Tootie sat on her bed and looked over her notes. It was a little before ten at night on a Friday and she was sure she had forgotten something... But she couldn't place what it was. "Grr... what am I forgetting?!"
Tap
Earlier that day, she and Timmy had worked together to test out a love potion on resident popular princess Trixie Tang and her blonde lieutenant, Veronica Star. The plan was for Trixie to fall in love with Chad, and Veronica to fall in love with Tad- "Or was it the other way around? ...Doesn't matter." The point was, the plan misfired slightly. Veronica looked at Trixie, and Trixie at Veronica, causing the two girls to become smitten with each other.
Tap
While it did help Tootie prove that the potion could bring together two people of the same sex; it didn't really provide any information other than that. She had originally intended to give the two girls the antidote, but Timmy talked her out of it with minimal effort, being a self-admitted pervert. "Hm... Oh! Now I remember! Those two didn't feel any sort of romantic feelings for each other before they drank the potion, so when they drank it, they became really nervous! That's what I forgot to write down!" True, it didn't seem important to most people, but Tootie enjoyed testing the limits and effects of the potions she brewed. To her, this was a big deal.
Tap
"Now, I just need to figure out where they tend to go on the weekend and how to tail them without being seen... Hm... I also have to compensate for Timmy assisting me and-"
TAP
Tootie sighed loudly and walked over to her window and lifted it open. "Vicky's room is on the other side Timmy..." Tootie had already known it was Timmy making those tapping sounds on her window, she had just hoped that he'd get the hint and try the other window on his own.
"Oh... Thanks, Tootie!"
"Mm-hm." she watched as Timmy ran to the other side of the house, then closed her window once he was out of sight. "Figures. Now that we're just friends, he's acting all romantic... except it's toward Vicky!" It didn't really bother her that Timmy was dating Vicky. She already told him that she thought it was great. It just really really caught her off guard. Vicky admitting to her that she kinda liked him, then yesterday telling Tootie that Timmy admitted his feelings to her. She was happy for her sister and ex-crush. Timmy especially, what with his two best friends packing up and moving away, he was becoming really depressed, even if he would never admit it to anyone.
Tootie laid down on her bed, ready for sleep at last; she heard Vicky grumbling from her room. "Looks like he woke her up. Hope she doesn't kill him." Tootie giggled and closed her eyes, letting sleep take her after a few minutes.
The next day...
Tootie sat up and stretched. Her alarm clock read ten-forty. "Good. That'll give Timmy plenty of time to sleep in, so he can't complain." Tootie grabbed some clothes and went to take a shower, then gathered up her notes and backpack and knocked on Vicky's door. "Vicky? Can you give me a ride to Timmy's house? We have a project to work on."
Tootie heard an annoyed sounding groan from the other side of the door, then grumbling, followed by shuffling footsteps and the door unlocking. What greeted her on the other side was not Vicky, however.
It was Timmy. "Oh. Hey Tootie."
"Wha? Why are you-? You slept over?" Tootie looked past Timmy and into her sister's room. Vicky was lying on the bed, leaning on her elbow and looking at Tootie. "...What else did you do?" a sly smirk worked its way across Tootie's face.
"N-nothing! I just slept with her!" Timmy held up his hands in defense.
Tootie's smirk broke into a full-blown smile.
"...Not like that..." Timmy spoke tiredly.
"Hope you weren't too hard on him sis!"
"Keep your perverted thoughts to yourself..." Vicky waved Tootie away and laid back down.
"At any rate... I have to borrow your boyfriend for a school project, hope you don't mind."
"Fine, but I'm not giving you a ride anywhere, you lost that privilege."
"I have to go home and change first." Timmy grabbed his coat and shoes.
"No need! I happen to be prepared for this situation!" Tootie ran down the hall and into her room, followed very slowly and cautiously by Timmy.
Sticking his head in the doorway to her room, he spoke: "I'm not wearing your clothes, Tootie."
"Who said anything about my clothes?" Tootie came out of her closet holding a pink shirt and blue jeans.
"...Why do you have these?" Timmy pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I... appropriated them from your house back when I had a crush on you... Er... sorry."
"I don't know why I'm surprised..." Timmy took the clothes and went to the bathroom to change.
