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"I can't believe it!" Henry finally pieced together the puzzle (for him, but what do you expect from a dolt). "Roger's a fag, and he's even slept with a filthy fuckin' dog. Why would you guys help him hide that? He shouldn't even be around us normal people. It's revolting."

"No, it's not!" I finally spoke up.

"Of course it is. They have horrendous hygiene, as I'm sure you know, and they can't keep it in their pants, as you've shown--not even with a human. He's probably been with like, twelve others already."

"That's racist!" I shot back almost automatically.

"Not if it's true, which it is."

"It's not true!"

"Yes, it is, and I can't help but think everyone else will think the same when I tell them." Henry started to walk away.

"I imagine they will think nothing of it," Felia frowned intensely at him, standing in his path.

"What? You're gonna stop me?" Henry laughed.

"Nope," Jake stepped up to Felia's side, "but I will." He tried to act tough, but it didn't really work. Why would a muscle head like Henry be intimidated by someone so lean? Henry just swept him out of his way and began walking down the hall. Felia caught him as he stumbled.

"I can't believe you'd try to defend him!" Henry shouted. "You're just as bad as him."

I watched as both of my friends shied away from him, he was getting loud.

"Wait!" I found the courage to speak up again, and watched as he turned back.

Looking at me with complete hatred, Henry spoke mockingly. "I'm going to out you, fag, and if you're as smart as they say you are, you'll be on your way outta here, even if it is freezing out there. Why would you wanna be with one of them anyways? I'd at least like to know that before I tell people."

"Because he's never been anything but nice to me." I found that my mind was too scattered by the sudden situation to get anything else out.

"That's not a reason." With that, he turned the corner and headed out of sight to cause trouble.

Brance whistled suddenly when Henry was away. "He has some issues." He chuckled. I felt my blood begin to boil with rage as he so laughingly addressed the issue.

"How the hell can you be so calm about this?!" I snapped at him. "Now we have to deal with it not one year before we graduate, but two, and there's no way my parents are going to let me continue to live at home once it reaches them."

"You said it yourself. We knew this would happen."

"Yeah," I looked away, a little ashamed already that I had so quickly turned on him, "but I didn't think it'd be so soon."

"Do you want to go after him?"

"Yeah, sure, sick 'm, boy..." my heart wasn't in the joke and it was easy to tell. Apparently, it didn't even come out sounding like a joke, as Brance was quick to respond.

"I don't really wanna get in trouble."

"I was joking," I said flatly. Looking up as his ears fell back. Maybe we should go after him? I considered. Perhaps there was a way to make a difference. I looked around us. "Did you happen to notice where Jake and Felia went?"

"I think they chased after that other kid."

"I hope they can talk some sense into him."

"Let's go see if they have." Brance hopped up right out of his sitting position and reached down with a paw to help me up. Thankful, I grabbed it, and was astounded as he lifted me off the ground with little to no effort. After getting up, though, he didn't let go, and when I shot him a questioning glance, he was quick to respond. "Well, pretty much everyone will know by the time we get there."

"They already do," Mr. Charac said, rounding the corner. Looking to his expression, I could tell he wasn't happy. How long have we been here? I wondered to myself. Gosh, how easy it is to lose track of time when Brance is around.

"Know what exactly?" I asked, hopeful that he was angry for some other reason. As I spoke, I realized that Brance was still holding my hand and quickly yanked it away from. His face held a hurt expression as he looked to me, but I still hoped there was time to salvage the situation.

"Well, I didn't believe Henry at first, given how much of a trouble student he is, but what I saw indicates this time he was telling the truth. I want to see you two in the office immediately, by the way. Since the dean is absent from the building, and we may be here for a time, I will be handling the situation." He was about to turn away, heading towards the office, when he turned back for a moment more. "You'd might as well," he gestured to our hands, sounding almost genuine, but not restraining his distaste.

Hesitantly, I reached to Brance's paw and took it once more in my hand. Mr. Charac looked a little bit surprised, but he didn't say anything, just turned around, heading again in the direction of the office.

