Need a hug? (Hatefulhugs fanfic)

21: Peer Pressure

Goob's POV:

What if Scraps doesn't accept it? What if I lashed out so hard that she won't forgive me ever again? What if she denies that I'm her brother? What if she never talks to me again? I breathe a shaky breath as I knock. As soon as Scraps opens the door, I burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry!!!" I wail. She grabs my shoulders.

"I-It's alright, it is me and Poppy's fault after all." She comforts me. I sniff.

"But I lashed out so hard and bad at you, when I could've reacted so much more calmly!!" 

"No, first, if I had never asked you those questions, none of this would've happened, second, Poppy was the one who livestreamed it." I look at Poppy behind Scraps' back with narrow slits for eyes. She waves back nervously.

"Sorry Goob... I didn't know what I was thinking, and how much it could hurt you and Shrimpo." She apologizes. 

"It's okay!...How many people watched it...?" I ask nervously.

"Uh... half of Gardenview?" She glances around shyly. 

"WHAT?!" I shriek, then clamp a hand over my mouth. "So you're saying THAT many people know about-"

"I deleted it, don't worry." She reassures me. I sigh in relief and in shock.

"Okay. It's better than EVERYONE knowing it." I sigh. Just then, Toodles comes barging into our door.

"GOOB AND SHRIMPO SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-"

"Toodles, enough!!!" Vee grabs her and dangles her from her clothes. Toodles giggles, and Vee looks at us. "Sorry for that. I was asleep, and the next thing you know she's watching me like a television!"

"But aren't you a television?" Scraps asked. Vee scowled.

"Doesn't mean you have to treat me like one." She grabbed Toodles wrist tightly and walked away. I rested my head on the wall.

"See what I mean??? This is CHAOS." I groan.

"I hope all of them can keep a secret." Poppy anxiously replies.

Shrimpo's POV:

I knock on the door. I heard some shrieking and Toodles' voice from next door, so it can't be good.

"Yeah?" Scraps aks, and when she sees me, her face lights up. I guess there's a first time for everything. I sit down, and Goob shuffles over to me.

"So... I'm assuming you know what happened?" Poppy asks. 

"Of course I know." I scoff. "Well, did you take it down?"

"Of course I did!!" She says to me. I glance in awkward silence. 

"Well?" I blurt out. "Why is everyone still fretting about it?"

"Because," Scraps began. "Half of Gardenview saw the livestream!" If I had a drink right now, I would've spit it out. 

"WHAT??" I scream before Goob clamps a hand over my mouth.

"Yeah, exactly!!! Our entire lives are ruined!!! This is horrible!!" Goob wails.

"It's not completely ruined! We, uh, still have time?" I hope.

"I wish!! But no! Soon enough, EVERYONE will know!" Goob freaks out.

"I-Is it that bad? I mean, we can just deal with it, y'know...?" I tell him. "It's not like they're gonna make fun of us or anything... well... they might make fun of me." 

"Are you seriously affected by peer pressure?" Scraps asks him. He nods.

"I guess?"

"Goob, literally everyone loves you. You're the friendliest toon here, and I'm pretty sure they don't even care who you date, or like, or whatever!!" Scraps nudges him. "Hey, even if they do, you can just ignore it right?"

"Just like how you ignore the fact that Vee hates you?" Poppy asks her. 

"Uh... yeah, but it's not my fault that I'm lucky!-"

"Enough, thanks guys." Goob hugs every one of us, but he hugs me the hardest. 

"No problem! Lemme know if you need help again!" Scraps chirps. Goob nods. 

"Alright!" Goob says, and he holds my hand. "Me and Shrimpo will be talking in my room! Have fun with Poppy!"

"I will!" She calls back, as Goob shuts the door.