Be Our Guest
"Dreams won't always take you on a straight path to destiny, but they're usually related to what your soul wants for you."
― Kelly Cutrone, If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You
Bright sunlight cascaded down onto the skipping bunny. She kept her pace even and giddy while trying her best to stay beside Nick. After the news of him being attacked by those two troublemakers came to her, she quietly chided herself for not immediately finding him after class.
And though she did have her duties to keep the hallways at peace and the students in line, she also had an obligation to help Nick as well. Whether he was a new student, a new friend, or a fox, it didn't matter to her. She just wanted to help.
The doe was relieved when she had heard of her friends finding him. Otherwise, in that hallway without cameras, it'd be difficult if not impossible to get the full story.
Shorin had, to his word, sent the video off to her supervisors and several other mammals for records, and Judy's radio confirmed that the offending sheep had been taken down to the office for a little chat about their future at the school.
She cracked a smile at how well things were handled and the fact that, if the principal should be involved in the disciplinary actions, then the school would see a few more community service mammals in action. She could see it now, And a few more mammals that I'll see picking up garbage and working volunteer hours.
As she mulled over the possibilities, she was blissfully unaware of the glancing green eyes that were cast her way.
Nick had, from the time that lunch was mentioned - and his was subsequently ruined, thanks, future linebackers - been grateful for the intervention on his behalf. His previous school had no cameras and the only ones that would have your back were your friends and maybe that teacher or two that cared and wasn't just there for a paycheck under a teachers union.
It boggled his mind to no end as to what these mammals were doing: welcoming him. If not for Judy on day one, then he was sure that making friends would have to wait until Skye finally joined him. Day two was more of the same, but he felt relaxed from the view of the garden. And now here he was, day three and surrounded by a group of mammals that didn't care that he was a fox. They embraced it, even.
He couldn't stop staring at Judy. She was the one, after all, that helped him make this transition smooth. So focused on these thoughts, Nick never realized that his tail was wagging until he felt it brush against her. The second she turned to face him with a twitching nose and unrivaled smile, he panicked and turned away altogether. C'mon Wilde, get a hold of yourself.
Neither of them saw the wolf casually glancing back at them, his smirk laced with untold mischief as he pocketed his phone.
It didn't take long for them to come to a point where students could be seen here and there, and Nick was silently thankful that this was the case. While he usually liked being alone, the idea that there were others in large groups was comforting.
It's a lot better than getting jumped in a hall alone. he told himself, pausing with his group as they made their way through.
Waiting for a few herds to pass by as a hall monitor ushered them, they came to another section of the school that Nick hadn't explored. Its much wider and vastly taller atrium was decorated a bit too lavish for what he was used to. Red carpeting, hanging pictures, hardwood floors, wall mounted lights, chandeliers, ceiling mounted speakers, and a few mammals greeting them that looked overly dressed, were just part of what he assumed was the cafeteria.
It smelled of fresh bread and varying aromas that made Nick's mouth water. He was cheering in the back of his mind that he brought a few dollars with him, though he was still trying to budget the $200 that he had to his name. Without a source of income or his mother there, it'd be difficult to live there in case emergencies occurred.
As they approached, a tan-furred hare stood at a podium just ahead. Finely dressed and twirling a pen in his paw, he wore a rather bored look on his face until he saw them. He waved. "Hey, Jude and company! 'Bout time you all got here."
"Hey Allen." they all called back, some annoyed like Shorin, others cheerful like Judy. Nick chose to go with a grin.
When the hare saw the fox, he paused for a moment; piercing lime green eyes stared at him dead center before stepping from behind the desk. "So you're the new guy, huh? Nick Wilde, right?" his tone was chipper, slightly accented and astute.
Adjusting his tie and winking at Judy, he waved to his left, causing a few of the mammals that surrounded the podium to stand at attention in a line. With the varying species of predator and prey there, several of them began waving down either hallway.
Two of them, however, nearly identical rabbits whose only distinguishing mark was the sole patch of dark brown fur adorning either eye, stared at one another, grumbling words that Nick couldn't hear.
The hare shook his head and waved for them to be silent. "Yall are late, so no veranda, balcony, or buffet spots left. Sharla and Dawn did get yall your usual spot, though."
Judy nodded. She would have been more worried about their seating, but somehow Sharla always managed to get the table for them when they decided to eat at the silo. But for now, she was content as she caught on to what was happening.
Allen casually strolled to them and offered his paw out to Nick. "Your first time in our humble eatery, right?"
The fox's eyes darted around, all mammals stared at him; some bearing grins that he couldn't quite figure out. "I uh-" he stammered, losing his 'cool Nick' visage in an instant while attempting to clear his throat.
His paw was suddenly seized and he was met with the furious shakes of the green-eyed hare. "Name's Allen Leveret." greeted the buck, waving at his crew before leading the dumbfounded fox forward.
