Chapter 5: "He needs me!"
"He Needs Me" Music and Lyrics by Nilsson. Originally from "The Popeye Movie" and sung by Shelly Duvall. It was also featured in the movie "Punch-Drunk Love". That's your music trivia for today.
A/N: Sorry about the time stamp kinda being all over the map, but different events are happening simultaneously in the story. Just when you thought we were done with musical numbers, there's a short musical scene in this chapter albeit Spots doesn't actually sing. Just listen to music.
Since each chapter's been a self-contained story outside of Nick's place being the branching arc between all the stories, I thought I'd keep this part self-contained as well with the main focus being the Wolfords and Spots. With that in mind, this chapter's a little bit shorter than the usual ones.
Summary: James is upset and feels betrayed when the Wolfords drop by James' old house to take pictures and get ready for tomorrow's move. He calls Spots and expresses his feelings about the situation. But when he lets his feelings out about her, it stirs feelings in Spots and she confronts a new split personality.
10:30am In the Wolford's car
The Wolford's were driving toward's Nick's place. Tim was behind the wheel, Auburn was at his side while James was sitting in the back with his head leaning towards the window.
"Well that could have gone better." Auburn mused.
Tim was confused. "What are ya talkin' about?! Ya won didn't ya?"
"Yes, but Bogo's son broke his poor heart. Imagine! Being rejected like that?"
"Yeah but still, you did yer best and won 'da case big time. What happened after had nothin' ta do with you."
"I guess you're right."
James was looking around the streets and noticed something odd. "You seem to be taking the long way around."
Wolford looked nervous. "Yeah, well...I gotta take a detour fer a sec. You don't have to get out of 'da car."
"You need to tell him." Auburn said.
James was getting worried. "Tell me what?" He then saw it. The familiar street. His neighborhood. His house."Oh no!"
They parked in front of James' house. The young cougar was enraged. "NO! No! No! No! You promised!"
Wolford tried to explain. "Jim! Relax!"
"Don't f #$ing tell me to relax! We're not supposed to be here until tomorrow!"
"Don't cuss! Look, yer mudder and I are just gonna look around and take some pics of 'da inside of 'da house so we can get a good idea of where 'ta store and put things! You don't even have 'ta get out of the car!"
"I don't care!" James screamed. "You promised not to come here today! You betrayed me!"
" 'Betrayed' you?! Tim huffed. Don't be so melodramatic!"
"You KNOW I just lost my mother! I can't even stand to look at the front of the house right now! How can you do this to me?!"
"I told you we should have dropped him off at Nick's first." Auburn said.
"Look...It's important he at least looks at the front of 'da house. Baby steps. If I didn't do this, it'd be impossible for him 'ta even walk in tomorrow!"
"You could've at least TOLD me!" James yelled.
"And you would've said no! Look, just stay in 'da damn car and we'll be right back!"
As Tim got out, Auburn went to pet the boys head. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you. We just thought.."
James quickly slapped her paw away. "Get out! You're not my mom anyway! My real mom's dead and you're just a substitute!"
This hurt Auburn. She whimpered a little, but didn't say a word and got out of the car.
Tim saw the hurt in her eyes as he wrapped his arm around her. "He didn't mean 'dat. Let's just hurry and get it over with."
"Y-Yeah." She sniffled. They walked into the house and James lied down in the car seat, folded over and crying.
Meanwhile, at Nick's Restaurant...
Nick and the gerbils were helping give out pamphlets as the place was filled to capacity with predators waiting for Nick's first meeting. "Next!" Yelled Nick.
A puma came up and took a pamphlet. Nick noticed his attire. "Nice jeans!"
"Thanks." replied the puma.
"What kind are they?"
The puma just shrugged. "Puma pants. Just puma pants."
Nick started to snicker. "Tee-Hee! You did? Sorry to hear that. I'll keep it a secret. There's a toilet in the back so you can clean up!"
Nick and the gerbils started to laugh uncontrollably which started to make the puma upset. Nick apologized. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I couldn't pass that up...'Puma pants!' HAHAHAA!"
After the puma left, Spots arrived with the kids bundled in her arms. "Okay dad! I made it. Where do you want this gruesome threesome?"
"There's a small mammal table behind me that they can sit on and watch their movies. I can keep an eye on them from there. Say, can you do me a big favor?"
"Sure dad."
"Take the bus about six blocks down and go to Lynxo's copiers. I need more print ups of these pamphlets and sticker sheets."
Spots looked at the sticker sheet. "Aww! That's cute! The stickers look like the badges mom gives out to kids when she's patrolling."
"Yup! Brings back memories. That was my first badge on my first case with Judy. Anyway, I'm all out of them. Could you please hurry?"
"Alright, alright. Keep your fur on." It was then that Spots' phone rang. "Hmmm? It's James! I'll take it outside."
Nick smirked. "Say 'hi!' to your boyfriend for me!"
"Shut up dad! Oh! And check out the drawing Cotton made. She's really gifted!"
Nick looked over at Cotton. "Let me see honey!" She reluctantly handed him the drawing. "Woooah! This is amazing!"
