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Veganmama: OMG! Welcome back!:) lol we will see ;)

The J.A.M a.k.a. Numbuh I: To be fair, I was initially going to make it a one-shot story, but I ended up turning it into several chapters.

And yes, that flirt was the first time she ever did to Rodrigo, so we can forgive him for being so confused.

Friday evening…

It was a calm, yet energetic Friday evening. All the adults had left their jobs and were eager to go out for some fun with whatever it is that adults consider to be fun. For Rodrigo, he would have wanted to spend his time at home, either doing some reading or watching some TV. Actually, he would have preferred doing anything or being anywhere else than where he was now.

Standing in front of the restaurant, he looked at his watch and saw that he was two minutes early. Not surprisingly, Rhonda had booked a table for them at one of the most fanciest and most expensive restaurants in Hillwood.

So much for 'nothing fancy'. He thought.

Rodrigo came prepared and ensured he would be dressed for the occasion. He wore formal shoes with a dark blue suit pants and light blue shirt and tie. He wore his fedora hat. That he would never part with.

After having thought about this long and hard, Rodrigo opted to proceed with their date and just prayed that Rhonda did not actually have feelings for him. However, as the day drew near, he began to lose his nerve and re-considered his decision. However it was too late. By the time Thursday ended and he made up his mind to not go through with it, he tried to find Rhonda among the crowd of kids to tell her that their celebratory date was off. However, he was unable to find her. And to make matters worse, his cell had no battery power and so he couldn't text her. As frustrated as he was, that last part made him think that somehow the Heavens or some pre-ordained entity wanted him to go, although he wasn't sure why.

After taking a long breath, he braced himself and went in.

"Um, excuse me?" He addressed the waiter at the front entrance. "There is a reserved table under the name; Rhonda Wellington Lloyd."

"Ah yes!" The waiter, who was a tall slim male with long blonde hair that was perfectly combed to the back of his head, exclaimed. "Mr Castile, am I right?" He asked to which Rodrigo just nodded.

"Come right this way." He said as he took two menus and went further inside the restaurant. Rodrigo followed him.

"Ms. Lloyd has yet to arrive." The waiter said, "But you are more then welcome to wait at your booked table."

"Thank you." Rodrigo said as he looked around the restaurant.

The place was awe inspiring. Unlike other places, this one was brightly lit with gorgeous chandeliers hanging throughout the ceiling which gave a yellowish type of light. There were red curtains throughout the restaurant that complimented well with the yellow lighting. There were large vases with green plants and trees placed in carefully selected corners.

Eventually, they soon arrived at the table, which was somewhat private. It was located within a corner of the restaurant with couches instead of chairs. Rodrigo did not like this and only made him more suspicious of Rhonda's intentions.

"Please be seated." The waited said as he gestured to him to sit down.

Rodrigo nervously swallowed and very reluctantly obliged and sat down.

"Would you like anything to drink while you wait?" The waiter asked.

"Yeah, do you have anything strong?" Rodrigo softly asked.

"Ha ha!" The waiter slightly laughed. "We indeed do Mr. Castile, but I'm afraid you are a bit too young for it."

"Oh. Just some water, please." Rodrigo said.

"Very well." The waiter said and off he went to get his water.

Rodrigo was now all alone and just very nervously waited for Rhonda's inevitable arrival.

"Oh boy." He nervously said to himself as he nervously adjusted his shirt.

He didn't have to wait long.

No sooner had the waiter left when from a distance he saw Rhonda approaching him with another waiter. Rodrigo held his breath for a while and for a second time, he had the urgent need to flee, as if he was somehow in danger. However, his fear was almost instantly calmed down when he saw the way Rhonda was dressed.

"Wow, Rhonda!" He said as he got up to greet her. "You look...fabulous."

Naturally Rhonda had also dressed for the occasion. She opted to wear a very long, but sleeveless dress, one that went all the way down. She wore beautiful pearl earrings and had long white gloves that went up to her elbow.

"Don't I?" Rhonda proudly remarked as she twirled around. "You don't look to shabby yourself."

"Thanks." Rodrigo said as both pre-teens sat down.

