Chapter Six: Flirting with Disaster
Jenny watched Brad disappear into the crowd, debating whether or not to go after him. He'd had "that look" in his eye, the look he always got before he did something reckless and stupid. She remembered it most from the time when she'd let him borrow a jet pack from her mom, and she was pretty sure he'd had it at the times he decided to hijack an alien spaceship and build a fort out of the broken remains of a Cluster ambassador. Those had both been very bad ideas, she recalled. And perhaps pushing him to pursue Sam had been like giving him that jet pack. An odd squeaking noise interrupted her thoughts. Turning her hooded head she saw Sheldon Lee looking at her, air-filled muscles trembling on his inflated superhero suit. She remembered how scared he'd been of her before because of the Grim Reaper costume she was wearing. She was using it to hide her identity from him, but she felt a small twinge of guilt watching the geeky boy shiver with dread at the sight of her.
"S-sorry to b-bother you, M-Mister Angel of D-Death," Sheldon stammered. "B-but in my rush to l-leave, I seem t-to have left my c-cupcake behind."
The black robed figure looked down and saw a paper plate with a half-eaten chocolate cupcake sitting on the table. "Oh, of course!" she said cheerfully, forgetting how deep and un-girlish her voice was. She picked up the plate and handed it to the nervous superhero, smiling even though he couldn't see it behind her skull mask. The dark specter's unexpected kindness calmed Sheldon's nerves somewhat. His shaking subsided as he took the plate in his gloved hands, then suddenly he froze. Jenny's turbo-pumps nearly stopped. He was looking at her hands. Her hands! The only parts of her that were undisguised! Her white mechanical hands! She yanked them behind her back, but it was too late."Uh, eh heh heh . . . I can explain!"
She expected him to be stunned, even angry, but to her surprise he smiled. "Wow! Those are the most convincing metal gloves I've ever seen! Where did you get them?"
Jenny's eyelids clicked as she blinked. "Um , I-I, uh, made them myself!"
"Cool! You're a mechanic!" Sheldon beamed even more happily. "You know, I do a bit of tinkering with metal myself! It's so nice to finally meet somebody else who does it, too! By the way, I don't think I've met you before. My name's Sheldon! What's yours?"
Jenny loosened up, relieved that her cover had not been blown. Thank Cog! That was a close call! But now there was another layer of deception to add to her disguise. Her CPU hummed furiously as she tried to come up with an answer. "Er, it's, uh . . . Jeffrey! My name's Jeffrey!"
Sheldon was now eating his cupcake next to her, still not recognizing the morbidly dressed person as his beloved robot girl. Jenny was grateful of that, but now she needed to act like a boy to keep him fooled. She rested her plastic scythe against the table, folded her arms and cleared her throat, dropping her voice a bit lower. "So, uh, homeslice," she began. "How are you liking the party?"
Sheldon continued to smile as he eagerly bit into his cupcake, no longer frightened of the Grim Reaper in the least. "Oh, it's fantastic!" he said between bites, spitting black crumbs from his mouth. "This is by far the best Halloween costume party I've ever been invited to!" His smile faded slightly. "Heh, well, actually it's the only party I've ever been invited to."
Jenny's masked face winced painfully with pity. "It is? Gee, I'm sorry, Sheldon."
He shrugged his inflated shoulders, though his face still looked a bit sullen. "Thanks, Jeffrey, but it's okay. I know I'm pretty low on the totem-pole of popularity, but I have a few friends." A dreamy look came into his eyes then and his smile widened into the silly snaggle-toothed grin she knew so well. "I wouldn't mind if I had a girlfriend, though. Jeffrey, have you ever met Jenny? She's incredible!" She rolled her eyes and shook her hooded head helplessly. She had started feeling some sympathy for Sheldon, but now that he was back to his goofy lovesick self those feelings were gone.
