{"sf1_id":216263,"sf2_id":"ve3bMgq1","title":"Sweet Memories Chap. 3","author":"Rikuui","words":3462,"posted_at":"2011-01-24T19:01:00.000Z","tags":["Ferret","Ian","Jesse","Love","Memories","Pup","Tiger","Wolf","Wren","nick","sweet"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/216263-sweet-memories-chap-3","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/ve3bMgq1","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/87/2c/872c5b14-cb44-44d6-ba07-2e29598310c9","description":"","content":"\u0026nbsp;\n\nWren Adams, 20\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I woke up the next morning feeling a bit sore down below.\u0026nbsp; It was a good pain though, one that reminded me of the night before.\u0026nbsp; I had loved every minute of it.\u0026nbsp; I had fallen asleep being spooned by Ian.\u0026nbsp; I felt warm and safe so I leaned back into his chest and fell back to sleep.\u0026nbsp; Not five minutes later, my phone blared and I sat bolt upright.\u0026nbsp; I pulled out of Ian's arms, not disturbing him in the slightest, and checked the clock.\u0026nbsp; It was 6 a.m., way too early for someone to call, but I picked up the phone anyway.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I answered in the grouchiest voice I could muster, \"Hello?\" I growled**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Wren? Is that you?\" A voice said from the other end of the phone.\u0026nbsp; \"It's Ethan, sorry to call so early, but I wanted to check on you and apologize for Tara yesterday, she's a very impulsive person, I hope you accept my apology.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I didn't bare any ill will towards Tara, but she had gone a bit far yesterday.\u0026nbsp; \"I accept you apology but I wanna hear it from Tara before I forgive her.\u0026nbsp; I'm gonna have a scar across my forehead now and you can ask Ian, I'm a very vain person.\" I said jokingly.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So you forgive her?\" He asked hopefully.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Of course, everyone has moments like that.\u0026nbsp; She did go a bit far though, Ian gave me hell over yesterday, and he thinks I might need stitches.\" I said laughing, as if it was an option, I hate needles.\u0026nbsp; I am so not letting a doctor near my face with one of those pointy pain dealers.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"She feels really bad ya know.\u0026nbsp; Just to let you know she was drunk.\u0026nbsp; She also wants to talk to you, hold on.\"\u0026nbsp; I held on.\u0026nbsp; I had to hear this, the resident badass apologizing to me?\u0026nbsp; Wow do I feel special.\u0026nbsp; Cynical?\u0026nbsp; Who me?**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; A voice came over the phone then.\u0026nbsp; It sounded sad and kinda painful.\u0026nbsp; \"Wren?\"\u0026nbsp; She said,\u0026nbsp; \"I wanted to let you know I'm sorry for hurting you yesterday.\u0026nbsp; Please stay in the band?\u0026nbsp; I don't want such a good player like you leaving because of something stupid that I did.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Tara sounded sad and genuinely sorry, \"Come to band practice today and I'll make it up to you I promise!\"\u0026nbsp; She said.\u0026nbsp; She sounded desperate.\u0026nbsp; I guess she was sorry, but suspicion is in my nature.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I'll come to practice today you don't have to worry Tara.\" I said, catering to that desperate sounding voice, \"Just please, next time you bash down my shower door, use something a little safer...like a nerf bat or something!\"\u0026nbsp; I said, jokingly.\u0026nbsp; She didn't laugh.\u0026nbsp; Tough crowd.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We said our goodbyes and hung up.\u0026nbsp; By the time I was done with the phone Ian was awake.\u0026nbsp; He was in the kitchen making coffee, now how did he know where I hid my coffee beans?\u0026nbsp; I walked into the kitchen, setting the phone down on the table, and noticing that he was nude.\u0026nbsp; \"Ian jeez, put on some underwear or something before you start walking around in my kitchen.\"\u0026nbsp; I said pulling on that sumptuous tail.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"It's not like its anything you haven't seen before, Wren, just enjoy the view.\"\u0026nbsp; He laughed pouring two cups of coffee.\u0026nbsp; He set one down in front of me at the table.\u0026nbsp; \"So who was on the phone?\" He asked sitting down across from me, and taking a sip of his coffee.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I lit up a smoke and took a sip of coffee before saying, \"Tara, she was apologizing for yesterday.\"\u0026nbsp; I took another sip of coffee and looked at Ian.\u0026nbsp; He wore a very angry face.