Life as we Know it
Chapter 1
...
Chapter 1
"Jason, wait up!" called the dark brown raccoon from the campus courtyard "Where ya goin?"Rodney, being Jason's best friend since junior high, knew everything about him and was always there for him.
Rodney's last class had ended minutes ago and he had noticed Jason storming down the sidewalk as soon as he was outside the large glass doors. He could tell his friend was out of sorts by his pace which was quicker and heavier than normal. Rodney could tell there was definitely something bothering him and began heading in his direction.
"Just taking a fucking walk!" Jason snapped back at his friend as he continued angrily marching away, intent on fleeing the storm clouds already gathering around his circumstances.
"Whoa, calm down man. What happened?' Rodney picked up the pace to catch up with Jason, taking the chilly night air into his strong lungs in deep, even breaths. It wasn't long until he was at his friend's side and could now see how troubled he was. "tell me what's goin on."
"Nothing, Rodney, just, nothing"
"Seriously dude I know when something's bothering you, now what is it?"
Jason's head was whirling with everything that had transpired that day. He had been walking around for quite a while, his countenance grim and his soul a dark, furious sea of bewilderment and hurt. Having Rodney there was like coming upon a lighthouse in a storm; a glorious salvation from certain destruction against the rocky, merciless shoreline of life. He calmed himself enough to stop, breathe, and still himself before speaking.
Clearing his throat, Jason looked up at Rodney, 'Just walk with me."
The two began to walk off campus and into the crisp night air, leaving Auburn Hills University behind them. They had walked together many times, but tonight they weren't just simply walking. Looking back, they would realize that, this very night, they were all at once walking away from and walking together into.
After a minute or two, Jason began, "Rodney, I don't know what to do' Jason had begun to cry and was coming up short of breathe 'Sam dumped me... for some JOCK with a big mane."
"What?!? You two were perfect together" Rodney replied, trying to balance the compassion in his eyes for his friend with the look of shock and outrage on his face at the news of Jason's breakup.
"I know, and it would have been two years next month! But that bitch came up to me today and with no remorse and said we were through. I guess I should've seen it coming though the signs were there and all." Jason continued crying.
"So that's it? She just came up and broke up with you? Did she even tell you why?" Rodney retorted.
"No" Jason replied; his ears down and his grey and white tail tucked between his legs "she said it and had this look on her face as if she was disgusted with me or something; like I was repulsive to her"
"You don't think she found out about........ you know?"
"No! No way, man, you're the only one who knows I'm bi. Plus, why would that have anything to do with it? Why would she look at me like that if that was all that was bothering her?"
"I don't know, just a thought." Rodney reached into his pocket. 'You want one?' he asked Jason as he pulled out his pack of cigarettes.
"Yea why not" Jason lit up the cigarette Rodney handed him and continued "You know, for the past two years I poured my heart and soul into that relationship, now I just don't know what to do" Jason whimpered a bit and went to sit down on a nearby rock.
"Come on Jason, it's not the end of the world, I'm still here for ya" Rodney said as he sat down next to Jason.
Jason was a beautiful arctic wolf/coyote mix. This chilly night was no match for his warm, beautiful fur and, in fact, he seemed to be quite well suited to the conditions.
Rodney had always admired Jason's coat and his lean, firm build. With a consoling hand on his friend's shoulder, it was difficult not to notice how strong Jason was even now as he cried and as his hot tears met the cold night air.
Their cigarettes shrinking and the sky darkening, Rodney gives Jason a reassuring pat on the back and stands to his feet.
"Hey man, I think we should be heading back to the dorms, its starting to get late and I think some sleep might do you some good." Rodney tossed his cigarette into the bushes and shot Jason a reassuring smile.
Jason began to rub the fur on his head between his ears as he took one more puff of his cigarette before extinguishing it into the ground "Yea we should probably get back"
Once Jason and Rodney made it back onto campus Carter had spotted them, carter was a junior at AHU two years ahead of Jason and Rodney and studying Auto-body work. Carter started as just an RA for Jason and Rodney but befriended the two of them after a couple days at AHU. For the most part they did everything together. Jason had a small crush on carter since move in day back in September, but the only other person that knew that was Rodney.
