I don't own Ned's or Nick. Thanks to reviewers of my first 2 chapters. I'm making up what the museum & anything looks like, never been to Iowa (no offense to any readers). I also fixed the spacing for this & the other 2 chapters.(Revisions as of 8/29, i'm borrowing from the show again, but just some paintings).
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"Alright class, we have separated you into four groups based on your last name. A-H will go with Mrs. Burgeson, I-O with Pal, P-S with me, and T-Z with Mrs. Wolff." Mr. Sweeney announced as the students gathered in the front lobby of the museum. Both Moze and Cookie groaned, Moze because she was in the same group as Missy and Loomer, Cookie because he was in the same group as Suzie and Ned.
"Jennifer, I haven't seen you very much during this amazing field trip," Billy Loomer, the typical middle school bully, had cleaned up from his normal attire. He wore straight leg jeans, black sneakers, and a plain dark green t-shirt; his signature leather jacket was nowhere to be found.
"Loomer, you were on a different bus and I'm a girl so we're rooming on different floors," Moze stated brushing past the blue-eyed boy. He started to chase after her, but Moze disappointedly made it to Missy Meany before Loomer could continue talking.
"Moseley, you're in the same group as me?" Missy tossed her hair back and glared. "Duh, my last name starts with an M just like yours," Moze could tell this would not be a fun tour.
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"Hey Ned, I think I may have come up with the perfect way to leave our mark on Polk," Cookie was only getting about two minute intervals where he could talk to Ned without Suzie interrupting him.
"Great, what's the plan?" Ned's blue eyes gleamed with anticipation.
"Okay it's cheesy, I know that but it would be all ours, a class video." To Cookie's surprise Suzie was smiling at the idea.
"That sounds like a great idea Simon, I mean Cookie, what should I call you?"
Cookie sighed, "Doesn't matter Suzie; Simon, Cook, Cookie, whatever you don't feel weird saying."
Mrs. Burgeson hadn't noticed that the three students weren't really paying attention to the museum guide's lecture; she was more concerned about being not only out in the open, but in a city much bigger than Raisburg.
"Here we have the pistol that was used by President McKinley's assassin. It doesn't have a good memory to it, but it was made by an Iowa City shopkeeper," the guide continued to point out various objects with historical significance before she reached the entrance to an exclusive gallery."In this room are many paintings the museum has received from various countries and local painters." The guide then escorted the students into a wide-open room with paintings across every wall, small groups gathered at each.
Immediately, Ned and Cookie stepped to the painting with the smallest crowd, Suzie followed slowly behind. "Whoa, he looks fierce, what's the name of this, Cookie?" Ned stared at the painting before him. It felt like he had almost been the strange jungle man in the painting, maybe in some weird dream.
"Apparently it's called Wild Boy, I see why," Cookie announced taking a second look.
"I feel like I've been him. I can't imagine what it'd be like to have to run around in a leaf skort thing for a day," Ned laughed, his focus staying on the Wild Boy.
"I don't like this painting; I'd never be anywhere near someone that looked as freaky as that guy," Suzie grabbed for Ned's hand, but he didn't catch the hint.
"Guys, we need to get moving, I think iTeacher is making an announcement," Jeff waved his fellow classmates towards the gathering crowd of students.
"Students, this was the last part of our tour, let's head to the restaurant on the ground floor now," Mrs. Burgeson blocked her nerves and managed to escort the group to the Capitol Buffet.
Suzie again tried to grab Ned's hand, Ned took a last glance at Wild Boy as Suzie pulled him with the now leaving group.
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"Moseley, I thought you were going out with Ned, I know his last name is Bigby so he isn't in our group, but why is he always with Crabgrass if you two are a couple?" Usually Moze would just brush off Missy, but she couldn't help but feel bad that the girl hadn't figured out the con Ned and Moze had played on her.
"Ned and I were pretending to go out because you freaked him out, it wasn't real, none of it," Missy's expression changed quickly from shock to anger to an evil smirk.
"Okay Moseley, your secret is safe with me, the only other people I ever talk to nowadays are the Oboe twins and… I think you would be a good ally," now it was Moze's expression that changed from confusion to annoyance and back to confusion.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, but while you're being nice, I'll enjoy the change."
Pal had once again seemed to wander away from the students he was supposed to be monitoring. This time the elderly man had found a statue and was having quite a conversation with it.
"You know I really think I should just retire already, I've been working with kids for almost forty years. You're right, they are good kids, maybe one more year," the guide seemed very ready to ditch his job for the rest of the day, just to get away from Pal.
"Well students, Mr. Pal has found the statue of this building's original architect, Alexander R. Helling," the guide motioned to Pal's new friend.
"You said your name was Bob," Pal glared at the statue and began to wander again.
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Thankfully for Moze, she wasn't the only one who didn't really enjoy her morning. Although Lisa was a very friendly person, she had not had the greatest morning in her tour group either; she and several other friends of Moze, Ned, and Cookie all sat at the same table for lunch.
Even Mr. Sweeney seemed exhausted from the morning, but Martin Qwerly trailed him in hot pursuit.
