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Chapter 3 - September

The first month of school were more beguiling that Clyde had anticipated, as he developed a terrific relationship with his coach, and his grades maintained a positive level. In addition to this surprise, his time on the weightlifting team had changed his physique which he actively took notice of it. He could see a difference in his arms, which had begun developed definition, and in the mirror, he could flex and see chest muscles! He grew accustomed to his friends who held the nonsensical urge to point out, and rubberneck at every ass they saw, congratulating each other on even noticing it in the first place. He did not lead them on to believe he was gay, but he kind of could not stand the constant chatter and women, it was becoming unbearable.

Quotidian were conversations on Facebook with his teacher, which really brightened up his dad. During PE, Clyde was dedicated time to following Addison's lessons in fitness vehemently, even taking up Weightlifting with a more competitive edge. He remained observant with great fortitude to maintain his studies; however, the exhaustion was visible in his tired eyes at school. His coach had always asked him about it, almost every day, and Clyde felt warmth in knowing someone would be concerned. In fact, after a while Clyde begun to develop an attraction to the Stallion: one part was for his care, the other part, his baritone voice.

Addison and he became so close that Clyde spent homeroom in the Gym with him, socializing for the first time with someone on par with his many topics. It became apparent that Clyde was deeply respectful of Addison: but it was also apparent Clyde harbored deeper affections. It was ostensible in Clyde's smile, which the horse could not help but smile back at, and every day Clyde seemed jubilant even when he was somnolent. Addison was also very aware that Clyde's eyes had a tendency to roam, and he could not help but chuckle and tease the kid for it.

On that day in the Gym, Clyde had been quite interested in his coach, whom pretended he did not notice that whenever his back was turned, Clyde was checking out his rear. He did not ignore it: all though, he also did not let Clyde know just how much he actually enjoyed the admiration, amidst the professional veneer.

"Push it, Push it! Two reps and you're at failure!? I'm not training Nooblets!"

Addison commanded fervently, watching his students confidently while glancing to his clipboard, which never seemed to leave his hands. They performed a set of eight chest flied for their third circuit, while the second pair finished their resistance pushups.

"One minute rest, and then get ready for Around the Worlds! Light weights, and take a sip of your water!"

His students were showing an increased strength, and he found his three stars for their weightlifting team. The three students were at a maximum of one-hundred and fifty five, thanks to David, Maris, and Clyde: Addison observed Clyde most out of all the students.

"Five--six--come on, Clyde, come on!" Marius barked at him, "Push it, like I pushed it into your mom!"

"Rrrrargh, I am trying!" Clyde growled out as he his elbows shook, pushing the bar up for a seventh, his tail thrashing beneath of him. His face and arms were blistering hot, trembling violently, and his lips curled up in a snarl. He looked over at Addison for a quick moment, and then pushed for an eighth, his tail slapping the ground and his features contorting into a grizzly snarl.

"Ok eight, let's go! Chop-chop!" Marius commanded with anticipation.

"Grrrrr, hang on, dude!" Clyde growled impatiently and ferociously as he pushed up for a ninth rep on his third set, his arms exploding with heat, and then with all his might he pushed up for a tenth. He slammed the bar back and groaned loudly, panting, drooling slightly, and then dropped his fatigued arms to dangle by his sides.

"Whoooo--oh man, my arms hurt! Dammit, there goes any strength left to masturbate, haha!"

"Well great, now I have to do fifteen to outdo you!" Marius laughed and pat the dragon on his shoulder, "Ya bastard! All right spot me!"

Marius barked excitedly and Clyde nodded, moving off the bench, grabbing his Gatorade from the floor and gulped it down. He panted and flicked his tongue outwards, not having an issue sweating like the others, but took a wet rag to his scales, dabbing them with it all over.

"Very good!" Addison said from behind Clyde, "Young Padawan!"

Clyde laughed as he spotted Marius, turning to look over his shoulder at the horse. "I just want to bring sexy back! So coach, when people ask how's it hanging--I usually tell them there is no more room on the left!"

"Oh--Jesus Christ, Kid!" Addison erupted in laughter, loudly, "Kid you know nothing of endowment, trust me!"

