Look who updated on time! I'd like to thank reviewers novanto, Jason rulz death, blackcatneko999, shinxshinx1595, sunshineg9, and freakyfangirl136 (even reviewing all three chappie's!) and I hope you all enjoy! C:
When Mike came home, he contemplated everything with Mal in the car. He would always be doubtful of trusting Mal, even by a little bit, but it seemed like it was a plan that would work. Then, Mike's phone rang, disrupting his chain of thought. He looked at his phone and saw the caller ID was Zoey and her picture beaming at him. He quickly picked it up and brought it to his ear and said a little too fast. "Hello?"
"Hey, Mike!" Zoey said cheerfully.
"I thought Scott deleted my number?" Mike wondered if Scott was with her by any chance, if he was, he'd have to watch what he says.
"What Scott doesn't remember is that you were in my recents for when you called me." Zoey stated. Mike thought he could hear Mal call Scott and idiot and other not-so-nice things. He shrugged it off as Mike then asked. "What's up?"
"I had a really good time at the coffee shop," Zoey said as Mike could still feel the smile on her face from across the line. "Do you want to do something tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure!" Mike said a little too excitedly and mentally slapped himself for sounding too eager. "Did you want to go back into town or something?"
"Something like that." Zoey said knowing well what she wanted to do. "Did you want to go ice skating?"
He was an expert at ice skating, all because of Svetlana, so hopefully that competitive side of her won't show through when they go out. "Sure, did you want me to pick you up?"
"That's a long drive," Zoey said in thought. "I'll just meet you at the ice rank down town."
"What time? Mike asked.
"Around seven?" Zoey asked hoping Mike would be available at that time. "Is that okay?"
"That's fine." Mike said as he thought about his Saturday's. This usually consisted of nothing unless he went out with friends. He then heard Zoey's mom voice in the background of the phone telling her it was starting to get late.
"Sorry, Mike, I have to go." Zoey sighed as then he heard her telling her mom that she'd be off the phone in a minute. "I'll see you tomorrow!"
"See yah , Zoey." Mike said before the line went dead. Right when he clicked that phone off, Mal groaned in his head. "Ice skating? Are you even a guy?"
"I'll do whatever she wants to do," Mike protested. "After all, you did say to change places other than the Big Bean."
"It physically hurts to be in a head of someone so weak." Mal sneered.
"What do you suppose then if you know what's best?" Mike said sarcastically.
"Get her on a motorcycle ride." Mal said blatantly and that wouldn't be the problem if it wasn't for one thing. Mike didn't have a motorcycle.
"You know I don't have one." Mike said.
"We'll have to fix that, won't we?" Mal said as he snickered evilly.
"Oh, no," Mike protested. "There is no way I'm going to get a motorcycle."
"You're not going to get a motorcycle." Mal stated but what he really thought was Mike wouldn't get one… but Mal would.
"Good." Mike stated as he changed into his pajama's and crawled into bed. He thought about the next day and ice skating with Zoey. Everything would all fall in to place soon.
When he woke up the next morning, it was late. Well, later than when he would usually get up. When he walked downstairs, his family was watching sports by the TV and decided to make brunch. Mike could hear Mal's nagging but decided to ignore it since he couldn't talk to him now, not in front of his parents. When he gathered his food, he strode up the stairs and closed the door. That's when Mike snapped.
"What? Can't you just let me eat in peace?"
"Do you really have to go ice skating?" Mal practically whined. "It's such a girly thing to do. The next problem you're going to have with Zoey is that she's going to think you're gay."
"She will not!" Mike practically yelled as he sat down on his bed and turned on his television on his desk.
"You're lucky I'm here to straighten that out." Mal said as a smile crept on his face.
"You better not touch her, Mal or I swear-" Mike seethed until Mal stopped him.
"Don't worry. I won't lay a finger on her, not that I want to."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mike said defensively.
