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This story is rated M for minor mentions of violence.", "writing": "Competitive Courage by Pent Ghelsburg\n\nDisclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters and some depictions of violent intent. You have been warned.\n\nA few days had passed. School had remained much the same for young Xavier. His mind had been focused on honing his Lacrosse skills. Each day leading up to it, he'd been either with his private trainer or doing his own thing. The chipmunk spent much of his free time practicing his shot, passing, or maneuvers. He had even mastered a trick shot, though he had no plan to use it.\n\n His parents knew he took the sport seriously, but they were still careful about how much time Xavier spent practicing. They didn't want him to hurt himself, and both of them kept a watchful eye on him. Limiting the time he did so each day, he went aside. Even went as far as to make sure he rested the day before. Telling him that he needed to be rested for the game the next day. Reluctantly, the teen gave in, but he conceded the fact since he wanted to beat the school team.\n\nThe day of the game finally arrived, and with it, Xavier awoke to the sound of his alarm going off. He burst out of bed, knowing full well what day it was. He didn't even have to look at his calendar, despite having circled the date with a red marker. Briefly looking out the window, the chipmunk wanted to make sure the weather looked suitable. Outside, it seemed like there were only a few clouds, and they didn't seem to be grey.\n\nXavier couldn't help but be excited. Changing into his school uniform, he took out his lacrosse stuff to stuff in a different bag. He intended to change after the school day. The game had been planned to occur shortly after the end of the academic day. It was set up only an hour after, and he figured it would give him enough time to change into his gear. He wasn't sure when the rest of his team would arrive, but none of the mattered right now.\n\nCalling to him from down the hall, his mother let him know that breakfast was ready when he was done. The chipmunk wasn't in any rush. He had purposely set his alarm earlier than usual as he wanted more time. He knew it would likely take time for him to get all his stuff together since his lacrosse gear was bulkier than his casual clothing. The teen finished what he was doing before making his way down the hall to the kitchen.\n\nInside the kitchen, he found his mother there. The woman smiled at him warmly. In front of him was a heavier breakfast as usual with pancakes and fresh fruit. She had just finished making it home style by mixing the batter herself. Figuring that it would taste better, even going as far as to put a bit of powdered brown sugar on it. It wasn't a lot but it was enough to sweeten it more than it would have been otherwise.\n\nXavier sat down at the table. His mother sat down opposite him before talking.\n\n\"Excited about today?\" The woman already knew the answer to the question but asked it anyway.\n\nThe brown furred teen nodded. \"Yeah, I hope we win. If we don't, I'll never hear the end of it.\"\n\n\"From who? Are they still giving you grief at school about leaving the team?\" It was the first time her son had mentioned it.\n\nThe boy looked at her. \"The other day, a player on the team bothered Pent and I at lunch.\"\n\nXavier had learned from Milo that the moose that had tried to fight them was a member of the school team and that his name was Buck.\n\n\"Oh, how come you didn't tell me about it?\" She was a bit concerned that Xavier had ignored the issue.\n\nThe chipmunk boy shrugged. \"We were able to avoid conflict with him. I didn't make much of it since we didn't see him again. I'm sure I will see him today, though.\"\n\n\"That's good. I'm glad you didn't get into a fight, but I'm sorry they are still bothering you about it.\" His mother was relieved it had worked out without escalation.\n\nThe woman got up so she could get ready for work. Gently patting her son on the head and ruffling his head fur. She was satisfied with how he had responded to the whole ordeal. He was really growing up in her eyes and had only gotten more mature as time passed on. Xavier finished the rest of his meal. It was delicious and hit the spot. The teen cleaned up when he was finished, making sure not to leave a mess.\n\nShortly after, he returned to his room to finish packing up for school. He put the small duffel bag he'd used for lacrosse stuff by the door. Packing up the remainder of his school stuff so that he was prepared with what he needed for the day. It wasn't long before his mother called to him to let him know she was ready to head out. She didn't rush him since she knew he had more to do that morning, but it didn't take him much longer to finish.\n\nXavier toted the small duffel bag in his left hand, carrying his usual one around his shoulder. His mother motioned for him to follow her. They made their way out the door, and he put his stuff on the floor of her car. She looked over at him briefly. He didn't seem to be nervous and she was certain there he was harboring any anxiety. After all, her son had always been a confident boy and nothing had changed about that.\n\nThey made their way to the school. The chipmunk boy was quiet and deep in his own thoughts. Not just thinking about the game, but thinking about Pent. A few minutes into the ride, he got a notification on his phone. The familiar buzz in his pocket made him think it was Pent. Deciding to check it, he looked at the screen. He saw a name he very seldom saw. Samaliel, his boyfriends younger brother, had texted him.\n\n\"Do you have any time to talk this morning?\" The younger boy had put it simply.\n\nThe rodent wasn't sure what to think about it. \"I might have some time this morning, why?\"\n\n\"I want to ask you about something. Can you not tell Pent, please?\" Samaliel had never been a clandestine cub before, but this was a different situation for him.\n\nXavier was a little curious about the request. \"Uh…sure.\"\n\nImmediately, the teen's mind began to wander. Why was Pent's brother asking him this? Had something happened between them? He was certain that was the case, but there was still something fishy about it. After all, it was the first time he'd ever asked to talk to him privately and without his brother knowing. Then it occurred to Xavier he needed to find an excuse not to hang out with Pent that morning. It bothered him a bit to lie, but he needed to know what was up with the cub.\n\nHe quickly texted the other fox boy. \"Hey, Pent…can we just hang out at lunch? I need to drop my lacrosse stuff off in the gym.\"\n\nA small pit of guilt formed in the chipmunk's stomach. Something didn't sit well with him to lie to the boy he loved. There was a response before long.\n\n\"Sure, Xae. No problem. I will see you at lunch.\" Pent suspected nothing as he knew it was game day.\n\nXavier put his phone back in his pocket. That small core of guilt started to eat at him. Exacerbated even more by the fact that Pent would be alone. He knew the fox wouldn't go looking for anyone to hang out with him. He figured his boyfriend would be alone. The chipmunk started to twiddle his fingers nervously. It didn't take long for his mother to notice the change in his disposition.\n\n\"Is something bothering you? It's not the game, is it?\" His mother wanted to be sure.\n\nThe chipmunk boy shook his head. \"No. I just feel guilty.\"\n\n\"About what?\" She pulled over just short of the school so he could get the full details.\n\nHer son continued fiddling with his fingers nervously. \"I just lied to Pent. I feel terrible.\"\n\n\"Why did you lie to Pent? What happened?\" The older woman couldn't help but feel concerned about it.\n\nXavier sighed. \"His brother texted me and asked me to talk to me privately…without Pent knowing. I told him I would\"\n\n\"What? Why?\" She was just as baffled as her son was, as she knew the fox boys were close.\n\nThe teen nodded. \"I don't know…what should I do? I feel like garbage for lying to him.\"\n\n\"Well…you can't get out of it now. You told him you'd talk to him…and you already lied to your boyfriend. I think you should see what it's about and tell his brother regardless of what it is.\" His mother hated it when people kept secrets from their family.\n\nThe brown furred boy looked at her. \"Really?\"\n\n\"Yes, Samaliel is his brother. He deserves to know, but you need to do some digging first. I'm sure it's nothing.\" She started the car again.\n\nXavier softly nodded. \"Alright…\"\n\n\"You can apologize to Pent later. I'm sure he will understand. Besides…it's not like he's ever mad at you.\" The older woman tried to ease his anxiety.\n\nThe chipmunk boy remained silent for the rest of the ride. He still felt guilty, but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He was stuck and had to deal with his decision. The teen could only hope his boyfriend would understand. They arrived at the school before long. Xavier's mother softly smiled at him before patting his back.\n\n\"It will be fine. I promise. It's not like you're doing this for nefarious reasons.\" His mother once again tried to comfort him.\n\nHe lightly smiled at her and grabbed his bag. \"Thanks, Mom…I'll let you know how it goes.\"\n\n\"Don't let it bother you too much…you have a big game this afternoon. See you there.\" She drove off once he was out of the car, as she was being hurried along.\n\nNow left with only his thoughts, Xavier checked his phone again. Sure enough, another text from Samaliel had come in, and he hadn't even noticed it. \n\n\"I'm over by the recreation room in the junior wing.\" \n\nHe didn't respond and instead headed right for the athletic storage shed. They had been told previously that any player who went to the school could store their stuff there. In front of it, he saw one of the school coaches. He didn't recognize the woman as the staff had recently changed and he assumed she was also coach of the younger students. The woman took his staff and gave him a claim ticket for later.\n\nXavier thanked her and made his way to the recreation room. It was through the side of the building where the cafeteria was. Just beyond it and into the Junior wings of\n the school. The younger students eyed him as he made his way through it. Very few of them knew who he was, so the glances were cursory at best. The teen ignored them and continued his way until he arrived at the recreation room.\n\nThe room was a sectioned-off part of the wing. It was the only space not used for a classroom and larger than the rest of them. Inside were several tables, all of which had some board games on it. This was where the gaming club held it's sessions and Samaliel was a part of it. He had never asked for permission to use the room but he figured they wouldn't be discovered since it was early enough in the day.\n\n\"Sorry, I'm late. I had to drop off my Lacrosse stuff.\" Xavier said as he made his way into the room.\n\nThe younger fox looked around. \"It's alright. Thanks for coming. Does Pent know you're here?\"\n\n\"No. What is this about?\" The chipmunk wanted to try to avoid showing he was uncomfortable.\n\nThe salt and pepper boy approached him. \"I wanted to ask for your advice.\"\n\n\"Me? Why me and not your brother?\" The rodent was a bit confused.\n\nSamaliel huffed. \"Because you've gone out with girls before. Pent has only ever gone out with you and…I'm not sure I want him to know yet.\"\n\n\"I see. You're looking for advice on girls? You realize I haven't dated a girl in a while…right?\" The brown furred teen thought it was a bit of a strange request.\n\nThe younger cub nodded. \"Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that you could get any girl you wanted.\"\n\n\"Probably not anymore…but that doesn't matter. I'll help you if you want. Who do you want to ask out?\" Xavier assumed the other boy wanted to date someone.\n\nThe smaller boy shuffled his feet in place. \"Dakota.\"\n\n\"Oh, I see. How can I help?\" The rodent had never given relationship advice to anyone and wasn't sure how to go about it.\n\nSamaliel thought about it for a moment. \"I just want to know how to go about it? How do I ask her out without being weird about it?\"\n\n\"Well…for starters, just be yourself. She's already your friend, right?\" The older teen wasn't sure of who the other person was.\n\nThe salt and pepper cub nodded. \"Yeah. We hang out a lot.\"\n\n\"Then she already likes you. Just be yourself and be honest with her. It's how…Pent and I ended up together.\" Xavier scratched the back of his head as he thought about it.\n\nThe younger boy looked at him. \"Really? Pent never told me that.\"\n\n\"Well, yeah. He came clean to me at first, and I wasn't originally open to the idea. But I knew I liked hanging out with him, and one thing led to another.\" The chipmunk remembered when Pent first confessed, if it was recently.\n\nContrary to what Samaliel remembered, Pent had brought it up to him, but he just didn't remember it anymore. \n\nThe smaller fox smiled at him. \"That's cool. So you think if I just act normally, that maybe things will work out?\"\n\n\"Only time will tell. You will never know unless you try.\" Xavier said with a calm but confident smile.\n\nThe salt and pepper cub smiled at him. \"Thanks, Xavier. I appreciate it.\"\n\nXavier waved to him as the younger cub walked away. The chipmunk thought about it a bit more. He was flattered that his boyfriend's brother had asked him for advice, but it still felt strange to him. After all, he hadn't dated anyone but Pent since his last girlfriend, and that was now almost 3 years ago. The more he thought about it, the more he started to self-reflect. Considering his past relationships and just how much Pent had changed his life.