"-Hey what's that?" The teenage warthog glanced up to see his elder twin looking over his shoulder. He quickly whipped an arm over the sheet of paper. "-Nothin'!" Just some homework... why do you care?" His brother gave a skeptical look. Ten years had passed since that meeting with Jacque at the creek, and at a youthful peek of fifteen, Goresky had grown considerably, into a build, girth and stature, almost as strong as his father Graff. Chislett himself, had changed as well. He'd always been the slightly 'chunky' one, since he was born, at nine pounds and seven ounces, but as his teenage years came to a beginning, puberty seemed to have quickened his metabolism, and any weight he gained, was in height, causing him to drop over twenty pounds. He certainly wasn't 'chubby' anymore... in fact he was rather lean and lanky, skinny almost. However, he WAS stronger than he looked. Goresky snorted, "Homework, my left hoof." Since when do you ever concentrate on homework THIS hard??" He quickly slipped it out from under his brother's arm. Chislett yelped, "-Goresky!!" Come on, give it back!" That's not funny!" All Goresky had to do to keep his brother from taking it back, was push him back, his hand against Chislett's face, as he flailed his arms forward, trying to reach the paper. Goresky read it fast, and finally let Chislett go. He looked at his brother, incredulously. "-What the heck IS this Chis?" You trying to write a 'love' letter or something??" Chislett's cheeks turned red, as he snatched it back. "-No, I ain't!" 'Sides... YOU're not one to talk, mister 'four girlfriends in three months'!" Goresky's expression clouded. "-Dude... that was harsh!" Seriously man, I was just kidding around, but you with THAT??" Realizing that what he'd brought up really WASN'T such a great comeback to bring up, Chislett's mouth fell. "Oh man... aww Goresk, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-" "But you DID!" snapped Goresky. Chislett's ears lowered. "-I didn't know you were still tripping THIS bad, bro... I mean... it's been over two weeks since you and Cloey split..." His brother winced. That name... just like the other three before it... Melinda, Dana and Karey... all brought him the same feeling, of the clenching of teeth, tightened fists, and ache in his chest. "-You just HAD to say her name too... didn't ya?" Chislett griped, "-'Doh!" Aww shit..." I was just sayin-" "Stuff I already know, and don't need to hear again!" snarled Goresky, moodily. Chislett tried to calm him. "-Come on man... you KNOW I didn't mean it!" And anyways... why is it such a big deal?" I mean... so what if Cloey dumped you?" You got tossed the first time, and then YOU were the one to break up the last two!" So this is just... a way of evening things out!" Yeah!" His brother did not respond. How COULD he explain that to Chislett, anyway? "Plus... to be honest, I think that brod was a real bitch, anywho." Goresky was stunned. "-CHIS!" "Well no offense bro, but seriously!" his brother protested. "You could do SO better than her!" Goresky sighed deeply. "-Right..." Can we just drop this?" Chislett sighed as well. "-Okay..." There was silence for a moment. Then Goresky remembered the letter, and glanced at his brother. "Say... since you might as well tell me... just 'who' were you planning on giving this letter to, 'lover boy'?" Chislett flushed again, and scratched his neck. "-Err... just... some... chick... no big deal." Goresky smirked madly. "-Oh come on, Chis... don't be a tease... surely she has a name?" His brother held his mouth tight, but finally gave a huge sigh, and replied, "-Her name's Taryn-Lacy." His brother raised an eyebrow. "-Tell me about her..." Chislett couldn't stay mad. He smiled foolishly, and continued, "-She's a mongoose... she's real cute..." Blue eyes... orange and purple hair... fit body... great humour..." Goresky rolled his eyes. "...How big is her 'rear'?" This time, Chislett took no time in spilling the beans, like a glass of milk. "-OH-MY-GOD, Goresk... UNBELIEVABLE!" I mean it's... top choice, triple A meat, man!" True definition of 'ghetto booty', hot damn!" They're like LITERALLY two hams put together!" If she'd ever