... When she finally caught up to me in the hallway, everyone was still freely chatting around with each other.
And yeah. Everyone was a monster besides me. Thinking about that made me feel oddly isolated... Then, Susie stepped up along side me, swallowing her chalk as she smirked down at me. "So. When are we gonna go back? We COULD ditch right now while no one cares if we're here."
I turned my head to her and shook it, folding my arms. "My mom would kill me, then she'd hunt you down and kill you, thinking you corrupted me."
She took a moment to think about that as the smile left her face... And then, finally, she nodded. "Yeah, okay. That'd definitely happen. I can pretty much feel her fire balls raking over my back." She took the moment to walk over to a locker and lean her back up against it, folding her arms. "But yeah. When are we doin' this? I ain't skipping it. I..." She took an unnatural pause, tilting her head a little... After seeming to crack her neck, she cleared her throat. "There. Got that out." Turning her attention back on me, she continued. "Anyways, when?"
I blinked at her... Then, I smiled and chuckled a little, before resting a hand on my hip. "Y'know. It kind of sounds to me like you were about to say, "I miss Ralsei and Lancer," Susie."
Her cheeks flushed a little, but she kept her expression neutral. "Eh..."
I made a sigh through my nose while I smiled. It was almost cute how she tried to hide when she was cornered.
Either way, I lost the smile, since I knew she might not like her Bad Girl rep being ruined by endless blushing. (But I kind of low-key ruined that when... Well, why don't you figure that out, now?)
"S-su-sus-Susie!"
Both of us nearly jumped out of our skin/scales when this soft, warm, yet youthful voice sounded out nervously from on side of us!
Our heads snapped to that side as we both spotted the likely culprit. Noelle.
Now, THIS was a monster that was straight forward AND easy on the eyes- don't read into that. Noelle was/is a reindeer monster girl with a very kind demeanor. She was everything Susie was not. Cute, friendly, uber caring and probably had way too many Christmas sweaters. (I mean come on. She's named Noelle.)
She looked as you'd expect. Soft, round, slightly long face, cute pink nose, short, but branched tan antlers. She had golden blonde hair that was even longer than Susie's, reaching down to her small, deer's tail with her bangs side-swept out of her eyes. Her eyes, the roundest and liveliest they come, were the same color as coffee and felt just as warm. Her fur is the same color as her antlers, tan. Same with her flopped, deer ears sticking out of the sides of her hair. And her face was a cute, ovular one. She looked a little bit dorky with the large bucked teeth shaped like a half circle together, but uh... Well, that's because she kind of is one. In the good way!
As for the rest of her, She had a modest curvature to her body and she was definitely a softie. Probably hasn't worked out beyond jogging. Her hands were slender and very feminine with red and blue finger nail paint alternating. Yes, her nails were human-like.
As her her legs, normal, but with deer hooves, not actual feet Understandably, she can't wear footwear. Or I haven't seen her wear any.
She wore- you guessed it- a green and red checkered sweater... vest... over a long, black, long-sleeved dress with an underlayer of white showing at her cleavage and sleeve cuffs.
... Whew... Describing my friends is tiring me out...
Either way, something definitely had Noelle's goat, considering the sweat matting her fur in spots and the blush spreading across her face. She literally looked like a deer in the headlights. "U-uhm... H-hi...!"
I and Susie both blinked, but Susie was the one to talk back as she settled into an easy smirk. "Hey."
I would have said something, but the way the deer girl was holding her hands behind herself and the sound of a rustling plastic bag drew my attention. I looked around at the back of her, since it looked like Noelle's attention was pretty much Susie'd.
And yep. Definitely a plastic bag... with something that came in multiple colors.
"U-uhm... uhm-m..."
The stuttering mess drew my attention back up to her face as I relaxed and cocked my brow uncontrollably. Why did Noelle look... terrified...? It was making me feel terrible, but it suddenly dawned on me, my eyes blinking wide. "Oh."
Susie hummed and turned her head to me, giving me a hard stare with those eyes. "Huh?"
I bit my lip... What was my move. That's what I was thinking.
"I-I just... uhm..."
I felt like crap for cutting her off, but I raised a hand in front of her, making her almost jump as she blinked at it. Then, she looked over to me. I gave her a smile and said, "Can you just give us one sec? I promise this won't take too long.
"Uh, wait, what?"
