"How can I go to Cali?" I asked Nosedive. "I've already missed a lot of school. I can't miss anymore."
"We'll think of something."
"I hope it doesn't involve lying to my folks. I don't like lying to my folks."
"I'll do the talking, then. Come on. Let's see your folks." In his native tongue, he told the other ducks we would be right back and to make themselves comfy. At that, Nosedive and I started walking back toward my house. I didn't know what he was planning, but I couldn't resist a chance to be with him.
"This'll be great," said Nosedive. "You'll get to come to Anaheim with us and see how Silverwing (a.k.a. my dog, Loki) does in training camp."
I couldn't help it. I was excited for Loki. He was finally going to be one of the Mighty Ducks.
We opened the door to my house to discover Mom and Grandma sitting at the kitchen table discussing me.
"Hey, guys!" said Mom happily. "Fang, I'm glad Nosedive was able to get you up!"
"Sorry," I said. "I was just really tired."
"You're always tired," said Mom. "And you look like you've been in a fight."
I couldn't lie to my mom. "I'm sworn to secrecy about the fight. Which went well, I might add. My biggest problem is fatigue. I'm just tired a lot."
"I'm worried about her," said Grandma.
"Me too," said Nosedive. "I think maybe we should fly her to Anaheim and get our team doctor to give her a free check-up. She'll get a doctor's excuse."
"You'd do that?" asked Mom.
"Of course."
"Oh, that would be great," said a very relieved Grandma.
"But Fang," Mom said, "you need to stop getting in fights. One day you'll get caught, or meet someone who's stronger than you and get hurt really bad."
"Yeah, yeah," I smiled. I couldn't hide my joy. I was going to go to Anaheim with Nosedive!
"Is Loki gonna go too?" Mom asked. Training camp is soon.
"Yup," I said.
"Well," said Grandma, "he better still come visit us. His damn wife and kids are living in our loft."
It was true, Loki's feline wife and mixed species children were living with us, and Grandma was not happy about it.
"He'll come back," I assured her. "He's a good dad. But I'm sure it'll be tough being a hockey player and a dad."
I tugged Nosedive's hand gently and got him to follow me into my room. I couldn't stop thinking about what he'd told me earlier. I sat on the edge of the bed and pulled him toward me.
"Is it true?" I asked him. "That I'm your love?"
He nodded and looked down at me expectantly. I should have told him earlier that I love him, but I'd never said that to any guy before. Besides, I'd just met Nosedive. I held him even tighter and grinned, not sure what to say. "I…I can't wait to go to California with you."
Nosedive is a very blunt, to the point guy. "Do you love me?" he asked.
I grinned really big, feeling a warm tingly sensation everywhere. "I think so. I do! I think I love you, but I literally just met you." I hoped my answer wouldn't disappoint him. "I'll know in time," I added.
"I missed you so much."
"I missed you too."
He got on the bed with me and began nuzzling me. Duck kisses. They were very light touches, which almost tickled. I started feeling things I wasn't ready to feel yet.
"Hold off," I said. "That feels a little too good. Let's just talk."
"I guess we need to get back to the others."
"No, not yet." I wanted time alone with him, even though I wasn't really sure I was ready for those feelings I was having. I wanted to hold him. So we laid on the bed for a few minutes, holding each other. Gazing at each other.
"So tell me more about that fight," he said.
"I'm not sure I want to talk about it," I admitted. "I'm just glad I didn't cry. Sometimes I get weird after my rages, and occasionally that includes crying. I'm glad I didn't cry after beating up that bastard Andy Coggs. I'd rather die than let him see me cry...But I'm glad he's OK."
"They're so mean to you!"
"Doesn't mean I should fight with them. I think Mom's on the verge of making me go to therapy."
"You're a sweetheart," he said. "You feel remorse for beating up on these people who bullied you, and I bet they've never felt guilty a day in their lives. Maybe now that guy'll think twice."
"You don't agree with starting fights," I said. "You're just trying to make me feel better."
"Technically they're the ones starting the fights."
"That makes me feel a little better."
I kissed him. Soon we were tonging each other, holding each other tightly. The world seemed to stand still. I don't know how long we were like that.
But I didn't want to go too far, so after a while, I put an end to it. "Let's go hang out with the others," I suggested.
"Ok! Maybe we should sleep up there."
"There's not much room, but I could grab some sleeping bags and let the others have the mattresses."
"Yeah! Let's get a big one so we can both fit."
Being stuffed in a sleeping bag with Nosedive sounded really nice. I got an old pillow and a sleeping bag out of the utility room, then told my folks we were camping out in the barn.
"Have fun," said Mom. Since I was going to see the Mighty Ducks' doctor, there was no need to worry about oversleeping and missing school. Nosedive was such a genius. I assumed I'd even be able to get a note from their doctor and my excuse would be as good as gold.
When we got back to the barn, everyone seemed relaxed. "She's coming with us tomorrow!" Nosedive announced.
"So am I," said Loki. "I guess I should go see Amber and the kids."
I picked Loki up and gave him a kiss on his cute little Chihuahua head before he left.
"I guess the rest of us are going to go get a hotel," said Mallory. "We'll be back to get you and Silverwing tomorrow."
"I thought you were a hardass who liked sleeping in barns," Nosedive taunted.
"I just thought you and Wildwing would like to stay here and camp out with Canard and your family," she said. "Don't let the rest of us get in the way."
"If that's what you want," Wildwing said, "But you're welcome to stay.
Something was definitely up with Mallory.
In the end, it was just me, Nosedive, Wildwing, Canard, Rory, Dirk, little Snow, and Frindel staying at the barn. It worked out, though. There wouldn't have been much room otherwise. Though Canard couldn't speak English yet, I noticed that he was being very cuddly with Wildwing. I wondered if that had anything to do with Mallory's bad mood.
"Don't stare," Nosedive whispered to me, as I was observing the two lovebirds. "I know it's unusual on this planet, but on my planet you can love and marry whoever you want."
"I'm not homophobic," I whispered back. "Just surprised. This was never hinted at in the cartoon." I immediately stopped staring.
"Cause the bigwigs in charge didn't want it in the show," said Dive. "That's Earth for ya. They don't want us to reveal too much about our culture."
"Ah." I wondered how many PPOF members had infiltrated Disney.
I was still pretty tired, so I went ahead and started unrolling the sleeping bag. Usually I hate being small, but I was grateful for it when I realized I could fit in the sleeping bag with Nosedive. It was a snug fit though.
Once everyone was settled into a nice place to sleep, little Frindel flew around and put out the lanterns. It was so nice and quiet, save for the sound of Wildwing and Canard muttering sweet nothings to each other and Nosedive's mom and her boyfriend comforting the crying baby, who soon when to sleep.
"Let's tell ghost stories," I suggested.
"Yeah! Why don't you tell some and I can translate them for my mom? She loves that stuff!"
"Ok. I know the perfect one. It takes place on farmland, much like this." I went on to tell a tale I'd heard from my grandmother, about when she and her grandmother had gone walking and saw a man come toward them, only later to disappear into thin air. It wasn't exactly scary, but it was spooky because it was a true story.
"She liked it," said Nosedive. "She likes you. She says you're a tough little human."
I smiled and nuzzled Nosedive's neck, listening to the crickets, frogs, and owls outside. Being so close to him, it was hard to ignore his body. Let's just say he was definitely physically attracted to me. I could tell. But I didn't act on it. I just enjoyed being close to him.
A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. I've been busy getting ready for graduation and also working on a story based on MDTAS but with original characters. It's still in fetal stages at the moment but if anyone wants a preview feel free to message me on here.