Two in the mornin and the partys still jumpin

[sherrybb]

Who: Sherry, Juice, Kyle, Neck Ruptures, Nica, Tina, Katie, Larry, Prudence, Warren, Lizzie, Dot, Valentine, about a zillion other people, your character if they attended
Where: Sherry's house
When: Friday Night

Juice had arrived early, with Kyle and the band so that the band could set up to do their thing

The Spontaneous Neck Ruptures were setting up their equipment, and looking in generally good spirits.

Kyle was mellowing out.

There were tables set up inside the house. The walls, floor and ceiling were slightly different shades of white. The tables had red table cloths on them, and centerpieces of red orchids and white lilies. Tuxedoed waiters walked around with plates of hot hors d'ourves.

"This is pretty fancy," Juice said, checking out the digs.

"Yeah -- are you sure this girl doesn't work for the lawyers?" Kyle asked.



Nica was munching a skewered scallop wrapped in bacon. "The food kicks ass, guys," she said. "I can hardly wait to see what the entree is."

"I hope not," Juice said. "That would suck..." He snagged food from a passing waiter for him and Kyle. "Check this shit out."

"Wow, what -is- that?" Kyle asked.

"I don't know - some sort of bacon thing," Juice said. "But it's GOOD."

Kyle snagged one and munched. "Hmm..."

Katie headed on in, feeling a little nervous. Somehow her little black dress didn't feel quite formal enough for the decor.

Nica nodded. "It's awesome stuff."

"I feel a little weird being with all this fancy stuff though," Juice said.

"Me too. But hey, it's paying, right?" Kyle said.

"It's a little more shi-shi than I expected," Nica said. "But, hey ... they're from the South and they have money, so I guess I shoulda figured."

"Yeah, paying pretty well," Juice said, grinning. He checked out how the band was doing with their setup.

Cinderella waved; looked like they were almost set up.

Tina headed in, looking around. "I didn't touch anything." she said

"Hmm?" Katie turned to Tina.

Laird started to strum up a tune to test out the audio.

"Hi Katie." Tina smiled "I mean, I didn't touch anything, so if something is broken, it's not my fault."

"Ohh... okay," Katie said. "I didn't break anything either..."

"Exactly." Tina said

Nica gave a hug to Tina. "Hey! Good to see you, hon."

"Hey..." Tina said, before heading over to the food.

The Spontaneous Neck Ruptures settled in to play. For now, they weren't playing anything with lyrics, so it was pretty much just a good hard rock backdrop.

"Nica, I need help with my hair!" Sherry said, heading in "I know the party starts soon, but-" she stopped, mid sentence. She wasn't quite dressed up yet, and her hair looked rather terrible. "Oh, hello- please, make yourselves welcome." She headed out f the room, quickly

Nica chuckled. "Oops."

Katie scratched her head. "We're early, aren't we?"

"A little," Nica said.

"I think she's running late." Tina said

"Hehe... oops," Juice said.

A few other guests started arriving, and eating the food.

Somebody was, incongruously, setting up a keg in a bucket of ice.

"Dude, keg," Juice said, grinning.

"Ok, I'm ready." Sherry said, heading into the room "Let's get this party started!

"Woo! Music," Juice said, signaling the band to start playing

The Neck Ruptures grinned, and broke out into one of their classics. Party!

If Sherry noticed the keg, she didn't say anything. Instead, she quietly started taking decorations off of the tables, and ushered a few waiters to move them aside

"Want to dance?" asked Tina, to Katie

"Sure," Katie said, nodding.

Tina smiled, and led Katie to the dance area in front of the stage

"How are things going?" asked Sherry, to Juice "Should I have more food sent in? I haven't actually thrown a party before... well, Barbie birthday party when I was six, but my Mom did all of that."

Katie headed off to dance with Tina. To their credit, the Neck Ruptures were playing something more musical and less my-ears-are-bleeding.

Juice hung with Kyle and listened to the band. "Man, this is pretty cool, isn't it? You want to dance, babe?"

"Sure," Kyle grinned. "Let's go out there and prove our gaydom!"

Juice's phone rang, just then.

Sherry noticed the keg. "Wait, is that alcohol?"

"It ain't fruit juice," Nica said. It looked like a popular object to stand around.

"...My Daddy finds out, I'm dead." Sherry frowned "I've got to get it out of here."

Juice picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"..Juice? Is that you? It's awful loud there!" Dot raised her voice just a little, waving sweetly to the customers who were glaring at her.

