Just another High School Story (4)
Just another High school Story Scene 4 By Roofles
"Alright," Alan said pointing to the several posted papers covering the wall in front of them. The dog had taken the time out of his day to help his fellow teammate out on a matter he had been neglecting. Alan already had several scholarships planned out for himself but knew Tony wasn't the type of guy to even have colleges lined out, let alone starting to put the effort into get scholarships for them. "You'll want to do this one," the dalmatian continue pulling one sheet out of the bin. Alan had half his face in it as he searched through one folder after another getting the right forms. "This one," he pulled another. "This, this and this one." Three more into the steadily growing pile forming in the tiger's worried paws.
Tony just stared with wide eyes as the dalmatian laid another stack in front of him, off to get more. "Your sure now? T-that I'll need this many?" He asked hoping it was just a twisted game he was playing on the large tiger. Tony shifted in his seat several times his large bulky frame unable to really fit on the chair. The tiger still had his uniform on, wearing it each and every day he went to school.
Alan was familiar with the act. Most of the team did the same thing. Wearing the outfit got them the respect from their peers, fear from the geeks and nerds and allowed the whole world to know they were part of something. Their lively hood surrounded the the game, most of which with high dreams of playing proffessional one day. Alan knew better though as he watched the last game on the bench. There might be one or two out of all of them that could be scouted. Only to then be weeded out when they were mixed for the hundreds of others picked out.
"Everyone of these you'll need to fill out. Every date. Every name. Every question. Right down to the. Fine. Print." The dalmatian said smuggly into the crestfallen tigers's face, articulating the last several words; letting each one roll off his tongue and into that orange striped face.
Alan took a seat next to him scanning his own small collection of forums, papers and documents. He browsed one before crumbling it up and tossing it into the center of the table. Picking up the next one, giving it the once-over before tossing it too into the rapidly growing pile. The tiger's eyes watching him with each toss.
"You don't have to fill them all out, huh?" Tony asked watching another paper land amongst the pile, thoughts of doing the same crossing his mind. He picked up a heavily worded paper unable to make heads or tails of it and was about to toss it with Alan's before the dalmation glared at him.
"Yup, but unlike you I've been planning my future since the day I started high school." Alan replied not even taking his eyes off his work. "Scholarships are very important. It gives you the opportunity to rely on no one. But," he shuffled his papers."Yourself." He said confident about the forms in his paws. With these he'd be able to apply to just about anywhere in the U.S. He'd also have several back up colleges just in case.
"Aren't you on the student council." The large cat asked with a wry grin. The student council was there to support any students that needed help.
The dalmatian returned the grin toothily with his pearly whites. "As I said before, scholarships are very important. And for being on the student council I can do...not this one," he shuffled the papers flipping through them one by one. "This one." He said slamming it onto the table with his paw. As if he won against the house in Vegas. His ears were up, flopping down as he grinned. "Its all just using those around you to help yourself."
"Aren't you the cynical one?" Tony rolled his eyes but as the dalmation leaned across the table to help him with a few of the more difficult forms Tony was glad he was there. The tiger slumped his heavy padded shoulders and looking across at the black spotted canine who was too busy reading over his forms to notice the look in his eyes.
Alan sat back rolling his eyes as the tiger went back to his own meager pile. The striped tail flickered quickly as his nervousness began to betray him.
The two had been hanging out ever since the had left the hospital. At the time Alan offered to help him with a math assignment they had in class together. The dalmation figured if he helped the tiger out he'd keep his lid shut on the whole affair with his friend. Although a bit slow on the uptake Alan did find Tony to be rather good company. Once seperated from the other team mates Tony was surprisingly independant in his thought and action. However he had a bad habit of agreeing with Alan whenever the dalmation was helping him out with homework.
"I'll fill out a few of the essay ones for you," Alan said turning his head around to read one. Half up on the table he was trying to balance with a leg sticking out and an arm holding the tiger's elbow for support. Alan shook his head, sitting back and began examining his nails indifferently.
