Hello, my friends! Before starting this story, I'd just like to say how grateful I am for all of you who have read and enjoyed my first two stories: Lovesick Sponge and The Valentine Potion. Now, I have LOTS of ideas for this sequel and I only have a few chapters figured out so far, so, we'll see where this goes, lol. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own SpongeBob SquarePants or any of its characters
A Heart That Beats for You
~French Narrator~
"Ah, a beautiful morning in Bikini Bottom. The water so clear, the seaweed so green. And let's not forget our favorite undersea creature: SpongeBob SquarePants. I wonder how he has been lately… oh well, we shall see."
SpongeBob lay perfectly still in his comfy bed, dressed in his green pajamas and nightcap. He snored away, dreaming of faraway lands made of… Ice cream, sugar cookies, and milkshakes? Huh… seemed a bit odd to be dreaming of such things. Then again, there were a few interesting things that surrounded him on his bed: A glass with a smidgen of a vanilla milkshake left, a nearly empty tin container of heart-shaped sugar cookies (made with extra sugar, of course) and an empty container of double chocolate fudge brownie ice cream… that would certainly explain a lot.
He tossed and turned a bit, making strange humming noises. Just then, the usual obnoxious blare of the foghorn alarm clock exploded throughout the room, waking up his pet snail. Gary slowly opened his eyes and looked up at his still sound asleep master. Usually, he would've woken up and turned it off right away. But with the sugar crash he had the night before, the sponge needed his rest.
Gary slithered onto the clock and hit the snooze. He then jumped on top of SpongeBob. "Meow (Rise and shine, sugarholic)"
"Hmm… what was that? More cookies? I'd love some, grandma," he mumbled in his sleep. The snail cocked a brow at him. "Meow (Time to wake up; you don't want to be late for work a fifth time)." The sponge had been staying up late the past month or so; reading romance novels and comic books, also making time to watch a weekly romantic comedy on TV while he'd sit slumped over on the couch, chomping away on candy bars and sipping on maple syrup.
"Meow, meow! (Come on, wake up!)" Gary hopped up and down on his master's stomach, making him giggle. "Hehehehe! Grandma, that tickles!"
"Meow (Okay, you asked for it,)" he bit the sponge on the corner of his head. "OUCH!" he shot up in bed and looked around frantically. "Oh, it's just you. Did you bite me again, Gare?" he cocked a brow at him.
"Meow (I had no choice; the clock doesn't even wake you up anymore)" the sponge rolled his eyes. "Oh, Gary. You're not one for sweet dreams, are you?"
"Meow, meow (I think you've had a little too many sweet dreams lately. Besides, you've been late for work four times this last month; you don't want old man Krabs getting on your case more than he already has)"
"Dah haha! No worries there, buddy. It's Sunday! The Krusty Krab is closed," he smiled.
"Meow (hate to burst your bubble, but it's Monday)"
SpongeBob raised his eyebrows. "Gary, are you sure?"
The snail pointed his eyestalk in the direction of the calendar on the wall. "Meow (you've been doing this a lot lately; I think staying up late and watching those movies is making you lose track of time)"
"Oh, but I couldn't help it! I just had to stay up the extra half-hour to see if Doug was going to purpose to Rachel," he stared off into space. The snail rolled his eyes, "Meow (ahem, aren't you forgetting something?)"
"OH! Right, gotta get ready for work," he jumped out of bed.
~French Narrator~
"Ten minutes later."
Gary sat in front of his food bowl in the kitchen, patiently waiting for his owner to serve him his usual breakfast. Just then, the sound of SpongeBob's whistling could be heard, becoming louder as he neared the kitchen.
He walked right past the snail, not even glancing at him. "Meow? (uh… Papa-Bob?)"
He turned around, "Oh, I almost forgot: Good morning, Gary." He chuckled as he opened his fridge and poked his head inside.
Gary cleared his throat. The sponge turned to look at him. He nudged his bowl a few inches. "Oh! I'm sorry buddy. You've been using that helmet Sandy made so much, I haven't had to feed you nearly as often." He reached for a can of Snail-Po and opened it with a can opener.
