Author's Note: Minor characters that were in previous chapters, such as Shell, Jenny, Mr. Ken, and Amy will have bigger roles in the story now. Another chapter is waiting right after this one.

Helping Out A Friend

MAY 17th, 2011

It was late of the party and everyone was ready to leave, including me: We all had our suits on and were ready to head out. All we had to do was wait for Adria to arrive.

"Mordecai, when is she coming? We have to leave soon," Benson said.

"Soon, she called me and said she just left the house." After saying that, my phone started to ring. I kept it in my suit pocket just in case Rhonda was ready to talk. I took the phone out of my pocket: It was Shell.

"Hello?"

"Hey Mordecai, it Shell."

"Hey, what's up?"

"Nothing much. Have you heard from Rhonda? She's not answering her phone," Shell said worryingly.

"No, last time she texted me, she said something bad happened and she didn't want to talk about it."

"I see…I'm going to try contacting her. I'll let you know if she answers."

"Cool, talk to you later." I hung up and put it the phone back in my pocket.

Shell is very protective of her friends. She told me once how she even has a group of girlfriends who she always hangs out with: Jenny, Rhonda, and a few others. If anything was wrong with them, she'd be the first to help them out. It was like a sisterhood of some sort.

The doorbell rang.

I hope it's Adria.

Benson answered the door and Adria was standing patiently outside the entrance. She wore a black dress with a matching purse and bracelet. She had eye shadow that went well with her golden feathers: In short, beautiful.

"Sorry I might be late," Adria said.

"It's okay, you're not late. We were just about to walk out anyway," I said. "By the way, um…you look good." I said, just a bit nervous.

"Thanks, you too."

"Alright people, we have to go," Bensons said, leading everyone out.

We decided to take one of Pop's old, but elegant cars. (Benson drove) We knew Mr. Maellard would be pissed at us if we arrived at his party in a golf cart. You have to look expensive and ride in something expensive. It's things like that, that make me and Rigby hate formal parties: too stuck up.

No one really talked much, except Pops who kept gleefully talking about how great the party would be. I think the rest of us mostly stayed quiet, so we could save all conversations for the party.

We soon arrived at Mr. Maellard's mansion. It was made entirely of brick with elegant glass windows on every floor. (What looked like three floors) There was chimney chute coming from the black tiled roof. In the middle of the driveway was a fountain with a lollipop statue. The garden was rich with daisies, roses, tulips, etc.

Didn't know you could make that much from a park.

Benson drove into the circular driveway and parked between a limousine and a luxury sedan. We got out of the car and walked up to the door. You could hear a violin being played from inside. Benson pressed in the doorbell causing a loud dong sound from inside.

A man with a skinny lollipop head answered the door.

"What is your business here?" he said snobbishly

"We're here to attend Mr. Maellard's party," Benson said.

"Let me check to see if you're on the list." He said nearly closing the door.

"They are with me my good man," Pops spoke up.

"Oh Pops! I'm sorry, I didn't see you there. Please come in." The lollipop man opened the door and greeted us as we each walked in. We were welcome with a cool breeze and the smell of gourmet food. Classic music was being played by live musicians and many were people were seen socializing with each other: Either holding small platters or wine glasses.

We all split up, Benson was going to look for Maellard, while the rest of us just looked around and chatted with anyone we ran into.

"Hey Pops?" I asked.

"Yes?"

"I'm just curious, what's the occasion for the party?"

"It's a just a celebration for another year the park has been standing."

"How long has the park been here?"

"100 years to be exact!"

100 years? Wow…

[xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Adria and I were walking around the mansion, getting a tour of the place. We stayed quite together until she asked me something.

"You know I noticed something about Rigby when a visited."

"What about?" I asked,

"Well when he talked about the demon attack, he said he saved Eileen and kissed her…"

"Yeah?"

"And that's about it. He stopped at that. Are they, you know, together?"

"Definitely, they've been dating ever since then."

"I can't believe it…never thought I'd see Rigby being in a relationship. I knew he'd give into to Eileen eventually but I thought it would never happen, seeing as he's always stubborn about it.

"I know what you mean."

"Anything else going on between those two now?"

"Well…yeah, but…that's private. I don't know if he'd be okay with me telling you just yet."

"That's cool, I understand."

My phone rang.

"Sorry, I have to take this."

"No problem, I'm just going to look around some more."

"I'll catch up." I answered my phone. "Hello?"

"Mordecai, it's Shell."

"Everything okay?"

"Rhonda still hasn't answered. I'm getting worried.'

"…I'll try to talk to her. Hopefully she'll answer."

"Thanks, I really appreciate it."

"Sure thing." I hung up and texted Rhonda.

[Me]: Ready to talk?

No answer for about 3 minutes. She normally answers her texts within a minute of receiving them. (The signal was just fine here) Soon a new message appeared.

[Rhonda]: Yes…

[Me]: I'm here.

[Rhonda]: Well everything was going perfect with the guy I was with until I had to go on one of my travels. It was hard to get a signal there so could barely get in contact with him. When I finally was able to contact him, he ignored me, thinking I was trying to ignore him. I tried explaining to him that wasn't the case, but he didn't want to listen. So…he just stopped talking to me.

[Me]: That's not fair! He was totally being irrational.

[Rhonda]: Still doesn't change the fact that I'm single again and probably will be for the rest of my life. I thought he loved me.

[Me]: Don't let that one guy get to you. If he really loved you, he wouldn't have done that to you. I'm sure there are many guys out there way better than him.

[Rhonda]: Yeah I guess. But I should've seen it comin. I dated him a little while after on of my friends broke up with him. Terrible of me right?

[Me]: You can't help the people you fall in love with. Sometimes that's all we want in life. Someone to love us and someone we can care for. So no, your not terrible for doing that. Now come on, where's the Rhonda I know; the one that used to cheer me up when I was down?

[Rhonda]: She's still here… :) it's good to know I have friends like you and Shell. U know?

[Me]: Yep, that's the Rhonda I know. U know?

[Rhonda]: U mocking me?

[Me]: Lol

[Rhonda]: Anyway, thanks for talking to me Mordecai.

[Me]: Anything to help ;) Things will get better.

[Rhonda]: I hope so.

"EVERYONE, EVERYONE GATHER AROUND!" I heard Mr. Maellard over the mic, echoing through the mansion. Everyone went to the main stage that was at the center of the party area. He was on stage waiting for everyone to settle. I found Adria and Rigby in the crowd and caught up with them.

"Thank you everyone, for attending the celebration of 100 years this park

has been standing. I would like to thank the park manager, Benson, for making sure the park in tip top shape, as well as the staff."

I'm guessing the applause was aimed towards us.

"Now, my pride and joy; my son Pops, will now recite a poem, stating his feelings for the park." Pops walked up on stage with a piece of paper in his hand. He cleared his throat and looked out at the crowd.

Good to see he can speak in public now.

Everyone got quiet and Pops began:

"The park is alive,

The park is alive.

With our friends and family,

It will always thrive.

From our colorful staff, to the bright sky above

The park fills all of us, with peace and love.

And though sometimes dark clouds try to make way,

The sun will shine and make a new a day.

The park is alive,

The park is alive.

And no matter what happens,

It will always thrive."

Everyone in the mansion clapped, even the waiters. Adria whispered to me, still clapping, "Short but perfect."

"Definitely."

Now I'm going to do an experiment. In previous chapters, whenever Mordecai had a text conversation, you'd know his thoughts after almost each text. Now, his thoughts are rarely shown with text messages and you will be left to wonder what's going through his mind by the texts he sends and how he says it through the text. Then later on, Mordecai will elaborate on what he texted.