Hi everyone! My first story here at . Hope you enjoy :))

Chapter 1- The Night Before

(Darwin's POV)

"No, no, no. You have to substitute x with the assigned value."

"Uhh… What's the assigned value again?"

"Dammit, Gumball! You're eighteen and you still can't solve linear equations in two variables?" a little girl's voice yelled at the top of her lungs.

"Uhh… Sorry if I gave you too much trouble, sis?" a teenage male's voice said.

"Well, you should be. Mom won't give my Daisy back 'till you get the lesson."

For the past three hours, the Watterson's house was filled with such screaming and apologizing. Gumball asked Anais to help him review the basics. Unfortunately, he asked when Mrs Mom was around, and she overheard. So in order for Gumball to really understand, Mrs Mom confiscated Daisy and won't give it back until Gumball understands the lesson.

"Gumball, quick Mom's here! Pretend like nothing happened!" Anais said. I better help them out by slowing Mrs Mom down.

"Hi Mrs Mom," I greeted. Gee, she looked so tired, she could pass out in any minute.

"Hello, Darwin," she said in a sleepy voice; a very sleepy voice. "Where are Gumball and Anais?"

Just then, Anais fell from the stairs, landing right in front of us.

"Hi mom," she said. Then just a few seconds later, Gumball fell on the stairs, landing right beside Anais.

"Hi mom," he said. He earned a black eye and a few tears on his sweater and pants.

"What is going on here?" Mrs Mom asked in a serious tone. The adrenaline finally got to her.

Anais tried speaking quickly. "He pu-" but Gumball had already covered her mouth.

"Dammit, Anais, keep your mouth shut!" he muttered. That earned him a pinch in the ear.

"How many times have I told you not to curse in front of your sister?" Mrs Mom yelled.

Gee, I thought. This is starting to get tense. I better go sit next to Mr Dad. Besides, there's this new soap opera that's starting tonight, and I wanna check it out.

Mr Dad barely changed in the last six years. He still wore that same work attire. He was still as funny, and lazy. The only difference was he was growing a short beard now because he's getting too lazy to go to the bathroom and shave.

"Hey son," he said.

"Hey Mr Dad. What cha watching?"

"Oh it's the new soap opera, The Only One. It's about some guys who find their soulmates in college. At least that's what the trailer tells me."

"Talk about loyal," I muttered. I never felt what it's like to have someone loyal to me, romantically, that is. I have to admit, I've never actually gone steady with the girls I've been with: Rachel, Masami, even Carrie. Oh well. I guess none of them were meant for me.

But what if no one here was?

It's making me worry. Gumball and Penny have been dating for a while already, and Gumball's planning to ask her the question real soon. Is it time I tried getting into a relationship with someone?

"I've had enough with you two! I have so much more to worry about than all this! You two make up while I cook dinner or you're grounded!" Mrs Mom yelled before stomping into the kitchen.

"Well it's about time," Mr Dad muttered. "I'm starving. She better cook something really good, like sausages."

"Hey Mr Dad?"

"Yeah son?"

"Do you believe in happy endings?"

"Of course I do. I have my happy ending in this very house."

"But Mr Dad, do you think at my age I should be going steady with someone?"

Out of character, he turned his attention away from the TV and looked at me with a worried expression. "No. You're sixteen, Darwin. What brought this on?"

"Well, it's just that Gumball's planning on getting serious with Penny now."

"Oh," he sighed. "Son, the right girl will come. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but someday."

"But who would fall for me, Mr Dad? Look at me. I'm a just a fish that grew legs. I'm a freak."

"What? You're not a freak. In fact, being a fish with legs is pretty awesome. Do you think Rachel or Masami would fall for you if you were a freak?"

"No."

"Exactly. So stop worrying, Darwin. You'll find someone."

"Do you really think so?"

"Yeah, son," he said before returning to the TV.

Dinner was a quiet event. The family only exchanged a few words about tomorrow. After that, it was almost complete silence.

"Hey Darwin," Gumball said as we got off the table.

"Yeah?"

"You look down in the dumps, buddy. What's wrong?"

"Nothin'. Just thinking about tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous." I tried keeping my voice smooth. I didn't want him to know I was lying. The topic of my sadness is really personal.

"Oh. Well why don't we play Dodge or Dare in the backyard?"

"But it's nighttime."

"Don't worry. I'm sure Mom won't find out."

Gumball's enthusiasm felt weird to me. Ever since he started dating Penny, he stopped playing anything with me, even Dodge or Dare. Why does he suddenly wanna play? Does he have Penny problems?

"It's time to play Dodge or Dare! Roll the dice, take a card."

"Dare. Paint a picture of something awesome using only trash in the shed," I read.

Gumball simply smiled and said, "Watch me, Darwin."

Gumball quickly got a half-empty six-year-old can of spray paint and painted a peanut with a tiny broken heart beside it.

"Uhh, Gumball?"

"Yeah?"

"Why is there a broken heart beside the peanut?"

"Oh, it's just a part of the background," he said, trying to play cool. It won't take long before he breaks down. 3…2…1… "Okay, I admit it. I'm afraid Penny won't say yes to me."

"What?"

"Yeah. What if she says no? What if she says she's not ready and finds another guy instead? What if she says this is all happening too fast and says no? Oh, Darwin." Wow. Is this how getting into a relationship is like? Is it always full of fear?

I patted his shoulder. I didn't know how to comfort him in romantic situations. Well, sure he comforted my when Gumballoopseggwobbleunderpants blew up, but I just don't know how to be like that.

"There, there buddy," I said soothingly. "Everything's gonna be okay." He eventually stopped. "Thanks, Darwin."

"No problem, buddy."

"So how are things going between you and Carrie?"

"Yeah," I said. "That didn't work out so well. We got into a fight on our last date."

"So where are we going?" Carrie asked me.

"I'm taking you to The Resto. They say they have the best food in Elmore."

"Stop. Are you trying to make me break up with you Darwin?"

"Well, we're not even boyfriend-girlfriend yet, but no. Why?"

"Because The Resto tortures me. You know I can't eat food."

"Really?" I asked, dumbfounded. I didn't know that/

"Ugh. This just proves you don't even listen to me! That's it. We're over!" she yelled, floating away.

"But we're not even boyfriend-girlfriend yet!" I yelled back. Then suddenly, I remembered the time she used Gumball's body on a crazy junkfood spree six years ago. "You know ghosts can't eat," I remembered her say.

"Oh and by the way, I remember now!" I yelled again.

"You really screwed up, dude," Gumball said.

"I know. But I guess that just proves that Carrie's not the one for me, since she can't understand my dumb brain."

"Well, I guess you're right," Gumball said. "I mean when choosing a girl you gotta be sure she understands you-"

"Could we stop the lady talk now, please?" This topic was just getting uncomfortable.

Gumball simply sighed and said, "Sure, buddy."

So what do you think? I'm open to any constructive criticism that could help me improve the story :)

Oh and here are the ages:

Gumball: 18

Darwin: 16

Anais: 10

I dunno what are Nicole and Richard's specific ages :ll So I'll just give an estimate of 45-50.

Hope you enjoyed :)