Chapter 1 – Good News!

Note: This short story is based on the characters from our “Diary Of A Friendly Creeper Series”, which you can find on Amazon. We will be publishing new entries in this series every Sunday. To view this series and our other short stories and comics on Amazon CLICK HERE.

Chapter 5: March 6^nd

Who knew water could be so much fun? I certainly exploded in my head half a dozen times and had a figurative blast with my friends. This birthday was certainly special for me. Not to mention, I saw Steve get sick after a few fast rides. I did get a little worried, but we all just started laughing, even Steve. Even as a creeper who has never been to a waterpark, I was able to not get sick, though. It was fun all around.

Oh and best of all, I no longer dislike Troy. In fact, I’m quite sorry about the things I said to him yesterday. I misunderstood the situation and should not have been so quick to judge and speak when I didn’t have all the information. Troy was, in fact, helping the poor, young creeper that was getting bullied. He was telling his friends to stop teasing the kid since it wasn’t nice. In fact, he came all the way to the waterpark without knowing if I would want to see him. When I did, I didn’t act so friendly.

“I don’t want to see a bully like you,” I had said to him. He looked sad, and I realized there was something more he wanted to say. Instead of returning and leaving like I was going to, I stood there, and he explained:

“I’m sorry,” he began, “that’s what I’ve been trying to say from the start. I’m sorry for all the times that I bullied you in school. I hadn’t really realized how awful I was to you. It did make me feel good at the time, but now… things are different. I saw you that day and wanted to apologize. But your chicken friend was there, and I really couldn’t bring myself to say anything. Next, you were with that human. It really vexed me, and that’s why I thought I’d ask you to hang out before. And yesterday, I wasn’t bullying anyone. I was trying to stop my friends from bullying that kid. He’s new here, and he reminded me of you, so I had to stop them. But no matter what I said, it didn’t make a difference. Then you came in. I was surprised and felt bad when you considered me one of those guys. But I suppose I deserved that. I hadn’t treated you much better. You shut those guys down in an instant. It made me both happy seeing your courage, and sad seeing all the feelings you had pent up inside of you because of me.”

I was taken aback as he said everything. My mind wandered off to all the bad things I had said to him a day earlier. I did feel bad now. He had changed, and I just ran my mouth. Even the days earlier, everything he did, said and the way he talked all made sense.

“I am sorry,” he repeated. And I smiled.

“You’re forgiven!” I announced happily as I jumped up and down, “I’m sorry for yesterday as well. You didn’t deserve that. But all’s forgiven. Get over here and let’s have some fun!”

He hadn’t exactly been looking forward to going to a waterpark and being surrounded by non-Creepers, he confessed. And I understood. Baby steps, I thought to myself. After all, I got to this position by taking baby steps as well. So I don’t think I should push someone into taking steps they don’t really wish to.

That said, I totally did invite him to stay long enough for Felicia to unveil the cake she had promised to make. And what a cake that was. It was a towering behemoth of a cake that tasted as fascinating as it looked. I do think Troy was happy to stay long enough to taste that. He left soon after. I promised to hang out with him more often, and we’ve even made some fun plans for later this week. I can’t help but feel excited about it all.

In the end, I had a better time than I had even imagined I could have all those weeks ago.

People can really change and judging appearances isn’t the best way to handle any situation. I’ve learned that through this experience and I’ve also gained a new friend.

The END

We hope you enjoyed the story!

 

Note: This short story is based on the characters from our “Diary Of A Friendly Creeper Series”, which you can find on Amazon. We will be publishing new entries in this series every Sunday. To view this series and our other short stories and comics on Amazon CLICK HERE.

Chapter 4: March 5^nd

I was really close to being okay with Troy coming to the party. I really was. It was even a prospect that excited me for a time. When I arrived at Steve’s place today, he told me the others weren’t coming and added: “I actually need to talk to you.”