\n\nWhile it wasn't something he regretted, it was the first time he realized just what he'd given up to be with him. Thoughts of his former popularity flowed through his mind. Being in the in crowd and always at the center of attention. All the girls wanted to be with him, and the boys wanted to be his friend. But even since giving all of that up, he couldn't help but think his life had gotten better. He was happier now than he'd ever been.\n\nGuilt centered at his core as he thought about the fact that he had lied to Pent earlier. He didn't have much time to think about it before the first bell rang. Deciding it would be an issue he would have to deal with later. Making his way to his first class, he started his day like normal. Xavier made his way to class and took a seat next to Milo. For the third time in two weeks, he did not see the rabbit with his latest fling, and it made him wonder if the two had hit rough water.\n\nHis classes went much slower than usual. All of the teachers were aware of the games that day. Lacrosse was not the only sport to host a competition at the school. Basketball too, was holding a similar playoffs. Everyone knew who those players were. It was the more popular of the sports. Some of the teens on the team were even lauded on the school's morning television program. It was attention that the other fall sports didn't get.\n\nXavier didn't much care for it. He had stopped caring about attention, though he certainly enjoyed it when he got it. Especially when Pent treated him extra special. The chipmunk went about his day with most of his classes going through nothing more than review. The teachers had been ordered to keep things light for both teams. As such, many of the assignments he got that day were nothing more than busy work.\n\nThe chipmunk found it harder to focus than usual. His mind was somewhat distracted by his guilt. Even if it was a minor white lie to help Samaliel…it still felt wrong. He couldn't wait until lunch to talk to his boyfriend about it. The chipmunk figured he would forgive him, but he wanted to get rid of the sickly feeling in his stomach sooner rather than later. The early part of the day was dragging on, and each class seemed like it was taking longer than usual.\n\nWhen lunch finally rolled around, he was more than glad that the day was halfway over. It meant that the game was just that much closer. It also meant he could finally come clean to Pent. He had no intention of hiding Samaliel's so-called secret. It was innocent enough, and he figured his boyfriend needed to know. The chipmunk made his way through the halls with the rest of the students to the cafeteria.\n\nAt the cafeteria, he looked around. Many of the tables usuals had been rearranged. Both the school Lacrosse and Basketball teams had been reassigned to sit at the center. He could see Buck from the other day. Xavier kept a low profile as he didn't want to cause any more issue. One episode of conflict was enough for him and he didn't want to get suspended for defending himself. Waiting in line, he continued to look around for Pent.\n\nIt didn't appear he was inside, so Xavier assumed the fox would be outside. He waited his turn before he got his food and thanked the Hippo for helping him out. Once he was on his way, he made sure to avoid the table with the school lacrosse team. None of them had noticed him, and he intended to keep it that way. He was certain there wouldn't be any issue, but it was better to be safe than sorry.\n\nOutside, the rodent could see his boyfriend waiting for him under the tree. From afar, he didn't seem disappointed about earlier, but that didn't stop Xavier from still feeling guilty. He made his way a bit quicker than usual. In his mind, he didn't want to make the topic the first thing they talked about, but he wanted to get to it as quickly as possible. The two of them waved to each other as the bigger teen neared the other boy.\n\nThe brown furred teen sat down next to him. \"Hey, Pent. Sorry about earlier.\"\n\n\"It's alright. I know you have the game today. I'm looking forward to seeing it. How were classes?\" The fox began eating once the other boy had as well.\n\nXavier shrugged. \"They were fine. How about you?\"\n\n\"We didn't learn anything new, so it was kind of disappointing.\" The fox had been bored all day from the lack of stimulation.\n\nThe rodent chuckled at him before taking a bite out of his sandwich. \"Well…it is game day. Hey, can we talk about something?\"\n\n\"Sure, what's up?\" Pent looked at him curiously.\n\nThe bigger teen took a deep breath. \"Well, I wanted to apologize…\"\n\n\"About what? You didn't do anything wrong.\" The white furred boy was a bit confused and stopped eating for a moment.\n\nThe chipmunk hesitated before continuing. \"That's not entirely true. I lied to you earlier.\"\n\n\"Lied to me? About what?\" The smaller boy wasn't upset, but he still wanted an explanation.\n\nXavier took a big swig of his drink before continuing. \"Uh…well, earlier when I told you that I had to skip out on hanging out with you to drop off my equipment…that wasn't entirely true.\"\n\n\"So what were you doing then?\" Pent was listening very intently at this point.\n\nThe brown furred teen considered his words carefully. \"Your brother asked me for advice. He wants to ask out Dakota.\"\n\n\"That's odd…why didn't he ask me for advice?\" The fox looked down at the ground, seeming a bit disappointed.\n\nXavier reached over and gently rubbed his boyfriend's shoulder. \"He wanted my advice because it was a girl. He thought I was a better choice, I guess.\"\n\n\"That's not true. I bet he thought I'm terrible at relationships...You're just saying that to be nice.\" The smaller teen sulked a bit as he fiddled with his food.\n\nThe chipmunk pulled his boyfriend in closer. \"Don't be so hard on yourself, Pent. You've had much more success in relationships than I have.\"\n\n\"Huh? What do you mean?\" Pent slowly craned his neck up to look at him.\n\nThe brown furred teen smiled at him. \"Think of it this way. You've only ever wanted to date one person, right?\"\n\n\"Yeah, I was never interested in anyone other than you.\" The fox couldn't help but lean into his boyfriend for emotional support.\n\nXavier nuzzled him a bit. \"Then you're 100% successful. I wasn't so lucky. I had a few failed relationships before you came along.\"\n\n\"I guess you're right…thanks Xae. I'm glad you chose me…I don't know what I'd do without you.\" The smaller teen kissed him\n on the cheek.\n\nThe rodent continued to hold him tightly as he started to eat again. \"Me too, Pent. Me too. Do you forgive me for lying?\"\n\n\"Yeah, I understand why you did it. Should I talk to my brother about it?\" Pent had never considered his brother being interested in someone else just yet.\n\nThe chipmunk shook his head. \"Nah, he will talk to you about it when he's ready.\"\n\n\"Alright, Xae. Let's eat our food before it gets cold. Thanks for telling me.\" The fox felt a bit better now.\n\nThe two of them went back to eating, shifting their discussion to the upcoming game. Xavier was just as confident as ever. Though he wasn't arrogant, he wanted nothing more than to end the school teams run in the playoffs. Plus it was a chance for him to show off to his boyfriend. Of course, he wouldn't be flamboyant about it but he fully planned to take advantage of opportunities when they arose.\n\nThe final lunch bell rang before long, and both of them got up. Joining hands once more to dispose of the garbage before heading back inside. Xavier felt better now since he'd come clean. No longer did he feel guilty. Making their way inside, the chipmunk was more than glad to find that the school Lacrosse team had already departed. They continued their way to file into the line that led out of the lunchroom.\n\nMaking their way to the gymnasium, the two of them didn't say much. The halls were always busy with chatter. Some of the other students knocked into them, but they managed to stay together. They proceeded their way past the large aluminum doors into the arena. The basketball courts had been roped off that day, so they couldn't pass through them. Both of them wondered what the activity would be since the rest of the day had been so slow.\n\nXavier and Pent changed from their school uniforms to their gym ones. The looser fitting nature of the garments was always a welcome respite to the two teens. The senior-level students were assigned to a grey t-shirt with the school logo on it. The pants were a dark purple in hue and had the same embroidery near the left leg hem. Each student was given the same water bottle, which they were allowed to freely exchange each year without a charge.\n\nOnce they were changed, the two of them made their way outside. Previously, they had been informed by the coaches that they would be meeting behind the school. They followed the crowd back through the basketball arena and through a side door that exited outside. It was brisk out with some leaves blowing through the area. Looking around, they could see the change of the seasons was in full swing as many of the leaves were deep in their usual autumn colors.\n\nThe crowd of students led to a separate basketball court where they found both of their coaches with a bag of balls. They were soon informed that day that the activity that day would be basketball. While they couldn't play indoors, the school had outside courts that could be used for it. All they had to do was move the nets to ends of each of them. The coaches had arranged it so that a total of four of them would be used for the activities that day.\n\nThe fox and chipmunk would end up in group C, which was assigned the oldest of the courts. It was the only one with a fresh coat of paint, and all of the boundary lines had recently been redrawn. They made their way over to the cort and followed one of the assistant coaches who would be their referee. The horse man was someone they hadn't seen before and seemed rather young so they assumed he was from the local university.\n\nOn their way over, Xavier caught out of the corner of his eyes the sight of the moose boy. Buck was palling around with some of the other boys. They were the same students from the cafeteria, so he could only assume they were on the school Lacrosse team as well. The whole lot of them gave the chipmunk the stink eye. The rodent couldn't help but notice it, but soon diverted his attention from them to not attract any more attention.\n\nThe basketball game started long after the teams were established by the horse. Xavier was elected to be the point man for the game, and Pent had been picked to be on one of the wings. The assistant coach teed them up for a tip-off, holding it above both of them so neither had the edge. Xavier faced off against someone he didn't recognize, but it was an older girl who gave him a confident grin.\n\nThe game began like any other, with the girl winning the tip-off. Equal time was spent on offense as well as defense for both sides. No team had been assigned one or the other. The goal of it was just competition. Occasionally, the students rolled off and rotated with one another. Xavier and Pent were always on the same shift and frequently passed it to each other. The chipmunk was even able to make a few baskets, a fact that did not sit well with the moose and his friends, who sat on the sidelines.\n\nAfter the fifth rotation, the chipmunk and fox teens were back in play. Buck had made sure to stay on the court this time, assuring the assistant coach that he and his teammates were up for another round. The previous one before them had gone longer, and so the usual rotation was out of whack, so he let it go. Blowing his whistle, the horse summoned the moose and Xavier to center court for the tip-off.\n\nXavier was able to win the face off and immediate passed the ball to the fur on the left of him. Pent kept a defensive position as the other members on the team went up court to try and score. The chipmunk's team mate was soon boxed out and almost got out of bounds. She was able to pass it just in time, zooming it right along to the rodent. The chipmunk ran down the court soon finding himself circled in by all 5 of them.\n\nThe brown furred teen wasn't afraid, but he wasn't sure what to do. Pent had watched the whole thing unfold and had rushed his way over. Still, the boys encircling Xavier showed no quarter. The assistant coach blew the whistle without delay. This was highly out of the ordinary, and he certainly didn't want things to escalate. Both sides were told to sit down, and they were rotated out for the next group. Making sure to warn Buck and his friends not to do it again.\n\nThe rest of the basketball game went without incident. Xavier and the boys who had singled him out did not get on the court at the same time again. Both the rodent and fox boy played well enough, with their team coming on top by a small margin. This bothered the moose and his friends even more. The five of them were already boiling from getting in trouble on the court. Already in their mind, they were plotting revenge.\n\nOn the way back in, Buck shoved past Xavier through the door. His compatriots all did the same. The sudden, brash move caught the chipmunk off guard, who was minding his own business. It wasn't like the door opening wasn't large, and they could have just waited. Still, it had gone mostly unnoticed except by Pent, who was now growing concerned. The teen decided to talk to his boyfriend about it inside the locker room.\n\nOnce they were isolated from the others, the smaller teen pulled him to the side. \"Hey, Xavier. Why are they bothering you?\"\n\n\"I think it's because they are on the school Lacrosse team. Why?\" The chipmunk showed no concern despite everything that had happened already.\n\nPent chose his words carefully. \"I think they are targeting you.\"\n\n\"So what? It was just a basketball game. It's not a big deal.\" The rodent shrugged, showing his nonchalance about it.\n\nThe white furred teen grabbed his shoulder softly. \"It wasn't just the basketball game, Xae.\"\n\n\"What do you mean?\" Xavier was ignoring the other problems he had with Buck.