Smiling awkwardly in the mirror, Huey straightened his tie. Tonight was prom night. He had always hoped he would go to prom with a girlfriend. He remembered back when he had set up a date for his friend Fenton. The junior woodchuck guidebook has seemed to have all the answers back then. The advice had helped his best friend Boyd get together with his other best friend Violet. But for some reason Huey could never get a date himself.
He would still go to the prom though. Even if just a third wheel to his pals. There was a knock on his bedroom door. Huey ran to get it. "Dewey! How do I look?" he asked, straightening his black suit.
Dewey raised an eyebrow at his older brother. "Dude, you look fine. You need to chill out. You're not even going out with anybody," he said.
Huey took in a deep breath. "You're right. I'm over reacting."
Louie came in the room from behind Dewey. Instead of well dressed like his brothers, he wore his green striped pajamas. They tilted their head at their brother.
"What? Why go to prom by myself if I can stay here and watch a movie with pizza?" he said, grabbing a blanket. Dewey and Huey just rolled their eyes at him.
"Anyways, I came up her to tell you mom's taking us in 10, so you better hurry," Dewey said.
Huey nodded. "I look nice," he said, more to himself than to anybody else.
Louie was halfway out the bedroom door. "What if you do meet a girl you want to dance with at the party? Know any good pick up lines?" he asked.
"Pick up lines?"
Louie stopped and sighed. "Oh Huey, you're helpless. Dewey, you're going with Webby, right?" he asked, turning to the blue loving triplet. Dewey nodded. "Okay, pretend I'm Webby, Dew. Hit me with a pickup line," Louie said.
"On a scale of one to ten, you're a 9. I'm the 1 you need." Dewey smirked and shot finger guns at the youngest triplet.
Louie shrugged. "Eh, not the best example, but you've got the point. Now you try Huey. Pretend I'm whatever girl you have a crush on."
Huey bit his lip thinking. "Oh! I've got it! Are you gram negative, because you're a gracilicute?" (A/N it's pronounced Gra-sil-a-cutie. Came up with this all by myself! Lol I'm such a nerd.)
Dewey and Louie visibly cringed. "Ouch, it's worse than I thought."
Webby stepped into the doorway, dressed in a pink prom dress. "Well, that's one way to ascomycota," she said. Huey gave her a high-five.
"Ugh! Nerds! It's too much!" Louie groaned. "I'll be watching the princess bride or something downstairs." Louie hugged his blanket and walked off.
...
Once at the high school, Dewey and Webby went off to dance while Huey looked for his friends. He found Boyd and Violet by the punch bowl. Boyd has been upgraded over the years, so he looked like he had grown.
The dance room was just the school gym with some streamers hung up. Multicolored balloons were tied to chairs. Purple and pink lights flashed back and forth. The DJ played slow music in the back of the gym.
"Hello, Hubert," Violet said. She wore a glittery green dress that dragged on the floor. Her black wavy hair was let down, and it fell over her shoulders. Huey gave a small wave. He had had a small crush on her when they were kids, but those feelings had died away.
Boyd offered Huey a cup of punch. "Huey, who's your date?" he asked.
Huey took the cup of punch and rubbed the back of his neck. "I- I don't have one."
"But what about that one girl you were seeing?"
"She dumped me."
"Wasn't there that one girl who-"
"She dumped me too."
"How about-"
"I get it! I've been dumped by a lot of girls!" Huey threw his free hand up. Then he took a sip of punch to hide his emotion.
"Well, there's nothing wrong with being single, Hubert," Violet said. "Most people don't end up marrying their first crush anyways."
Huey forced a smile. "Thanks Vi."
Huey heard a loud slam from the entrance of the room, and he looked to see it just as it shut. Looked like someone wasn't having too great of a night. He glanced back to Violet and Boyd.
"Huey, I-" Boyd began, but Violet yanked on his arm.
"We're going to go dance," Violet said in her monotone voice. She dragged her boyfriend off to the dance floor and they slipped away into the crowd.
Huey stared at his punch.
"Some party, eh bro?" Dewey said, moving towards the snack table. He poured two glasses of punch, one of which Huey could assume was for Webby.
Huey took in a deep breath and he started to feel claustrophobic. "I'm... going to step out for a minute," he said.
Dewey gave him a smile. "Alright. Whatever you need to do." Huey was proud to have a brother who could read his body language. He nodded and walked out the door.
