It was later that day, and Bob stood behind the counter wiping down. It had been a long day, but he had more to do today. Bob chuckled at the thought. 'Louise going on her first date. Tina would kill for that.' He smirked as he pushed the crumbs off the tables and scraped the grill. 'It sucks that my little girl is growing up. But this is just proof she's my little girl. She gets on her first date, and she only tells me.' "Love it!" Bob laughed out loud. "Whats that Bobby?" Linda yelled from the apartment. "Oh, uh, nothing! Just thinking, out loud, to myself." Bob said back, switching off the lights and heading upstairs. The cook entered his home and found Linda setting dinner on the table and the kids gathering. "Dinner time Bobby!" Linda yelled. "I'm right here Lin." Bob smirked. "Uh, none for me Mom. Dad's taking me to the, uhhh, library! I'm working on a project. And getting dinner! At Jimmy Pestos. Because Andy and Ollie are working with me. So, lets go Pops!" Louise rambled. "Oh, yeah, right. Come on Louise, lets go, there, now." Bob agreed hastily, and the two scrambled out to the car before Linda could say anything. "Put my dinner in the fridge!" Bob yelled. "Give mine to Gene!" Louise shouted. "YES!" Gene cheered, grabbing Louise's plate and shoveling it into his mouth. "Huh. That was weird. Oh well, more for us. Come on kids, eat up." Linda said, sticking Bobs plate in the fridge.
Wonder Wharf Cinemas, 7:15 p.m
Louise looked out the window and took in the night. "Foggy tonight." Louise muttered. "Yeah. Rough driving, so don't stay out to late." Bob agreed. "Yeah yeah, home before Wheel of Fortune, I got it old man." Louise giggled as they pulled up to the theater. "Alright, be good, have fun, and don't hurt the poor kid." Bob ordered. "You got it." Louise said, before whispering something. "What?" Bob asked. Louise looked at her feet and whispered a little louder. "Come on Louise. Don't be like that. What is it?" Bob asked, putting his hand on her shoulder. Louise sighed. "Just nervous. I don't want to mess this up and kill whatever friendship I have and be like Tina," Louise muttered. "Oh come on. Reggie's not one of those stuck up Pesto losers, so he won't string you along. And, don't tell your mother I said this, but you stand a WAY better chance of finding love than Tina or Gene." Bob admitted. "This is true." Louise agreed. "Alright, go have fun. Love you," Bob said. Louise suddenly turned bright red, but gulped and kissed his cheek. "Love you daddy," Louise whispered, rushing out of the car. "Wow. That was, awkward. But sweet. I'm going to go home now. And process that." Bob said, starting the car and driving off into the fog. "Ugh, that was terrible." Louise muttered, rubbing the fog on her cheeks to hide her blush. It quickly went away, and she rushed into the movie theater. She then went to Reggie's side. "Sup man." Louise said, trying to spook him. Reggie wasn't at all fazed. "Whats good mama?" Reggie replied. "Crap! How did you not get scared?" Louise asked. "I grew up in the ghetto. Either you watch your back or get jumped, repeatedly." Reggie shrugged. "Fair enough. So what're we seeing and what're we eating?" "How does milkshakes and king size candy bars over Night of the Living Dead sound?" Reggie asked. "You had me at milkshakes." Louise responded, clinging to his shoulder as they headed inside.
Back at the apartment, Linda yawned as she squirmed around on the couch. "Bobby! Is Louise still at the library?" Linda yelled. "Uh, yeah why?" Bob asked. "I have a weird feeling that something isn't right!" Linda responded. "Linda, stop. Everythings fine. She just at the library with Andy and Ollie. It's fine." Bob said. "Oh. She must be hating it." Linda said. "Yeah. Sure its a new low for her." Bob smirked as he tapped out a quick message to his daughter on his phone. *Buzz Buzz* Louise reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. 'How's it going? Having fun?' Louise smiled and looked over at Reggie, whose hand had been in her's for about 5 minutes. Louise fired one back. 'Couldn't be better.' Bob smiled. He was on a roll for his daughter! About an hour later, Reggie and Louise walked out as the movie ended. "That was awesome! That move is a cinematic masterpiece!" Louise cheered. "Yeah, it's really good." "MASTERPIECE!" Louise yelled to make her point. "I know!" Louise laughed. It was funny watching Reggie try and match her ability to lose her shit. "So, you gonna leave now?" Reggie asked. Louise shook her head. "Normally I would, because normally I hate boys. With a passion. But you seem like a really cool guy. So I am not going to leave. I say we put this to the battle test." Louise said. Reggie smirked. "Were riding the Scream-I-Cane, aren't we?" "YES! Thats exactly what were doing!" Louise exclaimed, dragging Reggie to the coaster. Mickey was hanging out behind the podium. "Oh hey Lou Lou! How's the daughter of my favorite hostage!" Mickey yelled. "Things are coming up 7's Mickey my dear." Louise laughed. Mickey looked behind her and noticed Reggie. "Hey hey hey, whose this Lou Lou? You got a boyfriend now?" The ex-con asked. Louise blushed. "MICKEY! Shut up! Maybe! We're riding this now!" Louise said, trying to push past. Mickey reached down and stopped her. "Sorry sweetheart, still a little undersized. And so's your buddy." Mickey said. "DAMMIT MICKEY!" Louise raged, but Reggie jumped in. "Hey hey hey! Now come on people, lets be reasonable." Reggie said, taking Mickey aside. "Alright Mickey listen here. Now we're both reasonable men, right?" Reggie asked, and Mickey nodded. "Now look close. I'm gonna give you 25 dollars. You let us hop on, huh? That a fair deal?" Mickey thought, then took the cash. "Your a good businessman kid. Have fun Lou Lou!" Mickey called out. "Yes! Thanks Mickey!" Louise yelled, grabbing Reggie's hand and pulling him on. "So how much grease did you slide into Mickey's palm to get us on this thing?" Louise whispered. "Enough baby girl, enough." Reggie replied as they slid onto the coaster. "Oh your sweet. HIT IT MICKEY!" Louise yelled, and Mickey slapped the button. "WOOHOO!" Both the kids yelled as the coaster took off.
