Beyond The Great Unknown, a Big Mouth/Final Fantasy crossover

As I said in the story description, this Big Mouth story was originally going to be WAY different, with the characters battling demons representing the Seven Deadly Sins, and started writing it that way on both Fanfiction.Net and ArchiveOfOurOwn, but then I played Final Fantasy IX for the first time in years, and realized that a crossover with that game would have so much more potential, and decided to rewrite it that way. Plus I lost access to those other sites anyway.

However, because I decided to rework the story after I had already done a few chapters, the actual part where it starts 'crossing over' doesn't happen until chapter 6 or 7, and is only hinted at by the end of chapter 5. So please bare with me, it's getting there. I'm already up to chapter 11, and the characters are already in the FF world by this point. 

At least a few of the main characters will lose their virginity. Just the ones who make the most sense to ME. Long ago when the show first started, doing anything sexual with these characters would be "wrong" or "perverted", but now as these characters are revealed to be 15, we're now in the more age-acceptable range, so hopefully it won't be too bad. Plus I'm planning for over a year to pass in this story, so by the time anything major happens they'll be 16, some older.

Also at least two of the characters will die, not including the characters who die in FF IX. Don't worry, none of the BM teens. 

Anyway, this chapter starts right after the end of season 8. Like IMMEDIATELY after. This chapter won't be terribly long. It just merely sets up some things to come later in the story. I'm also retconning the end of the finale. Instead of literally stepping into the future, instead I'm just writing them having gone outside to the field and standing under the night sky, having last-minute conversations, and our main characters have some big epiphanies, including Devin and our favorite coach-turned-nurse.

Anyway, without further ado, here we go!!!

Chapter 1 

The ex-students of Bridgeton Middle still stood outside its condemned, soon-to-be-demolished ruins, looking up at the starry sky. Everyone was remembering the last times they were together like this. At the school dance. The school sleepover. Now they were in high school, no longer tweens but teenagers. Young adults. In a few years they'd be in college, have jobs, some starting families. Childhood felt like only yesterday, but now adulthood was closer than their first kiss, their most painful skinned knee, the best Christmas gift they ever unwrapped. It all felt so unreal. It was like finally waking up tonight and seeing the real world for the first time, like their years here had been a dream, and they were waking into an unfamiliar world that had changed while they slept.  

Jessi, despite being the one trying to reassure everybody earlier, looked down at the ground. Her bravery earlier had disappeared. Now she felt the way she had secretly felt at the school dance years ago, like she was making a fool of herself. She sighed. "Actually, I AM scared. I mean, high school is terrible. The debate team was a disaster. I have a boyfriend I have to keep secret from my mom because she caught us smoking weed. I'm constantly bouncing around between two homes. My half-sister is now a toddler, and more annoying than ever. Not to mention the schoolwork is harder. How am I NOT supposed to be scared of the future when the present is already so terrible?"

Jessi heard the others mumble among themselves, some agreeing, some uttering worries of their own. Missy walked up beside her, still looking at the sky. "I'm worried too. I mean, Nate is amazing, and my parents agreed to give us space. All we've done is make out of course, but eventually he'll want more. Maybe me too. But I'm worried, despite all my fantasies, even though my parents expect me to always be confident. Plus I feel Robotics Club is the only place I belong at that school. I get so nervous everywhere else there my braces hurt. "

Nick nodded. "I mean, I'm glad I'm finally taller, with a better Hormone Monster ", Maury, beside him, rolled his eyes, unseen by Nick", and school is actually pretty neat, but I STILL feel like a freak. And no matter what I do, I end up saying or doing the wrong thing, and end up hurting people. " He looked behind him at Devin, who was standing further back, talking to Lola and the other cheerleaders. She turned and caught his glance. She gave him a half-smile for a second, then turned back to her friends. Nick felt another stab of guilt for the way things had turned out. Why did ALL of his romances turn out like this?

