(Disclaimer: Before reading this story, I want to give credit to 241, the author of the original version of the story. There will be some major changes to this version, however. For example, the setting of this rewrite will occur during the show. Along with that, some dialogue has been altered, and more characters are given more involvement in this version. Enjoy the story.)

(One morning in Elmore, a blue cat woke up from his bed. His name is Gumball Watterson. He is a 12-year old boy. After disabling his alarm clock, he looked outside the window.)

Gumball: Good morning, Elmore! Gumball Watterson is ready for another day in Elmore!

(The boy looked across to find his brother yawning in the goldfish bowl. He is Darwin Watterson, 10 years old, adopted brother of Gumball Watterson. They met when their parents tried to make a toddler Gumball calm years ago. A pink bunny is also waking up. She is Anais Watterson, the only daughter of the Watterson family. She is a child genius.)

Darwin: Morning, Gumball. What's got you so happy at this day?

Gumball: I'm glad you asked, buddy. Today's the big day. It marks the day since I first took steps on Elmore Junior High School.

Darwin: But I thought you hated that place.

Anais: Yeah. Not to mention people like Miss Simian tend to make your life miserable there. The number of detentions you received from her and the other teachers proved that.

Gumball: Mostly, but one of the reasons why I liked is because that is where most of our crazy adventures happened. Not to mention the friends we made in our journey there. Man, I love my life!

Anais: You do realize we still have to take a final exam to graduate out of that place, right?

Gumball: I'm honestly so happy to care about that! Even if I get held back, some miracle will pop in to save me in the last second.

Darwin: Alright then. Look, let's just wash up and get ready for breakfast.

(All three Watterson children walked over to the bathroom and brushed their teeth. Once they took turns taking showers, they went downstairs to the kitchen where they are greeted by their parents Richard and Nicole Watterson. Just like Gumball and Anais, they are a blue cat and pink rabbit, only taller.)

Richard: Morning, kids.

Nicole: You up for another day at school?

Anais: Sure.

Darwin: I guess so.

Gumball: I am ready!

Richard: Nice! (puts breakfast on the table) Here are your waffles, kids.

Kids: Thanks, dad.

(Once they finished their breakfast, they headed off to the school bus. Rocky was driving. The people inside were Tobias, Bobert, Masami, Jamie, Alan, Banana Joe, and a few others. They greeted the Watterson children when they got on board. Gumball took the one seat available that was next to Penny Fitzgerald. She was a peanut with antlers before, but thanks to Gumball's help, she had a true form: a fairy-like being.)

Penny: Hi, Gumball.

Gumball: Heyo, Penny! How's your day going?

Penny: Doing great, now that you're here. (kisses him) You're my favorite part of school.

Gumball: Really?

Penny: Yeah!

Tobias: Hey, Gumball. A new snack store just opened near school! Want to come?

Gumball: Maybe later. I'm talking with Penny here.

Banana Joe: Got it!

(A few minutes later, they almost arrived at Elmore Junior High. Gumball was looking out the window to enjoy the sight. However, his smile faded when they got closer.)

Gumball: Uh, guys?

Darwin: What's wrong, Gumball?

(Gumball can only point his finger out the window. The others looked out of it and gasped. Elmore Junior High was a disaster. Some of the windows were broken, the door was missing, some letters of the sign were gone, and the flag that Penny and her cheerleader friends made was burnt halfway. This broke Penny's heart since she and the others worked hard to make that flag. Gumball put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.)

Darwin: Oh no.

Alan: Elmore Junior High!

Clayton: It's destroyed!

(Everyone got off the bus to see the damages. Sure, they hated the school, but it was the only place where they can talk and meet with each other.)

Jamie: Everything seems demolished.

Sarah: Yeah. It's like a tornado came and destroyed everything.

(Gumball notices a depressed Principal Brown on the steps of the school. He rushes over to see what's up with him.)

Gumball: Principal Brown! Are you crying?

Principal Brown: Yes, Gumball. I am crying. This school is destroyed!

Anais: We can see that.

Carrie: This all seems devastating.

Principal Brown: Tell me about it. But that's not the only thing that I am depressed about. I will lead you all to the school auditorium immediately. While we get there, you will see what other stuff happened.

