I'm VERY sorry that this took so long, but I wanted to get the story to the way I want it, and that, unfortunately, takes time (as all things do). It will take long for me to finish a chapter given that I have school and homework, which can be exhausting. But still, I plan on writing. It is my goal to become a better writer, and I want to see this through.

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING from The Amazing World of Gumball, including characters, places, or any other references that may appear in this story; not a thing.

CHAPTER 4

Same Day, New Way

It had taken less than 10 minutes for all of Elmore Junior High to catch word that Gumball Watterson had gone into the girl's bathroom. Rachel's shriek had caught the attention of half the staff and thus stalled the first of the morning classes.

Gumball was forcibly escorted to the Principal's Office by Miss Simian, and despite the firm grip his teacher had on his forearm, and the glares Rachel and Molly shot him as they walked down the hall, Gumball wasn't giving either one of them any attention. The only thought currently floating about his mind was the inexplicable fact that today was somehow Monday.

His senses reawakened when he was shoved onto the floor of the partially lit office and saw Rachel's white shoes, and the large, rough, black feet that could only belong to Molly, walk past him.

Pressing himself up off the floor, Gumball turned around just in time to see Miss Simian present her wicked and infamous leer before she closed the door, shutting out the hallway light, making the office somehow darker despite the florescent bulbs glowing on the ceiling.

"Please, have a seat, Mr. Watterson," Principal Brown's tone was calm but, much like yesterday, not without slight irritation.

Gumball did what he was asked and sat down in a chair he recognized as the one he was told to sit down in during yesterday's detention. The chair was positioned a few feet from the desk, allowing Gumball to see Principal Brown only from his shoulders' bottom up. Rachel and Molly stood at the side of the desk, glaring with their arms crossed, giving the impression of two very angry officers staring down a crook.

A moment or two passed before Principal Brown broke the silence that accumulated in his office. He began with a sigh and then a shake of his head, making a small adjustment to his glasses. And finally, he looked at Gumball and began, "You know, Mr. Watterson, I had a very strong feeling that something might happen today, given that it's the Pep Fest — something nobody could predict. But," his brow lowered, "I didn't think it would be something like this. And, even though I know you for your mischief, I never thought you would go so far, would stoop so low to such trouble, and so early on a Monday morning."

The furry principal's fingers could be heard rasping, maybe in hopes that Gumball would feel some shame for what the adult believed was a sick prank. Gumball, however, paid little attention to Brown's attitude. It was what the principal said that made Gumball twitch; it was a word that hit like a curse word: Monday.

Timidly, the 12-year-old cat raised a hand, "Principal Brown, can I ask something?"

"What is it, Mr. Watterson?" his irritated glance stayed firm.

"Is everything in the library fixed?"

The Principal raised an eyebrow, and Gumball took notice that Rachel and Molly also looked puzzled at this sudden change of subject.

The principal responded with a frown, "What do you mean? The library is fine, just as we left it on Friday. Don't bother trying to worm your way out of trouble, Gumball. What you did was a very immature thing."

"Sir, please," he said, his mind returning to the present. "That was just an accident."

"An accident?" Rachel exclaimed, stomping her foot. "What boy 'accidentally' goes into the girl's bathroom?"

"Rachel, please," Principal Brown gently raised his hand. "I understand that you're frustrated and a little shook, but Mr. Watterson does have a right to speak. Please, allow him to say what he wishes to say."

Rachel clearly did not approve of the idea, but accepted. Her frown wasn't quite as bitter as it was moments ago, but it still held its accusation.

He's lucky he's Darwin's brother, she thought.

"So, Mr. Watterson," Principal Brown rolled his eyes, "what is your excuse?"

Gumball opened his mouth but stopped just before his voice escaped. He knew exactly what he wanted to say, but how on earth could he explain it? He, himself, didn't know what was going on. All he knew was the impossible fact being confirmed from so many people:

Today is Monday!

Yesterday was Sunday. No one was here.

And from what he heard seconds ago. …and so early on a Monday morning.

Principal Brown cleared his throat, his fingers were rasping again. "Gumball, we're waiting."

Noticing the spark of annoyance behind Brown's glasses, and Molly and Rachel's glares growing no weaker, Gumball decided it was best to answer, and to keep it brief.

