Hobbes straightened his tie and rang the doorbell. Tonight was his first date with his new girl, Nicole. She really was too good for him. He couldn't believe she liked him.
Just past Nicole's driveway was an big oak tree. And
just past that tree was Darien Fawkes. He was going on the date too. He just
wasn't invited. But, hey, when you have quicksilver, you don't need an invite.
He wasn't invisible yet, he was going to save his
quicksilver for when he needed it. But, Darien reasoned in his mind, there
shouldn't be a problem with quicksilver madness. He had just gotten a shot of
counteragent.
He laughed softly to himself. He hadn't done this
kind of thing in a long time. Too long. He missed it in a way, being a
prankster and all. But, now everyone better watch their backs, cause Darien
Fawkes was back. And he wasn't stopping at anything.
Hobbes stared as Nicole answered the door. She was
dressed in a beautiful short dress that fit her perfectly. He tried not to gape
as she swept beside him and took his arm. He inhaled the intoxicating scent of
wisteria. At the rate, he was going, he'd be drunk before he even touched the
wine.
Nicole looked at him. "So where are we
going?"
Behind the tree, Darien pricked up his ears. This
was important to know, if he was going to follow them.
"I've made reservations at Lucera for us."
Darien almost whistled, then caught himself. Lucera
was the most expensive restaurant in town. Hobbes must have saved for years to
pay for this date.
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!" Nicole's eyes
danced at Hobbes, and he was glad he had made those reservations.
They got in the car and began driving away.
Darien dashed over to the car waiting by the street.
He'd begged the Keeper for hours to let him borrow her car. He'd never felt
like a bigger idiot.
"Oh well," he mumbled to himself,
"having fun has its price."
Darien revved the car, and drove off in hot pursuit of Hobbes and his date.
Hobbes looked in his rearview mirror. It looked like
there was someone following him. He couldn't see the face of the person,
though. Not wanting to worry Nicole, he didn't mention it to her. Well,
he thought, we're not the only ones in town who are going to Lucera. It's
probably just a coincidence.
Satisfied with his explanation, Hobbes stopped
watching the driver behind him, and concentrated on the road ahead.
Darien pulled into the Lucera parking lot. He made
sure he was well away from Hobbes. Opening the door, he hopped out and
disappeared. Once invisible, Darien ran to catch up with Hobbes. This was going
to be the best Friday night of his life.
Hobbes pulled out the chair for Nicole and she sat
down. He pulled out his own chair to sit down, then leaned forward to get the
menu that the waiter was holding out to him. The waiter took their drink orders,
then left them alone.
Darien looked at the two of them laughing and
talking together. He felt a pang of regret, that he didn't have someone to
laugh with like that. But his feelings weren't important. Tonight was the night
Darien wouldn't forget. The night he did anything he wanted to.
He looked around and saw Nicole's purse. Running
over there, he quicksilvered it before she could use it. The purse was then
moved over to the side, away from where it was before.
Nicole's menu sat on the table next to her plate. She wasn't looking at it,
just talking to Hobbes. The two of them were so wrapped up in each other, they
didn't even notice Nicole's menu slide off the table.
Nicole laughed at Hobbes' joke then, turned to look
at her menu. "Bobby, my menu's gone. I put it right here next to my
plate."
Hobbes looked confused. He bent down to look on the
floor, but it wasn't there. He shrugged, and said to her, "It doesn't
matter. You can look at mine." He handed his menu over to her, and she
opened it up.
Darien laughed silently as he saw Hobbes bend under
the table in search of Nicole's menu. He had trouble stifling his laugh as he
saw Hobbes' bewildered look. It was obvious Hobbes thought Nicole had never
gotten a menu. Darien couldn't believe how much fun this was.
Nicole felt something poke her in the stomach. She
looked around to see who had dared to do that, but she saw no one. "Bobby,
something-or someone- is poking me. Did you see anyone pass by?"
Hobbes shook his head. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, I was just wondering who was the
culprit." She laughed. "I'm sure it was a mistake."
"Well, okay. If anything else happens, just
tell me." Hobbes looked menacing, not liking anyone who would bother
Nicole.
Darien was really enjoying himself now. He watched
as Nicole reached for her purse, and couldn't find it. She groped around the
spot where she had left it, but she couldn't find it.
"My purse is gone!"
"Maybe it's on the floor."
A waiter, hearing Nicole's cry, came over to their table.
"Is everything all right?"
Nicole looked flustered. "No! My purse is
gone!"
"Perhaps it has fallen onto the floor."
The waiter stooped gracefully and looked below the table. It wasn't there. He
looked around the other tables, just in case, with Nicole and Hobbes looking on
worriedly. Darien reached up with the purse in his hand and put it on the
table. It was visible now.
The waiter straightened up, and saw the purse on the
table. "Is that your purse, ma'am?"
Nicole looked where he was pointing...and saw her
purse. "Yes, it is. I'm so sorry. I don't know how I could have missed
it."
"Yes, we're sorry." Hobbes added his
apology to hers. "But I'm sure we looked there."
"Of course." The waiter slightly tipped
his head, then walked away again.
"I'm sorry, Bobby." Nicole looked
sheepish.
"It's all right. It's not your fault. I missed
it too."
Darien ran outside and reappeared. He exploded with
laughter, falling against the side of the building for support. He decided that
was enough for one day.
"Okay, Fawkes, why did you do it?"
Hobbes burst in the lab, startling the Keeper and
Darien.
"Do what?" Darien said innocently.
"Bother me on my date. I do everything for you,
and what do I get in return? You bugging my girl!"
Darien couldn't control the smile on his face.
"Ah ha! See, I can tell, it was you."
Hobbes stormed out of the lab. He came back in and poked Darien. "You're
not getting away with this. You just wait." Then he turned around and left
again.
Darien began laughing, relishing the memory of his
pranks. The Keeper rolled her eyes and went back to work, wondering what was so
funny.