Wauh, this is the first time ever I've written er story about Calvin and Hobbes (or this is mostly about Susie)

Calvin and Hobbes - Wating for so long

Susie tapped her pen on the piece of paper that lay on her school disk. 11th Grade - Junior Year, wasn't as easy as primary school, especially not the math test that had been given to her class this particular day. Surreptitiously she glanced over at Calvin whose eyes were locked on the piece of paper as if he was having a hard time. Susie stopped her tapping and studied Calvins' side profile. She knew that he wasn't that good a math, and that he right now was very displeased. Her mind began to imaging him saying those words;
"bzz, Susie? What's the answer of question one?" But he didn't. As a matter of factly, she and Calvin hadn't been talking ever since that day in primary school. Well of course they talked to each other when necessary but not on a friendly term. Ever since that day Calvin had changed completely. He was now very quiet and only minded his own business. He didn't have any friends in the class and didn't seem to want to be friends with anyone either. He acted kind of arrogant towards everyone, like he was passive aggressive. He was only seen hanging out with one person, whom he seemed to be very different towards.

She missed the old Calvin. And she wanted to say sorry for what happened several years ago, or at least try to be friends with him again. But of all people, the intelligent and popular Susie, couldn't find the guts to talk to him. It didn't help much that almost about every girl in school somehow fantasized about the mysteriously shy AND handsome Calvin. But that wasn't how he was. They didn't know him at all. Even though Calvin was a complete different person now, others respected his skills, though also people tended to see him as rather buffoonish and he got called an idiot quite often despite his superior intelligence. He was almost a straight A student, well almost. Beside Susie, was he one of the best pupils in English, Society, Spanish- classes and so on. It was no wonder though. And she didn't know why she had never noticed his insanely wide vocabulary before. No one in school, no one she knew, had a wider vocabulary than Calvin. He won about, every discussion in class; somehow always managing to make his point so good that the person he was debating with, gave up. Besides that, was he a member of the school's baseball team. Another thing that was complete opposite of how she knew him. When he was little he seemed almost scared of the ball, and now he was a player on the team. About school, well, he probably discovered the advantages he had, and began to study harder in time. This was the reason why he was so good in class. The only thing he wasn't good at was math. Susie felt a small punch of guilt; she was the reason why Calvin wasn't Calvin anymore. The reason why he was holding back his true nature. No, he wasn't happy. No one liked to be suppressed.

Calvins' eyebrows furrowed slightly and he hadn't filled in the second question yet. Susie looked away to concentrate on her own test. She would give him the right answer, if he would just ask. But he never did.

As soon as the bell rang, Calvin was up from his seat and strode to the teachers desk only to harshly place his piece of paper on the desk and was out of the door before anyone else. Calvins' hair was still as blond as when he was little, and she liked that about him.
Susie looked through her test quickly and delivered it to the teacher as well. She was quite satisfied with her answers, they looked right to her. Entering the big hallway Susie made her way through the crowd of people that was on their way home. She had to get to her locker to get some other books for home study. Unfortunately they had some homework assignments in English as well as Math. Her locker was a few hallways away, which caused the hallways to clear some more, though it was natural to just block out everyone just to make it through. Her hair was now a bit longer, and she had no bangs anymore. She held her books tight in an effort of trying not to drop them on the floor.

Her nose hit the chest of another person and she looked up quickly to see who she had stumbled into. She found herself face to face with Calvin who was looking down at her with surprise in his face. But the surprise quickly contorted into an arrogant frown as he pushed her aside while he snorted
"Watch where you're going, Sushi". Not a very nice nickname he had given her but at least he talked to her.
"S-sorry" she stuttered though he probably didn't heard it. He was too far away already. A hand grope her arm and shove her aside.
It was Susies dear friend; Linda. She was from primary school as well, and had been in same class as Susie and Calvin. "What was that about?" she asked and looked down the hallway. "Oh I accidentally bumped into Calvin, and got the typical reaction" Susie said and shrugged on her shoulders. "I just don't get that boy, he's such a weirdo" Linda responded still looking down the hallway after him. "Well enough of that, I just have to get some of my stuff and I'll be heading home"…

