It was dinnertime when Nick noticed Flash was slowly walking over to him and was holding a piece of paper.
"What have you got there, buddy?" he inquired.
"A… message… for… you… from… Judy Hopps…"
"Judy?" Nick furrowed his brow and took the note. He read it to himself, "Nick, I want to meet with you after school tomorrow. I need to explain myself about what happen on Halloween… PS. I wanted to tell you today but you were nowhere in sight and Flash was the best I could come up with to get your attention." the last part made him slightly chuckle till he grew concern about what she wanted to talk about.
It can't be about Ruby, can it? Why would she even tell me that? She wouldn't trust me with that kind-of personal information since we're not even friends…
He would just have to wait and see.
Judy took a deep breath as she waited by the wall for him to show up. Finally he did.
"What was so important for me to know for you to use Sloth Mail to tell me?" he joked.
"Isn't it obvious?" she questioned.
He frowned, "Uh, no. It isn't."
"You mean you're not upset?"
"Upset? About what?" now he was feeling major confusion.
"You were supposed to scare me and I had to leave before you could!"
He blinked before it registered in his mind, "Oh! That!"
This time it was her turn to be confused, "You forgot that?"
In truth he did forget. The moment he saw her so upset he couldn't scare her. So he quickly said, "No, I was just too busy with our attraction that I couldn't go looking for you after all and by the time we got done we had to clean up and I was so tired that I just went straight to bed."
"Oh. Well, that's good… I was afraid I was being rude by leaving so soon. But I do apologize for that, because something had come up."
"I understand." and he did.
"Then why haven't you said anything to me for the last couple of weeks?"
"Uh…" he was stuck, the reason he kept away was because he wanted to give Judy space to heal from her blast from the past but he couldn't tell her that so he thought of the first thing that came into his mind.
"I know things between us haven't been very good. I was a pretty bad fox when you first met me, telling you to give up your dreams… but for the past year, I've seen you being capable of succeeding, of course I couldn't let you know that without you gloating…" he smirked.
She smirked back.
He continued, "But after the whole bug thing and the dance, I realized that things went from bad to worse between us, so much you went paranoid over my peace offering…"
Guilt was written all over her face.
"As touching it was of you to let me scare you. I know we can't let this rivalry go on anymore. So…" he held his paw out, "I would like to offer a truce."
She gawked at this gesture and looked into his eyes making sure this was for real. But when staring into those emerald orbs of his she felt her knees go weak. It was like she was seeing Nicholas Wilde for the first time in her life. Then she remembered her dream a couple of months back and ended up smiling. She grasped his paw and shook it, saying, "Truce."
"Really?" he asked in amazement.
She smiled, "Really."
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
That was the reaction of both Judy and Nick's friends when they had told them in their separate dorm rooms that night.
Ben gapped, "You offered a truce and she actually accepted?!"
Gideon said in awe, "That's truly amazing…"
Finnick asked, "So does this mean you're friends now?"
Nick smiled, "Not yet, but we're getting there…"
Dawn was saying, "I can't believe you accepted! It had to be a trick!"
Judy shook her head, "I don't think so, when I looked into his eyes, he wasn't lying…"
Fru was jumping up in excitement, "Oh, this is so wonderful! You two are going to fall in love, get married, and have the most adorable Boxes or Funnies!"
Judy felt flustered, "Oh, Fru… there's no way that's going to happen…" and thought, Like Nick would even want that with me…
Giselle smiled, "Besides you two need to be friends first before discussing having children."
"Oh, my mother would be so upset if any student got pregnant under her watch. That's why we have curfews and the professors to check on us to make sure we're in bed and without a bedmate…"
Judy gave her friend a small smile, "Believe me. I don't want to get pregnant until after I got a handle on my life. It's hard enough raising a kid without the pressures of school getting in the way. Oh, listen to me. I went talking about having a truce with Nick to sex."