Sherry headed over to the keg. "Excuse me. I don't want any alcohol at my party. Please, get the keg out of here."

"It's almost empty, anyway," the guy with the tap said, handing her the hose.

"What am I supposed to do with that?" asked Sherry

" ... have a beer," he said.

"Yeah," Juice said, shouting a little too. "We're at the party!"

"Oh! That sounds like fun! Can I come too? I was supposed to work but Kya said she'd cover for me!" Dot continued smiling at the glaring customers.

"I... haven't had one before. Look, you drink it, and get the keg out of here. Thanks."

"Oh cool- yeah, come on down. You need me to come get you?" Juice said.

"I think so. Is that okay? If you're busy I can ask someone else, or get a cab, or something. I don't even know where it is!" Dot made an effort not to shout.

"Okay." The guy happily poured himself a beer.

Sherry figured that was settled, so she got a snack from a waiter, and looked for someone else to talk to.

"Nah, it's cool- we can take a ride come get you," Juice said. He looked to Kyle. "Dot pickup?"

"Alright. We'll be back in a bit, right?" Kyle said.

Katie smiled. "Someday we should learn how people actually dance."

"I know some dances." Tina said "But nothing to go with this music... but it's fine just dancing like this, cause I'm with you."

"Yeah... just hang tight, we'll be right there," Juice told Dot, then hung up the phone. "Yeah, we'll be back... lemme just catch the band's attention and tell 'em we're stepping out a bit so they don't freak."

Juice headed up to the stage to do that.

Cinderella looked to Juice and nodded, unable to wave because her fingers were busy.

"We'll be back," he assured her, then headed towards the door with Kyle.

Katie grinned. "You're one up on me... all I know how to do is that ballroom dance where you put your arm around the person, hold their other hand outwards, and sort of walk around in a circle."

Cinderella nodded again, and continued playing.

Kyle headed on outwards.

"Well, we could try copying what other people are doing." Tina said, demonstrating for Katie

Dot, after hanging up the phone, went into the bathroom to change out of her uniform.

Sherry took a seat, and watched the party

Nica settled next to Sherry. She had a glass of beer. "Aweome party," she said.

"My Dad is going to kill me is he finds out about the alcohol." Sherry said "But... people are having fun?"

Juice headed on out with Kyle.

Katie nodded, and did her best to try to mimic Tina.

Juice drove up to the diner a short time later, and got out to collect a Dot

"Definitely," Nica said.

"Looks like the keg is still over there." Sherry said "Well, the guy said it was almost empty, so that shouldn't be a problem."

Dot was waiting in a booth by the window, quickly munching her way through some eggs.

"Hey , there's food there, y'know... come on," Juice said.

"Oh, well, right. I was just a little hungry," said Dot. She got up from the table and followed Juice out to the car.

"Seatbelts on, gang," Juice said, and then started driving them back towards the party.

Nica smiled. "Looks like your party's a hit."

"Yeah... why is he dancing with that imported vase?" Sherry looked alarmed "Put that down!"

Dot buckled in. "I hope it's not fancy..this is all I have! I wasn't thinking i was gonna do anything tonight other than work and go to sleep."

"It's super fancy, but we're not fancy either..." Juice was just wearing his sparkly pimp jacket and t-shirt with a bowtie printed on it over jeans.

Kyle nodded. "And they've already got alcohol out."

"I didn't say throw it!" Sherry jumped up to catch the flying vase.

Valentine walked in to the party, looking cheerful. "Hey everyone... how's it going?"

"Oh, whew. I also smell like I've been serving food all night, too." Dot picked self-consciously at her blouse and brushed imaginary crumbs off her jeans.

"Hi, Valentine." Sherry said, holding a vase "Uh, looks like people are having fun, but someone brought alcohol."

"Oh?" Valentine asked. "Anything good?" He glanced over and saw the keg and wrinkled his nose. "Oh, beer. I'm not a big beer drinker."

Juice pulled up in front of the party again. "Here we are... and relax, you look fine."

"You look marvelous," Kyle said in a mock-flattering tone, and grinned.

"Well, my Dad and step mom have a bar, but I'm not supposed to touch- hey, don't go in-" she sighed "It's over there, where those guys are gathered." She realized that maybe inviting everyone was a bad idea.

Juice got out of the car, and offered an arm each to Kyle and Dot. "Shall we?"

Valentine looked over. "Well, it looks like they're breaking out the liquor... but if your folks will get mad, I wouldn't want to be part of the problem."

