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Without Equal - Chapter 3 - The Other Favorite
By: RampageSports Date: November 2, 2015, 9:53 am
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Without Equal - Chapter 3 - The Other Favorite
Danni was right. I really didn't want to do this.
Not more than five minutes after she left, Britney and Elisha
appeared to ask about my favorite Halloween song. I told them
both to get the hell out of my office, which resulted in some of
their customary banter. Whatever, I'm used to it now, and it
all sounds the same to me.
If felt like they had no sooner left when Aly walked in. Same
question. Same result.
And so the parade began. Every couple of minutes, someone else
walked in to ask about the song.
Number five on the list was Emma.
"Don't you guys realize I'm the one who pays your salaries, not
Danni?" I asked.
"You would fire someone over something so silly?" she said.
"I would fire you just because I don't like you."
"Nah," she said doubtfully. "You'd have done that years ago."
As she left, I called out to Danni.
"This isn't gonna work, Harris!"
"Sounds like it's working just fine," she replied.
Over the course of an hour, they just kept coming and coming.
It felt like a hundred people — though the number was probably
closer to ten — stopped in to ask about my song choice. After a
while, I just started throwing them out before they even got the
chance to say anything.
The game carried over to the bar afterward, which actually
worked in my favor. With the audience captive and me still not
giving up my answer, the guessing finally began.
"The Monster Mash," Anna Kendrick offered.
"Good song," I said, "but no."
"What about something creepy, like the theme from the Halloween
movies?" Aly Michalka asked.
"Huh. I hadn't thought about the instrumental stuff. That's a
whole other thing. You get into things like Night On Bald
Mountain and Ride of the Valkyries. Or even the Twilight Zone
theme. We could be here all night. So, I'll go easy on you
guys and just say the song has lyrics."
"My favorite is Running With the Devil," Leesh said.
I wrinkled my nose at that one.
"Hmm," I said. "Good song, great band. But, not a Halloween
song, really."
And so the debate began.
"Of course it is," she said, "it's about the Devil."
"So?"
"Devil. Halloween. What more do you need?"
"It's not creepy or scary or any of that. Just because it has
the the word devil in it doesn't make it a Halloween song."
"That's like saying that Charlie Daniels song isn't a Halloween
song," Britney chimed in, coming back to the table with a round
of drinks for those who needed a refill.
"It's not," Danni said.
"Are you kidding?" Leesh said. "The Devil is actually in the
song."
"Okay," I said. "Maybe it's borderline, because the Devil is a
character in it, but there's no way it's number one."
The drinks went around the table, most drinking beer. A wine
here or there. And a Diet Coke for me.
The first time we all went out like this, my choice of beverage
had been the subject of much discussion. First came the jokes
about how I must be the designated driver that night. That's
when I informed the group that I didn't drink at all. The
reactions I got then were the same ones I always get when people
discover that little tidbit about me.
First, there are always a few people who think I'm joking. I
mean, how could someone survive without drinking alcohol?
I'm never sure what to do with that group. I don't drink, and
here I am. So, what am I supposed to say?
Then there's the group that thinks maybe I'm a recovering
alcoholic. The ones that are happy to support my noble efforts
to keep myself on the straight and narrow.
These people are on to something, but they're still wrong. Yes,
I have seen what alcohol can do to people who are too easily
influenced by it's reality numbing charms. To some degree, I
wonder why someone would risk that kind of outcome. But, though
I've never bothered to test my limits of self-control by
drinking, there is no reason to believe it would have that kind
of influence on me.
The last group are the ones who think I don't drink because I
feel responsible for the group as a whole. Not so much the DD
as the self-appointed den mother.
That group is not wrong, but they're still not completely right.
I do feel responsible for my girls. And maybe I lent some
credence to this last theory when I announced my two rules for
these little outings. The first is that no one gets out of
control. We can go out, have a few drinks and enjoy
ourselves... but I'd better not have to call a cab for anyone.