Staying close, we followed him through the halls. As we neared the front hall, where all of the other students were, a feeling of dread grew within me. The funny thing was, it seemed that Brance only grew more excited at the same time. Suddenly, I was worried about how he would act, and I was about to voice my concern when we were greeted by a room of silent students. Passing through that room with every eye on me felt like passing through molasses. Brance gave my hand a quick squeeze, though, and brought me back to myself before my mind could wander. No one said a thing until we were just entering the office, and what was said at that point didn't help me at all to feel better. "So, he did sleep with one?" It was a girl's voice, and though it was a whisper, it carried quite a bit in the silent room.

They know, the thought worried me. "It's going to be okay, hun," Brance nuzzled me. "Best I could tell from what I heard, they don't agree with Henry, or at least not with how he handled the situation."

"To be honest," Mr. Charac said, reminding us he was in the room, "I don't think he has any business what you two do on your own time, and neither do I, but because I know now, I think a talk with your parents would be in order.

"But..." I couldn't stop myself before the word was out of my mouth.

"But what, Mr. Flent?"

"But my mom'll kill me."

"And am I to assume that his mother wouldn't do anything to him for his actions." He motioned to Brance as he spoke.

"Well..." I began, but then Brance spoke up.

"She sort of knows already."

"I wouldn't go around saying that if I were you." Charac warned.

"Why? It's true."

"Because that's setting up your family for a lawsuit. Flent's mother is going to be angry as it is."

"Well, not if you don't tell her," I suggested, hopeful.

"I have to, it's my responsibility."

"But she'll take me away from Brance."

"I don't care, we have to address this before she hears about it from someone else."

"Mr. Charac, please," I begged, "at least give us a chance to explain."

"This is your chance."

"I know, but... Sorry, what?"

"You think I wouldn't give two star students a chance to explain themselves?"

"Well..."

"Never mind, I just have a few questions to ask you before I tell your parents. Brance, leave the room."

"What?"

"I'm going to question the both of you separately. I assure you it is standard procedure."

"B--"

"Go ahead, Brance, I'll be fine."

"Are you sure?" He turned my head so that our eyes met.

"Of course." I made sure to give him the most confident look I could. In response, his ears flattened back against his head and I could detect a slight whine beginning. "Don't worry," I took his head in my hands, "Mr. Charac's not going to do anything to me." I looked quickly to him.

"It's not like I'm going to punish him, Brance. It's not even a school day - anymore, that is."

"See," I turned back to Brance, "I'll be fine." To drive the point home, I brought his lips to mine and enjoyed a short kiss, until Mr. Charac coughed. Then Brance pushed me away, leaving the room. Brance wanted to let people know, didn't he?

"Mr. Flent, it would be respectful not to do that in front of others; the school does, after all, have a no PDA policy."

Realizing where I was again, I let a bit of panic enter my voice. "Mr. Charac, please don't tell my parents. They'll end everything before it can even start."

"I can't do that. It is policy that I alert your parents."

I winced. I don't know why, but I winced. It just seemed to be the right reaction. "Then what do you need to know?"

"Well, just the general. For one, I want to know if he coerced you; you know, used force, blackmail, etcetera."

"No."

"Really? You know he can't hear you in here. Anything you say will be completely confidential."

"Ummm... Let's see... Yep, that's still a no."

"I don't appreciate the sarcasm, Roger."

"Sorry, Mr. Charac, please continue."

"Who initiated this relationship? In other words, was it Brance, and if so, did he give you a way out."

"Actually, I did. And no, I didn't really give him a way out."

"Really? So he didn't force you into anything."

"Not at all."

"So if a doctor were to check you, they'd find no signs of force."

"Well, he did mark me... But we talked about it before he did so."

"He bit you!?"

"It was after we did... things. Besides, it means - I think it means that I'm... his. It's sort of a way to tell others that I'm taken. "

"And you're comfortable with this?"

"Well, I did convince him to do it on my shoulder so that fewer people would see it?"

"So he didn't give you a choice?"

"He did, I just felt like I liked him enough to give him that much."

"Has Brance explained hybrid relationships to you?"

"Umm... I guess, maybe."

"After I get done speaking with Brance, I want you to talk to him about the openness of hybrids. Also, make sure you ask about what he means by the bite."

"Why? What do I need to know?"

"It's better that Brance himself tell you: Now, please go and get Brance in here. I need to ask him a few questions."

"That's all you have to ask?"

"Yes."

"Well, then." I got up uncomfortably, and headed to the door.

