Rough draft for the first few chapters of my book.12:44 Mar 17 2008
Times Read: 573
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
A hush falls over the halls of Longfellow high. The new exchange students had arrived and one in particular was causing a stir. He was a large male Tiger who stood well over six feet tall. It wasn’t his height or well built body however, that caused the eyes to follow and the whispers to drift along the hall. It was his deep black fur and silver stripes that gained most of the attention. At his side a beautiful female Husky followed her lithe body and sleek fur gaining her fair share of looks and a few cat calls. The tiger looks at his companion with a grin.
“Hey Trish maybe if you wore something that classified as clothing, we might not be getting all the looks. I mean I know that rack of yours must be hard to hide but a shirt that appears painted on does not help.”
“Dante, you’re an ass some days, you know that?”
Dante laughs and dances’ away as she aims a half hearted swipe at his head. The pair rounds a corner where a female mouse and a massive male lion seem to be in a lovers’ quarrel.
“It’s OVER Rex! I am done with your cheating. I won’t be treated like crap any longer.”
“Come on, Rena babe, they don’t mean anything to me. Please give me another chance....... I can change.”
The mouse turns to walk away but let’s out a squeak of pain as Rex grabs her tail, spins her around and shoves her into a set of lockers. Dante’s roar shakes the hall as he strides over and grabs the smaller feline. As he lifts Rex off his feet, Trish hands Rena her purse which had been dropped in the altercation, and leads her out of the line of fire.
“Let me go or...GACK!”
The lion’s words are cut short as Dante’s massive paw clamps around his neck.
“Shut up! I talk. You listen. Got it? What’s going to happen is that you’re going to walk away the second I set you down. Don’t look back and don’t ever THINK about saying a word to anyone got it?”
Rex glares but slinks off the moment Dante puts him down.
Rena is shaking slightly as she turns to walk off. Dante catches up swiftly and rests a paw on her shoulder. Rena flinches as she turns to look at him.
“Hey, hey I didn’t mean to freak you out or anything, but I wanted to make sure you’re okay before you head off.”
“No it’s not you, it’s just that this isn’t the first time Rex has gotten “hands on” in an argument and I am still a little sore from the last time.”
As Rena rubs her shoulder Dante’s' eyes narrow and a growl starts to rumble from deep within his massive chest. Trish sensing danger throws an arm around him and shakes him softly.
“Hey chill out there buddy. He's gone and won't be back anytime soon, after your little showdown.”
She turns to Rena with a smile.
“Please excuse my hot-headed compatriots' poor manners. He isn’t usually like this, but flying in last night has him in a foul mood. My name is Trish, my feline friend is Dante. Now since I know he will insist, may we walk you to class safely?”
The trio head off with Trish looking at her schedule. With a laugh she looks up at where they have stopped.
“Looks like me and you have the same first class Rena.”
Dante heads off to his first class of the day, which happens to be history. He finds an empty seat and takes it. As he pulls out the things he will need for the class a nervous looking yet pretty female fox enters the room. She does not get far before a stocky male leopard trips her, sending her arm full of books flying.
"Chase you ASS!"
“What you gonna do freak? Put a spell on me?”
Dante picks up the book that slid toward his feet and examines it. As he studies the silver pentagram on the front he can scent the fox’s perfume and natural smells on the book. A longing he has never felt before stirs within him as he stands and scoops up the other books from the floor. He walks over and hands them all to the fox.
“Hey, the names’ Dante. I am a little new around here and wonder if you could show me around later. I am still a little lost when it comes to finding things around here.”
“S-s-sure. Oh...my name’s Kara.”
Dante still can’t believe himself as he heads to his seat. However he makes sure to flick his tail hard enough to knock the papers and books off the leopards desk before sitting down. He smiles and winks at Kara as the leopard stoops to gather his things. Kara smiles shyly back and then buries herself in one of the books she was carrying. The rest of the class goes smoothly but just as it ends Kara drops a square of paper on Dante’s desk and rushes out of the room. With a sheepish grin Dante stuffs it into his jeans and heads out to find the smoking area where he told Trish they would meet.
