Greed
#3 of Seven deadly sins
This story is the sequel to Lust and the second part of the series. Thanks to all of those that commented and favorited Lust. Please enjoy and thanks for reading. This story is told from Jack's POV.
*Beep* *Beep*
The sound of my phone signaling me that I have a new message is the sound I wake up to. Great. I reach for my phone that's on the desk next to my bed and look to see who the message is from. It's from Taco, the super cute cat I met yesterday. What the hell does he want this early in the morning? I click the button on my phone to view the message and begin to read it. Hey Jack! U better not already be skipping school on your second day. Confused by the message I take a look at the time on my phone. Shit! It's already 7:18, school is going to start soon.
I jump out of bed and quickly put on a pair of clothes, not wanting to waste time on a shower, then run downstairs and see my dad reading the paper, thank god he had the day off. "Dad." I say in a voice that makes it obvious I'm in a hurry. "Can you give me a ride to school real quick? I'm kind of running late."
"Fine, but just this once. You need to be more responsible and learn to wake up on time." Yeah, like I chose to wake up late. Whatever, at least I get a ride. The large wolf puts down his paper and walks out the door with me in tow. We get in his car, which apparently is fancy and expensive so I don't get to ride in it often. We take the five minute trip in silence until we reach the front of the school. Dad unlocked the doors and I got out. He drove off as soon as I got off, not even a, "Hey son have a great day at school." Whatever.
The short walk into the school became a full sprint as I hurried to get to homeroom, since the bell already rang. The class isn't that far from the entrance so I was able to make it in time, all out of breathe, but here none the less. I take my seat in the far side of the class and shift my glance toward Taco, who is sitting on the opposite side of the class talking to the white tiger sitting next to him.
After the teacher finished taking role we were allowed to do whatever we wanted. I got up and made my way to the black feline that I've been waiting all morning to see. "Hey Jack!" Vincent spoke in a cheerful and slightly childish voice, "Your late!"
"Yeah, sorry. I woke up late and had to rush here."
"Well I guess I can forgive you this time. Oh, this is my best friend." he raised his paw to point to the tiger that sat next to him. "His name is Kevin."
"Hey. Nice to meet ya." Kevin spoke with a smile and a calm voice. "So your Jack. Taco has told us a lot about you."
"Has he?" Taco never told me much about his friends, yet he has already told them all about me.
"Your all he could talk about this morning. Usually he sits quietly and daydreams, but today he just kept on talking." I look over to see Taco, he has his head turned, but I can tell that he is totally embarrassed. I can't believe I've already had such an affect on him. "You two would really make a nice couple."
"A couple? Me and Taco? Maybe, but..." I look over at Taco again, whom is staring at his desk, the red almost visible under his black fur. My focus then turns to the curious looking tiger, probably waiting for me to say something. "He's cute and I really like him..." Vincent looks up at me and our eyes lock. We stare into each others eyes for what seems like an eternity. A "cough" from Kevin brings us back from our trance. "Um, Vincent...would you...um..."
"Baka!" Kevin yells at me while flicking me on the head.
"What the hell was that for?! And what the hell does baka mean?"
"Baka is Japanese for idiot. It's also a funner way to say it." Vincent finally chimed in.
"I called you a baka because your taking a fucking long time. Hurry up and ask him. It's not like everyone doesn't already know the answer." Everyone? I look around and see that we are the center of attention in the classroom, even the teacher is staring and some of the other students have their cell phones out recording us. Great. More pressure.
"Um, Taco..." I take a deep breathe; it's now or never. "Would you be-"
*ring* *ring* *ring*
The bell that signaled the end of homeroom rang and all of our viewers gave a simultaneous "Awww" in disappointment. The class got out of their seats and began to file out of the room and toward their first period. Taco, Kevin, and I stayed in the class for a little longer. Taco wore a happy grin, while Kevin had an amused look on his face.
The Tiger broke the silence when he said, "Hurry up already, we don't have all day."
Well third times the charm, "Taco. Would you be my boyfriend?"
