I think I'm having way too much with these characters...
Fay-And Fox!-Tell All III
The next time Krystal visited Fay, she was accompanied by Fox. He wanted to come along for tea with his old high school friend; the business with the Saurian Incident and related debriefings with Cornerian High Command took up plenty of time and he missed a few meetings with Fay because of it all. When the two vulpines arrived on Fay's doorstep and were greeted by the spaniel socialite, she pulled Fox into one of her trademark hugs. Despite Fox's growth spurt at the end of high school, Fay was still a little taller than her unofficial little bro.
"Oh, it's so lovely to see the two of you here!" said Fay, giving Fox one last squeeze before letting him go and pulling Krystal into another hug. Krystal could only manage a "mmmph" in response.
"It's nice to see you too, Fay," said Fox, smiling easily.
Fay led her guests into the living room and prepared tea while Fox and Krystal made themselves comfortable. Then Fay brought the tea and tea ware out a few minutes later. Fox took a sip and leaned back into his chair with a sigh, and Krystal did the same.
"Good to know you two still like my tea," said Fay.
"I missed it," said Fox. "Been so busy these last few weeks that just getting some normalcy with an old friend is like heaven." He chuckled. "If I didn't show up your mother would've sought me out eventually."
"Fay told me she's quite attached to you," said Krystal.
"She is," said Fox. "Apparently you're regaling Krystal with some high school stories, Fay."
"I am," said Fay. "Krystal's darling company, and quite curious."
"Plus those stories are so cute," said Krystal.
"And a little embarrassing," said Fox with a bashful smile. "I don't regret them though. I had fun being the unofficial cheer mascot of Corneria High."
"What story are you going to tell today, Fay?" said Krystal.
"Hmm," Fay hummed. She glanced at Fox and an idea came to her.
"I don't like that look," said Fox flatly.
"Why not the shower incident, Foxy?" said Fay with a smile. "That's a fun one."
Fox leaned back in his chair, took a deep breath, and stood up and left the room.
"Oh, don't be dramatic!" said Fay, giggling after she spoke. "Come back, Foxy! It's a fun story, and I'm sure Krystal will enjoy it."
Fox did come back and looked resigned to a terrible fate. "It is a fun story," he admitted. "But at the time, I was just happy to get out of it unscathed. A mortifying experience overall, really."
"Nothing bad came of it," said Fay while patting Fox on the arm.
"You weren't the person in my position," said Fox.
"Hearing you talk about this is just making me more curious," said Krystal.
With both girls giving Fox an expectant look, he sighed and held up his hands.
"Fine," he said. "But you gotta promise not to tell anyone this story without my permission, Krystal. The only folks who know about this are me, Fay, Sheila and Marie. It's nothing super serious, but when I finish telling the story, you'll understand. Is that clear?"
"Yes," said Krystal. "I promise."
"Ah, so you'll tell it," said Fay.
"Yeah, it will be funnier that way," said Fox with a shrug and smile, his way of telling them he'd try to have some fun with it. "Anyway, this happened during the third week of classes in high school, in my freshman year. See, I liked to work out in the weight room after school, and I just finished my sets for the day..."
Back then...
Fox was all about routine. When he couldn't follow through with routine it bugged him to no end. It wasn't the end of the world, but it got under his fur in a consistent and annoying way. Right now he was feeling that sort of annoyance, walking out of the boy's locker room at Corneria High, because his after-workout shower was being denied him.
"Of course the boy's showers are broke on the day I reached a new personal best in reps," said Fox, frowning. "Guess I'll just shower at home. Man, dad's going to tease me about stinking up the car..."
"Fox?" said a voice to his left. It was Fay, looking sweaty from her own workout, just about to walk into the girl's locker room.
"Hiya, Fay," said Fox, giving Fay a little wave and a smile.
"Hiya to you too," said Fay, smiling back. "Just finished your workout?"
"Nah, I've been finished," said Fox. "I look crumby because the boy's showers are broken. I gotta shower at home."
"That sucks," said Fay. "The shower after the workout is the best part!"
"Tell me about it," said Fox. "You're making me miss it more."
"Sorry," said Fay, giggling in return. Then she looked inside the girl's locker room in thought.
"What's up?" said Fox.
"Say, Fox," said Fay, giving him a friendly smile. "Since it's just gonna be me in there as all the gir'ls sports teams are either gone for the day or aren't practicing, wanna take a quick shower in the girl's locker room?"
"Huh?" said Fox, almost falling over.
"It'll be fine," said Fay. "You've already been in here before, and more importantly I trust you. Besides, you'll thank me later for giving you a chance to shower."
"You sure?" said Fox, blushing a bit. "Are you sure no other girls will come inside?"
"Fox, it's a Friday. There's no games this weekend, so all the teams are gone for the day," said Fay, patting him on the head. "You're safe. And if anything does happen I'll vouch for ya. You are my unofficial little bro after all. Leave it all to big sister."
