{"sf1_id":1481569,"sf2_id":"rn9xGGQm","title":" The Leaves of Fall Act 1: Co-Conspirators (Part 1)","author":"Oliver_Hart","words":5317,"posted_at":"2019-08-26T01:37:31.000Z","tags":["Adventure","Alternate Reality","Anon","Boy","Brother","Bunny","Classroom","Couple","Emo","Fight","Girl","Green text","Greentext","HMOFA","Halloween","Heterosexual","High School","Hmofa/","Human","Kissing","Plot Development","Rabbit","Siblings","Slow burn","Young Romance"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1481569-the-leaves-of-fall-act-1-co-conspirators-part-1","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/rn9xGGQm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/d9/ef/d9efaf91-168a-4e44-988a-79bab3adc88b","description":"You've never really 'fit in' with the heavily divided Ranchview High School crowd. Jock, Goth, Prep, Cheerleader, Nerd... you were never any of these. But as Halloween approaches, strange things start happening, and a dark ritual begins with the finding of a curious red book. It's a race against time for you and your friends to stop a group of students from ushering in an age of darkness, and to also figure out just what the hell is wrong with that rabbit.  \n~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  \n  \nAbout this version: originally, The Leaves of Fall was split into two pastebins to compensate for the length of the story. Given that pastebin has chosen to censor this story for ambiguous reasons, it will forever be stored here and on AO3. This new version contains spelling, grammar and content fixes. Please understand that the content is all the same as the earlier versions minus some sentences being changed and fixed up. I cannot stress this enough: no new content has been added. It's my hope that this is a cleaner, easier-to-read version of the story.  \n  \nCover: [https://imgur.com/a/vZS4Q](https://imgur.com/a/vZS4Q)  \nSam (drawn by Akella of /hmofa/) [https://imgur.com/a/nk3t1wT](https://imgur.com/a/nk3t1wT)  \nFan art collection: [https://imgur.com/a/SCCSIQv](https://imgur.com/a/SCCSIQv)  \nAccompanying playlist (WIP): [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9aXlzDRA49QKxgYsOV2JuDd410\\_nI-0J](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9aXlzDRA49QKxgYsOV2JuDd410_nI-0J)  \nAlternative link: [https://www.sofurry.com/view/1479078](https://www.sofurry.com/view/1479078)  \nTotal word count: 147,552 words","content":"# Act 1: Co-Conspirators\n  \n  \n\n* * *\n  \n\\\u003e\"Hey Anon, are you coming to the Spooktober Fest?\"  \n\\\u003eThe flyer is practically shoved in your face by Gloria, who doesn't leave people alone until she gets an answer  \n\\\u003eYou look it over, glancing back and forth between the poorly photocopied flyer for Ranchview's Halloween program and the eager eyed goat-girl, all dressed up like she was going to church  \n\\\u003eShe probably would be in church after school, now that you think about it  \n\\\u003e\"Well Anon? It's going to be so much fun! Candy, games, bobbing for apples, costume competitions, music…\"  \n\\\u003eShe leans in uncomfortably close and you can smell the incense she burned at Church before school radiating off her like perfume radiates off a teenage girl who just learned how to use it  \n\\\u003e\"…dancing…\"   \n\\\u003eYou choke, and you're not sure because of the innuendo or the thick smell of incense that blankets Gloria  \n\\\u003eDo you think she's going to leave room for Jesus?  \n\\\u003eLuckily, before you can summon up a lie to give to this poor Catholic school-goat turned public school crusader, an annoyed voice from behind you answers  \n\\\u003e\"Why would anyone want to go to a high school Halloween party, Gloria?\"  \n\\\u003eThe Goat's eyebrows narrow with anger. You can see the swear words on her lips, but she settles for something more PG  \n\\\u003e\"Was anyone asking you, Mike?\" She stomps her feet  \n\\\u003eMike, your longtime friend is leaning over your shoulder, reading the flyer. He grabs the flyer out of your hand and examines it  \n\\\u003e\"It doesn't even end until 2 a.m.! Why would anyone go to this?\"  \n\\\u003eGloria, of course, has an answer, as she always does  \n\\\u003e\"It's to keep kids from sinning and giving in to the devil's temptations!\" She shouts  \n\\\u003eGloria is quick to get like this, which can be both funny and dangerous. You know it's never happened before, but she could easily break a bone or two on your body with those curly horns. You just try to stay out of her way  \n\\\u003eMike, ever the fuckhead, has a quick retort  \n\\\u003e\"Halloween is the devil's holiday you know,\" he smirks. “Actually, it's a pagan holiday too. Wonder what old JC would think of you participating?