Matthew sighed. "I'm at a loss too. I'm starting to think the B-High Quee-Choi isn't for ME, even though I DO like singing. Ocean and the others, they're.... well, they're kind of intimidating. Not to mention mean. I'm starting to think, maybe..... maybe things WERE better when I was just doing announcements here. "

Andrew jumped in. "And now apparently MY puberty is over. I have bad eyesight, I'm going bald, and I'm a pariah, because of the Timon thing, and because of the robot fiasco. "

Nick smiled and patted him on the shoulder. "But Andrew, you were already a pariah HERE. So, not much has changed. "

Missy smiled too. "Plus it was ME who humped that robot to scrap. I already told Nate the truth. On Monday I'll tell the others. They'll let you rejoin. Nate really likes you. "

Andrew smiled back. "Thanks, Missy. I'd like that. "

Lola, beside Devin, spoke up. "Yeah, while we're airing our anxieties and doubts, I just want to say I'm resigning from cheerleading. I mean let's face it, I'm FAT. Whenever y'all try and lift me, it's a disaster. And sure I can lift you, Devin, but like, that just makes me feel like more of a freak. Girls aren't supposed to be strong like Hercules. I'm just learning that other people have feelings too, and, like, I can barely understand my own. I just need time to figure out what I want to do. "She looked over at Jay. "And what I REALLY want. "

Devin smiled at her. "Well, you don't have to figure those things out alone, Lola. I'm here for you. I haven't always been the best friend. Hell, I haven't been a good PERSON, period. " Devin sighed and turned to face the crowd. She took a deep breath. She HAD to do this. This was more than a night of nostalgia and reminiscing. This was a night of reckoning. 

"Everyone. Look, I...." Devin took another breath and spoke louder as all the gathered students turned to face her. She felt her heart beat faster. Suddenly she felt nervous, the way she used to when she was younger. Devin used to be very shy, until she had met Lola and Devon in kindergarten. They had helped bring her out of her shell. Now she felt like she was in her first day of kindergarten again, being asked to introduce herself. 

"Look, I know I haven't been the nicest person. Actually I've been a MONSTER. A bitch. I know I've wronged just about every person here, directly or indirectly. And most of you have every right to hate me. Hell, I'D hate me. And until recently, I did. But somebody I recently met told me I just need to have compassion for myself. And it helped me realize, it doesn't matter whether I'll always be popular or rich or beautiful. What matters is being happy with my life no matter what. I mean, I look at y'all and see everything we've been through the past few years, and see we've survived. Because we had EACH OTHER. But in the midst of all the bad things that happened, instead of helping or trying to comfort people, I've just made things worse. I've lied, spread rumors, said just....just HORRIBLE things. I've hurt people. Even my best friend. ", glancing at Lola as she said it. "But after learning to love myself, I've learned I can't just be jealous every time someone outshines me, or is prettier, taller, whatever. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize I actually HATED that life. Hated it all. Social media. Gossip. Lists. That stupid wedding to a unfaithful jerk. The makeup. This fucking MAKEUP." With that Devin raised the top of her shirt and wiped her face vigorously, as if she was wiping off layers of grime instead of expensive makeup. Finally she lowered her shirt, and the other students gasped as they saw the freckles her makeup had covered. 

Devin smiled at their shock. "Yes, this is the REAL me. I used to hate these freckles, but now I realize they're a PART of me. They ARE me. I realize, I can't hide myself anymore. Because if I don't love myself nobody else can. Before, everybody just loved me because of my social media presence, or being rich, or just because of my looks. But I spent so long hiding, I guess as part of my cover I lost my TRUE self. I wasn't always this way. In fact I used to barely speak at all. Remember, Lola? In kindergarten?"

Lola laughed. "Yeah, I remember. You got so scared on your first day, when they asked us to play duck-duck-goose, you ran outside and tried to climb a tree cause you thought somebody would slug you instead of tapping!!"

Devin laughed. "Oh my God, I forgot about that!!! Wow that was so long ago!!" She turned back to the other students. "But she's right, I was afraid, and until tonight maybe I still was. Afraid if anybody saw the REAL me, they'd call me a fake. A poser. And maybe deep down I just wanted to feel braver than I am, more confident, so I just did everything in my power to stay on top, because if I lost my place, I was afraid I'd slip back in my shell, and this time maybe not be able to come back. But no more. No more hiding. Whatever the future holds, I'm facing it as the REAL me. " She turned to Missy and smiled. "And I think you were right Missy, I'm sure good things will keep happening. I just have to believe." Missy smiled back, and walked over and hugged Devin. Devin eagerly hugged her back. 

