Chapter 26
Hey guys, just a quick shout out to DJ Marvin – big thanks for allowing me permission to use his OC – really hoping you like how I've developed him, but I strongly recommend reading DJ Marvin's back story on his OC titled, "Bruno's Story". Enjoy!
It was getting close to evening as Steph drove 'Hot Stuff' along the road.
"So" she started the conversation, "'Bout my birthday tomoz, what'cha doing for me?"
Brittany, who was sitting in the passenger seat looked back at the guys, "Uhh..."
Steph glanced at her briefly before looking back at the road, "You got nothing planned?"
Alvin tried to reassure her, "Well, we weren't sure where we'd be"
Steph frowned, "That's a lame ass excuse" she looked into the rear view mirror at Alex, "You have something planned, right?"
Alex raised his eyebrows and nodded his head a little from side to side, "Well, that depends if we get privacy" he smiled a little.
"Lalalalala I don't wanna know lalalalala" Brittany stuck her fingers in her ears.
Alex laughed and added, raising his voice slightly, "But"
Brittany stopped and took her fingers out from her ears.
"I at least have a gift" he glared quickly at Alvin, who was smiling and about to say something, "Which is not anything like that"
Alvin laughed.
Steph pursed her lips, "Well at least someone got me a gift, make my birthday somewhat real"
Alvin looked at Steph, "Hey what makes you think we don't have a present for you?"
Steph snorted, "Don't bullsh*t me Alvin"
Alvin stood up and walked to the driver's seat, "Ok, fine, we'll get you whatever you want tomorrow at the State Fair"
Steph thought about it and smiled, "Ok fair enough...ooh I want a sparkly cowgirl hat!"
Alvin screwed his nose up and stood a little straighter, "Seriously? That's what you want?"
Steph smiled, "Nothing says adulthood like a sparkly cowgirl hat"
Brittany laughed, "Can't believe our little Stephi is gonna be all grown up and...an adult...officially"
Steph laughed at this, "Oh sh*t, me as an adult, with responsibilities and sh*t"
Alvin laughed out loud, "Ha! You? Responsible? Not %$ #ing likely"
Steph went to swipe at him, but he dodged and sat back on the lounge.
Suddenly there was a crack of thunder in the sky and then the onslaught down pour of rain.
Steph quickly flicked the headlights and wipers on, "Ah! Where the $%# did that come from?"
She slowed the RV down a little to avoid aqua planeing across the road, "And what'd you mean I'm not responsible? What about my dog Frizzle I had as a kid?"
Brittany shuddered, "And what happened to him after a few weeks?"
Steph rolled her eyes, "Not my fault he liked humping random objects...and wasn't the brightest of dogs"
Alex looked at Alvin for clarification, Alvin nodded, "Oh right, so the dog ends up seeing, I dunno, I think it was a can on the road, runs out and starts humping the crap outta it...well next thing you know, car and...well yeah" he shrugged a little
Alex reeled back, "Oh nooo...nooo, oh poor dog"
Brittany pointed at Steph, "She didn't have a leash on him!"
Steph threw a hand in the air, "I was like 7! How was I supposed to know to keep a leash on him at all times?"
Brittany's voice rose, "It was a dog! That's what you do to keep them safe!"
Steph shook her head, "Ok, so bad example of being responsible"
"Or how not to" Alvin pointed out
"Shuddup!" Steph looked out to the road and could just make out the outline of a figure walking way up ahead, "I know how I can show you I'm responsible"
Brittany folded her arms, "How?"
Steph pointed up ahead at the figure, "I'm gonna help a fellow person in need"
The others squinted through the rain at the figure, "No, Steph you can't just pick up a drifter" Brittany squealed.
Steph shrugged, "Why not? Then I can be responsible for their well being and sh*t"
Alex shook his head, "Nah I don't like the idea" his voice sounding uneasy.
Steph frowned at him through the rear view mirror, "Geez, though my own boyfriend would support me"
Brittany hugged herself, "What if it's like a rapist or a murderer?"
Steph rolled her eyes, "I'll ask" she pulled over the side of the road and flashed her head lights and beeped the horn.
The figure turned, then lowered their head and kept walking.
"Oh well, guess they don't want a lift then" Alvin added quickly, "Time to go"
Steph shook her head, her voice sounding determined, "No way, we're picking this drifter up"
Alex tried to calm her, "Babe, maybe they really don't want a lift?"
Steph pointed to the rain, "What kind of idiot would rather walk in the pouring rain than get a lift with a random stranger?"
Simon radioed on the CB, "What's going on? Why'd you pull over for?"
Brittany radioed back, "Steph has this crazy idea to wanna pick a drifter up"
Steph beeped the horn again as the drifter continued walking.
Simon radioed back, concerned, "Steph? Why you doing this?"
Steph huffed and stomped her foot, "What the %$# is wrong with this douche?" she said to herself and grabbed an umbrella from near the RV door.
