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letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked · 6 years

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New Beginnings (Part 4)

Frank Adler x OFC

A/n: It’s been a hot minute… sorry! Life, you know? Anyways, enjoy!

Warnings: Evelyn… or should I say “evil-lyn”? IDK lol

Main Masterlist // Series Masterlist

There were three rules Annie told herself she was going to follow, when she arrived in Florida.

Number one, she was going to see the ocean. The closest thing she’d seen to an ocean was Lake Superior in Duluth, with its vast, open water… but it wasn’t the same. She wanted to smell the spray of salt in the air and feel real ocean sand under her feet. Though the salt would definitely fuck with her curly hair, turning it into a complete frizz-ball, she was ready to take the necessary steps – and buy enough leave-in conditioner to fill a gallon bucket – to see the water.

The second rule she told herself was that she was going to move on. After the death of her parents, breaking up with Lance, and leaving the comfort of her home state… it was time. It was her decision to make the move, and she had to put on her big girl panties and deal with the repercussions. Even though she missed Gavin and Gracie with her entire heart. She was going to make new friends, start getting back out there and date, and explore her new environment – see rule number one.

The last rule was that she was going to stay relatively drama-free. That rule had already been broken, the day she got the call from Gracie saying that her brother’s brakes had been tampered with, and her little stalker had sent a letter to her new address – further proving that he would follow her to the ends of the earth. Drama free might have been on her wish list of life goals, but… it was easier said than done.

She was lucky, though. She had people who made the entire thing bearable. Mary and Roberta were over the second that Annie was back from work, she’d made a few new work friends, and Frank had been exceptionally nice to her since watching her break down on her back porch. He’d even gone out of his way to invite Annie and Elena to the beach with him, Mary, and Roberta – helping her check off rule number one on her list.

Thankfully, it was not an ‘adults wearing a swimsuit’ type ordeal. She didn’t know if she could physically handle seeing Frank in a swimsuit, without needing to baptize herself in the ocean to cool the hell off. Shirts were left on, toes were dipped in the chilly water, and sandcastles were made. Annie had practically annoyed the other two adults to death with her need to document the girls having fun in the sand – especially when she’d gotten an adorable picture of Mary on Frank’s shoulders – until Frank had finally had enough, taking her phone away and telling her to enjoy living in the moment.

What he didn’t understand, was that she wanted to re-live the happiness she was feeling at that moment, over and over again.

That’s why she wanted to document it.

“Knock knock!” Annie heard Mary yell from the back door, knocking on the storm door, which had been opened to let the breeze waft through the kitchen. “Can Roberta and I come in?”

“It’s open!” Annie called back, changing her shirt into something more comfortable. “I’ll be out in a second! There’s lemonade in the fridge!”

Pulling on a slouchy top, she heaved a sigh at the sight of the bright sunburn that burned over her entire upper body. She’d worn SPF fucking 50 and still got burnt! Stupid pale ass skin. At least it wasn’t as bad as it had been the day after they’d gotten back from the beach. That had been a nightmare of cranked-up AC, aloe gel, a shit ton of cold water, and some ice packs. She’d banished herself to the indoors until the burn was more of an angry, peeling pink.

Walking into the kitchen, she saw that Mary had another stack of books in her possession, containing facts about the Mexican culture.

“-and they have this holiday. It’s the one that was on that movie Coco. It’s called, ‘Día De Los Muertos’. Day of The Dead.” She explained to Elena, who didn’t look the slightest bit interested in what Mary had to say – considering she was wolfing down a stack of banana slices. “It goes from October 31st, to November 2nd. It’s super interesting. We should try to help you learn about it, and maybe even celebrate it. I think you’d enjoy it.”

“You finally sat down and watched Coco, huh?” Annie chuckled, smoothing down Mary’s hair before taking a seat next to Elena and stealing a piece of her banana when she wasn’t looking. “What did you think?”

“I can see why it won so many awards.” She replied, shrugging her shoulders and brushing her bangs away from her face. “Plus, I think it’s a good thing for the both of you to celebrate. It’s supposed to be a way to remember those in your family who have died. I don’t know if you believe in praying, or not – that’s your business – but it’s a way to pray to your loved ones who are gone.”

The pang that Annie got in her chest at the mention of her parents almost made her unable to swallow the little chunk of banana she’d stolen from Elena. She had a feeling that the pain would never go away… but would only become a dull pain as time went on. “I’ll think about it. It might be easier to teach Elena about it when she’s older, so she can understand what she’s celebrating.”

“You have a fair point.” Mary replied, sipping her glass of lemonade. “Frank told me that he can’t be the one to decide what I want to believe in. He said that I had to figure that out for myself.”

“Well, don’t tell Frank, but I agree with him.” She smiled at the young girl, snatching another piece of Elena’s banana – unfortunately getting caught and earning herself a whine from her daughter – before standing from the chair and walking over to her freezer. “I almost forgot. I got you something.”

Roberta’s face lit up in humor, knowing exactly what Annie was about to pull out of her freezer.

“What? What did you get me?” Mary switched into child-mode, practically bouncing in her chair at the idea of a surprise. “What is it?”

“Close your eyes.” Annie commanded, hand on the handle of the freezer, “And no peeking.”

The little girl did as she was told, scrunching her eyes closed, her entire face scrunching up along with them. She looked as if she’d just eaten something completely sour. “I’m not looking.”

Annie ripped open the door, taking the small package out of the freezer – the loud crinkle of the wrapper making Mary literally bounce in anticipation.

With a large grin, Annie held out the gift, so it was right in front of Mary’s face, “Okay, you can open your eyes.”

Mary’s eyes opened so comically fast, she looked as if she’d been a cartoon with her eyes about to bug out of her head. Once the gift registered, her eyes lit up in excitement, a shrill squeal escaping as she held out her hands to take the SpongeBob popsicle that Annie was currently offering. “A SpongeBob!”

The thing was a large popsicle bar that was shaped like SpongeBob SquarePants, colored yellow with the telltale buck-teeth and tie. The eyeballs were these weird black-colored gumballs that either fell off or turned your teeth black when you chewed it. Annie had showed a picture of it to Mary days prior, to which Mary had informed her that she’d never even tried popsicles that were shaped like characters. She’d only ever had the ones that come in the plastic tube that Mary had called a freezer pop, and Annie had called it a freezie – sparking a debate about the different terminology between Minnesotans and Floridians.

Apparently, Minnesotan’s were weird for saying ‘hotdish’ versus ‘casserole’.

Handing Mary the wrapper, Annie was glad to watch the girl act her age. She’d begun to appreciate the moments that the young girl would act like a normal eight year-old girl. Mary was one of a kind, but she was still so young. It was easy to forget, since she held more knowledge than most adults, and – after all the bullshit that Frank went through for Mary – Annie was determined to help her feel like she was having a normal childhood.

Frank didn’t ask her to do that – obviously, since he didn’t even know Mary told her about the court case and Mary’s mother – but she was going to do it, anyways.

“What do you say, Mary?” Roberta raised a brow at her as Mary tore through the packaging to get to the goods. “Mary?”

“Sorry!” Mary stiffened, turning to Annie with wide eyes, “Thank you for getting this for me.”

“You’re welcome, sweetheart.” Annie snorted, snatching the wrapper to toss in the trash. Her lips were lifted in humor, watching as Mary eyed the colorful pop greedily before damn near taking a chunk out of the top.

Turning to the sink to wash the sticky juice from her finger, she heard Elena whine for a bite – completely disregarding the delicious fruit she had in front of her and wanting the SpongeBob pop.

“You can have a bite, Elena.” Mary replied, her tone serious as she held the bar out halfway to the toddler. “But you have to say ‘please’.”

“Peeeeesh.” She whined out, making grabby hands at the bar. “Peeeeees.”

“Close enough.” Mary sighed, letting Elena take a small bite off the corner. “But you can’t have the gum. It’s bad for toddlers. You could choke.”

“That’s right, baby.” Roberta agreed, glancing at the pair over her book she’d grabbed from her bag on the floor. “You be careful with the gum, too. Don’t go swallowing it.”

As Mary started spouting facts about how long it took for the human body to digest chewing gum, Annie noticed movement outside the window above her sink.

Someone had pulled into the little parking area in front of Frank and Mary’s house.

It was an expensive car, the sleek body sticking out like a sore thumb among the older, dirtier cars in the area. The car was shiny and black, windows tinted dark enough that Annie couldn’t see the shape of the person driving.

That was, until the driver opened the door.

It was a woman. An older woman. She was dressed in a pristine pair of slacks and a crisp, white blouse. Her strawberry blonde hair was perfectly curled, and her face was hidden behind a pair of large designer sunglasses. She leaned back into the car, grabbing a large bag, before power-walking down the little path to Frank’s front door.

As she knocked on the front door, Annie turned to the ladies at the table in confusion, “Mary, honey, is Frank expecting someone? There’s a woman knocking on your door.”

Roberta’s demeanor immediately changed from her usual care-free self, to defensive and tense. Her shoulders stiffened as she quickly turned to glance out the kitchen window, narrowing her eyes at the woman who was knocking on Frank’s front door – face scrunched up in annoyance. “That’s Frank’s mom. Evelyn Adler.”

“Evelyn’s here?” Mary’s eyes lit up, as she wiped the colorful juice from her face with the back of her hand and set the pop on the wrapper. Annie, watching the sticky mess that Mary had made on her face and on the back of her hand, quickly grabbed a rag and wet it in the sink to help her clean up. “She said she was going to bring me more books!”

“Well, clean your face first.” She chuckled, handing Mary the rag before wiping her own hands on a towel hanging on the oven handle. “You don’t want to mess up Evelyn’s nice, white shirt with your SpongeBob hands.”

“Roberta, look.” Mary pointed to the melting SpongeBob, which only had one eye. “He looks like Fred.”