Noelle blinked at me... Then smiled nervously with a swallow. "U-uhm... Sure...? I'm not being a bother, am I?"
"Not even for a second. Now..." I took Susie by the sleeve, much to her confused surprise, then I jerked her away and turned her around, much to her vehement protests. "Agh, what the hell!"
I put a hand up and shushed her, much to her blinking surprise.
Taking my hand away, I chose my words carefully with a stern expression on my mug. "Kay. So... I know what this is. And don't bite my head off for it... But I told her you were nice."
Her face almost fell as her eyes gave me a narrowed glare, her cheeks darkening again. "You did... WHAT? And I am nice? Since when?"
Giving a low, exasperated groan, I was almost ready to give it up... But as I took another look beyond Susie at Noelle to make sure she was still there, I melted a little. She was sorta just standing there, uneasily giving me a nervous smile before waving at me... She was too good to let down like that.
I smiled back, before ducking back behind Susie and losing that smile, pinching my nose bridge under stress. "Okay. Look. Listen, PLEASE."
Susie bunched a cheek as an eye twitched. "Thirty seconds."
I rolled my eyes before dropping my hand from my face. Then, I spoke with a straight and honest face. "Noelle obviously has an interest in being your friend. It's not exactly something that took me more than a day to figure out. She tried to volunteer to go with you herself to get some chalk, after all. And she asked me what my take on you was after I left school. And so, I told her you're nice. Cool. A good person, even if you like being bad."
Susie made an abashed face at the second-hand praise I was giving her. With a weak smile, she said in a harsh whisper, "Oh my god...? You make me sound like a softie. The hell, dude?" She then narrowed her eyes as that smile twisted up nervously. "And to her? She's Ms. Candy Cane! The chick practically screams cling!"
Sighing through my nose, I narrowed my eyes. "You don't really even know her. That's what you're saying based on appearance. You didn't know me a whole lot, either, and I'd like to think I'm not as horrible as I used to be."
She hissed through her teeth and shut her eyes, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, but... She'll hate me when she gets to know me..."
... With a frown, I shook my head. "I really don't think that's possible."
She opened her eyes and stared we down, before saying, "And how the hell would you know? We ain't been friends long enough for you to know ME either."
"Because we wouldn't be friends at all if you were as terrible as you pretend to be."
I think in that moment, it was the first time I had ever seen Susie actually frown. "..."
Taking a deep breath, I folded my arms and stared up into her face. "Wasn't it you that said, "if you never let your guard down, you might actually hurt someone you really care about?""
She frowned even more, dipping her head low.
"What if Noelle becomes someone you want to let that guard down for? Someone you care about?"
... She stopped frowning and sighed, shaking her head. "I can't believe I'm doing this..."
Making a small smile, I dropped my arms and said, "Just give her a shot. I can't guarantee she'll stick on you immediately, but I CAN guarantee she won't try to hurt you on purpose... But if she DOES mess up, tell her what's what. That way she can try again. Alright?"
The dragon seemed kind of skeptical... When she turned her head back to Noelle and gave her a cool look, Noelle seemed to get all flustered and direct her eyes to the ground, blushing as she squirmed in place. I could hear her hooves clacking lightly in place.
Groaning to herself and rubbing at the long of her muzzle, she dropped her hands back intro her pockets and directed her gaze down at me. "Fine, but she looks like a wimp. And if she really DOES turn out to be a cling, I'm gonna wreck you."
The purple dino/dragon/croc made a reverse turn and trudged right up to Noelle, much to the sweet girl's alarm and nervous shivering. Still, all Susie did was play it cool with a smirk and ask, "So... What's up?"
At least she was playing it out. I could smile about that much...
To be honest, the reason I wanted to help Noelle out so much was because of the promise I made to Rudolph. Her dad. And while I was not entirely sure I could protect Noelle like he wanted, I could at least show her as much kindness as I possibly could...
... Turning away from them, I looked around for a moment to make sure everyone else was occupied. Then, I took to leaning on a locker and closed my eyes... Honestly, I was starting to feel the lag. I personally wasn't tired. It was my body. Maybe I wasn't that great a sleeper before I lost my memory.
It makes sense. I mean, I DID just have a nightmare... And when I thought about that, I instantly opened my eyes and took a deep, cold inhale. Shaking my head, I sighed out and slapped my cheeks to hopefully get the blood going again... Yeah, that only barely helped.
