"Hey, Flaky!" a sweet, small voice called out from behind the little porcupine. Flaky turned to see Giggles sitting under an apple tree, waving her paws in the air.
"Oh...Hi, Giggles," Flaky replied as she walked towards the pink chipmunk, "What are you up to?"
A picnic blanket was spread out on the grass, and Giggles was helping herself to a slice of cherry pie. A kettle and some teacups were arranged beside a jar of cookies. "It's quite obvious, isn't it? Come on, let's have a tea party!"
"Don't you usually do this with Petunia?" the porcupine asked, while staring up at the apple tree. Those branches look a little weak, what if they fall on my head?
She scratched her red quills, annoyed when she saw some dandruff flakes fall to her shoulders.
"Yeah, but she's out on a date with Nutty!" the chipmunk started to giggle, pointing to the football field nearby. They could plainly see Petunia and Nutty playing together, and the others watching in amusement at the odd pair.
"Oh...okay. But...I don't really like tea parties..ahehe.." Flaky said shyly, brushing the dandruff off, and turned to walk away. Giggles raised her eyebrow, yet again confused by the thought of Flaky's real gender.
Heading towards the field, Flaky heard Giggles faintly mutter the word "tomboy" under her breath. Flaky bit her lip, and hurried towards the pond instead. She stared into the clear water and her reflection stared back at her. She frowned, realizing what Giggles meant.
She cautiously put her hand to her face, then touched her quills. I really do look like a boy.
Sighing, she closed her eyes and imagined herself wearing a beautiful sun dress, dancing in a flower garden, with a certain war veteran she so secretly admired.
They were laughing nervously, but felt so happy just being close to each other...
"I love you..." she whispered dreamily. "Oh, I know you do," a voice interrupted.
Flaky opened her eyes, shocked to see another reflection in the pond. A smiling green bear, dressed in army uniform, was sitting beside her.
"Flippy!" she exclaimed, avoiding his eyes and feeling her face grow warm, "You-you mean...you know that I...that I.."
"Just kidding! Relax, Flaky," Flippy cut her off, smiling innocently.
"Oh...right. Hehe...So, umm, what are you doing...here?" Flaky let out a sigh and glanced at Flippy shyly. She was suddenly thankful that her natural color was red, otherwise it'd be obvious that she was blushing intensely.
"I was watching the football game, but then I saw you here, so I came to ask you something..." Flippy's voice became softer, expecting Flaky to react.
But she simply kept quiet and stared at him, so he continued, "Are you doing anything this afternoon?" Somehow that question made him nervous, though he really couldn't understand why.
"Well, I think Giggles still wants to play tea party, so..." Flaky's voice trailed off, but when she saw the look on Flippy's face, she snapped back to her senses, "Oh...oh! You...you mean...you're asking...me...out?"
Her hands suddenly felt cold, and her thoughts raced as she waited for Flippy's answer.
Flippy looked down, pulling at the grass and picking at the worms in the soil. Anything to distract him from the awkwardness of the moment.
Yes. No. Maybe? Why did I even ask her?!
"N-no! Of course not!" he blurted out in frustration, "I was just, uhh, wondering if...if you'd help me...rearrange the weapons in my house! Yeah!"
Flaky stared at him with a blank expression, obviously taken aback by the odd request. She smiled weakly before replying, "Alright. I'll come over later."
She stood up abruptly, then ran away in the opposite direction, all the while holding back her tears. That was so embarrassing! How could I have thought he'd ask me out? I am such a darned idiot!
Flippy watched as Flaky exited the park gates. Seeing her like that, he felt...numb. So much that he actually wished his evil side would come out, just so he'd feel that rush of emotion.
When she was out of sight, he slapped himself and headed for home, saying to himself over and over, "What was I thinking?"