That loosened Roberta up a bit, as she snorted at the young girl’s antics. “Go say hello to Evelyn, before she leaves because she thinks you’re not around.”

The little blonde booked it towards the back door, screaming out her grandmother’s name in joy as she bound down the little, cement steps and ran to Evelyn – who looked shocked that Mary was coming from a random house.

“Do we go out there?” Annie asked Roberta, watching as Evelyn handed Mary the bags.

“You go out there with Elena,” The older woman replied, pulling her cellphone out from her bag. “I’ll call Frank and let him know that his mother is here.”

Oh, god. Did Annie really want to meet the infamous Evelyn Adler? After all the stories about the court case, and how Mary felt that her grandmother only wanted custody of her because she was smart? She’d rather punch the woman in her perfect teeth than have a civilized conversation with her, but… she’s an adult. She has to at least attempt to be the bigger person.

“Come on, Mija.” Annie cooed at Elena, holding her hands out to the toddler. “Wanna’ go outside to play with Mary?”

“May!” She screeched, attempting Mary’s fairly easy name. “Momma! May!”

“Yes, silly girl.” She snorted, sliding her out from her booster chair. “Mary.”

Hiking her up on her hip, Annie walked through the kitchen – nabbing her sunglasses off the counter and sliding them on – before throwing open the back door and stepping into the warm sunlight. The sun was too hot on Annie’s sunburn, but she ignored it – letting Elena down, so she could run to Mary.

“MAYYYY!!!!”

“It’s Mary, goofball.” Mary giggled, holding out her arms and crouching down to scoop up the small, curly-haired toddler. “Evelyn, this is Elena. Annie’s her mom. They live next door.”

“Hi!” Annie jogged over, a smile on her face. Fake it ‘till you make it, bitch. She outstretched her hand, praying that Evelyn wouldn’t copy the way she first met Frank, and leave her hanging. “I’m Annie.”

“Evelyn Adler.” With a mild look of distaste, Evelyn grasped her outstretched hand and shook it gently. Holy crap, this lady’s British? Why doesn’t Frank have an accent? Because that wouldn’t be fair to the world. “Charmed.”

“Nice to meet you.” Annie shoved her hands in her shorts pockets, awkwardly. Stop thinking about her son while she’s standing there. This woman looks like she could read minds. “Frank’s on his way home from work, I think, if you wanna’ wait for him. I have some lemonade in my kitchen, if you’re thirsty.”

“How old is your daughter?” Evelyn asked, ignoring Annie’s offer and watching as Mary and Elena played with a random kickball in the yard. “She looks barely two.”

“She’ll be two in just a few months.” A small pang of distrust squeezed Annie’s chest, as she watched the disgusted look on Evelyn’s face. “She’s kind of short, but I think that’s my fault. I got the short gene.”

“You have a toddler in these living conditions?” Evelyn scoffed, glancing around at the brightly colored houses in distaste. “The bugs alone is reason enough to have this place condemned.”

Now hold on a damn minute.

There was nothing wrong with the eclectic houses in the little community. In fact, most of them were freshly painted and there were talks of putting in a small playground. There were only bugs outside. Where they belonged. You hadn’t even seen a spider, yet, in your house. And what was with that tone? What was she trying to imply?

“Though I suppose I’m not surprised that Frank would choose a dump like this to raise my granddaughter.” She continued, glaring at the small pile of tools that littered Frank’s front step from his little project that morning. “He’s always been more concerned about what’s best for him.”

“Now, hold the hell on.” Annie held up her hand, tone firm. “I might not have known Frank for very long, but you’re one hundred percent wrong. He’s only concerned about what’s best for Mary. Frank’s number one priority has always been Mary. Can you say the same?”

“Excuse me?” She took a step back in outrage, hand flying to her chest like she hadn’t ever been offended like that in her life. Ever the victim, Evelyn? “Who the hell are you to judge me, you little harlot.”

Don’t lose your cool, Annie. Don’t lose your cool.

“Woah, now, lady.” Annie’s arms crossed over her chest as she tried to keep her voice down, so the girls didn’t hear them. “Who the hell are you calling a harlot? Anyways, what kind of mother says shit like that about their own child, huh?”

“What do you know about parenting?” She sneered, standing tall and looking down at Annie like she was beneath her. “What kind of mother-”

“Evelyn, what the hell?” Suddenly Frank was standing in front of Annie, shielding her from Evelyn’s wrath with his towering stature. Everyone has a towering stature compared to you, Annie. His arms were crossed defensively, as he glared down at the older woman with the same level of distaste. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Annie glanced over at the young girls, who were too enthralled by the kickball and ignoring the arguing adults altogether. Good. The girls didn’t need adult drama in their life. Roberta was sitting on Annie’s step, watching the girls but sneaking glances over at the scene unfolding before them. Stepping out from behind Frank, Annie took a few steps back and watched the younger girls. She snuck glances, like Roberta, and listened to the two while standing on the sidelines – hoping it’d be perceived as moral support, rather than eavesdropping.

“I came to bring Mary some more books.” Evelyn sighed, running her perfectly manicured fingers through her hair in frustration. “Honestly, Frank, do you even care about her education? She needs more books.”

“She goes to her classes, she has her books, you get her books… She’s fine, Evelyn.” Frank nearly growled, which sent a small shiver down Annie’s spine. Down, girl. “I told you that you could come see her, if you were civil. What I just walked in to was the opposite of civil.”

“Oh, please.” Evelyn laughed, condescending tone in full force. It was a surprise that anyone talked to this woman willingly. “That little squabble was merely me putting a little harlot in her place.”

Annie whipped around with a glare, watching the older woman watch her with a glint of satisfaction in her eye. Turning to Frank, Annie calmed her demeanor, “I’m going to walk away before I sucker-punch the elderly.”

As Annie turned back around, a warm hand was suddenly wrapped gently around her wrist – holding her in place. “Hold on, Annie.” Annie glanced at Frank in confusion, but his scowl was directed at his mother. “Evelyn’s leaving.”

“Do I at least get to say goodbye to my granddaughter?” Evelyn’s face faltered slightly, but she caught herself and crossed her arms over her chest. “Or are you going to keep that from me, as well?”

Frank’s shoulders dropped slightly, and his hand slipped from Annie’s wrist – taking his warmth with it and leaving her skin to tingle. “Of course, you can. If she wants a relationship with you, I’m not going to keep that from her.”

Evelyn’s only response was a hum, as she walked towards the young girls and called out Mary’s name. Annie couldn’t hear the quiet conversation between Evelyn and Mary, but Mary sprung forward and wrapped Evelyn in a hug – laughing when Elena did the same. Evelyn’s demeanor shifted into a happier one, as she gently patted the toddler on the head and bid her goodbye to her granddaughter.

“I’m sorry about her.” Frank’s deep voice cut through the silence, and Annie’s eyes flicked over to the seething man. His shoulders were tense as he shoved his hands in his pockets and tried not to glare in Evelyn’s direction while the young girls were watching. “This is the first time we’ve seen her in person for… a while.”

Annie watched his eyes track the older woman’s movements until she was back in her shiny car, speeding off towards the town. She could hear Roberta – ever the mind reader – calling the girls inside to have some more lemonade and finish their snack. “You don’t have to apologize for her, Frank.”

“I know, it’s just…” He cut off, turning quickly and stalking towards the garage, hands shaking by his sides. Annie jogged after him, as he continued, “God! She’s just…” He whirled around at Annie, startling her into freezing on the spot – a small pang of anxiety and panic squeezing at her chest. If he were a cartoon character, his tanned face would be flaming red and steam would be shooting out of his ears. “What the hell were you two arguing about?”

She hesitated for a moment, not sure how to proceed. She could straight up tell him the bullshit that was spouting out of his mother’s mouth – possibly pissing him off further. She could pretend like it was no big deal – though, he would more than likely know that she was omitting the truth. She didn’t want Frank to be upset, but at the same time… Evelyn made her bed.

She settled for a happy medium.

“You.” She shrugged, adjusting her sunglasses and running a hand through her annoyingly frizzing hair. She needed to hit up a salon for some better hair product. This salty humidity was ruining her hair. “The girls didn’t hear anything, though.”

He stared at her for a moment, analyzing her – though she wasn’t sure if it was because he thought she was lying or what was going on in that head of his. Though, secretly, she didn’t mind him staring at her. This just wasn’t the situation she had in mind when she fantasized about him doing it… Knock it off, Annie. Jesus Christ.

Turning back around, he stomped over to his front step, gathering the leftover tools that he’d left there from that morning’s project. His hands were trembling as he threw the tools into his metal tool box with loud clangs, cutting through the silent breeze of the late afternoon. Annie was waiting for the moment. The moment he lost it.

It was like he was toilet cleaner and tin foil in a Gatorade bottle…

He was about to explode.

“Fuck!” He dropped a screw driver onto the sidewalk, before tossing his entire toolbox onto the ground – making Annie jump in place, heart pounding from the sudden clang of metal. Here’s the explosion. “God dammit.”

She watched as he slid onto the steps, running both hands through his hair – nearly ripping out the soft-looking strands – and trying to breathe properly.

Annie knew exactly what it felt like to be that frustrated. Though, she had a great relationship with her mother, she was very aware of what it felt like to be on the edge of a breakdown because of another human being. She felt that way every time she encountered her stalker. It was a feeling that left a knot in your stomach, and made you want to pull your hair out.

Taking a tentative step forward, she slowly approached him like he was a wild animal – ready to spring and attack. “Frank.”

He glanced up at her, and the mother inside of her nearly keeled over in heartbreak. Those were the eyes of a young kid. One who desperately wished for the love of a mother who didn’t give him the time of day. The look of a child who just wanted to desperately be loved. The shine of heartbreak in those beautiful blue eyes nearly brought her to tears.