"Hey Jason, Rodney what's up? you two love birds out for a stroll?" Carter jokingly asked. He knew those two have been inseparable since Junior high.
For a grizzly bear type he was really built with little to no fat. When carter got closer he realized something was wrong right away. Jason was no good at hiding what he was feeling.
"Hey Jason what seems to be up your ass?" carter questioned
Rodney replied for Jason knowing he didn't want to repeat everything, and explained the whole situation to Carter. Carter consoled with Jason who had yet to perk up. The sun had set some time ago, and the only light was being emitted was from the harsh yellow lights beckoning across campus.
"If there's ANYTHING at all I can do to help you let me know Jason" carter explained to him
"Thanks Carter" Jason said "you too are the greatest" now directing his attention to the both of them
"OH SHIT man is it that late" Rodney half shouted looking down at his watch which read 11:10."Hey Jason I hate to leave you but I have to be to work at 4 in the morning if you need anything give me a call" Rodney stated as he jogged off.
Jason and carter both knew that wasn't going to happen because once Rodney hits a pillow he's out and not waking till he absolutely must.
"Hey Jason how bouts you come back to my dorm we can have few drink. Sound good?"
"Sure carter I'd like that"
Chapter 2
Jason and carter began to walk to Carter's dorm in Knights hall which was only a hundred yards from Jason's dorm in Frosh hall (unofficially named by the upperclassmen due to the high concentration of freshmen) They walk all the way to carters dorm on the
Second floor when carter gets a call.
"Hey Jason go ahead and grab beer from the fridge I'll be in, in a minute."
"Ok" Jason solemnly said. He went in then to the fridge where he skipped over the beer and grabbed the bottle of vodka, he wanted so bad just to get out of his state of mind. He grabbed some ice and a glass and did a couple shots before Carter came back in. he was starting to feel pretty good when Carter came in, but the feeling almost went away when he saw the look on carters face, he didn't even know carter could look so pale.
"What was that all about Carter"
"Well..... That was Jewel on the phone ( a mutual friend of carter and Jason, and best friend to Sam) she's REALLY pissed at Sam right now"
"What? Why is she pissed she not the one who was just dropped from a cliff for no reason?"
"She's actually more pissed that Sam wouldn't tell her everything. Well you know how females can be"
"Whoa... wait what? She knows why?"
"Well kinda but she couldn't get it out of her entirely, Sam said you know why."
"WELL WHAT DOES SHE KNOW? JUST TELL ME DAMIT, I just need to know"
"Jason take this how you will, but I'm not letting you out of this room till you cool off."
"OK WHAT EVER"
Carter had a fear that Jason wouldn't calm down so he went to lock the door before proceeding to tell him. Carter stroked his muzzle a bit, running his fingers through his thick brown fur then went on.
"Jewel told me it had something to do with her brother and you. Something you did that she said was unforgivable."
"SHIT! Aw shit. How?" Jason instantly began to freak out and shake his fur was moving in every which direction. Taking generous swig straight from the bottle then passing it to Carter who did the same.
"She said her brother had to get something off of his chest and that's all she knew." Carter was quite confused and Jason saw it.
"uhhhhhh" Jason expressed
"You know what? who cares? Who the fuck cares?" Jason was drunk by this point "it was worth it he was better than she ever was anyways"
Carter became even more confused and with a puzzled face asked "what do mean?"
Jason took another long drink from the bottle nearly finishing it. Slurring his words he said "I yyyiffed her brother a wwwhile back when we got drunk together. Well I guess at that point we weren't technically dating but her brother and I almost were. I guess it's more of a personal win, Yup, and she didn't even know. Well till now."
"Whoa! What? How much have you been drinking? "Jason looked down to the nearly empty bottle "hmph? I think this was full?" Holding the bottle of three olive." Jason let out a real smile for the first time that night.
"I don't get it. You yiffed her brother!? And That would mean....."
"I'm bi Carter, you alright wit that"
Carter sat up a little in his seat and tried to take in what his friend had just told him and trying to figure out if he was trying to pull his leg or if he really was serious.
"Yea man that's cool with me" Carter stated with smile after a few seconds of silence.
