Disclaimer: I do not own any Pixar characters or things mentioned under Pixar or Disney. All things mentioned belong to Pixar/Disney. This is my first attempt at a fan fic, so hope you enjoy :)
After clearing another level of Candy Crush Saga, Nemo sighed after he put his phone away in his front pocket, and turned his attention to the car window, to stare yet again at the trees that seemed to go on forever as they passed by. Giving a small nudge to the front seat he asked "Hey dad are we almost there? "
Looking back at him through the rear view mirror Marlin chuckled.
"Now how many times are you going to ask me that? And what did I tell you we wouldn't have had this problem had you chosen a much closer school" he concluded as a matter of factly. Nemo rolled his eyes knowing that his dad could still see him, not caring enough to be discrete about it.
It had been a two day drive and what started out as a great experience for Nemo heading to the school of his dreams, became an annoying, typical, overprotective, father-and-son road trip. Receiving the acceptance letter was the best thing that had happened to Nemo. To name a few reasons;
- Awesome school
- Far away from home
- No where near home
- Not close to home
- located miles away from home
And most importantly….
NOT HOME!
This thought brought his spirits up as he ignored his dad droning on about something about his phone back out, he placed his headphones over his ears and listened to a Nirvana song while slowly drifting off to sleep.
"HEY KIDO WE'RE HERE! " Marlin called out to his son. Nemo jolted awake knocking his headphones off. He rubbed at his eyes as he hopped out of his dad's minivan, cursing under his breath at the fact that his dad chuckled from having woken him.
"Ha ha ha. Very funny dad."
Marlin was already at the trunk unloading Nemo's dorm furniture. Nemo quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching and waved his hand frantically at his father.
"Hey, hey, hey dad look it's fine, it's fine! I got it you can leave now. Bye!" he said hurriedly in a mix of embarrassment, and annoyance. Marlin just shook his head.
"You'll have plenty of time alone. I just want to make sure you got everything that you need and-"
Nemo cut him off with a loud moan.
"Fine go ahead. Whatever." he huffed.
Marlin forcefully set down a cooler he was getting ready to put inside, and crossed his arms at his son.
"Look Nemo. I'm trying to give you your space I really am. All I'm doing is trying to give you a little extra help. I just want the best for you. Your... your mother would have wanted the same."
he concluded, a bit of uneasiness coating his words.
Nemo looked at his shoes as his dad mentioned his mom. For Marlin it was always tough, and was more than likely, to what Nemo believed, the reason he was so overprotective. Nemo's mother died at childbirth so he himself never got to know her, but was still burdened with years of seeing his friends with their mother's while he didn't have the same opportunity. After a long minute of silence Nemo cleared his throat. "Well... I guess we better finish with this then."
He and his dad picked up the remaining items in the car, and made their way up the stairs that lead to Nemo's dorm.
Nemo placed the boxes down as he fished for his key in his jeans pocket to open the door, but at a second glance saw that it was ajar. Shrugging he started to take a step inside but was stopped abruptly when Marlin grabbed at his shirt collar.
"Ack! Geez dad! Are you trying to kill me? " he asked as he rubbed at his neck and fixed his shirt.
Marlin shushed him. "Are you insane? You're just gonna waltz in there without even thinking? What if there's a killer in there?! " he said in a panicked whisper. Nemo rolled his eyes and proceeded in the dorm anyway ignoring his dad's frantic gestures to get back outside. As he rounded the corner he saw that the room he was to sleep in for the months he was to attend the school, was already occupied, or at least half of it was. The occupied side was already set up with furniture, the walls adorned with trophies on shelves, posters with what Nemo guessed to be track stars, and more surprisingly, a person on a slightly made up bed.
A blonde, spikey haired boy, who looked to be Nemo's age, was laying on his back reading a comic book when Nemo rapped at the open door, causing the boy's head to pop up from his comic.
Nemo waved "Hey. I guess you're my roommate?"
The boy set down his comic and stood to give Nemo a handshake.
"Guess so. Consider yourself lucky to be in the presence of Dash Parr." He said with a flourish.
He gave a handshake to Marlin and went to the kitchen to grab three cokes. He came back distributing the drinks and took a seat on his bed. "So first off, as you can clearly tell, I've claimed the area as my domain." He said gesturing to his side of the room.
"Second I'm cool, and laid back so as long as you're not a stuck up jerk head, we should get along just fine." He grinned. Marlin skeptical at first couldn't help but warm up to him, seeing that he seemed a level headed kid.
Or at least that's what he hoped.
Dash clapped his hands together.
"Well now that introductions are over we - wait hold up. I didn't get your name?"
"It's Nemo "
Dash snickered "Nemo? What kind of name is that?"
Without skipping a beat Nemo countered with his usual phrase. "One my mom gave me" he stated, making eye contact with Dash. He was so used that question that it was easier now to come out of his shell and tell someone automatically making them uneasy in the process. Nemo himself for a while questioned his name, even disliked it until his father finally gave in and told him it was given by his mother.
Dash shrugged it off. He could tell that this subject would be a very touchy one and decided to let it be.
