BFDI AND II ONESHOT BOOK!

Tennickel/Tengolf/Bombickel: Tennickel series: Fractured Affections (Part 5)

Tennis Ball was finally starting to feel content being with Nickel. Sure, he still wished he could be with Golf Ball, but for now, Nickel was good enough. Nickel didn't mind being second choice, having Tennis Ball at all was enough for him. But Golf Ball had noticed all the time Tennis Ball was spending with Nickel, and she didn't like it. Whether she thought it was bad for him... or was just a little jealous herself... she knew exactly how to win him back. Golf Ball kissed Tennis Ball right in front of Nickel. Nickel's heart shattered, and Tennis Ball was completely swept off his feet.

Linked to Strange Specimen, Wanna Play?, He Hates You & Why Not.

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Over time, Tennis Ball had grown... not happy, exactly, but content enough with being with Nickel. It wasn't because he loved him, not really, but because Nickel was the closest thing he could have to Golf Ball. A substitute. Second-best. Still, it was something, and in the absence of what he truly wanted, he let their... whatever it was... continue.

Through most of BFDIA, even after Nickel had been eliminated, the two still made time for each other in the breaks between challenges. Tennis Ball was spending less and less time with Golf Ball, leaving her stuck with the rest of the others, Bomby, Yellow Face, Rocky—company she tolerated more than enjoyed.

Nickel, meanwhile, had made a habit of wandering off to find Tennis Ball whenever possible. The two would vanish for hours, caught up in their own world, barely seen by anyone else.

Bomby noticed it, of course. He noticed everything when it came to Nickel. Nickel wasn't just his best friend, he was the one Bomby loved. The one he would've done anything for. And deep down, Bomby knew that letting him be with Tennis Ball was a mistake. But no matter how badly it hurt, he couldn't stop him. Nickel had to make his own choices... even if those choices broke Bomby's heart.

It was shortly after BFDIA 22. The next challenge hadn't yet begun, and Tennis Ball had won the last one, with help from both Book and Nickel. Not that they were trying to let him win; they just wanted to stop Leafy from making their lives miserable. Pin and Coiny had vanished somewhere, but Bomby had been lucky enough to have Yellow Face recover him.

Still, the victory meant Nickel's attention was fixed entirely on Tennis Ball again, leaving Bomby behind. While wandering to find Nickel, Bomby instead found himself face-to-face with Golf Ball.

"Hey, Golf Ball! Where are you going?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

"Hm. I was going to congratulate Tennis Ball on his victory," she replied flatly, "but he seems too preoccupied with that idiot." Her eyes narrowed slightly.

Bomby didn't need to ask who she meant. "Ohh... so that's where he is... Uhm." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

"They've been spending a lot of time together, huh? Does... that make you feel anything?" he asked, trying to gauge her reaction.

"Ptch! No. Like what?" Golf Ball shot him a sharp look, already suspicious of his tone.

"Well... Tennis Ball and you are supposed to be a duo, right? Nickel's taking all your time away from him!" Bomby blurted out, sounding more panicked than he intended.

"Hmph. What about you? Isn't Nickel your best buddy? Whenever Tennis Ball isn't competing, he's with Nickel." Her glare sharpened.

"Uh... so you're jealous too." Bomby sighed, half teasing, half resigned.

"Wu–AH!! No! I am not jealous! I'm merely... disappointed in Tennis Ball's choice in attractions. That idiot is going to drag him down with him!" Golf Ball snapped, clearly offended by the accusation.