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You know, if you asked me that question a few weeks ago I would most likely be unable to give you the right answer immediately. In fact, if it weren't for one person in my life I wouldn't be writing this today. I would most likely be working at my job full time and taking care of my younger brother while my parent's stayed out late for their jobs. Now that I think about it actually, I would probably be stuck in that time zone for a long time if it weren't for that same one person in my life, whose love I've grown to be addicted to, saved my life.

_ I know what you're thinking, and I doubt this will even make it across your desk. Heck, I'd be surprised to find out if you're actually reading this right now. But if you are reading this, then I guess I must have somehow grabbed your attention already. So I should stop avoiding the question (like I always do) and just get straight to the main reason why I'm writing this._

_ I don't know if you believe in love, and quite frankly I don't even know if you actually believe in young love. But believe me or not, I think I've discovered something that sure as hell relates to young love as anything right now and it's one of the main reasons why I'm writing this in the first place. To be blunt, I wouldn't even want to consider this a letter because to me it feels more like my only chance._

_ Why?_

_ Well, that's a good question. If I were to give you my honest answer, it would all be because of him..._

_ _

Chapter 1: Yellow and Peach

** **"Kay boys," Coach called out loudly, "That's all the time we have for today. Work on your passing, for the loves of god--please--work on your passing."

Practice usually went better than this, and to be honest if they just scheduled to have our practice in the evening it would probably be even ten times better. But sadly the coach feels that waking up bright and early is the best time for us to fit work out into our daily lives. Personally, I hate mornings. I'd prefer to sleep in the extra hour or two before heading to school but it seems life in Hockey doesn't want to work that way.

That, or I'm just not awake yet and I'm just being a baby. Both options were being considered at this moment.

Once off the ice, the team and I make our way into the change rooms to get showered off and cleaned before classes, this was regular procedure though since every morning during the week we did the same routine again and again: our defensive guys made jokes about the teachers, the offensive guys get into the talk of what happened during the week and what's to expect on the upcoming weekend. Me? I'm in the middle of both conversations.

No literally, my locker is in the center of everyone around me so I'm stuck being dragged into these pointless chats.

"Hey Davis," James, one of the offensive players who calls out to one of the defense guys across the room, throws off his shirt beside me and has the most wickedest grin I've ever seen on a Horse. "Going to Shelly's house party tonight?"

"Yeah buddy!" Replies the Bear, though I couldn't see his reaction because I was mostly focusing on the lock on my locker. Stubborn piece of--

"You too, Chris." James's hand clamps down on my shoulder and I let out a little chirp of surprise. Thankfully the loud shouts in the locker room muffled that or this Horse would have a field day in making fun of me all week. "Shelly expects all of us to go."

I fiddled with the lock some more, nodding in response, "Yeah," I replied simply, "Sounds like it'd be fun."

He scoffed and worked on his belt now, "Fun? Are you freaking kidding me?" Funny, I asked that same question to my lock just now, but I just grinned in response to the Horse, twisting my locks dial and restarting for the hundredth time. Why is it that when I'm not on the ice I'm clumsy as a rabbit on coffee? "Shelly's going to be having a lot of the hockey teams in the city going to her house. It's going to be a big bash for the start of the year's new hockey season."

Well I wouldn't be surprised she would be inviting the city's most popular hockey teams. Her super rich family, after all, is the city's biggest sponsor in youth hockey since the sport probably even started. "I know. I doubt I'd even miss it." I laughed and James dropped his pants and boxers to the floor, reaching into his locker for his plain white cotton towel and slinging it around his shoulder.

"Who knows, bud," He grinned and turned to me. Damn lock, "Maybe Shelly will have a lot of her lady friends over to meet."

James laughed and reached in front of me, using his large hands to twist the locks dial and snapping the cursed contraption open. The Horse had to have memorized my combo by now after helping me with it for so many times, but for some reason I get the feeling that he gets amused by how frustrated I get with trying to attempt on opening it. But every time he opens my locker he expects, in return, for me to do his laundry for the day.

As if that was going to happen

"Thanks," I mutter and reach into the locker to grab my things.

"No worries, bud," He snickers and walks toward the showers, "My laundry's in my locker."

