New Feelings Chapter 8: A Hero's Journey
New Feelings Chapter 8: A Hero's Journey
My stomach was doing back flips; the butterflies had turned to wasps, stinging me over and over again. It didn't help that this also made the day seem as if it were dragging on forever. This is it I thought. Today is the day I'm actually going to do it--I'm gonna come out to everybody.
I'd been running my lines in my head since yesterday. It was so heavy and emotional for me--to think that I was about to label myself as a target for some people. I knew it would happen eventually; there's no avoiding it. But still, the positives far outweigh the negatives, thought I had yet to think of some. I shook my head slightly while I thought. Caylen, focus. Think of all that later. For now just get your lines and timing for the project down, it will make things easier. I really wish I'd listen to myself every now and then. Instead of trying to focus on my project, I was focusing on other things, like how to get the buzzing light above my head to stop. Or making it appear as if I were actually paying attention and taking notes during math. Unfortunately, I'm a singer, not an actor, and it showed.
"Caylen?" A strong voice jerked me back to reality.
"Hm? Y-yes sir?" I asked, taking my math teacher's evil 'I'm going to kill you' stare.
"Yes, Mr. Sensin, would you like to share with the class the answer to my equation?"
Staring perplexed at the numbers and letters on the board I replied "Ummm, I'm not quite sure, sir. Sorry." It was a horrible cop out answer, and we both knew it.
"Of course not Mr. Sensin, but that is to be expected if one doesn't pay attention." He then trailed off onto some dull rant which I quickly tuned out.
After a few more perilous minutes the bell rang. "Ah, sweet freedom" I mumbled as I walked out of class and into the crowded, sporadic hallway. As I weaved my way through the halls and in between my peers, I couldn't help but wonder who else here might be gay, who might be closeted, and who might be a homophobe. I mean, out of the thousand or so furs here, there's got to be more than just Elliott and I. After bumping into a monster of a lion and almost signing my own death warrant in doing so, I was finally free of the labyrinth known as the hallway system. Once I was no longer beneath the overhang I chuckled a bit and looked up and said "Hello sweet and shiny sun" as its warmth met my fur and slowly seeped into my body. I was having a good moment at last on a day I was scared spitless on. I don't know why, but I just kind of wanted to stand there and get lost in myself. Life, however, had other plans. I felt a sudden thud and lost my footing, which quickly sent me tumbling to the ground below. I blinked a few times, trying to comprehend what possibly could have just happened. When I actually saw what had just happened I nearly had a heart attack! It was the huge lion from the hallways, and I tripped him! Oh my gods, I was SO dead. My fear only deepened when I felt him moving--on top of me!
He propped himself up on his forearms, which showed off his massive, well-toned upper arms which just barely fit through the holes in his tank top. My mind and body were frozen. Though, it wasn't completely out of fear--it was something else--some other force freezing me. There's something different about him. Perplexed, it seemed to be an eternity of dead silence between us before he spoke.
"Hey, you ok?" his voice was amazing!
It was deep, though not horribly deep, nor was it 'gay high'. It was, well, not exactly what one would expect from a lion his size, but it fit him; it was so smooth, so perfect. I just laid there, dazed that he was talking to me and how strangely hypnotic his voice was. Luckily I managed to mumble out some sort of a response.
"Uhmm, y-yeah. I, uh, I'm fine, thanks. Are you okay also?" He rolled off of me onto his side and stood up.
He was simply gorgeous! His golden fur had a perfect glow in the sun, his luscious, flowing mane was draped oh so gently over his sculpted shoulders. As for his muscles, they were just "wow!" Even his clothes made him handsome. He carried a red Lansport backpack, and wore a perfectly fitting grey tank top, blue, white, and black striped board shorts and topped it off with a pair of tan flip flops. He would surely make any girl happy. Heck, if I hadn't already found my mate I'd give him a chance. However, looks aren't everything; I also like a fur with a good personality and some, uh, kinks, which the lion did appear to have.
He demonstrated his good personality by making sure I was okay. Also, I guess I was spending too much time on the ground admiring him because he looked at me with a bit of a worried expression before inquiring further on the subject of my well-being.
"You sure he you don't need to go to the nurse's office? 'Cause I could help ya' get there."
"Oh, really, it's okay" I said. "I'm fine--just a little...out of it today."
He offered to help me up.
"Oh, I see. You, uh, need some fur to talk to, or, like a shoulder or somethin'? 'Cause I'd be willin' ta help ya, that is, if ya want."
BAM!! There's the personality! I chuckled to myself lightly. I wonder if he's just really nice, or if he's gay. It's funny; he seems like he's hitting on me or something. So I got to my feet, my paw still enveloped in his like a glove. Blushing, I retracted my paw when I noticed it and rested it on the back of my neck in an attempt to look casual and cool.
"Uh, thanks for the help...um--"
"Liam" he answered with a smile.
"Thanks then, Liam, for helping me back up, y'know." I smiled and tried to look friendly. "So, I, uh, guess I'll see you again."
I started to walk off, but as soon as I turned around he stopped me by laying his baseball-mitt-sized paw in my shoulder and spun me around like a top.
"Wait! Caylen..."
He did exactly what I had just done my taking his paw back and putting it behind his neck and rolling his eyes a bit.
"You, wanna, like get together sometime? Maybe hang out, or somethin, y'know."
Oh. My. Gods!!!! Did he just ask me out on a date?!? What do I do? What do I say? Elliott, where the heck are you?!? You'd know what to do...
Well, he wasn't here, so I had to make my own decision, now. I had to make it without Elliott, too, so it was finally time to for me to try my hand at making my own decisions.
"Sure, Liam, got a number to call?"
"Sure. Here, I'll jot it down for ya."
"Kay. Oh! Hey, I almost forgot to ask. Would you mind meeting my friend? Maybe the three of us could do something too sometime."
He finished writing down his number on a piece of ripped paper and gave it to me, smiling.
"Definitely, I'd love to meet your friend. Where are they?"
"Umm, good question."
I glanced around. Out of the corner of my eye I caught his tail swishing. He was in the middle of a migrating mob. I whistled and shouted his name, hoping he heard. Luckily he did, and started strolling over to where Liam and I were talking.
Hey, Cay!!"
He smiled and gave me a bear hug. A few seconds later I broke the bear hug and turned back towards Liam, gesturing in the general direction of Elliott.
"Liam, this is my best furiend, Elliott. Elliott, this is Liam. We kinda, ran into each other."
"Cool" Elliott said while extending a friendly paw "Nice to meet you, Liam."
Liam shook Elliott's paw with an enthusiastic intensity and a warm smile
"Likewise."
I could feel an awkward silence coming after that, so I decided I needed to break it before it was able to take over.
"So, guys, wanna grab something to eat after school?"
They looked at each other, then at me, and shrugged with a simultaneous "Sure."
Things were going great right then! I couldn't believe it. Unfortunately though, like all good things do, this one had to come to an end when the bell interrupted our conversing with its high-pitched scream that warned us that class would be starting in a few minutes.
"Aw man, there's the bell. We'd better get going to English class" I said.
On the way to class I could feel the butterflies again, swarming, becoming wasps again. My paws started to sweat, and I remembered why; English class was where my emotional task lie ahead, where I started a whole knew life.
To be continued...