Happy late Thanksgiving everyone! First of all, I'd like to say that I was reading a story called 'Calvin and Susie Sitting in a Tree' by princessninjawarrior , and if she's reading this, I've got to say that it's fantastic! Can't wait for the update. I'll review it later, but what has to be done must be done: Chapter 4.

SO, I think I'm going to bring a bit of Calvin/Hobbes/Susie triangle at this point, to add to it. I want this story to be nice and drawn out. Thanks for the lovely reviews to this, and my atrocious oneshot, and I hope I get more. Thanks for reading! :)

I don't own Calvin and Hobbes, but Christmas is almost here, isn't it?... ;)

Chapter 4: Writhing

Hobbes awoke to hear obnoxious snoring, Wait…what?

"S-Susi-…CALVIN?"

Calvin woke up with a start, staring angrily at the tiger, who was sitting up in their bed, arms crossed and an angry glare on his face. Calvin laughed nervously, trying to avoid the truth about why Hobbes has woken up in his own bed. He twittered his thumbs awkwardly as Hobbes sighed impatiently,

"Well? What happened?"
"I- uh… I got you back last night?"

Hobbes raised an eyebrow, "You're saying that you snuck into Susie Derkins' bedroom late at night and stole me back?"

"Pfft- Ha! Ha! Pffft- NO!...Yes…"
"But why?"

"Well…" Calvin dragged the word out suggestively, eyes plastered to the ceiling.

"Well, what?"
"I think I…,might…like her too…"

"Are you serious?" Calvin nodded sheepishly, "You've hated poor Susie since you were tykes! Now you're telling me after all this trouble that you too have fallen in love with the girl?" Calvin sat silent, Hobbes with his eyes narrowed. The tiger huffed, flustered, and started padding out of the room, as Calvin jumped from his bed in protest.

"Come on, Hobbes! It's not that bad!"
"Hmph."
"How 'bout this… The first one to ask her out successfully gets her!"

"Or not!" yelled Hobbes.

"Well, why the hell not? It's equal!"
"Equal, but not fair!"

"How so?" asked Calvin skeptically, arms crossed.

"Look at you. You're human, exactly her age, handsome. And she can actually see you as more than a stuffed animal!"
"All the more reasons I should date her."

Hobbes was about to make a feisty come back, but settled for an annoyed glanced at the teen before walking past him, grabbing a towel and walking towards the restroom. Calvin groaned, stomping his way down the upstairs hall,

"Staying silent won't resolve this, Fleabag!"

He heard the shower faucet turn on, waiting for a reply. He heard Hobbes' voice muffled from the door,

"Trust me, you shutting you trap'll definitely have it's advantages."

Seething, Calvin stormed down the stairs towards the kitchen, where his Mom stood, scrambling eggs. She glanced over at her son, "What's going on between you and Hobbes? Sounded pretty nasty up there." Calvin sighed, sitting at the kitchen table, staring out towards the side of Susie's house.

"Well, Hobbes has been head over heels for Susie for, like, ever."
"Aw, that's so adorable."

"And illegal." Muttered Calvin, earning a glare from his mother, before continuing,

"And now he's mad at me because I suddenly realized I wanted to ask her out. Ridiculous, right?"
"Now I see what Hobbes meant by you being a hypocrite."

Calvin glared at his mother, who walked to the chair he was sitting in, and kissed his head, "Sorry Hon… I'm also sorry to hear that you're fighting with your best friend."

"Yeah…. Meh, I'll just let him choose the rules next time we play Calvinball."
"I don't know if that'll cut it this time, Calvin."
"Hmph…"
"I'm sorry, Dear. Here, have some eggs."

She handed him a plate, which he eyed for a moment before walking onto the back porch. The leaves had already lost their summertime greenness, which turned to what one might call the beautiful art form that is the autumn changes… Or to those like Calvin, when the leaves become the color of crap. He soon heard the voice of Susie from the back gate, on the side of his house. He walked over to it casually, seeing Susie standing there with a look that was half annoyed, and half scared.

"Okay, now I know I wasn't dreaming."
"What?"
"You said that you and your family were leaving for three days."

Calvin chose his words carefully, "I lied."

"I know. And there's something else."
"What?"

Susie opened the blue wooden gate, allowing herself in Calvin's backyard, sitting on the side of the porch and looking up at the taller one, "Last night, around three, I could have sworn on my mother's grave that I saw you coming in, and leaving your room."

"That's a load of-"
"And that there was a six-foot tiger walking like a human right behind you. Care to explain?"
"Wait… You saw him?"
"Him? You mean you know that tiger?"

"Of course I do. It's Hobbes! You know, that Hobbes that's always with me and my friends?" He spread his arms out in expectance, as if the words he were saying were in a dialect didn't make him sound like a lunatic. Susie crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes as she looked up at Calvin, "How do I know I wasn't dreaming, though?"

"Because he's upstairs, right now, in the shower. But, don't talk to him. I hear he can get real ferocious. He's a menace!"

"Uh- Calvin! Calvin!" Susie pointed behind him, petrified. Calvin continued…

"A-And he speaks tigerese, yeah, so if he's trying to, let's say… ask you out, he;s really saying, "RWAR! I'LL EAT YOU!"

Feeling satisfied with his story Calvin smiled smugly before noticing Susie's frightened stare, her quivering finger pointing behind him as she backed up a bit. Calvin turned around, seeing Hobbes stand there, glaring at him. His fur was slightly damp, his green eyes angered. He poked a finger at his friend's chest,

"I'll become a ferocious menace on you if you keep using her fear to your advantage."

Calvin shrugged, blushing red and smiling awkwardly, sputtering and laughing nervously before clearing his throat. He pointed at Susie, looking at the tiger, "Hobbes, Susie," he looked a Susie, glumly sighing, "Susie, Hobbes." Susie remained still, eyeing Hobbes worriedly.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." Said Hobbes, giving a slight edgy look towards Calvin, reaching his large paw out to shake her hand. She took it hesitantly, shaking it with caution before pulling away. The three stood in a bit of an awkward silence, besides the glares Calvin and Hobbes were sharing with each other. Soon, Susie became comfortable enough to actually move. She looked at Hobbes, fascinated,

"So…you're a real anthropomorphic tiger. I'm not crazy."
"You felt my paw, didn't you?"

Hobbes smiled gently at her, as Calvin's mom stepped onto the porch, "Hobbes, can you please- Oh! Susie, how nice to see you!"

"You see him too?"

Calvin's mom eyes her hand gesture to who she called her second son. Hbbes was standing on the porch beside Calvin and Susie, "Yes, I do. Calvin's father and I have seen him for a little less than seven years. When did you see him first?"

"Last night."

Calvin's mom gave a stern look to Hobbes, mouthing something to him. Hobbes blushed madly, making x's with his forearms as if to say no. She gave him a questioning expression, as Hobbes gave Susie a smile, leaving the two humans to talk. He worried that their converse would end up making him lose chances as he went to explain everything to Calvin's mom.

Well, the story's cooking! Please review, the fifth chapter will be here soon! :)

-RJ