Judee's Point of View:

My phone buzzes, it's Schizo texting me early this morning. My stomach has been in knots the entire time I've been getting ready for school. I don't want to be there, but I dont think mom would let me skip again…

Schizo: Hey, you gonna be okay?

Yeah… : Me

Schizo: Coming to school today?

Yeah, but I'm not looking forward to it.:Me

How bad was it yesterday? Should I just try to skip?: Me

Schizo: Eh… well, I'm not gonna lie, I've already been hearing some rumors.I think most people in our grade know about it now…

:'(: Me

Schizo: But! I do have good news. I found Anon. And I got him cleaned up. I can give him back to you today.

Cleaned up?:Me

Schizo: Yeah… He was pretty gross when I found him.

Is he hurt?: Me

Schizo: Nah, not too bad. Might need a patch or two, but he'll be good as new in no time. :)

Thank you Wendy. See you at school.: Me

I take a deep breath as I walk down the street, seeing the school loom over me on the next hill. I can see groups of people standing around talking out front of the building. Deep breaths…I pull my hood up to try to obscure my face.

As I approach the first group, I glance at them out from under my bangs, the one closest to me does a double take, staring at me for a moment, trying to place me. I look away quickly. I speed up, as I feel my heart starting to race.

I quickly hop up the stairs, where I catch more glares at me from multiple groups of people. Some of these are from my grade, and i see the grins start to appear. I know and dread what comes next. I look at the floor, hiding myself as deep in my hoodie as I can as the snickering starts.

"Judee, where's your boyfriend? Or is it boy toy?"

"Damn, she fucks with skinnys? Bitch is crazy…."

"I always heard the quiet ones were the ones you gotta look out for…"

"Did you and Anon break up? I have an extra pair of socks if you want!"

I dash past them, up to the front door and pull it open as fast as I can to get out of their verbal assault. My face is already blistering hot and I have just got in the front door. I quickly make my way towards the club room. There is still some time. I can meet up with Schizo, get Anon back, and maybe cool off a bit before first period.

I round the corner to the hallway the club room is in, and see a group of girls in my grade. I'm not particularly friendly with them, but they dont hate me either. They notice me and a couple begin whispering. I try not to listen, but one punches her friend in the shoulder.

"Oh my god, thats so fucked up, don't make fun of the special kids."

For some reason even when someone tries to 'defend' me like that, it hurts even worse. My frown deepens as I clutch my backpack strap and continue past them.

I quickly run to the club room, opening it I find Schizo waiting, drinking an energy drink, looking rather tired sitting at a table. However, in front of her I see my Anon puppet, looking mostly as good as new.

I sigh as I close the door behind me. I sit down across the table from schizo and slump into the chair, pulling my hood down.

"That bad?" Schizo asks.

I look up at her, feeling the heat on my face, and sweat already forming on my brow. I can feel a little bit of mist in my eyes, but I blink it back. I nod at Schizo.

She frowns deeply at me, then gets up, comes around the table, and squats down, hugging me firmly. It takes me by surprise, and my initial reaction is to pull away, I typically don't like this kind of prolonged physical contact, even too much with my own mother can be an issue… But right now, feeling her warmth feels good. I lean into it, wrapping my arms around her back, and feel a tear roll down my cheek.

"It's okay. You know those guys are jerks… but they will forget all about it in just a little bit." Schizo whispers in my ear, her hand rubbing my back before she pulls away.

"Are you okay?" She asks.

I nod, giving her a weak smile.

"Good," She smiles as well, before reaching down and picking up my Anon puppet. "Because, this guy is happy to see you too!"

I take Anon from her, and examine him. I notice a couple new faint stains on the coat, and a patch on the back of the head that looks like the felt was damaged somehow. I frown a bit, running my fingers over the damage.

"It took… a while to get him looking that good. Stayed up kind of late washing him multiple times last night." Schizo emphasizes with a yawn. "But, I think he looks good now."

She's right, he doesn't look bad, no one would even be able to tell he was damaged from the audience if I were to use him in a show. I look at Schizo and smile warmly.

