"My ex-crush can be such a pain in the ass!" Tootie threw her hands up in the air. "Sure, invite the two girls over who relentlessly made fun of all of us for the past six years, should be fun! Argh!" she flopped down on her back onto her bed. "I said I would help... So I'll help..." she got off the bed and grabbed her dufflebag, now filled with various items for the party, then made her way out of her room, down the stairs, and out the front door. "A car ride would be nice... But mom and dad are probably busy... Damn."
Thankfully for the raven-haired girl, Timmy's house wasn't that far away, so the walk wouldn't be too hard on her. "I just don't understand him sometime- Ever. Making nice with those... Ugh... Trixie and Veronica? What for? He's over Trixie, Veronica's over him... What's he gonna do next, make friends with Francis- Oof!" Tootie collided with a wall, apparently due to not watching where she was going.
"Who crashed into me?"
"A talking wall?" Tootie stepped back and looked up at the blockade in the sidewalk to find that it wasn't a wall at all... Though the impediment in front of her likely had all the intelligence of one.
"Oh. It's you. Turner's little girlfriend."
"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Excuse me." Tootie attempted to walk around Francis, only to be stopped by a large gray hand on her chest, though its owner was likely too dumb to realize the implications of where his hand was.
"Sorry. I had a meeting with your little boyfriend today, but it seems he chickened out, so you'll have to do instead." Francis cracked his knuckles, likely hoping that he looked threatening.
"You wouldn't hit a girl with glasses, would you?" Tootie fluttered her eyelashes mockingly. Flirting with Francis was right up there with shoving her face into a wood chipper.
The gray fifteen year-old reached forward and took Tootie's glasses off, then placed them down gingerly on the sidewalk. "Maybe not with glasses, but a girl? I don't see gender differences."
"That must be very hard on you." Tootie re-adjusted the shoulder strap on her dufflebag. "That was an insult, by the way. Now move. I've got a party to plan."
"Well now I'm definitely hitting you." As Tootie expected, Francis reared back, then brought his fist forward quickly(though not as quickly as Vicki), missing the girl as she ducked.
"Look, seriously? I'm busy. I've got to make amends with my sister, and every minute I spend here is a minute spent not organizing this party, so-" Tootie sidestepped another punch. "You know what?! Try that again! I dare you! I've been fairly polite, but all you're doing is being a dickface-" Again, Tootie ducked a punch, only this time her right hand shot out... And right into Francis' most sensitive area.
"AGH!" Francis cried out as Tootie's grip went from 'simple' to 'death-grip'. "L-let go!"
"Yeah, I'm gonna go with no. Hm? Y'know something? They're smaller than I'd expect for someone of your size... Odd." Tootie tried her best to make a fist.
"NGH! Stop! Please!"
Tootie looked up at Francis to see his eyes beginning to water. "Hold that thought." she took out her phone and checked the time. "Hm... I've got a few minutes to kill... Oh!" Keeping her grip right where it was, Tootie dialed Timmy's number. "Come on..."
"Hello?"
"Hey Timmy. You on your way to the mall?"
"Yeah, pretty sure Vicki just wants to use me for my money, but that's fine. How are things on your end?"
"I've... run into a little snag." Tootie tightened her grip again. "No worries though, I can handle it. Just make sure my sis uses you for just your money, got it?"
"What's that supposed to-"
"Gotta go!" Tootie smiled and hung up.
"P-please! I-"
"You'll shut up, that's what you'll do." Tootie glared at Francis.
"Ngh..."
"I guess... I should... See if Trixie and Veronica want to come..." ignoring the look of hope on Francis' face as it was quickly dashed, Tootie began dialing Trixie's number... Only to cancel that and call Veronica instead. "C'mon... The only reason I'm calling you is because I hate your stupid, dumb-"
"Hello?"
"Hey Veronica!" Tootie immediately adopted the sugary facade her sister was so fond of. "So I was wondering if you and Trixie might want to come to my sister's birthday party?"
"Who is this?"
Had Tootie's hands not been preoccupied, she would've facepalmed at that. "Tootie! Y'know... Friend of Timmy, Chester, and AJ?"