Bob rolled around on the couch. "Mgh. Lin, I want a better couch," he muttered, propping his head up on the armrest. "Yeah yeah Bobby, are you sure Louise is okay? It's getting kind of late." Linda said. "Yes Linda, I'm sure she's fine. You have to remember, this is LOUISE were talking about. She can take care of herself." Bob assured her. "Okay. Just saying."
"GRAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" Louise screamed, banging her head on the wooden counter of the game booth. "Sorry kid. Another go?" The carnie on the other side asked. Louise glared at him. "I CANT. I am out of MONEY!" Louise yelled, trying to jump the counter. The employee pushed her back. "No kid. Come back with 10 bucks or don't come back at all." He said, flipping through the wad of Louise's money he had just taken. Just another rigged game of 'Hit the impossible to knock down cans and win a prize' at Wonder Wharf. Louise had been trying to win a giant stuffed Kuchi Kopi for an hour, and had lost a hundred dollars on the game. Reggie snickered. "Oh, do you have a master plan, MARTIN?!" Louise yelled. "I do actually. Care to let me try?" Reggie asked, taking a 10 out and placing it on the counter. Louise laughed. "Go ahead hot shot, give it your best shot!" Reggie smirked. "You said shot twice." "It RHYMED, SHUT UP!" Louise yelled, taking up a stance next to Reggie as he lined up his shot. "Give it a try kid. I'd love to see you try." The carnie said. Reggie smirked and walked to the other side of the booth. "Hey kid, where are you going?" The carnie asked. "Taking my throw." Reggie replied, leaning to the side behind the cans. "Hey Lou Lou! Come take a look at this." Louise walked over and her jaw dropped. She stared in awe at the small wooden plank holding up the cans. "It's RIGGED?!" Louise yelled. "Yeah. All boardwalk games are. Learned that on Coney Island last year." Reggie answered. "You BASTARD!" Louise yelled at the carnie, who buried his face in his hands. "Alright, you want that giant thing?" Reggie asked. "Hell yeah!" Louise said giddily. "Alright, gimme the pitch count." Louise laughed. "You got it! Hey batter batter hey batter batter hey batter batter SWING!" Louise yelled, and Reggie hit the game with a quick fastball that crushed the cans. "YES!" Louise yelled, running in circles. "Crap! Alright, pick your prize ya little brats." The carnie muttered. "Take your pick Lou Lou." Reggie gestured. "The big ass Kuchi Kopi! Now carnival man!" Louise cackled. The carnie sighed and handed over the doll. "Thank you sir. And now for your reward." Louise smiled. "Yay! Reward! What do I get?" Reggie asked. "As much as it will kill me to do this...we're gonna do one go around on the ferris wheel." Louise said. Reggie stared at her. "Why is that a reward? I hate ferris wheels!" "I do to! But don't people make out on ferris wheel's, and thats a reward?" Louise asked. "I don't know. You wanna try it, see if it's cool?" Reggie asked "Thats what I'm saying! Let's do it!" Louise yelled, and they ran to the wheel. Louise hopped on, and Reggie went to the operator, dropped a 5 into his hand, the wheel got half way around before stopping witha perfect view of the stars. "Wow. Thats...something else man." Louise admitted. "You said it. Alright, you ready?" Reggie asked. "I guess so. Man, I never thought I would have a first time make out." Louise admitted. "Same. I guess lets just...take it slow and see how it works." Reggie agreed. "Alright. 1,2,3." Louise counted, and the two kissed and it was magical. It was something neither of them had ever experienced before. It lasted 5 seconds, then they pulled apart as the wheel headed down. They looked at each other, and the same words left their mouths: "That was amazing." The ride stopped and they hopped out. "So. I guess I'll see you tomorrow?" Louise asked. "Bet. I...I guess I'm glad we did a first date." Reggie said. Louise moved a little closer. "Will there be, I don't know, like a second date?" she asked. Reggie smirked, kissed her cheek, and walked away. "I guess you'll find out, won't you beautiful?" He said as he left. And at that moment, Louise knew. There would never be anyone like him. Louise left and jumped into Bob's car. "So? How was it?" Bob asked, hoping for good news. Louise looked at him. "Dad. I can't explain what happened on that Wharf tonight. But I know this: if were not in love, then we're closer friends than anyone. And that's something not many people can say." "Thats great! Alright, lets go home." Bob cheered, driving off. But as our heroes drive off, out of the bushes by the ferris wheel stepped Tammy Larson, camera in hand. Tammy pushed the playback button and grinned as she watched Louise speak. "So, will their be, I don't know, a second date?" Tammy cackled. "She's so clueless! Welcome to the Town Slut list, Louise!"