Metal-Heads Ch.2
"Ahhh." Sighed Veronica as she immersed herself in the waters off Cowell Beach in Santa Cruise (Don't tell me I'm a fucking idiot for not mentioning the location in the first chapter, I already know). She always liked to go for a swim in the ocean after finishing her Friday morning jog. Even though her car was totaled last week, she lived within walking distance of the beach. She had been saving money since she was about ten years old so she could move down to the coast. Being an otter, naturally she would enjoy the ocean. When she turned 18, her parents gave her enough extra funds to finally get a little place of her own as a birthday present. That was five years ago, and she had taken to her new lifestyle like, well, an otter takes to water.
After swimming around for about thirty minutes she decided it was time to call it quits. She had school to go to after all. The otter swam lazily over to the shore and waded onto the beach where she had left a towel for herself. When her fur had been dried to her satisfaction she put her cackay shorts and Megadeth shirt on over her 2-piece and walked to the bus stop. While walking, however, she couldn't help but think about the events that had occurred just one short week ago. She found herself thinking of Kirek. Now that she thought about it, he had been on her mind a lot these past seven days. She decided that once she got to school she would call him and take him up on his offer; maybe see if he wanted to do something after her classes were over. She was brought out of her thoughts when the bus pulled up, the air brakes hissed as the doors opened. After she paid her bus fee, she took a seat by herself near the back.
"Oh well, I have a while before we get to the campus, so I guess there's no harm in a little music." She thought to herself as she took out her IPod and started to nod her head to the tune of Metallica's 'Sad But True.'
Meanwhile, the object of her musings was now planning his day as well. He also had found it difficult to stop his train of thought from arriving at the beautiful otter he had assisted just a week ago.
"I don't know why I'm thinking about her this much. This is crazy, I hardly know her very well at all." he thought. But, at the same time, a part of him wondered what would happen if he did get to know more about her. He told himself he'd worry about it after he was done with school for the day. With that in mind, he put on some loose-fitting jeans with a Lamb of God shirt, grabbed his backpack and IPod and headed out his front door to his car. When he got in, he immediately put in a Children of Bodom CD. The dragon smiled to himself as he listened to 'Sixpounder', Alexi Laiho's screaming vocals and heavy riffage had him headbanging all the way to U.C. Santa Cruise.
Kirek pulled the car into the parking lot and shut off the engine. He always enjoyed walking through the forest, which the campus was hidden away in. Today was the start of a new semester and Kirek was looking forward to his first day in the digital photography class. He passed all kinds of furs and humans on his way to the building where his first class took place, all the while listening to his IPod and playing air guitar; strumming on his pant leg while pretending to work the frets with his other hand.
Veronica stepped out of the bus and began to make her way to her first class of the day. Even though a new semester started today, she still had her Introduction to Marine Environment class in the mornings, that much hadn't changed. The otter pulled her headphones from her ears and too out her cell phone and the piece of paper Kirek had given her. She sighed nervously to herself as she started to dial the number, trying to think of what to say if he picked up.
While walking down a hallway, Kirek felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. When he took it out he saw a number he didn't recognize. He figured it must have been someone he knew if they had his cell number, so he shrugged to himself and pushed the green button.
"Hello." Said the dragon.
"Uh, hi Kirek. It's Veronica." Came the reply.
"Oh Veronica. How are you doing? It's nice to hear from you." He said as his face instantly brightened.
"Thanks. Listen, I was wondering if you maybe wanted to do something later today, maybe this afternoon sometime? Like I said, I would like to see you again, I didn't get much of a chance last week." she asked him as she turned and walked down a hallway.
"I don't see any problem with that. I have school until about 4:00, but after that I could come and pick you up and we can just go from there."
"That sounds great! You remember where I live ri......." She stopped mid-sentence as she saw a tall dragon with black hair and scales walk past her; a cell phone pressed to his ear.
"Hello? Veronica?" said the voice in her ear. At the same time she saw the dragon's lips move and mouth the same words.
"Kirek?!" came her astonished voice.
The dragon turned on his heel and stared at her for a second before comprehension dawned on him.
"Veronica?! Oh my god, what the hell are you doing here?!" exclaimed the dragon with a surprised smile on his face.
"I go to school here, silly." Said the otter.
"Obviously. But I don't understand why I haven't seen you around. How long have you been going here?"
"About a year and a half. I'm a Sophomore. I guess it's just such a big campus that someone could wander around for quite some time without seeing the same person twice."
Kirek shook himself slightly. "Well that's great news. I wish I could stay and chat, but I have to go to class. Would you like to meet up later?" he asked.
"I'd love to! When does your class end?"