He spoke the simple truth. "I was in a big hurry and didn't read the sign."

Principal Brown scoffed, "Didn't read the sign. From what Rachel told me, you didn't use the toilet when you went in."

"Well…I didn't need to use the bathroom for that."

"Then why did you leave your classroom? Miss Simian said you looked like you were having a panic attack."

Gumball slightly agreed, but no panic attack could do what was happening around him; he knew that much.

"Sir…don't you remember anything from yesterday? Anything that happened at school?" Gumball couldn't believe it but he actually hoped the furry principal would remember (at least part of it), just so he would have a reasonable excuse.

Principal Brown shared a confused look along with Rachel and Molly. "What are you talking about, Watterson? Yesterday was Sunday and no one, other than Rocky, was here. Now answer my question: why did you go into the girl's bathroom if you didn't need to use it?"

Gumball felt a little hope flutter away. What the principal said only confirmed what had been slapping him in the face all morning, and he knew it made the chances of anyone believing his predicament less and less.

Once again, he tried the truth; once again, being very subtle. "I…needed to splash some water in my face."

Principal Brown stared blankly as though he just heard a longwinded joke. "That's it? That's your explanation? That's why you scared your entire class?"

Gumball looked nervously at the floor, his brain sprinting to concoct something realistic. "I…felt very confused and I panicked."

"Confused? What on earth about?"

"I don't really know, sir. It's complicated."

"Complicated?" Principal Brown looked like he didn't know whether or not Gumball was talking about one thing or the other. "How is it complicated?"

"Well," Gumball gave a short sigh, "given the fact that no one but me seems to realize what's going on here, I don't think I can explain it any better."

It couldn't have sounded any lamer, he knew that, but what else could he say?

"Oh, enough, Mr. Watterson," Principal Brown shook his head. "I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice. I'll have to call your parents." The furry principal picked up his phone and started to dial a number.

Gumball's confusion disappeared at once. "WHAT? No, please!"

"Too late, it's already ringing," said the principal calmly. Rachel and Molly both gleamed with mean satisfaction.

Great, Gumball thought desperately. A demolished library will be nothing when Mom hears about this.

A moment passed before the principal finally spoke into the phone, "Yes, good morning, Mr. Watterson. It's Principal Brown. "

Gumball let out a breath of great relief. Yes! It's only dad.

"Yes, yes, I'm doing well. Listen, I'm calling to inform that your son has gotten himself into a bit of trouble."

There was a pause, and Gumball and the two girls both leaned forward in some trivial hope to hear the conversation.

Principal Brown listened and lowered his brow. "No, Mr. Watterson, he's not naked. He…" The principal paused again. "No, he's not going on a crazy eating spree. He…" He stopped once again, and this time growled, "NO, he didn't tie me up and stuff me in a locker! I'm talking to you right now, how could I if he did that to me?" Principal Brown breathed in frustration for a few seconds. "Anyway, just stop for a second, Mr. Watterson, and listen. Your son went into the girl's bathroom here at school."

There was another pause. This one lasted longer. "Huh? I said, your son went into the girl's bathroom! Now, I think —" but before he could finish, Principal Brown stopped and became very puzzled. He pressed the receiver firmly to his ear, "Mr. Watterson, are you still there?"

And then, all of a sudden, a loud bang emitted from outside, causing everyone in the office to jump. The sound came from the front of the school and was accompanied by what appeared to be the thumping of large feet. The thumping got louder and louder, until — BAM!

The door of Principal Brown's office was thrust opened. The principal and three children stood in shock at an out of breath Richard Watterson standing in the doorway. He was holding a bucket filled with sudsy water.

"I…never…" Richard breathed in and out heavily, his huge hand clutching his heart, "…thought…I would have to…use this." With a frown on his face, he took his free hand and pulled out a bar of soap from the bucket.

Principal Brown, realizing what was going to happen, put up his hand to say, "Mr. Watterson, don't! That's —"

"Don't worry," said Richard, and his glance turned to Gumball. "It's the non-toxic kind."

