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"Senior year," sighed an anthropomorphic bat walking down a high school hallway. "This is going to be a long year."

Walking beside the bat, a light blue otter named Rye nodded in agreement, but otherwise didn't respond.

"One last year and then it's freedom," Marian, a tall ferret commented, walking beside the two shorter students. "Are you still planning on joining the military Rye?"

"Yes," Rye answered, still staring ahead. There are dozens of groups filled with students of a different cliché filling the hallway, all talking among themselves. "Someone has to keep the Velmarians on their own planet."

Overhearing some of the annoying chatter of the nearby students, Rye was reminded how much he disliked the immaturity of his fellow high school students. Rye is one of the more popular students in the school however. Because of this, Rye was often accompanied by his mature friends who allowed the otter to enjoy school more than dread it. "What's your first class, Marian?"

"English," answered the tall ferret after checking a sheet of paper held in his paws. "And what about you? What class does the Ab Amor Otter have to deal with first?"

"Government," Rye answered, ignoring his unofficial nickname.

Ab Amor, the popular tropical city, was quite large but Rye is legally the only otter that lives in the city. Canidera, the planet that held the government's senate house, has a diverse population but otters were few in number. Otters were native to the once tropical and beautiful Lutracha before the planet was nuked in the Old War that destroyed the planet and nearly wiped out the all species' there, including the otters.

Rye's ancestors were one of the few that became refugees on Canidera before the nuclear radiation killed the rest of their planet, making it uninhabitable. Since then, the otters have scattered across Canidera's cities.

"I hope that Government is not as boring as it is made out to be," said Marian. "It'll be hard enough to concentrate; I have it right before lunch."

The trio of friends started to pass a group of stallions and mares, whom one of which recognized Rye.

"Rye!" shouted a mare, and she pushed pass her friends enthusiastically to intercept the otter. "Hi Rye. How was your summer?"

"See you around otter," the ferret bade his goodbye, continuing to walk on his path while Rye is stopped by the mare.

"It was uneventful, Diane," Rye answered, trying to keep his annoyance secret. "I worked the entire summer."

"Did any girls visit the pool that I should watch out for?" Diane asked with a giggle. Although the mare made her tone appear to be a joking matter, Rye knew she is always serious when asking about his love-life. Practically the entire school knew Diane has had a crush on Rye ever since their sophomore year and it annoys the otter greatly.

"No, no girls," answered Rye bluntly.

"That's too bad," stated Diane, steering Rye off to the side of the hallway, out of foot the traffic. "You need a good girl to welcome you home from the military."

"It's not exactly one of my priorities," Rye admitted, still without enthusiasm.

"So you don't have anyone in mind?"

"Nope."

Being disappointed by the lack of her name being mentioned, the mare frowned. But Rye, nevertheless, ignored her obvious reaction. A moment of silence followed.

After a few seconds, Diane asked: "What's your first class?"

"Government."

"Great! Mine is government too!" Diane exclaimed with new-found enthusiasm.

Learning this news, Rye accidentally scuffed quietly. He knows that the mare will be trying to flirt with him while in class.

"School is about to start so we should start walking to class together," suggested Diane.

"I agreed to meet Nate by the cafeteria before school started, sorry," the otter informed the mare, grateful he has an excuse to get away from her. Diane scowled and pressed her lips into a thin line, obviously upset that Rye was ditching her. It angered Rye that she'd try to get attention from him any way she can, but he simply said, "I'll see you later." Then he turned on his heel and walked off without giving Diane another glance.

With a rapid pace, the otter quickly walked down the halls, passing many different students of different species, including: cats, deer, cheetahs, badgers, dogs, horses, lynxes, rabbits, foxes, wolves, birds, lions, mice, meerkats, bats, and many more. No other otters. The lack of having company of the same species doesn't bother Rye most of the time but sometimes he did wish there would be at least one more otter in the city to hang out with.

Within a minute, Rye arrived at the entrance of the cafeteria. A large, but thin wolf is seen leaning against the wall that the hallway shares with the cafeteria, and he is surrounded by a group of students. The otter ignored the other students and maneuvered around them to go up to the wolf.

"Hey Nate," Rye greeted the wolf.

"Hi Otter," Nate returned the greeting, turning to Rye. The wolf quickly said his farewells to the group of friends that surrounds him before focusing his attention on Rye.

