FSE

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A bedroom door slammed shut making the whole house shiver and echo the heavy noise down the halls. Downstairs, Henry and Ruth took no notice at all, except for a quick upward glance at the ceiling before refocusing on what was in front of them. For Henry, it was a golf magazine, Ruth, a small book of selected poems. Neither wanted to directly confront their daughter upstairs directly like they had back home. It was the classic problem for two parents with a teenage adolescent, a breakup, and a tough one at that. Which was half the reason for taking the vacation down in the Caribbean with their good friends, the Rileys. It was no surprise that Michelle took it really hard, she never experienced anything on the emotional scale that high, and with teenage hormones things can get pretty rough. Michelle thundered down the stairs.

"It's just not fair," she muttered to herself, her face contorted with anger. She walked by the living room only shortly pausing before the front door, her parents barely able to look up and see her. "I'm going to the lake for a while," she said flatly opening the door. Her dad looked up from his magazine.

"Don't be gone l-" The door slammed shut cutting him off. "Long," he finished quietly before giving out a long sigh. "I want to say she gets it from your side of the family, but your folks are all polite and nice,het he adult fox half joked to himself turning a page. Ruth frowned at him before returning to her book, occasionally glancing up at the window to see if Michelle actually went to the lake. Stepping off the front porch, Michelle somberly made her way down the pathway towards the dock her parents and their friends shared. The ground felt unfriendly to tread on, she seemed to only step where tiny rocks lay in wait jabbing at her paw pads. She approached the dock with some relief, the planks of wood were still warm from earlier in the day. Sitting on the edge, Michelle took a deep breath trying to relax and simply forget her problems, so far away from home should make it easy, right? She did her best to admire the beautiful view around. The water rippled below her, in the form of tiny waves heading for the shore. The sun was setting casting arrays of colors across the sky and clouds. Someone was canoeing on the other side of the lake, paddling towards the shore.

But a couple on a nearby dock in the throes of a passionate kiss set her off into a fresh wave of anger and sadness, sending salty tears down her cheeks, plowing damp furrows into her fur. She looked down, furious, burying her eyes into the palms of her hands. Michelle didn't even take notice to the footsteps that could clearly be heard approaching from behind.

Cam steadily reached his hand over to the large jar knowing that there was a cookie or two left inside. A larger hand swatted at his making him quickly recoil, folding his black tipped ears back in shame.

"Cam! No sweets before dinner!" his mom scolded him with a frown and furrowed brow. Nodding his head meekly, Cam walked around the kitchen table in search of something to do. He and his entire family were red foxes, living comfortably for the summer at a lake house in the tropics. The little red fox always loved coming down to have fun for a few months before having to travel back home, way up north, just in time for snow. Tail swishing behind him, he hated being bored stuck in one place for more than a few minutes, but what could you expect from someone who was only nine years old. Normally he would spend time with his dad, but he was on his way back from going into town earlier in the afternoon. And soon enough after a quick round of 'thinking' Cam was down on the floor darting about, imagining a fantasy playing out in his head. His mom took no notice until she nearly kicked him busily moving around the kitchen trying to cook. She grunted looking down at him scurrying under the table, pulling his tail along behind. She sighed rubbing her head.

"Cam, how about you find something to do, so mommy can finish preparing everything for dinner," his mom asked. He paused thinking briefly until an idea hit him. Cam crawled out from under the table and headed for the door facing the lake. Just as his hand landed on the door's handle, "If you go outside, stay within sight of the house," his mom called out to him.

"I will mom!" he said already opening the door before closing it. Turning away from the house, Cam shielded his eyes adjusting them to the brighter sky with the giant sun starting to sink. He flexed his paws against the cold stone below him, taking a few steps forward. Breathing in the sweet tropical air, he began a descent of his own down to the dock at the lake. The lake itself was almost a bay with a thick river connecting it to a large sea about half a mile away down river. The lake was much closer to his house, but it seemed farther with a few palm trees blocking the way. The ground quickly fell turning into a slope. His pace hurried as he passed a coconut husk lying strewn across the lush grass. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him down the grassy grade to the low stone wall. Cam found himself giggling from the fast sprint, he was happy and thrilled from everything. Stopping just before the wall as the hill evened out, he scrambled to the top gaining a clearer view of the lake spread out in front of him. Wiping his hands from the gritty texture, he scanned the shoreline for the dock his parents and summertime neighbors shared.

It should have been obvious that it was straight ahead, but everything garnered a glowing appearance under the setting sun.

'Palm tree, hammock... there it is!' he jumped off the wall walking towards the lake. It was a simple layout, jutting onto the water, almost like an unfinished bridge. Best of all, it was perfect for jumping into the lake where you could get a running head start. Pausing for a moment, he saw that someone else was occupying the dock already. There wasn't any need to be afraid, his patents knew everyone in the community. The figure was sitting at the end of the small platform, feet dangling stiff over the edge, not even grazing the wavy surface of water. Cam eagerly approached until he noticed the head was more stooped, bowing to the water instead of acknowledging the beautiful sunset above or scenery around. Tail lifeless along the wooden surface. Her shadow cast long and gloomy from the crimson sun down the wooden planks. A little unsure of himself, Cam walked onto the first boards of wood, wondering why this person was alone in such a way. He heard quiet sobs coming from her, maybe he could help whatever was troubling her. From behind he could tell that she was a vixen, which meant she was one of the neighbors daughters, the only other group of foxes living in the area.