He poured the contents of the can into the bowl. "Meow (thank you)"
"No problem, pal." He then let out a dreamy sigh as he dug through the fridge. "Wasn't it sweet of Sandy to invent that helmet, just so I wouldn't have to worry?" he beamed.
"Meow (why, yes; yes, it was)" Gary had gotten used to his owner absentmindedly gushing about his friend. First, it was only here and there that he'd mention something he liked about her. Now, it was strange for him not to mention how much he admired her kindness, or how her eyes reminded him of "pools of hot fudge".
Gary was satisfied that his owner had somewhat accepted that he was indeed 'Lovesick' over her; he knew that was a step in the right direction. However, he noticed the sponge had been dragging his feet about the whole situation. It was evident that he thought about her more and more with each passing day, but he just wasn't doing anything about it.
The snail watched as his owner cut into a large piece of angel food cake smothered in buttercream frosting. He then reached into the kitchen cabinet and poured himself a glass of chocolate seahorse milk. The snail wondered how someone so little, could ingest such massive amounts of sugar.
"Meow (don't you think some whole grain toast would be a bit more nutritious?)" the snail was not one to care much about healthy food, but even he knew that his owner's habit was not doing his health any favors.
SpongeBob smiled crookedly as he set the plate and glass down on the table. "Haven't you read the coupon book lately? The prices of bread have skyrocketed! Pssh, they call six-ninety-nine a bargain! Besides, this cake was on sale for two-ninety-nine," he argued.
"Meow (it was probably cheap because it's made with cheap ingredients)"
"You're probably right, Gare," he stared for a few moments. "But, don't want it to go to waste," he smiled brightly and scarfed it down.
The snail shut his eyes tightly, cringing at the thought of how hyper he could get from ingesting the decadent dessert. The sponge then washed it all down with the seahorse milk. "Ahh, that hit the spot," he slurred.
The snail cracked open an eyelid to look at him. It had been a while since he'd eaten anything but sugar. Just then, a knock could be heard. SpongeBob stood and dashed for the front door, already feeling the sugar rush through his veins.
"COMING!' he sang. He opened the door to reveal Patrick. He jumped up and down excitedly. "Oh, hey Patrick! Lovely morning isn't it?" he beamed. Patrick's eyes followed the movements of his porous friend. "Eh… it's been a bit of a 'slow' morning for me"
"Well, what brings you here?" he continued hopping up and down. "I just wanted to see if I could borrow some pickles,"
SpongeBob stopped hopping. "Hmm…" he placed his hand under his chin. "Pickles? Not sure if I've got any… let's go take a look," they made their way into the kitchen. SpongeBob opened the fridge. The shelves were filled with the leftover cake, frosted cookies, peanut butter fudge, a bowl of assorted chocolates and caramels, all different flavors of soda; but no pickles.
"Huh, sorry about that buddy. I'm all out of pickles," he scratched the side of his head. "That's okay; I'll just take that last slice of cake if you don't mind," Patrick said with a dull expression.
SpongeBob smiled, "Sure! Help yourself." Patrick opened his mouth wide and sucked up the last piece like a vacuum cleaner. He turned around to face Gary, his mouth covered with the buttercream frosting.
"Oh, hey Gary," he smiled. "Meow (hey, tubby)" he peered at him. Patrick furrowed his eyebrows, "Hey, what'd you say- "
"Okay, Patrick I think it's time for you to go," SpongeBob chuckled awkwardly as he pushed his pink friend towards the door.
Moments later…
SpongeBob marched back into the kitchen. "Gary! How many times do I have to tell you not to call people names? It's rude," he placed his hands on his hips.
"Meow! (I can't help it!)"
"Well, you'd better start helping it. Patrick doesn't like to be called Tubby,"
"Meow (I'm just calling it like it is)" he meowed sarcastically. SpongeBob shook his head, "You've got to learn to keep things to yourself, Gary."
"Meow (oh, I see. Like how you keep certain things to yourself about a certain someone)"
SpongeBob cocked a brow, "What are you getting at?"