Tootie left her room and returned to her sister's room. "So?"
"So what?" Vicky spoke in a voice muffled from being under several blankets.
"You guys go on a little date?"
"He took me stargazing."
"And...?"
"And what?"
"Was it nice? Did you enjoy it? Did he go in for a kiss?"
"Yes, yes, no."
"Aww! Did you intimidate him?"
"I didn't do anything. It was just a mildly romantic night under the stars." Vicky threw the blanket off herself. "Why are you borrowing him exactly?"
"Told you, school project. We're observing the effects of a love potion on our fellow classmates."
"You're serious?"
"Yup. Should be fun."
"Why's that? Who did you use it on?"
"Trixie and Veronica." Tootie smirked at Vicky.
"That's just evil." Vicky shook her head.
"I know. But look at my role model."
"Can't argue that."
"You sure you can't give us a ride?"
Vicky sighed at her sister. "Fine." she stood up and put the clothes she had worn the night before back on. "This time."
Timmy entered the room now. "All set?"
"Yeah! I got us a ride too!"
"Oh? Thanks Vicky."
"Mm."
"Hey! What about me?"
"I'm driving you two scientists around. Sounds like I'm doing most of the work. C'mon." Vicky led the two teens out of the house and to her car. "Where are we going anyway?"
Tootie got in the front seat with Vicky, while Timmy got in the back, much as he didn't want to. "I say... the Mall. That's where those two are most likely going to be; either shopping, or on a date."
Vicky pulled out of the driveway and began the short drive to the mall. "How did you two even get this to work? Were they really gullible enough to drink some strange liquid that Tootie mixed up?"
"Not exactly. A couple of creative lies in chemistry class were in order..." Timmy spoke up. "Your sister nearly made Trixie fall in love with me..."
Vicky narrowed her eyes at Tootie.
"What? I said I was sorry! Besides, you mean she almost fell back in love with you."
"No, I don't. What Trixie and I had... whatever it was, it wasn't love."
"And what about what Vicky and you have?"
"What about it?" Vicky spoke up. "I don't see what Timmy and I have to do with-"
"Are you two in love?" Tootie smirked at her sister.
Vicky and Timmy both blushed red. "Tootie, another comment like that and you can get out of the car."
Tootie fell silent after that, knowing that that wasn't an idle threat.
A few minutes later, they had arrived at the mall and Tootie got out of the car, Timmy attempted to follow, though he had to climb into the front seat from the back. He had made it into the front only to be stopped by Vicky's hand on his shoulder. "Make sure she doesn't get into any trouble."
"Sure, no problem."
"Thanks." Vicky kissed him on the cheek before releasing his shoulder and allowing him to get out of the car. "Call me later if you guys need to be picked up."
"Okay, see you later." he watched Vicky drive off before walking over to Tootie, who was near the mall entrance. "Ready to get started?"
"What exactly did you two do? Why is Vicky acting so... not Icky?"
"We didn't 'do' anything. I took her out on a quick little date, then she refused to take me home, so I had to sleep over. How was I supposed to know she'd be so nice? I honestly expected her to be a bit more violent or possessive, but... she's actually pretty normal."
"'Normal' and 'Vicky' don't sound like they should go in the same sentence. You didn't slip her a little bit of leftover love potion, did you?"
"No, I didn't need to. Whatever crazy thing caused us to enter into this relationship, whether it was planetary alignment, or some weird spell, or just dumb luck; it doesn't matter to me. She's happy, and I'm happy."
"Spoken like a true sappy romantic."
"Can we just get this over with?!"
"Lets."
The two entered the mall and wandered through a clothing store until coming to the actual mall entrance. "Any idea where they might be?"
"Oh, they're not here yet." Tootie remarked nonchalantly as she walked in the direction toward the food court.
"Then why exactly are we here so early? I thought they'd be here?"
"You kidding? Trixie and Veronica both like to sleep in, they probably won't be here until noon at the earliest."
"...I'm a little disturbed that you know their sleeping schedules."
"Know yours too. But that's because of the crush I had on you."
"And as for their schedules?"
"Well, Trixie and Veronica were my biggest competitors for your heart in middle school. It was important for me to know when they got up so that I could get to you first."
