Chapter four
"This means war."
When Arthur and Robert got home, Robert exclaimed, "I don't believe it! The nerve of some people!"
Arthur asked, "What do you mean? I'm confused."
"Of course you are!" Robert retorted. He sighed, then asked Arthur, "Is Sue Ellen the geek type?"
"No." Arthur replied.
"AHA! Exactly! They're newest tactic involves pretense."
"What kind of pretense?" Arthur asked.
"Sue Ellen's no geek girl! In fact, being geek is Greek to her! So then, one has to wonder, why?" Robert said, finishing thoughtfully.
"Why what?" Arthur was tired of this. He wanted to be told already.
"Why would Sue Ellen come dressed in a Dark Bunny shirt, with a matching skirt, stocking, and boot combo!?" Robert's voice was strong, booming like an attorney who had very undisputable evidence.
"I don't know!" Arthur said.
"She's trying to make you notice her!"
"But, I see her all the time." Arthur said.
Robert slapped both his hands on his face, and practically yelled, "NOT LIKE THAT!"
"Then like what?" Arthur just wasn't getting it.
Robert rubbed his nose, and said, "Sue Ellen. Wants you. To take her. To Prom."
"I already know that."
"Good!" Robert said. "But now she's getting blatant. We have to keep sharp, only one day remains. Either she asks you outright, or you go to prom a solo act."
Arthur cringed at the words "solo act". That would be embarrassing, and Robert would never let him live it down, never minding the rest.
Wednesday ended, with Arthur now hoping Sue Ellen would ask him about prom.
When Arthur woke up, he and his siblings found their dad gone, along with their mom.
"Where's Dad?" Kate asked. "He usually makes us breakfast."
"If he's not here," DW's eyes widened in realization. "We wont have breakfast! We'll starve!"
Robert rolled his eyes, an expression he made often when dealing with DW. "Oh please." He muttered, walking off to find some cereal to eat.
"DW, there's cereal in the house. I know you're old enough to pour yourself a bowl. You've been doing it since you were four!" Arthur walked off to Benji's room to change his little brother's diaper, a task that seemed necessary, if Benji's crying was anything to go by.
In the kitchen, Robert was reading the paper, munching on cereal, when David entered through the back door. When Robert saw David, the spoon in his flew out, with him falling out of his chair.
David looked stunned as the rest off his kids came into the kitchen. He said, "I didn't think you guys would be up yet."
Arthur asked, "Where's Mom?"
"Your mother is in the hospital, she should be back with us by Saturday."
"Is it serious?" DW asked.
"No, DW. Your mother, like I said, will be fine, you don't need to worry about her."
"Can we visit her?" Kate asked.
"Um, no Kate. I think it's best if you kids gave your mother some time by herself. But don't worry, I'll be sure to tell you her condition next time I go." David said, grabbing the necessary tools for eating cereal.
When the Read boys got to Elwood City High, Arthur went straight to his locker. He was taken aback by what he saw.
On his lock was a note, saying,
Arthur, I really like you (S)
"Huh?" Arthur said aloud. "That's weird." Arthur said, shoving the note in his pocket.
He walked into the cafeteria when Jade walked up to Arthur, handing him a pink sticky note.
"Someone," Jade winked, "Asked me to give you this. See you in class." Jade walked off.
Arthur looked at the note, it had the same handwriting as the previous one.
You respect people and their property, (U)
Arthur was nervous, this was getting serious.
He went to sit down next to Luke, who passed him a note. "Don't ask. I'm not telling."
Arthur looked at the note. "This is a prom invite. To some girl named Lauren."
Luke flushed bright red and quickly snatched the note from Arthur. "Weren't supposed to see that. Here's your note." Luke passed him another pink sticky.
The note read,
You don't care about your appearance, (E)
"Hmm." Arthur said before stuffing the note in his pocket. He was beginning to sense a pattern here.
When the bell rang, he went to his history class. When he took his seat, yet another pink sticky was sitting on his desk.
Arthur tapped his desk, his mouth in a frown. He picked up the note and read it.
This one had more letters, and more lines.
Your popularity, (E)
Or your bad experiences, (L)
You take the time, (L)
To help others(E)
And I like you for that. (N)
PS: I'd like to go to prom with you!
Arthur's jaw hit the table, metaphorically, of course. When Robert sat down next to Arthur, his eyes went wide. "Mother of Grace and Mercy!"
"Shush!" Arthur whispered. He pulled out the other three notes, and showed Robert. "Is that asking me enough?" He said. Robert closed his eyes in defeat.
"She wins." He said.
After history, Arthur walked up to Sue Ellen. "Hey Sue Ellen! Would you like to go to Prom with me?"
Sue Ellen nearly squealed with joy as she replied, "Yes! Of course Arthur!"
"I'll see you Friday." He said, walking off. When Sue Ellen turned around, she accidently elbowed Fern in the stomach, who fell down on her knees.
"He asked me!" Sue Ellen told her friend.
"I'm so. Happy for you!" Fern got out between pants.
Sue Ellen then rushed off to her next class, feeling like she was walking on air, leaving a gasping Fern in her wake.
At lunch, Buster, Luke, Richard, Arthur, and Robert were sitting at their usual table, talking about their classes.
"I mean, we went from Napoleon, to Robert E Lee and Ulysses Grant in whoo!" Robert said, thrusting his hand backwards. "I'm feeling like I rode in the darn Delorean!"
Luke was looking in his hand. He then got up, and said, "Excuse me for a second."
Robert watched Luke go from his seat, to a table on the other side of the cafeteria. Luke approached a brown haired girl, who took a note from Luke, and then kissed him.
Robert muttered, "Well I'll be a monkey's uncle."
Arthur asked, "What is it with you?"
Robert said, "I just like dragging things out. Why?"
Arthur shook his head, as Luke returned to the table. He cleared his throat then asked, "Any observations from math?"
When Robert and Arthur got home, Robert said, "Y'know Arthur, you did well. But next time, try and catch on a little faster."
Arthur then asked Robert, "What if I want to hang out with Sue Ellen regularly, after prom's over?"
"You mean like date Sue Ellen?" Robert asked, looking shocked.
"Yeah."
Robert tsked and said, "We'll see Arthur. We'll see."
A/N: The inviting is done, thank goodness. Now comes PROM! And afterward, Arthur and Sue Ellen may develop their relationship, cause y'know, why the hay not? Benji of course belongs to DASL, but in order for me to use him without guilt(of not crediting DASL), I will say that, I have asked her if it was okay to use him in my stories. She said "yes", so I'm using him. But for now, his appearances are small. He may get a big role one day, but not for a while. So, just enjoy his appearances for now. Okay, I'm done rambling, REVIEW!