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P.O.V. - Nick - G.L.A. Meeting

I was interrupted by the door opening. Mr. Yorke held it momentarily as Colton entered. The bright red Dhole wore a subdued green turtle neck along with dark blue jeans and generally took great pains to cover as much fur as possible. His mostly royal blue tail wagged a greeting as the circle opened yet wider to accept another member. Our proctor closed the door and addressed us. "Mr. Evans, I'm sorry your first impression of our group was tainted by the words of Ms. Padmore. You should be receiving a formal written apology from her before the end of the day. If you don't, or if it seems inappropriately worded, you will notify me, yes?" The Wolf's fur started to softly flicker again as he lost the gleam in his eyes and nodded. Mr. Yorke continued as he rolled over his chair. The students nearest him pulled their desks apart and he settled in to say "Normally I would ask you to briefly introduce yourself to the group but given your throat injury would you allow me to read the greeting you prepared earlier?"

Roger squirmed in the desk and the rapid flashing in his fur became quite noticeable. I wonder why he doesn't do the cabin trick? He may looked drugged afterwards but at least he would stop flashing. Roger nodded in response to the question and Mr. Yorke got into character, doing a fair impression of how I imagined Roger's voice might sound. "Hi, my name is Roger. I'm sorry if I seem quiet but I'm still recovering from a throat injury I received last week when I was being resuscitated. It's hard for me to stand idly by when I see someone being attacked, whether it be verbally or physically. This behavior has led to various rumors being circulated. Most of them are so far from the truth they do little more than bring me a sense of comic relief, until I realize there are people who actually believe them. With that in mind I'd like to point out that, contrary to the stories going around, I am not a psychopath, a drug user or a bully. I expect to be talking again in a couple days, until then feel free to speak with me. I promise I won't go insane, try to sell you crack or break any of your favorite bones."

Mr. Yorke smiled slightly and returned to his normal voice. "I'm sure we're all relieved to hear that our skeletal systems will remain intact despite your presence Mr Evans. There'll be time to meet everyone later. Now I'd like to turn control of the meeting over to the club president, Mr. Fenwick."

Chris cleared his throat and assumed the authoritative tone he always did when going over the agenda. "Welcome to the club Roger, we're always glad to have new members. As we all just witnessed, there's still a substantial air of intolerance at this school. As tempting as it may be to engage people like Ashley, don't. All students have a right to express their opinions but that does not give them the right to demean or intimidate others. If someone is harassing you or if you see someone else being harassed, be respectful, stand tall and report it to a staff member as soon as possible." Chris' passion for 'the cause' had him more than a little worked up and he paused to collect himself for a moment as he absent-mindedly licked at a paw and smoothed the fur and whiskers on the side of his face before continuing. "Part of gaining greater acceptance is for us to be more public. Don't be afraid to be seen sitting together on a bench or to lean against a friend while watching a movie in the rec. room. I'm not saying to make out in public, I'm talking about doing the everyday things that our straight counterparts take for granted. In that light I'd like to remind everyone of the school dance coming up. I know, I know... it's more than a little intimidating but I think it's important for us just to be seen there, even if you don't have a date."

That's right, I forgot all about that! I never even considered the possibility of going but now that Roger was suddenly in my life I wasn't so sure. I glanced to my side to find him looking at me. The gleam had returned to his eye as he cocked an ear and tipped his head to the side questioningly. I felt giddy as I imagined us on the dance floor. Roger wrote quickly on the page in front of him before tilting the notepad so I could see it. His cursive handwriting was as neat and professional as always. It's graceful, painstaking style conveyed there was a more mature side to Roger than he let on. It read "I can't dance, at all!" My heart sank as he dropped the pad back down and wrote again. Chris was talking but I didn't even hear what he was saying as I stared dejectedly at the desktop. I snapped out of it only when Roger jabbed my arm lightly with his elbow and pointed to the page I hadn't noticed he was angling at me again. Written below his last statement it said "Can you teach me in time for the dance?" My tail started beating the air behind me furiously as Chris raised his voice and caught my attention.

"Ok so we definitely have Andrew and Hunter going and I've gotten a firm 'maybe' from Colton and Tami. Brianna, Nick, Roger, what say you?" I looked excitedly to Roger for final approval. He nodded and silently mouthed 'Go ahead.' and tipped his muzzle towards Chris. "We're going, I mean I have to teach Roger how to dance first but we'll go." Roger forced a nervous smile and the Snow Leopard looked genuinely surprised as he said "Really? Wow, ok." He made a notation on the page in front of him and turned his attention to Brianna. "Any chance you can commit? We'd do well to have some female representation." She raised her thin muzzle and spoke with soft but clear words. "I'm afraid I don't have anyone to go with and I'm not comfortable attending alone." Chris nodded, "Yeah, I know that's kinda awkward. I'm in the same position. We're allowed to invite people from other schools if that makes a difference for anyone. No? Well there's still some time yet."