Larry walked by with a beer. "Hey - whose birthday is this anyhow? Great party!"

Dot took the offered arm. "We shall!"

"It's just my Dad." Sherry said "You might as well- Hey Larry... It's just a Holiday Party."

"Oh... well, happy Holidays then," Larry said, and toasted them with the beer before drinking it down.

"Well.. if you're sure you don't mind," Valentine said. "Do they have any wine coolers?"

"Fridge." Sherry said, putting the vase down "What flavor?"

"Anything berry," Valentine said. "Thank you."

"Hey, Nica- how's it hanging?" Larry asked.

Juice escorted Dot and Kyle back inside. "Wonder if they're serving the main course yet? Mmm... food"

Sherry headed for the quiet of the kitchen, and got a berry mix wine cooler for Valentine. She told the waiters to serve the main course, and dessert, because the party wasn't quite as organized as she thought it would be.

Dot looked around. "This is really swanky! I don't know any of these people!"

"Heya, Larry," Nica said, and waved.

Warren slipped on into the party, smirking.

"Looks like they haven't started yet," Kyle said, "so we're just in time.

"Here you go, Valentine." Sherry handed him a wine cooler.

Lizzie headed in with Warren, looking cheerful.

Prudence had hitched a ride with Warren and Lizzie, and headed on in with them (making for entirely too many L-chars, but what can you do?)

"Awesome," Juice said, grinning. "Hey, we're back... did we miss anything?"

"Thank you," Valentine said, and took it to start sipping.

"Someone was tossing around a vase." Sherry said "And they got into the bar."

"Haven't I seen that bloke on TV?" Lizzie said, eying Valentine.

"Wow, it's really fancy here..." Prudence said, feeling kind of awkward.

"Dude! Can we toss a vase?" Juice asked.

"Is that one of the party games?"

"No!" Sherry said, as someone tossed another vase

"This is a kicking party," Larry said, hanging by Nica. "Uh... hey, Juice..."

Nica caught it. "What the hell?" she asked. " ... nice vase."

"Hey Larry," Juice said warrily. He'd heard about the jock's conversion to being less-than-douchey, but he still didn't trust it entirely.

"Yeah... It's from somewhere. My stepmom loves it- hey, yeah. Toss it all you want." Sherry smirked a little

Dot shook her head. "Juice, behave. They'd make you pay for anything you broke, I'm sure.."

"Eep," Prudence said, watching a vase fly by. "Is this what people do at parties?"

Nica shruggd and flipped it over her shoulder.

Dot waved to everyone.

Sherry winced a little... but maybe her stepmom would get so pissed, she'd leave her dad.

"Woo!" Juice said, and dove to catch the vase.

"Hey Larry, go long!" He tossed it towards the jock.

Larry grinned and caught the vase. "Heads up, dude!" He tossed it towards a random partygoer.

Nica finished her beer and went to look for more alcohol.

"Dude, there's a keg over there," Juice said. He pondered the merits of shoving the hose in his mouth.

Fighting the urge to cover her eyes, Dot thwapped Juice instead.

"It's empty." Sherry said

"Balls," Juice said, then winced as Dot hit him. "Heyyy... don't abuse me." He pouted.

Lizzie collected a snackie from a passing waiter. "Mmmm..."

"It's not abuse, it's common sense," said Dot, shaking her head.

A random partygoer headed to the keg, and opened the tap, getting a beer

"...That's supposed to be empty." Sherry frowned

"Ooh, more beer..." Larry headed over like a moth to a flame.

"Well, let's get food then..." Juice collected some from a passing waiter.

"Isn't it illegal for people our age to drink?" Prudence asked.

"Should I tell them to stay away from the alcohol and the keg?" asked Sherry "Would they listen?"

"Only if we don't have valid IDs," Warren assured.

"Now you're talkin'," said Dot. She collected food too.

Larry headed over to suck some from the hose.

A chant of 'chug chug chug' started.

"Y'know... watching how he sucks that hose... it's not surprising he's gay," Juice said contemplatively.

Sherry decided that she would try to curb the drinking. "Ok, Everyone!" she called "I thought the keg was empty, but it's not- and please stay away from it- and stay away from the bar too, please."

"What?" Nica asked, holding a martini-shaker in mid shake.

"I can help you empty it!" Larry called, getting ready to take another drink.

"Ooh, is that a martini?" Lizzie asked.

"No...." Sherry looked around for help "I wanted them t stay away from the alcohol..."

Dot laughed and shook her head. "Maybe you're attracting groupies, Juice."