"Thank you." I say.

She smiles sheepishly, I see a slight rose tint cross her cheeks as she looks away.

"You would've done the same." She deflects.

I nod at her, then turn to pull out the box of my special puppets. I retrieve Fang as well, and put them both safely in the box. I briefly think about putting my other three main ones in the box for the day… But, I feel like I may need them more today than ever before. Again, my thoughts turn glum. I look at the clock near the door, only five minutes until the bell rings and I have to go back into the lion's den.

Classes themselves are mostly fine. Before and after, in the hallways, I keep getting the occasional jeer thrust at me, but it's not as bad as the onslaught this morning. By the time lunch rolls around, I think I can get through the rest of the day.

As I'm leaving Music to head to the cafeteria, the flood of students racing to be first in line jostles me a bit, and then I feel a force grab my backpack and rip it off my shoulders. I stagger forward as if pushed and turn around to see what happened. Behind me, stands a very unwelcome sight.

Three parasaur girls from my grade. Tabatha and her two lackeys, I can never remember their names. They are cheerleaders, or volleyball players or something. All of them are bigger than me, at least muscle wise. Tabatha, in the middle, was holding my backpack.

I have had a few spats with them before, but it was never anything actually violent. Just 'normal' teasing that 'mean girls' do, I guess. At least that's what my mom told me.

"Wh-what was that for?" I ask.

"We heard some stuff, and wanted to see if it's true." Tabatha said.

"J-just give me my backpack…" I say, holding my hand out.

"Hold on a second." She replies, her claws grabbing the zipper to my backpack pocket and beginning to unzip it.

"Hey!" I step forward, to try to rip it out of her grasp, but one of the other ones roughly shoves me, and I stagger back against the lockers.

I look around the hallway, but it's already deserted. I could just run. But then, they would have all my stuff, I wouldn't even have my books for the rest of the day… Not to mention my puppets.I curl my fists in frustration. I have never been in a fight, I don't know what to do.

At the end of the hall I see the stairway door open, and a large form starts to walk our way. A teacher? Thank Raptor Jesus.

Tabatha unzips my bag and reaches a hand in, rummaging about. This is humiliating. Thankfully, at least I put up my special puppets for today… I look back at the teacher, hoping for a savior. Only, it's not a teacher. It's… Fang, just looking at her phone as she approaches us.

"Oh my god, It's true!" Tabatha pulls out my socket puppets and starts laughing. My cheeks burn at their mockery. But surely fang will help me, right? She's so cool, will she help? Or… if even she heard the rumors, maybe she hates me?

Fang flicks her eyes at the group as she is about to pass us. She only looks at us for a moment, before rolling her eyes and looking back at her phone. Her stride not breaking. I feel my heart sink as she continues past for another few steps.

"Where is the other one? The skinny freak? That's the one that the boys found yesterday!" Tabatha shrieks in laughter.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see fang stop moving, and look back over her shoulder, a look of confusion on her face. This time our eyes meet. And her brow furrows. I look back to these three girls. Did they not even notice when Fang walked behind them? I back up against the lockers.

"You know, Judee…everyone knows you're a freak, but a race-mixing freak?" Tabatha taunts, shaking her head.

A shadow is cast over the group by fang's outstretched wings as one of her claws comes down on Tabatha's shoulder, the talons immediately starts pressing down painfully on her scales.

Tabatha recoils away from the pain, turning her back to me to face Fang.

"Got something to say about my boyfriend?" Fang snorts.

Tabatha and her cronies look at each other in a worried glance, their confidence wavering. They all back away from Fang's intimidating presence.

"N-nope." Tabatha finally says before throwing the backpack and the puppets back down at my feet. Then turning away and hurrying down the hall towards the cafeteria.

"Bitches." Fang growls.

I kneel down to put my backpack back together. I am surprised when Fang kneels down beside me, grabbing one of my puppets and holding it out for me to take.I look up at her, unsure of her intentions. But, she doesn't make fun of me. I have always admired Fang. How confident, cool, and sure of herself she was… She radiates a cool factor that I will never have.