Coach Steve, meanwhile, was having his own deep thoughts. He reached into his pocket and pulled out Sad Mitten, which Mrs Jay's Mom had knitted him. Putting it on the hand with his reattached fingers, he raised it to face him. 

"Oh, Sad Mitten, what do I do? I thought I'd be happy being Nurse Coach Steve, but truth is, I'm not happy, Sad Mitten. Middle School was, it was all I knew, you know? Now all these kids are growed up, you know? And so different. Now I'm starting to think, maybe I should be more grown too? Like maybe I'm no longer the same Steve, you know?"

Sad Mitten replied, in a voice oddly like Coach Steve himself, made odder by how Coach Steve himself moved his mouth over his gritted teeth. " Oh Steve, don't you see? The kids were growing and changing all along. It's YOU who stayed the same. It's cause you're afraid. Afraid if you leave, if you change, nobody will remember or recognize you. But change is a part of life. Sometimes the best part. Everybody grows, everybody changes. Everybody leaves. Don't you want to see more? DO more?"

Coach Steve started crying. "Oh, Sad Mitten. I DO!!! I've never been to Vegas, or on a cruise. Cause I was afraid of sharks. And I want to see Hawaii, and the North Pole. See Santa and the elves!!! But if I leave, if I go away, what will happen to the kids? What if they forget me?"

"Oh, Steve, poor, dear, simple Steve,", Sad Mitten replied, "they'll never forget you. Nobody will. And what they DO forget, you'll build new memories when you get back. Spread your wings for a while, Steve. The birds must leave the nest. It's time for Papa Bird to take his own flight. "

Coach Steve stopped crying and smiled. "Oh, you're right, Sad Mitten. I can't stay here forever. I gotta get out there. Here I'm just Coach Steve, or Nurse Coach Steve. But maybe I can be a bunch of other Steves too."

Sad Mitten smiled back. "Yes, find your other Steves. Maybe eventually you'll find the REAL Steve. And if you don't, all your friends will still be here when you get back. "

Coach Steve wiped away a tear and smiled again. "In that case I'll get back as fast as I can. I bet I can get around the world in 80 days or less. " He turned to the students. 

"Yeah, I have my own announcement too. After consulting my friend Sad Mitten here, I've decided to take a sabbatical. I'm going away for a while, you know?"

Jay gasped. "But Steve, you can't go!! We need you!!!"

Coach Steve smiled. "Oh don't worry, Jay. I'll be back. I just need to go out and find out who I really am, you know? I guess sort of like y'all are doing in school. After hearing the lovely Miss Devin talking about being her true self, and hearing the rest of youse talk about yourselves, I just realized I gotta find the REAL me. I mean I've been a coach, a pharmacy clerk, a mannequin, a caterer, a gas station clerk, a Lyft driver, coach again, a summer school teacher, a nurse. But all those things were HERE. It's a big world out there, you know? I mean, maybe out there I can find a Steve I've never met. Maybe seeing the world can help me find the REAL Steve. "

Jay sighed. " I guess you're right. I still need to figure out who I am, too. We all do. I'll miss you though. "

Matthew smiled. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll miss you too. "Matthew had used to find Coach Steve weird and annoying, but over the last year or so the shaggy-haired man-child had grown on him. 

Nick and Andrew walked up to him. "Yeah, it'll be different without you around", Nick said. "I still remember when you drove me and Andrew back home after we ditched school. I can't believe that was like three years ago. Feels like only yesterday. "

"Just don't fly ", Andrew added. "I never told you, but I had a dream where you were a pilot, and I ended up getting sucked out the window." 

"Oh don't worry, I'll drive as far as I can, maybe take a choo-choo here and there, and maybe go through the desert on a horse with no name. Anyway, I should go home and get ready." He frowned, then sighed. "Well, kids, I guess I'll be seeing you. "He turned to each of them. "Nick, you've become such a big man, my dude. Andrew, keep growing that mustache. When I get back we'll be mustache twins. Missy, I miss the overalls, but you've gotten so pretty. Good luck with the Roblox club. "

Missy blushed. "Aww, thanks. But it's ROBOTICS club. "

But Coach Steve had already moved onto Jessi. "Jessi, I still remember that day of the school field trip to the Statue Of Liberty."

