Masquerade – Part 4
"Oh, dear god! Mary Cherry, are there any crabs left in the tank!?" Nicole asked as she sat back down at the table and noticed the mountain of broken crab leg shells.
"Probably, but I can't eat all the crabs Nic! I tried, but I'm just to full now!" Mary Cherry replied completely missing the sarcasm in Nicole's voice and actually taking it as an insult. After all if she could have finished all the crabs in the tank, she would have.
"Right, of course," Nic said rolling her eyes at her friend. "Where's my soup?" Nicole asked when she noticed it's absence, thinking that Mary Cherry might have actually eaten it to help wash down all of the crab.
"Oh, the waitress took it back. She said she'd just bring you some fresh soup out when you came out of the bathroom… WHAT took you so long!? Did you..." Marry Cherry started then finished in a whisper...a loud whisper, "take to many laxatives like I did that one time?"
"Umm no. I didn't," Nic said looking at the old lady beside her and shaking her head to deny the claims to her as well.
"Because its ok if you did. But anyway Nic. I'm full and its time for a nap. Can you get your soup to go?"
"Yeah, sure MC, let me just tell the waitress to bring my soup to go and the check."
"Oh don't worry about the check Nic, I got it!"
"Believe me, I know. I may be rich; but the amount of crab you ate today...just no. This bill is yours."
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"Wow Sam, you're alive! I thought you died or something!" Carmen laughed.
"Nah, I knew you were alive Sam. I told Carm you most likely just fell into the toilet. So I'm guessing Nic is the one who saved you from the evil toilet monster?" Lily said joining Carmen in laughing.
"Oh ha ha, you two! Sooo funny!"
"We know," they said together.
"So what happened in there? And don't say "nothing" because you haven't smiled like that since you found out you got a full journalism scholarship to NYU." Lily said starting the questioning.
Knowing there really was no point in trying to hold out with the info, Sam started with... "Well you were right about Nicole being the one I was in love with all during High School. But what you didn't know was that she asked me out at Graduation..."
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"OhMyGod, as weird as it is finding out you and Satan had a love affair that lasted about 5 hours. I feel guilty about the way it ended." Lily said as they drove back to the Palace to drop Sam off.
"Yeah, I know. I mean that sucks. If we hadn't told Brooke she was a shoe in with you she never would have been so overly confident." Carmen added.
"After her talk with us at Graduation she probably thought she was God's gift to you or something." Lily confirmed with Carmen's statement. Neither realizing that they had not yet admitted to being the ones to telling Brooke Sam loved her.
"Oh God guys I knew it! You two really have to stop trying to be mini Sherlock Holmes and Son. I could have lost Nic for good and neither one of us would have found out the truth about that night." Sam groaned.
"Sam we are really sorry, you know." Carmen tried to helpfully add.
"And think of it this way. We're the ones who took you to Red Lobster," Lily continued with the beginnings of a smile in her voice.
"So technically," Carmen started with a full on grin, "we also got you two back together."
"But don't worry Sam. You don't have to say thank you. Your smile is thanks enough." Lily and Carmen both started laughing while Carmen patted Sam on the shoulder.
Sam just rolled her eyes and joined in their laughter as well. "Yeah, yeah. Thank you two SO much for ruining things and unintentionally making it better again"
Together Lily and Carmen both shouted, "You're welcome!"
"Now get out of my car. I have to drop Carmen off then go to work," Lily said while trying to keep a straight face.
"Alright, I'll talk to you two later." Sam said as she got out of the car.
"Bye SAM!" Carmen yelled out the window as they drove away.
Sam watched Carmen and Lily drive away with a smile on her face. She really did love those two. They were like sisters to her. Speaking of sisters Sam's smile quickly turned into a slight frown... Sam remembered she left a slightly pissed step sister in the house earlier. 'Ok so when facing the lion's den, the best course of action is to just get it over with. `Wait,' Sam thought, 'Why am I equating facing Brooke to facing Lions? I'm the one that should be pissed! And you know what? I am! I'm going to go right in the house and tell her off using all the words you learn in journalist boot camp to confuse dumb bottle blondes. Oh yes... I'm gonna...' Sam's internal rant was cut off by the front door suddenly opening before she had a chance to knock.
"Mom?"
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"Hey Dave has Mallory showed up yet? I would hate to have to fire that girl, she reminds me of me at her age." Nicole said as she walked into her cafe.
"Yeah she came in about five minutes before you did Mistress but she doesn't look to good. She should be in the back changing though." He said while making a blended coffee for one of the costumers.
"Right ok, I'll go see what's up with her. Have you taken your break yet today, because if you haven't I want you to take off after you finish the last costumer in line."
"Ok....... I'd ask why, but I don't see the need to look a gift panther in the mouth."
Nic raised her eyebrow at that, "Isn't the saying Gift Horse?"
"Yes, yes it is. However, you are far too sleek and beautiful to be a horse." He said smirking.