"I'd be impressed if I wasn't so creeped out. So if they aren't here yet, where do you plan on going and what do you plan on doing until they do get here?"
"Well I figured we could go to the food court since I haven't had breakfast yet; and I assume you haven't either?"
"No. I was sleeping comfortably until you woke me up."
"You promised you'd help me with my project."
"I'm here, aren't I?"
"So let's get breakfast!" Tootie said excitedly as they came upon a Nasty Burger. "Why do we always find ourselves eating at this place? The name itself should drive us away."
"Because as bad as this food is for us, it's also frickin' amazingly delicious."
Tootie and Timmy ordered several breakfast sandwiches for themselves and sat down across from each other at one of the tables in the food court. "So." Timmy began. "How are things going?"
"Well... we still have a couple days before the potion wears off, and I don't know what'll happen once it does... Maybe those two will like each other for real? It would prove the effectiveness of the potion... But I hope there aren't any side effects from the two of them being given separate doses... This is all new to me and-"
"I meant life in general. We don't always have to talk about your weird experiments."
"Oh. Um... Fine. I'm doing pretty well in all the classes we don't share, and you know I'm doing well in the classes we do share..."
"Haven't heard from Chester or AJ?" Timmy's voice took on a much more somber tone now.
"No... You?" the mentioning of their friends even caused Tootie's normally upbeat attitude to fade.
"Nope. I guess... this is just the way things are. Friendships aren't meant to last forever. People grow apart, and sometimes they don't feel like trying to make it keep going..."
"That's not gonna happen to us, is it?"
"No... Of course not! You're my best friend, and you always will be. Wherever you and Vicky go, I go. Simple as that."
Tootie looked at Timmy and smiled warmly. She remembered why she had the crush on him all those years ago as her heart let out a tiny flutter. The barest hint that showed that her affections for him, though waning, were still there. But she knew better than to act on them now. Vicky and Timmy were happy together, she wasn't going to ruin that and risk the relationship with Timmy or her sister. "I'm glad." she looked past Timmy now to see Tad and Chad walking their way. "Darn it! We need disguises, quick!"
"What? Why?" Timmy turned around as he followed Tootie's gaze to see the two original targets of their little prank. "Why do we need disguises? It's just Tad and Chad..."
"But they're gonna get suspicious if they see us following their girlfriends around!"
"So what do you propose we do?!" Timmy was panicking now, but only because Tootie was, he was not actually worried about being discovered too much, since it meant he could go home... or better yet, back to Vicky and Tootie's house.
"Gimme your hat!"
"My hat?" before he could act, Tootie snatched his favorite pink hat off his head and put it on hers, then took off her purple tortoiseshell glasses and put them on Timmy's face, she took an extra moment to adjust them before giving a look of approval and sitting back down in her seat calmly. "This'll never work!"
"Shush!" Tootie went back to eating her breakfast sandwich and pretended Tad and Chad simply weren't there, an action that was quickly mimicked by Timmy.
The two rich snobs didn't even take notice of their classmates' presence and simply continued walking deeper into the mall.
"I can not believe that worked." Timmy shook his head and took off Tootie's glasses.
"Shows you how smart they are. Here." Tootie returned Timmy's hat as he returned her glasses. "You look weird with girls' glasses."
"You look weird in a pink hat."
"I think you mean: Cute."
"No, weird is what I meant."
"Hey!" Tootie laughed and threw her sandwich at Timmy, which he caught.
"Thanks, I'm still pretty hungry." Timmy began eating Tootie's sandwich.
"I already bit into that!"
"Oh no! Now I'm gonna get cooties!" Timmy took another bite of the sandwich.
"But! That's like us kissing or something!"
"It really isn't."
"Well give it back then- Oh! Look who finally showed up!" Tootie pointed toward the store they had come in from at Trixie and Veronica, who were now holding hands again. "I told you they'd show up."
"That's nice." Timmy continued eating the sandwich.
"Hey! You were more interested yesterday!"
"I'm still interested, but the brain doesn't think very well without energy, so if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna finish eating your sandwich."
"..."
"Yes, that came out sounding kinda wrong."
"Well hurry up! We don't want to lose them!" Tootie stood up from the table and paced back and forth impatiently.
