Chapter 4

Strong Bad was making his noon-ly trip to the kitchen to get some breakfast when he looked out the window. There was a blonde in a purple dress standing outside. She was handing out flyers or something. Whatever. As long as she doesn't ring the…

Ding dong.

Crap. Maybe if he ran now he could make it up the stairs fast enough for nobody to notice him…and then he'd get to checking his e-mail. He'd already put it off for far too long today. But he needed to eat something…

"I can see you're in there Strong Bad. Open the door." Why can't she just skip this house altogether? She knows there's no one here who actually cares…oh wait.

"Strong Sad can do it. He's the only one here who gives a crap about protest rallies or whatever." He didn't have time for this. He was going into town today with Homestar. The idea of him going on a date with a guy seemed unnatural. But Homestar wasn't really a guy. So it was okay. At least that was what he would keep telling himself until he adjusted. It's not like someone as stubborn as Strong Bad can just change his values overnight. Besides, he enjoyed spending time with him. A lot.

With that he picked up an orange, clomped up the stairs and promptly threw said orange at Strong Sad. "Quit whining to your diary and go answer the door." Before a reply could be uttered the door slammed and his usual little e-mail song could be heard. Strong Sad sighed and made his way to the door. This happened so often he was used to it by now. Upon opening it he saw the familiar face of the only girl who actually spoke to him. Her sour expression vanished when she realised she hadn't been left randomly standing outside today.

"Hey Strong Sad. Thanks for actually opening the door and letting me in." She said part of this loud enough to travel through Strong Bad's window so he'd hear how indignant she felt. Not that he would care. But it was worth a shot. She was still a little bitter about how Strong Bad was now dating her ex-boyfriend. Their relationship hadn't been anything spectacular but it's still insulting rejection.

"I'm sorry. Strong Bad is just being…Strong Bad." He couldn't exactly excuse his brother's behaviour, everyone was familiar with it. It was just who he was. Strong Sad noticed the (recycled) paper in Marzipan's hands. "So what are those flyers for?"

"I'm holding a rally on Saturday. It's to protest against the improper disposal of the possibly nuclear waste Bubs has been sneaking out of his Concession Stand. I have no idea where it comes from or how he's been unharmed from it for so long, but anyway." Considering how Bubs had a very strange-looking eye and a slightly blue tinge to his face, Strong Sad wasn't sure how he could be classified as 'unharmed'. "I was going around asking people to pitch in with refreshments and setting up. The only way half the people who live here would come is if there's food."

"I can make cupcakes. We can use the icing to make crossed-out 'hazardous waste' symbols on them. You know…to promote how unsafe it is and stuff." Strong Sad had tons of creative ideas, but no one bothered to listen to him half the time. Marzipan included. At least today she seemed to be paying attention.

"That's great! Let me think, the amount of people likely to turn up, and a bunch of them will eat multiple cupcakes…oh yes. The King of Town is back from his stay at the hospital. We'll need about fifty of them."

Strong Sad's eyes widened slightly. "Wait, fifty cupcakes…?" Marzipan pulled a notebook from the shoulder bag she'd been carrying her flyers in and scribbled something down.

"Thanks Strong Sad! This is going to help me out so much!" Before anything more could be said the excited blonde ran off to go pester some other people about pitching in. Strong Sad sighed again. He was used to this too. He always ended up biting off more than he could chew. He had a couple days to get it all together, but he wondered if he couldn't maybe get some help. Strong Bad was surprisingly good at baking, but he wouldn't help. Actually, he'd probably eat everything. Mental note, don't tell Strong Bad where the cupcakes are hidden.

There was one other person he could ask, but would he agree to it…? If they had become friends like he'd hoped, there was a possibility. Considering he was already standing in the doorway, going next door wouldn't be a total waste. He ambled down the path wondering how he'd phrase it without sounding too weird. Okay that wouldn't be possible. 'Hi I need you to help me to make fifty anti-nuclear waste cupcakes' is kinda pushing the boundaries of normal.

Whatever. He was already walking along the sidewalk. He'd have to wing it. Strong Sad noticed that there was a significant absence of Homeschool's white van. Nevermind. He'd have to call or something. No wait. He didn't have his number.