He must have sensed the sympathy radiating from Annie’s petite form, because his face immediately became impassive, a wall building up before her very eyes. God… this guy was just as damaged as she was. His shoulders tensed slightly, eyebrows pulling together for a moment as she watched him get worked up, again.

Suddenly, he sprung up, scaring Annie slightly as she took a giant step back. “She’s a real piece of fucking work, I swear to god.” He began pacing, back and forth in the grass a few feet away from the steps, where Annie retreated – sitting down and watching him pace like an angry zoo animal. “She comes out of nowhere – out of nowhere – and suddenly wants a relationship with Mary? Why? Because she’s a genius?” He stopped, throwing his hands up in the air for a moment – as if shouting to the high heavens. “If she gets her fucking claws into her, she’s going to end up like my fucking sister.”

Annie was taken aback by that statement, though not completely shocked.

From what little she knew about the situation, he was pretty accurate.

“Over my dead fucking body is Mary going to end up like Diane!” He nearly shouted at Annie, as she sat there patiently, waiting for him to let it all out. Clearly, he needed it. This man needs a therapist. Who didn’t nowadays? He went back to pacing, scratching at his tamed beard for a moment while he pieced together what was running through his mind. “She fucking disowned Diane when Mary was born. She doesn’t deserve any moment of Mary’s time.”

He stopped, glancing at Annie’s house as if Mary could suddenly hear every word he was saying, shoulders sagging.

It was Annie’s turn to talk, now.

She sprung up, brushing off the back of her shorts and smoothing down her slouchy shirt. “Alright, get in the truck.”

Turning to her, his eyebrows scrunched together in confusion as he tilted his head, “What?”

“Get. In. The. Truck.” She repeated slowly, gesturing to her old pickup with the best mom-face she could muster. “You’re going to give me directions to the nearest drinking establishment, and we’re going to talk about it.”

“You don’t have to-”

“Too bad.” She began walking towards her house, Frank slowly following behind her. His lips twitched slightly upwards as her tiny frame bossed at him, but she was too busy taking charge to notice. “I’m going to ask Roberta to watch the kids and grab my purse. Truck’s unlocked. Get in it, Adler.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Part 5 ...coming soon to a tumblr near you!

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New Beginnings (OPEN):

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mateoshea-blog · 7 years

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Pink Clouds & Pocket Lint

Part I

“Grabmeuhcouplecokes… cotton mouth y’kno?” as Fast Eddie chokes out the last toke of the roach. Quickly, Fast Eddie stashes the funky skunky stuff into an old oxidized ALTOIDS can – MADE IN GREAT BRITIAN, NT WT 1.76 OZ (50g). Fast Eddie had this logic that if he collected all his roaches, he could pawn off the “1.76 OZ of homegrown” to some free-lancing left-brained Polo wearing yuppie college kid for 50 bones. If anyone could pull a stunt like that, it was Fast Eddie.

“Yafuckinkiddinme! ‘Spose I’ll hoof it across the street to PAULIE’S CORNER STORE since Pizza Face and Pretty Boy both got Cerebral Palsy all-a-sudden” – Yeah, that’s the villain I been scheming with since I got clipped from the umbilical cord. Fast Eddie, guy was a maniac with a potato head. But, his barber scalped a fade around his temples to precision. Jesus, I mean his barber was his actual wingman. He’d tell us to go to the gay barber. We’d be sitting in at SPEEDY’S CUTS while Fast Eddie was choppin’ the locks and we’d overhear,

“Fast Eddie what work will my soft hands be doing today?”

And Fast Eddie would dish it right back, “If you wanna play with more than these locks later, what would you want my sex hair to look like in the morning?”

Just like that, Fast Eddie had undercooked and greasy golden French fries atop his potato head. Slicked back and thin cut, ready to serve. Ready to be swallowed into a cheap customer’s mouth. That’s why the drunks, gays, straights, in betweeners, freaks, creeps, geeks and neighbors all liked the fucking guy. Blue collar, told it how it was, and even offered a third hand when his other two were tied up someone else’s ass!

I could see Fast Eddie still jerking around across the street. Shootin’ the shit with the local folk. More than just a “It’s so warm in here!” small talk guy. Nobody remembers the shmuck with a dull personality. Fast Eddie could make a blind guy fantasize about the cashier at PAULIE’S just by the way he worked his tongue into imagery. He had it. Coupleuhcokes turns into Fast Eddie holding the door open for any pretty broad that gives him the slightest amount of eye contact (the polarizing effect of a good haircut). Perfect case study for Freud.

The musty haze of the hotboxed jalopy paranoid the living daylights outta me! We could get high in any partatown and Fast Eddie always coerced us to smoking in his car. Never got to enjoy my high, could never even tell if I was even high at all. The mirrors read “OBJECTS IN THE MIRROR ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR” – that’s for damn sure. Mirrors were always staring at me with a never-ending time-warped nightmare. I’d get stuck in the mud with the Piggy’s that busted me with the joint that was burning away my dreams of CALIFORNIA COAST. I could only roll in this mud pit for so long until the objects in the mirror become reality.

Julian senses that one of my classic paranoia episodes is imminent. An observant learner, personal therapist, and mediator. Some of his unpaid roles. He uses the crank on both doors to roll down the clouded condensated windows.

“Carlton man, you love riding on the shoulder” chuckled Julian as he lounged in the plush back seat of the Caravelle.

“This is why I hate smokin’ grass, now you’re speaking straight from the hole that I call your CHAFFED LOOSE ASS!”

“Naw man… see listen, you ride the shoulder too much. That motherfucker ahead is always driving 5 miles per hour under the speed limit. You let him. And he owns you. He holds you back. He controls the rate at which you reach your destination. Shiiiit, if you ever reach it. You can’t pass him, you stay leaning on that white cozy shoulder called COMFORTABILITY. When you gonna pass the mothefucker ahead of you that’s been controlling you? When you gonna take EXIT 52 towards IMFUCKINFREEVILLE?”

I can’t even flip this one on Julian, “Yeah well I can’t ride yours and Fast Eddie’s coattails for too long now. IMFUCKINFREEVILLE has a population of some twenty million people. Once the weather vane in my oversaturated brain oozes out some hope and blows WESTWARD, I will pass that motherfucker ahead of me. No turning signal either. Imma trade in the cozy white shoulder for some dotted yellow cheese.”

“Carlton… that motherfucker dragging ass is YOU. Pass him with a prayer, leave him in the rearview.”

Julian, the backseat monk. Met him after I graduated high school. P.F. Flyer’s always crispy white, not ever one crease, not ever one scuff. Always thought he would become some materialistic rich prick. Prejudgment without contempt. Stupid me. Materialism attached to the developing brains of us high schoolers. Some shake it and others go to Universities to chase degrees that breed greed. Julian didn’t let the manmade cancer infiltrate him. He ended up rolling with us Proletariat outlaws. Somewhere, Karl Marx is grinning at me for my recruitment.

We had 30 minutes, precisely, to make it to the liquor store. Saturday’s were always the night for our bender.

Fast Eddie had this shit-eatin’ grin on his face when jogged back over the ’85 Caravelle, “Christ Almighty! Fast Eddie were you rubbing one out in PAULIE’S bathroom or sumthin’? We’re alloutta Jameson and you know we are 20 miles from the liquor store and it’s already 8:30!”

Liquor stores were no joking matter, we only found one that never had us show I.D. Plus, Fast Eddie grew a liking to the geyser that worked there. A sad babbling sack of space that got comfortable and stuck with one job his whole life. Bubbling and babbling, day in and day out. Shook so many times that he eventually became flat too.

“Pizza Face and Pretty Boy… always so self-interested. Gonna catch up to you shits soon enough.” Fast Eddie inserted the crusted key into the ignition of the Caravelle – DOOOP, DOOOP, DOOOP. God knows how many germs were on that steering wheel. Thick coats of compiled grease, excess secretions, and the fluids from various estranged females that Fast Eddie coxed in to his traveling fuck-pen. Law of superposition says oldest layers were on the bottom. I’d rather not know these things, but the smell invades my nostrils like the troops on D-DAY. Can’t even condition or desensitize myself to this aroma. Unrelenting attacks by the smell of Fast Eddie’s ball sweat and lingering remnants of a poor mans weed. I want to take a shower.

“Saturday Night. Dropping the needle down on a dusty B-Side for all you crazed, erotic, and hormonal souls cruising around looking for trouble. How about that L.A. WOMAN track… 1971. The Doors.” Slick Tom, our favorite disc jockey the night of a bender. Always reliable to set the tone.

Fast Eddie pounced on the pedal as Jim Morrison screeched sonic sex through the speakers, “Oh shit yeah fellas, we’re on the move. ‘MR. MOJO RISIN!’”

We punched it onto RT. 5. The faster route according to Fast Eddie, but it was actually the scenic route for him. He loved cruising past the prestigious Victorian style homes and dissecting what kind of conversations happen between the walls of those monasteries.

Fed up with the scenery after 3 miles, Fast Eddie barks “I bet these rich prick Dad’s just read the STOCK MARKET page in section B5 of the WALL STREET JOURNAL and ask their rich prick wives and rich prick kids where they wanna go on vacation next once the rich prick Dad’s inside trade deal hits on Monday morning.”

“Put the boner back in your pants, you’ll get your dividends too once you start pushing your roach filled ALTOIDS cans to the future homeowners of these fucking houses!”

Fast Eddie snapped right back at me, “I swear I’ll ash my next roach on that smirk of yours, Pizza Face. Maybe that’ll make you look more appetizing.”

Julian leaned in from the backseat, “AN ENDLESS PISSING MATCH, don’t your sacks ever go dry? Your testicles are attached right to your egos. Big swollen ball sacks swinging back and forth back and forth. Blowing your load all over one another day in and day out! It’s exhausting, your egos need a vasectomy!”

