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"description": "So, this is the second story I've written. When Billy Comes To Town was the first. (Note: Both \"When Billy Comes To Town\" and \"Amber's Story\" have charcters and places that belong to Krezz Karavan, used with permission.)",
"description_bbcode_parsed": "So, this is the second story I've written. When Billy Comes To Town was the first. (Note: Both "When Billy Comes To Town" and "Amber's Story" have charcters and places that belong to Krezz Karavan, used with permission.)",
"writing": "Hello. My name is Amber White. My parents are Alice and Jack White. They recently divorced and I am currently living with just my mother in a new town called Pouncefield. I have no idea where my father is, as he moved away from Pawstin, my original hometown, the same day that me and Mom did. I'll tell you more about why they divorced from one another in a little while. My mother, before the divorce, was a librarian at the Pawstin Public Library. My father was a taxi driver. After the divorce, my mom and I moved here, but most the jobs available here are in the movie studio in town. However, my mother has no knowledge of directing, production, or even any kind of artistic make-up or set design, so she wasn't able to get a job there. She decided to take a job neither she or I are proud of, but she doesn't complain because it pays the bills, so neither will I. She took a job at the local strip club, working a morning shift while I go to school. Her stage name is Snow White, and I hear within the couple weeks we've been in Pouncefield, she's moved up to the club's number one dancer, and some are saying she's the town's number one dancer. As long as she's happy with what she does and has no complaints about it, I guess I can live with that. As for me, I go to a school called St. Lovejoy's. It's a pretty nice school, and most of the students are nice. There are a few that cause uproars on a daily basis, but I don't run into any of them ever. The one is a big crocodile named Rodriguez. I hear that he's Hell incarnate, but Billy has been recently saying he's not that bad. Oh, I'm sorry, Billy is one of my friends. He's a platypus that moved to Pouncefield from Australia a couple of months before I moved here. He's on the Lovejoy swim team with me, along with a squirrel named Jerry, a beaver named Geoff, and a bengal tiger named Jen. Anyway, back to the topic at hand, the less-liked students. The other one that nobody likes is a chipmunk named Lucy. She runs Gym class, or so she thinks. I think Mrs. Trousers, the real teacher, lets Lucy run it just to let her have her moment. All-in-all, life in Pouncefield has been pretty nice. Unfortunately, my life hasn't always been so nice. Life in Pawstin was nice for the first nine years of my life, but the last three have been unbearable, and I don't think I can ever get them out of my head. I'm tired of keeping this all to myself, and I did tell Billy first, but I'd like you to be the next I tell, if you're willing to listen to my story.\n\n*****\n\nMost stories start at the birth of the hero or heroine it is about. However my story is going to be different. My life was rather easy and enjoyable until I was nine years old. When I turned nine, a new door of nightmares slowly opened and bathed me in it's cold and dark stream. I'll tell you more about that later. For now, I think it's best to start from the beginning, on my ninth birthday, where I found the key to said door. I remember it like it was yesterday...\n\n[b]Chapter 1: Amber's Ninth Birthday[/b]\n\nI lazily awoke on my birthday as the mid-morning sun showered it's rays upon me. It was a Saturday morning, and I finally climbed from my comfy bed at 9:00 AM. My parents were both up and already waiting in the kitchen to surprise me. I changed out of my favorite pajamas, which were pink, my favorite color, with a cute white bunny on the front and had feet on them, and changed into the birthday dress my parents bought for me. It was pink as well with small black dots on the skirt of it. I left my room, anxious to start my special day, but I started to doubt how special my day really was when I overheard my parents as I got closer to my living room, which was only two rooms away from the kitchen. The first words I heard that day will always stay with me until I die. They were from my father.\n\n\"Can't we just wake her, Alice? I know it's her birthday, but that doesn't stop me from having to go to work. Besides, it's not like she won't have another.\"\n\n\"Jack! Don't talk like that! This is our daughter you know!\"\n\n\"I know. I'm just frustrated that Mr. Bonters is making me work a double on Amber's birthday. I even requested this day off months in advance...\" my father said to my mother with a sigh of regret.\n\n\"I been saying you need a new job honey. That taxi business is for the birds.\"\n\n\"No, the pilot business is for the birds. They're the best fliers, since they already have wings.\"\n\n\"You know what I mean,\" my mother replied with a giggle.\n\n\"I know what you meant, but it's not like I have too many options. Most the open jobs around here are graveyard shifts and would keep me from seeing Amber for five days out of the week. This taxi driving may be shitty job, but at least it gives me time to spend with the ones I love.\"\n\nIt was at that moment I decided to enter the kitchen and say \"good morning\" to my parents. I stepped out of the living room, through the connected dining room that seperated the kitchen and living room, and finally walked into the kitchen. My mother and father both looked at me with a smile, as if their conversation never happened, trying not to ruin my special day for me. You have to love parents. They do so much for their kids. Anyway, they both looked at me and greeted me in the typical way one greets another on their birthday.\n\n\"Happy birthday!\" my mother and father both shouted to me.\n\n\"There's our beautiful nine year old girl,\" my dad continued. \"Sleep well honey?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh,\" I told him with a nod and a smile. \"I had a dream that I was a fairy princess and I got to save the world from an ugly troll king.\"\n\n\"Must have been a dream about Bonters then,\" my dad said under his breath, hoping I wouldn't hear it. I did hear it, but I never acknowledged I did. I knew my dad was never fond of his boss, but I didn't want to bring any of that up when I was around him. \"Ugly troll king, huh? Was he big and scary?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh! And he had goo dripping from his skin!\"\n\nMy mother sighed with disgust. \"Jack, I thought I told you not to let her watch monster movies past 7:45?\"\n\n\"I don't, mommy,\" I told her. \"Too scary. I'd have nightmares. I wasn't ascared of the ugly troll king. His breath stunk like rotten garlic, but he was a softie! I only had to use a little bit of my magic dust to beat him!\"\n\n\"Good for you sweetie,\" my mother then said to me. \"Well, your party won't start for a couple of hours. Why don't you go play?\"\n\n\"Ok mommy.\"\n\nI then skipped off, out of the kitchen and into the living room. I sat on the couch, looking for the remote to watch cartoons, when I found a pair of hand-cuffs and a leather full-faced mask, with a zipper where the mouth goes and a zipper on the back. I grabbed the two things and brought them to my mother in the kitchen. I entered just as my dad left, heading to work to pull a long 12 hour shift.\n\n\"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I found!\" I shouted as I showed the pair of items that were in my paws. \"Are these for me?\"\n\nMy mothers eyes grew wide at that point, to the point I thought they were gonna pop right of her head. She quickly grabbed the cuffs and mask from my hands and hid them behind her back.\n\n\"Where did you get those?!?\"\n\n\"In the living room. They were on the couch. I was gonna watch cartoons when I found them. So are they for me?\"\n\n\"No, honey, they're not. They belong to daddy.\"\n\n\"Why does daddy have those?\"\n\nMy mother paused for a moment, trying to think of a suitable lie to tell a nine year old girl. Looking back on it today, I think the excuse she came up was very lame, but back then, I bought it hook line and sinker.\n\n\"Daddy and I like to play 'Cops and Robbers' every once in a while. We use the mask for the robber and the cop tries to handcuff the robber, just like in real life.\"\n\n\"Can I play with you two sometime? Please?\" I asked in the cutest voice I could, trying to get involved in their \"game\". I'm glad my mother responded the way she did.\n\n\"I'm sorry sweetie, but this is a game that daddy only wants to play with me. You have plenty of friends to play with, who will be over in a little while. So go watch your cartoons, ok?\"\n\n\"Ok mommy.\"\n\nSo, being the good little girl I was, I went away and gave no second thought to the mask or the handcuffs. But little did I know that mom and dad's \"game\" was going to force it's way more and more into my life. I spent the rest of that morning watching cartoons like I wanted, and then in the afternoon all my friends came over and we all celebrated my birthday. There was cake, presents, games, and even a clown. The clown was lame, but at least the games were fun, the cake was good, and the presents were great. I don't play with any of them anymore though because I've outgrown them, but at the time, they rocked. As the night-time darkness started to blanket the city of Pawstin, chasing away the fleeing daylight, my friends all started to leave. After every one of my friends left, I helped my mother and father clean up before the sent me to bed. I thought my day was going to end there, but a few hours later, a scream of pain woke me up. I sat there in bed for a moment, wondering if it was in my head, or if I was dreaming and couldn't remember, or if somebody really did scream. I was about to lay down when I heard the scream again. This time, I recognized the voice. It was my mother, and she was in pain. I quickly jumped out of my bed and dashed from my room to right outside my parents' room door. I quickly open it, where I find dad on top of mom with blankets over the two of them. Mom was wearing that \"burglar mask\", but the zipper for the mouth was open. I stood there watching, uncertain of what was going on, but at the same time, afraid to move. Dad looked over his shoulder and saw me.\n\n\"Oh, um, hi Amber,\" he said without even stopping what he was doing. \"Mommy and daddy are... um...\" My dad's voice trailed off, trying to think of a lie. He never was a good liar.\n\n\"Playing 'Cops and Robbers'!\" my mom quickly blurted, covering for my dad.\n\n\"Yeah, that's it. 'Cops and Robbers'. Sorry we woke you. Go back to bed honey.\"\n\n\"Ok. Night mommy. Night daddy.\"\n\nI shut the door and walked away from the room, but I was still able to hear mom and dad say one last thing to each other, and that's the last I heard from that night.\n\n\"You need to be more gentle, Jack. Don't be so rough.\"\n\n\"That's the point of this. You know the safety word, so unless it's that, I'm not being any more gentle.\"\n\nLittle did I know that those words would also haunt me as things would only escalate from here.\n\n*****\n\nNow, when I said that day opened the door, I didn't mean right away. In fact, the evidence of the future didn't rear it's head for another three months, a very warm July 11th. By that time, I had forgotten about the mask, hand-cuffs, and the rough \"game\" of \"Cops & Robbers\". My parents had pitched in to build a little pool in our backyard for the hot summer days, and I really liked it. It was nice to get into a nice, cold pool on a hot, summer day. Anyway, the second bit of evidence reared it's ugly head this day.\n\n[b]Chapter 2: The Pool[/b]\n\nI hardly slept much the night before. It was a heat-wave in Pawstin, causing temperatures to reach high 90's, and combine that with the humid streak we also had, that made temperatures unbearable. So much so that I spent that night without covers or my pajamas on. It was so hot I was debating asking mom and dad to shave off all my fur just so I could cool down a little. But I was able to make it through the night and I woke up the next day, tired and hot. The first thing I did when I got out of bed was dig around in my closet for my swimsuit, which was pink with hot pink stripes and was a one-piece suit. I finally found my suit, quickly putting it on, and started running to the back-door of our house, ready to cool off. My dad saw me running by his room and grabbed me real quick.\n\n\"Whoa whoa whoa! Where's the fire?\" my dad asked with a chuckle in his voice.\n\n\"Fire? There's a fire?!?\" I asked back, starting to worry.\n\n\"No, honey, there's no fire. What I asked means 'why are you going so fast?'. So why are you going so fast?\"\n\n\"I'm hot and want to go swimming.\"\n\n\"I know it's hot, but that's no excuse for you to run in the house.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry daddy.\"\n\n\"It's ok honey. I have an idea. If you can wait about a half-hour, mommy and daddy can join you. You can even call some of your friends if you want. We'll throw a pool party!\"\n\n\"Yeah! That sounds great!\" I nearly shouted and shrieked, loving the idea. I wish I could've seen my face that day. My smile probably did go ear to ear, my eyes growing much larger, like anime eyes, and even have a sparkle to them. I really liked that idea. I rarely got to do anything with both mom and dad, and I was in seventh heaven when I was able to do it.\n\n\"Good. So why don't you start calling up some friends, and we'll see you in a bit.\"\n\nWith that, he hugged and kissed me before sending me on my way. I went and called a few of my friends, who all decided to come over, and then I went out to jump in the pool. I took a running start from my back-door to the edge of the pool and did a cannonball in, splashing the house a little. I surfaced and sighed with pure happiness to finally be able to cool off. I noticed something strange though on the cement patio where we had a few chairs and a table for eating outside. Next to one of the chairs was a small piece of rope, about 2 foot long. I ignored it, but made sure to keep it in my mind to ask my mom about it later. For the moment, I just wanted to float there and bask in the cooling embrace of the pool's water. What seemed like a few seconds, but really was about ten minutes, passed before I heard some noise in the house. It was muffled voices. I couldn't make out what was being said, but I could hear somebody talking to somebody else, or even yelling. I decided to climb out of the pool and try to listen in on what was going on. I dried off before I went inside my house, and as soon as I open my back door, the words were clear as day as they echoed throughout the house. My parents were fighting. I was scared at the time, because this was the first time they ever fought.\n\n\"How could you promise her you'd swim with her knowing you had to work? That's just despicable, Jack.\"\n\n\"Oh, so I should tell Amber that I can't do a damn thing with her because I have to work for the biggest asshole to keep food in her belly and clothes on her body?\"\n\n\"Oh don't you dare say that Jack. You know I bring in a paycheck too.\"\n\n\"Barely. You're working for peanuts at that stupid library. When are you going to get out of that place and get a better job? I may hate driving taxi, but at least I get tipped very well on top of a steady pay.\"\n\n\"Oh, so we should all bow down and kiss your ass because you make more money than me? Last time I checked, this was a partnership, not a competition. And if I remember right, my 'peanuts' helped to pay for that pool we all love to swim in so much.\"\n\n\"I could live without that stupid pool. And you know it'd be a competition if you actually found a way to make more money than me. You'd come home and start bragging, so I don't even want to hear that.\"\n\n\"Whatever Jack. If I did find a better job and made more money, it wouldn't be to rub it in your face. It would be to help our family live happily.\"\n\n\"Yeah, that's what you say. But what happens to our checks, hm? I bring my check and tips home, and it goes to bills, food, and clothes. What happens with your check? You go out and blow it on stupid things like toys and crafts.\"\n\n\"I buy the toys for Amber, they make her happy. And the craft supplies are to keep the house-hold items in good repair. You know that the days I don't work I'm here trying my best to keep the house looking good.\"\n\n\"You need to try better then. This place always looks like a fucking pig-sty.\"\n\nFor a moment, I heard nothing, and it started to make me worry. As soon as I started to walk further into the house, however, I heard a loud crash, like something breaking.\n\n\"Get out of here, you son-of-a-bitch!\"\n\n\"Fine, I will!\"\n\nI didn't want to be caught eavesdropping, so I quickly went back outside, closing the door quietly behind me. I jumped back into the pool, and, after a few moments, I heard the family car start up and tires screech away in a hurry. It was at this point that I wanted to say sorry to both dad and mom for being the start of that fight, but I now know it wasn't my fault. I laid there floating on the surface for a few moments before my mom came out in her bathing suit. She had a smile on her face, but I know that was to keep up appearances for me that nothing was wrong. She climbed down into the pool and swam to me, hugging me when she finally reached me. I hugged her back, trying to help her forget what happened. I wanted so bad to ask why they fought, but I figured it would be better if I didn't. It was only a few more minutes later before the friends I called showed up. I looked at my mom, and was about to tell them that they had to leave, but mother spoke up before I did.\n\n\"Oh, hi there. You guys ready to have fun?\"\n\nFun. I wish I could've had that on that day, but no matter how hard I tried, even with all my friends around, I couldn't help but to worry about the fight. No matter how worried I was though, I never let my friends know it as I kept up appearances that nothing was wrong and that I was having fun with them. The \"party\" lasted only a couple of hours, as my friends had to go home and do homework, which was perfect for me because I really wasn't in the mood to have company over any more. As I said good-bye to my friends, I noticed my mom and quickly and silently slipped into the house. As soon as the last of my friends left, I went looking throughout the house for her. I found her in the bedroom she and dad share, her face in her paws, crying silently. I slowly walked up and sat down beside her.\n\n\"Is everything ok mommy?\"\n\nShe lifted her head from her paws and looked to me. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and face and smiled at me.\n\n\"Yes honey. Everything is ok.\"\n\n\"Then why are you crying?\"\n\n\"Oh, that... I uh... saw a sad show on TV.\"\n\n\"I thought it was cause of the fight you and daddy had.\"\n\nHer eyes lowered to the floor and away from me, as if she were ashamed of the fight.\n\n\"Oh, you heard that.\"\n\n\"Uh-huh...\"\n\n\"That was... it was nothing really. Daddy's just stressed cause he has to work so much and he doesn't like his boss.\"\n\n\"Then why does he still work there? He could find a new job.\"\n\n\"It's not that simple. Daddy can only get certain jobs, most of which would keep him from seeing you or me for extended periods of time. Daddy wants the jobs he can't get.\"\n\n\"Why can't he get them?\"\n\n\"Your daddy never graduated high school, never went to college or trade school...\"\n\n\"Trade school?\"\n\n\"Yeah, Amber. Trade school. A place where adults go to learn special skills to get good jobs.\"\n\n\"Oh, ok. So why can't he get a job he wants?\"\n\n\"Nobody wants to hire somebody like daddy because of his lack of schooling.\"\n\n\"Why doesn't he go back to school?\"\n\n\"You know, I never thought to ask him that. I'll have to tonight when he comes home. Now run along and play. I'll have dinner ready soon, ok?\"\n\n\"Ok. I love you mommy.\"\n\n\"I love you too Amber.\"\n\nThe rest of the night went along rather smoothly. We had pork roast with green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls and gravy for dinner, which was very good. After dinner, I watched a few cartoons before going to bed. I asked mom the next day where dad was, and he never came home that night, but he did come home in the afternoon the next day. He felt as bad about the argument and what he said as mom did, and he brought a bunch of lilies home with him. My mother's a sucker for lilies. But for a short while, it fixed things, and the house lived in peace.\n\n*****\n\nMy mom and dad forgot all about that fight within a few days. They lived happily with one another, and dad stopped bringing his gripes about work and money home with him. He started to appreciate the finer things in life, like spending time with his family and actually enjoying life while he's still alive. That all lasted for about six months, but a lot happened in that time that started to change him again. The school had try-outs for the swim team, and I made the team, becoming a Cherry. Yes, I know, it's kinda stupid that the Pawstin school mascot is a cherry, but it could be worse. Anyway, between school and the swim team, my time was starting to be spent a lot more away from home, so a lot of times it was just my mom and dad alone at home. That was fine with the both of them for a little while, but then mom started wanting more kids, and my dad didn't want to hear any of it. They even had a fight about it, and dad went to work angry, which was never good. When he was angry, he tried his best to \"cure\" it with a flask that he kept on him at all times, so going and driving a taxi cab while \"angry\" wasn't good. Needless to say, he wound up wrecking the cab. Nobody was in the cab with him at the time, but Mr. Bonters wasn't happy about it. He suspended my dad for two months. Today, my dad goes back to work after his suspension.\n\n[b]Chapter 3: The Job[/b]\n\nThe sun rose in Pawstin, trying it's best to wake all the sleepyheads that still lay asleep underneath it's golden glow. I was already up and on my way to school. I hate getting up early and going to school, especially since I sleep in a few of the classes, like history. I don't know why, but I find it so incredibly boring. Anyway, nothing special happened at school or at swim practice that day. All the \"action\" happened at home. My dad went to work for the first time in two months, and he's supposed to be getting off just as I get out from school, so he was home before I was done with swim practice. I race home to see how my dad's first day back at work went, but when I get home and inside, I see my dad slumped on the couch, his face in his paws. I run up to him and hug him.\n\n\"What's wrong daddy?\"\n\n\"Nothing's wrong Amber,\" he told me with the heaviest and most sorrowful voice I've ever heard in my life. At that point, I knew something indeed WAS wrong.\n\n\"Then why are you so sad?\"\n\n\"It has to deal with my job, sweetie. Nothing you should worry about. Why don't you go run along and play?\"\n\n\"But...\" I started to object.\n\n\"Listen to your father, Amber,\" my mom said to me as she entered the room. I looked at her, then to my dad, and back to her again before nodding and agreeing.\n\n\"Ok mommy.\"\n\nI let go of my father and walked out of the room, heading in the direction of my room. I only walked a few steps before I stopped, making sure I was out of sight of both my parents. I was determined to find out why my dad was so upset.\n\n\"Rough day, honey?\" my mother asked, starting their \"private\" conversation.\n\n\"You could say that.\"\n\n\"What happened?\"\n\n\"It was that jackass Bonters...\" my dad said with both a hint of anger and a hint of sadness filling his voice.\n\n\"How many times do I have to tell you dear that just because Greg is a donkey doesn't make him a jackass...\"\n\n\"Wait, Greg? Since when did you start calling him by his first name?\"\n\n\"He and I had a few chats during your suspension. I asked him to give you your job back a few times and he finally agreed.\"\n\nI wish I could've seen my dad's face at that point, but I was hiding behind walls. My dad was a prideful guy, so the idea that my mom had pretty much BEGGED Mr. Bonters to get my job back, and he listened, probably infuriated him. All I know is that if he yelled any louder, the cops probably would've been called for disturbing the peace.\n\n\"YOU DID WHAT!?!?!?!?\"\n\n\"I asked him to let you have your job back. You weren't gonna do it, so somebody had to. And he agreed, for a price.\"\n\n\"I was finding another... wait... price? What price?\"\n\n\"Well... um... I...\"\n\n\"Alice... Alice... please don't tell me you agreed to sleep with that piece of shit.\"\n\n\"What?!? No! Never!\"\n\n\"What did you promise him?\" my dad asked as patiently as he could with as frustrated and angry as he was.\n\n\"I told him we'd pay for the cab you wrecked.\"\n\n\"WHAT?!?!? We can't afford that!\"\n\n\"Why not? You're back on your routes again, right?\"\n\n\"No...\"\n\nFor about three seconds, there was dead silence, so quiet you could almost hear the grass growing on the other side of town. My mom then broke that silence.\n\n\"What do you mean no?\"\n\n\"I told you, Bonters is a jackass. He gave me my job back, but he 'promoted' me to dispatch...\" my dad told her with the most depressed sigh I've ever heard from him.\n\n\"Wait, isn't that a good thing? As a driver, your pay was based on the number of fares YOU picked up during the week, and even then you only got 40% of the total fares of your cab. As dispatch, you'll be making more.\"\n\n\"Yes, but I also lose the tips. I made a lot of money in tips.\"\n\n\"How did you constantly make so much in tips anyway?\" my mother skeptically questioned my father.\n\n\"I kept a pair of shabby clothes in my locker at the main building. When I got in, I got dressed in them, making it look like I was really down on my luck, so people would feel sorry for me and tip me more. Not proud of it, but it's extra money.\"\n\nNow, we didn't learn until much later that the story dad told us was partially true. When he first started at Cwik Cab, or \"Double C\" as most of its costumers called it, that my dad DID change into shabby clothes to try and get more tips, but he never got that many fares or tips because of it and he started a new angle. About a year after he started, he started making a lot of tips, and started having a lot of female passengers. Not that hard to see how he got his tips, but just in case, I'll tell you anyway. It seems that after he took his passengers to their destinations, they would tip him more to have sex with him, and the better he pleased them, the more they tipped him. Bonters knew it the entire time and made a deal with our dad that he broke after my parents got divorced. As long as my father gave Bonters a small cut of the tips, Bonters would keep my father's \"scheme\" a secret from my mom. Like I said though, we didn't find this out until much later.\n\n\"Why would you dress like that just for a little extra money?\"\n\n\"Hey, every little penny helps our family. If I have to dress like a hobo to get that extra money, so be it.\"\n\n\"Well...\" my mom started with a a none-to-subtle tone of disgust in her voice, but also very sympathetic at the same time. \"I really don't approve of your methods, but I do appreciate the extra effort you put in for your family.\"\n\n\"Thanks... but we're gonna have to sell the house and move into something cheaper if we're gonna pay Bonters off for that wrecked cab...\"\n\n\"Then so be it. As long as you have your job and we're happy, I don't care if we live in a mansion or in a box on the street.\"\n\n\"Really?\" my dad asked in awe.\n\n\"Really.\"\n\n\"That means a lot to me. I love you, Alice.\"\n\n\"I love you too Jack.\"\n\nThe conversation ended there. I have no idea what happened next, but I imagine they shared a hug and a kiss briefly. I didn't hear anything out of them until later at dinner time. In order to try and help my father feel better about what happened at work, mom made his favorite dish for dinner, which I really couldn't stand, but ate it for him anyway. The dish was broiled liver and grilled onions with buttery rolls. I had a hard time choking dinner down, but I did for him, and I'm glad I did, because desert made up for it. We had my dad's favorite desert, apple pie a la mode. After we were all done eating, I went to my room to play, and I didn't hear from my parents the rest of the night. When I woke up the next morning, dad actually had a smile on his face, something I haven't seen since I was very little. I thought it was going to be nothing but great times from that point on.\n\n*****\n\nSo with my dad's new \"promotion\" and my mom's promise to Mr. Bonters, we were forced to sell our house and move into a cheaper place so that my dad didn't spend the next 2 years working to only pay off the wrecked cab. The place my dad found wasn't too bad. It was a small apartment complex called Pawstin Heights, and it was near the Pawstin Public Playground, about half a block away. If I got bored, I could go there and play with other cubs, and the Pawstin Public Pool was only two blocks away from the playground, so I could still go swimming whenever I wanted. The only difference between the public pool and the pool we had at our home was that I had to pay to go swimming at the public pool and the pool had \"Adult Only Swimming\" a few times during the day where the parents and adults got to swim in the pool without the kids. It sucked, but until I become an adult myself, I had to put up with it. Anyway, we lived in our old house for about two weeks more before we had to move. Ah yes, moving day. I'll never forget that day...\n\n[b]Chapter 4: The Move[/b]\n\nIt was the last day in our house. Later in the evening, we were going to be moving to our new home. My dad wasn't too happy about the move, but he went along with it because it meant that we wouldn't be living in a trailer park or, even worse, on the street. Paying back Mr. Bonters for the cab pretty much ensured that my dad would have his job at Cwik Cab for life if he wanted, but my dad was never happy about doing something for Bonters. I woke up that morning with mixed emotions. I was anxious to be moving into a new home, but I was sad to be leaving my current home behind, and I was scared because my dad wasn't too happy at all for the past three days. I soon realized my fears to be true when I woke up and went to the living room. My dad was siting in his favorite chair, a brown leather rocker-recliner that was set up right in front of the TV, and he made sure we all knew that was HIS chair. I sat in it once when I was 7 and he tried to ground me for a month. Needless to say, my mom wasn't too happy with that and cut my punishment down to no days. Anyway, he was in his favorite chair, staring at the TV, when I walked in.\n\n\"Good morning daddy!\"\n\nHe turned to look at me and rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the TV.\n\n\"Morning Amber.\"\n\n\"Sleep well daddy?\"\n\n\"Yup.\"\n\n\"Today's our last day... huh?\"\n\nI heard a low growl come from him. I thought it was a dog outside at the time, but looking back on it now, I know it came from him.\n\n\"Yup...\"\n\n\"What time are we leaving?\"\n\n\"Later...\"\n\n\"How later?\" I asked, curious and oblivious to my dad's frustration.\n\n\"Just... later... Amber. Go pack.\"\n\n\"But I wanna spend time with you daddy!\"\n\n\"Is all your stuff all packed and ready, Amber?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh!\"\n\n\"Then go play...\"\n\n\"But...\"\n\n\"Go play!\" he snapped at me.\n\nOf course, no child likes being yelled at, even if they deserve the yelling, so I broke down in tears and went running for my mom. She was outside taking a look at the neighborhood, and I guess trying to get a last memory of it before moving away. She was also watching a couple of guys packing our belongings into the back of a rented moving truck. I ran up to her and hugged her close. She looked down at me and tried to smile.\n\n\"What's wrong Amber?\"\n\n\"Am I... in... trouble?\" I asked between sniffles.\n\n\"No, of course not. Why would you think that?\"\n\n\"Dad... dad... daddy yelled at me...\"\n\nMy mom then looked back at the house, shook her head, rolled her eyes, and sighed. She then looked back at me and smiled.\n\n\"It's ok. He's just upset. You're not in trouble.\"\n\n\"Really?\"\n\n\"Really. Why don't you run along and go play.\"\n\n\"Play with what? My toys are all in boxes...\"\n\n\"Why don't you get dressed for snow then? Play in the snow.\"\n\n\"Ok mommy. Sounds good.\"\n\nMy mother then hugged me and let me go on my way. I went back inside my house and went to my room. All of my belongings were sitting in cardboard boxes along the sides of the room, marked either \"Amber's Toys\", \"Amber's Clothes\", or \"Misc.\" for random knick-knacks I kept in my room. Almost all of my stuff was packed and ready to go. The only thing left to pack up in my room was one dresser drawer of clothes, which also had my sweater and sweatpants in it. I was gonna pack those in my backpack when we were ready to leave. I open said drawer and pull out my sweater and sweat pants. I quickly scrambled out of my pajamas and underwear and put my sweater and sweatpants on. I picked my discarded clothes up off the floor and set them on my bed. I then went to my closet and pulled my bookbag and jacket out and set it next to my clothes, making it easier and quicker to pack them up when we're ready to leave. I looked one last time at my room before I went through the door. As I quickly walked down the hallway, trying my best not to run, to the living room, where the back-door of my house was, I started to hear voices coming from the kitchen, where our front-door was located. I made a detour and went to the doorway leading into our kitchen and hid behind the walls. I wanted to hear what was being said, but I sometimes wish I hadn't listened in.\n\n\"I can't believe you yelled at her like that...\" my mom started off angrily.\n\n\"She knows I'm not too happy about this move.\"\n\n\"She's just trying cheer you up. God forbid she wants to spend time with her father.\"\n\n\"Alice, not right now, I'm not in the mood for this.\"\n\n\"Too bad. I'm tired of you taking it out on me and Amber every time you're in a bad mood. I can understand you're upset, but we're your family for crying out loud. We're not your boss or the job you hate. We are your loved ones.\"\n\n\"Don't even start preaching to me... it's because of YOU we have to move, and it's because of YOU I have a job I hate working for a boss I hate more.\"\n\n\"Then just quit if you don't like your job! Plain and simple. But don't take it out on us. It's not fair of you to do so.\"\n\n\"Fair? You want to talk about fair? Ok, let me ask you this... how is it fair that YOU make a deal with Mr. Jackass to pay back the money spent to repair his cab without talking to ME first? If anything, it should be YOU paying him back, not me!\"\n\n\"Would you rather our family starve to death? I got you your job back. You should be grateful for that!\"\n\nThe room grew silent for a moment. I imagine my dad was trying to think of something to say, or rather yell, and he managed to think of something.\n\n\"Well, if you had a better job yourself, we wouldn't need my shitty job!\"\n\n\"Oh don't you even start that shit again, Jack. I'm tired of hearing about how you're so much better than me and how everything is my fault. Why don't you take some responsibility for the way our family lives too? And if you haven't noticed, our family is doing pretty well actually. We got clothes, food, shelter, entertainment, and friends. What more could you need?\"\n\n\"How about material needs? I would like a bigger house, a better car, some money to enjoy myself!\"\n\n\"Jack, you know, the best things in life aren't always bought,\" my mom said with a sigh.\n\n\"I don't care! Is it so wrong to want to live the high life? I'm tired of working for other people to have no money in my pocket.\"\n\n\"I know, but we just have to hang in there. And not take it out on our nine year old daughter.\"\n\n\"I guess you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just pissed we have to move out of this house, our house of fifteen years, the house we practically got married in, to go live in an apartment just to pay Jackass back for a cab.\"\n\n\"I'm not happy with the arrangement either, but at least you're working again. And who knows? Maybe in a few years, we can move back in here.\"\n\n\"I suppose so,\" my dad said with a sigh. \"I'm sorry I yelled at Amber.\"\n\n\"Don't tell me. Tell her.\"\n\n\"Later, after we move in. I just want to spend the last few hours in our house in peace.\"\n\n\"Alright Jack.\"\n\nThe conversation ended there. I quickly snuck away from the kitchen and to the backdoor. I grabbed my gloves and went outside. I decided to make a snowman to watch over our house for us when we left. I dug in the snow near the road, looking for some sticks and stones to use for eyes, a nose, and arms. I found the stones, but I couldn't find any sticks, so it had to be an armless snowman. The time seemed to fly by in an instant as I packed, rolled, and piled snow on top of snow. After about two and half hours of work and play, the snowman started to take shape. He was a little lop-sided, but he was able to stand there in the snow in front of our house, like a Brittish soldier who guards the queen. I named him Mr. Frostysides, my snow friend and guardian of our house. I looked at him and smiled, but then I heard my mother call me, so I went inside. I followed her hails to the kitchen, where both she and my dad were dressed to leave the house.\n\n\"Amber, we need you to go pack the last of your clothes. We're almost ready to leave. All that's left for the movers to get is your dresser and a few boxes from your room.\"\n\nI nodded and walked to my room. I looked around and stared at the blank walls and empty floor. The moving men left my bookbag and my pajamas on my dresser, which had most of its drawers removed. Only one drawer remained, and it was the one with the last of my unpacked clothes in it. I open it and dig all the clothes out, packing them into my backpack rather messily. The last thing I packed were my pajamas, and then I left my room for the last time in my life. I went to the kitchen and looked at my mom. She gave me a false smile, trying to make it seem like she wasn't bothered by the move when we all knew she was. We went out to our family car, a blue 1997 Volkswagen Jetta sedan. We pulled away from our house, and I looked at it one last time. I prayed with all my might that I would be back soon, but we never did manage to move back in. Our new place was a fifteen minute drive from where we currently lived. It was a small two bedroom town-house apartment with a downstairs living room and kitchen. The bathroom was upstairs, across the hall from both bedrooms, and both bedrooms were side-by-side with only a thin wall separating them. The movers made it to our apartment before we did, and they had managed to get our beds into the house before leaving the truck with us, and all our belongings still on. They returned the next day and finished unpacking us, but for that night, we were with just our beds. We ordered pizza out that night and all went to bed early, trying to gather the energy for tomorrow to decorate our new home. I slept rather peacefully, except for one time when I heard somebody shout \"Oh GOD!\" and wake me up. I didn't hear it again though, so I went back to bed. The new apartment was nice, but it was never going to be like the home I grew up in.\n\n*****\n\nIt didn't take us long to get settled in. We got everything unpacked and settled into its new home within a week, and after a few months, our new place started to feel like home. I had my tenth birthday in the new apartment, and even after that, a few more months passed before anything relatively world changing happened. For six months, my father was on dispatch, where he was making only his normal pay without the tips he garnered from the cab. After six months of it though, the tips started coming back in. We had just assumed that he had gotten his job back driving a cab, but Bonters later told us, after my mom and dad divorced, that the girls he used to get tips off of were coming to the Cwik Cab building and paying him for his service there instead of in a cab.\n\n[b]Chapter 5: The \"Tips\"[/b]\n\nI remember it like it was yesterday. It was the first day my dad started getting his regular \"tips\" again. I had just gotten home from school and started on my homework when dad came rushing through the front door, tossing out dollar bills as he ran through the apartment. Mom quickly took notice of my father's unusual behavior.\n\n\"Jack, why are you throwing money around?\"\n\nMy dad smiled, quickly picking up all he bills he had thrown, and scrunched them up in his left paw. He quickly dashed over to my mom and held them close to her face.\n\n\"I'm making more money! I'm making more money!\" my dad cried enthusiastically.\n\n\"That's good dear. How much more?\"\n\n\"Remember those tips I used to get working cab?\"\n\n\"Yeah, I remember those. Those were the bigger part of your pay each week.\"\n\n\"Well, I'm getting those, and then extra,\" my father told my mother with the biggest smile I've ever seen him wear.\n\n\"You're back in the cab then?\"\n\nMy father paused for a moment, not expecting that question. My mother never noticed though because you could blink slower than the pause he took.\n\n\"Uh... yeah...\" my dad said with a hint of shame in his voice.\n\nMy dad should be a politician with his lying and acting skills. Of course, at the time, we thought he was telling the truth.\n\n\"What's wrong honey? You're not happy to be back in the cab?\"\n\n\"I just... I thought you'd be ashamed of me if you found out I gave up dispatch to start driving the cab again...\"\n\nMy mother wrapped her arms around her husband and pulled him in for a hug.\n\n\"Jack... you should know by know I don't care what you do for a living. As long as you're happy and it pays the bills...\"\n\nMy dad smiled from the embrace of his wife. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.\n\n\"Thanks Alice. You don't know how good that makes me feel to hear that. I love you.\"\n\n\"I love you too, Jack.\"\n\nThe two smiled and held each other for a few moments longer, enjoying being with one another in such a warm embrace. The hug ended when my dad pulled away from my mom and looked at a clock.\n\n\"Hmmm... what say we go out on the town tonight to celebrate?\"\n\n\"What about Amber?\"\n\n\"Well, I really kinda wanted it to be just you and me tonight...\" my dad mentioned with a depressed tone to his voice.\n\n\"I could always hire a sitter.\"\n\n\"Hire a sitter for a 10 year old girl? I mean, she'll be going through puberty in a few years and you want to hire a baby-sitter for her?\"\n\nIt wasn't often, but there were times in my parents' conversations when my dad had a good and legitamate point. This happened to be one of those few rare times.\n\n\"I guess you're right Jack.\" My mom then looked to me. \"Honey, would you like the house to yourself today?\"\n\nI looked at my mom and nodded.\n\n\"Think you can take care of yourself?\"\n\n\"Mom... I'm 10. I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself. There's Chef Boyardee in the kitchen for me to throw in the microwave if I get hungry, and cereal for me to snack on for a desert.\"\n\nMy dad chuckled lightly as he heard my words.\n\n\"Well Alice, it sounds like our little girl is growing up fast.\"\n\nMy mother giggled a little as she looked back to her husband and lightly kissed his cheek. \"Mmhm. She is indeed.\"\n\n\"So, shall we, my dear?\"\n\n\"Alright. Let's go out on the town,\" she replied to my dad. My mother then looked back to me with a smile as well. \"Have fun tonight Amber. If you need anything, you know my cell phone, and a list of emergency numbers is on the fridge.\"\n\n\"Ok mom. Have fun. You too dad!\"\n\nMy mom quickly slipped her shoes on and walked with my dad out the door to our apartment. That would be the last time I ever saw the two of them so happy together. I spent the rest of my night doing homework and playing video games. Honestly though, it was more video games than homework. I did cook myself a can of ravioli and had that for dinner and was in bed by 9 PM. I slept fine through the night, except for one brief time when my mom yelped a little in pain. I listened a little closer, and the only thing I managed to hear from the other side of the wall was \"Not so rough with the rope please...\". I shrugged it off and quickly drifted off back to sleep with a smile on my face, glad to see my mom and dad so happy for the first time in a long time.\n\n*****\n\nMy dad and mom were happy for a couple of months, which in turn made me happy. I can't remember the last time my parents actually went out for an entire night. And seeing them happy together started making me want somebody to be happy with. As the air started turning colder, Halloween quickly snuck up on me. I had my costume planned months in advance. I was going to be a cowgirl. My dad already went out and got my costume together, which included boots, jeans, which I felt weird wearing because I'm not much of a denim fur, a white shirt, a cow-skin vest, and a brown hat. He didn't have to go buy the rope for my costume because he already had it. I had no idea why he had the rope until after my parents divorced.\n\n[b]Chapter 6: The Party[/b]\n\nIt was very late in the school day as I was heading to my locker, dressed in my costume for Halloween, when a golden-brown fox slowly walked up to me, dressed as a cowboy.\n\n\"H-hi...\" he nervously said to me.\n\n\"Hi. Nice costume,\" I said back with a smile.\n\n\"Uh... thanks...\"\n\n\"Hey... wait a minute... don't I share a class with you?\"\n\n\"Y-yeah... we both have fifth period math with Mr. Dai.\"\n\n\"Oh yeah. You sit in the back of that class.\"\n\n\"Uh-huh.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry... I don't know your name...\" I said, feeling bad to not really know the fox in front of me.\n\n\"Oh... yeah... this is kinda our first time talking, huh?\" he asked nervously, to which I nodded. \"My name's Daren Ferril.\"\n\n\"Amber White,\" I told him with a smile while looking him over. \"So what species of fox are you?\"\n\n\"Tibetan Sand. And I can clearly see that you're Artic,\" he said with a chuckle, his nerves starting to ease away.\n\n\"Well well well, looks like somebody's got a big brain,\" I joked with him, giggling.\n\n\"Ok, so it's kinda obvious, but I don't care!\" he said, starting to laugh. \"Hey... I'm throwing a party tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come,\" he told me as he handed me an envelope.\n\n\"What time?\"\n\n\"It'll be at 8, and because of the curfew tonight, it has to end at 11.\"\n\n\"I'll be there.\"\n\nHe smiled at me and I smiled at him, happy that we each made a new friend. He then saw a few of his friends headed our way and then looked back to me.\n\n\"Those are my friends,\" he mentioned as he pointed to them. \"I'll see you at the party.\"\n\n\"See you there.\"\n\nHe then ran off to join his friends as they started to leave the building. I smiled as I looked at the envelope one more time before putting it with the rest of my stuff in my backpack, putting it on when I filled it with everything I needed for the night. I then quickly ran outside to catch the bus. When I got home, my mom was busy putting together Trick-Or-Treat bags for cubs, and my dad was doing some last minute decorating and costume designing. He was putting the finishing touches on his Trick-Or-Treat scare costume. Every year he gets a large flannel shirt, some bluejeans, and a bunch of stuffing to make it look like he's headless. He then carves a Jack 'O Latern and places it on top of his lap, and any time a Trick-Or-Treater comes up to the door, he jumps at them. Then he feels bad when he makes a couple cry, but most for the part get a laugh out of it. I walked in the front door and quickly ran to my room. I tossed my backpack on my bed and quickly scrambled out of my costume, laying it neatly on my bed next to my bag. I then ran to my bathroom and got a quick shower, making sure I was nice and clean for the first Halloween party of my life. As soon as I was clean and dry, I got back into my costume and ran downstairs, accidentally running my dad over in the process. He quickly got up and grabbed me, stopping me.\n\n\"Whoa whoa whoa! Where's the fire Amber?\"\n\n\"Sorry Dad... I'm just so excited...\"\n\n\"Why's that? Ready to Trick-Or-Treat?\"\n\n\"I'm not going this year.\"\n\n\"Why not Amber? I thought you loved to go Trick-Or-Treating with your mom?\" my dad asked with a concerned tone to his voice.\n\n\"I do, but this year I got invited to a Halloween party!\"\n\n\"Oh really? Good for you,\" my dad said to me with a smile on his face. \"So who's throwing the party.\"\n\n\"He's a fox named Daren Ferril.\"\n\n\"Ferril huh? I think I picked his mom up a few times.\"\n\nLittle did I know at the time, but Daren's mother, Susan, was one of dad's biggest clients. She was widowed when Daren was just a baby, his father dying of cancer. After his death, she started taking cabs everywhere she went, enjoying the company of the drivers if only for a few moments. That changed when my dad picked her up one day in his shabby clothes. I don't know the exact conversation, but Bonters told us she's the one who started my dad's \"extra service\". I guess she wanted a man's touch and she knew he wanted the money. Anyway, that's how he started getting all his big tips.\n\n\"Oh really? What's she like?\" I asked my father.\n\n\"She's very nice and trustworthy. Is she gonna be at this party?\"\n\nI shrugged, not really knowing the answer. \"I dunno.\"\n\n\"Hmmm... what time does it start and end?\"\n\n\"It starts at 8 and ends at 11.\"\n\n\"Alright. You can go, but make sure you call me EXACTLY at 11, ok?\"\n\n\"Ok. I'm gonna go upstairs and take a nap so I don't fall asleep in the middle of the party, ok?\"\n\n\"Just don't sleep too late or you won't be able to fall asleep tonight, ok?\"\n\n\"Ok.\"\n\nI ran back upstairs to my room, tossing my book-bag off my bed and collapsing on it, trying my hardest to take a nap. Unfortunately, I was so excited about going to the party that I wasn't able to actually fall asleep for about an hour. What felt like seconds passed when my dad yelled up at me to wake up for dinner. I climbed out of bed with a yawn and a stretch before heading downstairs, soon being engulfed with the sweet smells of my mother's cooking. For dinner she made a turkey breast with scalloped potatoes and French-cut green beans, and she baked a pumpkin pie for desert. Every bite of it was delicious, especially the pie. I love pumpkin pie! As soon as I finished eating, I excused myself from the table, put my dirty dishes in the sink, and ran into the living room to watch TV until my father was ready to take me to the party. What felt like an eternity passed when my dad finished eating and came into the living room with a smile on his face.\n\n\"Are you ready to go?\"\n\nI quickly nodded and hopped up from the couch, quickly dashing to the door. My dad slowly followed behind.\n\n\"Slow down Amber. The party's not going anywhere.\"\n\n\"I know... but I can't help it! I'm excited!\"\n\n\"I can understand. Just make sure you have fun and stay out of trouble after I drop you off, ok?\"\n\n\"Ok.\"\n\nMy dad opened the door and we went to the car, me climbing in the passenger's seat and the both of us buckling our seatbelts. Luckily for me my dad knew where the Ferril residence was, because I completely forgot to ask Darin for directions. After a quick five minute drive, we stopped in front of the Ferril household and I quickly climbed out of the car. I looked back at my dad and smiled.\n\n\"Thank you dad.\"\n\n\"You're welcome. Now, have fun, stay safe, and wait for me out here, ok? I'll be here at EXACTLY 11 PM to pick you up, ok?\"\n\n\"Ok dad. See you in a few hours.\"\n\nMy father pulled off as I started walking up to the front door. I knocked on the front door and Daren quickly answered, still dressed as a cowboy. He smiled at me when he saw who was at the door.\n\n\"Hey Amber! Glad you could make it!\"\n\n\"Glad to be invited,\" I told him with a smile of my own.\n\n\"Well come on in. There's music playing, drinks and food in the kitchen, and a few games going on upstairs in my room.\"\n\n\"What kind of games?\"\n\n\"Party games. Games that really make a party a better party.\"\n\n\"Ok. Well, I think I might join in in a few. I think I'm gonna get something to drink.\"\n\n\"Alright. Well, enjoy yourself. If you'll excuse me, I have to mingle more with my guests.\"\n\nHe left the door open for me as he left my sight, mixing in with the many cubs that were in his house. Some were dancing, others were sitting around talking, and a few occasionally went upstairs. I decided to walk into the kitchen to grab a drink, where Ms. Ferril was preparing drinks and making snacks for the party. I walked up to her with a smile and started talking to her.\n\n\"Thanks for allowing me to come to the party Miss Ferril.\"\n\nShe turned and looked at me with a smile.\n\n\"Oh, hello there. I don't ever recall seeing you around before.\"\n\n\"I'm Amber. Daren and I just met this afternoon.\"\n\n\"I see. Well, I'm glad he's meeting more friends. The poor kid has always been shy...\"\n\n\"I kinda noticed.\"\n\n\"Oh, and by the way, I prefer Ms. Ferril instead of Miss Ferril.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Well, I don't want to be a Miss again because I don't plan on remarrying... but I can't really be a Mrs. because my husband died...\"\n\n\"Oh... I'm so sorry... how did Mr. Ferril go?\"\n\n\"Cancer...\" she said as she looked away from me, sorrow starting to fill her eyes.\n\n\"I'm sorry...\"\n\nShe looked back to me and smiled.\n\n\"It's ok. You didn't know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the party. There are snacks and drinks in here, and I'll be in here most of the night preparing them and watching TV. I figured I'd let you kids do your own thing. I remember I hated grown-ups being at my parties when I was a little girl. Anyway, have fun.\"\n\nShe then poured me a cup of punch and handed it to me. I took it with a smile and a \"thanks\" before leaving the kitchen. I found a place to sit and watch some of the other cubs dance. I recognized all of them from school, but I only knew a few of them. I sat there and drank my punch, enjoying watching everybody else have fun. After I finished my drink and let an hour go by, talking with a few cubs I knew from school and still enjoying watching the others have fun, I set the glass down, got up off the couch, and decided to dance a little bit. After about an hour, a paw quickly grabbed mine and pulled me away from the crowd.\n\n\"HEY!\"\n\nI looked to see who was dragging me away from the dance floor to find that Daren was behind it. I smiled at him and giggled a little.\n\n\"What's the big idea Daren? I was dancing.\"\n\n\"I want you to come play games with us.\"\n\n\"Uh, ok...\"\n\nHe led me upstairs to his room, which was decorated with various sports posters. There were already a group of 10 other cubs in the room, five girls and five boys. He set me down on his bed and then seated himself on the floor.\n\n\"So, what are you guys playing?\"\n\n\"Monopoly. Just started. We should be done soon, and then we can all play a game together,\" a deer girl said.\n\n\"Just try to make it quick, ok?\" Daren asked his friends. \"The party ends in about an hour.\"\n\nEverybody nodded as they started playing their game. I sat there and talked with Daren and a couple of the others who didn't get to play for about 50 minutes when Daren quickly made an announcement.\n\n\"Alright... your game is over. The party is almost over... I wanna get to the game that I wanted to play.\"\n\nDaren's friends packed up their game as he pulled a bottle out of his trash bin.\n\n\"Everybody get in the middle of the circle.\"\n\nI did as told and joined in with the circle. A boy quail asked a question I was not expecting.\n\n\"So are we playing 'Truth Or Dare?' or 'Spin The Bottle'?\"\n\n\"The second one.\"\n\nMy heart and mind started racing, and I'm pretty sure I was blushing lightly, although nobody seemed to notice if I did. I had no idea they were gonna play such games, and I was a bit too shy to play either of them. I figured that if I sat there though, I could get lucky and the bottle wouldn't land on me. The game started, and everybody started spinning, and fortunately for me, the bottle kept missing me. After about 9 minutes, Daren realized that I hadn't spun or been landed on.\n\n\"Hey Amber... you haven't had a turn yet!\"\n\n\"Uh... oh well? It's just a game...\" I tried to say without letting on how nervous I was.\n\n\"Well, you might as well take one.\"\n\nI nodded and hesitantly put my paw on the bottle and gave it a spin, spinning it hard. My heart raced harder and harder as the bottle started to slow to a stop. I looked to who the bottle landed on and I KNOW I blushed then, because it landed on Daren. I looked to him and when he realized who the bottle landed on, he blushed a little too.\n\n\"Well... um... I guess it landed on me... huh?\" he nervously question me.\n\nI simply nodded, my body starting to slightly shake, although nobody else noticed it. My heart was racing at a thousand miles an hour and my nerves were all going spastic. I've never even so much as hugged a boy from class, and now I have to kiss one I just met today. And it didn't help any that he was pretty cute. I shakily got up and went over to him, sitting in front of him. He looked to me and I back to him as we slowly inched our faces closer to one another. Our muzzles were less than a quarter-inch away from each other when a horn outside his house blared. I looked at my watch and sighed.\n\n\"Sorry Daren... that's my dad...\"\n\n\"Oh... ok...\"\n\n\"Thanks for the party,\" I said with a smile.\n\nHe smiled back at me, and before I knew it, he quickly pushed himself forward, quickly pecking my lips with his. My eyes widened at the sudden approach and I probably blushed as hard as possible. He backed away from me, also blushing, and simled.\n\n\"T-thanks... for coming...\"\n\n\"Uh-huh... s-see you in school?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh...\"\n\nMy dad honked the horn again. I nodded to him as I got up and went downstairs, walking outside and to the car, my eyes still widened from the sudden kiss. I got in the car and buckled up. My father then drove off. The trip home was pretty silent except for one question.\n\n\"So how was the party Amber?\"\n\nI had only one verbal response for his question.\n\n\"Good.\"\n\nHowever, in my mind, I was happy and excited. I just got my first kiss, it was from a very cute guy... and I think he likes me!\n\n*****\n\nOver the next weeks, Daren and I saw more of each other. We spent a little more time in class doing group projects together, ate lunch together at least twice a week, and we even hung out after school a little bit. But not once since that party, a month and a half ago from the next bit of my story, have we shared anything more than a smile. I don't know if he was nervous or being respectful or if I read into that kiss wrong, but I wish I knew what he was thinking. I kinda liked him. He's pretty cute, and he's a fox to boot, so that wouldn't have been upset if the two of us dated.\n\n[b]Chapter 7: The First Date[/b]\n\n\"So Amber, how are you and Daren doing?\" my father asked me as the two of us sat in the living room, waiting for my mother to finish making dinner.\n\nThe school day had ended and my dad picked me up from school today. He had to work a graveyard shift that night and he decided to use his time before going in to work to spend with me.\n\n\"We're fine. We're just hanging out and enjoying our friendship.\"\n\n\"He hasn't taken you out on a date yet?\"\n\n\"No, Dad, we aren't dating...\" I told him with a sigh as I rolled my eyes. I knew what was coming, and there was no way to avoid it.\n\n\"You should probably ask him out then. You might not meet another fox for a while.\"\n\nIt was another of my Dad's long speeches about how I should find a fox boyfriend. My dad was always making these speeches about finding a fur of my own species to have as a boyfriend, and eventually marry, so I don't wind up with ugly cubs when I'm older. He always has considered hybrids to be a crime against nature. He even considered it a crime against nature to be in a relationship with any fur that, if we were feral instead of having the intellect we do, we would eat. I once told my dad I thought this one bunny boy at school was cute and he chewed me out GOOD for it. I knew from that point on that I should no longer tell my dad what I think of any boys that weren't foxes. He thought yiffing any species of fur was ok, but not to date them. Go figure.\n\n\"Dad... I like him and he likes me. I'm not gonna throw away our friendship because you want me to try and date a fox. He may not even like me like that you know...\"\n\n\"Amber, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times... you need to find a fox for a boyfriend. Do you want to have monstrosities for cubs when you're older?\"\n\nI looked down to the ground, acting as if I were hanging my head low in shame. I used this opportunity to close my eyes and roll them. I wanted to say what I was thinking, which was \"get off my back\", but to keep from getting yelled at more and to get this speech to end quicker, I simply just acted like I was sorry.\n\n\"No Dad... I don't... you're right. But I don't think I should be the one to ask him out. You know how embarrassing it is for guys to get asked out by girls?\"\n\n\"Then throw him subtle hints. It's not wrong to hint to him that you want to be his girlfriend.\"\n\n\"Dad... why not just let things work themselves out?\"\n\n\"Because things don't ALWAYS work themselves out, got it? Stop being so naive and just do what your father says for once, got it?\"\n\nI had enough by this time, and I was ready to say what I really meant.\n\n\"Dad... listen... I-\"\n\nI never got to say to him what I wanted, because as soon as I started, my mom came into the living room with a smile, looking at the two of us.\n\n\"Dinner's ready you too.\"\n\nMy dad looked at my mother and nodded before looking to me.\n\n\"Just remember our talk, ok?\"\n\nI simply nodded and bit my tongue, being careful not to start an arguement with my father in front of my mother. I got up from the couch we were sitting on and started to make my way into the kitchen. It was at that point that the phone rang. My dad, who was closest to our phone, picked it up.\n\n\"Hello? Yeah, she's here. Who's calling? Oh, Daren! Yeah, I don't mind. I'll ask her.\" He then put his paw to the phone and looked at me. \"Daren wants to know if you want to go out to see a movie tonight.\"\n\n\"What time?\"\n\n\"He wants to go right now.\"\n\n\"What movie?\"\n\n\"Does it matter?\"\n\nI sighed and shrugged. \"I guess not.\"\n\n\"Alright.\" He took his paw off the phone and held it back up to his head. \"Yeah, she said she'll come. I'll drop her off at the theater in a few.\"\n\nHe hung up the phone and quickly went into the kitchen to tell my mom I wasn't gonna be at dinner and that he was taking me to the theater. I didn't hear any kind of reaction from her, so I imagined she was ok with it. I often wondered, and still do kinda wonder sometimes, if she even knew how my dad felt about inter-species dating and how much he lectured me against it. In any case, he came back out of the kitchen and immediately dashed out the front door, not even bothering to put his shoes on. I sat by the front door myself and quickly put my shoes and jacket on before heading outside to get in the car. The trip was quick and spent in silence as he drove from my house to the town movie theater. As I climbed out of the car, he only said one thing to me.\n\n\"Amber, remember what I said to you at home. Now have fun and call me when you're done.\"\n\nI looked at him and nodded before he drove off, headed back home. I walked to the front door of the theater, where Daren was already waiting for me. He looked at me and smiled.\n\n\"Thanks for coming Amber.\"\n\nI looked at him and smiled.\n\n\"Thanks for inviting me Daren.\"\n\n\"So... uh... what movie do you want to see?\"\n\n\"Um... I don't really care. Anything you want to see?\"\n\nHe simply nodded and walked to the ticket cashier.\n\n\"Two for the cartoon movie please.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry... that movie is sold out for the night.\"\n\n\"Shoot... and the rest are PG-13...\"\n\nHe looked back to me with a frown.\n\n\"I'm sorry Amber...\"\n\n\"It's ok. Why don't we go for a walk instead?\"\n\nHe shrugged and nodded, obviously depressed about asking me out to a sold-out movie and unable to get the rest of us into the other movies. I walked over to him and placed my paw on his shoulder.\n\n\"Don't worry about it,\" I told him with a smile, trying my best to cheer him up.\n\nIt seemed to work too, because the frown disappeared and a smile took hold of his face, which I was happy to see. He then offered his paw to me, which I happily took with a smile. We then walked away from the movie theater, paw-in-paw with one another. It's a good thing I brought my jacket with me, because November air is so chilly, especially with December just a day away. We even had our first snow fall a week ago, although it didn't stick. I like the snow. I can play a pretty funny joke on my friends in the snow, but at a price. When the snow sticks and it's deep enough, I can take all my clothes off, lay face down in the snow, and blend in so well that nobody can see me. Of course, being stupid enough to do this comes with consequences, like only being able to do it for a few seconds before I get so cold that I get sick, or I do it too long and DO get sick. I used to do it a lot when I was six, but as I grew up, I realized that doing that was just kinda stupid. It's still funny, but I see how stupid it is now.\n\n\"So... sorry about the movie...\" Daren said to me, trying to break the silence of our walk.\n\n\"Don't worry about it. There really wasn't anything out I want to see anyway. I only came because you asked and it would give us a chance to hang out together.\"\n\n\"Oh, ok. So how's school been going for you?\"\n\n\"Daren... I really don't wanna talk about school...\" I told him with a giggle, which in turn made him chuckle a little.\n\n\"Yeah, I can understand why. School really does suck, doesn't it?\"\n\n\"Mmhm.\"\n\nWe walked a little bit further in silence until we realized we were in front of the Pawstin Public Park. We looked at each other and smiled.\n\n\"Let's go for a walk in the park,\" he suggested to me.\n\n\"Ok.\"\n\nSo the two of us entered the park and took a walk around the memorial statue for all the soldiers from Pawstin that fell in the wars over the years. It was a gold soldier with helmet and uniform saluting out into the park, about 20 feet tall. He was standing on a stone pedestal that was 10 feet tall itself, and on each side of the pedestal was a plaque, one for each great war and one empty space, all bronzed and each with the name of every soldier from Pawstin that was KIA/MIA/PoW for those wars. We smiled as we walked around the tribute and found an empty bench behind it. We sat down on it and just enjoyed being with each other.\n\n\"So... Amber... how's your family doing?\"\n\n\"They're doing fine. My mom's staying home a bit more. The library is failing. Nobody uses it anymore... and my dad is busy as ever at Cwik Cab.\"\n\n\"Cwik Cab huh? My mom uses them a lot. She's been kinda lonely since dad died...\"\n\n\"I'm sorry to hear he died Daren...\" I told him as I wrapped an arm around him.\n\n\"It's ok. I really didn't know him too well. He died when I was very little. I have almost no memory of him. The only know of him because one day I asked my mom about him.\"\n\n\"Well... I guess that's a good thing... although it's kinda awful to hear that you never got to know your father...\"\n\n\"I hear he was a good fox.\"\n\n\"Well, I'm sure you're proof he was. Most boys take after their fathers, and you're a very good boy.\"\n\n\"Thanks Amber.\"\n\nHe smiled at me and I smiled back at him, happy to know my words helped to cheer him up a little. He then looked into my eyes, blushed a little, and looked away.\n\n\"What's wrong?\"\n\n\"Amber... about that night... at the party... just before you left...\"\n\n\"Oh, that. Yeah, that kinda surprised me.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have done that...\"\n\n\"Why not? I kinda liked it.\"\n\nHe looked back at me with a big smile, his eyes gleaming with the joy of hearing my words.\n\n\"Really?\"\n\n\"Mmhm.\"\n\n\"Good, cause... I'll be honest... I kinda like you... and I don't mean in the friend way...\"\n\nI'm pretty positive I blushed at this point as I looked him in the eyes.\n\n\"You... you do?\"\n\n\"Yeah... I've had a slight crush on you for a couple of years now... we haven't really known each other that long, I know... but it was a couple of years ago in a class we had together that I saw you for the first time. And something just... I dunno... from that moment on I had this feeling that I wanted to be with you. I just... I didn't have the courage to come up and say something...\"\n\n\"It's ok Daren. Believe it or not, I'm kinda shy myself. Unless I'm with a friend, I'm kinda kept to myself when I'm around others. And to be honest, ever since that kiss at the party, I been kinda hoping you liked me like you do.\"\n\n\"Really?\"\n\n\"Really.\"\n\n\"So... do you... uh... I mean... I was thinking...\"\n\n\"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend,\" I told him with a giggle, which made him smile more.\n\n\"I like the sound of that.\"\n\nHe then wrapped an arm around me and we just sat there in the park, enjoying each other's company as time itself lost it's presence around us. All there was in our world at that time was the two of us and the bench. I enjoyed being in a separate world with Daren. I felt safe and happy. However, that world was brought back to Earth when my dad called my cell phone three hours later. I pulled it out of my pocket answered.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Amber?\"\n\n\"Yeah Dad?\"\n\n\"Where are you? I drove to the theater and you weren't there.\"\n\n\"We couldn't get in so we decided to take a walk. We're at the park.\"\n\n\"Alright, I'll be there in a few. Your mom wants you home. She says it's too cold out for you to stay out too much longer.\"\n\n\"Ok Dad...\"\n\nI hung the phone up and put it back in my pocket with a sigh before looking to Daren.\n\n\"What's up Amber?\"\n\n\"My parents want me home.\"\n\n\"Oh...\"\n\nWe sat there for a couple of moments in silence, enjoying the last of our time together for the day, until my dad showed up outside the park. He honked his horn and I let go of Daren.\n\n\"Sorry Daren... gotta go...\"\n\nI got up off the bench and took a few steps away, saddened that I had to leave such a wonderful date, when Daren grabbed my paw. I turned to him with a puzzled look, I'm sure.\n\n\"Daren...?\"\n\nHe then slowly approached me with his head and face, his lips easing their way to mine, and eventually meeting in a deep embrace. We wrapped our arms around each other and just stood there for a few seconds, enjoying the moment. My dad honked his horn again and that's when I broke the kiss with a smile.\n\n\"Mmm... thank you Daren.\"\n\n\"Any time Amber. See you later,\" he said to me with a smile of his own.\n\nWe let go of each other and went our separate ways, Daren towards the back exit of the park and me towards the front to meet my dad. The rest of the night I had the biggest smile on my face. I was happy. I had a boyfriend.