JFK was quick to let everybody in the inner circle know about Abe's condition.
Right now, he's pacing back and forth in Abe's living room with Cleo, Frida, Harriet, Confucius, and Joan lounging around. Abe is in his room upstairs.
It's a good thing his foster parents are out of the house for whatever the reason. It would have gotten a lot more complicated if they knew what was going on.
Abe's friends, however, barely know themselves. Abe got detention. He then got into a fight with Vince Frankenclone of all people, and then he lost.
They've all been cautious before, but right now is when they really got to put in all their effort to make sure they're not caught off guard by RR. Hopefully Abe will get up sooner rather than later. He'll then tell them what happened. He has their backs and now they need to have his.
Unsatisfied with the content on her phone, Harriet looks up to see Joan walk over to the coffee table where Abe's face covering is. She couldn't believe what she was seeing as she saw her pick it up and begin to inhale whatever she could from it.
This is right in front of everybody. Harriet could even see Joan's eyes start to roll to the back of her head. She knows Joan has feelings for Abe but now she's more worried than before.
"Joan!" She stood up. Leaving Confucius without somebody to wrap his arm around. "You're really going to sniff that!? That's so gross!"
"It's fine." Joan returned Abe's face covering back to its place on the table. "Don't be such a germaphobe."
Frida points at Joan. "Hey, you didn't have to worry about the worldwide pandemic that put all our lives on hold back in 2020!"
Cleo looks at Frida. "Wait, what's this about a pandemic?"
That is when JFK began to raise his voice. Silencing everybody.
"Guys! This isn't the time to be fighting right now! We gotta stick together no matter what! Is, uh… Is anybody thirsty? I can go out and get us some drinks."
Now it's Confucius' turn to speak. "Hey, we've been sitting here for the past half hour, JFK. Why don't you go up and check on him?"
JFK nodded. "OKay… I'll check up on Abe first… Then I'm gonna come down and make sure nobody's arguing. You can argue all you want when he wakes up and explains everything!"
As JFK ran up the stairs, Confucius was quick to face Joan.
"You really do be thinkin' Lincoln. Don't you? I don't wanna imagine if he EVER quits on his brand because of you!"
Joan was quick to argue back. "Why don't you mind your own business, Confucius!? I've been desiring him since before you were born!"
She then sees Cleo smirking. "You know, Joan… If Abe didn't break things off with me back at Winter Prom… I think things would be a lot different after we thawed out."
That caught Frida's attention. "Wait, you and Abe used to… You used to be…"
"GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!"
JFK's voice rang out across the house. Everyone stood on high alert when they heard him start to come back down. "JFK! What's wrong!?" Harriet calls out to him.
JFK brushes some of his hair to ths side. "Abe bailed on us! He jumped out the window!"
Joan crosses her arms. "Why am I getting this weird sense of deja vu?"
Abe had no time to start asking questions. Like how did he wake up in his room and not at school? When is all the discomfort he's feeling going to go away? And how on Earth is he running this fast?
He had always been the slowest during his time at cross country. Now he'd be the most sought out runner.
The meat locker is around six miles from his house. With the speed he was going, it only took him thirty minutes to get there.
Although, fifteen minutes into the run, he asked another question: Why couldn't he just drive there? His car keys are in his pocket and he hasn't driven his Kia Forte all week.
As the old saying goes: Hindsight is 20/20.
When he arrived at his destination, he found it empty of other people. All the workers must have left early due to it being a Friday evening.
Despite the rest he's had earlier, he's still tired. He'd like nothing more than to sit down and take a breather, but there was something he had to do. His best friend can't wait any longer.
On his way to the freezer that's supposedly still operational after all this time, he spots a random hair dryer near the door. Convenient.
Using what's left of his strength, he opens the door to the freezer. The same one he and everyone else he knew had been in. He didn't have to rush anymore.
