It was the start of a whole new semester. Both All-Boys' and All-Girls' academies were settling back in after a long break. Nick had never felt happier being back in school knowing his girlfriend was just next door and he was planning on winning the Battle of the Bands now that he finally sounded better on his guitar. He was nervous at first but remembering what Judy told him about having repressed memories of her grandmother when knitting and thought of how proud his father would be of him for attending his alma meter and that he wanted to impress Judy by sounding great.
He was sitting in Economics class-a class in which he prided himself for having such good grades in-when the speaker system came on with Headmaster Lionheart announcing.
"Good morning and welcome back from winter break! I hope you enjoyed yourself because this semester will be very busy for the academy. First off, anyone wishing to participate in this year's Battle of the Bands merely need to sign in at the office. Second, the All-Boys' Academy and All-Girls' Academy annual community project is coming up later this semester so pair up with a group of students from All-Girls' and decide what project you'll be doing this year so that you'll be ready by the given date. And lastly, this year we, along with All-Girls' will be participating in the Academy Games by going against Menagerie Prep Academy."
That caused a few groans from the students but Nick was unfazed.
"As such the top ten students from each school will be able to compete in the Games. So if you like to partake in the event, I suggest you study hard and keep up the good grades! Thank you, and have a nice day."
Once their principal signed off, the guys started talking amongst themselves and Gideon who had class with Nick whispered to him, "Are you going to try entering the Games?"
Nick merely shrugged, "It's too early to tell, Gid. Besides, first things first we need to win the Battle of the Bands and we're going right after class to sign in."
They did just that as they entered into the office and signed on the sheet. Bogo and Lionheart entered in just seconds later when they saw the fox had just finish putting his name on.
"You're entering the tournament?" the cape buffalo questioned.
"That's right, so you better brace yourselves." Nick proudly stated, "This will be the year you lose and I'd bring plenty of tissues if I were you."
Bogo snorted indignantly, "You just keep telling yourself that, fox."
Nick put on his casual grin, "Duly noted." and left the office without a second glance, he was in too much of a good mood already that not even Bogo brought him down.
His good mood did not go unnoticed as Bogo faced Gideon, Finnick, and Clawhauser and said with a furrowed brow, "He's too happy, why is he too happy?"
Ben being the loving cheetah he was smiled and replied, "He and Judy are finally dating." he gave a small squeal.
The lion and buffalo exchanged bewildered looks.
While the day was going well for Nick, it wasn't going so well for Judy. Dawn had to stay in their dorm for the rest of the year since the room assignments were set since the beginning of the year. Judy had hoped this would give them a chance to talk things over but Dawn chose to ignore her and always left the room early so they wouldn't have a chance to talk.
When she had English with Mr. Stripe later she couldn't get the image of him being naked out. Since Ms. Hardshell decided to retire suddenly after being sick, Mr. S took over for her as their teacher. Judy knew then it was going be a long semester. But surmised it won't be so bad as long as she still had Fru and Giselle as her friends and with Nick as her boyfriend now it definitely wasn't all bad.
Then at lunch she noticed Amanda was looking distraught and her friends were trying to comfort her. She turned to Giselle beside her and asked, "Do you know what's wrong with Amanda?"
Giselle sadly nodded, "I overheard in gym class. Apparently her boyfriend was dating someone else on the side while she was in school. She found out during break."
Judy's ears drooped. She knew all too well of the pain that the panther was going through. She stood up and went straight to her. She touched the girl's shoulder and whispered into her ear.
"I'm so sorry about what happen…"
Amanda looked into the bunny's eyes and saw the pain in them. She asked a wordless question through her eyes and the bunny gave a nod. Amanda turned to her posse, "Girls, could you leave us for a bit?"
They complied to her wish and left the panther and rabbit alone.
"You had a boyfriend that cheated on you?"
"I did. His name was Roland, he was the brother of a friend of mine, and for awhile there we were planning on being family when circumstances changed that. I discovered his true self when I saw him kissing another bunny…" her lips trembled from the memory.
"How did you get pass it?"
"It wasn't easy, but I focused on coming to school here so I wouldn't have to live in Bunnyburrow and be reminded of that backstabbing bastard."
"Were you in love?"
Judy mulled over that question, she should have been able to say yes but looking back and thinking it over, she replied, "In a way. I thought I was in love with him but I was blind to his true intentions."
"Dave and I were so much in love… I just don't understand what could have gone wrong between us. I know me being away at school didn't help our relationship but he could have been more supportive and waited…"
Judy shook her head, "Roland wasn't supportive in a lot of things I did. For example he wasn't that thrilled for me when I started studying to come here or for me to move away to Zootopia. I considered staying for him and his sister but when things happen between me and her and the cheating began, I took the entrance exam right away and thankfully I passed so I could escape from my past."