\n\nThe fox looked around briefly. \"That was the same boy who tried to start a fight with us at lunch.\"\n\n\"I know that, but what are you getting at?\" The bigger boy still wasn't concerned about it.\n\nThe white furred teen sighed a bit. \"Aren't you a little worried they will target you during the Lacrosse game today?\"\n\n\"No. Nothing will happen. I will be fine, Pent.\" The chipmunk was confident he could handle himself.\n\nPent couldn't help but feel concerned. \"But what if you get hurt?\"\n\n\"I promise I won't get hurt, Pent. I want to play in the game. I don't care about Buck or his little friends.\" Xavier said with a calm demeanor about him.\n\nThe fox decided to drop the issue. It seemed that his boyfriend couldn't be convinced, regardless of what he thought. Part of that stung him, but he was more worried about Xavier getting hurt than his feelings. Something in the back of his mind made him think that it was going to end badly. Now all he could do was sit and wait. The concern would rest on his young mind for the remainder of the day.\n\nPent tried to show he wasn't bothered by what Xavier had said. He was always good about hiding his feelings, and putting on a face was something he did often. The two of them cooled down in the locker room. Xavier's lacrosse bag had been dropped off for him by one of the members of the school staff. He took the time to change into his lacrosse gear, stopping short of putting his pads on as he figured he could do that later.\n\nOnce the bell rang, they made their way out of the locker rooms. Pent was still a little anxious, so he couldn't help but look around for Buck or the other Lacrosse boys. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any signs of them. Little did he know they had already been summoned by their own coach for a pre-game meeting. Xavier pulled out his phone and saw he had a text message from his parents. It showed it was sent about 15 minutes ago.\n\n\"We will be there in about 30 minutes. We look forward to seeing you play. Pent can sit with us if he likes.\" \n\nThe chipmunk shared it with his boyfriend, who only briefly looked at it. Xavier hadn't picked up on it before, but was now noticing that the other teen was acting weird. He decided to pay more attention to it and bring\n it up if it continued. The fox and chipmunk continued walking to the field at the far side of the school. Xavier could see that his coach and a few other members had already arrived. He wasn't surprised to see them there already.\n\n\"Afternoon, Lazer.\" The coach had a nickname for every player on the team, and Xavier's was after his speed.\n\nThe chipmunk approached him, and Pent went off to find a seat on the bleachers. \"Hey, coach. Where is everyone else?\"\n\n\"They should be here soon, but we will probably have to delay the start of the game. I already phoned it in to the comp.\" The terrier man fixed his wide-brimmed hat.\n\nXavier nodded. \"Alright, I am going to put my pads on and get warmed up.\"\n\n\"Sounds good, Laze.\" The coach went back to getting the visitors' bench set up with refreshments and towels.\n\nThe chipmunk pulled out his pads and put them on underneath his jersey and on top of his pants. Leaving his gloves for later, he stashed his bag over with the rest of them. Joining the rest of his team, which had already begun in doing drills. He grabbed a stick from the stash, he started throwing around the ball with them and running some short scrims. One by one more of their team began to show up.\n\nXavier's parents arrived shortly after and joined Pent since he was alone. They had already planned on letting him sit with them, and it wasn't like he was a stranger to them. The fox greeted them and showed his usual smile. Though behind his façade, there was still a sliver of anxiety. He still very much believed something would go wrong. He could only hope that he was wrong and that Buck wouldn't do anything.\n\nSlowly, the crowd began to fill up, though the bleachers would not be completely occupied. It was still a sizable crowd. Before long, the school team came out to the jubilation of the crowd. Many of the parents and other supporters were there for the school. The Gryphons had a much smaller contingency, though there were a few of them around. The Mantis', as they were known, wore a dark green with black trim jersey and pants while their opponents wore red and gold trim.\n\nBy this point, both teams were fully staffed. Only a few players from both sides had called out with either injuries or illness. Still, both were large enough to participate. The coaches both went to the head referee to turn in their final rosters. Of course, the list contained the starting line up as well as the general rotations. It was far from strict since they were still younger teens but for the most part the lists were considered final.\n\nA whistle was blown as the referee called the squads to center field. Both sides would line up on opposite sides of it. Previously, they had nominated a member of the team to be their representative. Xavier was chosen for the Gryphons, and for the Mantis, it was Buck. The two of them came to the center of it, and the home team was asked which side of the coin they wanted. Buck chose tails, and the coin was flipped. The Mantis won and were allowed to pick their side of the field.\n\nThe teams were separated, and both sides went back to collect their helmets and gloves. A whistle followed shortly after once all the players on the opening line up were ready and geared up. Xavier and Buck returned to the center of the field for the first face off. The chipmunk smirked at the moose through the cage of his mask. In his mind the rodent was going to show Buck who the best player was and no one was going to stop him.\n\nA ball was placed on the ground as both of them positioned themselves right over it. Only the thin chalk line separated them. The referee was nearby and held a whistle close to her mouth. Finally, blowing it, the game began without delay. Xavier raked inward and scrounged out the ball with ease. Throwing it back to one of his teammates who reeled the ball back to another of them. Xavier trailed back as he kept a more defensive stance just in case.\n\nMoving forward, he kept close to the other member of his team, who was intercepted by one of the other players. The ball was fumbled and retrieved by Buck, who greedily guarded it in his net. The moose rushed forward and went as fast as his legs would take him. He was larger than any of the other players on the field, and the first two defenders who met him were pushed to the side with ease. Xavier tracked over to him and checked the larger boy with the full force of his body.\n\nThe chipmunk was strong enough to knock him over. Pent cheered his boyfriend on as the teen was just as dominant as always. Able to retrieve the ball and race down the field before passing it to one of the girls on the team. The girl reamed the ball toward the net, but the goaltender was more than able to fend it off. The crowd cheered to celebrate the stop, and the ball was soon returned to the Mantis control.\n\nThis time, a mole girl from the squad retrieved the ball. She was lanky and lean, though not quite as tall as Buck. The girl was nimble and able to weave her way through the defenders with the deftness of her feet. Once again, Xavier was able to stop her, checking her and knocking her down. Taking the ball himself, before climbing to his feet. Quickly racing across the field, the moment he got to his feet. Buck tried to keep up with him, but the chipmunk was much too fast for him.\n\nXavier reeled a shot towards the net. The ball raced forward just right of the goalie's shoulder, hitting the back of the net. Pent cheered his boyfriend on and the teens parents clapped. The chipmunk's team mates playfully slapped him on the back. The Gryphons had struck first and this stuck hard in Buck's mind as he collected himself. Collecting the ball, the goalie returned it to the referee who brought it back to midfield.\n\nThe game went back and forth for a while. The teams were more or less evenly matched. The first quarter ended with Xavier's goal being the only one. The chipmunk had kept himself on the defensive end to help in making sure the other team couldn't score. It was very much a team effort, but the chipmunk was still the most dominant player. When the final whistle of the quarter blew, they all retired to the sideline to take a break.\n\nPent was more than happy with how things were going. Xavier was his usual self in the sport, showing very little fatigue. All of the hard work and training he'd put in had paid off. Various vendors began to travel and peddle to the crowd. Things like snacks and drinks were up for grabs, but many of them had brought them with them. Xavier's parents decided to buy Pent some water since it didn't appear he had anything, and the fox boy thanked them for the thoughtful gesture.\n\nThe second quarter began shortly after, and different players were now asked to face off. The adolescent division had specific rules about using the same players over and over. A single player could only participate in a maximum of 20% of face-offs. Xavier returned to the wing as he was well aware of the rule. His teammate, a younger Badger boy, took point, and the chipmunk readied himself for the pass.\n\nThe badger lost the face-off to the mole girl. The lanky girl reeled it back to Buck who was more than ready to redeem himself. Brandishing himself forward and knocking through all of the defense. The Badger was able to fend him off, passing it back to Xavier who passed it forward to another member of the team. They were soon checked but the Badger boy was able to retrieve it and get a shot on goal.\n\nThe Gryphons had scored a second goal, and the younger boy was celebrated by his team. Their supporters in the crowd cheered him on. Xavier patted him on the back and congratulated him on his first goal in the playoffs. Buck had pulled himself up and was fuming. Never had he been humiliated so badly, and now they were losing by an even greater margin. Already, his fervor was further clouding his judgment, and he began to consider more brash actions.\n\nA short while passed, and the game continued at another standstill. No further goals had been scored, and the Mantis had barely even gotten any shots on net. There was no doubt the Gryphons had locked things down, which is how their coach had prepared them for the game in question. About halfway through the quarter, the coach of the school team called a timeout. This caused a stop in action, and both sides of the field returned to the sidelines.\n\nBuck remained on the field, making sure to stay behind. The referee had diverted their attention. The moose was still angry at how the game was turning out. He watched as Xavier walked towards the side of the field. The chipmunk had taken his helmet off and was now squirting himself with water to cool down. This was the moment that he had been waiting for. The cervine picked up the ball and hurled it right towards the rodent, making sure to aim towards his head.\n\nThe ball found its way to Xavier in a matter of seconds. It's hard surface hitting right against the chipmunk's temple. The rodent's body slumped as the entirety of the crowd gasped. Pent watched in terror as his boyfriend passed out. His heart sank, and he immediately sprinted out of the bleachers and climbed through the crowd. By this point, the referees had finally responded to flag and penalize Buck. The moose was to be kicked out of the game, with possible other penalties to come.\n\nThe whole game came to a halt at that moment. Everyone was hushed and looked on in terror. Xavier still hadn't moved and the teams medical staff was now tending to him. Both Xavier's parents as well as his boyfriend had made their way over. The team knew who they were so they were allowed to get close but did not get to touch him. They could see the teen was still breathing but there was no question that he was out of it.\n\nA stretcher was brought out to carry Xavier off the field to get medical attention. The referees had been conferring with both coaches.\n It had been decided that the game would be called, and the Mantis would forfeit the game. Buck would be suspended from the team and the incident would be reported to the schools administration. In time the moose would find himself expelled from school for his actions.\n\nXavier's still limp form was driven by a medical response vehicle that had been staged nearby. His parents sat in the front seat together with Pent remaining by the chipmunk's side. Clutching the rodent's hand and holding it tightly. The fox was beside himself, tears streamed down his cheek Inside he blamed himself. He had let his boyfriend play the game despite all the bad feelings he got. Now the very same had come to pass and he couldn't help but feel guilty.\n\nThe other teen's mother noticed this and softly touched his shoulder. \"It will be okay, Pent.\"\n\n\"But…this is my fault…\" The white furred teen wiped his watery eyes.\n\nXavier's mother shook her head. \"No, it's not. Why do you think that?\"\n\n\"Because…I let him play the game. We've been having problems with that boy for a few days now…\" Pent sniffled a bit.\n\nShe took a deep breath. \"Be that as it may…Xavier is the one who decided to play, not you.\"\n\n\"I know that, but…\" The teen's eyes were red.\n\nThe woman hugged him softly. \"I promise it's not your fault, Pent. Just try and relax.\"\n\nThis was the first time she had ever hugged Pent. She did it out of instinct. The fox was someone both she and her son cared about. The fox slowly caved into the show of care and hugged her back. Seeming all too glad to give in to it. It was the first time that he'd ever felt like he was a part of their family. The woman allowed him to hold as long as he wanted, finally letting go once he had collected himself.