"Mistress, what time does Lindsay come in today?" Dave asked, while he and another guy were wiping of tables that were just vacated.
"Why? You two tired already? We haven't even had our evening rush yet." Nic said with a smirk from behind the counter where she was filing her nails.
"Exactly, we just want to make sure she's here by then. Because I swear if you leave us alone for that I'm quitting." Dave pauses for a moment and see's Nic's raised eyebrow. "Ok so I wont quit, but I'll be the bitchiest gay guy in the world for the rest of the day."
"Yeah, Yeah." Nic said as she noticed a rather tall guy walk in her Lair. Watching him as she approached the counter she had one thought, `I wonder what store he cleaned out of hair products to do his hair this morning. Over kill much?' Paying attention again she realized the guy was now at the counter.
"Hi, I'm Dominic." he said in a voice he knew got all the ladies.
"..."
"Did you hear me? I said I was Dominic." To say he wasn't used to being blatantly ignored would be true and maybe a bit of an understatement.
"Oh I heard you. And I know why your hear. Unfortunately for you. I don't care. You see it's now..." Nic paused at look at her watch, "3:30 pm. Your interview was over three hours ago. And while I'm sure you desperately needed all that time just to put all that crap in your hair, I just don't care. In the time it took you to play with your hair, I have interviewed and hired someone else. Tough luck. Now unless you want to use one of the computers, buy something, or just admire the greatness that is my lair, you should go. Don't want your hair gel dripping all over the floor." With that Nic turned around and went to her office.
"Wait! I.."
After giving `the Dom' a quick look over Dave was completely glad that the guy missed his interview. "Dude, give it up. Once your dismissed that's the end. There's nothing you can say and not enough money in the world for her to even care your alive at this point. So don't even bother with stupid ass excuses either. You might as well go try Starbucks or something, because the Mistress has spoken." Dave then told Chris, the guy he was cleaning tables with, to take over since he was going to hold the counter till Lindsay came in.
As for the Dom, after getting over his shock of being so freely dismissed, he said "Whatever." And left.
"Dave, check it out..." Chris said, eyeing up a group of about ten hot girls entering the Lair.
Dave saw the impending crowd and groaned "Where the hell is LINDSAY!? The rush is already starting and with a group of girls no less"
Laughing, Chris says, "Hey man I can appreciate those girls and since I don't feel like hearing your 'woe is me i'm single gay boy' lament today... Let's switch. You finish the tables and I'll get the chicks."
"Deal," Dave said walking over to the last one of two tables that needed to be wiped off.
"Hello ladies and welcome to Satan's Lair. Is there anything I could do for such a lovely group?" Chris smirked as they all started to giggle and talk amongst themselves.
Finally the tallest one was deemed the spokesperson and said, "We all want Tropical Ice Tea's. And also could we use one of the computer's? We're trying to figure out where we should party tonight."
"Alright that's 10 T.I.T's, but if you're looking for a hot place to party you might as well come back here." Chris said as he started getting the drinks.
"Isn't this a cafe?" said one of the girls.
"During the day, at night there's a dj the tables in the center of the room are cleared and there's a dance floor. You ladies should seriously come back, after all,
I'll be there."
Hearing the end of Chris' pick-up Dave rolled his eyes. "Lindsay, I swear to God, if you're not here in like 5 minutes I am never talking to you again!" He muttered, while standing up after finishing the last table, and coming face to face with Lindsay.
"Well Poof, I guess it's a good thing I was already here then, huh? But what's with the mini tantrum you're throwing? Did you miss me?? That's SO cute Poof!" Lindsay said with a smirk.
"Shut up, Breeder. Go take over the counter so Chris will finish the drinks those girls ordered or you'll be forced to listen to his clumsy attempts at flirting as well." Dave said crossing his arms over his chest.
Lindsay cringed, remembering how Chris practically stalked her when she first started working at the Lair in his quest to 'flirt' with her. "Oh God, how long has he been at it?"
"Long." Was the only word Dave said, yet managed to convey his displeasure completely at being forced to listen to it.
They both cringed.
-----
Harrison whimpered while looking at the receipt again. "I can not believe, you made me spend four hundred AND ninety three dollars, SAM!"
