A valuable lesson: Chapter 1
#1 of A valuable lesson
This is officially my first piece of writing not for school/college. And also the first piece that I am willingly submitting to public opinion. Critique away! And let the typo spotting begin!
The stage was humming with the vibrations from the amplifiers. His eyes closed, allowing himself to be surrounded by the music. His guitar screaming like a banshee, the drums pounding in time with his heartbeat. Hot lights forcing beads of sweat to trickle down his muzzle and on to the floor. The writhing mass of the crowd chanting his name "Marcus_! Marcus! Marcus!_" his fingers blurred as they masterfully danced across the frets, obeying his every command. The Tempo was increasing, building for his solo. The bass line slowly faded away, paying homage to the figure standing surrounded in mist at center stage. Every spotlight was on him, the crowd was rapt with anticipation. Striking the first chord of his solo as he leapt into the air. And the heat from the lights disappeared, the amplifier ceased screaming his praise, and he opened his eyes.
The small apartment was pitch black, heart still racing Marcus searched for any sign as to why his concert had been sabotaged. As quickly at it had departed power returned, the small amp crackled to life defiantly humming the final moments of the last chord. Light flooded the room revealing the cheap furniture that had been moved to the far corner of the room to allow more space to move in. it was a small studio apartment with thin layer of discarded clothing, beer cans, and pizza boxes.
"I knew you wouldn't have heard me shout for you and I wasn't going to risk getting too close with you hopping around like that, so I just flipped the breaker to get your attention. No hard feelings?"
"Damnit Zack. You couldn't have waited another minute? You should know by now not to interrupt me when I'm on a roll."
"By the looks of things if I had waited you would be rolling on the floor." Zack said smiling and pointing at Marcus' feet.
Taking a moment to examine the situation Marcus realized that Zack was probably right. The chord from his guitar to his amp had somehow managed to wrap itself around his tail and then his right foot. Another good leap and he would have been on his face. "Yea well what can I say? I got a little excited."
"A little? You should have seen yourself you fuzzy bastard. If I didn't know any better I would think a fox could actually fly." Holding in his laughter Zack walked over to the amp, flipped the off switch, unplugged the chord and handed it to Marcus.
Giving a small laugh Marcus began to extract himself from the chord. "You're just jealous that you don't have fur and can't play an instrument to save your life."
"Hey now, lets not get personal. As far as humans go I look damn good thank you very much. But I have to hand it to ya, you can play. And you actually manage to make the fuzzy thing look alright." Zack took a step away from Marcus and did a spin as if he were on a catwalk. "How do I look?"
Setting down the chord and lifting his guitar strap over his head Marcus took a moment to look at his friend. Zack was a human standing at 5'9'', a few inches shorter than Marcus. His brown hair was cut short in a military fashion and he wore a purple t-shirt with 'Griffins' sprawled across it in green lettering and an outline of a griffin holding a tennis racket displayed in black. Simple blue jeans and white shoes completed the ensemble.
"The tennis team? That's your big plan to make all the girls drool over you?" barely containing his laughter Marcus leveled his gaze at Zack "Wow man, you really nailed it this time. I can't imagine how many college girls lay awake at night hoping to meet the guy that hits the little green ball over a net."
"Yes, the tennis team. It beats a beat up guitar and a fur coat any day if you ask me. Anyway we have to get to class and as usual I'm the only one with a car, I can't have us being late on the first day of our college careers so get your tail in gear and hurry up."
As Marcus put his guitar in its case and started hunting around his apartment for his books and other school supplies Zack headed outside and started his car. Once everything was in order Marcus took a moment to study his appearance in a mirror. He stood at 6'1'' brown eyes, and a coat of short copper colored fur witch faded to white at the end of his muzzle. Both ears were of the same copper coloring except the fur on his left ear faded to a dark brown towards the tip. His tail was solid copper in coloration, almost as wide as his torso at the middle and tapering to a rough point. He wore no shirt, his fur exempting him from any 'no shirt' rules, allowing his musculature to add subtle waves and shadows to his fur. Baggy blue jeans, sitting low on his hips to allow room for his tail, held in place by a dark blue belt and brown shoes served as his only clothing. Raking his fingers through the fur on his face to clear away any remaining sweat he hefted his bag over his shoulder and headed out to the car.
It was a short ride from his apartment to the campus and the two were soon sitting in a stuffy classroom. The lecture hall was little more than a small amphitheater with a blackboard at the bottom up against the wall, and several tiers of seats radiating out in a semi circle from it. The seats were occupied by a variety of furs and humans alike, Marcus and Zack sitting next to each other in the front row. The room was humming with murmured conversation as the students waited patiently for the professor to arrive.
"Take a look at that!" Marcus taped Zack on the shoulder and gestured towards the door of the room. A female rabbit stood scanning the audience as if looking for an open seat. Her slate grey fur was offset by a formal red top with the top two buttons undone, drawing attention to her ample bosom. She had an athletic body and one ear hung carelessly over half of her face, her emerald green eyes framed by a pair of circular glasses. "Now that is one beautiful specimen."
"Who? Lop ears? Don't get me wrong she has a great body and everything, and I have nothing against the fur, but I've never really liked the ears. She's all yours man."
As Zack spoke she slowly walked in front of the black board and addressed the room "Good Morning everyone and welcome to the first day of Anatomy 101. I am Professor Sims and I will be your instructor for both the lecture and laboratory portions of this class."
"Oh, this is perfect. Right off the rip little bunny hotness here walks in and ruins your day. Wright it off man, professor means you can't touch it. Student teacher relations equals expulsion for you and loss of a job for her, it's never gonna happen."
"I find your lack of faith disturbing Zack. Its only student and teacher if she's on the clock, once class is over ill show you how a master does his work." Returning Zack's sarcastic grin with one of his own Marcus focused his attentions on the professor.
Once the class was dismissed Marcus waited in his seat as the other students filed out of the room, pretending to be going over his notes. Zack wished him a sarcastic good luck and was the last one out, leaving Marcus and Professor Sims alone.
Casually packing up his bags and heading for the door Marcus paused in the doorway and turned to face the women, "Professor Sims, I was wondering what your policy was on tutoring. I'm new to the whole college thing and was wondering if I could get some pointers."
"Well that makes two of us. I just finished my teaching degree and this is my first job so I'm not entirely familiar with the entire student tutoring program here yet. I suggest asking around campus, I'm sure someone will be more than willing to help you."
"I don't really know anyone here yet so I was wondering if I could just some help from you. I mean I know your going to be busy with your other classes and stuff but in your free time maybe you could make some space for your own tutoring program. What better way to learn than from the teacher right?"
Pausing for a moment Professor Sims looked at Marcus for a moment with a small smile on her face before speaking. "Well if I'm going to be taking students in for personal tutoring I should at least know their names correct?"
Marcus hesitated a moment, surprised by how easy it was to convince her of personal lessons, "Marcus. Marcus Crowlee."
"Well then Mr. Crowlee, I don't think I'll be able to help you right away. I still need to get a few things straightened up here before I can have the kind of... availability, that tutoring would require. But rest assured you will be the first to know once I do."
"That's fine by me Professor. I think I can make it on my own for a while."
"Please, call me Nisa."
Stepping aside to allow Nisa through the doorway Marcus stood in the doorway and watched her walk away. Once she was out of sight among the crowd he turned and headed to where the car was parked, a grin creeping over his face. "Oh, yea. I'm gonna love this class."