Author's note: Apologies for the delay. I'm back to online classes (Got one class done), Covid-19 vaccines are finally coming in (thank goodness), George Floyd protests are STILL ongoing and Christmas isn't Christmas (Dan + Shay song) but it was with my family. Here's hoping 2021 gets better from here (minus the fact that a huge crowd stormed the US Capitol building, like OMG)! And HUGE. WRITER'S. BLOCK. Like I felt so ready to smash this keyboard in (even though I don't really mean that) because I felt like I was about to give up on this story and couldn't find any motive to continue this chapter or this story altogether. But good news, I did it! Enjoy chapter 18 folks!
Author's note 2 on 2/26/2023: Just found out that Nate's mom is named Leslie, according to the Complete Big Nate 4, not Sara, sorry about that.
Tips to survive the COVID-19:
For people with medical conditions and older adults
Older adults and people of any age with medical conditions like lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes are at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 and should seek care as soon as symptoms start.
Stay home except to get medical care.
People who are mildly ill are able to isolate at home. Rest, stay hydrated and monitor your systems carefully. If your symptoms get worse, seek medical care. Call before you go to prevent others from being exposed.
Separate yourself from other people in your home.
Stay in a specific room away from others and use a separate bathroom if you can. Do not share personal household items. Wear a mask and maintain 6 ft. distance if you need to interact with others.
Wash your hands often & avoid touching your face.
Wash frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing, and before eating or preparing soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face.
Designate someone to clean high-touch surfaces every day.
Clean counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, phones, keyboards and bedside tables. Use diluted bleach solutions (4 teaspoons per quart of water), alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol or most common EPA - registered household disinfectants.
Chapter 18: Taking a trip down memory lane and a romance rivalry begins
"Leave him alone Zack!" Rebecca hissed at the bully.
Ah yes, and you thought it would be 100% gumdrops and rainbows at middle school. Well, not without a bully of course.
Meet Zack Davis, a very mean disrespectful bully who picks on about everybody around him, even adults.
"Why should I? DJ and Nate ruined my lunch!"
"It was an accident!" DJ protested.
Okay, the ordeal started like this: DJ and Nate had their lunch trays and were walking to the table where Samuel and Rebecca were at. Then DJ's shoelace makes both DJ and Nate trip (accidentally) on Zack, with DJ's tray landing on Zack, while Nate's tray landed on Zack's food. That's when Zack went ballistic in front of everyone at large.
"I don't care if it was an ACCIDENT! YOU DID THIS ON PURPOSE!" Zack roared while grabbing a handful of Nate's shirt and holding him up face to face with Zack.
"Say your prayers while you still can!" Zack growled, turning his hand into a fist, ready to assault Nate. But before even a punch can be thrown, Rebecca (of all the other students) stands in for Nate and-
WHACK!
"OW!" Zack cried out in pain, immediately clutching his cheek where Rebecca just slapped him at.
"I said leave them alone Zack!" Rebecca bit sharply before turning her attention to helping Nate and DJ.
"Thanks," Nate replied weakly.
To say that the teachers rushed in was an understatement. And it took about 10-15 minutes to explain the whole situation out. So Zack was taken to the principal's office, but not before swearing to Nate and DJ.
"This is FAR from over!"
After Zack was dragged out of the lunchroom, Rebecca helped Nate and DJ up.
"You two okay?" she asked worriedly.
"I'm fine," Nate replied wiping the dust off his shirt.
"And I thought Zack was said to be taken to obedience school," DJ chimed in the conversation.
"His parent are rich. They'll do anything to keep Zack out of trouble," Samuel replied, coming forward to the group.
"Look on the bright side though, it's almost winter break," Rebecca replied to the group.
That's when a HUGE eruption of cheer and excitement came into the air from the other kids.
"I think they heard you," Samuel said.
"Thanks for the newsflash," Rebecca replied, holding her hands to her ears.
And soon enough, the final school bell rang, and all the kids flooded out of the school in no time flat or square.
"YES! We are outta here!" DJ exclaimed excitedly.
Everyone emptied their lockers to not forget anything for the winter break and made their way out of the school.
"So what do you want to do for winter break?" Samuel asked.
"How about we head for the arcade," DJ suggested.
And so it was agreed on the trio head for the arcade, but before the trio had to return to their respective homes first.
"Hi Nate!" Villanelle greeted as the boy stepped inside.
"Hello," Nate greeted back and got ready for a fun night out.
Then Nate noticed his dad wasn't home.
"Hey Billie, where's dad?"
"Work," Villanelle replied.
"Oh okay," Nate responded back. "I'm going out with friends for awhile."
"Okay be careful!" Villanelle bid goodbye to Nate.
And so Nate met with his friends and headed for the arcade at Pier 39.
AN: start of any background music if you want.
"Wow, this...this place looks great!" Nate exclaimed.
"I know, right? Just put whatever stress you have right now and have a good time!" Samuel replied with encouragement.
And a good time they had.
Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals & Tours, Bay Voyager, sea lions, you name it!
And Nate actually had fun this time, but the only thought he had was:
"If only Ruby and my friends from Maine were here to see this. They would have a blast!"
