University Life - Afternoon Break
#2 of University Life
This story has been written with the purpose of aiding TheAlphaFolf in establishing his character Richard 'Max' Cromwell.
Fiona Black & Grant Sellers are © Ghostwolf/Ghosty
Richard Maxwell 'Max' Cromwell is © TheAlphaFolf
Many thanks to Lei Lani for proof reading and providinding editing.
The University of Aberdurie and the City of Aberdurie are the creation of and © Ghostwolf/Ghosty
The University of Aberdurie and the City of Aberdurie are fictional settings located between the real world towns of Stonehaven and Montrose in Scotland
University Life
Afternoon Break
Fiona sat in the warm autumn air, the scent of strong flowers and coffee mingling around her as she waited patiently for her new friend to arrive. Drumming her claws lightly on the plastic topped table to a tune she enjoyed, she glanced around to see where Max might be. From what she had been told, Max was always very punctual and his relative tardiness made her wonder if she had perhaps been too forward with the folf during their first meeting. Fiona knew she could be a ferocious tease and haunting flirt, often without even realizing it. In spite of her playful disposition, she had hoped the younger folf might be fun to spend time with, and perhaps share one another's pasts.
There was so much Fiona wanted to talk about but she knew she had to be careful on certain topics. She had guessed from their initial meeting that he was quite sensitive to strong emotional conversation; his body language alone had told her that. Simple conversation would be easy, but personal information would be like walking on cracked glass. Fiona sighed softly to herself and tried to ease her thoughts; today was for fun after all.
She heard footsteps quickly approaching and turned her head to see Max running to her. From his expression, she could tell his tardiness was not his fault. Standing up slowly, she waved at the folf as his pace slowed until he stopped just a few feet from her. "Hi stranger; would you like a towel when you're done panting?"
Max gave her a crooked smile as he continued to pant, straightening himself again and popping a few muscles in his legs. "Sorry I'm late."
Fiona giggled. "That's twice we've met and twice you've opened with an apology. We really need to work on that or people will think you're a walking tragedy."
Max finally got his breath back. "I know, but I truly am sorry. I couldn't find a parking spot anywhere near here."
The badgeress patted his arm as she stepped a little closer. "Aye, I know how you feel; it's why I walked and left my car at the university."
Max nearly coughed his words out. "You walked! It must be a forty minute walk from the campus!"
Fiona smiled. "Not from the library it isn't." Max looked confused for a moment as the badgeress guided him to sit at her table. "I know, what was I doing at the library, right?"
Max nodded; he hadn't expected Fiona to pluck the question right out of his mouth.
"I was teaching, believe it or not."
Max sat down. "You're a linguistics lecturer, right? Unless you were looking for books in different languages why were you teaching there?"
Fiona grinned and sat back in her chair, folding her arms. "Amaze me; why else would I be teaching in the library?"
Max shut his eyes and tried to think. "You're not looking for books in foreign languages; that much I've gathered already. You might have been looking for geographical reference around where languages are based; no, linguistics doesn't teach the geography related to languages, I've seen the curriculum. Oh there we are; something deeper in the curriculum that would take you away from the university."
Fiona smiled, marvelling at the folf's thought process, and purred softly. "Keep going."
The sudden but soft interruption almost distracted the folf, but he cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes tighter. "Trip planning? No. Applications in the real world? Perhaps, but that's closer to the end of the course. Research for political etiquette would fit the bill with the international summits that have just finished, but it doesn't seem like something you would do."
"Wanting to do and needing to do are two different things Max."
Taking a deep breath, Max continued. "I think you like combining wants and needs into your teaching," he said flatly, and Fiona sat back, looking uncertain. "You would take people places to teach them something you're passionate about..." He then grinned. "It can only be one thing then."
Fiona relaxed back into her chair. "Well then? Impress me."
"The history of languages in Europe." The folf smiled, with a sigh of relief.
The badgeress fixed her gaze on his and her eyebrows raised up. "Very good, but why?"
Max chuckled. "Well you've already told me your hobby is history and you're a passionate lecturer from what I've heard over the last few days. That and Grant told me you've travelled a fair amount so I just had to add it all together."
Fiona giggled to herself quietly and rolled her eyes.
"What?"
"The fun I could have with that brain of yours. I'm not all games though, Max."
"Well that's good to know; I know I'm bright but too many more mind games and you'll burn me out." The pair shared a soft chuckle before Max continued. "So what's on your mind, Fiona?"
The badgeress looked at him curiously. "What makes you think I have something on my mind?"
Max shrugged. "I guess it's just a habit I've learned. Normally when I get asked out for coffee it's because someone needs a favour or just wants to pass on a little news."