The geeky superhero sighed blissfully, picturing the girl of his dreams in his mind as he continued gushing about her. "You should have seen her costume! I can't wait to stand in her divine presence and behold her heavenly beauty once again! Perhaps she'll grace me with a dance, or maybe watch 'Attack of the Giant Leeches' with me!" Out of nowhere Sheldon produced a DVD case and held it up for 'Jeffrey' to see. "I found it in the TV room! The digitally enhanced limited edition director's cut of the original remake!" He spoke so quickly that the sentence blended together into a single word. "It's one of my all time favorite horror movies! It's a miracle that Sam owns one of the few copies available!"
'Jeffrey' stared blankly at the kitschy cover of the old movie, raising an eyebrow with a slight whirr. The picture showed screaming people running from men dressed in giant leech suits, but the monsters looked more like big black sausages with teeth. She gave a pathetic chuckle. "That's great. I'm sure Jenny would love it."
Sheldon took another bite of his chocolate cupcake before answering and spraying more crumbs out. "Oh, I hope so! I hope she'll be back soon, too. I made this costume especially to get her attention!" He struck a pose that was meant to be macho and heroic, but his squeaking red muscles made him resemble an over-inflated parade float. "You think it worked?"
Jenny twisted her fingers together awkwardly, grimacing behind the mask and giving another weak laugh in response. This was not how she'd wanted to spend her evening. Even though she was still incognito, the disguise wasn't doing her much good anymore. The whole purpose of it was to avoid Sheldon, and now she had become his new best friend! Please, Cog, get me out of this! I don't care what it is, just give me some excuse to get away!
The stereo was thumping with loud music, making all the walls and furniture in the house vibrate from the powerful sound waves. For the costumed teens it was perfect for dancing, and they swayed and stomped to the pulsing beat with gusto. Among the hodgepodge of ghosts, ghouls and monsters, Sir Donald of Prima and Sam in Wonderland were putting on quite a show. Both teens were skilled dancers and performed many moves that the other kids had only ever seen on TV. Don was deliberately showing off, dipping and twirling his partner about as if she was weightless. Likewise Sam was having fun displaying the grace and dexterity she'd gained from years of ballet lessons. Before long a circle of onlookers had formed around the pair, clapping and shouting their names along with awesome!, right on!, and you go, girl!
A figure was moving on the outside of the human ring; a stubbly-faced boy wearing a brown leather jacket and coppery bangs poking out from underneath a fedora. He was pacing around behind the viewers as if stalking something, peeking through the crowd now and then to get a fix on his constantly moving prey. He caught a tantalizing glimpse of her fluttering blue dress and blonde hair before the person in front of him moved and blocked his sight. Then to his surprise she appeared in full view above him, Don's hands holding her small waist and lifting her high in the air for all to see. At the sight of her looking down on him like some beautiful goddess in the heavens, the weight in Brad's stomach seemed to grow lighter. Then she waved, calling out his name and smiling even wider, and all weight in his body vanished.
She was then lowered back to the ground and out of sight, leaving Brad floating in a blissful reverie and grinning absurdly. The sound of applause and whistles brought him out of his trance. Some of the viewers drifted away as the song ended and Sam and Don bowed to their audience. Now was the chance Brad had been waiting for. He tucked his shirt into his pants and adjusted his collar, giving himself a mental pep talk to get into his role. Okay, this is it. You're goin' in. Remember, you're Ohio Jones. He gave the bullwhip and plastic gun at his belt a confident pat, then rubbed his cheeks lightly with his hands. Darn, I hope this stubble doesn't turn her off. Oh, well, here goes nothin'. Adopting the most casual smile and posture he could manage, he approached the couple with a smile. "Hey, guys! Those were some pretty slick moves you were doing!"