Brittany sighed and responded, "Something about being responsible or some sh*t like that"
Steph opened the door and put the umbrella up as Alex grabbed her arm, "Steph, just leave 'em"
She twisted out of his grasp, "No!" and stormed out into the rain.
The other's watched from the safety of the RV as Simon pulled 'Einstein' up alongside them.
"HEY!" Steph called after the figure, "HEY!"
The figure kept walking, ignoring her.
She started running and slapped the figure on the shoulder, "Stopping car plus beeping horn USUALLY means GET IN! Especially if it's $# %ing pissing down rain!"
The figure turned round and narrowed their eyes at Steph and she noticed it was a guy, about her age.
He had greyish eyes and dark brown hair, slightly curly.
He was a little taller than she was, but not by much and had bags under his eyes, Steph assumed from lack of or poor sleep.
He was wearing a black and white striped hoodie and a pair of dark skinny jeans, both of which looked like they'd been worn for a few days now.
He carried a skateboard under one arm and had a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
A chain fell and looped from his jeans into his pocket; Steph suspected it was linked to a wallet or something.
"Yeah and person walking away usually means not interested. I've had plenty of offers and then they take one look at me and piss off down the road again, %$ #ing dickheads" the guy turned and started off again.
Steph frowned and walked til she was in front of him, and looked him straight in the eyes and spoke a little calmer, "Any actually get out of the car and chase you down though?"
He stopped abruptly.
She breathed in and exhaled deeply, "Now look here, I have all my friends in there" she pointed back at the RV, as the guy turned round and then back at Steph, adjusting the duffle bag on his shoulder a little, "And they think I'm irresponsible or some sh*t cause I accidently left my dog off the leash and he got hit by a car"
The guy looked confused, "What?"
Steph shook her head, "Oh %$# it that doesn't matter, anyway, point is, you're now my responsibility, so get in the %$ #ing RV so I can look after you" she put her hand on her hip.
The guy looked at her.
This girl in front of her was talking to him with this authority, that usually he wouldn't take a crap from, in fact, he'd probably have pushed her aside (He'd never hit a girl) and bolted into the night.
But there was something about Steph that captivated him somehow.
Something comforting, almost trusting.
"I can wait all %$# in' night if you wanna play it that way" she rose her eyebrows at him.
The guy sighed and caved in, "Fine"
Steph's mood suddenly changed, and she became quite excitable, making the guy step back a bit, now unsure if he'd made the right decision, "Oh yay!"
She gestured for him to walk with her back to the RV, "I'm Steph by the way"
The guy nodded, "Bruno"
Steph smiled.
He liked her smile.
Another comforting factor.
"So where you headed?"
Bruno dropped his skateboard into his hand, "Um, Vegas actually"
Steph stopped short and slapped him, "No way!"
Bruno looked at his arm and then at her, and felt his fist ball up.
"Oh sh*t sorry, no it's just, that's where we're headed!" she smiled again and laughed.
Bruno took a breath in and relaxed his fist.
They reached the RV and Steph opened the door, leading the way, but stopped on the steps when she saw Brittany and turned to Bruno, "Oh yeah, you a rapist or a murderer?"
Bruno looked confused, again, and shook his head slightly, "Uh, no, defiantly not"
Steph smiled and continued up the steps, pulling her hair tie out and shaking her hair round, "Ok guys, so this is Bruno, and this is Alex and Alvin and Brittany and over in the other-"
"Wait as in Chipmunks, Chipettes? You gotta be kidding me?" Bruno smiled a little.
Alvin held his hand out and Bruno shook it, "Nope, one and only man, here in the flesh"
He was still smiling when he looked at Steph and Alex, "So you're like good friends with celebrities?"
Steph laughed out loud, "We're freaking best buddies...I was one of the first people to see through their star status and just treated them like anyone else really" she whispered loudly, "I don't give them any leeway for being a diva" she looked at Brittany, "Or egotistical rock star" she motioned towards Alvin, "I like to think I'm the one who keeps them grounded to reality"
"You hold onto that" Alvin added, lounging back a little.
Brittany frowned at Bruno as he laughed a little, "Sorry I look like a drowned punk rat" he wiped his hand on the inside of hoodie and extended it out to Brittany.
She looked at it cautiously and then at Steph, who sighed dramatically, "He's wet not covered in the freakin' plague!"
Brittany shook it hesitantly, as Bruno reached out to Alex, who looked at Steph, then at Bruno and shook it back, firmly.
Bruno took notice of the look from Alex and shoved his hand into his pocket, quickly.
It couldn't do any damage in there.
Steph, oblivious to the exchange clapped her hands together, "Ok so co-inky-dink or what, Bruno's going to Vegas too!"
Alvin looked at Bruno and offered a seat next to him, "You were gonna walk there?" he shook his head, "Man you're insane"
Bruno was about to sit down but seeming he was still dripping wet he didn't, "Uh, yeah, kinda"
Brittany pushed past and got a towel, passing it with an outstretched arm.