Katie peered in the general direction of the developing chaos. "Wow..."

"Yeah," Nica said to Lizzie. "You wanna split it?"

"Yeah..." Tina nodded "At least no one is dancing on tables yet."

Warren grinned. "Shaken, not stirred?"

"I'd love to, thanks..." Lizzie headed over to the bar.

"... is that an option?" Katie inquired.

Juice grinned.

Valentine chatted with some girls about his television career, sipping his wine cooler.

"You know it," Nica said to Warren, and poured off two martinis and added olives.

Prudence looked for a quite place to sit and listen to the band.

"When people get really drunk, they do that." Tina said "I've seen it in tons of movies."

Sherry looked around for someone not drinking, and settled by Prudence.

Larry took another long drink of beer, then staggered off towards a random guy. "Hey, sexy... wanna dance?"

"Hi," Prudence said, giving her a shy smile.

Dot ruffled Juice's hair. "Keep out of trouble, you idiot. Okay? Please stay away from the booze -- we all have to get home safe tonight."

"Hi..." Sherry smiled a little "You aren't drinking, are you? It seems like everyone here is."

"Yes ma'am," Juice promised. "Let's just find a place to settle down and chill."

"Uh, you're a DUDE," said the random guy. Poor Larry wasn't having any luck.

Lizzie sipped the martini. "Here's to a cool party," she said, and toasted Nica.

"I don't drink," Prudence said. "I just wanted to get out for a while with my friends so I thought this would be nice... I didn't realise there'd be drinking."

Dot nodded. "You're such a good boy."

"Me either." Sherry said "And I didn't plan on having drinking here. Someone brought a keg in, and they got into the bar... I guess I just need to let this all play out, and hope no one gets hurt."

Larry, undetered and buzzed, just tried the next hot guy he came up to. "Hey... weren't you on that television show?"

"Yeah," Valentine said, nodding.

"You wanna dance?" Larry asked.

"I don't dance," Valentine said. "Sorry. I'm not really that good of a dancer."

Warren snagged a martini to sip.

"Well screw you too buddy," Larry said, and headed back into the crowd.

"And looks like Prudence found someone to talk to, so it's all good," Lizzie said.

Juice smiled at the praise and settled in to sit with Dot and Kyle.

"Kyle can praise me too if he wants," Juice said.

"I AM THE TERMINATOR!" called a guy with longish hair. He started chugging a beer, then threw his cup into something. Yep. He was drunk.

Kyle grinned. "He's a very good boy. In bed, too.

Dot smirked. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Hey, that's Prudence over there, isn't it? I thought I saw her, but there's so damn many people here."

"Is that ceiling guy?" Juice asked, glancing over at the long haired dude. He turned back to Kyle when he said that."Damn straight."

"Well, it was nice of you to have the party," Prudence said. "It's really nice to get to go to a party."

It wasn't ceiling guy, but he was starting a mosh pit.

"This is pretty wicked," Lizzie said, sipping her drink. "There's a mosh pit going on over there."

Larry got in the pit, cheering. "Yeah! Let's grind!"

"I thought a party would be nice too." Sherry eyed the mosh pit "I didn't expect it to get wild, however..."

Warren snickered and adjusted his glasses. "Definitely."

The terminator had no problem grinding.

Katie quietly made her way towards the food. She was not built for moshing.

Nica sipped her martini. "I've seen wild," Nica said. "And this ain't all that wild. It will be vividly retold for most of next week at school, though."

Tina followed the Katie.

Larry grinded a little closer to the terminator than was straightly possible. "Hey, sexy... you can terminate me any time..."

Prudence looked shocked at the grinding and moshing. "Oh my goodness..."

Jaime hung back on the edges of the crowd, smirking. This sure beat the usual Frat Row parties.

"WOO!" The terminator was drunk, so he didn't care. He looked happy.

Juice grinned. "I'd say let's dance, but I don't want to get moshed."

Nica wished she had a camera. Ooooh, the blackmail possibilities ...

Larry took off his shirt and swung it over his head. "Yeahhh!"

Valentine retreated from the gaggle of girls asking about his career, and nodded politely to Jamie as he passed. "Hey..."

"WOOHOO!" The terminator grinned "Yeah! Take it off!"

Jamie nodded back. "Hey yourself."

Warren kept those glasses with him at all times for a damn good reason.

"..." Sherry wasn't sure what to do "Should I tell them to stay away from the alcohol again?"

"Pretty nice party, hm?" Valentine asked.

