Chapter 20: Beware Of The Glob!
*Dilton's POV*
It was Monday night and I was working on a growth serum without Aria. As sad as that was She had fallen ill to a stomach bug. That would explain why she hadn't been well on and off for the past month. I had gone over to bring her her homework but I wasn't the only visitor. Jughead was there too. Granted he was there to visit Archie like usual but he had decided to check on her as well. I might be a man of science but he was getting on my nerves. Ever since I found out Jughead likes Aria as well I had gained a rival for her affection. Especially since she felt the same way for both of us. I guess she kind of was like Archie when it came to Betty and Veronica. I had also made her a cup of tea with honey to help her get better before I returned to the lab. My growth serum was completed now and I decided to put it in the school fridge, labeled property of science, and smiled in satisfaction. I decided to go home for the night and called Aria to check on her.
*Aria's POV*
My burns were gone, like I figured, and my illness was just about gone. I'd be fine by tomorrow but it killed me Sunday and today. I didn't even go in today and it made me sad that I couldn't help Dilton in the lab tonight. Good news was Jughead and Dilton checked on me, Dilton brought my homework over before going into the lab, even made me tea with honey, and Jughead was with Archie anyways, which was nice of them. I guess what had happened after Supreme Girl saved the day both boys apologized for saying 'My girlfriend' and. Well. I guess I accepted it and now am dating both in a weird way. I'm not a couple with either of them but we will start going on dates and I don't mind them calling me 'his' girl within reason. It's complicated. I know I'm going to have to choose soon but they're going to be patient and not pressure me at all. I had been in the living room and Archie got upset that I was down here instead of my room. I was bored. I don't have a TV up there.
"Aria you need to sleep." Archie told me.
"All I've been doing is sleeping. I wanna finish my movie.~" I whined the movie part out as I was watching 'The Fox and the Hound' and curled under the blanket.
"Really? This one?" He asked me.
"It helps me feel better when I'm sick. That and Dumbo and Bambi. I'm not sure why." I said as I continued watching.
"She's fine Arch." Jughead said as he walked out of the kitchen and brought me tomato soup and a grilled cheese.
"Oh Jughead." I said in a kind voice as I hugged him.
"I thought you went in there to make a snack?" Archie asked.
"I did! I didn't say it was for me though." He told him as he gave me the tray.
"You need to eat in case you get sick again." He told me as I smiled.
"How'd ya know Tomato soup with grilled cheese was what I liked?" I asked him.
"Your aunt told me." He said simply as I smiled and dunked the sandwich in the soup before biting into it.
"Mmm. Yummy!~" I said with a mouth full of sandwich as I continued eating and watching my movie.
"Just remember to sleep for school tomorrow alright?" He said as I nodded my head.
"I've gotta head home. See you two tomorrow." He said before he kissed my cheek, earning a tiny eep out of me, and waved to Archie before leaving.
"I'll never get used to that." Archie said just as the phone rang.
"Andrews residence Archie speaking." He said.
"Oh yeah. Sure." He said before he handed me the phone.
"It's Dilton." He said as he walked away.
"Hi Dilton." I said as I continued eating and watched the movie.
"Salutations Aria. How are you feeling?" He asked me.
"Much better actually." I said as the train scene suddenly came up.
"Are you watching a movie?" He asked me.
"Yeah. 'The Fox and the Hound'. For some reason it usually makes me feel better." I said as I gulped down some of the soup.
"That's fine. Just make sure you eat something." He told me in a concerned boyfriend way.
"Actually Jughead just made me grilled cheese and tomato soup before leaving. He asked Aunt Mary what soup I liked. It's good too." I told him as I took another bite of my sandwich.
"Well that's good. Just make sure to rest though." He told me.
"Alright. I'll see you tomorrow." I told him.
"See you tomorrow." He said and I could tell he was smiling. I hung up and watched my movie, crying at the 'goodbye may seem forever' song like usual, and when it was over I put everything away and went to sleep.
