HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY Everybody!
SOOOOOOOOOOOO it's been a minute. Like three years. I'm gonna be honest, with my new account on AO3, and Hey Arnold barely having a presence there, I kinda forgot about this fic. But going back, rereading it, reading all your wonderful comments, I just couldn't let it go.
Now, since this fic is one that I posted on FF, I will maintain it here, but if you are interested in my other future content, that will be on AO3. I still have my old username on there, Startrekfan2016, so feel free to check it out. I have no Hey Arnold fics on there, now, but that will soon change! I am also considering moving this fic to that platform to streamline my content. Please let me know if you would appreciate that move or if you would prefer Hey Arnold Season 6 to stay where it is.
Okay, with that, on to the story!
0o0
You Can't Help Who You Fall in Love With
Sid, Stinky, and Harold were walking home from school as normal. Harold was telling them that now that they were the big tough sixth graders, they could rule the school.
"The cafeteria, the blacktop, the halls, they're ours guys! No one can touch us!" Harold boasted.
"Boy hoody, this year will be one of the best ever!" Sid added.
"But fellers, don't you reckon we should set an example for the rest of the school?" Stinky asked.
"Huh?" Harold looked at Stinky like he grew a second head.
"You know, be nice, helpful, and kind-like." Stinky suggested.
"Stinky, leave that to Arnold and his little group. We're here to cause trouble! We always have, but this year, we can go bigger!" Harold threw his arms up and made a motion like a bomb going off.
Stinky shook his head, "I don't know Harold. That seems more like a fourth-grade plan. Why can't we be chill and take it easy?"
"Stinky, don't be stupid." Harold said, not noticing the hurt look on Stinky's face. Or maybe he did notice and just didn't care. "Next year, we're back to zero, so let's make this year the best!"
Harold stomped off, leaving Sid and Stinky behind.
Sid looked up at Stinky and noticed his sad look, "Hey, you alright?"
Stinky looked up, and immediately put on a fake smile, "Yeah, peachy-keen!"
"You don't seem like it. You know Harold's the real idiot. He thinks a big prank will be something like throwing gum at the windows or something." Sid rolled his eyes at Harold who was still within sight, monologuing about all the different pranks he'll pull.
Stinky sighed, "It's just…I wish I could be taken seriously sometimes."
Sid looked at him with a nod, "I know. But, for what it's worth, I don't think you're an idiot."
Stinky smiled at him, "Aw shucks, thanks Sid! You're alright too!"
Sid chuckled.
Stinky put his hands in his pockets and continued toward his house another block away.
"Hey Stinky?" Sid called to him.
"Yeah?" Stinky turned around.
"Um…I'm not ready to go home yet. Do you think we could…walk around some more?" Sid asked.
Stinky shrugged, "Well, I gotta go home and harvest the radishes."
"Need help?" Sid asked, a little too quickly.
Stinky blinked, "I thought you didn't like getting all sweaty and dirty."
"What are you talking about, I love it!" Sid faked smiled.
Stinky shrugged again, "Alright, two sets of hands are better than one. Except my uncle Dennis, he lost his hand in a fight with an unruly lawn mower, but he can pick tomatoes faster than any husker I ever seen."
Sid chuckled, "Boy howdy!"
The pair descended on the fields after arriving. Pulling the root vegetables was tough work in the September sun, but they managed to clear the bulbs that were ready.
Stinky's dad presented the two with a tray of lemonade, "Thanks for all your help today, Sidney! We really 'preciate it!"
"Not a problem Mr. Peterson!" Sid smiled, taking a glass and drinking it quickly.
"You better get on home soon son, the sun's settin'." Mr. Peterson warned.
"Oh, yeah! Better get going!" Sid said.
Stinky stood up with Sid, "Pa, could I walk Sid home, he has a way of getting' lost."
Sid rolled his eyes, "That was one time!"
Mr. Peterson laughed, "Not a problem, just be quick getting' home Stinky!"
"Sure thing pa!" The two then walked off.
The two fell into a comfortable silence as they walked, before Sid spoke up and broke it.
"The one radish you got was huge!" Sid smiled.
"Oh, that was nothin'. You should see the one my cousin pulled out of his yard. Thing was so big, at the state fair, they put it in the hog category! And won!" Stinky laughed.
"Boy howdy! You always tell the best stories!" Sid chuckled.
"Then why'd you make Gerald the keeper of the tales?" Stinky teased.