\n\nThe response vehicle took them to a nearby urgent care facility, where the teen was transferred to an open medical room. Xavier's parents and Pent followed along the entire way with the fox boy not letting go of his boyfriend. His parents remained silent but shared much of the same fears that Pent did. Inside, the chipmunk boy was moved to a flattened medical chair. The fox boy was still still a mess but had stopped crying. It wasn't long before a doctor showed up into the room.\n\nA weasel walked through the door with the medical chart he'd been given. He wore thick glasses, and underneath the lab coat he had a plaid shirt. Stepping through the door, he grabbed a pair of nitrile gloves and placed them over his hands. \n\n\"Please, move to the side so that I may examine the patient.\" The raspy-voiced male requested Pent to move from Xavier's side.\n\nScooting to the side, the fox joined Xavier's parents, who sat on one of the sides of the room. They watched as the weasel checked Xavier's heart rate as well as his blood pressure. Opening his eyelids to check his pupils as well as his head for signs of trauma. The man didn't seem overly concerned by what he was examining. Still, both Xavier's parents as well as his boyfriend couldn't help but be wary of the situation. They were silent as they waited for the doctor to examine the boy. It was a few moments before he spoke.\n\n\"The boy is concussed. It does not seem to be serious. He just needs to rest and take it easy. No physical activity or mentally stimulating activities over the next few days.\" The weasel began writing a prescription on a medical pad.\n\nXavier's parents sighed in relief once they heard this. Even Pent felt a bit better, though part of him still felt at fault for all of this.\n\n\"Please fill this at a pharmacy. The instructions will be on the bottle. Do you have any questions for me?\" The man put away his medical pad after handing them the slip of paper.\n\nHis mother and father looked at each other and shook their head before the woman responded. \"Should we wait for him to wake up?\"\n\n\"He should wake up shortly. His pupils are not dilated, which shows he is coming around. It shouldn't be long.\" The doctor made his way out.\n\nPent and Xavier's parents waited a short while before the teen slowly started to rouse. The chipmunk teen gripped his head. Slowly sitting up.\n\n\"What happened? Where am I?\" He asked, looking around, noticing both his parents and his boyfriend.\n\nHis father stepped to his side. \"You had a little…incident…at the Lacrosse game. We're at the hospital.\"\n\n\"Oh…my head hurts…\" The rodent squinted his eyes a bit.\n\nThe older male stepped closer. \"You need to take it easy for a few days. You got a concussion. Are you ready to go home?\"\n\n\"Yeah…I don't want to be in the hospital anymore.\" Xavier slowly eased himself off the medical table.\n\nHis father helped him off the raised surface. It took a moment for him to get his footing. Pent immediately stepped in and offered to prop his boyfriend up.\n\n\"I'll be alright, Pent…I promise.\" The chipmunk said with his usual confidence.\n\nThe white furred boy shook his head, partially not believing him. \"Are you sure?\"\n\n\"Yeah, I'm sure.\" The bigger boy wobbled a bit but seemed to be able to go on his own power.\n\nThe four of them made their way to the front of the hospital. They went slower to allow for Xavier to keep up. The rodent's strides were slower and more awkward but he was managing all the same. The chipmunk's father asked for one of the hospital workers to take them back to the school. After all, in the rush of thigns they had to leave the car behind. Once they had worked out the logistics they were on their way back to the Academy.\n\nA hospital shuttle transported them back to the school. It was a short trip and didn't take very long to go back. The trip over was mostly silent, with only the quiet whispers of Xavier's parents breaking the silence. Neither Pent nor Xavier could hear them as Pent held his boyfriend with ever protective intent. The chipmunk was all too keen to cuddle and dig into him as his head was still throbbing from the injury.\n\nAfter arriving at the school, Pent made sure to help his boyfriend despite the other boy's assurance earlier. Xavier complained a single time before ultimately giving in. Xavier's parents chuckled at the two boys who were equally stubborn in different ways. To see their son submitting to the other teen was just showing how much he'd changed in the name of love. They were soon on their way out of the school.\n\nXavier's parents had already decided to let the fox boy stay over that night. Despite it being a school day, they figured both boys could use the emotional support. They had already texted the Fox boys foster mother. Of course she was alright with it. In their mind they were planning to surprise both of them when they got back to their place. But for now the issue could wait as Pent kept Xavier locked under his arms.\n\nWhen they pulled into the parking lot of their home, Pent seemed surprised they didn't stop at his place first. Xavier was still quietly resting into his chest and seemed content not to move.\n\n\"How come we didn't stop?\" The fox asked as he gently caressed Xavier's soft fur.\n\nThe other boy's father responded. \"We figured you two would enjoy a sleepover after everything that happened today.\"\n\n\"Really? On a school night.\" Pent arched his eyebrow in disbelief.\n\nThe older male nodded his head, not saying anything. Instead, giving off a soft smile to the fox teen still clinging to his son with his whole being. All of them got out of the car, Xavier's parents helped with their things and the fox teen helped with bringing the chipmunk boy to the front door. By this point the rodent had completely given into his boyfriend. No longer was he protesting or arguing about it.\n\nMaking their way inside, Pent led him to the living room. The chipmunk's mother passed behind them and ruffled both of their head furs. \n\n\"Go get a shower, boys. It's getting late and we still haven't had dinner.\" She reminded them since her son was still filthy.\n\nPent finally let go of his boyfriend, who was happy to be independent again. Going to Xavier's room before the brown furred boy grabbed his pajamas to wash up. Pent remained in his room, contemplating his day and being just as thoughtful as always. Heading towards the bathroom, the chipmunk still had a headache, so he took the medication he'd been given earlier. He only hoped the medicine would go into effect sooner rather than later. \n\nThe bigger boy returned to his room to find Pent staring out the window, twiddling his fingers. Xavier knew when the fox was deep in thought. He also knew when something was bothering him. Slowly, he approached him from behind and placed his arms on the smaller teens shoulder. \n\n\"Is something wrong, Pent?\" The chipmunk's voice was soft and comforting.\n\nThe white furred teen looked over his shoulder at him. \"It's nothing. I'm just glad you're alright.\"\n\n\"What even happened anyways?\" Xavier only had a vague recollection of what happened and didn't see it happen.\n\nPent considered his words carefully. \"Buck intentionally beamed you with a Lacrosse ball.\"\n\n\"He did…? I guess…you were right.\" It was then that the rodent finally realized this was the case.\n\nThe fox stood up and hugged the chipmunk tightly. \"I don't care about being right. I only care about you.\"\n\nThey shared this embrace for several moments. It wasn't until Xavier's mother called them that they stopped. Finally joining hands once again and making their way to the kitchen. Upon arriving in the kitchen, they found that the boys parents had made them a bigger meal than usual. The two of them figured the boys could use it after their tough day. Each of them sat down before eating with the chipmunks parents.\n\nIt was that day that Xavier's parents realized the extent of Pent's love for their son. No longer did it seem like just some \"teenage romance\". Sure, the two had been going out for a while, but in the back of their mind they were unsure of just how serious it was. After all most romances at their age never lasted. It was the first time\n that they truly accepted that this might be something more serious than just a fleeting relationship.\n\nThe rest of the meal was a quiet one. They would finish dinner, and the fox boy would excuse himself take a shower. This left Xavier alone with his parents while he was cleaning up and doing his usual chores. His mother stayed behind as her husband had other things to take care of.\n\n\"Is it true that boy Buck had been bothering you?\" The woman had been thinking about it all day since the incident happened.\n\nThe chipmunk boy turned his head to look at her. \"He's the one I told you about…yes.\"\n\n\"And you didn't suspect he would target you in the game?\" Xavier's mother had always thought her son was a bit naïve.\n\nXavier stammered a bit. \"I um…I tried not to think about it. I really…\"\n\n\"Xavier, you know how badly you got hurt today because of this?\" She wanted him to understand his mistake.\n\nHe looked down at the floor. \"But…Mom…I wanted to…\"\n\n\"But nothing. That boy gave you a concussion. You're lucky it wasn't worse. He straight up hit you on the side of the head.\" The woman was fully aware of how bad it could have been.\n\nThe brown furred boy shuffled his feet, but he remained silent.\n\n\"Well? What do you have to say for yourself? You scared your father and I half to death…not to mention your little boyfriend.\" Xavier's mother wasn't letting this issue go.\n\nThe chipmunk was still uncertain of what to say or how to even respond.\n\n\"What you did today was stupid. It's fine to like Lacrosse and want to play. There is always risk involved, but today's risk was unnecessary. Why didn't you tell the coach?\" She folded her hands to her side.\n\nHe still remained silent and contemplated his words.\n\n\"I am not leaving until you explain yourself. You're not getting out of this. Your father and I are owed an explanation.\" The woman stood at the door leading to the front room.\n\nXavier took a deep breath. \"I made a mistake, okay? I wanted to play the school team so badly that I let it cloud my better judgment. I'm sorry.\"\n\n\"Yes, you did. Finish your chores and go to bed.\" She finally exited the room, satisfied with his response.\n\nWhat his mother had said swirled in his mind as Xavier did the dishes. It made some of his headaches come back, but fortunately, it had been lessened by the medication he had taken earlier. He knew she was right. He had let his own confidence get in the way of common sense. It wasn't the first time it had happened, and he knew it. The chipmunk knew he had to own up to it, and in his mind, he knew the first place to start.\n\nBy the time Xavier returned to his room, he found Pent gazing out the window. The fox was wearing his pajamas and seemed just as contemplative as always. The chipmunk was all but certain the other boy was thinking about the day's events. His boyfriend had always been a protective boy of his brother and now he was seeing that for himself. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of guilt and appreciation, though the more negative emotion was certainly winning him over.\n\nSlowly, he approached the bed without a word. Easing himself onto the bed, he coasted behind Pent. Gently touching his shoulders and resting his head on the smaller boys neck. Xavier said nothing and looked out the window. The stars gazed back at them and twinkled into the window. It was a clear night out and they could see the whole of the night sky. The chipmunk draped his arms ovet Pent to hold him closely.\n\n\"I'm sorry, Pent.\" The rodent said in a whisper.\n\nPent leaned his head slightly against the other boy. \"About what?\"\n\n\"About today…It was a stupid mistake.\" Xavier had realized the error of his ways after the discussion with his mother.\n\nThe fox sighed. \"I don't blame you, Xae. This is all his fault. I'm just glad you're not seriously hurt.\"\n\nXavier said nothing and continued to hold his boyfriend closely. Neither of them moved, and both watched the night sky shift above them. A shooting star streaked across the sky as the chipmunk nuzzled the side of Pent's cheek. Yet, both remained quiet. They stayed like that for a good while before the bigger boy finally broke the silence.\n\n\"Wanna hit the hay? I'm tired and my head hurts.\" The rodent pecked his boyfriend on the cheek.\n\nPent softly nodded, and his boyfriend slowly guided him to the bed. Keeping the smaller boy in his arms, Xavier used his other hand to pull the covers over them. He wasn't worried about his parents seeing them like this. The boy knew his parents respected their privacy, and the only thing he cared about was being affectionate with the boy he loved. In his mind, he needed to make it up to the other teen.\n\nThe chipmunk was already tired. The combined physical fatigue from the match, as well as the mental fatigue from everything that had happened, was a lot to bear. His slight headache wasn't enough to deter his desire to sleep. Keeping his head craned into Pent's neck, he once again draped his arm over the other teen. Xavier was completely content, and so was his boyfriend. Nothing could ruin this moment for them.\n\n\"I love you, Xavier.\" Pent said softly in a hushed, almost whispered tone.\n\nThe bigger boy whispered back as the hot air of his breath pushed against the fox. \"I love you, too.\"\n\nThey soon fell asleep, each of them falling into the realm of dreams. Neither of them made even a single movement that night. Not being disturbed by either the chipmunk's parents or any other disruption. A quiet night in one another's arms. Each of them is desperately eager to seek the embrace the other, all too willing to give in and embrace a familiar...yet comfortable sense of protection from the other. ", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Competitive Courage by Pent Ghelsburg

Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters and some depictions of violent intent. You have been warned.

A few days had passed. School had remained much the same for young Xavier. His mind had been focused on honing his Lacrosse skills. Each day leading up to it, he'd been either with his private trainer or doing his own thing. The chipmunk spent much of his free time practicing his shot, passing, or maneuvers. He had even mastered a trick shot, though he had no plan to use it.

 His parents knew he took the sport seriously, but they were still careful about how much time Xavier spent practicing. They didn't want him to hurt himself, and both of them kept a watchful eye on him. Limiting the time he did so each day, he went aside. Even went as far as to make sure he rested the day before. Telling him that he needed to be rested for the game the next day. Reluctantly, the teen gave in, but he conceded the fact since he wanted to beat the school team.

The day of the game finally arrived, and with it, Xavier awoke to the sound of his alarm going off. He burst out of bed, knowing full well what day it was. He didn't even have to look at his calendar, despite having circled the date with a red marker.  Briefly looking out the window, the chipmunk wanted to make sure the weather looked suitable. Outside, it seemed like there were only a few clouds, and they didn't seem to be grey.

Xavier couldn't help but be excited. Changing into his school uniform, he took out his lacrosse stuff to stuff in a different bag. He intended to change after the school day. The game had been planned to occur shortly after the end of the academic day. It was set up only an hour after, and he figured it would give him enough time to change into his gear. He wasn't sure when the rest of his team would arrive, but none of the mattered right now.

Calling to him from down the hall, his mother let him know that breakfast was ready when he was done. The chipmunk wasn't in any rush. He had purposely set his alarm earlier than usual as he wanted more time.  He knew it would likely take time for him to get all his stuff together since his lacrosse gear was bulkier than his casual clothing.  The teen finished what he was doing before making his way down the hall to the kitchen.

Inside the kitchen, he found his mother there. The woman smiled at him warmly. In front of him was a heavier breakfast as usual with pancakes and fresh fruit. She had just finished making it home style by mixing the batter herself. Figuring that it would taste better, even going as far as to put a bit of powdered brown sugar on it. It wasn't a lot but it was enough to sweeten it more than it would have been otherwise.

Xavier sat down at the table. His mother sat down opposite him before talking.

"Excited about today?" The woman already knew the answer to the question but asked it anyway.

The brown furred teen nodded. "Yeah, I hope we win. If we don't, I'll never hear the end of it."

"From who? Are they still giving you grief at school about leaving the team?" It was the first time her son had mentioned it.

The boy looked at her. "The other day, a player on the team bothered Pent and I at lunch."

Xavier had learned from Milo that the moose that had tried to fight them was a member of the school team and that his name was Buck.

"Oh, how come you didn't tell me about it?" She was a bit concerned that Xavier had ignored the issue.

The chipmunk boy shrugged. "We were able to avoid conflict with him. I didn't make much of it since we didn't see him again. I'm sure I will see him today, though."

"That's good. I'm glad you didn't get into a fight, but I'm sorry they are still bothering you about it." His mother was relieved it had worked out without escalation.

The woman got up so she could get ready for work. Gently patting her son on the head and ruffling his head fur. She was satisfied with how he had responded to the whole ordeal. He was really growing up in her eyes and had only gotten more mature as time passed on. Xavier finished the rest of his meal. It was delicious and hit the spot. The teen cleaned up when he was finished, making sure not to leave a mess.

Shortly after, he returned to his room to finish packing up for school. He put the small duffel bag he'd used for lacrosse stuff by the door. Packing up the remainder of his school stuff so that he was prepared with what he needed for the day. It wasn't long before his mother called to him to let him know she was ready to head out. She didn't rush him since she knew he had more to do that morning, but it didn't take him much longer to finish.

Xavier toted the small duffel bag in his left hand, carrying his usual one around his shoulder. His mother motioned for him to follow her. They made their way out the door, and he put his stuff on the floor of her car. She looked over at him briefly. He didn't seem to be nervous and she was certain there he was harboring any anxiety. After all, her son had always been a confident boy and nothing had changed about that.

They made their way to the school. The chipmunk boy was quiet and deep in his own thoughts. Not just thinking about the game, but thinking about Pent. A few minutes into the ride, he got a notification on his phone. The familiar buzz in his pocket made him think it was Pent. Deciding to check it, he looked at the screen. He saw a name he very seldom saw. Samaliel, his boyfriends younger brother, had texted him.

"Do you have any time to talk this morning?" The younger boy had put it simply.

The rodent wasn't sure what to think about it. "I might have some time this morning, why?"

"I want to ask you about something. Can you not tell Pent, please?" Samaliel had never been a clandestine cub before, but this was a different situation for him.

Xavier was a little curious about the request. "Uh…sure."

Immediately, the teen's mind began to wander. Why was Pent's brother asking him this? Had something happened between them? He was certain that was the case, but there was still something fishy about it. After all, it was the first time he'd ever asked to talk to him privately and without his brother knowing. Then it occurred to Xavier he needed to find an excuse not to hang out with Pent that morning. It bothered him a bit to lie, but he needed to know what was up with the cub.

He quickly texted the other fox boy. "Hey, Pent…can we just hang out at lunch? I need to drop my lacrosse stuff off in the gym."

A small pit of guilt formed in the chipmunk's stomach. Something didn't sit well with him to lie to the boy he loved. There was a response before long.

"Sure, Xae. No problem. I will see you at lunch." Pent suspected nothing as he knew it was game day.

Xavier put his phone back in his pocket. That small core of guilt started to eat at him. Exacerbated even more by the fact that Pent would be alone. He knew the fox wouldn't go looking for anyone to hang out with him. He figured his boyfriend would be alone. The chipmunk started to twiddle his fingers nervously. It didn't take long for his mother to notice the change in his disposition.

"Is something bothering you? It's not the game, is it?"  His mother wanted to be sure.

The chipmunk boy shook his head. "No. I just feel guilty."

"About what?" She pulled over just short of the school so he could get the full details.

Her son continued fiddling with his fingers nervously. "I just lied to Pent. I feel terrible."

"Why did you lie to Pent? What happened?" The older woman couldn't help but feel concerned about it.

Xavier sighed. "His brother texted me and asked me to talk to me privately…without Pent knowing. I told him I would"

"What? Why?" She was just as baffled as her son was, as she knew the fox boys were close.

The teen nodded. "I don't know…what should I do? I feel like garbage for lying to him."

"Well…you can't get out of it now. You told him you'd talk to him…and you already lied to your boyfriend. I think you should see what it's about and tell his brother regardless of what it is." His mother hated it when people kept secrets from their family.

The brown furred boy looked at her. "Really?"

"Yes, Samaliel is his brother. He deserves to know, but you need to do some digging first. I'm sure it's nothing." She started the car again.

Xavier softly nodded. "Alright…"

"You can apologize to Pent later. I'm sure he will understand. Besides…it's not like he's ever mad at you." The older woman tried to ease his anxiety.

The chipmunk boy remained silent for the rest of the ride. He still felt guilty, but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He was stuck and had to deal with his decision. The teen could only hope his boyfriend would understand. They arrived at the school before long. Xavier's mother softly smiled at him before patting his back.

"It will be fine. I promise. It's not like you're doing this for nefarious reasons." His mother once again tried to comfort him.

He lightly smiled at her and grabbed his bag. "Thanks, Mom…I'll let you know how it goes."

"Don't let it bother you too much…you have a big game this afternoon. See you there." She drove off once he was out of the car, as she was being hurried along.

Now left with only his thoughts, Xavier checked his phone again. Sure enough, another text from Samaliel had come in, and he hadn't even noticed it.

"I'm over by the recreation room in the junior wing."

He didn't respond and instead headed right for the athletic storage shed. They had been told previously that any player who went to the school could store their stuff there. In front of it, he saw one of the school coaches. He didn't recognize the woman as the staff had recently changed and he assumed she was also coach of the younger students. The woman took his staff and gave him a claim ticket for later.

Xavier thanked her and made his way to the recreation room. It was through the side of the building where the cafeteria was. Just beyond it and into the Junior wings of
 the school. The younger students eyed him as he made his way through it. Very few of them knew who he was, so the glances were cursory at best. The teen ignored them and continued his way until he arrived at the recreation room.

The room was a sectioned-off part of the wing. It was the only space not used for a classroom and larger than the rest of them. Inside were several tables, all of which had some board games on it. This was where the gaming club held it's sessions and Samaliel was a part of it. He had never asked for permission to use the room but he figured they wouldn't be discovered since it was early enough in the day.

"Sorry, I'm late. I had to drop off my Lacrosse stuff." Xavier said as he made his way into the room.

The younger fox looked around. "It's alright. Thanks for coming. Does Pent know you're here?"

"No. What is this about?" The chipmunk wanted to try to avoid showing he was uncomfortable.

The salt and pepper boy approached him. "I wanted to ask for your advice."

"Me? Why me and not your brother?" The rodent was a bit confused.

Samaliel huffed. "Because you've gone out with girls before. Pent has only ever gone out with you and…I'm not sure I want him to know yet."

"I see. You're looking for advice on girls? You realize I haven't dated a girl in a while…right?" The brown furred teen thought it was a bit of a strange request.

The younger cub nodded. "Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that you could get any girl you wanted."

"Probably not anymore…but that doesn't matter. I'll help you if you want. Who do you want to ask out?" Xavier assumed the other boy wanted to date someone.

The smaller boy shuffled his feet in place. "Dakota."

"Oh, I see. How can I help?" The rodent had never given relationship advice to anyone and wasn't sure how to go about it.

Samaliel thought about it for a moment. "I just want to know how to go about it? How do I ask her out without being weird about it?"

"Well…for starters, just be yourself. She's already your friend, right?" The older teen wasn't sure of who the other person was.

The salt and pepper cub nodded. "Yeah. We hang out a lot."

"Then she already likes you. Just be yourself and be honest with her. It's how…Pent and I ended up together." Xavier scratched the back of his head as he thought about it.