"Th-thanks…" I am able to whisper out to her.

"Don't mention it." She says as she stands back up to full height.

"I… I wasn't sure you would help me out of there." I force myself to speak up. This might be my only chance to talk to her like this.

"I didn't know it was you they were harassing. I usually just stay out of other people's business like that." Fang says, looking away from me.

"W-wait what? You didn't only jump in because they bad-mouthed Anon?" I'm now wholly confused.

"I met your friend Schizo…She put in a good word for you." Fang smirks at me.

"I thought…. Well, with the rumors going around, I thought you might hate me. They aren't true, though!" I say, standing up, clutching my bag to my chest.

Fang seems to think on this for a while before responding.

"Nah, we are cool." She says so casually, as if we are talking about the most mundane of subjects.

"Anyway, we are missing lunch." Fang says as she begins to walk away, her hands in her pockets.

"Right… thanks." I say, probably too soft for her to hear.

I get through the rest of the day, then the next, and the next. The taunting and teasing lessens each day, the bullies growing bored of hurling insults at me. I'm thankful they finally tired themselves out.

However, when someone slapped a badly drawn picture of me and anon Kissing onto my locker with a bit of tape, that was definitely a low point. I would be lying if I didn't say it did make my heart flutter a little bit when I saw it the first time, though.

But…. Then it made me start thinking. All this time, I had looked at Anon and Fang's relationship as super cute. The rumors going around about me wanting to date anon seemed completely baseless to me, they didn't understand. I didn't want to take fang's place or something…. Right?

But… on the other hand, thinking about dating Anon myself… My tummy fills with butterflies and I fidget at the thought.

I'm currently sitting in the club room right after school, schizo is in detention yet again for doing her weird internet stuff. I keep telling her to just stop, but she wont. So for the next hour or so, I'm alone.

I take out my special puppets. Grabbing fang and anon, Maybe this is a good chance to try to work out these weird feelings.

I do a mock conversation I have done multiple times before, something I would imagine they would talk about, practicing how they would talk to each other, their cadences. I try to incorporate my brief encounter with fang into her dialogue.

The 'scene' ends with Fang and Anon smooching, like always. But something feels a little different this time. There is the same kind of giddy excitement as normal, but it's tinged with something else, something thorny… like anger?

I have a thought for a moment, It feels naughty. But exciting. I look at the door. Schizo shouldn't be here for quite a while. No reason Heather would come in today. I should be fine. I lick my lips and shake Fang off my left hand. I stroke Anon's felt head with my bare hand, and then bring him close to my face, before giving him a peck on the lips.

It feels silly, but… I like it. I feel a warmth in my chest from it. It feels good. Is this what fang feels like when she does this for real? I wish I knew.

Suddenly, Mr. Hateful appears, unsolicited I might add, to give his two cents.

"Don't go getting any funny ideas, homewrecker." He warns me. "Fang saved you from those girls, and would rip you apart if you tried to pull something behind her back."

I sigh heavily.

"It's not like I could 'pull' anything. I'm not competition for Fang. Why would Anon ever pick me?" I mope, pulling my knees to my chest.

"Maybe… But that doesn't mean we can't appreciate them from afar, right?" Wrinkle appears, always my support when I need it.

~ Two days later

Schizo's Point of view:

She's getting worse. I was hoping it wouldn't develop beyond some kind of, I don't know what you would call it. Puppy love?

I thought that sitting down with Fang and Anon may have been a little premature, but now I'm glad I did it, to give them time to figure out what it is they want to say.

Yesterday I walked in on her smooching the Anon doll… It was awkward to say the least.

Anon caught me in the hallway, asking when I wanted to do the thing. Since I told them I'd tell them. Anon told me he had also noticed her on his walks to school recently, And he was pretty sure she didn't walk the same way he did.