And when the large pink rabbit pounced, Principal Brown, Rachel, and Molly watched in wide-eyed shock as Mr. Watterson started to scrub. Gumball was pinned to the floor, his arms flailing as water fell passed his lips. Gasping and coughing, he tried to speak, but his throat kept filling with suds as his father's giant hand maneuvered the soap vigorously over his tongue and cheeks.

Half a minute passed before Richard finally stopped and breathed hard again, standing amongst a large wet, sudsy puddle that covered half the office floor. Dropping the bumpy bar of soap, Richard stepped backwards and grabbed something out of a paper bag he placed down when he burst in.

The large pink rabbit walked passed Gumball, who continued coughing up bubbles, and leaned down to Rachel and Molly. "I'm so sorry for my son's behavior. Here," he smiled and held out a paper plate, "help yourselves to these tasty cookies my wife made."

Taking the plate, Rachel and Molly both awkwardly said, "Uh…thanks."

Richard humbly nodded and turned back to his son. "This isn't over yet, Gumball. Just wait until your mother hears this." And with that, Richard walked out the door.

Gumball got back onto his feet and wiped a little foam hanging off the tips of his whiskers.

"Well…uh, Mr. Watterson," said Principal Brown, still taken aback from Richard's actions, "I was going to give you detention for the rest of the week, but I've changed my mind."

"Really?" asked Gumball hopefully.

"Yes. Instead, I'm just going to give you detention for today."

"WHAT?" Gumball yelled, coughing as the last of the suds left his throat. "After I got my mouth washed out with soap?"

"Yes," Brown replied simply. "Albeit that I feel you learned your lesson, you still broke a serious school rule and deserve a detention. I think during the Pep Fest will be fitting."

"NO!" Gumball shouted in despair, catching everyone off guard. "You're going to make me miss the Pep Fest again?"

"Again?" said Principal Brown, his eyebrow raised. "What do you mean 'again'?"

The blue cat could see clearly that the principal didn't understand him. And Molly and Rachel, who had both started on a cookie, shared a confused expression along with their anger .

Gumball, knowing it was pointless, sighed with his shoulders hunched, and responded "Nothing."

And with that, the matter was settled.

Gumball still had the taste of soap on his tongue when he sat down to eat lunch that afternoon, but despite the mildly sour bites, he managed to adapt with help from the spices in the pasta's meat sauce. Excluding the tang from the soap, the cafeteria's food tasted the same as it did the first time around, and like yesterday, Gumball found himself alone at the same table. This time, however, he was thankful to be alone.

The bathroom scene with Rachel made Gumball instantly unpopular with practically all the girls in school. Most that were in his class were seated at the same table and shooting glares across from him. Penny was the only one he noticed not participating in their game of 'Stare-Gumball-To-Death'. Occasionally, he would see her look briefly towards him and immediately slip back to eating her lunch.

The boys reacted differently, but Gumball didn't find them any more comforting than the grinding looks he got from the girls. Most of the boys snickered while others chatted about strange rumors.

"I heard," stated Banana Joe, "that Gumball planned on flooding the girl's bathroom so he could sail out of school on a pirate ship with Rachel held hostage."

Finally, Gumball came to the last of his classmates, sitting the furthest away. Tobias and Darwin were both seated with Rachel, and together they glared at the blue cat like football players aching to tear apart their opponent.

Sighing, Gumball pushed his tray forward, having no more appetite than he did when Principal Brown crushed his chances a second time. Leaning back in his seat, he stared up at the ceiling and felt as lifeless as his napkin when someone even more so floated next to him.

"Hey, Gumball," said Carrie in her usual tone. "I can see that —"

"I said it five times already!" Gumball exclaimed. "It was just an accident! I don't have a crush on an older girl, I didn't see anything, and NO, I'm not a girl in boys clothes!"

He gritted his teeth as Carrie lingered in the air, holding a plate with a piece chocolate mint cake.

"Did you hear me?" said Gumball with annoyance.

"Yeah," Carrie said calmly, as though she didn't hear his attitude. "I believe you."

The blue cat's eyes widened. "You do?"

"Of course I do. I know you're not that kind of person. And besides, Rachel has been known to freak out from time to time. Just give it a week, stuff like this doesn't last too long."

