Marlene rubbed her eyes and yawned. She had just woken up and it was early noon. She couldn't sleep last night.
Skipper had kissed her and left without an explanation.
Marlene hugged herself. What does this mean? What will it mean? Her heart begin to hurt at the thought.
She brushed her fur and after her meal she decided to talk to Skipper about last night and finally get some real answers.
Marlene felt a knot in her stomach. She took a deep breath and entered the penguin island.
"Hello Marlene!" Private waved his flipper as he spot her coming over. He smiled. "We just finished our drills."
Skipper had her back toward her.
"Hey guys." Marlene said softly, she glanced toward his direction. "Can I talk to Skipper alone for a moment?"
"What for? Marlene?" Private asked. A frown came on his face. "It's nothing serious right?"
"Of course not." Kowalski answered before Marlene could respond. He pushed Rico and Pravite toward the food bowl. He gazed at Skipper who avoided eye contact toward them. "They just need to talk about certain things."
"oh OK." Pravite waved and smiled. "I'll see ya in a bit Marlene."
She waved them goodbye. She wanted to thank Kowalski for taking away the others. Finally they were alone and it was bit awkward.
"Skipper?" Marlene stepped toward him. She didn't know where or how to start. Playing with her paws, she tried to look at him. "I... Um.. About last night."
"What about last night?" He turned toward her with a serious expression on his face. He crossed his flippers over his chest and stood proud. "I walked you home. End of story."
Marlene frowned. Did he not want to talk about the kiss?
"Yes. You walked me home and then you kissed me." She explained. "Skipper.. Why did you kiss me?"
She wanted to find out. She wanted Skipper to say those simple words. It couldn't be that hard right?
"I...didn't mean to." Skipper said after a moment. "It just happened and I apologize for it. It will never happen again."
No. That wasn't enough. There was more to the story. But why wasn't he saying it? In fact. Why wasn't he looking at her?
"Do you.. Love me?" she asked softly
She wanted him to say it. Her eyes began to shine. "Cause if.. If you do. Then that's.. .."
"I don't Marlene." He snapped. "It just happened. I'm not in love with you and I never will be. You're a friend and that's all you'll ever be."
"O-oh.." Marlene held her head down. Tears formed in her eyes. Well, that hurt. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to find out. I thought.. ."
"Thought what?" Skipper growled. He rolled his eyes. "A penguin and an otter can't be together. That's not how nature works Marlene."
She took a step back. Tears now rolling down her cheeks. Skipper avoided her face and gazed away. Those words hurt. She bit her tongue to stop her tears from coming down but they didn't stop.
"You.. Don't mean that Skipper.. "
"I do Marlene."
"Thank you.." she said through tears. "For telling me how you really feel."
Finally she turned around and took off toward her home as fast as she could on all four paws.
Skipper let out his breath that he was holding. He sighed sadly. That was hard to say.
..
..
..
"Skippah?" Pravite, Kowalski and Rico slowly lifted the fish bowl and poked their heads out. They gazed up at their leader with sad eyes. "Why did you say those mean things to Marlene?"
"You listened, didn't you?"
"We didn't mean to." Pravite whimpered. "We didn't closed the food bowl all the way. We heard everything. We're sorry."
"It's alright men. It's better to hear everything then for me to tell you again."
"Skipper." Kowalski said. "According to the conversation. It nearly sounded like Marlene wanted you to tell her that you love her. She was waiting for it. And it sounded like she was going to tell you that she loved you too. But..."
"I told her it couldn't work. A penguin and a otter. That's not how nature works men."
"But.." Pravite played with his flippers gazing at the ground, he spoke up a bit of anger was in his voice. "It sounded like she really liked you and was gonna tell ya. But ya acted so mean!"
Skipper flinched at his words.
"Then why did you last her last night?" Kowalski questioned. "If you don't love her that is. "
Rico held up a paper bag and puked in it as soon as he heard the word kiss. It made him dizzy.
"I.. I don't know." He said. "It just happened. I wasn't thinking straight at the moment.
"But why won't ya go out with her Skippah?" Pravite asked. "Just because you're both different species? True love comes in different forms. Don't you like her?"
"It's best we stay friends." Skipper walked past them. "Case closed."
"But.."
"I said case closed." Skipper glared at them before jumping in the hole to his home without another word.
Pravite sighed sadly he gazed in the direction of where Marlene went which was her home. He felt bad but he didn't want to upset Marlene more. So he'll go over when she's cool down a bit.
..
..
.