Judy opened the door.
Nick stood there staring, Judy had bloodshot eyes, her cheeks looked red and damp, she had stopped crying and she was sniffing. She looked downright horrible.
What do you want? she barked, her eyes still closed.
"I want to know what is wrong with you, why you've been ignoring me?
"That response set Judy off like fire and gasoline. Ignoring you!?" She roared, "you've been ignoring me for the past three days and you hate me, you have hurt me enough for one day Nick, now Goodbye!" She roared as she slammed the door in his face.
Nick was absolutely stunned. He couldn't believe that Judy had yelled at him like that. It was true however, Nick had felt really guilty over the past couple of days about blowing Judy off in there usual hangout sessions. However he didn't expect Judy to be this upset. He heard more sobbing on the other side of the door. What Nick couldn't make sense was what she said "you have hurt me enough for one day."
How had he hurt her? He looked all over for her and she was angry when he finally caught up with her as she was about to leave the ZPD. He thought, I must be missing something. All he remembered was walking into the ZPD, after his girlfriend had dropped him off, he walked in and looked for Judy, he looked everywhere and he wasn't able to find her. When he walked into Bogo's Office, she seemed like she had been crying. That was another thing, he hadn't seen Judy cry like this before, except the time during the savage animal case, and after that whole ordeal, Nick and Judy made up and solved the case. Nick just couldn't understand what she was so upset about.
Was she really this upset about Nick changing the usual routine between the two? He had to find out.
Judy was off for two more days, meanwhile she ignored Nicks calls and his texts. Nick found himself struggling to concentrate at work, this thing with Judy was getting to him and his coworkers were starting to notice. Clawhauser was the most worried, mostly because he saw the skuffle they had on Monday. Clawhauser noticed that Nick was very frustrated with what he was doing. "Nick, is everything okay?" Nick didn't even had the energy to lie. "No Clawhauser, I'm not okay" Nick said sadly. " "This thing with Judy is really getting to me" Nick confessed. "She has been very upset with me ever since Monday and I can't figure it out." "Yes I saw the fight you guys had, however I might know what she could be upset about. In all truth, Clawhauser had seen everything, he knew why Judy was upset, she had seen Nick kiss some fox, passionately and he saw her break down and run into the bathroom. Clawhauser had never seen anyone break down as fast as Judy did and he knew that Judy Saw Nick as more of a friend. Clawhauser knew he couldn't tell Nick that but he wanted Nick to get the hint. "Well, Monday morning, Judy was watching something outside, she was hiding behind that trash can" as he pointed to the waste receptacle near the front entrance. "She then saw something outside and she lost it, she then ran to the bathroom". "I wonder what she saw" Clawhauser lied. "and the next thing I remember is you walking in about a minute later."
Nick thought for a second, a thousand ideas ran through his head. All he remembered was heading into the ZPD to look for Judy. As he was thinking, He looked up and saw a security camera pointed towards the door. He needed to find out what made Judy upset with him.
Nick ran to his computer and located the security camera footage he was after. He scrolled the film to when he saw Judy enter the ZPD, he paused it and hit play. He saw Judy enter the building, he saw Judy see something. He watched as she hid behind the trash can, then he sees her dart out of the frame. Just as Clawhauser had said. The next thing he saw was himself come into the ZPD. Well maybe it was just me not hanging out with her. Yeah that's got to be it he thought. It not that he didn't like hanging out with Judy. He loved doing that, he just thought having a girlfriend would make his life interesting since he worked all day beside Judy. Tomorrow was the day that Judy would be back to work. He would have to feel her out. He needed to make this right.
Judy knew her time away from Nick was coming to a close. Even tho she was really upset with him, she had come to three conclusions, 1.) Nick was her best friend, and most importantly, she wanted Nick to be happy. 2.) she knew that she stood no chance against this "female fox" and that her crush on Nick was on its last leg. 3.) She could never forget how happy this fox made him. Judy couldn't recall a time where she saw him that excited, and she had been with him for just over a year. She knew that she could never make him happy as that vixen could. She had fallen in love with him, but she wanted him to be happy, and if he was happy with her as just a friend, and occasionally hanging out. Well then she was gonna have to get used to it. She couldn't afford to risk it all and lose the only true best friend she had left in Zootopia.
Judy woke up, did her usual routine, and went to work, dreading the confrontation she was going to have with Nick. But she knew it was going to come up today.
She arrived at the ZPD, said hi to Clawhauser and was happy when Clawhauser handed her badge back to her, she reported to the bull pin, and she didn't even say anything to Nick, as she sat down right next to him. Bogo walked in and could still tell the tension between the two had still not been resolved. Assignments he bellowed"Officer Hopps, Wilde" traffic duty. Both of him stared in shock. I would say I'm kidding but that's all the major things we have today, no robberies or incidents to investigate.
this was going to be a long day Judy Thought.
Judy and Nick were walking down Main Street, with a uncomfortable silence between them. A expiration sound on a meter and it was Judy that broke the silence"I'll race you there"
"You'r on Carrots!" He perked up, they both looked up at each other, and bolted towards the meter. Sadly for Nick, Judy was smaller and a whole lot faster, she was the one that beat him to the meter. He was panting rapidly, out of breath, while Judy did her victory dance. Nick saw this as the time to get it over with.