"Thanks," Tony said each word dripping heavily with the malaise of sarcasm. "Your far too kind."
"I know," Alan replied sweetly across the table his words laced with an equal spoonful of the thick, dripping sarcasm.
"Your a very different guy once someone gets to know you." The tiger said resting his head on an elbow and looking across at the dog.
The dalmatian shrugged his shoulders. "We got half a year left. I'll be able to drop the charade then. Besides I got plans for my future unlike most of these sorry sons of bitc- Hello Ms. Dows," Alan said cutting mid-sentence to his whole shtick as the doe walked in. His words were the soft, humorous honor roll student everyone knew him as. An award winning smile was on his face as he scooting closer to the tiger to make it appear as if he was just helping him out as a good samaritian would.
"How are you boys doing today? Need any help?" She asked as she looked over the papers in their claws. "Oh, good! You boys are already ahead of the gang." She said happily.
'Gang?' Alan thought annoyed as he organized his pile of papers. "No thank you, Ms. Dows. We've just finished up. Class starts soon and we wouldn't want to be late." He smiled sweetly.
Tony just sighed shaking his head, something he was getting used to around the smaller canine. He clumisly shuffled his papers into an unfit pile he man handled with one of his heavy paws and got up as the dalmatian neatly packed away the papers, filing them away in his bag. A name brand side sling backpack.
Tony took a second to look at the dalmation. He had named brand tight pants that formed to his legs nicely. Alan had a double breasted gray wool coat on with a scarf around his neck. Alan looked over at him and a smile crossed the smaller canines face and Tony folded his ears in a blush. Alan had a large black spot over one eye but not the other. One of his ears were black and as the dalmation wasn't wearing any shoes or gloves he could see the black pattern gloves and socks.
The tiger had guiltily looked over most the team during the showers, convincing himself that he just wanted to make sure he was bigger where it counted. Even for a kicker Alan was lean, fit and muscular. His short fur only accentuated the curves his muscles formed on his arms and legs. The round supple ass cheeks with the perky tail sticking up, showing off his pink black splotched pucker of a tail hole.
Tony took a slow breath, shaking his head. His claws had extended from his fingers and his pants felt far more tight. He was glad he was wearing the jockstrap. It kept most of it hidden away forcing it up into his shirt rather than outwards.
Ahead of the others? Alan thought bitterly. His anger beginning to peak again. He was years ahead of the others he grumbled, but his thoughts stopped as his powder blues met the emerald eyes of the large cat next to him. His bitterness seeped away like steam from his shoulders and he slouched in the doorway to the office.
"Thank you, though." He added towards the doe who was now cleaning up the mess. He quickly left and the tiger followed in his footsteps. The words were genuine for once, startling his own ears as they slipped past his lips.
"What are your plans?" Toby asked as the two walked down the empty halls. Class was starting soon and the office was in the front of the building, away from the classes.
"For the future?" Alan asked and the large cat nodded. "Doctor. Well physician. Kind of the same thing but more specific. I've already got the financial backing from my parents but I don't want to rely on them. In case something were too come up, due to..." he nodded to his left and the tiger turned. "I've got several back up plans, I'm not too worried." Alan said changing his words up a bit. "Its Donald I'm worried about. Parents disowned him, haven't been in school for a month and even if I bring him the homework he's not the brightest bulb in the shed. Or sharpest tool. Or brick. Or whatever." Alan shrugged. "You?"
The tiger scratched his chin with a claw absent mindedly. "Not sure, was planning on just grabbing some construction job. Or something. I'm not asking for much. Just something to live on. Like my pops."
"You could be a manager at least," Alan said as they headed up the flight of stairs. Tony made sure to fall behind, his eyes locked on the dalmations rump as he took each step with an uncanny grace for a dog. His muscular thighs tightening with each pull, his cheeks forming nicely in the tight pants he wore. As they rounded the corner on level footing again Tony caught back up to him, feigning ignorance to the act. "Have some dream, some future." Alan continued.
