A/N: Thanks again Orkidee, and thank you Meggy for reviewing this fiction! I'm happy that you thought the scene in chapter 5 was tense, I was hoping to pull it off! :D
Sorry for the delay on this part, I've been caught up slightly in life, and I had to do a lot of revising for this part, meaning that I had to rewrite a lot of things, and make it longer. But now that I'm done with this part, things should start to pick up a little bit. Note that I won't be able to update as often anymore, not because I don't want to, but because frankly, these parts are catching up to part I'm at right now, and after I post this, I'll have to be working on ch. 9 again. I'll try to update weekly if I can. Nonetheless, this chapter was fun to write. ;P I've been wondering if I should do some character bio's or something. I probably will someday, but if you guys would like to see some, let me know! ;)
Warning again, a lot of things in this fic isn't canon, shonen-ai, I don't own the game, I maybe hiding under your bed, blah blah blah… wait, what?
Hope you guys reading this enjoy!
XxxxxxxXxxxxxxXxxxxxX
It was Tony's eleventh birthday. We held him a party in our dorm room. I couldn't believe I was actually having fun with all his friends from his theater, art, and choir classes, even Nathan was there. We stayed up all night, it was only Friday night. We did everything from pin the tail, bashing a piñata, and then we listened to an adult talk show on the radio, snickering about all the inappropriate things they had talked about. But then we played a game I didn't like.
Truth or Dare. I knew the dread to come... I just hoped it wasn't a question about my family.
Tony that night had asked one of his friends if he had ever kissed someone. The kid answered yes, but only his mom. The next person to ask the honors was Nathan. I inwardly shuddered as he scanned everyone in the circle. I knew he was either going to pick me or Tony.
"I pick Jeff" He said, evilly smirking at me. I gulped. Tony cheered.
"Yay, Jeff gets to do something!" Tony laughed as his friends did with him.
"Truth or Dare?" He asked me smirking. I wanted to avoid anything with my family's identity at all costs. But I knew either way, I was screwed.
"Dare." I was only the second one in the circle to pick it, second to Tony who was dared to sing 'What is Love? By Haddaway' on the top of his lungs at 3:00 in the morning. I could sense the excitement in the air. Nathan thought it out, looking around the room, when he finally scanned each and every one of us. His smile thickened.
"Okay, I dare you to kiss Tony," He smiled. My face turned white. Everyone gawked at Nathan, including me and Tony. My stomach turned to stone; it was hard for me to breathe.
"Do...do you really mean it?" Tony asked Nathan glancing at my bewildered form. Nathan nodded modestly. Tony and I looked at each other, Tony's cheeks looked rather flushed. What a dirty trick to play on us.
"Wh...where?" I asked him timidly, my voice shaking. I knew he was enjoying this immensely.
"On the lips of course." Everyone 'ooed' as they squeezed their pillows; keeping their eyes wide open. Moments passed by, both of us just staring at each other. Neither of us made the first move. I couldn't shake off for the longest time how Tony gazed into my eyes. We could hear each other's hearts beating like crazy, that was how quiet it had gotten. I was tempted to make my move when one of the kids in the circle spoke up.
"Nathan, can't you dare Jeff to do something less extreme? I mean, including Tony in the dare on his birthday is a little unfair, don't you think?" He said. I couldn't be happier when Nathan sighed.
"Alright fine... why don't you just strip into your boxers then?" He snickered. Tony's blush seemed to darken as I sighed in frustration.
"Fine..." I grumbled starting with the tie. And there I was, in front of everyone, only in my boxers, sitting next to a very flustered Tony that was too shy to look at me. I couldn't be angrier at Nathan. I think he intended for one of his friends to protest, he just wanted to see if I was actually going to kiss my best friend, that jealous smug bastard.
After my turn, Tony hadn't spoken a word for the rest of the night.
XxxxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxX
The Universe Will Die Without You
Chapter 6 Just for Her
XxxxxXxxxxxXxxxxXxxX
I took in a deep breath once I could see the light in Saturn Valley, letting the breeze tickle my ears. I frowned grumpily at the cloudless orange evening sky. This was the third time my clothes got filthy. My glasses were totally out of proportion again, as it leaned towards my left eye more than my right. I could barely walk, partly dragging myself; my knees could have collapsed to the ground. I wasn't used to all this walking, period. And now, I was fighting with someone that I have to work with to save the planet, apparently. How many days had it been since I joined them, not even four? I was a complete mess... My mind couldn't focus, for the dilemma still boggled my memory.
