-Chapter 2-

	'Lykaan! Get up, now!'
His father was calling from the kitchen.
Great... I go from a kind father, to a cranky one.
	'I'm awake,' He yawned, 'kind of'.'
Lykaan looked at his clock.
	'It's barely six thirty!'
	'KD's awake, so you can be too.'
Oh great, the punishment starts again...
Lykaan started to climb down his bed.
He slipped.
	'Lykaan, what was that?'
He stood slowly, rubbing his backside.
	'I fell out of bed... and may have crushed my tail...'
Not that you care at the moment.
There was no reply.
Lykaan opened his clothes drawers.
His heart sank.
His sock and underwear drawer was empty, apart from a single pair of frilly pink undies, and close enough to a neon purple pair of socks.
	'Dad!'
	'Yes Lykaan, you will wear them, otherwise you go without.'
	'But I have PE class today! I can't wear shorts and no underwear, I'll be exposed!'
	'Well then, wear the pair I've supplied!'
I can't believe he's making me wear these... now I regret not wearing undies to bed at night.
Lykaan hesitated a while before dropping his pants to replace them with the monstrous...
There really are such few words to describe them.
Worst part is they fit perfectly...
Mikale walked in.
Lykaan, too horrified by what he had just put on, still hadn't put on any pants.
	'You look lovely in those Ly!'
Ly? is that some kind of feminisation of my name?
	'You can't be serious about making me wear these to school.'
	'Well you are more than welcome to give them back to me and go without.'
	'We already had this conversation, I need something under my shorts for PE!'
	'A conversation generally takes place face to face, or over the phone, not shouting between rooms.'
	'Argument then.'
	'Best make your decision and put some pants on before I take a picture.'
Mikale took out his phone.
Just put your pants on quickly!
	'Damn, too slow. It seems you chose not to strip in front of me, and suffer the panties instead'
I hate you...




KD could smell the scent of burning eggs from his seat at the kitchen table, he couldn't stop a small twitch in his left ear from starting.
Just like father used to make... I miss that.
	'Mikale! You can't leave something cooking on the stove! It has already started to burn!'
Alex took the pot off the stove, placing it on the table. Of course it was on the heat proof stone.
	'KD, how are you feeling?'
	'Sore...'
Alex moved in closer and hugged him
	'The dentist opens at nine, but we probably won't get in for a few hours, so try and hold out until then.'
She ruffled his hair.
Mikale came and sat down next to Alex.
	'Sorry love,' he kissed her on the cheek, 'want me to make a fresh batch?'
	'Well, we can't just waste what we have made'
KD jumped at this opportunity.
	'I'll have them'
Mikale looked a little confused.
	'Burnt eggs? Really?'
	'It is just the way Father always made them, it's been quite a while since I've had them like this'
	'There you go, KD won't waste them. Want a fresh batch now?'
	'If it's offered, I won't object.'
Another kiss on the cheek.




Malessa woke to her alarm.
Taped to the top of it was a sticky note.
“Matin”
'Matin... Morning Dad.'
Her father always left notes around the house for her before he left for work.
Her mother had died when she was six, since then he has tried to support her by working two jobs. It meant she rarely got to see him, but the notes kept her happy, even if they were occasionally written in French.
Her father moved from France on a business trip, and ended up meeting her mother. They married after only nine months together, from what she worked out. She also knew she was born only four months later.
Malessa sat up and closed her eyes. Her mother used to “feel” the days aura every morning. Although she herself didn't believe in the auras, Malessa did enjoy those few minutes of relaxation. Occasionally she would become more aware of her emotions as she did this. Today her focus was Lykaan.
Please, tell me what I should do... Tell him, or keep it secret...
Malessa smiled.
	'Tell him...'
She was overjoyed at this outcome. She leapt from her bed and ran straight to the shower.