\n\n*****\n\nSo there I was, my first boyfriend and my first real kiss with a boyfriend. I was so happy. We spent a lot of time over the next few months, and it was no different on April 11th. Yes, my birthday, and my 11th one at that. Sadly though, it was around this time that things also started to take a turn for the worse between my parents. My dad's \"tips\" started to slow down, and my mother found a new job as the local hardware store cashier, meaning she was working more and more money was coming into the house. Needless to say, this hurt my dad's pride a little, because now she was making almost as much money as him, if not more on some weeks. But needless to say, the best of my world and the beginning of the worst of theirs both occurred on the same day, my birthday.\n\n[b]Chapter 8: Amber's 11th Birthday[/b]\n\nIt was such a beautiful morning as I woke from my bed, the sun shining through my window and the birds outside chirping their happy little hearts out. The flowers and trees were starting to bloom and, as usual for this time of year, everybody's spirits were high, as if nobody had a care in the world. I lazily climbed out of bed, not really wanting to wake up just yet, and walked over to my dresser. I slid my pajamas off and opened a couple of drawers of my dresser, debating what clothes I should wear on this day. As I looked, I noticed something I wasn't quite used to being in my dresser yet, and it was also an early \"birthday present\" from my parents. It was a white training bra. I felt a little uncomfortable knowing that my body was starting to mature, but I knew I had to deal with it because every girl goes through this. My parents even gave me the talk a month before my birthday. At this point, I was just glad I didn't experience my first period or my first heat yet. My discomfort and train of thought were both suddenly shaken from my head when somebody knocked on my bedroom door.\n\n\"Are you awake yet?\"\n\nI instantly recognized the voice as my mother on the other side.\n\n\"Yeah Mom. Just got out of bed.\"\n\n\"Alright. Just don't forget to shower and come on out whenever you're ready.\"\n\nThe room grew silent for a few seconds, and that's when I realized my mom walked away from the door. I shrugged and turned back to my dresser drawer, still deciding what to wear. I pulled out the training bra and threw it on the bed, knowing I had to wear that. After a few moments of debating, I plucked a pink blouse, a white pair of silk panties, and a black skirt out of my dresser, setting each article of clothing neatly on my bed. I then left my room, walked across the hall, and entered the bathroom. In there, I brushed my teeth, took a shower, and dried my self off. I exited my bathroom, going back into my room, and put my clothes on. I walked back into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, enjoying the outfit I picked for today. I then styled my hair the way I liked it and hair-sprayed it into place. I later found out from my friend Billy Plats that this style was the same way Edna liked hers, and I eventually changed it after moving to Pouncefield to avoid being mistaken for her on a daily basis. Anyway, as I enjoyed my selection for the day, another fur started knocking the door.\n\n\"Amber, you awake? Your mother said you were up, but that was an hour ago!\"\n\nI went to my door and opened it, smiling at my father.\n\n\"Yeah Dad, I'm up. I was just getting ready for the day today.\"\n\n\"Well, I hope you know it's now noon.\"\n\n\"What's the rush then Dad? My party doesn't start until four. And I was planning on heading over to Pouncefield soon to hit the mall, see if I can't find something I'd like to buy myself for my birthday with my saved up allowance.\"\n\n\"Amber... I refuse for you to ever go to Pouncefield, got it?\"\n\nLittle did I know at the time, but my father grew up in Pouncefield. I really never knew that much about him. I wasn't told until my mother and I moved to Pouncefield to get away from him. He lived in Pouncefield when he was a kid, and moved away as an adult. From what my mother told me, he wasn't too fond of the way Pouncefield was as a town and refused to ever step one paw inside it's town limits ever again. Which also meant that because he didn't like going there, he didn't like the idea of me going there.\n\n\"But why Dad? It's only about a 75 minute walk away from here, about a 35 minute bike-ride! I could walk there, spend an hour there figuring out something to buy myself, walk back, and be home in plenty of time to be at my party! I'd ride my bike but I'm not exactly dressed for riding bikes.\"\n\nMy dad shook his head in disgust. It wasn't disgust at me or disgust at me trying to talk him into letting me go to the mall. It was disgust at the way the town was, the cubs of that town trying to yiff one another, and the adults turning a blind eye to them and trying to do the same with other adults. The school system knowing kids are doing sexual things in school and not doing a thing about it, and even the town movie studio that produces it's fair share of pornography on top of family oriented movies.\n\n\"Listen Amber. I know you've never been there before, and this is only your second time asking to go there, but you have to know I can't ever let you go there...\"\n\n\"Why not?\"\n\n\"That town... that town is a disgusting place. I used to live there when I was a kid, and from what I heard, nothing has changed. You don't ever want to go there Amber. It's not for decent furs like you or me or your mother, alright?\"\n\nI lowered my head and looked at the ground, disappointed to hear my dad's rule.\n\n\"Alright Dad. I won't go to Pouncefield. I just wish Pawstin had a mall...\"\n\n\"I know Amber, and I'm sorry. I just can't allow you to go to that accursed town and get tainted by it's population. You could always go to the movies if you want to pass the time.\"\n\n\"That actually sounds good. I know just the movie I want to see.\"\n\nMy dad then smiled at me.\n\n\"Alright. I'll give you a lift.\"\n\nThe two of us walked outside and got into my dad's car. After about a five minute drive, I was dropped off in front of the movie theater.\n\n\"I'll be back in a couple of hours to pick you up.\"\n\nMy dad then drove away from the complex and left me standing there. I debated walking to Pouncefield to go to the mall despite my dad's rule, but I figured I'd just obey him. Plus the fact that he was gonna be back in a few hours, and it would take me that long just to walk there and back, so I really didn't have any choice even if I did want to disobey my dad. I approached the ticket booth and bough myself a ticket for the comedy movie they were showing. I walked inside, grabbed myself a small popcorn and a medium root beer, found my way to the theater showing the movie, found a seat in the back, and watched the movie. The movie was good, but it couldn't douse my anticipation for my party. You only turn 11 once, and my boyfriend was coming to the party on top of that. I walked outside the building a couple of hours later to find my dad sitting in the car waiting for me. I climbed in with a smile.\n\n\"Hi Dad.\"\n\n\"Hey Amber. Enjoy the movie?\"\n\n\"Mhmm. It was funny. I wouldn't mind owning it when it comes out on DVD.\"\n\n\"Glad you enjoyed it. Oh, by the way, your party is gonna start an hour early and end an hour early. We already called all your friends and invited them over. Your mom and I just don't want a bunch of cubs around past eight tonight.\"\n\n\"It's ok Dad. I understand. I got school tomorrow anyway, so I need to go to bed early.\"\n\n\"Atta girl. Keeping her mind set on the right track.\"\n\nMy dad smiled at me and gave me a kiss on my cheek as we pulled away from the theater. We pulled up in front of our apartment a few moments later, where my dad parked his car, both of us climbing out of it afterwards, and walking inside. As soon as I walked into the kitchen, I was greeted by quite an assortment of glorious sights, sounds, and smells. All my friends were sitting around our kitchen table, which had my birthday cake neatly set in the middle of it. My mom took a few CD's out of my room while I was gone and was playing them on the stereo in the living room, and there were balloons floating and streamers hung around the kitchen and living room. I smiled in joy as I even saw a stack of presents piled up on the far side of our kitchen table, and just when I thought I couldn't get any happier, my boyfriend led a shout of two words that made me feel like queen of the galaxy, if only for this day.\n\n\"Happy birthday!\"\n\nI probably wore the biggest smile I ever wore when all my friends and my parents said that to me. My birthday, at that point, truly was happy.\n\n\"Awww... thank you guys!\"\n\n\"Well then, Amber, why don't we light the candles now so we can sing \"Happy Birthday\" and then you all can enjoy some cake and ice cream?\" my mother asked me.\n\n\"Ok, but do we really gotta sing that song?\" I asked back, groaning lightly. I wasn't too fond of being sung that song anymore. I felt it should be sung for little kids, and I'm not little anymore. My mother simply giggled when she heard me ask the question.\n\n\"Of course sweetie. You may feel like you're too old for that song, but it gets sung for adults even. Plus, to me and your father, you'll always be our little angel.\"\n\nI'm pretty sure I blushed in embarrassment at this point. Nobody wants to be called a little angel in front of their friends and boyfriend or girlfriend. I put my face in my paws to hide my embarrassment.\n\n\"MOM! Do you gotta say something like that in front of all my friends?\"\n\n\"Oh... sorry Amber,\" she told me with another giggle.\n\nI pulled my face out of my paws at that point and watched my mom light the candles. A few seconds later, I sat down in front of the cake and grew rather embarrassed when I was sung \"Happy Birthday\". I shrugged it off and blew out my candles when they were done singing, and I had wished for only one thing at the time. I wished to be able to visit Pouncefield one day. Little did I know at the time, but a little over a year later, my wish was going to come true. But that's another part of my story for another day. Anyway, after I made my wish, my mom took the candles of the cake and started cutting the cake into equally sized squares, with me getting the first. She gave me a corner piece, which I was happy to get. Had it been a store bought cake, I wouldn't have been so happy, since I don't like the taste of the icing that comes on store bought cakes, but I love the cake itself. This, however, was made by my mom, and was iced with some good icing, so I was happy to get a corner piece. I then went to my dad, who was serving three different flavors of ice cream, which were chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. I took a scoop of each and grabbed a plastic spoon and fork and sat back down at the kitchen table. My friends all soon joined me with plates of cake and ice cream of their own, and Daren sat next to me. We sat and talked and laughed as we ate, and when we all finished up, my parents started the next activity of the night.\n\n\"Alright. Now that you're all done with cake and ice cream, it's time for Amber to open her presents.\"\n\nNeedless to say, I was excited to get to this part of the party. What cub isn't? My mom handed me presents one at a time and I opened them as fast as she gave them to me. Everybody loves to get and open gifts. Although some of them I wasn't too happy about. My parents got me a few things of clothes, and my one friend got me a pair of designer jeans. I'm not too big on denim, but I'll wear them off and on for her, since there were a $50 pair of jeans. Some of the gifts that ranked up there on my favorites though were a few hair brushes, a video game, and among them all was my absolute favorite, a ring Daren bought for me. He said he could only afford a $30 ring and saved up a couple of months for it, but I didn't care. It was beautiful and it was a gift from him. He always knew how to make me happy. After I opened all my presents and took them to my room, I went into the living room where most have my friends gathered to start talking or dancing. I sat down next to Daren and decided to strike up a conversation with him.\n\n\"Hey Daren,\" I said to him as I sat next to him.\n\n\"Hey Amber,\" he replied as he put an arm around my shoulders and held me close.\n\n\"Thanks for coming to my party.\"\n\n\"It's not a problem Amber. Why would I not come to my girlfriend's birthday party?\"\n\n\"I dunno... just not felt like it?\"\n\n\"You're silly sometimes Amber,\" he told me with a chuckle. \"I wouldn't have missed this party for anything.\"\n\n\"Not even all the riches in the world?\" I asked with a giggle.\n\n\"Hmmm... I might be late for that, but after I got the riches, I'd share them with you.\"\n\n\"No you wouldn't liar!' I said with a giggle as I playfully smacked his arm.\n\n\"Nah, I really would,\" he answered with a smile.\n\n\"Really? Wow, thank you Daren.\"\n\n\"It would be my pleasure actually, Amber.\"\n\n\"So... if you're willing to share all the riches in the world with me, then why in the world did you let my mom embarrass me with that little cub's song?\" I playfully questioned the sand fox.\n\n\"Hey, it's tradition! Who am I to go against tradition?\"\n\n\"Who are you? Um... last I checked, you were my boyfriend,\" I answered with a giggle.\n\n\"So? That doesn't give me the right to go against tradition,\" he replied with a chuckle.\n\nWith that said, we both shared a good laugh and decided to end our conversation there, just enjoying being with one another. What seemed like mere seconds, but really was a couple of hours, passed before Daren said anything again to me.\n\n\"So... uh...\"\n\nI looked at him and he started to blush heavily. I was wondering what he had to be blushing about.\n\n\"Yes Daren?\"\n\n\"I... uh... have another gift for you if you want it...\" he said as he nervously twiddled his thumbs.\n\n\"Um... ok. Where is it?\"\n\n\"I... uh... left it in your bedroom...\"\n\n\"Alright. Well, I'll go get it,\" I told him with a naive smile.\n\n\"I'll come with you.\"\n\n\"Alright, let's go.\"\n\nWe both stood up and walked to my room. I looked around in every nook and cranny in my room, but I couldn't find any wrapped boxes or any sort of gift. I turned to Daren with a confused look on my face.\n\n\"Um... Daren... I don't see any gift...\"\n\n\"Well... uh... um... I was... oh god... I can't say it...\"\n\n\"Say what?\"\n\n\"I was... uh... kinda hoping...\" he trailed off, his face beet red in embarrassment.\n\n\"Hoping what?\"\n\n\"Um... that we... could... um...\"\n\n\"Yes?\"\n\nA few awkward moments passed before Daren broke the silence again.\n\n\"What were we talking about?\"\n\n\"Your gift for me.\"\n\n\"Oh... yeah... um... well... I kinda wanted to... um... how do I put this...\"\n\n\"Just say it already Daren...\"\n\n\"Do with you what the adults do...\"\n\nI'm pretty sure I blushed heavily myself at this point. This was the first time I had ever been asked to have sexual relations with anybody, and it was a boy I really liked. Deep down, I kinda wanted to, but at the same time I didn't.\n\n\"You want to... yiff?\" I nervously asked.\n\nAt that point, I knew he was unable to speak, so he simply nodded his head. I looked to the ground for a moment, having an internal debate about what I should do. After a few seconds of though, I looked back to Daren and nodded my head. We both smiled at each other. Just as we started to get undressed, somebody knocked on my door.\n\n\"Amber, you in there?\"\n\nWe both quickly stopped what we were doing and got dressed as quick as possible.\n\n\"Yeah Mom. Daren wanted to use the bathroom, so I showed him the way.\"\n\n\"So why are you in your room Amber?\"\n\nI hesitated for only a brief second, not expecting that question to come up. I needed to think up something, and quick! Otherwise we were busted. Fortunately, I was able to think my answer up in no time flat.\n\n\"I wanted to show Daren my room. He's never been to our house before, remember? I was giving him a tour.\"\n\n\"Alright. Well, it's almost time for Daren to get going, so wrap the tour up.\"\n\nThere was silence for a few moments. It was at that point that I knew my mom bought my lie and that Daren and I were safe. I let out a sigh of relief as I looked to Daren.\n\n\"Sorry... but it looks like this will have to wait.\"\n\n\"It's ok. For this, I could wait an eternity,\" he said to me with a smile, which brought out my own smile.\n\n\"Well, you better get going...\"\n\n\"Alright Amber. I'll see you around.\"\n\nHe gave me a hug and a kiss on my cheek before he left my room. I collapsed onto my bed, taking in all the recent events. I couldn't stop thinking about how I was about to give myself to Daren, and I couldn't stop wondering if I was just saved by my mother from making the biggest mistake of my life or if my mother ruined the perfect time for me and Daren. I looked to my gifts, which I piled into a corner of my room. After that, I looked at the ring on my paw, which Daren gave me. I couldn't stop thinking about what we had just done. It even plagued my thoughts as I drifted to sleep. I slept pretty fine through the night, until I woke up because of my mom screaming in pain. I looked to the wall that separated their room from mine and tried my best to listen in.\n\n\"Not so hard Jack! You're hurting me again!\"\n\n\"Hey, you agreed to this. You know, we don't do this as much as I would like, so I can't help it if I get rough!\"\n\n\"What do you mean? We yiff at least four times a week, if not more now that Amber's out of the house more!\"\n\n\"I mean the BDSM. You know I get turned on more by that.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry... it just... it feels weird... and you get very rough with it sometimes...\"\n\n\"I don't care. Now shut up and put this in your mouth, or you get the whip again.\"\n\nI heard no more from their room after that. I was kinda worried that my dad was hurting my mom, but I decided not to press the issue. I'm sure the last thing they would want is for me to walk in there and make the matter worse. I was laying there in my bed, thinking again. I started to wonder if Daren would ever hurt me on our first time, or even any time. I tried to shake the thoughts from my head, but they kept snowballing and growing bigger, and they didn't go away until I finally got back to sleep for the night.\n\n*****\n\nThat night had me a little worried, but I forgot about it the next day, and everything was back to normal for me. I spent time with Daren as usual, but it had to be in the evening. I was a part of the swim team again, he joined the baseball team, and, unfortunately, we shared no classes during school. We were happy though, just being able to get to spend a few hours a day with one another. Little did I know my joy was soon going to be stolen away from me, and by my own father.\n\n[b]Chapter 9: The Haunting Event[/b]\n\nIt was a fine summer day in July. School had been let out for summer vacation for a month, and Daren and I were spending more time together, going to movies and hanging out at fast food restaurants. I made sure to spend time with my other friends too, but I always made sure I could bring Daren. I really liked him. He made me so happy, and he was so thoughtful. The morning was so wonderful. He and I had gone out for the day on a boat that one of his friends let him borrow. We just sat there on the river, which runs through the country, and it especially right next to Pouncefield. I had debated in the past month to take a swim down, but I didn't know how far away it was by river, and I didn't want to disobey my dad, so I just stayed in Pawstin's part of the river. We were there for about four hours, from the time we woke up and went down until about two in the afternoon. It was at that point the both of us got hungry.\n\n\"Hey, Amber... you getting hungry?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh. You?\"\n\n\"Yeah, I could eat. You hungry for anything in particular?\"\n\n\"Um... I'm kinda sick of hamburgers and pizza... we've had both of those a lot this summer...\"\n\n\"There's that new hot dog restaurant. We could try there if you want.\"\n\n\"That's all they serve is hot dogs?\" I asked, not knowing anything about the new restaurant.\n\n\"I really don't know much more than you. I only know what I've been told by some friends who have eaten there. I heard they do hot dogs, hamburger, fish, salads, fries, chili, and soups.\"\n\n\"Well, that's about as good a selection as you can at a regular fast food place,\" I said with a giggle. \"Alright. Let's try it.\"\n\nWe rowed our boat to shore and left it at the dock. Daren tied it up as I went to the place where we hid our bikes and retrieved them, bringing them down to the dock. He had just finished tying up the boat when I showed up with his bike. He looked to me and smiled as he climbed on his bike.\n\n\"Alright... I'll lead the way.\"\n\nI simply nodded as I watched him start to pedal off. I quickly pedaled my own bike, trying to keep up with him. After about only 5 minutes of riding and only a couple of turns, we arrived outside the new building. We both looked it over as we locked our bikes up to a couple of street-light posts. We walked inside, where we were instantly greeted by a waitress. She showed us to a booth and sat us down, placing a small paper menu in front of us. I looked to Daren, who looked back at me with a smile.\n\n\"Don't worry about what you're gonna get, Amber. I'm paying today.\"\n\n\"Are you sure? You paid yesterday. It's my turn to pay.\"\n\n\"Too bad. I'm skipping your turn,\" he told me with a chuckle.\n\n\"Alright, Mr. Moneybags. You can pay,\" I replied with a giggle as I looked the menu over. I turned to the waitress and began my order. \"Ok... I want... two hot dogs with chili and cheese, a small fry with chili and cheese, and a small soda.\"\n\nThe waitress nodded as she wrote the order down, turning to Daren when she finished. He looked at her and placed his own order. \"Hmmm... I think I'll take three hot dogs with chili, onions, and cheese, a medium french fry with vinegar and ketchup, and a large root beer.\"\n\nThe waitress, as she did with my order, nodded at every item Daren said as she wrote it all down on a small piece of paper. When she finished, she looked at the both of us with a smile.\n\n\"Alright. Your order will be out shortly.\"\n\nAfter that, the waitress took her leave of us. We just sat there looking at one another, smiling, happy to be with one another. After what only seemed to be a few moments, the waitress returned with our orders and placed a slip of paper face-down in the middle of the table at our booth before walking away. I instantly reached out for it, not remembering that Daren offered to pay today. He noticed my paw slowly inching it's way toward the slip and quickly snatched the paper up before I could touch it.\n\n\"Nuh-uh! I told you, I'm paying today.\"\n\n\"Huh? Oh... yeah... sorry. Kinda forgot,\" I said with a giggle. \"Anyway, let's dig in.\"\n\nDaren nodded his head to me as we both began to eat the food in front of us, taking our time to enjoy it. Everything was just so tasty, including the hot dogs. By the end of our meal, I was tempted to order a few more for the road, even though I was full and couldn't eat another bite. I decided against it, not only because of how stuffed I was but also because it would be hard to hold carry out on a bike while riding it. Daren paid for the food and we hopped on our bikes. He checked his watch once before looking to me with a sigh.\n\n\"Hey... sorry Amber, but I gotta get going home. It's 2:45. I promised my mom I'd help her with some stuff around the house today. I probably won't be able to spend any more time with you at all today.\"\n\nI sighed lightly at the idea of heading home and being bored, but I completely understood.\n\n\"It's ok Daren. I'll see you tomorrow then?\"\n\n\"Count on it,\" he told me with a smile.\n\nHe then kissed my cheek before riding off toward his home. I smiled as I watched him ride off before turning my bike toward my own town-house and started pedaling away. The trip wasn't too long on a bike as I arrived in front of my place a few minutes later. I walked my bike up to the door and opened it, making sure to roll my bike in before entering and shutting the door behind me, locking it. My dad, after the move, started locking the front door. He never trusted the neighborhood that our town-house was in. I took my bike into the utility closet we had and parked it in there. I then went into the kitchen to grab a drink and then into the living room to spend time with my family. However, after grabbing my drink, I noticed they weren't downstairs. I shrugged it off and sat on the couch, turning on the TV. About ten minutes passed before I heard the first sign of life from my parents since my return, a light thud. I looked around for a few seconds before speaking up.\n\n\"Hello? Mom? Dad?\"\n\nA few seconds passed before I heard another thud. I shrugged it off, but a few seconds later a third thud struck my ears, this one coming with a loud scream from my mom.\n\n\"Mom? You ok?\" I shouted upstairs.\n\nAgain, no answer. I started to worry a little, but trying to ignore it at the same time. After a few more moments, I heard my mom scream once again, and this time I knew she was in trouble. Without hesitation, I leaped up off the couch and dashed upstairs, following the sound of my mother's voice. I stopped outside my parents' room and slowly opened the door, hoping my mom was ok. Looking back on it now, I wish I hadn't. I was only able to say one thing as I witnessed what was going on, and it wasn't that loud.\n\n\"Oh... my... god... Mom...\"\n\nI collapsed to the ground, every muscle in my body going limp in terror from the sight I was beholding. My mom was strapped to the bed posts by a pair of handcuffs, a leather strap, and some rope while my father was on top of her. He wore a face of anger as he violated my mother, her face being one of pure pain and terror as tears ran down her cheeks and her mouth was gagged up with a sock. My dad was using all kinds of terrible things on my mother, ranging from whips to safety pins and knives to a tazer. I even saw him pull out a paddle as he took it across her face. I quickly slid away from the door on the ground, unable to watch any more, and just sat there, wondering what exactly was going on and if I could help. I couldn't believe what I had just saw. My dad had never enjoyed hurting anybody that bad, and yet he was doing it to my mom, and no matter how much she protested, he would continue. It brought my mind back to that night a few months prior, the night of my birthday party. I gathered my emotions up and quietly snuck to my room, plopping down on my bed and still trying to figure out exactly what I just saw. As I was laying there, lost in my thoughts, my phone rang, which I imediately picked up.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Amber? Hey, it's Daren.\"\n\n\"Um... hi Daren...\"\n\n\"What's wrong? You sound depressed or upset or something.\"\n\n\"I... just saw something... I don't know what to think of it...\" I hesitantly told the sand-fox on the other side of the phone.\n\n\"Do... do you wanna talk about it?\"\n\n\"I... don't know... I kinda want to, but at the same time I want to just figure it all out myself...\"\n\n\"Well... how about I let you go then so you can think on it? If you want to talk about it, you can always tell me tomorrow.\"\n\n\"Alright... that sounds good. See you tomorrow Daren.\"\n\nWe both hung our phones up and I went back to thinking on the events that have just unfolded. Why would my father hurt my mother like that? Why wouldn't she call the cops? Why wasn't she really trying to stop him? Why wasn't he listening to her? The more questions I thought of, the sicker I got, my stomach starting to do flip-flops in my body. I didn't want to think of it anymore, and yet, at the same time, I couldn't get my mind off it. I just wish I had some answers. I laid there in my bed for hours trying to come up with an answer or get a handle on everything, ignoring everything else around me, including dinner. The only time my train of thought was shaken the rest of the day after Daren's call was when my dad knocked on my door.\n\n\"Amber, honey, if you're still awake, it's time for bed,\" he said through the wood in a sweet and soothing tone.\n\nAt this point, my mind started hurting from trying to figure everything out. How could my dad talk to me like that after what he just did to mom? Were they just acting something out, or was he just acting to me, trying to hide the guy he really is? Was he gonna do the same thing to me? Would mom let him hurt me? My stomach started doing flip-flops again as I tried my hardest to forget and just go to sleep. My fears were reinforced half-way through my sleepless night when I heard my mom's cries of pain again. I could tell she wasn't gagged this time because I could hear words this time.\n\n\"Jack... please... this is enough... you've been doing nothing but hurting me all day... I want a break...\" my mother said between sobs.\n\n\"Alice, you agreed to this! So until we go to sleep, you're mine for the rest of the night!\"\n\n\"But... you've been so rough today... and you've hurt me a lot...\"\n\n\"You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to let me have an all day BDSM-yiff fest with you.\"\n\n\"I didn't think it would be this bad...\"\n\n\"Do you want me to gag you again Alice?\"\n\n\"I'll be quiet...\"\n\nAt that point I put my pillow over my head and tried drowning all the sounds out, and it helped to quiet my menacing thoughts as well. As I laid there in my bed, in temporary silence, I realized how tired I was from all the thinking and emotional stress I had been under today, and decided to try and get some sleep while I could. Little did I know that my dreams would haunt me with the image I saw earlier that day, the image of my mom's face in pain and fear as my dad angrily hurt her. Little did I also know that that image would haunt me for a long time to come.\n\n*****\n\nAlthough we had plans to meet the day after, I really didn't feel like it with the reoccurring nightmares I had that night, and fate, it seems, didn't want us to see each other that day anyway. Daren and his mother decided to go to Pouncefield that day to go to the mall in that town and do some all-day shopping. I really had no complaints, because I really didn't know whether or not I wanted to see Daren that day. Seeing what my dad do to my mom had me really shaken up, and I just wanted to be alone. I didn't want to see Daren, I didn't want to see my mother, and I definitely didn't want to see my father. I knew I was going to have to eventually, so I came up with a plan to avoid them all, until school started back up.\n\n[b]Chapter 10: The Getaway[/b]\n\nIt was Monday morning when I started thinking up my plan. I had spent the past few days in my room, not eating, not speaking to anybody, just sitting alone with my thoughts and sleeping on occasion. I couldn't take it anymore, but I really didn't want to see or hear from my family or Daren. I had been trying to find an escape plan, but one was hard to find. As I laid there in bed, trying to come up with a strategy, I instantly thought of something brilliant that would allow me to spend the rest of summer away from my family and Daren. I left my room for the first time in what felt like ages to me and went downstairs. I had some pretty good timing, because my parents had not woken up yet by the time I snuck out the front door. I weighed my options as I walked away from my home. I considered going to my grandparents for the rest of summer, to go to my coach's house and see if he'd put me up for a month or two, and I even considered going to Pouncefield for the rest of summer. After considering my options, I decided to go with option A and I walked for my grandmother's house. I never saw my grandmother and grandfather White, since they live in Pouncefield and my dad hated going back to that town, so I decided to go to my grandmother Demay's house. She lived in the countryside outside Pawstin, but it was still a good three mile walk. It was worth it though to escape my thoughts at my home. I started my walk, and about half-way through, my cell phone rang. I pulled it out and answered.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Amber? Hey, it's Daren.\"\n\n\"Oh, hey Daren.\"\n\n\"What's up?\"\n\n\"I'm just walking around. You?\"\n\n\"I just woke up. Hey, you wanna hang out today?\"\n\n\"I can't. I'm gonna spend the rest of summer with my grandmother. She needs a hand with some chores and I volunteered to help.\"\n\n\"I could always come visit.\"\n\n\"Nah, I kinda want to spend some quality time with my grandmother. I don't see her too much.\"\n\n\"Oh, alright. I understand. You mind if I call you from time to time then?\"\n\n\"Not at all,\" I falsely said in a happy tone.\n\n\"Alright. Take care Amber.\"\n\nHe then hung the phone up on me. I put my own phone away and finished my walk in silence, taking an hour to do, from start to finish and give or take thirty minutes. I walked up to her front door and knocked on it, hoping she could give me sanctuary from my fears. My grandmother opened the door and smiled.\n\n\"Amber! What brings you here?\"\n\n\"Hi grandma. I was wondering if I could spend the summer with you.\"\n\n\"Is something wrong dear?\"\n\n\"No,\" I lied to the elderly fox. \"I just don't have much to do this summer, and I thought I'd like to spend some time with you,\" I told her with a smile.\n\n\"Do your parents know?\"\n\n\"Not yet. I was planning on calling and asking later today. They're asleep right now. I doubt my mom would have a problem with it though.\"\n\n\"As long as your parents don't care, I don't either. But you should've brought some things with you.\"\n\n\"Well, I did want to see if it was ok to stay with you first.\"\n\n\"I have a phone you know, sweetie,\" she told me with a laugh.\n\n\"I needed the exercise,\" I said with a laugh of my own.\n\n\"Alright. Let me get my car keys and I'll drive you home so you can gather some things for the month.\"\n\nShe left the door for a moment and then reappeared. I followed her to her car and climbed in on the passenger's side as she climbed in on the driver's side. The trip was only about twenty minutes by car, and before long, we pulled up outside my home. I went inside and quickly ran to my room, gathering supplies for the next month, including clothes, a few knick-knacks to keep me entertained, and my swim-suit. I put them into a small bag and ran downstairs, where my mom stopped me just short of the front door.\n\n\"Amber, where are you going?\"\n\n\"I wanted to go spend the rest of summer with grandma Demay. I didn't think you'd mind.\"\n\n\"Of course not, but I would've enjoyed knowing before hand.\"\n\n\"Sorry mom. I didn't think about it.\"\n\n\"It's alright. Have fun.\"\n\nShe then smiled and hugged me before going into the kitchen. I hated the idea of leaving her alone here with dad after what he had just done to her a few days prior, but I couldn't handle being in my own home. I took my bag outside and climbed inside my grandmother's car. After I buckled up, I looked at her and smiled.\n\n\"My mom said it's ok.\"\n\n\"Ok sweetie.\"\n\nShe then took the car out of park and drove off, headed back to her house. I was finally able to breath a little easier knowing I didn't have to be so afraid that my dad was gonna hurt me and that I didn't have to hear my mom being hurt. I just wished I could've done something to help my mother out as well. At that point though, I also didn't care. I was just happy that I could be away from it all, if only for a few months. My grandmother's car pulled up outside her house as she parked it and turned off the engine. I climbed out with my bag and quickly went inside, wanting to get settled in. I went to the guest bedroom my grandmother had for nights when I wanted to spend the night from back when I was eight years old. I set my bag down on the bed, not bothering to unpack and went into my grandmother's living room. I waited a few minutes before she came into the room herself and sat down, turning on her television with a remote control. My grandmother then turned her head to me and smiled.\n\n\"I'm so glad you decided to come spend some time with me Amber.\"\n\n\"I'm glad I decided to spend time with you too. Only time I really see you is during the holidays, and that's really not enough.\"\n\n\"Oh how right you are, child. I really wish I could see you more often.\"\n\n\"Well, we have a couple of months to spend together,\" I told her with a smile.\n\n\"How right you are again,\" she said with a smile of her own.\n\nWe smiled and decided to watch a bit of television. About two hours later, my phone rang, which I immediately answered.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Amber? It's Daren.\"\n\n\"Hi Daren.\"\n\n\"Hey, I heard you just got settled in at your grandmothers.\"\n\n\"Mmhm. We're watching TV right now.\"\n\n\"That's nice. Hey, you wanna come over?\"\n\n\"Daren, I would love to, but I'm spending time with my grandmother right now. How about some other time?\"\n\n\"Oh, ok. I understand. So... you're gonna be pretty busy all summer, huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah. I'll see you when the new school year starts, ok?\"\n\n\"Alright. Have fun this summer.\"\n\n\"You too Daren.\"\n\nI hung my phone up and put it aside as I turned my attention back to the television, enjoying the program that was on right now. I finally felt comfortable and safe, and that was reassured by the easy night I had that night. All I really did that entire day was watch TV with my grandmother, have some dinner with her, watch more TV, and then go to bed at nine PM. Even when I went to bed, I was able to relax and fall asleep easily, something I hadn't been able to do for a while. I didn't have to worry about anything aside from just waking up the next morning. This vacation from my life was exactly what I needed, and I was going to enjoy it.\n\n*****\n\nWhy is it that all breaks, no matter how long or how short, always seem to fly by in the blink of an eye? I felt like I had no sooner arrived at my grandma's house and I already had to leave. Summer had passed by as quick as a bolt of lightning, and I really wasn't ready to return to my life. I was enjoying not having anything to worry about at grandma's house. I still had a few nightmares of that horrid day I walked in on my mom and dad while on my vacation, but I quickly got over it when I woke up and saw my grandmother's smiling face. She always knew how to cheer me up. Anyway, school was starting and that means I had to go home.\n\n[b]Chapter 11: Amber's First Day Back[/b]\n\nIt was the first day back to school after summer vacation, and my first day back to the real world in my house. My grandma had dropped me off the night before, and I just went upstairs and straight to bed. The next morning I left for school before either of my parents woke up and sat outside the front door to the school, napping off and on until it was time to go in to attend class. My first few classes were easy as pie for me, but it wasn't until my fourth class that I got a shock. I had gone to the gym to change into my gym clothes, and when I came out, Daren was on the other side of the gym. We had the same gym class. He walked over to me and smiled.\n\n\"Hey Amber!\"\n\n\"Hey Daren.\"\n\n\"How was your summer with your grandmother?\"\n\n\"It was fine. Got to rest and relax, spend time with my grandma, and help her around the house.\"\n\n\"I tried calling a couple of times, but I think your cell phone was dead...\"\n\n\"Yeah...\" I lied to him, unable to tell him that I shut it off so I could escape the real world. \"And I forgot to take my charger with me.\"\n\n\"It's ok. So how cool is this that we get to have gym together?\"\n\n\"Um... kinda cool? It's gym. We're both gonna be sweaty and funky smelling,\" I said with a giggle.\n\n\"Hey, it's better than not getting to share a class with you like what happened last year. That really sucked.\"\n\n\"I know, but that's in the past.\"\n\nJust as I had finished my sentence, the gym teacher blew his whistle and ordered us to line up in lines arranged by gender, the girls on one side of the gym and the boys on the other.\n\n\"Alright, welcome back to school children. For the first week, we'll be doing light stuff to get you back into the routine. After that, it's physical fitness month, meaning push-ups, pull-ups, laps, and sit-ups. And then after that, I've got plenty of fun stuff for you to do. As for today...\"\n\nHis sentence trailed cold as he walked to the supply closet in the corner of the gym. He unlocked it and walked inside, coming back out with one red rubber ball. Immediately a few of the guys on the other side of the gym shouted \"Dodgeball!\" in excitement, which caused the gym teacher to shake his head.\n\n\"No, not dodgeball today. Today is kickball. Now, have fun and play hard.\"\n\nThe teacher tossed the ball to the students and they immediately picked teams. I only went through the motions of playing because I really didn't want to do any physical work that day. Me and Daren wound up on opposite teams, so that allowed me to forget he was there. I had no idea what I was doing about my life or about him at that time, so I really wanted nothing but some time to myself to think. The gym class flew by quickly with my team winning by two points, the winning kick by me somehow. After gym, the rest of the day went pretty smooth. Daren had caught up with me right outside the buses.\n\n\"Hey Amber,\" he said with a smile to me as he waited outside the bus taking him home.\n\n\"Hey Daren. Heading home?\"\n\n\"Yeah. You?\"\n\n\"Yeah. I need to go home and get settled back in. I really haven't unpacked or anything yet. Plus I kinda want to see my mom.\"\n\n\"That's cool. See you in gym tomorrow?\"\n\n\"You got it.\"\n\nHe simply smiled at me and nodded before climbing on his bus. I climbed on the bus that I ride which takes me close to my home, and closed my eyes when I sat down, taking a nap while the bus went along it's route. A kid that lived a few blocks down from me woke me up as the bus drove up to our stop. I followed him off the bus and then went a separate way from him, heading to my town-house, heading back into reality. I opened the door and stepped inside, setting my book-bag down to the side of the door way and quickly slipping my shoes off. I carefully walked into my living room, not really knowing what I'd be walking into. As I peeked my head into the room, I saw my mom sitting on the couch watching TV. I smiled and sighed, very relieved not to find another horrific situation like I did. I sat down next to my mother and started watching TV with her.\n\n\"Hi Mom.\"\n\n\"Hi Amber. How was your first day of school?\"\n\n\"Not bad.\"\n\n\"How was your summer with Gradma Demay?\"\n\n\"It was nice. I really wish I could see her or my Grandma and Grandpa White more often.\"\n\n\"You know how your dad feels about Pouncefield honey...\"\n\n\"I know... but it's not fair that the only time I see them is during the holidays, and they have to come HERE for me to see them... and speaking of dad, where is he?\"\n\n\"He's working a double tonight. It'll just be you and me,\" she told me with a smile.\n\n\"That's alright,\" I replied with my own smile.\n\nWe finished our conversation on that sentence and decided to enjoy a little TV together for a couple of hours. When it came close to dinner time, my mother had ordered a pizza with mushrooms, sausage, and onion from Pawstin Pizza. I ate two slices and my mom ate three, and it was delicious. I wasn't a big pizza eater, but I did enjoy it once in a while. The last three slices we put in our refrigerator for my father. After dinner, we sat and watched more TV until it was time for me to go to bed. I hugged my mom and gave her a kiss on her cheek before saying \"good night\" and heading to my room. As I changed into my pajamas, I couldn't help but think that the nightmare was past me. Maybe I was just imagining things or there really was no danger. I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes happily, feeling relaxed and safe for the first time in a long time.\n\n*****\n\nLittle did I know that the peace I had known the night before was gonna carry over for a while. I was so sure when I went to bed that night that, as soon as I woke up the next day, everything would turn into a terrible nightmare all over again. I was glad to see I was wrong for a little while.\n\n[b]Chapter 12: The Calm Before The Storm[/b]\n\nThe sun was shining brightly as it rose that early September morning. I laid in bed, half-awake, enjoying the light as it worked its way through my window and enveloped my room with its warming glow. The birds outside were chirping happy songs, and the wind was blowing in a gentle breeze. It was as near picture-perfect in my eyes outside as could be. Then the perfection was broken by the most annoying sound in the world. My alarm clock started buzzing, letting me know it was time to wake up and prepare for the day ahead. Why couldn't alarm clocks be more pleasant sounding than an annoying buzzing beep or static-filled radio stations? Maybe one day I'll try to invent such an alarm clock. Anyway, I quickly shut off the bothersome time-keeper and lazily climbed out of bed. I quickly got ready for the school day ahead with a shower, getting dressed, getting my hair done, and heading downstairs. I was surprised when I saw both my parents awake and actually coexisting peacefully, watching television and drinking coffee together. As badly as I didn't want to interrupt such a shocking scene, I decided to let my parents know I was awake by entering the room.\n\n\"Good morning Mom. Good morning Dad,\" I said to both of them as I walked into the room.\n\nBoth my parents looked to me and smiled.\n\n\"Good morning Amber,\" they both replied to me. \"How did you sleep?\" my mother continued.\n\n\"I slept fine. How about you two?\"\n\n\"Just fine,\" my father answered. \"Are you hungry?\"\n\n\"Nah, not really. Thanks though,\" I told my dad.\n\n\"Alright Amber. If you get hungry on the way to school, just let me know and I'll stop somewhere to pick some food up for you, ok?\"\n\n\"Actually Dad... I was thinking of walking to school today.\"\n\n\"Why? Is there something wrong with getting a ride to school from your old man?\"\n\n\"No Dad. It's not you. I just want to walk to school. I want to enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. It is gonna start getting cold soon again.\"\n\n\"Alright. That's understandable Amber. Just make sure you be careful on the way to school, ok?\"\n\n\"Don't worry Dad. I will,\" I replied.\n\nHe gave me a smile and went back to watching the TV. I lightly smiled myself as I turned for the door and started to walk towards it. As I took the door knob in my paw, my mom put her own paw on my shoulder. I turned my head and looked to her.\n\n\"Yes Mom?\"\n\n\"Please, be careful, ok?\"\n\n\"Don't worry Mom. I will.\"\n\n\"Alright honey. I'll see you after school.\"\n\n\"See you after school Mom.\"\n\nI turned around and wrapped my arms around her and smiled as she did the same. After a few brief seconds, we let go of one another. I turned back to the door, opened it, and headed off to school, leaving my mother and father to go about their own days. The walk to school seemed to go by in an instant as I was lost in my own world, thinking about the past, the present, and the possible future. I still wasn't ready to see Daren too much yet, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was at the start of summer break. Plus the nice weather helped me zone out a little bit. A cool breeze blowing across the city while the sun shines down trying to warm it up slightly, and the leaves were starting to change colors. It was easy to lose yourself with such tranquil scenery around you. Anyway, before I start getting carried away with that, I arrived at the school in what seemed like no time at all. I was still pretty early though, and some of the teachers were pulling into their respective parking spaces to enter the building and plan their days' schedules. One of the teachers, a 35 year old male brown wolf we knew as Mr. Woodley, approached me with his briefcase in paw. He looked at me, a bit puzzled as to why I was there so early, and began to question me about it.\n\n\"Hello Miss White. What are you doing at school so early?\"\n\n\"Hi Mr. Woodley. How early is it?\"\n\n\"It's 6:45. Class doesn't start for another hour and fifteen minutes.\"\n\n\"Oh, I thought it was later than that. I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"No need to be sorry Miss White,\" he told me with a smile. \"Would you like to enter the building with me?\"\n\n\"Am I allowed in? I thought students weren't allowed in until 7:30 for breakfast?\"\n\n\"As long as you stay in my room and help me set up for my classes today, you're allowed in.\"\n\n\"Thank you Mr. Woodley.\"\n\nHe simply nodded to me as he walked to the main entrance, opened the door, and held it open for me. I smiled at him and walked past him, waiting for him to close the door and take lead again so he could guide me to his room. I didn't do anything to help him with his day though. He let me inside so I could nap in his room until class started. The time flied by in a hurry. One second, I laid my head down on the desk and closed my eyes. The next second, I heard him calling my name as he gently shook me on my shoulder.\n\n\"Amber? Ammmbbbeerrr?\"\n\nI groaned lightly as I shook my head a little and looked to where the voice was coming from.\n\n\"Y-yes?\"\n\n\"Amber, it's about time for school. I figured you'd want to wake up and start heading to your first class before the other students started entering and see you sleeping in my room.\"\n\n\"Alright. Thank you Mr. Woodley.\"\n\nI slowly sat up in the chair, blinked my eyes a few times, and stood up. I left his room and walked down the hall, ready to face the day ahead. It surprisingly wasn't too difficult to face. Since school was just starting up for the year, classes were rather easy. Even gym wasn't so hard to look forward to because Daren was sick and not in school. I know I should feel bad for thinking that way about my boyfriend, but I'm still not quite certain if I'm ready to spend some alone time with him. To tell the truth, that image of my dad and mom still haunts my dreams from time to time. It hasn't been quite as often as it first was, but having that dream once every five or six days is quite unbearable. Anyway, school seemed to fly in the blink of an eye, and I was back home with my mom before I really had a chance to think about it.\n\n\"Hi Amber,\" my mother said to me as I entered our home.\n\n\"Hi Mom. How was your day?\"\n\n\"Not bad. How about yours?\"\n\n\"Mine wasn't too bad,\" I said as I walked into the living room where my mom was sitting and watching TV.\n\n\"Glad to hear it.\"\n\n\"Dad working tonight?\"\n\n\"Yeah. He probably won't be home until a little after you go to bed tonight.\"\n\n\"Alright. I just haven't seen him in a while. I miss him,\" I told my mom in a flat-out lie, trying my hardest to sound as sincere as possible.\n\n\"He misses you too. He hasn't really been himself while you were away spending time with your grandmother.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"He just hasn't really been interested in too much of anything, not even his favorite things. It was like a part of him missing or something.\"\n\nAt that point, I really started to wonder if he really was as bad as I thought he was. After seeing what he did to my mom, I thought my father was just this horrible monster that had no soul or sense of pity or shame. After hearing that little line from my mom, however, I really started thinking he wasn't as bad as I made him out to be. How many monsters lose interest in things when somebody leaves them for a few months?\n\n\"Well, hopefully he and I can get some time together soon.\"\n\n\"Yeah, hopefully. So, I'm gonna head upstairs and lay down for a nap for a couple of hours. I was gonna call out some pizza again for dinner, ok?\"\n\n\"That sounds good Mom.\"\n\n\"Alright. Have fun.\"\n\nShe put her paw on my shoulder and smiled before she walked up the stairs and to her room to lay down for her nap. I spent those few hours she was laying down watching TV and doing what little homework I had. When she woke up, she kept to her word and ordered pizza for dinner, which I had no problem with. Pizza is one of my favorite foods. You can always change the toppings, cheese, and sauce to make it taste different every time. After we ate dinner, we sat there and watched some more TV together before it was time for me to go to bed. I was laying there awake for an hour or so when I heard my dad come home from work. I decided to stay awake for another hour to make sure my mother was gonna be ok all night, but I really didn't have to. Their night together was spent in peace and quiet, which I was happy to hear, or not hear. At this point, I pretty much knew I had my father figured out all wrong. I smiled as I finally drifted to sleep and rested easily for the night and quite a few nights to come.\n\n*****\n\nAbout a month later, my world started to fall apart again. My parents had started to dislike each other again. My father started drinking a little and would come home very drunk and very bitter. They tried to hide it while I was around, but they're not that great at hiding things or lying. What made it worse is poor Daren was waiting so patiently for me to be better. At that point, I just didn't know about anything anymore, and I didn't want anything to do with anybody.\n\n[b]Chapter 13: The Storm Starts[/b]\n\nI hadn't slept well in a few days. If Dad wasn't coming home drunk, I was awaken in the middle of the night from some brief screams of pain coming from my parents' room. The loss of sleep was really starting to affect me in school.\n\n\"MISS WHITE?!?!\"\n\nI quickly jerked up in my seat when I heard my teacher scream my name. I hadn't realized I had dozed off in the middle of class. I looked to him, sort of embarrassed, and was only able to force one word out of my throat.\n\n\"Y-yes...?\"\n\n\"Miss White, this is the third time this week you have fallen asleep in class. I'm sorry I have to say this, but I'm going to have to assign you detention.\"\n\n\"I'm... I'm sorry,\" I told him as I slumped my head down between my shoulders.\n\n\"Don't be sorry. Just make sure you stay awake from now on.\"\n\n\"Yes sir.”\n\nI don’t remember much of the rest of that class. The only thing I remember was the teacher, who just happened to be Mr. Woodley, coming to my desk once all the other kids where out of the room and handing me my detention slip. I do remember the look he had on his face when he handed me the small piece of paper. It was one of slight confusion.\n\n“I don’t know what’s going on with you, young lady, but it needs to stop.”\n\nI looked at him hurriedly as those words came from his mouth. “Nothing’s going on,” I quickly replied, trying to derail all thoughts of anything “going on” at home.\n\n“Well, I know something’s up, Miss White. I talked to some of your other teachers, and they’ve all told me the same thing I’ve noticed in my class. You’ve been starting to fall asleep in some of your other classes, and your grades are starting to slip in every class you have.” He walked back to his desk, grabbed his chair, and pulled it beside my desk. He sat in his chair and put his arm around my shoulders. “Listen, you used to be a straight A student. You were, and still are, a great swimmer on our swim team, and you used to be so happy and care-free...”\n\n“I know,” I said in response as my head slumped down between my shoulders for the second time today.\n\n“Listen, I want you to get back on track, ok? I want to hear that you’re no longer falling asleep in class, that your grades are improving, and I want to see the old Amber White we have all come to know and care for in this school.”\n\n“I... I’ll try.”\n\n“And listen, if there’s anything... ANYTHING... going on that’s bothering you, you know you can come talk to me in confidentiality, ok? I and a lot of your other teachers are all here for you if you need us. So please, talk to us if you have ANY problems, ok?”\n\n“Ok.”\n\nHe then pushed his chair back to his desk and started writing something on another piece of paper. I thought it was a second detention as he handed it to me.\n\n“Here you go. Hall pass. Run along to your next class. I’ll see you in detention.”\n\nI simply nodded as I took the slip from his paw and left the room. He didn’t know I had lunch after his class, so I really had no need for the hall pass. As I grabbed my tray of lunch, I saw Daren out of the corner of my eye, but something seemed... odd... about him today. His face was burried in a book and he didn’t seem to want to look at anybody. I decided to go sit by him and try to find out what was wrong.\n\n“Hey Daren,” I said to him as I sat down next to him.\n\n“Hi Amber,” he replied without looking away from his book.\n\n“Sorry we haven’t had much time to hang out recently. My mom’s been needing some help down at the library,” I said in a flat-out lie.\n\n“It’s ok. I been kinda busy myself,” he told me, still without looking away from his book.\n\nI looked at the cover of the book to see what was so attention grabbing.\n\n\"'Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy'.\"\n\n\"Yeah, it's a book based off a video game. Both are about this group of elite cops who investigate this mansion that is filled with zombies and other monsters.\"\n\n“It sounds good. A little scary, but good. Anyway, I’m more into romance novels. It always warms my heart when the destined lovers finally cross paths and become happily ever after,” I said with a smile.\n\n“That’s cool.”\n\nAt that point, I was getting a tiny bit frustrated that he wouldn’t look away from his book. I decided to grab the book out of his paws, and, not long after, I wish I hadn’t. My eyes opened as wide as they could and my jaw probably hit the floor, literally, when I saw the horrors that lay behind the book. On his face, barely visible under his fur, were bruises. One under his right eye and another on the left side of his jaw. I was so astonished I couldn’t even speak.\n\n“D-Daren...?”\n\n“I... my... my new step-father... he accidentally hit me with a baseball when we were playing catch yesterday...”\n\n“What? Wait... when... when did you get a step-father?”\n\n“My mom got married to him over the summer. I don’t see him half the time anyway. He works a lot.”\n\n“Does it hurt? The bruises.”\n\n“Oh, nah... only when I touch them. He... he sure throws fast...”\n\nI saw his eyes immediately dart to the floor. I knew what was really going on, but for his sake, I just played along. However, seeing what he was going through started raising the red flags about my own father that I thought I had put away so very long ago. I once again became worried that I was going to be hurt by him. I tried to shake the thought from my head, but it haunted me all day. Needless to say, I can’t remember much else from the day because my mind was so wrapped around the idea of my father hurting me. In fact, I don’t remember much of the rest of the entire day for that matter. It all just seemed to blur together, all dominated by that single thought. The one last thing I do remember from that day is something that actually happened after I had tried to fall asleep in my bed.\n\n“Alice? Alice?!? Open up... I... I forgot my keys...”\n\nMy dad had come home drunk, again, and was pounding mercilessly on the door. I snuck out of bed and got myself into a position where I could hear anything that went on without being seen. I prayed to whatever forces are at work in our lives that Mom wouldn't open up the door, but she did.\n\n\"Jack? Have you been drinking again?\"\n\n\"What business is it of yours if I drink or not? What are you, my mother?\" my father answered in a very harsh tone.\n\n\"Jack... please don't take that tone with me,\" my mom said with a sigh.\n\n\"I'll take whatever tone I want.\"\n\n\"Listen, I know you're upset about the loss of your great tips... still... but you gotta get over it. Maybe it's time you found a new job?\"\n\n\"Would you PLEASE get off my back about a new job? It's all I hear from you every day!\" he yelled at his wife.\n\n\"Jack, please don't yell at me.\"\n\n\"I think I have the right. Here I am, busting my ass working for a fucktard of a boss while you play Miss Nice at the library, bringing home chicken feed for pay, and yet every night YOU tell ME to get a new fucking job! How about this? How about YOU get the new fucking job Alice?\"\n\n\"I'm happy with my job, Jack. Sure, it may not pay a lot, but at least I don't come home drunk and angry every night. I know it's the booze that's bringing out the worst in you, so I'm trying to be patient here...\"\n\n\"Oh don't you fucking preach to me. My job sucks like hell. I think I deserve the right to blow off some steam with a couple of shots of whiskey here and there,\" my dad yelled, his vioce hoarse from all the yelling he had been doing.\n \n\"You do deserve the right to blow off steam, but maybe it should be without alcohol. You're not a bad man when you're sober. I don't know why the booze makes you like this...\"\n\n\"I told you to stop fucking preaching!\"\n\nWhat happened next, I wish I could erase from my mind, but I don't think it'll ever leave. I saw my dad raise his hand to my mom and slap her across her face, knocking her down to the ground. She immediately looked back up at Dad with tears in her eyes as my dad's own eyes widened, realizing what he had done. He bent down and wrapped his arms around her.\n\n\"Oh my god... Alice... I'm so sorry...\" he said in a sincere tone. \"You know I'd never hurt you... I...\"\n\nMy mom then reluctantly wrapped her arms back around her husband, and tried to smile, but one never formed.\n\n\"I... I know... it's the booze...\"\n\n\"I... I can't promise to stop drinking... but I'll try not to get so drunk where it makes me into that asshole...\"\n\n\"I... can live with that.\"\n\nThe two then stopped talking and just sat there in each others' embrace, trying to repair the damage my father just did with one paw. I went back to my room, where I shut my door and locked it. I climbed into bed with tears in my eyes, crying and praying all night that I wouldn't be next to be hit. After three hours, I lost the last bit of energy I had in my body and drifted off to sleep, still crying and praying I wouldn't be next.\n\n*****\n\nSo there I was for two more months, knowing that my dad's drinking made him violent and having to see Daren come in every other day with new bruises on him. Both my father and my \"boyfriend's\" step-father were hurting the ones they loved. I didn't feel safe anywhere anymore, and what made it worse was that winter was really starting to pick up pace.\n\n[b]Chapter 14: The Great Depression[/b]\n\nThe January and February months in Pawstin are always horrible. If you don't get teens or sub-zero temperatures, you're buried under two foot of snow. Once in a while, we get lucky and get mild winter temperatures, which are usually 20's and 30's, and we only get about 6 inches of snow maximum, but that's a very rare case. What really made this January worse, aside from worrying every night if my dad was going to come home and hurt me or if he was going to come home and be the man he used to be, was the fact that Daren and I have been \"dating\" for over a year, and I've only really been able to enjoy the first few months of it. I know I shouldn't try to avoid him, but I just can't handle everything that's going on. It was really starting to show too.\n\n\"Miss White!\"\n\nI snapped back to reality when I heard my name called. Apparently, class had ended and I didn't know it. I was in Mr. Woodley's class, and I think he's suspecting more and more every day. Since those detentions he gave me a couple of months ago, he's been asking me everyday how everything is at home and if I'm ok and if there's anything wrong. He's even been trying to go easy on me, not assigning detentions when I fall asleep in his class. I looked at him, feeling completely worn down, giving a fake smile and nodding.\n\n\"Miss White, you were daydreaming again, weren't you?\"\n\nMy smile faded as I let out a small sigh.\n\n\"Yes sir...\"\n\n\"Amber, you know if anything's wrong, you can tell me or the other teachers. Whatever is going on, it's really affecting you bad now. Your grades are STILL falling, you've lost your cheery attitude, and now-a-days you come to school twice or thrice a week with your fur and clothes a mess, as if you been sleeping in them the night before trying to get out of your house as early as possible every morning.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry, Mr. Woodley. It's these winter months. They make me anxious. I think being cooped up all winter because of snow is starting to give me cabin fever.\"\n\n\"But it's been going on for MONTHS, Amber.\"\n\nI looked down at the ground and sighed once more. I was trying so hard to think of another lie to tell him so he would stop suspecting anything. I didn't really want anybody outside the family to get involved. I know what they do when they even SUSPECT somebody of being an abusive father/husband. They throw him in jail for years, whether he is or not, and I would never be allowed to see him. I knew in my gut everything was going to work out, but I just had to give it time.\n\n\"Listen, Mr. Woodley. It's... it's my family...\" I finally confessed.\n\n\"What's wrong with your family?\"\n\n\"We... my dad...\"\n\n\"Yes?\"\n\n\"My dad... has hit a rough spot at work. He's only making half the money he used to make. I'm worried about him and my mom, and I'm worried we won't be able to stay in the place we're at or to be able to enjoy ourselves...\"\n\nI watched his face as his expression changed from grim to a very light relief. He let out a happy sigh and squatted down next to my seat.\n\n\"Listen Amber, there's no reason for you to worry about any of that stuff. That's what your parents are doing. They're worrying about all the money issues so that you CAN stay in your home and you CAN enjoy yourselves a little. You're not helping anything by worrying yourself sick over it too.\"\n\n\"Yeah... but...\"\n\nHe put a finger to my lips to shush me.\n\n\"Listen, just try to forget about it, ok? Everything is going to work itself out in the end. You'll see. The universe always has a way of making everything better, even when everything seems its darkest. You just have to keep focused on the light at the end of the tunnel, and everything will be alright. Ok Amber?\"\n\nI simply nodded. I tried to believe him. I WANTED to believe him, but I just couldn't. Until my father stopped drinking and I knew I was going to be alright, like when I was a little girl 2 years prior, I just couldn't believe that everything would be ok.\n\n\"Alright, Mr. Woodley.\"\n\n\"Now, I'll write you a hall pass to your next class and...\"\n\n\"Actually,\" I started, cutting the young teacher off. \"I go to lunch next. I don't need a hall pass.\"\n\n\"Oh, ok then. Well, I'll see you tomorrow Amber, and I hope that you'll be back to the Amber we all know and care for.\"\n\n\"I'll try,\" I told him in a half-lie.\n\nI wanted to be the same girl I used to be, but I had so much on my mind. Maybe if I ACT like nothing is wrong, then maybe nothing WILL be wrong. That thought has run through my head since these problems first started. I never actually gave any SERIOUS thought to actually trying to act like nothing is wrong, but Mr. Woodley got me thinking about it now. I figured I'd give it a try at lunch with Daren, so I smiled at Mr. Woodley as I left his class and walked down the plain white halls of the school. I tried thinking of every word I was going to say as I headed in the direction of the smells of delicious food. Yes, I said it, I like school food. I know many call me crazy for it, but I do. Anyway, back on track, I arrived at the lunchroom and quickly sat down next to Daren. His face had no bruises on it today, so I felt a bit relieved. He looked at me and we both half-smiled at each other. However, his half-smile faded and I saw him look to the floor, letting out a sigh. There was something important he wanted to tell me, but the first thing he said to me was the last thing I'd ever expect him to say.\n\n\"Listen... Amber...\"\n\n\"Yeah?\"\n\n\"You know them bruises I seem to have off and on?\"\n\n\"Yeah, the ones you get when you and your step-dad play sports games together,\" I said, playing along with the charade that he's been playing since I first found out about his step-father.\n\n\"No, they're not sports bruises. He... he hits me...\"\n\n\"What?!?\" I questioned him, continuing to play along. I wasn't surprised from the fact that he was being hit; I suspected it all along. I was a little surprised, however, that he is telling me this now.\n\n\"Yeah... he... he used to hit on me...\"\n\n\"Used to?\"\n\n\"Well, yeah, used to. See, about a month ago, my mom got tired of it and called some help. She sent him to see a shrink, put him in an anger management group, and even notified the cops. He finished all that stuff yesterday, and he seems to be better.\"\n\n\"Well... if he's better, why are you telling me all this?\"\n\n\"Yeah... see...\" he started, letting out another sigh. \"I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I felt like I need to tell somebody, and you're my girlfriend. I must've seemed so distant since you came back from your grandmother's when school started, but I just didn't want to face anybody.\"\n\n\"I understand how that feels,\" I told him, confessing without actually confessing that I was having the same problem.\n\n\"Now that my step-dad is better, I feel it's time I try to get things back on track. I was hoping maybe you and I could go out on a date sometime soon, try to pick up where we left off at the end of spring last year.\"\n\n\"In January? You want to try and do stuff in January?\"\n\n\"Why not? I mean, it's not like the big snows have fallen and the terrible temperatures have set in yet.\"\n\nI hesitated only a moment, trying to think of something to tell him. I wanted to get my life back to the way it was, but this was a little too fast for me, especially since I still have my own problems to worry about. Just when I thought I couldn't think of anything, a spark of genius flashed through my mind, kinda like that little cartoon light-bulb you see on T.V. whenever anybody gets an idea.\n\n\"Well, why don't we save this for the Valentine's Day Dance that the school is going to throw next month?\"\n\n\"Aw... really? I was kinda hoping to pick up sooner than that...\" he said in disbelief, his head slumping between his shoulders.\n\n\"If you wait, I promise to make it special for you,\" I told him with a wink.\n\n\"Special? Special how?\"\n\n\"If I told you that, it wouldn't be so special, now would it?\" I stated with a half giggle.\n\n\"No, I guess it wouldn't. Alright, you're on. We'll wait until the Valentine's Day Dance. But can we at least hang out during school and stuff?\"\n\n\"We only have lunch and gym together...\"\n\n\"Yeah, so? I'd still like to hang out with you as much as possible in gym and here, as well as any time I can get between classes or before school.\"\n\nNow this was the pace I was looking for. I don't want anything to fast, since I never know when my dad's going to come home and do to me what he does to my mom, and I don't think I can handle that as well as having a boyfriend at the same time. Hell, I'm not even sure if I can handle having a friend, but if I don't do something soon, Mr. Woodley is just going to keep growing more and more suspicious. I really can't have that on my plate as well. So I nodded my head and gave Daren a smile.\n\n\"Yeah, sure. Why not, you know?