Calvin stopped outside the front door to his house and tip toed up the three stairs. He pushed the door open slowly and hid himself beside the door. He knew very well what was coming when he yelled those words. "I'm home!" he squeezed his eyes together and waited for the orange and black striped tiger to fly out of the door to greed him. Perhaps Calvin would have enough time to run inside and shut the door right in Hobbes face! Hah, that would teach him good. But when no tiger appeared out of thin air, Calvin decided to walk inside to look for his old teddy. "Hey Calvin, how was school today?" his mom asked from inside the kitchen. He threw off his shoes and jacket which landed nicely in the middle of the hallway before he answered. "I still hate school mom, I'm still hooked on the idea of a school with two hours of recess and fifteen minutes of English … Oh, and we had a math test today" he shouted to her as he began to search for his tiger. "How'd it go?" she called. "Fine" he answered absentmindedly though his test hadn't been as good as 'fine'. "What do you mean with fine?" she asked. For god sake why couldn't she just let him walk in the door before beginning to act like a cop that wanted 'nothing but the truth' from the suspected? "Mom! Just…" he let out an irritated sound "Have you seen Hobbes?" he asked and opened the locker carefully. "He's in the living room, in front of the fireplace, where you put him this morning" she said. He trudged into the living room to see Hobbes, his better half, curled up and sleeping on the floor. "Oh so tired you look my sleeping friend" Calvin said and nudged Hobbes in the side. Despite Calvins' growth was Hobbes still as strong as before. Hobbes yawned revealing his sharp teeth, stretched a bit and then looked lazily over at Calvin.
"Anything new I should hear about?" he asked. Calvin brushed Hobbes sticky hair and thought for a moment while he sensed the warmth from fireplace. "Well, I think I just failed a math-test, and Susie bumped into me in the hallway obviously on purpose" he snorted the last thing and rolled his eyes.
"I miss Susie" Hobbes pondered out loud. "You're so weak when it comes to girls especially Susie. I mean after what she did I thought you would've changed your mind just a bit. I mean, she literally hates me" Calvin said while he brushed his fingers through his own short, spiky hair. " I just kind of, miss the old days. Now we're only pulling pranks on random people we don't even know, and that is only when you are in the mood" Hobbes complained and rolled onto his back.
"Quit being so miserable Hobbes. I would do anything to be you, just laying here all day. What I wouldn't do to have your place" Calvin said and looked into the fire.

It happened in seventh grade, when Susie suddenly had had enough of him. He'd been pulling pranks, talked back to the teacher. He'd been this wild child, with no responsibilities. Well, now when Calvin looked back at it, he could see that he wasn't that mature as well. Susie had, in an argue with the teacher, risen up from her seat and held a speech that shook Calvin to the ground. She'd confronted him with his way of acting, his way of living. She'd told him that he had no real friends and that there was something wrong with him whenever he talked to Hobbes. That was when he realized that his personality didn't fit in. That he wasn't accepted by those who he thought was his comrades. There wasn't room for everyone. He'd not come to school for a week after that, and since then he'd adapted his personality. If they didn't want it, they wouldn't get it. They weren't worthy of it. Now, everyone was glad. Calvin had Hobbes, and his best friend Toby from school.
"I'm hungry… I think your mom is baking cookies" Hobbes interrupted Calvins' flashback.
"You think so? Oh yeah, that's just what I need" Calvin said and rose up from his sitting position. Hobbes followed him into the kitchen where his mom was, cooking something that was definitely not cookies. Calvin turned around to give his tiger a raised eyebrow. "Hobbes, do you call that pot-of-death, cookies?"
"No but perhaps, now when we're here, you could open a can of tuna" Hobbes looked hopefully at Calvin, putting together his fingers. "Come on Hobbes, I don't want my fingers to smell of tuna now" Calvin said and shrugged. His mom was used to listen to Calvin who was talking to Hobbes. There was nothing they could do about it.
Calvin received one of Hobbes death-glares while he dragged out his claws. "Okay okay, I'll open at stupid can of tuna… But then you'll have to help me with my math assignment!" Calvin said and walked over the one of the white shelves in to kitchen to take a can of tuna. "Is it for Hobbes?" Calvins' mother asked.
"Yeah, in exchange for helping me with my homework" he said while struggling a bit to open the can.
"Why? Don't you know how to do it?" she asked and put a hand on her hip while turning around to look at him with a sad look.
"Mom, it's just some of it I'll have to read extra about" he said, not really in the mood to talk with his mom about finding someone other than Toby to help in. It always ended up in some crazy talk or ideas whenever Toby was there to help him. His mom shrugged on her shoulders and turned around. He knew exactly what to say to get her off of his back.