Because I will call that cab. I will get you home safely. And
in the morning, I will kick your ass all over the place.
The other rule is that we all leave together. I have known that
person who happily sees her friends off, then goes back into the
bar and drinks herself stupid alone.
These rules exist because I care about these women, but I'm
confident they're not necessary. I have a good group, and I
know it. We go out like this to spend some time together away
from the cage. To let loose a little, and have some fun. But
these women are all responsible enough to take care of
themselves, and, beyond that, they take care of each other. No
one here ever has to face anything alone.
On a side note, it has occurred to me that we're going to have
to come up with some other ways to socialize together. Because
the two newest members of our family are not old enough to join
us in this particular activity.
And I'd be lying if I said that didn't make me feel a whole lot
older than the teen-speak they were dropping on me earlier.
Anyway, the real reason I don't drink alcohol is far simpler
than any of the theories people usually come up with. Fact is,
I just don't like the taste of it. Beer, wine, whatever... it
all has a strong overtone to it that I don't enjoy. When I tell
people this, they inevitably recommend the sweeter, fruitier
drinks because they don't taste like alcohol at all. I've never
seen the sense in that line of thinking. I mean, if the only
way to enjoy alcohol is to mix it with something else until I
can't taste it anymore, then why not just drink the something
else and leave the alcohol out of it?
Maybe my life would be a little easier if I could avoid this
whole discussion the way Danni does. You see, it turns out Miss
Harris is something of a magician. She can make people see
things that aren't real. That's the only way for me to explain
why I'm the only one who seems to notice that Danni can make a
single beer last all night. Not only that, she nurses it so
gently that even that first beer is hardly touched. I'd be
shocked if she's consumed the sum total of a full glass in all
the times we've been out together.
I'm certain that part of the reason she does this is that she,
too, feels a sense of responsibility for the women she leads. I
have no way to know if there's more behind it, though.
Though I don't possess Danni's affinity for sleight of hand, the
importance of my non-drinker status has faded to the point that
no one comments on it, anymore.
"Richelle's favorite is probably the one from that Disney
movie," Emma said, clearly mocking my Disney fandom.
"Which one?" I asked.
"The Halloween one," she said, as though the answer were
obvious. "The Christmas Nightmare, or whatever."
"It's The Nightmare Before Christmas, idiot," I said, "and This
Is Halloween is a good guess, but no."
The Ghostbusters theme song," Ashley called out.
"That's definitely top five, but still no."
The group went quiet for a few minutes, as no one seemed to have
another guess. There was one guess I was shocked they hadn't
tried.
"You guys are trying too hard," I said. "I can't believe you
haven't come up with this one."
"What about Nightmare On My Street?" Aly said.
"By the Fresh Prince?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
She nodded.
"Alyson, I'm sorry to have to do this to you," I said, "but
you're no longer allowed to guess."
The group seemed stumped again, and I couldn't take anymore.
I pushed back from the table.
"Well, it's time for us to get going," I said. "It's getting
close to midnight."
All I got in response were puzzled looks.
"What are you talking about?" Danni said. "It's seven-fifteen."
I shrugged.
"It's dark out there. You never know what kind of things are
lurking."
The looks around the table became more bewildered... all except
for one.
At the far end, I noticed Britney's head begin to bob to a beat
no one else could hear. Once she got it going the way she
wanted, she started to sing.
[font=arial]♪It's close to midnight and something evil's
lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your
heart♪[/font]
I smiled and nodded. Then, much to everyone's surprise, I sang
back to her.
[font=arial]♪You try to scream
but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze
as horror looks you right between the eyes♪[/font]
"How stupid could we be?" Elisha asked.
"You don't want me to answer that," I said.
Then, Emma suddenly got up and went out to the bar area. She
reappeared a moment later, just as Michael Jackson's Thriller
came crystal clear through the speakers in the ceiling.
