Chapter Three: Set Up

"You want us to help you do what?" Russel asked.

Murdoc, Russel, and Noodle were in the recording studio where Murdoc had summoned them for his mischevious plan.

"I shall repeat; I need you two to help me get the two lovebirds together," he recited.

"Why are you helping 2D get the girl? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?" Russel was confused.

"And why do you want to do this in the first place?" Noodle asked.

"Because it's fun," Murdoc said with an innocent grin.

They had no comeback. In fact they looked each other and said in unison, "Good point."

Murdoc clapped his hands together. "Okay, may the meeting come to order. Any suggestions?"

Noodle and Russel looked at each other, back at Murdoc, and shrugged.

"If we had known, we would have come prepared," Noodle said in defence.

"No need, kiddies, I already have an idea," Murdoc replied, rubbing his hands together. "When Nikki's taking her shower, we'll lock 2D in the bathroom."

There was a pause of silence before Noodle smacked Murdoc in the head roughly and said, "Sickass."

"Whaaaaat?" Murdoc said, massaging the back of his head.

"One: that's just sick, you cracker ass," Russel started. "And two: how about we just take this and break into steps?"

"Well, what did you have in mind?"

--------------------------

By the time noon came around, Nikki was still staring at the cracks in the ceiling and wandering through the many thoughts about what was going on that morning. She never thought any of this would happen at Kong Studios. I mean, come on, she was in the same building as a Satanist! Romance wasn't exactly something to be expected. And no, Murdoc bringing home whores did not count.

Knock! Knock!

"Who is it?" Nikki addressed to the door.

"It's Noodle. Do you want to come help us practice?"

Nikki got up. "Sure, hold on!"

She slipped on her shoes, opened the door, and followed Noodle to the recording studio. Russel was picking out some drumsticks and Murdoc was tuning his bass. And there was 2D, sitting at a chair, waiting for them to finish getting ready. Nikki sat in her usual chair when she was posing as the audience, while thinking to herself, "Don't look at him. Don't even talk to him." 2D's thoughts were likewise.

"Aw, man," Russel said. "One of my cymbals are missing."

The other four looked. Twas the truth. Noodle shrugged as he left to find it, but as she was getting ready herself, she was missing something as well.

"Where did my pick go?"

Murdoc poked her shoulder. "I think I saw it in one of the corridors. I'll help you find it."

And the two left, leaving Nikki and 2D alone in the recording studio. An awkward moment indeed.

Too awkward, thought Nikki. She groaned before saying to 2D, "They set us up."

2D, who thought he was doing a good job ignoring her, looked up. "What?"

"Don't you think it's just a bit odd that Russel is missing a cymbal at the same time that Noodle is missing her pick? And why does Murdoc just happen to know where it is?"

2D gathered it in for a while and muttered, "The hairy, little bastards."

Nikki leaned her head back and said, "I should've known they would've done something like this."

2D didn't respond. What could he say? He was in the same room with a girl he, as Murdoc put it, "loved" which was all set up by his best friends. He sighed and played the tune to Dirty Harry on the keyboard. Nikki scoffed.

"Not up to talking about it, I see," Nikki said.

He kept playing. "Who would be?" he said, hiding his face from her.

"You're not acting as paranoid as you were a while ago."

He shrugged. They were silent for a while. But the silence was broken as 2D started to sing to the tune.

"I need a gun to keep myself from harm. The poor people are burning in the sun. But they ain't got a chance. They ain't got a chance. I need a gun, 'cause all I do is dance. 'Cause all I do dance."

Nikki watched as he finished up the chorus.

"You're really talented," Nikki managed to comment, but not without turning a light shade of pink just as 2D did as she said it.

"Thanks," he said, putting down the keyboard and sitting back.

Luckily for them, the other three walked in at that very moment with all their equipment ready. 2D got up and stood at the mike quickly, relieved that the awkward conversation was over.

"Which song?" he asked, adjusting the stand.

"Just Feel Good Inc.," Noodle said. "And maybe El Manana."

2D scoffed. Perfect, he thought.