Nick wasn't averse to the friendly gestures, but being treated like he wasn't invisible was completely new. He cast Judy a surprised, pleading glance before he was shuffled forward towards the wall of mammals. From the simple wave that Judy gave him, he knew that something was up, but he couldn't figure out what it was.
It wasn't until he was separated from her and the sound of hooves and paws signified that he was surrounded by what he assumed was the cafeteria staff that he figured that it was something big. And if he didn't have a clue then, then the oversized chair toted by several mammals his size and a series of taller mammals holding silver platters was a tip-off.
He turned to Allen, but the hare merely cleared his throat. "We got a live one!"
Suddenly the wall shifted, all mammals rounding him as they kept him at the center of attention. Nick started to back away, but the paws of the hare stopped him.
"Ma chérie, Monsieur. It is with deepest pride and greatest pleasure that we welcome you today," Allen spoke, stepping away from the fox who was quickly catching on. And though Judy watched, she couldn't - wouldn't really, it was fun for her as well - intervene on his behalf on this one.
Nick panicked, Why does this seem familiar? His eyes darted around for an exit, a mammal to climb over and out of this,. But it dawned on him that it was too late.
"And now, we invite you to relax, let us pull up a chair," the hare waved his paws to the few mammals behind him. They complied, each making their way through and pushing the oversized seat in a way that forced Nick to fall back into it.
He gulped, feeling the walls close in around him. He was doomed. Terribly, terribly doomed. He tried to open his mouth to protest as he knew what would be coming next, but the warm smile and glare from one of the other students, a squirrel, told him to zip it. He was a part of this show now.
"As the dining room proudly presents," Taking his stance just before the fox and walking backward down the hall with his arms splayed in dramatic flair, Allen tried his best to suppress his laugh. "Your lunch!"
The second he finished his introduction, Judy sighed and tapped her foot. "Was all this really necessary, Luproc?" she asked, watching the mammals carry Nick off and around the circular hall while she wondered why the wolf had opted to go with the 'full intro' from the drama team.
Luprock shrugged. "Hey, you know we do that for some of the newcomers at times after the fall quarter enrolment," he replied, casually leaning against the podium now attended by a few different mammals in place. "Besides, can you really stop the drama team from having their paws and hooves in nearly everything?"
Judy mulled over this for a minute as she heard the performance around the corner; the red tint of Nick's fur disappearing altogether. While true, it was difficult for anyone to stop the drama team, it was easy to get a hold of them to embarrass your friends or be there for some sentimental moment. And even after she gave the okay for it at the start of her shift, she was unsure that he needed the whole team there for the occasion.
There was a low hum that got the does attention. Shorin, huffing, pointed his hoof towards the hall that they left. "Are you sure that this isn't some ploy to get votes considering who you may be running against in the fall? 'Cause I'm gonna say you're really desperate for votes this time around."
Accused and smiling, the wolf coughed into his paw. "Every mammal counts."
"Yep, desperate." his cousin chuckled.
There was a moment of silence, only the tapping of the kiosk behind the podium could be heard until the telltale voices of the team rounding the silo made their way.
"You think he's okay?" the concerned voice of Delilah resounded, each mammal quizzically looking for the spot of red amid the sea of other mammals. "I mean I know that they're coordinated and all, but they did have that performance with that lion that transferred here and the giraffe accidentally dropped him when he-"
Just as she asked this, the pseudo-tower with the seated fox atop swayed and teetered; the fox yelping in panic with each turn. The chair fell just then, fox careening down the faux tower. He was caught by several others and seated back down, gripping the chair for dear life as a deer now balanced it on his antlers with Allen dangerously dangling from one of them.
The performance saved, Judy sighed in relief before turning her attention to the doubtful sow. "Yeah, Nick's fine. she affirmed, though snuffing out her own worries in the process.
When the performers approached their group - Nick nearly fastened to the chair with his claws dug in so deep - they cheerfully held out the fox on their last verses, paws raised and Allen leading them to the crescendo of their act of silver platters displaying deserts and cans of varying sodas balanced atop their muzzles.
In unison, they sang, "Please be our-"
Abruptly, they all stopped on the same line. Sitting Nick down in front of Judy before halting completely. Throughout the hall, it was completely silent, so much so that you could hear a pen dropping from an otter hurriedly passing by.
And thought that was a welcome distraction, the stares aimed at the wolf among them was nothing short of terrifying. Arms crossed and sneering, the drama team cast their glares solely at Luproc.
"Wait... w-what was that?" the wolf asked, puzzled as to why they stopped before finishing their performance... and why they all looked like they were about ready to carry him off to the woods somewhere.
"That," Allen tapped his foot and hiked a thumb back at his crew. "was a nearly complete performance for an almost fully paid commission of the drama team."