*Next day Aria's POV*
We were in the middle of History/Geography class and I was glad I brought a lunch. Tuna salad and Tapioca pudding. Yuck. Anyways I was in the back of the class with Betty and Jughead and I wasn't paying attention at all. It wasn't because I still felt sick. It was because I was bored. Geography part of history wasn't that great for me. Also I already knew this but didn't feel like answering at all. I was thinking about my relationships with Dilton and Jughead and trying to compare both boys to each other and why I liked them both.
"They're at it again. They've been like this since we were kids." I heard Jughead say as I snapped out of my own thoughts.
"Huh? What?" I said as Jughead shook his head.
"Archie and Reggie are fighting again." Jughead said to me.
"Again? Good grief." I muttered.
"Just imagine if they could channel that energy into working together. Together they could accomplish anything." Betty said to us.
"I agree. Unfortunately those two rarely get along. I don't think a monster made of pudding could get them to work together." I said as I gave an oddball example. Jughead stiffened a laugh while Betty rolled her eyes. Suddenly we heard a thud and I looked up to see Archie had ripped the map and his head stuck through it. I wanted to laugh but I knew better. Instead I got up and ran to Archie to help him.
"Here. Let me help." I said as I carefully pulled the map off him. That's when I noticed a pile of books on the ground.
"Whomever left these books here should've made sure they were out of the way. That's why this happened." I pointed out as Miss Grundy finally noticed the books. I sat back down and started to drown out Reggie's taunts and Miss Grundy's lecture until.
"Miss Grundy! Look out!" Reggie said as I heard her scream. I looked at a weird glob monster that soon swallowed her up.
"What the frog?" I questioned as soon we all ran out of the room. I was trying to help those that fell as I managed to get out. After a bit Reggie and Archie ran into me, Jughead and Dilton.
"Where's Betty?" I asked them.
"It got her." They both said before glaring at each other. Oh boy.
"Before you two fight let's get to the gym. Everyone is meeting up there." I said as we went to the gym to figure this out. Archie soon had a megaphone and used it to get everyone lefts, not a lot by the way, attention.
"Listen everyone. I know we lost some friend to that thing, whatever it is, but we can't just stand around feeling sad and doing nothing. We've got to rally together and stop it before it strikes again. We need to get organized. Come up with a plan." Archie said, making everyone gain courage and hope, as Reggie made his way through the crowd before pointing at Archie.
"I agree." Reggie suddenly said.
"Wa?" I said in shock. Reggie? Agree with Archie? There had to be some catch.
"You do?" Archie asked him before Reggie took the megaphone away and started talking into it. Oh boy! Here comes the catch.
"Sure. We need a plan. But we don't need this loser telling us what to do." He said in a rude tone while pointing to my cousin. Oh boy. I smacked my forehead in frustration.
"We need to figure out what it is." I muttered.
"We need someone who is brave and resourceful. Mainly me." He added as I groaned. Egotistical as usual. Archie and Reggie fought for 2 seconds over the megaphone before Reggie continued to use it.
"Now if you really want to stop this glob You'll join me at the tennis court. I have a sure fire plan." He said full of confidence before tossing the megaphone back to Archie. There's no way people would-Oh haystacks they're following him. Why?
"Your making a big mistake. Don't follow him. Following him will lead to your doom!" Archie was saying but they didn't listen. Only Jughead, Dilton and I did. Great. We went up to him to comfort and support him.
"We're with you Arch!" Jughead said as he patted his shoulder.
"And I think I have a plan that can stop this creature." Dilton said as I smiled.
"With the four of us there's nothing we can't do." I said to boost his spirits. It worked. We immediately went to Dilton's lab to get started on how to stop the glob. When we got there Dilton pulled the cloth off one of his machines to show off.
"Aria and I have been working on this laser cannon for months now. Thanks to Aria's help we completed it in a shorter amount of time." He boasted as I blushed and then thought about it.
"Oh I get it. We need someone to be the bait and lure it so we could use it." I said as Dilton nodded.
"Yes that's correct." Dilton said as I smiled. It might just work. That's when Dilton and Jughead looked at Archie with a smile. Really?
"Gee thanks guys. What ever happened to waiting for someone to volunteer?" Archie said before we started to go out.
