Continued from Chapter 43
Judy sat down with her lunch tray next to two of her cousins, Peter and Carol Hopps. Those two "tough bunnies" were slightly taller than Judy, colored in a pleasing cream-and-white fur pattern, and looked and dressed almost precisely alike. They were part of the same litter, and almost seemed like identical twins. Judy had liked hanging out with them because her conviction to become a police officer in Zootopia had inspired them to think about becoming sheriffs in Bunnyburrow. Sharla, the pretty though shy black sheep also quickly joined them, sighing in relief as she entered her "comfort zone" of her friends.
"Afternoon everyone," Judy said brightly.
"Good afternoon, Judy," Carol nodded. She did most of the talking, and her voice carried a fairly thick rustic accent, as did Peter's, but he rarely said anything.
"Mmm-hmm," Peter agreed, eating a bite of his sandwich.
"How're you doing, Sharla? Anyone giving you any trouble in your classes?" Judy asked the sheep.
"Oh no, nothing like trouble," Sharla's eyes looked away for a moment. "I have been, uh, asked out a lot, actually."
"You have?" Judy's face looked bright. "That's great!"
"Reckon it's cause you've gotten a mite bit prettier over the years," Carol offered sagely.
"Mmm-hmm," Peter nodded his approval.
"Not to mention she's a great friend!" Judy added proudly.
"Aw, thanks," Sharla giggled nervously. "Anyway, I've turned 'em all down so far. I don't really wanna get with just any guy, I kinda want him to get to know me first, you know?"
"Well how's he gonna get to know ya if ya don't go out with 'im?" Carol's eyelids fell.
"He could start by bein' a friend, first," Peter suddenly said. "Ain't no harm in that, now is there? I read a lot a good relationships come from friendships."
"Mmm-hmm," Sharla nodded, but then flinched, hoping it didn't sound like she was mocking Peter. Peter gave a lazy half-smile and went back to eating.
Judy tried to stifle a giggle. "Hey, do any of you have Mr. Wilde for any of your other classes?"
"No, just Homeroom," Sharla shrugged.
"Ain't got him," Carol shook her head.
"Mmm-mmm," Peter's head shook simultaneously.
"He that fox teacher?" Carol placed her hand on the table and leaned in a bit. "He any good?"
"Well, when he does get to teach," Judy chuckled. "I kind of wish I did have him for some of my other classes. As it is, he sometimes just gives some random life lessons in Homeroom. He has a nice way of speaking. Just wondered what other subjects he might teach."
"Ah, I see what this is," Carol smirked. "Little miss Judy's hot for teacher."
"What!? No!" Judy waved her hands in front of her face. "Where did that come from!?" Carol turned her smirk to Peter, expecting him to agree with her. Peter regarded her slowly.
"Ain't proper to accuse her of somethin' like that," Peter said. "Student-teacher relationships ain't proper."
"What he said!" Judy nodded.
"Now Judy," Carol's eyes half-lidded as if reproving her. She shook her head. "Y'all know that the three of us bunnies are unusual for wantin' to go into law enforcement. Y'think you're gonna be satisfied with just some 'normal' boyfriend? A buck that'll give you dozens a kits? Don't make me laugh."
"It don't mean she gotta do nothin' improper!" Peter shot back. Judy looked to Sharla for a tip in the direction of their opinions.
"You do kind of uh... look at him a lot?" Sharla admitted with a shy smile.
Judy held her arms out wide. "Where else am I supposed to be looking? He's the teacher!"
"I know, I know!" Sharla giggled. "Just saying... I don't look at MY teachers like that..." Sharla showed her teeth in a smile.
Peter fixed a judging look on Judy.
"What!? Not you too!" Judy groaned in exasperation. "I don't have a crush on Mr. Wilde!"
"Good morning, Officer Hopps," Mr. Wilde said as Judy entered his classroom a half-hour early. She smirked a bit at his nickname for her. At first she thought it was derisive, but he seemed to use it in a friendly manner. "Your alarm go off early today?"
Judy set her things down at her desk. "I actually kind of wanted to talk to you for a little bit."
"Oh?" Mr. Wilde asked curiously. "About what?"
"What other subjects do you teach, Mr. Wilde?" Judy replied.
"Ah, well, I was studying to teach History and Science," Mr. Widle said, adjusting some things in his desk.
