NINETEEN:Triple Date
Darrien and Serena didn't understand why there was a man riding a donkey though the park past them, but as they were sitting on the bench enjoying themselves, they wouldn't have cared if an entire barnyard full of animals followed. It was the usual thing, the afternoon was slowly collapsing into evening and the two were there to experience it.
"Serena, you do have some work to do don't you?" Darrien asked.
"Uh...yeah...but I don't have to do it right now," Serena replied.
"I know, but I just thought you should spend the night working. I mean I've got my own college work to do and we've spent a while toghether. It is a school night."
"Yeah it is," Serena said distraughtly. "I have to do the work sometime, but we can stay here a little while longer can't we?"
"Sure," he said.
"Good. Did you know that Raye, Mina, and Lita are going out on a triple date with their boyfriends tonight?"
"No I didn't. I'm no expert, but isn't that dangerous?" Darrien asked.
"Well....yeah..I guess it is for various reasons I guess. Anyway, they seemed hyped about it. Sometimes even I can't figure my friends out and that's when I worry."
"Hmm...when they become more of a bubbly easily excitable school girl then you, I would worry to."
"I didn't give you permission to join in. I have a right to insult myself. You on the other hand..."
"Whatever," Darrien said and then grinned. "Meatball head," he added.
"You! You! You....black haired jerk!" Serena said.
"Not the greatest of comebacks," Darrien replied. "Besides, you said you loved it when I said that."
"So I did...." Serena said. "Jerk," She added more playfully."Come to think of it, all of you black haired people are messed up. You, Raye, Patterson...what's the deal?"
"It's a secret that has been kept for centuries," Darrien replied with a grin.
"Oh really," Serena replied skeptically.
"Why did we agree to this?" Rick asked as the three boys walked down the sidewalk toghether.
"Don't know, I think that was one of those, 'do it because your girlfriend says it things'," Mike muttered.
"That should never happen. We should be strong, be real men," Steve said.
"You're welcome to try," Rick muttered.
"Do you realize that the three of us when put toghether are the leading result of chaotic activity in this city?" Mike said going of on a little tangent.
"And now we're going to be out on a date toghether," Steve said. The other two glanced at him oddly.
"I meant with our girlfriends," he added.
"Yeah I see your point. The girls have opened a pandora's box, we cannot be responsible for the consequences," Mike said.
"Actually we can," Rick said.
"Okay, so we can, but I'll plead insanity," Mike said.
"And I'll just blame you," Steve said.
"Good plan," Rick said.
"Why did we agree to this again?" Raye asked as the three girls sat around her room at the temple.
"Come on Raye, we're looking for a little variety," Lita said.
"Yeah, it's an experiment," Mina said.
"I know I liked the idea in the first place, but you know what every dating magazine in existence says multiple dates are bad," Raye said. "Especially considering the way those three act when their toghether."
"That'll just add to the experience," Mina said.
"That's not a good sign," Raye said.
"It'll be fun. I mean...it's just one date. Think of it more as friends hanging out," Lita said.
"I can accept that," Raye said. "Still...we could live to regret this."
"Stop being such a worrywart," Mina said.
"Yeah, since when have you become this pessimistic?" Lita asked.
"Since I met Mike and Steve," Raye said.
"What?" the other two girls said.
"Ahem...I meant it in a way.....that...." Raye stammered.."That I can't make
up an excuse for....ahem....." she muttered and frowned.
Amy sat in her room looking through her history book.
"Hmm...I'm not sure I can use this in the paper I'm writing. I need to know
for sure what this means, but who should I ask?" She said to herself. "I
know....this could kill two birds with one stone," She said and grabbed her coat
and a pad of paper before heading out the door.
Minutes later.
"D.V. There's someone here to see you. It's one of the most beautiful looking girls I've ever seen. One of those Sailor Scout people. Blue haired, polite.....Amy Anderson," his uncle said appearing in Patterson's doorway. As he said it he noticed D.V. grow paler.
"She says it about History class. She was hoping she could get some help from you," his uncle said.
"She's the best student in the city. Why would she need my help," Patterson said.
"Don't know. You are quite good at it though."
"Um...well I'd be impolite not to talk to her..." Patterson said.
"Are you an idiot D.V. When a beautiful girl comes to your door wanting your help with anything. You talk to her!" his uncle said. "I'll bring her up."
