Wish for Sterns to be happy.

“I’ve been thinking,” you tell Lynn.

“Oh that can’t be good,” she murmurs.

Ignoring her snideness, you continue. “The only reason you want to humiliate Coach Sterns is because she treated you badly.

“Well, glad we can finally have that clarified,” Lynn replied, maintaining her sarcasm streak. “So, now that you have my motivation, shall we move on with the **** plot?”

“Well, that’s the thing. I think Coach Sterns treats you like that because her life is crummy,” you say.

“What’s your point?” Lynn asks, starting to get impatient.

“My point is, if Coach Sterns isn’t miserable, then maybe she’ll start treating others less miserably!” Lynn tilts her head at your explanation, like you’re talking in a different language. You elaborate some more, “If she’s happy, she won’t have a reason to bully people!”

“But bullying people is what makes her happy…” Lynn reasons.

“Alright, let’s put it to the test then, we make Coach Sterns happy and see how she treats us the next day!” you suggest.

Lynn thinks about the proposal for a minute and nods. “Alright! Seems like a fun thing to try out. So, what do you think will make the coach happy?”

“Well, for one, living in a better place than this dump,” you offer, looking around at the impoverished living conditions. You picture a swanky penthouse apartment with full wall glass windows overseeing the city skyline. The open floor space is several times the space that Sterns had in her apartment. On one side is leather seating, a giant screen TV and a fireplace behind a marble wall facade. On the other, separated by a marble topped island counter is the kitchen area with a stainless steel fridge and proper stove and oven. The floors are black marble in the living area with soft white shag carpets juxtaposed with the white marbled kitchen area. In a flash, the three of you are there!

You catch Sterns’ reaction to her new surroundings. It’s one of shock and horror! Her eyes dart around like an animal looking for an escape route. She heads toward the kitchen and rummages through the stained wood panel drawers, finding a 7 inch blade to wield.

“I think she thinks she’s been kidnapped,” Lynn observes.

Now that you give it some thought; suddenly finding yourself in a completely new place with no explanation of how you got there can be disconcerting. You should probably give her some context. Another mental wish later, there is a buzzer sound. Coach Sterns realizes it’s coming from the entrance door. She cautiously approaches the door and checks the peephole to see who is outside. It’s a man in a bellhop uniform. Keeping the chain lock on and the kitchen knife readied, she slowly opens the door.

“Yes?” she asks.

“Ms. Sterns, how are you liking the accommodations?” the man asks.

“Who are you?”: Sterns responds.

“I’m Mitch,” the worker says with a friendly smile, adjusting his name tag so she can see it clearly. “I’m in charge of your hospitality today! If there’s anything you wish, do not hesitate to ask!”

“And if I’d like to go home?” Sterns asks carefully.

“You’re free to go where you wish, Ms. Sterns, only your apartment is being fumigated, which is why you’re being lodged here,” Mitch explains. He then pauses and adds, “Ah… you’ve been out for a while, I guess no one informed you about that yet. They found you on the floor of your apartment, passed out. This suite is a sort of apology by the pest control company for not checking sooner. They will cover all your expenses here, so feel free to ask for anything you desire!”

That should cover the explanation, you decide. Hopefully Sterns buys it and can move on to getting happy.

“So, Ms. Sterns, is there anything I can get for you?” Mitch asks again.

Sterns thinks about it for a minute, then asks, “Is there a fitness facility in this hotel?”

“Fitness and spa!” The concierge confirms proudly. “If you’d like, I can run up a change of clothes for you in case you’d like to go down for a workout!”

Sterns’ eyes perk up, then she asks, “Can I bring a friend?”

“Of course, Ms. Sterns. As long as they accompany you, you’re allowed a guest with you for all the hotel amenities!”

Finally, a smile forms on the face of the gym coach. “Alright. I think I’ll check it out!”

“I’ll have someone bring you some gym clothes then,” Mitch replies with a smile and a bow. “Is there anything else?”

“No, that’ll be all, thanks!” Sterns says with a smile.

“If you need to contact me, I’ll give you my text number,” Mitch offers, holding up his phone. Sterns gets his number on her phone and the hotel employee leaves. As Sterns awaits her change of clothes, she phones up her friend. “Hello? Ash? Guess where I am?”

After an inaudible response, Sterns goes on, “I’m in a hotel… the penthouse!” she says, looking out the window to take in the view. “You free? You have to come down and see this!”

It appears that Sterns has bought the story. She gives the hotel address to her friend after finding it off the room service menu. From their conversation, Ash will be there in about twenty minutes. Meanwhile Sterns gets to enjoy the big screen TV watching international fights off the pay per view selection.

Bored of the fights, Lynn asks you, “You think this friend of hers is just a friend or more?”

You shrug, “I dunno, from the way they were talking, probably just a pal.”

“Want to make a bet on it?” she asks.

“You’re always looking to play games,” you brush her off as you pay attention to the fight.

“It helps fill the time. How about this? If Sterns and Ash turn out to be more than just friends, you have to do a dare! If they are just friends, then you get to dare me!”

“How will we find out? Are we just going to ask them?” you question.

“No… but how about; if they get intimate together, I win; and if they don’t, you win!” Lynn says, eager to bet.

“And what entails intimacy? A kiss?”

“Well, friends can still kiss… let’s go with third base! If we get full contact with private parts, that’s a win for me!” Lynn says, then adds with a raised finger, “And no wishing for any of this to happen!”