"Kay well Nemo and... um.. "
"Marlin" Marlin answered thinking that Dash was addressing him. Who at first was, but then something else caught his attention. Not noticing till now he saw that Nemo's left sleeve, was empty.
"Dude... " he started. Nemo sighed as he prepared himself for yet another questioning. But he soon found out that this kid was full of surprises.
"That.. is totally wicked! Like did you lose it doing a cool skate trick or something?! Ooooh or like a shark attack?! That would be like major cool. Unfortunate of course, but man that would make for a sick story!"
Marlin took back his feelings toward Dash and frowned at his rudeness, and was shocked when Nemo burst into laughter.
"Haha! No man I wish I had something that cool to tell. I was born like this. It's a birth defect"
Dash shook his head
"Still awesome though. You know how many chicks you could get with that?"
Nemo and Dash laughed together. Lucky for him Nemo wouldn't have to worry about roommate trouble, seeing as he just now made a friend.
Marlin thought otherwise.
"But I mean that was completely rude! And you were just laughing it up!"
Nemo rolled his eyes at his father. "Dad lighten up. It was funny. Plus it's nice to not for once explain why I'm a freak"
"Nemo you are NOT a freak"
"Whatev. You leaving yet? "
Marlin shook his head as he looked around to see if there was any faculty. They were standing in the nearly vacant school's parking lot, initially to say their goodbyes , but Marlin wasn't quite ready.
"Where is everybody?"
Not two seconds went by when they heard a loud buzz.
Suddenly a slew of students and faculty came bustling out the double glass doors, and out into the parking lot.
The silence that was previously present before was quickly disturbed by shouting and laughing, even a few band members decided to join in and added to the noise with their trumpets, trombones, and drums.
"What on earth - hey wait!" Marlin shouted as he and Nemo were separated by the crowd. Horror and confusion swept across Marlin's face as he frantically searched for his son.
"NEMO?! NEMO! NEMO WHERE ARE YOU?! "
About a few yards away, Nemo smirked.
"Maybe now he'll leave"he thought to himself. He heard his name being called by another voice, and turned to see Dash running towards him at top speed, dodging people and cars with ease.
"Hey dude" Dash said when he caught up to him looking as though he didn't break a sweat.
"Sup. Dude your fast."
"I know" he grinned. "Oh hey I think your dad is looking for you"
"Oh God. Look he's crazy. I want him to leave"
They made their way over to the edge of the parking lot where Dash's car was parked.
"Man sweet ride!" Nemo exclaimed as he checked out Dash's truck.
"Thanks. It's a new model. Courtesy of the school."
Nemo looked at him in bewilderment.
"The school gave you this? "
"Heck yeah. They practically begged me to be here along with a bunch of other schools. I got offers from both D.U 's. But they didn't give me a car. " he laughed.
Just then three students, two boys and a girl, freshmen it seemed, walked up to them.
The first boy, who they assumed to be the leader of the pack , dressed in brown khakis and tan button up, complete with slick brown hair,addressed Nemo and Dash.
"Nice ride"
"Thanks it's mine. " Dash said.
"Cool my dad bought me the same model back home. Course he got it as soon as they - what the?! " he exclaimed.
Dash raised an eyebrow but Nemo knew exactly what he and now the other two were shocked about. He sighed waiting for their response.
"Man what happened to your ar- ow hey! " said the boy as he rubbed his arm where the female in the group had hit him.
"Rude. Sorry about him. He's not used to seeing unique people. I think it's perfectly fine. Everyone has deformities. Even me. One of my feet is slightly larger than the other, but you can't really tell. Especially since I move around so much." She said as she demonstrated some ballet like dance moves. The first boy piped in "I'm lactose intolerant if that counts"
"I'm obnoxious!" exclaimed the second out of nowhere..
All Nemo could do was shake his head and chuckle. Either they were trying to make him feel better, or they were really naive, and by the looks of their faces it seemed the latter.
Dash opened the driver side door and hopped in. He started to put the key in ignition but seemed lost in thought. A second later he looked at Nemo and smiled.
"Hey man. How bout taking her for a spin?"
Nemo's jaw dropped.
"Wha- who me?! "
Dash laughed and hopped out handing the keys to Nemo
"Sure why not? "
Nemo stared at the keys in his hand for almost a minute, only interrupted by Dash clearing his throat.
"Oh sorry. I just... I've never drove before. I mean I know how to I just never... I wasn't... "
Dash patted him on the back.
"Look your cooky dad isn't here, this is college, and trust me, you don't need two hands to drive. Half the people I know drive one handed anyway. So what do ya say? "
Nemo's worry quickly turned to excitement as he made a step to enter the truck, only to be pulled backroughly by the back of his shirt, before he could reach the seat.
He whirled around to look into his dad's beet red, flustered and sweaty face.
"I've... been... looking... all over.. for you! What do you... think you're doing!?"
"Can you go home already?! Geez you found me now go! "
Marlin shook his head.
"Nope I'm not done here. You were about to drive that..thing weren't you?! "
Nemo could feel himself get hot with anger, an emotion he rarely had. For years he had lived under his dad's strict rule without much complaint , but now he was too old for his dad's antics, and enough was enough, he was fed up.
