Hey, it's xXPokeFictionXx, back at it again with the fanfiction! Enjoy, everyone!
Chapter Ten: Worried, Stories Of Growing (Needless) Concern
Bones began the trek to Natallia's home, growing more concerned with each passing minute.
Why DID she constantly have bags under her eyes?
Why DID she yawn so often?
Why DID she hole up in her house for months?
Why DID she always look pale?
Why DID her diet seem to consist of chicken flavored top ramen, sunflower seeds, sweets, and fast foods?
And, most importantly:
Why DID she leave the talent show so early?
Was she sick? Was something keeping her awake at night? Did something keep her alone, locked up in her house? Wait, did she even HAVE a roommate? Does she live alone in a two story house? Three stories counting the attic?
Bones wondered how he could've missed this. He could be a bit oblivious, according to others, sure, but Natallia had been one of his best friends for years! Had he really missed this? Was he.. this much of a horrible friend..?
His thoughts slowed for a moment as he stopped. His thoughts weighing down on him heavily.
"Is this my fault?"
Bones shook his head, as if that would help stop this destructive path of thinking. Whether this was his fault or not was debatable, but he did know one thing.
"I'm going to help fix it."
Despite this, Bones couldn't stop questioning things as he continued to the blonde's home. How much did he really know about her? She knew all sorts of little details about him, but what did he know about her? He decided to quiz himself to stop the flow of more destructive questions.
If she could have an endless supply of any food, what would she get? Definitely sunflower seeds.
If she were an animal, what would she be and why? Well, probably a cat. She very much likes to be lazy.
What's her favorite superhero? Well, she enthused about spiderman often, but when she did, she'd mostly say,"Dude, you wouldn't believe how funny spiderman memes are! Seriously, look it up!" He remembered she liked a show called Miraculous Ladybug, she'd talked to him about it once or twice. Maybe the Miraculous Ladybug was her favorite? No, wait, he remembered her mention once she liked Chat Noir better..
Yeah! Chat Noir was her favorite superhero! She sure likes cats..
What's her favorite thing to do in the summer?
…
He didn't know.
If she were an ice cream flavor, which one would she be and why? He thought for a moment. He decided this was something he'd think about later, because he was sure to have a very complicated and in depth answer for that one. He took ice cream very seriously.
What's her favorite cartoon character, and why? He thought hard.
"Do anime count as cartoons?"
He stopped. He sat down against an apple tree (Wait, that hadn't been there before? This is the only apple tree in town, who planted this and when?) and thought. And no matter how hard he did, he couldn't get a straight answer.
He eventually concluded that Natallia herself wouldn't know the answer, but if she were forced to choose eventually without counting anime it'd be someone from Steven Universe, which character he didn't know. He'd contemplate this more later. Or ask her.
If she could visit any place in the world, where would she choose to go and why? Well, she really liked Canada for some reason, something about how cool canadian geese are and the syrup and how it was apparently a stereotype that everyone there was so nice, and although she doubted it she said the stereotype must've come from somewhere, right?
But she also liked Ireland a lot. Some Youtuber apparently lived there, although he thinks he moved, Natallia had mentioned it. She also liked potatoes, and apparently it rained a lot there. Bones remembered Natallia loves the rain.
He remembers that night on the cliff.
He really went all-out on that, with the cooler and the blankets and such. But it was worth it to make her feel better. It was a rare day during the winter that it hadn't snowed; thank goodness it wasn't, Natallia would've probably gotten sick!
.. She was still drenched in water by the time he found her..
His concern spiked again, but tried to get back to the subject of how well he really knew Natallia. Besides, that had already happened and she didn't get sick. Unless she was sick and she was hiding it from him so he wouldn't be concerned or guilty and that's why she was pale and couldn't sleep and she was actually dying-
He stood up, and continued to walk to Natallia's house. He hadn't even notice he had went off course earlier while he was so deep in thought. He bid the apple tree goodbye and carefully navigated around the small pond as not to fall in and continued.
He decided to give the last question a rest, as there were far too many factors to account for.
What's the ideal dream job for her? Starbucks Barista. She said she'd learn to make amazing coffee, a skill she'd use her whole life, she'd be able to play on her phone during breaks, there was wifi, it was a pokestop at every Starbucks in Pokemon GO. She'd maybe get free coffee.
