Second Chance

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Norithics

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Partners: Earth 2541

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When Natalie came to Locksmouth with her mother, she was an introverted, sometimes somber girl, lost in her comic books and daydreams. She'd play with others, but at the end of the games, she would always say 'thank you' and go straight home; just enough integration not to trigger anyone's inclusion response.

Where others saw a strange new girl from the Ring Space Station, Erwin saw a beautiful enigma. Her piercing red eyes, her unusual coloration for a wolf, the funny feelings he got inside when he stood behind her in the lunch line, staring at her long hair and wishing he had the guts to talk to her. But he didn't; bravery was not part of his repertoire. So, he followed her everywhere he could, trying not to be noticed, but longing for her all the same.

Eventually, Natalie got sick of the creepy nerd following her everywhere and staring at her like a spy. She confronted him, and even started threatening him if he didn't leave her alone! Fearful and dejected, he did. He watched as the beautiful girl he knew inexplicably became friends with the mean, intimidating girl known only as 'Scary Carrie.' Carrie brought the kind and fashionable Samantha with her, making it a group, and Max... he wasn't sure where Max came from, but what he did know was that Natalie would apparently rather hang out with the weirdest kids in school than give him the time of day. He kept his distance, but every so often, he'd see the group around, look at them until he was noticed, sigh and look away to do something else. Until one day...

"Hey, kid," sniffed Scary Carrie, who cornered him in the bathroom.

Oh god, what did she want?? "U-... Um?"

"You've always got real good grades, right?" She didn't wait for his answer. "So like, we're getting pretty behind. Like, real bad. I'm gettin' close to being grounded. So... y'wanna help us out?"

Help out? And be close to Natalie?? It was too good to be true. "Y-... yes! A-Alright, sure!"

"Yeah, good deal." She smirked, but hesitated. "One thing, though. You gotta stop creepin' on Natalie. She doesn't wanna go out with you. You gotta promise you'll drop that."

Drop it? Then what was the point?? "But I love her!"

The big white thug furrowed a brow skeptically. "Uh... huh. What do you even know about Natalie?"

"She's really sensitive!" He said. "She's careful, and graceful, and-"

"Pfffft!" She interrupted Erwin, laughing. "She's nothing like that." Before he could get too angry, she simply said, "C'mon. Come hang out with us after school, and I'll show you."

And so he did. Things were tense at first, Natalie not being happy with having her former stalker around, but as unlikely as it was, Carrie continued to vouch for him with her indomitable will, to which Natalie would hesitantly acquiesce. In the beginning, he was just around to help out with homework and maybe catch a cartoon or two. The group's grades got better, and he eventually found that he felt much better having somewhere to go after school besides straight home. But what really surprised him was Natalie herself. As she loosened up, he found that she was clumsy, excitable, a bit goofy, and had an incredible imagination. In other words... she really was nothing like the girl he'd constructed in his mind. And as that anxious crush faded away, he found himself deeper and deeper into so many fantastic friendships, he could barely bring himself to even remember those silly days of pining away for that mystery girl from outer space.

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