"LOOK dad! You're embarrassing me as usual, you aren't even supposed to be here. Now leave!" He took a glance at the huge white truck behind him.
"And yes. I'm driving that truck."
"Oh no your not! "
"Yes I am! "
"No! "
"YES! YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME ANYMORE! "
"YOU JUST CAN'T NEMO! "
They two stood there face to face, chest heaving and attracting more attention. Nemo noticed as he looked around to the gathering crowd, some people with worried looks, others holding in laughter, and others not holding it in so well. Thoroughly embarrassed, Nemo glared back at his dad as he said in a low voice. "I wish you weren't my dad."
The words stunned Marlin for a few seconds, giving Nemo time to quickly hop in the truck and start the ignition.
"Come on Dash! " he shouted.
Dash took a quick glance at Marlin's sullen expression, as he reluctantly went to the passenger side and hopped in.
Marlin came out of his daze and stared wide eyed at the roaring truck as it slowly started to take off.
"Wait! NEMO!"
He made a grab for the driver window only to have Nemo roll the window up, but not before giving him one last cold glare. Making sure to watch out for people Nemo put it in drive and accelerated through the crowd and other cars, leaving his dad momentarily blinded by the exhaust smoke from the truck.
"Hello! Hey has anyone seen my son?! "
For the second time that day Marlin was frantically searching for his son.
"Please! Anyone?! Has anyone seen a white truck come through here? "
A couple making out blocked his path as he interrupted them.
"Sorry kids, have you seen a white truck pass by here recently? "
The young man, adorned with lipstick stains on his face and neck shrugged.
"Sorry partner we haven't". He could barely get the last word out before his girlfriend roughly mashed her face back to his and resumed their make out session. Marlin maneuvered around them and continued to search losing hope very quick. "How could he have gone that far? He's never driven a car, well that I know of" he thought to himself. Making his way out of the larger crowd and to the front of school, he then broke out into a run. He rounded the corner and couldn't stop in time before colliding with someone.
"Watch out! "
"Whaa-"
He landed hard on his behind and rubbed his head where his had hit the other person.
"Ow. Gasp! Oh my are you okay?"
Marlin shook his head and stared up at a short haired blonde woman, donning a white ruffled sleeveless blouse, black belt and royal blue pencil skirt with yellow heels. She helped him up and then picked up papers and folders she had dropped during the collision.
"Yeah. Sorry. I'm looking for my son, and I guess I wasn't looking where I was going."
The woman smiled at him.
"It's fine. What's he look like?"
"He's wearing and orange striped Polo, short curly dark brown hair, about my height and -wait what am saying? He's actually driving a white truck. It might have passed by and -"
"Hey I've seen a truck! " she cut in.
Marlin piped up.
"You have? Where?!"
For a split second she looked distracted never taking the smile off her face.
"Hi I'm Dory. "
Marlin raised an eyebrow. "Uh... yeah. The truck?! "
"Oh uh it went um.. It went this way. It went this way! Follow me!"
Marlin tagged along behind thanking her along the way.
A minute later the woman, Dory, slowed down her pace and looked up the sky. A second later she looked back at Marlin and quickened her pace.
Marlin looked behind himself to see what she had glanced at. She looked back again and took off, surprisingly fast for a woman in heels.
"Hey wait up! "
Pretty soon he was chasing her, until she turned around suddenly with pepper spray aimed at his face.
"What the -"
"What the world not big enough for ya?"
"What you were just -"
"Oh yeah I'm scared now. Whaaaat?"
"Lady your -"
"Stop following me!"
"...You were showing me where the truck went!"
Dory looked completely confused
"I was?... Oh no"
"What now?! "
"I'm so sorry, I suffer from short term memory loss."
"...short term... memory loss. "
Dory nodded.
"Yeah it runs in my family... or does it... where are they?" She asked herself staring off in the distance.
She looked back at Marlin as if she just now saw him.
"Can I help you? " she asked with a smile.
Marlin gave her a blank look before replying.
"Look... I need to find my son and frankly you're wasting my time."
"No no I can help you! I was actually just on my way to get some coffee, I think, so you can tell me a little about your son there, what do ya say? "
"You...You are getting coffee? "
"Yeah. Oh I'm the guidance counselor by the way. "
Marlin chuckled incredulously. He couldn't believe this crazy woman. Not only did she have short term memory, she was a school counselor, and wanted caffeine, as if she wasn't hyperactive enough.
"Please? I swear we'll find him right after"
"...I don't know -"
"Please please please please please please please -"
"All right! I'll get coffee with you."
Dory practically skipped as she grabbed Marlins arm as they made their way to Dory's car. Marlin shook his head secretly hoping that after this, he wouldn't have to deal with this deranged woman anytime soon.
Yay my first chapter/story! Reviews/feedback are greatly appreciated. Depending on feedback chapter two will be out very soon. I'll gladly answer any questions and any editing tips will help as well. This is my first story plus having graduated school two years ago, my writing game is off lol. Anyway thanks for taking interest and hope to hear from you guys soon :D!
