Chapter 7: The Dinner
I DO NOT own T.U.F.F. Puppy or any characters. I only own the Foxxy family. In this chapter, we learn how Malcolm was convinced to let a certain lonely lizard come to dinner. This will be an exciting chapter, and I'm sorry it took so long to write. It's much longer than the others. By the way, there's a Lion King reference you may catch. Enjoy!
Agent Dudley Puppy and the Chameleon were sitting across from each other at the table and glowering at each other. Dudley had just now found out why he and his mom were invited. Malcolm had wanted Dudley to come over so he could keep the Chameleon in line in case he tried to pull a fast one. Dudley's mom was invited to make the idea more appealing to Margie Foxxy, who had become fast friends with Peg.
Then Maria came in between them. She wore a sleeveless yellow dress covered with little red flowers that went past her ankles. She also wore pearl earrings and a silver locket with the letter "M." "Glad you could make it!" she told the Chameleon.
"Well, at least someone is," he replied. "Um. . ." His blood turned into ice water and his tongue felt like it was tied in a square knot. "You look really pretty tonight, Maria." His face turned a deep scarlet.
"Um, thank you, Chameleon." She seemed to blush a little herself. "Oh, thanks for the flowers." The bouquet had red poppies, white lilies, and pink lotuses. There were two of each.
"OK, why are you even here, Chameleon?" demanded Dudley. "No one bothered explaining to me. How on earth did you convince them to let you in?"
"Actually, I invited him," confessed Maria.
Dudley choked on his bottled toilet water. He start to jump around, ranting and raving. "What? Of your FREE WILL? Are you insane? Why would you do that?"
Maria looked at her feet. "If you must know, the Chameleon and I are friends."
Dudley looked aghast. "This evening keeps getting stranger. I didn't think the Chameleon had any friends. Or ever would," he muttered.
"What, you don't think I deserve friends?" said the Chameleon indignantly. He transformed into a missile aimed at the dog. "Well, I'll show you, Agent Puppy!"
"Bring it on, freaky lizard!" said Dudley pulling out a large blaster, aiming it at the missile.
"Boys!" said Maria. "Knock it off before Dad kicks both of you out the door." The missile changed back into the Chameleon and Dudley lowered his blaster. Neither looked any happier, however. They were locked in an uncomfortable truce. For now, at least.
The awkward silence was broken when Mario tugged on the Chameleon's arm. "Hey, man, do you want to see some of Dad's stuff? He has the coolest-"
"Stop right there!" shouted Dudley. He looked around. "Mario and I need to discuss something." He dragged Mario into the hall. "Are you insane?" Mario shrugged. "Do you really want to expose the Chameleon to all those WEAPONS?" Malcolm Foxxy was one of the largest known suppliers of weapons to T.U.F.F. and other agencies. He was also known for collecting them. Knives, guns, axes, saws, he had them all. If these fell into the wrong hands. . . there aren't any words to describe how bad that would be.
"Well, yeah, I think it would impress him, don't you?"
Dudley slapped his forehead. "Don't you get it? If the Chameleon got those weapons, all would be lost! And I don't think you would get a reward from him for assisting him in a takeover of Petropolis. Or the world."
"OK, cool your jets, Dudley," said Mario. "I'll just show him my room. Nothing dangerous in there, only dorky. Like all my trains, cars, computer games, and Quacky the Duck posters."
"Is there anything dangerous in Maria's room?"
Mario grinned. "Maria is dangerous. She's also usually armed to the teeth, with three throwing knives, two guns, and her taser Mr. Sparkle." Dudley looked at him quizzically. "Dad named it, not her. She's not that crazy. Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. Maria's a big girl, she can take care of herself."
They went back into the kitchen. Mario yanked the Chameleon's arm again. "Change of plans, why don't you come see my room?" The Chameleon sighed and went with him, leaving Dudley and Maria alone at the table. Peg and Marge were gossiping in the living room while Malcolm was in his secret room making sure all of his weapons were still there.
