Drip!

Drip!

Drip!

The sound of water dripping down through the crack in the ceiling stirred me awake. Laying on the cold, hard floor with my eyes wide open as I listened to the water droplets hit the small puddle of water. The noise is slowly starting to piss me off. What didn't make it better was Penny placing a tin can right where the leak is dripping.

She sighed. Her hands out for the small droplets to hit the palm of her hand as she collected enough for her to wash her face. I could hear the rain hitting the top of the roof. This time, I sat up annoyed. Looking at the small can and up towards the cracked ceiling as I watched the small droplets fall directly in Penny's hands. She was just sitting there at this point watching the small droplets of the water she collected in the palm of her hand.

So focused on the movement of small waves with a look of grief that she didn't realize that I was just sitting there watching her. It was as if she couldn't snap out of a daydream she was having. I don't even know how I should approach her in this state of mind. Maybe she's going through a tough time with the sudden changes without her shell.

Slowly pushing my hands down on the cold floor before flinching at the sudden pain that crawled up my arm. A small hissing noise left my vocals while grabbing my arm. Penny looked over quickly. Her eyes locked on my arm.

"Gumball, please be careful." She mumbled. Her voice is soft and gentle, but she sounded like she was bawling her eyes out. "You somehow opened your cuts on your arm. I cleaned your arm and wrapped it up. You wouldn't stop screaming when I poured the rubbing alcohol on the open cuts." She stood up quickly.

"How bad were the cuts?" I asked. Watching her as she walked right over to me.

"Not as bad as your stomach. I checked to make sure your stitches were okay. Nothing out of the ordinary. But your arm had some good cuts to it. Nothing life threatening." She grabbed my arm, inspecting her delicate work. No blood soaking the fabric.

"How long was I out?" She didn't look at me. Her hands slowly let go of my arm as she sat back down in a crisscross position.

"Just out the whole day yesterday." She said. "You wouldn't stop screaming when I poured the rubbing alcohol on your arm. And you fainted when the pain got too much."

"Oh. I guess I can't handle myself. Ha..." I inched closer to her. "So... what's the plan?"

"I have no plan. I literally carried you away from the school as far as possible. I'm so weak that I can't even shape-shift into anything. Maybe because my emotions are out of wack, and I just feel like I didn't do enough to protect you." I placed my hand on her knee.

"That's not true. You saved my life twice!" I scooted a little closer to her with her hands in mine. "You did what you had to do. And I appreciate you for helping me. Just let me help you." She smiled at the thought.

"But, what if I hurt you?" Her voice cracked. "I- I don't think I can live like this. The feeling of being able to hurt you when I'm capable of shape-shifting again is my biggest fear. You don't understand how powerful I am."

"Penny. I like you for who you are. You need to understand that I'm not scared of you. Nothing about you scares me. I like you for who you are. It's a feeling I can not explain to you. And I, I feel happy when I'm around you."

She smiled. "You really think about me like that?" Was all she could say.

"You're a wonderful person. Everything about you makes me feel all fluffy and warm inside. You have no idea how long I've been waiting to ask you out, and it's just a feeling that I can't keep hiding forever. Penny, I like... no, love you for who you are. Shell or not. You're beautiful no matter what." I feel like myself. Speaking my mind as I let her know the truth. Her hands squeezed my hands as she smiled at me. Her eyes are meeting mine as she lets go of my hands.

"Gumball. I love you too." She says, standing. "You don't understand how long I've been waiting for you to say something to me." Those words made my face glow pink. She's been thinking about me like that for so long.