Sid playfully scoffed, "It wasn't my choice! It was a group vote! Plus, you didn't want it."
Stinky looked down and nodded, "Yeah, that's right."
"If you did want it, I'd vote for you." Sid smiled.
Stinky shook his head, "Nah, not for me."
"I don't know, you tell great stories! You should challenge Gerald!" Sid suggested.
"I don't…" Stinky began.
"We could do a grassroots campaign! Maybe Arnold could help us! He does have experience with that." Sid continued.
"Sid…"
"Though, he might not be willing to betray Gerald, he's very loyal."
"Sid…"
"Helga might, though she might be better at intimidation than anything else. You should go for it! You'd be a great…"
"SID! Just drop it! Forget I said anything." Stinky snapped.
Sid was taken back. He'd rarely heard Stinky yell like that, "Sorry Stink. I was just fooling around."
"I know. I'm sorry." Stinky looked away from Sid.
Sid looked at him, "Do you wanna talk about it?"
Stinky looked over at Sid, paused, then shook his head, "Nah. Can we just pretend that didn't happen?"
Sid blinked at him, but gave an unsure sounding, "Yeah." And they continued their walk.
Soon enough, Sid was home.
"See you tomorrow, Sid." Stinky said, still seeming sad.
"See ya!" Sid waved back. He watched as the tall boy disappeared over the hill.
Sid felt his cheeks. They felt warm.
"That's wired, I finished working an hour ago." Sid pondered, "Must be sunburn."
0o0
Tuesdays were Sid's least favorite days. Waking up early on Monday was bad enough but doing it twice in a row?! That was offensive.
It didn't help that he didn't sleep very well. He kept thinking about Stinky's outburst. Promising to pretend it didn't happen surprisingly didn't make it go away. Stinky rarely raised his voice, and never at something so…pointless.
"Good morning class! As you all know, the new school year assembly is scheduled for next week Wednesday, and each sixth-grade class is going to give a speech to the lower grades on advice they'd like to give!" Mr. Simmons announced.
The whole class moaned.
"I'm glad you're excited!" Mr. Simmons then turned to the chalkboard, "Now, as part of the speech, each class picks a speaker, so, who'd like to nominate someone?"
Curly's hand shot up, "Can we nominate ourselves?"
Mr. Simmons shook his head, "No. This is also a team exercise. You all know each other better than anyone and know who the best speaker would be."
There was a hushed snicker coming from Harold's direction.
"Now, let the nominations begin!" Mr. Simmons announced.
Arnold sheepishly raised his hand.
"Yes Arnold?" Mr. Simmons acknowledged.
"I nominate Gerald." Arnold smiled at his friend.
Gerald smiled back and Mr. Simmons wrote Gerald's name down.
"Alright, anyone else?" Mr. Simmons asked.
It was wide known at this point that Gerald was the best public speaker at PS 118. His cool sense of calm, charisma, and charm all made him an engaging speaker.
Sid sat, still confused about Stinky's outburst. Could it be a lack of confidence? Maybe he doesn't think he could beat Gerald? Of Course he could!
Resolute, Sid made a move, and raised his hand.
"Yes Sid?" Mr. Simmons nodded.
"I nominate Stinky!" Sid smiled toward the country lad, who looked at Sid with shock.
"Alright, Stinky." Mr. Simmons wrote on the board.
The chuckle from Harold got louder.
"Alright, anyone else?" Mr. Simmons asked again.
Curly raised his hand again, "I nominate the beautifu…"
"No." Rhonda said.
"But I…" Curly tried again.
"NO!" Rhonda responded louder.
"Anyone else?" Mr. Simmons asked.
No one raised their hand.
"Alright, heads down. No peaking." Mr. Simmons said.
Sid smiled to himself. Even if Stinky doesn't win, he'll at least get Harold and I's vote, so that should help his confidence!
"All those for Gerald?" Mr. Simmons counted the hands raised.
"All those for Stinky?" Mr. Simmons counted again and wrote the results on the board.
"Alright, heads up." Mr. Simmons requested.
Sid looked at the board:
Gerald: 16
Stinky: 4
"Gerald is the winner!" Mr. Simmons announced.
The class clapped. Sid looked back at Stinky, who still looked sad, but also, relieved?
"Alright, for our English homework, you are to write three pieces of advice you would give to the younger students at the school. On Monday, we'll combine them and write the speech, so Gerald has a few days to study." Mr. Simmons explained.
The class all nodded and got ready for the rest of the lesson.
