ShadowofDeathsveil- Thanks! Glad you're liking it!
Guest- Yep, it certainly is emotional! Glad you're liking the story!
Zootopians- Guess you could say the story is quite unpredictable, huh?
slayerfordepth- There will be much more to the story than just Nick and Judy, trust me! ;)
PointyHairedJedi- Thanks!
JG Girl- Will do!
Guest- Thank you! Glad you like it! :)
just-a-guy-having-fun- Yep! Trust is a very delicate thing, isn't it?
Danny TL- Thank you, and I'm glad! I hate seeing people in situations similar to Nick's as well.
Goldyx- It will happen, I assure you!
Vivanai- Thanks! Glad you're loving it!
APumaUnchained- It's true. That's why I hate society. So many people are taught terrible things by modern day society that eventually define "the norm", and that frustrates me beyond measure. Hate is learned.
CipherFiveZero- There will be romance, lol, I promise. And yes, that's quite similar to what I'm saying, but also, no one should have to suffer. Yes, it may not be relevant years later, but it's hard to tell that to children who've already hung themselves. :(
hrg2damax- Thanks, and will do!
Flippindaku- Guess you could say that! If only they'd realize their feelings! ._.
Jar3d-o3- Thank you! Glad I wrote it well.
Crazyanimaltlou- Same!
I'm almost out of school, which means new stories, sooner updates, etc, so prepare yourselves! Thanks for all the continued support of my story, and I hope it continues! Well, anyways, here's chapter eight of Lost and Found!
Judy POV
I don't know whether trusting this "Melvin" guy is a smart thing to do. It seems like he's put Nick through quite a bit of pain, so that's a strike against him already.
However, it is true that people change, sometimes for the better.
"So, you guys a thing or what?" Melvin asks us, and Nick and I cringe nearly blush in unison.
"Um...well..." Nick stumbles, and my throat dries up.
"He's my best friend" is all I manage to say, and then I immediately panic.
He's going to think I friend zoned him! But I totally did! What's wrong with me?! I'm just so-
As I said that, Nick seems to nod in agreement, but I can see the wishful thinking in his eyes as he glances my way. Or perhaps it's just me jumping to conclusions. In fact, he probably doesn't even like me at all that way.
There's an awkward silence hanging in the air, which forces me to speak again.
"So, I'm guessing you hate school too?" I ask him, and he speaks without hesitance.
"Oh, of course! It's so stupid!" he exclaims.
Nick smiles upon hearing this, agreeing with this wholeheartedly.
His smile is certainly dazzling, and it makes me feel-
"You can sit with us at lunch" Nick tells him, mostly out of kindness but also out of pity. If the kid isn't lying, he's lost a good amount of his friends. In fact, I'd say he's lost all of them at this point, considering he is speaking to us.
The bus ride comes to an end as we pull up to the school, the children standing up in preparation to exit.
In a way, I'm ready to join Nick for another day against the world, but this lamb creates some amount of uncertainty. He seems so mysterious despite the fact he's very clear in what he says.
Nick and I, along with our new friend walk quickly, ahead of the crowd. We certainly don't want to get swallowed by a mob of unforgiving children.
I notice that Nick looks uncomfortable just at the sight, and I try to brighten him up.
"Don't think about them, Nick" I advise him, "Just remember what I think of you".
He slightly turns my way, cheeks flexing in a near smile.
"Which is?" he asks me curiously, and I struggle not to tell him about my strong, new feelings.
"I...think you're the best! Duh!" I speak as though it was a well-known fact.
"Thanks Judy" he says sweetly, "You know you're my favorite person in the world too".
Yeah, that's the type of thing that makes me light up in the inside; the kind of thing that I hear in my most lovely dreams.
But the question is: why am I feeling so strange towards Nick?
"Thanks...no one's ever said that to me" I tell him truthfully as Melvin walks a stride behind us.
We reach the doors to the school and walk at a quick pace; not wanting to encounter any of Nick's former enemies.