"Uhh... I guess around five times this past month...I was there about three..." I shook my head violently, but my headache still didn't pass.
"For fucks sake Ness, she's only eight years old!! You shouldn't keep letting this happen to her! I mean, how well do you even protect her when you're facing what's his face's; minions anyways?!"
"You don't know the slightest idea of the kind of hell we go through on a daily basis"
"Really? Ok, now tell me this, Ness! Compared to you how many times has she been able to contact her parents?!"
"Would you like cup of coffee, ZOING?" A Mr. Saturn asked sitting at a coffee table by the Pepto Bismol colored spring. Too bad Pepto Bismol didn't help me when I had an upset stomach.
"No thanks..." I muttered with annoyance at the Mr. Saturn before taking off down the latter. The smell on my clothes was starting to make me nauseous now; and it didn't settle well with my new found headache. If we had to run into anymore puke blobs, I swore the smell would have fried my brain cells eventually and leave me in a coma for days.
I felt as if I was being followed by a couple of the bodiless creatures when I was finally down in the actual valley, but when I turned around to see, it was only one of them. It looked smaller than the rest of them, and was bowless as well. The little creature looked dauntingly up at me before letting off a hefty sneeze through its nose, making its little body shake uncontrollably for a moment. I think it was the same one that was with Paula while she was resting. I could only shrug and walk off again, but the little creature still followed me. I frowned grumpily, looking down at my feet, where the little Saturn stood; twitching its nose as it sniffed my shoes. It shuddered from the aroma, and then looked up at me again with its small black bead- like eyes. For some reason, this Saturn acted different from the rest of them; for it never uttered a word.
"What'd you want?" I spoke to the speechless creature. The Saturn kept staring up at me, twitching its nose again, until it let off another rattling sneeze, which sprayed my shoes. I sighed.
"That's lovely," I said sarcastically. "But I need to be going." And with that, I was off again.
"There you are, Jeff," I heard Paula say from afar. I stopped in my tracks; snapping my head towards the source of the voice that was Paula, whom was sitting by the pond, dang her feet in the water. She was humming something; a song from her hometown perhaps?
"Paula…" I said softly. Paula looked up at me again. She seemed to look rather better I thought; her skin tone looked normal again, and her eyes weren't as droopy, but she was still seemingly exhausted. Paula patted her hand on the grass next to me in attempt to usher me to accompany her. I complied, taking off my black leather classmen shoes, and socks, and dangled my feet next to her. We were both silent at first, though she pondered around, as if something really was on her mind.
"You stink, Jeff," She said out of instinct, closing her nostrils between her fingers. I shook my head.
"I know, I know. I can leave if you want," I replied starting to get up, but I was stopped only when Paula tugged my sleeve in a gesture for me to keep still. I looked at her, as she weakly looked into the pond, possibly at her reflection. It needed to be asked.
"Something is bothering you, Paula," I finally said breaking the ice. "Something beyond your stomach illness. Care to talk about it?" I asked. Paula frowned as she seemingly gazed into her own reflection.
"You could see through it, huh? I dunno… I don't want to sound mean or anything…" Paula said before pausing.
"It's ok, I'll try not to take offense," I said nicely. Paula sighed sadly.
"Well… I know it hasn't been very long, but since you came along, things have been more uptight lately, as if we're all distant from each other now. I haven't been myself, Ness hasn't been himself, and you probably haven't been yourself either." She replied. I sighed, but didn't respond. What did I do around them to offend anyone?
"I never like it when Ness is overly protective of me, even in the smallest of situations. But this morning, he told me to 'be aware of you', as if he doesn't want me to be anywhere near you. I was able to convince him a little bit that I would be fine. But I feel like that he's going to keep me from doing things just because he doesn't trust me being with you." She replied honestly. I frowned.
"Did he ever tell you why he doesn't trust me? Or is it just because he doesn't know much about me, and he's just cautious?" After I had asked that; now that I had thought of it, his dad had told me that he was timid when meeting other people around his age, could it maybe be just that? But then yet… why was he timid to meet people around his age? Did something happen to him in his past? Paula 'hmmed' with disappointment.
"Do you think it could be just the fact that he has a hard time getting along with people his age?" I asked out of curiosity. However, Paula slightly shook her head.