"I have a lunch break between classes in about two hours. I usually eat lunch at the common area. If you don't have classes at that time then just head there and look for me."
"It's a date!" she said enthusiastically before she clamped her paws over her muzzle in astonishment, blushing madly as she realized the implication of her words.
Luckily he didn't seem to be put out by the remark. He just laughed with good -natured humor and shook her paw. "See you there." He said with a smile just before he turned around and walked away.
Her cheeks still flushed, she turned around and resumed her trek to class.
Kirek was finding it rather difficult to sit through his class knowing what was to come afterwards. His mind drifted back to the conversation they had shared on the way back from the hospital. Even in that brief amount of time, the two of them had found so much to talk about instead of just awkward silence. Even though they had just met each other, they had hit it off rather well, and Kirek was finding it even more difficult, now that he knew the went to the same school, to keep himself from thinking about her.
Veronica usually had no trouble focusing in her Marine Biology class. She had always been enamored with the ocean and wanted to learn as much about it as she could. Today, however, she couldn't seem to sit still. Her mind wandered back to the day her and Kirek had met. Even though since that day they had only seen each other once, she strangely felt as if she had known him for a long time.
"Maybe it's just because we have a lot in common." She thought to herself. The otter also mused about how kind and considerate he had been; there had been no reason for him to get involved, but he had anyway. Her heart fluttered as she thought about the hug they had shared at the end of that day. It had been intended as a gesture of thanks, but she had felt something in that simple embrace that was felt unusual. It was almost imperceptible, but there had definitely been something there. She couldn't quite put her paw on it. Maybe, just maybe.......a connection.
"Whew. I thought that class would never end." Said Kirek in an exasperated tone. He then started to make his way to the food court for lunch, nodding his head to the beat of his music.
"Thank god, it's about time." Sighed Veronica. Plugging in her headphones, the otter began making her way to the common area to get some food and, more importantly, to meet Kirek.
When Veronica arrived at the food court, she waited in line and got herself some pizza, then began looking around, trying to find him. It didn't take her long. She saw him sitting on a grassy knoll, his hair being thrown around slightly as he bobbed his head to whatever he was listening to. Even though they had only seen each other twice, she knew enough about his musical preferences to assume it was something pretty heavy; Veronica liked heavy.
Kirek took a bite of his pizza and tried to calm himself. He was getting more excited than was probably normal for seeing a girl you just met. But he couldn't help himself. He didn't have to wait very long as a paw came to rest on his shoulder. "What'cha listening to?" came the soft voice that could only belong to the otter he sought.
"Oh, hey Veronica." He said as he patted the ground next to him. "Children of Bodom."
"Really, never heard of them."
"Well have a listen." Said the dragon, pulling out one of his ear-buds and handing it to her.
It only took about ten seconds for her foot to start tapping and her head to start nodding. By the end of the song, she was rocking out just as hard as he had been when she found him.
"Wow! That's some good shit! What did you say they were called? Children of....."
"Bodom, they're a black metal band from Finland. I like their lead singer's vocals'. It's a perfect blend of a scream and a growl. They aren't huge, but they are starting to attract a reasonable following ever since they started touring with Slayer."
"I'll have to get some of their stuff then. I love how heavy the riffs are as well. Do they write their own songs?" asked Veronica.
"Yeah. That's something that really attracts me; a band that can perform like that and write meaningful lyrics and crushing riffs as well." Remarked the dragon. Then he smiled as he caught sight of her shirt. "Decided to go with the Megadeth shirt today, did we?"
"Wha-oh, oh yeah." She said as she realized what he was talking about. "I know I'm not supposed to like them, being that I'm a Metallica fan. But I like their message; they're all about taking on the establishment. And as you said, it's awesome that Dave Mustaine can write lyrics with those kinds of political stands and perform as well as he does."
The two of them quickly became engrossed in a very deep conversation. The more time they spent together, the more comfortable they became with each other. When they had started, they had been facing the same direction, just watching the people go by. But now, they had both shifted and were facing right towards the other and were looking right at each other while they talked, laughed, and joked like two old friends. The fact that they could look each other full in the face while having a conversation showed just how at ease both of them were. This was also evidenced by the extensive duration of their chat. Kirek learned that she had a job at Pizza My Heart in Capitola. It was apparently quite a local hot spot. And she discovered that he worked as a lifeguard at Seacliff beach. He also volunteered as an instructor for the summer's junior lifeguard program. The two furs were so absorbed in their banter that they lost complete track of the time.
"I know! Isn't it the funniest show you've ever seen?!" asked the otter.
"Most definitely. I love how Stewie and Brian are always at each other's throats." Remarked the dragon.