"Well, if you put it that way," said Fox. He looked at the door to the girl's locker room cautiously. It would be an awkward fix, but he did trust Fay. She was nothing but helpful for getting him acclimated to high school and being a sunny presence in his life. "Alright. I'll be quick. I really want that shower."
Present day...
Fox took a sip of his tea and sat back in his chair. He was quiet for a moment.
"That," he said, "was a fateful decision."
"Oh hush," said Fay, swatting at his ears. "Continue the story."
Back then...
Fay led Fox inside. Sure enough it was only the two of them in there. Despite this it still felt weird for him to be in here. Even though he'd broken that barrier—entirely by accident when hiding from some bullies after a fight—when he met Fay and had the trust of her and her friends, it still felt strange being in the room. Like many boys Fox regarded the girl's locker room as a mystical and forbidden place, to be talked about in hushed whispers.
"There's soap dispensers on the walls, presumably just like the boy's showers," said Fay. "Though our shampoo and soap is actually scented! Lavender and vanilla. Seems like you'll have to smell like a vixen in order to feel refreshed, Foxy-Woxy," said Fay. She gave him a cheeky grin.
Fox gave her a flat look.
"...do you have to be so perceptive?" said the tall spaniel, crossing her arms and pouting. "You can always see right through me. They're scented just like all the other dispensers at this school, boringly enough."
"Boys are good at picking up when girls are messing with them. Part of our brains," said Fox. "Also, turn around."
"That first part is lie," said Fay, rolling her eyes. "And for that second part, sure thing."
Fox undressed, grabbed a towel, and slipped into the shower room. The stalls at Corneria High were large and communal, and Fox chose a shower-head in a far corner, away from the entrance just to be careful. He turned on the water. As soon as the water hit his fur he sighed in relief; this had been a good decision. Gosh, the shower after a workout always felt heavenly.
He heard a giggle. "Feels good?" said Fay.
"You have no idea," said Fox. He started to lather up. So far so good, he thought. This might actually go off without a hitch-
The door to the locker room opened, and Fox heard pawsteps. He froze.
"Uh," said Fay, sounding nervous. "Hello?"
"Fay!" said a giddy voice. "There you are!"
Fox about melted in relief. He'd recognize that happy, I'm-always-on-a-sugar-rush voice anywhere. It was Sheila. Then his brain caught up with him, considering his situation. Oh wait. It's Sheila.
"Sheila," said Fay. "What are you doing at school this late?"
"I joined a new club today!" said the husky. "I wanted it to be a surprise."
"Oh, of course," said Fay, sighing in relief. "Of course you did, Sheila."
"Who else is in here?" Sheila asked. "Usually it is just you around this time on a Friday."
"Oh, it's just Fox," said Fay.
She says that so easily, thought Fox.
"Foxy-Woxy is in here!?" said Sheila. "Where!? I didn't give him his hug today!"
"Wait, Sheila!" said Fay. "Wait. Let me finish. He's using the shower in here."
"And?" said Sheila.
And!? thought Fox.
"He needs privacy," said Fay. "The showers in the boy's locker room are broken, and I offered to let him use the showers in here. We need to be careful though, because other girls—if anymore come in—might not be so understanding."
"Oh!" said Sheila. "Sorry to scare you then, Fox! It's good to see you though. I'll give you your hug when you get out, now that I have you cornered anyway."
"It's good to hear from you too, Sheila," he said. "You almost gave me a heart attack."
"Same," said Fay.
Fox finished lathering up as Fay and Sheila talked about their day. Well, there was one hiccup with the plan, but at least it hadn't gone totally off the rails-
The door opened.
I'm sorry! thought Fox, standing still in fear. I didn't mean to tempt fate a second time-
"Oh, hi Marie!" said Sheila. "I was wondering where you went."
"Oh, thank goodness," Fox whispered. It was just Marie, the third part of Fox's circle of cheer friends and unofficial big sisters. The snow leopard girl was an easygoing sort, and would understand everything.
"Hiya," said Marie. "Sorry we got separated, Sheila. I had to hit the restroom."
"Marie, I thought you would be home by now too." said Fay.
"Sheila wanted me to tag along to her new club meeting," said Marie. "And you know she can't be refused if she's enthusiastic."
"That is the truth," said Fay. "Say, Marie, just so you know-"
"Fox is here!" said Sheila. "He's in one of the showers. Fay let him in because the boy's showers are broken."
"Ah," said Marie, chuckling. "That's too cute. And convenient. I've been meaning to say high to him today. I need to get my hug in too."
"There's a quota now?" said Fox.
"And hello to you too Fox!" said Marie. "And of course there would be. You're the mascot."
Fox sputtered at that, and the girls had a good-natured giggle at his expense. Fox wondered at his luck at having met such an excitable group of girls, and calling them all friends. He enjoyed the rest of his shower as the three girls talked amongst themselves. He started to relax again. He was finished with his shower in short order, and the only thing left to do was dry off-
The door opened.