"Oh…thanks." Gumball never imagined a girl would believe him for what happened, not even Carrie. But then again, Carrie was considered to be a laid-back emo. She might not consider it worth her trouble being angry; she's miserable enough as it is, (or, at least, that's what she claims).

"Anyway, Gumball" said Carrie. "I was wondering if you could help me eat this cake."

His sight dropped to the dessert. Gumball recognized the large piece as the same one Carrie held out last time. Its texture, its placement, its appetizing look fit together as neatly as a jigsaw puzzle. It was another reminder of Monday happening all over again.

"Carrie," Gumball sighed, "though you don't remember, I have said this already: No. I've been through enough and I don't want to gain an extra 50 pounds."

Gumball expected Carrie to react with the same confusion he saw in so many people today: that twitch of the eyebrow and/or stretch of the mouth that came without complete comprehension. But Carrie's demeanor only lessened. A small frown formed on her white translucent face.

"Gumball, please," she said in a sad tone. "I've been practicing and I —"

"No, Carrie," Gumball stood up from the table, now annoyed. "We both know how it's going to end. We both know you can't control yourself."

Gumball grabbed the milk carton off his tray and started away from the table without listening to another word.

"But…" surprised by Gumball's sudden decision to leave, Carrie remained floating where she was and watched as the blue cat walked out of the cafeteria.

Carrie's frown deepened, and she hung her head, looking down at her cake. The piece wasn't as appetizing anymore, and not just because her taste buds had long departed.

What Gumball had said…it hurt.

Not long after, the bell rang and ended lunch period. Gumball drank all the milk from the small carton before entering the library, paying mind to the large sign next to it about no food or drink.

The library held the same busy atmosphere as yesterday, and besides the glares he got from a few girls when he entered, everything was calm. Just as Principal Brown had stated, all was perfectly fine; Gumball didn't find a single crocked shelf anywhere.

With the feeling of strangeness crawling up and down his arms, Gumball moved around to search for the thesaurus he never got around to…finding….

Gumball froze, and a thought entered his mind. He slowly went around the same bookshelves as yesterday, paying no mind to the floor. After coming around a corner, he saw Bobert at a computer with his back turned. Gumball's memory reverted to that horrible scene, where he slipped, where the computer flew and crashed all over the library like a deranged pinball.

His bare feet took one step. He took another two. And then….

Gumball's nerves fired as he felt himself fall off balance and trip to the floor, a book resting near his foot. Bobert, Teri, Molly, and Masami both turned their attention away from their work to see the cat lying where he slipped. Bobert turned back to the monitor without a second thought; the three girls shot a distasteful glance before returning to their Great Wall project.

Gumball didn't move.

It's the same…, he thought. It's ALL the same….

At recess, Gumball sat quietly by himself on one of the benches, staring vacantly at the blacktop as his brain worked every synapse to cook up an explanation for what was happening.

The last few hours had been no different compared to the ones yesterday. Though Gumball knew he had been miserable the day before and didn't pay much attention, there were certain points of Miss Simian's lessons that stood out as evoking. And instead of the whole class being furious with him, this time, only the girls were vicious, but all with the same countenance they held the day before.

Gumball rubbed the sides of his temples, trying to urge a enlightening thought to flow into his mind as he tried to drown out the sounds of his classmates playing. It must have worked because the voices and sounds started to decrease. It all receded into footsteps as a number of shadows appeared at Gumball's feet.

Noticing the dark shapes on the ground, Gumball looked up and found all of his classmates surrounding him with Tobias at the front. Each kid held an unwelcoming glare. Penny, Teri, and Carrie were the only ones not present.

"What are ya up to, Gumball?" Tobias spoke with angry suspicion.

Gumball awkwardly responded, "Nothing. Just thinking."

"About your next little prank, I bet!" spat Masami, floating behind.

"Time for payback, dude," Tobias sneered, trying to crack his knuckles without success.

Sighing with huge annoyance, Gumball said, "And I suppose it won't matter if I tell you for the 30th time that it was all just an accident?"

"Accident or not, no one tries to peek at my sister! Bobert!"

Gumball suddenly felt a very cold and hard grip around his shoulders and was hoisted up into the air and placed down onto the center of the blacktop. He watched the long robotic arms retract back to Bobert as he and the others approached him again.

