All Things End: Part 75

Chapter 75: Girl Troubles

Nina stood out in the parking lot with a bicycle. It was bright red and had two baskets attached to it, one in the front and one in the back. She waved up at the two dogs and called to them to come join her.

“Where did you get that?” Courage asked, making his way down the staircase.

“It belonged to my mother, but she never really used it though. She, uh, died before she ever got a chance to really try it out. It's been sitting in one of the rooms upstairs for ages.”

“Well, what happened to her?” Computer asked, utterly lacking in even the slightest bit of tact.

Courage elbowed him in the side. That wasn't something you were supposed to just ask a person!

Nina glanced away. “Someone or something dragged her off into an alleyway and tore her to pieces. She had gone into town to pick up a few groceries when it happened. I've always hoped that maybe one day I could figure out what monster did that to her. I'd actually like to become an expert on supernatural creatures because of what happened. Maybe if I do that, I can stop other people from being killed the same way she was.”

Computer did not look very impressed. “That's insane! You'll end up six feet under, just like her! Look at this idiot over here! He can't go two days without being nearly eaten alive, decapitated, burned to a crisp, or zombiefied! I can go on and on about all the things he goes through!” He shook his head. “It's best to leave the supernatural alone. Better to deal with it when it starts to become a problem than to go poking it with a stick!”

Nina crossed her arms and argued, “I'd rather do that than run a useless, old hotel for the rest of my life! Just because dad likes to do it doesn't mean I want to too!”

Computer seemed to be at a loss for words. He apparently couldn't fathom the idea that anyone would want to go through what Courage dealt with on a daily basis.

“But you have a great life here.” He replied. “It's about as normal as it can be when you live in a place like Nowhere.”

“I don't even have any friends!” She shouted. “I can't go to school in a backwater place like this! Dad has to teach me everything himself! Every person I meet eventually leaves this hotel and never comes back! It's always been just me and my dad!”

Courage suppressed a whine. He knew where she was coming from. How many friends had he made only to never see them again? If only his enemies were same, he'd be a lot better off.

Computer shrugged, but with a surprising amount of understanding, he said, “Well, uh, I guess you do have friends now. I mean, there's us after all.” He almost stumbled over his own words as he talked. Attempting to sound 'kind' apparently still wasn't something that came easily to him.  

“Yeah, well, you're both going away too.” She muttered out in a resentful tone.

Computer tried to assure her with, “It's not like we're going away forever. I'll make sure to have this idiot come over every once in awhile when we get back. I'm afraid that I don't normally have the luxury of such mobility, so-” He trailed off.

Finally, Nina's face began to lighten back up again. “Y-yeah, you're right. You two will eventually be back, so it's not like I won't ever be able to see you again.”  

“Well, of course, it's not like we're some-” Computer started, but he was stopped mid-sentence when Nina bent down and kissed him on the top of his head. He jumped back in surprise, his expression a mixture of shock and horror.  

Before he could say anything, Nina chirped, “I need to go back inside to grab something.” And just like that she was gone. It was a good thing that she had left too because Courage had nearly collapsed a lung trying to fight back the urge to laugh.

Computer, of course, immediately when into panic mode the moment she was gone. As Courage broke down into laughter, the glowing dog nearly fell to his knees before him.

“Dog! You have got to help me! This is how it always starts! First comes the kissing, then the dating, then you get stuck with that other person forever until you hate everything about them! I don't want to get caught up in your flesh creature mating rituals! How do I stop this before it gets any worse?”

Courage grinned slyly down at him. “Well, well, well. Who's asking who for help? I never thought that this would happen.”

“This isn't the time for jokes, dog!” Computer argued. “I need to stop this before it can get worse! She doesn't know what she's getting into!”

Courage, still acting coy, pressed a finger to his chin. “I don't know, Compute. I'm pretty sure this is the part where I sarcastically berate you about your girl troubles. It's what you would do to me if the situation was reversed.”

Computer grit his teeth. “Alright! I get it! Now shut up and help me!”

“I don't think I will, you....twit.” Courage mockingly replied, trying to mimic his panicking friend's voice.

Getting back onto his feet, Computer relented with, “Fine, you useless, brainless, mutt! I'll deal with her myself! I should have figured you wouldn't be of any help!”

“It's called irony.” Courage chuckled. “It's not so fun when you're the one being mocked, huh?”

“Hardly!” He huffed. “You're terrible at being me because at least I'm helpful!”

Courage was about to fire something back when an even better idea struck him.

“Alright, alright, I was just messing with you.” He relented. “I'll talk to her for you since you aren't enough of a man to deal with her yourself.”

Computer stared. “I am not of any gender, thank you very much, so I don't need to live up to your idiotic ideals of masculinity.”

“I don't know, Compute.” Courage replied back with a shrug. “I hope you two aren't too far along by now. Once you go off the cliff, there's no going back.”

Computer's expression became that of pure horror. “C-cliff? What cliff? Where does a cliff factor into all of this? D-do your flesh creature mating rituals involve jumping off cliffs? She's not going to toss me off some high place is she?”

“Oh? You don't know? I thought you knew all this stuff?” Courage answered, fighting back the urge to laugh.

“I have absolutely no desire to gain intimate knowledge on how you disgusting creatures, ugh, get intimate...”

“I'll see what I can do, but this looks like a serious case of infatuation. It's very tricky to cure.”

“Just get rid of it!” His friend cried out. “No funny business, alright? Just go in there and make her stop!”

Courage turned around, a huge grin cracking out across his face the moment Computer could no longer see him. He went over to the entrance of the building and met Nina as she was halfway out the door. He forced her back inside.

“What's up?” She asked, noticing how giddy he was.

“Compute thinks that you're trying to initiate a 'flesh creature mating ritual' with him and he's absolutely freaking out about it.”

A grin cracked out across her face too. “Mess with him?” She asked.

He nodded. “Mess with him!”

End Of Chapter