Disclaimer: The song "Hold On" belongs to the band Hot Chip. I'm just using it for atmosphere.
The Masquerade - Part 20
Being the only one to not go to Kennedy High at the table, Dave was oblivious to the fact that Sam and Nic most definitely shouldn't have come to the reunion together and at the very least, shouldn't be sitting so next to each other as they currently were with out starting a `who hates who more' argument. So, he did what he always did in times of quiet, he started the conversation. "SAM! How`s my favorite extra to the movie that is Satan's Lair!? "
Sam, who had been taking everyone at the table in, snapped her eyes back to Dave. However, just as she was about to reply, she was cut off by a very excited Carmen who was sitting next to her boyfriend George.
"Oh my god you got a summer job at Satan`s Lair?! I heard that place is like, crazy exclusive and it`s impossible to get into at night because the line is always crazy long! Not to mention that it`s like in everyone's top ten lists of `Places to party in LA' list despite only having been open for 2 years! So how is it and when aren`t you working, because me thinks we should all get together there!"
By the end of Carmen's excited and enthusiastic rant, Nic was smirking. Dave was smirking. And once again, Sam and Harrison were looking embarrassed. Though, Sam's embarrassment was tempered by her pride for her girlfriend.
However, once again before she could reply she was cut off! Which, ok was starting to get a little annoying.
Still smirking Dave asked in a dry tone, "Mistress are all the people you went to high school with this clueless or are you only showing me these, because you know much I like a good laugh?"
"Dave seriously. not cool. The only person you`re allowed to openly mock is Brooke and she`s not here." Sam said, in defense of her friend. Even though, in retrospect. Once you knew who owned the club, it did seem rather obvious.
"That`s right Dave, I`ve got seniority here. Therefore all mocking privileges are mine." Nic finished with a small feral grin, which quickly dropped and turned into a scowl when she got elbowed again. Shooting a look at Sam Nic warned, "Elbow me again and I'm telling Dave about all those cute little stories from your younger years. "
This time, it was Sam's turn to smirk. "Tell anyone anything and I`m taking the crown back."
"Take the crown back and I`m taking the light saber back!" Was the reply Nicole instantly snapped back with a glare. Because really, who takes away a girl's crown away?
"Take the..." Sam started her retort and was once again cut off. However, this interruption got a prompt glare from both Sam and Nic.
"So uhh... Am I the only one lost here?' Josh asked. After looking between Sam and Nicole, then letting his questioning gaze float around the table for reassurance.
George, always the one for team loyalty was the first to reply. "Nah, I`m pretty lost here too. I mean, what does any of this have to do with Sam working at Satan's Lair. And dude, Dave is it? Don't talk about my girl, alright?"
Dave for his part was unaffected by George's attempt at intimidation and decided to once again, be the one to explain. "Simmer down, Othello I was just kidding. And before you get those undoubtedly manly boxer`s in a twist, I was kidding about the Othello remark as well. Anyway....Sam is not working at Satan`s Lair. Harrison, on the other hand is. We just got him all hired up yesterday. And yes, the Lair is hard to get into if you come late but not at all exclusive. However, the quickest way to get into the Lair no matter who you are and how early you get there is to be on the list of Minions."
"List of Minions?" Came the question from Josh, Harrison and Carmen.
"What is that? And are you like the owner or something? I mean you seem to know a lot about the club." This time the question came from Josh.
Nicole, however, tired of the constant circling everyone was doing with out coming any closer to the truth decided to put them all out of their misery.
"Dave doesn`t own the club, but he is my best friend and unofficial right hand man there. I, on the other hand... Well, didn`t you all call me Satan? And `The List of Minions' is nothing more then Dave`s over dramatic way of saying guest list."
George being the first to get his shock under control, was also the first to voice his incredulity. Looking Nic right in the eye as if his intense and slightly buzzed gaze would invoke the truth he asked what they all were thinking, "You own the Satan`s Lair?"
Seeing the looks she was getting from Josh, Carmen, George and Lily; Nic couldn't help the slightly defensive tone when she replied. "And why is that so hard to believe?"
This time it was Carmen that took a stab and articulating just why, Nic owning the hottest place in LA seemed unbelievable to them, despite its name.
"Well, I mean, you`re Satan!" Pausing, she continued, "And ok yeah, the name makes a LOT more sense now. But really? We all kind of just assumed that after graduation, the extent of your work week would consist of making your helps lives miserable while you lived in the lap of luxury as a spoiled rich snob..." Carmen finished trailing off at the end with a shrug, while looking at George and Josh as if to confirm she wasn't the only one to who have felt that way.