"What would you like to drink this evening, Ms. Lloyd?" The waiter asked.

"I'll have water with lemon." Rhonda responded.

Waiter turned and left to get her drink, leaving both of them alone.

Okay. Rodrigo thought as he took a deep breath. Just make friendly conversation.

"This is a really nice place, Rhonda." He said. "Thank you for inviting me here. Do you come here often?"

"Yeah, it's okay." Rhonda just casually remarked as she looked through the menu. "Not often. I wanted to go to a fancier place, but they were all booked, so I had to settle for second-best."

Typical. Rodrigo thought with a slightly annoyed face, but hid it from Rhonda.

"Here is your drink, Ms. Lloyd." The waiter came back and gave Rhonda her drink. "And water for you, sir." He then spoke to Rodrigo and handed him his glass.

"Are you ready to order?" The waiter asked and prepared himself to take their order.

"I'll just have the usual, Berny." Rhonda said as she gave the menu back to him.

"Excellent choice." The waiter commented. "And for you, sir?" He asked Rodrigo.

"I'll have the steak with mashed potatoes, please." Rodrigo said and handed back his menu.

"Excellent. Thank you." The waiter said as he turned around to leave.

"That's a good one too." Rhonda then commented. "You will definitely like that."

"Great." Rodrigo said with a smile.

Rodrigo began to slowly feel a bit more relax. Thus far, Rhonda had not attempted to flirt with him again. Even after the waiter left, Rhonda maintained her distance and looked very chill, much to Rodrigo's relief.

Hmm, perhaps this isn't going to be so bad. He thought. The food here seems great, the place is very beautiful. Maybe things will turn out alright.

1.5 hours later…

"And so I honestly could not allow her to walk through the hallways with those shoes." Rhonda said. "I had to something. It was for her own good. I mean really? Purple shoes with blue jeans? Ugh! And don't get me started on her shirt."

"Uh huh." Rodrigo just muttered as he dispassionately played around with the last of his steak on his plate.

Actually dispassionate wasn't the right word. He was plain bored. No sooner had they met up when Rhonda began to do what she did best; talk about fashion and reveal any gossip details about everyone else. Rodrigo was not at all surprised and was ready for it. Actually for once, he yearned for it. It would just be further evidence that she was not interested in him. However, he was not prepared for having to hear without restraint about what the latest clothing trend was or who did what to who for so long, at least not without saying something as well. However, whenever he tried to speak, even if it was about something she said, Rhonda would cut him off and continue to talk.

He attempted several times to get a word out but he soon got the hint that it was Rhonda who wanted to talk and eventually just gave up and opted to listen. But even that soon proved to be futile because they were about things or people whom he didn't know at all, or had no knowledge of, so he often had no idea what Rhonda was talking to about. It was not surprising that he soon become bored and then eventually had his mind drift off to think about other things, things there was less painful and more entertaining.

"Did she list-" Rodrigo attempted to ask, but Rhonda cut him off yet again.

"But did she listen? Nnooo!" She said. "She thought it looked 'cute'. Sorry honey, but being cute does not mean you had to dress so hideously. As always, I had to come to the rescue and tutor another damsel in distress on how to properly dress as a maturing woman. But did I get a thank you? Of course not!"

Rodrigo just sighed and continued to play around with his food. He was by now clearly regretting accepting Rhonda's invitation, but for entirely different reasons.

Oh man, I just want to get out of here! He thought. This is so boring! What was I thinking of even accepting her invitation!

"Such is the life of an upcoming fashion designer." Rhonda continued as she examined her fingernails, even though they were inside her white gloves.

"With all of my artistic achievements and advise giving, I am slowly building up my resume before I enter the fashion world, with style of course." She continued, but then looked toward him, leaned in a bit and with a flirtatious smirk, "I imagine such achievements must be impressive, hmm?"

"Uh huh." Rodrigo dispassionately said without fully realizing what she was doing.

"I can tell, you know." Rhonda continued with a flirtatious smile, completely oblivious at Rodrigo's inattentiveness. "Being in the presence one of the school's most elaborate fashionistas caught your tongue in a knot. You've hardly said a word the whole evening."