\"\n\n\"Awesome,\" he said with excitement clear in his voice. \"Well, I'll see you at gym then?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\"Awesome!\"\n\nHe took his tray and left the table, dumping the food out in a trash can before setting the tray on a rack where we store our dirty trays to be taken to be cleaned. He then lined up near the door and waited for the teacher that monitors lunch to let everybody go for their next classes. I just sat after he left and tried to play everything out in my head.\n\nMr. Woodley HAD said everything would work out in the end, and Daren's step-father got help and is now better. So everything is now better for Daren, but that doesn't exactly help me. Is this a sign that I should try to get my dad some help? But if I do that, I'll never get to see him again. But Daren's step-dad is at home with Daren, so maybe I'll be allowed to see my father when he's done? Oh, this is all so confusing... it's making my brain hurt...\n\nI don't tell too many others the thoughts I had that day, since all of this is still relatively fresh to me and I'm just now starting to settle down from all of it. Another deciding factor that came into play about me deciding not to tell too many about said thoughts is the fact that, while the rest of my day at school was easy, my night was rough. Well, my night as I tried to fall asleep. My dad had come home drunk again. He had promised to try to not come home drunk, but after the incident, he seemed to come home in that state every other night instead of every single night. I didn't hear of him hitting my mom in a drunken rage, but I was always worried that he might, and then he might turn on me. It was just all so confusing. At that point, I think the only thing that kept me going was the one question that ran through my head that night a few times before falling asleep.\n\n\"Will everything work itself out, or is Mr. Woodley just trying to comfort me and ready me for a painful future?\"\n\n*****\n\nSo there I was, trying to pretend like nothing was wrong, and it was actually working. For a month, things WERE getting better. My dad's drinking was slowing down, Daren and I were having fun together in school, and I haven't heard anything bad coming from my parents' bedroom in a long while. Mr. Woodley has even backed off, and my attitude and grades are improving rapidly. For the first time in a long time, I felt like nothing could go wrong.\n\n[b]Chapter 15: Valentine's Day[/b]\n\nThe time had finally come. It was Valentine's Day, and that meant that the dance was here. The one I had promised to take Daren to. I had been trying, since I first made the promise, to prepare myself mentally for this night. It would be the first time I would spend any kind of alone time with Daren since the spring of last year, and I was EXTREMELY nervous. Yeah, there were going to be other kids at the dance, but on the way there and on the way home, it was going to just be him and me, and it scared me a little. I decided to suck it up though, because it was going against everything I had been working to do since Mr. Woodley gave me that advice. I was trying to act like nothing was wrong, and being scared of being alone with your boyfriend for more than two seconds is DEFINITELY wrong. I knew nothing bad would happen. I guess it kinda felt like a first date all over again. I was sitting there with a towel wrapped around my body, drying off from the shower I had taken, brushing my hair into what used to be my favorite style when my mom knocked on the door.\n\n\"Everything ok in there Amber?\"\n\n\"Yeah Mom. Just brushing my hair.\"\n\n\"May I come in?\"\n\n\"Sure.\"\n\nI heard the door open and close beside me as my mother entered the room. I didn't take my eyes off my hair for one moment. I wanted it to be perfect.\n\n\"Brushing your hair into that weird style you like, huh sweetie?\"\n\n\"There's nothing 'weird' about my style Mom.\"\n\n\"No, not weird, but it is a shame to cover any part of your pretty face with your hair. You know, you really should get it cut. I think you'd look just so adorable with a medium length bob cut.\"\n\n\"Mom, I like my hair the way it is, and I'm NEVER gonna change it, ok?\"\n\n\"Alright sweetie. So, what time is the dance?\"\n\n\"It's at 9,\" I told her without looking away from the mirror. my hair almost in the exact shape and style I wanted it.\n\n\"What time are we picking up Daren?\"\n\n\"We're picking him up? I assumed he was going to meet me there.\"\n\n\"Well, I'll call him and tell him to expect us at 8:45 then,\" she said with a smile that I could see in the reflection of my mirror.\n\n\"Alright Mom.\"\n\n\"Just one thing before I go dear...\"\n\nShe paused. I waited for her to continue, but she just stood there like a silent statue. I guess she was waiting for me to respond, so I did.\n\n\"Yes Mom?\"\n\n\"Um... I know it's Valentine's Day and all... and I know you and Daren have been dating a while... but... just remember, don't rush things, ok?\"\n\nThis is when I stopped brushing my hair and turned to face my mom. I was completely confused by what she was trying to say, and I know I wore the expression to show it.\n\n\"What? What are you talking about?\"\n\nHer face showed EVERY little thought about how she didn't want to be there talking to me about what she was going to say, and after she told me, I couldn't blame her. After she told me, I wished she hadn't.\n\n\"If you and Daren should find some... alone time... just try to remember... your relationship should not be defined by... um...\"\n\n\"By what?\"\n\n\"By sex.\"\n\n\"MOM!\"\n\nI could almost feel the heat rising from my cheeks as they probably turned the brightest red anybody had ever seen.\n\n\"I'm just saying that your first time is VERY important, and you shouldn't rush it and do something you might regret.\"\n\n\"Mom, it's just a dance. We're going there, gonna groove, get some food and punch, and that's it! Nothing like that is going to happen tonight!\"\n\n\"Alright. Still, try to remember my words, ok?\"\n\n\"Alright Mom. Don't you have to go call Daren or something to let him know we're coming?!?\"\n\n\"Yes I do. I'll leave you to get ready.\"\n\nI whispered to myself 'Thank God' as she left the room. Nobody should ever have to endure that. I just sighed to myself as I went back to brushing my hair, quickly getting it into place. I set my brush down and went to my closet, where I had set aside a special dress for tonight. It was a pink sleeveless sequined dress with a little curl flair at the shoulders. The skirt of the dress had only gone to my knees, but it was better than some of those skirts I see at the clothing shops that almost leave your complete bottom half exposed. How anybody could ENJOY wearing something like that, I'll never know. I smiled and hummed a little to myself as I looked it over once and then pulled it off it's hanger, dropping the towel that wrapped my body with one paw and pulling the dress over my head with the other, quickly pulling it down to cover my exposed fur and flesh. I went to the dresser and pulled out a special matching pair of panties from my top drawer and proceeded to put those on under the skirt. I went back to the mirror, took one small turn as I looked at myself, and I smiled. I really looked good.\n\n\"Amber?!?\" my dad shouted for me.\n\n\"Yes Dad?\" I shouted back.\n\nI guess he followed my voice to me, because when he next spoke to me, it was a lot softer and from directly behind my door.\n\n\"I just wanted to say 'have fun' before you left.\"\n\n\"Alright Dad. Thank you. I'm sure I will.\"\n\n\"And if you do anything frisky with Daren, make sure you have protection.\"\n\nAt that point, I dropped my head into my hands and resisted the urge to just scream. Not one, but BOTH my parents had something to say about sex that night. It's enough to drive even the most sane kid insane.\n\n\"Alright Dad.\"\n\n\"Well, have fun.\"\n\nI heard no more from him after that. It was a little weird how Dad's advice for me about sex was so very different from Mom's. I guess that's what happens when your Dad comes from a place like Pouncefield. I never been there before at that point, and the only thing I knew about it were from rumors. Every rumor was basically the same too; just a bunch of naked bodies everywhere scrambled upon each other 24/7. It was a disturbing thought, but I quickly shook it from my head as I went downstairs, all dressed, and waited for my mom near our front door. The wait wasn't long as she quickly came to the door with car keys in hand. She looked at me and smiled.\n\n\"You look very lovely Amber.\"\n\n\"Thanks Mom,\" I said with a smile.\n\n\"Ready to go?\"\n\nI simply nodded as I opened the door and walked to the family car, my mother not far behind. I'm not gonna bore you with the details of the car ride, as almost everybody has rode in a car from Point A to Point B at some point in their life. We picked up Daren and made it to the dance at the school just as the doors to the gymnasium were opening. I thanked her for the ride as me and Daren quickly scrambled out of the car and quickly walked for the gym doors. The night went pretty smooth. We danced off and on, got our fill of a nice table of snacks that were set out, and Daren even won the limbo contest that somebody had suggested. It was a fun night, but it was also winding down to an end. As I was preparing myself to leave with Daren, he quickly whispered something in my ear.\n\n\"Come with me.\"\n\nSo I followed him out of the gym to the inside of the school, not the outside. I followed him down the halls of the school, taking in the new sights. The school was kinda bland during the day with all the lights on, but at night, when all that's on are emergency lights, it really made the place look alive. Daren led me to a door that I had never been to or through before. I read the words that were printed on the wood.\n\n\"Teacher's lounge?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\"Why are we here?\"\n\n\"You don't want to go home already, do you?\"\n\nI sighed inwardly, making sure not to make any kind of external noise suggesting that I DID in fact want to go home. I was enjoying my time with Daren, but the dance was over, and I was a tiny bit tired. I decided, against what every cell in my body was telling me not to do out of pure exhaustion, to stay with Daren as he jiggled the locked door.\n\n\"So how are you gonna get in? It's obviously locked!\"\n\nAs those words were coming from my mouth, he started to fish something out of his front left pocket. He pulled the mystery item out a few moments later and showed it to me, the metal half-shining underneath the emergency light that lit the door up.\n\n\"I've got a key!\"\n\nI smiled as he showed me the key, but I couldn't help but having \"Of course you do...\" run through my head a couple of times. Like I said, it wasn't that I wasn't enjoying being with Daren, I just wanted to go home. As he finished unlocking the door, letting it swing open on it's own, I looked inside the forbidden room. I had never been there before, so this was a first for me. After seeing it, I now know why they like having this lounge. Inside was the typical lounge stuff, vending machines of soda and candy, a coffee pot, and a few cabinets for various odds and ends. The stuff that really caught my attention was the couch, the TV, and the large book-case filled to the brim with books. Probably enough there to make a decent sized tree. Daren sat on the couch and patted the seat next to him. Taking the cue, I sat down right next to him, still taking in the room. That would be the first and only time I would get to see the room, so I wanted to get my money's worth before I left. He looked at me and smiled.\n\n\"So... um... hey Amber, how long have we been dating?\"\n\n\"I believe a little over a year. Like a year and 3 or 4 months.\"\n\n\"I was thinking... we've been dating so long... and yet all we really do is kiss...\"\n\nI got a sudden chill up my spine from where he was going with this. I knew where, but I just continued to play dumb, hoping he was actually going somewhere other than there.\n\n\"You don't like that? I know I do.\"\n\n\"Yeah... it's fine... but you DID promise me something... 'special'... tonight...\"\n\nI quickly looked at him, eyes wide with astonishment. He WAS going where I thought he was going.\n\n\"I did do something special for you. See this dress? I picked it out specifically for you. You don't like it?\"\n\n\"Oh... well... yeah, it's nice...\"\n\nThe disappointment in his voice was enough to make even the most heartless guy feel sorry for him.\n\n\"But you want more... huh?\"\n\n\"Nah, it's fine. I just thought when you said 'special'... I just thought you were talking about something else...\"\n\nI let out a sigh of frustration, one that Daren hadn't noticed. I really didn't want to be there doing THAT with him, but he has been very patient with me and my problems. I decided to suck it up and go ahead with Daren's wish.\n\n\"Well... I don't see the harm in it...\"\n\nAs those words came from my mouth, his eyes widened and lit up brighter than anything I've ever seen before. He went from the most disappointed guy on the planet to the happiest in one quick second.\n\n\"You... you mean it?\"\n\n\"Well... yeah... just take it slow, ok?\"\n\n\"Oh thank you Amber. I love you.\"\n\n\"I love you too Daren.\"\n\nWe smiled at each other for a brief moment before Daren closed his eyes and laid his lips against mine. I closed my eyes, taking in the embrace, wrapping my arms around him, holding him close. He rubbed right paw down my left arm and down the left side of my body and down further onto my leg until he reached my knee. The frisky fox then slowly slid his paw up the inside of my leg until he was on top of my waist underneath my skirt. His touch felt weird, but I was actually enjoying it. Rather, I was enjoying it until an image popped into my head I thought was long gone. Just as he touched me under my skirt, the vision of my dad hurting my mom that night in bed popped into my head. I shook it off and tried to enjoy the situation. I think Daren noticed something though.\n\n\"Is something wrong?\" he asked as he broke off his kiss with me.\n\n\"No... nothing. Just thought I saw something in the corner,\" I told him in a clear lie.\n\n\"Don't worry, we're the only two in here, ok?\"\n\n\"O... ok...\"\n\nHe smiled as he kissed me yet again. I closed my eyes, trying to get back into the spirit of things, and it was working fairly well. Daren then slowly slid my panties down off my frame to my ankles, and when he touched me in my most private of areas, the vision returned. I tried to shake it from my mind, but, this time, it just wouldn't leave. I quickly jerked away from the young sand fox and started to shudder a little.\n\n\"What... what's wrong?\" Daren asked me.\n\n\"I... I'm sorry... I'm just not ready for this...\" I confessed to him, quickly grabbing my undergarments and sliding them back up into position.\n\n\"Are you sure? I'm sure if you just try to get into the mood of things, everything will be ok...\"\n\n\"Yes, Daren... I'm sure...\"\n\nHis eyes shot down, disappointed again. This time, though, I didn't care. I had seen how much Mom had been hurt during such activity, and I didn't want to wind up the same as her. I wanted to do this with Daren. I TRIED to do it, but I just couldn't shake that bad memory from my mind.\n\n\"Well... can we... at least still kiss?\"\n\nI looked to Daren and sighed. After what I just seen in my head, I wanted NOTHING to do with ANY boy at that point in the night. I just wanted to go home.\n\n\"Of course. Some other night though... I REALLY want to go home now...\"\n\n\"Oh... I see...\"\n\nHis head slumped between his shoulders, both in shame and disappointment. I felt a little bad for him, but I just couldn't bring myself to do anything more with him that night.\n\n\"Listen Daren... I just... I'm not ready for that, ok? We can still go out and stuff... I'm just not ready for sex...\"\n\nHe lifted his head up, showing a small sign of reprieve from the idea that I wanted nothing to do with him any more.\n\n\"So... it's not me?\"\n\n\"No Daren... it's not. It's me. I'm just not ready, ok?\"\n\nHe nodded his head at me. I could still see some disappointment in his eyes, but he was ok with me and my decision. He walked to the counter and picked the phone up off it's base. He dialed a few numbers and then held the receiver to his head.\n\n\"Hello? Mrs. White? It's me, Daren. Hey, we're ready to come home. Would you mind giving us a ride? Alright, thank you. See you in a bit.\"\n\nHe hung the phone up and headed for the door. I stood up to join him as he got closer to me, and we went outside the school, making sure to lock the Teacher's Lounge behind us. My mom arrived a few minutes later, picked us up, and we were on our way. After Daren was dropped off, Mom took me home. When she pulled up in front of our place, I quickly scurried out, got inside as quickly as I could, and ran to my room. I quickly shed the special dress I had picked out for Daren and just tossed it aside. I collapsed on my bed and started to cry, the tears running across my face sideways as they slowly rolled toward my bed.\n\n\"This is the worst night ever...\"\n\nI didn't have much time to feel bad, though. Between the exhaustion from the dance and the new mental exhaustion from what had just happened, it didn't take long for my body to lose the last bit of it's energy as I fell into a deep sleep, bringing the night to an end.\n\n*****\n\nJust as quickly as my life started to turn around, it had fallen apart again. In the month that has passed since the Valentine's Day Dance, my dad and mom started having their \"bedroom problems\" again, Mr. Woodley was transferred to a different school district, and I had overheard a couple of times my mom talking to my grandmother, her mother, and mentioning \"divorce\". My life had become topsy-turvey all over again, and there was nothing I could do to change it.\n\n[b]Chapter 16: The Beginning Of Change[/b]\n\nSchool just hasn't been the same since Mr. Woodley left. He was always there to help guide me through my worst, and it was his advice that helped to start making a change for the better. Well, until Valentine's Day that is. They only two things that were helping me stay calm during that trying time in my life were Daren and the swim team. The swim team started getting together for practices, and the swim season was about to start the following month. Our first match was against St. Lovejoy's from Pouncefield, which I wasn't worried about since the St. Lovejoy team only ever consisted of three or four members, none of them real strong swimmers. Anyway, on this particular day, Daren and I had taken a walk to the park.\n\n\"Man... I sure do love the first few weeks where it gets warmer out in spring,\" Daren said aloud to try and strike up a conversation as we walked through the park.\n\n\"I know what you mean. I get sick of being cramped up in the house,\" I replied.\n\nThe local park in Spring was a beautiful sight. The many different types of trees all started budding, the flowers along the pathways started to bloom, and the sounds of bird chirping happily to welcome the warm weather back always brought a smile to my face.\n\n\"Not only that, but the warm weather always seems to make everybody, myself included, so much brighter and happier.\"\n\n\"Yeah, it's very true Daren. Well, then again, not EVERYBODY gets happier.\"\n\n\"Which is also true, and a little sad. Anyway, how's the swim team looking?\"\n\n\"Since when were you interested in the swim team?\" I asked him with a giggle.\n\n\"Since it's too early for football, basketball just ended, and I'm not a baseball fan,\" he answered with a laugh.\n\n\"Oooh. So swimming is the lesser of two evils for you, huh?\" I joked with the young sand fox.\n\n\"Pretty much,\" he replied, still laughing.\n\n\"Well, if you must know, the swim team is looking better this year than we did last year. We even got a couple of new teammates this year.\"\n\n\"Awesome. Think you guys'll win any of your meets this year?\"\n\n\"Our first game is against St. Lovejoy's. If we can't win that, then there's something wrong.\"\n\n\"Why DOES their team always suck?\" Daren asked.\n\n\"Probably because they spend so much more time worried about soccer? If you notice, their soccer team is the team to beat every year, and every year they win all kinds of championships, both the boys and girls teams.\"\n\n\"Why doesn't our school have a soccer team?\"\n\n\"Probably because we're so much more worried about football,\" I answered with a light giggle.\n\nPawstin was always a football and basketball town. We had a swim team and a baseball team that both did very well, but everybody always paid more attention to the football team, which usually does ok winning a little more than half it's games, and the basketball team, which hasn't had a winning season in 3 years. To this day, I still don't understand why everybody was more focused on the basketball team that couldn't win rather than the baseball team or the swim team that had strong seasons every year.\n\n\"You're probably right.\"\n\nWe looked at each other and smiled, continuing our walk through the small park. I enjoyed spending time with Daren, but after Valentine's Day, I was afraid to spend any alone time with him. I was afraid he'd turn out to be just like Dad. Every time we were together, it was someplace open and had others around. It made me feel safe. We walked around for another half hour before Daren sat down on one of the park's benches. He looked up at me and smiled as I just stood near him.\n\n\"Hey, you wanna come to my place with me? This outdoors stuff is nice, but I think I've had enough of it for one day,\" he said with a light laugh. \"We could watch a movie or something.\"\n\nMy mind was racing around in my head, trying to think of some excuse not to come over. This was the twelth time he's invited me over since Valentine's Day, and that made me REALLY nervous. I just said I didn't feel like it the first few times he invited me over, but I knew that wouldn't work forever. He would eventually think I didn't want to be with him at all, which wasn't entirely true. I didn't want to be with him alone, but I did want to be with him. He did bring a little sanity to my world where everything is going so wrong again, but the idea of being alone with him was enough to make me scream in fright. So after a few times, I just started coming up with excuses that made me sound busy.\n\n\"I can't.\"\n\n\"Why not?\"\n\nI had opened my mouth, getting ready to spit another untruthful excuse at him when my phone rang suddenly. I put a finger up at Daren to tell him \"hold on\" as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Thank goodness for whoever invented cell phones. They can sure be a life-saver when you're in a situation you want to get out of. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was my mom calling. I answered, wondering what she was calling for.\n\n\"Hey Mom. What's up?\"\n\n\"Hi Amber. I need you home right away please.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"Just come home please.\"\n\n\"Alright Mom. See you in a bit.\"\n\nI hung my phone up and put it back in my pocket. I looked to Daren, half happy to have a real reason not to go to his place, and, at the same time, a little worried what my mother wanted.\n\n\"Sorry Daren. Family emergency. Mom wants me home pronto.\"\n\n\"Oh, alright.\"\n\n\"I'll see you tomorrow,\" I told him with a smile.\n\nHe nodded and smiled as I walked away. The walk home was pretty routine, so I won't bore you with those details. What awaited for me when I got home, however, is a completely different story, far from routine.\n\n\"Hello? Mom?\" I called as I walked in the front door.\n\n\"In here,\" I heard her call to me from our living room.\n\nI followed the beckoning voice to where my mother was waiting for me. She was sitting on the couch and patted the seat next to her, asking me to sit next to her. I nodded as I took my place beside her.\n\n\"What's up Mom?\"\n\n\"Well Amber... there's something I need to talk to you about...\"\n\n\"What is it?\"\n\n\"Your father and I... well... we're... having problems... and... normally, I'd try to work them out with him, but he's just becoming more and more a different man every day...\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"Well... he stopped drinking... but he's becoming a little more... insensitive... when it comes to our... um... play time.\"\n\n\"Mom, don't try to sugar coat it. I've heard you screaming out in sheer pain many a times...\"\n\n\"Oh, you have...? I'm... I'm sorry...\"\n\n\"It's not your fault. It's Dad's... I just wish we could do something about it...\" I said with a sigh.\n\n\"Actually, I AM doing something about it...\"\n\n\"Like what?\"\n\n\"Well... he's become so violent towards our sex life that... well... some nights... he just does it without me even wanting to... and I just can't take it anymore...\"\n\n\"And?\"\n\n\"Well... I been talking to your grandmother Demay... and she and I both believe a divorce is the best solution...\"\n\n\"How long?\" I asked, stunning her beyond belief.\n\n\"Oh... well... um... I saw a lawyer today. All the paperwork and everything should be finished in about a month.\"\n\n\"Alright. So what are we gonna do? Live with Grandma Demay until then?\"\n\n\"Actually, yes. Until the paperwork is finished, we're gonna live with her. Then once everything is all set, we'll take it from there. So pack up some clothes, but not all, and get ready to meet me in the car.\"\n\nI nodded as I hopped off the couch. I quickly ran to my room, gathered up 10 different outfits, a couple of toys, and my favorite brush, putting them all neatly in my suitcase. I went out to the car, and within 15 minutes, we were off to Grandma Demay's place. Mom had explained to me on the way how Grandma Demay still lived within the Pawstin school district, so I could continue to go to school there while we were living with her, and that was fine with me. We got settled in in just as much time as it took us to leave our other home, and everything felt great for the first time in a LONG time. We had fun playing board games, watched a little TV, and even had dinner without worrying about what might be around the corner, whether it was another arguement or some rough \"play time\". I even felt great going to bed. I could finally relax and just drift off. No worries about Dad or anything else. Things were finally looking up.\n\n*****\n\nIt's amazing how quickly time flies when you're able to relax and not worry about much of anything. A month passed by in what seemed to only a couple of days. Mom's paperwork for the divorce got finalized, and dad reluctantly signed it. Mom found us a place to live in Pouncefield, and she even managed to quickly find a job there. The only bad thing is we were moving the day after the first swim meet of the season. Mom talked to everybody in charge of the athletic department and the school and got an ok for me to participate in the meet before I move to Pouncefield. Little did I realize what that day would hold in store for me and my future.\n\n[b]Chapter 17: The Swim Meet[/b]\n\nIt was a nice Saturday afternoon as the buses dropped us outside St. Lovejoy's school in Pouncefield. The coach led us into the building and to the pool attached to the school where our meet was about to take place. We all got changed into our swim gear quickly and waited on the bench for the competition to start. I was a bit nervous because the coach asked me to run the 1000 meter race for us, which happened to be the longest race at the meet. I decided to just try and calm my nerves, so I sat there on the bench, not saying much of anything. As I was sitting there, I looked across the pool to our opponents. There were only a small handful of them, which was actually somehow smaller than years past. I recognized three of them instantly. There was Jen, a tiger, Jerry, a squirrel, and Geoff, a beaver. I raced each of them once in years past, and, from my experiences, the only one that wasn't a threat was Geoff. However, as I was looking, something really caught my eye. It was a weird looking new kid that I had never seen before.\n\n\"Um... coach?\" I asked nervously.\n\n\"Yes Amber?\"\n\n\"Who's the new kid?\"\n\nThe coach looked across the pool to our opposition's bench and then down to a clipboard he was holding.\n\n\"Hm... says here his name is William Plats. Transfer student.\"\n\n\"What race is he in?\"\n\n\"Says here he's in the 1000 meter race.\"\n\nWith those words, I felt my heart sink a bit in my chest. Not only was I competing in the longest race of the meet with Pawstin Pride on the line, but I was now doing it against an opponent I knew absolutely nothing about.\n\n\"Oooh... why him...?\"\n\n\"Don't worry Amber. Just go out there and have fun, ok? It's not about winning or losing. While winning IS nice, it's more important that you be a good sport and you have fun swimming. Ok?\"\n\nI nodded, but I was still worried about this new kid. As I sat there on the bench, trying to shake my nerves, the first three races finished.\n\n\"Next up is the 1000 Meter Freestyle.\"\n\nThe coach looked at me and smiled.\n\n\"Ok Amber, you're up.\"\n\nI simply nodded as I stood up off the bench and walked to my starting block. I took my position and got myself ready for the dive in, and I waited for my competitor. After a few moments, which happened to seem like a lifetime each, the new kid took his place on his block next to mine. I took my eyes off him and put them onto the water beneath me, trying to shake my nerves. What the kid beside me did next, though, really surprised me.\n\n\"EDNA?!?!?!?!?!\" the new kid exclaimed.\n\nI looked at him and blinked a couple of times, not sure if he was talking to me or if he was talking to somebody near me. When nobody responded, I quickly answered assuming he had been talking to me.\n\n\"Um... excuse me? What did you call me?\"\n\nThe brown-furred boy then shook his head and blinked his eyes a few times.\n\n\"I'm sorry. You reminded me of somebody I know. Good luck,\" he tells me.\n\n\"Thanks. Good luck to you.\"\n\nThe judge at the side of the pool then raised his arm in the air, which was holding a starting pistol loaded with what I assumed to be a blank shot in it.\n\n\"Ok swimmers, get set!\"\n\nHe then fired his gun and both me and the new guy dove into the pool. It was a fairly even race for about an eighth of the first lap, but just when I started thinking thoughts of victory, the new kid starts speeding through the water like a torpedo. It was unreal how he was able to complete a couple of laps before I could complete even one. I decided to go for broke and swim my hardest, but it was to no avail. It seemed like the faster I swam, the faster HE swam. The race was over very quickly, and my competitor was declared the winner. I swam to the side of the pool and climbed out quickly, walking to the bench with my head held low.\n\n\"That's just great. I let Pawstin down. And that new kid. He could've eased up a little bit to give me a fair chance, but I guess it was more fun for him to rub his face in it...\" I thought to myself.\n\nI sat down on my bench and put my head in my paws. The coach hurries to me and puts his arm around my shoulders.\n\n\"It's ok Amber. You did great. It's not your fault that other kid is better.\"\n\n\"But I lost...\"\n\n\"Which doesn't matter. I'm proud that, even though the odds were greatly stacked against you, you still decided to give it your all and try to win anyway.\"\n\n\"Thanks. That helps,\" I told him with a half smile.\n\n\"Any time Amber.\"\n\nHe then walks away and I look into the pool, realizing he was right. I decided to not let it bother me anymore, but that all changed when I saw the kid I raced walking up to me.\n\n\"Great... probably here to rub it in...\" quickly ran through my head.\n\nHe stopped just about a foot in front of me as I braced myself for his boasting.\n\n\"Hi,\" he simply said.\n\n\"Hi there,\" I replied with a sigh.\n\n\"Hey, I just wanted to say sorry about what happened with that race.\"\n\n\"Oh, that. Don't worry about it...\"\n\n\"But I am worried about it,\" he started to tell me. \"I forgot that there are other kids here, not just me. I'm used to giving it my all against my teammates. They enjoy the challenge. I forgot that I was racing against kids from other schools. I'm sorry.\"\n\nHis words caught me off guard. I hadn't expected this from him. I wasn't prepared for him to actually feel bad about being so good and showing me up so badly. I didn't know what to say or think. I then realized that this kid had a good heart, and I knew I could make a friend out of him, which I knew would be nice since I was moving to his town the day after.\n\n\"It's ok,\" I answered with a smile. \"Just glad to know you aren't such a dick,\" I said jokingly. We both laughed a little as his guilt and my sadness lifted off our shoulders, both of us feeling much better. \"Well, it was nice to meet you. You should get back to your team so you guys can plan the Medley.\"\n\n\"Ok. You take care,\" he said to me with a smile as he walked away.\n\nThe coach then walked in front of us and went over the game-plan for the Medley race, which I was not in. The Medley was only one race, but the points for winning that were three times as many as winning any of the other races. After what happened in the 1000 Meter race, I wanted to try and talk my way onto the Medley team, but I also just wanted to sit there and enjoy the rest of the day and competition. I decided to go with the latter of the two options. As my teammates took there spots, I saw the St. Lovejoy team take their spots, but they were missing a swimmer. The judge went to their team and talked with their newest swimmer, and after a couple of minutes, went to the PA booth.\n\n\"Your attention please. Due to an insufficient amount of swimmers...\"\n\nI stopped paying attention to the announcement at that point, realizing what was going on. I noticed that Jen, the tiger on the St. Lovejoy team, had been favoring her shoulder after her race with Rory, a chimp who's a grade higher than me. I looked across the pool and saw our four competitors all drop their heads in disappointment while my teammates all started cheering. I felt a little bad for them. It had to hurt them fierce that they were disqualified from the final race because of an injury, and it showed big time on their faces.\n\n\"Alright kids, it's time to get on the bus and get going home,\" the coach said to the team over the roar of the cheering.\n\nI followed my teammates into the changing rooms, where we got out of our wet swimsuits and back into our nice, dry clothes. As we walked to the bus to head back home, I couldn't help but still feel bad for the St. Lovejoy team. I knew that a win was good, but I just felt horrible about the way we won and the way they lost. Especially after finding out how nice that new guy on their team was. He didn't deserve to lose like that on his first meet in a new school. Those are the breaks of sports though, and I quickly forgot about it as we climbed on the bus.\n\n\"Man, what a way to leave, huh Amber?\" Rory asked me, still cheering over our win.\n\n\"Yeah. Always nice to end things on a win,\" a bulldog named Hector said to me.\n\n\"Now now... calm down kids. I know you're all excited that Amber won her last meet with Pawstin, but it's also sad that she's leaving us,\" the coach reminded everybody. \"Just know, Amber, we are going to miss you.\"\n\n\"I'll miss you all too,\" I replied before looking out the window of the seat I was sitting in.\n\nReal life was waiting for me when I got back home. I had to start packing and getting ready for my move to Pouncefield. I knew my life was never going to be the same again.\n\n*****\n\nWith my final swim meet as a Pawstin student behind me, I had to look to the future of moving to a new town. The reason we're moving is because Mom let Dad keep the house in the divorce and he agreed to let Mom have custody of me as long as he could visit once in a while. Little did he know that she found a place to live in Pouncefield, and whatever happened to my Dad in Pouncefield kept him from EVER going there for ANY reason.\n\n[b]Chapter 18: Moving Day[/b]\n\nMom rented a moving truck and had it parked outside the apartment she and I used to live in with my father. It was a bittersweet day for me. I loved my father, but I no longer felt safe living with him, and neither did my mother. We had everything we took with us to my Grandmother Demay's place packed up and on the truck, so now it was time to get the rest of our belongings. It was early in the afternoon when we started, and Dad was at work, which allowed us to work in peace. It all went smooth for an hour or two, but, as we were finishing up, Dad came home from work. He walked up to me and gave me a hug.\n\n\"Amber, I love you. I just wish things could've been different between your mother and me.\"\n\n\"Don't worry Dad. Mom said you'd be able to come visit, and there always is phone calls.\"\n\n\"Hey Amber, I want you to have something.\"\n\nI looked at him curiously.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Just wait here.\"\n\nMy dad walked into the apartment. My Mom walked out carrying a box as he entered and had a worried look on her face. She walked up to me and looked back towards the door.\n\n\"What's he doing here?\"\n\n\"I guess he got off work,\" I answered.\n\n\"What did he say to you?\"\n\n\"That he loves me and he has a gift for me.\"\n\n\"Alright. This is my last box.\"\n\n\"I put my last one on before Dad showed up.\"\n\n\"Alright honey. As soon as he gives you your gift, we'll be on our way.\"\n\n\"Do you mind if we stop at Daren's before we go to our new home?\"\n\n\"Why?\" my mother asked.\n\n\"I need to tell him we're moving.\"\n\n\"You haven't told him yet?\"\n\n\"I didn't really think about it until now.\"\n\n\"Alright honey.\"\n\nMy mom got into the driver's seat of the moving truck and waited for me. A few moments later, my father came out of his apartment with a heavy looking brown trunk with a padlock on it. He lifted my gift onto the back of the moving truck and closed the door. He then turned to me and presented a key.\n\n\"Here's the key Amber.\"\n\nI happily took the metal object from his paw with a smile.\n\n\"Thanks Dad.\"\n\n\"You have to promise me something though.\"\n\n\"What's that?\"\n\n\"You must promise not to ever open it.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"I'd really rather not explain. Let's just say there are many bad memories in there and you're the only one I can trust them with. When you get older, you can open it, and then you can figure out what to do with them then. But if I keep that, or you open it too soon, bad things will happen, ok?\"\n\n\"Alright Dad.\"\n\nI slipped the key into my pocket and gave him a hug before climbing into the passenger's seat of the moving truck. I looked at the apartment one last time as Mom pulled away. It was hard to believe that in a short few years, I had gone from a house I had grown to love to this apartment to now moving away from Pawstin entirely. I watched houses and side streets go by as Mom made her way toward the Ferril residence. Along the way, I kept running through my head everything I wanted to say to Daren. Before I realized it, Mom had stopped in front of his house and brought me to attention.\n\n\"Amber? We're here.\"\n\n\"Huh? Ok.\"\n\nI climbed out and slowly walked up to his door, still thinking of how to put everything I wanted to say. I decided to just go with whatever flow led me through the conversation and knocked on his door. He answered quickly and smiled happily.\n\n\"Hey Amber!\"\n\n\"Hey Daren...\"\n\n\"What's wrong Amber?\"\n\n\"We need to talk...\"\n\n\"About?\"\n\nI hesitated a moment, trying to be careful of how to say everything. I took a deep breath and started.\n\n\"I'm moving to Pouncefield.\"\n\n\"Why?\" he asked.\n\n\"Mom and Dad have been having problems, so I'm moving with Mom to Pouncefield.\"\n\n\"Oh... well... that's a bit of a journey, but I can make it,\" he said with a smile.\n\n\"No... you won't...\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"I don't think it's very fair to make you go all the way to Pouncefield to see me, and I don't really think I can make a trip to Pawstin...\"\n\n\"We can get our moms to drive us you know,\" he said quickly, trying to keep the inevitable from happening.\n\n\"That's not very fair of us to ask of them.\"\n\n\"Yeah... that's true...\"\n\n\"I mean, I still want to be friends with you and everything, I just don't think a relationship is gonna be possible for the time being.\"\n\nHe let out the most depressed sigh I had ever heard.\n\n\"I understand. I don't like it any, but I understand. And yeah, we can still be friends.\"\n\n\"And who knows, maybe in a few years, things will be different and we can pick back up,\" I told him to give him some hope.\n\nAt that time, I really had no interest in a relationship with anybody, but I really didn't know what the future would hold, so I decided to leave that possibility there in case things were to change in the future.\n\n\"I guess there IS that,\" he replied with a half smile.\n\nJust then, my mother honked the horn on the truck. I looked back to her and then back to Daren.\n\n\"Sorry Daren, I gotta go. We gotta get settled in today. I start in a new school in Pouncefield tomorrow.\"\n\n\"Alright Amber. Take care of yourself, ok?\"\n\n\"I will. You do the same.\"\n\n\"Will do.\"\n\nHe gave me a hug, and I decided to hug him back. I was relieved at how well he took it as we let go of each other and said goodbye to each other for the final time before my move to Pouncefield. He closed the door and I walked back to the truck, climbing in. The trip to Pouncefield was roughly 20 minutes. I never really realized how far away Pouncefield was until I traveled there to start fresh with my Mom. We pulled up in front of our new house, a ranch-style white house with a small yard in front and a driveway to the side. I looked to my Mom and smiled as she put the truck into park and climbed out. We started offloading everything, including Dad's trunk, which we set in a utility closet for the time being until we could figure out what to do with it. It took the better part of the late afternoon and early evening to get everything unloaded and separated into the different rooms. Mom took the room closest to the living room, which I had no problem with. The room that I got was just fine with me. After everything was done, was sat in the living room for a moment before Mom got up and started heading for the door.\n\n\"I'll be back Amber. I've gotta go tell my new boss that I'm moved in, for the most part, and can start working whenever he needs me to.\"\n\n\"Alright Mom.\"\n\nShe walked out the front door as I just sat there on the floor wondering what to do until she got home. I decided to take a peek inside the trunk, even though my father warned me not to until many years later. I grabbed the key out of my pocket, opened the utility closet door, and plopped myself down on the ground in front of the chest. I unlocked the padlock, taking it off and setting it aside, and slowly opened the lid. Taped to the top of the lid was a note. I took it down and read it aloud to myself.\n\n\"Dear Amber, I'm sorry things couldn't work out between your mother and I. I loved your mother, but I guess she stopped loving me. That doesn't mean I don't love you though. I love you with all my heart, and that's why I trusted you with this trunk. It's full of memories about your mother and I that I really don't want to have anymore. I probably would've gone insane had I kept them. I'm trusting that you did listen to me and you're much older when reading this note. I know you'll know what to do with these. Please do not let your mother see them. They'll just remind her of what she likes to call a bad time in her life. Please, make sure you dispose of these cursed items properly so that none of us may ever see them again. Love, your father.\"\n\nI started to worry about what exactly the trunk held inside as I started to peel the paper away from my eyes. I looked down into the contents of the trunk and instantly wished I had listened to my dad's warning. Inside where all kinds of stuff that Dad used to use with Mom. Ropes, handcuffs, whips, and a various assortment of other toys and do-dads. I closed the trunk as quickly and hard as I could and then just sat there, trembling. All the bad memories where starting to come back. Times where I stayed awake late at night, hoping I wouldn't be hurt. Other nights where I was kept awake from the screams of the other room. The worst of the memories, however, was that night I actually SAW what was going on in their room. I quickly put the lock back on the chest and left the closet. I decided not to ever let Mom know what was in that trunk. She returned a few hours later with a smile on her face.\n\n\"Hi Honey. How was your evening?\"\n\n\"Not bad,\" I lied to her. \"How was your meeting?\"\n\n\"Not bad. I start tomorrow. Morning shift.\"\n\n\"That's good,\" I said with a smile. I had no idea at the time what her new job was, so I naturally assumed it was something innocent. I also noticed she was holding a bag at that time. \"What's in the bag?\"\n\n\"I stopped by the school you'll be going to tomorrow. They have a dress code, so I got these for you.\"\n\nShe pulled a few shirts and skirts out of the bag. The shirts were nice, but white is a little plaine. The skirts, however, were really unsettling. I looked at the size of them and tried one on to see how much it covered, which was very little. I frowned and looked to my mother.\n\n\"You couldn't find any longer skirts? This one pretty much shows everything...\"\n\n\"I know Amber, but that's school regulation. Any longer is against the regulations.\"\n\n\"I don't wanna go to this school then.\"\n\n\"Just give it a chance, ok?\"\n\n\"Alright,\" I said with an unhappy sigh. \"What's the name of it?\"\n\n\"St. Lovejoy's.\"\n\nI found it a little funny and really ironic how the school I was joining was the same school I raced against the day before. Plus, that means I would have a few friends upon entering the school, which is almost always a must-have for new students. Jen, Jerry, and that new kid were all nice. That beaver though, something about him just ruffles my fur. All in all, despite the short skirts, I felt like it might be good to go to that school.\n\n\"Ok Mom. Well, I'd better go to bed so I can be up bright and early tomorrow.\"\n\n\"Good girl. Good night Honey. Sweet dreams.\"\n\n\"Night Mom.\"\n\nI walked to my room, changed into my pajamas, and laid myself down on my bed, which, at the time, was just a matress on the floor. Mom and I still needed to get everything unpacked and settled into place, but I was really enjoying my new home. Above all though, I just couldn't wait to start my first day at this new school of mine.\n\n*****\n\nSo there I was, getting ready to start a new school in a uniform I found very much less than desirable. I didn't know anything else about the school aside from the few kids I raced against that went there. I wasn't really in the mood for surprises, but the universe didn't really seem to care much.\n\n[b]Chapter 19: Amber's First Day[/b]\n\nIt was a rather routine morning for me on my first day at St. Lovejoy's. I woke up early so that I could get washed up and brush my hair into my favorite style. I figured I should try to look my best since it was my first day in a new school, and I really didn't want any rumors or anything to start up about me. I got dressed into the uniform, which was, as I stated earlier, a white shirt with blue trim and a very short blue skirt that only went about a quarter of the way down my upper legs. I couldn't help but frown as I looked at myself in the mirror, but I had to live with it. I grabbed my empty pink book-bag from out of my closet and left my room. I looked for my mom in the kitchen and the living room, but she wasn't there. She was still asleep, but she had left a note in the kitchen for me. They were directions to the school from where we lived. Mom picked out a place that was only a couple of blocks away from the school, so I didn't have a very long walk ahead of me. I grabbed a banana and headed on my way. Along my route to school, I passed another cub who was sitting on his porch, relaxing a bit before heading to school himself.\n\n\"Hey Edna. What did you do to your fur?\" he called to me as I passed him.\n\nI didn't really pay him any attention since I wasn't this Edna that he was calling me. I entered the school a few moments later and instantly started to feel a little more relaxed. It felt like any other school on the inside, which made me feel a little more at home, and there didn't seem to be any mean or nasty kids around. I made my way to the office to grab my schedule. The principal wasn't too scary like the one I had back in Pawstin. He was a panda that spoke in a soft tone to me. He probably realized I was nervous about starting a new school and tried to make me feel welcome. It helped.\n\n\"Welcome to St. Lovejoy's, Miss White,\" he said to me as he handed me a slip of paper.\n\n\"Th-thank you... sir...\"\n\n\"No need to be so nervous. Nothing to worry about in this school,\" he told me with a smile.\n\n\"Alright sir.\"\n\n\"Now, run along to your first period class. You don't want to be late on your first day,\" he said with a laugh.\n\n\"No sir.\"\n\n\"Have a good day, Miss White.\"\n\nI simply nodded as I left his office and headed on my way. Along the way, I passed some of the kids I would be going to school with. A few of them called out to me, but a few also whispered to themselves.\n\n\"Hey Edna! Busy morning? Couldn't get a wash going?\" one called to me with a laugh.\n\n\"Is that Edna? What did she do to her fur?\" one whispered to another.\n\n\"Edna? What's up?!?\"\n\nI couldn't take everybody calling me this Edna girl, so I took off for my first class, sprinting down the halls. I got quite a distance away when a teacher grabbed me and stopped me.\n\n\"No running in the halls Miss.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be late for my first period class.\"\n\n\"Let me see your schedule.\"\n\nI handed him my schedule and let him look at it.\n\n\"Well, seems like your first class is with me. Come on in and sit down.\"\n\nI did as told and tried not to pay attention to what the others were saying about me, which I was doing well with for most of the day. The only other problem I had with it came right after lunch. I had finished eating and was getting ready to head to my next class when a leopard boy who looked to be about my age asked me to follow him somewhere. I was naïve at the time, so I followed him willingly. He led me down toward the lockers and pulled me into the janitor's utility closet that rested nearby.\n\n\"Um... what are we doing in here?\"\n\n\"Like you don't know, Edna,\" he said to me with a chuckle.\n\n\"Um... I'm not Edna.\"\n\n\"Oh, I'm sorry. You look exactly like her, just a wee bit taller. And white.\"\n\n\"I been getting that a lot actually...\" I told him with a sigh.\n\n\"It's the hair. You and her wear it in EXACTLY the same fashion.\"\n\n\"I like it this way. Who is this Edna girl anyway?\"\n\n\"Nobody you should worry about,\" he informed me. \"So, you're new here, huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah, first day.\"\n\n\"Has anybody shown you the ropes yet?\"\n\n\"Nah, I been pretty much winging it all day. I gotta say, it's surprisingly easy to find my classes.\"\n\n\"That's not what I'm talking about.\"\n\n\"What are you talking about then?\" I asked skeptically.\n\nAt that moment, the leopard boy grinned as he unzipped his pants and pull all his lower clothing down off his waist to his ankles. I instantly looked away and covered my eyes.\n\n\"What are you doing?!?\"\n\n\"Showing you the ropes.\"\n\n\"You're disgusting! I don't want to do anything like that!!! What makes you think I would?!?\"\n\n\"You better get used to it, babe. This school's ALL about yiff. So it's best to join in early and enjoy it.\"\n\nI then felt his paw take my free paw and start to inch it closer to himself. I screamed as I quickly jerked my hand away from him and brought it across his face in the most powerful slap I could muster. It staggered him, so I used the opportunity to dash out of the closet and back to the cafeteria where plenty of others could see me. That's when I actually noticed there was some truth to what the leopard boy had said. I finally realized at that point that there were some cubs sitting together, but some had their heads under the tables. I felt both disgusted and afraid as I quickly left the cafeteria and made my way to my next class, hoping to avoid everybody along the way. I failed at avoiding kids, but I was successful in preventing any unwanted attention aside from the \"Edna\" calls I would get once in a while. I prayed for the rest of the day for the day to end or for it all to be one bad nightmare, but the latter never came true and the first prayer took forever to be answered. I finally felt relief for the first time since my after-lunch experience when the final bell for the day had rung and I could free myself from everything. I sprinted toward the doors when I ran into somebody I was never expecting to meet.\n\n\"Whoa... is this a fun-house mirror trick or something?\" the fur said aloud to herself as she and I looked each other over.\n\n\"I could say the same. Just who are you?\"\n\n\"Name's Edna. And you are?\"\n\n\"Amber. New here.\"\n\n\"I realized that. You're the only other kid around here I've noticed wearing my hairstyle,\" she said with a giggle.\n\n\"Yeah yeah. So what's your story? Why does everybody know you? Why does everybody think I'm you?\"\n\n\"Well, first off, you're wearing the same hairstyle as I do, so they're probably just paying attention to that. Secondly, for as to why everybody knows me, I have a bit of a bad reputation, and reps usually spread like wildfire around here, along with a lot of other things.\"\n\n\"Yeah, I noticed. Why don't the teachers do anything about it?\"\n\n\"I guess they just let everybody be so that school is more enjoyable or something,\" she told me with a straight face. \"Actually, the only time teachers really say anything is if somebody is forcing themselves upon somebody else.\"\n\n\"That's just so wrong on many levels,\" I grumbled.\n\n\"That's the way school is here. My advice, if you don't want to deal with it, try wearing a different hairstyle.\"\n\n\"I been wearing my hair this way for 7 years now! I'm not changing it!\"\n\n\"I would, but everybody sees this style and instantly recognizes me for it. If you continue to wear it, you'll be mistaken for me all the time.\"\n\n\"That's just great...\" I groaned. \"Anyway, was nice to meet you Edna, but I gotta get outta here.\"\n\n\"Hopefully you have a better second day than you did first day.\"\n\n\"Me too...\"\n\nI quickly darted away from the smaller orange version of myself as I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Fortunately for me, most of the kids rode the bus, so I was able to walk home alone. The walk that seemed to only be a short distance earlier seemed to be a few hundred miles that afternoon. Once home, I was able to relax somewhat for the rest of the night. When Mom got home, I decided to not tell her about what the school was really like. We had a nice normal evening consisting of dinner and spending some time together before I went to bed. While I was laying in bed, however, I was still unable to get over what had happened with that leopard kid, and, to make matters worse, that Edna girl confirmed his story. I really didn't want to ever go back again, but I realized I would have to.\n\n*****\n\nI couldn't believe my luck at that point. I had pretty much gone from one evil to another. I managed to escape the threatening danger of my father, but had wound up thrusted into a yiff-crazed school. What made the latter worse is that I had to change my hairstyle if I wanted to avoid being mistaken for somebody else.\n\n[b]Chapter 20: The New Hair-Do On Day Two[/b]\n\nI woke up early the next morning to try and find a new way to wear my hair. I really liked my old style, but it just HAD to go. I wanted a new style, but didn't want to have to get a haircut if I could avoid it. I didn't want to spend any money on a barber if I could just as easily comb my hair into another style that I enjoyed. I tried quite a few hairstyles that morning until I found one I really enjoyed, which happened to look like a mid-length bob cut. I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror with my new hair-do. I really did like it a lot. I also couldn't help but think at the time about what kind of reaction Mom would have when she saw the new style. I looked at my clock after I finished admiring my new fashion and groaned. I had to start getting ready for school. I reluctantly got dressed in the official St. Lovejoy's uniform and headed for school. All I could think about for the duration of the trip was how I wish I could just stay home or go back to Pawstin. Along the way, I passed the same exact kid that I happened to pass by first on my way to school yesterday. I noticed that he saw me, but he didn't recognize me, which made me a little happier.\n\n[i]If he doesn't recognize me at all from yesterday, maybe nobody else will either. Except for maybe that leopard kid. And Edna. All in all, I might actually have a normal school day.[/i]\n\nI was still worried at that point about the \"ifs\" and \"maybes\", but I couldn't let that get my sudden morale boost down. I wore a smile the rest of the way to school, and that smile only grew after I entered the building. As I walked the halls of my new school on my second day there, I heard a lot less chatter and whispering. More importantly was the fact that I was no longer getting called Edna. I was enjoying my second day much more than my first, until after my third class that is. I was on my way to my fourth class of the day when a heyena kid walked up to me from behind.\n\n\"Hey there. You're new, right?\"\n\n\"Uh... yeah.\"\n\n\"I'm Chuck.\"\n\n\"Amber.\"\n\n\"Want a tour?\"\n\n\"No thanks.\"\n\n\"Are you sure? There's a lot about this school I'm sure you don't know.\"\n\n\"Oh, no... trust me... I already know,\" I informed him.\n\n\"No, trust ME. You don't know everything.\"\n\n\"Yes I do. You're not the first one to try and get me alone...\"\n\n\"Oh, really? Heh. Well, yeah, I guess you do know then,\" he said with a laugh.\n\n\"I don't find it particularly funny.\"\n\n\"Why not? You didn't like it?\"\n\n\"I'm not ready for anything like that, and the guy who tried it yesterday was also trying to force it.\"\n\n\"Yeah, some of the less popular guys can get a little aggressive.\"\n\n\"I noticed...\" I grumbled.\n\n\"Oh, speaking of aggressive, there is this one guy you REALLY gotta look out for.\" My ears perked up at the sudden change in conversation. \"There's this giant crocodile named Rodriguez. He's a total jerk. Try to avoid him at all costs.\"\n\nI felt my heart sink into my feet upon Chuck's warning. It's only my second day and I already have to worry about guys trying to force themselves upon me and NOW a giant school bully. At that point, I couldn't imagine how the school could get any worse. That was until I went to gym for the first time. I had missed it yesterday because a teacher had taken me on a tour of the school. I wasn't as lucky today. I showed up, and the first thing that happened, literally, was that the teacher and some mean chipmunk both started yelling at me for missing class yesterday. I just decided to ignore them and take the class in stride. Fortunately for me, I am somewhat athletic, so none of the exercises we went through that day were too hard for me to do, which was a good thing, because the teacher threatened that anybody who failed any part would go naked the rest of class. At that point, I knew this school was the school from hell. Yiff-crazed cubs, a giant bully, and now a teacher who FORCES her students to go naked if they don't meet her expectations. On second though, I think the school in Hell would probably be a lot better. What made gym class EVEN worse was that the leopard kid who tried to force himself on me yesterday was in the same class. After class, he walked up to me before I could dart into the locker room.\n\n\"Hey...\" he started saying to me.\n\n\"Get away from me.\"\n\n\"Just... just listen, ok?\"\n\n\"You got five seconds. Make them count.\"\n\n\"I'm sorry about yesterday.\"\n\n\"Really?\" I asked sarcastically.\n\n\"Yeah. I am. I'm sorry. I just got a little eager when I found out you were a new girl in town.\"\n\n\"That was no reason for you to try and force yourself upon me!\"\n\n\"I know. I just... I never get to 'welcome' any of the new girls...\"\n\n\"And by 'welcome', I imagine you mean be the first guy to get lucky with the new girls, huh?\" I questioned him disgustedly.\n\n\"Yeah. It's kind of a tradition a lot of the kids in school started. All the guys 'welcome' the new girls and all the girls 'welcome' the new guys, to get them acquainted to the way things work behind the scenes of the school.\"\n\n\"No excuse to FORCE yourself...\"\n\n\"I know, and I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"Your apology is accepted, but please don't talk to me again.\"\n\n\"Alright. Take care, new girl.\"\n\nHe walked away from me and into the changing room. I let out a big sigh at that point. I was trying my best to act tough, but deep down I was extremely scared the entire time. I thought for sure he was just acting and trying to get me alone to try something again. Fortunately enough for me, he, along with most of the rest of the guys in school, left me alone for the rest of the day. A few acknowledged the fact that I was new in school, but most didn't act upon anything. A few more guys did try to \"welcome\" me, but after I told them I wasn't interested, they left me alone. At the end of the day, I decided to try and find Edna and inform her of the somewhat better day I had, even though it wasn't too much better. I looked for her where I bumped into her the day before near the doors leading out to the school. My search didn't last long, as Edna was skipping toward the doors not long after I arrived there. She saw me and stopped.\n\n\"Hey there... Amber, was it?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\"So, how was your second day?\"\n\n\"Definitely better than my first,\" I told her.\n\n\"That's good,\" she replied with a smile.\n\n\"Not much better though,\" I answered with a sigh.\n\n\"What went wrong today?\"\n\n\"Well, I got yelled at in gym today...\" I started to tell Edna.\n\n\"Mrs. Trousers got the best of you today?\"\n\n\"Well, it was my first time taking her class. Did you know that she threatens to make cubs who didn't pass her tests go naked for the duration of class?!?\"\n\n\"Yeah, it's one of her rules for all the gym classes she teaches.\"\n\n\"That's horrible! Somebody needs to report her to the school board!\"\n\n\"They already know and condone it,\" the young orange fox told me with as straight a face as I've ever seen.\n\n\"That's just... despicable. How can the school condone everything that goes on here?\"\n\n\"I don't know, but nobody has any complaints about it.\"\n\n\"I do! It's not right!\"\n\n\"Amber, let me tell you something as a friend, ok?\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"Don't try to change the system around here,\" Edna said bluntly.\n\n\"Why not? It needs to change!\" I cried.\n\n\"See, that's the thing... not many around here would agree with you. I'm sure there are some, like this one platypus I know, but most of the kids around here would disagree with you. And I know if you try to change things around here, they'll probably get upset with you and you'll become some sort of outcast.\"\n\n\"But it's just not right what's going on around here!\"\n\n\"Here's my advice I was gonna give you... it's a lot easier and a lot better to keep your head down and try to ignore it than it is to try and change things. If you keep your head down, you won't be bothered. But if you try to change things, I'm pretty sure you'll become less popular than Rodriguez.\"\n\n\"Great...\" I grumbled to myself.\n\n\"Anyway, I gotta go or I'll miss my bus. Was great seeing you again Amber. You know, you and I should hang out one day.\"\n\n\"Sounds good. See you around.\"\n\nI watched the small fox skip off through the front doors and to her bus. I followed her outside, but imediately headed away from the buses, walking home. The walk home, along with most of the rest of the night, was pretty calm. Mom had come home from work and we decided to order a pizza for dinner. Over dinner, I decided to ask her about her new job.\n\n\"So Mom, how's work?\"\n\n\"Not bad.\"\n\n\"What IS your job anyway?\"\n\n\"Nothing special, Amber. Just so public work.\"\n\n\"Sounds... fun? I guess,\" I said, trying to figure out something to say to Mom's vague answer.\n\n\"It's not a job I'd like to be working, but it does pay well.\"\n\nI wanted to tell her to find a job she enjoyed rather than worry about money, but I think Mom already thought of that and decided it was better to work a job she hates so we can live comfortably than to work a job she likes and have us struggle.\n\n\"I understand,\" I told her with a smile.\n\n\"Thanks sweetie. So how's school?\"\n\n\"I'd really rather not talk about that.\"\n\n\"Not enjoying it?\" she worriedly asked.\n\n\"It's always hard being the new kid in school,\" I half-lied to my mother.\n\n\"I wouldn't know. I never had to switch schools when I was a kid. I'm sorry for putting you through this.\"\n\n\"It's not your fault,\" I quickly replied. \"You are doing what you feel you need to do to be safe. I'd much rather be the new kid than have you worry about your safety.\"\n\n\"Thanks honey,\" my mom said with a smile.\n\nOur conversation ended there as we finished our meals and decided to watch TV. When bed-time rolled around, I wished Mom \"Good night\" as I went to my room, got changed into my pajamas, and laid in bed, waiting for my body to finally give in to the exhaustion from the day. All the meanwhile, I kept thinking about what had happened and what was discussed during the day. Little did I realize, neither the day before or the day I just had would compare to what the day after would hold for me.\n\n*****\n\nIt was amazing how things can always seem to go from bad to worse. At least in this point of my new life, I honestly felt like things couldn't get any worse. Little did I know at the time that the fates had something a lot worse planned for me.\n\n[b]Chapter 21: The New Job[/b]\n\nI had started my third official day in Pouncefield just like I had started the other two; waking up early for school, getting ready for school, and heading to school. The basics of childhood never seem to change in those regards. Everything was exactly the same as the two days past, including the part where my mom was still asleep as I left for school. Whatever her cryptic new job was, it at least gave her some pretty reasonable hours. I was at school for I'd assume what was half of her shift, so we got to spend a lot of time afterwards together. Anyway, even my walk to school and the first few classes went smooth, even gym! It wasn't until lunch that things got worse for me.\n\n\"Hey, guess what I heard,\" I overheard one boy say to another as I was waiting in line to grab my lunch.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"I overheard my dad talking to a few of his buddies last night. They had poker night at our place.\"\n\n\"That is SO fascinating...\" the other boy said sarcastically.\n\n\"Oh fuck you. Let me get to the good stuff, ok?\"\n\n\"So what did you hear then?\"\n\n\"My dad was talking about this new stripper at this strip club on the other side of town called 'Fur-Real'.\"\n\nAt this point, the other boy's ears perked up in interest. I tried to ignore it, but they were getting a bit louder at that point, so I had no choice but to overhear the conversation.\n\n\"Go on!\"\n\n\"I guess she's only been there since Monday, but my dad was saying she's one of the hotest girls there. And she really knows how to strut it.\"\n\n\"Really?!?\"\n\n\"That's what my dad says.\"\n\n\"We totally gotta go try to peak on this new stripper!\"\n\n\"I know! Thank god you and I discovered that drill hole in the side of the building where we can get free shows,\" the first boy said with a chuckle.\n\n\"So what's this stripper's name?\"\n\n\"Her real name isn't told to customers, but she goes by the stage name of Snow White.\"\n\nMy brain started to work overtime at that point, trying to piece all the info together. From what I gathered from the conversation, they were talking about a stripper named Snow White that had only been working there for as long as I've been in town, and, the night before, my mom, who still uses her married name of White, was reluctant to talk about her new job. She had said it was a job working for the public, she didn't like it, and that it was good pay. Things were starting to add together, and I really didn't like the outcome of the equation.\n\n\"Wanna go check her out after school?\" the second guy asked his friend.\n\n\"Nah, I can't. I got detention today. You can go if you want though.\"\n\n\"Wouldn't be right since you're the one who told me about it. Besides, we can always go tomorrow.\"\n\n\"Sounds like a plan.\"\n\nIt DID sound like a plan, just not for them. I wasn't too crazy about the idea, but I knew I would have to go check this new stripper out through their peep-hole to make sure it wasn't my mom. It didn't sound like something she'd do, but everything was adding up to it being her. It made me a little sick to think about it, but I knew that I HAD to find out. I knew it would eat at me until I solved this mystery. There was just one problem though; I didn't know where this place was. Fortunately for me, I had a friend I could ask. The rest of the school day seemed to drag on as I waited for the final bell to toll so I could finally put an end to my nervous thinking. It got so bad that, at one point in the afternoon, I thought about trying to sneak out of school to go put my mind at ease. When the final bell did ring, I could feel a little weight slide off me, but not a whole lot. I still had to make my way to that strip club and check out the rumors. I hurried down the corridors of the school and waited for my orange-furred friend to show up. As if scheduled, she came skipping down the halls at almost exactly the same time she did the two days before.\n\n\"EDNA!\" I called out to her.\n\nShe stopped suddenly and looked for who called her. When she saw me and realized it was I who called, she smiled and walked up to me.\n\n\"Hey Amber! Good third day?\"\n\n\"Not really.\"\n\n\"What's wrong?\"\n\n\"I need your help with something.\"\n\nI grabbed her paw and pulled her out of the traffic of all the cubs who were heading to the buses, ready to go home for the night. I looked around and saw an open classroom with nobody in it, so I pulled the little fox inside with me and quickly shut the door. Edna looked at me, and I could tell her mind was already trying to figure out what I needed.\n\n\"So... uh... what did you need help with?\"\n\n\"Something... personal...\"\n\nThe small fox quickly grinned at my answer.\n\n\"So... you finally opened up to the way of the school and want me to be the first to help you with it, huh?\"\n\n\"What? Ew, no!\"\n\nEdna's eyes grew wide out of shock and embarrassment for pegging my situation wrong.\n\n\"Oh, I'm sorry... it's just when you said 'personal'...\"\n\n\"Hush Edna.\" The young cub quickly grew silent, her ears perked up in curious intent. \"Do you know where a place called 'Fur-Real' is?\"\n\n\"The strip club?\"\n\nI could feel my face turn beet red when she asked so quickly, as if she was a frequent visitor to the adult club.\n\n\"Yeah... the strip club...\"\n\n\"Sure. It's the most popular club in town. I've only been past there a few time myself though. Why do you ask?