"I wish that were the case, but I really thought it has to do with something that happened, maybe between the two of you?" I was silent once more. I started to wonder, was I a coward for not telling her of Ness's and my ordeals? I veered the conversation towards a different direction.
"Was he overprotective of you before I came along?" I asked. Paula shrugged.
"Well… yeah, but it's understandable since I have somewhat of a reputation around Twoson, and possibly outside of it." My head snapped to her in shock when I heard her say Twoson. She wasn't that Paula was she?
"Wait… you don't mean…? You… you're Paula Polestar?! The Paula Polestar?!" I asked in awe. Paula gave me a sheepish, yet happy look as she nodded.
"You didn't know that before? Well, now I guess you do," She giggled. My jaw was still dropped.
"You're practically a celebrity; maybe not the super star kind, but you're pretty well known, even outside of Twoson. From what I've heard, you've made your entire hometown at awe because of your abilities. I mean… you're known enough to be reached all the way up in Winters! I… I didn't realize that you were her; I'm so sorry," I spoke sheepishly scrubbing my head with my hand. Paula chuckled.
"There's nothing for you to apologize about. In fact, I'm kind of happy you didn't know. It would have been more of a hassle if you were a crazed fan, then it would have been harder on both Ness and I." She explained to me, making circular ripples in the pond with her toe. I frowned.
"You don't have any… stalkers or anything like that, do you?" I asked. Paula shrugged casually.
"Probably, I know I did back home, but my father always shielded me as best as he could from the public eye, while my mother frankly didn't really mind where I was. It's not that she didn't care for me; she loves me as much as dad. She just knows I can look after myself if I need to," She explained. I frowned, thinking back at the argument in Master Belch's lair.
"When was the last time you ever talked to them?" I asked softly.
"I haven't spoken to either of them since I left…" She sighed. My eyes hardened in the distance, until she spoke again.
"It's alright though. I still think of them, and I know they're okay." There was another pause. Both of us watched the bowless Mr. Saturn on the opposite side of the pond as it stupidly dipped its nose in the water; shivering from the contact.
"Something is bothering you too, Jeff. I can feel it. Do you care to talk about what's been bothering you?" She asked honestly. Though I appreciated the offer, my eyes didn't move from when I had finally spotted Ness in the distance. His head was hung low, and I was sure things would have gotten nasty if I stuck around. I sighed, as I stood up.
"Maybe later, Paula. But right now, I need to go." Paula nodded nobly. I left without a second thought. It was nice; I didn't need to tell her why.
--
It didn't take long; our clothes were finally dry. I handed a group of willing Mr. Saturn's my freshly slimed up puke green clothes. I felt relieved that the smell had finally started to fade once I loosely flung my black tie around my neck. My mind kept drifting off to what she had told me. Just why exactly did Ness feel uneasy around me? We were once just playing in that pond, weren't we? Though I did somewhat ditch him at the last moment. The more I thought of it, the more my head ached. It shouldn't have to be like this. Though I could see why Ness was overprotective now, it still didn't seem to explain why he always seemed uneasy. Was it because I made him feel threatened that night in the laundry room? Though it didn't matter now, after that argument in the lair, he's probably going to dismiss me from traveling with them. What a waste of my time…
"Ness! There you are, I was wondering where you were," I heard Paula say outside of the small hut. I veered my eyes outside the door; straightening my glasses again. Sure enough by the pond was Paula, looking up at a very lifeless Ness. His head was still hung low, and his jet black hair concealed his eyes from the side. Paula's smile instantly was gone as they just seemingly just stared at each other; I couldn't tell from my point of view.
"What's wrong, Ness…" I could hear her barely say. I watched as Ness's fists shook as he shuttered from the question. Paula's eyes moved down to Ness's once he kneeled down to her level. It caught me by surprise as much as it did for her, as Ness; moments later, embraced her in his arms, almost forcefully. It took a while, until Paula wrapped her arms around his back, closing her eyes as she nuzzled her chin in the nook of his neck. Paula looked so calm; it almost looked like she was comforting him. It was this kind of affection, a close bond that was indescribable. I hadn't seen anything like it before. At least not since I was young…
"Sorry for what?" I heard Paula murmur before they stayed in that position for five whole minutes.