Lykaan felt uncomfortable in the car. He was in the back seat, instead of the front. The seat was foreign to him. His Mother was taking KD to the Dentist this morning, so she sat in the front.
He got the feeling that the smile KD had was because of the pink monstrosity.
	'Hey Lykaan, isn't that girl in your year?'
His father had spotted Malessa.
	'Yes.'
Mikale pulled the car up at the bus stop.
	'Hello, Lykaan tells me you go to the same school as him.'
Malessa glanced at Lykaan
	'Would you like a ride? We are heading there anyway, it'll save you a bus ride at least.'
	'uh, that would be great, thanks'
	'Lykaan, shift over for her.'
	'But she's smaller than me, shouldn't she sit in the middle?'
	'Fine then. Just climb over him dear, I'm sure Ly won't mind'
Alex hit Mikale in the arm.
	'Mikale'
Malessa blushed as she climbed over him.
Did she see them! Please tell me she didn't.
	'What's your name dear?'
	'Malessa, Malessa Mailys'
	'Well, miss Mailys, pleasure to meet you'
Mikale pulled back onto the road.
	'Mind if I ask what classes you share with my son?'
	'Um, well, Art is one. English and PE.'
Oh crap... If she saw them, she could tell others during PE and everyone will try to catch a glimpse. I will never live this down...
	'Hi Malessa.'
	'Hey KD'
	'You two know each other?'
	'Yeah, we have chats on the bus when Lykaan leaves me behind. Which is most days.'
	'Well, no need to worry today, Alex will take you home after your appointment.'
	'Mr. Wylder, mind if I ask what the appointment is about?'
	'Ask KD'
KD touched his jaw.
	'Lykaan fractured my tooth yesterday, and it's lodged in my gums.'
	'Sounds painful.'
	'It is. It's hard enough trying not to cry when I bump it.
Lykaan slumped in his seat.
Great, let's make me look like a total arse hole.

	
The ride to school seemed like it would never end, but it had.
Lykaan was too busy worrying about whether or not she saw what he was wearing that he left his bag in the car, not that he knew it yet.
	'Your father in quite nice Lykaan.'
	'You think so? I guess it more or less depends on when you catch him.'
	'What do you mean?'
	'Well, yesterday, because of three contributing factors, I had the worst punishment of my life. I got surprise attacked with three whacks to the arse, probably one for each crime I guess. But this morning, he's in a slightly... happier mood because of his unusual punishment for me.'
	'What's the punishment?'
	'I'd rather not talk about it. It's rather... personal.'
	'Oh.'
Lykaan caught her glancing downwards.
Crap, she does know!
His cheeks felt like they were on fire, probably just as red hot too.
	'I ahh, I have to go and apologise to Mrs. Skorvik.'
He ran off before the situation could get any worse.
	'LYKAAN, YOUR BAG!'
CRAP!
His mother was running towards him.
	'I believe you need this.'
He took his bag from her.
	'At least now you can give your Mother a kiss'
	'Wait, NO!' 
Too late!
	'Mum... I have enough to be worried about as it is. I don't need this embarrassment added to that!'
	'You know you love me. Have fun today!'
Not likely...
	




Mikale had dropped off Alex and KD where he worked.
	'Well my love, I'll see you tonight!'
They kissed.
	'Bye.'
Mikale walked off to the warehouse with “Fergusson Furnishings” written on a huge sign.
Alex checked her watch.
	'Right, KD. It's ten to nine at the moment, we'll go in and see if they can fit us in today. Then we'll go and get an ice cream. Sound good?'
	'I guess, but won't an ice cream irritate my gums further?'
	'Nah, It'll just numb the gum a bit. Take the edge off the pain.'


