Chapter 14: Romantic Issues
Dixie's POV
Oh boy, I was so excited. Tonight was another night that Cody and his bro, DJ were going to perform another one of their song covers at Regent's Park. I just can't wait to hear him sing on stage in front of me and everyone. I figured since it was a night out, I chose to go with a white sleeveless hoodie and denim jeans. I had thought about adding a bit of make-up like some mascara and probably some lipstick, but Cody always said I looked beautiful even without it. I guess just mascara would be fine for me. After applying the eyelash cosmetic, I blinked a times, fluttering my eyelashes at a mirror. Yes, I was ready. I headed straight downstairs and was about to reach the door when my dad called out to me.
"Dixie, come back over here, please." His tone was rather stern as he called me over, which was whenever I was in trouble. But what did I do wrong this time? I turned and went to the kitchen where my dad was. An older male Dalmatian in a white work shirt and grey trousers with his arms crossed as he gave me a very serious look.
"Remember when I said back in the car last night that we'd have a talk?" I thought back to the previous night after I had a little dance with Cody as I got into dad's car. I remembered how he didn't turn his head to face me as I saw stern look on his face as he said that 'We're going to talk sooner or later'. Well it looked like now was the time for that talk.
"Dixie, I do not want you going out with that human anymore." My ears fell in aghast at what I had just heard come out of his mouth. Was he seriously telling me I wasn't allowed to be Cody's girlfriend?!
"W-What?! Why?!" I stammered in a mix of shock and anger.
"Dixie, those humans are nothing but selfish, ungrateful bastards who will put you down to the dirt. You're making a big mistake dating one of them."
"Oh really, now? What about the one who adopted you when you were a pup?" An elderly voice responded to dad as we both turned to see an old human man roll in on a wheelchair, giving dad an annoyed look. Albert Peckers had adopted dad from an anthro orphanage back when he was six years old as a godfather. Even though neither of us were actually related to him by blood, I liked to refer to him as 'granddad' sometimes.
"Albert, stay out of this. This doesn't involve you and you're the only exception." Dad quickly retorted before bringing his attention back to me. "Now Dixie, I don't want to hear anymore argument from you. I don't want you seeing that human ever again." My lips quivered as I started to get angry at how dad was controlling my love life.
"No! You can't do that! I love Cody!" I protested as his stern look turned into a glare. "Young lady, do not talk back to me like that! A human and anthro relationship will NOT be allowed in my household! If you want a boyfriend, look for an anthro! NOT one of those selfish monkeys!"
"Oh what?! Like that German shepherd who gave more of a rat's arse about football than me and stood me up on our first date?! Or that Chow who turned out to be a jerk addicted to booze! Or Craig, that Great Dane who only wanted me because of his dick?! Cody doesn't treat me like any of those three have done! In fact, NO human has at all so what's your excuse?!"
"DIXIE ELIZABETH WALSH, THAT IS ENOUGH! YOU ARE NOT GETTING TOGETHER WITH A HUMAN AND THAT IS FINAL!"
"URGH, YOU ARE SO UNFAIR! IT'S LIKE YOU DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT I THINK AT ALL! YOU JUST WANT ME TO DO WHAT BENEFITS YOURSELF RATHER THAN JUST LET ME BE HAPPY! EVERY ANTHRO SUITOR YOU OFFERED ME TREATED ME LIKE GARBAGE OR LIKE AN OBJECT AND YET WHEN I MEET SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY TREATS ME LIKE A PERSON, YOU'RE NOT SATISFIED JUST BECAUSE HE'S HUMAN!"
I panted after my full-blown rant, shivering a little as my dad stared back at me with a shocked look on his face. The look didn't last for long however as it turned into a disappointed glare.
"Well, maybe they treated you that way because they don't want to deal with a spoiled brat."
"DAVID!" Albert finally yelled out in disgust at my dad. I just couldn't believe it. The one thing that made me happy and dad wanted to take it away from me. I should've known he never even loved me. If he did, then he'd give Cody a chance. But now I know just how he really feels about me. My fists shook slightly as I glared at my dad through hot tears and finally snapped.
"You really don't care about me, do you? All those times you said you were only looking out for me, when you were doing is thinking about yourself alone."
"...Dixie-"
"NO! DON'T EVEN DARE TRY TO MAKE YOURSELF IN THE RIGHT AGAIN! IF I HAD KNOWN MY OWN DAD WOULD TREAT ME LIKE A PRISONER WITH NO RIGHTS AT ALL, I'D WISH I WAS NEVER BORN! I HATE YOU!"