Tobias marched right up in front of Gumball. Adjusting his green headband and wristbands, he clenched his fists and said, "Prepare to become pain-filled!"

Then, with his face firm, he stepped forward and pulled back his fist. Gumball brought his hands up and closed his eyes, awaiting the punch.

It came, and to Gumball's surprise he didn't feel any sort of pain. Opening his eyes, he stood confused as Tobias continued to punch, leaving as much effect as a pillow against a brick wall. Again and again, grunting and breathing, Tobias brought on the punches, circling around Gumball as the blue cat and everyone else watched his pointless attempt.

After about a minute, Tobias was out of breath and fell to his knees. "You…" he breathed hard, completely worn out. "You win…." And with that, his head hit the ground, his mouth hanging open.

"Well, that was embarrassing," said Masami.

Gumball agreed as well. No wonder Tobias is always a benchwarmer; there's no muscles anywhere in his body.

Well, that wasn't so bad, Gumball shrugged. For a minute there, I thought —

Just as he lifted his foot to leave, Darwin pushed past the crowd and stopped in front of Gumball. Again, deep silence filled the blacktop as the goldfish bitterly scowled at his brother.

"Darwin?" said Gumball hesitantly.

His brother curled his orange fin and slowly brought it back.

Gumball trudged down the school's hallway, his hand covering his left eye as it throbbed with pain. Who knew Darwin had such a good arm, and an even stronger punch?

Gumball arrived outside the nurse's office when the door opened and Teri carefully walked out. The paper bear had her pom-poms in her hand and appeared to have a crinkle or two in her right leg.

"Hi, Teri," said Gumball. "Are you all right?"

Teri didn't give an answer. She merely turned her head away with a frown, "Hmph!" and walked away in the direction of the gym.

I guess she's still mad like the other girls, Gumball thought as he watched her limp away.

Gumball walked in to the nurse's office where the Band-Aid nurse gave him an ice pack to take with as he heard the bell ring. He left for Principal Brown's office, remembering then that he was going to miss the Pep Fest again, causing his eye to hurt even greater.

"Ah, Mr. Watterson," said Principal Brown when Gumball walked in, "I'm happy to see you didn't…" he stopped, noticing the ice pack. "What happened your eye?"

"Darwin punched me at recess," said Gumball with gloom.

"I see…. I'll be sure to have a talk with him afterwards. For now, please sit in this chair until I get back."

He pointed to the same tiny chair at the front of his desk that Gumball had sat in this morning, and as Gumball, with shoulders low and head in decline, sat in the uncomfortable seat, the principal picked up a box Gumball remembered from yesterday.

"What's in the box?"

"Oh, this?" Brown held the cardboard container by the handles. "This holds the prizes for the Pep Fest. And speaking of which," and without giving Gumball a second look, he walked out, leaving the 12-year-old cat alone in shaded silence.

"Okay, Mr. Watterson," said Principal Brown when he came back, "you may go. By the way, I talked to —"

Gumball didn't stick around to listen and sprinted out of the office, avoiding the crowd of students as they all headed out to the bus. He ignored any glares the girls gave him or any of the smart-alecky comments from the boys. He thought only of Penny.

When he reached the gymnasium entrance, he took a deep breath. If this goes out like yesterday, Fate is truly against me.

He pushed the doors open and immediately found Penny sitting on the front bleachers. The gym was the same as yesterday with confetti and a few props on the ground. He jogged over to Penny and removed the icepack from his face, letting it rest by his side as he tried to look as composed as he could force himself.

"Hey, Penny," he smiled lightly, ignoring the irritation from his black eye.

Penny looked at him with a downcast face, and, in a voice that was neither happy nor angry, she said, "I'm glad that you're not too hurt."

"Huh?"

"I heard that Darwin hit you at recess. I was afraid that it was really bad."

Gumball couldn't help but feel grateful at Penny's concern. "It's not too bad."

But Penny's demeanor changed. "Well," she said with a sigh, "I guess I better go."

"Wait!" Gumball stepped in front of her after she took a step. "Penny, I'm really sorry!"