Sam beamed when she saw him and quickly smoothed her rumpled pinafore down, but Don narrowed his eyes in displeasure and took a step closer to her, almost hiding her behind his shield. "Glad you noticed. I was just demonstrating my dance skills to Sam." He flashed the girl yet another debonair smile. "She's a very good dancer! The only things that beat her talent are her beauty and charm!" Brad felt a ton of bricks drop into his stomach as Sam giggled at the compliment. How could Don pull off such a cheesy line? He gave him a glare full of scalding jealousy and hate, which Don returned with a cold and indifferent smirk. "What about you, Brad? Have you got any skills on the dance floor?"
A new song interrupted Brad before he could answer. It was a fast paced jazz number with a catchy rhythm and lots of loud trumpets and brass. Grinning, he moved his hands from his pockets to his gun belt, casually slipping his thumbs behind the strap. "Well, I don't like to brag, but I've been known to bust the occasional move now and then." He directed his attention back to Sam and smiled. "Have you ever done any swing dancing?"
"Oh, you bet!" Sam replied, tucking a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "I used to be really good at it! It's been a long time, though, so I might be out of practice now."
Brad grinned invitingly and opened one hand to her. "There's only one way to find out!"
She smiled and reached a delicate hand to him, but Don swooped in like a hawk and seized it just in time. "Thanks for the offer, Brad, but I'll handle it." he said dryly. "Come on, babe, let's get away from this bum." He steered Sam away before she could say anything, but Brad had been expecting this and reached for his bullwhip. He unraveled it, adjusted his grip on the handle and took aim, then swung his arm forward in an underhand pitch.
Every head in the room turned toward the deafening CRACK that followed. Jenny's body went stiff with shock, all of her fluids running cold with dread. Sheldon peered through the crowd toward the dance floor. "Whoa! I think Brad just attacked Don Prima with a whip!" He grinned and pumped a blue-gloved fist in the air, whooping loudly. "Wahoo! Finally! Somebody's cutting that jerk down to size!"
Another deafening CRACK pierced the air and the bullwhip snapped itself tightly around Sam. The crowd burst into wild shouts and cheering as Brad reeled her in, grinning like a cat who had just caught a canary. Sam was pulled stumbling along with her arms bound to her sides, startled and angry as she shouted at her captor. "What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!"
He drew her into his arms smiling roguishly. "Pretty cool, huh? Just like Garrison Ford! I've been watching the Ohio Jones movies for years!" Sam squirmed in his grip helplessly, embarrassed and angry from his brashness, but her heart wouldn't stop its ecstatic fluttering. It was strangely exciting to be this close to him, her face only inches away from his. The conflicting emotions left her speechless and flustered, which Brad found oddly amusing. He felt compelled to sweep her up and carry her off, but he couldn't resist casting a gloating look at the angry knight who was still nursing his sore hand and wounded pride. "How do ya like that, Sir Donald?" he sneered, channeling Garrison Ford again. "I'll just be borrowing your treasure for a while. Hope you don't mind if I don't return it!"
Don smirked dryly. "Oh, so you're role playing now, huh? Well, two can play at that game!" He drew his sword and raised it high, recalling every Shakespeare play he'd read in English class for inspiration. "A knight doesn't take wounded pride lightly! Release that poor damsel or pay the price, foul villain!" As if to emphasize his point he swung his weapon from side to side and twirled it like a baton in front of him and above his head. Unimpressed by the sword tricks, Brad calmly lifted his gun with his free hand, pointed, and fired a stream of water at his opponent. Don sputtered as it splashed his face, then growled and bared his teeth with water dripping from his nose and chin. "How dare you! Now my hair gel is running! Prepare to die, scoundrel!"
Brad grinned and released his grip on Sam at last, then gave the end of the whip wrapped around her a good yank. She spun around like a top as her bonds unwound themselves from her arms and waist. Once she was free she spaced her legs and stopped herself, trying to keep her balance as her head swam with disorientation. Then she felt Brad's stabilizing hand on her shoulder and saw his unshaven young face beaming at her gleefully. "Don't go anywhere, honey. I'll be right back!"
