Author’s Note: This is following the episode Roomies.

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    It was the tiếp theo morning after the long night of tracking down the walrus-spy, Rhonda, and rerouting her thùng from the polar chịu, gấu reserve to the Hoboken Aquarium. While Kowalski tried to track down her thùng in hopes of getting his unnamed invention back, Skipper went over to Marlene’s to see how she was holding up.

    “Hey, Marlene. Everything alright?” Skipper asked as he entered her habitat. Marlene was sitting at her small dresser looking into a mirror, which she set on the dresser upon his arrival.

    “Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just a little shocked. I can’t believe bạn were right about Rhonda being a spy,” Marlene replied.

    “Well, I always go with my gut,” Skipper told her. “Are bạn sure that’s the only thing troubling you?” he asked, noticing her deep-in-thought expression.

    Marlene looked up, putting on a fake smile to try to cover up her true feelings. “I’m fine, Skipper. Really.”

    Skipper looked at her for a moment, then sighed. “You know how I just đã đưa ý kiến I always listen to my gut? Well, right now, my gut’s telling me that you’re lying to me.” He pulled a ghế đẩu, phân in front of her and sat down. “I can tell something is bothering you.”

    Marlene sighed. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

    Skipper smiled sympathetically. “What’s wrong, Marlene?”

    Marlene looked down into her paws. “It’s just…When Rhonda arrived…She đã đưa ý kiến that I look like a rat. She even started calling me ‘Rat-Face.’ I mean…Normally, I don’t let this sort of thing bother me, but I just can’t help but think…What if that’s how the humans see me? What if that’s how everyone else sees me and just doesn’t want to admit it to spare my feelings?” she explained, not meeting Skipper’s eyes.

    Skipper laughed slightly. “Marlene, I can assure bạn that no one else sees bạn that way. And anyone who does is the biggest fool on earth.”

    Marlene finally brought herself to glance up at him. “How can bạn be so sure?”

    “Because, Marlene, you’re—” he stopped mid-sentence with his beak hanging open, unsure of how to end that sentence without things becoming awkward.

    “I’m what?” Marlene urged.

    Skipper looked into her eyes for a moment.

    “Beautiful,” he đã đưa ý kiến finally.

    Marlene’s face fell from doubt to surprise.

    “Really? I don’t think I’d use the word beautiful…” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến rubbing her arm nervously.

    “I wouldn’t either. I just couldn’t think of a better word,” Skipper đã đưa ý kiến with a shrug.

    Marlene’s face lifted. “Skipper…That’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever đã đưa ý kiến to me,” she said, then thought for a moment. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever đã đưa ý kiến to me…”

    Skipper smiled. “I have my moments,” he đã đưa ý kiến with a slight laugh.

    “You…Really mean it?” Marlene asked.

    Skipper got to his feet and took her bởi the shoulders. “Marlene, I can honestly and truthfully tell bạn that you,” he looked deep into her eyes, “are the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen in my life.”

    He almost regretted it as soon as he đã đưa ý kiến it. It wasn’t that it wasn’t true, but it was that giving her such a compliment put their friendship at risk of becoming awkward. The last thing he wanted was to unintentionally push her away.

    Marlene was speechless. For what seemed like a lifetime, she stared back into Skipper’s deep blue eyes and tried to find the words to say. The only response she could find was to bọc her arms around Skipper’s neck and embrace him tightly. He hugged her back.

    “Thanks, Skipper. You’re a great friend,” Marlene đã đưa ý kiến over his shoulder.

    Skipper smiled in relief. “No problem, Marlene.”