Chapter 11: The babysitting night

"Ok, Rodrick, Greg, your father and I will be going for a dinner, so the triplets will be here to look after you. You'll be staying over at the triplet's house, ok?" Mrs. Heffley said before she and Mr. Heffley went out.

"What about Manny?" Greg asked.

"Manny will be staying at your Grandmother's place." Mrs. Heffley said as she carried Manny out.

"Bye Bubby!" Manny said waving his hand.

"So, wanna play video games? I just reached the Lake of Revenge at Level 7…" Max asked.

"Sure!" Greg answered as he and the twins went upstairs.

"Tracy, is it ok if you'd go over to the mini-market to get a few things I had write on that list?" Tracy's mom, Doris asked.

"Sure thing, mom!" Tracy smiled.

"Um, Tracy, do you need a ride over?" Rodrick asked.

"Sure! But I prefer walking, is it ok?" Tracy smiled.

"Sure!" Rodrick said.


On the way to the mini-market…

Tracy was smiling at a photo in a necklace that she wears by her side.

"Tracy, what are you looking at?" Rodrick asked.

"Oh nothing…Just a photo of me and my old friends!" Tracy said as she began to blush.

"Let me see!" Rodrick said as they reached the mini-market.

In the necklace was a photo of 7 kids, 6 boys and a girl. Max and Rex were smiling cheerfully and next to them were 2 boys, one had long black hair shoved to the left side of his face, and one of them was wearing a cap with messy straight hair. Standing in front was Tracy who had short hair back then who was standing next to another tall boy with freckles and red hair.

"Who are they?" Rodrick asked.

"The black haired guy next to Max is Sean Joseph, and Adam Joshua is the cap head behind me, they're my best friends."

"What about that red haired geek?"

"That's Aaron Tyler Westley, my…friend." Tracy blushed when she mentioned Aaron's name.

"Really, just a friend?" Rodrick asked.

"Ok, I sort of lied…I've met him since we were little and I might have a teensy little crush on him…" Tracy admitted as she blushed.

"You WHAT?! But I like you!" Rodrick thought, but he said : "Cool, I mean, having a crush on a guy is normal!"

"Yeah, too bad he never knew though…" Tracy admitted in a sad tone.

"What about you? Anyone you like?" Tracy asked.

"Well, I did date a few girls before but they all broke up with me!" Rodrick said shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Really? You seem like a really nice guy, why would they break up with you?" Tracy asked as she put a bottle of oil into the trolley.

"Probably because of my bad temper…" Rodrick said.

"Or their bad taste!" Tracy giggled.

"So, what do think of me?" Rodrick asked.

"Um…you're an awesome guy, you're one of the nicest, coolest, music-loving boy I've met!" Tracy blunted out as she looked away.

"Gee thanks! No one's ever said that to me before…" Rodrick said as he blushed.

"I don't have to worry about people with bad temper. My friend, Chris has a bad temper but I can handle her!" Tracy smiled as she paid the cashier money.


When they reached home…

"Tracy sweetie, did you buy the groceries on the list?" Doris asked.

"Yes mom! Let me help you out with the cooking!" Tracy said walking to her mom.

"I'll be back at my house, me and the Loaded Diaper have a band practice! I'll be back for dinner." Rodrick said as he went back to his house.

"Ok! Have fun!" Doris smiled.

"Why don't you give these cookies to your friends? They're butter cookies and chocolate chip cookies!" Tracy said running out of the kitchen carrying a batch of fresh cookies.

"That's great idea! How thoughtful of you." Doris smiled at Tracy as Tracy gave Rodrick a lunchbox of cookies.

"Um…Thanks…" Rodrick blushed as he took the lunchbox.

"Hey Rodrick! I got my eye on you!" Rex and Max said from upstairs giving a fake glare.

"Tracy! I better hope you're not gonna end up with my brother! He's not your type!" Greg teased.

"Greg! Max! Rex! When I get my hands on you I'm gonna break your rib bones!" Rodrick yelled as he blushed.

"Boys…" Tracy muttered.

"I know, how do you think I can live with your Uncle Ivor, Andrew, Thomas and Vincent? Have fun, Rodrick!" Doris smiled as she and Tracy went inside.