\"  \n\\\u003eGloria takes a step forward, tongue gated behind her clenched teeth  \n\\\u003eHer fingers rip through one of the flyers in her hand  \n\\\u003e\"ACTUALLY, YOU IGNORANT DEGENERATE, THOSE ARE THE SAME THINGS. AND FURTHER MORE-“  \n\\\u003eYou spread the two apart with your hands before they can do the fusion-fuck-you-dance  \n“Okay, break it up!\" You shout  \n\\\u003eMike backs off, and this seems to remind Gloria of her Catholic poise and temperament  \n\\\u003eYou turn towards the goat with an answer, trying hard to sound as nice as possible  \n\"I'll think about it, okay, Gloria?\"  \n\\\u003eHer expression does a creepy 180, almost like someone flipped a switch in her brain  \n\\\u003eShe stands tall on her hooves and squeals with excitement  \n\\\u003e\"Okay Nony, but let me know as soon as possible!\" she smiles  \n“Right, will do,\" you return her smile, hoping she can't tell faked emotions from real emotions  \n\\\u003eHonestly, you don't think she can  \n  \n\\\u003eYou and Mike head down the hall, hoping to kill some time before class  \n\\\u003e\"You're not really going to that stupid shit, are you?\"  \n“Fuck no, I'm hanging out with you and Alex.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Thata boy. Thought you were being swayed by her charm and good looks.\"  \n\\\u003eYou snicker  \n\"Yeah man, it's those horns. They call it being horny for a reason,\" you reply sarcastically. “Besides, you know I have better taste in women than girls like Gloria.\"  \n\\\u003e\"I've yet to see proof.\" He smacks you on the arm  \n\\\u003eOh that cheeky fuck. He's lucky he's your best friend or you would have kicked his ass years ago  \n\\\u003eYou still might  \n\\\u003e\"Also, I hate the way she calls you 'Nony' like you're some kind of pet. It's creepy and condescending.\"  \n\\\u003eIt kinda bugs you too. You've got enough weirdness in your life already, but you're at least willing to try to explain this one away  \n“You know, it's probably from being homeschooled for like 10 years. That's probably why she's so weird and s-\"  \n\\\u003e\"-Such a bitch?\" Mike cuts in. “I thought being homeschooled was supposed to make you smarter than us poor public-school plebeians. Guess all it does is make you a socially stunted goody-two-shoes.\"  \n\\\u003eHer and Mike have never gotten along for one reason or another. Mike was the antithesis of what Gloria stood for. He was loud, forthright and rebellious. But to Gloria, what mattered most was his lack of faith  \n\\\u003eYou could even say she found it disturbing HURRR DURRR  \n\\\u003eWhen they got together, it was like an unstoppable force colliding with an immovable object  \n\\\u003eOne not willing to back down, and the other knowing just how to set the other off  \n\\\u003eYou can still feel the anger radiating off Mike as you two walk down the crowded halls  \n\\\u003eYou try to make a joke to ease the tension  \n“You know she's just horny all the time, right? That's how those Catholic girls are.\"   \n\\\u003e\"Ew, dude. I don't wanna think about that.\"  \n“No, look.\" You point to the top of your head where your horns would be  \n“Horny. See?\"  \n\\\u003eMike starts to laugh, and you can see the frustration on his face disappear  \n\\\u003e\"Fuck you, that wasn't funny.\"  \n\\\u003eSure it wasn't  \n  \n\\\u003eThe two of you sit in front of your locker chatting until the first-class bell  \n\\\u003ePeople come and go, moving like waters of a hormonal river  \n\\\u003eSome humans here and there pepper the crowd of otherwise a largely anthro population  \n\\\u003eIt doesn't bother you being in a minority (or at least not in the majority), but tensions between humans and anthros have only just lessened after centuries of negativity between the two groups  \n\\\u003eEven the cliques are mostly segregated, perhaps unintentionally  \n\\\u003eNowadays, everyone just side-steps the issue and the conversations  \n\\\u003eMike is completely unaware of the conversation to begin with as he starts explaining his plans for college  \n\\\u003eSenior year is an exciting time for anyone, and for Mike, it's the final step before he can 'leave this shitty suburb behind'  \n\\\u003eTalking about your future always made you a little nervous  \n\\\u003eYour mind wanders to what you'll do after you graduate next year  \n\\\u003eIt all seems so overwhelming  \n\\\u003eCollege? Trades? Take a year off? Travel?  \n\\\u003eFor Mike, it's all about going to college, 'finding himself,' and finding some tight pussy to bury his dick in  \n\\\u003eDespite your reserved nature, you kind of envied Mike for his certainty about the future  \n\\\u003eYou wish your brain worked like his sometimes  \n\\\u003eBah, there's still a year for you to figure out what you're going to do for the rest of your life  \n\\\u003eThat's not scary  \n\\\u003e…Right?  \n\\\u003eYou're listening to his babbling when seemingly for no reason, he stops talking all together  \n\\\u003eA look of terror spreads across his face  \n\\\u003e\"Hey, isn't that Sam Garlen over there?\"  \n\\\u003eYou look to where he's pointing and groan  \n\\\u003eSam Garlen: the name alone was enough to make you cringe, not to mention the smell  \n\\\u003eEverybody's had that one 'friend' in their life, the one who you're too pussy to tell off, right?  \n\\\u003eAnd maybe that one friend is also unbelievably awkward and weird and can't take a fucking hint that you don't want him around?  \n\\\u003eWell, that was Sam  \n\\\u003eMike bids you a quick goodbye, despite your pleadings that he take you with him  \n\\\u003e\"What, and risk Sam following us? Nah, he's your friend, you deal with him.\"  \n\\\u003eYou stamp your feet in anger as Mike slips into the crowd  \n“HE'S NOT MY FRIEND YOU ASSHOLE!\" You shout after him  \n  \n\\\u003e\"H-Hey Anon,\" Sam's weak voice squeaks behind you  \n\\\u003eYou jump a little bit  \n\\\u003eSam is standing behind you, hands shoved into the pocket of his oversized and dirty hoodie, head cast downwards, greasy brown hair covering his eyes  \n\\\u003eGod damn he moves fast, you didn't even see him sneak up on you  \n\\\u003e\"W-What were you and Mike t-t-talking about?\"  \n\\\u003eYou breathe a small sigh of relief. He must have not heard your conversation, or at least he's pretending not to  \n“Just talking about our plans for Halloween, nothing serious,\" you reply sharply, hoping he gets the hint  \n\\\u003eHe doesn't. In fact, when you mention Halloween, his broad rabbit ears prick up a little bit  \n\\\u003eHe raises his head timidly and brushes his cropped brown hair out of his eyes  \n\\\u003e\"H-Halloween?\" He stammers, catching your uninterested gaze before returning his focus to the floor  \n\\\u003e\"A-A-Are you going t-to the Sp-Spooktob-“  \n\\\u003eYou cut him off  \n“Dunno yet man, our plans are really up in the air right now. We haven't decided anything.\"  \n\\\u003eWhich was a total lie, but you can't stand to hear him talk sometimes. You think his parents were too poor or too stupid to correct his stutter or his anxiety issues  \n\\\u003eAnd now their 18-year-long bad decision is your problem  \n\\\u003eFucking poor people  \n\\\u003e\"Oh h-haha, w-well me too y-you know. L-Lots to do, lots of f-f-friends to make plans w-with…\"  \n\\\u003eNow this was just getting sad. You know he has nobody else. He follows you around like a lost puppy  \n\\\u003eSam anxiously twists his washed-out brown ears and shuffles awkwardly  \n\\\u003eYou kinda wonder if that hurts, but class is about to start so you need to wrap this up  \n“Did you need something Sam?\"  \n\\\u003e“O-Oh yeah!\" He says as he swings his ratty backpack over his shoulder and dumps it out onto the floor  \n\\\u003eA mountain of garbage comes spilling out, almost like his backpack is vomiting  \n\\\u003eWell, it looks sick, which fits with his attire; tremendously oversized hoodie, baggy sweatpants, generic sneakers, and to top it all off, none of it looks like it's been washed in weeks  \n\\\u003eSam quickly digs through the pile of crumpled papers, notebooks, broken pencils, a REALLY ratty comic book, and whatever else he's been keeping in there since the dawn of time  \n\\\u003eYou check your phone and pray he finds what he's trying to autistically show you before class starts  \n\\\u003eHis hands emerge from the pile holding a small red book, which he extends towards you  \n\\\u003e\"D-Do you k-know what t-this is?\"  \n\\\u003eYou squint  \n“Did you look through it yet to find out? There's nothing on the cover.