Chapter 6: Well, You've Got Me. By All Accounts, It Doesn't Make Sense. -Kronk... again, because I'm the author and can title my chapters however I want.

Over the next week or so things started to resemble a semblance of what most would consider “normal" between the two roommates. Each one tried to go about their day-to-day activities while avoiding the other out in public. The initial awkwardness Jason and Bryan had first been overwhelmed by slowly began to fade. Gradually, day by day, it began to be replaced with an unexpected but comfortable familiarity and routine.

Their interactions in the dorm room became a careful dance of established boundaries. Jason maintained his new habit of sleeping in his clothes, while Bryan developed an elaborate schedule of when to change and shower to avoid any awkward encounters. The rabbit would often sit and study at his desk while Jason worked out while sitting on his bed, both pretending not to notice the other. However, when Jason would return from practice still damp and smelling faintly of lavender from the showers, Bryan would still find creative ways of distracting himself.

The two established a system of signals. A napkin pinned in the door jam meant privacy was needed. Jason had originally insisted on a sock on the doorknob, but Bryan had flat out refused saying that was far too cliche. Headphones meant no talking, and a coffee cup left on desks became their way of saying "rough day" without words.

The awkwardness hadn't completely disappeared, but it had transformed into something more manageable - almost comfortable. Though neither would admit it, they had both stopped emailing the dorm committee requesting alternate room assignments. Jason also seemingly “forgetting" to follow up with Coach Martinez about the issue.

Another unexpected development was that the two talked at night. They talked a lot. Not really about anything particular or profound. They just talked. Each one just spitting out whatever was on their mind that day. Their nightly conversations became longer, spanning multiple topics from cartoons they watched as cubs to campus gossip.

They carefully danced around certain topics while growing more comfortable with others. If Bryan's eyes lingered too long on Jason's muscles, or if Jason's nose twitched at Bryan's scent, neither mentioned it. The two slowly became familiar with each other's quirks and behaviors. Most recently, the rabbit had become obsessed with trying to explain the plot of all nine FurWars movies to Jason. The rabbit only having varying degrees of success as Jason kept trying to compare the warring factions to different sports teams. Jason didn't seem to grasp the complexities of the multiverse in Bryan's opinion.

Jason on the other paw, was happy to go on and on about his increasingly frequent meetups with Jessica. After only a week the wolf and the cat had announced that they were dating. Bryan didn't really like Jessica from what he heard about her, but he was glad Jason was happy. The cat's playful nature and confident attitude drew him in, providing a welcome distraction from his academic responsibilities. They'd meet at the campus coffee shop, where Jessica would order increasingly complex drinks just to watch Jason struggle to pronounce them.

"It's a cara-what now?" Jason would ask, making Jessica giggle as she corrected his pronunciation.

The conversation between the cat and wolf would occasionally touch on Jason's roommate situation. But every time Bryan came up in conversation, Jason would casually complain about "Veronica from Brambleton," and Jessica's interest would quickly die down. However every time the wolf repeated the lie, his ears would flatten slightly with guilt.

Back at the dorm, Bryan and Jason didn't talk all that much about either of their families or coursework. Not since that one night. Once, a few days prior, Bryan had brought up his offer to tutor the wolf again. But Jason had just shrugged it off and quickly changed the topic. Bryan hadn't pushed.

What the rabbit didn't know as that after the third or fourth class, Jason began skipping his classes entirely. The wolf convinced himself that he could just cram for the tests and that if he struggled, Coach Martinez would just smooth things over. After all, Mike had said the football team was the school's top priority and he was the 'star' athelete. His morning routine shifted to meeting Jessica for breakfast and then hitting the gym instead of attending lectures.

When the wolf wasn't at Practice, he was out walking around town. Sometimes catching movies or just walking in and out of stores. On days when he did have practice, it became Jason's sole reason for being on campus. However his performance on the field became rather inconsistent as well. This was because a certain incredibly flexible cheerleader would often catch his eye and distract Jason during key plays.

