Chapter Eight
Ripp and Isabella are walking towards the eXtreme residence holding hands. Ripp stops in front of the house and turns to Isabella, blushing.
"Well, I guess this is it," he says, trying to hide his face.
"Yeah," Isabella replies, "Thanks for walking me back and you know, for having me over your house. It was fun."
An awkward silence occurs, causing Ripp's mind to race, "Crap, an awkward silence. What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to say? Whatever you do Ripp, don't follow the advice of your father."
General Buzz appears in Ripp's thought bubble as he reminisces, "Whenever there's an awkward silence, it's time to punch somebody in the face. Remember that son and someday you'll be almost as successful as me." The bubble pops, Ripp shivers.
"Ripp?" Isabella speaks, "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah," Ripp replies, "I was just-never mind."
Isabella smiles softly, "Something tells me it was something having to do with your dad."
"How did you know?" Ripp asks.
"I could tell by the expression on your face," Isabella quietly laughs before turning back to Ripp. "So, I should probably be going before my family wonders where I am. See you later Ripp."
Isabella walks over to Ripp and kisses him before entering her house; she turns back and waves to him through the window, her face turning red.
Ripp continues to stand on the lawn in shock, a funny look spreading across his face. "Bye," he softly states forcing his hand up and frantically waving back, before fainting on the ground.
MEANWHILE: IN THE HOUSE
Isabella turns away from the window and begins to dance around the house; she accidentally knocks into her dad, who is standing in the middle of the kitchen, his arms crossed.
"Oh hey dad," Isabella says.
"Hello Isabella," Alban responds, "You're back late. Now tell me, what's all this talk I hear about you and this Ripp Grunt fellow?"
"Uhh," Isabella stalls, her eyes never leaving the floor, "What talk?"
"Nothing, just that you've been spending a lot of time with this boy lately, and that he is, a Romance sim."
"Well I am too!" Isabella defends, "Besides, what difference does it make if he's a Romance sim?"
"Izzy, Romance sims are only interested in one thing-having multiple lovers. That boy is going to break your heart."
"Ripp would never do that, he's not like that."
"Oh, so he's a rebel?"
"Well that's only because his family's crazy!" Isabella bursts out, causing Alban to raise an eyebrow. Isabella sighs before continuing, "Look, just give me one chance, I'll prove to you that he's not a typical Romance sim."
Alban looks down at the floor and contemplates, he sighs, "Alright, one chance-"
Isabella's face lights up in a smile, "Thanks dad!"
"-but if he is than you can never see him again…"
MEANWHILE: AT THE GRUNT RESIDENCE
Ripp skips up the front steps and bursts through the front door smiling wide. He dances into the living room and collides with a lamp, causing General Buzz and Tank to race down the stairs. Ripp collapses on the couch and begins to giggle.
"Where the heck were you boy?" General states, "Buck was getting worried. You almost missed obstacle course practice."
"Hehe," Ripp laughs while looking up at the ceiling, "Hi daddy."
General Buzz and Tank exchange weird looks before Buzz walks over to him, "Enough small talk boy, it's time for you to-"
"Run the course?" Ripp completes jumping out of the seat, "YES!"
General Buzz turns to Tank after watching Ripp race out the door, "Something is seriously wrong with that boy." Tank nods.
FIFTEEN SECONDS LATER
Tank and Ripp are standing side-by-side in front of the obstacle course, General Buzz turns to them.
"Now when I say 'go' I want each of you to run through the-"
"Uhh, dad?" Tank interrupts pointing.
"What?" General Buzz asks, looking to see what Tank is pointing at. His eyes widen in shock as he watches Ripp running through the obstacle course perfectly in record time. General Buzz walks over to Ripp and stops him before he can make another lap, "Alright son," he states, "What's up with you? Are you on drugs?"
Ripp giggles, "Oh dad, I love you!"
Ripp tightly hugs his father, startling and disgusting him. General Buzz pushes Ripp off of him and onto the ground. Ripp laughs on the ground hysterically causing General Buzz and Tank to look down at him in confusion.
"Yep, something's wrong with him."
THE NEXT DAY
Ripp puts down his backpack after school and heads toward the front door. He turns to Tank, "Well, see you later."
"Where are you going?" Tank asks, getting up from off of the couch and walking over to Ripp.
"I told you this already! Isabella wants to come over her house today."
"Isabella?" Tank repeats, "You mean that red-haired girl that you brought home from school that one time."
"Yeah," Ripp responds suspiciously, "Why do you ask?"
"No reason," Tank quickly replies, looking down at the ground.
"Well, yeah I guess I'll be going now-"
"Wait!" Tank speaks out stopping Ripp at the door, "Can I go with you?"
"Tank wants to go with me somewhere? What is up with that? Oh well, I guess I can't say no. After all, he'd probably beat me up," Ripp ponders before responding, "Sure."
FIVE MINUTES LATER
Ripp and Tank are walking on the sidewalk; they stop in front of the eXtreme residence. Ripp turns to him, "Well, this is it," he responds.
"Great," Tank replies, nodding in satisfaction, "I guess we should ring the doorbell-"
"Wait!" Ripp stops him, "I have a better idea."
MEANWHILE: INSIDE THE HOUSE
Isabella is standing in her living room talking to her unreasonable father. "Come on dad, just give him a chance, he'll be here any minute!"
"And when will that be?" Alban responds firmly.
"Uhh…" Isabella shudders.
All of a sudden knocks are heard at the window followed by a loud, "ISABELLA!" Alban storms over to the source of the noise and swings open the window, finding Ripp with a pile of rocks in his left hand.
"Hey you," Alban confronts, "Stay away from my daughter!"
"Dad!" Isabella calls out racing over the door, letting them in. "Be nice."
"So," Alban states walking over to the two boys who are standing in the living room, he turns to Tank placing his hand on his shoulder, "You must be Ripp."
"Uhh, no," Ripp replies from behind Tank, "I'm Ripp." He lifts his right hand up and nervously smiles.
Alban glares at him, "Of course," he responds, "It had to be the rock throwing boy."
Isabella nervously laughs and steps between her father and Ripp, unaware of Tank's sudden absence, "So dad, what do you think?"
Alban stares at him blankly before facing his daughter, "He looks like a girl."
"Hey!" Ripp responds offended.
"Now hold on," Isabella replies, softly placing her hand on Ripp's shoulder, "Maybe we can talk about this."
FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER
Ripp, Isabella and her father are sitting at the kitchen table talking. Alban's face softens, "Maybe I was wrong about you son, you seem fairly normal." Isabella smiles from across the table, "But you didn't mention anything about your family, what are they like?"
"What are they like? Terrible! Monsterous! The family from down under! That's what they're like!" Ripp's mind chimes, he smiles and turns to Alban, "Oh, you know, they're very civilized and pleasant to be around-"
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT YOU MEATHEAD!"
"What the-?" Alban responds, getting up from the table. All three of them race over to the family room and over to the source of the sounds. To Ripp's horror his brother is in a fist fight with Brent.
"Tank! What are you doing?" Ripp says in panic, "Stop it!"
Brent kicks Tank on the floor; Tank rubs his arm in pain before storming over to his brother. He points at Brent, "He started it!" Tank defends, "He was making fun of my camo!"
"Not again with the camo," Ripp groans before turning to the eXtremes, "I'm really sorry about my brother's behavior," Ripp responds, "This won't happen again."
"You're darn right it won't happen again," Alban replies storming over to them, "Because you're never allowed to see my daughter again-EVER!"
