"Hey has anyone seen Conrad?" said Rhi, realizing there was no breakfast anywhere.
"Yeah, where is that little son of a bitch?" said Collins, still a little drunk from late night with Angel. Lauren frowned.
"I checked up on her last night. She seemed a little out of it, but other than that..." It was then that Conrad stumbled through the door, seeming more out of it than ever. She immediately ran towards her pill stash and popped a few more un-sleeping pills.
"Ok guys, who wants breakfast..breakfast.." said Conrad..slurring her words now.
"Honey...are you ok?" Lauren asked, walking over. She tossed the pill stash to Rhi, who hid them under her pillow.
"Yeah I'm fine- breakfast? I don't know what we have..maybe we could eat grass.. do you like grass?" said Conrad.
"Conrad, where were you sweetie?" Rhi asked.
"I was getting ice.." said Conrad, holding up an empty ice bucket. "They were out- how silly of them!"
"It doesn't take you 3 hours to get ice," Rhi said. Lauren nodded.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW? HAVE YOU EVER EVEN GOTTEN ICE? DONT JUDGE ME!" screamed Conrad before running into the bathroom.
"Conrad," Lauren warned, and turned to Rhi. "Watch her. I'm going to get Mark and Roger, maybe they'll know. Roger should know what it looks like to be overdosed, right?"
"Conrad, CONRAD OPEN THIS DOOR DAMN IT!" screamed Rhi as she jiggled the door knob. She could hear Conrad puking and cursing from inside the bathroom. Lauren rushed across the hall and knocked on the door.
"Come on, come on," she muttered, knocking impatiently.
"Just give her her space, Rhi. Maybe once she calms down she can tell us everything." said Palmer trying to comfort Rhi who was now in tears. Across the hall, Roger came to the door.
"We need help. Now. Conrad...something's wrong with Conrad. I don't know if it's all of her energy pills or what, but..." Lauren was nearly hysterical.
"Uhh.. what?" said Rodger, still a bit groggy. "Just come with me!" screamed Lauren as she grabbed his arm and drug into to her room. Pushing Roger into the room, she closed the door behind her. From the opposite door, Mark was looking as though he was very suspicious of something, and he slammed the door. Rhi was sitting on the bed, still slightly in tears. Palmer stood at the door.
"Honey, can you come out here? We need breakfast..." Conrad burst though the door.
"BREAKFAST!" She ran over the stove, grabbed a pot and began cooking.
"She was puking, and she's lost her mind," Rhi said.
"Oh my I love cooking. Isn't this fun! WHEE!" said Conrad twirling around with a scorching hot, empty pot.
"I mean...we don't want to sound rude but...do these seem like she's...high...or overdosed or something?" Rodger just sort of started on
"Well I don't think its smack; she's not shaking or crying. But I dunno, why don't we see what she has to say?" Lauren nodded.
"Honey...what's making you so happy?" she asked.
"I'm cooking! And I had just the most wonderful night!" exclaimed Conrad. Palmer walked over.
What happened in this night?"
"Oh it was just wonderful! We got it to work! Other scientists have been working on it forever, but it finally works! I got it to work." They all looked at each other. "Got what to work, love?" Lauren asked.
"IT!" Roger looked at the girls.
"What's she talking about?"
"We dunno." said Rhi. Roger looked her in the eye. "Conrad, what is this that you've made?"
"IT! Would you like breakfast?" Rhi grabbed Conrad by the shoulders.
"DAMMIT CONRAD, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!"
"I know," smiled Conrad. "That's cause it's a secret. No excuse me, but I'm going to bed." They watched as she went to bed, and Roger frowned.
"I think you guys should keep an eye on her. I'm gonna go get dressed," he said, looking down at his pajama pants and laughing. Lauren followed him out. "Anything else, you think?" she asked.
"I can't think of anything else. Now let's get some real food." said Roger.
"I thought you were going to put some pants on?"
"SHIT! Yup that's next on my to-do list." said Roger. Lauren laughed.
"Well thanks," she said, walking back inside the room. Roger opened the door, laughing.
"Someone please make sure she is breathing.." said La. It wasn't long until her snores echoes throughout the room.
"Yup, she's breathing." said Rhi. "Let's relocate." They walked into La's room, and as they passed, they thought they could hear shouts echoing from Mark and Roger's room. Lauren frowned, but Palmer pulled her along.
"Well what are we going to do," said Collins, "our main source of cash and planning is passed out over there." Lauren went to her bag.
"I've got 40 bucks, and I can pretty much assure you there's a starbucks and a McDonalds around here somewhere."
"Let's go down there then, I'm starving." moaned Collins. They agreed and met Mark and Roger on their way down the hallways to the elevator. Roger walked over to them.
"So we're going in search of a McDonalds?" he asked. They nodded. Lauren tried to catch Mark's eye, but he just stood there, annoyed.
"What's wrong?" said Lauren, wondering why he was upset.
"Oh don't give me that, I saw you practically drag Rodger into your friend's room just a little bit ago. If you don't want anything to do with me just treat me like a piece of meat!"
"I...wha...Mark!" she said, taken aback. Rhi turned to Roger.