Jessi smiled. "Right, I got my period, and you bought a bag of marshmallows instead of tampons. Still, I'm still touched. That was very sweet of you. "

Coach Steve pinched her cheek. " Anything for the lovely lady. " 

He turned to Matthew. "Matthew, I don't know if I ever thanked you for that lovely birthday party you threw me on the bus. "

Matthew smiled. "Well, when you get back, I'll see if I can get everyone to help throw you a late birthday party. "  

Coach Steve smiled. "Thanks, Matthew. I'd like that. 

He turned to Jay. "And Jay. Being friends with you has been the best years of my life. I'll never forget the day we first hung out, when you helped me put away the badminton equipment. "

Jay smiled. "Aw, Steve, you said it right that time. "

Coach Steve patted him on the shoulder. "I'll miss you most of all. Wherever I go, whenever I see a magician or handsome young man in a vest, I'll think of you, my dude. Tell your mom I said hi. I'll miss her too. Always remember, no matter where we both go, I'll always be your Gary. "

He sighed. "Well, the rest of you, I'll miss you all too. I wish y'all the best. Just don't graduate without me this time. Well, I guess I'd better get home and start packing. You guys should be getting home too, your mommies and daddies must be worried. Make sure y'all get home safe. Goodbye, my friends, and good luck. "

 With that, he walked through the crowd of students towards the school building. The field echoed with the cheers and cries of the students saying goodbye to their former coach-turned-nurse, wishing him good luck and telling him how much they'd miss him. The cheers continued until he disappeared through the doors, and disappeared into the darkness, heading to the other side of the school to the parking lot toward his car. 

Finally, the cheers stopped, and the field was silent once more. The students stood around, some talking among themselves, some looking back at the sky or the crumbling ruins. Finally Jessi spoke up. "I think he was right though, we really SHOULD be getting home. My mom will probably be calling any minute wondering where I am, plus I promised Camden I would video call him before bed. "

Missy nodded. "Yeah I promised Nate I'd call him too. I invited him to come, but he couldn't get a ride."

The field once more echoed with students mumbling their agreement it was time to go. As the crowd started to disperse, Nick scanned the crowd for Devin. There she was, talking to her cheerleaders again. Nick felt his heart start to beat faster. All night he had been nervous as he saw her standing around. He'd been trying to work up the courage to speak to her, because it would be the first time since the "cum guzzler" incident a week or so ago. But he couldn't help himself any longer. He HAD to talk to her. But he realized he had better do this alone. He turned to Maury. 

"Maury, I'm going to talk to Devin. Do me a favor, please, just stand over there real quick." He pointed to the entrance where the crowd of monsters still stood, having their own last-minute conversations. As the students passed, most passed the monsters without seeing them, but some, probably ones with firsthand experience with a specific monster or monsters, stopped to chat. 

Maury groaned. "Ok fine. I need to have a word with Lionel anyway. He owes me some money from last week's poker game. Just don't be too long. " He walked off, and Nick turned to Devin. His heart began to beat even faster. He took a deep breath and walked up beside her. She turned to face him. She turned and said goodbye to the other girls, and after they walked off she turned back to him. She smiled slightly, like she did earlier. "Hey Nick. How are you?"

Nick silently urged his beating heart to calm down before it burst from his chest. "Um, I'm good. Um, look, Devin, I really AM sorry. So, so sorry for what I did. It was really shitty. I don't know why I lied. I should have just told the truth about what I said, what I called you. That's just what I do sometimes. I say stuff without thinking, and don't realize I hurt people until it's too late. "

Devin's smile vanished, and she looked at the ground. "I understand. So do I. Or rather I USED to. That was the old Devin. But as everybody saw tonight, this is the start of the NEW Devin. The old Devin is gone. History. Cancelled. She's gone, and she's never coming back. I hated that monster, as much as everybody else. "

Nick nodded. "Yes, I heard. And I actually like her, the new you. She really becomes you. But that's just the thing, since the Devin I called cum guzzler was the OLD Devin, I was wondering if the new Devin would be willing to forgive me? I mean, I'd hate to not be friends with her. She's awesome. "

Devin was silent for a moment, still looking at the ground. Finally she looked back up and smiled. "Yes, Nick. You're right. I mean, we ARE at our old school for the very last time. This was where the evil Devin ruled with an iron fist. But when I leave here tonight I'm closing the book on that part of my life FOREVER."

