A/N: Thanks for the info, Sabertooth! :) I'll remember that in this chappy!
Thankyou for the review! Thanks for the review, Elvesmagic :) And double-
thanks for the cookies! *Hands them around*.
OK, anyway, in this chapter, while the characters are talking, their thoughts are going to be next to their sentence. You'll see what I mean!
*
Chapter 4
Frankenstoat looked out of the window at the lorry driving away towards the main road. Inside the lorry, there was crate upon crate of the hate potion. The henchmen driving the lorry had a very long journey ahead of them - Duckula wanted the potion to be delivered all over Britain. These henchmen were not the only ones delivering - more henchmen were to be sent out tomorrow.
It had taken a long time, but Frankenstoat had been able to make and bottle the potion with help from Duckula. The two had worked fervishly, and after loading up the lorry, had collapsed onto the sofa in the old living-room.
"When are we going to start the next lot?" asked Frankenstoat.
"As soon as p-p-possible", was the answer.
Frankenstoat tilted his head back on the sofa and did not reply.
*
After lunch, DM gave Woodruff a lift back to his place. After waving them off, Kim went down to her bedroom. As she walked through the pillarbox, she thought how strange it was to have the whole place to herself.
When she arrived in her bedroom, she took a quick look at herself in the full-length mirror. A red-haired mouse in a green jumpsuit looked right back at her. Kim smiled, by now used to looking at a completely different face. Besides, now she didn't feel so out-of-place - she really felt at ease, a part of the group.
Suddenly, something lying on the bed behind her caught Kim's eye. She turned around to see a single rose, a slip of paper and a small heart- shaped box of chocolates lying on the covers. Kim picked up the slip of paper with a surprised smile and read it through.
'Roses are red
Violets are blue
And I feel your aura and beauty
When I'm around you'.
'Love W.'
Kim's smile faded. W? Woodruff? Woodruff had left the rose and chocolates on her bed? No. Probably just a friendly gesture.
But then, he'd been full of compliments for her this morning. Kim had just thought he was being sweet. And the looks he given her - Kim had once been told that Border Collies used that look to intimidate sheep. But now, judging by the card and gift, it was obvious that Woodruff really did like her.
Maybe he might not even like her. Maybe he - LOVED her?
Kim was was flattered, disappointed and panicked all at the same time. Flattered because Woodruff had taken an interest in her, disappointed because she had anticipated that the gift was from DM, and then panicked because she wondered how DM would feel when he found out?
Kim sat down on the bed for a moment, digesting all these feelings. She had always seen Woodruff as a friend. It was shocking to discover how he really wanted to know her.
Kim put her head in her hands. Great. Just great. What was she going to say to DM? She'd kissed him quite a few times - not to mention their big Christmas Eve kiss.
Well, the answer was obvious. Go to Woodruff and talk to him. Tell him that it was sweet, but she was in a relationship with DM - or even the beginning of one. It seemed easy enough...if Woodruff didn't take it to heart and make a mental note to absolutely pulverise DM when he next saw him. Kim had seen the collie's temper - and she had to admit, it scared her.
But how well did she really know Woodruff? They had become friends, but barely. She knew his parents were divorced, knew his favourite TV program, knew he performed quite a lot of wrestling, but that was it. The rest of him was a complete mystery. It also brought up another question - how well did Woodruff know Kim? To him, she must be an equal mystery. Had he even stopped to consider the fact that he had been too fast?
Probably not.
So why did he decide to leave her a gift? And without even asking if she was free or not?
Unless he had asked someone else...
He must have asked Penfold. Hadn't Woodruff stayed behind when Kim and DM had gone on ahead? But, surely Penfold hadn't told him that Kim wasn't seeing anyone?
Well, my relationship with DM is still in the early stages, thought Kim. It's easy to mistake it for something more. Penfold must have panicked.
But now what could she do? She didn't want to hurt Woodruff, but it seemed like the only option. He would get over it in no time at all. He would find another girl and be happy.
Feeling heartened by this thought, Kim took up the chocolates and placed them on her desk. She would give the gifts back to Woodruff, and let him down gently. It was going to be alright.
Or so she thought.
