Chapter 25
Returning to Norrisville
Randy finished eating his breakfast but there was still some food on his plate. Rachel looked at Cody. "I-I can't." she said and Cody looked at her. "Please Rachel, Stay with us. You said anything!" He begged. Rachel sighed and shook her head. "I have a job to do and I can't do it here but I'll visit more often. You're a good friend Cody, I see that now but I have to go." she said. Randy stood up. "Well today we go home." Randy said to Howard. Howard nodded. "Yep." he said and Rachel ran in tears in her eyes.
Cody sighed and left. He hoped she would think about it at least. Randy looked to see Rachel. Rachel leaned against a wall slightly crying. Randy walked up to Rachel. "Hey you ok?" Randy asked Rachel wondering why she was crying. Rachel slightly nodded but she was sort of lost in thought. "Yeah..." she replied not even looking up. "...Is there something wrong?" Randy questioned with a concerned look on his face.
Rachel snapped out of her deep thoughts and looked at him "...Cody wants me to stay..." she said quietly. "... Oh...I see..." Randy said. Rachel nodded. "But I can't stay so I'm coming back with you and Howard." she said. Randy just nodded in response. Rachel sighed and slightly smiled. "...well are you ready to go?" she asked. "...Yes." Randy said. Howard nodded and they headed to the bus and Kristy and Cody were there waiting. "Are you going to go with them?" Kristy asked and Rachel nodded. "You know I have a job to do." she said hugging her.
She waved good bye and got onto the bus. Randy waved goodbye to them. He felt bad that Rachel couldn't stay but she had a duty, well she says. He still wanted to ask his ninja Nomicon about why there's another ninja but if she did stay he would miss her. Randy now was going to go on the bus. Rachel got on the bus and sat down and waited. Randy got on the bus and sat down beside Rachel and looked at his arm. "Well so much for taking a bite out of the big apple, looks more like it took a bite at me instead."
Rachel slightly chuckled. "Yeah looks like it." she replied. Howard got in and sat down and they headed back to Norrisville and Rachel watched as they left and she felt terrible about leaving Kristy and Cody again. Randy looked at Rachel and noticed that she was still sad and turned his head and sighed. Rachel was quiet the entire way home. Finally Randy saw the school come into view. They parked and everyone got off and Rachel waited for Randy and Howard.
Randy walked with Howard. They walked up to Rachel. "So what now?" she asked and that was the first thing she said in three hours. Randy looked at Rachel. "I really don't know..." Randy replied. Rachel sighed and looked around still slightly upset. Randy looked at Howard. "We...could go to the Game Hole?" Randy suggested and looked back at Rachel. Rachel and Howard nodded. "Sure sounds fun." Rachel said. "Ok, to the Game Hole." Randy said and started to walk. Rachel smiled and followed him and Howard but couldn't get Cody and Kristy off her mind. A few minutes later they were at the Game Hole. Rachel watched Howard and randy play every game in the arcade and she sat down rethinking if she made the right choice to come back to Norrisville. Randy was finishing up a game with Howard. Rachel smiled as they finished it and of course Randy won.
Randy smiled. "And that how it's done...now where to?" Randy said. Howard mumbled but had a smile on his face and Rachel was lost in thought. Randy looked at Rachel then looked back at Howard. "Um I'm going to go get a snack you want anything?" Randy asked. Howard wanted a taco and Rachel just shook her head no instead of replying. "...Ok." Randy said and went and bought a taco and a juice box and came back. Rachel was just completely lost in thought. Randy handed Howard the taco and looked at Rachel. Howard started to eat the taco and Rachel didn't notice Randy looking at her.
Randy waved his hand and walked up to Rachel. "Rachel?" Randy said to her. Rachel snapped out of it and slightly jumped. "Sorry...I got lost in thought." she said. "It's ok...anything you want to talk about?" Randy asked Rachel. "I just feel bad for leaving Kristy and Cody again..." she said. Randy looked down." Hmm..." Randy said quietly. Rachel looked at him. "But I had to cause I have a job to do here." she said. Randy looked at her. "Yeah I still wonder about that...um juice box?" Randy offered Rachel. Rachel smiled. "No thanks." she said. "Okay so now what do you want to do?" Randy asked as he punched the straw into his juice box. Rachel shrugged. "I don't know." she replied.
Randy thought as he drunk from his juice box. Rachel thought and yawned a bit. "We can go over to my house and play some Grave Puncher." Randy said and finished his juice box. "Okay." Rachel said and Howard looked at Randy. "I'm going to head home. I'll see you tomorrow Cunningham." he said. Randy looked at Howard." Ok, see you tomorrow bro." Randy said back to Howard. Rachel smiled and stood up. "Well ready for me to beat you again?" she asked. Randy looked at Rachel and smile. "Oh we will see about." Randy replied. They entered Randy's house and set the game up.
Randy handed Rachel a controller. Rachel smiled and took the controller and waited for Randy. Randy grasped the other controller and started the game. Rachel smiled and started to play. Randy played the best he could. Rachel still beat him. Randy stared at the screen. "Ok there must be some kind of secret that you're not telling me about." Randy said. Rachel shook her head. "nothing." she said. Randy looked at Rachel. "Ok maybe I exaggerated but you still beat me." Randy replied.
Rachel smiled. Randy smiled as well. Flare was asleep on Rachel's backpack. "Looks like Flare's tired." she said. Randy look." Yeah I guess it's getting late." Randy said. Rachel nodded. Randy got up. "Well I assume you can stay over..."Randy said. Rachel smiled. "Thanks." she said. Randy's parents were fine with Rachel staying as long as she needed. Rachel thanked them and slept in the guest room.
(Rachel has officially moved in with Randy for now. End of Part 1. Watch me for the next part!)