"Keep it there."

"I'll remember that next time you need your locker opened."

Of course he would. He always does.

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"The key to a good letter is always going to start with the introduction, remember that."

Ms. Dimple fixed her glasses on her slender muzzle and started writing notes on the board, putting good and bad examples of how one should and shouldn't do their letters to large companies or post-secondary schools. Just being in this class was already taking its toll on the guys who had to wake up for hockey practice this morning because of how dull and dry the teacher does her lesson. Though, I couldn't complain really, my hand may have been automatically jotting down her notes but my mind was drifting to sleep anyway. I guess you could say I was content and comfortable where I was.

Though for the rest of the class, I wouldn't say the same for them. After all, today's Friday and everyone's just ready to make the day go by fast so they can go hang out.

English class, unfortunately for us, was the second class of the day so we still have six more hours to go.

"Don't forget that when you use your punctuation, make sure the sentence makes sense. Always read it over a zillion times in your head or have a friend review it over with you."

As I was jotting down what she said to the side of my paper, James beside me tapped my arm three times to draw my attention, "Hey Chris?"

"Ow, what?" Sometimes James doesn't know his own strength when it comes to innocently playing around, some of the bruises on my arm are proof of why he should never nudge anyone for fun and games.

"Do you have a pen?" He leaned over towards me to glance at my notes and I dropped my pen on the paper, looking over at his side of the table to find no notes written down on his blank booklet. Typical James, always forgetting something for class and yet he can memorize my locker combination. The Irony was just tastelessly hilarious.

"I gave you a pen yesterday." I replied quickly, trying to bring my eyes back to the bored but with James's face in my personal space it was hard to focus.

"I lent it to Lynette in Bio yesterday." Of course he would...

"You gave it away?" I harshly responded in a sharp whisper, the hairs on my arms standing but I shook it off immediately. This was not worth getting mad over right now.

"Dude, I think we have this connection. I just had to lend it to her. Her boobs are--"

"--Boys!"

We both bolted upright in our chairs and stared at Ms. Dimple, a faint blush on my face was enough to show that I was embarrassed and a little peeved at James for getting me caught.

"Is there something you'd like to add to our discussion?" She said in an annoyed tone that made my stomach flip sideways, I hated when teachers got angry, they're so intimidating when you're put on the spot.

"There was a discussion...?" James grumbled and I shot him a warning look, now I'm annoyed.

"Perhaps one of you should spend some time after school to write down the notes you've written down today." She responded coldly, at least I have her notes written down so it wouldn't be a problem but James...? Yeah, not so much.

Before she could say anything more, there came a knock at our classroom door and the rush of cold relief surged through my veins, my breath exhaling from my lungs slowly so I could feel my heart beat again in my chest. Sometimes when you have a friend like James, you can never avoid the trouble he'd end up getting you in.

Ms. Dimple sighed and her whiskers twitched, replacing the marker on its holder and striding toward the door. When she opened it, a huge smile was plastered on her muzzle, "Oh good, you're here."

There was some muffled talking before Ms. Dimple ushered the people into the class and immediately all of our eyes shot towards them, even my curiosity became evident when I let my pen hang in my hand.

"Everyone, we have a new student joining our class today." Ms. Dimple smiled and allowed a boy to walk in beside her, his radiant yellow eyes shining in the class lights and his Lizard green scales glistening as well, like for some reason it appeared to be sparkling by each step he made but I could be just imagining this, all Lizards had to have had this effect when it came to walking into a well lit room. But this, though, suddenly felt different, like as if his scales were more illuminating than what I've seen before. "Class, this is Joshua Rivers, he just transferred from another state and will be joining us for the time being."

His lips twitched and I noticed he was trying to smile, but I guess with all the eyes gleaming into him it was a little hard to try. He brought his arm up to adjust his messenger bag around his neck and quickly averted his gaze to the tiled floor, focusing on something more better than the eyes watching him.

"Dude," James whispered and nudged my shoulder with his elbow. Ow! "He looks like a dork."

I quickly shot him a look of hate and he showed his large smile, his white teeth also shining in the class light.

"Well, go say hi Joshua, no one bites."

