Chapter 7
"Wear something nice?" Libby hummed to herself as she searched through a clothing rack. A trip to the mall, of course she could have just gotten something out of her closet, but nothing in her wardrobe screamed nice, maybe except for the dress she wore on their first date.
Libby could remember the look he gave her when he first saw her in it, the trip to the beach and, and the kiss?
A smile crept across her lips as she began to think about it, the dance, the kiss on the beach, the walk back to her house, the way they kissed on her balcony, if only he'd been more open to, well, it didn't matter.
No, she needed something different.
"There's so much to choose from, I don't know what to wear!" Libby exaggerated.
"Need some help?" a feminine voice asked from behind Libby's back, Libby sighed, shaking her head, "I don't know, maybe. I have this date and he said to wear something fanc - Mrs. Plankton?" Libby turned her head to see her boss's computer wife standing behind her.
"Karen. What are we looking for?" Karen asked as she got closer and began to look at the racks of clothes.
Libby smiled nervously, sweating a little if she were honest, "I don't know, um.. I have another date with the target, and his parents. I thought I'd get a new outfit and well. I just don't know what to choose." Libby admitted.
"Hmm, let's see if I can help. Spongebob huh?" Karen hummed as she began to scan the clothes for a good option.
"I can't believe he would go this low. Then again, when you've been at something for nearly thirty years, you'd do just about anything." Karen said.
"What?" Libby asked not sure of what the computer was talking about until it looked at her.
"Will you be able to do it?" Karen asked.
"Do what?" Libby asked for clarification, "Break his heart of course. He is a good man, and I don't need my sensors to tell me how he really feels about you. He really does loves you, it's something that not even I expected to see for a while, the fact that he wants to bring you home to meet his parents means a lot. Do you love him, or do you really feel nothing towards him?" Karen asked genuinely curious.
"Uh.. well, it's a job right?" Libby asked, Karen took a moment to respond as she continued to analyze the sponge woman.
"I suppose, but is it right? It'll rip him to pieces, and finding out that everyone was right about you, when he defended you, it'll definitely change him." Karen said.
Libby twinged at the idea, thinking about what the aftermath would be like, she sighed and shook her head.
"It's not my problem, I won't be here to see it. after I get what we need, I'll be as good as gone, and-" "So you mean to tell me you feel nothing for him, at all? After everything?" Karen asked as she began to show different images of Spongebob and Libby kissing and showing different kinds of affection like hand holding, hugging, playful teases.
"I didn't show this one to my husband." She said as she displayed a video that must've been taken after the party.
Libby's jaw almost dropped, she remained silent, her chest was feeling a little heavy, she could remember every kiss and touch.
Libby shook her head, "It doesn't matter, Spongebob and I aren't meant to be, I am an artist, and I need to do what's best for me, and he is just another obstacle, if i can get that formula." Libby says.
"It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself that this is the right thing. You know what I think?" Karen asked as she looked towards the clothing rack before she picked out an outfit.
"I think you love him." Karen said before she showed Libby a bright red dress, her screen looking down at the young girl.
"I can't." Libby avoided her gaze, for a computer she was quite scary and a little too analytical.
"If you say so, but my sensors never lie. You might tell yourself what you want to think, but be careful, if you decide to move further and actually succeed, he'll never trust you again, and you'll be known as the woman who broke Spongebob Squarepants." Karen said.
"What do you want me to do? He deserves someone better who can give him the things he wants." Libby admitted as she fought to keep herself from tearing up.
"Do you really want that to happen? Are you willing to let him fall into another woman's arms? And for them to do all of the things that you have or haven't done together?" Karen asked as she began to display animated images of SpongeBob kissing random women before flipping to another footage of some of the women flirting with him.
Seeing those images brought a sense of pain to her heart, her breath catching in her throat as she watched and she began to realize that it wasn't something she liked in the slightest.
Tears filled her eyes but she refused to let them fall, shaking her head she had to remember, "It's too late, I already took the money, I agreed to this and it's something I have to finish." Libby said, sounding frustrated.
