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Chapter 7: A Brother’s Distance
On the late afternoon of Tuesday, a nice free time remained for the students before going back to their dormitories or their homes close by. Xavier the parrot was exhausted from the basic training and headed back to his dorm. His legs were throbbing. Just passing by, he met Milagros and one of her close friends sat on the bench and saw and greeted him. She had heard from Sergio that he had joined the soccer club but was still not yet confirmed if he had officially got through.
“Hey, Xavier! How was practice?”
Xavier stopped and tried to recover a smile. “Ah, it was great, but I’m so tired!”
“You think you’re officially in the team?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t talk to Sol or Broderick today and they had told me they’ll be watching us training.” He said.
One of the girls, a black-furred cat in an indigo shirt and a gray thin jacket and jeans, looked interested. “You’re playing?” This was Natasha Pringle, a close friend of Milagros. Xavier had seen her around mostly with Milagros. “Cool! Finally, another parrot playing in the field. Last year, there was Alfonso and Vector who were rivaling on the same team, remember?”
Xavier remembered from Broderick about the two parrots who graduated last year. Two exchanged students from Brazil; a scarlet macaw and a blue-and-yellow macaw. While naturally equals, the two were seen as rivals which Broderick was in between them every chance to break up their rivaling antics.
Xavier responded, “Oh, yeah… I remember…” Now, he wished he didn’t end up making rivals in the same team. He wasn’t the one to compete harder, depending on the circumstance. He had nearly faced with a certain red-tail hawk back home. In fact, he saw one joining the football team where Xerxes was playing and practicing in. The chances of ever be that same person he had been through were likely low. He didn’t recall the fellow hawk-man to be that buff. But the differences between middle school to university might be a big difference.
“I’m definitely looking forward to this year’s games!” Natasha said in enthusiasm.
“Because there’s another parrot in the team?” Milagros said.
“You know they’re good at playing soccer, Milagros.”
“True, but I don’t remember Xavier being that interested in sports.”
“It may not seem like it, Milagros, but I have longed for some time about it,” Xavier stated. “So, is Sergio at the dorm?”
“I think he’s still there.”
The parrot snorted. “He really wanted to have the dorm to himself for some quality time.”
“W-wait! So, you know…” Milagros then stopped.
“What is it?” Said Natasha.
“Know what?” Xavier crossed his arms. “I’ll tell you what I know, that coyote is probably bringing a girl for a nightstand when I’m not around each there. Is he, like, competing with Sol or something?”
Milagros confidently said. “Sergio is quite the ladies’ man with his accent as his weapon. We are in college, after all.”
“It’s always about sex, isn’t it?”
“Men.” Natasha quipped.
“See you, girls. I’m exhausted.” Xavier waved them and headed back to his dorm.
The remaining free time left for Keanu before heading back home from the library was soon becoming his new habit to spend and study here all semester. A little guilty that while his new friends had their busy time was surely a bit lonely some. On the bright side, he and Hunter were going out together to the train tram station every morning and afternoon. This was now becoming a regular thing and routine. He can now say that he was comfortable walking around with Hunter every day.
He put the books back on the shelves and picked up his backpack to leave the campus. The library had a somewhat hotel-like lobby with a twin staircase for the second level of the two-story building. Keanu hadn’t checked the second level which was usually overlooking the first floor. He normally walked straight between the split stairs. Now did the opposite, leaving. Surprised, he saw Hunter entering the main entrance and waved at him as he saw him leaving. He was probably looking for him to go out together at the station.
Above, an argumentative voice nearly shouted the decibels’ limits of library’s standards, but clear enough to hear and echoed around the lobby, it was angry and getting stronger. They faintly hear it. “…so, do I! I don’t care if you’re… Hey! Hey! It’s over!? Now!!??.... Well, fuck you, too!!” A loud, plastic bang sounded and followed a splashing spillage. Keanu heard it but didn’t know where it came from until…
“Oh, shit!” Hunter cried.
Keanu was confused about his reaction but something cold and filthy came down on his head, drenching him every bit until he could muster a scream of the sudden change of temperature of his body.
When it stopped, it was too late. Keanu found himself wet. Hunter sprinted a few steps to meet him. Keanu’s stood there in shock and confused about what just happened. His white fur on his face was drenched with dirty water and a smell of some sort of cleaning product. His body shivered of cold in the air-conditioned room.
A librarian staff saw this and came to his help. “Oh, my God!” She cried. “Are you alright?”
Hunter looked up and saw a yellow bucket for mopping right close to the railing and edge of the second floor. Then saw the first person coming down the stairs. “Hey, what the fuck is your problem?”
A ferret-man put his phone down his pocket and didn’t show any signs of regret. He looked at Hunter. “What problem?”
Hunter got angrier. “I saw you kicking that bucket and look what you did!” He pointed the bucket above and then to Keanu who was shivering with arms heavily hugging himself.
The ferret shrugged. “He shouldn’t have been there when I kicked it.” He left the scene without running away and left the building.
“Hey! Get back here!” Hunter shouted.
“Don’t bother him.” Said the young human librarian. “That was Terrence.”
“Terrence Browne? From the football team?” Now Hunter remembered, one of Xerxes’ teammates he had talked about, the best agile quarterback.
“He’s one annoying prick,” she said. “Looks like his girlfriend dumped him. Boy, I’m glad she did.”
“H-Hunter, I-I’m want to go…” Keanu shivered his speech. “P-please…”
“Sure, come on. I’ll take you to the showers and clean you up.”
“Oh, God. I better report this…” Said the librarian and left for the desk and find the janitor.
Hunter escorted the soaked Keanu to the gym facility where the locker room showers were. His clothes were a mess with the smell of filth after the janitor mopped up the floor with a hint of new floor smell…
Hunter muttered angrily at what that ferret did to him, treating his actions as if nothing would ever happen to him badly like the term of consequences didn’t exist in his life. Keanu was only upset but all he could think about was how uncomfortable felt the insides of his ruined clothes. He hoped his underwear and backpack were spared from getting wet…
Hunter picked his phone and called someone. He called Xerxes which he assumed he was still at the gymnasium. “Xerxes, are you still at the gym?”