"You gonna eat your hash browns?"
"Argh! We don't have time for this!" Tootie yanked Timmy out of his seat and he grabbed his orange juice as she did. "You can eat another time, we have to follow those two!"
"You're starting to act like Vicky in your old age..."
"I'm gonna hit you..." Tootie pulled him along through the mall, holding his hand rather tightly as she did.
The action would've normally made Timmy a bit flustered, but his burgeoning relationship with Vicky and near-kinship with Tootie pushed such feelings away.
"Ugh! We lost them!"
"Why not try some of the stores they go to?"
"Which stores would those be?"
"I dunno." Timmy shrugged as he sipped his juice. "I thought you knew everything there was to know about these two?"
"No, I know everything about you. There's a difference."
"Can't we just give up and call it a day?"
"You just wanna cuddle with my sister!"
"...Well, yeah... Isn't it obvious?"
"You agreed to help, we're not leaving until we see the full range of effects that the potion has on these two, so-" Tootie gasped. "Get down!" she shoved Timmy into one of the large planters in the mall and dove in after him.
"Tootie, what was tha- Mmph..." Timmy stopped as Tootie's hand fell over his mouth to silence him.
"Shush!"
Timmy moved her hand away and crawled over to the edge of the planter to look between the large leaves of whatever weird tropical plant he found himself next to. Walking by were Trixie and Veronica, once again holding hands, once again looking at each other the way Tootie used to look at him. "How did they get behind us- Oof!"
"Shh! You're gonna get us spotted!" Tootie had decided to take up residence on Timmy's back as he laid on his stomach watching their two targets.
"What are you doing?" Timmy glanced to his left, Tootie was resting her head on his shoulder, trying to get a better look at her chemistry project gone awry.
"Trying to observe!"
"Get off."
"Pfft. Like we've never been this close before." Tootie pressed her cheek against Timmy's, mostly because she knew it would cause him to get all the more flustered.
"You're so weird." Timmy chuckled, definitely not the response she expected.
"So like, what do you wanna do next?"
The brunet and his raven-haired companion turned their attention to Veronica and Trixie. Both were carrying large shopping bags from some clothing store they must've gone to.
"Hm... It seems the love potion didn't affect their behavior when it comes to shopping... unless they bought things for each other... Still, it seems they're both still shopaholics and- Are you writing this down?" Tootie gave Timmy a stern look.
"No."
"Why not?!" she whispered loudly. "We need to keep a record of our observations!"
"I'll remember it, don't worry."
"You'd better... Anyway, they're still acting a bit shy around each other, but they seem to be in the actual 'dating' phase of their relationship. Holding hands, exchanging nervous glances... Which one would you say is the... Um... Which one wears the pants?"
"They're both wearing skirts."
Tootie butted the side of her head into Timmy's. "Smartass. I know they're both wearing skirts, I mean, in your opinion, which one of them is the 'boy'?"
"Hm..." Timmy positioned his arms underneath his chin to act as a crude pillow.
"Well said."
"Gimme a few minutes."
Tootie huffed impatiently, but fell silent.
Their two targets were currently sitting at one of the mall's many benches and gossiping about the various boys in their classes. Odd behavior, considering the fact that the only thing they should be particularly interested in is each other. "You think the potion is wearing off?" Timmy glanced over at Tootie.
"Maybe... But it shouldn't be. Even though the doses we gave them were pretty small, it should last-"
Trixie leaned over and kissed Veronica on the cheek, eliciting a squeak of surprise from the blonde and a blush from both parties.
"I'm gonna go ahead and say Veronica wears the pants." Timmy spoke up now.
"Agreed. Trixie's bold, but she seems to follow Veronica's lead... Oh! I can't believe we missed this!"
"What?" Timmy asked.
"They've reversed their roles! Remember how Veronica used to listen to Trixie all the time? Now Trixie is following Veronica around like she's the leader, or y'know, the boy."
Trixie and Veronica stood up from the bench and began walking deeper into the mall.
"They're on the move! C'mon!" Tootie looped her arms around Timmy's neck and squeezed his midsection with her knees.
"I look like a horse to you?"
