Sorry for the week delay in getting this chapter posted. Life happened. Hoping the next few weeks I'm able to continue my chapter per week goal, but there will be no update weekend of 3/22 as I will be out of town. I hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome.
"MOSELY!" Suzy Crabgrass yelled angrily. "I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!"
Moze gulped and moved behind Ned, who was just as afraid of what Suzy would do as she was. They had very little chance of being able to run past Suzy and on to the safety of the school bus, and even if they made it, the bus wasn't going to leave for a while yet and no doubt Suzy and Loomer would follow them onboard. The only solution was for Moze and Ned to face whatever was coming and hope it wasn't too awful.
Suzy stomped her feet as she walked right up to them, the anger on her face not lessening even a little. Ned bravely stood his ground in front of Moze, offering what little protection he could, but Moze could tell he was barely able to keep from shaking. For that matter, Moze wasn't sure she could keep from shaking herself, which surprised her. She was bigger than Suzy and could certainly take her on if it came to that. Moze then realized part of her reaction was due to guilt she didn't realize she'd been feeling.
Guilt. That had to be it. Moze was feeling guilty about how she'd sort of taken Ned from Suzy. Sure, it was Ned's choice to decide who he wanted to date, but Moze knew if she hadn't fallen for him and shown interest that he and Suzy would probably still be together. As Much as Moze didn't want to admit it, Suzy was her friend, and what happened with Ned could be seen as a betrayal. Moze realized that this was why she was suddenly afraid to face Suzy, but the confrontation was happening right now whether she was ready or not.
Suzy stopped mere inches from Ned and glared at both of them. Loomer hadn't moved from his spot but he had his arms crossed and the look on his face was clear: he had her back, and no one was leaving until Suzy Crabgrass said so.
"Why the hell did you two do this to me?" Suzy asked in a low but very firm and threatening tone of voice. Moze and Ned looked at each other, wondering who should answer. Moze finally took the initiative.
"Suzy, Ned and I didn't plan on anything that happened." Moze was amazed her voice didn't shake. Her heart was pounding in her chest.
"You do realize that you totally HUMILIATED me right?" Suzy responded sharply.
"I swear we didn't mean to. Suzy, the last thing I'd want to do is hurt you or embarrass you in any way. Ned and I…. well…. something happened. I think we'd both been feeling it for weeks. Something more than friendship. I don't think either of us expected it. We even fought it for a bit. We were both torn up about it. I was dating Faymen, and Ned was getting over you. Then you came back just as we were both ready to see if we could try dating. It wasn't planned Suzy, it just happened. If anything, the timing just sucked. I mean really REALLY sucked."
Before Suzy could respond, Ned spoke up.
"Suzy, when you came back I was literally about to tell Moze how I felt about her. Then you showed up and I didn't know what to do. At first I thought maybe it was a sign that you and I should get back together, which we did. But during the field trip on Friday, I realized that I actually had moved on from you, and that I liked Moze. A lot. I'm sorry I didn't handle things better when you came back. I'm sorry I dumped you in the middle of a field trip and didn't even explain it to you. Everything happened so fast. But Moze is right, neither of us meant to embarrass you or hurt you, I promise."
Suzy's eyes narrowed as she listened. When Ned finished speaking, no one said anything at first. After a few moments Suzy let out a breath, shook her head, and turned away. She walked over to Loomer and grabbed his arm.
"Come on Billy" she said firmly. "Let's go."
Loomer looked at Ned and Moze and started to protest until he saw the look on Suzy's face, then he meekly followed her.
Ned turned to face Moze and let out a huge sigh of relief.
"I'm glad that's over. That wasn't as bad as I thought."
Moze shook her head.
"Knowing Suzy, this isn't the last we'll hear about it. But there's nothing else we can do about it right now. Might as well get on the bus and go home."
That evening Ned and Moze decided to hang out at Ned's house and watch a movie, in hopes of putting their talk with Suzy out of their minds. After debating for a few minutes about which movie to watch, Moze and Ned decided on Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Ned made some popcorn and a couple of his famous sandwiches, and soon the two were cuddling on the couch.
About midway through the movie, Moze lifted her head from where it was resting on Ned's chest and looked at him.
"Hey Ned" she said softly, drawing his attention from the movie
"Yeah?"
"I know we're both probably trying not to think about it, but I had a question for you about our talk with Suzy earlier."
Ned raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"What kind of question?" he asked in a hesitant voice
"Nothing bad" Moze assured him. "I was thinking about when you told Suzy that when she came back to Polk, you were just about to tell me you liked me. Is that true?"