Calvin eventually sat down in his room, and propped the math books down beside his comic books. Hobbes jumped up on a chair and opened the first page in Calvins' book. "So what is the subject?" asked Hobbes.
"Describing statistics" Calvin said with a sigh as he flipped through the pages to find the chapter that represented the subject.
"And what does the assignment say that you have to do?" Hobbes asked, and opened Calvins calendar which was filled with small drawing of random things.
"I have to make a report about the whole subject!" Calvin sighed deeply and rested his head in his hand.
"This is such a drag" he complained and flipped through the whole chapter. "And the worst part is, that I don't get a thing about it, I mean WHAT in the world should I learn such stupid things? I'm seriously not going to have anything to use this, with. I'm doing just fine with everything else!" he shut the book close in an aggressive movement. "Calvin? Are you having trouble with math?" Calvin fathers' glassed head peeped inside his door and walked further in when he saw the frown in of self-pity in Calvins' eyes.
"Hobbes doesn't have any trouble with it. I think I'll be fine" Calvin said shortly and opened the book again. His father sighed. Though Calvins' grades were grate, his father weren't happy with Calvin's social life and knew that he struggled with that, though he didn't get bullied. He'd always been a kid who'd lived in his own fantasy but, he'd never thought it could turn out in such an odd way.
"Listen, I really think you should ask someone to help you with the math, I'm sure there is someone who wants to help you" he said and put a hand on Calvins' shoulder.
"Dad, people in school are selfish and judgmental. The school has its own system, and people think that the real world is like that too" Calvin said dryly, not wanting to have this talk again.
"I think you should give them a chance. What about Susie? She's such a smart girl. I'm sure after so many years that she would be kind enough to help you" his father suggested. Calvin snorted sarcastically. It was just great that Susie, his life sworn enemy, had his parents' affection.
"Susie?! You have to be kidding dad. Is that the best you can come up with?" Calvin said not really taking this seriously. "No I'm not kidding. And I think that she'd be glad to help you. She's so nice Calvin, and I'm sure that she somehow regrets what she said to you once. I really think you should do it… You know, sometimes when we cross path in the supermarket she ask how you are." his father smiled sheepishly to Calvin and squeezed his shoulder a bit. Calvin looked up at his dad, completely astonished. Perhaps she wasn't as evil as he thought. "R-really?" he stuttered. "Really really" his father said and nuzzled Calvins' hair once before he left the room.
"Yes!" Hobbes shouted in triumph. Calvin rolled his eyes at the happy tiger. "You are, and will, always be a traitor" Calvin mumbled "Don't be so glad, I'm a hundred percent sure that she's going to say no" he said as he looked out of the window in his old room.