Bruno thanked her and started drying himself off.
Alex whistled, "That's a fair trek dude"
Bruno nodded, "Yeah, but I got plenty of time"
Simon radioed over the CB, "What's going on over there?"
Bruno's eyes were amazed, "The other's are here too?"
Alvin laughed and reached for the radio, "Well yeah, can't have a concert without ma boys"
He spoke into the CB, "Got ourselves a drifter for the ride to Vegas, name's Bruno"
Simon hesitated then radioed back, "Well...ok...look its getting dark, and I reckon we need to find somewhere to set up camp"
Alvin looked outside and saw the sun setting fast over the horizon, "Roger that Si, lead the way"
Steph motioned to Bruno the bathroom, "Go get into some dry clothes before you catch a cold or something"
Bruno looked at his wet duffle bag, "Um, I have a feeling all my stuff is gonna be wet"
Steph settled into the driver's seat, "Oh" she turned to Alex, "Alex, babe, give Bruno some of your stuff to wear, kay?"
Alex looked at Steph with eyebrows raised.
She looked back at him, "What? Alvin's clothes ain't gonna fit, look at him; he's a short ass and Bruno's about your height and build. Come on, please?" she battered her eyelashes at him.
He looked at Bruno and rolled his eyes before heading into the back room.
He emerged a few minutes later and handed Bruno a shirt a pair of jeans and a pair of track pants, "Gotta supply your own underwear though man, I draw the line there"
Bruno took the clothing and gave a quick smile, "'Preciate it"
He headed into the bathroom as Steph glared at Alex as he slumped back into the booth.
He looked up, "What?"
She huffed and rolled her eyes, "Just be nice would you?"
Alex shook his head and looked away, folding his arms.
Brittany looked back and forth between them, as Alvin pretended to whinge, "Brittany I don't like it when mummy and daddy argue"
Steph shook her head, "Shut the %$# up Alvin!" she indicated and pulled the RV back onto the road, following 'Einstein'.
The rain had eased up as they drove along and stopped completely by the time they'd found somewhere to stay the night, and the other's had come across to meet Bruno, they all said their good nights.
Steph and Brittany helped Bruno hang his clothes to dry outside, hoping there wouldn't be another sudden down pour.
Then back inside, Alvin helped Bruno set the dining table bed up as Alex pulled Steph into the back room, closing the door slightly, "You cannot sleep braless tonight...and wear a little more to bed, please?"
Steph looked at him and put her hands on her hips, "What? Why the hell do I gotta do that?"
He nodded towards the main cab, "We have company now"
Steph groaned and paced around the bed, "Are you serious? Geez Alvin's here, why aren't you worried 'bout his ogling eyes?"
Alex pointed out, "'Cause I know Alvin...I have no problem with him, plus Brittany's here"
Steph raised her eyebrows and slapped her hands on the bed, "You. Are. Unbelievable...for %$# 's sake Alex, I love you, don't you trust me or some sh*t?"
Alex put his hand to his head and closed his eyes, "It's not you I don't trust"
Steph rolled her eyes as Alex sighed and walked round to her, taking hold of her hand, "Steph I'm sorry" he spoke calmly and softly, "It's just, we know nothing about this guy" he reached out to her, but she stepped back, twisting from his grip.
Alex sighed, "Come on, young guy walking alone on his way to Vegas, what'd he do?"
Steph thought a moment then rubbed her arm, "Maybe he's not the one who did anything? Maybe someone did something to him...think about that one Alex"
She pushed past him gently and picked an extra shirt from her suitcase, "I'll wear my slouch top over my singlet, but my shorties stay...that's my only and final offer" she gave him a smile.
He smiled back and came in to hug her as she whispered in his ear, "Just give the guy a break. Don't judge him before you get to know him ok?"
Alex nodded and hugged her a little tighter before pulling away, "Ok, but only cause you asked"
She grinned and pulled her phone from her pocket, setting the alarm and turning it on silent and off vibrate.
They headed out of the back room and Steph nodded towards Alvin and Brittany, "You guys can have the back room tonight, we'll bunk out here"
Alvin nodded and bumped fists with Bruno, "Night man"
Bruno sat on the edge of the bed and nodded back, "Yeah night, and hey, thanks to all of you for letting me tag along"
Brittany smiled, "It'll be...fun, um, there's extra blankets and stuff..." she paused and looked at Bruno's bed, "oh under those seats...well hopefully you won't need it" she smiled again and followed Alvin into the back room, closing the door.
Steph and Alex climbed up into the over cabin bed.
Steph pulled her singlet and slouch top over her clothing and struggled pulling her bra off, "Argh, geez, why must this be...ahh...so...hard"
Bruno looked confused as he watched Steph struggle before he realised what she was doing and quickly turned away, "You could've asked me to turn around or somethin" he called out.
Alex looked at him, and back at Steph.
