Here we go with the next episode, 'Love and Cheese'! Anyway, enjoy!
"I'm going to do it!"
"You are completely wasting time."
"I'm really going to do it this time!"
"Is this completely necessary?"
"Just hold the camera in place."
I nodded towards my friends as Nadine was fumbling with a camera, Phoebe was holding a boom mike in place and Lila was munching on a donut from the donut box she brought along, we were sitting in the alley near Arnold's house this morning.
"Rhonda, I respect the idea, but..." Nadine groaned. "You tried the 'let's film you asking your crush to the Cheese Festival' three years straight. The first two times, you were completely nervous, the third time, Arnold paid more attention to Ruth!"
"True... but I think that's because he didn't want me to know he was crushing on me! But NOW that I know that he shares the same feelings with me, I'm going to finally admit that I love him!" I smiled. "Besides, why throw away an old tradition we girls make?"
Nadine sighed. "I suppose that's true."
"You know, I really don't understand about this... 'Cheese Festival'." Lila explained.
"Cheese Fair." Nadine groaned. "Seriously, people..."
"Hillwood City has a very complicated ritual, Lila." Phoebe sighed. "I hardly know WHY we have a Cheese Festival ourselves. But it's all in good fun anyway. I mean, just imagine it, Lila. You can enter inside, ride rides like the bumper cars..."
"I don't know..." Lila looked down. "I've heard of bumper cars and never really liked how they get hit maliciously. It's why I've decided I never want to drive as long as I live."
"Would you go in them if LORENZO wanted to?" Phoebe smirked.
Lila immediately blushed. "Well... uh..."
"I'm going to take that little blush to mean yes." Phoebe smiled. "Anyway, there's more food besides cheese to eat there... okay, their main thing is cheese, but there's other foods."
"That I wouldn't mind..." Lila smiled.
Phoebe then pulled out a Cheese Festival pamphlet from her backpack as she started reading from it. "Oh, they have a Tilt-A-Whirl!"
"I don't know... I don't like fast rides. They make me sick to my stomach." Lila looked down.
"Would you go on them if LORENZO wanted to go on one?"
"No... er, yes, I mean..." Lila blushed.
"Thought so." Phoebe giggled. "Oh, looks like the Tunnel of Love is returning. I'm definitely going to try to see if I can get Gerald to go with me again, that was fun! A nice slow ride, I bet you and Lorenzo would enjoy that one."
"You know, I believe you're giving me hints to ask Lorenzo to the Cheese Festival!" Lila frowned.
"I don't need to. I overheard Lorenzo's conversation with Arnold the other day. Arnold was telling Lorenzo about the Cheese Festival and told Lorenzo to think about going out with someone. Lorenzo says he may consider it, which means..." Phoebe smiled. "He's going to ask you!"
"Gosh, you really think so?" Lila blushed.
"Girls, as much as I want to talk about our love interests, can we bring the focus back to me?" I smiled as Nadine got the camera working. "Good, camera working?"
"All good!" Nadine said.
"Boom Operator on handy?" I asked Phoebe.
"All a go!" Phoebe gave a thumbs up.
"Donut girl?" I turned to Lila.
"Celebratory donuts tested and good!" Lila gave a thumbs up.
"Okay... three... two... one..." I smiled. "And action!"
I turned to the camera and smiled. "Welcome to Year Four of 'Rhonda Wellington Lloyd Attempting to Ask a Mr. Arnold Shortman to the wonderful Cheese Festival'! As we all know, for the first two years, I've got REALLY nervous and just walked off, forgetting my lines. Third year was ruined mainly because of Arnold's false infatuation with Ruth. But a year has gone by and NOW I've learned some new things about Arnold. This time, I'm ready, and I'm not nervous! This time, I'm going to march right up the door, knock on it, and..."
All of a sudden, my cell phone rang as I frowned. "CUT!"
I groaned as I picked up my cell phone and looked at the caller ID. Lorenzo? What did he want? I answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Rhonda. Is Lila with you at this moment?" Lorenzo asked.
"Uh, yeah, she's right here." I sighed as I gave Lila the phone. "It's for you."
Lila smiled as she put the phone in her ear. "Hello? Oh, hi Lorenzo, how is everything?"
