All Bets Are Off

3.) Raising The Stakes

~Tuesday~

Geoff: Where the hell is Jack? He's been gone all morning.

He, Gavin, Michael, Ryan and Ray were waiting around in the warehouse for Jack to show up so that they could record AHWU. They had put it off yesterday on account of the whole desk fiasco.

Ray: Forget about him. Where the hell is Barbara with the food?

As if on cue, Barbara came into the warehouse, being followed by Kerry, Jordan and Kara. All three of them were wearing RWBY hoodies. Lindsay came in after them, her camera held in front of her face as she hit record. Geoff frowned slightly, already sensing something was up.

Michael: Yo, Dunkleman, where the hell is our food? We're starving!

Barbara smiled brightly, linking arms with Gavin and pulling him into the middle of the room. Kerry, Jordan and Kara stood off to the side, looking overly happy. They all glanced at Geoff every few seconds, making him even more paranoid.

Barbara: Jack Patillo, come on down!

The doors opened again and in came Jack, wheeling a cart filled to the brim with different types of cookies.

Chocolate chips, nice biscuits, gingersnaps, Oreos, oatmeal cream pies, peanut butter, vanilla wafers, sugar cookies. There was even a large cookie pie in the middle that had the Brit's name frosted on it.

The others tried hard not to laugh. This was Jack's present? No way he could overtake Geoff. Gavin may have been immature but he wasn't a three year old in preschool. At the very least, they wouldn't have to go shopping for snacks for a while.

Gavin: What's all this then?

Gavin had an amused smile on his face as he let Barbara led him over to the cookie smorgasbord. The smell of sugary confections filled his nose as he bit into a chocolate chip cookie. It tasted so fresh, as if it had just been taken out of the oven.

Jack: Just a little something. It was half-off cookie day at the bakery two blocks over.

Jack shot Barbara a stern look as she snickered. They both knew that he had paid full price for all of this, even the trays. Of course, Gavin wasn't allowed to know that yet.

Geoff: Well this is all very cute Jack, but-

Jack: Oh, no. I'm not finished yet.

The others all shared a look. Jack's smile had morphed into a smug grin, and the 'hoodie gang' was practically bursting with excitement. Michael tried to get Lindsay's attention so that she could explain to him what the hell was going on, but she ignored him.

Ryan: What do you mean? What else is there?

Jack: If my lovely assistants would please disrobe...

Kerry, Jordan and Kara pulled the hoodies off over their heads and Geoff experienced extreme regret. He never should have invented this contest.

Graphic t-shirts. How could something so simple in theory turn out to be something so incredibly kickass? Let's start with Kerry, who was striking stupid poses like a constipated runway model.

His shirt was purple and in white letters said Base Base Base Base... Knowledge down the front. Under that was a picture of a cartoon creeper wearing a pair of 'deal with it' glasses.

Jordan's was white with black lettering. At the top was the phrase Wot If... and under that was a list of unique (idiotic) things Gavin had said over the years. It even extended to the back, and trailed off as if there was more to be read but they ran out of shirt to put it on.

Kara's was by far the best. Her shirt was dark green and depicted a cute little cartoon creeper hugging a giant cookie while standing in a field of smaller cookies. Under that in black letters was Imma Cookie Creeper.

Ryan cursed under his breath and Michael walked off into a corner to rage in peace. Geoff pouted, walking over to them and stealing a handful of cookies before going to sit on the couch.

Gavin was absolutely speechless. He looked up at Jack as he was munching on a nice biscuit, and in that moment he truly resembled a little kid. His cheeks were puffed out and his eyes were wide and full of wonder. No one would openly admit it, but they all though that he looked adorable.

Gavin: How did.. I can't even.. And the cookies? Jack this is bloody amazing!

Jack: I'll admit I had some help. I can't draw for shit so Barbara helped me buff out the designs.

Barbara: Yup! And we liked the shirts so much that we ordered a bunch and put them up for sale on the website.

Michael: (in the distance) OH COME ON!

Gavin was all smiles as he went to go inspect the shirts, laughing out loud as he read some of his better Wot Ifs. Lindsay hit stop on her camera and walked over to Ray, who had been silent through the whole endeavor. He had a contemplative look on his face as he chewed on an Oreo.

Lindsay: So Ray, I believe it's your turn tomorrow?

Ray: Uhh, yeah. That would be correct.

Lindsay: Got any idea of what you're gonna do?

Ray: I've got something in the works, yes.

Lindsay: Do you think it'll beat Geoff and Jack?

Ray: Oh most definitely.

Lindsay chuckled to herself. Ray was the kind of person who could make you feel so many emotions with few words. Or at least that's what the fans always said. Lindsay was actually beginning to believe them.

Lindsay: Well, I look forward to filming you tomorrow.

Ray: I use to get that a lot when I lived in New York.

Lindsay shook her head as she said her goodbyes and left the warehouse, heading back to her own little office.

Tomorrow certainly would be interesting.