FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Courtland was going to beat you up?" Sampson said.

"If Plato wasn't there, I would've been a pulped gryphon," Larry said.

Sampson's eyes flicked back and forth from the road to Larry. "Huh! I wouldn't have hired Plato as your bodyguard. I thought he had the Ferdinand Complex."

"Can you please keep your eyes on the road? And what's a Ferdinand Complex?"

"Relax, Larry Bird." Sampson patted the gryphon on the thigh. "Have I ever told you you have very silky fur?"

Larry's heart beat in rapid succession from Sampson's touch, and only slowed down when he moved his hand away from Larry's thigh. "I don't think so," he said, feeling light-headed. "And don't call me--"

"Anyway," Sampson interrupted, "a Ferdinand Complex is when bulls are passive no matter what the circumstances. They just won't fight back."

"But Plato's on the football team."

Sampson grew quiet, his eyes locked on the road until he looked at Larry. "Huh! I guess you're right!"

"Eyes on the road! Please!"

*

Sampson put the car in neutral after pulling alongside the curb in front of Larry's house. "You want to come over for dinner tonight? Dad's making lasagna."

Larry would've said yes, as he had a weakness for Sampson's Dad's lasagna, but he shook his head, albeit reluctantly. "I can't tonight. My family's celebrating the soccer win."

It wasn't the complete truth, but Larry wasn't about to admit the real reason the family was going out on a school night.

"All right," Sampson said. "See you tomorrow!"

As Larry watched Sampson drive off, he wondered if he should confess his feelings to his teammate. What if Sampson didn't feel the same way? What if he did? Either result would alter the dynamic of their friendship, for better or for worse.

Knowing his luck, it would be for the worse.

Larry would wait until soccer season was over. Having decided that, he turned around to walk to the house and instead bumped into his brother. Freddy didn't budge, but Larry stumbled back a few steps, lost his balance, and fell on his butt.

"Freddy! Stop doing that!"

"Stop doing what? You ran into me." Freddy trotted over to Larry, offering a forelimb which Larry accepted. "You should pay more attention."

"Sorry," Larry said, then wondered why he was apologizing. "I was lost in thought."

"Worried about tonight?"

Larry shook his head. "Not really."

"Worried about what Courtland might do to you?"

Larry's ears flattened against his skull. "How did you find out?" he said, his heart seizing up with fear.

"Word gets around. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell Mom or Dad."

Relief flooded through Larry, helping start up his heart. "Thanks, Freddy."

"No worries. Now let's get ready. I hear Dad's taking us to sushi."