Chapter 4 - Misery Needs Company

(...Dimmsdale High...15 minutes later...)

Timmy pulls up to the school, but he is unable to locate a parking space. He grumbles as he turns a corner and eases between two cars.

As he gets out with his books, Chester and A.J. run up to him.

"Whoa. Nice wheels."

"What's the occasion?"

"My birthday", Timmy states indifferently.

"Oh. Happy birthday."

"You sure sound excited about it", A.J. says, sarcasm dripping from his voice.

"Why should I be?"

"Are you sure you're not dead? You've got a car! You can go places with it."

"The bus serves the same function."

"So, let's see if I get this: your birthday's today and you have a car..."

"Yep."

"...but you're miserable."

"Yep."

"I'll never figure you out, Timmy."

"I don't know what's wrong, you guys. It's like I've lost something important, but I don't know what it is. You ever felt like that?"

"Hmm. Nah."

"Can't say I have."

Timmy sighs as the three of them enter the school.

(...the park...that afternoon...)

The rest of the day was a blur to Timmy. He was unable to muster any energy for his classes. In his advanced state of lethargy, he most likely shouldn't have been driving, but he couldn't leave his car on school grounds.

He drives by the park, but stops suddenly. He spots Tootie sitting under a tree reading a book. He parks the car and walks toward the dark-haired young woman.

A shadow casts over her. She looks up at the source of the shade.

"Oh. Hi, Timmy."

"Hi, Tootie", he replied nervously.

A brief pause.

"Can I help you with something?", she said, slightly irritated.

"Well, yeah. You see, today's my 18th birthday."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks, and I know I should be happy about it, but I'm not. It feels like a part of me - a big part - is missing. I need someone in my life to make it complete. For some reason, I thought that someone was Trixie Tang."

"So...you and her aren't dating anymore?"

"Yeah. We broke up five months a--"

"I knew that, Timmy. I was just messing with you."

"I don't quite know how to say this, but...I...well..."

"You...well...what?"

"I guess, in a way, I've always known that you were that someone."

Tootie puts down her book, holding it with her thumb to keep her place.

"Timmy..."

"Yes?"

"I've had a lot of time to think about this. I've dreamt about this moment so much, and every time, I didn't know what to say. A few years ago, I decided to give up on you. Sure, it hurt, but I couldn't let this eat me up, and I knew that deep down, you would love me, someday."

Timmy hunches down to her level.

"And now...seeing you here...I still don't know to say."

The brown-haired young man looks off away from his long-time admirer.

"You don't have to say anything, Tootie. It's just...well, I'm sorry. For everything. Do you think we could ever get together?"

Timmy turns back to face Tootie, a huge grin plastered on her pretty face. As if she were part amphibian, she leaps at Timmy and smothers him in kisses. After a few moments, she stops.

"Sorry about that, Timmy. Old habits are hard to break."

"Oh, it's not so bad...now, anyway", Timmy laughs.

Tootie playfully punches him in the arm. She looks into his eyes. "So, you wanna go do something?"

"I don't know. It might be too soon."

"Oh." Tootie rolls off of Timmy, disappointment in her voice.

The two of them lie on the grass side by side. They look up at the sky. A few moments pass.

Tootie turns to face Timmy.

"How about now?"

Timmy rolls on his side.

"Works for me. How about a movie?"

"Okay. What's playing?"

Timmy stands up. "I don't know. There has to be something."

He outstretches his hand to Tootie and brings her to her feet. She gathers her things and the couple runs to his car.

(...outside Tootie's house...four hours later...)

Timmy's car pulls up to the house. He gets out and hurries to the other side to open the passenger-side door.

Tootie steps out of the car. "Why, thank you."

The two of them walk to the door.

"How'd you enjoy the movie?"

"It was...all right."

"Just all right?"

"I wouldn't thought of The Crimson Chin Returns as ideal first-date material."

"Sorry. I really wanted to see it, and I'm kinda new to the whole romance thing."

"Don't worry, Turner." She kisses him on the lips. "With some practice, you'll figure it out."

Timmy is in a daze as Tootie opens her front door.

"See you tomorrow." She flashes a cute smile and enters her house.

The door closes, but Timmy is still there. The door opens once more, snapping the young man out of his trance.

"Um, the date's over. You can go home now."

"Oh! Right. Right."

Timmy turns around and heads for his car.

As Tootie watches, the vehicle moves down the street.

"God, how I love him."

(...the halls of Dimmsdale High...the next day...)

Students scramble through the corridors. Looking a lot happier, Timmy is one of them. Chester and A.J. join him at either side.

"You're looking better."

"Feeling better, A.J."

