AJ was awakened by the sound of hysterical laughter coming from downstairs. Curiousity got the better of him, and he got out of bed and walked downstairs to see the girls spralwed out on the living room floor watching the movie 10 Things I Hate About You.
"You know, Kat," Allie said, quite in sync with the television, "people percive you as quite...."
"Tempetuous?" Nikki said at the same time as Julia Stiles.
"Henious bitch is the term used quite often." Allie paused. "You might want to work on that. Thank you."
"And as always, thank you for your excellent guidance." Nikki paused, as did Julia onscreen. "I'll let you get back to Reginald's quivering member."
"Quivering memeber..." Allie said, gettting a thoughtful look on her face. "I like that."
"Now if it was AJ's quivering member...." Nikki began.
"What about my quivering member?" AJ inquired.
The girls all jumped in surprise. "Oh! AJ! What're you doing up?" Madison asked.
"I heard you all laughing your butts off about something, I just thought that I might come see what was so funny. Do you know every line in this whole movie?"
"Basically, yes," Allie said. "Nikki only knows a few of the scenes."
"Want any breakfast?" Rachel asked.
"Eh, I guess so. What have you got?" AJ rubbed his eyes, and for the first time Nikki noticed he didn't have his sunglasses on. Damn, he's got gorgeous eyes.
"I'll make something," Rachel said. "Anyone in the mood for pancakes?"
"You know how to cook?" AJ asked.
"Yeah. Want some pancakes or something?"
"Yum," Madison said. "Pancakes sound good. I'm game."
Rachel headed into the kitchen and began to go through the cabinents, looking for pancake mix, leaving AJ with the other girls in the living room. As soon as Heath Ledger appeared onscreen, Allie whistled. "Ooh, he's fine."
"What about me?" AJ whined.
Nikki smiled at him. "Of course, you're fine too," she said reassuringly.
"Why thank you."
Madison rolled her eyes. "Gag me."
"Excuse you," Nikki said.
Madison got up. "Gladly." She headed into the kitchen to help Rachel make breakfast. "They're making me empthetic."
"If you're sick, you need to get out of the kitchen," Rachel said sarcastically.
"Rachel! They're making me wanna vomit."
"Oh." Rachel flipped a pancake over. "When do you think that Nikki's gonna launch the kidnapping plan?"
"I guess tonight, but it could be earlier. She's going to get one of the other guy's e-mail addresses so she can send the ransom note." Madison picked up a spatula and flipped the bacon in the frying pan.
"I still feel bad about this," Rachel admitted as she flipped another pancake.
"Me too," Madison confessed. "But hey, we'll go down in history. 'The first girls to kidnap a pop star'."
"That's not exactly a title I'd like to live with," Rachel said. The more she thought about it, though, it made her laugh. "That would be kind of funny, though." She flipped the last of the pancakes. "Breakfast!"
*********
Later that day Nikki sat at her computer, staring at the screen blankly. What should I write in a ransom note? she thought. She sighed, thought for a minute, and began typing:
To whom it may concern:
We have your friend, AJ. He is with us and safe for the time being. However, we will not let him go unless you pay a sum of ten thousand dollars. He will be unharmed until the money is dropped. If the money is not dropped after five days, we will keep him.
Sincerely,
DeGrassio and company
Nikki looked over the note. "Pretty good," she said. She took one last look at it, then pointed her mouse to "send". Within seconds, the screen blinked. "Your mail has been sent".