Steph shrugged, and wrestled the bra out her sleeve and threw it to the ground, "It's only a bra, geez"
Bruno turned around and noticed Steph's bra on the ground and blushed a little before rolling over, "Ok well night then"
Steph laughed, "Bruno, you're part of our crazy family now, get used to sh*t like this"
Bruno held his hand up and saluted, "Yep, night then"
Steph looked over at Alex, who was smiling at her and shook his head, before taking off his own shirt and pants and dropping them to the floor.
He pulled the blankets up over him and patted the spot next to him as Steph flicked the light off and snuggled back into him.
After a while Bruno rolled onto his back and listened to the quiet hum of the RV, the soft whispers coming from the back room and the steady breathing of Alex and Steph.
"Family" he rolled the word around his mouth a few times and stared at the ceiling, "Look Mama, seems I may have found somewhere to belong...I think you'd like this Steph chick. She seems cool...reminds me of you a bit...and I'll be getting to Vegas sooner. Livin' our dream, mama. Love you"
He rolled back over and closed his eyes, soon drifting to sleep.
Even when her eyes were closed, Steph could still see the distinct flash of blue light coming from her phone.
She groggily opened her eyes and reached out for the phone near her pillow, pressing the dismiss button.
She rubbed her eyes and stared at the phone in her hand.
3:15am
She clutched the phone and heaved herself up and managed to climb down the ladder and crossed the floor to the fridge.
Opening it slightly, she closed her eyes and almost swore out loud at the bright fridge light, "%$# I forgot about this" she thought to herself.
Reaching in she used her finger to push the light button in, making the fridge dark again, and used her phone's soft light to illuminate her way into the fridge.
She yawned and found a six pack of beer of a brand she liked and reached in.
The bottles rattled a little and she froze, afraid she'd wake someone.
After a minute or two she quietly pulled the beer out and closed the fridge door.
She used her phone to find her way to the RV door and opened it quietly and slipped outside, unbeknownst that someone else had watched her every move.
Outside Steph looked up at the sky.
The clouds that brought the rain earlier that evening had all rolled away and left a gorgeous blanket of stars overhead.
She smiled and made her way to the back of the RV, climbing up the back ladder and settling herself on the roof, with the beers next to her.
She looked at her phone.
3:22am
"Five minutes to go, and I'll officially be 18" she smiled to herself, "Hope daddy remembers"
She wrestled a bottle from its cardboard case and sat with it clutched between her hands, counting the minutes down.
Suddenly she heard a noise and spun round.
Bruno stood on the ladder, his head just poking onto the roof of the RV, "Oops, hey, sorry didn't mean to frighten you"
Steph smiled and nodded for him to come up, "Sorry if I woke you"
He smiled, crawling over, "Nah, I was awake anyway" he lied.
He sat next to her, drawing his knees up and resting his arms on them, "So what are you doing up here anyway?" he looked at the beers, and frowned slightly, "Drinking doesn't help anything, you know"
Steph almost burst out in laughter, "I'm not a freakin' alcho Bruno, it's my birthday today, and I was born at 3:27am, and so me and my daddy are gonna share a drink together...officially"
Bruno was relieved, and smiled, "Oh well, happy birthday then"
She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder slightly, "Thanks" and lifted it back up, looking at her phone, "Almost time"
She watched as the time changed from 3:26 to 3:27am and lifted her beer to the sky, "Happy birthday to me!"
She twisted the cap off and skulled about a third of the bottle, "Ahh!" she laughed a little and offered one to Bruno, "Cause you're here, you must join in the festivities" and looked at her phone, which signalled a message.
She opened it and covered her mouth from laughter as she showed Bruno the photo of her dad with a beer in his hand, looking very tired.
He smiled and held the bottle in his hands, "You know, I'm not really allowed this yet, I'm only 17"
Steph scrunched her nose up, and shrugged, "Ah %$ # it, it's my birthday, I'm making the rules, crack it open"
Bruno put the bottle back down next to him, "I'll be fine...I better not" although deep down he was craving a drink, he didn't want things to get off on the wrong foot if the others found out.
Steph frowned, "Drink the damn thing or I'll make you drink it" she grinned, "I can be veeerrryy persuasive" she wiggled her eyebrows.
He laughed a little and shrugged, "OK, ok, for your birthday" he twisted the cap off and they clinked bottles before he took a swig.
They sat in silence for a while before Bruno asked, "Why are you being so nice to me? I mean I could've been anyone walking along...why'd you stop?" he held the bottle by the neck and swung it loosely.
She shrugged, "Dunno, but when I get an idea, I follow through...that and I'm a super nice person anyway"
She laughed and looked up in the sky.
Bruno looked up too, missing the joke, "Yeah but what about when you saw me, I mean, like I said, most people assume the worst of me and bolt the other way, how come you didn't?"
Steph took a mouthful of beer and tilted her head at him, "Well, I figured you're a person too right?"