"It's not too late ya know, but just be careful with whatever you do." Karen said before she turned to leave.
Libby sighed as she looked down at the dress in her hands, "Creepy. Why is everyone like this? They act like he's something special, like the holy grail of sponges." Libby rolled her eyes before she sighed, and maybe Karen was right.
Later That Night
"Ok Mom, I'm picking her up now, and then we'll be on our way." Spongebob spoke through the phone as he approached Libby's apartment complex with Gary beside him.
"I can't wait for you to meet her too, ok. OK, I gotta go, I'll message you when we head that way."
…
"You Look Spectacular!" Plankton exclaimed from one side of a video call, "that spongeboob won't stand a chance! I can taste that Krabby Patty now, just you wait and see!" Plankton laughed.
"That's if he even gives it to me, sir." Libby said as she examined herself in a mirror before she reached for some perfume.
"Oh, he'll give it to you, in more ways than one and he would be a fool not to." Plankton laughed, causing Libby to blush with embarrassment, of course Spongebob would never agree to nothing more than a kiss.
"Especially after that fight at the Krusty Dump." Plankton snorted.
"What fight?" Libby spun around to look at the screen of her computer, "Spongebob got into a fight?" Libby asked, concerned, why hadn't she heard of this? Why didn't Spongebob call her? That sponge told her almost everything.
"You should have seen it, and it was all because of you." Plankton teased.
"Because of me?" she asked again, the only thing she could have thought it might have been was that party.
"Is he ok, or- of course he's ok, or we wouldn't be going on this date, what happened?" Libby asked as she gripped the desk that the computer was sitting on.
"Why don't you ask him yourself, he's approaching but you didn't hear it from me." Plankton laughed before he disconnected the call.
Knock
Knock
Knock
"Libby! I'm here, are you in there?" Spongebob sang through the door.
Spongebob stepped back a little, turning to look over the balcony as he waited, she must've been still getting ready. Spongebob sighed as he looked down at the view, watching as a few boats drove by.
"Mow?" Gary looked up at his owner who was in thought, Spongebob looked back at his snail with an unsure smile, "Yeah. I'm ok, just.. Just a little hungry is all." Spongebob answered as he pulled away from the balcony when the door behind him opened for Libby to finally step out.
Spongebob turned around to face her when his jaw dropped, "Oh wow, you're so Hot, I mean Red." Spongebob laughed nervously as he stared at her brightly colored dress.
If he didn't know any better he'd say it was a little shorter then the first dress she had on the first date. Short enough to where if she were to just bend over would expose her matching red undergarments.
"You look absolutely delicious, darling." SpongeBob complimented as he kissed her hand before he started to kiss up her arm before reaching her lips where he gave a quick romantic smooch before pulling away, "You remember Gary, right?" Spongebob asked as he gestured towards his snail.
"Of course I remember little Gary." Libby said as she knelt down to pet the snail who couldn't complain about the extra pets.
"I figured we could take our snails, if you want. I think it would be a great time for Gary and Cherry to bond as siblings." Spongebob said as he stroked Gary's shell.
Several Minutes later
Spongebob, Libby and their snails finally approached the limo outside, their hands linked.
"Children first." Spongebob laughed as he opened the door to the boat to allow their snails into the boat before he turned to Libby and kissed her once again before using his hand as a gesture for her to climb in.
However, when Libby had reached for his hand she couldn't help but to notice a twist in his expression, which he tried so hard to hide, but she didn't say anything until he climbed in the limo after.
"Where to sir?" the limo driver asked with a fancy accent.
"Blow your top Lounge Please." Spongebob said as he slipped the man an address card to follow.
"Blow your top lounge? I haven't heard of it." Libby said as she looked at her date, Spongebob smiled softly, "I think you'll love it, it's where all the cool fish go." he smirked before leaning in to kiss her cheek.
Libby couldn't help but to blush, turning her head slightly to face him, his blue eyes staring into hers before they looked towards her lips, she could feel his hand brush against her cheek which is when she noticed some strange color on his knuckles.
