Ch. 29:
Judy defied the urge to heave a sigh as the sniffling continued in her ear. Said sniffling belonged to Fru Fru and Percy. She looked over to the shrew and rabbit, both of them had tears in their eyes as they watched Nick perform the Santa Fur Reprise.
It was an emotional song and so far the only song the fox was having problems with. It required a level of melancholy emotion that Nick wasn't able to reach.
Watching him as Mrs. Armadio gave him more instructions, Judy remembered his mantra: Never let them see that they get to you. And she wondered if, even if it was just acting, he couldn't manage to get out of that mindset.
But despite the drama teacher's insistence Nick could do better, Fru and Percy were taking his acting hook, line, and sinker. "He's so good at this," Percy blubbered and Fru Fru nodded in agreement. The two sat between Judy and Leodore, the latter gave Judy a look that said he shared her feelings about the two's emotional status. She shrugged helplessly at him.
Mrs. Armadio told Nick to start again and Judy noticed the closest thing to insecure the fox could muster flash across his face. His eyes trailed over to her and the others, looking mildly surprised by Fru Fru and Percy's weeping. When his eyes met Judy she offered an encouraging smile and it looked like the fox took the smile to heart.
He took in a deep breath and sang: "Let me go. Far away. Somewhere they won't ever fine me, and tomorrow wont' remind me of today." His voice was finally dropping to a disheartened tenor and Judy smiled despite her the sobbing that grew louder.
"Just be real is all I'm asking…Not some painting in my head…Cause I'm dead if I can't count on you today…I got nothing if I ain't got…Santa Fur…"
.
For once Judy practiced without Nick around, the song they were focusing on today didn't involve him and he had left with Rick. Today she practiced with Finnick, Fru Fru, and the other zoosies as they sang King of New Yak.
Tables were placed on the stage, where certain members of the cast would be dancing atop them as they sang:
"A solid gold watch with a chain to twirl it…"
"My very own bed and an indoor terlet…"
"A barbershop haircut that cost a quarter…"
Finnick pulled Judy onto the table as he sang his line: "A regular beat for the star reporter!"
Judy's body thrummed with adrenaline as she danced and sang along with the rest of the crowd. Smiling her most confident as she did so.
"We was sunk, pale and pitiful."
"Buncha wet noodles!"
"Pawitzer's poodles."
"Almost about to drown in the drink," Fru Fru twirled.
"When she fished us out!"
"And drowned us in ink!"
Judy's voice burst through the auditorium, "So let's get drunk! Not on liquor. Fame works quicker, when you're king of New Yak."
They finished the song with only one porcupine falling off (but he jumped back up as spry as ever). Judy smiled at Finnick as the two jumped off their own table and stretched, ready for a break.
"You're surprisingly good at this, Finnick," Judy told him.
He shrugged in what could have been considered a bashful manner, "It's not so bad… Not as bad as it could be…I guess."
Judy smirked, starting to wonder if Nick got his prickliness (a prickliness she hadn't seen for a while now) from his older friend.
"Uh oh, his ears are red," Honey appeared from back stage and immediately headed over to her friend, smiling at the now bashful fennec fox. "Was someone actually nice to you?"
Finnick adorably pouted, making him look younger than he was and causing the two girls to giggle.
"How are the props coming along, Honey?" Judy asked the honey badger.
"Fantastic," Honey placed her paws on her hips and lifted her nose triumphantly in the air. "I am my Dad's daughter and he taught me to build my own place with only a board and three nails before I could even walk."
Judy smiled at her, remembering seeing the intimidating badger back when they had all been punished with detention.
She watched Honey and Finnick share a casual conversation and realized she actually really liked these two. Finnick may have seen a short-tempered and rude fennec fox but he was actually pretty nice once you got to know him, and wise if his advice about Rick was anything to go by.
And Honey may have been…eccentric, but she was always ready for a smile and a tender look in her eyes for her two friends.
Nick was lucky to have him.
