FSE

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Hello dear reader to the start of my newest short series. Yes an actual continuous series that I am going to finish. The plan is for a short five chapter series mostly revolved around family, love, and romance. I hope you do enjoy your stay as I have more in store for the future.

A special thanks goes out to KJwulf for his 'first impressions' read which has already influenced the later chapters.

~Stay Crispy

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Not Dead Yet

I. Atomic Heat

"Hey little bro, good morning!" A familiar cheery voice rang out in Kasmer's ear.

"Morning sis, how are you and mom doing?" Kasmer adjusted the phone against his ear as he talked. Although he had long ago moved from his home town, he still kept in touch with his family every day.

"We're doing good, same old same old," His older sister replied. "Yesterday we-"

"Hold on Erika, there is a cop," He cut her off as he calmly put his cell phone in his lap and continued driving to work nonchalantly. "Ok, he's gone. You were saying?"

"I was just saying that we went to go see dad yesterday." Erika's voice grew a little dreary. "Its been a little over twenty years now... I hardly remember him."

"Yeah, and you were older than me..." Kasmer felt a sense of unease pass through them as his mind wandered back in time. Their dad had passed away in his sleep when they were young and they rarely brought it up. His eyes grew watery so he wiped them with his phone paw.

"I love you Kasmer." His older sister's voice had cheered slightly. "Bro aren't you forgetting something?"

"I said I love you right?" His brow furrowed as he spoke.

"Happy birthday!" He nearly hit himself with his phone as he remembered.

"Yeah, I completely forgot today is my birthday."

"Of course you did, you were too busy thinking about that Alyce girl I bet. See you this weekend?"

"Definitely," He answered both questions, "Now I just parked so I gotta go. Love you."

"Be safe."

"Always am."

The hyena slipped the phone into his pocket and straightened his tie before pulling his coat jacket out of back seat. Even though thinking about his dad had upset him, it still felt good to feel the love coming from home. He cleared his throat and started walking into the power plant.

He said his usual 'hellos' and 'hows it goin?' to his coworkers as he made his way to the reactor control room for a special visit. Keeping up his friendly demeanor he took a few deep breaths before bursting into the control room.

"Alyce!" He proudly exclaimed as he walked in a with a beaming smile on his face. This gathered a few laughs from the workers who looked up from what they were doing.

"She's not here right now." Someone replied as his expression dropped.

"W-well where is she?" He tried to keep his voice calm.

"She left a minute ago to see you." Another replied.

"T-thank you." He blushed furiously as he shut the door to a chorus of laughter.

He made with all haste to his office and kept his shoulder's hunched in embarrassment. Working at a nuclear power plant had its perks of course including his own office space. However, the best perk of all was working in the same building as the lovely jackal Alyce. Often they would find times to have lunch with each other or greet each other in the morning. He had tried numerous times to ask her out after work, but every time he just choked and made a lame joke to cover himself. He shook his head to clear his mind as he swung open the office door.

"Happy birthday!" A black furred shape shot out of his office and nearly tackled him off his feet. It smelled distinctly of cinnamon.

"Ah! Oh its you," He laughed as he regained his balance from Alyce's hug. He patted her awkwardly on the back, "Thank you."

"I wanted to be the first one to tell you," She laughed to herself and kept him in a tight hug which he found somehow both comfortable and uncomfortable.

"Well my sister already beat you to it. I talked to her on the phone this morning." he laughed to himself before quickly adding, "I appreciate it though!"

"Hmmpf well that's not fair," The black jackal gave him a silly frown, "She has your phone number and I don't."

"I uh- yeah, she does." Any previous confidence he had shown in the control room was long gone now.

"Sooo..." She waited expectantly at the hyena she had trapped in her hug.

"Sooo..."

"See you after work?" She smiled at him, "I'll take you out for your birthday dinner."

"T-that would be nice," He returned her hug for the first time. As awkward as it is to have a girl ask out a guy, at least it was the date he had been hoping for.

"Well I gotta scoot Kasmer," She gave him a pat on his either his back or his butt, but he wasn't sure in his dazed state. She winked, "See you after work."

"Y-yeah, see ya..." the hyena felt her slip away and watched her disappear down the hall. Remembering her odd pat, he reached into his back pocket. To his surprise, he pulled out a note with her number on it.

The rest of the day seemed to crawl for the next six hours. He was always a hard worker, and his hard work had paid off by getting him a job working around the actual reactor. It was dangerous work, but his family was very proud. Every day they had their film badges checked before they could leave to test for radiation leaks. The badges started out white and would become light pink if they were exposed to radiation.

He impatiently waited in line, practically bouncing from foot to foot. He checked his watch for the thousandth time as he stepped up for testing.

"What are you so eager for Kasmer?" Before he got a chance to answer a voice spoke up.

"I heard he has a date with Alyce." One of his coworkers spoke up.

