DISCLAIMER: See chapter 1
A/N: Thank you so much nattieb for the wonderful review! In my story, Zoey and Charlie are still together (because I'm a big CharlieZoey fan). And I officially apologize for this chapter... my sense of humor kicked in, and I have a weird sense of humor.
Chapter 5 - Party Time
"We can come," Sam and Josh giggled as they stood in Olivia's office doorway.
"What the freak are you two losers talking about?" Olivia was confused, which wasn't exactly a new thing.
"To your party..." Josh explained, still snickering. "We can come to your party."
"What party?"
Josh pulled out a colorful invitation with a clown on the front. He read from the inside of it. "Your birthday party at your mommy's house. Mind you, if there are any real clowns there, I'm leaving, because I hate clowns."
Olivia gasped. Her face began to turn the color of tomato soup. She walked over to Josh and tore the invitation out of his hand. Then she read it over and over again, unable to believe what her cruel mother had done to ruin her life. "How many people do you think got these?!," she whimpered.
Sam turned around and looked out into the hallway. "Oh, I'd say about half of the west wing." He laughed.
"Do you think this is funny?!" Olivia cried, trying to sound tough.
"No." Sam tried to look serious. "It's cute."
"Really?"
"Also extremely funny." Sam dissolved into giggles and was soon joined by Josh.
"All right, why don't you two ignoramuses leave my office until you're ready to behave like adults and stop making fun of my unfortunate luck." Josh and Sam continued to laugh once out in the hallway. Olivia called out to them, "If you keep this up, you two aren't getting cake!"
Olivia called her mother and found out that indeed there would be a birthday party for her that Saturday. In the excitement of the planning, Mrs. Brooke had neglected to tell Olivia about it. With assurances that the party would be everything she wished for, Olivia hung up the telephone. She continued with her work with a cloud hanging over her head.
The next Staff meeting was the one she dreaded most. Olivia knew that she was going to be hounded because of her mother's idiotic plan. She dragged her feet to the Oval Office with her head held low. Once inside the office that was outside of the Oval, she didn't dare look at anything other than the carpet. She could feel the rest of the Senior Staff in there, holding their breath, ready to laugh.
"Oh, Olivia," she heard Charlie say. "I just got off of the phone with your mother. I'll be there on Saturday. I hope you don't mind if I bring Zoey. Your mom didn't mind."
This was it. She was going to have to look up. Olivia smiled halfheartedly at Charlie. "That's fine, Charlie. Glad you're coming."
Olivia turned her head and saw Toby, CJ, Sam, and Josh smirking. Alex ran up to her and flung her arms around her. "I am so sorry for you. I'll be there on Saturday of course, but I am so sorry." Alex stepped away and received a grateful smile from Olivia.
"A birthday party, huh?" Toby exclaimed. "What are you, two?"
"Toby!" Alex scolded.
"Yeah, don't make fun of it. This is going to be fun," CJ said with a teasing note in her voice. "There's going to be karaoke, swimming, food, cake, a piñata. I'm hoping for balloon animals as well."
"Haha... I get it," Olivia replied dully as Leo opened the door to the Oval. The Senior Staff entered and the meeting began.
The meeting was calm and rational. Discussions about various politics were tranquil. Compared to other days, this meeting was boring. Or at least it was boring until the foreign policy bill was brought up. "What's next?," President Bartlet asked.
"The foreign policy bill was passed in the House yesterday, and it goes to the Senate next week," Leo replied. "And it's going to be a lot more difficult to get these people on our side. Any suggestions on how to tackle this problem?"
"You could always just have Alex flirt with the Senators and then take them out and show them a good time," Josh muttered.
"Excuse me?!," Alex cried, defensively. "What are you implying?! That I would sleep with somebody to get a vote?!"
"What has been happening on your dates with Congressman Carnal?"
"His name is Dan and I didn't start dating him to get him to vote 'yea' on the bill!"
"But he did vote 'yea', didn't he?"
"Not because of me! I would never sleep with anyone to get a vote! That's against my morals! I can't believe—"
"That's enough!," the President bellowed. Josh and Alex stopped, terrified. "Perhaps you two have mistaken this meeting as a therapy session where you can hash out your personal differences in front of someone who actually cares. But this is not and no one here does care and no one acts like you two just were in the Oval Office in front of the President of the United States."
"Yes, sir. Sorry, sir." Josh and Alex chorused in unison.
"What's next?," Jed asked, still slightly annoyed. When no one spoke, the President dismissed them all. Josh and Alex retreated to their respective offices, feeling very guilty.