Judy's ears pivoted to the muffled gasp of the sow beside her. Yep, he's in trouble this time.
The buck continued. "We would have given you the full version, but somebody, not gonna name names or point fingers," Pointing his index finger at the wolf, he called him out, "Luprock. But someone didn't pay the full amount requested to help us fund our programs."
Confused, but getting the gist of what this all was, Nick darted his eyes from one mammal to another. Uncomfortable and wanting to weasel his way out beside the weasel on his armrest, he shot down the idea as it'd draw too much attention. Instead, he raised a brow at the hare.
Allen crossed his arms and sneered at the nervously grinning class president. "What? Do you think we do spontaneous, choreographed dances to jaunty tunes in high school without full funding?"
There was a beat of silence from the wolf. He stepped back only to end up bumping into the class vice president. With a twinge of annoyance present on her snout, she jabbed her hoof into his side."You didn't pay them the full amount?"
"I thought I did?" was his meek reply.
"Several of the bills came boardgames..." Allen added, causing the pig's jaw to drop.
While stammering for anything to say as the spotlight shifted from the vulpine to the canid, the snap of a few bills resounded, breaking the awkward situation before things got worse.
"Will this cover it?" asked Shorin, handing over five dollars to the head of the drama department.
He quickly took the money in his paw, counting and ensuring that it wasn't made of boardgame money. Satisfied, he pocketed it and snapped his fingers. "We're back in business."
As if a light switch had been flipped back on, the team hoisted the fox back on the chair and paraded him once more. Taken aback by the abrupt movement, Nick hadn't had the time to set his claws back into the chair; he had to settle with grabbing hold of the armrest.
All in unison, they completed their song, shouting, "GUEST!" with the wave and dazzle of their jazz paws or hooves before moving him a whole five feet past the reception desk.
Quickly setting him down and tilting the chair so that he'd be forced to stand, they took small bows before casually chatting amongst themselves.
"Good work, crew," said Allen, clapping and nodding to bring them to attention. "Also, thank you for the save Regean. Wouldn't want another Lionheart incident." After cringing and waving the cheerful squirrel off, he turned his attention to two horses - a black mare and a white mare - patiently awaiting their instructions. "And for the two best sisters, we have a birthday for that mare you're tutoring, her brother and his girlfriend are waiting. Dismissed."
The rest dissipating, Nick finally eased out of the chair, thankful for any semblance of ground. Though, the shouts of the two bunnies that had taken part in the act overtook the peaceful atmosphere.
"You were off key!"
"Me? You missed a step and made him fall!"
They continued this back and forth until Judy, fed up with the both of them, called them out. "JESSE! JAMES!" she shouted, both bucks halting in an instant when the doe pointed down the hall. Signifying that they should leave, but not wanting to, they both pursed their mouths to protest, "But sis-"
Judy took a step forward "OUT!"
- which was silenced, burned, and fluttered away almost as quickly as the two scrambled to get away.
Grinning to herself, she turned to Nick. His stunned expression meant that the welcome was a success. "Ready for lunch?" she asked, already hopping up to the others walking away.
Snapping back into rational thought, Nick watched the bunny bound backward, bidding him forward. He had been paraded around a hall, tossed around in a chair, nearly fell twice, and almost had his performane cut. His tail swished. "Starving."
When they came to a set of elevators so chrome they could see their own reflections better than a mirror and called it down, Nick's ears flickered as he could hear all but Judy mumble something about a lesson; glancing back at him at intervals as they waited.
Why's everyone acting so weird?
He figured that the weirdest thing to happen (could happen) was the performance he was a part of. From the acrobatics to the use of display models for food, it was an experience for him. But Juniper had mentioned something of a lesson before, so he questioned what it was.
The elevator opened and everyone shuffled in before him, all smiling oddly as Nick did so. He turned to ask them what was going on when the elevator doors snapped shut on his clip-on tie. The fox was pulled forward just before it unclipped and dragged into the abyss, all but Judy laughed behind him.
Between his bellowing howls, Luproc pat the stunned mammal on his back. "And that is why we have clip-on ties that you only wear tucked into your vest. Every new mammal does that."
"This is the tie eating elevator," Shorin continued, ruffling his own clip-on and gesticulating to the opening door. "There's a rumor that there's a bunch of ties, ribbons, strings, and other stuff at the bottom of the elevator shaft. But nobody ever gets a chance to see it."
The tod looked down, now thankful for that policy as they exited.
Judy shook her head and called on her radio. "We've got a code 'T', mid-size mammals elevator at the silo."
There was a pause before a voice answered, much to Nick's dismay. "Did he learn?"
Giving him a once over, Judy nodded. "I think so, June."