Mal groaned at how frustrating Mike was. It seemed like at this point, Mike just wanted Mal to talk to Zoey by a megaphone from the other side of Canada. "It means exactly what you think it means." He blatantly said, knowing well it would upset him. There was nothing better than upsetting Mike, even if it was about Zoey.
Mike huffed since he couldn't exactly do anything to Mal since he was in his head and all. At that moment, Mike's phone vibrated. He looked over and saw it was text from Zoey.
"Can't make it tonight :( having a night with Scott"
She was going to blow him off for Scott? He understands with relationship wise, but there was no way she was completely up for this. Mike decided to take initiative and call her- she immediately picked up.
"Hey, Mike." She said a little sadly. "I see that you read my text."
"Are you sure you can't come tonight?" Mike asked.
"Scott wants me over at his house for his grandmother's birthday. He thinks if I don't come then he will be bored out of his mind." Zoey explained. She seemed a little irritable in the end, which clearly meant she wasn't completely up for hanging with Scott's family.
"How about I come by towards the end of the party and pick you up?" Mike proposed. He knew that once he said this, Mal was going to tut him for "begging" for Zoey.
It was silent at first and Mike thought he almost lost Zoey. Before he repeated into the phone, Zoey spoke up. "I think that should be fine. His family won't even notice I'm gone halfway through the night. Me and Scott usually disappear anyways by then."
Mike cast away any stray thoughts in his head as he heard Mal snickering. Mike's internal burning would have to stay silent for now. He spoke to the phone. "Alright, I'll see you there."
"I'll send you directions to Scott's house." Zoey said firmly before quickly talking into the phone again. "I have to go, Scott's here." Before Mike could say goodbye, she hung up on him again.
"You know," Mal said lowly. "I'm getting really tired of her hanging up all the time."
"I can't blame her. You heard how Scott deleted Zoey's contacts." Mike defended.
Jeez, when didn't this guy defend her? She could have murdered someone and Mike could've just said that the person had it coming. It sickened Mal how so much in love Mike was. He didn't get how one person could act this nutty over another, let alone someone like Zoey. A ding was heard and Mike saw the directions to Scott's and now all he had to do was wait.
Time finally came and Mike was heading out the door when Mal said annoyed. "Am I taking over or what?"
"You're not taking over, you're just filling in." Mike said to calm himself more than to correct Mal. "But you do know how to get to Scott's, right?"
"I know how to read directions," Mal scoffed. "I'm not an idiot."
"Alright, alright, just… don't mess up, okay?" Mike said putting his blind trust in Mal. A stupid decision really but if you're really willing to do anything, Mike was willing to make peace with the enemy. Mike then closed his eyes and took a deep breath in and let his mind wander. When he opened them again, he was in his head, a place he familiarized himself with just a year ago. Mal took over Mike's body and had his hair fall. Mal snickered maliciously. "Perfect."
Driving was a little different for Mal, he's done it before, but it's been awhile. After 45 minutes, Mal finally found the hidden dirt road that led to Scott's house. As he drove down the road, he was repulsed. It was dirty, smelly, and so incredibly dark that Mal couldn't even tell if he was going straight. Don't get him wrong, Mal loved the dark, but he didn't want to crash the car in the freezing cold and ask, of all people, Scott for help. He drove through the snow covered dirt and parked right outside the white farm house. Mal stayed in the car, there was no way he was going to knock on Scott's door to pick up Zoey. Two reasons: one being that he'd have to possibly see Scott and maybe get punched by him, and two being that he'd see his hick family. Mal didn't want to throw up. He stared at the house door hoping Zoey would come out soon, and when she didn't, Mal almost laid down the horn. Before his hand was on the horn, Zoey stepped out and rushed down the stairs. She waved to Mal, who quickly put up his hair to look like Mike, and got in on the passenger side of the car and gave him a smile that was almost sickening to Mal. "Hey, Mike! Scott thinks my dad is picking me up, so you might wanna drive."
Mal quickly drove out before Scott or anyone could see him. He was just about to ask a question before Zoey said. "I just hate lying to Scott like this, but I just want to see some friends every once in a while!"