Nick seems to be walking with a feeling of confidence, which makes me feel like I'm making some difference.
We reach the classroom and wander inside, Ms. Bronson staring at us almost instantaneously.
"I'm sorry about yesterday" she speaks in my direction, and I want to yell at her that in fact the inexcusable hatred was directed towards Nick, not myself. She should be apologizing to my best friend, not me.
We sit in our usual seats towards the back-left of the room, and I drop my books onto my desk audibly, and Melvin sits in the desk in front of Nick; previously empty at all times.
Either he genuinely wants to be our friend, or he wants to earn our trust before he sets it all ablaze. I have no idea which is more likely.
I glance over at Nick again for no particular reason and hold my gaze.
Stop staring, Judy! He's going to see you!
You just can't look away from his eyes...
Eventually, he does exactly what I expect: catch me, and I look away quickly in hopes that he'll forget it happened.
"Judy?" I hear his light voice speak, and I cringe internally.
Yeah, he definitely saw me.
"Sorry, I'm just..."
Tell the truth.
"I'm feeling...odd".
His eyes seem to stare straight into my soul as his ear twitches, his curiosity growing.
"Like...sick?" he questions.
I honestly don't know how to answer the question. I don't want to tell him that he is causing these strange sensations, but I've never been one to lie, especially to my best friend.
"I..."
"Oh, look who it is!" a booming voice interrupts me, and I notice it's more of the anti-Nick goons that seem to be everywhere, "Ole' Nicky! You rob som-"
"Oh, give it a break!" the only fox besides Nick in the room says to the young buffalo, "What has he ever done to you?"
This other fox seems to be decently respected by the class itself, as only a few words succeed in silencing the class.
She stands up with an indignant expression and begins stomping our way, looking as though she has skipped a few grades by her size and stature. She drags her backpack behind her as she walks, the other children in the room not daring to look at her in a condescending way.
She's slightly taller than Nick, but has quite an intimidating look to go with it.
I glance at Nick in concern but he simply shrugs as she approaches us, and Nick speaks to avoid any possible conflict.
"Violet, we aren't in the mood for a fight" he tells her, but she crosses her arms in defense.
"You can't be serious, bozo! I'm trying to move back here with you guys because I want to sit with you! I don't want a fight!" she says in a slightly edgy tone, and I flinch a bit.
She turns to the armadillo sitting in front of me and gestures for him to trade seats with her, and he obliges out of pure fear.
"I know I haven't talked to you much, Nick, but I hate seeing you get bullied" she says to him as she sits down in the seat, and he nods.
"Oh, no biggie" he speaks, "I'm over it now".
As he speaks, he look at me again with his eyes sparkling with gleefulness, knowing he may make three friends over the course of just a few days.
"You just tell me if there's anyone bothering you, and I'll shred them to pieces'" she speaks savagely, and I believe every word of it. Violet looks like she could easily destroy any kid in the school in a fight, and I know that Nick acknowledges this as well. Honestly, I wouldn't be shocked if she's an MMA fighter of some sort.
"I'm Melvin!" the lamb in front of Nick says to her with a grin and a cheesy wink, and she rolls her eyes.
"I'm here to help Nick, not talk to weirdos" she mumbles.
"Maybe I'd be cool if you got to know me!" he argues, but she shakes her head.
"Who is this kid?" she asks Nick regarding Melvin, "And who are you?" she asks me.
I feel a pinch of anger, sensing that perhaps she's trying to steal Nick away from me.
Wait, what?! Judy, that's nonsense! You can't judge her, or her intentions. Maybe she's just trying to be nice!
Her eye-liner smothered eyes are slightly unsettling as she stares my way, waiting for an answer.
"Oh, um, that's Melvin and I'm Judy, Nick's best friend".
I make sure to put emphasis on the "best friend" part, glancing his way as I announce it proudly.
"Oh, that's cool" she says in a flat voice, and I narrow my eyes in confusion.