"Roger," Charac spoke just as my hand was on the doorknob.

"Yes."

"When he tells you, just be understanding. It's normal for them. We don't usually teach students about it since they don't have to deal with it." Nodding, but not understanding in the remotest, I opened the door, and was quickly embraced by Brance.

"Woah, I don't think you need to be that worried, Brance."

"I'm always going to be worried when I can't see you."

"It's my turn, then. Go in there and get done with it 'cause I'll be worrying."

"What? You don't think I was worrying?" With that, we switched places.

---

*

---

As I waited, the seconds felt like they were ticking by slower and slower. I wonder what Charac meant about openness. Is it something to do with how Brance wanted to show our relationship? No, that can't be it. I can actually understand that--a little, that is. Why was he so much more afraid of Mr. Charac seeing us together? Maybe that has something to do with it. I was interrupted from my thoughts as Felia sat down next to me.

"Y'know," she said, "most of the others--it turns out--think that Henry is being immature. I don't think it's really going to be that bad."

"Mr. Charac said that he was going to tell my mother."

"Oh."

After that, she fell silent... for a good three minutes (to my utter surprise).

"Brance's mother offered for me to stay at their home once she--mom, that is--found out, but I'm not sure they'll be able to take me in for this long."

"I don't think your mother will freak out that much. She seems nice."

"It's not really her, it's my dad; however, I don't think she'll be okay with this--maybe with my being gay--but not with a hybrid."

"Well, if Brance's mother goes back on her word, I promise you can come stay with me, after all, I've always had a thing for you." She leaned in and gave me a kiss. Not a peck-on-the-cheek kiss, but a full-on, invading-my-mouth-with-her-tongue kiss!

"Woah!" I said as I pushed her back, "I'm already taken, Felia." I pulled my shirt down to show her Brance's bite mark.

"You don't know what that means, do you?" Brance questioned, standing in the now-open doorway.

"How did you get done so fast?" I ignored Felia's shocked expression and focused on my my lover.

"I guess he just wanted to confirm what you said. Back to the bite, that's not what it means. Do you know that?"

I looked over to Mr. Charac, his face was flushed as he looked out from the room. "I'll just wait for you two to have your talk, then we can make the call to your mother, Roger." He made a nervous escape, closing the door behind himself.

"Roger," Brance stepped over to me, taking my hand in his paws, "I don't want to hurt you in any way. You know that, right?"

"Yes." I nodded.

"I think I'm going to leave you two for a bit," Felia butted in. She then hightailed it to the main lobby.

"But," Brance continued as though she'd never spoken, "it seems I might have overlooked a difference between our cultures."

I opened my mouth to speak, but Brance silenced me, putting a finger over my lips. He continued, "It's okay if you wanna reconsider a relationship after this--it'll be easier for you, and you won't have to deal with too much more weirdness--but I beg you to reconsider."

"It can't be that bad."

"Mr. Charac explained a few things and I think it might be. How do you feel about open relationships?"

"What?"

"Hybrids--at least, those around here--have a practice of openness. We sorta... don't mind if our..." he waved his paws in the air as if trying to pluck a word from it, "significant others..." he paused again and looked to me as if for confirmation. I nodded my head, and he went on, "We don't care if they... get close with others."

"As in just kissing, or...?"

"Yes, if I caught you doing it with another guy, I'd be okay with it. That bite doesn't mean you're only mine, it just means I want you back at the end of the day, and I'm most certainly not going to let anyone hurt you."

"So... you..." I began to cry, turning away from him.

"I care about you, don't you worry about that. If it's too much to know that I might get with others, though, I don't blame you for wanting out." He took his paws away from my hands and turned away. "I'm sorry."

"Brance." I put my hand on his shoulder, rubbing it softly. Can I really deal with that? the thought simultaneously ran through my head. I imagined Brance kissing another man. Would I really be able to stand by and watch that? As Brance turned further away, I reasoned that I could. On one condition, that is. "As long as I get you back at the end of the day, I think I can handle it." I hope, I added mentally.

"Are you sure?" there was a hint of a whine in his voice.

"I think." I put my arms around him, and pulled him close, scratching him behind his ear. Who knew? Maybe it'd have the same effect as on his four-legged counterpart. Luckily, it pretty much did. A shiver ran through his body as he scooted practically into my lap, which was somewhat awkward, given how much taller he was than me.