After nearly damaging my throat to how much I screamed, I ran back upstairs sobbing. Why would my own dad do this to me? He can't just break my relationship with Cody like that. I didn't even do anything wrong. I just dated a human. It's not like I took drugs or committed a crime. I burst into my room and fell onto my bed, burying my face into my pillow and crying loudly, not caring if my running mascara would stain it.
David's POV
I rubbed my face in slight frustration at how unreasonable Dixie was being. Why was it so hard for her to understand that I don't want that human to hurt her like I had been hurt once. I turned to the fridge to get a can of Pepsi to calm my nerves until I felt a hand grip my arm. I glanced behind to see Albert still with that disappointed glare.
"David. When I took you in all those years ago, I raised you to be a kind and considerate individual, not a disgusting racist who controls his daughter like she means nothing to him. Just because you had bad history with a human once does not mean that all humans are like that. Or did you forget that if me, a human hadn't adopted you then you'd probably be stuck in that orphanage for the rest of your life. I even thought of you as like an actual son to me, but now… I'm not so sure. You should be ashamed of yourself." After he said this, Albert grunted a little as he did something I never would've expected him to do. He stood up from his wheelchair and slowly trudged upstairs. He had been in a wheelchair ever since he was seventy years old after we found out that he had brittle leg bones and one swift kick would be enough to break them.
After getting over that initial surprise, I sighed as what Albert said to me raced around in my mind. He had been the only human I could trust after I found out my former lover, a human woman had been cheating on me with another human and even got impregnated by him behind my back when Dixie was only eight. Then the words Dixie said to me played back in my head as my face fell. I walked into the living room and slumped on my couch in deep thought over what happened.
...Maybe I had been too hard on her.
Dixie's POV
Even if it had only been a minute, I felt like I had been crying for hours. I just didn't want to be near my dad anymore, not after I realised what he really thought of me. I heard the door creak open as I let out a growl, glaring at the door until it turned out to be Albert as he trudged into my room while I watched stunned.
"A-Albert? You're off your chair!"
"Bah, some leg condition isn't going to stop me from helping you out." He protested as he looked over at my window.
"But how? Dad won't let me go to see him." I replied sadly as he pulled open a drawer and took out several bedsheets and grinned at me.
"Dixie, when I was a young lad, I'd sneak out of me mum and dad's house a lot with this trick. Never even got caught once." He then tied the bedsheets together until we both were seeing a makeshift rope which he tied one end to the door handle to hold it in place before tossing the other end out of the window and then turning to me.
"Have fun with your man, pup!" A smile quickly formed on my face as I sprang up and wrapped my arms around Albert in a hug. "You're the best, granddad." Was the last thing I said before I clambered out the window and climbed down the bed sheet rope as quickly yet carefully as possible.
Cody, here I come!
Cody's POV
All of the seats at the park's stage were almost packed with my family, friends and other anthros and humans who had visited the park. I looked around occasionally, hoping to catch sight of Dixie since I had texted her about DJ and I having decided to perform another song cover tonight and that she had responded, saying she'd be happy to come. DJ meanwhile was already setting up the loudspeakers and his keyboard whilst I prepared the microphone stands.
"Codyyyy!" I smiled upon recognising that voice, turning to see Dixie run up to the stage as I hopped down to the ground and we both had our arms around each other, sharing a kiss. "Dixie, I'm glad you came!" I eagerly exclaimed as Dixie giggled, pressing her nose against mine. "Like I'd miss anything involving you for the world~"
"Woah Cody, is that your girl, bro?" DJ joined us off the stage, giving a friendly smile to Dixie. "Nice to finally meet ya, name's DJ." He held a fist out for her which she bumped. "Soooo Cody, what's the song you and DJ are gonna cover tonight?" She asked me, batting her eyelids lovingly at me, making me blush. "Oh. Well let's just say this one is dedicated to you." I responded as Dixie blushed before making her way to the seat. With everything set up, DJ and I nodded to each other before getting back up on stage as I spoke into the mic.
"Okay, everyone. Tonight is a very special night as this song goes out… to the one who warms up my heart. A girl you may know as Dixie." I announced before taking a deep breath and began.