He briefly remembered she had a part time job at Brewster's in the museum. There WAS free wifi there. She could make amazing coffee. The museum was a pokestop. No free coffee though.
He also remembered the absurd amount of fish she'd donated to the museum aquarium. She was a master fisherwoman.
Bones remembered how Natallia always remembered his coffee preferences. He usually had mocha beans, an average amount of milk, and two spoonfuls of sugar. She always seemed to remember.
Is she a morning or night person?
…
A night person, one of the reasons he was concerned. Maybe she was just too much of a night person, and there was nothing horribly wrong.
He hoped so.
What are her favorite hobbies?
...TV?
What are things she dislikes? She hates recolor OCs, whatever that means, and brussel sprouts.
What's her favorite color? Blue, obviously.
Favorite animal? Cats?
If she were to have eyes a different color then they are now, what color would they be? Well.. difficult question, brown would likely be her least likely pick though.. Hm..
Hazel, probably. She'd want to match her hair and her eyes.
Favorite type of tree (You'll be obsessed with all my forest expertise)?...
He didn't know for sure, but willow seems to be the most likely pick.
Okay, so he seemed to know Natallia pretty well, but not well enough he decides. He guarantees she knows the answers to all these questions if someone were to ask about him.
She'd know he'd choose to have an endless supply of ice cream, she'd know he'd want to be a dog if he could be any animal (obviously), she'd know if he were an ice cream he'd be chocolate, and that his favorite tree was obviously dogwood because of not only the pun, but because it apparently also berries, and also the answers to every other meaningless question he'd asked himself about her to distract himself from worrying.
But it hadn't worked. All his questions, the important ones, were still there, and he longed for answers.
WHY did she constantly have bags under her eyes? WHY did she yawn so often? WHY did she hole up in her house for months? WHY did she always look pale? WHY did her diet seem to consist of chicken flavored top ramen, sunflower seeds, sweets, and fast foods? Why, why, WHY?
Was his friend okay, or was there something to worry about? What kept her up at night? What made her stay alone in her house for months on end? Was she okay?...
…
…
...
Was someone hurting her?..
And then came a thought; a horrible thought, that caused Bones to start running.
Was she hurting herself?
He never noticed that he was standing still, shaking, and crying only moments before.
…
Natallia's day, despite Bones having a borderline panic attack over her as you read, was actually great. Sure, she was a bit sleep deprived and grumpy, but it was great!
She got to sing a song she had loved since childhood, spend time with one of her dearest friends, watch the best parts of the talent show with him, and was now curled up comfortably on her bed (she'd moved from the armchair because she wanted to lay down) with her beloved tablet listening to music and reading fanfiction.
As a song from a musical (she didn't even know she LIKED musicals until recently) she was a bit obsessed with played softly in the background in her attic/bedroom, all was well.
Then she heard a noise and smiled widely, knowing exactly what, or rather who, it was. Another good part of her day.
She walked down to the first level of her house and looked to her new roommate.
She smiled at the black kitten as it walked over to her and rubbed against her legs, purring loudly. She picked the cat up and took it back up to her attic.
Because the only way to improve laying in her bed relaxing, listening to music, and reading, was adding her new kitten Adrien to the equation.
It blinked his green eyes at her. She blinked back.
Earlier that day..
Natallia walked out of her house. She decided that it was time to find herself the perfect roommate. Things were a bit dull at the house lately, so she decided to spice it up a little. She stopped in front of the pet store, smiling slightly manically. Today was going to be a good day.
So far, she hadn't regret the impulsive decision to get a cat. The kitten was sweet. She loved cats.
Although also getting a dog wouldn't be a bad idea..
"See if you can handle the Adrien first, Natallia, you can't have ten animals at once!" She scolded herself, although she wasn't really listening to herself. That's when she heard someone using a key.
Bones, Purrl, and Robin were the only ones she'd given a spare key to outside her family, and were the three most likely to be visiting. Although she didn't know why'd they be here...
Before she could pause her music or react further, a clearly disheveled Bones ran up the stairs into her bedroom so fast he ended up slamming into the wall. Immediately she was concerned. He was about to say something before he took in the sight before him.