\"\n\n\"I need to go there today.\"\n\n\"You do realize that they don't let cubs in, right? This town may have some low standards, but they at least stick to some.\"\n\n\"I don't WANT to go there.\"\n\n\"But you just said...\" the young fox quickly protested.\n\n\"I said I NEEDED to go there, not that I WANTED to go there,\" I replied with extra emphasis.\n\n\"Ok... so then why do you NEED to go there?\" Edna questioned, mimicking my exact tone.\n\n\"I heard rumors of a new dancer there, and it sounds like somebody I know.\"\n\n\"So you want to know if it really is the fur you know?\"\n\n\"Bingo!\"\n\n\"You don't know the way, do you?\"\n\n\"No, I don't. If I did, trust me, I wouldn't be asking for help. No offense Edna, but this is something that I'd rather do myself if I had the option.\"\n\n\"I understand. So, shall we get going?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\nWe left the classroom the moment our conversation had ended and made our way out of the school. Edna started heading off toward the main part of town at a brisk pace, forgetting that I didn't know my way around town yet. I didn't say anything to her, but I did try my best to keep up. I was going to be getting a bonus out of this expedition that I didn't think of; a guided tour of town. The walk took roughly an hour from the school and cut almost directly through the middle of town. I tried my best to take in the sights and try to memorize which buildings were what along my way. I never really realized just how big a town Pouncefield was until my trip with Edna. It made Pawstin feel like a small suburb in comparison. When we finally reached our destination, Edna looked to me and smiled.\n\n\"Alright. Do you think you'll be able to find your way home from here?\"\n\n\"Probably not, why?\"\n\n\"Cause you said you wanted to do this alone, but I also don't want you to get lost afterwards.\"\n\n\"I'd appreciate it if you stayed, but stayed right here.\"\n\n\"Will do.\"\n\nI turned my attention back to the building before us. Solid brick painted pure white and only two stories tall. There were stairs outside leading up to the second floor. Both doors leading in, one on the second floor and one on the bottom, were metal and red with no windows or anything to see inside. I was guessing at that point that the club doubled as a shop on the second floor. I made my way to the left side of the building, looking for the drilled-out hole that the two boys from lunch had mentioned earlier, not realizing that the hole could've just as easily been on the other side or in the back. I was lucky, however, when I spotted a small hole in the brick about three-fourths of the way down the side of the building. As I got closer to it, the sounds from inside started to become louder and clearer. There was techno-dance music playing and I could hear the excited cheers of a few men inside. The place didn't sound too busy since it WAS early in the afternoon, but there were definitely some customers inside. I When I finally approached the peep-hole, the noise from inside was clear as day, and I hadn't arrived one moment too late or early.\n\n\"Next up this afternoon, from a kingdom far away, is one girl who decided to leave her seven dwarves behind to come here and put on one hell of a show! SNOOOOOOWWWWW WHIIIIIIIITTTTEEEEE!\" I heard the announcer say to everybody over a microphone.\n\nI pressed my face against the cold painted stone as I watched intently to see who would be coming out to put on the show. The few men that were inside started to cheer rather loudly as they anticipated the newest dancer to appear on stage. I felt the butterflies in my stomach start to kick up a storm as I started to grow more and more nervous, praying that it wasn't my mother, and yet knowing somehow that it WAS her. I watched as the red curtain inside started to slowly peel itself backward, slowly revealing a dancer in a stereotypical Snow White outfit. My eyes widened in horror as I recognized the face of the dancer immediately.\n\n[i]Mom...[/i]\n\nThe shock of the horror froze me in place. I couldn't move, even though, in my mind, I desperately wanted to do so. I couldn't help but sit there and watch as my mom undressed for the rowdy men, showing off parts of herself I wished she had kept private, or even rubbing said parts against various objects inside, like a pole and a couple of tables when she climbed off the stage to dance around the room. The \"gentlemen\" inside started to throw money at my mother, literally, cheering her on to do more and show EVERYTHING. The last thing I remember seeing from her show is her approach one sitting man's lap before Edna pulled me away from the wall. I just laid there on the ground in shock from what I witnessed as the young fox tried to bring me back to my senses.\n\n\"Amber? AMBER?!? You ok?\" she asked as she shook my shoulders a little.\n\n\"Muh...\"\n\n\"Muh? Muh what?\"\n\n\"Muh... Mom...\"\n\n\"Mom? Whose mom?\"\n\n\"Mine... dancing... showing... herself...\" I slowly let out with my eyes still wide open from shock and horror.\n\n\"Oh. Well, there's nothing wrong with it. It's not the most sought after job, and it does require her to do some things that others would say is 'immoral', but the pay is good, and she doesn't actually have to do anything too hardcore with the guys.\"\n\n\"Like that matters?!?\" I quickly shouted as I regained my senses from Edna's rationalization of my mother's new job. \"She is in there taking off her clothes and showing herself to complete strangers!\"\n\n\"Like I said, it's good pay and she doesn't actually have to yiff the guys.\"\n\n\"So? She might as well be!\"\n\n\"I can understand you're upset, so let's get you home so you can calm down.\"\n\nEdna helped me up off the ground and started to walk me back to the school, which I appreciated because I had forgotten everything I tried to soak up along the way due to the recent shock. The walk back to the school seemed to take forever. I wanted nothing more at that point than for the day to just end, or to wake up in my bed and find out that this was all just one big nightmare, neither of which happened. I didn't even try to pay attention to what was in town on the way back to the school. I really didn't care. When we arrived in front of the school's main doors, Edna frowned a little.\n\n\"I'm sorry... about your mom,\" she said in a blatant lie to me to try and raise my spirits. I actually appreciated the fact that, despite her own views on my mother's new job, she was willing to go against them, if only for a moment, to try and make me feel better.\n\n\"Me too...\"\n\n\"See you tomorrow?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\nThe younger orange fox then smiled at me as she walked away from the school, heading for her home. I stood there for a few minutes after Edna had left before I decided to try and move. Fortunately for me, the shock was starting to really wear off and I was starting to feel normal again, albeit depressed about my mom's new profession. When I got home, I decided to just watch TV and wait for my mom to get home so I could talk to her about it. While I waited, I thought of everything I wanted to say to her. When she got home later in the evening, I looked to her and forced a fake smile, as if nothing bad had happened that day.\n\n\"Hi Mom.\"\n\n\"Hi Amber.\"\n\n\"How was work?\"\n\n\"Work was... difficult... as usual,\" she replied with a sigh.\n\n\"What do you do again?\"\n\n\"I told you, I work for the public.\"\n\nAgain, I could appreciate the fact that I was being lied to to make things better for everybody, but at that point, I just didn't care.\n\n\"Doing what?\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\"\n\n\"What do you do when you work for the public?\" I asked quickly and sharply.\n\n\"I... uh...\"\n\n\"Take your clothes off and dance?\"\n\nHer eyes grew wide in shock from my quick questioning.\n\n\"What... what do you mean?\"\n\n\"So where ARE the seven dwarves anyway? Still back in Pawstin?\"\n\nMy mother dropped her head in shame as my words cut at her.\n\n\"So you know... huh?\"\n\n\"Yeah... I heard about you in school today, Snow White. How could you lie to me like that? How could you do THAT for money?\"\n\n\"I lied because I don't like doing this job...\"\n\n\"So then quit! There are better jobs.\"\n\n\"The money's too good to quit. We're living better than we've ever lived before.\"\n\n\"How could you do THAT for money though?\" I questioned my parent with a disgusted tone heavy in my voice.\n\n\"It's not like I WANT to do it. I choose to so you and I can live comfortably.\"\n\n\"There are more important things than money, Mom...\"\n\n\"I know, but the rest of the world doesn't see it that way, unfortunately. Trust me honey, I don't like doing this either, but it's paying the bills, putting food on the table, and we even have a decent chunk of change left over to actually enjoy ourselves. This is A LOT better than what we had when I was still married to your father.\"\n\n\"I just don't approve though...\" I said defeatedly, understanding where she was coming from and starting to accept that I cannot change her mind.\n\n\"Neither do I sweetie...\" She then walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me, holding me close. \"If you want, I'll quit and look for a new job.\"\n\nI closed my eyes and tried my hardest to tell her to quit, but the words just wouldn't come. I hated with every fiber in my being the fact that Mom was an exotic dancer, but she was doing it so we could enjoy life and not have to worry about money for the first time in a long time. I wasn't ok with her job, but I could put up with it for her sake.\n\n\"Nah, it's ok. I guess you could be doing worse,\" I told her to make her feel better about her career choice.\n\n\"Are you sure Amber?\"\n\n\"I'm sure Mom. Just promise you won't do anything you don't want to when it comes to... 'extras'... at that place.\"\n\n\"Trust me sweetie, I'm not going to be doing ANYTHING like that.\"\n\nI felt a little better knowing that, while she was still taking her clothes off for money, she wasn't completely degrading herself for the paycheck. Mom let go of me and smiled. Later that night, we had gone to a Chinese restaurant and ordered a pair of meals to take home and enjoy. The new house was starting to get set the way we liked it as the furniture was mostly set up. We had a table to eat on, a couch to watch TV on, and our bedframes had finally been unpacked and built. We still had many boxes of stuff to go through though, so we were far from being settled in. Mom also, fortunately for me, never questioned what was in the trunk or if I had opened it yet. All in all, things weren't going great, but it was going. After our meals, we spent a little time together before it became my bed-time. As I laid down to go to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder if things would ever start to get better.\n\n*****\n\nI had called off the day after I found out my mother was an exotic dancer. I claimed to be sick, but I just needed a day off already from all the madness that was instantly thrown into my new life at Pouncefield. Surprisingly, only one cub checked on me to see if I was ok, and that girl was Edna. When Mom realized I had no friends, she suggested I take up an extra-curricular activity to try and make some friends. That's when I remembered that St. Lovejoy's had a swim team. I decided then that, on Friday, I would become the team's fifth swimmer.\n\n[b]Chapter 22: The Swim Team[/b]\n\nFriday morning came to be, and, as usual, the usual mundane readying-myself-for-school routine occurred. I made my way to school like any other day, and I went to my first classes just like any other normal day. Of course, I use \"normal\" loosely since nothing in this new school had been normal since I moved here. I decided to use my lunch period to go find out more about joining the swim team, so I walked to the principal's office.\n\n\"Um... excuse me... Mr. Bear?\" I asked as I knocked on his door while opening it.\n\n\"Yes?\"\n\n\"Um... I was wondering if I could join the swim team...\"\n\n\"It's a bit late to be signing up now, don't you think Miss White?\"\n\n\"I just moved here Monday, and I could really use an after-school activity to help me get a little more comfortable...\"\n\n\"No, I mean late in the week. You'll only get one practice this week.\"\n\n\"That's no problem. There's always next week to start really practicing.\"\n\n\"That is true. Alright. You'll want to talk to Miss Jennifer Tigre. She's in charge of the swim team's decisions during the week. The coach of the team doesn't work for the school, so he's not available until weekends.\"\n\n\"You let a random stranger coach the team?!?\"\n\n\"Normally no, but this is a guy we feel we can trust and is a much better swimmer than anybody in town, so we figured he would be best at teaching cubs how to swim well for team meets. Anyway, go find Miss Tigre.\"\n\nI nodded my head with a smile as I left his office and started walking down the halls of the school. After finding my way down a few corridors, I suddenly came to the bad realization that I forgot to ask him where I could find Jen. I slumped my head down and headed back toward the principal's office when I overheard a pair of cubs walking my way.\n\n\"I can't believe I got a C on a math test!\"\n\n\"It's your own fault you didn't pay attention.\"\n\n\"I did pay attention! I don't know what happened.\"\n\n\"Maybe you were daydreaming during the test,\" the voice said with a laugh.\n\nThe voices rounded the corner and suddenly stopped as they almost bumped into me. I looked upon the bodies attached to the voices. It was a pair of cheetahs, one boy and one girl.\n\n\"Um... I'm sorry...\" I said shyly. I wanted to ask them about Jennifer Tigre, but I never was any good about talking to new faces.\n\n\"No need to be,\" the female cheetah said with a smile. \"It was our fault.\"\n\n\"No it wasn't,\" the male cheetah replied. \"It was nobody's fault.\"\n\n\"Fine then,\" the girl answered with a slight groan in a voice as she rolled her eyes. She then turned her attention back to me. \"Anyway, I'm Danni. The idiot I have for a brother standing next to me as David,\" she told me with a giggle.\n\n\"Hey! I'm not an idiot!\"\n\n\"Do I need to remind you about your C?\" she asked her brother with another giggle.\n\n\"I get one stupid C...\" the taller cheetah remarked with a slight pout.\n\n\"Oh, don't be that way. I'll make it up to you later,\" Danni told David with a grin.\n\n\"How so?\" David asked, still pouting.\n\n\"I'll do your chores or get you some ice cream or something.\"\n\nI simply watched as the siblings had their little bicker that ended with Danni's last remark to her brother, causing his tail to flick a few times behind him.\n\n\"So... um... do you guys know where I can find Jennifer Tigre?\" I asked the pair of cheetahs.\n\n\"Isn't she that girl dating that platypus?\" David asked aloud.\n\n\"Yeah. They usually have lunch together.\"\n\n\"Try the cafeteria next period,\" David then said to me, answering my question.\n\n\"Alright. Thank you,\" I told the brother and sister as I started to hurry away from them.\n\nI scampered down the blank halls of the school and made my way back to the lunch room where I would wait for the student captain of the swim team. I had everything planned out. I would talk to Jen about joining and then get a hall pass off a teacher to go to my next class without penalty. When I arrived in the cafeteria, I quickly grabbed a tray of food and made my way to one of the back corners of the room, where I quickly sat down at an empty table. I wanted to avoid any suspicion teachers might have, and it worked. I was able to start slowly eating my lunch without a single teacher asking me why I had started eating so late. The bell ending my lunch period rang as I continued to eat. I watched as disappointed kids reluctantly left the lunch room to head to future classes and hungry kids took their spots in the cafeteria.\n\nOk... time to spot the tiger.\n\nI continued to observe the parade of new students as I quickly scanned for traces of orange striped fur amongst the crowd. My search didn't take long as I noticed Jen enter the lunch room with a squirrel friend next to her, who I instantly recognized as Jerry. I kept watching as the pair each grabbed a tray of food and then walk separate ways. Jen headed for a table close to the exit while Jerry went back toward the entrance to sit with some of his other friends. I decided to let the young tigress get comfortable before I stood up, picking my tray up off the table, and slowly walk to where she was seated.\n\n\"Um... hi...\" I said as I stopped at her table.\n\n\"Hi.\"\n\nI sat down across the table from Jen and started to slowly eat.\n\n\"So... you're Jennifer Tigre, right?\" I asked formally, trying to make a good first impression with her.\n\n\"Yeah. But just call me Jen. Or 'Stripes'. That seems to be my most popular nickname.\"\n\n\"Alright Jen... um...\"\n\n\"Yes?\"\n\n\"May I join the swim team?\"\n\n\"Can you swim?\"\n\n\"Uh-huh,\" I quickly and proudly informed the tigress with a nod. \"I was on the Pawstin team you raced just six days ago.\"\n\n\"Oh yeah. I recognize you now! Amber White, right?\"\n\n\"Yeah.\"\n\n\"Alright. Swing by the pool after school today.\"\n\nI simply nodded and silently thanked her in my mind for accepting me onto the team. I quickly gobbled down the rest of my food and put the tray with the others to be washed before snagging a hall pass off the overseeing teacher. The rest of the school day really was a drag after that point, but not for the same reason my previous days had been. The past few days, I just wanted to get out of the school as fast as possible, and that made the school day seemingly last forever. Today, however, was a different case. I was finally excited about doing something related to the school, and I just couldn't wait to get started. When the final bell did finally ring, I quickly scurried toward the pool, swimming through a river of kids who were just as excited to go home as I was to go to the pool. When I finally arrived outside the entrance to the swimming pool, I decided to regain my composure. I didn't want to seem too eager to be joining the team and make a bad first impression. Once I was recollected, I casually entered through the doors to the pool-side, noticing nobody was around. I decided to walk to the visitor's team bench, where I had sat just less than a week ago, and sit upon it.\n\n\"You're here early,\" a voice said from behind the bench.\n\nI look over my shoulder and notice Jen out of the corner of my eye.\n\n\"Oh yeah?\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" she answered as she made her way around the bench. She was already dressed to swim in a one-piece swimsuit. \"The boys don't usually arrive until a little bit later. I guess they have classes further away from the pool than you. Anyway, suit up.\"\n\n\"Um... I don't have a swimsuit with me today.\"\n\n\"It's ok. There are spares in the changing rooms. I'll talk to the coach about getting you an official St. Lovejoy's swim team swimsuit.\"\n\n\"Alright.\"\n\nI stood up off the bench and made my way to the entrance to one of the changing rooms. As I started to enter, something happened and I instantly thought of something I hadn't before, and it made me freeze in my tracks.\n\n\"What's wrong?\"\n\n\"I won't be changing with the boys, will I?\"\n\n\"No. We use separate changing rooms, so you won't have to worry about that.\"\n\nI let out a sigh of relief as I entered the girls' locker room. I walked to the first row of lockers and sat down on the changing bench. While I had a moment to myself, I decided to reflect on everything and take this chance to take it all in. I had a chance every night to briefly go over the day's events in my mind, but this was the first chance I had to actually absorb everything that had happened. It wasn't a very ideal situation to be in a school with the \"side-rules\" and gym teacher this school had, but being on the swim team was a great way to was everything away everyday.\n\n[i]You won't be on the swim team if you don't hurry up and change![/i]\n\nMy mental reminder snapped me out of my trans-like state. I opened the locker in front of me and grabbed the one-piece swimsuit that was resting inside. I shed myself of my clothes and put the tight swimsuit on over my white fur and flesh. I shoved my clothes into the locker and quickly darted out of the locker room, slowing as I got to the entrance. As I stepped through the entrance, I decided to simply walk back out to the side of the pool. I stopped a short distance from the edge of the pool and looked around. Jen was there, who I had officially met at lunch. Geoff and Jerry, who I knew of but never officially met, were floating in the pool next to the young tigress. Standing over on the other side of the pool was the latest addition to the team before I joined, and I knew nothing about him except that he was a platypus. I couldn't even remember his name from Saturday. After taking it all in, I gathered up a little courage to introduce myself to everybody at once.\n\n\"Hi,\" I said to everybody. \"My name is Amber.\"\n\n\"Hi Amber,\" my new team-mates all answered in almost perfect unison.\n\n\"Thank you for letting me join the team.\"\n\n\"Not a problem,\" Jen replied with a smile. \"We were looking, and you showed interest. Thank you for joining.\"\n\nI then take a small running start and dive into the pool. The moment the water collided with my fur and flesh, I knew that everything would be alright. I felt the weight of the world literally melt off me into the water around me. I surfaced just a moment later and decided to float there, much like everybody else had been doing, until the rest of the team started to lazily swim around the pool, in which I quickly followed. After a short while, I had noticed nobody had done any serious swimming all day.\n\n\"So this is practice? Just swimming around?\"\n\n\"Nah, taking it easy today,\" Jerry answered. \"No meet tomorrow, so no need to push ourselves hard.\"\n\nI noticed at that point that the most recent male member to join the team hadn't started to swim at all that day.\n\n\"Why isn't your platypus friend joining us?\"\n\n\"Because he's injured,\" Jen quickly replied. \"Doctor's orders are he can't swim again until he's healed.\"\n\n\"Oh, ok.\"\n\nI shrugged it off and went on my way, swimming around the pool again. After a few moments, Jen climbed out of the pool.\n\n\"Alright. Everybody out of the pool. Time to see what Amber's made of,\" Jen commanded.\n\nTaking our cues, we all climbed out of the water. I made my way over to the starting blocks and took my place upon one of them, waiting for further instruction.\n\n\"So what's the plan Jen?\" Geoff asked as he stood right beside her.\n\n\"Well, I was thinking of Amber doing three laps to show us her top speed and stamina.\"\n\n\"You got it Jen,\" I answered the captain.\n\n\"Alright then. Go!\" Jen called down to me.\n\nWith those words, I dove into the water and started my laps. I won't bore you with the mundane routine of swimming, but I did rather well. When I finished my laps, I climbed out of the water and walked up to my team-mates.\n\n\"Very good Amber! You'll definitely make a great addition to the team. Speaking of which, I guess it's time to introduce you to your team-mates.\" The young tigress then pointed to her squirrel friend. \"That there is Jerry.\" Jen then pointed to the beaver standing right next to her. \"This here is Geoff. And that...\" Jen finishes as she points to where the platypus was last standing, but finding nothing but air as he moved from his spot. \"Where's Billy?\"\n\n\"Oh, he went to the restroom.\"\n\nI watched as my new captain shook her head in disbelief.\n\n\"Anyway, it's time we get changed and headed home. See you guys in a little bit.\"\n\nI followed Jen into the changing room. She stopped in front of a locker just a few spaces down from the one I picked. I opened my locker and started to pull out my clothes when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jen took no time at all in stripping down to her fur in front of me, shedding the soaked one-piece like it was nothing. I blushed and tried to go back about my business.\n\n\"So... how you liking school, Amber?\" she asked, standing their proudly exposed for me and anybody else who may have been in the locker room at the time to see.\n\n\"It's very different...\"\n\nThe young tigress swim captain smiled as she started to put her clothes back on. I realized at that moment that I hadn't started changing out of my own swimsuit yet. I quickly slid the wet one-piece off my body, but when Jen looked at me, I blushed and tried to hide my most private of parts from her, to no avail. No matter how hard I tried, something was always showing to her.\n\n\"You know, we're gonna be sharing a locker room all season. Better get used to changing in front of me,\" the tigress told me with a slight giggle.\n\n\"Yeah... I guess...\"\n\n\"You also got a great body. No need to be ashamed of it. Some guy will really enjoy that,\" Jen said with another giggle.\n\n\"I'm not looking for a guy...\"\n\n\"Oh... are you into girls?\"\n\n\"No. I'm just not ready for the stuff that goes on here.\"\n\n\"That's understandable. Also, try not to focus on it,\" Jen advised. \"If you take away the activities, you'll find this school is just like any other school.\"\n\nThose words made me feel a little more comfortable because I knew she was right. If I looked past the yiff and the crazy gym teacher, this school was really like any other.\n\n\"I guess you're right.\"\n\n\"I am right. And so long as you don't acknowledge too many boys, you'll be left alone when it comes to those other maters too.\"\n\n\"I'll try.\"\n\nJen finished dressing and left the locker room. After she left, I took my time getting dressed in my own clothes. Once finally dressed, I left the locker room and walked back to the side of the pool, where I noticed the platypus kid sitting on the other side looking into the water. I decided to walk up to him and officially introduce myself to him.\n\n\"Hi there. We meet again,\" I said to him with a giggle.\n\n\"I guess we do,\" he replied. \"My name's Billy.\"\n\nThe young boy then extended his paw to me, which I gladly took with a smile.\n\n\"Well, now we have officially met,\" I told him with a smile as I shook his paw and quickly let it go. \"Well, I should get going. My parents are still unpacking,\" I half-lied to my new friend. \"Hope to see you around the school sometime.\"\n\nI walked away with a smile. I felt a little bad somewhat lying to my newest friend, but I didn't want anybody to know that my parents were divorced or why they were just yet. Otherwise, everything went perfectly. Even throughout the night I couldn't help but feel things were starting to go better; no doubts, no worries, and no fears. As I laid down to go to sleep for the night, I felt nothing but tranquility cover me. I finally felt good for the first time in a very long time.\n\n*****\n\nAfter such a hectic first week at school, I decided to take the weekend to myself and just wander the streets of town, both to familiarize myself with everything and to simply have some \"me time\". It was a great change of pace and was actually quite amazing how much bigger Pouncefield was than Pawstin. It was also a great way to get myself ready mentally for the upcoming week, especially what would happen on Monday.\n\n[b]Chapter 23: The End Of Peace[/b]\n\nIt was a typical Monday morning, just like any other morning. I brushed my hair into my new mid-length bob style, I got dressed, I walked to school, and I attended classes. I felt great, like things were really gonna start staying normal for me. I felt that way, that is, until I attended lunch. I was in line to grab a tray of food, alongside every other hungry cub, when I overheard a couple talking behind me.\n\n\"Yeah! You should've been there! It was crazy!\"\n\nI turned my head slightly and looked at the talking kids through the corner of my eye, trying not to show I was paying attention to their conversation. It was a male duck talking to a female donkey.\n\n\"You said that a few times already,\" the girl replied. \"What was crazy?\"\n\n\"There was this awesome fight!\" the boy answered. \"This tiger girl just walked up to this fox girl and slapped her in the face with her claws!\"\n\n\"What?!?\"\n\nThe same exact thing that the donkey said to what the duck had told her ran through my head. I couldn't help but instantly think that it was Jen that the two were talking about, but I calmed myself and reminded myself that there could be more than one tigress that goes to this school.\n\n\"Yeah. It was that girl that was dating that platypus that had that big tape!\"\n\n[i]It IS Jen! Wait... tape? What tape?[/i]\n\nI decided to listen more for clues as to why Jen would just randomly attack somebody or this tape that was mentioned instead of jumping into the conversation.\n\n\"Wow,\" the donkey said in shock. \"So... what did the fox girl do?\"\n\n\"Oh, that's when the fight really got great. The fox tackled the tiger, the two fight on the ground a bit before the tiger gets the fox back up and then tackles her to the ground! Fists and teeth were flying!\"\n\n\"Teeth got knocked out?!?\"\n\n\"No, but they were biting each other furiously! Anyway, while the tiger was pummeling the fox on the ground, the fox used her legs to throw the tiger off her and into some nearby lockers!\"\n\nOh my god... why Jen?\n\n\"Wow... there sure have been a lot of violent fights around here since that platypus moved here,\" the girl donkey said in disbelief of her friend's story.\n\n\"Wait wait wait! I'm not done! The tiger then got up and went after the fox again, and the fox ducked her and did some sort of Judo flip thingy and tossed the tiger back to the ground! But then that's when a bunch of guys came in and stopped the fight.\"\n\n\"Any of them get in trouble?\"\n\n\"Nah, they all split before any teachers or anything got there.\"\n\n\"Doesn't surprise me,\" the young girl replied. \"Think there'll be any more fights today?\"\n\n\"Probably not, but you never know.\"\n\nI turned my attention away from the two. At that point, I just HAD to talk to Jen about the story I just heard. Unfortunately, though, I wouldn't see her until swim practice later in the day, so I tried my best to keep calm throughout the rest of the day. I was tired of all these days where I had to wait anxiously for the day to end. When the day finally ended, I quickly rushed toward the pool, hoping to find some answers. When I entered the pool are, Jerry and Geoff were already there with Jen, who was sitting on our team bench. I walked up to the trio wearing a concerned look upon my face.\n\n\"Jen... is it true?!?\" I asked the young tigress as I approached her.\n\n\"Is what true?\"\n\n\"Did you get into a fight?\"\n\n\"Uh... yeah...\" she answered as she looked away from me.\n\n\"With who? And why?\"\n\n\"Um... come with me to the dressing room... I'll explain it all in there...\"\n\n\"Why not out here?\"\n\n\"Cause Billy will be coming soon, and I don't want him to walk in on our conversation.\"\n\n\"Alright.\"\n\nJen stood up off the bench and started to head to the changing rooms. Jerry and I started to follow her, but Geoff sat down on the bench.\n\n\"You're not coming Geoff?\" Jerry asked his beaver friend.\n\n\"Nah. I know the story. You guys go talk.\"\n\n\"Ok. Just don't do anything you might regret, ok?\"\n\n\"Don't worry. I won't.\"\n\nThe three of us walked into the girls' changing room, where Jen sat down on the first bench she found and Jerry and myself sat on both sides of her.\n\n\"So what happened?\" I questioned the young tiger.\n\n\"Well... Billy and I were a couple until a few days ago...\"\n\n\"He broke up with you?\"\n\n\"No... I wanted a trial separation...\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\n\"A yiff tape with him and another student came out...\" she started her story.\n\n[i]So THAT'S the tape that was mentioned![/i]\n\n\"And he started getting very... popular... among the girls in school...\" Jen said with a sigh. \"I figured he'd want to go have some fun with his new found fame and I didn't want him to blame me for not having it, so I told he was free to do so...\"\n\n\"So what's the problem?\"\n\n\"He found a new girlfriend and completely forgot about me!\"\n\n\"And I'm guessing this fight was with the new girl?\"\n\n\"Yeah...\" Jen admitted. \"When I saw her... I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to make her hurt as bad as I was hurting for taking Billy away from me...\"\n\n\"It doesn't help that you said 'separation' to him. He DID think you two had broken up...\" Jerry added to the story.\n\n\"Well... he should've paid attention to what I said...\"\n\n\"But you can't honestly blame him for a misunderstanding...\" I told the young upset tigress.\n\n\"I know... but it just hurts a little... anyway... I'll be fine. We should get ready for practice...\"\n\n\"I'll go get changed,\" Jerry said aloud.\n\n\"Nah, that's fine. We'll just all change here. You got your swimsuit with you, right?\"\n\n\"Yeah... but...\"\n\n\"It's fine.\"\n\n\"I'm not fine with it...\" I quickly blurted.\n\n\"Don't worry about it Amber. It'll be fine,\" Jen said with a half-smile.\n\nI let out a sigh as I opened a locker. I wasn't too happy about getting naked in front of both Jen AND Jerry, but Jen was the captain. Just when I thought about protesting more, Edna's words started to ring through my head.\n\n\"It's easier to just go with it instead of going against it. Just try not to worry about it.\"\n\nJen and Jerry had already stripped down and were preparing to put their swimsuits on. It was only the third time I had seen a boy's private parts, aside from my dad that one bad night and that leopard on my first day. This time, however, wasn't like the other two. Jerry wasn't trying to do anything to me or Jen. He just let himself hang there as he grabbed his swimsuit. I blushed a little as I watched him get dressed. I shouldn't have looked, but I couldn't help it. I shook it out of my head, mentally reminding myself of what my dad was like, and suddenly the desire to watch him went away. I undressed myself and quickly put the swimsuit on. Jen and Jerry quickly followed my lead, everybody getting ready to jump into the pool. We looked at one another and smiled, until we heard a couple of muffled shouts and a few giant splashes that is. We quickly jumped off the bench and ran out to the pool where we saw Billy in the water, slowly making his way toward an unconcious Geoff, who was simply floating in the water.\n\n[i]Oh no... not good...[/i]\n\nI don't know what Geoff and Billy were fighting about, but I knew I HAD to stop it. Without hesitation, Jerry and I ran to the pool and dove in. We quickly surfaced and swam to Billy, keeping him from getting to Geoff and doing any more damage. We grabbed his arms and pulled him to the edge of the pool, far away from Geoff.\n\n\"Billy! Come on! Don't do this!\" Jerry yelled to the enraged platypus.\n\n\"Yeah! Come on! You're better than this!\" I yelled as I joined in, trying to bring Billy back to his senses.\n\nOur words did the trick, because a few moments later, he shook his head and gained a more docile look.\n\n\"Huh...? Jerry? Amber? Where am I?\"\n\n\"You're at the pool,\" Jerry started to explain to the once angry platypus. \"I don't know what happened. We heard shouting and splashing, and when we got out here Geoff is like that!\" Jerry then pointed to the helpless beaver floating in the middle of the pool. \"And you were ready to strike him. Now... Geoff IS a big time dick... but enough is enough!\"\n\n\"I just... he started to insult Sonia...\"\n\nSonia? Who's Sonia?\n\n\"And then... all I wanted was to shut him up. He was wrong... he had no right to talk about her like that...\" Billy admitted with a depressed sigh, obviously regretting his recent actions.\n\n\"You should've just let it go...\" I decided to add to the conversation. \"He's a dick, and we all know it,\" I half-lied. I didn't know Geoff that well, but the few times I was with him, he didn't seem that bad. I was just going along with what Jerry said to try and keep Billy calm. \"He probably was saying whatever it took to make you angry, and it worked. He made you sink to a level you should've never gone to,\" I finished with a sigh, wishing things were different from what they were right now.\n\n\"I know... I just... I couldn't help it...\"\n\n\"Amber,\" Jerry started to direct me. \"Go check on him,\" he said as he nodded toward Geoff. He then looked to Jen, who was standing by the side of the pool frightened. \"JEN?!?!?\"\n\nJen then snapped back to reality and looked to Jerry.\n\n\"Uh... yeah?\"\n\n\"Go get a nurse! I have a feeling Geoff's hurt bad!\"\n\n\"Right.\"\n\nJen then dashed away from her current position in attempts to reach the nurse befor she left. It was only a moment longer before my brain registered what I had to do. I swam to the fallen beaver and grabbed a hold of him, pushing him to the side of the pool. I then lifted him up out of the water and laid him down on dry land.\n\n\"Look, I don't know what happened, but it's probably best if you're not here if he wakes up or when the nurse gets here. You've been getting into a lot of fights since you moved here, and this one may be the straw that broke the camel's back. If anybody asks, we'll say Geoff bumped his head off a diving board,\" Jerry told Billy.\n\n\"Thanks. I just... I'm sorry...\" the distraught platypus answered with a sigh.\n\n\"We know you are. Now go!\"\n\nJerry then let go of Billy and I watched as he climbed out of the pool darted away. I looked back down to Geoff and frowned.\n\n\"Do you think he'll be ok?\"\n\n\"He should be. But we do gotta figure out a way to keep both Jen and Geoff from telling anybody that Billy knocked Geoff out...\"\n\n\"I'm sure you could convince them Jerry,\" I said to the worried squirrel.\n\n\"You're probably right. I don't wanna see Billy get kicked out after only a few weeks here.\"\n\nJen arrived with the nurse a few minutes later.\n\n\"What happened here?\" the adult white mouse asked Jerry and myself.\n\n\"He hit his head off a diving board,\" Jerry quickly answered, causing Jen to give him a quick questioning look.\n\n\"He hit his head off a diving board? But do you kids even use the diving boards on the swim team?\"\n\n\"Not usually. But when we're taking it easy and having a fun day instead of practice, we use the diving boards.\"\n\n\"And he hit his head?\"\n\n\"Uh... yeah. He was trying to show off and do a fancy trick when he landed on his head and fell down into the pool,\" Jerry told the nurse, adding to his story. \"We pulled him out so he wouldn't drown and then sent Jen to get you.\"\n\n\"Alright. I'll go call an ambulance. You kids wait right here.\"\n\nThe nurse then ran back toward her office as Jerry, Jen, and I waited by Geoff.\n\n\"What do you mean he hit his head off a diving board?\" Jen quickly questioned the young fibbing squirrel.\n\n\"I don't want Billy to get into any more trouble, so that's the first thing I could think of.\"\n\n\"But...\"\n\n\"Listen... we don't want to see him kicked out of school. Geoff didn't deserve THIS, but I'm sure he was looking for a fight when Billy came in. We shouldn't punish Billy for something Geoff started, right?\"\n\n\"But... yeah... you're right...\" the young tigress admitted. \"Alright. We'll go with your story. And I'll talk to Geoff to keep him from ratting Billy out...\"\n\nThe nurse returned to us a few moments later.\n\n\"Alright kids. I got an ambulance coming. You all should go home. You can visit him at home or the hopsital, whichever the case may be, later, but for now, we gotta have space to work and get him to the hopsital.\"\n\nThe three of us nodded as we went back into the changing room. We all plopped down on the changing bench in front of the lockers we chose to store our clothes in, with Jen and Jerry both letting out a sigh.\n\n\"Man... talk about bad luck...\" Jerry blurted.\n\n\"For who? Geoff?\" I asked.\n\n\"Nah, the team. I mean, yeah... Geoff had bad luck when he thought he could push Billy around... but our team's down to three for who knows how long now. We don't know how long it'll be before Geoff can come back, IF he can come back at all.\"\n\n\"I hadn't thought of that...\" I said, a little discouraged about our swim season.\n\n\"That's enough... you two heard the nurse. Get changed and go home...\" Jen quickly added.\n\nWe stopped our conversation then and there and silently agreed with Jen. We all changed back into our clothes in a hurry. I did realize while changing that, because of the recent distress and drama that occured, I wasn't as reluctant to get naked in front of Jen OR Jerry. I didn't even think about it until after we were all back into our dry clothes. We left the changing room, where we saw paramedics entering the pool side with a stretcher. The three of us looked at one another and just started to walk in separate directions, saying silent good-byes to one another in our heads.\n[i]\nJeez... this is just not right... why did there have to be violence...?[/i]\n\nAs the night went on for me at my house, I decided to give Billy a call. As soon as I picked up the phone, however, I quickly remembered I didn't know anybody's numbers, so I put the phone back down and sighed. I made up my mind at that point that I would try to see him the next day to make sure he was doing better. The stress of the day took it's toll on me pretty well I noticed. I was tired earlier than usual, and when I laid down to go to bed, I found I had no trouble falling asleep even though I was worried about Geoff and Billy. I knew I'd have to wait a day to see if they were both ok, but it was driving me a little crazy. As I laid down for the night, the only thing I could think of was whether or not they were.\n\n*****\n\nAfter the fights that happened, I was ready for a peaceful day. I'd only had a few since moving to Pouncefield, and two of those were on the weekend. I was starting to think that one peaceful school day was out of the question.\n\n[b]Chapter 24: The Unexpected[/b]\n\nIt was a typical school day, and I had just finished lunch when something unexpected happened. As I started walking away from the lunchroom, a blue wolf quickly dashed up to me.\n\n\"Hey, can you come with me for a second? I need your help with something!\" the unknown wolf said to me bluntly. I looked around to see if he was talking to somebody besides me. \"Yeah, you.\"\n\nI paused for a moment, trying to figure out in my head what he could possibly want from me. My mind then went back to my first day at school and the leopard who was way too forward. I started to feel a little uneasy as he waited for my response.\n\n\"Uh... I don't know...\" I told him.\n\n\"Please? It'll only take a minute.\"\n\n\"But... I have class to get to...\"\n\n\"That's ok,\" the wolf replied with a smile. \"I can get you a hall pass if you help me.\"\n\nI didn't know how to answer him at that point. I really didn't want to go with him because I knew what he wanted, but he looked so innocent that I wanted to trust him. I decided to go against my better judgement and help the blue wolf.\n\n\"Oh... alright.\"\n\n\"Great! Oh, I'm Mizu by the way.\"\n\n\"Amber...\"\n\nMizu then grabbed my paw and led me down a few halls before pulling me gently into an empty room. He closed the door behind us as I started to regret my decision.\n\n\"I appreciate you helping me with this.\"\n\n\"Uh... I don't think I want to help anymore...\"\n\n\"Why not?\" the young wolf asked as he walked toward me.\n\n\"I'm just not comfortable with this...\" I answered quickly.\n\n\"Comfortable with what?\" he questioned with a curious look on his face.\n\nThe blue-furred boy then walked past me. I turned around to watch him walk to a chair with a violin resting on it.\n\n\"Um... what's the violin for?\"\n\n\"For me. I asked you here to get your opinion on my playing.\"\n\n\"Oh... um... I'm sorry... I thought you asked me here for... um... well... sex...\" I said with a blush as I forced the last word out of my throat.\n\n\"What? No. I have a girlfriend,\" he quickly answered bluntly, blushing lightly.\n\n\"Oh. Ok, well... why do you need my opinion anyway?\"\n\n\"Well, I have a rehearsal this weekend, but I don't think it's quite good enough. I wanted to see what a fellow student thought and then make any changes to my playing depending on what they say.\"\n\n\"Alright. I'll listen,\" I told Mizu with a smile.\n\nHe smiled back at me and then placed his violin gently between his chin and shoulder. He grabbed his bow, closed his eyes, and slowly started to play his instrument. I sat there and listened happily as the song coming from the blue boy's violin was one of the best pieces of work I'd ever heard come from a classical instrument. I closed my eyes and started to sway with the music, letting the soft tones sweep me away to a better place. I felt completely relaxed, like nothing in the world was wrong and that nothing could ever go wrong. When his song finally ended, I secretly wished that he'd play it again.\n\n\"So, what do you think?\" he asked me as he opened his eyes and put his violin down.\n\n\"I think it's perfect.\"\n\n\"Really? You think so?\" he asked with a big smile. I nodded and smiled back at him. \"Thanks! I didn't think it was that good.\"\n\n\"I'm glad I could help.\"\n\n\"Well, I'll take you back to a teacher and we'll get you a hall pass.\"\n\nThe two of us left the room and headed back to the cafeteria. When we got there, Mizu walked up to the teacher and explained how I helped him with an orchestra problem and asked if I could have a hall pass, which the teacher gladly gave him to give to me.\n\n\"Here you go. Thanks again for your help,\" Mizu said as he handed me the slip of paper.\n\n\"Glad I could help. Anyway, I gotta get to class.\"\n\n\"Yeah, and I need to get back to practicing for the rehearsal. Hope to see you around.\"\n\n\"Same here.\"\n\nWe smiled at each other one last time before I walked away from my new blue-furred friend. The rest of the day actually seemed to breeze by for me after Mizu's song. Nothing bothered me and I wasn't anxious about anything, not even finding out if Geoff was ok and what was going on with Billy. I just felt peace, and I missed it. When the final bell for the day rang, I walked toward the pool instead of being in any kind of hurry like the past few times that I headed that way. Before long, I found myself by the side of the pool. As I looked around, I realized nobody was there yet, not even Jen. I decided to sit on the bench and wait for her before getting changed to swim. I didn't want to get into my swimsuit and find out we were canceling practice or something. After a few moments of waiting, Jen and Jerry casually walk into the pool area.\n\n\"Hey guys, where's Geoff?\"\n\n\"He's at home,\" Jen quickly answered.\n\n\"He suffered a concussion. He was told to stay home today and rest. He should be back in school tomorrow. Geoff did tell us, however, that the doctor asked him not to swim for a couple of weeks to prevent aggrivating the injury,\" Jerry added.\n\n\"So what's that mean for us?\"\n\n\"Well, it means we have to forfeit our next two or three meets. We can't exactly enter medleys with only three swimmers...\" Jen said with a sigh.\n\n\"But you guys used to win meets with only three swimmers,\" I argued.\n\n\"Yeah, but they never had medleys,\" Jerry replied. \"Once Billy joined the team, the school entered our team into a division that has medley races. We can't switch back over now that the season has started, and with Billy gone for the rest of the season and Geoff unable to compete for a few weeks, we have no choice but to forfeit.\"\n\n\"I see...\" I sighed.\n\n\"Yeah. Anyway, Jerry and I were gonna go see Geoff. You're free to go. No practice today,\" Jen told me. \"But I did take the liberty of putting your team swimsuit in the locker you've used the past few days.\"\n\n\"Alright. Thanks. And I think I'm gonna just head home. Tell Geoff I said I hope he gets better soon.\"\n\n\"Alright. Have a good one Amber. Oh, and Amber. My dad's planning a cook-out this weekend. You're welcome to come.\"\n\n\"Thanks Jerry. I'll definitely come.\"\n\nWith that, Jen and Jerry took their leave of my presence. I let out a sigh from the recent news, but didn't let it bother me that badly.\n\nJust bad luck and bad timing. Besides, it's not like the season is canceled.\n\nI grabbed my swimsuit out the locker and left the school and walked home. When I got home, my mom was already sitting on the couch. That's when I also realized that everything was finally unpacked.\n\n\"Mom, you're home early!\"\n\n\"No I'm not. I didn't go to to work today.\"\n\n\"Why not? Finally give up on it?\" I hopefully questioned my mother.\n\n\"No. I got a better shift, kinda like a 'promotion'. I'm working the night shifts now, which means more money.\"\n\n\"I told you... I don't care about the money...\"\n\n\"I know you don't, but I do,\" Mom answered. \"Besides, it's not like I'm making this money and just blowing it so that I'd have to keep working there forever. I'm just gonna work there a few years, while saving every penny not spent on food, bills, and a little bit of side fun. I'm putting half of what I save away for you and college, and the other half is to save up so that, once I feel I have enough saved, I can quit the strip club and get a different job.\"\n\n\"You promise?\"\n\n\"I promise.\"\n\n\"Alright. Well, I'm gonna go get changed.\"\n\nI then quickly ran to my room and closed the door behind me. I quickly shed myself of the uniform which I despised wearing and started picking out clothes to wear for the evening. Just as I had picked out a nice white shirt and a pink skirt, I heard my phone ring on my bed. I grabbed it and quickly answered it.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Hey Amber.\"\n\nIt was a voice I thought I'd never hear again, like the past trying to haunt me or something. I pondered whether to hang up or keep talking. I opted for the latter choice.\n\n\"Uh... hey Daren...\"\n\n\"Haven't heard from you since you moved. How you been doing?\"\n\n\"It's been hectic since I moved here. I been dealing with a lot of stuff.\"\n\n\"I know how that can feel. You free to talk right now?\"\n\n\"Not really. We're still unpacking and what-not,\" I lied to my old friend, not really wanting to talk to him yet.\n\n\"Alright. Well, I'll call you again some time. Or you can call me when you're finished.\"\n\n\"Alright, will do Daren. Bye.\"\n\n\"Bye.\"\n\nI hung my phone up and tossed it aside, not giving a second thought to the conversation. The rest of the night was actually fairly routine, after all the unexpected surprises that occurred during the day. Mom and I spent some time together before she went to work, I made myself some noodles in a cup for dinner, and went to bed the same time I always do. As I laid down on my bed and drifted to sleep, I couldn't help but hear Mizu's song still playing in my head, and it made me feel relaxed.\n\n*****\n\nIt's amazing how life can sometimes need so many changes to make things feel normal again. I haven't felt this good about anything since my ninth birthday, a little over three years ago. I no longer feel threatened at home, I'm having fun with friends again, and I'm even enjoying school again. Granted, things aren't quite as normal as I'd like, but beggars can't be choosers.\n\n[b]Chapter 25: The Barbecue[/b]\n\nA few days had passed since I helped Mizu, the blue violin-playing wolf, with his problem, and nothing spectacular or ground-breaking happened. I went to school, made some friends each day, went to swim practice, spent a few hours each day walking around town, and then finished the days off at home with my mom before she had to go to work. The only interesting thing that did happen was that Jerry invited me to a cook-out his family was planning, which happens to be today. I woke up at only nine in the morning, groggily sitting up in my bed and letting out a big yawn. I then stood up lazily and stretched my body out, letting the warm sun that was trickling in through the window bathe me. I took my pajamas off and let the rays warm my fur. As I stood there, soaking up the beams, my cellphone rang on a nearby dresser. I picked it up and imediately answered.\n\n\"Hello?\"\n\n\"Amber? It's Jerry.\"\n\n\"Hey Jerry, what's up?\"\n\n\"Hey, I forgot to give Billy directions to my place. Can you swing by on your way here and pick him up?\" he asked me.\n\n\"Sure thing. What time is the cook-out anyway?\"\n\n\"You can come whenever you want. My dad is getting ready to start cooking a few things for us, and Jen and Geoff have already showed up. Plus it'd be nice to spend time with you guys before chowing down.\"\n\n\"Alright. I'll swing by Billy's place and pick him up right away,\" I informed my squirrel friend.\n\nI hung my phone up and tossed it on my bed. I stretched my body out one last time before diggint into my dresser, looking for something nice to wear for my friends. I finally decided on a pink t-shirt and a nice white skirt. I quickly slid the clothes onto my snow-white fur and left my room. My mom was still asleep from her late night at work last night, so I quietly tip-toed past her door and through the living room, headed for the front door. I quickly put my socks and shoes on before stepping out into the bright sun. I took a deep breath of the gentle breeze that blew through the sky and let out a sigh of happiness.\n\n[i]Alright. Time to go grab Billy.[/i]\n\nI walked down the sidewalk and strolled to Billy's house, who lived a couple dozen of blocks away from where I lived. When I got there, I quickly walked up to his door and started knocking hard on it, not knowing if the platypus was still asleep. A few moments later, the door swung open in a hurry, with the boy I was here to get standing on the other side.\n\n\"Hey Amber!\" he greeted me with a smile.\n\n\"Hey Billy,\" I replied, smiling as well.\n\n\"What brings you here?\"\n\n\"Jerry sent me to come get you,\" I answered the young platypus. \"He figured you didn't know where he lived and asked me to come get you and show you the way.\"\n\n\"Wow,\" Billy said with a chuckle. \"He's always one step ahead, isn't he?\"\n\n\"I know, right? It's kinda weird.\"\n\n\"Nah, it's just part of who he is. So insightful, but you'd never guess that by how silent he likes to stay.\"\n\n\"Yeah, I noticed that. So, were you ready to go or should I come back later?\"\n\n\"Wait, he wants us there now?\" the young boy asked.\n\n\"Yeah. He wants to spend time with us before we begin to eat and stuff.\"\n\n\"Alright, let me get my shoes and I'll be ready. Oh, we gotta stop and get Sonia before we head over if that's alright with you.\"\n\n\"Sure,\" I said with a smile.\n\n\"Thanks.\"\n\nBilly then closed his door for a few moments before opening it again. He stepped outside toward me with a smile, closing the door behind him.\n\n\"Alrighty, ready.\"\n\nThe young platypus then started walking down the street without any signal to follow him or verbal cue. I quickly chased after him, catching up in no time, and walked along-side him to his girlfriend's place. Along the way, he and I talked about how different Pouncefield is to our old hometowns, and I even shared my story about why I moved to Pouncefield from Pawstin with him. Billy was very understanding and very supportive and tried to make me forget it all, but I don't think I could ever forget that night I walked in on my parents. After I shared my story, we spent the last part of the walk in silence. At the end of the journey, we walked up to a castle looking house. I stood there as he knocked on the door, astonished from such a great place. I couldn't believe I hadn't seen this place before, seeing as it really stands out among the rest. A silver fox answered the door, but I didn't pay much attention to the conversation he was having with Billy. I couldn't take my eyes off his house. After a few moments, I heard my name mentioned and snapped myself back to my senses.\n\n\"Oh, this is Amber. Amber, Alex,\" Billy told his fox friend.\n\nThe silver fox then reached his paw out to me with a smile. I hesitantly took it, my shyness kicking in.\n\n\"Nice to meet you Amber.\"\n\n\"Nice to meet you too, Alex.\"\n\nHe then let go of my paw.\n\n\"Alright, I'll send Sonia out when she's done getting dressed.\"\n\n\"Thanks,\" Billy said to Alex. \"See you around.\"\n\n\"See ya.\"\n\nThe silver fox then closed the door on us. Billy and I decided to both sit down while we were waiting. Only a few moments passed before the door opened up and a yellow flash tried to tackle Billy.\n\n\"Whoa!\" the young platypus cried out, managing to hold himself up. \"Hey Sonia. Easy! That one would've REALLY hurt.\"\n\n\"Sorry, but I couldn't help it,\" the yellow fox apologized to Billy. \"I'm a little excited today. I get to go to a barbecue with my boyfriend, and we finally get to end Jen's bitchiness.\"\n\nI didn't care much for what she said about Jen at the time, but I decided to bite my tongue.\n\nJen is anything but bitchy.\n\n\"She's not being bitchy,\" Billy spoke up. \"Just a little hurt and confused about the situation. Anyway, we should probably get going. Jerry is expecting us.\"\n\nThe yellow fox nodded to her platypus boyfriend, and then the two of them followed me off the porch and down the street as I led the way to Jerry's house. I visited his house once during the week so I could easily find my way there for the barbecue. Billy and I talked along the way about what it's like to be a new kid in town, even though I lied about having to move around a lot to him due to my own insecurities that I still have about my past, and we also talked about his sensitivity about is looks. It wasn't too long before we arrived in front of Jerry's house, which looked similar to Billy's. I led my companions around the side of the house and into the backyard. Jen got upset at seeing Billy and Sonia and turned her head to us. Jerry shook his head at the tigress' actions and then waved us over to the table, after which we happily joined them. As we sat down though, Jen got up in a hurry and made her way to the trampoline. Jerry shook his head once more before starting a conversation.\n\n\"I'm glad you all could make it,\" Jerry said with a smile. \"How do you guys like the house?\"\n\n\"I haven't been inside yet, but it looks good on the outside,\" Billy answered with a smile.\n\n\"You should see the inside!\" Geoff immediately exclaimed. \"The kitchen is almost pure maple, from the floor to the cabinets to the furniture. The living room is nice, and they have a nice 35' TV in there. I didn't see his parents' room, but his bedroom is nice. Sure beats the apartment my family lives in.\"\n\n\"Sounds very nice,\" the young platypus replied.\n\n\"Eh, it is, but I don't care. It's home. Sure, it's great it looks nice, but as long as I got a roof over my head every night when I go to sleep, I'm happy,\" my squirrel friend finished, causing Sonia to giggle lightly to herself.\n\nJerry and Geoff then shared a story with us about some of their kindergarten experiences, including one time when Jen made Rodriguez cry, which caused us all to laugh uncontrollably. After the story, Billy stood up from the table and walked over to Jen, who was still jumping on the trampoline. After they exchanged a few words, Jen followed Billy into Jerry's house, which left me a little puzzled.\n\n\"So what's up with Jen and Billy?\" I asked everybody.\n\n\"Oh, they went out for a couple of weeks, and then she wanted to take a break after a tape of him came out,\" Jerry started the new story.\n\n\"And then he met me, and we started going out. She's been bitter ever since,\" Sonia added.\n\n\"And now they're trying to get everything between them settled,\" Geoff finished.\n\n\"Ah, ok. I hope they manage to work it out,\" I answered with a sigh.\n\n\"We all do too.\"\n\nThe four of us sat there and talked about random things, just trying to pass the time while Billy was inside with Jen. After a short while, the two came out of the house, standing side-by-side. Seeing this as a good sign, we all stood up and clapped for them, finally glad whatever animosity between them was over. Billy chuckled and Jen blushed, both of which were even better signs that they had worked everything out.\n\n\"Oh shut up guys...\" Jen blurted out, causing us all to laugh.\n\nBilly then reintroduced his girlfriend to Jen, and vice-versa. The two shook paws and smiled at each other. Once everybody was seated, Jerry's father brought out some charcoal and got ready to light the grill up.\n\n\"Uh... Jerry... your dad's not gonna do one of them cartoon things, is he? Like Cranshaft or on Looney Toons or anything, right? Blow the grill up trying to light the charcoal...?\" the young platypus asked.\n\n\"Nah, not at all. He's an expert cook. He went to Le Cordon Bleu and learned to be a chef. Just a shame he couldn't get a job as one. Oh well, better for our family anyway. We get to experience his great cooking all the time,\" our squirrel friend shared.\n\n\"So what does your dad do for a living then?\" Billy questioned again.\n\n\"He's a bank teller.\"\n\n\"Kind of a far cry from chef, but it still pays the bills,\" Billy replied to Jerry's answer.\n\n\"Yeah. Plus he's happy, and that's all that matters. What's the point of having a career if you don't love your job?\" Jerry told us all.\n\n\"Good point, Jerry,\" I added to the conversation.\n\nPlus it's not like he's a stripper or anything like that...\n\n\"You better believe it. Anyway, I'm kinda tired of talking. Let's go play some things.\"\n\n\"Yeah!\" we all cheered at Jerry's idea.\n\nThe six of us then walked over to his trampoline and took turns jumping on it, having a great time. After we all started to run low on jumping energy, Jerry took us up to his tree house, which he furnished with an air-mattress. In the corner of the small room laid a few board games. Geoff grabbed a game out of the stack and we all started to play. The game was interrupted a short while later when Jerry's father called up to us that the food was finished being cooked, followed by the delicious scents of various foods. We climbed down out of the tree and hurried to the picnic table, which was full of all kinds of various delectibles.\n\n\"Man, that's a lot of food!\" Geoff blurted out in astonishment.\n\n\"Well, there are eight of us eating, and I'm sure we'll be picking at it all day,\" Jerry's dad walked over and told us. \"And if any of it remains, it'll be leftovers for my family for a couple of days, so dont' worry. It will all get eaten. Anyway, enough of listening to me talk. Dig in!\"\n\nThe six of us all grab paper plates and fill them with food. Jerry then guided us to a table set out for us to eat at under a tree, where we all sat down and started to dig in. I was too busy with my food to notice that Jerry's parents weren't joining us, but Billy's girlfriend, Sonia, had. When the yellow fox questioned Jerry about it, he told her how his parents had made themselves a couple of steaks. This caused Sonia to tell a story about her brother's appetite and how he would eat all the food at the cook-out, which we all had a good laugh at. We then turned our attention back to our food, which was very tasty.\n\n[i]I hope I get invited for food over more often. Not that mom's cooking isn't great, but this is just AWESOME[/i].\n\nAfter we finished our meals, we chucked our garbage into a trash can that was set beside the grill. The six of us then decided to go in and watch some TV together, which really made the time fly. It seemed like it was just a few moments after we had turned the television set on before Jerry's parents came into the room with some bad news.\n\n\"Sorry to do this kids, but Jerry's got homework to do. You all have to go home now,\" Jerry's mother reluctantly told us, not wanting to ruin our good time. We all let out a disappointed groan at the sudden end to the party. \"I'm sorry. You kids can all stop by and do this again any time, but for right now...\"\n\n\"I know,\" Jerry stopped his mom. \"Homework.\" Our squirrel friend turned to us and smiled. \"Well, it's been fun guys. Thanks for coming. I'll see you all later.\"\n\nThe five of us stood up as we said our good-byes to Jerry, walking out of the house. We looked at one another once we were outside and said good-bye to one another before we all headed off in seperate directions. My walk home was rather boring, but I was still hopped up on the fun I just had, so I didn't care how long or short my walk was going to be. When I got home, I saw a note on the couch waiting for me. I walked over and scanned the written text.\n\n\"Hi Amber. I hope you had fun at your friend's place. I'm sorry I'm not home when you get home. I was asked to head into work early. I probably won't be home until you go to bed. Have a good night sweetie, and I'll see you tomorrow. Love, Mom.\"\n\nI grabbed the paper and crumpled it in my paw, tossing it aside. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV, deciding to let it pass the time for me as I waited for my bed-time to come around. After a few hours, I stood up off the sofa and yawned, turning of the TV and heading for my room. I stripped myself of my clothes and laid down in bed, curling up under my covers. As I started to drift off to sleep, I couldn't help but feel that my life was perfect.\n\n*****\n\n[b]Epilogue: The End Of My Tale[/b]\n\nAbout six months have passed since I first shared my story with Billy on our way to Jerry's barbecue and this moment today. A lot has happened in my life since then. For starters, bits and pieces of my past were starting to mingle into my present and possible future without any negative side effects. After the divorce, I slowly started seeing my dad regularly. At first, I only talked to him on the phone maybe once a week, but as my parents started to like each other again, Mom took me to see him one, two, and even three times a week. Of course, I never did get to see my old house ever again, but I like the one I live in in Pouncefield better anyway.\n\nDaren and I are another story altogether. After I moved, he called a lot. He was trying to cling to our dead relationship. So I invited him over to my house a couple of months ago. My mom went and got him and took him home after we were done. I took him up to my room and explained everything, my parents' strange fetish, how rough my dad got with it, the trunk, and even the night I walked in on them. He sat there stunned as I told him my tale, and he gave me a hug afterwards. After that day, Daren and I talk more regularly on the phone, agreeing that friendship is better than nothing. I can still detect him wanting to be more once in a while, but since he never brings it up aloud, I never ask him about it.\n\nLife in Pouncefield has really gotten better for me since my move. Billy, his girlfriend, and Jen all started getting along better after the barbecue. Jen even asked Sonia to join the swim team, but she respectfully declined. She did come from time to time to watch practice though, and she was at all of the rest of the meets we had after Geoff was allowed to swim again. Edna and I have been very close friends since my first day in town. She eventually introduced me to her shy brother, whose name is Edward. It took a while for the older fox to come out of his shell around me, which was fine with me because it took a while for me to open up to him as well. After he was comfortable enough around me, he introduced me to some of his other friends, which included a lion named Pokeinfo, a bunny named Cynthia, his girlfriend squirrel named Laura, and a tabby named Jenny. After meeting Jenny, I often found myself wondering why Jen never hung out with Jenny. I even got to make a lot more other friends through my team-mates, Mizu, David and Danielle. They introduced me to some of their friends, who in turn introduced me to more friends. It was hard to meet so many furs, but I always found my courage sooner or later.\n\nLife at home remained the same. I was at school while my mom slept, and she would go to work when it was close to my bed-time. I hate the fact that she's STILL a stripper, but I get to spend my day after school with her, so I can't really complain too much. Grandma Demay comes to visit from time to time to check on how Mom is settling in after the divorce and to make sure I'm doing alright. I wish I could see more of her, but the trip from outside Pawstin to here in Pouncefield can get tiring after enough visits. As for the trunk in my closet, I have still not told Mom about it. I don't know whether to just burn it one day or to keep the stuff as a reminder of what a guy can be like. For now, I think I'm gonna hold on to it.\n\nToday is the start of a new day, as well as the start of a new school year. Over the summer, I decided I needed to try and be a little more open with my friends. I told my story to the rest of my team-mates over the summer, and told Billy's girlfriend when I felt comfortable enough around her. As summer came to an end, I finally found the courage to tell the rest of the friends I consider close, and that's when I came to you. Thank you for listening. I feel a bit better now. I just hope my future doesn't turn out as poorly as my past has so far.\n\n------\nThanks to: Krezz Kravan, packers848848, MizuAstrum for allowing me to use their characters. You for reading.\n\nWritten back in 2008.",
"writing_bbcode_parsed": "Hello. My name is Amber White. My parents are Alice and Jack White. They recently divorced and I am currently living with just my mother in a new town called Pouncefield. I have no idea where my father is, as he moved away from Pawstin, my original hometown, the same day that me and Mom did. I'll tell you more about why they divorced from one another in a little while. My mother, before the divorce, was a librarian at the Pawstin Public Library. My father was a taxi driver. After the divorce, my mom and I moved here, but most the jobs available here are in the movie studio in town. However, my mother has no knowledge of directing, production, or even any kind of artistic make-up or set design, so she wasn't able to get a job there. She decided to take a job neither she or I are proud of, but she doesn't complain because it pays the bills, so neither will I. She took a job at the local strip club, working a morning shift while I go to school. Her stage name is Snow White, and I hear within the couple weeks we've been in Pouncefield, she's moved up to the club's number one dancer, and some are saying she's the town's number one dancer. As long as she's happy with what she does and has no complaints about it, I guess I can live with that. As for me, I go to a school called St. Lovejoy's. It's a pretty nice school, and most of the students are nice. There are a few that cause uproars on a daily basis, but I don't run into any of them ever. The one is a big crocodile named Rodriguez. I hear that he's Hell incarnate, but Billy has been recently saying he's not that bad. Oh, I'm sorry, Billy is one of my friends. He's a platypus that moved to Pouncefield from Australia a couple of months before I moved here. He's on the Lovejoy swim team with me, along with a squirrel named Jerry, a beaver named Geoff, and a bengal tiger named Jen. Anyway, back to the topic at hand, the less-liked students. The other one that nobody likes is a chipmunk named Lucy. She runs Gym class, or so she thinks. I think Mrs. Trousers, the real teacher, lets Lucy run it just to let her have her moment. All-in-all, life in Pouncefield has been pretty nice. Unfortunately, my life hasn't always been so nice. Life in Pawstin was nice for the first nine years of my life, but the last three have been unbearable, and I don't think I can ever get them out of my head. I'm tired of keeping this all to myself, and I did tell Billy first, but I'd like you to be the next I tell, if you're willing to listen to my story.