"Giddyup!" Tootie repeated her previous action as Timmy crawled out of the planter, still carrying his friend on his back. He then got out and stood up, before unceremoniously dropping her on the floor, causing her to land on her rear end. "Ow..."
"I'm not your faithful steed." he offered her his hand to help her up.
"Dick." Tootie accepted his hand and rubbed her sore behind.
"Guilty as charged."
This 'Harmless Observation', as Tootie called it, continued for the better part of three hours as Timmy and Tootie followed the blonde and her new girlfriend around the mall, going to various shops and kiosks. They had almost gotten caught a few times, which usually ended with Tootie pushing him into a planter and landing on top of him, or into a photo booth, or even once into the women's bathroom, much to his chagrin.
"I thought you wanted to be discreet?" Timmy asked as he and Tootie hid behind a table that she had recently flipped over.
"We are being discre-"
"No we aren't! How is flipping a table discreet?!"
"Yelling isn't gonna help..." Tootie looked over the table to see Trixie and Veronica talking to Tad and Chad. "Ooh! Look at this!"
Timmy peeked over the table at the four rich teens. "So? They're talking. Pretty uninteresting if you ask me..."
"But Tad just asked Trixie why she suddenly likes girls!"
"And?" Timmy was now reclining behind the table with his arms behind his head.
"How can you be so uninterested in all this? I thought two girls going at it was every male's fantasy?"
"First of all, they aren't 'going at' anything. Second, I have a girlfriend. Third, even if I didn't, there's no room in there for me. Generally when two girls like each other, it's because they don't want a guy..." Timmy rubbed his chin in thought. "Speaking of which... Anybody special in your life?"
"What do you mean?" Tootie slumped back down behind the table.
"I mean... Anybody you like? Besides me, of course."
"Nope. I'm fine though, if I ever need someone like that, I'll just tie you to a bed and do stuff to you."
"Once again blurring the line between friendship and creepy stalker..."
"I wouldn't be me otherwise. You think what you and Vicky have is love?"
"I thought we agreed not to talk about this?" Timmy's face had a light dusting of pink on it.
"I didn't agree to anything. I merely stopped talking about it around Vicky to avoid getting kicked out of the car. So...?"
"Can we not do this?"
"Nah, we got time while those four talk about how rich they are, plus you aren't even interested in our little project, so let's talk about you and my sister."
"Look, I don't know what Vicky and I have, okay? It's a bit too early to call it love, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I like her. She was being... well, her normal self around me just the other day. Then we have a short chat about... some stuff... on my roof and we're suddenly together. I still half-expect to wake up in my bed every now and then..."
Tootie leaned over and pinched Timmy's arm.
"Ouch!"
"That's for dropping me, and confirms that you're not dreaming."
"Thanks. I think."
"Anytime. So, was I right? About Vicky and how she appreciates spontaneity?"
"Yeah, you were right."
"Score! More proof that I'm the perceptive one in our group!"
"Like, what are you two doing?"
Timmy and Tootie froze as they heard Veronica's California girl accent.
Tootie, being the smart one in the group spoke up first, and immediately proved that she was undeserving of the title. "We're... on a date?" she heard Timmy slap his hand over his face.
"Oh. Well... good for you two I guess? I like, always knew you two would make a good couple."
"Veronicaaa! C'mon, they have a photo booth!" Timmy and Tootie heard Trixie call from the other side of the table they were still hiding behind.
"Coming Trixie! See you two later!"
Timmy listened closely as Veronica walked away.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Oh, just Timmy and Tootie, I guess they finally decided to give in to all that tension between them and go out, it's kinda cute actually..."
"It must be our love doing that! It's infectious!" the two girls walked away and Timmy narrowed his eyes at Tootie.
"What?" she looked at him sheepishly.
"You just told the two biggest gossip queens of our school that you and I are dating. What part of that seemed like a good idea?!"
"Oh calm down. Most everyone already thinks we're an item anyway. It's not like we gave them a huge piece of gossip..."
"Except you just confirmed it! Even though it isn't true!"
"I don't see what the big deal is..."
"You aren't dating Vicky!"
"Well of course not. That would be... just... ew." Tootie gagged for emphasis.
"You realize that if this information somehow finds its way back to her, I'm basically dead, right?"