let me, hoo boy... I'd like to sink my teeth, into those juicy babies... GRRR!" Goresky smiled wryly. He knew it all along. Chislett had a thing for 'behinds'. An 'ass fetish' to be precise about it. He didn't go for the usual things guys like... So what if a girl had a huge chest and a tiny waist or not? All that mattered to him was if "baby had back". And the bigger, the better. Just as Goresky was about to comment, the was a knock at the door. The warthog turned, and walked over, to open it. "-Jacque!" The lynx/caracal hybrid teenager stood there. "-Hey..." he mumbled, and walked right in. Like the other two, he had grown rather so, not exactly as 'beefy' as Goresky, and not scrawny as Chislett, but more in between, 'average'-ish. Goresky blinked. "-You okay man?" He followed as Jacque wandered into the kitchen, where Chislett still was. His friend shook his muzzle. "-Not really." Chislett looked to him as well. "Hey Jacque-Miester, what's up?" "-Anything but ME," Jacque sighed, taking a water bottle out of the fridge. This wasn't uncommon... Jacque came over to their house often, and he would raid the fridge along with them as well, as he was almost like family, anyways. Goresky pressed, "-What happened?" Just tell us!" At first, their friend took a long sip of water, then withdrew, licked his lips, and sighed. Chislett urged, "Weeell?" Jacque hung his head. "-Jordin broke up with me." The Warthogg brothers' jaws dropped. Chislett breathed, "-Whoa... dude... now that's heavy-" Goresky stammered, "-But... I thought you guys had only been going out for barely over a WEEK!" The feline's ears flattened. "Yeah... well apparently THAT was enough for her..." "Man... talk about major harsh!" exclaimed Chislett. "What happened, Jacq?" His friend blinked, and turned his head away. "-I think I'd rather not talk about it-" A tad taken aback, the warthog said, "-Okay, okay... didn't mean to press, pal..." I'm sorry... just trying to see if I could help ya out." Feeling he'd spoken a bit sharply, Jacque apologized, "-Aww... I'm sorry Chis... I didn't mean it to come out like that." I'm just... well you get the idea..." Trust me, you're already helping, just standing there listening to me." Being a good friend... that's all that can really help me right now... so don't worry about it." Chislett gave a nod. "-Yeah... I understand what you're feeling like." Goresk here was just explaining it to me, a minute ago..." Jacque looked to Goresky, who sighed, "-It was nothing... just... got a bit downer from thinking about Cloey." Jacque groaned, "-Ah geez... why you doing that to yourself, Goresk?" That trashy 'thing' ain't worth tearing yourself up for!" Goresky gawked, "-What?" You're saying YOU thought she was a bitch too??" Jacque gulped, "-Uhhh..." He glanced at Chislett. Dazed, Goresky questioned, "-You're telling me... that you BOTH thought she was bad news, all along... and you never TOLD me???" Chislett squirmed, "-Weeell... we just didn't wanna look jealous or nothing!" Jacque added, "We didn't want to hurt your feelings or anyhing... I mean... you DID look happy, for a time and all." The warthog breathed in exasperation. "-Meeeh... nevermind." Anyways... this ain't about me... this is about YOU Jacque... you're UNhappy, and we need to make HAPPY again!" Anything you wanna do?" Jacque's eyes rolled back. "-Eh... dunno." Kinda feel like boozing myself up or something." You know... drink my problems away, and have one that'll take my mind off them in the morning-" Goresky gave a shrug. "-Sure we could do that." What about you bro?" Chislett bit his lip. "-Well I WAS gonna go to the movies... Scott and Laine asked if I wanted to come with... but I could tell them I've got other plans." Seeing 'Freddy vs. Jason' can wait until-" "-Aww no, nooo..." Jacque shook his head. "Chis, don't do that for me... you've been dying to go see that!" Chislett shrugged, "Yeah... but you're my best friend!" Helping you out, is more important than-" "No way, man... you're not gonna sit in all night, listening to us mourning 'women rejects'... no offense Goresk-" "None taken... besides it's TRUE," Goresky told him. "But yeah bro, he's right... you didn't get dumped by a girlfriend, and you're still happy." Go have fun while you still can!" Chislett looked at them both. "-Are you guys sure?" 