After Carmen finished the table was unusually quiet. Especially considering they were on the roof of a hotel with at leas 90% of their graduating class dancing around them.
Dave was for the first time in a while struck for words. Sam however, wasn't.
"Wow, Carmen blunt much?" She asked, uncomfortable in the knowledge that those words hurt Nic even if she wouldn't show it. After a moments thought she amended her previous though to, ESPECIALLY since she wouldn't show it, as she saw Nic rolling her eyes in time with Carmen.
Once again Carmen was first to reply, "Oh please Sam! This is NIC were talking about! SATAN! Have you forgotten some of the things she used to say to us since you two started dating?!"
And Nic who had been waiting to reaffirm her `devil may care what the little people think' attitude quickly choked off her reply. Quickly going over the interactions she Sam had engaged in since they parked the car and instantly realized they hadn't got around to telling the guys. Leaning back in her seat from the prone position she had been in, she couldn't help the smirk that was slowly creeping across her face. Pleased in the knowledge, that someone was going to choke.
Simultaneously, three shouts and a drunken exclamation were heard from there table and immediate surroundings.
"YOU'RE GAY!?" George choked out while looking at Sam wondering if this was a recent development or if he had actually heavily pursued a girl who had absolutely zero interest in him.
"YOU`RE DATING SAM!" Josh asked in shocked horror. As the only thing he could wrap his mind around was the single question, Was I that bad?
"AWW! Sammy I knew you could do it! And you were worried about Brooke!"
This shout, from Lily was actually less of a shout and more Lily not fully realizing just how loud she was talking due to her inebriated state.
Lastly, from in front of the group's booth where Sugar Daddy had been about to make his presence known before the outbursts, Big D ended the string of shouts with... "DAMN tha's HOT! hic-Sam man if I knew..."
But of course it's true all good things must come to an end. And if anything could end Nicole's enjoyment of everyone's shocked expressions and outbursts, it would be Sugar Daddy lusting after Sam. Muttering under her breath, just loud enough for Sam to hear Nic swore and said "Were getting that tattoo tonight!"
With a quick smile, Sam kissed the pout or as Nic would call it... the displeased frown ... before looking across at the still slightly confused faces of Josh and George.
"Yes I`m gay. Yes I was at Kennedy. Yes that`s why I wouldn`t date you." Here Sam paused to give Carmen a look, "Well that and the knowledge that I knew one of my best friends had a hopeless crush on you. And finally yes, Satan and I are dating. No we weren`t dating at school. But hell yeah I would have if I thought I had a chance!" And this time it's Sam who's sports a smirk that she aims halfway through it's presence at Nic who quirked an eyebrow and grinned her approval at Sam.
After a few minutes of a slightly charged by shock silence, conversations started to slowly start among them. As if now that the last twenty or so minutes had happened, they could all just move on.
And that would have worked. But after Sam had so thoroughly explained everything, Josh still had one question that absolutely HAD to be answered by Nic if he wanted to be able to look himself in the mirror again. So he cleared his throat for attention.
Then he did it again.
Seeing that while he got a few glances from a few people he was still being ignored by Nicole, he tried again. And ended up choking.
Finally, Nic turned to so that she was fully facing Josh and addressed him. "Now that you`re done attempting to imitate a dying dog, what do you want Josh."
Blushing a little from the intense stare and the question he was about to ask, Josh had both Dave and Nicole biting back smurf jokes and trying not to laugh.
Biting the bullet Josh finally just rushed the question out of his mouth. "Did I, uh...You know, make you gay? Like, you know, I wasn`t bad or anything right?!"
Hearing his Dave immediately lost his battle with his laughter and Nic's face was taking on quite the warm tones in her struggle for control. However, the devious and huge smirk that was now covering her face was not to be missed. Sam, taking pity on Josh gave Nic's ribs a quick shove with her elbow. The expression on her face clearly saying, `Be nice!'
So with a chuckle that clearly came from the bottom of her stomach, Nic gave Josh an answer. "Sorry Josh. It really WAS just a way to get back at Brooke."
Seeing the hurt look on his face, Nic decided to spare him a little. "And I may have been trying to figure out whether guys would do it for me at all... But hey! On the bright side, you`re still married to Lily! So obviously you`re not complete trash in bed. I`m sure this is one of the only cases in the world were the trite saying of `It's not you, it's me' actually applies."