"Yea – wait, what?" Rodrigo finally realized the change in conversation and focused his attention back to Rhonda.

"Oh I don't blame you." Rhonda continued. "It's a lot to take, I know. But it's okay, we'll take things slowly."

"I'm sorry?" He asked. He was completely confused at what she was saying.

"Not that it'll be a problem for you." She said with a loving smile. " You've shown to be quite the... master in the art of patience."

Rodrigo just looked at Rhonda with a puzzling look.

"….Rhonda, I'm sorry but you completely lost me." He said.

"You are so cute." She said with a flirtatious look. "But alright Rodrigo, if you insist on making me say what is already known. Here it is: I can tell that you are smitten by me and you need not worry or be embarrassed because, I am here to tell you that the feeling is mutual; I also like 'like' you!" She happily confessed.

"…...…...WHAT?!" A highly shocked Rodrigo exclaimed.

"Oh don't pretend like you didn't know." She said. "I know you are not naive like Arnold, but instead are smart enough to realize when a girl is into you."

Oh...my...God! A horrified Rodrigo thought as his worst nightmare was coming true!

"And if that wasn't convincing enough, then me listing all of my achievements must have for sure did the trick." She said with a smirk and looked at him with loving eyes as she flickered her eyelashes at him.

Rodrigo just said nothing and glanced at Rhonda with a horrifying look on his face. It was now obvious that his gamble that completely backfired. His heartbeat began to accelerate, his palms began to sweat.

Okay okay, just calm down Rodrigo. He said to himself as he breathed in and out and tried to calm down. Just think this through. I mean, it may not be all that bad if Rhonda Lloyd likes you.

That was when Rodrigo realized something.

Hmm, why does she like me? He thought. What do I have or showed that she found so appealing?

"Uh Rho -" Rodrigo began to speak, but out came a very high squeaky voice instead of his normal voice.

He cleared his throat and tried again.

"Rhonda," Rodrigo then said and tried to sound as confident and normal as he could. He even smiled.

"Yes, dear?" Rhonda swooned with a smile, which made Rodrigo want to cringe, but he held firm.

"I am just curious. What is it about me that you like?" He asked.

"Oh what's not to like!" She excitedly said. "Let's see; you are a very smart and mature. I mean, you speak three languages! You hang out with some of the school's most esteemed students and not with those at the bottom of the cesspool."

Rodrigo knew what she was talking about. Since his arrival to P.S. 118, he had been spending some time with Peapod Kid and Lorenzo, two kids whose family were well off. But he had only been hanging out with them because they were nice to him, are mature and it turns out they have a lot of things in common. Their family's wealth played no part in it. Heck, he didn't even know they were rich until after he befriended them.

"Thanks." Rodrigo somewhat nervously thanked her, but the Gossip queen wasn't done.

"And let's not forget your enormous ambition." She said. " Hint; I like a man who has ambition." She flirted with him.

"Ambition?" Rodrigo asked, again looking confused.

"Well yeah." She excitedly responded. "You've only just arrived at Hillwood, but are already showing your strong desire to make it out on top. You started from humble beginnings as a new student, but you quickly rose through the school ranks to reach the pinnacle of power. You built a power base with the most well-known and influential kids, rallied everyone and ousted Wolfgang, bested Big Gino in his own game. Heck you even picked up a fight with Helga Pataki and survived! - Phew! Is it just me or is it getting hot in here?" She asked as she grabbed and swung the small drink menu side to side at her face to cool off.

"Um no. The temperature seems fine." Rodrigo said, not sure why she suddenly felt hot.

"So, you heard about Big Gino?" He nervously asked.

"The whole school knows about it." Rhonda said, much to Rodrigo's dismay. "Not sure how you did it, but nobody has done that to Big Gino and got away with it. Much kudos to you." She winked at him.

"He he he, thanks." Rodrigo very nervously said and just prayed for his sake that no one would ever find out how he managed to best Big Gino. The fact that people knew it happened was already bad enough. He wanted to control Gino, not humiliate him.