"And are things better for you now?"
Judy gave a small smile, "Yes. It was a rough start but in the end everything worked out, with a minor exception…" she turned her head to where Dawn was sitting alone eating her lunch. She turned back to Amanda, "Just because Dave wasn't the one for you, doesn't mean the one you're meant to be isn't out there… I thought I wouldn't find true love after Roland, but I couldn't be more wrong." her smile grew wider.
Amanda's eyes widen, "Does that mean you and Wilde are dating? I thought that was just a rumor."
Judy rolled her eyes, "A rumor that no doubt started from a certain shrew… But it is true nevertheless."
"Do you want to keep it a secret or are you okay with everyone knowing?"
Judy just smiled, "I shouldn't have to hide my love for Nick. I don't care if the whole school knows."
"But aren't you afraid you'll break-up just like with Roland?"
She shook her head, "No. I know for a fact that won't happen with us. He's the one."
The panther's eyes widen in shock before softly asking, "Can the same happen for me?"
"I'm sure it will. But take time to heal first from your heartbreak, focus on your studies, spend time with your friends, and when the time is right, you'll find the one you were destined for."
In a swift move, the panther hugged the small bunny while whispering, "Thank you."
Nick and his friends started heading into the music room for rehearsal when they heard guitar playing going on. They poked their heads in to see a black panther rocking out on the bass guitar with his eyes closed so he didn't see them.
"Who is that?" Gideon asked.
Finnick replied, "Robert Clawson, but he's prefers the name Bobby. I have a couple of classes with him, but he tends to be a lone wolf then any of the other wolves that go to school here."
They kept on watching him play till Bobby ended his jam session and Nick decided to get acquainted with the panther.
"Bobby, is it? Nice jamming there, mammal, where did you learn how to play like that?"
Bobby briefly glanced at the fox and company and just walked out.
Nick motioned, "O-kay, guess we'll never know."
Ben voiced, "Not a very talkative guy is he?"
Fin shrugged, "I told you. He's a loner."
Gideon questioned, "Should we start practicing now? We only got like two hours until dinner."
Ben asked, "What song should we play?"
Finnick pointed, "It has to be a song that will qualify us into the tournament but we want to save our best songs for when making it into the finals."
Nick said, "The rules say it has to be school appropriate but we want to keep it cool at the same time. Any ideas?"
Ben took out his smart phone and scrolled through EweTube. "Hey! How about that Phil Collie's song: You'll Be in My Heart? It did win an Otter after all!"
The boys pondered on that before Nick spread a grin, "Benji, you're brilliant!"
The cheetah gave a tiny squeal of appreciation.
Judy headed to the Headmistress's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in." the sheep replied.
When Judy entered in the ewe stopped with what she was doing and a smile widen on her face when seeing her prize student. "Judy, dear!" she went up from her desk and held the bunny's paws.
"Have you made your decision regarding the independent study program?"
"I have. But I must discuss some things with you."
Bellwether furrowed her brow, "If this is about Dawn, I assure you that she will not disrupt your studies as she made quite clear to me that she was planning on keeping her distance from you for the rest of the semester until she can be properly moved into a new dorm next year."
"That's what concerns me. Do you really favor me over your own daughter?"
The sheep gave a surprised look before declaring, "Absolutely not! I love my daughter dearly, and I always make sure she has the best there is at home. Do I treasure you more at school? Perhaps. But you are one of my top students and I take great pride in that. All the more reason I want to send you to the program."
"But it's unfair to have me apply when Dawn wants to apply too. She can benefit from the program as much as me."
"I know she can, and believe me, I want to do it for her as much but the problem is, because she is my daughter, mammals are going to think I favor her over the rest of the students. Before you came along I was afraid that no matter how hardworking my daughter was, it won't count if mammals don't believe she earned it on her own."
Judy's ears drooped from realizing how true that was.
"But then you come and I was so relieved. A first year student makes it all the way to the top five percent of her class and keeps it up the next year. I was very impressed by the fortitude you brought into your schoolwork that I called up the university at the first chance."
She blushed as she said, "Well, I'm very flattered that you think that way toward me, but I don't want Dawn to suffer a lack of affection from her mother. And for that I would like to make you a deal."
"Oh?"
"I will apply for the independent study program only if Dawn can apply too, and that you call up Headmaster Lionheart so that he can offer the same application to his student Nicholas Wilde."
The ewe gazed at Judy in bewilderment and finally asked, "And you will not apply otherwise unless the terms have been met?"
The bunny nodded her head.
The sheep slowly smiled, "Judy Laverne Hopps, you are going to go places. Consider it done."
She smiled in return.