--
Once night time had finally hit, I was beat. There wasn't much to eat; all I had was a lone calorie stick that Paula handed to me generously. I tried to refuse the offer, but she insisted, almost in an orderly fashion that made me claim the calorie stick as my own. Ness and I hadn't said a thing to each other since the argument, and he avoided me at all costs by residing on the other side of the valley.
It was that time of night again, a time where I liked my peace and quiet. It helped me think nonetheless. I rolled up my sleeves, and got out my handy red tool box. On the floor, I examined the broken iron that I had been lugging around for a while. I figured it needed some attention to the least. The whole structure was odd, for it was literally just a fat tube with a switch, but when I pressed the switch, nothing would happen. Fiddling with the mechanism more, I was shocked out of my reverie when Paula snuck up behind me.
"Hi, Jeff!" She spoke rather loudly. I flinched from the sudden intrusion as my glasses fell down my nose a certain angle. I scrubbed my head and glanced around me to find Paula in her night gown, blond hair was flown loosely around her shoulders as she held the bowless Mr. Saturn in her arms.
"Jeez Paula, don't scare me like that!" I replied feeling flustered as I grabbed the nearest wrench, while straightening my glasses with my free hand. Paula snickered.
"What'cha doin'?" She asked sitting down next to me as I worked.
"Just trying to work on something I've been meaning to, that's all." I explained. Paula gave me a skeptical look.
"Either that, or you're making it an excuse to avoid Ness," Paula suggested leaning back casually. I glanced over at her frowning.
"Why would you think that?" I asked.
"Because you two are fighting right now, isn't that right?" She said. I raised my eyebrow. I guess it was pretty obvious to say at the least.
"Huh, did Ness tell you that, or did you figure that out on your own?" I asked unscrewing part of the broken iron. However, Paula ignored my question, and just cut to the chase.
"What did you tell him to make him upset like this?" She asked me. I groaned in frustration. I really didn't want to talk about it.
"It was just over Master Belch, that's all," I lied. Paula shook her head.
"Don't lie to me, something is wrong, and it has nothing to do with that," She said smartly. I became hostile of the situation, dropping my wrench. Trying not to raise my voice, I said, "Well then, you know what? I don't want to talk about it now, do I?" Paula shook her head again.
"It doesn't matter… if you two keep fighting like this, then we aren't going to get any farther," She said in a softer tone. I let off a hefty sigh.
"If it comes down to that, then so be it, I don't-" I was cut off by the sound of someone entering the small hut. I snapped my sight to the noise. Surely enough, at the small doorway stood Ness, bitterly silent, as he glared coldly down at me. There was a tense quiet in the room as Ness and I kept silently glaring at one another. It seemed like several minutes, though it probably took only two minutes before Ness walked up to claim his back pack, and then turn around to leave again. Once Ness was out of the room, Paula sighed besides me.
"Jeff, you need to stop this," Paula replied cuddling the bowless Mr. Saturn. I adjusted another knob on the machine. On the corner of my eye, I could see Paula frowning in disapproval of me.
"Please think it over at least," She mumbled before getting up, and heading towards her bed.
What was I supposed to do, say sorry? I shook my head in frustration. Thank you, Paula, now I can't even think straight I thought. I decided to call it a night, and put all my supplies away. Feeling my eyes droop past my glasses, I realize I was more tired than I had first thought. I slipped under a blanket that the Mr. Saturn community offered generously to us. As I felt myself drift off finally, I was interrupted again by Paula's small voice.
"You know… Ness might need the compromise more than you do, Jeff." She spoke softly. I breathed out of my nose.
"Well…" But before I was able to say what was on my mind, Paula was already sound asleep. I gave up, and drifted off myself as I counted up to 335. I don't think Ness ever came back in.
--
I woke up to the tingling sensation of the bowless Mr. Saturn on my cheek. Though without my glasses, he looked like a beige blob with eyes and a big nose. I must have slept soundlessly through the night. Checking my watch after slipping on my glasses, it was around 3 o clock in the morning. I looked over to find Paula sleeping peacefully next to me. We both went to bed early, probably around eight. I was beat, and my head still throbbed from the conversation last night. All I wanted was to avoid more arguing.
The bowless Mr. Saturn rubbed his nose under the blanket next to my thigh. Though he didn't sneak under the covers with me, he sneezed, and made a cute small squeaky sound to go with it. I lay back down, and tried to drift off again, only to find myself thinking back to the argument Ness and I had until soon enough those thoughts lead to memories of what me and Paula discussed. I frowned to myself.