*****
Most stories start at the birth of the hero or heroine it is about. However my story is going to be different. My life was rather easy and enjoyable until I was nine years old. When I turned nine, a new door of nightmares slowly opened and bathed me in it's cold and dark stream. I'll tell you more about that later. For now, I think it's best to start from the beginning, on my ninth birthday, where I found the key to said door. I remember it like it was yesterday...
Chapter 1: Amber's Ninth Birthday
I lazily awoke on my birthday as the mid-morning sun showered it's rays upon me. It was a Saturday morning, and I finally climbed from my comfy bed at 9:00 AM. My parents were both up and already waiting in the kitchen to surprise me. I changed out of my favorite pajamas, which were pink, my favorite color, with a cute white bunny on the front and had feet on them, and changed into the birthday dress my parents bought for me. It was pink as well with small black dots on the skirt of it. I left my room, anxious to start my special day, but I started to doubt how special my day really was when I overheard my parents as I got closer to my living room, which was only two rooms away from the kitchen. The first words I heard that day will always stay with me until I die. They were from my father.
"Can't we just wake her, Alice? I know it's her birthday, but that doesn't stop me from having to go to work. Besides, it's not like she won't have another."
"Jack! Don't talk like that! This is our daughter you know!"
"I know. I'm just frustrated that Mr. Bonters is making me work a double on Amber's birthday. I even requested this day off months in advance..." my father said to my mother with a sigh of regret.
"I been saying you need a new job honey. That taxi business is for the birds."
"No, the pilot business is for the birds. They're the best fliers, since they already have wings."
"You know what I mean," my mother replied with a giggle.
"I know what you meant, but it's not like I have too many options. Most the open jobs around here are graveyard shifts and would keep me from seeing Amber for five days out of the week. This taxi driving may be shitty job, but at least it gives me time to spend with the ones I love."
It was at that moment I decided to enter the kitchen and say "good morning" to my parents. I stepped out of the living room, through the connected dining room that seperated the kitchen and living room, and finally walked into the kitchen. My mother and father both looked at me with a smile, as if their conversation never happened, trying not to ruin my special day for me. You have to love parents. They do so much for their kids. Anyway, they both looked at me and greeted me in the typical way one greets another on their birthday.
"Happy birthday!" my mother and father both shouted to me.
"There's our beautiful nine year old girl," my dad continued. "Sleep well honey?"
"Uh-huh," I told him with a nod and a smile. "I had a dream that I was a fairy princess and I got to save the world from an ugly troll king."
"Must have been a dream about Bonters then," my dad said under his breath, hoping I wouldn't hear it. I did hear it, but I never acknowledged I did. I knew my dad was never fond of his boss, but I didn't want to bring any of that up when I was around him. "Ugly troll king, huh? Was he big and scary?"
"Uh-huh! And he had goo dripping from his skin!"
My mother sighed with disgust. "Jack, I thought I told you not to let her watch monster movies past 7:45?"
"I don't, mommy," I told her. "Too scary. I'd have nightmares. I wasn't ascared of the ugly troll king. His breath stunk like rotten garlic, but he was a softie! I only had to use a little bit of my magic dust to beat him!"
"Good for you sweetie," my mother then said to me. "Well, your party won't start for a couple of hours. Why don't you go play?"
"Ok mommy."
I then skipped off, out of the kitchen and into the living room. I sat on the couch, looking for the remote to watch cartoons, when I found a pair of hand-cuffs and a leather full-faced mask, with a zipper where the mouth goes and a zipper on the back. I grabbed the two things and brought them to my mother in the kitchen. I entered just as my dad left, heading to work to pull a long 12 hour shift.
"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I found!" I shouted as I showed the pair of items that were in my paws. "Are these for me?"
My mothers eyes grew wide at that point, to the point I thought they were gonna pop right of her head. She quickly grabbed the cuffs and mask from my hands and hid them behind her back.
"Where did you get those?!?"
"In the living room. They were on the couch. I was gonna watch cartoons when I found them. So are they for me?"
"No, honey, they're not. They belong to daddy."
"Why does daddy have those?"
My mother paused for a moment, trying to think of a suitable lie to tell a nine year old girl. Looking back on it today, I think the excuse she came up was very lame, but back then, I bought it hook line and sinker.
"Daddy and I like to play 'Cops and Robbers' every once in a while. We use the mask for the robber and the cop tries to handcuff the robber, just like in real life."
"Can I play with you two sometime? Please?" I asked in the cutest voice I could, trying to get involved in their "game". I'm glad my mother responded the way she did.
"I'm sorry sweetie, but this is a game that daddy only wants to play with me. You have plenty of friends to play with, who will be over in a little while. So go watch your cartoons, ok?"
"Ok mommy."
So, being the good little girl I was, I went away and gave no second thought to the mask or the handcuffs. But little did I know that mom and dad's "game" was going to force it's way more and more into my life. I spent the rest of that morning watching cartoons like I wanted, and then in the afternoon all my friends came over and we all celebrated my birthday. There was cake, presents, games, and even a clown. The clown was lame, but at least the games were fun, the cake was good, and the presents were great. I don't play with any of them anymore though because I've outgrown them, but at the time, they rocked. As the night-time darkness started to blanket the city of Pawstin, chasing away the fleeing daylight, my friends all started to leave. After every one of my friends left, I helped my mother and father clean up before the sent me to bed. I thought my day was going to end there, but a few hours later, a scream of pain woke me up. I sat there in bed for a moment, wondering if it was in my head, or if I was dreaming and couldn't remember, or if somebody really did scream. I was about to lay down when I heard the scream again. This time, I recognized the voice. It was my mother, and she was in pain. I quickly jumped out of my bed and dashed from my room to right outside my parents' room door. I quickly open it, where I find dad on top of mom with blankets over the two of them. Mom was wearing that "burglar mask", but the zipper for the mouth was open. I stood there watching, uncertain of what was going on, but at the same time, afraid to move. Dad looked over his shoulder and saw me.
"Oh, um, hi Amber," he said without even stopping what he was doing. "Mommy and daddy are... um..." My dad's voice trailed off, trying to think of a lie. He never was a good liar.
"Playing 'Cops and Robbers'!" my mom quickly blurted, covering for my dad.
"Yeah, that's it. 'Cops and Robbers'. Sorry we woke you. Go back to bed honey."
"Ok. Night mommy. Night daddy."
I shut the door and walked away from the room, but I was still able to hear mom and dad say one last thing to each other, and that's the last I heard from that night.
"You need to be more gentle, Jack. Don't be so rough."
"That's the point of this. You know the safety word, so unless it's that, I'm not being any more gentle."
Little did I know that those words would also haunt me as things would only escalate from here.
*****
Now, when I said that day opened the door, I didn't mean right away. In fact, the evidence of the future didn't rear it's head for another three months, a very warm July 11th. By that time, I had forgotten about the mask, hand-cuffs, and the rough "game" of "Cops & Robbers". My parents had pitched in to build a little pool in our backyard for the hot summer days, and I really liked it. It was nice to get into a nice, cold pool on a hot, summer day. Anyway, the second bit of evidence reared it's ugly head this day.
Chapter 2: The Pool
I hardly slept much the night before. It was a heat-wave in Pawstin, causing temperatures to reach high 90's, and combine that with the humid streak we also had, that made temperatures unbearable. So much so that I spent that night without covers or my pajamas on. It was so hot I was debating asking mom and dad to shave off all my fur just so I could cool down a little. But I was able to make it through the night and I woke up the next day, tired and hot. The first thing I did when I got out of bed was dig around in my closet for my swimsuit, which was pink with hot pink stripes and was a one-piece suit. I finally found my suit, quickly putting it on, and started running to the back-door of our house, ready to cool off. My dad saw me running by his room and grabbed me real quick.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Where's the fire?" my dad asked with a chuckle in his voice.
"Fire? There's a fire?!?" I asked back, starting to worry.
"No, honey, there's no fire. What I asked means 'why are you going so fast?'. So why are you going so fast?"
"I'm hot and want to go swimming."
"I know it's hot, but that's no excuse for you to run in the house."
"I'm sorry daddy."
"It's ok honey. I have an idea. If you can wait about a half-hour, mommy and daddy can join you. You can even call some of your friends if you want. We'll throw a pool party!"
"Yeah! That sounds great!" I nearly shouted and shrieked, loving the idea. I wish I could've seen my face that day. My smile probably did go ear to ear, my eyes growing much larger, like anime eyes, and even have a sparkle to them. I really liked that idea. I rarely got to do anything with both mom and dad, and I was in seventh heaven when I was able to do it.
"Good. So why don't you start calling up some friends, and we'll see you in a bit."
With that, he hugged and kissed me before sending me on my way. I went and called a few of my friends, who all decided to come over, and then I went out to jump in the pool. I took a running start from my back-door to the edge of the pool and did a cannonball in, splashing the house a little. I surfaced and sighed with pure happiness to finally be able to cool off. I noticed something strange though on the cement patio where we had a few chairs and a table for eating outside. Next to one of the chairs was a small piece of rope, about 2 foot long. I ignored it, but made sure to keep it in my mind to ask my mom about it later. For the moment, I just wanted to float there and bask in the cooling embrace of the pool's water. What seemed like a few seconds, but really was about ten minutes, passed before I heard some noise in the house. It was muffled voices. I couldn't make out what was being said, but I could hear somebody talking to somebody else, or even yelling. I decided to climb out of the pool and try to listen in on what was going on. I dried off before I went inside my house, and as soon as I open my back door, the words were clear as day as they echoed throughout the house. My parents were fighting. I was scared at the time, because this was the first time they ever fought.
"How could you promise her you'd swim with her knowing you had to work? That's just despicable, Jack."
"Oh, so I should tell Amber that I can't do a damn thing with her because I have to work for the biggest asshole to keep food in her belly and clothes on her body?"
"Oh don't you dare say that Jack. You know I bring in a paycheck too."
"Barely. You're working for peanuts at that stupid library. When are you going to get out of that place and get a better job? I may hate driving taxi, but at least I get tipped very well on top of a steady pay."
"Oh, so we should all bow down and kiss your ass because you make more money than me? Last time I checked, this was a partnership, not a competition. And if I remember right, my 'peanuts' helped to pay for that pool we all love to swim in so much."
"I could live without that stupid pool. And you know it'd be a competition if you actually found a way to make more money than me. You'd come home and start bragging, so I don't even want to hear that."
"Whatever Jack. If I did find a better job and made more money, it wouldn't be to rub it in your face. It would be to help our family live happily."
"Yeah, that's what you say. But what happens to our checks, hm? I bring my check and tips home, and it goes to bills, food, and clothes. What happens with your check? You go out and blow it on stupid things like toys and crafts."
"I buy the toys for Amber, they make her happy. And the craft supplies are to keep the house-hold items in good repair. You know that the days I don't work I'm here trying my best to keep the house looking good."
"You need to try better then. This place always looks like a fucking pig-sty."
For a moment, I heard nothing, and it started to make me worry. As soon as I started to walk further into the house, however, I heard a loud crash, like something breaking.
"Get out of here, you son-of-a-bitch!"
"Fine, I will!"
I didn't want to be caught eavesdropping, so I quickly went back outside, closing the door quietly behind me. I jumped back into the pool, and, after a few moments, I heard the family car start up and tires screech away in a hurry. It was at this point that I wanted to say sorry to both dad and mom for being the start of that fight, but I now know it wasn't my fault. I laid there floating on the surface for a few moments before my mom came out in her bathing suit. She had a smile on her face, but I know that was to keep up appearances for me that nothing was wrong. She climbed down into the pool and swam to me, hugging me when she finally reached me. I hugged her back, trying to help her forget what happened. I wanted so bad to ask why they fought, but I figured it would be better if I didn't. It was only a few more minutes later before the friends I called showed up. I looked at my mom, and was about to tell them that they had to leave, but mother spoke up before I did.
"Oh, hi there. You guys ready to have fun?"
Fun. I wish I could've had that on that day, but no matter how hard I tried, even with all my friends around, I couldn't help but to worry about the fight. No matter how worried I was though, I never let my friends know it as I kept up appearances that nothing was wrong and that I was having fun with them. The "party" lasted only a couple of hours, as my friends had to go home and do homework, which was perfect for me because I really wasn't in the mood to have company over any more. As I said good-bye to my friends, I noticed my mom and quickly and silently slipped into the house. As soon as the last of my friends left, I went looking throughout the house for her. I found her in the bedroom she and dad share, her face in her paws, crying silently. I slowly walked up and sat down beside her.
"Is everything ok mommy?"
She lifted her head from her paws and looked to me. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and face and smiled at me.
"Yes honey. Everything is ok."
"Then why are you crying?"
"Oh, that... I uh... saw a sad show on TV."
"I thought it was cause of the fight you and daddy had."
Her eyes lowered to the floor and away from me, as if she were ashamed of the fight.
"Oh, you heard that."
"Uh-huh..."
"That was... it was nothing really. Daddy's just stressed cause he has to work so much and he doesn't like his boss."
"Then why does he still work there? He could find a new job."
"It's not that simple. Daddy can only get certain jobs, most of which would keep him from seeing you or me for extended periods of time. Daddy wants the jobs he can't get."
"Why can't he get them?"
"Your daddy never graduated high school, never went to college or trade school..."
"Trade school?"
"Yeah, Amber. Trade school. A place where adults go to learn special skills to get good jobs."
"Oh, ok. So why can't he get a job he wants?"
"Nobody wants to hire somebody like daddy because of his lack of schooling."
"Why doesn't he go back to school?"
"You know, I never thought to ask him that. I'll have to tonight when he comes home. Now run along and play. I'll have dinner ready soon, ok?"
"Ok. I love you mommy."
"I love you too Amber."
The rest of the night went along rather smoothly. We had pork roast with green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls and gravy for dinner, which was very good. After dinner, I watched a few cartoons before going to bed. I asked mom the next day where dad was, and he never came home that night, but he did come home in the afternoon the next day. He felt as bad about the argument and what he said as mom did, and he brought a bunch of lilies home with him. My mother's a sucker for lilies. But for a short while, it fixed things, and the house lived in peace.
*****
My mom and dad forgot all about that fight within a few days. They lived happily with one another, and dad stopped bringing his gripes about work and money home with him. He started to appreciate the finer things in life, like spending time with his family and actually enjoying life while he's still alive. That all lasted for about six months, but a lot happened in that time that started to change him again. The school had try-outs for the swim team, and I made the team, becoming a Cherry. Yes, I know, it's kinda stupid that the Pawstin school mascot is a cherry, but it could be worse. Anyway, between school and the swim team, my time was starting to be spent a lot more away from home, so a lot of times it was just my mom and dad alone at home. That was fine with the both of them for a little while, but then mom started wanting more kids, and my dad didn't want to hear any of it. They even had a fight about it, and dad went to work angry, which was never good. When he was angry, he tried his best to "cure" it with a flask that he kept on him at all times, so going and driving a taxi cab while "angry" wasn't good. Needless to say, he wound up wrecking the cab. Nobody was in the cab with him at the time, but Mr. Bonters wasn't happy about it. He suspended my dad for two months. Today, my dad goes back to work after his suspension.
Chapter 3: The Job
The sun rose in Pawstin, trying it's best to wake all the sleepyheads that still lay asleep underneath it's golden glow. I was already up and on my way to school. I hate getting up early and going to school, especially since I sleep in a few of the classes, like history. I don't know why, but I find it so incredibly boring. Anyway, nothing special happened at school or at swim practice that day. All the "action" happened at home. My dad went to work for the first time in two months, and he's supposed to be getting off just as I get out from school, so he was home before I was done with swim practice. I race home to see how my dad's first day back at work went, but when I get home and inside, I see my dad slumped on the couch, his face in his paws. I run up to him and hug him.
"What's wrong daddy?"
"Nothing's wrong Amber," he told me with the heaviest and most sorrowful voice I've ever heard in my life. At that point, I knew something indeed WAS wrong.
"Then why are you so sad?"
"It has to deal with my job, sweetie. Nothing you should worry about. Why don't you go run along and play?"
"But..." I started to object.
"Listen to your father, Amber," my mom said to me as she entered the room. I looked at her, then to my dad, and back to her again before nodding and agreeing.
"Ok mommy."
I let go of my father and walked out of the room, heading in the direction of my room. I only walked a few steps before I stopped, making sure I was out of sight of both my parents. I was determined to find out why my dad was so upset.
"Rough day, honey?" my mother asked, starting their "private" conversation.
"You could say that."
"What happened?"
"It was that jackass Bonters..." my dad said with both a hint of anger and a hint of sadness filling his voice.
"How many times do I have to tell you dear that just because Greg is a donkey doesn't make him a jackass..."
"Wait, Greg? Since when did you start calling him by his first name?"
"He and I had a few chats during your suspension. I asked him to give you your job back a few times and he finally agreed."
I wish I could've seen my dad's face at that point, but I was hiding behind walls. My dad was a prideful guy, so the idea that my mom had pretty much BEGGED Mr. Bonters to get my job back, and he listened, probably infuriated him. All I know is that if he yelled any louder, the cops probably would've been called for disturbing the peace.
"YOU DID WHAT!?!?!?!?"
"I asked him to let you have your job back. You weren't gonna do it, so somebody had to. And he agreed, for a price."
"I was finding another... wait... price? What price?"
"Well... um... I..."
"Alice... Alice... please don't tell me you agreed to sleep with that piece of shit."
"What?!? No! Never!"
"What did you promise him?" my dad asked as patiently as he could with as frustrated and angry as he was.
"I told him we'd pay for the cab you wrecked."
"WHAT?!?!? We can't afford that!"
"Why not? You're back on your routes again, right?"
"No..."
For about three seconds, there was dead silence, so quiet you could almost hear the grass growing on the other side of town. My mom then broke that silence.
"What do you mean no?"
"I told you, Bonters is a jackass. He gave me my job back, but he 'promoted' me to dispatch..." my dad told her with the most depressed sigh I've ever heard from him.
"Wait, isn't that a good thing? As a driver, your pay was based on the number of fares YOU picked up during the week, and even then you only got 40% of the total fares of your cab. As dispatch, you'll be making more."
"Yes, but I also lose the tips. I made a lot of money in tips."
"How did you constantly make so much in tips anyway?" my mother skeptically questioned my father.
"I kept a pair of shabby clothes in my locker at the main building. When I got in, I got dressed in them, making it look like I was really down on my luck, so people would feel sorry for me and tip me more. Not proud of it, but it's extra money."
Now, we didn't learn until much later that the story dad told us was partially true. When he first started at Cwik Cab, or "Double C" as most of its costumers called it, that my dad DID change into shabby clothes to try and get more tips, but he never got that many fares or tips because of it and he started a new angle. About a year after he started, he started making a lot of tips, and started having a lot of female passengers. Not that hard to see how he got his tips, but just in case, I'll tell you anyway. It seems that after he took his passengers to their destinations, they would tip him more to have sex with him, and the better he pleased them, the more they tipped him. Bonters knew it the entire time and made a deal with our dad that he broke after my parents got divorced. As long as my father gave Bonters a small cut of the tips, Bonters would keep my father's "scheme" a secret from my mom. Like I said though, we didn't find this out until much later.
"Why would you dress like that just for a little extra money?"
"Hey, every little penny helps our family. If I have to dress like a hobo to get that extra money, so be it."
"Well..." my mom started with a a none-to-subtle tone of disgust in her voice, but also very sympathetic at the same time. "I really don't approve of your methods, but I do appreciate the extra effort you put in for your family."
"Thanks... but we're gonna have to sell the house and move into something cheaper if we're gonna pay Bonters off for that wrecked cab..."
"Then so be it. As long as you have your job and we're happy, I don't care if we live in a mansion or in a box on the street."
"Really?" my dad asked in awe.
"Really."
"That means a lot to me. I love you, Alice."
"I love you too Jack."
The conversation ended there. I have no idea what happened next, but I imagine they shared a hug and a kiss briefly. I didn't hear anything out of them until later at dinner time. In order to try and help my father feel better about what happened at work, mom made his favorite dish for dinner, which I really couldn't stand, but ate it for him anyway. The dish was broiled liver and grilled onions with buttery rolls. I had a hard time choking dinner down, but I did for him, and I'm glad I did, because desert made up for it. We had my dad's favorite desert, apple pie a la mode. After we were all done eating, I went to my room to play, and I didn't hear from my parents the rest of the night. When I woke up the next morning, dad actually had a smile on his face, something I haven't seen since I was very little. I thought it was going to be nothing but great times from that point on.
*****
So with my dad's new "promotion" and my mom's promise to Mr. Bonters, we were forced to sell our house and move into a cheaper place so that my dad didn't spend the next 2 years working to only pay off the wrecked cab. The place my dad found wasn't too bad. It was a small apartment complex called Pawstin Heights, and it was near the Pawstin Public Playground, about half a block away. If I got bored, I could go there and play with other cubs, and the Pawstin Public Pool was only two blocks away from the playground, so I could still go swimming whenever I wanted. The only difference between the public pool and the pool we had at our home was that I had to pay to go swimming at the public pool and the pool had "Adult Only Swimming" a few times during the day where the parents and adults got to swim in the pool without the kids. It sucked, but until I become an adult myself, I had to put up with it. Anyway, we lived in our old house for about two weeks more before we had to move. Ah yes, moving day. I'll never forget that day...
Chapter 4: The Move
It was the last day in our house. Later in the evening, we were going to be moving to our new home. My dad wasn't too happy about the move, but he went along with it because it meant that we wouldn't be living in a trailer park or, even worse, on the street. Paying back Mr. Bonters for the cab pretty much ensured that my dad would have his job at Cwik Cab for life if he wanted, but my dad was never happy about doing something for Bonters. I woke up that morning with mixed emotions. I was anxious to be moving into a new home, but I was sad to be leaving my current home behind, and I was scared because my dad wasn't too happy at all for the past three days. I soon realized my fears to be true when I woke up and went to the living room. My dad was siting in his favorite chair, a brown leather rocker-recliner that was set up right in front of the TV, and he made sure we all knew that was HIS chair. I sat in it once when I was 7 and he tried to ground me for a month. Needless to say, my mom wasn't too happy with that and cut my punishment down to no days. Anyway, he was in his favorite chair, staring at the TV, when I walked in.
"Good morning daddy!"
He turned to look at me and rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the TV.
"Morning Amber."
"Sleep well daddy?"
"Yup."
"Today's our last day... huh?"
I heard a low growl come from him. I thought it was a dog outside at the time, but looking back on it now, I know it came from him.
"Yup..."
"What time are we leaving?"
"Later..."
"How later?" I asked, curious and oblivious to my dad's frustration.
"Just... later... Amber. Go pack."
"But I wanna spend time with you daddy!"
"Is all your stuff all packed and ready, Amber?"
"Uh-huh!"
"Then go play..."
"But..."
"Go play!" he snapped at me.
Of course, no child likes being yelled at, even if they deserve the yelling, so I broke down in tears and went running for my mom. She was outside taking a look at the neighborhood, and I guess trying to get a last memory of it before moving away. She was also watching a couple of guys packing our belongings into the back of a rented moving truck. I ran up to her and hugged her close. She looked down at me and tried to smile.
"What's wrong Amber?"
"Am I... in... trouble?" I asked between sniffles.
"No, of course not. Why would you think that?"
"Dad... dad... daddy yelled at me..."
My mom then looked back at the house, shook her head, rolled her eyes, and sighed. She then looked back at me and smiled.
"It's ok. He's just upset. You're not in trouble."
"Really?"
"Really. Why don't you run along and go play."
"Play with what? My toys are all in boxes..."
"Why don't you get dressed for snow then? Play in the snow."
"Ok mommy. Sounds good."
My mother then hugged me and let me go on my way. I went back inside my house and went to my room. All of my belongings were sitting in cardboard boxes along the sides of the room, marked either "Amber's Toys", "Amber's Clothes", or "Misc." for random knick-knacks I kept in my room. Almost all of my stuff was packed and ready to go. The only thing left to pack up in my room was one dresser drawer of clothes, which also had my sweater and sweatpants in it. I was gonna pack those in my backpack when we were ready to leave. I open said drawer and pull out my sweater and sweat pants. I quickly scrambled out of my pajamas and underwear and put my sweater and sweatpants on. I picked my discarded clothes up off the floor and set them on my bed. I then went to my closet and pulled my bookbag and jacket out and set it next to my clothes, making it easier and quicker to pack them up when we're ready to leave. I looked one last time at my room before I went through the door. As I quickly walked down the hallway, trying my best not to run, to the living room, where the back-door of my house was, I started to hear voices coming from the kitchen, where our front-door was located. I made a detour and went to the doorway leading into our kitchen and hid behind the walls. I wanted to hear what was being said, but I sometimes wish I hadn't listened in.
"I can't believe you yelled at her like that..." my mom started off angrily.
"She knows I'm not too happy about this move."
"She's just trying cheer you up. God forbid she wants to spend time with her father."
"Alice, not right now, I'm not in the mood for this."
"Too bad. I'm tired of you taking it out on me and Amber every time you're in a bad mood. I can understand you're upset, but we're your family for crying out loud. We're not your boss or the job you hate. We are your loved ones."
"Don't even start preaching to me... it's because of YOU we have to move, and it's because of YOU I have a job I hate working for a boss I hate more."
"Then just quit if you don't like your job! Plain and simple. But don't take it out on us. It's not fair of you to do so."
"Fair? You want to talk about fair? Ok, let me ask you this... how is it fair that YOU make a deal with Mr. Jackass to pay back the money spent to repair his cab without talking to ME first? If anything, it should be YOU paying him back, not me!"
"Would you rather our family starve to death? I got you your job back. You should be grateful for that!"
The room grew silent for a moment. I imagine my dad was trying to think of something to say, or rather yell, and he managed to think of something.
"Well, if you had a better job yourself, we wouldn't need my shitty job!"
"Oh don't you even start that shit again, Jack. I'm tired of hearing about how you're so much better than me and how everything is my fault. Why don't you take some responsibility for the way our family lives too? And if you haven't noticed, our family is doing pretty well actually. We got clothes, food, shelter, entertainment, and friends. What more could you need?"
"How about material needs? I would like a bigger house, a better car, some money to enjoy myself!"
"Jack, you know, the best things in life aren't always bought," my mom said with a sigh.
"I don't care! Is it so wrong to want to live the high life? I'm tired of working for other people to have no money in my pocket."
"I know, but we just have to hang in there. And not take it out on our nine year old daughter."
"I guess you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just pissed we have to move out of this house, our house of fifteen years, the house we practically got married in, to go live in an apartment just to pay Jackass back for a cab."
"I'm not happy with the arrangement either, but at least you're working again. And who knows? Maybe in a few years, we can move back in here."
"I suppose so," my dad said with a sigh. "I'm sorry I yelled at Amber."
"Don't tell me. Tell her."
"Later, after we move in. I just want to spend the last few hours in our house in peace."
"Alright Jack."
The conversation ended there. I quickly snuck away from the kitchen and to the backdoor. I grabbed my gloves and went outside. I decided to make a snowman to watch over our house for us when we left. I dug in the snow near the road, looking for some sticks and stones to use for eyes, a nose, and arms. I found the stones, but I couldn't find any sticks, so it had to be an armless snowman. The time seemed to fly by in an instant as I packed, rolled, and piled snow on top of snow. After about two and half hours of work and play, the snowman started to take shape. He was a little lop-sided, but he was able to stand there in the snow in front of our house, like a Brittish soldier who guards the queen. I named him Mr. Frostysides, my snow friend and guardian of our house. I looked at him and smiled, but then I heard my mother call me, so I went inside. I followed her hails to the kitchen, where both she and my dad were dressed to leave the house.
"Amber, we need you to go pack the last of your clothes. We're almost ready to leave. All that's left for the movers to get is your dresser and a few boxes from your room."
I nodded and walked to my room. I looked around and stared at the blank walls and empty floor. The moving men left my bookbag and my pajamas on my dresser, which had most of its drawers removed. Only one drawer remained, and it was the one with the last of my unpacked clothes in it. I open it and dig all the clothes out, packing them into my backpack rather messily. The last thing I packed were my pajamas, and then I left my room for the last time in my life. I went to the kitchen and looked at my mom. She gave me a false smile, trying to make it seem like she wasn't bothered by the move when we all knew she was. We went out to our family car, a blue 1997 Volkswagen Jetta sedan. We pulled away from our house, and I looked at it one last time. I prayed with all my might that I would be back soon, but we never did manage to move back in. Our new place was a fifteen minute drive from where we currently lived. It was a small two bedroom town-house apartment with a downstairs living room and kitchen. The bathroom was upstairs, across the hall from both bedrooms, and both bedrooms were side-by-side with only a thin wall separating them. The movers made it to our apartment before we did, and they had managed to get our beds into the house before leaving the truck with us, and all our belongings still on. They returned the next day and finished unpacking us, but for that night, we were with just our beds. We ordered pizza out that night and all went to bed early, trying to gather the energy for tomorrow to decorate our new home. I slept rather peacefully, except for one time when I heard somebody shout "Oh GOD!" and wake me up. I didn't hear it again though, so I went back to bed. The new apartment was nice, but it was never going to be like the home I grew up in.
*****
It didn't take us long to get settled in. We got everything unpacked and settled into its new home within a week, and after a few months, our new place started to feel like home. I had my tenth birthday in the new apartment, and even after that, a few more months passed before anything relatively world changing happened. For six months, my father was on dispatch, where he was making only his normal pay without the tips he garnered from the cab. After six months of it though, the tips started coming back in. We had just assumed that he had gotten his job back driving a cab, but Bonters later told us, after my mom and dad divorced, that the girls he used to get tips off of were coming to the Cwik Cab building and paying him for his service there instead of in a cab.
Chapter 5: The "Tips"
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was the first day my dad started getting his regular "tips" again. I had just gotten home from school and started on my homework when dad came rushing through the front door, tossing out dollar bills as he ran through the apartment. Mom quickly took notice of my father's unusual behavior.
"Jack, why are you throwing money around?"
My dad smiled, quickly picking up all he bills he had thrown, and scrunched them up in his left paw. He quickly dashed over to my mom and held them close to her face.
"I'm making more money! I'm making more money!" my dad cried enthusiastically.
"That's good dear. How much more?"
"Remember those tips I used to get working cab?"
"Yeah, I remember those. Those were the bigger part of your pay each week."
"Well, I'm getting those, and then extra," my father told my mother with the biggest smile I've ever seen him wear.
"You're back in the cab then?"
My father paused for a moment, not expecting that question. My mother never noticed though because you could blink slower than the pause he took.
"Uh... yeah..." my dad said with a hint of shame in his voice.
My dad should be a politician with his lying and acting skills. Of course, at the time, we thought he was telling the truth.
"What's wrong honey? You're not happy to be back in the cab?"
"I just... I thought you'd be ashamed of me if you found out I gave up dispatch to start driving the cab again..."
My mother wrapped her arms around her husband and pulled him in for a hug.
"Jack... you should know by know I don't care what you do for a living. As long as you're happy and it pays the bills..."
My dad smiled from the embrace of his wife. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.
"Thanks Alice. You don't know how good that makes me feel to hear that. I love you."
"I love you too, Jack."
The two smiled and held each other for a few moments longer, enjoying being with one another in such a warm embrace. The hug ended when my dad pulled away from my mom and looked at a clock.
"Hmmm... what say we go out on the town tonight to celebrate?"
"What about Amber?"
"Well, I really kinda wanted it to be just you and me tonight..." my dad mentioned with a depressed tone to his voice.
"I could always hire a sitter."
"Hire a sitter for a 10 year old girl? I mean, she'll be going through puberty in a few years and you want to hire a baby-sitter for her?"
It wasn't often, but there were times in my parents' conversations when my dad had a good and legitamate point. This happened to be one of those few rare times.
"I guess you're right Jack." My mom then looked to me. "Honey, would you like the house to yourself today?"
I looked at my mom and nodded.
"Think you can take care of yourself?"
"Mom... I'm 10. I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself. There's Chef Boyardee in the kitchen for me to throw in the microwave if I get hungry, and cereal for me to snack on for a desert."
My dad chuckled lightly as he heard my words.
"Well Alice, it sounds like our little girl is growing up fast."
My mother giggled a little as she looked back to her husband and lightly kissed his cheek. "Mmhm. She is indeed."
"So, shall we, my dear?"
"Alright. Let's go out on the town," she replied to my dad. My mother then looked back to me with a smile as well. "Have fun tonight Amber. If you need anything, you know my cell phone, and a list of emergency numbers is on the fridge."
"Ok mom. Have fun. You too dad!"
My mom quickly slipped her shoes on and walked with my dad out the door to our apartment. That would be the last time I ever saw the two of them so happy together. I spent the rest of my night doing homework and playing video games. Honestly though, it was more video games than homework. I did cook myself a can of ravioli and had that for dinner and was in bed by 9 PM. I slept fine through the night, except for one brief time when my mom yelped a little in pain. I listened a little closer, and the only thing I managed to hear from the other side of the wall was "Not so rough with the rope please...". I shrugged it off and quickly drifted off back to sleep with a smile on my face, glad to see my mom and dad so happy for the first time in a long time.
*****
My dad and mom were happy for a couple of months, which in turn made me happy. I can't remember the last time my parents actually went out for an entire night. And seeing them happy together started making me want somebody to be happy with. As the air started turning colder, Halloween quickly snuck up on me. I had my costume planned months in advance. I was going to be a cowgirl. My dad already went out and got my costume together, which included boots, jeans, which I felt weird wearing because I'm not much of a denim fur, a white shirt, a cow-skin vest, and a brown hat. He didn't have to go buy the rope for my costume because he already had it. I had no idea why he had the rope until after my parents divorced.
Chapter 6: The Party
It was very late in the school day as I was heading to my locker, dressed in my costume for Halloween, when a golden-brown fox slowly walked up to me, dressed as a cowboy.
"H-hi..." he nervously said to me.
"Hi. Nice costume," I said back with a smile.
"Uh... thanks..."
"Hey... wait a minute... don't I share a class with you?"
"Y-yeah... we both have fifth period math with Mr. Dai."
"Oh yeah. You sit in the back of that class."
"Uh-huh."
"I'm sorry... I don't know your name..." I said, feeling bad to not really know the fox in front of me.
"Oh... yeah... this is kinda our first time talking, huh?" he asked nervously, to which I nodded. "My name's Daren Ferril."
"Amber White," I told him with a smile while looking him over. "So what species of fox are you?"
"Tibetan Sand. And I can clearly see that you're Artic," he said with a chuckle, his nerves starting to ease away.
"Well well well, looks like somebody's got a big brain," I joked with him, giggling.
"Ok, so it's kinda obvious, but I don't care!" he said, starting to laugh. "Hey... I'm throwing a party tonight. I was wondering if you wanted to come," he told me as he handed me an envelope.
"What time?"
"It'll be at 8, and because of the curfew tonight, it has to end at 11."
"I'll be there."
He smiled at me and I smiled at him, happy that we each made a new friend. He then saw a few of his friends headed our way and then looked back to me.
"Those are my friends," he mentioned as he pointed to them. "I'll see you at the party."
"See you there."
He then ran off to join his friends as they started to leave the building. I smiled as I looked at the envelope one more time before putting it with the rest of my stuff in my backpack, putting it on when I filled it with everything I needed for the night. I then quickly ran outside to catch the bus. When I got home, my mom was busy putting together Trick-Or-Treat bags for cubs, and my dad was doing some last minute decorating and costume designing. He was putting the finishing touches on his Trick-Or-Treat scare costume. Every year he gets a large flannel shirt, some bluejeans, and a bunch of stuffing to make it look like he's headless. He then carves a Jack 'O Latern and places it on top of his lap, and any time a Trick-Or-Treater comes up to the door, he jumps at them. Then he feels bad when he makes a couple cry, but most for the part get a laugh out of it. I walked in the front door and quickly ran to my room. I tossed my backpack on my bed and quickly scrambled out of my costume, laying it neatly on my bed next to my bag. I then ran to my bathroom and got a quick shower, making sure I was nice and clean for the first Halloween party of my life. As soon as I was clean and dry, I got back into my costume and ran downstairs, accidentally running my dad over in the process. He quickly got up and grabbed me, stopping me.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Where's the fire Amber?"
"Sorry Dad... I'm just so excited..."
"Why's that? Ready to Trick-Or-Treat?"
"I'm not going this year."
"Why not Amber? I thought you loved to go Trick-Or-Treating with your mom?" my dad asked with a concerned tone to his voice.
"I do, but this year I got invited to a Halloween party!"
"Oh really? Good for you," my dad said to me with a smile on his face. "So who's throwing the party."
"He's a fox named Daren Ferril."
"Ferril huh? I think I picked his mom up a few times."
Little did I know at the time, but Daren's mother, Susan, was one of dad's biggest clients. She was widowed when Daren was just a baby, his father dying of cancer. After his death, she started taking cabs everywhere she went, enjoying the company of the drivers if only for a few moments. That changed when my dad picked her up one day in his shabby clothes. I don't know the exact conversation, but Bonters told us she's the one who started my dad's "extra service". I guess she wanted a man's touch and she knew he wanted the money. Anyway, that's how he started getting all his big tips.
"Oh really? What's she like?" I asked my father.
"She's very nice and trustworthy. Is she gonna be at this party?"
I shrugged, not really knowing the answer. "I dunno."
"Hmmm... what time does it start and end?"
"It starts at 8 and ends at 11."
"Alright. You can go, but make sure you call me EXACTLY at 11, ok?"
"Ok. I'm gonna go upstairs and take a nap so I don't fall asleep in the middle of the party, ok?"
"Just don't sleep too late or you won't be able to fall asleep tonight, ok?"
"Ok."
I ran back upstairs to my room, tossing my book-bag off my bed and collapsing on it, trying my hardest to take a nap. Unfortunately, I was so excited about going to the party that I wasn't able to actually fall asleep for about an hour. What felt like seconds passed when my dad yelled up at me to wake up for dinner. I climbed out of bed with a yawn and a stretch before heading downstairs, soon being engulfed with the sweet smells of my mother's cooking. For dinner she made a turkey breast with scalloped potatoes and French-cut green beans, and she baked a pumpkin pie for desert. Every bite of it was delicious, especially the pie. I love pumpkin pie! As soon as I finished eating, I excused myself from the table, put my dirty dishes in the sink, and ran into the living room to watch TV until my father was ready to take me to the party. What felt like an eternity passed when my dad finished eating and came into the living room with a smile on his face.
"Are you ready to go?"
I quickly nodded and hopped up from the couch, quickly dashing to the door. My dad slowly followed behind.
"Slow down Amber. The party's not going anywhere."
"I know... but I can't help it! I'm excited!"
"I can understand. Just make sure you have fun and stay out of trouble after I drop you off, ok?"
"Ok."
My dad opened the door and we went to the car, me climbing in the passenger's seat and the both of us buckling our seatbelts. Luckily for me my dad knew where the Ferril residence was, because I completely forgot to ask Darin for directions. After a quick five minute drive, we stopped in front of the Ferril household and I quickly climbed out of the car. I looked back at my dad and smiled.
"Thank you dad."
"You're welcome. Now, have fun, stay safe, and wait for me out here, ok? I'll be here at EXACTLY 11 PM to pick you up, ok?"
"Ok dad. See you in a few hours."
My father pulled off as I started walking up to the front door. I knocked on the front door and Daren quickly answered, still dressed as a cowboy. He smiled at me when he saw who was at the door.
"Hey Amber! Glad you could make it!"
"Glad to be invited," I told him with a smile of my own.
"Well come on in. There's music playing, drinks and food in the kitchen, and a few games going on upstairs in my room."
"What kind of games?"
"Party games. Games that really make a party a better party."
"Ok. Well, I think I might join in in a few. I think I'm gonna get something to drink."
"Alright. Well, enjoy yourself. If you'll excuse me, I have to mingle more with my guests."
He left the door open for me as he left my sight, mixing in with the many cubs that were in his house. Some were dancing, others were sitting around talking, and a few occasionally went upstairs. I decided to walk into the kitchen to grab a drink, where Ms. Ferril was preparing drinks and making snacks for the party. I walked up to her with a smile and started talking to her.
"Thanks for allowing me to come to the party Miss Ferril."
She turned and looked at me with a smile.
"Oh, hello there. I don't ever recall seeing you around before."
"I'm Amber. Daren and I just met this afternoon."
"I see. Well, I'm glad he's meeting more friends. The poor kid has always been shy..."
"I kinda noticed."
"Oh, and by the way, I prefer Ms. Ferril instead of Miss Ferril."
"Why?"
"Well, I don't want to be a Miss again because I don't plan on remarrying... but I can't really be a Mrs. because my husband died..."
"Oh... I'm so sorry... how did Mr. Ferril go?"
"Cancer..." she said as she looked away from me, sorrow starting to fill her eyes.
"I'm sorry..."
She looked back to me and smiled.
"It's ok. You didn't know. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the party. There are snacks and drinks in here, and I'll be in here most of the night preparing them and watching TV. I figured I'd let you kids do your own thing. I remember I hated grown-ups being at my parties when I was a little girl. Anyway, have fun."
She then poured me a cup of punch and handed it to me. I took it with a smile and a "thanks" before leaving the kitchen. I found a place to sit and watch some of the other cubs dance. I recognized all of them from school, but I only knew a few of them. I sat there and drank my punch, enjoying watching everybody else have fun. After I finished my drink and let an hour go by, talking with a few cubs I knew from school and still enjoying watching the others have fun, I set the glass down, got up off the couch, and decided to dance a little bit. After about an hour, a paw quickly grabbed mine and pulled me away from the crowd.
"HEY!"
I looked to see who was dragging me away from the dance floor to find that Daren was behind it. I smiled at him and giggled a little.
"What's the big idea Daren? I was dancing."
"I want you to come play games with us."
"Uh, ok..."
He led me upstairs to his room, which was decorated with various sports posters. There were already a group of 10 other cubs in the room, five girls and five boys. He set me down on his bed and then seated himself on the floor.
"So, what are you guys playing?"
"Monopoly. Just started. We should be done soon, and then we can all play a game together," a deer girl said.
"Just try to make it quick, ok?" Daren asked his friends. "The party ends in about an hour."
Everybody nodded as they started playing their game. I sat there and talked with Daren and a couple of the others who didn't get to play for about 50 minutes when Daren quickly made an announcement.
"Alright... your game is over. The party is almost over... I wanna get to the game that I wanted to play."
Daren's friends packed up their game as he pulled a bottle out of his trash bin.
"Everybody get in the middle of the circle."
I did as told and joined in with the circle. A boy quail asked a question I was not expecting.
"So are we playing 'Truth Or Dare?' or 'Spin The Bottle'?"
"The second one."
My heart and mind started racing, and I'm pretty sure I was blushing lightly, although nobody seemed to notice if I did. I had no idea they were gonna play such games, and I was a bit too shy to play either of them. I figured that if I sat there though, I could get lucky and the bottle wouldn't land on me. The game started, and everybody started spinning, and fortunately for me, the bottle kept missing me. After about 9 minutes, Daren realized that I hadn't spun or been landed on.
"Hey Amber... you haven't had a turn yet!"
"Uh... oh well? It's just a game..." I tried to say without letting on how nervous I was.
"Well, you might as well take one."
I nodded and hesitantly put my paw on the bottle and gave it a spin, spinning it hard. My heart raced harder and harder as the bottle started to slow to a stop. I looked to who the bottle landed on and I KNOW I blushed then, because it landed on Daren. I looked to him and when he realized who the bottle landed on, he blushed a little too.
"Well... um... I guess it landed on me... huh?" he nervously question me.
I simply nodded, my body starting to slightly shake, although nobody else noticed it. My heart was racing at a thousand miles an hour and my nerves were all going spastic. I've never even so much as hugged a boy from class, and now I have to kiss one I just met today. And it didn't help any that he was pretty cute. I shakily got up and went over to him, sitting in front of him. He looked to me and I back to him as we slowly inched our faces closer to one another. Our muzzles were less than a quarter-inch away from each other when a horn outside his house blared. I looked at my watch and sighed.
"Sorry Daren... that's my dad..."
"Oh... ok..."
"Thanks for the party," I said with a smile.
He smiled back at me, and before I knew it, he quickly pushed himself forward, quickly pecking my lips with his. My eyes widened at the sudden approach and I probably blushed as hard as possible. He backed away from me, also blushing, and simled.
"T-thanks... for coming..."
"Uh-huh... s-see you in school?"
"Uh-huh..."
My dad honked the horn again. I nodded to him as I got up and went downstairs, walking outside and to the car, my eyes still widened from the sudden kiss. I got in the car and buckled up. My father then drove off. The trip home was pretty silent except for one question.
"So how was the party Amber?"
I had only one verbal response for his question.
"Good."
However, in my mind, I was happy and excited. I just got my first kiss, it was from a very cute guy... and I think he likes me!
*****
Over the next weeks, Daren and I saw more of each other. We spent a little more time in class doing group projects together, ate lunch together at least twice a week, and we even hung out after school a little bit. But not once since that party, a month and a half ago from the next bit of my story, have we shared anything more than a smile. I don't know if he was nervous or being respectful or if I read into that kiss wrong, but I wish I knew what he was thinking. I kinda liked him. He's pretty cute, and he's a fox to boot, so that wouldn't have been upset if the two of us dated.
Chapter 7: The First Date
"So Amber, how are you and Daren doing?" my father asked me as the two of us sat in the living room, waiting for my mother to finish making dinner.
The school day had ended and my dad picked me up from school today. He had to work a graveyard shift that night and he decided to use his time before going in to work to spend with me.
"We're fine. We're just hanging out and enjoying our friendship."
"He hasn't taken you out on a date yet?"
"No, Dad, we aren't dating..." I told him with a sigh as I rolled my eyes. I knew what was coming, and there was no way to avoid it.
"You should probably ask him out then. You might not meet another fox for a while."
