Time for another chapter!
As Gerald and Phoebe listened intently to her father's story, Lila was away from the action, sitting on her bed as she tried to lay down on it... but she had a funny feeling on her back.
"This is ever so strange. The bed was fine a couple nights ago. Why does it feel like it's been used quite a lot. I never jump on it." Lila groaned as she tried to find a perfect position to lay down. She didn't know why, but when she got into bed last night, she was up for an hour trying to find a good, comfortable position, like the bed was previously used and the mattress being all bounced up. She frowned as she felt around the bed sheets and frowned. "This always happens every time I move. I have a good, normal bed, then it suddenly feels wrong to lay down on it..."
Lila sighed as she got out of the bed, sighing. "Oh well. I wasn't feeling sleepy anyway..."
Lila was about to go to her desk to try to focus on her homework, when her foot hit Lulu's bag that happened to be nearby... and something strange came out of it. Lila paused as she looked embarrassed. A small book had fallen out of the bag as Lila picked it up. She was about to put it back when a word caught her eye on the cover. Lila looked at the book as she raised an eyebrow. "Diary? Am I holding Lulu's diary right now?"
She struggled as she looked at the diary. The tempting purpose was there, but she had a heart. Would she dare lurk her eyes into the written entries that her sister had written? She struggled for a while as she looked between the door. So far, it didn't seem like her father was calling her back in. As Lila looked back, she blushed a bit as she said to herself, "Maybe just a peek..."
With that, Lila opened the girl's diary and started to read her entry. Her eyes paused as she was looking at one passage in particular.
"I don't know how much I can take of this guy. I mean, sure, school is fine when it comes to the countryside, but I STILL fail to figure out just how someone as weird as him even exists! At least I managed to get a free plane ticket out of the guy, so I won't have to worry about paying airfare."
Lila blinked in confusion as she continued reading the diary.
"Still, I suppose I can't complain. Even through his habits of... counting... and reading ingredient labels and... collecting lint... ugh, who does that?... he is quite simple. Too simple, if you ask me. Not even worth my time. Still, I have to play girlfriend to this man if I'm going to convince the others in school that I am the designated 'good girl'. But still, I really need a vacation... anything to get away from this... this idiot that I can't even stand! I'm talking, of course... about that stupid, simple kid Arnie."
Lila blinked as she looked confused. "Arnie? Doesn't Arnold have a cousin that goes by that name?"
Lila continued reading as she noted something, "I suppose I shouldn't enclose this picture in there, but he's just so... ugh! At least when I see that face, I'll know what section to skip..."
Lila then looked over to the picture as her eyes widened in surprise. In the photograph stood a simple boy, with beached blonde hair, a propeller beanie, and pale skin wearing a purple and yellow plaid shirt with blue overalls on top, and brown shoes. He looked like Arnold, if his football head was inverted, and he had a simple look on his face.
"Wow, who is that? He looks ever so..." Lila gave a goofy grin before fluttering her eyes. "Dreamy..."
However, her eyes widened as thoughts of how Arnie looked temporarily went away. "Wait a minute... no... it can't be..."
Lila quickly pulled out a group picture of the class that she remembered Helga gave her earlier that year and spotted Arnold in the front. She quickly put it next to the photo as she started to compare both Arnold and Arnie.
"No mistake, they're definitely cousins, but-" Lila started to say... before she remembered something from the very first day Lila introduced Lulu to Arnold.
Lulu smiled. "Why, of course, Arnold. I live in a little farm out in Spireville, Texas."
"Spireville... hey, I have a cousin who lives out in the neighborhood." Arnold smiled.
"Oh, do you?" Lulu raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Maybe I've seen him around."
"Well... maybe you have. Do you know somebody named Arnie?" Arnold asked.
Lulu's eyes went wide as if her life flashed back before her eyes. Lulu stood in place for a moment... before shaking her head. "No, actually, that name doesn't sound familiar to me."
Lila felt ready to hurl as she held her stomach. "Lulu... lied. She DOES know Arnold's cousin... and he... he's her boyfriend? But then-"
The horrible thought that Lila could not speak out dawned on her as she held her head. She didn't want to believe it, she didn't... but something screwy was going on, and she didn't like it. Was she unintentionally helping Lulu CHEAT on her boyfriend? This wasn't right!