"So how goes Princess's wooing of you?" Honey asked Finnick with a sly smile on her face.
Finnick's glower was puzzled, "Princess?"
"That's what Nick calls Fru Fru," Judy told him.
Finnick frowned, "You'd think he'd give his best friend a nickname."
"He calls you Fin," Judy pointed out.
"That doesn't count its still my name just minus 'nick'."
Honey grinned proudly, "I'm Sugar and Darling and Honey Bunches of Oats."
Judy giggled at Finnick's slightly affronted expression. "At least you're not Carrots," she told him.
"You said it wrong," Honey told the rabbit, making Judy frown.
"Nick doesn't say Carrots," Finnick told her. "He says Carrots." The last word came out in a dreamy sigh, Finnick blinking fondly like he was a damsel dreaming of her prince charming.
Judy laughed along with Honey, ignoring the heat beneath her fur and the red of her ears.
.
The stage had been taken over by the crew, fixing up the buildings for Zoosies and needing the space. Since today Mrs. Armadio only planned on working on Watch What Happens, she sent Judy, Fru Fru, Nick, and Finnick (the four who sang the song) to the basically empty gym to practice.
The only other mammals at the gym were Charlie, Bogo, and a few other students who were getting a workout with the exercising equipment. Bogo lifted a pair of very large weights and Charlie running on a treadmill.
The four picked an empty corner of the gym and practiced the song: "Get those kids to see we're circling victory. And watch what happens. We're doing something no one's even tried and yes, we're terrified but watch what happens."
Their singing caught Charlie's attention who slowed the treadmill down in order to watch them. She hadn't been paying much attention to the progressing of Zoosies, mainly for the fact Sven and Gazelle were in it and she was taking great pains to avoid the two of them as well as Winter. But she had heard that Nick and Judy were playing leads and if the whispers of the hallways were to be true it sounded like the two had obvious chemistry.
Watching the two sing with their friends Charlie could sense what everyone had been talking about and it made her heart sink with dread. She hoped neither tried to make their relationship anything deeper than a friendship, they were a fox and a rabbit, they were natural enemies, it would never work out… Just like a cheetah and a reindeer.
"Hi, Charlie," Judy's voice broke her from her reverie in time to see the rabbit sprinting across the gym to her side.
"Hey, Judy," Charlie greeted her, stopping her treadmill entirely. "Is your practice over already?"
Judy shook her head, "We're just taking a break. Nick went off to get some snacks. Fru Fru and Finnick…" she glanced over her shoulder where the shrew was talking Finnick's ear off, the fox didn't seem to mind, "Are being Fru Fru and Finnick."
She leaned against the treadmill and smiled up at Charlie, her violet eyes pondering and the cheetah's sense of dread rose. "Is everything okay? You've been so distant from everyone. Gazelle told me you two haven't talked in days."
Charlie tried to shrug the bunny's words off, "Life has just been hectic for a few days, I just need some…quiet time."
Judy's brow furrowed, she wasn't buying what Charlie was selling. "Sven's been pretty down lately."
The cheetah cringed; everyone was always right on the dot when it came to her and Sven. "Is that so?"
"You two looked like you had such a good time back at the Halloween party," Judy pointed out. "What happened?"
"He thinks there's more to…us…then there really is."
"So you only seem him as a friend?" the bunny clarified.
"Yes," Charlie lied.
"Then just tell him that."
The world had such a knack of making the hardest things sound so easy. "It's more complicated than that, Judy… You wouldn't understand."
The bunny opened her mouth to say something when Fru Fru called for her. Nick had returned with the snacks and was passing them out to the shrew and Finnick. Judy looked at the red fox with a torn look in her eyes. "I think I'd understand better than I want to," Judy sighed, she told Charlie goodbye and headed back to her friends.
Charlie turned the treadmill back on and focused all her thoughts on running.
.