He tensed and looked up at us, finally forcing that smile he wanted a few seconds ago and waving his clawed hand, "Hey."

His voice was so soft and neutral that it caused my ears to flick slightly, but I never paid much attention to it. Though for some reason, seeing his smile put a smile on my face and immediately it was like my only movement in the class was what caught his attention, his cool yellow eyes catching my own green ones and the sudden jump in my stomach forced me to look away meekly, lifting my pen in my hand and putting my whole attention towards my notes.

What the hell? Why did a tickling sensation punch me in the stomach?

"Well since you're new to our school, Joshua, I'm sure one of our classmates would be happy to show you around." Her smile was back on her face again, which was a relief to see after getting caught for talking during her lecture, "Any volunteers?" She looked out towards us.

And of course, awkward silence took over like a tidal wave splashing through the air. But that wasn't what made me hate this moment completely, what made me hate it was my very obnoxious neighbor next to me...

When I was just about to look back down at my notes, James's hard elbow nudged me in the arm extremely hard and that pressure caused me to yelp and forcefully throw my arm up in the air, my eyes darting towards the Horse with hatred and resentment. Our eye contact showing the communication that was shared between us, 'I'm going to kill you."

His smile was immediately on his face again, 'I know' it read and I just wanted to punch him then and there. But before I could even contemplate his death, Ms. Dimple took my raised arm as a way to break the silence.

"Oh good, Christopher," She said happily, "Seeing as you enjoy talking in my class I'm sure you'd be very appreciative to show Mr. Rivers around the school later during your spare. Just meet at the common area."

My ears tilted downwards and the snickers from beside me came from James. Why is this guy my best friend? Seriously!

"Mr. Robinson," Ms. Dimple called out to James and immediately his silent laughter choked, his eyes darting to the front, "Don't think I forgot about you. I'll see you after school today. Don't forget your notes."

I smirked and the sudden relief of revenge just ignited my spirits. He gazed down at his empty paper and he immediately shut up.

"Now," She said afterward, "Joshua you can take a seat right behind Chris, just write what you can and I'll print off the notes for you at the end of class."

He nodded and walked swiftly towards his desk behind me. Once he passed me I found myself inhaling the air that swished by me, smelling the soft touch of peaches...

I shook my head and had a small blush on my face. What the hell am I doing?

As Ms. Dimple adjusted her glasses again and resumed class, I found my hand no longer moving to write down the notes on my paper. Instead, all I could focus on was golden yellow eyes in my memory and the soft linger of peaches...

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I checked my phone: 2:15 PM, and sighed heavily.

The common room was partially empty now as the last class bell rang, every student rushing to their rooms to finally get through the torture so they could finally start their weekend and get their minds prepped for the house party tonight. Now that's what I should be doing right now, seeing as it is my spare, but that totally became an understatement when Ms. Dimple paired me with Joshua--something, can't even remember his last name--to show him around as a little punishment for talking in class.

Wonderful, thanks to James; this is going to be one awkward tour. At least, for my revenge, he will be seeing Ms. Dimple after school with barely any notes written down. I smirked and checked my phone again.

The common area was empty of students now, everyone already in their classes and the silence taking over the space. I have to admit, it was uncomforting for me to wait by myself for someone I barely know but if I just do this quickly, it'll all be over.

Unless he decides to stay and hang, and I don't think I'd want him to. It took me till lunch to get the smell of peaches out of my nose.

Suddenly my stomach curled in distaste and I had to lean against a table to stop it from tickling around. Why is this happening? Must be the fast food I had for lunch with the guys earlier because this was nothing I experienced on a normal day.

"Hey, you okay?"

My fur stood as the intensive flair of butterflies hit my gut, the soft murmur of his voice is what made my muscles tense and flare up, forcing me to stand straight and spin immediately with a lopsided smile. You think if I was trying to smile it'd be better than this but he caught me off guard to even be ready. Now that I think of it, what am I trying to be ready for?

He had a black and blue-rimmed-edge jacket on with dark jeans that faded into white near the belt, but not that I was looking that closely anyway. Suddenly the flutter of butterflies in my stomach transferred to my chest and I had a loss of breath, my throat swelling with a large ball that seemed to choke out random grunts.