“Yeah, what’s the problem?”
“There’s been an accident at the library and Keanu is soaked by mopping water.”
“Gross! But the poor thing to Keanu!”
“I’m taking him to the lockers so he can shower there.”
“Sure thing, but what gives for calling me?”
“Your ferret teammate was the problem.”
“Terrence? What the hell?”
“He kicked a bucket from the second level and didn’t know Keanu was under and shit just happened. He just walked away and not gave a fuck.”
“I’ll let the coach know.”
“Okay, I’m gonna call Broderick or others if they have any dry clothes to donate.”
After hanging up, the pair entered the 800 building of Physical Training and Sporting Center. Inside the locker room, there were showers with stalls. Keanu stood there with arms mixed with discomfort or trying to keep himself warm. He looked, even more, dirtier as his white dirty fur looked dried up or poorly treated. Hunter had brought him a towel and an extra.
“You can take off your clothes, Keanu,” Hunter said.
“I…need some privacy, Hunter.” Keanu was nervous.
“Oh! My bad!” He simply turned around his back at Keanu and patiently waited. Not all the time guys were used to see each other nearly naked in the locker room. He should have known his behavior.
“Okay. You can turn around.” Keanu somehow automatically said that.
Maybe he wasn’t that self-conscious he had thought. Hunter turned around like nothing and…
…It wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Keanu with just a towel around his waist, covering his privates and upper legs, his upper body was matted with dirt, his all-white fur was messed up of a yellowish or brownish color from the filth of the mopping bucket. Even worse than the torso was his face that got most of it and trailed down his chest and shoulders. Hunter really felt sorry for him this ever happened to him at the beginning of his first-year semester.
Keanu picked the first stall and showered at ease. Hunter just sits on a nearby bench and waited. Xerxes came and brought his own body wash and shampoo for Keanu to freshen him up.
“Hey, Hunter! I brought some shampoo and body wash.” The pink dragon said. “Where’s Keanu?”
“Already in the shower.” The wolf pointed.
Xerxes walked to the closed shower curtain and handed him the bottles through with one hand intruding in. “Here, Keanu! I brought you body wash and shampoo.”
“Ah!” Keanu was startled at the big hand of the dragon with two bottles. “Uh, thank you, Xerxes.”
Xerxes sat next to Hunter as he spoke to him. “Have you already talked to Coach about Terrence?”
“Yeah, I’m on it. Really, I knew Terrence was a bit of a… You know, hard to work with.”
“Heh, apparently, his girlfriend just dumped him,” Hunter stated.
“Vicky? Did she dump him? Wow…” For some reason, it all made sense for Xerxes. “I had met her before by Terrence. They were just fine in their relationship. Hm, now that she broke up with him, I don’t know how he’s going to handle it.”
“Well, kicking buckets at random people sure is a good start.” Hunter sarcastically said.
Then a ringtone sang…
It wasn’t his cellphone but then Keanu spoke, “Is that my phone?”
Hunter picked it up from the retired pants. “Yeah! It’s still working.” He looked at the screen with a picture of a smiling older arctic wolf-man with a police cap hat. “It’s your father. Should I answer it for you?”
“Sure, he’s wondering where I am.”
Hunter swiped green for answering and spoke. “Hello?”
“You’re not Keanu.” The voice sounded serious; he didn’t expect to hear this as Hunter felt he was about to be tracked down. “Who is this?”
“Uh, this is Keanu’s friend–Hunter.”
“Ah! Right, he mentioned about you,” Mr. Winters said. “Why you’re using my son’s phone?” Out of curiosity or he was really demanding. “I’m expecting my boy to come back at the station by five.”
“Well… You see…” Hunter explained the whole incident at the library and now Keanu was taking a shower. “…and now some of my friends are coming to give him some clean clothes, and we’ll deal with the ferret who did this, so no biggie here.”
“I see… Well, thank you for your help, Hunter.”
Keanu had just finished cleaning, wearing a towel around his waist, and gestured to hand him the phone. “Hi, Dad. Sorry that I’m coming late today.”
“It’s all right, son. Just be sure to call me when there’s anything to let me know, okay?”
“Sure, Dad. I’ll be at the station shortly.”
After a short conversation and Keanu ended it with “Love you, Dad” and hung up which Hunter and Xerxes chuckled. “What?” He said.
“Nothing,” Hunter replied but his tail wagged out of the urge to tease him some more which he made some mock kisses at him.
Keanu flushed, “S-stop it!”
“Oh, cheer up, Keanu. We’re just teasing.”
“Well, it-it goes the same to both of you, right?” Keanu's slight agitated voice said. “Y-you would say the same thing to your moms.”
“Jeez, he has a point there.” Xerxes nonchalantly said at Hunter, but he grinned at Keanu, “But you said it to your dad!” The big log of scales heartily laughed.
“Okay, Xerxes, that’s enough.” Hunter tried to chill him out. Much to Keanu’s embarrassment.
Not too long, Xavier and Broderick arrived with some freshly cleaned clothes for Keanu. Despite that Xavier was tired from his first day of training he felt that it was serious about the situation. Still, his legs and feet were killing him from walking more from his dorm.
“Phew, you’re one lucky boy, Keanu,” said Xavier. “It just so happens that I have an unopened pack of new underwear. I think they’ll fit for you.”
“Really? Thank you,” replied Keanu, still wearing a towel.
“I also got some t-shirt and pants from leftovers,” Broderick said. What he meant was some Rexville t-shirts and shorts for sports with the R. U. logo that was for the new students joining the clubs.
After Keanu got himself settled and cleaned from mop water. He looked different from wearing his accustomed clothing. The red t-shirt and shorts for sports fitted his size but were slightly bigger, possibly medium, he looked like a model volunteering the school’s uniform or summer camp wear. Red and blue, the university’s official colors, were not Keanu’s taste.