Ned smiled and blushed ever so slightly.
"Yeah, actually when she showed up and surprised us in the hallway, I was just about to admit my feelings to you. Then when Suzy popped up I freaked out and lost my nerve."
"Ned," Moze responded, a smile spreading widely across her face, "I was about to do the same thing"
Ned laughed
"Geez Moze, now I get why you acted so weird! I thought you'd be thrilled to see Suzy but you seemed as freaked out as I was. I didn't understand why, especially since you had just told Faymen he should go back to his home country to play soccer. I figured you'd be happy to see a friendly face considering how upset the decision must have made you"
Now Moze blushed.
"Actually, I have a confession to make. I told Faymen to go because I'd just found out you liked me."
"Wait, you KNEW I liked you even before the field trip?" Ned was stunned. "How did you know that? Wait, did Cookie tell you? That Cyborg is dead when I see him!"
"No, no, Cookie didn't tell me anything. I got a note saying Ned likes you. That's how I found out."
Ned frowned.
"What note?"
"Faymen was telling me I had to time was up and he needed to know my decision on if he should go or not, and a crumpled up piece of paper hit me in the head. I uncrumpled it and it said Ned likes you! I have no idea where it came from. I actually wondered if maybe YOU sent it to me."
"No, it wasn't me Moze, I swear."
Moze furrowed her brow.
"Then where could it have come from?"
Ned shrugged
"Maybe the magical relationship fairy sent it. Or cupid. Or are they the same thing? You know, I never really understood who or what cupid is anyway."
Moze smiled warmly at him.
"What?" Ned asked, noticing the look she was giving him.
"Sometimes I don't think you realize how cute you can be, that's all."
Ned smiled back as Moze moved towards him and gave him a light but tender kiss. The kiss deepened, and soon the two were wrapped around each other, making out on the couch, the movie still playing but forgotten about.
The next day at school it became clear very quickly that Suzy's wrath towards Ned and Moze would not be settled with just one conversation. When Ned and Moze arrived, the first thing they noticed was Ned's locker. Someone (probably Suzy) had taped a huge sign on his locker that said NED BIGBY: LIAR, CHEATER, LOSER. Ned hurriedly tore it down. Fortunately, they'd gotten to school a little early and not too many people had seen it, though Ned knew through the magic of gossip that word about it would spread.
"It's going to be a long final week at Polk if this is what's in store" Ned moaned to Moze.
"Don't let Crabgrass get to you" Moze responded sympathetically. "That's what she wants."
Cookie and Lisa arrived a few minutes later, and Ned filled them both in. Lisa was shocked Suzy would act that way, but Cookie quickly jumped to Ned's defense.
"My boy Ned here is quite a catch and Suzy knows it" he said confidently. "Since she can't have him, she's out to make sure no one can!"
"Lighten up Cook" Moze responded with a frown. "This is Suzy Crabgrass we're talking about, not Rambo."
But as the day wore on, things didn't get any easier. A sign appeared on all the girls bathrooms that said: Girls Restroom (and Ned Bigby) and Moze discovered in woodshop that two of her projects had been damaged. One was repairable, but the other was lost. Mr. Chopsaw was sympathetic, but his best advice to Moze was "If someone is chopping down the trees of your life, make furniture out of them!" which Moze found maddeningly unhelpful.
Much to Ned's relief, Loomer didn't seem interested in going after him. For the most part, Loomer and Crony just screwed around with each other during classes and igbnored him completely. However, at the end of science class, Loomer approached Ned with a note.
"Hey Bigby" Loomer said in his usual angry voice, "This is from Suzy. Read it." He shoved a folded note into Ned's chest as he walked away laughing.
Ned opened the note. Inside all that was written was: Meet me before your last class by my locker. Don't keep me waiting. –Suzy
The bell rang for the end of class and Moze quickly gathered her books. Suzy was at the back of the classroom walking towards her and Moze didn't want another confrontation like the day before. Unfortunately, in her haste, Moze dropped a book on the ground and by the time she had picked it up, Suzy had reached her.
"Hey Mosely" Suzy said in a surprisingly pleasant tone
"Hey…..Suzy" Moze responded, uncertainly.
"Listen, I wanted to apologize for yelling at you yesterday, and for messing with you today. I realized you didn't do anything wrong. It's really Ned I should be mad at. He's the one who dumped me for you."
Moze was completely thrown off by this sudden change but was grateful Suzy was being understanding, at least to her.
"Thanks I guess. So….. can we go back to being friends again, or whatever it is we are?"
