Music Of The Soul (Suselle)

Chapter 7 - Chicken, Run

3:07pm that same day, I was sat waiting in Ms Toriel's room. Although I'd still not shaken the intense lovesickness from earlier, I still mustered up the courage to come to practice. But where was Susie? Her guitar was in the cupboard, but where was she? She clearly hadn't forgotten - she mentioned coming here in the changing rooms. Suddenly, the door opened - but, instead of the girl of my dreams, the weird kid next door was stood in the doorframe.

"Noelle? What are you doing in here?" Kris asked.
"Waiting for Susie." I replied. "By the way, do you know where she is?"
"Yeah. Honestly, so does the entire school. Haven't you heard?" Kris mentioned.
"Heard what?" I retorted,  my suspensions growing.
"Berdly's asked Susie out. It went horribly, and now Susie's beating him up." they explained.

I felt a pang of anger flow through me. It was like a shockwave of envy and jealousy. The angel on my shoulder was hoping he wasn't badly hurt, but the devil was kinda glad Susie reacted in that way. With an aggravated sigh, I got up from my seat and walked outside with Kris. Berdly already looked like he was made from tin foil, so if he went up to a boulder like Susie, he was doomed.

Walking up to the scene of the fight, my thoughts were correct. Blue feathers were scattered around, Susie was showing no mercy, and Berdly looked like he was about to be made into chicken fingers. My classmates stood in a circle around the two, chanting and cheering, shouting over each other. Out of the corner of my eye, I even saw Catti filing the whole thing, surely to go up on Monstagram later.

Kris cracked their knuckles before dragging Susie away from the battered remains of Berdly.
"Alright, Susie, I think that's enough for now." Kris said soothingly.
"Let me at him! I'm gonna tear that stupid beak off! You're lucky you still have feathers, nugget boy!" Susie yelled. As Kris and Suske draw further and further away, the crowd dissipated, leaving only me and Berdly.
"Noelle...can you please...carry me to the changing rooms?" Berdly croaked, reaching his wing out to me. Begrudgingly, I took hold of his wing and hauled him up. There was no way I was carrying him.

All the way, he just kept talking in references. Even after we passed Susie hurling more obscenities and rude gestures, he just wouldn't shut up. I was still mad at him for asking Susie out. I'm so glad Susie said no.
"My HP bar is definitely in the red, Noelle. You wouldn't happen to have anything to replenish my health, would you?" Berdly asked.
"No, you're not taking my snacks." I sighed.
"Fine." he responded. With a dramatic cry, he continued. "Alas, my attempts at courting the dear Susan has been in vain. Although...Noelle...you might have a chance with me now-"

OK, that was it. I let go of Berdly's wing and turned to face him. Anger started to replace my annoyance, and I was ready to put this nerd in his place.
"Listen here, feather-brain." I snapped. "I've never been in love with you. I don't know what exactly made you think that, but I've never liked you that way. I like girls. In fact, I like the girl that you just tried to 'court', as you said yourself. I've loved her ever since I met her, and you've only liked her since you learned she was a gamer. You pull another stunt like this, and maybe you'll see I've learned a few tricks from Susie."

The look on Berdly's face was priceless. A grimace of shock, disappointment, and a hint of fear. Beautiful. After my rant, I spun on my heel and stormed down the corridor.
"Um...Noelle...the changing room...?" Berdly stammered.
"It's only a few steps away. You can walk yourself." I scowled. Shaking my head and muttering angrily, I marched down the corridor, but something made me come to a stop. Susie was stood in front of the door, and she. Heard. Everything.