Chapter Eleven: All a Flutter

"I still can't believe you and Ned are going out for a second time!" MiMi bubbled.

"Well I can't get over how Sally told off Gary and Franny at the same time!" Queenie held up her milkshake glass. "I propose a toast!"

"A toast to Sally and Ned! May they be together forever!" MiMi declared.

Sally blushed, her friends merely laughing. She really didn't think that she and Ned would last as a couple. She liked the idea very much but it seemed highly unlikely. He was nice to her, extremely sweet and polite but he could just be faking it. Wait, no. That wasn't like Ned at all. He was sweet to everyone, it was just his nature.

"I still can't believe he asked me." Sally admitted.

"I can! Sally, everyone knows that's he madly in love you!" Mimi sipped her milkshake.

"She's right Sally, you'd have to be an idiot not to realize how much Ned likes you." Queenie added.

"Yeah but I doubt this will last," Sally ate her cherry. "I mean, he's is the mayor son."

"Your point?" MiMi licked whip cream off her finger. "Just because he's the mayor son doesn't mean anything! He likes you. Can't you realize that you don't have be some type of princess to earn his affection?"

Sally thought that over for a second. MiMi actually had a point. Sally was a normal girl from a normal family. They had no big social connections, no political family members, nothing at all special to set her apart from others. But Ned didn't seem to care. All those things were over looked. Could he really just be interested in her? The Who she was and nothing else?

She wasn't too sure. The idea didn't seem so insane after the events that had transpired. Ned asking her out on a date, taking her for a night on the town, him standing up to Gary and Ferdinand; maybe Ned really just liked her.

"All that aside, we're going to have to find you a dress!" Queenie started.

"Oh, something with sparkles!" MiMi traced the rim of her glass. "And something pink! Or red! Or both!"

"Do I have a say in the matter?" Sally interjected.

"How about ribbons?"

"Sparkling ribbons!"

"I guess not." She muttered.

"Mom!" Ned whined.

"Oh, hush up and stand still!" Mrs. O'Malley tightened her son's bow. "I was right! Your father's suit is a perfect fit!"

Ned turned to the mirror and smiled. His mom was actually right. He looked like a dashing young Who if he said so himself. He struck a pose, looking at his reflection. Wow, he was a lady killer!

Wait, no! That's not what he wanted to be. If he did, he be stooping to Gary's level and that was something he just refused to do. Sally hated guys who were nothing but sleaze bags who used their positions in life to push others around. Ned couldn't bear to have Sally be disappointed in him. Why? He didn't really know but the idea of her hating him made his heart want to break.

After sneaking away from his mother who had started blabbering about being a grandmother, Ned headed up to his room. He locked the door, making sure he was guaranteed complete privacy. Over at his night stand, he opened up the drawer and took out a small, velvet box of purple.

"Everything is falling into place," He whispered as he opened the box. "Lets just hope it stays that way."

Now, you know as well as I do, that Ned's perfect fairy tale was going to take a turn for the worse for both Gary and Franny where up to no good.

Whoville isn't just filled with the nicest Whos you'll ever meet but there are also some people there you would not really like to run into. They're not exactly Whos so they are given the name What-its because unlike the Whos they are mean, rude, smelly and their clothes are always clashing.

So going over to their side was risky business.

"Are you sure about this? I've heard these guys play hard ball." Gary whispered as they edged along the side streets.

"Look, we're perfectly safe I can assure---" Ferdinand began.

"PICKLES!"

Both of the young Whos jumped as someone ran past them covered in tin foil. They stood there for a while before they decided to head on before another wacko came their way.

Many What-its hung out at a place called Stank's Reach, a really nasty bar that smelled like rotting fish and month old cheese. Apparently, it was like a bunch of fresh flowers to the weird Who like people. Gary nearly gagged but Ferdinand stopped him in fear of insulting someone.

The door opened, releasing an even more revolting smell that made them both want to hurl. Once inside, they were greeted by the iciest of stares. Gary gulped as headed down the stairs into the bar. Ferdinand scanned the room until he saw their contact; he sat at the back of the room, wearing a large brown overcoat.

"He's here. Come on." Ferdinand tugged Gary.

They headed over to the table where a shady figure chugged down a glass of murky, black liquid and then belched. Ferdinand flinched slightly.

"You the two jokers in need of my services?" The stranger wiped black away from his lips.

"We are indeed the gentlemen requiring your assistance. I know that we can—"Ferdinand started.

"No."

"Beg pardon?"

"The answer's no!" A waitress brought the unknown figure another black drink. "Give me why I should help you goody-goodies eh?"

Ferdinand was taken aback but before he could say anything, Gary pushed him aside.

"Because we can give you an all access pass Whoville High's cafeteria dumpster."

There was silence between the three. The figure placed his glass on the table and removed his cap, revealing a grin that was crawling with termites.

"What's the job?" Asked the Grinch.