"Archie I can do it. If I go get my bag I can use my skates to go faster. I can do a quick undo for the stairs. I'd be faster." I said as Archie, while we set up where the glob should be heading next, as he shook his head no.
"I want you to stay back there and help Dilton out." He said as I sighed.
"Alright fine. I'll let you have all the fun this time." I said with a smile as I hugged him. I was helping Dilton set up the laser while Archie and Jughead looked over to see if the glob was coming. Soon Jughead came over to us.
"It's here." He said as Archie caught it's attention.
"Aria! Dilton! Get ready! Here it comes!" Archie shouted, running at us with the glob behind him, as Dilton and I started up the laser.
"Archie!" We heard someone say. Wait? Wasn't that Betty's voice?
"Wait! Hold your fire!" Archie suddenly said. I looked and saw Betty starting to poke out of the glob.
"Look! It's Betty!" He said as he pointed to her.
"Archie! We're all still alive! There are air pockets." She said as I turned the laser off on Dilton.
"Wha-?" He started but I cut him off.
"We can't fire it Dilton. We'll hurt them." I told him as he then realized I was the reason why the laser turned off. Dilton looked at me and knew I was right.
"Help! Archie!" He heard Betty yell before the glob re-swallowed her and, just as Archie yelled her name and almost grabbed her, fled from the scene.
"Well. At least we know they're okay in there." Jughead said in a comforting way as we gathered together, Dilton holding the laser, as I tried to think of something.
"But those air pockets won't last forever." Dilton pointed out as Archie went from glum to panic.
"How are we going to stop that glob and save everyone before those air pockets run out?" Archie asked in worry. I then noticed a small bit of the glob on the floor. I immediately went over and collected a sample of it.
"Maybe we can use this sample in the lab to see what it's made of and how to stop it." I said as I turned to them.
"Good idea. The sooner we figure out what this glob is the easier." Dilton agreed and pointed out as I smiled. We went back to the lab, un aware of the damage the glob was causing, so Dilton and I could figure out this substance. While Dilton and I were both examining it Jughead was next to me as Archie paced around the room. As Dilton and I examined it I noticed something off.
"Well? Got anymore ideas Arch?" Jughead questioned him.
"I don't know Jug. By the looks of it I'd say we're beaten." He said as I rolled my eyes.
"Way to be positive." I said just as Reggie opened the door and walked in.
"What's wrong Reg? Lost your followers to the glob?" I asked in a sarcastic tone.
"That's exactly what happened." He said as I sighed. Typical.
"I got some bad news though. I just saw that thing roaming through town and it's getting bigger and bigger by the minute." Reggie said as I tried to concentrate with Dilton.
"Great? Know what are we supposed to do?" Jughead asked as I, without looking away from the magnified glass that Dilton and I each had, patted his back.
"We'll come up with something." I said as I continued to look at he glob.
"That's weird. I've been analyzing this residue and can't figure out it's components." Dilton said as he became stumped.
"Oh that's terrific news brainiac. Now we're really doomed." Reggie said as I now grew agitated.
"Not our fault this stuff looks like pudding." I said as Jughead brightened up.
"Hm." Jughead said as he picked up my sample before sniffing it.
"Ah! I thought it smelled familiar." He said as I looked at him funny.
"Huh? What do you mean Jug?" Archie asked as Jughead dipped his finger in the sample and licked it. Wait what?
"Pudding lady and gentlemen. Tapioca to be exact." Jughead said as I figured it all out now.
"I know what happened!" I shouted as they looked at me.
"Today's Tuesday! Tuna surprise and Tapioca pudding day without fail. I know because I always bring a lunch on Tuesdays and get a pudding cup for Jughead to have extra." I exclaimed as they went wide eyed.
"Alright but how did it turn into this?" Reggie asked me in a skeptical way.
"Simple. Dilton's super growth formula." I said as I motioned to Dilton.
"Dilton. You said you were working on a formula that would most likely need to stay cold for 8 hours or so correct?" I asked as he then realized what happened.
