{"sf1_id":2045589,"sf2_id":"dePYyQQm","title":"Even The Losers","author":"LuMan","words":1076,"posted_at":"2023-09-03T23:16:00.000Z","tags":["Equine","Horse","Romance","SFW","Slice of Life","bar","romantic"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2045589-even-the-losers","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dePYyQQm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/87/98/879897a6-c06d-47b9-bdb4-c4cdbbfb04ce","description":"Zackary has always played it safe his entire life. Has never taken a risk, especially with women. How can a horse like him ever hope to catch a girl's attention?\nThis is nice romantic slice of life. Nothing complicated here.","content":" **Even The Losers**\n\n\"Even the losers get lucky sometimes\" - Tom Petty\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Two hooved feet filled with trepidation clopped up the old wooden steps.\u0026nbsp; The sign on the door said \"no shirt, no shoes, no service.\"\u0026nbsp; But that of course was meant for other kinds, wasn't it?\u0026nbsp; For other people.\u0026nbsp; The \"hooven\" as they've been called in the past, have never been among the ones who needed anything more than a basic metal covering.\u0026nbsp; In times past it was even called a \"horseshoe.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Just like Zackary had.\u0026nbsp; He inhaled deep and exhaled.\u0026nbsp; A pulling a smile from his pocket he slid in through the old glass door.\u0026nbsp; There was no music, no flashing lights.\u0026nbsp; It was dark inside.\u0026nbsp; An under current scent of alcohol, sweetness, bitterness.\u0026nbsp; There was loneliness, regret, and humor hiding within the edges of it too.\u0026nbsp; His tall brown conical ears folded downward, his wide nose wrinkled.\u0026nbsp; He tried not to snort.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; After all, such things was frowned upon in polite company.\u0026nbsp; Not that anyone hanging out in \"The Bell End\" could be considered polite company.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He was wearing his best shirt, a blue Hawaiian.\u0026nbsp; His best pair of jeans that accented his rump just so.\u0026nbsp; Well, at least he thought so.\u0026nbsp; Garreth, his bovine friend had always told him that they did and if he was ever curious to try something new, he could teach him.\u0026nbsp; But Zackary wasn't interested.\u0026nbsp; _If only I was gay_ he thought as Garreth's offer came to mind.\u0026nbsp;_But it wouldn't work._\u0026nbsp; Garreth was a nice bull, funny and kind.\u0026nbsp; Good looking for a guy.\u0026nbsp; But you couldn't change who you are, no matter how desperate one got for company.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The bar seemed a mile long of polished mahogany with a bright brass pipe in front of it.\u0026nbsp; The stools were mostly occupied, some with couples canoodling, some single.\u0026nbsp; A bear stared down into his beer as if it was the last one he was ever going to get on the planet.\u0026nbsp; Next to him twin canines of some mixed breed necked and whispered into each other's ear, their tails wagging slowly in unison as they talked.\u0026nbsp; A few other red stools sat alone, like red life preservers in a sea of dark wood.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The stool at the end of the bar seemed unclaimed, at least Zackary hoped it was.\u0026nbsp; His breath caught in his throat as he sat down, his mind turning to all of those action and horror movies that started with a guy sitting in the wrong place at a bar.\u0026nbsp; He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, expecting to feel a heavy hand clop him on the shoulder and a gruff voice to shout \"hey\".\u0026nbsp; None came.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He'd never done anything like this.\u0026nbsp; He was always the safe one.\u0026nbsp; Always the happy one.\u0026nbsp; Always the gamer, the book worm, the movie nerd.\u0026nbsp; He never ventured further outside of his domicile than the grocery store, and one time to a church during Christmas, where he felt out of place and had paperwork shoved in his hands while the music blared on.\u0026nbsp; He never went back and ignored all their calls.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The chestnut-haired beauty worked like a pro.\u0026nbsp; Moving this way and that, her mane never out of place.\u0026nbsp; She answered questions, grabbed drinks, and before Zackary knew it, she was staring him in the face.\u0026nbsp; \"What'll ya have?\"\u0026nbsp; She asked.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He'd rehearsed this line a thousand times, pointing suavely in the mirror and saying \"your phone number, filly.\"\u0026nbsp; But now, his throat went dry.\u0026nbsp; His palms were wet.\u0026nbsp; He looked down, and mumbled, \"beer.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"We got thirty different kinds in bottle and eight on tap.\u0026nbsp; What would you like?\u0026nbsp; A Clydesdale?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He grunted more than answered.\u0026nbsp; She laughed, \"make you're mind up, I'll get back to you.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Then she turned.\u0026nbsp; Even her tail was brushed and beautiful.\u0026nbsp; He wanted to snort.\u0026nbsp; To bite his lip.\u0026nbsp; To cry in agony and race from the bar.\u0026nbsp; His fists clenched as he stared down at the dark wood.\u0026nbsp; He felt eyes baring down upon him.\u0026nbsp; \"You make your mind up yet, stallion?\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; It was now or never.\u0026nbsp; Everything was riding on this.\u0026nbsp; All through school Zackary had no chance with women.\u0026nbsp; He'd never even so much as necked with Clarissa Husky, and Clarissa necked with EVERYBODY.\u0026nbsp; He gritted his teeth, and pressed against that ball of emotion that blocked his words.\u0026nbsp; The dam in his throat creaked.\u0026nbsp; Cracked.\u0026nbsp; _Here goes,_ he thought.\u0026nbsp; It broke.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\"HiI'mZackaryyoucancallmeZackIsuckatthisIknowIdoIreallydobutIcouldn'tstandnotknowingyouanymorecauseIreallylikeyouandwanttospendtimewithyou!\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Silence.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; He had shouted his declaration.\u0026nbsp; Instead of saying it low and gentle he blurted the entire thing out, shouting over everyone and everything.\u0026nbsp; Even the bear who was staring down into his beer now was staring at him.\u0026nbsp; _Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit..._Zackary thought.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Huh,\" she said, and smiled.\u0026nbsp; The entire bar seemed to be holding its breath.\u0026nbsp; \"Zack you seem nice,\" she said.\u0026nbsp; \"I'm Katie and I'm off on Monday.\u0026nbsp; And if you have a few hours to kill, you stay here till I get off and walk me home.\"\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The cheer that erupted afterwards caused a larger shock to Zackary than her actually saying yes.\u0026nbsp; His hand shook a bit as he looked up at her.\u0026nbsp; He felt a heavy hand pat him on the shoulder.\u0026nbsp; \"Get him a Honey Bee on me!\"\u0026nbsp; Looking up, Zackary saw the grinning face of the bear earlier.\u0026nbsp; More congratulations came around.\u0026nbsp; More smiles, more good will.\u0026nbsp; And every once in a while, Zackary got a free beer or shot.\u0026nbsp; It wasn't enough to get him drunk, but it was far more than he was used to drinking, which was hardly at all.\n\n\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; And every once in a while, Katie would look up at him and smile.\u0026nbsp; That made every awkward touch, every moment of loud noises every moment of uncomfortableness worth it.\u0026nbsp; He had no clue then what would happen.\u0026nbsp; If he'd go awkward and silent when they were alone.\u0026nbsp; If he'd fumble the date and forget to get flowers or something else.\u0026nbsp; If he'd mess up everything entirely.\u0026nbsp; His mind had plenty of time to make him feel like a loser, to burn through every possibility later and force him into a muttering ball of mess alone back in his apartment.\u0026nbsp; But that was later.\u0026nbsp; Right then, in that moment, with each smile Katie gave him, Zackary felt like a king.\n\n  \n  \n\n"}