Change Has Come - Chapter Seven: Awfully Thankful
The doors of Bahia High swung open and young Tino Tonitini walked out with his head held high and a kick in his step. He proudly walked out to the front of the school and leaned up against one of the trees.
"Hey there, as you can tell I am in a happy mood. One week makes a lot of difference, I'll tell ya. Let me explain why. This past week news of Dot and me spread all over school, and now we're the hot topic! Can you believe it? This is the closest I've ever been to popularity without negative consequences. On a more unfortunate note, Tish and Lor have been avoiding me all week. I suspect that they think I'm mad at them and they want to avoid confrontation. Ironically, I am very happy with those two and I've been dying to thank them. I got Carver to take Tish and Lor to the pizza place, and I plan to 'accidentally' run into them."
Tino turned around and spied Carver, Lor, and Tish coming out of the school. He quickly pressed up against the tree to make sure that they couldn't see him. He watched as they passed by and he listened in on the conversation.
"So how about we go grab ourselves some pizza? I'm starving, and there is a sweet Friday special going on," Carver offered.
"Yeah sure. I've got nothing else to do today," Lor commented sounding slightly depressed.
"Same here. Might as well do something I like rather than mope around my house," Tish added.
"Geez, you two are impossible! One week, you're all sad because you can't get a date, and this week you're all sad about ruining Tino's special moment. Can't you two just get over this stuff?" Carver asked.
"It's not that easy, Carver. It feels terrible to have made Tino mad. He is our friend after all," Tish responded.
"Yeah, Carver. Your lack of a conscience makes it hard for you to know the feeling," Lor added.
"Hey, I've got a conscience. It just usually is eating when I have decisions to make," Carver fired back.
"So your hunger affects all parts of your being?" Tish asked jokingly.
"No, my mind isn't too much of an eater. He likes to watch his weight."
"No eggs for your brain, eh?" Tish asked.
"Nope, he doesn't really like eggs all that much, or fish for that matter."
Tish shook her head a bit.
Lor's face was awash with puzzlement, "Wait a minute, your brain can eat food? That's really gross and weird!"
Carver and Tish looked at each other, and just kept on walking.
"What? What did I say? Really, what?" Lor questioned as she followed.
Tino stayed pressed up against the tree until they were out of sight.
"Alright, now it's time for me to get some pizza," Tino thought to himself.
He walked off whistling a happy tune to himself.
Carver greedily munched on the gingerbread man eager to get some type of food in his system. Once finished he licked his fingers in a lavish display, and immediately he grabbed another gingerbread man off the nearby Christmas tree. However, just as it was about to enter his mouth, Lor pulled it away from him.
"Sorry, dude, but I have to cut you off. You already polished off three gingerbread men and two Christmas cookies. You won't have any room for the pizza."
"Fine, fine. I love Christmas. Presents, food, specials on TV, and best of all snow days!" Carver exclaimed.
"Some of us don't celebrate Christmas. I guess religious preference means nothing here. And Carver, we don't get snow days. Not only that, but it's September. Christmas isn't for another three months," Tish commented.
"Maybe for the rest of the world, but here at Christmas Pizza, it's Christmas all the time!......Or at least until next weekend."
Tish shrugged her shoulders since she couldn't argue that point. The pizza place did have a Christmas atmosphere. Big Christmas trees fully decorated, presents under each one, snow all over the place, and the owner was dressed up as Santa Claus and his assistant was an elf.
"Ahh, here comes my present," Carver said eyeing up the approaching pizza.
"HO HO HO! Merrrrry Christmas! Since you have been good girls and boy, you get a large pizza. HO HO HO!" the owner bellowed from within the large suit.
"Excuse me, but could I get a candy cane with this?" Carver asked.
The owner turned to him and replied in his usual voice, "You'll poke your eye out, kid."
Carver mumbled a few things and began to chow down. Outside the pizza shop Tino was spying in through one of the windows.
"Okay, they just got their pizza, so they'll be busy eating and won't notice me coming in. They couldn't avoid me forever," he thought to himself.
Tino made sure to walk in casual like he had no idea that they would be there. He entered and looked around a bit pretending to find where he might sit. His eyes came to a stop on Tish, Lor, and Carver.
"Well, if it isn't Lor, Tish, and Carver! How the heck ya been?" Tino exclaimed.