The frozen body of Mahatma Gandhi is in front of him now. Still dressed up in that white tuxedo of his. He deserves better. He doesn't care what anybody else has to say.
At the back of his mind, he thanked Vince Frankenclone. The guy transformed into a monster that tried to kill him, he then tried to suffocate Vince to death using a broomstick, and then he was told about Gandhi's status.
So that basically meant that they're pretty much even. He will have to make time to speak with Principal Scudworth when he has time. He's going to have a lot to talk about.
He switches on the hair dryer. He can worry about everything else later. Right now he just needs to focus on thawing his best friend out.
It probably lasted a little less than two minutes to get the blood flowing again, but in Abe's mind, it was like an hour had passed.
And then… his patience finally paid off… "...Guys…"
He hadn't heard his voice in so long. He doesn't believe in God, but he'll thank whoever he needs to thank for Gandhi's safe passage through time.
"Oh, Gandhi…" Abe couldn't stop himself from crying. "Gandhi… I've missed you!"
As much as Gandhi loves recieving a hug from his best friend, this one feels different somehow. Abe looked like he just went through Hell for him.
But how is that possible? He should be enjoying Winter Prom. What the heck is going on?
"Abe… Are you… Are you hugging me? What's gotten into you, man?"
Abe let go of him and looked him straight in the eyes. Gandhi could tell that he's been through a lot.
"I had been so… hyperfixated about the future…" Said Abe. "That I've forgotten what I've left behind in the past."
Gandhi raises an eyebrow. Feeling more annoyed than anything else. "Uh, why are you talking like that? You're not making any sense."
"I'm sorry." Abe takes a second to wipe the cold tears from his eyes. "I just couldn't help myself. I'll explain everything to you later, buddy. But right now we have to go!"
Gandhi couldn't help but notice that something feels different since stepping out of that freezer. But how could it be that way? He was only in there for a second. What does Abe know that he's not telling him?
As they began making their way out, he asked a question.
"Where's everybody else? Did they all just decide to go home at the same time?"
"Uh… Something like that." Answers Abe.
As soon as they make it out of the building. Gandhi noticed the sun had just set. The sky is getting darker by the second. "Okay… New question: How long was I in that freezer!?"
Abe was about to anser when somebody called out to him. "ABE LINCOLN!" "Oh god. Not now."
Three members of RR are staring Abe down through their sunglasses. Every inch of their bodies is covered in one way or another. Blue shirts and khaki jeans. Ready for a fight.
"We're gonna beat the shit out of you for what you did to Leif Erikson!"
This only confuses Gandhi. "Wait… Who's Leif Erikson? What have you been DOING, Abe!?"
The three guys then ran up to Abe, who despite a minor headache, was well prepared for them. They made a mistake starting the fight when it's mostly dark out. Abe's wearing mostly black and the thugs are wearing sunglasses. Gandhi could only stare in disbelief as Abe looked like he was going right through their attackers. Had Abe been learning Kung Fu or Tai Chi or Krav Maga in secret and he just never told him? So many questions.
It took Abe some time, but he did successfully defend the two of them from their attackers. He's just glad they weren't carrying weapons, otherwise he'd be running.
"Yeah, so back then, they didn't call it twerking. They called it the 'Bootyquake.' Nobody raised a fuss about it either. Everybody was out to have a fun time."
With Abe gone, JFK thought that it was best to occupy everyone's time. At least until he comes back. Hopefully.
"Wait. How did we get to this topic?" Said a confused Frida.
JFK sighs. "I've been trying to keep you all here for as long as I can. Abe is out there doing God knows what, and the rest of us gotta do what we can to help!"
Before anybody could say anything else, the front door swung open.
"Guys!" Abe shouts out. "I'm glad you've all gathered in one place for me! Saves me a lot of trouble! I would like for you all to meet a blast… from the past!"
Gandhi then walks in. "Oh my god… You're right, Abe. There ARE a bunch of new faces!"
