Ch. 2:
Seven years later
Judy Hopps was stoked, after years of living in calm, boring Bunnyburrow she had finally managed to convince her parents to let her attend her high school years in the metropolis of Zootopia.
It had taken a lot of begging and pleading and promising, but finally Stu and Bonnie relented after her Aunt Weiss and Uncle Herbert (who lived in Zootopia) offered her a place in their house. As long as Judy kept her grades up and stayed out of trouble she would spend four years at St. Zoo High, arguably the biggest school in the large city, and one of the best.
Judy arrived at her aunt and uncle; her hyperactive aunt welcomed her gleefully as well as her fourteen children (officially the smallest litter of the Hopps family), all excited to see their cousin. They lived in a house that was more tall than wide, its neighboring houses packed up against each other like sardines in a can. All the bedrooms of the house were already taken so her uncle had cleared up the attic for Judy which she was excited for, it was a small room but it was just for her.
That night, looking out the small round circle that was the attic's window Judy stared at the buildings of Zootopia, her excitement over tomorrow keeping her from sleep. Tomorrow she would go to a giant school, she'd get a chance to try so many new things and make so many new friends. When she finally did get to sleep it was with a smile on her face.
The next morning Judy skipped her way to St. Zoo, it being walking distance from her aunt and uncle's house. She wore her favorite shirt, pink with a pattern of flowing leaves across her hip and chest, and her own pair of jeans that weren't stained with farm dirt or ripped at the knees, her back pack, full of brand new notebooks, pencils, and other school supplies.
She stepped around the corner of a Stagbucks and there it was, down the hill, two large buildings of silvery gray that were shaped like capital Ts. She noticed that the roofs of said buildings were flat and she could make out a few mammals standing on them. Next to the first and larger building was a giant oval-shaped field that she saw made up the football/soccer/and even track field. But the smaller building wasn't without each own decoration, it stood right next to a large courtyard full of tables and food trucks. And of course, there were mammals, tons and tons of mammals. From rabbits, to weasels, to foxes, to bears, lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, every mammal in the world! All here in one place with so many different personalities and dreams. Judy let out a squeal of delight and dashed down the hill and through the arched entrance.
She passed through the loud, chattering crowds, making her way to the front entrance where she would find the counselor and get her school books and schedule.
"Miss Hopps?" a sweet voice spoke up and Judy turned to see a sheep, she was wearing a white cotton shirt and plaid skirt, and big glasses, she held a clipboard to her chest and had a friendly smile on her face.
"Yes?" Judy asked.
"I'm-"
A lion in expensive clothes suddenly appeared at their side, offering a large paw to her. "Judy Hopps? New freshman straight from Bunnyburrow? I'm Leodore Lionheart, senior and class president."
He turned his smile at the sheep who adopted the expression of an exasperated mother. "This is my assistant, Dawn Bellwether."
"I'm not your assistant, Leo," Dawn replied huffily, "I'm the vice president. He's your assistant." She pointed behind the lion and Judy noticed a reddish brown rabbit behind him, carrying heavy looking books. He offered a sweet smile to Judy who returned it.
"Anyway, we were asked to show you were the counselor's office is," Dawn went on. "This school can be a little like a maze to us little guys."
She nodded gratefully, wondering if these three would be her close knit group of friends who go through many high school adventures with her. "I'd love that, thank you."
They led her inside where Leodore talked to her, "This is my final year at the glorious St. Zoo before I leave it to little Miss Bellwether the sophomore over there."
"She's one of smartest mammals in this school," the assistant rabbit said from where he trailed behind them, keeping his eyes on the floor so he wouldn't trip.
"And one of the scariest," Leodore said with a playful shudder, making Judy giggle and Dawn scowl.
"I am not scary," the sheep huffed.
"Maybe bossy is the better word," Leodore rephrased thoughtfully, a finger on his chin and his eyes looking up at the ceiling.
Dawn's scowl deepened, "I am not bossy either!"
"Oh, well now you're just in denial, Lamb."
The two continued arguing and even though Judy had only known them for a few minutes she learned they were good friends. Leaving them to it she slowed down so her pace matched the assistant rabbit.
"So, what's your name?" she asked, feeling comforted by seeing another rabbit even if she had come for the diversity Zootopia had to offer.
"Percival Sprintly," the rabbit smiled politely, "But just call me Percy. I'm a freshman too."