Then she said in a whisper loud enough for us to hear, "Why did you call Rhonda's phone? Afraid my dad would pick up if you called my number?"
Lila paused. "Partly that, huh? Well, I don't know- oh? Arnold just told you of a place called the Cheese Festival? He suggested you should go out with somebody? And you want to ask little ol' me out on a date? Risky business, Lorenzo..."
Lila listened in as we peered closer. "What's that? Try the same thing again? Bring Rhonda and Arnold? Hmmm... that does sound like a good idea. I don't think it'll be any trouble at all. I'll ask Rhonda if she'll come, sure! I'm taking you'll bring Arnold? Okay! It's a date, then! I'll see you tonight!"
Lila hung up the phone as she smirked. "Good news, Rhonda. We won't have to try the camera thing after all!"
"Aw, but I wanted to film my big moment!" I whined.
"Face it, Rhonda, you were going to screw up in some way anyway." Nadine sighed.
"Not that we didn't have faith in your skills, but..." Phoebe sighed.
I frowned... but then smiled. "You know what, girls! It works out! I'll just live through another double date, that's all!"
"Yeah, see!" Lila giggled. "I knew you'd get it."
I smiled as I looked to Nadine and Phoebe. "Hey, maybe I'll see you two at the Cheese Festival sometime!"
"I'll probably be with Tucker." Nadine said as she smiled. "But hey, good luck with your second double date!"
"And I'll see if I can rope Gerald along." Phoebe giggled as we high-fived.
"This is going to be the best double date ever!" I smiled as I hi-fived Lila.
"Rhonda? Girls?"
We stopped stunned as we turned to see Arnold and his friends walking out.
"Arnold!" I smiled nervously.
"Why are you in the alleyways... with a camera, boom mike and donuts on top of that?" Arnold asked out of curiosity.
Phoebe was quick to answer the question. "Project. And breakfast."
"Okay... but why my alleyway, to be more specific?" Arnold asked as Gerald, Harold, Sitnky and Sid nodded.
"Oh darn! Not the right angle we want. Guess we better move on." Nadine said as she picked up the camera and boom mike. "You girls coming along?"
"Oh, definitely." Phoebe smiled as she picked up the donut box.
"For sure." I nodded as me, Lila, Phoebe and Nadine moved along. "Well, see you boys later!"
As soon as we were sure we were far away from the boys, Nadine sighed as she said, "Arnold's getting a bit more observant with his surroundings."
"Yeah, you noticed?" I nodded.
It was later at night, at the Cheese Festival as I had on, once again, my best shirt and shorts as my hair was curled up pretty nicely. I noticed Lila was coming in, her original classic suit on right.
"Going classic tonight, are we?" I smiled towards Lila.
"I figured, why tamper with a classic look?" Lila giggled. "Think Lorenzo will like it?"
"Lila... Lorenzo will LOVE IT!" I smiled as I looked over her own attire.
She giggled as she looked over to see Lorenzo and Arnold rounding a corner. "Here they come now!"
Lorenzo and Arnold looked busy as if talking to each other as Lorenzo looked up. "Oh! Hola, Lila, Rhonda! Did not expect to see you girls here!"
"Oh, hey girls!" Arnold smiled towards us.
"Hey, Arnold!" Me and Lila smiled.
"I was just planning on showing Lila around the Cheese Festival, just to show off how everything works." I explained.
"What a weird coincidence. Lorenzo asked me to do the same thing with him, show him around the Cheese Festival!" Arnold gave a small smile.
"Weird!" I smiled.
Lorenzo tapped his foot and snapped his fingers. "Since me and Lila are both new, maybe we can all team up and... see how the Cheese Festival works?"
Arnold stared wide-eyed, and before he could say anything, I interjected. "You know, it's a great idea! Almost like another double date..."
That got Arnold's attention. "Could you girls excuse me and Lorenzo for one second?"
Arnold dragged Lorenzo back in the corner as we stared... silence for a minute before we heard Arnold yelling out, "YES!"
"You definitely got him excited." Lila sighed.
"You just focus on Lorenzo. I'll do my focusing on Arnold." I smiled. "After all, if anybody DOES see us, they'll just think we're dating the other people!"
"I don't see how this plan can go wrong!" Lila smiled.
"Just a heads up. This plan is going to go horribly wrong." Helga told me in my mind.