"I think perhaps you've misinterpreted the phrase 'block party'," Warren suggested to Sherry.

Jamie shrugged. "It's certainly different. I bet nobody planned on all the booze."

"... I, um... I don't think they'll listen," Prudence said, eyes wide. "Maybe Warren has a taser with him."

"Oh, sweetie, if they hear you, they'll forget five minutes later," Nica said to Sherry.

"Could you check?" asked Sherry

"I haven't been to many parties without booze," Valentine admitted. "Of course, I'm from LA, so that's pretty much a given..."

"I really didn't expect this." Sherry admitted

Prudence nodded, and headed over to Warren and Lizzie at the bar.

Warren waved to Prudence.

"Hey Warren," Prudence asked. "Do you have anythign for crowd control? Sherry's feeling overwhelmed."

"Slumming, huh? Why the hell would you want to come here from there?" Jamie looked Valentine up and down.

"Well..." Warren contemplated. "She wants to keep the house, right?"

Larry felt a little nauseated from all the motion, and looked for someplace to hurl. Not wanting to be crass or anything, he picked the vase. "Barrrrhrghghghg"

"...yes, I imagine so," Prudence said.

"There goes the fireball option, so I'm out," Lizzie said.

Juice made a face, watching Larry toss his cookies. "Ew."

"No!" Sherry frowned at the hurling in the vase. "This isn't..."

"That was classy," added Dot.

Valentine shrugged slightly. "Not exactly my choice. My old lady had a nervous breakdown, so I got sent here to live with my dads."

"STAGE DIVE!" called The terminator, stepping away from Larry

Now that his mouth tasted bad, Larry headed for some more beer to fix that problem.

"Dads, huh? One of those trendy alternative parenting families?" Jamie smirked.

"More like I think after being married to my mom, men started looking good to dad," Valentine said, laughing.

"Hmm. You could just interrupt the music," Warren suggested, "and borrow the band microphone."

Sherry headed over to someone, and tapped him on the shoulder.

Jamie chuckled. "Oh, I see. She's a looker, huh?"

Katie munched quietly and scooted away from vomiters.

"Pretty enough- but man, she's a bitch," Valentine said. "She manages my career, and I guess all the controlling pretty much got to her."

"Oh, I'll suggest that to her," Prudence said, and headed over to do that.

Larry chuggged some more beer, and kinda staggered over to a couch to lay down a while.

Sherry was arguing with a guy, telling him why he shouldn't be drinking.

"Oh, she a showbiz mom? Dunno that I'd say 'actor' from looking at you, but what the hell." Jamie glanced around, as the background noise of the room changed.

"Sherry- Warren suggests interrupting the band and getting up on stage to tell them to disperse using the microphone,' Prudence said.

"Oh yeah? What would you say looking at me?" Valentine grinned.

"Ok, I'll try that.. thanks." Sherry headed to the stage to do that

"Spoiled rich kid down from LA slumming," grinned Jamie.

Valentine laughed. "Something like that. I'm not -that- successful. Just comfortable enough."

Juice glanced up at Sherry on stage. "Is she gonna sing?"

"So I was close enough," laughed Jamie.

"Excuse me, Neck ruptures. I need to calm my party down just a little bit."

"Oh, sure," Laird said, and offered the mic.

Dot shrugged. "She doesn't look like -- guess not."

Katie looked to Tina. "Think maybe we should get out of here?"

"OK, Listen up. I didn't invite you here to get drunk off your asses, so stop it! Now, It looks like they set yet another keg up, but that's not an excuse to drink"

"Yeah, close enough for horseshoes and handgrenades." He offered a hand. "Valentine Varner."

"We need an excuse?" Larry asked, though he didn't get up off the couch.

Lizzie looked down at her martini. "Oops."

"Yeah..." Tina said "Let's just... before things get wilder."

Jamie shook the offered hand, briefly. "Jamie Caruthers."

"Oh, and Stay away from the bar, unless you're 21, okay? Is anyone here 21?"

Katie nodded, and started creeping towards the door.

Warren snickered.

"Nice to meet you, Jamie." Valentine shook the offered hand. "You a high school or college student?" He couldn't decide on how old the guy looked.

"Man, good thing I didn't start drinking," Juice said.

Dot laughed aloud. "At least she's trying. I feel for her, though. This must be hard!"

Prudence hoped people listened to Sherry.

Lizzie quickly finished her martini and set the glass down so she could look innocent.

"Dude throwing that weird statue thing around? That's a fertility statue. That's right. Hope you enjoy being a teen dad."

