Chapter 12: That's it, man! Game over, man! Game over! -Private First Class William L. Hudson

Bryan sat against the library wall as his tears fell silently onto his arms. A couple of students passed by but few if any spared the rabbit a second glance. As Bryan sat there with his knees pressed up against his chest, the evening air did little to soothe the pain he felt in his heart.

"You know, concrete isn't the most comfortable seat," Chase's voice cut through his misery. The coyote stood over him, her usual disaffected expression softened slightly.

Bryan glanced up and quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his paw. "Go away, Chase."

Instead of leaving, she slid down the wall and sat beside him, maintaining a careful distance. "Can't. Dreo's blowing up all our phones trying to find you. I think he's only a hair's breadth away from calling campus security and putting out a missing persons report."

As if on cue, Chase's phone buzzed. She glanced at it and sighed. "Speaking of..."

"Hey," Chase answered, her voice flat. "Yeah, I found him... No, he's fine... Just shut up and listen for once, Spots. Give him space." She hung up without waiting for a response.

Bryan cringed slightly at the use of the oncilla's nickname- the one Jason had given Dreo.

Chase caught Bryan's reaction and grimaced, realizing her mistake as she clicked her tongue. They sat in silence for several minutes before Chase spoke again. "You want to talk about it?"

"Not really," Bryan mumbled.

"Good. Talking's overrated." Chase pulled out a pack of gum and offered Bryan a piece.

"But if you did want to talk, I'd tell you that straight boys who experiment in college are a dime a dozen. And they always end up hurting someone."

Bryan accepted the gum, his paws still trembling slightly. "He's different."

"They always are," Chase said softly, an unusual gentleness in her voice. "Until they're not."

Bryan opened the gum and put it into his mouth. The cool mint flavor made his tongue tingle and helped stop his runny nose. The rabbit wiped his eyes again with his sleeve.

“It's going to be okay you know," Chase said as she spotted something off in the distance and slowly stood back up, brushing off her pants.

Before Bryan could respond, footsteps approached. Toby appeared, slightly out of breath, with Nic and Dreo panting close behind him.

"Darling, you can't just run off like that!" Toby exclaimed. "We were worried sick!"

Dreo stepped forward, wringing his paws. "Bryan, I'm so-"

"If you apologize one more time, I'm going to stab you," Chase cut him off.

"What Chase means," Nic interjected, "is that we're here for you. Whatever you need."

"Right now, he needs a place to crash that isn't his dorm," Chase said, turning and offering Bryan her paw.

"Oh! Our couch is super comfortable," Toby brightened. "Well, comfortable-adjacent. But we have ice cream."

"We're over in Thompson Hall," Dreo added before his face took on a confused look as the oncilla turned toward Toby. "And since when do we have ice cream? We don't even have a freezer."

“That you know of…" Toby said under his breath.

A weak laugh escaped Bryan despite himself. These mammals, who he'd known for such a short time, were offering him sanctuary without hesitation. After everything he did, the yelling, the omissions- they still wanted to help him.

"Come on," Chase said, still holding out her paw. "Let's get you somewhere safe, where you can relax. Tomorrow's problems can wait until tomorrow."

Bryan took her paw and let himself be pulled up. He felt lighter surrounded by his friends as they led him away from the library - and away from the wreckage of what he'd thought was love.

The group split up as Bryan followed Toby and Dreo back to their dorm room. Chase and Nic saying they would be in the group chat if anything came up. While Bryan kept his head down and drug his feet as he followed Dreo and Toby back to their dorm. Their dorm room was on the fourth floor and was laid out similarly to his and Jason's, but it looked like each person had a private closet, and where their desks should have been sat a worn beige couch and a modest flatscreen TV mounted on the wall.

"Welcome to our humble abode," Toby announced, gesturing dramatically as they entered.

Dreo took off his bag that had been slung across his shoulder and tossed it onto one of the beds in the room."The couch may look questionable, but I promise it's more comfortable than the library steps."

Bryan walked over and sank into the offered seat, surprised to find the two weren't lying about the comfort.

As Dreo and Toby set about putting their things away Bryan glanced around as he fidgeted with his fingers. Toby's bed, and side of the room, was obviously on his right. Obviously because it was meticulously clean with warm tones accentuated with pops of decorative color. It honestly looked like a scene out of a college brochure.