"Oh yeah, that's gooood," he murred. As I continued, Gunner decided to walk in, and I stopped.

"Oh, why'd you do that?" he moaned.

"Because I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friend." I moved my hand to his shoulder.

"You couldn't embarrass me." This in the most ridiculous sing-song voice I had ever heard. "Hello, by the way, Gunner."

"Hello, Brance. Hello, Roger. So, it went well?"

"Yeah," Brance answered.

"Good job, then."

"Not yet, though," I responded.

"He has yet to tell his mom," Brance chuckled.

"Which is not going to end well."

"Oh, come on, you don't know that for sure."

"Yes, I do!"

"I'm sure it'll be fine," Gunner joined in.

"Yeah, right!"

"Well, even if it is gonna suck, you should get it done with now," I let my hands fall to my lap as Brance stood up, turning around and pulling me up into his arms. "Just remember," he whispered softly, "if you need it, you can stay at my house." He pecked me on the cheek and sent me away.

Before I could get too far to the door, though, Gunner grabbed my arm. "This is for good luck," he explained, bringing his muzzle close to my lips. Panicked, I looked to Brance. He smiled back at me as though to say "we just talked about this. It's okay." Then our lips met. It felt awkward, being in front of Brance, but it felt good. Just as I gave in to the feeling, though, Gunner stepped back. "I'll see you later," he said, flicking my ass with his tail and winking as he walked away.

"So..." I looked awkwardly to Brance, feeling like I'd done something wrong.

"He likes you," Brance said, patting me on the shoulder. "Now, would you like me there when you talk to your mother?"

"Umm... I'm not sure."

"I promise I won't speak unless you want me to."

"I really don't want you to have to endure the insults she's going to throw out."

"I really don't want you to be afraid of that."

"Together, then?"

"Together."

I complied as my lover led the way into the lion's den, so to speak... to see that Mr. Charac was already speaking on the phone. "Yes, ma'am, here he is." He covered the phone before he handed it to me and whispered, "Sorry, Flent, I figured you guys might take a while, so I took the liberty of getting most of the explaining done."

"You did what!?" I seethed, swiping the phone from him.

"Mom...?"

"Roger, Mr. Charac is saying some horrible things about you, please tell me they aren't true." I could hear the tears in her voice.

"Mom, what did he tell you?"

"He said you've been... getting intimate with that dog."

"Brance is not just some dog, mom." A little anger crept into my voice at that point.

"But honey, you can't be with... that... It's wrong."

"Mom, I want to."

"Well, I won't let you. You can't leave the house except for school after this."

"What if I decide I don't want to live with you guys anymore?" I regretted it as she immediately began sobbing into the phone. "Mom! I like Brance. If you're going to keep us away from each other, I'm going to do whatever it takes to change that."

"You ungrateful little - ! I oughta... You can't go anywhere! No one's going to take in a boy who has a hybrid as a lover. Where are you gonna go?!"

"Brance's family said I could stay with them if and when you found out."

"But, you're too young to move out."

"Really? I'm eighteen, mom, and you're gonna pull that card?"

"Roger Flent, you are not going to throw your life away for some silly infatuation."

"You're right, I'm not."

"You... What?"

"I'm going to live my life safely and happily with Brance."

"You know what, you little fucker? I raised you better than this. You apologize this instant."

"No!" I slammed the phone onto the base and looked away when it instantly started ringing again. Surprisingly enough, Mr. Charac calmly pulled the plug from the wall. Brance held me tight.

"You do realize there're going to be more problems than just these kids here today, Roger, right?"

Confused by his avoidance of mentioning the call, I took a moment to respond. "So..."

"SO the question is what you two want to do to avoid that."

"I'm not sure I follow." Brance spoke for me.

"Life is going to get hard for you once this storm blows over. The kids out there--aside from that nasty Douglache kid--are some of the smarter kids at the school. They aren't going to be as bad as most of the other students. We have a few options for when school resumes as normal."

"Like..." Brance seemed determined to speak for me, covering my mouth with a paw as I tried to speak. What the fuck is he doing?

"Well, Mr. Haig, Mr. Flent here can do one of two things if he wants to avoid conflict. He can either go to a different school, or he can join the Hybrid side of the school."