The black feline gives me a large grin before speaking, "Hmmm. Let me think about it. I'll tell you my decision later." With that he got out his seat, grabbed his backpack, and quickly ran out the door. Kevin started laughing and I sat there, stunned. That little jerk ran off without giving me an answer. I'm going to murder that damn cat next time I see him.
"That punk." Kevin said as he got out of his seat and started to walk off. I followed him, remembering that we have the next class together with Vincent. "In case you didn't know, his answer was yes. He just didn't say anything because he plans on using it against you in some way. Be careful."
"Using it against me?"
"As a bargaining chip. He likes to have something over everyone. One thing you should know about him is that he likes to negotiate." A piece of advice I'll try not to forget. We arrived quickly at our first period, Chemistry. Taco sat in the front of the class with Kevin behind him. I, of course, sit in the back. Today is a test, which I'm excused from for being new. This gives me a good opportunity to watch Taco work. The test was supposed to take the entire period to complete, but not even halfway through the class and he was already done. He did quick a stretch, then turned around to look at the clock in the back of the room, and then he looked at me and we gave each other a quick smile. He put his head down and I assume he fell asleep.
The rest of the class passed by slowly, as well as the next class, English, which we also had together.
Third period, History, was one of the two classes I didn't have with Taco, but I did have it with Kevin. The class had no special seating arrangement so everyone was allowed to sit wherever they wanted, as long as they were quiet. Kevin took a seat in the back of the class and I followed him, sitting in the seat next to him. The teacher started her lecture after the bell rang. Kevin put his notebook on my desk and I looked at it and read what it said.
Taco really likes you. You better not do anything bad to him.
I started to write on the notebook paper. I'd never do anything bad to Taco. I really like him too. I passed the notebook back to Kevin.
Ok. Don't be greedy with him either. Just because he's your boyfriend doesn't mean that he's yours. He has few friends and he really likes to hang out with them. No more making him disappear for an entire day. Who the hell does this guy think he is? What gives him the right to tell me that?
Don't worry I'm capable of sharing. I want to spend time with Taco alone, just me and him. That doesn't make me greedy. Does it? Kevin didn't pass back the notebook, but instead flipped to clean page and started to take notes. The rest of the class period passed by without me or Kevin acknowledging the others presence.
Lunch finally arrived with the conclusion of third period. Students shuffled out of class one by one, me and Kevin near the end of the crowd. In front of the classroom stood a familiar black cat that seemed really happy. "How nice." Kevin began to speak with a sarcastic tone, "Waiting for your boyfriend in front of his class. Just brings a tear to my eye, seeing so much love."
"Baka! If you'd remember, I never gave him my answer. I'm just waiting for my two friends." Why does he have to make it a point that we aren't "officially" going out?
"Fine. Whatever you say. Will you two be joining us in the library today?"
"Sure." I say before Taco can get a chance to say anything. "I want to meet Taco's friends, but why the library?"
"Well for one thing; it's warm." Taco's response made me realize that it's freezing cold out here. Why couldn't I have gone to an indoor school? "Both of my other friends are probably already there waiting, like always."
"Both? You only have two other friends?"
"Yeah. I don't just consider anybody my friend."
"C'mon it's cold out here. Let's get going already." Taco and I agreed with Kevin's comment and started off toward the library.
The library was large, warm, and anything but quiet. It was packed with dozens of kids that were just hanging out at one of the many tables. Above the ruckus a female voice could be heard yelling, "Taco, Capt, Taco's boyfriend. Over here." The yelling girl was a white rabbit that was sitting alone with a brown rabbit. I can understand why she's calling me Taco's boyfriend, actually a lot of others have called me that today, but why did she call Kevin Capt?
"I didn't know Kevin's nickname was Capt."
"Yeah, we all have nicknames and apparently yours is Taco's boyfriend." Taco said this with a grin and a giggle came from "Capt." Damn Cat. We walked over to the table with two rabbits and sat down, Taco between me and Kevin. "So Jack. The white one is Sara and the brown one is Henry."
"Nice to meet you." The three of us spoke at the same, earning a chuckle from Taco and Kevin. "So what are their nicknames?"
