Gala For Goodness
The plan was quite simple. I hid in the trunk of the limo with a suitcase carrying my dress, accessories, and makeup kit. Before locking myself in, I gave Piranha the trunk key so he would let me out. During the car ride, I got ready while playing a live news report headlined "BAD GUYS BREAK INTO OUR HEARTS" on my phone.
"What up?!" Tiffany Fluffit greeted. "We are just moments away from Professor Marmalade's Gala for Goodness, where the legendary Love Crater Meteorite will be on display for the first time ever! But what everyone is really buzzing about is the Bad Guys, whose heart-melting rescue video has made them an overnight viral sensation!"
"I can't believe I'm saying this," I said while putting on my eyeliner, "but I agree with you, Tiffany."
Deep down, a part of me kept saying that the Bad Guys were still untrustworthy, but I kept ignoring that little voice. I knew deep down, they had changed.
"Surprise!" Piranha shouted, opening the trunk door. "Ready to party, hermosa?"
"You better believe it," I replied, taking his fin so he could help me down. Once I was out, I took in my surroundings. "So, this is the Gala for Goodness."
"What do you think so far?" Piranha asked as we slow danced to gentle music.
"It's exactly what I dreamed it would be," I answered in awe. There were people dressed in the most beautiful clothes I had ever seen, donating money to Marmalade's charities. "I've always wanted to come here. To show everyone the beautiful dresses I've made and hope that they love them enough to want one for themselves. It's kind of been my dream to make and sell beautiful dresses."
"Well, you know what?" Piranha said, "You should go for it. Talk to those other people. Make that dream come true!"
"You don't mind if I leave you alone?" I asked.
"I'll survive five minutes," he insisted. "Now, go!"
"Thank you!" I said ecstatically, kissing his cheek before running off to some of the other guests. "Excuse me? My name is Gabi and I want to ask what you think of my homemade dress?"
"Gabriela Angelfish-Santiago?!" Tiffany Fluffit exclaimed. Oh, fish paste. "You actually came to the Gala?!"
"Of course I did," I answered, attempting to be friendly. "I want to show everyone a little number I made for-"
"To actually see the Professor's ward here, you must have finally recovered from your brain damage," Tiffany interrupted. My mind went blank from confusion.
"Tiffany, what are you talking about?" I asked.
"You probably have forgotten," Tiffany said. "Right after your accident in the Rat Pack's restaurant robbery, Professor Marmalade said you suffered a serious head injury and even lost your short-term memory."
I couldn't understand. My memory was working fine, the only head injury was the gash that left the scar. I remember every single day I spent with the Professor. Why would he say otherwise?
I decided to quickly clarify things to the world, but before I could tell Tiffany the truth...
During Piranha's whole performance, I was in complete admiration. Forgetting all about what Tiffany said, I ran up the stage to give him my praise.
"Piranha!" I exclaimed as I approached him. "You are astonishing!"
I noticed Piranha blushing and he said, "So are you."
He was starting to make me blush.
"Gabi," he whispered, holding my fins in his own. "Run away with me."
“What?" I gasped, feeling flustered.
“We can get out of here," he explained. “Drive off into the sunset, legacy cemented. Nobody telling us what to do, no holding back inappropriate laughs, no being forced to hide special talents... We can just be ourselves. Forever."
“Oh, Piranha," I said breathlessly. “This is all so sudden..."
“Is... Is that a yes?"
“Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Wolf!" Marmalade said, taking the microphone. “As you know, the money donated tonight will be delivered tomorrow to schools, hospitals, and other worthy causes across the city!"
At that moment, Wolf stepped up, cleared his throat and said, “I just want to take a moment to recognize the one responsible for our new outlook. Our brilliant mentor..."
As Wolf gave his speech, I noticed that he was holding a tiny red button behind his back. What did that do? I wondered.
“The one and only Professor..." before Wolf could finish his sentence, I saw him look over at Diane, who seemed to be quite proud of him. “Professor..."
“Wolf, do it!" Webs whispered. Do what?
At that moment, Wolf removed his thumb from the button. “Professor Marmalade!"
I sighed in relief as the chief opened the glass box containing the Golden Dolphin.
“Chief, may I do the honors?" Wolf asked, and she handed him the Dolphin so he could give it to the Professor personally.
“Thank goodness," I said to myself. “For a second, I thought he was gonna do something terrible."
“A deal's a deal," Diane said to Wolf. “By the power vested in me, it is a pleasure to grant the Bad Guys a full–"
Suddenly, the lights went out! Fortunately, it only lasted for a few seconds. Unfortunately...
“The meteorite is gone!" someone exclaimed. We all looked up to find the Love Crater Meteorite was no longer on display.
“Somebody stole it!" another guest shouted. At that moment, everyone glared at the Bad Guys.
“Piranha, what's going on?" I asked.
“I-I-I don't know," he stuttered. “This wasn't part of the plan."
“Piranha!" Webs yelled.
I raised an eyebrow. “What plan?"
“Chief..." Wolf chuckled as the chief stomped at him with a fierce glare.
“Wolf..." she growled.
“Come on!" he said. “You can't possibly think that we did this!"
“So long, suckers!" a message with Wolf's face played on the screen behind him.
“RUN!" Snake yelled. With that, the Bad Guys ran off quicker than a jackrabbit on a date.
“Get them!" the chief ordered the rest of the cops. The rest of the gala guests cleared the area to avoid the chaos while I remained on stage with Diane and Marmalade, feeling more confusion than ever before.
“This doesn't make sense," I said to the Professor. “The lights were only out for two seconds. How could they take a meteorite that heavy that quickly?!"
“Gabriela, get in the car," Marmalade ordered.
“But sir, you're not listening to me!"
“Neither did you, I told you to stay home," he pointed out. “Now, get in the car!"
Then, Wolf ran back to the stage to Diane with a map and a pen.
“What are you doing?" Diane asked.
“Here!" he said, exasperated. “I'm giving it all back!"
As Wolf went to rejoin the others, I decided to go after them, desperate for answers.
“What happened back there?!" Snake asked Wolf.
“I couldn't do it!" he admitted. Do what?
“What do you mean, you couldn't do it?"
“I-I-I... I just–"
“No!" Piranha shouted, making everyone else freeze in their tracks. He then walked in between Wolf's legs and towards the crowd. “I do not run! That is not how I roll!"
“Piranha, don't do anything crazy," Wolf warned him. Piranha just laughed manically.
“Crazy is what I bring to the party, chico!" he shouted, taking out a gun and pointing it to the sky. He launched a grappling hook into the air... only for it to fall back down and land on Shark's head.
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