Addison smiled at Clyde, turning to walk down the side of the gym towards a group of students who were busy talking in a group. He eyed the Horse's backside, wishing he had back muscles that were so well sculpted, admittedly checking out his coach's ass behind his shining green shorts. Addison's thick hamstrings would flex and bulge, his ass muscles shifting underneath his silky exercise shorts. Clyde's tail curled up a little bit at his ankle, and the dragon darted his eyes away as Addison turned back around.

Oooh, coach's ass is so thick! Clyde thought to him-self with a wide smile and laugh, what I would give to fucking feel up those dark chocolate truffle butt-cheeks! Haha, oh god, w-t-f, I am so gay!

"Clyde!" Marius barked as his arms shook. "Pay attention, pull up!"

"Oh, ok!" Clyde grabbed the bar, pulling it up for Marius who sat up, shaking his head and huffed out.

"Twelve." He said, rolling out his arms, "All right man lets continue, no breaks!"

"You're catching up to me, hehe." Clyde teased.

Marius shrugged it off with a smirk, and stood up, catching his breath while the team set up with their weights on the opposite side of the gym. In the back a turned up radio played Three Days Grace, and Clyde rolled his eyes, popping in his ear buds to tune out the atrocity. Addison stood in the front giving the signal, commanding three sets of ten, and the students began. Clyde gripped the weights and focused ahead, moving his weight down from one leg to the next, feeling the fatigue in his arm dissipate under the burn of his quads and gluts.

"Eight--nine--ten! All right, thirty seconds, then another ten!"

The students followed Addison's instruction for the rest of the PE session, and when it was finally over, he sent them all into the locker room. Clyde had insisted he had no need to go to it, having not sweat and not being as stinky as his classmates: however, Addison had said it was school policy.

"Even if you don't want to, you have to for at least a minute, Clyde." Addison remarked, looking up from his clipboard with a smile, "Come on, so I don't get in trouble, ok?"

"Ah, come on Coach!" Clyde protested with a groan, "I really do not need to! Besides, I don't have a towel, so, yep, can't take one!"

"Oh you cocky little ass," Addison smirked as he set his clipboard down. He walked out of the weight room for a moment and Clyde shrugged, feeling as he was victorious and picked up his book bag. Suddenly a soft cloth hit him in the side of the face, and Addison chanted, "I had a spare! Now get your ass in there, Clyde!"

Oh god dammit--coach, seriously? Clyde looked at the towel and then sighed aloud, dragging his feet as he entered into the showers, gripping the towel tightly. He entered into a steamy room filled with chatter, and then navigated quickly to his locker, looking over his shoulder. As quickly as he could, Clyde undressed and brought his clothes with him to a vacant shower, tossing it over the top and quickly slid inside. His heart was beating fast and his tail twitched by his feet with anxiety: the spray of hot water relaxed him the fear of exposure.

"Hey Clyde!" Marius called from the other side, "Is that you, dude?"

"Yeah," Clyde called back, lifting his snout up, "Yeah Coach made me come in here."

"Well about god damn time, you smelly fucker! You may think you don't smell cause you're not sweating, but man, thank god you're in the shower!"

Clyde laughed a little shyly, "Ah, well thanks for telling me, dude!"

"Seriously man, smelt like a pet store!" Alex laughed jokingly, "And not like the high quality shit, you know, like Petsmart!"

"Oh what so I smelt like some kind of cheap whore?" Clyde snorted.

"Uh--nah, no, you actually look them in the eyes right?" Marius retorted with a snicker, and Clyde laughed loudly, saying "Your mother!"

Marius and the others laughed and Clyde shrugged it off, guessing it was not so bad to be naked around them. The first five minutes he was overly cautious, making sure his tail was nestled between his legs, but after some time he relaxed, and joked with them as was the stereotype. He half wished the coach would have come into the showers too, nothing like a bit of eye-candy to take his mind off it all, and then again, he laughed, thinking that there would be little chance Addison would expose him-self anyways!

A few minutes passed and he happily turned off the water and reached for his towel, then for his clothes, which slipped over the wall and landed in the shower to his left.

"Ah shit, Marius, hand me my clothes, dude." Clyde asked. Marius snickered and then Clyde grunted with annoyance, "Come on man give me my shit!"

