Chapter 4 The Bet
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It had rarely uccurred to Nala just how reasonable and mature she was for her age.
Sure, she liked to tease her best friend Simba now and then but this was all in good spirits.
Plus, she believed that at times, Simba had it coming. He was always either getting himself
into trouble, or trying as secretly as possible, to practice his dancing and singing skills. Sometimes
both at once.
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Whenever Nala caught him in the middle of a performance she just had to laugh.
Simba, after all was a cub who liked to play it rough and fight all the time. So seeing him
getting all enchanted and such was rather funny.
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The first time, she caught him, he was in denial about it.
"No i don't do girly stuff like that. I was just practicing my hunting skills." He had poutingly explained
Nala didn't know what the big deal was. "Come on, don't lie to me. I think it's kind of cool, to be honest."
She really meant that. " But you laughed" Simba had said, while pouting. Nala had chuckled.
"I laughed because i didn't expect it. I didn't want to hurt your feelings."
Even though Simba muttered half heartedly something about him not having his feelings hurt,he slowly stopped to pout.
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Simba could be insufferable at times, but Nala knew that normally he was a good boy. He was just a bit stubborn and spoiled.
It wasn't as if Nala didn't know how to handle Simba if he got too annoying. She was stronger than him and could pin him down any day.
Lately though, Simba had started to act weird. Sure, the gang of cubs was one thing,( a problem that Simba could just as easily
solve, if he could only swallow his pride and tell his dad about the situation) but he had started to act more immature and easily
offended than before. It was as if he was hiding something from her. What was going on with him. Why was he so reluctant to tell her.
She was sure it was about another cub. Nala was certain that he had a crush on someone and she wasn't supposed to know.
"What a stubborn idiot!" Nala whispered to herself as she tried to make sense of it all.
Sometimes the truth seems too obvious for us to acknowledge it.
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Nala lay on the farthest peak of pride rock, observing the great green plane, as the sun slowly started to descent. The grass, the trees , the dirt...
all of it turned orange in the evening sun. Suddenly Nala spotted two figures approaching pride rock from the far east. It was Simba and Nalas brother Mhetuu.
"What the flying f..." "Hey watch it , young lady!" It was Nalas Mother Sarafina who had interrupted Nala mid- sentence.
"Yes mom. I wasn't going to say anything too bad."
She said absent mindedly as she kept on watching the two figures drawing closer.
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When she was with Simba , she would just talk anyway she wanted, because Simba did so too.
One of Simbas best qualities was his wild side. Even though he'd get in trouble for it, Nala couldn't deny that the best adventures were to be had with Simba.
Both Simba and Nala didn't curse around their parents, obviously, but once they were out of reach , the floodgates of foulmouthedness would open.
If Mhetuu was near, Nala always made sure that he didn't tell her mother, but sometimes Mhetuu behaved just like the Mamas boy who nala thought him to be and he tattled on her and Simba.
Sometimes, not always.
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"Whatever you say, Nala." Said Sarafina with a knowing smile.
Nala was still watching the two cubs walking towards pride rock.
"Mom, I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm just gonna meet up with Mhetuu and Simba." Nala said and got on to her paws.
"Alright, but be back once the stars are out." Sarafina reminded her daughter.
"Sure thing" Just like that Nala was on her way.
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Meanwhile Mhetuu and Simba were walking side by side towards pride rock while talking.
"Tommorow we start the bet properly. " Said Simba
Yeah, it's getting dark and all the cubs from Kuhishas gang are already with their moms inside the den."
Simba clenched his teeth. "Cowards" He spat.
"Do i need to remind you of what we'd been talking a few hours ago in the cave.
Neither of us has any right to call anyone a coward...yet"
The two of them trottet a few more minutes without saying a word.
"Oh no" Said Simba as he spottet Nala coming their way.
Simba instinctively widened the gap beetween him and Mhetuu, as not to give Nala any ideas.
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"What's up guys" She cheerfully greetet the two.
"Hey Siss" Replied Mhetuu.
"Hey Nala, sorry again for...y'know... what i did".
Mhetuu wasn't sure what to make of that statement, then he came to a hastily thought out conclusion.
Without a sign of warning he pounced on Simba, pinned him down and extendet his claws , holding them up to Simbas face, ready to strike.
"Did you hit my sister?"
Mhetuu yelled at Simba with fury in his voice.
Simba just stared at Mhetuu in bewilderement. "What the f*** dude. No i did not hit her. I just yelled at her. Now get of my A** you psycho."
Simba pushed Mhetuu of off him.
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Mhetuu became mild and timid again. "Oh , i'm so sorry Simba, i just thought you meant ...nevermind "
Nala was perplexed by what had just happened. "Whoa, did you just threaten Simba ?"
"Of course, i mean you're my sister and i would never let anyone hurt you" Said Mhetuu meekly.
"Ok, just to be sure. Simba , did my baby brother just threaten you ?" Nala asked Simba in disbelief.
"Hey , we`re twins and i already told you that i did" Protested Mhetuu.
"Shut up for a second Mhetuu, the big kids are talking. Simba, were you just threatened by Mhetuu"
Nala looked at Simba expectently.
Simba replied with seemingly mellow tone of voice as not to suggest that he'd been too upset by what just transpired.
"Well, i guess so. I mean sure, he was a bit too agressive but then again he thought that, for whatever reason, i had
hit you. Everybody snaps at something...i guess."
Nala was discombobulated at how little Simba seemed to care.
"Mhetuu just got legitimately furious at someone. This is truly peculiar." Proclaimed Nala.
"Why are you talking about me in the third person? I'm right here" Objected Mhetuu.