"Time's running out, kid, so what do you say? Cowboy or convict, I win either way," Leodore growled the words delightfully at Nick who was watching him in silent anger. The two stood on stage, behind them the freshly made buildings added to the mood. "Your abject surrender was always the bottom line."
While he sang Bellwether sat with Percy, the bunny smiling at his friend, ready to jump up and offer him praise when he finished his song. Dawn however was watching with a more critical eye, after all one of Leodore's friends had to keep his ego in check.
Hearing the auditorium door open Dawn looked over her shoulder and would've spit out her drink if she had had one in hoof.
A lioness stood at the door, decked out in black jeans and a top that was decorated with the logo of some metal band. The fur under her left eye was dyed into the shape of a black star and several earrings pierced her ears. She looked around the auditorium with a haughty air, her eyes resting on Leodore, a slow smirk curling her lips and revealing her glistening fangs.
Despite the many years Bellwether recognized the lioness from pictures at the Lionheart house. It was Lucy, Leodore's half sister.
The lioness watched with glinted amusement as her brother continued to sing, oblivious to Lucy's presence. "Too bad you've no job, Jack, but you did resign. Too bad you've no family, but you can't have mine. Be glad you're alive, boy, I'd say that's the bottom line."
Lucy's eyes suddenly turned to Dawn and the sheep realized she had been staring, she quickly whirled around with flaming ears, her eyes on the stage as Leodore and Nick finished up.
She kept her eyes on Leodore as he stretched, then watched as he looked to her and Percy with a smile (said rabbit was still clapping), then his eyes looked up and he saw his sister. His smile dropped.
"Hello, little brother," Lucy purred, strutting over to Leodore as he reluctantly climbed off the stage. "It's been too long." She pulled him into a hug before he could have a word in; Dawn could see her claws glint and realized they had been capped by some silver metal (probably iron).
"Lucy," Leodore tried to put some warmth into his words as his sister stepped back. "It has been too long." He looked over her tattered clothing and piercing and his smile became strained, "You look good."
"Hmm," Lucy hummed like she could see her brother's reluctance to compliment her. "Father said you were practicing for a school musical." Her smile only grew, "He didn't seem too pleased by the fact."
Leodore rolled his eyes, "He's not pleased unless I'm following directly in his footsteps."
"Wow, glad he doesn't put that kind of pressure on me," Lucy purred. She then seemed to remember to be nice and patted Leodore's head. "Poor baby brother."
Leodore swatted her paw away, already looking tired and harassed, "What are you doing all the way in Savannah Central, Lucy?"
"I'd say it's to visit my favorite brother but then I remembered you're my only brother," Lucy tittered.
"And I'm not your favorite," Leodore added but was ignored.
"Father wanted me to tell you the Lionheart reunion is going to be held this winter break at Grandpa Leon's place, why he couldn't wait to tell you when he got home I don't know-nor do I care."
Bellwether who still sat with Percy (the rabbit watching the scene like it was his favorite TV show) felt a twinge of disappointment at those words. She had sorta hoped Leodore could spend time with her and her mother during the break but she remembered the last time Leodore had a family reunion; the Lionheart pride would take up all his time.
Lucy looked over her shoulder, her eyes going to the sheep and rabbit. "Those two keep staring at us," she said, not even trying to whisper.
Leodore glanced at his friends, his expression looking torn for some reason before grabbing his sister's arm. "Well you can't blame them with all that metal in your ears. Let's go talk in the hall." He quickly led her out without sparing a glance to Dawn or Percy.
"Leodore has a sister?" Percy gasped as soon as soon as the auditorium doors closed behind the two lions.
"Yes, half sister," Dawn told him, her eyes on the closed door. "They don't get along that well, so it's weird to see her visiting him…"
"Where are you going?" Percy asked her as she stood up and walked away.
"I'm going to make sure she doesn't get him into trouble," Dawn told him. "I'll call you later."
