Chapter 3: First Day of School Part 1
Judy pushed the thought of her encounter with the fox to the back of her mind.
I'll deal with him later, or maybe I can just avoid him for as long as I am in this school. Yup, the second option is the easiest choice.
In the meantime, Judy started getting ready at her own pace. There was no need to rush now that she had no distractions in the way. Sometime later she found herself facing the full-length mirror by the door; making sure to double-check her appearance. Judy wore a white form-fitting t-shirt with a V-neck and a pair of black jeans. She also added her carrot necklace and a matching carrot bracelet as finishing touches. She then checked her bookbag once more and was satisfied to find everything she needed was there. She grabbed her bookbag and her phone and was out the door.
Just when she had made it up the stairs and was heading towards the entrance doors of the university, she heard a familiar voice call to her.
"Judy, I somehow knew you'd be here this early."
"Hi, Ben! How'd you know?" Judy was surprised to know Ben was able to predict how early she'd be here.
Clawhauser ran as fast as he could up the stairs before answering.
"You told me yesterday at orientation how you couldn't wait to get started. If the half skipping half bouncing you were doing on your way out of orientation wasn't a tell, I don't know what is," said a very enthusiastic cheetah.
Judy then jumped up to give Clawhauser her biggest bunny hug (which wasn't very big since her paws didn't even reach halfway around the chubby cheetah's neck). Ben reciprocated her hug by gently hugging her.
After he put Judy back on the ground they proceeded to head into the school.
"Since the class doesn't start for another hour care to tell me what you've been up to this morning? "Asked Clawhauser while wiggling one of his eyebrows up and down.
The question caused her to stumble slightly. Did he see what happened this morning? No, he couldn't have because only small mammals lived on the floor she did. This means Clawhauser must live on one of the floors below according to his size. Did someone else see her naked and started telling everyone around school?
Celery sticks! It can't be, I would have heard if anyone else was in the hallway…
"Are you ok Judy?"
"Of course, I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be, ok?" Judy replied a little too fast for her liking.
"Maybe because your nose seems to be twitching a mile a minute, and your ears seem to have taken on a very noticeable crimson color. Which I've got to say is cut- adorable"
"Sweet raspberry jam!" Judy hurriedly laid her ears behind her head.
Judy scrambled to find another topic to talk about before she gave herself away.
"So, Ben, what classes do you have scheduled for today?
Clawhauser noticed the way she tried to change the topic of discussion but decided not to push it.
"Today I have Fundamentals of University Success first and Psychology of Learning after."
Judy's ears perked up at the mention of his schedule
"Where is your first class going to be held?"
"Let me pull out my class schedule, give me a minute"
They stopped on the right side of the hallway where light beige lockers lined the wall. Rows of clear class displays lined the opposite side of the hall. They were filled with trophies, medals and other sports team goodies deemed important enough to be displayed. According to the orientation map of the school, they were close to what the school calls "four corners". The "four corners" was where all four hallways of the floor intersect.
Clawhauser slid the navy blue bookbag off his shoulders and started unzipping it. It took him a while to dig through his bookbag and find the paper with his schedule in it. He then handed it to Judy and put his bookbag back on as he waited for the bunny to scan through it.
"This is wonderful! We have two classes together!" Cried out a very thrilled grey bunny.
"OMGoodness! Which ones?!"
"We have fundamentals of University Success together and Introduction to Criminology!"
"We are so going to sit together for those classes! It's a shame that we don't have every class together." The cheetah's face morphed into a gloomy one.
"It's ok Ben, maybe when you see the other girls, we met yesterday they might have some of the same classes with you. Remember most of them are going to get the same degree we are." Judy gave Clawhauser her best smile yet to try and cheer him up.
"You're right, come on let's go find our classes," Said a now cheered-up Cheetah
After about 40 minutes they located both their classes for the day before heading back to the first floor. It was currently 6:58 am.
Once they made their way downstairs, they had to consult the school map to figure out where the cafeteria was located. Since they still haven't had breakfast.
"Looks like it's in hall number three" Judy gestured for Ben to follow her into the chosen hall.
Once within eyesight, it was hard to not notice the cafeteria. The entrance to the cafeteria was made of see-through glass. There were also three different entrances one for tall mammals, medium-sized mammals, and small mammals. You could also see the rows of white tables that lined the cafeteria. It seemed that the tables had attached benches to them. There seemed to be three different sizes as well big, medium, and small. There was also at least one small seat booster on each bench for mammals who chose to sit at the medium-sized table. On the opposite side of the entrance, the cafeteria seemed to be lined with buffet-style tables that now housed a large variety of vegetable and fruit assortment. There seemed to be condiments lined at both ends of the "salad bar". On the left side of the "salad bar" Judy noticed steam coming from what seemed to be 3 entrances. On top of these open-door style frames was a label "hot food".