As always, his soft peaceful voice spoke. “Thank you, guys.” He said with hands behind his back and fidgeting his right foot in circles. “Been a great help.”
Hunter and Keanu left the campus toward their homes at Oasis Boulevard. During the train ride, Keanu was rather quiet about the ordeal. He tried to ask Hunter about the ferret guy, but the older wolf told him not to worry. He would get what he deserves for committing a minor case of a hit-and-run.
But, one more thing. “Hunter…”
“Yes?”
“Here…” Keanu fetched out an unopened chocolate bar. “I was saving it for later, but I want to thank you for all the troubles.” He wasn’t looking at him and he was shy about showing this much sympathy.
“Huh, well, thank you, Keanu.” Hunter smiled and took the chocolate bar.
“No problem.” Keanu was still looking away. Hunter just patted him on the back. Hunter opened it and snapped the chocolate bar in two.
“Here, have some.” This time Keanu looked at him curiously, the older wolf-man was smiling at him, offering his treat. Guess he was a little surprised by how generous he was.
Keanu accepted it. “Thank you.”
Their train arrived at their home station. Arriving late at six, Hunter and Keanu met a familiar figure that was mostly seen around patrolling the city. A uniformed arctic wolf-man with intimidating sunglasses that hid every facial expression minus the muzzle, which was also scowled carefully to a stoic look, wearing a cap hat with the signature of Rexville City Police Department, or RXDP.
Keanu greeted him. “Hi, Dad.”
Officer Winters looked at his son wearing the given clothes after the soak incident. “Hello, son.” Then looked at the other wolf. “You’re Hunter, right? It’s nice to meet you at last.” He offered his hand and Hunter happily shook it.
“It’s a pleasure, mister...uh, I mean, Officer Winters.” He nervously chuckled.
“Quick thinking, young man. Better get used to it when I’m in uniform.”
“Uh, sure.” Hunter chuckled. Keanu just rolled his eyes at this. Though, he had a point.
“Is it true you live across the street?” He asked.
“Yeah, the Emerald Tower.” He pointed eastwards at the green-painted building. “Looks like we go out the same train every morning and afternoon.”
“Though, you’ve missed the train yesterday morning.” Keanu chuckled.
“Ouch, man.” Hunter sheepishly said and rubbed the back of his head.
“Better catch on or miss the ride or be late for class, young man.” Officer Winters said.
“Yeah, I know.” Though, that Monday morning his brother sabotaged him by changing the phone’s timer. Hunter was very peeved of his brother’s lame excuses he was making. He was just trying to make his life a little in hard mode. “Well, I should go and take care of things. See you, Keanu. And nice meeting you too, Officer Winters.”
“It’s a pleasure.”
Hunter left the arctic wolves. The Winters made back at their home apartment. While Hunter had explained the situation about the student who kicked the bucket from the second floor, Keanu also talked a little about it. The guys at Rexville Uni would take care of the situation. Likely a week suspension, but this wasn’t high school. Normally, if a student in college got in trouble for breaking the rules would be given a warning like three strikes and you’re out or a law that could easily lose all three warnings. This case, however, for Terrence Browne would be warned for his actions. For now, Keanu wanted to forget about it and get his ruined clothes for washing.
At Hunter’s home apartment. His parents weren’t at home until the end of the week. He took the elevator to the ninth floor; he was feeling a sense of nerves of something was likely to happen. Nothing bad but very, somewhat conflicting. On the other hand, he had a copy of the house key. Meeting up to the door of his respective home he unlocked the door until it stopped after four inches of clearance. The door had its chain locked on.
“Oh, son of a…” He grumbled. “Rylan! Open up!” He shouted. Rylan Montana, 17, and very hard on his big brother since a year ago. “Rylan!” Hunter shouted again. By this time, His younger siblings should be back at home after school. “Sally? River? You there?” Hunter knocked on the door louder. “Goddamned it!” He cursed. He sighed and slumped down against the closed door. Another day sitting and doing nothing until whoever open the door.
Hunter picked his cellphone and called first Sally and River. Hunter was now the man-of-the-house since father and mother were out in Florida for the week, but this pest in the house was getting in the way of Hunter’s control. Why do you have to be so hard on me? Thought Hunter.
His sister responded to the call. “Hey, Hunter. What’s the problem?”
“Rylan’s the problem,” Hunter stated nonchalantly.
“Again? It’s been a year, you know.”
“Where are you two?”
“Stopping by at this new café you have talked about.”
“For real? Come on, Sally! Come back home now. I’m tired of sleeping by the front door like a stray!”
“Okay, okay! It was River who wanted to try those açai bowls.”
“Tell him to save it for dessert, we’re cooking tonight.”
“Wait…you said that we should get Chinese food. You changed your mind, right?”
“No, I didn’t. I told you that since morning. Why? Don’t tell me that you already bought some?”
“Yeah…I did…”
“When did I changed my mind to tell you to buy Chinese food?”
“Well…River told me that Rylan called him to buy Chinese food because Hunter said so,” Sally stated. Now it all made sense!
“And he believed that!”
“Sorry! You know how gullible River is.”
“I heard that!” River’s voice shouted. It wasn’t on speaker. “Same goes to you!”
“Sorry, Hunter. We’re now on our way to the apartment. Just hang on. And call Mom and Dad about this.”
“Oh yes, I will.” Hunter’s voice went in a serious tone.
Hunter hung up and called his parents, but still, Rylan ignoring the eldest son was clearly stating indirectly to Hunter as “you’re not my father!” The two had gotten sour after Hunter came out a year ago, he had looked up upon him for a long time since they were kids, but that heyday had ended for Rylan. He had become, on what Hunter could describe as a hindrance he must withstand. He didn’t know when he would stop. Recalling the day he came out, Rylan didn’t say anything but just stared at him in disbelief and ran back to his room with the biggest disgruntling shout of swears. The parents tried to talk him out of it, but he refused to listen with a locked door.
