Author's Notes:
Just want to thank you guys for the critiques and encouragement in the comments. I appreciate how everyone is invested in this story, and I hope not to screw it up hahaha didn't think I'd get even this amount of support to be honest with you guys!
As I mentioned before, I will change the sequence of episodes to fit the narrative better. For context, in my story, the Lloyds went broke roughly around late February, since Rhonda was already flaunting a warm winter accessory in school in the episode itself. As such, the episode of "Arnold's Valentine" (and on that note, virtually all of seasons 1 and 2 and most of season 3) will have taken place during their 3rd grade. Meanwhile some episodes that made sense for them to be in the 4th grade will remain, such as "Mud Bowl" and "Polishing Rhonda." I took some inspiration from Orange Ratchet's "Oh Rhonda!" story, which in my opinion is the boldest story "featuring" Rhonda as the central character. (in case you're reading this Orange Ratchet, know I really enjoy your stories!)
Quick shoutout too to Jaydogg187 for always being honest with how he feels about every chapter. I've read his material as well, and I won't deny that his stories also shaped how I wanted to present the character of Rhonda. Thanks man!
Now to the next chapter...
Chapter XII
Mid-morning recess...
"So are you still gonna 'clear the air' with your geography partner?" Gerald teased, making air quotes with his fingers. The best friends decided to go near the stairwell leading to the fifth graders' floor in order to make sure their conversation stayed private. Given the paranoid Sid, the loudmouth Harold, and the ever-unpredictable Curly, (all of whom at point or another had a moment or 2 with Rhonda), it served them best to not have such exchanges in the men's room.
Arnold was visibly confused. So much so, that after hearing the bombshell news that he would be paired up with Rhonda for a report, his confused state kicked into overdrive. He couldn't stand to look at Rhonda, in fear that he would be engulfed in his thoughts and possibly pass out. He hadn't had a minute's worth of thinking that did not somehow involve Rhonda.
His thoughts then began to revolve around the past weekend, as he revisited each key moment with his grandfather's word adding some context. 'Was that why I was so much more upset with Rhonda? It's cause, I actually like her like her? It can't be...,' the football's heads thoughts were beginning to overwhelm him.
Obviously, he did not even hear his best friend's pestering.
"Hey Arnold!" Gerald yelled to try and grab Arnold's attention. Finally, Arnold snapped back to reality.
"Oh...sorry Gerald, I was just thinking...,"
"About Rhonda...I figured...your face said it all," Gerald interrupted.
Arnold felt a tinge of worry. "What do you mean my face said it all?"
"Arnold, my man, sometimes when you think about a certain person, and you feel a certain way about said person, you make a face, like with Ruth and with Lila...," Gerald explained.
"Oh, so was I making the same face?" Arnold inquired.
"Hmm, actually...it was different. To be honest man I've never seen you make that face before...," Gerald answered with hints of his own confusion.
"Well, what kind of face do I make?" Arnold's curiosity was running wild.
"It's like...you look confused, and upset, but not like mad...more like...you don't want to disappoint, but you don't know what do...if that makes sense?"
As Gerald's best friend, thus fulling know well that it's their connection that helps him understand his best friend's analogies and explanations, Arnold gave him a nod. "Yeah, I suppose I get it."
Gerald realized the unfamiliar territory his best friend was in. "You really don't know what to feel about her, don't you?"
Arnold, conscious of himself, did his best to keep a composed face. It all but worked...for about 5 seconds.
"You're making that face again man...," Gerald commented, doing his best not to roll his eyes. He knew that his best friend's "feelings" were valid, but...why did they have to involve Rhonda Wellington Lloyd?
"But I guess it's sort of a good thing man, that you're not making THE same goofy face you did with Ruth, and the similar one you do with Lila. The last thing you need, is another variable in your equation, lover boy...," Gerald remarked, proud that he nailed a pre-algebra reference.
Meanwhile, Rhonda also knew that she needed to speak with Nadine about the homeroom revelation. They instead made a quick run near the old school newspaper publication room, since the editor and contributors normally work before and after school, so it should be deserted.
'Perfect,' Rhonda thought. 'After that announcement, I really needed to get away from the classroom...'
"Well Rhonda, isn't this a good thing? After working so well in yesterday's game and Arnold staying over for lunch, maybe this is the chance for you two to become friends again!" Nadine excitedly pointed out what she thought was the obvious, as she giddily held her best friend's hands. But she soon had some concerns upon seeing that Rhonda did not share the same sentiments.