It was another of my Dad's long speeches about how I should find a fox boyfriend. My dad was always making these speeches about finding a fur of my own species to have as a boyfriend, and eventually marry, so I don't wind up with ugly cubs when I'm older. He always has considered hybrids to be a crime against nature. He even considered it a crime against nature to be in a relationship with any fur that, if we were feral instead of having the intellect we do, we would eat. I once told my dad I thought this one bunny boy at school was cute and he chewed me out GOOD for it. I knew from that point on that I should no longer tell my dad what I think of any boys that weren't foxes. He thought yiffing any species of fur was ok, but not to date them. Go figure.
"Dad... I like him and he likes me. I'm not gonna throw away our friendship because you want me to try and date a fox. He may not even like me like that you know..."
"Amber, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times... you need to find a fox for a boyfriend. Do you want to have monstrosities for cubs when you're older?"
I looked down to the ground, acting as if I were hanging my head low in shame. I used this opportunity to close my eyes and roll them. I wanted to say what I was thinking, which was "get off my back", but to keep from getting yelled at more and to get this speech to end quicker, I simply just acted like I was sorry.
"No Dad... I don't... you're right. But I don't think I should be the one to ask him out. You know how embarrassing it is for guys to get asked out by girls?"
"Then throw him subtle hints. It's not wrong to hint to him that you want to be his girlfriend."
"Dad... why not just let things work themselves out?"
"Because things don't ALWAYS work themselves out, got it? Stop being so naive and just do what your father says for once, got it?"
I had enough by this time, and I was ready to say what I really meant.
"Dad... listen... I-"
I never got to say to him what I wanted, because as soon as I started, my mom came into the living room with a smile, looking at the two of us.
"Dinner's ready you too."
My dad looked at my mother and nodded before looking to me.
"Just remember our talk, ok?"
I simply nodded and bit my tongue, being careful not to start an arguement with my father in front of my mother. I got up from the couch we were sitting on and started to make my way into the kitchen. It was at that point that the phone rang. My dad, who was closest to our phone, picked it up.
"Hello? Yeah, she's here. Who's calling? Oh, Daren! Yeah, I don't mind. I'll ask her." He then put his paw to the phone and looked at me. "Daren wants to know if you want to go out to see a movie tonight."
"What time?"
"He wants to go right now."
"What movie?"
"Does it matter?"
I sighed and shrugged. "I guess not."
"Alright." He took his paw off the phone and held it back up to his head. "Yeah, she said she'll come. I'll drop her off at the theater in a few."
He hung up the phone and quickly went into the kitchen to tell my mom I wasn't gonna be at dinner and that he was taking me to the theater. I didn't hear any kind of reaction from her, so I imagined she was ok with it. I often wondered, and still do kinda wonder sometimes, if she even knew how my dad felt about inter-species dating and how much he lectured me against it. In any case, he came back out of the kitchen and immediately dashed out the front door, not even bothering to put his shoes on. I sat by the front door myself and quickly put my shoes and jacket on before heading outside to get in the car. The trip was quick and spent in silence as he drove from my house to the town movie theater. As I climbed out of the car, he only said one thing to me.
"Amber, remember what I said to you at home. Now have fun and call me when you're done."
I looked at him and nodded before he drove off, headed back home. I walked to the front door of the theater, where Daren was already waiting for me. He looked at me and smiled.
"Thanks for coming Amber."
I looked at him and smiled.
"Thanks for inviting me Daren."
"So... uh... what movie do you want to see?"
"Um... I don't really care. Anything you want to see?"
He simply nodded and walked to the ticket cashier.
"Two for the cartoon movie please."
"I'm sorry... that movie is sold out for the night."
"Shoot... and the rest are PG-13..."
He looked back to me with a frown.
"I'm sorry Amber..."
"It's ok. Why don't we go for a walk instead?"
He shrugged and nodded, obviously depressed about asking me out to a sold-out movie and unable to get the rest of us into the other movies. I walked over to him and placed my paw on his shoulder.
"Don't worry about it," I told him with a smile, trying my best to cheer him up.
It seemed to work too, because the frown disappeared and a smile took hold of his face, which I was happy to see. He then offered his paw to me, which I happily took with a smile. We then walked away from the movie theater, paw-in-paw with one another. It's a good thing I brought my jacket with me, because November air is so chilly, especially with December just a day away. We even had our first snow fall a week ago, although it didn't stick. I like the snow. I can play a pretty funny joke on my friends in the snow, but at a price. When the snow sticks and it's deep enough, I can take all my clothes off, lay face down in the snow, and blend in so well that nobody can see me. Of course, being stupid enough to do this comes with consequences, like only being able to do it for a few seconds before I get so cold that I get sick, or I do it too long and DO get sick. I used to do it a lot when I was six, but as I grew up, I realized that doing that was just kinda stupid. It's still funny, but I see how stupid it is now.
"So... sorry about the movie..." Daren said to me, trying to break the silence of our walk.
"Don't worry about it. There really wasn't anything out I want to see anyway. I only came because you asked and it would give us a chance to hang out together."
"Oh, ok. So how's school been going for you?"
"Daren... I really don't wanna talk about school..." I told him with a giggle, which in turn made him chuckle a little.
"Yeah, I can understand why. School really does suck, doesn't it?"
"Mmhm."
We walked a little bit further in silence until we realized we were in front of the Pawstin Public Park. We looked at each other and smiled.
"Let's go for a walk in the park," he suggested to me.
"Ok."
So the two of us entered the park and took a walk around the memorial statue for all the soldiers from Pawstin that fell in the wars over the years. It was a gold soldier with helmet and uniform saluting out into the park, about 20 feet tall. He was standing on a stone pedestal that was 10 feet tall itself, and on each side of the pedestal was a plaque, one for each great war and one empty space, all bronzed and each with the name of every soldier from Pawstin that was KIA/MIA/PoW for those wars. We smiled as we walked around the tribute and found an empty bench behind it. We sat down on it and just enjoyed being with each other.
"So... Amber... how's your family doing?"
"They're doing fine. My mom's staying home a bit more. The library is failing. Nobody uses it anymore... and my dad is busy as ever at Cwik Cab."
"Cwik Cab huh? My mom uses them a lot. She's been kinda lonely since dad died..."
"I'm sorry to hear he died Daren..." I told him as I wrapped an arm around him.
"It's ok. I really didn't know him too well. He died when I was very little. I have almost no memory of him. The only know of him because one day I asked my mom about him."
"Well... I guess that's a good thing... although it's kinda awful to hear that you never got to know your father..."
"I hear he was a good fox."
"Well, I'm sure you're proof he was. Most boys take after their fathers, and you're a very good boy."
"Thanks Amber."
He smiled at me and I smiled back at him, happy to know my words helped to cheer him up a little. He then looked into my eyes, blushed a little, and looked away.
"What's wrong?"
"Amber... about that night... at the party... just before you left..."
"Oh, that. Yeah, that kinda surprised me."
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have done that..."
"Why not? I kinda liked it."
He looked back at me with a big smile, his eyes gleaming with the joy of hearing my words.
"Really?"
"Mmhm."
"Good, cause... I'll be honest... I kinda like you... and I don't mean in the friend way..."
I'm pretty positive I blushed at this point as I looked him in the eyes.
"You... you do?"
"Yeah... I've had a slight crush on you for a couple of years now... we haven't really known each other that long, I know... but it was a couple of years ago in a class we had together that I saw you for the first time. And something just... I dunno... from that moment on I had this feeling that I wanted to be with you. I just... I didn't have the courage to come up and say something..."
"It's ok Daren. Believe it or not, I'm kinda shy myself. Unless I'm with a friend, I'm kinda kept to myself when I'm around others. And to be honest, ever since that kiss at the party, I been kinda hoping you liked me like you do."
"Really?"
"Really."
"So... do you... uh... I mean... I was thinking..."
"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend," I told him with a giggle, which made him smile more.
"I like the sound of that."
He then wrapped an arm around me and we just sat there in the park, enjoying each other's company as time itself lost it's presence around us. All there was in our world at that time was the two of us and the bench. I enjoyed being in a separate world with Daren. I felt safe and happy. However, that world was brought back to Earth when my dad called my cell phone three hours later. I pulled it out of my pocket answered.
"Hello?"
"Amber?"
"Yeah Dad?"
"Where are you? I drove to the theater and you weren't there."
"We couldn't get in so we decided to take a walk. We're at the park."
"Alright, I'll be there in a few. Your mom wants you home. She says it's too cold out for you to stay out too much longer."
"Ok Dad..."
I hung the phone up and put it back in my pocket with a sigh before looking to Daren.
"What's up Amber?"
"My parents want me home."
"Oh..."
We sat there for a couple of moments in silence, enjoying the last of our time together for the day, until my dad showed up outside the park. He honked his horn and I let go of Daren.
"Sorry Daren... gotta go..."
I got up off the bench and took a few steps away, saddened that I had to leave such a wonderful date, when Daren grabbed my paw. I turned to him with a puzzled look, I'm sure.
"Daren...?"
He then slowly approached me with his head and face, his lips easing their way to mine, and eventually meeting in a deep embrace. We wrapped our arms around each other and just stood there for a few seconds, enjoying the moment. My dad honked his horn again and that's when I broke the kiss with a smile.
"Mmm... thank you Daren."
"Any time Amber. See you later," he said to me with a smile of his own.
We let go of each other and went our separate ways, Daren towards the back exit of the park and me towards the front to meet my dad. The rest of the night I had the biggest smile on my face. I was happy. I had a boyfriend.
*****
So there I was, my first boyfriend and my first real kiss with a boyfriend. I was so happy. We spent a lot of time over the next few months, and it was no different on April 11th. Yes, my birthday, and my 11th one at that. Sadly though, it was around this time that things also started to take a turn for the worse between my parents. My dad's "tips" started to slow down, and my mother found a new job as the local hardware store cashier, meaning she was working more and more money was coming into the house. Needless to say, this hurt my dad's pride a little, because now she was making almost as much money as him, if not more on some weeks. But needless to say, the best of my world and the beginning of the worst of theirs both occurred on the same day, my birthday.
Chapter 8: Amber's 11th Birthday
It was such a beautiful morning as I woke from my bed, the sun shining through my window and the birds outside chirping their happy little hearts out. The flowers and trees were starting to bloom and, as usual for this time of year, everybody's spirits were high, as if nobody had a care in the world. I lazily climbed out of bed, not really wanting to wake up just yet, and walked over to my dresser. I slid my pajamas off and opened a couple of drawers of my dresser, debating what clothes I should wear on this day. As I looked, I noticed something I wasn't quite used to being in my dresser yet, and it was also an early "birthday present" from my parents. It was a white training bra. I felt a little uncomfortable knowing that my body was starting to mature, but I knew I had to deal with it because every girl goes through this. My parents even gave me the talk a month before my birthday. At this point, I was just glad I didn't experience my first period or my first heat yet. My discomfort and train of thought were both suddenly shaken from my head when somebody knocked on my bedroom door.
"Are you awake yet?"
I instantly recognized the voice as my mother on the other side.
"Yeah Mom. Just got out of bed."
"Alright. Just don't forget to shower and come on out whenever you're ready."
The room grew silent for a few seconds, and that's when I realized my mom walked away from the door. I shrugged and turned back to my dresser drawer, still deciding what to wear. I pulled out the training bra and threw it on the bed, knowing I had to wear that. After a few moments of debating, I plucked a pink blouse, a white pair of silk panties, and a black skirt out of my dresser, setting each article of clothing neatly on my bed. I then left my room, walked across the hall, and entered the bathroom. In there, I brushed my teeth, took a shower, and dried my self off. I exited my bathroom, going back into my room, and put my clothes on. I walked back into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror, enjoying the outfit I picked for today. I then styled my hair the way I liked it and hair-sprayed it into place. I later found out from my friend Billy Plats that this style was the same way Edna liked hers, and I eventually changed it after moving to Pouncefield to avoid being mistaken for her on a daily basis. Anyway, as I enjoyed my selection for the day, another fur started knocking the door.
"Amber, you awake? Your mother said you were up, but that was an hour ago!"
I went to my door and opened it, smiling at my father.
"Yeah Dad, I'm up. I was just getting ready for the day today."
"Well, I hope you know it's now noon."
"What's the rush then Dad? My party doesn't start until four. And I was planning on heading over to Pouncefield soon to hit the mall, see if I can't find something I'd like to buy myself for my birthday with my saved up allowance."
"Amber... I refuse for you to ever go to Pouncefield, got it?"
Little did I know at the time, but my father grew up in Pouncefield. I really never knew that much about him. I wasn't told until my mother and I moved to Pouncefield to get away from him. He lived in Pouncefield when he was a kid, and moved away as an adult. From what my mother told me, he wasn't too fond of the way Pouncefield was as a town and refused to ever step one paw inside it's town limits ever again. Which also meant that because he didn't like going there, he didn't like the idea of me going there.
"But why Dad? It's only about a 75 minute walk away from here, about a 35 minute bike-ride! I could walk there, spend an hour there figuring out something to buy myself, walk back, and be home in plenty of time to be at my party! I'd ride my bike but I'm not exactly dressed for riding bikes."
My dad shook his head in disgust. It wasn't disgust at me or disgust at me trying to talk him into letting me go to the mall. It was disgust at the way the town was, the cubs of that town trying to yiff one another, and the adults turning a blind eye to them and trying to do the same with other adults. The school system knowing kids are doing sexual things in school and not doing a thing about it, and even the town movie studio that produces it's fair share of pornography on top of family oriented movies.
"Listen Amber. I know you've never been there before, and this is only your second time asking to go there, but you have to know I can't ever let you go there..."
"Why not?"
"That town... that town is a disgusting place. I used to live there when I was a kid, and from what I heard, nothing has changed. You don't ever want to go there Amber. It's not for decent furs like you or me or your mother, alright?"
I lowered my head and looked at the ground, disappointed to hear my dad's rule.
"Alright Dad. I won't go to Pouncefield. I just wish Pawstin had a mall..."
"I know Amber, and I'm sorry. I just can't allow you to go to that accursed town and get tainted by it's population. You could always go to the movies if you want to pass the time."
"That actually sounds good. I know just the movie I want to see."
My dad then smiled at me.
"Alright. I'll give you a lift."
The two of us walked outside and got into my dad's car. After about a five minute drive, I was dropped off in front of the movie theater.
"I'll be back in a couple of hours to pick you up."
My dad then drove away from the complex and left me standing there. I debated walking to Pouncefield to go to the mall despite my dad's rule, but I figured I'd just obey him. Plus the fact that he was gonna be back in a few hours, and it would take me that long just to walk there and back, so I really didn't have any choice even if I did want to disobey my dad. I approached the ticket booth and bough myself a ticket for the comedy movie they were showing. I walked inside, grabbed myself a small popcorn and a medium root beer, found my way to the theater showing the movie, found a seat in the back, and watched the movie. The movie was good, but it couldn't douse my anticipation for my party. You only turn 11 once, and my boyfriend was coming to the party on top of that. I walked outside the building a couple of hours later to find my dad sitting in the car waiting for me. I climbed in with a smile.
"Hi Dad."
"Hey Amber. Enjoy the movie?"
"Mhmm. It was funny. I wouldn't mind owning it when it comes out on DVD."
"Glad you enjoyed it. Oh, by the way, your party is gonna start an hour early and end an hour early. We already called all your friends and invited them over. Your mom and I just don't want a bunch of cubs around past eight tonight."
"It's ok Dad. I understand. I got school tomorrow anyway, so I need to go to bed early."
"Atta girl. Keeping her mind set on the right track."
My dad smiled at me and gave me a kiss on my cheek as we pulled away from the theater. We pulled up in front of our apartment a few moments later, where my dad parked his car, both of us climbing out of it afterwards, and walking inside. As soon as I walked into the kitchen, I was greeted by quite an assortment of glorious sights, sounds, and smells. All my friends were sitting around our kitchen table, which had my birthday cake neatly set in the middle of it. My mom took a few CD's out of my room while I was gone and was playing them on the stereo in the living room, and there were balloons floating and streamers hung around the kitchen and living room. I smiled in joy as I even saw a stack of presents piled up on the far side of our kitchen table, and just when I thought I couldn't get any happier, my boyfriend led a shout of two words that made me feel like queen of the galaxy, if only for this day.
"Happy birthday!"
I probably wore the biggest smile I ever wore when all my friends and my parents said that to me. My birthday, at that point, truly was happy.
"Awww... thank you guys!"
"Well then, Amber, why don't we light the candles now so we can sing "Happy Birthday" and then you all can enjoy some cake and ice cream?" my mother asked me.
"Ok, but do we really gotta sing that song?" I asked back, groaning lightly. I wasn't too fond of being sung that song anymore. I felt it should be sung for little kids, and I'm not little anymore. My mother simply giggled when she heard me ask the question.
"Of course sweetie. You may feel like you're too old for that song, but it gets sung for adults even. Plus, to me and your father, you'll always be our little angel."
I'm pretty sure I blushed in embarrassment at this point. Nobody wants to be called a little angel in front of their friends and boyfriend or girlfriend. I put my face in my paws to hide my embarrassment.
"MOM! Do you gotta say something like that in front of all my friends?"
"Oh... sorry Amber," she told me with another giggle.
I pulled my face out of my paws at that point and watched my mom light the candles. A few seconds later, I sat down in front of the cake and grew rather embarrassed when I was sung "Happy Birthday". I shrugged it off and blew out my candles when they were done singing, and I had wished for only one thing at the time. I wished to be able to visit Pouncefield one day. Little did I know at the time, but a little over a year later, my wish was going to come true. But that's another part of my story for another day. Anyway, after I made my wish, my mom took the candles of the cake and started cutting the cake into equally sized squares, with me getting the first. She gave me a corner piece, which I was happy to get. Had it been a store bought cake, I wouldn't have been so happy, since I don't like the taste of the icing that comes on store bought cakes, but I love the cake itself. This, however, was made by my mom, and was iced with some good icing, so I was happy to get a corner piece. I then went to my dad, who was serving three different flavors of ice cream, which were chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. I took a scoop of each and grabbed a plastic spoon and fork and sat back down at the kitchen table. My friends all soon joined me with plates of cake and ice cream of their own, and Daren sat next to me. We sat and talked and laughed as we ate, and when we all finished up, my parents started the next activity of the night.
"Alright. Now that you're all done with cake and ice cream, it's time for Amber to open her presents."
Needless to say, I was excited to get to this part of the party. What cub isn't? My mom handed me presents one at a time and I opened them as fast as she gave them to me. Everybody loves to get and open gifts. Although some of them I wasn't too happy about. My parents got me a few things of clothes, and my one friend got me a pair of designer jeans. I'm not too big on denim, but I'll wear them off and on for her, since there were a $50 pair of jeans. Some of the gifts that ranked up there on my favorites though were a few hair brushes, a video game, and among them all was my absolute favorite, a ring Daren bought for me. He said he could only afford a $30 ring and saved up a couple of months for it, but I didn't care. It was beautiful and it was a gift from him. He always knew how to make me happy. After I opened all my presents and took them to my room, I went into the living room where most have my friends gathered to start talking or dancing. I sat down next to Daren and decided to strike up a conversation with him.
"Hey Daren," I said to him as I sat next to him.
"Hey Amber," he replied as he put an arm around my shoulders and held me close.
"Thanks for coming to my party."
"It's not a problem Amber. Why would I not come to my girlfriend's birthday party?"
"I dunno... just not felt like it?"
"You're silly sometimes Amber," he told me with a chuckle. "I wouldn't have missed this party for anything."
"Not even all the riches in the world?" I asked with a giggle.
"Hmmm... I might be late for that, but after I got the riches, I'd share them with you."
"No you wouldn't liar!' I said with a giggle as I playfully smacked his arm.
"Nah, I really would," he answered with a smile.
"Really? Wow, thank you Daren."
"It would be my pleasure actually, Amber."
"So... if you're willing to share all the riches in the world with me, then why in the world did you let my mom embarrass me with that little cub's song?" I playfully questioned the sand fox.
"Hey, it's tradition! Who am I to go against tradition?"
"Who are you? Um... last I checked, you were my boyfriend," I answered with a giggle.
"So? That doesn't give me the right to go against tradition," he replied with a chuckle.
With that said, we both shared a good laugh and decided to end our conversation there, just enjoying being with one another. What seemed like mere seconds, but really was a couple of hours, passed before Daren said anything again to me.
"So... uh..."
I looked at him and he started to blush heavily. I was wondering what he had to be blushing about.
"Yes Daren?"
"I... uh... have another gift for you if you want it..." he said as he nervously twiddled his thumbs.
"Um... ok. Where is it?"
"I... uh... left it in your bedroom..."
"Alright. Well, I'll go get it," I told him with a naive smile.
"I'll come with you."
"Alright, let's go."
We both stood up and walked to my room. I looked around in every nook and cranny in my room, but I couldn't find any wrapped boxes or any sort of gift. I turned to Daren with a confused look on my face.
"Um... Daren... I don't see any gift..."
"Well... uh... um... I was... oh god... I can't say it..."
"Say what?"
"I was... uh... kinda hoping..." he trailed off, his face beet red in embarrassment.
"Hoping what?"
"Um... that we... could... um..."
"Yes?"
A few awkward moments passed before Daren broke the silence again.
"What were we talking about?"
"Your gift for me."
"Oh... yeah... um... well... I kinda wanted to... um... how do I put this..."
"Just say it already Daren..."
"Do with you what the adults do..."
I'm pretty sure I blushed heavily myself at this point. This was the first time I had ever been asked to have sexual relations with anybody, and it was a boy I really liked. Deep down, I kinda wanted to, but at the same time I didn't.
"You want to... yiff?" I nervously asked.
At that point, I knew he was unable to speak, so he simply nodded his head. I looked to the ground for a moment, having an internal debate about what I should do. After a few seconds of though, I looked back to Daren and nodded my head. We both smiled at each other. Just as we started to get undressed, somebody knocked on my door.
"Amber, you in there?"
We both quickly stopped what we were doing and got dressed as quick as possible.
"Yeah Mom. Daren wanted to use the bathroom, so I showed him the way."
"So why are you in your room Amber?"
I hesitated for only a brief second, not expecting that question to come up. I needed to think up something, and quick! Otherwise we were busted. Fortunately, I was able to think my answer up in no time flat.
"I wanted to show Daren my room. He's never been to our house before, remember? I was giving him a tour."
"Alright. Well, it's almost time for Daren to get going, so wrap the tour up."
There was silence for a few moments. It was at that point that I knew my mom bought my lie and that Daren and I were safe. I let out a sigh of relief as I looked to Daren.
"Sorry... but it looks like this will have to wait."
"It's ok. For this, I could wait an eternity," he said to me with a smile, which brought out my own smile.
"Well, you better get going..."
"Alright Amber. I'll see you around."
He gave me a hug and a kiss on my cheek before he left my room. I collapsed onto my bed, taking in all the recent events. I couldn't stop thinking about how I was about to give myself to Daren, and I couldn't stop wondering if I was just saved by my mother from making the biggest mistake of my life or if my mother ruined the perfect time for me and Daren. I looked to my gifts, which I piled into a corner of my room. After that, I looked at the ring on my paw, which Daren gave me. I couldn't stop thinking about what we had just done. It even plagued my thoughts as I drifted to sleep. I slept pretty fine through the night, until I woke up because of my mom screaming in pain. I looked to the wall that separated their room from mine and tried my best to listen in.
"Not so hard Jack! You're hurting me again!"
"Hey, you agreed to this. You know, we don't do this as much as I would like, so I can't help it if I get rough!"
"What do you mean? We yiff at least four times a week, if not more now that Amber's out of the house more!"
"I mean the BDSM. You know I get turned on more by that."
"I'm sorry... it just... it feels weird... and you get very rough with it sometimes..."
"I don't care. Now shut up and put this in your mouth, or you get the whip again."
I heard no more from their room after that. I was kinda worried that my dad was hurting my mom, but I decided not to press the issue. I'm sure the last thing they would want is for me to walk in there and make the matter worse. I was laying there in my bed, thinking again. I started to wonder if Daren would ever hurt me on our first time, or even any time. I tried to shake the thoughts from my head, but they kept snowballing and growing bigger, and they didn't go away until I finally got back to sleep for the night.
*****
That night had me a little worried, but I forgot about it the next day, and everything was back to normal for me. I spent time with Daren as usual, but it had to be in the evening. I was a part of the swim team again, he joined the baseball team, and, unfortunately, we shared no classes during school. We were happy though, just being able to get to spend a few hours a day with one another. Little did I know my joy was soon going to be stolen away from me, and by my own father.
Chapter 9: The Haunting Event
It was a fine summer day in July. School had been let out for summer vacation for a month, and Daren and I were spending more time together, going to movies and hanging out at fast food restaurants. I made sure to spend time with my other friends too, but I always made sure I could bring Daren. I really liked him. He made me so happy, and he was so thoughtful. The morning was so wonderful. He and I had gone out for the day on a boat that one of his friends let him borrow. We just sat there on the river, which runs through the country, and it especially right next to Pouncefield. I had debated in the past month to take a swim down, but I didn't know how far away it was by river, and I didn't want to disobey my dad, so I just stayed in Pawstin's part of the river. We were there for about four hours, from the time we woke up and went down until about two in the afternoon. It was at that point the both of us got hungry.
"Hey, Amber... you getting hungry?"
"Uh-huh. You?"
"Yeah, I could eat. You hungry for anything in particular?"
"Um... I'm kinda sick of hamburgers and pizza... we've had both of those a lot this summer..."
"There's that new hot dog restaurant. We could try there if you want."
"That's all they serve is hot dogs?" I asked, not knowing anything about the new restaurant.
"I really don't know much more than you. I only know what I've been told by some friends who have eaten there. I heard they do hot dogs, hamburger, fish, salads, fries, chili, and soups."
"Well, that's about as good a selection as you can at a regular fast food place," I said with a giggle. "Alright. Let's try it."
We rowed our boat to shore and left it at the dock. Daren tied it up as I went to the place where we hid our bikes and retrieved them, bringing them down to the dock. He had just finished tying up the boat when I showed up with his bike. He looked to me and smiled as he climbed on his bike.
"Alright... I'll lead the way."
I simply nodded as I watched him start to pedal off. I quickly pedaled my own bike, trying to keep up with him. After about only 5 minutes of riding and only a couple of turns, we arrived outside the new building. We both looked it over as we locked our bikes up to a couple of street-light posts. We walked inside, where we were instantly greeted by a waitress. She showed us to a booth and sat us down, placing a small paper menu in front of us. I looked to Daren, who looked back at me with a smile.
"Don't worry about what you're gonna get, Amber. I'm paying today."
"Are you sure? You paid yesterday. It's my turn to pay."
"Too bad. I'm skipping your turn," he told me with a chuckle.
"Alright, Mr. Moneybags. You can pay," I replied with a giggle as I looked the menu over. I turned to the waitress and began my order. "Ok... I want... two hot dogs with chili and cheese, a small fry with chili and cheese, and a small soda."
The waitress nodded as she wrote the order down, turning to Daren when she finished. He looked at her and placed his own order. "Hmmm... I think I'll take three hot dogs with chili, onions, and cheese, a medium french fry with vinegar and ketchup, and a large root beer."
The waitress, as she did with my order, nodded at every item Daren said as she wrote it all down on a small piece of paper. When she finished, she looked at the both of us with a smile.
"Alright. Your order will be out shortly."
After that, the waitress took her leave of us. We just sat there looking at one another, smiling, happy to be with one another. After what only seemed to be a few moments, the waitress returned with our orders and placed a slip of paper face-down in the middle of the table at our booth before walking away. I instantly reached out for it, not remembering that Daren offered to pay today. He noticed my paw slowly inching it's way toward the slip and quickly snatched the paper up before I could touch it.
"Nuh-uh! I told you, I'm paying today."
"Huh? Oh... yeah... sorry. Kinda forgot," I said with a giggle. "Anyway, let's dig in."
Daren nodded his head to me as we both began to eat the food in front of us, taking our time to enjoy it. Everything was just so tasty, including the hot dogs. By the end of our meal, I was tempted to order a few more for the road, even though I was full and couldn't eat another bite. I decided against it, not only because of how stuffed I was but also because it would be hard to hold carry out on a bike while riding it. Daren paid for the food and we hopped on our bikes. He checked his watch once before looking to me with a sigh.
"Hey... sorry Amber, but I gotta get going home. It's 2:45. I promised my mom I'd help her with some stuff around the house today. I probably won't be able to spend any more time with you at all today."
I sighed lightly at the idea of heading home and being bored, but I completely understood.
"It's ok Daren. I'll see you tomorrow then?"
"Count on it," he told me with a smile.
He then kissed my cheek before riding off toward his home. I smiled as I watched him ride off before turning my bike toward my own town-house and started pedaling away. The trip wasn't too long on a bike as I arrived in front of my place a few minutes later. I walked my bike up to the door and opened it, making sure to roll my bike in before entering and shutting the door behind me, locking it. My dad, after the move, started locking the front door. He never trusted the neighborhood that our town-house was in. I took my bike into the utility closet we had and parked it in there. I then went into the kitchen to grab a drink and then into the living room to spend time with my family. However, after grabbing my drink, I noticed they weren't downstairs. I shrugged it off and sat on the couch, turning on the TV. About ten minutes passed before I heard the first sign of life from my parents since my return, a light thud. I looked around for a few seconds before speaking up.
"Hello? Mom? Dad?"
A few seconds passed before I heard another thud. I shrugged it off, but a few seconds later a third thud struck my ears, this one coming with a loud scream from my mom.
"Mom? You ok?" I shouted upstairs.
Again, no answer. I started to worry a little, but trying to ignore it at the same time. After a few more moments, I heard my mom scream once again, and this time I knew she was in trouble. Without hesitation, I leaped up off the couch and dashed upstairs, following the sound of my mother's voice. I stopped outside my parents' room and slowly opened the door, hoping my mom was ok. Looking back on it now, I wish I hadn't. I was only able to say one thing as I witnessed what was going on, and it wasn't that loud.
"Oh... my... god... Mom..."
I collapsed to the ground, every muscle in my body going limp in terror from the sight I was beholding. My mom was strapped to the bed posts by a pair of handcuffs, a leather strap, and some rope while my father was on top of her. He wore a face of anger as he violated my mother, her face being one of pure pain and terror as tears ran down her cheeks and her mouth was gagged up with a sock. My dad was using all kinds of terrible things on my mother, ranging from whips to safety pins and knives to a tazer. I even saw him pull out a paddle as he took it across her face. I quickly slid away from the door on the ground, unable to watch any more, and just sat there, wondering what exactly was going on and if I could help. I couldn't believe what I had just saw. My dad had never enjoyed hurting anybody that bad, and yet he was doing it to my mom, and no matter how much she protested, he would continue. It brought my mind back to that night a few months prior, the night of my birthday party. I gathered my emotions up and quietly snuck to my room, plopping down on my bed and still trying to figure out exactly what I just saw. As I was laying there, lost in my thoughts, my phone rang, which I imediately picked up.
"Hello?"
"Amber? Hey, it's Daren."
"Um... hi Daren..."
"What's wrong? You sound depressed or upset or something."
"I... just saw something... I don't know what to think of it..." I hesitantly told the sand-fox on the other side of the phone.
"Do... do you wanna talk about it?"
"I... don't know... I kinda want to, but at the same time I want to just figure it all out myself..."
"Well... how about I let you go then so you can think on it? If you want to talk about it, you can always tell me tomorrow."
"Alright... that sounds good. See you tomorrow Daren."
We both hung our phones up and I went back to thinking on the events that have just unfolded. Why would my father hurt my mother like that? Why wouldn't she call the cops? Why wasn't she really trying to stop him? Why wasn't he listening to her? The more questions I thought of, the sicker I got, my stomach starting to do flip-flops in my body. I didn't want to think of it anymore, and yet, at the same time, I couldn't get my mind off it. I just wish I had some answers. I laid there in my bed for hours trying to come up with an answer or get a handle on everything, ignoring everything else around me, including dinner. The only time my train of thought was shaken the rest of the day after Daren's call was when my dad knocked on my door.
"Amber, honey, if you're still awake, it's time for bed," he said through the wood in a sweet and soothing tone.
At this point, my mind started hurting from trying to figure everything out. How could my dad talk to me like that after what he just did to mom? Were they just acting something out, or was he just acting to me, trying to hide the guy he really is? Was he gonna do the same thing to me? Would mom let him hurt me? My stomach started doing flip-flops again as I tried my hardest to forget and just go to sleep. My fears were reinforced half-way through my sleepless night when I heard my mom's cries of pain again. I could tell she wasn't gagged this time because I could hear words this time.
"Jack... please... this is enough... you've been doing nothing but hurting me all day... I want a break..." my mother said between sobs.
"Alice, you agreed to this! So until we go to sleep, you're mine for the rest of the night!"
"But... you've been so rough today... and you've hurt me a lot..."
"You knew what you were getting into when you agreed to let me have an all day BDSM-yiff fest with you."
"I didn't think it would be this bad..."
"Do you want me to gag you again Alice?"
"I'll be quiet..."
At that point I put my pillow over my head and tried drowning all the sounds out, and it helped to quiet my menacing thoughts as well. As I laid there in my bed, in temporary silence, I realized how tired I was from all the thinking and emotional stress I had been under today, and decided to try and get some sleep while I could. Little did I know that my dreams would haunt me with the image I saw earlier that day, the image of my mom's face in pain and fear as my dad angrily hurt her. Little did I also know that that image would haunt me for a long time to come.
*****
Although we had plans to meet the day after, I really didn't feel like it with the reoccurring nightmares I had that night, and fate, it seems, didn't want us to see each other that day anyway. Daren and his mother decided to go to Pouncefield that day to go to the mall in that town and do some all-day shopping. I really had no complaints, because I really didn't know whether or not I wanted to see Daren that day. Seeing what my dad do to my mom had me really shaken up, and I just wanted to be alone. I didn't want to see Daren, I didn't want to see my mother, and I definitely didn't want to see my father. I knew I was going to have to eventually, so I came up with a plan to avoid them all, until school started back up.
Chapter 10: The Getaway
It was Monday morning when I started thinking up my plan. I had spent the past few days in my room, not eating, not speaking to anybody, just sitting alone with my thoughts and sleeping on occasion. I couldn't take it anymore, but I really didn't want to see or hear from my family or Daren. I had been trying to find an escape plan, but one was hard to find. As I laid there in bed, trying to come up with a strategy, I instantly thought of something brilliant that would allow me to spend the rest of summer away from my family and Daren. I left my room for the first time in what felt like ages to me and went downstairs. I had some pretty good timing, because my parents had not woken up yet by the time I snuck out the front door. I weighed my options as I walked away from my home. I considered going to my grandparents for the rest of summer, to go to my coach's house and see if he'd put me up for a month or two, and I even considered going to Pouncefield for the rest of summer. After considering my options, I decided to go with option A and I walked for my grandmother's house. I never saw my grandmother and grandfather White, since they live in Pouncefield and my dad hated going back to that town, so I decided to go to my grandmother Demay's house. She lived in the countryside outside Pawstin, but it was still a good three mile walk. It was worth it though to escape my thoughts at my home. I started my walk, and about half-way through, my cell phone rang. I pulled it out and answered.
"Hello?"
"Amber? Hey, it's Daren."
"Oh, hey Daren."
"What's up?"
"I'm just walking around. You?"
"I just woke up. Hey, you wanna hang out today?"
"I can't. I'm gonna spend the rest of summer with my grandmother. She needs a hand with some chores and I volunteered to help."
"I could always come visit."
"Nah, I kinda want to spend some quality time with my grandmother. I don't see her too much."
"Oh, alright. I understand. You mind if I call you from time to time then?"
"Not at all," I falsely said in a happy tone.
"Alright. Take care Amber."
He then hung the phone up on me. I put my own phone away and finished my walk in silence, taking an hour to do, from start to finish and give or take thirty minutes. I walked up to her front door and knocked on it, hoping she could give me sanctuary from my fears. My grandmother opened the door and smiled.
"Amber! What brings you here?"
"Hi grandma. I was wondering if I could spend the summer with you."
"Is something wrong dear?"
"No," I lied to the elderly fox. "I just don't have much to do this summer, and I thought I'd like to spend some time with you," I told her with a smile.
"Do your parents know?"
"Not yet. I was planning on calling and asking later today. They're asleep right now. I doubt my mom would have a problem with it though."
"As long as your parents don't care, I don't either. But you should've brought some things with you."
"Well, I did want to see if it was ok to stay with you first."
"I have a phone you know, sweetie," she told me with a laugh.
"I needed the exercise," I said with a laugh of my own.
"Alright. Let me get my car keys and I'll drive you home so you can gather some things for the month."
She left the door for a moment and then reappeared. I followed her to her car and climbed in on the passenger's side as she climbed in on the driver's side. The trip was only about twenty minutes by car, and before long, we pulled up outside my home. I went inside and quickly ran to my room, gathering supplies for the next month, including clothes, a few knick-knacks to keep me entertained, and my swim-suit. I put them into a small bag and ran downstairs, where my mom stopped me just short of the front door.
"Amber, where are you going?"
"I wanted to go spend the rest of summer with grandma Demay. I didn't think you'd mind."
"Of course not, but I would've enjoyed knowing before hand."
"Sorry mom. I didn't think about it."
"It's alright. Have fun."
She then smiled and hugged me before going into the kitchen. I hated the idea of leaving her alone here with dad after what he had just done to her a few days prior, but I couldn't handle being in my own home. I took my bag outside and climbed inside my grandmother's car. After I buckled up, I looked at her and smiled.
"My mom said it's ok."
"Ok sweetie."
She then took the car out of park and drove off, headed back to her house. I was finally able to breath a little easier knowing I didn't have to be so afraid that my dad was gonna hurt me and that I didn't have to hear my mom being hurt. I just wished I could've done something to help my mother out as well. At that point though, I also didn't care. I was just happy that I could be away from it all, if only for a few months. My grandmother's car pulled up outside her house as she parked it and turned off the engine. I climbed out with my bag and quickly went inside, wanting to get settled in. I went to the guest bedroom my grandmother had for nights when I wanted to spend the night from back when I was eight years old. I set my bag down on the bed, not bothering to unpack and went into my grandmother's living room. I waited a few minutes before she came into the room herself and sat down, turning on her television with a remote control. My grandmother then turned her head to me and smiled.
"I'm so glad you decided to come spend some time with me Amber."
"I'm glad I decided to spend time with you too. Only time I really see you is during the holidays, and that's really not enough."
"Oh how right you are, child. I really wish I could see you more often."
"Well, we have a couple of months to spend together," I told her with a smile.
"How right you are again," she said with a smile of her own.
We smiled and decided to watch a bit of television. About two hours later, my phone rang, which I immediately answered.
"Hello?"
"Amber? It's Daren."
"Hi Daren."
"Hey, I heard you just got settled in at your grandmothers."
"Mmhm. We're watching TV right now."
"That's nice. Hey, you wanna come over?"
"Daren, I would love to, but I'm spending time with my grandmother right now. How about some other time?"
"Oh, ok. I understand. So... you're gonna be pretty busy all summer, huh?"
"Yeah. I'll see you when the new school year starts, ok?"
"Alright. Have fun this summer."
"You too Daren."
I hung my phone up and put it aside as I turned my attention back to the television, enjoying the program that was on right now. I finally felt comfortable and safe, and that was reassured by the easy night I had that night. All I really did that entire day was watch TV with my grandmother, have some dinner with her, watch more TV, and then go to bed at nine PM. Even when I went to bed, I was able to relax and fall asleep easily, something I hadn't been able to do for a while. I didn't have to worry about anything aside from just waking up the next morning. This vacation from my life was exactly what I needed, and I was going to enjoy it.
*****
Why is it that all breaks, no matter how long or how short, always seem to fly by in the blink of an eye? I felt like I had no sooner arrived at my grandma's house and I already had to leave. Summer had passed by as quick as a bolt of lightning, and I really wasn't ready to return to my life. I was enjoying not having anything to worry about at grandma's house. I still had a few nightmares of that horrid day I walked in on my mom and dad while on my vacation, but I quickly got over it when I woke up and saw my grandmother's smiling face. She always knew how to cheer me up. Anyway, school was starting and that means I had to go home.
Chapter 11: Amber's First Day Back
It was the first day back to school after summer vacation, and my first day back to the real world in my house. My grandma had dropped me off the night before, and I just went upstairs and straight to bed. The next morning I left for school before either of my parents woke up and sat outside the front door to the school, napping off and on until it was time to go in to attend class. My first few classes were easy as pie for me, but it wasn't until my fourth class that I got a shock. I had gone to the gym to change into my gym clothes, and when I came out, Daren was on the other side of the gym. We had the same gym class. He walked over to me and smiled.
"Hey Amber!"
"Hey Daren."
"How was your summer with your grandmother?"
"It was fine. Got to rest and relax, spend time with my grandma, and help her around the house."
"I tried calling a couple of times, but I think your cell phone was dead..."
"Yeah..." I lied to him, unable to tell him that I shut it off so I could escape the real world. "And I forgot to take my charger with me."
"It's ok. So how cool is this that we get to have gym together?"
"Um... kinda cool? It's gym. We're both gonna be sweaty and funky smelling," I said with a giggle.
"Hey, it's better than not getting to share a class with you like what happened last year. That really sucked."
"I know, but that's in the past."
Just as I had finished my sentence, the gym teacher blew his whistle and ordered us to line up in lines arranged by gender, the girls on one side of the gym and the boys on the other.
"Alright, welcome back to school children. For the first week, we'll be doing light stuff to get you back into the routine. After that, it's physical fitness month, meaning push-ups, pull-ups, laps, and sit-ups. And then after that, I've got plenty of fun stuff for you to do. As for today..."
His sentence trailed cold as he walked to the supply closet in the corner of the gym. He unlocked it and walked inside, coming back out with one red rubber ball. Immediately a few of the guys on the other side of the gym shouted "Dodgeball!" in excitement, which caused the gym teacher to shake his head.
"No, not dodgeball today. Today is kickball. Now, have fun and play hard."
The teacher tossed the ball to the students and they immediately picked teams. I only went through the motions of playing because I really didn't want to do any physical work that day. Me and Daren wound up on opposite teams, so that allowed me to forget he was there. I had no idea what I was doing about my life or about him at that time, so I really wanted nothing but some time to myself to think. The gym class flew by quickly with my team winning by two points, the winning kick by me somehow. After gym, the rest of the day went pretty smooth. Daren had caught up with me right outside the buses.
"Hey Amber," he said with a smile to me as he waited outside the bus taking him home.
"Hey Daren. Heading home?"
"Yeah. You?"
"Yeah. I need to go home and get settled back in. I really haven't unpacked or anything yet. Plus I kinda want to see my mom."
"That's cool. See you in gym tomorrow?"
"You got it."
He simply smiled at me and nodded before climbing on his bus. I climbed on the bus that I ride which takes me close to my home, and closed my eyes when I sat down, taking a nap while the bus went along it's route. A kid that lived a few blocks down from me woke me up as the bus drove up to our stop. I followed him off the bus and then went a separate way from him, heading to my town-house, heading back into reality. I opened the door and stepped inside, setting my book-bag down to the side of the door way and quickly slipping my shoes off. I carefully walked into my living room, not really knowing what I'd be walking into. As I peeked my head into the room, I saw my mom sitting on the couch watching TV. I smiled and sighed, very relieved not to find another horrific situation like I did. I sat down next to my mother and started watching TV with her.
"Hi Mom."
"Hi Amber. How was your first day of school?"
"Not bad."
"How was your summer with Gradma Demay?"
"It was nice. I really wish I could see her or my Grandma and Grandpa White more often."
"You know how your dad feels about Pouncefield honey..."
"I know... but it's not fair that the only time I see them is during the holidays, and they have to come HERE for me to see them... and speaking of dad, where is he?"
"He's working a double tonight. It'll just be you and me," she told me with a smile.
"That's alright," I replied with my own smile.
We finished our conversation on that sentence and decided to enjoy a little TV together for a couple of hours. When it came close to dinner time, my mother had ordered a pizza with mushrooms, sausage, and onion from Pawstin Pizza. I ate two slices and my mom ate three, and it was delicious. I wasn't a big pizza eater, but I did enjoy it once in a while. The last three slices we put in our refrigerator for my father. After dinner, we sat and watched more TV until it was time for me to go to bed. I hugged my mom and gave her a kiss on her cheek before saying "good night" and heading to my room. As I changed into my pajamas, I couldn't help but think that the nightmare was past me. Maybe I was just imagining things or there really was no danger. I laid down on my bed and closed my eyes happily, feeling relaxed and safe for the first time in a long time.
*****
Little did I know that the peace I had known the night before was gonna carry over for a while. I was so sure when I went to bed that night that, as soon as I woke up the next day, everything would turn into a terrible nightmare all over again. I was glad to see I was wrong for a little while.
Chapter 12: The Calm Before The Storm
The sun was shining brightly as it rose that early September morning. I laid in bed, half-awake, enjoying the light as it worked its way through my window and enveloped my room with its warming glow. The birds outside were chirping happy songs, and the wind was blowing in a gentle breeze. It was as near picture-perfect in my eyes outside as could be. Then the perfection was broken by the most annoying sound in the world. My alarm clock started buzzing, letting me know it was time to wake up and prepare for the day ahead. Why couldn't alarm clocks be more pleasant sounding than an annoying buzzing beep or static-filled radio stations? Maybe one day I'll try to invent such an alarm clock. Anyway, I quickly shut off the bothersome time-keeper and lazily climbed out of bed. I quickly got ready for the school day ahead with a shower, getting dressed, getting my hair done, and heading downstairs. I was surprised when I saw both my parents awake and actually coexisting peacefully, watching television and drinking coffee together. As badly as I didn't want to interrupt such a shocking scene, I decided to let my parents know I was awake by entering the room.
"Good morning Mom. Good morning Dad," I said to both of them as I walked into the room.
Both my parents looked to me and smiled.
"Good morning Amber," they both replied to me. "How did you sleep?" my mother continued.
"I slept fine. How about you two?"
"Just fine," my father answered. "Are you hungry?"
"Nah, not really. Thanks though," I told my dad.
"Alright Amber. If you get hungry on the way to school, just let me know and I'll stop somewhere to pick some food up for you, ok?"
"Actually Dad... I was thinking of walking to school today."
"Why? Is there something wrong with getting a ride to school from your old man?"
"No Dad. It's not you. I just want to walk to school. I want to enjoy the nice weather while it lasts. It is gonna start getting cold soon again."
"Alright. That's understandable Amber. Just make sure you be careful on the way to school, ok?"
"Don't worry Dad. I will," I replied.
He gave me a smile and went back to watching the TV. I lightly smiled myself as I turned for the door and started to walk towards it. As I took the door knob in my paw, my mom put her own paw on my shoulder. I turned my head and looked to her.
"Yes Mom?"
"Please, be careful, ok?"
"Don't worry Mom. I will."
"Alright honey. I'll see you after school."
"See you after school Mom."
I turned around and wrapped my arms around her and smiled as she did the same. After a few brief seconds, we let go of one another. I turned back to the door, opened it, and headed off to school, leaving my mother and father to go about their own days. The walk to school seemed to go by in an instant as I was lost in my own world, thinking about the past, the present, and the possible future. I still wasn't ready to see Daren too much yet, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was at the start of summer break. Plus the nice weather helped me zone out a little bit. A cool breeze blowing across the city while the sun shines down trying to warm it up slightly, and the leaves were starting to change colors. It was easy to lose yourself with such tranquil scenery around you. Anyway, before I start getting carried away with that, I arrived at the school in what seemed like no time at all. I was still pretty early though, and some of the teachers were pulling into their respective parking spaces to enter the building and plan their days' schedules. One of the teachers, a 35 year old male brown wolf we knew as Mr. Woodley, approached me with his briefcase in paw. He looked at me, a bit puzzled as to why I was there so early, and began to question me about it.
"Hello Miss White. What are you doing at school so early?"
"Hi Mr. Woodley. How early is it?"
"It's 6:45. Class doesn't start for another hour and fifteen minutes."
"Oh, I thought it was later than that. I'm sorry."
"No need to be sorry Miss White," he told me with a smile. "Would you like to enter the building with me?"
"Am I allowed in? I thought students weren't allowed in until 7:30 for breakfast?"
"As long as you stay in my room and help me set up for my classes today, you're allowed in."
"Thank you Mr. Woodley."
He simply nodded to me as he walked to the main entrance, opened the door, and held it open for me. I smiled at him and walked past him, waiting for him to close the door and take lead again so he could guide me to his room. I didn't do anything to help him with his day though. He let me inside so I could nap in his room until class started. The time flied by in a hurry. One second, I laid my head down on the desk and closed my eyes. The next second, I heard him calling my name as he gently shook me on my shoulder.
"Amber? Ammmbbbeerrr?"
I groaned lightly as I shook my head a little and looked to where the voice was coming from.
"Y-yes?"
"Amber, it's about time for school. I figured you'd want to wake up and start heading to your first class before the other students started entering and see you sleeping in my room."
"Alright. Thank you Mr. Woodley."
I slowly sat up in the chair, blinked my eyes a few times, and stood up. I left his room and walked down the hall, ready to face the day ahead. It surprisingly wasn't too difficult to face. Since school was just starting up for the year, classes were rather easy. Even gym wasn't so hard to look forward to because Daren was sick and not in school. I know I should feel bad for thinking that way about my boyfriend, but I'm still not quite certain if I'm ready to spend some alone time with him. To tell the truth, that image of my dad and mom still haunts my dreams from time to time. It hasn't been quite as often as it first was, but having that dream once every five or six days is quite unbearable. Anyway, school seemed to fly in the blink of an eye, and I was back home with my mom before I really had a chance to think about it.
"Hi Amber," my mother said to me as I entered our home.
"Hi Mom. How was your day?"
"Not bad. How about yours?"
"Mine wasn't too bad," I said as I walked into the living room where my mom was sitting and watching TV.
"Glad to hear it."
"Dad working tonight?"
"Yeah. He probably won't be home until a little after you go to bed tonight."
"Alright. I just haven't seen him in a while. I miss him," I told my mom in a flat-out lie, trying my hardest to sound as sincere as possible.
"He misses you too. He hasn't really been himself while you were away spending time with your grandmother."
"What do you mean?"
"He just hasn't really been interested in too much of anything, not even his favorite things. It was like a part of him missing or something."
At that point, I really started to wonder if he really was as bad as I thought he was. After seeing what he did to my mom, I thought my father was just this horrible monster that had no soul or sense of pity or shame. After hearing that little line from my mom, however, I really started thinking he wasn't as bad as I made him out to be. How many monsters lose interest in things when somebody leaves them for a few months?
"Well, hopefully he and I can get some time together soon."
"Yeah, hopefully. So, I'm gonna head upstairs and lay down for a nap for a couple of hours. I was gonna call out some pizza again for dinner, ok?"
"That sounds good Mom."
"Alright. Have fun."
She put her paw on my shoulder and smiled before she walked up the stairs and to her room to lay down for her nap. I spent those few hours she was laying down watching TV and doing what little homework I had. When she woke up, she kept to her word and ordered pizza for dinner, which I had no problem with. Pizza is one of my favorite foods. You can always change the toppings, cheese, and sauce to make it taste different every time. After we ate dinner, we sat there and watched some more TV together before it was time for me to go to bed. I was laying there awake for an hour or so when I heard my dad come home from work. I decided to stay awake for another hour to make sure my mother was gonna be ok all night, but I really didn't have to. Their night together was spent in peace and quiet, which I was happy to hear, or not hear. At this point, I pretty much knew I had my father figured out all wrong. I smiled as I finally drifted to sleep and rested easily for the night and quite a few nights to come.
*****
About a month later, my world started to fall apart again. My parents had started to dislike each other again. My father started drinking a little and would come home very drunk and very bitter. They tried to hide it while I was around, but they're not that great at hiding things or lying. What made it worse is poor Daren was waiting so patiently for me to be better. At that point, I just didn't know about anything anymore, and I didn't want anything to do with anybody.
Chapter 13: The Storm Starts
I hadn't slept well in a few days. If Dad wasn't coming home drunk, I was awaken in the middle of the night from some brief screams of pain coming from my parents' room. The loss of sleep was really starting to affect me in school.
"MISS WHITE?!?!"
I quickly jerked up in my seat when I heard my teacher scream my name. I hadn't realized I had dozed off in the middle of class. I looked to him, sort of embarrassed, and was only able to force one word out of my throat.
"Y-yes...?"
"Miss White, this is the third time this week you have fallen asleep in class. I'm sorry I have to say this, but I'm going to have to assign you detention."
"I'm... I'm sorry," I told him as I slumped my head down between my shoulders.
"Don't be sorry. Just make sure you stay awake from now on."
"Yes sir.”
I don’t remember much of the rest of that class. The only thing I remember was the teacher, who just happened to be Mr. Woodley, coming to my desk once all the other kids where out of the room and handing me my detention slip. I do remember the look he had on his face when he handed me the small piece of paper. It was one of slight confusion.
“I don’t know what’s going on with you, young lady, but it needs to stop.”
I looked at him hurriedly as those words came from his mouth. “Nothing’s going on,” I quickly replied, trying to derail all thoughts of anything “going on” at home.
“Well, I know something’s up, Miss White. I talked to some of your other teachers, and they’ve all told me the same thing I’ve noticed in my class. You’ve been starting to fall asleep in some of your other classes, and your grades are starting to slip in every class you have.” He walked back to his desk, grabbed his chair, and pulled it beside my desk. He sat in his chair and put his arm around my shoulders. “Listen, you used to be a straight A student. You were, and still are, a great swimmer on our swim team, and you used to be so happy and care-free...”
“I know,” I said in response as my head slumped down between my shoulders for the second time today.
“Listen, I want you to get back on track, ok? I want to hear that you’re no longer falling asleep in class, that your grades are improving, and I want to see the old Amber White we have all come to know and care for in this school.”
“I... I’ll try.”
“And listen, if there’s anything... ANYTHING... going on that’s bothering you, you know you can come talk to me in confidentiality, ok? I and a lot of your other teachers are all here for you if you need us. So please, talk to us if you have ANY problems, ok?”
“Ok.”
He then pushed his chair back to his desk and started writing something on another piece of paper. I thought it was a second detention as he handed it to me.
“Here you go. Hall pass. Run along to your next class. I’ll see you in detention.”
I simply nodded as I took the slip from his paw and left the room. He didn’t know I had lunch after his class, so I really had no need for the hall pass. As I grabbed my tray of lunch, I saw Daren out of the corner of my eye, but something seemed... odd... about him today. His face was burried in a book and he didn’t seem to want to look at anybody. I decided to go sit by him and try to find out what was wrong.
“Hey Daren,” I said to him as I sat down next to him.
“Hi Amber,” he replied without looking away from his book.
“Sorry we haven’t had much time to hang out recently. My mom’s been needing some help down at the library,” I said in a flat-out lie.
“It’s ok. I been kinda busy myself,” he told me, still without looking away from his book.
I looked at the cover of the book to see what was so attention grabbing.
"'Resident Evil: The Umbrella Conspiracy'."
"Yeah, it's a book based off a video game. Both are about this group of elite cops who investigate this mansion that is filled with zombies and other monsters."
“It sounds good. A little scary, but good. Anyway, I’m more into romance novels. It always warms my heart when the destined lovers finally cross paths and become happily ever after,” I said with a smile.
“That’s cool.”
At that point, I was getting a tiny bit frustrated that he wouldn’t look away from his book. I decided to grab the book out of his paws, and, not long after, I wish I hadn’t. My eyes opened as wide as they could and my jaw probably hit the floor, literally, when I saw the horrors that lay behind the book. On his face, barely visible under his fur, were bruises. One under his right eye and another on the left side of his jaw. I was so astonished I couldn’t even speak.
“D-Daren...?”
“I... my... my new step-father... he accidentally hit me with a baseball when we were playing catch yesterday...”
“What? Wait... when... when did you get a step-father?”
“My mom got married to him over the summer. I don’t see him half the time anyway. He works a lot.”
“Does it hurt? The bruises.”
“Oh, nah... only when I touch them. He... he sure throws fast...”
I saw his eyes immediately dart to the floor. I knew what was really going on, but for his sake, I just played along. However, seeing what he was going through started raising the red flags about my own father that I thought I had put away so very long ago. I once again became worried that I was going to be hurt by him. I tried to shake the thought from my head, but it haunted me all day. Needless to say, I can’t remember much else from the day because my mind was so wrapped around the idea of my father hurting me. In fact, I don’t remember much of the rest of the entire day for that matter. It all just seemed to blur together, all dominated by that single thought. The one last thing I do remember from that day is something that actually happened after I had tried to fall asleep in my bed.
“Alice? Alice?!? Open up... I... I forgot my keys...”
My dad had come home drunk, again, and was pounding mercilessly on the door. I snuck out of bed and got myself into a position where I could hear anything that went on without being seen. I prayed to whatever forces are at work in our lives that Mom wouldn't open up the door, but she did.
"Jack? Have you been drinking again?"
"What business is it of yours if I drink or not? What are you, my mother?" my father answered in a very harsh tone.
"Jack... please don't take that tone with me," my mom said with a sigh.
"I'll take whatever tone I want."
"Listen, I know you're upset about the loss of your great tips... still... but you gotta get over it. Maybe it's time you found a new job?"
"Would you PLEASE get off my back about a new job? It's all I hear from you every day!" he yelled at his wife.
"Jack, please don't yell at me."
"I think I have the right. Here I am, busting my ass working for a fucktard of a boss while you play Miss Nice at the library, bringing home chicken feed for pay, and yet every night YOU tell ME to get a new fucking job! How about this? How about YOU get the new fucking job Alice?"
"I'm happy with my job, Jack. Sure, it may not pay a lot, but at least I don't come home drunk and angry every night. I know it's the booze that's bringing out the worst in you, so I'm trying to be patient here..."
"Oh don't you fucking preach to me. My job sucks like hell. I think I deserve the right to blow off some steam with a couple of shots of whiskey here and there," my dad yelled, his vioce hoarse from all the yelling he had been doing.
"You do deserve the right to blow off steam, but maybe it should be without alcohol. You're not a bad man when you're sober. I don't know why the booze makes you like this..."
"I told you to stop fucking preaching!"
What happened next, I wish I could erase from my mind, but I don't think it'll ever leave. I saw my dad raise his hand to my mom and slap her across her face, knocking her down to the ground. She immediately looked back up at Dad with tears in her eyes as my dad's own eyes widened, realizing what he had done. He bent down and wrapped his arms around her.
"Oh my god... Alice... I'm so sorry..." he said in a sincere tone. "You know I'd never hurt you... I..."
My mom then reluctantly wrapped her arms back around her husband, and tried to smile, but one never formed.
"I... I know... it's the booze..."
"I... I can't promise to stop drinking... but I'll try not to get so drunk where it makes me into that asshole..."
"I... can live with that."
The two then stopped talking and just sat there in each others' embrace, trying to repair the damage my father just did with one paw. I went back to my room, where I shut my door and locked it. I climbed into bed with tears in my eyes, crying and praying all night that I wouldn't be next to be hit. After three hours, I lost the last bit of energy I had in my body and drifted off to sleep, still crying and praying I wouldn't be next.
*****
So there I was for two more months, knowing that my dad's drinking made him violent and having to see Daren come in every other day with new bruises on him. Both my father and my "boyfriend's" step-father were hurting the ones they loved. I didn't feel safe anywhere anymore, and what made it worse was that winter was really starting to pick up pace.