"Oh shit." Palmer shook her head.
"Why's there always got to be drama?" she asked, pushing the button on the elevator.
"This is our life, hun." said Rhi as she tapped her foot waiting for the elevator.
"Mark, will you look at me?" Lauren asked as they got in the elevator.
"Just forget it, no, I don't feel like dealing with this, and where the hell is my fucking camera!" he scowled. Lauren just stood there, crushed.
"Well I'm so sorry, but before you flip out at me maybe you want to know why I dragged Rodger into my friend's room?"
"So you could fuck him like you fucked me?" sneered Mark. Lauren, now in shock,
"NO! NOT EVEN IN THE SLIGHTEST! MY BEST FRIEND PROBABLY OVERDOESED ON DRUGS AND RODGER JUST HAPPENS TO BE THE ONE WHO COULD INDENTIFY THAT DAMN IT!" Rhi started smacking her head on the wall of the elevator. The bell rang, and Lauren stormed out of the elevator, and out onto the sidewalk, getting glances from the passersby. Roger turned to Mark.
"Yeah...you pretty much fucked up, dude."
"Oh my god, what have I done.." Mark, realizing how badly he had indeed fucked up. "I'll never be able to fix this." Palmer and Rhi walked behind the fuming La. "Oh this is so stupid, I can't speak a word of the fucking language and I'm pretty much stranded here with 40 bucks."
"So much for that idea of McDonalds.." said Rhi. "What the hell did Conrad do anyways, she knows we need her!"
"Oh who knows. The girl tries to do so much," Palmer sighed. Collins caught up with them, they'd left Angel with Conrad in case she needed anything.
"Er...why are we split in two like the red sea?" he asked, noting the girls up ahead.
"You missed the blow out, did you?" asked Palmer. "Err.. I guess so." said Collins, now really unsure of what was going on. Lauren spun around.
"Mark's just an ass," she said, spinning back around. Collins raised an eyebrow.
"Wow...I missed something big..."
"Yeah, you did." said Rhi.
"Basically, Mark blew up at La because she dragged Rodger into her room to try and save Conrad. So then La blew up at Mark for making those accusations and yeah..this is how it goes." said Palmer as she filled Collins in. Mark looked at the group talking, then turned on his camera.
"December 28th, 10 AM, I can pretty much go kill myself now. I messed up big and now she hates me. And it was worse than any fight I ever had with Maureen...because at least with Maureen...I was always right when she cheated." La just kept walking straight ahead.
"God damn I don't have any idea where we are going. This sucks major ass. I should just go jump over that bridge." she cried.
"Hey, well that's better than jumping over the moon." joked Collins. Roger laughed slightly, but everyone else glared at him.
"Wha? It was a joke..err..nevermind." as Rodger just turned to kick the dust on the ground.
"Look I think we should just go back to the hotel and see if Conrad is feeling any better. Besides we can't get anywhere around here without her." suggested Palmer. They agreed and made their way back to the hotel. Trying to make conversation, Collins turned to Roger.
"Heard from the girls?"
"Back home? Nope. I called again this morning but still no answer. This is really starting to freak me out." Rodger said.
"Do you have Joanne's cell phone number?" Mark asked.
Nope, do you?" said Rodger.
No...Angel might," Collins said. They continued to walk. The wind blow, getting dust in their faces. Lauren began to cough.
"Wish I could do something, I feel so bad," sulked Mark. Roger shrugged.
There's not much you can do. You pretty much called her a whore, and only a select few people consider that a complement." At the sound of this Rhi whipped around
OH OH IM A WHORE IM A WHORE!" she said.
Point taken." said Rodger. Palmer turned.
Just let her cool. Her grudges only last so long." Roger just laughed at that.
"I can't believe you think this is funny." sneered Mark. "I'm having just about the worst day of my life, I've ruined the best relationship I've ever had with anyone besides my camera, not to mention all her friends hate me too and the only one who can get us anything around here is passed out in the hotel room and no one knows anything and I JUST STEPPED IN FUCKING GUM! AND YOU'RE LAUGHING!" Mark screamed. This just caused Roger to laugh harder. Collins couldn't help it. He watched Roger completely lose it and began chuckling himself. Roger was kneeling on the ground, looking as though he was going to piss himself right there. Rhi snorted at this, causing Alexis to begin laughing herself. La, now thoroughly pissed off that everyone was laughing at this situation, turned around to see the crowd on their knees but Mark standing alone with an identical look on his face of disgust. Alexis began gasping for air and snorting. She clapped a hand to her face, while tears were running down Rhi's face, and Roger was leaning on her for support.
"Will you all just cut it out!" said La as she stormed up the front stairs to the hotel. Rhi wiped her tears on her sleeve, while Mark shot a death glare at Roger. "Really mature," he scowled. When entire group got back up to the room, they found Angel nursing Conrad, who seemed at bit livelier now, with a quesadilla.
"I was cooking one up for myself," said Angel, "but the smell woke her right up. I can't explain it!"
"Mexican food turns me on." said Conrad slyly. Rhi laughed.
"Well we're glad you're--wait, Angel, you can cook? And you didn't tell us!"