Bruno nodded as she continued, "People often look at me and assume that because of the way I behave, the clothes I wear, I guess the language that can come outta my mouth and the fact that I'm like BFF's with rock stars, I must be like a massive slut or a groupie or a wanna-be or something" she shrugged and frowned a little, "I say $#% them, they don't know me, I'll be who I wanna be and if they don't like it, they can piss off elsewhere" she nodded after her rant and smiled at Bruno, who returned the smile.
They turned when they heard a pattering coming up the ladder.
"So here's where the party is then?" Alvin smiled and hauled himself to the roof.
Steph twisted another beer from the case and held it out to him, "Thought you'd be sleeping...or doing other things with Brittany" she giggled.
Alvin rolled his eyes and sat on the other side of Steph, "Yeah right...can't sleep cause I'm not getting anything from Britt"
Bruno looked up at the sky and took another swig.
Steph laughed a little and stretched her legs out, "Yeah I've heard that build up can be a bitch"
Alvin took a mouthful and wiped his mouth on his arm, "A bitch? It %$# ing aches"
He looked at Bruno, "Sorry man you gotta hear all this"
Bruno waved him off, "Just happy to tag along" he lifted his beer up.
Alvin smiled and clinked it with his own and sighed, "Well what do I do? I think Britt's kinda gone off the idea, which leaves me in a sorry state"
Steph wrapped her arm round him, "You're already a sorry state" he glanced at her as she continued, "But you know, if worst comes to worst you could always call on Mrs Palmer and her five daughters"
Bruno, who'd just taken a mouthful, spit it out over the edge of the RV and coughed a little.
Steph pat him on the back a few times and laughed, "See, Bruno knows who I mean"
Alvin looked confused, "Who the hell is Mrs Palmer?"
Steph put her beer between her legs and grabbed Alvin by the wrist; facing his hand palm up, "Meet Mrs Palmer and her five daughters" she waved his hand at him.
He pulled out of her grasp, "Oh what?"
Steph shrugged and took another mouthful, "I'm just trying to help"
Bruno shook his head and smiled, "You guys really don't hide anything from each other do you?"
Steph shook her head, "Nup, can't with me"
Alvin nodded, "Yeah that's true...but I guess we're a pretty open bunch"
Steph contained her laughter, "'Cept Britt at the moment"
Alvin muffled his laughter and nodded, "Yeah, right...oh if she knew I was laughing she'd push me off the roof here"
Steph smiled, "We've been through a bit over the years our little group"
Alvin nodded as Bruno asked, "So like the break in incident? I read about it in the papers and saw it on TV"
Alvin nodded again, "Yeah exactly"
Steph leant back a little, "But we were all there for each other"
Bruno nodded, "Must be great having people who you can depend on like that"
Steph and Alvin nodded as Bruno shifted and leant back on his elbows, "Can I see your scar?"
Alvin pulled his arm through his shirt and lifted it up, leaning over as Bruno sat back up and looked in closer.
Steph wiggled back a little and leant back on her elbows.
"Impressive...not just the scar, I mean the whole story...although not the part where you got kicked around" Bruno stated.
Alvin pulled his shirt back on and held the bottle by the neck and swung it gently in his hand, "Yeah, that bit sucked, and the recovery, and the media, oh the freakin' media, oh and the trial...but it's all good now...hey if anything I got one of those stories they can turn into a telemovie or somethin" he laughed a little, "I can milk this baby"
Bruno nodded as Steph asked, "So what's your story then?" she tilted her bottle up and finished the beer, cracking another one open.
Bruno looked down and then back over at Steph and Alvin.
They sat there waiting.
He sighed, "Well I used to live with my mum and dad, but um" he coughed a little.
Alvin looked at Steph and nudged her a little, making her jump a bit, "Oh right, sorry" she put a comforting hand on Bruno's shoulder, "You can skip that bit if you want"
Bruno felt a lump forming in his throat, "Thanks, um, so anyway, yeah I now live with my dad...but he's a freakin' asshole who treats me like sh*t...I got jack of it and decided to leg it to Vegas"
Steph nodded, "My mum left me when I was about four or five...haven't seen her since"
Bruno nodded, "What would you do if you met her?"
Steph thought a moment and lay back on the roof, resting her arm behind her head, "Probably yell and scream at her at first and ask why the hell she'd walk out on her daughter and step son and leave her husband to raise them...then I might wanna tear her a new one...but maybe I'd let her explain herself before, and if I was happy with the reason then maybe I'd spare her"
Bruno finished his beer and set the bottle next to him, "So you have anger issues too?"
Alvin looked at him, "What'd you mean by that?"
Steph nudged him with her knee, "I don't have anger issues"
Alvin snorted a little, "You have got a mean streak though"
Steph corrected him, "I can have a mean streak, if someone was to really piss me off or say something %$ #ed up about my family or friends, I'd deck them flat, no worries"
Bruno shifted uncomfortably, "Oh right"
Alvin finished his beer and reached for another, "Why? You got anger management issues?"