"Oh just come and get it dude!" Marius called back, tossing it onto the sink and walked away. "Ya whiney shit!"

Clyde emerged from the shower with an annoyed stare and briskly walked to the sink to snatch away his clothes, then quickly move away to change in the shower. Marius turned to ask him about their routine the next day, and caught site of Clyde's naked torso in the mirror. His eyes widened as he saw not that his friend was nude, for such things did not bother him. It was the lack of genitals that sent him into shock.

"DUDE WHERE THE FUCK IS YOUR DICK?" Marius screamed out abruptly with wide eyes and a gaping mouth, pointing to Clyde, "Why is there--a--a fucking pussy!"

"Wait what?" Alex asked, "What the fuck did you say Marius?"

"Clyde! He--he doesn't have a dick!" Marius shouted in alarm and immediately the locker-room turned to Clyde, whose face had drained of all color, and his mouth remained open.

"Clyde!" Marius rushed over, "What the fuck! Where--where the hell is your cock!?"

"Marius, stop talking about my dick!" Clyde snapped in hot embarrassment, rushing to pull on his gym shorts, "God dammit man, it is fucking internal! Jeeesus Christ!"

"No no no! Clyde--why don't you have a dick? Are you like--what the FUCK, are you a girl or something?!"

"WHAT?! NO! Just fuck off, dude!" Clyde cussed loudly and pushed past Marius, away from the shower but into the crowd of curious listener and onlookers, all wanting to know what was happening.

"Dude you have a cunt! I saw it!" Marius exclaimed in total disbelief, "I mean--W-T-F!?"

"Holy shit Clyde is a girl?" A bull exclaimed in return, his eyes widening.

"Oooh my god I am fucking tweeting this shit!" A cheetah also interjected, pulling up his phone. "Helloooo 4chan, OP has delivered!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, ALL OF YOU!" Clyde screamed out, slamming his fist on the table as the group began laughing, his heart rate rising so high he was almost about to pass out. Marius began laughing about him having a cunt, and Clyde's fist balled up so tight the knuckles turned white with tension. His eyes darted around them and his tail slapped at the floor angrily, while he barred his teeth in a vicious snarl, wholly overlooked by the amused teenagers.

"Why the fuck didn't you tell us you had a cunt, dude?" Alex asked with a broad smile that enraged Clyde beyond control, "Do you like--let dudes fuck your pussy?"

"I bet he does!" One of the students answered for him. "I bet he takes ALL of the dick in this town right up his scaly cooch!"

"Haha! God damn, munching down on Godzilla must be a past time!"

"Oh shit dude, this is just like that movie with Hillary Swank!"

"The one where she is raped?"

"Yeah, because she was like Clyde!"

Clyde fell silent as his arms rested by his side and he looked on at them with a deadpan expression as he had become full circle in anger, reaching the calm stage where he simply stared back at them. He instantly ran through a dozen scenarios of how he was going to break their faces into pieces, the ultimate feeling of betraying taking hold of him. He had not been this angry since the night he and father got into a fight a few months ago; one of the students made the joke that he looked like he was going to cry, asking him if he were really going to.

"Oh cool your shit, ya fucking hermaphrodite!" Alex laughed loudly, rolling his eyes up with apathy at the dragon's rage.

Clyde staggered and his jaw dropped as his ire, fully ignited, took control and an ego of madness possessed him.

His vision blurred into a blistering white heat as his fist surged in front of him involuntarily, and the gym silenced as it crashed with a slam into Alex's chin, knocking the dog onto his back. The dog fell with a yell and the dragon charged forwards before he could recover, slamming his shin directly into Alex's ribcage, knocking him back several feet. Marius rushed forwards to restrain the dragon, still in the throes of laughter, but Clyde's adrenaline allowed him to break the arm lock with ease.

He grabbed Marius by his throat and Marius returned the grab by slamming his fist against Clyde's snout, punching him repeatedly while Clyde pinned him into the wall. The students began to grow alarmed, screaming at Clyde, asserting Marius was going to chock to death and they began to bellow for Addison. Clyde stood there and took the punches to his face with almost a lack of attention to the pain, and Alex had slid up onto his feet, catching him-self on the sink.