Whereas Dreo's bed was on his left. The dividing line down the center of the room was almost so blatant that the space felt like two separate rooms. Dreo's side was— less organized. Mismatched blankets and pillows cluttered the oncilla's bed. Several braided scratching balls of various sizes sat on the floor. And scattered about in numerous piles were stacks of books and papers, each stack riddled with handmade bookmarks sticking out at odd angles.

As Dreo and Toby began to settle down, Bryan felt the need to break the silence.

"So-um, how long have you two been roommates?"

"Oh honey, that's a story," Toby perked up, settling cross-legged on his bed as his tail wagged. "Picture it - freshman orientation. There I was, fabulous as ever, stuck in orientation with a group of total plebeians."

Toby's paw waved nonchalantly in the air," I get settled with this beaver named Doug. Have you ever roomed with a beaver?"

Bryan went to answer in the negative but Toby kept on talking.

“Don't recommend it. It's the chewing darling. The non stop chewing. Anyways," Toby let out a sigh and rolled his eyes," here I was one day dealing with a class registration issue in the admin building when this spotted ball of enthusiasm practically tackles me with a Pride Club flyer."

Dreo groaned from his perch on his bed. "I did not tackle you."

"Shush you, I'm telling this story," Toby waved him off. "Anyway, we talked and got to know one another. As I said, I had the misfortune of being roomed with the absolutely dreadful beaver who couldn't appreciate proper fashion if it bit him on his flat tail. Meanwhile, our dear Dreo was stuck with some wrestler or body builder or something who kept leaving protein shake bottles everywhere."

"He was on the lacrosse team, and he wasn't that bad," Dreo interjected, though his expression suggested otherwise.

"Please, that beaver tried to organize my fabric swatches by size instead of color. Size! The audacity!" Toby clutched his chest dramatically."

“I meant Phillip," Dero said with an exasperated sigh.

“Who?" Toby asked, but again the dalmation did not wait for a reply before continuing, “Anyways— naturally, when housing opened up room changes, we made our escape. And I've been dealing with this," Toby waved his paw over at Derek's side of the room," ever since."

Dreo's demeanor softened as he took over the story. "Swapping rooms wasn't just about bad roommates. It was about finding someone who understood. Someone you didn't have to pretend around. But it has had its… challenging moments— like dealing with Toby's beauty routine."

The oncilla's words hit close to home, and Bryan felt the pain he had been ignoring in his chest flare up. "Jason and I... we weren't pretending. At least, I wasn't."

"You want to tell us about it?" Dreo asked gently, moving to sit beside Bryan on the couch.

Bryan Thought back to him walking in on a naked Jason. Then back to Jason holding onto him like he was the only thing in the world as his body spasmed. Then Bryan thought back to their first time together. Each of those memories felt special, too precious to share.

Bryan took in a shaky breath. "It started with tutoring. He needed help with his classes, and I... I just wanted to help. But then things changed. We got closer. Started spending more time together. He- he's not a bad guy. He's really sensitive. This morning, he actually suggested we go get coffee together."

"Aww- but wait, then. Who? What- did something go wrong?" Toby guessed, his usual dramatic flair replaced with genuine concern.

"Everything went wrong," Bryan's voice cracked. "He couldn't handle being seen with me. Then someone sent him that photo of the Pride Club listing, and he just... he completely shut down. Called me, accused me of manipulating him, told me to stay away."

"Oh, darling," Toby went over and sat on Bryan's other side. The dalmation reached over and clasped Bryan's paws between his own.

"The worst part is," Bryan continued, "I can't even be angry with him. He's terrified. Of losing his scholarship, his teammates judging him, his family's respect. And I knew that. I knew he wasn't ready, but I pushed anyway."

"You didn't push," Dreo said firmly. "You were just being yourself. There's nothing wrong with that."

"Isn't there?" Bryan laughed bitterly as his eyes began to water again. "Because right now, it feels like being myself just cost me the first person I've really cared about since high school."

"Listen to me," Toby said as he pulled Bryan into a hug, his voice uncharacteristically serious. "Any boy - wolf, tiger, or otherwise - who makes you feel ashamed of who you are isn't worth your tears. Trust me, I- we all learn that lesson the hard way."

Bryan felt Dreo's paw on his shoulder as the rabbit let his tears fall into Toby's fur.