Alan was glad to have the tiger with him these days. It was a nice change of pace than being alone. A single friend could truly change how one viewed life. It was strange that he found himself worrying for someone else for a change. He had always been so focused on his own well being. More so than on any others. Things didn't go according to plan but he wouldn't change it for the world, he thought looking over at the cat.
"I do. I just told you." Tony laughed, his voice booming down the empty halls. "I'm going to be a laborer. That's a dream."
Alan just opened the door and went ahead into the full classroom. As usual every student turned to face the late comers with "ooo's" and "oooh's" for being late. The teacher adjusted his glasses looking at the tiger and all but ignoring the straight A student who took a seat in the back. Alan explained however that it was his fault for their tardiness.
"Well yes...then well, don't let it happen again." The polar bear grumbled turning back to the projector and continue the lesson.
It annoyed Alan. The freedom he got and the biased everyone gave him. Good or bad biased was still favoring him over any other students. Treating him differently. The tiger quickly took a seat next to him, bumping one of his large pads painfully against the dalmations arm. Tony apologized in a hushed whisper and kept is head down. At least, Alan thought, he was able to use it for some good this time.
Alan touched the tiger arm and smiled softly reassuring him without words. He turned to face the screen and popped his notebook open to take notes. The tiger smiled sheepishly but kept his head down. Math was never his strong subject. No subject really was. Alan took notes for the tiger and he'd go over it later with him. A part of Alan wondered if he shouldn't be a teacher. If he could get a guy like Tony to understand Minors and Cofactors he could teach anyone anything.
The two were hardly apart these past several days. The tiger not wanting to go home, the dalmatian not wanting to be alone in the empty house. It was a solution for both their problems. Tony would just sleep over. One night. That became two. That became a week. And with in a few more days he'd been staying with him for nearly a month now. It was strange. The two couldn't be any more different with the only real similiarity being the fact they both were on the same football team.
This one similarity however was soon gone as Alan finally got the nerve up to drop out of, claiming it was interfering with his academic studies. The couch and several of his teammates (when they found out) tried to convince him otherwise. The dalmation just laughed and smiled saying he needed to focus with his studies.
The two stayed mostly in his room. Even when Alan's parents came home, one at a time, they would just stay locked away in his den. There was a desk, a tv and tv case with several movies and dvds. There was a couch on the other side, next to the bed. They took turns switching even though Tony jokingly talked about just sharing the bed. Alan did want to take him up on the offer but refused at Tony insisted on wearing a spare jockstrap to bed.
Tony didn't press the issue though he did love sleeping on Alan's bed. The musky sheets still smelled of his pawing and the big cat just curled up amongst them purring himself to sleep. Alan didn't mind sleeping on the couch. Though he felt horrible when Tony said that it was far better than his own bed.
The two never really talked about home life. Keeping it seperated seemed to work best for them. And even with their many differences they got along very well together. Spending most days and nights indoors. Alan would either be helping Tony on one of the projects that way overdue or the two would be crashed on the couch playing one of Alan's games.
With Tony hanging around more and more, practically living at the house Alan became far more humble with what he was given. His parents were never to be seen but what they offered was enough for a good several kids to get by on. The way the tiger drooled over the left overs only made this sink in further for the dalmation who always took for granted what he had been given in life.
"Most nights I just have a slice of bread." Tony said around a mouthful of yesterday pizza.
"Peanut butter?" Alan teased, pb and dogs were an inside joke - though most found it offensive when any other species talked about them and it.
Tony shook his head grabbing another name brand soda. "I didn't even know there was a Dr. Pepper! Must be an off brand from Mr. Pibb." The tiger mused drinking his fourth can for the night.
Alan's ears drooped as he spoke and he looked down at the labeled can in his paws. "Stay over tonight." It was then that he first actually asked that the tiger stayed over. It normally just grew so late that they decided to crash. No invite was ever given or seemed to be needed.
Tony got flustered though when he asked and the cat couldn't meet his eyes; having to keep scratch the back of his neck embarrassed still unable to meet his eyes. "Thanks. I mean sure!" Tony said trying not to put his foot in his mouth.
