When Opposites Attract

Alright... I'm sorry for the lateness of this update as well. I was traveling out of state, away from my trusty computer at home. Also, I tried a different writing style for this chapter... if I continue to write like this, the updates will take a bit longer, but I like the way they end up more than the other way I write. Eh. I'll just experiment with it for now.

Oh. And expect some Cuddles X Giggles and Petunia X Handy in the next chapter. 

So anyway, here it is! ^.^
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All I could see was a blinding fluorescent light. It felt like I was floating in a never-ending abyss, sailing on nothing in particular. The ringing in my ears became all I was capable of hearing, until it just... stopped, leaving me with a comfortable silence. As the light faded away, my vision slowly crept back to normal, allowing me to find that I was in a small room.

The cot I was sprawled out on smelled of mothballs and rubbing alcohol. The blanket that was haphazardly tossed over me had a similar scent, although there was a hint of coffee. Decaf. Yesterday's brew, a stale cup of the stuff probably spilled a bit on the stiff fabric.

The buzzing light fixtures overhead flooded the room in a cold, artificial beam that screamed of bitter mass production. A few duds flickered out and returned back to life momentarily, repeating the same sickening process over and over again. It kept up a pulsating beat, shrouding some areas of the room in murky shadows before they were brightened up.

I looked away from the less than mediocre lighting before I could have a seizure.

The room was small, and plants that had seen better days were sitting in every corner. A desk was pushed directly against a wall, and it was littered with documents and half empty coffee mugs. I could barely make out a few stains on the papers, no doubt a result from careless handling of the mugs. The whole place radiated unprofessionalism.

Why wasn't it a surprise that I was in the nurse's office?

I never had good experiences with anything school nurse related. They were usually impatient with me and my stammering, and of course, when they snapped for me to hurry up and speak, it would only worsen the problem. Which was why I attempted to avoid them by all means necessary.

"You're awake."

I gasped, immediately backing up as far as the cot would allow, causing it to squeak loudly in protest. I bunched up my knees and wrapped my arms around them while Flippy snorted at my reaction. But there was barely a hint of something else in his eyes. Hurt.

I hurt his feelings.

After a moment, I guiltily lowered my hands, returning to a regular position on the cot.

"H-how l-l-long was I o-out?" I stuttered, glancing up to meet his unblinking gaze.

Flippy looked at me for ages, not uttering a single word. A heat gradually crept to my face as I grew increasingly uncomfortable, and felt my cheeks turn beet red. As soon as that happened, a look of triumph registered on his face, and he smirked.

"Two hours."

His voice was laced with amusement, and my eyebrows furrowed in irritation. He was obviously toying with me.

"W-well why d-didn't you just s-s-say that?"

"I wanted to see your reaction." he responded, his tone verging on an outright chuckle.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling sharply before swinging my legs over the edge of the cot, proceeding to stretch until I heard a crack in my spine. I stifled a yawn behind my hand, and rubbed my eyes. It really did feel like I had taken a two hour nap of some sort.

"A-and why are you t-talking to me, a-all of a sudden?" I said absentmindedly, more so to myself than to him, the stammering slowly being flushed from my speech.

"I didn't want to ignore you anymore."

I blinked, turning a light pink in the realization I spoke aloud, and that he actually answered my question. To my surprise, Flippy answered pretty quickly as well. He had thought about this. Looking up, I saw Flippy's elbows were rested on his legs, and he had his hands in a steeple position; his index fingers cradling his chin in the space where the two digits met. Any trace of joking had disappeared.

"Why did you do that i-in the first place...?"

"Like I said at the party, I promised I wouldn't hurt you again, and I tried to distance myself from you... but, Flaky..."

The way he said my name...

"...even if I'm out of the equation, trouble always seems to find you."

My lips parted as I tried to come up with something, anything to prove him wrong, but we both were perfectly aware that what he said was true. I was even a factor in my own endangerment; most of the accidents I got myself into were a result of my anxiety, social inelegance, or just plain clumsiness.

Like a child, I wanted to automatically disagree, just to say he was incorrect. Maybe it would keep him talking; I didn't want him to revert into the blank, silent person he was but only a few hours ago. But, Flippy shocked me again by continuing to speak on his own accord.

"So, I decided to break one of my own rules... I think that despite my absence, you'll get hurt. At least with me around, I can protect you."

He finished, sounding unsure of what he said himself.

"Are you saying that I need p-protecting? That I c-can't defend myself?" I snapped, still not fully out of the post anxiety attack mood swings.

"Maybe I worded that incorrectly... what I'm saying is that, I'll just be there for you. When you need protecting."

"I"-

"Flaky, I don't want you to get hurt."