"I'm fine." I finally got out and let out all the air in my lungs. Was I holding my breath?

"Okay?" He gave me a confused look, but he shook it off immediately and adjusted his messenger bag.

Quick, think of something! "How's your day?"

He looked me in the eyes and I just felt my legs go numb... or was it my feet? Man something's totally wrong with me because I can't tell which is what when I'm around him...Why am I having these problems!? "Good, kind of confusing but nothing I can't handle."

Funny, I'm having these feelings too. I sigh and look around the common room a bit, "Well," I say, "Lets show you around." I walk past him, the sudden smell of peaches hitting my nostrils and feeling my body shiver from it.

He followed me down the first hallway, the science wing, and already I could feel myself getting nervous from the awkward position I was in on being the one to talk to someone I hardly knew. I never did like being the first to talk in this situation and to be honest, I never liked talking to much people at all. It's why I like Hockey, the lack of vocal communication on the ice is different than actual social terms off it, just observing people around you and passing the puck is easier than showing someone around a stupid building.

"Do you have science this semester?" I asked, my mouth dry but the flavor of peaches was suddenly in my mouth.

"Yeah," He said, opening his messenger bag to retrieve his time table, "I have it... third period. Took me a while to find it."

"This school can be confusing at first, but it'll soon come into your routine." I simply replied, now that the conversation has started I think I should be okay now. I think.

"No kidding, but on Monday I think I'll most likely forget." He forced a laugh and I smiled at that, at least he's trying.

"I'll show you, don't worry."

"Really...?" His eyes lit up from that and I think his tail twitched too, "That'd be great."

It would be great... But why was I having some sort of fear with him?

Why was I having the feeling that something more was here and I'm just missing the big picture? Who is Joshua, really?

I may not know now, but I have a feeling I would want to find out more eventually. And when I do... what would happen?

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"And last, but not least, this is my locker. In case you ever get lost, just know that I'm three hallways away from you." I smiled and pointed my webbed finger in the direction of his locker, his smile that--was clearly not forced--was plastered on his lips like some sort of happy child who just gotten their favorite action figure and it made me smile like one too. Just seeing it was infectious and it made my stomach punch into my throat and stay there.

"Awesome! Thanks so much for the tour. Hopefully I'll remember a lot of it." He giggled and his facial features replicated a young, wild and free Joshua. It was totally different from the Lizard who made his first impression by looking at the classroom floor awkwardly.

"Is your memory that bad?" I laughed too, reaching for the lock on my locker and trying to attempt opening it.

"Well, I wouldn't say bad, just... opinionated." He grinned while my first attempt at the combo failed. Of course it would...

"Opinionated?"

"Yeah," He says, leaning himself against the locker next to mine and gazing off down the hallway. At this point on my second attempt at my locker, I noticed my peripheral vision glancing at the Lizard next to me and scanning Joshua's presence. He's really tall, probably by a few more inches and very well fit for someone his age--though now that I think of it, how old is Joshua? If I were to guess, he'd be my age: so seventeen. Maybe eighteen...? "My mind judges on what's important or not. So I'd be lucky if I were to remember where your locker is."

I grinned at that and shook the lock on my locker, sighing harshly at how I'm so clumsy when it comes to every combination. Especially in front of him, "Well I'd draw you signs on the walls, but I don't think the school would like that."

"Do you have a cellphone?" He laughed.

My lungs hitched and the constant twisting of the locker combo came to an abrupt halt. Would it be normal to give a complete stranger your number? Well, Joshua isn't really a stranger if I know him through school, but would it be weird to give a guy your number? Somewhere in my head, there was a voice screaming at me to not even do it, but deep down... somewhere else was telling me otherwise. To just give in and trade numbers so we can text, but that could just be my guilty conscience of not giving it to him.

"Yeah," Fuck it. I take out my phone and show it to him, "Want my number?"

"Please," He smirks and that made my own mouth twitch into a smile, the butterflies suddenly pinching my stomach again and almost making me squirm on the spot. "Just in case I need to get a hold of you for directions, that way I don't end up where I wouldn't want to be."

I hesitated, but then shook past it. If I was going to give him my number, it would be out of trust and honesty. And honestly, I definitely want to give him my number so we can chat more... that's weird.