I didn't even think anything, thought Fox. What-
All thinking stopped when he heard the sounds of many girls coming into the locker room, all talking and laughing. Fox froze, and his eye started to twitch.
"Oh!" said a girl's voice. "I didn't think there would be other people in here this late."
"I didn't expect you all either," said Fay. The uncertainty and fear in her voice did more to freak Fox out than the all the new girls in the room.
"Yup!" said a new feminine voice. "We had an impromptu practice today. Time to shower off and all that. Mind if we use that stall you're standing by?"
Fox looked around for an escape, even as his brain told him there were no windows in a shower stall.
"You can't!" Sheila blurted out.
"Huh? Why?" said one of the girls.
"Because," said Marie. "A friend of ours is already using it by herself. She's a bit shy, so she isn't used to showering with strangers yet."
"That makes sense," said an understanding girl's voice. "I remember feeling like that when I started high school."
Oh, thank goodness, thought Fox.
"Wait," said another voice. "Why don't you go in there with her? Wouldn't she be more comfortable with friends in there? I think she would appreciate the reassuring company. " There was just enough suspicion in that voice that Fox's blood turned to ice.
"That's a great idea, actually," said Fay warmly. Fox heard the sound of someone undressing. "C'mon girls, let's give our friend a hand."
Wait, what-
"Yeah!" said Sheila.
"Sure," said Marie.
"Well, in that case, we'll just use the other large stall," said one of the other girls. "You guys are such good friends! See ya!"
Fox heard the crowd of girls migrate a little further away. A heavy silence followed, and Fox confirmed for himself with a pinch on the cheek that yes, this was actually happening right now.
"Fox?" Fay whispered.
"...yes?" said Fox.
"We're...just pick a shower-head and turn the water on and...stare at the wall, I suppose? We'll walk in when you're ready. I know you won't peek and neither will we. And...I'm sorry about this."
Fox blushed red hot at the plan; he was a red-blooded young boy and the plan set his mind a-racing, but there was nothing to do but take a deep breath. There really was no alternative, was there?
"Uh...alright," he said, and took of his towel and walked to his former shower head. "Alright, come in."
As fox heard three sets of pawsteps enter the stall with him, he was committed to seeing the shower tiles in front of him as the most interesting shower tiles in the universe. Nothing could possibly be more interesting than them. But even as he thought this, his mind couldn't help but wonder. The only thing separating him from his attractive gal pals was thin air. It was hard not to focus on that, and Fox had to take many deep breaths and close his eyes to hold it together. All the while he heard the other group of girls in the other stall washing and talking. He kept waiting for the sounds of them leaving the locker room. Minutes passed that felt like eternities. Sheila started to whistle which helped him think about anything other than the girls.
Several minutes later Fox started to hear what he waited for; the sounds of the girls finishing up their business and leaving the locker room was music to his ears. The sounds of the last girl drifting out the room filled the stall, and then the door closed. Fox had no idea how much time passed.
"Alright," said Fay. "Sounds like the coast is clear. I'll go check." Fox heard her leave, and within a minute she sounded out the all clear. Marie and Sheila left, and Fox heard the sounds of the girls putting their clothes back on.
"Alright, Fox, come on out," said Fay. "We'll turn around so you can get dressed."
In quick succession, Fox dried off, changed into his clothes, and left the locker room with the three girls. The coast was clear in the hallway, and when he was home free Fox about collapsed against the wall. He couldn't believe he got out of that without getting in trouble.
And now, he thought, to never speak of this ever again-
His thoughts were interrupted by two arms wrapping around him and hugging him tightly to something soft. Fox looked up and saw Fay giving him an apologetic look.
"I'm so sorry, Fox," said the spaniel. "I almost got you in serious trouble! You could've been expelled or worse! I should've thought things through." She gave him a gentle squeeze. "Do you forgive me?"
Fox gave her a reassuring smile. "It's fine, Fay. All's well that ends well."
Fay gave him a megawatt smile and squeezed him again. "Thank you, Fox," she said.
"Group hug!" said Sheila. And with a giggle, Sheila and Marie joined the hug and Fox found himself-softly-boxed in. He blushed and sputtered, which only made the girls giggle more.
High school sure was something.
Present day...
"Aww," said Krystal, her tail wagging. "All's well that ends well indeed. Goodness, you all were so cute."
"Shucks," said Fox, blushing. "It in the end it did turn out alright, but it was something."
"It didn't hurt to tell it, now didn't it?" said Fay. "I keep telling you Fox, it is a cute story."
"I'm still putting an oath of silence on you about this, Krystal," said Fox. "Keep this between us."
"My lips are sealed," said Krystal. "If it means I get to hear more stories, I'll keep however many secrets I need."
