Alright, before I get to the core of the author's note, just letting you guys know about the problem I touched on the last Chapter- I don't think I will need to turn annonymous reviews off. I settled the issue with the person and I don't think I will have any more problems. Don't think anybody noticed as nobody remarked on it but irregardless I figure I'd throw that out there anyways.
I see some of you were expecting what happened in the last chapter to happen, some of you didn't. And that's cool, glad to hear what you guys thought, makes me very happy. I'm going to have to apologize again, I still haven't gotten my next batch of chapters back from my beta reader although she is back and working on it. So I only have one chapter left after this one before I run out and there will be a slight wait. I would have had this chapter out two days ago if I had them, so don't think that I'm not eager to upload more. I'm kind of limited at the moment.
Anyways, there is a song in this chapter! Just like in past chapters with songs in them, the link to the playlist with the songs in it is on my profile, so be sure to check it out. This would be the third song in the story. And like usual, if you're a slow reader, you may want to read it first before listening and reading, though the song itself isn't exactly necessary to the scene. It's just for the ambient feel.
I know a few of you were really hoping for this chapter to come along if you understand what I mean, so enjoy! :)
-Narf
Chapter 10
Making Up
After a moment of following at a safe distance behind Theodore, I began to follow behind a bit closer, brandishing the surprisingly undamaged crutches in my left hand. This was around the same time as Simon sat down on the curb to ponder to himself.
Theodore looked over at me and glared, almost as if I were Simon (with the way he's been acting at least) or something. I didn't like the look, but I didn't want to just leave either. If he's going to go home, I have an obligation to at least follow him, if only for the sake that I'm carrying his crutches. He looked ahead again, trying to ignore that I was there for a few steps before looking at me and glaring at me again.
"Why are you following me!?" Theodore yelled at me.
"Uh...these...?" Trying real hard not to take offense to the comment, I held his crutches up to show him why. "I think Dave would throw a fit he found out you left these behind."
Theodore vigorously snatched the crutches out of my hands and continued to grumpily sulk home, holding onto them in his hand. "Thanks."
He then glared at me again like I was doing something wrong. "So you're still following me?"
That time it hurt, but I wasn't about to get pissed off over that comment either. I had to be real careful. "I'm just trying to make sure that you get home safe, that's all. Please don't yell at me...?"
"And why shouldn't I?!" Theodore yelled out. I was beginning to lose my patience with him fast.
"Theodore, don't yell at me," I said through clenched teeth. "Get a grip of yourself."
"Why should I? You're not my mom," Theodore griped loudly as he began to walk home at a faster pace. After hearing that, I just lost it. I ran up behind him and smacked him hard on the back of his head, enough to cause him to lurch forward.
"That was uncalled for!" I complained as my eyes began to well up.
Theodore growled at me as he rubbed the back of his head, then his eye twitched and he stopped. I think it suddenly occurred to him exactly what he just did, but I couldn't see it because by then I already had my hands in my face and had started crying. This walk turned into exactly what I was trying to prevent the whole time, and I was all but ready to go back home.
KEY SONG: THE EXIES - UGLY
After a few moments, Simon finally was able to least attempt to make amends with the one who was still within earshot: Alvin.
"Alvin?" Simon asked, his voice faltering from being upset. "I'm sorry about the last few weeks."
Alvin looked up to see Simon as visibly upset as he was. Having enough of feeling apathetic about it and ready for a change, he listened up.
Are you ugly? A liar like me?
A user, a lost soul... someone you don't know
Money's no cure, a sickness so pure
Are you like me? Are you ugly?
Simon sighed and kicked a stone off the curb. "I don't know what's got in to me, I have no right to criticize you or anybody else for being ticked off at me."
Alvin scooted down the curb a little bit to listen a little better, he could barely hear him.
"Seeing you this upset with me makes me feel that much worse about it. I had no idea that it would affect you guys this much, I didn't think what I was doing was causing so much damage."
We are dirt, we are alone
You know we're far from sober
We are fake, we are afraid
You know it's far from over
We are dirt, we are alone
You know we're far from sober
Look closer, are you like me?
Are you ugly?
Simon got up and wiped his eyes on his sweater sleeve, and Alvin slowly followed suit with his hands.
"I started to realize what was going on when you stole my monitor cable last night. That's why I came along for this walk but I forgot my manners when I left the house," Simon continued.
Alvin brushed the dirt off his hands on his sweater and nodded.
"Anyway, are you willing to give me another chance? I want to go back to that day when Fritzie first came along, when we worked as an unstoppable team. Deal?" Simon asked, sticking his hand out firmly.
Alvin looked up at Simon, then solidly took his hand and forced a grin. "Deal."
Turn a blind eye, why do I deny?
Medicate me, so I die happy
A strain of cancer, chokes the answers
Are you like me? A liar like me?
Theodore looked at me with a forlorn face before he finally started crying as well. Upset, he put his crutches down on the floor quietly and hugged me from behind.
"I'm really sorry Fritzie! I didn't mean what I said, really!" Theodore whispered in between sobs. I was unable to speak at the moment, so I just let him carry out with whatever he was doing. I'll say that it at least felt nice that someone was hugging me, but I wasn't ready to trust him just yet.
"Please say something? I feel really bad, honestly!" Theodore cried out. I sighed and tried clearing my throat.
"Theodore, it's really hard to talk right now," I said in a raspy voice.
We are dirt, we are alone
You know we're far from sober
We are fake, we are afraid
You know it's far from over
We are dirt, we are alone
You know we're far from sober
Look closer, are you like me?
Are you ugly?
Theodore stopped hugging me and got up, then picked up his crutches and started to walk away.
