Lunch soon rolled around, and everyone quickly made their way towards the lunch room. "Thank goodness that's over with," Rhonda sighed, having never been a fan of science, "I could not take another minute of that."

"I know what you mean, Rhonda," Nadine replied, nodding as they took their place in the queue, "just because I like bugs doesn't mean I like everything about science, and that includes the body."

"I know, right? They get so graphic about it, it's any wonder I'm hungry at all!" She picked up her tray and started to move it down the line, Nadine doing the same behind her. "So, any luck with your boy problems?"

Nadine groaned. "Don't remind me. I could just tell that both Joe and Lorenzo were watching me at recess. They're good guys, but I'm starting to think otherwise about them."

Rhonda smiled at this, in a way that showed she understood. "Ah, yes. Feminine beauty- both a gift and a curse." She then smirked, looking Nadine in the eyes. "So, does this mean you might want Tucker to take you instead?"

Nadine's cheeks went pinker. "Maybe… the only problem is I don't get to see that much of him."

"Hmm… that's true. Come to think of it, do we have any lessons at all with him?"

"I don't think so."

Rhonda hummed as she thought, an idea forming in her head. "Well… then, maybe you need to ask him out!"

Nadine looked at her, surprised. "What?!"

Rhonda's smile grew. "You heard me. I think he might be a bit shy, so perhaps you should be the one to ask him!"

"Rhonda, you're crazy! I don't know where he lives, I don't know where he hangs out, I don't see him a lot, and basketball practice this week was cancelled due to preparations for the dance. How could I possibly ask him?"

Rhonda furrowed her brow. "Oh… to be honest, I kind of expected you to do it at practice… still, no bother! All you have to do is find him once and ask him out. Two easy steps is all it takes." She held up two fingers. "Do you trust me, Nadine?"

"I trust you more than I do your plan, Rhonda."

Her face dropped as they picked up their now full trays and began to walk to a table. "Come on, Nadine. Have a little faith in m-EEEEEK!"

As Rhonda turned around, she found herself in front of Curly, his thick, red framed glasses hiding the mischievous glint in his eyes as he grinned at her.

"Ah, Rhonda!" he greeted, his voice instantly making her feel uncomfortable enough to step back. "You have no idea how good it is for me to see you again, and so close! The past week that we have been apart has been unbearable, not being able to see your beautiful black hair, hear you speak with your angelic voice, and I know that you too have been missing Daddy in all of his glorious splendour!" Rhonda shuddered, looking to Nadine for help, but her friend just shrugged at her. "But neither of us need to worry ourselves any longer. My sentence has been finished, and I am now free to be with you again! Now," he dipped her, causing her to drop her lunch, and he moved his head close to hers, and in a disturbing manner, he told her, "give Daddy some sugar."

"GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU DISGUSTING LITTLE FREAK!" she screamed, pushing his head away from hers and wiping her clothes. "Don't you DARE touch me with those filthy fingers of yours!"

He chuckled. "Now, now, my sweet red rose, do not be afraid! You know that you and I are to be together, and come this Saturday, everyone shall see us on the dance floor, moving to our own groove with our lips pressed together! I know you dig me, and I would be more than happy to take you, Rhonda, my sweet."

"Well, I, for one, don't want to be anywhere near you! You're a sick, twisted little freak! No one deserves to be put anywhere near you, let alone be forced to dance with you!" She crossed her arms. "And, for your information, I already have a date, and he is a much better boy than you! He actually appreciates me, considers how I am feeling, and treats me as a person, not as some trophy!"

This piqued his interest. "Oh, is that so?" She nodded. "And, if I may ask, who is your 'date'?" he asked, using air quotes for emphasis.

"Arnold."

His eyebrows shot up. "Arnold?! The football-head?!"

Again, she nodded. He stood there in shock, trying to digest the information he had just received… before his shock turned into a growing, manic, crazed laughter. Everyone just watched him in disbelief, thinking he had become even crazier than before (and, considering this is Thaddeus 'Curly' Gammelthorpe, that was something). Rhonda looked scared as she turned to Nadine, who was just as concerned.

"W-w-what's so funny, Curly?" she stuttered.

"Oh, I see what this is!" He said between bursts of laughter. "I heard the rumours as soon as I arrived this morning, but I shrugged them off as just silly rumours. Even when I saw you and Nadine with him and Gerald at recess, I didn't believe it, but now that I hear it in front of me, I finally get it! I understand what you've been doing while I've been away!"

Rhonda had no idea what he was getting on about, but decided to go along with it. "And what, pray tell, is that?"

He slid his glasses up his nose with his finger, his manic grin still on his face. "He was my stand in!" Rhonda looked at him with a confused expression, genuinely thinking he needed medical help. "While I've been gone, you haven't seen me around, and it drove you crazy, to the point where you needed someone to fill the void in your life that I had left behind, and after the 'incident' last Wednesday- yes, I know all about what happened- you decided his guilt would make him be the perfect choice, and he still thinks that you and he both want each other." He then rushed forwards, wrapping his arms around her with more force, while she tried to squirm out. "But no longer do you need to put up this charade! You and I are together again! Why have a small fry, when you can have the big fish?! I know how badly you want me, and frankly, I'm all yours!"