"Sweet I wanted to tell you for a while" Jason looks at carter with a relieved look. "You and Rodney are the only ones I've told, I really don't want to come out to everyone" Jason's expression changed in an instant from relief to serious
"Your secrets safe with me Jason, I know what it's like to be in this judgmental world" Carter went on, with his eyes fixed right on Jason.
"Thanks Carter you really are a good friend"
"I try my best" carter said with a chuckle "and speaking of being a good friend you're not leaving tonight I don't need campus police finding you strolling down the sidewalk in your condition"
"Hhheeeyy I'm bad that not, or wait..... not that bad..... maybe a little."
Carter began to laugh which made Jason laugh too. Jason finally had a good laugh and was loving it.
"Shit man I need a shower" Jason started with the smile still on his face, his nose kinda wrinkled from the feeling of alcohol running through his system. The warm feeling going through his blood un his already warm pelt of fur.
"Man me too I did a lot of running today, body like mine takes work you know we can't all look this good" carter replied with a chuckle. Carter stood up out of his recliner chair and went to his closet. Carter had a really clean room for someone in college. He grabbed two large white towels out of the closet then walked back over to Jason. "Wanna head down to the showers then?"
Jason kind of puzzled said "wow you kinda took that really well, much better than I thought you would." Jason stood up from the couch and stumbled a little.
"What are you talking about Jason? You're still the same person to me. Carter chuckled a little at Jason's remark. The truth was Carter really was shocked by this but didn't want Jason to know. He still had no problem with him whatsoever he was just caught off guard.
"You ready to head down to the showers?" Carter restated
"Yup" Jason half shouted from being so intoxicated
Jason stumbled out of the room followed by carter who shut the door behind them. The halls were silent since it was a week day at 130 in the morning. They began down the hall with the disant sound of a party going on two floors above them, carter knew about the party because he was going to go but decided not to when he found out Jason wasn't doing well.
"So Jason you and Rodney are pretty tight? Are you two?.... I mean do you?...."
"What? No he's just my best friend, he's completely straight."
"Oh okay, I was just wondering and all." Carter stated
Jason thought the question was a bit odd but didn't think too much on it especially in his current state of mind. His world was spinning right now and not a lot made sense.
Jason and carter headed inside the guys shower room. The light were off, and other than the faint sound of dripping water echoing off of the cold tiled floor it was dead silent. Carter flipped the light switch on and the florescent lights hummed on illuminating the room. The bathroom was set up in a fifty's style with all the showers on one wall and not much space in between. Jason being all so shy stripped down naked and turned on a shower and quickly jumped back when the ice cold water hit fur. Carter laughed at Jason's shock from the cold water. He then began removing his clothes as well. Carter put a shower between him and Jason then turned the water on hot. Jason got under his shower as it was beginning to warm up; he lathered up his body in soap he borrowed from carter. When Carter went to get under his shower he jumped back and realized it was the shower that didn't have working hot water.
"Jason laughed a little and said "paybacks a bitch isn't it?"
Carter moved over a shower and was now right next to Jason. Jason gave a half interested look but didn't say anything. When Carter saw his look he became nervous but at the same time curious, unsure of what could happen with Jason in his drunken stupor, and unsure what he was thinking.
"Hey could you pass me the shampoo Jason?" carter asked
"Yea" Jason bent over and picked up the shampoo from the shower room floor
"Thanks" carter said after getting the shampoo
"Mm hmm no problem" Jason replied
Carter then lathered up his fur, and couldn't help but notice Jason beautiful build perfectly outlined by the trimmed fur on his chest. His eyes followed down Jason's chest to his mid-section and taking a quick peak at his semi erect cock. Just at that time Jason was looking at Carter's semi erect cock as well but when he noticed carter was looking at him he became a little embarrassed, which was very rare for Jason. They both rinsed off and grabbed their towels on the opposite wall and began to dry themselves. Carter noticed that Jason was avoiding eye contact and felt bad he thought he might have done something wrong. Jason and carter got dressed with little talk. Jason was putting on some off Carters clothes because he hadn't been to his dorm yet. Carter flipped thee lights back off and they started back to the room. The whole walk back to Carter's room was silent. When they got into the room carter jumped into his bed and under the covers. Jason turned out the lights, but there was still plenty of light coming from the window because of the campus lights. Jason would normally had slept on the couch at carters but this time he walked over to the bed, Carter was still watching him. Jason climbed into the bed with Carter. Carter didn't say anything so Jason assumed he was alright with it. Jason got as close as he could without touching Carter. He was so nervous that Carter was going to get mad. Jason tried sleeping then but was disturbed by something hitting his head, when he lifted his head to see what it was he felt Carters arm slip behind his neck. Jason looked over and carter and saw he was still awake and that this was done intentionally. Carter smiled at Jason then Jason laid his head back down and returned the smile. For a while the two just stared and smiled until they drifted off to sleep.