'Cuz I feel really bad about leaving you all depressive alone and-" "-CHISLETT!" they both said at once. "-Oh alright!" Chislett shrieked. "If you REALLY want me to go, then I will!" But just try to cheer up, guys, okay?" Don't wallow in 'whinersville' all night... go have some fun yourselves!" Hmmm?" "-Sounds like a plan, I guess," Jacque shrugged lightly. Goresky nodded, "-We'll give it a shot bro... but oh... before you go... just making sure... where you going after the movies?" Chislett thought. "-Weeell... I think I remember Scott sayin' something about Elliot having a party later on... might crash over there." "-Ah kay then... just making sure." Just be back home before noon... Dad went to visit an old friend's place, and he's staying the night." Said he'd be back by early noon, at the least," explained Goresky. "-Oh alright... sweet," Chislett grinned. Goresky looked to Jacque. "-Well if you want, you can stay the night here, Jacq... I ain't going anywhere, myself." "-Hmmm... I might do that." Thanks Goresk," Jacque accepted. "Anything for my best friend, man," Goresky said, loyally. Chislett spoke, "-Well... guess I'll be heading out to Laine's now..." I'll see you guys, tomorrow probably." Later!" "-Bye Chis," they both replied, as Chislett walked out the front door. There was a silence between Goresky and Jacque, for a few minutes. At last, Jacque spoke, "-I'm kinda glad he left..." Goresky glanced at his friend, oddly. "Why?" Jacque swallowed hard, took a breath, and said, "-Listen... I did't really wanna tell Chislett this, but... I'd feel better telling 'someone'... and you're better than anyone else-" Goresky's attention was caught, at what appeared to be a very important confession coming. "-Yeah?" he dared to ask. Jacque started to tell him. "-Two nights ago... me and Jordin... we were... actually THIS close to... you know..." Goresky's eyes widened. "-You mean... 'sex'?" Jacque slowly nodded. "Yeah... see... we were fooling around, and that... and I guess... she was just real forward and ready and all-" Goresky sensed a 'but' sentence coming on. "-But?" Jacque ran a hand through his hair, nervously. "-I... I 'wasn't'!" he admitted. His warthog friend was rather astonished. "-Are you SERIOUS, Jacque??" His friend immediately started to spill his guts to Goresky. "-I don't know what came over me!" All the sudden she was getting all really deep on me, and I... I just freaked out!" I totally panicked!" I have no idea why, but it was like something was holding me back... I didn't WANT to do it!" And I didn't know how to tell her that, without hurting her feelings so I... I lied!" I told her I didn't have a condom!" "-But... you DID have a condom?" Goresky told him. "-I KNOW I DID!!" But I just couldn't do it!!!" cried Jacque. He was obviously getting worked up, so Goresky tried to reassure him. "-Okay, okay... I'm sorry Jacque, I didn't mean to... well anyways, it's alright... just settle down..." They both breathed and took a pause. "Alright... what happened after?" asked Goresky. Jacque replied, "-Well after that night... things were getting weird between us and... today she told me straight out, how she felt." "-What did she say?" "-Pretty much that we were over." That we didn't have anything to stay together for... no 'spark'... no REAL attraction between us... that we were better off seeing other people." Goresky's ears lowered, in sympathy. "I'm sorry Jacque... you didn't deserve that." Jacque closed his eyes, gnawing on lip, and opened them again. "-Guess I could really use a couple shots of liquor, now," he muttered, miserably. His warthog friend put an arm around his shoulder. "-Say we make a night of it, then." He gave Jacque a grin, to try and make him smile too. Jacque tried to look away. "-Oh don't be like that... come on... smiiile... you know you wanna... let it out," Goresky jested. Finally his feline friend broke into a small smirk. "Oh alright... but only 'cuz you're such a good friend, you big lug." The warthog beamed, "-Much better, matey." Let's go then."