0o0
At lunch, Sid ran up and met up with Stinky in the serving line.
"Hey Stinky! Boy Howdy, four votes! That's an impressive total for someone running against the speech king himself." Sid smiled.
Stinky nodded silently, "Yeah."
Sid blinked at him as he grabbed his pudding and followed Stinky to their normal table, "What's wrong? You weren't expecting to win were you? I mean, no one was gonna beat Gerald…"
"So why'd you nominate me?" Stinky interrupted stopping just short of the table.
Sid blinked, "Um…well, after you yelled yesterday you seemed sad, so I wanted to show you that some people do think you're a better speaker than…"
"I thought we said that never happened." Stinky said coldly.
Sid walked over to the table and put his tray down, "Stinky, what's going on? You're not acting like yourself."
"What, like an idiot?" Stinky snapped back.
"No! Like…I don't know…happy?" Sid cringed at his response.
"So a happy idiot? I can't feel mad or sad?" Stinky accused.
"No, I didn't mean it like that." Sid protested.
At this point a few onlookers had started observing this conversation.
Stinky shook his head, "Well, do me a favor, and stop trying to make me feel better. I'm gonna sit with Nadine and them today."
"Stinky…" Sid sighed as Stinky walked to the other side of the cafeteria.
Arnold observed this argument from his table, and instinctively started heading over to Sid, but a hand held him down.
"Let them figure it out." Helga said.
Arnold blinked at her, "But…"
"They have to solve their own problems, and you need to eat." Helga smiled at him.
Arnold chuckled, "Now who's the problem solver?"
Helga rolled her eyes, "Shut up Football-head."
Harold, who was standing off to the side watching Sid and Stinky's argument, walked over and sat next to Sid, "So, what's up with your boyfriend?"
Sid sighed, "I don't know. He was mad I nominated him, and he blew up at me yesterday for…wait…what did you call him?"
Harold blinked at him, "Your boyfriend?"
Sid blushed, "He's not my boyfriend!"
"Okay, keep your pants on, I was only kidding." Harold chuckled.
Sid's blushed deepened, "I don't even like him like that."
"Got it." Harold replied.
Sid shook his head, "I don't."
Harold blinked at him, "Okay. Got it."
Sid sat quietly, barely eating anything, as he kept looking over at Stinky, who was sitting quietly across the room.
"What'd he blow up at you over?" Harold asked.
Sid shrugged, "I don't know, we were just talking about him being the keeper of the tales instead of Gerald."
"Stinky?" Harold gawked, "As the keeper? Stinky can't tell his left from his right!"
"Neither can you." Sid countered.
Harold groaned, "I worked with the cards and the labels, I'm better now."
Sid sighed, "He just needs more confidence."
"Leave him alone." Harold said, "Trying to get him more confidence is more pointless than…"
"Stop talking about him like that!" Sid shouted, standing up, and angerly throwing his tray away.
Arnold watched Sid leave the cafeteria with a worried expression, then looked over at Stinky. Arnold could tell Stinky looked sad and his eyes were fixed on the door Sid just stormed out of.
"I know you think you have to help them but let them come to you." Helga said.
Arnold looked at her and nodded, "Yeah, okay."
0o0
The rest of the week and the weekend went by slowly for Sid. Stinky still wouldn't talk to him, and he was avoiding Harold. Without his usual group, time seemed slow.
That Sunday, he found himself staring at a blank sheet of paper, trying to figure out what pieces of advice to give.
"Why can't I be Arnold? This would be so easy for him." Sid said to himself.
Sid's Dad walked by his open bedroom door, "You doing homework?"
"Yeah," Sid said sadly, "can't think of anything though."
Sid's Dad shrugged, "Don't worry about it. School's overrated."
Sid watched him as he walked away toward the living room.
"Maybe I shouldn't write that advice down." Sid nodded to himself.
Sid looked at the pictures he had hanging on his wall, most of them were of him, Harold, and Stinky getting into all sorts of trouble. The time he and Stinky went to Dino Land, or when he and Stinky got the worst smelling plant from a flower shop and gave it to Mr. Simmons as an end of fifth grade present.
Sid frowned. If he couldn't make this right with Stinky, he'd lose someone he really cared about forever. He had to make this right. But how?
0o0
Arnold sat on his computer in his room, laughing with his cousin David over video chat.
"I mean, I warned him not to jump into that river, but he never listens to me." David laughed.
"Aren't the rivers around London, um, not very…clean?" Arnold asked pensively.