Leaving the elevator, they were greeted with a very different sight. The second floor of the school's cafeteria was breathtaking to behold; a large, circular structure as lavish as the floor below. And though they were on the second floor, there were several open areas to see the floor below that were surrounded by guarding latticework with ivy leaves and suspended plants to brighten up the atmosphere. The ambient lighting, glass windowpanes, soft music, and varying tables made the whole place look restaurant-esque while the number of mammals around made it feel like it was a school gathering.
There were vending machines and in-and-out doors to one side of the room that was packed with chatting mammals of varying degree, yet none of them were taller than about Luproc's size. He questioned this until they started moving, allowing him to see the floor below, and he caught glimpses of tigers, bears, elephants, and giraffe's all in the same location.
He quizzically stared. Must be by weight class?
Just as he thought that, his ears pivoted in the direction of a song being sung. The two mares that he saw downstairs had occupied a table and were singing - now with an added two, another mare and a colt - to another seated horse.
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he looked up to see Luproc pointing at what looked to be a conga line of students outside of one door. "Lines are long. Tell us what you'd like and we'll get it for you, on us. They have just about anything you can imagine. Oh! Except for pizza. Due to... issues, they refuse to attempt that mess again."
The wolf side eyed the cringing doe. She gave him an apologetic wave.
They won't do pizza? Nick mentally aback by that, but glad that he wouldn't be eating the squishy paste he'd call leftovers, he obliged. "Well, I'm more into vegetarian dishes."
"Oh?" He got a few odd looks, but not anything judgemental. "I know they have an amazing portabella parmesan. So I'll get you one of those. And, uh, any requests, for you and Jack, Judy?" Though she hummed in contemplation, Judy shrugged in the end. "Alright, I'll find something. Since it's Tuesday, Rin'll want his usual pile of salmon tacos on the mount," He shot the sheep a playful look of 'try to deny it', but received a 'hallelujah' in return. "Lastly a... let me see, pecan salad with toasted cocoanuts and balsamic vinaigrette?"
Delilah heaved a soft, heartfelt sigh. "Such a gentlemammal. But it's strawberry vinaigrette, and I'm coming with you to split the bill and help carry trays."
Luproc waved his paw in protest. He was about to respond when Delilah grabbed him by his sleeve and cheerfully walked off to the nearby line. Judy shook her head and was about to head to their table when her radio hissed.
She paused to pick it up and was assaulted by the loud, booming voice of her sister, Juniper.
"MARIA'S AT IT AGAIN!"
Through the ring of her ears, and quizzical look of the fox, Judy responded. "What's it this time? Wolter escape?"
She hoped not, she really, really hoped that sheep didn't try that again. But in a second, there was another chime of the box.
"He knew better," Through the sounds of clicking and roaring, the bunny's voice warned. "Mark stole something and Phill helped him with-"
"I'll give you something to cry about, thief! Get back here!"
Judy jumped when she heard that. She gripped the radio, already turning to the elevators just as a terrified screech rang through along with the sickening scrape of metal. "What happened?"
There was a deep, screaming roar. "Someone help! get this crazy pig off me!"
"Jack 'n Drake followed 'em into the boy's locker room. Get here, quick!"
Cringing from the news she heard, but happy to respond, she ran off. "I'll be right back! Save me my spot!" She called back to Nick, opting to take the stairs.
Awkwardly standing still as the bunny disappeared, Nick was left in a bit of a bind. He turned to the sheep, who, with a fake sigh and roll of his eyes, 'reluctantly' trotted on.
"Alright, since Judy's off and my cousin's trying not to ask out the vice president, or tipping off mammals with bills from our last game of 'Life'. I'll show you the others in our happy, odd little group."
He lead Nick to a small round table near one of the large windows; a decadent floral bouquet adorned its hardwood surface. The only occupants were two mammals he recognized: the black and white ewes his homeroom. They were in a shallow conversation, one talking a bit while the other read a comic.
Shorin greeted them with a wave. "Dawn, Sharla, we have a new guest with us."
They perked up, both ewes dropping their aimless tasks.
Dawn spoke first. "Oh, where is-" Upon seeing Nick, she stopped, her ears folding down and her wide green eyes shrinking; Sharla followed suit.
Taking notice of their habit, Shorin sighed. He wasn't going to fail at this. "Nick, I'd like for you to meet Sharla the black wooled ewe, and her cousin Dawn, the white wooled one."
Nick waved but stayed put. From their stares and attempted nonchalant whisper, he saw where this was going, and sure enough, Dawn got up.
She fixed her bow, never taking her eyes off of the predator. "Actually... I uh... have some homework I needed to finish at... the library? Yeah! I'll... yeah..." Grabbing her bag and clutching her cousin's hoof, the two charged towards the exit without question or hesitation, picking up the pace as they got farther away. By the time they had reached the elevator and mashed the call button to no avail - all while staring at Nick as they huddled against the wall - they abandoned this in favor for the stairs; both sheep disappearing beyond the stairwell in an instant.