\u0026nbsp; I quietly sipped my coffee, looking nonchalant.\u0026nbsp; \"And you forgave her?\"\u0026nbsp; He asked finally, his voice full of rage.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Ian she was drunk and it was my fault anyway.\u0026nbsp; If I hadn't goaded her by asked you to stay the night, it wouldn't have happened at all.\"\u0026nbsp; I said, cautiously. \u0026nbsp;He stood up and walked around the table behind me.\u0026nbsp; He wrapped his arms around my neck and hugged me to his body.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Still, two wrongs don't make a right Wren, and attacking you went too far.\u0026nbsp; Last night wouldn't have happened if you hadn't goaded her, you say.\u0026nbsp; You're right, it wouldn't have happened and that would have been regretful for both of us.\"\u0026nbsp; He hugged me tighter.\u0026nbsp; \"I will never let anyone hurt you like that again.\"\u0026nbsp; He kissed my cheek then, and I leaned my head into his stomach, letting him do it.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The phone rang then.\u0026nbsp; This time I was smart and checked the caller ID before I answered.\u0026nbsp; I was work, of course it was work.\u0026nbsp; I let the answering machine get it.\u0026nbsp; I asked for these days off I wasn't going to let my vacation be interrupted.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; The Answering machine clicked to life and Justin's voice rang over it.\u0026nbsp; \"Wren?\u0026nbsp; You there?\u0026nbsp; I heard what happened last night; it's all over the papers.\u0026nbsp; 'Crazed woman attacks ex-boyfriend in his apartment'.\u0026nbsp; What happened?\"\u0026nbsp; I picked up the phone then.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Justin, what's up?\" I said trying to sound cheerful.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Dude! What happened? Did your ex really attack you while you were in the middle of having sex with your male lover?\"\u0026nbsp; He said, sounding a bit fearful.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hold on a minute.\"\u0026nbsp; I said.\u0026nbsp; Taking the phone away from my face I told Ian, \"Go get some pants on and grab the paper from my box down stairs.\"\u0026nbsp; He did as he was told.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Ok Justin, just to clear up some things, I was in the shower, alone, and the woman bashed in the door.\u0026nbsp; Also she was not my ex-girlfriend, she's a band mate who seems to think I was mackin' on her crush.\u0026nbsp; Ian was over yes but we weren't having sex.\"\u0026nbsp; I took a sip of my cooling coffee, cold coffee is icky.\u0026nbsp; \"In the end the only injury I sustained was a gash to the forehead with a piece of glass from my shattered shower door.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Justin sighed, \"So what stopped her from beating you to a bloody pulp?\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Ian, he took the bat away from her.\u0026nbsp; What I wanna know is how the Lufkin Daily News got a hold of this story.\u0026nbsp; She didn't go home last night in a Police car; I sent her home in a cab myself.\" I said sipping more coffee.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Wait, you sent her home yourself?\u0026nbsp; Why? The woman was trying to kill you; I certainly wouldn't have called a cab, paid her fair and sent her on her merry way.\"\u0026nbsp; He said.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Justin I'm fine, isn't that all that matters?\u0026nbsp; Besides she called and apologized not two hours ago.\" I said cautiously.\u0026nbsp; Everyone seemed to think I was a frail little child, I could take care of myself, besides she had played a sneak attack, it's not like a guy can be prepared for everything right?\u0026nbsp; Right.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Did you at least file an assault report with the police?\" Justin asked sounding exasperated.\u0026nbsp; \"I can't have my best waiter beaten to bloody bits by a woman I don't even know!\"\u0026nbsp; He was joking with me now.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I think you're forgetting Justin, I'm not your waiter right now.\" I purred at him.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Well get your fuzzy butt down here, Chris called in and I don't have a server for the morning shift.\" He growled, jokingly \"Oh and bring that little boyfriend of yours.\u0026nbsp; I'd like to thank the man who protected my favorite waiter.\"\u0026nbsp; He hung up without saying goodbye.\u0026nbsp; Typical Justin to just leave me hanging like that.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I hung up the phone quietly submitting to his demands.\u0026nbsp; Demanding boss is demanding.\u0026nbsp; Ian walked in with my mail and the paper.\u0026nbsp; Perfect timing.