Let's check in with Arnold and Rhonda, shall we? Anyway, enjoy!
Now, Arnold had been to a couple of fancy restaurants before, still remembering those times he hung out... the complications with Ruth and the fake Cecile, and the one time Helga invited him, Gerald and Phoebe over to a French restaurant and all of them got stuck having to pay the tab after Helga had the wrong coupon and tried to have the four of them escape unnoticed. But this felt a little different as not only was he with a different person, he was also with that same person's family.
Arnold didn't know what to say, but he knew that he liked the way Rhonda's parents were treating him. Well, he met her parents before a few times, but back then, he and their daughter weren't pretend-dating. But so far, Buckley and Brooke seem to be treating him like he's one of their family, and being surrounded by that, he felt a bit... welcomed.
"So, Arnold, why don't you tell us about yourself?" Brooke asked as soon as they were done ordering their meals. "And I mean tell us what we don't already know from last we visited your home or from what our wonderful daughter told us."
Arnold paused a bit as he tugged on his collar a bit nervously as he said, "Well, you know me from around Hillwood, and I am just a regular kid, like your daughter. Uh, I don't mean regular as in-"
"Don't worry, Arnold, we understand what you mean." Buckley smiled, assuring the young man as Arnold felt a little relaxed.
"Well, I do pretty good in school, I study really good to the best of my abilities." Arnold explained as he looked over at Rhonda. "Er, has Rhonda told you we're geography partners?"
Rhonda's eyes lit up as she turned to her parents. "It's true. We've been geography partners a few times in class."
"Ah yes, I do believe that Rhonda said you were probably her favorite partner in geography." Buckley laughed. "Believe it or not, geography is one of her weaker points, so to know she has not only a wonderful boyfriend, but a wonderful tutor to help her out, is a dandy."
"Daddy..." Rhonda blushed in embarrassment as Arnold grabbed her hand. Brooke noticed and whispered in her husband's ear as Buckley smiled.
"Oh yes. Arnold, we were wondering what your parents did for a living?" Buckley said.
Arnold tensed up a bit as he noticed Rhonda looking at him. Rhonda raised an eyebrow, "You know, now that I think about it, I don't think we've seen your parents."
"Well, it's sort of a... touchy subject for me." Arnold said, worried.
Brooke and Buckley looked concerned as Buckley asked, "Is it not something you're comfortable telling us?"
"Well... not exactly. It's a little bit complicated, but let's just say that... my parents aren't exactly... here in Hillwood." Arnold explained as he noticed the look on Buckley and Brooke's faces. "Not that they were bad parents, I can assure you that. It's just... my grandparents told me that they left on a mission a long time ago and... well... that's all I can say about it."
Arnold shut his eyes, hoping that Rhonda OR her family wouldn't press on any further. Rhonda noticed the discomfort in the football headed boy and put an arm around him, reassuring him, "If it's something you don't feel like talking about, we won't press it any further. You can talk to us about it when you feel comfortable about it."
"We're sorry, Arnold. We didn't want to make you uncomfortable." Brooke said as Arnold sighed in relief. "We were only a little curious."
"Thank you." Arnold smiled at the three. "And I forgive you."
"Well, let's not worry about that. We didn't come here on a sad occasion. It's supposed to be joyous, you know!" Buckley smiled as he nuzzled his wife's nose. "After all, we are in a fancy place, are we not?"
"Yes we are, my wonderful, sweet man." Brooke talked sweetly to her husband and giggled as they pointed to the ball room where some couples were dancing. "Why, we even have some couples getting up to dance..."
Rhonda's eyes lit up as she turned to Arnold, as her eyes widened cutely. Arnold turned to the rich girl in confusion, before realizing what she wanted. "Er, would you like to dance... sweetie?"
"Why, darling, I thought you'd never ask." Rhonda giggled as Arnold got up and pulled Rhonda out of her seat as Brooke and Buckley watched the two kids in curiosity and with smiles.
"Have you ever tried ballroom dancing before?" Rhonda whispered in Arnold's ear as the two walked towards the dance hall.
"I have learned a little bit from my grandmother." Arnold said. "How about you?"
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Rhonda whispered back as Arnold held her right hand with his left hand and put his other hand around her waist as the rich girl put a hand on Arnold's right shoulder. As a ballad started playing, they followed the movements just right as the two danced together. Both football headed boy and rich girl looked at each other's eyes as both of them thought to themselves how lovely their eyes looked.
As the two kids were dancing, Rhonda's parents were watching as Brooke smiled, "You know, Buckley, I never would have thought I'd see my little girl so happy and with a mature man who knows how to take care of our daughter."
"Brooke, I know it may be early now, but if this keeps going like this after a few years, I think it's safe to say that our Rhonda may have chosen a soul mate she wants to spend the rest of her life with." Buckley smiled as he held her hand. "Remember how we used to dance like that, my cute little daisy?"
Brooke giggled as she kissed his cheek. "How could I ever forget? Our first date together..."
Needless to say, it was a wonderful moment for both of the rich girl's parents watching their little girl dancing around with a young man that they were beginning to trust.