"Oh yea, is it finally true Romeo?" A couple of whoops and cheers followed that one.

He was red in the face as he handed over his ID card and they ran a detector over it before speaking.

"All clear."

He practically ran to his car to get ready for his date. The drive home was uneventful as ever. Or it would have been if he hadn't been pulled over for speeding. Tossing the ticket into the backseat, he still made it home in record time.

A quick shower, trim, and change of clothes made him ready for his date. Alyce had written her address on the note along with the time to pick her up. He was extra careful to drive safely and arrived exactly five minutes early. He nervously knocked on the door and voice called out in response.

"Jeez you here already? Coming!" Alyce's voice rang clear as day through the door. Kasmer shifted his weight from foot to foot as he waited.

"Lookin' good!" Alyce spoke again as she stepped out the doorway. She gave him a whistle while eyeing him up and down like how someone might size up prey. She herself looked breathless. She wore a simple black dress that followed her curves and blended in with her fur so well he had almost thought she was nude. Her hair was let down and relaxed over one shoulder.

"Uh- you look great," He spoke genuinely stunned for the second time today.

"Well com'on in!" She practically yanked him through the doorway. He was bombarded with the distinct smell of cinnamon perfume she usually wore.

She led him to a dimly lit dinning table where it looked like dinner was ready to be served. He had expected them to be going out somewhere to eat. His confusion must have shown on his face because she spoke up.

"I made us a home cooked meal. I can tell you are barely able to make sandwiches for lunch and I thought that this would be a little more special..." She nearly whispered to him. Each syllable seemed like silk a spider would spin to lure unsuspecting prey.

"That's a wonderful idea," Kasmer replied quite happily. He would much rather spend the evening alone with the hypnotic jackal over any restaurant he could imagine.

Alyce motioned for him to sit before disappearing. He sat down slightly alarmed he felt so on edge. He should be enjoying the time of his life, but instead he felt like panicking that it was all an illusion or cruel trick.

His date reappeared with two steaming plates and set one before him with a kind smile. For some reason the sudden thought of poison or stories of how women might drug men came into his mind as he looked down at the plate of luscious entrees. He felt like Hansel and Gretel about to start eating away at the candy house. He looked up as she poured them both a glass of red wine. It looked like she didn't plan on him driving tonight. Or maybe ever.

"Is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." The hyena looked up at the jackal. His date had spoken with genuine concern in her voice.

"I-its just surprising is all," He look at the neatly decorated room as he spoke again, "I can tell you put a lot of effort into this."

"Thank you," She laughed in reply and started eating.

Not wanting to be rude, he attempted to shake of his previous fears and stuck a fork in food. Carefully he brought the suspected poison into his muzzle and chewed. He noticed her watching him very closely with that predator look of hers. He waited for the poison to kick in or to fall asleep in a drug induced coma, but instead he realized something.

"Its derlishioush!" Kasmer exclaimed with food in his muzzle and his date smiled proudly.

"Thank you again," She laughed at him and picked up her glass, "Try the wine."

He chewed thoroughly, enjoying the first home cooked meal in a while. He didn't consider himself a drinker and the only serious drinking he ever did was for his twenty-first birthday. After he had finally swallowed, he brought the glass to his nose. Other than the scent of alcohol there wasn't a whole lot special. He took a sip and to his surprise it was something a bit more fruity than he expected. Definitely something a woman would buy, but sweet nonetheless.

"Its great!" He said with a sigh, relishing in the smooth taste.

"I'm glad you like it all." Alyce's wolfish grin had seemingly vanished and was replaced by the kind smile he saw earlier at the office.

They spent the rest of the dinner enjoying the food, drink, and each others' company. His fears of being trapped or drugged disappeared with each sip of wine, muzzleful of food, or funny joke they shared. She refilled their glasses twice and after dinner was done, he was starting to feel its mind numbing effects.

"I don't think I can drive like this. I already got a ticket today," He wasn't sure if he was a lightweight or not with drinks, but he was unable to keep himself from speaking entire truths.

"A ticket for me? How sweet. A ticket to the movies I say."

Her idea of the movies was walk down the hall and into the living room where they sat down in each others' arms. He wasn't quite sure when he had gotten his arm around her waist actually, but he liked it there. After pouring them another few refills, Alyce just kept the bottle on the coffee table and flipped the TV on to a movie channel.

The rest of the night went warm and fuzzy as their bodies stayed close. Half thoughts and broken ideas came from his mind trying to fill his mind with fear again, but with Alyce so close wrapped in his arms, he easily swatted his fears aside. He held her face close to his and closed his eyes before they shared their first of many kisses. It was the best night of his life.

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Thank you kind reader for visiting and I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did or didn't, I appreciate any and all feedback, but I treasure comments especially. If you like my style or just want to read something else by me feel free to check out Cripsen's Overflow where I post all my one-off stories. For now I must leave, but I can promise chapter two will be here shortly.

~Stay Crispy