" LET GO OF ME GOD DAMMIT!" Marius screamed out and snarled, kicking Clyde in the stomach, and was released as he backed away, coughing, and holding onto his throat with red, teary eyes. Addison rushed into the locker room wide-eyed and in shock at seeing his prime students, pummeling another, and the students began shouting out their explanations.

" CLYDE!" Addison bellowed out so fiercely it shook the walls, " GET OVER HERE, NOW!"

Clyde froze and snapped his snout over his left shoulder to see a furious Addison standing above the crowd, and then he backed away from Marius. Marius pushed him hard and Clyde stumbled, but caught him-self, while Addison stomped to them.

"What the HELL is going on? Marius, Clyde!"

"Dude--coach, dude! Clyde is a girl!" Marius exclaimed, pointing at him, "He's a fuckin chick!"

Addison cocked his eyebrow and looked to Clyde with confusion, "Excuse me?"

"He has a vagina!" One of the students proclaimed.

"All right! Shut up!" Addison hollered, "I heard all of it outside! Marius, Clyde, explain to me R IGHT now what happened!"

"I--I saw Clyde in the mirror," Marius began, panting and standing up, "And--I saw that--you know, he has a vagina, dude!"

"So you were looking at a necked man in the mirror?"

"What--no! Dude, he has NO dick!"

Addison narrowed his eyes and crossed his thick arms, stepping forward and speaking calmly, albeit threateningly. "So you admit to looking at another student naked? Voyeurism is punishable by suspension, Marius. I think you owe Clyde an pology."

"What?!" Marius furiously shouted, growling at the coach. "NO! It was by accident! But I saw his cunt, and shit!"

" YOU WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE MARIUS!" Addison bellowed so loudly that the air was frozen, and Marius's ears instinctively folded back against his head. The horse turned to the dragon and sighed softly, taking in a deep breath. "Clyde?"

Clyde looked away and said nothing, staring at the floor with embarrassment, but muttered, "I--I am not a girl. Mine are--" the dragon mumbled, "mine are just internal."

"Internal, huh?" Addison nodded and then looked to Marius with a deep, furious scowl and his lip snarled as Clyde looked down at his feet with embarrassment. He pointed at the dog, "Yours slips up inside of you, am I right? Perhaps you need to be put back into a sex-ed class kids, honestly I am disappointed in ALL of you."

"Well--no! But dude, it looks like a vagina!" Marius almost began laughing when Addison's sudden shout made him snap his mouth shut, and all the students under an angry spiel. Marius and Alex were suspended from the team for two weeks despite almost begging him to keep them on it. Addison cleared out the locker room, demanding everyone but Clyde leave.

Clyde lowered his head and hid his stare from the other students as the locker room was cleared, and then grudgingly followed Addison to his office. He expected the worst: ISS, being sent home, his parents finding out, and the usual routine of punishments. As fate would have it, Addison sat him down, and calmly addressed him without as much as a mention of punishment. Clyde sat down in a sliding chair across from Addison and put his hands together, squeezing his fingers tightly while his tail thrashed at the ground. Addison allowed him a few moments to relax, waiting calmly while he thought to him-self of how to approach the situation. When Clyde had noticeably relaxed enough to talk, he began, hoping the dragon would listen and comply with him.

"Clyde, look at me." Addison softly talked to him and gently reached to touch his shoulder, when Clyde shrugged it away. Addison sighed softly and nodded, "Clyde, please, I am not your enemy. Talk to me."

Clyde looked over and bit the inside of his cheek, and shakily asked, "A-about what?"

"What happened there? Give me your story of what happened."

The dragon sighed in remorse and nodded, doing his best to explain calmly that Marius had seen him naked, and saw his cloacae, and he expected Addison to be confused. However, Addison simply nodded, and Clyde, more embarrassed than any day of his life, asked him if he knew what it was.

"I know it is your--private regions, and that is all there should be to it." He calmly answered with a smile. "I don't talk or show anyone else mine; so, we don't need to have an exposé on yours."

Clyde laughed shakily, turning his eyes to the floor. "Well--what will happen to me? For hitting the guys."