The next day was quiet, he didn’t sit next to Hunter for breakfast and ate by the balcony of the apartment or by the living room watching the TV. Hunter’s father thought he just needed to adjust and let it pass and he would eventually get over it and apologize later. Maybe a week after Hunter’s outing, his father and mother gave him the serious talk. All Hunter got from his parents was that he wouldn’t bother about it around the school, his friends at the time didn’t know this news yet until Sally and River openly talked about it to their friends in middle and high school. This little subject reached to Rylan’s perspective and felt ridiculed for having a gay brother, even some of the students, even some who had met Hunter, made fun of him. Angered and finding out that Sally was the culprit, he told her how other students were making him like a disgrace of having a gay brother and that it qualified him as gay. It pissed him off than ever, his high school years as hoped were over for him. Sally just dismissed it, underestimating it. He was just exaggerating and taking it too seriously.
Probably around October from last year that Rylan might have recomposed himself as Hunter’s outing gossip in high school had ceased. Nothing had changed, he still has his old friends, but they were aware of his dislike for Hunter, he never invited him along or talked about him.
When they said that one out of three people was homosexual or bisexual, it was that very case of one of Rylan’s three main friends: Perry Brighton. A young 17-year-old bisexual giraffe-man. He learned the news of Hunter being gay and Rylan’s cold behavior. One would normally think Perry should consider stopping hanging out with Rylan since he, himself, liked men. The chances he had got to meet Hunter were very well. Rylan of course when he brought his friends to his house when Hunter was around was surprisingly exceptional, but not getting near him or to speak to him, but his friends were. Including Perry.
The young giraffe-man enjoyed giving hints of his sexuality toward Hunter. To Hunter, he was almost like Sol, but less flirty but still sending hints of subtext like he really wanted to get to know him more and let him know he was not alone in this game of charades behind the closet. To put it straight, Rylan didn’t know Perry’s sexual orientation that included men in it.
One day in November, Rylan found out and it was like those cliches; being caught in the act. Perry hoped it was going to be a quickie, but Hunter did it all the way. It was at Hunter’s home apartment bedroom when Perry came to the apartment by himself as Rylan was hanging with the other two. Hunter was at home alone on the weekend and both parents were out of the house at that time. Perry was a daredevil; he made the first move and he had scored. He really wanted this, maybe just once, or he would never get another chance like this again! Hunter took him to his room where the rest was performed. Because of changes of plans, Rylan came back home sooner and heard the rocking bed and moans.
Surprisingly, he ignored it and thought he should threaten him by telling his parents that he brought some guy through Craiglist. When the two came out into the living room, Rylan Montana exploded. About maybe a day or two after, Hunter told Xavier and Milagros about his ordeal which Xavier easily described as the infamous scene of Soraya Montenegro from the Mexican telenovela Maria la del Barrio known as the “Maldita Lisiada Scene” when the villainess caught her fiancé kissing her stepdaughter who was in a wheelchair and she went in an unstable mental breakdown rage and beat them up almost everyone in the room like literally as if a demon had possessed her and all other soap opera crap. Hunter’s case, however, Rylan was furious equally both at Perry and especially Hunter. For him –Rylan– was the biggest plot twist he did not expect; Perry was gay, well, bi, but still, he felt betrayed and glared at Hunter and started in a physical fight, Perry tried to break it up, but Rylan pushed him away and called him the “F” word probably for the first time. Hunter managed to calm his brother down, but Rylan forced Perry to be kicked out of the apartment and likely to never see him again and avoiding him in school.
The next day, for strange reasons, everything felt like nothing happened. Rylan never said a thing to his parents and further ignored Hunter as if he had never existed. It was almost a year since he came out and he had still been treated like shit by his young brother. Hunter had, so far, survived his young brother’s antics. As long he didn’t get on his path, everything would be fine, but they both live on the same roof which made things complicated.
Hunter wished he could diplomatically fix this and make amend to his brother, but he was one stubborn mule that didn’t want to listen from him. If he couldn’t, then his parents would. The parents were aware of Rylan’s mild case of homophobia, but no matter what they could do to cure his cold heart, the parents got mentally hurt by seeing their two children fighting each other. They just wanted the best for their children, but Hunter and Rylan had brought an unwanted chapter in their family life, and the pages were endlessly in the thousands…
Hunter had overheard their conversation; they really felt helpless on what to do. Hunter was the elder brother and must act as a parent to take care of his younger siblings as he had in his younger days. So far, he took measures to handle if Rylan struck again but it seemed that most of it didn’t happen in front of the parents. If he tried to piss Hunter off, it must be away from his parent’s sight. Then Hunter complaining to his parents so Rylan could get grounded was simply said and done, but Hunter decided not to bring up troubles to his parents when they were not around. It was just too much for them to bear and now Hunter, in the end, did not call to tell his parents. Even if they call him to open the door, he wouldn’t even do it.
Hunter sighed and lied down near the door and waited for his younger siblings to come back, Rylan had to open them up.
It was not his fault that he was been in the closet since he was around fourteen in middle school. He was internally ashamed back then and he hid it for the longest time until he started his first year at Rexville University. He met the greatest people of open minds out there. That was where Solomon Stone appeared in his life. Despite his devious and promiscuous personality, he took seriously the matter of closeted fellows. The way he did it might raise some questions, but the results were promising. Hunter’s case was assuring.
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Chapter 7: A Brother’s Distance
On the late afternoon of Tuesday, a nice free time remained for the students before going back to their dormitories or their homes close by. Xavier the parrot was exhausted from the basic training and headed back to his dorm. His legs were throbbing. Just passing by, he met Milagros and one of her close friends sat on the bench and saw and greeted him. She had heard from Sergio that he had joined the soccer club but was still not yet confirmed if he had officially got through.
“Hey, Xavier! How was practice?”
Xavier stopped and tried to recover a smile. “Ah, it was great, but I’m so tired!”
