Lonely Hearts Chica
David had seen her around quite a bit. Usually as he was going home from work or going to work for a day shift, she would be at the same bus stop. A nice looking girl with brown hair reaching down to her shoulders. She usually had a few books with her and some note paper, so David guessed she was still a student and using the library. Those were the days.
But so it was every day when he volunteered to work a day shift that he saw her and occasionally at when going home. He really couldn't help but pass a few glances at her and though it might just be his imagination, he could have sworn that she was doing the same with him. Whether out of interest in him or just making sure the only guy with her at the bus stop didn't do anything weird, he wasn't sure. They'd engaged in a little small talk, but nothing really solid.
He hadn't kept this to himself. A few times while working at Freddy's, he'd mentioned her a few times. Foxy was always teasing him about it. Bonnie would become exasperated and try her best not to listen. Freddy thought it was nice that he might have his eye on someone. Chica always went quiet when the subject was brought up, but that was just her, he figured.
The reactions when he told them that he was actually considering talking to her and asking her out were somewhat predictable then.
"Finally!" remarked Bonnie. "I was thinking you'd never shut up about this chick."
"You do realise that if I ask her out and she likes me that I'm going to be talking about her a lot more?" asked David.
Bonnie's face fell. "Aw crud. Ah well, just so long as it's kept out of earshot around me."
"Out of earshot?" David looked sceptical. "From you?"
"Yeah, I realise that doesn't sound quite as good when I say it out loud," agreed Bonnie.
"Migh' wanna clamp yer ears when it happens then," advised Foxy with a chuckle. "I think there's some things they'd rather ya didn't hear."
"Ew, Foxy!" she groaned. "Don't do that!"
"I'm afraid to ask what you mean by that," said David.
"Ya know, kissin'. Suckin' face. Makin' out," clarified Foxy. He got a few odd looks. "Wha'? Ya hear some-a the older ones talkin' about it and I've caught a few teenagers in Pirate's Cove when they have ta be dragged along." He chuckled again. "Would ya like me ta leave a space fer ye if ye decide ta bring her along?"
"Mouth is open, Foxy, should be shut," growled Bonnie. "I honestly don't get that. Why would you want to let someone stick their tongue in your mouth? And do the same with them?"
"I'm sure our Davey'll be findin' out why soon enough," remarked Foxy. "Maybe he can give ya the details if ya really want ta know."
"Stop putting images in my head or I'll put my fist in yours," threatened Bonnie.
"Simmer down, you two," instructed Freddy. "Well, I say good for you, David. I don't think you've ever told us the name of this young woman."
"That's… because I don't know," admitted David. "That was something I was going to get from her today, I hope."
"Already thinkin' about whatcha want withou' even knowin' the lass's name? Maybe my guess wasn't far o- URK!" Foxy stopped when Bonnie smacked him around the back of the head.
"Best of luck to you then," wished Freddy. "I'm sure she'd be happy to get to know you better and find you to be as fine a man as we do."
"Though no' in the sense she migh'," teased Foxy. He caught Bonnie's hand when it went to hit him again. "Gonna have ta do better'n tha', Bon."
"Okay." She used her foot to kick Foxy's chair away and knock him to the floor. "How was that?"
"Well played," said Foxy from the floor.
"I really hope she does," said David, moving the conversation on. "This job doesn't exactly leave much time for other socialising, so this girl could be the best chance I have to get a date. Not that I'm complaining about the job, mind you," he added.
"I think you're goin' to be fine, David," said Freddy. "You're a fine young man, despite your faults and I'm sure she'd appreciate a fella like you."
"Hey Cheeks? You've not said much. What are your thoughts?" asked Bonnie.
"Hm?" Chica looked up from apparently being in deep thought. "I-I'm sorry, what were w-we talking a-about?"
"David's lass, a-course," said Foxy. "Were ye even followin' the conversation?"
"O-Of course!" she said quickly. "I was just um… thinking. About things."
"What things?" Freddy's look became concerned. "Chica, are you alright?"
"Y-Yes, I'm f-fine." She quickly stood up. "Um, excuse me please. I have to uh… do something."
With barely a glance back, she hurried to the kitchen and quickly shut the door, leaving all of them bemused at her sudden departure.
"I'll go talk to her," offered David and followed her. He opened the door to find her hurriedly gathering ingredients while keeping her head low. "Chica? Are you okay?"
"D-David!" She nearly dropped the cutter she had. "I-I'm fine. J-Just doing a-a little cooking, that's all."
"You seemed to be in a hurry to leave before," noted David. "Any reason for that?"