"I didn't miss anything important last week, did I?" Judy asked, she had missed her first week in order to help her family with her last carrot harvest.
"Not much," Percy replied with a shrug. "You look like a smart girl, I'm sure you'll have no trouble catching up. Focus more on what kind of group you'll be in."
"Group?" Judy echoed.
"Like with Mr. President and Bellwether over there," he nodded to the lion and sheep. "It had only taken me three days to convince them to let me be their assistant."
Judy frowned, not really sure what that sounded like. But Percy certainly seemed happy, and Leodore and Dawn looked nice enough.
Finally they made it the counselor's office but not before spotting a shirtless yak in the princepal's office.
"Oh my gosh," Dawn quickly looked away, her face hot.
"That would be Yax," Leodore laughed, "He's our school's own little naturalist enthusiast."
The counselor was a smiling hippo named Mrs. Huger who was apparently on very good terms with Bellwether, the two having a nice chat while Judy waited for her schedule and books, Lionheart and Percy waiting outside the hall.
"Would you like us to walk you to homeroom?" Bellwether asked politely after Judy got her schedule and books.
"I think I can handle it on my own," Judy saved, studying her schedule. "I don't want to keep you from your own classes."
"I'll have to drag Leodore to class either way," Dawn sighed warily. "He's such an idiot."
"He looks funny," Judy commented.
"He is funny," the sheep assured, "He's just also an idiot."
Judy waved goodbye as they walked down separate hallways, Judy paying close attention to the different numbers of each door she passed. In a less crowded hallway she passed an open door labeled music room, curious she peeked her head inside to see a few mammals already inside. A small fennec fox that looked like a toddler was examining a saxophone while a black-furred cougar and a reindeer marveled over a very pretty piano that looked new. Not far from the reindeer was a gorgeous artic fox who noticed Judy watching them. She winked at the rabbit and waved a paw; Judy smiled and waved back before stepping back into the hall.
The next open door she found was the gym. A large room full of equipment and volleyball net, she also noticed a door farther in labeled pool. While there were more mammals in here than the music room she really only took notice of a cape buffalo lifting very heavy looking weight and a pretty cheetah tossing the volleyball around. But she also noticed a crowd of other mammals, whoever they were surrounding Judy couldn't make out though.
Shrugging she continued onward and finally found her homeroom. Inside most of the desks were already taken while the teacher's desk was temporarily empty. She walked over and saw an empty desk beside a chubby cheetah and a little arctic shrew who was wearing an expensive looking dress.
"Excuse me," Judy spoke up, getting the two chatting mammals attention. "Is this seat taken?"
"No, go on ahead," the cheetah smiled at her before turning back to his friend to continue their conversation.
Judy climbed into the desk and pulled out her school supplies; with everything set she knitted her fingers together and waited for the class to start.
Suddenly a scrawny weasel rushed into the room and scrambled under the desk an elephant occupied. Most of the mammals laughed while others looked annoyed. Judy's brow knit at the trembling creature before hearing the loud stomping of footsteps.
A honey badger stepped in, her glaring eyes looking around. "I know you're here, Duke Weaselton!" she growled, "I can smell your fear!"
The mammals laughed again but none ratted out the weasel, Judy suspected they were enjoying watching the hunt.
"What did he do this time, Honey?" the cheetah asked with a laugh.
"He stole my dessert jar of honey again," the badger snapped, her nose twitching as she tried to smell the weasel out. "I told him a thousand times to back off or I'd put him in a jar!"
Just then the bell rang and their teacher, an antelope, walked in. "Good morning class. Honey, take your seat, Weaselton, get out from under Jerry's chair."
The class laughed once more as the weasel popped into view and made his way to the back of the room. Honey sat down in the front of the class, her entire body seeming to vibrate with rage.
"Before we start we have a new student, a Judy Hopps."
Her ears perked as a dozen eyes turned to look at her, she tried to look as friendly and smart as possible. But the attention on her quickly passed as her classmates turned back to their teacher.
He gave her a polite smile, "It's nice to meet you, Judy. Now, who can tell me where we left off last week?"
.
For the next two periods Judy focused only on catching up, not taking the time to talk to any of her classmates, she'd get to that when she had successfully caught up.
Lunch came and Judy walked into the cafeteria, admiring the nice looking tables and booths, so far this school was so much better than Burrow High.
