Chapter 12

This is a really pointless update; pretty great to explain my extreme hiatus

Mordecai smiled wide as he watched his character get the gold and hearing Rigbys whining following after. It had been two days since Benson'd begun avoiding him and the blue jay was over the moon. Everything'd come at ease for him and he hadn't had to worry about anything; Skips was almost done with the antidote and judging from the hours the yeti had spent on making it, Mordecai guessed that Skips would be done by tomorrow if not the next day after.

"Aw come on man. That's the third time you've beat me." Rigby whined.

Mordecai shrugged. "Sorry dude. You're just terrible at video games."

The raccoon suddenly got defensive, his whingy attitude having gone. He threw down his controller, angry. "That's completely untrue and you know it!"

"Whatever." Mordecai rolled his eyes at Rigby's immature reaction, then perked up. "Hey, you wanna go to the coffee shop?"

"Sure. We've got ages till our break's over." Rigby followed Mordecai to the door as they walked out, he noticed a slight bounce in the blue jays steps. "Why're you so happy?"

Mordecai felt the familiar lightness in his chest. "'Cause Benson's been avoiding me. And Skips's almost done with the antidote so I'll be back to my normal self hopefully tomorrow."

Rigby grinned and high fived the avian. "Haha that's awesome man!"

"Yeah it is!"

After sharing the news to Eileen, the girl felt happy for Mordecai. And not to mention, that she'd gotten more sleep since she'd stopped talking to Mordecai and Benson.

"That's great, Mordecai!" Eileen commented, getting out her notepad. "So what can I get you two?"

"Just a couple of coffees is fine Eileen, thanks."

The girl wrote it down with a smile then went off to get their orders. When she came back, she placed the tray in front of them and the two went to pick up their coffees but when they noticed that she hadn't left, they paused. Her gaze was on Rigby.

"Uhh Rigby?"

The raccoon looked at her, "Yeah?"

"Well, uh," she began to fiddle with her fingers. "There's a new movie coming out tonight and...well, I asked Clara but she's busy so I was wondering if-if you wanted to...go?" The last word came out as almost hopeful and she looked up at him but Rigby didn't answer straight away.

"Ummm."

Mordecai nudged him, "Come on, man. Say yes."

"What, why?" Rigby turned his body to face Mordecai, cutting Eileen off to discuss it between themselves.

"'Cause she just asked you out."

"'But I don't like her that way."

"Dude what? No man, she's just asking you to go to the movies. Not be her date."

"What, really?"

"Well, yeah. You're just gonna see a movie together."

Rigby felt a weight lift from his shoulders as he turned back to the girl, who still had a hopeful smile on her face when she set eyes on Rigby.

"So...will you?"

The raccoon started to smile, the thought of seeing a movie sounding like an awesome idea. "Yeah, haha, I will."

She couldn't help the grin that split through. "Really? Oh, awesome! Okay, well, the movie starts at 8:30. As luck would have it, my shift ends 10 minutes before the movie starts so just pick me up in front of the coffee shop."

"Alright. See you tonight Eileen."

When she'd left, Rigby went back to talking with Mordecai. "Are you sure it isn't a date?" For a brief minute, the smile fell from the raccoons lips and Mordecai almost laughed.

"I'm sure. If it was, she would've said."

This settled Rigby for a moment but then something occurred to him and he stared at the blue jay, panicked. "What about the movie? She didn't say what the title was! Ah what if it's something cheesy and lovey and it's like a hint for me to ask her out or something or-"

"Dude, calm down. You're over-reacting. Like I said, if it was a date, Eileen would've said. I mean, yeah she probably chose the movie to drop hints to you but she knows how close you guys've grown and I don't think she would push it, I think she'd wait till you've decided your feelings for her. It's been a while and something was bound to happen in the time you guys met each other but because nothing has happened, Eileen's invited you to a movie night as either friends or more than..."

Mordecai slowly stopped when he saw Rigby staring at him with a weird expression on his face.

"What?"

"Just...what you said."

"What'd you mean?"

"I mean, how would you know so much of what Eileen would and wouldn't do?"

Mordecai shrugged. He honestly had no clue. "I-I don't know. I guess being a girl for this long..." Mordecai did a check to see if anyone'd heard him so he lowered his voice a bit just incase. "has affected my personality a bit so I think I know a bit about how a girl thinks."

Rigby raised an eyebrow. "Okay...I guess that's kinda cool."

Mordecai shrugged again. "Yeah."

5 minutes before their break ended, the two exited the coffee shop and headed back to the park.


When they'd finally finished all their jobs, the duo were on the couch, waiting for 8:20 to roll around before Rigby had to leave to pick up Eileen from the cafe.

"...and you're sure this isn't a date?" Rigby asked unsurely.

Mordecai nodded. "99.9% sure."

"Well, that's good enough for me." Mordecai smiled as Rigby got out some breath spray and sprayed his mouth. He breathed twice on his wrist then sighed. "Alright, I'm ready."

Rigby checked his watch and when he saw the time, he jumped off the couch. "Crud, I gotta go or I'm gonna be late picking Eileen up!"

As the raccoon raced to the door, Mordecai yelled a last minute "good luck" before smiling to himself and relaxing into the couch. He closed his eyes and felt himself dozing off (after all, the chores had left him exhausted) but a loud shout from Benson made him jerk awake.

"...could you come here please?"

Mordecai paused.

"Morgan?"

