We creep our way into the administration building. The hallway's deserted, allowing us to hear two female voices from three doors down.
Under Drake's direction, we inch forward, peering around the door's edge.
Melody's standing in front of a glass counter, golf clubs and equipment surrounding her. Apparently it's the club's golf shop. Behind the counter is a pretty, young girl, maybe about 24, with short, soft brown hair.
"So you'd like to reserve the course for January 5th?" asks the clerk.
"Correct. From noon until 11 pm", Melody confirms.
"I'm going to go check this out" whispers Becky, darting forward before any of us can stop her.
"Melody! Wow, fancy seeing you here!" she calls, the little Korean vixen in the white dress already upon my tall, blonde love before she has a chance to react.
Melody smiles slightly in that polite, aloof manner of hers, "Hello, Becky. I'm just here arranging a small party after the new year. What brings you here?"
"Oh, I'm here with Bobby Schwarzwald at the Theta Sigma Phi Fall Formal."
"Lying bitch!" Caveman hisses under his breath.
Drake's covering his mouth to keep from laughing as he whispers aside to us, "Stay here. I'm going to go have a little fun with this" and before we can say anything, he, too, is joining what is rapidly becoming a crowded counter.
"Ah, there you are, Becky! I've been looking all over for you!"
Becky giggles, sinking back into Drake's arms as he comes up behind her, "Sorry. I just wanted to get some fresh air and I thought while I was out there, I'd see what was in this building."
Drake laughs and shakes his head, winking at Melody as he offers his hand to her, "Becky can be so silly sometimes! I'm Bobby Schwarzwald, by the way. I don't believe we've met."
"Melody Suchet. A pleasure." she replies, briefly pressing his hand with a small smile. Drake has that ability to put anyone at ease, even an ice princess like this girl.
Caveman's eyes are narrowing as he's listening to this conversation and I grab on to his arm, muttering, "Hey man, keep cool. This is funny, right?"
"Is.... Nick Hunter there?" asks Melody, her look a casual one, though I can tell by the faint flush of her ears that it's not so idle a question for her.
Drake nods, "Yep, he's here. He didn't bring a date, though, because he said after you, there wasn't anybody really worth taking, so he's been hanging out with Caveman all night."
"His real name's Drake Winters, but everybody calls him Caveman", Becky chimes in.
"I see." Melody's lips are thin with distaste and disapproval, "Poor Nick, that he has to have such company."
"Yeah, Caveman can be a little weird", Drake admits.
"Weird? You mean a total and complete loser! I agree, poor Nick that he has to put up with that ass all night!" Becky's eyes are starting to get that purple edge again.
The real Caveman snarls and only a well-timed arm twist thanks to yours truly keeps him from darting out into the shop to defend himself. Trapped, he mumbles about how he's going to strangle us all.
Drake quickly glances back and sees Caveman struggling against my hold. He makes a subtle motion for us to get out of there while he turns back to the two women, who are comparing notes on what a pathetic human being Caveman is.
"Hey, Melody. I know a way you can save Nick from Caveman. Come hang out with us for the rest of Formal. That way he can tell Caveman to kiss off and he can hang out with somebody really cool, namely you."
Drake's suggestion draws another small smile from Melody.
"Yes. All right. I think I can do that, because no one should have to suffer a night with a boy like Caveman."
I pull the real Caveman away from the door and we rush out of the building as quickly and quietly as we can, his eyes murderous, mine gleeful.
Now we just have to get back to the formal in time to let everyone know who is who for the rest of the evening.