Coach Martinez was also being especially hard on Jason. Often putting the wolf through extra drills and laps to “clear his mind". Coach had even had a one-on-one with him, but Jason brushed off the Coach's concerns. Jason knew the plays like the back of his paw. Practice was practice, He just needed to show off during the game. The first of which was happening that Saturday.

Meanwhile, Bryan also settled into a routine. His student worker schedule kept him busy most afternoons. The rabbit finding comfort in the library between tutoring sessions.

Dreo seemed to materialize randomly from time to time. The guy was not just a typical spotted cat but turned out to be an oncilla, as Bryan learned through one of their conversations. The oncilla continued trying to recruit Bryan to his club. And Dreo often left rainbow-colored flyers in piles around the library that Bryan had to clean up.

"Just think about it," the spotted feline had said the last time Bryan saw him. "We're up to four members now and we need just one more before next week to register!"

Bryan told the oncilla that he would think about it and that seemed to appease the persistent feline enough to buy the rabbit some peace and quiet.

Besides that, Bryan's routine became more consistent and structured - morning classes, afternoon tutoring, and evenings in the dorm. The rabbit noticed Jason sleeping in and staying out past curfew more and more, but Bryan held back from commenting. Their fragile friendship, if that's what it even was, felt too fragile to risk.

The only other event of note that happened to Bryan was a chance encounter with Jessica in the campus coffee cafe. Bryan had been standing in line when the person behind him had said.

"So, Bryan, how's Veronica?"

Bryan's heart had stopped as he turned and saw Jessica standing in line behind him.

“W-who?" The rabbit had stuttered in response.

“Veronica," Jessica repeated with a smile that didn't quite reach her ears.

“Ohhh, Veronica!" Bryan exclaimed as he remembered the name from an earlier conversation with Jason.“Great! Yeah, fantastic."

"Must be nice having such a supportive girlfriend," Jessica said wistfully.

“Yeah…she's waiting for me back home. Can't wait till spring break!" Bryan awkwardly responded.

“Oh, so you live in Brambleton?" Jessica said.

A confused look passed over his face, “What? No, I'm from South Bend."

“Huh, I thought…" Jessica shrugged," Never mind, not important."

Bryan's mind shifted into overdrive as he struggled to search through the mental list of things Jason's fictional girlfriend story may have contained.

“You thought, that my girlfriend lives in Brambleton. And she does! But she's uh, staying with my parents. For the next couple of months! At least until spring break. Back in South Bend, which is where I live. We're getting pretty serious."

A small part of Bryan was slowly dying from sheer embarrassment. Where even was Brambleton? Did Jason just make that up? The rabbit chided himself.

“Okay… well that's, nice?" Jessica replied but her narrowed eyes suggested she wasn't quite buying it.

Luckily the barista at the counter saved the day by asking Bryan what he wanted to order. So the rabbit was able to turn around, order a snack from the display stand, and then leave. When all was said and done, not only did Bryan not get the coffee he so desperately wanted, but he also gained a memory so cringeworthy, that it would haunt his memories until the day he lay dying on his deathbed.

Naturally, when the rabbit had told Jason of the incident, the wolf had laughed his ass off. Then Jason proceeded to tell Bryan not to worry about it. Bryan had been sore about it for days. But even though the lie and the whole situation had left a bitter taste in Bryan's mouth, the rabbit couldn't stay mad at Jason. The wolf was so charismatic and Bryan didn't want to be mad at his friend, or roommate, or whatever they were.

The rabbit liked spending time with Jason. He wanted to spend time with him. By that Saturday Bryan had even decided to go to the football game that Jason had been so excited about all week. To…like– support the school team, and not just to see Jason in his football uniform or the wolf running in tight pants. The rabbit was only going for academic purposes and social observation. There was nothing weird or out of the normal about any of that.

