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

Chapter 9 - Paint Party & Excellent Pancake Makers

Becky and Gilbert stumble through the door just as we're putting 'dinner' on the table. They are absolutely covered in paint and Gilbert is trying to poke Becky with the paint brush. "Did you guys have fun?" I ask with a wink. "Yeah, we got a lot done actually!" Becky says. "Ah! Gilbert!" She exclaims as Gilbert pokes her in the side with the paint brush, laughing.
"Don do that!" Becky laughs.
"Oh my god pancakes for dinner!" Ellen throws her hands up in the air as she enters the room. "Arnie helped me make em! He's an excellent pancake maker." I say, turning to look at Arnie who is ever so gently laying plates out on the table. "I am an excellent pancake maker!" He says, clapping after he puts the last one down. He flicks his nose, and I chuckle.
Amy comes down the stairs, looking flustered, carrying a washing basket. She looks up and notices the food on the table. "Oh wow! You guys didn't have to make dinner!" She says, beaming gratefully. "We are the excellent pancake makers Amy!" Arnie exclaims. "Yeah!" I high five him.

"So, tomorrow is our last day of break." Becky says, sighing as she stabs her pancake with her fork. "Ugh." Ellen rolls her eyes, knowing that rule applies to her too.
"How's school Ellen?" Gilbert asks in an almost fatherly manner. "Fine." She says. "Met any boys?" Amy winks at her. Ellen rolls her eyes. "Must you always invest yourself in my love life? No! I don't have a boyfriend okay?!" She huffs and leans her elbow on the table, resting her head in her hand.
"Alright alright, just asking. It's my job to protect you okay?" Amy says, more seriously. "Whatever." Ellen mutters. "Hey Gilbert are there any hardware stores you know of around here?" I ask, thinking of my 'couch plan'. "Uh, yeah one not too far up actually. I could take you there tomorrow if you want?" He asks, also gesturing to Arnie out of habit. "Sounds good!" I say excitedly. "Well, I'm going out to get some more text books. Man, College really asks for all your time." Becky announces. "I need supplies too.." Ellen says quietly. "Wanna come?" Becky offers. "If you don't mind.." Ellen looks up, raising her eyebrows. "Course not! It'll be fun!" Becky nods.

"Okay Arnie, jump in!" I say to Arnie, telling him to get into bed. "Janie will you tell me the whale story again? Please?" He asks, as I sit down next to him. "Sure." I nod, with a chuckle. "Okay, so Jeremy the Starfish was sitting at the table, getting ready to eat his pudding, when the phone rang." I start, lying down next to him just like the night before. "And then Joe the Whale enters the room." Arnie continues. "Right, and then what does he do?" I ask, grinning. "He sees the pudding on the table, so he decides to eat it because no one is there!" Arnie exclaims. "Exactly. Now Jeremy is having an intriguing conversation with Phil the Plankton." I say. "And he doesn't see Joe take his pudding!" Arnie says, with a laugh. "This story is so stupid!" Arnie bursts out into a fit of laughter. "I know! What did you expect when you asked me to make up a story on the spot?" I say laughing along. "I do not know Janie, I do not know." He says. "But it's our story Janie. Isn't it?" He says, raising his eyebrows. "It sure is." I say, touching my nose to his, closing my eyes before I pull away.

"So.. How's the boyfriend?" Becky says, later on when we're in our room. I roll my eyes playfully. "He's not my boyfriend!" I exclaim, for the billionth time. Becky has noticed Arnie and I's closeness and she's been asking about it. "But seriously." She comes and sits on my bed next to me, where I'm sitting. She takes out her knitting from her beside drawer. I lean back on my elbows, kicking off my shoes. "I don't know." I shrug, biting my lip, smiling. "He loves you. You know that right?" Becky says. I look at her with a slight frown. "I don't know. How do you know?" I ask, for some reason being unsure about everything tonight. "I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you, and how he talks about you every moment you're not there." Becky says, dreamily. I can't help but smile to myself. "I don't know." I say for the third time. "I just... can't stop thinking about it." I say, laying my head back on the bed.

I climb into the truck after Arnie, and Gilbert starts the car. "Okay, off we go." He nods.

About 40 minutes later, I look out my window and my eyes light up. A sign saying 'Chuck's Hardware' comes into view. "We're here! Do you see Arnie?" I exclaim, pointing, and tapping his knee. "We're here!" He says, seeing the sign too.
We get out the truck, and Gilbert leads us to the door. "This hardware store is incredible." Gilbert announces. "I've only been here 4 times, and I wish I could live here." He says in awe. The doors slide open, and we step inside. "Woah." I say, taking in my surroundings. It's gigantic, and it's two storey!
There are countless isles of items, DIY stations, tutorial bars, sample tables, they've got it all! "Okay so what were you looking for?" Gilbert asks me, with a kind smile, as we begin to walk through the store. "Iron on fabric sheets." I say confidently. Gilbert raises an eyebrow at me. "Okay, isle 4 it is." He nods.