Olivia, still fuming about her mother's rash decision, decided that she would have a nice conversation with her Uncle Leo to see if he could do anything about the situation. She approached Leo and after he finished talking to the President, she inquired, "Uncle Leo, may I talk to you in your office for a little while?"
"Sure," Leo looked concerned. "Is everything all right?" Olivia nodded and she and Leo excused themselves from the Oval Office. They walked into Leo's office through the connecting door. "What's up?"
"Was my mother dropped on her head as a baby?!," Olivia was raging. "Were you the one that dropped her?!"
"Calm down Olivia. What's wrong?"
"She planned me a birthday party! That lunatic planned me a birthday party!"
"I know. I thought it was cute."
"Does she think I'm five?!"
"Nah. She just wishes you were five."
"Uncle Leo!," Olivia whined. "She's ruining my life! I'm a laughing stock!" Olivia plopped into a chair. Leo sat next to her.
"Well kiddo," he said in a compassionate voice, "it's a parent's job to ruin their child's life. I can't help you there."
Olivia feared Saturday more than anything in her entire life. She knew that her life was going to end in embarrassment. Everyone would laugh at her and she would not be credible anymore. Her doom was coming, and she knew it.
Despite Olivia's fears, the beginning of the party went smoothly. Everyone arrived and didn't laugh right away. They all brought her presents, which was always a good thing. Olivia had forced her mother to let them play her favorite radio station, so good music was actually playing. People were having fun, mingling and eating.
The first catastrophe of the day occurred when Olivia's mother decided to come down and join the party. She was wearing a hot pink sundress with lime green polka dots, a big, yellow straw hat, and enormous sunglasses. She beamed at the party guests as she walked over to Olivia, who at the time was having a conversation with Charlie and Zoey. "Why don't you introduce me to your friends, pumpkin?"
Olivia sighed heavily. "Mom, this is Charlie Young, the President's personal aide, and that's Zoey Bartlet, Charlie's girlfriend and the President's... daughter."
Mrs. Brooke clucked her tongue. "I've met Zoey a few times. My brother is her father's chief of staff you know." She shook hands with them both. They all exchanged pleasantries. "The Secret Service is very good, Zoey, I can't even notice them." She was oblivious to the fact that a large man in a suit and sunglasses was standing right next to Zoey. Charlie and Zoey laughed, but Olivia rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Mom. You can meet my other friends and we can get this over with." Olivia groaned as she dragged her mother away.
Alex and Josh stood at the buffet table arguing about something very insignificant. They had given up the not talking to each other thing after the incident in the Oval Office, and now they fought whenever they got a chance and the President wasn't around. "Yeah, well you know what, Josh?!," Alex screamed. "The Weather Channel said that it's going to be eighty-four degrees and partly sunny!"
"News Channel Six said that it was going to be eighty-six degrees and partly cloudy!"
"Who are you going to believe?! The crackpots at some local news station or the National Weather Service?!"
"Don't underestimate the power of the Doppler Radar!"
Olivia, who had pulled her mother over to meet Josh and Alex, cleared her throat. "Am I interrupting something?"
"Olivia, who do you rely on to get the best weather service?," Alex questioned. "The National Weather Service, or the losers at the local news channels who think that they can predict the weather?"
"They know what they're doing!," Josh exclaimed. "They're certified!"
"I'm not getting into the middle of this," Olivia said. "But I'd like you guys to meet my mom, Janice Brooke. Mom, that's Alex Cameron and Josh Lyman."
Josh shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Brooke. Leo's told me all about you."
Alex pushed Josh out of the way. "Olivia has told me all about you. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Oh, it's wonderful to meet both of you. I'm just making the rounds, meeting Olivia's friends. Perhaps I'll see you both later." Mrs. Brooke turned and walked away. Olivia followed. "I didn't want to interrupt. It's best to let lovers sort out their quarrels just as they happen."
"They're not dating. In fact, Alex is dating someone else."
"They're not dating now, but I can see the look of love in their eyes."
"We can all see the look of love in their eyes, Mom. In fact, they're the only ones who can't. I wish they would and end this misery that they put everyone through." They had reached the edge of the pool where Donna and CJ were sitting with their feet in the pool, and Toby and Sam stood, debating something.
"You guys," Olivia called. "Meet my mom. Mom, that's Donna Moss, CJ Cregg, Toby Ziegler, and Sam Seaborn."
After everyone at the party had been introduced to Mrs. Brooke, she insisted that they all go swimming. Of course the only people that ended up going swimming were Olivia, Alex, Donna, Zoey, and Charlie. And Charlie only went swimming because Zoey and Olivia pushed him in. Alex kept splashing Josh, much to his dismay. Once he got smart enough to move away from the pool, Alex grabbed a bucketful of pool water and dumped it over his head. With much coaxing, Olivia managed to get Sam to stick his feet in the water, though he never went completely in.
