Chapter 2: She’s a little wound tight.. but she’s cute J

Ebony is asleep in bed as the first rays of sunlight shine through and gently hit her face. She slowly wakes, sits up, stretches, and yawns. She reaches for her specs on her night-stand and places them on her face. She kicks her covers off and gets out of bed. Ebony splashes water on her face and brushes to teeth. Later while still in her boxers and tank top we see her doing a one-handed handstand, her body straight as an arrow. She stays there motionless. Then standing on both hands she does a split and slowly tumbles down into a sitting position with her legs bent behind her . She then stand up and wipes her forehead.

Ebony: Whew.. that’s 56 reps…. I’d push myself a bit more but I have tons to do today.[Ebony walks into the bathroom with a towel]

Ebony has her back to us as she peels off her tank top and throws it. We follow her boxers down as she pulls them off. We see her figure behind the shower curtain as she pulls it closed. Ebony closes her eyes and relaxes as the hot water drenches her body. Later she wraps herself up in a towel and steps out of the shower. She stands in front of the mirror, wipes the fog off of it and with another towel dries her hair. She hums a song with Latin beat to herself as she brushes her hair. A bit, after dressed, she puts her specs on and admires herself in the mirror.

Ebony: Sigh..[lowers her shoulders and leaves the bathroom] well I’m not super model material but that’s as good as I’m going to get.[Ebony walks past the kitchen where he dad is sitting drinking coffee] On my way out dad, later.

Ezequiel: [throws her the keys without looking] Have a good day miha, and good luck.

Ebony:[walking by catches the keys in her hand without stopping] Thanks dad.

A bit later Ebony is sitting on a park bench next to a mantaraygirl. She is a blue-gray, with a white face, and has an odd fin hanging over the top of her head like a bang… and is wearing a wet suit. This is her friend Azul Manta, not her BEST friend but well she knows her. Azul sits eating a bag of cheese puffs as Ebony looks through the want ads.

Azul:[looks over her shoulder] Hey there’s an ad you might be interested in. It’s a studio that needs someone to design a website for them.

Ebony:[looks at it and trembles] ZZ Studios!![gags] I’ll pass this time okay.[crumples up the newspaper and sets it next to her] This sucks.. I need to find a job soon. Or risk..[looks at Azul] risk becoming you.

Azul:[crunches away] Hey it’s a dirty job.

Ebony: Yeah right.[raises an eyebrow then flops back against the bench] What else could happen to me today?

Azul:[looks past her] Oh hey..here comes your favorite person in the whole wide world.[grins]

Ebony: Huh? [turns and then sees someone. Her face frowns and her shoulders droop] Great… [looks up at the heavens] Why do you take priority on requests when I’m being sarcastic?

Walking towards them is a mongoose girl with short hair. One would actually mistake her for a guy with that hair..but her body says otherwise. She has a loose fitting blouse on and pair of tight fitting jeans on. She walks with authority and assertiveness, definitely a gal who gets noticed. Her name is Elena.. and since childhood Ebony has always been in competition with each other. Ebony fidgets in seat as she stops in front of them.

Elena: Hey there bunnygirl, making friends with vagrants I see.

Azul: [eyes narrow] Funny I thought she was already friends with you.

Elena:[eyes narrow as she glares back at Azul] Anyway.. found a job yet.. or are you planning on living at home with mommy and daddy all your life?

Ebony: I’m trying to… sides.. you found a job yet?

Elena: [turns to one side] Oh I have.. I’m in charge of the animation team for the new Knuckle the Kickboxing Tiger TV series.

Ebony:[jaw drops] WHAT?!?!? Lucky dog!!

Azul: Heh..[looks away and crosses her arms] emphases on the word "DOG". [Elena snarls at Azul]

Ebony: How’d you land a job like that?!

Elena: Talent.. pure and simple. They took one good look at my awesome resume.. not to mention my amazing portfolio… and they knew I was the gal for the job.

Azul: Bet sleeping with the guy in charge helped too.

Elena: Okay that’s it BLUBBERBUTT!!! Get on your feet!!

Azul: Why? [crumples the empty puffs bag] You seem to do better on your back.[smirks at her]

Elena: WHY YOU LOUSY MANTA PUTA!!!!

Elena lunges at Azul but Ebony steps in front of her and tries to separate them. Elena grabs Ebony by the hair and slams her on the floor. Ebony sits up and looks at Elena who laughs at her.