"Why's that? Am I going to get sabotaged or something?" I asked Helga.
"Let me explain, in my original timeline, back when Arnold had that stupid crush on Lila, I went through many lengths to break them up as best as I could. So, I was the original saboteur of the date..."
"But... you don't exist in this world, how will that work?" I frowned.
"Just keep your eye out for Curly. He may be a good guy, but that doesn't mean he'll still have his jealousy issues..." Helga explained.
"Curly?" I blinked as I looked around, nervously.
It was at that moment that Arnold and Lorenzo came back, Arnold nodded. "Me and Lorenzo discussed it, and... sure, we wouldn't mind being escorts."
"Cool!" I smiled.
"Just help us along the way!" Lila smiled.
"Where should we go to first?" Lorenzo asked as Lila and him looked at us in curiosity.
Arnold and I looked at each other as I said, "Choice is yours, buddy."
Arnold smiled as he snapped his fingers. "First place first..."
"...how about the bumper cars?" Arnold said as we went over to the bumper cars.
"Oh, what a relief! I thought you lost your voice when you said 'First place first...'." Lila sighed.
"Yeah, man, no offense, but you don't just stop in the middle of your sentence, walk about four feet to the destination, and finish your sentence when we get there." Lorenzo explained.
Arnold sighed. "Sorry. Want to try it out?"
"I wouldn't mind." Lorenzo smiled. "Girls, you'll be okay with this?"
"Si." Lila giggled.
"I'd be delighted!" I smiled.
As we got in line, I whispered to Lila, "Okay, listen up. Just sit with Arnold, I'll sit with Lorenzo. Just in case anybody has... ideas."
"Fair enough." Lila smiled. "Just don't touch my boyfriend or you'll be eating dirt."
I blinked as I looked at Lila. "Since when were you violent?"
"I'm not. But I'd try it if you kissed him." Lila smiled.
"Wow. Just wow." I said as we approached the entrance.
Pretty soon, as planned, me and Lorenzo were riding along as he told me, "So, Arnold tells me the point of bumper cars is to ram the other cars?"
"Pretty much." I nodded.
"I don't know." Lorenzo sighed. "I couldn't find the heart to just ram another's car. I think I would just rather enjoy the view."
"If we did that, we'd be targets." I frowned as we started to ride.
"I don't know. See? Arnold and Lila are doing it." Lorenzo said as he pointed out the car where Arnold and Lila were at.
I blinked as I examined it. "I suppose you make a fair..."
We yelped as a car rammed us.
"Yikes!" I sighed. "You see what I mean, though?"
"I don't know..." Lorenzo shook his head. "Just ignore the cars, that's what I do."
"But-" I started before the same car rammed us. "HEY!"
"Rhonda, do not give in..." Lorenzo frowned.
I growled. "I'll be fine, Lorenzo!"
We got hit again as we yelped. I frowned.
Soon, the ride was over as we got off, me and Lorenzo joined up with Arnold and Lila as they were talking.
"Sorry about the ride, guys. It... wasn't exactly what we had in mind." Arnold said.
"Oh, it's all right, Arnold." Lila smiled.
"Si, it felt pretty relaxing." Lorenzo smiled.
"But we got hit! MULTIPLE TIMES!" I frowned.
"Well, me and Lila only got hit twice." Arnold said. "Sorry to say you got hit multiple times."
"Well, the important thing is that you didn't get into a violent struggle." Lila smiled.
"I suppose..." I groaned. "Could you boys excuse me and Lila for a second?"
I dragged Lila around as I said to her, "Lila, you didn't happen to see who hit me, did you?"
"Well, mostly a blue car... weirdly enough, Curly was in that car." Lila explained.
I groaned. Helga warned me about this... "Lila, I think Curly has a bad obsession with me. He's trying to get me to go out with him, and he thinks I'm with Lorenzo!"
"But..." Lila started.
"I know, I know, we know the truth. But we don't know his motivations. If he tries to sabotage us again, we'll know." I said.
Lila paused, before nodding. "I'll keep my eye out for any suspicious activity!"
"Awesome!" I smiled. "Come on, let's go back to the boys!"
Me and Lila quickly joined up with Arnold and Lorenzo as I asked, "Where to next, Arnold?"
"How about...?" Arnold started.
