Here is the next episode, known as 'Dinner for Four'! Anyway, enjoy!
The next day, almost around the evening, I was humming as I was prepping my hair up. I smiled as I looked at it. "I am perfection!"
"You certainly are..."
I frowned a bit. "What is it, Helga?"
"Oh, nothing. Just wanted to say good luck to you. Remember, it's Chez Pierre, NOT Chez Paris!" Helga advised me.
"Oh. Well... thanks, Helga. Although I would know what restaurant I'm going to. They're right next to each other, I'm not going to screw it up!" I laughed a bit.
"Okay, okay, I trust you. Just... just in case something goes wrong, have Nadine on standby with her roaches." Helga told me in my mind.
"Helga. I won't need Nadine. Look, maybe YOU screwed up in your double date in YOUR timeline. I'm not going to screw it up!" I shook my head.
"It's your funeral."
I just shook my head. Where does Helga go off in informing me on what to do anyway?
It was then I heard my mom's voice. "Rhonda, Lorenzo's here!"
"Be right down, mom!" I called as I took my comb and brushed it up. Perfection.
I came downstairs a bit as I saw my mom smile at me. "Look at you, sweetheart, you look like a million dollars!"
I giggled a bit as I noticed Lorenzo, dressed in a nice suit, outside. Lorenzo gave a warm smile as I said "Hola, Rhonda. You ready to go?"
"Si." I nodded as I decided to follow him.
But not before my mom whispered, "I'm sure you'll have a good time with your Arnold friend."
I stopped, stunned as I looked up at my mother, before she smiled and whispered, "Face it, Rhonda. You only set Lorenzo up to be your date just so you can get close to your other friend. Don't worry, just be careful."
I nodded towards my mom before I followed him into his limo.
"Hello, mother." Lorenzo nodded towards his mom as I entered the limo and buckled my seatbelt in.
"Oh, hello Mrs. Lopez." I smiled towards Lorenzo's mom, who just glared at me. I yelped a bit.
"Let's just hope you show my son a good time. If he feels betrayed, you will face my wrath." Lorenzo's mother said darkly to me.
"Oh... fun..." I said nervously.
Lorenzo just shook his head as he turned to me. "You have to forgive my mother. She won't let go of the little boy she raised."
"Understandable." I nodded as we moved along.
When the limosine arrived at the French restaurants, I smiled as I stepped out, Lorenzo following. I noticed Lila, dressed in a beautiful green dress, waving over to me, with Arnold in a nice tux with her. Arnold looked up and I noticed his eyes sparkling, as if happy to see me... but then I noticed his eyes darkened a bit. I guess he just saw Lorenzo walking out of the limo.
"Okay, mom, I'll call you when dinner is finished." Lorenzo said as he got out of the limo. "Love you too, Mom!"
I walked up to Lila as I gasped, "Why, Lila, I'm surprised. Arnold, sweetheart, I did not expect you to be Lila's... date."
"Trust me, I didn't either." Arnold said as he looked at me, smiling... before turning to Lorenzo, giving a bit of a smile, then a frown. "So, Lorenzo, how is everything?"
"Si, everything's going just fine, Arnold." Lorenzo gave a warm smile.
"Well, shall we go inside?" Lila asked.
"Before we do, just one thing..." I looked up at the restaurant we were in front of. Chez Pierre. "Okay, we're at the right place."
"Of course we are, Rhonda." Arnold said. "It would be a nightmare if we were in the other restaurant. An honest mistake, but a nightmare."
"Yeah..." I nodded.
"Well... shall we go?" Lorenzo asked.
"Si." I nodded as all four of us walked inside the restaurant.
It wasn't a bad start, all four of us were seated at a very nice table. We all settled down as I looked over at Arnold. "So, Arnold, how has life been treating you?"
"Oh, life's been treating me... pretty well, actually." Arnold said. "So... you and Lorenzo a thing?"
"No, but it's a possibility." I smiled, before winking to Lila.
"Lorenzo, I know I haven't seen you around, but you seem to be handling our world pretty well." Lila smiled.
"It's a wonder..." Lorenzo smiled before I heard him whispering to Lila. "This is going great! Arnold and Rhonda don't suspect a thing!"
"No they don't." Lila whispered back before pushing me towards Arnold, before raising her regular voice. "So, the band is playing pretty good..."
"So they are..." I smiled as we got our menus from a waiter.
"Good evening, my name is Raul, and I will be taking your order today." The French waiter smiled. "Can I start you off with something to drink."
"A Coke would be nice." I smiled.
"I'd like a Coke too." Lorenzo nodded.
"A Coke for me." Arnold nodded.