The ram moved to take a seat at the table, waving for his new friend to join him. "Don't worry about those two." he assured. "They're just not used to you just yet. They'll see that you're one of us in no time."
Not letting anyone see that it got to him, he went to take a seat next to the ram, but a raised hoof stopped him. Shorin pointed four chairs down. "Just to let you know, Judy sits right there, usually. She likes to look out the window and keep an eye out for us common folk."
Eyes lighting up, Nick sauntered over to the chair and sat down. It was far more comfortable than he imagined for a school, and the constant aroma of flowers mixed with the scent of spices was soothing. Not only that, but he had a group - actual mammals, friends - to sit with.
Baffled by this turn of events, Nick swiveled the chair and looked out the window. The vibrant greenery of a forest line greeted his equally green eyes. Staring at the tranquility of nature and being lost in thought, he was surprisingly at peace.
Stuck in his stupor, he didn't see the figure rounding the table behind him. Instantly, his eyes were covered by soft, ticklish paws and his tail brushed against another mammal's fur. Startled, his ears stood on end.
"Guess whooooo~" a voice singsonged, one he recognized.
Nick grinned, but the casual, "Oh not you again..." from Rin told another story.
"If I had to guess," the fox began, swishing his tail and tapping his paw pads against the table. "It'd be a bunny girl,"
"Mhm." the bunny cooed.
"She's about," Risking his assumptions and not unfamiliar with the bunny's ears, Nick reached up, patting the rabbits head. Hearing her giggle, he went on, "Yay high. Really friendly-"
-Has this incredible smile, beautiful eyes... a nickname-
"-And I'd have to say that the bunny culprit would be Carrots," he chuckled, resting his paw on hers before she took them off his eyes. He started to turn around. "Am I riiii-oh?"
He was right about a lot of things. There was a bunny doe behind him with a voice he recognized - yay high, as well - but it wasn't his bunny. No, not even close.
The doe's fur was off-white in colour, a stark contrast to Judy's even grey fur and milky white. She was slightly taller, maybe an inch or two, if he had to guess. And most certainly, her eyes were almost the pigment of green as his.
Stunned and flustered that he had mistaken this bunny for his own, he nervously coughed. "Hi?"
The bunny took a step to his side, sitting in Judy's seat while humming to herself. "Carrots, huh? I like that. You can call me 'Carrots' anytime you like."
He was beside himself with that response. He couldn't call every rabbit 'Carrots', just the one: Judy Hopps.
Attempting to correct her, she spoke first. "So, you're Nicholas Wilde, right?"
"I-"
He was silenced again by the bunny taking his paw into hers, shaking it with a saccharine smile. "Jasmine. Jasmine Turner Hopps."
Nodding and plastering on a grin at the appearance of the intrusive bunny, Nick played along. "Uh... nice to meet you?"
Greeting over, the bunny refused to let go of his paw, opting to hold onto it as the fox attempted - and failed, miserably, several times - to pull away. Annoyed, he tried again until the figure of another bunny showed up behind her.
He was about to breathe a breath of relief, but it died in his lungs when this bunny was a light tan colour instead of Judy's grey. A doe as well, she sat right next to Jasmine, leaning over with her chin in her paw.
A huff resounded, not from the fox, but from the sheep idly tapping on his cellphone.
The second doe spoke, "Heya Nicky," Nick cringed. Only his mother and Skye and her family ever called him 'Nicky'. Not only that, but her tone was as sickeningly sweet as Jasmine's.
She reached over and offered a shake as well, leaving the poor fox leaning to the left as he tried to grip the table with his free paw.
"Jada. Jada Trinket Hopps." she greeted, already letting Nick know that either Judy had quite a few siblings, or that Hopps was a common name."But you can call me 'Jade'."
He nodded, looking away for an escape route, now tugging and struggling for the freedom of his paw. Nick only felt them let up after a moment when a 'finally' from the sheep heralded another.
"Jada? Jasmine? What are you two doing here?"
The fox peered up, rubbing his shoulder and forgetting the other two rabbits entirely. There, just beyond their table stood Judy, next to a bunny buck with nearly the same fur pattern and hall monitor uniform as she did. The two approached; her bounding around him and the other locking his cold, amber eyes before sitting a seat away from Jada.
"Eating." the two does replied.
Judy, however, was having none of this. She took her seat next to Nick and questioned them further. "I mean here at our table? You two never sit with us."
Jada scoffed. "I don't see your names on it."
Knowing her sisters, there would be no true end of this, for a while at least. She wondered what they were up to, going in a list from most likely to least. However, when she felt the brush of fur against her side and glanced down to see that it was a tail attached to a whole fox that she sat next to, Judy narrowed her results; Jack sitting next to the two with begrudging expression helped her assume one conclusion.