She had wavy strawberry blond hair and bright red fur was accented with the sun's warm glow making her appear more like a weeping angel. Cam stopped a step or two behind her, hearing the sobs continue, his enthusiasm from earlier dripping away the longer his ears listened.

"Um, are you okay?" He asked simply enough, seeing her hands clench onto the edge of the dock angrily. Her head whipped around, mouth forming a scowl.

"Does it look like I'm okay?!" she snapped back at him. He flinched at her suddenness, feeling himself tense up ready to flee. The raw anger could easily be seen in her expression. Pausing, 'It's only Mr. and Mrs. Riley's kid,' she thought quickly cooling down. Reddened eyes, that were originally a light brown, softened as she looked down, "Sorry about that, my day hasn't been going too well." Cam lowered his guard and loosened up a bit.

"Can I help you?" he asked in a shaky voice. She let out a labored sigh wiping away a few stray tears calming herself.

"Well you certainly can't make this any worse," she responded gloomily staring back at the lake. He quickly turned around, checking to see if the house was within sight, before sitting down next to her. Cam wasn't going to hit the hormone run stage of life any time soon, but he could easily tell that the vixen was beautiful to behold. She was probably at least fifteen, well on her way to becoming a mature woman.

Cam promptly introduced himself, "I'm Cam, what's your name?" She brushed a strand of hair from her face ruffling the rest on her back giving him a scented breeze. Her hair smelled nice, reminding him of flowers and other sweet scents.

"I'm Michelle, and you must be the Rileys' kid," the vixen said intriducing herself. Cam nodded his head.

"Why are you all alone out here Michelle?" his you get voice asked without fault. She groaned rubbing over her face with both hands, tensing up before relaxing again.

"My boyfriend dumped me," she grumbled out, resting her balled up fists in her lap. "We've been best friends since elementary school." Cam tilted his head, not completely sure how it made sense.

"Dumped you?" he repeated a little confused.

"He left me," Michelle rephrased for him. There was little chance in her eyes that he would understand the whole situation, or even how falling in love and all that jazz worked.

"Why would he leave you? You said you two were best friends right?" Cam asked perplexed. A long silence ensued where neither thought speaking would be such a great idea. Michelle returned her hands to covering her eyes, the gentle waves lapped along the rocky shore under the dock acting as a slow ticking clock.

"Not anymore," she moved a hand looking into the palm searching for the right words. "I caught him with... someone else," she said quietly with saddened eyes.

"Why would anyone want to leave you? You're really pretty and nice." A small grin formed at the crease of her lips seeing how innocent he was to the whole matter, but very thoughtful nonetheless.

"Thanks Cam, that's very sweet of you to say, but I still don't know why," she looked back at him with watery eyes. Michelle quickly wiped the soon to be tears away gently swaying her legs over the waves. Cam didn't know too much about the whole dating, in love, curiosity feelings that his teenage years were bound to bring him, but he never asked his parents even about the basics. He waited to muster up a bugging question, not too sure how to ask it.

"What is a boyfriend for?" She rested her chin on her hand, a breeze ruffled her hair.

"Well, from a girl's point of view, it's a guy who loves you as much as you love him because both care for each other a lot when they are in love. You understand?" Her voice grew soft towards the end, speaking with meaning. Cam liked her positive tone and nodded his head.

"Yeah, I think so," leaning back.

"I guess talking to someone helps," Michelle said wrapping her tail around her waist crossing her arms. Both relaxed a bit enjoying the peaceful moment. He felt the sun's waning rays warm his fur while in thought, almost wanting to give himself a hug for that cozy sensation. He tried to think of a way to make her happy when an idea hit him.

"Hey! How about I be your boyfriend till I have to go back inside?" Cam asked with excitement. Michelle was surprised from his suddenness and different idea. Then there was the fact that he didn't quite seem to understand the role completely, but how could he at such a young age?

"I'm not sure if that would help," she said a little unsure of herself.

"C'mon it'll be fun!" he said shaking her shoulder, "All you have to do is show me how." She saw his jovial blue eyes gleaming with confidence.

'Why not,' she thought to herself. "Alright, alright," moving his hand down back to his side, "Let me think." Cam anxiously rocked in place wondering what he would have to do. "Okay, when we sit next to each other, we need to be side by side."

"But I'm already next to you," he said Looking between them

"No, closer," Michelle stated started to scoot next to him. Cam giggled as they bumped next to each other. He smiled at how warm she felt from being in the sun so long.

"Anything else?" he asked adjusting his smushed shoulder.