\"  \n\\\u003eHe squeaks a little and pulls the book out of your face  \n\\\u003e\"Yes b-b-but I can't r-r-read it, I-I-I never learned c-c-cursive,\" he says, flipping open the rather thin text. “A-And s-since you're always r-reading books, I t-thought you…could…umm…\"  \n\\\u003eYou take the book from him and start to read through it, but you have to admit, you can't read it either  \n\\\u003eAt least not in the hallways  \n\\\u003eIt's page after page of this really crooked and spidery scrawl, an uglier kind of cursive than what you've seen your grandparents write  \n\\\u003eIt looks like someone wrote this with a fountain pen, as some of the letters have trails where the ink bled off the pen. You spin through the book pretty quickly, having concluded that there's nothing of value in it  \n“I have no idea what this says. It's like a conspiracy theorist's diary or something. Where did you get this anyway?\"  \n\\\u003eHe hesitates and starts turning the pages of the book like you did  \n\\\u003e\"T-The bathroom… F-F-Found it b-b-behind a toilet.\"  \n\\\u003eWell, that was gross and all, but you honestly need to get going because class is about to start  \n\\\u003eYou say goodbye and slip into the crowd, finally able to breathe a sigh of relief  \n\\\u003eGod that kid needs friends. Or at least some medication  \n\\\u003eYou glance over your shoulders back at him  \n\\\u003eHe's piling all the junk back into his backpack, quickly getting swallowed into the crowd, so much smaller than everyone else around him  \n\\\u003eYou spy a familiar looking Spooktober Fest leaflet go into his pockets  \n\\\u003eOh shit  \n\\\u003eLooks like you dodged a bullet  \n\\\u003eWell it's Friday, and so you probably won't have to see him for the rest of the day  \n\\\u003eTime to just take it easy  \n  \n\\\u003e\"H-Hey Anon…\"  \n\\\u003eGod damnit how does he keep finding you?  \n\\\u003eYou set down your sandwich and glare at the tiny rabbit  \n\\\u003eOf all the days where you and Mike and Alex didn't go out for lunch, it had to be today  \n“Hey Sam, what do you need?\"  \n\\\u003e\"O-Oh, I jus-just never see you in the l-lunchroom hahaha….\" He trails off, not knowing what else to say. “S-S-So, you eating l-l-lunch?\"  \n\\\u003eNo, you're writing your suicide note   \n\"Yeah, usually I'm out with my friends, but I have stuff to do today so I'm eating quickly,\" you tell him, giving yourself a way out  \n\\\u003eIn truth, you and Mike don't have the same lunch period, and Alex decided to skip school today, leaving you to fend for yourself, but you can't tell Sam that  \n\\\u003eWhy does this kid keep following you anyway?  \n\\\u003eYou get that he's oblivious to how much you're not interested in being his friend, and that his weirdness probably makes him dependent on you, but god, even other special needs kids can take a hint  \n\\\u003eMaybe he's got a crush on you?  \n\\\u003e…ew….  \n\\\u003eThe last thing you need is to deal with this awkward gayboy, but you don't know how to proceed  \n“Where do you normally sit?\" You sigh. Guess you're stuck until you can finish eating  \n\\\u003eYou start cramming food into your mouth  \n\\\u003eHe lets out a nervous squeak and starts twisting his ears again  \n\\\u003eReally? This is such a simple question, god damn  \n\\\u003e\"We-Well, I e-eat…ummm…I d-don't really eat h-here…\"  \n“Why?\"  \n\\\u003eHe shrinks a little further into himself  \n\\\u003e\"Too m-many p-p-people.\"  \n\\\u003eWhat did he mean by this?  \n\\\u003e\"I c-can't eat with the j-jocks,\" he explains  \n\\\u003eYou look over to where a crowd of surly looking students are sitting  \n\\\u003eThere's at least 20 of them packed onto a long table, and they're the loudest in the whole lunchroom  \n\\\u003eIt's all large anthros, but there's a separate, identical group of young humans wearing their letter jackets one table over  \n\\\u003eThat's the weird part about athletics. They're fully integrated here but still so… divided?  \n\\\u003e\"C-Can't eat w-with the n-nerds\"  \n\\\u003eThe nerds are spread out towards the back of the lunchroom, all of them rail thin and poorly dressed, poring over their AP textbooks. You know most of them because you're in the same advanced classes, but you don't associate with them on principle  \n\\\u003eThey at the very least have humans integrated with their clique  \n\\\u003eSam continues to list all the groups he can't sit with  \n\\\u003eTheater kids  \n\\\u003eBand Geeks  \n\\\u003eGoths  \n\\\u003eStoners  \n\\\u003ePreps  \n\\\u003ePopular kids  \n\\\u003ePunks  \n\\\u003eSlackers  \n\\\u003eCheerleaders  \n\\\u003eSo… everyone  \n\\\u003eExcept you  \n\\\u003eTo be fair, you and your little friend group don't really fit in well with the other kids either, but you had each other and three's a crowd, right?  \n\\\u003eBut god do you hate cliques and groups. The drama, the politics… you can see why Mike and Alex want to graduate so badly  \n\\\u003eStill, he's piqued your interests. If he can't eat in the lunchroom…  \n“Where do you actually eat then?