Both Judy and Ben made their way inside the cafeteria and towards the food. Judy went directly to the salad bar while Ben went to the "hot food" area. Once they both got their food, they sat down together at one of the cafeteria tables. Judy had made herself a salad (obviously hahaha) and Ben had gotten freshly baked donuts on his plate. For drinks, Judy had gotten a water bottle from one of the vending machines in the corner of the cafeteria while Ben had gotten a caramel iced coffee.
The moment our favorite cheetah bunny duo sat down; a familiar fox duo walks through the cafeteria entrance.
"So, Nick how was your first mornin' in the dorm?" Asked a very grumpy and deep voice that confused just about everyone when they see it comes from a very small fennec fox.
"Oh, I came prepared if that's what you're asking. I brought my pitch-black curtains from home. You know how much I hate the sun shining on my face when I wake up." Answered a very amused-looking Nick.
"Go to hell, you could have at least warned me." Answered an even more grumpy-looking fennec fox.
"How would I have warned you?"
"We packed together stupid a**! Now I understan' why you was been' smug-looking the whole ride here" Finnick stared Nick down as they stopped at the entrance of the cafeteria.
"Look if it makes you feel better, I'll let you borrow mine until I can go to the store and get another. Sound good?"
"You owe me for this" He pointed a warning finger at Nick before speaking again, "I'll get you back for that, just you wait"
They both made their way to the hot foods area of the cafeteria. On their way, they passed both Ben and Judy.
Ben was in the middle of munching on his last donut when he picked up a familiar scent. Only to turn around and see the fox from yesterday. He was wearing black jeans and camo style t-shirt with no sleeves and a black book bag hung on one of his shoulders. He also saw a small fennec fox dressed in tan cargo shorts and a red shirt with 2 vertical white lines going up the back and probably the front of his shirt and had a white little bookbag also hung from one of his shoulders.
Ben's eyes immediately darted between both foxes and Judy.
OMG! OMG! OMG!
Meanwhile, Judy continued to eat oblivious to what was going on in Clawhauser's mind.
Both foxes soon exited the hot food area and made their way to the small mammal's table in the opposite direction from both the cheetah and the bunny.
Unknown to Nick, as they passed the cheetah and the bunny Finnick picked up a familiar scent too. He then grinned widely almost devilishly before checking to see if Nick noticed his complete mood change.
Oh, this is too good!
Judy finished eating her salad and looked up to find Ben's eyes wide as saucers staring back at her.
"Uhh, did I miss something?" Asked a very confused bunny
As Judy waited for the chubby cheetah to respond she uncapped her bottled water and started gulping down the remaining of her water when Ben answered.
"OMG, you didn't tell me you and Nick Wilde were a thing!"
That seemed to make the water go down the wrong pipe because Judy immediately spit out the water and started to cough out whatever remaining water was still in her throat. Ben reached over and patted Judy's back gently until she was able to clear her throat enough to answer.
"Whom berry picking told you that?" Asked a horrified Judy
"I don't blame him for being with you! Even the way you curse is adorable." Ben said while holding both his paws together and pressing them adoringly on his cheek.
While that's going on Finnick waited patiently for Nick to finish munching his blueberry muffin before asking him. Once Nick was done and picked up a napkin to wipe his muzzle he asked.
"So, you weren't completely truthful, were you? When you told me nothing much was up this mornin' huh."
Nick flinched slightly. If it wasn't for his years of hustling and masking his emotions with indifference, he would have slipped up and given himself away.
There is no way in hell he knows what happened this morning.
Nick made sure his mask was firmly in place and his signature look didn't falter in the slightest.
"What do you mean Fin?" Asked a curious Nick.
"Oh, don't act so innocent," Finnick waited for Nick to drink his hot cup of coffee before continuing. "You had bunny all in your face didn't ya," said a very smug-looking fennec fox.
Nick's eyes widened in horror at the accuracy of Finnick's statement. His body decided at that moment that it no longer wanted coffee by making him spit coffee out of his muzzle with enough force that it even came out of his nostrils. The burn from having hot coffee come out of his nose made Nick go into a sneezing fit.
Got em'
Once Nick got his sneezing fit under control, he turned to see the smug look on Finnick's face.
How tf did he know that? Did he see us? He couldn't have been there otherwise I would have smelled him coming. Unless…. did someone see us and tell him?
"Wh-what are you talking about? D-do you know how stupid you sound right now?" Nick attempted to put on a bewildered expression on his face.
"Stupid enough to make you spit that coffee out and start sneezing like a mammal that has been having a cold for the past three days? Yeah, I do" Finnick grinned at Nick further.
"Ben! Listen to me, who told you that?!" Judy exclaimed in an urgent matter
"It's ok Judy. I fully support you don't worry" Clawhauser stated with a dreamy expression on his face. While still holding his paws pressed against his cheek.