Rebecca went to where Nate was gazing at the beautiful sunset near the docks and offered to take a seat with him, to which he complied.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"And an exciting place to go, too," Nate commented.
Rebecca noticed Nate had a slight look of sadness going across his excited face, so she gently decided to ask him something.
"So...how's life here?"
Nate turned to her with a questioning look.
"What do you mean?"
"Well... I know you still miss your friends on the other side of this country, but you also have friends here too," Rebecca replied, explaining her train of thought.
"Well, I have to hand it to you for sticking up for me today so... thanks," Nate said.
"For...?"
"For being a good friend," Nate responded, extending his hand for a handshake.
Rebecca looked at Nate as if he was nuts but decided to pull him in for a hug, to Nate obliged back.
"You're welcome," Rebecca whispered, before the two friends pulled each other from the hug.
"So tell me about what was life like before your family moved here," Rebecca asked Nate about his previous life before.
Flashback...
Leslie had moved out of the house, leaving her family behind. Nate was devastated beyond belief. He was hoping to find comfort very soon from anyone. Then one day he saw a dog right outside the house, minding its own business."
"Ooohh, fluffy doggie," Nate said with a big smile and made his way towards the dog. The dog then noticed Nate approaching very quickly and immediately took off running and when Nate tried to pet the dog, he tripped on the concrete sidewalk.
THUD!
Nate fell to on the sidewalk, and almost immediately, he began crying, almost ready to make a scene.
The dog, noticing Nate crying and feeling guilty at the same time, walked over to Nate and began licking all over his face to comfort him.
"Hiya doggie, do you want to be friends?" Nate asked.
The dog woofed in reply, which Nate took as a yes.
"Me too."
Another flashback...
"Spitsy!" Nate called for the dog, named Spitsy.
"Spitsy?" Nate called again.
Then Nate saw the most craziness thing ever:
"Spitsy! Why are you playing around with Pickles?"
Pickles was Francis' cat, whom Spitsy has a huge crush on...
Present day...
"Wait, wait, wait! A dog has a crush on a cat? I thought dogs and cats hate each other," Rebecca halted Nate's flashback.
"Yup. Weird at first but, I was used to that by this point," Nate replied.
"Huh. Anyway continue."
And so Nate went over how he met Francis, Teddy, Chad, Dee Dee, Jenny, Artur, Breckenridge and Randy. He also went over what life was like in Maine and how he got 7 detentions in one school day (should be 8 actually, counting free period, since the author didn't realize or he didn't have enough time to squeeze an extra chapter in), he got Randy to detention, won fleece ball against Randy, got Gina her first ever detention, winning a skateboard in the Scout's fundraiser ceremony, won in a snow down against Jefferson Middle School with the help from Dee Dee herself, winning the trivia slam against Gina, winning a bet against Marcus the 7th grader, and found an old mural that saved the school which costed $1 million, and how he won the Mud Bowl against Jefferson.
"Wow. The greatest moments ever in life that you will cherish forever," Rebecca commented in awe.
"Yup. Never will be forgotten," Nate replied.
Then Nate noticed DJ and Samuel approaching.
"Well, good talk," Nate said while getting up.
"There you guys are! Where were you?" DJ asked.
"Over here, by the docks," Nate replied.
"Well we were looking for you because it's about closing time," Samuel responded.
"Wait, what?" Nate asked in surprised.
Rebecca turned her head to the nearest clock and saw it was pretty late.
"Oh dear! How long have we been talking?" she asks in surprise.
"A long time," Nate replied.
Much earlier...
Villanelle saw Nate leave with his friends, contemplating life before she met Nate, Ellen and Martin.
She felt numb for shooting Eve in the back and leaving her for dead. She somehow wanted to make up to Eve for abandoning her for death, but could she? After everything those went through together, should an apology be in order, or should she-
"Villanelle?"
Villanelle turned around quickly to see...
"Eve? How are you-?" Villanelle asked, stunned in the process.
"I'm just your hallucination. No one else can see you or hear you but you only you can," Eve simply replied.
"Wha- where... where... are you?" Villanelle asked with her voice shaky.
"Looking for you too."
"Precise location...?"
"My location isn't a concern at the moment since I'm heading to California as we speak and that your friends are in grave danger," Eve said sternly and coldly.
"But Eve, think of all the times we had together," Villanelle pleaded to her former lover to reason to with her.
But Eve wasn't budging, considering that the last time they encountered each other, she nearly killed Eve. She wasn't having it either (meaning she was refusing to accept or believe something Villanelle had to SAY).
"And you immediately latched on to Martin Wright right away. Does he know that his ex-wife can swoop down and claim custody of Nate and Ellen?"
"...no?"
"Well, to put it gently, I thought you changed."
"I did! I'll... I'll find you too," Villanelle replied, close to crying.
"Then you drop your thing for Martin, considering Leslie (which is his wife) can reconcile their broken marriage and move on, so that you can come back for me."
"..."
"Slip of the tongue? Don't worry. Maybe a friendly rivalry will come."
"Friendly?" Villanelle asked, confused.
"Yes, since something BIG is coming and it might tear this free world to shreds." Eve responded.
