A/N: It's been awhile since I updated ANYTHING but here is the 10th installment of What If? The 11th is due out between later on tonight or tomorrow. Enjoy!
21 Questions
By: Starry Nights
"You're my best friend. You can't just show up without a date."
"I can and I will."
"Nadine…it will look bad for you and me."
"It's just a party."
"Just a party! JUST a party! How could you say that?"
"I'm sorry…I don't…" she sighed. "No one asked me."
"That's not a problem, I'm sure we can find someone for you."
Rhonda grabbed Nadine's hand and dragged her to the circle of boys. Arnold joined them just as the crowd dispersed leaving only Arnold and Sid. Sid was shifting nervously on his feet while Arnold looked calm. He ran a hand through his wild mane of blonde hair and smiled.
"Hey guys."
"I didn't do it."
"Do what?"
"Oh, no, Arnold. You aren't dragging it out of me this time."
"Huh?"
"Okay, I admit it but it was all Stinky's idea. He dared me."
"Sid, what did you do this time?"
He exhaled and… "IputaratinHelga'slockerandifshefindsoutshe'sgonnakillme."
"You're joking, right?"
Sid frowned. "I wish I was."
"Sorry girls, but we have to fix this." he grabbed Sid's arm. "Let's go."
They watched them run down the hall toward Helga's locker.
"Sometimes, I think he cares more about her than he does about me." Rhonda mumbled under her breath.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. So do you have any ideas about who you want to go with?"
Nadine glanced at the spot the boys just vacated. She had an idea all right but how was she going to tell Rhonda that? She'd never approve. (She might try to get me to go with Iggy or Peapod Kid.)
"Why don't you ask Peapod Kid? Didn't you have fun the last time you went out with him?"
(Not really.) "I guess so. Look the first bell is about to ring. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
*~*
"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Did I mention thank you? She would have killed me if she saw it."
"Yes and I know. Why'd you have to do that?"
"It was a dare."
"So?"
"How did you know her combination?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Is it a secret?"
"No."
"So tell me."
"I don't want to."
"Arnold…"
"Sid…I'm not telling you."
"Did she tell you?"
"Mind your business."
"Did you have her locker last year?"
"Sid…"
"Were you watching her so closely that you memorized her combination?"
Arnold hesitated. "No."
"You hesitated. Why?"
"I did not hesitate."
"I saw you hesitate."
"Rhonda is going to be furious when she finds out."
"There's nothing to find out."
"Helga Pataki. You two would make a good couple and she has grown up if you know what I mean."
"Sid!"
"No need to get testy."
"Let's talk about you, Sid."
Sid shifted nervously in his seat. "Me?"
"Yesterday, while we were playing baseball, you let the ball fly over your head. I don't even think you were watching the game and if my eyes served me correctly I think you were watching our dear friend Nadine."
"Me…heh…I was not."
"Hmm…perhaps you noticed that she's 'all grown up' also."
"I have no idea what you…are…talking…about."
Arnold followed Sid's line of vision and smiled. "Caught!"
"You're a horrible person right now Arnold."
He only smiled. "Nadine! Come sit with us."
Sid leaned in to whisper to his friend. "I think I'm a bad influence on you Arnold."
The blond haired boy smiled. "I think so too."
*~*
"I think this shirt is great but it would clash horribly with the skirt I was planning to wear…then again I could get a skirt to match this shirt. What do you think?"
"Huh? Yeah, pretty."
Rhonda plucked the shirt from the rack and pulled her best friend over to the side. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Nothing."
"Liar. Tell me the truth. If you don't want to go with the dates I picked for you then take anyone you want."
"Really?"
"Sure, as long as I approve."
Nadine frowned. "What do you mean approve?"
"Well, you can't just show up with anybody…"
Nadine rolled her eyes and shuffled through the ranks of interesting clothes. Nothing in this store was really her style not to mention it wasn't in her budget so while tuning out her best friend, she half-heartedly leafed through the mesh tops, asymmetrical shirts, tight minis and hip hugging denim jeans. Moving through the store something caught her eye; way in the back of a sale's rack was an orange piece of cloth. It was odd. Slowly she made her way toward the orange article of clothing, she had once made the mistake of telling Rhonda that she loved to own an orange skirt. The self-proclaimed fashion queen had laughed and claimed that orange was 'so passé' and that she wouldn't be caught dead in any orange clothing. Smiling to herself she plucked the item from its hiding spot.