"...we try a couple carnival games?" Arnold smiled, pointing to some games nearby.
"...Seriously? You stopped in the middle of your sentence and walked a row just so you can finish your sentence?" Lorenzo asked.
"Not really that healthy, Arnold. Sorry." Lila asked as she looked up. "A pretty cute teddy bear, though, I wouldn't mind having him."
"But Lila, aren't you allergic to big stuffed animals?" I asked Lila.
Lila shrugged. "Doesn't mean he's cute though."
Lorenzo blinked. "Just how are you allergic to stuffed animals?"
"You'd be surprised, Lorenzo." Lila sighed. "Have you ever torn a stuffed animal apart to see what's inside them? Turns out, the stuffing has a certain cotton that really affects my nose."
Me, Lorenzo and Arnold stared at Lila oddly as Arnold asked, "How would you know that?"
Lila sighed. "I may have done a few things I wasn't proud of and learned the hard way."
"Did it have anything to do with that 90s outfit you ha-" I started.
"Yes." Lila groaned.
"Well..." Lorenzo smiled as he looked at Lila. "Maybe not a big stuffed animal... but a squeaky toy, would that work for you?"
"I suppose." Lila nodded.
"Well, I personally wouldn't mind a stuffed animal." I smiled.
"Hey, maybe I could-" Arnold started... before stopping himself, before turning to Lorenzo. "Maybe me and Lorenzo could win something for both of you."
"Oh, would you?" Lila asked.
"Hey, we'd be delighted." I smiled as I looked at the corner of my eye... and yep, there was Curly's hand grabbing the bottles. I wonder if... yep, he put them back, and there was glue on them. "Only... why don't we see if there's a different game? Maybe something for squeaky toys... maybe personally something so that I don't get it near Lila?"
"That's a wonderful suggestion!" Lila smiled, she noticed the glue on the bottles too.
"Oh... okay..." Arnold said, looking down... then smiled. "Well, I know one game that can easily persuade you. How about..."
"...that one next to it?" Arnold said, pointing to a game with balloons to pop with a dart.
"...You walked three steps just to finish your sentence?" Lorenzo asked.
"Let's just give it a shot." Arnold said as he and Lorenzo paid a couple bucks to get a dart. Arnold tossed one dart and popped a balloon. Lorenzo blew on the dart... and threw it hard, popping not one, but three balloons surrounding it.
"Huh... I didn't think I had that good a throwing arm." Lorenzo said in surprise as they each got a squeaky turtle toy.
"Oh, a turtle! I love turtles!" Lila gave a small squee as she was given the turtle to Lorenzo.
"Uh... thanks, Arnold." I smiled as I took the turtle.
"No problem." Arnold smiled. "Glad I could be of assistance."
A few moments later, we were having a nice small dinner together as Arnold smiled. "I got a good idea on where to ride next?"
"Okay, but can you please just tell us and not stop in the middle of your sentence just to get to the destination and finish the rest of it by saying the destination when we are AT the destination?" Lorenzo explained. "No offense, man, but it's just getting old."
"Okay, okay..." Arnold said. "How about the Tilt-A-Whirl?"
I glared. "Arnold. We just ate. Are you sure it's a good idea to hang around the Tilt-A-Whirl, a place where you can THROW UP if shaken enough?"
"...I suppose that's a fair point." Arnold paused. "Well... I guess we can..."
"Oh no..." Lorenzo and Lila groaned as Arnold stood up.
"Oh. That wasn't bad." Lorenzo and Lila smiled as Arnold sat back down.
"...walk around to get it digested." Arnold said.
"How did this table not get taken in the twenty minutes we walked?" I asked.
"Well, do we feel digested now?" Arnold asked.
"Actually, I don't feel so bad." Lila smiled. "I don't feel full anymore."
"The Tilt-A-Whirl, then?" Arnold asked.
"Si." Lorenzo smiled. "Lead the way."
As me and Lila followed Arnold and Lorenzo, we noticed Arnold and Lorenzo whispering to each other. I turned to Lila as I whispered, "Wonder what they're whispering about?"
"I don't know... but whatever it is it's certain to be good." Lila whispered as we got to the Tilt-A-Whirl.
Arnold and Lorenzo nodded as Arnold said, "I got it figured. Rhonda, will you be okay riding with Lorenzo while I ride with Lila?"