Mal just nodded and drove to town, which was only (thank god) a 15 minute drive. Zoey would try to start a conversation but he wasn't going to be so animated in the conversation like some sad sap. He would talk back, but it wouldn't be very nice as she would plan to. Sometimes, it seemed like she thought he was joking. They arrived on the big ice rink and Zoey almost jumped out of the car in excitement while Mal just quickly grabbed his ice skates Mike packed and thought. "Let's get this over with."
Zoey pulled his sleeve along and asked. "Isn't this exciting? It's been so long since I went ice skating!"
"I'm literally vibrating of happiness." Mal mumbled.
They both laced up and Mal skated smoothly thanks to Svetlana's skills but once Zoey stepped on the ice, she wobbled. She took a few steps before Mal had a bad thought in his head and stuck out his foot ever so slightly. Zoey hit his foot and went to grab Mal but was already on the ground by then. Mal kept his hands behind his back to prevent from helping her and said in fake concern. "Oh, Zoey! Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Zoey seemed to have no problem getting up herself. "I just must've hit a chunk of ice or something. I promise I'm a good skater." It seemed she was trying to convince herself more than him.
When Mal figured she'd be embarrassed and stop, she laughed at herself! Mal gave her an odd look as she smiled at him. He started to skate and she caught up with him, even when he attempted to skate ahead. Mal was in his thoughts on what he could do to this girl take make her frustrated enough to go home until Zoey spoke up. "Do you wanna play a game?"
"A game?" Mal asked almost condescendingly.
"Yeah," Zoey smiled. "We launch each other and whoever shoots the farthest wins."
"That sounds incrediably-" stupid. "Fun. I'm sure I will win." Mal gloated.
"You keep thinking that." Zoey winked with a laugh. She crouched as low as she could go and exclaimed. "Ready!"
Mal rolled his eyes as he asked. "So you want me to just fling you across the rink?"
"Exactly." Zoey said as she stuck out her arms. Mal gave a wicked smile that no one could see and took a few steps before flinging her. He could've flung her farther, but just not yet. When Zoey finished, she marked the spot and skated back to Mal. "Alright, you're turn. You ready?"
"This is ridiculous, I bet I look like a fool." Mal thought as he crouched down. Zoey pouted as she grabbed Mal's arms. "C'mon, it'll be fun. Trust me on this."
When she launched him, he focused on weighing himself down so she wouldn't beat him. Even though it was a small game, he wasn't willing to let her beat him. He noticed that she launched him just maybe a tad further but marked the spot before his line. He smirked at it before pretending to be bummed. "So close, Zoey. Just a little bit farther next time."
"Really?" Zoey asked as she looked past Mal's shoulder as he skated back to her. "Let's play again then."
"Alright…" Mal said through his teeth.
She launched him again, and it seemed with everything she had. It was a few feet farther than they launched before and Mal knew Zoey couldn't possibly beat him. How embarrassing that would be. When it was his turn, he almost launched her arms out of her sockets. She went so far and fast that she even squealed, or screamed, either way, Mal could tell she was slightly scared at her sudden speed. Mal stood there with a wicked smile as he watched her suddenly splat against the wooden wall. She ricocheted off the board with a bang and lay on the ground. People turned to her worried and even stopped.
"Crap." Mal said and if he didn't get moving, then he'd look suspicious. He quickly skated over to her and even "accidently" iced her in the process a little. "Ohmigosh, Zoey! I didn't think I launched you that hard!"
"I'm fine." Zoey groaned as she rubbed her head. "I hit my head a little though."
"Here, let me." Mal said as he helped her up. He hesitated for a second but he had to do it to not look suspicious.
"Thanks." Zoey gave a small smile at him. Even after launching her into the damn wall this girl was smiling. This girl was irritating to no end. "Can we get some hot chocolate? I think I'm done with ice skating for now."
"Of course," Mal said as he skated in front of her. "It's on me."