Standing in the ice cream parlour, KD read all the different flavours they had on offer.
	'I know what I'm having KD, what have you decided?'
	'There are three different flavours I'm deciding between.'
	'What are they?'
He pointed to each of them.
	'Rocky Road, ginger and mango.'
	'Okay then. Excuse me. I'd like to have one Cherry Coconut, single scoop please.'
	'I haven't decided yet'
	'Don't worry about that. And I'll have a ginger, mango and Rocky Road triple scoop too thanks.'
	'All three? I can't have that much!'
The woman scooping the ice cream spoke to them.
	'Never seen a cub ask for less ice cream before!'
	'It's something his father managed to drill into him. He's lived with me since my brother passed on and still we can't seem to get him to adapt to the way I do things.'
	'Excuse me ma'am, can I just have the ginger and mango please. I don't think the chocolate would taste too great with the ginger alongside it.'
	The woman smiled.
	'Certainly'
	'Too much for you, hey KD.'
	'So what brings you two here on this fine day?'
	'My son got into a fight with my nephew, ended up breaking a tooth. We're booked in for a ten thirty appointment at the dentist, so we have to wait a little while.'
	'Tell you what, I'll give you the double scoop, and only charge you a single, just as a little prize for surprising me. Most cubs I've served want more icecream'
	'Can you do that?'
	'Yeah, why not, I own the place anyway.'
	'Thank you for that.'
	'Here you go, enjoy!'

KD managed to finish his ice cream before Alex, so he sat watching a pigeon trying to find crumbs between the brick paving.
	'KD.'
His ears pricked up.
	'Yes Alex.'
	'How well do you know that girl... Melissa was it?'
	'Malessa. We are good friends. Even when Lykaan isn't on the bus, I'm not alone. She likes to catch the same bus if Lykaan leaves me, otherwise she hangs back to catch the next one.'
	'Why does she do that?'
	'I got the feeling she doesn't like him much. Just yesterday, she told me that a rumour about her may have been started by Lykaan.'
	'Rumour? What do they say?'
KD sat up straight.
	'Aunty, That's why they are rumours, people start them, regardless of truth or lies, and others pass them on, having it slowly warp in the process. Besides, she didn't tell me the rumour.'
	'I suppose that's for the best.'
She looked at her watch.
	'We have another half hour, anything you want to do while we are here?'
He thought for a moment.
	'I need a new sound card for my computer, mind if we stop at a tech shop?'
Alex nodded her head for a few seconds.
	'You mean you want to stop off at Kerrigan Technologies, to see your grandfather.'
	'And your father. But I do need a sound card though.'
	'Sure, why not. We'll head there after your appointment though. You know how he gets when he's around his grandchildren.'





Lykaan managed to avoid embarrassment in the change rooms by convincing people he had to pee, and he had just gotten changed in there.
It wouldn't work again though. He knew that.
He spent most of the class thinking how he could change without the other boys seeing his underwear, as opposed to watching the soccer ball, as he should have been.
	'Lykaan!'
The world started to spin.
He fell.
He regained his orientation,
	'Lykaan, Lykaan. Are you okay?'
The teacher was crouched over him clicking his fingers next to his ear.
Each click caused his ear to twitch.
	'Yeah,' He sat up. 'What.. what happened?'
	'You stopped the ball with your face. Do you feel dizzy? Disoriented?'
	'No, not quite, just a little dazed.'
	'Mmkay, take five 'til you feel better, Malessa, mind helping him to the bench for me.'
Malessa came over and helped him to stand. He took a few steps, apparently not in a straight line, so Malessa put his arm around her.
He managed to sit without falling flat on his face, or his rear.
	'I'm sorry, Lykaan.'
	'For what?'
	'I kicked the ball.'
Great, taken out by a girl.
	'Lykaan, can I ask you something.'
	''bout what?'
	'Something that happened this morning'
Crap crap CRAP! She does know.
	'You look a little on edge. Is something wrong?'
	'Well, I know what you're about to say. Why wouldn't I be!'
	'Y...you know...'
Malessa shied away from Lykaan.
	'You saw my pink panties this morning. Who did you tell?'
	'Wait, what?'
	'My underwear, you saw it this morning as you climbed over me!'
	'No, I didn't. How could I?'
	'You mean you...I...'
Lykaan felt his cheeks fire up again. He hid his face in his hands.
	'Lykaan, I didn't want to talk to you about your underwear. I came to a decision this morning. I wanted to tell you...'
I feel so embarrassed, I told her about my pink underwear. She only knows because I told her.
Malessa leaned in closer to Lykaan and whispered.
	'If it makes you feel better, I have teddy bears on mine.'
He couldn't help but picture it and laugh.
	'Well, Lykaan, at least now we can blackmail each other.'
	'What do you mean?'
	'I know what you are wearing, you know what I'm wearing. I won't tell if you don't. Agreed?'
	'Agreed.'
Lykaan sat up again.
	'Lykaan, I wanted to tell you that I... I...'
Could it really be that hard to say something?
	'I came to an important decision, something that could change the course of my life.'
Just spit it out.
	'I love you...'
Oh.
How do I react to that?
	'Lykaan, are you... do you not like me?'
	'No, you're nice and all, but I barely know you... I only know your name because the teacher said it.'
	'Oh...'
Malessa stood,
	'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pester you.'
And walked off.
Lykaan sat there a few more minutes, then had the best idea possible.
He walked over to teacher.
	'Sir, I still feel a little dazed, mind if I get changed and head to the nurse?'
	'I have no problem with that, but I will check whether or not you made it there. You have a history of truant behaviour.'
I actually got permission to finish early. One step closer to finishing this nightmare.




