[IC] The Battle of Sea Salt Bay

[Rhythmloid]

"Wow, really? But you two seem so close already! You must really like her then, huh? You're really lucky, so take good care of her!" Ralphie swooned, wishing that were the case for them and Spoon. Though in the end, they still got to keep the girl.

Spoon was ready to break her fork. And break Rolo's neck. How dare he converse with her Ralphie?! Spoon sat there, furious.

Corrine blushed at Ralphie's compliment. She covered her face with her hands. "R-Ralphie, please!"

"What? It's not everyday someone cares a lot for you like that." Ralphie took a bite of their food. "You two sheem prey cute togesher." They said with their mouth full of food.

[TwelveOf8]

It was in that moment that Rolo realised that this red head girl was actually very east to talk to. For the first time in a long time, he felt that he didn't need to put on the tough guy act. That he was truly free to be himself. That maybe there was a reason that people hung out with the weird crowd, a damn good reason. As for the masked girls unrelenting death stare. Rolo stopped noticing it after a while. In fact, whenever he did notice it, he had to stifle a giggle. She kinda reminded him of those Hawaiian tiki statues. The ones with the flames in the mouth and the eyes that you would see at luaus. Perhaps she owned a grass skirt, he surmised. And so Rolos attitude towards the red head and the weird mask girl softened.

"You're completely right uhh Ralphie was it? Oh, and thanks." said Rolo bashfully.

"Has Corinne baby ever told you the story of how we met?" Rolo asked Ralphie.

[Rhythmloid]

Corrine took a drink but quickly spat it out. She gave Rolo a look that said "you aren't going to tell them, are you?" She thought that they were supposed to keep their relationship a secret. Then again, she gave away the secret to Spoon and Ralphie. Corrine shut her mouth and decided to listen to what Rolo had to say.

Ralphie started laughing at Spoon, who was covered in water. She let out a breathy sigh and chuckled. Corrine's face was hot with embarrassment. She didn't mean to do it. But she couldn't help it. Spoons face went from a scowl to that of a happy highschool girl. For once she wasn't scowling and looked rather cute.

[Rhythmloid]

Corrine took a drink but quickly spat it out. She gave Rolo a look that said "you aren't going to tell them, are you?" She thought that they were supposed to keep their relationship a secret. Then again, she gave away the secret to Spoon and Ralphie. Corrine shut her mouth and decided to listen to what Rolo had to say.

Ralphie started laughing at Spoon, who was covered in water. She let out a breathy sigh and chuckled. Corrine's face was hot with embarrassment. She didn't mean to do it. But she couldn't help it. Spoons face went from a scowl to that of a happy highschool girl. For once she wasn't scowling and looked rather cute.

[TwelveOf8]

Rolo observed that Corinne looked rather shocked at his question. He had no idea why she would feel that way. She did tell her two friends about their relationship after all. It seemed that Corinne was still shy, even around her friends. Rolo felt like hugging her but he knew that he shouldn't. Not yet anyway.

Corinne, out of shock, spat her drink all over her weird masked friend. Rolo briefly let out a barking laugh before stopping himself in his tracks. He knew all too well how bashful she was. It was then that the weird masked girls expression finally changed to a more friendly one. She no longer looked like a tiki statue, but more like one of those Japanese porcelain dolls.

"Oh, uhh forget I said anything." said Rolo awkwardly.

[Rhythmloid]

"Hey! You cant back down now! Dont worry we wont tell anyone! I mean, theres no use for this information anyway." Ralphie shrugged. Spoon seemed to be rather interested as well. Corrine kept to herself and hid herself in her hair.

"It couldn't be as bad as how Spoon and I met. Now spit it out!"

[TwelveOf8]

"Well uhh I dunno, Corinne?" pleaded Rolo.

This Ralphie girl really put him on the spot. Rolo felt like he said something he shouldn't have, despite everything. How could he have misread the situation so badly? Maybe it wasn't him. Maybe he was overthinking things. Rolo always thought that all girls loved talking about how they met their boyfriends. It seems that Corinne was not like other girls in many respects.

"I think she can tell the story better than me. That's if you're up for it. You don't have to if you don't want to baby girl, I mean Corinne." offered Rolo.

Darn it, why was this so awkward?

[Rhythmloid]

"Y-you do it... I'll just mess everything up..." Corrine stuttered. As if things weren't embarrassing enough. Although it was a rather cute story, she didn't want to say anything. She removed her curly hair and and took a deep breath.

"Well, we first met at their clubhouse. Then I couldn't stop thinking about him. Then, um, we walked up to ghost rock. Um... then we uh... and that's how we got together!" What in the world was she saying?! What possessed her to say something?! She felt even more embarrassed than before. But somewhat relieved. Something in her just floated away.