"But..." His ears fell and he looked at his lap as he took his paw from over my mouth, "What would you rather do?" He looked to me questioningly.

"Well, I definitely want to stay with you." I looked to Mr. Charac. "Do I need to sign up for new classes."

"Not really. It turns out you two have an extremely similar schedule. You can actually go into his classes and the only difference will be the order. Would you want to do this."

"But, aren't mixed classes not permitted?" Brance butted in.

"We made an exception for you, did we not? Besides, humans have always been allowed in the hybrid classes."

"That's-"

"messed up, I know. So, what do you think about that?"

"Ummm..." I pulled Brance's head down so I could whisper in his ear. "Would you be okay with that? Me being in your classes, that is."

"Of course."

"But it wouldn't be... y'know."

"No, I'm not sure I do."

"Awkward?"

"Not at all."

Mr. Charac grunted to get our attention. "We should probably get back to the main hall, the weather's been unusual, so I let the students stay there for a while to watch the snow, but we're going to have to reinstate separation policies."

"Bu--" I began.

"Don't worry, you can stay with Mr. Haig, effective immediately, you will be considered one of them, at least in terms of general school rules."

"Okay, but what if I want to talk to my friends."

"They have to come to you to talk."

"But that's stupid! They're still my friends."

"Rules are rules, Mr. Flent. If you want to be in class with them, you'll have to follow their rules."

"Frghh..." -gin asshole! Not even when there's not really school? It was probably better that I finished that thought in my head. I squeezed Brance's paw tightly.

"Hey," he whispered in my ear as Charac turned away, "at least he seems semi-fine with it. Besides, we'll be able to hang out with my friends, so let's go." He tugged me out of there and I started to laugh at it for a bit, until when leaving the office we were surrounded immediately by a mob of students--both furred and un-furred. The strange thing is, aside from Henry, near the back, they seemed silent. I picked out Gunner immediately as well as Jack, Felia, and Jessica, though I hadn't actually spoken to her yet. I blushed quite badly when Gunner met my gaze and looked away quickly, but not before he managed a wink and a smile.

"So," the same voice from right as we entered the office. This time, I was able to see the face, though. It turned out the voice belonged to Kelly Able, one of the WELL-known cheerleaders. "You two are together. What's going to happen? Are you in trouble? Are you going to have to move? Are you--"

"What the heck! Let me answer a question before you ask another."

She fell utterly silent then, apparently shocked by my anger.

"Actually, he will not be answering any questions unless you want to visit the hybrid wing," An avian who quite resembled a hawk stepped out from the office. When the heck did he get here? I wondered. "Decisions have been made to change Roger Flent's status from human to hybrid in the school system. This has been done to protect him. If you want any information regarding this change, you should address Flent or Brance, though they are not required to tell you anything. Now," he held up a hand to silence some of the curious whispers, "any students belonging in my group should make their way to room 282."

"And any students belonging in my group should come to room 283." Mr. Charac added. "In case of power outages, which might happen, stay together. The school is not well insulated, and we will lose heat fast." He headed off, leaving behind a mass of students still surrounding me, the hawk, and Brance.

"Well, I guess everyone ought to go, then," the hawk made his way through the crowd of students and we tried to follow, but Kelly stepped right in our path.

"Not until you answer one important question," she said.

"Or what?" Brance spat the words out at her.

"I'm sorry?" She said sardonically.

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Oh, shut up, furball, I just wanna know one thing for sure. In fact, I think we all want to know."

"What is that?" I quieted Brance by scratching behind one of his ears, which made him shiver, drawing a laugh from Jake.

"How serious are you guys about this?"

"Umm..." I looked around to see that everyone was indeed looking intently at us.

"I think I can speak for both of us when..." Brance began, but I cut him off by quickly pulling him into a kiss. I heard a gasp or two as our lips met and after barely three seconds, I already felt awkward about my move, and tried to move away from the kiss. The whispers being exchanged between some of the students were not settling my nerves.

Brance didn't want to end the kiss, though, and held me close for another few seconds.

"Does that answer your question?" he broke the kiss and I looked away down at the floor, now conscious of just how bad my decision was. I felt him tense, then a pain exploded in my head, and I blacked out.