Slowly Nic lowered her eyebrow before saying, "Yeah… you're right." This caused Dave to burst out laughing at his Mistress' lack of modesty
***
As Nicole entered the room where her employees changed she saw Mallory. Who by the smell and looks of things was getting high. This of course, pissed Nic off completely. She didn't give a damn what people did in their own homes, but NO ONE was coming to her place with their problems. "Heya Mallory, having fun stinking up my employees lounge?"
Being startled and well on her way passed buzzed she was definitely not prepared for her pissed off boss and dropped the blunt in her lap." Shit! shit! I mean...shit. Its not what it looks like?" Mallory finished lamely.
"Riiiight...So what I'm seeing in front of me ISN'T you getting high in the employee lounge after coming to work about, oooh.... 3 hours late? Which by the way, will most likely result in you being fired." Nicole looked at the girl much like she looked at people who got in her way when she was still at Kennedy High she knew the girl wouldn't dare lie to her.
"Ok... So, it is what it looks like but come on! It's not that big of a deal! I mean you're what? 19? You can't tell me you never experimented. And I'm not 3 hours late! Can't you just...you know give me a second chance or somethin?"
Nicole looked at the girl that was obviously trying to pout, but in her current state just looked rather...Pathetic, which only served to piss her off further. However, logically she knew she couldn't fire the girl right away, because then she'd have to work her shift. "Ok, one." Nic said holding up her freshly manicured index finger. "I'm 21 years old. Two," she said, adding her middle finger, "You're right, your about 3 and a half hours late. And lastly three," Nicole now added her ring finger, "I'm not going to fire you right now. Also, because you decided to show up so late you are working until closing tonight. So, go get a double shot of espresso and work the counter"
Being completely shocked by the fact that she didn't get fired the girl rushed and hugged Nicole, "Thank you thank you!"
Nic however, was not impressed. She said she wasn't going to fire the girl now... What she didn't say was that she would refrain from firing her after her shift was finished... Nicole, after all had a business to run. And the last thing she needed was for a cop or the health inspector to come and see any of her workers anything less then completely sober. Sighing she went to her office and picked up her phone.
"Dave hey. How do you feel about working a shift and a half tomorrow?.....Yep…She was high, Dave of course I fired her.....No its ok you don't have to take her whole shift. I'll work some, and the chick that usually works after her can work half... It's only for tomorrow. People practically beg for a job here so I know I'll have her replacement soon enough.... Thanks....Alright later."
'Ok....' Nic thought, 'time to start reviewing applications...again....God this is the boring part of owning a cyber café/club that also happened to be one of the most popular hang out points for college students, rich kids, the queer and the questioning.'
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"Sam is there a reason you've been standing on the porch for the past five minutes?" Jane said with a smirk looking at her first born.
"I! umm... Is Brooke home!?" Sam asked while trying to remain pissed and hyped for a Journalist bitch slap to Brooke.
"No Sam she's not. I think she had some things to do before the party dance thing on Saturday."
"Oh..." Sam said, loosing all the fight she had....which hadn't been much to begin with since it's hard staying angry when you're so damn happy.
Jane just laughed at her daughter. She knew something had happened between Brooke and Sam before Sam left for New York after graduation. However, the absolute look of relief on Sam's face when she told her Brooke wasn't home was just hilarious. "Come on in sweetie, Mac has been looking forward to her 'Mantha' since she found out you were home from Brooke."
"Yeah? Where is my mini me?" Sam asked, walking behind her mom completely forgetting about Brooke.
"In the kitchen and I took the liberty of putting your bags in your room, Samantha" Jane said giving her daughter the 'mom look'.
"I know I know, sorry mom." She said as she entered the kitchen. She then saw her little sister, picked her up and swung her around. "HEY MINI ME!"
"Mantha! I got doll!" The three year old then showed her brand new blonde haired, blue-eyed doll to her big sister.
"Awww she's cute Mac, who gave her to you and what's her name?" Sam asked while sitting in the chair Mac had been sitting in while putting her sister in her lap.
"Bwooke gave to me. I named her MANTHA!" At this Sam looked at her mom and did her best not to burst out laughing. As it was Jane was hiding her laugh behind her hand. Brooke had been trying to become Mackenzie's favorite sister since she was born.....Things just weren't working out for her.
"Aww you named her after me Mac? I have to buy you some candy tomorrow for that."
Mac gasped and her eyes lit up, "Pwomise!? candy!"
At the same time Jane said "Don't you dare supply her with more candy Samantha Christine McPherson!"
Sam just winked at her mom and said, "I promise, Oooh sorry mom. I already promised, right Mini me?"
"RIGHT! Down Mantha, want to go play." After Sam put the little one down she was off, running out of the kitchen with Jane hot on her heels...
"Mackenzie Renee McQueen! Get back to this table and eat your peas!"
::ring::ring:::
"Aww mom don't be mean, peas are gross. RUN MINI ME!" Sam laughs and picks up the cordless phone as she watches her little sister try to run upstairs. "Hello?"
