Emma & Malcom Peabody

Chapter 22: The broken bonds

-Alright...-said Sherman checking some last details of the skateboard.-Now, this is supposed to work...-he was muttering when he finally turned to see Ally.-Ok, Ms. Edwards, I think it's ready-

-Perfect!-she exclaimed before looking down quickly, trying to hide her enthusiasm.

He rolled his eyes and pointed to the skateboard. She walked towards it, completely ashamed. It was so obvious that he wasn't agreeing with her being his assistant. He was never nice to her, sure, he wasn't bad to her either; he was just neutral, as if he didn't care at all. The black-haired woman was starting to get tired of his attitude, but then she remembered that not every boss wants to have a friendship with the people they work with. Sherman was indeed serious, or at least, he did his best to be it. Once he broke the ice between them, it's like he realized what he had done and he became extremely serious again.

She went on the skateboard and her boss toke a netbook, starting to write something on its keyboard.-Start when you wish, Ms. Edwards-he said without looking up his mobile computer

The woman just sighed, annoyed by his attitude and started to ride the skateboard. At the beginning it was a bit hard, but after getting used to it, she was able to control it perfectly.

-Ok, do you feel like doing some tests?-Sherman asked, receiving a nod in response.-Alright, move to the left-she did as he ordered.-Now to the right-his secretary did it and the skateboard went to the right and went a bit down.

He muttered some scientific stuff before turning to her.-Let me see something, please come down-

-Sure, whatever-she went down of it irritated

The scientist did some configurations on the device and called his secretary again.-Ok, this is supposed to work now... Ms. Edwards, would you mind?-he asked pointing the skateboard with his usual neutral face

She nodded her head and went up. She imagined that situation a bit funnier in her mind, they had a floating skateboard! But, surprisingly, that guy made everything boring! He was acting as if a skateboard was a boring experiment when it should be extremely fun to prove! Why was it so hard for him to be someone normal?

-Alright, please, start-

She pressed a bottom to make the skateboard float, but as soon as she did so the device started to move extremely fast and out of control!

-Ah!-she screamed desperate as the skateboard was carrying her all over the laboratory and breaking a lot of things.-Mr. Peabody, help!-

-Turn it off!-screamed Sherman

-How?!-

-With the same bottom you turned it on, you... woman!-he shouted doing his best not to insult her calling her "silly" or "stupid", she had turned it off the last time she used it five minutes ago perfectly! But, sure, when there is a failure in the device and she needed to turn it off, she completely forgot about how doing it!

-It's the black bottom!-started screaming the red-haired man touching his face in desperation

The black-haired girl's mind was completely blocked. She was so nervous that she couldn't remember how to turn that stupid skateboard off! So, she started proving different bottoms... oh, why did she do that? The only thing she got was to turn the situation into something worse...

She'd never forget Mr. Peabody's look of shock as she starting proving and breaking everything inside the laboratory. And by the moment she finally found the bottom and turned the skate off, everything was completely destroyed. She had even almost hit her boss in more than one opportunity. There were green and red substances all over the floor and every single glass had become into thousands of little pieces

He stood there in shock as she went down. That was it, she thought, she was going to be fired off, she knew it, no matter how hard she tried it, she had lost the job.

-I'm really sorry-she said.-It's just that... I guess, I was so stupid; I should have refused to do this... I'm sorry, I'm useless-she continued saying, but he wasn't giving her any response. He just stared at her.

He couldn't handle the situation anymore. He looked around to see the whole mess she had done, then he looked at the skateboard that looked even worse... and then he looked at the girl that looked completely scared of him. He wasn't able to handle it, he had tried so hard... but that situation was too strong for him to resist it...

-You broke everything-he said still shocked

-I know and I'm sorry, really sorry-she looked down.-You have no idea how sorry I am... I just...-she was interrupted by a sound, a really weird sound coming from his boss: laughter.

-Ha ha ha ha!-he started laughing falling to the floor and laughing even harder

He couldn't act as a serious person. That situation turned out to be so bizarre that was extremely hilarious, and his Sherman-side started to go out, and that was one of his fears in that moment. You'll see, he found out that there were two different personalities: the Mr. Peabody one, which was when he was serious and professional and well... like his own father, and the Sherman one, that was like how he really was: an enthusiastic, childish, funny and nerd scientific. If it should be up to him, he'd rather be himself all of the time, but, because of his father's expectations, he slowly started to become more like him.