“You think you’re officially in the team?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t talk to Sol or Broderick today and they had told me they’ll be watching us training.” He said.
One of the girls, a black-furred cat in an indigo shirt and a gray thin jacket and jeans, looked interested. “You’re playing?” This was Natasha Pringle, a close friend of Milagros. Xavier had seen her around mostly with Milagros. “Cool! Finally, another parrot playing in the field. Last year, there was Alfonso and Vector who were rivaling on the same team, remember?”
Xavier remembered from Broderick about the two parrots who graduated last year. Two exchanged students from Brazil; a scarlet macaw and a blue-and-yellow macaw. While naturally equals, the two were seen as rivals which Broderick was in between them every chance to break up their rivaling antics.
Xavier responded, “Oh, yeah… I remember…” Now, he wished he didn’t end up making rivals in the same team. He wasn’t the one to compete harder, depending on the circumstance. He had nearly faced with a certain red-tail hawk back home. In fact, he saw one joining the football team where Xerxes was playing and practicing in. The chances of ever be that same person he had been through were likely low. He didn’t recall the fellow hawk-man to be that buff. But the differences between middle school to university might be a big difference.
“I’m definitely looking forward to this year’s games!” Natasha said in enthusiasm.
“Because there’s another parrot in the team?” Milagros said.
“You know they’re good at playing soccer, Milagros.”
“True, but I don’t remember Xavier being that interested in sports.”
“It may not seem like it, Milagros, but I have longed for some time about it,” Xavier stated. “So, is Sergio at the dorm?”
“I think he’s still there.”
The parrot snorted. “He really wanted to have the dorm to himself for some quality time.”
“W-wait! So, you know…” Milagros then stopped.
“What is it?” Said Natasha.
“Know what?” Xavier crossed his arms. “I’ll tell you what I know, that coyote is probably bringing a girl for a nightstand when I’m not around each there. Is he, like, competing with Sol or something?”
Milagros confidently said. “Sergio is quite the ladies’ man with his accent as his weapon. We are in college, after all.”
“It’s always about sex, isn’t it?”
“Men.” Natasha quipped.
“See you, girls. I’m exhausted.” Xavier waved them and headed back to his dorm.
The remaining free time left for Keanu before heading back home from the library was soon becoming his new habit to spend and study here all semester. A little guilty that while his new friends had their busy time was surely a bit lonely some. On the bright side, he and Hunter were going out together to the train tram station every morning and afternoon. This was now becoming a regular thing and routine. He can now say that he was comfortable walking around with Hunter every day.
He put the books back on the shelves and picked up his backpack to leave the campus. The library had a somewhat hotel-like lobby with a twin staircase for the second level of the two-story building. Keanu hadn’t checked the second level which was usually overlooking the first floor. He normally walked straight between the split stairs. Now did the opposite, leaving. Surprised, he saw Hunter entering the main entrance and waved at him as he saw him leaving. He was probably looking for him to go out together at the station.
Above, an argumentative voice nearly shouted the decibels’ limits of library’s standards, but clear enough to hear and echoed around the lobby, it was angry and getting stronger. They faintly hear it. “…so, do I! I don’t care if you’re… Hey! Hey! It’s over!? Now!!??.... Well, fuck you, too!!” A loud, plastic bang sounded and followed a splashing spillage. Keanu heard it but didn’t know where it came from until…
“Oh, shit!” Hunter cried.
Keanu was confused about his reaction but something cold and filthy came down on his head, drenching him every bit until he could muster a scream of the sudden change of temperature of his body.
When it stopped, it was too late. Keanu found himself wet. Hunter sprinted a few steps to meet him. Keanu’s stood there in shock and confused about what just happened. His white fur on his face was drenched with dirty water and a smell of some sort of cleaning product. His body shivered of cold in the air-conditioned room.
A librarian staff saw this and came to his help. “Oh, my God!” She cried. “Are you alright?”
Hunter looked up and saw a yellow bucket for mopping right close to the railing and edge of the second floor. Then saw the first person coming down the stairs. “Hey, what the fuck is your problem?”
A ferret-man put his phone down his pocket and didn’t show any signs of regret. He looked at Hunter. “What problem?”
Hunter got angrier. “I saw you kicking that bucket and look what you did!” He pointed the bucket above and then to Keanu who was shivering with arms heavily hugging himself.
The ferret shrugged. “He shouldn’t have been there when I kicked it.” He left the scene without running away and left the building.
“Hey! Get back here!” Hunter shouted.
“Don’t bother him.” Said the young human librarian. “That was Terrence.”
“Terrence Browne? From the football team?” Now Hunter remembered, one of Xerxes’ teammates he had talked about, the best agile quarterback.
“He’s one annoying prick,” she said. “Looks like his girlfriend dumped him. Boy, I’m glad she did.”
“H-Hunter, I-I’m want to go…” Keanu shivered his speech. “P-please…”
“Sure, come on. I’ll take you to the showers and clean you up.”
“Oh, God. I better report this…” Said the librarian and left for the desk and find the janitor.
Hunter escorted the soaked Keanu to the gym facility where the locker room showers were. His clothes were a mess with the smell of filth after the janitor mopped up the floor with a hint of new floor smell…
Hunter muttered angrily at what that ferret did to him, treating his actions as if nothing would ever happen to him badly like the term of consequences didn’t exist in his life. Keanu was only upset but all he could think about was how uncomfortable felt the insides of his ruined clothes. He hoped his underwear and backpack were spared from getting wet…
Hunter picked his phone and called someone. He called Xerxes which he assumed he was still at the gymnasium. “Xerxes, are you still at the gym?”
“Yeah, what’s the problem?”
“There’s been an accident at the library and Keanu is soaked by mopping water.”
“Gross! But the poor thing to Keanu!”
“I’m taking him to the lockers so he can shower there.”
“Sure thing, but what gives for calling me?”
“Your ferret teammate was the problem.”
“Terrence? What the hell?”