"We're talking cheese, tortilla and microwave. I don't think you can really call that cooking." said Angel. Roger walked over.
"Well here goes my manlihood, I'm starving and there's food." He began to try and put the quesadilla together, spilling cheese all over the floor. "Damn."
"OHH! I CAN DO THIS!" screamed Conrad, leaping from the chair. Lauren smiled, while Mark frowned. For a moment, it flashed in his head that she didn't seem too ill, but he just shook his head.
"I'm an ass," he mumbled. Collins put an arm around him.
"Oh stop being so hard on yourself..."
"But man, you saw what I did!" said Mark.
"Ohh don't worry," said Lauren coming apparent that she had listened in on the conversation. "I don't hate you; I guess it did kind of look like I was cheating on you. But I would never, I lo.. I mean.. err.. like you a lot." She flashed a nervous smile. Palmer squealed, helping Conrad with some quesadillas. Conrad looked at her quizzically, while Mark was blushing slightly.
"So you don't wish me pain?"
"Oh of course I do," Lauren replied with a smirk. Collins straightened up,
"WHOA! WHAT IS THAT IMPLYING?" Lauren blushed and threw her empty water bottle at him.
"Oh be quiet Collins." "What?" he said now give Angel a fiery look.
"Guys! Look! I haven't forgotten how to cook! I think I forgot the capital of Lebanon but I can still cook!" said Conrad, making a quesadilla "the right way" in a hot scorching pan. Lauren smiled.
"Good to have you back. We were all really worried," she said. "Well I was rather worried myself," Conrad said. "But I recited the amendments and all was in order again! Look I can still speak Swahili too!" said Conrad excitedly as she went off into hypnobabble/swahili .Rhi smiled and sat on the edge of a bed. Roger sat next to her. "Uh...thanks for the help with her," Rhi said.
"Anytime." said Rodger slapping on a cute little grin.
"Well, I'm going to go change," said Conrad. "I'll clean up when I get back and we can head out for the day. Anyone have any ideas?" They all shrugged, and Lauren smirked.
"Anywhere, as long as there aren't any rabid fruit ladies around," she laughed.
"I think there are rabid fruit ladies in every culture!" said Mark, now mocking one of the women who had chased him the night before. Lauren grinned. Rhi rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, she can't even fight with him for longer than a half hour..." she scowled."I think that works well in marriage." smirked Rodger.
"WHAT?" said Palmer as she whirled around nearly spitting her orange juice on Collins. Collins wiped the spray off of his arm.
"Thanks for that...I'll smell like oranges now...and drool..."
"Oh baby you'll smell like that anyways." laughed Angel.
"Whoa whoa whoa, marriage!" questioned Palmer, still utterly shocked at the comment.
"WHO'S GETTING MARRIED?" asked Conrad, popping her head out of the bathroom. "I am SO not wearing a dress..."
"Oh yes you are!" screamed Rhi back. "You'll get over it." Lauren shook her head.
"Wait you and Rhi are getting married?" Angel scowled.
"But what about Mimi?"
"WHOA! It was a joke! No marriage! I have AIDS remember!" stated Rodger, taken aback by all the drama.
"I'm still not wearing a dress," said Conrad, unaware that the subject had changed. Lauren laughed.
"She's so smart and yet so clueless."
"NU UH!" said Conrad, turning back into the bathroom and smacking her face off the door. Lauren put her face in her hands, shaking with laughter. Rhi laughed. "And these are my friends..."
"Well at least we're not on drugs!" said Conrad, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "Oh wait.. nevermind. WE ARE ON DRUGS!" Palmer shook her head. "You're all crazy. I'm gonna go take a nap till we leave," she walked out.
"Uhh hun, I think we're leaving now." said La.
"Well where are we going?" asked Angel.
"Well what haven't we done yet?" asked Rhi. "We're in freaking Africa. What have we always wanted to do in Africa?"
"I got to feed live giraffes so I'm good." said Conrad with a huge grin on her face just from thinking about giraffes.
"Well there has to be one thing some of us have always wanted to do..." Angel frowned.
"Hmm, why don't we go site seeing like other tourists do?" suggested Rodger.
"Cause Mark will step in 'fucking gum' again," Lauren teased.
"Ohh err.." said Mark as he bent over to scrap the gum off his shoe.
"Guys here, didn't you say you wanted food? I'm sure we can go out again. We'll find something fun- this is us!" said Conrad. Lauren laughed, and they all piled back into the elevator. This time there was no screaming...but the pair of them still didn't seem to be talking. But that's only because they were too busy making out. Collins laughed.
"Well...they settle things quickly..." Palmer just laughed
"See I told you her grudges don't last too long." Roger snorted.
"I didn't know he could do that..." he stared at the pair of them, who were oblivious to the fact everyone was staring."What do you think they'd do if we left them in the elevator?"
"Wanna find out?" chuckled Conrad as she pressed the "Close door" button on the panel. The group quickly ran out and left the two love birds on the elevator.
Rhi laughed.
"She's gonna kill us..."
"If she ever gets out of there" snorted Conrad. "It won't take too long. The numbers are in English at least." Collins looked at her.
"But I don't think main floor is..."