The next morning carter could feel the warmth of the sun beating down on his soft brown fur coat. Glistening in the sun He stretched his arms and legs out then realized Jason was no longer there. Carter frantically looked around the room to see if Jason was still in the room somewhere till He looked at the clock reading 930 and remembered Jason's comp class at 9 this morning. As he sat up his mind wandered back to all that had transpired the night before. Chills shoot up Caters spine, last night something in him began to stir, something that he hadn't felt since some time ago. It was as if he was turned on by Jason. "But how?" he thought. Carter got out of bed and walked over to the coffee pot which Jason had been so kind to leave on for him. He began thinking this was crazy, Jason knew he was straight, but still he really enjoyed last night. "why?" he thought again. Then he began to wander what Jason was thinking about all this. While he was drinking his coffee mixed with a bit of Kahlua in he decided he'd better get ready for government. He was the only junior in his class since he forgot to take the class as a freshman. Carter went over to his closet and grabbed a pair of ripped blue jeans and a muscles shirt. As he was getting dressed he couldn't get Jason out of his head, his masculine body, his muscle weren't huge but they were super defined, and with his fur trimmed down around his abs and pectorals. His gorgeous two-toned face. Catching himself in a daydream Carter grabbed his government book and left the dorms. He saw Rodney walking down the side walk.
"Hey Rodney wait up." He called.
"What's up Carter?" Rodney asked.
"Oh not much" carter replied
"I saw Jason today in comp he's seemed...... much better in fact he had more of a bounce in his step than normal, it was almost annoying." Rodney stated
"Really? That's good" carter said. The same feeling carter had last night as the two of them fell asleep had come back. It was as though every time he heard Jason's name a spark went off inside him.
Rodney and Carter were both on their way to government.
"So what'd you two talk about last night." Rodney asked. He was hoping to figure out what made Jason so happy today.
"Oh umm... Jewel called me last night and Jason figured everything out" Carter said slyly
"okay.... sooooo?" Rodney waited for more information
"You know about Jason and Sam's brother right?" Carter asked
"shit! She found out? Well that kinda fills in the blanks" Rodney stated "wait! what all do you know now? If you know about that."
"Jason came out to me last night, and well he didn't go into all the details. But for the most part I'm assuming he wasn't holding anything back."
"he usually doesn't" Rodney reassured carter "so that's it? That doesn't explain why he was all smiles this morning."
"Yea.. I don't know either" carter said unconvincing and avoiding eye contact and now realizing Jason must have thought more into being snuggled up with him.
Rodney and carter were outside the pre req building of AHU. They were about to go in when Rodney stepped in front of carter
"You're lying, I can tell you have the same upbeat way of caring yourself as Jason had" Rodney said sternly. "Forget government lets go for a walk we need to talk"
"No I'm not" Carter retorted quickly. "And I'm not skipping class."
"dude I'm majoring in psychology, and you're lying out your tail hole" Rodney had a bit of a growl in his voice. "we can talk about this now or later when Jason is around."
"fine we'll go for a walk but I'm stealing some of your cigs cause I'm out." carter replied lighting one up on the sidewalk.
Rodney and carter walk away from the pre req building, and down the sidewalk surrounding campus. The cool air of spring flowing through their fur. The trees were trying to bud but every time they did another last frost swept through the area knocking all the buds off the braches. That's march in Michigan for you though.