“He kicked a bucket from the second level and didn’t know Keanu was under and shit just happened. He just walked away and not gave a fuck.”
“I’ll let the coach know.”
“Okay, I’m gonna call Broderick or others if they have any dry clothes to donate.”
After hanging up, the pair entered the 800 building of Physical Training and Sporting Center. Inside the locker room, there were showers with stalls. Keanu stood there with arms mixed with discomfort or trying to keep himself warm. He looked, even more, dirtier as his white dirty fur looked dried up or poorly treated. Hunter had brought him a towel and an extra.
“You can take off your clothes, Keanu,” Hunter said.
“I…need some privacy, Hunter.” Keanu was nervous.
“Oh! My bad!” He simply turned around his back at Keanu and patiently waited. Not all the time guys were used to see each other nearly naked in the locker room. He should have known his behavior.
“Okay. You can turn around.” Keanu somehow automatically said that.
Maybe he wasn’t that self-conscious he had thought. Hunter turned around like nothing and…
…It wasn’t a pleasant sight.
Keanu with just a towel around his waist, covering his privates and upper legs, his upper body was matted with dirt, his all-white fur was messed up of a yellowish or brownish color from the filth of the mopping bucket. Even worse than the torso was his face that got most of it and trailed down his chest and shoulders. Hunter really felt sorry for him this ever happened to him at the beginning of his first-year semester.
Keanu picked the first stall and showered at ease. Hunter just sits on a nearby bench and waited. Xerxes came and brought his own body wash and shampoo for Keanu to freshen him up.
“Hey, Hunter! I brought some shampoo and body wash.” The pink dragon said. “Where’s Keanu?”
“Already in the shower.” The wolf pointed.
Xerxes walked to the closed shower curtain and handed him the bottles through with one hand intruding in. “Here, Keanu! I brought you body wash and shampoo.”
“Ah!” Keanu was startled at the big hand of the dragon with two bottles. “Uh, thank you, Xerxes.”
Xerxes sat next to Hunter as he spoke to him. “Have you already talked to Coach about Terrence?”
“Yeah, I’m on it. Really, I knew Terrence was a bit of a… You know, hard to work with.”
“Heh, apparently, his girlfriend just dumped him,” Hunter stated.
“Vicky? Did she dump him? Wow…” For some reason, it all made sense for Xerxes. “I had met her before by Terrence. They were just fine in their relationship. Hm, now that she broke up with him, I don’t know how he’s going to handle it.”
“Well, kicking buckets at random people sure is a good start.” Hunter sarcastically said.
Then a ringtone sang…
It wasn’t his cellphone but then Keanu spoke, “Is that my phone?”
Hunter picked it up from the retired pants. “Yeah! It’s still working.” He looked at the screen with a picture of a smiling older arctic wolf-man with a police cap hat. “It’s your father. Should I answer it for you?”
“Sure, he’s wondering where I am.”
Hunter swiped green for answering and spoke. “Hello?”
“You’re not Keanu.” The voice sounded serious; he didn’t expect to hear this as Hunter felt he was about to be tracked down. “Who is this?”
“Uh, this is Keanu’s friend–Hunter.”
“Ah! Right, he mentioned about you,” Mr. Winters said. “Why you’re using my son’s phone?” Out of curiosity or he was really demanding. “I’m expecting my boy to come back at the station by five.”
“Well… You see…” Hunter explained the whole incident at the library and now Keanu was taking a shower. “…and now some of my friends are coming to give him some clean clothes, and we’ll deal with the ferret who did this, so no biggie here.”
“I see… Well, thank you for your help, Hunter.”
Keanu had just finished cleaning, wearing a towel around his waist, and gestured to hand him the phone. “Hi, Dad. Sorry that I’m coming late today.”
“It’s all right, son. Just be sure to call me when there’s anything to let me know, okay?”
“Sure, Dad. I’ll be at the station shortly.”
After a short conversation and Keanu ended it with “Love you, Dad” and hung up which Hunter and Xerxes chuckled. “What?” He said.
“Nothing,” Hunter replied but his tail wagged out of the urge to tease him some more which he made some mock kisses at him.
Keanu flushed, “S-stop it!”
“Oh, cheer up, Keanu. We’re just teasing.”
“Well, it-it goes the same to both of you, right?” Keanu's slight agitated voice said. “Y-you would say the same thing to your moms.”
“Jeez, he has a point there.” Xerxes nonchalantly said at Hunter, but he grinned at Keanu, “But you said it to your dad!” The big log of scales heartily laughed.
“Okay, Xerxes, that’s enough.” Hunter tried to chill him out. Much to Keanu’s embarrassment.
Not too long, Xavier and Broderick arrived with some freshly cleaned clothes for Keanu. Despite that Xavier was tired from his first day of training he felt that it was serious about the situation. Still, his legs and feet were killing him from walking more from his dorm.
“Phew, you’re one lucky boy, Keanu,” said Xavier. “It just so happens that I have an unopened pack of new underwear. I think they’ll fit for you.”
“Really? Thank you,” replied Keanu, still wearing a towel.
“I also got some t-shirt and pants from leftovers,” Broderick said. What he meant was some Rexville t-shirts and shorts for sports with the R. U. logo that was for the new students joining the clubs.
After Keanu got himself settled and cleaned from mop water. He looked different from wearing his accustomed clothing. The red t-shirt and shorts for sports fitted his size but were slightly bigger, possibly medium, he looked like a model volunteering the school’s uniform or summer camp wear. Red and blue, the university’s official colors, were not Keanu’s taste.
As always, his soft peaceful voice spoke. “Thank you, guys.” He said with hands behind his back and fidgeting his right foot in circles. “Been a great help.”
Hunter and Keanu left the campus toward their homes at Oasis Boulevard. During the train ride, Keanu was rather quiet about the ordeal. He tried to ask Hunter about the ferret guy, but the older wolf told him not to worry. He would get what he deserves for committing a minor case of a hit-and-run.
But, one more thing. “Hunter…”
“Yes?”