-Wha-What's funny?-she asked still scared

-What's funny?-he asked between his laughter.-Are you serious? Everything! You breaking everything and freaking out! The skateboard! Me! It was hilarious!-He continued his laughing for some minutes more.-Oh, boy that was pretty fantastic! Can you do it again?-he asked drying some tears he dropped when he was laughing

-So, I'm not fired?-

-What? No!-he said standing up.-It's ok! It has happened me many times that I broke everything when I was doing an experiment, actually, it was my fault, because I did some wrong repairs on the skateboard, so never mind!-

-For real?-

-Yeah! It's ok! What did you think? Why are you so afraid of me?-he asked giggling

-I... You're my boss-she managed to say, even though she still couldn't believe she didn't lose her job

-I don't bite, just so you know-he said extending his right hand and showing an earring that was on it.-It fell while you were doing your show-

She sighed.-Really amusing-she said sarcastic.-Thanks-she took it and put it on

-Your welcome, and by the way, thanks for helping me with the skateboard-

-You thank me? Really? Even though it turned out to be a disaster?-

-Hey, now I know that I should never make that configuration again... and you learnt how to turn it off-

-Funny...-

-The thing is, we all learn from our mistakes-

-Yeah, perhaps you're right, Mr. Peabody-

-Don't be so dramatic, Ms. Edwards-he took the skateboard and put it on the table.-Now, would you like to try it again?-

-Are you sure?-she questioned nervous

-100% sure! And if it doesn't work, at least I can have fun laughing of your falls-he smirked

Forgetting about her position, she punched his arm playfully in revenge. When she realized what she did, she stared at him. But luckily he just smiled back.

-Relax! I bet this skateboard will end up being perfect and you'll be the second person on ride a floating skateboard-

-Second?-

-Yep, unfortunately, my 8 years old son won you-

-How did he...?-

-Don't ask, he's still grounded-he said rolling his eyes.-Ok, let's try this one more time...-

Malcom stared at his friend confused.-Sorry, I think I heard something wrong... can you repeat it?-

-I'm your sister secret admirer-John said again slowly and nervously

-Do you like Emma?-

-What? No!-he denied.-I wrote the notes, but I never liked her and I'll never like her-

-Why did you do it then?!-shouted Malcom freaking out

-I felt guilty, ok?-

-Guilty because of what?!-

-Do you remember the argument we had on the lunch room?-

-Yes, so?-

-Well, I realized that I was wrong and I noticed that she felt wrong about Valentine's day... so, this crazy idea came to my mind, but I never thought that Jessica will discover it and use it against her!-

The red-haired kid took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Could it be true? Was it all a lie his best friend did to make his sister feel better? Or did John like Emma? Those notes seemed to be from someone who was really in love with her, or at least from someone corny.

-How did you write the notes? Where did you take those words from?-asked Malcom after a bit of thinking

-They... they were on a movie, I'm not that corny!-he answered quickly but unsure

Malcom pointed John with his finger in an accusing way and then turn around, walking to the bathroom. He still couldn't believe what happened... his best friend was Emma's secret admirer! He had been wrong all along, her admirer wasn't a freak, or an ugly guy, or even Jessica... it was his best friend! Worst of all, he suddenly got a feeling... a bad feeling between him and his sister... John liked her. Sure, he said that he didn't like her, but, why should he trust? If the situation was the other way around, he'd obviously deny it.

He stood in front of the girls' bathroom and stopped. First because it was the girls' bathroom, a forbidden place for persons like him... and second because of Emma. What was he supposed to tell her? "No, it wasn't Jessica; John was the one who wrote the notes just to make you feel better"? No, he couldn't tell her that...

Having reached into a conclusion, he got into the bathroom. That place was horrible; it smelled like perfumes and girly stuff everywhere! Also, everything was so pinky that he wanted to throw up.

-How come girls go out from here alive?-he muttered to himself walking through the hall with a disgusted face. Suddenly, he heard a crying that came from one of the bathrooms' door.-Emma?-he asked slowly

-Go away!-his sister screamed back

-Em...-he sat leaning on the outside part of the door.-Are you ok?-

-Sure, I only was humiliated in front of everyone... but I'm perfect!-she said sarcastically

Yeah, she was more stubborn than him when she wanted.