"Oh! Okay, yeah! I remember you now! Sorry about that, I'm not great with putting voices together with faces. So a party, huh? Um... I don't think Trixie has anything planned today... Can I call you back in a few? I'll ask her if she can come."
"Alright..." "Wow... I didn't expect the conversation to go... this well..." In truth, Tootie didn't have particularly high opinions regarding Trixie and her little lieutenant. She didn't necessarily hate the two popular girls... It was more like... distrust. Trixie had gone out of her way to break Timmy's heart(and failed), and Veronica had a bit of a creepy obsession with Timmy that rivaled her own.
"Okay, talk to you in a few."
Tootie heard Veronica hang her phone up, and Tootie hung up her own phone and turned her attention back to Francis. "So. How long have we been sitting here? Five minutes? Ten? I tend to lose track of time when I talk on the phone." Tootie giggled. "Bad habit of mine. Your day goin' good? Mine's been... I dunno, fair, I guess. I mean, my best friend comes over, asking me to throw a birthday party for my sister, who, while she hasn't made my life easy growing up, does deserve one, and I feel like shit because I, her own sister, forgot her birthday in the first place." Tootie shook her head.
"Gah... Ugh..." Francis was practically whimpering at this point.
"And then, he wants me to invite these two girls over that were my main competition for his heart! I don't really mind, but sometimes, Timmy can be just a little too forgiving... Ah well, I suppose it's fine. Maybe I can bond with them while we're putting up the decorations or something... Ugh! But then I have to explain to Chester and AJ that it's Vicki's birthday and... Oh! And then you show up and try to punch me! I am just not having a good day, am I?"
"I-I'm sorry-"
"Oh! Hold that thought!" Tootie interrupted Francis' apology as her phone began to ring. "Hello?"
"Hey Tootie! Veronica again, Trixie said she'll come, so when's the party?"
"Um... About... an hour and a half from now... Oh! But if you two wanna come over and help me decorate, that'd be awesome!"
"Sure! Where's the party again?"
"Timmy's house, you know where he lives, right?"
"Timmy... Oh! Yeah, no problem! We'll be there in a few, see you soon!" without even a 'Bye!', Veronica hung up, and Tootie did the same.
"Well, it looks like our bonding time has come to an end." Tootie finally released Francis, who doubled over in pain and curled into the fetal position as he clutched his weak spot. "I do hope this has been an... eye-opening experience for you." Tootie stooped and picked up her glasses.
"But-but how c-can you see w-without your glasses?!" Francis cried out from his position on the sidewalk, eyes still watering as he tried to recover from the small girl's deathgrip.
"Because I don't need them to see things that are right in front of me, duh. You think I'm blind without them?" Tootie shook her head and turned toward the direction Timmy's house was in. "Have a nice day~!" Tootie sang out as she once more adjusted the strap of her dufflebag and hurried along. She had played around enough, now it was time to work. "...And wash my hand... Eugh!"
A few minutes later, and Tootie found herself in front of Timmy's house, with the two most popular girls in her and Timmy's school sitting on the porch, looking rather bored. "Hey!" Tootie jogged over to meet Trixie and Veronica. "Sorry, got caught up on my way here..." Remembering what Timmy had told her, Tootie lifted up the welcome mat, revealing a small gold-colored key. "Amazing that no one's ever broken in..." she rolled her eyes and picked up the key, using it to unlock the door and heading inside. "Figures. Spend six years of my life trying to get to this moment, to get inside his house without having to use deception, or breaking in, and now it doesn't even matter."
"So whose birthday is it again?" Trixie spoke up as she tapped Tootie on the shoulder.
The bespectacled girl spun around, remembering where she was, and how pressed for time they were. Timmy was clever, she knew that, considering it was one of the reasons she love- Liked him. As a friend. But he was also stuck, on his own, dealing with Vicki. Knowing her sister, the red-head wouldn't want to be out for long. "My sister, Vicki's." Thankfully, Tootie did have a few things working in her favor. The first being that Trixie and Veronica didn't know Vicki, so they had no reason to be scared of her, and therefore no reason not to help. The second was that Chester and AJ were going to show up, at some point, and they didn't know the party was for the girl they hated so much. "Deception is fun!" "Okay, everything we need is either in my bag-" Tootie tossed her dufflebag onto the couch. "-Or in Timmy's room. Up the stairs, first door on the right. I have to go wash my hands, you two... Get started decorating I guess?" Tootie spun around and made her way into the kitchen.