"You know I don't like to be called 'Otter,'" Rye said with a smile.

"I know." Nate grinned.

Rye sighed. "So how was your summer, Nate?"

"Fine, fine. Yours?"

"It was very much like last summer; I've been working at Beach Lagoon," Rye answered with a chuckle. "Ryan hardly gives me time off during the summer, but at least I get to spend time at the pool."

"I heard Lagoon received a lot of tourists from Fellorian this year," Nate stated almost like it's an accusation.

"Really? I haven't noticed any extra number of tourist than normal. Why?"

"Rumor has it that a new otter has moved to Ab Amor over the summer from Fellorian; slightly younger than you."

"I highly doubt that; I've been the only otter in this city for three years now."

"My eyes must deceive me then," Nate said smugly, breaking eye contact with Rye.

"You've seen another otter here besides me?" Rye asked shocked, now trusting the larger wolf's word.

"Just a brief glimpse so I'm not that sure, but it's something worth looking into. Since you usually greet new students, this one would be more than worth your time to check out."

"Thanks Nate," said Rye, smiling with excitement. "Is that why you were so eager to meet me this morning? Why didn't you just come over to my place and tell me?"

"I thought that the otter would have visited the pool over the summer so I assumed you already met him by now."

"I guess he doesn't know of Beach Lagoon, which would be kind of strange," Rye muttered half to himself. "I have to get going now. Government class is on the other side of the building and school will be starting any minute."

"Alright, I'll see you at lunch," Nate bade his farewell.

"I'll talk to you later," replied Rye.

Without further delay, Rye made his way to his first class of the day. While walking, the first bell rang to signal the students to head to class. Rye was already seated several minutes before the tardy bell rang however. Unfortunately, to Rye's displeasure, the mare from earlier sits down next to the otter before the final bell could ring.

"What did Nate want?" Diane asked, in an obviously irritated tone.

"Nothing," Rye lied, avoiding as much conversation with the mare as he can.

"Is he still trying to hook you up with a girlfriend?" snorted Diane.

"No," answered Rye, slightly frustrated again. "Can we not say 'hello' after we haven't seen each other for three months?"

"You were not so enthusiastic to say hi to me," Diane whined, again attempting to gain Rye's pity.

Rolling his eyes, Rye wondered why people were so confused why he doesn't ask Diane out. To him, she was such a drama queen.

While Diane continues to keep her sad face on, Rye continues to feign interest in random things. Finally she drops the act, and says, "I love how you did your hair."

"Thanks," muttered Rye. His hair is nothing spectacular, it's only slightly longer than the rest of his fur, and combed with the rest of his fur after a shower. The compliment was very empty to the otter. But to his relief, the government teacher walks in to the classroom just as the tardy bell rang throughout the school.

"Welcome back to school, class," announced the lioness teacher, calling for the students' attention, and halting Diane's attempts to continue conversation. "My name is Mrs. Berenson. I miss summer just as much as all of you do so before we start, who wants to share their summer vacation experiences with the class?"

Government was simple, and to Rye's expectations for being the first day of school. The only thing Rye didn't expect was the constant annoyance of the mare trying to speak to him whenever she could. The otter didn't want to be completely rude so every now and then, he'd pretend to listen to Diane. However, as soon as the bell rang, Rye was more than anxious to leave, and immediately left to head to his next class: Health.

Arriving very early due to his haste, the otter is the first student in the class. He's soon joined by two students he didn't recognize: identical twin meerkats.

"Hello, my names Rye," the otter said to the two girls who entered the classroom. Rye made it a habit to introduce himself to new students if he can. "Welcome to Ab Amor High School."

"Hi," one of the girls holds out her paw. Rye gracefully shakes it. "I'm Faith and this is Hope. Thanks for the welcome."

"Faith and Hope," Rye repeated. "Beautiful names. Do you have plans for lunch Faith and Hope?"

Both girls giggled, when Rye unintentionally flirted with the pair. "We're going back home for lunch," answered Hope after shaking Rye's paw also.

"That's too bad," Rye responded. "You two can join me and my friends in the cafeteria if you'd like. You'll be able know more of the students here if you join us."

"Thanks but we don't have lunch money," Faith answered.