Roger idly twiddled with his pen and I concentrated to see how he was feeling.Hmmm, he's not panicky like earlier. It's more like dread, I think he might be about to throw up! Indeed the subtle glow on his fur had changed to a new pattern. It oozed in random, thick, wave formations that looked like slowly sloshing oil. I leaned over and whispered as I put my hand on his forearm. "It's just a dance, we don't have to rush into this. There'll be others, I'll understand if you want to change your mind." At first he winced at my touch but quickly got over his initial reaction and calmed down as he wrote "Don't worry, I want to go. I think the counselor made some 'adjustments' that aren't working out very well. I'll tell you about it later." He put his right hand over mine, which still rested on his left forearm, and took a slow deep breath. I expected to sense a sudden shift like he displayed yesterday morning when Ryan bumped me but nothing much seemed to happen initially. As more time passed Roger's light show finally faded out of sight and his mood eased to the point that I was able to concentrate on the conversation between Chris and Colton.

The shockingly red Dhole came out at school only a month ago and wasn't having a very easy time of it. He lost his best friend and the experience left him worried about how his family would react. "I don't know what to do. I can't even imagine telling them when I go home this summer but at the same time I'm sure they'll find out sooner or later. I think they already have some silent concerns." Tami chimed in to say "Everyone's different. When I told my parents they just laughed and said 'Duh!' and that was the end of it. No one here knows your family better than you. What are they like?" He yawned nervously, his head shaking momentarily with the reflexive action, and replied. "They're not Bible thumpers. I don't think they'd throw me out or do anything dramatic. I'm afraid it'll be more along the lines of denial. They'll just say it's a phase and my Dad will take me to a gun range. He already got me a Sports Photography subscription for Christmas and made a big deal about the special swimsuit edition I'd be getting, all girls of course! And then there's my big brother. He already gets to be the 'normal' one, I'm the only deviant."

At this point Mr. Yorke cut in. "Not to go off topic but I thought it might be helpful to point out that it's well proven deviation comes about from a genetic predisposition so at least one of your parents must carry it as well, even if it hasn't manifested. Also, your brother may wake up one day to notice more and more of his fur coming in as a nice shade of green. You may not be as different from them as you imagine. I'm sorry for interrupting, I believe you were about to say how you think your brother would react."

Colton shifted in his chair, lifting his elbows from the desktop in front of him to lean against the armrest portion of the surface on his right. "It's ok. I remember that from class. I just meant that I'm the only one that stands out. My brother is so normal it hurts. He's 19, drives a truck, dates girls and has regular fur. He keeps talking about joining the Army but he hasn't made the jump yet. We don't hate each other but we don't exactly hang out either. I think he'll just put another point in the 'Weird' column on my scoreboard of life and go play with his truck."

Chris stretched and adjusted his long-sleeved red T-shirt as he commented. "I don't see why you're so stressed about it. Even if all of that stuff happens, so what?" Colton slumped and lowered his head to rest his chin on crossed arms as if he were about to take a nap at the desk. "I dunno, it's hard to put in words. I guess I'm afraid they'll just ignore what I say and I'll keep having to live a lie, not because I haven't told the truth but because they won't believe it. I'll tell them I'm gay and they'll be all 'That's nice dear. Now come over here to the window and look at the wonderful Dhole girl that just moved in down the street, I hear she's about your age.' No one ever takes me seriously."

Hunter, the turquoise Sand Cat, entered the conversation. "My parents were kinda like that at first. They seemed to think I was 'settling' for guys because they thought I couldn't get a girl due to my fur color. I mean do they really think it works that way?" He switched his manner to a sarcastic tone and said "Gee, I can't even get a date with Thelma Lou, the ugliest, meanest girl in town. Guess I'll go get me some boy luvin'!" We chuckled as Andrew, the calico Margay, squeezed Hunter's hand and said "Thelma Lou's loss is my gain! Really though, I think their attitude has changed, hasn't it?" It was cute the way they looked at each other, you could see the adoration in their eyes. Sometimes when the meetings got suddenly quiet we'd catch the two of them purring softly, much to their embarrassment. Hunter nodded and said "Yeah, we live about a 7 hour drive apart. Despite that I went to his house for a couple days at Christmas break and then he came back with me to meet my family. At first it was... awkward, but that wore off and by the time we flew back here to school it was fine. Now when they call they always ask how we're doing and they've stopped asking me if I've met any cute girls."

