3 Chapter

Leaving

I was very nervous on the ride home. I didn't know how I was going to explain this to everyone. I had no idea how I was going to bear leaving my best friend. Considering the fact of my transformation I have to move all the time. Those Scientists will be coming back to get what they created. We pulled in to the driveway and I couldn't move. Jerry poked me to move and just wanted to stay put.

"Look Nick, I know it's hard but you need to go in there and tell them, ok?" He placed his hand on my shoulder. I smiled back getting out of the car. I waved to Jerry as he pulled out and drove back to his house next door. I took the deepest breath I could and opened the door.

"Hey Nick." Said Mary as I walked in to the living room. She pulled me into a tight hug and patted my back.

"Um, c-could I get everyone in the living room for a bit. I have something I want to talk about." I said nervously. Mary frowned but nodded and got Mark and Elliott. They both sat down with Luna in between them and Mary in the recliner.

"I am very sorry to say this but I am going to have to leave, forever, and the reason is because...be-because, um." I stuttered not knowing what to say. Eventually I gave up and ripped off my Jacket to reveal my new ears and tail.

I got a multitude of gasps from everyone, including Luna. I looked away I felt ashamed and looked away, I couldn't stand to look at everyone as I imagined them giving me looks of disgust, fear, and maybe pain. I felt a hand grasp my shoulder and looked up to see Elliott with tears in his eyes.

"I don't care that this is happening and it definitely doesn't ruin our friendship!" he said we gave each other a bro hug and I explained a bit more in detail. I so glad that it didn't change anything between us and Elliott. But I still can't avoid the fate that's coming to me.

"I have to leave because the people who did this to me might come back to take me for experiments and I might put you guys in danger, I couldn't do that. I'm sorry but it has to happen. I will miss all of you." I smiled at all of them and they gave a weak smile back and after almost an hour they gave their blessings for me to leave. I know it'll be hard on all of us. But it has to happen. I went and packed my things, clothes, electronics and pictures. I put on my lucky ring and I stared at it. This is the last piece of my father left. I imagine he's watching over me in heaven. I pray one last time before I walk out my bedroom. Forever.

*****

I walked out the door to find Elliott blocking me, with a bag of his own.

"If you're leaving I'm comin' with!" He said with passion in his voice.

"I'm sorry but I can't let you do that to yourself, it's dangerous." I said walking past him he stopped with a hand on my shoulder.

"I don't care, I can't leave my best friend in the dark, I'm coming weather you like it or not." I stared in disbelief, but I just let it go as I knew that once Elliott made up his mind there was no changing it.

"Ok but don't say I didn't warn you." We shared a chuckle and walked downstairs. Mark gave us a hug and opened my hand placing his car keys in it.

"Since your leaving we only need one car so take mine, you do need transportation anyway." He said smiling, I clutched the keys in my hand and thanked him with another hug. We finished up packing the car and said our final goodbyes.

"Nick, take this credit card and use it well, you will need it!" Mary said with a tear in her eye.

"Thank you, for everything" I said as I began to tear up myself. I opened the passenger seat to see Luna sitting there with a sad face.

"Luna I'm sorry but you can't come with me and Nick." Elliott reached to grab her but she growled at him! That's the first time she has ever growled at him!

"Ok Luna, fine, you can come." He said with his hands up. He walked back inside and came out again with food, her bowl, her bed, and her toy. Luna jumped into the back and wagged her tail excited to leave. I smiled at her positive attitude and started the car. Mark and Mary waved crying and Elliott waved back. I just let the tears roll down my face, and continued, hopeful that I may see them again, someday.

*****

As I continued to drive away from my old Los Angeles life, to start anew, I looked over at Elliott. He was looking out the window at the big buildings, and useless road signs. He had dried tears on his face and his eyes were very puffy from crying and would sniff or wipe his nose every once and a while. Luna was asleep in the back and looked very peaceful. We continued to drive for about 3 hours before both of our stomachs let out loud growls wanting food.