Apparently Fang had been noticing Judee a lot more recently too… just kind of hanging out, not too far away, seemingly doing nothing. Anon told me when Fang confronted her, asking what she was doing hanging around the auditorium while her and her band were practicing, Judee kind of 'froze up' and scampered away. He said Fang didn't do it in an aggressive way, but… she has an intimidating aura. I would like to give Judee the benefit of the doubt. That anon just never noticed Judee before now. and that Judee just got scared, and Fang came off harsher than she intended. I really hope I'm not wrong.

I cringe at the thought. Please tell me she isn't just following them around now… She's going to end up getting really hurt if I don't call the meeting soon.

I sigh heavily and pull out my phone. Anon had given me his number after a long moment of hesitation during that brief meeting so I could tell him exactly when we were gonna do the whole 'break Judee's heart party'. I feel so guilty, even though I know it will be for her own good in the long run.

I type out the text and send it, telling him to meet us on the roof after school.

Then I text Judee, and Heather after that.

I then went to the club room before Judee would have a chance to get there. Being late to class one more time isn't the end of the world. Once there, I grab the fang and anon puppets… hopefully we won't need these, but just in case…

Judee's Point of View:

Near the start of the last class of the day, my phone vibrates. It's schizo

Schizo: Hey, can you come to the back stairwell after school?

Huh? Aren't you in detention today? AGAIN?:Me

Schizo: Uh, yeah, well, I got over it.

Okay…. Sure,I'll meet up with you after class.:Me

I pocket my phone, and wait for class to end. Without too much delay the bell rings and students scramble to get out of the building. I have to fight my way from my locker to the stairwell Schizo told me to meet her at. It's not a long way, but as I get close, I see the door open and Schizo pop her head out, before waving me in, looking around as if to ensure I wasn't followed.

"Alright, follow me." Schizo says and begins to go up the stairs.

I follow, and am surprised when she keeps going up after the second floor.

"Uh, Schizo. We aren't allowed on the roof?" I remind her.

"I know… It's a special occasion." She smiles back at me.

I squint at her, she is acting a bit strange, but I will trust her.

She pushes open the door, sticking a brick in the door jam to keep it open. We walk out onto the roof, the cool air blows through my hair. It feels nice, But I am almost immediately aware of another presence up here with us.

"Hi Judee!" I hear a familiar voice from behind me. I turn around to see heather towering over me. What is she doing here?

"Heather?" I ask. She smiles at me. But it's not her normal smile, there is a hint of sadness in it.

I hear a cough behind me. I turn around, and see across the roof stand the couple I have been 'shadowing' for the last few days. Fang and anon, standing together. I can instantly feel my face heat up by being in the same vicinity. I instinctively step backwards towards the door, and find Schizo is already leaning against it, blocking my escape.

"Wh-what is this?" I turn to my friends.

"We… want to talk to you for a little bit, Judee, that's all." Heather smiles, that concerned look at her face.

"We?" I mumble. I look back to Schizo. She told me she had talked to Anon one or twice, Did she set this up? I feel the chill of betrayal on my scales.

I glance at Fang and Anon, they also look uncomfortable. There is a silence for a long awkward moment before Fang groans and forcefully breaks the ice.

"Look, Kid." Fang starts, letting go of Anon and walking towards me.

I instantly shrink away from her. Her presence is overpowering, and while her attention is on me, looking at her feels like looking straight at the sun. I avert my eyes.I can feel my body start to stiffen up.

"It's just, we have heard the rumors, obviously, and you know, we aren't mad or anything but this has to stop. Okay?" Fang bluntly brings up the elephant in the room.

I nod stiffly, unsure if I could make a sound if I wanted to right now. I begin to feel my heart sink, while at the same time beating rapidly. She doesn't want me around. I'm just bothering her, aren't I? Of course I am…

I glance at her to see a perplexed look on her face. Like she feels guilty for what she just said? She takes a step back towards Anon. I hear her briefly mumble something about feeling like her father to her boyfriend. I'm not sure what that means, but it's not important right now.

I study Anon's face, he looks… Sad. That's a face I have never seen on him. He is always aloof and cool and mysterious. Is he sad about what Fang said? Or is he sad about me? And all of this?

