Chapter 12
"So, Emma hasn't said anything about Gerry and Isabelle getting together?" Alan questioned one morning. He, Louie, and Rev were gathered at Petey's locker at school, waiting for him so they could leave to meet Julius, Gerry, and Isabelle at Gerry's locker.
"Not in the couple weeks they've started going out," Rev replied.
Alan nodded. "And Ray?"
"Oh," Petey said, his voice tainted with disdain. "I wouldn't believe a word out of his mouth, so it don't matter."
Rev wrinkled his forehead with suspicion. "What are you getting at, Alan? Is there something that we don't know that we should know?"
Petey shut his locker firmly and began to lead them down the hallway to the staircase. Amidst the thickly crowded halls, they wove themselves among the sea of bodies. When they approached the less condensed stairwell, Rev repeated his question. He had a feeling that there was something floating around school that would disrupt the happiness of the new couple. And given the two suspects, his gut told him that the latter was responsible for anything harmful.
Alan began, "Ray was pretty burned when Isabelle left him, and got even more upset when he found out that Gerry took his place."
They exited the stairwell onto the floor with Gerry and Isabelle's lockers were, and were silently relieved that it was not as crowded as the previous level. In fact, the population down there was quite sparse.
"Well, whatever it is, it would have to be monumental to upset those two," Louie interrupted, nodding ahead.
They looked up to find Gerry standing by his locker with his arms around Isabelle. She was pressed up against the wall, with his head bent low as he whispered something in her ear that made her smile widely. Her arms tightened around his neck as she kissed his cheek. He pulled back a little, with a delighted sparkle in his eye, and then leaned back in to kiss her softly. By the time Alan, Rev, Louie, and Petey reached them, they were still attached at the mouth.
"The only thing that I heard," Alan murmured to them, "was from Emma. And from what I gathered, there might be some trouble brewing."

"Okay, I know my mom's out of town on a business trip, but I think I should be getting home. . ."
Isabelle laughed. "Do my ears hear correctly? Mr. Gerry Bertier nervous about getting home?"
He blushed and kissed her forehead. "No, seriously, Isabelle. What was so important that you called me up at eleven to rush over here?"
The pair walked down the street, their hands entwined between them, as autumn's fleeting night breeze settled in Alexandria. She leaned her head on his arm and said innocently, "Aren't I important enough?"
"Hmm, not really."
She laughed and smiled up at him. "Well, then I guess the feeling's mutual, huh?" She patted his firm stomach and said, "Don't look so distressed. It's only a Friday night."
They continued walking in the street lamp lit sidewalk, while Gerry defended himself, arguing that he was just tired from football practice and not that he didn't want to upset his mother.
"There's nothing wrong with listening to your parents. I do it myself quite often." But, before he could edge in another word, she announced their arrival.
He scrunched his eyebrows. "The football field? Why did you bring me here?"
"Because you love it here so much," she answered, leading him up the bleachers.
"Okay, but watch your step; it's dark."
"Yeah, I know, Mr. Safety Patrol-whoa!" She missed a step and lost her balance, landing in Gerry's outstretched arms. "Nice reflexes."
He laughed and continued to let her lead him to wherever she wished. Finally, after ten minutes of weaving and climbing on the cold, metallic benches, Isabelle selected the twentieth row in the middle section. They sat down next to each to each other, where she hooked her arm through his.
"All right, now. Tell me what's up," Gerry demanded. He looked down at her mysterious face.
"Don't tell me you forgot," she said. He returned her statement with a puzzled look. She smiled softly and held her left wrist out to him to look at her watch.
"12:02," he read, slightly confused. He looked back at her smiling face, when she leaned in and kissed him.
"Happy Birthday," she whispered. Immediately, the field lights flashed on and in the middle of the field, on a small table, was a small, circular cake.
Gerry sat in shock for a moment. "My birthday? I completely forgot, I was so wrapped up in football and. . ." he paused. "Well, you." He grinned, when he heard a herd of footsteps storm down the bleachers from behind. They looked behind them to find all their friends dashing towards them.
"Happy Birthday!" they were all yelling.
"How in the world did y'all manage to pull this stunt?" he demanded, as he was shepherded down to his cake. He looked up at it, only to find his two coaches standing on either side, Coach Boone holding paper plates and Coach Yoast and Sheryl holding the cake cutter and forks.
"When we realized your birthday was coming up and you didn't seem to have anything planned," Julius started, "Isabelle concocted this little scheme. She went to Yoast and Boone and asked them for their permission, and voila! Happy Birthday, Superman."
Gerry beamed and looked at Isabelle. "This was all your doing?" She nodded proudly. "Thank you," he told her, kissing her nose.

"I can't believe she did all that for me," Gerry told Julius over the phone later that day. "I've gotta do something big for hers."
He heard his friend's familiar chuckle fill the line. "Well, don't worry, Gerry, you've still got a few months." He paused. "So, did you open your gifts yet?"
"Oh, yeah! Hey, thanks for the records. I've been meaning to get them for a while now."
"No problem. What'd Isabelle get you?"
"A new sports bag. Mine was falling apart. She complained the stench was seeping out of the rips and holes. So, when I dropped her off at home this morning, I planted the old one in her car."
Julius laughed aloud. "You two really care about each other, huh?" Silence. "Uh, Gerry?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah?"
"You two really care about each other, don't you?"
"Yeah," Gerry sighed softly, "we care about each other."