Natallia watched as her new cat leapt out of the bed and walked over to Bones. He blinked at the cat, who meowed at him. He knelt and pet it a little. "His name's Adrien, I just got him today because I'm impulsive! Isn't he adorable?" Natallia asked, smiling widely. "UH, yes he is, but I'm here for a reason and it's important and-" Bones cut himself off.
All was quiet, except for the song that Natallia had forgot to turn off after Bones ran in, clearly panicked.
"It's like I never made a sound! Did I ever make a sound..?"
"On the outside always looking in, will I ever be more then I've always been? Cuz I'm tap, tap, tapping on the glass, waving through a window!"
"I try to speak but nobody can hear, so I wait around for an answer to appear! While I'm watch, watch, watching people pass, waving through a window!"
"Can anybody see? Is anybody waving back at me? Is anybody-"
Natallia paused the music, but not before missing the pause button several times and muttering a few curses under her breath.
Now, normally Bones wouldn't judge what type of music a person listens to, but this, to him, was immensely concerning after he had thought the thought he thought earlier.
"Uh, Bones, why are you here? You seem… really stressed out." The subject of his alarm asked cautiously.
"ARE YOU OKAY."
"What?"
"Are you okay?!"
There was beat of silence.
"Yes? Why, are you okay? What's wrong?"
Bones shuddered a bit. "Okay, so, uh, where to begin.." Bones started. "Okay so you just kind of left earlier and I didn't know why and I was worried and then I thought and I realized you didn't really look that good today like you looked like really tired and you were moody and the bags under your eyes were deeper than usual but like than I got stuck on that word, deeper than usual, and I realized you always look tired and kinda pale and I don't know how I didn't notice before but now I'm really concerned and-"
Bones took a deep breath for the first time during his rant. "Are you okay?"
Natallia just slowly blinked. "I'm fine? I just stayed up late last night?"
"B-but WHY do you ALWAYS look tired and-"
"Bones calm down. I'm perfectly fine, I just like the night. I'm pale because I'm more of an indoors person. And-wait have you been crying?" Natallia calmly explained before noticing what seemed to be tear tracks.
Bones touched his paw to his cheek, and surely enough, the fur was a bit damp. He tried to wipe away the wetness, but to no avail.
"Bones, you're overreacting, calm down." Natallia said. And then he looked to her with this confused and hopeful expression, his eyes shining with tears, and her heart broke a bit.
"Bones I'm fine, how long have you been stressing over this?" She asked, standing up and walking over to him. He just stood there helplessly, leaving her answerless.
She looked to her friend. "You overemotional idiot." She sighed, hugging him. And he cried. "You're okay.." He muttered.
"YES, I don't even know why you're so concerned, I just wanted to get home because I was tired!" She assured him.
He just sobbed. "Stop, you're making me cry too, but we're both fine.." He backed away and looked at her, and sure enough, there seemed to be tears in her eyes. He felt worse.
She sighed. "Okay, I'll get you some hot chocolate or ice cream or something.." She told him, wiping at her eyes embarrassedly. She knew it would take a while to calm her hysterical friend down, but she had confidence that she could do it.
…
Bones sank into Natallia's armchair exhaustively. Crying a lot really takes the energy out of a guy. "Why were you so worked up anyway?" His perfectly fine companion asked cautiously.
He chuckled humorlessly. "I guess I just started worrying and then I starting thinking bad things, and eventually I just kind of.. convinced myself that there was something seriously wrong? Like there was no possibility of you being entirely fine, like you are.."
Natallia sighed. "Overemotional idiot." She repeated. But there was no malice in her tone; if anything she said it fondly. "As if your not, remember that time you spilled your top ramen and cried?" He told her.
Her face flushed. "I was really hungry okay?"
"Or that time you dropped a mug, a completely mundane thing, it didn't even break.."
"Why."
"And you just- you just stared for a second-" Bones was giggling hysterically, barely even able to get out a sentence.
"WHY." Natallia repeated.
"And yo-you just said, k-k-" Bones stuttered as he tried to say it.
"Spare me the embarrassment." She giggled.
"K-kill me now! An-and I'm just like,"
"Why are you doing this.." She groaned, still giggling.
"Natallia noooo, and y-y-you're all li-ke Nat-t-tallia yeessss?" Bones was giggling maniacally, not that Natallia was doing much better.
"It was a reference, I didn't just say that for no reason!" She exclaimed, before going into a fit of giggles.
