Imagine you meeting Gilbert Grape, who offers to show you around Endora.
*Requested by Oulaladepp*
Three days ago, you and your father moved to Endora, Iowa, after your father got a job as the new deputy sheriff at the Endora police station. After your mother passed away from a tragic car accident three months ago, your father decided to move somewhere else to start a new life in a small town. It was hard to move from your hometown and leave your friends, but you didn't mind moving to a small town and you wanted to be there with your father for support.
***
Since the day you and your father moved to Endora, you've been focused on unpacking boxes and organizing everything around the new house, you didn't get the chance to see the whole town of Endora. Your father described to you that it seemed a lot different from where you both previously lived and it seemed boring because he didn't see many people outside and there weren't many places. But you wanted to see for yourself of what Endora looked like from your perspective and you also want to meet some new people. After you unpacked the last box, you decided to get out of the house and check out the small town for yourself. You grabbed your bicycle and you pedaled your way to the small Endora town.
When you got into town, you came across a small grocery store and you thought you could pick up a couple of groceries to make dinner later on. You got off your bicycle, walked it over to a bike rack, and parked it before you walked inside the grocery store. Once you were inside, you noticed there weren't many people inside the grocery store as you expected and you noticed a mentally challenged teenage boy sitting on the counter, looking at a jar that was filled with grasshoppers. You thought it was cute when he was looking at it, excitedly. You grabbed a grocery basket and you started walking around looking for any needed groceries.
As you were walking down an aisle, you saw a man with long, shoulder-length light golden brown hair, sweeping the floors. You stared at him for a moment, taking a good look at his face. He seemed a bit gloomy and exhausted, but he was still good-looking. 'Wow. He's cute.' You thought to yourself. Then, you shook your head and proceeded back to picking up groceries. The last item you needed to find was marinara sauce so you could make spaghetti for dinner tonight. You decided to approach the man and ask him where you could find it. "Excuse me?" You spoke to get his attention. He stopped sweeping and he turned to you. "Yes?" He asked. "Do you know where I can find some marinara sauce?" You asked, as you stared into his dark brown eyes. "It's on the next aisle." He answered, pointing to the direction. "Thank you, sir." You said, and, then, you walked passed him, heading towards the end of the aisle.
"Wait." You heard the man say from behind you, making you stop in your tracks. You turned around and faced him. "Yeah?" "Are you new here?" He asked, curiously. You nodded and said, as you approached him, slowly, "Yeah. My dad and I moved here three days ago. How'd you know?" "We typically don't get many customers here because everyone else shops at Foodland and we recognize those that come here all the time." He explained. "Huh. Interesting." You said. "Do you like it here in Endora so far?" He asked. You shrugged your shoulders and said, "I haven't seen much of Endora since my dad and I moved here. He's busy with work and I thought I could ride my bike around town to see more of it."
"Oh, um, how about I give you a ride around town and show you more of what Endora looks like? Plus, I hate for you to carry your groceries on your bike." He offered. You were surprised that this man that you barely know was offering to show you around town and get to know it. But you didn't want to be rude and turn down his offer. He also had a good point about riding your bicycle home with your groceries; there's not enough room in your basket that's on your bicycle. You nodded and answered, "Sure. I would like that a lot." He smiled a little bit and he held his hand out towards you. "I'm Gilbert, by the way. Gilbert Grape." He introduced himself. "I'm (y/n) (y/l/n). It's very nice to meet you, Gilbert." You introduced yourself, as you took his hand and shook it. "And that's my little brother, Arnie." Gilbert said, gesturing to the teenage boy sitting on the counter with the jar full of grasshoppers. You smiled and did a little wave at Arnie.
Then, you turned back to Gilbert and said, "I'll go grab some marinara sauce and pay for my groceries and we can head out." Gilbert nodded, in agreement. "Sounds good." He said. You, then, turned around and exited out the aisle you were on and went to the next aisle to grab a jar of marinara sauce. Once you got it, you went to the cashier counter and paid for your groceries. "You ready to go?" Gilbert asked, as he grabbed your grocery bag and carried it for you. You nodded, then, you headed outside. "Arnie, come on." Gilbert told Arnie. He got off the counter, laughing a little bit, and he followed Gilbert out the door to meet you outside.