\u0026nbsp; I opened the paper and found the story on my so called \"assault\".\u0026nbsp; Apparently that had gotten the story from an inside source.\u0026nbsp; Makes me wonder who.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"I wanna know how gave them this scoop.\"\u0026nbsp; I said, lighting another smoke.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Ian just looked at me, I know it wasn't him.\u0026nbsp; That only left three possibilities, the neighbors, the land lady, or Ethan.\u0026nbsp; I doubted Ethan would have freely exposed his sister to the press, and the land lady was out because she had been out at the time of the incident.\u0026nbsp; That only left the neighbors and one in particular came to mind.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Sierra was very beautiful for a ferret.\u0026nbsp; She had a nice body, very curvy and really well formed breasts.\u0026nbsp; I had had sex with her only once, oddly enough by the next day, everyone in the building knew about it.\u0026nbsp; I had been ribbed about it by my other neighbors for weeks, until they finally found someone else to rib on.\u0026nbsp; Sierra was definitely on the top of my list of suspects.\u0026nbsp; She's a total gossip hound all on her own.\u0026nbsp; Let her talk to the press and she became and inside source for a front page scoop.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I knocked on her door, already dressed in my Pizza Hut uniform, apron and all.\u0026nbsp; She answered her door in her teddy, so typical of her.\u0026nbsp; \"Oh my, what can I do for you Mr. Waiter?\"\u0026nbsp; She asked in a voice that was still heavy with sleep.\u0026nbsp; I held the paper in front of her face.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Why did you give this story to the press?\u0026nbsp; Don't lie to me; I pretty much guessed it was you all on my own before I called Lufkin Daily News.\"\u0026nbsp; She looked at me like I'd slapped her.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Well...\" She stumbled a little on that one word,\u0026nbsp; \"That woman is dangerous she doesn't need to be on the streets!\u0026nbsp; I was only looking out for you, seeing as you didn't even call the police.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I was angry now.\u0026nbsp; \"Sierra, I want you to call the press and order a retraction on this story, the woman was drunk and you didn't even ask me before you thoughtlessly called those story hounds.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I shoved my phone into her hands, \"Now, Sierra, I've already lost my patience with you\" She dialed the number for Lufkin daily news and asked for the retraction.\u0026nbsp; She shoved the phone into my chest and slammed the door in my face.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you!\" I called vindictively through the door.**\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Twenty minutes later Ian and I were at Pizza hut.\u0026nbsp; My little beaten up pickup truck parked directly across from the front door.\u0026nbsp; Ian held the door for me and I entered.\u0026nbsp; Jesse was standing at the counter, she was rather petite, for a wolf.\u0026nbsp; Her fur was the color of pure powdered sugar.\u0026nbsp; Her head fur however was a black so rich and in contrast to her body fur it was striking.\u0026nbsp; She wore glasses but behind them were beautiful eyes the color of polished emeralds.\u0026nbsp; Her ears were like the rest of her body, white, however they had flecks of that same rich black of her hair across them.\u0026nbsp; It was the same with her tail.\u0026nbsp; She was wearing the typical pizza hut uniform, red pizza hut shirt, and sensible black slacks.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Hi, Jesse.\"\u0026nbsp; I said looking across the counter at her.\u0026nbsp; Her eyes widened when she say the bandage across my forehead.\u0026nbsp; She had obviously just been reading the story, Sierra had boosted on the press.\u0026nbsp; She rushed around the counter and hugged me tightly.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Good to see you too.\" I said as she squeezed all the air out of me.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Wren, are you ok?!\u0026nbsp; When I get my hands on the woman that did this she is so toast!\"\u0026nbsp; Her hand found the wound and touched it.\u0026nbsp; \"Babe, that's gonna need stitches.\" Again with the stitches, good god people!**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"She looked over my shoulder at Ian.\u0026nbsp; \"Is this the guy you were having sex with when she attacked?\"\u0026nbsp; She eyed him suspiciously.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Jesse first off, she attacked me while I was in the shower, all by my lonesome, she bashed down the glass door with a metal bat, and second it was my fault anyway, if I hadn't snubbed her by asking Ian to spend the night she wouldn't have done it.