He soon found himself outside, where the elementary school, middle school, and high school all met. In the middle of the court yard was a playground. Huey just stared at it, trying to decipher his own emotions. Back when he was younger, life seemed so much simpler. He never felt rushed to be in a relationship because everyone around him was in one. He wanted to be in a relationship for love. But the amount of break ups he had gone through had just made his heart numb. He didn't know what he was supposed to feel anymore.
He was snapped out of his thoughts by a small sniffle. He looked up and searched for the source. A girl sat on the swing, her head in her hands.
Huey walked towards her. Once he was close enough, he could tell who she was. "Gosalyn?"
His voice seemed to startle her. She looked up, her eyes red and wet. She quickly wiped her tears away with her arm. Her purple dress now had small snot streaks.
"Are you crying?" he asked.
She stared at him angrily. "I'm not crying! You're crying!"
Huey raised his hands in defense and took a step back. After a moment of silence, Huey took a seat on the swing next to her. "You don't have to tell me what happened. I'm just getting some fresh air."
Her eyes followed him. Finally, she let out a sigh and held her forehead with one hand. "It's my idiot boyfriend," she said.
Huey looked at her. He hadn't actually expected her to tell him.
"Tank was my date to the prom. But he stood me up! And then, after over thirty minutes of waiting, do you know what he does!? Breaks up with me! Through text!!!" She shoved her phone in Huey's face. Huey leaned back to get a better view of it.
"Wow," he said, not knowing what else to say.
Gosalyn sagged, frowning. She sniffled a bit and sighed. "Figures. He was always a jerk when we were kids too."
Huey rocked himself back and forth on the swing a bit. "Yeah, I know how that feels. Every girlfriend I've had so far has broken up with me."
Glancing up at him, her red ponytail fell over her shoulder. "Really? I mean, I wouldn't date you, but you can't be that hard to stand."
Huey deadpanned. "Gee, thanks."
A smile tugged at the corners of Gosalyn's face. "Sorry. You're just so by the book, it's almost unbearable."
Huey got up from the swing and started to walk away. "Okay, I wouldn't have come out here if I knew this was going to happen."
Gosalyn held out her hand, grabbing his wrist. "Wait, don't go. I'll stop." She let out a small chuckle, her tears started to go away.
Huey stopped and smiled at her. "Gos, if Tank can't see what a great girl you are, then he doesn't deserve you."
Gosalyn let go of his wrist and sat up. "T-thanks. But it still hurts." She stared at the ground, moving the rocks with her feet. Huey followed her gaze and smirked. Only she would wear combat boots to prom.
"Why don't we get out of here? There's no one either of us are waiting on anyways," he said, shoving his hands in his pocket.
"Really? 'Cause formal dancing isn't really my cup of tea," she said, ruffling her dress.
"Well, where do you want to go?" he asked.
"I've got a coupon for ice cream," she said, pulling two out of nowhere.
"Have you been keeping that in your dress?"
"Maybe I have. Maybe I haven't. If this thing had pockets, I wouldn't have to." She got to her feet and handed Huey the coupons. "Come on, let's go." She walked ahead of him out to the car.
Della was still waiting in the green Jeep. She was playing air guitar on her prosthetic leg to the radio when Huey knocked on the window. She turned off the music and rolled the window down.
"What's up Huey?"
Huey glanced back at Gosalyn who stood behind him. "Gosalyn and I were wondering if you could take us to get ice cream?" he asked.
Della nodded. "Sure! Hop in! Though, I thought if anyone would sneak out of the prom, I thought it'd be Dewey," she said.
"I call shot gun!" Gosalyn shouted, sliding across the hood of the car in a dress.
...
The drive over to the ice cream parlor was mostly quiet. Until a certain song came on the radio.
Gosalyn gasped and turned up the volume. "I love this song!" Huey wasn't used to the blaring music and just sat back in his seat.
Della sang along with Gosalyn. "Got a couple dents in my fender, got a couple rips in my jeans! Try to fit the pieces together, but perfection is my enemy!" (A/N this is a real song called Free to be me by Francesca Battistelli and it's amazing and everyone should listen to it, and I think Gosalyn would like it.)
Della smiled at Huey in the rear view mirror. "Great date Huey, she's got good taste."