"Oh please Harrison, you said you wanted to spend 500 dollars, I saved you seven dollars. You should be thanking me." Sam said, trying not to laugh at Harrison's face full of unhappy emotions. "Cheer UP! Harrison! You can't be all depressing while we shop for Mac's candy. It's bad luck or something. "
"Well maybe you shouldn't have let me spend so much money Sam." Harrison said pouting now.
"Aww, does Harrison want a sucker? I'll buy you one! Now suck it up, you have a job now. I'm sure you'll get paid soon. You might even demand that your boss reimburse you for the money you spent on your work clothes."
This time Harrison rolled his eyes thinking, 'Yeah right. My luck Satan would just dock my pay for not already owning 'acceptable' clothing.' "So what kind of candy does little Mackenzie like?"
"Everything."
"So what are we getting her?"
"A little bit of EVERYTHING." Sam laughed.
"Oh god, Mac is going to be worse then Nicole in High School. She's going to be completely spoiled."
"Hey now! My little sister may be well on her way to being completely spoiled and Nic might have been a bitch and spoiled in High School...but whatever your gay." Sam said after coming up blank for a good finish.
Laughing Harrison said, "So are you Sam."
"So?" Sam said, raising an eyebrow.
"Nothing, I still remember you socking me when I was little. Let's go get that candy." Harrison said while entering The Sweet Factory.
"Harrison I barely tapped you. And we were playing TAG!"
"Whatever, so how much money are we planning on spending in this candy store Sam?"
Looking around the shop and already filling up one candy bag with Jelly Belly Beans, Sam pauses and says, "Well I was thinking about getting her 5 pounds of candy, so however much that costs."
"Sam, why do you want your sister to be in Dentist hell the next time she goes for a check up?"
"Harrison, Candy is a necessary part of childhood. Stop trying to deny my sister this."
"Whatever, you say Sam. Besides, I kinda feel bad for the mini you. I mean, she IS stuck with Brooke right now..."
******
"Hey... Mac what are you doing? Sweetie?" Brooke asks as she enters Mac's bedroom intent on trying to figure out ways to become Mac's favorite sister.
Laying on the bed, Mac looks up from her piece of paper and says, "Drawing a picture for 'Mantha." Then goes back to coloring, once again paying attention solely to her drawing.
Mildly irritated, Brooke says in her fake 'cheerleader voice', "Aww that's great Mac, but how about we give your doll Mantha a make over!!"
Looking between her doll Mantha, her drawing and Brooke, Mac says, "But, what about my drawing for 'Mantha?"
Seeing this as the perfect chance to get Mac to see that her 'Mantha' was supposed to be named 'Brooke' "Well don't you want to make your doll Mantha, pretty?"
Looking confused, Mac looks at her 'Mantha and asks, "She's not pretty already?"
Backtracking a bit, Brooke says, "Well yes, but we can make her even prettier!"
Smiling Mac says, "Pretty like my real Mantha?"
"Even prettier" Brooke says, trying to win over her little sister. Then decides she was pushing it when she saw Mac's smile start to slip when she suggested she could make the doll prettier then Sam. "I mean, yep. Pretty like Sam!" When Brooke saw Mac's smile come back in full force she had to fight not to role her eyes.
"Ok! I'll finish her picture later then!" Mac says, scrambling off of her bed and putting the picture away were it wouldn't get bothered.
*****
"Mistress it's 4:10! Don't you have a family dinner to ruin that you need to get prepared for?!"Chris yelled from his spot behind the counter to Nicole's open office door.
Rolling her eyes and walking out of her office with her pink Juicy purse Nicole says, "Yes, Chris and might I add... Gossiping with Dave is not becoming. He will turn you when you're not paying attention and before you know it, you'll be talking about Cher."
Causing Lindsay and Dave to burst out laughing from the tables they were currently wiping down. "Ok, guys you know the deal. Clear the tables, get the computers ready, make sure that Bella's on time...Hey Linds maybe that can be your job. Why don't you call her?" Nic said smirking causing the guys to laugh.