David nodded, "Oh, they're filthy, that's why he didn't really swim, but drudged his way through!"
Arnold faked retched at that statement, "That sounds awful." Arnold then looked up at his skylight, and noticed Sid standing there, waving at him, "Sorry Dave, I gotta go. A friend is on the roof."
David looked confused at him, "Is that an American expression?"
Arnold looked back at him, "No, there's literally a friend on the roof."
David shrugged, "Alright, give my best to Helga for me!"
"And you give mine to Kit!" Arnold smiled, "Same time next week?"
"Until then cous!" David said as the two hung up.
Arnold then looked up at Sid and motioned for him to use the skylight door.
"Hey Arnold," Sid said as he descended the stairs, "I need your help."
Arnold nodded, "I kind of expected this, but I wasn't expecting you on the roof."
"Yeah, sorry. Your parents were at the front door, and they were a little…um…married, shall we say?" Sid smiled nervously.
Arnold blushed a bit, "Oh, jeez. Sorry about that."
"It's fine. I guess they have to catch up!" Sid joked.
"Can we be done talking about this please?" Arnold asked.
"Yeah, anyway, I need to talk to you about Stinky." Sid said.
Arnold nodded, "Okay." Arnold picked up his remote and pressed the button for the couch to fall out. He and Sid sat down.
"I guess I should tell you about what happened." Sid then proceeded to explain Stinky's two blow ups and his efforts to make it right, and the current limbo of their friendship.
"I guess, I don't know how to make this right." Sid said, "I just hate seeing him upset and down on himself like this."
Arnold nodded, "Well, have you tried talking to him since the lunchroom fight?"
"No, he's been avoiding me." Sid said dejected.
Arnold smiled at him, "Try going over there and explaining things to him. It'll be easier for both of you to explain now that some time has passed. I know Stinky is pretty sad without you."
Sid chuckled at that, "Yeah, probably not as much though." Sid's eyes went wide at saying that.
Arnold raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Oh, I just mean that…well…it's…um…these advice sessions are confidential, right?" Sid asked.
Arnold shrugged, "If you don't want me to tell anyone, I won't."
Sid nodded, "Um…how…how did you know you…liked Helga?"
Arnold blushed a bit, "Oh. Um…I guess, it was when we were hanging from the bridge in San Lorenzo. I just looked into her eyes and we were about to die, and it just hit me. We had this connection. One that was stronger than friendship."
Sid nodded, "Well…when I'm around Stinky, I feel more…myself. More confident. I can…be brave when he's there. Like we're…connected."
Arnold nodded at him, "It sounds like you have very deep feelings for Stinky."
Sid nodded, "Yeah."
Arnold smiled at Sid and patted him on the back, "Well, you'll never know how he feels until you talk to him about it."
Sid groaned, "But that's the problem, what if he doesn't feel the same way? Then I'll lose him all over again."
Arnold nodded, "Yeah, but if you try to maintain things as they are, you'll be miserable. I say, take a leap of faith. But it's up to you."
Sid looked at him and sighed, "I'll try."
Arnold smiled at him as Sid got up and walked toward the skylight, "Um, Sid, you can use the door now."
Sid turned, "Oh, yeah. Arnold?"
"Yeah?" Arnold acknowledged.
Sid blushed a little, "Thank you for…being cool with…you know."
Arnold stood up and walked over to Sid, "None of that matters. The only thing that matters is that you're a good person. Forget everything else, just be you." He then gave Sid a hug, which Sid returned.
0o0
Sid stood at the door to Stinky's house. His hands shook as his nervousness was taking over. He quickly knocked on the door, anxiously waiting for a response.
The door opened, revealing Stinky, wearing his work overalls, looking like he just finished some harvesting in the backyard.
"Oh, um…hey Sid." Stinky greeted.
Sid gulped, his throat feeling dry, "Hey Stinky."
Sid cringed at the sound of his voice. It was so small and raspy.
"Umm…What can I do you for?" Stinky asked.
"Could…um…could we talk privately? Please?" Sid asked earnestly.
Stinky looked back behind him, unsure, but gave Sid a small smile, "Sure, c'mon in."
Stinky opened the door a bit more and led Sid to his room. Once inside, Sid took a seat on Stinky's bed.
"So…about…um…everything. I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I pushed too hard and made you uncomfortable." Sid apologized, looking down at the floor.
Stinky sat down on his stool and shook his head, "Nah, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so mean and cold. Truth is…I've been taking speaking lessons."