\"  \n\\\u003eHe shuffles nervously  \n\\\u003e\"I-I d-don't.\"  \n“You don't what, eat in the lunchroom?\"  \n\\\u003e\"…E-Eat lunch.\"   \n\\\u003eYou raise your eyebrows   \n\\\u003eHow could he not have lunch?   \n\\\u003eEven if he's poor as shit, the school practically gives kids like him lunch  \n“Not even the reduced lunch?\"  \n\\\u003eHe shakes his head  \n\\\u003e\"I s-save it for d-dinner so I don't-“ he pauses, eyes suddenly splitting open with fear  \n\\\u003eHe inhales sharply  \n\\\u003eYou stop chewing  \n“Are you okay?\"  \n\\\u003eHe shakes his head, brought back down from his sudden, heart stopping insight  \n\\\u003e\"Y-Yes, f-fff-fine.\"  \n“Right…So why do you save your lunch? You kinda got distracted there for a second.\"  \n\\\u003e\"I'm just not hh-h-hungry enough to e-eat.\"  \n\\\u003eThat would explain why he's so creepy and skinny  \n\\\u003eCan malnutrition cause the dark circles under his eyes too?  \n\\\u003eHe's a shit liar because you could see him jealously eying your lunch from behind his greasy bangs throughout the course of this train wreck of a conversation  \n\\\u003eBut why would he lie?  \n\\\u003eWhatever, you just need to tolerate him for one more year  \n  \n\\\u003eYou look down at your half-eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich, then back at Sam, who's trying hard to look busy with the drawstrings on his rotten hoodie  \n\\\u003eMan, you really fucking love peanut butter and jelly. This kid better appreciate this  \n\\\u003eThe lord giveth  \n\\\u003eYou reluctantly extend the sandwich towards him and ask if he wants the rest of it  \n\\\u003eHe hesitantly accepts the offer and sits down to start eating  \n\\\u003eThat wasn't really an invitation to sit with you, god damnit.   \n\\\u003eMore like a 'get lost kid' sort of thing  \n\\\u003eYou sigh, hoping he takes the hint, but he quietly stares at the table while taking mouse-sized bites of the sandwich and swallowing hard  \n\\\u003eHe seems to be really taking his time with it, which is killing you, because this silence is once again awkward, and people are starting to give you looks  \n\\\u003eOh, you know the looks. The ones that every textbook and parent says not to give a person of another species, looks that could get you fired in a professional setting  \n\\\u003eHumans and anthros alike pass by your table, staring at you and Sam. Some in disbelief, others with malice. The jocks especially don't look too happy  \n\\\u003eThey're not cavalier enough to start something, but their faces say it all  \n\\\u003e'What the fuck are you doing?' They seem to say  \n\\\u003eAnd you want to say 'I'm trying here!' right back  \n\\\u003eYou start shoving food in your mouth a little faster  \n\\\u003eYou NEED to get this over with  \n  \n\\\u003eIt's Sam who breaks the silence this time  \n\\\u003e\"O-O-Oh! I almost f-forgot! I did s-some more drawings!\"  \n\\\u003eHe starts digging through his rotten backpack, and you internally groan. He's always trying to show you his drawings and doodles  \n\\\u003eHe pulls a handful of torn and crumpled papers out of his backpack and carefully spreads them open on the table  \n\\\u003eWell, actually, he was pretty good at drawing, you had to admit, but you just didn't care all that much about superheroes and comics. You liked books much more  \n\\\u003eHe starts leafing out his drawings, all of them in pencil or pen, and, not one to stray from habit, Sam's drawn only superheroes again  \n\\\u003eBrawny men with capes soaring above city skylines, striking macho poses, smashing their veiny fists into the faces of evil  \n\\\u003eBuxom women lassoing between buildings, hauling the elderly and children with them to safety  \n\\\u003eOne of them is an anthro of some kind, a baseball bat slung over his shoulders, a bandanna across his face  \n\\\u003eMan you gotta show this kid Watchmen, or Transmetropolitan one day, give him some taste  \n  \n\\\u003eYou're practically inhaling your bag of chips as Sam tries his damndest to explain each drawing and each hero to you  \n\\\u003e\"A-A-And this g-g-guy is called t-the Electric T-Texan b-because—“  \n\\\u003eA sudden explosion of voices and shouts cuts off Sam, filling up the lunchroom  \n\\\u003eThere's a crowd of students, at the far end of the room, all shouting and jeering at something  \n\\\u003eYou stand on top of the lunch table to get a better view  \n\\\u003eSam remains seated, nervously tucking in to himself  \n\\\u003eYou scan