"Bye!" Tracy waved at him.

Later, at the Heffley basement…

"Ok! Take 5 people!" Rodrick said as everyone took a break.

"Hey Rodrick, who gave you this?" Ward asked as he took out a butter cookie.

"Hey don't eat it!" Rodrick said as he glared.

"I'm guessin' it's from Tracy!" Christopher said.

"Hahaha! Looks like someone's in love~" Todd and Ben laughed.

"Shut it! Do you want to eat the cookies or not?" Rodrick asked hiding his blush.

"Ok! Sorry man!" Ward said as he ate the cookies.

In the evening…

"Hey Rodrick! My parents sent me over to tell you that dinner's ready!" Tracy said as she smiled.

"Hi Tracy!" the bandmates waved at her.

"Hey guys!" Tracy smiled back.

"Ok! Bye guys!" Rodrick said as he accompanied Tracy home.

"See you later!" Tracy waved back.

"Yep! Tracy's definitely Rodrick's future girlfriend!" Ward said as the others nodded.


At night…

Greg, Rex and Max had a sleepover and invited Rowley over. The four boys are currently watching Rowley's baby movies in regret while Tracy on the other hand, was having a chat with Rodrick at the yard while sketching.

"So, did you ask Holly if she likes my brother?" Rodrick asked.

"Yep! She likes Greg alright. I reckon they like each other but don't want to admit it." Tracy giggled.

"So, do you like sitting under the yard and bitten by mosquitoes? Because I don't." Rodrick said sarcastically.

"Yes, but I like watching the night scenery back at home with my friends." Tracy smiled.

"Really? What do you do back then?" Rodrick asked.

"Well, Adam, Aaron and I would sketch stars and Rex, Max and Sean would try to annoy us. Usually, Adam and Aaron would take their sister, Alice and Audrey with us and catch fireflies. Sean's and Aaron's little brothers, Edmund, and Alan would catch bugs and scare us." Tracy said showing Rodrick a pencil sketch picture of 10 kids in a wide field having fun.

"Wow, your picture looks cool, it sounds fun back than…You all know each other since young, right?" Rodrick asked shrugging.

"Yeah! Aaron lives next door and I've known him since 2. Adam was my rival at the school when I was 6, but by 7 we both get along quite well. Sean is my biggest rival when it comes to English. We'd get tied up at scores, plus, he's a huge flirt with girls! We used to get into lots of trouble~" Tracy said remembering all the good old days.

"Really? If I met you by then, would we be friends?" Rodrick asked.

"Yep! We would not be just friends, but best friends." Tracy giggled.

"So, does that mean we're best friends?" Rodrick asked curiously.

"Best friends." Tracy smiled at him.

"Let's shake on it!" Rodrick said as they shook their hands, smiling.

At that moment, Rex and Greg burst out from the house with a camera and snapped a photo of them.

"Hey Tracy, is that some sort of promising to date in the future handshake? If it is, I'm sooooo posting it online!" Max popped out of nowhere.

"Rex?! Max?! Greg?! What are you doing here?!" Rodrick and Tracy looked at each other and broke apart.

"Spying on some certain lovebirds on their date!" Greg teased.

"Lovebirds?!" Rodrick and Tracy looked at each other before they walked away to keep a distance.

"Don't make me throw up my dinner." Rodrick pretended to vomit.

"Don't make me jump down from the roof!" Tracy said shivering.

"What's going on?" The triplets' parents came out.

"Nothing, mom!" The twins lied.

"Yeah! Except that Rowley wanted a bowl of popcorn, here it is! Ok, bye dad and mom. Night!" The twins grabbed a bowl of popcorn and dragged Greg upstairs.

"Night, Mr. and Mrs. Tune!" Greg waved at them.

"Kids…" Their parents shook their heads sighing.

"I have to go to sleep now, night dad, night mom! Good night Rodrick!" Tracy went upstairs.

"I better sleep too, night everyone." Rodrick walked to the guest room.

"What just happened?" Kendore asked his wife as Doris shrugged.


Purpledolpin05: First of all, I am really sorry for not posting any chapters lately…But I hope to get at least 1 review before I finish off Chapter 12?