Sam recovered from her dizziness instantly. "No! Brad, wait!" she cried, but her voice didn't reach him through the noisy shouts from the excited crowd. Meanwhile Jenny's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates. She took her plastic scythe from its resting place against the table and dashed off, not bothering to dismiss herself from Sheldon. I knew it! I knew he was gonna do something stupid! She charged through the room at high-speed, surprised guests dodging out of her way until she reached the dance floor. A thick human wall blocked her path as the costumed teens formed a circle to watch the fight. Most of the female voices cheered for Don, while several angry male voices encouraged Brad to punish him for stealing their girlfriends. A wide round space of carpeted floor now separated the two opponents.
All the excitement was increasing Brad's already high confidence and pushed him even further into the role he was playing. He adjusted his fedora, raised his bullwhip and brought it swishing through the air toward Don. This time the knight jumped from its path with surprising agility, leaving the sharp leather tip to strike the carpet harmlessly. He charged forward with his sword raised and swung it down at his opponent's head, but Brad was quick enough to duck. The weapon skimmed through the air over his hat before he aimed his squirt gun and splattered Don's face with a fresh shot of cold water. Sputtering angrily, the knight brought his sword back against the gun and knocked it away, sending it flying over the heads of the audience and crashing into a clock on top of the stereo system.
The loss of his weapon left Brad off his guard, allowing Don to strike at him again. His blade was dull and made of plastic, but it was still rather painful when its edge came forcefully against Brad's shoulder. He grimaced from the blow and staggered when another struck him in the ribs. Don grinned with cruel satisfaction at his opponent's pain and swung the sword once more, but Brad had remembered to duck this time. As he crouched on the floor he remembered something from another movie and swung his leg out, knocking Don's feet out from under him. Don gasped and landed on the floor flat on his back, dropping his sword on the way down.
The crowd's shouts grew even louder, drowning out Sam's frantic pleas for the two boys to stop. Suddenly she heard the sound of a synthetically deepened voice grunting and groaning close by. It was the Grim Reaper squeezing her way through the audience with sheer strength and using her plastic scythe as a pry bar. Sam reached between two viewers and grabbed onto the plastic blade, guiding Jenny to the front of the crowd. "You've got to do something!" the human girl shouted over the noise. "They've both lost their minds!"
Jenny nodded her hooded head in agreement and stomped over to the two boys. Brad was squatting over Don's stomach and pounding away at his head with his fists until he was lifted up by the back of his jacket. He hung suspended above the floor by several inches and turned his head to see a pair of angry eyes glaring at him from the sockets of a skull mask "That's enough!" Jenny bellowed angrily in her deep voice. "This fight is now over!"
The noise from the crowd dwindled, but Brad squirmed stubbornly in the robot's tight grip. "It's his fault!" he protested, pointing to the boy on the floor. "He started it!"
Don sat himself up immediately, his face covered with bruises and red marks. "What are you talking about?! You're the one who hit me with your stupid whip! What's the matter with you?!"
"I said enough!!All movement ceased, and the entire room fell into deathly silence. The guests stared in shock as the Grim Reaper lowered Brad to the floor and hoisted Don to his feet effortlessly. When she spoke again her voice was a low, dangerous growl. "Apologize to each other." Both boys started to complain at the same time, but she raised her free hand to silence them. "I don't care who started it. Just finish it."
Brad and Don exchanged a burning glare with each other, then looked at the floor and mumbled half-hearted apologies. Satisfied, Jenny beckoned Sam over and instructed her to get a First-Aid kit and some ice packs for the boys. She then steered them over to the couch and sat them down while Sam left for the bathroom. With the fight over, the guests returned to their former activities and the noise level soon returned to normal. Meanwhile, unnoticed in a corner by the kitchen, a tall devil girl with a pitchfork grinned to her short companion and whispered. "Phase one is complete. Now for phase two."
To be continued . . .