"You'll be fine. I'll clear up any misunderstandings that happen to find their way to her, don't worry."
Timmy sighed as he stood up and placed the knocked over table back on its legs. "I'm having trouble deciding if I should thank you for clearing things up, or if I should just leave before you get us into further trouble..."
"Need I remind you that you said you'd help me?"
"I know..."
"Would a hug make you feel better?"
"Not really-"
"Too bad!" Tootie sprang forward and wrapped her arms around Timmy. "You know I give the best hugs!"
Timmy groaned at first, then returned the hug when it seemed like she wouldn't let go unless he did. He'd never be able to figure this girl out; usually, she acted like his best friend, he was a lot closer to her than he had ever been with Chester and AJ, but there were little moments every now and then where she acted like a bit more than just a friend. She was sometimes weird stalker that wanted to molest him Tootie, most times regular best friend Tootie, other times she acted like his sister, and finally she acted like they were either together, or friends with benefits, though he had never taken her up on her offers, thinking they were likely made in jest. His thought process was interrupted as he felt her hand slip lower. "Tootie."
Tootie ignored him and nuzzled her face into his neck.
"Tootie, get your hand off my ass."
"Too much?"
"Too much."
"'Kay!" Tootie pulled away to show she was sporting an evil grin. "Just wanted to know what the limit was."
"Hand on my ass isn't okay."
That was how Tootie loved pushing the envelope. Blurring the line between friendship and... something else... was her specialty. That and being smart.
"You're no fun." Tootie pouted.
"If I'm no fun, then you're too much fun."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Hey, do you two nerds know what's going on with Trixie and Veronica?"
Tootie spun around to see Tad and Chad, they both looked a bit annoyed, but that wasn't a surprise. The two rich teens never liked Timmy and his group of friends. While Trixie and Veronica at least feigned being nice, Tad and Chad always preferred to be unpleasant and insult them at every chance they got.
"Why do you assume we know?" Tootie asked warily.
"Because Chad said he saw you two give Trixie and Veronica some weird pink stuff shortly before they started acting... Different. And Veronica was just over here taking to you two like you're old friends. Sounds like you two must've had something to do with their... behavior."
"It was an energy booster, last I checked, those don't make two normally straight girls into lesbians, nor do they affect their moods to the point of wanting to be friends with people that they normally don't associate with."
"Well neither of them has ever had any tendencies like this before, so it must be something that you two losers did."
Timmy felt himself quickly growing bored with this conversation as his imagination took over. He imagined Tad and Chad talking at the same time, and mirroring each others actions.
"Right, Timmy?"
"Huh? Sorry, I was... somewhere else."
"I was saying that we have no idea why Trixie and Veronica are suddenly super in to each other. Right?"
"That's right. I can assure you that what Tootie gave them was just an energy booster, as she said."
"Listen you!" Tad stepped forward toward Tootie, and Timmy stepped in front of her, his brotherly instinct kicking into gear.
"I suggest you watch your tone and actions." Timmy knew he wasn't exactly well-built, nor was he intimidating in the least, but he wasn't about to allow either of these two near Tootie.
"Protecting your girlfriend? Always knew you two losers would end up together."
"I don't see how my relationship with Tootie comes into play here, so unless you've got something to say, piss off."
"We both know you had something to do with the way Trixie and Veronica are acting! You two had better stay away from them if you know what's good for you!" the duo glared at Timmy and Tootie for several more seconds before walking off into the mall.
"I could've handled them..."
"I know you could." Timmy turned around to face Tootie. "But I told Vicky I'd make sure you stayed out of trouble. I'm sure he wouldn't have actually hit you, but... when he suddenly stepped toward you like that... I guess I just had a bit of a knee-jerk reaction."
"Aw... you feeling protective for your lil' sis?" Tootie's voice took on a more child-like quality. "Would it be wrong for me to call you Onii-chan?"
"With our relationship and your advances? Very."
"Oh well, a girl can dream. Now let's go!" Tootie grabbed Timmy's hand and began pulling him along.
"Where are we going now?"
"We need to continue observing our experiment, and I have a feeling that I know where they'll be going next!"
Tootie led Timmy ever deeper into the mall until they at last came upon an area that wasn't unlike the food court with many different tables to sit at, but no fast food restaurants to order from. "So... where are Trixie and Veronica?"
