Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Really. Except for my sparkle heels. Those I loooveee.
Author's Notes: Well guys... this is it. The last chapter for this story (And Ned's clearly, since you've been reading along with his as well) As I said earlier, I'm kinda burned out in terms of Ned's Declassified. I do have another idea for a follow-up story...but I don't think that I will end up writing it. Just to be safe, I have not included the epilogue for this story I originally wrote. (This is a case where I started writing the ending to the story, then played the what-if game and decided I better not,in case this continuation comes to arise. Let me know what you think)
The door slams in her face.
The door shuts loudly, proclaiming Ned's obvious reaction.
The door, which she knows as well as hers, closes.
The door, a symbol of unrequited feelings.
Was is really a surprise that Moze can't sleep? She sits curled up on her butterfly chair, staring at the walls. She knows that it's close to midnight, and that she has school tomorrow. Unfortunately, this is not a guarantee for sleep. She squeezes her eyes shut and repeats over and over in her head Sleep and you shall relax. Sleep and you shall relax...
Suddenly, she hears a sound of something outside. I didn't know it was windy. She can swear that she heard her name being called. Then, there is the somewhat familiar sound of something hitting against the door. Ned and her used to throw stuff from their balconies to the ground every once in a while. It was also used for sneaking out of the house, on occasion. This can only mean one thing.
Moze gets up from her chair with a grunt. She pads softly over to the window/door like structure and crawls out. "Ned?" She questions with shock "What the hell?" On the ground, she catches a glimpse of the pin that secured her dress back when she went to the reunion. So that's where I left that
"Not Ned, only the fair Ned-eo" Ned says in response. Doesn't he know that that ended in tragedy?
"Ned, sweetie, it's almost midnight. More imperatively, what are you doing here" Moze walks haltingly to the railing of the balcony, She looks down at him.
Ned trots over to the maple tree that has been growing to the left of the balcony since her dad planted it when her mom and him moved in a long time ago. He struggles to get himself onto the lowest branch, then shifts so that his back is to the tree "Now I'm a sweetie?" He crosses his arms and gapes at her "You sure change your mind quick. You hated me all week"
"It's not that simple" Moze manages to say as Ned pulls himself onto the branch to the right. Please may my parents not wake up.
"It never is" He stops speaking for a moment "Why can't it be?"
"Stop over analyzing" Moze picks a tube of Ruby Raspberry lipstick off of her balcony where it lay forgotten. She motions as if she's about to throw it at him, but she pulls her shot at the last moment. Why did I buy this color anyway? I hate it.
"You wouldn't. You don't have the guts" Ned unsteadily stands on his section of the tree and falls over. "...Ow. Ow. I think I'm dead"
"That's just Karma"
"Come with me" Ned warily tries to stand up. "Please"
"Okay" Moze grins slowly. "But remember that you wore me down" She eyeballs the tree, then looks at Ned for a second. "But if it's all the same to you, I think I'll take the door"
"Fair enough" Ned replies.
"Actually.." Moze jumps into the tree with practiced ease then crawls down.I still got it! Her right foot slips, and she falls backwards into Ned's arms.
"Hey" Moze replies
"Hey" Ned looks at her. Despite the absurdity of the situation, with both of them in their jammies standing outside in her yard, it feels oddly comfortable. If he smiles, does that mean he approves of my outfit? And is it so wrong to be pleased with that?
"You're certainly.. matching" Ned says to her as he doesn't know what to say
"I guess" Moze walks slightly closer to him. When he begins to head towards his car, she goes after him. What's going on? "It was a birthday present from...Suzie, I think?"
"It must be nice having so many 'friends' that you can't remember who gave it to you" Ned sighs.
"Not so great" Moze rolls her eyes. "You could thank the wrong person and get into trouble"
"Oh" Ned's neck bobbles in agreement "But some things you remember"
"Mm" Moze stands in front of his car, and scratches her head in confusion. "So why have you dragged me out here in my jammies?"
"Its sorta a surprise" Ned plays with his keys. With a beep-beep, the doors are unlocked.
"Are you going to blindfold me?" Moze cocks an eyebrow. "Because that's not happening."
"Good idea. But no" Ned smirks (Cutely, Moze notices)"But no. I'm just going to let it be a surprise"
Moze slides into the shotgun seat. "Fine" What's going on?
"Don't be so tense" Ned says.
"Think about it like this" Moze answers. My stomach is doing the conga. "This guy that I've known since I was practically a fetus basically slammed the door in my face after I kissed him. That's enough to make anyone tense."
"...well..." Ned just trails off. "I don't know what to say to that"
I know what you could say..."So where are we going?" Moze asks as the car moves forward.
"I told you, have faith in me" Ned gives her a slow smile.
"I have" Moze says in an even tone as she keeps her eyes locked on him "And it hasn't been always in my favor." And you better not deny it.
Ned's face turns redder than a strawberry as he keeps his eyes on the road. "I know" He pauses as the road zooms by.
"Are you going to ask me?" Please say no...
"Ask you what?"