Suzy smiled
"Sure Jennifer, I'd like that. Well, I have to be going but I'm glad we cleared things up!"
Suzy waved and walked away, leaving Moze feeling very confused.
Ok Moze thought to herself Is it just me or is Suzy acting not at all like she usually would? Oh well, at least I have my friend back, and hopefully she's not too mean to Ned.
Ned headed towards Suzy's locker, dozens of thoughts racing through his head. He really wasn't sure what to expect. Was Suzy planning an attack? Was she going to threaten him? Did she have a practical joke planned? Did she want to legitimately talk?
As Ned reached her locker, Suzy was already there, waiting for him. Ned gaped. Suzy had apparently changed clothes. Earlier that day she'd had on a green long sleeved top and a white skirt. Not anymore. Suzy had changed into a beautiful (and rather form fitting) red silk dress with spaghetti straps and handkerchief hem skirt that fell to right around her knees. Her hair, which had been in a ponytail most of the day, was now loose and flowed down her shoulders.
"Hi Ned" Suzy said in a friendly and a little bit sultry voice.
"Hi Suzy" he responded with a bit of hesitation. "What's going on? You going to some formal event or something?"
"Oh, you like my dress?" she asked innocently. "I thought I'd wear something special for you."
"For me?" Ned asked, confused. "Why?"
Suzy slowly approached him. Ned backed up until he was up against the wall on the opposite side of the hall from her locker. Ned also realized at this moment that the hall was completely empty. There should've been students going by headed to class, but no one was around.
"Where is everyone?"
Suzy smiled sweetly, but Ned detected a certain amount of fakeness to the smile
"Billy and his friends have arranged for us to have a few minutes alone."
"Um, that wasn't really necessary Suzy. Besides, Loomer's your boyfriend. I don't think he'd be too pleased to find out what you're doing right now. I'm not exactly pleased either. What are you doing anyway?"
Suzy gave that sweet and somewhat fake smile again.
"Bigby, I'm not letting you go so easily. Loomer may be the guy I'd settle for, but I'd much rather have you."
Suzy had reached where Ned was standing. He tried to back up further, but the wall wasn't going anywhere. Suzy reached up and put her arms around his neck.
"Suzy stop. This isn't…." but his words were cut off as Suzy pressed her lips against his. Ned was too shocked for a moment to respond, and in that moment, Suzy pressed herself into his body. Her mouth attacked his hungrily, and her tongue slipped into his mouth. The pure shock of a girl putting her tongue in his mouth for the first time caused Ned to snap out of his temporary state of stupor. He shoved her back gently but firmly.
"Suzy what the hell!" he exclaimed. "I'm with Moze and that's not changing1 Don't ever do that again!"
Ned turned to flee. As he did he heard Suzy call after him.
"I'm not done with you yet Ned Bigby."
Ned successfully escaped to his final class. He passed by Crony, who was blocking the hall refusing to let anyone by. To his surprise, Crony didn't try to stop him. As Ned ran by, Crony suddenly announced that the hallway would re-open in 2 minutes once the mess was cleaned up. Ned didn't stop to ask what he was talking about, but kept on going until he'd reached the safety of his final class of the day, Life Science.
Class passed by in a blur for Ned. Loomer came in a few minutes after he'd arrived and didn't even acknowledge him, which just added to the weirdness of Ned's day. When the final bell rang, Ned eagerly dashed to Moze's locker, looking forward to seeing her more than ever.
Moze looked up as Ned ran towards her. He looked flushed and even a bit nervous.
"You ok?" she asked him.
"Yeah I'm fine" came his response. He was panting a bit from running but otherwise didn't look out of sorts.
"So you'll never guess what happened in my math class today."
"What?" Ned asked, still catching his breath from his sprint.
"Suzy came up to me and actually apologized for giving me a hard time!"
Ned looked stunned.
"The only thing is, I think she's still mad at you. She told me she didn't have a reason to be mad at me, and that you were the one she should be upset with. So I'd still be careful, I'm sure she's still got some nasty surprises in store for you."
Ned turned a little white as Moze said this.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Moze asked him, noticing that he seemed very uncomfortable. "Did something happen? You know you can tell me anything."
Ned froze at first, then seemed to snap out of it and shook his head.
"No Moze, nothing happened. Nothing at all. I promise."
So hopefully I am able to post the next chapter next week. I know we haven't even gotten to the middle school graduation yet but that is coming up very soon. At some point the story will speed up a bit, as going through their entire high school years at this rate would take like 1000 chapters. I hope everyone is enjoying so far!