Hearing this, both Josh and George sat and contemplated. Neither completely realizing that they were still the only two who where completely floored by the revelation. They were only broken out of their stupor by a less then pleased Brooke, who was wearing a long white evening gown.
--
Everyone at the table watched as the look of displeasure that was on Brooke's face when she came to the table quickly melted away into one of overt happiness. Though quickly flashed into annoyance when Dave was the first one to greet her in his own way.
"Hey Pixie! I see you were trying for faerie tonight! Or is it rather, Faerie of the Pixies? Or should that simply be put together as Pixie Faerie? Mistress?" Dave ended with a look of mock confusion directed at Nicole.
"Hmm... I'm sure Pixie like faerie would do fine." Pausing to smile at Dave's over dramatic look of relief and understanding at the explanation. Nic continued to now greet Brooke in her own way. "So Brookie, I must say I love the Dj. Not quite as good as Bella, but then who is? I haven't had any drinks yet but I`m sure they`re positively sub-par. Perfect for our odd and irregular reunion."
The anger rolling around Brooke was palpable, however, with a smirk that held what the others were sure was to much confidence she ignored Dave completely and addressed Nicole in passing.
"Well, it would be hard to match the standards held by someone who's been drinking since she could walk so I think I'll just be happy know one seems to be complaining yet." This time Brooke paused to send a self-satisfied smirk at Nic who promptly rolled her eyes, before continuing with her eyes locked on Sam. "However as fun as this all is, I was actually here to ask you to dance."
Hearing this table was immediately placed in a suspended state of anticipation as all the many ways the conversation could progress from here flashed through their minds. Everything from tossed drinks to fist fights ran across everyone's minds. What they got however, was an ending no one had anticipated. Including Sam, the person in which the question was directed. Because, before she could even think of opening her mouth to reply, Nic was speaking.
"I`d love to Brookie! You don't mind do you Sam?" Locking eyes with Sam and then sharing a devilish grin with Dave, Nic started to stand.
And of course, Brooke who had just a few moments earlier been feeling confident and pleased, was now feeling confused and frustrated. "Nic I was talking to Sam!"
However, it appeared as if Nic either didn't hear what Brooke had just said, or simply didn't care, with the latter being the accepted truth among the table. Because after a quick kiss planted on Sam's lips and a wink, Nic was heading towards the dance floor with a hand on Brooke's back propelling her forward.
After they disappeared into the crowd there was a moment of silence at the table where every one took in the last few minutes.
And then, Carmen spoke. "Should we be worried?"
:::My only weapon was my pen, but I traded it for my hand. Not a smart move...:::
***
:::Hey...Hey... You`ll never get to heaven if you don`t give back. So give back a little twist...:::
After Nicole had guided Brooke to the dance floor she started dancing to a song she new well and often had Bella play when she felt like dancing. Ignoring Brooke, for the moment she simply let the music take over.
:::I`m only going to heaven, if it feels like hell...:::
Watching Nic, dance was causing Brooke to become more and more frustrated. What was she playing at? And did she expect Brooke to simply go along with it when they were currently warring for the heart of Sam?
:::Sir! I`ve a good mind to take you outside, outside...:::
***
:::Girl! I`ve a good mind to take you outside, outside!:::
Hearing the latest words of the song Nic and Brooke were currently supposed to be dancing to did not help put anyone at the table at ease....
Except for Dave, who knew just how much his Mistress loved the song. Really, the moment couldn't have been better if he and his Mistress had planned it themselves.
***
Turning to face Brooke, after having been faced away from her, Nicole couldn't help but role her eyes. "Dance Brooke! You look really awkward just standing in the middle of the dance floor." She yelled over the music
Making a face, Brooke started to sway stiffly but couldn't bring herself to fully let go. What was Nic playing at? Finally, being unable to contain it anymore she made eye contact with Nicole and stopped dancing.
Seeing the resolve on Brooke's face, Nic knew it for what it was. They were finally going to talk. So when Brooke turned on her heel and started walking to the elevator, she followed.
:::Hold-Hold-Hold-Hold, Hold on! Hold on, Hold on!:::
***
Back at the table where everyone sat talking tensely waiting for the two to finish dancing and come back, the first one to notice the change was surprisingly Harrison.
Looking to where, the two blonde's had been dancing Harrison decided quickly it might be best to clue the others in... "Uhh... Guys? Brooke and Nic are walking towards the exit...That`s bad right?"
Hearing this the others quickly looked over and confirmed the truth of the statement. Immediately Sam, was on her feet and the others were right behind her.
:::Girl, I`ve a good mind to take you outside....:::
tbc