"Yeah Lindsay, you know our resident dj is in lust.. I mean love with you." Chris added, while Dave swatted her with the towel he was using to dry the tables.
Looking up and sneering at all three of them Lindsay says, "You know what? I hate all of you." While turning around and walking to the back.
"Aww, you know we love you! Bella just.. Loves you more!" Dave said, causing them all to laugh again.
"Alright, so since we know she's definitely not calling Bella tonight, Dave I want you to make sure she's here. Even if you have to go to her house and drag her out of it. I want the Lair in full swing by the time I come back."
"And that would be..." Chris asked.
"When I do. Later guys. Tell Lindsay I'm leaving." Nic said walking out to her car.
Approaching her car, Nicole took the remote and spoke into it. "Car on." Hearing the tell tale, signs of the engine starting up and the doors unlocking, Nic looked at her car lovingly and said, "I fucking love this car." As soon as she got in the car one of the cd's in her cd changer started playing...
:waky waky, rise and shine it's on again off again on again::
Looking at her watch Nic mentally calculated the time, '4:30, just enough time to go home, change and be at the Palace by 6.'
******
"Harrison, it's..." Sam paused to look at her phone in frustration, "5 o'clock! Nic is supposed to be at the Palace at 6 and where are we? STILL ON THE FREEWAY!" She finished, now tapping her foot and looking out the window.
Chancing a glance at Sam while still trying to keep his eyes on the road Harrison tries not to laugh at Sam. "Right then, nervous?"
"What? No! I just... We're going to be late! Why you insisted on going to the South Bay Galleria Mall when you know the 110 and 105 freeways are practically gridlocked at this time of day is beyond me! If Nic gets there before me. I'm never talking to you again." Sam said, glancing at the speedometer and seeing that they were now going twenty five mph.
"Hey! I'm a GUY Sam. When are you going to realize that?" Harrison tried to joke to lighten Sam's mood a bit. "Now seriously, how nervous are you?"
Smiling slightly, while still sending a weak glare at Harrison Sam sighs and says,
"Nervous enough to not want to make it worse by talking about how nervous I am."
Smiling Harrison just nodded glanced at Sam and decided an ungracefull change of subject would be needed. "So Carmen and George? How long have they been a 'they'?"
"Are you serious?" Sam asked looking at Harrison like he was slightly crazy.
"What? I mean, jock George and our Carmen? I didn't see that coming."
Rolling her eyes and laughing, "Yeah because we all saw Lily and Josh getting married way before it happened."
"Yeah yeah, but what I mean is.. Well the last I remember of George he was trying to get you to realize that he would be the perfect guy for you to... start going steady with"
Harrison said laughing, earning him a light shove in the arm.
"Well obviously it was after that then and you need to never bring up the fact that George wanted to be with me before he got with Carmen, in front of Carmen."
"Why not?"
Shaking her head, Sam just said, ""It's a good thing your gay Harrison, because you have no clue when it comes to women. But anyway back to Carmen and George, after I finally broke down and told George I was never going to be interested in him.."
Laughing, Harrison interrupts Sam, "Wait! What did you say to him!?"
"I told him I hated men and it was your fault. Can I finish?" Sam said slightly sarcastically.
"Sure you can" Harrison said grinning.
"Right, so the whole time George was chasing me, Carmen was harboring her own little crush on him. So after I finally let him down as gently as possible with out hurting his pride to much...Carmen was there to console him. During that, they just kind of hit it off, I guess. They've been dating ever since." Sam finished with a slight grin thinking about how happy Carmen's been since getting with George.
Harrison on the other hand, was still only a guy..."So they've been together for a while now. Why am I just finding this out?"
Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Sam just laughs and turns on Harrison's radio.
::With eight seconds left in overtime 
She's on your mind....::
******
After going home and changing clothes, Nicole pulled into the Palace's driveway and parked. Nic knew she was early with out even glancing at her dashboard. So she decided to just sit and mentally prepare herself to officially meet the parents and deal with a certain blonde back stabbing ex-best friend at the family dinner she agreed to attend. Thinking about the reason she was subjecting herself to this dinner from hell, caused a semi smile to form on Nicole's face. 'The things I do for love...'