Bellwether slipped out of the auditorium and pricked her ears, trying to hear Leodore's rumbling voice. She managed to make out his and Lucy's chatter, and headed right. She followed the voices until she spotted the two standing next to a water fountain. Leodore taking a drink while Lucy was talking, her next words had Bellwether stopping and hiding behind a nearby trashcan.
"And what's with that sheep?" her words escaped from curled lips.
Leodore finished his drink and stood up straight; he was taller than Lucy now and looked down at her, "Dawn?"
"Yes, that little sheep that's been following you around since you were a runt," Lucy clarified, the words carried a sting but Bellwether reminded herself that she could care less what Leodore's half sister had to say about her. "Haven't you grown out of her yet?"
Leodore's eyes narrowed and Bellwether waited for him to say something. He didn't.
"I mean, I get why you two were friends when you were a cub, she was one of the few mammals smaller than you. It was kind of cute, I'll admit, but now it's just weird." Bellwether could hear Lucy's condescending smirk: "Do other lions still not like you?"
"I'm actually pretty popular here," Leodore growled.
Lucy chuckled, "Father said the only mammals he sees you hanging out with are that sheep and some bunny rabbit. Sounds like the only animals that are impressed by you are some tiny little prey."
Bellwether scowled and stayed silent, waiting for Leodore to tell her off.
The lion's eyes were glaring at his sister, his lips pulled into a tight frown, and then he spoke: "Haven't you ever heard of pity, Lucy?"
Bellwether flinched at the words but Leodore kept talking. "Those two are hardly the most likable animals in this school I only…I just wanted to make them feel big and important. Cause you know, as soon as I graduate and leave they'll be forced back into their sad humdrum little lives." He smiled at his sister, "Just because we're lions doesn't mean we can't be merciful."
Bellwether didn't hear Lucy's reply, she was already walking away.
.
As Wade sang along with the assemble cast with their one song (Brooklick's Here), Gazelle watched from the front row with Mrs. Armadio and other members of the cast and crew. She smiled at the wolf, glad he was looking comfortable up on the stage. She remembered when she had asked Wade to audition for the play, the wolf hadn't liked the idea but Gazelle convinced him he would need to be part of the play if he was going to be a successful bodyguard.
He, of course, had had stage fright when they first started to rehearse but since Halloween he had seemed more…willing, to be at her side. And Gazelle would be lying if she said that didn't make her incredibly happy. Whatever had happened in the haunted house had caused Gazelle's heart to speed up faster than usual whenever the wolf was in her sight.
When the song came to an end, Gazelle jumped to her feet and cheered loudly, clapping her hooves enthusiastically and drawing attention to herself from the entire auditorium, she secretly wanted to embarrass Wade if only to see him hide under his hoodie, she had always found that adorable.
But instead Wade looked at her with a fond and exasperated expression before he laughed. It was much quieter than when he was in the haunted house, it was breathy and raspy and it turned his lips up into a very rare smile.
Gazelle beamed as well as the entire crowd looked at the wolf with open-eyed shock and wonder. Maybe for the first time in well, ever, they were seeing Wade as one of their own, and it nearly drowned Gazelle in pride.
.
Judy was sent out of class to deliver a note to the gym teacher, her eyes on the floor as she walked down the hall. Her head was buzzing and her nerves were on edge.
Just yesterday Mrs. Armadio told her she and Nick would start practicing their love song, Something to Believe In today. And in that song Jackal and Catherine kissed.
The thought sent her pounding heart on overdrive. She had known when she auditioned for Zoosies she would have to kiss someone but she didn't expect that someone to be Nick Wilde. She wasn't completely sure why the thought bothered her so much, maybe she just felt awkward since she already kissed his brother…maybe it was because her and Nick's kiss wouldn't be real, it would just be acting, something not to get worked over. Judy shook her head before her thoughts could go any further. The point was she would have to kiss Nick so she just needed to get over it.
She arrived at the gym that was empty. Odd, she knew the juniors had gym class for third period. Shrugging she headed to the back of the gym where the locker rooms, along with the gym teacher's office, was located.