"NO Ben! Listen to me, we can't have anyone around here saying things like that!"
"NO, you listen to me, Judy! I fully support your interspecies relationship with Nick, and I will not let anyone talk smack about you guys"
"UGHHHH!" Groaned Judy in frustration. She then pushed her tray that contained her empty bowl of salad to the side before dropping her head on the table. Her ears flopped on it in an adorable way that made Clawhauser "Awwww".
"Fin' I'm sorry but you done lost your mind. You know this isn't funny" Nick was still trying to play it off acting like he had no idea what he was talking about.
"HAHAHAHA" Finnick was holding his stomach with both paws in an attempt to help ease the pain from all the laughing he was doing. He couldn't help it after he told Nick about his reaction to "bunny all in his face" the widening of his eyes and spitting his coffee out said it all. Not to mention the "deer in the headlights" look he gave after he realized he got caught in his lie.
"Come on buddy, stop laughing and talk to me," Nick said in an attempt to stop his laughing fit.
"OH, THIS IS RICH, HAHAHAHA" Finick then got off his seat and started rolling on the floor laughing. Some mammals that were seated within "hearing range" turned and looked at both foxes in confusion before nodding their heads and turning back around.
Nick rolled his eyes and clasped his paws on his face in frustration.
Judy was so frustrated that she couldn't get information out of Ben because he wasn't listening to her anymore. At the moment he was talking about... Nick and her on a boat?
"OMG, I ship Nick and Judy. It has a ring to it! Don't you think so? I think so"
Right, that's what he was calling them now. She had to get him under control, or everyone will think that a fox and a bunny are together in an interspecies relationship. Which isn't that common.
Judy checked the time on her icarrot, 7:16 am.
Sweet cheese and crackers!
"Ben! We must go, or we will be late" Stated a very worried bunny
Ben checked his phone for the time and gasped.
"Right behind you let's go throw these trays out"
They both made a beeline for the recycling and trash bins and only threw out what was in the tray, not the tray itself. (The tray is washable and must be placed on the counter above the trash cans)
As Ben speed walked and Judy ran up the stairs Judy had to ask for one more thing from him.
"Ben, promise me you won't tell anyone"
"Don't worry Judy I promise" He made a gesture of zipping up his muzzle and throwing the key away.
Judy rolled her eyes, she had to talk to him about this whole situation after class.
(Let's go back in time when Clawhauser and Judy rushed out of the cafeteria and were throwing away their garbage)
Finnick finally calmed down enough and started wiping the tears from his eyes as he got off the floor.
"That's the best laugh I've had in a while," he said in a rougher voice than usual. (All that laughing had hurt his throat a little)
"Yeah, at my expense" Stated a very annoyed-looking Nick.
The red fox stared a hole through the fennec fox as he spoke the next line.
"Fin, for the last time who told you that?" Nick asked still very much irritated.
"Hey, shut your muzzle, and let's get going. Ain't you seen the time man? You gonna make us late." Finnick stated as he made his way towards the trash bins with his tray.
"Ughh," Nick gave up trying and decided to forget about it for now as he followed Finnick to the trash bins.
That was when Ben and Judy had made their way out of the cafeteria in a rush. And that was also when it hit him.
SHIT, that's why he said that! Son of a b****
Nick quickly turned to Finnick
"Look I just remembered, I have something to do before class. I'll meet you there" Nick didn't even wait for a response as he scrambled out of the cafeteria.
Sure "something to do" why doesn't he just say someone to do. He's already head to toe in love with that bunny girl.
Finnick just rolled his eyes and started making his way toward his class.
Both Ben and Judy made it to the third floor.
"Phew! I need the key to the elevator, there is no way I'm going to be able to make it up here all the time" Clawhauser wiped away visible sweat from his forehead as they continued down the hall.
"Don't worry Ben, you'll get used to it" Judy was enthusiastic now that they were almost towards their first class of the day.
"Easy for you to say, you were practically jumping in place up the stairs waiting for me."
Just as they started walking down the hall towards what the school calls "four corners" a familiar fox appeared from behind Judy. He reached for Judy's arm startling her in the process.
Judy turned quickly and slapped the offending mammal across the muzzle.
"Opfh!" was the only audible thing out of Nick's muzzle before falling on his tail.
Nick had not expected that reaction at all, especially from a bunny doe of all mammals. Not to mention the amount of strength that carried through her slap. If it wasn't because he experienced, it first-hand he would have never guessed that she even possessed such strength. After all, if he went by appearances alone, she looks pretty harmless.
"Oh my gosh, I'm sorry! Replied Judy before getting a good look at who was on the floor.
"You know what? I'm not sorry, you had that coming" Stated a rather proud Judy, a smile forming on her muzzle.
