Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Janet and Arnold were racing down the hall, each trying to reach the end before the other. They had both just successfully feigned sick, and they had heard the front door close, signaling their parents’ absence. Janet reached the stairs first, taking them two at a time, while Arnold reached them moments later. He launched himself forward, surprising both himself and Janet when he jumped four stairs. He continued his momentum, taking three stairs at once for the next few, and finally took them two at a time until he reached the top. Both cousins sprinted to the kitchen, neck and neck, until Janet swerved to the right, cutting Arnold off and winning their race.

“Hey!” Arnold exclaimed, “You cheated!”

“There was no rule against it,” Janet said smugly, “You just need to be more creative.”

The two of them started making their respective breakfasts, Arnold grabbing a bowl of cereal and milk, Janet popping some bread into the toaster. For a couple of fourth graders, they were surprisingly independent, probably due to their goody-two-shoes characterization. Once Arnold had his bowl filled with sugary goodness, he took a seat at the table. Conveniently located within arms reach was a bowl filled with grapes. He grabbed one, aimed, and launched it at the back of Janet’s head. Janet whirled around angrily and glared at her cousin.

“How dare you!” she exclaimed.

“There was no rule against it,” Arnold said smugly.

“Touche,” she replied, a small grin touching her lips, “I guess we’re even now.”

“That was the goal,” Arnold replied, good-naturedly.

The two stared at each other, holding their gaze until Janet’s toast rudely interrupted them. Once the offending toast had been buttered, Janet took her seat across from Arnold, and the two had an idle conversation while eating, though they would occasionally get distracted from the conversation by the way the light reflected off of the other’s eyes, and stare. Eventually, when their plates were clean and the conversation had run itself out, the pair put their dishes and utensils into the dishwasher, to be cleaned later. They glanced at one another, both having the glint of competition in their eyes, and once again they raced for the stairs. This time, Janet made it to the bottom before Arnold was halfway down. She turned to gloat, when Arnold missed a step and tumbled down. Janet swiftly caught him in her arms, and smiled down at him.

“I guess this means you—”

“Don’t you dare”

“—fell for me”

“Put me down.”

Janet didn’t, instead choosing to carry him to his room and lay him on his bed. She herself then turned to leave, but not before blowing a kiss to Arnold from the doorway. She turned away and exited his room, missing him smile and touch his cheek, where presumably the kiss had landed.

Chapter Text

Arnold was in the kitchen, making himself some toast, when his mum announced that Janet was coming over for the weekend. Arnold felt a mix of excitement and dread at the thought. Of course, Janet would want to go with him to school, and Mrs. Frizzle would let her, all “in the name of learning”, he was sure. He enjoyed spending time with his cousin, of course he did, but she was such an insufferable know-it-all that he sometimes couldn’t stand to be near her. There was something else, too. Something he couldn’t quite place. Whenever Janet entered a room, Arnold found his eyes drawn to her, for just a moment, before he could go back to what he was doing. He’d always had cereal for breakfast, but after that day a month ago, he’d found himself having toast more often, as it subconsciously reminded him of her. He’d never admit it of course, but part of him hoped that Janet had been eating more cereal. The clatter of the toaster jarred him from his thoughts, and he went ahead and added jam to his toast.

Janet was in the kitchen, pouring herself a bowl of cereal. Corn Flakes, of course, not any of that sugary stuff that Arnold gorged himself on. Arnold. For some reason, her timid cousin had been popping up more and more in her mind, ever since her last visit. She couldn’t imagine why, as they didn’t talk unless they were together, and he’d not haunted her thoughts before. She finished her bowl, then went to her room to study. As she was getting her things out, her dad came in and told her that he and her mom were going to be going on a trip over the weekend, so she would be staying with her cousin over the weekend.
“Arnold?”
Her father looked confused for a moment, she’d always asked if it were one of her other cousins, if she’d asked at all. And if she did mention Arnold, it was usually with distaste, and not the excitement she’d been unable to hide.
“Yes, with Arnold. Have you guys talked since you were last together?”
“No, of course not, neither of us can, dad.”
“I’m aware, you just seemed, well, different than you usually do talking about him.”
“Well, when I’m with Arnold I get to go to his school. And though Mrs. Frizzle does do things differently, and quite frankly sometimes worse, it’s good to see how other people are taught material.”
“Okay, but get packed up, you’re heading over tomorrow.”
“Yes dad, will do.”
When her dad left, Janet breathed a sigh of relief. Then wondered why she needed to. Then felt bad that she’d slandered Arnold’s teacher. Then got down to business. She'd need a change of clothes for each day there, as well as at least 5 more pairs of underwear than she would need (in case she pissed herself) (despite never having pissed herself since pull-ups). All the while, part of her brain was inexplicably thinking of her cousin.