Chapter 49: Betting Pool
Written by Blenderguy15
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Ugh. Five more minutes..." Nick mumbled to no one in particular, his body refusing to wake up. Unfortunately, the alarm clock was persistent, that annoying noise blaring with reckless abandon. Mustering what little energy he could, Nick's arm flailed about until it hit the snooze button. As silence fell over his apartment, Nick happily returned to his slumber, eager to revisit the amazing dream he had been rudely woken from. What had made that dream so amazing, you ask?
Judy.
Nick's eyes shot open, his inner voice screaming at him to get up. If he slept in – again – he would miss the opportunity to walk to work with her! He shot out of bed as if the mattress was on fire and ran straight to the bathroom to freshen up. He brushed his coat and cleaned his teeth until he finally felt clean. Before the trip to Bunnyburrow, Nick wouldn't be incredibly worried about his appearance, but that was before he started dating Judy. Not that getting ready had ever been a long or hard task; he just cared about it a little more.
Upon finishing in the bathroom, Nick quickly dressed into his police uniform, leaving his tie somewhat loose; just enough to feel comfortable while not getting chewed out by Bogo about dress protocol. With one quick glance in the hallway mirror, Nick was out the door and on his way to the monorail station.
The ride was short as Nick lived close to one of the fastest monorails in Zootopia, much to his delight. He paid the other passengers very little attention as his mind wandered to Judy. The more he thought about the relationship, the higher his heart lifted. All he had to do was win this bet and then everything would be right. His thoughts drifted to what he was going to have Judy wear. He chuckled as he imagined it on Judy, yet he hoped against all hope that she liked it.
After the monorail had stopped, Nick made a beeline for the small cafe situated near the entrance of the station. He felt so lucky that this cafe was here; the donuts and coffee made here were some of the best he ever had, and he knew that Judy always enjoyed when he brought some for her. Upon purchasing a carrot donut and a mocha coffee for Judy and a regular chocolate donut and straight, black coffee for himself, Nick began the lengthy walk to Judy's apartment.
Just as Nick walked up the steps to the apartment complex, Judy exited the building and nearly ran into him. The two animals nearly lost their balance as they both tried to get out of the way; Judy nearly fell backward and Nick almost fell down the stairs.
"Oh, Nick!" Judy said, surprised. "Sorry! I almost didn't see you there."
Nick quickly regained his balance, happy that the coffee and donuts didn't spill. "You'd think that, after months of us walking to work together, you'd know to watch out for me," Nick teased before handing his partner her breakfast. "Just be glad that I didn't fall, or else these," Nick waved the food and drink in front of her, "I bought you would've been ruined."
Nick noticed the faint tint of pink on Judy's cheeks as she took the food items from him. "Thanks, Nick," she said, a slightly embarrassed smile on her muzzle.
Nick chuckled. "Anything for my Carrots," he said as they began the trip to the ZPD.
As they walked, Nick started to think about the bet again and how he could get ahead. An idea suddenly popped into his mind, the thought making him smile slyly.
"Hey, Carrots, I have an idea," he said.
Judy washed down a bite of her donut with coffee before answering her partner. "What is it?"
"Well, since some of the other officers have been noticing our behavior, I thought that now would be as good a time as any to come public with our relationship," Nick suggested.
Judy thought for a moment, her eyebrows furrowing as her nose twitched slightly. "What if the ZPD doesn't like that we're dating?"
Nick chuckled. "Carrots, I've heard the other officers betting on whether or not that we've started dating. In fact, how about a small wager of our own?"
Judy turned to Nick, a sly smile growing on her muzzle. "Sure, because you're doing so well with our current bet," she teased.
Nick chuckled again after taking another sip of his coffee. "Alright. We both guess how many officers have betting on us dating. We then go and reveal our relationship to the other officers – either one at a time or a small group – to find out where they stood in the betting pool. Whoever is closest at the end of the day gets to kiss the other up to five times."
Judy thoughtfully nodded as Nick explained the rules. When he finished, the sly grin on her muzzle could rival Nick's.
"So," Nick said, holding out his paw. "Do we have a deal?"
"Deal," Judy replied as she shook Nick's paw.
"Alright Carrots, time to make your guess," Nick said as he and Judy walked up the front steps of the ZPD.
"I'd rather you go first, Nick," Judy said, placing her paws on her hips. "Since you suggested the bet and all."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Carrots, I've hustled more animals than you have siblings. I know what you're up to. But, being the kind fox that I am, I shall go first," It was Judy's turn to roll her eyes. Nick brought a paw up to his chin, scrunching his eyebrows for effect as he "thought" about his guess. "I guess that – out of everyone at briefing today – ten officers have bet on us dating."
Judy smirked. "Then I guess about fifteen of those officers bet on us. Oh, and Clawhauser doesn't count."
"Why not, Carrots?" Nick asked. "That would only hurt his feelings."
"You and I both know that this," she gestured to the both of them, "has been on his radar ever since this bet started. It would be unfair for me if he was the winning point for you!"
Nick chuckled as he hung his head, amused with his partner. "Fine, Clawhauser doesn't count," he sighed, feeling the remaining effects of sleep finally fading away. "Okay, Carrots. Time to see who's right."
Taking each other's paw, Nick and Judy walked into the ZPD.
The bullpen was just as loud and rowdy as ever, everything from ordinary conversations to all-out arm wrestling matches taking part of the usual commotion. Nick and Judy casually walked to their seat, their intertwined paws the only sign of their newfound relationship at the moment.
As they climbed onto their chair, Judy cast a glance around the room, almost willing any of the officers to take notice of she and Nick.
