Here's chapter 3! I got very antsy last night and sat talking on the phone and writing at the same time…hehe…I multitask very well!
The
Towel Rack
Rated:
PG
Chapter
Three: Team Towel Closet
Day:
Still Saturday
----Andrew POV----
"This is all getting so hopeless. I've tried nearly everything."
Mina looked up from slurping her chocolate milkshake and looked at me questionably. "What are you talking about, sweetheart?"
Sighing, I grabbed a wet cloth and started to wipe down the counter for the umpteenth time that day. I clean when I'm frustrated…
"I'm talking about Darien and Serena…I've tried everything that I can think of to get them to realize they're in love…but nothing's working!"
Mina sat blowing bubbles in her milkshake. "Hmm." She said, chewing on her straw. "I know what you're problem is, hon."
"What?" I looked at her blankly.
She grinned proudly, abandoning the milkshake. "It's simple, love. Hooking up those two is no simple task…especially for only one man. You need help. A partner, maybe."
----Mina POV----
He blinked before a smile lit his face becomingly. "You mean you'll help?"
I giggled, twirling a strand of hair around my forefinger. "Of course, darling! What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn't help you out in your time of need? Besides, I agree wholeheartedly with you when it comes to those two. They should be together…and we're just the people they need to make them realize that!"
He reached over the counter and grabbed me in a hug. "Thanks, Mina! You're really the greatest!"
I giggled again and pushed him away slightly, holding him at arms length. "So tell me about all these other plans that have failed, before I came in the picture."
"Well…there was setting them up on the blind date, pushing them into that boat and sending them out on the lake without oars…they didn't know I was the one who pushed them, though…heh. And then there was that one time I locked them in the back room for at least an hour…but Dar's yelling got so freaking loud that I HAD to let them out…I had customers, Mina! I couldn't just have him scare everybody out…"
I wanted to tumble into the floor laughing, but thankfully held my posture. I shook my head. "They all seemed like great plans and all, Andy…but…"
His eyes widened. "But…?"
"You're giving them too much SPACE!"
"Space?"
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, sheesh, Andrew. Must I spell it out for you, darling? Okay, here it is. They OBVIOUSLY have feelings for one another, and yes, you've helped it along by locking them up and all that, BUT…they aren't CLOSE enough! There's lots of room in the back room for them to stay away from each other. There's even too much room in the little boats! They can keep away from each other in the boats easily, by just sitting on opposite ends! No…what we need is somewhere to put them where they're REALLY close and CAN'T avoid each other…where there's NOTHING else around for them to focus their attention on. Somewhere where all their attention will HAVE to be upon each other…and THEN things might get intimate!" I rubbed my hands together evilly, and shot a wide grin at Andrew. "They don't call me the goddess of love for nothing!"
Andrew blinked. "Who calls you that?"
Whoops…maybe I shouldn't have said that. Hehehe…I forgot that Andy doesn't know about my identity as Sailor Venus. I wonder how badly Artemis and Luna would torture me if I told him…no, it's too risky. It'll just have to wait for a while…
I sweatdropped and scratched my head. "Hehe…oh, just the girls. They're always commenting on how great a matchmaker I am…"
A wide grin spread across his face. "Oh, okay!" He leaned over and pecked my cheek. "So, Miss Goddess of Love, what's your plan? Where can we lock them up?"
I patted his cheek and thought for several moments. "Hmm…well…"
The doors of the arcade opened and my friends Amy, Raye, and Lita walked in. I turned around and waved to them, motioning them up to the counter. I turned back to Andrew with a smile. "Hey, can they help? I mean…two is good, but with all five of us, it'll be a lot easier!"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Sure!"
Raye tilted her head and gave me a confused look. "Can we help what?"
Lita sat on the stool next to me. "If it has anything to do with Mina and anything complicated like cooking, count me out. You all remember what happened LAST time…"
Sweatdrops all around.
I rolled my eyes and waved my hands in the air. "No cooking guys, I promise! This is about Serena and Darien!"
Amy blinked. "Mina…what are you scheming?"
Raye grinned and sat on the other stool next to me. "Whatever you've got planned, I'm in!"
Lita shot me a thumbs-up. "Yeah, me too!" She turned and looked at Amy expectantly. "And so is Amy. We need her brains."
The blue-haired girl sighed. "Guys…I can't! Matchmaking is not my area of expertise!"
Raye waved her hand in Amy's face. "That doesn't matter. That's what the rest of US are here for. You're going to be used for your brains, like Lita said!"
She blinked. "But how?"
I giggled. "We don't know YET, Ames! But gimme a minute to come up with our plan! Andy and I have already said it's gotta include a lock-up. We're going to find some REALLY close quarters to stick them in, and we'll lock it up and leave them there for a while until we think they've had enough time to 'come clean' with their feelings."
Lita and Raye both sighed dreamily.
Hearts appeared in Lita's eyes. "It's so romantic."
Andy grinned. "So you're all in?"
Nods all around. "Yeah!" …and one small "I guess…" from Amy.
He looked like he was about to start jumping around like a kid on Christmas day. "Oh, great! Let's get started then! Where are we gonna lock them up?"