She's really weird, I can tell from just the few words she has spoken. But once again, who am I to judge her?
She continues trying to speak as the teacher also does, and I struggle to pay attention to class due to her constant sarcastic remarks and cynical humor.
"Can you please" I say, whispering, "Please quiet down a little bit?"
She rolls her eyes for what seems like the thousandth time.
"It's school. Like, seriously, why do you care so much?"
I'm starting to get kind of irritated with this girl already.
My knuckles close tightly, holding my pencil in my hand hard, threatening to snap it.
"Because school matters to me" I tell her, and she chuckles.
"Oh, come on rabbit!" she says amusingly.
"No, I'm serious! I'm going to be a police officer one day" I proclaim, but then almost immediately regret it.
"Wait, what?" she asks with a crooked smile.
Well, at least I'm prepared for the backlash that almost always comes. It's simply something I'm used to by now.
"Please don't start" I tell her, "I've heard enough of it already".
For a second, her expression nearly resembles one of sympathy or regret.
"Whatever" she mutters, "Guess I'll grow up to be a ninja assassin, right? It's Zootopia, anything's possible!" she states sarcastically before slumping into her seat.
I don't have time to get mad at anyone today, honestly, and especially not someone attempting to help Nick.
"Don't listen to her" Nick tells me quietly as the teacher lectures us, and I smile his way as warmly as possible, "I know you can do it".
Why does he have to be so...so...perfect?
That sounds weird, Judy.
"Thanks, Nick" I whisper, gazing at him and then up at the teacher as she continues her lesson.
It appears that we've created a circle of friends in some way or another. I don't quite understand Violet yet, but I suppose it's the usual: having a few friends is better than being a completely loner. I have to agree with that, recalling the dome of solitariness that once engulfed me.
Over the next few minutes, my angry parents wander into my thoughts more than once, which begins to bug me. They kept asking for me to assure them that I won't speak to Nick ever again, which is one of the absolute worst things one can say to me.
I push the touchy subject away and observe the calm classroom, careful not to disturb the current peace. It's amazing to see, honestly, everyone in the room minding their own business. At this moment in time, no one cares about anyone's type or anything like that. Nick sits in a neutral manner, his big emerald eyes full of wonder, for once not being harassed. Violet is asleep, Melvin is toying around with one of his pencils, and I notice the thick glasses that he's now wearing.
Oh, how I wish every second of the day could be this serene.
Nick POV
Well, Violet is right about one thing: school is pretty boring.
Something shocking has happened today, however.
I know for a fact that Judy is my friend, but Melvin and Violet are pretty much a mystery at this point. But, just think; I have three people that I think are on my side. Honestly, this is something I couldn't have imagined in my wildest dreams until now. It's a surreal feeling to know that there are people who have your back, especially in this cruel reality.
We sit at our lunch table which seats four, Judy at my side, and the other two across from us.
The lunch room is actually quite intricate in design; a sky-roof allowing radiant sunlight to seep into the large lunch room, brightening the overall ambiance quite a bit.
I hold up a chunk of my pasta as it hangs from my fork, and stare at it quizzically.
"Looks really processed...or something" I mutter.
"It's pretty good though" Judy tells me as she eats her food quickly, remembering our relatively short lunch time.
"I actually agree with you, kid" Violet mumbles, "Looks nauseating".
Melvin's plate has already been cleaned, which shocks me. He doesn't exactly look the sort that would eat "like a pig".
But then again, I can't judge people based off of looks.
"So Nick" Judy speaks to me, "You feeling...happy?"
Man, she really does care about my well-being. I'm not complaining in any way, though. I'm forever grateful to have someone as spectacular as her.
"Yeah" I respond to her as I put my fork back on my plate, "Happier than I've ever been" I admit.
At this, she stares at me with discernment.
"Come here for a minute" she says standing up, and gesturing over to a secluded area of the lunchroom.