Ben had turned around the moment he heard the "Opft" coming from a mammal who had just been slapped. He gasped after Judy said that.
"Judy, whatever problems you have as a couple can always be solved without violence!" Clawhauser either didn't see Nick's shocked expression or dismissed it as shock from earlier.
"Here let me help you" Clawhauser then reached over and picked Nick off the floor and placed him gently on his hind paws.
"There you go, Judy stay outside the classroom and don't come in until you solve your issues. I'll wait for you in class" The cheetah then made his way towards class leaving a dumbfounded fox and bunny.
After seeing the chubby cheetah walk into class Nick quickly shakes off his shocked state. He quickly turns to face Judy and notices she has a hint of pink in her cheeks and ears. Of course, she is embarrassed. She probably has no idea why the cheetah called them a couple. He has a good nose, all predators do. Prey not so much.
"Judy, we need to talk, preferably in a place not crowded with mammals," he said looking around and noticing the weird stares they were getting from all kinds of predators. He could also hear a couple of wolves whisper things like "Eww, fox and a bunny? Never seen that before" and "Get a room".
Judy must've heard them too because her ears and cheeks seem to get redder by the second.
"What's going on? Why do we need to talk privately? Can't you see we have class in a couple of minutes? Can't this wait?" Judy started way too fast.
"No this can't wait. Now come on" He grabbed Judy by the paw and walked towards the four corners in the middle of the floor plan. He made a sharp right turn and walked towards a janitor's closet. He checked both sides of the hall making sure that no one was looking before quickly picking the lock and opening it. He then pushed Judy in first and quickly rushed in while closing the door behind him.
Inside the janitor's closet was pitch dark and seemed to be barely enough room for both. Nick having night vision quickly spotted the light switch which was a hanging string attached to the bulb on the ceiling. He huffed because it was double his height. He looked around for a place to climb on. He noticed a couple of cardboard boxes that were filled with cleaning supplies but probably too heavy to move (since they seemed to be made to hold medium-sized mammal supplies) so he could utilize them.
"Ok carrots. I have an idea. But you must trust me on this one."
Judy who was still facing away from him and extending her arms around trying to feel her way inside a pitch-black area was having trouble locating anything. She knew Nick was pressed up against her backpack, but that was it.
"Nick where is the light switch?"
"I'm getting there carrot cake; now why don't you hop onto my shoulders and reach the string that's connected to the bulb on the ceiling?"
"I would refrain from calling me carrot cake."
"I make no promises, now hurry up" Nick then took Judy's bookbag off and placed it next to his that he placed on the floor next to the door.
Judy quickly turned around and put her hands out to feel her way through. Her hands immediately landed on Nick's abdomen; she could feel his 6-pack coming in. She blushed slightly at the thought of touching another male while being so close to one. In a small, confined space no less, said place being pitch black.
Ok, Judy focus. What were you doing again?...
"Now, now I know I'm devilishly handsome, but we have something very important to discuss and a time frame." Nick knew she couldn't see him which he was grateful for. No matter how confident he sounded he didn't feel that way anymore. It's hard to forget how smooth her fur looks and feels.
Damnit, Nick, she's a bunny. Snap out of it.
Right, she was supposed to be climbing to be able to reach the light switch. Judy started to search for his shoulders. Again, she couldn't help but feel how muscular he was under his fur. She was tempted to know what his muscles felt like earlier when he saw him without his shirt. Well, now she knows.
"Ok, help me up, Nick." Judy hoped her voice sounded as confident as it did in her mind.
"Don't worry Carrots, I don't bite remember?" Nick stated with a chuckle.
He then reached over and grabbed her by her hips. He could feel how she shivered at his touch.
"May I? I don't want to get slapped a second time this morning, hee-hee" He laughed awkwardly. He didn't know if she shivered because she feared him or because she hadn't expected his paws in that area.
"Y-you m-may" Judy answered in an unsteady voice.
Judy cursed herself internally, great now he must think I'm a freak. But she couldn't help it a fox touching her in a pitch-black room. Her bunny instincts were telling her to run, but she knew she wouldn't run there was something that comforted her about him. Maybe it had to do with how he showed he cared about her this morning. He could have easily left her there and it wouldn't have been his problem since they hardly know each other. Yet he didn't. Therefore, she knew running from him would be stupid. He wouldn't do anything to her when he easily could have done something to her this morning if that was his intention.
Nick hesitated for only a second, he turned her around, so she was facing away again and then lifted her. He ended up placing her in a sitting position on his shoulders.
"Can you reach it?" Nick asked Judy.
Judy started to squirm slightly trying to find the string to no avail.
"No, I may need to stand to reach it, but I can't see. How am I supposed to keep my balance while trying to stand?" Judy said in an uncertain tone.