The teacher clears his throat, now standing in the front of the classroom.

"It was nice to have met you both."

"You too," they said in unison.

Similar to Government, Health was an easy class as the teacher only went through the semester's curriculum and classroom rules.

The next few classes weren't any more interesting, and the day progressed slowly. Unfortunately to Rye, he discovered that Diane was at least two of his classes when she joined him for English class as well.

By the time lunch arrived, Rye's optimistic and friendly attitude hasn't wavered, especially with the knowledge that only two classes remain for the day. Memories of forgotten friends were remembered when the otter would meet a friend he made the previous year, and they all now sat at one of the largest and most crowded tables in the cafeteria as lunch hour just started.

"No, no dates," Rye said answering one of Nate's questions. "I told you, I worked the whole summer. I have to pay bills unlike some of us, Nate."

The wolf laughed. "You chose to live on your own."

"It shows that he's responsible," Diane said, defending Rye. Rye rolls his eyes, wishing she wouldn't sit at this table. "I doubt you can live on your own so well Nate."

"I've been very fortunate," explained Rye, defending his wolf friend.

The mare rolls her eyes and looks around the cafeteria, dropping out of the conversation.

"Now that you don't have ridiculous hours, we should hang out sometime," Nate suggested.

"Did you have something in mind?" asked Rye.

"Not really. I just enjoy being at your apartment; with no parents around, it's a high school student's paradise."

Rye laughs.

"When do you work next Rye?" Marian from earlier in the morning asked.

"Saturday," answered Rye. "Did you want to stop by the pool?"

"Yes, actually."

"Oh!" Nate suddenly exclaims, interrupting the conversation. "Look, I told you so." The wolf points over Rye's shoulder at the line of student's waiting to buy their food.

The otter turns in his seat to look behind him, and there he sees a new student that he has not yet seen. In such a large school, it isn't uncommon to miss seeing a new student, but Rye is surprised that he missed this student, who sticks out of the crowd like a sore thumb.

"Another otter," Marian muttered.

The new student is indeed an otter, but what makes him stand out so much is that every strand of fur on the new otter's body is a pure and radiant white. Not one is out of place, and his fur coat fits snuggly over his lean and skinny figure. Rye's heart fluttered slightly at the sight of the otter.

The white otter is very attractive. His black nose is perfect contrast to his white fur, his eyes sparkle like emeralds, and his whiskers have been twitching in a very adorable manner. Rye continued to stare at the otter for longer than he should.

Wow, he's cute, Rye thought.

No one in the school knows Rye was attracted to other males, since he hates the drama and has always tried to keep his homosexuality a secret. The otter has successfully hid it for the past few years, but the extended stare risks exposing the fact that Rye is gay.

When the white otter's emerald green eyes sparkled in Rye's direction, it took nearly a full second for the otter to realize that the new student is returning his gaze. With a soft and sharp gasp, Rye reflexively turns back in his seat to face his friends.

Nate notices Rye's embarrassing reaction but doesn't react to it other than asking, "Do you think he's albino?"

"No, I don't think so," Rye answered, recovering from his trance-like stare. Wow, he is so cute. "His eyes don't have the pink color." Rye kept his mind focused on the image of the white otter.

"You want one of us to introduce him to the school?" the bat from earlier in the morning offers with a bit of confusion on his voice.

"No thanks Jack," Rye answered quickly. He really wants to introduce the otter personally. "I'll go say hi to him when the cafeteria is a bit more cleared out, if he stays in here."

Jack's eyebrow twitches slightly with a suspicious look in his eyes, but Rye doesn't react to it. Although no one knows Rye was gay, he knows people have their suspicions. The otter has never been questioned about it yet though.

"Where have you been this summer, Jack?" Rye asked, changing the subject. He's aware that Nate picked up a different conversation so he didn't feel obligated to continue speaking to him. "I didn't see you stop by the pool since the beginning of summer."

"I've been busy with college," answered Jack with no more trace of suspicion. "I tried to stop by the Beach Lagoon when you were there, but you were always off and I didn't feel like paying full price."

"You could have taken a break from the college work."

"We're not all going into the military. We have to fight to the death to earn money through scholarships and grants."

They both laughed.