"I'm transferring in to UC-Sunnydale," said Jaime.

"I saw that!" Sherry handed the mic back over, and went to yell at someone.

Warren just drank his and then went back to watching and hoping for people to do embarrassing things.

Katie pushed her way to the door, looking creeped out.

"Cool," Valentine said. "I'm over at the high school..." He smiled.

Tina followed closely behind Katie

"There's a fertility statue?" Juice stared at the statue. "That can really knock you up?"

Lizzie settled an arm around Warren. "Fun party?"

Prudence gave Sherry a sympathetic look. "Well, you tried."

Larry was sleeping on the couch.

Dot frowned. "Knock you out, anyway. That looks heavy!"

"Yeah." Sherry frowned "Great, now I've got someone passed out on the couch. That's better than him driving drunk, I suppose..."

Jamie nodded. "Oh, still fighting through the ranks, huh? Well, what do you want to do once you're out?"

"Statue can't really do anything." admitted Sherry "I think my step mom bought it from a guy on a street corner in new york."

"Fun party," Warren agreed.

Katie held the door for Tina, and took a few deep breaths once outside. "Wow, that was..."

"You did a good job dancing." Tina said "Really."

"No idea really," Valentine said. "I've acted since I was four- so I guess that's the natural choice. I keep hoping I'll find something else to get into though, but so far no luck."

"You want to dance now that the mosh has settled?" Juice asked Kyle and Dot.

"Definitely interesting," Lizzie said, laughing at the statue antics.

"Well, at least my first party will be memorable," Prudence said.

Dot laughed. "I don't know if my style would fit in here."

"I don't think I'm having any more of these." Sherry said

"Your style is fine. C'mon," Kyle said.

Jamie nodded. "Go with what you know, I guess."

"What's your major?" Valentine asked.

"Communications," said Jamie. "I was going to be an English major, but Mody Dick put me right to sleep."

Sherry looked a little bummed that her party had gotten completly out of control

Dot allowed herself to get pulled along, keeping an eye out for more food and, also, an eye out for Prudence.

Purdence saw Dot looking her direction, and waved. "Hi Dot!"

"You guys having fun?" asked Sherry

Juice headed to boogie on down with Kyle and Dot.

"Thanks," Katie said. "So... um, now what shall we do?"

"But... didn't you want to call the guy Ishmael?" Valetine said with a grin. "Ishy? Ishkabibble?"

Dot waved back. "Hi Prudence!" In a semi-panicked whisper to Kyle, she said, " D'you think she ...knows?"

"Do you want to go to the club? Or... maybe the diner? Hang out somewhere?" Tina suggested "That's not here.

"Ishka-boredmethefucktosleep," laughed Jamie. "Great literature, my ass."

"Yeah, some of that stuff they consider great- I just don't know why," Valentine confessed. "Have you ever read The Old Man and the Sea? Ugh."

"I never had the patience for real fishing, let alone a whole story about it," groaned Jamie.

"Either or," Katie said, nodding. "Somewhere less... um... crowded."

Kyle eyed Dot, amused. "Knows what?"

"That you find us hot?" Juice guessed.

"Diner." Tina said

"That, um...that I, um ..that I might steal the girl she didn't know she had?" Dot said.

"Though I like the Cantebury Tales... though that might just have been because they were medieval and dirty," Valentine reflected.

"I could ask her," Juice said.

"Maybe you should ask if Satsu's dating her," Kyle suggested.

"Hey Prudence!" Juice called. "Are you banging Satsu?"

Prudence blinked. "What?"

"Then she'll -- Oh my god. I am going to kill you!" Dot turned deep red.

"Banging, you know..." Juice started to make the universal finger gesture to indicate sex... then realized that might not apply to lesbains, so he circled his fingers and stuck his tongue through them instead.

Sherry had to laugh at Juice.

Prudence blushed a deep red. "Uhh... no. We just went out on one date, then she never called me again."

Dot thwapped Juice. "Oh my god. Just ...Oh.."

Prudence frowned. "I guess she didn't like me."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Dot wants to know if Satsu's doing you, because she's been flirting with Dot all week."

"Oh... I guess that's why she didn't call then," Prudence said, looking somewhat sad.

Dot wanted to die, right there. "I was gonna bring it up! I was gonna ..Oh, sometimes I really hate you boys."

"Oh, that sucks." Sherry frowned

"We don't do bullshit," Kyle said.

Dot tried very hard to make herself disappear by force of will alone.

