Chapter 5 A Party In Which We All Go A Little Nuts…

But It's Mainly Just Us Getting Ready, The Introduction Of Kalyn, And The Rules.

I was laying food on the counter.

Erik was brooding in the corner.

Brandy was – AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! >Crash! - no longer hanging streamers from the ceiling.

Erik jumped up and ran over to her.

"She's faking," I called, "And you're falling for it."

Erik looked at me. "No, I-" and he disappeared behind a row of washers.

"Told you so," I said, not looking up.

Suddenly, the door banged. I jumped and turned. Brandy appeared from behind the row of washers. Moments later, Erik stood; looking much shaken and with the limp Brandy should have had.

"KAAAAAAALYYYN!" Brandy and I screamed. Erik still looked dazed.

Brandy and I bum-rushed Kalyn; each of us talking at once. Trying to get the past few months into a five minute conversation is always an interesting sound.

After a few minutes of us each competing to be heard, Erik let loose a scream of irritation.

The three of us turned to him. Kalyn, unfazed, said, "That is very rude." She turned back to Brandy and I, "Why did you kidnap the Phantom?"

Brandy and I looked at each other, then her. "Does nothing faze you?" we asked in stereo.

"No. Now why?"

Brandy and I grinned, "Cause it's fun."

Then I slowly started to edge away from Brandy. I said, "And Brandy likes raping him." I turned and ran to avoid the Sharpies now hurling towards my head.

Kalyn walked behind the counter and started arranging food… not even that fact that we were throwing a party in the Laundromat would shake her. "You had better get finished."

"Why?"

"I saw quite a large tour bus about five minutes ago. The occupants were singing Phantom songs."

"Oh."

"When I heard that, I knew one of two things was going on:

A) There was a convention going on, or

B) You two were up to something.

"So you automatically assumed it was us?" I asked. "We're hurt."

"Songé, how often does a convention of any kind, let alone on for the Phantom of the Opera, get held in Northwest Indiana?"

"Ok, check and mate, jerk-face."

"Exactly," Kalyn said, "Never underestimate the power of deductive reasoning."

"That's a sucky power." I said.

"Yeah," Brandy chimed in, "Calling is better."

"Or Flying," I said.

"Or moving things with your mind," Brandy said quickly. (A/N: We are a powerful team when we work together.)

We looked at each other, then Kalyn, "So, we win; 'cause our powers are cooler. Besides, we can write you out so be nice."

Kalyn rolled her eyes and shook her head... ever the mother.

I turned to the wall and started narrating as the others looked at me strangely. "How's about a little info on our newest friend?"

The looks got stranger.

"Kalyn has been mine and Brandy's other best friend for – well, a long time. She's the sane one, stopping Brandy and I from being too stupid. Don't get me wrong; she has a wild side too, just tempered with common sense and sanity. In effect, Brandy and I know we can fly; Kalyn knows that the ground will hurt when we smack it."

Brandy tapped me on the shoulder when she was certain I was done. "Uh, Songé, I don't know who you were talking to… but the Phans are here."

I looked out the huge windows at the front of the store. In the parking lot was an extra long bus, painted black with a half mask and the letters PotO, picked out in white. Phans were pouring out of it in droves.

I ran over and unlocked the doors. "Welcome All, to the biggest party of the month. (A/N: We have big dreams, do we not?) Come in and settle on the benches. Brandy has a few rules for you."

I stood back as the girls (andthree boys) walked in, all staring at Erik, who edged uneasily behind Brandy.

I saw Brandy start to reach behind herself. "Brandy! Down, girl!"

"May buzzards eat your eyes from your head, hussy!"

"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving away the threat, "Just watch your roving hands." I looked at the bus. "Ok, that seems to be the last of them."

Brandy, refusing to give up a good argument, started taking the sweet and innocent approach. "I wasn't doing anything. I was just comforting him."

"Whatever," I said, "Just get on with your rules."

I went and jumped onto the counter. Standing I turned to our guests with the air of a Circus Master. "Come one, come all. Or maybe not… I think we're past capacity as it is."

I paused waiting for the laughter. Crickets chirped.

"You guys suck." I muttered. "Anyhoodles, welcome to out Phantom of the Laundromat party. Brandy, here, has a few rules – Down, girl! – and then we can get on with the party and you can all meet the famous (or infamous, depending on your viewpoint) >cue fanfare Phantom of the Opera."

>Lights dim, fireworks go off, and music crescendos

Crickets chirp again…

"Ok, those were expensive special effects… some applause are in order."