The snail stared blankly at him. "Meow (does the expression 'YEE-HAW!' ring a bell?)"
SpongeBob gasped, "But I-you can't-that just isn't fair-Oh, forget it and finish your breakfast, mister." He said sternly. "Meow (I finished ten minutes ago)"
SpongeBob blinked. "Oh." He then looked at his watch, "Barnacles! I've gotta go," he dashed for the door.
Later, at The Krusty Krab…
"May I take your order?" Squidward asked blandly as he stood at the register.
"Hmm… do you think the kelp fries offer any nutrition?" asked a ladyfish who stood next to her young son.
Squidward stared blankly at her. "You're kidding, right?"
"Certainly not, sir. Do you know if they offer any B Vitamins, perhaps? My son is a growing boy," she smiled.
"Ma'am, you'd have a better chance getting vitamin-rich food across the street at The Chum Bucket," he looked down at his magazine.
"Really? Well, perhaps we should give it a try. Let's go, Timmy," she headed for the door as she held her son's hand. She then turned back around, "Oh, and thank you sir!" she said.
"Uh huh, come again," he replied in an uninterested tone. Just then, Mr. Krabs burst through the door of his office. "Squidward! Did I just hear ye turn away a customer?" he placed his claws on his hips.
He continued to stare at the magazine. "Yep." He replied flatly.
"Why I ought to wring that blue neck of yers," he glared at him.
Squidward looked up, "Is that a threat?" he peered at him. "Maybe so. Yer throwin' away me money! I want to know the reasonin' behind this malarkey,"
He threw his magazine down. "Well, if you must know, she wanted something more 'nutritious' for her son to eat, so, I said she'd have a better chance at The Chum Bucket. Happy now?" he said sarcastically.
Mr. Krabs gasped, "You've sent her and her laddie to their doom! Ye know darn well that no one can stomach Plankton's recipe for death,"
"Well, the food here isn't any better!" he crossed his arms over his chest. "You'd have to be a buffoon to eat here," just then, SpongeBob came through the kitchen carrying a tray of food. He brought it over to a male fish who wore glasses and had big, crooked buck teeth.
"Here you are, sir," he smiled. "Thanks, dude," the man then buried his face in the meal.
"I rest my case." Squidward then turned back to his magazine.
"Well, you don't see SpongeBob drivin' me customers away; he knows good food when he sees it," said Mr. Krabs.
"Oh, puh-lease, that dunderhead doesn't know a thing about good or nutritious food,"
As SpongeBob made his way back towards the kitchen, he suddenly let out a long, loud belch. "Woo, excuse me," he chuckled awkwardly.
Squidward and Mr. Krabs got a whiff of the stench that came from him. They pinched their noses. "Yuck! Smells like that cheap angel food cake from Barg' N-Mart," said Squidward.
The sponge felt embarrassed and smiled sheepishly. "Ahaha, gross. Who would be desperate enough to buy that?" he rubbed the back of his head.
"I would; it's always on sale," said Mr. Krabs.
Just then, Sandy entered through the glass doors, slowly approaching the register. SpongeBob felt his pulse pick up speed at the sight of her. "Well, back to work," he spoke quickly and practically crashed back through the kitchen.
"Well, hello Miss Sandy! What can I do for ye? Would ye like to try our new curly kelp fries?" offered Mr. Krabs, grinning.
"Don't try em', they're worse than the regular fries," Squidward said under his breath. Mr. Krabs heard him and glared.
"How de do, Mr. Krabs, Squidward! And naw, I think I'll just take my regular deluxe Krabby Patty and medium kelp soda," she smiled.
As she looked at Squidward, she couldn't help but notice the familiar square form behind him, standing at the window. She leaned to the side. "Howdy, SpongeBob," she smiled. Squidward turned around and looked at his coworker who stood on his tip-toes, his eyes peeking above the ledge of the window.
He gasped in his thoughts, "Oh no, she spotted me!" "Hi, Sandy! Dah ha, you're probably wondering why I'm standing so close to the window,"
"Well, kinda. Ain't the grill right there?" she asked.
