Chapter Text
Southville Middle School, 11:30 AM, Lunch time
Rudy Jr. was not a good-looking guy by any stretch of the imagination. He had messy dark-brown hair that could never stay in place, he was scrawny, he had a big nose that would outdo Peppermint Patty's schnoz, and he hated ice cream, due to his old man working around it all the time. But as much as he hated ice cream, he didn't mind working with his dad at the shop. But he hadn't been there since the new security guard had been there. He hadn't been there since the fire. So he had no idea what was going on over there at Ace's.
Orbweaver saw Junior getting his lunch, skipping the ice cream dessert, of course. So she put her plan into action.
"Hi, Junior," she cooed.
"Uh, h-hi, Wanda," said Junior. "How are you?"
"I'm good," Weaver replied, batting her lashes at the now-nervous Junior. "So what are you having for lunch, hmm?"
"Uh, pizza, a brownie, green beans, and a chocolate milk," Junior replied. "What about you?"
"Who me? I'm having a salad with Italian vinaigrette. Got to watch my figure."
"And a lovely figure it is! Oh, good grief! Did I say that out loud?!" Junior turned red with embarrassment. Weaver giggled.
"I don't mind. I love it when someone compliments me." She started caressing his head, rubbing her fingers through his messy hair.
"Homina, homina, homina, homina…"
"Rudy, honey? I wanted to know if you would like to go out to the movies with me tomorrow night? Because the weekend is here, I wanted to know if you were able to-"
"YES! I'd love to, Wanda!"
"Okay then. I'll meet you at your place. I'd like to meet the man behind Ace's Ice Cream Shop while there."
"Sure, you can meet my old man! No problem. How does 11 sound?"
"Sounds great, Junior." And Orbweaver lightly kissed him on the cheek. "See you for our date tomorrow." And she got up, leaving a love-struck Junior in a daze.
Saturday, The house of the Ace Family, 11:00 AM
Orbweaver was sitting on the couch at the home of the Ace family. Rudy Ace, Sr. came out to greet his son's date. He was taken aback by her appearance. She wore wild clothing, but had nice auburn-brown hair and bright blue eyes. No wonder his son fell for this girl.
"Hello, Mr. Ace," she greeted him.
"Hello, Wanda, is it?" said Rudy.
"Yes, sir," Weaver replied. "How are you, sir?"
"Well I've been better," sighed Rudy. "Ever since reopening my ice cream shop after the fire last summer, people haven't been coming in as much anymore. I don't understand why." Weaver gasped.
"He has no idea!" she thought to herself.
"People used to flock to my shop," Rudy continued. "In fact up until now folks were wondering when I was reopening. And when I finally do so, no one shows up. I also hired security to make sure the customers are safe. So that nothing like what happened last summer don't happen again."
"Sir, if you don't mind my asking, did you screen your security guard?" asked Weaver.
"What do you mean, young lady?"
"Mr. Ace, after your son comes out, would you want to go down to your shop so I can show you what REALLY has been going on?"
"Sure, I guess so." And Junior came out dressed for his date.
"Okay, Wanda," he started. "Ready to go?"
"We will go to the movies soon enough, Junior," said Weaver, "but there's something your father, and YOU for that matter, should see." And the three of them left for Ace's.
Once they got there, Rudy was about to go in the front door, when he was stopped by Weaver. She had a plan up her sleeve.
"No, Mr. Ace, sir," she said. "If you go in through the front, your guard will put on a front like everything is all right, when it really isn't. Is there a back door we can go in?"
"Yes there is," said Rudy. "I have the key to it, so the alarm won't go off because it's for emergency exiting and deliveries only." And the trio snuck through the back door. Once inside, they saw Ryan, the security guard, yelling at what looked like 5 and his sisters, 3 and 4.
"But we just sat down, mister," said 3.
"We haven't even started eating our ice cream," added 4.