As she passed the boy's locker room she could hear the sound of chatter and showers, the class must have ended earlier than she thought it would.
Judy stopped before the office door and knocked on the door, when no one answered she opened the door a crack and found the room empty. She pouted and closed the door, looking at the note in her paw. She guessed she could just head back to class and tell her teacher he wasn't there, but she hated to leave an errand unfinished.
Shrugging again because she couldn't think what else to do beside either waiting for the coach or searching the school for him, Judy turned around to head back to class-only to see Nick walking out of the locker room in nothing but a towel.
Judy let out a yip and whirled around, yanking her ears over her closed eyes.
She heard Nick laugh and she was sure her fur was catch fire she was so flustered.
"I thought I smelled carrots," he said. "You weren't trying to get a free show of the boy's locker room, were you Fluff?"
"No!" she snapped a little too forcefully, still keeping her back to him. "I came to deliver a note to Coach Bullrun but he wasn't in his office so I was heading back to class."
"Stick around he just went to his car to get a snack," Nick told her. "He finds the vending machine food here too unhealthy. I think he'd faint if he saw one of us eating a chocolate bar in front of him."
"I have an aunt who's like that," Judy told him out of nowhere before dwindling off into silence.
A silence that was short lived. "You know I have a towel on right?" Nick asked her. "You can look at me when I talk to you."
Curiosity betrayed her and Judy peeked over her shoulder, Nick had a white towel wrapped around his waist and his arms were crossed. His usually fiery orange pelt was dark from showering and stuck up in odd places. She purposely kept her eyes on his face so as not to look at his chest that was covered in cream colored fur that slid down in a line down his stomach to disappear under the fabric that protected his modesty.
It was because she was focusing on his eyes that she caught the spark of amusement in the emerald depths. "Like what you see?" he winked.
Judy turned her head back around, her stomach twisting into knots; you'd think she was the one half naked with how embarrassed she felt. "Why are you still here? You're making a puddle on the floor."
She imagined Nick would look down at his feet to see only a few droplets of water on the tile floor. She heard the fox laugh, "I think I can afford keeping you company until old Bullrun comes back."
When Judy didn't reply, her back still to him, Nick continued, "Lighten up, Carrots. In just a few more hours you and me will be making out."
Judy flinched at his words and glanced over her shoulder to give him a pained look. The expression had Nick's eyes widening before narrowing and he suddenly looked defensive. "Why are you looking at me like that? You knew when you auditioned you were going to have to kiss somebody."
"I didn't expect it to be you," she said honestly.
Nick's ears drooped and his face seemed to say: "What's wrong with me?" But instead he said, "It's just a stage kiss, nothing to get worked up over."
"I can't help it," Judy admitted, hugging herself. "I just…it's…and you…" She let out a heavy sigh, "I just don't think I'm ready. But I'm just going to have to get over it I guess…"
"Get over it," Nick breathed as if he couldn't believe she had just said that.
Just then Coach Bullrun appeared, walking toward them with a bowl of salad, his eyebrows rose when he saw the two but then Judy was hurrying over and shoved the note into his hoof, "Thisisforyougoodbye!" And then she was dashing back to her class, her ears still flaming red.
.
And so a few hours later Judy sat on the stage with Fru Fru, trying to calm her nerves and remind herself that she would have to kiss Nick Wilde in a matter of days in front of the entire school no matter what happened today. It did not help. Nor did the fact Fru Fru kept casting her sly glances that made Judy's throat tighten.
"Miss Hopps!" Mrs. Armadio's voice had the bunny turning around to see her standing beside the stage's curtains, Nick was standing next to her, paws in his pockets and looking calm, cool, and collected as ever. "Come here please."
Feeling a sense of dread Judy sucked in a breath and walked over to the two, all the while her thoughts raced with what Mrs. Armadio had to say, wondering what Nick had told her. Were they supposed to practice the kissing right now!?