Colton's mood shifted from mild anxiety to slight depression as he sighed and said "That's cool. Maybe they'll take me seriously once I have a boyfriend to parade in front of them. The way things have been going that won't be any time soon though."

Chris looked up from the page he had been writing on and said "You've got lots of company in the 'Single and gay' category. That said, there'll be a whole new class coming in the fall and we do get the occasional mid-year transfer like Roger. Around here some red fur is hardly the mark of dating death."

The sports-car red Canine sat up to say "Yeah, I know, it's just hard to wait sometimes. Anyway, I don't wanna take all the time. Anyone else have something they want to bring up?" We all exchanged glances and a few shook their heads at which point Chris took charge. "There's nothing left on the agenda for today. Everyone keep the upcoming dance in mind, if nothing else the unpaired among us can go and hang out by the snack table together. It would be a good show of support for those that will be on the dance floor. Oh and remember what I said about any harassment. Don't engage, just stand tall and get a staff member." He made a point of resting his gaze squarely on Roger for the last part. The Wolf put on his innocent puppy face, cocking his head to the side and perking his ears, as Chris continued. "Alright, there's still some time left if you guys want to mingle before you go. The next meeting is on schedule for a week from now."

Roger squeezed the hand I still had resting on his forearm and gently pulled away. It was thrilling to be touching him and I was sorry to have our contact broken. He tensed up as he suddenly garnered the attention of several people at once. Tami got her words in first, jabbing him firmly in the arm with her elbow as she said "Never thought I'd see you here Rog! The way Chris' jaw dropped earlier it's obvious I'm not the only one that's surprised." Chris tossed his tail with a hint of irritation and said "My jaw did not drop. I just thought that... I mean I was surprised because, as the president, I usually get notice about new members. We get the occasional walk-in but more often students get referred to us by staff."

Mr. Yorke had gone back to his desk but he must have overheard. "I did forget to email you didn't I Mr. Fenwick? Please accept my apology, I only received notice this morning and I was so busy with work... Here I am breaking my own cardinal rule." He put on his German accent and said authoritatively "There are no excuses!" He slipped back to his normal voice to mumble half to himself "Hmmm where did I put that riding crop? It's not the same without a good snap for accentuation. Anyway, never mind the Devil in the corner. As you were, as you were." He waved a hand dismissively and went back to his stack of ungraded papers.

I wagged my tail as I thought. I love Mr. Yorke's German officer persona. I'm going to miss that character when we get to our next book. My momentary distraction was broken when Brianna unexpectedly had something to say. "I saw you in front of the gym. Let's just say seeing you here today is not nearly as surprising as what I saw yesterday." Her tail waved softly behind her as she rose from the desk with smooth grace. "I need to be going. Welcome to the club Roger." She lifted the corners of her mouth with the slightest hint of a smile and departed, leaving Roger and I squirming in her wake.

Tami put on a playful tone and said "Rog? What have you been up to?" Roger shrugged dramatically as if to say he had no idea what she meant but his curled wagging tail was as much a dead giveaway as the twinkle in his eye. She prodded, "Come on, come on, out with it!" I felt like I should say something but I couldn't get over my sudden bout of shyness. Roger put pen to paper and wrote a reply. His left-handed style made it hard to read from my angle but I didn't have to wait long to find out what he said. He passed it to Tami who glanced at it and then read aloud "Ashley saw Nick touching my arm and called us fags so I kissed him." Tami punched Roger in the arm and exclaimed "Way to go Rog!" Roger grinned in spite of his scopophobia as Chris commented. "Nick, you're one of the last people I'd expect to hear that about. Did that really happen?" I steadfastly looked away and fidgeted before answering. "She said that as she was walking by and kept going so I don't think she saw it. I guess other people did though." I felt Roger's hand rest on my knee under the desk and suddenly I wasn't so nervous about admitting it. Tami, ever the instigator, said jokingly "Show us how you did it!" The shock must have shown on my face as she quickly added "Just kiddin' Nick. Rog you better be careful corrupting our little Nick like that, he's kinda the club mascot." I put on an air of indignation and said "Aw come on guys. I'm not exactly a puppy!" Hunter joined in to tease "Our little Nicky is growing up so fast!"

Chris came to my defense by changing the subject. "See Colton, Nick's a perfect example of what I was saying earlier. In the meeting last week Nick was a member of the single's club, now he has a date for the dance. Ok, it's pretty much time to go and I'm sure Mr. Yorke would like some solitude. Let's put the desks back in order and head out."

We arranged the desks into their proper U shaped formation and filed out into the hallway where the group rapidly dissipated. Roger wrote on his notepad and showed it to Colton and I as we walked, it read "I need to go straight to the Admin office before it closes, need to pick up my tablet." "Ok" I said "Better run ahead of us, I think they close at four and it's almost that now. I'll catch up with you later back at the dorm." He nodded and waved to us before taking off at a trot to round a nearby corner and head down the stairs.