"Is that your bike?" Arnie asked, running towards it. "Yes, it is, Arnie." You answered. "I'll get it." Arnie said, as he started pushing your bicycle towards Gilbert's truck. "I can get it." He said, as he lifted it up, with mostly Gilbert's help without Arnie knowing, and he put it in the back of the truck. "Thank you, Arnie." You said, being courteous. Gilbert set your grocery bag in the back of the truck and, then, he opened the passenger door for you and Arnie. "Get in, Arnie." Gilbert told Arnie. He laughed and said, "I go in, Gilbert. I go in." Then, it was your turned to get in. "Thank you, Gilbert." You said, as you got in the truck and sat next to Arnie. "You're welcome, (y/n)." Gilbert said, and, then, he closed the door and walked around the truck and got in. He started the engine and he drove around Endora.
"So, do you like it here in Endora, Gilbert?" You asked. "Um, not really, (y/n). Endora is basically a town where you have no where else to go. I have no where else to go because I have family to take care of. Sometimes, I wish I could get out of here and go somewhere else." Gilbert said, sounding unhappy. Arnie laughed and said, "We're not going anywhere, Gilbert." "I'm sorry you feel that way, Gilbert." You said. "So why did you and your father choose Endora out of the places to live in?" Gilbert asked. "Because my father got a job here and he wanted to start a new life in a small town after my mother died in a car accident." You said. "I'm sorry to hear about that." Gilbert said, sympathetically. "It's okay, Gilbert." "What does your father work as?" He asked. "He's the new deputy sheriff." You answered. "Huh. I'll be happy to drive by and show you the police station for you, (y/n)." "Thank you, Gilbert." You said, with a smile.
***
For the next half hour, Gilbert drove around Endora, showing you all the places. You even got to see the police station where your father works at. There weren't many places around town, just as your father described it from before. But you still had a fun spending time with Gilbert and Arnie. That was more important to you; meeting new people and getting to know Endora. After he showed you over Endora, Gilbert drove you home.
When Gilbert pulled up in front of your house, you got out of the truck and you took the grocery bag out of the back. "Arnie, stay in the truck." You heard Gilbert's voice from the other side of the truck. Then, he walked around and he stood next to you. "Here, let me help you." He said, as he lifted your bicycle out of the back. "Thank you." "You're welcome." He said, he pushed your bicycle up the driveway as he followed you. "Where would you like me to set it?" He asked. "Just against the garage door. I'll take care of it later." You said, as you walked up the steps to the porch and waited for him. Gilbert parked your bicycle against the garage door and he met you on the porch.
"Would you like some help with unpacking your groceries, (y/n)?" Gilbert asked. "Oh, I'm good. I'll take care of them. I appreciate your offer, though." You said. "Of course. I...uh, I had a good time with you, (y/n)." Gilbert said. "Me too, Gilbert. I'm glad I got to see more of Endora and...I'm glad I got the chance to meet new people, like you and Arnie." You said. "Maybe we can get together again sometime." Gilbert suggested. You smiled and said, "I would like that a lot, Gilbert. Maybe we can get together for dinner sometime, with your family." Gilbert hesitated to answer for a second until he said, "Um, I'll have to see about that. But yeah, we should definitely get together sometime for dinner."
"Well, great. I can't wait to see you again sometime soon, Gilbert. You take care and tell Arnie I said 'goodbye'." You said, with a strand of your (h/l) (h/c) hair falling on your face. Gilbert chuckled, softly, as he, gently, grabbed the strand and tucked it behind your ear, causing you to blush. 'Oh, gosh. I hope he doesn't see me blushing.' You thought to yourself. "I will. I'll see you later, (y/n)." He said, as he placed his hand on your cheek for a second before he stepped down the porch steps and walked back to his truck. Once he got in and started the engine, he looked at you through the window and waved 'goodbye' at you before he drove off.
As you watched him drive off, you kept a smile on your face as you could still feel Gilbert's hand against your cheek. 'I'm liking this new life in Endora already. Gilbert is such a gentleman and boy, he is good-looking. I can't wait to see him again soon.' You thought to yourself, as you were starting to blush again, and, then, you turned to the front door and headed inside, with your bag of groceries.