Arnold had fun with Rhonda and her parents, even if he knew he didn't have this in mind when he helped Rhonda with the coat, he didn't regret it, either. As Arnold was carrying a container with a cake inside (intending it to be for his grandfather, who requested the cake), he looked over at Rhonda's parents, who were sitting in the front seat as Brooke turned to him, Buckley was driving the car. Brooke smiled as she said, "I know it's rather unconventional for Buckley here to drive the car, usually, we have a driver take us, but Buckley just likes to drive around. It helps get outside and around."
"Ah." Arnold nodded. "Well, thank you for inviting me over to your family outing."
"Oh, you're welcome, Arnold. After all, it may be my birthday, but we should all be joyous, right?" Brooke smiled as she turned to Buckley. "And Buckley, thank you so much for that wonderful mink coat. It looked like it was fresh out of the package!"
"Really fresh..." Rhonda paused in embarrassment, remembering the punishment Buckley gave her... as Arnold held her hand and squeezed it in assurance.
"Oh, you're most welcome, Brooke." Buckley smiled. "Oh, uh, Arnold? Will we be expecting you again tomorrow?"
"Well, actually, I plan on taking Rhonda over at the boarding house to... well... help her out with her homework." Arnold said.
Rhonda nodded as she said, "And trust me, Daddy, I really need all the help I can get."
Brooke and Buckley looked at each other and smiled upon noticing Arnold and Rhonda holding hands once again. Buckley then said, "Well, all right, but don't forget, Arnold, you are more than welcome to come over to our place. Just give us a call and let me know."
"I will most certainly do that." Arnold said as Buckley pulled up in front of the boarding house.
"Well, here's your stop." Buckley said. "Oh, tell your grandparents and your boarder friends that we've said hello, would you?"
"Of course." Arnold nodded as he opened the door to get out of the car. "I'll see you tomorrow at school, sweetie."
"Love you, darling!" Rhonda giggled as she winked at him.
Arnold winked back as he closed the car door gently and waved good-bye as he watched the Lloyd vehicle drive off.
As Buckley continued to drive, Brooke turned to Rhonda with a smile as she said, "Oh, er, sweetheart, if you're going with Arnold, I just have one rule."
"What's that?" Rhonda asked in curiosity.
"Don't try to do some rash actions that might get you caught." Brooke giggled.
Rhonda raised an eyebrow in confusion... before raising the other one as her eyes widened in shock. "Mother! You think that... mother, Arnold and I may be dating, but we're not THAT intimate!"
"As far as we're concerned, Arnold and I are best friends and nothing more..." Rhonda thought to herself... before thinking about it. "Although... I did enjoy dancing with him..."
She sighed happily as Brooke turned to Buckley with a smile and whispered in his ear. "He is definitely a keeper..."
"Welcome home, Tex!" Gertrude smiled as Arnold walked in and looked up at his grandmother, now wearing Western-like clothes. "I see you had a wonderful time today?"
"Oh, well... it was the best day, Grandma." Arnold smiled "My girlfriend and I had a little dance together. Er, fancy dancing, not square dancing."
"Shoot. I really wish you had taken her square dancing." Gertrude snapped her fingers.
"All right, Pookie, give the boy a little room to breathe." Phil said as he walked out of the bathroom, noticing Arnold came home with the container. 'Hiya, Shortman! I see you managed to get the cake!"
"I hope you enjoy it, Grandpa." Arnold said as he handed Phil the cake as Gertrude started humming to herself an old time Western song, starting to go upstairs.
"Anyway, you danced with that sweetheart of yours, eh?" Phil laughed. "It's hard to believe you had a date this successful! I don't know how long you had one of those..."
"Grandpa, it wasn't a date... well, not exactly, it was me being invited to Rhonda's family's get-together for her mother's birthday!" Arnold explained.
"But you danced with that rich girlfriend of yours, didn't you? Or maybe it's just my ears not working correctly?" Phil asked.
Arnold paused for a moment as he thought about it... before smiling. "You heard right. I have danced with Rhonda."
"Well, are you full or do you think you can eat dinner, because if you're full, then you may as well tell me everything about your little get-together." Phil asked in curiosity.
Arnold paused as he felt his stomach... he paused as he said, "I'm actually a little full, so... I may as well tell you everything."
Phil smiled as he listened intently to Arnold's day. As Arnold was explaining his day with Rhonda and her family in more detail, the old man couldn't help but notice how Arnold felt pretty comfortable when talking about Rhonda. The old man smiled to himself as he thought, "No doubt about it. Shortman's actually got himself a keeper."
Arnold had not realized it yet, but the more he talked about his day with Rhonda, the more his heart was starting to beat faster than normal. He didn't know it at the time, but he was slowly starting to fall for the rich girl.
All right, I'm ending the chapter here! How did you guys like it? Next time, we'll be seeing Arnold and Rhonda trying to act normal at school... but will things get complicated when Curly tries to arrange a plan to get Rhonda alone? And what does Helga have in mind in terms of chasing Rhonda away from Arnold? You'll have to find out for yourselves next time! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!