Bruno nodded a little, embarrassed, "I've been known to blow things out of proportion I guess on a number of occasions"
Alvin shrugged, "Eh, we've all got issues, makes us who we are...and makes our group interesting"
Steph laughed and looked up at the sky again, "We won't hold it against you...just don't take any crap out on any of us, or else I'll have to take you down myself"
Alvin snickered, "Careful, he may like that Steph"
Bruno looked at Alvin, frowning, "What the hell's that supposed to mean?"
He could feel himself becoming angry and tried telling himself to calm down.
It was only a joke.
Laugh stupid.
At the very least shrug it off.
Don't start anything; you've just got a free ride to Vegas and you're travelling with rock stars.
Chill.
Alvin looked surprised and positioned himself in case he had to defend himself, "Nothing man, I was just-"
"Bruno, chillax, you're cramping my birthday" Steph interrupted and said coolly, to ease the tension.
She smiled at him.
Bruno looked at her and breathed in deeply, closing his eyes.
For some strange reason Steph had this calming effect on him.
She only needed to say something and he snapped out of his anger rage.
He opened his eyes and lowered his head, muttering, "Sorry Alvin, I...I didn't mean to lose it then"
Alvin raised his beer bottle, "When you're face to face with a psycho who wants to kill you, you develop a bit of a thick skin when people try to challenge you...but seriously, it's cool... just maybe learn to take a joke?"
Bruno gave a sideways smile and nodded, "I'll work on that"
Steph looked at her phone and yawned, "Freakin' A, it's nearly 4:30am...back to bed?"
Alvin stretched and yawned, "Now that you mention it"
"That does sound like a good idea" Bruno added.
Mid yawn, Steph added, "Oh, and if either of you boys decide to wake me up to sing Happy Birthday, I will punch you in the face"
Alvin and Bruno looked at each other and back at Steph and nodded.
She smiled sleepily, "Good. My birthday, I deserve a sleep in"
Then three all clambered down the ladder and quietly tiptoed back into the RV and into their own beds.
"Happy Birthday!"
Steph groaned and muttered to herself, "You've got to be %$# in' kidding me".
"Wake up Steph, happy birthday!"
She could hear a chorus of voices, but buried her head further under the blankets.
Alex reached up and flicked the blanket off, laughing, "Come on sleepy head, get up"
She lifted her head and looked down groggily.
Alex smiled proudly with his arms folded, as Eleanor and Theodore presented a cupcake, "We'll get you a better cake, but this will do for now" Eleanor smiled.
Simon, Jeanette and Brittany stood behind them beaming, "Happy birthday Steph!"
Brittany cheered, "You're finally 18! 'Hot Damn' here we come!"
Steph lifted her fist weakly in the air, and cheered unenthusiastically, "Whoo"
She rubbed her eyes and noticed an equally tired Alvin propping himself against the bench and Bruno leaning bathroom door.
She gave a small smile and realised they must've been woken up and forced to join in with the singing.
She sat up a little more, as Alex quickly pushed her pillow in front of her cleavage, and called out to Alvin and Bruno, "I owe you both a punch in the face" she smiled as the others gave a confused look between them all.
Alvin stifled a yawn behind his hand, "This wasn't my idea, trust me. If this were up to me, we'd all still be happily sleeping away"
Bruno nodded, "I do not even remember the last time I was ever awake at this time"
Steph shifted her body and sat up, "What time is it anyway?"
Simon looked at his watch, "Only 8am"
Steph closed her eyes and groaned, "Oh geez that means I only got 3 and a half hours sleep" she flopped herself backwards, but hit the back of her head on the window, crying out, "OW! %$# , %$# , %$# , OW %$# ING HELL!"
Alex jumped up and patted her on the leg, "Steph, you ok? Babe?"
Jeanette went to the freezer and pulled out an icepack and wrapped it in a tea towel.
Steph sat up, rubbing the back of her head, "Ow, way to start my %$# ing birthday" she kicked her legs a little, like a little kid at the start of a tantrum, "Owee, owee, ow, ow, ow"
Jeanette passed Steph the icepack.
Alex looked back at Alvin and Bruno and then back at Steph, "Why are you three so tired?"
Steph held both hands to her head and pressed the icepack firmly to ease the pain, "Celebratory drinks to ring in my 18th...I did mention I was doing that yesterday...and I said you could join me...but were also exempt if sleep was more important" she gave a quick smile before frowning again in pain.
Alex nodded slightly, "Yeah I remember that you were going to do that" he looked back at Alvin and Bruno, "Why'd you guys get up?"
Bruno shrugged, "I was woken up, and saw Steph leaving the RV, just wanted to see what she was up to, keep an eye on her?"
Steph crooned, "Aww, sweet, you was all worried 'bout me" she laughed a little, as Alex looked at Bruno, who simply rubbed his neck and looked to the ground before folding his arms and breathing in deeply.