"So as you should already know," Mrs. Armadio started as soon as Judy stopped before her. "Your characters, Jackal and Catherine, are supposed to share their first kiss in the middle of Something to Believe In and one more at the end of the musical. But Nick here has come up with something I think would be interesting to see."
Judy swallowed and glanced at the fox, he was looking at their teacher. "What?"
"He thinks that saving the kiss for the actual play will add a sense of realness to the musical. After all it would be the first time Jackal and Catherine kiss; he says it could be a way of stepping into the characters' paw prints."
Judy's ears shot up in surprise and she looked at Nick who still wasn't meeting her eye, "Really? And you agree with him?"
"It's a little unconventional but I do imagine your kisses would lose their spark if we practice them over and over. So I don't think it's too bad of an idea."
"So…Nick and I aren't kissing today?"
Mrs. Armadio laughed as if the rabbit had told a joke, "No, not today. But we're still practicing singing so PLACES EVERYONE!" Her last two words had been yelled and the once relaxing cast scrambled to their feet to get into position.
Judy's eyes hadn't left Nick, "What did you do that for?"
He glanced at her and smirked, the action less sarcastic than usual, "I'm giving you time to get over it." He winked before walking off to join the rest of the cast, Judy watched him go, her eyes still large with disbelief.
Ba-thump.
Judy glanced down at her chest and scowled.
Ba-thump.
"Stupid heart," she whispered to herself, "You cut that out."
.
Lucy's visit was still fresh in Leodore's mind as he relaxed backstage, listening to the rest of the cast sing Once and For All.
Beside him sat Percy who was swaying to the music, his prop, a rabbit-sized crutch, sat in his lap.
"Once and for all, something tells me the tide'll be turnin'," he sang quietly along. "Once and for all, there's a fire inside me that won't stop burnin' now that the choices are clear, now that tomorrow is here watch how the mighty will fall once and for all."
Leodore chuckled at the small rabbit. He was glad one of them was having a good time, Leodore couldn't help but keep his thoughts on the Lionheart reunion and what'll no doubt happen there.
Relatives bragging about so and so, this and that, asking Leodore if he was going to follow his father's footsteps (he was a lawyer), and why didn't he have a girlfriend yet. And knowing his sister she would tell plenty of their relatives how he spent all his time with Dawn and Percy. Despite the lie he had told her that he only pitied the two his sister had seen right through it, but his desired objective had been met, she had stopped talking about them.
He wondered if Lucy planned on coming to Zoosies opening night, his parents would come he knew that much. His mother actually liked the idea of him performing in plays as she had siblings and cousins who had starred in Boarway. But his father…he would come just because it would be expected of him and to appease his wife. He didn't care for anything his son did that didn't involve becoming a lawyer and ending just like himself. The fact he would have to suffer through that for all of winter break made his stomach clench, he wouldn't even have Dawn to visit/vent to. Partly because his grandfather's house (which was so large it was basically a mansion), and partly because Dawn had been ignoring him ever since Lucy had paid her visit.
Leodore wasn't completely worried about it, the two had been friends since childhood and they had had their fair share of arguments which led them to avoid each other for a day or two before either apologizing or pretending like it had never happen. But for the life of Leodore he had no idea what he had done this time to get on the sheep's venomous side.
As if his thoughts had summoned her, the backstage door opened and in came Bellwether, looking around before spotting the two and walking over. The two smiled at her but Dawn only returned Percy's grin.
"I just wanted to tell you goodbye," she told the rabbit. "You have a ride home?"
Percy nodded, "My dad's picking me up. See you tomorrow?"
"See you tomorrow," Dawn nodded and turned around to walk away.
Leodore reached his arm across Percy to grab her arm, the cords of muscle in her arm tightened, making the lion frown. "You aren't going to say goodbye to me?" he asked in a half joking manner.
Dawn turned to look up at him and Leodore nearly flinched at the cold look in her green eyes. "Bye." She snatched her arm out of his grip and stomped out of the room.
