School had let out for the day, and outside sitting on the steps were Darwin and Anais who were waiting for Gumball to finish his detention.
"I can't believe Gumball managed to almost blow up his whole desk. Who would've thought mixing in the wrong chemical could have such a bad result?"
"Mhm.." Anais replied in a distracted tone as she was looking away, not really paying attention.
"Though it wasn't really his fault. None of us knew it'd cause an explosion like that. I mean what kind of school lets students do experiments with dangerous chemicals like that."
"Yeah..." She replied as she looked down frowning.
He giggled. "You should have seen him afterwards. He looked like he'd had an electric shock or something!"
"Oh." She rested her head on her paw.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked noticing how gloomy she looked.
"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing." She gave a fake smile, trying to hide it
"Aww, come on, something's clearly bothering you. Talk to me about it."
"I..." she looked up and saw him give a reassuring smile and sighed. 'Alright then.."
She sat up and turned to face him. "I, uh...I tried to make a friend at school again..."
"Oh, really? How'd it go?"
Her eyes began to well up slightly and she sniffed.
"Terribly...I got so nervous I couldn't form a proper sentence, I kept stuttering and fidgeting and it got really awkward. He eventually just gave me a look like I was some weirdo and walked away."
"Aww no, I'm so sorry." He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder as he began rubbing her arm.
She'd sniffed. "It's alright, it's not your fault I'm the nerdy freak no one wants to hang around."
"Hey, don't talk about yourself like that!"
"It's true though! That's what everyone thinks of me! I'm just the weirdo loner who everyone avoids."
"Aww, that's not true. Of course people wanna be around you!"
"Doesn't seem like it..." Her ears would lower as she looked down.
"There are definitely people out there who'd like you for who you are. You just have to keep looking, keep trying..."
"I've tried so much though! I've been trying for months and I've got nowhere!"
"I know it's difficult, but you just have to keep practising and eventually you'll get there."
She sighed. "What's the point? I'll never make any friends!"
"Of course you will! You can't just give up, you have to stay determined!"
"I don't know if I can..."
Darwin would think for a moment then sigh, placing his fin on her paw. "Y'know, I used to struggle with making friends too."
She looked up, shocked. "Really? You make it seem so easy though!"
"It wasn't always easy. When I first started school, no one really talked to me. In fact, if anything, they were a little bit hostile. Well, except Gumball of course."
"I...I didn't know that...Why...why didn't they like you?"
"I'm a fish with legs...they...thought I was a freak. An abomination."
She gasped. "Really!?"
"Yeah, it was...rough. They generally avoided me and talked behind my back about me."
Her ears lowered. "How...how did you change their minds? Become friends with them?"
"I tried to talk to them, when I could, become friends with them, but it always ended the same way as it does with you. It didn't help I was also incredibly shy."
Anais listened intently as he continued.
"I didn't give up though. I kept trying and trying, over and over, slowly growing more confident."
"People started to see more of the real me as I began to come out of my shell, and they slowly began to talk to me more and more, realising I wasn't actually that different to them."
"Eventually they started asking me to hang out with them, help them with projects, chat with me, and it kinda just grew from there."
"Wow, I...I didn't know you had to work that hard to get people to like you..."
"Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it was...pretty tough. Luckily I had a certain blue cat to help me through it. Someone to support me, and keep me motivated. Just like you do." He smiled at her.
She thought for a moment before smiling back. "Yeah...you're right. I can't just give up. I have to keep trying, keep going. It'll work out eventually."
He'd smile. "Now there's the Anais I know!" He'd rub the top of her head affectionately causing her to giggle.
She'd hug him. "Thanks, Darwin. You're the best brother ever."
He'd chuckle and hug her back. "You're welcome."
"Just remember, it will get better. You'll make friends eventually, I know you will, and don't forget Gumball and I are here for you if ever need someone to talk to or vent to."
She'd smile. "Yeah, I know I can rely on you if I ever need you. Both of you, even if one of you is kinda...wreckless."
Darwin would chuckle. "He is a bit clumsy, but he always means well and he tries his best."
"Yeah, he can be a real goof sometimes but... I wouldn't want him any other way."
He think for a moment then look and see if there was any sign of him coming.
"Hey, don't tell him I told you this, he'd probably kill me if he found out I did, but...he's secretly been hoping for you to make a friend for a while now."
"He...he has?" She looked surprised.
"Mhm. He says you deserve someone who makes you happy, someone you can trust and confide in, and share your secrets with. Someone you can have fun with and make lifelong memories with. Someone who's loyal to you and sticks by your side no matter what. Your own Darwin."
She'd smile, tearing up slightly. "He said that?"
"Mhm. He may act all cool but deep down he's just a big softie. He cares a lot more about people than he lets on. He's really proud of you, we both are, you know that?"
She'd gasp in delight, her eyes shining. "You ...you are!?"
"Extremely. I mean who else can say they have a four-year-old sister who's so smart she's in the grade above them at school?"
She'd hugged him. "Thanks. That..that means a lot."
"No problem. Let's keep this a secret between you and me though, hey?" He winked.
She'd pretend to zip her mouth shut and then give a thumbs up causing them both to laugh.
"Hey guys! Thanks for waiting for me." Gumball said exiting the school finally.
"Oh, hey, you're out early!"
"Yeah, Principal Brown said he thought I'd learnt my lesson and-whoa, hey!"
Anais suddenly hugged him.
He'd start laughing. "What's this for?!"
"I, uh...I'm just happy to see you."
He'd smile. "Well, I'm happy to see you too."
He'd crouch down and hug her.
"Right then, come on then, let's get home. Mom's probably wondering where we are."
"Okay!"
He'd rub her head affectionately then stand back up.
Anais would smile and take Darwin's fin as they started walking, her being more enthusiastic than ever to make a friend, hopefully, someday soon.