"That's good. Wait..." Chester thought about it a bit, then raised an eyebrow. "Okay, who is she?"

"She? What do you mean, 'she'?"

"Do you really want to play this game or do you want to tell me what's going on?"

Timmy shrugs his shoulders. "Truthfully, I like the game better."

"Yesterday, you were moping - on your birthday - and now, you're happy."

"A lot can change in one day."

Timmy stops at Tootie's locker. She puts some of her books into it.

"Hey."

Without a word, the dark-haired girl throws her arms around Timmy. He returns the gesture, much to the interest (and disgust, in some cases) of the surrounding people.

She runs her finger around his shirt and makes her way to his face. "We all set for after school?"

"Sure."

Tootie pecks him on the cheek and walks off.

Timmy rubs his cheek and stares. Remembering himself, he looks to his friends.

"What? I need a tutor."

"Not as much as she needs you. Whoa."

"This is quite surprising."

"Why?"

"Well, I never thought you'd find someone so quickly. I figured that something would happen in college."

"Also, who knew that you'd find such a hottie?"

"You guys do know that was Tootie, right?"

Their jaws drop.

"Catch you guys later." Timmy takes off down the hall, a smile on his face.

Chester and A.J. stand in the hall.

"We've been at this school for four years. How did we miss that?"

"I don't know."

"Okay..."

(...the library...that afternoon...)

"Let's see what we're up against."

Timmy and Tootie sit at a table in between the stacks. He pulls an algebra textbook out of his bag and sets it down.

She glances at him as he opens it.

"Wait, algebra is your trouble class?"

He looks up at her. "Actually, they're all trouble classes; too much trouble to take. Algebra's just my worst subject."

"How much trouble?"

"The straight-C type of trouble."

"Not a lot of colleges accept those kind of grades."

"There is one."

"Timmy..."

"Like Chester says, 'Community college is still college.'."

"Anyway, algebra is no problem. It's just regular math with letters." She points to a problem. "Like this one: 'Solve for x - 6x 24 54'."

The tutoring continued and though it took some time to sink in, Timmy, ultimately, figured out what Tootie was trying to tell him.

(...outside Tootie's house...a couple of hours later...)

Timmy's car pulls up.

"Do you get it now?"

"I think so, and even if I don't, I'm still doing better than in elementary school."

"How do you mean?"

"I had this crazy teacher: Mr. Crocker. I worked as hard as I could and he gave me nothing but 'Fs'. I think he was out to get me. Never could figure out why, though."

"Well, that's all in the past. What matters is the future."

The two of them kiss.

"I couldn't agree more."

They get out of the car.

"Can I walk you to your door?"

Tootie suddenly grows nervous. Timmy walks to the door, but she stands in his way.

"Um, no, that's all right."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Nothing. It's just...the place is a mess and I wouldn't want you to be disgusted."

"Are you kidding?" Timmy steps around her. "I, practically, live in squalor. Well, not the traditional kind, but more of the dirty-clothes-and-candy-bar-wrappers variety."

"But...the house is being fumigated for...uh...silverfish! Nasty little things. This place is absolutely unlivable."

The curtains fly open and a somewhat older woman bearing a strong resemblance to Tootie appears in the window.

"Honey, Tootie's home!"

The younger woman sighs as the door opens. The older woman embraces her daughter. Timmy raises an eyebrow.

(...Tootie's house...moments later...)

The young couple sits together on the couch. Her father - a red-headed man with a face full of stubble - sits opposite them in a chair.

Timmy leans over. "This is why you didn't want me to come in? Your parents? Obviously, you forget where I come from."

"So, you're the infamous Timmy Turner. I've heard so much about you from my daughters."

Tootie gulps a bit.

"Well, sir, with all due respect, there's one daughter of yours I'm concerned about."

"Funny you should mention that."

"Dad..."

"Yes, Toots?"

"Don't you have a...thing to do?"

"Hmm...no, I don't think so."

Footsteps can be heard from above.

Tootie groans a bit.

Her mother walks in. "Hello. Is everything all right in here?"

"Can't imagine why it wouldn't be, honey."

Timmy turns to Tootie. "What's going on? You've been acting weird since you got here."

"Will you be staying for dinner?"

"Sure. Why not?"

"Mom!"

The footsteps grow louder as they descend the stairs.

"Oh, don't mind me. I'm just gonna grab some snacks."

The red-headed young woman gets to the bottom of the stairs and gasps. Her look of surprise quickly becomes a look of animosity. Her eyes lock with those of the brown-haired gentleman on the couch. The looks on their faces say more than words ever could. Most words, anyway;

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

"I should ask you the same thing."

Tootie buries her head in her hands.

Her mother frowns. "So, that's a no on dinner?"