Was I too harsh to him? I was only trying to stick up for Paula's well being, but there really was more to it, wasn't there? What if there was something I didn't know, especially between the two of them? I could tell by the way he held her so close, and the way she comforted her; I knew he cared for her, even before our fight. And it was obvious that Paula felt exactly the same. I just didn't want Ness to become so reckless with their safety...
…Just like I was at one point of my life I guess...
My head ached from sudden flashbacks of my life. I groaned silently, lifting myself out from under the covers and quietly snuck outside to let the breeze filter out my mind. I wasn't going to move too far from our little hut, just to the pond in the middle of the small crater. It was still dark outside; all the Mr. Saturn's were still asleep. I stretched out my spine, feeling it crackle as I decided to stroll silently around, mainly to circle around the small valley. However, once I passed by a decorated boulder, I froze.
Ness was curled up on the grass, sleeping peacefully next to the boulder. He had no blanket to cover himself with, and he used his own back pack as a pillow. He didn't even seem fazed by the cold breeze. I couldn't help but start feeling sympathy for the kid; he was all by himself in the cold. I wasn't sure how long it took me to leave him there. I had only known the boy for not even a couple of days, yet here I was, feeling pity. I didn't know what to think of him, at least not yet. I knew that I would somewhat get along with Paula; she seemed mature enough, almost in a freaky way. I didn't understand Ness; he was happy one time, and then next he would go under depression. Was he bipolar? Why was he acting so isolated from us? Was I really that harsh to him?
"Mom…" Ness mumbled in his sleep as he grasped his backpack. I shook my head, for it started to hurt more.
He started to make me think too much.
I shook my head again before making my way towards the central pond. Gazing into my reflection, I noticed though my eyes though hidden, they were rather dull. I took off my glasses to rub my green eyes. I thought at the time, that I should have gone back to the hut with Paula, just to make sure. I yawned, and turned around to make my way; only to be halted by a tired voice.
"You blame me for not protecting her, and here you are, leaving Paula all by herself in that tent," Ness spoke coldly behind me. I rolled my eyes, facing Ness, whose hair was everywhere. The bags under his blue eyes had grown bigger.
"And what were you doing? Why weren't you in there with us?" I asked him. Ness's expression was confident but lacked a friendly compassion. He shook off my question.
"Paula watching us fight is the last thing she needs right now." Ness replied. I glared at him. "Why are you out here so early anyways?" He asked. I put a hand to my forehead.
"I just wanted to get some fresh air, is that alright? And you know what, you're right, she doesn't need to watch us fight. However in that case, I don't understand why you're trying to drag out the argument," I replied. Ness snorted.
"Oh please. If you didn't want to drag out the argument as well, and if you knew I wasn't in there with you two, you wouldn't have come out here in the first place." He smartly remarked. He somewhat got me there, but our debate continued.
"Ness, this can't keep going on like this. If I'm going to be here to help you guys, we can't keep branching off in different directions!" I said raising my voice. Ness flashed me an eerie smile.
"And how are we going to solve that?" I hated where this was starting to head. I knew before I said it that I was going to get it, really bad.
"Well, I dunno Ness, why don't you ask your mother for a suggestion?" I replied smugly. I couldn't miss how Ness's eyes became animated in rage, as he threw his fist across my cheek bone. I must admit, he was pretty strong at the time, not so much as some of the folks I knew from school, but it was going to leave a nasty bruise, and a bloody nose, as well as a pair of glasses that were going to be more crooked than they had to be. But I could only smile, chuckling when he violently grabbed the collar of my shirt.
"You leave her out of this, alright?! I don't see you calling your parents either! I'm not stopping you!" Ness snarled into my face. I couldn't help but laugh, almost hysterically.
"What parents do I even have to call? I grew up on my own in a society where the weak are trampled over."
"You said yourself that you had a father, why don't you call him?!"
"I already told you, my father's a jerk. There's no need for me to call a jerk in the first place." I said tearing his grip off my shirt. It was Ness's time to smirk.
"You know what's funny, Jeff? The night when we had our first engaging conversation, I couldn't shake off my fear of you when I mentioned your mother. It started to make me wonder, why didn't you want to talk about her? Hmmm? Did she abandon such a pitiful son?" He spoke softly in a sarcastic manner. I widened my eyes angrily. I kicked him in the stomach, down to the ground. I was then my turn to grab him by the collar. Ness disguised his pained grunt with a wicked smile.