Just like that, right when Fast Eddie and I erupted, Julian cooled us down at the surface like molten rock. Crystallizing and metamorphosing into conglomerate. Needed him to flush our egos out. Needed to stop treating him like my urinal cake.

Fast Eddie swerved and weaved around the slow-moving masses of society that had no agenda for the night. Maybe they did. Maybe this is my self-interested motivations speaking again. I hated how maliciously Fast Eddie rounded the corners. Guard rails could’ve skinned my fingertips if I cracked the window open. This was Fast Eddie’s route. Knew every stop sign, timed every red light, and new all the lucrative hideouts where the Piggy’s patrolled.

It was 8:47, the odometer of the Caravelle twitched another mile on the dash. Only two miles remained between the three Proletariat outlaws and our enabler.

My second paranoia episode ensues, “Holy Shit Fast Eddie, you’re doing 55 in a school zone!”

“Who says I wanna choke down Jameson tonight? I’ll turn into De Niro from TAXI DRIVER if you don’t shut the hell up”

Just like that GUMBALLS GUMBALLS GUMBALLS flash in the mirrors. Objects in the mirror are becoming closer than they appear. Nightmare come true. I’m fucking doomed. We are fucking doomed. My self-interest putting me first.

“GODFUCKINGDAMMIT EDDIE! Mile away, no traffic, all interstate and now I’m gonna get jammed up with the Pigs!”

Fast Eddie retaliates, “Me, me, me! You squeal just like a fucking pig!” He takes the pressure from my brain and applies it to the pedal, POUNCE.

Julian has been around Fast Eddie enough to know that he will go to extremes to prove a point, “Fast Eddie c’mon man be cool, WE all ain’t trying to get canned. WE got living to do.”

Fast Eddie has that same shit-eatin’ grin that I seen earlier, “Fine I’ll pull this piece over. But, you don’t speak Pig Latin, got it?”

“What the hell do you mean!”

That’s all I was left to work with during my waning moments of freedom. The cop high tailed it over to the Caravelle. Tiny hairs, all a half inch long stick straight up and down on the officer’s fat head. Level one blade to navigate his temples, had to be Fast Eddie’s barber. I’m sweating bullets. The plate tectonics of my face begin to emerge. Premature pimples surface and I feel the magma boiling under the crust of my skin.

Fast Eddie rolls down the window, “HANDS ON THE WHEEL OR BRAINS ON THE WHEEL NOW”

My stomach launches acid into the back of my throat. Fast Eddie complies. Answers to an authority figure. No finger-fucking around.

“NOT ONLY ARE YOU THREE LITTLE SHITS A LIABILITY ON THIS ROAD, DO I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE YOU WERE SMOKING MARIJUANA?”

Julian hasn’t flinched and Fast Eddie’s mute. Fast Eddie’s still got that shit-eatin’ grin on his face.

“AM I SPEAKING FUCKIN GREEK? IS THERE MARIJUANA IN THIS VEHICLE, THIS IS THE LAST TIME I WILL ASK BEFORE I SHAKE YOU DOWN TO YOUR PALE PEACH FUZZED ASSES!”

In my peripheral I see the ALTOIDS can staring at me. Rusted smile, MADE IN GREAT BRITIAN. 1.75 OZ – damn near weightless. But, enough weight to land me in the sin bin.

Enough to land us in the sin bin.

The Cop begins laughing, I mean really fucking laughing. The wild Pig chased his pray down and now he is foaming at the mouth. Ha-HA-HA-hahaha’ing until there is no oxygen remaining in his bloated stomach. Almost as if the funky stuff has protruded from the ALTOIDS can and immediately hit his bloodstream.

“ALRIGHT FAST EDDIE, THESE ARE THE PROLETARIAT OUTLAWS EH? OUR MOUSE TRAP COULDN’T CAPTURE A RAT!”

Fast Eddie’s dimples break out from his skin for the first time in a decade, “Thanks OFFICER LAFFERTY! Next hoagie from PAULIE’S CORNERSTORE is on me!”

“I’ll take the ALTOIDS can instead… when it’s full.” He replies. Walks away, swinging his Billy-club.

Fast Eddie peeps his dilated eyes into the corner of the mirror, glancing at Julian. “Pretty Boy whatsamatta! You didn’t croak! You didn’t squeal! Conglomerate don’t crack!”

Julian boasted,“Yeah, RATS don’t survive by scurrying on the shoulder. Too scared to chase the dotted yellow cheese if ya know what I mean. I gotta eat, I mean… WE gotta eat.”

“Amen.”

And, just like that comfortability didn’t appeal to me anymore. Lit the roach, took a toke, exhaled. Puff puff pass to Julian puff puff pass to Fast Eddie, and back to me. Repeat. Fast Eddie inserted the rusted key into the ignition – BOOOP BOOOP BOOOP. Slick Tom was steady playing them classic B-Sides. Liquor store was closed. Detour: EXIT 52 towards IMFUCKINFREEVILLE.

#fiction short story writer spirits read PinkCloudsAndPocketLint #submission

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bluezey · 7 years

Text

The Breakdown - Part One

After another nemesis attempt fails, Rob seems to be acting a little differently the next day. Or, is it Robs? Can Gumball and friends straighten out the confusion and chaos before things get any worse?

An Inside Out/The Amazing World of Gumball fanfic

Rated G

Part 2 – http://bluezey.tumblr.com/post/159319858352/the-breakdown-part-two

Writer’s Commentary – http://bluezey.tumblr.com/post/159319939227/the-breakdown-writers-commentary

Section One

It was nighttime, the mall had closed and the parking lot was almost empty. All that was left were a few cars, including a sketchy red van parked near the top level of the garage. The side door to the van finally opened, breaking the silence of the night.

Rob stepped out of the van, then nearly jumped as the door slammed shut behind him. He walked away slowly into the empty lot, after a few steps he finally looked down at the purchase in his possession. In his jagged right hand was a small glass vial, capped by a lavender plug. In the vial shined five little lights of pure energy, floating lightly in the air inside. Each one glowed a different color: yellow, blue, red, green and purple. In his mind echoed the warning given by the shadowy figure that ran The Awesome Store inside the van. Rob closed his hand around the vial, blocking the five small orbs from his vision, but the light still shined through between his fingers. He sighed. “This was a bad idea.”

Just as he admitted his mistake, the van drove off as fast as it could. Rob turned, all that was left were empty parking spaces and a few blinking florescent lights from the concrete ceiling of the parking level. Left with his purchase, Rob quietly kept walking towards the stairwell.

The only sounds echoing through the ominous lot were the evening breeze and Rob’s footsteps. Then, a new sound broke through from across the lot.

“Mom, why can’t we get the new Legend of Zelmore?”

Rob paused. He knew that voice. “Gumball,” he growled through his grit teeth. He quickly regained his composure before his clenched fists put pressure on the glass vial. Acting fast, Rob ducked into the stairwell. He peered out from the shadows to catch the elevator across the lot, as four figures walked off the elevator. He recognized one as that fish with legs Darwin, and the rest must be his family. But, where’s Gumball?

“Hey Rob!” Gumball announced, almost appearing out of nowhere next to Rob.

“AHH!!” Rob threw his hands up to quickly grab the vial out of the air. It took a few attempts, but he finally caught it before it hit the ground.

“What’s that?” Gumball asked curiously as he saw Rob hide something behind his back.

“What? Nothing,” Rob replied, cradling the vial in his left hand behind his back.

Gumball smiled cheekily. “Is that part of your new diabolical plan to destroy me?”

“Yes, I mean no, I mean-“ Rob growled angrily at the situation.

“Can I see?” Gumball asked excitedly.

“No,” Rob replied, stepping away.

“Oh come on,” Gumball said, stepping forward with each step Rob took backwards. “Is it a secret? Give me a clue. One clue! No, wait. Two clues!”

Rob spat, “Get away from me you nut burger!” before racing up the stairwell.

“Wait, Rob!” Gumball called out, chasing after him. “Rob, come back!”

Rob raced up the stairwell, Gumball right behind him. Just as he thought he was making distance between them, Rob found himself on the roof of the garage. He stepped out onto the empty rooftop, looking around for a way out, but coming out empty. In a panic, he looked back down at the vial in his left hand. He took his right hand and tried to pry open the purple stopper on top, but couldn’t get it to budge.

“Rob!!”

Hearing Gumball was close, Rob ran across the roof. He wanted some distance between the two of them until he could get the vial open. He watched as with each quick jerking movement the five bits of energy bounced around and grew brighter, the power that not even the shop owner knew would offer if unleashed. “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy,” Rob muttered to himself as he ran.

Gumball finally made it to the roof and continued the chase after Rob. “Rob, come back! Just a hint!”

Rob stopped quickly as he found himself at the edge of the building, standing by the concrete barrier that stood up to his waist. He looked over the edge at the forty stories fall to the pavement below, then to Gumball coming closer at breaking speed. Out of options, Rob began prying the vial open with all his might.

“Gumball!” Darwin called out as he made his way to the top of the stairwell. “There you are! Mrs. Mom wants to know why you ran off?”

Still running, Gumball turned to Darwin on the other side of the rooftop. “I just found Rob at the-“ he was stopped short as he slammed into something. He turned to see a large crack in a concrete barrier, then looked over a barrier to see Rob falling to the ground.

Rob screamed as he fell forty stories to the hard pavement below. Just as he hit the pavement, his left hand opened, pressing the vial between him and the ground until it gave with a slight crack.

Gumball and Darwin watched as a large flash of light surrounded the area where Rob landed. They looked away from the blinding flash, missing the five streaks of pure colored energy streak across the sky, scattering to five different parts of Elmore. Soon as the light dimmed, Gumball and Darwin looked down and could barely make out Rob lying motionless in the shallow crater below.

“You killed him!” Darwin exclaimed.

