Love in Being Different: Ch. 1
"Hey! Kid! Are you getting off or what?!" said the bus driver at me.
I hadn't noticed that we were already at school. I was spacing out again; I tend to do that a lot.
"Well?" he persisted.
"Uh. Y-yeah!" I said, picking up my backpack and heading off the bus.
The doors closed behind me as I set foot on the school driveway. I looked up at the big, brown building that towered over me. It was a regular high school, like any other, but it had been built only about 5 years prior, so it was fairly new. I remember the first day I stepped into it, it was my freshman year and the school had only been open for one year prior.
The floors were spotless, the lockers shined, the whole building had that "new" smell to it! But not the "just-finished-construction" smells that makes me want to clamp my hands around my nostrils. But besides the school being new, I was also new; to the area.
I had just moved in a week before school started and I had yet to meet anyone or make any friends. And making friends isn't easy for someone who's 6'8", a dragon/wolf hybrid, has red eyes and is blue with their name shining on their arm as if it were a "glow-all-the-time" tattoo! When it first got around that I was a mix-breed, I was always taunted as being "impure" and a "mutt." They said that I was a mix of two furs that should never mate, that should never co-exist.
Regardless, I was able to make it through all 4 years without friends, relying only on teachers who helped me whenever I needed it, though it was well known that they'd talk about me when I'm not around. Now it's my senior year and it's the beginning of the fourth quarter! School is almost over and I'm about to graduate!
"Well, Ry?," I said to myself, "Let's get this last quarter over with!"
I adjusted my backpack over my right arm and started walking into the school, paying no mind to the cold stares I was getting from more than half of the kids that saw me.
My daily schedule consists of 7 classes, 45 minutes each, and lunch. Up first, I had my least favorite class of all: Calculus! All those formulas, all those random variable, everything about the class drove me crazy! But I had to take it in order to get into a good college with, hopefully, a full ride!
The class came and went, which was good for me because I was on the verge of screaming. So next came my AP English class (Advanced Placement). Not my favorite, but I didn't dislike it like Calculus. I wasn't the best writer, but I had very good grammar.
Like Calculus, English went by really fast, as did my World History, AP Chemistry, and Web Design classes. All of those were okay, but my favorite classes didn't happen until the end of the day!
"First I go to lunch, and then the fun begins!" I said to myself, excited.
"What should I eat today, though? Subway? Taco Bell? McDonalds? They're all okay, but I'm really bored of eating them."
After a few minutes of pondering, I decided to go with Subway, I felt in the mood for a warm Tuna sandwich. On my way there, I passed by a few historic houses in town, one of which housed a blind mouse of 64. But blind as we he was, he still somehow managed to know when I passed by.
"Evening, son!" he yelled from his chair on the porch.
"Good afternoon. Mr. Severn," I said with a smile.
"On your way to lunch, are you?" He said leaning forward in his seat.
'Yes, sir. I was just on my way to Subway. I'm really in the mood for tuna."
"Again?" he laughed, "that's the second time this week that you've gone to Subway for a tuna sandwich."
"Well what can I say?" I giggled, "I love my tuna!"
"Well that's swell. I bet you're hungry, best you be off before you're late for class!" he said with a smile, waving at me as I began walking again.
"Thanks!" I waved back, "have a good one!"
I don't know what it is about him that makes him aware of me whenever I'm around. Everyfur says that he's just crazy, but that he never talks to anyone who passes by. What makes me stand out?
I kept pondering until I arrived at Subway. I ordered my sandwich, ate it quickly and then left for school once again. Halfway back, I heard loud music approaching from behind me, though I didn't have to turn to see who it was.
It was Ben Harum, the richest guy in school. The average-sized skunk was also the captain of the football, wrestling, volleyball and baseball team so as you can imagine, he's a pretty big deal to the other students. He's also the number one person to taunt me pretty much every day!
"Hey, half-breed!" he yelled after slowing down his car and rolling down his window.
I paid no attention to him, I'd grown accustomed to his constant jeers and they lost their effect on me long ago.
"Hey! I'm talking to you!' he said irritated.
I kept on walking, not saying anything or even looking at him. I was simply ignoring the fact the he was even there in the first place.
"Hey!" He yelled, clearly pissed off.
Suddenly, his car sped up and the two right wheels were on the sidewalk in front of me. He stopped the car right there, blocking my path. I had to jump back a bit to avoid getting hit.
"Don't you dare ignore me when I'm talking to you!" he yelled.
Once again, I paid no attention to him and simply walked around his car. I tried my very hardest not to laugh when I saw his face of disbelief. But to avoid any trouble, I started jogging to school. It would take approximately 5 minutes to walk there, so jogging may take 2.
