Chapter 17

Note: I do not intend to hurt any sentiments. This book is for entertainment purposes and to make you feel as happy as Tyson :)

Bryan folded his sleeves back and donned a flowery apron (it was the only one available). The number of mouldy old plates and cups in the sink of the bachelor's room stared back at him.

"Since when have guys not cleaned the dishes?" Bryan asked Ian.

Ian smirked, "Since we came."

"You're scaring me," Bryan's eyes were as large as plates.

"What?" Ian shrugged and went back to texting.

"Texting Giselle?"

"Giselle? Nope. She's old news."

"Then?"

"Amanda," winked Ian.

Bryan looked confused, "But what happened to Giselle? I thought you people had a thing."

"Giselle said I am an 'obnoxious jerk who deserves to die in a pit full of scorpions'. Her playing hard-to-get is really boring. I'm a young and attractive man. I can't just wait for eternity for her." Ian said this with a most happy smile.

"But what did you do to her?"

"I just said, 'Look at those hot chicks'. I swear it was subconscious. I didn't think. I just said it. Whatever. I don't really care," Ian said.

"You're lying," said Bryan nonchalantly.

Ian made face, "And you think that because?"

"Because your smile looks awfully forced and your face shows your anticipation all the time…as if you are waiting for a reply which you are not getting. I suppose you are apologising?"

When Bryan didn't get an answer he provided, "I'm not a well-renowned psychotherapist for nothing, Ian."

"Its not as if I love her. She's hot. That is all."

"Lying again," Bryan said taking up a cloth to dry the dishes.

Ian flinched, "No, you are lying. You know that for people like us there is no such thing as love. We've seen way too much bad and done some really bad things too. And we can't forget it. Kai can pretend. You can pretend. But nothing can change the fact we can't really find love. It's a fable. See what happened to Tala. Kai's bubble is going to break someday. I am wise enough to understand my limits and enjoy in what little way I can. Bryan, you need to wake up too. You and Jennifer are a BIG FAT LIE and-Ooph!"

"What happened?" Tala walked in through the door. "Do I need to know why you just punched Ian?"

Ian spat blood, "He's gone mad."

Bryan caught hold of Ian's collar, "Don't you ever dare to talk about Jennifer."

Ian swatted his hand away.

Tala waited till Ian had left, "I knew us being cooped together was a bad idea."

"So you think this is Jen's fault?" Bryan was still angry.

"Calm down, tough guy. I think it's that Chinese girl's fault. It's because of her coming that our rooms have been divided in this pesky boys' rooms and girls' room. Why is she coming to live with us again?"

"First off, she has a name-Hina! And second, she's Japanese not Chinese. She's here because she's Jen's friend and she didn't want to live in her awful intern quarters," Bryan was now stacking the clean dishes in their rightful places.

"I don't know, there's something odd about her," Tala said settling down on the sofa.

Bryan nodded, "I get that feeling too. It's as if she's lying but why would she? I know she's a fan but why lie to live with us?"

"From experience, I would say, it's a habit with women. I say, where's Spencer?"

Bryan shrugged, "I think the girls are trying to set him him up. That reminds me! We'll lose the-" He caught himself in time. It would be catastrophic if Tala came to know there were personal reasons for setting them up.

Spencer was, at the moment, sitting in the girls' suite. He was very annoyed and irritated. Jennifer had tricked him into coming inside by saying there was a slimy monster inside the bathroom. As soon as he had entered the suite to help, the door had been locked and bolted behind him. In fact, the whole suite was locked. There was no way to escape. He was reduced to sitting in the drawing room with nothing to do.

Jennifer was currently guarding the door. Thankfully Hina had left with Diana. One look at Hina had reduced Spencer to a blundering mess. Her vibrant and strong personality scared him. She talked easily and he could hardly speak a word. She knew everything about him (thanks to Jen's WTH! Series) and that irked him badly.

There was knocking on the door and Spencer's heart leapt up with hope. Escape?

Jennifer asked without opening the door, "Diana, is that you?"

"No," came Ian's voice, "its me, Ian."

"You can't come inside!" replied Jennifer. She couldn't let him inside. Spencer hadn't told his friends about him so Jennifer didn't want to make things difficult. She looked at Spencer, "Don't worry! He won't come to know your date."

Spencer looked confused, "What are you talking about?"

Jennifer said meaningfully, "We know."

"Just let me go," Spencer pleaded.

"Let me in," Ian was now shouting. "You and your husband have left me without a home. Let me in or-Wait, who are you, beautiful?"

Jennifer peeped through the window and heaved a sigh of relief, "They're here."

