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Chapter 4: Play Dates
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"Where's dad?" Rodrick asked his mother after realizing the house was eerily quiet and his father was nowhere near his civil war reconstruction model.
"He's working out with Angie in the back yard," she said while holding back a laugh. She's been aching to catch a glimpse at that show for the past hour, but sadly she had to make dinner. It was probably better than any reality TV someone she had seen in ages. Angie really pushed Frank to the edge- he was on the breach of crying last she heard, and she heard a lot.
Rodrick almost chocked on his drink and started coughing. "Working out? In the back yard?" –With Angie?!
Suzan Heffley knew exactly what's going on. Her mother senses were tingling. -Rodrick was suspicious. She even had a talk to the girl on how to act around the boys.
"I'm aware to the fact that this is a funny situation, but your father became lumpy in all the wrong places. Up until yesterday he always said he has enough belly to love. Well, no more. Angie convinced him to start working out, if you'd like you can join them for a jog. They're heading out in 10 minutes or so."
"I'm just going to the yard to stare in disbelief" Rodrick said after his cough calmed down.
"I'll join you. God knows I've waited long enough."
A week ago
Flipping through the channels, Suzan was bored out of her mind. It's not that she had nothing to do. Quit the opposite, she had dinner to make, tell Rodrick and his band to lower the bass, make sure Rowley wasn't trying to feed Manny with chocolate (again) and a few more chores to her ever growing list. Yet, she just wanted a few minutes to herself. A few minutes without her husband saying stuff about costumes and his desire to join to "the fight against evil" or some other stupid phrase he used for her to agree. She just wanted to lay there and watch some idiotic show, so she wouldn't have to think of Rodrick's grades or a soon to be ringing phone call from the principal about one of Greg shenanigans. She knew what the perfect channel was for this purpose- "E! Channel"
But the "True Hollywood Story" that was featuring only made her stomach tighten. Well, maybe it will help in to gather some information before Frank's next launch of arguments.
So she sat there and watched the show explain what was known of the D'Amico- Big Daddy- Hit Girl- Kick Ass relationship.
She was really concerned when a psychologist began to describe Hit Girl's twisted personality and his opinion of her oh-so-many problems.
"…features psychopathic behavior, probably lost one or both of her parents at a very young age. 'Big Daddy' as he is called, took her under her wing, he too shows signs of paranoia and illogical fear. Her choice of words demonstrates her lack of habitations. In the video shown she chose to shoot the camera before checking if both Big-Daddy and Kick-Ass were OK shows the need to control her environment…"
Seeing her trying to rescue both Kick Ass and Big Daddy from those awful people made her stomach jolt and her eyes couldn't leave the screen. She had enough right about the time the doctor said the girl split-personality disorder. It was just plain stupid. If she wants to know what exactly happened to that girl that made her the person she is today, she'll have to ask someone that was there all along. So she walked up to the girl's room.
After hearing the story from Angie (seeing that she didn't oversized her own parts and highlights), Suzan decided to ask her advice on what to do with Frank. "Well, I already had a partner once, it didn't work out, but that's because of a private matter."
"But should I let him? I mean, you saw him. He's a lazy 40+ year old with a never ending love for muffins."
"Consider it like that, would you rather us partnering up, or knowing one of us is out there alone every night, without any help. I don't know about him, but I'm going to fight, and well, as much as you'd like there is nothing you could do to stop me."
"Listen to me, young lady. I took you into my home, putting my children to risk by your presence alone. I don't care how much of a hardcore hero you are, you will pay me respect in my house. And you most defiantly won't let anything happen to my husband while you take him out at nights. Am I clear?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Angie replied enthusiastically, a wicked smile splitting her face.
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She walked to the window accompanied by Rodrick. She saw her husband and the girl training. Apparently, Frank was having hard time because all of his face became red and he was sweating while trying to do a push up. Next to him Angie was, also doing push-ups (actually doing them in a scary pace) and was yelling at him.
"Come on! You told me that if I joined you, you'll be more motivated. Just Push! UP!" in the meanwhile, Suzan and Rodrick stared at them through the glass door. Not knowing whether to video tape the moment, laugh, call an ambulance or tell her to stop yelling at the miserable lumpy muffin loving man.
"I already did 6!" he said desperately between cut down breathes. She got down from the bar (the one she improvised out of what seemed thin air) and ordered him to lift only his legs.
"We'll have to start off by only passively building your muscles. We'll start by you getting down properly after a push-up. It helps your muscles realize the move. I'll help you to get up*." That was the point Suzan realized the full strength of the small teenager. -When she helped her chubby husband to lift his body over the pole.