"This is just what I need," Patterson muttered. Amy Anderson and I...alone...jeez...calm down...D.V. She's a nice enough person. He thought.
Amy appeared in the doorway. Patterson's throat went dry and he tensed.
"Hello D.V." she said.
"Uh..." Patterson replied.
"Oh, never mind the greeting, I know your nervous," she said. "I came over here for a few reasons..."
I knew she had an angle. Patterson thought worriedly.
"Number one, I really could use your help on this history. You seem to have more of a passion for it," she said. Patterson merely nodded.
"And number two. Since you're an ally of the Sailor Scouts, I thought that it would make more sense for us to deal on more friendly terms, by that I mean you with all the Scouts," She continued.
Why can't they just leave me alone. D.V. muttered.
"So what do you say to all this?" Amy asked.
"Uh...." Patterson began.
"I'll take that as a yes," Amy said.
The three couples had chosen to eat at Rick's father's restaurant because they figured they'd at least get a good meal. At least that's what Rick had promised and hoped that his father wouldn't mess up. The six walked inside and sat down in one of the booths. One of Rick's brothers soon emerged from the back and walked over.
"Hello," he said and handed them all menus. "So, Rick, which one of these is your girlfriend?" he asked.
"The one sitting across from me you idiot. The one who ate dinner with us," Rick muttered motioning to where Raye was was sitting.
"Oh....yeah....well I have a bad memory, good catch though. It's good to see you can find the babes," he said.
"I am not a babe," Raye said angrilly.
"Okay, okay, okay, sorry, I was being poltically incorrect. I apologize humbly," he said.
"Apologee accepted," Raye said.
He walked away.
She's a frisky chick. He thought.
"What? Rick's here? Okay, let's try and keep the food off the floor this time," Rick's father said.
"Whoops..." another of Rick's brothers said.
"It only took you one second to mess up? You imbecile. You got your traits from your mother's side of the family. I know it," his father said.
"But I look like you?"
"Yeah...well...you've got my looks, but that's all you've got."
"Rick? Are you sure about this. I've met your family. If there the one's running this..." Raye said.
"Don't worry, they're only weird at home. In public you'd actually believe they were sane individuals," Rick said with a grin.
"So Rick. What should we order?" Lita asked.
"Hmm...I suggest the chicken entrees. For some reason the family's very good at cooking those," Rick said.
"Whatever you do, avoid the shrimp," Mike said.
"Yeah," Steve added and moaned.
"What's wrong with the shrimp?" Mina asked.
"Well....it tastes all right, but the Fujimori recipe manages to make the shrimp one of the most gassy meals in existence," Mike said.
"I was farting on the Sunday after a meal," Steve said.
"And he had eaten the meal on Thursday," Mike added.
"I think we'll avoid the shrimp then," Lita said.
Soon one of the Fujimoris came back and they ordered various chicken meals and began to chat.
There wasn't much to talk about though considering these six ate lunch toghether every weekday.
"Umm.....so...I was wondering where the sound was coming from," Mike was saying.
Hmm....this isn't living up to it's potential. Lita thought.
Does he ever run out of stories? Raye muttered.
Maybe he'll tell the one about the dump truck. Mina thought enjoying every
minute of it.
"Of course we have that paper due in two weeks and I was trying to find quotes that could back up my position. I remember there was one by the Holy Roman Emperor about it but..." Amy said going over her problem.
"Right the one on page 47, where he's talking to the pope. It's not a good example," Patterson said abruptly and with complete confidence.
"What?" Amy said stunned at Patterson.
"I um...said it's not a good example," Patterson said more quietly, his shyness setting back in.
"Not that...you said an entire statement without stammering," Amy said.
"So...um...history gives me confidence...because..I'm good at it....um...that's all," Patterson said.
"Oh....well..why isn't it a good quote then?" Amy asked.
"Your topic is more based on one aspect of the issue. The Emperor isn't talking about that aspect. Our teacher would love to find a mistake like that on one of your papers. It would prove to him that you're human, and he'd love that. Don't give him that chance. Ahemm...sorry..." Patterson said.
"Sorry for what?" Amy asked.
"Never mind," Patterson said and looked at the floor.
"Is there a quote I could use?" Amy asked.
"Page 72 would be better."
"Thank you."
"Um...your welcome."
"My natural inclination was to knee all three of them in the groin, but I had to have some limits," Lita said.
Hmmm.....she's beaten up more boys then I have. Steve thought. That can't be a good thing.