Time crept by longer than usual while student after student left the cafeteria. Rye constantly peeked at the white otter who is now sitting down next to his empty lunch and reading a thick book. But because he was keeping an eye on the new student, Rye had difficulties focusing on the conversations at his table.

Anxious, and nervous to speak with the otter, Rye continued to wait much longer than he usually would when he'd welcome a new student to the school.

Most of the cafeteria was empty when the last of the student's at Rye's table got up to leave. A few of them said farewell to Rye before they left, and Rye politely responded but as soon as the crowd cleared out of the cafeteria, Rye instantly headed over to the empty table where the white otter sat.

"Hello," Rye says with confidence, hiding the fact he was nervous and slightly intimidated by the cuter otter. Rye sat down across the table from the new student.

"Hi," the white otter said as if he knew Rye. Putting a bookmark in the book, the new otter sets it down on the table and turns his full attention to Rye. "You kept looking at me from your table. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to come over and say hello." The student looks Rye directly in the eye, which the beautiful gaze nearly knocked the wind out of Rye.

"Sorry, it's rare to see another otter in Ab Amor," Rye apologized, hiding the true reason while trying not to be distracted by the otter's beauty. "Are you new here?"

"Kind of," the otter replied, keeping his gaze locked onto Rye's eyes. Either the otter is not afraid of talking to new people, or he is nervous just like Rye and doesn't know how to appear comfortable any other way. "I moved here in the middle of June to the Palm Tree Apartments. My name is Cloud by the way."

"Oh, sorry. I'm Rye. How did you get the name 'Cloud'?"

Cloud hesitated before he answered. "My parents always thought I looked like a cloud in the sky."

"Well, nice to meet you then Cloud. You really live in Palm Tree Apartments?"

"Yes."

"I live across the street from that complex, in the Ocean Bay Apartments. I work at the pool, Beach Lagoon, that's down the street."

"You live on your own as well?" Cloud asked with a bit of shock in his voice.

"Yes, my parents got me my own place when they split up. It wasn't too long ago when they split up and I figured I won't waste my time moving around with them."

"How nice of your parents," said Cloud, looking down as if in shame. "I got kicked out of my parent's house so that's how I came to this place."

"Why did you get kicked out?" Rye asked curious, and a bit concerned.

"Just for a stupid reason." Cloud looks back up with a smile which is an obvious gesture to attempt to drop the subject. "I better get to class. I'm going to be late."

"Okay, I hope to talk to you again soon," Rye said, hiding his disappointment.

Cloud picked up his book and schoolbag and then exited the cafeteria.

Rye leans back in the chair and sighs. Never has Rye felt so nervous talking to a new student before, but speaking with Cloud makes his paws tremble. Trying to deny that Rye already had a crush on the white otter, he can't help his thoughts from wandering.

Cloud is unbelievably attractive, Rye thought. His eyes are . . . memorizing. I hope I didn't scare him off with how I was acting.

Rye thought about the moment for a second, and decides that he's overreacting and laughs at himself. "This is stupid, I didn't scare him off," Rye said to himself as he stands up and heads toward his next class.

The bell rings shortly after leaving the cafeteria, and Rye rushes to get to the lockers for his physical education class. Only a minute before the tardy bell rang, Rye arrives in the locker room and heads over to the corner where his locker is at.

"Oh," Rye gasps when he sees Cloud undressing down the aisle of lockers. Cloud looks up, wearing only his boxers and nervously waves at Rye. "Hi Cloud." Rye waves back also awkwardly. Stop crushing on him and be friendly, Rye thought to himself. "I didn't know you had this class this period."

"I didn't know you had this class either," replied Cloud, pulling on a pair of gym shorts. "In this case, I hope that we have a swimming course this year so you and I can compete." Cloud chuckled

Rye smiles, finding it easy to be just as friendly with Cloud as any other male student. He also starts to dress in the proper exercise clothes. "Well, I hear they're remodeling the school pool so it's closed all year."

"Shame," said Cloud, disappointed. "Not to brag but I'm not too bad with some land sports either."

"Maybe I can have some real competition then," Rye said, pulling on his own shorts. "I'm not too bad at tennis or basketball. Naturally I'm at a disadvantage with track though; the cheetahs and stallions dominate that part of this class."

"I can only assume." Cloud walks over to Rye and sits on the bench next to him, waiting for him to finish dressing. "What about football? You any good?"