"Remember this, Ness. I said my father was a jerk. I never said anything about my mother, so why do you assume that she was the one to abandon me?!" Ness chuckled.
"Well why don't you want to mention her? Whenever I do, apparently you get angry. That's what you made me, Jeff, you made me pissed off, so I'm only returning the favor." He replied. "So tell me then... why won't you call your mother?" He asked snickering. I growled in frustration, lifting a fist, until we were both caught out of our quarrel.
"STOP FIGHTING, BOTH OF YOU!!" Paula screamed on the top of her lungs. Both of our heads snapped to look at her, both of us horrified. Her tears streaked down her now red face, but her naturally calm orbs were now a flame. I could see her jaws grinding together.
"NESS AND JEFF, HOW DARE YOU!! YOU BUTTHEADS BETTER KNOCK IT OFF!You two are acting more childish than a couple of five year olds! There's no need for you two to fight! We have to do this together. Besides, we're supposed to take care of each other, not kill each other! Please...stop fighting..."She spoke in frustration before going up in tears. Ness and I were stock still watching Paula cry. I let go of Ness's shirt while giving him a nasty glare before standing up. Ness brought himself up off the ground as well, handing me the same look, but then attempted to approach Paula.
"Paula..." Ness mumbled. Nonetheless, Paula stepped back.
"Don't come near me!" She pouted as Ness backed off. She sniffed while balling up her fists.
"We'll promise Paula, we'll never fight again, just please stop crying" I asked her politely. However Paula's head shook side to side.
"Jeff, do you honestly think that I would believe that?! In the meantime, I'll make sure that you two will become friends, got that?" Paula spoke coldly.
"I...we don't know if we can do that, at least not now..." Ness muttered. Paula shook her head violently, face becoming more enraged.
"Yes you will! You two will be friends! In fact, you two will do exactly what I say in this very moment!" Ness and I glanced coldly at each other. However, Paula's simple order was enough to change the intensity in the air to a whole different level.
"And you know what you two are going to do? You two are going to hug each other for as long as I order. Until that time limit is done, you two are not going to break away, got it? And until this is over with, I'm not letting either of you near me." Both of our jaws dropped in shock.
"WHAT?!" We both exclaimed in unison. Paula sniffed again.
"That's right! Both of you are going to hug each other! While you do so, think over what you've been quarreling about! I'll be standing here, as long as it takes." She ordered. I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this girl. After nearly getting into a fist fight, she honestly thinks that Ness and I are going to hug each other?
"Oh, and if this kind of thing ever happens again, you'll be kissing." Great I thought sarcastically. Neither of us dared to move, nor look at each other period, until Paula spoke impatiently tapping her foot, and crossing her arms.
"Wh… why the hell do we have to hug each other? Can't we just shake hands and call it a day?" I asked bewilderedly. Paula shook her head.
"I'm waiting." My sigh was staggered as I started to feel myself shake. I shuttered when anyone even came near to making contact with me, and now I had to hug this boy I barely knew, but already started dreading. When Ness and I finally looked at each other, his expression was almost horrid. Was he scared to do this as well as me? Ness's complexion wasn't even dark, it was pale white. Though I couldn't see, mine was probably the same shade. Neither of us moved.
"Damn it, if you two boys don't hug each other when I count to three, it'll be a kiss instead. One…" Our eyes widened, both of us inched forward, but neither made the first move.
"Two…" Damn, she owned us hardcore. Ness however was still, and had started to shiver. I frowned angrily at him.
"God damn it, Ness, do you really want her to count to three, or what?!" I spoke, realizing my voice was shaken up; grabbing his wrist, and wrapping my arms forcefully and stubbornly around his waist. My sigh staggered, as I could finally feel Ness's arms shyly wrap around my back.
"Good. Now stay like that until I tell you to move. In this time, think over what you two were fighting about, and compromise." She said sitting down, and leaning back. This was possibly the most embarrassing thing that I had to ever do in my entire life. I never realized how… demanding Paula could actually become. I guess it was for our own good…
"Way to go, Jeff, Paula's pissed off, I'm pissed off, and you're pissed off. If you didn't come out like you did, none of this would be happening," Ness muttered angrily.