Spongebob gasped and quickly pulled away and tucked his hand behind the other to hide once he noticed that she had noticed.
"What's that?" she asked as she looked towards his hand.
"What's what?" he asked trying to dodge this conversation but he knew he couldn't avoid it, especially when she looked at him like that, her once happy smile turned to hurt and confusion that he would try to hide anything from her.
"Libby, it's nothing, it's just a little bruising, it doesn't hurt." he said as he continued to hide his hand.
"Let me see it." she ordered as she held her hand out.
Spongebob hesitated, "Libby-" Spongebob opened his mouth to continue but her expression, the last thing he wanted from tonight was a fight. Spongebob sighed as he gave her his hand but completely avoided her stare until he felt her squeeze his hand which caused him to recoil in pain.
"What did you do, did you punch a brick wall, or what?" she asked as she let his hand go, he scoffed, rubbing the back of his head out of nervousness, "more like a shell." he responded.
Libby's jaw dropped a little, a shell? "You punched your boss? Spongebob, I said-"
Spongebob turns his body to her completely to interrupt her, "Honey, I know what you said and believe me baby, I tried to do what you said, but he wouldn't stop talking about you, I tried ignoring the first few insults but, How much was I supposed to ignore? Baby, you are my partner now, the love of my life, and we're supposed to have eachothers backs. What kind of man would I be if I didn't defend you when you aren't there to defend yourself?" he asked as he took her hands.
Libby smiled, blushing and a little flattered that he would go to the lengths for her, "but you hurt your hand, and it's all because of me, maybe I shouldn't have said anything, and then none of this would have happened." Libby said as she turned her head away from him, pretending like she was actually concerned or felt at fault, even though she had a major part to play in this.
"Libby, baby, you did nothing wrong, I want you to understand that, whether you told me or not, I would have found out, and I'm glad you told me first. Baby, I care about you more than you think I do." he smiled softly.
Libby sighed under her breath, such a sweet fool he was, and what Karen said to her started to play in her head, 'He really loves you'.
'Can you really bring yourself to break his heart? After everything?'
"Mmmm." Spongebob moaned as Libby kissed him, his arms wrapping around her back as she hugged him closer, her breathing became a little heavy as she felt his cold hand run up her thigh until he found one of her red leg garters.
Spongebob pulled back with a smile, licking his bottom lip as he could taste her strawberry lipstick.
"Hmm, so who won?" She teased as she leaned to his left side ear, her question causing the two of them to laugh.
"We're here." the driver announced as he looked through the rearview mirror at the blushing couple.
"Thank you, Frank." Spongebob said as he handed the man a tip before he opened the door to let Libby and their snails out.
Libby gasped once she stepped out of the limo and saw the building and its beautiful neon lights when she heard a woman screaming dates name.
"Yooo Hoooo, Spongebob dear!" an older looking sponge woman waved to her date as she and another male sponge approached.
"Libby, I'd like you to meet my parents, this is my mother Margaret." Spongebob gestured towards his lovely mother whom he proceeded to hug before turning to hug his father, "and this is my father, Harold." Spongebob turned back to his date.
"Mom, dad this is my girlfriend, Libby." Spongebob said as he wrapped his arm around his date when Spongebob's mother pulled her in for a hug.
"Oh, You have no idea how long I've wanted a daughter." Margaret said as she tightened her hug on the poor woman.
"Yeah, we thought Spongebob would never find a girl with how much he's married to his job and all of those failed driving tests." Harold laughed as Margaret pulled back.
"Hey that's not fair, I'm not married to my job, at least not anymore." SpongeBob said in defense.
"Relax son, it's all in good fun." Harold said as he slapped his son on the back.
"and my, you are just so beautiful." Spongebob's mother said as she held Libby's hands, "You two will make beautiful babies." she said before Spongebob stepped between the two.
"Ok ma, I think you're starting to scare her, isn't it a little too early to be thinking of children?" Spongebob laughed nervously.