Fiona sighed then shook her head. "Nothing of the sort. I know what it's like to be the new person in town and how hard it can be to settle in. So, why don't you tell me what's on your mind instead?" Fiona waved for a waiter as she waited for Max to answer.
Max shrugged again as his eyes darted about his surroundings. "I don't know; its fun being here but I can't help feeling that I'm cut off."
"Aye, I understand, lad. Travel wasn't always kind to me either." She reached across the table, patting the folf's paw. "I rarely saw my parents or heard from my brother when I travelled, though I always wrote to them and let them know how and where I was."
"If they couldn't contact you why contact them?" Max asked, feeling a little foolish at his choice of words.
Fiona gave him a gentle smile. "Because that contact, no matter how small, kept me going and kept me sane."
Max nodded and looked into his lap as he considered the badgeress' words. A brief interruption by the waiter, who took their orders then disappeared into the cafe, gave the folf a break from responding right away.
Fiona read the expression on Max's face like a newly opened book. She gave him a sad smile as if the answer to a silent question had just passed between them. Max's eyes were wide and pleading, yet they also appeared confused as he gave her a nervous smile. "Fiona..."
Fiona shook her head and looked down at her paws on the table. "I know what you want to ask, Max. I'm sorry, but I have a boyfriend."
The folf's ears fell flat against his head and his tail dipped heavily. "I..."
Fiona looked sympathetically at him, placing her paw gently over the back of the folf and stopping him from pulling away. "He's called James and I love him dearly."
Max frowned and sighed heavily. "Why isn't he here with you?"
Fiona answered, her tone almost a whisper. "We have a complex relationship, Max, and we do our best to keep it quiet."
"You're having an affair?" Max said with cautious curiosity.
Fiona thought for a moment. "Of sorts; like I said it's complicated."
Max's expression softened as if he had accepted Fiona's rejection and was already prepared to move on. "So where do we go from here?"
She squeezed his paw gently and smiled. "Do you think we could be friends?"
Max was not sure if he was angry, confused, or hurt. "Friends who hide behind others backs or friends who hide in plain sight?"
Fiona threaded her fingers into Max's and gave him an honest smile. "Friends who trust each other, hang out, share stories, and have fun in each other's company."
The badgeress' words were like new velvet cloth that wrapped around the folf and brought him a comfort he hadn't felt in some time. "I think so," he said quietly, a smile breaking slowly across his muzzle as she smiled too. "So, what next?"
Her smile turning into a wistful grin and she reached forward to stroke his cheek. "I have a few ideas. You only have a year here, don't you?"
Max nodded glumly.
"Well after we have our coffee, why don't we start planning? I can show you places that I doubt you have imagined, Max."
The folf smiled and he found himself giving Fiona's paw a gentle squeeze in return. "I look forward to it." They shared a moment fondly looking at one another until the waiter returned with a tray carrying their drinks.
* * *
Max smiled as he stood in the middle of the Library. What he had mistaken for love at first sight had turned out to be a friend in need of a friend. With so few friends of his own, and Fiona's situation explained as far as she was willing to, Max accepted her honesty with him and began to feel a different bond build between them. A bond of true lasting friendship.
While they knew there would only be a year to share in each other's company, they had agreed to make the best of the time they had. They had planned a get-together at least once every fortnight as well as a catch-up time during breaks at work. Fitting their schedules together had proved complex at first but as they considered the months to come, everything seemed simpler.
"I heard you had coffee with Fiona." Grant's voice caught Max by surprise and he felt a sudden shudder at his arrival. The bear approached him, looking almost aggressive, and Max wondered if Grant had feelings for Fiona as well. "Lucky, lucky folf."
Max gave him a half-smile and a short nod. "Yeah, she's a nice girl."
The bear huffed. "Careful around her though. Some people have been trying to get close to her for a while."
"Like you." Max replied coolly.
The bear felt anger rise up, but bit back sharp words. "Yes, like me. I find it odd that I've been talking to her for a little over two years and I've never had an invite to meet her, though I've made a few rejected offers myself. Then you turn up and within days of just seeing her, she's into you straight away."
Max blinked and decided to clear the air. "I think you've got it wrong Grant; we're just friends, nothing more."
Grant stepped back from the folf and his posture eased considerably. "Make sure it stays that way, Richard. I've invested a lot of time in her and I will be rewarded for my efforts."
Max considered telling the bear that Fiona was already in a relationship, but she had also told the folf that it was a complex one. Instead of explaining anything, he simply nodded. Grant turned and walked away, leaving an icy friction between them.
Max went back to the shelves and let his mind wander. He began to wonder if he had just made one friend at the expense of the other. Unwilling to let the new information that had passed between himself and the bear bring him down, he kept busy researching more topics for future classes.
To be continued...