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The Life of Another - Chapter 25

© Jake Atkinson

P.O.V. - Roger - Admin Office Conference Room

My ears dashed back in apprehension but I managed to keep my voice even. "Ok" I said. "Anything in particular?"

Mrs. Patterson seemed even more uncomfortable than me, thrashing her tail behind her as she spoke. "Earlier today, did anything out of the ordinary happen between you and Ms. Thurlington?"

I tipped my head questioningly. "I guess it depends on your idea of 'ordinary.' Do you know about the gesturing and the emotional stuff and all that?"

She nodded and replied "Yes, I'm well of aware her talent and how she uses it. Are you saying she did that with you today?"

"Heh, did she ever!" I said as I sat up straighter. "I think she was just trying to help, but something always seems to get lost between her intentions and the outcome. She wanted to make sure I was 'expressive and confident' for the exams. Anyway, I'm sure that second essay would have been totally different if I had been left alone. _Please_tell me you didn't read it!"

Her tail fidgeted in the air and she smiled apologetically. "I think it's safe to say that pretty much the entire senior staff has read it by now."

My aura flickered brightly and I buried my face in my hands. "Ugh! Has it been taped to 'The Wall of Shame' in the Teacher's Lounge yet?"

She seemed momentarily startled that I knew about the staff's monument to stupidity, but recovered quickly and said "Roger, although it's certainly not up to me, I think you did fine. You'll get your test results in the morning. Until then, try not to worry about it. Now," she said as she settled back into her chair. "let's get back on track. When she used her talent to make you feel that way, was it because you asked her to?"

"Hell no!" I replied. "I've told her time and again that I don't want her zapping me but she keeps doing it anyway. I didn't even know about this particular 'adjustment' until after I left for lunch. I have to admit though, I kinda liked it. It was nice not being all paranoid about stuff. Figures she'd come running to undo it."

She nodded and scratched at her chin. "I see. So she's been doing this sort of thing a lot?"

I bobbed my head enthusiastically, excited to finally have an audience that believed what I was talking about. "Just about every time I've seen her. She says it's to keep me, and everyone around me, safe."

Mrs. Patterson clasped her hands around her crossed knees. "It's my understanding that the school's policy is for her to use her talent only in extenuating circumstances. For instance, to prevent one student from harming another. Would you be able to give me an example that doesn't fit that definition?"

My ears perked and I tipped my head while I thought. After a moment I replied "I'm not sure. I mean, outside of what happened earlier today during the exam. She describes what she does as more of a preventative measure. Like if she didn't do it, I'd go around frying people left and right. I don't think that's fair though. The only time I really lost control, happened because of her. She pushed down my inhibitions during a session and then couldn't get them back up, so I blew my stack. But it never would have happened if she hadn't been poking around in the first place."

She unconsciously bounced her dangling paw and I got the impression that she was quite distressed about our conversation. Nonetheless, she continued. "Roger, I've read your file. I know there were some incidents before you came to this school that were quite serious. The worst of which happened only a week before you arrived. I think most people would agree that certain precautions are warranted given the circumstances."

Damn, I keep forgetting about what Roger did before I came along. Maybe I should try framing the issue a different way. I cleared my throat and attempted a new tact. "So, to use your example from earlier, would it be ok for her to zap a student on the day of his arrival because he got into a fight at his last school?"

Her tail danced faster and she let out a frustrated huff as she replied "I think I'm getting a good glimpse of the mind behind that essay! Roger, I don't want to turn this into a debate about free will versus the collective good. What I'm getting at is... oh how do I put this?"

The poor woman was practically writhing in her chair and I yearned to make her feel better but I wasn't sure what point she was trying to get across. Finally, she blurted out "Has she ever made you feel... attracted to her?"

It wasn't until several seconds passed that I realized my mouth was hanging open. I quickly snapped it shut and exclaimed "THAT'S what you've been trying to get at?! You know I'm gay, right?"

By the surprised look on her face it was obvious she didn't. "I uh, wasn't really aware of that. Even so, she could still change the way you feel when you look at her. Is it safe to say you haven't noticed anything like that?"

Initially, I waved off the idea. "Oh please! Unless she grows a coc... I mean uh... no, I haven't." I grinned sheepishly and then a thought occurred to me. "Although I have been kinda noticing the way she fills out a skirt. Which seems odd now that I look back at it. I never paid attention to that sort of thing before the last day or two. And, in fact, I've never taken a second look at a girl, or female staff member for that matter. Weird, now you've got me wondering."

The Panther looked relieved in spite of my revelation and said dismissively "Oh at your age that's normal enough. Just to be thorough I suppose I should ask... at the time you felt that way, did she make any inappropriate comments or advances?"

I shook my head. "No, nothing comes to mind."

With a sigh of relief, she said "That's good to hear. I'm afraid this has all been a substantial misunderstanding on my part."

Feeling let down, I protested "What?! Maybe she didn't rub up against me and nibble my ear but using her talent to make me feel attracted to her is still wrong!"