\u0026nbsp; She was also drunk.\"\u0026nbsp; I said looking up at her.\u0026nbsp; She was the shortest person I knew and I still had to look up to look her in the eye.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So you are sleeping with him.\"\u0026nbsp; She smiled at me.\u0026nbsp; So that's what she had been getting at.\u0026nbsp; I didn't deny it, I just smiled at her.\u0026nbsp; She squealed, and hugged me again.\u0026nbsp; When she was done smothering me, she said \"You really need to get that wound looked at.\u0026nbsp; It is gonna need stitches or it won't heal right.\"\u0026nbsp; Again with the stitches? Really?!\u0026nbsp; \"I don't think you should be working with that, it could be dangerous.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I rolled my eyes and shook my head.\u0026nbsp; Justin took that as his cue to come to my rescue.\u0026nbsp; \"There you are.\"\u0026nbsp; He said, towering over the counter.\u0026nbsp; \"Took you long enough.\u0026nbsp; Now about that article-\"\u0026nbsp; Ian saved me by walking up beside me and putting his arm around my shoulder.\u0026nbsp; Took him long enough.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Jesse, Justin, This is Ian.\u0026nbsp; My best friend since diaper days and my savior from a slow death with a metal bat.\"\u0026nbsp; I said, looking to them both.\u0026nbsp; Jesse grabbed my hand and pulled me away from him, still eyeing him suspiciously.\u0026nbsp; She was very protective of her kids.\u0026nbsp; She was only three years older than me but she was a manager too, and considered us her kids.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Justin, meanwhile, had made his way around the counter, his hand out to Ian.\u0026nbsp; \"Nice to meet ya son, you really saved me from having to find a replacement for that knucklehead.\"\u0026nbsp; He said, nodding to me.\u0026nbsp; Ian laughed, \"That knucklehead is my best friend, I doubt I could live with myself if I had let him be clubbed to death by some chick he had just met.\"\u0026nbsp; They shook hands.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"So,\" I said, \"Did you call me up here to hear about the article or did you call me up here to work?\"\u0026nbsp; I looked at Justin, a smile spreading across his muzzle.\u0026nbsp; I gasped dramatically, \"I cannot believe you guys.\"\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Well can you blame us?\u0026nbsp; One of the coolest guys around gets attacked by a crazed woman in his own home?\u0026nbsp; Of course we're gonna drill you on it.\"\u0026nbsp; This from Jesse.\u0026nbsp; I put my paw to my forehead and shook my head.\u0026nbsp; Ian interjected,\u0026nbsp; \"Least you have something to hang on your pizza hut wall of fame!\"\u0026nbsp; He gave that charming three hundred watt smile of him.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Justin laughed.\u0026nbsp; It was a handsome, yet rough sound.\u0026nbsp; It was something you wouldn't normally hear from someone below forty.\u0026nbsp; Justin was twenty-nine.\u0026nbsp; Jesse snorted and headed towards the make line.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I looked at Justin, \"So do you want me on the clock, or don't you?\"\u0026nbsp; I asked, as cynically as I could manage.\u0026nbsp; He just laughed at me.\u0026nbsp; I checked my watch.\u0026nbsp; It was going on fifth-teen minutes till 12.\u0026nbsp; \"Thank you Justin, for wasting half of my day off.\"\u0026nbsp; I turned around and marched out the door.**\n\n**Jesse came out the door with Nick in tow.\u0026nbsp; Nick was Ferret.\u0026nbsp; His body fur was the typical ferret brown, and creamy splotches on his stomach and tail.\u0026nbsp; His head fur was odd.\u0026nbsp; It matched his body fur in color, however it curled into tight ringlets.\u0026nbsp; I knew for a fact he didn't get it permed.\u0026nbsp; Nick was an idiot but he definitely wasn't that gay.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Jesse hugged me from behind.\u0026nbsp; I was started to feel a little upset by everyone being so damned condescending.\u0026nbsp; Leave it to Jesse to kiss the wound and make it all go away.\u0026nbsp; Cynical?\u0026nbsp; Who me?\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We stood in the middle of the parking lot and I prayed for a car to pull in and hit us.\u0026nbsp; Finally, Jesse let me go and kept on towards my truck, closely followed by Ian.\u0026nbsp; Jesse caught up to, and passed me, leaning against the driver's side door so I couldn't unlock it.\u0026nbsp; I gave her a good hard stare and tapped my foot.\u0026nbsp; Nick jabbed me in the arm.\u0026nbsp; \"Come on Wren!\u0026nbsp; Lighten up a little.\"\u0026nbsp; He laughed.