Happy New Year to ya, peeps. Time for another chapter of NCE. Here is where Fat Albert's plan is put into action, but Russell's having doubts. And Rudy's planning to hurt the poor boy more. Let's see what happens here and if the plan works or not. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 6: A 'Friendly' Lunch

When Russell heard that his brother was hurt and sent to the hospital thanks to Rudy, he cried. He was terrified. Rudy was right, he really was going to get all of them. And he was afraid that Rudy would come for him again.

Thankfully, Bill was sent home the next day, with bandages and medicine. Russell was more than happy to see him when he walked through the front door with crutches, "Bill! You're alive..." He sighed, hugging the teenager.

The older brother chuckled, "Of course. I wouldn't leave you, Rus. Rudy thought he had me down and out. Well, he might have had me down for a bit, but definitely, not out, that's for sure."

That's when the boys' father walked towards them, "Oh, here's a letter from one of your friends, Russell. He asked me to give it to you."

Russell took the letter and opened it, revealing a note inside. He carefully read it, "'Dear Russell. Come to the junkyard at noon today. We're having a special lunch, and you're the guest of honor. Can't wait to see you. Sincerely, Fat Albert.'"

A special lunch?

Guest of honor?

The small boy looked at his brother, who shrugged, "How nice. I guess we better get going..."

"Shouldn't you stay here and rest?"

"After what happened, I'd rather stick with you no matter what. Besides, I promised to protect you, didn't I?"

Russell smiled softly.

Meanwhile on the other side of town...

"Dear Rudy. Come to the junkyard at noon today. We're having a special lunch, and you're the guest of honor. Can't wait to see you. Sincerely, Fat Albert'"

Rudy had received the same note that morning at breakfast from his mother. At first, he was surprised that the gang was even inviting him to this... lunch. Last he saw, they were afraid of him, especially after the surprise attack he launched on them the day before. They shouldn't even want to see him. But maybe... this could be the opportunity of a lifetime... to really scare them and get revenge.

The rich boy chuckled deviously to himself as he walked to the junkyard. This was going to be fun. Bonus points if that shrimp was there also...

Meanwhile at the junkyard.

Albert paced back in forth as he waited patiently for Russell and Rudy to show up. The other boys sat by the clubhouse, waiting as well, "Are you sure that this plan will work?" Harold asked.

"Y-Yeah, what if Rudy kills all of us?" Donald gulped.

"Don't worry, dudes. That won't happen." Albert assured, "Rudy might be mad, but even he wouldn't go so far."

But in the back of his mind, he thought, that with how mad Rudy is, it's possible that he just might end up killing somebody. But before he could think any more, he saw Bill and Russell walking by, "Hey, hey, hey. Look who's here? How're you feeling, Bill?" He asked.

"Sore, but still moving." Bill replied with a smile, "So, we got your message about lunch."

"Well, well, well... looks like the gangs all here..."

Everyone jumped at that unmistaken voice, as they turned to see Rudy approaching them. Russell whimpered as he hid behind his brother, and Bill shielded him away. Rudy smirked when he noticed that. Albert stood forward to greet him, "Hey, hey, hey, Rudy. You're just in time. Well, our guest of honor is here."

"Wait, but you said in your note that I was your guest of honor." Russell pointed out.

"I thought I was the guest of honor!" Rudy frowned.

Albert smiled, "You're both the guest of honor. And because of that, you both get to enter the clubhouse first."

With that, he opened the door, and inside the table was filled with sandwiches and orange juice. Russell gulped as he looked at his brother, who smiled with reassurance. The little boy then walked into the clubhouse. Rudy grinned and walked in after him. But before anybody else could enter, Albert shut the door and locked it tightly, confusing Bill, "Fat Albert. What're you doin', man?"

"It's all part of my plan to get those two to get along." Was all Albert told him.

Inside the clubhouse, Russell began to hyperventilate when the door was closed and locked, "No! NO! What are you doing?! Don't lock me in here with this maniac! Please, he's gonna kill me! He's gonna kill me! Bill, help!" He tried to open the door, but it wouldn't budge.

Rudy couldn't help but laugh at the child's fear as he tried desperately to open the door and escape. This was a lot more fun than he thought it would be. Just being in the same room as the little shrimp would be enough to torture him. But Rudy wasn't just going to let it be that easy. No. He would do much worse.

"Face it, Russell. That door is not gonna open." He told him.

Russell then turned towards his current worst fear and shook uncontrollably as he sunk to the floor, curling up into a ball, "Please... please, Rudy. Don't kill me! You already got me, don't get me again..." He whimpered, tears streaming down his cheeks.

The rich boy had to laugh again. This is was pathetic to him, "Relax, shrimp. I'm not gonna kill you..."

"Y-You're not...?" Russell looked up at him.