"Well this has been a lot of fun, bit I think I'd better get to......HOLY SHIT! We've been here talking for three and a half hours!" she exclaimed. "My class finished more than forty minutes ago."
"You're shitting me! I had no idea we'd been talking for that long. Well, I guess that's what happens when you find someone this interesting to talk to and enjoyable to be around." He said, flattering her shamelessly.
"You really mean that?" she asked with bright eyes.
"Absolutely. It's tough to find many people who like the kind of music that I do, let alone someone who likes it as much as I do!" he said with a laugh. "Hey, have you ever played Rock Band?"
"Are you kidding?! You wouldn't believe how good I am at that game! It can't be healthy the amount of time I spend playing it." She said with pride.
This brought a large smile to Kirek's face. "Well, I know it's a little soon to ask, but every Friday my friends and I get together at my house to play Rock Band. Would you like to come and play with us. I'm sure they won't mind."
"That sounds awesome! I'd love to go, seeing as how I don't have any classes to worry about anymore." She said with a laugh.
"Great. Come on, I'll drive ya there." Said Kirek. He smiled inwardly. He was pleasantly mystified by how well they were meshing even after having just met.
Veronica's heart skipped a beat as she thought about just how much they were hitting it off, even though she had only known him a short time.
She pushed such thought from her mind as they reached his white station wagon.
"I know the car isn't much to look at, but it's my first car. It used to be my grandparent's." lamented the dragon.
"I couldn't care less about that. If it goes gets you from point A to point B, it doesn't matter to me." Said Veronica as he opened the side door for her and started to drive. " I also think its kind of cool that you chose to display your band affiliations with so much pride." She added while indicating all the heavy metal memorabilia that was stickered all over the car.
"Why should I hide it? If people can't accept me for who I am, then they don't belong in my life."
Veronica told him that she admired his self-confidence. He smiled at that; he had always been proud of who he was. Even if he wasn't the superb physical specimen that he most certainly was, his strong-willed personality would have shone through all the same, projecting an air of 'go ahead, disapprove. I dare you'.
The two of them finally pulled up into the driveway of his house. "Do you always play with the volume that loud?" queried the otter.
"Aw, damnit! They always do this! Whenever I'm gone those two always turn up the damned volume! I never have the volume up any higher than is comfortable for my neighbors."
Veronica hadn't been expecting that. "Wow, that's very considerate of you, Kirek." She remarked.
"Hey, I have certain things that annoy me, and I don't appreciate it when people fail to respect that. So knowing that it annoys them just as it does me, what kind of person would I be if I didn't
show the same respect that I desire."
Veronica was momentarily speechless. She had never thought that someone with the physique of a football player could be so sensitive and contientious, and she found that the revelation just served to increase her respect for him; which had been growing steadily as she learned more about him.
He opened his front door and ushered her inside. The first thing Veronica noticed was how immaculately clean his house was. "Nice place, Kirek. You're just full of surprises." Quipped the otter.
"Hey guys, turn it the fuck down!" yelled Kirek.
"Aww, come on man lighten up will ya." Came a voice from the living room.
"Hey, my house, my rules. I happen to be good friends with all the people surrounding this house and the last thing I want is having them trying to get me evicted!" he yelled back.
"Oh, okay. If you're gonna be like that." Said a different voice in the same exasperated tone as the first.
Kirek and Veronica exited the kitchen and entered the living room. Veronica noticed two other furs in the room. There was a Stallion sitting in a been-bag chair hammering away at the Rock Band drum set. His coat was a soft brown color and his mane was pure white. She also saw an avian rocking the Stratocaster guitar controller. His plumage was a bright red and his head feathers were a brilliant yellow. And it sound to her like they were in the middle of playing 'Run to the Hills."
Upon seeing Veronica, the two males paused the game and got up to greet her.
"Guys, this is Veronica. She's the woman I told you about last week." Said Kirek.
"Nice to meet you." Said the stallion. "My name's Derrek."
She shook his hand with a smile. "It's nice to make your acquaintance."
"And I'm Victor." Replied the avian, extending his winghand to her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you." Said the otter.
Kirek spoke up next. "While we were talking I asked her if she played Rock Band and she said she claims she's pretty good."
"Very good." She corrected him with a light punch on the shoulder.
"Okay, care to back that up?" asked Derrek.
She smiled from ear to ear. "I'd be glad to. Move over, horsie." She said in a confident tone.
