New Beginnings

Chapter 8

Disclaimer-I doesn't own them.

Courtney arrived at Emma's house an hour before Jenna and Allie, and half an hour before Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, Mike, Joey, Erica and Jack. She said that she wanted some time alone with Emma. First they went up to Emma's room. Courtney had the clothes that she was getting in her overnight bag, and as soon as she gave them to Emma, Emma put them neatly in her closet and threw some clothes that she didn't like onto the floor. Courtney threw them out for her.

When all Emma's relatives arrived, Courtney went downstairs with Emma to say hi to them. That's when Rachel and Ross dropped the bomb. Chandler, Monica, Phoebe, Mike, Joey, Erica and Jack were staying for the night and Emma and her friends would have to play with them! Also, Erica and Jack had brought friends. Emma was secretly ashamed of Erica and Jack, because they were kind of nerdy. They were both on the spelling team at school and never wore anything cool. She quickly and quietly took them aside and whispered, "Please guys, be cool. My friends are cool and I don't want to seem nerdy to them."

"Hey, Emma! Is that eye shadow that you're wearing? I thought we all agreed never to use make-up," Erica said.

"Like I would want to," Jack added.

"Shh! I told them I've been wearing make-up my whole life. Just, don't mention anything nerdy. Okay?"

"Emma!" Courtney called sweetly. "Why don't we go upstairs and wait for Jenna and Allie. They should be here soon."

"Okay. Coming Court." She turned back to her cousins. "Remember guys, be cool." They all went up. Erica and Jack tried to be cool, but Courtney could see right through them. Soon, Jenna and Allie got there though, and the real fun began.

At dinner, Erica and Jack ate hungrily, while Emma, Courtney, Allie and Jenna paced themselves. That was a new rule that Courtney had added. She said that that's how they stay skinny.

When dinner was over, Courtney suggested that they play a game of spin the bottle. All of them--even the adults. Joey loved the idea, but no one else seemed to. But they played anyway, because Courtney was a guest. In the end, Joey and Courtney had to kiss twice, Emma and Jack's friend had to kiss once, Emma and Chandler had to kiss once, Allie and Ross had to kiss twice, Rachel and Mike had to kiss twice, Phoebe and Jack had to kiss once, and Erica and her friend had to kiss once. Everyone made fun of Erica and her friend because of that.

After that, the adults went to talk in the living room, and the kids went to play truth or dare in Emma's room--well except Joey. Joey went with the kids.

"Emma will go first," Courtney said, "because it's her house and her room and her cousins and her uncle and her friends."

"'Kay," Emma started. "Erica. Truth or dare?"

"D-dare," Erica said, trying to be cool.

"Hmm...Okay. I dare you to..." Emma knew Erica was a little afraid of the dark, so she picked that. "...To...oh! I got one. To go into the bathroom and stay in there for 3 minutes in the dark."

"O-okay. I-I'll do it." She was stuttering because she was scared. Emma's bathroom locked from the outside, so Emma was going to lock it without telling her.

"Ready, go!" Emma said as Erica went in. She quickly locked the door, before Erica could change he mind.

One minute... Erica tries to open the door. It won't open. She panics.

"Guys, the door won't open. Guys, I'm stuck in the bathroom. Help!"

"No, Erica, you're not stuck. The door's locked. We'll unlock it after three minutes.

Two minutes... Erica knows the door is locked, not stuck, but is still panicking.

"Omigosh! I see eyes staring at me. Help. I'm gonna barf!" Barf

"Erica? Did you just barf? There's no one in the bathroom with you you're all alone. While you're in there, clean up the barf, 'kay?"

Three minutes... Erica is grateful when she finally gets out.

"Erica, did you clean up the barf?"

"Yes." She's speaking in short little sentences now.

"You have three, two, one second left. And...Now!" When Emma said now she opened the door and Erica came stumbling out.

"You know what, maybe we shouldn't play truth or dare," Courtney said. "It takes too long. Let's go to bed." She made Joey promise not to tell the other parents what they did, and then he left.

When they were all in bed, Courtney started talking to Emma. "So, we have a plan for what we're going to do for them during the night."

Ooooohhhhhh! Cliffhanger! Well, sort of. Tune in next time on...NEW BEGINNINGS!