I got up quickly, trying to clear the tears from my snout. "Wait, Theodore, don't leave!" I cried out.
Theodore turned around, looking at me with eyes that made my heart melt. Meh, I can't stay mad at him. I made a motion for him to come here. He hesitated for a second before he approached me skittishly.
You don't care
I don't care
I'm bitter
You're angry
You don't care
I don't care
You love you
Just like me
"Come on, I'm not going to hit you again, you can come here," I said reassuringly, but still upset.
Theodore hung his head in shame as I hugged him back, letting him know I was going to let it go.
"Look, I know you have a lot of baggage to let go, I do too. Let's put this behind us, alright?"
I blame you
You blame me
I'm bitter
You're angry
You don't care
I don't care
You like you
Like me
Theodore nodded in my arms. I took a step back and lifted his chin up.
"As much as I want to just run off home right now myself, let's just try this walk one more time, alright?" I said, remembering how Alvin and Simon were as miserable as us. They were in the process of getting up off the curb, so they were doing something at least.
Theodore could barely see what I was looking at, but he nodded naively as well and followed behind me.
We are dirt, we are alone
You know we're far from sober
We are fake, we are afraid
You know it's far from over
We are dirt, we are alone
You know we're far from sober
Look closer, are you like me?
Are you ugly?
Theodore and I began to slowly walk down the street, my shirt soaked from both of us crying.
Simon and Alvin noticed us coming back and walked towards us as well. It made me feel a little better that both of them were quite sober as well as the fact that they weren't about ready to kill each other.
When the group of us finally met up at the midpoint, all of us stood awkwardly in one spot waiting for someone else to speak before Simon broke the silence.
Are you ugly?
Are you ugly?
"So..." Simon began hesitantly with a sniffle, "...you guys ready to finally settle this problem for once and for all?"
"Yeah," I said quietly. "I don't think any of us can handle it anymore."
The four of us began walking in the direction of the store again, Theodore back on his crutches. The whole conflict unraveled less than a block away from home; I wouldn't be surprised if some of the neighbors were watching or something.
"Anyway, Theodore, I think I need to come clean about something," Simon said awkwardly. Theodore stopped walking and gave Simon a confused look.
"Yeah?" Theodore asked quietly. Simon sighed.
"I probably should have told you what I was researching in the first place; you probably wouldn't have hated me so much for ignoring you."
Theodore looked at the ground. I was so ready to just jump in and reveal it, but then that would ruin the whole thing. Theodore looked back up at Simon, who sighed again.
"I was researching bone fractures. I just got a little carried away with it, that's all."
Theodore looked at Simon a little confused. "Bone fractures?"
"In other words, he was researching about you man," I cut in, unable to keep my mouth shut any longer. "He was researching about broken bones, and how to make you feel better."
Simon looked at me flatly. "Did you know about this the whole time?"
Alvin and Theodore both looked at me, and I just looked at my feet. "Tal told me yesterday..."
"Why didn't you say something?" Alvin admonished. I looked up at Alvin and shook my head.
"Tal didn't want me to say anything to you guys, he wanted you guys to figure that out on your own." Now I sighed and looked at the floor again. "Besides, Theodore wanted to do this on his own, so I wasn't about to but in. Tal and I both thought it would have been better if we just let him figure that out on his own, even if it meant you guys finally snapped."
The three of them traded shocked looks with each other then nodded; even Alvin.
"So that's why Tal suggested to me I try a different approach," Simon commented.
"He did?" I asked as all four of us resumed walking again.
"Yeah, he did. At first I didn't understand what he meant by that. But in retrospect...I think I know now," Simon said guiltily.
"Tal's a computer junkie himself, I think he knows why you were acting the way you were than anybody else," I commented.
Simon dropped back from being in front of all of us to walk alongside Theodore. "I'm really sorry Theodore. I wish you would have just said something to me, I didn't know what was bothering you; you never said anything about it so I just assumed it was Alvin."
"Ahem," Alvin muttered, clearing his throat. Simon took the hint and nodded.
"Of course, I know now it's not him that was the cause of it. I'll spend more time with you from now on, I promise."
Theodore dropped the crutches and just flat out hugged Simon on the spot. That's better. Things appear to be finally coming to some sort of closure.
"Thank you Simon," Theodore cried out. Simon, feeling welcome to the embrace hugged him back with almost the same ferocity knowing Theodore was willing to help set things right.
After a few moments, Simon stepped back and finally approached me. "And I believe I owe you an apology as well-"
"All three of us do..." Alvin cut in, rubbing the back of his head and looking away. Simon looked back at Alvin before focusing on me again.
"I don't think any of us except for maybe Theodore knew how much stress we were putting on you and we thank you for sticking with us so long to try to keep us in line."
If it were possible, I would be blushing four different shades of red. Who knows, maybe I was underneath the shaggy fur. But it felt a little better that maybe it wasn't all for naught. Didn't get rid of my headache by any means but it made me feel just a little more satisfied.
"Uh, thanks I guess," I said, scratching one of my ears.
"Are you still mad at us?" Theodore asked. I was a little hesitant.
"No, I'm not mad per say. I just have my doubts... especially after all the things that have happened in the last three days," I said unsurely.
The three brothers looked at each other and nodded. "We don't blame you, but we're ready to try to prove it to you. You in?" Simon replied, sticking his hand out for a firm shake.
I smirked and looked at Theodore and Alvin, who looked determined to get this right, before giving Simon a firm handshake. "I'm in."
Whew. Alright, so... do you think the boys will be able to hold true to their word? How will things go later that night? And where's Cody been the last few chapters anyways? All will be revealed soon. Until then, it's always fun to read your speculations. ;) Review!