"N-Not at all," she stammered. She still didn't look at him. "I j-just remembered I-I hadn't done anything y-yet."
"You still seem pretty skittish, more than usual," he said. "Come to think of it, you never really talk much whenever I mention this girl." She tensed at his words and stopped working. "Ah, so it is something to do with this?"
"Oh, now you notice?" she asked in a bitter tone. "O-Oh. I-I-I'm so, sorry! I-I didn't mean to sound…"
"Chica, is there something bothering you about this whole thing?" he asked. "Don't be afraid to be honest with me."
She was silent for a moment. "Apparently, I can't. I-It's nothing, really. D-Don't mind me. After all, you didn't before."
"What do you mean by that? Wait…" Everything suddenly made a lot more sense. "Oh… don't tell me…"
"Wh-What?" She tensed even further. "I-I d-didn't say a-anything. Look um, I have w-work to do…"
"Oh god, I'm such an idiot," he groaned. "I can't believe I didn't notice it before. You… you have a thing for me, don't you?"
"What?!" She whirled around, looking horrified. "I-I… I never… wh-when did I… who told you?!"
"You just did," he murmured.
The atmosphere in the kitchen suddenly felt heavy. Chica stammered a bit more, looking like she was trying to cover her tracks. But she sagged in defeat. Her secret was out now. She hung her head and didn't look at David while he was staring in disbelief at her.
All of this time, every moment spent with her… had he really never noticed it before? Or perhaps he had and he had just made the excuse that it couldn't be anything like that. It was just Chica being Chica.
"Chica, I… I'm sorry," he sighed. "I honestly had no idea."
"I gathered that much," she snapped in a tone he'd never heard her take. "Is there anything else you'd like being told that wasn't completely obvious?"
"I'm serious, I really didn't know," he protested. "I'm sorry."
"Not even a little bit? Even I know I'm not the best when it comes to concealing my emotions," she countered, her voice trembling a bit. "N-Not even once?"
"Well, you could be jittery when it was just you and me sometimes, like during our cooking sessions," he realised. "But… I guess I just… didn't think about it…"
"Oh, well isn't that lovely?" Her voice started to rise a little. "What else should I expect? That's what always happens with me. It's not like you'd give anything I might feel a second thought. I'm just silly, clumsy, awkward Chica. Never mind anything else."
"Oh crud," he muttered. "Look, Chica, what do you want me to say here?"
"What is there to say?!" she cried. Her eyes were glistening with tears. "I don't even know really if I do l-like you but perhaps I do! Why wouldn't I?! You're one of the few people who see us for who we truly are! Not only that, but you're funny, confident, talented and you always try and help us in so many ways! Why couldn't… couldn't you have done that with me? With this?! To figure it out rather than just… leave me…?"
"I just didn't know!" he repeated. "I didn't think you could even feel-!"
"I COULDN'T FEEL THAT WAY?!" she screeched. "ON TOP OF EVERYTHING ELSE, THAT'S WHY YOU DISMISSED MY FEELINGS?! JUST BECAUSE I'M NOT… I'm not…!" She choked out a sob. "Not… human…"
That outburst seemed to take everything out of her. Her shoulders sagged. She sank to her knees, covered her face in her hands and sobbed heavily.
The guilt weighed greatly upon David. He carefully approached her and kneeled down to hug her. At first, she sharply pushed him away. Moments after, she looked up, her face streaked with tears. Then, she threw herself at him and held him like she would never let go. He let her while she cried into his shoulder.
Eventually, her sobs began to ebb away. She pulled away to look at David and tried to speak, but she still choked a little and had to stop.
"I'm… I'm so sorry…" she hiccupped. "I… I d-don't know w-where a-a-all that… c-came from."
"Neither am I, but I think it's better for you that you let it all out like that," he said. "Do you feel better?"
"N-Not much b-but… a l-little bit…" she admitted. "I'm s-sorry…"
"You don't have anything to apologise for. I should be the one saying sorry," he sighed. "It's not fair on you that I ignored your feelings like that, on purpose or otherwise. Just for… well, all of that."
"I-It's okay. I mean, I-I never said a-anything either. I just thought…" She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "S-Silly me…"
"I guess we both were," said David, laughing a little. "And for the record, I didn't mean not to consider your feelings because you're not human. Well, kind of. What I mean is, I'm still not completely sure what you guys are… well, capable of."
"I'm not sure we fully know either," she admitted. "I-I mean… I've never felt anything l-like I do for you. I s-suppose we're still l-learning too."
"I get that," he nodded. "I guess I'll wait another time to talk to her."
"No!" she suddenly cried. "Please, d-don't postpone it for my sake."
