Ch4: the kareoke contest

Disclaimer: The only thing that belongs to me is this delicious mango in my hand...It smells so delicious...

Dib was taking Brandy to Bloaty's Pizza Hog for dinner. He would have taken her to someplace more...sanitary... but Zim had stolen most of Dib's money during the fight(don't ask me why...let's say he did it out of spite ) so they had to go there. When they entered the restaurant, Brandy saw a flier "'kareoke contest tonight' hmm..."

She soon caught up with Dib and they were both seated. They ordered their pizza, and were talking while it was being prepared for human consumption(which would be a lot of work). "So...Brandy" Dib started out the conversation, "I guess you weren't too happy about Torque Smacky telling me I wasn't good enough for you?" Brandy smiled at her boyfriend "Damn straight! Like I said to him, It's gonna be me who decides whose good enough to date me." Dib still remembered how malevolent she was during lunch. "Do you always get so violent when someone ticks you off like that?" Brandy shook her head "No, not usually. He kinda bothered me during third period."

"what did he do?"

"The usual shit I get from people like him. He walks up to me, goes 'hey baby' and asks me to do a lap dance for him. Luckily for me I had a pencil in my hand and I threatened to stab him with it if he didn't leave me alone-"

"Hold up" Dib waves his hands in front of his face, "Guys do that to you all the time?"

"Back home? Yeah. That's the reason why we moved. That and my dad's relocation." She sighed as she went on, "The harassment is why I hate people most of the time. They picked on me in grade school, beating me up and such, They picked on me in middle school because I liked reading, They told me I was fat and ugly in junior high, and now this." A bittersweet smile spread across her smooth face "To tell you the truth, I would rather that they told me that I was ugly, at least I know how to deal with that." The scarred teen looked up at Dib, for he took her hand in his "Brandy, I can understand why you canso reclusive. These jerks we have to deal with, they've pulled pranks, beaten me up, and have stuffed me in lockers and slammed the door shut until the janitor would find me" A moment of silence came between them, which was broken by Brandy's laugh. "What's so funny?" Brandy stopped laughing to give Dib an answer "It's funny...that we're fighting to save a planet full of people we hate" Dib caught Brandy's attention while she laughed again by lifting her chin so that their eyes met. "No...that's not what we're fighting for, we're fighting to save the people we know and love, and the jerks are just what comes with the package. Like getting those dipping sauces you don't bother using with food you order at a restaurant." touched by Dib's words, Brandy moves in to kiss her boyfriend, but is interrupted by- "Welcome to the Bloaty's Pizza Hog Annual Kareoke Contest!"

"Kareoke Contest?" Dib asks the annoying announcer next to them, "I never seen this kareoke contest until now." The announcer (let's say his name is Jim) looked around the area to see if anyone heard the large-headed boy "This is the first annual kareoke contest." Jim panickily tells him, "Try not to announce it" Going back to his perky announcing self, Jim says "Tonight's winner will win a total of $300!" The crowd cheers. "Now, let's get started." Jim looks to a slip of paper that somehow has magically appeared in his hand. "Our first contestant is..."

Well, the contest went on and on. There were good singers...and then there were the bad. "I'M HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU-" A very big guy ( imagine the man that bought Nny the bagel during his stay in hell) warbled way off key. By the time he was done, everyone were covering their ears with their hands, while a handless man was covering his ears with his feet. Jim sweated a little, for he knew the crowd grew restless and pizza starved. "Okay then. Our last contestant is..." he looked to his slip of paper, "Brandy" Dib looked shocked. "You entered the contest?" 'Come to think of it' he thought to himself, 'I never heard Brandy sing'

"Yeah, I did enter the contest. Who could resist the power of $300?" Brandy stood up to take to the stage. Everyone groaned depressingly. They thought it was the world-renowned singer that would be singing, not..her. Brandy(not the famous one) took the microphone from the previous contestant, who stared at her like she was a five-pound chocolate cake. The insane brunette hissed at him like the cat-woman she is, and motioned for the guy in charge of the equipment to start. Slow, melodious music plays through the speakers. Brandy opens her mouth and takes a deep breath. Everyone but Dib covers their ears, bracing themselves for the torture of their lives. But instead-

You're a song

Written by the hands of God

Don't get me wrong,

but this might sound to you a bit odd

But you're the place

Where all my thoughts go hiding

Right under your clothes is where I'll find them

a sweet singing comes from Brandy's throat. Surprised, everyone puts down their hands to bask in the young teen's voice(well, why aren't you basking!)Dib opened his mouth in awe. 'Her voice is...beautiful' When Brandy was done singing the Chorus, she points to Dib.