"Mine is Tom and Henry's is Star." The white rabbit answered in a slightly deep voice for a girl, more noticeable now that she isn't yelling.
"Someone please explain these nicknames to me. Why is Kevin Capt, Sara Tom, Henry Star, and most importantly, why the hell is Vincent Taco?" I'm overflowing with curiosity. I have yet to be given any clue for the reason any of them are called by their nickname.
"If you need to know," Taco began explaining, "Kevin is called Capt because he was the captain of the soccer team and he is practically the leader of our little group. Sara is called Tom because she is a tomboy. Henry was the "star" of the track team last year and probably will be again this year. I'm called Taco because... actually I think I'll keep that a secret for now." That damn cat still won't tell me. It's going to start driving me crazy wondering why he's called Taco, he probably wants that too. "Hey Jack, you play soccer. I bet your pretty fast."
"Yeah. Why?" A small smile appears on the cat's face as he stands up.
"Well," Taco says speaking loudly, but not yelling. "I think the new kid should have a race after school on the track with the star of the track team." The library fell silent as Taco spoke.
"Why would I want to race him?" Henry spoke in a rebellious tone, as if being asked to do a chore by his parents.
Taco gave him a wide, evil smile. "Hey Sara-"
Henry quickly cut off Taco, "Fine I'll do it." The animosity in his voice only making Taco's grin wider. Sara gave an oblivious look, although it was obvious what Taco was about to say. That damn cat has dirt on Henry, Kevin was right about the bargaining chip thing.
"Good. What say you Jack?" Taco spoke with triumph in his voice.
"I refuse." I'm not just going to give in. "You have nothing to use against me, but you do have a few things I want to know and it's apparent you want this to happen no matter what."
"Looks like you already know how to play the game." Taco gave another smile, "I knew you would be fun. Fine, if you race I'll give you my answer. If you win it'll be yes and if you lose it'll be no." Seems like Kevin was right about Taco using his untold answer as a bargaining chip.
"I guess I have no choice but to agree then."
Kevin took a stand and spoke in a voice that made him seem like a leader, "The race will be held today after school. One lap around the track. Everyone is invited to watch." Both Taco and Kevin took a seat and the library was abuzz with talk of the upcoming race. Lunch passed after some bonding with Taco's friends. The last three periods of school ended quickly and I soon found myself at the track preparing for the race.
The entire school seemed to be there, the bleachers filled with students and faculty. Henry and I took our spots at the starting line, dressed in our P.E. clothes. Taco wished me luck before walking off to the side and holding up his arm. "Ready." Taco yelled as we got into position and the crowd died down. "Set. Go!" Taco threw his arm down and we took off. Henry took an early lead but I'm not going to give up. I close the gap between and take a small lead. We struggle for the lead as we quickly approach the finish line. Taco is standing there waiting for me to win, I can't let him down. The final few yards I give it all I got and start a feel a horrible burn in my legs. We cross the finish line at about the same time.
I collapse on the ground feeling exhausted. "Who won?" I ask barely able to speak.
"You won." Taco spoke softly as he took a seat next to me. He sat me up and put my arm around his shoulders and put an arm around my waist. The crowd was cheering my name loudly.
Henry stepped in front of us, his smile seemed friendlier than it did before at lunch. "You were great. I haven't raced someone that fast in a while. You should really consider joining the track team; tryouts start tomorrow."
"I'll think about it." He walked away and the crowd began to disappear now that the excitement was over. My gaze goes towards a lion taking money from a group of other students. The word "Greed" escaped from my mouth and Taco gives me a confused look before looking at the scene.
"Must have been betting on the race, although avarice is a more accurate word." We watched the scene together until Taco spoke again. "Greed really is a horrible sin. Constant want. An unsatisfiable desire. For money or anything. Trying to achieve it no matter what, but only to want more."
Greed. Am I greedy? I want Taco and now that he's my boyfriend, I still want him more. I don't want to share him with anyone, I want him all to myself. These feeling. Are they something else. Am I just misunderstanding or is this truly the sin of greed?