It's not. Mike thought.
What? How did you know what I was thinking? Steve thought back.
I didn't. You're just imagining me thinking this. I'm thinking about the stain on the back of the seat. Mike replied.
Wha.....Steve said and looked to see a stain sitting on the seat.
Weird. He thought.
"And then I punched him right in the nose, and he deserved it, then I got suspended again..heh, heh," Lita said with another grin. Rick and Mike glanced at each other uneasily.
"This is good food," Raye observed. "Still...the sauce is a bit off," she said.
"The sauce is off? The sauce is never off," Rick said defensively.
"I think it is," Raye said.
"Let me taste some of it," Rick said and Raye poured some of the sauce onto his plate. He stuck a finger into it unceremoniously and tasted it.
"Hmm...the sauce is off," Rick said with growing ire and called to his nearest sibling. "Hey! The sauce is off!"
"The sauce is off? It can't be off!" the sibling said.
"I know it seems impossible, but taste it," Rick said and the sibling also unceremoniously stuck his finger into the sauce and tasted it.
"Hmm...this is unexpected. Rod's on sauce duty tonight!" he said and turned towards the kitchen.
"Hey! The sauce is off you dishonorable fool!" he yelled.
"What?" Rod said stomping out of the kitchen.
"The sauce is off! You have created great dishonor to our family. A family that prides itself on perfect preparation of sauce."
"Hah..you challenge me? How dare you? We'll settle this now!"
With that the Rod ran to the wall and grabbed the two wooden swords mounted on it. He tossed on to the waiter and kept the other.
"Uh oh," Mike said.
"They're not going to fight here are they?" Lita asked.
"Ehh...why not? It would spice up the evening," Steve said.
"Not acting like fools in public huh?" Raye said sarcastically and shot a glance at Rick who looked back uneasily.
"Heh heh, well...there are those rare times when they lose it," Rick said nervously.
"Prepare to meet your doom!" The waiter yelled.
"With a wooden sword?" Raye asked.
"You'd be surprised," Rick said.
"I'll bet," The rest of the table said.
"Hey you two!" Rick's father yelled. "Don't mess up the restaurant with your feud! Take it outside."
"Yes father," The two said and walked out the door. The six could see out the window the two beginning their fight.
"Well...that..was....a twist," Mina said.
"Ehh...if that's the worse it get's we'll be lucky," Mike said.
"Yeah, that Tuesday night was terrible. How many tables got broken?" Steve said.
"Much too many for a fight between my father and the milkman," Rick muttered.
"Yeah, and the day brawl broke out there was hardly a scratch on anything. How's that for irony," Mike said.
"You guys didn't say anything about brawls braking out!" The three girls said angrilly in unison.
"Um...would you believe we didn't think it was important?" Mike asked and got
bonked over the head by the three of them.
"That's all I needed to find out history wise. You've been a great help." She stopped and headed for the door and then abruptly turned. "Patterson, will you walk me home? I mean if your leg is good enough that is?" Amy asked.
"I can walk any distance...just more slowly, but are you sure you want me to?" Patterson asked.
"Come on, it won't kill you."
It might someday. Patterson thought.
The six daters had decided that the restaurant was not the place for them to stay and had decided to go for a walk. They had passed through several markets, and were know moving through a park filled with flowers, some of which whose petals were being carried across the sky by the wind.
"This is a nice place," Mina said.
"Yeah..it's got a sort of architect sense to it," Mike said.
"A what?" The others asked.
"I think you mean Astehetic," Lita said surprising herself that she knew the word.
"Oh...yeah..that," Mike said.
"Don't worry. I mix up words all the time," Mina said.
"I hadn't noticed," Mike said.
"Well...at least the food was good, except for the sauce," Raye said somewhat distraughtly.
"Aren't you having a good time?" Rick asked.
"Well...yeah, but I'm getting tired," Raye said.
"Maybe you should go home."
"Maybe. Why don't you walk me there?"
"Sure," Rick said and the two walked off.
"Guess it's just us now," Mike said to Mina and the other couple.
"Yeah...where should we go?" Steve asked.
"Well...considering this really wasn't a date, but more like hanging out, how about the arcade?" Lita said.
"That's enough for me," Mike said.
"Lead the way," Mina said.
Both girls had their romantic desires, but they could put them on hold for
now. There was more than one way to have fun. The guys weren't exactly Don
Juans, but they could be charming enough. Besides, they were still young. This
meant more than any candlelight dinner could have. At least at that point in
time.