Sid looked up and blinked at him, "Why? You talk just fine."
Stinky shook his head, "I want to speak more elegant-like. But I'm not ready for performance or anything. So, when you nominated me…I panicked a bit."
Sid nodded, "That makes sense."
Stinky smiled, "I'm sorry for what I said to you. I hope you can forgive me."
Sid shook his head, "I came here to apologize to you, not the other way around!"
Stinky laughed, "Yeah, alright."
Sid looked down again, "There…was something…else I wanted to talk to you about. About…um…me."
Stinky kept his eyes on him, "Yeah?"
Sid starting breathing nervously, and rubbed his hands on his thighs to stop their nervous twitching, "Um…yeah. You know how…um…during the summer, we were captured by river pirates?"
"Bit hard to forget." Stinky chuckled.
Sid chuckled a bit too, "Yeah, well. I was a mess. Freaking out, and…well, you know me."
Stinky smiled, "But you got through it."
Sid nodded, "Yeah, thanks to you."
Stinky's smile grew a bit.
"I'm much braver and happier around you. You make my life better, and…you're…more than a friend to me." Sid looked toward Stinky but was unable to look at his face.
Stinky blinked, "Um…you mean…like…a crush?"
Sid blushed at that word, biting his lip nervously, "Um…yeah…for a while…I've had a crush on you."
There was a beat of silence between the two. Stinky looked at Sid, who looked like he was one loud noise away from a full-blown breakdown. He knew that Sid, his best friend…
Wouldn't take his response well.
"Well, Sid, I sure am…um…flattered." Stinky began, "But…I guess…I just don't feel the same way."
Sid felt himself start to breathe faster, "Oh. I…um…"
Stinky saw his reaction, and moved toward him, putting a hand on his back, "It's not anything you did, I just…I like girls."
Sid tried to calm down, but he had just made things WAY more awkward with his best friend, so his efforts weren't working out, "I…eh…I don't…I'm sorry…I should…um…"
Sid stood up quick and walked out of Stinky's place at a fast pace.
Stinky stood up and tried to follow him, "Sid! Wait! It's alright!"
Sid stopped and shook his head, looking back at Stinky, "I don't…I need time to…I don't know. I'm sorry Stinky, I'm so sorry."
Sid took off again, running as fast as he could away from Stinky.
Stinky watched him go and felt some tears sting in the corners of his eyes.
"Stinky?" Stinky's dad called behind him, "What's wrong?"
Stinky just shook his head and hugged his dad tightly.
0o0
Sid lay alone in his room, staring at the purple wallpaper next to his bed, tears stung his eyes.
"What were you thinking? Just telling him that? What's the matter with you?" Sid spat at himself.
Sid's dad knocked on the door and walked in, "Sid? Everything alright?"
Sid couldn't take another rejection. He had no idea how his dad would react to the truth. He turned to face him, "I was just watching a sad movie."
Sid's dad looked at him with some doubt, but nodded, "Alright. Watch something happy alright? Your eyes look like stop lights." He then turned and walked out of the room.
Sid resumed his position on his side, as more tears came.
0o0
"What do you mean laryngitis?!" Mr. Simmons said to Gerald's dad over the phone, "He has to give the speech to the whole school on Wednesday!"
The class grew more concerned as they listened in on Mr. Simmon's conversation with Gerald's family. Arnold knew this was coming, Gerald texted him that morning that he had no voice.
"Okay. Well, tell him to feel better. Alright, goodbye." Mr. Simmons hung up the phone, "Class, I have some bad news. Gerald will be unable to make the speech. Therefore, the runner up, Stinky, will be making the speech."
Sid looked up from his stupor with concern.
Stinky went wide-eyed, "But, Mr. Simmons…I can't."
"Why not Stinky?" Mr. Simmons asked concerned, "Are you having vocal problems as well? Is this infecting the whole class?!"
"No, I'm fine…I just…I don't think I could…" Stinky stuttered.
Sid stood up, "I'll do it."
Mr. Simmons looked over at Sid, "You will?"
"Yeah," Sid said, "How bad could it be?"
Mr. Simmons smiled at him, "Okay, we'll put our advice together and give it to Sid."
The students started passing up their advice, except Sid, who couldn't think of anything.
After class that day, Mr. Simmons asked Sid to talk to him, "I noticed you didn't hand in your assignment."
Sid nodded, "Sorry. I'll get it done soon."