Colton shared the same dorm as us, albeit on the first floor, and we continued on the way together. He walked with his hands buried in the front pockets of his jeans, a habit I was sure he picked up from trying to hide his red fur. Poor guy, I hope he gets over that soon. I guess it's because his deviation manifested just last summer. I was born this way so it feels normal to me but to watch it slowly come in unexpected like that, always wondering what's next... it must be scary. We opened the door to a cold late-afternoon wind. The shock of it rustling through my fur shook me out of my reverie and I felt self-conscious for not talking with Colton. I spoke to fill the gap.

"Did you ever bump into Roger before the meeting?" He hugged himself against the blast, putting his hands under his arms, and continued to look ahead as he responded "No, what dorm is he in?" I sniffed at the refreshingly cold air and said "Ours, he rooms with Jim and shares the bathroom with David and I. He's pretty reclusive so I'm not surprised you haven't run into him though. He gets up every day before dawn and goes to bed pretty early so he's in the kitchen at weird times and I don't think he's ever gone to the rec. room." Colton turned his head to face me as we hooked right at an intersecting sidewalk. "What's he get up so early for? I'd sleep in till noon every day if I had a choice." "I dunno" I said "I guess he works out but I can't imagine he's doing that the whole time. He even did it over the weekend. Must just be his routine." Our building loomed 100 meters in front of us and I could tell Colton was in a hurry to get in where it was warm. He kept his fur trimmed really short and it didn't provide much protection, especially with the wind.

We both increased our pace as he asked "How did you guys hit it off so fast? I mean I can dance around someone for months just wondering if they are even gay or not." I put my hands in my pockets to keep my fingers warm and said "I never really thought about it. I've been told I have really good gay-dar, I guess Roger does too. It just sorta happened. I mean, it's not like we lie in each other's arms at night, things are still pretty preliminary. Take the dance for instance, it was just a spur of the moment kind of decision. Don't tell Roger I said anything but I can tell he's really nervous about it." I pulled open the door to our dorm and Colton stepped through. The stale but warm air wrapped around us and Colton said "I noticed he seemed kinda anxious during the meeting. I don't mean to get personal but does his fur flicker like that a lot? I can only imagine how I'd feel if mine started flashing, I think I'd wear a burqa! His deviance almost makes me feel lucky. I assumed his anxiety was from that. From what I've heard he doesn't sound like the kind of guy to worry about getting beat up so why would he be concerned about the dance?" We paused, standing to the side of the empty lobby as I answered. "Even though he's been pretty forward with me I don't think he's been 'out' until now. I don't really know much about his past but from what little I've gathered it sounds like he came from a place where just having a physical deviance was a big deal, I think they even tried to make him hide his tail. I'm sure he had to hide being gay too. As for the glowing pattern in his fur, it happens sometimes but I wouldn't say it happens a lot. It would probably be best if you pretend not to notice it."

Colton ran his fingers through the fur on his head and said "I won't say anything, believe me I know how it feels to have people call attention to stuff like that! And I guess I can see why he's nervous, I mean I still have regrets about coming out and I have to admit, even if I had a date I doubt I'd have the nerve to go to the dance." I tried to reassure him. "Don't be hard on yourself, you just came out a month ago. I know Chris is pressuring everyone to attend but no one will think less of you for skipping it. Hey, I gotta get to my homework but maybe we could hang out later? I have a dastardly plan to make Roger be more social so I'll see if I can talk him into playing a video game with us or something." He plunged his hands into the pockets of his jeans and replied. "Ok, shoot me an e-mail."

P.O.V. - Roger 3:59 pm - Admin Office

Mrs. Patterson was buttoning her coat as I stopped at the counter, still catching my breath. "Oh Roger, I'm glad you made it. I was just heading out." She picked up her purse and swung the strap over her shoulder as she passed me the tablet with her other hand. "You're in luck, David said none of the soda got inside. He's your roommate isn't he?" I nodded as she gestured to the door and we continued talking while we stepped into the hall to lockup. "He's old enough to do work for the school and helps in the I.T. department part-time." She turned the key and removed it, shaking the knob and door to confirm it was properly latched as I tapped at the screen. It was no longer sticky but it reeked of industrial solvent from the cleaner he used.