Gumball turned to Darwin. “Did not!”

The Watterson’s car stopped just feet from the crater, its headlights shining on an unconscious Rob lying inside. Gumball was the first to dash out of the car and dive into the crater. “Please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead,” Gumball whimpered to himself as he leaned in to check on Rob. “… oh thank goodness,” he sighed in relief. “He’s still breathing. He’s okay.”

“I wouldn’t really call this okay,” Anais commented, looking down into the crater.

“We just can’t leave him here,” Nicole said. “Where does he live?”

“I dunno,” Gumball replied.

“Does he have any family?” Richard asked.

“I dunno,” Gumball replied.

“How can you not know anything about your own nemesis?” Anais asked judgingly.

“I don’t know!” Gumball cried.

Darwin knelt down beside Rob and commented, “We gotta do something, he’s waking up.”

The Wattersons watched as Rob’s body began to stir with little movement, before they all looked at each other.

Nicole opened the door as she and Richard helped Rob into the house. “Well… welcome to our house, for the night… I guess,” she welcomed nervously.

Gumball ran into the living room, jumping up and down with excitement. “I can’t believe me and my nemesis are having a sleepover!”

“He doesn’t look like he’s up for a sleepover,” Darwin commented.

“A concussion would do that,” Anais added before looking up at Rob. “Hey, Rob. You okay?”

Nicole and Richard stepped aside and let Rob stand on his own two feet. He finally lifted his head, he just looked ahead with an empty stare, before lowering his head back down again.

Gumball simply shrugged it off. “Pfft, he’s fine. He probably just needs sleep. Come on, Rob. You can sleep in our room.” Gumball grabbed Rob by the hand and ran upstairs, Darwin and Anais right behind them. Rob simply kept up on his own two feet, with his face seeming to have no emotional opinion on what’s happening.

“You can have the top bunk,” Gumball told Rob as they entered the bedroom.

“That’s my bed!” Anais replied. “Why does he get my bed?”

“I’m not having my nemesis sleep on the floor! Or would I?” Gumball thought a moment before adding, “Nah, I wouldn’t let him sleep on the floor.” Gumball turned to Rob and flashed him a big, excited smile. “Okay, Rob, the top bunk is yours! What are we going to do first? Truth or dare? Pillow fights?”

Rob just simply looked at him vacantly. After a blink or two, Rob climbed up into the top bunk and lay down in bed, facing the wall, without a word.

“Fine,” Anais grumbled as she grabbed Daisy and stormed out. “I’ll take the couch.”

Darwin joined Gumball as they both looked up at the motionless Rob lying in bed. “Are you sure he’s okay? He doesn’t seem quite… there.”

“He’s just tired,” Gumball replied. “He’ll be better in the morning. Come on, let’s get some sleep ourselves.” He then went to get dressed in his pajamas before hopping into his bed on the bottom bunk.

Darwin gave another concerned look towards Rob before climbing into his fish bowl and getting some rest.

Section Two

The alarm on the nightstand blared for only two seconds before Gumball slammed his fist on the snooze button. He rolled over and opened his eyes a little before closing them. Then his eyes opened wide as he caught Rob standing on the other side of the room. He was standing there, hands on the windowsill, facing out the window. “Rob?”

“Gumball…”

Gumball sat straight up in bed at the sound of Rob’s voice. It sounded so… different. “R-Rob?”

“Gumball…” Rob replied again. “It is… a lovely morning!” Rob exclaimed as he turned and threw his hands up in the air, the most happiest of smiles across his face.

Gumball looked over this sudden change in Rob. He never seen him this… exhilarated before. And there was something new about him. His dull gray face and white static appendages had a tint of bright yellow to them. His hands, feet and brown blocky hair had a tinge of yellow. And it looked like with each grand motion of his body, or each glitch his broken body made, a little flurry of bright yellow particles would pop off of him and gradually fade into thin air. “Wow, you seem… different,” Gumball said aloud.

Rob jumped up and down and gave an excited little squeal. “I know! Isn’t it great? There’s so much to do and so little time today. We could play video games, we could play around on Elmore Plus, we could watch TV, we could-“

“Kids, breakfast!” Nicole called out from downstairs.

“Ooh, breakfast! Did you hear? Breakfast! Come on, Gumball!” Rob grabbed Gumball and yanked him straight out of bed and out the door.

Nicole, Anais and Darwin stared oddly across the table at the new Rob. “Does anyone notice that Rob is different today?” Anais finally announced for everyone.

“I know. Isn’t he great?” Gumball said as he ate his cereal, while Rob was happily shoveling the sugary milk saturated bits down with his bare hands.

“I like your friend, Gumball,” Richard complimented before pouring his bowl into his mouth.

Rob finally looked up from his bowl and wiped off his mouth with his arm. “I’m sorry, I just haven’t had anything this sugary sweet in a while and it’s so deliciously perfect!” Rob grabbed the cereal box and began grabbing the dry sugary pieces by the handful. “Mm, who knew tasting things tasted so good!” he exclaimed with a full mouth.

“Save some cereal for when we’re watching cartoons, Rob,” Gumball said.

Rob gasped with excitement. “Cartoons AND cereal? Ooh, could this day get any better?”

“Don’t spend too long on cartoons, Gumball,” Nicole commented as she got up to leave for work. “You still have school today.”

“We do!” Rob exclaimed. “I get to go to school!”

“But Rob,” Darwin explained, “you don’t go to school.”

“Yes, but now I can!” Rob replied happily.

“Uh, sure, why not,” Gumball added.

Gumball and Darwin walk down the street to school. All the while, Darwin watches as Rob runs ahead of them, darting from each new thing that makes him happy and excited. “Are you sure Rob’s okay?” Darwin asked Gumball.

“Yeah, sure. Why?” Gumball asked.

“Well, last night he was acting like he couldn’t care less, now he’s acting like he couldn’t be happier,” he commented as he watched Rob run up and happily hug a stranger’s dog.

“I know. That life threatening fall was the best thing that’s ever happened to him,” Gumball commented.

“But-“

“A bus!” Rob pointed out as they approached the school. “It’s a school bus! We could have taken the bus! Why didn’t we take the bus?”

“We got up late, again,” Gumball commented.

“Oh, well. Better late than never, I suppose,” Rob shrugged.

Gumball looked at him surprised. “Wait. You’re not mad?”

“Nope! Now come on,” Rob exclaimed, grabbing Gumball by the hand and leading him up the stairs into school. “Let’s go have fun learning our math, and reading, and gym, and study hall, and-“ Rob stopped mid sentence and lit up with excitement as he heard a delightful chime from the other direction. “Ice cream truck! Ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!” he chanted as he dragged Gumball away from school.

“Slow down!” Gumball called out as he was led by an excited Rob running down the street. “Rob, the school’s the other way!”

“But the ice cream’s this way!” he happily cheered.

“Guys!” Darwin was running down the stairs after them, but stopped as he heard someone sobbing nearby. He glanced over to see someone sitting on the bench at the bus stop. Someone who was definitely familiar. “Rob??” Darwin took a double take to where Gumball and Rob ran off, but they were gone.

Darwin turned his attention back to the bus stop. He stepped closer, taking a good look to see if this Rob really was, well, Rob. He did look a lot like Rob, but this one looked more… blue. Rob placed his hands over his eye to wipe away the tears, that’s when Darwin noticed his blue tinted left hand was… effervescent, like it was made from the same blue particles that were popping off of him whenever his form glitched out. “Uh… Rob?”

Rob lifted his head. “Darwin?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” Darwin replied. “And are you… you?”

Rob gave a sniffle as he wiped away another tear. “I’m sorry. I don’t like when others see me cry. It makes me feel… sad,” he sobbed.

“It’s okay, I didn’t mean to see you… well, sad.” Darwin felt awkward, not only seeing Rob so sad, but wasn’t he happy just a second ago? “Look, if you need to calm down, I can help you to Mr. Small’s office-“

Rob caught Darwin off guard as he clung to him. “You’re so nice. And we’re so mean to you. I’m so…” Rob just broke down into sobbing from there.

Even in his confusion, Darwin couldn’t help but give him a hug. But even that seemed to make Rob sadder.

Meanwhile, on a sidewalk in Elmore, Gumball finally caught up with the happy yellow tinted Rob, who was happily walking along and licking his ice cream cone. “Thank you for paying for our treats, Gumball,” Rob commented.

Gumball looked over their tall ice cream cones. “Yeah, sorry I could only afford ten scoops between the two of us.”

“That’s okay, we can get thirty flavors next time,” he replied cheerfully.

Gumball’s face lit up with such joy. “There’s going to be a next time?”

“You bet! We can do this tomorrow, and the day after that, and the-“ Rob stopped mid sentence and dropped his cone. He grabbed the sides of his head as he wobbled on his own two feet, groaning in pain. “Owww, o wow ow ow ow ow!”

“Brain freeze?” Gumball asked.

“Yes,” Rob groaned. “It’s even worse on the outside! At least I’m not frozen in ice!”

Gumball looked up at him oddly, not sure what he meant by that. “Are… you okay?”

Rob sighed as he stood up straight, he exhaled as the brain freeze finally passed. “Yes, I’m fine.” A soft relieved smile passed his face. “Wow, now that’s a memory I’m going to remember.” He turned to Gumball and placed a kind hand on his shoulder. “Thanks Gumball, you’re a true friend.”

Gumball froze in shock. “Friend??”

“Why yes!” Rob cheered as he grabbed Gumball in a tight bear hug and spun him around. After a few spins, Rob dropped Gumball and ran off, following the next thing to fuel his excitement.

Gumball landed face first onto the sidewalk, but his emotional pain was unbearable. Friend? Did his nemesis just call him friend? How could he say that?? How could they be enemies if Rob… likes him??