"I think I'll have the Coke as well." Lila smiled.
"Okay, four Cokes. I'll be right back." The waiter smiled as he left our area.
I smiled as I turned towards the boys. "Arnold, Lorenzo, you two are... shall I say... a surprising duo to have here tonight."
"Si, it's nice." Lorenzo nodded, though I know he was looking at Lila, who was blushing.
"Yeah, it is nice. Very, very..." Arnold said... before I heard Lorenzo yelp. "...very nice."
Lorenzo paused as he rubbed his leg. "I think something kicked me in the leg."
"Oh, are you okay?" Lila asked in concern as Lorenzo nodded.
I raised an eyebrow in confusion... before I heard Helga laughing in my mind.
"Oh my God, Arnold is so jealous! I have never seen Arnold jealous!" Helga laughed.
"You really think he's jealous?" I asked.
"Come on, princess! Connect the dots! I can't be the only one who realizes Arnold is kicking Lorenzo just for the mere fact that he's going with you... he can't stand it!" Helga laughed in my mind.
I paused before the waiter returned with our drinks and a notepad.
"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked.
Pretty soon, as we had our meals ready, I noticed a few couples going up to dance as I got an idea. "There's about a few couples dancing? What say one of us goes over there and... join in?"
Arnold's eyes lit up as he grabbed me and said, "That's a great idea, Rhonda. Say, Lorenzo, would you mind if I borrowed your 'date'?"
Before Lorenzo could say a word, Arnold finished, "You don't? Why, thanks! Let's go, Rhonda!"
"Whoa..." I said in shock as Arnold took my hand. "Looks like someone is a little eager..."
"And so obviously jealous! He can't stand it!" Helga laughed in my mind.
"You wouldn't mind if I take you to the dance floor, milady?" Arnold smiled, looking towards me.
"Not at all." I smiled as I took Arnold by the hand as we assumed a ballroom dance position as we proceeded to dance along to the music.
Out in the corner of my eye, I noticed Lorenzo and Lila focused on each other as they were talking, before my eyes turned back to Arnold, who was smiling a little bit towards me. I started humming a little song as Arnold sighed a little. "For some reason... I feel an emotional belonging with that song... almost as if... I heard it when I was younger..."
"Hmmm..." I smiled as I kept humming the song. "This feels nice..."
"Yeah..." Arnold smiled... before pausing. "Of course, we're just... good friends dancing together..."
"Uh, yeah..." I blushed. "No doubt about it."
I could tell Arnold was blushing too, but I wonder if he notices the blush on me. Maybe he hasn't yet.
As soon as we got done dancing, we came back to the table as Lila asked, "So, Rhonda, how was your dance?"
I smiled and winked at Lila as I whispered, "I'll tell you after the meal is done."
I then said, "Oh... it was good."
"I'm glad you had a great time, Rhonda." Lorenzo nodded to me as I smiled.
Lorenzo then yelped as he rubbed his leg. "Who keeps kicking me?"
"I wonder..." Arnold said as he rolled his eyes.
Pretty soon, we had a great meal done and out as we finished up the meal greatly.
"Excuse us, boys. Me and Lila have to use the restroom." I said.
"Of course." Lorenzo nodded.
"Take your time." Arnold nodded as me and Lila left for the restrooms, I noticed Arnold was glaring at Lorenzo, but it wasn't my concern.
As me and Lila rounded the corner, she took me inside and smiled, "Oh, Rhonda, this was the best double date I ever had! Thank you! You're wonderful for getting me and Lorenzo close!"
"I'm glad to hear that, Lila." I smiled. "As for me and Arnold... our dance together... was just so amazing! I wish I could never leave!"
We both giggled as Lila pulled out her comb and combed her hair down. "And to think, you've got your coupon to pay for it all..."
"Yeah..." I smiled as I dug into my pocket. "My... my... uh..."
My eyes widened as I chuckled nervously, digging into my other pocket. I gulped as I started frantically searching in my pocket... before suddenly realizing...
"Uh, Lila, I think I left the coupon at my house!" I said in a panic.
In my mind, I heard Helga laughing hysterically. "This is rich!"
"What?" Lila said in worry. "How could you forget your coupon?"
"I don't know! I guess I got so excited to see Arnold and have a little non-official date with him, along with you and Lorenzo, I forgot to pocket it!" I said, worried.
"Well... at least you're rich and you can pay for the thing." Lila smiled.
"Yes, I'm rich, and no, I can't pay for the dinner!" I said in worry.
"Why not?" Lila asked.
"My parents have me on a budget!" I said, worried. "I don't have any more than ten dollars on me!"
"Oh..." Lila paused. "That is pretty bad."
