Over the fence ch. 5
by
mastermindhunter
The next morning, private jumped into the shower, to wash off the sweat of last nights nightmare. He was trying to think of what the four of them would be doing today. He thought of what would sound like fun. What would all four them enjoy? The world of New York had so much to offer. There had to be something they could do for a while out there. They could go to the empire state building, statue of liberty, anywhere! When the hot water ran out, he jumped out, and dried off, and changed into a suit.
The two others were up, and changing into suits of their own. Where was Rico? He walked up to the loft, and found Rico staring out through the window towards the side of the street, where the sweet cream factory sat. He was laying his chin on his fingers, smiling from ear to ear. Private had almost forgot the paper. Right now he was thinking of what was wrong with Rico. Rico hadn't tried to regurgitate or swallow any types of items. Maybe it was so he would be better safe than sorry. He wasn't noticing Private. Private walked over, and gently laid his hand on his shoulder Rico jumped at the contact.
"Sorry Rico. Didn't mean to frighten you. We're about to leave in a second. I thought we should have some breakfast down in the restaurant, downstairs." He nodded, and smiled to Private. Rico took a shower, and changed into some clean clothes, and put on some nice smelling cologne. While Rico was in the bathroom, Private grabbed the paper out of his p.j.s, and put it in his pocket. When he came down to the main floor, they ran downstairs, all cleaned up, and had some pancakes. Skipper thought of what they should do for the day.
"How does bike riding sound, guys? It's so fun looking, and it helps keep you in shape." They all smiled,and nodded.
"We'll ride in Central Park. How does that sound?"
"Sound good to me Skipper." Kowalski grinned. They quickly ate the food on their plates, and jumped out of the hotels. They walked past the sweet cream factory on the way to the bike rental store. Gwyneth was inside. Rico looked inside, and waved to her. She waved back, and smiled with color in her cheeks. Skipper pushed him, and told him to keep moving. They reached the bike store, and rented four bikes. It took them a while to adjust to balancing on them, but as soon as that was figured out, it was pretty easy. They rode quickly, and past many different flowers, and trees. They loved learning to ride bikes.
Rico loved the feel of wind in his new hair. The butterflies that were dusting their feathers up ahead were stirred, and they all flew around him. It felt amazing. What a new and exciting life he could lead as a human. He felt like he flying. the central park smelled like flowers and pollen. He let out a grumbled loud "Whooo-hoo!" The others smiled at his love of biking. He smiled at the humans that they passed by. The humans would smile back at the quiet, but most happiest one of the four. His smile was from ear to ear. He took of deep breath of air, and sighed as if experiencing the world for the first time. The boys could only watch as Rico was zooming around, Standing up off the seat. He was definitly different.
As soon as they were done bicycling, the boys got worn out, and stopped at a seafood restauraunt. When the boys got their meals, Private asked if he could use the bathroom. Skipper allowed him to go. He ran straight to the back, and got into a stall. he locked the door, and unfolded up the paper. He had to see what Rico was hiding from everyone. Private was astounded at what he saw. It was a drawing, a very nice one. There was a human figure that hat had a mohawk and a line going down from his cheek straight down his lip, smiling. A second human figure was holding it's hand. It was a girl with long hair, and a J shape on her right foot. They were enclosed in a giant heart. Private guessed it was Rico and Gwyneth. He couldn't believe it. Rico as in love with a human?
He had to tell the others, but how? Would Rico understand? Or more importatly, what would Skipper say? Would he allow him to see her? H put those questions aside, and went back to the table to eat with everyone else. he looked at Rico. He looked at Private as if he had no clue that Private knew, which he didn't. Private sat there, and ate his fish quietly. Skipper and Kowalski were talking about how fun the bike ride was, and Rico was nodding his head in agreement.
After the lunch, they went to the sweet cream factory, once again. Inside it was slightly less full. Rico ran the bell as he did before. Gwyneth opened the doors the same way she always did. The boys were alot more quiet, and a bit more hesitant than yesterday, when she walked up to the counter. She looked at the boys, and suddenly grinned at all of them. She obviously remembered them.
"Hey welcome back, guys. What would you all like?" She smiled at them all as she did yesterday. She quickly looked at Rico, then glanced away quickly, being shied as he smiled at her akwardly.
"Uhh I think we would all like a large chocolate milkshake. Is that alright with you guys?" Kowalski nodded. Private looked at her, knowing what he saw on the paper. He suddenly got pulled out of his glance, and nodded quickly. Rico slowly nodded smiling with a big smile. She smiled at Rico as she pursed her lips. Then she fakely ran her fingers through her hair.