"Roger," she replied "there's a part of the picture you aren't seeing. I've known her a long time so I know all about her talent. It's a very delicate affair! She has to feel an emotion or condition and then project it at just the right time. If she gets momentarily distracted by a random feeling just as she's projecting, then she could project that emotion instead of her intended one. Or, if you're thinking about the wrong thing, it could get attached to the wrong idea." She paused and unconsciously smoothed the fur around her face before saying "I'm not really comfortable spelling this out. Can you see where I'm leading?"

Cringing at the thought, I reluctantly responded "So she might have been trying to make me feel confident but got momentarily distracted by my... winsome smile?"

While steadfastly avoiding eye contact she said "It wouldn't necessarily even have to be about you. She might have had a random thought about a recent date she had. My point is, that I wanted to talk with you about it in case there was a misconception. You know how the world is today. Just the accusation of sexual misconduct can ruin someone's career. You may have mixed feelings about her but she really is a wonderful, caring member of our staff. She was the one who initiated the drive to raise money for you and she was a major contributor as well."

I scratched behind my ear and commented "I'm not out to get her, I only want her to stop zapping me. She screws up all the time! Like the mental tool she created to help me with situational anxiety."

She tipped her head questioningly and cocked an ear. "I'm almost too afraid to ask."

I started gesturing eagerly as I talked, finding hope in the idea that this turn of events might get me away from the Vixen's machinations. "She set it up where I imagine a safe place and it's supposed to make me feel relaxed. Problem is, it hasn't worked right yet! The other night I did it and ended up so restless that I wandered the campus till sunrise. She supposedly fixed the damn thing but I'm afraid to test it." I let out a frustrated sigh. "You said you've known her a long time. Would you talk with her? Maybe you could convince her to get me assigned to a different counselor. That would solve the whole problem."

She patted at the fur along the side of her muzzle and said "I doubt it would be that simple. There are reasons you were placed under her care to begin with. Our other counselors may not be equipped for a situation as unique as yours."

"So..." I said as I crossed my arms "what's the point of this whole conversation if nothing is going to be done about it?"

Her ears flipped back momentarily at my tone but she calmed herself and replied "She's a rational person. Let me talk with her and, if necessary, we'll follow up and meet with you together. I'll make it clear that I came to you first and not the other way around, ok?"

I drummed my fingers on my forearm as I considered my options. Maybe I should just tell her to drop the whole thing. I can only imagine how awkward our next session would be after she's been told she made one of her students hot for her! Still, something has to change and how will it without some sort of dialogue? Bah, screw it! "Let's just forget it. Things will get too weird after a talk like that anyway. Hey uh, her adjustments fade, right? So if I'll stop thinking about her hot hips in a few days anyway, then what's the point?"

With the conversation turning sexual again, her discomfort returned. She rose from the chair and fastidiously straightened her clothing as she said "Yes, after a couple days any influence should begin to dissipate. Assuming that was indeed the cause of your, uh... feelings. I'm afraid I do need to bring it up with her though. Otherwise, how will she know there's a problem?"

I stood and took note of my aura. It was subtly wavering with anger as I looked across my muzzle at Mrs. Patterson's black fur. The headache from earlier was far from gone so I resisted the urge to stifle my rage and replied "I know you'd rather not consider the possibility of her influencing me that way, but I'm telling you, I'm gay. I've spent whole evenings practically surrounded by girls in pajamas and yet all I thought about was the guy sitting next to me and how much I'd like to..."

Her eyes started to widen and I quickly cut myself short, saying "uh, hold his hand." I flashed a grin and continued. "Come on, you have to admit it's more than a little suspect."

She took a deep breath and stepped to the door, her fingers resting on the knob. "I suppose you have a point. It's obviously a mistake though, so it won't be reinforced. With that in mind, it should fade in a few days. Do you want me to talk with her now or would you rather take a 'wait and see' approach?"

Before she opened the door, I thought it over. There's gotta be some sort of protocol being broken here. That said, so what? It probably was an innocent mistake. I can't think of a single instance where she made a move on me. It's not like she ripped off her blouse and jumped on my lap. Yikes, where'd THAT image come from?! Being attracted to a woman is freakin' me out! Ok, from now on, no thinking about that Fox! Damn, I've gotta test my theory. When I get back to the dorm I'll have to find a girl and give her a good, long look and see if I feel anything.

Mrs. Patterson interrupted my thoughts. "Roger?"

"Oh uh, sorry." I said "Let's wait and see. I'm sure it was just a mistake. Bringing it up would just make everything super awkward. I have a question though. What made you want to bring this up in the first place?"

As she opened the door, she replied with a wry smile "Let's just say it was intuition."

P.O.V. - Mike - The Randy Tavern - Tuesday Night (last night)

"John, this place blows." I said as I stared into my second rum & Coke.

"Relax, we'll find her." replied my Red Fox friend. "Besides, with that Wolf cub face of yours we can't go to just any bar. You'd get carded for sure! What were you thinking when you made that fake I.D. anyway? Thirty-nine years old?! Even a blind person can tell that's not your age! Hell, you're lucky if people even think you're actually eighteen!"