I feel Heather and Shizo wrap me in a gentle hug. It does little to loosen my stiff muscles.

"I'm sorry, Judee…" Heather tries to soothe me.

"It's alright Judee." Schizo whispers to me from her side of the hug.

What are they…I glance up again and see Anon break off from Fang again and begin to approach. And then I realize what is about to happen. Why Heather and Schizo were here to begin with. Why they are already trying to make me feel better. He doesn't want me around either.

I feel a stab of pain in my heart at the thought. I feel my knees start to buckle, and my friends help me into a sitting position, before letting go of me, my back against the wall, and my knees already coming up to meet my chest.

I don't want to be here anymore. It's so humiliating for my friends to see this, too…

I hear them whisper to each other, my forehead planted on my knees, my face burning, and my eyes locked on the floor.

Just get it over with. Just tell me you hate me already so I can go home…

"Hey, Judee?" Anon says. But he is doing some pitched up voice for some reason. Why is he-?

I look up to see he has sat down cross-legged next to me, and is wearing my 'Anon' puppet on his hand. This is even more embarrassing than I could have possibly imagined. I can only imagine how horrible the taunting and teasing would be if anyone saw this right now.

"Can we talk for a minute?" Anon probes again with his puppet.

I violently shake my head against my knees. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Schizo lean down over his shoulder and whisper something in his ear.

"Hm, What about with Wrinkle?" He asks.

I feel my heart slow down for a moment. I… can probably do that… My tail snakes behind me, dexterously flipping open my bookbag and fetching Wrinkle by feel alone, I sleeve Wrinkle on my hand, and smile a bit at the familiar feeling. But I keep my head buried in my knees.

"Y-y-yes?" Wrinkle chokes out a response.

"I was hoping to talk to Judee, if that's okay." Anon says.

"She's not home right now." Wrinkle shakes her head to emphasize the point.

"Well, could I leave Judee a message then?." Anon continues. He's not horrible at the voice, I smile slightly to myself.

There is silence for a long moment.

"O-okay." Wrinkle responds.

"Well, from everything I have heard, Judee is a very sweet girl, and both Fang and I would like to have her as a friend. We aren't mad at her, and we want to make sure she knows that. It's just that… Fang and I are together. You know? I don't want to hurt her feelings or anything…" Anon explains.

Wrinkle is… unsure how to respond to that. Did I misread the situation? But Fang… I see Fang circle around to my other side, her large form casting a large shadow as she walks in front of me. She squats down next to me. I flick my eyes at her, and see she is now brandishing her own Puppet self.

"We think hanging out with Judee would be fun, but sometimes Anon and I need our personal time too. Alone or with each other. Does that make sense?" Fang's puppet voice is scratchy, needs work.

Wrinkle looks down for a moment to contemplate. Before looking back up and at 'Fang' and 'Anon".

"Okay, Yeah, I will make sure she gets it." Wrinkle says before retreating into my backpack.

I take a deep breath, as I begin to feel my face cool off, aided by the brisk wind up here. Another moment and I look up at the group waiting to see what I would do next. I slowly stand up, unsure of where to go from here.

"So… If you want, We were about to head to band practice, not sure if you are fan of VVURM DRAMA, but if you guys wanna tag along…" Fang once again breaks the ice.

"That would be fun." Heather jumps at the chance first.

"Yeah, sure… Judee?" Schizo looks at me for approval. It's different, and scary, but It might be nice. I shakily nod.

Heather pulls me into a hug, and then grabs Anon and Fang, pulling them in with her massive frame, much to their surprise. Schizo also gets pulled into the impromptu group hug. The warmth between them all is nice. It feels symbolic somehow.

~ That night.

It hurts but… at the same time, it feels good to have new friends. I may not be able to 'replace Fang' or anything like that, but I get to be closer to both of them now than I would have ever been able to while just watching from afar..

It's a strange feeling. The desire to be with anon is still there, but… so is the desire to see him and Fang be happy with each other.

I think I can live with this.