So what does one do when they're not feeling well and can't absorb
schoolwork? Write fiction! There are always brain cells for fiction ;).
Well, here is chapter four folks! Once again, I do not own the ducks, I
think this is rather redundant by now, but one must observe the rules. I
hope you enjoy! Any comments are welcome.
All I Want For Christmas
"Unngh. . . What's wrong with me?" moaned Mallory as she rolled over again in her bed, trying and failing to get comfortable. "Why won't he get out of my head?"
She flopped over onto her stomach and stared at the headboard dejectedly, absolutely miserable. This marked the third hour she had been trying to sleep. For someone who normally drops off as soon as her head hits the pillow, this was a big deal. She knew what the problem was however, but nothing was working to take it away. Thoughts of Wildwing would not leave her alone. She kept reliving the day she had just had with him and remembering all of their shared moments in the past. Watching him mature and succeed as a leader. Seeing his joy as realization hit that they were free of Dragaunus, and he had swung her up into a huge, exuberant hug. His strength and stability as they later mourned the loss of their only way home. Then on this vacation there had been the looks, the teasing, and the flirting. His bare chest this morning . . . and his bare chest this morning . . . she seemed to be having great difficulty getting past that one. She giggled as she thought of the look on his face when he went down in the snow this morning.
"Hold up. . ." she thought, sitting up suddenly, "Did I just GIGGLE? Oh that's IT!" She furiously fought her way out of the covers, pulled on her workout clothes and stormed down to the weight room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A single light shone down on the punching bag and its attacker, the light catching the beads of sweat that fell as she hit the bag. Exercise was Mallory's only catharsis for her frustration, as she could no longer take it out on Dragaunus' drones.
"Ok Mallory, time to think," she said to herself between punches. "There's obviously something going on with Wing."
~ Oh you know what it is ~ whispered that proverbial little devil on her shoulder.
"It can't be that. So he's paying me a bit more attention then usual, big deal."
~ Are you sure it's just that? ~
She kicked the bag really hard and just scowled deeper.
~ I thought not ~
"It's not like he's. . . interested . . . in me."
~ He sure seems to be acting like it. ~
"I'm just his friend, part of the team. Besides, I'm not his type."
~ How do you know what his type is? ~
"Ok, who invited you anyways?"
~ You're just scared because you like him too. ~
Mallory let out what sounded suspiciously like a growl.
~ You're also afraid that if you let him get close you'll let him down and you'll be left hurting in the end. ~
She punched the bag in rapid succession. "This was not going to be a Mal-bashing session, this is a 'what-to-do-about-Wing discussion."
~ Admit it, you're scared to get your hopes up. ~
"No, this has nothing to do with me, I don't want a relationship, this is his all fault, he's just messing with my head."
~ Mallory. . . ~
"Aarrrrggg!" She hit the bag again, muscles straining, and exhausted she collapsed on the floor, breathing hard. "It's all his fault," she panted. Unbidden, a memory of his smiling face passed before her eyes, making her groan. Suddenly she paused and stared up at the ceiling. To no one in particular she yelled,
"AND NOW HE'S GOT ME TALKING TO MYSELF!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was much later that morning when a bleary-eyed Mallory staggered into the kitchen, desperate for coffee. She had finally managed to sleep but she was definitely feeling the effects of the night before. Duke and Nosedive were sitting at the table talking and looked up as she entered.
'Ahh. . . rough night sweetheart?" asked Duke tentatively. She stared in apparent fascination at the coffee as it dripped into the carafe and merely grunted in reply. Not taking the hint as usual, Nosedive bounced up and eagerly walked over. He had heard about her cooking skills and wanted in on the action.
"Hey Mally-girl! Can I have some waffles?"
"Bite me." Came the retort as she filled a coffee mug.
"Whoa, hold on, ease up Mal," said Duke.
She muttered something that was not fit for polite company and left the room, already sipping the scalding brew.
Duke rounded on Nosedive. "Ok kid, what did you do now?"
"Me?!? Why is it always me?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tanya came knocking on her door later in the day. "Mal? A-are you in here?" Mallory went to open the door to let her friend in. "Yeah." Tanya looked around; the normally spotless room had not yet been set to rights today. The bed was unmade; it looked like it had been a rough night. "Are you ok?" she asked, concerned.
Mallory went back to her distracted pacing. "I'm just . . . antsy I guess. Didn't sleep well."
"Uh, would going shopping help?"
