My Note: This is my story as a reply to a challenge from my brotherhood. Read on my friends...And review...
"Ugh!" Marlene threw herself against the concrete wall...again. Each time grew less painful. Mostly because her side was going numb from it all. "Why won't you...AGH!...DIE!"
Strange as it sounded, Marlene really hated herself and her life right now. No thoughts shrouded her mind. It was empty as the heart that overflowed her soul with blood and tears.
No tears flooded her face. No emotions drowned her in sorrow and pity. This is what it felt like to be dead...On the inside at least. But that wasn't enough for her, Marlene wanted to be dead physically too. There was so much that she couldn't put up with anymore. So much that dragged her down to this level of depression.
For many years she had sluggishly passed through and put on a big, fake smile for everyone to see. That's what they wanted, right? To see her as the normal, happy, sweet, kind, innocent otter they could all ignore!
That's all she learned growing up. To make believe out of something that wasn't real and fake happiness. That everyone came first...And she never came in anywhere. Not in last, not at all. So, it's fair to say, she didn't have the greatest childhood, or the world's best parents like everyone thinks she did.
As if that weren't enough, the one person that she thought might actually care for her, turned out to be just like any other male on the planet. Rude, insensitive, uncaring, and so, so, so annoying!
It's like it was their instinct to gain the only love and care you had, then rip out your heart and throw it into a bottomless black ocean.
Now, as these thoughts began to swarm together, a single tear formed on the white fur of her cheek. Marlene had never endeared such an epic battle of survival and want so badly to lose.
Once more, she backed up and ran head-first for the wall, faster than she had before, and slammed into the wall. She cried out in anguish, as her body fell limp to the floor. But as soon as Marlene had done it, she regretted it.
"Oh, who cares anymore...Who...who..." As she trailed off, her vision became blurry. She could barely make out the figure that now held her.
It leaned in close to her face, still she could not make who exactly it was. "Marlene, are you OK?" Ah, that sweet voice that was like music entering her heart and soul. No wonder sparks had begun to replace the numbness.
Marlene slowly reached out with her arms, and cupped the figure's face gently and with care. "Who...Who cares...anymore?" As soon as the question was said, Marlene's vision blacked out, and she fell into unconsciousness.
The shadow that lightened her cave rather than darkened it, was none other than the fierce, strong penguin leader himself, Skipper.
He gripped Marlene's shoulders tightly and shook her hard. "Marlene? Marlene!" Sighing, Skipper picked her up and placed her down on the concrete bed she made for herself. He took a good, long look at the otter before him.
She was very attractive to his icy blue eyes. Sure she was an otter, but she was the most wonderful otter he'd ever met or even agreed to meet. Her kind, gentle ways were cute...And he only used the word "naive" to save himself from giving her the wrong impressions.
Though, what was wrong about it. If anything it would be the right impressions. He did care for her more deeply than the others. And Marlene always seemed to stand out and glow among the it was something more than friendship between them.
Skipper shook his head, "No. no. There's no room for that kind of stuff in the military. I make my men live by it, therefore, so shall I." As much as Skipper wanted this to be true, he couldn't hide the fact that he really liked Marlene. Not just like, He like liked her.
Immediate fireworks were set off through his flippers, and a blush crept up to his face, as he looked down and saw that he hadn't let go of her yet.
Skipper jumped back abruptly. But, as soon as his touch left her body, her eyes shot open. Panting as if out of breath, Marlene sprang up. Skipper was surprised at this quick reaction.
"Skipper...What...What are you doing here?" Her voice was cold and nearly lifeless. This also surprised the penguin. Marlene was always happy, cheery. She'd never used this tone of voice before. Even when she wanted them to get rid of Rhonda.
He blinked his eyes, trying to bring himself back to reality. "Um...Well, I heard you scream...several times actually...And rushed over to make sure you were OK." Marlene scoffed. "Why? Does it matter if I'm OK or not?"
Skipper was baffled. Of course! They care! I care! Granted, he did not say these things to her. "Marlene...Of course it matters!-" "-Oh yeah...To who?" Marlene looked him in the eyes. He stared back at her.
Their eyes seemed to dance together. Autumn winds sweeping through his body, as the deep blue ocean flooded hers. Alas, brown does not blend so nicely with blue.
Skipper opened his mouth, but thought better of what he was going to say. Marlene shook her head, another tear forming in her eye. "Yeah. …...That's what I thought." She said this harshly, and turned away from him.
Skipper silently face-palmed. Why didn't he say anything? He rolled his eyes at himself. "Marlene..." As he trailed off, Skipper walked up to Marlene and placed a flipper gently on her shoulder. "It matters...to me..Whether you're okay or not." Marlene looked at his flipper on her shoulder, before shrugging it off.
Marlene sighed heavily. "You don't really mean that. You're only saying that because...Because you know that's what I want to hear." Skipper didn't respond. He just listened. "You know..that I want you to care...You know that I want to matter to you...You know that I want to be the one you want...You know...I want you...to love me..." She trailed off, holding her arms. One paw clutching her chest, as she began to let the tears flow freely. Though the tears were apparent on her face, she did not make a sound.
Skipper stood frozen in place. It wasn't true. What Marlene had said...was just a whisper of his imagination. She didn't really want that...Did she?
After several long moments of silence..Skipper spoke up. "Marlene..I...I...this isn't easy for me." Marlene whipped her head around. "What isn't easy for you? It is really that hard to say that I'm crazy and no one likes me. That no one loves me! Is that so hard? WHAT? WHAT IS AND EVER HAS BEEN HARD FOR YOU! Nothing. Nothing compared to what I've been through." Skipper's hung open.
He had to close his eyes before tears could even begin to form. "Marlene...Nothing is easy for me, Marlene...Knocking down a bowling pin? Yeah..that's easy...Knocking down my emotions for you? Not so easy." Marlene's angry expression softened.
"You...You have emotions?...For me?..." Marlene smiled, but wiped it off her own face. "...Liar." Skipper was beginning to boil up.
"Oh, wake up, Marlene! Why do you think I'm always first to come when you cry? Why do you think I always try my best to stand close to you without getting everyone suspicious? Why do you think I always get ticklish when you're near? Why do you think I always do more and say more when you're around? Why, par tell, do you think, that I would say I hate you, when I LOVE YOU!" Skipper gasped. He never meant to say that much.
Marlene gasped as well. "You love me?...I never thought...Anyone was capable of that...Why though...? Will you tell me...why?" Skipper reddened.
His courage and bravery had gone down since he let all his secrets of love to her. It took only one look into her eyes, and he could say everything truthfully. "I'm always first to come because I care about whether you're alright or not. I always try my best to stand close to you, because I love the way it feels. I always get ticklish when you're near me, because I can feel the butterflies start to swarm. I always do more and say more when you're around, because I want to impress you. I would never say I hate you...Because I really, truly, honestly, deeply love you,...Marlene." Marlene imprinted each word that left his mouth in her memory.
Skipper walked closer to her. Marlene didn't move an inch. With one more step, Skipper would've been right in her face. Marlene's breathing hitched, and she blushed at their closeness. He blushed a little too, but leaned in anyway. Marlene leaned back at first, but when he touched her face with the tip of his flipper, she had to give in.
They both leaned in close, losing the space between them. And when their lips finally met in a wave of sparks and fireworks, they created the most beautiful display of love yet to come.
And so their love became a rose. And oh, how that rose will blossom.
My Note: This is not the end to my story...there are many, many, many more chapters left to go. Review please!