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We reached the familiar stretch of road leading up to campus.

"I wish we didn't have to separate," I mumbled.

"Think of Hudson messaging you, look forward to catching up with your friends," Lachlan encouraged. "And I'll message you once you're done at class. I might surprise you with something," he added with a wink.

"I look forward to that."

Lachlan opened his mouth to say more, but he sighed and slapped his forehead.

"Damn, I think I left my tablet back at home. It has my notes for my second year class on it. I'm so sorry babe, I think I'll have to drop you here so I can rush home and get it," he sighed.

"Don't worry," I replied, taking hold of his paw.

Lachlan signalled and pulled up at the side of the road.

"I love you my dear Shep," he said, fixing me his smile.

"I love you too my dear fox."

We both leaned over and our muzzles met for a kiss. I closed my eyes and allowed his tongue to slide briefly into my muzzle and stroke the roof of my mouth. We kissed for a minute before breaking off.

"I ought to head back," Lachlan chuckled.

I smiled as I grabbed my bag and opened the car door, but as I climbed out I couldn't help but lean back and kiss Lachlan on the cheek. He responded with a tail thump as I closed the door.

He drove off and I watched for a moment as his car disappeared out of sight. I turned and my stomach lurched unpleasantly as I saw Adam walking along the other side of the road. He was dressed in his green hoodie and smoking a cigarette.

The jaguar was walking several steps ahead of me, but I was sure he turned around to glance at me. I wasn't sure what to do, but I raised my paw and gave a half-hearted wave. Adam responded with a nod before turning away and placing his headphones over his ears.

I shrugged to myself.

Life is beautiful right now. I've come back from a fantastic holiday. I don't need to fret about someone like Adam.

Still, I waited until the jaguar was a safe distance away before I started walking.

I pulled my phone out to message Hudson and let him know I was on the way.

He didn't have a loveshack, but we did fuck a lot ;) I wrote before deleting the fuck part. That was best explained in person.

I also wondered if Hudson would still have his blue fur after the fight with his parents. The thought made me feel like I'd been away for a year rather than a few days. I certainly had some catching up to do.

I reached the entrance to campus and crossed the carpark.

Hudson was waiting by the grass. He was dressed in ripped black jeans and a grey Nine Inch Nails shirt. Part of me was pleased to see he still had his dyed blue fur and piercings.

He smiled and opened his arms for us to hug.

"I was worried you'd have gotten rid of those," I said out loud as we embraced.

"Eh?" Hudson replied, breaking off and looking bemused.

"Oh," I chuckled. "After the fight you had with your parents I thought your appearance might change."

"No way," Hudson replied. "I mean, I love my parents but I ain't changing that. So mister, tell me all about this romantic vacation then."

"It was amazing," I gushed. "The sights, the food, everything about it was perfect."

"Good," Hudson replied.

"Oh, and Lachlan, um," I began, but paused as I wondered how to phrase it.

"Foxybutt took your anal v-card," Hudson said, folding his arms and fixing me a triumphant grin.

"Yes," I chuckled.

"How was it?"

"He was fantastic, very gentle and wasn't rough," I said.

"Good."

"I was waiting for you to make a rough joke," I grinned.

"I like it rougher, but as you're new to it it's best to go gentle," Hudson explained.

"Right," I replied.

Hudson was still grinning but I noticed his eyes seemed somewhat distracted.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, doing good man. Shall we walk?"

"Sure."

We began walking to class.

"Italy is really beautiful," I continued. "The landscape is so inspiring, especially the lakes. They are excellent to swim in."

"You've gotten all well-spoken and poetic since you've gone away," Hudson grinned. "Foxybutt has rubbed off on you."

"Is that bad?" I asked. "You're not sad I went away with him are you?"

"Nah dude, stop worrying!" Hudson laughed. He reached out and ruffled the fur between my ears. "I'm glad you went away with him, you certainly seem more outgoing."

"Thanks," I said, wagging my tail. "That's if Stenning-Brown doesn't send me to sleep."

"For sure man," Hudson replied. "Look, there's Charlotte."

I glanced up to see Charlotte standing by the lecture hall building. She looked over in our direction and smiled. Hudson and I waved back.

"Hello boys," she said.

"Hey, how was reading week?" I asked.

"It was okay."

"Did you do reading?" Hudson teased.

"Only if you count Tolkien and Suzanne Collins as uni work," Charlotte retorted. "Anyway, what did you guys get up to?"

"Not much," Hudson shrugged. "Ask Malc how Italy was."