Chapter 2
As he weaves in and out of the crowded hall, Dante tries not to knock over any of the many smaller students. At last, he finds the door he wants and walks out into the sunlit courtyard. Wrinkling his nose a little at the smell of tobacco stinging his senses. He withdraws a silver cigarette case and places a black clove cig between his lips. As Dante sparks his lighter, Trish and two others’ appear. The first being Rena and the second is a small male otter who has a slim build and a rather metro sexual look to him.
“Yo Dante. I hear you’re making friends already. A couple of real “cool” cats, by the sound of it.”
“Oh shut the hell up, Sean. It’s not like I look for trouble, it finds me.”
“Easy big guy, I’m just screwin’ with you.”
“Oh I bet you would love to “screw” with me ya little fag.”
Dante laughs but Sean glares, looking quite hurt.
“You know it’s hard enough being open about what I am without taking shit like that from my friends!”
“Easy bro, you know I don’t mean it like that. Hell, I asked your last boyfriend if he was single for you didn’t I? Shit, he thought I was asking him out! If that doesn’t prove that I am cool with you being gay, I don’t know what does.”
“Yeah, you’re right, oh and the look on your face when he said you weren’t his type was priceless!”
Sean, Trish, and Rena all burst out laughing as Dante grumbles about the things he does for friends. Trish is still shaking with laughter when she lights up a cigarette and inhales deeply, letting a gray fog coolly roll from her lips.
“So, where are we going to get lunch and what are we going to do after...?”
Trish raises her muzzle and sniffs the air, then turns to appraise Dante.
“Why do you smell like perfume and lipstick?”
“What are you talking about? I don’t smell like lipstick…”
As he remembers the note in his pocket, Dante tries to light another cig to buy some time to contemplate his rebuttal to that. Sensing his ploy, Trish tackles him. As he falls, dropping his cig, Dante swears and then grunts as he hits the ground.
“Tell me who she is! Is she cute? What does she look like? How did you meet her? Tell me!!”
“Get off me ya nut!”
Trish growls as she tickles Dante playfully. Dante struggles trying to get out from under her without knocking her around too much.
“Aah! that tickles! S-s-stop! Aaahahahaha!”
“Talk or I tickle till you piss yourself!”
A very unnerving thought, here on the schoolyard.
Trish’s laughter is turned into a yelp as she leaps off him.
“Damn it Dante! That HURT! Plus you know I just got my fur done!”
“Yeah, well, your knee on my groin didn’t feel much better. Plus, you know I hate to get pinned down. So it’s not my issue about your fur. Oh, and it’s none of your business how I smell or why.”
“Bah you’re no fun ya sour pus! I’m just curious is all, and I’m not a cat, so curiosity isn’t going to kill ME!”
Before Dante can say anything, Rex and the Leopard from class show up looking a little less than pleased to see them.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the little fag and giant pussy. Hey. Hey Cloud! Look at that fine bitch they have with them. Maybe we can teach her the real meaning of “doggy style”. Whaddya say you and me might even tag team the skank!”
Sean leaps to the side, dragging the girls with him, as Dante’s fists fly. Rex is thrown back, nose broken and trailing blood as Cloud tries to leap on Dante.
However,
Cloud is met with a swift hook to the jaw. His eyes go out of focus and as he slumps to the floor, he lets out a soft moan. Dante towers’ over both of them, snarling. His shirt flecked with blood and his one untarnished eye wide with adrenaline, make him look deranged as he speaks with great roaring fury.
“If you EVER get that rude, or make threats toward my friends again, I will personally place my size 12 boot up your ass! Got me?!”
Both Cloud and Rex stagger off under Dante’s glare. They keep their heads down and ears drooped in a show of defeat. Trish, realizing Dante is madder than he lets on, shakes him softly.
“Chill out there buddy. Calm down you got “the look” in your eye again.”
“I’m sorry guys; it’s just that when he said… Gah!”
Dante whirls around, ears flat, hissing. Kara drops his tail and staggers back, wide-eyed in fear.
“I-I-I didn’t mean to…I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s okay, it wasn’t you, I just got into it with Rex and Cloud so I am a little wired.”
Kara shuffles her feet and her voice is but a whisper as she peers nervously at the ground.
“I bet they came for you because of me. I should go.”
