Chapter 24
After dinner and dessert the group all settled back as Simon and Alex started getting the fire organised, closely watched by Alvin, who was being constantly shooed away by Simon.
In the end, it was clear either Simon was going to set Alvin on fire or Alvin would burn the place down, so Steph took charge and tackled Alvin to the ground and ended up sitting on him to stop him from getting in the way and becoming a possible fire threat.
"Dammit, ya be-yatch get off'a me!" he tried pushing her off; Steph was straddled over his back as Alvin lay face down in the dirt, trying to lift himself up, "Seriously, you're no lightweight"
Steph smiled wickedly and put all her weight onto Alvin, who only coughed and tried to fight back.
Steph leant down and gripped his wrists, forcing his hands to the ground, "You're mine" she flipped her hair and panted a little harder, laughing a little, "Fight all you want, you're not gonna beat me"
Alvin growled and struggled to keep his head out of the dirt, and tried to raise himself onto his arms, "%$#in' get off me!"
Steph clenched her knees into his ribs, "Say mercy"
Alvin looked at everyone else, in fits of laughter, "Why is no one helping me? Britt? Alex?"
Alex just shook his head, "You got yourself into this man"
Brittany tried to speak, but instead just laughed harder.
Steph laughed, "Say Mercy bitch!"
She dug her knees in harder, making Alvin half laugh, half cry out, "Oww, no never!" he tried twisting himself around, but Steph held her ground, "Say Mercy and I'll get up"
Alvin rested a little, Steph thinking she'd won relaxed her grip and weight a little, but Alvin surprised her by summoning his strength and twisting round, flipping Steph onto the ground.
He quickly flicked his wrists and managed to catch hold of Steph by the wrists, "Ha ha! Now the tables are turned"
Steph was surprised and glared at him, trying to pull free.
Alvin just laughed and lowered his eyebrows, "Say Mercy bitch" he tightened his grip and twisted, causing Steph to faulter at her knees
"Owowowowow, damn you Alvin Seville!" Steph, who wasn't one for losing felt herself being forced to give up, but then had a stroke of genius.
She smiled at Alvin, who raised an eyebrow uncertain, and thrust her chest at him, and pulled her arms round his head.
Engulfed in her breasts Alvin let go and pushed Steph off him, stumbling backwards he tripped and fell on his butt, "Hey no fair! There should be a rule against using assets!"
Steph stood with her hands and her hips, triumphant; "I win" she walked over to the others and snuggled on Alex's lap.
Alvin shook his head and stood up, dusting himself off, "You won by default...two double "D"-faults" he smirked and came to sit next to Brittany.
Brittany looked at him, and spoke in a patronising tone, "Aww, poor little Alvie got beaten by a girl" she patted him on the leg, as the others laughed.
Alvin rolled his eyes, and pointed to Steph, "I could've died in there!"
Steph looked down at her boobs and shook them from side to side a little, as Alex pointed out, "Not a bad way to die though bro"
Alvin smiled and was about to say something when Brittany slapped his leg, "OW!"
"Don't even think of it"
He rubbed his leg and rolled his eyes, "Geez, what is this, pick on Alvin night?"
Simon raised his hand, "In that case"
Alvin shot a glare at him, as Simon laughed, "Kidding, relax Alvin"
Alvin stood and reached for a beer on the table, "This will help me relax" he smiled and twisted the cap off, chugging down a third of the bottle, "Whoa, that was a little too quick" he held his head and laughed a little.
Simon frowned at him, "Alvin, take it easy on the booze"
Alvin raised his bottle to Simon, "Yes dad" he set it down next to him and clasped his hands together, "So I believe Steph has a little show for us?"
Eleanor settled into her chair, "Ooh yeah, what'd you end up choosing Steph?"
Steph stood up and kicked her sandals off, and rans her hands through her hair, "Just wait and see, Britt can you help me set up the iPod?"
Brittany nodded and headed into the RV.
She hooked her iPod to the auxiliary cord in the RV and opened the windows,passing the iPod through and left it hanging out the RV, where she asked Jeanette to take hold of it and hit play on Steph's cue.
Steph in the meantime was stretching and loosening herself up.
Alex called out, "Before you start, any other tricks you do, apart from dance?"
Steph smiled, "Check this out" she launched herself backwards and performed a few backward flips, ending with her hands in the air, "Ta-da!"
The others clapped as Steph signalled for Brittany to hit play.
The sound of a provocative bass pumped through the speakers:
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
Steph started by just swaying her hips, then added a few arm movements and shaking her body around to the beat of the song.
I want you to love me, like I'm a hot guy
Keep thinkin' of me, doin' what you like
So boy forget about the world cuz it's gon' be me and you tonight
I wanna make your bed for ya, then imma make you swallow your pride
She dropped her body low and bounced back up, kicking her leg out to the side and spinning her body around before punching her fist in the air.
Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands how to make you feel like a man
Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only one...
She threw herself into another backwards flip, pulling a splits midway through, and then dropped into a squat, jiggling her butt up and down.
Want you to take me like a thief in the night
Hold me like a pillow, make me feel right
Baby I'll tell you all my secrets that I'm keepin', you can come inside
And when you enter, you ain't leavin', be my prisoner for the night
Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands, like I'm the only one who knows your heart, only one...
She came sauntering over to Alex and sat slowly over his lap, singing the bridge.
He gulped and kept his hands rested on the arms of the chair as Alvin whistled and hollered.
She locked her eyes on his and ran her hands slowly down his body.
Take me for a ride
Oh baby, take me high
Let me make you rise
Oh make it last all night
Take me for a ride
Oh baby, take me high
Let me make you rise
Make it last all night
She winked and pushed herself off him then stepped back a little and threw in a few "stripper" type moves – moves that looked impressive and got maximum effect with minimal effort.
Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands how to make you feel like a man
Only girl in the world...
Girl in the world...
Only girl in the world...
Girl in the world...
Steph ended with bending over and flicking her head up, slowly running her hands up her things and resting them on her hips.
Everyone cheered and clapped.
Well mostly the girls did, the guys were fixed quite firmly to their chairs, unable to move and all sitting in what appeared to look like unusual sitting positions.
Even through the light of the fire, Steph could make out the looks on their faces and burst into laughter, "Mission accomplished, I managed to get all four guys giving me a 'standing ovation'"
Theodore shifted in his seat and blushed, trying to avoid anyone's eyes.
Eleanor comforted him with a kiss and giggled.
Simon coughed, "Well you dance like that and it's pretty inevitable at what would happen"
Steph walked over to the table and skulled a bottle of water, wiping her mouth when she'd finished, "Dead puppies boys, dead puppies"
Alvin scoffed at her, "Ok, so you managed to make us guys, 'stand to attention'" the girls all laughed as he continued, "But I know that's not your best routine, c'mon anyone can dance like that, hell I could dance like that"
Jeanette looked at him, "You could dance like that? I'd like to see that"
Simon nodded, "Yeah me too"
"Although I don't think it'd have the same effect" Alex added.
Steph put her hands on her hips, "Ok, so Mr Ego has decided to make an appearance has he? Well then, care to make a wager?"
Alvin leant forward, "Teach me a routine, that's got some technical skills in it, and I reckon I can pull it off better than you"
The others looked at Alvin and then at Steph, waiting for her response.
She nodded slowly, "So I get to choose the routine?"
Alvin nodded, "Uh huh"
"And you want technical skills right?"
He nodded again, folding his arms and feeling pretty confident.
Steph smiled and walked into the RV.
Theodore pointed out, "You seem pretty confident Alvin? What if Steph comes up with something really difficult?"
Alvin scoffed, "Pfft, please, have you forgotten we've been dancing routines since we were young too Theo?"
Simon nodded, "True, but Steph has got some moves that I'm not sure even you could do"
Alvin smirked and leant forward, "Please, anything she throws at me I'll just come back swinging"
Steph came back out from the RV holding something behind her back.
As she passed the others they started laughing.
Alvin, still arms folded, had a sudden drop in his face, "What? What's behind your back?"
Steph smiled and stood in front of him, "You want technical skills, here you go"
She revealed two pairs of heels.
Alvin took one look at them and shook his head furiously, "What? %$# NO! No way! You gotta be kidding me!"
Steph shrugged and slipped the heels on, "You said you want technical skills, dancing in heels is pretty technical"
Alvin's voice rose a little, "Yeah but I was expecting like flips and breakdance moves...not me dressing in drag"
Steph put her hands on her hips, "You'll hardly be in drag, its only heels" she slammed her hands on the arms of the chair and leant forward, "Or you sookin' out?"
Alvin narrowed his eyes at her, "I don't back out of a dare" he snatched the heels and looked at them, slipping his own shoes off, "Are these even gonna fit me?"
Steph was already walking around in her heels, "Yeah they're one of mine, my feet are bigger so they should fit you...just don't stretch 'em, or bust the heel off"
Alvin faked a smile, "Gee I'll try and remember that"
Alex shook his head, "Dude I cannot believe you're actually going to go through with this"
Alvin wiggled his foot into one of the heels, "It's either kick ass at this bet or have Steph lord it over me for all eternity"
Simon settled back in his chair, "Oh this is gonna be good"
Jeanette smiled and pulled her phone from her pocket.
Alvin slipped into the other heel and looked up at her, "Oh hell no, no photos! Or video!"