I peeked out of the restroom for a split second to check on Arnold and Lorenzo, seeing them in a bit of a heated argument, assuming it's about me. I looked back at Lila and said, "What do we do? I don't have the coupon!"
"Just tell the waiters the truth, tell them you made an honest mistake." Lila explained. "Just tell them your status and just say you'll pay them back in any way."
"OR..." I snapped my fingers.
"Oh no..." Lila groaned. "Phoebe and Nadine told me about this, this is your 'let's make getting out of a simple situation WORSE for myself' pose."
"Relax! Maybe I can still get the coupon here. I'll just call Nadine..." I picked up my phone.
"Bug convention. With Tucker. Remember?" Lila asked.
"Oh..." I said as I peeked out of the bathroom again. Interesting, it seems Arnold and Lorenzo were now calmly talking to each other, both of them seemingly confused a bit, but relieved at the same time. I poked my head back inside the restroom and talked with Lila. "Okay, maybe if I call Phoebe..."
"Babysitting Timberly with Gerald." Lila pointed out.
"Sheena?" I asked.
"Peace rally with her parents."
"Harold?"
"Didn't you hear? He went on this weight-cruise thing for a week, starting today! He won't be back until next Saturday!"
"Stinky?"
"He and Sid went to a baseball game together."
"Sid?"
"I just told you where Sid went."
"Tucker?"
"Again, bug convention with Nadine."
"Eugene?"
"Sure, let's have the place burned down to the ground!"
"...That other guy who I can't remember the name of, his name rhymes with zany..."
"You mean Brainy? I don't know, I think he keeps to himself..."
"Olga?"
"I don't know what she's doing today, but I doubt she's going to have time for us."
"Sharlene?"
"Now you're just naming off the adults you know in your life!" Lila frowned in frustration.
"French Vanilla?"
"That's a coffee creamer." Lila sighed.
I sighed. "Okay, this is going to go off the deep end... I'm calling Curly."
Lila took a deep breath... then paused. "Actually, go ahead."
I started dialing the number and waited.
"Hello, Rhonda." I heard Curly say.
I blinked. "How did you know it was me? I never even gave you my number, yet you give me yours multiple times... A LOT!"
"Oh, I answer every call this way, babe, just in case it was you." I could feel Curly smiling through the phone.
"Creepy..." I frowned. "Anyway, I need a favor! Break into my room, pick up a coupon for a French restaurant called Chez Pierre, and slip it towards the right window under the table with me, Lorenzo, Arnold and Lila. Don't ask why, just do it."
"You go- I'll be right there, hang on!" I heard Curly call on the other end. "You got it, sweetheart!"
I heard the phone hang up as I smiled. "Okay, this is all good! Curly's going to come with the coupon and we'll be set!"
"How long until the coupon arrives?" Lila asked.
"Knowing Curly and his odd timing..." I said, looking at my watch. "About twenty minutes tops. Until then, we just distract our potential future mates with small talk..."
"Future mates?" Lila asked in a deadpan voice.
"Come on, let's go!" I said as I ran out, Lila following me.
As Lila and I came back to our table, I saw Arnold and Lorenzo shaking hands as Arnold said, "So we're all cool then."
"Si, we're cool. Good luck with your... thing." Lorenzo smiled.
"Same to you." Arnold smiled as we joined back up. "Hey Rhonda, hey Lila."
"Hey boys." I smiled as I sat next to Lorenzo. "So, what's up?"
"Well, I finally found out who was kicking me... but I understand his reasoning and told him it wasn't like that." Lorenzo explained.
"Yeah, sorry for kicking you, Lorenzo. I don't know what was wrong with me." Arnold sighed.
"He was jealous." Helga smirked.
As the waiter came over with the check, he smiled, "Will there be anything else?"
"We're good, thank you..." Lorenzo nodded.
"Uh, we would like some more water though." I smiled.
"Huh?" Arnold and Lorenzo turned to me in confusion.
"Yes, this place is nice, why don't we stick around for a while, maybe twenty minutes?" Lila smiled.
"Oh, uh... okay." Lorenzo nodded.
"Sure." Arnold smiled.
"Oh yes, we're going to have a little fun chatting!" I smiled as I looked towards my friends. Yep, in twenty minutes, we'll be out of there.
"And so, uh..." I smiled nervously as I looked towards the window. It's been an hour! Where was Curly? I needed his weird timing here!
"Told you to have Nadine on standby with her roaches..." Helga told me.
"I don't think she would approve of her pets being murdered!" I frowned.
"Rhonda, I don't think Curly's coming at all!" Lila whispered to me.
"Look, Rhonda, it's been nice listening to you, but we should really get home." Arnold said.