"Man, that kid has something missing in his brain!" Gerald winced as he watched Curly's delirious rave, the glasses wearing kid having drawn the attention of everyone in the lunch room. "Like, what does he not understand? No means no, man! Let it go, already!" He looked over at Arnold, and saw something in him he had never seen before- rage. It wasn't like a small amount of anger- no, no, no, this was full blown, ready to burst, end of the fuse rage. His teeth were gritted, his clenched fists were shaking on the table, and his eyes were shooting daggers at PS118's resident 'psycho'. A little taken aback, Gerald put a hand on Arnold's shoulder, but it was quickly shrugged away. "Arnold, slow down, man! I get why you're angry, it's obvious, but this is Curly! No one knows what'll happen to you if you interfere. Plus, Rhonda deals with him constantly, so she's gotta have a way outta this!" Looking back at the scene, however, Gerald realised that wasn't entirely the truth. He saw the fear in Rhonda's eyes as Curly held her close to him, squirming desperately for some kind of release. "Damn, I think his craziness may have stepped up while he was suspended. You agree, Arnold?" No response was heard. "Arnold?" Turning, he saw his friend stand up and stomp in the direction of Curly and Rhonda. Gerald knew what he was doing, but prayed otherwise. "He isn't going to get involved, there is NO WAY he is getting involved!"

"HEY!"

Gerald's head hit the table. "I can't believe he's getting involved." He stood up. "Guess I better be there in case he needs bailing out."

Curly stared in shock as Arnold pushed him off of, and away from, Rhonda. The blonde-haired kid stood between Curly and the object of his affections.

"What do you think you are doing?!" he challenged.

"The right thing, Curly," he shot back, his rage not having subsided. "Let me make one thing crystal clear to you, Curly- I don't care what you think is right or not, you do NOT put your hands on anyone that does not want you too. Rhonda is a person- not an object, not a pet, not a trophy, a person, and that means she has feelings, thoughts, and choices that she can make. If she chooses that she doesn't want you to touch her or be treated like you own her, then you don't touch her, and you don't treat her that way."

"Listen here, you football-headed-"

"No, YOU listen, Curly!" He pushed him again, sending him a couple of steps back. "I care very deeply about Rhonda, and I will not allow you to force yourself upon her as if she was your property! She is a smart, caring, kind person, and I will not allow you to treat her like you just did! If you ever try and do that to her, or anyone, for that matter, then you have to go through me. I'm not going to let you treat people like that, and especially not Rhonda!"

He held out a hand for Rhonda, and she accepted it, before they started to walk away. Curly, however, had lost his patience. "Now, look here! I don't know what tree you've crawled down from, but-"

Arnold turned around, seeing red as he let out a low, uncharacteristically aggressive growl. Curly jumped back, genuinely frightened. Arnold winced, emitting an angry sigh, before he looked back at him with a glare that could kill a man. "Don't let me see you anywhere near her again. Got it?"

Curly gulped, nodding before walking away. Everyone who was watching, unsure how to react, started chatting amongst themselves again. Arnold nodded when he knew Curly was gone, before turning to Rhonda. "Are you okay?"

She gave him a caring smile, nodding. "I am, thanks to you, Arnold." She bent down to kiss him on the cheek, causing him to sigh happily and blush madly.

"I gotta give it to you, Arnold," Gerald told his friend as he walked out, "You really know how to stand up to someone when it counts. I had doubts about you dealing with Curly, but you really pulled through in the end!"

"I couldn't let him get away with that, Gerald. It wasn't right of him to treat her like that."

"Well, you did good, man!" He turned to the girls. "You two wanna join our table, in case the nut job comes back? I doubt he'll step near you if Arnold's around?"

"That sounds perfect," Rhonda replied, looking to Arnold, "I know I'll be safe with you."

"Sure thing. And you can share some of my lunch with me too, since Curly caused you to drop yours."

She hugged him close. "You are just too sweet."

He hugged her back, then gave her hand a light squeeze for comfort, before they went back to the table. Helga and Phoebe, having never taken their eyes off of them, were still surprised.

"Y'gotta admit," Helga told her, "he really stepped up! In fact, now that Curly's on their case, I may not need to do anything!"

Phoebe gulped. "Aren't you afraid he'll get hurt by Curly, though?"

That thought hadn't occurred to Helga. "Oh… you're right, but… to be honest, Pheebs, there isn't much that can be done about the little freak, so we just have to hope that doesn't happen. In the meantime, we'll get you set up with Gerald, and I'll find a way to get Arnold and Rhonda split up before he gets hurt."

"If you say so, Helga."

Unbeknownst to everyone, Curly was hidden away in one of the toilets stalls, rocking back and forth on the seat. "That dumb, ignorant do-gooder! How dare he try and separate me from my beloved Rhonda! And, to think, that he actually has her tricked into being with him! That beautiful girl is meant for me, and me alone! I must have her, she IS mine!" Then, as an idea came to mind, a smile of evil intentions grew from his lips. "Oh, Arnold, you poor, naïve fool! You have no idea what hell you have brought upon you! I shall make you rue the day that you DARED to interfere in my plans! I AM THADDEUS GAMMELTHORPE, AND I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE! MWUAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA!"