Skipper stood in the doorway, shocked at what he had just seen.
Was…was that a painting of…of ME?! He thought to himself, still not believing his own two eyes.
“Nah that wasn’t me, it was probably just a penguin from her old aquarium.” He said to himself as he waddled out of Marlene’s habitat.
“Yea that’s what it was, just an old friend of hers that just happens to look like me.” Skipper continued, smiling as he tried desperately to convince himself that he had not just seen a painting of himself in Marlene’s habitat.
He dove to the ground and slid on his belly until he reached the outskirts of the penguin’s habitat. He flipped over the fence surrounding their home and dove into the water, barely making a splash.
Skipper swam a few laps around the island trying to clear his head of the image of the painting he just saw.
When his mind was as clear as he was going to get it, he exited the water and headed down into the heart of the penguin’s HQ.
As he panned his vision across it he saw the others in their usual positions. Private was glued to the TV watching some soap opera, Rico was in the corner brushing his dolls hair and cooing at her, and Kowalski was at his table working on what seemed to be a very complex invention.
“Hey Skippa, how was Marlene’s?” Private asked cheerfully as he stood up from the floor and walked to his leader.
“It was just fine Private, turns out she’s not a spy and was just messing with me this morning. We can suspend further investigation, for now.” Skipper answered as he referred back to what she had said earlier that day. (I feel like there’s more I could add here I just can’t think of anything)
“See Skippa I told you she had nothing to hide.” Private said confidently as he found out he was right about Marlene.
“Yea well we’ll have to see about that young Private.” Skipper’s voice had a hint of certainty in it. He knew that she had SOMETHING to hide, but it had nothing to do with the rest of his team.
“Hey Kowalski,” Skipper said quickly, turning to the tall penguin, “do you think I could talk to you for a second…outside.” He continued pointing his flipper towards the fishbowl.
Kowalski looked up from his work, and pulled his safety goggles off.
“Sure Skipper.” He said following his leader outside, eager to know what he wanted to talk about.
Skipper searched his head for some way to start the conversation. A conversation which he knew was inevitable.
“Kowalski have…have you noticed anything weird about Marlene lately, like how she acts around… around me.” Skipper said just loud enough so he could hear him.
A wide grin spread across Kowalski’s face “Are you telling me that you haven’t figured it out yet Skipper?” Kowalski asked as he chuckled a little bit.
“Wait what?! What haven’t I figured out yet, are you trying to tell me she IS a spy? God I knew it, I should never have trusted her, from day one she seemed a…” Skipper was cut off by Kowalski who could feel the conversation heading in the wrong direction.
“No Skipper she’s not a spy trust me. She acts differently around you because she…” Kowalski thought carefully about his choice of words “…has feelings for you.”
“You mean that she…she loves me” Skipper asked hopefully, wanting to confirm what he always hoped was true.
“Affirmative.” Kowalski nodded his head with agreement.
“So that was a painting of me.” Skipper mumbled a little too loudly.
“What was that Skipper?” Kowalski questioned, not being able to make out what he said.
“What…oh… no it was nothing, don’t worry about it.” Skipper quickly responded now aware of his mistake.
Suddenly a wave of joy hit Skipper like a ton of bricks. She loves me, she loves me, SHE LOVES ME!!! He thought to himself. He couldn’t help but smile wildly at the thought.
Kowalski couldn’t help but notice this sudden “epiphany.”
“So Skipper I gotta know, how do you feel about her?” He asked anxiously.
“Me?!” Skipper asked back pointing at himself, trying to buy himself some time to think of something to say. “You want to know how I feel, is…is that what you want to know?”
“Yes that’s what I asked.” Kowalski responded, not buying Skippers attempts at stalling.
“Well…um you see…it’s complicated in that… I’m a military leader and can’t possibly have time for such things as love.” Skipper said nervously, lying both to Kowalski and himself.
“Uh huh, is that really how you feel or is that what you want me to believe.” Kowalski asks, still not buying Skippers pathetic attempts at deception.
“What do you mean by that soldier?” Skipper barked back, trying to make himself feel like he was in control of the conversation. It wasn’t working; he could feel it slipping from his grips.
“Oh come on Skipper, we all know you’re a terrible liar. If you don’t want to tell me how you feel right now that’s fine, but eventually you’re going to have to tell someone.”
Kowalski knew that Skipper needed time for himself and decided it would be best to leave.
“I’m going back inside, when you really feel like talking you can come and get me” Kowalski continued as he lifted the fishbowl and jumped down into their home.
Skipper just watched as Kowalski left, not saying a word.
“I do love her, I really do. Since the instant I met her I’ve been head over tail for her. But why can’t I bring myself to tell anyone?” Skipper mumbled to himself.
He looked over to Marlene’s habitat just in time to see her get out of the water. She shook off the excess water from her fur. Stretching her arms above her head, she grabs the towel that’s sitting on the rock, and dries the rest of her fur.
Skipper just stood and watched as she finished and walked into her home. He swears he felt his heart skip a beat.
He finally realized what needed to be done.
Skipper ran over to the fishbowl and yelled down into it.
“Kowalski, get up here! We need to talk.”