Fortunately, there was a shortcut through the neighborhood where Mr. Severn lived that was too small for cars, so I made it back in time for class before Ben got there.
I walked into the first class I had been waiting all day for, my second most favorite class: Chamber Choir. Yes, I was a singer, and a strong one at that, but being the student no fur liked being around, I was never given a solo in any song. And it didn't help that the teacher was the father of one of my classmates, so they showed resentment towards me as well. He made it obvious that he detested me and I was always told to stand next to the risers during concerts instead of on them like the rest of the class. I didn't care, as long as I was doing what I loved, nothing could tear me down. During class, all we did was discuss what songs we should sing for the final concert of the year, and then what song the seniors were going to sing as a farewell. It was pretty boring and not what I was expecting, but I managed to stay awake, even though I wasn't included in any conversation.
After that class was over, my favorite class was about to begin; Symphonic Orchestra! I had been playing the violin for 8 years and I was one of the best in the class. It was a passion for me, as was music in general! Though no one in that class liked me either, including the teacher, I never made eye contact. It was pretty easy because, as much as everyfur hated it, I was Concert Master, so I sat at the front of the violins section. During class we played two of Mahler's pieces and one Beethoven piece before the bell rang to send us all home.
I quickly put my violin in its case, put it in a cubby, picked up my stuff and nearly ran out of the room to catch my bus. But just as I exited the classroom, the intercom made an abrupt *beep* sound indicating an announcement.
'Would Ry? Kagayaki please come to the main office? Again, Ry? Kagayaki to the main office! Thank you!"
"Son of a fish!" I exclaimed under my breath, "What could they want with me?"
As I entered the office, I saw the principal standing next to two police officers, the three of them looking at me with sad eyes. I felt my body stiffen and my go cold as I saw their faces. I slowly walked in closed the door behind me.
"Wh-what is it? What's wrong?" I whispered, unable to raise my voice.
There was silence for about a minute as the two badgers, the cops, whispered amongst themselves and then at the principal, a tall and proud lion (who was the only fur to treat me with any respect and value).
The principal, Mr. Yauna, took a step towards m and put a hand on my shoulder.
"It's about your mother," he said in a gentle tone.
"My mother? What? What is it?! What's happened to her?!" I almost screamed!
"She was driving over to the school when a dumpster truck crashed into her car, driver's side. She died instantly."
He looked at me with sincere, hurt eyes and I knew he was telling the truth. I saw his eyes water which caused mine to do the same. The words took time to fully sink in, so I stood there for a good few minutes, breathless and frozen. It was until I noticed my vision getting dark and Mr. Yauna yelling at me to breathe that I noticed I had stopped breathing at all.
As soon as I took a big breath, the tears in my eyes began to pour. I lost the strength in my legs and collapsed, only to be caught by Mr. Yauna, who carried me to his desk and sat me in his chair. Though, with my tail being long, I barely fit on the chair, I managed to pull my legs up to my chest and bury my face between my knees as I cried in agony. The two cops left the room in silence and Mr. Yauna pulled up a chair and sat in front of me for a good while, patting my shoulder and head, constantly repeating "It's alright. Everything will be okay. Just let it out, let out all the tears you can."
I cried for a long 20 minutes, barely being able to breath. But after calming down, I had to choke back more sobs. I needed to compose myself before leaving.
"Are you okay?" said the lion.
'Y-yeah," I managed to say.
"Do you need a ride home? Would you like me to call your father?"
"No, I'm alright," I tried reassuring him, "I only live about 10 minutes away, I can walk."
I lied. My house was about 2 hours walking distance from the school.
"Okay," said the lion, "but if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me or come into my office to see me," he said with honest concern.
"Thank you," I mumbled.
I got up, grabbed my stuff and headed out the door. After I closed it behind me, I stood still and didn't want to move. But after a few seconds, I decided that I needed to get home, so I left the school and made my way down the dark streets.
Alone, and vulnerable...
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Okaaaay! So I haven't written a story in a looong time! And those that I HAVE tried writing, I never finish. but hopefully this will be different!
Anywho, this is the first chapter of a series that tells the life of my Furloid Ryuu Kagayaki (this is not his actual life story though). This chapter basically just tells you what his senior life is like. I know it's boring, but it won't always be that way! I've been told I put too many details when I write stories, so sorry if this has too much detail! Anyway! I hope this first chapter somewhat entices you to want to keep reading when I post more!
Please, also, give me feedback! But be nice about, I'd love constructive criticism, but I don't handle hurtful criticism very well. Let me know what you furs think!
~Enjoy!