"I appreciate that, Chica but your feelings are important too," he replied.
"But what can you do about it?" she asked. "I… I know you don't see me… l-like that. You didn't even know u-until…"
"Yeah. Sorry. I still see you as a great friend and I don't want to lose that but anything more is… well…" He trailed off, but she nodded.
"I understand. A-And I won't d-do myself or y-you pining over it," she added. "For both of us to move on from this, i-it might be the best thing if you were to a-ask out this woman. S-Stop giving me false hope."
"I'm sorry, I really didn't-"
"It's okay, really. I know you didn't mean to…" She looked him in the eye. "Just promise me that you will? Please, for both our sakes? You deserve a life outside of us and to be happy with someone. That's all I'll need."
He looked back at her in disbelief. "The amount you care really is amazing, you know that?"
"Someone has to. But thank you," she said sincerely. "I'll um, make a pizza for you. If you see her tonight… she might want a piece." She giggled awkwardly. "You know what they say about the fastest way to someone's heart being through their stomach."
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" he asked.
"I'll be fine," she assured. "I-It's just a silly little crush, it's n-nothing. Best of luck with her. She's a very lucky to get someone like you."
"Thanks. I'll leave you to your thoughts. And hey, talk to someone about this?" he asked. "It's better than keeping it locked up."
"I'll try. Thank you, David and… I'm sorry," she murmured.
He nodded sadly. "Me too." He left the kitchen, but he still had trouble getting Chica's face out of his head. Bonnie was waiting for him outside.
"Did you know?" he asked her.
"I had an idea," she said. "I didn't think it would be such a big deal, but I guess I was wrong. Sorry man. Really."
"It's okay. Maybe… go talk to her?" he suggested. "I think she needs it."
"Sure thing," she nodded. "And hey? Don't let this get to you, okay? We'll make sure she's fine. You go talk to this girl and show her a good time."
"I plan to," he vowed. "Thanks, Bonnie."
"It's fine. I know you'd all fall apart without me," she said with a small smirk. She departed into the kitchen while David sat down in the dining room to have a good think about what to do.
Her pizza was ready for him by the end of the evening. She'd kept it hot in the oven. She seemed a little better, but there was still a forlorn feeling about her. The others all made sure to try and cheer her up until the end of the night. David could feel her watching him as he left and looked back to give her another apologetic smile. She returned it with a sad but hopeful one and put on her mask.
David still felt bad about what had transpired, but he did his best to put it past him. He sat at the bus station, munching on a slice of Chica's pizza and ready to make good on his promise. He was still going over in his head exactly what to say to her when she did show up. It had been a while since he asked out anyone. He just hoped he wasn't rusty.
He glanced up when he heard the sound of footsteps getting closer. It was her. She sat down next to him at the bus stop, books and notes in hand as usual. He passed another look at her. She had one of her books open, one on accounting. David cringed inwardly at the thought of such a degree, let alone the job at the end of it.
He opened the box again to grab another slice. He chewed on it deliberately, still debating internally on how exactly to start a conversation. But in the end, that was answered for him.
"That smells really good." He looked up to see her no longer looking at her book, but at him. "The pizza, I mean. It really smells nice."
"Huh? I mean, yeah," he said quickly. "Tastes pretty good too."
The corners of her mouth lifted slightly. "Seems like it."
"Did you want a slice?" he offered. "I'm not gonna eat this whole thing myself."
"Are you sure?" David nodded and she smiled gratefully. "Thinking about it, I didn't really have much of a dinner before coming out. Thank you."
"No problem," said David. He held out the box for her and let her take one. "Trust me, you'll be having another after that."
She took a bite out of it and David saw her features light up.
"Oh wow. That is actually really good," she said once she swallowed. "I thought I knew all of the takeaways and their food but it looks like you've proved me wrong. Where's this from?"
"Ah now, missy," said David, putting on a voice like a TV spokesperson, "what you're tasting there is a delicacy from the one, the only Freddy Fazbear's Pizza." He showed her the logo on the box. "A magical place for kids and grownups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life. Serving the finest pizza this town has ever seen or tasted or smelled since 1978."
"Is that so?" she laughed and then frowned. "Freddy Fazbear's. That's that kid's restaurant, isn't it?"
"The very same," affirmed David.
"I see. Don't you get some odd looks?" she asked. "I mean, a grown man going into a kid's restaurant to get pizza? How are they okay letting you in?"
"Shhh." David dropped his voice to a whisper. "Don't tell anyone, but I'm a child at heart. They can never tell the difference."
"Ah, a very cunning plan," she remarked. "I did think that you seemed a little old to still be in grade school."