"Uh..." I paused. That was probably what they were whispering about, Lorenzo was probably still afraid that people would see him with Lila. "All right, sure. Lila, will you be okay?"
"I suppose I'll live." Lila said as we got in line.
Fortunately, me and Lorenzo entered inside as the gate closed on Arnold and Lila.
"Oh, too bad." I sighed. "Me and Lorenzo will wait for a bit for you when you're done with your ride."
"That's fine." Arnold smiled as we started to go.
"I'll keep my eye out for Curly." Lila mouthed to me.
I just nodded as I got in the ride with Lorenzo as Lorenzo gave a small smile. "Hope you have enough room, Rhonda."
"It'll be fine." I smiled. "Besides, I've been on this ride with my friends a few times. It never goes fast."
...Of course. As soon as I say it.
You want to know what happened? Well, the ride started going fast... I mean, really fast! I don't know how, but Curly had something to do with it, I just know it!
"Do you have the urge to throw up?" I asked.
"No." Lorenzo shook his head.
"Good, I don't either." I nodded as I felt squished to the seat. "Don't worry about me being squished, sometimes the Tilt-A-Whirl leans a bit."
Pretty soon, much to our relief, the ride was over as we got off and walked out. As soon as I looked around, sure enough Curly had just left the area really quickly. I frowned a bit, but smiled a little as we waited for Arnold and Lila to do their ride.
Once they were off, Arnold and Lila came over, Arnold quickly going to me, concerned as he said, "Are you okay, Rhonda? I didn't think the ride would go that fast."
"I'm fine, really." I sighed.
"I honestly did not expect to go that fast." Lorenzo sighed.
"I didn't expect it either. I'm glad I wasn't on it when the gate shut on us." Lila sighed. "I don't think I digested all the way yet, but it was a miracle when it went a little slow."
"Do you... still feel queasy?" Lorenzo said, looking at Lila in the eyes.
Lila gave a warm smile. "Well... not anymore."
"Well, we spent a good couple hours here..." I smiled.
"We have, haven't we?" Lila said as we looked around.
"Well... you know what would make this ending perfect?" I asked.
"What's that?" Lila and Lorenzo asked.
"How about the Tunnel of Love?" I suggested as we were at the destination.
"Okay, see, at least she doesn't stop in the middle of the sentence just to go to the destination and finish the sentence by saying the destination when we're there." Lorenzo smiled.
"I get it..." Arnold sighed.
"It's still a pretty cute boat ride." Lila giggled. "Oh, guys, would it be all right with you?"
Arnold and Lorenzo quickly whispered to each other as they nodded. Arnold nodded. "All right... but I think it would be best if we... traded partners, just for this, you know... just for fun?"
Me and Lila looked at each other. We knew Arnold and Lorenzo were just looking for a perfect excuse just to be near their crush, but we played along as Lila said, "Gosh, I don't know... what's in it for us?"
"Uh... we stop for one milkshake afterwards, then we finish the night! Deal?" Lorenzo paused.
Me and Lila looked at each other... and smiled as I said, "You'll buy?"
"We'll buy." Arnold nodded.
"Deal!" We shook on it.
"Are you okay, Rhonda?" Arnold asked as me and him got on the boat. "You've been acting a little... weird all night."
"Oh, nothing's wrong. Just... being a little cautious." I said as we entered inside as I was looking around frantically. Any moment now, Curly will be coming out and tipping our boat. I just know it. "You know, I still remember last year's Tunnel of Love fiasco."
"Yeah, everybody ended up trading numbers." Arnold chuckled.
"All except Gerald and Phoebe." I said as we continued riding.
"And Ruth, but no need to mention her." Helga smirked in my mind.
"Who'd have thought that." I giggled.
"Thankfully, they got rid of that number thing." Arnold laughed. "At least it makes you consider on what pairs you want to go with."
"Yeah... I mean, not that there's anything wrong with friends riding together..." I looked over.
"Yeah..." Arnold blushed. He took a deep breath. "Rhonda, there's something I've been wanting to tell you, I've never told you this because I was a little scared to admit it..."
Oh my God, was this it? Is this the moment I was waiting for? "What is it, Arnold?"
Arnold took a deep breath. "Rhonda... I lo-"
All of a sudden, we heard a big splash behind us. Me and Arnold stopped in shock as I said, "What the heck?"
