I apologize for what I did to Carlos, but honestly, that was my brainstorm from the beginning. I changed his personality slightly so we wouldn't feel too bad for him. 2030 words
Chapter Nine, The Wedding: Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties
Emily disappeared. She had a task, and since everyone's attention was on Abby, it was the perfect time. She quickly went to the kitchen, let in the strippers, and snuck them into Connor and Abby's room.
It would be their changing room and a place to hide if the girls became too rowdy.
Jess snuck off into the room.
"Hello, Carlos, Ben."
They were pleasant, but kept their distance from Jess.
"Senorita."
"Miss Parker."
"Are you two alright?"
"It's just ladies, here, right?" asked Ben.
"Si, no, big scary man of yours?" asked Carlos.
Jess giggled. "No, my boyfriend is not here."
They both relaxed. "Good," said Ben. "Let me run down how we usually do these hen parties. If you don't mind?"
"No, please. Both Emily and I are new at this."
Emily smiled and nodded.
Ben smiled back. "No worries. Generally, we like to open with us doing a dance together, not anything elaborate, just a quick introduction."
"Fine," said Jess.
"We also like to parade around in front of the guests briefly, allowing anyone to give us tips."
"Si, in our underwear."
Emily opened her mouth.
"It's not unusual, Em, right?" asked Jess.
Ben smiled. "No, not at all. The ladies get a thrill, and we get extra money for our time."
"And our talent," said Carlos, flexing his muscles. "Then we offer the bride a special gift, the lap dance."
Jess' mouth dropped open. "Cindy didn't say anything."
Ben smiled. "It's optional. Really, no big deal. We don't even have to offer..."
"No, we must! Everyone loves the lap with Carlos!"
"Dude, you promised Cindy you'd tone it down," said Ben, then he whispered to Jess and Emily, "He can be a bit of a diva."
"You brought Monty, right?"
"Si."
"Who is Monty?" asked Emily.
Jess smiled. "A surprise."
Ben laughed. "I hope he doesn't scare too many of you. Anyway, then, after the initial dance we'll withdraw back in here, let the ladies cool down slightly, and prepare for our individual routines. After each one, we'll dodge in here, so we aren't mauled."
Jess chuckled. "Good precaution."
"Carlos likes the mauling."
Jess stared. She was thinking that he was a bit too much of a diva. "Sounds fine Ben, thank you. Do you need a sound system?"
"Thank you, Miss, no. We have the music all prepared. I have some props, that require the lights dimmed. It would be helpful if someone could be appointed to play the music and adjust the lights for us."
"Of course," said Jess.
"I will be happy to perform those tasks," said Emily.
"Thank you," said Ben. "Well, we'll get ready, and wait for a signal."
"Oh, what kind?" asked Jess.
Carlos smirked. "Thunderous applause."
Ben laughed and shook his head. "Just introduce us and we'll hear you."
"Fine. Say...ten minutes?"
"Perfect," said Ben, Carlos nodded.
Jess and Emily rejoined the party. No one had noticed their absence.
In ten minutes, Jess asked the group, "Ready for some entertainment?"
They all hooped and hollered.
"Strippers!"
Jess and Abby's menagerie mates dragged a comfy lounge chair up front.
"Place of honor," said Jess, and the menagerie girls dragged Abby into it.
"Oh, no!" she cried, laughing.
Jess draped a 'bride-to-be' sash around her, and Emily put a blue feathered tiara on her head. Just to be really trashy, the menagerie girls gave her a bowl of edible male organs.
Jess nodded to Emily, and she moved over by the light switch and the music player.
"And now, for your...dirty pleasure," began Jess.
"Whoo-hoo!"
Everyone began to chant.
"Strippers! Strippers! Strippers!"
Abby turned pink.
"Calm down, please!" cried Jess. "First, no mauling."
"Boo!"
"Please, be respectful."
"Hello? Hen party!"
Jess shook her head. "Fine. The...entertainment would like me to inform you, that tips are allowed and appreciated."
"Yes!" cried Iris. "Quid in the crotch!"
