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FALLING SNOW

Chapter 3- A Dance In The Dark

Ted sat in the drive way, still in his Toyota 100. A little truck but paid for, that's all he cared about.

He had to go in, had to get his uniform for work. But the thought of seeing a barely sober dad waiting for him... It chilled him to the bone.

"Grow a pair man." He growled as he threw open the driver side door. Slamming it closed he steeled himself and made a beeline for the door. Opening it he almost recoiled at the stench that flooded out. Alcohol, sweat, and rotting food, blinking away the water in his eyes he stepped in. Kicking pizza boxes, empty beer bottles and other garbage out of the way he made it to the living room. Looking around he spotted the slow rise and fall of a sleeping bears chest on the sofa. Moving past the bear sleeping off another hang over, Ted moved past the kitchen to the washer and dryer.

Yep this was the great life of the star quarter back that everyone was jealous of. But if they ever caught a glimpse of his every day life they'd be disgusted, not jealous. Very few people knew how his home life was, only Greg his best friend knew. But then again very few people knew about his friendship, probably because it was a one sided friendship.

Greg is a fluffy shitzu and well, he's gay. Now while Ted had no problem with that he did have a problem when his best friend started making moves on him. At first he just ignored it and laughed it off, saying he was straight. But one night at a party when Greg had become heavily intoxicated, the shitzu had decided to spike Teds simple soda with a pill. Ted who never drank past one or two noticed the difference. He grew enraged and under the influence of the pill flew into a rage and took it out on his friend. That was the night Ted cried for the first time in years.

Sitting there with his best friend dying in his arms. His hands and face smeared with blood, Ted was never the same and neither was Greg. After an apology when Greg had been brought to life again they never spoke again. Avoiding each others eyes in the hall at school, not nearing each other when in the same room. And it tore at his heart, the distance between them. But he also couldn't forget the betrayal of that night, in his weakest moment his best friend had tried to take advantage of him.

Shaking away the memories Ted grabbed his outfit from the dryer. Shutting it softly he tired and steeled himself when he came face to face with a drunken brown bear. He knew this could only go two ways, bad or really bad.

"Dad." He said as a greeting but it came out too cold for that. His eyes devoid of emotion as he stared up at the older bear.

"Where the hell were you?" The bear growled at his son through his slur. His form wobbling as his right hand searched for support, finding it in the door frame.

"At school." Ted ground out. "It is Monday after all." He voice sharp. If the older bear had noticed he showed no sign of it, instead glancing at the clock over head. Growling Ted pushed past his dad, the reek of alcohol suffocating him. The older bear stumbled back from the force before sharply turning to Teds exposed back. With a roar he clamped his jaw down on the conjunction of the neck and shoulder. He then raked bear soaked claws down the toned back of the lighter furred bear.

Ted cried out in agony, stumbling into the living room before he crashed into the wall. Turning he moved out of the way when he saw his dad bull rushing him. Moving out of the way he watched the older bear slam into the wall, stumbling before falling on his ass in the garbage on the floor.

"I'll see you later Rick." Ted spat before leaving out the front door. Getting into his truck Ted started it and sped out of the drive way. A squeal from the tires echoed down the barren street of the broke down neighborhood.

Stopping at the rear of a gas station he checked the wounds. Deep punctures littered his neck and shoulders, thankfully the rips in his back were shallow and stopped bleeding. He was glad he hadn't wore his letterman jacket inside, his grey T was torn to shreds. Sighing he removed it and tossed it into the passenger seat. Looking into the small mirror above him he scanned over his body for anymore wounds.

No fat hung anywhere, Teds body only well toned muscles, his fit shape was helped of course by a few hungry nights. He was by no standards thin but for a bear he was slim. It was odd for a brown bear to be this way but he didn't mind, the ladies liked it, plus it allowed for more agile movement. After he was finished patching a few ruff spots on his body Ted pulled on the black collared shirt and dark jeans, the logo CANDY stitched into the shirt pocket. Without an ounce of remorse he sped out of the station and towards Candy's.