We looked behind and saw, not too far away, Lorenzo and Lila's boat tipped over as I saw... I knew it! Curly! He must have tipped Lorenzo's boat over, thinking I was in there! He was just leaving the scene.
We watched as Lila was screaming as she was dog-paddling, trying to get out of the water. "HELP! I CAN'T SWIM! HELP!"
Lorenzo just blinked as he just stood up and picked up Lila as he brushed her off. "Lila... it's only two inches of water. It wasn't that deep."
"Oh..." Lila blushed. "I guess I was being a bit of a drama queen back there, huh?"
"A little." Lorenzo said as he and Lila got the boat right side up and got back on. "Come on, Lila, I don't know what happened, let's just try and relax."
Me and Arnold sighed in relief as we turned back and sighed. My eyes brightened, just remembering what Arnold was going to say. "Hey, what were you going to say back there?"
"Oh, uh..." Arnold was about to say something before we reached the end of the tunnel. Arnold sighed. "Never mind. It wasn't anything important."
I sighed. Of course. He chickened out. I don't blame him, though. I always chickened out when I tried to confess to Arnold. As me and Arnold got off, we waited for Lorenzo and Lila to join us as Lila blushed a little bit as she said, "I'm guessing you probably overheard that overdramatic scream."
"Afraid so." I sighed.
"Don't worry, Lila, those swimming lessons are still available." Lorenzo smiled.
"Thanks, Lorenzo, I appreciate it." Lila smiled.
"Come on, let's get you guys dried off." I smiled as we walked off.
"Well, we had a lot of fun, didn't we?" I smiled as we were enjoying our milkshakes, mine was a peanut butter shake.
"We sure did." Lorenzo nodded as he and Lila were whispering. They both nodded as they turned to me and Arnold. "Arnold, Rhonda, there's something we need to tell you, but it's really important you don't tell anybody else."
"You have my word." I smiled, knowing what the news was going to be.
"Sure, I can keep a secret." Arnold smiled, already knowing what Lorenzo and Lila were going to tell us.
"Well..." Lila coughed. "Me and Lorenzo... we're currently going out right now. Sorry if we had to use you guys as scapegoats, but it's the only way we can actually see each other in public without making it seem like a controversy."
"Hey, it's all right." Arnold smiled as he sipped on his milkshake. "I kind of suspected something between you two... what it was, I wasn't sure."
"Awesome!" I smiled. "I mean, two people in love, and in different social classes, no less. I'm impressed."
"Gracias, Rhonda." Lorenzo smiled. "Who knows? We'd like to reveal our relationship someday... but until that time comes, we want to keep it secret."
"Don't worry, Lorenzo, Lila... we won't tell anybody else that you two are dating right now." Arnold smiled.
"Thank you, Arnold, Rhonda. It'll be our little secret!" Lila smiled.
"Between all four of us!" I smiled.
"Friends to the end!" Lorenzo smiled.
"We have our backs!" Arnold smiled as we hi-fived each other.
As soon as me and Lila said good-bye to the boys, I sighed as I turned to Lila. "Best double date ever!"
"Indeed." Lila giggled. "It's a shame we couldn't get either you or Arnold to confess..."
"Oh well." I shrugged. "There's always next time..."
I then noticed Curly coming by as I frowned. "I'll be right back, Lila..."
I started to march right up to Curly as I tapped his shoulder. "You!"
Curly turned to me in confusion. "Uh, yes. Me."
"Cut the crap, Curly. I know it was you who bumped me at the bumper cars every time, who glued the bottles, who gave the command to make the ride go faster AND the one who tipped Lorenzo and Lila's boat in the Tunnel of Love! Why, Curly? Why are you doing this?" I frowned.
"Come on, like you don't know!" Curly frowned.
"No, I don't! What the heck, Curly?" I glared.
"Look, I love to stay around and play twenty questions with you, but I'm late to meet up with Marcie as it is. I'll see you at school Monday!" Curly said as he ran off.
"You keep mentioning this Marcie girl every time I manage to talk with you! Who is she!" I called, but Curly had already left.
I frowned. I just didn't get it... I just didn't.
There's episode one hundred and thirty-two! How'd you like it? Well, anyway, read, review, criticize and suggest, folks!