Let's get this next chapter started!
"N-no way, man!" Gerald said in shock as he and Arnold had just got off the bus and were heading straight to the boarding house. "You're kidding, right?"
"No joke, Gerald." Arnold smiled as he turned to his African American friend with a smile. "I am actually going out on a date with Lila! Well, technically, it's more of a tour around Hillwood with her and her sister, but this is the perfect opportunity, Gerald! I'm going to take them to my favorite places and not only help Lulu get an idea of our neighborhood, but also be able to win Lila's heart!"
Gerald shook his head as he repeated to himself, "Arnold... Arnold, Arnold, Arnold, Arnold. My man. Listen to me. I think Lila only said yes just to be polite and because her sister was there. No matter what you say to her, she's just going to respond with the usual... 'I don't like you, like you. I just like you'. Remember the Cheese Festival?"
"I know, I know. But this time for sure! Maybe once I show both Lila and Lulu a good time, maybe I can get Lila to change her mind and who knows? Maybe... just maybe she'll be able to like-like me back!" Arnold smiled. "I know it's a little crazy, Gerald, but if I play my cards right... maybe... just... just maybe... we'll be going out together."
Arnold then smiled happily as Gerald frowned, shaking his head. "You, Arnold, are one sick puppy. Come on, Romeo, get your head out of the clouds and get in the boarding house. It's a study night, remember?"
Arnold shook his head as he gave a lopsided grin. "Sorry, Gerald. I'll keep focus."
Gerald shook his head as the two of them arrived at Arnold's boarding house. "Somehow, I doubt it..."
Around the same time, two familiar sister had just got off their bus as they were walking home. Lulu was smiling happily as she seemed to be skipping a bit, but Lila, the usually happier girl, didn't seem to be in the mood for skipping as she glared at her sister. When Lulu met her glance, she slowly stopped skipping as the two had arrived at the house. Lulu chuckled nervously.
"Look, if it's about me inviting Arnold along on our tour Saturday..." Lulu said as she and Lila had arrived at home, coming in.
"You didn't invite him, he tried to ask me out on another date, and you said yes for me and invited yourself!" Lila frowned.
"Technicalitlies." Lulu said, waving her hand around. "Don't be upset, Lila. Look, like I said, I find myself liking Arnold. He looks pretty cute."
Lila glared at her twin sister... before sighing. "I can't ever so stay mad at you, Lulu, especially when you have that smile on your face..."
"Look, Lila, if you don't like him-like him, just tell Arnold you're dating someone else." Lulu said as she went in. "I know it's tough, but hey, maybe on the tour, you can try convincing him that you already have a crush on someone."
"You mean lie to him? I can't do that to Arnold." Lila said.
"Oh come on, Lila. Surely, you have a few boys that you like... tell me, who is your number one boy that you have a crush on?" Lulu smiled, making Lila pause. "What I mean is... if you can make a pile of all the boys in your class and rank them... how would you rank Arnold?"
"Well... let me think..." Lila paused. "Well... Arnold's not number one... that would be Brainy... number two is Stinky... number three is Gerald, number four is a tie between Harold and Sid..."
"So... you're telling me Arnold would be sixth on the list?" Lulu asked.
"No, sixth is Lorenzo." Lila said.
"Who?" Lulu raised an eyebrow.
"He wasn't in today, but he's a rich kid, just like Rhonda is... I found him more cuter than Arnold, so... yeah, Arnold is seventh." Lila said... then paused. "Oh no, wait. Eugene is seventh. Arnold is eigh- no wait, Curly is eighth, Arnold is ninth." Lila said. "Yeah, Arnold is definitely number nine on that list."
"Ouch. He barely even made top ten." Lulu winced. "Well, maybe on Saturday, try to throw in a few subtle hints to him... that maybe you're seeing someone... or at least been keeping an eye on someone very peculiar... all the while, maybe I can get Arnold to look at me."
Lila paused as she put her hand on her chin. "I suppose it could work... but how do you know Arnold won't mistake you for me?"
"Trust me, I am positively ever so sure he won't." Lulu smiled. "We may speak the same, Lila... but we're not the same."
"I guess I can't argue with that logic." Lila giggled. "Anyway, I got to get some homework done."
"You go on ahead, Lila. I'll be relaxing here." Lulu said as she settled down on the small couch. As Lila started to go to her room, Lulu paused as she looked around... before grabbing a phone and dialing a number. She put the receiver on her ear and waited. She smiled, "Hey! It's me! Have you arrived in Hillwood yet? Great! Listen, I think I found a perfect man and my sister and I are going with him on Saturday for a tour on Hillwood. Do you think you can meet up with me in the busiest part of town when we get there? Great! I'll tell you all about him when I get there! See you then!"
As Lulu hung up the phone, she smiled as she snuggled up on the couch. "Ah... two more days..."
And thus... next chapter will be when Saturday will kick in! Who did Lulu call, exactly? We'll find out for ourselves... next time...