"Don't worry, I won't let you get hurt. I'm a fox, foxes have night vision. If you fall, I'll catch you. You can do it" Nick reassured her.
"O-ok then," Judy couldn't believe how much trust she was putting in a fox who has let her down many times in the past.
She shakingly started to get up on his shoulders. First getting on her knees while holding onto his head for support. Much to Nick's discomfort. Until she slowly got on her hind paws. She was shaking more than she was earlier. But she wasn't going to back down now. She slowly searched around for a string until she barely got a hold of it. It was more in front of her than she initially thought.
"Nick, can you take a step forward? I can hardly reach it"
"No can-do Carrots, there are too many boxes in here."
"Fine, but if I fall, you'll catch me?"
"Yes carrots, cross my heart" Nick replied sincerely
"Ok" Judy took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
Judy then reached for it once more, and the string slipped from her grasp once more. She got on her tippy toes and felt Nick take hold of her thighs. She shivered once more.
Damn bunny hormones, focus Judy.
She reached for it once more and finally caught it, she pulled on it as quickly as she could, she could feel herself losing balance. The light came on before she lost complete balance. True to Nick's word he quickly jumped in her direction. He took hold of her torso and turned rapidly so his body hit the multiple boxes that were indeed in the way. He curled around her, and his tail seemed to wrap around her as well.
Then an audible crashing sound echoed within the walls of the janitor closet. And the boxes seemed to budge at the sudden impact. This sent multiple supplies crashing to the floor around them.
Nick hurriedly placed Judy on the floor and as close to the boxes as possible. He then covered her from incoming supplies by tucking her ears gently under her head and positioning his body on top of her and keeping his upper body up by placing his forearm on each side of her body. He then looked up to face Judy and noticed her twitching nose and widened eyes. He couldn't help but notice how uniquely colored her eyes are and how much it complements her.
"Whatever you're thinking stop thinking it," he said and winked at her
He then placed his head in between her ears and closed his eyes shut and waited for the inevitable.
Judy was glad he hadn't noticed how warm her ears have gotten. She didn't want to give him any more ammunition for him to tease her. But the sudden closeness of the two and in such a position had caused her body to suddenly flood in a warmth that started in the pit of her stomach. And when he rested his muzzle on the top of her head, she seemed all too aware of how him breathing so close to her fur only intensified that warmth. He had leaned himself further down on her body enough so that every breath of air she took was filled with his very distinct musk smell that was solely his. She found herself getting lost in his scent that seemed to comfort her. The hint of violets that his fur seemed to carry reminded her of the violets her mother used to place around every room of the burrow. Bonnie loved violets so much that she made it her job to make sure that the burrow always had fresh violets on every counter, on top of every one of her kids' dressers, and in every bathroom. She hadn't realized how much she has missed the smell of violets that she found closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around Nick and nuzzling her face on his shirt.
This of course surprised Nick.
Why was she hugging him? And why would she nuzzle her face on my shirt? Is this a bunny thing?
Everyone stereotypes bunnies as emotional and very touchy with mammals. Bunnies tend to like a lot of physical contacts like hugging, petting, and anything else they can get away with. So, Nick just dismissed it as it had something to do with that. Foxes on the other hand are very independent mammals. They like their space and don't appreciate unnecessary physical contact unless it's family or one's mate. But he couldn't help but feel… warmth?
Once no more crashing sounds echoed in the small room Judy opened her eyes and looked around to see one disinfectant spray burst open and multiple huge rolls of "Bouncy" scattered on the floor. As well as plastic squeegees, dusters, medium-sized mops, and brooms. As well as some vacuum extensions and some cables. (Bouncy being the name of paper towels that I renamed lol)
Nick grunted in pain as he stood up.
This caused Judy to realize what she was doing and quickly let go of Nick and flush in embarrassment.
"This is going to hurt tomorrow morning" He chose to ignore how flustered she seemed. He grabbed Judy's arm and helped her up.
"Y-you didn't have to..." Judy stated in a hesitant tone. While fidgeting with her paws as she avoided eye contact with the todd.
"Hey now, someone must show you not all foxes are untrustworthy. Only on occasion." Nick said smugly as he tried not to comment on how cute she looked when she fidgeted with her paws like that.
"Well, I'm sorry. For this and for slapping you earlier" Judy said as she looked down at the floor ashamed.
"Aww, you bunnies so emotional, it's cu- adorable" Nick corrected himself just as Judy had turned and stared daggers at him.
"Now that we're talking why don't we discuss why I brought you over here in the first place," Nick stated as he walked over and leaned on the door putting some distance between him and Judy.
Judy only nodded in response.
"Why did the cheetah believe we are a couple?"
"I-I don't know..." Judy replied sounding uncertain.
I sure hope he doesn't think I told Clawhauser that...