"Nothing unless they're willing to tell the principle they were looking at a naked student in the lockers." Addison chuckled, "Trust me; it'll be more embarrassing for them to admit the topic was of your genitals. They are too scared for that!"

"You think so?" Clyde asked, his voice trembling. Addison smiled reassuringly and Clyde laughed shakily, putting his hands together and looked down, "I-I guess I'm lucky they didn't know I was gay too, huh? Hell, it'd be more embarrassing for them! Hehe--"

"Oh god yes, that'd be something they never talk about!" Addison laughed softly and smiled with his hands together. "So you're coming out to me too?"

"Well--I can trust you, coach, you know. You're--you're the only one whose--whose ever stood up for me."

"Clyde you are a wonderful kid, and I'll always stick up for you." Addison reached up and placed his hands on Clyde's shoulders, "I am your friend, and I'll protect you, I promise."

Clyde turned his snout away and his jaw quivered as his face grew hot, dipping his head down as the overwhelming of emotions made him break into tears. Addison pulled him close and squeezed the dragon tightly as he cried softly, and allowed him several minutes into his next class to do so. Clyde shuddered and bit his teeth down hard as he tried to suppress the surfeit amount of misery he felt, and Addison's hug was soporiphic at first, which helped him. Eventually he took his face away, after cleaning off his tears and Addison gently touched the kid by the nuque.

"You're not alone, Clyde. I am your friend, and I will protect you: you're much too wonderful of a person to be treated this way."

"T-t-thank you, coach." Clyde said shakily, wiping his face and sniffling, "God I'm so damn emotional--uggh!"

"Just relax Clyde." Addison flashed a wide smile, "It is good to feel. You experience all spectrums of life! Now, Clyde, can I tell you a secret?"

"Oh--sure, coach." Clyde nodded and looked up, "What is it?"

"Two things, Clyde. One--and this is between you and my-self, so this cannot leave this room. Most of the teachers know it from my school ears, but I am also gay! And number two; you have some gorgeous red eyes, they're like garnet, kid. So no more tears, it does not look good on you!"

. . .

? ? ?

During the next two weeks, Clyde endured the onslaught of whispering and rumor that would accumulate in the morning at breakfast, when all eyes were on him. It was a miserable ordeal for him, and he had struggled infinitely to not react with the same level of violence he had before. He held some pride in his heart knowing he could take Marius down, even though it meant nothing in the end: it was nice to know he could defend him-self slightly.

The First Nine-weeks were nearly over, and the experience was one that had left him ambivalent. Identifying Addison as gay had still left an everlasting impression on his mind, and it surged only to surge his hungry desire to eyeball the sexy, muscular Stallion.

Hmm--I guess it explains why he is so attractive, Clyde casually deduced: That's also why he's not bothered when I stare at his butt! Us gay guys know what we like! Haha!

He felt butterflies in his stomach, thinking about Addison, and he held back the admittance he might have a crush on him. It would not amount to anything, and perhaps it was just hormones making him feel so good, he thought to him-self. The compliment had stuck with him for all those weeks too: never being told his eyes were pretty had left him now craving the compliment again! Clyde felt exultant, and on the way home with is little brother, he logged into his facebook.

>>Hey, coach!

<<Hey Clyde! You're walking home from school, still? :U

>>Yeah, it's a long walk. Nothing like a little brother to work the neck muscles!

<<Get some leg weights! That'll be great for your gluts! Ja, güten glüts!

>>You saying I'm fat, you jack ass...? >:I

<<Hyperbole! Hyperbole!

Clyde laughed to him-self and shifted Alvin's foot away from his neck, becoming annoyed by his little brother's desire to kick his collarbone.

>>You know, I've been here for a long time, and still not a boyfriend.

>>I am so ugly! DX

<<Oh shut up, you'll find a dude. Lol!

>>Eh.. I guess. I want someone.. well, like you, actually. Teens are just shit. XD!

Addison laughed a little as he slowed down to a red light, reading over the message and his ego took a sudden rise, giving him a momentary blush as well!

<<Well shit, you just give me a date and I'll fix that for ya!

>>Haha--oh whatever. I'd date you if you weren't my coach, or graying! I need someone not dying!. :V

<<Im... graying!?