The artificial voice spoke on my behalf. "Is that something I could do? I mean I'll take any kind of work, it doesn't have to be I.T." The Panther looked down at me with a touch of concern in her eye. "You have to be at least 16, I don't think you're old enough, are you?" Damn it! I couldn't even afford 2 packs of underwear and I'm going to be awfully shaggy by the time I can scrape together the $130 or so I'll need to get a decent fur trimming kit. What am I supposed to do? I shook my head dejectedly. We walked down the empty hall together as she said "When's your birthday? If it's soon I could get the paperwork started now so there won't be as much delay." I panicked momentarily but remembered it from the file I briefly glimpsed in Mr. Burwell's office. I typed "Not until mid-August." I stepped ahead and opened the main door, holding it for Mrs. Patterson to pass through. "I'm sorry Roger... Oh thank you... but that's still some time away. There's nothing we can do about it for now." I didn't have a jacket and the cold breeze ruffled my fur as I hastily swiped at the screen to say "It's ok. Good bye." She paused at the intersection that led to the parking lot "Have a good night Roger and make sure to thank David, I think he worked extra hard on your tablet." I nodded and we parted as I hastily headed for the warmth of the dorm.

I entered David and Nick's room through the adjoining bathroom door, which was left open, and caught them off guard. Nick was doing homework at his desk while the Brown Bear was up on his bed, leaning against the wall. His tablet was perched on his knees and he had earphones in place. Nick looked over and wagged his tail. "Hey Roger." I waved hello and David glanced down while pulling an earphone out of one ear. "Hi Roger, hey I see you got your tablet back." I nodded and quickly swiped "Yeah, I hear you worked on it, thanks." He waved a paw dismissively.

"Meh, the school pays me for it and it was easy, just needed cleaning mainly. I uh, helped you out a little too." I cocked an ear at him inquisitively and typed "What do you mean?" He pulled out the remaining earphone and leaned over the edge of the bed to speak in a lowered tone. "They wanted a download of everything on your tablet. I figured something was up so I asked the guys in the I.T. lab and they told me about what happened at lunch so after I worked on it I, uh... I guess it's ok if Nick hears... I edited your conversations a bit before I made the copy." Panic gripped my chest at first but I calmed down as David explained what he did. I shakily tapped out "That's really awesome. I remember clearing all my conversations this morning but everything since then, especially from lunch on... yikes. Thanks, you really saved my tail." The bear kept his voice low. "I was glad to do it, I hate those guys too. Besides, it's not like anything you said was really bad, I just made sure to delete the more colorful parts. I couldn't add or change anything but I was able to remove entries. From what I left I don't think you have anything to worry about but I wanted to give you a heads-up in case they call you to the office."

I leaned my hip against the ladder for Nick's bed and typed "You're the best, seriously, thanks. It's been a loooooonnnggg day and a trip to the Dean's office would've made it even longer. I'm not sure how I can repay you, need any Mink sized underwear? Got lots of that!" David laughed and stopped hanging over the edge of his bed to lean back against the wall. "I don't have any need for tiny underwear either. Besides, you do stuff for people all the time. I've been noticing our bathroom sure is a lot cleaner since you arrived and you helped Josh and Brandon. It took me like 5 minutes, it was no big deal."

I nodded and my shoulders drooped under the weight of the day as I swiped out "Ok. I'll let you guys get back to what you were doing. My homework is going to take all of about 10 minutes, after that I guess I'll take a nap or something." Nick caught me as I turned towards the door "I'll be done around 5:30 if you want to hang out. Colton and I were thinking of playing a game. We both have pretty cool characters in League of the Legendary. I know you don't have a PC but you could pull up a chair and share mine." David chimed in to say "Won't bother me, I'm gonna hang out with Matt and Josh in a bit. I won't be back until after supper." I nodded and smiled as I mouthed 'Ok' and Nick wagged his tail as I parted.

I entered my room just as Jim was kicking off his shoes, letting them randomly drop on the rug between our beds. I pretended not to notice and took off mine by the door, tapping them into a neat row with my toe as I simply swiped "Hey" on the tablet in greeting. I got little more than a "Hey" from Jim in return and grabbed my backpack before climbing onto my bed. The pathetic smattering of homework I had hardly required the extra space at my desk and I felt more isolated up on the raised bed. Jim was growing rapidly more distant and I had strong suspicions as to why. I decided not to press the issue but mulled it over in my mind as I got out my books. Let him brood, if he's all weirded out about having a gay roommate that's his problem. It's not like we're life-long friends or anything. Worst case scenario he'll ask for a transfer which would be fine by me. This late in the semester they may even leave the space empty after he goes _, it would be nice to have my own room._ Ok, so if I care so little why does it bother me so much? Because he's gotta be basing his behavior solely on finding out I'm gay. It's not like he's friends with the p_ urists, not with his glowing orange fur! He said his girlfriend is connected to Melina's tribe which means she probably knows Ashley. Yeah, that must be it. Fine, maybe he'll get over it and maybe he won't. Until then I've got a count-down to watch!_

I flipped open the browser on my tablet and hit the bookmark for the World Time Atomic Clock website. I adjusted it for my time zone and felt a guilty thrill as I watched it count closer to 4:44:04 pm. I never thought I'd live to watch this happen. That sick f#ck Thad is FINALLY gonna get what's been coming to him! About 15 minutes left... not that he'll know right away but it'll come! He's gonna sh#t a goddamn brick when he finds out! After what he did to William he's lucky I didn't arrange for someone to rip his goddamn intestines out and strangle the living sh#t outta his...

