FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The morning begun with a pleasant chorus of birdsong, the default alarm setting for Molly's bedside. She woke and commented on the light streaming through her window. “Matches the audio," she hummed alone, dressing herself whilst rubbing the sand from her eyes. Over time the blindness went away, and she could appreciate the morning's light.

Glancing to the bedside table, she fumbled her attempt at stopping the alarm. On her second try she got it. Okay, rise and shine's over. Time to move.

Descending the stairs, a grim feeling built up as she saw stacks upon stacks of cardboard boxes filling the space. One box at a time, she told herself, you'll get through the boring part soon enough.

She threw on a jacket until the central heating kicked in. Evidently she hadn't set that to be automated yet. Taking a peek through one of the downstairs windows, she saw some activity outside. A few people were loading their cars for the morning commute. Another person (a lady, she tried to tell from a distance) watered their lawn at the end of a cul-de-sac. She checked the time.

Seven, she thought. Didn't need to get up this early, but my things aren't gonna unpack themselves!

Breakfast came next. Nothing fancy — cereal with milk. Molly stared past the table, the carton's label stuck in the corner of her vision. She looked down the open hall to the front door, one-third of her sight filled with black-on-white text reading 'REI—' before blurring in the periphery of her eyesight. She noticed a shadow in the glass of the side window. Delivery? She wondered...

The doorbell rang, prompting her to put aside any notion of starting the full unpacking. Molly rushed over to answer it, her half-baked clothing choice now a luxury to focus on. Pulling open the door, she saw a young man in his twenties with a package.

“Hi," he said, “so you're home at last."

Molly stared at him, forgetting to reply.

He ignored the odd silence coming from the woman wearing both jacket and jeans with pyjamas. “Here," he motioned to the package, “I've been getting your mail for the last couple of days. Bradshaw, is it?"

She nodded. “Mm-hmm. Molly Bradshaw."

“Well here you go." Passing it to her, he rubbed his flanks afterwards. “You've met one of your neighbours now at least!" He smiled and turned to leave. “I'll give you some peace and quiet."

Molly watched him walk down her empty driveway. Her car wasn't due to be returned until Thursday, so she was without a means of transport. That and...she could use a hand if there was one going...

“Hey, wait up."

The man stopped. “Something you need?"

Molly paused. He had short brown hair that looked like it needed a wash, and a friendly smile. Not a false, polite one — no, more real than that. He seems nice.

She finally spoke up, calling him over. “Didn't catch your name," she said, leaning against the door frame.

“I'm Cade. I'm a Teaching Assistant at the local college. Didn't catch your occupation, Mrs. Bradshaw."

“Miss. And I'm in-between jobs, but not for long."

“Oh? That's good. Any hints you wanna drop?"

She smiled. “I'm not a liberty to discuss."

Cade chuckled. “I get it. You're entitled to your own business. There was something you wanted, yes? Got questions? Might as well answer them now and get your residential orientation out of the way."

“Yes, but first I must thank you for holding onto my mail." Molly placed her errant package at the foot of the stairs and stepped outside. Not too far, just enough to maintain conversation with her visitor. “Have you lived here long?"

“Me?" Cade tapped his chest, giving a soft sigh. “No, only a year. I moved here from the East Coast."

“What, like Tel Los?"

“No. Not as far. Just Meridian."

“Meridian or not, still a big journey. Work's that promising?"

“Yeah. Can't complain. Education was never my thing starting out but I grew into it. You got another question?"

“I do," Molly looked down the street. “Know any other neighbours?"

He frowned. “Not really — I work odd hours so I don't catch people coming-and-going too much."

“Any hybrids?"

He tilted his head, an intrigued expression forming. “No. Haven't seen any. Think it's just humans around here. That's..." he paused, scratching his shoulder, “that's an interesting question. You know some?"

Molly scrunched her nose and shook her head in a half-hearted motion. Cade tried to discern her meaning. “Kinda? Sorta? Doesn't matter," she said.

“That's neat. Back home there are a lot but I never knew any personally. Man," he sighed, “it's amazing and sorta scary how far science has come, eh? Wouldn't mind meeting one for real."

You might soon. Molly shifted gears to her next question: “okay — lemme tell to the reason I dragged you back over. My car's being fixed at the moment so I'm outta options for travel. Would you mind if I got a ride with you? Only for today — I've gotta buy the essentials."

“Sure, I'll give you a lift to the mall. But..." he raised a finger, gesturing at her.

“...is that really what you want to be wearing outside?"

Molly glanced down at her ad-hoc apparel. “Nope," she beamed, “definitely not!"

* * *

Molly's errands took longer than expected. Much of the day passed in Cade's company. He was fine with that — he wasn't busy. “Just grading papers this week. Don't need me on-campus for that," he'd remarked. She took it as a sign she wasn't boring him, which was nice. They separated downtown, and went about their business before regrouping at an agreed time and place, and heading back to their complex.

In Cade's car on the drive home, Molly wrote a text to Vi:

Settling in. How soon can we begin?

She stared out of the window, watching the world swoosh by. Trees sped across the foreground in an uncanny blur of dark green. After that, a hilly field slowly morphed as its shape was seen from different angles. Her phone buzzed, and she saw Vi's reply:

As soon as you like. Need anything?

She stopped to think. Cade was in the driver's seat, paying attention to the road. Molly felt a small twinge in her stomach, like she'd forgotten something. But she checked her mental list — groceries, ordered a closet, tools for assembling furniture...that was everything...

No, she answered, her thumbs hovering...hesitating over the next sentence. Found a helper already. Talk to you soon!!!