"Shut up!" I snapped. "It's better than the I.D. you bought from that guy in the park. You're just lucky you turned twenty-one recently so you don't have to skulk around anymore. Look, this bar is lame. I've seen maybe three girls since we got here and I'll bet they all had fleas, or worse. I'm starting to think that Vixen you've been going on about is just another story."

The Fox clutched at the varsity patch on his letterman jacket forcefully. "Oh, I'm hurt! How can you say that?!"

"Do NOT do that!" I said with an annoyed tone. "Every time you have a couple beers you start acting like some queer drama major."

"Hah!" he said defiantly. "You should have seen me the other night! I pounded that girl raw! God damn, I'm tellin' you! That Vixen was downright feral! She'll blow your mind..."

I cut him short. "...and a few other things. Yeah yeah, I've heard it all before. You're freakin' obsessed, you know that? F#ck, it's like you've never been laid before." Disgusted at the wasted evening, I poked idly at the cloudy ice cubes in my glass until John snapped to attention.

He inclined his muzzle towards the entrance and said "You'll be changing your tune after you finish scratching your notch on her bedpost. There she is!"

My eyes followed his line of sight towards the dimly light doorway. "I thought you said she was an Arctic Fox? You know their fur is supposed to be bright white, right? Hers looks all... dirty."

John smirked. "Yeah, she's dirty alright. Besides, it's early Spring so it's only natural she'd be changing color by now. What're you worried about that for anyway? Trust me, when you get up under that tail, the color of her fur will be the last thing on your mind."

She spotted my friend and started to approach. As brighter light fell upon her, it was clear her fur wasn't just changing for the seasons and I leaned over to whisper sharply into John's ear. "Dude, she's not molting. She's a f#ckin' deviant! What the hell? I'm not going out with..."

John elbowed me so hard I almost fell off the stool and quickly raised his voice. "Hey Angel. Lookin' mighty fine tonight."

We were seated at the corner of the bar and she slid onto the stool opposite me as she replied "Hey Jeremy, and thank you. I don't remember seeing your friend last time we met."

Weird, what'd she call him that for? F#ck, this sucks! I KNEW there was something he was hiding! Figures she'd be a f#ckin' deviant. She turned her head to focus on me and suddenly I got a glimpse of what John had been talking about. There was just something about her. Although I hadn't noticed it moments before, the way her tail flowed gracefully out of her amazing little skirt unexpectedly had my pants feeling a whole lot tighter.

"Uh, hey." I muttered, my eyes barely wavering.

She smiled wryly, the way only a Fox can, and commented "My, aren't we chatty." and turned her attention back to John. Feeling jealous in spite of myself, I tried to think up something witty to say while she spoke with my friend. "So you boys go to the same college?"

John couldn't help wagging his tail but otherwise did a fair job of maintaining his cool. "Yeah, we don't usually go out prowling on weeknights but sometimes you just gotta blow off some steam. Ya know?"

She raised her purse to set it on the bar and rested a hand behind it, out of view. At the same time, her eyes came back to fall on me and they twinkled like she knew the best secret in the world as she responded "Yes, I do."

...

Twenty minutes later, we were in her car and pulling to a stop in front of a cookie-cutter townhouse. The Porsche's exhaust growled softly while it idled but my heart was pounding as she asked "You ever do any role playing Mike?"

I licked my muzzle and answered naively "No, I never got into video games much."

She stifled a laugh. "Not like that. I was thinking of the more _adult_kind. Tell me, did you ever have a crush on a girl that you just couldn't get together with?"

I was so distracted by thoughts of going down on her right there in the car that I had to concentrate a moment to respond. "Uh, yeah."

She shut off the engine and gazed down as she put a hand to her chest. "Oh, look what the seat belt has done to my blouse. Just look at it."

My fantasy continued unabated. Damn girl, you don't have to beg! I'll be doing a lot more than looking in about five minutes!

"What was her name?" she asked as she smoothed wrinkles from the taught fabric stretched over her breasts.

"Huh?" I said as I labored to drag my attention up to her face.

Her ears flipped back irritably but she composed herself quickly and said "The unobtainable girl that you _yearned_for. What was her name?"

"Oh uh, Kara." I replied, feeling strangely irked.

"Fine." she said. "Then the rest of the night I want you call me Kara. Try it now."

"Ok, Kara." I said, excitedly flicking my tongue across my nose.

She smiled and unfastened her seatbelt to exit the car and I was quick to follow. In fact, I was in a such a rush I almost tripped over the curb and completely failed to notice the jet-black Panther standing in the dark across the street.

The Vixen led me along the path to her doorway and we paused under the porch light while she rummaged in her purse with one hand.

Holy sh#t, John was right! This girl means business! My mind raced with fervent expectations and when she rested her other hand playfully on my chest, I was sure she could feel my heart hammering eagerly.

She walked her fingers up to my collar and then began to pop my jacket buttons one by one, leaning so close I could feel her warm breath on my muzzle as she spoke. "I like the name Kara. But the game isn't complete unless we both play. Mike, for the rest of the night I'm going to call you Roger."