Prudence headed over to Lizzie and Warren. "Can we go home yet?" she asked.

"Well..." Lizzie looked to Warren.

Sherry frowned when Prudence left. Well, that was one less friendly person.

"There's bullshit and then there's tact!" Dot shook her head.

Valentine glanced at the band. "I keep seeing this band around town- they're not bad."

"Hmm?" Warren looked over to Lizzie.

Katie nodded and started heading off to the diner.

"Prudence wants to go home," Lizzie said.

Jamie shrugged. "Dunno, it just seems like so much noise, but i guess that's high priase coming from an LA boy like yourself."

Sherry motioned to one of her waiters, and soon had a cake in front of her. She cut herself a slice, and made sure that she enjoyed it.

"What kind of music do you like?" Valentine asked.

"Oh, sure," Warren said. "We can split, if you like."

"Yeah, she looks upset," Lizzie said. "So I think we better. Come on, Pru.."

"Thank you," Prudence said, and headed for the door with Lizzie and Warren.

Warren trotted outwards. "So what's up?"

"Uh, well, older stuff. You know, not the equivalent of some guy choking a cat with his guitar," said Jaime. "Look, I gotta get going, but maybe we'll see each other again."

"That girl Satsu who said she was so interested in me... apparently she's really interested in Dot instead," Prudence said.

"Oh, I'm sorry..." Lizzie hugged Prudence.

"Sorry," Juice said, frowning at Dot.

"Sure," Valentine said. He offered over one of his business cards. "Give me a call sometime if you want to hang out."

Jaime took the card and tucked it into his pocket. "Classy LA kid with business cards. What a step down this has gotta be." He grinned and headed out.

Dot sighed. "It's okay. I guess she was gonna find out somehow. Right?"

"Anyone want Ice Cream?" asked Sherry, loudly, to the people that were left

"Not that I even know what there is to find out.." Dot sighed again.

"Heh. Aren't women grand?" Warren said, chuckling.

Valentine shook his head, and headed over. "I'll take some ice cream, Sherry."

"Dating is too hard," Prudence said.

"Ooh, ice cream..." Juice started gravitating that way.

Sherry had a big container, and started scooping it into bowls. "Enjoy."

"You boys have some for me and let me know how it is, okay? I'm just going to sit down over there," said Dot, and she went and had a seat off to the side.

Kyle nodded, and went to get some ice cream.

"Yeah, that's why I usually don't," Warren said. "I find just telling people when you want things from them works better."

"Your band is realy nice." Sherry said "I'm glad I was able to get them for my party."

"Thanks- they're getting better all the time," Juice said, snagging a bowl of ice cream.

Lizzie eyed Warren.

"What? Honesty works much better than two-timing," Warren said.

"So, was this a total disaster?" asked Sherry

"Yes but- we're dating, and we're doing pretty well at it," Lizzie said.

"This was the best party ever," Kyle said.

"We liked it!" Juice said.

"Hey, I said usually," Warren said. "Most girls have the sense to flee by now."

"Well, as long as you guys liked it." Sherry shrugged "I really didn't plan on the alcohol... and I guess the waiters were a bit much."

Lizzie grinned. "I guess I don't have that much sense."

Kyle nodded. "And we'll be happy to help eat the leftovers."

An old guy and a young woman headed in the front door, and straight up the stairs, ignoring the wild party.

"Great" Sherry smiled "We have lots.

"Uh, was that your folks?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah." Sherry nodded "They said I could have a party.. and they don't look mad."

"And I just won't tell them about the alcohol unless they ask." Sherry added

"So see, you're not even in trouble," Juice said. He gave the thumbs up.

"Yeah..." Sherry nodded "Everything is going to be fine."

Dot was looking very glum, off to the side. She wasn't eating ice cream.

"...though I think Dot's mad at me," Juice said.

"Your friend looks kinda sad." Sherry noted "Was it because of the whole thing I don't get?"

"The chick that digs her kinda dated this other chick and I had to make sure she wasn't banging the other chick," Juice said.

"What, does that chick just kinda date a bunch of people, or something?" asked Sherry "That's kinda unfair. I dated a guy like that once, and it sucked."

"Yeah, she's going to hate us for a while," Kyle nodded. "And yeah -- she was apparently dating them both at once to find out which one was better."

"Well, that's hardly fair." Sherry frowned "Why is she mad at you?"

"I dunno," Juice said.

"Because we asked Prudence, and she didn't want to find out," Kyle said.