"So, you're saying there's room for me in your NEW book?", Nick asked, hoping she couldn't hear his heart still pounding like a jackhammer. 

Devin smiled again. "Yes. I think there IS. " She held her arms out and pulled Nick into a hug. If his heart had been beating fast before, now it was practically breaking the speed of light barrier. Nick's brain spun with emotions as she hugged him. Regret, for hurting her. Longing, for her lips against his again. Sadness, that they never WOULD be. Nick grabbed her tighter, wanting to savor this moment, dreading the moment she would pull away. 

When she finally did, Nick looked at her smiling face. For the first time, he truly SAW her. Her hazel eyes. Her long, beautiful hair, so soft. Her dazzling smile. Her freckles, which he'd never seen until tonight, which only accentuated her beauty. It was finally then that the realization hit Nick like a train:' I LOVE her. I would DIE for her.' Nick suddenly felt dizzy, felt like the world was spinning. His heart was beating faster, but not in a nervous way. It was as if it wanted to leap out of his chest and join with hers, to become one. At that moment he knew he could love her and none other. 

Devin smiled again, and her beautiful, hypnotic voice broke him out of his thoughts, pulled him down to earth. She said the words he had been dreading. "Well, I should be going. I gotta find Lola first. I'll see you on Monday, Nick. Have a great weekend. " With one last smile at him she walked off, calling for Lola. Nick watched her retreating back, his heart now feeling like it was falling, destined for a landing that would shatter it into a million shards. It hurt, as if she had stabbed him in the chest instead of hugging him and smiling. 

Devin finally saw Lola and called her over. When she reached Devin, Devin's eyes scanned the crowd of Monsters. She saw Emmy, her Lovebug. Petra. Her own aged Monstress, Celeste. But where was ..... ah. There she was. Devin smiled. 

"Lola, before we leave, there's somebody I want to introduce you to. Come with me. " 

Devin led her over to the side of the building to the assembled Monsters. Devin acknowledged Celeste, Petra, and Emmy. Lola gasped as she saw Lionel. "Oh wow, it's Mr Ghost!!! I haven't seen you since the egg incident!!!" 

Lionel groaned. "I'm STILL a wizard, my dear. Glad to see you haven't had ANOTHER incident though. "

Devin smiled. "No, not HIM, Lola. " She turned to the humanoid elephant woman standing next to the others. "HER. Lola, this is Coco, the Compassion Pachyderm. She's the one I mentioned earlier, the one who taught me to love myself. To love THESE." she said, running her hand over her freckled face. "And I think she has some things she'd like to tell YOU, too."

Coco smiled. "Thanks, Devin. ". She turned to Lola. "So you're Lola. Devin told me so much about you. Living alone. Jay. The egg. She's told me you have a lot of self-doubt and insecurities. I heard what you said about cheerleading." Coco shook her head. "What you need, dear, is some compassion."

Lola put her fingers under her chin in thought. "Hmmm, compression. Listening. "

Coco shook her head. "No, COMPASSION. As in understanding how others feel. I heard what you said earlier about understanding how others feel. But you can't truly understand others unless you understand YOURSELF first. Like, do you REALLY want to quit cheerleading? I was there last week when Devin was having trouble. You seemed like you enjoy it. "

Lola sighed. "But alas, I am, like, too big-boned. I can't stand on the pyramid, and can barely do a sommersault. "

Coco frowned. "But it doesn't matter if you can DO it, or even do it RIGHT. What matters is you enjoy TRYING. Sometimes the effort is more fun than succeeding. As long as you ENJOY something, it doesn't matter if you're good, and it certainly doesn't matter what anybody else thinks. Don't do it for others. The best reason to do something you enjoy is for YOURSELF." 