He finally looked up at me, intensity burning behind his eyes. Flippy was all seriousness about this... for some reason, I knew he wouldn't turn back on his word. It looked like he physically couldn't bring himself to.

"The way you looked when you passed out... you were so vulnerable..."

Did I notice his eyes flicker, for just a moment? I peered at them, only to be met with the same emerald shade that I was used to. I waved it off as my own paranoid imagination playing tricks on me.

He sighed, rubbing his temples for a bit, as if the conversation caused him a headache. After he lowered his hands, he seemed... a tad happier, and smiled at me. I blinked in surprise, timidly smiling back as I finally stood up, leaning against the blank wall for support. I absolutely did not want to pass out again.

Suddenly, a door swung open, the hinges squeaking terribly; as if they were begging for oil, and a tall man strode into the office. He held a cup of coffee in one hand, and a clipboard in another. His disheveled blue hair stuck up in a few places, and the tips close to his ears were a tan color of some sort. He wandered around the room, before setting a mug on top of an old filing cabinet that looked ready to collapse. I cleared my throat to get his attention after a few minutes, and the man looked up in surprise. He also possessed a slightly lazy eye, but not as lazy as Nutty's.

"Oh, you're..." he looked through the clipboard for a moment, "Flaky, right?"

"Ah. Y-yes, I am... I'm sorry, what name s-should I call you?" I said, uncomfortable with not knowing the nurse's name.

"Just call me Nurse Lumpy." he said lazily, tossing the clipboard onto the already cluttered desk.

It was no wonder the room Lumpy kept was in such disarray.

"Well, Miss Flaky, you can run along now."

"Uh, s-shouldn't y-you record m-my being here? W-what happened today?" I stammered.

"You're supposed to do that?" he asked blankly.

"Y-yes! W-what kind of nurse"-

"Well! I think we should get going!" Flippy interrupted, throwing Lumpy an awkward smile.

I opened my mouth to protest, only to have him take my hand, quickly escorting me out of the cramped office. I felt my cheeks begin to burn red, and kept my head down, finding my shoes quite interesting as we speed-walked down the hallway, and out the main door.

It was much colder outside than I remembered; short gusts of cold wind blew in our direction every few seconds, scattering the accumulation of dead leaves everywhere.

"Sorry, Flaky. Lumpy probably got his nursing license from a cereal box." he said, rolling his eyes.

"And w-why did the school hire h-him?"

He answered me with a shrug. Maybe Lumpy was related to one of the more powerful individuals in the school system. Maybe when he needed a job, it was given to him instantly, only because of his connections.

Either that or the school was really cheap and oblivious when it came to their student's health.

"Flaky! Flaky Flaky Flaky!" a voice squeaked.

We looked up in unison to see Giggles bolting towards us with a speed that would put a supersonic jet to shame. Cuddles ran after her, failing to keep up with the hyper pink-haired girl. She screeched to a halt inches in front of me, causing me to jump back, a screech preparing to sound in my throat. I dropped my hand from Flippy's, quickly occupying myself with the task of twiddling my thumbs.

Giggles arched a perfectly shaped eyebrow, and Cuddles finally caught up with her, gasping for breath.

"You... run... s-so... fast..."

"Oh! Sorry, Cuddles!" She laughed, before quickly turning her attention back to me. "I was so worried! I made Cuddles stay after school with me so we could wait for you together and I can't believe you passed out and was it an anxiety attack and"-

Cuddles blinked, pressing a finger to her lips, effectively quieting her down, and making her face turn an identical pink as her hair.

"What she means is, are you alright?" he asked, smiling sheepishly.

"Y-yes, I'm alright."

"Alright enough to go to the movie?" Giggles piped up, skillfully maneuvering away from Cuddles.

"Movie?" Flippy asked, and Giggles' expression brightened even more.

"Yes, a movie! We're seeing that romantic comedy, Flowers in the Wind! You should tag along, Flippy!"

Everyone, including Flippy, gave her a look of utter confusion. Was she totally oblivious to every important detail, or did she forget the events of the past few weeks? I gaped at her, and Giggles continued to speak, happily ignoring all of our shocked expressions.

"In fact, you are going. I'm forcing you to. And you!" she turned to me. "I'm moving the sleepover to your house, so Petunia and I can keep an eye on you!"

"B-but" I stammered, feeling my hands twitch. I didn't want to go to the movie. And I especially didn't want to go if Shifty was there, with Flippy as well. Also, I felt that I would be attacked with a barrage of questions as soon as the sleepover started.

"No buts." she said with finality, instantly quieting me down.

"Well... I don't see a problem with going to the movies." Flippy said, running a hand through his hair.

"Great! Be at the theater at eight."

Giggles grinned in triumph, quickly grabbing my hand and skipping off, dragging me away before anyone could change their minds.
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*insert evil laugh here* > All according to plan-