A Million Trillion Billion (What's Eating Gilbert Grape Fanfic) *ORIGINAL*

Chapter 3 - Maybe

It's about 2pm now. Going back would be pointless. All I missed were lectures and I'm really not fussed about those.
I decide to head back up to catch Becky. Gilbert's invited us for dinner again. They're so generous. They hardly have enough to feed themselves and yet we're always more than welcome.
Becky jogs over to me. "Where were you?" She says, jumping over the brick wall that separates us. "I.. decided to take the day off?" I half smile, as we start to walk down the hill. "It's your first day..." She says, frowning with concern. "Yeah, I went to my first class, but, something came up. Oh, and Gilbert invited us for dinner." I perk up. Becky stops walking. "What came up Janie?" She put a hand on my arm, I turn around.
I explain the whole 'Jimmy and Leon' situation. I don't see the point in hiding anything from the person I'm living with for another 2 years.
"Assholes." Becky frowns. "Yeah.. You got that right." I nod, as we approach Gilbert's house. "Well, here we are." I say, grinning. "Wow, nice place." Becky nods in approval. "That's what I said!" We both laugh.
Gilbert opens the door, as if he knew we were standing there. "Hey Janie, Becky." His eyes lock with Becky's. "Hey Gilbert." We say in unison.
We head inside, and pass Ellen watching some cooking show on the television.
"Janie!" Arnie runs in and stops before me, grinning. I roll my eyes, pulling Arnie into a hug. "Hey Arnie." I say, pulling away. He looks astonished. "Janie hugged me Gilbert!" He jumps up and down a couple times. "Well, aren't you lucky then Arnster." Gilbert chuckles. Becky is chatting to Amy in the kitchen, and Ellen sits on the couch, looking lonely as ever.
"Race you up the tree Arnie!" I exclaim. Arnie bursts out laughing and runs after me.
I scramble up the tree and sit on the same branch that Arnie and I sat on the first day I met him. "Aw you beat me." Arnie says still laughing. I laugh along with him.
"What did you get up to today?" I ask, sitting with my legs hanging over each side so I face him. "Gilbert took me out for ice cream this morning. Then I counted all the trucks that went by Janie." He grins, proudly. "Oh my, how many were there?" I ask him. "24." He nods. "Geez. How long were you sittin there?" I ask him with a chuckle. He thinks for a moment, flicking his finger against his nose. I find this habit absolutely adorable. "I think 3 or 7 hours." He says, frowning in thought. "Wow! That's a long time Arnie." I say, chuckling.
"It's a long long time. A very long time. A long long long time." He says. "Mmhmm." I say.
"What's your favourite colour Janie?" Arnie asks. "Hmm. Green." I say. No one has ever asked me that question before now I think of it. "Mine is purple. Like grapes, or purple things. And lemons." He says. I chuckle. "Lemons are yellow Arnie!" "Nah, they're purple." Arnie insists. "Well, I don't know what planet you're livin on." I laugh. "I'm living on planet hot dog Janie. Hot dogs hot dogs hot dogs!" Arnie throws his arms up in the air. "Mmmm I love hot dogs." I say, trying not to drool at the thought of hot dogs. "I had hotdogs for my birthday last year. My mamma made them special for me." He says, grinning. I pause. "When?" I ask. "When I turned 18. Last year." He says.
I wanted to ask when his mom passed. But I couldn't bring myself to kill his bright mood. So I brought up another subject.
We sat in the tree for a while, until Amy called to us that dinner was ready.
Arnie jumped down the tree first, closely followed by me.
We raced back inside and I took a seat next to him at the table.

"So what course are you taking Becky?" Amy asks Becky as we dig in. "Well I'm majoring in Art. I've always loved to paint you know. I love to paint the sunset especially." She says, looking out the window dreamily. "These mash potatoes are awesome Amy." Gilbert says, with a mouthful of potatoes. "Thanks Gilbert." She says. "Yeah, these are some seriously excellent potatoes." I add. "Seriously excellent." Arnie nods, agreeing with me. I turn and grin at him.
"Hey Arnie, are you coming with me to get a new couch tomorrow?" Gilbert turns to Arnie. "Why do we need a new couch? The one we have is perfectly fine." Ellen protests. "Yeah Gilbert. Can Janie come?" Arnie asks. I start to reply. "Well-" "Janie has school Arnie, I'm sure you can see her after..." Gilbert interrupts. "No Gilbert. Janie has to come." Arnie frowns. "I guess I might be able to, what time were you guys plannin on going?" I ask. Gilbert raises his eyebrows. "Around 1?" He says. I nod. "My lectures should be finished up by then." "Wee! Janie can come Gilbert!" Arnie exclaims. I chuckle, feeling so light and happy.