Elena: Stupid bunnygirl, you’ve always been a loser.. and you always will be. You’re nothing.. and so are your sorry ass friends.[kicks dirt at her] Later.[walks off]

Ebony sits there and tries to fix her hair. She then slowly stands up and dusts her butt off. Azul looks at her.. but says nothing. Then she sees a tear run down Ebony’s face. Azul sighs and makes a face.

Azul:[rolls her eyes] Please don’t make me care.. and ask "What’s wrong?"

Ebony:[looks down] Nothing. Nothing’s wrong.

Azul: [crosses her arms and looks away] 3……2…….1

Ebony: [bursts into tears waving her arms around madly] She’s right I’m such a loser!!!

Azul:[puts her hand on her forehead and sighs] I know all this. Please move on.

Ebony: Shoot I let her throw me to the ground like nothing.. and I didn’t even say a thing!![makes her hands into fists and trembles] I can’t stand it!!

Azul: [sighs and her ears lower] Okay listen.. [pats her on the back] She’s a bitch.. okay.. she doesn’t know anything about you. She has to depend on her looks and such to get her ahead.. you don’t have that so.. you’re much better.

Ebony:[eyes narrow as she look up at Azul] Gee thanks I feel better now.

Azul: Anytime.[pats her on the back] Now.. let’s grab a bite to eat..I’m starved. You’re paying of coarse.

Ebony:[rubs her eyes] Of coarse.[grinds her teeth and walks off with her.]

Later Azul and Ebony are at a restaurant eating. Ebony is inhaling her food as she rants and raves. Azul eats slowly and watches her.

Ebony: Elena has always been trying to out do me at everything, ever since we were small!!!

Images pop up as we see little Ebony building a sand castle. A huge shadow appears over her as she looks up and her jaw drops. Little Elena has built a life-size sand castle.. complete with working drawbridge. The scene changes to Ebony trying to learn to ride a bike.. she happily pedals with her bike in training wheels. Little Elena drives her off the road in a small dirt bike. Ebony crashes into a ditch.

Ebony: [scenes goes back to her, poking at her salad with a fork] Only break I got was when we moved to South America.. but when I came back..it started over again.[scene goes to the Senior Prom] She was Prom Queen.. had the cutest date.. sigh..[pic of Ebony sitting alone in a coner] I had no date.

Azul: [raises her fork as the scene returns from the flashback suddenly] Um.. correct me if I’m wrong.. but your night wasn’t so bad.. if I recall.

Ebony:[looks up] Huh?

Azul: I recall something happened in the parking lot.

Scene goes back to the Senior Prom as Ebony sits alone outside in the parking lot. Her eyes well up with tears as she quietly whimpers. Someone walks up to her as she looks up.

Miguel: Thought I’d find you here.

Miguel Tigre, her best friend shows up, while not dressed in a tux.. she was happy to see him. He is a panda tiger hybrid with his right arm black with white stripes and vise versa on the other side. He has tiny specs pressed up on his nose.

Ebony: What are you doing here Miguel?[wipes her eyes] You graduated already.

Miguel: Got a call.. heard there was a poor lonely bunny.. without a date.

Ebony: My date ditched me.[grumbles] He’s Prom King.

Miguel:[sits down next to her] Sad.

Ebony: Didn’t even get to dance.

Miguel:[looks at her] Even sadder.

Ebony: Sigh… I don’t know why I even came?[brushes her hair back]

Miguel:[stands up] Well I’m not one to let a gal’s special night turn into a nightmare.[takes her by the hand and stands her up] May I have this dance?

Ebony:[eyes open wide] Miguel!?!?

Miguel: Oh come on.. can’t say you didn’t blow money on that dress for nothing.[looks at the cute purple strapless evening gown she’s wearing] Very nice.

Ebony: Mom got it.. [tugs the front up] Sadly ain’t nothing but hope holding this dress up.

Miguel: [shakes his head] Come on.

Ebony makes a face then takes his hand and dances with him to the music echoing from inside the dance. Miguel smiles at her and kisses her forehead. Ebony smiles then rests her head on his chest and sighs. The scene returns to the present as Ebony stares off into space.

Ebony: Miguel’s such a great guy.. even if it was MY DAD who called him to make sure my date went well.

Azul: Well.. you could go back to work for him.

Ebony:[makes a face] That’s good an all.. but I want to do my OWN thing. [pokes her salad a bit more with her fork] Still.. it would get me through.. till I do find something. [thinks] I’ll call him.

