As Snuggle was walking home, thoughts began to rise to the front of his mind, something he had denied ever since he saw Oxi. He tried to stop thinking about it but his feelings wouldn't leave him alone. "No... I can't... I can't like him!!" He muttered to himself. "Who do you like" Snuggle turned around and saw the two Idjits, Downy and Ajax. "I don't like anyone!" Snuggle said, lying to himself and the two jerks. Snuggles kept walking as the two jerks followed him home.
"C'mon tell us." Downy said in his teasing tone. "Yeah, tell us Snuggles," Ajax continued purposefully dragging out the name. They moved closer, "Guys, I'm not really in the mood," Snuggles said. "Ya think we care? The kid thinks we care Downy. Hilarious." He laughed. "I don't give a crap if you cared. Mouth breathers." Snuggles snapped back. "Well that wasn't very Snuggly of you, Snuggles. Ajax, should we teach the kid a lesson?" He turned to Ajax. "Well, I'm not stronger than grease for nothing."
Snuggles turned and ran as fast as he could. He ran a block and turned into the alley. "CRAP!" He cornered himself. Ajax cracked his knuckles and Downy pounded his fists. They stalked in and started to punch him. Snuggles fell to the ground and covered his head. As the edges of his vision started to go black, and he quickly felt his consciousness slipping away, he saw the two boys running and screaming.
<A Few Hours Later>
Snuggles drifted into consciousness. "Where am I?!" He looked around. He was on a couch in a small living room. "You're up." A familiar voice said. "FEBREEZE?!" The tough air freshener looked up, "You got quite the beating Snuffles McSnuggles." She chuckled and stood up. She dragged up her sleeves and pulled back her blonde hair. "Should I shank or just punch 'em?" "They aren't worth it Reeze," Snuggles sat up on the couch. "Why were you even walking alone? You know that those idiots always might jump you. Why weren't you with Oxi, Tide, and Shout?" Snuggles shook his head and looked down sadly. "It's complicated. You wouldn't wanna know." "He came out, didn't he?" Reeze asked. "How did you know?!" Snuggles exclaimed. He was their best friend and he still didn't know.
"It's written all over their faces. Heh, Dove, Secret, and I joke about it all the time." Febreeze smiled and nodded. "Why does that make you upset? You aren't homophobic, I know that much about you." Snuggles blushed. "Oh." she said in realization "Well, you might want to get rid of those feelings or pray for them to fall apart." "I'm happy for them, I'm just guilty." Reeze grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him up. "Git, your mom and dad gotta be worried." "Bye, thanks Feb." he responded smiling. "No problem Snuffles McSnuggles." She said punching him playfully.
...
Snuggles walked home alone again. Febreeze made sure that he would get home safely this time. She trailed Snuggles as he walked home with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders slumped. She couldn't bear to see him get hurt, as she thought about it she blushed then pushed those thoughts away. No I can't, we are just friends and we should keep it that way, she thought to herself. But still she couldn't help but think of the possibility. She smiled but then quickly shook her head because she realized Snuggles was getting farther ahead than she was comfortable with. She quickened her pace and followed Snuggles all the way to his home. As soon as Febreeze saw that Snuggles was safely home she turned around to go back to her place all the while daydreaming about what she and Snuggles could be. What would happen if he returned her feelings? Would the Detergents accept her? Nevermind, Its not like he would say yes anyway. She thought glumly to herself. It was getting dark so she sped up and returned home.