the crowd for something, trying to see over the heads of students  \n\\\u003eSuddenly, the crowd parts, and a well-dressed young otter, a prep named Jordan, comes tumbling out from amongst the ranks and crashes against a nearby table. Blood pours from his nose  \n\\\u003eA large gray wolf, decked out in his red-letter jacket and dark denim comes bounding out, one eye swollen shut, frothing at the mouth with rage  \n\\\u003eThat was Trevor Nelson, the captain of the football team  \n\\\u003eJordan spins out of the way of Trevor's crushing blow just in time, and launches himself towards the larger mammal's face with a feral yell  \n\\\u003eCries of\u0026nbsp; 'Go for the eyes!' or 'Fuck him up!' are heard  \n\\\u003eWhat the FUCK is going on?  \n\\\u003eThe jocks and the preps almost NEVER had issues with each other, and here they are fighting like wild animals  \n\\\u003eAnother development catches your eyes: Gloria spearheading a group of frightened looking teachers and staff down the stairs towards the lunchroom  \n\\\u003eShe doesn't move fast in her ankle-length denim skirt and buckled shoes, but damnit if she's not trying  \n\\\u003eWith the authorities on their way, this wouldn't last much longer, but the two anthros continue savaging each other like they're not about to get suspended and kicked off their respective sports teams  \n\\\u003eWhen the teachers finally pull the two apart and restrain them, there's a puddle of blood and torn fur all over the floor  \n  \n\\\u003e\"If anyone wants to get suspended, then stick around! If not, go back to class!\" Mrs. Lang, a mustang, shouts  \n\\\u003eThe crowd almost immediately disperses at the threat of referrals and write-ups  \n\\\u003eA small group of five goths led by Vanessa Doermuth, are the last to leave the lunchroom  \n\\\u003eYou can see them chuckling loudly, clearly having enjoyed the death match between the “normies\"  \n\\\u003eMan, of all the groups out there, you might hate the goths the most. Buncha antisocial freaks who hate anyone who doesn't hate life…  \n\\\u003eVanessa's group strolls past Gloria, who is parasitically hanging on the fringes of the teachers, as if she had some valuable input to give  \n\\\u003eThe doe puts on a contented sneer as she walks by  \n\\\u003eIn response, the goat stamps her hooves and grits her teeth, trying to convey some message  \n\\\u003eVanessa flips her off, and Gloria, flustered and holding back her un-Christian urges, defensively shoves the large crucifix around her neck towards the goths as they ascend the stairs  \n\\\u003eThey laugh even louder at her  \n\\\u003e\"Anon, Sam,\" Mrs. Lang snaps her fingers. “C'mon, let's go.\"  \n\\\u003eAs you're packing your stuff, you notice that Sam isn't moving. He's got his head pointed down, his drawings still littering the table  \n\\\u003eHis hands are tucked deep into the pockets of his hoodie  \n\\\u003eAnd he's trembling all over  \n\\\u003eYou knock twice on the table  \n“Sam? You okay?\"  \n\\\u003eHis head shoots up  \n\\\u003eYou can see how wide his amber eyes are, even from behind his uncropped bangs  \n\\\u003eHe shakes his head and shivers  \n\\\u003e\"S-Sorry, yeah. I'm f-fine. I-I'll s-see you l-later,\" he says quietly  \n\\\u003eYou go to leave, but you see Sam still isn't moving  \n\\\u003eYou open your mouth to say something, but Mrs. Lang glares at you  \n“Have a good weekend Sam,\" you say, and you make for the door  \n  \n“I'm telling you dude, it was like they'd gone rabid or something. I've never seen two mammals tear at each other like that before,\"  \n\\\u003eMike tells you to keep your voice down and not to use the 'r-word' so loudly in public, especially around the Shop N' Save after school  \n\\\u003eHe asks if you want to get your ass kicked  \n\\\u003eYou apologize, but keep going on with your story  \n\"Like have the jocks and the preps EVER had problems with each other?\"   \n\\\u003e\"Not since I've been at Ranchview. Carly would probably know, since she graduated a few years ago. She used to be a Cheerleader, so maybe she's in the know,\" he says somewhat sarcastically  \n“Seriously, I wish you were there to see it. We're talking claws out, face mauling stuff here Mikey. You would have loved it, dude. Real videogame shit.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Real videogame shit,\" he mutters, almost laughing. “Where did my pretentious friend go?\"  \n“Where's my loud-mouthed friend always up in everyone's face?\"  \n\\\u003eMike picks up a basket and starts heading for the candy aisle, ignoring your teasing  \n\\\u003e\"Hey, did Alex tell you he was working today?