Azul:[drinks from a bottle of water] Great.. see if he can get me a job too?

Ebony:[looks at her tiredly] You just want him to pay you for doing nothing!!

Azul: Yup.

Ebony:[grumbles at her] Why do I even bother with you?

Azul:[starts on a slice of pizza from the tons of food piled on her plate] Cause you’re a friendless smoe, and you hate being lonely.

Ebony sighs then nods as she slumps back in her chair. Later after paying for everything, then privately throwing the mother of all fits because of it, Ebony made her way to a familiar building. It stood there not really fitting in with it’s surroundings. She went up and knocked on the door. Suddenly it bursts open.

Miguel: GO AWAY.. THE WIZARD DOESN’T SEE ANYONE!!!

Ebony:[leaps back in shock then belts Miguel good on the head] DON’T DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THAT!!!!

Miguel:[driven into the ground with a huge bump on his head] I was only playing. [whimpers] Didcha havta hit me sooo hawd?

A bit later Ebony and Miguel sit in his office talking. Or rather, Miguel sits at his laptop typing, responding to Ebony, as she talks to him.(Sadly I’m really this way in RL too. <-.->;;; MT)

Ebony: Sigh and well.. I don’t seem to get respect from anyone nowadays.

Miguel: I know the feeling well coneja, but hey… nothing we can do about it but smile….. and pretty much bend over and take it up the tailpipe.

Ebony:[lowers her head and whimpers] Never thought of it that way.. but sadly that seems about right.[fidgets in her chair as Miguel looks up and looks at her] Sigh.[looks up] Anyway listen I was thinking…

Miguel:[raises and eyebrow and half smiles] A dangerous profession.

Ebony: I know. But well..[shifts in her position chair] I haven’t had much luck looking for a job and I was wondering if….[crosses her legs].. well if you’d let me work for you again?

Miguel:[looks at her] Ebony?

Ebony:[wincing] Yes?

Miguel: If you need to use my bathroom you know you don’t even have to ask.

Ebony:[face turns red] Um no.[shakes her head madly] I’m fine..I don’t have to.

Miguel: Okay if you say so.[smiles and goes back to typing]

Ebony:[trembles for a bit] Bbbbbbbbb but you know..I do need to wash my hands..and um run a brush through my hair..it’s a mess.[gets up and starts to walks towards the bathroom]

Miguel:[huge grin] For about 45 minutes right?

Ebony: [face turns red and hot] Um..y..yeah..you know how much of a perfectionist I am.[closes the door.]

Miguel chuckles to himself then goes back to typing. Then a grin returns to his face as the door opens and Ebony quietly walks out. Miguel without looking up from his typing pushes a magazine toward her. Ebony takes it, red faced.

Miguel: I know how you like reading while you brush your hair.[turns and looks at her with a smile]

Ebony: Um right. [dashes off and slams the door shut]

Miguel shakes his head and goes back to typing. A while later Ebony steps out as Miguel sits leaning on his table smiling at her.

Miguel: Nice.. your hair looks wonderful.

Ebony:[red faced] Um thanks.[hair a bit messed up and not changed at all] I spent sometime on it.[weak smile]

Miguel goes back to typing as Ebony sits down next to him. She’s quiet for a bit then slowly turns and looks at Miguel.

Miguel: I’d be more than happy to have you work for me again…till you find something.

Ebony: [eyes light up] REALLY?!!? THANK YOU!!!

Ebony hugs Miguel as Miguel gets yanked away from his laptop and smiles. Ebony looks at Miguel and Miguel looks at her. They both turn pale and begin to sweat.

Ebony:[pulls away] Thanks.

Miguel:[goes back to typing] Sure….. no problem Ebony. I’m always happy to help you.. especially if it means having you around.

Ebony smiles and watches him as he types at a rather fast pace for someone who only types with two fingers. She gently pats him on the back and rests her head on his shoulder.

Miguel: [without stopping or looking] Yes.. Azul can come too.

Ebony: [sweating] I was getting to that.

Miguel: I know.

Ebony: [closes her eyes] You’re as bad as Astral you know that?

Miguel: No…Astral is sometimes wrong..she once told me I had a great destiny with a woman…[sighs and looks down.. then swallows hard and goes back to typing] like I said she can sometimes be wrong.

Ebony watches him as she tries to ignore what he just did. She pats him on the back and turns red again.

Ebony: Thanks for letting me have a sit on your potty.

Miguel:[smiles] Sure.. you’re always welcome to it.