Cade pulled into the driveway, the soft crunch of gravel where the road met the drive and spread into a solid concrete plane greeted them with the warmth and cosiness of knowing you were now home. They came to a stop, and Molly noticed he was looking ahead. She followed his line of sight to the NuPlex conjoined housing unit they now dwelt in. One half for her, another for him. Stone steps led up-and-down to other, unoccupied homes. She kept her gaze away from his.

He was first to break the silence, voice cracking. “W-would you like a hand unloading?"

“Sure, but I don't have anything big. My orders aren't due until next week."

He coughed. “Then we can take a look what's left to unpack, how about that?"

Molly smiled. Already wrapping him 'round my finger. Good girl.

“Sure."

Inside, Cade saw the true extent of her hoard. “Geez! You've a lot of stuff to go through. Maybe I should withdraw my offer."

“Aww c'mon," Molly teased, gliding from box to box, “we agreed. No take-backsies."

“Okay. Don't wanna appear childish in the first place," Cade sighed, moving to the nearest cardboard box. “You got a knife?"

“Right...knife...kitchen..." Molly left him alone, the slam of kitchen drawers echoing back to him from a couple of rooms over. Cade whistled. Dust had begun to collect on the tops of each box, even after a mere handful of days moved-in. He ran his hand across one of them, coating it in a fine beige layer of cough-inducing particles. Wiping it away, he turned to face the approaching footsteps.

“They're blunt but they'll do," she said when she returned. Handing one to her new helper, they got to work.

“So, Ms. Bradshaw—"

“Molly."

“Okay, Molly. Nice of you to keep things informal."

She winked in response, eliciting cocky smirk from Cade.

“Molly...you learned a bit about myself today, but I'd like to know a little 'bout you."

“Not at liberty to discuss."

“Yeah, yeah — I got that line earlier. But seeing as I'm giving you a hand with this, maybe send a little openness my way?"

Molly ripped open a box of hardcover books. “Yeah, about that — you've been awfully kind today, Cade. Um...what's your surname?"

“Lewis. Thinking about mailing me anything? You have my address. Same as yours, eh?"

“No, I just wanted to know since you know mine."

“Well are you gonna bring me up to speed on yourself? It's almost like you have to — hospitality, y'know..."

“Hah! Want to exchange numbers, is that it?"

Cade shrugged. “Hey, why not? If it helps you move in faster then I can be free of this mess," he said, shaking a disjointed bundle of what resembled pieces of a clothes line.

Silence ensued. She eyed him with conspiratorial intent.

He gave her a friendly gesture. “C'mon, if you want me to be at your beck and call it's better to share, just in case."

Eventually, she relented. “Just remember, that was your idea," Cade joked, entering her contact details onto his phone. “Now, about your mysterious occupation..."

“Ugh, again? Don't push it buddy."

“You're right," he said, “I should give you space. Can't spill everything on our first encounter as neighbours, can we?" He checked the time. “It's beginning to get late, and I've work tomorrow morning. Unlike you, apparently."

Molly snorted. “Pfft! You're no good at chatting me up, know that?"

“Ms. Bradshaw! As if I would deign to commit such indecency!" Cade put a hand over his heart and faked a swoon. “My constitution is all a-flutter!" His act fell apart once neither of them could contain their laughter. Molly felt that pang again — a single sliver of discomfort that spiked her like a running stitch. As soon as it came it went, and she was back to giggling.

“Oh Mr. Lewis — you insult me with your frail character. Why it is a subject fit only for a tragedian!"

“Ah, a woman of letters."

“Yeah I've read a few classics," she said, pointing to some of the books she'd been unpacking and stacking in tall, teetering towers.

“More than a few," he remarked, emptying the box he was currently working on. “Alma Mater?"

She pursed her lips and shushed him. “Sss'a secret."

“Man, it's one mystery after another with you, isn't it?"

You won't believe what's coming next, she whispered.

Their conversation sped to a close once Cade had put away the last of his assigned boxes. Molly watched him work, contemplating her situation. Couple days now, and I'll be a whole new woman. Her stomach sank. She felt anxious — but the good kind, the kind that filled a person's gut when a crush asks them out, or the sensation produced by a great movie. Phew, she thought, can't wait!

“Welp...that's me done for today," Cade said, slapping his sides and sighing, “see you around Molly. And good luck with the new job, even if you won't tell me what it is." He departed with a wink, and a cocky grin. Molly met his high spirits with a broad smile.

“Yeah, 'bout that...maybe in future, if and when we know each other better. It's a bit...out there..."

“No matter. You'll do great I'm sure. Nice to meet you, Ms. Bradshaw."

“Heh. Same to you: Mr. Lewis."

The pair waved goodbye to one another. Rumbling, Cade's car pulled out of the driveway and moved out of sight, towards his own abode nearby. Molly shut the front door, and rested her head on the wooden panelling. She closed her eyes, and breathed.

Flirting's started early

That wasn't flirting

Sure sounded like it.

Okay, alright. He did appeal to my romantic side. Educated, friendly—

He's handsome too. Young.

Molly burst out laughing. “Hah, that's just great! I'm fawning over my neighbour." And he's doing the same, she thought. My my, quite the cougar, Molls. Perhaps you should've considered your upcoming species differently!

“Ha-ha, very funny, me." She dismissed the thought. Molly kept her inner self inside, not outside. She wasn't the type to wear her soul as a skin. There was always something held back, even when she deigned to let loose...

That could all change, though. Who knew how she'd feel in a week's time. Vi was ready, and she was pretty sure she was ready too. Well that's one more person to explain this to. Cade.

Images streamed through her mind. Pictures, scenes of the big reveal.

Next time, when he sees me...

Would that change anything? If she sensed a connection, would it be ruined? She couldn't spend her time overthinking things — for heaven's sake, why did she care? He was just some guy. Attractive, yes, but she'd known him for a day, and not even all of that!

...one thing's for certain.

He's gonna freak the fuck out!