Later on that evening, Jacque and Goresky were at a nearby bar, pounding down shots of this and that, as they moaned and groaned about their disastrous love lives. "-Seriously Goresk... I just don't get it!" Jacque griped. "Everytime.. just another plop of shit that hits the fan!" He swung back a shotglass content into his throat, and smacked the glass back onto the counter. Goresky shook his head, hands over his temples. "-Boy, do I hear ya, Jacq... I mean... what is WRONG with me?" "-What's wrong with YOU? What's wrong with ME?!?" Jacque echoed. "I couldn't even close the deal with Jordin... how SAD is that??" Goresky gave a snort, "-You know what... this whole dating business... it's just... 'overrated'!" That's what it is!" "-Yeah!" his friend agreed. "Who NEEDS it??" "Who needs a girlfriend?" I know 'I' sure don't!" the young warthog exclaimed. "Totally!" I don't need no female to keep me tied down and unhappy!" That's what MOTHERS are for!" Jacque sneered. "-Amen to that!" Goresky said, raising his shotglass. They both clicked theirs together, and chugged them down. With an appreciative grin, Jacque spoke, "-See.... that's why we've always been such great friends, Goresk! You 'get' me!" "-I know... and you 'get' me!" responded Goresky. "-Exactly!" said Jacque. "So yeah!" We don't need anyone!" "-Iiii know!" Goresky hooted. "'Cuz I got you as my best friend!" "Right back at ya!" I love ya man!" Jacque shrieked. "And I love YOU man!" Goresky yelped back. And they both threw their arms around each other, and hugged. The bartender nearby noticed this. He simply rolled his eyes and shook his head. Wasn't the first time he'd seen something like THAT. Two drunk guys who happened to be (best) friends, hugging each other... what else was new. However, at least he was reminded to put on that Tom Jones album in the jukebox. Already the song "It's Not Unusual" was stuck in his brain. *Great... just great* he thought, with a grumble. But as he turned away, as the friends were hugging each other in friendly appreciation, Jacque suddenly did something unexpected. Without even realizing it, he put his mouth to Goresky's and kissed him on the lips. And neither seemed to notice this, for about five seconds, when their eyes flashed open, staring with bewilderment, and they pulled away. After a minute of silence and stares, Goresky finally questioned, "-What... just happened there?" Jacque, who was turning bright red in the face, gulped, "-Ummm... I'm... not so sure myself..." The warthog slowly blinked. "...Did you just KISS me?" Swallowing hard, the feline replied, "...I think so... I'm.. I'm so sorry Goresky... I was-" His friend cut him short. "-Nonono... I was just saying that.... well... for some reason... for the brief time that was going on... I think I... was 'enjoying' it." Jacque was taken aback. Had he heard that right? "You... you 'were'?" At his friend's rather stunned tone, Goresky wondered if he'd said the wrong thing. Blushing, he said, "-Errm... well... well how did YOU feel?" "-Well.... it 'was' kinda nice..." Jacque admitted. "You... you have soft lips." Goresky was a tad speechless at that remark. "-Oh... uhh... thanks." Feeling that he'd weirded Goresky out even more than he already had, Jacque blurted, "Goresky, I mean it... I'm REALLY sorry!" I don't know what came over me... I just-" But he didn't get any further. Goresky's lips smothered his own, shutting him up. There was another five seconds of that, before they both slowly pulled back. Jacque looked somewhat light-headed, as he stammered, "-Uhhmm... I'm... getting mixed signals here..." "-Yeah... me too-" Goresky replied, softly. Their eyes met. The momentary tension in the air could've been cut with a knife. That time they both went for it. This time around however, it was a significantly deeper embrace, that lasted over ten seconds. When it stopped, there certainly quite a different tone between the two. Goresky looked at Jacque. "-Wanna get outta here?" Like he even needed to ask. "-Yes I do," Jacque responded. Slapping down a couple Mobiums for the drinks, they both stood up, and walked out of the bar together.

The rest of the night was a blurry episode. Neither could really recall just exactly HOW they got back to Goresky's place, and WHAT words were exchanged, or WHAT happened, that sort of thing. But the next thing they knew, it was a new day...