Had the rabbit ever been to a football game before? No. Had the rabbit ever even seen a football game before? Also no. Did Bryan suddenly have an interest in sports? That was still a resounding no. But Bryan had looked up the rules and history of the sport one day while sitting at the library, and that counted for something. Not much, but something. Very small- it counted for something very, very small- almost immeasurable.

The game was against the River Valley Tech Griffins. According to the tidbits Bryan had gathered, it was going to be an easy win. The Griffins hadn't won a division championship in well over a decade. Their team, The Hightail Hall Centaurs, had home field advantage. And the game was a pre-season game, so it didn't even count towards the season rankings.

After hearing all that, Bryan wasn't even certain why anyone was even playing. But apparently, no one bothered to tell any of that information to the Griffins. The first quarter of the game was brutal, with the Centaurs sustaining two field injuries while being down by six points.

Jason was playing a position that Bryan had learned was called a wide receiver. The wolf looked amazing out on the field under the field lights, his fur damp with sweat. At least, that was Bryan's totally unbiased and strictly observational opinion.

Play after play the Centaur's offensive hammered the Griffin's defensive line. Yet despite repeated attempts by the Centaurs to push down the field, the Griffin's defense held firm. The second quarter was a stalemate with both sides only scoring a couple of field goals each.

By this point, Bryan had started to get an appreciation for the game. In his mind, the rabbit associated the player's number with game pieces, not unlike chess pieces on a chess board. Bryan ran through scenario after scenario of different combinations that might break through the other team's defensive line and score a touchdown. Unknowingly, and ironically, coming up with several common football formations that the rabbit was convinced he had just invented.

At the end of the second quarter, Bryan found himself cheering along with the crowd under his breath. By the middle of the third quarter, the Centaurs had finally managed to tie things up. Bryan was standing with the crowd, cheering and jeering with everyone else as the fourth quarter started. That was probably why he didn't notice Dreo as the oncilla walked up beside him.

“I didn't know you were such a fan!" The spotted feline said loudly over the noise of the stadium, catching Bryan off guard and causing the rabbit to flinch.

Bryan quickly recovered.

“Oh, well I'm not really. Just here supporting my roommate." Bryan said awkwardly as he sat back down on the bleachers.

Dreo smiled as he raised an eyebrow and looked Bryan up and down inquisitively, “You're roommate huh? Lucky guy."

“Stop," Bryan said flatly.

“What, all I'm saying is that he is lucky too," Dreo was responding.

“I know what you're going to say, and it's not like that," Bryan interjected.

The oncilla's grin widened.

If you say so," Dreo said with a shrug.

“What are you even doing here? I didn't picture you as a football fan either." Bryan asked with his usual sas, eager to change the topic.

“I'm not," Dreo said, sitting down next to Bryan.

The oncilla reached into his pocket and pulled out a slightly crumpled and now familiar pink paper that Bryan recognized as the Pride Club Registration form.

“Last day for club registration is tomorrow and this is the only student assembly before then. Thought I'd give it a shot and try to get our last signature." Dreo said with a dejected sigh.

“No luck then I take it?"

The oncilla shook his head slowly. “Sadly, no. Someone actually threw a hotdog at me just a bit ago. I mean who does that."

Bryan laughed and then caught himself, “ What? Sorry, that's not funny."

Dreo shook his head but still maintained his grin, “No it is, the guy said if I liked weiners so much, then I could have his. It was, very creative."

“No, you're making that up," Bryan said unsure if he should be mortified or continue to laugh at the absurdity of the situation the oncilla was describing.

The oncilla leaned back and made a gesture with his clawed finger over his chest, crossing his heart.

They both looked at each other and laughed.

“What an ass," Bryan said, catching his breath.

“I know right!" Dreo said between his own chuckles.

When they had calmed back down Dreo sighed again, his shoulders dropping.

“Honestly, I thought it would be easier to get people to sign up for this club."