"Aw~! Corrine that's so cute! But I want details. Rolo, why don't you go?" Ralphie asked again. Spoon sat there, enjoying the entertainment that the three brought to the table.

[TwelveOf8]

"Well, if you insist." said Rolo with a tone of feigned resignation.

And so he told the tale of how he met Corinne outside of the clubhouse. Of all the killer jokes he said. The fact that many of them were Switch and Divos was a fact that he consciously omitted. And of course, the tale of Ghost Rock. But out of respect for Corinnes modesty, he avoided delving into the finer details. He even told them about his fight with his friends and their little date up in the lighthouse. Needless to say, it made quite the tale. Rolo could've sworn that Spoon, the weird masked girl, batted not a single eyelid during his entire story.

"And so i have no idea what the Hell is going on. But I like to think that me and Corinne are havin fun, so yeah." declared Rolo resolutely.

Wow, he said more than he intended to. Rolo couldn't help it. Everything just kinda spilled out of him. Surprisingly, it felt good. It felt really good.

[Rhythmloid]

Corine was curled up into a ball squealing. She couldn't believe he said all of that! In perfect detail too! Ralphie sat there, giggling to themself. Spoon seemed satisfied with the story.

Ralphie whispered into Spoon's ear, the two of them giggling. Corrine cocked her head but shrugged it off. Corrine gently leaned against Rolo and sighed happily. She kept her affection as subtle as possible. It was hard to keep their relationship a secret. But it was worth it to have a boyfriend like Rolo.

[TwelveOf8]

Rolo wondered what those two girls were whispering to each other about in such a giddy way. But then he quickly lost interest when Corinne leaned up against him like that. She felt so warm and so soft. But he dare not do a thing lest people got the wrong idea. Unbeknownst to them at the time though, their affection for each other was so obvious that it could be seen from space. It was so hard to keep a relationship secret, it seemed. Rolo wished he didn't have to.

"So uhh, how did you two meet?" asked Rolo in a vain attempt to cut the tension.

[Rhythmloid]

"Well, back in fifth grade, I fell flat on my face during lunch. I landed right in my pudding and became a laughing stock. Then Spoon came along and helped me clean up. After a while we started to talk, and now she's officially my girlfriend! It's been... two or three years now? Since freshmen year I think. I wouldn't have any other girl in the world!" Ralphie kissed Spoon's cheek and her face went hot like fire.

"Aw~, how cute!" Corrine sighed. They were quite the couple.

[TwelveOf8]

"So you're telling me that, you two are...." Rolo attempted to ask.

He just couldn't finish his question. The very idea that two girls could "go at it" with each other was an idea that Rolo found quite alien to say the least. But then again, he also found the idea very intriguing. He imagined a scene where two girls who looked exactly like Corinne were making out with each other. Sensually caressing each others femininity with far more skill and finesse than any man ever could. Suffice it to say, Rolo began to feel really excited about the idea. He wished to know more.

"How does that work!?" exclaimed Rolo.

His voice was a little too loud for the intimacy of the conversation as well as the proximity of those with whom he was conversing. Rolo silently cursed both his rowdiness and his uncouthness. He hoped that he didn't humiliate Corinne too much. Lord knows he did more than enough of that for the day.

[Rhythmloid]

Ralphie looked at eachother and back at Rolo.

"You know, like it normally does? Don't you know how it works?" Ralphie stated matter of factly.

Spoon nodded in agreement. They didn't know what Rolo was thinking about. Did he really not understand how it worked? Ralphie decided to educate poor Rolo until they saw Corrine sitting there with a very confused look on her face. She had no idea what they were talking about. Keeping their trap shut would be the best idea to preserve her innocence.

[TwelveOf8]

"Well yeah! Of course I do! I ain't a doofus or nothin." asserted Rolo awkwardly.

He then gave a little chuckle so as to seem like he was joking. The truth was that he wasn't joking at all. He was being deadly serious. Rolo curiosity flared up with a vengeance. He wished that they'd just spill the beans already. That they would tell him all the juicy details that he was dying to hear. But alas, he was with Corinne. He knew all too well that such talk embarrassed her beyond belief. And so Rolo wisely withheld his many questions regarding Ralphie and Spoons more intimate moments.

"Well I gotta say Corinne baby. Your friends are a Hell of a lot cooler than I thought." Rolo complimented kindly.

Just like clockwork the school bell rang. A rather abrupt end to an astonishingly interesting lunchtime. Rolo himself felt a little peeved, but at the same time, a little relieved. They all had such an interesting talk yet there were many opportunities for staggering amounts of awkwardness. Despite it all Rolo felt that he wouldn't mind sitting with them all again. If only that were possible.