"No. That would be too easy. Hey, I know I was a jerk before. But why don't we put our differences aside for once and have a nice lunch together? Like pals...?"

That made the small boy calm down a bit, but he was still cautious as he stood up and slowly made his way to the table. Rudy even pulled out a chair for him, before sitting down in his own chair across from Russell. They soon grabbed a sandwich and began eating. At their plates, there was a note card that both read, 'Say something nice about each other'.

Russell looked up at Rudy, before averting his gaze quickly, feeling that wicked smirk peering into his soul. The dapper teen chuckled, "Well... I guess I got one thing nice to say about you... you're a lot better when you're quiet."

That was more of an insult, but Russell didn't want to bite back, in fear of being actually bitten. So he said, "Y-Y-Yeah... well... you... uh, your clothes are nice."

"Really? I already know that. Try harder."

"Y-You have a brilliant personality..."

"Seriously, Russell? That's the best compliment you can come up with?"

"Hey, there's not a lot of complimenting things to say about you."

The boy shrunk back under the older boys glare, "I-I mean, you're so interesting. That's there so many things that I can say... b-but I can't say it all! You're just that amazing as a person. You're really cool, and you have... a lot of class."

Rudy smirked, "Did I hear you right? I actually have class? Last I checked, I had no class ever."

There was an insult bubbling deep inside of Russell, waiting to come out. But he kept it in, fearing that if he said what he said, it would be the last thing he ever said. So he remained silent as Rudy continued to talk, "Well then... I can't believe I'm saying this... but you're actually a rather decent kid. If you weren't such a smart alec with a big mouth, I'd tolerate you."

That did it.

Russell couldn't hold it in anymore, "Oh yeah! Well when I said you had a lot of class, I meant a lot of NO CLASS!"

And that was a mistake.

And before Russell could react, Rudy lunged at him, pinning him to the ground, "I knew you were lying you little prick..." He snarled, "You know that I have nothing nice to say about you... not after that 'No class ever' bull you pulled!"

The boy whimpered, "Please, Rudy. What about times where we got along? Remember when we went to the lake, and I tried to save you when you almost drown..."

SLAP!

That earned the boy a strike to the face, as Rudy smirked at him, "That was a long time ago now, Russell..." He snickered, "And all I was doing was playing a stupid trick on you... and that was before all of this. Now, all you're gonna understand is how to fear me!"

"Y-Y-You a-a-already a-a-accomplished t-that when you beat me up..." Russell sobbed, "Please let me go..."

"No... not until I prove my point..."

That's when Rudy pulled out a knife, much to Russell's horror. "And you better not scream or I might just kill you..." He whispered threateningly.

The child whimpered and nodded, as Rudy chuckled, "Good boy... now..."

He then pressed the knife against Russell's cheek, chuckling as the child's tears landed on the blade. Slowly, he glided the knife down, leaving behind a thin line of blood. Russell continued to sob silently...

Back outside, the other boys were still standing by the clubhouse, listening... but not hearing anything, "It sure is quiet in there." Harold pointed out.

"Maybe your plan worked out after all," Bucky added.

"Yeah. At first, Russell sounded terrified. But now... maybe they're getting along..." Bill also added.

Albert silently thanked the Lord, "Hey, hey, hey... let's check on them."

With that, he unlocked the door and slowly opened it. But when he did, what he saw made him shocked, "No!" The other boys noticed too and were horrified. Rudy had Russell pinned, and was harming him with a kitchen knife. When Rudy looked up to see the boys, he groaned and got up, "Can't even get sweet revenge without getting interrupted..." He grumbled, pushing past everyone, "This ain't over, you losers! I still have a bone to pick with all of you! And it's just gonna keep getting worse!"

The rich boy then stormed off with a huff.

As for Russell, he got up and ran over to Bill, hugging him tightly and sobbing in his chest, "He... he's trying to scare me..." He whimpered, "H-H-He might actually kill me... I'm scared..."

Bill rubbed his brothers back, "Don't worry... he won't get to you..." But in his mind, he felt as if he had failed his brother. He made a promise to protect him, and now Russell was left not only with a cut on his cheek but a deeper cut in his soul. This time, he had to protect his brother, and keep him from getting hurt any more than now.

As for Albert, he frowned deeply. It looks like his plan didn't work as well as he hoped it would, "I guess we need to try a little harder. At this rate, it's going to take much more than a simple lunch to get those two to get along..."

Little did the large boy know, was that his words would become quite ironic, for eventually, it would take much more than a special lunch for Rudy and Russell to become better friends...

So Albert's plan didn't work after all. All because both Rudy and Russell couldn't resist sharing a few insults. Now Russell's even more scared, and Rudy's more determined to get vengeance. But of course, every action comes with a price. And next chapter, we'll see exactly what that price is. Until then, I'll see you guys later, and don't forget to review, please. Thank you.