"Let me tell you why you have my scent on you" Nick waited patiently for Judy to process this information.
At first, he could see her face morph into one of confusion.
Why in the world would I smell like him? Is he out of his mind...?
It made no sense, so she ran this morning's encounter with Nick in her mind. Ok, the shower, bumping into him in the hallway after my shower, the paw shake... She blushed slightly at the thought of the towel incident. And coughed to give herself an excuse to cover her muzzle in hopes Nick doesn't see her blush once again creeping in. But Nick only seemed to smile smugly at her and wink one more time, this slightly irritated her. Now let's see…Nick comforted me before walking me back to my dorm. How could I have possibly picked up his scent if all I did was shake his paw, unless….
Wait a minute, now that I think about it, the towel I had felt a lot heavier than I remembered it being. And covered me almost completely. How odd, unless… CELERY STICKS! That was NOT my towel! It must have left his scent on my fur!
Judy's eyes widened in both horror and realization.
"There it is, took you long enough" Nick stated smugly
"No, no, no, no" Judy started repeating over and over until it was practically inaudible to both.
"Relax Carrots, I assure you I smell as good as I look. You should know that after what you did there." Signature half-lidded eyes and grin in place. He was currently pointing slightly behind Judy which was where they both had been previously and where Judy had nuzzled him.
Judy turned her gaze at him and stared daggers at him "I-I can't smell like you! Omg I have been walking around smelling like you," Exclaimed a horrified Judy
"First off, Ouch, right where it hurts," Nick said as he made a show of acting as if someone just stabbed him right through the heart; not to mention in a very dramatic manner.
"What must mammals be thinking, a fox of all things, I can't believe this!" Judy chose to ignore Nick as she started pacing around the confined space.
Nick then made a show of twisting the imaginary knife where his heart is, "You wound me Carrots"
"Shut up Nick!" Judy shouted as frustration with the fox reached unimaginable levels.
"I'll do no such thing" Stated an unphased Nick
Judy quickly turned to face him, and Nick could tell she was done with his shit. He had to act quickly before he had his ass kicked by a bunny.
"W-what I meant to say was you're overreacting" Crap. The worst thing you could ever say to an already angry female.
What is wrong with me? Usually, my silver tongue always helps me out of these types of situations.
Judy has had enough of him. She proceeded to jump and landed her hind paws on Nick's chest. Meanwhile, her paws gripped the top of his shirt as she pulled him towards her face. Nick was only inches away from touching noses with her.
"You are the most infuriating mammal I have ever met. I don't want to hear another word from you unless it'll be the solution to this problem. Got it!" Judy said while stringing Nick down in the most intimidating gaze Nick has ever seen on a bunny.
Nick's ears pressed down onto his skull, and he nodded vigorously.
"Good" Judy let him go and jumped off him.
"You don't have time for a shower, but I do have some musk mask in my locker on the first floor," Nick said in an unsteady voice.
Judy quickly turned around to him with newfound hope.
"Why didn't you lead with that?! Come on Slick, let's go!" Judy grabbed both bookbags off the floor and threw Nick his. (Which he barely caught). She then opened the door to the janitor's closet and raced towards the stairs.
"Come on Nick! I've seen sloths move faster than you!"
There was something about having to chase after Judy that had him sprinting out of the closet. Probably had something to do with the fact that back in ancient times foxes used to have to chase after their prey, or in this case bunny. He was so caught up with chasing after her that he almost bumped into an artic vixen while turning the corner.
"Hey! Where are you going in such a hurry, handsome?"
That voice with a Russian accent did the trick in stopping him in his tracks. He turned around and got a good look at the vixen.
"Skye? I'm assuming?" Nick said as he smoothly walked back up to her and leaned on the wall that was lined with orange-colored lockers.
Judy had made it to the first floor before realizing Nick was nowhere to be found.
Wasn't he just behind me?
Judy waited patiently for a couple of minutes before she started thumping her foot on the floor in impatience. She then turned away from the stairs and angrily started pacing back and forth.
Why am I not surprised that that insufferable fox would pull something like that. I have to stop putting so much trust in Nick.
Judy continued pacing back and forth clenching her fists angrily and staring at the floor while doing so. When she turned away from the stairs to walk back for what seemed like the hundredth time, she bumped into someone's arm knocking over the books the mammal was holding.
"Omg I am so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," Judy said as her ears flopped down her back and she looked up to the mammal and started apologizing. Only to see a unique-looking hare staring back at her.
"No, no, no, stop apologizing it's fine. I wasn't watching where I was going either" he said as he bent over to start picking up his books.
"L-let me help you," Judy said as she too bent over to start picking up his books. Only to accidentally pick up the same book he did.
They both stared at each other for a couple of seconds before shyly looking away from each other. The hare broke the silence.