"What's your game this time?" she pressed, hoping that this wasn't another case of a mammal attempting to shoo the new kid away.
Jada and Jasmine often tried to rope in the new kids or mammals in higher grades, only to shove them off after making themselves more popular in the process. She coldn't tell which was worse, but they were good at what they did; poor Blake was an example of their ways.
Then there was Dawn's absence which was a bit odd considering the shy sheep, but it was Sharla's struck her more so. The black sheep was keen about sitting at the same place during lunch, it was one of the few places that she could get away with gaming on campus.
Jack, on the other paw, had always sat beside her to eat, no matter the circumstance. Birthdays, holidays, lunches at school or off campus, he was never not beside her. But now, here he was, on the opposite side of the table and Jasmine, of all mammals, sat beside Nick. And this was the bunny that adamantly refused to sit at their table because they weren't 'cool enough' in her opinion.
With the tilt of her head and droopy ears to make her seem innocent, Jasmine answered, "Is it so hard to believe that we just wanted to spend time with our little sister?"
Eye twitching, Judy eased herself back into her chair, hoping not to have a conniption. Not when you always have an ulterior motive.
She wasn't in the mood to deal with them after having an already tough time keeping the peace in the hallway. And, speaking of keeping peace, there was one bunny that she hadn't yet introduced him to: the one scowling. May as well, she said to herself, taking a deep breath.
"I see you've met my sisters," She shot them a look that neither took seriously before reaching her paw to the still silent buck. "Nick, this is Jack. Jack, Nick."
Barley acquainted - and being two, currently occupied seats away - Nick gave Jack a curt wave. The buck only stared at him for a moment before seemingly ignoring him altogether.
Must be her brother? Nick surmised, hopeful.
Surrounded by bunnies on all sides should have made Nick uncomfortable - especially with the three to his left either casting him wary looks or... whatever Jasmine was doing, she was too close - but he felt relaxed with the atmosphere and having Judy right there with him.
Moments after, the aroma of fresh food made it their way. Nick looked beyond the table to see the wolf and pig teetering their way, lunch trays precariously balanced on their heads while his arms were occupied.
"Sorry about the wait, Lu and I got caught up in conversation with the staff again." Swinton apologized, setting the trays down and looking around for the two absent sheep, but finding two other mammals there instead. "Oh... I didn't know you were sitting with us."
The duo went around quickly, doling out the various orders. A small mountain of tacos for Shorin, Nick's portabella dish, and a carrot soufflé for Jack and Judy, and the leftover salad for Jasmine and Jada.
No sooner than the plate was set before him, Nick dug right in. Forgetting all his woes of prior bullying and his lost lunch, he savoured the dish. Tender portabella, creamy tomato sauce, and cheesy pasta were all his tastebuds told him to think of. It was almost as good as what he had packed which he thought belonged in a five-star restaurant to begin with.
After about the third bite, a fit of giggling broke his concentration. With a mouth full of mushroom, Nick glanced over to Judy. Her paws covered her muzzle as she pointed to his. "You've got a little-"
Tracing her direction, he saw spaghetti strings hanging over his nose. To his slight embarrassment and immediate humor, he slurped the offending pasta down, trying not to laugh himself and choke on it.
Seeing her smile afterward, he realized how lucky he was. Now with friends - at least her - even far away from home, he felt like he was fitting in. Not only that, but the bullies got caught and punished before they could go any further. All they managed to do was crack his phone and almost damage her-
"Oh! That's right." Nick sputtered, reaching over and down into his bag. He rummaged through the contents until he found what he was looking for. "Forgot to give you this back."
Producing the pen he had accidentally borrowed, Nick scratched the nape of his neck worriedly.
Though he saw neither the narrowed eyes of Jack nor Judy's tail swish in excitement, when she took it back and thanked him, Nick was relieved that he wasn't called a shifty fox for once.
And Judy was happy as well. She was able to use this as a way to get Jack to see that Nick wasn't a bad guy, he was quite the opposite. Although, some mammals certainly wouldn't see it that way. If another Woolter and Jesse like experience came about, then who would he get to help him in a pinch?
A piece of soufflé still in her fork, she made a hasty, resolute decision on how to help.
"Hey, Nick. Can I see your phone for a sec?"
Tilting his head in curiosity, he reached into his bag and grabbed it. Judy quickly plucked it out of his paws, tapping through the menu as avidly as he himself usually did. Though, more focused, she chuckled and pulled out her own phone. Between the two, she typed, getting Nick to glance over, bewildered as to what she was up to. Giving her quick confiscation a nod, she handed him the device.
"Uh, Carrots, what's this?" In taking the phone back, he tried to figure out what she had done; the only menu open was his contact list.
He looked from his phone to his beaming friend several times before it clicked. He couldn't stop smiling.
