Walking the distance.
#1 of WTD
Time seems to move slower when you're waiting for something, or something that shocks you into a stupor happens. In this case, Jess was waiting for class to end. His nose twitching in anticipation as his gray tail flicked back and forth in his chair. Not to just leave school like everyone else, he wanted to race home, slam his door, get on his computer and talk to his friend. He had friends at school, but the one he met on the internet was so much funnier. They seemed to have more fun chatting and showing each other things on the web than his actual friends did hanging out with him.
So now he hung onto the clocks every move. The two hands sliding slowly across the monochrome face. "C'mon move faster..." He caught himself whispering. Finally, the ring of bells from the deity's released him into the world. Blurs of species flew by him, other people seeming to mesh into a cavalcade of color. The wolf cut through crowds of rabbits, felines, raccoons, otters, and a small bunch of weasels as they scattered and yelled words that never met his ears. The spin of a locker combination, slam of a door handle and weaving through the crowds of other people brought him to his mother's car. "Hey hun, how was school?" Her ears were perked the usual way, telling jess nothing odd had happened while he was in school. The same greeting as any other day of the year. "Fine." He answered shortly as he closed the door and they drove from the parking lot. The same houses slid by as every other day, the streets they passed ticking down the time till jess could race to his room. "Did you brush this morning?" His mother broke the silence. Jess thought for a moment. "No, I forgot." His mother pursed her lips in disappointment. "You need to remember, our coats are getting thinner now that summer is coming." He nodded, not really paying attention. His mind was on the piece of technology that let him talk to his friend. How fragile it was, simply unplug it and it was worthless. Jess had a phone, but he remembered they hadn't exchanged numbers yet. Would they get that far? Jess would like that, but he was hundreds of miles away, how would that even work?
He shook the thoughts off as the vehicle stopped in front of their house. The house was modest, tan siding, two floors and enough rooms for them all, plus a guest room. Jess bounced up the front steps and left the door open for his mother. He took the steps to his room two at a time. Turn of a handle, and a soft click as the door closed brought peace to him. He cast his backpack aside as he tapped the on button to his computer. As he waited for his computer to start up he sniffed and caught a foul smell. Sniffing again he brought his nose to his arm. "Ugh, must have forgot deodorant too." He got up and changed his shirt, favoring a gray shirt with a dragon. The color matched his own coat, except for the line of tan that ran along his ribs.
Applying the deodorant as he walked to the computer, Jess noticed he had unread messages on his instant messenger. He sat down and sniffed at his arm again, sometimes your natural musk gets a little_ too _ strong. He scanned the message quickly, noting that none of them were particularly important. One did catch his eye. It was from Mafiafox, or Leo, the friend he was getting so excited over.
Mafiafox - Subject : Hey, we need to talk.
Message: Hey there. Something's been on my mind lately that I need to talk to you about.
Jess let the mouse arrow hover over the reply button for a few seconds. What could he possibly want to talk about? His eyes widened, could he be experiencing the same thing he felt? A connection, a bond, something a bit more than a friendship. He shook his head, it was probably just something simple, like vacation plans. He clicked the reply, throwing something short down. Leo usually got off work soon anyways.
As the message flew through the internet, Leo logged into the IM. "Jess! Dinner's done!" His mother called from down the hall. "Ah....damn." He quickly opened the IM and told Leo he had dinner and dashed from his room. His mother was already eating. "What's the hurry? Finally get an interest in your math?" He flopped down to the table, almost squishing his tail with his legs and started wolfing down the dinner. (No pun intended) "Please mom, they'd need naked..." "Hey now!" He chuckled, grateful she interrupted him. He hadn't let the little tidbit slip he was into guys, or the fact he was bonding to someone over the internet. Thinking about it now made him worry, what would happen if or when he told them? He didn't worry so much about his mother, but his father.....
He pushed the thought aside, engulfing the last of his food and ran back to his room. Again almost smashing his tail, he let Leo know he was back.