"So the university presentation is part of an assignment right, but it can't be an assignment because you didn't give a worksheet, but it is science related, but we weren't told to bring notebooks. Am I expected to take notes on what they explain or…"
"Mr. Qwerly, you do not need to take notes on the presentation, just watch it and enjoy it, now please let me eat my lunch in peace," Sweeney managed to make Martin stop his rambling and hurried across the restaurant at his chance.
"So, who thought the tour was boring?" Ned glanced to the five students that surrounded him as Martin neared their group.
"The tour may not have been fun, but the gallery had lots of beautiful paintings, and some not so beautiful ones too," Suzie responded.
The rest of the group agreed that the gallery was the only particularly interesting part of the trip.
"Which painting did everyone enjoy most?" Lisa asked.
"Starry, Starry Night," Suzie replied.
"The Accolade," Cookie glanced to Ned.
"Wild Boy," Ned responded.
"I was really drawn to Vertumnus," Moze answered.(A/N: this is the painting that Moze talks to in the TV finale where she talks about her mind going to fruit salad, Wild Boy is of course what it is from the finale).
"I liked all the paintings, they were all really great, and interesting and…" Cookie and Jeff both shoved a sandwich into Martin's mouth to keep him from continuing.
"I agree with Martin, I can't choose a favorite," Coconut Head wiped his hands as Martin munched on the sandwich.
"Which was your favorite Lisa?" Cookie brushed the crumbs from his hands as well.
"I don't think I can choose a favorite either, though Starry Starry Night was amazing," Lisa responded.
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The class was given an hour to explore other areas of the museum after lunch. Moze accompanied Cookie and Lisa who trailed Ned and Suzie a considerable distance. Suzie held Ned's hand in a steadfast grip as though he would run away otherwise.
Cookie and Lisa weren't hand-in-hand but kept close as Moze walked far behind the two couples. Martin and Jeff had decided to explore another section of the museum with other classmates.
Most of the hour passed in silence, though Moze swore she heard either Cookie or Lisa giggle every now and then. It wasn't until Suzie declared "I need a bathroom break" that any words were heard in the hallway. "Jennifer, Lisa, will you come with?" Suzie pulled at Moze's arm.
"That's okay Suzie, I'm fine, really," Suzie still pulled Moze into the girls' room, Lisa followed the two.
"What's up with Suzie?" Cookie looked to Ned who just shrugged. "Given, I haven't really been myself lately, but she seems really possessive around Moze. Do you think she knows?"
"Moze?"
"No! Suzie, do you think Suzie knows about my…situation between her and Moze?"
"Dude, don't ask me," Cookie started heading down the hall to wait for Lisa.
Meanwhile, Suzie was holding an unofficial interrogation on Moze, Lisa just watched the two fight over Ned as she leaned against a sink, how clueless the poor guy was.
"You like him, Moseley. Don't think I don't notice every glance you two share, but I'm his girlfriend, so tonight at the picnic, stay away," Moze couldn't figure out what set off Suzie, had she just lost it or something.
"First, you haven't called me Moseley since like 1st semester of 7th grade, second, of course I like Ned, but as a friend. What's up with you today?" Moze held eye contact with her former best girl friend until the shorter brunette turned to the mirror.
"Jennifer, don't lie. I know there's more between you two than just friendship. My boyfriend hasn't even kissed me since I got back and I can feel his pulse quicken at the sight of you, it goes with the hand-holding." Suzie's voice had gone very quiet to almost a whisper, she turned back to Moze.
Moze ignored the second part of Suzie's statement. "You think that proves something, maybe he's just nervous that you'll leave again and break his heart, again," Moze felt the jealousy and anger she had been trying to hide for the past few weeks rush through her like a strike of lightning.
"I didn't break his heart, at least I never meant to. How was I supposed to stop my dad from taking that job? My parents were overjoyed that my dad's new location would be closer to my sisters, I was the only one that actually lost anything," Suzie's eyes started to well, but Moze still couldn't believe the girl.
"You didn't even want to tell him, Suzie. I realize you gave up a lot when you moved, but you broke the heart of my best friend, he didn't even want to write in the guide after you left." Suzie's face froze, she had no idea she had had that effect on Ned.
"Stay away from him, Jennifer, I mean it."
Moze glared at her rival and shook her head. "No, I'm his friend no matter what, understand Crabgrass," Moze towered only a couple inches over Suzie's angry form.Suzie was ready to lunge at Moze when Lisa suddenly yelled "STOP!"
"I'm sick of this, I hate being friends with both of you for one reason, Ned. I don't understand why it's so hard to tell the guy how you feel and give him time to decide who he wants to be with," Lisa glanced at the two brunettes who stood stunned at Lisa's words.
Checking her watch, Lisa shoved the girls out of the bathroom."Let's go, we need to meet at the buses in like eight minutes. Crubbs said there will be dire consequences if we're late."
The girls caught up with the boys who were down the hall looking at some weapons. The five students then made their way to the buses.
Suzie didn't hold Ned's hand this time; instead she crossed her arms across her chest and kept her focus away from either Ned or Moze.
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Suzie's confrontation with Moze is just the beginning of their falling out. Despite the fact that many people seem to hate the character in general, I won't let Suzie leave Polk with nothing. The next chapter is the picnic. I got the idea from my 8th grade class trip, if we wouldn't have gotten rained out. BTW: Suzie didn't freak for no reason, I'll explain in chapter 4.Please review!