The group of them walked down the street. They got to the airport (somehow or another) and handed the flight attendant their tickets. Lauren wrestled the ticket out of Angel's hand, so she ended up behind Mark, and next to Conrad.

"Wow, this is a nice plane," said Conrad. "Three seats both sides. Nice and roomy, wouldn't you say?"

"I've never been on a plane" they said.

"Oh well, then, I'll just let you guys enjoy it, considering this is like my hundredth plane ride" she said as she slipped on the headphones to her iPod.

"Whoa, hoa, whets that?" said Collins curiously, noticing the shiny technology.

"It's an Ipod, haven't you seen one?" said Conrad. Conrad and Collins got into a discussion about technology, while Mark started playing with his camera. Lauren stared at him absentmindedly, while Rhi and Angel were discussing fashion. Roger seemed very bored.

"Not in person" said Collins, turning the device around in his hand. "People where I come from are luck to get food, not fancy mp3 players."

"Well, lemme tell you about them!" as Conrad launched into her three hour lecture about Ipods and their history, features, and prices. Mark held up the camera, and jumped when he noticed that Lauren was staring at him.

"So.. uhh.. you like..err.. cameras?" said Mark, a bit taken a back.

"Like them? Filming Is My LIFE! (Pulling a Mr. Grafton)." Mark chuckled under his breath.

"I like this girl," whispered Mark to Roger.

"Are you sure? Be sure to check she's not a lesbian!"

"Conrad...Conrad...CONRAD!"

"WHAT?" she yelled.

"He spoke to me!" Lauren squealed.

"Charming," said Conrad, not really giving a damn. She turned back to Collins. "Now as I Was saying, the 3rd generation came in 5MB models.."

"Alexis, guess what!"

"Huh? What?" she said, being awoken from her nap.

"He spoke to me!"

"Ohh.. hmm.. great" she said, leaning over and falling back asleep. Roger looked at Mark.

"I take back the bit about being a lesbian...maybe a stalker..." Mark smiled,

"I like stalkers!" Rhi snorted.

"They're made for each other," she said to Angel. "So you made your skirt out of a bedsheet?"

"Oh yes, it was a very fine bedsheet too. Taken from the trash of a hotel that was closing. That's were I got my mattress. It took a while to get all the stains out..but the cleanness didn't last long one he moved in." she said pointing to Collins as Rhi burst out into laughter. Roger scowled, and went back to his notebook. Mark opened up his man bag, and pulled out an apple.

"Want one?" he asked. Lauren started laughing hysterically, causing all of her friends to look at her.

"Oh my god hun, just forget about the apple this one time." said Palmer, rolling her eyes.

"I cant!" panted La, "Apples have been ruined forever!"

"Hmm..well this one is fine, sure you don't want a bite?" said Mark, causing Lat to go into another outburst. Roger turned to Rhi.

"Does she have...a mental handicap?"

"Surprising no," said Rhi.

"Hey!" said La as she hit Rhi in the arm. "Just because I'm stu- OOH I HAVE CANDY!" exclaimed La as she dug thru her purse. Everyone subdued for awhile. (Conrad was still giving her speech, Roger had pulled out a walkman, and Mark was sleeping. Angel had started reading a fashion magazine, and Lauren was staring at Mark.) She looked at Rhi. "He's really cute when he sleeps..."

"Well isn't that just great! Look, La, don't take this the wrong way, but I DONT CARE! Go back to your little dream world" said Rhi as she yanked a notebook from her carry-on. Conrad, who was now out of breath from her lecture, reached down to pull out her laptop.

"Damn, girl, if I wasn't gay I'd marry you just for your technology!" Conrad chuckled as she began to flaunt the features of her most prized possession. Angel looked over at Collins.

"Ahem?"

"Go back to reading darling, I don't get this show every day!" said Collins playfully. A few hours later, the plane began to land. Mark got his camera ready, while everyone else packed up their bags. Lauren squealed.

"WE'RE IN AFRICA!"

"No, I thought we were in Oregon." said Rhi sarcastically.

"OHH! WHERE ARE THE GIRAFFES!" squeed Conrad. The motley crew made their way through the security, and then everyone turned to Mark.