"WHAT'S THAT EVEN FROM?!" Bones exclaimed overdramatically.
"Wait." Natallia held up a hand to quiet him, and all was silent, save for a few breathless giggles. "HYAAAAAAAHAHH!" Natallia, doing a fucking war cry, pulled out a silver bug net and leapt across the small room that was her kitchen. "FINALLY! I CAUGHT THIS LITTLE BASTARD!" Natallia exclaimed, holding up a mosquito that she had quickly put into a container.
Bones proceeded to die of laughter, as she seemed completely serious and triumphant.
"This little asshole has, been, like, stalking me! Bit me earlier after following me to the river, and now it's breaking into my house?! I actually already released it once out of the goodness of my heart but now?!" She pointed at the container with a glare. "I'M SELLING YOU TO TOM NOOK FOR 130 BELLS!"
He laughed much harder at that. Bones' stomach hurt, a lot. "H-h-how do you ev-even-is that the e-exact amoun-n-nt?" He stuttered almost incoherently.
Natallia silently answered his question by holding up a hand. In expo marker, written on her palm, was a number.
130.
"I wasn't as forgiving to the second guy."
He laughed harder. "How can you tell them apart?" Bones couldn't handle much more of this. Natallia started cackling.
"Hey, it was pretty hot out today huh?" Natallia forced herself to stop laughing for a minute, visibly barely holding herself back. "Y-yeah?"
"And you have all that fur, li-like I was afraid you were going to melt into a puddle.." She paused for a moment.
"Or should I say a.." She leaned in close to her dog companion's ear.
"Boneless Bones."
Bones howled with laughter. "W-WHY IS THAT EVEN FUNNY?!"
Natallia smiled. Mission accomplished. Bones officially felt better. But she had one more trick to mercilessly pull.
"W-w-why do you DO this?" He gasped.
Natallia waited until Bones finally stopped laughing and caught his breath a bit.
But before he could fully recover, she initiated the final part of her little comedy act. "Bones." He turned to her weakly. "Oh no, what now? Have mercy!"
She held up her other hand. Wordlessly, she pushed up the sleeve of the gray hoodie she'd put on earlier, and there were two words scrawled across her wrist, also in expo marker.
Boneless Bones.
Bones proceeded to continue dying.
"O-oh god, everything hurts.." He said, clutching his stomach. "Sorry not sorry." Natallia replied. She shrugged. With a malicious grin on her face, she said one thing.
"FATALITY."
.
.
.
ALTERNATE ENDING
.
.
.
Before she could pause her music, a clearly disheveled Bones ran up the stairs into her bedroom so fast he ended up slamming into the wall. Immediately she was concerned. He was about to say something before he took in the sight before him.
Natallia watched as her new cat leapt out of the bed and walked over to Bones. He blinked at the cat, who meowed at him. He knelt and pet it a little. "His name's Adrien, I just got him today because I'm impulsive! Isn't he adorable?" Natallia asked, smiling widely. "UH, yes he is, but I'm here for a reason and it's important and-" Bones cut himself off.
All was quiet, except for the song that Natallia had forgot to turn off after Bones ran in, clearly panicked.
"Dear Evan Hansen, we've been way too out of touch. Things have been crazy, and it sucks that we don't talk that much."
"But I should tell you that I think of you each night. I rub my nipples and start MOANING WITH DELIGHT-"
Natallia abruptly threw her poor tablet under the pillow and lay on it, song still muffled and playing though words undecipherable.
There was nothing but silence.
"Sooooo heyyy how are youuuu?" She asked awkwardly, after at least 30 seconds. Bones blinked, picked up Adrien and frowned at her. "Natallia, think of the children." He said, covering the kitten's ears. "It's not as dirty as it sounds I swear?"
"IF I STOP SMOKING CRACK-"
Natallia leaned a bit harder on the pillow.
"Are you sure about that?" Bones asked her. She sighed.
...
Okay sorry I said I'd do one-shots I know, but I'm tired. I'll do one next chapter, sorry. Bye everyone!
Disclaimer, I'm not doing disclaimers anymore sorry. But it doesn't change the fact I own nothing except the story itself and Natallia. And technically Fueled By Nightmares because I'm Stingy from Lazy Town.
Listen, he's the one who said it, I'm just repeating it.