"No, let me. They're my books so I should pick them up" he said with somewhat of an accent
"Please, let me help you. It's the least I can do" Judy said still very ashamed of having bumped into someone and causing such a mess.
Before the hare could reply his bookbag slid off his shoulder and scattered the contents next to the books that were already on the floor.
"Oh jeez, seems like I could use some help after all" The hare said in a defeated matter.
Judy could only chuckle "I'll help you and you'll be done before you know it." Judy said as she smiled widely. The buck could only stare at her appreciatively before they both started picking up his belongings.
"Ok, that's all of it," Judy said as she brushed her paws together and looked on happily as she was able to make up for her mistake.
"Thank you so much, Judy, was it?" The hare said as he got a good look at her while he finished zipping up his bookbag before flinging it and hanging it on one of his shoulders.
She was surprised to hear that the hare remembered her from yesterday. Then, again of course she'd be remembered by a couple of mammals after what Nick put her through at the beginning of orientation.
"I was that memorable, was I? She said in an embarrassed tone.
"I guess all I could say is I wasn't stalking Nick, he was just being a jerk. I had just run into him outside of the "Before she could finish her explanation the hare but her off by chuckling.
"No," The hare chuckled once more, causing Judy to look at him quizzically "That's not the reason why I remember you," he said in a disarming manner.
"Oh," Judy said sheepishly while fidgeting with her paws slightly.
"Kind of hard to forget, not every bunny I come across wants to be a police officer you know"
"You're not going to tell me I can't do it, are you? Judy said as she straightened herself and stared at him determinedly
"Because I'll tell you right now you're wasting your time," She said as she faced away from him ready to leave.
"No!" The hare said as he grabbed a hold of Judy's wrist.
Judy turned around and stared at him in surprise. She was used to mammals telling her how she couldn't do it. Mainly bunnies and bucks would tell her how she was only made to have kits after kits. There was no need for a doe to work at all. And how ridiculous it was that a doe would want to be something that no bunny has ever been.
"No, God no, I'm pretty impressed a doe would even consider a job like that. It'll take a bunny with a lot of dedication and determination to achieve something so ambitious. After all, there are no bunny cops."
"I know, I'll just have to be the first one" Judy stated proudly
Wow, she has the most beautiful amethyst-colored eyes I've ever seen…
"Woww... I mean yes, you do that. I support you" Jack stated happily while fighting the urge to blush from his earlier slip-up.
Judy chuckled slightly. This is a first having a buck believe in her the way he did was something she never thought she would experience. It did boost her confidence greatly.
"Jack, was it?" Judy asked more confidently
Jack nodded happily that she remembered his name.
"Thank you for that. No one of my family or friends supports me in my decision. I'm glad to see another bunny, or in your case, a hare supports me. It means a lot to me." Judy said smiling happily.
As she looked at him she realized he not only had white fur with black horizontal stripes on his cheeks and ears. He seemed to have those same stripes in his arms. The hare was wearing a red t-shirt with a grey pocket on the right side of his chest and grey short sleeves. Some type of small gold necklace around his neck. And black utility cargo pants. She also took notice of the color of his bookbag black book bag it's black.
She also couldn't help but notice the striking color of his eyes.
Wow, he has such beautiful icy blue eyes...
"You're welcome, can I just say. You have the most extraordinary eyes I've ever seen. I never knew mammals even had amethysts an eye color" Jack said as he took a step closer and leaned down slightly to get a better look at her eyes.
Judy blushed furiously, "T-thank you"
Meanwhile, on the third floor, Skye and Nick continued their conversation.
"So, you like what you see?" Asked a far too cocky-looking Nick as he made a show of slowly turning around to give her a full view of his appearance.
"Hahaha, are you always this direct?" Asked a now blushing arctic vixen.
She didn't mean to be so forward, she only meant to ask him why he was in such a hurry. She hadn't realized she had said what she was thinking out loud. She looked down at her feet suddenly finding interest in them as she waited nervously for his reaction.
"I'm only as direct as you want me to be" Nick answered smoothly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so direct. It just kind of opened my mouth without thinking" She answered shyly.
I hope he doesn't think I didn't mean it.
"Oh" Answered a now unsure Nick. He then raised his right paw to scratch awkwardly behind his neck.
"No, it's not like that. I would like to get to know you. I-if that ok with you…" Skye awaited his response eagerly but tried to maintain a relaxed expression on her face.
Nick's ears perked up at that,
"Really? Sign me up" Nick said with his signature half-lidded eyes and grin plastered on his muzzle.
"Hahahaha, you're so funny," Skye said as she covered her muzzle slightly with her left paw and placed her free paw on her chest.
"I have that effect on some mammals," Nick said
At this point, Nick has no recollection of what he was supposed to be doing.