After trading numbers and having few more laughs, the final bell rang and all the students began to pile out in herds. He pursed his lips and I laughed, "I'll text you." He called over the obnoxious voices that erupted in the empty spaces of the hallway and I nodded, he turned on his heels and strode off into a pile of students, leaving me to my stubborn locker combo and a twitchy hand that was dying to text him.

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Despite my home life, I love everything about what I do.

I don't hate my family, I mean hey, they're definitely one of the most giving people I know and that's terrific to the eye on the outside. But sometimes you don't normally see the family on the inside and that's what burns me the most. Usually when it comes to a rich family, people normally think that being the kid's means we're spoiled rotten, that everything we want comes at us with a snap of the parents figures when in reality it becomes the opposite.

Well, kind of.

I walk into my room and toss my back pack onto the floor gradually, heading for the walk-in bathroom at the other side of my room and turning on the sink faucet.

Okay, yes, I have my own personal bathroom in my room. My family may be that kind of rich but I don't take it for granted all the time. It's not like it's a golden plated floor and tub, just a flossy white color that shines in the white LED lights.

Okay, I don't think I'm going to recover from saying that...

Splashing water onto my face after getting home from school usually makes me feel better once the cold liquid hits me. But for some reason it felt extremely amazing today and it made the shivers in my stomach stop fluttering around like a roller coaster. It might have been something I ate because I've been feeling kind of sick ever since school started and that's normally not right for me.

But I don't want to cancel my plans for tonight so this really helped.

After drying my face I stand and look into the mirror, seeing myself fully and noticing how I have to get my fur cut around my neck. I hate it when it just puffs out like a Lion--well I know I'm imagining that but still!--and makes me try and flatten it down. It really makes me uncomfortable when people see it too; it just looks weird for others to see this ugliness on my neck. And to think Joshua saw it too! Now I know I have to get it cut before he thinks I'm unhygienic. Or anyone else at that matter.

I groan my annoyance and finally get my neck fur the way I want it, leaving the sink to turning to the walk-in shower that's encased with a sliding glass door.

Oh don't even start with me. I'm not spoiled, it's just a bathroom.

Since I'm going to a house party tonight, I might as well get showered up and prepared so I don't rush for when I leave to pick up James and the other guys. My lips quirk up into a smirk as I think of James, standing at the front of Ms. Dimple's classroom trying to write down the notes he tried copying from me later that day. He deserved it though, after getting me in trouble he kind of needed this detention. Though, I do have to admit if it weren't for his elbow I would never have taken Joshua on the tour and get to know him a little.

Either way, the whole thing is a win-win for me. And I love to win.

When I turn the faucet to the shower on and adjust the temperature, I remove my shirt and begin to unbuckle my belt when I feel my pocket has objects inside of it. When I slide the belt around my waist and onto the floor, I dig into my pocket to find both my wallet and cellphone, which has an unread message notification blinking at the top of the lock screen.

My stomach--once again--took another take off.

I don't know if it was my teenage reflexes that unlocked the phone--thank god that I can do my phone passcode easily--but in a matter of nanoseconds my messages were open and I could see that the message was from Joshua, and written in the subject bar was: :-)

My lips formed into a grin and I tapped the message, the screen on my phone bringing up Joshua's message.

::Hey, buddy!::

I hit reply and completely ignored the water flowing in the shower, steam filling up the tiled room.

::Hey, bud. How's it going?::

Send.

I put my phone down and unbuttoned my pants, dropping them to the floor and kicking them aside. Before I could remove my boxer's, my phone's LED indication light lit up an orange color and I quickly grabbed for it. I don't normally like the vibrate setting on my phone because of how obnoxious it gets when it goes off in your phone, so I keep the setting on mute to not have to be bothered much.

::Oh good, just getting ready for this get together thing my buds and I are going to tonight. Apparently it's just going to be a couple of people so it won't be too exciting.:: He replied.

I hit reply and responded quickly, ::Yeah there's this party going on tonight, so I'm also getting myself ready.:: Send.