>>Was checking you out, saw them on you. Gotta say--it kinda killed the mood.

<<Hey! I am looking great for my age, thank you!

>>Coach, denial is the first tear in a hundred years of sadness!

<<Uh huh--Clyde, you ass hole! But, you'd seriously date a guy my age??

>>Eh, age is irrelevant in my eyes. I'd date a guy in his forties if he cared about me like you do. :U

Clyde realized what he typed and quickly texted, Fat chance of it happening. No one around here for me to ask out, so whatever.

He put his phone back into his pocking, grabbing onto his brother's small shoes and playfully tugging his feet around while Alvin tugged on Clyde's ram-like horns.

"Faster! It hot!" Alvin demanded. "You slow, and fat!"

Clyde flicked out his tongue and grunted at his brother in frustration. "Ok, just a few minutes till we get to the gas station, and I'll buy a drink."

"Mush, fatty!" Alvin gave a playful demand, giggling and kicking his legs at his brother's chest.

"You're the little porker, Alvin! God, you're gonna break my neck, Fatty Mc. Fat-fat!"

Clyde laughed and hoped across the street quickly, moving into the shade of a tall oak tree for a moment, before continuing down the heated road. The sun was high in the sky and Clyde felt his scales burning up, the rutilant shine of them harming his eyes only slightly, and he held his hand over his eyes to shield them from the sun. He heard the loud roar of an engine before a speeding black truck reared to a stop beside him and stared at it, as the truck lingered. He held onto Alvin's leg tightly and then slowly began to back away, his heart sinking, as he feared that Marius and Alex had stopped by him.

The window rolled down and a revealed a widely grinning Addison who waved, "Hey, need a ride?"

"Oh thank god it is you coach! My scales are being cooked!" Clyde laughed in relief and moved into the truck, sitting his brother down in his lap, lying against the cool leather upholstery. Alvin yawned and waved to the coach happily, and Addison smiled, waving back to him.

"This is your little brother Alvin, right?"

"Yep, he is turning four in November! Same month as me, actually." Clyde smiled, "Thanks for the ride, it was really hot! How did you find us?"

"Well I needed to get some groceries and I saw you walking down the road, didn't know you lived out in the city! I live in the suburbs in my Aunt's old home! She had it renovated a few years ago."

"Hehe, well we used to live further out, but now we're in the city." Clyde sat up a little as he adjusted Alvin in his seat.

"Ah nice. Well do you want to come in with me to the store, and get something to drink for you and your brother? Or if you need a ride home right now I don't mind!"

"Oh we can go; my family is at work today." Clyde said, "Alvin is really thirsty too. Are you picking up some hair dye?"

"Hair dye?" Addison asked, confused, "Why would I get that?"

"Age creeps upon you at the most unexpected times--"

"I'll have you know I am not that old! I am only thirty eight!" Addison lectured Clyde with a simper. "When your gray scales start showing, you'll look like unpolished leather!"

"Hehe, I know, I know! You look really--you know, good for a guy your age."

"Oh ho, do I now? Brave words from a teenager, who was moments ago, eating at my ego! Anything other toppings you want to add the Ego waffle I'm eating?"

Clyde blushed on the inside a little bit and shifted. "Hehe, you're really fucking hot--and a really nice guy. I like you and--you know, a lot and stuff for what you do for me."

Addison looked over, patted him on the shoulder, and gave a soft squeeze, his insides purring from the compliments.

"And you, Clyde, are all the same things, and more. A kid with potential like you leaves me honored to be your teacher, AND your eye-candy! Hahaha! Just don't tell anyone, this is extremely unprofessional, and I could get fired."

Clyde nodded a bit and smiled, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone I have a friend."

Clyde laughed shyly and then held onto his little brother affectionately as they drove in silence to the store: arriving five minutes later, Addison hoped out, along with Clyde, whom checked his phone.

"Wow, it's only three fifty seven? Damn, it is early."

"And it's hot as hell," Addison remarked. "I love the heat, but it's nothing compared to India."

"What was it like? I've wanted to visit Tibet for a long time, learn about the Iron neck training and so on!"

