Chapter Seven: Lunchroom Wars

Randy stepped off the hotel elevator on to Kali's floor, and walked to her door (A/N: Hey that rhymed! Sorry, it's really late, and I'm sigh easily amused). He knocked, and waited for her to answer. She opened the door, wearing a thick, white robe and her wet hair down around her shoulders. "Randy," she said in surprise, "what are you doing here?"

"I was coming to check on you, you were in pretty bad shape when I left you here last night," he explained.

"Wait, you brought me here last night? To my room?" she questioned.

"Yeah," he nodded slowly, "Why?"

"Never mind," she answered, "Thanks for coming, I'm alright. A little hung over, but I guess that's my fault."

"I guess you weren't lying when you said you weren't a much of a drinker," he said. Kali laughed at that.

"That's called an understatement honey," she said, "I don't drink for a reason, and that was basically it." Randy agreed.

"So, have you had breakfast yet?" he asked, changing the subject.

"Randy, it's after noon," she replied.

"Okay, lunch then," he shot back with a smile.

"Actually I was just thinking about ordering room service," she admitted.

"Well, how 'bout we go out instead?" he suggested.

"I'll need to get ready," she said.

"I can wait," he replied, "That is, if I can come in."

"Huh? Oh," Kali said, suddenly realizing they were standing in the hallway. "Yeah, of course."

xxxxx

For more than an hour, Dave had been down in hotel gym, beating the hell out of the heavy bag. Hunter wondered in and saw his friend. His eyes widened at the intensity radiating off of the bigger man. Dave had his headphones on and his music turned up as loud as possible, so he didn't notice Hunter walk up to him.

Hunter tapped his shoulder, and Dave spun around in surprise. "Hey Hunter," he said, pulling off his head phones.

"So, what did it do?" Hunter asked.

"What did what do?" Dave returned, completely confused.

"The punching bag, man," Hunter answered, "You're beating the shit of it, musta done something to piss you off."

"Oh," Dave said, "no, I was just concentrating I guess, got carried away." He picked up a bottle of water from the floor.

"Yeah, I'll bet," Hunter replied, knowing there was more to it than that, but decided it was best to leave it alone. "How 'bout some lunch?" He suggested.

"Sounds good, I've worked up quite an appetite," Dave admitted and took a long drink of his water.

xxxxx

Kali looked over the menu carefully, trying to decide what she wanted. Randy had taken her to a small restaurant called Pasta Bravo. "Um, I'll take your chicken marsala," she told waiter and handed him her menu. "And a diet coke to drink, please." The waiter nodded and walked away, scribbling on his pad.

Randy smiled at her in amusement. "What?" She asked.

"I'm surprised is all," he said.

"Why?"

"I figured you to be a 'salad, no dressing please' girl, but you're not," he explained, "And I'm glad."

"Well, you see I have this philosophy," she said.

"Really? And what's that?" he asked.

"The only good, and healthy diet, is a diet that includes plenty of Italian food," she said, "as far as I'm concerned, there is no such thing as a calorie when it comes to Italian food."

"I like that logic," he replied with a smile. But the smile quickly faded as something beyond Kali caught his eye.

xxxxx

When they walked into the restaurant, Dave immediately felt his temperature rise. The first thing he saw was Kali sitting with Randy. He didn't like seeing that. "Hey, there's Kali," Hunter said, coming in after Dave. "Come on." Hunter led the way over to her table. Dave hesitated before following.

"Hey guys," Hunter said, placing a heavy hand on Kali's shoulder. She turned and looked up at them with surprise.

"Hi, Hunter," she replied, "Dave"

"Mind if we join you?" Hunter asked.

"Actually-" Randy tried, but was cut off.

"Great!" Hunter said, sitting down next to Randy, bringing a slight smile to Kali's face. Dave took a seat next to Kali. Their waiter hurried over with to menus and new silverware.

"So, this isn't a date or anything, is it?" Hunter asked.

"Uh… not really, no," Kali answered, looking carefully over at Dave, then Randy.

"Good, because we wouldn't want to be interrupting anything, right Dave?" Hunter said, smirking.

"Whatever you say, man," Dave replied, shaking his head. Randy was positively fuming. But, for Kali's sake he managed to keep his cool. During the few minutes before their food arrived, Kali and Hunter were the only ones talking. Randy was staring at Hunter as if he were about to hit him, and Dave kept his eyes focused out the window.

"So, have you talked to your sister?" Hunter asked, after the waiter brought their food. Kali shook her head.

"No, I've been meaning to call her, but I've been, um," her eyes drifted over to Dave, "busy." Dave cracked a smile at that. Hunter noticed.

"Wait, sister?" Randy asked. "I didn't know you had a sister."

"She has a twin, Randy," Dave said, getting into the conversation for the first time.

"Really?" Randy asked, looking mischievously at her. "Twins… That could be fun."

"Yeah, don't get any ideas," Dave said, becoming defensive.

"Hey, calm down. I was kidding," Randy retorted, "Kali knows that."

"You're a punk, you know that?" Dave said, glaring at him.

"Why are you being such an asshole?" Randy asked, deliberately pushing Dave's buttons. Dave jumped up, throwing his chair back, his entire body taut with rage. Randy was on his feet, too. "What? What are you gonna do!" he demanded. And that's when Dave hit him. Right on the jaw, sending him flying backward into another table.

"Oh my God!" Kali cried, jumping up from her seat. She hurried over to Randy, helping him into s sitting position. Hunter stood by Dave, holding him with a firm hand on his chest.

xxxxx

"What happened in there, Dave?" Hunter asked, watching as Kali walked with Randy to his car. They were outside the restaurant, sitting on Hunter's car.

"I don't know. I lost it I guess," Dave shrugged.

"Lost it, you guess?" Hunter replied slowly, articulating each word and nodding slowly. "Is something going on?"

"Like what?" Dave asked, turning and looking him in the eye.

"I don't know, between you and Kali," Hunter said.

Dave sighed and shook his head. "No, no there's nothing."

"There has to be some- Oh here she comes."

Dave looked over and saw Kali walking quickly toward them. "I need to talk to you," she said to Dave when she got within ear shot. He nodded solemnly. "Alone."

"Yeah, well I needed to um… yeah," Hunter said, getting up and walking back into the restaurant.

Kali stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. "Alright, listen, Kali-" he began, but she cut him off.

"Thank you," she said simply.

"Excuse me?" he asked, slightly confused.

"Thank you, Dave," she repeated, "For defending me like you did." Her glare softened, and she smiled weakly at him. "And I'm sorry for this morning." Dave's turn to smile.

A/N: Yay! Another Chapter! I hope you like. Slowly, I'm starting to figure out my plan for this, so bear with me. Thanks for the reviews. I say it at the end of every chapter, I know, but they really do mean a lot to me. I'll try to have another one tomorrow. Enjoy!

Tanfalath