Disclaimer: I do not own Coraline or it's characters.
Chapter 2,
Coraline was so glad to have Harry and Marina back. Though they couldn't do everything they did back in Michigan. Coraline remembered how they would go up to the mall and order milkshakes. Then with their shakes they would go to the arcade section the mall still had and play vintage games. Coraline's favorite was still Dragon's Lair, but she did better at Dig Dug. Then when they ran out of quarters they would go through the park and look around for any 'lost treasure' they might find.
On school nights, their day would end here, but during the summer, Coraline's favorite thing to do would be to go to the drive-in with Harry's mother. Not to sound like a sadist, but she especially loved it when they all watched a horror movie together. His mother could not contain her fear to save her life, and when she screamed, she screamed loud. But her overreactions were part of her charm too. Harry inherited some of this, but he is a lot harder to scare. Though Coraline and Marina kept trying their best to scare him.
"When did you guys plant the tulips, they are so pretty." Marina said as she sniffed one of hundreds.
"Oh, well, almost a year ago. We did them a few days after we moved here, and everyone helped." Coraline said and Harry blinked.
"Everyone, who?" Harry asked and Coraline shrugged.
"Well, there is Mr. Bobinsky, he lives in the top flat." Coraline pointed up towards his living area.
"And Miss Spink and Miss Forceible are downstairs." Coraline pointed to their place.
"And then Wybie and his grandmother came down from their place on the hill." Coraline said, and she didn't point out his house because she wasn't exactly sure where it was.
"Oh, yeah. You told me about Wybie." Marina said and Harry placed his hand on his heart and 'stumbled' backwards.
"I have never heard this name. I feel so left out." Harry said dramatically, and the girls giggled at him. Harry smiled and glanced at them with one eye.
"But perhaps, this so-called Wybie, will not leave me in the dirt. Perhaps he will see me for the true me and enjoy my company over yours." Harry said in a high-pitched and extremely flamboyant way.
"Harry, won't you be at all threatened at the fact that another boy could join our group?" Marina said, though it almost sounded as if she was hinting at something else.
"Pff, yeah right. You girls are my very best friends. Besides, I dare him to come back from vacation to mess with me." Harry said, acting overly tough when he says this.
"Hey, kids. I made some more cookies. These are chocolate and peanut butter." Mel said, which just happened to be the magic words for Harry. He disappeared like an animated character, leaving behind a cloud of smoke.
"Heh, mom went a bit overboard with the drop cookies. She bought like... 12-15 packs or something like that." Coraline said and Marina rubbed the back of her neck.
"Hey, Cor..." she started and Coraline paused when she heard her old nickname.
"Yeah?" Coraline said Marina shrugged.
"You know, before you found out that you were moving, I always thought that I would be the odd one out." Marina said and Coraline blinked.
"What are you talking about, you're-" Coraline stopped when she saw her friends hand.
"Please, let me finish saying this before Harry gets back." Marina said and Coraline rolled her eyes.
"Please, knowing him, he's going to eat all of those cookies in about ten minutes, if he savors it." Coraline said and Marina sighed.
"Please?" She simply said and Coraline knew this was serious, so she crossed her arms and nodded to her friend.
"Thank you." She said and she took a deep breath.
"I thought that I would be the odd one out because you and Harry just connected in a way that I never knew. You two were so cute together, and I personally thought that you two would eventually get romantically involved." Marina said and Coraline took a step back.
"Whoa, but..." Coraline remembered that she was to remain quiet so she purses her lips to keep them together.
"I always thought that you two would date, and I would be the third wheel, and eventually you two would be on your merry way, leaving me behind. I know this is a bit dark. But I wanted to enjoy your friendship while it lasted." Marina took a hesitant look at Coraline, but otherwise didn't look at her.
"And then, to all of our surprise you tell us that you are moving. And we spend as much time together as we can. We both missed you very much, but Harry took your move very hard." Marina said and Coraline bit her lip, not sure if she wanted to hear all of this.
"I can't read his mind, Cor. But you didn't see the look on his face when I told him you made a friend out here, named Wybie. We don't talk about it much, though I am still worried about him. I think he is jealous of your new friend. And I'm telling you because I don't know if he is jealous of a friend... or a boyfriend." Marina said and this time, Coraline had to speak.
"Are you saying that Harry has a crush on me?" Coraline asked and Marina looked away.
"Maybe. He may have moved on by now, but I would still tread lightly." Marina said and Coraline took a deep breath.
"I love exploring with Wybie. And he is a good guy, even brave when he has to be." Coraline paused when she remembered the way Wybie saved her from the Other Mother.
"I suppose if I am honest with myself, I would say that I don't really like Wybie. But I think I would like who he could be." Coraline chose her words carefully because she did develop feelings for the Other Wybie. He was different the the real one, and it was more then just the button eyes. The Other Wybie loved her... at least that's what Coraline wants to believe. He would have taken a bullet for her, but maybe that's easier to do when you're basically a living doll. Still, Coraline mourned his 'death' and still thought about him when she was around the real Wybie. Coraline loved the Other Wybie, but not the real Wybie.
"Well, I think I understand that. I sometimes feel like Harry would be irresistible in about two or three years. But know, he is just cute in the dorkiest way." Marina said with a smile and a blush that surprised Coraline.
"Do you have a crush on Harry?" Coraline asked, and Marina blinked.
"Do you have a crush on Wybie?" Marina asked and Coraline blushed.
"Not right now." Coraline said, and Marina nodded.
"Same." She said simply and Coraline paused. She didn't like Wybie, but for some reason being asked that question almost embarrassed her. How did that make sense? And she didn't really believe Marina when she said she didn't like Harry. But if she didn't like Wybie, then Coraline needed to at least try to believe Marina when she says that she doesn't like Harry.
"So are we going to meet this guy, this Wybie?" Marina asked, halfway changing the subject.
"He'll be over later tonight. He is bringing a movie called Gremlins." Coraline said and Marina blinked.
"I've never heard of that movie." Marina said and Coraline paused.
"You're kidding." Coraline said and Marina shrugged.
"No, what's it about?" She asked and Coraline still felt as if she was pulling her leg, but rolled with it anyways.
"A man buys a pet from a special store. The pet has very specific rules that must be followed in order to be happy and healthy.
One is to never get the creature wet. Second is to keep it out of the sun. And Lastly, it cannot eat after midnight." Coraline said and Marina scrunched her nose.
"So strict. Why would you want a pet like that?" Marina said and Coraline smiled widely.
"Well, you haven't met Gizmo yet." Coraline said, and Marina rolled her eyes.
"Well what happens when you don't follow the rules?" She asked and Coraline chuckled.
"Well, there wouldn't be much of a surprise if I just told you. Besides if I told you everything about the movie, it wouldn't be as good." Coraline said and Marina paused.
"I suppose, but I'm not big on surprises." Marina said and Coraline shook her head.
"You're silly." Coraline said and Harry popped his head out of the kitchen and looked at the girls.
"There is still two of the chocolate peanut butter cookies left. You girls want them?" Harry asked and Marina chuckled.
"Harry sharing chocolate and peanut butter? The world must be turning upside down." Marina said, standing up. And Coraline followed slowly. She may have had feelings for Harry before she left, but she's barely thought about him since she's been here. Since she met the Other Wybie, actually. He was selfless, and kind, and funny, and... she truly missed him.