Addison chuckled, and explained his trip in the East, filling Clyde's brain with envy and numerous details, and stories about the place. Addison worked in the farm and construction to support his living, and all the time he spent out in the woods, meditating. He met many people in the process who taught him a lot about life and how to live without focusing on his ego, or his centeredness. Clyde listened, and even remarked about some of the customs, showing knowledge about Taoism, Buddhism, Existentialism, and even the teachings of Alduous Huxley. It amazed Addison that a young kid was so bright for his age!

He explained the nutritional facts of some of the things he ate, and Clyde listened intently, memorizing them for his own devices. He picked up supplies of his own, using what little money he had in stock to eat as healthy as he could, thanks to his grandmother's donations. They moved around to the wheat and grain section, and Addison pulled out several boxes of oatmeal, wheat germ, honey, and Pita bread for his homemade hummus.

"So Coach," Clyde began, curiously reading over a granola box. "Are you dating anyone?"

"No. I haven't had a partner in years after my last--failed relationship. Been busy training competitors, going to school, and traveling!"

"So you enjoy being single, huh?" Clyde asked with a slight sink in his optimism.

"No--not really. To be honest I miss having someone there: I am a social creature, but, nothing replaces having a loved one."

"Eh, I wouldn't know what I am missing," Clyde admitted with a sour tone, "I've never dated anyone before, or hell, even cuddled!"

"You'll find someone, but never pass up the opportunity." Addison winked at him with a smile, "You never know!"

"I know." Clyde looked over an array of different types of chilies and sauces. He glanced to Addison, "So when did you start working out?"

"I was about twenty. My Mom got me into it when she was in the Army. Vicious woman! Always pushing me to the breaking point!" Addison pushed the buggy forward, glancing down to Alvin, "She loved me being gay, for some reason. Always found things for us to talk about, usually. Dad did not even care, hell, he bragged about it sometimes. Not worrying about being a grandpa until my sister got pregnant."

"Well, my mom doesn't care, and my dad is a homophobe. Not like I care or anything, you know?" Clyde shrugged, "Talk sense to a fool, and he calls you foolish."

"Wise words, Clyde." Addison nodded, smiling down at the young dragon.

He drove Alvin and his brother to their home after finished his shopping, which took all around ten minutes. Pulling into the dirt road that led to their home, and beside a rusting blue truck, Alvin hopped out first and Addison put his hand on Clyde's shoulder, leaning over to him.

"Clyde, just so you know," Addison began, "I enjoy the talks we have together."

"I do too, coach!"

"Hehe, all right, see you tomorrow! Oh wait, Clyde!" Addison reached underneath of his seat and pulled out a plastic bottle filled with large silver pills, tossing it to Clyde.

"For your joints! Take one with every meal! See yah!"

Clyde looked at the bottle with surprise and slid out of the seat with his book bag, and waved to him as he marched to his house. He entered in with a broad smile, greeted by a pungent and volatile odor that was common in a house of smokers: his mother was in the living room, vacuuming, while speaking on the phone as per usual. Alvin had nestled up on the couch with his book bag, opening it and going through his things, showing his father a picture. His dad paid interest to it for a moment, congratulating him with a faux smile and loud laughter, beckoning his wife over.

"Hey sweety!" His mom cheerfully greeted him. "So what took you so--"

"Woooooh! Yeah! Get that mother fucker! Hahaaaaaa!" His father cheered from the couch as he watched a wrestling show, and Clyde rolled his eyes.

"What took you so long, hunny?"

"Oh, my coach gave me a ride home! We went by the store because I was thirsty!" Clyde smiled and his mom smiled at seeing her son so happy today, a relief from all of her husband's ranting.

"Well good, sweety! Are those boys still giving you trouble?"

"Nah--coach took care of--"

" Yeah! Yeah! Get it, come on you fucker, run the ball!"

Yep, he's drinking. Clyde thought, that's why the TV is so god damn loud.

"Coach took care of it, mom. I'm gonna do my homework while you--slip meds into dad's food."

"Ooooh don't you temp me!" She laughed and Clyde laughed too, "Speaking of which hunny, want to help me with laundry later?"

"Yeah sure thing mom, I'll get the dishes after I do my homework."