My response was kind of short, but I don't really make long text messages anyway. After putting my phone down, I slip out of my boxer's and squeeze into the shower without falling, which to me is a good sign I'm going to be okay tonight. Well... hopefully.

After washing down and standing in the shower for a few minutes, I get anxious and rock back and forth. It's been ten minutes now and I already have to itch to go grab my phone lying on the sink counter. I groan and shut the shower off, grabbing the towel and hastily drying myself off before ripping out into the cold arid bathroom. My phone had two messages in the notification window and after unlocking the screen, I noticed that one was from Joshua and the other from James.

Of course, though, I opened Joshua's first:

::Aww, sounds more fun than this get together my buddies are taking me to. Well, have fun tonight! I have to start my shift early so I can go out tonight. Cya::

My ears fell a bit.

He has a job? It makes me feel kind of bad since I don't have a job to keep myself busy. I feel irresponsible just thinking about that and switch to James' text.

::Hey NOOB! I'll swing by after dinner. Be ready! YOU NEED TO BE DRUNK!::

Oh god...

As much as I keep telling James that I don't like drinking (Not because I'm boring but because it makes me tell a lot of secrets unwillingly) but he just keeps insisting me into it. It's like he wants to see me let loose and show off like another obnoxious person. I scoff and smile though, my friends may be sometimes hard to figure out because of their sex driven dicks and loud shouting mouths but in all honesty, they have their flaws too.

I'm not the only one.

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** ** Jay turn's the truck into the housing district where the party is being held and drives at a fast speed, showing off his new Ford accelerator and talking with his face towards his passenger who happens to be a scared Otter who's ready to beat the living shit out of him. James sit's in the back with a beer in his hand while he blabs to Collin about something Ms. Dimple made him do with the chalkboard erasers, saying how much he hates her but using more inappropriate words to describe her.

I unfortunately try to ignore the fact that we nearly died many times with Jay's stupid driving. It happens to be true about Panther's and how much they like their speed so I try not to break his focus while he shreds down the street. At least we're getting to the house party though so I don't have to worry too much about my life anymore getting into a lot of danger.

"So guys, guess which team will be at the party?" Jay grins and peers into the rear view mirror.

"All of them." Collin shows off his bright white teeth and laughs hysterically. Clearly the beer is already hitting him hard, though I'm not surprised if he already pre-drank before Jay and I came to pick him up earlier.

"Well yeah dumbass, but I'm talking about a specific team: like the Stormbirds."

That makes him shut up and stop in his smart ass tirade, his eyes darting to Jays in the rear view mirror and his posture turning into a defensive position. Which may seem ironic seeing as his position on the team happens to be defence, "What the hell? Why do they gotta be there?" He took swig of his can of beer and grumbled.

"Well every team in the city knows about this party, Collin, even the Football players know might be there." I say as I peer over my shoulder to look at the grumpy Gator.

"Their assholes." He grunted

"Not all of them." James chirped in and spun his head towards the conversation. Knowing James he would know some of the players on the Stormbirds team, the guy pretty much socializes with everyone so he knows the lingo around the hockey world.

"Yeah, but I still don't like them."

"Get over it, Collin," Jay replied, stopping at a stop sign... or rolling through it I should say, "So what they didn't accept you onto their team, as far as I'm concerned you'd be better off not being an asshole." He grinned at that.

Collin grumbled something, but I couldn't hear him as James called out, "Yeah buddy! We're here!"

The driveway had a large black gate that had a security guard checkpoint who carried a list of names and teams, once Jay rolled his window down and confirmed our names the gates parted open and I was shocked on how I never knew a person could be this rich to have security and a random driveway gate that opened up to a long pathway to the giant house at the end of it.

I sighed and sank into my seat...

This is going to be a long night.

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_ _ The first time I met him was just nothing out of the ordinary. It was literally two classmates who were paired together for a tour of the school.

Even though it seemed like such a mundane thing... it was actually something deeper than that. It was the first step into fates design. The introduction to a wonderful and beautiful story of two lovers who eventually became more than just an ordinary mundane pair of friends.

They became special.

Now, as per fates design, step two was just equally as shocking as the first.

Why?

Well, as much as I used to hate romantic movies, the moment I saw him leave that truck with a group of friends changed my life.

Completely.