XxXxXxXxX

He snorted at the pink neon CANDY sign on the roof of the club. Heading around back he found Morris unlocking the metal door.

"Aye Morris." Ted said his voice tried and strained.

"Hey there big guy." The Rhino furry said. Morris was the clubs owner, he was short and stout only coming up to Teds chest. But the width of his shoulders were twice the size of the giant bear's. "Sounds like its been a ruff day."

"Ya." He agreed, he didn't even get to see Snow. The beauty of her limber body and the brilliance of her eyes still hanging onto his thoughts.

"Well rub some dirt on it and get ready, theirs going to be a big crowd tonight." Morris said. "Oh and remember not to call me Morris in front of the others."

"Course Bossman." Ted said with a smirk which his shorter companion returned. Morris then opened the door and stepped into the darkness, Ted following shortly after. Together they found the light box and turned on the dim lights of the club.

Ted set out to arrange the freestanding tables and chairs, leaving the dance floor wide open. He watched as the dancers and bartenders filtered in, each slipping to their respective places. Soon the club lost the silence and a constant murmur filled in its place. Ted just stayed back, watched and helped when needed. Finally Eric showed up, his fur disheveled and his mane in its familiar chopped Mohawk.

"Where the hell were you?!" Ted growled keeping his voice low so others wouldn't hear. "We're close to opening!" He glanced at the front doors and saw a few cars already in the parking lot.

"Calm down, I'm here aren't I ?!" The Clydesdale grunted before pushing around Ted. Ted glared at the retreating form of the Clydesdale. Ted had a feeling the Clydesdale had just got done having sex; another one night stand, if you could call it that since it was more like one night and a day. Shaking his head warily he continued on with setting up the club.

XxXxXxXxX

Lights pulsed, music boomed, and body's wove and writhed around him. He felt like a giant rock in a torrent of roaring waves, sweeping up to him, around him and sometimes over him. He thought it ironic that his job was to keep the peace in an environment made to stir emotions and pump people full of alcohol.

He was jarred from his thoughts as a body bumped against him; he felt it bounce off him, barley disturbing him. Looking over his shoulder he watched a zebra stumble back before straightening as the wave of dancing body's behind her pushed her forward once more. With a high pitched giggle she latched onto Teds arm to steady her drunken self.

"Hello handsome!" She shouted over the loud music, her slur heavy. "Dance with me sexy!" She winked up at him. Disgusted he crinkled his nose at the stench of alcohol seeping off her.

"Am working." He said slow and stern in the hopes that it would help her understand him while so heavily intoxicated.

"Ahhhh c-come on, get dat pole out'cha ass!" Her girlish laughter bubbling up out of her throat.

"Your pretty drunk I think you should go home, who did you come here with?" He said clasping onto the females striped shoulders, the red halter top flattering her muscled arms.

"Didn't come w-wit anybody!" She giggled as she stumbled over her own feet onto his broad chest. "Came here to forget that dick Dustin, asshole bull!" She grabbed onto his upper arms and pushed off to look up at Teds face. "He rejected me!" "Me!" She said in disbelief.

"Is there anyone you could call to come get you?" Ted felt his frustration grow as she continued her uncontrollable laughter. "Listen to me!" he growled and shook her violently, seeing her smile fade into a fierce frown in a shaking blur. As soon as he stopped her face contorted and she began to sob.

"W-why does-s'nt he lik-ke me?!" She choked out. Ted glanced around but no familiar faces showed in the thick throng around them.

"Where's your phone?" Ted whispered gently into the zebras ear. Without words, only a trembling hand she handed him her phone. Scooping her up with one arm he opened her phone with the other. Barely looking at the screen he found her emergency contacts and with out thought dialed the first one. He waded through the crowd towards the entrance as the phone began to ring.

He sighed as the midnight air swept through his fur as he stepped outside. With the girls phone pressed onto his ear, he looked down at her sleeping form in his arm. He shook his head at her before jumping in shock at the voice on the other end of the phone.