Malessa was heading to the bus stop, nothing but Lykaan on her mind. At least he wasn't there.
I told him. I told him and got rejected.
She wiped a tear from her eye, sitting at the stop.
I held out for so long, fearing the outcome. 
Now... My worst nightmare is realised.
Lykaan came into her view, and waved at her.
If I leave now, he'll think I'm scared, or embarrassed.
	'Hey, Malessa!'
	'Hi...'
	'I'm sorry if I upset you before. I just know nothing about you. Except your name, of course. I would like to get to know you better.'
	'Why?'
	'Well, there is the chance that I may come to love what I find, and I could really use that in my life about now.'
	'So, you're wanting to go out with me? On a date?'
	'What, no, that's not what I meant by getting to know you. I just mean, well, we both catch the same bus, why don't we just... Chat?'
She couldn't help but smile.
	'I would like that.'
After a few minutes of silence, Malessa found herself staring at his crotch area.
	'Hey, Lykaan.'
	'Yeah.'
	'Would you mind if I... I mean would you mind letting me see?'
Lykaan followed her gaze.
	'It depends on what you're looking at. I'm not willing to expose myself if that's what you are asking.'
Malessa blushed.
	'No, no, not that. I meant your underwear. Of course, fair trade would mean you seeing mine.'
After a while when he was certain no-one was around, Lykaan stood, unbuckling his belt.
He pulled the side of his pants down showing her the pink underneath.
	'Satisfied?'
	'Yeah.'
Malessa stood, copying Lykaan's previous example.
Lykaan started laughing.
Not the way you treat a girl lowering her pants for you.
	'You laugh now...' Malessa grabbed his hand, stuffing it in her pants.
She watched as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end.
Barely two seconds and Lykaan's hand was out.
He was visibly embarrassed.
	'Lykaan, something you should know about me. I'm not afraid to go the extra mile.'
	'Well, if that is so, why did you take so long to tell me you loved me then?'
	'That is nowhere near the same. Fear of rejection and a lack of confidence are distinctly different.'
	'If you say so...'
	'Did you like it?'
	'Like what?'
	'Being that close to a girl?'
He was silent for a moment.
	'It was different. I think teddy bears may haunt my dreams now.'
...Oh no...
	'So you hated it?'
	'Not at all. I enjoyed it, but... I still can't decide whether it was you who moved my hand, or just my mind convincing me that you did. You caught me completely off guard. I'm kinda scared of what just happen.'
He's not gay... That's a relief.