As she whips around and heads into the crowd, Trish shoves Dante after her and gives him a look that tells him to follow her. Dante decides to keep hidden as he follows her through the halls of the school and out into the town. He stalks her in the shadows of buildings, secretly guarding over her as she does errands, keeping just out of sight. Once she reaches a rundown area of the town she slows as if she dreads where she has to go next. A young kit soon bounds up to Kara and hugs her.
“Sissy! Sissy! I’m hungry! What’s for dinner?”
“I left money with mom, didn’t she buy anything.”
“No, Rob got home and he…”
The young fox looks down knowing better then to repeat the rest. Just then, the door to her house flies open. A mangy looking fox terrier walks out with a glassy-eyed stare.
Almost nonchalant. Almost like polished bits of marble.
But no matter how pretty polished stone is, it always lacks something; soul, and spirit.
Just like Mom’s boyfriend Rob.
“What took you so long to get home, girl?”
“I had errands to run, and besides, I said I was going to be late.”
“Well, dinner still isn’t on the table, so what are you gonna do about that?”
“I gave mom money to buy something. That was the last bit I had till payday. Maybe if you didn’t snort it all away, we might-”
Rob rudely cuts her off.
“-Ill teach you to talk to me that way bitch!”
Kara cowers down and tenses for a blow that never lands. As she looks up she sees that the blow was stopped by a strange male fox she had never seen before. Had she, she would have remembered his grey fur and golden eyes. Dante from his hiding place shakes his head seeing that the fox had taken the punch to the chest rather than blocking it. The fox looks down at Kara.
“Are you ok?”
Kara nods yes but silently wonders if this rather thin looking fox can really stop Rob when he is in one of his drug induced rages.
“Who the hell are you kid”
The fox turns to Rob with a self satisfied smirk.
My name isn’t important but what is of importance is how you intend to react now. I suggest the walking away option or you could….”
Rob glares at the cocky young fox and throws another punch at him mid sentence. The fox pops him twice before his punch even gets half way. Rob staggers back gasping for air.
“What’s wrong old man hard to breath?”
“Why you little son of a …”
“Hey did I miss the party”
“Kit on time as usual”
“You know me Roy never late.”
The pink furred vixen throws up a peace sign and giggles. Before the laughter has even faded from her lips Roy pulls a gun from his waist band. Before he can bring it level Roy kicks it out of his had with a blinding speed and Kit has launched him skyward with a powerful kick to his chin. The duo turn to Kara both looking concerned. Speaking in unison they kneel to get eye level with her.
“Are you sure your ok you look pretty shook up”
Dante from his hiding spot swears as he sees Rob landed near the gun. Before he can move the three foxes all turn around at the sinister click of the pistols hammer being pulled back. They look up to see Rob has them in his sights and for all his shaking with rage his gun arm is steady.
“Game over kiddies, well for you that is.”
They all scatter and dive for cover as the gun barks death. As the sound of the last shots fade they stand each expecting to find the others dead. However Rob is the only one on the floor. His face is bloody and his eyes are still wide open.
“Wow someone did a number on him. He’s out cold.”
“Yea saved our asses though so I aint complaining.”
Kara’s’ ears perk up at the sound of sirens in the distance.
“You two better go someone finally decided to call the cops.”
Roy and Kit disappear as the sirens draw closer and Kara warps her arms around her younger sister. Both stand waiting for the police that show up too late as usual. No one however notices a bloody Dante slipping off into the shadows.
Chapter 3
The next day at school Trish corners Dante at his locker.
“Where they hell were you last night! Mom was worried sick! Damn it Dante you can’t keep…… What they hell happened to you. You look like shit! Mom is gonna freak when she sees you!”
Dante knows all too well his matted fur ,blood shot eyes , and wrinkled clothing make him look like he spent the night in the gutter which isn’t an inaccurate description of what happened.
“First off she’s your mom not mine, secondly I spent the night in Balboa park, Last off I got shot.”
Holy shit Dante are you ok? Was it Rex and Cloud that shot you? Did Kara make it home ok?”
“Yea she got home fine. As for Rex and his lackey those piss ants don’t have the balls to use a gun. Kara’s’ mom’s cokehead boyfriend does though.”
Dante turns to his locker wondering why he left the terrier alive when it would have been so easy to just…..
“Hey that wasn’t an option Dante and you know it.”
