Disclaimer: Hey Arnold doesn't belong to me, I just have the pleasure of writing about it. One italic line belongs to cloud8745, while he was playing I Wanna Be That Guy, and it was freakin amazing. The other one, well, everyone should know it. I don't own Animal House either, since I'm on the subject. I have a feeling some of you will be pissed at me for this chapter, but try to think of it as the ending of one point of view. Confused? Read my profile paragraph about how I link everything – it'll all make sense eventually. Read, Review, and Spread the word.
HA
Soft music floated from the speakers in what Curly hoped was a romantic ambiance. Rhonda was seated next to him, licking the drippings of her vanilla ice cream cone in a coy and suggestive manner, watching him with glittering eyes. All of Philmore's doors were swung wide open, allowing the sounds to escape the confines of the bus more easily. The late afternoon sun was warming the tops of their heads as they sat rather precariously on the front bumper, engaging in an unspoken challenge of who could last the longest.
Just when Curly was sure the burning in his thighs was going to force him to admit defeat, a loud siren captured their attention. What appeared to be a Crown Victoria police cruiser whipped into the playground parking lot – which was otherwise empty – and startled the two. A young officer in what must have been his late twenties threw open the driver's door in the same second the cruiser came to a complete stop. His gun was drawn as he knelt behind the safety of his door.
For a moment, no one moved, too caught up in the moment to do anything but stare. Curly leaned over to Rhonda, who was still transfixed by the siren show, to whisper in her ear.
"Oh great, just what we needed, a rent-a-cop." She giggled, and that was when the fuzz decided to break what he presumed to be tense silence.
"Thaddeus Gammelthorpe, keep ya 'ands where I c'n see 'em!" he shouted the distance of maybe six feet that kept them separated, voice absolutely dripping with a thick Irish-New York accent. Maybe not New York, maybe South Boston. Curly and Rhonda looked at each other, before Thad heaved himself into standing.
"Tell me, is it standard procedure to drawn your gun on an unarmed man?" he asked casually, holding out his hands as proof of their emptiness. Not even an ice cream cone.
"Stay where ya are. Yer under arrest for the kidnappin' of Rhonda Wellington Lloyd. I wan' ya ta slowly walk ta the car with ya 'ands behind ya 'ead." The Officer ordered as Thaddeus sighed, before putting his hands up. He wouldn't move though, even as the cop approached him, handcuffs quickly replacing the gun.
"Excuse me, Officer Alapopskalius? But the woman I allegedly kidnapped is sitting there, not four feet from you. What do you notice?" The officer was at first surprised that Curly was able to pronounce his name so fluently, but brushed it off in favor of suspicion at what the young man was getting at. As he tried cuffing the man with a cast on his arm, he threw a casual look over his shoulder.
"She's eatin' ice cream. What's ya poin'?" he noted while having a frustrating time trying to cuff Thad's cast.
"Well, if I had kidnapped her, why would we be sitting freely, out in the open with no means of restraint, eating ice cream?" Curly pointed out while the Officer Alapopskalius threw his hands up in surrender as he moved back around to face Curly. The two had what appeared to be a battle of wills and personal truths, before the officer sighed and looked at Rhonda.
"I got a report says he ki'napped ya; there any truth ta this?" Rhonda sighed with a shake of her head, and stood to approach the two men. She smiled at him reassuringly, while placing an obviously loving hand on Thad's shoulder.
"No, Officer. Did my parents report this?" Alapopskalius nodded, and Rhonda sighed again.
"Officer, Thaddeus is my boyfriend, whom my parents don't approve of. Even though I am legally an adult and in college, they seem to think they can control my life. I had thought that because they were no longer my legal guardians, that Curly and I could finally be at peace together – I never thought they would try something like this." as she explained it all, Alapopskalius nodded, and let out an agitated breath by the end of it.
"A'right, I got where this was goin'. C'mon, I'll escort ya back to ya folk's place, and we c'n try an' sort all this out." He smiled, and Curly shook his hand exuberantly.
"Thank you Officer Alapopskalius!" Once again, the officer was caught off-guard by Thad's ability to pronounce his name.
"Say, how ya how ta say it?" Curly shrugged while pulling out his keys.
"In all honesty? I have no clue."
***
By the time Philmore and the Crown Victoria made it up the drive, a small crowd of Rhonda's parents and their friends had cumulated outside the front door. Once he parked the bus, Thad opened his door and helped Rhonda out as well, only to be quickly brushed aside by her parents in their rush to reach their daughter.