The younger boy looked at him. "Really? Pent never told me that."

"Well, yeah. He came clean to me at first, and I wasn't originally open to the idea. But I knew I liked hanging out with him, and one thing led to another." The chipmunk remembered when Pent first confessed, if it was recently.

Contrary to what Samaliel remembered, Pent had brought it up to him, but he just didn't remember it anymore.

The smaller fox smiled at him. "That's cool. So you think if I just act normally, that maybe things will work out?"

"Only time will tell. You will never know unless you try."  Xavier said with a calm but confident smile.

The salt and pepper cub smiled at him. "Thanks, Xavier. I appreciate it."

Xavier waved to him as the younger cub walked away. The chipmunk thought about it a bit more. He was flattered that his boyfriend's brother had asked him for advice, but it still felt strange to him. After all, he hadn't dated anyone but Pent since his last girlfriend, and that was now almost 3 years ago. The more he thought about it, the more he started to self-reflect. Considering his past relationships and just how much Pent had changed his life.

While it wasn't something he regretted, it was the first time he realized just what he'd given up to be with him. Thoughts of his former popularity flowed through his mind. Being in the in crowd and always at the center of attention. All the girls wanted to be with him, and the boys wanted to be his friend. But even since giving all of that up, he couldn't help but think his life had gotten better. He was happier now than he'd ever been.

Guilt centered at his core as he thought about the fact that he had lied to Pent earlier. He didn't have much time to think about it before the first bell rang. Deciding it would be an issue he would have to deal with later. Making his way to his first class, he started his day like normal. Xavier made his way to class and took a seat next to Milo. For the third time in two weeks, he did not see the rabbit with his latest fling, and it made him wonder if the two had hit rough water.

His classes went much slower than usual. All of the teachers were aware of the games that day. Lacrosse was not the only sport to host a competition at the school. Basketball too, was holding a similar playoffs. Everyone knew who those players were. It was the more popular of the sports. Some of the teens on the team were even lauded on the school's morning television program. It was attention that the other fall sports didn't get.

Xavier didn't much care for it. He had stopped caring about attention, though he certainly enjoyed it when he got it. Especially when Pent treated him extra special. The chipmunk went about his day with most of his classes going through nothing more than review. The teachers had been ordered to keep things light for both teams. As such, many of the assignments he got that day were nothing more than busy work.

The chipmunk found it harder to focus than usual. His mind was somewhat distracted by his guilt. Even if it was a minor white lie to help Samaliel…it still felt wrong. He couldn't wait until lunch to talk to his boyfriend about it. The chipmunk figured he would forgive him, but he wanted to get rid of the sickly feeling in his stomach sooner rather than later. The early part of the day was dragging on, and each class seemed like it was taking longer than usual.

When lunch finally rolled around, he was more than glad that the day was halfway over. It meant that the game was just that much closer. It also meant he could finally come clean to Pent. He had no intention of hiding Samaliel's so-called secret. It was innocent enough, and he figured his boyfriend needed to know. The chipmunk made his way through the halls with the rest of the students to the cafeteria.

At the cafeteria, he looked around. Many of the tables usuals had been rearranged. Both the school Lacrosse and Basketball teams had been reassigned to sit at the center. He could see Buck from the other day. Xavier kept a low profile as he didn't want to cause any more issue. One episode of conflict was enough for him and he didn't want to get suspended for defending himself. Waiting in line, he continued to look around for Pent.

It didn't appear he was inside, so Xavier assumed the fox would be outside. He waited his turn before he got his food and thanked the Hippo for helping him out. Once he was on his way, he made sure to avoid the table with the school lacrosse team. None of them had noticed him, and he intended to keep it that way. He was certain there wouldn't be any issue, but it was better to be safe than sorry.

Outside, the rodent could see his boyfriend waiting for him under the tree. From afar, he didn't seem disappointed about earlier, but that didn't stop Xavier from still feeling guilty. He made his way a bit quicker than usual. In his mind, he didn't want to make the topic the first thing they talked about, but he wanted to get to it as quickly as possible. The two of them waved to each other as the bigger teen neared the other boy.

The brown furred teen sat down next to him. "Hey, Pent. Sorry about earlier."

"It's alright. I know you have the game today. I'm looking forward to seeing it. How were classes?" The fox began eating once the other boy had as well.

Xavier shrugged. "They were fine. How about you?"

"We didn't learn anything new, so it was kind of disappointing." The fox had been bored all day from the lack of stimulation.

The rodent chuckled at him before taking a bite out of his sandwich. "Well…it is game day. Hey, can we talk about something?"

"Sure, what's up?" Pent looked at him curiously.

The bigger teen took a deep breath. "Well, I wanted to apologize…"

"About what? You didn't do anything wrong." The white furred boy was a bit confused and stopped eating for a moment.

The chipmunk hesitated before continuing. "That's not entirely true. I lied to you earlier."

"Lied to me? About what?" The smaller boy wasn't upset, but he still wanted an explanation.

Xavier took a big swig of his drink before continuing. "Uh…well, earlier when I told you that I had to skip out on hanging out with you to drop off my equipment…that wasn't entirely true."

"So what were you doing then?" Pent was listening very intently at this point.

The brown furred teen considered his words carefully. "Your brother asked me for advice. He wants to ask out Dakota."

"That's odd…why didn't he ask me for advice?" The fox looked down at the ground, seeming a bit disappointed.

Xavier reached over and gently rubbed his boyfriend's shoulder. "He wanted my advice because it was a girl. He thought I was a better choice, I guess."

"That's not true. I bet he thought I'm terrible at relationships...You're just saying that to be nice." The smaller teen sulked a bit as he fiddled with his food.

The chipmunk pulled his boyfriend in closer. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Pent. You've had much more success in relationships than I have."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Pent slowly craned his neck up to look at him.

The brown furred teen smiled at him. "Think of it this way. You've only ever wanted to date one person, right?"

"Yeah, I was never interested in anyone other than you." The fox couldn't help but lean into his boyfriend for emotional support.

Xavier nuzzled him a bit. "Then you're 100% successful. I wasn't so lucky. I had a few failed relationships before you came along."

"I guess you're right…thanks Xae. I'm glad you chose me…I don't know what I'd do without you." The smaller teen kissed him
 on the cheek.

The rodent continued to hold him tightly as he started to eat again. "Me too, Pent. Me too. Do you forgive me for lying?"

"Yeah, I understand why you did it. Should I talk to my brother about it?" Pent had never considered his brother being interested in someone else just yet.

The chipmunk shook his head. "Nah, he will talk to you about it when he's ready."

"Alright, Xae. Let's eat our food before it gets cold. Thanks for telling me." The fox felt a bit better now.

The two of them went back to eating, shifting their discussion to the upcoming game. Xavier was just as confident as ever. Though he wasn't arrogant, he wanted nothing more than to end the school teams run in the playoffs. Plus it was a chance for him to show off to his boyfriend. Of course, he wouldn't be flamboyant about it but he fully planned to take advantage of opportunities when they arose.

The final lunch bell rang before long, and both of them got up. Joining hands once more to dispose of the garbage before heading back inside. Xavier felt better now since he'd come clean. No longer did he feel guilty. Making their way inside, the chipmunk was more than glad to find that the school Lacrosse team had already departed. They continued their way to file into the line that led out of the lunchroom.

Making their way to the gymnasium, the two of them didn't say much. The halls were always busy with chatter. Some of the other students knocked into them, but they managed to stay together. They proceeded their way past the large aluminum doors into the arena. The basketball courts had been roped off that day, so they couldn't pass through them. Both of them wondered what the activity would be since the rest of the day had been so slow.

Xavier and Pent changed from their school uniforms to their gym ones. The looser fitting nature of the garments was always a welcome respite to the two teens. The senior-level students were assigned to a grey t-shirt with the school logo on it. The pants were a dark purple in hue and had the same embroidery near the left leg hem. Each student was given the same water bottle, which they were allowed to freely exchange each year without a charge.

Once they were changed, the two of them made their way outside. Previously, they had been informed by the coaches that they would be meeting behind the school. They followed the crowd back through the basketball arena and through a side door that exited outside. It was brisk out with some leaves blowing through the area. Looking around, they could see the change of the seasons was in full swing as many of the leaves were deep in their usual autumn colors.

The crowd of students led to a separate basketball court where they found both of their coaches with a bag of balls. They were soon informed that day that the activity that day would be basketball. While they couldn't play indoors, the school had outside courts that could be used for it. All they had to do was move the nets to ends of each of them. The coaches had arranged it so that a total of four of them would be used for the activities that day.

The fox and chipmunk would end up in group C, which was assigned the oldest of the courts. It was the only one with a fresh coat of paint, and all of the boundary lines had recently been redrawn. They made their way over to the cort and followed one of the assistant coaches who would be their referee. The horse man was someone they hadn't seen before and seemed rather young so they assumed he was from the local university.

On their way over, Xavier caught out of the corner of his eyes the sight of the moose boy. Buck was palling around with some of the other boys. They were the same students from the cafeteria, so he could only assume they were on the school Lacrosse team as well. The whole lot of them gave the chipmunk the stink eye. The rodent couldn't help but notice it, but soon diverted his attention from them to not attract any more attention.

The basketball game started long after the teams were established by the horse. Xavier was elected to be the point man for the game, and Pent had been picked to be on one of the wings. The assistant coach teed them up for a tip-off, holding it above both of them so neither had the edge. Xavier faced off against someone he didn't recognize, but it was an older girl who gave him a confident grin.

The game began like any other, with the girl winning the tip-off. Equal time was spent on offense as well as defense for both sides. No team had been assigned one or the other. The goal of it was just competition. Occasionally, the students rolled off and rotated with one another. Xavier and Pent were always on the same shift and frequently passed it to each other. The chipmunk was even able to make a few baskets, a fact that did not sit well with the moose and his friends, who sat on the sidelines.

After the fifth rotation, the chipmunk and fox teens were back in play. Buck had made sure to stay on the court this time, assuring the assistant coach that he and his teammates were up for another round. The previous one before them had gone longer, and so the usual rotation was out of whack, so he let it go. Blowing his whistle, the horse summoned the moose and Xavier to center court for the tip-off.

Xavier was able to win the face off and immediate passed the ball to the fur on the left of him. Pent kept a defensive position as the other members on the team went up court to try and score. The chipmunk's team mate was soon boxed out and almost got out of bounds. She was able to pass it just in time, zooming it right along to the rodent. The chipmunk ran down the court soon finding himself circled in by all 5 of them.

The brown furred teen wasn't afraid, but he wasn't sure what to do. Pent had watched the whole thing unfold and had rushed his way over. Still, the boys encircling Xavier showed no quarter. The assistant coach blew the whistle without delay. This was highly out of the ordinary, and he certainly didn't want things to escalate. Both sides were told to sit down, and they were rotated out for the next group. Making sure to warn Buck and his friends not to do it again.

The rest of the basketball game went without incident. Xavier and the boys who had singled him out did not get on the court at the same time again. Both the rodent and fox boy played well enough, with their team coming on top by a small margin. This bothered the moose and his friends even more. The five of them were already boiling from getting in trouble on the court. Already in their mind, they were plotting revenge.

On the way back in, Buck shoved past Xavier through the door. His compatriots all did the same. The sudden, brash move caught the chipmunk off guard, who was minding his own business. It wasn't like the door opening wasn't large, and they could have just waited. Still, it had gone mostly unnoticed except by Pent, who was now growing concerned. The teen decided to talk to his boyfriend about it inside the locker room.