\" He asks. “He might be able to give us the 'proletariat discount.'\"  \n\\\u003eYou shrug your shoulders and follow Mike down the candy aisle  \n“I never asked him. Maybe he's working, I don't know. He skipped school today so I didn't see hi-“  \n\\\u003eAnd right on cue, a voice crackles over the store's loudspeaker system  \n\\\u003e\"Attention shoppers at the Ranchview Shop N' Save. We hope you're having a great shopping experience, because all you're doing is filling the bellies of the pigs that exploit us.\"  \n\\\u003e\"To all you Shop N' Save Smile Associates out there: Every single commodity you sell is another link in your own chains. The violence against the gentle laborer's soul shall stand no longer!\"  \n\\\u003e\"Smile Associates, lift your heavy eyes! Cast down the shackles of corporate slavery! You have nothing to lose but your green aprons! You have nothing to los-“   \n\\\u003eThere's sounds of a brief struggle on the mic, and then an older, out of breath voice broadcasts through the store  \n\\\u003e\"Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize for that. Also attention all shoppers, visit our seasonal aisle and pick up those last minute Halloween treats. Bags of peanut butter cups are now buy-one-get-one-half-off. Thank you.\"  \n\\\u003eThe speaker crackles off, and the shoppers go about their business like nothing happened, shambling down their respective aisles.  \n\\\u003eYep, Alex was at work  \n  \n\\\u003eYou locate Alex by tracking his striking yellow beanie towering above the stooped rows of the pharmaceutical aisle where he'd been imprisoned after his little stunt on the PA system  \n\\\u003eHe's busy assisting a mother bear and her completely-embarrassed-this-is-so-not-happening cub find estrus blockers, scent masks, things that'd make a vulnerable and confused cub going through puberty blush redder than a Mormon walking through the underwear section of a department store  \n\\\u003eThe shelves are all picked clean, so they're not having much luck  \n\\\u003eIs it breeding season or something?  \n\\\u003eYou squint at the cub, who is trying her damndest to stay as far away from her mother as she socially can  \n\\\u003eWait, you think she goes to your school or something, you know you've seen her before  \n\\\u003eShe must be a freshman  \n\\\u003eYou lose sight of her as a crowd starts piling up around Alex. Mostly mothers, sometimes daughters, and you can recognize most of them. They're all cheerleaders as well.  \n\\\u003e\"I'm sorry everyone, but I promise you, we don't have any more estrus blockers or scent masks. We're getting a fresh shipment tonight, so please-“  \n\\\u003e\"You're sure you don't have any in the back?\" The mother bear begs. “My daughter's more riled up than two rabbits on their honeymoon!\"  \n\\\u003e\"MOM WHAT THE HELL!?\" Her daughter looks like she's on the verge of tears  \n\\\u003e\"Nope, we're completely out,\" Alex responds. But the crowd keeps closing in tighter and tighter  \n\\\u003eA frustrated request to speak to the manager is echoed through the mob  \n\\\u003eFeeling like he'd finally found common ground with the madness of the crowd, Alex sighs and smiles  \n\\\u003e\"You don't wanna speak to Mr. Smith, trust me. He doesn't understand our plight, sitting up there in his office chair, driving his 2004 Honda Civic-“  \n\\\u003e\"Excuse me, but did you just say OUR plight?\" An anthro fox steps forward. “What does a human know about what our children are going through? Aren't you like 16?\"  \n\\\u003e“Actually, I'm 18, and I understand what it's like being under the heel of the state. The oppressor is up there right now, and let me tell you, he's not going to listen to you-“  \n\\\u003eThe crowd erupts in anger, closing in around him  \n\\\u003eOh shit, this is bad. They're about to eat your dumb shit friend alive  \n\\\u003eYou freeze up, not knowing what to do, and you curse yourself for always being like this  \n\\\u003eLuckily, Mike is two steps ahead of you  \n\\\u003e\"Comrade Alexi!\"  \n\\\u003eAlex turns towards us and looks like he's about to die  \n\\\u003e\"We could use some 'assistance' at the checkout!\"  \n\\\u003eRelief spreads across Alex's face  \n\\\u003eHe nods, and tries to squeeze through the crowd as politely as he can  \n\\\u003eThis only angers them further  \n\\\u003e\"I'll be right back folks, let me go talk to Mr. Smith for you and see where we are with the shipment. Shop N' Save thanks you for your patience!