Chapter Two: Paranoid

Nikki was talking to Noodle down in the kitchen. Noodle was doing her best to look like she was interested, but the only thing she heard come out of her friend's mouth was, "Blah, blah, blah." The whole time, she was deciding over whether to ask Nikki what she thought of 2D or not. The words were on the tip of her tounge, and finally, after the hundreth blah, she bursted.

"NIKKI, DO YOU LIKE 2D!"

Nikki's eyes widened in shock. There was a long pause of silence before she replied.

". . . What the fuck?"

"Just answer the question," Noodle insisted.

"Uhhh, well. . . " Nikki scratched her head, trying to think of the right answer. "Ummm, he's a cool friend, I guess. . . Why?"

"No reason," Noodle said, sitting upright again.

As if on cue, 2D opened the door to the kitchen and walked in. He was too busy looking at the ground to notice the two girls sitting at the table. He opened the fridge and sifted through it, looking for something decent to eat. After a few minutes, he groaned in frustration.

"Who gets the god damn groceries around here!" he yelled, closing the fridge. "There's nothing but cra- "

He had spotted Nikki at last and froze again. They stared at each other for a few seconds, not saying anything.

Finally, 2D exclaimed, "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT! I WAS JUST GETTING SOME FOOD!"

Nikki scooted back in her chair. "Sorry, I ju-"

"STOP STARING AT ME!"

With that, he ran out of the kitchen in an instant. Nikki turned to Noodle as the door slammed.

"Well, he's a bit paranoid, isn't he?"

Noodle sighed. "You have no idea, Nikki."

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After breakfast, which was a cup of coffee that they managed to make after excavating throught the pantry, Nikki was on her way to her room when she bumped into Murdoc in the corridor.

"Oh, hi, Murdoc," she said.

Murdoc smiled in an expression that she was becoming a bit suspicious of.

"Having a nice day, Nikki?" he replied, staring her down with an all-knowing grin.

"Uhhh, yeah," she said, taking a step back.

"Bump into 2D lately?" he asked, almost chuckling.

Nikki stood up straight and looked him in the eyes. "Okay, what is up with 2D this morning? First, Noodle suddenly asks if I like him or not, and next thing I know, he's all paranoid when he's around me."

Murdoc laughed, puzzling Nikki beyond imagine. He stopped and said, "Okay, I'll let you in on the little secret."

"Do tell," Nikki said, folding her arms.

He leaned in and whispered in her ear, apparently too giddy to say it out loud, "2D is in love with you."

Nikki jumped back as he said it. "WHAT!"

Murdoc laughed again. "Isn't it obvious? He freaked out this morning. He said he has a 'crush' on you."

Nikki's mouth moved up and down silently for a few minutes, but no words came out. She finally said, "What makes you so sure it's love?"

Murdoc shook his head. "Let me enlighten you about 2D, love; If he likes a girl, he'll ask her out faster than you can say, 'See you at seven.' The reason I know it's love is because he hasn't asked you out yet. In fact, he can hardly talk to you now that he's admitted it."

"Yeah, I noticed," Nikki said rolling her eyes. "But why me?"

Murdoc shrugged. "Dunno. You'll have to ask him. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go screw around pointlessly until I find something to do."

He left her to walk into her room with an endless parade of questions going through her mind. She felt like she was in some sort of fucked up soap opera or something. She lied down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling for a while, just thinking.

. . . Did she love him back?

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"WHAT DO YOU FUCKING MEAN, SHE KNOWS!"

Murdoc shrugged innocently. "I couldn't leave her hanging like that."

2D yelled and beat his fists against the wall of his room.

"Calm down, you'll make a hole in the wall," Murdoc said.

2D stopped and sat on his bed. "I hate you."

"Thanks for the news flash," Murdoc replied, leaning against the wall casually.

"What words did you use?"

"Uhh, I think I said, '2D is in love with you.' Yeah, that's what I sa-"

"WHAT!"

2D gripped the sheets of his bed, almost ripping them. "Why did you say that!"

Murdoc cocked his head. "Because that's what it is, right?"

"I specifically used the word 'crush', dum-dum."

Murdoc shook his head in pity. "Poor, naive 2D. You'll admit it eventually."

Before 2D could say anything, Murdoc had left and closed the door behind him. He had a meeting with Russel and Noodle.