"Wanna give this dating a go?" I asked. She smiled, nodding her head as she helped me up off the hard dirty floor.

~~~~~~Military Base~~~~~~

The sound of her husband snoring was not the only thing keeping Nicole awake. But her thoughts about her son kept clouding her head. His voice echoed through her memories, trying to hold desperately on his voice before it faded from her memory.

Tears started forming right before she stood up out of the bed and out the room into the hallway. Her nightgown was still on as she desperately made her way down the hallway out the back door in a hurry. Her hands shook as she tried so hard to keep the tears in, making her face turn red. Walking down the path into a small wooded area. Wiping away the tears quickly as she pushed herself against the bench before walking over towards the railing that separated her from a cliff.

Her hands grasped on the metal bars while she watched the stars twinkle in the sky. Closing her eyes as she breathed in and out to calm herself down, and collect herself. Her husband was probably wondering where she was at this point. But she didn't care. All she wanted was to be by herself and clear her mind. The wind blew gently, making her shake just a bit. Nothing more than peace and quiet while she unwrapped all her emotions out in one go.

"Don't jump!" A voice echoed from behind. Nicole turned, looking at Mr. Fitzgerald. He had a room just two doors down from hers.

"I wasn't going to." She said harshly. Kinda regretting lifting her voice at him. "Sorry. It's just. I've been on the edge since my son ran away."

Mr. Fitzgerald understood her pain. He, too, who was going through a lot, was suffering from his daughter running away. He could actually relate to her for once. And it felt odd. He walked right up next to her.

"I understand what you're going through. I, too, am missing my daughter, and every day, it just keeps getting tougher and harder on my family. I just hope she's safe out there. No injuries. Just safe." He looked over at her. "You're the same way, ain't you?"

"Yeah, I love all my kids equally. Gumball may be a pain in my side, especially when I carried him for nine months. He wouldn't stop kicking my side. But, you have to sacrifice everything you've always wanted so your kids have the best life you've always dreamed of having." She let go of the railing. "I've pushed myself way too far this time. I tried so hard to teach them and show what the meaning of family is, how love should be, and to take care of yourself and how to be responsible. I think I pushed it all too far." Nicole broke down.

"I shouldn't have yelled at him. I just, I wanted to protect him after what happened." She choked on her words, letting her tears flow down her cheeks.

"Look, Mr. Watterson. If it makes you feel any better. I did the same thing to my daughter. I pushed her too far. which led to her leaving the house quickly. No one knows how to parent right. And look. We were exactly like them when we were their age. Young, dumb and stupid."

"Man, we really fucked up. Didn't we?" Nicole didn't care what she said at this point. "I tried my best. And with Richard not working. I feel like I take all the backbone, I carry the family."

"I... I'm sorry. I understand that you're going through a lot. But maybe you should head back to bed and sleep it all off. Maybe tomorrow will be better, and maybe we'll hear about both of our kids found safe and sound." He smiled. Nicole smiled back before turning to look out towards the ocean.

"You're right. I haven't been sleeping for some time. And I do need some more rest before we find out the news that they're both okay."

Nicole and Patrick parted ways. Her heading back inside before both walking back into their apartment's for the time being. She closed the door, sighing as she waved Patrick a goodbye before turning. Her hand felt around the room while her eyes adjusted in the dark. She felt a warm body in front of her, helping her before she had tripped over a coffee table.

"Nicole." Richard whispered. "You okay?" His tone changed so suddenly. She hugged him, crying into his shoulder while he hugged her back tightly. He knew she wasn't doing well. Especially sense she can't save their son from danger like she usually does. This time, she had no control.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of her light snoring upstairs in the bedroom kept me awake. It's didn't bug me as much until she started tossing and turning in her sleep. I'm just staring up at the ceiling as I thought about my family and what they're doing. I sat up, pulling the blanket off of me as I walked over to the window and sat down. Peeking out as I looked up at the clear sky.

Mom must be so worried about me that I actually feel bad. I put her in a situation where she can't come and save me this time. She has no control over this. Maybe Penny's parents are feeling the same thing. He doesn't know them that well. However, by her father's constant care and protective nature for his oldest daughter. He sure does know how to put fear into boys.

Maybe, hopefully, Mr. Fitzgerald would understand that protecting his daughter from any danger would show him how much I love Penny and would do anything to protect her. It's the fear that I have with her father hating me.

Penny turned, facing my direction. She looked so peaceful in her sleep. Buy I knew something was up with her. She's been a bit off after everything that happened. Maybe this is too much. Maybe I pushed her a bit far. No, it's all of this crazy running around and constant fear that's driving her insane. She's been a bit off after we both bumped into my killer and the bullies. Scooting closer towards Penny while I wrapped my hands around her back slowly so as not to wake her. She's soft to the touch.

With everything going on. I finally have the chance to sit back and think all about our crazy week. It's really scary how one small thing can change in a big way. But I wasn't planning on bringing Penny into this mess. I don't think no one wanted this. But, I'm still a bit skeptical about this earthquake, only happening three times and never popping back up after I've been split apart from my family.

I feel like maybe this was meant to happen. Like the universe already laid out my life before me. But, this guy, that's been chasing me down. Now Penny's involved in this mess. She shouldn't be anywhere near him. She shouldn't be here trapped with me. We're both stuck and scared. And if it gets to that point when she's in danger. I'm gonna have to step up and be a man. Show her that i really do love her. Show her parents that I can protect her.

I wonder how everyone is doing without me. Maybe this is good for all of us. I really have been a pain in the butt to my family. And now I'm realizing how much pain and stress I put on them without knowing it.

Maybe I'm the issue.