"Hey, uh you ok?" Jim's concerned voice snapped me out of my dark machinations and I glanced down at the glowing fox. His ears were overly perked forward and his tail was slightly curled. "I don't mean to make you self-conscious or anything but you were really putting on a hell of a light show for a second there, that was the wildest one yet. The way you were baring your teeth and folding your ears back... damn. Don't let those purists get you so worked up, or is it something else?" I snapped my attention to the top of my muzzle but I didn't see anything out of the ordinary happening so I switched to my Text to Speech app and asked "Sorry, it's been a long first day of class. I don't see it now, which display was I putting on this time?" His tail relaxed as he said "It's kinda hard to describe. Usually it's a blue-white glow that's sorta on top of your fur but this time it was hypnotic, V-shaped black bands pulsing down your front and up your back in a loop. Kinda like two black & white barbershop poles spinning really fast side by side. The whole room was flickering dark with it, like light was being sucked into the black bands. Not to make you paranoid or anything but that's some seriously freaky sh#t dude. You really didn't notice you were doing that?" I shook my head and tapped a reply. "No, I kinda get lost in my thoughts sometimes. Sorry for being so weird." Screw it, I gotta ask him what's up. I swiped at the screen to add "You've been kinda quiet lately, is it because of me?"

He turned the chair all the way around to face me and rolled a pen idly in the fingers of his right hand. "I don't mean to say you're weird, I know you can't help it. I was doing my homework and the lights started to flicker and I thought it was the ceiling fixture at first, just caught me off guard is all. No, it's not you. Hayley and I kinda got into a fight. I dunno, I guess it means we're over." I forgot about the countdown and swung my paws to let them dangle over the edge of the bed so I could face Jim. Heh, I gotta remember the world doesn't always revolve around me. Here I was all worked up because I thought he was being a homophobe and it's actually about his girlfriend. I held the tablet in my lap and used it to say "My homework is so easy it's practically doing itself so I have some time to kill if you wanna talk." He shifted his gaze to the floor and said "I don't wanna bore you with my girlfriend issues." Something about his manner gave me the impression of someone who really needed to talk even if they couldn't admit it, so I pressed. "I could use a distraction from all of my own crap for awhile. You'd be doing me a favor."

He took a slow breath and started in. "Do you know what she looks like, I mean have you met her?" I shrugged but shook my head no. He fished his phone out of one of the countless huge pockets in his beige cargo pants and pulled up an image of the Vixen. She looked almost like a normal Red Fox except for the fact that her black markings were iridescent violet. I imagined that in subdued lighting it would almost go unnoticed and swiped at my tablet to say "Don't know what the personality is like but she looks like a solid catch." He nodded as he put the phone back in his pocket and leaned back in the chair. "I know right? I mean she totally takes care of her curves." He smiled and a touch of light came to his features as his tail danced momentarily. I nodded and smiled back, my own mood lifting as he continued.

"Lately she's been hanging out more and more with Melina's crowd. She's that popular black & brown Wolf... oh yeah, I KNOW you know her!" He shot me a grin and I rolled my eyes and nodded. He went on to say "I'm not sure if you've sorted out all of the clicks here at the school yet but that group considers themselves to be THE group. They're all rich, they're all hot and they all know it. To hang with them you can't just have money or looks, you need to have EVERYTHING just right." I nodded and brought my paws back up so I could lie on my side as he said "Her deviance is just the kind that fits their narrow standard and she's got the rockin' bod and fashion sense BUT she's not rich. She's driving her family into bankruptcy trying to keep up with all the designer clothes and purses and sh#t. Her parents feel all guilty because their little princess went and turned deviant a couple years ago and she's been workin' that angle ever since." I cocked an ear and smirked, raising one corner of my mouth while making a 'tsh' sound with my tongue. At the same time his pen dropped accidentally from his fingers and he bent to pick it up and place in on the desk while he talked.

"That's not the worst of it though. The thing is, she's starting to ACT like them. In a way they're almost as bad as the purists. They've been making it clear she can only be seen with the right people and guess who's not making the cut?" I casually pointed at him with an index finger and he quickly replied. "You got it. Even if I could afford all the clothes and sh#t my deviance doesn't measure up. I might be able to swing it if my fur was just brightly colored but the fact that it glows takes me right off the list."