"It's not THAT good!" Cotton replied. She still didn't believe in her own talent. "I bet you don't even know who it is!"
"It's Princess Spaiya from Star Boars Episode IV. Hey guys! Look at what my daughter made! She's only seven!"
Nick showed the drawing to all the predators in the room. "Oooh nice!" said a wolf. "Can you make a drawing of my fan character I've been working on? I can't pay you but it'll give you exposure."
"Get lost!" shouted Michael. "Exposure don't pay her bills!"
"I have bills?" Cotton asked.
Meanwhile, Spots talked to James on the phone outside. "What's up dude?"
"My parents betrayed me!" The cougar yelled while sniffling.
"Are...are you crying?"
"No!...Maybe."
"So how exactly did they 'betray' you?"
"They wanted to start moving today, but I wasn't ready for that. I'm still having a problem with...you know."
"Your mom's passing."
"SNIFF!...Right. Anyway, I distracted them by suggesting we attended Burnie's last court case. She really liked that and we agreed not to go today. So what do they do right after the case? They bring me right in front of my house!"
"Why'd they do that?"
"Because dad wanted to take pictures of the inside of the house to get an idea of what to move and he thought it would be like...baby steps for me...BUT HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME! I'm not ready for this! Just seeing my driveway is bringing back that Thursday night when they carried her out!"
"Dude. You gotta move back in sometime and you're always gonna have those memories regardless. You're being a baby about this!"
"I'm not being a baby!"
"You're totally being a baby. Where are you now?"
"Lying in the backseat in the fetal posi...shut up. I can't even look out...Oh no!"
"What?!"
"I hear them yelling at each other. I didn't want that! This is my fault. I yelled at Burnie and upset her. Spots...I can't do this tomorrow. Not without you. I...SNIFF!...I need you so bad!"
"You...need me?"
"For emotional support. God took away my mother but then blessed me with you as my best friend. Without her, there's this...this huge void in my heart, but dad, mo-...Burnie and you...especially you...help fill that void. PLEASE tell me you can help me move tomorrow."
Spots was taken back by James outpouring of emotions towards her. She hesitated to the point where James may have thought they lost communication. "...Spots? You there?"
"...Yeah. Yeah, I'll totally be there. Mom will just have to get Mrs. Otterton to babysit. Besides, I wanna see how messy your room is."
"SNIFF! Heh-Heh!"
"I gotta go get a bunch of copies of my dad's pamphlets done, but before I hang up, do me a favor."
"Anything for you."
"Get out of the car. You don't have to go inside but...just look around. Maybe at the back yard. Those memories are never going away so let them in. Your mom will always be in your heart, so stop being afraid of your own house just because she's not there anymore!"
"You're right...SNIFF!...Y-You're right. I'll get out now. Thanks Spots. I love you."
"I love you too, just...not in that way."
"HA! No..."
"But you are my best friend. Now get your head together you mental case!"
"Ha-Ha! I will. I'll meet you at Nick's restaurant later."
"Okay. See you, ya crybaby."
"See ya."
Spots hung up the call and then clutched the phone to her chest. A feeling she never thought she'd feel for a boy was starting to slowly creep into her. "He needs me."
She then put on her earbuds and put on the streaming music station. "You're listening to I-RON-E radio! Playing the music that perfectly fits the subplot every time! Now here's an 80's classic from the Pupeye movie."
Spots listened to the music as she walked down the street.
"And all at once I knew, I knew at once..."
"I knew he needed meeeee!"
Spots started walking to the music. Kicking up her heels a bit.
"Until the day I die, I won't know why..."
"I knew he needed meeeee!"
"It could be fantasy. Ooooh!"
"Or maybe it's..becauuuse!"
Spots saw her reflection in the store window and she was a bit startled. Just like yesterday, there she was. A different version of her with her hair in braids, a little makeup, eyeliner and this time wearing a beautiful dress. She didn't freak out at it this time, but looked at herself in the reflection and kind of enjoyed it. She danced around a bit, staring at the imaginary dress in the reflection.
"He needs me. He needs me."
"He needs me. He needs me."
"He needs me! He needs Meeeee!"
When someone passed by, the reflection in the window changed to a different dress and Spots kept dancing and admiring it.
"Da-da da da. Da-da da-da-dum."
""Da-da da da. Da-da da-da daaaa!"
Her reflection stopped and startled Spots as it applauded. "Oooh! That was so lovely!"
Spots looked around to make sure no one was watching her talk to a window and then confronted the new part of her personality in the window. "Alright cut the crap! You're not Scratch, so who are you?"
"Oh ho! I'm definitely not Scratch. She's far, far away right now. You are in total control of her. As far as MY name goes, you know who I am. I want YOU to say my name!"
Spots didn't have to give it much thought. "...Princess?"
"OOOOOHOHOHO! Right on the money!"
"Okay, I know WHO you are, but...WHAT are you?"
"You know that too! I'm..."
"Don't say it!"
"Your straight side! The part of you that's always been there, but you've buried deep, deep inside you."