"Ah yes," Charlotte replied. "So, how was Italy?"

"It was wonderful, just wonderful," I gushed.

"Watch, he'll turn into a romance poet," Hudson whispered to Charlotte who swatted at his snoot and shushed him.

"Keep going," she encouraged.

I looked up and saw our classmates approaching so I lowered my voice and described everything - minus the sexual parts of course. Although we had agreed to share everything I knew that was something Hudson was enjoy listening to more.

"So yeah, I really enjoyed it," I said, tucking my tail behind my hind-paws.

"I'm glad you had a great time there," Charlotte said with a smile. "What did Lachlan look like emerging from the lake?"

"Hey, that's my kinda question!" Hudson exclaimed.

"Seriously hot," I breathed.

"Well, you'd better keep your dick soft dude. I think class is about to start," Hudson said.

"That won't be hard with Stenning-Brown," I sighed.

We followed everyone inside and to the lecture room. Stenning-Brown was already standing at the front of the room. The badger watched everyone enter with folded arms.

"Okay, everyone is assembled," he wheezed. "I hope you all had a good reading week?"

This was followed by a collective murmuring of yes. Stenning-Brown nodded and then began.

I idly took notes, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Lachlan. Charlotte seemed to be listening to the lecture while Hudson was drawing a doodle of a heart with an arrow through it on paper. He seemed just as distracted as I was.

The lecture dragged on until Stenning-Brown announced its conclusion.

"We'll take a break for five minutes and reconvene for the seminar," he said.

"Anyone awake?" I asked quietly.

"Huh?" Hudson replied, clearly shaking himself from his thoughts.

"Apparently not," Charlotte said, stretching out. She glanced out of the window and sighed. "It looks like it's going to rain," she sighed.

"Welcome to England," I replied. I glanced over at Hudson and noticed he was back to doodling. "What are you drawing?"

"Oh, nothing man," he claimed, flipping the paper over so I couldn't see it.

"Hmm," I said in a neutral tone. "I wish I was back with Lachlan."

"I can imagine a holiday with a dishy fox is preferable to this class," Charlotte nodded.

As if on cue, Stenning-Brown let out a cough.

"Right, let's begin again."

"No way was that five minutes," Hudson grumbled.

The seminar discussion was as dry as the lecture and I felt glad once it was finished.

"Let's go," I suggested. We followed everyone outside and I glanced up at the sky. "Yeah, looks like rain, and I left my car and my aunt's," I sighed.

"Can your fox give you a lift home?" Charlotte asked.

"He's teaching this afternoon," I explained. "I could sit in the library and wait until he's done. I need to finish off that assignment for hi... I mean Lachlan's class," I said, correcting myself in case anyone was listening.

"I ought to re-read mine before I send it in," Charlotte said. "I got my mum to proof read it, but I want to double check. How about we get a coffee and work side by side, if you promise not to distract us Hudson," she added, fixing Hudson a wink.

"Eh?" Hudson said.

"Gosh, you're off in your own head," Charlotte said. "We're heading to the library to finish the assignments for Lachlan but grabbing a drink first."

"Oh jeez, I gotta start that," Hudson sighed. "Malc, please could you like bribe him with sex to not give us assignments!"

"Gotta start it?" Charlotte replied with a horrified laugh.

"Yeah, been a bit distracted lately," Hudson said as we walked towards the library.

"I can tell," I replied.

There was a coffee kiosk just inside the library entrance and we joined the line.

"I can tell assignment time has arrived," Charlotte mused. "Everyone is wanting caffeine."

We reached the kiosk and I ordered a white coffee, Charlotte tea and Hudson a bottle of coke.

"Right, let's get this shit started," Hudson said. "Guys, can we sit down here. It's so stuffy up there, and we can chat down here."

"So long as you're not distracted," Charlotte replied.

"You sound like my mother," Hudson grumbled.

We found a table near the kiosk and sat down. Hudson pulled his laptop out and opened a blank word document. I opened my assignment. It was mostly finished, but with all the excitement of being away I hadn't had time to proof read it. The thought caused me to let out a yawn and a sigh.

"I imagine you're really jet lagged right now," Charlotte said.

"Stenning-Brown's class didn't help," I replied before leaning in. "And I miss my fox."

"You're seeing him later, right?" Charlotte asked.

"Yeah, well my suitcase is still at his place," I explained. "Ah, if only we were back in Italy."

"Did he look like 007 in Casino Royale walking out of the lake?" Charlotte asked with a smile, although her tone wasn't teasing.