"I know you are. It's just…well, you promised me and…," she shook her head, "oh, I just don't know."

"But that wasn't my fault! What happened with Rachel was an accident. Penny, you know I wouldn't do something like that!"

"Of course I know you wouldn't, Gumball," she said sincerely. "I believed you the first time you explained it. And I don't like that the other girls and your own brother were so hard on you, but…" she stopped and sighed again, "I wish you would've been more attentive."

"Attentive? To what?"

"To knowing which bathroom was which. No offence, Gumball, but you're 12. You should be a little more careful."

"But Penny, I was panicking!" he said desperately. "My mind was scrambling when I ran in. I never even saw the sign!"

"What was that about anyway?" she lifted an eyebrow. "You really scared me this morning."

Gumball stopped just as he was about to explain. Even Penny, whom he clearly remembered being so disappointed, would have doubts of anything he could offer as reason.

"Well…I, I wasn't…feeling right with the moment." He smiled foolishly, his brain frowning at him within his skull.

Penny's eyes lowered in annoyance. "Gumball, that makes absolutely no sense."

"Well…uh…" Gumball's eyes darted all over as his mind frantically tried to work something out.

"Penny!" called a voice from the gym's entrance. Both the cat and antlered peanut turned and saw Carmen walk towards the two with Molly and Teri beside her. They were all holding their pom-poms.

They turned bitter at the sight of Gumball.

"Penny, why are you talking with him?" asked Carmen.

Gumball responded, "I just wanted —"

"Just what?" said Carmen bitterly. "Just wanted to see if you can cause more trouble?"

"Carmen!" Penny said disapprovingly.

"We got to practice for the game tonight. Penny, grab your pom-poms and let's get going." Carmen, Teri, and Molly turned around to leave.

With a sigh, Penny walked to the bleachers and pulled her white pom-poms from behind the space of the seat.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Gumball." She spoke with sadness, and it shot to Gumball's heart.

"Penny, I'm sorry!" he said without thinking.

Penny stopped and looked back at him. All she could do was sadly shake her head and walk out the door being held for her by the three girls. After she was out of sight, the last thing Gumball saw was the anger of the girls as Molly bitterly pulled the door shut. None of their frowns compared to what Penny's sadness had on him as the hanging lights began to dim.

Of course, Gumball missed the bus and had to walk home again. To think, the day repeats itself and it's no better the second time. In fact, it was almost as bad as yesterday, give or take a few less misfortunes.

With one eye throbbing and the other guiding him down the sidewalk, he painfully thought of each new disaster that befell him.

He not only makes Darwin mad but gets punched by him. Every girl in school thinks he's a total creep. His dad ran all the way to school to wash his mouth out with soap.

And Penny's frown…. Gumball felt his heart moan. Somehow, he preferred Penny's anger from yesterday.

Curving around the sidewalk, Gumball walked down the block and arrived at his house.

Clenching his lukewarm ice pack, he muttered, "Stupid Rachel, stupid girls, stupid eye, stupid day repeating itself." He opened the front door in a fit.

He never even noticed his neighbor watching him from over the fence.

Gumball walked into the living room and found Darwin and Anais seated on the couch. His brother looked at him unsympathetically.

"Rough day?" asked Anais, noticing his black eye.

He didn't answer, but only looked at Darwin's rigid expression.

Gumball entered the kitchen and placed his ice pack in the freezer, grabbing a new one the family kept aside for emergencies. His eye took delight in the chill as he pressed the pack gently onto his face. He began to walk out when a voice called, "Not so fast, Gumball."

He cringed at his name, and turned to both his parents. His mother stared angrily at him with her arms crossed, and his dad, with his hands at his hips, showed an uncharacteristic frown.

"What did you do this time?" said Nicole, irritation seeping from her voice.

"It was just an accident," the phrase was starting to grow tiresome.

"Of all the immature things to do! Gumball, I really can't believe you would go into the girl's bathroom!"

"Good, because I didn't do it on purpose."

"Don't you play clever with me!"

"Gumball," said Richard, "though I'm not thought or seen to be very responsible, and even do senseless, irresponsible things on a regular basis, I thought we raised you better. You know how you're suppose to treat girls."