"Holy mother of god, he is up" Rodrick said in disbelief. It was like seeing the handicapped Olympics, yet sadder somehow.
"Language," his mother said sternly.
"I didn't say any curse word" Rodrick defended.
"-Really? So I probably just thought to myself really loud the word 'shit' "
"Mom!"
"What? I get surprised too, you know."
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"So are we going to work out tonight?" Frank asked. It's been weeks since his working out routine started (and the diet Angie and his wife forced him upon) and he really started to enjoy it. He learned to appreciate his time spent with the girl. Plus, it took less effort to put his belt on. It is a win-win situation from his prospective. He caught a woman from his work checking out his butt when he banded. Either that or he wore those jeans that a pen once exploded in again and forgot about that. He preferred to stick with the first option.
"Well, you could work out alone. It's not like it's a rocket-science." She smiled at him, "I've got plans for tonight."
"What, did Rodrick invite you to something?"
"No, I'm going for some girl's night out with a girl from my class."
"You've got a friend!" He exclaimed happily. **
"Well, it seemed like she had no friends and I didn't want to hurt her feelings," Angie said sincerely, mid-sentence she realized how un-her that came out, "Tell me I did not just said that?"
"You have a heart. You have a heart" Frank teased, "and you managed to get out of Oz safely! -Lucky you." She realized his teasing-mocking smile become much better, the last time he tried to pull off this kind of smile he looked like he is attending a clown's funeral (Suzan description, not Angie's).
"And I get to show off my new clothes. Sponsored and bought under the heavy threats of no other than Suzan Heffley." Frank still smiled over his Dorothy joke, "seriously dude, she's wicked scary." He nodded understandingly. His lady sure did give him the spooks from time to time. -Especially when she is dancing.
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"So, Rowley, what game do you want to play? I've got mean racer 3***." Greg said to his best friend that was eating some snacks on the couch.
"Cool. But you know I was thinking we could go out and catch a movie…"
Greg would have answered him, but the doorbell ringing distracted him. He ran for it and swung it open –an action that ended with a big thud when it hit the wall. There stood a nice looking girl with brown hair and green eyes. She smiled weakly at him, like she didn't know what to say. "I'll call Rodrick." Greg told her, not thinking twice.
"Well, actually I'm here for Angie. I'm Pepper." She introduced quit shyly.
"Hi Pepper. Come on in" Greg said with what little manners he had. He walked her to the living room, where she sat next to Rowley. -That kindly offered her some of the snacks Mrs. Heffley gave them.
"Angie!" Greg called, "Your friend's here!" They heard neither a response nor steps on the stairs but suddenly Angie was there, wearing a plain red shirt and jeans.
"Hi Pepper." She said, "Rowley" she acknowledged his presence with a wave. Pepper got up from her place.
"Hi. I brought my car." She said.
"-Awesome. Let me just grab my wallet."
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Rodrick was staying at home on that Friday. Or at least that was what he told his parents. But this time he wasn't going to see some illegal shows at an abandoned warehouse like he usually did. That particular Friday he was going to spy on Angie and his dad.
He started by putting on the fake beard he used when he had a fake ID. –When you have a big beard no one asks questions when you buy beer. He managed to follow his father's car, only to stop in the parking lot. Where the hell is Angie? Rodrick thought disappointed. Well, he rather had one bird in his hand then two in the bush. But how would he follow his father on an empty train without being noticed? The simple answer was he wouldn't.
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"I know it's extremely rode, but I have to ask. Pepper, really? What crossed in your parents mind when they decided to name you Pepper?" Angie asked while Pepper drove in her small car.
"Umm, my actual name is Pieper. But I had hard time saying it when I was little –god knows why- and kept pronouncing it 'Pepper', it kind of stuck. Plus, my brothers are big Iron Man fans, so they were glad for me to take part in their games. You know how it is with older brothers. I mean, Rodrick is older than you, right?"
Just nodding slightly she smiled at Pepper. Steering away the conversation she continued with her small 'investigation': "So how many brothers and sisters do you have?"
"4," Pepper said. "2 older brothers, older sister and one younger brother"
"Wow. That's a lot." Angie commented. She still had trust issues only she referred to them as safety measures. "Favorite Pizza topping?"
"Will you laugh if I said pepperoni? No, I'm only joking. I have hard time deciding between olives and corn."