"No, it's okay." Zoey waved him off.
"It's the least I can do for driving you into the wall." Mal said because he knew, as much as he hated it, he had to do at least something Mike related.
"Alright." She looked him right in the eyes and beamed at him. Mal hasn't seen those doe eyes since last year, and they always made him want to scrunch up his face at them but since then, he noticed something- they provided warmth. Despite of her small change of body and how it seemed she was forcing a smile all the time, her eyes seemed warm and comforting when she was around him.
They approached the hot cocoa stand just outside the rink and paid for two hot chocolates. Zoey took a sip and retracted immediately. "Oh! That's hot!"
"That what happens when you drink it immediately…" Mal said condescendingly.
It seemed she thought he was joking around again as she laughed and shoved his arm slightly. "I just really wanted some warmth since it's almost zero out."
Mal blew on his drink as he took a careful sip and felt the warmth of the drink trickle down his throat. Zoey saw him drink without scrunching his face or anything regarding the scolding drink and dared to take another sip as it seemed to simmer from the frigid cold weather. Zoey looked down from her drink and then back up ahead of her to not look at Mal.
"Are you doing anything for Christmas Eve?" Zoey asked.
Mal didn't know what Mike did around the holidays, but he knew they didn't go on vacation or anything. "Nothing." Mal said as he took another sip.
"Look, Scott is hosting a party- well, I'm technically bringing everyone from Total Drama back. Except for Chris and Chef, that'd be weird." Zoey gave a small laugh as she suddenly stopped and turned to him. "You're the last one I'm asking."
Mal kept in a snarky remark being as he should be first, not last, but bit back whatever he was going to say. "A party at the barn?"
"You make it sound worse than it is…" Zoey said as she drummed on the foam cup that was filled halfway of hot chocolate.
"That's because it is." Mal thought as then he said. "I'll ask my parents."
She seemed to brighten up. "Really? A lot of people said yes already, but it just wouldn't be the same without you."
Her just staring at him made him feel awkward as he suddenly said. "It's time to go."
"Oh…" she seemed kind of sad and bit her lip.
"For your head, of course." Mal said with a fake smile.
A small smile played on her lips as she nodded and followed Mal to the car and they both got in. The thirty minute ride home was silent. Mal was internally grateful for whatever thoughts were going on in Zoey's mind as he wanted some peace from her annoying voice. The drive was quick as he pulled up to her home. She put her hand on the car door and was about to open it but turned to Mal.
"I had a really fun time tonight." Zoey said with a smile.
"That's good considering I rammed you into a wall." Mal laughed thinking about the memory.
"I'm not going to lie when I say the speed was exciting," Zoey said now locking eyes with Mal which made him slightly unnerved. "Until I crashed into the wall, I mean."
"Yeah." Mal looked out the window to break contact with her. "See you later."
It seemed a little cold for just shooing her away like that but this wasn't Mike, this was an entirely different personality that didn't give a second thought of sending Zoey away. Zoey looked confused for a moment before saying. "I'll go then… see you next week." She hesitated for a moment, hoping Mike would do or say something that would make up for his strange behavior. When she noticed he wasn't even moving the slightest, she opened the door and went inside.
Mal finally let out a loud and long groan. This girl was something different and keeping up the Mike act again, but more on guard was tough. He was willing to take up any task that benefited him but this was to the point exhausting. How was he going to keep up the same charade in front of a whole party? It was tough, but Mal wasn't through with her quite yet for his own personal gain. Slowly… ever so slowly… he can feel himself getting stronger.
3,500 words? Am I the only one who thinks this is shorter? I finally was able to get Mal in but sadly, we're not even at the good parts yet. This is why I hate starting stories… One more chapter and then the Christmas chapter which I am so proud and excited to post! Hang in there! Thanks so much for reading and you know how reviews make my day! I also have another note. I created a dawnxscott video! I thought the couple was under appreciated and do ship them a little c; but I mostly just love Dawn. The link is on my profile so please check that out too!