"I'm supposed to be...but, I don't know Nadine. I kind of wanted to take my time and re-establish our friendship slowly. But if we're gonna be forced to spend time together, then I feel as if we can't build something organic...," Rhonda expressed her concerns.
Nadine was glad that she was seeing more of this Rhonda. The best friend she previously knew would still keep such things to herself, things that would make her come off as vulnerable, which really annoyed her because it challenged Nadine's understanding of what the term "best friend" means. This Rhonda didn't mind being transparent, which was much more to her liking.
"Oh, that does make a lot of sense. And, if Arnold doesn't bother to spend time with you on this project, then it would just hurt your feelings huh?"
Rhonda looked down into the ground, thinking why time was beginning to work against her. She thought that, after running into Patty, she'd take the time to really strategize how best to "win" Arnold back and show him how much she's changed and grown thanks to him. But now, she felt like she was running out of time to think, and the powers that be were testing how fast she can come up with a plan.
"Yeah...but...," Rhonda stopped as she gave some serious thought to the situation.
She wasn't gonna back down just because of time constraints. She thought the world of him, since her world was never the same after their time in the boarding house. And, as to how she felt...that was something still up in the air as far as she was concerned. And not (that) important at the moment...
"...nothing ventured, nothing gained. If these are the cards I was dealt with, then I'll manage," Rhonda tried to utter those words with as much resounding confidence, but she clearly had her doubts. Thankfully, her best friend knew that sometimes, the right thing to say is just a simple hand on her shoulder. But it helped when Nadine added, "I believe in you..."
To that, Rhonda gave Nadine a smile. To what her best friend asked next, Rhonda rolled her eyes...
"By the way...does this mean you're also gonna try to check on that on-again, off-again crush you have on Arnold?"
"Nadine..."
"Just kidding..." Obviously, Nadine wasn't just kidding. She was smiling at the fact that Rhonda didn't notice that her response was also a noticeable change. The old Rhonda would have made a flirtatious comeback to establish control over the situation, along the lines of "what can I say, he's quite the charmer," or "getting him alone after school wouldn't be so bad." Instead, this Rhonda dismissed her inquiry with a less than noticeable blush around her cheeks.
Nadine knew that, as far back as their "Uniquely You" trio project with Arnold, Rhonda has had a passing interest in everyone's favorite football head. At the time, Nadine just viewed it as one of Rhonda's flimsy interests that wouldn't go far, like Harold (in which Rhonda learned the hard way that older does not always equate to cooler or wiser). But then, when Arnold proved Rhonda wrong by actually picking a good music act, Nadine could tell that he officially moved from being a "passing interest" to "cool, cute guy," like Sid (though she knew it was mainly because Sid was the first guy that had the 'guts' to ask her out in the 3rd grade). It was evident in the way Rhonda moved and smiled as she and Arnold danced the night away to the Spumoni classics. When Rhonda had that school-wide party to begin their new school year, she noticed how the Lloyd heiress dotingly looked at Arnold as she gave him his personal invitation, and how she was trying to hide her frustration that there were simply too much guests to get a good and proper conversation (and possible escort elsewhere in the house) in with Arnold. But after the whole cool party debacle - which Nadine recalled was partially motivated by getting another crack at being alone with Arnold without too many witnesses - and the "discovery" that Arnold liked liked Lila Sawyer, Rhonda's fascination dwindled, and it's been a long time since she ever brought up Arnold again.
"Come on Rhonda, did something happen in Arnold's house that made you start being...fascinated...again?"
Rhonda opened her eyes with surprise, clearly caught off-guard. She forgot that her best friend remembers every detail of her opinions of Arnold.
"Well, he...,"
Rhonda immediately remembered the harsh words Arnold said. Those same harsh words that made her reevaluate the presence and value of Arnold in her life. Those harsh words that snapped her out of her selfish and pathetic misery, and find her resolve, for the brief time that she stuck to it before finding out her family was rich again.
"...helped me get over myself."
Rhonda just beamed a smile of contentment. It wasn't like her usual smiles that were meant to tease or to taunt as a sign of oneups-manship. Recognizing this, Nadine knew not to mess with the moment.
"Alright then Rhonda. We can leave that conversation...for now," Nadine said as she winked.
The best friends then headed back to the classroom, not knowing that someone was nearby, originally with the intention of checking something in her locker, and consequently overhearing their conversation.
Lunchtime...
Helga was thanking her lucky stars as well as Thor the thunder god that sessions with Dr. Bliss have trained her how to manage with stress, particularly when they concern the love of her life. Because of her training, she managed to keep it cool long enough that she can, with organized thoughts, relay her thoughts and feelings on the matter of Arnold and RhondaLloyd's pairing to her best friend and confidant, Phoebe Heyerdahl.