That didn’t sound good, I thought to myself. I figured the trip might be canceled. A part of me wanted that since I wasn’t okay with Troy coming with us. It wouldn’t be so bad. All I cared was about having fun with my friends and if they couldn’t make it, then so be it. Not like we couldn’t celebrate it some other day. I almost blurted out acceptance of our canceled trip, but Steve spoke before me.

“Yesterday… You seemed pretty distraught when Troy showed up. Are you alright?” He asked in such an understanding tone. I couldn’t speak for a few seconds. Only look down at the floor. Looking back up, I could only see what a loving friend I had. And then it all came pouring out.

“No. I’m not okay. Troy wasn’t just someone I knew at school. He always made me feel so odd. I accidentally spilled milk on him and had to do so much for him to forgive me. He never had fun with me. That was a lie. He just made fun of how clumsy I was. I couldn’t hang out with him yesterday because he wouldn’t understand me like you guys do. You guys never make fun of my weird habits or my mistakes. I’m lucky to have friends like you, Felicia and Charlie.”

Steve listened patiently as I went on and on, discussing all the things I had to go through. He didn’t interrupt and even gave encouraging smiles as I talked. It felt nice.

After I was done, I asked: “Do you think I’m a bad person for not wanting him to be there?”

“No,” he answered calmly, “You’re not a bad person. And you’re not a clumsy person. You make mistakes, just like the rest of us. Remember when I accidentally poured lava on Felicia’s couch?”

“Yeah,” I giggled remembering that. Felicia was pretty mad at him for carrying lava in a bucket around the house.

“Just like that. None of us are free from making mistakes. Even Troy. I bet he’s made a few mistakes himself.” I probably knew this deep down, but for some reason, it never occurred to me. Troy probably made mistakes in his life as well. But none like me, I’m sure. He was a confident, cool creeper. If he made the mistakes I had, he wouldn’t be considered so cool.

Steve probably sensed what I was thinking and said, “Some people just deal with their mistakes differently. You blame yourself, while Troy might blame others. From what you’re telling me, Troy seems like a bully. I don’t know how he got this way and there is a definite reason for it, but he bullied you in school. You should know that even if you don’t do anything about it.”

“Bullied?” it never really occurred to me before. I never liked hanging out with him, but I had always considered it my fault.

“In all honesty, he might not know it himself. Not fully at least. He might think he was just pushing you around and helping you have fun. It’s silly, but people are sometimes like that. You shouldn’t feel down about it. He seemed pretty awkward while talking to you. You should stop blaming yourself, though. It’s been years, and you both have grown. Maybe it’s time to put the past in the past. Try to bury the hatchet and move on with him. He seemed to want to hang out with you. You should forgive others for what they’ve done since they can change over time, like you have. You were so shy around others, and now you’re such a confident creeper. You should give others the benefit of the doubt as well. And maybe even Troy might surprise you.”

I don’t think I completely believed him in that instance. But his words really made sense to me, and I thanked Steve for his advice. It was one of those things best friends do that really sets them apart. I don’t think I could understand what I went through if I hadn’t talked to him. For me, his explanation filled in the pieces I was missing all this time. They really did make a difference, but Troy hasn’t changed. He is no different than the time I met him at school. The years have not made him better and he probably just wanted to bully me again.

I had gone to find him. To tell him I’d love to hang out with him some time and I was excited to have him there for my birthday. But as soon as I saw him in the woods with his friends, my opinion changed.

Most of them were standing in a circle, telling a young creeper how he’s not “fun.” While Troy stood at a distance, probably taking a break from the bullying. He had said that same thing to me when I was at school, so I now understood what it looked like.

I don’t know where I got this burst of courage from. My conversation with Steve had really pumped me up so maybe I discovered my courage from it. But I marched up to Troy and his buddies and told them to stop. I said they were bullies, and they should leave that young creeper alone if they didn’t want him to be there. The young creeper seemed relieved and left. Troy, on the other hand, looked absolutely flabbergasted. But I don’t care if he thought I was weird or didn’t like that I stood up to him. Nobody should go through bullying, and I was in a position to help someone else, and I’m really glad I did. Before I left, I told Troy I never wanted to see him. At least now I can have some carefree fun with my friends and not care about a bully from my past.