“Well you know statistically," Bryan started but this time Dreo was the one to cut in, interrupting him.

“One out of ten individuals identify as L,g,b,t,q,u,i, or a. Yep. But," the oncilla waved his paw in front of him towards the crowd of people, “either people are too scared or here we are in a statistical anomaly."

Dreo's smile faded as he looked back over at Bryan, lowering his paw.

“I just wanted to create a space where people could feel like they could be themselves," Dreo said softly as he looked off into the distance, a sad note tinging his voice.

Bryan's ears drooped and the rabbit fidgeted nervously with his paws. A few memories flashed in his mind. Bryan's interaction with Jessica, the sour taste left in his mouth about pretending he had a girlfriend. The rabbit being pushed down, just a 'fairy' being put in his place. Bryan telling Jason he wasn't ashamed of who he was.

Bryan took in and let out a deep breath.

“I'll sign it," Bryan said softly, barely above a whisper.

“Hmm?" Dreo said as he turned his head and looked back over at Jason.

“I said, I'll sign it," Bryan said again, this time much louder.

“Really? Yes!" The oncilla's expression lit up, brighter than Bryan had ever seen.

Dreo leaped to his feet and pumped his fist in the air. Then stopped and awkwardly straightened his shirt.

Dreo cleared his throat, “I mean if you're sure you're ready to come out."

Bryan looked at Dreo flatly," I'm not in the closet."

“Oh, really? Well- I thought you, the wolf, that time in the library…"

Bryan's face and ears began to turn red.

"Do you want me to sign the damn paper or not!" Bryan exclaimed.

“Yes, very much so," Dreo replied as he scrambled to pull a pen out of his pocket. The oncilla handed the pink form and the pen quickly over to Bryan.

Bryan unfolded the paper, took another deep breath, and signed his name and student ID. Then the rabbit handed the pen and the paper back over to a positively ecstatic Dreo.

“Oh thank you Bryan!" The oncilla said, practically bouncing where he stood," You won't regret this. We already have a club room picked out. And activities - this campus isn't going to know what hit it!"

The rabbit was already starting to regret his decision as he waved Dreo off.

"Yeah, can't wait," Bryan said unenthusiasticly.

“You want to come meet the other members?" Dreo asked," I know they would be super excited to get to know you."

Bryan shook his head as one of the fourth quarter inning horns sounded, his attention briefly turning back to the game and the scoreboard. The scores were still tied, it was still anyone's game.

“Nah, maybe tomorrow," Bryan replied," think I'm going to turn in after this."

Dreo nodded," Alright, well here," the oncilla fumbled in his pockets and pulled out another piece of paper. A receipt of some kind. Dreo scribbled something on it and handed it over to Bryan who reached out and grabbed it.

“My number," Dreo said, “text me tomorrow and we'll meet up kay'?"

Bryan tucked the piece of paper into his pocket and nodded.

“Okay," the rabbit said.

Dreo nodded as well.

“Alright then, I'm going to go get this turned in right now. See ya soon man!" the oncilla turned and started quickly walking away. Maybe walking wasn't the best way to describe it, Bryan thought. Prancing away? That wasn't quite right either. It was more bouncy, almost a jog.

The oncilla waved over his shoulder as he pranced jogged bounced away. Bryan waved to the spotted feline as Dreo disappeared behind a group of people further down the bleachers.

A collective gasp and jeer from the crowd recaptured Bryan's attention. The rabbit leaped up to his feet and scanned the field for the source of the commotion.

The Griffins had scored a touchdown. It looked like an interception. How? The rabbit eyes darted between the various groups of players on the field as they began to disperse. That's when he saw him. There was someone injured on the ground, it was Jason! The wolf was lying on the field not moving and surrounded by a few of his teammates, the coach, and the field medic.

“Oh no…" Bryan said under his breath.

