CHAPTER 4: "HOW COULD YOU, PATRICIA?!"
Franco had stepped out for a bit. The gang had not returned home from the amusement park yet, and he was getting hungry. So he, Snoopy, Woodstock, and Gracie, all went to get a bite to eat. Peppermint Patty and Zac had arrived at the house. She looked around to see if anyone was home.
"I guess the gang's not back from the park yet," she said. "How about we watch some TV?"
"I know of a good movie that's on," suggested Zac.
"Great! I'll get some snacks for us." And Patty grabbed some pretzels and popcorn and a couple of sodas. She looked out the backyard to see if the dogs were there. She saw Hops napping in her barn, but no dogs or Woodstock.
"Ol' Snoop and Gracie must've went adventuring like they usually do," shrugged Patty. She rejoined Zac on the couch and Zac turned to the movie. It was "Mad Max" starring Mel Gibson.
"This is an Aussie classic," said Zac.
"We've seen this is America, as well," said Patty.
"Really?"
"Oh yeah. The sequels, as well! It's one of my favorite film series'." And they watched the movie. Zac grabbed a hold to Patty's hand. She took noticed.
"You're holding my hand, Zackie!" she cooed. "You sly dog!" Zac smiled.
"I like being with you, kangaroo," said Zac, softly.
"I like being with you too, Zac."
Meanwhile, the gang had come home from the amusement park. They had all gotten out of the van. Frieda was carrying a huge teddy bear that Charlie Brown had somehow won for her.
"Lucy will never believe this, Charlie Brown," said Linus.
"I know," agreed Charlie Brown, "but with the advice Franco had been giving me about my baseball playing lately, I've been improving my pitching and was able to knock down those milk bottles."
"I think it's wonderful," cooed Frieda, who kissed her boyfriend.
"I wonder if Patty is still with Zac?" wondered Franklin.
"I really could care less," retorted Marcie, "seeing how she treated poor Franco! I wished he came with us, but I understand why he stayed back." At that moment, Franco, along with the dogs and birds, walked up to the group.
"You're back," he said.
"Jus' got back," said Jadan. "Where'd y' guys go off to?"
"Got something to eat," Franco replied. "I did talk to Hans earlier, too."
"How's he doing?" asked Marcie.
"He's good," said Franco. "He's happy for you and Franklin."
"When you talk to him next time, tell him we said 'hello'," said Franklin.
"Oh, Franco, do y-you know if Patty got back yet?" asked Claudia.
"Nein," said Franco. "She was still gone when I left."
"Well let's 'ead back in," said Jadan. And everyone went back into the house, only to find Patty and Zac on the sofa, kissing one another.
"GOOD GRIEF!" shouted a shocked Charlie Brown.
"PATRICIA?!" shuddered Franco, seeing his girlfriend kissing his sworn enemy.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL, ZAC?!" yelled Jadan.
"NOT COOL, SIR!" admonished an angry Marcie.
"And like that, things went from bad, to okay, to worse," said Linus to Eudora.
Snoopy, Woodstock, and Gracie, meanwhile, made whistling noises and laughed.
"Now is not the time, you three," scolded Charlie Brown. They all smiled and blushed with embarrassment.
"Okay, I get that you're upset with me!" Franco began. "I get that you want space! And you may have not known that he was flirting with you before, but NOW THIS?! You have anything to say?!" Patty and Zac looked at each other, silent.
"You want her?" Franco said to Zac. "YOU CAN HAVE HER!" And Franco went to the room and slammed the door. Patty and Zac looked at the others, who were in shock.
"It just kind of happened," said Patty, sheepishly. "He was there for me when I was-"
"Save it!" said Marcie. She went to Jadan's room.
"I'll be back in a minute, babe," said Frieda to Charlie Brown, who just nodded. She carried her big teddy bear to the room.
"I better check up on Franco," said Franklin.
"Same here," added Charlie Brown. Turning to Snoopy, he said, "I take it you're set for supper since you went to eat with Franco?" Snoopy nodded. "I'll still bring you something, just in case, knowing you." Snoopy grinned. And Charlie Brown followed Franklin.
Linus and Eudora looked at the two teens on the couch. All Linus could manage was "Wow!" and then he followed the boys into the room.
"It's like a bloody soap opera!" observed Joey. "Bettah go feed Mike an' th' other lizards." And Joey followed suit into his room.
"I guess I should tend t' Hops and get her meal, as well," said Jadan, not know what to say to Patty and Zac. Turning to Andrew, who was also in shock at seeing his best friend and Patty making out, she said, "I'll let you talk t' him 'bout his behavior." After a kiss to Andrew, Jadan went out and fed Hops. Andrew looked at Zac with a raised eyebrow.
"Seriously, Drew, it just happened," said Zac to his best friend.
"Mm hmm!" said Andrew, smirking. "Suuuure it did, mate!"
NEXT CHAPTER: BEGINNING OF THE END… …FOR PATTY AND FRANCO