Ebony: You know….[raises an eyebrow] even thought you SAY nothing.. I can’t help but feel you’re teasing me in your head.

Miguel:[looks at her] Who me? [has a goofy smile on his face] NO WAY BUNNY GIRL!! I’m too nice to even do that.

Ebony: Yeah right.. sometimes I wonder. [rests her head on his shoulder again]

Miguel shakes his head and looks at a picture on his desk. Ebony is dressed in her prom dress and Miguel in his street clothes. He smiles as Ebony notices the pic too.

Ebony: Boy people gave us odd looks as we squeezed into that photo booth for that pic.

Miguel: Probably not used to people taking PROM PICTURES in such a place.

Ebony: [laughs] Yeah I guess. But still it’s one of my best pictures.

Miguel: Cause you’re smiling.

Ebony: [sighs and looks down] I don’t do much of that nowadays do I?

Miguel: Me neither, so I won’t give you that "smile more" slurry people feed me all the time.

Ebony: Yeah it DOES get tiring[looks down]

Miguel: Except from Max.

Ebony: [looks at him] Who?

Miguel:[looks at her and smiles] Just a guy I talked to a few times, he’s cool. You should meet him sometime.. I get the feeling you two would hit it off very well.

Ebony: You sound like my dad trying to fix me up with someone.[glares at him]

Miguel: Oh? Did he stop trying to push me of you? [laughs]

Ebony:[sweating] No.

Both burst into laughter as the scene fades to black. The scene reopens at Ebony’s house as she walks in. Someone slowly slinks in behind her.

Salma: Dios mio!! You were with a boy just now weren’t you?!?!?

Ebony:[leaps ten feet in the air and sees her mother] MOM!!!!

Salma: Only a boy could bring such a sweet innocent smile upon a girls face.[gets in Ebony’s face] Who was it miha..tell me!!

Ebony:[nervously tries to back off] No one mom!! You make it sound like me and Miguel….[covers her mouth]

Salma: Oh I see.. so Miguel’s the papi that has you all walking on air huh?[grins wickedly]

Ebony:[runs around her mom frantic] No mom it’s not like that at all!!!

Ezequiel:[pokes his head in] What’s going on in there?

Both: Nothing.

Ezequiel:[sweating] Um okay.[walks off] Women are so noisy.

Ebony:[exhales deeply and holds her chest] That was close.

Salma:[next to her smiling] Have something to hide so you miha?

Ebony:[scoots away] No.. I went to go see Miguel today..and he gave me a job..till I can find something.. that’s all.

Salma: [frowns] That’s all? You know you could lie to me every now and again to make me feel happy?

Ebony:[crosses her arms and looks at her mom tiredly] No show mom… sorry.

Salma: Bueno…[adjusts her specs] But your time will come..just remember mi amor.. my hot latin blood runs through your veins too..and one day it will waken within you like wildfire.. and poor papi who happens to be around when it does.[winks and walks off]

Ebony:[growls] No way!!! And what are you even doing home anyway!!??

Salma: [from far away] You know it to be true.. search for feelings.. I know for a fact, it wakes up anytime you hear Latin dance music.

Ebony: It does not!!!

A bit off a beige hand turns on a radio. A Latin dance music with an infectious beat starts playing. Ebony stands there still mad as her ears twitch. Her little powder puff tail starts swaying back and forth to the beat. Then slowly so do her hips. Ebony looks down and sees this. She screams then runs off up the stairs in a flash to her room. A bit off, Ezequiel shuts off the radio as Salma stands giggling.

Ezequiel: You LOVE doing that to her don’t you?

Salma: [smiles] Yes I do, she tries to deny who she is, I’m just here to burst her bubble and show her the truth.

Ezequiel: You’re so evil mi amor.[looks at her tiredly]

Salma: Yes I know.[brushes up against him] but I know you love me this way. [bats her eyes at him] Well papi..I’m home for the rest of the day.. what say you and I have a raging inferno of passion of our own together?

Ezequiel: [sweating] But…

Salma: [throws him over her shoulder and heads for the bedroom] Enough talk.. time for some action.

Ezequiel:[makes a face as he’s carried off] In my younger days I used to be able to outrun her.

Salma:[winks at the reader] It’s true..he once hid out an entire week in Miami. Till I tracked him down and found him.[shuts the bedroom door]

Ebony:[pops up suddenly] Sorry you all had to see that, I really am.[lowers her head and shoulders]

End Of Chapter 2