Startled, Lor and Tish choked on the food in their mouths and whirled around to Tino in the same motion. Tino looked back and forth between the two of them gagging.
"Hmmm, maybe that wasn't the best way to greet them," Tino thought to himself.
"Well, since you're here, T. You should join us," Carver offered.
"Don't mind if I do."
Nervous expressions spread across Tish and Lor's faces both feeling awkward around Tino. Both Carver and Tino had to do their best to stifle any laughter at how uncomfortable the girls looked.
Tino turned to the two and wasted no time, "So have you two been? I haven't seen you since the dance."
The girls mentally winced at the mention of the horrid event. Both squirmed in their seats stuttering, looking for a good response.
"Haha, don't hurt yourselves. If you think I'm mad at you, forget about it," Tino said.
"Wha? Wait, you aren't mad?" Lor asked.
"Nope. In fact, I should be thanking you two."
Tish's eyes brightened. "Because you realized you didn't like Dot, and we were actually doing you a favor?"
"No, the complete opposite. I have to thank you two for helping me score big points with Dot. After you ruined our moment, I helped her dry her dress and walk her home. She was so touched by my concern that I got a big kiss from her, and- Wow, Lor your face is really red."
Lor looked like she was going to pop, and her head was boiling.
"You'll have to excuse me for a moment," she said through clenched teeth.
She got up and walked outside the pizza shop in front of the windows. Carver and Tino watched, as it appeared Lor was yelling profanities at the sky.
Tino was perplexed. "Hmm, what's up with her? Hey, Tish do you know what's wrong Lor? Uh, Tish?"
Completely oblivious, Tish continued to bang her head against the table muttering 'unfair' to herself repeatedly.
"I think this might be the oddest responses I've ever received after thanking someone. I usually get a 'your welcome' in response, but this is much more interesting. Though it begs the question, what's the deal with these two." Tino commented.
"Maybe aliens replaced the real Lor and Tish with aliens in Tish and Lor disguises, and they are saying 'your welcome' in their native way," Carver offered.
"Possibly, or maybe they are international spies involved in a worldwide conspiracy that somehow revolves around what I say. Now they are using some type of code to communicate my actions to their secret spy headquarters," Tino guessed.
"That could be it as well. It has to be one of the two, " Carver concluded.
"You know I am still right here. I can hear you," Tish said momentarily stopping from banging her head on the table.
Lor came back into the restaurant and sat down again her face not as red as it was before. "Sorry about that, I burned my mouth on the pizza, had to yell it out, you know," Lor commented.
"Umm, okay. You should try drinking something if you burn your mouth, you might find that a bit more convenient," Tino said.
Both Lor and Tish looked at Tino weakly with the color drained from their faces. Tino looked back and for the between the two a bit concerned with how terrible they looked.
"I'm not sure what the deal is with you two, but thanks a lot. In fact, this Sunday Dot and I are going to the movies. I really owe you two," Tino commented.
Again Lor's face turned bright red and she excused herself once more. Carver and Tino watched as Lor yelled more profanities at the sky outside.
"At least, Tish isn't banging her head against the table this time," Tino said to Carver.
"Yeah, now she is joining Lor outside."
The two boys shook their heads.
"Something must be up with those two......You know I think we had better stop them, I'm not sure the town will take too kindly to people yelling profanities," Tino commented.
"Good point. While you do that, I'll work on this pizza."
"Fine, I'll do it myself. Honestly, I've never met someone with as much of an appetite as you."
"I take that as a compliment."
Tino rolled his eyes and left to go get the girls. Carver watched as Tino began talking with the girls and he could just see the disappointment oozing from their faces.
"Uh-oh, this might be a bad thing. His date with Dot might convince those two that it's hopeless to go after him. I can't let that happen! Things are just starting to get interesting. There is only one thing I can do. Spread lies!"
Carver rubbed his hands together and laughed evilly to himself. He looked out the window at his three friends and smiled wickedly.
End of Chapter Seven
It's a short chapter, I know. It's just to set-up for bigger and better things so don't be discouraged. Like the last chapter this one got delayed because of schoolwork, but now that winter break is here I should get these out faster. Although, I did get sucked into Final Fantasy I while writing this so that slowed me down too, so if I get sucked into another game it maybe slow coming still. I'll try my best though. And finally I'd like to say to everybody: Happy Holidays! Have a good one!