"Uh, yeah! Haha, I-I was just checking to make sure it was hot enough." Black smoke floated out from the window. "AH-It's… definitely… hot enough, haha. I'll get your order, Sandy." he backed away from the window.
The three stood in awkward silence for a moment while she waited for her order. "So, find any loose change lately?" asked Mr. Krabs, leaning against the register.
Sandy chuckled awkwardly. "No, unfortunately. Find any crashed space junk lately?"
"Heh heh, no. Then again, if it ain't made of gold, I ain't interested."
She then looked over at Squidward. "How's the clarinet going, Squid?" she asked. He looked up from his magazine and shrugged. "Oh, the usual; I try to take a little time and play it, then the two buffoons I live next door to break into my house and ruin my chances every time at becoming a world-famous superstar," he said blandly.
The three blinked a few times. "Maybe you need some therapy." She said. Just then, SpongeBob finally came out with a tray that held her order.
"Here you go, Sandy," he smiled, trying to hide his nerves. "Thanks, SpongeBob," she was grateful he came and broke the awkwardness that filled the air.
She then looked down at the tray. "Could I get some extra mustard?" she asked. "Oh, sure," he went back into the kitchen and came back out quickly. "Here you are," he smiled. Suddenly, as he was about to set the condiment bottle down onto the tray, she instinctively reached for it. Their hands made contact.
SpongeBob's heart began to pound. He blushed, pulling his hand back. "Enjoy," he offered a nervous smile as he folded his arms behind his back. She smiled back, not thinking much of the strange moment between them. "Thanks, little buddy." She then handed Squidward the money for her meal. And with that, she found a table at a far end of the room and sat down.
SpongeBob then headed back into the kitchen without saying another word. Krabs and Squidward looked at each other for a moment, both wondering, "What was that all about?"
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, SpongeBob took in a few deep breaths, attempting to slow his heart rate. He had felt those jellyfish come back and tickle the heck out of his stomach when their hands touched. He could feel the warmth and fuzziness enveloping him as he stood there thinking about her; knowing she was out there in the restaurant made him weak in the knees. These feelings were becoming stronger and stronger each time he saw her.
He suddenly felt a craving coming on. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a handful of sugar cubes, popping a few of them into his mouth.
"SpongeBob, I need two orders of those curly kelp fries-what the…. What are you eating?" asked Squidward, one eyebrow raised.
"Hm? Oh, these? Dah ha, these are just… mints," he smiled.
"They look like sugar cubes to me,"
"Nope, they're mints alright, haha, just… mints… "he sweated a little bit, hoping he'd buy it.
Squidward stared blankly at him for a moment. "Well, Neptune knows you need them. Get started on those kelp fries," he said, turning away from the window. SpongeBob sighed with relief.
~French Narrator~
"Later that same day."
It had been a long and awkward day at work, and SpongeBob felt a real sweet tooth coming on after he left The Krusty Krab. So, instead of going home to his pineapple, he decided to treat himself (for the tenth time that month) and go into downtown Bikini Bottom for some ice cream.
The sky was colored orange and yellow, and the water felt calm and warm. SpongeBob made his way over to the local ice cream parlor, passing by the townsfolk on the sidewalk. He stepped inside, climbing onto one of the tall stools and rested his arms on the counter.
The man who was the ice cream scooper turned around and saw the familiar little yellow guy. "Hey, back so soon?" his tone of voice was not jovial.
"Yes, sir," SpongeBob smiled brightly at him. The man sighed, "What'll it be this time?"
"I'll have a strawberry banana San-day with extra whipped cream and cherries, please," he said.
The man stared at him. "Kid, whatever a 'San-day' is, we don't serve them," he replied flatly.
SpongeBob jumped at realizing what had slipped out of his mouth. "Ahaha, did I say San-day? I meant Sundae, of course," he chuckled awkwardly as he fiddled with his fingers.
"Whatever, kid." The man sighed once again as he began to put together the frozen treat.
A/N: Whoopie! The first chapter. Hopefully, this wasn't too boring, lol. This is probably going to be quite a bit longer than Lovesick Sponge… so hold on tight, lol. Thanks for reading.