“Here…” Keanu fetched out an unopened chocolate bar. “I was saving it for later, but I want to thank you for all the troubles.” He wasn’t looking at him and he was shy about showing this much sympathy.
“Huh, well, thank you, Keanu.” Hunter smiled and took the chocolate bar.
“No problem.” Keanu was still looking away. Hunter just patted him on the back. Hunter opened it and snapped the chocolate bar in two.
“Here, have some.” This time Keanu looked at him curiously, the older wolf-man was smiling at him, offering his treat. Guess he was a little surprised by how generous he was.
Keanu accepted it. “Thank you.”
Their train arrived at their home station. Arriving late at six, Hunter and Keanu met a familiar figure that was mostly seen around patrolling the city. A uniformed arctic wolf-man with intimidating sunglasses that hid every facial expression minus the muzzle, which was also scowled carefully to a stoic look, wearing a cap hat with the signature of Rexville City Police Department, or RXDP.
Keanu greeted him. “Hi, Dad.”
Officer Winters looked at his son wearing the given clothes after the soak incident. “Hello, son.” Then looked at the other wolf. “You’re Hunter, right? It’s nice to meet you at last.” He offered his hand and Hunter happily shook it.
“It’s a pleasure, mister...uh, I mean, Officer Winters.” He nervously chuckled.
“Quick thinking, young man. Better get used to it when I’m in uniform.”
“Uh, sure.” Hunter chuckled. Keanu just rolled his eyes at this. Though, he had a point.
“Is it true you live across the street?” He asked.
“Yeah, the Emerald Tower.” He pointed eastwards at the green-painted building. “Looks like we go out the same train every morning and afternoon.”
“Though, you’ve missed the train yesterday morning.” Keanu chuckled.
“Ouch, man.” Hunter sheepishly said and rubbed the back of his head.
“Better catch on or miss the ride or be late for class, young man.” Officer Winters said.
“Yeah, I know.” Though, that Monday morning his brother sabotaged him by changing the phone’s timer. Hunter was very peeved of his brother’s lame excuses he was making. He was just trying to make his life a little in hard mode. “Well, I should go and take care of things. See you, Keanu. And nice meeting you too, Officer Winters.”
“It’s a pleasure.”
Hunter left the arctic wolves. The Winters made back at their home apartment. While Hunter had explained the situation about the student who kicked the bucket from the second floor, Keanu also talked a little about it. The guys at Rexville Uni would take care of the situation. Likely a week suspension, but this wasn’t high school. Normally, if a student in college got in trouble for breaking the rules would be given a warning like three strikes and you’re out or a law that could easily lose all three warnings. This case, however, for Terrence Browne would be warned for his actions. For now, Keanu wanted to forget about it and get his ruined clothes for washing.
At Hunter’s home apartment. His parents weren’t at home until the end of the week. He took the elevator to the ninth floor; he was feeling a sense of nerves of something was likely to happen. Nothing bad but very, somewhat conflicting. On the other hand, he had a copy of the house key. Meeting up to the door of his respective home he unlocked the door until it stopped after four inches of clearance. The door had its chain locked on.
“Oh, son of a…” He grumbled. “Rylan! Open up!” He shouted. Rylan Montana, 17, and very hard on his big brother since a year ago. “Rylan!” Hunter shouted again. By this time, His younger siblings should be back at home after school. “Sally? River? You there?” Hunter knocked on the door louder. “Goddamned it!” He cursed. He sighed and slumped down against the closed door. Another day sitting and doing nothing until whoever open the door.
Hunter picked his cellphone and called first Sally and River. Hunter was now the man-of-the-house since father and mother were out in Florida for the week, but this pest in the house was getting in the way of Hunter’s control. Why do you have to be so hard on me? Thought Hunter.
His sister responded to the call. “Hey, Hunter. What’s the problem?”
“Rylan’s the problem,” Hunter stated nonchalantly.
“Again? It’s been a year, you know.”
“Where are you two?”
“Stopping by at this new café you have talked about.”
“For real? Come on, Sally! Come back home now. I’m tired of sleeping by the front door like a stray!”
“Okay, okay! It was River who wanted to try those açai bowls.”
“Tell him to save it for dessert, we’re cooking tonight.”
“Wait…you said that we should get Chinese food. You changed your mind, right?”
“No, I didn’t. I told you that since morning. Why? Don’t tell me that you already bought some?”
“Yeah…I did…”
“When did I changed my mind to tell you to buy Chinese food?”
“Well…River told me that Rylan called him to buy Chinese food because Hunter said so,” Sally stated. Now it all made sense!
“And he believed that!”
“Sorry! You know how gullible River is.”
“I heard that!” River’s voice shouted. It wasn’t on speaker. “Same goes to you!”
“Sorry, Hunter. We’re now on our way to the apartment. Just hang on. And call Mom and Dad about this.”
“Oh yes, I will.” Hunter’s voice went in a serious tone.
Hunter hung up and called his parents, but still, Rylan ignoring the eldest son was clearly stating indirectly to Hunter as “you’re not my father!” The two had gotten sour after Hunter came out a year ago, he had looked up upon him for a long time since they were kids, but that heyday had ended for Rylan. He had become, on what Hunter could describe as a hindrance he must withstand. He didn’t know when he would stop. Recalling the day he came out, Rylan didn’t say anything but just stared at him in disbelief and ran back to his room with the biggest disgruntling shout of swears. The parents tried to talk him out of it, but he refused to listen with a locked door.
The next day was quiet, he didn’t sit next to Hunter for breakfast and ate by the balcony of the apartment or by the living room watching the TV. Hunter’s father thought he just needed to adjust and let it pass and he would eventually get over it and apologize later. Maybe a week after Hunter’s outing, his father and mother gave him the serious talk. All Hunter got from his parents was that he wouldn’t bother about it around the school, his friends at the time didn’t know this news yet until Sally and River openly talked about it to their friends in middle and high school. This little subject reached to Rylan’s perspective and felt ridiculed for having a gay brother, even some of the students, even some who had met Hunter, made fun of him. Angered and finding out that Sally was the culprit, he told her how other students were making him like a disgrace of having a gay brother and that it qualified him as gay. It pissed him off than ever, his high school years as hoped were over for him. Sally just dismissed it, underestimating it. He was just exaggerating and taking it too seriously.