I shook my head in disgust and typed "So it basically comes down to her deciding who she really wants, you or them. Am I right?" He hung his head and picked absent-mindedly at the claws on his fingers. "Yeah... we've been together since last year and poof, she dumps me because her new friends don't like the way I glow. F#ck." I looked down at the poor dejected Fox and felt sorry for him. I feel like a such a jerk. Here I was all pissed off at him for no good reason and it turns out he's been in the dumps this whole time because of that self-centered little Vixen. Too bad he's not older, I'd take him out to a bar and get him good and drunk and convince him he's better off without her. Guess I'll have to make a go of it without the alcohol. I decided to run with the idea, at least jokingly, and typed at length.

"Fox, I'd take you out and get you so drunk you'd forget all about her but I'm pretty sure we'd both get carded... and I can't drive... and I'm broke. But if all those things magically changed that's what I'd do." He managed a half-hearted smile. "Thanks, you know you're really not as bad as everyone makes you out to be. Errr, that didn't come out right." I smiled and responded with the synthetic voice. "It's ok, I know what you mean. Seriously though, if that's the path she's gonna be on you ARE better off without her. Even if you were rich and your fur didn't glow would you really want to do all that, to BECOME all that?I know it hurts, that's where the beer would be nice, but that'll pass. You watch, eventually she won't be able to buy the right handbag or her fur will turn the color of vomit and BAM, she'll be out on her tail. When that happens you can either swoop in and save the day or show off your new girlfriend, you win either way."

Jim slowly pulled himself up in the chair and straightened his back just as Nick emerged from the adjoining doorway. "Hey guys, sorry am I interrupting?" He looked quickly at each of us in turn as Jim said "No, we were just talkin'. What's up?" Nick replied "I finished my homework a little earlier than I expected, you wanna check out that game now Roger? Knowing Colton he's probably already on." His tail wagged expectantly behind him. Nick's enthusiasm lifted the last of the weight that had settled on me after I entered the room. I looked to Jim and he gestured towards the door while he talked. "Go ahead Roger, I've gotta study for a test tomorrow anyway." I tipped my head in a 'Are you sure?' kinda way and he reiterated his point. "Go on or I'll never get finished."

P.O.V. - Nick

Jim turned back to his desk and I led Roger into my room, closing the door after he entered so we could have some privacy. I settled into my chair and motioned towards David's desk as I said "David's gonna be gone until after supper, I'm sure he won't mind if you use his chair." Roger nodded and wheeled it over. David spent an inordinate amount of time in our room and his chair reflected that. It was an upscale model made especially for larger framed species. Roger looked like a puppy in its over-sized proportions. He put it right next to mine and sat in such a way that he was leaning back diagonally across the seat, his left shoulder pressed against my right arm as he looked forward at my monitor. I was exhilarated by the unexpected contact and my tail wagged happily as I leaned back into him ever so slightly.

"Uh, I don't mean to pry but is Jim ok? I've known him for awhile and he's usually not as quiet as he's been lately." Roger lifted the tablet from his lap and swiped "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to keep it secret it or not but it sounds like he and Hayley might be breaking up. She's trying to fit in with a certain group of friends and I guess he doesn't meet their standards." The computer finished loading the most recent game update and I logged in as I replied. "Really? Wow, they've been together since last year. He's a good guy, what 'standard' does he not measure up to?" Roger tapped at the screen. "His glowing orange fur seems to be a big factor. Beyond that I think he's also not well funded enough. He doesn't strike me as poor but he's still far from their trust fund lifestyles."

Colton sent me a private message shortly after I logged in and I paraphrased it for Roger since he was distracted from my screen while he was typing. "Colton says his raid is about to start but he'll be free in about 20 minutes." He nodded and I added "That's gotta be really hard for Jim. He's got a lot of friends though, I bet he'll rebound fast enough. Foxes like him don't stay single long." Roger used the tablet to say "Cool, I don't really know him that well yet but he's been a good roommate. I'll keep an eye on him just in case he starts looking like he might throw himself in front of bus." It was reassuring to see that Roger really did care about him. "Give him a few days and you'll see. I've known him for a couple years, he's not the brooding Emo type."

