Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Here's chapter seven. Don't own Kelly Clarkson's albums or songs, or Doctor Who which the new series of just rocks the house!
Chapter 7; Doctor Who and Masquerades.
Kai, Ray, Tyson and Bryan had gone into town the next morning with the others to do the weekly shop.
Once they arrived at the shopping centre, the aforemetioned four had broken off from the rest of the group to get some things for the party.
"Who's idea was it to make it a masquerade?" asked Bryan, eyeing up a black eyemask lined with sequins as they stopped outside a costume shop
"Spencer's actually, ever since he went to the Carnival of Venice and brought back that mask." said Kai. "Maybe he likes the idea of puting a mask on and pretending to be someone else for a while."
"Wouldn't we all." said Ray. "Watch out!" he pulled Bryan and Kai over to one side.
Poor Tyson was left to collide by a huge walking celophane wrapped canvas.
"Ow! Hey, look here you're going jackass!" the capped teen growled from the floor. The canvas then stopped and was put down. Robert emerged from behind it.
"Whoops, sorry Tyson, didn't see you there."
"Go figure." Kai and Bryan rolled their eyes in unison.
"I'll walk this side Robert, that way we have no further injuries." said Ray. Robert nodded his thanks and walked back behind the eight by eight foot canvas.
"I'll be back in a minute, you three still have costumes to pick."
"So do you." protested Tyson as Kai held out a hand to pull him up.
"Bryan knows what I want." Ray told them before walking with Robert out of sight.
"I wonder what Robert's gonna paint?" asked Tyson.
"Griffolyon probably." Kai snorted, picking up a red and gold half-mask with a beak.
Ray returned as they walked out the store with their purchases, a fanged grin brightening his features.
"What's that grin for?" asked Bryan.
"What, can't a guy grin nowadays?"
Robert
Great, I just told Ray, why can't I keep my gob shut?
After he helped me get the canvas to the jeep - which was kind of him - he asked me what I was going to paint, I replied with 'something special for Spencer.' and went that lovely shade of majestic blush, you know the one, I told you about it yesterday.
Yesterday, to think this whole thing started yesterday when Spencer walked into that room in a cotton bathrobe...
Anyway, Ray saw the look on my face, tapped me on the shoulder and said 'I've been there, I know how you feel. Good luck.' before closing the back of the jeep and jogging back to the others.
I wonder what Spencer's doing now, he can't be doing anything for the party, he doesn't know about it. Kai had mentioned it was a surprise for him on the invite.
I suppose I better get this canvas home and make a start. I've only got two weeks...
Normal Pov.
Robert turned the key and all he got from the old jeep was a cough as it refused to start. He tried again.
"No, come on, come on! Aah bloody hell!" he punched the steering wheel when the engine sputtered out after the second try.
He knew the thing was old, his father had owned it before him, before moving to the Bahamas with his mother.
"Having trouble?" asked a voice, Robert cried in fright and fell into the middle of the seat. Regaining his senses he saw it was Kai. 'Just my luck! Sheiße!'
"You could say that." he grumbled.
"Pop the bonnet and I'll take a look."
"Since when did you become a mechanic?" Robert asked. "And the catch is in the grill."
"Since Gramp's old truck kept dying out on him. And so it is." Kai pushed the little lever and the front of the jeep up. "Wow, how old is this thing?"
"About thirty years old." Robert shrugged.
"No wonder it's died on you." Kai called from somewhere under the bonnet before climbing to his feet and closing the bonnet. "Sorry Rob, I haven't a clue."
"Thanks anyway, I thought you were shopping with the others?" he asked pulling out his mobile and texting Gustav, he had made sure the butler was text enabled.
"I was. I forgot my wallet in Tyson's hurry. I did wonder who this old heap belonged to." Kai mused, crossing the row and unlocking his Red Dodge Ram.
"Wow, that things huge."
"Yeah, I've still got to convert the back to fit seats for everyone."
"I see, be a bit tight for Spencer wouldn't it?"
Robert went red and tried to hide his face, but Kai saw it.
"Been there, done that." he smiled at the memory.
"What happened?"
"Gramps tripped Tyson up as I walked passed him, landed on the floor joint at the mouth and bingo."
"Spence told you what happened yesterday I take it?"