\"  \n\\\u003eHe practically sprints towards the registers  \n\\\u003eMike keeps pace, but you're having trouble not looking awkward. A quick glance over your shoulder reveals a dozen hateful stares, the only kind of hate that can come from a middle-aged woman having a poor shopping experience  \n\\\u003eOne shudders to imagine what would happen had Alex tried to handle this alone  \n  \n\\\u003e\"Jesus Christ, did you see the way that rabid mob was looking at you?\" Mike practically shouts as Alex rings you two up  \n\\\u003eYou glare at Mike, heart skipping a beat as he lets the 'r-word' fly freely around so many anthros  \n\\\u003eAlex seems a little flustered, but continues scanning things  \n\\\u003e\"You're not kidding. I've never seen anyone behave like that before in my entire three years at this sweatshop.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Well you know how they get when it's that time of the year for them,\" Mike says  \n“That's not until like November for most anthros, dude. Don't you pay attention in class?\" You bite back, sounding a little bitter  \n\\\u003eMike shrugs   \n\\\u003e\"You know I could give a shit about class at this point. I'll figure that stuff out in the future,\"  \n\\\u003eAlex finishes ringing you two up before you can respond  \n\\\u003e\"Alright, your total comes to $16.63, and with the proletariats discount…, that'll be $4,\" Alex says.  \n\\\u003eYou smack a $5 on the counter and tell Alex to keep the change  \n\\\u003eKnowing him, that's exactly what he'll do  \n\\\u003eOutside in the crisp, late-afternoon air, you pause for a second  \n\\\u003eThere's a steady stream of anthros heading into the store, almost all of them women, and a lot of them you recognize from school  \n\\\u003eIt's almost entirely cheerleaders  \n\\\u003eWhat the fuck is going on?  \n\\\u003eMike is staring too  \n\\\u003e\"…You think they're all-\"  \n“Most definitely,\" you answer  \n  \n\\\u003eOn the car ride home, you turn down the music down a little  \n“Is it just me or has today been really weird?\"  \n\\\u003e\"What do you mean?\"  \n“I mean like, weird for Ranchview. The fight today, the sudden surge in hormonal cycles, that sort of stuff.\"  \n\\\u003e\"That's not a bad thing. At least something interesting is happening around town.\"  \n\\\u003eYou guess so, but it's still really fucking weird. Frankly, you just want to go home and relax for a bit  \n  \n\\\u003eYou pull up outside Mike's ordinary house, which is tucked between other ordinary houses in an ordinary middle-class suburb  \n“Am I still picking you up tonight?\" You say to Mike as he unbuckles his seatbelt  \n\\\u003e\"If you don't mind. Oh, and maybe kill your headlights when you pull up. I'm 'technically' not allowed to leave the house this weekend.\"  \n\"What did you do now?\"  \n\\\u003e\"Nothing, I swear. Now,\" he stretches out a fist to you, and you bump it  \n\\\u003e\"See you tonight bro, and thanks for the ride!\"  \n  \n\\\u003eThe drive back home is slow. Not because of traffic, but because you decided to cut around town and enjoy the drive  \n\\\u003eThere's this golden light coming from the cool and cloudless sky, and the trees are losing their leaves  \n\\\u003eThey've ripened up and are starting to turn to a rusted brown  \n\\\u003eWhen the wind came, they'd flutter down from their branches like tiny crispy bird feathers  \n\\\u003eLately you've started to appreciate the seasons and the pace of life in Ranchview a little bit more  \n\\\u003eThings are going to change when you graduate, like it or not  \n\\\u003eAll of your friends are going to move far away, and you're going to be stuck at the crossroads of life  \n\\\u003eBut for now, you're going to enjoy the fall. It was beautiful out here  \n\\\u003eHome is… well, it's not as beautiful  \n  \n\\\u003eYou flick on the lights in the kitchen  \n\\\u003eYou think of calling out to someone, but you know nobody is home  \n\\\u003eMom and Dad are away on vacation, and yeah, you like to be alone, but it's starting to get to you  \n\\\u003eHome has felt so empty lately  \n\\\u003eYou throw your backpack down in your room and hop on your computer, pulling up some music and shitty forums that you KNOW you shouldn't be browsing anymore  \n\\\u003eGuess you just need to kill time before tonight","series":{"name":"The Leaves of Fall","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1480382-the-leaves-of-fall-act-1-co-conspirators-part-3.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1485807-the-leaves-of-fall-act-1-co-conspirators-part-4.json"}}