The Scientist's quarrel

Chapter two

     It was 9am when they all got back. Janine came back first, followed by Peter and Ray, then Egon. "Never let me drink that much again." Ray whined as he held his stomach. "You're just a bunch of babies." Janine chuckled as she sat down in her seat. "Arlo? You're here already?" Janine called. Arlo stepped out of her office. "I haven't left. I've been trying to fix the stuff Egon tampered with." she glared at Egon.

     "It's fine how it is." Egon shrugged and made his way upstairs. "Oh, I hate him." she sighed. Janine smiled, "He doesn't seem to hate you." Arlo squinted her eyes at Janine. "I don't think you pay attention." Arlo said. Janine looked to Arlo, "I don't think you pay attention." she emphasized the 'you'.

"I mean, I'll admit, I never thought Egon had real feeling for you 'till last night." Janine said, filing her nails. "Feelings? For me? Hah! Never." Arlo doubtfully said. "He's absolutely head over heels for you, Arlo." Janine nodded. Arlo sat down beside Janine with her invention in her hands, still trying to fix it back to its original glory. "I would never believe that in a million years."

      She turned around in her swivel chair. "You never know until you ask, Arlo." Janine whispered in her ear. Arlo jumped, making her drop the invention. "Aw, come on!" Before she could pick it up, a hand reached down at grabbed it before she could.

"Be more careful with that." Egon handed the gadget back to Arlo. "'Be more careful with that! Blah blah blah blah blah!'" Arlo mocked as Egon walked to the basement. "Honestly, how are you this blind." Janine sighed and turned to face the front.

     Another busy day in the firehouse. The boys left, came back, left again, then came back. They got their first real break around lunch time. "Hey, Arlo?" Ray knocked on Arlo's office door. She looked up at Ray, hair messed up and ectoplasm on his face. "You got a little something on your cheek there."

"Do I?"

"Yep."

     He rubbed his cheek, getting the ectoplasm on his sleeve. "Hard day?" she asked. "I suppose you could say that." he sat down on one of the chairs in the room. "Have you eaten yet?" he asked. Arlo paused to think, "Hm, don't think so." she shrugged. "You should go get lunch then." Ray stood up and patted Arlo on the shoulder. "I guess so." she stood up as well, grabbing her coat off the back of the chair. "Wait, was this some sort of scheme for you to take me out?" she raised an eyebrow. Ray chuckled, "Ah, not me. Him." he opened the door to reveal Egon.

     "No thanks." she walked passed him. "Huh?" the boys questioned. "I'll buy my own lunch, thank you." she grabbed her bag from the front desk. "Who said I was taking you out to lunch?" Egon asked. Ray coughed and quickly went upstairs. "Mhm." Arlo hummed. "I was at the door so I could ask you if you fixed your gadget, not to ask you out to lunch." Egon defended. "Well, I didn't fix it. It's hopeless." Arlo sighed. "You know, I could help you fix it." Egon offered. Arlo turned to him slowly. "You really think I want help from you?"

     "I mean, maybe." he shrugged. "I'm good." She walked out of the firehouse and went on her way to buy herself some lunch. Egon however, followed her. "Aw, come on. It won't hurt to have help from me." Arlo shook her head. "Every time you touch my gadgets it's like you put it under some voodoo spell causing it to malfunction or break. I'm not risking it again."

     Egon tried his best to keep up with Arlo. "How about I pay for your lunch. Would you forgive me then?" Arlo stopped in her tracks. She turned to him, "Okay." she then continued to walk on her merry way. "Okay? Just like that?" Egon ran to catch up with her. "I mean, I'm broke. I'll take any free meals I can get." she shrugged. Egon scoffed, "Fine."

     The two entered a pretty spiffy restaurant. "Table for two, please." Egon said to the waiter. "Ah, we have a thirty minute wait. Is that okay?" the waiter asked the two. Egon looked at Arlo who was checking out the restaurant. "Arlo?" he tapped her shoulder. She looked over at him, "What?"

"There's a thirty minute wait."

"Oh. That's alright."

     "We'll wait." Egon smiled at the waiter. "There are some seats over there." the waiter pointed. "Thanks." Arlo gave a smile before walking over to the seats and sitting down. Egon sat next to her, pulling out one of the newspapers. "Hah. Look at that. Front page." he pointed to their ad. "And who made the ad again?" Arlo raised an eyebrow. Egon shoved the newspaper into the stand again. "You." he mumbled. "Mhm." she hummed.

     "Miss, Sir, your table is ready." the waiter announced to them. They looked at each other before getting up and following the waiter. "Thank you." Egon said as he sat down. "Can I get you anything to drink?" the waiter asked. "Do you guys have lemonade?" Arlo asked. "We do. Want me to put that down for you?"

     "Yes, please." Arlo nodded. "And you, sir?" Egon looked at Arlo, then to the waiter. "I'll have a lemonade too." The waiter smiled. "Two lemonades. I'll be back with them shortly."

     "Why'd you order lemonade?" Arlo asked suspiciously. "Can't a guy order lemonade?" Egon said defensively. Arlo squinted her eyes. She pulled out the menu, glancing over the options. "Jeez, that isn't cheap. Glad I'm not the one paying." she mumbled. "What?" Egon pulled out the menu and looked over the options as well. "Holy shit." his jaw dropped at the price. Arlo held in a laugh as he rubbed his forehead. "Have you decided on what you want to order?" the waiter asked as he came back with their drinks.

     "I'll take the chicken alfredo, please." Arlo answered. "I'll get the spaghetti." Egon replied. "Chicken alfredo and spaghetti. Right." the waiter wrote it down and went back to the kitchen. "You regret saying you'd buy?" Arlo smirked. "A little bit." Egon sighed.