Chapter 4: Sibling bonding
A good while had passed, and Gumball had finished dinner with his family. He was now upstairs with Ambrosia and Richard, wondering how this was about to go, which somewhat worried him. He wasn't looking forward to school tomorrow either, questioning how mad Masami was feeling with him right now. "How have things b-been, Ambrosia?" Richard asked with more sweat running off him than he could ever have without exercise. "Better lately. But my step dad's three countries away on an oilrig, and mum's dead... other than that, great," Ambrosia spoke, not truly grieving over her mother's death. Gumball silently questioned this.
"Oh, I-I'm sorry... you can stay tonight if you want," Richard offered. Ambrosia just sighed. "Yeah I got an extra bed in my room. Come on, I'll show you it," Gumball said wanting to get his father out of the awkward conversation before he brought up something else. The red rabbit followed his lead since it was late outside. Gumball however knew she would decline the offer since she had mentioned she had an apartment room in town.
Gumball opened the door to their room. Inside the bedroom was his younger brother, an orange goldfish in green sneakers who was doing his usual home hobbies whenever he was bored. At the moment he was building a card house which was blown over by the wind being pushed by the opening door.
"Oh hey, Gumball," he said turning around to greet his older brother in his cheerful attitude. He was the second oldest sibling of the family, and that happy demeanor of his was difficult to break. "Hey, Darwin. Uh... sorry about that," Gumball apologized upon seeing the cards fumbling upon entering the room. "It's fine. You wanna play something?" Darwin asked him wondering why the guest they were planning only to have for dinner was now here for longer.
"Sorry, but I was hoping to play with Amber," Gumball claimed. Ambrosia giggled and flicked his ear again. "I like the sound of that nickname. What kinds of games do you like to play?" she questioned not knowing half of the things they did like which weren't the safest around this world. "I like to play dodge and dare, but it's too dark for that. Let's go play some video games," he declared. "Can I join?" the young goldfish chimed in curiosity, wanting to play too. "Sorry, but we only got two controllers, dude. Remember, we broke the third one while trying to modify it?" Gumball answered before walking away. A depressed Darwin remembered their failed controller tampering back then. He felt a bit left out, but he tried not to think of it.
Moments had passed after that, and Gumball was playing several video games with Ambrosia. She found it fun to know how bad she was at games, but in some scenarios, Gumball wound up getting dominated by her in some of the other games. They were enjoying their time in the living room until Nicole stepped into the room. "Gumball, it's time for bed. You have school in the morning," she announced. Gumball became saddened that his older sister had to go, but he felt her arm wrap around him and fee her knuckle digging into his skull.
Ambrosia was giving him a noogie, and she had a grin while doing it in a playful matter. "Don't be like that. Tonight was fun," she laughed. "I'll pick you up tomorrow. It beats the bus," she whispered into one of his perked ears, giving Gumball a deep smile. "Alright. Bye, Amber," Gumball bid her farewell. Ambrosia stood up, and Gumball watched her leave, although her attitude seemed to go bitter quickly around Richard or Nicole. "Thanks for having me over dinner. It was good," she commented while walking out the door. The obese rabbit was terrified of his secret being revealed. The night then became silent fast after their children went to bed for the night.
In the bedroom, Nicole was sitting on the edge of the bed in her night gown. She let out a deep sigh. "What was up with him? He treated her like... well I don't know what, really…" Nicole had no words to describe the odd night and how good her son's behavior was towards Ambrosia. "A mother?" Richard tried to fill in the blank, but his wife shook her head in disbelief. "No, but you're close. More like a girlfriend. I mean, he didn't even get mad at her when she told him she ran him over, and he invited her to things without my consent…! Richard, are you listening?" Nicole asked, looking over her shoulder, only to see her husband throwing up in a trashcan. The comment of Ambrosia being Gumball's girlfriend made him sick due to the truth he knew behind it. Seeing the two romantically involved was not right. At that point though, Nicole just tried not to dwell on it, lying down and trying to get some sleep.
Early in the next morning, Gumball was waiting by the bus stop. Darwin was there, and her younger sister, Anais, a pink toddler rabbit in an orange dress was there too. It was usual for them to be waiting for the bus together. Just then a large, yellow glorified carrier arrived. Darwin and Anais climbed on the bus, but their older brother stood in place. "Come on, Gumball. The bus driver doesn't like to wait," Anais claimed. The bus driver's patience was not limitless. "Nah, I think I'll walk today. See ya there," he responded and waved. Anais raised an eyebrow, but she shrugged, going deeper into the bus to take her and Darwin's seats on the bus. The bus drove off without him.
Only a few minutes later, Gumball finally found Ambrosia pulling up in her same car she had accidentally ran him over with. He couldn't help but feel his side whine in pain over recognizing the vehicle. He climbed into the passenger's side and tossed his backpack in the backseat. "Thanks again for driving me to school. The bus always takes the long ways," Gumball said. "Well I did owe you this much anyway," she claimed before she stepped on the gas again, driving off to his school.
End of Chapter 4