"Naturally. It's not your fault Robert." then Gustav appeared.
"The car's here Master Robert, Ferguson is prepared to tie the canvas to the roof."
"What about the jeep?"
"I will wait for the recovery service to return it to the castle."
"Thanks Gustav."
"I better get back to the others before Tyson sends out a search party. I'll see you later Robert, good luck with the painting. Gustav." he nodded to the butler, who bowed in return.
Spencer
Jeez I'm bored out of me brains, even watching Hilary argue with Kenny about his social life has lost it's fun, Kai and Bryan have buggered off with Ray and Tyson.
I just wanted to stay in bed to be quite honest. I phoned the college and told them that I'd quit, I think I heard Caz wail in dismay in the background.
I don't think it's very often they get a young, muscular, six foot four inch guy to model for them. I know I had only been doing it twice a week for a month but after yesterday my pride and my heart just got the better of me.
"Spen, you ok?"
"I'm fine Ian." I picked the short-stop up and onto my shoulders, it helps not to lose him and he can see over the crowd.
"You sure, you been a little down this morning."
"That's because I had Fudge scratching at my door and Izzy jumping on me." I was actually in the middle of nice dream starring Robert and some paint when the husky landed on me.
"We've all been jumped on by one of three of them." Tala informed me, "Hilary, you're fighting a losing battle there, Sweet."
Hilarly looked like she agreed before she snuggled as tight as possible to Tal, I averted my line of vision, I usually don't mind the others having their moments but after I totally screwed over my chance with Robert... yeah you see where I'm going with this, I'm not in a good mood.
"Cheer up Spencer. You're worrying us."
I gave Mariam a smile but she could see it didn't reach my eyes. I think I'd rather go home and give Seaborg a workout, it's been a while since I've battled and I'm kinda getting withdrawal symptoms.
"Spence, why do you wear a bandana, you look like a pirate on miracle-gro." Ian complained, pinching at the cloth tied around my head.
It's not the one I usually wear, I think I lost that one at Robert's, dammit. This one's a black one with white stars on it.
"Because my hair's shit and I didn't have a chance to do anything about it." I reached an arm up for Ian to grab and lowered him to the floor, common practice when I got fed up. "I'm gonna go hit the Record store. Come get me when you're done." and I took my leave from the group and headed to a shop who's front looked like a moshpit of painted people.
As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by Alden, an old Brit who kinda acts like a surrogate grandfather that you just love to visit.
"Heya Spence, you alright, you look a bit down in the gravy lumps."
That's dumps to you and me, Alden has the habit of talking in cockney rhyming slang but hey it's fun to listen to, and I've picked some of it up meself.
"I'm fine Alden, just need a little Anneka Rice." see what I mean. Alden pursed his lips and patted the stool to the side of the counter. I sat.
"Still feeling a bit Todd Sloan? What about what's his name, Robert the Noble?"
"Made a right coat hanger of that didn't I? Yesterday he found out about me corn on a cob and hours later I ran after nearly getting into his Adam's. Not that I had planned to mind." if you didn't know I was Russian, I could've passed off as a Brit.
"I can see why you need some advice. What was the first song you listened to when you got home?" Alden thinks he can determine things by songs.
"Kelly Clarkson's 'Behind these Hazel Eyes'." I'm kinda addicted to her 'Breakaway' Album at the moment. Alden just whistled.
"You're head over heels but you keep bottling it up Spencey." he's the only one I let get away with calling me that as a name, not like the list of them Kai goes through when he does one of his 'what am I going to do with you' speeches. "You're gonna end up blowing ya stack." It feels like it already.
"I was that close to hitting Tala this morning, nearly spilt me Rosy lee making out with Hilary."
"That reminds me, Tala ordered a CD and it came in this morning, do us a favour and take it to him please, without planting it in his head."
"Yeah I'll do it." he's the sort of guy you can't say no to helping out. He handed me a CD shaped package wrapped in brown paper and I just put it in my hemp satchel. "So how to fix my Robert problem?"
"I'll have to get back to you on that one, my bricks and mortar is the expert on these problems."
"She's fourteen!" his daughter reminds me of Hilary sometimes, looks a cross between Julia and Mariah, without the circus gear and the pink, gah I hate that colour.