Strong Bad would have Homestar's landline wouldn't he…? That isn't stalkerish, not at all. Getting someone's number from your brother's boyfriend's number. Why was social interaction so hard? This is probably why he'd avoided it for so long. Content to forget the whole idea, Strong Sad decided to go spend some time in his room writing depressing poetry. It would cheer him…down? It's difficult to explain how it made him feel. It settled him. You know, made him feel stable in his confusing life.

However when he got to his room, he didn't feel any inspiration. He still had a nervous tension sitting in his stomach. He was familiar with it, but it's never been so overpowering. Every time he started interacting with someone outside of his family he got this funny feeling. Again, probably why he avoided doing so. He let out a frustrated sigh. The doorbell rang, and Strong Sad figured he'd have to answer it again. The bright face awaiting him was not surprising.

"Oh hey Stwong Sad! You'we looking mowe depwessing than evew!" Homestar's speech impediment came and went depending on his overall feelings for the day. Sometimes he spoke normally, sometimes he decided to act extra goofy. He'd been doing it especially often as of late.

"You probably wouldn't care to hear why. I'll go get Strong Bad." Strong Sad's voice showed that he was irritated all of a sudden. He wasn't sure why. This kind of thing never bothered him before.

"You'we acting weally weiwd today, Stwong Stwong." Homestar walked in and closed the door behind him. Strong Sad had a puzzled look on his face. The brunette noticed. He's so much more expression-y than usual…strange.

"What do you mean I'm acting weird today?" Homestar opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Strong Sad quickly added, "And please speak properly." It gets hard to focus when someone leaves out all their 'r's and sounds like a little kid.

"Sorry. I saw you walking along the sidewalk toward my house as I was getting ready to leave, but you just turned around and left. And you're getting all…weird now." Homestar added a waving motion with his hands to emphasise the weirdness. Slightly amused by it, he continued.

Strong Sad ignored this, turning to analysing himself. He noticed his odd acting out all of a sudden, but couldn't figure out why. Unsure of what to answer, he just shrugged and went to go call Strong Bad. He'd have peace and quiet in the house all afternoon to ponder his strange behaviour anyway.

The older brother obviously heard Homestar's voice because he's ended up nearly bowling over the youngest while coming down the stairs. Homestar's already cheerful face seemed to light up even more. "Hey Stwo Bwo!"

"Don't." Was the immediate (secretly affectionate) reply, meaning the speech impediment was only going to irritate Strong Bad today. He tried to hide his eagerness, but looked at the door expectantly. "I've been so fricken bored today." The smile that Strong Bad had on his face gave it away. He'd been missing Homestar.

Homestar was about to follow Strong Bad out the door when he suddenly remembered something. "Oh yeah, Strong Sad? Homeschool wanted his CDs back. Or to give you new ones. Whichever." After that he was promptly tugged out the door and it was shut.

Strong Sad managed to figure out the basic outline of what Homestar said. He had been sort of invited to Homeschool's house, in a way. Homeschool would probably be back around four, so he could go then. But he knew that his brother would be all over his boyfriend when they got back tonight. He should try to stay long enough until he had a clear zone to run to his room. Almost shuddering at the thought of them actually being in his room, Strong Sad decided he should lock his door before he leaves.

This was actually pretty perfect for him, seeing as now he'd be able to ask for help without seeming too creepy. Well actually he would anyway. But what does it matter if he's seen as creepy? Everyone already thought he was. The idea of Homeschool thinking he was weird unsettled Strong Sad. It was probably just his new-found friend confusion again. Nothing serious.

There was still just over an hour to kill, he might as well do some work for school. He had classes all of the next day, but only a morning class on Wednesday. He could sort out the massive order of cupcakes then. Just the idea of baking cupcakes not by himself was almost exciting. Strong Sad had been getting closer and closer to emotions he wasn't used to, and it started to get increasingly unsettling. What was happening to him? He wasn't sure what was going on in his own head. It felt like puberty all over again. That was hell, so it better not happen again. No wait what? Scientifically it can't. What was he thinking? So irrational. Stupid.

Strong Sad stopped the semi-argument he was having with himself in his mind, and decided it would be safest to go calm down while listening to some music. That classical music Homeschool gave him. It was soothing. Yes. That's a good plan. He made his way up the stairs and put the music on. He didn't mean to fall asleep, it happened so quickly. He only meant to close his eyes for a second. Obviously the sleep was needed, but it wasn't exactly a good time. He dreamed of a grey-looking lake filled with purple sponges. It was a weird dream.