Once they were isolated from the others, the smaller teen pulled him to the side. "Hey, Xavier. Why are they bothering you?"

"I think it's because they are on the school Lacrosse team. Why?" The chipmunk showed no concern despite everything that had happened already.

Pent chose his words carefully. "I think they are targeting you."

"So what? It was just a basketball game. It's not a big deal." The rodent shrugged, showing his nonchalance about it.

The white furred teen grabbed his shoulder softly. "It wasn't just the basketball game, Xae."

"What do you mean?" Xavier was ignoring the other problems he had with Buck.

The fox looked around briefly. "That was the same boy who tried to start a fight with us at lunch."

"I know that, but what are you getting at?" The bigger boy still wasn't concerned about it.

The white furred teen sighed a bit. "Aren't you a little worried they will target you during the Lacrosse game today?"

"No. Nothing will happen. I will be fine, Pent." The chipmunk was confident he could handle himself.

Pent couldn't help but feel concerned. "But what if you get hurt?"

"I promise I won't get hurt, Pent. I want to play in the game. I don't care about Buck or his little friends." Xavier said with a calm demeanor about him.

The fox decided to drop the issue. It seemed that his boyfriend couldn't be convinced, regardless of what he thought. Part of that stung him, but he was more worried about Xavier getting hurt than his feelings. Something in the back of his mind made him think that it was going to end badly. Now all he could do was sit and wait. The concern would rest on his young mind for the remainder of the day.

Pent tried to show he wasn't bothered by what Xavier had said. He was always good about hiding his feelings, and putting on a face was something he did often. The two of them cooled down in the locker room. Xavier's lacrosse bag had been dropped off for him by one of the members of the school staff. He took the time to change into his lacrosse gear, stopping short of putting his pads on as he figured he could do that later.

Once the bell rang, they made their way out of the locker rooms. Pent was still a little anxious, so he couldn't help but look around for Buck or the other Lacrosse boys. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be any signs of them. Little did he know they had already been summoned by their own coach for a pre-game meeting. Xavier pulled out his phone and saw he had a text message from his parents. It showed it was sent about 15 minutes ago.

"We will be there in about 30 minutes. We look forward to seeing you play. Pent can sit with us if he likes."

The chipmunk shared it with his boyfriend, who only briefly looked at it. Xavier hadn't picked up on it before, but was now noticing that the other teen was acting weird. He decided to pay more attention to it and bring
 it up if it continued. The fox and chipmunk continued walking to the field at the far side of the school. Xavier could see that his coach and a few other members had already arrived. He wasn't surprised to see them there already.

"Afternoon, Lazer." The coach had a nickname for every player on the team, and Xavier's was after his speed.

The chipmunk approached him, and Pent went off to find a seat on the bleachers. "Hey, coach. Where is everyone else?"

"They should be here soon, but we will probably have to delay the start of the game. I already phoned it in to the comp." The terrier man fixed his wide-brimmed hat.

Xavier nodded. "Alright, I am going to put my pads on and get warmed up."

"Sounds good, Laze." The coach went back to getting the visitors' bench set up with refreshments and towels.

The chipmunk pulled out his pads and put them on underneath his jersey and on top of his pants. Leaving his gloves for later, he stashed his bag over with the rest of them. Joining the rest of his team, which had already begun in doing drills. He grabbed a stick from the stash, he started throwing around the ball with them and running some short scrims. One by one more of their team began to show up.

Xavier's parents arrived shortly after and joined Pent since he was alone. They had already planned on letting him sit with them, and it wasn't like he was a stranger to them. The fox greeted them and showed his usual smile. Though behind his façade, there was still a sliver of anxiety. He still very much believed something would go wrong. He could only hope that he was wrong and that Buck wouldn't do anything.

Slowly, the crowd began to fill up, though the bleachers would not be completely occupied. It was still a sizable crowd. Before long, the school team came out to the jubilation of the crowd. Many of the parents and other supporters were there for the school. The Gryphons had a much smaller contingency, though there were a few of them around. The Mantis', as they were known, wore a dark green with black trim jersey and pants while their opponents wore red and gold trim.

By this point, both teams were fully staffed. Only a few players from both sides had called out with either injuries or illness. Still, both were large enough to participate. The coaches both went to the head referee to turn in their final rosters. Of course, the list contained the starting line up as well as the general rotations. It was far from strict since they were still younger teens but for the most part the lists were considered final.

A whistle was blown as the referee called the squads to center field. Both sides would line up on opposite sides of it. Previously, they had nominated a member of the team to be their representative. Xavier was chosen for the Gryphons, and for the Mantis, it was Buck. The two of them came to the center of it, and the home team was asked which side of the coin they wanted. Buck chose tails, and the coin was flipped.  The Mantis won and were allowed to pick their side of the field.

The teams were separated, and both sides went back to collect their helmets and gloves. A whistle followed shortly after once all the players on the opening line up were ready and geared up. Xavier and Buck returned to the center of the field for the first face off. The chipmunk smirked at the moose through the cage of his mask. In his mind the rodent was going to show Buck who the best player was and no one was going to stop him.

A ball was placed on the ground as both of them positioned themselves right over it. Only the thin chalk line separated them. The referee was nearby and held a whistle close to her mouth. Finally, blowing it, the game began without delay. Xavier raked inward and scrounged out the ball with ease. Throwing it back to one of his teammates who reeled the ball back to another of them. Xavier trailed back as he kept a more defensive stance just in case.

Moving forward, he kept close to the other member of his team, who was intercepted by one of the other players. The ball was fumbled and retrieved by Buck, who greedily guarded it in his net. The moose rushed forward and went as fast as his legs would take him. He was larger than any of the other players on the field, and the first two defenders who met him were pushed to the side with ease. Xavier tracked over to him and checked the larger boy with the full force of his body.

The chipmunk was strong enough to knock him over. Pent cheered his boyfriend on as the teen was just as dominant as always. Able to retrieve the ball and race down the field before passing it to one of the girls on the team. The girl reamed the ball toward the net, but the goaltender was more than able to fend it off. The crowd cheered to celebrate the stop, and the ball was soon returned to the Mantis control.

This time, a mole girl from the squad retrieved the ball. She was lanky and lean, though not quite as tall as Buck. The girl was nimble and able to weave her way through the defenders with the deftness of her feet. Once again, Xavier was able to stop her, checking her and knocking her down. Taking the ball himself, before climbing to his feet. Quickly racing across the field, the moment he got to his feet. Buck tried to keep up with him, but the chipmunk was much too fast for him.

Xavier reeled a shot towards the net. The ball raced forward just right of the goalie's shoulder, hitting the back of the net. Pent cheered his boyfriend on and the teens parents clapped. The chipmunk's team mates playfully slapped him on the back. The Gryphons had struck first and this stuck hard in Buck's mind as he collected himself. Collecting the ball, the goalie returned it to the referee who brought it back to midfield.

The game went back and forth for a while. The teams were more or less evenly matched. The first quarter ended with Xavier's goal being the only one. The chipmunk had kept himself on the defensive end to help in making sure the other team couldn't score. It was very much a team effort, but the chipmunk was still the most dominant player. When the final whistle of the quarter blew, they all retired to the sideline to take a break.

Pent was more than happy with how things were going. Xavier was his usual self in the sport, showing very little fatigue. All of the hard work and training he'd put in had paid off. Various vendors began to travel and peddle to the crowd. Things like snacks and drinks were up for grabs, but many of them had brought them with them. Xavier's parents decided to buy Pent some water since it didn't appear he had anything, and the fox boy thanked them for the thoughtful gesture.

The second quarter began shortly after, and different players were now asked to face off. The adolescent division had specific rules about using the same players over and over. A single player could only participate in a maximum of 20% of face-offs. Xavier returned to the wing as he was well aware of the rule. His teammate, a younger Badger boy, took point, and the chipmunk readied himself for the pass.

The badger lost the face-off to the mole girl. The lanky girl reeled it back to Buck who was more than ready to redeem himself. Brandishing himself forward and knocking through all of the defense. The Badger was able to fend him off, passing it back to Xavier who passed it forward to another member of the team. They were soon checked but the Badger boy was able to retrieve it and get a shot on goal.

The Gryphons had scored a second goal, and the younger boy was celebrated by his team. Their supporters in the crowd cheered him on. Xavier patted him on the back and congratulated him on his first goal in the playoffs. Buck had pulled himself up and was fuming. Never had he been humiliated so badly, and now they were losing by an even greater margin. Already, his fervor was further clouding his judgment, and he began to consider more brash actions.

A short while passed, and the game continued at another standstill. No further goals had been scored, and the Mantis had barely even gotten any shots on net. There was no doubt the Gryphons had locked things down, which is how their coach had prepared them for the game in question. About halfway through the quarter, the coach of the school team called a timeout. This caused a stop in action, and both sides of the field returned to the sidelines.

Buck remained on the field, making sure to stay behind. The referee had diverted their attention. The moose was still angry at how the game was turning out. He watched as Xavier walked towards the side of the field. The chipmunk had taken his helmet off and was now squirting himself with water to cool down. This was the moment that he had been waiting for. The cervine picked up the ball and hurled it right towards the rodent, making sure to aim towards his head.

The ball found its way to Xavier in a matter of seconds. It's hard surface hitting right against the chipmunk's temple. The rodent's body slumped as the entirety of the crowd gasped. Pent watched in terror as his boyfriend passed out. His heart sank, and he immediately sprinted out of the bleachers and climbed through the crowd. By this point, the referees had finally responded to flag and penalize Buck. The moose was to be kicked out of the game, with possible other penalties to come.

The whole game came to a halt at that moment. Everyone was hushed and looked on in terror. Xavier still hadn't moved and the teams medical staff was now tending to him. Both Xavier's parents as well as his boyfriend had made their way over. The team knew who they were so they were allowed to get close but did not get to touch him. They could see the teen was still breathing but there was no question that he was out of it.

A stretcher was brought out to carry Xavier off the field to get medical attention. The referees had been conferring with both coaches.
 It had been decided that the game would be called, and the Mantis would forfeit the game. Buck would be suspended from the team and the incident would be reported to the schools administration. In time the moose would find himself expelled from school for his actions.

Xavier's still limp form was driven by a medical response vehicle that had been staged nearby. His parents sat in the front seat together with Pent remaining by the chipmunk's side. Clutching the rodent's hand and holding it tightly. The fox was beside himself, tears streamed down his cheek Inside he blamed himself. He had let his boyfriend play the game despite all the bad feelings he got. Now the very same had come to pass and he couldn't help but feel guilty.

The other teen's mother noticed this and softly touched his shoulder. "It will be okay, Pent."

"But…this is my fault…" The white furred teen wiped his watery eyes.

Xavier's mother shook her head. "No, it's not. Why do you think that?"

"Because…I let him play the game. We've been having problems with that boy for a few days now…" Pent sniffled a bit.

She took a deep breath. "Be that as it may…Xavier is the one who decided to play, not you."

"I know that, but…" The teen's eyes were red.

The woman hugged him softly. "I promise it's not your fault, Pent. Just try and relax."

This was the first time she had ever hugged Pent. She did it out of instinct. The fox was someone both she and her son cared about. The fox slowly caved into the show of care and hugged her back. Seeming all too glad to give in to it. It was the first time that he'd ever felt like he was a part of their family. The woman allowed him to hold as long as he wanted, finally letting go once he had collected himself.