"Well, sometimes he holds her hand like so," she demonstrated grasping her hand around his firmly, but not tightly. He looked over the tangled mess of fingers and fur, it was a strange reassuring comfort that actually made him feel better.

"Can't you trip over each other if you're this close for long?" He complained at the inconvenience.

Michelle couldn't help but laugh, "I hope not! Or things would be a lot different by now." Her giggles wore out to be replaced by a healthy smile, "Ah, a good laugh makes me feel good."

"You forgot hugs, they always make me feel better," he piped up.

"That can work, or...," she added with emphasis to tease him, "the boyfriend can give his girlfriend a kiss," she said presenting her lips in an over exaggerated way. Cam backed away.

"Eww, kisses!" He scrunched his face, closing his eyes only to feel something warm press against the end of his lips. Cam blinked and saw the ends of their muzzles joined together, nose to nose. He gently breathed in, identifying her scent, giving his insides a giddy feeling. Her brown eyes stared back into his wider blue ones before pulling back with a chuckle. The sensation lingered on his lips for a few seconds, he touched them to make sure they were still there.

"See they're not so bad, you'll come to enjoy them a lot more when you actually start liking someone," she added with a light tap to the end of his black nose with her fingertip. Cam only cocked his head with a heightened brow, unsure at how that could be true. For once he fell silent, not wanting to talk or the new feeling might leave him. And he couldn't seem to wipe the grin of his face at the same time. Refocusing, he noticed she was now watching the sun set with a grin of her own. He joined the stare admiring the beauty of how divine the setting around them seemed. Her hand occasionally squeezed his, almost as a reminder to make sure he would blink. Cam lost track of the minutes used watching the movement of the water until he felt something poking his cheek. He turned around only to whine as her finger jabbed his nose. "Oops! Are you ok?" She asked.

He rubbed his nose, "Yeah, why did you poke me?"

"I think we should head back to our parents, the sun has just about set," she pointed out. Sure enough, he looked ahead and the giant fireball was very low in the sky, casting brilliant colors of red, orange, and yellow onto the clouds stretching towards it. Cam wiggled his nose agreeing with a sharp nod. Both stood up with some reluctance and slowly made their way to the grassy earth. He felt his arm being moved, fingers interlocked betwixt his, pulling him to a halt. "Aren't you going to walk me home?" Michelle asked raising their combined hands at eye level.

"Huh?" the little vulpine asked unsure.

"A boyfriend always walks his girl to the front door," she pointed to her house with a flick of her tail. It had a similar look to his, only a couple of yards away closer to the lake on the other side of the pathway.

"Okay!" he beamed. He marched proudly back up the stone pathway with her, swinging their bound arms in rhythm with each step taken. Approaching her porch, she let go of him and skipped up the wooden steps and and entered her home.

"Thanks for everything," she started closing the door.

'But I didn't do anything,' he thought returning the wave, 'she showed me how to do all that stuff.' "Good-bye Michelle!" he called back as she closed it with a wave. Turning back, he made his way back over to his house with half a minute of hopping along the stepping stones. Cam opened the back door to the kitchen, only to be assaulted by delicious tender scents of a prepared meal. His smile only brightened as he took his time walking across the warm sunlit boards. His mom seemed to pick up on his cheery mood.

"Have fun at the dock hon?" she called from the counter hanging up the phone on the receiver.

"Yeah Mom," Cam replied pulling a chair out swiftly from the table. 'Wait... how did she know I went to the dock?' he stood back looking at her.

She turned around cutting the sink off, "Go wash up before dinner," curtly ending his bewilderment. Pushing the chair back over noisily, much to his mom's disdain, he padded over the wooden floor boards to the stairs before sprinting up. Taking a sharp right he headed into the small half-bath opening the white door. The cool tiles chilled his feet as he walked towards the window observing the sun give its final salute to those still watching with patience. He stepped away from the window, preparing the shower and setting a towel out. His body continued to feel warm inside despite being out of the sunlight, even after he closed the blinds.

"You really shouldn't watch them from the window," Henry pointed out to Ruth who was up against the window, now pressing on the pane of glass.

"I know, but she was actually smiling and laughing with him!," she cheered, "I'll call Cindy so we can finally get this vacation back on track." With that said, Henry watched his wife trot into the kitchen, tail flowing happily behind, before hearing quick chatty talk ensue in the kitchen. Only a minute or so passed before he heard the front door open, followed by a distant goodbye from outside. Looking up, Michelle walked with more of a bounce in each step, tail hiked proudly behind her back, even accompanied with a grin along those fluffy red cheeks.

"Fresh air do you a lot of good?" Henry inquired.

"Plenty," she replied going back upstairs to her room. Hearing the door close much softer and precisely, Ruth's head poked from around the wall.

"Is she still doing better?" Henry gave her a thumbs up and her head darted back into the kitchen. Michelle fell back onto her bed with a muffled thud. She turned her gaze from the ceiling to the window looking away from the sun. The darker end of the sky looked mysterious and dark, but she was more eagerly thinking about the sunrise tomorrow morning.