"But what if he just needs time?" Bryan asked, voicing the hope he'd been trying to squash.

Dreo and Toby exchanged a look that spoke volumes. "Then he needs to figure that out on his own," Dreo said softly. "You can't put your life on hold waiting for someone else to be ready."

Bryan nodded, though his heart still ached at the truth in those words. The three sat in companionable silence for a moment, the only sound the wind blowing outside the dorm's window.

"Well," Toby finally said as he released Bryan. The dalmation stood and bounced to his feet. "If there is one thing Sandra Murrick taught me in Miss Congeniality it's that this situation calls for ice cream and terrible movies. And possibly a complete makeover, but we can discuss that after you've had some sugar."

Toby walked over to a closet on his side of the room and opened the door, revealing a mini fridge underneath the hung clothing.

“How long has that been there?" Dreo asked incredulously.

“Oh this old thing," Toby said as he pulled out a half pint of chocolate ice cream, “ I've had it for years."

“So when I needed to keep my leftovers cool the other day and you said I should just leave it outside on our window ledge-"

“Dreo," Toby said pointedly," I love you. But if you put fish anywhere near my mini fridge or microwave. I will skin you alive."

“And you have a microwave!" Dreo replied in disbelief.

Toby rolled his eyes as he dug around in his closet some more. “I know I have plastic spoons here somewhere.

“Unbelievable…" Dreo mumbled under his breath.

Bryan leaned over towards Dreo and whispered in a low voice, “You know for some reason I thought Toby was only like this during our club meetings."

“Nope. If anything he's more chill during the club meetings. He was honestly the easiest club member to find." Dreo replied back with a flat expression.

The rabbit and oncilla looked at each other knowingly and laughed.

“Don't think I didn't hear that," Toby said with his hands on his hips. “Chase isn't the only one unafraid to cut a bitch you know…"

Bryan and Dreo laughed harder. Despite everything, Bryan found himself smiling. It still felt like his world was ending, but the company made it easier to face. The three settled onto the couch as Toby queued up what he called "the perfect post-heartbreak movie marathon." Bryan found himself wedged between his friends, a half pint of chocolate ice cream slowly melting in his paws.

The first movie, “Eat, Prey, Love", was a movie about a lioness who found romance with a witty zebra while traveling and hunting together. It was a romcom classic that Dreo and Toby argued over and commented on every interaction between the characters throughout the entire film.

During the second movie, “While You Were Sniffing", a shy golden retriever fell in love with the brother of her unconscious crush. Toby was practically in tears towards the end. While Dreo had mumbled something under his breath about it being unrealistic to smell love and ordered them all a large cheese pizza.

The group ate as the third movie, “Legally Vixen", played. It was about A fashion-savvy fox who proved everyone wrong at law school while getting over her ex-boyfriend. As the three settled in on the couch, Bryan started to feel relaxed and began to slowly open up more. He occasionally offered small details about his time with Jason - their late-night study sessions, shared jokes about football plays, the way Jason's tail would wag when he finally understood a difficult concept.

"He was my first," Bryan said softly during a quiet moment in the movie. "When it was just us, he was... different."

Tears began to trickle down Bryan's cheeks again as the rabbit struggled not to openly sob.

Dreo and Toby exchanged another knowing look, but instead of letting the silence linger, Toby straightened up.

"Fine, I didn't want to do this, but desperate times call for desperate measures." Toby turned to Dreo. "Dreo, tell Bryan why you're still single."

Dreo's eyes widened, his spotted tail freezing mid-twitch. "Toby! I told you that in confidence."

"Yeah, yeah, and normally I'd take that secret to my grave, but this is a family emergency. We need some deep feels right now to show Bryan he's not alone." Toby gestured dramatically between them.

Dreo sighed, running a paw through his headfur. "Fine. But only because Bryan needs to hear this."

The oncilla shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his claws kneading the armrest. "Okay Bryan, listen. I know what you're going through right now and it sucks. I know it sucks. But it's going to be okay. Okay?"

Bryan wiped his eyes as he struggled to breathe through his nose, “How, how can it possibly be okay?"

Dreo looked over at Toby, who nodded. The oncilla sighed and started speaking again.

“His name was Marcus. My first- well everything. It was towards the end of high school."