Mallory's head snapped up in sudden attention at the mention of her favourite word. She walked straight over to her best friend, who was both surprised and amused at the fact that Mallory's eyes had gone dewy with wonder. "Yes!" she wailed as she collapsed gratefully on Tanya, arms holding on in a tight hug. Tanya just laughed. "Alright, grab your purse, we're, uh, outta here."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two hours later, they finally stopped to have something to eat. "Feel better?" asked Tanya. Christmas music played softly in the background as the shoppers rushed home with their treasures.
"Mmm hmm," answered Mallory as she sipped her raspberry smoothie. She was distracted again; a couple at a nearby table had been holding hands and talking together, heads pressed intimately close as they smiled at each other. She didn't know what to think about the spike of jealousy she felt on seeing their happiness.
"Alright Mal, what's really the matter?" Tanya finally asked. Tanya had her suspicions, but she had to hear it from Mallory herself. Mallory couldn't look her in the eye. "Nothing," she said. Tanya merely stared expectantly at her until the silence forced Mallory to look at her.
"Well," she edged, "have you noticed anything . . . different . . . about Wildwing lately?"
In no hurry, Tanya sipped her coffee. "No Mal, I haven't noticed anything." The outright lie was hard to get out, but Tanya knew her friend was as yet uncomfortable with the situation and her feelings, and needed to have her feathers soothed. For now that is.
"I don't know, maybe I'm just bad at reading these things, but he seems to be getting a little more . . . personal, you know? A little more playful too," she added, anxious now for Tanya's opinion.
"Do you think it could just be the fact that he's finally able to shed the leader role and become a little more like a friend?" Tanya asked. "He has gotten a lot more relaxed this past year with Dragaunus gone."
Mallory's confused mind latched eagerly onto the possibility that Tanya dangled in front of her like bait. "You know, I never thought of that! That must be it Tanya! Oh I can't believe I thought that . . . ahem . . ." She took a sip of her smoothie again to cover up her unfinished thought. "You're right, that makes a lot of sense, I don't know what I was thinking."
"Uh, no problem Mallory, nothing to worry about." Tanya smiled gently back at her friend. "Ready to hit the stores again?"
Very ready to drop the subject, a relieved Mallory bounced up, recharged and ready to go. "Oh for sure! Let's try the upstairs!" In her head thoughts were whirling in all different directions, "I can't believe I thought he was interested in me! Tanya's so right, if he just wants to be closer friends then there's absolutely nothing to worry about! I can totally relax around him then, I can handle friendship."
Tanya watched Mallory walk away and shook her head. "This is going to be an interesting vacation," she muttered.
All I Want For Christmas
"Unngh. . . What's wrong with me?" moaned Mallory as she rolled over again in her bed, trying and failing to get comfortable. "Why won't he get out of my head?"
She flopped over onto her stomach and stared at the headboard dejectedly, absolutely miserable. This marked the third hour she had been trying to sleep. For someone who normally drops off as soon as her head hits the pillow, this was a big deal. She knew what the problem was however, but nothing was working to take it away. Thoughts of Wildwing would not leave her alone. She kept reliving the day she had just had with him and remembering all of their shared moments in the past. Watching him mature and succeed as a leader. Seeing his joy as realization hit that they were free of Dragaunus, and he had swung her up into a huge, exuberant hug. His strength and stability as they later mourned the loss of their only way home. Then on this vacation there had been the looks, the teasing, and the flirting. His bare chest this morning . . . and his bare chest this morning . . . she seemed to be having great difficulty getting past that one. She giggled as she thought of the look on his face when he went down in the snow this morning.
"Hold up. . ." she thought, sitting up suddenly, "Did I just GIGGLE? Oh that's IT!" She furiously fought her way out of the covers, pulled on her workout clothes and stormed down to the weight room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
A single light shone down on the punching bag and its attacker, the light catching the beads of sweat that fell as she hit the bag. Exercise was Mallory's only catharsis for her frustration, as she could no longer take it out on Dragaunus' drones.
"Ok Mallory, time to think," she said to herself between punches. "There's obviously something going on with Wing."
~ Oh you know what it is ~ whispered that proverbial little devil on her shoulder.
"It can't be that. So he's paying me a bit more attention then usual, big deal."
~ Are you sure it's just that? ~
She kicked the bag really hard and just scowled deeper.
~ I thought not ~
"It's not like he's. . . interested . . . in me."
~ He sure seems to be acting like it. ~
"I'm just his friend, part of the team. Besides, I'm not his type."
~ How do you know what his type is? ~
"Ok, who invited you anyways?"
~ You're just scared because you like him too. ~
Mallory let out what sounded suspiciously like a growl.