Today's lunch tables were set up buffet style, Judy picked out steam-fried carrots and chips of cabbage, finishing it off with a bottle of water and nabbing the last donut.
She stepped away from the food and looked around, wondering if she should try and get invited to the already occupied tables or sit on her own and maybe attract the attention of other mammals who didn't have a seta.
A heartbroken wail had her looking over her shoulder to see the chubby cheetah from homeroom. She had learned from the teacher that his name was Benjamin Clawhauser, and he was staring mournfully at the empty donut tray. "I was too late again!"
Judy's ears drooped guilty at the cheetah's shattered expression as he turned and started to walk off. She hurried over to him and cleared her throat, "Benjamin?"
The cheetah looked down at her, looking surprised that she was talking to him. "You're that new bunny, Judy, right?"
She nodded, "Yeah, and silly me I forgot I was on a diet." She looked down at her tray, "Just after I got a donut, too. You wouldn't mind taking it off my paws would you? I'd hate to waste it."
He placed his paws over his heart and wore a touched smile, "Really?"
She smiled and extended her tray, "Go ahead."
He took the donut and seemed to swallow it in one gulp, letting out a relieved breath and nearly shagging to the floor, "Wow did I need that pick me up." He straightened, "Thanks, you're so nice. Oh hey, wanna sit with me? My friend Fru Fru's out having lunch with her dad so I'm all alone today."
Judy's smile grew and she nodded eagerly, "I'd love to."
The two sat across from each other at a booth, Clawhauser having gotten his own tray that was piled with bug burgers and slices of pie.
"So, you're a freshman right?" he asked between bites of his meal.
Judy nodded, swallowing her carrot before speaking, "I just moved here from Bunnyburrow."
"And how do you like it so far?"
"Actually, I haven't really had a chance to look around and stuff since I'm catching up with the week I missed." Judy shrugged, "But that won't take long. As for what I've already seen, I really like it. Everything's just so much bigger than Bunnyburrow. And I can't wait to meet more mammals."
"Well there's plenty of them," Clawhauser smiled. "We're all weird and crazy and from different walks of life. Let me point out a few I personally know." He looked around the cafeteria and then grinned, "Ah ha! To your right you'll see St. Zoo's number one couple."
Judy looked to where he pointed to see two sloths sharing a table together, feeding each other spoonfuls of jello. Or at least, they were in the process of it, their arms moving achingly slow. But you could hardly notice that once you saw the adoringly looks they shared, dreamy smiles on their faces.
"That's Flash and Priscilla," Clawhauser told her, "They've been going steady since kindergarten."
She looked at him in surprise, "That long huh?"
"Well, they've been on maybe ten dates since they started dating," he said, "They have to plan it carefully with plenty of spare time because; you know…they're sloths, but aren't they the cutest?"
He sighed dreamily and rested his chin in his paws, smiling at the two, "The entire school ships them."
"Aw," Judy smiled at the two sloths. She hadn't thought about finding a boyfriend at St. Zoo. But the thought of finding someone to spoon feed jello to made her excited, but that couldn't be her number one goal…at least not yet.
.
She was heading down the hall to her final period when she spotted him-him being her future bane of existence. But she didn't know that yet.
Judy saw a lean red fox talking to that Duke Weaselton, said weasel looking incredibly annoyed but the fox look as cool as ice.
He was leaning against a locket, his elbows resting against the metal and his ankles crossed, his tail swishing lazily. He wore a slightly wrinkled white shirt under a black leather jacket with ripped jeans. His green eyes looked down at Duke with a lazy expression.
"Look, Duke," the fox spoke up, his voice just as lethargic as his expression, "You can't keep giving me an I.O.U. If you want some of my stash you have to pay up just like everyone else."
Judy halted, her eyes widening. What kind of 'stash' was this fox talking about? She took a step back and hid behind a trash bin to listen.
"Come on, Wilde," Duke begged his eyes wide and lip pouting out as he tried to look pure and innocent. "I need my pick me up."
"And I need a decent TV show that doesn't: a) get canceled, or b) have its quality slowly dwindle until I beg for it to be over." Wilde shrugged, "Life's not a wish granting factory. Besides, you stole from my girl again, and I take offense to that."