"But Rhonda," Rodrigo then said, "Aren't you upset over what happened when you got arrested, were interrogated and sent to -"

"Let's not go there." Rhonda quickly cut him off with a tone of voice that made it clear to Rodrigo that she wanted to bury that event in the past. Rodrigo relented and did not press it.

If Rodrigo had any hope on trying to find a way out of this by asking her what she liked about him, he was sorely disappointed. At the very least he hoped that Rhonda would like him for all the right reasons. However instead, the answers she provided merely served as further proof of her shallowness and self-centeredness. Rodrigo instantly saw that all the things she liked about him were merely a mirror reflection of her own values, not his, and saw his traits and talents as merely tools to serve her interests. Even his ambition, Rhonda had completely misplaced its origins. All Rodrigo wanted to do when he arrived at P.S. 118 was just to fit in. He had no desire to create any sort of a power base. And as for his so-called 'rise to power', he did it only to help others and fight for the ideals they fought for, not for his own ambition. He thought him resigning his post after negotiating with Wolfgang was proof of that, but Rhonda either simply ignored that fact, or didn't think much of it.

But Rodrigo had little further time to ponder about this, because Rhonda then spoke.

"Well, now that we've got the 'confessions out of the way', there is now the matter of appearances at school. Firstly, there is an urgent need to maintain a standard-"

"Uh, Rhonda," Rodrigo then interrupted her. "I'm sorry, but there seems to be a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Rhonda asked. "Oh, if it's about whether or not we should hold hands, I was just getting to that; we definitely need to."

"No, not that." Rodrigo then spoke. "I mean...it's just that…" Rodrigo was having trouble trying to telling her. Despite having no experience in dating or relationships, he was not ignorant in knowing that his news was going to hurt her deeply. The only thing he wasn't sure was how bad was she going to take it.

"What is it?" Rhonda asked. "Not to worry, you can tell me anything dear." She said with a smile.

That didn't really help Rodrigo and only added to his guilt, but he knew he had to tell her. He had already taken a risk on not canceling the date when he had the chance. Now it had failed miserably and right on his face. He did not want to delay things any more. He had to tell her, she had to know.

"The thing is, Rhonda." He said as he nervously tried to gather the courage. "While I am flattered that, out of all people, you like me, I'm afraid we cannot be together because...I do not like you in that way."

Rodrigo then stopped and waited for that sink in. For Rhonda's part, for a second, she sat there completely frozen, but gazing him with a somewhat stunned look on her face.

"Okay, hold the phone here." She then said with a nervous giggle. "I'm sorry, but I didn't quite hear what you just said."

Rodrigo cringed on having to saying it again, but he had no other choice.

"Rhonda, I'm really sorry, but I do not like 'like' you. I just like you. I accepted this invitation on the grounds that we were meeting up only as friends. I confess, I did notice that you flirted with me in the hallway a few days ago, but that came out of nowhere and I thought that maybe you were just joking around or something. And I'm sorry if you thought me coming here was proof that I liked 'liked' you. It was not my intention to lead you on."

That must have done the trick because Rhonda remained silent for a short moment and stared at him with wide, shocking eyes. Rodrigo waited for her to say something. Then,

"Ha ha ha ha!" She suddenly laughed, much to Rodrigo's surprise.

"Okay I'll admit that was a good one, Rodrigo." Rhonda said as she continued to laugh. "I mean, only an idiot would ever be stupid enough say no to a chance to be with me, right?" She continued to laugh as she wiped a tear.

Rodrigo didn't respond and just stared at her with a serious, but still guilty face. Upon seeing him, Rhonda stopped laughing.

"You...were joking right?" She nervously asked her.

"It wasn't a joke, Rhonda." Rodrigo just calmly said to her. "I'm being honest here and telling you the truth. I don't have feelings for you."

Rhonda stared at Rodrigo, only this time with a look that was becoming increasingly distressed as the reality finally began to hit her. Rodrigo just sat quietly and waited.

