Hello again. Here's chapter six, after chapter five was so short I wanted each chapter to have a healthy amount of content in each of them without feeling too cluttered or too thin and I think a range of between two thousand and three thousand words is the perfect when it comes to chapter length. Anyway please enjoy the chapter.


CHAPTER 6: A Role of Your Own

Haru sat in her last period class, scribbling notes into her notebook. The summer classes were ending today and she needed to gather all the information she could to study for exams. She sat on the bottom row to the left side of the classroom. No one dared sit next her, something she didn't mind since it allowed her to focus easier. However, the reason behind everyone's evasive behavior towards her annoyed her everytime she thought of it. Haru had no friends and no one really to confide in except her family but she could never tell them about her struggles. Even with that in mind she found herself content and accepting of her circumstances.

Haru finished her last class and wandered through the halls. Everyone moved out of her way and whispered as she passed. The rumors of her sleeping with multiple different guys at school permeated the halls. The rumors were true and they cemented her isolation. The few interactions with her peers did not alleviate her loneliness but amplified it. Still it was better than the pity she received because of her small frame. The lonely white rabbit no one wanted. The lonely white rabbit who wanted no one. No one except the herbivore that awaited her when she arrived in the shack she often slept in.

"What are you doing here?" Louis turned around with a smirk.

"I simply wished to greet you when you returned. Is that so wrong?"

"No but I'd prefer you tell me the truth about why you're really here, especially since I didn't see you in biology class this morning." Haru placed her school bag on the ground and sat on the bed next to Louis.

"I wasn't in the mood for a pity party so I've been here most of the day sleeping."

"Not everyone is going to pity you. I'm sure everyone in the drama club genuinely cared about your injury."

"I'll be the judge of that when I see them tonight at the performance." Louis responded lightly.

"You're going? What if someone sees you and throws you a surprise pity party?" Haru's horribly faked concern got a chuckle out of Louis.

"I'll be backstage so I should be fine. Also I want to see my replacement perform."

"Why is that guy taking your spot anyway? He should be suspended from the club or something."

"No." Louis stated. "He's a good actor and my backup. Every main role has to have a backup in case the first in line can no longer perform. Although our relationship is a bit rocky I'm confident he'll do fine even if this is his first time in the spotlight." The buck giggled to himself as he finished.

"Are you betting that he'll mess up?"

"I know he'll choke, he's not me after all." Haru leaned toward Louis and pinched his cheeks with all her strength.

"Staph!" Haru let go of the buck. "What was that for?!"

"You were being way too mean. Though for what he did to you I hope he does… mess… up." Louis pinched her left ear and pulled.

"Now look who's being too mean." Louis let go of the rabbit's ear after a few seconds. Her angry expression made him burst out in laughter. The smile on the buck's face forced Haru to giggle a little bit. Louis extended an arm out to Haru

"Come here." Haru scooted closer and laid on Louis' chest.

"It's so… gentle."

"It's only ever like this when I'm with you."

"Despite all the rumors about me?" Louis tilted her head up to meet her eyes.

"I know the real you." Louis' confidence overwhelmed the girl. Their eyes met once more and they kissed one another.

In the boys locker room everyone changed for rehearsals. Despite the events from the prior night, nothing felt out of the ordinary as they talked amongst themselves and headed for their clubroom. Bill was the first to enter with a big grin on his face.

"Well look who it is." Ellen's disrespectful tone bounced off the tiger's boastful chest.

"Yes it's me, Helen. Your Adler."

"Play nice you two." Sanu chimed in. The tiger winked playfully at the zebra, much to her disgust. "Alright, everyone gather around, we need to go over the final adjustments." Everyone formed a circle around the seagull as he went through his clipboard.

"Since Louis is out and Bill's taking his place we'll need a backup for his position."

"I'll take his spot!" Kai shouted, however, Sanu shook his head.

"The shift to Bill as Adler is jarring enough for the audience so it's best we select someone to take his place who is about his height and frame. Plus the role requires someone a bit more imposing." Sanu politely let Kai down.

"Why not you Riz?" Bill suggested. "I'd bet you'd fit the role well." Everyone's gaze shifted to the bear.

"Um… I'm not exactly the… actor type." Riz rubbed his arm impishly.

"No way, you definitely have it in you." Bill responded. "Not to mention you'll make the final fight one helluva show!"

"I'm not too comfortable flexing my strength… especially in front of so many people."

"Don't worry I can take the role for you." Legoshi placed a hand on the bear's shoulder.

"That's surprising!" Aoba commented.

"Legoshi, are you sure?"

"Yeah don't worry, just focus on making the stagelight look good." Legoshi smiled at the bear as he walked over to Sanu.

"This'll work perfectly!" Sanu agreed. "Go and get measured by Dom then come back here."

Once Legoshi returned from being fitted, Sanu provided him with a script and the rehearsals got underway. Everyone performed their roles to perfection with Bill, in particular, being in top gear. He executed his lines flawlessly and with an intensity that could captivate any audience. It was as if Louis himself returned to the stage with each scene the tiger performed. Legoshi read his script during the practice and he'd virtually memorized it because of how little dialogue his character had. He read through his lines one more time before he put it into practice. He walked on stage and faced Bill, both of them had their prop swords in hand.

"Didn't take you as the actor type."

"I'm not. I just think this is the best way to reach you." Bill raised an eyebrow while the wolf straightened his posture.