"Hush, little brother, I need to think about this for a second"
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Simba sighed in relief as he muttered. "At least she's not asking me why I'm hanging out with Mhetuu"
"Why were you hanging out with Mhetuu anyway ?" Asked Nala with suspicion in her voice
Simba groaned. "Why do i tempt the devil so often ?"
"Or, if you are too stubborn to answer, I'm just gonna ask Mhetuu. Mhetuu, why were you hanging out with Simba?"
"Err... we were doing... cool bro stuff" He was desperately struggling for a convincing explanation.
"Totally normal boy stuff. Being the bro's that we are, we earlier engaged in talk about cool stuff of the unemotional type."
Added Simba, trying to hide his nervousness.
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Nala scanned the two of them with suspicion. First looking sharply into Mhetuus, then Simbas eyes.
Simba got weak knees as Nala stared at him.
She had those Azure blue eyes that he feared could gaze into his heart and leave him exposed.
Because of this he couldn't bare to maintain eye contact.
He tried to make it look as if he was rolling his eyes, to make it seem as if she wasn't intimidating him.
Hoping that she would have redirected her gaze elsewhere , he took a quick glance at her again, only to be meet by her analysing eyes once again.
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"You know, I was kind of joking before but, are you two together?"
Mhetuu blushed. Simba groaned.
"No. Despite what you suspected earlier and even what Kuhisha said, I'm not in love or together with Mhetuu."
Nala keep her stare as she investigated further.
"If you two are not together but you also usually don't hang out together, at least not without me, then why are you two love birds walking side by side in the sunset."
"If you really want to know" Grumbled Simba, " i saw him getting bullied by Kuhisha and his gang. I interfered and managed to help him escape."
"I thought you said, you had no chance against Kuhisha and his gang." Inquired Nala.
Simba was still avoiding her eyes, which made it difficult for his statements to seem self assured.
It seemed more like he was submitting to her aura of mature authority rather then argue against it.
"I didn't beat them up, i knocked a few of them out with a trick and ran away."
Nala arched her left eyebrow. " Why didn't you use that trick earlier when I had to come and safe you ?"
A moment of silence past. Before Simba could give a sufficient answer, Mhetuu suddenly blurted out.
"We didn`t kiss!"
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Nala turned her head towards Mhetuu in surprise.
"What ?"
Simba facepalmed.
"Ugh, sometimes i could..." He muttered
"Me and Simba , we didn`t kiss. I mean we obviously wouldn't , since we are not together." Said Mhetuu nervously.
To Simba there was only one explanation for Mhetuus behaviour.
He must`ve had a bit too much sensory input
during the last few hours.
First the bullying then the kiss, followed by a rush of aggression and now this uncomfortable investigation he had to endure.
Simba tried to reason with Nala.
"Listen Nala, it was a long day and we are tired, why don`t we talk about this tomorrow."
She jerked her head back towards Simba.
She once again observed Simba`s face , recognizing signs of avoidance.
He avoided her eye contact.
He was obviously very uncomfortable, so she decided to let it go for now.
"Alright, you know what. If you two won`t tell me now, I won't bother you anymore for now. Just to let you know, I wouldn`t have anything against
it if you two were together."
"We are not" Sighed Simba.
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Later in the den
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The pridelands were bathed in the sapphire blue moonlight as night reigned over the land.
Mhetuu couldn't sleep.
"Hey Simba, are you awake?" He whispered to the prince of the pridelands.
"Now I am" Simba answered, a bit grumpy.
"What do you want ?" He asked as patiently as he could.
"Do you still wanna do it , the bet i mean ?" Asked Mhetuu hesitantly.
"Of course i want to. Why wouldn`t I. Do you think i`m a coward ? "
Mhetuu sighed. " No i don`t think you`re a coward, but i just don`t want you to feel pressured into doing this.
We can just as well tell our parents about Kuhisha and i can help you confess your love to Nala."
Simba scoffed. " I`m not a pansy, i don`t need you to help me confess my love to Nala."
"No need to get all salty about it." Mhetuu replied.
"I`m not salty " Protested Simba.
"Ok, sorry" Apologised Mhetuu.
A few seconds passed without a sound.
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"Simba ?" Mhetuu asked timidly.
"What is it Mhetuu?" Responded Simba with a hint of annoyance.
"Can i sleep next to you for the night. I`m kinda nervous and scared about tomorrow and you have a calming presence."
Simba thought about this for a few seconds before he responded.
"Alright, but if anyone asks, i didn`t agree to this, and don`t hug me without my permission or while I`m asleep" Simba said.
Mhetuu got up and walked over to Simba, carefull to avoid tripping over the other peacefully sleeping lions and lionesses.
He laid down right next to Simba. Mheetu could hear Simba breathing. It was as calming as the rythm of ocean waves at midnight.
The moon shone peacefully down on the two cubs as they were about to fall asleep.
"Simba, you know i think you`re really fierce and cute" Mhetuu wispered.
Simba murmured something in reply that kind of sounded like " Thank you" but Mhetuu wasn`t sure.
"What ?" He asked.
Simba replied with a hasty sounding " I said f#&* you"
It didn`t even remotely sound like what Simba had uttered before, but Mhetuu didn't care. He was close to someone he loved.
So with the words, "Good night my sweet prince" he fell asleep.
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Nala, hadn't been able to sleep as well, and now She really couldn't sleep.
She had involantarelly listened in on Mhetuu and Simba.
She had heard something she wasn't supposed to hear.
Simba had a crush on her.
That had been his secret.
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/End of Chapter 4
Next Chapter: Chapter 5 If his heart had been a cannon...