"Oh Rhonda! We were so worried! Did he hurt you? Molest you? Oh no! My baby's purity has been tarnished! Officer! I want you to arrest that man for kidnapping and rape." Brooke Lloyd shot off, pointing an accusatory finger as Curly while watching Officer Alapopskalius. The said officer had only just climbed out of his squad car, and was thrown off at being ordered around so soon. Fortunately, he caught on swiftly.
"Ma'am, ya daughter says there ain't been any ki'nappin'. She says this 'ere's 'er boyfriend." Alapopskalius attempted to pacify, but the determined woman would have none of it.
"Did she tell you this?" his nodded only fueled her anger, "Well, he must have brain-washed my poor baby! It must be a cult!" At her outburst, both Rhonda and Curly groaned with an embarrassed irritation. The officer caught on, and felt bad for the two.
"Ma'am, ya only reported 'er missin' today. How could he have brainwashed 'er so quickly?" His seemingly innocent questioning made Mrs. Lloyd furious beyond believe.
"Excuse me, Officer Alapopinanniskius, but you are a public servant, are you not? That means it is your job to do as I say, and I say arrest that man! He kidnapped and raped my daughter!"
It was as if the world had stopped turning at her outburst. Everyone turned to Officer Alapopskalius, waiting to see his reaction. As for the officer, he smiled the second she said what she assumed his name was.
"Actually, Ma'am, my job is ta the law. There ain't a crime 'ere. Hope you folks have a nice night." With that said, he began climb into his car, ready to head back to the station and do the dreaded paperwork. As he began to drive away, Brooke Lloyd went into even more of a frenzy.
"Alopapskilius! I'm going to have that over-glorified mall cop fired for that!" she shouted, opening her cell phone in order to call the chief of police personally, when another voice stopped her.
"His name is Officer Alapopskalius, Madam. And you heard him; he said there was no crime here. Why can't you just let Rhonda and I go on with our lives in peace?" he asked calmly as he stood, ignoring the growls emitting from Jonathan DeBolt, keeping his gaze solely on Buckley, Brooke, an d Rhonda Wellington Lloyd.
"I will never let her go!" Brooke shouted, surprising even her husband, who knew all too well her possessive and dominating God complex.
"She's your daughter, not your doll captive!" Curly snapped back, holding his left wrist as if he were holding himself back.
"YOU RAPED MY BABY!" She exploded, and looked as if she were about to slap the skin off Thad's face, when yet another voice entered the mix.
"It wasn't rape, mother!" Rhonda shouted, and everyone turned to the young raven. And everyone had caught on to her words: she didn't say he didn't rape me, she said it wasn't rape. All ears present knew what that meant.
Brooke slowly returned her gaze to Thaddeus Curly Gammelthorpe, who now had the crooked smile on his face. The fire in the woman's eyes reached a new level of ferocity.
"So it's true! You took my daughter's virginity!" She accused, shock and violence overflowing in her voice. Curly's smile only grew as he moved his eyes to catch and keep Rhonda's gaze.
"That was a two way street. But I must say, it was fantastic." Rhonda blushed, and Thad would most certainly have continued, had not four seconds after his statement he was sent careening into the side of the bus.
In anger, Jonathan had tackled Curly, slamming him into the side of the car with an aggressive thud. He had expected Thaddeus to whine, cough, and maybe even cry a bit from the pain. He was not expecting the young man to start laughing breathlessly, much less utter a statement.
"My cockiness knows no bounds . . . " he sang lightly, and Rhonda instantly heard it. His voice was full of pain and need; need of her comfort and embrace. Rushing past her parents, Rhonda collapsed beside him, bringing his head to rest against her breasts.
"Rhonda get away from him!" both her mother and Jonathan ordered, and Rhonda shot them both glares.
"How can you possibly think that this is what's best for me? Don't start; I already know you have this sick and twisted vision of this as having my interests at heart. No, I'm fairly certain this is as far from having my best interest at heart as you can get." Rhonda mouthed, and she could feel Curly smirk against her chest, and lightly kiss her right breast. Fighting a blush and her racing heart rate, she tried to focus on her anger towards her mother.
"Rhonda, if you go with him today, you will no longer be allowed in this house. Do you understand me?" Brooke delivered her ultimatum, expecting her daughter to realize there was really no choice. Unfortunately, for Rhonda there was no contest, and it was not in favor of her mother's thoughts.