"Hey ho, miss me yet?" A smoky voice asked through the phone.
"Hey sex beast and nope I don't miss you at all. I've kind of been enjoying the quiet that comes with a Faith free zone."
"Well Sam had you accepted my offer when we first became roommates I could have been using my mouth for other more FUN activities" Faith said while dropping her tone ever so slightly.
Hearing that tone had Sam quickly revisiting her list of reasons for turning Faith down, because the girl's voice just dropped had her struggling to remember… Oh yeah, Nic "You're a bitch Faith, I hope Ken makes you sleep on the couch for that."
Faith just laughed. "Aww Sammy what's wrong? Regret turning me down? Because... I have it on good authority that Ken thinks your lips are sexy, and I could share....OW! Ken! What was that for!?"
"I'm sorry Sam." Kennedy says after taking the phone from Faith.
"For what?" Sam laughed.
"For having to live with my girlfriend. I know she's a pain in the ass at times and by at times I mean all the time" Kennedy said laughing as well.
"Oh ok I forgive you, because she's definitely a pain." Sam said knowing full well that Kennedy had given the phone back to Faith.
"Oh I see how you are Sam! Talk bad about ME to my girlfriend. Just remember, I'm going to have to meet 'her' sometime." Faith tried to threaten darkly, but ended up laughing. "Speaking of her, have you talked to her yet?"
"Well...maybe" Sam smirked even though she knew Faith couldn't see her do it.
"So that's a yes. Details! How did she look? Was she still hot? Did you introduce her to your hand yet??"
"God Faith!!" Sam said while starting to head to her room and laughing at the typical Faith questions she was just asked.
"Well?" Faith said.
"Well, hold on. I don't want to talk about it till I get to my room"
"Ooooh...Don't want 'the most gorgeously jealous kind of ex girl' to hear about the new girl?" Faith asked laughing at her use of No Doubt lyrics.
"Ok one: I never dated Brooke, she kissed me....and it wasn't even a good kiss. She was all slobber. I thought I was going to drown if I didn't suffocate first. Two: I'm throwing that Return of Saturn cd away as soon we get back to New York. And three Nic is the ONLY girl" Sam sighed while locking the door.
"Riiight...Sappy much Sam?" Faith smirked.
"I don't know, let me compare myself to you when you realized you were in love with Kennedy....THEN we can see who the pathetic sap between us two is." Sam laughed while hearing Kennedy laugh through the phone.
"Yeah yeah. So what's the what? Tell me what happened when you met her or whatever."
"Well it all started after Lily and Carmen picked me up from the airport. Just my luck when they took me home to drop off my suitcases Brooke was there...waiting...like a vulture."
"Haha, Sam you need help. I've seen pictures of this chick, I could break her with my pinky and you're like....afraid of her." Faith laughed.
"I'm not afraid! I'd just rather not have to deal with her...ever...Anyway. Carmen invited her out to eat with us, but I didn't want her to go. Brooke saw the look on my face and made some crap excuse and declined."
"Aww poor girl. She gets invited to hang and you're over there givin her the evil eye." Faith again interrupted while laughing.
"Riight... one: It wasn't the evil eye....More the abject horror eye. And two...Stop interrupting me, damn." Sam complained.
"Ok ok, finish when did you run into Nic?"
"Ok after Brooke decided not to go with us, we just left. So we went to Red Lobster and while we were getting seated I saw her. And Faith, she was so fucking hot! Haha. God..." Sam said just remembering how she felt when she first saw Nicole again.
"...And then? How did she look!? Jesus, and you want to be a journalist?"
"Shut up, I was reflecting. Anyway...God, ok. So her hair was longer but kinda still the same. I mean, you remember the picture of her I showed you right? Well you know how her hair had that just got out of bed look?"
"Actually I thought it was more of a just fucked look myself... "
"Well, yeah that too....But anyway, her hair still has the just fucked look but it's almost shoulder length. It reminds me of that whole rock star chic look. She had these tight hip hugger jeans on...that I'm sure cost like way to much money but was well spent for her since it 'hugged' all the right places perfectly. With heels, that I'm sure were Prada with a white shirt and a dark almost black purple blazer that was short enough to show a then line of stomach above the top of her jeans..." Sam could feel heat start to find its way south just thinking about Nic.
"Ok, nice mental...now get to the you and her talking part. I mean it did happen right?"
"Yeah it happened. So I guess I was just sort of staring at her because Lily and Carmen started nagging me. But when I saw her get up to go to the bathroom, I followed her..." Sam started but was interrupted by Faith...again..
"Stalker!"
"FAITH! I thought you wanted to hear the story!?"
"Ok ok damn....I guess it's safe to say you didn't get any yet.....So continue the story Mother Goose"
"Faith...." Sam started to argue with Faith, but gave up knowing she could never beat her crazy roommate. It was as she shook her head that she realized that Faith and Nic could never be left alone with each other....."Whatever, so I saw her in the bathroom and..."
TBC