Chapter 14: The Great Depression
The January and February months in Pawstin are always horrible. If you don't get teens or sub-zero temperatures, you're buried under two foot of snow. Once in a while, we get lucky and get mild winter temperatures, which are usually 20's and 30's, and we only get about 6 inches of snow maximum, but that's a very rare case. What really made this January worse, aside from worrying every night if my dad was going to come home and hurt me or if he was going to come home and be the man he used to be, was the fact that Daren and I have been "dating" for over a year, and I've only really been able to enjoy the first few months of it. I know I shouldn't try to avoid him, but I just can't handle everything that's going on. It was really starting to show too.
"Miss White!"
I snapped back to reality when I heard my name called. Apparently, class had ended and I didn't know it. I was in Mr. Woodley's class, and I think he's suspecting more and more every day. Since those detentions he gave me a couple of months ago, he's been asking me everyday how everything is at home and if I'm ok and if there's anything wrong. He's even been trying to go easy on me, not assigning detentions when I fall asleep in his class. I looked at him, feeling completely worn down, giving a fake smile and nodding.
"Miss White, you were daydreaming again, weren't you?"
My smile faded as I let out a small sigh.
"Yes sir..."
"Amber, you know if anything's wrong, you can tell me or the other teachers. Whatever is going on, it's really affecting you bad now. Your grades are STILL falling, you've lost your cheery attitude, and now-a-days you come to school twice or thrice a week with your fur and clothes a mess, as if you been sleeping in them the night before trying to get out of your house as early as possible every morning."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Woodley. It's these winter months. They make me anxious. I think being cooped up all winter because of snow is starting to give me cabin fever."
"But it's been going on for MONTHS, Amber."
I looked down at the ground and sighed once more. I was trying so hard to think of another lie to tell him so he would stop suspecting anything. I didn't really want anybody outside the family to get involved. I know what they do when they even SUSPECT somebody of being an abusive father/husband. They throw him in jail for years, whether he is or not, and I would never be allowed to see him. I knew in my gut everything was going to work out, but I just had to give it time.
"Listen, Mr. Woodley. It's... it's my family..." I finally confessed.
"What's wrong with your family?"
"We... my dad..."
"Yes?"
"My dad... has hit a rough spot at work. He's only making half the money he used to make. I'm worried about him and my mom, and I'm worried we won't be able to stay in the place we're at or to be able to enjoy ourselves..."
I watched his face as his expression changed from grim to a very light relief. He let out a happy sigh and squatted down next to my seat.
"Listen Amber, there's no reason for you to worry about any of that stuff. That's what your parents are doing. They're worrying about all the money issues so that you CAN stay in your home and you CAN enjoy yourselves a little. You're not helping anything by worrying yourself sick over it too."
"Yeah... but..."
He put a finger to my lips to shush me.
"Listen, just try to forget about it, ok? Everything is going to work itself out in the end. You'll see. The universe always has a way of making everything better, even when everything seems its darkest. You just have to keep focused on the light at the end of the tunnel, and everything will be alright. Ok Amber?"
I simply nodded. I tried to believe him. I WANTED to believe him, but I just couldn't. Until my father stopped drinking and I knew I was going to be alright, like when I was a little girl 2 years prior, I just couldn't believe that everything would be ok.
"Alright, Mr. Woodley."
"Now, I'll write you a hall pass to your next class and..."
"Actually," I started, cutting the young teacher off. "I go to lunch next. I don't need a hall pass."
"Oh, ok then. Well, I'll see you tomorrow Amber, and I hope that you'll be back to the Amber we all know and care for."
"I'll try," I told him in a half-lie.
I wanted to be the same girl I used to be, but I had so much on my mind. Maybe if I ACT like nothing is wrong, then maybe nothing WILL be wrong. That thought has run through my head since these problems first started. I never actually gave any SERIOUS thought to actually trying to act like nothing is wrong, but Mr. Woodley got me thinking about it now. I figured I'd give it a try at lunch with Daren, so I smiled at Mr. Woodley as I left his class and walked down the plain white halls of the school. I tried thinking of every word I was going to say as I headed in the direction of the smells of delicious food. Yes, I said it, I like school food. I know many call me crazy for it, but I do. Anyway, back on track, I arrived at the lunchroom and quickly sat down next to Daren. His face had no bruises on it today, so I felt a bit relieved. He looked at me and we both half-smiled at each other. However, his half-smile faded and I saw him look to the floor, letting out a sigh. There was something important he wanted to tell me, but the first thing he said to me was the last thing I'd ever expect him to say.
"Listen... Amber..."
"Yeah?"
"You know them bruises I seem to have off and on?"
"Yeah, the ones you get when you and your step-dad play sports games together," I said, playing along with the charade that he's been playing since I first found out about his step-father.
"No, they're not sports bruises. He... he hits me..."
"What?!?" I questioned him, continuing to play along. I wasn't surprised from the fact that he was being hit; I suspected it all along. I was a little surprised, however, that he is telling me this now.
"Yeah... he... he used to hit on me..."
"Used to?"
"Well, yeah, used to. See, about a month ago, my mom got tired of it and called some help. She sent him to see a shrink, put him in an anger management group, and even notified the cops. He finished all that stuff yesterday, and he seems to be better."
"Well... if he's better, why are you telling me all this?"
"Yeah... see..." he started, letting out another sigh. "I just couldn't hold it in anymore. I felt like I need to tell somebody, and you're my girlfriend. I must've seemed so distant since you came back from your grandmother's when school started, but I just didn't want to face anybody."
"I understand how that feels," I told him, confessing without actually confessing that I was having the same problem.
"Now that my step-dad is better, I feel it's time I try to get things back on track. I was hoping maybe you and I could go out on a date sometime soon, try to pick up where we left off at the end of spring last year."
"In January? You want to try and do stuff in January?"
"Why not? I mean, it's not like the big snows have fallen and the terrible temperatures have set in yet."
I hesitated only a moment, trying to think of something to tell him. I wanted to get my life back to the way it was, but this was a little too fast for me, especially since I still have my own problems to worry about. Just when I thought I couldn't think of anything, a spark of genius flashed through my mind, kinda like that little cartoon light-bulb you see on T.V. whenever anybody gets an idea.
"Well, why don't we save this for the Valentine's Day Dance that the school is going to throw next month?"
"Aw... really? I was kinda hoping to pick up sooner than that..." he said in disbelief, his head slumping between his shoulders.
"If you wait, I promise to make it special for you," I told him with a wink.
"Special? Special how?"
"If I told you that, it wouldn't be so special, now would it?" I stated with a half giggle.
"No, I guess it wouldn't. Alright, you're on. We'll wait until the Valentine's Day Dance. But can we at least hang out during school and stuff?"
"We only have lunch and gym together..."
"Yeah, so? I'd still like to hang out with you as much as possible in gym and here, as well as any time I can get between classes or before school."
Now this was the pace I was looking for. I don't want anything to fast, since I never know when my dad's going to come home and do to me what he does to my mom, and I don't think I can handle that as well as having a boyfriend at the same time. Hell, I'm not even sure if I can handle having a friend, but if I don't do something soon, Mr. Woodley is just going to keep growing more and more suspicious. I really can't have that on my plate as well. So I nodded my head and gave Daren a smile.
"Yeah, sure. Why not, you know?"
"Awesome," he said with excitement clear in his voice. "Well, I'll see you at gym then?"
"Yeah."
"Awesome!"
He took his tray and left the table, dumping the food out in a trash can before setting the tray on a rack where we store our dirty trays to be taken to be cleaned. He then lined up near the door and waited for the teacher that monitors lunch to let everybody go for their next classes. I just sat after he left and tried to play everything out in my head.
Mr. Woodley HAD said everything would work out in the end, and Daren's step-father got help and is now better. So everything is now better for Daren, but that doesn't exactly help me. Is this a sign that I should try to get my dad some help? But if I do that, I'll never get to see him again. But Daren's step-dad is at home with Daren, so maybe I'll be allowed to see my father when he's done? Oh, this is all so confusing... it's making my brain hurt...
I don't tell too many others the thoughts I had that day, since all of this is still relatively fresh to me and I'm just now starting to settle down from all of it. Another deciding factor that came into play about me deciding not to tell too many about said thoughts is the fact that, while the rest of my day at school was easy, my night was rough. Well, my night as I tried to fall asleep. My dad had come home drunk again. He had promised to try to not come home drunk, but after the incident, he seemed to come home in that state every other night instead of every single night. I didn't hear of him hitting my mom in a drunken rage, but I was always worried that he might, and then he might turn on me. It was just all so confusing. At that point, I think the only thing that kept me going was the one question that ran through my head that night a few times before falling asleep.
"Will everything work itself out, or is Mr. Woodley just trying to comfort me and ready me for a painful future?"
*****
So there I was, trying to pretend like nothing was wrong, and it was actually working. For a month, things WERE getting better. My dad's drinking was slowing down, Daren and I were having fun together in school, and I haven't heard anything bad coming from my parents' bedroom in a long while. Mr. Woodley has even backed off, and my attitude and grades are improving rapidly. For the first time in a long time, I felt like nothing could go wrong.
Chapter 15: Valentine's Day
The time had finally come. It was Valentine's Day, and that meant that the dance was here. The one I had promised to take Daren to. I had been trying, since I first made the promise, to prepare myself mentally for this night. It would be the first time I would spend any kind of alone time with Daren since the spring of last year, and I was EXTREMELY nervous. Yeah, there were going to be other kids at the dance, but on the way there and on the way home, it was going to just be him and me, and it scared me a little. I decided to suck it up though, because it was going against everything I had been working to do since Mr. Woodley gave me that advice. I was trying to act like nothing was wrong, and being scared of being alone with your boyfriend for more than two seconds is DEFINITELY wrong. I knew nothing bad would happen. I guess it kinda felt like a first date all over again. I was sitting there with a towel wrapped around my body, drying off from the shower I had taken, brushing my hair into what used to be my favorite style when my mom knocked on the door.
"Everything ok in there Amber?"
"Yeah Mom. Just brushing my hair."
"May I come in?"
"Sure."
I heard the door open and close beside me as my mother entered the room. I didn't take my eyes off my hair for one moment. I wanted it to be perfect.
"Brushing your hair into that weird style you like, huh sweetie?"
"There's nothing 'weird' about my style Mom."
"No, not weird, but it is a shame to cover any part of your pretty face with your hair. You know, you really should get it cut. I think you'd look just so adorable with a medium length bob cut."
"Mom, I like my hair the way it is, and I'm NEVER gonna change it, ok?"
"Alright sweetie. So, what time is the dance?"
"It's at 9," I told her without looking away from the mirror. my hair almost in the exact shape and style I wanted it.
"What time are we picking up Daren?"
"We're picking him up? I assumed he was going to meet me there."
"Well, I'll call him and tell him to expect us at 8:45 then," she said with a smile that I could see in the reflection of my mirror.
"Alright Mom."
"Just one thing before I go dear..."
She paused. I waited for her to continue, but she just stood there like a silent statue. I guess she was waiting for me to respond, so I did.
"Yes Mom?"
"Um... I know it's Valentine's Day and all... and I know you and Daren have been dating a while... but... just remember, don't rush things, ok?"
This is when I stopped brushing my hair and turned to face my mom. I was completely confused by what she was trying to say, and I know I wore the expression to show it.
"What? What are you talking about?"
Her face showed EVERY little thought about how she didn't want to be there talking to me about what she was going to say, and after she told me, I couldn't blame her. After she told me, I wished she hadn't.
"If you and Daren should find some... alone time... just try to remember... your relationship should not be defined by... um..."
"By what?"
"By sex."
"MOM!"
I could almost feel the heat rising from my cheeks as they probably turned the brightest red anybody had ever seen.
"I'm just saying that your first time is VERY important, and you shouldn't rush it and do something you might regret."
"Mom, it's just a dance. We're going there, gonna groove, get some food and punch, and that's it! Nothing like that is going to happen tonight!"
"Alright. Still, try to remember my words, ok?"
"Alright Mom. Don't you have to go call Daren or something to let him know we're coming?!?"
"Yes I do. I'll leave you to get ready."
I whispered to myself 'Thank God' as she left the room. Nobody should ever have to endure that. I just sighed to myself as I went back to brushing my hair, quickly getting it into place. I set my brush down and went to my closet, where I had set aside a special dress for tonight. It was a pink sleeveless sequined dress with a little curl flair at the shoulders. The skirt of the dress had only gone to my knees, but it was better than some of those skirts I see at the clothing shops that almost leave your complete bottom half exposed. How anybody could ENJOY wearing something like that, I'll never know. I smiled and hummed a little to myself as I looked it over once and then pulled it off it's hanger, dropping the towel that wrapped my body with one paw and pulling the dress over my head with the other, quickly pulling it down to cover my exposed fur and flesh. I went to the dresser and pulled out a special matching pair of panties from my top drawer and proceeded to put those on under the skirt. I went back to the mirror, took one small turn as I looked at myself, and I smiled. I really looked good.
"Amber?!?" my dad shouted for me.
"Yes Dad?" I shouted back.
I guess he followed my voice to me, because when he next spoke to me, it was a lot softer and from directly behind my door.
"I just wanted to say 'have fun' before you left."
"Alright Dad. Thank you. I'm sure I will."
"And if you do anything frisky with Daren, make sure you have protection."
At that point, I dropped my head into my hands and resisted the urge to just scream. Not one, but BOTH my parents had something to say about sex that night. It's enough to drive even the most sane kid insane.
"Alright Dad."
"Well, have fun."
I heard no more from him after that. It was a little weird how Dad's advice for me about sex was so very different from Mom's. I guess that's what happens when your Dad comes from a place like Pouncefield. I never been there before at that point, and the only thing I knew about it were from rumors. Every rumor was basically the same too; just a bunch of naked bodies everywhere scrambled upon each other 24/7. It was a disturbing thought, but I quickly shook it from my head as I went downstairs, all dressed, and waited for my mom near our front door. The wait wasn't long as she quickly came to the door with car keys in hand. She looked at me and smiled.
"You look very lovely Amber."
"Thanks Mom," I said with a smile.
"Ready to go?"
I simply nodded as I opened the door and walked to the family car, my mother not far behind. I'm not gonna bore you with the details of the car ride, as almost everybody has rode in a car from Point A to Point B at some point in their life. We picked up Daren and made it to the dance at the school just as the doors to the gymnasium were opening. I thanked her for the ride as me and Daren quickly scrambled out of the car and quickly walked for the gym doors. The night went pretty smooth. We danced off and on, got our fill of a nice table of snacks that were set out, and Daren even won the limbo contest that somebody had suggested. It was a fun night, but it was also winding down to an end. As I was preparing myself to leave with Daren, he quickly whispered something in my ear.
"Come with me."
So I followed him out of the gym to the inside of the school, not the outside. I followed him down the halls of the school, taking in the new sights. The school was kinda bland during the day with all the lights on, but at night, when all that's on are emergency lights, it really made the place look alive. Daren led me to a door that I had never been to or through before. I read the words that were printed on the wood.
"Teacher's lounge?"
"Yeah."
"Why are we here?"
"You don't want to go home already, do you?"
I sighed inwardly, making sure not to make any kind of external noise suggesting that I DID in fact want to go home. I was enjoying my time with Daren, but the dance was over, and I was a tiny bit tired. I decided, against what every cell in my body was telling me not to do out of pure exhaustion, to stay with Daren as he jiggled the locked door.
"So how are you gonna get in? It's obviously locked!"
As those words were coming from my mouth, he started to fish something out of his front left pocket. He pulled the mystery item out a few moments later and showed it to me, the metal half-shining underneath the emergency light that lit the door up.
"I've got a key!"
I smiled as he showed me the key, but I couldn't help but having "Of course you do..." run through my head a couple of times. Like I said, it wasn't that I wasn't enjoying being with Daren, I just wanted to go home. As he finished unlocking the door, letting it swing open on it's own, I looked inside the forbidden room. I had never been there before, so this was a first for me. After seeing it, I now know why they like having this lounge. Inside was the typical lounge stuff, vending machines of soda and candy, a coffee pot, and a few cabinets for various odds and ends. The stuff that really caught my attention was the couch, the TV, and the large book-case filled to the brim with books. Probably enough there to make a decent sized tree. Daren sat on the couch and patted the seat next to him. Taking the cue, I sat down right next to him, still taking in the room. That would be the first and only time I would get to see the room, so I wanted to get my money's worth before I left. He looked at me and smiled.
"So... um... hey Amber, how long have we been dating?"
"I believe a little over a year. Like a year and 3 or 4 months."
"I was thinking... we've been dating so long... and yet all we really do is kiss..."
I got a sudden chill up my spine from where he was going with this. I knew where, but I just continued to play dumb, hoping he was actually going somewhere other than there.
"You don't like that? I know I do."
"Yeah... it's fine... but you DID promise me something... 'special'... tonight..."
I quickly looked at him, eyes wide with astonishment. He WAS going where I thought he was going.
"I did do something special for you. See this dress? I picked it out specifically for you. You don't like it?"
"Oh... well... yeah, it's nice..."
The disappointment in his voice was enough to make even the most heartless guy feel sorry for him.
"But you want more... huh?"
"Nah, it's fine. I just thought when you said 'special'... I just thought you were talking about something else..."
I let out a sigh of frustration, one that Daren hadn't noticed. I really didn't want to be there doing THAT with him, but he has been very patient with me and my problems. I decided to suck it up and go ahead with Daren's wish.
"Well... I don't see the harm in it..."
As those words came from my mouth, his eyes widened and lit up brighter than anything I've ever seen before. He went from the most disappointed guy on the planet to the happiest in one quick second.
"You... you mean it?"
"Well... yeah... just take it slow, ok?"
"Oh thank you Amber. I love you."
"I love you too Daren."
We smiled at each other for a brief moment before Daren closed his eyes and laid his lips against mine. I closed my eyes, taking in the embrace, wrapping my arms around him, holding him close. He rubbed right paw down my left arm and down the left side of my body and down further onto my leg until he reached my knee. The frisky fox then slowly slid his paw up the inside of my leg until he was on top of my waist underneath my skirt. His touch felt weird, but I was actually enjoying it. Rather, I was enjoying it until an image popped into my head I thought was long gone. Just as he touched me under my skirt, the vision of my dad hurting my mom that night in bed popped into my head. I shook it off and tried to enjoy the situation. I think Daren noticed something though.
"Is something wrong?" he asked as he broke off his kiss with me.
"No... nothing. Just thought I saw something in the corner," I told him in a clear lie.
"Don't worry, we're the only two in here, ok?"
"O... ok..."
He smiled as he kissed me yet again. I closed my eyes, trying to get back into the spirit of things, and it was working fairly well. Daren then slowly slid my panties down off my frame to my ankles, and when he touched me in my most private of areas, the vision returned. I tried to shake it from my mind, but, this time, it just wouldn't leave. I quickly jerked away from the young sand fox and started to shudder a little.
"What... what's wrong?" Daren asked me.
"I... I'm sorry... I'm just not ready for this..." I confessed to him, quickly grabbing my undergarments and sliding them back up into position.
"Are you sure? I'm sure if you just try to get into the mood of things, everything will be ok..."
"Yes, Daren... I'm sure..."
His eyes shot down, disappointed again. This time, though, I didn't care. I had seen how much Mom had been hurt during such activity, and I didn't want to wind up the same as her. I wanted to do this with Daren. I TRIED to do it, but I just couldn't shake that bad memory from my mind.
"Well... can we... at least still kiss?"
I looked to Daren and sighed. After what I just seen in my head, I wanted NOTHING to do with ANY boy at that point in the night. I just wanted to go home.
"Of course. Some other night though... I REALLY want to go home now..."
"Oh... I see..."
His head slumped between his shoulders, both in shame and disappointment. I felt a little bad for him, but I just couldn't bring myself to do anything more with him that night.
"Listen Daren... I just... I'm not ready for that, ok? We can still go out and stuff... I'm just not ready for sex..."
He lifted his head up, showing a small sign of reprieve from the idea that I wanted nothing to do with him any more.
"So... it's not me?"
"No Daren... it's not. It's me. I'm just not ready, ok?"
He nodded his head at me. I could still see some disappointment in his eyes, but he was ok with me and my decision. He walked to the counter and picked the phone up off it's base. He dialed a few numbers and then held the receiver to his head.
"Hello? Mrs. White? It's me, Daren. Hey, we're ready to come home. Would you mind giving us a ride? Alright, thank you. See you in a bit."
He hung the phone up and headed for the door. I stood up to join him as he got closer to me, and we went outside the school, making sure to lock the Teacher's Lounge behind us. My mom arrived a few minutes later, picked us up, and we were on our way. After Daren was dropped off, Mom took me home. When she pulled up in front of our place, I quickly scurried out, got inside as quickly as I could, and ran to my room. I quickly shed the special dress I had picked out for Daren and just tossed it aside. I collapsed on my bed and started to cry, the tears running across my face sideways as they slowly rolled toward my bed.
"This is the worst night ever..."
I didn't have much time to feel bad, though. Between the exhaustion from the dance and the new mental exhaustion from what had just happened, it didn't take long for my body to lose the last bit of it's energy as I fell into a deep sleep, bringing the night to an end.
*****
Just as quickly as my life started to turn around, it had fallen apart again. In the month that has passed since the Valentine's Day Dance, my dad and mom started having their "bedroom problems" again, Mr. Woodley was transferred to a different school district, and I had overheard a couple of times my mom talking to my grandmother, her mother, and mentioning "divorce". My life had become topsy-turvey all over again, and there was nothing I could do to change it.
Chapter 16: The Beginning Of Change
School just hasn't been the same since Mr. Woodley left. He was always there to help guide me through my worst, and it was his advice that helped to start making a change for the better. Well, until Valentine's Day that is. They only two things that were helping me stay calm during that trying time in my life were Daren and the swim team. The swim team started getting together for practices, and the swim season was about to start the following month. Our first match was against St. Lovejoy's from Pouncefield, which I wasn't worried about since the St. Lovejoy team only ever consisted of three or four members, none of them real strong swimmers. Anyway, on this particular day, Daren and I had taken a walk to the park.
"Man... I sure do love the first few weeks where it gets warmer out in spring," Daren said aloud to try and strike up a conversation as we walked through the park.
"I know what you mean. I get sick of being cramped up in the house," I replied.
The local park in Spring was a beautiful sight. The many different types of trees all started budding, the flowers along the pathways started to bloom, and the sounds of bird chirping happily to welcome the warm weather back always brought a smile to my face.
"Not only that, but the warm weather always seems to make everybody, myself included, so much brighter and happier."
"Yeah, it's very true Daren. Well, then again, not EVERYBODY gets happier."
"Which is also true, and a little sad. Anyway, how's the swim team looking?"
"Since when were you interested in the swim team?" I asked him with a giggle.
"Since it's too early for football, basketball just ended, and I'm not a baseball fan," he answered with a laugh.
"Oooh. So swimming is the lesser of two evils for you, huh?" I joked with the young sand fox.
"Pretty much," he replied, still laughing.
"Well, if you must know, the swim team is looking better this year than we did last year. We even got a couple of new teammates this year."
"Awesome. Think you guys'll win any of your meets this year?"
"Our first game is against St. Lovejoy's. If we can't win that, then there's something wrong."
"Why DOES their team always suck?" Daren asked.
"Probably because they spend so much more time worried about soccer? If you notice, their soccer team is the team to beat every year, and every year they win all kinds of championships, both the boys and girls teams."
"Why doesn't our school have a soccer team?"
"Probably because we're so much more worried about football," I answered with a light giggle.
Pawstin was always a football and basketball town. We had a swim team and a baseball team that both did very well, but everybody always paid more attention to the football team, which usually does ok winning a little more than half it's games, and the basketball team, which hasn't had a winning season in 3 years. To this day, I still don't understand why everybody was more focused on the basketball team that couldn't win rather than the baseball team or the swim team that had strong seasons every year.
"You're probably right."
We looked at each other and smiled, continuing our walk through the small park. I enjoyed spending time with Daren, but after Valentine's Day, I was afraid to spend any alone time with him. I was afraid he'd turn out to be just like Dad. Every time we were together, it was someplace open and had others around. It made me feel safe. We walked around for another half hour before Daren sat down on one of the park's benches. He looked up at me and smiled as I just stood near him.
"Hey, you wanna come to my place with me? This outdoors stuff is nice, but I think I've had enough of it for one day," he said with a light laugh. "We could watch a movie or something."
My mind was racing around in my head, trying to think of some excuse not to come over. This was the twelth time he's invited me over since Valentine's Day, and that made me REALLY nervous. I just said I didn't feel like it the first few times he invited me over, but I knew that wouldn't work forever. He would eventually think I didn't want to be with him at all, which wasn't entirely true. I didn't want to be with him alone, but I did want to be with him. He did bring a little sanity to my world where everything is going so wrong again, but the idea of being alone with him was enough to make me scream in fright. So after a few times, I just started coming up with excuses that made me sound busy.
"I can't."
"Why not?"
I had opened my mouth, getting ready to spit another untruthful excuse at him when my phone rang suddenly. I put a finger up at Daren to tell him "hold on" as I pulled my phone out of my pocket. Thank goodness for whoever invented cell phones. They can sure be a life-saver when you're in a situation you want to get out of. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was my mom calling. I answered, wondering what she was calling for.
"Hey Mom. What's up?"
"Hi Amber. I need you home right away please."
"Why?"
"Just come home please."
"Alright Mom. See you in a bit."
I hung my phone up and put it back in my pocket. I looked to Daren, half happy to have a real reason not to go to his place, and, at the same time, a little worried what my mother wanted.
"Sorry Daren. Family emergency. Mom wants me home pronto."
"Oh, alright."
"I'll see you tomorrow," I told him with a smile.
He nodded and smiled as I walked away. The walk home was pretty routine, so I won't bore you with those details. What awaited for me when I got home, however, is a completely different story, far from routine.
"Hello? Mom?" I called as I walked in the front door.
"In here," I heard her call to me from our living room.
I followed the beckoning voice to where my mother was waiting for me. She was sitting on the couch and patted the seat next to her, asking me to sit next to her. I nodded as I took my place beside her.
"What's up Mom?"
"Well Amber... there's something I need to talk to you about..."
"What is it?"
"Your father and I... well... we're... having problems... and... normally, I'd try to work them out with him, but he's just becoming more and more a different man every day..."
"What do you mean?"
"Well... he stopped drinking... but he's becoming a little more... insensitive... when it comes to our... um... play time."
"Mom, don't try to sugar coat it. I've heard you screaming out in sheer pain many a times..."
"Oh, you have...? I'm... I'm sorry..."
"It's not your fault. It's Dad's... I just wish we could do something about it..." I said with a sigh.
"Actually, I AM doing something about it..."
"Like what?"
"Well... he's become so violent towards our sex life that... well... some nights... he just does it without me even wanting to... and I just can't take it anymore..."
"And?"
"Well... I been talking to your grandmother Demay... and she and I both believe a divorce is the best solution..."
"How long?" I asked, stunning her beyond belief.
"Oh... well... um... I saw a lawyer today. All the paperwork and everything should be finished in about a month."
"Alright. So what are we gonna do? Live with Grandma Demay until then?"
"Actually, yes. Until the paperwork is finished, we're gonna live with her. Then once everything is all set, we'll take it from there. So pack up some clothes, but not all, and get ready to meet me in the car."
I nodded as I hopped off the couch. I quickly ran to my room, gathered up 10 different outfits, a couple of toys, and my favorite brush, putting them all neatly in my suitcase. I went out to the car, and within 15 minutes, we were off to Grandma Demay's place. Mom had explained to me on the way how Grandma Demay still lived within the Pawstin school district, so I could continue to go to school there while we were living with her, and that was fine with me. We got settled in in just as much time as it took us to leave our other home, and everything felt great for the first time in a LONG time. We had fun playing board games, watched a little TV, and even had dinner without worrying about what might be around the corner, whether it was another arguement or some rough "play time". I even felt great going to bed. I could finally relax and just drift off. No worries about Dad or anything else. Things were finally looking up.
*****
It's amazing how quickly time flies when you're able to relax and not worry about much of anything. A month passed by in what seemed to only a couple of days. Mom's paperwork for the divorce got finalized, and dad reluctantly signed it. Mom found us a place to live in Pouncefield, and she even managed to quickly find a job there. The only bad thing is we were moving the day after the first swim meet of the season. Mom talked to everybody in charge of the athletic department and the school and got an ok for me to participate in the meet before I move to Pouncefield. Little did I realize what that day would hold in store for me and my future.
Chapter 17: The Swim Meet
It was a nice Saturday afternoon as the buses dropped us outside St. Lovejoy's school in Pouncefield. The coach led us into the building and to the pool attached to the school where our meet was about to take place. We all got changed into our swim gear quickly and waited on the bench for the competition to start. I was a bit nervous because the coach asked me to run the 1000 meter race for us, which happened to be the longest race at the meet. I decided to just try and calm my nerves, so I sat there on the bench, not saying much of anything. As I was sitting there, I looked across the pool to our opponents. There were only a small handful of them, which was actually somehow smaller than years past. I recognized three of them instantly. There was Jen, a tiger, Jerry, a squirrel, and Geoff, a beaver. I raced each of them once in years past, and, from my experiences, the only one that wasn't a threat was Geoff. However, as I was looking, something really caught my eye. It was a weird looking new kid that I had never seen before.
"Um... coach?" I asked nervously.
"Yes Amber?"
"Who's the new kid?"
The coach looked across the pool to our opposition's bench and then down to a clipboard he was holding.
"Hm... says here his name is William Plats. Transfer student."
"What race is he in?"
"Says here he's in the 1000 meter race."
With those words, I felt my heart sink a bit in my chest. Not only was I competing in the longest race of the meet with Pawstin Pride on the line, but I was now doing it against an opponent I knew absolutely nothing about.
"Oooh... why him...?"
"Don't worry Amber. Just go out there and have fun, ok? It's not about winning or losing. While winning IS nice, it's more important that you be a good sport and you have fun swimming. Ok?"
I nodded, but I was still worried about this new kid. As I sat there on the bench, trying to shake my nerves, the first three races finished.
"Next up is the 1000 Meter Freestyle."
The coach looked at me and smiled.
"Ok Amber, you're up."
I simply nodded as I stood up off the bench and walked to my starting block. I took my position and got myself ready for the dive in, and I waited for my competitor. After a few moments, which happened to seem like a lifetime each, the new kid took his place on his block next to mine. I took my eyes off him and put them onto the water beneath me, trying to shake my nerves. What the kid beside me did next, though, really surprised me.
"EDNA?!?!?!?!?!" the new kid exclaimed.
I looked at him and blinked a couple of times, not sure if he was talking to me or if he was talking to somebody near me. When nobody responded, I quickly answered assuming he had been talking to me.
"Um... excuse me? What did you call me?"
The brown-furred boy then shook his head and blinked his eyes a few times.
"I'm sorry. You reminded me of somebody I know. Good luck," he tells me.
"Thanks. Good luck to you."
The judge at the side of the pool then raised his arm in the air, which was holding a starting pistol loaded with what I assumed to be a blank shot in it.
"Ok swimmers, get set!"
He then fired his gun and both me and the new guy dove into the pool. It was a fairly even race for about an eighth of the first lap, but just when I started thinking thoughts of victory, the new kid starts speeding through the water like a torpedo. It was unreal how he was able to complete a couple of laps before I could complete even one. I decided to go for broke and swim my hardest, but it was to no avail. It seemed like the faster I swam, the faster HE swam. The race was over very quickly, and my competitor was declared the winner. I swam to the side of the pool and climbed out quickly, walking to the bench with my head held low.
"That's just great. I let Pawstin down. And that new kid. He could've eased up a little bit to give me a fair chance, but I guess it was more fun for him to rub his face in it..." I thought to myself.
I sat down on my bench and put my head in my paws. The coach hurries to me and puts his arm around my shoulders.
"It's ok Amber. You did great. It's not your fault that other kid is better."
"But I lost..."
"Which doesn't matter. I'm proud that, even though the odds were greatly stacked against you, you still decided to give it your all and try to win anyway."
"Thanks. That helps," I told him with a half smile.
"Any time Amber."
He then walks away and I look into the pool, realizing he was right. I decided to not let it bother me anymore, but that all changed when I saw the kid I raced walking up to me.
"Great... probably here to rub it in..." quickly ran through my head.
He stopped just about a foot in front of me as I braced myself for his boasting.
"Hi," he simply said.
"Hi there," I replied with a sigh.
"Hey, I just wanted to say sorry about what happened with that race."
"Oh, that. Don't worry about it..."
"But I am worried about it," he started to tell me. "I forgot that there are other kids here, not just me. I'm used to giving it my all against my teammates. They enjoy the challenge. I forgot that I was racing against kids from other schools. I'm sorry."
His words caught me off guard. I hadn't expected this from him. I wasn't prepared for him to actually feel bad about being so good and showing me up so badly. I didn't know what to say or think. I then realized that this kid had a good heart, and I knew I could make a friend out of him, which I knew would be nice since I was moving to his town the day after.
"It's ok," I answered with a smile. "Just glad to know you aren't such a dick," I said jokingly. We both laughed a little as his guilt and my sadness lifted off our shoulders, both of us feeling much better. "Well, it was nice to meet you. You should get back to your team so you guys can plan the Medley."
"Ok. You take care," he said to me with a smile as he walked away.
The coach then walked in front of us and went over the game-plan for the Medley race, which I was not in. The Medley was only one race, but the points for winning that were three times as many as winning any of the other races. After what happened in the 1000 Meter race, I wanted to try and talk my way onto the Medley team, but I also just wanted to sit there and enjoy the rest of the day and competition. I decided to go with the latter of the two options. As my teammates took there spots, I saw the St. Lovejoy team take their spots, but they were missing a swimmer. The judge went to their team and talked with their newest swimmer, and after a couple of minutes, went to the PA booth.
"Your attention please. Due to an insufficient amount of swimmers..."
I stopped paying attention to the announcement at that point, realizing what was going on. I noticed that Jen, the tiger on the St. Lovejoy team, had been favoring her shoulder after her race with Rory, a chimp who's a grade higher than me. I looked across the pool and saw our four competitors all drop their heads in disappointment while my teammates all started cheering. I felt a little bad for them. It had to hurt them fierce that they were disqualified from the final race because of an injury, and it showed big time on their faces.
"Alright kids, it's time to get on the bus and get going home," the coach said to the team over the roar of the cheering.
I followed my teammates into the changing rooms, where we got out of our wet swimsuits and back into our nice, dry clothes. As we walked to the bus to head back home, I couldn't help but still feel bad for the St. Lovejoy team. I knew that a win was good, but I just felt horrible about the way we won and the way they lost. Especially after finding out how nice that new guy on their team was. He didn't deserve to lose like that on his first meet in a new school. Those are the breaks of sports though, and I quickly forgot about it as we climbed on the bus.
"Man, what a way to leave, huh Amber?" Rory asked me, still cheering over our win.
"Yeah. Always nice to end things on a win," a bulldog named Hector said to me.
"Now now... calm down kids. I know you're all excited that Amber won her last meet with Pawstin, but it's also sad that she's leaving us," the coach reminded everybody. "Just know, Amber, we are going to miss you."
"I'll miss you all too," I replied before looking out the window of the seat I was sitting in.
Real life was waiting for me when I got back home. I had to start packing and getting ready for my move to Pouncefield. I knew my life was never going to be the same again.
*****
With my final swim meet as a Pawstin student behind me, I had to look to the future of moving to a new town. The reason we're moving is because Mom let Dad keep the house in the divorce and he agreed to let Mom have custody of me as long as he could visit once in a while. Little did he know that she found a place to live in Pouncefield, and whatever happened to my Dad in Pouncefield kept him from EVER going there for ANY reason.
Chapter 18: Moving Day
Mom rented a moving truck and had it parked outside the apartment she and I used to live in with my father. It was a bittersweet day for me. I loved my father, but I no longer felt safe living with him, and neither did my mother. We had everything we took with us to my Grandmother Demay's place packed up and on the truck, so now it was time to get the rest of our belongings. It was early in the afternoon when we started, and Dad was at work, which allowed us to work in peace. It all went smooth for an hour or two, but, as we were finishing up, Dad came home from work. He walked up to me and gave me a hug.
"Amber, I love you. I just wish things could've been different between your mother and me."
"Don't worry Dad. Mom said you'd be able to come visit, and there always is phone calls."
"Hey Amber, I want you to have something."
I looked at him curiously.
"What?"
"Just wait here."
My dad walked into the apartment. My Mom walked out carrying a box as he entered and had a worried look on her face. She walked up to me and looked back towards the door.
"What's he doing here?"
"I guess he got off work," I answered.
"What did he say to you?"
"That he loves me and he has a gift for me."
"Alright. This is my last box."
"I put my last one on before Dad showed up."
"Alright honey. As soon as he gives you your gift, we'll be on our way."
"Do you mind if we stop at Daren's before we go to our new home?"
"Why?" my mother asked.
"I need to tell him we're moving."
"You haven't told him yet?"
"I didn't really think about it until now."
"Alright honey."
My mom got into the driver's seat of the moving truck and waited for me. A few moments later, my father came out of his apartment with a heavy looking brown trunk with a padlock on it. He lifted my gift onto the back of the moving truck and closed the door. He then turned to me and presented a key.
"Here's the key Amber."
I happily took the metal object from his paw with a smile.
"Thanks Dad."
"You have to promise me something though."
"What's that?"
"You must promise not to ever open it."
"Why?"
"I'd really rather not explain. Let's just say there are many bad memories in there and you're the only one I can trust them with. When you get older, you can open it, and then you can figure out what to do with them then. But if I keep that, or you open it too soon, bad things will happen, ok?"
"Alright Dad."
I slipped the key into my pocket and gave him a hug before climbing into the passenger's seat of the moving truck. I looked at the apartment one last time as Mom pulled away. It was hard to believe that in a short few years, I had gone from a house I had grown to love to this apartment to now moving away from Pawstin entirely. I watched houses and side streets go by as Mom made her way toward the Ferril residence. Along the way, I kept running through my head everything I wanted to say to Daren. Before I realized it, Mom had stopped in front of his house and brought me to attention.
"Amber? We're here."
"Huh? Ok."
I climbed out and slowly walked up to his door, still thinking of how to put everything I wanted to say. I decided to just go with whatever flow led me through the conversation and knocked on his door. He answered quickly and smiled happily.
"Hey Amber!"
"Hey Daren..."
"What's wrong Amber?"
"We need to talk..."
"About?"
I hesitated a moment, trying to be careful of how to say everything. I took a deep breath and started.
"I'm moving to Pouncefield."
"Why?" he asked.
"Mom and Dad have been having problems, so I'm moving with Mom to Pouncefield."
"Oh... well... that's a bit of a journey, but I can make it," he said with a smile.
"No... you won't..."
"What?"
"I don't think it's very fair to make you go all the way to Pouncefield to see me, and I don't really think I can make a trip to Pawstin..."
"We can get our moms to drive us you know," he said quickly, trying to keep the inevitable from happening.
"That's not very fair of us to ask of them."
"Yeah... that's true..."
"I mean, I still want to be friends with you and everything, I just don't think a relationship is gonna be possible for the time being."
He let out the most depressed sigh I had ever heard.
"I understand. I don't like it any, but I understand. And yeah, we can still be friends."
"And who knows, maybe in a few years, things will be different and we can pick back up," I told him to give him some hope.
At that time, I really had no interest in a relationship with anybody, but I really didn't know what the future would hold, so I decided to leave that possibility there in case things were to change in the future.
"I guess there IS that," he replied with a half smile.
Just then, my mother honked the horn on the truck. I looked back to her and then back to Daren.
"Sorry Daren, I gotta go. We gotta get settled in today. I start in a new school in Pouncefield tomorrow."
"Alright Amber. Take care of yourself, ok?"
"I will. You do the same."
"Will do."
He gave me a hug, and I decided to hug him back. I was relieved at how well he took it as we let go of each other and said goodbye to each other for the final time before my move to Pouncefield. He closed the door and I walked back to the truck, climbing in. The trip to Pouncefield was roughly 20 minutes. I never really realized how far away Pouncefield was until I traveled there to start fresh with my Mom. We pulled up in front of our new house, a ranch-style white house with a small yard in front and a driveway to the side. I looked to my Mom and smiled as she put the truck into park and climbed out. We started offloading everything, including Dad's trunk, which we set in a utility closet for the time being until we could figure out what to do with it. It took the better part of the late afternoon and early evening to get everything unloaded and separated into the different rooms. Mom took the room closest to the living room, which I had no problem with. The room that I got was just fine with me. After everything was done, was sat in the living room for a moment before Mom got up and started heading for the door.
"I'll be back Amber. I've gotta go tell my new boss that I'm moved in, for the most part, and can start working whenever he needs me to."
"Alright Mom."
She walked out the front door as I just sat there on the floor wondering what to do until she got home. I decided to take a peek inside the trunk, even though my father warned me not to until many years later. I grabbed the key out of my pocket, opened the utility closet door, and plopped myself down on the ground in front of the chest. I unlocked the padlock, taking it off and setting it aside, and slowly opened the lid. Taped to the top of the lid was a note. I took it down and read it aloud to myself.
"Dear Amber, I'm sorry things couldn't work out between your mother and I. I loved your mother, but I guess she stopped loving me. That doesn't mean I don't love you though. I love you with all my heart, and that's why I trusted you with this trunk. It's full of memories about your mother and I that I really don't want to have anymore. I probably would've gone insane had I kept them. I'm trusting that you did listen to me and you're much older when reading this note. I know you'll know what to do with these. Please do not let your mother see them. They'll just remind her of what she likes to call a bad time in her life. Please, make sure you dispose of these cursed items properly so that none of us may ever see them again. Love, your father."
I started to worry about what exactly the trunk held inside as I started to peel the paper away from my eyes. I looked down into the contents of the trunk and instantly wished I had listened to my dad's warning. Inside where all kinds of stuff that Dad used to use with Mom. Ropes, handcuffs, whips, and a various assortment of other toys and do-dads. I closed the trunk as quickly and hard as I could and then just sat there, trembling. All the bad memories where starting to come back. Times where I stayed awake late at night, hoping I wouldn't be hurt. Other nights where I was kept awake from the screams of the other room. The worst of the memories, however, was that night I actually SAW what was going on in their room. I quickly put the lock back on the chest and left the closet. I decided not to ever let Mom know what was in that trunk. She returned a few hours later with a smile on her face.
"Hi Honey. How was your evening?"
"Not bad," I lied to her. "How was your meeting?"
"Not bad. I start tomorrow. Morning shift."
"That's good," I said with a smile. I had no idea at the time what her new job was, so I naturally assumed it was something innocent. I also noticed she was holding a bag at that time. "What's in the bag?"
"I stopped by the school you'll be going to tomorrow. They have a dress code, so I got these for you."
She pulled a few shirts and skirts out of the bag. The shirts were nice, but white is a little plaine. The skirts, however, were really unsettling. I looked at the size of them and tried one on to see how much it covered, which was very little. I frowned and looked to my mother.
"You couldn't find any longer skirts? This one pretty much shows everything..."
"I know Amber, but that's school regulation. Any longer is against the regulations."
"I don't wanna go to this school then."
"Just give it a chance, ok?"
"Alright," I said with an unhappy sigh. "What's the name of it?"
"St. Lovejoy's."
I found it a little funny and really ironic how the school I was joining was the same school I raced against the day before. Plus, that means I would have a few friends upon entering the school, which is almost always a must-have for new students. Jen, Jerry, and that new kid were all nice. That beaver though, something about him just ruffles my fur. All in all, despite the short skirts, I felt like it might be good to go to that school.
"Ok Mom. Well, I'd better go to bed so I can be up bright and early tomorrow."
"Good girl. Good night Honey. Sweet dreams."
"Night Mom."
I walked to my room, changed into my pajamas, and laid myself down on my bed, which, at the time, was just a matress on the floor. Mom and I still needed to get everything unpacked and settled into place, but I was really enjoying my new home. Above all though, I just couldn't wait to start my first day at this new school of mine.
*****
So there I was, getting ready to start a new school in a uniform I found very much less than desirable. I didn't know anything else about the school aside from the few kids I raced against that went there. I wasn't really in the mood for surprises, but the universe didn't really seem to care much.
Chapter 19: Amber's First Day
It was a rather routine morning for me on my first day at St. Lovejoy's. I woke up early so that I could get washed up and brush my hair into my favorite style. I figured I should try to look my best since it was my first day in a new school, and I really didn't want any rumors or anything to start up about me. I got dressed into the uniform, which was, as I stated earlier, a white shirt with blue trim and a very short blue skirt that only went about a quarter of the way down my upper legs. I couldn't help but frown as I looked at myself in the mirror, but I had to live with it. I grabbed my empty pink book-bag from out of my closet and left my room. I looked for my mom in the kitchen and the living room, but she wasn't there. She was still asleep, but she had left a note in the kitchen for me. They were directions to the school from where we lived. Mom picked out a place that was only a couple of blocks away from the school, so I didn't have a very long walk ahead of me. I grabbed a banana and headed on my way. Along my route to school, I passed another cub who was sitting on his porch, relaxing a bit before heading to school himself.
"Hey Edna. What did you do to your fur?" he called to me as I passed him.
I didn't really pay him any attention since I wasn't this Edna that he was calling me. I entered the school a few moments later and instantly started to feel a little more relaxed. It felt like any other school on the inside, which made me feel a little more at home, and there didn't seem to be any mean or nasty kids around. I made my way to the office to grab my schedule. The principal wasn't too scary like the one I had back in Pawstin. He was a panda that spoke in a soft tone to me. He probably realized I was nervous about starting a new school and tried to make me feel welcome. It helped.
"Welcome to St. Lovejoy's, Miss White," he said to me as he handed me a slip of paper.
"Th-thank you... sir..."
"No need to be so nervous. Nothing to worry about in this school," he told me with a smile.
"Alright sir."
"Now, run along to your first period class. You don't want to be late on your first day," he said with a laugh.
"No sir."
"Have a good day, Miss White."
I simply nodded as I left his office and headed on my way. Along the way, I passed some of the kids I would be going to school with. A few of them called out to me, but a few also whispered to themselves.
"Hey Edna! Busy morning? Couldn't get a wash going?" one called to me with a laugh.
"Is that Edna? What did she do to her fur?" one whispered to another.
"Edna? What's up?!?"
I couldn't take everybody calling me this Edna girl, so I took off for my first class, sprinting down the halls. I got quite a distance away when a teacher grabbed me and stopped me.
"No running in the halls Miss."
"I'm sorry. I just didn't want to be late for my first period class."
"Let me see your schedule."
I handed him my schedule and let him look at it.
"Well, seems like your first class is with me. Come on in and sit down."
I did as told and tried not to pay attention to what the others were saying about me, which I was doing well with for most of the day. The only other problem I had with it came right after lunch. I had finished eating and was getting ready to head to my next class when a leopard boy who looked to be about my age asked me to follow him somewhere. I was naïve at the time, so I followed him willingly. He led me down toward the lockers and pulled me into the janitor's utility closet that rested nearby.
"Um... what are we doing in here?"
"Like you don't know, Edna," he said to me with a chuckle.
"Um... I'm not Edna."
"Oh, I'm sorry. You look exactly like her, just a wee bit taller. And white."
"I been getting that a lot actually..." I told him with a sigh.
"It's the hair. You and her wear it in EXACTLY the same fashion."
"I like it this way. Who is this Edna girl anyway?"
"Nobody you should worry about," he informed me. "So, you're new here, huh?"
"Yeah, first day."
"Has anybody shown you the ropes yet?"
"Nah, I been pretty much winging it all day. I gotta say, it's surprisingly easy to find my classes."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"What are you talking about then?" I asked skeptically.
At that moment, the leopard boy grinned as he unzipped his pants and pull all his lower clothing down off his waist to his ankles. I instantly looked away and covered my eyes.
"What are you doing?!?"
"Showing you the ropes."
"You're disgusting! I don't want to do anything like that!!! What makes you think I would?!?"
"You better get used to it, babe. This school's ALL about yiff. So it's best to join in early and enjoy it."
I then felt his paw take my free paw and start to inch it closer to himself. I screamed as I quickly jerked my hand away from him and brought it across his face in the most powerful slap I could muster. It staggered him, so I used the opportunity to dash out of the closet and back to the cafeteria where plenty of others could see me. That's when I actually noticed there was some truth to what the leopard boy had said. I finally realized at that point that there were some cubs sitting together, but some had their heads under the tables. I felt both disgusted and afraid as I quickly left the cafeteria and made my way to my next class, hoping to avoid everybody along the way. I failed at avoiding kids, but I was successful in preventing any unwanted attention aside from the "Edna" calls I would get once in a while. I prayed for the rest of the day for the day to end or for it all to be one bad nightmare, but the latter never came true and the first prayer took forever to be answered. I finally felt relief for the first time since my after-lunch experience when the final bell for the day had rung and I could free myself from everything. I sprinted toward the doors when I ran into somebody I was never expecting to meet.
"Whoa... is this a fun-house mirror trick or something?" the fur said aloud to herself as she and I looked each other over.
"I could say the same. Just who are you?"
"Name's Edna. And you are?"
"Amber. New here."
"I realized that. You're the only other kid around here I've noticed wearing my hairstyle," she said with a giggle.
"Yeah yeah. So what's your story? Why does everybody know you? Why does everybody think I'm you?"
"Well, first off, you're wearing the same hairstyle as I do, so they're probably just paying attention to that. Secondly, for as to why everybody knows me, I have a bit of a bad reputation, and reps usually spread like wildfire around here, along with a lot of other things."
"Yeah, I noticed. Why don't the teachers do anything about it?"
"I guess they just let everybody be so that school is more enjoyable or something," she told me with a straight face. "Actually, the only time teachers really say anything is if somebody is forcing themselves upon somebody else."
"That's just so wrong on many levels," I grumbled.
"That's the way school is here. My advice, if you don't want to deal with it, try wearing a different hairstyle."
"I been wearing my hair this way for 7 years now! I'm not changing it!"
"I would, but everybody sees this style and instantly recognizes me for it. If you continue to wear it, you'll be mistaken for me all the time."
"That's just great..." I groaned. "Anyway, was nice to meet you Edna, but I gotta get outta here."
"Hopefully you have a better second day than you did first day."
"Me too..."
I quickly darted away from the smaller orange version of myself as I just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Fortunately for me, most of the kids rode the bus, so I was able to walk home alone. The walk that seemed to only be a short distance earlier seemed to be a few hundred miles that afternoon. Once home, I was able to relax somewhat for the rest of the night. When Mom got home, I decided to not tell her about what the school was really like. We had a nice normal evening consisting of dinner and spending some time together before I went to bed. While I was laying in bed, however, I was still unable to get over what had happened with that leopard kid, and, to make matters worse, that Edna girl confirmed his story. I really didn't want to ever go back again, but I realized I would have to.
*****
I couldn't believe my luck at that point. I had pretty much gone from one evil to another. I managed to escape the threatening danger of my father, but had wound up thrusted into a yiff-crazed school. What made the latter worse is that I had to change my hairstyle if I wanted to avoid being mistaken for somebody else.
Chapter 20: The New Hair-Do On Day Two
I woke up early the next morning to try and find a new way to wear my hair. I really liked my old style, but it just HAD to go. I wanted a new style, but didn't want to have to get a haircut if I could avoid it. I didn't want to spend any money on a barber if I could just as easily comb my hair into another style that I enjoyed. I tried quite a few hairstyles that morning until I found one I really enjoyed, which happened to look like a mid-length bob cut. I smiled as I looked at myself in the mirror with my new hair-do. I really did like it a lot. I also couldn't help but think at the time about what kind of reaction Mom would have when she saw the new style. I looked at my clock after I finished admiring my new fashion and groaned. I had to start getting ready for school. I reluctantly got dressed in the official St. Lovejoy's uniform and headed for school. All I could think about for the duration of the trip was how I wish I could just stay home or go back to Pawstin. Along the way, I passed the same exact kid that I happened to pass by first on my way to school yesterday. I noticed that he saw me, but he didn't recognize me, which made me a little happier.
If he doesn't recognize me at all from yesterday, maybe nobody else will either. Except for maybe that leopard kid. And Edna. All in all, I might actually have a normal school day.
I was still worried at that point about the "ifs" and "maybes", but I couldn't let that get my sudden morale boost down. I wore a smile the rest of the way to school, and that smile only grew after I entered the building. As I walked the halls of my new school on my second day there, I heard a lot less chatter and whispering. More importantly was the fact that I was no longer getting called Edna. I was enjoying my second day much more than my first, until after my third class that is. I was on my way to my fourth class of the day when a heyena kid walked up to me from behind.
"Hey there. You're new, right?"
"Uh... yeah."
"I'm Chuck."
"Amber."
"Want a tour?"
"No thanks."
"Are you sure? There's a lot about this school I'm sure you don't know."
"Oh, no... trust me... I already know," I informed him.
"No, trust ME. You don't know everything."
"Yes I do. You're not the first one to try and get me alone..."
"Oh, really? Heh. Well, yeah, I guess you do know then," he said with a laugh.
"I don't find it particularly funny."
"Why not? You didn't like it?"
"I'm not ready for anything like that, and the guy who tried it yesterday was also trying to force it."
"Yeah, some of the less popular guys can get a little aggressive."
"I noticed..." I grumbled.
"Oh, speaking of aggressive, there is this one guy you REALLY gotta look out for." My ears perked up at the sudden change in conversation. "There's this giant crocodile named Rodriguez. He's a total jerk. Try to avoid him at all costs."
I felt my heart sink into my feet upon Chuck's warning. It's only my second day and I already have to worry about guys trying to force themselves upon me and NOW a giant school bully. At that point, I couldn't imagine how the school could get any worse. That was until I went to gym for the first time. I had missed it yesterday because a teacher had taken me on a tour of the school. I wasn't as lucky today. I showed up, and the first thing that happened, literally, was that the teacher and some mean chipmunk both started yelling at me for missing class yesterday. I just decided to ignore them and take the class in stride. Fortunately for me, I am somewhat athletic, so none of the exercises we went through that day were too hard for me to do, which was a good thing, because the teacher threatened that anybody who failed any part would go naked the rest of class. At that point, I knew this school was the school from hell. Yiff-crazed cubs, a giant bully, and now a teacher who FORCES her students to go naked if they don't meet her expectations. On second though, I think the school in Hell would probably be a lot better. What made gym class EVEN worse was that the leopard kid who tried to force himself on me yesterday was in the same class. After class, he walked up to me before I could dart into the locker room.
"Hey..." he started saying to me.
"Get away from me."
"Just... just listen, ok?"
"You got five seconds. Make them count."
"I'm sorry about yesterday."
"Really?" I asked sarcastically.
"Yeah. I am. I'm sorry. I just got a little eager when I found out you were a new girl in town."
"That was no reason for you to try and force yourself upon me!"
"I know. I just... I never get to 'welcome' any of the new girls..."
"And by 'welcome', I imagine you mean be the first guy to get lucky with the new girls, huh?" I questioned him disgustedly.
"Yeah. It's kind of a tradition a lot of the kids in school started. All the guys 'welcome' the new girls and all the girls 'welcome' the new guys, to get them acquainted to the way things work behind the scenes of the school."
"No excuse to FORCE yourself..."
"I know, and I'm sorry."
"Your apology is accepted, but please don't talk to me again."
"Alright. Take care, new girl."
He walked away from me and into the changing room. I let out a big sigh at that point. I was trying my best to act tough, but deep down I was extremely scared the entire time. I thought for sure he was just acting and trying to get me alone to try something again. Fortunately enough for me, he, along with most of the rest of the guys in school, left me alone for the rest of the day. A few acknowledged the fact that I was new in school, but most didn't act upon anything. A few more guys did try to "welcome" me, but after I told them I wasn't interested, they left me alone. At the end of the day, I decided to try and find Edna and inform her of the somewhat better day I had, even though it wasn't too much better. I looked for her where I bumped into her the day before near the doors leading out to the school. My search didn't last long, as Edna was skipping toward the doors not long after I arrived there. She saw me and stopped.
"Hey there... Amber, was it?"
"Yeah."
"So, how was your second day?"
"Definitely better than my first," I told her.
"That's good," she replied with a smile.
"Not much better though," I answered with a sigh.
"What went wrong today?"
"Well, I got yelled at in gym today..." I started to tell Edna.
"Mrs. Trousers got the best of you today?"
"Well, it was my first time taking her class. Did you know that she threatens to make cubs who didn't pass her tests go naked for the duration of class?!?"
"Yeah, it's one of her rules for all the gym classes she teaches."
"That's horrible! Somebody needs to report her to the school board!"
"They already know and condone it," the young orange fox told me with as straight a face as I've ever seen.
"That's just... despicable. How can the school condone everything that goes on here?"
"I don't know, but nobody has any complaints about it."
"I do! It's not right!"
"Amber, let me tell you something as a friend, ok?"
"What?"
"Don't try to change the system around here," Edna said bluntly.
"Why not? It needs to change!" I cried.
"See, that's the thing... not many around here would agree with you. I'm sure there are some, like this one platypus I know, but most of the kids around here would disagree with you. And I know if you try to change things around here, they'll probably get upset with you and you'll become some sort of outcast."
"But it's just not right what's going on around here!"
"Here's my advice I was gonna give you... it's a lot easier and a lot better to keep your head down and try to ignore it than it is to try and change things. If you keep your head down, you won't be bothered. But if you try to change things, I'm pretty sure you'll become less popular than Rodriguez."
"Great..." I grumbled to myself.
"Anyway, I gotta go or I'll miss my bus. Was great seeing you again Amber. You know, you and I should hang out one day."
"Sounds good. See you around."
I watched the small fox skip off through the front doors and to her bus. I followed her outside, but imediately headed away from the buses, walking home. The walk home, along with most of the rest of the night, was pretty calm. Mom had come home from work and we decided to order a pizza for dinner. Over dinner, I decided to ask her about her new job.
"So Mom, how's work?"
"Not bad."
"What IS your job anyway?"
"Nothing special, Amber. Just so public work."
"Sounds... fun? I guess," I said, trying to figure out something to say to Mom's vague answer.
"It's not a job I'd like to be working, but it does pay well."
I wanted to tell her to find a job she enjoyed rather than worry about money, but I think Mom already thought of that and decided it was better to work a job she hates so we can live comfortably than to work a job she likes and have us struggle.
"I understand," I told her with a smile.
"Thanks sweetie. So how's school?"
"I'd really rather not talk about that."
"Not enjoying it?" she worriedly asked.
"It's always hard being the new kid in school," I half-lied to my mother.
"I wouldn't know. I never had to switch schools when I was a kid. I'm sorry for putting you through this."
"It's not your fault," I quickly replied. "You are doing what you feel you need to do to be safe. I'd much rather be the new kid than have you worry about your safety."
"Thanks honey," my mom said with a smile.
Our conversation ended there as we finished our meals and decided to watch TV. When bed-time rolled around, I wished Mom "Good night" as I went to my room, got changed into my pajamas, and laid in bed, waiting for my body to finally give in to the exhaustion from the day. All the meanwhile, I kept thinking about what had happened and what was discussed during the day. Little did I realize, neither the day before or the day I just had would compare to what the day after would hold for me.
*****
It was amazing how things can always seem to go from bad to worse. At least in this point of my new life, I honestly felt like things couldn't get any worse. Little did I know at the time that the fates had something a lot worse planned for me.