Tootie didn't respond, but pointed to a nearby photo booth.
"You sure?"
Both suddenly heard very girlish giggling coming from the booth.
"It's like you have some kind of radar for these two."
"Sit down over here!" Tootie yanked him over to a bench and pushed him into it, then sat down sideways in his lap.
"No."
"Just go with it!"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because you're just giving those two more ammo, and making me dig my grave even deeper!" Timmy lifted Tootie up and repositioned her so she was sitting next to him. "Why do you insist on being even more... insane than usual?"
"We need to avoid blowing our cover! If we look like just another couple, those two will think that their infectious love is in the air, and they won't suspect that we had something to do with them getting together. Make sense?"
Timmy sighed and put his arm around Tootie's shoulders. "I'm beginning to think you're playing some kind of game with me here..."
"Nope. Just having a little fun at your expense." Tootie snuggled closer to Timmy in his grip. "I know it seems like I'm... well, doing what you said it seems like I'm doing, but I have no intention of screwing things up between you and Vicky, I promise."
"Then what is it?"
"Hm?"
"We know each other well enough by now, so don't try and tell me something isn't bothering you."
"I guess... it's everything. I know I said I'd do my best to help you get through Chester and AJ leaving... but when we talked today... it made me remember how things used to be, when they were still around. Things were so much easier back then. All we worried about was doing good on tests, avoiding Francis, dealing with Crocker... Now though, now we worry about whether we'll ever see each other again."
"I told you, I'm not going anywhere-"
"I know. I'm just trying to say..." Tootie looked up at Timmy, almost like she was afraid to. "I'm not always the bubbly, upbeat girl that you see almost everyday. And us hanging out like this... maybe I'm taking advantage a little, because I'm scared of us not being friends, or growing apart, or... I don't know."
Timmy chuckled to himself after a moment.
"What? Why are you laughing?"
"It's nothing. I... haven't been a good friend, that's all. I didn't realize that Chester and AJ leaving bothered you too. I should've... but I guess I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts. I didn't think about how it might be affecting you." Timmy leaned into Tootie and rested his head against hers. "Sorry."
"I hate to put you on the spot, but can I ask you a favor... Or... well, more like a promise?"
"What're friends for?"
"I know that... we can't be together, I made peace with that a while ago. But... promise me we'll always be together... as friends."
How odd this girl could be at times... Earlier she was all confident about following Trixie and Veronica around, or being flirty with Timmy, yet now here she was doing a complete heel turn and being shy and pensive.
"Timmy?"
Right, she still wanted an answer. "I promise." How could he not? He hadn't even meant to hesitate, but had gotten lost in his thoughts after she asked.
"Thanks... Oh, don't look now, but the lovebirds are on the move." Tootie pointed at Trixie and Veronica, who had just exited the photo booth.
"Now... what'll happen if we don't give them the antidote?"
"Well... like I said, it should pass through their systems within the next few days, why?"
"I'm just wondering if giving the potion to two people might have a different effect. Could the potion actually make two people fall in love in a more permanent-type way?"
"Hm... I... never thought about that! Normally, you use it on someone that you want to fall in love with you, so you only use one dose, but since we used a dose on each of them... They might fall in love for reals, or they might fall out of love once it wears off. I for one hope it sticks."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I don't particularly like Trixie, but Veronica hasn't really wronged me in any way... Other than being competition for getting you. I'm a firm believer that everyone should have someone... Well, except the real assholes, but that's a different story."
"They're looking over here again."
"Well... you're still holding me..."
"I can't exactly break character now!"
Veronica smiled and waved at Timmy and Tootie. "You two make a really cute couple!"
Tootie glanced over at Timmy. "Just go with it..." she whispered to him.
"I know..." Timmy whispered back before yelling over to Veronica. "Thanks! You two do too!"
"Smooth..."
"Shut up..." Timmy looked over at the two girls, who were now walking toward them. "Now what?"
"Y'know..." Trixie began. "Tad and Chad mentioned that you two have been following us around a lot lately... They said that you two have something- And I quote, 'Sinister' planned. They also said that you two aren't really together, that it must be a cover to get close to us and lure us into a false sense of security."