He couldn't stop smiling! Admiring the simple line of numbers steaking across the slightly cracked surface of his phone's screen, Nick was absolutely elated.
Now seated on the passenger side of the squad car on the way back home, Nick reflected back on how great everything was turning out.
For one, lunch was somehow better than it was the day before. It wasn't just from the food as he judged it almost as good as the leftovers he'd been having - but it wasn't bad as it was mostly student-run. It was the new friends, new atmosphere, and new experiences that he had that made it so great.
The view was perfect, the mammals at his table were interesting... well, most were; Dawn and Sharla had left, Jada was at odds with Judy, Jasmine was... not Judy, and Jack seemed to glare at him every chance he got.
Not to mention the fact that he witnessed a sheep - a sheep of all mammals - eating a plate of fish tacos. That, plus the class president and vice president were on/off flirting.
He had to laugh, What could make this day any better? OH! That's right! Looking back down and nearly spazzing, Nick had to will himself still as he felt like he could run in circles, yipping madly. He never realized how fast his tail was swishing across the seat.
There was a deep, heartfelt chuckle beside him. "I heard you had a busy day."
Taking his eyes off of his phone, Nick turned to the wolf behind the wheel. Eliot was as cheerful as ever.
"Yeah," he replied, wistfully. "Rough start, but it was okay.
There was a pause, an uncomfortable silence before the wolf continued. "Was it those two troublemakers again?"
Nick was surprised that he knew of them, but it seemed appropriate. Maybe they've been arrested before?
Shaking the thought, Nick looked down. "No, it's just," He couldn't find the words, so he went with the highlight of his day. "Well, Judy gave me her phone number at lunch - for emergencies and such. And she-"
He was silenced by an ear piercing gasp and swerve of the vehicle. The astonished look that the wolf gave him made him relive memories of yesterday. The broken door - that he surprisingly fixed that morning - the fast driving, the howling. Nick shrunk in his chair; Eliot couldn't stop staring.
Nick pushed himself further to the door, feeling the vehicle drift on the dirt road.
"THAT'S GREAT!" Howled the wolf, pulling out his phone, forgetting the road entirely. In seconds, he was muzzletiming. "PUMPKIN!"
With one paw on the wheel and the image of the thylacine appearing, he began conversing with her.
"Hi honey," said the mammal on the phone. She blinked a few times before her cheerful expression turned to horror. "Wait... A-are you driving?!"
"Of course! And I've got great news!" Eliot answered, leaning over to Nick, drifting into the oncoming lane. "He has her phone number-"
Nick didn't know what to do as Chloe sighed. He was caught between the wolf, the door... and the oncoming semi!
He leaned forward, grasping for the wheel. "LOOK OUT!"
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
There was a sequence of loud, excitable knocks on the door of the Hopps' burrow, and Bonnie was dreading answering it.
She sighed knowingly. There was only one mammal alive that would continue knocking in this manner, and he was the very reason of why they had to get a reinforced door. Not that he was any danger, but with him knocking so excitedly against the others, their choice to go with something stronger was an absolute must as he broke the last two.
Straightening out her dress and passing by a few members of her family that were heading in from a long day in the field, Bonnie braced herself for the oncoming barrage of news in the bundle of joy known as their deputy. She could usually gauge what he had to say depending on how frequently he knocked.
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
She shook her head. Yeah... it's important.
Paw on the door, she took a deep breath and slowly pulled it open. The beaming wolf had barely registered her as he swept his tail across the porch.
"Deputy Eliot, how can I-ACH!" Bonnie was immediately scooped up in a wolf-sized hug, as welcoming as it was almost bone-crushing.
"This is the greatest day ever!" he cheered, not letting go of the struggling rabbit as he paraded around on the verge of howling. "It's happening! It's finally happening!"
"W-what i-is?" she gasped.
Though the doe was caught off-guard, it wasn't anything she wasn't used to. And oftentimes, larger mammals underestimated the strength of a small bunny who grew up on a farm. In a second or two, she managed to pry herself away from Eliot's grip. When she did and hopped to the ground, the sight of his vehicle with a newly adorned mailbox stuck in the hood made her jaw drop.
Eliot was undeterred. "I think your Judy's found that certain someone."
"Oh?" She gasped, surprised beyond reason. They had given Jack their okay just yesterday, she hadn't imagined him pursuing Judy that quickly, he just didn't seem like the kind of buck to take their hints so readily. This is great!
As giddy as ever, the question still lingered in her mind. "Wait, why are you here this evening?"
Freezing and turning back to his mess of a squad car, Eliot nervously scratched behind his ears. "I kind of hit Nick's mailbox on the way back. And I was wondering if I could get any help in getting it out before the sheriff sees it in the morning."
Bonnie figured it was something like that. It wasn't the first time. "I'll get Stu."