Gumball: Understandable.

(Everyone followed their principal inside Elmore Junior High. Or at least what's left of it. Some of the girls were horrified when they saw of the walls leaking with dirty water. The boys were shocked when they saw some of the classrooms inside were burning. It didn't help the fact that some of the lockers were smashed, doors were broken down, desks were missing legs, even some of the faculty were depressed due to the destruction of the school.)

Gumball: Man, whoever did this must not like school that much.

Banana Joe: I know. Looks like they got schooled. (laughs) Get it?

(The other students shot glares at him.)

Gumball: Joe, not a good time. Can't you see someone destroyed this place?

Darwin: I don't see the appeal. Most of us don't even like it here.

Tobias: Yeah. I mean, the school stinks, but people like wouldn't go that far to outright destroy it.

Principal Brown: We are almost there. Hopefully we will get our answer.

(All the students sat down in their seats. Some of the teacher were sitting near the microphone. Principal Brown grabbed it.)

Principal Brown: You might be wondering why I brought you here. Okay, I know all of you don't like the school, and probably don't like the faculty. Right?

(The students exchanged some random looks and blurted out statements such as "Some of you are alright teachers" and "Not that much, but its fine." Suddenly, Miss Simian stood up and grabbed the microphone.)

Miss Simian: But whoever destroyed this school has crossed the line! In all of my teaching career, I've never seen such a destruction of school property and the whole school itself!

Anton: What about the time Principal Brown told us to evacuate because the school was blown up?

Miss Simian: That was a different thing! The school blew up by accident! (calms down) But this is a whole lot more serious. Now, I and the rest of you all know it that the entire school is way too big for it to be destroyed by one person. This could be a group job for all I know.

(Everyone was whispering about who could have done it. It literally could have been anyone.)

(Mr. Small takes the microphone this time.)

Mr. Small: Do you know how awful this problem is?! The amount of years spent in this building has been wasted thanks to that destruction! It could be any one of you freaks who did it!

(Everyone gasped since they rarely seen Mr. Small angry.)

Mr. Corneille: Steve, I'll take it from here. You need to relax. (grabs the microphone) Kids, Mr. Small is right. This is a very serious offense. One of you is likely punished to the max for doing this stunt.

(Coach simply nods to this situation.)

Miss Simian: Who did this?!

(She was met with silence. Principal Brown took over.)

Principal Brown: Kids, I'm afraid to do this, but none of you are allowed to leave until one of you confesses. And anyone caught leaving shall be charged as an accomplice. I'm sorry.

(After he leaves, the students looked at each other.)

Alan: So, who destroyed this school?

Jamie: It had to be one of us. Seriously, even our rival school Richwood High wouldn't do this.

Teri: Right. The suspect must be a student from this school.

Banana Joe: Maybe let's tell our sides of the story to explain what happened while the school was going on.

Tobias: Good plan. For me, I was busy lifting weights in the gym again.

Clayton: I had to do homework again since I got detention for missing out on it.

Penny: Teri came over to my place to finish our project.

Carmen: Me, Alan, and Masami were trying to babysit.

Tina: Busy doing father-daughter stuff.

Idaho: Me, Anton, Alan and Juke had to finish our Project at Bobert's house

Anais: Played with my dolls.

Gumball: Hung out with Darwin all night.

Tobias: Hang on, Gumball? Wouldn't you be the same one who set a fire in a pool?

Gumball: Honestly, I did a lot of stupid things, but destroying the school isn't one of them.

Darwin: Hey, if that was a school pool, how can there be a—

(He was interrupted by Banana Joe holding his shoulder)

Banana Joe: Best not to answer it.

Bobert: Perhaps I have the answer.

Gumball: You do?

Bobert: Exactly. Hopefully this shall solve the problem.

(A few minutes later, the staff was calling the parents.)

Principal Brown: It's been a few minutes. Not one of you fessed up.

Miss Simian: We know the culprit in this school!

Mr. Small: Come on, you don't want to get in more trouble, do you?

(Everyone stood up as a result.)

Principal Brown: I know most of you are innocent, but I also know that most of you are friends with the culprit, so if the culprit does not step up to his mistakes right now, everyone will be punished!

Bobert: I have the answer. It is Gumball.