Fru smirked, "Next thing you'll be saying is how you can have sex with the fox…"
"Fru! No! Ew!" but the bunny was blushing like crazy.
The shrew giggled. Even Giselle was chuckling before she said, "Perhaps we better change the topic now before Judy dies from embarrassment."
"Agreed." said Dawn.
Giselle motioned, "After the soccer championship it'll be the Winter Ball and you know what happens during that time."
Fru piped up, "They crown the Snow Princess!"
Judy smirked at her small friend, "Which you were last year."
"And hopefully for this year! When my mother went here she was the reigning Snow Princess for all four years! I want to follow in her pawprints and do just that and I know it would make my father so happy."
Giselle said, "We're with you all the way, Fru."
Judy smiled, "Always."
Dawn grinned, "Even my own mother wants to see you following the legacy your mother left, so you can count me to organize your campaign!"
The shrew sighed happily, "Where would I be without friends like you…"
Nick was busy with his homework when he heard a loud cheering and went to the window to see the All-Girls' soccer team getting off a coach bus and among them was Judy holding up a huge trophy and Nick knew that meant they won the championship and was feeling proud for Carrots when suddenly there was a high-pitch scream and the other girls followed. Nick frowned as he saw Judy's face, she didn't scream but she did look frightened. He immediately left the room.
Judy stared at the wall, the graffiti was back: ALL-GIRLS AND ALL-BOYS DON'T STAND A CHANCE!
The moment the team got off the bus and were heading into the school, there it was on the wall just like last time… There were screams from the girls and Judy couldn't blame them but for some reason she couldn't scream like them instead she felt an anger rising in her. Twice now, the school of her dreams has been debased. She wanted more than ever to catch this vandal and give them a piece of her mind.
By then some of the boys had heard the screams and came right over. Among them were Nick and Judy suddenly felt a sense of calm when she saw him. He eyed the wall and scowled. Obviously he was feeling the same thing she was. Not fear but anger.
Both heads of the schools then appeared on the scene as Headmistress Bellwether gave a troubled look while Headmaster Lionheart was furious.
The headmistress turned to her students, "Girls, proceed to your dorms and stay there until further notice."
The headmaster turned to his students, "Gentlemen, I suggest you do the same."
The students obeyed and started leaving but surprisingly Judy and Nick stayed right where they were.
Both heads saw this and Bellwether told Judy, "Miss Hopps, you were told to return to your dorm."
"And I believe I told you the same thing, Mr. Wilde."
Judy said, "I know ma'am, but I feel I can't stand by and let our schools be vandalized by some creep."
"I have to agree with her." proclaimed Nick.
Judy gave him a smile before turning back to the principals. "With your permission, we would like to investigate this for ourselves."
The heads exchanged uncertain looks.
Nick then said, "Look it's obvious the police couldn't do anything the first time so chances are they won't be able to do anything this time. Besides you're looking at the academies' brightest. We'll find this vandal so our schools will feel safe again."
"Well…" started Bellwether, "Judy is one of my most promising students… She has been setting academy records ever since she got here, if anyone could solve this mystery it would be she."
Lionheart stated, "Mr. Wilde may have a knack for shooting his mouth off but his performance in the classroom has proven him to be one of top students at All-Boys. I suppose if we could give them a chance…"
The headmistress nodded her head before turning back to them with a stern look. "This does not mean you are excused from your studies but we will allow your curfews to be extended and we'll give you a private room to work in as you do your investigations."
The rabbit and fox exchanged happy looks.
Lionheart said, "If you find anything, you are to report to us immediately, we would want to assure your fellow classmates and parents that the schools are going to be alright."
Judy cringed, "What happens if they're not…?"
Bellwether gave a sad look, "Then… chances are we will be forced to close the schools if parents feel it's not safe for their children."
Judy gulped and Nick knew why.
Don't worry, Carrots, we'll find the culprit so you don't have to go back to those that have hurt you…