Brittany laughed as he tried to stand, wobbling a bit, making everyone else crack up, "You're legs look amazing in those heels sweety"
Alvin glared at her, "Gee thanks pumpkin" he faked another smile and cautiously tried to walk over to Steph, who was trying hard not to wet herself from laughter.
He stood next to her, "How the hell am I supposed to dance in these if I can't even walk in them?"
Steph shrugged, "That's the technical skill you'll just have to master along the way isn't it?"
Alvin looked down at his feet, "What if I bust my ankle or something?"
Theodore looked concerned, "Maybe you shouldn't do it then Alvin?"
Simon folded his arms and said smugly, "I think he'll be fine, Theodore"
Alvin sighed as Steph showed off doing a cartwheel, a backwards flip and a spin in heels, "Nothin' to it sunshine"
Alvin tried walking around a little more to get the hang of walking in heels.
After 5 minutes of Alvin walking around, the girls trying to encourage him calling out, "Heel toe, heel toe, walk tall" and the guys simply pissing themselves laughing, Alvin felt a little..a very little, more confident, albeit completely stupid.
He tapped one foot on the ground, "Damn my feet are starting to ache already, let's get this over and done with so I can kick these off"
Steph smiled and scrolled through the playlist, finding a song perfect for her challenge.
She handed the iPod to Jeanette again and stood next to Alvin again.
She looked at the girls, "Now I want you ladies to pay close attention to this routine too, cause you're gonna need to learn it too"
Alvin's eyes widened, "You're not"
Steph smiled at him, "Oh yes we are"
She cued for Jeanette to hit play.
The jumpy upbeat sound of Beyonce's "Single Ladies" came blasting over the speakers.
Alvin groaned as Steph leapt into the routine, "Follow my lead Alvie-boy, I'll be nice and won't make you jump round too much"
Reluctantly Alvin began following the moves Steph was doing, and soon he was getting the hang of the routine.
By halfway through he was starting to pick up the gist of the routine, although some of the moves he just stood there shaking his head, such as when Steph performed the move of shaking down low and sticking her leg out, "I am not doing that, I don't even think that's physically possible for a guy"
Steph rose back up laughing, "Alright I'll give you that one, keep up though"
By the end, everyone was clutching at the stomachs and Brittany, Simon and Jeanette all had tears of laughter streaming down their cheeks.
Alvin fell to the ground, panting, and pulled the heels off, stretching and wiggling his toes and arches, "I...do...not think...my...ass...has had...to shake...that much...ever!"
Steph held her hand out to help him up, "It was a very bouncy and ass shaking routine, but I'll give it to you, you did well to keep up, even if it was a little outta time"
He pulled himself up with Steph's help and limped a little to the chair, "Ow my feet are killing me" he turned to Brittany, "How do you girls walk around, let alone dance in these things?"
Brittany giggled, "Beauty before pain, you just grin and bear it"
Eleanor shrugged, "Why do you think we have foot massagers and foot spas in our dressing rooms?"
Simon nodded, "I thought it was cause you were all being Divas?"
Jeanette put her hands on her hips, "Oh and you guys don't have demands?"
Simon shook his head, "Not anything like that"
Alex finished his beer and tossed the bottle into a bucket they were using as a bin to collect them, "Well what kinds of demands do you have? Only red jellybeans and Norwegian bottled water on site?"
Alvin laughed and rubbed his feet, "No, my only demands are I want plenty of water, don't really care where it's from so long as it's cold; some honey, good for your throat when singing; an iPod dock and a really comfortable lounge"
Theodore shook his head, "You're forgetting the mass of food orders we ask for, and the fact the dressing room cannot smell like pine -"
Alvin interrupted, "Pine smells like hospitals and that's not what I wanna think about before I perform"
Simon shook his head, "What about the time you demanded a separate dressing room that had to be all colour coordinated with red and white? The lounge needed to be white with red cushions; you needed a red shag rug, the makeup chair needed to be a plush red with a white cushion -"
Alvin interrupted again, "That was only once! I was just trying to test the boundaries...I must say though, they did a freakin' awesome job of pulling that off"
Alex laughed and leant back in his chair, "Dude you're a freakin' diva"
Alvin looked gobsmacked, "What? No way, I don't do that anymore, it was a one off"
Simon nodded, "Yeah but we'll never let you forget it...Alvin the Diva"
Alvin waved him off, "Yeah, yeah whatever"
Jeanette, looking at the time on the iPod, yawned and stretched, "Well we should probably get some sleep, it's a quarter to 12"
Eleanor yawned also, "Mmm, that sounds like a good idea" she turned to Theodore, "Can you help me take these things into the RV?"
Theodore nodded and hoisted himself out of his chair, picking up a pile of plates and following Eleanor into the RV.