The doors of Bahia High swung open and young Tino Tonitini walked out with his head held high and a kick in his step. He proudly walked out to the front of the school and leaned up against one of the trees.
"Hey there, as you can tell I am in a happy mood. One week makes a lot of difference, I'll tell ya. Let me explain why. This past week news of Dot and me spread all over school, and now we're the hot topic! Can you believe it? This is the closest I've ever been to popularity without negative consequences. On a more unfortunate note, Tish and Lor have been avoiding me all week. I suspect that they think I'm mad at them and they want to avoid confrontation. Ironically, I am very happy with those two and I've been dying to thank them. I got Carver to take Tish and Lor to the pizza place, and I plan to 'accidentally' run into them."
Tino turned around and spied Carver, Lor, and Tish coming out of the school. He quickly pressed up against the tree to make sure that they couldn't see him. He watched as they passed by and he listened in on the conversation.
"So how about we go grab ourselves some pizza? I'm starving, and there is a sweet Friday special going on," Carver offered.
"Yeah sure. I've got nothing else to do today," Lor commented sounding slightly depressed.
"Same here. Might as well do something I like rather than mope around my house," Tish added.
"Geez, you two are impossible! One week, you're all sad because you can't get a date, and this week you're all sad about ruining Tino's special moment. Can't you two just get over this stuff?" Carver asked.
"It's not that easy, Carver. It feels terrible to have made Tino mad. He is our friend after all," Tish responded.
"Yeah, Carver. Your lack of a conscience makes it hard for you to know the feeling," Lor added.
"Hey, I've got a conscience. It just usually is eating when I have decisions to make," Carver fired back.
"So your hunger affects all parts of your being?" Tish asked jokingly.
"No, my mind isn't too much of an eater. He likes to watch his weight."
"No eggs for your brain, eh?" Tish asked.
"Nope, he doesn't really like eggs all that much, or fish for that matter."
Tish shook her head a bit.
Lor's face was awash with puzzlement, "Wait a minute, your brain can eat food? That's really gross and weird!"
Carver and Tish looked at each other, and just kept on walking.
"What? What did I say? Really, what?" Lor questioned as she followed.
Tino stayed pressed up against the tree until they were out of sight.
"Alright, now it's time for me to get some pizza," Tino thought to himself.
He walked off whistling a happy tune to himself.
Carver greedily munched on the gingerbread man eager to get some type of food in his system. Once finished he licked his fingers in a lavish display, and immediately he grabbed another gingerbread man off the nearby Christmas tree. However, just as it was about to enter his mouth, Lor pulled it away from him.
"Sorry, dude, but I have to cut you off. You already polished off three gingerbread men and two Christmas cookies. You won't have any room for the pizza."
"Fine, fine. I love Christmas. Presents, food, specials on TV, and best of all snow days!" Carver exclaimed.
"Some of us don't celebrate Christmas. I guess religious preference means nothing here. And Carver, we don't get snow days. Not only that, but it's September. Christmas isn't for another three months," Tish commented.
"Maybe for the rest of the world, but here at Christmas Pizza, it's Christmas all the time!......Or at least until next weekend."
Tish shrugged her shoulders since she couldn't argue that point. The pizza place did have a Christmas atmosphere. Big Christmas trees fully decorated, presents under each one, snow all over the place, and the owner was dressed up as Santa Claus and his assistant was an elf.
"Ahh, here comes my present," Carver said eyeing up the approaching pizza.
"HO HO HO! Merrrrry Christmas! Since you have been good girls and boy, you get a large pizza. HO HO HO!" the owner bellowed from within the large suit.
"Excuse me, but could I get a candy cane with this?" Carver asked.
The owner turned to him and replied in his usual voice, "You'll poke your eye out, kid."
Carver mumbled a few things and began to chow down. Outside the pizza shop Tino was spying in through one of the windows.
"Okay, they just got their pizza, so they'll be busy eating and won't notice me coming in. They couldn't avoid me forever," he thought to himself.
Tino made sure to walk in casual like he had no idea that they would be there. He entered and looked around a bit pretending to find where he might sit. His eyes came to a stop on Tish, Lor, and Carver.
"Well, if it isn't Lor, Tish, and Carver! How the heck ya been?" Tino exclaimed.