"Okay, okay." She said with an eerie sense of both nervousness and calmness in her voice that it sent a shiver down Rodrigo's spine. "I forgot that you are still new here and unsure how things work." She said as her voice and face became serious. "Here are how things go around here; I am Rhonda Wellington Lloyd, one of the most popular girls in school with a noble family background. And I just confessed that I like 'like' you. You with me so far?" She asked him.

"Yes." Rodrigo said, slightly annoyed on having to indulge her in this.

"You are right; out of everyone in our school, I chose you to be my boyfriend." She continued with a growing seriousness in her voice. "I could have gone for any other boy, but I didn't. I chose you."

There was just so many things wrong with what she just said, not least that she didn't really 'choose' to like him. Rodrigo knew people don't just choose to fall for someone. That and he was beginning to not like her tone and attitude began and to frown, but he didn't say anything.

"So, you should feel privileged and honoured at the mere opportunity to go out with me, let alone go out on a date with me." She continued. "Most kids would have killed just to be an acquaintance. You have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to date the daughter from the high esteemed Lloyd family. And by all reason, you do not say 'no'." As she took a sip of her lemon water.

"I'm not like most kids, Rhonda." Rodrigo then spoke. "And while I am flattered that you like 'like' me, that doesn't change the fact that I do not have feelings for you. I'm really sorry, but I just don't. If you want to know the reason; I don't see us having anything in common that would get me to like you. We are just two different people."

Rhonda was now left baffled at Rodrigo's insistence, but her shock soon turned to anger and outrage. She was unable to wrap her head around on how this scrawny little kid would have the guts to say 'no' to her! Wolfgang she understood, but not to her! She was special! It was bad enough that he was stomping all over her feelings and heart, but it was now insulting that this kid, who has been rendered a near outcast at school and wants – no - needs to make amends, would decline at this golden opportunity to get back on people's good side!

That now finally set Rhonda off and she began to fiercely frown at Rodrigo.

"You're...sorry?" She angrily but rhetorically asked him. "You're sorry? No no no. I'm sorry! For ever thinking you would be good enough to be with me! I should have known never to have trusted someone like you."

"Someone like me?" Rodrigo asked, no taking too kindly by her words.

"Yes! Someone like you who is too stupid and blind to see the good that is in front of him!" She angrily responded. "I thought you were different; someone who doesn't have a poor man's mentality. But clearly you are not the boy I thought you were."

Rodrigo was growing tired of Rhonda's self-grandized and snobbish attitude and he was not having any of it. But he remained calm.

"No, you clearly did not." He said to her with a frown. "And for the record, I'm not poor. I know you are hurting right now, but you need to understand that in this universe, this school and all the kids there do not revolve around you. You may be popular, but that does not mean people should fall head over heels for you."

"Head over heels for me?" An outraged Rhonda said. "Hello! Do you know who I am? Are you joking, or are just insulting me? Ugh, I swear I feel like I'm talking to a wall here."

Rodrigo just sighed.

"Rhonda - " He tried to reason with her, but Rhonda cut her off.

"You could have at least have the decency to go on a date with me!" She bitterly exclaimed as she crossed her arms. "It's the least you could have done for me after all I did for you."

"Rhonda, I -" Rodrigo began but stopped himself when he realized what she just said. "Wait, what you did for me?" He asked.

"Yes!" Rhonda angrily, but increasingly hurtfully responded. "I helped you gain the support you needed to defeat Wolfgang. I didn't do it out of the goodness of my heart. What, you thought you did it all on your own? I did it because I care about you. Apart from the fact that I didn't want to see you get pulverized by that caveman, I helped you because I like 'like' you."

"...Really?" Rodrigo asked, shocked at Rhonda's confession. "You helped me just for that?"

Although still angry and hurt, Rhonda just nodded.

"Rhonda I...I didn't know." He said, now feeling more guilty. "I uh- I mean...I'm really grateful for that. I just...please, how can I make it up to you?" He asked.

"Go out with me." She responded.

"I can't do that, Rhonda." He guiltfully said.

"Why not?!" She angrily yelled at him.

"If I did that, then I would just be leading you on and giving you false hope." He explained. "That would hurt you even more and I do not want to do that."

"Well, you clearly failed in that!" She angrily said.

