The following afternoon, Odette and I went to the patio doors, which I passed through.

"Aren't you coming in too?" I asked Odette, who replied. "I think you're in good company."

As she said this, Charlie Brown came up to the patio, where he and I went to find our spot from yesterday.

"Friend of yours?" Charlie Brown asked while catching a glimpse of Odette.

"New aide, actually." I said.

"She seems nice."

"Yeah, she is."

At one of the tables we've passed, Lucy watched with disbelief alongside Linus, Peppermint Patty, Marcie, Dexter, Schroeder, and Alice, who not only was in Mrs. Greenberg's math class, but she used to be in Miss Presse's 4th Grade class back at Foster City School as well, as Charlie Brown and I sat at our same spot.

"They're having lunch together again?!" she asked flabbergastingly.

"What's wrong with that?" Alice asked back. "I think it's cute."

"It's not cute!" fumed Lucy. "It's...it's against the laws of nature!"

"Oh, good grief." groaned Peppermint Patty.

"Lucy, the world does not revolve around you." reminded Linus. "And you have no control over our lives, student body president or not."

"Your brother's right." agreed Schroeder. "If Charlie Brown wants to have lunch with his new friend, let him."

"Although," Marcie said as she watched Charlie Brown and I enjoying our Pringles. "We have been a little hard on Nathan since day one. Think we should give him another chance, sir?"

"I guess you're right, Marcie...so long as you stop calling me 'sir.'" said Peppermint Patty, who, then, called out. "Hey, Chuck! Why don't you and Nate come sit with us?"

"Really?" I asked.

"You don't mind?" added Charlie Brown.

"Yes, we do mind!" Lucy said rudely.

The others frowned at what she said.

"Just park it here, boys." said Peppermint Patty.

"Uh, thanks, I guess." I said while going up to the table with Charlie Brown.

But as soon as I sat down, there was a farting noise, followed by loud laughing...by Ed and Eddy.

I stood up to see a whoopee cushion had been placed where I was about to sit.

"Eddy!" scolded Double D.

"Oh, lighten up, Double D. It was a joke." said Eddy.

Double D rolled his eyes and shook his head, then said to me. "My apologies, Nathan."

"I do not understand why you would waste your time with these...delinquents." Dexter said to me.

Alice slapped his elbow, saying. "Mind what you say, Dexter. They're not as bad as you think."

"Yeah," I said. "Unless you wanna compare them to the Alpha and Omega Bullies."

"Oh, really?" asked Dexter. "And just how bad were those bullies?"

"So bad that they almost took over Foster City School." I explained.

"It's true." agreed Alice. "We never came across those Omegas. But when it came to the Alphas, we were tortured non-stop. But thankfully, Nathan and the Imaginaries were there to save us in our time of need. Twice."

"Oh, my." said Double D. "You must've made quite a reputation back there."

I shrugged while saying. "Well, I did what I had to do protect what…used to be my home."

Double D gave my back a pat, but before he could speak, Eddy started to laugh again.

This time, Dexter joined in, saying. "Oh, ho! Oh, ho! Oh, ho, you're killing me!"

"I've heard a lot of tall tales in my time, but that has got to the tallest one of them all." Eddy said, still laughing as he left our table.

"As I was about to say," said Double D. "Please raise your hands if you felt the same way as Nathan."

In response, Alice, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, and Marcie raised their hands, for they used to be victimized by the Alphas back at Foster City School, which they also used to call home.

"I never think about the past." Lucy said, crossing her arms.

As he raised his hand, Charlie Brown noticed Shanti again, waving at her.

Shanti waved back a little, then, sat down with Mowgli.

"Hey, Chuck, you alright?" asked Peppermint Patty.

Charlie Brown sighed dreamily. "Who knew someone like her would be…exotically beautiful?"

"Well, if you like this girl, Charlie Brown, why don't you go talk to her?" suggested Linus, whom Charlie Brown looked at, replying. "She'd probably laugh right in my face."

As he said this, I felt a brainstorm coming in my head.

"Double D, do you still have that Urban Rangers brochure?" I asked.

"Urban Rangers? What's that?" asked Charlie Brown.

Double D opened his briefcase, pulling out the brochure, which he gave to Charlie Brown, saying. "They just gave it to us the other day and it looked like something one would be interested in."

Charlie Brown looked at the brochure, then, asked. "You really think I should join?"

"Well, Shanti and Mowgli are part of the Urban Rangers." I explained. "You can be, too."

"He's right, Charles." agreed Marcie. "Think of it. Not only did you get to earn badges, but it'll also help gain self-confidence."

"Here's a better idea." suggested Lucy. "Never try anything new! Ever!"

We all frowned at what she was saying.

"Why are you against the idea of Charlie Brown joining the Urban Rangers?" I asked.

"Because he has no way of taking part in some little club. No way." Lucy replied cruelly.

"Don't listen to her, Charlie Brown. Listen to what's in your heart." I said. "If you want Shanti to notice you, you should take the chance."

"We have the utmost confidence in you, Charlie Brown." added Linus, who smiled along with the rest of us, minus Lucy.

"So, what do you say?" asked Double D.

Charlie Brown looked at us, then, at Shanti, then, at the brochure, then, back to us again.

"I guess I'll give it a shot." he said finally.

"ALL RIGHT!" exclaimed Ed, who hugged Charlie Brown tightly.

"Oh, not again, Ed." Double D said as we tried to free Charlie Brown from Ed's grasp.

Lucy just left in a huff, saying to herself. "I think the world is coming to an end!"