Chapter One
This is my first ever attempt at a story, so any form of criticism is welcomed!
I' m Marc Kingston and I live in a small town in Colorado. It's one of those towns where you know everyone. I'm a 16 year old grey wolf, 5' 9", with a white chest and stomach, and have a medium build. My friends Ryan, a jet black wolf, about 5'4", and Zac, a 5' 6" fox with the most neon orange fur, and I were all on our way to our first day of high school as juniors. They've been my best friends since kindergarten, and just this summer they came out of the closet and started dating. As I was jamming away to Shakira on my iPod, they were in the midst of their morning routine: discussing some dumbass topic. That day it went a little like this.
"I just don't see what the big deal is! Whether Lady Gaga is a guy or a girl shouldn't change the way people look at her. And why should his or her sexual preference change that, either?" Zac asked. "Well if we told the school you and I were dating, everyone would stop talking to us because we're gay. It just proves the point" Ryan argued in a hushed tone. I laughed a little. Sometimes they just have the oddest conversations. Turning to me, Ryan asked "Ready for our campout this weekend? Oh, Marc, how was your trip to Florida last week?" Nodding, I turned off my iPod and sighed. "What are you so bummed about?" "I bet it's about having to go back to school. That's what I've been moping about" Zac butted in. "Well, you know how I haven't been able to come out to my parents, right?" They both just nodded their heads. "Well, at my aunt's in Florida, I met this awesome guy Cedrick. We hit it off so well" I continued. Ryan gave me a funny look, reached up and smacked me on the back of the head. "What the hell was that for?!?" I protested. "Oh I don't know. Maybe if you came out to your parents, who are very understanding, don't forget, I wouldn't have to smack you for being such a dumbass! If you just told them, your life would be so much easier!" Ryan snapped. The snickering face Zac made got me so pissed I just wanted to punch him. But before I could do so, he pointed to the front of the bus.
"Hey look! It's that new kid. Trevor, I think. He just moved here from the Big Apple." "Its Troy, you goof" Ryan retorted, gently elbowing him in the ribs. I looked up the aisle just in time to see a silver furred wolf sit in the seat in front of us. "Wow! Did you see his abs?" Ryan gasped. "And those huge biceps?" I chimed in. "Hell yeah. Oh, there's something I think you'd like to know, Marc" "What?" Ryan leaned over and in a whisper he said "There's rumors he might be gay" I looked at him with a surprised face, and it was my turn. I cuffed him on the back of the head. "And it took you this long to say that, why??" I asked. He turned a light shade of pink. "Sorry" He sheepishly mumbled. I grabbed my backpack, gave a thumbs-up to the two, and took a deep breath before hopping into Troy's seat. He seemed a little surprised but smiled when I extended a paw. "Hi! You're new here, right? I'm Marc Kingston." He grabbed my paw and gave a strong shake.
"Nice to meet you, Marc! I'm Troy Simonds. My family just moved here from New York City."
"If you don't mind my asking, why move from the excitement of New York to this boring town?" I asked. While he wasn't looking, I stole a glance at his muscular figure. "How can I be sure he's gay without actually asking?" I thought.
"Well, we have family out here, and we just love the natural beauty of the area. By the way, are there any good camping grounds around here? I've never been camping, and I'm desperate to try it." He said.
"Actually, my friends Ryan, Zac and I are going camping this weekend. You up for it?" I asked. His face seemed to light up to this. "Really? That'd be great!" He enthusiastically said.
I replayed that moment in my head as I lay in my bed, trying to fully wake up. It had been two years since Zac, Troy, Ryan and I met, and became the closest of friends. He doesn't even mind the fact that Zac and Ryan are both gay and dating. "Wake up sleepyhead! The woods wait for no wolf!" Troy yelled, tossing a pillow at me. I rolled over to see Troy dripping wet, clad in only a towel. "I'm already awake! And mind telling me why you're standing naked and soaking wet in my bedroom?" I asked. As much as I knew I should, I couldn't take my eyes off of him. I never confessed to him that I was gay, or the fact that I love him. Only Zac and Ryan knew that. I heard the pounding of my heart get faster, and something else started to get stiff. I switched to Indian style, hoping my crossed legs would conceal my growing erection.
"Your dad left the sprinklers on last night, and I slipped into a mud puddle. So your mom told me to take a shower. Mind if I borrow some of your clothes?"
"No, go right ahead"
"Thanks!"
I watched with wide eyes and a gaping jaw as he casually dropped the towel, paying no attention to me, and proceeded to rummage through my dresser until he found a pair of boxers and put them on. When he noticed my look he asked.
"What?"