To Be Continued Next Sunday!

Note: This short story is based on the characters from our “Diary Of A Friendly Creeper Series”, which you can find on Amazon. We will be publishing new entries in this series every Sunday. To view this series and our other short stories and comics on Amazon CLICK HERE.

Chapter 3: March 4^nd

You know those times when you meet someone, and you just can’t stop running into them? I’m going through that.

I met Troy again. I don’t know if he’s following me or if it’s just some weird fate, but this time, I was with Steve. He looked at Steve in a funny manner when he bumped into us, but smiled and asked: “You must be his human friend?”

“Yeah, I am,” Steve spoke in a cool manner. It was a definite coolness I could never muster. I was so hopeless and could never do anything right. Even speak to Troy in a calm manner. Steve really helped me feel better at that moment, though. He went on to tell Troy “He’s one of my best friends, and I’m really lucky to have him with me. He feels like family and he’s one heck of a creeper.”

It meant a lot my friend felt this way about me. It made me feel confident through our friendship, but then… I was in front of Troy.

“Yeah, he was always different,” Troy chuckled, “We studied in school together, and he was always standing out. I had real fun with him.”

Fun. Is that what he thought? I was speechless for a while before blurting out, “I wasn’t fun!”

Never meant to say it out loud. Steve and Troy looked a little startled. Troy turned his head down and chuckled a “Well; I suppose I thought you were.”

There was an awkward silence. I wanted to move, but Steve just stood there. Troy, while still looking down, said “Do you want to hang out for a bit? You know, when you’re free? Like tomorrow maybe? I was getting together with a few friends. You know, catching up on some fun. Around evening. You can come along if you’d like.”

The question was directed at me. There was no denying it. He was asking me whether I wanted to hang out with him. We’ve never hung out. Why would he want to hang out when he still thinks I’m weird? I would probably just give him another reason to make fun of me. My clumsiness hasn’t changed over the years.

Just last week I sneezed and exploded a side of Steve’s castle. I’m lucky Steve loves to build so much. And that’s the thing; my friends are understanding. They don’t fault me for being clumsy. I don’t know how Troy would react if I did something like that. I can’t hang out with him. I just can’t. It would just be like reliving through the mess school was.

“I… I need to hang out with Steve tomorrow.” That was the only excuse I could think of. It probably did seem like an excuse, but no matter. Not like Troy actually wanted me to be there. He always said like how I was no fun. That I bored him when he came to play. In all honesty, Steve and I hadn’t planned on spending the day together. We all usually met up and were going to, but there was nothing stopping me from actually hanging out with Troy. Except Troy himself, that is. It wasn’t as though he’d really miss catching up with me. Anyways I knew even without an agreement; Steve would back me up, and he surely did.

“Yeah, I need his help with some building.” You could also count on Steve.

“Ah, alright.” His words actually sounded a little disappointed. It made me feel bad, but this was for the best. I probably would’ve done something embarrassing had I went with him.

“I better get going then,” he had said before turning towards his destination, “See you at your party.”

His last line turned me speechless again. He had left, but I felt like he also took my birthday’s excitement away with him. I wanted to enjoy my birthday my friends, and I had planned for weeks now. We were talking about all the things we were going to do, all the crazy fun memories we’ll make. I always felt so different around Troy, and this wasn’t something that made me look forward to my birthday. Even my friends might see how pathetic I was in front of Troy if he came. But there was nothing I could do…

Steve began to say something, but was interrupted when Felicia’s voice came from behind, “Why’re we standing outside?”

And that was the end of that entire scene. We all went inside Steve’s house and were joined by Charlie. They all discussed how amazing the waterpark would be, but I couldn’t get myself excited anymore. Troy’s appearance wasn’t something I wanted.

To Be Continued Next Sunday!