Leo: You got a minute?
Jess: Yeah, what did you need to talk about?
Here it was, the moment that had so much built up tension. Those few moments when your unable to communicate with the person as the respond. The few seconds between responses can rip your heart apart as your mind wanders. Jess felt his own heart race as he tensed.
Leo: I don't know how to really phrase this but....
Jess leaned forward, why did he do that? Breaking apart his responses just made the tension grow. (Don't yah hate that?)
Leo: I'm not sure, but I think I broke my pinky.
Jess: Aaw, that sucks hun. =(
He sat back in his chair, sighing heavily. He got all worked up for nothing. That didn't eliminate the possibility for something more though, he thought. Did he tell Leo about his feelings? Did Leo feel the same way? Anger started to leak into his mind. Why the hell was all this so difficult? He glanced back at the screen, his thoughts pushed aside for a moment.
Leo: It's not that bad, parents are fighting again though. Not sure what it's about.
Jess: Again? You gonna be alright?
Shit, was that too caring? the horrible pause of response started to take hold once again.
Leo: I should, how long are you gonna be on IM?
Jess: Not sure, I got tests tomorrow. Totally spaced off studying.
Leo: Talking to you takes my mind off things, it helps. =)
Who knew a simple text smiley face could bring so much joy? Jess found himself smiling as his fingers danced across the keyboard.
Jess: If you need anything I finally got unlimited texting on my phone.
Leo: I'd like that, in case something happens to you or me.
Jess gave his number to Leo, in return Leo provided his. One step closer to the answer he so eagerly wanted. If anything they could communicate easier this way.
Jess: I'll text you in the morning, night hun. =)
Leo: Hope you sleep well. =)
Jess turned towards his bed as his computers humming stopped. The comfortable, soothing confines of his bed soon met his gray fur. His mind wandered to Leo, they had exchanged pictures a few times. Jess could see Leo's entirely brown coat shimmer in the fading light of day. His golden amber eyes flashing with hidden emotion as his hands pressed against Jess's cheeks, guiding their lips towards each other. Jess wanted to reach out to the other wolf and pull him to his bed. They were so close Jess could feel the warm breath against his nose when a buzzing interrupted his dream. The warmth was so close, but so was the cold plastic of his phone. He flipped it open and saw a text from Leo.
Leo: Sorry if I woke you, parents are getting louder so I thought I'd text yah.
Jess: Its fine, wasn't really falling asleep anyway.
Jess rolled over onto his bed, laying his phone on his chest. He lay motionless, his eyes glancing around his room. This was his haven. When things were going wrong he would close his door and be safe. His room was where no one could impose on him. But now, it seemed empty and cold. The things he wanted so far away, yet so close.
Leo: I hate it when they get this bad, it just wrecks the whole day.
Jess: I'm sorry hun *hugs*
Leo: *hugs tightly* You think friends get this close?
He couldn't think of much to say. The answers to his questions were so close. One text message and this whole thing could be figured out.
Jess: No, but I'd like to be more. I worry about you.
The same fear of response, the same break in communication, crept into his mind. His paw grasped firmly around the phone, almost willing it to buzz with the enlightening notice of communication. Finally.
Leo: *Nuzzles your shoulder* I love you.
Words, just words, yet they carry all the feeling the other person puts in them. A medium for us to express ourselves. Jess stared at the phone, this was it, this was his answer.
Jess: *hugs tighter* I love you too.
The next day Jess was a wreck. He found himself pushed through the first part of the day with no problem. He was happy that him and Leo had found a mutual understanding. But come the later of the school day he found himself questioning it. His science test stared back at him blankly as he thought. Where they rushing this? Leo and I haven't known each other more than a few months. What is the central hub of the nervous system? The brain, was he thinking too much? He had too, the only thing holding them back was distance. What organ directs the flow of the circulatory system? The heart, this has to work. We love each other, there's no question of that. He thought smoothly after that, tossing the paper to his teacher moments before the bell rang.