Groaning to myself, I just shrugged my shoulders. It was the battle of attrition if I actually DID get too tired.
"Ch... chalk? Uh... What?" That was Susie's voice. I blinked awake a little more and turned to look at what was going on.
Noelle was silently fidgeting to herself with a nervous smile and plenty of sweat... and blush. "U-uhm... W-well... I always see you... e-eating it... So... I thought...Y'know... You would like a-a... snack...?" Her eyes just barely worked their way up to Susie's face, but her expression became meek under that frown and those wide eyes.
Susie was just staring at her with an expression that said, "are you making fun of me?"
The poor deer took a step back and frowned to the floor, readying herself as she swallowed and closed her eyes, shivering a little and clenching her fist to her hips. "I-I'm sorry- That's-obviously-not-the-case-so-I-can-ju-"
"Thanks, I guess..."
The deer's eyes popped wide open as a confused and surprised blankness took the place of terror.
Even I was surprised. It almost looked like the purple brute was about to blow. But instead, her cool smirk was back.
Noelle's eyes looked back up to Susie's face, but for the most part, she kept her head turtled. Probably still afraid it might get bitten off. "...Y-you... huh?"
The dragon girl, probably trying to help emphasize, took out the object in the plastic bag she'd been handed out. It was a big box of sidewalk chalk, much thicker than any school chalk. It came in multiple colors.
She took a finger and flicked the lid open, despite it being sealed shut prior. It still went popping open Then, she took one of the thick sticks out- chalky red- and popped open her mouth, before chucking it inside and snapping down on it. There was a resounding -CRUNCH!- inside, before she began to chew it up.
Though it caught the attention of some startled students around us, this seemed to cause Noelle to ease up a little as she stared up at Susie more willingly, blinking. She looked around a little since it was taking a little for the purple monster to finish chewing. After the audible gulp, her eyes refocused on the draginoroc and she weaved her fingers together, nervously smiling. "D... Do you like it? I-I got the kind that a-actually has flavors to it..."
My thoughts there... [There's flavored chalk?]
Susie smirked a bit larger than usual, flashing her teeth. "Yeah. Pretty good actually. You've got good tastes... in chalk." The funny thing? She actually sounded like she meant it.
Her comment caused the reindeer's mouth to drift open, before it spread into a great, big smile. She almost started hopping in place and I thought- with her hands flapping like that- that she was about to start she stopped pretty quickly and said, "That's great! I'm so glad you like it!"
The grape dragon huffed a little and nodded, letting her smirk turn into a calmer smile. "Yeah. So, thanks. But I'm gonna guess this ain't all you came up to me for. Right? That'd be pretty random."
Noelle was brought back down to Earth with that, her eyes bugging a bit as she started sweating again. Furrowing her brows with a soft, probably fake giggle, her smile shrunk as she spoke. "Y-yeah, uhm... W-well, thing is..." The further on she went, the quieter she got until she literally mumbled.
Susie took notice of this, visibly cocking a brow. "Yeah, you gotta actually talk loud enough. Try that again." Her tail swished a bit impatiently.
The reindeer shuddered under her words and whined as she shrunk in on herself. "I.. uhm.. was.. h-hoping.. to uhm.. be... f-friends...?"
"Sure."
I could tell by the surprise and excitement on Noelle's face that her heart about skipped a beat. She immediately straightened up with that big smile back on her face, looking Susie in the face.
"But..."
The reindeer froze, that smile vanishing entirely. Now her heart was skipping for an entire other reason.
Opening her eyes as it seemed they were closed, she stared Noelle in the eyes as the deer nervously fidgeted her fingers. "You're gonna have to work on that spine. Look me in my eyes when you say stuff like that. I don't care for wusses."
"Uh... O-oh..." Noelle's cheeks flushed. She fidgeted and tried to redirect her gaze on habit, but caught herself as she flinched. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she then sighed out and tried again. Opening them, she looked at Susie's. And the deer was calmer, but the fidgeting with her hands told me how nervous she really was. "Will you... be my uhm... friend...?"
Susie paused for a while in what seemed like a purposeful staring contest. Noelle, nervous as she was and probably just as anxious, still never looked away. "Hmm..." She reached in on Noelle and took a firm hold of her shoulder... but I think Noelle figured that Susie wasn't about to hurt her, so she just kept staring.