"I...don't...have...a...straight side!"
"Girl please! You're more straight than gay and deep down inside you know it!"
"That's not true! I still have deep feelings for Rose!"
"Rose is miles away and you cannot deny your feelings for James."
"Then why do I..." It was then that Spots noticed an armadillo looking awkwardly at her. "What the hell's your problem?! Never seen someone aruging with their reflection? Get the hell outta here!"
The armadillo took off running and Spots continued arguing with Princess. "Then why do I feel like throwing up when I try to kiss him?"
"That's all in your mind. Just like me! Once you finally break that barrier you won't be able to stop kissing him."
"I know what I am! I know my own hormones! I'm lesbian!"
"Then why are you arguing with yourself? Or did you forget that I'm just a part of you?"
Before she could answer that, she saw that the bus was coming up the street. "This isn't over!" She then made a run for the bus stop.
Moment's earlier at James Wolford's home...
Tim Wolford was finishing up taking the final pics. "Okay babe, I got some nice pics of 'da basement. Seems ta be plenty 'a room 'dere. Took pics of 'da closets too. We may have 'ta put some stuff in a storage rental place fer a bit, but I think were good. How're you doin' babe?...Burnie?"
Tim looked over in the kitchen to see his wife leaning on the counter and sobbing. "What's wrong honey?"
"WE SHOULD HAVE TOLD HIM!" She cried.
"Aww come on! Not you two!"
"Tim, he's only been our son for four days! He's having to put all of his trust in us! Two people who were total strangers to him until...SNIFF!...until last Thursday!"
" 'Dat don't mean he can just throw a fit over nothin'!"
"It's not nothing to him! This is home. We're just like strangers moving into it. Maybe this is all moving too fast for him."
"We're not strangers! We're his family! He's being a crybaby fer cripes sake! I wasn't even expectin' him 'ta come in here. Just stay in 'da freakin' car! Honey, 'dis ain't nothin' 'ta cry about."
"Easy for you to say! He calls you 'dad' because he never had one before! I'm his new mother! No matter what, he'll see me as a second-rate replacement! He'll never love me the way he loves you!"
"Don't say 'dat! He's just gotta take time 'ta know you! Like ya said, it's only been four days. It's just gonna take some time."
Tim just his arms around Auburn. "Let's not yell at each other okay?! Maybe I made a bad call but I did it for him. We're a big part of his world now and it's gonna take some adjustin', but he'll be fine. We'll be fine."
Moments later, they came out of of the house and went to the car. Auburn was immediately worried. "Oh my gosh! Where's James! He didn't run away did he?!"
"Right here." said James. He was looking over the fence into his own back yard.
Auburn approached him. "You got out of the car! I'm proud of you."
"Thanks. Ummm...you two okay? I heard some yelling."
"We're fine."
"It's all my fault. Please don't get divorced or anything!"
Auburn gave the cougar a hug. "No. We're fine. It's all good."
Tim walked up. "What are ya lookin' at back 'dere anyways?"
"My old swing set. Heh! My mother used to push me on it until I was almost twelve. I finally had to tell her I was big enough to swing on my own. But when she stopped pushing me, stopped being back there with me, I missed her. I miss her now. Ummm Burnie?"
Auburn rubbed his back. "Yes?"
"I'm...SNIFF!...I'm sorry for yelling at you and saying you weren't my mom. My mother passed the torch down to you, to dad to take care of me and you guys have been doing great."
The cougar gave his new mother a big hug. "Just because I don't call you mom yet, doesn't mean I don't love you."
Tears started to well up in Auburn's eyes. "Awww! JAMES!"
She grabbed him tightly and started bawling. James tried to comfort her. "Okay Burnie. Okay new mom, let's get in the car. Woah!"
Her knees were starting to give out and she was pulling James down with her. "BAAH-HAAA! I thought you hated me for sure! SOB! But then! Then you tell me you love me! You have no idea how much that means to meee! I love you James!"
"Woah! Okay! I love you too but you're puling me down!"
"I think her motherly hormones are startin' 'ta kick in." Tim said as he tried to pull Auburn up. "C'mon Burnie! Jeez yer gettin' heavy!"
"What was that?!" Auburn said with a growl.
"Nothin' dear. Lemme get 'da back door open and you can sit with Jim on 'da way 'ta Nicks."
"Yes! SNIFF! I wanna sit with my baby boy!"
James was getting uncomfortable. "O-KAAY! That's a little bit much. By the way dad, I called Spots and she's gonna be with us tomorrow. It'll make it easier for me."
"Good! Good! 'Da more help, 'da merrier."
They managed to get the blubbering Auburn into the back seat. "Hey dad, I wanted to s- HEE!-HEE! BURNIE! Stop licking my face! I wanted to say I'm sorry. I do feel a little better now. I'm still kinda scared to go into the house, but...I guess you were right about baby steps."
"I'm glad 'ta hear you say 'dat, but you were right too. I shoulda told ya."
"It worked out in the end. Now let me buckle in Burnie before she smothers me to death."