CHAPTER 4: CHANCE ENCOUNTER

Cobra and Dominick were at the park enjoying the day together. Dominick figured with Mallory seemingly moved on, he could let his guard down. He told Cobra about Mallory and how she was going to their school now. Cobra was okay with his ex being in his class and since she wasn't trying to make a move on him or anything, things were fine.

As they walked through the park, they spotted Mallory at a hot dog stand, buying a hot dog. Dominick, for his part, figured it was just by chance she was there and didn't think anything was wrong at that point.

"Hey, Dom, speak of the devil, there's Mallory now," said Cobra, smiling. They both walked over to Mallory who had just finished topping her hot dog with ketchup, mustard, onions, and relish. She saw the couple approaching her.

"Hello, you must be Mallory," Cobra began. "Dominick has told me a lot about you. My name is Sylvia. Some folks call me Cobra because it was my handle in a gang I lead a few years back called the Serpent Sisters. I don't do gang activity no more though."

"Nice to meet you, Sylvia," said Mallory. She studied her ex-boyfriend's current girlfriend up and down. "So this is his current girl, eh?" she thought to herself.

"How are you doing, Mallory?" asked Dominick.

"I'm doing good, Dom," said Mallory. "Just checking out the town and seeing all that's here."

"That's great, Mallory," said Dominick, smiling. "We need to keep going, but we'll see you in school. Monday."

"It was nice to finally meet you," added Cobra.

"Likewise," said Mallory. And the couple left. Mallory made a sinister smirk.

"So that's my competition, huh?" she said to herself. "She's not much to look at. But still, I do have my work cut out for myself if I'm going to win Dominick back."

Elsewhere, Heather was with the rest of the gang at Joe's Café enjoying lunch with them before she left for home. All were glad to spend some time with her if only for the weekend. Years ago, Charlie Brown had a hard time even saying "hello" to her, and now, especially since he had Frieda now, he had no trouble talking to his former crush, now that they were friends.

"So how are you enjoying middle school, Heather?" asked Linus.

"It's pretty cool," said Heather. "Most of everyone is nice. There are some obnoxious bullies, but they usually leave me alone."

"They know you'd probably kick their butt!" said Joslyn. "Look at how you dealt with those bullies at Camp Remote."

"I wonder whatever happened to them after they were caught?" wondered Franklin.

"I have some sources that told me after they spent time at Melendez Military Academy, Slim's parents actually let him return," said Heather. "Though he couldn't participate in any kind of camp competition anymore. Last I heard he was working every summer in the kitchen helping out the cook. And when he wasn't getting grease burns, he was doing landscaping, under strict supervision so he wouldn't catch a case! As for his cohorts Shorty and Bucky, they ended up not returning to Camp Remote, instead, they spend their summers doing volunteer work. But not by choice!"

"About time those three got their comeuppance!" said Peppermint Patty.

"As far as their cat, Brutus," Heather continued, "the less said about his fate, the better." Snoopy and Woodstock gulped.

"Wow!" said Charlie Brown. "Well here's hoping they all turn their lives around. Maybe these things will make them better people in the end." And they continued to enjoy Heather's company. She would miss her friends, but as long as her grandmother was still in Sparkyville, she knew she'd see them again.

Later at night, Mallory was in her bed looking at old photographs of her and Dominick when they were younger. She saw pictures of them sharing an ice cream cone, her kissing him on the cheek, and even a trip to the fair. She smiled at those memories. She wished they never had broken up. She was determined to get Dominick back at all costs, new girlfriend be damned.

"We will be together again, Dominick."

THE END