... But Susie dragged this out by slowly smiling and showing her rows and rows of razor sharp and jagged teeth. "You sure you want ME as a friend, Princess?"
Noelle looked like she was visibly shaken, but her eyes never left the tall dark and purple drink of acid. Instead, she nodded, silent at first... before she said, "Y-yeah... I am..."
I could hardly stand to watch, but I was honestly afraid to look away more. If Susie tried anything, I still had a promise to keep. And Susie has a way of... making you wonder about trusting her.
It was impossible for anyone else to look away, either...
I really was expecting this to go on for longer, but Susie just said, "Cool. Welcome to the Fun Gang." And let Noelle go as she relaxed her mouth back into a cool smirk.
Noelle almost seemed to chirp after that and her eyes were wide... I swore there were sparkles in them for a bit there. Then, she shut them tight and shuddered in excitement, that little tail... actually jingling like bells in back while it wagged rapidly. She was just barely holding in a squeal.
... And then she took a breath and smiled more naturally up to Susie. "Thank you so much! Y-you won't regret this! Do you like tea? I can make some tea for lunch an-"
"Can't."
She blinked and froze. Then, she cocked a brow nervously, losing her smile once again. "S-sorry...?"
Susie turned her head to face me, not exactly happy. "We got lunch detention. Won't be able to have it. Besides. Tea's not my thing."
Everyone finally looked away, some seeming to snicker as Noelle's face turned into a frowning one, her hands coming to fool with a tress. "O-oh..." Bowing her head, she nodded and said, "Sorry..."
Honestly confused, the dragon girl tilted her head. "Why? You can't change what happened. That's just how the chips fell."
That did nothing to make Noelle feel better. She just shook her head and said, "Yeah, but- no offense Kris."
"None taken."
"M-maybe if I had gone with you instead... Or if all three of us had gone together...?"
Susie bowed her head a bit, groaning a little.
"Maybe... it would have been different..."
"Don't kid yourself, princess."
She blinked up at Susie, a puzzled look on her face.
I could practically see Susie's eyes rolling. She put it simply. "It wouldn't have made a lick of difference. You or Kris or both? Doesn't matter. If you haven't noticed, trouble and I are intimate. So, you woulda just been in the stew with me instead or together with us."
The deer seemed ... less than convinced. "But if-"
"Noelle?"
The deer looked up with her eyes alone. "Huh...?"
Susie, with this irritated look on her face, told her, "Shut up."
And the deer just nodded with a huff.
"... You think way too much."
The deer blinked back up at the dragon, furrowing her brows.
I could hear Susie mumble, "I'm not good at this..." The dragon pulled her gaze off to the side and spoke again. "All that thinking? It'll melt holes. It was my choice, not your's. Me and Kris went to "get chalk," not you. So, don't stress yourself out over it. Just... cool it."
The deer stood there, stare at her for a little while... Then, finally, she nodded and smiled a little. "Alright."
The bell finally rung for school in general to begin and everyone around us began to disperse, talking amongst themselves. I'm sure a few of them were gossiping about us. But we didn't care. Or none of us, Noelle included, voiced that we did.
... Seeing that this was not gonna go anywhere else, I finally walked up on them proper and said, "We should probably get to class. Alphys probably won't punish us if we're tardy, but my Mom will if she sees us out in the halls."
Noelle nodded, but Susie, still trying to act cool, just "Pff." I don't know how else to describe that.
Rolling my eyes, I turned my attention to Noelle and nudged my head in the direction of our class in the west hall. She nodded as she looked at me, then she started on her way...
... Seeing as Susie still wasn't moving, I took hold of her wrist and started dragging her along, much to her vehement protests. "God damnit, Kris! I can walk!"
"Well, you weren't and I don't want either of us getting in MORE trouble!"
My arm was sore for the rest of the school day after dragging Susie to class...
By far, Noelle is probably the hardest person to write for, but that's only because I know precious little about her... Anyways, I should warn you. Don't expect this story to keep zooming. I have only two other chapters written out and unedited, so far. I have no posting plan, either. It will all come out when it comes out.
+EDIT: By the way, for those wondering why Susie has a tail in this story, I'm well aware of the JevilsTail Dialogue. That too was on purpose.