A couple of dozen yards away, Jason's head was foggy and he tasted blood in his mouth. He lay sprawled out on the cool damp grass. The lights shining down above him hurt his eyes. He could barely hear Coach yelling somewhere above him because of a loud ringing in his ears.

“What the hell was that!?! Come on, they're murdering us out here! Where's the call!" Coach Martinez shouted, to who Jason assumed was one of the field Refs.

The wolf's rattled brain struggled to replay the last couple of minutes. Derek, their quarterback had called the play, a risky fake out with a long pass up right field. Jason had been in position, the ball was thrown his way. Had he caught the ball? Yes. Yes, he caught it, and then? Then he had gotten hit by a truck, flipped end over end, and. And the ball! He had dropped the ball.

Jason tried to sit up but a heavy paw on his shoulder pushed him back to the ground. His ears were still ringing and someone was snapping their fingers next to either side of his helmet.

“Take it easy son," a blurry, out of focus blob said above him. Was that his dad? No, he had never met his dad. Plus his dad should be a wolf, not a fuzzy blob.

Jason blinked rapidly and his vision began to clear up. The fuzzy shape slowly morphing into the field medic.

“Good, good. That's it." The older otter said as he looked Jason up and down. “Ready to sit up?"

Jason nodded and the field medic helped him up to his feet. His head felt like jello. Jason felt unsteady but the otter placed an arm around the wolf's shoulder and helped him walk back to the team's bench. Someone handed Jason a water bottle which he half drank and half splashed all over his face. He couldn't concentrate on the rest of the game but he knew they had lost when the final horn blared. They had lost by one touchdown, because of him. He had dropped the ball.

The locker room afterward was silent except for the sound of shuffling feet and equipment being thrown into lockers. Mike wouldn't even look at him, and Derek's usual horseplay was replaced with stony silence. As the team filtered in from the field, Coach loudly called Jason into his office.

The cougar was grinding his teeth as Jason sat down across from the coach's desk.

“What the fuck was that Wilmeton!" Coach Martinez shouted from across his desk.

The cougar's office door was open and the locker room behind Jason suddenly grew even quieter. The cougar stood up and slammed his fist down onto his desk hard enough to make the drawers rattle. Jason flinched but otherwise didn't move.

“You half-ass practice, I get notices from your teachers you haven't been attending any of your classes… Look I don't give a damn! If you spend all your time chasing tail. But you do not, I repeat! Do not, drop the fucking ball! Do you understand!"

“Yes coach," Jason muttered.

“I can't hear you!" Coach Martinez shouted at the wolf.

“Yes, Coach!" Jason yelled back, his heart pounding in his chest as his ears went flat against his head.

The coach bared his teeth as he looked Jason over.

“You better get your shit together Whilmeton or so help me, Gods! You can kiss that scholarship goodbye. I'll put your ass on the first bus back to bum-fuck-nowhere faster than you can blink! And then you can crawl back home and cry to your mommy. Is that what you want!"

“No, Coach!" Jason yelled.

“You think this is a Joke Whilmeton! You think all your teammates deserve to pick up your slack!"

“No, Coach! Jason yelled, his voice slightly cracking.

Coach Martinez stared hard at Jason for a long moment before the cougar sat back down in his chair.

“Hit the showers Whilmeton. You have a lot of catching up to do."

“Yes, Coach!" Jason yelled as he stood up and walked out of the cougar's office.

As Jason entered the locker room, his eyes met some of his teammate's gazes. Some were full of pity, some quickly looked away, and other sets of eyes stared back full of anger. Anger at him. The wolf knew why. They all blamed him and he deserved it.

Jason threw his helmet into his locker and slammed his locker's door. The metal door rattled and popped open again. Jason punched it closed, hard enough to split open his knuckles and dent the metal. The pain in his paw radiated up his arm and stung, but it was a drop in the bucket compared to the wolf's other raging emotions. Jason picked up his bag off the floor and walked out. No one said anything to him as he left.