"Yeah, I did." He admitted. "Rhonda, look. I know you are hurting right now, but I would like to-"

"Oh, don't you dare try to friend-side me!" She angrily warned him.

"I wasn't." He said. "I was going to say that I promise to somehow make it up to-"

"It's too late for that!" Rhonda angrily interjected. "You can kiss any hopes of making it up to me goodbye. I will not put any more nuisances from someone who is so rude and inconsiderate!"

"Rude and inconsiderate?" Rodrigo rhetorically asked, now feeling offended and frowned. "Pfft, that's a laugh." He remarked.

"What did you say?" Rhonda angrily asked him.

"Rhonda, why do you even like me?" He asked her, ignoring her question and got out of his seat. "You and I are completely different people. We got nothing in common."

"I already told you!" Rhonda angrily yelled at him. "You have all the traits to be a successful person and provider!"

"No, I mean why do you really like me?" He clarified. "All of those things you pointed out about me are merely superficial and only help you."

"Superficial?" Rhonda said, "Those are very important and practical traits to have! How else would you be able to provide for family, let alone yourself?"

"They are superficial if you only care about them because they can be used to maintain a lifestyle." Rodrigo countered.

"What else is there for you to use them for?" Rhonda asked, looking confused.

"See? This is what I'm talking about." He said. "We couldn't any more different. You like my ambition because you can use it maintain your social status. But it doesn't occur to you that you can also use ambition to something more fundamental than just earning a lot of money. If I am rewarded for it, then great. But the reward is a by product of using my ambition for doing something good, like constructing buildings to house people or being a doctor to heal the sick. You are just focusing on the reward without even acknowledging what my ambition is doing that to get it."

Rodrigo said nothing and for a brief moment, she looked intrigued

"If I didn't know any better," She said to him, "I could have sworn I'm talking to Arnold. He would definitely say something like that. But like him, your problem is that you are not taking into account the fundamental drive that people have. Money is what drives this economy. Without it, very few, if any people, would have the 'ambition' to do something if they are not going to be properly rewarded for their efforts. Good luck."

"It's not always about the money." Rodrigo annoyingly remarked.

"You're right." Rhonda agreed. "Showing your social status is much more important. It shows how much your ambition has taken you within the social ladder."

"Ugh!" Rodrigo annoyingly grunted. "Here's some news flash for you, Rhonda; I don't care about any of that! Showing off my social status, my worth, all the glamour and pompous; that's not me! You I think was impressed at how 'knowledgeable' you are about the latest fashion trend, or what people were wearing that you thought was outdated or whatever; I wasn't. And if you thought any of those things did impressed me, then it is obvious you didn't take the time to know me. Heck, you didn't even let me talk throughout the night to even get to know me. It was all you that did all the talking. If someone was being rude and inconsiderate, it was you."

"Excuse me?!" An outraged Rhonda roared at him. "You do NOT speak to me that way!"

"I'm sorry Rhonda, but it is the truth." Rodrigo firmly said. "I couldn't get a word out without you cutting me off. All of this just proofs that we are two completely different people." He continued. "We couldn't even agree on what topic to do our assignment on. It was by sheer luck that we managed to do our report on a flower and even that we based it on different subjects. You don't care about the things that I like and I don't care about the things that you like. In fact, I think fashion and the glamour are shallow and just a waste of time. I care about more deep things. All of this fashion is just a luxury that distracts people from the real, important things. I don't know how you can surround your days with all of this, but I cannot."

Rhonda said nothing and listened to Rodrigo speak. While he talked, she at first was surprised, then angry, before she became disappointed.

"Well," She then said as she got up and with angry and disappointed look, "If that's what you truly think, then you clearly didn't take the time to listen." Before she turned around and headed out.

That last thing Rhonda said hit Rodrigo and it made him release his frown to then be surprised. As he watched Rhonda leave, he just silently slumped back to his seat.

Oh man. He said. She's right. I was the one being rude and inconsiderate. Here she was trying to reveal who she was, but I wouldn't even give her the time of day.

Worse still, He continued.Instead of trying to comfort her, here I was saying all those mean things to her.

"What have I done?" He said to himself.