He carelessly rummaged through his untidy room, his clumsy hands managing to knock over anything they came to.
Where the hell did I put it! he thought, thinking of the disappointed face of the pretty purple haired girl he had been trying to impress for so long. He continued running frantically around his room, which now seemed to have no visible carpet as it was masked with clothes and all his other belongings. All of a sudden, a familiar voice called him.
"2D!" it exclaimed. This took him by surprise, making him jump, and with catching his foot in a pair of jeans and a cry for help, the poor man crashed to the ground. The pretty purple haired girl immediately rushed through the door to his side, flapping her hands around.
"Are you ok!" she asked, holding out her hand to help him up. He took it, pulling himself up quickly then clutching his head in his hands.
"Yeah, I'm ok Noodle love. Just 'it me 'ead." He gave her a dopey smile and she grinned back at him.
"Wow," she said, looking around his cluttered room, "has a bomb gone off or something?"
He chuckled and messed up her hair, with which she glared at him.
"You my mum now Noods? Nah, I've just been looking for sum fink, but it's completely disappeared."
"Ooh, what've you been looking for?"
"None of yer business li'l lady!"
He gave her a grin before edging towards her and with that she darted for the door. He caught her just before she reached it and tickled her to the ground, regardless of how much she kicked and screamed for freedom. He suddenly stopped and jumped up, running to the far corner of the room where he picked up a red parcel, tied with white ribbons.
"'ere it is!" he said, passing it to Noodle, who began to feel her cheeks turn pink, "happy birthday li'l love!"
He sat down next to her and kissed her on the cheek, she turned around to face him and gave him a doubtful smile.
"Stu you didn't have to get me a present." she sighed. 2D loved it when she called him by his proper name.
"Of course I did Noods, yer 16 now. Christ, all grown up. I remember when you was a li'l dot. Didn't speak a word of English, dead cute you were." She blinked at him, making him blush ever so slightly."I mean, you still are but you ge' where I'm coming from,"
She giggled and looked to the ground. 2D had recently noticed what a beautiful young woman Noodle had grown into, though she said she still felt very much like a child.
"I do not want to be 16 2D"
"Why not li'l love?"
"Well, it's the age of consent isn't it?"
"Ah that doesn't ma'er love, it's up t'you when it comes teh things like that. Bu', I would be careful of Murdoc nowadays, you know what 'e's like."
"Thank you for that," she laughed "though it's not Murdoc I'm interested in." She paused, he heart suddenly beating a mile a minute. 2D looked up and gazed deep into her emerald green eyes as if he was trying to figure out what she meant. She shook her head and began to rip the ruby red paper, revealing a buttercup yellow duffel coat. She squealed and immediately tried it on. It was a perfect fit.
"Oh, I love it!" She squeaked jumping on 2D and hugging him tight.
"I 'oped you would, I thought it would come in 'andy now we're going in'o win'er."
She pulled away and thanked him before pulling him up and running out the room to show off her new coat to her fellow band mates.
"Allo Noods, 'appy birthday." said Murdoc with a wide smile, holding out his arms to her. She ran into them, embracing him closely. She then remembered what 2D had said to her earlier on and quickly broke away, smiling at him bashfully. "Now, this is from us all, an' it's very fragile and special so be careful."
He handed her a small box which she opened carefully, taking note of his advice. Inside was a porcelain figure of herself playing guitar on the windmill island. When she looked closely she noticed that her eyes were encrusted emeralds. She looked up at all of them with tears in her eyes.
"It's beautiful, thank you so much. I don't deserve this."
"Dun' be stupid baby girl, we all love you so it's nothing!" piped up Russel, who was then jumped on by Noodle, who wiped her tears on his sleeve.
"I love you guys."
Later on, they all sat together watching Toy Story. Noodle had purposely chosen a kids film. She really didn't want to grow up. This was part of the reason why she concealed her feelings for 2D, the thought of owning up to them contradicted her want for immaturity. She sat curled up against him on the single dingy green armchair, while he ran his fingers through her hair. It felt like the butterflies in her stomach were having a party.
"Oh faceache, we've ran out of popcorn." Moaned Murdoc from the other side of the room. 2D began to lift Noodle off his lap, until she stopped him.
"So? Is 2D your slave?" She said angrily. She hated it when Murdoc treated him like this.
"Well he's as good as. Go on then! Don't wait for me to rot."
He looked up at her giving her his adorable little smile and mouthed "don't worry about me". She nodded and got off his lap.
"Oh and while you're up get me another beer will you." Murdoc demanded, stretching his arms in the air and proudly yawning. Noodle felt the heat rise to her forehead. How dare he. She stood up, shooting glares towards him, her fists clenched.
"I'm fed up with this!" she yelled, "You have no right to treat him the way you do, I was prepared to let it go, but you're really taking the piss."
"How am I taking the piss love?" he said with a sleazy smile. She grimaced and clutched her head in her palms.
"You're an asshole Murdoc. Countless of times I've had to witness you taking the liberty, treating him like a slave, beating him up. And I've really had it. It's my birthday" she snarled.
"Well he's as stupid as you get!" he snorted, "who's to say I can't take advantage of him."
That was when she snapped, she'd never defended 2D before, but tonight she really felt as if there was a fire burning deep inside her stomach. It was hatred, all for Murdoc. She ran at him, her fists pounding every inch of his scrawny body. A pair of hands grabbed her from behind and held her in the air. She struggled but they had her secured, eventually she gave up and hung her head in shame.
"Thanks Russ" sighed Murdoc, wiping his forehead. Russel glared at him through his ghostly white eyes.
"Don't think I'm finished wit'you. We'll have words later."
He gently rested her back on the arm chair and kissed the top of her head before sitting back on the sofa and resumed watching Toy Story. Murdoc shot up and hastily left the room. Noodle watched him through narrowed eyes until he was out of sight. He came back in the room 5 minutes later. Suddenly her heart began to beat faster, pounding against her ribcage.
"Where's Stuart?" She asked in panic. Murdoc avoided eye contact with her and cleared his throat with which she shot up and ran out of the room to the kitchen. 2D was unconscious on the kitchen floor, his head propped up by a cabinet. Blood was dripping down his chin from his nose and a fresh bruise was beginning to develop on his left cheek. She screamed and fell to the ground holding his frail body close to hers. Russel ran in to help. He lifted up 2D and took him to his room where he layed him on his bed gently. Noodle followed, sobbing quietly.
"I'm gonna go speak to Murdoc, you take care of D."
He hugged her and said happy birthday, before leaving, closing the door behind him. Noodle sighed as she stared at 2D's bruised body. Happy birthday indeed.