"Okay guys . . . uhh I'll be right back back with your shakes." She ran over swinging her right leg as she ran. They all watched her run over to the milkshake machine, and looked at the mechanical extremity. Rico looked at them angrily, and smacked them on the shoulder to stop looking at her like that. they eventually stopped staring figuring out that Rico didn't appreciate them staring at her like that. She walked back with four tall glass milkshakes, with straws in each one. Rico and the others smiled, recieving their treats. Skipper got his money out to pay
"Uhh Skipper? I think you should let Rico pay." Private smiled to Skipper. Skipper raised an eyebrow, but agreed to giving Rico the wallet. Rico smiled, and took the wallet, and pulled out the desired amount. He laid the money on the glass counter. Gwyneth counted the money out, and looked up to the disguised penguin.
"You're a quarter short, Rico." She looked at him, with a frown. He pretended to touch different parts of his tuxedo jacket, as if trying to find a quarter. He then looked at Gwyneth's head, like she had something in her hair. He reached behind her ear, and held between his index and thumb, a quarter. She honestly didn't know how he did that, but then again, she never figured that trick out. He flipped the coin, and held it in his palm. She reached out to grasp the coin, but when she reached into his hand she hesitated, and quickly formed a blush. He blushed back.
"Rico! Come on, man. Your shake is melting fast." He looked back at the three who had already found a table. He nodded to the others, and grabbed the sides of the coin, and spun it on the clean glass counter. He quickly ran over to the three that waited in the dining room. She smiled, as she put her palm over the coin, and took it between her index finger and thumb. He watched her dissappear into the back with a smile on her face, as she started making more ice cream. He smiled into his milkshake. Man this girl was really something to him. He looked at the clock on the wall. It said one thirty. Seriously? A whoe hour? Jeez! He didn't want to wait. He wanted to see her now! She had waked over to a corner booth, in the side of the shop. Rico looked over at the boys, then at her. She wasn't sitting with anybody.
Private noticed as well. He knew that Rico now had a crush on this girl, but should he walk over to her? The fact that he couldn't talk was bad enough. To like a girl, but not be able to tell her? Now that's what sounded really heartbraking He stood up, and strode over to her. She was looking at her bag lunch, and bouncing her left foot on the floor. She looked as he walked over to her. The boys were right behind him. She smiled as they stopped at her table. Rico pointed to the side of the booth that was next to her, and raised his eyebrows smiling a very shy smile. The other side could hold the boys comfortably, but it seemed like Rico wanted to sit next her alone. She looked at the boys, and replied.
"Oh of course! Why not?" They encased her. She sat there, cutching her peanut butter sandwhich. The sience was akward, almost agonizing. She couldn't take it anymore. "So how are you boys enjoying New York? Is it more stimulating than Baltimore?" She took a bite, after her question. Kowalski shrugged his shoulders.
"Most definitly. We're all enjoying it. Rico, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying it the most." They all turned in Rico's direction. He smiled, and turned towards the window avoiding any unwanted assumptions. She smiled, and looked at her sandwhich. Rico held his shake up to her. She looked at it, then frowned. Her hand was held up, in a refusing, but still modest fashion. Apparently, she didn't like ice cream.
"Oh no thank you. The last thing I want is ice cream. Trust me. When you stay in this place for a long enough time, you just want to stay away." She chuckled. Rico sat it back down. Skipper looked at her suspicously.
"So gwyneth. You don't like ice cream. Still you manage to work here of all restauraunts. So why work in-"
"An ice cream factory?" She finished his sentance. He nodded. "Well when I was younger, I was always trying to look for better ways to get around. As you all are very aware, I have one foot." They pursed their lips, and nodded. "Well when I saw this model, I tried it out, and it worked so well, in getting me moving faster, and easier. I decided that I woud get a job, and save some money, to buy one. I was recommended here by someone who was actually related to the doctor who fixed me up. I enjoyed the job so much, so here I am." She held her hands out. She looked at her watch, and started getting a little tense. It read three thirty five.
"Oh man. I'm totally dead. I gotta go, guys. If you all come here tomorrow, stop by a eleven, and I'll talk to you guys later." Rico moved away from the seat, to let Gwyneth out. She ran over to the door, her purse in tow.
"Where are you headed?" Private asked.
"My other job!" She shouted behind her back.