~ You're also afraid that if you let him get close you'll let him down and you'll be left hurting in the end. ~
She punched the bag in rapid succession. "This was not going to be a Mal-bashing session, this is a 'what-to-do-about-Wing discussion."
~ Admit it, you're scared to get your hopes up. ~
"No, this has nothing to do with me, I don't want a relationship, this is his all fault, he's just messing with my head."
~ Mallory. . . ~
"Aarrrrggg!" She hit the bag again, muscles straining, and exhausted she collapsed on the floor, breathing hard. "It's all his fault," she panted. Unbidden, a memory of his smiling face passed before her eyes, making her groan. Suddenly she paused and stared up at the ceiling. To no one in particular she yelled,
"AND NOW HE'S GOT ME TALKING TO MYSELF!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was much later that morning when a bleary-eyed Mallory staggered into the kitchen, desperate for coffee. She had finally managed to sleep but she was definitely feeling the effects of the night before. Duke and Nosedive were sitting at the table talking and looked up as she entered.
'Ahh. . . rough night sweetheart?" asked Duke tentatively. She stared in apparent fascination at the coffee as it dripped into the carafe and merely grunted in reply. Not taking the hint as usual, Nosedive bounced up and eagerly walked over. He had heard about her cooking skills and wanted in on the action.
"Hey Mally-girl! Can I have some waffles?"
"Bite me." Came the retort as she filled a coffee mug.
"Whoa, hold on, ease up Mal," said Duke.
She muttered something that was not fit for polite company and left the room, already sipping the scalding brew.
Duke rounded on Nosedive. "Ok kid, what did you do now?"
"Me?!? Why is it always me?"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Tanya came knocking on her door later in the day. "Mal? A-are you in here?" Mallory went to open the door to let her friend in. "Yeah." Tanya looked around; the normally spotless room had not yet been set to rights today. The bed was unmade; it looked like it had been a rough night. "Are you ok?" she asked, concerned.
Mallory went back to her distracted pacing. "I'm just . . . antsy I guess. Didn't sleep well."
"Uh, would going shopping help?"
Mallory's head snapped up in sudden attention at the mention of her favourite word. She walked straight over to her best friend, who was both surprised and amused at the fact that Mallory's eyes had gone dewy with wonder. "Yes!" she wailed as she collapsed gratefully on Tanya, arms holding on in a tight hug. Tanya just laughed. "Alright, grab your purse, we're, uh, outta here."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Two hours later, they finally stopped to have something to eat. "Feel better?" asked Tanya. Christmas music played softly in the background as the shoppers rushed home with their treasures.
"Mmm hmm," answered Mallory as she sipped her raspberry smoothie. She was distracted again; a couple at a nearby table had been holding hands and talking together, heads pressed intimately close as they smiled at each other. She didn't know what to think about the spike of jealousy she felt on seeing their happiness.
"Alright Mal, what's really the matter?" Tanya finally asked. Tanya had her suspicions, but she had to hear it from Mallory herself. Mallory couldn't look her in the eye. "Nothing," she said. Tanya merely stared expectantly at her until the silence forced Mallory to look at her.
"Well," she edged, "have you noticed anything . . . different . . . about Wildwing lately?"
In no hurry, Tanya sipped her coffee. "No Mal, I haven't noticed anything." The outright lie was hard to get out, but Tanya knew her friend was as yet uncomfortable with the situation and her feelings, and needed to have her feathers soothed. For now that is.
"I don't know, maybe I'm just bad at reading these things, but he seems to be getting a little more . . . personal, you know? A little more playful too," she added, anxious now for Tanya's opinion.
"Do you think it could just be the fact that he's finally able to shed the leader role and become a little more like a friend?" Tanya asked. "He has gotten a lot more relaxed this past year with Dragaunus gone."
Mallory's confused mind latched eagerly onto the possibility that Tanya dangled in front of her like bait. "You know, I never thought of that! That must be it Tanya! Oh I can't believe I thought that . . . ahem . . ." She took a sip of her smoothie again to cover up her unfinished thought. "You're right, that makes a lot of sense, I don't know what I was thinking."
"Uh, no problem Mallory, nothing to worry about." Tanya smiled gently back at her friend. "Ready to hit the stores again?"
Very ready to drop the subject, a relieved Mallory bounced up, recharged and ready to go. "Oh for sure! Let's try the upstairs!" In her head thoughts were whirling in all different directions, "I can't believe I thought he was interested in me! Tanya's so right, if he just wants to be closer friends then there's absolutely nothing to worry about! I can totally relax around him then, I can handle friendship."
Tanya watched Mallory walk away and shook her head. "This is going to be an interesting vacation," she muttered.