~Chapter 9~
"Well, Nick, now we have waited five minutes for Wally Beatles to come out. Do you think he's chickening out?"
"Beatles chickening out? No way, Chip, he's just trying to psych Fanny."
"In that case, Nick, I don't think it's working."
Fanny was sitting at the table, casually studying the state of her fingernails. "Beatles is taking his time," she remarked to Hoagie, who was standing at the other side of the table, glancing in the direction of the boy's locker room.
"He's coming, all right," Hoagie said. "He's just psyching himself. Mental stuff, y'know?"
"You do know you have to take his place if he's a no-show, right?"
"Wuh –what?" Hoagie yelped. "Says who?"
"You're his closest friend and second and stuff, right? So you have to step in if he drops out. It's, like, a rule, you know?" She put an elbow on the table and wiggled her fingers tauntingly. "Don't worry, I'll use my weak hand."
Hoagie paled. He couldn't help noticing that Fanny's "weak hand" was the one he'd seen her use in the cafeteria to "make apple juice".
"There he is!" someone shouted in the crowd. "There's Wally!"
"Oh, GREAT ," Hoagie shouted with relief, then quickly added, "Erm … I mean, now the match can start and that's great … yeah."
Wally Beatles came running from the boy's locker room, waving to his supporters in the crowd, of which there was quite a few, his friends and fellow operatives. He threw himself down on the bench across the table from Fanny, rolled up his sleeve and put his elbow on the table. "All right, toots, let's do this."
"Toots?" Fanny's eyes narrowed as she clasped Wally's hand. "You're sooo dead, Beatles. One – two – three –GO!"
Both contestants immediately attacked at full power, and it quickly became clear that Fanny and Wally was evenly matched. Their white-knuckled hands wavered slightly back and forth in the center for minute after minute, neither boy nor girl getting any significant advantage. The crowd was roaring with excitement, encouragements and bets flying in all directions.
Fanny couldn't help being a bit impressed by Wally. She had beaten him relatively easy eight weeks ago and she knew how much she'd improved with Patton's expert training. She knew all the best grips and how to use her long arms to maximum advantage and she was now training with weights that she could hardly lift eight weeks ago. And still the blonde Aussie managed to keep the match at a standstill.
But that wouldn't help him - there was a kiss on the line here.
Using pure willpower Fanny increased the pressure on Beatles hand. Now her arm was really starting to hurt, but she was beginning gain ground. Slowly and painfully she pushed Beatles hand closer and closer to the table, as the roar around the table increased. Finally she slammed his hand down. She'd won.
"All right, Fanny, You're the strongest," Wally said with an exasperated smile and raised his hand for a high five.
THAT surprised Fanny. It was NOT like Beatles to admit that he'd had his butt kicked by a girl. At least she'd have expected a "best of three".
But then she noticed Kuki, standing a few feet behind Beatles, looking at him with a huge goofy smile on her face, very similar to the one Fanny knew she got, when she thought of Patton.
So THAT was why Beatles took his time to come out. He too had found out that there were more important things in the world than who was best at arm-wrestling.
"Bet your BUTT I am," she smiled and slapped her hand against Beatles.
XXX
Patton and Fanny were walking home together from the match, dragging their bikes over the football field of Gallagher Elementary.
"So, Patton," Fanny smiled, "I believe we had a bet."
"Sure did", Patton said, "and I was thinking that," he pointed towards a ledge on a mountainside on the other side of the city, "would be a good place to pay up. The view is really nice up there. Of course," he added mischievously, "it's a long steep path up there. Might be too hard for a girl."
"Oh YEAH?" Fanny gave the big boy a shove so he and his bike went sprawling on the grass then jumped on her bike. "RACE YA' THERE!"
When Patton got up, Fanny was already fifty yards away, paddling her bike furiously, her frizzy red hair flying in the wind. Patton allowed himself a moment to gaze after her, a huge smile on his face. Then he jumped on his bike and started paddling as fast as he could.
Keeping up with Fanny was really hard work.
But SO worth it.
Yeah.
I think this is a good time to let Fanny and Patton have some privacy.
So the little one-shot grew into a nine-chapter story. I'm as surprised as anyone really
I'd like to thank deLattre, whose story "Wrestle me this" provided the original inspiration for this and who gave encouragement and constructive criticism in the writing process. Also thanks to all you readers, especially those who has favorited, followed and taken the time to review
And of course to Mr. Warburton and co-workers for characters, setting and the whole KND universe.
All the best.
Kids Next Door rules!
Ulathon