Startled, Lor and Tish choked on the food in their mouths and whirled around to Tino in the same motion. Tino looked back and forth between the two of them gagging.
"Hmmm, maybe that wasn't the best way to greet them," Tino thought to himself.
"Well, since you're here, T. You should join us," Carver offered.
"Don't mind if I do."
Nervous expressions spread across Tish and Lor's faces both feeling awkward around Tino. Both Carver and Tino had to do their best to stifle any laughter at how uncomfortable the girls looked.
Tino turned to the two and wasted no time, "So have you two been? I haven't seen you since the dance."
The girls mentally winced at the mention of the horrid event. Both squirmed in their seats stuttering, looking for a good response.
"Haha, don't hurt yourselves. If you think I'm mad at you, forget about it," Tino said.
"Wha? Wait, you aren't mad?" Lor asked.
"Nope. In fact, I should be thanking you two."
Tish's eyes brightened. "Because you realized you didn't like Dot, and we were actually doing you a favor?"
"No, the complete opposite. I have to thank you two for helping me score big points with Dot. After you ruined our moment, I helped her dry her dress and walk her home. She was so touched by my concern that I got a big kiss from her, and- Wow, Lor your face is really red."
Lor looked like she was going to pop, and her head was boiling.
"You'll have to excuse me for a moment," she said through clenched teeth.
She got up and walked outside the pizza shop in front of the windows. Carver and Tino watched, as it appeared Lor was yelling profanities at the sky.
Tino was perplexed. "Hmm, what's up with her? Hey, Tish do you know what's wrong Lor? Uh, Tish?"
Completely oblivious, Tish continued to bang her head against the table muttering 'unfair' to herself repeatedly.
"I think this might be the oddest responses I've ever received after thanking someone. I usually get a 'your welcome' in response, but this is much more interesting. Though it begs the question, what's the deal with these two." Tino commented.
"Maybe aliens replaced the real Lor and Tish with aliens in Tish and Lor disguises, and they are saying 'your welcome' in their native way," Carver offered.
"Possibly, or maybe they are international spies involved in a worldwide conspiracy that somehow revolves around what I say. Now they are using some type of code to communicate my actions to their secret spy headquarters," Tino guessed.
"That could be it as well. It has to be one of the two, " Carver concluded.
"You know I am still right here. I can hear you," Tish said momentarily stopping from banging her head on the table.
Lor came back into the restaurant and sat down again her face not as red as it was before. "Sorry about that, I burned my mouth on the pizza, had to yell it out, you know," Lor commented.
"Umm, okay. You should try drinking something if you burn your mouth, you might find that a bit more convenient," Tino said.
Both Lor and Tish looked at Tino weakly with the color drained from their faces. Tino looked back and for the between the two a bit concerned with how terrible they looked.
"I'm not sure what the deal is with you two, but thanks a lot. In fact, this Sunday Dot and I are going to the movies. I really owe you two," Tino commented.
Again Lor's face turned bright red and she excused herself once more. Carver and Tino watched as Lor yelled more profanities at the sky outside.
"At least, Tish isn't banging her head against the table this time," Tino said to Carver.
"Yeah, now she is joining Lor outside."
The two boys shook their heads.
"Something must be up with those two......You know I think we had better stop them, I'm not sure the town will take too kindly to people yelling profanities," Tino commented.
"Good point. While you do that, I'll work on this pizza."
"Fine, I'll do it myself. Honestly, I've never met someone with as much of an appetite as you."
"I take that as a compliment."
Tino rolled his eyes and left to go get the girls. Carver watched as Tino began talking with the girls and he could just see the disappointment oozing from their faces.
"Uh-oh, this might be a bad thing. His date with Dot might convince those two that it's hopeless to go after him. I can't let that happen! Things are just starting to get interesting. There is only one thing I can do. Spread lies!"
Carver rubbed his hands together and laughed evilly to himself. He looked out the window at his three friends and smiled wickedly.
End of Chapter Seven
It's a short chapter, I know. It's just to set-up for bigger and better things so don't be discouraged. Like the last chapter this one got delayed because of schoolwork, but now that winter break is here I should get these out faster. Although, I did get sucked into Final Fantasy I while writing this so that slowed me down too, so if I get sucked into another game it maybe slow coming still. I'll try my best though. And finally I'd like to say to everybody: Happy Holidays! Have a good one!