Giving him the okay and hearing his plethora of thanks, Bonnie welcomed him in for a bit. She guided him to the main atrium where several of her kits were relaxing for the afternoon. Two of which - per Eliot's glee and Bonnie's sheer joy were sitting next to each other - she'd be talking to very soon about their relationship.
And though Jasmine and a few others from their so aptly named 'J-neration' were there, the elder doe honed in on a bit of their conversation.
"All of this after he stole your pen?" Jack chided, gesticulating his frustration.
Yet, Judy waved him off. "I let him borrow the pen, Jack."
"He called you Carrots, Judy."
"Jack, I called myself 'Officer Carrots' years ago in those letters, remember?"
"Can you believe this? He called me Carrots." Jasmine cooed, relaxing back into the seat, phone in her paws and chatting with Jada.
"Jas, he wasn't talking to you." the eldest quipped.
"Well, Nick should have. I mean did you see the way he stared at me?"
"You all are talking about Nick?!"
The voice of the excitable deputy caught them off-guard, the two Junior Deputy's standing in salute while the others gave him curt waves and hello's.
Judy was the first to respond. "Yes, sir. We were."
Jack flinched. "I was trying to inform Judy that he's not-"
A light jab to his side caught more than a few looks. Most of which was Bonnie trying not to squeal in excitement. She just boxed him! That's already a great sign!
Planning ahead, Bonnie offered, "Nick seems to be growing on you all quickly. I think if you all like him around that much, then you should invite him over for dinner someday." Not just Judy's eyes went wide at that, but nearly all that were seated; Eliot more so. "Besides, your day to sit with us is coming up in a few weeks. It'd be nice to see a new face around here."
The room grew silent. Eliot stood still with his jaw hanging open, Jack was stunned, Juniper shrugged, Jada blinked, and Jasmine had gears turning as she stared at Judy.
The silence was broken by the beep of Judy's phone which she quickly answered upon seeing the caller-ID.
"I gotta take this," she whispered, bounding away to the main entrance to hopefully be out of the prying ears of any bunny.
The moment she was out the door, she smiled, answering the frantic voice of the mammal on the other end.
"Hey Nick-"
The thing about dreaming is that you can see the future: stunning, stellar, sudden. It makes for a wild time when you try to remember it.
[A/N]
Thank you for all for the reviews, favs, and follows! More to come!
WOOOOOOO! We return! Sorry about the wait, but I've been working on various ways to tackle this story. And please let me know if you have any ideas and such, I'm trying my best to get some high school stories from readers and dreamers out there. It's gonna be epic!
A headcanon I'm trying to incorporate is how the parents interact with so many of their kids. One that I have is that Stu and Bonnie try to sit with each of their kids at dinner in some rotation. With Jack and Judy, they have their day at the same time, just to 'chat with the rents'.
Not only that, but I had debated for a while about their cafeteria. It's in an old, refurbished granary turned triple decker restaurant-esque dining hall. The lower floor is for heavier mammals and the top floor is small rodents (several floors, actually).
If you're wondering why they don't do pizza, I'll explain that very soon (Also in Skyebound soon as well).
I wonder who can spot all the Easter eggs?!
And also, HUGE thanks to the following for allowing me to use their characters as cameos:
Koraru-san for Eliot and Chloe
JadeHopps for Jada
OptimusPower92 for his OC Drake (a badger) who you'll see more of soon alongside Reagan.
servant1999 for her OC Reagan (squirrel) who you'll see more of soon alongside Drake.
[FF Review Responses]
AndrewJohnston7: I gotz no clue. It just happened. XD
Metal Amadeus: I know, right? But remember, there are 3 Swinton sisters. And Maria may be the one you don't cross, but the last one... you don't want to meet. ^_^
InTheLionsDenOnDA: Maria's definitely one not to be trifled with... gym was cancelled, btw. But the lesson on ties is a very simple and much needed one.
the Red Omega: Throw Skye? Get explosion!
WolfofAvalon: I had to for this story. Hopefully things don't get too Jacked up. XD
TheUnaccomplishedWriter: Thank you! I shall try my best to make the next one even more fun.
Guest1502: If I put it in too soon, it'd be too predictable. But they'll know soon enough.
Cimar of Turalis WildeHopps: No worries, Maria's got plans for them. *rubs hooves menacingly* OH so savory, lucrative plans.
WildeHopps85: Heya. ^^ Glad you're liking it and I have no intent to stop this train before it's complete. Sorry about the delay, though.
[Other Sites]
fanfiction:
~dancinglunarwolves
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dancinglunarwolves
archiveofourown:
users/DancingLunarWolves/works
If you liked this story and have time please post a review, and if you would like to keep up with the story please fav or follow. Questions, comments, concerns, feel free to message me about anything. If you'd like updates, please check the profile page and or message me.
Till Next Time
-DLW