Shadowwolf: Hi again. I'm about to fall asleep sitting down. *snore* Oh sorry. Anyways, I just had to write this. I don't know why. Oh well.
Brad: Why don't you go to bed?
Shadowwolf: 'Cause it's only 8:23pm, and I never go to bed that early. I have a reputation for staying up late. Now, I don't really feel like talking, so disclaimer: I do NOT own Zoids or anything. Actually, I DO own the Path Makers team. Don't sue. *digs in pocket* All you'll get is an empty pocket.
Brad: You must be tired, you're never like this.
Shadowwolf: Yeah. Um, here's $10, *digs in pocket* go take Naomi out to dinner or something.
Brad: Thanks!! Oh, wait! How did you magically get $10 out of your pocket, when you didn't have anything in it a second ago?
Shadowwolf: I don't know…
Brad: Right…um, bye!
Shadowwolf: Bye! Now I'm serious, I have nothing in my pockets. FLAMES ACCEPTED! This is kind of my take on what Brad and Naomi thought after the attack of the Sand Stingrays. It will go back and forth between Brad's POV and Naomi's POV. (What I mean, is from being with them.) Some with them both in it too. Hope you enjoy! Please review!
CONFUSION OF THE HEART AND MIND CH 1,
PEOPLE TO THINK ABOUT
Naomi walked into her room. She plopped down on her bed and let out a long sigh. There was something, more someone, that she couldn't get out of her head.
Naomi wasn't one to fall all over the place for boys. Where some people saw hot or cute guys, she saw arrogant, self-absorbed pretty boys. (hope no one's offended! I just thought it was a Naomi thing to think. ^ ^) Brad was different. He was somewhat cocky, and very confident. He was very hot, but she didn't think of him the same way as others. He seemed oblivious to the idea that he could be attractive. He didn't care about that, only money. That was the only thing that bugged her about the man. He had the mercenary spirit, "If you pay me, I'll do it."
She rolled over and looked at the clock. 11:24pm. I've got to get to sleep, I've got to go to the party for Bit tomorrow morning. Toros sure goes out of his way to welcome a new team member. She chuckled to herself, stood up, changed into her nightclothes, and burrowed under the covers. She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened that day. Because of her stubbornness, Brad had saved her from the Sinker on the cliff. And because of saving her, he'd gotten hurt. She felt so guilty. He didn't have to save her, but he did. She remembered rapping bandages around him, and shyly stating that he might not be a coward after all. Then Leena unleashed her 'Weasel Unit Total Assault' on the area, and Brad had protected her, with his own, already injured, body. They had only met once before, and yet, this man was risking his life for her. Twice. It was too much for her to think about. She rolled over again and shut her eyes tight.
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Brad sulked into his room. He was feeling very odd. He shut the door, to avoid interruptions such as Bit and Leena killing each other. That always disturbed a good sleep. He plopped on his bed and sighed long and heavy. He just couldn't stop thinking about that woman.
Brad didn't usually fall head over heels for girls. He didn't want to get into a relationship. Too complicated. He was a loner. Yet in this case, it didn't really matter, since she was a loner too.
She had beautiful fuchsia eyes, and crimson hair. Drop dead gorgeous. But her personality was what really got him. Naomi was independent, intelligent, talented, and more.
Her husky voice rang in Brad's thoughts. 'Maybe you aren't a coward after all…' They haunted him like a reoccurring nightmare. Coward? He was no coward. He'd proven that. She was just having trouble admitting she was wrong.
Brad looked at the clock. 11:25pm. I've gotta get some sleep. Why can't I get her out of my head? Brad frowned. He never thought about a woman this long before.
Other words haunted him too, maybe even more so. 'Well, this trip was just a big waste of time…' He'd said. Her reply startled him. 'I wouldn't say that…' She had stared up at him with a playful gleam in her eye. And all he could do was blink. No one had ever hinted affection like this before. Brad rolled over. Without bothering to change clothes, or get under the covers, he forced himself to sleep.
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Naomi pushed the comm. link button on the outside of the Hovercargo, which was parked. Jamie came on the screen. He was wearing a ridiculous party hat.
