Part 11: Feel Good Inc.
Another few days had gone by, and during that time things between 2D and Ess had been really, very awkward.
It was mid-day, a normal one so far. Ess stood in the kitchen over the stove, nodding her head to the music plugged in her ears. She was preparing pancakes. Recently, she'd actually gone out and bought some decent food, rather than settling with the usual rubbish Kong held. As she did a little jig, someone burst into the kitchen, causing her to knock the pan upwards, so that the pancake flew into the air, smacking her neck. Eyebrow twitching with irritation, she turned to see that was Murdoc. Wonderful, she thought.
"Get reaaady!" he called. "We're going to the Feel Good for a paaartyyy!"
The crew had been driving for a short while, until they reached what looked to be a city—but it was entirely dead. In the distance, a very tall, cylindrical building stretched way up into the clouds. "That's it," Russel stated, indicating the tall structure.
Soon they were all crowded into a beat-up elevator that reeked of sewage and muck. As it went up and up, the cruddy light above them fell off, hitting 2D in the head and now hung by wires – sparking and flickering. Nobody really seemed very phased by it. Ess was worried the thing would break down any moment. That's when she realized Noodle wasn't with them.
"Where's Noodle gone to?" Ess questioned. The elevator clugged, then came to stop, the doors screeching open.
"Probably gone off to her island," 2D clarified, rubbing his head.
"Island...?" As Ess questioned, they were now entering a room swallowed up in darkness, packed with people—mostly girls dressed rather suggestively. Ess sneered at them in disgust. Large windows lined the walls, as well as some screens off in the corner. There was a stage off to their right, and a lone chair with a megaphone sitting in it. Everything about the place seemed anything but 'feeling good'. The name was rather ironic, for the place was chalk-full of skanks and people in-taking smoke or doing drugs. Music began to play—seemingly out of nowhere. Ess glanced around herself, noticing everyone had gone off somewhere else. Murdoc was being swarmed by girls, who all morphed together—looking more like demons than humans. Gazing past the crowd, she searched for the others. She thought she had heard her name being called, but it was so faint, she wasn't sure. A screech of feedback rang out. "Ess!" someone called, their voice amplified by a megaphone. Ess saw that it was 2D, who was motioning her over to the windows. Weaving through the crowd, she finally made it to him. "Look," he said, softly, barely audible over the noise.
Ess gazed out of the window with him, the sight before them was simply amazing. A windmill, on a piece of land that looked as if it were scooped up by a giant and placed into the sky. What was so unique about it was, it was floating in midair. Ess didn't question it, only basked in it's beauty. Anything seemed possible, ever since she had met her new friends. Noodle could be seen standing atop the island, waving her arms and jumping around. Laughing, Ess waved back. "Noodle!" She uttered, even if Noodle was not able to hear her. "That's so-" Turning to where 2D had been, Ess realized that he was gone. Scanning the crowd, she spotted him, standing with a couple of girls; both with big, puffy hair and a ton of make up caked onto their faces, like a couple of raunchy clowns. They giggled and touched his chest sensually, and the shorter girl of the two leaned in and pressed her red lips to his own. Ess's mouth fell open in dismay, a sort of sinking feeling overwhelming her. 2D looked a bit lost and like he wanted out, but Ess didn't quite grasp this. A hot tear rolled down her cheek before she could even think to cry. No, she thought to herself. I'm not jealous! I... She spun around, her eyes flicking to the window where Noodle's island could be seen. Feeling like someone was yanking at her heart, she took off, shoving people out of her path as she made her way to the elevator. "Ess!" 2D called after her, as the doors slid shut.
"Get off!" he shouted at the red-lipped girl who was snaking her limbs around his own, in an attempt to seduce him. Why have I always given into girls like this? When I could have had someone like her... "You see what you've done?" he roared at the girls, who looked at him in disbelief.
"You like that girl? Yeck," One girl said, flipping her cotton-candy hair arrogantly.
"Your loss," the other said as they strutted off.
"Good riddance!" 2D shrieked after them.
Sprinting toward the island, Ess tilted her head to look up at it. "Noodle!" she called, wiping the tears away. Noodle's head poked out from the edge of the island, then back in. A rope-ladder was thrown down for her. Climbing up the thing was horrifying—it wobbled back and forth in the wind, threatening to lug Ess off of it. Once at the top, Noodle reached out and pulled Ess up. Straight away, Noodle noticed the swelling around Ess's eyes.
"Are you okay?" she asked as they took a seat in the lush grass. Sighing, Ess realized there was no way around it now—she had feelings for 2D.
"Well... I..." she sighed once more, plucking blades of grass from the ground. "I saw a girl kissing 2D in the tower," Ess sobbed, burying her head in her hands. It just didn't make sense to her, that she felt this way. But she just had to accept it, she was falling for him, and some broad kissing him was just the thing to cause all those bottled feelings to explode. Noodle pondered this a bit.
"But... he did not kiss her? I mean... the girl started it, yes?" Ess removed her hands and looked at Noodle.
"Yeah," Ess said. Perhaps she had realized that though, and was just crying because she was scared to admit her true feelings. Noodle placed a reassuring hand on Ess's knee.
"I know that you are best for 2D," she said warmly. "So much better than his past girlfriend. Paula," she stuck her tongue out, making a 'yuck' face. "She was just... gross." Ess laughed. Noodle's accent was simply adorable. "You are not nothing like her. You are better, and I know 2D likes you. It is so... uhm... what's that word?... obvious!" Ess laughed again, giving Noodle a hug. Ess knew she could take Noodle's word. She had known 2D far longer than Ess had, after all.
"Thanks, Noodle. I'm just making this so much harder aren't I? I should just come out and tell him, huh?" The idea freaked Ess out to the fullest. It seemed like an impossible task.
"Yes, for sure!" Noodle smiled, glad that Ess had finally come around. Noodle used to be convinced it may never happen, but at last her good friend 2D would find a girl that is actually suitable for him.