"Dinner won't be ready for a while," said Maria. "We're making CarneAsada and chiles rellenos. And I asked Mom if we could also make some slow-roasted grasshoppers for a certain guest."
"I just don't understand it," said Dudley. "You actually like the Chameleon? How could you? The two of you are so different. You're so nice. And he's so evil!"
Maria sighed. "Well, we have at least one thing in common. Like him, I don't really have a friend in the world. Except for Mario."
"Really?"
"Yes, and there's more. Um, is he really that mean?"
"Well, yes!"
"I don't know about that. He was nice to me. Maybe there's more to him than everyone thinks."
"Maybe. And maybe you're seeing something that doesn't exist." They sat at the table in silence for a while. "So, what do you want to do until dinner's ready?"
"Do you want to play Michael Jackalson: The Experience on the PS3?"
"Sure." They started to walk into the living room and met Mario and the Chameleon there. As Maria put the game in, Dudley said, "Will you excuse me for a second?" He stepped into the hall and spoke into his wrist-com. (In addition to his prescence being a request of Malcolm's, he was also there on a solo mission for T.U.F.F.) "Chief, it's Dudley. The Chameleon hasn't tried anything just yet, but I've got my eye on him. And I guess Maria must really pity him or something. She said something about how alike they are, how neither of them has any real friends. I just don't see it. But don't worry, he won't get away with anything."
"Good work, Agent Puppy!" said the Chief. "The Chameleon just can't be trusted."
Dudley went back into the living room with with Maria, Mario, and the Chameleon. Mr. and Mrs. Foxxy had went into the kitchen with Peg Puppy. Before the four of them began playing, Dudley made an "I'm watching you" gesture to the Chameleon, who returned it.
Pairs were picked randomly to perform each song. Dudley and Mario danced to "Beat It," and Mario and the Chameleon did "Thriller" and "Smooth Criminal," and Dudley performed "Bad" with the Chameleon.
And then Maria and the Chameleon had to do "Dirty Diana." As Maria sang along, the Chameleon noted what a beautiful voice she had. Then they had also had to do "Billie Jean." This is when things became a little awkward.
They were both dancing pretty well, when Maria tripped on her partner's tail and knocked him over. He fell on top of her. They were in an embarassing position and it wasn't a good time for Maria's dad to appear. And of course he did.
"Mario, do you have my-" he said, when he saw his daughter on the floor with his villainous neighbor. Everyone gasped, but his was the loudest. "WHAT in the name of all things holy?" He grabbed the stunned Chameleon by the neck and pinned him to the wall. "This better not be what it looks like," he snarled. "Because I'm three seconds away from getting my hatchet and just-"
"It's my fault, Dad," said Maria.
Malcolm turned around to look at her. "What do you mean?"
"I knocked him down. That's all that happened. It was an accident."
Her father looked around, glaring. "Very well." He stomped away, not remembering why he had even went in there in the first place.
Maria turned to the Chameleon. "Sorry you had to go through all that." She grinned. "Only the first time was an accident. This one's on purpose."
"Wha-" That was all the Chameleon got out before she tackled him. This time, she was on top.
"Pinned ya!" she crowed. He tried to flip her over, but she ended up on top again. "Pinned ya again."
"What's going on?" said Dudley.
"Oh, you know girls," said Mario. "They just wanna have fun!"
At last dinner was served. Marge received a lot of compliments on the food. And of course Maria and the Chameleon were seated right next to each other. There was tension in the air. Neither could keep their eyes off the other. But eventually everyone's eyes glazed over as Marge and Peg started gossiping. Maria, Mario, Dudley, and the Chameleon became excused as quickly as they could, leaving Malcolm bored out of his mind.
As the Chameleon left, he asked Maria, "So, what are the chances I'll be able to come back?"
Maria shrugged. "Likely, but not too good. I had a fun night."
"Me too. See you later."
Before he could step away, Maria hugged him. "Bye."
"Uh, bye." He went home confused yet happy.
Now the sparks have started flying. Although this chapter was fun to write, it was also probably the hardest to write. And it took the most time. The next chapter is in progress. Until the next update.