Jess walked to his mothers van with a smile tugging at his face. Soon, he would be talking to Leo while doing homework. Jess crawled into the van as his mother greeted him and they took the usual route home. Just as they reached their last turn his mother kept driving. "Where we goin mom?" He asked, not turning away from the window. "I was hoping we could talk." This statement brought him around to look at her. This could be good and bad. "What about?" His tail twitched nervously as he tried to keep his ears trained forward. "You've been spending a lot of time on that computer." Oh, here it comes. "Your father and I are just worried your spending too much time on it." He shrugged, looking back out the window. "Don't worry mom, as long as my grades don't drop." She turned back towards their house. "What are you doing on it that takes so much of your time?" He turned to her again. "Talk to friends, poke around the internet." She stared at the road as their house grew near. "Oh, what are your friends like?" "just, friends I guess. Regular people." His mother nodded. "Okay, I worry that you're not thinking of what's best for you. Remember, your friends don't always have the best intentions." His anger flared, but he quickly dismissed it. "I'm fine, mom. Don't worry."
Finally, his room. As he waited for his computer to load he sent a text to Leo to see if he was free. He got a reply almost immediately. Sitting on the edge of his bed he thought about his mother in the car. Could she possibly know he was seeing someone over the internet? No, she wouldn't be able to get on his computer. He pushed those thoughts aside. He sat at his computer for awhile, checking his email, reading news and viewing some artwork when his phone gave a shrill static jingle.
His phone shook violently in his pocket. In a quick motion he flipped it open and kept his hand below the counter.
Jess: Hey, you gonna be on IM soon?
A smile slid across Leo's brown muzzle. He glanced around to the other cash registers in the grocery store, no managers hiding.
Leo: Yeah, I have 15 min left.
He slid the phone back in his pocket. As his sight came back up from below the counter he saw a large bear standing in front of him. A square plastic tag pinned to his shirt that read. "Steve- Manager." Leo sighed, setting his hands against the rail of the conveyor belt. "Leo, need I remind you of our phone policy?" "No Steve, I know perfectly well that I'm expected to pay the utmost attention to our customers. To show we care!" He added a coy smile and thumbs up. "Cute, but stuff the phone next time." Steve chuckled and sauntered off. "By the way, you can leave early. I hear yah got some ass waiting." He spun to stare at Steve's own coy smile. "How the fuck did you hear that?!" The bear's eyes widened as he waved his hands. "Shut up!" Leo clasped his hands around his mouth, his ears wiggling to hear anyone laughing. "Anyways, one of your roommates mentioned you typing on your computer a lot, then your phone goes crazy. And you've been all sun shine and daisies the last few days." Debbie, that bitch. He slung his coat on and waved to Steve. "Don't have too much fun." Leo glared at him as he pushed the doors open. He flicked his phone and sent Jess a text that he was on his way home.
Slamming the door to his dilapidated red and rust colored car Leo walked up to the three level house. It only looked like two levels from the outside, but the submerged basement was as large as the other floors. Opening the door, he flopped his uniform in the entryway closet. To his right was the living room, his left the kitchen and directly in front of him was a split staircase. He was at the first step to descend into the basement when someone yelled from the living room. "How was work?" Leo poked his head around the corner. Debbie stared back at him. "Good, if someone could keep their damn mouth shut." "So I was right." She leaned forward. Leo stared at the short feline snout, he gray spotted coat shimmered from the single lamp behind her. He caught her light blue eyes seeming to search him. "What?" She sighed, crossing her arms. "Was I right?" Leo sighed and swung around to go to the basement. "Deny it all yah want! I know you got someone!" His tail lashed in anger as he technically gave the wall the bird.
"Yo, man." He couldn't get any peace in this house could he? Leo walked by Corban, your typical stoner. He was a yellow-tan rabbit that liked his green, and that wasn't money. "Hey." Is all he gave for a reply as he closed the door to his room. Peace, finally.