Still shaken, Gumball couldn’t help but notice the loud happy cheers of happy Rob were becoming distant by the second. He looked up to see Rob running back to the mall, cheering about movies at the theater, toys at the toy store and kitties at the pet store. Gumball got up and chased after him. “Rob?? Rob?? Did you really mean that??”

Section Three

The lunch bell rang, the classroom filed out into the hall. Darwin followed the crowd, but took one last look over at Gumball’s desk, wondering where he went. He then took the long way around so he can pass by Mr. Small’s office. He peered into the window to see Rob, still blue, still whimpering into a tissue. Obviously not the first one, as handfuls of old wet tissues were crumpled on the floor around his chair.

“And that’s when we got over our fear of the dark,” Rob sniffled. “But, I still miss our Daisy night light.”

“I see,” Mr. Small commented. “Tell me more about kindergarten.”

Darwin felt a little better, knowing that Rob was getting some help. Now if only he could find Gumball. He went to the cafeteria, assuming he’d find him there. Also, Darwin was hungry. He crossed the cafeteria, now filled with the chatter of students at the tables. He couldn’t help but overhear the sound of those gossiping as he walked by.

“Have you seen Lakewood’s new cheerleading outfits?” Masami asked. “Gross.”

“Those new outfits are a train wreck,” added Leslie.

“No duh. Whoever designed those outfits must have been colorblind. I mean, teal with plum? Blech!” Rob commented.

Wait, Rob??

Darwin took a double take towards the Rob sitting at the table with the gossiping students. Rob wasn’t even looking at them, he was busy filing his nails on his green left hand, ignoring them like they were less important than the conversation. As he crossed his legs, he blew on his fingernails, a small puff of tiny green particles flew into the air and faded away.

One dash later and Darwin was back at Mr. Small’s office. He looked into the window as best as he could, making sure that he didn’t have to second guess himself. But nope, he was right. Rob was right there, spilling out another sad memory of his childhood. He ran back to the cafeteria doors and peered in through the window. Nope, there was Rob, placing a hand over his mouth in order to keep his stomach down as he saw Banana Joe walk by with sloppy joes. He ran back to the office, there was Rob. He ran back-

Darwin slammed hard into someone and fell backwards onto the hall floor.

“Ugh, excuse you?” The green Rob got up and stamped his feet, disgusted at Darwin’s lack of manners. “Can’t you watch where you going?”

“Excuse me?” Darwin asked, in a daze of confusion.

“Ew!” Rob gagged. “Don’t talk to me right now! Your breath smells like chlorine and bad fish!” Rob pushed Darwin out of the way as he stormed off down the hall.

Darwin took a moment to breathe into his hand and take a sniff of his breath. “It doesn’t smell that bad.” He then looked at the green Rob storming down the hall before turning to the blue Rob in the counselor’s office.

Wait… two Robs??

Gumball’s run slowed to a stop in the middle of the mall. He looked around at the shops, the shoppers, the escalators, everything around him. The mall’s pretty empty on a school day, but even that wasn’t enough. He still couldn’t find Rob. And he needed to find him more than ever. When Rob called Gumball his friend, his world came crashing down!

Gumball’s worries were interrupted by the sound of heavy breathing. He suddenly heard someone dart right behind him. When he turned, all he could catch was someone ducking behind the water fountain in the mezzanine. He went to investigate, and yes it was. “Rob!”

“Ah!” Rob darted off into the Dinner diner in the food court.

“Rob come back! We need to talk!” Gumball called out as he ran after him. Before he was even halfway to the diner, he slammed right into someone, sending both of them spilling onto the ground. Gumball sat up just as Rob sat up. Wait, Rob? “Rob?”

“You?” Rob stared right back at him. This time, Rob didn’t look happy to see him. In fact, he didn’t look that sunny like before, instead his body from his hair down to his feet was tinted a bold red.

“Rob!” Gumball said, realizing that he finally found Rob.

Rob simply furrowed his brow at him. “You!” he growled through his gritted teeth.

“Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” Gumball replied with relief, “and I kind of dig the new design. Say, when you said friend-“

Rob punched Gumball hard in the face, sending him flying into the fountain.

Gumball got up, soaking in old circulated water, spitting out slimy water and a penny or two. He stood up and smiled, his eyes lit up like stars. “You DO hate me!”

Rob came charging at him screaming, carrying a chair from the food court over his head. He threw the chair at Gumball, knocking him out of the water and slamming him against an escalator.

The elevator slowly moved Gumball upward, peeling the chair off of him. Gumball placed a hand over his bruised eye before resting it on his pained nose. “Ow. That, really hurt.”

“That’s the point, dim wit!” Rob threw another punch, thankfully Gumball dodged it. The blue cat dodged as best as he could as Rob threw punch after punch, kick after kick, as they slowly ascended the escalator. “Do you have any idea the day I’ve had? Top with all the other crud I have to deal with? I need something to take this anger out on, and thank your dumb luck I run into you!”

Gumball was sent flying from a hard kick to the gut, landing even harder on his back and skidding for a few yards for good measure. Just as he opened his eyes, he caught Rob throwing a trash can at him. Gumball rolled out of the way, and used all of his strength to get up and run. He ran and dodged as Rob tossed every obstacle at him, from potted decorative foliage, to merchandise, to even actual shoppers! “I have to admit, Rob,” Gumball commented, “this isn’t as elaborate as your schemes usually are!”

“Forget schemes!” the furious Rob yelled as he used all his rage to throw an actual kiosk. “This is personal.”

The impact of the kiosk landing by Gumball was enough to throw him down a corridor to the left. Rob ran after him, but stopped as he turned. He looked to his left, to his right, straight ahead. No Gumball. That cat must have given him the slip. Rob clenched his fists and growled, his reddish brown hair sparked as it twitched with each agitated glitch.

Gumball ran into the unisex bathroom and shut the door. He placed his whole body against the door to barricade it… and gave a sigh of relief. His heart was racing, his legs were aching, his eye was swollen that he can barely see through it. He had never seen Rob so angry before. It was awesome! And, admittedly, terrifying.

A low growl was heard from the other side of the door. Gumball turned and backed away, before quickly running into a restroom cubicle. He slammed the door shut, locked it, and held his body weight against it. He listened, but he couldn’t hear that growl anymore. Gumball sighed in relief. Then, he realized instead he was hearing what sounded like nervous whimpering… and it was coming from right behind him!

Gumball turning around was just enough to scare Rob standing on the toilet. Wait, Rob? Wasn’t Rob behind him? And red? Why was he now purple? And terrified? “Rob??”

“Shhh,” the frightened Rob whispered. “She’ll hear you.” Rob covered his mouth to stifle a yelp as he heard the growl once again, this time louder. The two heard the door to the restroom open slowly, it sent shivers through Rob’s body as Gumball climbed on top of the toilet brim with him. Rob cowered behind Gumball, chewing on his fingernails on his purple left hand.

Slow, heavy footsteps echoed through the silent restroom. A tyrannosaurus rex’s foot can be seen from under the cubicle door as the dinosaur slowly stalked the restroom. Gumball was still as Rob’s eye grew wide with fright.

Tina paused. Silence. A long moment passed before she turned and walked towards the exit.

The two quietly sighed in relief. Then froze as Rob’s wire frame foot slipped into the toilet, causing a splash.

The cubicle door was torn off its hinges as Tina charged in, giving a loud roar and exposing her sharp teeth and gaping maw at them. The two screamed, but Rob jumped so high with fright that he managed to clear the cubicle divider and fall into the cubicle next to them.

The cubicle door flew wide as Rob went screaming, running as fast as he could until it appeared he ran face first into some invisible glass barrier, causing him to fall backwards and pass out onto the tile floor.

Gumball quickly snuck out from underneath Tina’s reptile nose and ran. He stopped momentarily to pick up Rob, who was just coming to, and the two ran out of the restroom, with Tina close behind them.

Tina broke the door and the doorway as she went charging out of the restroom. “Stop running!” she demanded as she chased Gumball and Rob back into the mall.

“Dude, why is Tina after you?” Gumball called out to Rob.

“I don’t know!” Rob yelled back in a panic. “I was lost, I was scared, I didn’t know where I was, then I saw a T-rex and I ran, and then I just kept running and hiding and running and hiding- AHH!!“

Rob instinctively dove into a trash can. Gumball looked over his shoulder at Tina, then dove in as well. Tina just kept running, passing by the trash can. Soon as the rumbling footsteps stopped, Gumball climbed out of the trash can, followed by Rob. The two took the moment to catch their breath.

“Gumball?” Rob asked.

“Yeah?” Gumball replied.

“Am I gonna die?” Rob asked with a whimper.

A loud shattering of glass was heard from the hardware store behind them. They turned to see a forklift emerge from the gaping hole in the store, along with a frightened Larry running for cover. The angry red Rob stood from his seat and glared down at Gumball. “Prepared to get wrecked, you little brat!”

Gumball and the purple Rob both screamed as Gumball was held up to shield the cowering purple Rob. Still screaming, Gumball’s eyes darted between the purple Rob behind him screaming in terror and the red Rob in front of him screaming in fury. Gumball was both terrified by the looming forklift creeping towards him and the confusion of two Robs being in one place!

Their screams were silenced by Tina’s tail slamming against Gumball and purple Rob, knocking them down. The two sat up as Tina lowered her head, eyeing them closely with a growl from her throat. Gumball tried to back away as purple Rob curled up into a little ball.

“Hey! You! Lizard lips!” The red Rob jumped off the forklift and stormed up to Tina. “Get your tiny scaly hands off my Fear!”