*
Woodruff settled back on his SpiderMan bedspread and gave a happy smile. The gifts that he'd left in Kim's room were sure to have been discovered by now. He was quite pleased with the verse he'd written - he had grabbed it out of thin air, gone over it in his head a couple of times and then written it down. He only hoped he had done the right thing, signing his initial on it. He didn't want Kim to feel alarmed or maybe get the wrong idea - she might have thought that DM had sent it.
Woodruff sighed and rested his head against the bedpost. He had to admit, he felt jealous of the relationship Kim had with DM: a partner/good friends relationship. Sometimes, Woodruff felt like he was watching them from a distance, as DM and Kim were lost in their own world, full of danger and excitement and adventure. Maybe he could still have it - but by the look of things, he wasn't going to get involved in any adventure unless he was forced to. And the chances of that happening were quite slim.
The collie-dog ran a paw through his brown hair. To him, his whole life had been an adventure - hanging out with his Dad at the gym, using his temper for wrestling with self-defence, the divorce...
To Woodruff, his life was made up of four words: Wrestling, SpiderMan, Divorce and Temper. It was like a routine - as though he was expected to have this sort of life-style. It was just...him.
But now, Woodruff, never having had any female company in his life, was ready to add something new to the routine: Love. His current life was starting to bore him - Woodruff wanted something new. He was twenty-four years old. He needed to get out more, and not just live in his own fiery world. He needed to calm down. He needed to make himself known.
He needed Kim.
But did he love her?
He didn't know yet.
At that moment, the phone rang.
*
Kim played with the phone wire as she waited for Woodruff to answer.
Maybe he's not home yet, she thought. Maybe -
"Hello?" said a familiar voice down the line.
"Oh - er - hi, Woodruff!" Kim tried to make her voice sound casual. "Er - you got home OK?"
"Yeah, DM just left".
There was an awkward silence which was broken by the sounds of heavy breathing both ends.
See? You don't know me enough, Kim felt like saying.
"Um - Woodruff - there's something I have to tell you", she said hesitantly.
"You, er - been in your room - ?" was the anxious reply.
"Yes". Kim took a deep breath.
"Woodruff, I - "
"Let me talk first", Woodruff interrupted. "I'm not perfect, I know. I have a hot temper and I am pretty rough. I've never actually had a girlfriend before and I might not be sure how to act. But I like you a lot and I would never let anything hurt you. I'd look after you. I wouldn't disrupt your present position, I promise".
Kim just wanted to cry. Here was a guy who she was about to turn down, and he suddenly spilled out his heart to her?
Help me, thought Kim desperately.
"Uh - Kim? You still there?"
"Uh - yes - " she mananged to utter. "It was - very sweet of you, Woodruff. You're - really fantastic". What am I getting myself into? she thought.
"Thanks. But aren't you going to add a 'but' onto that sentence?" asked the collie. Please, if she turns me down, just shoot me and save me the trouble of humiliating myself further, he pleaded silently.
But I like DM. But I don't know you very well. But I have a feeling it just wouldn't work. All these 'Buts' were running around Kim's head, and she just wanted to scream it down the phone, right in Woodruff's ear.
"No", Kim sighed heavily. "There is no 'but'". Except for the ones in my head. Why can't people hear each other's thoughts?
"Really?" Woodruff's voice perked. Please let this be for real. Don't let me suddenly wake up and find it to be my crazy imagination.
"Really". Wake up, Kim. Wake up and then slap yourself around the ears for having such a ridiculous dream.
"So - you're not interested in anyone else right now?" Hello? If she already had a boyfriend, she would have told you by now!
"No - I don't think so", replied Kim. LIAR! LIAR!
"YESSSSSSSSSSSS!" Woodruff's cries came echoing down the line. "Sorry", the collie apologised. "Um - I'm at my weird stage". Great, I had to say that!
"I could tell". Kim forced a laugh. I think I'm going to cry.
"I think everyone can tell". Something tells me she REALLY likes me!
"Er, listen, Woodruff", said Kim. "I have to go, OK? I've got things to take care of". Translation: I need to go and hit myself so that I don't EVER remember having this conversation.
"Oh, OK, then. I'll call you later, alright. I've got stuff to do myself". Like jumping onto the roof and screaming that I'm in LOVE!
"Alright. Bye!" Thank heaven that's over, Kim thought as she put the phone down. But now what am I going to do?