It was a dress. It wasn't so bad as dresses go. It was knee length; a thin white belt was attached around the hip of the dress and the v-neck dipped low enough to be sexy and not trashy. It was perfect. She glanced at the price tag and smiled to herself. (19.99, Perfect! Now to buy this without Rhonda knowing.)
*~*
Rhonda's party was well under way when Nadine showed up hand in hand with Lorenzo. She frowned slightly and tried to let go of his hand but the overly possessive boy squeezed it and began to maneuver his way through the crowd slowly. Nadine sighed and spotted a few of her friends mingling around.
"I need to find Rhonda."
"I saw her when we first came in. she's in her den."
"Okay, but I need to freshen up first."
"Sure." He hadn't let go of her hand.
"Alone."
"But…but…Nadine…"
"Lorenzo! I just need five minutes. Give me five minutes!"
His eyes narrowed as he reluctantly let go of her hand and disappeared into the crowd. She sighed and walked toward one of the guest room where she planned to spend the rest of the party.
"Is the party too much for you too?"
Nadine jumped but relaxed and leaned against the closed bedroom door. She smoothed out her orange dress. "Didn't expect to see you in here."
"Didn't expect to see you in a dress."
She shrugged. "Don't count on seeing me in one again."
"Rhonda made you put one on."
It wasn't a question so she didn't answer. Instead she walked further into the room and sat down on the bed. He watched her for a moment before speaking again. "I saw you…'cough'…come in with Lorenzo."
"Jealous?"
"Hardly." He snorted.
"So what's your point?"
"I just saw you."
"I saw you come with Helga."
He laughed. "Please. She, um, got out of her car the moment I reached the door."
"Whatever."
"Can I ask you a question?"
She shrugged.
"Why'd you come with Lorenzo?"
"He asked."
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and muttered "Do you like him?"
"No."
"Did Rhonda really make you put on that dress?"
"I don't even think she saw me buy this dress."
"Why do you let her tell you what to do?"
"I listen. Sometimes I obey."
"There's a difference?"
She rolled her eyes. "Yes."
"I like the dress. Is there a reason you picked it out?"
"What is this? 21 questions? Let me ask you some questions."
He chuckled nervously. "Ask away. I have nothing to hide…I think."
Nadine laughed. "I'm sure you don't."
"I don't."
"Okay…does Arnold really like Rhonda?"
"Arnold likes everyone."
"Sid!"
He laughed. "Ask him."
"Good answer. What's with the beetle boots?"
"What do you mean?"
"You wear them all the time."
"I happen to like them."
"Whatever you say."
"Hey, you're the one in a slightly darkened room in an orange dress."
"I admit it. I have weird taste."
"Why do you call it weird?"
"Choice of words…nothing else to call it." she sighed, walked toward the door and opened it. "Come…let's go watch all the beautiful people mingle."
Sid shot forward slammed the door, leaned against it and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Heh, do we…um, have to…it's not like anyone…gulp…misses us."
"Sid, what did you do?"
"Heh, what makes you think, um, that I," he paused and swallowed for what seemed like the millionth time. "did anything?"
She chuckled. "Fine…let's stay here."
"Can you move now?"
"But, um, ah…" he leaned in and kissed her on the lips. Smiling, he pulled away and moved from the door and watched her expression. "Nadine…I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…heh, it was just a moment thing and I thought…"
"Sid…" she cut him off. "It's okay."
"It is?"
"Yeah."
"So…um…what happens now?"
She smiled. "You kiss me again."
*~*
"That's what happened."
Arnold laughed, "So you and Nadine are together now?"
"I guess so." Sid took a bite of his burger and nodded toward Rhonda. "I heard some things happened between you two."
Arnold shrugged. "We're still together but what happened at the party is another story."
"I want to hear this."
"Well, it all started when…