\u0026nbsp; \"It's not like we're doing it on purpose, we just wanted to know what really happened is all.\"\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I sighed and stared and the ground.\u0026nbsp; \"Nick, I'm not really in the best mood right, now.\u0026nbsp; I've got to go home, get changed and go to band practice.\"\u0026nbsp; I so wanted to be gone.\u0026nbsp; I just didn't know how to tell them without yelling at them and possibly hurting their feelings over a petty annoyance.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Jesse checked her watch, and looked up at me smiling.\u0026nbsp; \"Let me buy you lunch Wren.\"\u0026nbsp; She said, still smiling.\u0026nbsp; I knew that smile; she was inviting me to lunch to drill me with questions.\u0026nbsp; I had a better idea.\u0026nbsp; \"How about I take a fifth-teen minute smoke break and answer as many questions as you can muster in fifth-teen minutes?\"\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; She looked flabbergasted.\u0026nbsp; I had figured out her plan and was still giving her the satisfaction of asking her questions.\u0026nbsp; She would then undoubtly spread the word around to all the employees at Pizza Hut about what really happened.**\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Thirty minutes later we were on the road, heading back to my place.\u0026nbsp; Where had Ian stashed his car I wonder?\u0026nbsp; \"Your crew at Pizza Hut is an odd bunch aren't they?\"\u0026nbsp; Ian said, finally breaking the silence.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"Yea, they're always good for a laugh if you're feeling bad.\u0026nbsp; Jesse in particular.\"\u0026nbsp; I said, keeping my eyes on the road.\u0026nbsp;**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; \"What was up with that look she gave me at the restaurant when I put my arm around your shoulder anyway?\"\u0026nbsp; He asked, looking over at me.\u0026nbsp; He had taken to twiddling his thumbs.\u0026nbsp; \"Jesse is really protective of her 'kids'.\u0026nbsp; That's what she calls her crew.\u0026nbsp; She's a very loyal friend.\u0026nbsp; She'd take a bullet for most of us if it came right down to it.\"\u0026nbsp; I laughed at myself.\u0026nbsp; \"I actually asked her out at one point.\u0026nbsp; The date was awkward.\u0026nbsp; It was kinda like dating my sister; eventually we said fuck it and called it right in the middle of the movie.\"**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; Ian gave me a look, at that statement.\u0026nbsp; I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, not wanting to take my eyes off the road.\u0026nbsp; \"If you keep looking at me like that I'm going to blush.\"\u0026nbsp; I smiled; he returned my smile with an uncertain smile of his own.**\n\n\u0026nbsp;\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; We were finally back at my apartment.\u0026nbsp; I was changing in the bathroom, and once again the door opened, I turned around to defend myself but Ian stood looking at me in the door way.\u0026nbsp; I sighed, letting out a breath I hadn't known I had been holding, and started back on my hair again, I was working it into a tight braid.\u0026nbsp; According to Jesse my hair was my best asset.\u0026nbsp; Ian stepped behind me and his arm closed around my chest.\u0026nbsp; I think he was still a bit worried about going to band practice.\u0026nbsp; He was unsure of what to do.\u0026nbsp; A feeling my social butterfly hadn't felt in a very long time.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I leaned into him running my hands along his arms.\u0026nbsp; \"Ian...what's wrong?\u0026nbsp; You've been acting funny since I told you I had forgiven Tara.\"\u0026nbsp; His arms tightened and his buried his face into my neck.\u0026nbsp; I felt safe and warm again, entrapped in his strong arms.\u0026nbsp; Nothing could hurt us in here.\u0026nbsp; We were in our own little world of warmth and love.\u0026nbsp; I felt it then.\u0026nbsp; I loved Ian.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I pulled away from him then.\u0026nbsp; Turning around I cupped his muzzle in my paws \"Ian, you don't have to worry.\u0026nbsp; You can trust my judgment a little.\u0026nbsp; I know sincerity when I hear it.\"\u0026nbsp; He nuzzled his muzzle into my paws.\u0026nbsp; His face felt wet.\u0026nbsp; He had been crying.\u0026nbsp; I had fallen in love before, but rarely had the one I loved, loved me enough to cry for me, to be afraid for me.**\n\n**\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp; I took my paws away from his face and pushed into his chest, pushing him back to the wall.\u0026nbsp; I hugged him tightly then, it was my turn to bury my face into his neck.\u0026nbsp; \"Ian, I love you.\"**\n\n  \n  \n\n","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/216192-sweet-memories-chap-2.json"}