Roger nodded and shot me a playful look out of the corner of his eye before using the synthetic voice to say "So we've got a room all to ourselves and 20 minutes to kill. Hey, look at that empty bed up there!" Before I could say anything Roger was up the ladder, his sock covered paws disappearing over the edge. Momentarily stunned by the sudden change, and the implications, I stayed in my chair until I heard the tablet speak again. "This is my first time here, aren't you going to come up and show me around?" Roger's face appeared over the side of the mattress with that soft, closed mouth smile of his and melted away the spell that held me back. I ascended the ladder and paused briefly. The only light in the room came from my desk lamp and monitor which left the raised bed relatively dark, that is, except for Roger's fur. The blue-white glow rippled like water at the bottom of a pool and I didn't have to think hard to remember the last time I saw it that way. He was lying on his side with his back against the wall and his tail wagged with mischief, thumping softly against the comforter. With my heart beating fast and light I crawled up to join him, the narrow mattress leaving me little choice but to lie on my side as well, our muzzles only a few inches apart. His proximity overwhelmed my senses as his breath fell gently against my fur and his scent filled the air.

He used a quiet whisper to say "I think if I talk like this it'll be ok, it doesn't hurt. You're close enough to hear me right?" "Yeah" I said "Are you sure? I mean, I guess if you're whispering you aren't using your vocal cords right?" He put his hand on top of mine and replied. "I don't know the details, I just know that it only hurts when I use my actual voice or a loud whisper. Even that's getting better, I tried a couple words in the steamy shower this morning and it's definitely easier." He slid his hand up my forearm where he idly ran his thumb back and forth through my fur.

"Thanks for your support today. Ashley really hit me hard. I mean, walking into the meeting and then having that screamed at me right then... It just made it all so suddenly real. I've always kinda buried being gay and then, all at once, it was like 'Holy sh#t, I AM a fag.' " The light on his fur slid into a different pattern as he talked and started to pulse with a nervous edge. I raised the arm he was holding to let my hand rest on his side. As before, he initially tensed at my touch but then calmed down while I talked. "You're not a fag, you're gay. It's not a bad thing, it's nothing to be ashamed of." He shifted his hand to my side and it brought back memories of when he pulled at my hips to embrace me. Roger's eyes reflected in the dim light as he replied. "The first time she yelled at us, in front of the gym, it didn't sink in because I had just done that cabin trick. It makes me feel all lovey and at peace with the world, seriously I think it's like being on ecstasy. At least that's how I imagine it. Drugs were a big problem in my old school so we got endless lectures about all the different things out there and their various evils." He took a breath and continued whispering. "Anyway, after I do that trick it really changes my perspective. I'm afraid to use it because it makes it hard for me to act normal and because I'm concerned I'll get addicted to it. I know it's not really a drug, it's just some trick of the counselor's, so I'm probably worried for nothing, but still..." He paused to sort out his thoughts before saying "When I'm alone with you I live in a whole different world where I don't worry about being anything but me. But when I'm around most people I can't do that, I mean I haven't even told Jim I'm gay. So all that is why the meeting was so hard. I'm sorry I was putting on such a light show, that problem seems to be getting worse. I didn't mean to embarrass you in front of your friends."

I startled both of us by pulling him into a hug. It only took him a moment to get over the surprise. His firmly toned arm wrapped around my back and snugged me tightly as I said "I was so proud of you! In spite of all that you still came in, joked with everyone and even signed on to go to the dance! To do that even with the way you were feeling? That's pretty impressive in my book." He smiled and relaxed as he whispered "Thanks Nick" and bumped the end of his muzzle to mine with a soft brush from his tongue. The simple gesture left me giddy as he drew away to smile at me with his eyes. I felt his strong hand at the back of my head and he pulled me in for another kiss. He tilted his muzzle and his tongue caressed past my lips as he shifted his weight to bring his thigh to rest on my hip. I rocked backwards underneath the solid weight of his chest against mine and felt the edge of the bed precariously close. I reluctantly pulled my mouth away. "Roger, I'm really close to the edge." He whispered "Yeah, me too." and coaxed me in for another kiss. Just as I thought our passion would bring us both crashing to the floor he held me tight and rolled onto his back. Perched atop him I felt his excitement pressing against my own, our jeans frustratingly in the way, and suddenly realized I needed to get off or I'd be getting off any second. Oh God! Not now! We've barely started! Of all the mornings to run late and have to skip my usual... His left hand travelled down my back and he cupped my tail, gently running his fingers through the fur from base to tip.

I lunged up onto my knees, panting hard and only a twitch away from seriously embarrassing myself. Roger looked surprised, confused and worried as I tried to catch my breath and stammer out an explanation. "I... uh... I think I heard the private message notification. Probably Colton." That sounds so stupid! Oh my God, just moving is making my underwear rub on it... oh geez... don't... not now! He's going to think I'm a total spaz! I threw myself over the side of the bed and completely failed to land on my paws, tumbling to the rug covered, hardwood floor almost 2 meters below. "I'm fine!" I exclaimed. "I uh, gotta go to the bathroom. Can you get on the computer and check on Colton? I'll be right back!" I scrambled away and slid the door shut behind me.