"So, I never really did hear what you wanted to do after obtaining your degree" Judy stated as she walked endlessly alongside Jack in the hallway.
"Well, I didn't mention it. But I'm not completely sure what I want to do. I don't want to settle with being just another farmer like my family did. I want a life full of adventure and excitement. Maybe even danger" Jack then chuckled slightly at the idea.
"hahaha, sounds to me like you'd enjoy the cop life," Judy said while smiling happily at him.
Was Jack this tall a couple of minutes ago?
Judy hadn't noticed how tall Jack was until she started walking next to him. The top of her head can only reach the top of his shoulder.
"Who knows, maybe a certain first bunny cop of the ZPD might be able to convince me," he said while winking at her.
"I'm not even in the academy yet, it might take a couple of years before any convincing can begin," Judy said as she tried to contain the bubbling feeling in her abdominal area. She recalled the way her sisters back in Bunnyburrow used to talk about bucks when they reached a certain age. After a doe's heat cycle starts it doesn't stop. You can only take suppressants prescribed to you by the doctor. It'll lower the doe's need to be intimate. But once her sisters reached that age they could never stop talking about bucks and the way they would describe feeling "butterflies" in their stomachs. She always told her sisters that feeling butterflies in their stomachs was the stupidest thing she had ever heard. She would never use it to describe this feeling.
No, this feeling had everything to do with the fact that Jack believed in her dream enough to call her the first bunny cop.
"I know it'll be worth the wait" Jack said as he stopped walking alongside her.
Judy noticed he stopped walking and turned around to see if something had happened to him. Only to find him staring at her with so much admiration and warmth. She couldn't stop her nose from twitching at that moment. Her ears fell behind her head to hide the embarrassment.
Yup, butterflies is probably the right word
Jack noticed how flustered she got with his response. He couldn't help but do the same. He let his ears drop behind his head and he couldn't help but blush slightly at the implication. He didn't even notice his nose was twitching, very similar to the bunny in front of him.
After a while of just staring into each other's eyes, they both broke out into a fit of laughter.
After a couple of minutes of conversation between a certain fox duo.
"Umm, Nick?"
"Yes, that's my name"
"Aren't you supposed to be in class right about now?" Skye stated rather pleased with how she can easily distract him.
Nick's eyes widened in horror as he realized he was not in class. His brain had completely short-circuited for the time that he had conversed with her that he even forgot a certain bunny going about her day "smelling like him". He mentally cursed himself.
"Sorry gotta go," Nick said as he scrambled for the stairs without waiting for a reply from her.
Skye chuckled to herself, "Yup, still got that effect on some mammals" She then proceeded to walk to her class.
After a certain bunny duo got over their fit of laughter.
"So, listen," Jack said as he looked at Judy intently, "I would like to walk you to class if that's ok with you"
"Sure, I'd appreciate the company" She then took her carrot phone out to check the time, 7:27 am.
"Oh, shoot! We're going to be late! It's already 7:27 am" Judy stated while holding her phone out for him to see.
"Say no more" Jack grabbed her paw and proceeded to pull her towards the stairs he saw her staring at earlier with impatience.
"How'd you know my class was upstairs?" Judy asked curiously.
"Kind of hard to miss when you were staring at the stairs earlier with your foot going a mile per minute," he said as he chuckled lightly at the memory.
"Har har" Judy said rolling her eyes. "It's on the third floor, last one there is a slow sloth!" Judy said as she let go of Jack's paw and raced up the stairs.
Nick raced down the stairs before bumping into a familiar grey bunny.
"Judy?" Nick asked rather quizzically at her. He assumed she'd already be in class.
"Sorry Slick gotta go" Judy then continued her way up the stairs as her tail wiggled in excitement.
Nick didn't even realize he was staring after her until he was brought out of his daze by another voice.
"You forget hares have longer legs, Judy!"
Nick turned around to find a stripped hare racing up the stairs after her.
He moved to the side to avoid a collision. And muttered something about crazy bunnies and hormones.
"I'm not a bunny! I'm a hare!
"Of course, he heard that," Nick said as he continued to make his way down the stairs.
Author's Notes: Hello! I know I usually don't take so long to post. Even though I did mention that I have no real schedule since I am so busy. I felt bad for not posting the third chapter. Especially after I told you guys I was halfway done with it. Again, I know it's long but I didn't feel like cutting it short again. So I hope you guys enjoyed it. Let me know what you guys think of this chapter. Not enough character development? Too much time spent with Nick and Judy? I'm sorry but I'm such a shipper! Lol, but as you can see I tortured myself by having them meet species they would normally be compatible with. Where is this going? Idk I just thought I'd like to see what could happen in the future. Please leave your thoughts on this story. What type of drama would you guys like to see in the future? What other couples would you like to see get together? Anything and everything that you might want to see I'll like to hear. Until next time!