Yip, it was for him-er-her

Mordecai still sat still, wondering whether to go up or not but Bensons tone sounded irritated and he pushed himself off the sofa. But even when he was standing, he hesitated. What the heck could Benson want? He'd been avoiding him all day and now he wants to talk? But what about made Mordecais stomach turned. Just going near Benson made Morgan react and that was the last thing Mordecai wanted, especially at this time of night on the particular day where they chose to forget.

Despite all this, Mordecai found himself walking to the stairs but he kept stopping after about three steps, his brain telling him no. Still, as soon as Mordecai realized he was at the top, he went to turn around but Benson'd already seen him and Mordecai silently cursed himself, hoping Morgans persona'd gone completely for what was to come.

As soon as he caught Bensons eye, Mordecai felt that chill go down his back and Benson motioned for him to come into his office which Mordecai had no choice but to accept the gesture, staring at the carpet the entire time.

The door shut and the two were alone; with Mordecai wondering why the hell Benson pulled him in here. That horrible vibe came back that he felt when they were alone last time and he swallowed, tensing himself to rid it; almost ignoring Benson completely.

Keeping his body tense but opening his eyes, Mordecai asked "So why'd you call me into your office?"

Benson paused, then sighed and he started fiddling with his fingers. "I-I need to tell you something. . . I know I've been avoiding you but. . . I just. . . " He dropped his hands and rubbed his face. "I can't keep hiding this. . . "

Mordecai started feeling sick. Oh no

"I-I just. . . I still have feelings for you Morgan, no matter how much I keep telling myself no and staying my distance from you but. . . this is different okay?" Benson yelled it out, exasperated, as if Mordecai had no clue what he was talking about. "I've spent so much time ignoring it but I know that deep down. . . no matter what I do. . ." His hands were shaking but he still stood there. "I. . .I. . ."

He couldn't say it.

Mordecai felt helpless and something inside him sparked up again when Bensons desperation rang through him; something he hadn't felt since they'd been alone.

"Benson."

Benson swallowed and looked up, this surprised look coming across his face. "Yeah?"

"It's okay."

It came out in this sympathetic tone and Benson felt himself calm. "But-but I still-"

"I know. . .and it's okay."

Benson gave him this weird look and Mordecai suddenly stopped. Morgan was coming through; looks like she'd only gone down a little. Still, what was to come was to bring Morgan into it completely and Mordecai swallowed, his eyes back on the carpet. He needed to keep Morgan back for as long as possible, just until Benson let him out the office or he did it himself because of her.

"Thanks for understanding, Morgan. . ."

"I mean, I don't feel the same way but we can at least be friends right?"

Benson stopped and Mordecais face drained of colour. Crap

"Y-Yeah, of course." Benson let out a nervous laugh and Mordecai felt like dying.

"Thanks, Benson." He smiled, though it was strained, and his hand found the doorknob. He turned it and he was about to go out the door till-

"Wait, Morgan?"

Mordecai swallowed. "Yeah?"

"You haven't um, you haven't told anyone about this have you?"

"N-No."

Benson smiled a relieved smile. "Good."

And with that, Mordecai took his leave, shutting the door and instead going into his room, where he lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

It was about two hours before Rigby got home and by then, Mordecai'd crashed completely. The raccoon walked upstairs and Mordecai was rudely awoken by a jacket being thrown in his face; Rigbys jacket to be exact.

"Dude what the heck?"

The light switched on and Mordecai only managed to catch a glimpse of his friends wide smile before shielding his eyes with the bed cover.

"You were right!" Rigby announced and Mordecai started to wonder what he was right about until Rigby continued. "It wasn't a date!"

"That's great Rigby. Now can you let me go back to sleep?" Mordecai groaned out as he pushed his head into the pillow and forced his eyes shut.

"I think you should stay a girl you know. You really seem to know a lot about what a girl thinks."

Mordecai only groaned in response and mumbled out "Just let me go back to sleep man."

Rigby laughed to himself and flicked off the light. "Whatever dude. You've got the whole night to think about it."

"Think about what?" By now, Mordecai was half asleep but part of him wanted their discussion to go on; only till Mordecai got tired again.

The light went on again; "About staying a girl!"

At the words and the volume of how Rigby said them, Mordecai shot up in this momentary panic. "Wait, is Benson still here?"

"Nah man he's gone home."

"How'd you know?"

"His cars not in the driveway." Seeing Mordecais whie face, Rigby scoffed. "Quit worrying! Your times almost up anyway and besides, you said that Skips has the antidote."

"Almost has the antidote." Mordecai corrected before going on. "Dude you know Pops doesn't know about this. If he found out, he could tell Benson. So you better keep your voice down."

"Alright, alright, chill out." Rigby rolled his eyes, then carried on with his part of the convo. "Anyway, if I were you, I would re-consider this change."

"What why?"

"Because you seem to think more like a girl-"

"Listen Rigby, it was fun at first and I hate to burst your bubble but since Benson's been acting weird around me, I can't stay like this. I've just been able to settle Morgan and one more incident between me and Benson could make her snap and. . ." He paused. "Well, you know what happens after. I've already told you all of this." He went to pull the covers back up to his chest.

Rigby folded his arms. "Dude, you're just over-reacting. Think about it; Bensons been avoiding you for the past two days so if you go up to him one more time, I don't think it's gonna do as much as when he was hounding after you."

Mordecai frowned at Rigby use of the word "hounding" but he didn't have enough energy to point it out. Instead, he lay his head back down on his pillow and Rigby sighed and switched off the light, enclosing them in darkness again.

"Come on man. Just think about it."