Lola thought again for another moment. "Hmmmm. You know, you may have a point. I mean, I DO have the most school spirit of anybody here. But, pray tell, what if my oh-so-strong arms and knees get too weak to hold the other cheerleaders? Even Hercules lost his strength."

Devin smiled. "Well, that won't be a problem. You don't HAVE to do the pyramid if you don't want to. The others will do what you say. "

"And why, pray tell, would they listen to ME?"

Devin's smile grew bigger. "Because, I'm making YOU captain. "

Lola gasped. "Wait, WHAT??!!!"

Devin laughed at her expression. "I'M the one leaving the squad, Lola. I need time to figure stuff out. This, none of this, feels like my world anymore, Lola. I was always so sure of who I was, but after Coco and I got to know each other, she really opened my eyes, and I realized I no longer recognized myself or the world I was living in. I just need to sever all connections with the OLD Devin. Don't worry ", she added, laughing again at Lola's shocked face, " I'm not leaving the school, just the squad. They'll be in good hands, Lola. Yours. " She finished by hugging Lola. If Lola had been shocked before, now she looked on the verge of fainting. Affection from Devin was as rare as a visit from her mother. 

Devin laughed again and pulled away. She smiled at Coco. "Thank you again for everything, Coco. I'm so glad I met you. If you hadn't shown up, I'd still be living a lie. "

Coco smiled. "A bit of compassion sure goes a long way, doesn't it? I'll always be around, if you need me. " She patted Devin on the shoulder, then joined the other departing monsters, who were vanishing one by one as their humans headed home. Devin was about to head back into the school to exit through the front entrance to head home when Petra jumped in front of her. 

"Girl, what the fuck did you just do?!! Don't you realize you're giving up your whole fucking future here??!!!"

Devin frowned. "It's no longer the future I WANT, Petra. I should have done this YEARS ago. I was just too blind to see. "

Petra growled. "What the FUCK??!!! What happened to our ten-year plan?!!! High school, then college, then into the fashion industry, with our own personal jet and a penthouse near the beach, with a pool and our own personal pool boy bringing us drinks?!!"

Devin sighed. "Those were YOUR plans, Petra. They sounded good about a year ago, but EVERYBODY thinks they have their future planned out in middle school. But I'm 15 now, and I think I just need to take life one day at a time. Who knows what I'll do, who I'll become? I just know who I DON'T want to be anymore. "

Petra's green face turned red with rage. "You stupid bimbo, I told everybody at the Ambition Department I had one of the best clients at Bridgeton High. I told them how everybody would practically swoon and bow when you walked through the door, how the bottom-feeders would tremble when you so much as looked at them!!! I told them you were GOING places!!! Do you know how fucking long me and my ancestors worked with your family?!! The name Leseven is known throughout the Department. Lawyers. Talent agents. Models. Senators. Why, you could.....you could be ANYTHING you WANT!!!"

Devin shook her head. "But I wasn't HAPPY with that life, Petra. I don't think I ever truly WAS happy. "

Petra's face softened. Devin knew what she was about to do. She always played this card as a last resort. She would soften her tone and try acting nice and grandmotherly. Devin braced herself. 

"Look, Devin. Please. Think about your family. Your mom. Your dad. Your little sister, who looks up to you so much. They all want the best for you. Why, your sister wants to follow in your footsteps. Don't you want to give your parents something they can be proud of? Give your sister something to aspire to? If you give up on your dreams, then that all goes down the drain!!"

Devin shook her head again. "Those are no longer MY dreams, they're yours. If my parents had those dreams too, that's THEIR problem. I'm sorry, Petra. I'm not listening to you anymore. I'm following my HEART. Something I should have done long ago. "

Petra's face turned red with rage again. She shook her fist and growled. "Well FUCK you then!!!! Fine, go be just another basic bitch!!! But don't fucking blame ME when you're laying in the trash in some alley giving handjobs just to buy your next bag of crack!!! I am fucking DONE!!!!" She turned as a portal appeared behind her and jumped into it with a frustrated scream. Next second the portal disappeared. 