Tina turned and roared at Rob. Her gaping maw was inches from Rob, his whole body was getting assaulted by bad breath and saliva, but he was not moved. As Tina stopped roaring, he simply stared her down, closed his eye tight, and stood defiantly as he yelled loudly right back at her. His glitching hair sparked a few times before suddenly bursting into a pillar of flame atop his head. As his yelling subsided, so did the flames, but Rob wasn’t done yet as he jumped onto Tina’s shoulder and began beating her with his fists. Tina stomped off as she shook her body, trying to knock Rob off. As Rob climbed onto her back and kept attacking, Tina tried to bite at him so she can pry him off with her teeth.

Gumball was left in a stunned wide eyed gaze at the sight stomping away from him. This gave the purple Rob cowering behind him time to quickly dart away into the mall, also out of sight.

A long moment of disbelief passed before Darwin came running up to him. “Gumball! You’re not going to believe this!” Darwin said in surprise, “There’s more than one-“

“I noticed,” Gumball interrupted.

Section Four

The school bus drove off from the Watterson’s home as Anais walked inside. She walked upstairs into the bedroom and sat down in the middle of the floor to begin on her homework. As she began to take the notes out of her backpack, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. She looked up at her bed to see a pink hand dangling out from underneath the covers on the top bunk.

“You’re still here?” Anais grabbed the covers and yanked them right down. Rob lifted his head, then sat up from the bed. “Why did you come back? And where’s Gumball and Darwin?”

Rob didn’t respond. He just looked down at his feet dangling from the bed.

Anais noticed Rob was expressionless, still distant like he was the night before. And his appearance was back to his usual dull gray, rather than the bright yellow it was this morning. Her angry face fell into concern. “You still have that concussion, huh? Just as I thought, your attitude this morning was just some delirious state.” She sighed. “Come down from the bed.”

Rob silently climbed down. Soon as he was on the floor, he just sat down and looked at the ground.

“I guess you can stay here until you get yourself together again,” Anais said. “But you’re not sleeping in my bed again.” Anais went back to her homework. She tried to focus on her notes for a few minutes, but she just couldn’t shake the presence of Rob in the room. He just looked empty, emotionless. It was worrisome, but also creepy. Anais took her notes and left the bedroom. “I’ll be downstairs.”

Rob didn’t say a thing, didn’t even move.

Gumball and Darwin raced up the stairs leading into the school, slammed through the doors and ran down the halls.

“I knew something was up when I saw two of them,” Darwin explained as he ran. “A blue one and a green one.”

“I found three,” Gumball said. “Technically two, I lost one at the mall. Actually, I lost all three of them at the mall.”

“That makes five Robs!” Darwin exclaimed.

“Dude, what’s going on?” Gumball asked in confusion. “Not only are there five Rob clones, but they’re acting all different. Even the one who hates me, he REALLY hates me!”

“I dunno,” Darwin replied. “But I think we can get answers from one of them.”

“How?” Gumball asked. “We keep losing them.”

“That’s just it,” Darwin explained as he and Gumball stopped at Mr. Small’s office. “I found one that was able to sit still.”

The two opened the door to Mr. Small’s office. Leaning against his desk is Mr. Small, looking down concerningly over a blue Rob lying face down onto the floor, sobbing into a puddle of tears.

“Darwin, this may not be a good time,” Mr. Small commented. “We finally made progress into his grade school years.”

“But we need to talk to the blue Rob,” Gumball explained.

Rob looked up from his puddle of tears. “The blue Rob?” he asked, confused.

“Yeah, Rob,” Darwin replied. “We need your help.”

Rob sat up on the floor. “But, I’m not Rob.”

“What??” Gumball and Darwin exclaimed in shock.

“I’m not THE Rob,” the blue tinted Rob explained. “I’m just a part of Rob. I’m… one of his emotions.”

“Wait wait wait wait wait,” Gumball said in disbelief. “You’re saying Rob’s emotions are running around Elmore?”

“Oh that’s where they are?” Rob sniffled as he wiped away a tear from his eye. “I was too busy being sad from being separated and lonely that I just…”

“Oh, there he goes again,” Mr. Small smiled comfortingly as he gave the crying Rob a tissue.

“So, how do we fix… this,” Gumball asked, referring to the situation.

Rob finished wiping away his tears before wrinkling the tissue into his hands. “Well, first we need to find all of his emotions. There’s five of us. There’s Joy, and Anger, and Disgust, and Fear, and…” the blue Rob held out his hand shyly to the two. “I’m Sadness.”

“Oh, hi Sadness,” Darwin replied happily as he shook Sadness’s hand. “I’m Darwin.”

“Dude, we can make Sadness happy later,” Gumball said, breaking Darwin away from Sadness. “First, we need to fix Rob. Come on, Sadness,” Gumball said defiantly, as he had a mission to complete, “let’s go find Rob’s emotions.” Gumball grabbed Sadness by the hand and nearly dragged him out the door, with Darwin following right behind them.

“Oh, I’m coming too!” Mr. Small said excitedly as he ran after them. “An out of body experience such as this? I’m in!”

“Okay, where are the others, Sadness?” Gumball asked as the group walked down the streets of Elmore. “Lead us to them.”

“I don’t know where they are,” Sadness replied softly.

“What the what?” Gumball snapped. “You’re emotions! Can’t you, like, hone in on them with your feelings or something?”

“Emotions can’t do that,” Sadness cried, sad that he was getting yelled at. “We help Rob feel and help make his memories.”

“We can’t waste our time looking for them!” Gumball said. “We’ve spent all day doing that without even trying!”

“Oh look, there’s one,” Darwin said as he pointed to the window of the pizza parlor they were walking by.

“Oh, that was easy,” Gumball commented as the group entered the store.

The pizza parlor was a little slow for the afternoon, so it was easy to notice the green Rob sitting in the booth in the corner with Masami, Terri and Leslie. They were all trying to share a pizza, but Rob was making it difficult with his picky choices. “Ew, ham and pineapple? Could you ruin pizza any more for me?”

“Is there anything you do like, Rob?” Terri asked, getting a little frustrated with his attitude.

“Olives? No thank you,” Rob added, pointing out Terri’s choice of toppings.

“I appreciate the sentiment, Rob,” Leslie nodded in agreement.

Sadness pointed to the green Rob as they walked towards the booth. “Guys, that’s Disgust.”

“Perfect.” Soon as they reached the booth, Gumball grabbed Disgust by the hand. “Come on Disgust, you’re coming with us!”

“Ew! Don’t touch me!” Disgust immediately pulled his hand away and wiped his hands with a napkin. “Terri, I need disinfectant, now.”

“Yeah, Disgust doesn’t like to be touched,” Sadness explained to Gumball. “He’s supposed to keep Rob from being poisoned, both literally and socially.”

Disgust looked up from sanitizing his hands when he heard that voice. “Sadness?” Disgust hopped out of the booth as he tossed the sanitizer bottle back to Terri. “There you are! Ugh, finally. Where are the others?”

“We’re looking for them,” Darwin explained.

“Ew, don’t breathe on me with your gross fish breath,” Disgust told Darwin judgingly.

Gumball eyed Disgust with just as much disdain. “This emotion is in charge of Rob’s social life?”

“Disgust has gotten pickier lately,” Sadness commented. “He was a little more lax than this when Rob was younger.”

“Sounds like you emotions could benefit from a group therapy session,” Mr. Small commented.

“Later,” Gumball interrupted. “Right now we got to find the other three.”

“Ugh, finally he starts making sense. Come on, crew,” Disgust told Leslie, Masami and Terri. “Let’s go.”

“Yeah, let’s go save Rob!” Darwin cheered, blowing his breath into Disgust’s face.

Disgust gagged horribly before covering his mouth and racing towards the bathroom at lightning speed. The group just waited awkwardly as they heard the emotion wretch.

“He’s going to need a minute,” Sadness commented sadly.

Darwin breathed into his fin to smell his breath. “I don’t smell that bad.”

It was a quiet afternoon in Elmore park. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, in the distance some little kids played on the playground. On a park bench by the lake, Alan and Carmen were enjoying each other’s company.

A purple Rob peered out from underneath a picnic table before crawling out from underneath. He walked along the path, turning his head every which way as he nervously looked around for any strangers. He made his way to a large tree in the middle of the park, where he sat down in the shade and leaned against the trunk. Finally letting his guard down, he placed his hands behind his head and gave a big sigh of relief.

Rob’s eye fluttered shut in peace, but within a moment it flung open as he thought he saw something in the distance. Sure enough, there was a group of people approaching him. The group consisted of Gumball, Darwin, Mr. Small, Masami, Terri, Leslie, Sadness and Disgust.

“That’s Fear,” Sadness told Gumball.

“Perfect. Guys,” Gumball announced, pointing to Fear, “get him!”

“AHHHH!!” Fear leapt to his feet and ran away in terror.

Disgust stamped his feet as he glared down at Gumball. “Ugh! Here’s a tip, moron: the next time you’re hunting down a concentrated personification of fear, don’t yell get him!”

The group scattered as they tried to catch Fear running through the park in a blind panic. He dove under park benches and picnic tables, into bushes and flower beds to hide, but every time someone got close he darted off screaming in another direction. Losing focus of where he was running, Fear even ran through the lake, emerging drenched on the other side and running over a bench, breaking apart Carmen and Alan from their moment together.

“Coming through!” Gumball announced as he leaped over the bench as well.

“Stop that purple Rob!” Darwin said as he ran by Carmen and Alan, as his way of asking for help.

Confused over the chaos, both Carmen and Alan shrugged before running off to help them catch Fear, who ran into a playground for cover.

“Why is he so fast?” Darwin asked aloud.

“It’s who he is,” Sadness called out. “He’s trying to keep safe, that’s his job as an emotion. Rob’s been through so much, almost everything makes him jumpy and scared.”

Fear ran under a jungle gym to hide, but he was almost surrounded by the group. He raced by the swings, then dove to avoid getting hit by a blue egg shaped child on a swing. He then raced up the stairs of a slide, then froze as he looked down from the dizzying heights of five feet, and realizing he got himself cornered as the group surrounded the slide.