The sense of relief that had been there five minutes ago was rapidly fading, until Kim realised that she was in a fix. She hadn't bene able to turn down Woodruff because she just felt so sorry for him. But she really liked DM just for him.
Terrific.
This is not happening to me, thought Kim.
Too bad, Kimmie. It is, said a little voice in her head.
I didn't ask you, she replied silently.
She sat there for a while, confused and trying to think of a way to sort this mess out.
"Kim!" suddenly called a voice. It was Danger Mouse. He was back.
Kim gulped, and made for the door. She didn't know what she was going to see to DM, but she knew it had to be the truth.
In the lounge, the young male mouse smiled at Kim as she entered. His smile vanished when he saw the worried look on his friend's face.
"Kim?" he asked.
"DM - there's something I need to show you", she said.
"What is it?" he asked.
Kim looked up into DM's amber eye.
"I'm really in a fix".
She took his arm and led him along the hallway, back to her room. She let him through the door first, and then picked up the slip of paper from the bed.
"Read this", she said, handing it over. DM read the verse through. His face was unreadable as he handed it back to Kim.
"It's from Woodruff, isn't it?" he said.
She nodded. Then she told him about the telephone conversation she had had with the collie. DM raised an eyebrow.
"I see. Well - I'll talk to you later. Excuse me".
He left the room briskly. As soon as he was out in the corridor, he leaned against the wall and hung his head in his hands as his shoulders started to shake. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe it.
DM put a hand to his chest and took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He felt stupid and scolded himself for feeling so jealous.
But it didn't make him feel any better.
DM rubbed one of his arms absent-mindedly before deciding to have a shower. He needed some room to think.
*
Molly took up the bottle on her doorstep and looked at it curiously. She looked down the garden path and then looked at the label. The bottle was revealed to be 'Fresh Milk'.
Molly frowned. It was five o'clock in the afternoon - milk was supposed to come in the morning. But maybe she wasn't the only one. Maybe other people had recieved the milk as well.
The young woman walked over to the hedge and peeked into next door's garden. Sure enough, there was a bottle on their doorstep too, and with the same label.
Molly smiled in relief. It was just a special delivery. She took the bottle and went back inside.
"Hi, Tom", she said to her fiancee, as she entered the kitchen. "We have some extra milk".
Tom looked up curiously.
"Another bottle? In the middle of the afternoon?"
Molly shrugged.
"Everyone's got one", she said. "I guess it's just a discount sale".
"Yeah - but - Molly", said Tom, as he took the bottle. "This isn't our normal milk. We have our milk in clear bottles. The label on this one covers all of the glass and it doesn't show what's inside".
He tore off the lid.
"What are you doing?" asked Molly.
"Just checking to see if this is safe".
Molly sighed. "OK, love, suit yourself".
Tom sniffed the top of the bottle. Then he cautiously brought it to his lips and had a taste.
"Bleargh!" he cried, accidently dropping the bottle. "That's FOUL! That's disgusting!"
The bottle fell sideways and a strange black potion spilled out over the floor. Molly didn't notice. She was startled by the sudden angry look on Tom's face.
"Tom? What is it?" she asked.
"Get out of my way". He put his hand out, and pushed Molly out of the way. She gaped after him as he made for the front door, grabbing his coat.
"Tom!" she cried after him.
"Shut up, you idiot", was her reply.
The front door slammed shut.
*
Duckula's first lorry was driving across open country. After stopping in countless streets and delivering countless bottles of hate potion to unfortunate individuals, Duckula's two henchmen were looking for a good place to have a snack.
"Helen", said the tiger, who was sitting in the passenger seat. "How many miles have we come?"
"At least eighty", replied the hawk. She looked sideways at the tiger. "Jack, are you going to let me focus on the driving or do I have to show you why I'm called a bird of prey?"
"OK! OK! Alright!" said Jack quickly. "I just wanted to know".
Helen rolled her eyes.
"Sometimes, I worry about you", she said.
"Reckon it will have started?" asked Jack. "You know - the potions and all that".
"Jack, I DO know what you're talking about. I know what 'it' means", said Helen.
Jack was too used to his colleague's retorts and rolled his own eyes back at Helen.
"So - do you reckon it's started?" he said after a moment's pause.