"Yeah, I know," he said, remembering very well how his parents raised him, "'like how I want to be treated', and I do, it's just —"

"No excuses, Gumball," said Nicole, frowning. "Your detention may have only been for today but you're still in trouble here."

"What? Oh, come on!"

"No, I WON'T come on! You caused a lot trouble today."

"Me?" Gumball said indignantly. "I caused a lot of trouble?" Walking out of the kitchen as his parents followed, Gumball went to the living room and jutted his hand towards his brother. "Darwin, in case you two didn't notice, gave me a black eye! Do you see it?" He removed his ice pack and pointed directly at it. "It's black and swollen and feels like a pulled muscle!"

"Be lucky I didn't give you two!" snapped Darwin. "You deserve another for forgetting me on our science report!"

"Boys, enough!" shouted Nicole. "You're both grounded for the night. No TV or dessert. Bedrooms, now!" Angrily, she pointed up to the second floor.

Darwin complied bitterly. "Thanks a lot," he said as he passed his brother. Once the goldfish reached the top step, Gumball tried one last time to reason with his parents.

"Mom, Dad, please listen. Something is going on. I really think we —"

"I don't want hear it right now, Gumball," she said bitterly. "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

The last word hit Gumball like a bad joke and caused his voice to rise with frustration. "Tomorrow? Today was supposed to be tomorrow, but all I got was yesterday!"

Nichole, Richard, and Anais all stared at him with no amount of comprehension as he headed upstairs in aggravation.

Darwin was sitting on the lower bunk with his arms crossed and back turned. The two brothers sat on the separate bunks silently until it was time for supper. Nicole was too upset from what Gumball did to cook, so they just had leftovers.

After supper, Gumball was sent back to his room with Darwin where the two continued their embittered silence until their mother came and told them it was time for bed. As Gumball brushed his teeth, he heard his parents talking outside the door.

"Wait," his mother said with surprise, "you washed his mouth out with soap?"

"Yeah," said his father, sounding pleased. "I hear that's what you're suppose to do."

"Richard, that's for when a child swears, and besides, you're don't REALLY wash the mouth out with soap, it's toxic."

"Technically, I used non-toxic deodorant soap, and don't worry, my mom did it to me hundreds of times and I never got sick."

Nicole lifted an eyebrow. "You swore when you were little?"

"No, I just had bad breath that required more than mouthwash."

Gumball returned to his bedroom as Darwin took his turn brushing up.

When Darwin came back in, he jumped right into his fishbowl.

"Night, Darwin," said Gumball, holding one last hope of forgiveness.

Darwin didn't sneer, but he didn't reply either. He just closed his eyes as his whole self covered the inside of his bowl.

"Better luck tomorrow, Gumball," said Anais, disappearing around the corner.

Outside his door, his mother and father stood looking in. "This isn't finished, Gumball," said Nicole. "We will continue this in the morning."

She closed the door, leaving Gumball with the last sentence floating in his ears. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope we do.

He dressed out of his clothes and put on his nightshirt, stopping abruptly as he was about to lay his clothes across the bottom bunk. He looked at the two ends, then to his pants and sweater. With a plan, he placed them at each end of the bed and made a firm mental note.

Pants at the pillow, sweater at the front.

Climbing up the ladder to his bunk, Gumball crawled over to his pillow and laid himself down on the sheets.

His mind swam with everything that happened today. Without a doubt, today had been much better from the previous nightmare he had lived through. True, the black eye and the fact that he missed the Pep Fest again hurt terribly, but nevertheless, it was a different day, despite being the same day.

The only question now was what will come tomorrow?

Or will it even come? he thought.

With his face resting on the soft pillow, he placed his sight on the alarm clock as the green numbers slowly progressed. And after several long minutes, Gumball closed his blurry eyes. The numbers from the clock appeared as a spot inside his eyelids and remained like the glow of a burning fire until it disappeared into the black and away from existence.

And that's all for now. It might take a while for me to get chapter 5 up, but I'll keep at it.

Please review. And if I can make a request, is there anything about my writing style that's lacking? Do I describe enough? Is the story easy to imagine? If there's anything at all that you think needs improving (other than the updating), please say so. Thank you for reading.