OMG, YprocKcid finally updated this story. You know, I wanted the second chapter to be the final chapter but it came to my attention that it would have been way too damn long. It would have been too unwieldy so I decided it would be best if I cut it up a bit for your sake. Like, this chapter, this chapter isn't even getting to the good part yet and look how much much there be.

Anyways, yay! The Panties is finally updating!

Also, I big thank you to every one who read and reviewed this and all my other work, I really appreciate it.

CHAPTER 2

"Hey Gumball?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you back up? Just a little bit?"

"..."

"..."

It was close to nine; bedtime. Darwin and Gumball were in the bathroom. The lightbulbs were slowly fading out, giving the small room a dead clinical look. It made Gumball uneasy.

Which isn't to say Gumball has been feeling easy going beforehand. No, not since they came back from school.

Darwin noticed a difference in Gumball when arrived late for the bus. He noticed just by the way he walked.

Gumball, although he almost ran the risk of having to walk all the way home, trudged across the bus aisle, eyes to the floor, as he trying not to make eye contact with anyone?

Maybe he's embarrassed for making everyone wait?

Gumball sat next to Darwin, eyes still on the floor. Darwin did ask him what was wrong, but Gumball didn't respond.

Instead, Gumball lurched towards Darwin and brought him in for a hug. A tight one, a strong one, a hug that didn't let up. Gumball buried and rubbed his head against Darwin's. Darwin could feel Gumball's beating heart.

Gumball took in deep heavy breaths.

Darwin decided that, for now, this was a fine answer to his question and he patted Gumball's head during the ride home.

At home, Gumball was just as unresponsive. Darwin kept asking him and asking him what's the matter? Did something happen? Don't you want to talk about it, whatever it is?

But all Darwin got in return was I love you. I'm fine, I'm just, I don't know, but I'll be fine. I love you so much. A long despondent sigh or just absolute silence.

Eventually Darwin stop asking questions, it was getting close to bedtime and he was tired. He needed to brush his teeth.

The light bulbs above the mirror above the bathroom sink were fading out.

"..."

"...ok"

Gumball gingerly let go of his grasp of Darwin. He shoved his hands into his pockets, his head perched between his shoulders, his back leaning against the wall.

He looked around the room. As if waiting for an opportunity to say something.

Darwin spat into the sink, wiped off the foam around his mouth. He turned around to face Gumball.

"Night Gumball."

Gumball looked at Darwin with big eyes, he then looked down.

"Yeah, Night."

Before leaving, Darwin gave him a peck on the cheek. He closed the door behind him.

Gumball looked in front of him; the sink. He thought about brushing his teeth but he didn't really feel like it, he just stood there in place.

The door open, it was Anais. She looked at him funny.

"Hey." Said Gumball. "You can...you can go ahead."

"What's with you?" Said Anais. She went over to the sink, squirted out some paste unto her toothbrush. Started brushing.

She looked at Gumball through the mirror. She spat into the sink.

"Alright Gumball, out with it. You been acting weird since we got home."

Gumball shrugged. "I don't know. It wasn't that great of a day I guess." Gumball looked up, looked at Anais. Shrugged again. "It's whatever."

Anais looked at him suspiciously and then let out an exasperated groan.

"Fine. It's probably something stupid anyways."

Anais left the bathroom and didn't look back. She left the door open.

Gumball rolled his head over to watch Anais leave, he mouths the words: I love you.

Gumball brushes his teeth.

Nine on the dot. All the lights were out. Everyone was asleep save for Gumball. Eyes wide open, his fingers clenched to his blanket as if hanging on for dear life.

Every little noise put him on edge. If a cricket chirped a bit louder than usual and his entire body would shake.

Nine O five. He can't stay here any longer. Jamie has probably written a email and she's got her finger on the Send To All option. A scathing expose on Gumball's faggotry.

Gumball threw his blanket to the side and got on the floor. He was crawling.

He stopped every so often to lay his head on the floor and catch his breath. When he reached the bottom of the stairs he finally stood up.

He looked behind him, expecting to see mom right there. She wasn't there though. Gumball turned his attention to the door again.

He slowly lifted up his hand to the knob, he looked behind him; no one. He placed his hand on the knob. Looked behind: Still no one.

Any moment. Any moment now, he expected mom to be there, arms crossed, going, "What do you think you're doing young man?"

Gumball thought he heard mom say exactly that and turned his whole body around.

Nobody was there.

Nobody was coming.

Gumball stood there for a little while longer. He could see the moon from the living room window. It was a weird angle but Gumball thought it looked happy.

Gumball faced the door, hand on the knob. He turns it and it opens.

Look behind; nothing.

Gumball took one step forward, then another and another. With each step he looks behind him to see if anyone will catch him. Nobody does.

He's outside now, he closes the door gradually. He peeks through; to see if someone might be coming down the stairs just this very moment. With the door completely shut he realizes he needs to get to Jamie soon.

Running in the middle of the street, Gumball took out the napkin from his pocket. He was sure he saw this street address before and he was sure he'll get there in time.

Without any warning Gumball stops walking and falls unto the closet lawn. His hands clutch at this head.

"Oh man, what am I doing?" Gumball said to himself in a harsh whisper. "What am I doing? I can't be doing this! Oh oh man, why? Why is this happeneing? How? Agggrrh!"

Gumball gave himself a light slap across the face. He looked up a lamppost.

"Aww man. This is going to happen. It's gonna happen. It's gonna happen. Be in Jamie's house. We're gonna-Oh geez."

His arms wrap around his head. Let's out a good UUUGGGGGHH. Now his hands are covering up his eyes. His eyes slide down and he can see his house from here.

He begins to walk back home but his feet jerk him to the general direction of Jamie's house. He was panicking, stay home and suffer the consequences? Go to Jamie's home and suffer the consequences? He was a confused mess and his feet showed it; moving him in a little circle.

In the end, he arrived at Jamie's house. He looked up and saw a light coming out in one of the windows. Must be her.

This was it.

Gumball looked around for a rock to throw at the window but he found none.

"jamie!" Whispered Gumball. "jamie!"

Nothing happened after that, she probably couldn't hear him.

Gumball was going to call out her name again but then he noticed something coming from back of the house.

It was Jamie.

"Idiot! Always go behind!" She said. "I expected someone like you to know that."

"Uhh, right."

"Get over here." She motioned for Gumball to follow him. "Christ. It took you long enough. What the hell were you doing? Kissing your mommy and daddy good night? Goddamn it. You're lucky I got the patience of a saint Watterson. You're lucky I didn't decide to wake up this whole damn town with a megaphone."

"R-right."

"Shut the hell up. Don't wake my parents."

Jamie slid open the door that lead to her living room. Gumball followed up all the way to the second floor. To her room.

"Get on the bed."

And that's all the time we have for today! Tune in next time!