With the announcement of a piñata, the swimmers exited the pool. Mrs. Brooke made everyone get into a single file line to wait their turn. It was amazing how much the grown, educated adults looked like children at that point. They were all very gleeful and extremely hyper. Olivia went first, though she was unable to break the piñata. Alex went next, followed by Donna, and then Josh. Josh walked around in circles for a minute before swinging the bat. When he did swing the bat, it hit Sam straight in the gut.
"I'm not the piñata Josh!" Sam whispered, breathlessly. Josh took off his blindfold and looked at Sam apologetically, not knowing what to say. Sam had gotten the wind knocked out of him.
"It's okay! I'll take care of him!" Olivia cried. She put Sam's arm around her and helped him to the house. Olivia sat Sam in a chair that was next to the steps into her house. She sat on the steps, facing him. "Are you okay?"
Sam took a deep breath. "I think so."
"Well just relax."
"Nice party."
Olivia sighed. "Thanks. I think so too." She didn't think it was a great party. Her mom planned it. It couldn't be a good party.
"You're lying!"
"No I'm not!"
"Yes you are."
"Fine! Yes I am! I think this party sucks!"
"Whoa... I actually knew you were lying for once." Sam looked very proud of himself. Olivia smiled halfheartedly. "Why don't you like your party?"
"My mom planned it."
"So? Everyone's having fun, aren't they?"
"Yeah, I guess so. But I'm going to be a laughing stock."
"No you're not. Everyone is going to love you even more for this. You let them all relive their childhoods and have some fun on a Saturday. They could forget their troubles and the country's troubles and be kids again."
Olivia smiled and took Sam's hands in hers. "Oh Sam... you always make me feel better. I love you."
Sam was shocked. "You love me?"
Olivia dropped Sam's hands and suddenly got very awkward. "Yeah... I mean, you're my friend... I love you like... a friend."
"Oh." He looked slightly disappointed.
"Do... do you love me?"
Sam was about to answer the question as Alex walked up. "Josh is giving me a headache," she groaned. "I need to lie down."
"You can use my old room. It's up the stairs, first door on your left." Olivia responded.
"Thanks." Alex went inside.
Sam and Olivia sat in an awkward silence. Finally, Sam answered Olivia's question. "Yes, Olivia, I love you."
"As a friend?"
Sam smirked, stood up, and walked away, leaving Olivia puzzled.
Alex had closed her eyes and shut the blinds in Olivia's old room. She really didn't have a headache, but she wanted to make it look like she did. She just needed some time to think, not to think about anything in particular, just to think. Alex did think about how Josh always found his way into her thoughts. He did it again just then. Why couldn't she stop thinking about Josh? Why couldn't she ever stop thinking about Josh?
"You okay?" Alex could have sworn she heard Josh's voice. It couldn't be, though. They had just been fighting, he wasn't humane enough to come and check on her. She just thought that she heard his voice because she had been thinking about him. Alex heard floorboards creaking and footsteps walking slowly toward her. It was probably Sam checking on her and she mistook his voice for Josh's. She opened her eyes and looked up. It was Josh.
"You okay?," he asked again. Alex shrugged and put her head back down. Josh sat down on the bed next to her. There was a minute of silence. Alex watched him, trying to anticipate what he was going to do. "I have a question for you," he finally said. "Why do we fight all of the time?"
Alex shrugged again. "Because you're you and I'm me."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Josh laid down.
"It means that I have a big ego and you have a bigger one and they clash... at least that's what I think. If you ask Olivia or Donna they'll tell you that it's due to sexual tension, as they tell me everyday."
"They think we have sexual tension?" Alex nodded. "Do you?"
Alex thought for a minute. "No."
"Really?"
"Really."
Josh leaned over and kissed Alex. She didn't pull away. Sparks were flying. Both of them had wanted that kiss for so long and it finally happened. When Josh pulled away he asked, "What about now?"
"Maybe."
Josh leaned in for another kiss, but Alex quickly sat up and giggled, "I don't give it up that easily, Josh." She stood up and walked into the hallway. Before she could get to the stairs, Josh grabbed her from behind, spun her around, rammed her against the wall, and kissed her again.
When they finally pulled away, they looked at each other and smiled. "I think that we're gonna have to rethink this constant fighting thing."
"Yeah, we're definitely going to need to talk about it."
"Are you free to talk tonight over dinner?"
"No. I've got a date."
Josh stared at Alex in disbelief. "A date?!"