"Oh, you are right dear, sorry, first comes marriage, oh, I can't wait to go dress shopping with you! You will look spectacular!" Margaret clapped her hands together.
"Ok dear, that's enough, let's go in, I'm starving." Harold said as he took his wife's hand before turning to go inside.
Spongebob turned to his date, whose face was as red as her dress!
"Hey, you ok? Sorry about that, she was just so excited to meet you." Spongebob said as he squeezed her hand.
"If I had known this was where we would meet them, and how well they dressed, I would have dressed better and.." "Baby?" SpongeBob stopped her from talking.
"Yeah?" She looked at him and he smiled, "you look amazing." He said as he kissed her cheek before the two made their way inside.
…
"Wow." Libby awed as she looked around the place before looking at the stage where some fish was performing some type of act.
"Hey everybody look, it's Cool Bob!" someone within the crowd announced. Libby watched on as the room cheered for her boyfriend, men came to shake his hand, while some of the ladies he would pass by would literally melt?
"Hey, Cool Bob!" the manager waved as he approached the group, where he and Spongebob exchanged a cool handshake.
"Are you performing tonight?" the manager asked before he turned to look at the strange woman behind the sponge, "and who is this smokin young thang standin behind you?" He said as he reached to shake her hand.
Libby watched with disgust as he kissed the top of her hand a little too generously when SpongeBob smoothly pulled him away.
"Oh, this lovely angel is my girlfriend! And yes, I will be performing, I can't let you take all the fun out of this place." Spongebob laughed, he turned back to his date.
"Did you say, girlfriend? Sorry about before baby, my Daddio, you got yourself a hot one, why don't you all sit at the usual spot." The Matre D said as he gestured to an empty vip section.
"Hey, baby, do you think you can follow this kind lady to our table? I've got some important business to take care of, it'll only be a minute." SpongeBob said as before he kissed her cheek.
"Um. Ok." she responded.
Spongebob sighed under his breath as he watched her leave, he and the Maitre D high fives each other before turning to each other again, "I got a favor to ask." Spongebob said.
A few minutes later
"What was that about?" Margaret asked as her son finally returned to the table to take a seat beside his girlfriend.
"It was nothing, me and him go back a little ways, thanks to Squidward who is banned sadly." SpongeBob chuckled as the waitress set a few glasses down in front of them.
"Can I interest you folks in some food?" The waitress asked as she looked around the table before looking towards Spongebob whom she recognized and flashed a smile which didn't go unnoticed by his date.
Or how the woman would laugh and smile at a simple thing SpongeBob would say, was she flirting?
"Are you performing tonight? You know you'll always be my favorite." She said before she looked towards the woman beside him, her smile disappearing from her face.
"And you must be Mr. SquarePants's new girlfriend, I've heard so much about you. what can I get you?" The waitress rolled her eyes as she turned to Libby with not as much enthusiasm which seemed to throw Libby off.
"Might I suggest the salad?" The waitress said as she leaned over SpongeBob to point at the item on the menu that was left on the table.
Libby's jaw dropped at the way the waitress smiled at him before standing up, "No thanks, I'll take a steak, cook it how I like my man- raw." Libby said as she stood up to hand her the menu while also leaning over her boyfriend with her chest nearly touching his face and spoke loud enough for only her and SpongeBob could hear.
"Raw." She said before she plopped down in her seat; the look on the waitress's face was hilarious but the look on SpongeBobs was priceless.
He had no idea what just happened, did he just get turned on? The sudden tightness in his regions said Yes.
"You seem popular." Libby looked at him as she stirred her drink with a straw, he noticed how bothered she seemed, thinking back to the waitress.
"You know, it's ok to be jealous sometimes." He said, Libby stopped messing with her drink and turned to him, bold of him.
"Jealous about what?" She asked before she glanced at the waitress across the room.
"You didn't seem to mind the way she was hitting on you." Libby pointed out becoming slightly annoyed.
"She totally wants you, she was practically throwing herself on you and you let her." Libby said as she turned her head away from him.