"Oh my God!" cried Abby.
Jess turned pink. "Um...yeah. You may want to get your money ready...if you wish."
The ladies delved into their purses, bags, and pockets.
"Now, may I present, from Pecs and More: Ben and Carlos!"
"Yay!"
"Woo-hoo!"
Emily hit the music button, thankful to Jess for showing her how to work such contraptions.
The men jiggled out. The women went crazy.
"They're gorgeous!"
"Yay! No ugly strippers!"
Jess moved to the back of the room. She was amazed how brazen some of her co-workers had become, especially Iris and the girls.
They were sitting beside Abby again, yelling and pawing at the dancers.
Carlos wore a blue vest and pant set. The pants were extremely tight.
Jess blushed. You could see the bulge. She knew she didn't have to, but she couldn't help looking away.
Ben wore equally tight, fiery red pants and an open white shirt, showing his smooth chest.
Jess missed the sight of chest hair.
They gyrated and wiggled to rock music. Ben went to the left, Carlos the right. The ladies whooped and hollered.
The girls waved their money around, but someone yelled, "Not til you take something off!"
Jess thought it sounded like Helen Lester.
Ben smiled, and ripped off his shirt.
"Yeah!" screamed some fifteen voices.
Jess blushed again.
Emily smiled and clapped. She was amused, but far less excited then most in the room.
They screamed and waved reaching out to touch, but Jess noticed that Ben kept a slight distance.
Carlos, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind being touched. Iris, Meira, and Jina were happily stroking his legs.
He wiggled in front of Abby, bending down to her level. She blushed but didn't try to touch. Carlos
moved on to the other ladies.
He smiled and ripped off his vest.
"Yeah!"
Iris was on her knees, stroking the smooth skin.
Jess looked, and found that she was not attracted. He wasn't Becker. She smiled to herself.
"More!" cried Jina.
"Take it off!" cried Meira.
Carlos smiled, grasped the pants on each side, and yanked them off.
He wore teeny tiny black binkini underwear.
"Yeah!"
"Baby!"
Jina, Meira, and Iris were fighting each other in front of his crotch.
"Move!"
"Me first!"
Carlos smiled as the ladies fought to stuff his bikini with money.
Abby laughed, her face dark red, and she clung to the back of her chair, trying to distance herself from the seedy seen so close to her.
"Abby, don't you want to grab him?" asked Jenny, smirking.
Abby glared at her. She laughed.
Jess felt redeemed. Apparently Abby was a little innocent as well.
Carlos, bills hanging from him, turned to Abby, gyrating his pelvis toward her.
"Senorita, you want Carlos to dance in the lap?"
Abby dropped her mouth, shook her head, and plastered herself to the back of the chair.
"I'll take the lap dance!"
"No, I will!"
"I'm senior staff!"
Carlos didn't seem offended.
"Apologies, Senoritas, only the bride is offered the lap dance."
"Boo!"
Carlos danced in front of them, quickly earning applause once more.
Ben, meanwhile, was entertaining the other side of the room.
Jenny cheered as he shook his hips, grabbed his pants, and pulled them quickly away.
"That's what I'm talking about!" cried Mrs. Lester.
"Oh, Bravo," said Eleanor, sliding several bills into his tight white bikini. She spotted Jess watching and she winked. Jess smiled.
Jenny laughed and blushed as she put a dollar in as well. She collapsed back into the couch, giggling in embarrassment.
Emily stood by the music, watching with interest. She did not quite understand the allure.
The strippers moved around the room, trading sides. Eventually, Carlos made it back toward Jess, thrusting his crotch to her.
"Sorry, I...don't...have...money on me," she said, with a blush.
"I've got it dear," said Eleanor suddenly appearing beside her. She happily tipped Carlos, and smiled kindly at Jess.
Ben danced quickly over to them, and actually gave Carlos a slight shove away from Jess. She decided Cindy must have asked Ben to watch over her.
She needed to send Cindy a thank you note.
Jess whispered, "thank you," to Eleanor, who patted her shoulder, and moved back to the sofa.