Susie met up in school, for a yet casual day. The classes seemed to pass on in a slow tempo and like all the days before she couldn't stop glancing over at Calvin now and then. In English however, a discussion was lead up by the teacher about a character of one of the books the class was reading. The question sounded;
"Why's Tom acting the way he does?" which of cause lead to a huge discussion in the class between two groups. Group one was Susie and the rest of the class and group two consisted of Calvin.
"It is, Mr. Cumberdale, obvious that Tom is acting the way he does because THAT's his personality! It's in his nature, he's a psyckopath until he meets the girl. It's as simple as that" She said after a long speech, trying not to make eye contact with Calvin. As soon as Calvin would speak he would win the teacher over, and the rest of the class. She could feel the point of no return nearing. Their teacher, Mr. Cumberdale wrote what she'd said in the blackboard and turned to her again.
"And that's what I had to say" she said and crossed her arms under her chest as she glanced over at Calvin and caught his brown eyes. She felt more confident in her case when she caught his eyes and noticed the smirk in his face.
"And Calvin?" Mr. Cumberdale said and turned to look at Calvin with expectation in his eyes.
"Mr. Cumberdale" Calvin said as if he was a lawyer talking to the judge.
"Tom's normal personality appears to be easygoing and nonchalant, but in his serious mode he is confident and arrogant; in either mode he often makes sardonic remarks. Which is the true persona? In Tom's case there is something else going on. " Calvin paused and looked around the classroom.
"Both passive aggression and nonconformity are forms of defensive coping mechanisms" Calvin wrote 'defensive coping mechanisms' with big letters on a piece of paper and showed it to the class.
"In addition, Tom's nonchalance and carefree attitude, inappropriate jokes during serious situations, may come from coping with death from a young age by not coping, by not facing reality, by using inappropriate levity to laugh at death rather than face the trauma. It's likely that not until someone close to him died was he truly faced with the reality of death. Killing and having someone close to you be killed are different experiences. It is easy to be desensitized to the former, especially in times of war. The enemy is usually nameless and faceless. The reality of death only sinks in once someone close to you dies… Conclusion? Tom's suffering from defensive coping mechanisms or survivors' guilt" Calvin tapped his pen ones at his notes, which Susie found somehow irritating.
"Well, Calvin, I must say that I find your analysis quite interesting" Mr. Cumberdale said. Great, he was into Calvin's hard explanation. Not that is was fair and square.
"But I may stay with Susie and the rest of the class's characterizing of Tom" Mr. Cumberdale said and began to scratch down some notes in his note-book. A few sigh of relief was heard in the class including from Sussie. She couldn't believe that she FOR ONCE was right. Calvin moved his eyes to stare at the ceiling like it was the reason for his sudden irritation. Not that it was that fun to win a discussion against Calvin. He didn't react in any particular way.

As people made their way out of class, Susie stacked her books and notes in silence. She accidentally dropped a pen on the floor which was just about enough time for everyone to leave. Didn't the others have any stuff to carry? Susie was caught in her own thoughts, which partly circulated around Calvin, which they always did. She knew very well that she was carrying around a lot of guilt. She took her books and was about to walk out, when she saw the back of Calvin. She held in a gasp and stopped her foot from taking the first step. Why was he still sitting by his desk? His head was slightly bent forward and she couldn't quite tell what he was doing. A nervous and awkward feeling spread in her body. Was he mad because of the discussion? Susie choked her head once as her eyes flickered in confusion. She lifted her head up high and looked at the door to her right side, and decided to walk by Calvin with no words like she used to.

She walked forward confident and with no hesitation but couldn't help but letting the gasp get through when something pulled her shirt. She looked over her shoulder to see Calvin's hand holding a small piece of her shirt. Her heart sank in fear. He WAS mad because of the discussion.