"Hey Judy?"
"Yes slowpoke?" She canted back.
"Can we talk? About us?" Judy's happy expression faded. "If you want too" Nick quickly added.
"Nick it's okay, let's talk about it, let's go back to the cruiser okay, let's talk about this in private" Judy quipped.
In the police cruiser, ready to talk, Nick started
" Judy, I just wanted to say I'm sorry I'm blew off our plans, I...I...I… was hanging with my girlfriend."
Judy looked at Nick as if he had grown a second head. She secretly knew it was true, but she didn't want to admit it.
"Well why didn't you tell me Nick! I would have completely understood. I know you have a life too" she lied.
"I'm really sorry I didn't tell you, I should have, I just didn't know that it would have bothered you this much".
"Bothered me? Of course it would bother me Nick, your my best friend, I thought you hated me or something" Judy exclaimed as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Judy! I would never hate you, your my best friend and partner." Judy winced as Nick said Partner, she wished she was his other partner too.
"Can I get a hug?" Nick asked in a wisper. Judy almost didn't hear him.
Judy got up from her seat and jumped in his lap. Judy wrapped her arms around him and Nick wrapped his arms around her. Nick and Judy hugged for about 10 minutes in complete silence. "Man this feels so good" she thought as she felt Nick's heartbeat. Their muzzles were so close, "If only I lean in, I can close the distance" She thought "and completely destroy our friendship."
Judy loved being this close to him, being in his warm embrace. However something pulled at her heart, the thought that Nick's hugs wouldn't be just hers. Judy was unable to stop a small sob from escaping her lips at the thought. The thought of Nick hugging someone else made Judy a level of sadness she had never encountered before. Nick however was having some thoughts of his own.
"Judy sure likes hugs" Nick thought as Judy engulfed him in a passionate hug. Nick was wondering what was really going one with Judy.
Nick was broken from his thoughts when he heard Judy Cry. That Sound broke his heart."
Judy, what are you crying about?" Nick said as him and Judy finally broke their embrace.
"Itssss Nothingggg Nickkk" Judy replied as she wiped her eyes.
"Did I do something wrong? What has really gotten into you!? Please tell me whats bothering you" Nick pleaded as he was starting to get a little frustrated.
"I don't know exactly, I guess im just very emotional" Judy Replied.
"Oh your very emotional, almost too emotional. But heyyy" he said as he gripped her paw and looked into her eyes "Judy... You can tell me anything, we will always be friends no matter what. Your stuck with this fox no matter what."
That Made her and Nick bust out laughing. It felt Nice hearing Judy laugh, it was like music to Nick's ears.
"Hey Nick?"
"Yes Carrots?"
"After Work, would you maybeeeee want to join me for Dinner?"
"As much as I would love too, I actually have plans after work. I'm actually seeing someone."
Nick had never seen Judy's expression change so fast. Judy looked like she was about to cry again and Nick had noticed. Nick was fed up with Judy acting so weird.
Ill tell you what, Tomorrow Night I don't have any plans, so how about you and me have dinner.
"Oh Nick you don't have to do that."
"Well I want to, and I know you do too. But on one condition... I get to ask you a question."
"Alright Slick, go for it"
"What did you see outside that made you upset?"
"WHAT?"
"Judy, don't play dumb... Clawhauser told me that ever since you witnessed something right outside the ZPD, you have been acting very very emotional towards me. Way way way more than usual."
"Nick, lets just drop it, It doesn't matter anymore. Oh My would you look at the time, our shift ends in 20 minutes, and I still need to fill out paperwork."
"Judyyyyy, you didn't answer my question."
"Look Nick, It doesn't matter anymore, Lets go back to the station." Judy Started the Cruiser and headed towards the ZPD. Judy and Nick sat in silence all the way towards the station.
After Nick and Judy said goodbye for the Night after their shift. Judy took the long way home to her apartment, she needed time to think about what she should do with Nick. As she walked, she contemplated, should she tell him? Should she just let it go? She thought about the hug that the two of them had shared earlier. She loved how bulk Nick actually was. She liked it how their two bodies had been pressed very close together. She loved his welcoming embrace and she just loved him in general.
"I should talk to somebody" she thought. I can't talk to my parents, I can't talk to Nick. I could talk to Clawhauser, he is a good friend and he did in fact know Nick Pretty well too. Her Mind was made up, she was going to talk to Clawhauser about her ideal.
"Hey Clawhauser, I was wondering if maybe, I could talk to you about this problem with Nick. I need a good friend to talk too. Thanks Judy H :).That text message sounded good enough, she sent it.
She quickly received a response "Of course Judy! I would love to help you out with your problem with Nick :). I'll meet you tomorrow at 7:00 am at the ZPD.
Judy's Response" Thanks Clawhauser! I'll see you there." Judy was excited, maybe just maybe Clawhauser could help her out. She knew she had to make it up to him, she would buy him doughnuts.