"Well. It's your lucky day because I like almost all pizza toppings, and both corn and olives are among them"
Pepper parked her car in the small shopping center in a nearly vacant lot. Although Angie suspected the only 3 cars that were actually there were the restaurant's employees.
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They stayed there all night instead of going to a movie. They had too much fun, just joking around, talking and staring back at the miserable pizzeria worker who had to suffer through their conversation when all he wanted to do is to go home. Even though she liked spending time with Pepper Angie only told her stories from the Heffley residence, or stuff that happened at their school, not going back more than 2 weeks. Not mentioning her real mother and father (both of her real fathers), or her life in New York. Her old friends, not that she had any at the state currently. -Her old life. The one she intends to claim back.
If Pepper noticed anything she didn't mention it. But it seemed like she's enjoying the new experience of being given full attention.
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Pepper was driving herself home after dropping off Angie. She was truly happy to finally gain a friend, but also she started feel the paranoia. Why had she kept asking me questions? Knowing no one could be that nice for that long to be pulling a prank on her (she was familiar to how those went), Pepper accepted that Angie was sincere in her interest. But how much of interested is too much? What if she-? What if she is interested in me that way? She babbled internally like a maniac, as her thoughts sprinted forwards. Is Angie gay for me? Do I mind?
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"Grace?!" Pepper yelled out for her sister as soon as she got home.
"Pepper?" her sister retorted calmly from behind her, giving Pepper a well needed startle.
"Oh. Here you are. I need help! Like big-big help." They walked to Pepper's room and sat on the bed. "I went out tonight with this new girl from my class. And, well, I need your help…"
"What's wrong? Did she say something mean? 'Cause I'll kick her so hard if she was mean to my baby-sister!"
"No! She wasn't mean. Not at all, quit the opposite. That's what got me so worried…" Pepper had hard time filling in her sentences and just hoped Jess will say it instead.
"What?" Grace asked, not understanding the weird tone her sister used.
"What if she's like, you know, gay?" Pepper blurred. Grace stared at her for a second, not knowing if her sister was simply homophobic or terrified of the thought someone was interested in her. The best explanation was that she was just weird.
"What gave you that impression?"
"Well she kept asking me personal questions an-"
"-maybe she's polite. Or it was a normal conversation and you over reacted."
"She knows now the name of the teddy bear I sleep with!" Pepper tried to prove the point. "But that's not it. She laughed from my jokes. Oh, and she's good at sports and hangs out with Rodrick Heffley and his friend Mac"
"Did you really said right now that girls that are good in sports are gay?" Grace asked surprised.
"I don't know! I've never met a lesbian"
"This is really stupid. I swear to god it's the most idiotic conversation we ever had. More than the 'what will happen to snakes underwater?' one. So what if she's gay? Will you stop being friends with her?"
"No! Of course not, she's really nice, and funny! You're right! Who cares if she's gay! Good for her!"
"Don't worry. If she tries something on you, just tell her you don't like girls that way." She shrugged at her little sister. Sometimes she over-reacted and over-processed stuff, making a mountain out of a fly.
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Stalking his father and his step sister didn't work out as planed when Rodrick saw them practicing some weird martial art in the back yard and his father accidently punched him in the groin. He could have sworn she high-fived his father for that punch.
Later he tried to jog with them only to be left behind. When the hell he became that fast? The only time he saw his father run before was to the last six pack. That was the moment he began to have doubts. Up until then he considered his dad as the weaker link of that weird bond, but if there were evidence for something shady it will be at Angie's room. Dad won't hide stuff in his own room, mom might find them. He had to come up with a plan. But all of that shit will have to wait, he had band practice.
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*My gym teacher once told this to a guy in my class, I have no idea if it's true.
** When it comes to friendly teasing, Frank is not the best. There is a character later (there are some major twists and changes to come) that really teases Angie/Mindy. –In a good way of course.
*** Totally made that one up…
AN: So, I guess you've learnt by now that I cannot write a girls' conversation. -Or any dialogue that doesn't end with someone punching someone else. Actually, yesterday a friend of mine said I was probably raised by wolves. *awkward silence*, so yeah that's that. Umm, the 'snake underwater' conversation took place when I had nothing to say to my neighbor. It took place when I was 8 or so and she always brings it up as one of the most random things that ever happened to her.
I actually named Pepper after the Iron-Man character and I remembered laughing every time I saw that when she got coupled with Tony in fan-fics it was Pepperony.
Because she is actually named Pieper I made a small character named Michelle later in the story (after the actress)… No one is really interested in my Author's note at this point so I'll just say see you next week and have fun