"You mean we have to decorate?! Ugh..." Trixie frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "I have people for this sort of thing!"
"C'mon Trixie! It might be fun!" Veronica, upbeat as ever, tried to persuade Trixie to do something other than stand around and whine.
"...Fine. I guess it can't be all that hard..."
Tootie, meanwhile, heard this exchange from the kitchen, over the running water of the sink, and shivered. Not because she was washing her hands in cold water, but because she was positive she just felt Hell freeze over. "That does not help to quell the rumors surrounding your relationship..." Tootie shut off the sink and dried off her hands, then moved back into the living room and bent over to rummage through her dufflebag...
KNOCK-KNOCK
Only to sigh in agitation as she was interrupted once again, this time by a knock at the front door. Standing back up, Tootie walked over to the front door and opened it to find Chester and AJ. "Hey Timmy, sorry we're a little early-"
"That's fine. I can still use you." Tootie responded happily.
"Tootie? Where's Timmy? And... why are you in his house?" Chester peeked in over Tootie's shoulder and looked around, then gasped. "You have him tied up, don't you?!"
"No." Tootie deadpanned. "I'm just helping set up for the party while he goes to get... Supplies." "And the woman of the hour." "Trixie and Veronica are already helping, so if you guys-"
"Say no more!" Chester practically flew by Tootie upon hearing the two girls' names.
"So what's the occasion anyway?" AJ spoke up, rousing Tootie from her disapproving glare towards Chester.
"Hm? O-occasion? It's... What did Timmy tell you two?" Tootie backed away from the door, allowing AJ to come in, before shutting it behind him.
"Very little." AJ about-faced and crossed his arms while quirking an eyebrow up at Tootie. "Just told Chester that there was a party, and somehow I got roped in."
"Oh. Well then... Um... Come-come into the kitchen with me... And... bring Chester!" Tootie darted past AJ and into the kitchen, then over to the drawer that she knew the duct tape would be in. "Alright, so I didn't get them to help me decorate... But I can still keep them here!"
"Alright, I'm coming! Jeez... Try to talk to my new lady friend for a few minutes and you gotta interrupt..." Tootie heard Chester complaining as she assumed AJ was dragging him into the kitchen. Her assumption was confirmed as AJ did indeed drag Chester in. "Hey Tootie."
"So why did you need us to come in here?" AJ asked. "Seems like there really isn't anything you could tell us that you couldn't also tell Trixie and Veronica..."
"Actually, you're right." Tootie stepped forward, walking past Chester and AJ as she did. "But I need you both to promise that you won't run out of here screaming when I tell you what I'm about to tell you, okay?"
"Oh my Glob, you still like Timmy, don't you?!" Chester exclaimed.
"What?! No! I-" Tootie narrowed her eyes at her blond friend as he began giggling at her. "Aha. So funny." the girl deadpanned. "I'm not saying anything more until I get a promise. From both of you."
"I promise. I'm not gonna go running out of here when you say... whatever it is you have to say." Chester rolled his eyes and leaned on the counter.
"Uh-huh. AJ?" Tootie raised an eyebrow and looked at her other friend.
"While I'm sure that we'll all come to regret this in due time, very well."
"...Very well...?" Tootie leaned in with a smirk, making AJ take a step back.
"I promise I won't run out of here when you say... Would you please just get on with it woman?!"
"Okay fine... No need to yell... This party... Is Timmy's idea, I cannot stress that fact enough. And it's not just a random party for no reason other than to have a party. Today is... Ahem, Vicki's birthday."
Silence; the uncomfortable variety.
"Huh... Today is... Vicki's birthday?" Chester began. "You sure? I thought it always rained on her birthday?"
"She's my sister! You think I'm unsure of when her birthday is?! And yes, I realize that- Chester grab AJ!"
The blond spun around and latched onto his friend as he tried to covertly escape.
