Here's chapter 4! I'll try and upload a couple chapters over the next two days.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4

A Tour of the Town

SpongeBob groaned as he shuffled down the hot, cracked sidewalk. He was sweating as the scorching sun's rays beat down on his back, his curly hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. He was on his way to Phineas' house, he had just visited the Krusty Krab to ask permission for a day off from his boss and luckily the man said yes. He was actually in discussions with Squidward about whether or not to close until the heatwave was over.

The boy had begged them to stay open at least today so he could introduce Phineas, they agreed. Mr Krabs had said he may not close at all, he'd have to see how sales do.

SpongeBob arrived at the shack to see the other male was lying in a deck chair, the equipment still lay about untouched.

"Hey!" He called over as he walked up the path, Phineas looked at him through his sunglasses.

"Hi, got the day off then?" He smiled as he sat up fully.

"Yeah! Mr K's real nice like that, you wanna get started on repairs?" The boy asked as he inspected the house.

"Actually, I think I'll do it myself later." The dark haired man, stood up and strolled to SpongeBob's side. "I'm pretty anxious to see around town, especially this 'Krusty Krab' I keep hearing about!"

"Oh, ok!" SpongeBob agreed excitedly, "We'll look around your end of town first and work our way over."

Phineas nodded and followed not far behind the ginger, he allowed SpongeBob to lead the way and talk his ear off about the little town.

The tour of the west of Bikini Bottom burned away their morning, SpongeBob didn't have much to show as he wasn't in this part of town often. He showed the few restaurants he knew of, the museum, driving school and the docks where some abandoned warehouses still sat just rusting away.

"Not many businesses can survive here and we're too out of the way for storing stock." SpongeBob had shrugged when Phineas asked about them, they quickly moved on.

As they headed east there was more for SpongeBob to talk about, he introduced Phineas to more of the townsfolk, showed him Goo Lagoon, the seafood place he could never remember the name of, Conch Street, Art Gallery, Butterfly Fields and much more. Their visit to his home didn't go well, Gary had immediately shown his dislike of the stranger and had hissed and swiped at him.

They walked down the familiar road to the Krusty Krab and Chum Bucket, by now it was late afternoon.

"So, just down here are the other two restaurants I told you about." SpongeBob explained when the two buildings came into view, "The Krusty Krab and the Chum Bucket."

"What can you tell me about Plankton?" Phineas asked as he eyed up the Chum Bucket, "You've told me all about your friends and nothing about him?"

"Well, that's because I really don't know much about him..." The boy shrugged nonchalantly, "He likes to be mysterious. He only had one eye and wears an eyepatch; his food is gross! Honestly, I thought I was gonna puke myself to death the first time I tried Chum! Patrick even took me to the hospital because of it!"

He shuddered, even paling at the memory.

"Seriously, don't touch the stuff!" He warned weakly, "He went to college and calls himself an evil genius, he keeps trying to steal the Krabby Patty formula coz he thinks it'll help him rule the town... Not sure why he'd want to but it's nothing to worry about honestly, he's kinda pathetic."

Phineas chuckled at that statement,

"He's nice enough, even helped him out a few times." SpongeBob continued, "He and Mr Krabs go way back, they used to be best friends but fell out somewhere around high school... They've both told me totally different stories about how it happened, I guess we'll never know the truth."

"Well, that's typical alpha male behaviour." Phineas huffed with a glance down at the short boy, "They both think they're in the right when they're probably both just as wrong and stupid as each other. It was probably for some dumb reason that didn't even matter, maybe they've even forgotten what it was in the first place."

SpongeBob's eyes widened at the tone.

"Huh... You might be right." He decided not to push, clearly his new friend was dealing with his own problems.

They arrived outside the Krusty Krab, SpongeBob lead him inside where the four friends were chatting at a far away table.

"Ahoy!" He called cheerfully, the four stood up and greeted him. They met the two halfway.

"Enjoy your day off?" Squidward mocked, "Running around the sauna while the rest of us work our asses off?"

"Mr Krabs said there hasn't been a customer all day." Patrick frowned in confusion, Squidward nudged him moodily.

"Really? Not one?" SpongeBob gasped worriedly.

"Aye lad, haven't made a buck." Mr Krabs shook his head sadly, "These two layabouts didn't even have the decency to order anythin'!"

He gestured to Sandy and Patrick with his head.

"Who wants to eat a burger in his heat?" Sandy crossed her arms defensively.

"Yeah, especially one made by Squidward!" Patrick stuck out his tongue in disgust, Squidward shot him a glare.

"Oh!" SpongeBob started as he glanced at his friend, "This is Phineas, he just moved here! I just gave him the tour of the town!"

"Nice to meet you all, SpongeBob's told me all about you!" Phineas smiled, the others frowned. There was a look in the young man's eyes, one that didn't match his too big smile.

"How are ya findin' Bikini Bottom?" Sandy asked, shaking herself out of her stupor. "It's nice for me to no longer be the newest face in town!"