Gumball: What the what?!

Everyone: Gumball?!

Gumball: Bobert, how can you be sure I'm the one responsible for this mess?

Bobert: It's simple, Gumball. I'll show you and the others what happened. (His eye projects a screen above their heads.) As I was trying to find my way downstairs, I spotted some figure in the school. I hid to avoid being spotted. I found a shocking discovery.

(The video shows someone in a black sweater and a black hoodie in the school. The figure started breaking all of the windows. Everyone eyed at Gumball suspiciously while he still seemed confused. When the person in the video turned around, it showed someone in whiskers and a tail.)

Tobias: See, it is Gumball! He's the one who destroyed Elmore Junior High!

(Everyone glared at Gumball as a result, with the exception of a few others.)

Gumball: Guys, no. I hate this school as much as you do, but destroying it is going too far,

Molly: Then how do you explain this, then?!

Principal Brown: Settle down, students. I'll have a word with the young man responsible. The rest of you head to class, or roam the school, or whatever.

(Gumball sighed as he headed to the principal's office with Principal Brown following him. A few hours later, everyone was waiting outside Principal Brown's office.)

Darwin: Are you sure Gumball is responsible for this? He was with me that night.

Tobias: Look, Darwin. Gumball was in that video. There is no way any other cat could have done it.

Anais: What about our mother?

Masami: After she made amends with my mom? Highly doubt that.

(Suddenly, Gumball came out of the room with a disappointed look. The look on Principal Brown's face says it all. All the students rushed to Gumball. Words can't express how betrayed they felt.)

Anton: You pussycat numbskull!

Tobias: Gumball! What were you thinking?!

Masami: Have you lost your mind?!

Everyone: Why did you destroy Elmore Junior High?!

Gumball: Guys, I wouldn't do something like this!

Alan: (angry) Gumball, just accept it! It was you in the video, therefore you did it.

Tina: Yeah. You seriously went too far.

Jamie: Even with me as one of the bullies, this is something that I would not have sunk low to. Plus, we can see your name on it. See?

(Gumball looked to see some letters that said "Gumball was here" on the wall. Everyone walked off in disgust. Only Penny stood. She walked up to him.)

Penny: Is it true? Are you responsible for this?

Gumball: Penny, please believe me. I don't have anything to do with this. You have to believe me.

Penny: I don't know who to believe anymore. (walks away sadly)

(Gumball started walking away sadly as well. Only Darwin and Anais stood by his side.)

Darwin: I highly doubt this.

Gumball: What?

Anais: There's no way you would have did this. We believe you.

Gumball: Why didn't you guys say anything?

Darwin: We were trying to, but the others wouldn't listen to us. They started to believe that we could be accomplices to this.

Anais: So, what did Principal Brown say?

Gumball: Pretty obvious. He was highly disappointed in me for my actions. Out of all the nasty stuff I did throughout this school, this was the worst thing I have did, in his words. But this doesn't make sense. I only liked this school since I made some relationships with the others including you guys. We even had some adventures here. And I can't believe Brown had to do it.

Darwin: Did what?

Gumball: Well, he said I was…

(A few hours later, at the Watterson house.)

Nicole: EXPELLED?!

Gumball: Yeah. I messed up big time.

Richard: No kidding!

Nicole: Gumball! Don't you see how serious this is?!

Gumball: I get that! But I mostly don't because I wouldn't be the one to destroy Elmore Junior High!

Nicole: There's literally video proof of you breaking in! How can you deny that?!

Anais: Well, for one, Gumball and Darwin were on the couch looking for something. I saw them as I passed by.

Darwin: Yeah. He lost his sweater again. But still, there's no way Gumball could have reached to school to destroy it and get back home quickly.

Nicole: Look, I don't know exactly how this is possible but Principal Brown said that the video shows you breaking windows and it's very hard for me to believe you because of that.

Gumball: Really?

Nicole: Yes.

Gumball: Come on, mom. You know I'm not cut out for this of situation. Honestly, with most of our adventures we had as a family, I wouldn't do something like that.

(Nicole mutters something)

Gumball: What?

Nicole: Never mind.

Darwin: Mrs. Mom, we know you said something. What is it?

