Dupe's POV
I was up early, a shocker for me I suppose! Nomsa nearly died of shock when she saw me plod into the kitchen, I thought she was about to keel over as her face's usual dark colour lightened to a paler one as Liv walked through too. It seemed we were the first up - beaten Danny and Alice? Now that's a shocker!
"Up early?" Nomsa asked, she was obviously suspicious, Ach who wouldn't be?
"We have something to do." Liv smiled as we both shovelled our breakfast down. It looked at tasted superb. The egg was fried to perfection, and the fat-free fleshy bacon was beautifully smoked, the sausages were the same golden brown as the lion's mane, and variety of sides were like a rainbow gracing the table with it's intimate beauty. Not only that but it tasted fantastic.
"Right come on Liv." I ordered as we both finished. Liv nodded and walked off.
"Thanks Nomsa." She grinned as I grabbed my old faithful, my bush hut.
"Let's get to work." Liv smiled as I set off to Vern's… let's see if he wants to take Leopards Den when he learns about this!
Alice's POV
Danny looked so peaceful in his sleep. It had taken some effort to escape his tight grip on me, but he deserved the lie in so much! It was worth it!
"Morning, woah, time!" Danny jumped up. I laughed.
"Relax Danny, have a lie in"
"No!" I shook my head at him, he could be so stubborn at times! I laughed gently as I pulled my hair back, I could see Danny quickly getting changed in the background.
"Music times." I mumbled as I flicked the radio on quietly. It wasn't as if Danny and I were overly late, to be honest we were earlier, it was just a case of I'd been up early, and Danny had woken up early too. Lie ins? Epic failure!
The radio was droning on as we both got changed, I smiled as 'The time of my life came on'. I immediately thought of Danny. He looked rather nice in those jeans… his torso showing quite clearly, hmm… I grinned.
As the song hit the chorus I began to gently sing along, Danny did too, we both laughed before carrying on. It was weird really, I never sang in front of anyone. I guess I'm a bit shy that way, and I don't think I'm that good, but in front of Danny I'd perform a concert! Danny was the same though, which held some comfort to me, that even my Prince Charming had his little flaws and nervous times.
Before I could ponder any further I felt a pair of arms turn me to face them, Danny's.
I looked up at him, he smiled at me, his gentle green eyes drove through me, and melted my heart, they were like a hook, catching me, and keeping me there. My hands rested around his neck as his hands fell to my waist.
"You've got the voice of an angel" He whispered into my ear.
"To you maybe." I replied. "I love you Danny."
"I love you too." he replied, as our lips sealed their vow.
This song is so true I thought as he stood their in one another's arms, wrapped in a romantic embrace… but is the Time of our lives, really going to be the time of our lives, if we have to leave this place behind?
Liv's POV
"Oi Vern!" Dupe shouted. Oh no! He isn't gonna be over direct, this is meant to be calm, subtle, scaring him. Not making him laugh or get annoyed with us. Plan A? Monumental Fail… let's just keep to the main basis of Plan B.
"DuPlessis. What is it?"
I quickly got the documents out.
"We have a proposition for you." I piped up.
"Not interested."
"Oh I think you should be." I calmly spat.
"Pardon?"
"You seem to have a lovely collection of animals." Dupe commented, finally playing along with the plan! By the time we'd hit Plan C!
"And?" Vern seemed touchy, ahh so this was true?
"You have plenty of buildings too." Dupe added, "Nice buildings these, ach man, must cost you some tax!"
"Um yeh."
"Thing is…" I began taking in his facial features and leaving a silence to add to his tension and to enjoy his discomfort. "You aren't paying tax on em are you? And you aren't meant to be keeping animals. Releveant documents…" I smiled cockily handed him the papers.
He looked at them.
"So, how about we keep quiet if we forget this little deal about Leopards Den eh? We know about your secret pen of animals, mistreated animals…" Dupe added.
He began laughing. An evil cackle that consumed the country air.
"Not a chance! See, if you so much as open your mouths, I'm afraid I'll have to have some damage done, not to you two… that would be too easy… but I'm pretty sure your wife Mr DuPlessis, is of some value to you, and I'm sure your stepfather and your stepmother are of some importance to you?" He had such a calm venomous tone. Dupe began to walk forward but I held him back, once more this erupted a cackle from Vern, who pulled out a gun. "This is my warrant."
"Go to hell." I mumbled.
"Hmm, I headstrong one? Okay, a comprimise I have nothing to lose, I'm the best man in gambling round here. A game, your choice, choose anyone you like to challegne me, must be a card game. If you win, I give you Leopards Den back and we never speak again. If I win, you all leave. If you choose to accept my offer, feel free to come tomorrow, seven pm, sharp." And with that he turned and walked away leaving me and Dupe completely and utterly dumbfounded at how our once so vibrant and guaranteed plan of success, had been turned around on us and used to our ultimate disadvantage.
Danny's POV
Alice and I had just finished the animals. God, she was so beautiful. Her dark hair was glistening in the sunlight, her black shades complemented it perfectly, as did her black vest top and her usual khaki pants. I smiled as she wandered up to me after doing the last check up on the Zebra we had just operated on.
"All done!" She grinned bouncing up to me and grabbing my hand. I grinned at her as we began to walk stride for stride, hand in hand.
"You know, those two look a bit shifty, wonder what they've been doing?" I asked, noticing a ghostly pale Liv and Dupe arriving back in the rattly old Jeep.
"Hmm… those two have been acting weird, I think they are up to something." Alice added.
"Let's give em a few minutes, they seem a bit… well… weird and upset." I observed.
"Yeh, come on let's talk to Hanley!" She laughed noticing her giraffe arrive at Leopards Den.
"Hanley." I smirked, finding Alice's name if not slightly funny and bizarre, extremely cute - not that I know what cute is… cept Alice. Danny's manly image? Non Existent!
Liv's POV
It was twenty minutes until dinner, it was time. I nodded at Dupe, as we say Danny and Alice playing with an old pack of cards.
"Hah! I win once more!" Danny yelled punching the air, as Alice sat back on her chair.
"Pontoon Champion! So unfair, you're not choosing again! I like snap!" Alice giggled.
"Only cos you win!" Danny chided back.
"I wouldn't if you'd stop being stubborn and go to the opticians." Alice cockily replied, I guess this one of the moments where Alice wanted Danny to take care of himself and he was too proud and stubborn to go.
"I am not blind!" Danny proved my point.
"Yes but you need glasses to read!"
"Do not!"
"Do!"
"Do not! Give me one example." Urgh, I'm gonna be sick!
"Oh hold on, you have to hold the paper at arms length to see it cos its blurry up close. So there you do, Mr longsighted!" Alice teased, grinning at him, Danny smiled back, those grins must have been the size of the Eiffel tower!
"Ahem!" Dupe interrupted them, they both turned round, gathering their cards together.
"Hi." Danny smiled as we both sat down.
"We need a word Trevanion…" Dupe started… I took a deep breath, it was now or never, the moment of truth…
A/N - What will Danny and Alice say? Dumdum dum!
xx