"Hmmmm…." Lita pondered.
Raye tapped her forehead thoughtfully.
Amy fidgeted on her feet, staring at the ground.
Andrew suddenly snapped his fingers. "I've got it!"
We all turned to stare at him.
"Well?" I asked expectantly.
His face broke out in a wide, bright grin. "A closet! What could be smaller or closer than that?"
Raye perked up. "Hey! We have a REALLY small towel closet at the temple! It's BARELY big enough to fit two people!"
Lita raised her eyebrow. "How would you know, Raye? What have you and Chad been doing between chores?"
Raye began blushing. "Err…well, nothing! I'm just saying, I bet it's just big enough for two people."
The brunette giggled. "If you say so, Raye!"
Raye rolled her violet eyes. "Oh, sheesh."
"So, we've got where we're gonna lock them up…now the question is: How do we get them there?" I asked.
Andrew pursed his lips together. "I can get Dar there…it'll take some work, but I can do it."
"You sure?"
He nodded. "Yeah! I'm sure! I've got a bit of a plan up here." He tapped his forehead and grinned.
I grinned back. "Okay, then the rest of us will work on getting Serena there."
Raye snorted. "That's easy. Just say the words 'new manga' and she'll come running!"
Lita laughed. "Good point!"
Amy spoke up quietly. "Guys, what if they get mad at us?"
It became quiet for a few moments…
"Well…" said Andrew finally. "I suppose…if things don't work out, we MIGHT be in a bit of trouble with them. Because there'll be no way we'll be able to cover up the fact that this was all planned. But we'll just have to believe that everything will go our way!"
I nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! It'll all work out!"
Amy bit her lip. "I don't want Serena to be mad…"
Lita ruffled the blue haired girl's hair. "Don't worry so much, Ames! It's all gonna go just fine! Sere and Darien are gonna THANK us!"
She smiled a bit. "Hope so…"
Raye gave Ami a thumbs-up. "Yeah, girl! Don't worry about it!"
I cleared my throat. "So, my allies…when will we put our plan in motion?"
Andrew glanced down at his watch. "Well, Dar should be in here soon for one of his many coffee breaks, and usually Sere comes in about this time…I suppose you guys should try getting her outta here and at the temple. I get off work in about two more hours, and then I'll bring Darien over. Okay with everyone?"
"Yeah! We'll just tell Sere that we wanna have an all day gab session at the temple! She'll buy it!" said Lita.
I raised my hand. "Hey, guys! We can't do this without a name!"
Everyone looked at me with raised eyebrows.
I sweatdropped, giggling. "Well, every good mission and group like us like this deserves a name!"
Andrew grinned. "How about Team Towel Closet?"
I nodded and giggled. "Yeah!"
Lita shrugged, grinning. "Sure, why not? TTC for short!"
Raye laughed. "It's like we're undercover or something!"
Amy had her face in her hands. "Oh, I just know this is going to lead to disaster…"
----Serena POV----
I walked into the arcade, listening happily at the bells chiming, signaling my arrival. I smiled brightly, forgetting all about my horrible run-in with Darien. I glanced up at the counter where all my friends and Andrew were all talking animatedly.
I frowned a bit. "That's funny…they usually don't sit up at the counter…"
I walked up to them and waved. "Hey guys!"
All their chatter stopped completely and it was like a pin could be heard drop…
I sweatdropped. "Uhh…what's up?"
Lita jumped up off her stool and grabbed me in a bear hug. "Hey, girl! You look awesome! That's a really great skirt!"
I giggled. "Thanks!"
Raye and Mina got up off their stools as well, Mina turning and giving Andrew a peck on the cheek.
Raye grabbed my arm. "Well, now that you're here, we can go!"
"Go? Go where?" I blinked. I didn't remember having any big plans with them today…
"The shrine! Come on; we're gonna have an all day gab fest! A big party! Lita said she's gonna cook lots of goodies for us, and I've got tons of new manga for us to check out!"
Okay, now something sounds fishy…especially with that silly grin Raye's giving me…and since when is she so ready to share her manga with me? Usually I have to beg!
"Okay, so exactly what kind of medication are you ON?"
She looked shocked. "Why, Sere! How can you say such a thing! I just think the five of us should spend some time together today! It's been such a hectic couple of weeks at school and stuff and we need to relax and hang out!" She smiled innocently…
Hmm…well…although it's odd that she's willing to share manga…who am I to argue with Lita's cooking and free manga?
I grinned widely. "Let's go!"
All the girls seemed to be breathing a sigh of relief as they pulled me out of the arcade…
Something funny's going on here…but then again…maybe they DO just want to hang out! It has been a while; we've all been really busy with school and fighting youma.
But still…Raye wanting to share her manga?
Hmmmm…
As we walked down the street, I noticed Darien walk by us and into the arcade, his face buried in another darn book…oh, well. So much for him actually taking any notice to my outfit today…all he noticed was my nose barreling into his chest earlier. Sigh.
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End Chapter Three
Wow! I finished yet another chapter! Yippee! And in a lot less time than I expected!