"Where's the hotel?"

"Err..hotel?" said Mark.

"Where the hell are we sleeping?"

"You didn't book a hotel?"

"I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Oh why the hell did I come here?"

"Damnit!"

"QUIET QUIET!" said Conrad. "Gawd you guys are so dumb." She lead the crew threw the busy streets of the city. Finally they arrived at the end of the main road and at the stairs of a huge Marriot hotel.

"Daamnn.. is there anywhere you can go anymore that isn't Americanized?" said Angel.

"Uhh.. this is great, we have a hotel, but how the hell are we gunna pay for this?" said Roger.

"Ahh, you must believe my dear friend. We'll be staying here compliments of my parent's savings account" she said with that evil sparkle in her eye.

"Oh my, hun you cant be serious.." said Palmer disappointed.

"Well do you want to sleep in the cow fields or luxury down comforters, cable TV, and internet access?" said Conrad.

"TV- done deal" said Roger as he began to drag his bag up the massive flight of stares. They got to the front desk and booked four rooms courtesy of a perfectly forged signature. Lauren laughed.

"What would we do without Conrad?"

"You'd sleep in the cow pens that's what" said Conrad as she again took the lead up to the 14th floor.

"You all know why they don't put 13th floors in hotels right?"

"Er...13 is unlucky?" Roger ventured.

"Bingo." said Conrad. "They always make 12th to 14th cause people are afraid to stay on the 13th floor. So even though technically we're on the 13th floor people are just too stupid to realize that." Rhi grinned.

"13th floor...this will make an interesting week." She shot a wicked glance at Roger.

"Oh babe don't get any ideas yet." said Angel.

"Oh let the girl dream honey," said Collins as he gave Angel a comforting hug. "Everyone knows what happens in Africa stays in Africa."

"Conrad, I swear, if I see you dragging a baby giraffe up the elevator..." Lauren laughed.

"Baby giraffe... AWWW! And I even could because baby giraffes weigh an average of 230 lbs at birth and stand seven feet tall and the weight capacity of this elevator is.."

"CONRAD!" Rhi cut off, "WE DONT CARE!" The ding sounded and the door slid open revealing an overly extravagant hallway filled with decorations.

"This way, everyone. We're rooms 1427, 1428, 1429, and 1430. Everyone know whose rooming with whom?" Lauren giggled.

"Ma--Rhi!" she blushed.

"Well I call Palmer. She's probably the only one who can bear my snoring." said Conrad as she unlocked 1428. Roger snorted, and coughed something that sounded oddly like, "stalker," Mark elbowed him.

"And I'm with Roger. Get dressed up, we have a start of Kwanzaa celebration at 7."

"Ohh yea, with the time change, what time is it now?" said Palmer, wondering when she could take her next nap. Conrad whipped out her new cell phone as Collins stared in awe.

"This says it should be around 2:39pm." Conrad walked into her room, set down her bag, and checked the clock. "Yup, I was right." Lauren was trying to fix her hair and pick an outfit.

"Do you think this dress is too slinky for a holiday party? Maybe I'll wear the suit...oh but that makes me look like a man...what about a skirt...no, that makes me look like I have huge thighs..." Rhi just rolled her eyes as she caressed a brush through her soft curls.

"Just don't show up naked and I don't care." Roger sat at the phone and called home.

"Hey Mimi, just calling to tell you we got here safely...you're probably asleep...don't bother calling back...I'll talk to you soon, I love you!" Mark held up a shirt.

"Is this too wrinkled? Roger, that's probably going cost close to twenty bucks with the long distance." said Mark disapprovingly.

"Well, that girl is a good forger, right? Oh and the shirt looks fine."

"Good," said Mark as he perfectly laid it over the back of the chair in the room. "Do you think Ill need the scarf, or this sweater?"

"Judging by the fact that it's about 93 degrees out..no." said Rodger as he slipped on a tank top and shorts.

"Oh come one, don't tempt that girl!" said Mark as Rodger turned to walk out.

"What, you like it too?" said Rodger as he flexed his muscles. Lauren was trying to flatten her hair.