"What happened on the football field?" Moze yawns a tiny bit. "I know everyone is dying to know"
"To be completely honest, I don't care. Cheer leading never seemed like you anyway" Ned's shoulder goes up in a shrug as he makes a turn
"To be completely honest..." Moze mocks him. "It never really felt like it was me, either"
"The yellow hair dye or the color contacts? Or, better yet, the green and gold cheer skirt"
"Yellow hair?" Moze curls up in laughter. "You thought my hair was YELLOW?"
" 'S what it looked like to me" Ned smirks.
"I'll have you know that the skirt is yellow, and my hair was HIGHLIGHTED gold" Moze laughs loudly. God, it's been so long since I did that.
And just like that, it seems like the separation of three years has melted away, and everything is as it should be.
"So." Moze says stiltedly. "Suzie tells me..." If it turns out that she lied to me, I will...do something horrible to her.
"Moze, don't listen to a word she says" Ned squeezes the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles are turning white from the pressure.
"So you really did it with her?" Moze's face colors in a deep blush She turns to the window to see the trees zipping by "You know, I was so willing to believe her..."
"Wait, what?" Ned turns to her suddenly. "Huh?" My god, he looks sooo confused
"Haven't heard that in a while" Moze smiles faintly. "She came to me and said that you didn't"
"I never...I wouldn't..I..." Ned stammers. "I didn't do anything with Suzie."
"So you didn't?" Moze's face crumples into relief. "I just had to ask." Is that a relief or what?
"There wasn't a better way to ask?"
"Not one that I could think of" Moze shrugs. "So where are we going, again?"
Ned bites his lip. "I don't know?" He finally says
"You don't know where you're going?" Moze stretches an arm out to the door "Let me out of here. You're a predator! I knew it"
"..If I should tell you" Ned finishes. "Don't you like surprises?"
"No" Moze bluntly says. "Especially when they involve matters of the heart." Even more specifically,when they involve you.
"Can't blame you..." Ned says. "All I am to you is a series of disappointments."
"Some parts" Moze gazes out of the window to see signs zipping by "Not all of it." She yanks at a blue thread on her pants. I hope these don't fall apart.
"What's the rest?" Ned questions
He is given a silent stare.
"Well, I'll share what you make me think of" Ned wheedles. Ned? Screams his inner voice. Ned Bigby, what the hell are you doing? This is not the right thing to do!
"What, dare I ask?"
"You, Jennifer Ann Mosley, remind me of spicy food, lost Puppy-Bears, summer days, locker decorations, first kisses...and heart-shaped necklaces"
"Mmm, Puppy-Bear" The corner of Moze's mouth twitches to create a smile. "He's still around, for the record"
"It wouldn't be right any other way" Ned motions for her to start.
"You...remind me of more than any one person should. Of a grassy green field, monkey bars. Of stolen diaries and waffles on Saturday mornings. But of other things too. Of heartbreak and pain" ...and so much more than that...
Ned doesn't speak for a while. "Sorry about the last two"
"What's done is done.." Moze answers. "Do you remember when Missy had an obsession with you?"
"That was one of the more horrible moments of my life"
So the trip goes on like that, trading stories and anecdotes. They rarely touch upon the missing years that they missed. A few things are mentioned, to fill in the blanks that the other has. But for the most part, it is too painful. A terrible reminder.
"We're here" Ned pokes Moze.
"Really?" Moze says. "Already?"
"I've been driving for a little more than an hour." Ned glances quickly at the clock in the car.
"So not already" Moze looks around. "Are you ever going to tell me where we are?"
"Um..." Ned begins. "You can try to figure it out as we go along, how about that?" This better not be an elaborate prank.
"Fine" Moze pouts.
Ned helps her out of the car. As she steps out, she sighs. "Tell me again why I went along with this insane whatever it is?" Because I trust him.
"Because you always go along with my insane schemes" Ned says with a complete poker face. They walk down a pathway made of stone and dirt. Ned prays that he remembers exactly where it is. If not...he's in huge trouble right now.
"Really? How come I'm so gullible?"
The two teenagers are in front of a tree with a blue t-shirt hanging from it. The shirt is very faded and has holes in it from weather damage.
"Wait, are we.."
"Shh.." Ned makes her go quiet by whispering in her ear. "We'll be there in a little bit."
"Oh my...go.." but Moze doesn't finish her sentence. They are at the Rose Garden in Huffington Gardens. Where it all began for them.
"So that T-shirt..."
"..is the one that got torn off of me about 4 years ago" Ned says with a hint of shame in his voice "I know its not exactly right..Because the flowers aren't blooming and stuff, but I really..."
"Ned" Moze places a finger on his lips. "It's okay" She removes her finger and replaces it with her lips.
And then he kisses her back. Then she knows that she did the right thing. And she allows herself to get caught up in the moment
Her left hand is interlaced with his. She becomes hyper-aware of everything from the slightly cool feeling of his hands, to the fact that her right hand is running up and down his back slowly. And at this moment, for the first time in a long time, she is not worrying about what the other 10s will think. At the moment, all that matters is the here and the now.
So that's it. The story. So, voice your opinion about this story. I'll make a deal with you. If you review both stories, I'll Private Message (Or e-mail if you prefer) my idea for a possible follow up to this.
Adios!
Darkbunny