Alden and his wife had Meena at a late stage in life, hence I see him as a grandfather.
"She helped out with the Ray and Bryan situation didn't she?"
"Yeah, by looking like she was about to make a move on Bryan herself."
"I'll ask her not to get personally involved should she help next time." Alden sweatdropped, not surprised really.
For the next couple of hours I helped Alden around the shop, reaching for the higher shelves where he couldn't and looking up customer requests on the computer, he's getting better at using the thing since I taught him how. He's like Tyson's gramps, without the kendo stick and the weird lingo.
I was just putting a new box on a top shelf when I felt someone small collide with my legs and sent me - and the box- toppling over.
"Ian you scallywag, I warned you about doing that." Alden sighed.
"Yeah Ian, just don't p- tick me off again ok?" I was picking up the fallen CD's and think I used more malice than intended because Ian did the eyes on me, the watery-tears-about-to-fall look.
And I tell ya, it's like a punch to the gut and everything just melted away.
"Please don't cry Ian. I'm sorry, I'm having a bad morning." I dumped the CD's into the box and pulled Ian into my lap and chest, he was engulfed in muscle.
You know I'm not even sure how old he is, and I don't think he does either.
"You need some sugar in your system." he called from somewhere under my chin.
"That and some more sleep." Bryan stooped down and started picking up CD's. "The others are heading back to the cars. But Ian yelled something about you and came dashing in here, then I joined him." he finished, holding the reloaded box.
"So I see." I stood up, Ian on my hip and took the box one-handed off Bryan and placed it on the shelf designated. "Thanks Alden, you will let me know what Meena says won't you?"
"Will do and thanks for your help Spence, I could do with another pair of hands around here actually." he's offering me a job? Things might be looking up.
"A taller pair of legs more like." I grinned. "Can I get back to you on that one Alden?"
"Sure can my friend, look after yourself and good luck with that problem." he winked. Luckily there was no-one besides us in here, ah who cares.
"Thanks Alden, see ya later."
"Bye boys!"
0o0o0o0
"Why does Spencer get to sit in the front?" Tala, I'm six foot bloody four and need legroom. Yeah, I'm in the front of the truck with Kai and Tyson. Tala, Hilary, and Ian in back, the other five are in the BMW with Bryan driving. Until Kai converts the truck it only holds six and there's eleven of us.
"Cos he's the tallest Tala, please dont argue."
I take my proverbial hat off to Kai I honestly do. Even after everything he's been through, he still manages to give us all a home and the sense of family, I think living with Tyson did that to him.
Despite the fact we share a house with two girls, Ray's the mother hen of the group, it's always been like that. Kai's the main father figure, even though he won't admit it.
"Hey Tala, Alden gave me this, said you ordered it from him." I suddenly remembered, pulling the package from my bag and passing it back.
Come on take it already, it's like he forgot what he ordered.
"Oh yeah! Thanks Spencer."
Idiot.
Normal Pov- Jurgen Castle.
Robert was in his study, his canvas perched on the easel and he was sitting on the floor infront of it, a pencil perched in his teeth.
"You're not going to get it done by sitting on your derrière, mon ami." Oliver called from his seat on the sofa.
"I know but I want to get it right... where's Johnny gone?"
"He phoned his parents to say he wasn't going home for another three weeks and went out."
What Robert didn't know, was that Johnny, armed with a camera, had gone to the mansion after Robert told him what he was going to paint.
Kenny opened the door. "Johnny, what brings you here?"
"I'm on my way home soon and my parents wanted pictures of my friends, they never watched my matches so they haven't a clue who's who apart from the majestics. Plus I wanted to talk to Kai about something."
"Well I'm right here McGregor. If you want to step into the kitchen, we can talk there." Kai lead them inside. "Oh Chief, when you get ten minutes, could you fix the tv in the games room? I think Bryan knocked something loose when he was playing pool with Mariam."
"I'll do it now Kai, and how did he do that?"
"He hit the ball so hard it bounced back over his head and down the back, now it stopped working."
Kenny sighed and shook his head, "I'll get on it." and he left the kitchen.
"Photos for the family my arse. What do you need Johnny?"
"Robert's getting his boxers in a bunch because he needs a picture of Spencer for his painting. I thought I'd try and help him out."