"So what went down last night, I won't judge or anything? I'm just curious because you two are my best friends and I just don't want this to change anything between us." Rodney asked
"Ok Rodney, here it goes... Carter took a deep breath.... we got pretty drunk, well at least Jason did he drank over half my bottle of three olive. We were feeling pretty good and so after we solved why Sam broke it off with him we went to the showers he kept looking over to me I was bit confused at first but I caught myself looking at him too. After that he wouldn't look at me, I thought I might have offended him or something. Anyways we went back to my dorm and I went to my bed. I was watching Jason as he was getting ready to lie down but instead of going to the couch where he normally sleeps when he comes over, he came to my bed and laid down next me. He lifted his head a little to look over at me but then I just put my arm around him and smiled I don't know why but I just wanted to. He didn't seem to mind in fact he smiled at me, so I smiled back and we fell asleep together there."
"uh huh.... I thought you were straight? Rodney asked
"I AM!" Carter quickly retorted "Well I think I am" Carter quickly looked down while twirling his thumbs
"That explains the smile." Rodney said under his breath.
"what'd you say?" Carter asked
"Nothing." Rodney smiled
"hey Rodney I have to ask you something"
"What's that Carter?"
"Well... I'm not saying I'm gay or anything but ... um has Jason ever said anything to you about me?... like you know." Carter's voice was broken up a bit. " I won't say anything to him if you tell me.
"I get what you're saying... well... he really has admired you since we met you back in September. I guess you could say it's like a crush" Rodney laughed a little. "Why? What are you planning on doing?"
"Oh it's nothing just I don't know yet. I was mostly just woundering." Carter replied
"Hey Just do me a favor Carter. Don't mess with his head. I think he may really like you"
"Trust me I won't....but I do need to talk with him about last night, cause i felt something last night that I haven't felt in a long time. something I've been missing that i used to have." Carter said on edge.
Carter took another cigarette from Rodney after letting his last one burned down. he light it up them looked at his watch reading 11:12 am. "Rodney is it weird to remember the feeling of something you haven't felt in years?"
Rodney searching his brain trying to remember different things from his psychology studies. "the only thing i could think of would be some sort of repressed memory that is starting to surface."
Well what would I have to do to remember it?" Carter asked.
"well you could put yourself in a similar situation as you were when you first felt that feeling or......." Rodney left off.
"or what!?" Carter asked frantically. " I can't just go up to Jason and say "hey wanna lay in bed together again tonight I need to find out if I'm gay?" How well do you think that'd play out!?"
"calm down this isn't the American Psychiatric Association approved method but it worked for my native ancestors before me and we can do it right here in the woods."
Rodney said as he pulled out a cheaply made glass pipe, two baggies with something in each one, and cigarette papers.
Carter raising his eyebrow. " damn you come Prepared."
" yup" Rodney responded picking up the cigarette papers and one of the baggies he began to pinch out some buds from the baggie. As he was rolling the joint he told Carter." This is going to relax you mind and prepare you."
I know what weed does smart ass, we smoke together all the time." Carter joked.
Rodney laughed as he put the freshly rolled j up to his lips and lit it up. He then passed it on to carter. "Well then why did i bring a bowl?"
Carter didn't think about that, Rodney always preferred a perfectly rolled joint over any other type of smoking device.
"I just got this in the mail from my cousin in Texas holding up the seeding baggie for Carter to see closer. "this my friend is salvia."
Carter passed the joint back to Rodney. "so is it a sativa or indicia?"
"not even in the same family man." As Rodney took a big hit and passed it back on to Carter. "this right here is a different plant. One that many believe allows you to see things in the past present and future."
"Rodney you know I don't do it unless mother earth produced it." Cater ripped a good hit of the j before handing back to Rodney for its final hit.
That's the beauty of it it's all natural and the effect are super intense but only last for a short time. My ancestors used it as a way to figure out problems. Rodney put out the roach before returning it to the bag in which it came. He then picked I'll the bowl and filled it with the salvia.
What am I supposed to do with it? Cater asked feeling the effects of the weed take full effect.