"W-wh-weh" some sound came out of her mouth but she couldn't form them as she wanted to. Calvin removed his hand and brushed his face, like he was very uncomfortable. He then forced his eyes upon her and spoke. "Eh well… I… First of all I want to say sorry because I called you Sushi the other day" the usually so well-speaking Calvin said as if he was stumbling over the words. Susie's heart fluttered suddenly as well as the rhythm of her heart. Immediately she began to wonder what the causes of these words were. She mentally slapped herself to get out of her thoughts, and to remind herself not to be too happy.
"Eh, it's fine. I'm kind of used to it" she said and had a hard time of trying to remove her eyes away from his. The corner of his mouth curled up a bit before he cleared his throat.
"Well, I just… Eh… What I'm about to ask you was my father's idea so don't freak out or anything" he said. Still he sounded nervous and was somehow bad at expressing himself. She cocked an eyebrow.
"Why would I freak out on you because of a question?" she asked. It was pretty ridiculous of him say things like that when he hadn't spoken to her in several years. Calvin removed his eyes from hers and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Eh, I guess… I don't know – whatever" he clenched his hand and looked at Susie again. She had never felt this confused in a long time. Why was he acting so weird all of sudden? "Okay here we go" he whispered and looked at ceiling briefly.
"I'm not the best at math, so I was wondering if you could help me with my math assignment and, understand the subject… But-if-you-don't-want-to-it's-reasonable-i-mean—" he blabbed.
"Of course I would help you" she said a bit too fast. She'd never heard Calvin talk like that, or she'd just forgotten it. Her heart was racing extremely fast, and she got mad at herself for not having any control of own body. Why was it acting so insane?! She suddenly felt a strong urge to run out of the classroom, as a sudden awkward silent moment with Calvin just starring at her, appeared. She looked to the side to show that she was uncomfortable which luckily made Calvin snap out of whatever trance he was in.
"Oh eh… didn't expect you to say that" he said and scratched his neck."So… After school?" Susie asked to help him a bit out of his insecure state
"Eh, I have to practice baseball, but at 5 o-clock?" he asked. Susie couldn't help but smile of him, now when he seemed so vulnerable.
"Okay, that's fine" she said completely consumed by the moment. But Calvin looked away and snapped up from his seat, a bit too close to her. She backed away a bit, suddenly losing all of her confidence. It was annoying to her that he had such an effect on her, how cold he give her such mood swings in only a few minutes. It was even worse than being in her period.
"Okay, then I'll see you later" he said in a rush and swung his schoolbag up on his shoulder as he strode out of the classroom in a sudden hurry. Susie discovered that she had been holding her breath and let out a big gush of air while she sat down on his table, completely taken back the previous situation. She was glad, but felt like vomiting and her head felt dizzy. She grabbed her ponytail and brushed her fingers through it as she tried to digest what had just happened. Calvin must obviously have been desperate when he asked HER about help. She couldn't believe that after so many years of not talking, she was now invited into his home to help him with math.

She rushed up from the table and hurried out of the classroom to find her dear friend Linda. Luckily it didn't take long for her to find Linda. Susie found her in the hallway, talking to some guys Susie knew through her. As soon as Linda saw Susies agitated face she pushed aside the two boys walked towards Susie who was on her way over to Linda.
"What's wrong Susie?" she asked her voice full of concern. "You won't believe what just happened to me!" Susie said sounding just as agitated as she looked.
"What what what?" Linda began to jump in her place as she clenched her fists, excited to hear what Susie had to say. "Calvin just asked if I wanted to help him with Math… At his home" Susie said not sure whether to sound excited or scared. "Oh my god, are you kidding?" Linda asked, eyes wide in disbelief.
"No, I'm not. I was so shocked myself. I mean… He hasn't been talking to me in years" Susie said taking her hand out to her side. Linda breathed out and put on her serious face and put an arm around Susie's shoulder and began to walk down the hallway.
"Okay, this is totally progress… AND weird. Firstly you have to think; what do you want out of this opportunity?" Linda said. Susie was glad that when she couldn't think herself Linda could. And it was very rare that it she lost it, like now.
"What I want out of it? Helping him with math I guess" Susie said and looked over at her friend in question. Linda rolled her eyes and spoke "What about getting the old Calvin back?" she asked and smiled a devilish smile. "And how am I supposed to do that?" Susie asked, staring blankly ahead of herself. "Hello brainy, you're one who played with him as kid, you should know what reaches him" she snorted as if it was the obvious thing in the world.
"But I don't know him that well anymore" Susie said dryly, deciding to follow her own instincts.

Next chapter will be out soon :)