Smash Mouth – I'm A Believer
I thought love was only true in fairy tales
Meant for someone else but not for me
Love was out to get me, that's the way it seems
Disappointment haunted all my dreams
And then I saw her face. Now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried
I thought love was more or less a given thing
But the more I gave the less I got, oh yeah
What's the use in trying? All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine, I got rain
And then I saw her face. Now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried
What's the use in trying? All you get is pain
When I wanted sunshine, I got rain
And then I saw her face. Now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
I'm in love
I'm a believer, I couldn't leave her if I tried
Then I saw her face. Now I'm a believer
Not a trace, of doubt in my mind
Now I'm a believer! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!
Now I'm a believer. And then I saw her face.
Now I'm a believer!
Not a trace!
Of doubt in my mind!
And as the music died down, everyone as usual applauded and cheered, the one thing I always loved hearing whenever me and DJ finished one of our performances. We both took a bow before Dixie climbed up on stage and pulled me into an embrace.
"Cody, you were amazing~!" She praised me as I let out a flustered chuckle before we both shared another kiss, making the crowd cheer even louder.
Hunter's POV
Another day, another one of Cody's awesome performances in the park. As soon as it all died down, I sat on a park bench alone in thought. I really hoped Cody went through with delivering the letter I had written for Dizzy, said letter would explain everything to her. When they first met me, Dizzy and Dee Dee were so nice to me and were even the first ones to forgive me back when I worked for my horrible excuse of an aunt. I was starting to get anxious as more minutes past. Had Dizzy not gotten the letter or had Cody forgotten to deliver it? How else was I supposed to tell her that-
"Hey hey, there you are, Mr. Funny Face!" I was suddenly tackled from behind in a hug by none other than the Dalmatian I was waiting for. Her embrace just felt so warm it was making me blush. "I-I take it you got my letter?" I assumed as we both stood up. "Yep! Gotta admit, Hunter, never knew you had such a poetic way with words! Like this one!" She replied before pulling out the letter and reading a line from it. "My Dearest Dizzy, whenever I think of you, my organs tighten like a viper's next victim. Your radiant face is what I see on the sun on an otherwise rainy day." I blushed even more at hearing her read them out when she looked up at me, arching an eyebrow in confusion.
"Though, I have to ask. Why write something so poetic like this to me?" Damn, would've thought she'd have known just from reading it. Well, there's no going back. It's time I told her the truth.
"W-Well… You see, Dizzy..." I began, stammering a little with my heart thumping at a rabbit's pace. "You and Dee Dee were so kind to me even after everything I did to you and your family and I'll never ever forget that. But as I grew older, I think I started to feel something more than just friendship with you. And now… I think I know what it is… I'm… I-I'm..."
"...You're what?"
"I-I'm in love with you, Dizzy!"
"W-Wha...?!" Dizzy yelped in surprise with a blush of her own as I finally let it slip. I probably should've expected her to react like this but I only hoped that she wouldn't be disgusted at the idea. She trembled a little before breathing in and out to calm herself before she scratched the back of her head nervously.
"H-Hunter… Listen. I'm flattered that you like me that way, really. And I'm glad you came and told me the truth." She sighed before continuing. "I'm sorry… But I'm gonna have to say no."
"Huh?" I muttered, blinking.
"It's not that I don't like you or anything, Hunter. It's just that… Maybe if you were a little younger around my age than sure, I'd give you a chance. But I just can't. I hope you can understand." She said sympathetically.
I told myself mentally before that if she said "No", then I'd take it like an adult. But… why does it hurt so much? Is this really how it feels to be rejected or friendzoned? Without another word, I just nodded as she pulled me into a hug before walking away back to her family.
I walked the other way until I could no longer see Dizzy or any of her family. I didn't want any of them to see me cry. I sniffled as I just let the tears flow whilst staring at the ground miserably. It was like my heart had instantly turned brittle and shattered into shards. I should've just known that it was a lost cause and that Dizzy and Dee Dee both loved me, but not in that way.
I sighed under my breath as I looked up to see Dixie and Cody share one last kiss before they waved bye to each other to head off home. God, Cody's so lucky. I'm starting to doubt if I'll ever find a certain someone to love myself.
Suddenly, I heard a yelp as I quickly looked to where Dixie was in horror, seeing her silhouette suddenly be attacked by another. Said attacker looked like it had it's mouth on her face as Dixie suddenly fell limp and the attacker started to drag her away.
"C-CODY?! H-HEY! ANYONE?! THERE'S BEEN AN ABDUCTION!" I called out in panic, hoping that someone would hear me. Minutes passed and there was no response. It seemed like I was the only one left in the park.
"...Shit." I mumbled under my breath before quickly taking off in the direction of the attacker to try and stop them.