"Oh no! I put it in the fridge in the cafeteria! But I labeled it! So someone didn't read it and-" Dilton started before I cut him off.
"Now we have a pudding glob." Now this was weird.
"Hey Aria? Didn't you say in class before Miss Grundy got swallowed up that 'not even a monster made of pudding could get Archie and Reggie to work together'?" Jughead asked me, quoting my almost exact words, as my cheeks went red from embarrassment.
"I really need to learn to keep my mouth shut." I muttered as Archie and Reggie rolled their eyes.
"Okay. So now that we've identified it, what do we do to stop it?" Reggie asked as I thought about that.
"Water? Doesn't to much water make it soggy and more liquefied?" I asked Dilton as he nodded.
"Yes that's correct." Dilton answered.
"So maybe if we can get to the fire house we can use a fire hose to water it down." I suggested the thought.
"It's better than no plan. Let's try it." Archie said. Reggie was about to protest but I smacked him and got him to go along with it. Now we hurried to the fire house, we ran because that monster ate Archie's car, and soon discovered that it was empty.
"Where did everybody go?" Archie asked.
"Something tells me we're too late." Dilton said as we looked over and saw the blotch of pudding on the wall. Great.
"Oh yeah? Well that thing might have eaten the fire trucks, but we can still help ourselves to the hoses." Archie said with anger and determination.
"Guess again. Look!" Reggie said with worry as we looked. All the hoses were gone as well.
"What an appetite." Jughead commented.
"I don't believe it. It ate all the trucks and the hoses." Archie said as I heard a gurgle sound right next to me. Uh oh. I looked over just as it reclined.
"Ah!" I screamed as it smacked down on me and swallowed me whole.
"Aria" Was the last thing I heard Dilton and Jughead scream before everything became muffled and hard to breathe. I soon found an air pocket and breathed.
*Oh great. Stuck inside Tapioca pudding. Why couldn't it be chocolate?* I thought as I took slow deep breaths to preserve the air. I could tell we were moving but I couldn't see nor hear anything.
*Third POV*
Everyone ran to Pop's after seeing Aria get swallowed. Dilton and Jughead felt horrible since they couldn't do a thing at the moment. They had gotten to Pop's and, at first he thought they were eager customers, until they explained what happened. Of course he didn't believe them and thought it was some 'groovy happening' thing until Pops asked Jughead if he wanted his usual. Jughead said no time and that's when Pops knew something was up. Especially when he saw the glob himself. Now they were trying to think of a plan to save everybody. They had decided to use the seltzer bottles until they ran out. He was too big to handle. Jughead then had an idea. He put on a napkin as a bib and grabbed a can of whipped cream and a spoon. He was marching outside as he said
"I'm going in." and was soon at the door. Archie then blocked his path.
"No Jughead. I can't let you do this. It's a suicide mission." Archie exclaimed but soon saw the look of determination on his face.
"Sorry Arch. But this is between me and that glob." He said boldly as he stormed outside.
"Don't worry Aria. I'll eat my way to your freedom!" Jughead yelled, surprising the guys in the Shoppe, not just for what he said, but because he actually started to eat the pudding monster smaller.
"I don't believe it. It's working." Archie exclaimed in shock.
"That's my best costumer out there." Pops exclaimed happily until.
"Wait! He's starting to wobble. I think he ate too much." Dilton exclaimed
"That's impossible." Pops said in disbelief but soon they saw Jughead was, indeed wobbling. Soon he, too, was devoured by the glob. Now they thought they were doomed. Archie and Reggie soon started fighting with each other again. They argued about who should've been leader and what would've happened if Reggie was one until Pops sprayed whip cream in there hair.
"You boys knock it off. You're fighting worse than cats and dogs when were supposed to be at our finest hour. Not fighting or arguing." Pops said as both boys became embarrassed and stopped fighting.
"He's right. We should be pooling our ideas instead of arguing who has the better one." Archie said as he and Reggie used they're fingers and hands to clean their hair out.
"Yeah. You've got a point there." Reggie agreed. Dilton had been trying to think while this happened. He took this time to talk to them about how to get enough water to dissolve this glob. Reggie then said something about a rain dance and that gave Archie an idea.
