Starting New: A World Apart

Chapter 16: Time to Train

Gumball made his way downstairs. As he made his way to the kitchen, he heard a lovely tune being hummed by Nicole. As he rounded the corner and gazed in, he saw her facing the stove, making morning pancakes; and by the smell of them, he knew they were going to be delicious.

Nicole, hearing Gumball approach the kitchen, turned herself around to face him.

"Perfect timing Gummypuss. I was just about to look for you to say breakfast is ready~" she spoke in a very cheery tone.

"Seems like someone's happy today." He replied, taking a seat at the table.

Nicole gave him a small giggle before preparing their plates. After she had set hers down, she walked over to Gumball and set his down in front of him. Before she walked over to her seat, she gave Gumball a small quick kiss on the cheek.

Gumball immediately blushed from that, before looking over to her. Nicole had a very sultry look on her face now.

'Oh she's good at this...' He thought, giving her another glance before taking a bite of his pancakes.

After they finished their meal, Gumball was finishing his glass of milk when he noticed her staring quite intently at him. He knew something was up. But what? As he focused on her seemingly endless gaze, he noticed she was deep in thought. As he set his now empty glass down on the table, and cleared his throat, this seemed to break Nicole's thought trance.

"Hey. What's on your mind?" Gumball asked curiously.

"Oh. Sorry sweetie. I just was...thinking of you. About us."

"How so?" He asked, now cautiously.

"Well...It's just, you've done so much for me lately. With the dates, the hugs, the kisses...the campfire. All of it! I just feel like I've yet to do anything major for you..."

Gumball stood up and brought his chair over next to hers and held her hands delicately.

"Nicole, you have done TONS for me. You comforted me, you confessed your love to me; Hell, you saved my life. TWICE! Don't think like this. You've done more than enough for me already. Trust me. If anything, I wanted to make it up to you more. No offense. Also, sorry for swearing. It just slipped..."

Nicole gave him a big hug. Why didn't she think of it that way? It all kind of made sense when she thought of it like that...

Nicole pulled away and held his hands this time.

"Sorry I thought that way sweetie. I don't know why I did."

"It's fine. Really." Gumball said warmly.

"Are you sure there isn't something I can do to make it up to you?"

Gumball was about to say no, but then thought of something. Something that he had been meaning to do; to learn. Last night he made a promise to her. Now he wanted to keep it.

"Actually there is something I would like you to do..."

Nicole leaned in a little, eager to hear what he had to say.

"What's that Gumball?"

"I want you to teach me. I want you to teach me on how to move on. Like you did." He said, now with a serious tone.

Nicole leaned back in her chair. This wasn't going to be easy. She knew. After all those years of isolation, she had perfected her methods; but they had come with certain costs. Perfecting herself was very hard. Mentally and physically. Although she had thought she was quite successful in both after it, that was proved otherwise when Gumball had returned. Now she knew she would have to train Gumball differently than herself. She would have to come up with a whole new plan.