"Rhi, I look like shi--" there was a knock on the door. Lauren opened it. "Yeah?" she asked. Roger grinned.

"Got any soap?" he asked, coming in. She raised an eyebrow.

"RHI, DO WE HAVE SOAP?"

"WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE PIGS? OF COURSE WE HAVE SO-" screamed Rhi from the bathroom walking towards the front door."Ohh.. Hi Rodger" said Rhi as she jumped behind the door frame realizing she was only wearing a cami and booty shorts, "I still need to change..err.. here is your soap" she said practically throwing it at him as she ran back to the bathroom to change. Roger laughed.

"Thanks," he walked out. Lauren went back to the dresser.

"Nice Rhi."

"Whaaattt.." said Rhi "I think I handled that quite well."

"Yeah," said La "tell that to the doorframe you just humped"

"Oh shut up" said Rhi as she slammed the door to dawn her most favorite skirt for the night's festivities. Roger walked back in, and choked.

"HOLY SHIT, MARK, WHAT'D YOU SPRAY?"

"Sex Panther." said Mark. "What? I think it compliments me quite nicely." Rodger, still holding his nose

"Yeah, great for attracting panthers, but no woman. Damn it Mark, no wonder Maureen left you. Id leave you too if smelled like that." There was a knock at their door. Roger yelled through the door. "BARRACADE YOUR NOSE!" he said, and opened it. It was Collins.

"Oh man, Rodger, you do this?" said Collins, struggling for air.

"Nope- that's that genius over there who thinks Sex Panther is actually good for something." said Rodger. Angel came to the door, in a corset and a brown wig. "GOOD LORD ALMIGHTY!"

"Fine! If you guys can't appreciate my choice of cologne I'll just leave!" said Mark as he stormed towards the door.

"GOOD!" said Rodger "Go air yourself out." Right then Lauren walked up to Mark and hugged him.

"I think you smell AMAZING!"

"Too close..Too CLOSE!" squirmed Mark. Lauren pulled away.

"Damn...you are gay aren't you!" she stormed off. Roger snorted.

"No! Lauren! Come back! I'm just bruised from an emotional smackdown!" said Mark as he chased her down the hall.

"Wait you're not gay?" said Lauren cheerfully and poking her head out of the doorway. Rhi rolled her eyes,

"LAUREN, PUT YOUR PANTS ON AND GET DRESSED!" La looked down

"HOLY SHIT IM NOT WEARING PANTS! RHI WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME!" she cried as she ran inside, "I'M SCARRED FOR FUCKING LIFE!" Angel laughed. "Mark...you might want to wash some of that off dear," she said, walking back to their room.

"Let the nurse clean you up, dear." said Angel, leading Mark into her suite. It was then that Conrad walked out if her room. She was sporting an actual Swahilian wrap/skirt and some interesting tribal jewelry. "Damn, where'd you get those rocks?" said Angel, eying Conrad necklace.

"EBay. One must always do her research." said Conrad, sporting a smug smile. "Oh, and I told Palmer she could sleep for now. It's only like 3:30 and we don't have to leave until like 5 right?" Mark grinned.

"I can't smell THAT bad! She didn't notice!"

"No," said Conrad, "but after spending weeks with my rich cousins and their families I've learned it's always best to be polite when some reeks. Cause lemme be the first to say that money cannot buy body scents, but it can buy deodorant and perfume, something some rich people just don't understand." she added. Angel laughed, and dragged Mark into her room, to try and get him to smell more like a suave man and less like a sanitation engineer. It was then that Palmer emerged from the room, a bit groggy and disoriented.

"Ohh..heyy.. what's all the RUCKUS?" said Palmer.

"Oh hun just go back to sleep," said Conrad practically pushing her friend back into the room. "Sleep, so you're not cranky."

"BUT IM NOT AN OLD PERSON OR CHILD!" screamed Palmer.

"HUN! SLEEP! NOW!" said Conrad, now sounding frustrated, as she slammed the door shut. When she could hear the subtle heavy breathing of Palmer asleep, Conrad sighed of relief.

"What's the big deal for her to sleep now?" said Collins.

"Cause with my snoring, she probably wont sleep much tonight."