Alvin nudged him and whispered, "Keep cool" then addressed the others, "I couldn't sleep, decided to get some fresh air and heard Steph and Bruno chatting on the roof"
Brittany put her hands on her hips, "Why couldn't you sleep for?"
Alvin looked at her blankly, "Reasons I'm not willing to discuss with everyone present" he raised an eyebrow, "Ok?"
Brittany frowned, not understanding.
He shook his head, "I'll let'cha know later" he yawned again and rubbed his eye a little.
There was a silence.
Jeanette smiled and tried to cheer up the mood, "Well, we're heading out to the State Fair today, that'll be fun for your birthday"
Steph nodded and groaned again, still holding her head.
She crawled across the bed and climbed down the ladder, only to be greeted with a big hug from Eleanor, "Yay birthday!"
Steph faked a smile and sat on Bruno's bed, "So where's my birthday breakfast? And coffee? Do I get no coffee?"
Theodore chuckled, "We've got it all ready in our RV; we've set the tables outside all ready to go"
Steph looked at him hopefully, and smiled, "And coffee?"
Alex piped in, "Freshly bought; Simon and I walked down the road and found a little diner and brought coffees back" he looked at Bruno, "We didn't know what you'd like though man" he shrugged a little.
Bruno looked up, "Uh, no it's cool" he yawned again and shook his head, trying desperately to wake himself up more.
Theodore smiled at him, "You can have mine; I'm not that big into coffee"
Bruno nodded and smiled at him, "Thanks Theodore"
Steph stood up, only to stumble and sit back down; Brittany stepped in and held her upright a little "You sure you're ok?"
Steph nodded, "Yeah, just stood up too fast" she breathed in and tried again, managing to stand steady on her feet.
She threw the icepack in the sink and put on a pair of thongs (flip flops), "Show me to the coffee...and the food and sh*t" she stepped outside and yelled out, "I'M 18! $# % YEAH! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! WHOOOOOO!"
Alex shook his head and laughed a little, "And she's awake"
The others followed her out as Alvin and Bruno were left in the RV.
Alvin went to the sink and splashed some water on his face, slapping himself on the cheeks a little, "Wake up, wake up, wake up"
"Does that even work?" Bruno asked
Alvin laughed a little and wiped his face on his shirt, "I have no idea, but I gotta try something"
"Coffee sounds good" Bruno added.
Alvin nodded, "Sure does, c'mon let's go"
Bruno nodded, "I'm just gonna use the...uh" he gestured towards the bathroom.
Alvin nodded again, "Say no more, I'll leave you to it" and he headed outside with the others.
Outside Steph settled into a chair and tucked her legs up next to her and clapped her hands as Eleanor, Theodore and Jeanette brought the food out.
They'd been busy cooking and prepping over in 'Einstien' and had come up with a menu of bacon, eggs, pancakes, sausages, French toast, hash browns and a fruit platter.
Steph's eyes widened at the sight, "Man I am not gonna need to eat like all day"
Brittany smiled, "This is really impressive guys, thanks for doing this"
Simon added, bringing the coffee with Alex to the table, "It was mostly Eleanor and Theo"
Eleanor quickly added, "Jeanette did heaps of prep for us though" she smiled at Jeanette, who blushed a little and smiled back.
Steph grinned, "You guys are awesome; I am the luckiest girl ever to have friends like you, thanks so much, this day is gonna be amazing! I love you all"
"Nawww, she turns 18 and becomes all sentimental and sh*t" Alvin laughed coming round from the RV and hugging Brittany round the waist, leaning on her shoulder.
Steph shook her head at him, laughing, "Hey that was my 18th speech, suck it up, that's all you're getting"
Theodore swept his arm in front of him, "Well dig in everyone, while it's still hot"
Alvin kicked lightly at Steph's butt in the chair, "Birthday girl goes first"
Steph stood up and made a beeline for the coffee.
She cupped her hands round the largest and brought it up to her nose, inhaling deeply, "Ahh the sweet smell of morning"
Bruno came out and stood awkwardly at the edge of the group, until Eleanor smiled at him, "Come on Bruno, you must be starving"
He nodded a little sheepishly, as she smiled again, adding in a motherly tone, "Well, come on, don't be shy"
He stepped forward was tempted to tip the entire plate of bacon alone onto his plate, but restrained himself, still wanting to make a good impression.
These guys had, after all, stopped and were actually going to take him to Vegas with them.
He took a bit of everything and grabbed a coffee, settling on a tree stump.
Simon sat next to him and Theodore next to him as Bruno's stomach rumbled.
Theodore laughed a little, "Been that long since you had a good meal hey?"
Bruno gave an embarrassed smile and clutched at his stomach, "You could say that" he started on the pancakes and found them light and fluffy, practically melting in his mouth, "Wow, these are really good"
Theodore beamed, "Thanks, it's taken me a few months to perfect the batter to the right flavour and consistency"
With everyone finished eating, the dishes all stacked in the dishwasher, and the table folded away, they all sat in a little circle waiting as Steph and a few others finished their coffee (Brittany had given Steph her coffee also as it wasn't a skinny caramel latte).
