Chapter 12

"Where the hell are they going?" Rachel asked the Duke who was not feeling that enthusiastic about following two men and a girl in the dark of the night.

"How should I know?" The Duke said.

"So how old are you turning?" Sarah asked.

"Forty-two." Thomas said.

"She like them old so that will be fine." Monica said with a snicker under her breath.

"What are they talking about?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know why don't you ask him?" The Duke asked sarcastically.

"Oh calm down. Just as soon and I find out who they are, where there going, how they met, their names, addresses, blood types and social security numbers….we'll go home immediately." Rachel said not taking her eye off of the could who were now approaching a beautiful home. It was one brick short of being a palace. It was the biggest house that she had ever seen.

"Why are all the lights turned out?" Rachel asked in a suspicious voice.

"Maybe because, no one is home." The Duke said.

"Oh….well…something is still pretty fishy

"Shall we me lady." Charles said ripping Monica from Thomas hands and ran to the front of the door.

"What are you doing, man?" Thomas asked.

"You have to be the last to walk in because of the surprise I think." Monica said.

"Oh hell I have completely forgotten." The Duke said.

"What? What is it? What aren't you telling me?" Rachel said while grabbing The Dukes collar and shaking him.

"I had completely forgotten." The Duke said in mid-shake.

"WHAT!"

"It is Thomas' surprise birthday--" The Duke began but was cut off by Rachel.

"Party? Pssh let's go." She said while pulling Duke by the arm.

"Come in Tommy. Lets get in 'ere and see if we can get out guest a little somethin' to drink." Charles said in an obviously rehearsed fashion.

"Oh alright." Thomas said jokingly.

The moment he entered the lights switched on and, I swear, there must have been one hundred people present. Monica could feel the vibration against her chest form the people hollering simultaneously, "SURPRISE! FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW, FOR HE'S A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW…."

"Wow this is amazing." Monica said smiling.

'It is isn' it." Charles said. "Now, 'ow 'bout tha' drink?" Charles asked Monica.

"Sure." Monica turned around and was met by the back of her good friends heads.

'What the hell are you doing here?" She asked startling Rachel causing her to jump and let out a slight scream.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here and with…were the hell did they go?" Rachel said while peering over Monica and her shoulders.

Then Monica remembered. "I have GOT to introduce you to them!" Monica then grabbed Rachel by the arm and began to lead her all over the rooms searching for Charles and Thomas.

"What the hell is the matter with you? What's the matter with them, do they have Elephantiasis or something like that?" Rachel asked.

"U. Trust me Rachel…you'll want to see this." Monica said. Just as she finished saying that, she spotted Charles, Thomas and The Duke conversing in the corner of the room.

"I don't understand Monica." Rachel began. 'Why do I want to…to…to…oh…..my….GOD! IT'S SEAN FREAKING BEAN!" Rachel hollered.

The entire room stopped and starred at the hollering giddy girl.

"I beg you pardon?" Thomas said with a shocked expression on his face.

"And…Gerard Butler? No damn way!" Rachel said now turning her attention to Charles

"I knew you'd be excited." Monica said with a smile on her face.

" Who in the world are you talkin' about?" Charles said while scratching his temple.

"Oh nothing I thought that you were…well… you look so much like someone I know." Rachel said with her eyes wide.

"And you are?" Thomas said taking a step towards Rachel.

Her legs turned to jello she had no idea what to say. In retrospect there are only a few thing she could say (example….Rachel or hi my name is Rachel) but she would have to settle for small dog and cat like whimpers.

"How do you spell that?" Charles said with a snigger.

" I mean Rachel, my name is Rachel." Rachel said forcing her words out of her tightening throat.

"Did you come here with anyone?" Charles asked.

"…What? Oh yeah I came here with--"

"Charles! The Duke said interrupting the conversation and shaking Charles' hand. "Happy Birthday, my good man!" The Duke took a firm grip of Charles hand and shook it. "I would like you to meet my good friend Miss Rachel Hobbie, Rachel this is Duke Thomas Ferter."

"It's a please to…m-mm-meet you." Rachel said trying her best to spit the words out.

"And this…" Thomas said pulling Charles closer to him "Is my ugliest and best friend, Charles Dark of Ireland."

"I'm not really ugly." Charles said as he kissed Rachel's hand.

"Would you excuse me for a moment?" Rachel asked.

"Yes, yes as a matter of fact we have some business to discuss and--"

"This is a partly for hells sake." Charles said. "This is no time to be talkin' about business."

When Rachel and Monica finally reached to powder room, Rachel let out a gasp. "Oh….my God! It's freaking Sean Bean! And…and…Gerard Butler! I don't believe it!"

"Breathe! Just remember to breathe. Breathing is nice. We like to breathe." Monica said while fanning her with her hands.

"Uh…Rachel?" Monica asked.

"Yeah." Rachel said still out of breath.

"Duke?"

"What?" Rachel asked confused.

"What about The Duke?" Monica asked with her hands on her hips.

"What?...Oh OH! Oh…." Rachel then inhales deeply. "I uh…don't know." Rachel said. At this moment she had just gotten a splitting headache.

"Well….really….when you think about it…you're good. I mean you don't know this guy that well…you know the Duke….Thomas could be a complete asshole for all we know." Monica said trying to reason.

"You know…you're right…all I have to do is stay away form him and I will never know if he's a jerk or not." Rachel said in a triumphant voice.

"Yeah…there you go." Monica said as she pat Rachel on the back.

"I am strong and capable of resisting the charms of any man that I want….accept for Johnny Depp." Rachel said.

"You go girl." Monica said in a non enthusiastic voice. She was getting tired of Rachel trying to convince herself that there was no attraction. She wanted to party. "Alright now can we get back to the party?" She asked as she walked away.

"Oh yeah sure." Rachel said checking herself in the mirror she then said under her breath to herself, "This is not going to work." and then following Monica back to the party.