Chapter One Hundred and Nineteen: Making Plans

 “Do you think it's
safe?” Izzy whispered to her sister.

“I don't know, he
might rip us a new one if we try.” Lizzy replied, peering
cautiously into the dining room.

“I mean, if we were
super quiet we might get past.”

“Are you kidding me,
he'd hear us the moment we stepped in!”

“I CAN HEAR THE BOTH
OF YOU NOW!” Charlie roared, making both girls jump.

Charlie did not take to
paperwork and studying well, which made life in the Begly household
tense as the family tip-toed around him, trying to be as quiet as
possible as to not incur the wrath of Chuckles.

“You know, I thought
it'd be fun having a smart brother, but I was wrong.” Lizzy threw
her brother a dirty look as the two sisters walked through the dining
room to get to the front door.

“Anyway, I got a date
with Hugo. It sucks that you don't hang with us anymore.” Izzy said
as she pulled on her shoes.

“I still don't like
Hugo!” Charlie called from the dining room.

“Get back to work!”
Izzy yelled back.

“I'm going out with
Sammy. Making up for lost time. I can't believe Mum and Dad are
letting me date a gaolbird.” Lizzy joked.

“And they still don't
like Hugo. HE'S never been to gaol!” Izzy complained.

“Parents are weird.”

“So are brothers.”

“I HEARD THAT!”

The twins headed out
the door just as Belle walked in.

“Good luck with HIM,
he's in a mood.” Lizzy warned the Masters as they passed each
other.

“I can handle him.”
Belle grinned.

“Probably the only
one who can.” Muttered Izzy, sharing THAT look with her sister as
they walked out of the house. Her sister shrugged back. Would
Chuckles and Giggles EVER admit to their love for each other?!

“So Charlie, how goes
the Pleasantville Chamber of Commerce?” Belle sat down at the
dining room table.

“Don't ask. Just
don't. Bloody. Ask.” Charlie groaned. “I've looked through all
these books you gave me plus those websites and I can't find a way
around Demon.”

“You mean the proviso
that it HAS to go through a Council review?” Belle asked. “I
thought there was about ten ways to circumvent that.”

“Yeah, well, I'd need
Higher Government support, and that's not exactly forthcoming is
it?!” Charlie snapped. “Unless you want to call Dickson again and
have him try to kill your Dad!”

“Easy! Easy!” Belle
threw up her arms to protect herself. “Geez, you studying is a
pain. You're all prickly, like a hedgehog.”

Charlie snorted. Then
he froze. Then his face lifted into a grin. He immediately grabbed
for his phone.

“This totally doesn't
count as Improbability by the way.” Belle grumbled.

–

“Thanks Webster!”
Charlie finally got off the phone as Belle sat at the table, waiting.
“Wait, is that my chocolate ice cream?”

“I'm your best
friend. We share everything.” Belle replied as she ate. “What did
Webster say?”

“He's gonna talk to
some of his friends on the Brisvegas City Council and have them come
up here to help establish it.” Charlie grinned. “We're in!”

“All right!” Belle
cheered. “Have some ice-cream!”

“Don't mind if I do!”
Charlie grinned, digging a spoon into the ice-cream. “I've been
researching legislation too, and there is SO much that we can stick
on the Council if we can pull this off.”

“IF we can pull this
off. Have you got any more signatures?” Belle asked.

“Noooo…” Charlie
admitted.

“Charlie, you NEED
those signatures, otherwise there's no Chamber of Commerce.” Belle
frowned at him.

“I KNOW, but there
just aren't enough non-PCC businesses in the Pleasantville Council
area!” Charlie whined.

“Well, why aren't you
canvassing PCC businesses?” Belle asked.

“I THOUGHT OF THAT.”
Charlie snapped. “That'd never work.”

“PCC businesses would
LOVE a Chamber of Commerce. They could weaponize it easily.” Belle
pointed out.

“Yeah, but then they
wouldn't be voting for ME to run it, would they?!” Charlie snapped.
“The whole point of this is to get me in a position to run this
joint!”

“Technically it
doesn't have to be you.” Belle pointed out. “It just needs to be
someone fair and impartial.”

Charlie's face fell.

“But it definitely
should be you.” Belle quickly tried to backtrack.

Charlie sighed. “Let's
face it, no one will vote for me even if they WERE all PRO. No one
knows who I am, and I'm only 23 years old.”

Charlie felt his lip
wobble.

“Don't be like that
Charlie! We can find someone who will do things right.” Belle
rubbed his arm. “I'm sure it will be you, but in case it isn't
maybe we should have a backup?”

“I guess.” Charlie
looked defeated.

Just then, Peter walked
in.

“AGAIN!?” Belle
groaned as Charlie perked up.

“Hi you two. Where's
Tom?” Peter asked.

“Hey Peter, do you
want to head up the Chamber of Commerce? Might help your chances of
getting elected Mayor in the next election!” Charlie beamed.

Peter looked at the
pair and blinked. “Excuse me?”

–

Poison didn't work.
Straight out shooting him wouldn't work either, because he was too
well protected. Plus after the poison tea episode he KNEW that his
underling wanted him dead.

Crusader Daryl sat on
the edge of Pleasant Gorge, looking down to the dusty road below.
Something in the air made him think of Charlie Begly.

“If only I had a best
friend like he does. Someone who has all the good ideas.” Daryl
chortled, but it was bitter. How that loser managed to snag himself a
pretty little best friend was beyond Daryl. Charlie wasn't rich, or
popular, not like Daryl had been when they were in school. Back when
Daryl had been School Captain and the richest, most popular kid in
school. Before he lost everything.

Daryl sighed. This
wasn't getting him anywhere. He had to get rid of Crusader Roger, and
he had to do it in a way that kept himself safe. Then his father
would come crawling back. Daryl was definitely going to ask for an
allowance raise.

Daryl groaned, and
looked down the gorge again. Maybe he should just throw himself down
and end it all. Serve them all right. His mother would scream and
wail at his father, who would finally have to feel guilty about
something for the first time in his life.

Except that would mean
that Sunny won. Everything would be left to Sunny, and Daryl couldn't
allow that. Sunny was an unwanted bastard. Sunny should never have
been born to begin with. Sunny only existed because his parents were
stupid and couldn't keep their hands off each other. If only he could
get rid of HER as well. Heck, get rid of Sunny, Lady Courage,
Chuckles, Giggles, Belle, Charlie…ROGER.

“Why can't I THINK of
anything?!” Daryl groaned. “Why can't I just…get…someone…”

Then Daryl grinned.