CHAPTER 5: ZAC HAS EYES FOR 'KANGAROO'
Back at the beach, the gang watched the first heat of the surfing contest, and Danny passed it, naturally. So for the rest of their time there for the day, the girls laid out on the beach getting tanned, save for Peppermint Patty, who joined the boys for some beach sports. They were playing some more volleyball. The teams were Charlie Brown, Linus, Andrew, and Franklin; and Peppermint Patty, Franco, Skylar, and Zac. And they played pretty well. Of course, Peppermint Patty's team led Charlie Brown's, but Charlie remembered it was just for fun and not to get too sad over the score if he lost. His anxieties had gotten less with age as he wasn't mulling over losses like he used to. While he still didn't like losing, he wasn't as distraught over them like he was when he was younger, and learned to loosen up and just enjoy playing. Patty jumped up and sank a good shot on Linus. Zac noticed the shot.
"Great one, 'kangaroo'!" he said.
"Thanks," said Patty.
"Why'd you call Patty 'kangaroo', Zac?" asked Charlie Brown.
"It's 'cause of how high she can jump, Charlie-mate!" Zac replied.
"Guter Kummer, he's now giving her pet names!" growled Franco to Skylar.
"Keep cool, man," said Skylar, trying to calm his friend down.
"Okay, this one is for the game," said Patty. "Zac, give them hell!"
Zac served the ball, but Franklin was able to get it back over the net. Skylar hit the ball, but it went to Franco, who hit it back to the other team's side. Charlie Brown managed to save it, though it went in the air and Linus hit it next. It went back in the air, and Andrew got it back to the other side, only for Patty to smash it into the sand for the win.
"Good game, Patty," said Linus.
"Thanks, Linus," said a happy Patty.
"Y' did great, 'kangaroo'!" said a happy Zac, who picked up Patty and twirled her in celebration. Franco's jealousy was rising. Franklin noticed Franco's changing demeanor.
"I know what you're thinking, Frank," he said. "It's nothing. He's just happy that you guys won."
"I HOPE that's all, Franklin," said Franco through gritted teeth. Zac finally put Patty down. Not knowing how Franco was feeling at the moment, Patty went over to him and kissed him.
"Isn't this great, Franco?" she asked him. "I bet the rest of the gang who didn't come wishes they could be here in this wonderful place!"
"Yah, Patricia," said Franco. "I bet they do." As Patty went over to talk to the rest of the girls, who were now gathering their things to head back to the Grandin home, Franco watched as Zac and Andrew said their goodbyes to Jadan. He watched as Andrew kissed Jadan and he and Zac left for home. He noticed that Zac looked back at Patty, sighed with love and continued to go about his business. It's like the blockhead could not understand that she had a boyfriend already that was WITH HER there in Australia. Charlie Brown walked up to Franco.
"Come on, Franco," he said, not know his friend's anger seeping through about Zac. "It's time to head back to Jadan's place."
"Okay, Charles," said Franco, regaining his composure. He rejoined the gang and they headed back for the Grandin's place. As everyone talked about how much fun they had and seeing Danny A'oi once again, Franco was thinking about how Zac was seemingly flirting with Peppermint Patty. He really felt that Zac was trying to steal her from him. Little did anyone know, but Zac inadvertently set a rivalry in motion between him and Franco.
END OF EPISODE 2
Next time, the impending rivalry between Franco and Zac continue to build when it comes to Peppermint Patty. Speaking of Zac, he shows Charlie Brown the basics of Cricket. And Hops give Snoopy, Gracie, and Woodstock rides around town in her pouch and shows them some of the countryside.