I hold my breath and stand up, mumbling a half-inspired "be right back" to Violet and Melvin.
I walk beside her over to the practical corner, and she stares at me.
"Now, tell me. Are you sure everything's okay?" she questions me once more, and I shrug.
"Mostly, I mean, besides my dad and all, but I promise I'm happy" I tell her, but she isn't completely convinced.
"Nothing else?" she asks me knowingly, and I nearly gulp.
There's no way she knows about my weird feelings. She can't read my mind. Can she?
"What do you mean?" I ask her, my eyes shifting to various areas of the room, looking anywhere but in her eyes.
"I don't...know exactly. You just seem...off" she answers, and I feel her stare burrowing into me.
I quickly glance over at our lunch-table again, and Violet makes a kissing face towards me, mimicking Judy and I, and I begin to finally understand it all.
Even as I roll my eyes in response, I know that the feeling deep, deep down in my chest is not one I've ever known. This isn't a feeling of normal friendship, or anything of the like. This is a bit more severe, and dangerous.
I like her. I like her a lot.
I like her more than just a friend. I like the way her eyes gleam with such wonder and determination, and I like the way she speaks with such a defined spirit. I like how her ears make her head look amusing in proportion, much like mine. I like how she never judges a soul before she knows them for who they truly are. I like how she cared about me even when no one else did, and dared to be my friend. I like how she calls me "Nick" instead of "fox", and I like above all that she isn't afraid to be herself.
Upon this realization, I gasp a bit, which draws Judy in even more.
"Nick? I know something's up" she informs me once more.
"Judy, I'm fine, I promise" I begin, "But...um...are you feeling any...different?"
She looks a bit flustered.
"What do you mean by different?" she asks.
"Like...inside...do you..."
My suspenseful question is interrupted by a young fennec fox beside us.
"Um, what's up?" he asks us, and I stare at him in frustration.
"You need something?" I ask him.
He scoffs, knowing fully well he just interrupted an important conversation.
"I'm Finnick. Just wanted the new rabbit here to answer a few questions for the school paper" he announces to us in a very high voice.
"Uh...okay. Go ahead" she says in slight confusion.
"Alright, first, how has your experience been so far?" he asks her, and I brace myself for her imminent answer.
I can almost detect Judy laughing to herself before she answers, indicating an anger she is finally able to release through words.
"I've met a few nice people" she begins, holding her gaze with me as she speaks, "But then there's others".
She gestures to the rest of the lunchroom with an indifferent expression.
"The school itself is...garbage. There's a ton of prejudice included with many of the students and teachers, and the overall learning experience is really bad, too. Kids are bullied everyday, and no one does a thing. It's almost depressing how bad the other kids are".
Finnick stands in shock, looking quite petrified in the way he stands, stiff as a board.
"Oh, um, okay" he squeaks, not mentally prepared for such a drastic answer.
You see, most animals would have given a positive answer due to the negligence regarding the obvious bullying problem. But Judy, however, well...she's different.
"Now, take that to the principal, please" Judy requests, and he nods softly.
"I'll...um...okay" he mutter, moving along, not even bothering to ask another question.
I laugh softly as he walks away, finding Judy's answer to be both true and funny due to his reaction.
"What? I told the truth!" she says, punching me playfully on the arm.
"Ow!" I say upon feeling this, and she giggles.
"Come on, let's go finish eating" she says, lightly tugging on my jacket in order to indicate that we need to walk.
We rejoin our table, where only Violet sits, her arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
"Um...where did-" I begin.
"He was getting kind of annoying so I told him to buzz off" she recalls, and then resumes her usual blank expression.
2:59 PM
It's been a tiring day, to say the least. It's the most I've ever payed attention in Math, honestly, and it was only to impress Judy.
It's safe to say that I've accepted my new crush; something I've never known until now. The feeling is something mystical and magical in all bluntness. It's...unbelievable.
I drop my pencil into my backpack along with my books as the bell rings, and swiftly zip it up, ready to talk with Judy some more.
