The Night Before

5 years. And then it was all over.

Fanny sat at the edge of an abandoned bridge, looking over a little creek.

5 years in the Kids Next Door.

5 years wiping all memories of childhood.

And the next day would be her turn.

Most of her friends had been decommissioned: Numbuh 362, most of Sector V, most of the team she'd led for years. Most of them were gone. Only Numbuh 3 and Numbuh 4 were left, and she wouldn't necessarily consider them friends.

And that's why, instead of spending her last day of childhood with her friends, she spent it reflecting.

"Whatcha doin'?"

She turned around quickly, nearly losing her balance and falling into the water.

Of course, it was Wally. Of all people, he was probably the last person she wanted to spend her last night as a kid with.

"None of your business, boy."

"Tomorrow's your birthday! You should be partying!"

"With who?" she snapped back. "Everyone I know is a teenager."

Wally paused before sighing. "Yeah, I get that." He took a seat next to her.

"What are you doing?"

"You look lonely. I'm lonely."

"Ugh. Stupid boy." She shook her head. "How are the new recruits in Sector V looking?"

He shrugged. "They suck."

"Yeah."

Talking about Kids Next Door business was a weak attempt at normalcy. She would have no recollection of this in the morning, and Wally only had a couple of weeks left.

Not that talking to Wally was a normal thing she did.

"Do you remember what happened when I decommissioned you that one time?"

Wally turned to look at her. "Uh, all I remember is thinking that everyone and everything was nuts."

"Did you remember the rest of your team?"

Wally shook his head. "I mean, I kind of knew their names from school and stuff, but nothing else."

"Damn."

"Already sounding like a teenager."

"Shut up, boy!"

She was amazed at how much he'd grown up since she'd met him. She remembered when he was 10, loud and boisterous. He'd mellowed out, especially when most of his best friends became teenagers.

"Do you ever talk to your old sector members?"

"Never. Do you?"

"No." She chuckled. "I'm not even going to remember this conversation."

Wally smirked slightly.

"I'm going to go to school, and become a friendless loser tomorrow."

"Like you weren't already one."

"Shut up!"

"I mean, all your friends were decommissioned. Same with me."

"You still have Numbuh 3."

"Barely. Besides, she's a girl."

"I'm a girl!"

"Yeah, but at least you like cool stuff, and not Rainbow Monkeys or some crap."