I smiled, happy to hear the song. Happy, that is, until the
members of RSI started to make their way to the dance floor.
And they weren't taking no for an answer.
Aly and Ashley Tisdale grabbed hold of Danni and started to drag
her off with them. She, in turn, grabbed me, with Elisha
pushing me from behind.
This was bad. You see, I can warble a tune okay. But dancing?
No.
"No, no, no!" I yelled.
"Yes, yes, yes," Danni said. "If I have to go, you have to go."
"Why?" I said. "This is your fault! You started this thing
with the songs!"
"Oh, too bad," Elisha said.
With resistance being futile, I gave up and went along. As it
turned out, it wasn't too bad. Most of us just bopped around
like fools and let the experts do the heavy lifting. With
talents such as Britney, Ashley, Demi Lovato and Julianne Hough,
those who wandered in from the bar were treated to quite a show.
Most importantly, though, we had a damn good time.
After the song was over, we finished our drinks and made our way
out to our cars. Danni and I saw everyone off safely, then
headed for our own vehicles. As we walked, she gave me a
piercing stare.
"What?" I asked.
"I don't believe you," she said.
"That's twice you've said that to me today. I'm starting to get
a complex."
"The song," she said. "I don't believe it's really your
favorite."
"Why not?"
"It's too obvious," she said. "Especially for you."
"You're thinking too much," I said as we reached our vehicles.
"That song is a Halloween staple, and I've always enjoyed it."
She eyed me suspiciously and said, "I'm not buying it."
"Suit yourself," I said with a shrug. "I'll see you Monday."
As I disappeared behind my own vehicle, I started to sing again.
[font=arial]♪When the spooks have a midnight jamboree,
they break it up with fiendish glee.
Ghosts are bad,
but the one that's cursed
is the Headless Horseman,
he's the worst.♪[/font]
Even though I couldn't see her, I could hear Danni's hearty
laugh as I got in my car.
[hr]
Character Reference
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Richelle_100x120.jpg
Name: Richelle Winterfeld
Nickname(s):
Background: Owner of the RSI stable, former underground fighter
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Danni_100x120.jpg
Name: Danneel Harris
Nickname(s): Danni
Background: RSI stable leader, reigning DEF welterweight
champion
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Britney_100x120.jpg
Name: Britney Spears
Nickname(s): Brit, Queen B
Background: Team leader of Britney's Brutal Beauties, DEF
middleweight contender, training partner and close friend of
Elisha Cuthbert
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Elisha_100x120.jpg
Name: Elisha Cuthbert
Nickname(s): Leesh
Background: Team leader of Leesh's Lethal Ladies, DEF
middleweight contender, training partner and close friend of
Britney Spears
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Aly_100x120.jpg
Name: Alyson Michalka
Nickname(s): Aly, Hellcat
Background: Team leader of The Aly Cats, FAC light heavyweight
contender
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Emma_100x120.jpg
Name: Emma Watson
Nickname(s): Dr. Watson
Background: Reigning FAC featherweight champion, training
partner and romantic partner of Tiffany Mulheron
[img]
HTML https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0Bz8YsEjMxOhMUU1zUWZkbWxjT2s[/img]
Name: Anna Kendrick
Nickname(s):
Background: ESL welterweight contender
HTML https://aade768506dacb303a01a361d3dc0d27209a5ec4.googledrive.com/host/0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMXhVcF82aG5SXzA/Ashley_100x120.jpg
Name: Ashley Tisdale
Nickname(s): Ash, Tiz, Blondie Girl, Sharpay
Background: ESL bantamweight contender
[img]
HTML https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0Bz8YsEjMxOhMMGp0Y09TVXo4Rlk[/img]
Name: Olivia Holt
Nickname(s): Liv
Background: FAC bantamweight contender
[img]
HTML https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=0Bz8YsEjMxOhMbUdYRUVzQ24xUHc[/img]
Name: Dove Cameron
Nickname(s):
Background: FAC bantamweight contender
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