Emmy flipped off the spot where Petra had been. "BITCH!!!", she yelled. She turned to Devin and smiled. "You handled that well, kid. I'm proud of you. "

Devin smiled back. "You know Emmy, I'm proud of MYSELF for the first time in my life. Let's go home." She turned to Celeste. "Come on Celeste. Let's go."

Celeste walked over slowly. She looked around in confusion with her good eye. "Are we going to the hair salon? I gotta get my hair done. "

Devin sighed. "No Celeste. We're going HOME, to my house. "

They started walking, but Emmy looked behind them, where Nick was still standing, watching them walk away. 

"Poor Nick, he's still standing there", Emmy said. "You should have talked to him longer. You still like him, don't you Devin." It wasn't a question. 

Devin sighed. "I don't know, Emmy. I just don't know about ANYTHING anymore. It's like I've been on autopilot all these years, and now I have to learn to fly on my own. Maybe....." She stopped walking for a second and thought. "Maybe I DO still have feelings, but I can't do anything with them right now. I need to figure out myself before I figure out anything else." She started walking again, followed by Celeste and Emmy, who took one last sad look at Nick. 

Nick, meanwhile, still stood in the same spot where he and Devin had talked. He was staring so intently at Devin's retreating figure he didn't hear Maury come up beside him. 

"You ready to go yet?", he asked. "Lionel was a bit short, but he said he'll bring by the rest later tonight", he added, flashing the cash in his hands. 

Nick sighed. " Yes, let's go, I guess. " 

They walked back into the school and headed to the front of the school and out the front door. Some stragglers still stood around talking, most heading every which way toward their homes. Nick caught sight of Devin once more. Under the pale moonlight, her long hair caught the gentle breeze, swaying slightly, catching the glow like curtains in a haunted house. He wished she'd turn around just for a second, so he could close his eyes, catching her beautiful face like a snapshot. She didn't turn around. 

"Hey Maury, can you help me?", a raspy voice cut through the silence, breaking Nick's thoughts. He turned around. Rick, his former Hormone Monster, came walking up to them, leaning on his wooden cane. "Man, I missed the portal man. When I retired they made me hand in my card. I had to carpool with the others to get here, but I missed the portal back, and it won't open for me cause I no longer have my card."

Maury groaned. "God damn it, Rick. Really? Fine. I'll take you back. " He turned to Nick. "I'll see you at home. Get your dick ready, you hear? I expect some major fappage tonight before bed." He turned and snapped his fingers, and a portal opened. He stepped through it. Rick followed, but turned to Nick. "Hey Nick, hope you're ok man. I miss you, but I'm too old for this shit. I think I'm sick, man. Not feeling too good lately. I miss you though, you were my favorite. " He saw Nick's forlorn expression. "What's wrong, man? You look sad. You fall down and get a boo-boo? It's ok, man. Happens to me all the time. It's ok, we're big boys. You'll feel better. Your wounds will heal, man." He limped to the portal and stepped through, and the portal vanished. 

Nick turned back just in time to see Devin's distant figure disappear around the corner. Nick finally felt his heart break. Unable to hold them any longer, he felt the hot tears roll down his face. 

"Some NEVER do.....", he whispered. 

End of chapter 1 

Hope y'all enjoyed the first chapter. I'm really excited for the coming chapters, I have tons of cool things planned. 

A few things though. While some may be confused/upset I had Coach Steve decide to go away, the reason I did that was because I need the story to focus more on the teenagers. Whenever Coach Steve is around, he usually hogs all the attention. I understand he's a fan favorite, I like him too, but the thing is the brand of humor he brings is just too bizarre and outlandish, especially for this story, which is meant to be more of a drama. 

I realize I only focused on a few characters this chapter, but I just wanted to focus on some of the core characters and their thoughts and troubles. Next chapter will have more of Jessi, Jay and Andrew, and possibly Matthew, but will also feature more of Devin, who gets a new Hormone Monstress (yes, somebody we know), while Nick and Maury grow closer.

As I said above, it'll be a few more chapters until the crossover part starts, as I was already in the middle of chapter 5 when I switched gears and decided to rework this fic into a crossover, so please be patient.