"...Okay..."
"So are you two together?"
"Does it look like we are?"
"Sure." Trixie shrugged. "But looks can be deceiving. Maybe you two are just trying to lure us into a false sense of security..."
"Trixie come on." Veronica placed her hand on her friend/girlfriend's shoulder. "I'm sure it's just Tad and Chad screwing around, you know they never liked Timmy and his friends."
Timmy was glad Veronica was such an understanding(and gullible) individual, but was surprised that Trixie was suddenly so bold. Why was she asking these questions now?
"I'm well aware of how those two are. But these two have been following us around all day, that can't be a coincidence."
"It could be." Timmy shrugged.
"Okay, maybe it could, but I want a little proof that you two are together."
"Fuck..." Timmy thought to himself. "I know I'm gonna regret this, but... what'd you have in mind?"
"Nothing too bad... Just... a kiss?"
"Should've known..." Timmy looked at Tootie, who was currently giving him a very unsure look. "Do I stay in character... or do we abort?" If only she could read his thoughts.
Even Tootie wasn't sure what to do in this situation. While it was true that this would have been pretty much the best thing ever for her a few years ago, now it was... Well, something to be avoided, at the very least.
"Well...?" Trixie was enjoying this just a little too much, judging by the tone of her voice.
"I'm... not much of an exhibitionist."
Tootie began to speak, but Timmy silenced her with his finger on her lips.
"And neither is she."
"Mm..." Tootie narrowed he eyes at Timmy.
"Nope, we're perfectly happy just hanging out with each other, not showing off our love. It's simpler that way, and I don't have to worry about people talking about us being together."
"But you two are together, right?"
"In the sense that I'm sitting next to Tootie, with my arm around her, yes."
"I mean as a couple. Normally when two people are together, they don't use such evasive language and are a bit more affectionate then you two are."
Timmy felt Tootie nudge him with her elbow.
He had a feeling he'd regret the action he was about to perform. No, he knew he'd regret it. But he did promise to help Tootie with her god-forsaken experiment... And that did mean doing their best to stay in character...
Timmy leaned a bit closer to Tootie, before being stunned as she leaned forward and kissed him on the lips, then pulled away quickly. "Happy?" She glared at Trixie and Veronica.
"Suppose so." Trixie shrugged. "Though I've been more intimate with Veronica in the past."
"Well good for you." Tootie rolled her eyes.
Trixie smirked and walked off.
Veronica watched her walk away, then turned back toward the not-couple. "Well, um... see you two around!"
"Later Veronica." Timmy waved as she followed Trixie away.
"..."
"Let's not talk about this ever again." Timmy looked at Tootie now.
"Agreed. You're a terrible kisser."
"I wasn't ready!"
"So if you were ready, the kiss would've been better?"
"Yes, it would have."
"Then-"
"And no, we're not trying again. We've crossed the friendship line enough times today." Timmy stood up from the bench. "So, you wanna continue this, or can we finally head home?"
Tootie sighed and stretched. "I guess... We might as well call it a day. Those two are gonna get suspicious at this rate."
"Finally." Timmy took out his phone and called Vicky's number. "Hey, you busy? Yeah, Tootie and I are all set. No, it was pretty boring actually. Yeah, Tootie's potion definitely worked, it's just... There isn't much to learn... Yes, I do occasionally like to learn about things. Can you just give us a ride, please? Thank you." Timmy hung up his phone and pocketed it. "Let's go."
The two made their way back to the mall entrance and found Vicky waiting for them.
"'Nother minute and I was gonna leave you two to fend for yourselves." she got in her car, followed by Timmy as he got in the front passenger seat, and Tootie in the back. "So I guess it was pretty uneventful?"
"Yep!" Timmy answered quickly. "Tootie took her notes, and everything was fine. Nothing... important happened."
Vicky looked at Timmy and narrowed her eyes. "Tootie?"
"Huh?"
"Anything you might need to tell me?"
"Nope. Just a regular day at the mall, stalking a couple of popular kids."
"Hmph. If you say so."
Timmy knew he'd have to tell her about the kiss eventually, but maybe when both he and Tootie weren't in the line of fire. Less chance of being left on the side of the road that way, or getting slapped.