"Well it would have also helped if you didn't drag out the argument," I muttered back. "This is stupid anyways, why is she making us do this?" I asked. Ness shuttered.
"To make sure we're sorry. You may not realize this, but she-"
"Paula Polestar? Yeah, she told me yesterday." Ness grunted. Our embrace was starting to make my head spin. Some of the stench from Master Belch still lingered around us as well as our own body heat. I think my heart started to beat at an irregular speed from the awkward silence. I was never this close to anyone for this long.
"You two getting along?" Paula asked innocently petting the bowless Mr. Saturn. I rolled my eyes. This was ridiculous.
"Let's just apologize so we can get this over with then…" Ness muttered. "Though in reality, you really did tick me off enough to punch you across the face." I snorted.
"So what do you want me to apologize about?" I asked.
"What do you think? For being a total jack off, that's what!" Ness replied harshly.
"Ness, don't call Jeff names." Paula said. Ness growled in frustration.
"Yeah, Ness, don't call me names," I said snickering to myself. Ness's mutter was almost silent.
"Shut the fuck up, Jeff." I inwardly laughed at his remark.
"Make me," I taunted him. Ness shuttered before I felt two sharp nails pinch the back of my neck. I shivered from the pain.
"Gah! Don't do that!" I muttered angrily; pinching his lower back as hard as I could. Ness's entire being shook, wincing in slight pain, until he managed to utter a chuckle, pinching the same spot on the back of my neck. I was surprised to find that Paula didn't yell at us or anything.
"You'll pay for that!" I snarled pinching him again. We both cringed, every time we could hurt each other as best and painfully as we could, in the scenario we were stuck in. Oh, what a horrible scenario it was. It was after I pinched him again that Ness decided to take it to the next level. Ness snickered evilly as I felt his breath against my neck. I shivered, as the heat rose to my cheeks.
"What are you doing?!" I asked timidly pinching him again, until I felt his teeth clamp forcefully on my neck. Damn it! In reply, I stomped on his foot forcefully, and wouldn't you know, he wasn't wearing any shoes to go with them. Ness yelped in pain as I pinched him in the nook of his neck; right in the place where one of the zombies we ran into bit him. Ness hissed.
"Seriously, Jeff, is that all you can do?" He winced. I snickered darkly.
"What, do you really want to take this further?" I replied darkly. "Like she said, we should be compromising, not torturing." Ness's breathing pattern became harsh. I could have sworn that his heart was beating rapidly, but I wasn't sure, for mine was at speed as well.
"Well I can make an exception," Ness muttered angrily. But neither one of us did anything else, until Paula finally spoke up.
"Okay, you two can stop torturing each other now." She smiled innocently standing up, and brushing off her night gown. "Now let go, shake hands, and apologize!" She ordered semi harshly. Both of us grumbled as we broke our torturous embrace, neither of us made eye contact. I realzed at that time, how much I was actually shaking.
"Look at each other, shake hands, and say you two are sorry for acting like such imbeciles," She ordered again. When I brought my eyes to Ness's face, it was already flushed in anger, as his face pouted. There was already a red spot forming on his neck where I had pinched him. Ness immediately broke eye contact, quickly averting his eyes to the side. I was surprised to see Ness reach out his hand first. It took a couple of seconds for it to register, but I accepted his hand into my own.
"Sorry 'bout before," I spoke as nicely as I could, though it was still hinted with anger. Ness's voice was very small; very silent.
"Sorry." Both of us glanced to Paula, who was now smiling gleefully.
"Yay!" She smiled as she walked up to us to hug us both. She stayed like that for a while, though I was really starting to hate the contact. She looked up at us both; a sad glaze decorated her sapphire eyes.
"It would make me really happy if you two got along…" She said smiling. Paula let go of us, as she turned to head back to the hut. I glanced over to Ness whom was already making his way to the hut. I sighed, reaching to grope my now throbbing neck as I followed.
"G'night" She murmured before falling back asleep under her blanket; cuddling up with the bowless Mr. Saturn.
"Night, Paula." I replied before crawling back under my blanket as well. I glanced over to Ness, who was lying down, back facing towards us. I sighed shaking my head before lying down. I didn't think that we truly meant it; it was all for Paula's sake. And that was fine, as long as we could cooperate once and awhile. Though one thing was for sure…
Ness hadn't spoken another word to us for the rest of the night.