"Agh! Let me- Lemme go! I am not sticking around for the she-devil's party! No way, no how! I value my life too much to stick around! Promises or no! Now let me go, Chester!" AJ struggled in vain, surprising even Tootie, since she had no idea that Chester was so strong, considering that he was about as lean as Timmy.
"Ah ah ah... You made a promise. And you're keeping it, whether you like it or not." Tootie placed the roll of duct tape down on the kitchen table. "An incentive for how you'll be rewarded if you try to escape, got it?"
"Dammit..." AJ muttered as he looked away. "I told you this was a bad idea, man! Why didn't you just listen?! And why are you in on this?!" AJ looked at Chester in disbelief now. "Are you in on this?! You knew the whole time, didn't you?!" Disbelief turned into what appeared to be disgust.
"Eh." Chester shrugged.
"Eh?!" AJ's eyes widened in shock. "That's all you can say?! Since when are you two in cahoots?! And... and Timmy too? Timmy's in on... Is this all some ploy to get me here so Vicki can torture me for her birthday? This is- I can't even-" AJ began hyperventilating and sweating profusely.
"You done?" Tootie at last spoke up, sounding rather bored about the whole affair.
"Pretty much." AJ responded with a sigh.
"Good. You may release him." Tootie waved her hand in the air.
"You sure? Okay..." Chester did as he was told and stepped away from AJ, then leaned up against the counter again.
"So. Now we have to figure out what we're gonna do. You could run outta here, but you'd be breaking a promise. Not a very friendly thing to do, especially since Timmy asked you and Chester to come over here. Think of it like this: Maybe Vicki kills you, maybe she actually appreciates you guys going out of your way to throw her an awesome birthday party. You really gonna pass up what could possibly maybe be a golden opportunity?"
"You're all evil. Seems like I'm the only sane person left around here... But for the sake of Timmy- And only Timmy- since you two are evil, I'll stick around and help... Much of a bad idea I know this is." AJ frowned again and turned around, then headed back into the living room. "What the Hell am I thinking?!"
"Phew! Thanks for the assist, Chester!" Tootie leapt at the blond and hugged him. "I never expected things to go as well as they are!"
"Anytime. It was worth it just to see the look on Brainiac's face!" the blond chuckled as he returned the hug.
"Y'know..." Tootie pulled back slightly to look at Chester more directly. "I do have to wonder though, why agree to this? Need I re-iterate that this is Vicki's party? My evil sister, our evil babysitter?"
"I know who your sister is." Chester shrugged. "But I made a promise that I'd stick around, no matter what the reason for me and AJ being here was. And there's the fact that you were honest."
"Hm. Alright, suppose we can attribute your loyalty to me and Timmy here as well, right?"
"Um... Yeah, that too... There is one more thing though..."
"Which is...?" "C'mon Chester! We have to decorate the house before Timmy and Vicki get back!"
"I never realized how hot you are when you're yelling at someone."
"And then we have to-" Tootie's thoughts crashed into a brick wall. She must've misheard, right? "Pardon me?"
"You. That whole speech just now to AJ? And threatening to duct tape him if he tried to escape? That. Was. Awesome. Never knew you had such a temper... It's... well, it's kinda hot." Chester smirked.
"...Oh! You! Okay... Hah Hah. Very funny... I thought you- Heehee! That's pretty convincing acting, almost as good as my sister's! You-" Tootie put her hands on the blond's chest, attempting to push herself away, but Chester did not relinquish his grip. In fact, he actually seemed to tighten his grip on the slightly shorter girl. "Um... You can let go of me now..." Tootie pushed on his chest again. "Chester?"
Chester didn't respond, opting instead to quirk an eyebrow up at the bespectacled girl in his arms.
Tootie felt her glasses slip down her nose a bit, leaving nothing between her violet eyes and Chester's blue ones. And then she felt her face heat up. "Umm..."
"Hey! You two gonna help or not?!" a disgruntled-sounding AJ called from the living room, making Chester release Tootie at last.
"We should! Um! Go and d-decorate! You know... B-Because my sister and... Stuff?" Tootie pushed her glasses back up and attempted to hide her blush. Poorly.
"Yeah, I suppose we should..." Chester turned away from Tootie and walked out of the kitchen.
Tootie watched him leave, then released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. "Hot? M-me?!"