"Yeah, it's quiet. SpongeBob told me about you moving here from Texas?" Phineas nodded stiffly, "I've never been there but it doesn't sound like a nice place."

The four men cringed as Sandy glared.

"Where are you from?" Mr Krabs asked hurriedly,

"Around." Phineas shrugged dully, "Nowhere specific."

They all looked at him, that was an odd answer.

"Ok..." Patrick shuffled awkwardly, he wasn't sure what to say to this closed off stranger. SpongeBob was looking at Phineas like he had grown a second head, he glanced at his friends completely unsure of how to proceed.

"Can I talk to you outside for a sec?" Phineas asked, giving the boy a gentle nudge.

"Uh, sure?" SpongeBob frowned before following his new friend outside and back into the heat.

Once the doors closed, Phineas let out a sigh of relief.

"Man, I was not prepared for that!" He breathed, looking down at SpongeBob, "What was with the hostility!?"

The boy was taken aback.

"What? They were fine, it was you that was acting completely different! What happened?" SpongeBob asked in confusion, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Nothing!" Phineas glared at him, "They ganged up on me! I shouldn't have insulted Texas and I get that but none of them were happy I was there!"

SpongeBob frowned at the raised voice, he was clueless on what had happened in that awkward situation.

"I don't know, I still think you were acting kinda cold towards them..." SpongeBob cringed, he stepped back as Phineas stepped towards him angrily.

"I wasn't cold! I was nervous!" He snapped into the shocked face, he seemed to forget there were windows and eyes watching the scene unfold. "It was a big group of people I'd never met before in a place I'd never been! I thought you were gonna have my back!"

SpongeBob blinked, his blue eyes scanning the red face in concern.

"You didn't need me to have your back, they're not... enemies or villains or whatever..." He shook his head in disbelief, "They're just normal people, haven't you ever met humans before?"

He had said it jokingly but the other man narrowed his eyes, he sighed and stepped out of SpongeBob's personal space.

"Sorry... I just... I find it hard to talk to people..." He admitted bitterly, "I just wanted to make a good impression... Now they hate me and I'll lose you..."

He sat in the dirt with another tired sigh, he bowed his head.

SpongeBob watched him sadly, he felt bad for the guy. He stepped toward him cautiously, he stood behind him.

"It's ok... You tried and that was super brave of you!" He insisted, trying to sound supportive. "I'll explain what happened and we can try again another time... You won't lose me and... they'll warm up to you eventually."

Phineas nodded, he stood up and looked over at the Chum Bucket.

"Maybe I should just meet Plankton, he sounds easier." He sighed, SpongeBob shuddered.

"I can't introduce you but you can go see him if you want?" He frowned, watching Phineas carefully. "It's really up to you?"

Phineas nodded again, he put his hands in his pockets.

"Either way... I'm not going back in there..." He grumbled, "I'm gonna head home, catch you later?"

"Y-Yeah sure." SpongeBob watched as the man walked down the path, he headed back into the Krusty Krab.

His friends were on him in an instant.

"What happened? What did he say?" Patrick asked worriedly, his eyes scanning his friend's face for any signs of distress. "Why was he so mad?"

"I dunno... Said he was nervous and that you were all rude to him." SpongeBob shook his head, "But honestly, he was the one who acted strange!"

"What a weirdo, just what this town needed." Squidward crossed his arms gruffly, "He'll be gone in a month, guaranteed."

"He'll try meeting you all again some other time... maybe his nerves just got the better of him?" SpongeBob suggested awkwardly.

"It can be intimidating to meet a group of strangers." Mr Krabs agreed guiltily.

"Yeah, but you don't shut yourself off from 'em! I had to do it and it was fine!" Sandy huffed as she fluffed up her hair.

"You only had to meet Mr Krabs and Squidward." Patrick pointed out as he scratched his armpit thoughtfully, "You met me and SpongeBob on day one."

Sandy thought for a moment before sighing, he had a point.

The five friends continued their musings about the stranger, they were all shaken by the odd behaviour and wondered if they'd see him again.

Phineas had just arrived home, he pulled his phone out and dialled.

He waited for someone to pick up as he walked into his ramshackle hut.

"Hey," He greeted sourly, "I was at the Krusty Krab today, you coulda warned me about the friends!"

He frowned at the voice.

"I thought I could make the idiot think his friends were being unreasonable, but he totally took their side!" He insisted angrily, then a smirk appeared slowly. "But it should be easy from here... I'll meet 'em again, they won't trust me and maybe I can even push them into reacting to me... Then I can convince the idiot he doesn't need 'em anymore."

He huffed moodily.

"What do you mean that won't work!? Fine, what do you suggest?"

...

"Oh, yeah I can do that..." He grinned nastily, "I'll let you know how it goes, then you can give me the next step?"

...

"Sweet... see you around."

He hung up with a smirk, he knew what to do to please his boss. He just needed to let SpongeBob get close to him, an easy task indeed when dealing with a naive boy. He chuckled and relaxed on his couch, he'd do the job and he'd finally be able to get out of this backwater town. He loathed the house, the heat and the people. He couldn't wait to move on to his next job.

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