"Did you two get into a fight?" Percy asked the lion.
"If we did she didn't inform me," Leodore replied, standing up and heading after her. "Save my seat, Perc."
Leodore caught up with Dawn in the hallway, the sheep was still stomping down the hall, and her head hunkered between her shoulders as if she had to keep it from popping off.
Leodore smirked; he expected steam to blow out of her ears at any second now. "So what did I do wrong this time?"
Dawn jumped and whirled around; looking surprised to see him, in the midst of her anger she hadn't heard Leodore catch up with her. Her surprise quickly evaporated and she frowned deeply.
Leodore flashed the smile that usually got him out of tight spots with the sheep, "Did I not finish writing up an essay? Was it the anniversary of when we became the class president and vice president? If you're worried about the winter finals I have been studying so no need to pressure me about that."
Dawn let out a low breath, ruffling the wool around her neck and the bell she always wore, it chimed as it moved and for a few moments that was the only sound in the hallway. Then Dawn looked up at him, square in the eye, "Do you really not know what you did, Leodore?"
The lion shrugged, starting to get a little edgy, Dawn usually was quick to tell him exactly what he did wrong. Why was she being so quiet about it now?
Dawn waited a few minutes; by the look in her eyes she was almost begging Leodore to know but the intense look in her eyes made his mind go blank.
Finally her face twisted into a scowl and she spoke: "You pitied me."
"What?"
She laughed humorlessly, "Poor Percy, he didn't get to hear how unlikable and pathetic he was. That you were just pretending to be his friend so he could feel important."
Leodore flinched as an overwhelming wave of dread washed over him, "You heard…"
"I heard your excuse for being friends with us, yes," Dawn snapped.
"It's not what you think," Leodore tried to amend, "I just wanted her to get off my back so I said what she wanted to hear."
"You see her twice every year," Dawn growled. "And you couldn't handle her teasing? Why didn't you defend us, why didn't you defend me?"
"Dawn…" Leodore tried to find the right words to make her understand, "…I…"
"You're ashamed of us, I get it," Dawn turned on her heel and continued on, "I get it."
.
Tomorrow was the opening night of the Zoosies play. Rick could tell by the sheer energy in the auditorium as he sat in a vacant seat. He didn't need to see the stage that was decorated crew made buildings of New Yak, of the cast that were trying out their costumes and doing some last minute practicing, of Mrs. Armadio who was running around making sure everything was ready for opening night.
Rick was waiting patiently for his brother to get done before they headed home, he watched as Judy walked out from backstage, adorned in her regular clothes before she jumped off stage and waved goodbye to the frantic Mrs. Armadio.
He watched the rabbit head up the aisle he was sitting by, but when her eyes found him, she stopped.
Rick offered a faint smile; the two hadn't talked since the Halloween party and had only crossed paths once or twice in the hallway. "Hey," he said, hating how awkward the word came out.
"Hi," she waved her paw feebly, she took a step as if she was about to leave then stopped. She turned back to him, "Can we talk?"
Rick patted the empty seat beside him and Judy sat down next to him, her back straight and her paws folded neatly in her lap. She glanced at the book in the fox's lap, "Studying for finals?"
"No, I'm taking a break on that," he showed her the book was for doctors. "I'm taking an internship at a hospital during winter break."
"Really?" Judy's ears stood up, she remembered how he had told her he wanted to be a doctor.
Rick smiled bashfully, "Yeah, I'm pretty excited for it."
"You'll do great," Judy assured him and the fox's smile lifted ever so slightly.
"So what did you want to talk about?" he asked her.
Judy forced herself to meet his eyes, "I…I really hate tiptoeing around you. I hate how things ended between us."
Rick's smile turned rueful, "I really didn't see it ending any other way, Binky."
She let out a chuckle that was more of an exhale of breath than an actual laugh, "I've missed that nickname."
"I hear Nick's been showering you with them," Rick replied.