"If that's the case, mother, then I'll leave with Curly now. No point in staying when nothing else needs to be done, right?" Rhonda's smirk was eerily similar to Curly's, and when he lifted his head to look at her, couldn't deny the arousal her sudden back bone caused him.
Brooke Lloyd, meanwhile, had stiffened her posture considerably, and nodded at her daughter's statement. Turning away, she began to make her way back into the Mansion.
"Alright then. Come along everyone, drinks in the drawing room." she informed, and slowly everyone filtered back in through the doors. They had found their new source of gossip, that was for sure. At least, they would if they dared the wrath of Brooke Lloyd.
Within moments, it was just Rhonda and Curly next to Philmore. Slowly, Rhonda heaved herself to her feet, before turning and helping Thad to his as well. Turning again, she nearly shrieked at coming face to face with her father.
"Daddy . . ." she began, but he silenced her by holding up his hands. He had been silent through the entire confrontation, and she knew what he had to say now was important.
"No matter what your mother says, Rhonda, you will always be welcome in my home." At his words, she smiled and launched herself into his arms.
"Thank you." she whispered, and kissed his cheek as he set her down. Turning to Thad, Buckley held out his hand, and the young man's eyes widened at the metaphorical olive branch.
"I expect you to take the utmost care of her; give her everything she deserves." Mr. Lloyd ordered paternally, and Curly nodded with his most charming, crooked smile.
"Of course. I will love, guard and care for her with my meager life." Curly saluted, and helped Rhonda into the driver's seat, seeing as the passenger door was still pinned shut. As Buckley watched his only daughter prepare to leave with her boyfriend, he couldn't help but be reminded of happier times. Before he became head of his father's money, when he and Brooke had first gotten together. Before Rhonda. Before outrageous wealth. Before the detrimental narcissism.
When things were perfect.
"Just so you know, sir, I no longer see you as a capitalistic chauvinist. You're a good guy." Curly's voice brought the older gentleman out of his reverie. Before Buckley had a chance to retort, Curly had used his good hand to pull himself into the driver's seat; he vaguely heard laughter as the door shut and the 1964 VW Microbus started down the drive.
As he watched them disappear past the guard booth, Buckley Lloyd couldn't help but think that his daughter was in excellent hands.
*
As Curly pulled himself into the driver's seat, Rhonda peered over at him with a mischievous look in her eyes.
"Hey Thad, wanna let me drive?" She asked sweetly, and Curly laughed as he shut the door and turned the key in the ignition.
"No way my love; I don't think you can handle Philmore just yet." Rhonda huffed, but smiled as they rode in silence down to the guard booth. As they waved to Charlie, both noticed the sadness in his eyes. Rhonda had always been so sweet to him, and now she was leaving for what he assumed was forever. They young woman could only smile reassuringly; it couldn't be helped.
They drove down the road to the first stop light and more populated, busy intersection in silence.
"We should send that officer flowers, you know, as a thank you. Too bad we don't know his first name." Rhonda sighed and Curly nodded.
"Daniel." Was all he said, and she turned her head sharply towards him.
"What?"
"Daniel; that was his name." She looked at him curiously as they waited patiently for the light to turn green.
"And how do you know that?" The smirk that greeted her was crooked and clever, a glint lighting his eyes behind his glasses at the prospect of knowing something she didn't.
"I read his uniform. Officer Daniel Alapopskalius." She laughed and looked forward again, only to stop when she caught the change in his eyes.
"So . . . wanna go back to your dorm?" he asked, and she smiled with a nod.
"Only if you promise to stay in bed with me until my next class." She offered, and Thad took her hand to kiss.
"Of course, my Lady." She smiled, and thought they would return to their comfortable silence.
She really should have known better.
With impish delight, he turned on the stereo the moment after the light turned green. What could only be described as fast-paced oriental rock pounded through the speakers, and Curly shoved his arm out the now rolled-down window. He formed the power fist, somewhat resembling the Nazi arm, but at the same time obviously different; and surprisingly received a few in return from passing cars.
"RAMMING SPEED!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, and Rhonda laughed, the problems slowly ebbing away, leaving just the two of them.
"Someone's watched Animal House one too many times." She stated. Suddenly, she realized that her life was going to be drastically different from now on; and yet, it didn't bother her in the least.
A mix between his deep, matured laugh and his resurrected maniacal one was the reply her lover gave her.
HA