One person at the back clapped three times before another shushed them. Some one coughed.

"Alright, Brandy… sic 'em."

Brandy rubbed her hands together evilly. "Yeeeeeees," she chuckled evilly. (A/N: Brandy is feeling very eeville, if you hadn't noticed.)

"There are a few...er...rules about my Erik, I mean, The Phantom.

1.) No Touchy! He belongs to me. I will whip Sharpies at you until you bleed from the ears.

2.) You may look at him from a distance. I will have little goblins running around biting you in the ankle if you stare for longer than 2 minutes.

3.) NO Touchy

4.) No drooling on the cape. I just had that thing dry cleaned for the party.

5.) NO TOUCHY! MINE MINE MINE! Sorry, lost control there.

6.) No TOUCHING!"

I jumped off the counter and walked over to Brandy. Pulling her away from the group, I talked in a low voice. "Brandy, you can't be possessive about him. That was the point of the party… so they could meet the Phantom!"

"That's no fun…"

"For you, no… For them, yes."

We walked back over to the crowd, who was looking a little murderous after letting the rules sink in.

"Ok," I started.

"This is crap! Why can't we talk to Erik! I want to be able to talk to the Phantom!"

I looked at Kalyn, knowing my voice wouldn't carry over the crowds. Kalyn raised her hands over her head. Taking in a deep breath, she used her teacher voice, combined with the Power Clap of Doom. "Quiet all of you or it's a Time-Out!"

The crowd quieted instantly.

I even cowered and let loose a mumbled "meep!"

Kalyn looked back at me and nodded.

I stood up straight and looked over the crowd.

"Now, Brandy's rules are to be changed just a bit.

1) Don't hog the Phantom… Sharpies HURT!

2) Brandy DOES have any alliance with Goblins… led by our short friend Zach… and they bite hard. Be careful around the Phantom.

3) Refer to Rule 2 for a good reason to follow this one. Please do not try to rape the Phantom.

4) I agree with the no drool rule… it's HARD to get drool out of fine materials like linens and silk.

5) Ok, disregard slightly… hugging is allowed, shaking his hand, things of that nature; but it's Brandy's job to rape him."

"I can't help it he likes it." I heard mumbled behind me.

"6) Refer to Rule 5."

I turned to my friends. "Sound good to you?"

Kalyn nodded her agreement. Brandy fumed for my ruining her rules. Erik looked slightly uncomfortable at the thought of so many people.

I turned back to the hordes of Phan-girls (oh, and the few Phan-guys… I'm still a little scared by them…) "Ok, let the party begin!"

>Cue dance music

(A/N: Ok, now the fun part, those who reviewed to be invited get to review with questions…

Or you can email me, …

Or you can IM me, mithralas2931 on AIM; I'm on most of the time…

You can also send them to mithralas2931 on Yahoo Messenger…

Ask any three questions of the Phantom please don't ask about marriage proposals or things of that nature, I can only control Brandy so much

In case, you forgot our reviewers were:

EmailyGirl (our first on the last chapter… We got her review not ten minutes after we posted… GO YOU!)

enigmatic mystery (Goth is good, I predict you and Erik will get along great!)

Lady Ealisaid Of The Stars (I think we will definitely go with the Ella)

Venus725 (I like Venus for you, 'k?)

Lady Tolwen (ok, anonymous reviews are good too… just sign within the review, k? lol)

Solecito (you are definitely in and will fit in just fine around here… can I call you Sol?)

SpiritWell (Scary am I? heh heh heh This should be fun! And thanks… the ideas are the result of spending waaaaaaay too much time drinking Dr. Pepper at the Laundromat and reading other Phan-fics… many of the ideas are spin-off type things… I love caffeine-induced fics; they're fun!)

And thank you for being patient through the looooooooooong wait while I finished mid-terms (I hate those damned things) and got back home to discuss things with Brandy and the editor.

THANKEES TO ALL FOR READING!

Oh, dear… I seem to be getting drastically close to the exclamation point limit (Discworld reference… from Masquerade by Terry Pratchett… the PotO Parody… you should all read, it's addicting)

>Brandy smacks Songé in the head Quit with the shameless advertising! We aren't even making any money off of it!

Songé: Sorry… you can all go now. DON'T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS!

One more thing. If you would like to ask questions of Erik but didn't R.S.V.P. then send them and Brandy and I will ask Erik… sound fun? >turns to Brandy Have I remembered everything?

Brandy: Aside from shutting the hells up? Yeah.

Songé: Ok…

Unison: Bye now! Don't forget to review.