Hiya, Nick!

If you've found this letter, I can only imagine how. I tried to hide it somewhere where you'd really have to look for it. I guess that didn't stop you, though. I hope nothing has changed between us. If it has, I can only hope you'll forgive me for whatever stupid thing I've done this time. If it hasn't, then what are you doing rooting through my things, huh? You rascal. What are you looking for?

Kinda weird to read a letter in this day and age, isn't it? I didn't know how else to do this.

I think about you a lot, Nick. I just feel like I have to get that out somewhere. I think about you more than a friend probably should. Maybe even more than some lovers do. I don't really know why. Ever since you became my partner, we've been like the peanut butter and jelly of the ZPD. I'll leave you to decide who is which.

You know me, Nick. I wear my heart on my sleeve. But lately, I don't know. I've been developing some feelings about you. Feelings I don't quite understand. It's more than just an attraction or a yearning for you. I don't know if I'd call it "love". It's a fear. Not like a nose-twitching fear; I'm not scared for my life. You know that I'm barely afraid of anything of course, the number of times you've yanked me out of danger already.

I'm just scared of anything messing up what we have now.

I'm sure you don't quite believe that. I'm sure I've probably gone and shoved my whole huge bunny foot in my mouth again or something. But I am scared. Scared of waking up one morning and things being different. Scared of making a mistake that I can't fix.

I don't think I've ever told you how grateful I was that you forgave me that one time. I know you didn't say it in so many words. Maybe I didn't need to say it back.

Nick, I'll be honest. I don't know why I'm writing this. I can feel my pulse in my fingers while I'm scribbling these words down. I've never felt like this about anyone before. A truly paralyzing, biting fear. A fear that I'll mess something up so badly that no apology will cover it over. A fear that one day you'll no longer be my best friend.

Is that love, Nick? I don't know.

I know it'll be me that makes the mistake, too. Should something happen, that is. You're too careful and cautious. Your heart is too big, and you have such control over your words. It won't be you.

Clever fox that you are, you've started to teach me how to hide and squelch my feelings. I know I can overact, but I'd like to think someday I'll be as sneaky and misdirecting as you. A real actor, or at least a "hustler". Just like I hope one day you can learn how to kick harder than my grandpa. So, maybe you can be a bit proud of me if you didn't notice any of these feelings of mine before reading this letter.

I'm going to stop writing pretty soon before the emotional bunny in me rears her weepy, sniffling head.

One day maybe you can bring this scrap of paper to me. I'll probably rip it up right in front of you. Maybe we can laugh about it over coffee.

I know I mean a lot to you, Nick. Else you wouldn't have done the things you've already done for me. One day I hope I get the chance to show you how much you mean to me.

Yours always,
Judith Laverne Hopps

P.S.: I hope this isn't how you're learning about my middle name.

Author's Note: Zootopia is now officially one year old! Happy anniversary to my favorite movie. Fun fact: the "traditional gift" of the one year anniversary is paper.