“What I didn’t say anything.”
“I know you didn’t but when you get that blank cold look I know all too well what you’re thinking and don’t try to bullshit me. We’ve been friends for how long now? You know I can tell when you’re in that “mode”. Damn it Dante she doesn’t need an assassin she needs a friend!”
Dante’s ears flick forward excitedly.
“Friend?” He repeats.
“No, not you! I was thinking someone more unbiased. I mean, you look like you’d do anything for her. It’s not that simple. Kara needs someone who can help her be more self-reliant and assertive. Not some infatuated guy to do everything for her.”
“I’m not infatuated with her!” Dante protested.
Trish smiled.
“Really? Pop quiz; Why do all males have a hole in their dick?”
Dante shrugged, not sure how he should answer that.
“So they can be more open-minded!” She cackled out.
“So who do YOU have in mind?” Dante enquired.
“Huh? Oh, you probably never met him before, but he’s a nice guy I know going back from middle school. Tyrone. He’s the-”
“-Skunk from our middle school science class? Really good at the stink bomb stuff and blaming it on others’? Made the old’ school smell like ass for a few days after his most misguided project? Yeah, I know him. You really think Kara should hang out with HIM?”
He wouldn’t argue the point if he didn’t feel like Kara deserved better. Then, he recognized what he was feeling; jealousy. I’m feeling jealous? Just ’cause some striped clown is going to help Kara when I can’t? Damn it. Super assassin be damned!
“He’s mellowed out since then, really matured. You think she would be better off with a hot-blooded idiot that fights as often as he talks?”
“Hey! Or a husky that doesn’t reserve her cynicism on anything, or maybe is a tad too honest?”
“Too honest?”
“Yeah. Some things are better left unsaid.”
“ Like the fact that you claim she isn’t your mom when she has raised you since the day your parents died?”
Both glare at each other and neither want to back down. At last with mutual growls they turn heel and go their separate ways.
Chapter 4
Tyrone observed a daily ritual of buying some sort of soft drink from a machine before idling toward his first class of the day. This day, however, he was much put off by being noticed from his usual obscurity.
“Tyrone!” Screamed out someone behind.
He spun slowly toward the voice, taking in the voluptuous form of Trish, the well endowed husky from his middle school chemistry class. All this time and you finally notice me, hmmm? What’s on the agenda?
“Tyrone! I am sooo glad I found you! We need your help.”
Who? You and wonder Dante? Surprise. Sure. Whaddya need?”
“Do you know Kara?”
“Kara the kitsune vixen? Don’t ask me to take her to the prom.”
“Yea that’s her. She’s in one of your classes, right?”
“Yea but you know I can’t date femmes. Don’t ask me to. Your barking up the wrong tree, doggy.
“No no I think she just needs a good friend right now.”
“ What kind of friend? A good boyfriend? Fuck buddy?”
Trish laughs.
“No no she needs someone to talk to. Dante followed her home and saw that she had some domestic problems.”
“Oh...um. Sure. Sounds like a good idea.”
“Great! I’ll introduce you guys tomorrow.”
As the husky left, Tyrone did not know how to act right now.
Please leave a message; Tyrone is having a painful flashback and is unable to pick up the phone at this moment.
BEEP!
Chapter 5
Too long ago, Tyrone had himself wondering what he had done wrong. His parents always irate always displeased, always vicious in word and action. Things are certainly different when you’re ten! And when he thought about it, “domestic disturbance” sounded too polite a wording for the crap little Tyrone cub had to put up with.
Drunk father.
Bitch mother.
Hey, everybody! Let’s play hide and go fuck yourself!
That lovely, cherished game of youth in ghettos!
Some days, Tyrone shakes;
Shakes uncontrollably in his wrists, his paws, his claws-
-Whenever he thinks of daddy coming to town.
Attila the goddamn Hun could make a better father. A monkey, surely. But no, Tyrone was stuck with Franken dad, the half dead barfly who should have been visited by the gods of Emphysema and Cirrhosis long ago. The dad, who smokes, drinks, goes to places where, if their life insurance provider knew he frequented, would automatically cancel the claim and call him uninsurable. Yes, Franken dad, the father who doesn’t die. Didn’t someone say that the good die young, but assholes live forever? Well, there was certainly enough evidence to prove THAT theory in Tyrone’s home! Did they even have ANY insurance at the time?
