Fate?
That day after school, Phoebe decided to hang out with Wanda and Dorothy Ann for a study get together at Dorothy Ann's place. Wanda wanted to get to get some smoothies together, so they stopped by Juice Booster. Dorothy Ann asked for a strawberry banana smoothie, Wanda got pineapple and vanilla and Phoebe asked for mango and strawberry. As they headed for D.A's place, Wanda spoke out loud.
"Hey, how cool is it that I ended up with Ralphie? He and I always have a great time working together!" said Wanda, before taking a sip.
"Oh, I dunno Wanda. Sounds like you have a crush on him!" said Dorothy Ann, teasingly. She nudged Wanda softly with her elbow.
"Yeah right! Me and Ralphie!" Wanda chuckled lightly. "That'd be fun, but I do actually like…"
"Arnold?" asked Phoebe, cutting in.
"Eh? Why'd you say that Phoebe?" asked Wanda, puzzled.
"Oh well, you've both liked each other since the third grade that's all," said Phoebe, looking away.
"Oh, but Phoebe he's your boyfriend that's all! I could never do that," said Wanda, reassuringly.
"Speaking of that, why'd you two go out after all?" asked Dorothy Ann curiously. She took a sip and swallowed. "I mean, you were talking to Carlos and I at lunch about drifting apart, but we don't understand why you were going out in the first place," she explained.
"Well, we started dating by around junior high when he asked me to the Spring Formal dance. He brought a flower and just asked 'Come to the dance with me, Pheebs?' and I said 'yes'," explained Phoebe, slightly timid. "Then he started the rock collecting club and got all caught up in it for a while. He even asked 'Please be supportive of this. You know I want you to become a part of it; it's important'."
"So he hasn't made any more effort in keeping this relationship?" asked Wanda, concerned.
"Not much, just the occasional presents for the holidays or birthdays," sighed Phoebe.
"Well, at least he's thinking of you," pointed out Dorothy Ann. "That's gotta be something."
"Still though," said Phoebe, shrugging.
"Have you thought of breaking up or taking some time off?" asked Wanda.
"He's gotten enough space from me due to the rock collecting club. As of right now, he left for the rock collection convention tonight," said Phoebe. She sipped her smoothie slowly.
"Awww…he'll come back though," said Dorothy Ann, patting Phoebe's shoulder.
"But hey! What about you and Carlos? Looks like you two got lucky!" said Wanda, teasingly.
"What? What do youmean, lucky?" asked Dorothy Ann, shocked.
"How'd you two end up as lab partners?" asked Wanda.
"Oh, come on! It must have been chance! Besides, we are boyfriend and girlfriend, so no problem!" said D.A.
"Yeah, you two lovebirds!" teased Wanda.
"Oh, enough of that! It's not like he would draw my name out on purpose!" said Dorothy Ann. She sipped her smoothie.
"But whenever you put your name into a hat, it's always scrunched into a little ball. So Carlos must have found yours even without looking!" said Phoebe.
"Your name is easy to find in a hat when you do that!" agreed Wanda. "It's habitual. He totally knew what he was doing!"
"Well…well…I don't see how Tim ended up with Phoebe as his lab partner!" said D.A, stammering a bit.
"Maybe Carlos texted him to try and pick Phoebe's name out of the hat!" suggested Wanda.
"Now that you think of it, Carlos was looking at his phone when he was racing with me to our next class after lunchtime. And Tim must have done the exact same thing! Almost like they expected this from Ms. Frizzle!" said D.A, thinking carefully. "Ooh, I should have known when Carlos said he'll think of something!" She smacked her head with one hand.
"So that must be it!" exclaimed Wanda. She turned to Phoebe. "Omigosh, Tim has a crush on you, or he wouldn't have done what Carlos said!"
"Me? That can't be it! I already have Arnold, remember? And Tim is going out with Keesha!" exclaimed Phoebe, embarrassedly. She felt herself going bright red.
"Didn't it occur to you that Tim and Keesha are also drifting apart?" points out D.A. "Keesha drives Tim up the wall, so he's been getting a bit closer to you instead."
"Plus, it'd be great if Ralphie could step in and take Tim's place," added Wanda.
"So what should I do about it?" asked Phoebe, nervously.
"Just let things bloom along the way. You are lab partners after all," said D.A.
"Uh….okay, I guess," said Phoebe, hesitantly.
"Hey, here's D.A's house! Let's go inside!" said Wanda, running up to the front door.
"I'm telling you, things are going to be fine!" said D. A, reassuringly as they reached the stairs.
"Alright, if you say so," said Phoebe, nervously. "Time for study practice."