Rose
“I’m proud of how hard you guys are working,” B.B announces happily one day. We wait for him to continue his pep-talk. He does say how proud he is of us a lot but I suspect it’s to make up for the bad things he wrote about us in his “progress analyzer”. Maybe he’s scared we’ll all get mad at him and quit. “So I’d decided you guys have earned a reward.” He continues. We all perk up a little. A reward? What would B.B get us for a reward? Maybe cat-nip or something. “Do you have any ideas of how I can reward you?” he asks sheepishly. “Unlimited curly fries!” Hunter cheers. “You already have that.” Krys points out. “More unlimited curly fries!” he shouts happily. An idea slams into my head faster than I can consider it. “How about a party?”
“A party?” B.B asks curiously. Most of Super Six like this idea. “Yeah.” Jenny agrees. “That could be cool.” John adds. “Where would it be? What kind of party?” Mute asks. “Maybe here after we close one night.” I suggest. “We could close Le Café for a day.” Hunter suggests. “I doubt it.” I say. Since Easter is coming, more and more people are coming here while they’re too busy preparing for the holiday to make a meal. We can’t afford to close. I guess that’s better than running around serving a bunch of old ladies though. “How about we close early on Friday night and we can have it then.” B.B suggests. We all nod. “I’ll bring soda.” Krys offers. “Fudge that! I’ll bring some red bull!” Jenny cheers. I giggle. “You do that.” I say grinning. “Maybe you should invite that girl you’re friends with. Joy is her name right?” Mute asks. I bite my lip. I don’t like Joy’s company and I actually want to enjoy this party. “Joy is a biscuit!” Jenny shouts with enthusiasm. I smile at her. “Yes she is.” I agree. “Jake and Steve and May and Drew should come.” Hunter suggests eagerly. “Yeah.” John agrees. “And Matt.” Krys adds quickly. We all chuckle a little. “Yes Krys. And Matt.” Mute teases elbowing her. Her face gets a little pink. It’s April 12th today. Eight days until Judgment Day. We should enjoy them.
That Friday, we close early. Jake, Steve, May and Drew stay late with the rest of us. Krys brings in a big bottle of soda. Like she promised, Jenny brings in a ton of red bull. B.B gives us a big bowl to pour the soda into. It was like a punch bowl only with soda. In the corner of my eyes I catch Jenny spiking the soda with her red bull. No alcohol just a ton of sugar. We all get giddy and bounce off the walls. We play some music. Some 70s songs and One Direction. Drew and Jenny spin around dizzily. Krys and Matt disappear into another room briefly. We don’t dance; we just jump around all giddy from the red bull. Hunter snags the office chair from the back room and rolls around. He commands Krys and Jenny to push him around. They try to push him off the chair. When it tips over and crushes the three of them, they burst out laughing hysterically. We all goof around until the front doors slam open. Just like last time, Nick and Joe walk in.
“What do you want?” Hunter snaps. Matt’s face gets white as he backs away. I don’t think he’s seen Nick and Joe since he quit working for Rob and Scotch. “We just want to-” Joe began but I cut him off. “Shut up and go away already!” I’m sick of them ruining our fun and beating the crap out of us. I wanted tonight to be a fun day before we all risk our lives! We touch our gems together. Matt and Krys back into the kitchen followed by Jake, Steve, May and Drew. I run to Joe and kick him in the balls. Hunter easily pins him down. Joe doesn't fight at all. Mute pins Nick against the wall. John slaps him in the face making his nose bleed. Jenny, being the pacifist she is, sits on a table dangling her legs trying to get them to touch the floor. She looks at us disapprovingly. “They don’t appear to be fighting so why not leave them alone?” she points out. “Well they barged in here!” Hunter whines. “Well you didn’t have to spring on us!” Joe cries pulling his arms away from Hunter. Mute lets Nick go.
I see Krys and Matt poke their heads out of the kitchen, their eyes wide with curiosity. “What are you doing here anyway? I thought you closed ages ago.” Joe remarks casually. I shrug. “Rose wanted to throw a party.” Steve explains creeping out of the kitchen with May. For some reason now, I want to deny me ever suggesting a party. It feels silly to celebrate your last days on earth when you could be preparing to survive them. “That’s cool.” Nick mumbles. My mouth takes on a mind of its own. “Maybe you can join us. You know, not fight us just once.” I blurt out quickly. Everyone looks at me astonished. Too late to take back the words. I shrug. “Well it won’t be that bad. I don’t think they want to hurt us.” I say defensively. “Yeah . . . why not?” John asks. “You just better not hurt us.” Hunter growls in Joe’s face. Joe nods quickly and eagerly.
Nick, Joe and Matt chat for a while. I guess they have some catching up to do. We play some more songs. Everyone begins to dance, still giddy and energetic. I just sway back and forth eyeing Jake from the other side of Le Café. If two friends dance together holding each other tight are they still just friends? I keep swaying until I feel a hand grab mine. I see Joe looking up at me pleadingly. I yank my hand away. “Just for tonight?” he begs. One night can’t hurt. I hold out my hand and he happily accepts it. We dance together a little. A slower, more romantic song comes on. I see Krys and Matt snickering by the speakers. They put on the song. Are they trying to hook me and Joe up? Matt leans in and kisses Krys. She doesn’t pull away. Steve and May dance a little slowly moving closer. The air changes and everything feels different. Jenny is pressed against Drew’s chest. Any more developing romance? I scan the room. I see Jake walking out the door. I don’t stop him. I ignore him and dance with Joe. I don’t like him in that way but it’s nice to think . . . maybe . . . one day we can be friends.