"Oh, hi Naomi, the party's about to start. Come on in," the comm. link went off and the door unlocked. She walked in to see more stupid party hats.
"Hi Naomi!" Doc said while he danced around in a circle. "I'm glad you could come to our party, make yourself at home."
"Thanks," she said and walked past Leena and Bit, who were also dancing around in circles. She noticed Brad sitting on the couch, without a party hat.
"So, no party spirit?" She said as she sat down next to him.
"No, I guess I'm just a boring party guest." He smiled. She was surprised to hear him joke like that.
"Okay everyone, let's all come to the front of the room, and one at a time, we can say a few things about Bit. Now, I know he hasn't been here for long, but, we do want to celebrate him joining the team. Say nice things, please." Doc sat down. "Who's going first?"
"I will," Jamie said as he walked up in front of the group. "Um, I'm glad to have Bit on the team, and he's a great warrior," He sat down again, blushing. He was shy, but only because he didn't know Bit very well yet. Leena walked up next.
"Yeah, I think he'll be a great teammate." It was Doc's turn.
"I'm glad we finally found someone to pilot that Liger Zero, welcome to the team Bit," Bit smiled as Doc sat down. Brad's turn. Doc leaned over and whispered to Brad. "Now remember, I'm paying you extra to say something nice, okay?" Brad nodded.
"I'm sure he'll do well, and I'm glad to have him on the team. We could be best friends. Good luck Bit, and I hope you'll help us earn lots of prize money," Brad finished as Leena just stared at him. That wasn't a 'Brad' thing to say, she thought. Except for the 'more prize money' part. Leena giggled. Naomi was last.
"Well, I can't really say I hope he's a good pilot, 'cause I don't want him to get better and beat me again. Although I still think it was a fluke-"
"Was not!" Bit interrupted, and Doc gave him a funny look.
"Anyways, I think you guys will be an unbeatable team." Everyone got up and walked over to look at a cake that said, 'Welcome to the team Bit Cloud'.
"Gee, guys. This is too much, really," he said as he faked choking up. They cut the cake and ate their fill.
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When Naomi got home around 6:30pm, she sat down to watch TV. She usually didn't watch TV, except when she was depressed. The Zoid News was on.
"Today in the news, a Zoid was stolen from Romeo City, a green Command Wolf. The owner wishing to be anonymous, a member of the Path Makers team, reported it missing at 2:20 this afternoon. There were a couple witnesses to the crime that described the thief. *a witness came on* 'Yeah, I saw him sneaking around the hangar. He had a crowbar in his hand. I kind of kept an eye on him, an' he came out twenty minutes later piloting the green Command Wolf.' *reporter* 'Where was the owner at the time?' *witness* 'Well, I went to go see what was going on, and the owner, *****, he was lying on the floor unconscious.' *reporter* 'Back to you.' *back to news desk* Well, I guess we'll keep an eye out for him. They described him as thus; Age: around 17, Eyes: Blue, Hair: Brown, down to his shoulders, wearing a beaded necklace, and about 5' 11''. If you have any ideas as to who this might be, please tip the police. Your tip will be anonymous. Thanks. Now to Zoid battle outcomes. Johnny…"
Naomi turned it off. It couldn't be, could it? Brad wouldn't do a thing like that. The clues all pointed to Brad, no matter how hard she tried to get the idea out of her head. He had experience piloting a Command Wolf, and the description almost fit him perfectly. Then it hit her. He wanted money.
Shadowwolf: It is now 4:39pm on Thursday, (8/15/02) and I'm full of energy. He, he. I couldn't finish it last night, so here I am.
Brad: *walks in*
Shadowwolf: You're a little late aren't you?
Brad: We went for a run in our Zoids today.
Shadowwolf: Oh. How was dinner?
Brad: Good. Shouldn't you be talking about your story?
Shadowwolf: Oh yeah! ^ ^ Um, Brad didn't steal the Command Wolf, did he? No! I deny he ever did it! Oops. He, he. Well, thanks for reading and please review, good or bad. (I hope it's good.) If you like it, chapter 2 will follow. Thanks! ^ ^