"Well yeah, I've got to break it off with Dan sometime, don't I?" A wave of relief swept over Josh's face. "I think I'll break up with him before appetizers so you know, I might be free for that dinner after all."
"Good."
Alex and Josh crept back downstairs, hoping that no one would notice their absence. They had made it to the downstairs hallway and thought their way was clear when Donna appeared from nowhere. The first thing that she noticed was that their hands were clasped, a fact that neither Josh nor Alex had realized. "Did you two...? Are you two a...?," Donna gasped. "Oh! I'm so happy for you guys!" Donna wrapped Josh into a hug and then Alex. "This is such big news!" She turned on her heel and headed toward the living room where everyone had congregated.
"Donna!," Josh yelled after her but it was too late. Donna had spoken. Everyone knew.
"Well," Alex sighed. "So much for keeping it a secret."
"We could always escape."
"Yeah, but that wouldn't be very nice."
"Fine. Let's just go back in there and get this over with." Alex and Josh unclasped their hands and slowly walked into the living room. Everyone was watching as they entered, and then applauded.
Olivia stood up in mock anger. "I can't believe this! You guys stole my thunder!"
"You can have your thunder back. We don't want it," replied Alex.
Just then, Mrs. Brooke walked into the room. "Oh good, everyone is here. Now... President Bartlet sent me this tape. According to this note that came with it, it was taped when the girls were just fifteen. Olivia was visiting her Uncle Leo who was visiting the Bartlet family. Elizabeth Bartlet had her best friend, Alexandra Cameron, over. The three girls decided to film some comedy skits in the Bartlets' basement. These are those comedy skits."
Alex and Olivia gasped. Their eyes grew wide, and both girls clapped their hands to their mouths. Alex made a break for the door, but Josh grabbed her around the waist to prevent her from doing so. "Mom... um... we don't need to watch those," Olivia said, shakily.
"Of course we do."
"No we really don't!" Alex was hysterical. Everyone in the room shouted their objections to Alex and Olivia's pleas.
Sam reached up from his spot on the couch and pulled Olivia down to sit beside him. "Oh come on, this will be fun."
"Yeah, and if this stuff is any good I can leak it to the press for money," CJ laughed.
"This stuff is hilarious! You guys have got to see it!," Zoey cried.
"Thanks, Zo, you're a real lifesaver." Alex whimpered, sarcastically.
"No problem."
Olivia's mom put the tape in the VCR. "NO!" Alex and Olivia shrieked at once, but it was too late. Mrs. Brooke had pressed play. On the TV appeared the stone walls of a basement. The floor was carpeted. Suddenly, a teenage girl jumped (literally) onscreen. The people in the room recognized her at once as Elizabeth Bartlet, the President's eldest daughter. "Hello people out there in TV land, welcome to my talk show, The World According to Liz. I'm your host Liz Bartlet. On today's show I will be interviewing the stars of the past, present, and future, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the show."
A few seconds later, Liz introduced Lucille Ball. Onto the screen, much to the dismay of Alex, was her fifteen-year-old self. Despite the fact that her face looked slightly younger, she was slightly shorter, and her hair was much longer and frizzier, Alex looked exactly the same as she did now. On the TV she was wearing a bucket on her head, a much too small, old Halloween costume poodle skirt, sweatpants, and large T-shirt. Everyone in the room chuckled, but Alex wailed "Oh God!" She turned around, wrapped her arms around Josh's waist, dug her head into his chest, and whispered those words over and over again.
A minute later, Liz introduced Freddie Mercury. Olivia walked onscreen. The Olivia in the family room covered her eyes with her hands and began to rock back and forth. Sam attempted to pull her hands away again and again. The Olivia onscreen looked much younger, had much shorter hair, and was much shorter. She had grown up a lot since then. Olivia was wearing sunglasses and sun and moon pajamas. Donna noticed something about the outfit that no one else did. "Why is there masking tape on the crotch of your pajama pants?" A muffled snort of laughter could be heard from Alex.
"Don't ask," Olivia groaned.
Throughout the next half hour, Alex and Olivia were tortured to hear themselves on tape. Neither could bare to watch it. The other people in the room enjoyed it immensely. They watched as the teenagers dawned homemade costumes and tried to impersonate famous people. Everyone thought that it was quite funny and laughed a lot. When it was over, Mrs. Brooke stopped it.
"I wonder why the three of you never ended up on Saturday Night Live," Charlie said.
The women came out of hiding to praise from everyone. But soon enough people had to leave. Olivia was left to reflect on her birthday party. All in all it had been a good day. Only two things could have made it better; one: the tape had never been shown, two: she had been as lucky as Alex.