"So" I say to her as I stand up, "You doing anything after school?"
"Hah, not really" she tells me, "My parents probably won't let me leave the house".
Oh, come on Nick! You knew she's in trouble! What a dumb question to ask!
"Oh, right!" I say.
"Come on" she tells me, "Don't want to get stuck in the stampede!"
We hurry to the bus stop, where we part ways. Judy is a bus rider, and I usually ride home with my mother.
I stand beside her for a moment, glaring at the bus as the students board it, not wanting to subject her to such a cruel environment.
"I'll text you!" she says to me, and then leans in for a quick hug, causing me to loose my breath again, my heartbeats accentuating ten-fold. The feeling is some sort of extraordinary ever-glow, my body feeling a ton lighter than usual.
"Oh, uhm..." I stutter as she releases me, my body tingling, "Yeah! I'll text you later!"
I see her eyes widen however, and not in a good way. She looks scared.
"Hey! Foxy!" I hear a voice behind me, and it's yet another hateful soul.
I attempt to back away from the young buffalo before me, but I'm pushed to the ground once again; a place that has become home for me.
"What's wrong with you?" Judy yells at him, but he simply pushes her aside.
"Someone told me you stole my car keys!" he yells at me, a few droplets of spit flying through the air as he screams.
"Well...I didn't...so...can I go now?" I ask, but he's obviously not in the mood for it.
He kicks me with his hard hoof, and I sputter in pain.
"Give it to me!" he yells with eyes full of fury, his fists clenching tight, and I know I could be in for quite a bit of torment.
"I swear...I don't have it!" I say desperately, but he doesn't believe me.
He throws a punch to my chest and I groan, but there's a new feeling within me as he pushes Judy once again; this time to the cold pavement.
I throw his arm away from me, wiggling vigorously, and leap onto his face. I claw at his face with all the anger inside of me, and he shrieks as the blood begins pouring down his neck.
In all fairness, I probably should have stopped, but I continue clawing at his face until he collapses to the ground.
One of his friends pulls me off eventually and tosses me away, helping the bully back to his feet. If he looked mad before, then I'd go as far as saying he looks as though he wants me dead now.
The veins in his neck protrude as he walks towards me, and I freeze at the sight of his face: the oozing blood, horrific claw-marks, ghastly holes and grisly abrasions.
"You're dead!"
I try to move, grabbing for Judy's hand in order to help me up, but he knocks her away once more, and this time, the beating is not for the faint of heart.
I can feel my cheekbones swelling up with each brutal hit to my skull I experience, and I gasp for air. I realize that I can't really breathe no matter how hard I try, and I sink low to the ground, but the beating continues. The feeling is something unearthly in it's severity; shockwaves of agony rocking me as I feel bones breaking in many areas of my body. With each clubbing, I realize that his friends have joined in on the beating as well.
I hear Judy's horrific screeches of pure terror, and the frantic yells of teachers as they try to pry the devilish buffalo among others off of me. My vision is beginning to fade, and I've lost my ability to breathe. I feel like every part of me is broken, and I struggle to stay awake.
It's in my final seconds that I realize I may die, and I think of Judy and my mother. I think about how I'll never get to tell Judy about my adoration for her. I'll never get to hug my mother again, or go out for ice cream.
It's over.
The bullies have won...
I think the beating has stopped now as my hearing fades to the sound of screams, but it's too late now. My vision is completely gone.
There's one last moment where I truly believe I can regain consciousness, but in the blink of an eye, all my thoughts fade away.
Well, that's...depressing. Awful. Horrible. Gruesome. Sad.
There's nothing to justify acts of violence like this, but as I previously stated in the introduction for chapter seven, it happens everyday around the world to children who truly don't deserve it.
Anyways, chapter nine will be up soon, as long as I'm not too busy or something unexpected surfaces. Please leave your thoughts in the reviews! Until next time!
:(