"What's happening?" Spencer wanted to see too. He looked out of the window and saw Ian flirting with Hina. Typical Ian! Maybe he should take tips from Ian on how not to stutter and trip in front of girls. He shook his head. What's the use? It wasn't as if his perfect girl would suddenly decide to drop from the sky.

Spencer saw with lessening hope of escape that Hina and Ian were happily walking away. Jennifer finally opened the door and Diana entered with a huge smile.

Spencer sat down on the sofa again. There was no escape. He waited for his date to enter and…

"I think you are Spencer. Lindo! Beautiful!"

The owner of the voice was a tall man with a shaved head. He wore a sleeveless black t-shirt which showed off his tattooed biceps. A silver earing adorned his left ear. When Spencer didn't answer the man, he sat down beside him and said cheerfully, "I am Ricardo."

Spencer's eyes were transfixed on Ricardo's hand which was now on Spencer's knee. Spencer slowly inched away and turned to ask Diana and Jennifer what was happening. They had vanished.

They were in the kitchen and were very happy with themselves. It had not been easy to get Ricardo but it hadn't been difficult too. Initially they didn't know how to even start their search for Spencer's date until Diana got the bright idea of asking the hotel manager.

Jose had been happy to help. He knew the exact man. And so Ricardo had come into the scene. Diana had immediately recognised him as the man who ran the hotel's tattoo shop. Ricardo had seen Spencer on a few occasions and had immediately agreed to go on a date.

"I think we should check on what's happening," Jennifer said, excitedly.

They peeped into the drawing room and their faces lit up with the light of accomplishment.

Ricardo was holding Spencer's hand!

Sadly, Spencer's back was towards the girls and they didn't his expression.

Ricardo was saying, "No, meu amor, don't be afraid to embrace yourself. Your friends…they told me your problem. The fear of being judged, it will go away. Poof! When you are by my side."

Jennifer whispered, "Look at Ricardo. He's so understanding and he's handsome too. I mean, he has the tattoos, the cool piercings and that marvellous Portuguese accent."

Diana sighed happily.

Their happiness was shattered when there was a loud crash! Spencer had had enough. He had been trying to explain to Ricardo as politely as possible that Spencer wasn't his type. Ricardo took all of Spencer's explanation as nerves and fears of being judged. Spencer had to finally push away Ricardo.

"Spencer!" shouted Jennifer angrily. "Is this the way to behave to your date?"

"My date!" Spencer exclaimed. "What are you talking about?"

Diana helped Ricardo up, "And you two were having such a good time too."

"Good time?" Spencer was fast suspecting the two girls to be mad. "He was molesting me!"

"You are talking as if you aren't even interested in men," said Ricardo. Even he was getting angry now.

"Because I'm not gay!" Spencer thundered. "Is this some sort of joke you guys are playing on me?"

"No," Diana said, confused. "You told me you were gay."

"When?"

"Yesterday. In your suite. You said girls aren't right for you," Diana countered.

"You…are mad," Spencer said before stomping off. Something about weird imaginations could be heard too.

"Meu amor! My love!" Ricardo cried after him.

Realization slowly dawned on Diana and she went red, "Oh! Spencer, wait, I'm so sorry. Wait! Don't be angry. C'mon, look at the situation. It does seem very…good-humoured?"

There was silence until Jennifer started laughing. She finally stopped to catch her breath and then started laughing. "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my…HAHAHA! That was so funny! HAHAHA! We thought…HAHAAHA!"

Ian walked inside with Hina and when they understood the situation they started laughing too. Soon even Ricardo and Diana were laughing.

Spencer didn't find the situation funny at all. He stopped beside a tree outside. He was very angry. He knew this blind date was a bad idea. There you go. Now, he was the standing joke. He had been right in thinking that his perfect girl wasn't going to fall from the sky.

At that moment someone fell from the sky.

Hope you like the chapter since I worked really hard on it...

You gotta tell me all about your reactions to Spencer's date as well as the conversation in the first half (that was very important too with a few hints here and there ;) )So please REVIEW...I got a really low response last time but I know everybody's busy and all so I made this chapter long and hopefully worth it. So, please please leave a REVIEW if you read this!

Thanks for reading and special thanks to meu amors-revierwers- Susan Styles, Superkami and SMRA (Haha! Your review was so enthusiastic it made me so happy :D C'mon husbands are more curious and nose-poking though. Aw Ian is the resident stalker? You're right! Subtle reactions here and there :) You better read this since its still 28th:) Thanks and RR!)

Sorry for my bad Portuguese. I only know what little words I learnt from watching football :P

Sorry for typos/erros.

See ya!