Chapter 58
"They're really good aren't they?" Fox and the guys had grabbed their own drinks and nachos as they took their seats in the gym for the volleyball game. "Hey look, did you guys know Fara was on the volleyball team?" Falco and Slippy could only shake their heads. "I didn't know you two were cool, you know considering your history." Falco wasn't wrong in saying that.
"I guess we kinda are, if by cool you mean she's not trying to ruin my life or make my girlfriend dump me. But I guess I don't really have to be concerned about that second part." They all laughed trying not to spit up their drinks.
"Yeah look over there, she's really good. She just took a killer dive to save that." Slippy pointed as Fara hit the ground roughly to save her team. Her save resulted in the team scoring a point as everyone applauded her play and the team exchanged hi five's amongst each other. "They seriously are no joke." Falco looked over at his two friends who nodded in return to his observation. "Maybe we should have come to these smaller events more often. It's a nice environment to be in, good call Fox."
The boys could only continue enjoying the game, as well as only making use of the edges of their seats. After another half hour the game had reached its end. "That was great, this sport's really underrated." Slippy grabbed the cups and nacho trays, walking over to the trash to throw them away.
Fox saw Fara and a friend packing up their duffle bags on the opposite end of the gym when they turned over in their general direction. He waved at them and Fara waved back, then beckoned her friend to follow her as they grabbed their duffle bags and walked over towards Fox and his friends. "Hey Fox! And Falco and Slippy!" Fara was all smiles when she reached the boys. "I didn't know you guys liked volleyball." "Mrs. Toms asked us to fill in with the concession stand, we figured everyone was done with their concessions so we closed up shop and came out to watch the game. You girls are really good."
Fara and her friend were happy to hear the compliment. "Yeah if you ask me he just wanted to come to see the girls in those tight shorts." Fox turned a little red and turned towards Falco, silently telling him to shut up
. Everyone laughed except Fox as his small blush began to fade. "Oh! I've lost my manners. Everyone, this is Sydney." Fara introduced her friend, a vibrant grey vixen. Sydney awkwardly waved at everyone as she made eye contact with each of the boys.
Fox hadn't noticed her throughout the whole game, he was focused on Fara's play, but now that he could see her. 'She's…' He had to avoid his thoughts trailing as they normally did.
"Nice to meet you Sydney, how long have you been going to school here? I haven't seen you around." Sydney cocked her head back and forth. "Well I officially started this semester, but I got to try out for the team in November. That's how I met Fara." "That's great how that worked out for you. You like it here?" "Yeah! It's a great school here, so accommodating and lax!" She could only smile as she spoke with Fox about her new life.
"So how do you know Fara?" A question Fox knew was coming, but didn't particularly know how to answer, he could only scratch the back of his head. "Just gone to this school for a while so we seem to get to know a lot of people." He answered with a small cop out, unsure of how the real answer might affect her.
"Yeah, we just have gotten around the school, seems like we've all known each other at some point." Fara said as she looked around the gym and specifically at the boys. "Well whatever you girls say I just want you to stay out here on the courts. You chicks were absolutely killing it tonight." The bird tried his best to diffuse any potential attention.
"Yeah seriously, do you guys always play this well? That was incredible how well all of you worked together." The girls were once more appreciative of the bird and toad's compliments.
"Personally I thought they were great, just that we had better formations at the right time. And Fara doesn't mind taking a dive for the team." Fara laughed at Sydney's astute comment. Fox looked at the clock on his phone while they were all laughing, 'Geez, 9 already? Doesn't feel that late but I guess the clock doesn't lie.'
Fox quickly turned aside to his friends, "Do you guys wanna invite them to corner café? They seem nice and all." They took a second as Falco looked down at Slippy, "Yeah, sure why not?" Fox turned back over at the two female foxes to address them. "So do you girls wanna come to corner café with us just downtown? We were gonna go anyways so I figure you two could come with us if you wanted to."
The two foxes quickly nodded almost in unison. "We just need to go change out of these sweaty clothes and we'll be on our way." Fox and the boys smiled at them as Sydney smiled back at Fox before turning and walking off. The boys waved goodbye to Mrs. Toms and headed for the exit.