Bryan's ears perked up despite himself, recognizing the weight in Dreo's voice.

"He was the star basketball player - tall, handsome leopard. Everyone loved him," Dreo continued, his usual enthusiasm replaced by quiet reflection. "We started dating in secret junior year. Study sessions, late-night texts, stolen moments in empty classrooms."

"Sound familiar?" Toby interjected softly, glancing at Bryan.

Dreo nodded. "Everything was perfect when it was just us. But in public? He'd barely look at me. Always had an excuse why we couldn't be seen together. 'The team wouldn't understand' or 'It's not the right time.'"

Bryan's throat tightened, uncertain of what to say. The oncilla had always seemed so upbeat, so positive. Seeing this side of Dreo was like seeing an entirely different person. As Dreo continued, the reason Toby had asked the oncilla to share this story became more and more clear.

"Then came senior prom," Dreo's voice cracked slightly. "I thought... I really thought he'd go with me. Instead, he took the lead cheerleader. Said it would look better for college applications. Like that made any sense."

"Oh honey, tell him what you did next," Toby encouraged.

"I showed up anyway," Dreo laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Walked right up to him in front of everyone with a rose and asked him to dance. He..." The oncilla paused, collecting himself. "He laughed and brushed me off. Said I was confused, that we were just friends. That I'd been reading too much into our 'study' sessions.'"

Bryan felt his own pain mirrored in Dreo's voice. "What did you do?"

"I left. Spent the summer heartbroken, thinking I'd done something wrong. That if I'd just been more patient, more understanding..." Dreo shook his head. “We all have our own journeys Bryan, and we all deserve to be with someone who wants to be with us for who we are. It took me a long time to realize that."

The room grew silent as a courtroom scene played on the TV in the background.

Dreo put on a forced smile as he continued. "But you know what? Last I heard, Marcus is still deep in the closet at his college, making excuses to his teammates about why he can't keep a girlfriend."

"And our dear Dreo?" Toby added proudly. "Is the fabulous president of the Pride Club, living his best life."

"The point is," Dreo leaned forward, looking Bryan directly in the eyes, "you can't set yourself on fire to keep someone else warm. Either Jason figures out who he is on his own terms, or he stays hiding forever. But you can't put your life on hold waiting for him to be ready."

Bryan wiped his eyes with the back of his paw. "Did you ever... did you ever regret being with him?"

Dreo paused, his smile faltering for a moment.

"No," Dreo said softly. "I regret not being more myself. For thinking I deserved less just because he wasn't ready. But I don't regret what we had- what we could have been, even if it wasn't meant to last."

The room fell quiet as the three turned and watched the rest of the movie in silence.

Afterwards Bryan stretched as Toby debated aloud with himself regarding the next movie selection. Dreo idly scrolled through his phone. The oncilla swiped a few times then hesitated. "Huh, the team won tonight. Twenty-eight to twenty-one."

Dreo immediately grimaced. "Sorry, I shouldn't have-"

"It's fine," Bryan said quickly, though his ears drooped slightly. "He- They worked hard for it."

Toby gave Dreo a pointed look from behind Bryan's back.

“Okay well... 'Me, Meowself, and Irene.' Or 'You've Got Tails'?" Toby said as he tried to steer the conversation back away from football or Jason.

Bryan glanced between Toby and Dreo and let out a soft yawn as he glanced at his phone. It was only half past eight, but the rabbit felt exhausted; mentally and physically.

“Actually guys, I know it's early- but would it be alright if maybe we settle in for the night?" Bryan said.

Toby nodded, “yeah, we can do that. And, Oh! Look at the time. I need to start my beauty routine anyways."

The dalmation stood and walked back over to his closet where he quickly began to pull out various bags.

Dreo chuckled to himself as he also stood, stretched, and walked back over to his bed.

“You better prepare yourself for this Bryan. It's quite the experience."

Toby placed not one, not two, but four bags on top of his bed as he glared over at the oncilla. “What did I say earlier? I will skin you and wear your fur as a luxury coat."

“Yes, yes- I'll remember to put the lotion back in the basket. Just please spare me the hose." Dreo replied as he picked up a dodgeball sized scratch ball and started kneading it between his paws.

Toby rolled his eyes as he started to pull out various bottles of products. Bryan couldn't help but sit up and look over at the arrangement with morbid curiosity.

