Here's my new chapter story!

Hope you enjoy x

Chapter 1

A Celebration

It was Sunday, the one day of the week the world renowned Krusty Krab restaurant was closed for the whole day. Though, you wouldn't know it from the hustle and bustle going on inside. The occupants were preparing for something, something important to them. Nobody else was allowed in and no one could know what they were arranging, despite the fact they did it literally every month.

Somehow this didn't ruin the surprise like you'd think it would.

Mr Krabs was hanging the last few decorations on the wall, Sandy was finishing getting the dance floor set up and Squidward was arguing with an old man at the door.

"We're closed! You know we're closed on Sundays; you always complain about it to me on Mondays!" The tall man had his hands on his hips, glaring down at the bent over elderly man. "Beat it!"

"I can see you!" The old man yelled through the glass doors, "I can see you're open! You have to serve me!"

"If you can see me so well, how come you can't see the CLOSED SIGN!" Squidward yelled, punctuating his point by gesturing at the 'closed' sign.

"You just turned that now!" Old man Jenkins knocked his cane against the window. "I want a Krabby Patty!"

"Too bad!" Squidward snapped back, "Get lost!"

"Never have I had such terrible service! I want to speak to your manager!" He demanded, luckily Mr Krabs was already stomping towards them. "Your employee is very rude!"

"Take a hike old timer!" Mr Krabs waved the man away, "We're busy and closed!"

"How rude!" The old man yelled but clearly decided he'd lost the battle, he shuffled away while cursing the two men under his breath.

"Some people!" Squidward huffed as the two strolled to the middle of the dining room, they glanced around as Sandy joined them.

"Hooowee!" She grinned, "Don't this look like more fun that a barrel of balloons!"

The two men nodded in confused agreement.

"We did good crew!" Mr Krabs nodded in satisfaction. "All we gotta do now is turn out the lights, hide and wait for the boys!"

"Yeah, if Patrick remembers." Squidward rolled his eyes, "I still don't know why you trusted him with this!"

"He had a good plan to keep SpongeBob busy while we set up." Mr Krabs shrugged, glancing over at Squidward. "Why, would you rather spend the day with the lad?"

This shut the other man up quickly.

"C'mon boys!" Sandy cheered as she hurried to the light switch, "Get inta position! They could be here any minute!"

The lights flicked out as the streets darkened, the three friends hid carefully – waiting for their moment.

Not too far away, SpongeBob and Patrick were strolling down the road toward Bikini Bottom's main town and the Krusty Krab. Both were smiling and chatting idly, enjoying each others company and satisfied with their day of butterfly catching.

"I'm so hungry!" SpongeBob yawned as he stretched his pale, freckled arms upwards over his head. "Where do you wanna eat?"

"I dunno, we'll just decide when we get there." Patrick shrugged with a secretive smile, his belly growled loudly. "I'm starving too, I could eat like, a million sundaes!"

SpongeBob giggled, he smiled at the warm, clear evening. The wind brushed his hair lightly out of his face, cooling his warm skin. He glanced at Patrick to see the other boy was sweating and fanning himself to try and cool down.

"Maybe running around Butterfly fields wasn't the best idea for today?" He suggested lightly.

"Yeah, not my best idea for sure." Patrick blushed. "But I had to think of something we could do all day and that's all I came up with."

SpongeBob sent his friend a puzzled look, Patrick realised what he said.

"Uh… coz you know… You work the rest of the week so we only get Sundays to spend the whole day together!" He blurted hurriedly, glancing at his friend with what he hoped was a convincing smile.

"Aww buddy! That's so sweet, I didn't know you missed me so much when I'm away!" SpongeBob gave Patrick a glowing smile, Patrick returned it easily.

"Well yeah, of course I do!" He chuckled, "Why do you think I spend so much time at the Krusty Krab?"

"Uh, because you love my awesome cooking?" SpongeBob smirked, Patrick nodded.