The large cat never wore a shirt when it was just the two of them. And the tight shorts hid little the imagination. While Alan was lean and fit as a runner, Tony worked on building mass being one of the center linemen. Tony went to the school gym every day and was even allowed to skip study period as long as he worked out. Alan did miss the benefit of it never needing to study for...anything. It was nice to have a time of day to work out. Also a good time to check out sweaty guys with no one paying attention, though the smell could be a bit too much for his nose.
The constant interaction and severe lack of any privacy kept Alan both physically and mentally occupied, his baggage still weighed him down but it was different now than before. Able to bear the weight of it all. Or at least forget about it with the nice distraction the tiger provided.
It might have been the emotionally distant parents. Or empty household. Being an only child. Or the fact he was intellectually smarter than just about everyone around him. But no matter the reason why, he had found a way to cope. Stalking the handsome stud living with him, emotionly invest in his recovering friend and put every ounce of brain power into his school work. In his future and helping Toby with his, which took a lot of work in and of itself. And in doing so helped not only himself but his dear, best friend resting away in a cold sterilize room with only one visitor a day.
The mental breakdown he had a month ago seemed to be the perfect breaking point he needed to clear his mind and finally come to terms with who he was. What he was going to do. And who he wanted to keep in his company. Even if the tiger sitting in the desk next to him was as sharp as a tact, he had several amazing qualities he didn't think it was possible to find in a jock, let alone a football player on that team. Not only one of the hottest men he had ever seen in his young life, he was for the most part a very good companion to stave off boredom with. And though he never thought of it Tony was his closest and best friend.
And as they left the hospital that night the dalmatian could've sworn when that tiger walked away he would never talk to him again. But the next day it was he who initiated and he who kept the droll conversation of school life to an upbeat and enjoyable tone that managed to keep him entertained enough to form a foundation of friendship on.
Arnold "Tony" Leibowitz came from a run down abusive homes. One relative to another, each as bad or worst than the last. The constant shift in environment made the tiger surprisingly tolerant, well manner and over all a calm independant fellow. He built himself into a tank of a body for several reasons. Boredom, the fact that he had little else to do at most of the homes he stayed. For his own protection against his would be relatives. And because it was the one thing he could take pride in of himself. Looking in the mirror after a long work out session made him feel good about himself. Something those around him never did. Or would.
Alan was different however. For the smartest, most popular dog in school he never picked on him for his size or intellect.
He truly couldn't help but enjoy the dalmatians witty, sacrastic undertones to just about everything and one. While still somehow being not only friendly but someone he, or anyone, could be comfortable around. Alan was Mr. Popular for a reason. He was humorously placid about everything. Nothing really rubbed him the wrong way. Nothing got under his skin. It was due to the distance he kept himself from others however. But when he wasn't on guard there was a much more; a subtle warmth under that hard mask he wore. And the tiger was beginning to become attatched to the smaller canine. The way those powder blues stared at others so effortlessly, always seeming to hint at something more but never revealing anything further. How that soft smile pulled at ones heart strings. And the way those delicate paws helped those around him with skilled precision and care. Putting those around him at ease. Off guard. And able to let others be who they were. Almost a little too at ease for the tiger's comfort. Those paws were far too welcoming at times.
A friendly touch here. A bump there. The way those eyes watching him as he worked and moved his bulky frame. Or how Alan's presence made Tony feel small, unsettled the large cat. Alan always seemed to sit too close. And at the same time not close enough. And that passive almost submissive nature was all beginning to get to the tiger. It didn't annoy him, no. He wasn't angry or withdrawn. What worried him most was how flustered these simple things made him. Nervously, agitated and even in the cold winter months he was constantly feeling uncomfotably warm and sweating as he walked and talked with the dalmation who would just look up at him and smile unknowing the state he was in. And as it bothered him he couldn't help but want to stay more and more in that company no matter how uncomfotable it made him. Cause in the end he was happy when that spotted dog was around him.