Huey and Gosalyn's eyes widened. "It's not a date!" they shouted in unison. Their faces turned red.
"Just two friends getting ice cream," Huey said, finger in the air very matter of factly.
"Might even go as far as just acquaintances," Gosalyn added.
Della just rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Okay. Whatever you say. Look! We're here," she said, pulling up to the parlor.
She parked and Gosalyn and Huey got out. Through the car window, Della talked with Huey. "I leave you guys to your 'not date'." She handed some cash to her son. "Get me some chocolate ice cream."
He nodded and walked into the parlor with Gosalyn. They grabbed their ice cream and sat outside on the grass. They both could use the fresh air.
Gosalyn took the first bite of her ice cream. "If we were a couple, which we're not," she began, prodding her cup with her spoon. "I'd say thanks. I needed this." Her eyes stayed at the ground, not wanting to make eye contact with the red triplet.
"Me too." He sat down, legs out in front of him. "You're dress is going to get grass stains, by the way."
Gosalyn shrugged, taking another spoonful. "Eh, my dad won't mind too much. And your outfit probably will too."
Huey glanced down at his suit. She was probably right. But right now it didn't really matter. Just this moment. This break from real life. He stared at her, noticing a special something about the red head. He felt like he could just loosen up around her. Like he didn't have to be so formal and try to impress her. Because she really didn't care whether or not he was perfect. A small smile crept on his face.
She had her gaze fixated on her ice cream cup and she stabbed at it angrily. "It still hurts though."
"I know. I don't know what hurts more. Facing the pain up front or numbing the pain," he sighed.
"I would think numbing it. It's not right to just avoid the feelings, because then they never really go away. You can't get over them because you've just shoved them to the side."
Huey thought over her words and nodded. "I think you're right." He took in a deep breath and a moment of silence passed between the two teens.
"Maybe we could be lonely together," she finally said.
Huey tilted his head. "Well that doesn't really logically make sense."
"Like breakup buddies. Friends who help each other through a break up," she explained. She got to her feet. "So, what do you wanna do now?"
Huey glanced up at her and noticed she had already finished her ice cream. "Oh, I'm not done with mine yet."
"Take it with us," she said. She put a hand on her hip and a smirk crossed her face. "Want to go to my house and tell my dad about Tank? If he thought he hated the Muddlefoots before..." She broke off in a small laugh. Huey was scared to think of what she was imagining.
"Maybe we could take a walk down by the dock. I like the bay," he said, getting to his feet. She helped him up.
Then, as if the best idea ever had come into her mind, she jumped up. "Oh! I know what would be fun! Hubert Duck, do you know what a gas gun is?"
Huey raised an eyebrow. "A gas gun...?"
She nodded and pulled out a purple gun. "It's a gun you shoot gas out of and it's really fun to play with. It's my dad's," she said with an evilish grin. She handed the device to Huey.
"Okay..." He took the gun in his hands and accidentally triggered it. He jumped back as it shot him in the face. He doubled over coughing. "Oh my gosh! That's terrible!" he wheezed.
She laughed at him holding her stomach. "If I knew you were this much fun, we would've hung out a lot more as kids!" Her cheeks turned pink without her noticing it.
He sent her a look. "Yeah, yeah, very funny. But I'm not sure I feel the same way about you."
She leaned down, hands on her hips in a taunting way. "Why? Because I kept my woodchuck badges in a bag?" Huey watched her green eyes light up with a smile.
"Yes! Who does that?!" He threw his hands in the air, emphasizing his point.
"People who don't have time to sew each little badge onto a random sash! Not everyone can take the time to make everything perfect, unlike some people." She smirked at him, getting close in his face. Huey flushed.
"Gosalyn, you're really cute." Huey slapped a hand over his mouth the second the words escaped his beak.
"What!" Gosalyn's eyes were wide and she took a step back.
"Nothing!"
She glared at him and her hands clenched into fists. "Huey, you are unbelievable!"
Huey raised his hands defensively, wondering what had happened to the fun Gosalyn. "What!"
"Um, I just broke up with my boyfriend, and then you try to swoop in with your dumb face and dumb nerd brain!" She pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Wait, Gosalyn, I don't know where that came from, that's not what I was trying to do!" Huey took a step towards her, but she spun around and began walking away.
He grabbed her wrist. "Gos! I'm sorry! Please wait!"