"That just means it's working!" They both laughed at the silliness of this. "No, I actually work there. I'm the night guard."
"I was wondering about the uniform," she noted. "Does that mean I've just been victim to some big marketing ploy?"
"Sad to say, yes," said David sombrely. "But at least it was delicious, right?"
"I suppose so," she agreed. "I don't have to pay for this, do I?"
"No, the first one's always free. Then we shake you down for everything you have," he added.
"Pretty ruthless for a kid's restaurant."
"At least we're not McDonald's." He leaned in to whisper. "Those guys'll eat you up and spit you back out, then serve you in one of their burgers."
"So that's what they put in them," she chuckled. "So, do you enjoy your job?"
"It's pretty decent, yeah," he said. "I don't think I could say the same for your aspiring career." He nodded to her books.
"I've always been good with maths," she replied. "It might not be one of the best jobs in the world, but at least it's one I know I can get."
He shrugged. "Well, that's your choice. Just because I'd rather keel over and die than work in an office has nothing to do with anything."
"Good to know. Oh, I think that's mine." She motioned to the bus pulling around the corner and stood up. "I need to get going. Nice talking to you and thanks again for sharing the pizza."
"No problem. Maybe you and I could share some food together again sometime?" he asked.
She raised an eyebrow. "Is that you asking me out to dinner?"
"It just might be. Or we can just eat another pizza at the bus station, I'm fine with whatever," he said with a smile.
"Hmm." She pulled out a pencil, ripped off a scrap of note paper and scrawled down her number. "How about you give me a call and we'll arrange the details from there?"
"Sounds good to me." He saw that she'd written her name on too. "Elizabeth Stanford. Nice name."
"Thank you. I'm sure you're gratified to know it, David Smith." She smiled at his surprised look. "It's on your badge."
"Oh?" David checked and saw she was right. "Kind of obvious really."
"Yes, it was," she agreed. She walked to her bus as it pulled up. "But still, it was nice to meet you, David."
"Likewise, Elizabeth," he replied. "See you around." He looked down at the pizza box and back in the general direction of Freddy's. "Thanks, Chica. I'm sorry…"
Not long to go now, only about two or three chapters left of this one.
Alexis: Yeah, he won't be forgetting about that anytime soon.
1OneHuman: Well for me it was one on one day then another the next because I'm British. I hope a lack of plot wasn't off-putting.
BlackDude: Thank you.
MurraySheWrote: Yeah, writing Bonnie is a lot of fun for me. I love characters like her.
Monkey999Boy: Sympathy is something you lack, I take it? XD And stop thickening my plot, the plants won't grow in soil this thick.
Andrew115342: Glad you've been enjoying them.
HeyYoItsMeSSMike: It's synthetics up against humans, the outcome was never in question.
Bunny: Thanks, I guess? And no, she wouldn't go that far.
Kliff: I really don't feel explaining it made it any better XD
JJ: Indeed they do.
kitkat1003: Always nice to see some enthusiasm
Balloon: I really thought it was obvious XD
Candy: Nah. She has tough words and she might intimidate, but she'd never go that far. Perhaps Chica does, but we won't see it here.
1) Well, that's your opinion. I won't try and change it. I just added them to give a little more depth to the story and characters, a look into the past.
2) Goldie will be introduced and SHE has already been referenced. Rest assured, you will be seeing HER. (I know he's considered male in the fandom but for gender balance, Goldie in this will be female.)
3) Thank you
Golden: Goldie will come in due time, my friend. I can assure you of that fact.
Egde: Very well then, keep your secrets. There's a very simple reason the murders have never been mentioned: they've never happened. In this universe, there was never an occasion where five children were taken into the back room, killed and stuffed into suits. I would think the synthetics would notice if their mascot suits were suddenly filled with rotting corpses and that never happened with the original animatronics either.
Candy (2): I'm sorry, but if you read the Christmas special, Golden Freddy is brought up. She was never a synth, she was just an AI. She never had a synthetic body. Her name stands for Genetic Operations Logistics Diagnostic ENgager. She was the prototype of the 'brains' for the synthetics. If you read the Christmas special, specifically Chica's chapter, she explains it there.
Edge (2): Have fun with them
Balloon: Sorry to burst your balloon, but I'm afraid they're wrong for reasons explained.
You know, the most I keep writing for these is these responses. I got to bed after working on the chapter, safe in the knowledge that I've answered everyone. I wake up and six more have cropped up. I'm certainly not complaining though. I very much appreciate everyone taking the time to read and more importantly comment on my stories. I thank you all for your support and patronage.
Be strong, be swift, be just.