Burdens - Chapter 72: Lucid
#72 of Burdens
Okay.
Chapter 71: Lucid
Roger found himself sitting at school, wondering where the previous day had gone. It was Wednesday now, and he had no recollection of Tuesdays events whatsoever. It was an odd feeling. He had been so tired and his mind was so clouded that he could hardly focus, but now he could see. He was awake and it felt like it had been forever.
He was lucid in his thoughts. Everything was centered and he suddenly was full of energy from an unknown source. All things were clear.
He identified the class he was in as being the second one for the day. He had no friends in it. He could not talk about this new feeling. He did ask, however, someone next to him how the prior day had gone. They told him that it was just like any other day. They informed him that he was not quite himself, though. He seemed like a zombie, as it were.
It made sense. He had been so tired. Perhaps his body moved automatically throughout school. Would Hunter have noticed? And what of his time with the wolf? Usually when he was around, he was able to focus, but where had that day gone?
The class passed by too slowly. It was agonizing in a way, but he felt he deserved any agony given to him. Why did he feel that way, though? He could not remember.
Another hour. And another. They passed by like years in prison, and suddenly it was lunch. It was his freedom of which he could not cherish more now that it had been held hostage. He sought out his friends like he usually did. Perhaps one of them would have an answer.
There was the old group, save a couple. Dan sat nearby. He inquired about the missing members, and was told that they had fallen ill, but legitimately so.
He asked the dog how he had been the day before. It was like his classmate had told him: he had been like a zombie, very tired, and he was barely going through the day. He accepted it. Perhaps that was why he could not remember, but it still left the time period after school free.
He left and sought out the wolf. Where did he go when it was lunch? He recalled that he had seen him once or twice before, and he went to go check to see if he was present.
He found him in a secluded area of the school, enough so that it made the fox a bit envious. He had thought that their area was the emptiest, but now he saw it was not so. The wolf greeted him with a smile and a wag, visibly pleased to see him.
He asked Hunter about yesterday. What happened? The wolf told him that not much happened at all. He was tired, so it seemed. Very much so by the descriptions everyone gave. However, what had happened after school?
The wolf informed him that he returned an unconscious fox to his house, and with some help of the keys he found in his pocket, the detail making the fox blush a bit from knowing there was a foreign paw in his pants, the wolf entered the house and left him in the bed.
Apparently he had slept the entire day away. Roger apologized and told the wolf that he felt much better now and that it should not happen again anytime soon. The wolf forgave him without much thought into the matter.
Roger learned that the wolf had a test that morning. Rather, he remembered, since he had been told earlier, but it felt like time was so far away. He inquired as to how the wolf felt he did, and it was a negative response. He frowned. Was it his fault? Had he been awake, they could have studied.
They would just see what the results were. It did not seem the wolf knew about his situation, about whether or not he would stay on the team. Was that for the best? Would he try harder if he knew, or would he break down? Roger decided not to tell him, but he knew those results were going to be important. This was his worst class, after all.
They would not receive the results until the teacher graded the papers and they saw him again, so there was at last another day of relief and worry.
Lunch was over. The morning had dragged on so slowly, and now lunch was gone in the blink of an eye. Roger grumbled a soft defiance.
The last bit of class clung on with a death grip. He stared at the clock and could almost swear that he saw time move slower. He merely wanted to leave.
When it was over, he met the wolf on the bleachers. Practice was to happen, as he was told. He sat there and watched. Every so often it seemed he forgot that the wolf was how he was. His vision was so focused now. He could see so clearly.
He saw the wolf, his object desire. He smiled softly, not visible to anyone. He wondered how much work it took to define such muscles, and he patted his arms and body, frowning that he was nowhere near such accomplishment.
It went on longer than a class, but it felt much shorter. It was over, and then they headed back to his house after the wolf had grabbed a shower in the locker room. A thought played across Roger's mind of sneaking in to see, but he knew better.
The day was but water, cupped in his paws, escape ever so gradually. He did not want it to go, but it was not his choice.
He shared his space with the wolf and helped him study like he had promised. It was clear now, to the fox. It felt like the past was just a dream, and here, in his room and leaning against him, was reality.
He could not remember just what had bothered him so much anymore. All he could see now was the truth of the matter. He wanted to see that face, that smile.
For all of the implications he cared not. He wanted to be with Hunter.