And talk about mother of the year! The only thing Tyrone’s mother was maternal for was malt liquor and crack cocaine!
And-an-and...
The beatings were only the beginning.
Incest, molestation.
Mommy using little Tyrone to make daddy jealous.
It was a goddamn miracle he didn’t turn out to be an asshole himself!
Or go goddamn insane!
I’d rather die young than put another poor kid through that shit!
Chapter 6
Tyrone tosses his unopened drink in the trash, now no longer in the mood for something nice to drink. What soft drink can ease the pain in my soul? Woe, oh woe! Should he even bother getting to his first class?
If you don’t go to class, the terrorizes have won!
Yes, an excuse for caring, if there were one.
Tyrone glides easily through the door like his namesake, blasting music into his head like a rapture of forlorn erasure, hoping, maybe hoping, forlorn hope, that Robert Smith and his “merry” band will help him forget the past.
Forget? Why? When you had such fun playing that alternative of Hide and go Seek?;
Hide and go fuck yourself.
Daddy’s game. The game Tyrone played to stay out of both his deadbeat parents’ ways.
“Hey, are you Tyrone?”
He barely heard the voice through his headphones, so he chose to ignore it as he found his seat.
“Hello?”
Now it tapped delicately on his shoulder. Tyrone turned, spying Kara the fox. Yesterdays’ conversation shot through him like lightning. God, oh god. It’s her. Her life’s as much a hell as mine was!
“Hey, wussup?”
“You’re Tyrone, right? Trish said you wanted to see me for something.”
“Yeah, I’m Tyrone. She seems to think you need a friend, I guess.”
“But you’re not all that crazy about this forced friendship?”
“Are you? I mean with this “he said, she said trash?”.”
She giggled.
“I like you. You’re realistic.”
“No, I’m more fatalistic.”
“What’s the diff.?”
“A realistic guy will play the stocks, lose all his cash, and jump off a building. A fatalistic guy will play the stocks, lose all his cash, and not think anything of it, because he knew it would happen, anyway. And then he’s rich again when his share’s go up in price the next day because the guy who jumped off the building was the majority share holder and CEO of the rival company.”
She laughed.
“Pull up a chair. Plenty of the gospel of Robert Smith for everyone.”
That puzzled look she flashed him was priceless.
“Who?”
“Uh, oh it’s nothing. Just Goth music for dreary me. You know how we get all dark and bitter.”
“Oh shut up! You aren’t like that at all!”
“You should see how I look inside.”
“Not even. I heard that the outside reflects the inside like a reverse mirror. You got a heart, Mr. Vampire.”
“Ghost, actually. My friends call me Ghost.”
“What the fuck kind of morbid-ass friends would call you that?!” She squealed.
“It’s ’cause I’m Goth, and I move silently like one.”
“Oh.”
“But I guess you’re right. It’s not too flattering a title, is it?”
“Think I could call you Casper?”
“Casper like the “friendly ghost?”.”
“Yeah. Why not that?”
“For starters, that’s gay.”
“You’re gay.” She protested.
“Okay, that’s gay-er. No thanks. Besides, I’m not THAT friendly!”
“Obviously.”
“Sorry, It’s just weird for me to have to get a new name. Why aren’t you just happy with Ty?”
“Okay.”
“What?”
“Okay, sure. Ty.”
“Um. Thanks.”
“But secretly I call you Casper!”
Oh god. What was he getting into?
Chapter 7
As school lets out Dante meets up with Trish and Sean.
“Hey guys hows it going? Oh and Trish I’m sorry about….”
“Forget it Dante you know I can’t stay mad at you. Besides Me and Sean have dates tonight. We are going to club Gothicka you should come with us.”
“Oh yea fifth wheel as usual I don’t think so.”
‘Why not find a date? It’s not like your bad looking Dante you know they ladies all love you.”
“Trish it isn’t that simple I have to be into a girl to want to take her out.”
“So ask Kara. I know you like her.”
“Aww come on Trish she wouldn’t be interested.”
“I don’t know, the way she grabbed your tail the other day suggest otherwise.”