SpongeBob quickly picked up her mood change, panicked and began to sweat, "now hang on, baby you know I had no idea that's what she was doing, I thought she was being friendly." SpongeBob said as he reached for her hands.
Libby turned to him, keeping her mouth shut as she watched him explain himself, he really was innocent wasn't he?
"Trouble in paradise already?" Harold whispered to his wife as they watched their son fumble.
"Honey, baby you have nothing to worry about, you know I am yours forever. Libby I love you, please don't be mad at me, I'll make it up to you m." He said as he caressed her face before he pulled her in for a kiss.
"Still I think it was kind of hot, the way you became possessive over me." He admitted before she pushed him and the two of them started to laugh.
After a few minutes the food had arrived, and everyone was enjoying their food while talking quietly amongst themselves.
"And we Never thought he would end up with someone, he was always married to that job of his." Margaret exclaimed.
"Yeah, like that one time he claimed he dated that sandwich, uh.. What was its name again, Robert?" Harold asked before he and his wife started to laugh, embarrassing their son.
"Her name was Patty and, can we not talk about this right now? And I asked you not to call me that." Spongebob blushed with embarrassment.
"Oh, relax dear, we're only teasing." his mother dismissed.
"A Krabby Patty huh?" Libby snickered, "First the waitress and now a sandwich, I never knew I had such competition." she teased while propping her chin against the palm of her hand.
"Just what's in those things, to make a guy like you want to date one? She must've been really good, why I don't think I can compete against a Krabby Patty, unless you tell me what you put in one, then maybe I'd have a chance." Libby teased, of course she had to come out and ask in front of his parents, it wouldn't hurt right?
"Oh, Honey, you are the only sponge for me, darling." Spongebob assured by taking her hand, "and, if I'm honest, I think your lips are better than any Krabby Patty." he smirked.
"I know we just kissed not too long ago but, do you think that you could remind how much better you taste?" He asked.
"Thank you Jerry, that was a spectacular performance." the Maitre D of the establishment announced over the mic just as the last performance finished.
"Ladies and Gents, we have a real special treat for you tonight. It's been a while since we've seen him, everyone knows him and everyone loves him, he goes by many names, give it up for CoolBob Smoothpants!" the manager announced as he instructed the lights to shine onto the table.
'Coolbob?' Libby asked under her breath.
It amazed even his parents how popular their son had become, were all these people his friends?
Libby watched as her boyfriend stood up but not before pecking her on the cheek, the crowd cheering for him as he zipped onto the stage.
Libby watched as he turned his back to the stage for a minute before he began to spin around the stage until he came to a stop, grabbing the microphone stand, he brought the mic to his lips.
"Heeeeey Cool crowd, Whaaats shakin!" a smooth dark voice came through the speakers, causing every other woman in the audience to swoon.
Libby sat back in shock, her jaw dropped to the floor as Spongebob spoke, was he wearing a partial? How did he change his voice? Why was it so dark, and why was it so dreamy?
"Tonight, I gotta real special treat for you tonight. I hope you don't mind, I wrote this song for the better half of myself, my one and only." Spongebob gestured towards the table where Libby and his family were sitting.
'He wrote a song for me?' Libby asked herself, astonished at just the idea because just this morning they were rehearsing and.. He knew how much she loved to write and sing songs.
"They all think I'm crazy for loving you,
Crazy, oh they don't know the truth.
But I'm crazy about loving you."
Spongebob's sweet dark voice sang slowly as he held the mic closer.
"Crazy, yes, that's my proof.
In the moonlight, when you hold me tight,
Hold you tight, oh, it feels so right.
Every heartbeat sings a song divine,
A song that's yours, a love that's mine."
Spongebob extended his hand in Libby's direction once again, shaking his head.
"Oh, let me love you, let me show you how,
Show you how, oh, right here and now.
Take my hand, let's dance away the night,
Dance away, oh, and let me hold you tight."
