruit Loops in every direction.
"Andy, clean up on Isle 3 please," raged over the loudspeaker.
Folding his arms and sighing deeply, "Are you finished now?" Ryan asked through clenched teeth.
"Yes I'm done," Seth said quietly. "Can I still have the cart?" Ryan appeared to be shooting daggers out his eyes. "I just...I'll be careful," the child in Seth pleaded.
Shaking his head, Ryan narrowed his eyes, "If you hit one more thing..."
"I won't. I swear. I will follow all cart laws and bylaws."
"No more cart surfing."
"None. No cart surfing here. None at all. Maybe now would be a good time to get the stuff to make your nachos."
Twenty minutes later they were on their way through the parking lot of the video store and a new challenge of agreeing on a movie was well under way. It was obvious they had very different ideas about what a guy's movie was. The discussion was interrupted by the appearance of a petite girl. She appeared to be out of sorts.
"What is wrong with that girl? Is she drunk?" Seth questioned.
Ryan's mouth dropped open and a look of complete shock took over his face. "No. She doesn't drink. That's Jorie."
Whipping his head back to the girl, "You know her?" Seth inquired, confused.
Sighing deeply, Ryan nodded. "She's from Chino. I have no idea what she's doing up here. She's too young to drive. I should take her home."
Grabbing Ryan's arm, "Whoa whoa! You can't."
"What are you talking about? I can't just leave her here."
"Oh yes you can. Ryan, we are in a chick free zone remember? No chicks. I let the nachos slip because that was my Mom okay but I didn't mean to leave the door wide open for tiny little possibly drunk chicks from Chino."
Begging and pleading was not in Ryan's disposition so he tried the only tactic he knew would work. "I told you, she's not drunk. Seth, she grew up in a house like I did. Her past isn't pretty. She's a good kid. Never deserved what she went through. I can't leave her here."
"An innocent one. Damn it. You're right. We can't leave her here. Chino is an hour away though. Maybe she could spend the night. How does she feel about nachos?"
"She loves them," Ryan smiled.
The boys approached the girl sitting on the curb and Ryan got down on his haunches in front of her. "Hey Jorie. How ya doing?"
"RYAN! Hi ya!" she yelled with a big old smile on her face. Throwing herself on top of Ryan with her arms around his neck, she knocked him to the ground.
"Looks like she's happy to see you," Seth observed
"How about we get you out of here huh?" Ryan offered.
"That sounds nice. Where are we going?" Jorie tried to stand up. "Wait a minute. You guys are having a Guys Night aren't you?"
"How does she know that Ryan? That's very creepy of her. Sometimes you Chino people are just...creepy!" Seth stammered.
Ryan, speechless, was still sitting on the ground where Jorie tackled him, shooting Seth looks from the pavement.
"He can't be serious," Jorie questioned, looking at Ryan. "Two guys alone on a Friday night, no girls in sight. No cell phones ringing away with evening plans. Either you've both angered the Love Gods or it's Guys Night."
"There she goes again! Frankly Ryan she's starting to freak me out a little. Her head isn't going to spin around is it?"
"Seth!"
"Come on guys. Let me watch a movie with you. Please?" she begged.
Finally standing on his own two feet Ryan replied, "You'll have to get permission from Seth. It is, after all, Guys Night and this is supposed to be a Chick Free Zone."
Jorie looked at Seth and put on her best pout and puppy dog eyes.
"Well that's not fair. Look how cute and innocent she looks. Is it always this hard to say no to the Jorie?" Seth looked at Ryan for back up and all he got was a nod of affirmation.
"Okay Jorie. You're in. But NO chick flicks. Guy flicks only."
"Consider it done," she agreed and headed into the video store.
"Alright I'll admit it. The Jorie is nice and I don't mind letting her spend the evening with us, but you gotta tell her to turn off the Chino- ness. I mean, is there anything else I should know about her before this night goes forward?"
"No. She's from Chino. And at four foot, seven inches tall she could probably take you."
"Good to know. Maybe we should let her pick out the movie. Guys Night can wait."