"So" Simon started, leaning back on the tree stump and turning to Bruno, "What's your story then? I mean how'd you wind up walking along the main freeway?"
Bruno took another sip of coffee and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
He could see all the others eyeing him, waiting for him to respond.
He felt himself getting hot; he really didn't like explaining to people his back story.
It was enough he had to share it with Steph and Alvin.
He coughed and opened his mouth when Steph piped in, "Dad's a jackass, sick of sh*t, leggin' it to Vegas, what more you need to know?"
They all looked at Steph as she stuffed another hash brown in her mouth, "What?"
Bruno gave her an appreciative smile as Steph raised her coffee cup to him and took a sip.
Alex kept his mouth shut, and just smiled when Steph looked over at him.
Brittany put her plate and cutlery on the ground and looked at her stomach, "Ok, now I need to burn some major calories"
Alvin looked over at her and smiled, "You got nothing to worry about, you're still damn hot sexy to me"
She rolled her eyes and stood up, "Hello? This is all going to go straight to my thighs and butt"
Eleanor scowled at her, "Oh shut up Brittany, it will not; you'll still look amazing no matter what crap you put in your mouth"
Brittany twirled her hair on her finger and smiled a little, "Oh yeah, thanks Ellie"
Eleanor shook her head and rolled her eyes at her sister's superficiality.
Simon stood and offered to take empty plates as Bruno helped Jeanette and Alex clear the table.
Eleanor and Theodore had put all the food on disposable plates to make the wash up easier.
Jeanette stood by the sink and washed up while Bruno dried and Simon put things away.
Alex came back out and motioned for Steph to get up; he sat down, with her cuddled on his lap.
It wasn't long before the others came out and joined the group.
Steph felt her phone flicker in her pocket and squirmed on Alex's lap, "Hey careful!" he called.
She pulled it out, squealing excitedly, "It's Cameron!"
She rushed around the other side of the RV and took the phone call.
While she was gone Alvin leant forward, "Ok seriously, anyone got any ideas as to what we get Steph for her birthday?"
Alex smiled to himself, "Should've got her something before you left"
Jeanette enquired, "What did you get Steph, Alex?"
Alex smiled proudly, "I got her a charm bracelet"
The other girls recoiled back and pulled all sorts of faces, "Oooh" as Simon shook his head.
Alex frowned and looked around at them all, "What? What's wrong with that?"
Eleanor shrugged a little, "Giving Steph jewellery is like giving Brittany a $100,000 and free range at the mall; both are gonna disappear in less than a day"
Alex slumped in his chair, "Oh %$ # now I'm stuck in the same boat as you guys"
Brittany tried to reassure him, albeit sarcastically, "It's a big enough boat"
Alvin listened to hear Steph's conversation, and turned back to the group, "Ok, so we're all now back on the page of what the hell do we get Steph?"
Brittany reminded him, "She wants a sparkly cowgirl hat"
Simon smirked, "Great a sparkly cowgirl ha from the lot of us?"
Jeanette made a suggestion, "What about us girls offer to take her for a shopping spree and a full day of pampering?"
Brittany beamed, "Now that's an idea I like"
Eleanor shook her head a little, "Only 'cause you get to do all that too"
Alvin shook his head, "Yeah that still leaves us guys in the deep end"
Theodore thought, "What about that club she wants to go to? I heard they have private function rooms, what if we booked one and hired, maybe karaoke or something?"
Alvin nodded, "Actually that's not half bad, Theo"
Theodore beamed; it was rare Alvin liked any of his ideas, let alone agreed with one.
Alvin clasped his hands together, "Ok, so we're set on booking a room at 'Hot Damn'? And we'll just make today freakin' awesome"
The others nodded as Alex added quietly, "Lucky I got my back up present"
Alvin smiled a little and shook his head, laughing.
Bruno coughed.
The others turned to him, "Yeah I'm only 17, I don't think I'll be able to get into that club"
Alvin tapped his leg a bit, then snapped his head up, "Oh, what if we get Steph to sneak you in?"
"No way!" Alex said, stamping his authority.
Alvin laughed, "Why not? She'd love it, it's her birthday after all"
Alex folded his arms and raised his eyebrows, "No %$# ing way Alvin"
Alvin sighed, "Fine" he turned to Bruno, "We'll think of a way, you're getting in to that club, don't worry, we got'cha back"
Bruno smiled and lifted his hand in recognition, "Thanks"
At that moment Steph bounded back around and plonked herself on Alex's lap, "Oh I miss my Cameron" she wiped her eyes and beamed, "Ok so we ready to go then? Off to the State Fair?"
Brittany laughed, "You might at least wanna get out of your PJs"
Steph stood up and laughed, "Oh right. OK, gimme 10 and it's off we go!"