He wasn't sure about what to tell her, so he just stood sitting there while Emma was sat leaning on the door inside of the locked bathroom. If it wasn't because of the door, they would be sat leaning on each other's back. And that situation, somehow, made the girl calmed down. It was that strange feeling of brotherhood that made her trust Malcom, at least in that moment. After all they went through; her twin brother was there, literately on her back. And it wasn't only because of the WABAC or because he was her brother, it was a proof. A proof that showed that he really cared for her at the end.

-I can't believe it... it was a lie-she said covering her face with both hands

Malcom sighed and leaned his head against the door.-It wasn't a lie, Emma-

-Yes... You were right, how could anyone ever like me?-

-Em, you're not a completely loser after all, you know?-

-You know, that's not really helping-

-Sorry... It's just that... I don't know what to say. I have never tried to make someone feel better... perhaps because no one ever tried to make me feel better-

-You don't need to do much... just make the person feel like it isn't completely alone, with an enthusiasm phrase or a hug... even though it's all a lie-she said drying some tears on her lap

He looked down.-Emma; Jessica wasn't the one who wrote the notes-

The blonde girl looked up, stood up all of a sudden and opened the bathroom's door.-Are you serious?-

Malcom stood up too.-Yeah, I discovered who your secret admirer is, and it wasn't Jessica-

-Who was it then?-

-It... It was a freaky guy-

-A freaky guy?-

-Yeah, I think it's even better if you never know him... but he really did like you if it makes you feel better-

-What? I want to know him!-

-Trust me, Em, you don't... but the thing is, someone does like you, I think-

-And how did you discover it?-

-Let's say, I talked to Jessica and she told me that it was a nerd that she used to ask him to do her homework... when she saw the note, she knew its hand-writing was familiar and remembered him and well, she asked him to write a similar note without him knowing what her real plan was and... You must know the rest-he explained, almost wishing his nose not to grow up as long as the Pinocchio's one because of all the lies he had said. But he knew it was the best for the three of them to hide that incident. Otherwise, any of them could be friends as they were being until that moment.

She looked down sadly. She wanted to know her secret admirer! No matter how ugly, freaky or fat he was... but if her brother didn't want to show him, she knew he'd never show it to her.

-Emma?-

-Yes?-

He extended his hand and opened it, revealing a piece of paper.-Happy Valentine's day-

She took it with a confused look and read it.

Emma, even though you don't know it, I want to tell you that these last days that I spent with you were awesome. No kidding, you're definitely funnier and more interesting than what I thought! I think in a few days I found a sister that I thought I didn't have and I have a feeling that you think that way too.

Sorry for not having discovered this before, but the past is in the past, right? I hope we could be best friends now on J

And before you stopped reading, I want to also remind that I wrote this in a 5 minutes moment with a piece of paper I cut from my folder and well... my inspiration wasn't on the top, so sorry for that.

Love u, sis, you're awesome!

Malcom

She stared at him, still shocked.

-I know it's pathetic, right? I'll never be a writer...-he reposed trying to use his humor to distract the fact that he wrote that note

-No...-She smiled.-It was pretty fantastic!-she ran to him and hugged him.-Thank you, Malcom-

The young boy stared a bit surprised at his sister's reaction. He wasn't used to hugs, he actually used to think they were disgusting in many ways and corny in many others... but that hug wasn't so disgusting after all. So, he just smiled and hugged her back.

Hi, guys! How are you? Sorry for the delay, I had to do many things at school... but now I finally have winter holidays! So, I'll update once a week and perhaps I'll finish writting this fanfic. Actually, I'm not sure about how many chapters are left... but there may not be so many.

Also, I'm working on two news Mr. Peabody and Sherman fanfic and on a Mericcup one (yeah, I ship it, don't hate me xD)

PS: If you didn't get the name of the title: It's because of Malcom and John's bond (they were best friends and now Malcom is starting to doubt about him because he apparently has some feelings towards Emma). Also it's because of Sherman and Penny (Ally is a new temptation for Sherman... would he resist?), and let's not forget about Emma and Malcom's bond that used to be broken but now it seems to be fixed.

PSS: What do you think of the couples? (Emma x John and Sherman x Ally) Write your opinion on the reviews!

Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it!

See you!