Nicole: Doesn't matter.

Anais: Mom, stop lying to us! What was thing you muttered to yourself?!

Nicole: I MIGHT NOT CONSIDER YOU PART OF THE FAMILY AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE!

(Everyone stared in shock. Nicole, realizing her mistake, covered her mouth. But it was too late. The damage was done. Gumball could feel his heart break.)

Nicole: No… I didn't mean it like that…

(Suddenly, the door was being knocked on. Richard came to open it. It was the Doughnut Sheriff.)

Doughnut Sheriff: Greetings, Mr. Watterson. I heard the whole thing. I'm sorry to do this, but I have to take Gumball in.

(Gumball sighs sadly. He goes in front of Doughnut Sheriff.)

Gumball: I'm here, sir. Let's go bring myself to the police station.

Doughnut Sheriff: Understood. Sorry about what you have been through.

Darwin: Gumball, no! Please don't go!

Anais: Yeah! You didn't destroy the school!

Gumball: Look, I'm sorry, but even though I didn't do it, the only thing I can do now is to go along with the police. (stares coldly at Nicole) I have no family here.

Richard: Son! Don't go! Don't go like my dad did!

Doughnut Sheriff: It's no use. Decision is final.

(The family shed tears as Gumball and the Doughnut Sheriff walked into the police car and drove off. For the whole ride to the police station, Gumball thought to him elf about everything he lost today: his friends, his life, Penny, and even the trust of his own mother. Gumball went as far as to think that his own mother doesn't love him anymore. Suddenly, the police car was almost out of gas, so the Doughnut Sheriff stopped at the nearest gas station to fill it up with gas. Right before he left the car, Gumball gave the Doughnut Sheriff his wallet so he can buy some food for himself.)

Gumball: Here is your money. I'm not in the mood to eat.

Doughnut Sheriff: I know, kid.

(When he went inside the gas station, Gumball started thinking about what's it going to be like in prison: all cold, hard bed, hairy prisoners, tough battles, soap, but all he could think about was how Darwin and Anais stood up for him. At least he knows that there's some people in his life that still love him. But the blue cat noticed a notepad in the driver's seat and a pencil. He grabbed it and started to draw a drawing of his hand while grabbing another one of his hands, hoping they would get the message. He started thinking about doing something he never thought he do, so the first thing he did was write a letter.)

Gumball: (in his mind) Dear everyone, I'm leaving town. I already know you are all disappointed in me for what you think I did to the school. But the truth is that I am innocent. Either way, Mom, you always did love me. Dad, no matter how you're always lazy, we had great times especially in our misadventures. Anais, Darwin, I love you two as much as a brother can even more, thanks for being there for me. Everyone else, you may think I'm a horrible person for destroying the school. Even if I didn't destroy the school, hurting you guys is something I don't want to do. No matter what, Mom, even if you don't love me or not, I will always love you guys forever. Love Gumball C. Watterson. P.S I'm sorry I'm not the son you wanted.

(After writing his note, he left it on the driver's seat. He opened the door and ran off. The Doughnut Sheriff came back once Gumball left.)

Doughnut Sheriff: Look, kid. Even if what you did was unspeakable, I appreciate you giving yourself up to face the consequences. I decided to buy you a couple of snacks to cheer you up.

(His eyes widened when he saw Gumball wasn't there. As he was about to look for him, he noticed the note Gumball left behind. After he read it, this made him felt really upset. A half-hour later, he arrived to deliver the news to the Wattersons. They were already depressed by Gumball's departure. Darwin opened the door to see the Doughnut Sheriff again.)

Darwin: What do you want now?

Doughnut Sheriff: It's important for you guys to look at this letter!

(The family got up and read the letter. There was a mix of emotions for each member. As if bad enough Gumball was blamed for the crime, it was a whole lot worse with him running away. Speaking of which, he is still doing so.)

Gumball: Goodbye, Elmore. You deserve a better person than me.

(Tears ran through his face since he knows that he is never going to see any one of his friends, Penny, or his family ever again. He saw a traveling bus nearby. He took this opportunity to jump through the window. He didn't care where it took him. He didn't care how long it took. All that mattered to him was that his life in Elmore is officially over. The bus sped away to the exit of Elmore.)