"That's it. Rain." Archie exclaimed as Reggie looked at him.
"But I don't know any rain dances." Reggie said before Archie shook his head.
"No. Not that. We can make it rain through cloud seeding." Archie said as he remembered Aria helping him with his homework on cloud seeding.
"Dilton. Can you mix up a cloud seeding solution?" Archie asked as Dilton thought about it. He could but then what.
"It shouldn't be too hard. But how are we going to get above the clouds to seed them?" Dilton asked. Soon Reggie popped up saying his uncle owns a plane and Pops said he had a pilot license. This could work. But how to get out was the bigger question. Archie decided to distract the glob so the others could get out. Dilton didn't want to leave him there but Reggie told him that he was counting on all of them as the three soon fled from the scene to get the mixture ready and hop into the plane that was now in the air thanks to Pops. During that time Archie was running through the park to escape that thing. Inside the glob, everyone was in a panic except Aria. She had tried to warn others to stay calm but thought it might have fallen upon deaf ears. She was only half right as the ones that heard soon spread to the others to calm their breathing to preserve air. Some listened. Aria felt alone until a head poked through.
"Jughead?" She questioned as he held her close to him.
"Don't worry. I'll still eat our way out." He said as she saw he was full and trying to eat. She got him to stop and encouraged him that Archie, Dilton and Reggie would save them. Outside the glob she was right. Reggie, Dilton and Pops soon spotted Archie and the glob from the plane and got ready to seed the clouds.
"Are you sure this will work?" Reggie asked Dilton.
"Yes. Once this formula hits the clouds it should begin raining almost instantaneously. Just pull the lever." Dilton explained to him. Reggie tried to pull the lever to release the stuff in the clouds but it was stuck.
"Uh oh. It's stuck." He exclaimed as they now had no idea what to do. Reggie decided right then and there to man up and climb out the small side door to pull the release hatch they needed and, after almost falling out twice, managed to do it to seed the clouds. He then made it back in the plane.
"I did it! I can't believe I did it!" Reggie yelled in excitement. Archie grew nervous and was about to get swallowed up as well before the rain began. The glob screamed in pain and soon dissolved into a puddle. Everyone that was in the glob were surprised by this but were soon happy and grateful that it was all over. Jughead was still holding Aria, claiming he could've gotten them out in a couple hours, while Aria just shook her head. That boy never gave up when it came to eating food.
"Archie." She heard Betty yell as she looked and saw Archie and Betty hugging.
"I told you they would help us." Aria said to Jughead as she pulled away. Once Aria, Jughead and Archie, who hugged Aria, met up with Reggie and Dilton she soon saw that it was Pops who was flying the plane that was above them and they talked about what had happened. Everyone in town soon cleaned up and had started some repairs. Once the town was clean the day was over. Jughead and Dilton were glad Aria had been safe and she was grateful for their rescue attempt. They all went to the Shoppe to celebrate the victory. During that time Reggie and Archie soon started fighting over who should pay the bill. Betty grabbed it and stated that they would pay the bill as Jughead, Dilton and Aria followed. She gave Pops her part of the money and smiled. Dilton and Jughead each had an arm around her when they all paid. Reggie and Archie were smiling at their teamwork and agreed that they could try to do this more often to get out of paying for the bill for a few weeks. Once the bill was paid Aria grabbed Archie, said goodbye to everyone, and went home.
*Aria's POV*
"I don't know why it started but mine and Reggie's rivalry grew too big and out of control. Just like the Glob. I don't know how are friends put up with us. It must've been extremely annoying. ~Archie. You're telling me. It definitely was annoying. But without your rivalry then you wouldn't realize how good of friends you two are. You just need to learn when enough is enough. ~Aria. It finally took a school dessert to get use to work together as a team. ~Archie. A yucky one at that. Just another lesson on the menu. ~Aria. …..In a little town called Riverdale! ~Archie and Aria." We finished the article and saved it. I decided to hop in the shower to get the feel, smell, feel and small clumps still in my hair off of me. Once done I was in purple shorts and a black tank top with a tiny purple bow on it when Archie told me Jughead was on the phone for me. I ran down the stairs and grabbed the phone.