Because of you,

I forgot the smart ways to rhyme

Because of you,

I'm running out of reasons to cry

When the friends are gone

When the party's over

We'll still belong to each other

The crowd whistles and whoops as Dib blushes slightly.

Underneath your clothes,

There's an endless story

There's the man I chose

There's my territory

And of all the things I deserve,

For being such a good girl

For being such a good girl

As Brandy finishes the song, the crowd cheers. Little did she know a man in a business suit (he looks a lot like the announcer from 'Mysterious Mysteries') stroked his chin in thought, gazing at the good singer. "Brandy... that was amazing!" Dib said to his girlfriend, who wore a smile just as triumphant as when they defeated Zim earlier. "Would you believe me if I told you that I never had a single singing lesson in my life?"She smiled at Dib, sitting down across from him.

They continued talking, waiting for the results of the contest. Soon enough, Jim came to the stage, the results in his hands. "And now, the winner of the Bloaty's Pizza Hog Annual Kareoke Contest is..." Jim slowly opens the envelope for dramatic effect. Everyone with hopes of winning crosses their fingers, though Dib knew who the winner was going to be- Jim is still opening the letter. Days go by, then suddenly a random person shouts-"GET ON WITH IT!"

"Okay, okay. Sheesh" Jim reads the results. "And the winner is... Brandy!" The entire restaurant(except the ones who wanted to win) explode into cheers. "Brandy, come up to claim your prize!"

"Brandy, you won!" Proudly, the brunette stands up. She walks to the stage, where she is handed the $300 in cash. "Congratulations! You are the winner of the first annual kareoke contest ever held in Bloaty's Pizza Hog. What are you going to do now that you're $300 richer?" There was a pause, then "I'm going shopping... at Barnes and Noble!"

The couple that is Dib and Brandy leave the pizza parlor laughing about how Jim gave Brandy a weird look when she mentioned where she was going to spend her money. Just then, the man in the business suit taps the brunette on the shoulder. "Excuse me" The duo turn. "I just heard your singing back there. You have a pretty voice"

"Thanks"

"I own a restaurant downtown and I'm in need of an entertainer with your talent. What do you say?" there was a pause from Brandy, then she said "I should really talk to my parents about it. But before I even consider, I want to know what days I would be working and how much I would be paid. It would be helpful if I could see the restaurant before I apply for this job"

"I understand your caution." The man hands her his business card. It read 'Le Restaurer' Brandy looks up, bobbing her head "Sounds fancy" she stated, pocketing the business card. "The dresses you will wear will be provided courtesy of the restaurant. You will only sing on Sundays and sometimes Saturdays."

"How much will I be paid if I accept the job?"

"My, do you cut to the chase." The business man replies, "$500 a night" By then Brandy nearly faints, but contains herself. "$500!"She pauses,then straightens her face."I'll think about it."

"I'll give you till Wednesday to reply. The number is on the card." As the man departs, he says one last thing "By the way, my name is Devon" Dib waits till Devon is out of earshot. "$500! He's going to pay you $500!"

"I haven't even accepted the job yet. Reason being is that I want to discuss this with my parents to see if it's all right with them" Dib looked at his watch. "Ahh! Look at the time! It's late!" Brandy stared at the watch. "Wow, It is getting Late. Well, let's go to my house. It's closer from here."

They finally made it to the second most strangest house in the neighborhood( Zim's takes first place). Dib yawned. "You tired, aren't you?" Dib nods. "Why don't you spend the night here?" Dib was instantly awake at this. "What about your parents? And your sister?"

"What they don't know won't hurt them" the brunette answers. Dib sighs. His exhaustion came back. as he yawned again. "Yeah. I guess it's true."

Dib had changed into a large shirt and some sweat pants that Brandy had taken out of her dad's dresser. Brandy was wearing a blue nightgown. "Good night" she said to Dib, who was laying down on their couch. "Good night" Dib returned to Brandy, who left upstairs to her bedroom. Slowly, Dib closed his eyes and drifted to sleep.

(A/N: wow! This chapter is long with a big, morbidly obese "L". Sorry this chapter took so long to write, that damn fly was distracting me... I punished him with death. NO ONE ESCAPES MY MIGHTY FLY SWATTER! NO ONE! fly buzzes in the background> What's this! You're still alive! PREPARE TO FACE MY WRATH AND DIE...AGAIN! gets into epic battle with fly>)