"Well...then... may the best spouse win?"
"How about significant other? Sounds better than spouse."
"Accepted."
Martin got home as soon as Nate parted ways from DJ, Samuel and Rebecca. He greeted his son with an exhausted hug and long day from work.
"How's the fun night?"
"Great," Nate said with a smile.
"That's good," Martin said with relief that his son was recovering from grief of moving.
"And work?"
"The construction firm was busting everyone off their butts today, but I lived."
"Excellent."
Villanelle overheard the conversation between father and son as it was the most heartwarming thing ever to hear. Then she finished dinner.
"Dinner is served!" she announced to the Wright family.
And hamburger stroganoff was the meal tonight. And everyone LOVED it.
After dinner, Villanelle helped clean up the dishes with Martin. Then she let a small sigh. Martin caught on.
"Everything okay?" he asks with concern.
"Yeah, minus out I miss someone in my life too," Villanelle replied sadly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Martin replied sadly. "Me too actually."
Villanelle looked at Martin with surprise.
"You DO?"
"Yeah, if I tried to be a good parent, she wouldn't have left me."
"Who?"
"Leslie."
"Oh...can I set you two back together?"
"Too late. She's already with someone else."
"Okay...let me know if you need anything, okay?"
"Okay," Martin replied with a sad smile on his face.
As Nate was taking a bath, Ellen was passing Nate's room when she noticed Nate's computer going off.
"Maybe DJ forgot something here so he's contacting Nate about it," Ellen thought as she went over to the computer and press the green button.
But it wasn't DJ. Or Samuel. Not even Rebecca. It was...
"Nate! I mean... Ellen! Thank goodness!"
It was Francis.
"Francis!... is it?"
"Yes."
"What's this all about?" Ellen asks in confusion.
"Does your dad know his company is working for a terrorist organization?"
Author's note: thank goodness! I made it! Or so I thought I feel this story is turning to all talking and no action according to this comment:
Dee Dee: Um, Cooper?
Me: Yeah?
Dee Dee: are you making a disclaimer?
Me: was wanting to add a note or two so I let everyone know I'm still here.
Francis: Oh good, we thought you quit or something.
Me: not yet. Anyway...
Ozxmanmessi10 Chapter 16 from Nov 18, 2020: So this is a good story so far, but its getting boring, how about add a chapter or 2 where Martin finds out his company is working with the agency trying to kill Nate, and he finds a job back where they used to live, and move their, while tricking the evil agency that they are still in California, Then, Nate and his friends, they try to take down the agency, ridding of it once and for all, so yeah.
I know I'm getting but this point forward: I promise the story will get very good and juicy of action! :)
But big shoutout to those who helped me shape ideas for this chapter:
Guest chapter 17 from Jan 19: I'd like to see Villanelle reactions to hear that Eve is alive. Oh an can Konstanin and his daughter appear too?
Crash123 chapter 17 from Dec 12, 2020: Amazing! For the next chapter, I would like to see Nate receiving a message from his friends to warn him about PEACE, and maybe his mother can be in the story in later chapters?
Guest chapter 16 from Oct 19, 2020: I'd actually like to see the characters make a disclaimer on the next chapter for once.
Guest chapter 15 from Aug 13, 2020: Now that I'm curious, I don't think that the comic strip or novel even mentioned of what type of job Martin has. Could we maybe infer that it's a construction firm or so.
Crash123 chapter 16 from Aug 10, 2020: Wow! That was a good chapter! I was expecting for Nate to have some flashbacks about his life when he was younger, such as him meeting Spitsy, his life with his mother before she and the dad divorced, and actually some of the kids saying they kind of miss P.S. 38. Either way, nice to see you again!
AppalledWriter chapter 16 from Aug 9, 2020: This chapter's beyond the best as the rest so far; there's a lot of good shockful twists, especially where we see Gina's reveal to Nate's friend in the ambush and possible abduction; that really got me in full surprise. This is real good. One thing in this story that really put me on thought is that thru the recent chapters, we haven't seen Nate dealing with a foe similar to Randy so that's something i like to see transpire on the next chapter. Hope you stay well and safe thru COVID.
Guest chapter 15 from Apr 28, 2020: Sorry if this go crazy but if Nate and his crew go to the pier, as a fun suggestion, it'll be fire to have a background song in the next chapter like write "start of background music" and in a certain point of matter, end it with " background music over".
Guest chapter 15 from Apr 27, 2020: I really think Nate and his crew should do something real fun, like going to the arcade. Also maybe for a bit of comedic and drama purpose, he accidently hits someone with a ball LOL.
Guest chapter 15 from Apr 21, 2020: Perhaps in the next chapter, skip the time over to a winter break season where in the evening "Billie" takes Nate and his friends out to the arcades at the Pier 39.
And answering one other reviewer's question:
Guest chapter 10 from Nov 28, 2019 Is Nate in the 7th grade now? It would be crazy if he stays in 6th grade and not graduate forever.
He is in 7th grade as we speak, well in this story anyway...
But that's all for now folks! Hope you enjoyed it. Leave more favorites and follows and reviews and requests what happens next! See you soon! :D