Probably around October from last year that Rylan might have recomposed himself as Hunter’s outing gossip in high school had ceased. Nothing had changed, he still has his old friends, but they were aware of his dislike for Hunter, he never invited him along or talked about him.
When they said that one out of three people was homosexual or bisexual, it was that very case of one of Rylan’s three main friends: Perry Brighton. A young 17-year-old bisexual giraffe-man. He learned the news of Hunter being gay and Rylan’s cold behavior. One would normally think Perry should consider stopping hanging out with Rylan since he, himself, liked men. The chances he had got to meet Hunter were very well. Rylan of course when he brought his friends to his house when Hunter was around was surprisingly exceptional, but not getting near him or to speak to him, but his friends were. Including Perry.
The young giraffe-man enjoyed giving hints of his sexuality toward Hunter. To Hunter, he was almost like Sol, but less flirty but still sending hints of subtext like he really wanted to get to know him more and let him know he was not alone in this game of charades behind the closet. To put it straight, Rylan didn’t know Perry’s sexual orientation that included men in it.
One day in November, Rylan found out and it was like those cliches; being caught in the act. Perry hoped it was going to be a quickie, but Hunter did it all the way. It was at Hunter’s home apartment bedroom when Perry came to the apartment by himself as Rylan was hanging with the other two. Hunter was at home alone on the weekend and both parents were out of the house at that time. Perry was a daredevil; he made the first move and he had scored. He really wanted this, maybe just once, or he would never get another chance like this again! Hunter took him to his room where the rest was performed. Because of changes of plans, Rylan came back home sooner and heard the rocking bed and moans.
Surprisingly, he ignored it and thought he should threaten him by telling his parents that he brought some guy through Craiglist. When the two came out into the living room, Rylan Montana exploded. About maybe a day or two after, Hunter told Xavier and Milagros about his ordeal which Xavier easily described as the infamous scene of Soraya Montenegro from the Mexican telenovela Maria la del Barrio known as the “Maldita Lisiada Scene” when the villainess caught her fiancé kissing her stepdaughter who was in a wheelchair and she went in an unstable mental breakdown rage and beat them up almost everyone in the room like literally as if a demon had possessed her and all other soap opera crap. Hunter’s case, however, Rylan was furious equally both at Perry and especially Hunter. For him –Rylan– was the biggest plot twist he did not expect; Perry was gay, well, bi, but still, he felt betrayed and glared at Hunter and started in a physical fight, Perry tried to break it up, but Rylan pushed him away and called him the “F” word probably for the first time. Hunter managed to calm his brother down, but Rylan forced Perry to be kicked out of the apartment and likely to never see him again and avoiding him in school.
The next day, for strange reasons, everything felt like nothing happened. Rylan never said a thing to his parents and further ignored Hunter as if he had never existed. It was almost a year since he came out and he had still been treated like shit by his young brother. Hunter had, so far, survived his young brother’s antics. As long he didn’t get on his path, everything would be fine, but they both live on the same roof which made things complicated.
Hunter wished he could diplomatically fix this and make amend to his brother, but he was one stubborn mule that didn’t want to listen from him. If he couldn’t, then his parents would. The parents were aware of Rylan’s mild case of homophobia, but no matter what they could do to cure his cold heart, the parents got mentally hurt by seeing their two children fighting each other. They just wanted the best for their children, but Hunter and Rylan had brought an unwanted chapter in their family life, and the pages were endlessly in the thousands…
Hunter had overheard their conversation; they really felt helpless on what to do. Hunter was the elder brother and must act as a parent to take care of his younger siblings as he had in his younger days. So far, he took measures to handle if Rylan struck again but it seemed that most of it didn’t happen in front of the parents. If he tried to piss Hunter off, it must be away from his parent’s sight. Then Hunter complaining to his parents so Rylan could get grounded was simply said and done, but Hunter decided not to bring up troubles to his parents when they were not around. It was just too much for them to bear and now Hunter, in the end, did not call to tell his parents. Even if they call him to open the door, he wouldn’t even do it.
Hunter sighed and lied down near the door and waited for his younger siblings to come back, Rylan had to open them up.
It was not his fault that he was been in the closet since he was around fourteen in middle school. He was internally ashamed back then and he hid it for the longest time until he started his first year at Rexville University. He met the greatest people of open minds out there. That was where Solomon Stone appeared in his life. Despite his devious and promiscuous personality, he took seriously the matter of closeted fellows. The way he did it might raise some questions, but the results were promising. Hunter’s case was assuring.
Chapter 7 of Rexville series.
Summer had ended and a new refreshing semester started for Hunter Montana and his friends in Rexville University in the beautiful coastal city of Rexville in Costa Blanca County, California where the education is at the most affordable with opportunities. Meanwhile, a new freshman, Keanu Winters, started his first year and met with new friends, including Hunter. As wolves, the two would have a potential bond together that slowly blossomed into more than just friends. As for Hunter’s friends, they would explore into miscellaneous mischiefs during the way of the semester.
Summer had ended and a new refreshing semester started for Hunter Montana and his friends in Rexville University in the beautiful coastal city of Rexville in Costa Blanca County, California where the education is at the most affordable with opportunities. Meanwhile, a new freshman, Keanu Winters, started his first year and met with new friends, including Hunter. As wolves, the two would have a potential bond together that slowly blossomed into more than just friends. As for Hunter’s friends, they would explore into miscellaneous mischiefs during the way of the semester.
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 77 x 120px
Listed in Folders
“I heard that!” River’s voice shouted. It wasn’t on speaker. “Same goes to you!” < Best bit in the chapter.
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