"That's a sprinting sport, so again, cheetahs best me at that," Rye answered slipping on a shirt and shutting his locker. Rye leads the way out onto the open fields. "But against other species, I'm not too bad."

"Glad to hear it," Cloud said with a smirk, following the otter out on the field with the rest of the students.

"Group yourselves according to species!" Coach Kirkland, teacher of the physical education class, screamed. "Rye, you can join--" The coach stopped mid-sentence and looks at Rye and Cloud. "Oh, another otter? You two can spot each other then."

"Thanks," Rye said.

"Begin!" Kirkland screamed. While the other students dispersed to several parts of the fields, the two otters remain where they are while the coach comes up to them. "What's your name?"

"Cloud," the new otter answered.

"Usually Rye joins one of the other species but you two can do warm-up exercises on your own. I never trained otters before. Rye, just do what you normally do and instruct Cloud on how to do it."

"Yes Coach," Rye answered while the coach left to inspect the cheetahs at the track.

"So what do we do now?" Cloud asked.

"Usually I join the ferrets, or skunks, so we'll just do the same basic exercises," Rye said. "We'll start off with some stretches."

For the next half hour, Rye instructed Cloud in doing a variety of exercises, who performed them just as well as Rye did even with Rye's athletic body that he recently gained as a result of training for the military. When the class was called together again, the students started a game of soccer. Rye and Cloud were placed on opposing teams and for the rest of the hour, they played the sport. It wasn't until the end of the class, when they were dismissed to the lockers, that Rye is able to speak casually with Cloud again.

While Rye led Cloud back to their lockers, Cloud asked, "Do you shower after class?"

"Nah," Rye answered. "Not if gym is one of my last classes, I can just go home and shower then."

"Okay," Cloud agreed with Rye's philosophy and starts to undress.

"So what car do you drive?" Rye asked, also undressing.

"I walk to school actually," Cloud answered.

"Walk? The apartments aren't that far but it's still a difficult walk in the heat of the day."

"I can manage."

"I'll give you a ride home," Rye said finishing dressing.

"No thanks," Cloud said and smiles at Rye. "It really isn't that much trouble."

"You're right, it isn't that much trouble," Rye agreed returning the smile. "Please allow me to give you a ride. If the new otter to the school died from heat exhaustion, I'll be all alone again."

Cloud laughed. "Well, when you put it that way..."

"It's agreed then. What's your next class?"

"Health."

"Damn, it would be nice if we had more classes together. Anyway, I must go. My next class is a little far off."

"Alright, see you after school."

"Meet me by the main entrance after school, so I can give you a ride."

"Okay. See you later."

"See you later."

Rye departs from the locker rooms and leaves Cloud behind. He's grateful that he can be friends with Cloud, rather than having an awkward friendship because of his premature crush.

Biology didn't hold much of Rye's interest and quickly passed, since he was excited for school to be over with and spend time with Cloud again. Like most of the other classes, the science teacher simply went over the rules of the classroom and lab.

Soon school finished, and the hallways roared with chatter of the students. Quickly, Rye went near the main entrance and stood on the lawn while he waited for Cloud. But several minutes went by without the sight of Cloud, and before Rye could spot him, another one of the otter's friends came up to him.

"Rye!" Ariel, the wealthiest and most obnoxious feline in the school, screams over to Rye. She runs up to him, accompanied by several of her friends. "I haven't seen you all day. How was your first day back?"

"A day back at school, nothing all that exciting," Rye answered with a smile. Ariel and Rye are the best of friends in the entire school and they always enjoy talking with each other. "How was yours?"

"It was probably no different than yours," Ariel answered. "Patrick already has a paper to write."

Rye chuckles. "He decided to take all these college courses while finishing high school."

"Yeah, I don't know what I'm going to do with him," Ariel giggled. "But what else can I do with my boyfriend when he's so stubborn."

"Good point," Rye said. "So have you decided on a date for the Amor Games?"

"Not yet, but we think that we'll host the Games this Friday," Ariel said. "Think you can convince Ryan to open Beach Lagoon for us then?"

"Yeah, he already has the pool ready," Rye answered.

"Good. Good. I'm so excited."