"Alright you two let's begin the scene!" The two actors nodded at Sanu, he began to countdown and signaled for them to begin.

"You are the final devil I must vanquish?"

"I…" Legoshi felt his lines leave his memory. He began to feel his heartbeat faster and the lights felt hotter than he thought. "I… will defeat you and um…"

"Legoshi! Just breathe, the lines'll come to you!" Zoe's voice caught everyone's attention. "You can do this!" Zoe's confidence raised Legoshi's own and he took a breath.

"I-I will defeat you and… take that woman's head." Everyone giggled at the wolf's stutter but the scene continued as Legoshi dashed forward and attacked Bill.

"You're weaker than I thought, Adler!" Legoshi delivered his line without delay.

"Quick learner, but you're way too weak!" Bill flexed his arm and got Legoshi off his guard. He moved to swing at his foe but he hit nothing. He tried once more with the same result. Everyone watched in awe of the wolf's reactions even as Bill got faster and more aggressive with his swings. Legoshi felt a smile begin to creep onto his face.

"Having fun?" Legoshi froze at the question, long enough for a strike from Bill to land on him.

"Finally! You know you're not supposed to dodge right? It's a fight!" Bill angrily stated.

"Sorry, force of… habit." Legoshi held his left arm as he stood to his feet. The voice vanished from his ears.

"Uh um… Legoshi please stick to the script when performing the scene please. Let's run through it again and this time please don't make things up as you go along." Legoshi rubbed his arm a bit more before following the seagull's instruction.

He and Bill practiced the scene with minimal mistakes, all of which were on Legoshi's part. After he'd felt comfortable with the scene everyone had their separate ways to properly prepare for the show. The stage got set up by the art department and the actors prepared accordingly. All they needed was an audience which would soon arrive, waiting in anticipation. The actors did the final touches to their costumes and makeup with Bill sitting in the same spot from the night before.

"Don't take forever to get ready." Ellen said. Bill waved her off. Once she left, he reached into his bag, however, a familiar scent filled the room and he looked into the mirror.

"You mind telling me what you meant before?" Legoshi stood behind Bill and shut the door.

"Last night, I wasn't honest with myself. You're right, I am guilty. I'm the same as you. I was… looking down on you when I should've seen you as an equal. I'm sorry."

"Why didn't accuse me of eating Tem if you knew I ate meat?"

"Because I know you aren't a killer, you're just a carnivore who wants to live." An unsettling feeling brewed in Bill's chest. "Can I ask you something?"

"You'll keep talking regardless."

"Do you have a voice talking to you? Telling you everything you're doing is right?" Bill turned to Legoshi.

"Thought so. I've had the same thing, even now it hasn't gone away." Those words sat on Bill's body and pushed him into the unsettling feeling in his chest, he turned back around.

"The way I do things keeps me and everyone safe. It's what I'm supposed to do, I'm a carnivore, it's only right that I eat!"

"Is that really what you want?" Bill gritted his teeth. "There's a different way to solve this. I know someone who can help you."

"Shut up."

"Bill."

"I said shut up!" Bill stood to his feet. "Unlike you, I've got what it takes to be a large carnivore. I'm proud of what I am."

"Are you proud of what you're becoming?" Legoshi cut through Bill. "You're not a beast. Tonight I'll prove that to you even if that means playing the villain to your story." The room filled with determination, all of it emitting from one source.

"Whatever." Bill grabbed the skull mask off the desk and walked out the door.

"They do not truly know us, you know that."

"You keep quiet. I don't need anything distracting me tonight." The voice quickly vanished into Bill's mind. His mind became hazy and his composure began to fall apart.

"Good you're coming out on time."

"Louis?" The deer smiled at the tiger.

"Don't look so surprised. I'm here to watch you perform. I hope you'll show everyone how bright you can shine." Bill felt his nerves breaking down.

"I don't need encouragement."

"It's a reminder."

"I told you to watch, not talk. Remember?" Louis smiled as Bill walked past, he knew he'd already won. Bill came out from the hallway and arrived backstage

"Good to see you Bill. Is Legoshi with you?" Sanu asked.

"Yeah he'll be here soon. Let's get this thing started!" Bill placed the skull onto his face.

"We've still got fifteen minutes till showtime." Aoba told his friend. Just then Legoshi arrived with Louis. Bill' false enthusiasm fell away as he looked at the two, their staring came to a close when Zoe approached them.

"Louis I didn't say it when you arrived b-but it's good to see you're able to move around okay." The buck took a moment before smiling lightly.

"...Thank you."

"Gather around everyone. We've had some changes but I know you're all capable actors so do your best out there. I've got faith in everyone here and that means you're doing something right. Let's make this a night to remember just like the last!" Sheila's cheerful nature instilled hope into the group. "What's with that look Louis?"

"Nothing at all."

"Sad that you couldn't be the center of attention?" Sheila jabbed her classmate with her elbow.

"Of course not. I'm not in need of attention all the time." Louis pouted a bit, much to Sheila amusement.

"Well I hope you gave Bill someone good encouragement before the show."

"He knows full well that I have faith in his ability."

"You do have a heart after all."

"Be quiet." Louis' annoyed expression made the cheetah giggle once again.


Next Chapter has it's major scene already written so you won't have to wait too long for it.

-Malik Syv