"Heh, he did, but better," I said dreamily.

"I wish I could find a handsome man like him, don't take that the wrong way," she mused.

"It does make me happy that you two are not as weirded out by this anymore," I said, thumping my tail.

"Jeez!" Hudson exclaimed, looking up from his phone. "You've never thumped that loudly before."

"It was something I picked up in Italy," I explained, splaying my ears.

"Sorry dude, didn't mean to sound mad," Hudson said.

"Are you feeling all right?" Charlotte asked.

"Yeah, got distracted. Back to writing!"

Hudson turned to his laptop. I took a sip of my coffee and turned back to editing.

"Well that's mine done and submitted," Charlotte announced.

"You got any inspiration to write?" I asked Hudson.

The jindo was back to texting on his phone.

"Earth to Hudson?" Charlotte said.

"Huh?" Hudson replied, looking up.

"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked. "Are we annoying you?"

"Okay, I guess I gotta be honest. I ain't being all quiet 'cuz you're annoying me, you never annoy me. I met a nice guy while you were away," Hudson said.

"Ahhh," Charlotte and I said unison.

"So go on, tell me what he's like?" I asked with a grin. Hudson hesitated. "Come on, you ask me these things."

"Okay, okay!" Hudson chuckled. "He's an African Wild Dog I met at the gay bar, which I still need to take you to by the way."

"Hey, no side tracking," I said, sticking my tongue out. "Continue."

"I thought we called them Painted Wolves?" Charlotte added.

"Whatever, do you want to hear about him?"

Charlotte and I nodded.

"He's called Leon," Hudson said. "Nice skinny lad, cute laugh, shakes his butt nicely when he dances, and yeah he's a really nice, quiet guy in person."

"How does his butt compare to my fox's?" I teased.

"Tough call," Hudson said.

"You guys get to look at real life butts, and I'm stuck with the photo of Ryan Reynolds I have above my desk," Charlotte sighed.

"Come to the gay bar," Hudson chuckled.

"Yes, because they'll be into me."

"Eh, there's bi and straight guys in there," Hudson shrugged. "Anyway, I haven't been seeing Leon for that long, so I kinda wanted to keep quiet, but I remembered what we said about being honest."

"I'm glad you shared that with us," I replied. "It makes me happy that we weren't boring or annoying you."

"No way dudes," Hudson grinned. "But you can probably understand why I'm distracted."

"I know the feeling," I nodded, before turning back to my assignment.

I continued reading and got to the end.

"Okay, time to submit," I announced.

"Guys, don't do that!" Hudson sighed.

I chuckled as I dropped my document into the online submission system and the satisfying sight of a green tick appeared on the screen.

"I'm so glad that's over," I said, taking a swig of coffee.

"Wait a minute, how do I know Foxybutt isn't going to give you an A if he's breeding you?" Hudson asked.

"I feel like I've discussed this already," I sighed.

"The lecturers read the essays anonymously," Charlotte explained, and I felt glad that she had spoken out on my behalf given that I had been worried about what she thought on the matter.

My phone buzzed and I glanced down to see a message from Lachlan.

My dear Shep, my class is almost done. You still on campus? Suddenly realised that you don't have a way home. Want me to take you? Xx

I texted back My dear fox. I'm still here, at the library. Would love to come home with you xx

"Foxybutt messaging you?" Hudson asked.

"Yup," I said, taking a sip of coffee. "He's taking me home."

"I'm guessing you two still make sure no one sees you," Charlotte whispered.

"We do," I said. "I mean, we don't make it super obvious, well at least I hope we don't."

"Beyond drooling on yourself in his classes, not really," Hudson chuckled.

"He's pretty careful about that," I replied, rolling my eyes. "I thought we'd covered this?"

"Did we?" Hudson asked, scratching his muzzle.

I thought back to Lachlan's comments about being careful telling everyone about our trip. They made sense, but the way he'd said them worried me.

"I hope I didn't offend you?" Charlotte asked.

"No, not at all," I said with a smile. "I was just reflecting."

"Y'know, I don't think I'm gonna get anything done staring at a blank word document," Hudson sighed. "I might try writing this in bed."

"Just don't wait 'till ten minutes to midnight," Charlotte warned.

"I won't."

My phone buzzed again and I thumped my tail as I saw another message from Lachlan.

Class all done. Got to see a student at my office, wanna meet me outside of there in 10 minutes? Xx

I texted back Yes xx just as Hudson let out another sigh and closed his laptop.