"Hi Jughead." I said in a happy voice.
"Hey Aria. If your up for it how about we go to the movies on Friday? Doctor Giggles is showing and I know we both wanted to see it." He told me as I smiled.
*Is he asking me on a date?* I thought as I blushed lightly and kept smiling.
"Sure. That sounds like fun." I said to him.
"Great. We can go to Pop Tate's first. I'll get you at 5 alright?" He asked me.
"Yeah sure." I said to him. We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone. Just as I gave it to Archie and started walking away the phone rang again.
"Hello Andrews residence Archie speaking." I heard him say. Right when I got to the stairs.
"Hold it Aria! Dilton wants to talk to you." Archie yelled as I ran back over and grabbed the phone from him.
"Hey Dilton." I happily said to him.
"Salutations Aria. I was wondering if you had plans for Friday." He said to me.
"Yes actually. I just made plans with Jughead who I just got off the phone with." I told him.
"Alright. Are you free Saturday?" He asked me.
"Yes I am." I said in another happy tone.
"Great. Would you like to accompany me to lunch and watch Doctor Who with me?" He asked me as I thought about it.
*He's asking me out as well?* I thought as I smiled and blushed lightly again.
"Sure. I'd like that." I replied.
"Great. How does one o'clock sound?" He asked me.
"Sounds perfect." I replied. We both said our good nights and I hung up the phone. I handed it back to him and saw his dopey grin. I glared at him.
"What?" I asked him sceptically.
"I thought you said no dates?" He asked me as I rolled my eyes.
"Yeah. Well…...Things change." I told him as I blushed pink. He started chuckling and I blushed harder.
"Shut up!" I nearly yelled at him as he laughed harder.
"I said shut up!" I raised my voice now.
"What's going on now?" Aunt Mary asked when she walked into the kitchen.
"Aria has two dates this Friday and Saturday." Archie said.
"Archie!~" I whined as, the next thing I knew, I was hugged and held tight by my aunt.
"Oh! My little Aria's going on her first date! Two! Who is it. Archie do you know?" She was so excited and bubbly as she looked to Archie for answers.
"Aunt Mary!~ I can't breathe!~" I whined but she didn't let go.
"Friday with Jughead and Saturday with Dilton." He said as he was laughing at the situation.
"Two guys?" My aunt just about screamed in shock as I managed to wiggly enough to loosen her grip and breathed in heavy gasps of air.
"I never thought Jughead would ever go on a date." Aunt Mary said as she looked at me.
"Now are you sure-" She started but I cut her off.
"Archie and I talked about it. I like them both and they both like me. I'm not using them or taking advantage of either. I will decide on one sometime in the future but for now I'll just accept this as it is." I told her as she held me tight again.
"I can't wait to get you a new dresses! Your going to look so Beautiful!" She boasted as I squirmed.
"I don't want new dresses though. I don't even like dresses. Only on formal occasions. Can't breathe again. Archie! Help!~" I whined as Aunt Mary held me to her.
"Oh but you have to look nice! Maybe we can get your hair done too." She was saying as Uncle Fred walked in on this and Archie laughed harder.
"Uncle Fred! Help!~" I whined as he got her to let go of me. I took in huge gasps of air and glared at Archie.
"What's going on?" Uncle Fred asked.
"Aria has two dates with two guys and she won't let me dress her up." She exclaimed. My uncle grew shocked at this and before anything Archie had stopped laughing long enough to see my look.
"Archie Andrews! Your a dead man!" I yelled playfully as I chased him all through the house.
"Your gonna get it for not saving me from Aunt Mary's iron grip hug!" I yelled as he laughed and ran from me. I decided to jump over the couch at him and tackled him. I then tickled him and gave him a nuggie. Aunt Mary and Uncle Fred were relieved that I was only joking around and that we were acting like we were 5 again. Aunt Mary explained to Uncle Fred about all of it, Archie surrendered, and we said good night as we went to bed.