Okay, let's get this story out of the way now! For my 'Complete One Incomplete Story A Month' project for May, 'Smart Minds Think Alike' will be seeing a couple of updates, and I know exactly how to do those! Anyway, enjoy!
It had been at least a couple of weeks or so since Arnold and Phoebe agreed to try dating each other, and for both, they didn't regret their decision in doing so. However, as much as they enjoyed each other's company, much to everyone's notice, both football head and smart girl were starting to hang around each other a lot more often... with Gerald quickly noticing how quick Phoebe's tune often changed when she was around the football headed boy.
At first, he felt hurt and betrayed when he figured out that Phoebe had eyes on his best friend, but the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he had this coming to him, because of his flirting techniques with other girls. He didn't like to admit it, but he knew he let someone who was faithful slip through his fingers. But he knew Phoebe was happy with Arnold, and from the look on Arnold's face whenever Gerald brought him and Phoebe up, Arnold seemed to be pretty happy as well, so he didn't press the issue any further.
But still, he gave a small sigh as he looked down in depression as he started to sit down, a little far away from the others at lunch as he watched Arnold and Phoebe happily chatting with each other at another table. As Gerald put a hand on his face, leaning down and regretting what he had done.
"I should have known better..." Gerald groaned.
"Well, it had been quite inevitable..."
Gerald blinked as he looked up and noticed Curly sitting down next to Gerald and eating a tuna sandwich. Gerald rolled his eyes as he turned away from Curly. The black haired kid frowned as he crossed his arms. "Oh, don't give me that silent treatment now..."
"Curly, no offense, but you are not the person I want to talk to right now!" Gerald frowned as he crossed his arms.
"Well, too bad, because I'm sitting next to you and talking with you anyway. Look, I just need you to know something. Sometimes, in many aspects of these worlds, life can't go a certain way for you. Sure, there are a few times where things work out for the best, but there are these times where even you can't get what you want. Basically, you reap what you sow." Curly paused as he put his sandwich down. "You know, it's weird being in one of these types of worlds..."
"What?" Gerald blinked in confusion.
"Er, forget it. Look, I know you liked Phoebe... probably more than you do. But do you really think that what you did to her, flirting with some girls behind her back, would have been okay?" Curly asked. "Because I'm telling you right now, you're not really that much better when it comes to flirting with women. You had the perfect set-up, and you threw it away! Why?"
Gerald gulped a little bit as he thought about it. "Well... I guess I just wanted to be... well... that is, er, uh, what I mean..."
"Well?" Curly raised an eyebrow.
"Well, er, I, uh..." Gerald stammered before sighing. "Oh, all right. I have a problem. Any cute girl I see, I have to flirt with them. I'm an idiot, a fool, and I'm not really sure if I can bring myself to look in the mirror. But what do you know about love? All you do is stalk Rhonda first chance you get."
"Well, before I answer that, let me respond to that question with another question." Curly leaned towards the boy with the tall hair-do. "Could you look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you loved the girl?"
"Well..." Gerald paused as he looked over and noticed Arnold playfully teasing Phoebe from the other table by taking away her glasses. The girl giggled by teasing him back, stealing his hat. Gerald looked down as he turned back to Curly. "How is it that Arnold knows what he's doing with women, and yet, when I do it, I'm bad at everything I do?"
"Well, there you have it. You can't predict the future." Curly shrugged. "Sure, it can get monotonous, but if you make your own path, I'm sure you'll find the right answers in no time..."
Gerald paused as he looked over at Curly. "Are you saying that, maybe, I should accept that Arnold and Phoebe are going out together?"
"Well, that's what I'm asking. Are you going to be okay with what happens in the future, whether or not Arnold and Phoebe are a couple?" Curly asked the boy.
"Well..." Gerald thought about it. "I know Arnold's my best friend, and I would want him to be happy... and supportive..."
The boy gave a small smile. "So yeah, of course I support them."
"And do you still feel the same for Phoebe?" Curly raised an eyebrow.
Gerald paused as he took some time to think. "I thought I did, but now... even though I'm still a little hurt, this is Phoebe's overall decision, not mine."
"Then I guess you're on your way to a new path." Curly smiled as he got up. "Well, see you later."
Gerald blinked as he looked over at Curly in confusion. "Uh, Curly, are you feeling okay? Are you on meds or something, because you're not acting as crazy as you are..."
Curly stopped as he turned towards the boy. "Why do you people assume I take meds? Now, if you excuse me, I have a girl to flirt with. Oh, Rhonda, give daddy some sugar!"
"EW!" Rhonda's voice was heard as Curly ran over to where Rhonda and Nadine were sitting. Gerald, watching this display, gave a sigh.
"Ah, there he is." Gerald sighed in relief.
Meanwhile, over at the lunch table, Arnold and Phoebe couldn't help but notice Gerald watching Curly going over to the overreacting Rhonda's table.
"What do you suppose they were talking about?" Phoebe asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"No idea..." Arnold said as he turned to Phoebe. "So anyway, sweetheart, about the science project, have you got all the types of lipstick and ingredients we can?"
Phoebe gave a small grin. "All set and ready to go. How's your end of the research?"
"Pretty good, actually." Arnold smiled. "I have a huge set of notes with me in my backpack. If you prefer, we can go to my place after school and we can start looking it over to see if we can compile them together."
Phoebe giggled with glee. "I can't believe we're doing this together, Arnold! Oh, having a blue ribbon for this science project would really make me the most happiest girl in the world!"
"Really?" Arnold raised an eyebrow towards the pretty glasses-wearing girl.
"Er, well, of course, being your girlfriend also makes me quite pleased." Phoebe gave a small grin.
Arnold felt a little satisfied with Phoebe's comment, saying, "Just don't get too upset if we lose to, say, one of those baking soda volcanoes."
Phoebe scoffed a little. "Please, Arnold. I don't know just HOW a baking soda volcano would possibly win science fairs."
"I don't know, I heard quite a lot of people go for that every year." Arnold pointed out. "Not to mention, they always win the blue ribbon."
"Now where did you hear THAT silly myth?" Phoebe looked over at the football headed kid, raising an eyebrow.
"Television." Arnold said.
"Of course. Focus, sweetheart. Let's get started on this project!" Phoebe said as she put a hand behind Arnold's back with a smile. "After all, if we're going to be making lipstick, we need to make sure we do it right! Isn't that correct?"
Arnold blushed a little as he turned to Phoebe and nodded. Phoebe gave a grin. "Then it's settled. After school, we're getting that lipstick project done and out!"
Arnold paused as he gave a grin, feeling a little excited. Phoebe couldn't help but feel her heart swell as he held her hand.
And this chapter is done and out! How did you guys like it? Next time, Arnold and Phoebe will be making and testing lipstick products! Bare with me, we'll be almost out of the park! Anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!