Mr. Simmons nodded, "Sooner, rather than later please."
Sid nodded and walked out. In the hallway, Harold was waiting for him.
"Hey nose, what's up?" Harold asked.
"Not now Harold, I'm not in the mood." Sid said.
Harold rolled his eyes, "First Stinky gets all angry, now you too? What's going on?"
Sid clutched his fists, "I don't think Stinky and I are friends anymore."
Harold stopped walking, "What?"
Sid looked back at Harold, then down at the ground, "I did something really stupid, and…it's done."
Harold looked at Sid, feeling tears threatening in his eyes, "But…it…it was supposed to be the three of us. Ruling the school."
Sid nodded, "I'm sorry. I just…ruined everything."
Harold frowned, "You…you told him you liked him, didn't you?"
Sid met Harold's gaze with surprised eyes.
Harold shook his head, "It was pretty obvious you liked him. He didn't take it well?"
Sid shook his head, "How'd you know?"
Harold looked towards Rhonda, "Happened to me too."
Sid nodded, "I'm sorry Harold. I wish…I wish I didn't…feel this…"
Harold walked up to him, and put his hand on his shoulder, "It's okay. We're okay. Don't be afraid to feel what you feel."
Sid blinked at him, "Arnold rubbing off on you?"
Harold chuckled, "Maybe. Now, speech boy, you better practice. Don't want your voice to crack up there! Be pretty funny if it did!" Harold let out his signature laugh.
Sid rolled his eyes but smiled at his friend.
0o0
The day of the speech had come. Sid paced behind the curtain on the stage nervously as he re-read his speech over and over, making sure he got everything. Harold watched him and chuckled.
"You got this bud! Just go out there and show 'em who's boss!" Harold patted him on the back.
"Thanks Harold, for everything." Sid smiled.
"Eh, don't mention it. I gotta get a seat, you alright?" Harold asked,
Sid smiled, "Yeah, go."
Harold smiled as he left, leaving Sid back stage with the other speakers.
And Stinky.
Sid saw him walk past the curtain and motion to come talk to him in a private corner. Sid gulped nervously as he walked over to join him.
"Hey, I just wanted to thank you for doing this. You didn't have to." Stinky said.
Sid shook his head, "It's the least I could do."
Stinky looked down, "Sid…I…know things are screwed up, but I want you to know, you'll always be my friend. No matter what."
Sid looked at him with sad eyes, "I've missed you."
Stinky nodded, "Me too."
Sid felt tears starting, "I know you don't feel the same way, and I know it might be uncomfortable, but…do you think we could try, just being friends?"
Stinky smiled and hugged him, "You're my best friend and I'll always be here."
Sid smiled as the embrace ended, then his name was called. Stinky nodded, then ran out back to his seat.
Sid nervously took his place at the microphone, looking out at the gathered faces of his schoolmates.
"Mr. Simmon's class would like to give the following advice to you:" Sid began.
He listed the advice perfectly, not missing a beat.
Then, it came to his advice. He never handed in the assignment, but he knew what to say now.
"For my advice, I would tell you…Forget everything else and just be you." Sid looked toward Arnold, who smiled at him.
Sid then looked toward Harold, "Never be afraid to feel what you feel." Harold had streams of tears falling out of his eyes as he gave Sid a thumbs up.
Sid smiled and looked at Stinky, "And find yourself a friend who, no matter what, will be there for you, make you brave, and will never let you down."
Stinky felt tears come as Sid smiled at him and the auditorium started clapping.
Sid gave a little bow and walked off stage.
0o0
Mr. Simmons' whole class welcomed Sid in the classroom after the speech.
"Well done Sid! Very eloquent!" Mr. Simmons complemented.
"Good job man!" Gerald said in a barely audible voice.
Sid smiled, "Thank you."
Sid sat at his desk, and took out his notebook, when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
"Good job Sid!" Eugene complimented.
"Oh, thanks!" Sid smiled.
Eugene blushed a bit, "So, I was wondering…if you wanted to go see that new Space Troops movie sometime?"
Sid blinked, "You mean…just the two of us?"
Eugene's blush deepened, "Um…yeah…"
Sid thought, "Like a…date?"
Eugene bit his lip, "Yeah…if…you wanted?"
Sid blinked and looked over at Stinky, who gave him a thumbs up.
Sid chuckled, "Boy howdy! Sure Eugene. I'd like that."
Eugene chuckled, "Great, see you there!"
Sid turned back as Mr. Simmons began his lesson.
