My Note: I like this story and I'm sorry to all my fans for my absences. Just caught up with other things. Sorry! Please review!
My courage gave out. I couldn't speak a word to him. So I just sighed and turned away from him. I could feel his presence behind me...Feel his breath on my back as he got closer.
"Marlene..." I didn't dare face him. That would only make me crumble. "...Marlene, please...Tell me about your little 'night fright'. I'll see what I can do." I tried to talk to him, but my throat just closed up.
"Marlene. Marlene! Why won't you talk to me?" I snapped around. His yell had not only frightened me, but angered me as well. "You wanna know what my nightmare was about? Huh?" He shrunk back in sudden fear and disbelief at my anger.
"My nightmare was that I lost everyone in my life and was taken somewhere far away, where I was not wanted and cared for as I once was." I fell to the ground, hugging my knees and sobbing quietly.
"I had a nightmare, where I became 'Miss Invisible' to the people and animals I lived around. A place where all the boys...where...the one I loved...only looked past me..." I sniffled loudly at the thought of that nightmare.
Skipper crouched down and placed his flipper around me. "Marlene, I understand. But that was just a nightmare-" "-NO! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" I interrupted loudly. Shoving his flipper off me and standing up. "THAT WAS NOT JUST A NIGHTMARE...THAT IS MY LIFE! I AM LIVING MY GREATEST FEAR!...Besides being lost and forgotten by the one I love most..." But I kept that last part to myself.
Skipper flinched. My confession seemed to strike his most sensitive nerve. His eyes were consumed by a great storm. Thunder and lightning danced dangerously with each other. The sea growing cold as a single tear slid down his cheek. One tear...that he tried to hide.
Skipper stood up. Looking me in the eyes, I could see just how great and powerful this storm was. Mine was just as powerful...but, surprisingly, less hurt. "Marlene. I do understand. And now that I know your story, I know how to help you. Who is the one that you love?" At this point, my heart was beating faster than a hummingbird's wings.
"I..I-I...I'm sorry...I can't tell you." He put on a smirk, trying to cheer me up a bit. "Marlene, come on. It's me!" "That's exactly why I can't tell you." His smirk faded. The storm in his eyes seemed to disappear, only to welcome one of confusion.
"Well then, if you can't tell me...I'll just have to find out for myself!" My eyes widened. "No! I mean, no. You can't! It's..It's my business...Not..Not yours!" Skipper put on a confident smirk.
"Oh, Marlene. You're a friend of mine, aren't you?" "Yes. I guess so." "No guessing." "Fine. I'm a friend of yours!" "And you do need help, don't you?" "I...Yes...I do.." "Exactumundo...And that's why I'm going to help you! And I know how!" Skipper leaned in close. Quickening my pulse to the extreme.
"Okay...Good night..Or, good morning, Skipper!" Skipper gave me a charming smile, for some reason, and I nearly fainted just at that. "Mornin', Marlene..." He slid out on his belly and jumped the fence.
I sighed contently and actually did faint, at his charming self. "Ahhh...That Skipper.." That was my last thought before everything went black.
[Later On That Morning]
A sweet dream passed through my mind. One filled with love and pure happiness. Beautiful sunsets...lovely beaches...and...And Skipper by my side...Ah...Nothing better in the world than that. Skipper turned beside me, and lightly caressed my face.
I can't believe that it was a dream, it felt so real. His soft, velvety feathers touching my face, felt more real and alive then his embrace in the dream.
Unfortunately, I had to wake up sometime, to see Skipper for real. I stretched and smiled, eyes still closed. It's when I opened my eyes, that I realized why the caresses felt so real and wonderful. "AH!" "AHH!" Skipper fell back from his previous position of standing over me.
"Skipper? What are you doing? What...were...you doing?" Skipper smiled nervously. "Um, nothing! Uh, nothing...Just, just making sure you were alright. I mean, after last night-" I sat up, slowly. Stretching out again. "-Ah...Yeah...I remember." I yawned.
Skipper held out his flipper to help me get out of bed. Though...I don't know why, I didn't really need any help with that. Still, it's the thought that counts. He sat down next to me, and watched me closely.
I covered my face with my paws, and turned away from Skipper. Why make myself even more embarrassed? Skipper stood up with growing concern. Though he tried to mask it, you could hear it in his voice.
"What is it, Marlene?" His flipper around my shoulder felt so natural to me, that my body didn't even flinch from the sudden heat in his single touch. "Come on, Marlene...You can tell me? I'm your friend!...Right?" Suddenly, I flung myself around and clung to him desperately.
As I took him by surprise, my sobs grew louder...my body shook repeatedly. "PLEASE! Please...DON'T LET IT HAPPEN! DON'T LET IT HAPPEN TO ME!" Skipper flinched from my shouts and pleas.
I cried into his feathers. His soft...velvety...feathers. "Pl-l-ease...Pl-lea-ease...Protect me..." Skipper held me tighter. "What, Marlene? Protect you from what? What should I not let happen to you?" I looked in his eyes, ready to confess my whole being to him.
"Skipper...You need to know..That my life was not so simple as you might think." Skipper looked at me strangely. Of course, he doesn't understand... "Marlene...I don't understand. How could your life be so difficult?" That flew me over the edge. "What? You expect me to be perfect? To have the perfect childhood, with the perfect parents! If you believe that...then you don't know me at all..."
Skipper frowned and seemed to face-palm himself. He must have realized the stupid mistake he just made. Thinking I'm perfect. "Skipper, I'm sorry for 'attacking' you, but you have to understand. My life...was difficult. The only reason I seem weak to you is because I act that way so you'll have a reason to protect me, even though I know how to take care of myself. I didn't think anyone would like a girl who was rough and tough. I'm not so innocent as you might think." I flipped up and over him just to prove my point.
"And that's not even the beginning of what I can do. I might even be better than you. I had eight brothers after all." I smirked at that, but gained a tear and yelled incessantly from the painful memory that now streaked my mind.
Skipper ran to me, holding my body close. "Marlene! What's wrong? Are you alright?" I couldn't take anymore. My mind was exploding at the sight of all the violence...
"NNNNNNNNOOOOOOO!" A blood-curdling, heart-stopping cry fell from my lips, making me faint. The last I remember before all color disarrayed, is Skipper catching me before I hit the floor.
My Note: So, glad you loved this so much, here's a 2nd chapter! Review please!