"I guess because I made the lick gesture - that didn't help either," Juice said, contemplating.

"What's your friends name?" asked Sherry "And that lick gesture was rather amusing."

"Well, I figured I couldn't make the bang one 'cause y'know... and oh, that's Dot. She's our best friend," Juice said. "She kicks ass."

"Hey, Dot!" Sherry called "Get on over here. The party girl wants to ask you something."

"Not to be rude, party girl, but can we maybe meet in the middle, or something? I don't want to ruin your party with violence!" Dot called back.

"Look hon, as someone without many friends, you better get over here and peacefully work things out with these two, okay? I understand you're mad and embarrassed or whatever. Get over it. It's not like you have this huge mess to clean up tonight, and aren't these two your ride home?"

Dot grumbled. "They are, but ....argh. I appreciate that it's your party, but where do you get off telling me what to do?"

"I've earned this sulk! I've got a lot of mortification to work through!" Dot called.

"You've got friends. Work through it with them, and you keep shouting, everyone is going to know more of your business than they already do."

Dot got to her feet, still grumbling. She sat down closer to everyone, so that she wouldn't have to shout. "Okay, fine. Here I am."

"Ok, now, take some ice cream." Sherry said "And I've seen you eat, so I know you aren't dieting."

Juice hugged Kyle, sad that Dot was mad at them.

"I'm too mortified to eat right now. Can I take it home with me?" Dot said.

"I'll have the waiters pack some, but you've got to eat at least a scoop right now." Sherry set a small bowl in fron of Dot "Now, get unmortified, and work this out."

Kyle patted. "I think we should just convince Dot to acknowledge that we're going to piss her off once per month."

"Well, okay." Dot took the ice cream, and nibbled at it.

Sherry's phone rang. She picked it up, confused. "Why are you calling me? I'm DOWNSTAIRS... No, you can't come to my party." Sherry hung the phone up

"Ok, now, they're your friends." Sherry said, to Dot "They just want whats best for you. They don't want to hurt you. Why are you mad at them?"

"Yeah, we're like PMS," Juice said.

"Because they don't know when to keep their damn mouths shut," muttered Dot, still nibbling at ice cream.

"Only without the bleeding all over," Kyle agreed.

"No one around here can do that." Sherry said "Why do you expect them to? And from what I understand, it's a good thing they said something. Would you rather things go on all secret like?"

"Who said anything about being secret? I was going to bring it up in my own way, and not in front of, well, of everyone," grumbled Dot. "They just get an idea in their heads and they don't stop to think about it."

"Ok, well, maybe next time, bring it up sooner. Relationships full of lies, and keeping things for the right time seldom work out. You guys gotta be honest with each other."

Dot frowned. "I just didn't want to embarass anybody, is all. It's not even like I know Prudence all that well, so there was no way i was going to get into it here."

"But she knows now, and she can't be led on anymore." Sherry said "That's a good thing."

Dot shook her head. "I'm still well within my rights to be embarassed to death because those idiots have big mouths. And yes, maybe something good came of it, but in the worst possible way."

"Isn't that what friends do?" asked Sherry "They embarass you at the worst of times? But then, when you're at the bottom of the barrel, they are there to give you a hand up?"

Dot nodded. "I'm still allowed to be mad at them."

"Why?" Sherry asked "Why be mad at them right now? Look how remorsful they are."

Shaking her head, Dot stood up. "Thanks for the ice cream and the pep talk. I'm sure they're very sorry, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna let 'em off the hook right away."

"Dot, you ready to go?" Juice called.

Dot held out her arms. "Come here, you idiots."

Juice headed over to hug the Dot

Dot hugged, briefly. "Come on, let's go home."

Sherry smiled. "See you guys. Ya'll come back sometime, and I'll dazzle you with ice cream cake."

"Thanks, Sherry... it was a fun party," Juice said. "Comeon, band..."

Juice waved to the Neck Ruptures, figuring to help them pack up their shit in the van before they left, too

The Neck Ruptures were packing it in. "Thanks again for having us," Cindy called.

Sherry waved goodbye, and made sure Larry had a blanket. "Not a problem."

Dot waved. "Thanks for the ice cream. Happy party day." She waited over by the doors while the band got everything broken down.

"Sorry Dot," Juice siad.

"I didn't mean to make the lick gesture at your romantic rival."

"We'll talk about it later, Juice. Apology accepted, okay?" Dot sighed.

"Okay," Juice said. He was glad she forgave him

"If it helps, you can smack me, but I might be into it," Kyle said.