"Pheebs, I'm not crazy with thinking that there's something...there...between 'Ice Cream' and Princess, am I?" Helga was using codes, indicating to Phoebe that this was a conversation that required only them being privy to it. She checked her surroundings first before making a response.
"I'm not quite sure Helga, as very few things would seem to suggest that Ice Cream would even be on good terms with Princess, sudden near-flawless in-game chemistry and escort to her house included," said the brainy girl from Kentucky.
"Hmm, yeah I suppose...but do you think them being paired up for a report would, I dunno...build something?" Helga was doing her best to not yank her hair out and just rush Rhonda the way she did yesterday morning, with the goal of adding another cut to the spoiled gossip's lip.
"It's possible, but very unlikely as well. And lest we forget, 'Ice Cream' is still very much infatuated with 'Red Velvet...'"
Helga looked at Phoebe, hoping to understand what she just used as a code. "Red Velvet...?"
"I figured she needed a code too, since we're being intentionally ambiguous...," Phoebe explained.
"Ok then...I guess you're right Pheebs, it's too soon to worry about anything...," Helga replied.
Phoebe couldn't help but sigh out of relief, although she had hoped Helga didn't notice. She intentionally left out the part that she, while checking for a special highlighter (and observing her photo of Gerald) in her locker, overheard the heart-to-heart session between Rhonda and Nadine. And she chose not to reveal this tidbit of vital information to Helga, because she wasn't sure if it was the responsible thing to do, given the progress Helga's been making recently - and by progress, as in not infiltrating Arnold's boarding house on what seemed like a weekly basis. She didn't know what Helga was doing to improve on her obsessive tendencies, but they were clearly working, and she wasn't about to ruin that.
"Wait, Pheebs, he's walking to her right now..."
Phoebe glanced to the opposite end of the cafeteria and saw that indeed Arnold was heading over to where Rhonda and Nadine were sitting. As she looked back to her companion, she realized she had been deserted...
"Helga? Helga? Oh no, here we go again..."
Over at the other side of the cafeteria, Arnold stood from his seat and approached the table not too far from him - the table occupied by Rhonda and Nadine. Before Arnold could ask if he can talk to Rhonda alone, Nadine already read his mind, saying "she's all yours, while I get us some tapioca." With that, the bug girl proceeded to the food station.
"So, Rhonda...I was wondering if we can talk about the geography report..."
Rhonda, though still uncomfortable with Arnold, accepted his request. "Sure, have a seat Arnold."
The pair sat and kept quiet for about a minute, with Arnold unsure of what exactly to say. He had some intentions of 'clearing the air' with her, but now that they're gonna be pairs for a geography report due first thing next week, it would be best to just keep personal feelings aside and stick to being an amicable co-worker. Arnold did know for a fact, since yesterday, that when they (rather, he) choose to work on the same page, they are still very capable. Sure that was football, but still...
"So yeah, sorry...err...I was thinking that by tomorrow we can come up with an initial list of countries or nations that we can focus on for the report..," Arnold continued.
Rhonda simply nodded her head keenly, showing her geography partner that he had her full attention.
"And maybe after Wednesday's field trip, we can shortlist and finalize our choice...and maybe the entire Saturday, we can work on it. Sound good to you?"
Rhonda replied, "sure thing Arnold. So come up with some suggestions by tomorrow, finalize our choice after the field trip, and then we'll work on the report in your house on Saturday. Got it..."
The sound of a record player stopping played in Arnold's head. "Wait...my house?"
Rhonda could see the disbelief all over Arnold's face. She then tried to ease his reservations.
"Yeah...your place. My parents will be out the entire Saturday and, even though the butler will be there, it's a house rule that I can't have a boy over when they're not around. And...it's not like it's gonna be my first time in your place, right?"
Arnold didn't really feel that his reservations were eased. "Rhonda, the last time-" he would be cut short.
"I know Arnold...but trust me, I'll be a better guest. I promise. Geography partner's promise," Rhonda swore as she offered her hand as to seal a deal. Arnold, after giving it some thought, shook his currently difficult to label acquaintance's hand.
"Ok, partner's promise." Arnold, unable to help himself, put on a tiny smile, indicating that while he's afraid of what's to come, he was slightly enjoying the prospect of having what seemed to be a more determined and mature Rhonda in the Sunset Arms.
From behind the trash cans not too far from where they sat, Helga heard everything.
"Looks like my streak of not infiltrating Arnold's room will be ending at 6 weeks, 2 days and 17 hours..."