"At the same time?" Judy said without thinking.
Mr. Wilde chuckled softly. "Ah yes, History-Science. No, those were just my areas of specialty. I like reflecting on how we got here, and how the world works."
"So you teach those classes?" Judy wondered. "There's... no way I could get transferred into your classes, is there? My History teacher is such a bore. I mean, he's act- he's actually a boar, like a porcine, but... you know."
Mr. Wilde frowned. "I'd like to be teaching History or Science, but it hasn't happened yet. This is my first year."
"What's that mean, exactly?" Judy blinked.
"I think Westburrow high is..." Mr. Wilde twisted his muzzle a bit. "Well, don't tell anyone I said this, but I think they're giving me a sort of 'trial run'. I only 'teach' homeroom. So... yeah, I think they're 'demoing' me."
"Why would that be?" Judy raised one side of her upper lip.
"Well, I don't know if you have noticed, but I'm a fox," Mr. Wilde chuckled.
"KIND of hard not to," Judy intoned.
"So, despite all of my speaking about how we should give other mammals a chance to follow their dreams and yadda yadda yadda..." Mr. Wilde rotated his hand. "Well, this is still Bunnyburrow after all."
"You mean... like, what... you're not a-," Judy said, but cut herself short, putting her hands over her mouth.
"Not a 'real teacher'?" Mr. Wilde asked wryly. "Is that what you were going to say?" The fox shook his head. "Sometimes, it doesn't feel that way. But you know foxes, they're sneaky. I keep sneaking in little lessons to you when I think I can get away with it." He closed his eyes and chuckled to himself. "Dunno if you've noticed."
Judy smiled. "Kind of hard not to. I feel like I'm learning more from Homeroom class than most of my other courses, honestly."
"Yeah well, that's the idea, anyway," Mr. Wilde said in a rather tired voice. "Keep the kits on the hook with interesting life lessons so they'll give a good report about me at the end of the year, and then who knows? Maybe the teacher's board will give me a chance then."
"Sounds like a good plan to me," Judy said with a determined furrow of her brow.
"Scam, you mean?" Mr. Wilde said derisively, wrinkling his muzzle. "An ambitious city fox trying to worm his way into the minds of the impressionable country youth?"
"No!" Judy shot back. "Not if teaching is your dream!"
"Eh, sorry," Mr. Wilde sighed. "A bit uncalled for. Truthfully, it's hard not to be bitter at times about all the speciesism in Bunnyburrow. I mean, I don't know what I expected, to be honest."
"I'm not like other bunnies," Judy said with a bit of fire in her belly, "I'll give you a glowing review at the end of the year!"
"Yes, well, don't go too crazy," Mr. Wilde warned warmly. "Speaking of, I think we should talk about all those eyes you're giving me during my 'actual' lessons."
"Oh for cheese sake!" Judy slapped her paws to her forehead. "I'm paying attention! Is that so unusual!?"
"Ah, my apologies," Mr. Wilde beamed. He turned around and started writing on the chalkboard. "There are some of your expressions I would classify as 'dreamy'. However, I do concede that every mammal is different, and it was definitely not fair of me to accuse your intense concentration on me as some sort of attraction."
Judy groaned, squinted her eyes shut and winced. She stared at the ceiling. "I am... a little bit attracted to you. I guess."
"Well that didn't take long," Mr. Wilde chuckled, looking over his shoulder. Then, his expression became serious and he turned the rest of the way around. "Officer Hopps, I do want to let you know that fraternization between students and teachers is highly frowned upon, and against the code besides."
"Yes, yes, I know, I know!" Judy placed her fingers on her forehead and held out her palm.
"I'm not going to do anything to jeopardize my dream job; you understand that," Mr. Wilde continued.
"Of course not," Judy closed her eyes and shook her head. She grumbled in shame. "Shouldn't have said anything..."
"No matter how I might personally- well, I should probably stop talking right there," Mr. Wilde started a small grin, but then tried to cough it away.
"...What?" Judy's eyes flew open, and her heart fluttered.
"Anyway, hopefully I'll still be here next year," Mr. Wilde turned himself around again to finish writing on the chalkboard. "So maybe look me up after you graduate, huh?"
Judy formed a tiny smile on her muzzle as she gazed at his slightly swishing tail. She hoped it wouldn't feel like that long of a year.