"I DON'T CARE!" screamed Ryan, the guard. "I'M TRYING TO KEEP THE RIFF RAFFS OUT! YOU NOW, YOU LITTLE BRATS! NOW FINISH YOUR %$^& ICE CREAM AND BEAT IT!"
"RYAN!"
Ryan turned around to see an angry Rudy Ace standing behind him. The bravado he had just a moment ago had left in a hurry.
"Uh, Mr. Ace!" he stammered. "How long have you been here?"
"But we aren't all like that, sir." Ryan turned around to see Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang there, along with the Spiders. "Not all of us are like the Lizard Ladies. Most of us are very respectful to adults, would never dream of burning down half of the town. The Lizard Ladies was ran by a girl who had mental issues. She's now locked up in an insane asylum with no chance of ever coming out. As for the rest of the Lizard Ladies, they're either locked up in the Juvenile Detention Center, or sent to reform schools or military schools. We would never cause any harm."
"Charlie Brown's right," said Violet. "Every kid here is decent."
"All we want to do is enjoy this delicious ice cream," said Peppermint Patty.
"But we are being prevented from enjoying your establishment by Attila the Hun here," said Rattler, pointing at Ryan.
"So, Mr. Ace," Linus chimed in, "can we come back to this place without having to be bullied into leaving?"
"Absolutely, kids," said Rudy, with a smile. "And I am sorry about the actions of my now FORMER security guard."
"FORMER?!" shouted Ryan.
"That's right, Ryan," said Rudy. "Now's my turn to do some yelling. RYAN, YOU'RE FIRED!" And all of the kids cheered.
"Don't be upset, Officer Inski," said Black Widow to Ryan. "You could always ask for your old job back as a beat cop."
"Do I know you?" asked Ryan.
"Once upon a time," Widow responded with a wink. Ryan exited the shop, muttering something about "rotten kids" on the way out.
"And kids, today only, all ice cream is on the house!" Rudy announced. And the kids cheered again. Frieda hugged Charlie Brown and kissed him.
"Isn't this wonderful, sweetie?" she said, beaming. "We have Ace's back!"
"It is, Frieda," said Charlie Brown. "It is wonderful." And the kids began to have some ice cream and Snoopy turned on the jukebox to play some tunes. Some kids danced and some ate all the ice cream they could eat. Junior walked over to Orbweaver.
"So about our date…"
"I haven't forgotten, Junior," said Weaver, with a smile. "I know you don't care for ice cream, but can we stay for a little while?"
"Well, I don't mind sorbet too much," said Junior. "Dad, can I have some orange sorbet?"
"Sure thing, Junior," said Rudy.
"Make it two, sir," Weaver responded.
"Coming right up!" And Weaver and Junior enjoyed their date. While he wasn't attractive in any kind of way, Junior was happy that a pretty girl like her was interested in a guy like him. And Weaver had found herself liking Rudy Ace, Jr., herself. He was a very nice guy and was caring. It looked like they were going to be good together.
It's like a diamond ring
It's a precious thing
And we never want to lose it
It's like a favorite song that we love to sing
Ev'ry time we hear the music
And we're in this love together
We got the kind that lasts forever
We're in this love together
And like berries on the vine
It gets sweeter all the time
It's like a rainy night and candlelight
And ooh, it's so romantic
We got the whole thing working out so right
And it's just the way we planned it, do do
We're in this love together
We got the kind that lasts forever
Don't you know, that,
We're in this love together
And like berries on the vine
It gets sweeter all the time
You know we're in this love together
We got the kind that lasts forever
We're in this love together
We got a kind that will last forever and evermore
Don't you know we're in this love together
We got the kind that lasts forever
Singing out, we're in this love together
We're gonna find that the love has opened up the door, hey yeah yeh
Don't you know that,
We're in this love together
We've got the kind that brings to mind a favorite song
Let me say that,
We're in this love together
We got the kind that blazes all night long, yeh yeh yeh yeh
We're in this love together
NEXT CHAPTER: RETURN TO NORMAL