"Sorry guys, I think I'm either gonna work better in my room or in the quiet section of the library."

"That's good, you need to find somewhere productive," Charlotte encouraged. She turned and glanced out of the window. "It looks like it's going to rain at any second, I hope you boys don't mind if I head home?"

"Not at all," I replied.

I stood up as Charlotte began packing her bag.

"Group hug!" Hudson announced, jumping to his hind-paws and wrapping his arms around us. I gasped as Hudson squeezed me tight. "Sorry bud," he grinned before releasing me.

"That was tight as fuck," I panted.

"Is that what Lachlan said?" Hudson chuckled, prompting an eye-roll from Charlotte.

"Whatever," I sighed. "Anyway, I have to go and meet him."

We all said our goodbyes before I began making my way outside. My phone buzzed again and I slid it out to see another message from Lachlan.

Hi, change of plan. Wait until I message you before we meet. I'll see you just outside of campus instead.

I frowned, wondering why he'd changed his plans. Perhaps he had a late meeting? I knew it was possible. I made my way back into the library entrance.

Charlotte and Hudson had already gone. I half-wondered about messaging one of them to stay with me, but I knew Hudson had to work and Charlotte was heading home.

I sat down at our table, which now felt empty without my friends, and pulled my phone out again. Lachlan's message seemed very business-like compared to his usual tone. I shrugged to myself.

Probably busy.

I sat and waited. People of all species drifted in and out of the library before the crowds began to thin out. I idly played with my phone, hoping that Lachlan would message me soon. After spending time with friends and having an amazing holiday, it felt awkward to be stuck at a table by myself and I couldn't help but feel a little resentful.

After what seemed like an age my phone finally showed a notification for a new message.

Hey, meet me on Glebe Road near the campus entrance.

I shoved my phone back into my pocked, grabbed my bag and began walking.

The sky outside was grey and dark. I hurried along, pushing my way past everyone. I wanted to know what was up with Lachlan's sudden clandestine personality.

Glebe Road was almost directly opposite the campus. Like most of the streets nearby it was lined with terrace houses, some of which were now student homes. I paused and waited on the street corner.

The sky was growing darker and I thought I felt a spot of rain hit the fur between my ears.

Please don't rain.

I glanced up and my tail began wagging as I saw the familiar sight of Lachlan's Audi pulling up in front of me.

"Thank god," I breathed as I climbed into the passenger seat. "I think it's going to rain."

"Got you in the nick of time," Lachlan grinned.

"What was up?" I asked.

"Oh, just got pulled into a last minute meeting. Pretty tedious," he sighed. "But I didn't want to risk anyone seeing me pick you up for no good reason, unless you were ill. I did grab your suitcase when I went back home this morning, it's sitting in the back."

I relaxed a little at the explanation and turned to fix him a smile, but I could sense there was something in his eyes behind the grin. Something that wasn't quite right. Nerves, anxiety? I wasn't sure.

We drove through the town centre and out towards Aunt Ruth's street.

"Thanks for driving," I said, trying to initiate a conversation.

"No problem, I'm sure you'll appreciate sleeping in your own bed tonight," Lachlan chuckled.

I chuckled in response, but something about the comment made me wonder if Lachlan didn't want me staying at his. I toyed with asking but decided not to.

"I can confirm I'm giving you your assignment grades tomorrow, and I didn't peak at yours," he said.

"I understand," I replied.

We turned into Aunt Ruth's street and I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as Lachlan pulled up on her driveway.

"I can't wait to see you again," I said, thumping my tail.

"Same here," Lachlan replied. "Don't forget your suitcase."

I climbed out as Lachlan heaved it off the back seat.

"I love you, my dear fox," I whispered, leaning up to give Lachlan a kiss.

"I love you too," Lachlan replied before glancing up at the sky. "You'd better get inside."

He gave me a quick peck on the cheek before climbing back into his car. I raised my paw to wave but felt another spot of rain on my head.

I turned and hurried to the front door as the drops began falling. My keys were in my pocket and I fumbled with the lock before letting myself over the threshold. I turned to wave but Lachlan had already driven away.

The rain was falling harder so I closed the front door.

Aunt Ruth and Thomas were still out, so I hauled my suitcase upstairs and sat down on the bed.

There was a niggling feeling eating at my mind and I couldn't put my paw on what it was. Lachlan had suggested at the start of the day that he might surprise me with something, which to me implied going to his apartment.

I shrugged it away and focused my thoughts on seeing Lachlan again.