"Hey Elliott what do you want to eat?"

"Umm.......Mexican food sounds good, lets go to Qdoba or something."I really wanted some Qdoba too, but I didn't think it was a good idea with my new ears and tail.

"Elliott can we stick with a drive-through, I don't really want to go out like this."

"Dude you're gonna have to sometime, why not do it now?"He made a good point, and I hate it when he does that.

"I-I..... Fine!!" I said in defeat. I parked at the nearest Qdoba I found and just sat staring at the steering wheel.

"Dude it's ok, I'm here and no one is gonna care I promise." Elliott placed his hand on my shoulder in comfort and looked at me with care in his eyes. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the car. My ears went down like a begging puppy's would and my tail just stayed down. Elliott opened the door for me and I walked in.

I got some weird stares but just looked away and focused on the menu. I decided on my order and walked up to counter. A Hispanic man in his what looked like late 20's was pouring chips into a large container.

"Welcome to Qdoba how may I help youuuuuu........" he turned around mid-sentence and froze when he saw my ears and tail. I looked down at the floor and played with the fur on my tail a little bit until Elliott started snapping at the confused worker.

"Hey *snap* *snap* it's rude to stare and he would like to order." The worker was broken out of his trance and started to get to work. I smiled at Elliott at his act of friendship and he smiled back.

"Ok I will take a chicken burrito with white rice and black beans." the worker nodded and fixed my burrito to my request. Elliott placed his order and we went up to pay.

"OK your total will be $20.63" said the worker. I handed him a $20 and $1 bill and he took them and handed me my change. He then gave the cups to Elliott who took his and went to get his drink.

"Hey sorry for staring earlier it's just that I have never seen anything like this before. How did it happen?"

"Oh I accept your apology and I am sorry for my friend if rude to you, and it's a long, painful story."

"I-I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you or anything."

"It's alright man, you didn't upset me, now if you don't mind I have a burrito waiting to be eaten."

We both chuckled as I picked up both me and Elliott's food and brought it over to where he had picked our seats. I set our stuff down and took my cup up to the soda machine and surfed through my options until I felt a hand on my tail. Something can over me and I swung around grabbing the mystery hand that was touching my tail. The hand I just grabbed belonged to a girl about my age. She had long dark hair and very tan skin. She had lovely green eyes and beautiful hands. I released her hand and awkwardly smiled and she smiled back.

"Hello. Sorry about the tail I just wanted to know if it was real because it looked so real when you came in." I smiled, I was hypnotized by her good looks but I shook my head and made myself answer.

"It's.....It's fine I just, was startled that's all." I said staring at her. She blushed and grabbed my cup.

"you seem busy, want something to drink?" I shook my head and grabbed my cup back.

"Thanks, but I can get my own drink." I filled up my cup and she just giggled and filled hers.

"So um....Whats your name?"

"Ashley. That's a nice name. Mines Nick."

"Well Thank you Nick."

"Well I'll see you around I guess." I said walking away, she waved and I waved back. I walked back to my table to find Elliott done with his food and his drink.

"What took you so long?" He said with a mouthful of taco.

"Nothing" I said as I ate my food staring at the beauty I met by a soda fountain. Hm. That sounds like some true poetry right there. 'The beauty by the soda fountain. Hehe.

As we walked back to the car talking about random subjects I felt a strange but familiar coldness engulf me. I leaned on the car, my breathing quickened it's pace.

"Whats up dude?" Elliott said before a collapsed on the concrete.

"NICK!! Are you ok?!?!?!" I couldn't speak, all I could do was moan in pain and thrash from side to side. I grabbed my head, the pain was intense and very hard to describe. But I'll try. Ok so take every headache, brain freeze, and head injury you've ever had. Mash that together. Multiply it by 100. And there you go. I just lied down on the concrete until I heard sirens. My vision blurred, and soon everything went black and I was back at my dream world.