"Nothing"
I shrugged, but with the grin still plastered on my face. After he finished getting dressed he stopped in the doorway and looked back at me. "Hey Ryan and Zac are waiting for us downstairs. Don't be long, Sleeping Beauty" He chuckled, leaving the room. I rummaged around my room until I found a hopefully clean pair of jeans_. "God, I really need to clean this pigsty"_ I thought, slipping into a t-shirt and sliding down the stair banister. Sitting at the kitchen table, with their mouths stuffed with pancakes, sat Zac and Ryan, with Troy in the process of doing the same. "Do your mothers ever feed you?" My mom asked, obviously amused. "Yes, but we prefer your cooking by far" Zac said, swallowing half a pancake. She wiped something off in her smock and looked at me, then back at the guys. "That's why they can come over whenever they want. Why don't you ever compliment me and my culinary skills?" She asked, teasingly smacking me with a dishrag. I looked at the clock perched above the sink. 11:57. "Hey guys if we wanna reach the campground before dark, we gotta leave now" Before I even finished the sentence Zac and Ryan were bolting out the door, while Troy grabbed me and followed.
"C'mon, turn on the radio! It's so boring in here" Ryan whined. "We've only been on the road for twenty minutes!" Zac retorted. He must have thought the same, though, because he turned on the radio after a few minutes. "I wish my mom had made cookies. They're the best!" I mused, looking out the window. "Oh yea? Well taste these cookies!" Troy scooped up some Oreo's from one of the many junk food bags littering the car, and began pelting me with the black concoction. He couldn't stop laughing until he realized he had no more ammo. "Not so funny anymore, huh tough guy?" I asked, trying to hold a straight face. I grabbed an Oreo and chucked it at him, hitting him on his arm. I threw another one, but it missed. Instead it hit Ryan on the back of the head. "Ow!" He whined, rubbing the place of impact. Troy and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Why is there a food fight in my car when I am in no way involved?" Zac asked, trying to contain his laughter. "Because up until now, you've been quiet!" Ryan joked, tossing a Skittle at Zac. "Well, get a taste of this!" He scooped up a pawful of Skittles and tossed them at Ryan. "Okay okay we've had our fun. I don't want tons of ants in my car" Zac explained as we pulled into the dirt lot. Flinging one last Oreo at Troy, I slung my bag over my shoulder and hopped out of the car. "Hey can you lend me a hand?" Troy called. I walked to the back of the car to see him struggling to pull the tent out of the trunk. I put my bag down and grabbed a corner. "Sure. Pull on three, okay? One...two...three!" We both yanked until it popped out, where I realized how big it was.
"Damn! That's a big tent for one person."
"Well, that might be because it's not for one person."
"What do you mean?"
"You're always sleeping on the ground without protection from the elements in that old torn sleeping bag your dad gave you. So, I brought along one of our tents. It can fit like, five people in it." I could not help but think about how amazing and thoughtful of a friend he is. "Just try not to snore too loudly, okay?" He winked, throwing me a friendly punch.
Zac and Ryan walked up to us hand in hand. "We're going for a quick walk to stretch our legs. We'll set up our tent when we get back. See you soon!" Troy and I exchanged and amused look before nodding and waving them off. Watching Ryan wrap his arm around Zac's waist brought up the deep pain in my heart that longed for me to be able to come out and have a relationship with Troy, which I knew would never happen. This feeling has constantly ripped at my heart, and I felt it was time to end it. I sat down on a bench and called over to him.
"Hey Troy? Can you come over here for a sec? There's something I need to get off my chest, and I want you to hear me out before saying anything." He sat down with a bit of a surprised look, but he nodded.
"Okay"
"Do you remember the first time we met?"
"Of course I do! It was the day I met my best friend."
"Well, that day I met more than a friend"
"What do you mean?"
I sighed and silently prayed I was doing the right thing. "Troy, ever since we first met, I've been getting these feelings. And every time we're with each other, these feelings...they grow stronger and put more of a strain on my heart. I fear if I don't tell you this now, I never might." He looked a little confused so I continued. "Troy, I love you" I bit my lip, waiting for a reaction. He stood up with a shocked look."Oh no! What have I done!?" I inwardly wailed. "Wait. Let me get this straight. You're gay, and you love me?" He demanded, a bit angry. I looked away and got up. "I knew you wouldn't understand" I whispered. I started walking away when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder that stopped me. I turned around to see Troy with a look that said 'Please don't go'. "You didn't let me finish." He softly said. "My family didn't just move out here because of the family and the love of the outdoors. When I was a freshman I came out to my friends and school, and often got beat up for it. My parents didn't know and thought it was because of gangs, so they moved as far away from cities as they could. And I'm glad we moved, because otherwise I never would have met you" I put my hand on his, and when he looked up at me, I didn't hesitate. I leaned in and kissed him, muzzle to muzzle. After we broke apart, I looked at him and let out a sigh of relief. "I've always wanted to do that" I happily sighed. "So I guess that means you told him?" Zac asked, walking out of the woods with Ryan. "Yeah. And it turns out he's gay, too!" I exclaimed. "Is that so? Then maybe you two will have some fun tonight" Ryan jokingly elbowed me in the ribs. "Well, I'm all for it! Are you?" Troy asked. "Yes! But, um, I...I don't have any experience " I replied, blushing. I looked down at his big feet, and with a dirty thought my cheeks grew even redder. He reached for my hand and pulled me close. He leaned in and hugged me, and whispered in my ear. "I can take care of that"
More to come!