"Oh our son is Soo romantic!" Margaret whispered with tears of joy. While Libby sat back, jaw dropped, her lips began to quiver a little before she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Huh?" Libby turned to his mother, "are you ok dear?" she asked quietly, Libby nodded her head and wiped her eyes, "Uh.. yeah just got a little dust in my eye is all." she faked a smile before turning back to Spongebob.
Spongebob had began to make his way off the stage, ignoring all the fins that reached out to him and who all envied whom the song was dedicated to, as he approached the table Libby couldn't help but to blush, it was almost as if she barely recognized him as that lame sponge, he was so smooth and darn romantic.
"Dum de dum dum." he smoothly sang before stopping in front of her, he placed a hand against her chin, his eyes were so bright and beautiful.
"And if the stars should fade from view, and the world comes to end,
oh, still I'll choose to stand by you, through thick and thin,
oh, let love begin.
So let them talk, let them say what they will,
Because I'm still Crazy about Loving You."
Spongebob smiled as he pulled the mic from his lips as he finished the song before he pulled her onto her feet and wrapped a free arm around her back and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Now it's Your turn." Spongebob panted as he pulled away.
"What" Libby asked, receiving a smile from her partner who proceeded to take her hand and then drag her onto the stage.
"Wait! Spongebob no! I can't do this, this is too much!" Libby gasped as he continued to pull her onto the stage.
"You can do this, and you will." he said, his voice still dark and sweet.
"I believe in you." he said as he set the stand in front of her.
"Ladies and Gentlefish, put your fins together for the one, the only Libby EalGress! If you think I was good, wait until you hear this gem sing, but she is a little shy, so I'm gonna need you to cheer for her." Spongebob announced to the crowd.
"Spongebob I can't, this is too much, I've never sang in front of a crowd this big and-" Libby began to panic.
"Baby, you'll do fine, I know it." Spongebob stepped in front of her to calm her down, he was so sure of everything.
"I, I don't even have a song ready I- what's this?" Libby asked as Spongebob handed her a piece of paper which he proceeded to hand to a few extra people he had invited on stage with a few instruments.
"Who are those people?" she asked.
"Libby, this is your band for tonight, and those are your songs. I took the time to write the music out, and call a few friends. You are talented Libby, these people are good and I know they will love you, not as much as I do, but.. Come on, I'll be right here, if you're nervous just look at me." Spongebob instructed as he got off the stage and stood in front of her.
"Sponge-" she began to shake a little, she wanted to cry she was so afraid and nervous.
"Libby, you got this. Do what you do when we're together." Spongebob said.
"Libby" Spongebob began to chat slowly gathering a few of the crowd to chant as well.
Libby gasped as the band behind her started to play, and it sounded so beautiful and the fact that Spongebob was able to write it for her.
Libby's heart raced as she looked at the paper towards the lyrics on the paper before she let out a deep breath. If Spongebob could do it, she could too, and if she was going to be a star some day, she needed to get over this stage fright.
"I walk this road, where the shadows play,
Searching for the light to guide my way."
Libby slowly sang with caution watching for any discomfort in the crowd, jaws hung low as she continued, a smile crossed her lips as she saw the shock on her date's face, sure he had heard her sing before but, this was the real deal.
"Celebrate the highs, embrace the lows,
In every drop of rain, my spirit grows.
From the roots I've sown, to the skies above,
I'm finding myself, I'm learning to love."
Spongebob shot a quick glance towards the manager of the establishment and winked as the manager held up a camera that went unnoticed.
It was like a dream, watching as the crowd cheered for her, as she caught her breath, she looked among the crowd, they loved her, they weren't just cheering for anyone, they were cheering her.
And suddenly, the room went silent, the crowd still cheering behind her as she turned to look at the man behind her, he was her biggest fan, without thinking she dropped the mic and went to him.
"See I told you that you could do it, everyone loves-" Spongebob shut his mouth as she tugged him closer by his shirt and pulled him in for a deep and passionate kiss.
The crowd began to cheer even louder for the two before they pulled back.
To Be Continued…