Helen laughed hollowly.
"Probably, Jack. Probably".
OK, anyway, in this chapter, while the characters are talking, their thoughts are going to be next to their sentence. You'll see what I mean!
*
Chapter 4
Frankenstoat looked out of the window at the lorry driving away towards the main road. Inside the lorry, there was crate upon crate of the hate potion. The henchmen driving the lorry had a very long journey ahead of them - Duckula wanted the potion to be delivered all over Britain. These henchmen were not the only ones delivering - more henchmen were to be sent out tomorrow.
It had taken a long time, but Frankenstoat had been able to make and bottle the potion with help from Duckula. The two had worked fervishly, and after loading up the lorry, had collapsed onto the sofa in the old living-room.
"When are we going to start the next lot?" asked Frankenstoat.
"As soon as p-p-possible", was the answer.
Frankenstoat tilted his head back on the sofa and did not reply.
*
After lunch, DM gave Woodruff a lift back to his place. After waving them off, Kim went down to her bedroom. As she walked through the pillarbox, she thought how strange it was to have the whole place to herself.
When she arrived in her bedroom, she took a quick look at herself in the full-length mirror. A red-haired mouse in a green jumpsuit looked right back at her. Kim smiled, by now used to looking at a completely different face. Besides, now she didn't feel so out-of-place - she really felt at ease, a part of the group.
Suddenly, something lying on the bed behind her caught Kim's eye. She turned around to see a single rose, a slip of paper and a small heart- shaped box of chocolates lying on the covers. Kim picked up the slip of paper with a surprised smile and read it through.
'Roses are red
Violets are blue
And I feel your aura and beauty
When I'm around you'.
'Love W.'
Kim's smile faded. W? Woodruff? Woodruff had left the rose and chocolates on her bed? No. Probably just a friendly gesture.
But then, he'd been full of compliments for her this morning. Kim had just thought he was being sweet. And the looks he given her - Kim had once been told that Border Collies used that look to intimidate sheep. But now, judging by the card and gift, it was obvious that Woodruff really did like her.
Maybe he might not even like her. Maybe he - LOVED her?
Kim was was flattered, disappointed and panicked all at the same time. Flattered because Woodruff had taken an interest in her, disappointed because she had anticipated that the gift was from DM, and then panicked because she wondered how DM would feel when he found out?
Kim sat down on the bed for a moment, digesting all these feelings. She had always seen Woodruff as a friend. It was shocking to discover how he really wanted to know her.
Kim put her head in her hands. Great. Just great. What was she going to say to DM? She'd kissed him quite a few times - not to mention their big Christmas Eve kiss.
Well, the answer was obvious. Go to Woodruff and talk to him. Tell him that it was sweet, but she was in a relationship with DM - or even the beginning of one. It seemed easy enough...if Woodruff didn't take it to heart and make a mental note to absolutely pulverise DM when he next saw him. Kim had seen the collie's temper - and she had to admit, it scared her.
But how well did she really know Woodruff? They had become friends, but barely. She knew his parents were divorced, knew his favourite TV program, knew he performed quite a lot of wrestling, but that was it. The rest of him was a complete mystery. It also brought up another question - how well did Woodruff know Kim? To him, she must be an equal mystery. Had he even stopped to consider the fact that he had been too fast?
Probably not.
So why did he decide to leave her a gift? And without even asking if she was free or not?
Unless he had asked someone else...
He must have asked Penfold. Hadn't Woodruff stayed behind when Kim and DM had gone on ahead? But, surely Penfold hadn't told him that Kim wasn't seeing anyone?
Well, my relationship with DM is still in the early stages, thought Kim. It's easy to mistake it for something more. Penfold must have panicked.
But now what could she do? She didn't want to hurt Woodruff, but it seemed like the only option. He would get over it in no time at all. He would find another girl and be happy.
Feeling heartened by this thought, Kim took up the chocolates and placed them on her desk. She would give the gifts back to Woodruff, and let him down gently. It was going to be alright.
Or so she thought.
*
Woodruff settled back on his SpiderMan bedspread and gave a happy smile. The gifts that he'd left in Kim's room were sure to have been discovered by now. He was quite pleased with the verse he'd written - he had grabbed it out of thin air, gone over it in his head a couple of times and then written it down. He only hoped he had done the right thing, signing his initial on it. He didn't want Kim to feel alarmed or maybe get the wrong idea - she might have thought that DM had sent it.