She sat down in the beanbag chair and scrolled through the song list. She settled on Nightmare by Crooked X. She chose the Expert difficulty level and confirmed her settings. She began by tapping her footpaw on the foot pedal to form the two bass beats that heralded the start of the song. When the tempo finally picked up with the chorus, though, she started to throw her head from side to side with the beat; whirling her hair around in circles as she proceeded to thrash her way to a modest 98%.
When she was done, she gazed over at the three boys with a wide grin on her muzzle. Derrek and Victor were just standing there with their mouths agape. But Kirek just stood there smiling. Then he began to clap. The other two soon followed, but their faces never quite lost that dumbfounded expression. "Dude, when you said she liked metal, you weren't kidding! She's got the energy and drive of a true headbanger!" remarked the stallion, to which Victor offered a quick agreement.
"Well, I guess you weren't bluffing," said the dragon with a smirk. "But, now it's my turn. Would you mind?"
"Oh, not at all. You haven't given me any kind of clue as to how good you are, so go for it."
As soon as the words had left her mouth, Derrek and Victor looked sideways at each other with sly grins and knowing expressions.
"I liked your touch with the hair swirling, Veronica." Complimented Kirek as he pressed down on the strum bar and chose 'I'm so Sick'.
"Well, I know Joey Jordison likes to throw his hair around like that. And since Slipknot is your favorite band, I figured you'd enjoy it."
"Well, let's see if you can recognize whose style I'm trying to imitate."
As was the case with Veronica's song, the first few seconds of the track was just the bass and the vocals; no guitar. But right before the notes started, Kirek dropped to a stance with his legs spread shoulder-width apart. He was also hunched over slightly with the guitar held across his chest at a slight angle; the neck pointing upwards at about forty-five degrees. And right when the chorus kicked in, he started banging his head, snapping his neck up and down to the beat of the drums as he strummed out the brutal back riffs without even looking at the screen. Veronica was lost for words by the time the song ended. Kirek's fingers danced across the lower frets like lightning and his other hand wiggled the strum bar up ad down at a feverish pace as he rode out the big rock ending. He jumped in the air and landed just as he hit the final note with a windmill of his arm. He then took off the guitar and handed it back to Victor who just smiled and gave him a high five.
Veronica looked in disbelief at the big one and two zeroes on the screen followed by the percent sign. "That was fucking awesome! I can't believe you FC'd the whole thing without even looking!" exclaimed the otter.
"Well thanks. But it's just a simple series of chord patterns, once you play it enough times then you don't need to look at the screen because you've already memorized the way the patterns go. I go by sound as well, I've always had an ear for music and I just go with the beat and my timing is perfect. By the way, did you figure out who I was trying to be?"
"It only took me a minute to find out. Mick Thompson has such a unique style, but he's had chronic neck and back problems from all the headbanging he does,." She said with a smile.
The dragon grinned and gave her a high five. "Right on. You want to play some more?"
"I don't see why not. It seems I've found someone who's just as religious about this game as I am." She said and was rewarded by a chuckle from Kirek.
The four of them played until evening and by the time they were done they were all very sweaty and quite tired. But it had been more fun than Veronica could remember having with other people in quite a long time, so it had been worth it.
Veronica asked Kirek if he would mind driving her home. He agreed happily, finding himself wanting to spend more time with her. On the way home Veronica asked him if they could listen to some more Children of Bodom. Kirek grinned at her and pushed play on his radio. Immediately they were assailed by the opening riff from 'Angel's Don't Kill'. After a few minutes the otter noticed that he was strumming on his steering wheel.
"Do you ever stop playing the guitar?" she asked with a giggle.
"Heh, not if I can help it." He replied, getting another laugh from her.
The car finally pulled into her driveway and Kirek walked her to the door.
"Well, Kirek, that was more fun than I would have dared to think I'd have in one day." She said to him.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, because god knows I did. I'd like to do it again sometime." He answered with a warm smile.
"I'll see you at school, Kirek." Said Veronica as she opened the front door.
"I should hope so. Sleep well, Veronica." Said Kirek
She waved goodbye to him and closed her door. She then realized she was still very sweaty, so she decided to take a shower and go to bed. After her shower she changed into her nightgown and lay down in her bed. She sighed with contentment as she thought about the day's events. Her eyes slid closed and she fell into a very restful sleep.
Kirek also had taken a nice shower and was feeling much better (and cleaner). As he got into bed, he lay on his back staring at the ceiling. His mind wandered aimlessly, and he smiled as he thought of Veronica. Within minutes he too was asleep and dreaming of what he hoped would be many more wonderful days with her.
Well, I took a little more time to write this one and tried to flesh out the characters a little more. Kirek and Veronica are my intellectual property and not to be used without my permission. I hope that people can comment on this story and give me feedback, because I ant to know how I'm doing.