Everyone, however, isn't sharing Abe's excitement. "Uh, I've never seen this man in my life." Said JFK.
"It's Gandhi! You all forgot about Gandhi!?" Said Abe. "Here, let me jog your memory!" He then clears his throat.
"G-Spot rocks the G spot! G-Spot rocks the G spot!" He then points at Joan. "What's his name!?"
Joan, deciding to go along with whatever Abe is doing, answers his question. "G-Spot."
Abe then points at JFK. "What does he rock!?"
JFK answers. "The G spot! Abe, I don't know what you're-"
He then stops himself. He's heard of this song before. Back in 2002 when Gandhi came up to him trying to produce a rap song. He had completely forgotten Gandhi, but he can still remember G-Spot.
He looks over at Joan, then at Cleo. The looks on their faces told him what he needed to know: They were all thinking the same thing.
He now looks more happier than ever. "Gandhi! You're back! Oh, I've missed you, buddy! The gang's all here now!"
Cleo ran her fingers through her hair. "Wow… I did forget all about him… But he really does have his own way of making sure he's never forgotten for good. I can respect that."
Joan said nothing. She just slowly nodded her head.
Frida, Harriet, and Confucius, on the other hand, were pretty excited to see a new face. For the next hour and a half, everybody took turns explaining to Gandhi what had been happening during the time he was frozen.
In short, the thing that shocked him the most was that during the twenty-one years he was frozen, a new generation of clones were born.
Normally, he'd be cracking jokes in times like these, but he doesn't feel like joking. He has to start over in what's essentially a new world.
One by one, they began to leave Abe's house after speaking all that they could. Now it's just Abe, Joan, and Gandhi. The original trio.
After being silent for some time. Joan decided to speak.
"You going to be alright, Gandhi? It's a lot to take in."
Gandhi crosses his arms. "Yeah, I'll be fine. It's just… I should have been thawed out with the rest of you. I could have helped in any way I can."
"It's not your fault, man." Abe pats him on the shoulder. "You're here now. And that's all that matters."
Gandhi looks at Abe. "So… This Amerigo Vespucci guy… Your plan is to bring the fight to him."
Abe sighs. "I don't have a choice. Clone High winning and RR losing are two separate things. We just gotta get the message out there: Abraham Lincoln is back. And once again, he is fighting for the United States. For a future people from all walks of life can believe in. I won't be satisfied with anything less."
He looks at Gandhi. "I was about to commit murder before I learned you were still frozen. You've helped me realize that I shouldn't lose myself to my anger. And that kindness CAN work. Sometimes… There's no excuse to not try. Not anymore."
They stayed silent for a little before Joan spoke up. "Abe. I don't wanna go home today. Let me spend the night here with you and Gandhi."
That caught Abe off guard. "Uhh… Okay."
Gandhi looks away from the two before going on his own way to change out of his tux. "I'll leave you two to it."
Abe wasn't expecting to get much sleep. Most nights, he gets between three and four hours a night. This is because his mind often gets clunked up with all different kinds of subjects. Wokeism, martial arts, romance, his current situation. That's not even half of it.
Right now, he isn't able to think of anything. Joan had made a move that he didn't expect. She barged into his room wearing only panties and one of his old shirts. Within three seconds, she laid down next to him and caressed his body with hers. Abe didn't dislike what Joan is doing, but it's like how he feels isn't relevant to her. "Joan, I-"
"Shut up, Abe. Just shut up!" Joan cuts him off. "Just let me have this." She inhales through her nose. Taking in all of Abe's scent she could. "I'll be gone by the morning. Let's just go to sleep now."
Abe looks up at the ceiling and lets out a sigh. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this tired. With Joan by his side he couldn't help but feel like he could lie down and forget everything for a little bit.
Maybe this is how the original Abraham Lincoln felt when he was with Mary Todd. He has no way to know for sure.
It only took a few minutes, but sleep did overcome him. For the first time in a long time, Abe finally got a full night of rest.
