A Wilde Ride

Chapter One

Soccer. She had to be a soccer fan, Nick thought, looking at the bunny in the passenger seat next to him. She was dressed in an oversize jersey, with face paint and a comically oversize foam finger. Seems like everyone in Zootopia is a soccer fan except me. He was going to decline when the ZPD told him they had seven free tickets to the game, but when Judy asked him to go he said yes. He'd do anything for that bunny, not that she knew it. Or that he knew it until recently. Sure, they had been good friends once she convinced him to join the Force, and he certainly saw her enough, considering they were partners, but recently his feeling had changed. He always thought about her, constantly catching himself staring at her, and wishing he could run his hands down her ears, or sometimes down her back and then- he quickly shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts, lest Judy see his blush. He had been depressed lately, because he knew he didn't feel the same way. Sure, she hugged him a lot, and sure she always smiled when she saw him, but that's what friends did, right? He had never had many friends, so he wasn't sure what was normal, much less normal for these "emotional" bunnies. He sighed quietly, and pulled into the stadium traffic, waiting to park.

Judy was ecstatic. A soccer game! Her favorite team, the Carrot Crushers were set to take on the Real Cheetahs. She loved soccer with a passion, being an avid player herself and growing up on the sport. But her excitement had another reason. Nick had agreed to come to the game with her! Nick hated soccer, but the fact that he came meant he just wanted to spend time with her. At least, that's what she hoped. She had been struggling with feelings she couldn't identify lately, and the stares from Nick when he thought she wasn't looking weren't helping. She felt like she wanted to be more than friends with Nick. She loved the way his fur smelled, and the way he laughed, although she would never admit it to him. She turned to beam at him in excitement, only to see him sigh and slump in his seat a little. She kept her smile on her face but inside she was scared. Oh no, he doesn't want to be here with me. He hates this, he hates me, he's never gonna hang out with me again! She thought. She took a deep breath and pushed those thought from her mind. I'm sure it's not that big of a deal, she thought, as they turned into the parking lot.

In the stadium, they found their seats, helped by a waving Clawhauser and Chief Bogo. Judy and Nick waved back, as Judy went to the seats, and Nick went to get refreshments. After a few minutes, Nick came back with two packages wrapped in tinfoil and two large cups with straws. Nick unwrapped an Italian sausage with spicy mustard and took a bite. He handed Judy the other package and she looked at him, confused, he knew she was an herbivore. She unwrapped the package to see a deep fried carrot, covered in powdered sugar and cinnamon. She gasped and hugged Nick, who laughed and patted her head.

"I didn't forget you, Carrots."

She took a swig out of his cup and grimaced at the super sugary taste of fox-a-cola. She took a sip from her own straw to find a blueberry smoothie, her favorite. She had never told Nick that they were her favorite, so she took it as a lucky guess. She forgot everything else as the game started, screaming along with the best of them.

Nick spent most of his time watching Judy during the game, a goofy smile on his face that he couldn't seem to get rid of, even when Clawhauser look over and winked at him because of his goofy look. As Halftime rolled around though, he perked up and looked around. The one thing he did really enjoy about these things was the Kiss-Cam. He loved to see the awkward faces of couples, and he also enjoyed the genuinely happy couples who kissed immediately. As the Kiss-Cam came around, he pointed and laughed at the couples and awwwed (on the inside of course) at the cuter couples. He looked down at his phone for a moment only to hear Clawhauser squeal and Judy's paw grip his arm extremely tightly. He looked up, knowing what the commotion was before he even saw the Jumbo-Tron. He and Judy were smack dab in the middle of the kiss cam. They looked at each other, each wondering what the other would do. Suddenly they felt their faces pressed together by an enthusiastic Clawhauser behind them the quickly went for a peck on the lips, and then froze as their lips met. Judy let out a sigh and Nick grabbed her and pulled her to him in a deep passionate kiss. After a brief eternity they were brought back to reality by Clawhauser's squeals. Nick coughed and excused himself to the bathroom.

Judy flopped back in her seat, winded. The game started back up, but Judy barely noticed. She had kissed Nick! And he had kissed her BACK! He put a paw to her mouth, gently remembering the warmth and taste of his lips. Where had he learned to kiss like that?

Nick slumped against the wall in the restroom, a stupid grin on his face. He had kissed her! And, as far as he could tell, she had kissed him back! He could jump and shout for joy! He had kissed her!

After the game, Judy and Nick got back in Nicks car, waving to the Chief and Clawhauser, who sighed and waved back. Nick saw Bogo hand Clawhauser some money and shake his head as they drove off.

It was a quiet ride, Nick and Judy each absorbed in their thoughts. Nick began to worry as they neared Judy's apartment. What if it was just the peer pressure? Nick thought. What if she didn't really want to kiss me and was just acting for the camera? Oh no, I've ruined our friendship and she'll never know how I feel about her! Nick was quiet as the pulled up to Judy's apartment complex. Judy got out and said

"Thanks for coming Nick. I had a really great time."

"Anytime, Carrots. I'd do anything for you" He started. I did NOT just say that out loud, nick thought. He looked over at Judy and saw a mild look of surprise on her face. She closed the door and nick slumped. I've ruined this whole thing, he thought. A tap on his window made him open his eyes. He was surprised to see Judy standing there. He rolled down the window and gave her a questioning look.

"I... ah, I was wondering i-if you c-could walk me to my d-door?" Judy stuttered, pulling on her ears nervously.

Nick smiled. "I would love to."

As they walked up the stairs, Judy took Nicks paw in hers, and turned to face him at her door.

"Nick, I… I don't know how to say this but, I…" She trailed off, unsure of what to say. She gasped in surprise as Nick grabbed her and pulled her into a passionate kiss. They broke off after a long moment and Nick sighed in Judy's ear.

"I love you, Carrots." He said, pulling her chin up gently to look in her eyes. "I do. I have for a while and I never thought of how to say it. I don't want to ruin our friendship, in case you don't feel the same about me, but I can't hold it in anymore. I can't. I love you."

"Oh Nick, I love you too!" Judy cried and pulled him in for another kiss. God he is an amazing kisser! She thought to herself as they broke off again.

"I got to ask something, kinda embarrassing, really" Nick said, looking at the ground and shuffling his feet.

"What? You can always ask me anything."

"Well…. Am... Am I a good kisser?"

Judy burst out laughing and Nick's heart sank.

"Nick you are the best kisser I have ever had the privilege to lay my lips on."

"Whew, that's good to hear. I mean, the kiss at the game today was my first kiss so I was nervous…"

"There is no way that was your first kiss"

"It was. I was never much of a ladies man."

"I don't believe you"

"It's true. I never had many friends at all; much less people who wanted to kiss me'

"Well, I am honored to be the first, and I will tell you that you are an amazing kisser."

Nick beamed. "Well thanks. But it is getting late and Bogo will have our heads if we are late tomorrow. One for the road?" he shot her a sly wink.

"You can kiss me anytime. Just keep them to a minimum in public please."

"I can do that"

She grabbed his tie and pulled him in close for a long passionate kiss, neither of them wanting to let go. When they finally broke it off Nick pulled her close and whispered in her ear.

"I love you Judy"

"I love you too Nick."

Well, that's the end of the first chapter of Fanfic I've ever written. More will follow!

~Rho