Dante thinks back to the note she left him that’s still sitting unread at the bottom of his bag. He pulls it out and finds that it asks if he wants to go out somewhere on Friday night. Looking at his watch he sees that it is indeed Friday. Wondering at how to let he know he wants to take her to the club Dante heads towards the gate leading out of the school. Dante lights a cigarette as he ponders how to best tackle is delema of asking Kara out. Letting the smoke fill his lungs he can feel the nicotine start its work relaxing him drawing the tension from his body like a hot bath. As he exhales the smoke spirals upward reminding him of his thoughts at the moment, twisting and turning with no real direction. He is ratteled from his musings by a sudden impact with something rather solid. He stumbles over the object almost falling. As he looks down to see what he tripped over he sees Kara sitting on the curb her eyes red as if she had been crying. His nose wrinkles in concern and he kneels down next to her.
“ Hey are you alright?”
Kara wipes away the tears that dampen her fur and sniffles a little. As she looks over at Dante her eyes cloud as if she is debating how much to tell him.
“Yea I guess. Things are just a little rough as of late. With school, work and my responsibilitys at home to deal the stress just gets a little much some times.”
“ Well I know just the thing to take your mind off of it all. I’ve decided to take you up on your offer of a date tonight. Me, Trish, Sean, and their dates are all going to club Gothicka around nine tonight. So do you think you would be interested in joining us. I would love to have the company so that I have someone to talk to once those two are busy with their dates. I could pick you up say around seven thirtyish?”
“Um sure but why an hour and a half early? I mean the club is only a few minutes from my house.”
“ Well I want to go out for coffee before we meet up with the others. I want some time to get to know you before I have to share you with the others.”
Kara giggles and twirls her fingers through the fur on her tail.
“Sure. I will head home now so I can get my chores at home done and be ready by the time you pick me up.”
Kara stands and gives Dante a quick hug before darting off. As Dante stands he ponders how this night will go and what picking Kara up will be like considering his feeling toward her mother’s boyfriend. Making a mental note to grab some cash at the ATM before he gets home he stands and starts a light jog towards the house he shares with Trish. As he enters the house he tries to slip through to his room unnoticed so he can avoid the questioning that he knows will come from his unofficial adopted mother. He knows she loves him and wants what’s best for him but some days she just doesn’t understand that his life is different from her idealistic views of him. He almost makes it to his room as he hears her voice ring out from the kitchen.
“Dante please come here. We have things that we need to talk about young man.”
Cringing at the sound of her voice and its all too disappointed tone he turns and heads into the kitchen his ears drooping slightly at the thought of the conversation to come and the lies he knows he will have to tell so that he does not worry a women that had given him so much.
“Yes Ma’am?”
“Dante were where you last night. Don’t tell me you were at Sean’s house because I called and checked.”
“ I made a friend at school and went to their house to hang out. We fell asleep watching a movie and I didn’t wake up until six thirty the next day. By then I had to get to school. I was in such a rush and got so caught up hanging out that I forgot to call and tell you I wouldn’t be home.”
“Ok was this person a girl and where were their parents during this time.”
“No it was a guy I meet in one of my classes and his parents work night shift at the hospital so they don’t get home till the morning.”
“Ok well the next time you go out like that I want you to call before you leave school. You may not be my son Dante but I still worry about you and I still expect you to follow my rules while under my roof do you understand?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
Dante looks down at the women who has been his only parental figure most of his life. Trish resembles her so closely that they are sometimes confused as sisters when they go out. However Mrs. Fairchild always smells of her kitchens warm blend of spices and looks a little older, while Trish smells of makeup and looks like the young women she is. As Dante heads back to his room he wonders how she can put up with his consistent disappearing and various other worries he causes her. Dante opens the door to his room and tosses the bag into a corner. He pulls a towel out of his dresser and strips off his cloths. He walks into the shower and turns on the water waiting until its hot enough for steam to build before stepping in. He lets the hot water soak through his fur and begin to relax his muscles. As he scrubs away at the grit that got stuck in his fur from his night in the park Dante wonders how his first date is going to go. Thinking at his small amount of experience with women which was basically limited to his and Trish’s friendship he wonders if he could bring this night to the end he desires. Choking on water he laughs out loud realizing he has no clue how he wants the night to end. Still laughing he steps out of the shower and begins to towel off. Dante had just gotten his pants on when Trish walks in without knocking.