After a few, agonizingly slow moments, Judy leaned over to Nick. "So-o-o-o do we say something, or do we let them figure this out on their own?"
"I don't know, Carrots," Nick said, smirking as he glanced around the room. "We could always kiss," he wiggled his eyebrows as he flashed his signature grin.
Judy's ear began to burn. "Are you sure?" she said, suddenly becoming very shy. "It could be easier just to come out and say it."
Nick chuckled as he squeezed her paw reassuringly. "If we come out and say it, then everyone's attention is on us, and we have to deal with questions like, 'How did this start?' or 'When's the wedding?' etc. etc.," Nick rolled his eyes to emphasize his point. "But if we kiss, then we can ignore them as they settle their bets. Besides, we both know how fantastic you are at public speaking," he added with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
Judy could've sworn that the fur on her ears was now as red as Nick. "I said I was sorry," she mumbled as she pulled her ears over her face.
"And look where it's got you," Nick teased. "In a relationship with a charmingly handsome fox."
Before Judy could reply, McHorn spoke up. "Wait, you guys are dating?" he asked; apparently, he had heard just about all of Nick and Judy's conversation.
As Judy pulled her ears lower over her face, Nick nodded. "Yep, we're dating."
The large rhino then turned to the rest of the room, a large smile on his face. "Hey guys!" he yelled, his voice catching the attention of every officer in the room. Judy was sure that her rapid heartbeat could be heard over the dead silence that ensued. "Nick and Judy are dating!"
Judy was glad that she had lowered her ears since that protected them from the sudden explosion of noise as the entire bullpen went crazier than before. Among the ruckus, Judy heard "Congrats!", "She keeping you in check, Wilde?", "You sure know how to pick 'em, Judy!", and more from the other officers. As her ears continued to burn with embarrassment, Judy felt Nick squeeze her paw lovingly, the gesture helping her relax somewhat.
"I hear rumors that there was a betting pool on us," Nick said as the din died down. "Who all bet on us? Besides Clawhauser, that is."
McHorn chuckled. "Well, I only know of myself, Delgato, Fangmeyer, Wolfard, Adams, and Trunkaby."
"Hey, don't forget me and the Spotz twins!" Higgins said, pointing to the two cheetahs sitting in the far corner of the room.
The ruckus began again as officers shouted over one another, trying to explain where they stood in the betting pool. From what Nick and Judy could hear, the nine officers who were listed were the only officers in the bullpen who had bet on them.
"EVERYBODY, SHUT IT!" Chief Bogo bellowed as he entered the room. The room went dead silent as he stepped up to his podium, placing his spectacles on his snout.
Every pair of eyes in the room was on Bogo, each officer anxious as to what Bogo was about to pull. Would he berate them for their actions earlier? Would he shrug them off and divvy out assignments as usual? Would nothing happen at all?
As Bogo finished looking through the files in his hooves, he tried his best to hide a smirk. "Now, what's this I hear about a relationship?"
"Uh, Nick and Judy said that they were dating, sir," McHorn said, pointing at the two cops.
Thanks a lot, pal, Nick thought spitefully. He could tell that Judy's ears were probably going to catch fire soon, so he gave her paw another reassuring squeeze. He grinned when Judy squeezed back.
"Oh, are they now?" the cape buffalo asked, leaning forward. His glare could stop a herd of wildebeests in their tracks. Judy shrunk further into herself and pulled her ears over her head until she was sure she would rip them right off.
"Good," Bogo said, leaning back as his features softened. "So where's my money?"
Every officers' jaw dropped simultaneously.
"Sir, you bet on us dating?" Judy asked incredulously.
"Yes I did, Hopps," Bogo said, a very faint smile touching his muzzle. "You're lucky that Clawhauser talked me into joining the betting pool, or I wouldn't have been happy that my two best officers were now going to be preoccupied with each other rather than your duties."
"Don't worry sir," Judy said, straightening up. "I won't let this get in the way of mmph!"
To spite her and claim his reward, Nick suddenly pulled Judy in for a kiss, planting his lips on hers. The entire room exploded into cheers as Nick broke the kiss.
Judy's ears burned hot – again – as the kiss had taken her by surprise. But as Judy studied Nick's sly grin and the mischievous gleam in his eyes, her shame turned into a weak anger.
"You knew how many officers were betting on us, didn't you?" she accused, narrowing her eyes.
Nick chuckled. "It's called a hustle, sweetheart. Besides, you agreed to this!"
Judy merely rolled her eyes before leaning in to kiss Nick again. "So, are you going to cash in the rest of your kisses, or are you gonna forfeit them to me?"
"Don't worry, I'll cash them in, Carrots...eventually." Nick said with a wink. "I think that the ZPD has had enough of a show for now, though."
Judy suddenly remembered exactly where they were, and upon glancing around the room, Judy could see that most of the officers were cheering them on. Bogo didn't even try to stop his officers, but that was more because there was nothing he could do to shut them up at this point.
With a groan, Judy pulled her burning ears over her face again.
Kiss Count:
Nick 51
Judy 52
AN: Hey everyone, Blenderguy15 here! So, who here bet on Nick and Judy dating? You? You? YOU!? Well, someone owes me some money, so the sooner you guys come clean, the better! On another note, how have you guys been enjoying our other guest writers? I think that they did great, and we have even more on the way! I know that Cimar and I hope that more and more writers come along with wonderful ideas since it can be hard to reach 100 Kisses without seeming repetitive. Remember, if you have an idea, PM it to Cimar. If you want to write a chapter, WRITE IT! Send it to Cimar when you're done, and we'll find a spot for it! Anyways, happy late 4th and I hope you all have a wonderful day!