"Oh yeah," Judy said, her eyes going to the stage even though Nick was no where to be seen. "He's been acting so weird."
Rick glanced at her, "I think he's starting to like you."
Judy's ears flushed red and the fox sniggered. "I…I'm not so sure about that…but he certainly likes flirting with me," Judy stammered.
"I've noticed," Rick said, and even those his tone was level she still flinched. "I don't mind, Judy. Really."
She gave him a heartbroken look, "I just feel so guilty."
"Because you have feelings? It's no one's fault that it didn't work out between us, it's just high school; it's just life."
When Judy still looked unsure he continued, "But I think we could still be friends."
Her eyes widened, "Really?"
He beamed, flashing his teeth, "Of course. You're still the only mammal I know whose actually heard of The Evening Society."
She giggled, and this time it was a real laugh, "We should start a book club specifically for Franklin Bearstain's books."
"Maybe after winter break," Rick smiled at her. "Hey, Judy?"
The bunny had stood up and was about to walk off when Rick halted her. "Yeah?"
"Not that my opinion should matter on this but just to let you know, if something…happens, between you and Nick... I'm okay with it."
If Judy had wanted to comment on those words she didn't get the chance, because just then Nick walked out of the backstage and when he spotted his brother and Judy he scurried toward them with a smile on his face.
"Who's excited for tomorrow?" he asked them with his teeth taking up most of his face. "I am."
Rick chuckled at his brother's childish expression, "I can tell."
"I'm a little nervous," Judy admitted to the two foxes.
"Ah, no worries, Carrots," Nick assured her, shooing her worries away with a paw. "If you forget your lines I'll distract the audience with my dazzling presence."
She snorted in amusement and Rick rolled his eyes, "Ready to go, Nick?"
"Yeah," the younger fox stretched, "I need my beauty sleep."
"Nick," Judy said before the two foxes could walk off.
Nick looked down at her, "Yeah, Carrots?"
"I just…" the rabbit trailed off for a moment before continuing, "I just never got a chance to say thank you, for what you did with Mrs. Armadio."
Rick's brow furrowed in confusion while Nick just shrugged off her gratitude, "No big deal."
"Do me one more favor?" she asked tentatively.
Nick cocked a brow at her, "I guess?"
"Don't read into what I'm about to do."
"What are you about to-" his words cut off when Judy stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his torso.
Rick's own eyes widened at the sight. Nick had his arms spread out almost as if he was scared to touch the bunny, his eyes were bulging and his jaw looked ready to drop. Finally he seemed to collect himself from the shock and hesitantly placed his paws on Judy's shoulders.
"Thank you," she repeated, her voice muffled by his shirt.
"You're welcome," Nick breathed.
Judy pulled away and smiled at the Wilde brothers, "See you two tomorrow." And then she was walking past them and out the auditorium.
When she was gone Rick turned to his brother who hadn't moved since the rabbit had released him.
"You okay?" Rick asked jokingly, stepping in front of his brother to laugh at his stunned expression.
"She hugged me…" Nick whispered in disbelief.
"Yep," Rick nodded, "I don't know what you did but Judy appreciated it."
"She hugged me," Nick repeated, his voice a little louder as he comprehended the words.
Rick rolled his eyes once again, "I know, Nick, I saw. Now that you got that out of your system are you ready to head-"
Nick's arms shot out and grabbed his brother's shoulders, starling the older fox. Nick looked up at him, his face split into the largest smile Rick had ever seen and his green eyes were sparkling like a pair of freshly polished emeralds: "SHE HUGGED ME!"
Rick smiled softly as he watched his baby brother pull away the last of his layers. "Yes, she did."
I will NOT repeat NOT waste Nick and Judy's FIRST KISS on a REHEARSEL. If we're doing this, we're going to do it right. CHAPTER THIRTY!
And let me just formerly apologize over the fact I royally suck at making up animal puns. Brooklick *bangs head on keyboard*