Finally, the dance ended, and the men wiggled back to their make-shift dressing room.
"Nice job!" cried Jenny, laughing.
"I like Carlos!" cried Iris.
"Si! Me too!" cried Jina.
"No kidding," said Abby, giggling.
"Ben was delicious," said Elle. Helen Lester and Jenny nodded.
Jess was a little flustered, and opened the white wine.
"Are you well?"
"Yes, Emily. Fine. Only a sip, I promise."
Emily smiled. "I am not worried about your alcohol consumption," she said.
"I'm fine, really. Thank you."
Emily nodded.
"Does Abby look happy?" asked Jess, trying to glimpse the bride-to-be through the guests.
"Yes, she seems much amused."
"Good," said Jess. Finally, she did get a glimpse. Abby was laughing and joking.
Jess sighed. "I'm so pleased," she said, then smirked, "but wait until she sees Monty."
"Who is Monty? I do not see another young man removing clothing, Jess."
Jess laughed. "Just wait."
Emily returned to her post, and soon, she began the music again.
Carlos came out. With Monty, the python.
"Is that...real?"
"Oh my God!"
Jenny, Mrs. Lester, Eleanor, Kim, Beverly, and half the guests shrieked, and ran to the back, by Jess.
Abby and her staff did not.
"A python! Jess! You got a python!"
"He's not going to strip, is he?" asked Mrs. Lester.
Jess giggled. She was so happy to see the joy on Abby's face.
Abby jumped up and walked toward Carlos.
"Please, Senorita. Do not touch."
But Abby was entranced and did not hear the pleas. She could not resist touching that beautiful body.
The python's, that is.
Poor Carlos was completely ignored by the bride-to-be.
"Please, Senorita, do not touch Monty."
Abby gently pulled the python off the stripper.
"Please, do not take Monty. Do not hold. Senorita."
Abby stroked and cooed to Monty. She held him as she should, careful to not agitate or stress him. She sat back down, ignoring Carlos' pleas to give Monty back.
"Abby give it back!" cried Kim.
"Carlos, strip!" demanded Iris. "He's fine, I promise. Strip!"
The crowd pleaded for the show to continue.
It was useless, Carlos would not strip or dance while Monty was in Abby's hands, and Abby would not give the python back.
Meanwhile, Jess collapsed into giggles, supported by Mrs. Lester, who was also laughing heartily.
"She seems more taken with Monty than with Carlos," Eleanor said. Jess, speechless from the giggles, nodded.
Carlos was trying to take back the python, but Abby pushed passed him, running into the bathroom with the snake. The stripper followed, screaming in Spanish.
Jess laughed so hard, she could not breathe.
Finally, Emily intervened.
"Abigail, this is no way to behave at your party," she said through the bathroom door. "Come out here at once and return to this man his snake."
The menagerie girls were rolling on the floor laughing.
Abby opened the door, handed Emily the python, who handed it to Carlos. "I am sorry."
Carlos mumbled in Spanish, and walked off to the changing room with Monty.
"He isn't going to strip?"
"Good job, Abby!"
Abby shrugged, and blushed. "Sorry. I can't resist a beautiful reptile." She returned to the seat of honor.
A few minutes later, Ben came out, walking toward Jess. They exchanged a few words, and Ben walked to the 'stage' area.
"I'm very sorry, ladies," he said, "but Carlos will not be performing."
"Boo!" cried Eleanor.
"Abby!" cried Iris, lightly swatting her leg.
"If you'll just bare with me for a few minutes..."
"I'll bare with you!"
"That's not what he meant!"
"I will be happy to perform for you," said Ben.
"Yay!"
Ben bowed, and returned to the changing room. A minute later, Carlos exited the room, with a creature carrier, and left the apartment.
Everyone stared at Abby, then broke out laughing.
Abby looked at Jess and mouthed, 'sorry,' but Jess shook her head, and kept laughing.
Finally, Jess caught her breath. Everyone returned to their seats.
So only Jess heard a slight commotion in the kitchen.
End of Chapter Nine