"Honey doesn't mind," Duke tried to wave the words away. "Besides, she's a beast she'll kill me when I least expect it, you don't need to defend her."
"I don't have to but I certainly can," the fox replied. "Now, cash or pass, Weaselton."
The skinny mammal let out a defeated sigh before digging his paw into his back pocket and pulling out a fistful of bills. "Fine, you win."
"I always do," Wilde grinned, taking the money and counting (straightening the bills as he did so) before placing it in his pocket. He pushed himself off the locker before turning around and opening it. Judy leaned forward with a hammering heart, wondering what illegal thing the shifty fox was selling.
Her jaw dropped when Nick pulled out a couple of soft drinks and tossed them to the weasel who grabbed the cans and held them to his chest, grinning gleefully and scurrying away.
The fox watched him disappear around the corner before he suddenly spoke: "I know I'm handsome and all but stalking is a crime."
She jumped as the fox turned his head to look at her, she had been caught. Had he known she was there the whole time?
"I wasn't stalking you," she walked over to him, "I was watching."
"Which is still pretty creepy," the fox replied, closing the locker and leaning his shoulder against it. "You're new, aren't you Carrots?"
Her brow knit (Carrots?) before she spoke, "Yes, I just got here. I'm Judy Hopps."
"Wilde. Nick Wilde," he offered her a paw which she shook.
"So, is this what you do?" she asked, looking at his locker, "Selling soft drinks to the student body?"
"I also sell coffee from seven to ten," he added. "You'd be surprise how much money teenagers are willing to spend when caffeine is on the line."
Judy had noticed that the school only sold caffeine-free drinks. "Isn't this against the rules?"
"Oh, yes," Nick answered, resting his arm against the locker, "Selling cola to minors? I might as well be a mafia boss."
She rolled her eyes, "Aren't you scared of getting in trouble?"
"Personally I like the thrill," the fox bared his teeth as his grin widened, "You ever get like that, Carrots? Do something forbidden that you know your parents wouldn't approve of but you just have to know what he-I mean it-tastes like?"
She scowled, "No, never. And personally I don't think it's morally right to take advantage of your caffeine depraved classmates."
"You say unethical," Nick replied, "I say good business."
"You're only in high school," Judy pointed out. "What are you, a sophomore?"
"Ha! I'm a junior, baby," Nick answered, "And I'm getting a good understanding on how the business world works. Now, your uppity 'I hate fun' vibe is going to scare off potential customers. Either buy a drink or hop along." He actually made a shooing motion with his paw and Judy had to make sure to keep a level head.
"I want to help you," she told him.
"Thanks for the offer Carrotpop but I don't need an assistant to sell soda and count ones." He then examined her in a way that left her completely flustered. "But if I need a stress reliever I'll be sure to give your cute little cotton tail a call."
"Don't call me cute," she snapped then tried to take a deep breath. "I know it seems harmless now, but soon enough selling cola won't be enough and you'll start selling more serious things like pot and it will just keeping going downhill from there and I-"
The fox barked out a laugh, startling her into silence. "Wow! You really do something even remotely shady and he's suddenly the scum of the earth?"
"This has nothing to do with you being a fox!"
"Sure it's not," he rolled his eyes. "I can read you like a book. You're a very simple read, kinda boring too."
Judy was ready to smack the smug grin off his face. "If you won't listen to me I'll inform a member of the faculty about your 'business'." She made air quotes on the last word.
"Of course you'll give me that threat," Nick replied, not sounding bothered in the least. "That's chapter one: the tattle tail. But you're going to keep quiet."
She curled her lip, "Why's that?"
"Chapter two: the crowd pleaser. Little Miss Tattle Tail longs to make a ton of friends and have everyone love her!" His voice was mockingly cheerful as he spoke. "But if you tell on me I tell on you and then the entire school knows they lost their caffeine privileges to the brand new freshman."
He grinned nastily, "Try making friends after that."
Before she could retort the bell rung, signaling the start of class. The class she was not in.
"I'm gonna be late!" she cried out, glaring at the fox. "This is all your fault."
"Chapter three: The Whiner. The bunny blames her failure on everything but herself."
"Oh just shut up," she nearly shrieked and ran past him down the hall. His laughter followed her, along with his final words: "Welcome to The Zoo, Carrots! I hope you enjoy your stay!"
Nick and Honey are not dating in this I'm sorry that's what it sounds like.