"All you had to do was ask. I got loads." Kai smirked, leading the way to his study.
"Why?" was the only word Johnny could get out of his mouth.
"Blackmail, why else." Kai smirked.
"Robert's torture chamber has nothing on you." Johnny grinned at his former rival.
0o0o0o0
"Now where the bloody heck have you been?" Robert demanded from the dining table.
"Don't get ye panties in a bunch, I did ye a favour." grinned Johnny in his proudest scottish accent and dumped the folder infront of Robert and sitting opposite Oliver and Enrique.
Raising a brow, Robert opened the file and flicked through the contents. "Where did you get these?" his eyes bigger than sideplates.
"Never you mind. Just make it worth it. What's for dinner I'm starving."
"Whatever you three want, I've got a painting to sketch!" Robert got up from his seat and left the room.
"Who wants Chinese?" asked Enrique, even Oliver, who usually opposed takeaways, agreed.
Spencer was watching a DVD later that night. A sleeping Ian under one arm, Izzy under the other and Fudge on his lap. Sirius was dozing by his feet.
He knew Kai didn't appreciate the dogs on the furniture, put he really didn't care at the moment and Izzy didn't have muddy paws.
He had been watching the Christmas Invasion in the new Doctor Who Series. He tried not to laugh too loud as he played back the part where 'The Doctor' had problems with his head and Jackie Tyler was trying to help him. (A/N; Doctor's lines in the bold-italic.)
"My head! Unh! I'm having a neuron implosion ... I need-"
"What do you need?"
"I need-"
"Just say it!"
"I need-"
"Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
"I need-"
"Painkillers! "
"I need-"
"D'you need aspirin?"
"I need-"
"Codeine? Paracetamol? Oh, I dunno, Pepto-Bismol?"
"I need-"
"Liquid paraffin? Vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E?"
"I need-"
"Is it food? Something simple? Bowl of soup? Nice bowl of soup? Soup and a sandwich? Bowl of soup and a nice ham sandwich!"
"I need you to shut up!"
"Oooh, he hasn't changed that much, has he?"
Spencer Pov.
"Oh man." I love that bit, the Brits are so funny! David Tennant is such a brilliant actor.
"Why's there an earthquake?" whoops, I woke Ian up when I was laughing. He looks so cute with sleepy eyes.
"Sorry Ian, I was just laughing at somethin', sorry I woke you." I turned off the TV and gently enticed Fudge to sleep on Izzy, like she usually does, before I got up.
Ian held out his arms expectantly, I couldn't help but smile, scoop him up and carry him upstairs.
"Spen." what does he want now?
"Yeah Ian?"
"I found out how old I am."
"Really, how old?" Wow, when did that happen?
"I'm eleven now." he looked so happy and sleepy, so cute, it's time like these I wish I had kids.
"Really." I tried to smile and be happy for him, but that made Ian only five in the first worlds, I remember a petrified toddler joing me and the others at the Abbey but I can't believe it. "That's brilliant." even then my words sounded hollow.
"Yeah, and you'll be twenty-one in two weeks. You're ten years older than me." Yeah, twenty-one, whoopee, no different to being twenty.
"Ok Einstein, come on go to sleep or Kai will kill me." I humoured him as he changed into his pyjamas, eleven? he looks four, I suppose that's how he gets away with everything. "How did you find out?"
"Tala hacked into the old files." sounds about right.
"Well at least we know how old you are and now you can go to sleep." I sound like the kid's dad, then again I'm the oldest out of the blitzkrieg boys and was someway seen as such, I think it has something to do with me being so tall. Actually I'm the oldest blader, save Rick and Robert, gah!
"Night Spenny." yawned Ian, hugging me one more time. "And don't let Robert break your heart."
"Night Ian and I won't."
I left that room with tears in my eyes, I don't know why, Ian's age and the whole thing with Robert had got to me.
Maybe I should take a vacation after my birthday.
Gravy Lumps - Dumps
Anneka Rice - Advice
Todd Sloan - Alone
Coat hanger - clanger (mistake)
Corn on a cob - job
Adam's (from Adam and the Ants) - pants
Rosy lee - Tea
That's the ryhming slang cleared up, and chapter seven up, please review!
