Sweet Memories Chp. 1
Wren Adams, 20
Ian Saxxton was my best friend. A social butterfly in two words, why he would be friends with someone like me, sometimes, makes me question his motives. Regardless, he is always there for me even if he can be rather neurotic sometimes. We shared everything, the good times, and the bad. We had been together since diaper days and it didn't appear that, that would change any time soon. Sandbox love never dies.
He was sitting at one of the many tables in Pizza Hut, smiling up at me while I took his order. He had a good smile, very sincere. The Fox was the color autumn leaves with white tips on his ears and tail. His eyes a rich hazel shot through with flecks of bright emerald. In the sunlight I would have sworn his eyes were green. He also happened to be over a foot taller than me. He was well built, lanky but strong, like most foxes.
"I'll be on break as soon as your food gets done Ian, then we can talk, though I don't really get why we have to do this during my work hours." I shot him a suspicious look.
"Wren, you are honestly one of the most suspicious tigers I've ever met." He said, flashing me that bright smile again. "I just want to talk face to face, and you've been so busy lately, it's hard to catch you out and about." I sighed, shaking my head. He was right after all; Pizza hut was keeping me so busy I rarely had time to do anything for myself anymore. Definitely time for a job change.
A short fifth-teen minutes later and his food was ready, he had ordered a veggie lover's pizza and a sweet tea. "Now shoot, what is it that you need to talk to me about that is so important as to interrupt me during work?" I shot him another suspicious look.
He giggled between bites of pizza. "Well for one, are you still into music?" He asked with that brilliant smile of his. It was my turn to smile. Music had been my life's blood in high school. It was pretty much the only thing that kept me sane.
"I suppose so..why? What are you scheming in that clever head of yours?" The smile getting a little wider across my muzzle.
"Well, because I was thinking about starting a band, but I need members. I knew you still played your bass, and thought you might be interested." He gave me a hopeful smile.
I sighed, "I really wish I could Ian. I really do, but with the way Pizza hut has been banging me into the ground, even after work, I'd be too tired to practice, and you can't be big if you don't practice." I took a slice of pizza, and sniffed it, bad habit I know, or maybe just careful. I bit into it and gagged. Green peppers taste like garbage. Ian giggled, and I shot him a mean look. "Silly tiger, how you survive when you're either allergic to or hate everything you try is beyond me."
I grumbled at him and pushed away from the table. "Wren, wait!" Ian called after me. I was stressed and I didn't feel like being teased. I took off my apron which held my order pad and pen, and laid it across the counter. I walked out the front door smokes in hand and headed for the smoking area. Ian chased after me catching up right as I had fired one up. "Those ruin your voice you know."
"Ian we have already established that I can't join your band, so what are you still doing here?" The minute I said it, I wished I hadn't, Ian was my best friend and I shouldn't have gotten angry at him for some well meant teasing. I looked at him and then at my feet.
"Ian look," I said turning around. "I didn't mean to get angry at you, it's just so hard these days, my temper keeps getting shorter, and when I graduated my only outlet for letting off steam pretty much evaporated." All of the sudden he was hugging me from behind. Being the short and rather scrawny tiger I am, it was not at all hard for him to lock his arms around me.
"That's exactly why I asked you," He whispered into my ear. "I miss you, I miss talking to you, I miss sharing our troubles, and I miss being with you. " He buried his face into my neck. I cuddled back into him, letting him hold me, utterly passive in his arms. "I miss you too, Ian" I said, the first tear making its way down cheek.
My manager picked that moment to walk out the back door. Justin was tall built like a football player. According to him, he had broken the track record for fastest 20 yard touchdown. Being a bear, I guess it's plausible, but then again, he had tons of crazy stories from his youth. The door opened with its usual loud thud, and just like that the only thing that kept me from being the laughing stock of my coworkers was Justin's massive size.
I pulled away from Ian as fast as I could, "Justin, perfect timing, I was wondering if I could get a few weeks off, my vacation time should be close to two weeks right now right?" Justin just nodded, not sure what he had just interrupted.
"Yea but-"he started, but I cut him off. "Great! Since this is my last day of work for the rest of the week, please schedule me off for the next two weeks." I winked at Ian and said, "See ya after I get off work, we'll talk more about your band Idea then.