High school students are always the most excited for the infamous Amor Games, but so is the whole city because everyone receives the day off. The city's pool, Beach Lagoon, often hosts the Games, along with the fair grounds that Ariel's parents own.

"So am I," responded Rye. "I like the back-to-school Games, there's less tourist."

Since the Games are hosted multiple times throughout the year, hundreds of tourists will come to vacation in the city during the more convenient Games. The attraction is one of the many reasons that put Ab Amor on the map, and helps make the city as wealthy and famous as it is. The milestone dates of the Games helps the citizens get through the year, mostly the high school and college students.

"Oh, I've heard rumors that there's a new otter in the school," Ariel says randomly changing the subject. "They say he's as albino."

"He's not albino," replies Rye, laughing. Being reminded of the topic, Rye looks up at the entrance of the school and notices Cloud leaning against the wall scanning the crowd for Rye. "Speaking of which, I got to go. I'll tell Ryan about Friday."

"Thanks. Bye Rye."

"Sorry," Rye says walking up to Cloud. "I was speaking with one of my friends."

"No need to apologize," Cloud smiled. "At least you didn't forget me."

"I'd never," Rye said firmly but then chuckled. "Shall we?"

Rye leads Cloud into the parking lot where dozens of cars are waiting in the long line out onto the main street. Pulling his keys out of his pocket, Rye passes several cars until he comes across a BMW ZB, where he stops at the driver's door.

"You're kidding right?" Cloud asked with an unbelieving laugh. "This is your car?"

"Yeah, get in," Rye said impassively but grins as he seats himself in the car.

"How'd you get a car like this?" Cloud asked as he sits in the passenger seat.

"Gift," Rye answered. Turning on the radio, but not the engine, Rye shifts through his iPod for a favored song. "I hope you don't mind but I don't like idling in that line waiting to get out."

"No problem," Cloud said. "I've never sat in a BMW before."

"Don't act like it'll be the last time," Rye said smiling. After choosing a song, he sets the iPod back down and listens to the music. "It's really hot today, now aren't you glad you didn't have to walk?"

Cloud laughed. "It is pretty warm today. I'll probably spend the day in the complex's pool."

Rye sits up straighter as an idea comes to him. "I'll be working at Beach Lagoon today, why don't you come by? I can get you in for free."

Cloud looks at Rye and then smiles. "I don't think I'd be comfortable swimming there by myself if you have to work."

"Well, I'm more of a volunteer or honorary member. I'm like a lifeguard there but I don't have to keep watch by sitting in the tall chairs. The manager is a good friend of mine."

"Okay, sounds like a deal then. This is an awesome song; I've never heard it before."

"It's one of my favorites," responded Rye, starting the engine of the car. Without much more delay, Rye joins the traffic on the main road and drives toward the apartment complexes. Only five minutes after leaving the school, Rye turns his car into the entrance of Cloud's apartment complex.

"Keep going straight and turn into the last parking lot. That parking spot, 449," Cloud directs Rye. Rye parks in the spot and a concerned look crosses his face.

"Do you not have a car?" Rye asked.

"No, I can't afford one right now," Cloud answered. Cloud sees Rye's confused look, and decides to explain his situation further. "I have an agreement with the landlord so I just work off rent and expenses every two weeks or so."

"What about food? Recreation?"

Cloud chuckled. "I don't need to be worrying about having fun right now. I'm using the money that I've been saving up for food and other necessities. I don't eat a lot or use a lot of things anyway."

"Okay," Rye said with disbelief. "I'll stop by in about an hour so we can walk to the pool together."

"Alright, see you soon."

Rye backs up his car out of the parking spot, gives one last look to Cloud, who is walking toward one of the doors, before he drives off. It takes him only a minute to get across the street to his own apartment complex.

After getting inside the familiar room, Rye throws his books on his dining table and wanders into his room. He pulls open a drawer and pulls out half a dozen of his swimming suits. Speedos to wetsuits are pulled out and thrown onto the floor but the majority of the swimwear the otter digs through are long casual shorts. Rye chooses his favorite pair of surfer swimming shorts, which are painted mostly silver with aqua-blue designs. After that, he grabs his second favorite pair, which is blue with the exception of two vertical white stripes on the outside part of the legs.

Rye spent the rest of the hour digging through his school papers and signing the usual beginning-of-the-year papers.