Those Same Old High School Blues (Chapter 1)
A story about Finn, a young rabbit dealing the typical woes of high school, and Micah, his newfound friend...who may become more.
Note: This chapter is extremely short because I don't know if I plan to continue with this. New chapters will be much lengthier, this is more of a test and set-up.
"Finn's getting his ass kicked!"
The usual sounds of the cheers and yells that accompany most school fights echoed around the cafeteria just a few minutes after the final bell rang at E.A. Poe High School. In the center of the excited crowd of students, sophomore bunny Finn Maple was in fact getting his ass kicked by his usual main source of problems: junior beaver Tyson Miller- star athlete, honor roll student, and absolute douchebag to anyone who wasn't part of his little kingdom. Now, it could be argued that Finn had brought this beating upon himself. The young bunny had, after all, suggested that the beaver perform certain acts on himself with a rusty crowbar...but then again, Tyson was the one who shoved Finn against his locker a few days before and demanded that he be allowed to cheat off Finn's math test. So...one failed math test and a few threatening notes later, here they were.
This was a familiar situation for Finn...one he had found himself in numerous times before:
Tyson, grinning down at Finn.
Finn, sprawled on the dirty floor spitting blood out of his mouth that dripped in from his nose.
Teachers, janitors, security, anyone who could help him...nowhere to be seen.
Finn gritted his teeth and forced himself up, the students surrounding the pair letting out another loud cheer. Not for Finn's bravery and refusal to stay down, but rather because by getting up he was prolonging the bloodshed. Tyson sneered at him, then threw another punch, his fist cracking loudly against the side of the rabbit's head. Finn stumbled back, but was jerked forward roughly as the beaver grabbed him by one long ear and yanked, Finn's face meeting the beaver's fist head on. This time, he stayed down, curling into a ball to protect himself as best he could from the flurry of punches and kicks coming from the victorious beaver. When Tyson finally wore himself out, he hmphed and spit on the back of the battered bunny's head, swaggering out surrounded by his group of sycophants. The rest of the onlookers trailed away shortly after, leaving the bunny alone and on the ground in the cafeteria.
At least, he thought he was alone.
As he pulled himself up to his knees, he noticed a pair of feet dangling from one of the tables. He glanced up, the feet belonging to a green-scaled lizard who was calmly watching him. He glared at the lizard, assuming he's a spectator hoping to see the poor little bunny cry as he nursed his wounds. "What the hell do you want...?" He muttered, wiping blood off his face. The lizard shrugged, sliding off the table. "Nothing. Wanted to make sure you weren't going to die. You got your ass handed to you." He replied, nodding to the blood spattering the floor. "Yeah...well...'s not the first time it's happened. Who are you?" The rabbit asked, eyeing him warily. The lizard didn't immediately answer, padding over to a row of condiments and utensils set on a table and grabbing a few napkins, coming back and pushing them into one of Finn's paws. "Here. For the blood." Finn hmphed softly, but accepted the napkins and used them to wipe the worst of the blood from his face, then tossed them in the trash. "Who are you?" He repeated, deciding that the reptile didn't intend to harm him. "Micah. Moved to town last week, just started classes today. Can you stand up?" He asked, offering Finn a hand. The bunny scoffed at the extended hand, starting to stand but letting out a gasp of pain, one of his hindpaws badly sprained if not completely broken. He began to topple over as his injured paw refuses to take his weight, but is caught by the lizard's arm around his shoulders, helping him to remain standing. "Let me take you to...uh...where's the nearest doctor?" Micah asked, realizing halfway through his offer that he had no idea where anything was yet. Finn shook his head, already embarrassed over the fact that he needed help standing. "I'm fine...just want to go home..." The lizard nodded slightly. "Well, at least let me drive you home, then, yeah?" He sulked for a moment before giving a sullen nod, allowing the lizard to help him to the parking lot and into the backseat of Micah's car, lying down across it with a slight wince. "What's your address?" Finn mumbled it, then closed his eyes, doing his best to will away his existence. He could feel the car rumble slightly as it was turned on, followed by the slight bumps as Micah drove the vehicle. It was almost soothing...
Rhythmic...
...peaceful...
Finn woke up with a start, bolting upwards for a moment before collapsing back, groaning in pain as all his muscles reminded him of how much pain he was in at the same time. "Easy there, Finn." The lizard's voice reached his ears. "You wouldn't wake up when I got you home, and no one was there, so I brought you back to my place. Carried you in." He added the last part almost apologetically. Finn gave him a quiet grunt of thanks as he gradually became aware of his surroundings, realizing he's been placed in the lizard's bed. "...thanks..." He muttered, also realizing that his wounds have been tended to, his fur cleaned of blood. "It's not a problem. Why didn't anyone else try and help you during the fight?" Micah asked curiously, head tilted slightly. "Why didn't you?" Finn countered angrily. He felt guilty for his harsh words almost immediately as the lizard's eyes flicked away, clearly hurt. "I...forget it. I know. You couldn't really do anything." Micah shrugged slightly, still looking upset. "I...I should have. There's no excuse for why I didn't. I could've gotten help, I could've pulled him off. But I chose to stand there and watch. Just because I didn't enjoy it like the rest of them doesn't make me any better." The rabbit blinks at the sudden outpouring, then struggles up onto one arm. "Look. You're new. Helping me would've just fucked your life up here. You don't get in Tyson's way and brag about it. I probably wouldn't have helped me either. And...for what it's worth...you've already done more than any of them ever have. So...thank you." The pair offered each other weak smiles. "Do you, uh, d'you want some water?" Micah inquired, standing up and grabbing a bottle from a mini-fridge tucked under his desk. The bunny nodded, forcing himself to sit up in the bed, gulping down the water once it's handed to him. He suddenly blinks, taking another sip of water to clear his scratchy throat. "How'd you know my name, by the way? Never told you." The lizard blushed lightly. "Um...well, after you slept for a while I worried you were, like, unconscious and not sleeping, so I checked your wallet for your ID." Finn stared at him, then grinned slightly and chuckled. Micah looked surprised, but chuckles as well, the pair both beginning to laugh harder, the stress and pain replaced by the warmth of a new friendship.
At least until the next day.