"First off get your ass off that log and sit on the ground up against that tree" Rodney point to a tree to the left of Carter. And Carter did so. "now hold this bowl. Just so we're clear this is your first time doing this right?"
"yep." Carter replied.
"alright then you're going to hit it like you're taking a big rip of weed through the bowl but you're going to hold it for as long as you can. As soon as you exhale you should feel it. It will feel like nothing you've felt before."
Yea that makes it seem so much better." Carter said with much sarcasm.
"but before you hit that take about five minutes of quiet to let the weed really settle in and relax you while thinking of nothing but the feeling you felt last night okay?"
"Rodger that Rodney."
Rodney lit up a cigarette and Carter began to think of his encounter with Jason last Night. It's started when Jason first came out of the closet to him the feeling escalated when they were in the shower together but then there it was that feeling peaked when he put his arm around Jason's neck. He could almost feel it again and Carter put the bowl to his lips and put the flame from a lighter over it, while covering the choke, began to take a long hit and he watched as the salvia quickly turned to ash and her let off the choke continuing to inhale till the bowl went out and held it in. In his head he began to count 1...2...3..... As he was counting and trying to hold on to that feeling he felt a weird numbness over his body ....7....8....9 the feeling didn't get any stronger though 11...12....13..he began to wonder if he did it right. Rodney said it would hit fast 15...16....17.. " huuuhhhhh! Cater exhaled deeply then shot straight up against the tree eyes wide open. The last words he could mutter were "what is this"
"It worked" Rodney thought to himself and then continued to watch.
Chapter 4 - Void** **
Carter began to feel a whole rush through his body and as he looked around all of reality was melting. The trees started to bend and twist into disfigured beings. His body began to feel heated with the warm afternoon sun beating down on his dark fur coat. Carter looked all around at the trees in the grounds as they began to take shape. One in particular took on the figure of someone he knew but he couldn't place them, feeling very strongly that he knew him he reached out to him. The vague entity began to reach toward him then stopped and ran off. Carter quickly stood up and shouted
"Stop...Who are you?"
As he took a step forward to run after him, the ground began to crumble beneath his feet. Quickly he stepped back as the ground started to reveal a river of fire beneath. He backed himself all the way against the tree behind him and before he knew it the fire was surrounding him. Fire roaring all around him, it was just him and this twisting tree on a tiny island.
"Carrrttterrr" a voice yelled in the distance "Carrrttterrr!"
I'm Here!" he shouted back "Please help me!" "There's fire everywhere"
"Carter!"
"I'm here! I'm here" he yelled back.
He looked all around to see where the voice was coming from, then he seen Rodney standing there in the fire.
"Rodney help me"
"Carter remain calm everything is fine" slowly Rodney began walking toward carter through the flames. As he got closer the fire started to dissipate and the ground slowly began to become apparent again. The trees began to return to their original pose and reality itself began to take hold again.
"Rodney?!...what the hell was that?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing Carter. You were sitting there silent for about 5 minutes then all of the sudden you stood up and had the most pissed off face I've ever seen and then you just stared shouting. Fire! Fire! sooo how was it?"
"I don't know why I did that. That was one of the scariest experiences I have had in my life. It started with the trees morphing and one turned into someone familiar but I couldn't place him before he ran off. Then I was surrounded by fire until you came."
"Here carter" Rodney tossed him a bottle of water. "You'll need this after a trip on that."
Carter thanked him as he chugged the whole bottle in an instant.
"I guess I should've warned you it can be a bit like shrooms as far going into a bad trip. but at least it was only 10 minutes as opposed to hours of that." rodent explained.
"10 Minutes!" carter screamed. "I felt like I was in the bowls of Hell for years.
"So aside from all hell breaking loose did it unlock anything for you?"
"I don't think so, it's all beginning to fade now." Carter said exhaustedly.
"Damn! Waste of a hit" Rodney laughed. "Hey Jason should be out of class you want to go meet up with him, we could go get some lunch?"
"Sure that will work." carter said.
Rodney and carter both stood up and stretched. Rodney brushed some of the dry leaves out of his tail and they started to walk toward the front of the general Education building. It was a rather warm day for autumn not even a cloud in the sky. Rodney lit up his cigarette and they continued up the path way.