A/N: New rule. If I get two reviews for every chapter I'll be happy and move on to the next one. Sound good? Okay...

The software shall not let me draw my Joey smiley face, but that is okay.

I pray this chapter will not like...ruin the story for you or anything. So far I have only read it in full to my brother. And he doesn't know anything so...

SpongeFan SquareFiction: You rock! Thanks so much for the reviews! Glad you like it so far. I hope I shall not disappoint you. I'm loving your story, too!

northernlight33: Here you go. Hope you like it.

Blah: I don't own these people okay? I just have too much time on my hands.

Part Tres

What remained was to find them again.

The boat was now speeding along, bouncing over the waves, the water getting bluer and bluer as they traversed into deeper water. Seagulls followed, cawing in the breeze. He stayed well away, clinging to the boat underwater, waiting for the familiar view of the city to pass below him.

He couldn't fail again. He had to stop those FOOLS before they made it to his employer. Before Plankton found out he hadn't done away with them.

But he was beginning to doubt his own ability.

He didn't have time to think about that now. He could see it fast approaching. He waited…then jumped.

FLASHback

He stood in the rain, leaning against the bus stop. He shifted his backpack further onto his shoulder. His black hair was matted down; he had no umbrella. But he wasn't going to take an umbrella to his first day of 9th grade.

At last the bus pulled into view. The door swung open. He hopped on, rung out the sleeves of his shirt, and walked up the aisle. He plopped down beside his best friend.

"Did you just stand out in the rain?" asked Mark, blinking. His voice sounded like a broken bagpipe. Dennis loved to tease him about his squeaky voice, which changed completely at whim. He just hoped he wouldn't have to go through that for a long while.

Dennis nodded. Normally he would have sat in the car with his mom, the motor going, the headlights peering through the sheets of rain. But she had come back home from night school around 3:00 in the morning and left an hour later to go to her new job. He hated the whole thing.

Mark shrugged. He wasn't the kind to worry much. And if he did, it was usually for himself. Dennis tried his best to keep him out of trouble. But oftentimes he got into more fights than Dennis could keep up with.

At school, there wasn't much Dennis looked forward to. Art wasn't till next semester. His schedule was bleak and foreboding; several of the teachers he had had before…and the feelings between them were anything but peaceful. Mark was usually in and out of detention, and he didn't have any classes with him anyway. Nothing much excited him about this new school year…except…

The bus suddenly pulled to a halt. The gray brick building that was Bikini Bottom High seemed all the more ominous through the smear of rain. It was his second year here, after graduating from Intermediate School in 7th.

He climbed the steps and walked through the gray door, making his way through the crowded throng. His locker was on the second floor, Mark's on the first. He glanced at the rows of lockers…2080ish, 2100s, 2210s…here he was. 2219. He opened his locker, putting his coat inside. He shut it, turned. His heart started hammering…his palms grew sweaty…

Mindy was opening her locker, putting notebooks and decorative magnets inside. He had thought maybe he would outgrow her over the summer, but, as always, the feeling had only intensified. He couldn't help it if he had a crush on the king's daughter, or had had one since he first saw her. But what was not to love about her? She was smart, funny, caring…not to mention drop-dead gorgeous.

He just stood there, his hand still on the locker, hoping she wouldn't notice him and hoping she wouldn't see him. He kept his head down, blood pounding in his ears ('s Note: He doesn't HAVE ears…I don't think anyone does…oh well, continue…). She closed her locker, swinging a messenger bag over her shoulder.

"Oh. Hey, Dennis," she said, smiling, waving. He swallowed, waved back, and she was off before he could remember how to speak.

Sighing, he heaved his bookbag on both shoulders and trudged down to Algebra.

The bus roared away, sending a splash of muddy water on his jeans. He scowled, turning away, going down the driveway toward the house. He peered into the garage window. Good. The boat was there. He took the key from his pocket and unlocked the back door.

He heard Mother scurrying around upstairs, opening the squeaky jewelry box, the dusty closet doors…or was it someone else? He tensed, creeping slowly towards the hallway.

But she came down in a flash, her high heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She was dressed in a long black dress, a stunning pearl necklace, and dangling earrings. She had on eye shadow and bright red lipstick. Her hair was piled up in a wavy knot. She NEVER got dressed up.

"What's the special occasion?" he asked. She walked past him, humming. "Where were you all last night?"

She was smiling now, bustling about the house. The doorbell rang. He stood motionless, following Mother with his eyes as she hurried to the door, stopping to smooth her dress. She opened it, grinning.

"Dennis. There's someone I'd like you to meet." In stepped a tall man, about 6 feet high, with long dark hair and blue eyes.

Dennis said nothing.

"Chad and I are going out tonight," she said, a half-smile on her face. "We'll be back later, and we can all get to know each other! Bye!"

The door closed. His jaw shifted. How could she do this to him? A boyfriend? His mother? And that man, of all people? Almost a complete opposite of Dad.

Wouldn't that be a good thing? he asked himself. Maybe this guy wouldn't just up and leave. He hadn't heard from Dad in how many years? That was a lie. Last year he'd gotten a package in the mail. Mother had pretended she didn't know where it came from, but he could tell it had been from Dad. He still loves you, the voice said. And what makes you think Chad will even last that long?

Of course.

2219. He stared at the numbers, thinking. He barely noticed the presence beside him until it was too late to run.

"Hi, Dennis! How's the new school year for you?" asked Mindy, her books in her arms. His jaw might have dropped open in surprise, fear, and her beautiful eyes, but he mustered his control and actually answered. "Yea."

She looked at him strangely, then laughed. How beautiful she was when she laughed!

"Where's Mark?"

"I don't know. Detention probably."

She giggled. "Yep, that's Mark. I'm surprised you don't get in as much trouble as he does. I remember when you beat him up on the first day of kindergarten!"

Dennis laughed weakly.

"And now you're like best friends! That's irony for you!"

Dennis agreed, but he could barely follow the conversation anymore. He felt like he'd faint.

Suddenly Mark appeared from behind Mindy. He took one look at Dennis' face and immediately saved the day.

"Hey, Mindy! Haven't seen you around lately!" he squeaked.

"Mark, hi. Haven't seen you much either."

"I figured you would. Aren't your cheerleader friends at the mall every Saturday?"

Mindy looked uncomfortable.

"Well…yea…"

"Me and Dennis go every weekend, too. And this week I'm bringing some friends along."

"Who?" Dennis asked, puzzled.

"John, Zeke, Paul, and Addie."

Dennis wrinkled his nose. "Those?"

"Hey, I told them they could hang with us at the mall. See, I would have invited you, Mindy, but you already have plans."

"Uh…right. Well, I don't think Jen is going to be able to make it, so our trip is cancelled. I could go."

"Cool! We'll pick you up at 12."

Mindy brightened. "Okay. See you Saturday, Dennis."

"John?" Dennis asked in disbelief.

"So what? Goths aren't so bad. You are so stereotypical. And besides, now you get to spend the whole day with Mindy! And didn't you notice she said, 'See you Saturday, Dennis!' Not Mark. I invited her!" Mark raised an eyebrow. "I think she has the hots for you."

"Yeah right," Dennis muttered. "And since when do you hang out with John and Addie and them anyway?"

"Detention."

Dennis shrugged. Mark scowled. The bell rang. It was time for class.