“Hey! Have you ever heard of a little thing called knocking? You know make a fist and tap lightly on the wood that blocks the entrance to this room. Most people know it as door.”
“Oh chill out. I’ve seen you wear less at the beach.”
“That’s different Trish. I choose how much I let people see then. You just walking in I don’t have much choice what you see if I don’t have cloths on at the time now do I?”
“Yea what time is it any way?”
“Umm its five thirty why?”
“Damn I still got like two hours before I can leave! I told Kara that I would pick her up around seven thirty so that we could catch a bite to eat before it time to hit up the club.”
“ Well that’s good because I still want to talk to you about what happened at Kara’s. I want to know how bad you got hurt.”
“ All right since I know you won’t leave me alone till I do here take a look.”
Dante removes the robe he had put on when stepping out of the shower to reveal a puckered hole in his shoulder. It is stuffed with gauze and has a thin slice on one side.
“ Oh God Dante that looks bad are you going to see a doctor or anything?”
“No I dug out the bullet and its patched up. There is very little else that can be done for it except keeping it clean. Which I am already doing. I swear I will be fine and if it doesn’t heal right I will see someone ok?”
“Sure but I swear Dante if you don’t I am personally going to kick your ass!”
“ I know Trish I know. Now I want to take a nap before I leave. So either crash out with me or leave because I need the sleep.”
Two and a half hours later Dante is up and his cussing wakes Trish. As he takes his red silk shirt out of the closet he looks at his wrinkled dress pants in dismay. Grabbing a pair of black leather pants out of the closet he heads into the bathroom to change. A few seconds later he comes out with his cloths looking sharp and his ankh ring glinting in the lamplight of his room. The smell of his homemade cologne wafts over Trish and she sniffs gently.
“Damn Dante looking sharp and that homemade stuff smells awesome. You must really be out to impress her cause I’ve never seen you dress so nice except for an occasional wedding.”
Dante’s blush and sudden preoccupation with getting the various little things that he will need for the night make her giggle and toss a pillow at him.
“Come one big guy relax. You’ve got nothing to worry about. I mean….CONDEMS?! Do you really think you’re ready to… Are you planning on… Damn you are gonna make me have a heart attack. Do you really like her that much that you’re ready to give your cherry to her? I don’t want to pry but I am trying to look out for you bro.”
“I’m not sure how things are going to go and even less sure of how I want things to go so I am preparing for all possible outcomes. I’m not going to do anything stupid Trish. You know I never do anything I am going to regret latter.”
With a parting hug Dante heads out into the kitchen.
“ Hey Mom I am going with Trish to the club tonight but I am leaving now to get something to eat before I meet up with Trish and Sean. I don’t know if I am coming back tonight but I will call if I am not.”
“Ok but please be careful. I know how they get at the clubs and I don’t want you fighting because someone was rude to Trish or your date ok?”
“Yes ma’am. By ma I love you.”
Dante kisses Mrs. Fairchild on the cheek and then heads into the garage. Opening the door to his black drop top muscle car he hops in and twists the key in the ignition. As the engine purrs to life he presses the garage door opener and pulls out into the driveway. Once he is on the street he cruses along listening to the rock CD he has in his stereo. As he near Kara’s house his heart begins to pound and he fells butterflies in his stomach. He pulls into her driveway and leaves the car running as he walks up to the door. As he knocks it sounds like thunder to him and he cringes when he hears someone shout from within the house. Hoping that it’s not Rob who answers the door Dante scuffs his boot against the welcome mat. The door flies open and Kara is standing there in a white silk floral printed dress that comes down to about her calf. With it she wears a set of high heels. The scent of her strawberry body wash wafts over to him as she looks at the floor and twirls her tail fur between her fingers.
“Wow you look great are you ready to go?”
Kara nods and locks the door behind her. She makes her way towards Dante’s car her hips swaying as she walks. Running her paws over the hood she whistles her appreciation for the beauty of the vehicle. She hopes into the passenger side and Dante takes the car out of neutral. As he wheels the car onto the road he can’t help but smile. Tonight for the first time in a long while he was going to be able relax.
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