She turned to face him and rolled her eyes. "All you guys are all the same. You're so insensitive!"
"Gos, I didn't mean it like that." He let go of her. "Can't a guy just complement a girl without it being weird?"
"In this case, no." She tapped her foot and crossed her arms.
Huey bit his lip and sighed. "Fine. I do think you're cute in that sense, but I wasn't trying to be insensitive. I just thought, maybe, that we, possibly, might have-"
"Huey, just spit it out!"
"I've had a crush on you since we were kids!"
Silence. Gosalyn stared at him while he rubbed his arm nervously.
"What?" She blinked a few times.
Huey bit his beak and stared at the ground. After the amount of silence became uncomfortable, he let out a sigh. "When I first actually met you, when your dad made you come to that junior woodchuck meeting, you just seemed so amazing. You didn't care about what other people thought of you or whether or not you did everything perfect. You just did what you wanted. And it made me feel like I didn't always have to live up to the 'perfect' standard that I thought everyone else wanted me to. You made me feel already perfect."
Her eyes scanned him over, as if she was trying to find some sort of lie in his words. Her beak was slightly parted as she tried to come to a conclusion.
"But I didn't think you ever felt the same because you'd always tease me, so I just pushed those feelings down." Huey didn't like how uncomfortable she was making him by not saying anything.
Her beak turned into a smile, slightly scaring the red triplet.
"Huey," she began with a chuckle. "I teased you because I liked you."
"But... that doesn't make any sen-" He was interrupted by her planting a kiss on her cheek. He froze.
"But for the record, we're still not a couple," she said, taking a step back.
Huey raised an eyebrow, his mouth gaping. "But you just kissed me."
She pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Yeah, well, break up buddies can do that." She slipped her hand in his. "They can also hold hands."
Huey was still very confused. "So... not a couple...?"
She took a deep breath and avoided eye contact with him. "Not a couple. Not until I say so."
"O-okay. So... what do I tell my brothers?" He scratched the back of his head.
She shrugged. "Tell them it's none of their business."
Huey smiled. "Alright, not-girlfriend." Gosalyn nodded. "What do I tell my mom? She's my ride home."
"Eh, go ahead and tell your mom I'm your girlfriend. She's pretty cool. And I can tell Launchpad and my dad. But no one else until I say so." She smirked and squeezed his hand.
Huey still didn't get it. But he just summed it up to Gosalyn being Gosalyn. "And now what do you want to do?"
"A walk by the bay sounds pretty cool right now, not-boyfriend," she said, tugging on his arm. He smiled.
This was nothing how he expected this night to go, but it was better. And, even if just for a moment, Huey didn't feel so lonely or numb anymore. He was in love because he wanted to be, and she did too. At least, he thought so. She hadn't been exactly clear.
They walked over the docks, the stars shining above them. They strode hand in hand, Gosalyn rocking their arms back and forth.
"Thanks for tonight, Huey. It probably would've sucked if it weren't for you," she said, leaning her head on his shoulder. He blushed.
"I probably would've felt like a third wheel if we hadn't hung out," he said. She smiled warmly at him, her brown feathers turning a soft pink.
"Also, if we are going to be a couple, which we aren't yet," she added. "If you ever break my heart, I want you to be very aware that my dad will hunt you down. And there's nowhere you could ever hide that he wouldn't find you." She narrowed her eyes at him and her tone turned dark.
Huey tensed. "Wait... Your dad isn't going to give me 'the talk', is he?" Huey watched her but she didn't answer. "Gosalyn?"
"Just keep that warning in mind," she said, ignoring his question.
He rolled his eyes and pulled her closer. "You're crazy."
"I know." She smirked, but Huey could see an evil hint in her eye. He gave a soft chuckle.
He couldn't wait for her to give him the play on the couple thing.
Hope you guys enjoyed this one shot! I love Huesalyn so much! Also, Idk who I pair with Louie. Feel free to comment your ship with him. And Frank said that Gosalyn was originally going to be introduced as Huey's Woodchuck rival who kept all her badges in a bag, so I thought why not use that.
I got the idea of Breakup Buddies from Star Vs the Forces of Evil. Yes, I ship Markelly, sorry to all the Starco shippers!
I was going to use this for Rivals to Romance, but decided it was better as a one shot. Thanks for reading and all the support! It's appreciated!