"Well, yeah that's true but it's also to hang out with you." His eyes looked over as they arrived at said restaurant. "Follow me!"

He jogged over to the glass doors, SpongeBob followed.

"I am not cooking you a hundred patties in this heat." He groaned, slumping forward heavily. Patrick just giggled giddily as he pushed the doors open, he took his friend's sweaty hand in his own damp one and pulled him along gently.

The two walked into the dark dining room.

"SURPRISE!" The three friends cheered when they leapt up as the lights flicked on, SpongeBob jumped closer to his bigger friend before laughing in delight.

"Hey!" He greeted excitedly as he and Patrick blinked to adjust to the sudden brightness.

When his eyes finally focused, he took in the decorated dining room with wide eyes. There was a large pink congratulations banner, worn with its many uses over the years. There were pink and blue balloons littering the floor, on the lined-up tables were an assortment of snacks and drinks. To his left there was a stereo with Sandy's phone hooked up to it and huge speakers, duct tape was used to outline a square dance floor complete with lights and a disco ball that looked as if it could fall and knock someone out at any minute.

It wouldn't be a Krusty Krab party without second hand decorations.

His three friends came to join him.

"Congratulations for yet another employee of the month award!" Mr Krabs cheered as he revealed the new picture of SpongeBob's face on the wall behind them.

"Wow!" SpongeBob smirked at Squidward, "What a surprise!"

"One day I'll actually put some effort into my job and then you'll be done for." Squidward joked with a bored shrug. SpongeBob just laughed.

"Enough of the chit chat!" Sandy whooped as she ran over to the stereo, "Let the party… BEGIN!"

She flicked a switch, the stereo blasted with music, the lights lit up multicoloured as the main lights switched off and the disco ball began to spin. Everyone clapped and whooped excitedly.

Patrick and SpongeBob first inhaled as many snacks and drinks they could manage before joining Sandy and the others on the dance floor.

After a lot of partying, Mr Krabs disappeared to the back of the room. He leaned back against the wall after taking a long sip of his drink, his red hair rucked up against the cool metal as he closed his eyes. He opened one of them when Squidward joined his side, he was watching the three young adults still dancing together.

"I used to be able to do that." Squidward mused humorously, "I think I'm getting old, can't keep up with them anymore."

"Tell me about it." Mr Krabs chuckled as he watched SpongeBob say something to his two friends before they all hugged each other. "I don't know where the get their energy from."

Squidward chuckled, sipping the drink in his hand.

"He's a good kid... they all are." The boss mumbled fondly, Squidward glanced at him and frowned as he saw his friend's misty eyes.

"I guess so?" He winced uncomfortably, his boss pulled him into a rare side hug. Neither man looked at each other.

"I'm thankful... for all of you." The boss nodded gruffly. Squidward nodded silently, he understood why his boss was feeling so sentimental.

Pearl had moved out to go to university a couple weeks ago, Mr Krabs had been excited until he realised just how quiet his home had become. He had become oddly paternal towards his employees and then, by extension, Patrick and Sandy. He made an extra effort to look out for them all and spend time with them, they even had a weekly dinner all together at the Krabs' residence to fill the lonely home with laughter.

Mr Krabs released Squidward, he sniffed and took another deep sip of his drink. Refusing to make eye contact with the younger man, Squidward allowed himself a brief fond smirk.

SpongeBob skipped over to the two and pulled them into a tight squeeze, he grinned at them when he let them go.

"Thank you so much for this!" He grinned gratefully, "It's so kind of you to let us have a party when the old girl's supposed to be closed!"

"It's no problem lad," Mr Krabs smiled softly, "You deserve a good party for your hard work."

"Let's do some karaoke!" Sandy whooped as Patrick jumped up and down in excitement.

"Yes!" SpongeBob cheered, he grabbed his two colleagues by their wrists and pulled them back to the dancefloor.

They sang and partied well into the next morning, they knew they'd be exhausted for work but in that moment of love and laughter – they just didn't care.

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