Chapter#12:Moonshine (I).

Dear Meredith,

I've never really cared for replying to a personal ad before but I've noticed that you're an English teacher I decided to give it a shot.
I'm a big fan of literature and I've just settled down here in Hillwood to get inspired to write my latest novel which is about life in downtown New York… I'm still thinking of a plot.

Let's start by getting to know each other more first, my name is Morgan Wilson, I like long walks by the beach, the library and oh yes; I hate grammatical errors.

I hope you reply soon, and do tell me more about yourself.

Morgan Wilson.

Ms. Gross smiled at the beautifully written letter in her hands

This could be it…

"I told you Arnold, I told you this movie would kick butt!." Gerald told his best friend as they walked out of the cinema that afternoon.

"Guess you were Gerald." Arnold agreed."So, did you ask Phoebe to the prom yet?."

"I asked her last week," Gerald scratched the back of his neck. "but she had some excuse, like her Japanese relatives would be coming to town and it would be rude if she went out with me and left them behind."

"I see."

A giggle caught Arnold's attention and yet again it was Ruth with that same guy he saw with her before.

"C'mon Brandon I gotta go before Sid sees us." She told him.

"You still dating that punk?." Brandon asked.

"Well I'm thinking of dumping him at the dance."

"At the dance? That's harsh babe."

"I'll try to look up any excuse so I wouldn't seem so evil and stuff."

"I heard he and the guys are planning on spiking the punch at the dance… with laxatives."

"Ugh! I can't take this anymore!." Arnold turned around to cover his ears. "I gotta tell Sid, and you're not stopping me Gerald."

"I thought it over and I'm with you buddy, let's roll."

Arnold blinked a couple of times in surprise and then nodded with a smile.

"… and that's why I'm going to the high school dance instead." Sid proudly explained to his friends as they hung out in Mighty Pete, but they were already busy something else.

"Hey guys did you listen to a word I said?." He asked the boys who were focused on Harold and Curly competing against each other through a video game.

"We stopped the second you mentioned your superstar, high school girlfriend's name." Curly replied his eyes still glued to the game.

"Yeah, we already knew what was coming after that…" Harold continued. "You could even get a free ticket to heaven with her help." He mocked.

"What's that supposed to mean?." Sid narrowed his eyes at the big boy's back.

"What Harold's tryin' ta say Sid, is-."

"Sid!." Arnold cut Stinky as he and Gerald rushed in Mighty Pete."I-gotta-tell you something- just gimme a minute to catch my breath."

"What is it Arnold?." Sid asked and everyone stopped what they were doing to gather around and see what their football-headed friend had to say.

"We saw Ruth with another guy."

"H-he could just be a friend." Sid tried to defend her but felt an overwhelming anxiety rise up in his stomach to his chest.

"No Sid." Gerald stepped in. "We saw her with that dude more than once."

"I'm sorry Sid." Arnold apologized sincerely like it was his fault as he placed a hand on Sid's shoulder.

Sid just looked down at the floor trying to let everything he heard sink in… it just couldn't.

"So that's it." He finally spoke. "You're all jealous of me aren't you? Especially you Arnold." He slapped the blonde's hand away.

"Sid what are you talking about?." Arnold asked confused.

"You know what I'm talking about, all of you!." His paranoia began to come out. "You're all jealous because I get to date the most beautiful girl in Hillwood!."

"No she isn't!." Harold scoffed.

"And you Arnold," Sid started breathing heavily "how come it's always gotta be you huh? And why this time? Why did it have to be about Ruth?."

"Sid you're losing your mind." Gerald defended Arnold.

"Oh am I? really? Don't you think it's Arnold? Because I recall Ruth was his dream-girl, and because I got her and he couldn't he's trying to make me leave her."

"I don't want her anymore Sid!." Arnold snapped at him.

"Sid just try to calm down." Eugene came over.

"Oh get away from me you hippie!." Sid pushed him and Harold immediately went and grabbed the skinny pale boy before he could lose his mind anymore.

"Sid, if you don't shut up I swear I'll pound you." Harold warned.

"Let me go!." Sid struggled but to no avail.

"We gotta leave him alone for a while till he comes back to his senses." Gerald suggested and the boys followed. "Come on Arnold."

But Arnold's eyes were sadly fixed on Sid who was trying to get out of Harold's grip.

"There's no use standin' here no more."

And with one last look, Arnold left the tree house with his friends and Harold followed leaving Sid on the floor crying his eyes out and shouting stuff about how they've all betrayed him and how they were wrong about Ruth… when in his heart he somehow felt that this could be true.

It can't be…

Author's Note: So it's finally here, the three-part climax of the story. You think I should cancel out the Joey/Meredith thing? I kinda think it's pointless even as a filler story.

I got a final tomorrow… pray I do well.