Clyde moved through the house and to the back, where he sat at the table, as usual, and opened up his laptop and began working on his homework. He focused him-self on it while tuning out the loud TV, or his father's occasional banter with his mother, who disregarded it silently. Dinner was prepared around five in the evening, by then Clyde had finished his homework and was relaxing back in his chain, idly typing to his friends on Facebook when he decided to take one of the pills Addison bought for him.

"What's that, you got there?" His brother asked from the kitchen, limping on a crutch, "Let me see."

"They're pills for bad joints." Clyde answered, "My coach got them for me since I have issues with my knees."

"Oh? Well that's cool. Mind if I have one?" Jordan asked, but Clyde looked at him apprehensively, knowing his brother was on some heavy painkillers. Recently Jordan and his dad were fighting about it, because his dad thought Jordan was addicted, and not even Clyde new for sure if he was.

Deciding he did not want to start a fight, he rubbed his snout and tossed one to him, regretting it, then took one for him-self. He was not in the mood for his family, wishing they would just keep out of the dining room, so he did not have to become involved. He ate his dinner idly at the table, sipping at the diabetes inducing sweet tea his mom had made again, despite his pleas to hold back on the sugar content.

"What the hell are you taking?" Clyde's father asked, glaring at his son Jordan, "You get some more generic morphine again?"

"Pffft, no, dad, it's a pill for joint issues." Jordan rolled his eyes and opened the fridge, pulling out one of his father's beer and opened it, looking at him with a smug smile.

"Lying shit, what'd you do, get your aunt to give you some more of her Vicadin?" His father turned his eyes away, "Fucking addict, bringing that fucking shit in MY god damn house!"

"Oh, your house?" Jordan paused, "Doesn't this 'technically' belong to your sister? Well shit let's talk about addictions! How much have ya drank today? A twelve pack all by your little ole self?"

Clyde's dad smiled sinisterly, narrowing his eyes at his son and gripped his fist as white head swept over his drunken stupor.

"Ooh boy, you better watch your shit before I knock out more of those fucking teeth of yours."

"You know what dad!" Jordan taunted, "I am about to cut loose and kick my Sunday shoes right up your fucking ass! So come on old man, lets go!"

Jordan snorted at his dad, and his father moved forward before Clyde's mother interjected, pulling him back with one arm, "Knock it off! Both of you! Jordan get out of the kitchen, George, go sit down! George, now!"

"CLYDE!" His father screamed, "did you give him these FUCKING pills!?"

"Yes," he admitted, looking up, "They're for joints. They're not drugs."

"Bull shit! You fucking got drugs for this worthless sack of shit, you fucking faggot!"

"I don't have to get them for him. The military pays for it, dad. In fact, that's how most drugs come into the country: opium fields from the East." Clyde pointed out casually with a smirk at his lips. His dad was overly patriotic and he knew exactly what words to tweak him with, and any time he mentioned a subterfuge in the military his dad was sent over the edge. The dragon barked out loudly at his son, who merely sat at the table with his head down, looking at his computer. It would not be long before his father would strike him across the face, and Clyde would fall against the table as his father charged him. Alvin began to cry and Clyde's mother rushed to get him out of the area while Jordan worked to restrain his dad and Clyde relocated to the top room of the house to avoid a larger fight, knowing Jordan would be able to restrain his father. That night things got bad, not long after dinner he had gone back down stairs to get something to drink when he saw his father, and he looked past him as he rushed into the kitchen to get a drink, but by the time he exited to the living room, his father was standing. The two looked at each other, George smelled stale and drunk again, his eyes wire wide and translucent, following Clyde as he walked around to the staircase.

"You know your stupid cunt of a mother almost put you up for adoption after she had you," George began with a taunt. "She didn't want to give birth to a retarded little faggot like you."

Clyde frowned deeply and gripped the edge of the banister as he ignored it, and held tightly onto his glass of mountain dew. His father spewed out several more statements of hatred and disgust for him, before Clyde just walked away; as he did his father yelled for him to come back down stairs. Jordan was out for the time and his mother was at work: he could not shake that feeling of fear, the scared, vulnerable burn in his gut. So many times he had been beaten when the other two were not around as he tried to protect Alvin, and he hoped tonight would just not be one of those nights.