Patterson carefully walked down the stairs with his cane and out onto the sidewalk. Amy beside him.
Why am I doing this? He asked himself. I'm nuts, I've absolutely lost it.
"D.V. Why are you so afraid of everyone?" Amy asked.
"Don't know," Patterson said.
"Do you think we'll hurt you?"
"I can't risk it." Patterson said.
"Hmm...it's natural to be shy. You managed to show your courage in battle though?" Amy asked.
"That was different."
"How?"
"That was a different side of me. A really different side. It's hard to explain, but the D.V. who was...you know who...um..isn't the one...you're....talking to...now."
"I don't understand, but you're telling me that the D.V. I know wouldn't have pushed me out of the way of that negaverse attack?"
"Not necessarily, I'd um...like...to think I would.....I don't know....." D.V. said.
Great...another mystery. Amy thought.
"Patterson....don't you trust me?" she asked.
"I don't trust anyone....um...don't get me wrong...it's not...you...it's me. I have to be careful," Patterson said quickly and apologetically.
"It's all right, but can't you at least...open up a little....you know who I am....you know a lot about me for....various reasons," She said with a little smile.
"More than I should have known," Patterson replied.
"Probably, but you do know me. Why can't you at least talk to me. Just as a friend."
"Um..well...I...unm....don't ask."
"All right....never mind," Amy said. And the two moved down the street in silence until they reached Amy's house. Before she walked inside she pulled something out of her pocket. D.V. began to sweat.
"Here, take this," she said. D.V. realized it was a photo of her.
"Wha...wha...why.......I...can't...." D.V. said.
"Oh don't get shy on me now. It's nothing. It's just so if you ever wonder if anyone can be nice to you in the world, you can look at this picture and tell yourself there are people who aren't out to get you. It's just my way of thanking you for the times you helped me," She said and placed the photo in Patterson's hand. She then went inside her house. Patterson turned as quickly as he could despite his wound and hobbled back towards his house.
This is exactly why I don't make friends. It scares the heck out of me. He thought. So...she just wants to be friendly. Can I handle that? I don't think so.
As he walked longer however, another side of him kicked in.
She gave me her picture...Amy Anderson gave me her picture.....that is so
cool! I'm the man! What am I saying? He thought. Am I actually enjoying this?
Now I'm confused. Ehh....this is why I don't go out much.
"Raye, there's more to this then meets the eye isn't there?" Rick asked.
"Uh...well...Rick...I enjoy my friends' company. I may even go far as to say I can handle your friends' company, but I realized that if we're going on out on a date it should be just us. I didn't want to back out because then it would seem rude, but I want to get at that side of you that I don't see when your with others. The side you've tried to keep hidden to everyone to keep your image. That side of you which makes you such a great guy,' Raye replied.
"Oh...I guess it's just that this seemed like a fun idea."
"It was Rick, but we eat lunch toghether everyday now. I mean all of us. Our dates should be something different. Sure, being friends is one thing, but if we're going out, that should mean more."
"I understand. I didn't want to upset you," Rick said.
Raye smiled.
"What?"
"You're showing that side of you that I wanted to see."
"Oh...that's good," Rick said.
"Let's go find another park to walk in," Raye said.
"Fine with me," Rick said.
"Hit him!" Steve yelled.
"I'm trying," Lita said pounding at the keys of the arcade game.
"You've almost got him!" Mike said.
"Be careful!" Mina added.
"I am," Lita said before her character was hit by a red bolt of energy and blown off the screen.
The four moaned.
"Don't say a word," Lita said.
If someone had happened to see all this, and knowing the way things are, that
could have been possible, they would probably have been confused and then
intriqued by it all. School girls pursuing romance only so far. Guys hiding
their true selves in a group situation. Raye searching for more from Rick. The
peculiar actions of D.V. Patterson, who has even had his own bout with emotions.
And what is Serena doing all this?
"I hate algebra!" Serena shouted and threw her book out the window.
"Quit whining Serena!" Luna said. "Go get that book, you need it."
"I don't want to. I've spent all night working. I'm not supposed to work this hard."
"It's only because you've been making up all that worked you skipped the past two days!"
"So..I slipped a little," Serena muttered.
"Serena, you never change."
"Sure I do, I just change back a lot too," Serena said with a silly grin.
"I can't believe I put up with this," Luna muttered.