"Si. It's already a little late..." Lorenzo said, concerned.
"We need to stall for time." I whispered.
"Rhonda, this is ridiculous, just tell them the truth!" Lila whispered.
"No, no, I can get out of it!" I smiled nervously at Lila before turning to the boys. "Say, how about another round of dancing, all of us?"
Arnold and Lorenzo just frowned as Arnold said, "Okay, what's up?"
"Uh... what do you mean what is up?" I smiled nervously.
"Rhonda, if I did not know any better, I'd say you forgot the coupon and tried to stall for time, then tried to sneak us out without paying!" Lorenzo frowned.
"Uh..." I started.
"Rhonda... look at me STRAIGHT in the eyes." Arnold frowned.
I looked over at Arnold's eyes... and groaned. I couldn't lie to those eyes! "Okay, I confess! I forgot the coupon, the bill is probably expensive, and I can't pay for it!"
"Ay carumba..." Lorenzo sighed.
"Thank you, Rhonda. All you need to do is tell the truth." Arnold sighed in relief.
"I'm sorry... I just thought I'd get you all a good meal... it turned into a flop..." I sighed.
"Rhonda, nobody blames you. It was an honest mistake..." Lorenzo smiled.
"Indeed..." Lila smiled.
Arnold smiled. "Tell you what, just so you don't feel the burden, we'll help you wash dishes to pay up the tab."
I sighed as I looked at my friends. "Thanks, guys..."
It was then I noticed the waiter coming in as I looked up. "Listen, about my bill..."
"You don't need to worry about it." The waiter smiled. "Your bill has just been paid for."
Me, Lorenzo, Lila and Arnold stared in surprise as I asked, "By who?"
"There was this weird kid who came in with a bowl haircut, who knows you four." The waiter explained as he showed the coupon to me. "Weird thing is, he was hanging around with at least three other people... one was some raven haired girl, and the other two were in concealed cloaks."
I sighed in relief as I muttered, "Thank you Curly... and Caroline... and those other people you two hung out with, I'm not sure who they are, but thank you all the same..."
Lila smiled as she turned to me. "See, Rhonda. It all worked out."
"Well, I'm glad we all had fun..." I smiled towards Arnold as I took him to the side.
"Yeah..." Arnold paused. "Say, Rhonda... did you know Lorenzo had a thing for Lila? It's pretty weird, but... I think I can see them making it work."
"Yeah, pretty unusual... but I can see it happening." I smiled as I looked towards Lorenzo and Lila, who were talking with each other. "They do make a pretty good couple, don't they?"
Arnold gave a warm smile as Lila hugged Lorenzo really quickly, with Lorenzo hugging Lila back. "Yeah... they do..."
I sighed as I looked over to Arnold. "Arnold, I hope you had a lot of fun on this... small date."
"Yeah, I did..." Arnold smiled. "Even if it is just as friends..."
"Uh, yeah..." I blushed. "Just friends..."
Arnold and I looked over as Lorenzo and Lila came to us as Lorenzo smiled. "Well, Rhonda, our ride's about to get here."
"Okay..." I said as Lila motioned over to me, wanting to talk. "Could you boys excuse us?"
Arnold and Lorenzo nodded as they decided to talk. I went over to Lila as I asked, "What's up?"
"Apparently, while we were in the restroom, Arnold had this apparent jealously emotion as he and Lorenzo were in a heated argument, Lorenzo wondering why Arnold was kicking his feet. They both confessed at the same time that they were after the other person each of them were dating... Lorenzo told me all about it. And it turns out, Lorenzo knows somewhat about Arnold's crush on you..."
"You think he's going to try to push me towards Arnold?" I asked.
"Who knows?" Lila shrugged. "But Arnold now knows that Lorenzo and I are going out together, and from what Lorenzo told me, Arnold's pretty cool with it..."
"So, he's not jealous of Lorenzo anymore?" I smiled. "Good for him."
"It is pretty ever so sweet." Lila nodded. "Well, at least everything's resolved..."
"And boy, will I have an adventure to tell Madame Parvenu!" I laughed. "This is going to be a sweet Monday to talk with Madame Parvenu about this day!"
And so, once me and Lila finished talking alone, we joined up with Arnold and Lorenzo to resume talking with each other, at least until Lorenzo's limo came to pick up him and me. The rest of the night... was pretty peaceful...
Though when I went to bed later that night, I couldn't help but feel what the waiter told me was accurate. I get Curly and Caroline were there... but he also said two other figures were with them. Who were they?
Yet another mystery to add to the mystery pile...
There's episode one hundred and twenty-two! How'd you like it? Well, anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!