Jeanette followed carrying, very carefully, some bowls and spoons.
Alvin stood up and looked over at the tents, "Ok, claim your dorms"
Brittany pointed to the one tent that was different from the others, "Mine!" and went into the RV to collect her things to put in there.
Alvin shrugged, "Ok, looks like we got ours"
Steph picked up one of her heels and threw it aimlessly at one of the tents.
It rolled next to one, "That's ours, Alex"
Alex nodded and followed her into 'Hot Stuff'
Simon looked at Alvin and whispered next to him, "So you guys have been sleeping in the same beds?"
Alvin looked at him, "Well...yeah...why, you guys haven't?"
Simon coughed and shook his head, "Um no...the girls have taken the back room and Theo and I have been in the main cab; I took the dining table bed and Theodore's been in the over cab bed"
Alvin took a step back, pondering this and folded his arms, his voice raising slightly "Sooo you want to sleep with Jeanette?"
Simon looked horrified, "What? No!"
Alvin scrunched his nose up, then shook his head, and put his hand on Simon's shoulder, "No no, that's not what I meant, geez, calm down"
Simon sighed.
Alvin nodded, "Look, just cause you share the same bed, doesn't mean you need to, you know, get it on or anything" he sighed, "Simon, you're 18, pretty much an adult"
Simon stiffened up a little, "I know that" he rubbed the back of his neck, "It's just...well...that first night, before you guys all barged in-"
Alvin raised his eyebrows and held his hands up in defence, "Whoa, we did not barge in"
Simon ignored him and continued, "Anyway, Jeanette and I were sharing...a moment" he tried choosing his words carefully, "And well we haven't had a chance to, pick up where we left off, so to speak"
Alvin smiled smugly, "So, here's your chance, all snuggled up in a tent, making out by the moonlight, romance anyone?"
Simon shook his head, "But what if I ask Jeanette and she gets freaked out?"
Alvin held his hands face up and shrugged, reaching to scratch his head, "Well, then you're gonna have to settle sharing with Theodore" he nudged him, "And the rate that boy is growing up, that may not be a wise decision"
Simon gave him a slightly confused look, as Alvin laughed and slapped him playfully on the back, pointing towards 'Einstein', "Theo's a young guy whose hormones are taking over remember and he hasn't really had a chance to let them loose, so they get all bottled up...now think back to that 'talk' Dave gave us as kids...what happens when a guy feels certain things but can't, um, release them?"
Simon's eyes widened, as he pictured the possible scenarios in the night.
He shook his head as Alvin laughed a little, "Exactly, now go in there and beg Jeanette to share a tent, or face the alternative" he gave Simon a small push in the direction of the RV as he headed towards his.
Simon looked over at Alvin, who responded with two thumbs up and wandered into his RV.
Simon sighed and stepped inside 'Einstein', and noticed Eleanor, washing up, while Theodore dried and Jeanette put the items away.
She smiled at Simon as he came inside and stood, leaning on the passenger seat, "So I've been thinking"
Eleanor smiled at him, "As you do"
He gave a curt smile back, "Yes, so I've been thinking and I think considering we'll be in tents tonight, I think we should have couples sharing"
Jeanette dropped the bowl she was putting away.
Luckily it was only melamine and bounced on the bench top.
Eleanor and Theodore looked at Simon then at each other, and said together, "Ok!"
Simon nodded and stepped past them to Jeanette.
He turned her round and lifted her chin up, "Is that ok Jeanette?"
She gave a small smile, "Uh huh, that's fine"
Eleanor wiped her hands on her skirt and pushed past to go get her things.
Theodore grabbed their two sleeping bags and lugged them outside, throwing them into an empty tent.
Eleanor came out moments later with a bundle of clothes in her arms.
She giggled and pushed past Simon and Jeanette to find Theodore.
Jeanette looked at Simon, and then turned away, putting away the rest of the bowls.
Simon sighed, "Jeanette, are you sure you're ok with this? We'll be in our own sleeping bags... you ok?" he came and touched her on the shoulder.
She sighed and finished putting the bowls away, closing the cupboard, and turning to Simon, "You're not being put up to this are you?"
Simon cocked his head to one side, "What do you mean?"
Jeanette folded her arms, "I mean like Alvin hasn't talked you into this or something?"
Simon shook his head, "No nothing like that" he stepped closer and held her at her elbows, "Jeanette, nothing will happen, ok? Like I said we'll be in our own sleeping bags"
She gave him a small smile as he leant in and kissed her.
There was a short pause before Jeanette looked at him, "But if something were to happen, I may not be against it" she tapped Simon's nose and grabbed her sleeping bag, stepping outside, leaving Simon a little dumbstruck.
He soon snapped out of his mini trance and grabbed his sleeping bag and headed towards his tent.