[Rhythmloid]

The couple bid them a farewell and let the cafeteria, making their way to their next class. They were seen holding hands and laughing at eachother. Most people would call them a perfect couple.

Meanwhile Corrine was trying to think of what her three friends were talking about. Something about how something worked. Was Rolo making something? She tugged on Rolo's shirt.

"Rolo, Rolo, what were you talking about with Ralphie and Spoon?"

[TwelveOf8]

"Well you see Corinne. It's kinda like the birds and the bees. But instead there's two birds. And they do a special dance I think. And the beauty of the animal kingdom......" Rolo explained before trailing off into silence.

"Look Corinne baby. I gotta get somthin from my locker real quick. You just go off to class already ok? You don't wanna be late or nothin." said Rolo rather hastily.

Without another word, he bounded off awkwardly. All the while he was glad that he was able to evade even more awkwardness.

[Rhythmloid]

Corrine looked at Rolo confused. Why were they talking about Ralphie and Spoon having sex? And what was with the two birds thing? Corrine started out more confused than when she started. But she didn't want to be late for her class. She pondered while walking to her next class.

While sitting in her algebra class, she strayed away from her work to figure out what Rolo was talking about. Two birds... Ralphie and Spoon.... Birds and Bees.... oh no. Everything made sense now. This whole time Rolo thought Ralphie was a girl. Boy, did she have some news for him. After school she would have to tell him.

[TwelveOf8]

"Hey Rolo! Wait!" yelled Switch as he ran to catch up.

"Huh? What is it?" responded Rolo.

He turned around to see a very serious expression on Switchs face. Rolo thought it odd for such an expression was very much out of character for Switch. Knowing him, it was probably something pervy and embarrassing. In light of recent developments within the gang though, Rolo wasn't so sure that was the case this time. And so he began to feel concerned as Switch struggled to find the words that he was looking for. Was there really a good way to explain such things? If there was, Switch could hardly fathom it.

"Spit it out man! What's wrong!? Is Chet still pissed at me? Cuz if that's the case then I don't give a flyin fu...." declared Rolo.

"You got it wrong man, so wrong. It's worse than that. I mean dude, we are so fucked!" said Switch in an uncharacteristically whiny way.

"Calm down dude alright? Just take a deep breath, and tell me what I need to know." soothed Rolo.

Switch made a very audible gulp before commencing his summary of all that had transpired. "Alright man. Don't freak out alright!? I can't stress that enough! Here's what happened at lunch while you were gone." Switch began.

Rolo stood there, listening to Switches report of all that had transpired between Charles and the gang. About Chets secret little conspiracy and how it landed them all in hot water. How Charles apparently secretly manipulated Chet subtly in order to quote "Hold the Salt Bay Turbos by their collective balls". And all the while, Rolos mouth hung open ever so slightly in a slack manner. The other students around them were too busy walking home from school to pay any attention to the exciting developments in the world of the Turbos and the New Royals. Rolos anger was beyond boiling point.

"And that's about the long and short of it." said Switch. He then giggled at his own referential little joke.

"I'm going to kill him! And that weasly little Chet to! I knew he was no better than that scumbag little worm! They're both dead! I'm gonna shove my fist so far up their...." ranted Rolo before being cut off by Switch yet again.

"Shhh quiet! We can't move against him! He's got dirt on us! If we do anythin to piss him off then that's it for us. Just calm down alright!?" said Switch frantically.

Rolo sighed deeply before he spoke. He was relatively more calm now. "Alright. For the good of the gang, I'll keep it cool. But one thing's for sure though, I will have my revenge. And you better believe that includes both of em!" he declared.

"Yeah man. I totally feel ya on that one. Damn it Chet. You just had to play his pussy ass little games didn't you. I looked up to you man." said Switch mournfully.

"So what happens now?" Rolo enquired.

"I guess we just gotta wait. That's all we can do these days." said Switch.

[Rhythmloid]

Antonio stood in the junkyard, waiting for the slicks to come. It was nearly midnight and no one had shown up for him. It must have been a hoax. There was no way a gang would leave him hanging. He decided to leave and forget that it never happened. Until he heard a clang. He quickly turned around to see a group of misfits standing in a row, holding bats and metal poles.

"Took you long enough." Antonio said. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

Hushed whispers filled the junkyard.

"Welcome. Are you ready for initiation?" One said, walking forward.

"Uh, ok." Antonio walked toward the boy with the eye patch.

"Now, listen closely..." The boy whispered into Antonio's ear. Antonio was taken back by what the boy said. He had to do that in order to be an official member? Normally, this wouldn't be a challenge for him, but after what they said about him, it might be. He was going to have to train again in order to win. He nodded and left the junkyard.