Woodruff sighed and rested his head against the bedpost. He had to admit, he felt jealous of the relationship Kim had with DM: a partner/good friends relationship. Sometimes, Woodruff felt like he was watching them from a distance, as DM and Kim were lost in their own world, full of danger and excitement and adventure. Maybe he could still have it - but by the look of things, he wasn't going to get involved in any adventure unless he was forced to. And the chances of that happening were quite slim.
The collie-dog ran a paw through his brown hair. To him, his whole life had been an adventure - hanging out with his Dad at the gym, using his temper for wrestling with self-defence, the divorce...
To Woodruff, his life was made up of four words: Wrestling, SpiderMan, Divorce and Temper. It was like a routine - as though he was expected to have this sort of life-style. It was just...him.
But now, Woodruff, never having had any female company in his life, was ready to add something new to the routine: Love. His current life was starting to bore him - Woodruff wanted something new. He was twenty-four years old. He needed to get out more, and not just live in his own fiery world. He needed to calm down. He needed to make himself known.
He needed Kim.
But did he love her?
He didn't know yet.
At that moment, the phone rang.
*
Kim played with the phone wire as she waited for Woodruff to answer.
Maybe he's not home yet, she thought. Maybe -
"Hello?" said a familiar voice down the line.
"Oh - er - hi, Woodruff!" Kim tried to make her voice sound casual. "Er - you got home OK?"
"Yeah, DM just left".
There was an awkward silence which was broken by the sounds of heavy breathing both ends.
See? You don't know me enough, Kim felt like saying.
"Um - Woodruff - there's something I have to tell you", she said hesitantly.
"You, er - been in your room - ?" was the anxious reply.
"Yes". Kim took a deep breath.
"Woodruff, I - "
"Let me talk first", Woodruff interrupted. "I'm not perfect, I know. I have a hot temper and I am pretty rough. I've never actually had a girlfriend before and I might not be sure how to act. But I like you a lot and I would never let anything hurt you. I'd look after you. I wouldn't disrupt your present position, I promise".
Kim just wanted to cry. Here was a guy who she was about to turn down, and he suddenly spilled out his heart to her?
Help me, thought Kim desperately.
"Uh - Kim? You still there?"
"Uh - yes - " she mananged to utter. "It was - very sweet of you, Woodruff. You're - really fantastic". What am I getting myself into? she thought.
"Thanks. But aren't you going to add a 'but' onto that sentence?" asked the collie. Please, if she turns me down, just shoot me and save me the trouble of humiliating myself further, he pleaded silently.
But I like DM. But I don't know you very well. But I have a feeling it just wouldn't work. All these 'Buts' were running around Kim's head, and she just wanted to scream it down the phone, right in Woodruff's ear.
"No", Kim sighed heavily. "There is no 'but'". Except for the ones in my head. Why can't people hear each other's thoughts?
"Really?" Woodruff's voice perked. Please let this be for real. Don't let me suddenly wake up and find it to be my crazy imagination.
"Really". Wake up, Kim. Wake up and then slap yourself around the ears for having such a ridiculous dream.
"So - you're not interested in anyone else right now?" Hello? If she already had a boyfriend, she would have told you by now!
"No - I don't think so", replied Kim. LIAR! LIAR!
"YESSSSSSSSSSSS!" Woodruff's cries came echoing down the line. "Sorry", the collie apologised. "Um - I'm at my weird stage". Great, I had to say that!
"I could tell". Kim forced a laugh. I think I'm going to cry.
"I think everyone can tell". Something tells me she REALLY likes me!
"Er, listen, Woodruff", said Kim. "I have to go, OK? I've got things to take care of". Translation: I need to go and hit myself so that I don't EVER remember having this conversation.
"Oh, OK, then. I'll call you later, alright. I've got stuff to do myself". Like jumping onto the roof and screaming that I'm in LOVE!
"Alright. Bye!" Thank heaven that's over, Kim thought as she put the phone down. But now what am I going to do?