“What even is all that?" Bryan asked, unable to help himself.

“Oh, now you've done it." Dreo groaned.

Toby turned and looked over at the rabbit with an eerie smile and narrowed eyes. “Well, I'm glad you asked Bryan. Don't mind sourpuss over there. Here, let me show you."

Thirty minutes later, Bryan was rubbing the third stage of a fur conditioner over his chest and arms. The rabbit's fur practically glowed as it reflected the light.

“And this one darling, oh this one really brings out the tones of your undercoat." Toby said as he squirted another mysterious lotion into Brian's paw.

Bryan looked over at Dreo with a pleading look as the oncilla just slowly shook his head. Bryan rubbed the lotion on the darker patches of his fur as Toby instructed.

“Good," the dalmation said with a nod,"now give that fifteen minutes and then we will use a wax coat sealer."

Bryan nodded in turn, and padded back over to the couch as Toby announced that he was going to, “apply his face."

“Heads up," Dreo said to Bryan as he tossed the rabbit a phone charger before flopping back onto his bed. The oncilla continued to absently paw at one of his scratch balls as he relaxed.

Bryan plugged in his phone and then pulled open his notifications as he waited— to dry? To cure? He didn't know- his fur tingled.

Besides the earlier messages from the Pride Club group, he had no other missed notifications. His paw trembled slightly as he opened the student portal. The victory announcement dominated the page, featuring a photo that made his throat tight. Jason, captured mid-snarl, body-checking an opponent while clutching the ball. The headline read "Ferocious Hightail Centaurs Win!"

The wolf looked powerful, primal - everything that had first drawn Bryan to him. Now the image just made him feel hollow.

A sudden pounding at the door made them all jump. Dreo stood and padded over to answer it, only to have Chase burst in, her fur bristling with anger.

"We have a problem," she growled, her eyes finding Bryan. "You're being reported to the student review committee for sexual harassment."

Bryan blinked, uncomprehending. "What? I haven't harassed anyone."

"The complaint was filed by Coach Martinez," Chase spat. "On behalf of one of his players. Want to guess who?"

"No," Bryan shook his head. "He wouldn't- Jason wouldn't do that."

"He already did," Chase's voice softened slightly. "Now you have to appear before the advisory board and defend yourself. This is serious Bryan. Sexual harassment is a zero tolerance offence. You could face expulsion or revocation of financial aid."

Bryan slumped as he gripped onto the couch, Chase's words feeling like literal physical blows.

Toby spun from his spot on his bed, face mask half-applied. "They can't do that without evidence!"

"They can start the process," Dreo said quietly.

“I don't believe it," Bryan said quietly, numbly “ I don't believe you. Jason— he wouldn't do that."

Dreo looked over at Bryan, his expression heavy with sorrow, "Bryan, Chase would know. Her mom's the assistant dean."

Bryan felt the room spinning. Just hours ago, Jason had been avoiding his touch in a coffee shop. Now he was trying to get Bryan expelled?

"There has to be some mistake," Bryan whispered, but the sick feeling in his stomach told him otherwise. This was Jason's solution - eliminate the problem entirely.

Dreo moved to sit beside Bryan, while Toby paced anxiously. Chase remained standing, her arms crossed.

"We won't let them railroad you," she said firmly. "Mom may be administration, but she's also fair. We'll fight this."

"But why?" Bryan's voice cracked. "Why would he do this?"

"Because he's scared," Toby said, his usual dramatic flair replaced by quiet anger. "And scared people do desperate things."

"We need to be smart about this," Dreo added. "Document everything. Every interaction, every text message."

Bryan nodded numbly, he held his phone out towards Dreo but it slipped from his paw and fell onto the floor. Every message from Jason, every study session log, might be his only defense. What had he even saved? Was there anything worth saving anymore?

"First thing tomorrow, we will go to the student admissions office, talk with the counselors." Chase said. "They have resources for situations like this."

"And tonight," Toby declared, "we make sure you're not alone."

Bryan looked around at these three mammals who'd known him for such a short time yet were ready to fight for him. His eyes welled up with fresh tears, but this time, they weren't just from heartbreak.

"Thank you," he managed. "I don't know what I'd do-"

"That's what family is for," Dreo cut him off gently. "And like it or not, you're stuck with us now."