Frustrated, Gumball turned to Sadness and Disgust. “This is ridiculous. We’ll never catch this guy.” Gumball was interrupted as he was knocked down face first into the dirt. Fear landed in a slumped pile on top of Gumball’s back after sliding down the slide as an escape attempt.

“That worked,” Disgust commented sarcastically.

“Hello, Fear,” Sadness said to Fear.

“Hi,” Fear moaned in a whimper.

The school playground was empty that afternoon, all except for one red tinted Rob pacing furiously across the concrete like a caged animal full of rage and ready to pounce. His fists were clenched tightly and his face displayed an angry grimace. He turned as he heard the doors to the school fly open, a black and white delinquent student with a bomb for a head stared him down. “There you are!” the delinquent yelled, fuse lit, as he charged at Rob.

Rob yelled at him, his head burst into a pillar of flames, as he charged towards the bomb headed delinquent. The two ran headlong towards each other at full strength, and just as they butted heads they were both engulfed in an explosion of smoke and flames. When the smoke cleared, the two were lying on the ground, but only Rob was able to flip back up onto his feet. He eyed two other bad seeds, a cupcake and a pink bear, charging at him. Rob ran right towards them, fists clenched tight and ready.

Meanwhile, Gumball, Darwin, the emotions and the others were watching behind the chain link fence surrounding the schoolyard. “That’s Anger, all right,” Disgust said.

“Why is he so mean?” Darwin asked, surprised at how furious he was.

“He is concentrated anger,” Fear commented. “Usually we can control him before he has Rob fly off the handle.”

“But, we’re not so good at keeping Anger himself under control,” Sadness added. “Especially now that Rob has become a villain, Anger pretty much embraces his rage now.”

Gumball watched in horror as Anger took down each delinquent one at a time like it was nothing. “How are we supposed to catch this guy? He can literally burst into flames, and the last time I saw him he tried to kill me!”

Disgust eyed Gumball, a sly smile crossed his face as he got a wild idea.

Anger watched as the last delinquent fell. He nodded defiantly at them before looking around the schoolyard. “Anyone else want to be a hero?”

“I do!” Gumball called out from the other side of the yard.

Anger turned towards Gumball. He gave a wicked angry grin as he punched his right fist into his left hand. “This is going to be good.” Anger charged forward, yelling furiously and with both fists clenched.

Gumball’s brave face fell into fear as he closed his eyes and ran right towards Anger, yelling all the way. Just as they met in the center of the schoolyard, Anger slowed to a stop as he realized that Gumball ran right by him. “What the?” he muttered to himself as he saw Gumball run frantically into the building. Furious, Anger charged after him. “Gumball! Come back here so I can destroy you!”

“No way, man!” Gumball yelled back as he kept running down the hall. He ran at full sprint, only looking over his shoulder after each turn down the next corridor. He grew more and more terrified as Anger grew closer, not even slamming into Bobert or Sarah seemed to slow him down. Gumball took one more turn down the hall and ran through a pair of double doors. He stopped and turned to see Anger closing in fast. Terrified, Gumball ducked into a ball as he yelled out almost pleading “Now!!”

Darwin, Alan, Disgust and Leslie sprang the trap, placing a fire resistant blanket over the doorway. Anger ran right into it, and the four wrapped it around him, holding him down. Anger kept kicking and screaming, smoke fuming from underneath the sheet.

“Anger, calm down!” Fear pleaded as he knelt down to look underneath the tarp. “It’s us!” Anger’s fist popped out from underneath the tarp and slammed into Fear’s face, knocking him out.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!!” Anger snapped as he stopped fighting and was finally released from the blanket.

“Yay! We got four of them!” Darwin cheered.

Sadness went over to check on Gumball. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just waiting for my heart to start beating again,” Gumball said, still in a shocked state of fear. Once he finally composed himself, he got up off the ground. “Okay, so we got Anger, Disgust, Sadness, Fear. All that leaves is the yellow Rob, Joy.”

Just then, Penny was walking down the hall, and stopped when she overheard Gumball. “Did you say yellow Rob?”

“Yeah, have you seen him?” Gumball asked.

“Yeah,” Penny said, not sure how to explain this. “You’re going to need to see this.”

“One! Two! Three four five! We are Elmore Junior High!” The small group of cheerleaders chanted as they practiced their routine on the football field. Molly held her arms out and caught the yellow Rob she tossed in the air. Rob joyously cheered with the happiest of faces, enjoying himself with his new friends and his fun pom poms.

Gumball, Penny and the others stood by the stands, watching the scene. Many of them were surprised, Gumball especially. “You’re right,” Gumball told Penny. “I’m seeing it and I still don’t believe it.”

“Joy!” Fear called out.

Joy stopped in mid cheer and happily ran over to them. “Fear! Disgust! Anger! Sadness! You’re all here!” Joy gasped happily. “Penny! You brought Gumball and all his friends!”

“Ew, you’re wearing pleats,” Disgust commented as he looked over the cheerleading outfit Joy was wearing.

“I know, isn’t it cute?” Joy asked happily. “They gave me a new outfit. And I love these little pom poms. And can I say I love this skirt it’s adorable? I just love the way it twirls.”

“Please, please don’t twirl,” Darwin begged before Joy could attempt a twirl in his cheerleading outfit.

“Okay, we found all five of Rob’s emotions,” Gumball said. “Sadness, now what?”

“We need to find Rob,” Sadness replied.

“But you’re all Rob,” Mr. Small commented.

“No, you burned out hippie,” Disgust replied. “The original Rob. The one with the mind we came from?”

“We need to go back into Rob’s mind so he can feel again,” Fear said worryingly.

Joy took a step back as his happy face fell into concern. “Wait, what?”

“And the only way to get back into Rob’s mind is to find Rob himself,” Anger explained.

“So, where is Rob?” Penny asked.

“I dunno,” Gumball replied. “Last I saw him he was asleep at my house. But this morning I took him to school, but I just now realized that it was Joy I took to school- which means Rob has been at my house the whole time.”

“That’s sad,” Sadness commented softly. “He spent a whole day alone, not feel anything.”

Darwin frowned and nearly broke into tears. “That’s so sad!”

“Yeah, we get it emotions are good,” Gumball replied, wanting to wrap this up before they run into any more problems. “Come on Joy, let’s go home and...” Gumball turned to Joy, but all that was there were his two piece cheerleading outfit and pom poms. He looked over to see Joy, back in his yellow tinted low res skirt and shorts, running off into the distance. “Joy?”

Joy raced out of the school and down the streets of Elmore, making a beeline straight to Gumball’s house. “I gotta get back to Rob,” he said to himself.

“Gumball! Darwin! Anais!” Nicole called from the kitchen. “Dinner’s almost ready!”

Anais closed her schoolbooks on the coffee table and stowed them away in her back pack. She went upstairs to go wash up for dinner, but just as she reached the bathroom door, she paused and looked over at the bedroom door. Curious, Anais entered the bedroom to find Rob still sitting on the floor, looking down without a feeling.

“You’re still here?” Anais asked. Before she could get upset about it, she sighed. “Let’s get you downstairs. Maybe we can feed you dinner before we decide if you can stay another night.” Anais took Rob’s hand, but he didn’t get up. Growing frustrated, Anais pushed Rob up onto his feet. “Come on, move!” Anais said, getting Rob to balance on his own two feet before taking his hand again and leading him down the hall and to the stairs. “You are being so difficult. I don’t know what that fall did to you, but a concussion is no reason to give up.” Anais could feel Rob’s left hand begin to slip out of hers. “And give me back your-“

Anais was shocked to see Rob’s left hand gradually disappearing into thin air. She saw the eye half open, emotionless Rob fall forward and roll down the stairs. As he landed in a lying slump at the bottom, she watched as his wire frame foot began to disappear as well.

“Uh… mom?” Anais called out, both confused and scared.

Gumball, Darwin, the four emotions and the others raced down the street. The whole time Joy was ahead of them, far enough to see him but not nearly far enough to stop him.

“You emotions are so fast,” Gumball whined. “Why are you guys so fast?”

“And why is he running away from us?” Darwin asked.

“I don’t know!” Fear replied, scared of what was happening.

“Wait, I think we’re catching up,” Penny commented, as a red light at an intersection caused a few cars to park in front of Joy. However, Joy kept up his speed and, in one leap, slid across the hoods of the cars and cleared the road, continuing down the street.

“Gosh darnit!” Gumball yelled as he and the others slowed to a stop in front of the cars. Gumball attempted to imitate Joy’s stunt, climbing onto the first car hood, but instead was scooting across so agonizingly slow.

Frustrated, Anger yanked Gumball off the hood and threw him long and far, making Gumball clear the intersection and then some, screaming all the way through the air.

Disgust sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” Anger replied.

Joy raced down the sidewalk, the houses flying by him. He skidded to a stop just in front of the Watterson’s house. He sighed, a relieved smile filled his face as he headed up the walk to the door. Before he could reach the porch, he was pelted to the ground by Gumball. “Where did you come from?” Joy asked in surprise.

“Where did you go?” Gumball asked back. “Why did you just leave us?”

“You don’t understand,” Joy replied, scrambling to his feet. “I need to get back to Rob before the others do.”

“Why?” Gumball asked, following Joy as he made his way through the door.

“Because Rob needs to be- Rob!” Joy shouted in shock as he saw Nicole, Richard and Anais surrounding Rob at the bottom of the stairs. Joy raced over to him, but stopped and screamed as he saw Rob lying lifeless on the ground, in a fetal position, facing away, fading fast. He reached out to Rob, but before he can place a hand on him, he was gone. The last thing he saw was Rob’s emotionless face, then his emotionless eye, then… he was gone.

#The Amazing World of Gumball #Inside Out #TAWOG Rob #TAWOG Gumball #TAWOG Darwin

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