The response vehicle took them to a nearby urgent care facility, where the teen was transferred to an open medical room. Xavier's parents and Pent followed along the entire way with the fox boy not letting go of his boyfriend. His parents remained silent but shared much of the same fears that Pent did. Inside, the chipmunk boy was moved to a flattened medical chair. The fox boy was still still a mess but had stopped crying. It wasn't long before a doctor showed up into the room.

A weasel walked through the door with the medical chart he'd been given. He wore thick glasses, and underneath the lab coat he had a plaid shirt. Stepping through the door, he grabbed a pair of nitrile gloves and placed them over his hands.

"Please, move to the side so that I may examine the patient." The raspy-voiced male requested Pent to move from Xavier's side.

Scooting to the side, the fox joined Xavier's parents, who sat on one of the sides of the room. They watched as the weasel checked Xavier's heart rate as well as his blood pressure. Opening his eyelids to check his pupils as well as his head for signs of trauma. The man didn't seem overly concerned by what he was examining. Still, both Xavier's parents as well as his boyfriend couldn't help but be wary of the situation. They were silent as they waited for the doctor to examine the boy. It was a few moments before he spoke.

"The boy is concussed. It does not seem to be serious. He just needs to rest and take it easy. No physical activity or mentally stimulating activities over the next few days." The weasel began writing a prescription on a medical pad.

Xavier's parents sighed in relief once they heard this. Even Pent felt a bit better, though part of him still felt at fault for all of this.

"Please fill this at a pharmacy. The instructions will be on the bottle. Do you have any questions for me?" The man put away his medical pad after handing them the slip of paper.

His mother and father looked at each other and shook their head before the woman responded. "Should we wait for him to wake up?"

"He should wake up shortly. His pupils are not dilated, which shows he is coming around. It shouldn't be long." The doctor made his way out.

Pent and Xavier's parents waited a short while before the teen slowly started to rouse. The chipmunk teen gripped his head. Slowly sitting up.

"What happened? Where am I?" He asked, looking around, noticing both his parents and his boyfriend.

His father stepped to his side. "You had a little…incident…at the Lacrosse game. We're at the hospital."

"Oh…my head hurts…" The rodent squinted his eyes a bit.

The older male stepped closer. "You need to take it easy for a few days. You got a concussion. Are you ready to go home?"

"Yeah…I don't want to be in the hospital anymore." Xavier slowly eased himself off the medical table.

His father helped him off the raised surface. It took a moment for him to get his footing. Pent immediately stepped in and offered to prop his boyfriend up.

"I'll be alright, Pent…I promise." The chipmunk said with his usual confidence.

The white furred boy shook his head, partially not believing him. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." The bigger boy wobbled a bit but seemed to be able to go on his own power.

The four of them made their way to the front of the hospital. They went slower to allow for Xavier to keep up. The rodent's strides were slower and more awkward but he was managing all the same. The chipmunk's father asked for one of the hospital workers to take them back to the school. After all, in the rush of thigns they had to leave the car behind. Once they had worked out the logistics they were on their way back to the Academy.

A hospital shuttle transported them back to the school. It was a short trip and didn't take very long to go back. The trip over was mostly silent, with only the quiet whispers of Xavier's parents breaking the silence. Neither Pent nor Xavier could hear them as Pent held his boyfriend with ever protective intent. The chipmunk was all too keen to cuddle and dig into him as his head was still throbbing from the injury.

After arriving at the school, Pent made sure to help his boyfriend despite the other boy's assurance earlier. Xavier complained a single time before ultimately giving in. Xavier's parents chuckled at the two boys who were equally stubborn in different ways. To see their son submitting to the other teen was just showing how much he'd changed in the name of love. They were soon on their way out of the school.

Xavier's parents had already decided to let the fox boy stay over that night. Despite it being a school day, they figured both boys could use the emotional support. They had already texted the Fox boys foster mother. Of course she was alright with it. In their mind they were planning to surprise both of them when they got back to their place. But for now the issue could wait as Pent kept Xavier locked under his arms.

When they pulled into the parking lot of their home, Pent seemed surprised they didn't stop at his place first. Xavier was still quietly resting into his chest and seemed content not to move.

"How come we didn't stop?" The fox asked as he gently caressed Xavier's soft fur.

The other boy's father responded. "We figured you two would enjoy a sleepover after everything that happened today."

"Really? On a school night." Pent arched his eyebrow in disbelief.

The older male nodded his head, not saying anything. Instead, giving off a soft smile to the fox teen still clinging to his son with his whole being. All of them got out of the car, Xavier's parents helped with their things and the fox teen helped with bringing the chipmunk boy to the front door. By this point the rodent had completely given into his boyfriend. No longer was he protesting or arguing about it.

Making their way inside, Pent led him to the living room. The chipmunk's mother passed behind them and ruffled both of their head furs.

"Go get a shower, boys. It's getting late and we still haven't had dinner." She reminded them since her son was still filthy.

Pent finally let go of his boyfriend, who was happy to be independent again. Going to Xavier's room before the brown furred boy grabbed his pajamas to wash up. Pent remained in his room, contemplating his day and being just as thoughtful as always. Heading towards the bathroom, the chipmunk still had a headache, so he took the medication he'd been given earlier. He only hoped the medicine would go into effect sooner rather than later.

The bigger boy returned to his room to find Pent staring out the window, twiddling his fingers. Xavier knew when the fox was deep in thought. He also knew when something was bothering him. Slowly, he approached him from behind and placed his arms on the smaller teens shoulder.

"Is something wrong, Pent?" The chipmunk's voice was soft and comforting.

The white furred teen looked over his shoulder at him. "It's nothing. I'm just glad you're alright."

"What even happened anyways?" Xavier only had a vague recollection of what happened and didn't see it happen.

Pent considered his words carefully. "Buck intentionally beamed you with a Lacrosse ball."

"He did…? I guess…you were right." It was then that the rodent finally realized this was the case.

The fox stood up and hugged the chipmunk tightly. "I don't care about being right. I only care about you."

They shared this embrace for several moments. It wasn't until Xavier's mother called them that they stopped. Finally joining hands once again and making their way to the kitchen. Upon arriving in the kitchen, they found that the boys parents had made them a bigger meal than usual. The two of them figured the boys could use it after their tough day. Each of them sat down before eating with the chipmunks parents.

It was that day that Xavier's parents realized the extent of Pent's love for their son. No longer did it seem like just some "teenage romance". Sure, the two had been going out for a while, but in the back of their mind they were unsure of just how serious it was. After all most romances at their age never lasted. It was the first time
 that they truly accepted that this might be something more serious than just a fleeting relationship.

The rest of the meal was a quiet one. They would finish dinner, and the fox boy would excuse himself take a shower. This left Xavier alone with his parents while he was cleaning up and doing his usual chores. His mother stayed behind as her husband had other things to take care of.

"Is it true that boy Buck had been bothering you?" The woman had been thinking about it all day since the incident happened.

The chipmunk boy turned his head to look at her. "He's the one I told you about…yes."

"And you didn't suspect he would target you in the game?" Xavier's mother had always thought her son was a bit naïve.

Xavier stammered a bit. "I um…I tried not to think about it. I really…"

"Xavier, you know how badly you got hurt today because of this?" She wanted him to understand his mistake.

He looked down at the floor. "But…Mom…I wanted to…"

"But nothing. That boy gave you a concussion. You're lucky it wasn't worse. He straight up hit you on the side of the head." The woman was fully aware of how bad it could have been.

The brown furred boy shuffled his feet, but he remained silent.

"Well? What do you have to say for yourself? You scared your father and I half to death…not to mention your little boyfriend." Xavier's mother wasn't letting this issue go.

The chipmunk was still uncertain of what to say or how to even respond.

"What you did today was stupid. It's fine to like Lacrosse and want to play. There is always risk involved, but today's risk was unnecessary. Why didn't you tell the coach?" She folded her hands to her side.

He still remained silent and contemplated his words.

"I am not leaving until you explain yourself. You're not getting out of this. Your father and I are owed an explanation." The woman stood at the door leading to the front room.

Xavier took a deep breath. "I made a mistake, okay? I wanted to play the school team so badly that I let it cloud my better judgment. I'm sorry."

"Yes, you did. Finish your chores and go to bed." She finally exited the room, satisfied with his response.

What his mother had said swirled in his mind as Xavier did the dishes. It made some of his headaches come back, but fortunately, it had been lessened by the medication he had taken earlier. He knew she was right. He had let his own confidence get in the way of common sense. It wasn't the first time it had happened, and he knew it. The chipmunk knew he had to own up to it, and in his mind, he knew the first place to start.

By the time Xavier returned to his room, he found Pent gazing out the window. The fox was wearing his pajamas and seemed just as contemplative as always. The chipmunk was all but certain the other boy was thinking about the day's events. His boyfriend had always been a protective boy of his brother and now he was seeing that for himself. He couldn't help but feel a mixture of guilt and appreciation, though the more negative emotion was certainly winning him over.

Slowly, he approached the bed without a word. Easing himself onto the bed, he coasted behind Pent. Gently touching his shoulders and resting his head on the smaller boys neck. Xavier said nothing and looked out the window. The stars gazed back at them and twinkled into the window. It was a clear night out and they could see the whole of the night sky. The chipmunk draped his arms ovet Pent to hold him closely.

"I'm sorry, Pent." The rodent said in a whisper.

Pent leaned his head slightly against the other boy. "About what?"

"About today…It was a stupid mistake." Xavier had realized the error of his ways after the discussion with his mother.

The fox sighed. "I don't blame you, Xae. This is all his fault. I'm just glad you're not seriously hurt."

Xavier said nothing and continued to hold his boyfriend closely. Neither of them moved, and both watched the night sky shift above them. A shooting star streaked across the sky as the chipmunk nuzzled the side of Pent's cheek. Yet, both remained quiet. They stayed like that for a good while before the bigger boy finally broke the silence.

"Wanna hit the hay? I'm tired and my head hurts." The rodent pecked his boyfriend on the cheek.

Pent softly nodded, and his boyfriend slowly guided him to the bed. Keeping the smaller boy in his arms, Xavier used his other hand to pull the covers over them. He wasn't worried about his parents seeing them like this. The boy knew his parents respected their privacy, and the only thing he cared about was being affectionate with the boy he loved. In his mind, he needed to make it up to the other teen.

The chipmunk was already tired. The combined physical fatigue from the match, as well as the mental fatigue from everything that had happened, was a lot to bear. His slight headache wasn't enough to deter his desire to sleep. Keeping his head craned into Pent's neck, he once again draped his arm over the other teen. Xavier was completely content, and so was his boyfriend. Nothing could ruin this moment for them.

"I love you, Xavier." Pent said softly in a hushed, almost whispered tone.

The bigger boy whispered back as the hot air of his breath pushed against the fox. "I love you, too."

They soon fell asleep, each of them falling into the realm of dreams. Neither of them made even a single movement that night. Not being disturbed by either the chipmunk's parents or any other disruption. A quiet night in one another's arms. Each of them is desperately eager to seek the embrace the other, all too willing to give in and embrace a familiar...yet comfortable sense of protection from the other. ", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Competitive Courage", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "1", "rating_name": "Mature", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "3", "name": "Violence", "description": "Mild violence", "rating_id": "1" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "4", "views": "43" }