The sense of relief that had been there five minutes ago was rapidly fading, until Kim realised that she was in a fix. She hadn't bene able to turn down Woodruff because she just felt so sorry for him. But she really liked DM just for him.
Terrific.
This is not happening to me, thought Kim.
Too bad, Kimmie. It is, said a little voice in her head.
I didn't ask you, she replied silently.
She sat there for a while, confused and trying to think of a way to sort this mess out.
"Kim!" suddenly called a voice. It was Danger Mouse. He was back.
Kim gulped, and made for the door. She didn't know what she was going to see to DM, but she knew it had to be the truth.
In the lounge, the young male mouse smiled at Kim as she entered. His smile vanished when he saw the worried look on his friend's face.
"Kim?" he asked.
"DM - there's something I need to show you", she said.
"What is it?" he asked.
Kim looked up into DM's amber eye.
"I'm really in a fix".
She took his arm and led him along the hallway, back to her room. She let him through the door first, and then picked up the slip of paper from the bed.
"Read this", she said, handing it over. DM read the verse through. His face was unreadable as he handed it back to Kim.
"It's from Woodruff, isn't it?" he said.
She nodded. Then she told him about the telephone conversation she had had with the collie. DM raised an eyebrow.
"I see. Well - I'll talk to you later. Excuse me".
He left the room briskly. As soon as he was out in the corridor, he leaned against the wall and hung his head in his hands as his shoulders started to shake. He couldn't believe it. He just couldn't believe it.
DM put a hand to his chest and took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. He felt stupid and scolded himself for feeling so jealous.
But it didn't make him feel any better.
DM rubbed one of his arms absent-mindedly before deciding to have a shower. He needed some room to think.
*
Molly took up the bottle on her doorstep and looked at it curiously. She looked down the garden path and then looked at the label. The bottle was revealed to be 'Fresh Milk'.
Molly frowned. It was five o'clock in the afternoon - milk was supposed to come in the morning. But maybe she wasn't the only one. Maybe other people had recieved the milk as well.
The young woman walked over to the hedge and peeked into next door's garden. Sure enough, there was a bottle on their doorstep too, and with the same label.
Molly smiled in relief. It was just a special delivery. She took the bottle and went back inside.
"Hi, Tom", she said to her fiancee, as she entered the kitchen. "We have some extra milk".
Tom looked up curiously.
"Another bottle? In the middle of the afternoon?"
Molly shrugged.
"Everyone's got one", she said. "I guess it's just a discount sale".
"Yeah - but - Molly", said Tom, as he took the bottle. "This isn't our normal milk. We have our milk in clear bottles. The label on this one covers all of the glass and it doesn't show what's inside".
He tore off the lid.
"What are you doing?" asked Molly.
"Just checking to see if this is safe".
Molly sighed. "OK, love, suit yourself".
Tom sniffed the top of the bottle. Then he cautiously brought it to his lips and had a taste.
"Bleargh!" he cried, accidently dropping the bottle. "That's FOUL! That's disgusting!"
The bottle fell sideways and a strange black potion spilled out over the floor. Molly didn't notice. She was startled by the sudden angry look on Tom's face.
"Tom? What is it?" she asked.
"Get out of my way". He put his hand out, and pushed Molly out of the way. She gaped after him as he made for the front door, grabbing his coat.
"Tom!" she cried after him.
"Shut up, you idiot", was her reply.
The front door slammed shut.
*
Duckula's first lorry was driving across open country. After stopping in countless streets and delivering countless bottles of hate potion to unfortunate individuals, Duckula's two henchmen were looking for a good place to have a snack.
"Helen", said the tiger, who was sitting in the passenger seat. "How many miles have we come?"
"At least eighty", replied the hawk. She looked sideways at the tiger. "Jack, are you going to let me focus on the driving or do I have to show you why I'm called a bird of prey?"
"OK! OK! Alright!" said Jack quickly. "I just wanted to know".
Helen rolled her eyes.
"Sometimes, I worry about you", she said.
"Reckon it will have started?" asked Jack. "You know - the potions and all that".
"Jack, I DO know what you're talking about. I know what 'it' means", said Helen.
Jack was too used to his colleague's retorts and rolled his own eyes back at Helen.
"So - do you reckon it's started?" he said after a moment's pause.
Helen laughed hollowly.
"Probably, Jack. Probably".