"Where in the hell are you?!" A female voice snapped.

"Um mam?" He said softly.

"Who are you?" He voice was now eerie, collected and menacing.

"I'm the bouncer at the club named Candy's and you friend here needs a ride home, she extremely intoxicated." Emphasizing on the extremely part.

"Where is that located?" She demanded.

"On Lexington road." He answered without hesitation.

"I'll be there in 15." She hissed and hung up.

Ted looked at the home screen of the phone in puzzlement, that voice was so familiar. He looked lazily at the contact only to be dumbfounded by the name.

In thin black letters was typed 'SNOW<3', he felt his heart leap into his throat. 'She was coming here?' 'Going to see him like this?!' 'Oh no oh no' he thought to himself as he began to pace the parking lot. She stayed true to he word, just 15 minutes later she arrived in a fancy sports car.

Great she was rich to top it all off with a big dollop of no chance whip cream. He watched as she swung her feet out and leapt out of the car. She wore baggy black sweats that hung loosely off her sharp hips, her sleeveless tank showed her sides and the black sports bra underneath. Her hips swayed with each step, her tail slowly lashing around behind her, her eyes had not yet found their way to him just the zebra in his arms. He pulled his ears back and refused to look at her face as she approached. Hoping, wishing that she would never glance up, take her friend and leave without ever knowing it was him.

But fate was a cruel bitch, her eyes flicked up, her lips open to speak but she halted at the sight of him. He lifted his gaze when he heard her still, her shining emerald eyes clashed with his pools of crystal water on impact.

"Ted?" She said her eyes widening slightly. Her eyes then flicked over his uniform, and it's logo. "You work here?" He tore his gaze from Snow's and walked past her to the car.

"Where do you want her?" He said softly turning his head to the side, enough for her to the side of his face. His eyes were on the ground at his side and she felt a familiar emotion rise in her when she saw him bluntly refusing to look at or answer her.

"Put her in the passenger seat." Snow hissed, strutting over to the roofless car. She watched at how gentle Ted was with Ronyee and almost smiled but her anger at him kept it at bay. Once finished he turned to head back to the club, his eyes on the ground. He froze when he almost ran into a pissed looking Snow.

"Why won't you look at me or answer me?!" She growled. He ignored her and attempted to side step around her, he had no idea what he was messing with. She matched him, warningly she growled and bared her sharp fangs. He took no heed and attempted again to get past her. She allowed him to reach her side making him believe he was going to succeed only to halt him with her hand on his wrist making him back up and kneel. As soon as she released him she crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a hard line. He stood never looking her in the eye and tried to pass her again. Over and over they continued their painful dance in the dim parking lot. Finally they paused to catch their breath, her eyes boring into the crown of his head as he rested his hand on his bent knees.

"Why won't you answer?!" She roared finally, frustrated. She was shocked at herself for her out burst, she was usually in total control of her emotions usually only letting loose around her most trusted friends. What was this stupid bear doing to her?!

"Because I'm ashamed!" He roared back at her. "That's why dammit!" She stared at him, the shock in her eyes.

"Why are you ashamed?" She asked, her voice softer in the hopes she could coax it out of him. She saw his arm tremble and his jaw tighten, his ears pivoted back in his frustration. He opened his mouth to speak but another voice interrupted him.

"Ted get you ass in here, what in the hell are you doing?" It was Morris, and he felt a tinge of guilt.

"I'll be right there!" He shouted back, he then looked down at Snow. "Goodnight, drive safe." He said and she watched him walk away. He stopped about half way back to the club and without turning asked, "and please don't say anything about this to anyone." And then he slipped back into the club.

She felt the anger boil back up, she was so frustrated with him, that's the way it had been since she had first met him. His presence flooded her with emotion, she didn't understand it all. All these feeling s demanding her attention all at once, it why she was always snappy with him. He made her feel frustrated, angry, confused.

"Let's go home." She hissed and climbed into the car, once she had checked Ronyee she pulled out of the parking lot before flooring and tearing off into the inky night.