Speaking of which, back in the neighborhood, all dressed up and everything, Arnold was holding hands with Lulu as he turned to the girl with loving eyes.
"Oh Lulu, today has been... pretty great." Arnold smiled as he stared at his lovely girlfriend.
Lulu giggled as she kissed her "boyfriend" on the cheek. "Oh Arnold... if only I can take you back to Spireville with me... but unfortunately, not everything lasts..."
Arnold stopped in confusion as he turned to the red haired girl. "What do you mean?"
"Well, tonight, I have to go back home." Lulu said, feigning sadness. "It's a shame really..."
"But... but Lila told me you would be here for the rest of the month!" Arnold said in worry.
"About that..." Lulu looked down in sadness. "My mother called my father last night and said that she needed me to go back to Spireville as soon as possible. The crop is coming in earlier than expected and she needs me here to help collect vegetables for the crop."
"But... that means I'll never see you again..." Arnold looked down.
"It's only for a few months... besides, you said you were going to visit your cousin in Spireville, right? Maybe you and I can meet up then and we can continue our relationship from there..." Lulu paused. "Unless..."
"Unless?" Arnold cocked his head in confusion.
"Unless... you would happen to go with me." Lulu gave a small grin. "Don't forget, we still have that deal we made earlier..."
Arnold looked confused at first, before his eyes widened. "Right! You did say that I could come visit you anytime I wanted to..."
"Why don't you come with me now?" Lulu fluttered her eyes. "After all, your friend seems to enjoy the idea."
Arnold looked down, knowing exactly what he meant. Arnold blushed furiously as he said, "Lulu, no, I-I couldn't..."
"What's the fuss?" Lulu grinned as she reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a packet, giving it to Arnold. "Inside this packet is my ticket home to Spireville. You can use my ticket, and I can always get another ticket at the stand when I get there. Don't worry, I'll make sure it's in my mother's name."
"I-I don't know, Lulu. This seems pretty risky." Arnold paused as he looked at the folder. "Besides, I still have my grandfather and grandmother here. What would they say if..."
"Then don't say anything to them. You don't HAVE to say you're going with me... besides, I can tell from your face. You did something to your grandparents, didn't you?" Lulu smirked.
"I-I may have stole from them, but they haven't-" Arnold started.
"-figured it out? Oh don't worry, Arnold... they will... and when they do, they could send you away... to prison." Lulu looked at him.
"P-prison?" Arnold's eyes shrank.
"Or Juvenile Hall... and if you go to either of these places... that's a shame... no time for me... poor little Lulu... and by the time you get out, I'll probably find some other man to enjoy me... but it won't be the same... because I'll always be thinking of you, my love." Lulu said as she rubbed his cheeks.
Arnold looked at the red haired girl, struggling with his feelings as the devil Arnold sitting on his right shoulder crossed his legs. "It would be quite a conundrum. What do you think, prissy?"
The devil Arnold turned to see that the angel Arnold was obsessing over a mirror, still feeling the growing horns in worry. He was barely paying any attention at all to Arnold. The devil Arnold grinned as he turned back to the conversation. "Just as I thought."
After a moment, Lulu smiled as she said, "If you ever do get in trouble, you can still run away... meet me tonight near the train station... and we'll go to Spireville together. We won't have to tell anybody else..."
"I'll be leaving a lot of friends behind..." Arnold said nervously as the two turned the street corner.
"Yes, it can hurt, but... which are you going to miss more? Your friends or me?" Lulu fluttered her eyes as Arnold blushed. "Think about it. And if you do, I'll meet you by the train station early tonight. I'll be wearing my favorite panties just for you. Green and blue stripes."
Arnold's mind went into overdrive as the two went to a deep kiss. As soon as their lips departed, Arnold looked over to see that he was back at the boarding house, with Lulu departing off as she said, "Excuse me, Arnold, I need to make a few stops before going home. See you soon..."
"Uh... right. Bye." Arnold waved, not even looking back as Lulu pulled out a videotape, giving a big smirk.
At the same time, she patted her stomach with a small grin as she looked back at Arnold, entering the boarding house. "Oh, my beautiful, powerful stud... soon, we'll be home and relaxing..."
Well... looks like things are about to take a turn! And next up will be the big confrontation with Arnold and his grandparents! How do you think they'll react? Just strap in and find out. Tune in next time!