Chapter 21: The New Job
I had started my third official day in Pouncefield just like I had started the other two; waking up early for school, getting ready for school, and heading to school. The basics of childhood never seem to change in those regards. Everything was exactly the same as the two days past, including the part where my mom was still asleep as I left for school. Whatever her cryptic new job was, it at least gave her some pretty reasonable hours. I was at school for I'd assume what was half of her shift, so we got to spend a lot of time afterwards together. Anyway, even my walk to school and the first few classes went smooth, even gym! It wasn't until lunch that things got worse for me.
"Hey, guess what I heard," I overheard one boy say to another as I was waiting in line to grab my lunch.
"What?"
"I overheard my dad talking to a few of his buddies last night. They had poker night at our place."
"That is SO fascinating..." the other boy said sarcastically.
"Oh fuck you. Let me get to the good stuff, ok?"
"So what did you hear then?"
"My dad was talking about this new stripper at this strip club on the other side of town called 'Fur-Real'."
At this point, the other boy's ears perked up in interest. I tried to ignore it, but they were getting a bit louder at that point, so I had no choice but to overhear the conversation.
"Go on!"
"I guess she's only been there since Monday, but my dad was saying she's one of the hotest girls there. And she really knows how to strut it."
"Really?!?"
"That's what my dad says."
"We totally gotta go try to peak on this new stripper!"
"I know! Thank god you and I discovered that drill hole in the side of the building where we can get free shows," the first boy said with a chuckle.
"So what's this stripper's name?"
"Her real name isn't told to customers, but she goes by the stage name of Snow White."
My brain started to work overtime at that point, trying to piece all the info together. From what I gathered from the conversation, they were talking about a stripper named Snow White that had only been working there for as long as I've been in town, and, the night before, my mom, who still uses her married name of White, was reluctant to talk about her new job. She had said it was a job working for the public, she didn't like it, and that it was good pay. Things were starting to add together, and I really didn't like the outcome of the equation.
"Wanna go check her out after school?" the second guy asked his friend.
"Nah, I can't. I got detention today. You can go if you want though."
"Wouldn't be right since you're the one who told me about it. Besides, we can always go tomorrow."
"Sounds like a plan."
It DID sound like a plan, just not for them. I wasn't too crazy about the idea, but I knew I would have to go check this new stripper out through their peep-hole to make sure it wasn't my mom. It didn't sound like something she'd do, but everything was adding up to it being her. It made me a little sick to think about it, but I knew that I HAD to find out. I knew it would eat at me until I solved this mystery. There was just one problem though; I didn't know where this place was. Fortunately for me, I had a friend I could ask. The rest of the school day seemed to drag on as I waited for the final bell to toll so I could finally put an end to my nervous thinking. It got so bad that, at one point in the afternoon, I thought about trying to sneak out of school to go put my mind at ease. When the final bell did ring, I could feel a little weight slide off me, but not a whole lot. I still had to make my way to that strip club and check out the rumors. I hurried down the corridors of the school and waited for my orange-furred friend to show up. As if scheduled, she came skipping down the halls at almost exactly the same time she did the two days before.
"EDNA!" I called out to her.
She stopped suddenly and looked for who called her. When she saw me and realized it was I who called, she smiled and walked up to me.
"Hey Amber! Good third day?"
"Not really."
"What's wrong?"
"I need your help with something."
I grabbed her paw and pulled her out of the traffic of all the cubs who were heading to the buses, ready to go home for the night. I looked around and saw an open classroom with nobody in it, so I pulled the little fox inside with me and quickly shut the door. Edna looked at me, and I could tell her mind was already trying to figure out what I needed.
"So... uh... what did you need help with?"
"Something... personal..."
The small fox quickly grinned at my answer.
"So... you finally opened up to the way of the school and want me to be the first to help you with it, huh?"
"What? Ew, no!"
Edna's eyes grew wide out of shock and embarrassment for pegging my situation wrong.
"Oh, I'm sorry... it's just when you said 'personal'..."
"Hush Edna." The young cub quickly grew silent, her ears perked up in curious intent. "Do you know where a place called 'Fur-Real' is?"
"The strip club?"
I could feel my face turn beet red when she asked so quickly, as if she was a frequent visitor to the adult club.
"Yeah... the strip club..."
"Sure. It's the most popular club in town. I've only been past there a few time myself though. Why do you ask?"
"I need to go there today."
"You do realize that they don't let cubs in, right? This town may have some low standards, but they at least stick to some."
"I don't WANT to go there."
"But you just said..." the young fox quickly protested.
"I said I NEEDED to go there, not that I WANTED to go there," I replied with extra emphasis.
"Ok... so then why do you NEED to go there?" Edna questioned, mimicking my exact tone.
"I heard rumors of a new dancer there, and it sounds like somebody I know."
"So you want to know if it really is the fur you know?"
"Bingo!"
"You don't know the way, do you?"
"No, I don't. If I did, trust me, I wouldn't be asking for help. No offense Edna, but this is something that I'd rather do myself if I had the option."
"I understand. So, shall we get going?"
"Yeah."
We left the classroom the moment our conversation had ended and made our way out of the school. Edna started heading off toward the main part of town at a brisk pace, forgetting that I didn't know my way around town yet. I didn't say anything to her, but I did try my best to keep up. I was going to be getting a bonus out of this expedition that I didn't think of; a guided tour of town. The walk took roughly an hour from the school and cut almost directly through the middle of town. I tried my best to take in the sights and try to memorize which buildings were what along my way. I never really realized just how big a town Pouncefield was until my trip with Edna. It made Pawstin feel like a small suburb in comparison. When we finally reached our destination, Edna looked to me and smiled.
"Alright. Do you think you'll be able to find your way home from here?"
"Probably not, why?"
"Cause you said you wanted to do this alone, but I also don't want you to get lost afterwards."
"I'd appreciate it if you stayed, but stayed right here."
"Will do."
I turned my attention back to the building before us. Solid brick painted pure white and only two stories tall. There were stairs outside leading up to the second floor. Both doors leading in, one on the second floor and one on the bottom, were metal and red with no windows or anything to see inside. I was guessing at that point that the club doubled as a shop on the second floor. I made my way to the left side of the building, looking for the drilled-out hole that the two boys from lunch had mentioned earlier, not realizing that the hole could've just as easily been on the other side or in the back. I was lucky, however, when I spotted a small hole in the brick about three-fourths of the way down the side of the building. As I got closer to it, the sounds from inside started to become louder and clearer. There was techno-dance music playing and I could hear the excited cheers of a few men inside. The place didn't sound too busy since it WAS early in the afternoon, but there were definitely some customers inside. I When I finally approached the peep-hole, the noise from inside was clear as day, and I hadn't arrived one moment too late or early.
"Next up this afternoon, from a kingdom far away, is one girl who decided to leave her seven dwarves behind to come here and put on one hell of a show! SNOOOOOOWWWWW WHIIIIIIIITTTTEEEEE!" I heard the announcer say to everybody over a microphone.
I pressed my face against the cold painted stone as I watched intently to see who would be coming out to put on the show. The few men that were inside started to cheer rather loudly as they anticipated the newest dancer to appear on stage. I felt the butterflies in my stomach start to kick up a storm as I started to grow more and more nervous, praying that it wasn't my mother, and yet knowing somehow that it WAS her. I watched as the red curtain inside started to slowly peel itself backward, slowly revealing a dancer in a stereotypical Snow White outfit. My eyes widened in horror as I recognized the face of the dancer immediately.
Mom...
The shock of the horror froze me in place. I couldn't move, even though, in my mind, I desperately wanted to do so. I couldn't help but sit there and watch as my mom undressed for the rowdy men, showing off parts of herself I wished she had kept private, or even rubbing said parts against various objects inside, like a pole and a couple of tables when she climbed off the stage to dance around the room. The "gentlemen" inside started to throw money at my mother, literally, cheering her on to do more and show EVERYTHING. The last thing I remember seeing from her show is her approach one sitting man's lap before Edna pulled me away from the wall. I just laid there on the ground in shock from what I witnessed as the young fox tried to bring me back to my senses.
"Amber? AMBER?!? You ok?" she asked as she shook my shoulders a little.
"Muh..."
"Muh? Muh what?"
"Muh... Mom..."
"Mom? Whose mom?"
"Mine... dancing... showing... herself..." I slowly let out with my eyes still wide open from shock and horror.
"Oh. Well, there's nothing wrong with it. It's not the most sought after job, and it does require her to do some things that others would say is 'immoral', but the pay is good, and she doesn't actually have to do anything too hardcore with the guys."
"Like that matters?!?" I quickly shouted as I regained my senses from Edna's rationalization of my mother's new job. "She is in there taking off her clothes and showing herself to complete strangers!"
"Like I said, it's good pay and she doesn't actually have to yiff the guys."
"So? She might as well be!"
"I can understand you're upset, so let's get you home so you can calm down."
Edna helped me up off the ground and started to walk me back to the school, which I appreciated because I had forgotten everything I tried to soak up along the way due to the recent shock. The walk back to the school seemed to take forever. I wanted nothing more at that point than for the day to just end, or to wake up in my bed and find out that this was all just one big nightmare, neither of which happened. I didn't even try to pay attention to what was in town on the way back to the school. I really didn't care. When we arrived in front of the school's main doors, Edna frowned a little.
"I'm sorry... about your mom," she said in a blatant lie to me to try and raise my spirits. I actually appreciated the fact that, despite her own views on my mother's new job, she was willing to go against them, if only for a moment, to try and make me feel better.
"Me too..."
"See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
The younger orange fox then smiled at me as she walked away from the school, heading for her home. I stood there for a few minutes after Edna had left before I decided to try and move. Fortunately for me, the shock was starting to really wear off and I was starting to feel normal again, albeit depressed about my mom's new profession. When I got home, I decided to just watch TV and wait for my mom to get home so I could talk to her about it. While I waited, I thought of everything I wanted to say to her. When she got home later in the evening, I looked to her and forced a fake smile, as if nothing bad had happened that day.
"Hi Mom."
"Hi Amber."
"How was work?"
"Work was... difficult... as usual," she replied with a sigh.
"What do you do again?"
"I told you, I work for the public."
Again, I could appreciate the fact that I was being lied to to make things better for everybody, but at that point, I just didn't care.
"Doing what?"
"What do you mean?"
"What do you do when you work for the public?" I asked quickly and sharply.
"I... uh..."
"Take your clothes off and dance?"
Her eyes grew wide in shock from my quick questioning.
"What... what do you mean?"
"So where ARE the seven dwarves anyway? Still back in Pawstin?"
My mother dropped her head in shame as my words cut at her.
"So you know... huh?"
"Yeah... I heard about you in school today, Snow White. How could you lie to me like that? How could you do THAT for money?"
"I lied because I don't like doing this job..."
"So then quit! There are better jobs."
"The money's too good to quit. We're living better than we've ever lived before."
"How could you do THAT for money though?" I questioned my parent with a disgusted tone heavy in my voice.
"It's not like I WANT to do it. I choose to so you and I can live comfortably."
"There are more important things than money, Mom..."
"I know, but the rest of the world doesn't see it that way, unfortunately. Trust me honey, I don't like doing this either, but it's paying the bills, putting food on the table, and we even have a decent chunk of change left over to actually enjoy ourselves. This is A LOT better than what we had when I was still married to your father."
"I just don't approve though..." I said defeatedly, understanding where she was coming from and starting to accept that I cannot change her mind.
"Neither do I sweetie..." She then walked over to me and wrapped her arms around me, holding me close. "If you want, I'll quit and look for a new job."
I closed my eyes and tried my hardest to tell her to quit, but the words just wouldn't come. I hated with every fiber in my being the fact that Mom was an exotic dancer, but she was doing it so we could enjoy life and not have to worry about money for the first time in a long time. I wasn't ok with her job, but I could put up with it for her sake.
"Nah, it's ok. I guess you could be doing worse," I told her to make her feel better about her career choice.
"Are you sure Amber?"
"I'm sure Mom. Just promise you won't do anything you don't want to when it comes to... 'extras'... at that place."
"Trust me sweetie, I'm not going to be doing ANYTHING like that."
I felt a little better knowing that, while she was still taking her clothes off for money, she wasn't completely degrading herself for the paycheck. Mom let go of me and smiled. Later that night, we had gone to a Chinese restaurant and ordered a pair of meals to take home and enjoy. The new house was starting to get set the way we liked it as the furniture was mostly set up. We had a table to eat on, a couch to watch TV on, and our bedframes had finally been unpacked and built. We still had many boxes of stuff to go through though, so we were far from being settled in. Mom also, fortunately for me, never questioned what was in the trunk or if I had opened it yet. All in all, things weren't going great, but it was going. After our meals, we spent a little time together before it became my bed-time. As I laid down to go to sleep, I couldn't help but wonder if things would ever start to get better.
*****
I had called off the day after I found out my mother was an exotic dancer. I claimed to be sick, but I just needed a day off already from all the madness that was instantly thrown into my new life at Pouncefield. Surprisingly, only one cub checked on me to see if I was ok, and that girl was Edna. When Mom realized I had no friends, she suggested I take up an extra-curricular activity to try and make some friends. That's when I remembered that St. Lovejoy's had a swim team. I decided then that, on Friday, I would become the team's fifth swimmer.
Chapter 22: The Swim Team
Friday morning came to be, and, as usual, the usual mundane readying-myself-for-school routine occurred. I made my way to school like any other day, and I went to my first classes just like any other normal day. Of course, I use "normal" loosely since nothing in this new school had been normal since I moved here. I decided to use my lunch period to go find out more about joining the swim team, so I walked to the principal's office.
"Um... excuse me... Mr. Bear?" I asked as I knocked on his door while opening it.
"Yes?"
"Um... I was wondering if I could join the swim team..."
"It's a bit late to be signing up now, don't you think Miss White?"
"I just moved here Monday, and I could really use an after-school activity to help me get a little more comfortable..."
"No, I mean late in the week. You'll only get one practice this week."
"That's no problem. There's always next week to start really practicing."
"That is true. Alright. You'll want to talk to Miss Jennifer Tigre. She's in charge of the swim team's decisions during the week. The coach of the team doesn't work for the school, so he's not available until weekends."
"You let a random stranger coach the team?!?"
"Normally no, but this is a guy we feel we can trust and is a much better swimmer than anybody in town, so we figured he would be best at teaching cubs how to swim well for team meets. Anyway, go find Miss Tigre."
I nodded my head with a smile as I left his office and started walking down the halls of the school. After finding my way down a few corridors, I suddenly came to the bad realization that I forgot to ask him where I could find Jen. I slumped my head down and headed back toward the principal's office when I overheard a pair of cubs walking my way.
"I can't believe I got a C on a math test!"
"It's your own fault you didn't pay attention."
"I did pay attention! I don't know what happened."
"Maybe you were daydreaming during the test," the voice said with a laugh.
The voices rounded the corner and suddenly stopped as they almost bumped into me. I looked upon the bodies attached to the voices. It was a pair of cheetahs, one boy and one girl.
"Um... I'm sorry..." I said shyly. I wanted to ask them about Jennifer Tigre, but I never was any good about talking to new faces.
"No need to be," the female cheetah said with a smile. "It was our fault."
"No it wasn't," the male cheetah replied. "It was nobody's fault."
"Fine then," the girl answered with a slight groan in a voice as she rolled her eyes. She then turned her attention back to me. "Anyway, I'm Danni. The idiot I have for a brother standing next to me as David," she told me with a giggle.
"Hey! I'm not an idiot!"
"Do I need to remind you about your C?" she asked her brother with another giggle.
"I get one stupid C..." the taller cheetah remarked with a slight pout.
"Oh, don't be that way. I'll make it up to you later," Danni told David with a grin.
"How so?" David asked, still pouting.
"I'll do your chores or get you some ice cream or something."
I simply watched as the siblings had their little bicker that ended with Danni's last remark to her brother, causing his tail to flick a few times behind him.
"So... um... do you guys know where I can find Jennifer Tigre?" I asked the pair of cheetahs.
"Isn't she that girl dating that platypus?" David asked aloud.
"Yeah. They usually have lunch together."
"Try the cafeteria next period," David then said to me, answering my question.
"Alright. Thank you," I told the brother and sister as I started to hurry away from them.
I scampered down the blank halls of the school and made my way back to the lunch room where I would wait for the student captain of the swim team. I had everything planned out. I would talk to Jen about joining and then get a hall pass off a teacher to go to my next class without penalty. When I arrived in the cafeteria, I quickly grabbed a tray of food and made my way to one of the back corners of the room, where I quickly sat down at an empty table. I wanted to avoid any suspicion teachers might have, and it worked. I was able to start slowly eating my lunch without a single teacher asking me why I had started eating so late. The bell ending my lunch period rang as I continued to eat. I watched as disappointed kids reluctantly left the lunch room to head to future classes and hungry kids took their spots in the cafeteria.
Ok... time to spot the tiger.
I continued to observe the parade of new students as I quickly scanned for traces of orange striped fur amongst the crowd. My search didn't take long as I noticed Jen enter the lunch room with a squirrel friend next to her, who I instantly recognized as Jerry. I kept watching as the pair each grabbed a tray of food and then walk separate ways. Jen headed for a table close to the exit while Jerry went back toward the entrance to sit with some of his other friends. I decided to let the young tigress get comfortable before I stood up, picking my tray up off the table, and slowly walk to where she was seated.
"Um... hi..." I said as I stopped at her table.
"Hi."
I sat down across the table from Jen and started to slowly eat.
"So... you're Jennifer Tigre, right?" I asked formally, trying to make a good first impression with her.
"Yeah. But just call me Jen. Or 'Stripes'. That seems to be my most popular nickname."
"Alright Jen... um..."
"Yes?"
"May I join the swim team?"
"Can you swim?"
"Uh-huh," I quickly and proudly informed the tigress with a nod. "I was on the Pawstin team you raced just six days ago."
"Oh yeah. I recognize you now! Amber White, right?"
"Yeah."
"Alright. Swing by the pool after school today."
I simply nodded and silently thanked her in my mind for accepting me onto the team. I quickly gobbled down the rest of my food and put the tray with the others to be washed before snagging a hall pass off the overseeing teacher. The rest of the school day really was a drag after that point, but not for the same reason my previous days had been. The past few days, I just wanted to get out of the school as fast as possible, and that made the school day seemingly last forever. Today, however, was a different case. I was finally excited about doing something related to the school, and I just couldn't wait to get started. When the final bell did finally ring, I quickly scurried toward the pool, swimming through a river of kids who were just as excited to go home as I was to go to the pool. When I finally arrived outside the entrance to the swimming pool, I decided to regain my composure. I didn't want to seem too eager to be joining the team and make a bad first impression. Once I was recollected, I casually entered through the doors to the pool-side, noticing nobody was around. I decided to walk to the visitor's team bench, where I had sat just less than a week ago, and sit upon it.
"You're here early," a voice said from behind the bench.
I look over my shoulder and notice Jen out of the corner of my eye.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah," she answered as she made her way around the bench. She was already dressed to swim in a one-piece swimsuit. "The boys don't usually arrive until a little bit later. I guess they have classes further away from the pool than you. Anyway, suit up."
"Um... I don't have a swimsuit with me today."
"It's ok. There are spares in the changing rooms. I'll talk to the coach about getting you an official St. Lovejoy's swim team swimsuit."
"Alright."
I stood up off the bench and made my way to the entrance to one of the changing rooms. As I started to enter, something happened and I instantly thought of something I hadn't before, and it made me freeze in my tracks.
"What's wrong?"
"I won't be changing with the boys, will I?"
"No. We use separate changing rooms, so you won't have to worry about that."
I let out a sigh of relief as I entered the girls' locker room. I walked to the first row of lockers and sat down on the changing bench. While I had a moment to myself, I decided to reflect on everything and take this chance to take it all in. I had a chance every night to briefly go over the day's events in my mind, but this was the first chance I had to actually absorb everything that had happened. It wasn't a very ideal situation to be in a school with the "side-rules" and gym teacher this school had, but being on the swim team was a great way to was everything away everyday.
You won't be on the swim team if you don't hurry up and change!
My mental reminder snapped me out of my trans-like state. I opened the locker in front of me and grabbed the one-piece swimsuit that was resting inside. I shed myself of my clothes and put the tight swimsuit on over my white fur and flesh. I shoved my clothes into the locker and quickly darted out of the locker room, slowing as I got to the entrance. As I stepped through the entrance, I decided to simply walk back out to the side of the pool. I stopped a short distance from the edge of the pool and looked around. Jen was there, who I had officially met at lunch. Geoff and Jerry, who I knew of but never officially met, were floating in the pool next to the young tigress. Standing over on the other side of the pool was the latest addition to the team before I joined, and I knew nothing about him except that he was a platypus. I couldn't even remember his name from Saturday. After taking it all in, I gathered up a little courage to introduce myself to everybody at once.
"Hi," I said to everybody. "My name is Amber."
"Hi Amber," my new team-mates all answered in almost perfect unison.
"Thank you for letting me join the team."
"Not a problem," Jen replied with a smile. "We were looking, and you showed interest. Thank you for joining."
I then take a small running start and dive into the pool. The moment the water collided with my fur and flesh, I knew that everything would be alright. I felt the weight of the world literally melt off me into the water around me. I surfaced just a moment later and decided to float there, much like everybody else had been doing, until the rest of the team started to lazily swim around the pool, in which I quickly followed. After a short while, I had noticed nobody had done any serious swimming all day.
"So this is practice? Just swimming around?"
"Nah, taking it easy today," Jerry answered. "No meet tomorrow, so no need to push ourselves hard."
I noticed at that point that the most recent male member to join the team hadn't started to swim at all that day.
"Why isn't your platypus friend joining us?"
"Because he's injured," Jen quickly replied. "Doctor's orders are he can't swim again until he's healed."
"Oh, ok."
I shrugged it off and went on my way, swimming around the pool again. After a few moments, Jen climbed out of the pool.
"Alright. Everybody out of the pool. Time to see what Amber's made of," Jen commanded.
Taking our cues, we all climbed out of the water. I made my way over to the starting blocks and took my place upon one of them, waiting for further instruction.
"So what's the plan Jen?" Geoff asked as he stood right beside her.
"Well, I was thinking of Amber doing three laps to show us her top speed and stamina."
"You got it Jen," I answered the captain.
"Alright then. Go!" Jen called down to me.
With those words, I dove into the water and started my laps. I won't bore you with the mundane routine of swimming, but I did rather well. When I finished my laps, I climbed out of the water and walked up to my team-mates.
"Very good Amber! You'll definitely make a great addition to the team. Speaking of which, I guess it's time to introduce you to your team-mates." The young tigress then pointed to her squirrel friend. "That there is Jerry." Jen then pointed to the beaver standing right next to her. "This here is Geoff. And that..." Jen finishes as she points to where the platypus was last standing, but finding nothing but air as he moved from his spot. "Where's Billy?"
"Oh, he went to the restroom."
I watched as my new captain shook her head in disbelief.
"Anyway, it's time we get changed and headed home. See you guys in a little bit."
I followed Jen into the changing room. She stopped in front of a locker just a few spaces down from the one I picked. I opened my locker and started to pull out my clothes when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jen took no time at all in stripping down to her fur in front of me, shedding the soaked one-piece like it was nothing. I blushed and tried to go back about my business.
"So... how you liking school, Amber?" she asked, standing their proudly exposed for me and anybody else who may have been in the locker room at the time to see.
"It's very different..."
The young tigress swim captain smiled as she started to put her clothes back on. I realized at that moment that I hadn't started changing out of my own swimsuit yet. I quickly slid the wet one-piece off my body, but when Jen looked at me, I blushed and tried to hide my most private of parts from her, to no avail. No matter how hard I tried, something was always showing to her.
"You know, we're gonna be sharing a locker room all season. Better get used to changing in front of me," the tigress told me with a slight giggle.
"Yeah... I guess..."
"You also got a great body. No need to be ashamed of it. Some guy will really enjoy that," Jen said with another giggle.
"I'm not looking for a guy..."
"Oh... are you into girls?"
"No. I'm just not ready for the stuff that goes on here."
"That's understandable. Also, try not to focus on it," Jen advised. "If you take away the activities, you'll find this school is just like any other school."
Those words made me feel a little more comfortable because I knew she was right. If I looked past the yiff and the crazy gym teacher, this school was really like any other.
"I guess you're right."
"I am right. And so long as you don't acknowledge too many boys, you'll be left alone when it comes to those other maters too."
"I'll try."
Jen finished dressing and left the locker room. After she left, I took my time getting dressed in my own clothes. Once finally dressed, I left the locker room and walked back to the side of the pool, where I noticed the platypus kid sitting on the other side looking into the water. I decided to walk up to him and officially introduce myself to him.
"Hi there. We meet again," I said to him with a giggle.
"I guess we do," he replied. "My name's Billy."
The young boy then extended his paw to me, which I gladly took with a smile.
"Well, now we have officially met," I told him with a smile as I shook his paw and quickly let it go. "Well, I should get going. My parents are still unpacking," I half-lied to my new friend. "Hope to see you around the school sometime."
I walked away with a smile. I felt a little bad somewhat lying to my newest friend, but I didn't want anybody to know that my parents were divorced or why they were just yet. Otherwise, everything went perfectly. Even throughout the night I couldn't help but feel things were starting to go better; no doubts, no worries, and no fears. As I laid down to go to sleep for the night, I felt nothing but tranquility cover me. I finally felt good for the first time in a very long time.
*****
After such a hectic first week at school, I decided to take the weekend to myself and just wander the streets of town, both to familiarize myself with everything and to simply have some "me time". It was a great change of pace and was actually quite amazing how much bigger Pouncefield was than Pawstin. It was also a great way to get myself ready mentally for the upcoming week, especially what would happen on Monday.
Chapter 23: The End Of Peace
It was a typical Monday morning, just like any other morning. I brushed my hair into my new mid-length bob style, I got dressed, I walked to school, and I attended classes. I felt great, like things were really gonna start staying normal for me. I felt that way, that is, until I attended lunch. I was in line to grab a tray of food, alongside every other hungry cub, when I overheard a couple talking behind me.
"Yeah! You should've been there! It was crazy!"
I turned my head slightly and looked at the talking kids through the corner of my eye, trying not to show I was paying attention to their conversation. It was a male duck talking to a female donkey.
"You said that a few times already," the girl replied. "What was crazy?"
"There was this awesome fight!" the boy answered. "This tiger girl just walked up to this fox girl and slapped her in the face with her claws!"
"What?!?"
The same exact thing that the donkey said to what the duck had told her ran through my head. I couldn't help but instantly think that it was Jen that the two were talking about, but I calmed myself and reminded myself that there could be more than one tigress that goes to this school.
"Yeah. It was that girl that was dating that platypus that had that big tape!"
It IS Jen! Wait... tape? What tape?
I decided to listen more for clues as to why Jen would just randomly attack somebody or this tape that was mentioned instead of jumping into the conversation.
"Wow," the donkey said in shock. "So... what did the fox girl do?"
"Oh, that's when the fight really got great. The fox tackled the tiger, the two fight on the ground a bit before the tiger gets the fox back up and then tackles her to the ground! Fists and teeth were flying!"
"Teeth got knocked out?!?"
"No, but they were biting each other furiously! Anyway, while the tiger was pummeling the fox on the ground, the fox used her legs to throw the tiger off her and into some nearby lockers!"
Oh my god... why Jen?
"Wow... there sure have been a lot of violent fights around here since that platypus moved here," the girl donkey said in disbelief of her friend's story.
"Wait wait wait! I'm not done! The tiger then got up and went after the fox again, and the fox ducked her and did some sort of Judo flip thingy and tossed the tiger back to the ground! But then that's when a bunch of guys came in and stopped the fight."
"Any of them get in trouble?"
"Nah, they all split before any teachers or anything got there."
"Doesn't surprise me," the young girl replied. "Think there'll be any more fights today?"
"Probably not, but you never know."
I turned my attention away from the two. At that point, I just HAD to talk to Jen about the story I just heard. Unfortunately, though, I wouldn't see her until swim practice later in the day, so I tried my best to keep calm throughout the rest of the day. I was tired of all these days where I had to wait anxiously for the day to end. When the day finally ended, I quickly rushed toward the pool, hoping to find some answers. When I entered the pool are, Jerry and Geoff were already there with Jen, who was sitting on our team bench. I walked up to the trio wearing a concerned look upon my face.
"Jen... is it true?!?" I asked the young tigress as I approached her.
"Is what true?"
"Did you get into a fight?"
"Uh... yeah..." she answered as she looked away from me.
"With who? And why?"
"Um... come with me to the dressing room... I'll explain it all in there..."
"Why not out here?"
"Cause Billy will be coming soon, and I don't want him to walk in on our conversation."
"Alright."
Jen stood up off the bench and started to head to the changing rooms. Jerry and I started to follow her, but Geoff sat down on the bench.
"You're not coming Geoff?" Jerry asked his beaver friend.
"Nah. I know the story. You guys go talk."
"Ok. Just don't do anything you might regret, ok?"
"Don't worry. I won't."
The three of us walked into the girls' changing room, where Jen sat down on the first bench she found and Jerry and myself sat on both sides of her.
"So what happened?" I questioned the young tiger.
"Well... Billy and I were a couple until a few days ago..."
"He broke up with you?"
"No... I wanted a trial separation..."
"Why?"
"A yiff tape with him and another student came out..." she started her story.
So THAT'S the tape that was mentioned!
"And he started getting very... popular... among the girls in school..." Jen said with a sigh. "I figured he'd want to go have some fun with his new found fame and I didn't want him to blame me for not having it, so I told he was free to do so..."
"So what's the problem?"
"He found a new girlfriend and completely forgot about me!"
"And I'm guessing this fight was with the new girl?"
"Yeah..." Jen admitted. "When I saw her... I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to make her hurt as bad as I was hurting for taking Billy away from me..."
"It doesn't help that you said 'separation' to him. He DID think you two had broken up..." Jerry added to the story.
"Well... he should've paid attention to what I said..."
"But you can't honestly blame him for a misunderstanding..." I told the young upset tigress.
"I know... but it just hurts a little... anyway... I'll be fine. We should get ready for practice..."
"I'll go get changed," Jerry said aloud.
"Nah, that's fine. We'll just all change here. You got your swimsuit with you, right?"
"Yeah... but..."
"It's fine."
"I'm not fine with it..." I quickly blurted.
"Don't worry about it Amber. It'll be fine," Jen said with a half-smile.
I let out a sigh as I opened a locker. I wasn't too happy about getting naked in front of both Jen AND Jerry, but Jen was the captain. Just when I thought about protesting more, Edna's words started to ring through my head.
"It's easier to just go with it instead of going against it. Just try not to worry about it."
Jen and Jerry had already stripped down and were preparing to put their swimsuits on. It was only the third time I had seen a boy's private parts, aside from my dad that one bad night and that leopard on my first day. This time, however, wasn't like the other two. Jerry wasn't trying to do anything to me or Jen. He just let himself hang there as he grabbed his swimsuit. I blushed a little as I watched him get dressed. I shouldn't have looked, but I couldn't help it. I shook it out of my head, mentally reminding myself of what my dad was like, and suddenly the desire to watch him went away. I undressed myself and quickly put the swimsuit on. Jen and Jerry quickly followed my lead, everybody getting ready to jump into the pool. We looked at one another and smiled, until we heard a couple of muffled shouts and a few giant splashes that is. We quickly jumped off the bench and ran out to the pool where we saw Billy in the water, slowly making his way toward an unconcious Geoff, who was simply floating in the water.
Oh no... not good...
I don't know what Geoff and Billy were fighting about, but I knew I HAD to stop it. Without hesitation, Jerry and I ran to the pool and dove in. We quickly surfaced and swam to Billy, keeping him from getting to Geoff and doing any more damage. We grabbed his arms and pulled him to the edge of the pool, far away from Geoff.
"Billy! Come on! Don't do this!" Jerry yelled to the enraged platypus.
"Yeah! Come on! You're better than this!" I yelled as I joined in, trying to bring Billy back to his senses.
Our words did the trick, because a few moments later, he shook his head and gained a more docile look.
"Huh...? Jerry? Amber? Where am I?"
"You're at the pool," Jerry started to explain to the once angry platypus. "I don't know what happened. We heard shouting and splashing, and when we got out here Geoff is like that!" Jerry then pointed to the helpless beaver floating in the middle of the pool. "And you were ready to strike him. Now... Geoff IS a big time dick... but enough is enough!"
"I just... he started to insult Sonia..."
Sonia? Who's Sonia?
"And then... all I wanted was to shut him up. He was wrong... he had no right to talk about her like that..." Billy admitted with a depressed sigh, obviously regretting his recent actions.
"You should've just let it go..." I decided to add to the conversation. "He's a dick, and we all know it," I half-lied. I didn't know Geoff that well, but the few times I was with him, he didn't seem that bad. I was just going along with what Jerry said to try and keep Billy calm. "He probably was saying whatever it took to make you angry, and it worked. He made you sink to a level you should've never gone to," I finished with a sigh, wishing things were different from what they were right now.
"I know... I just... I couldn't help it..."
"Amber," Jerry started to direct me. "Go check on him," he said as he nodded toward Geoff. He then looked to Jen, who was standing by the side of the pool frightened. "JEN?!?!?"
Jen then snapped back to reality and looked to Jerry.
"Uh... yeah?"
"Go get a nurse! I have a feeling Geoff's hurt bad!"
"Right."
Jen then dashed away from her current position in attempts to reach the nurse befor she left. It was only a moment longer before my brain registered what I had to do. I swam to the fallen beaver and grabbed a hold of him, pushing him to the side of the pool. I then lifted him up out of the water and laid him down on dry land.
"Look, I don't know what happened, but it's probably best if you're not here if he wakes up or when the nurse gets here. You've been getting into a lot of fights since you moved here, and this one may be the straw that broke the camel's back. If anybody asks, we'll say Geoff bumped his head off a diving board," Jerry told Billy.
"Thanks. I just... I'm sorry..." the distraught platypus answered with a sigh.
"We know you are. Now go!"
Jerry then let go of Billy and I watched as he climbed out of the pool darted away. I looked back down to Geoff and frowned.
"Do you think he'll be ok?"
"He should be. But we do gotta figure out a way to keep both Jen and Geoff from telling anybody that Billy knocked Geoff out..."
"I'm sure you could convince them Jerry," I said to the worried squirrel.
"You're probably right. I don't wanna see Billy get kicked out after only a few weeks here."
Jen arrived with the nurse a few minutes later.
"What happened here?" the adult white mouse asked Jerry and myself.
"He hit his head off a diving board," Jerry quickly answered, causing Jen to give him a quick questioning look.
"He hit his head off a diving board? But do you kids even use the diving boards on the swim team?"
"Not usually. But when we're taking it easy and having a fun day instead of practice, we use the diving boards."
"And he hit his head?"
"Uh... yeah. He was trying to show off and do a fancy trick when he landed on his head and fell down into the pool," Jerry told the nurse, adding to his story. "We pulled him out so he wouldn't drown and then sent Jen to get you."
"Alright. I'll go call an ambulance. You kids wait right here."
The nurse then ran back toward her office as Jerry, Jen, and I waited by Geoff.
"What do you mean he hit his head off a diving board?" Jen quickly questioned the young fibbing squirrel.
"I don't want Billy to get into any more trouble, so that's the first thing I could think of."
"But..."
"Listen... we don't want to see him kicked out of school. Geoff didn't deserve THIS, but I'm sure he was looking for a fight when Billy came in. We shouldn't punish Billy for something Geoff started, right?"
"But... yeah... you're right..." the young tigress admitted. "Alright. We'll go with your story. And I'll talk to Geoff to keep him from ratting Billy out..."
The nurse returned to us a few moments later.
"Alright kids. I got an ambulance coming. You all should go home. You can visit him at home or the hopsital, whichever the case may be, later, but for now, we gotta have space to work and get him to the hopsital."
The three of us nodded as we went back into the changing room. We all plopped down on the changing bench in front of the lockers we chose to store our clothes in, with Jen and Jerry both letting out a sigh.
"Man... talk about bad luck..." Jerry blurted.
"For who? Geoff?" I asked.
"Nah, the team. I mean, yeah... Geoff had bad luck when he thought he could push Billy around... but our team's down to three for who knows how long now. We don't know how long it'll be before Geoff can come back, IF he can come back at all."
"I hadn't thought of that..." I said, a little discouraged about our swim season.
"That's enough... you two heard the nurse. Get changed and go home..." Jen quickly added.
We stopped our conversation then and there and silently agreed with Jen. We all changed back into our clothes in a hurry. I did realize while changing that, because of the recent distress and drama that occured, I wasn't as reluctant to get naked in front of Jen OR Jerry. I didn't even think about it until after we were all back into our dry clothes. We left the changing room, where we saw paramedics entering the pool side with a stretcher. The three of us looked at one another and just started to walk in separate directions, saying silent good-byes to one another in our heads.
Jeez... this is just not right... why did there have to be violence...?
As the night went on for me at my house, I decided to give Billy a call. As soon as I picked up the phone, however, I quickly remembered I didn't know anybody's numbers, so I put the phone back down and sighed. I made up my mind at that point that I would try to see him the next day to make sure he was doing better. The stress of the day took it's toll on me pretty well I noticed. I was tired earlier than usual, and when I laid down to go to bed, I found I had no trouble falling asleep even though I was worried about Geoff and Billy. I knew I'd have to wait a day to see if they were both ok, but it was driving me a little crazy. As I laid down for the night, the only thing I could think of was whether or not they were.
*****
After the fights that happened, I was ready for a peaceful day. I'd only had a few since moving to Pouncefield, and two of those were on the weekend. I was starting to think that one peaceful school day was out of the question.
Chapter 24: The Unexpected
It was a typical school day, and I had just finished lunch when something unexpected happened. As I started walking away from the lunchroom, a blue wolf quickly dashed up to me.
"Hey, can you come with me for a second? I need your help with something!" the unknown wolf said to me bluntly. I looked around to see if he was talking to somebody besides me. "Yeah, you."
I paused for a moment, trying to figure out in my head what he could possibly want from me. My mind then went back to my first day at school and the leopard who was way too forward. I started to feel a little uneasy as he waited for my response.
"Uh... I don't know..." I told him.
"Please? It'll only take a minute."
"But... I have class to get to..."
"That's ok," the wolf replied with a smile. "I can get you a hall pass if you help me."
I didn't know how to answer him at that point. I really didn't want to go with him because I knew what he wanted, but he looked so innocent that I wanted to trust him. I decided to go against my better judgement and help the blue wolf.
"Oh... alright."
"Great! Oh, I'm Mizu by the way."
"Amber..."
Mizu then grabbed my paw and led me down a few halls before pulling me gently into an empty room. He closed the door behind us as I started to regret my decision.
"I appreciate you helping me with this."
"Uh... I don't think I want to help anymore..."
"Why not?" the young wolf asked as he walked toward me.
"I'm just not comfortable with this..." I answered quickly.
"Comfortable with what?" he questioned with a curious look on his face.
The blue-furred boy then walked past me. I turned around to watch him walk to a chair with a violin resting on it.
"Um... what's the violin for?"
"For me. I asked you here to get your opinion on my playing."
"Oh... um... I'm sorry... I thought you asked me here for... um... well... sex..." I said with a blush as I forced the last word out of my throat.
"What? No. I have a girlfriend," he quickly answered bluntly, blushing lightly.
"Oh. Ok, well... why do you need my opinion anyway?"
"Well, I have a rehearsal this weekend, but I don't think it's quite good enough. I wanted to see what a fellow student thought and then make any changes to my playing depending on what they say."
"Alright. I'll listen," I told Mizu with a smile.
He smiled back at me and then placed his violin gently between his chin and shoulder. He grabbed his bow, closed his eyes, and slowly started to play his instrument. I sat there and listened happily as the song coming from the blue boy's violin was one of the best pieces of work I'd ever heard come from a classical instrument. I closed my eyes and started to sway with the music, letting the soft tones sweep me away to a better place. I felt completely relaxed, like nothing in the world was wrong and that nothing could ever go wrong. When his song finally ended, I secretly wished that he'd play it again.
"So, what do you think?" he asked me as he opened his eyes and put his violin down.
"I think it's perfect."
"Really? You think so?" he asked with a big smile. I nodded and smiled back at him. "Thanks! I didn't think it was that good."
"I'm glad I could help."
"Well, I'll take you back to a teacher and we'll get you a hall pass."
The two of us left the room and headed back to the cafeteria. When we got there, Mizu walked up to the teacher and explained how I helped him with an orchestra problem and asked if I could have a hall pass, which the teacher gladly gave him to give to me.
"Here you go. Thanks again for your help," Mizu said as he handed me the slip of paper.
"Glad I could help. Anyway, I gotta get to class."
"Yeah, and I need to get back to practicing for the rehearsal. Hope to see you around."
"Same here."
We smiled at each other one last time before I walked away from my new blue-furred friend. The rest of the day actually seemed to breeze by for me after Mizu's song. Nothing bothered me and I wasn't anxious about anything, not even finding out if Geoff was ok and what was going on with Billy. I just felt peace, and I missed it. When the final bell for the day rang, I walked toward the pool instead of being in any kind of hurry like the past few times that I headed that way. Before long, I found myself by the side of the pool. As I looked around, I realized nobody was there yet, not even Jen. I decided to sit on the bench and wait for her before getting changed to swim. I didn't want to get into my swimsuit and find out we were canceling practice or something. After a few moments of waiting, Jen and Jerry casually walk into the pool area.
"Hey guys, where's Geoff?"
"He's at home," Jen quickly answered.
"He suffered a concussion. He was told to stay home today and rest. He should be back in school tomorrow. Geoff did tell us, however, that the doctor asked him not to swim for a couple of weeks to prevent aggrivating the injury," Jerry added.
"So what's that mean for us?"
"Well, it means we have to forfeit our next two or three meets. We can't exactly enter medleys with only three swimmers..." Jen said with a sigh.
"But you guys used to win meets with only three swimmers," I argued.
"Yeah, but they never had medleys," Jerry replied. "Once Billy joined the team, the school entered our team into a division that has medley races. We can't switch back over now that the season has started, and with Billy gone for the rest of the season and Geoff unable to compete for a few weeks, we have no choice but to forfeit."
"I see..." I sighed.
"Yeah. Anyway, Jerry and I were gonna go see Geoff. You're free to go. No practice today," Jen told me. "But I did take the liberty of putting your team swimsuit in the locker you've used the past few days."
"Alright. Thanks. And I think I'm gonna just head home. Tell Geoff I said I hope he gets better soon."
"Alright. Have a good one Amber. Oh, and Amber. My dad's planning a cook-out this weekend. You're welcome to come."
"Thanks Jerry. I'll definitely come."
With that, Jen and Jerry took their leave of my presence. I let out a sigh from the recent news, but didn't let it bother me that badly.
Just bad luck and bad timing. Besides, it's not like the season is canceled.
I grabbed my swimsuit out the locker and left the school and walked home. When I got home, my mom was already sitting on the couch. That's when I also realized that everything was finally unpacked.
"Mom, you're home early!"
"No I'm not. I didn't go to to work today."
"Why not? Finally give up on it?" I hopefully questioned my mother.
"No. I got a better shift, kinda like a 'promotion'. I'm working the night shifts now, which means more money."
"I told you... I don't care about the money..."
"I know you don't, but I do," Mom answered. "Besides, it's not like I'm making this money and just blowing it so that I'd have to keep working there forever. I'm just gonna work there a few years, while saving every penny not spent on food, bills, and a little bit of side fun. I'm putting half of what I save away for you and college, and the other half is to save up so that, once I feel I have enough saved, I can quit the strip club and get a different job."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Alright. Well, I'm gonna go get changed."
I then quickly ran to my room and closed the door behind me. I quickly shed myself of the uniform which I despised wearing and started picking out clothes to wear for the evening. Just as I had picked out a nice white shirt and a pink skirt, I heard my phone ring on my bed. I grabbed it and quickly answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Amber."
It was a voice I thought I'd never hear again, like the past trying to haunt me or something. I pondered whether to hang up or keep talking. I opted for the latter choice.
"Uh... hey Daren..."
"Haven't heard from you since you moved. How you been doing?"
"It's been hectic since I moved here. I been dealing with a lot of stuff."
"I know how that can feel. You free to talk right now?"
"Not really. We're still unpacking and what-not," I lied to my old friend, not really wanting to talk to him yet.
"Alright. Well, I'll call you again some time. Or you can call me when you're finished."
"Alright, will do Daren. Bye."
"Bye."
I hung my phone up and tossed it aside, not giving a second thought to the conversation. The rest of the night was actually fairly routine, after all the unexpected surprises that occurred during the day. Mom and I spent some time together before she went to work, I made myself some noodles in a cup for dinner, and went to bed the same time I always do. As I laid down on my bed and drifted to sleep, I couldn't help but hear Mizu's song still playing in my head, and it made me feel relaxed.
*****
It's amazing how life can sometimes need so many changes to make things feel normal again. I haven't felt this good about anything since my ninth birthday, a little over three years ago. I no longer feel threatened at home, I'm having fun with friends again, and I'm even enjoying school again. Granted, things aren't quite as normal as I'd like, but beggars can't be choosers.
Chapter 25: The Barbecue
A few days had passed since I helped Mizu, the blue violin-playing wolf, with his problem, and nothing spectacular or ground-breaking happened. I went to school, made some friends each day, went to swim practice, spent a few hours each day walking around town, and then finished the days off at home with my mom before she had to go to work. The only interesting thing that did happen was that Jerry invited me to a cook-out his family was planning, which happens to be today. I woke up at only nine in the morning, groggily sitting up in my bed and letting out a big yawn. I then stood up lazily and stretched my body out, letting the warm sun that was trickling in through the window bathe me. I took my pajamas off and let the rays warm my fur. As I stood there, soaking up the beams, my cellphone rang on a nearby dresser. I picked it up and imediately answered.
"Hello?"
"Amber? It's Jerry."
"Hey Jerry, what's up?"
"Hey, I forgot to give Billy directions to my place. Can you swing by on your way here and pick him up?" he asked me.
"Sure thing. What time is the cook-out anyway?"
"You can come whenever you want. My dad is getting ready to start cooking a few things for us, and Jen and Geoff have already showed up. Plus it'd be nice to spend time with you guys before chowing down."
"Alright. I'll swing by Billy's place and pick him up right away," I informed my squirrel friend.
I hung my phone up and tossed it on my bed. I stretched my body out one last time before diggint into my dresser, looking for something nice to wear for my friends. I finally decided on a pink t-shirt and a nice white skirt. I quickly slid the clothes onto my snow-white fur and left my room. My mom was still asleep from her late night at work last night, so I quietly tip-toed past her door and through the living room, headed for the front door. I quickly put my socks and shoes on before stepping out into the bright sun. I took a deep breath of the gentle breeze that blew through the sky and let out a sigh of happiness.
Alright. Time to go grab Billy.
I walked down the sidewalk and strolled to Billy's house, who lived a couple dozen of blocks away from where I lived. When I got there, I quickly walked up to his door and started knocking hard on it, not knowing if the platypus was still asleep. A few moments later, the door swung open in a hurry, with the boy I was here to get standing on the other side.
"Hey Amber!" he greeted me with a smile.
"Hey Billy," I replied, smiling as well.
"What brings you here?"
"Jerry sent me to come get you," I answered the young platypus. "He figured you didn't know where he lived and asked me to come get you and show you the way."
"Wow," Billy said with a chuckle. "He's always one step ahead, isn't he?"
"I know, right? It's kinda weird."
"Nah, it's just part of who he is. So insightful, but you'd never guess that by how silent he likes to stay."
"Yeah, I noticed that. So, were you ready to go or should I come back later?"
"Wait, he wants us there now?" the young boy asked.
"Yeah. He wants to spend time with us before we begin to eat and stuff."
"Alright, let me get my shoes and I'll be ready. Oh, we gotta stop and get Sonia before we head over if that's alright with you."
"Sure," I said with a smile.
"Thanks."
Billy then closed his door for a few moments before opening it again. He stepped outside toward me with a smile, closing the door behind him.
"Alrighty, ready."
The young platypus then started walking down the street without any signal to follow him or verbal cue. I quickly chased after him, catching up in no time, and walked along-side him to his girlfriend's place. Along the way, he and I talked about how different Pouncefield is to our old hometowns, and I even shared my story about why I moved to Pouncefield from Pawstin with him. Billy was very understanding and very supportive and tried to make me forget it all, but I don't think I could ever forget that night I walked in on my parents. After I shared my story, we spent the last part of the walk in silence. At the end of the journey, we walked up to a castle looking house. I stood there as he knocked on the door, astonished from such a great place. I couldn't believe I hadn't seen this place before, seeing as it really stands out among the rest. A silver fox answered the door, but I didn't pay much attention to the conversation he was having with Billy. I couldn't take my eyes off his house. After a few moments, I heard my name mentioned and snapped myself back to my senses.
"Oh, this is Amber. Amber, Alex," Billy told his fox friend.
The silver fox then reached his paw out to me with a smile. I hesitantly took it, my shyness kicking in.
"Nice to meet you Amber."
"Nice to meet you too, Alex."
He then let go of my paw.
"Alright, I'll send Sonia out when she's done getting dressed."
"Thanks," Billy said to Alex. "See you around."
"See ya."
The silver fox then closed the door on us. Billy and I decided to both sit down while we were waiting. Only a few moments passed before the door opened up and a yellow flash tried to tackle Billy.
"Whoa!" the young platypus cried out, managing to hold himself up. "Hey Sonia. Easy! That one would've REALLY hurt."
"Sorry, but I couldn't help it," the yellow fox apologized to Billy. "I'm a little excited today. I get to go to a barbecue with my boyfriend, and we finally get to end Jen's bitchiness."
I didn't care much for what she said about Jen at the time, but I decided to bite my tongue.
Jen is anything but bitchy.
"She's not being bitchy," Billy spoke up. "Just a little hurt and confused about the situation. Anyway, we should probably get going. Jerry is expecting us."
The yellow fox nodded to her platypus boyfriend, and then the two of them followed me off the porch and down the street as I led the way to Jerry's house. I visited his house once during the week so I could easily find my way there for the barbecue. Billy and I talked along the way about what it's like to be a new kid in town, even though I lied about having to move around a lot to him due to my own insecurities that I still have about my past, and we also talked about his sensitivity about is looks. It wasn't too long before we arrived in front of Jerry's house, which looked similar to Billy's. I led my companions around the side of the house and into the backyard. Jen got upset at seeing Billy and Sonia and turned her head to us. Jerry shook his head at the tigress' actions and then waved us over to the table, after which we happily joined them. As we sat down though, Jen got up in a hurry and made her way to the trampoline. Jerry shook his head once more before starting a conversation.
"I'm glad you all could make it," Jerry said with a smile. "How do you guys like the house?"
"I haven't been inside yet, but it looks good on the outside," Billy answered with a smile.
"You should see the inside!" Geoff immediately exclaimed. "The kitchen is almost pure maple, from the floor to the cabinets to the furniture. The living room is nice, and they have a nice 35' TV in there. I didn't see his parents' room, but his bedroom is nice. Sure beats the apartment my family lives in."
"Sounds very nice," the young platypus replied.
"Eh, it is, but I don't care. It's home. Sure, it's great it looks nice, but as long as I got a roof over my head every night when I go to sleep, I'm happy," my squirrel friend finished, causing Sonia to giggle lightly to herself.
Jerry and Geoff then shared a story with us about some of their kindergarten experiences, including one time when Jen made Rodriguez cry, which caused us all to laugh uncontrollably. After the story, Billy stood up from the table and walked over to Jen, who was still jumping on the trampoline. After they exchanged a few words, Jen followed Billy into Jerry's house, which left me a little puzzled.
"So what's up with Jen and Billy?" I asked everybody.
"Oh, they went out for a couple of weeks, and then she wanted to take a break after a tape of him came out," Jerry started the new story.
"And then he met me, and we started going out. She's been bitter ever since," Sonia added.
"And now they're trying to get everything between them settled," Geoff finished.
"Ah, ok. I hope they manage to work it out," I answered with a sigh.
"We all do too."
The four of us sat there and talked about random things, just trying to pass the time while Billy was inside with Jen. After a short while, the two came out of the house, standing side-by-side. Seeing this as a good sign, we all stood up and clapped for them, finally glad whatever animosity between them was over. Billy chuckled and Jen blushed, both of which were even better signs that they had worked everything out.
"Oh shut up guys..." Jen blurted out, causing us all to laugh.
Billy then reintroduced his girlfriend to Jen, and vice-versa. The two shook paws and smiled at each other. Once everybody was seated, Jerry's father brought out some charcoal and got ready to light the grill up.
"Uh... Jerry... your dad's not gonna do one of them cartoon things, is he? Like Cranshaft or on Looney Toons or anything, right? Blow the grill up trying to light the charcoal...?" the young platypus asked.
"Nah, not at all. He's an expert cook. He went to Le Cordon Bleu and learned to be a chef. Just a shame he couldn't get a job as one. Oh well, better for our family anyway. We get to experience his great cooking all the time," our squirrel friend shared.
"So what does your dad do for a living then?" Billy questioned again.
"He's a bank teller."
"Kind of a far cry from chef, but it still pays the bills," Billy replied to Jerry's answer.
"Yeah. Plus he's happy, and that's all that matters. What's the point of having a career if you don't love your job?" Jerry told us all.
"Good point, Jerry," I added to the conversation.
Plus it's not like he's a stripper or anything like that...
"You better believe it. Anyway, I'm kinda tired of talking. Let's go play some things."
"Yeah!" we all cheered at Jerry's idea.
The six of us then walked over to his trampoline and took turns jumping on it, having a great time. After we all started to run low on jumping energy, Jerry took us up to his tree house, which he furnished with an air-mattress. In the corner of the small room laid a few board games. Geoff grabbed a game out of the stack and we all started to play. The game was interrupted a short while later when Jerry's father called up to us that the food was finished being cooked, followed by the delicious scents of various foods. We climbed down out of the tree and hurried to the picnic table, which was full of all kinds of various delectibles.
"Man, that's a lot of food!" Geoff blurted out in astonishment.
"Well, there are eight of us eating, and I'm sure we'll be picking at it all day," Jerry's dad walked over and told us. "And if any of it remains, it'll be leftovers for my family for a couple of days, so dont' worry. It will all get eaten. Anyway, enough of listening to me talk. Dig in!"
The six of us all grab paper plates and fill them with food. Jerry then guided us to a table set out for us to eat at under a tree, where we all sat down and started to dig in. I was too busy with my food to notice that Jerry's parents weren't joining us, but Billy's girlfriend, Sonia, had. When the yellow fox questioned Jerry about it, he told her how his parents had made themselves a couple of steaks. This caused Sonia to tell a story about her brother's appetite and how he would eat all the food at the cook-out, which we all had a good laugh at. We then turned our attention back to our food, which was very tasty.
I hope I get invited for food over more often. Not that mom's cooking isn't great, but this is just AWESOME.
After we finished our meals, we chucked our garbage into a trash can that was set beside the grill. The six of us then decided to go in and watch some TV together, which really made the time fly. It seemed like it was just a few moments after we had turned the television set on before Jerry's parents came into the room with some bad news.
"Sorry to do this kids, but Jerry's got homework to do. You all have to go home now," Jerry's mother reluctantly told us, not wanting to ruin our good time. We all let out a disappointed groan at the sudden end to the party. "I'm sorry. You kids can all stop by and do this again any time, but for right now..."
"I know," Jerry stopped his mom. "Homework." Our squirrel friend turned to us and smiled. "Well, it's been fun guys. Thanks for coming. I'll see you all later."
The five of us stood up as we said our good-byes to Jerry, walking out of the house. We looked at one another once we were outside and said good-bye to one another before we all headed off in seperate directions. My walk home was rather boring, but I was still hopped up on the fun I just had, so I didn't care how long or short my walk was going to be. When I got home, I saw a note on the couch waiting for me. I walked over and scanned the written text.
"Hi Amber. I hope you had fun at your friend's place. I'm sorry I'm not home when you get home. I was asked to head into work early. I probably won't be home until you go to bed. Have a good night sweetie, and I'll see you tomorrow. Love, Mom."
I grabbed the paper and crumpled it in my paw, tossing it aside. I sat down on the couch and turned on the TV, deciding to let it pass the time for me as I waited for my bed-time to come around. After a few hours, I stood up off the sofa and yawned, turning of the TV and heading for my room. I stripped myself of my clothes and laid down in bed, curling up under my covers. As I started to drift off to sleep, I couldn't help but feel that my life was perfect.
*****
Epilogue: The End Of My Tale
About six months have passed since I first shared my story with Billy on our way to Jerry's barbecue and this moment today. A lot has happened in my life since then. For starters, bits and pieces of my past were starting to mingle into my present and possible future without any negative side effects. After the divorce, I slowly started seeing my dad regularly. At first, I only talked to him on the phone maybe once a week, but as my parents started to like each other again, Mom took me to see him one, two, and even three times a week. Of course, I never did get to see my old house ever again, but I like the one I live in in Pouncefield better anyway.
Daren and I are another story altogether. After I moved, he called a lot. He was trying to cling to our dead relationship. So I invited him over to my house a couple of months ago. My mom went and got him and took him home after we were done. I took him up to my room and explained everything, my parents' strange fetish, how rough my dad got with it, the trunk, and even the night I walked in on them. He sat there stunned as I told him my tale, and he gave me a hug afterwards. After that day, Daren and I talk more regularly on the phone, agreeing that friendship is better than nothing. I can still detect him wanting to be more once in a while, but since he never brings it up aloud, I never ask him about it.
Life in Pouncefield has really gotten better for me since my move. Billy, his girlfriend, and Jen all started getting along better after the barbecue. Jen even asked Sonia to join the swim team, but she respectfully declined. She did come from time to time to watch practice though, and she was at all of the rest of the meets we had after Geoff was allowed to swim again. Edna and I have been very close friends since my first day in town. She eventually introduced me to her shy brother, whose name is Edward. It took a while for the older fox to come out of his shell around me, which was fine with me because it took a while for me to open up to him as well. After he was comfortable enough around me, he introduced me to some of his other friends, which included a lion named Pokeinfo, a bunny named Cynthia, his girlfriend squirrel named Laura, and a tabby named Jenny. After meeting Jenny, I often found myself wondering why Jen never hung out with Jenny. I even got to make a lot more other friends through my team-mates, Mizu, David and Danielle. They introduced me to some of their friends, who in turn introduced me to more friends. It was hard to meet so many furs, but I always found my courage sooner or later.
Life at home remained the same. I was at school while my mom slept, and she would go to work when it was close to my bed-time. I hate the fact that she's STILL a stripper, but I get to spend my day after school with her, so I can't really complain too much. Grandma Demay comes to visit from time to time to check on how Mom is settling in after the divorce and to make sure I'm doing alright. I wish I could see more of her, but the trip from outside Pawstin to here in Pouncefield can get tiring after enough visits. As for the trunk in my closet, I have still not told Mom about it. I don't know whether to just burn it one day or to keep the stuff as a reminder of what a guy can be like. For now, I think I'm gonna hold on to it.
Today is the start of a new day, as well as the start of a new school year. Over the summer, I decided I needed to try and be a little more open with my friends. I told my story to the rest of my team-mates over the summer, and told Billy's girlfriend when I felt comfortable enough around her. As summer came to an end, I finally found the courage to tell the rest of the friends I consider close, and that's when I came to you. Thank you for listening. I feel a bit better now. I just hope my future doesn't turn out as poorly as my past has so far.
------
Thanks to: Krezz Kravan, packers848848, MizuAstrum for allowing me to use their characters. You for reading.
Written back in 2008.",
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