"So…" Falco looked at Fox and nudged him.
"What?"
"You know what, don't act like you don't." Fox sighed a little bit as they walked.
"Yeah, she's cute."
Slippy leaned over to speak to his vulpine friend, "So that's why you asked them if they wanted to come to corner café?" Fox quickly shook his head in defense, "No no, that's not why. I mean it's an added benefit and all but I just wanted to be nice and extend the invitation."
Falco threw up a finger quickly in response, "So you admit it! Foxie's got a crush now!" Fox could only cover his face with his hand, his face which had turned just a little red now. "Whatever, let's just get down there. I hear they remodeled the place, added a second floor and balcony up top."
The boys all headed for their cars as they drove down to the café. "Yeah is the second floor opened up already?" Falco asked the hostess with curiosity. She nodded in response, "Great, we'll just go on up there, thanks. Oh and there'll be two vixens here soon looking for us. One's brown and the other one's gray, think you can tell them where we are?" The hostess nodded once more as the boys smiled and walked off.
Shortly after, Fara and Sydney arrived wondering where the boys were. The hostess pointed up to the second floor as the girls walked up the stairs searching for their new companions. As he saw them walking up the stairs and looking for them, Fox launched his hand up into the air, waving at them to get their attention. Sydney tapped Fara's shoulder and pointed over to where they were and they trotted over to them and took their seats.
"This place is great!" Sydney had excitement in her voice, "I've never been here before, I wish I had found it sooner." "Yeah it used to have just one floor, I heard they remodeled it lately and added this second floor and balcony." Sydney's eyes lit up at that last word, "A BALCONY? That's so cool!"
Everyone laughed at her extreme excitement. "I'm gonna go take a look at it, since it excites me a little bit." Fox said as he prepared to stand up. "I'm going too!" Sydney almost yelled as she shot out of her chair and sped towards the door to the balcony.
As Fox scratched the back of his head and turned back towards everyone at the table, Falco gave him a secretive thumbs up. Fox had a weak smile as he walked towards the door. Fara only laughed and shook her head, "He has no idea" The frog and bird both had confused faces. "What do you mean?" When Fara answered his question, Falco's feathers may as well have turned pale.
Outside was incredible. Fox had never really seen all the city lights from above, at least higher than the ground level. Sydney was sitting on the railing, he feet dangling as she looked down at the parking lot behind the café and the city lights. "This is nice." Fox said as he approached the vixen on the rail.
"Yeah this is great, look at all the lights all over the place." She pointed at all the neon lights and street lights. "It's such an underrated spectacle." Fox nodded along.
"Yeah, I think so too. It really brings into perspective the things that you don't think about or take for granted." The vixen nodded her head up and down looking at Fox with a smile. He returned her a smile of his own and they both felt a little warmth from them.
Fox leaned on the railing beside Sydney as she continued to gaze around at all the lights, "So I guess you're not really from around here?" She shook her head, "No, I've never been in a real city before." "Explains why you marvel so much at it. It's a nice city." She nodded her head vigorously once more.
'She's so nice, and open too. Maybe…' He looked around on the balcony, empty. Not a soul was on it, only a little past 9 on a Monday night.
"So uh, hey Sydney." The gray vixen turned over towards him with a smile. "So are you uh…seeing anyone?" He could feel his face turn a little red.
She thought for a moment on how to respond to his question. "I guess not, are you?" Fox could feel his ears perk up, not his intention. "Uh well no, I guess not too. So do you uh, maybe wanna go out some time?" Now he could really feel his face heating up. 'Geez, some things just don't go away, I guess it's been a while since I did this after all.'
Sydney laughed.
'Okay, that's not good, just keep your composure.' He tried clearing his throat and casually laughed along. "What's so funny?"
Sydney shook her head. "Fox, you're a cool, nice dude." 'Uh-oh, if the movies and advice from Falco have said anything, I know what's about to happen.'
"Yeah, well thanks. You're cool and nice too." She smiled back at him. "I mean we can go hang out sometime, I'm cool with that." 'Great, so I've just been put in the friend zone.'
"I mean I'm not really trying to friend zone you or anything. It's just that well…I'm gay."
"Oh."
That was all he could think to say. A cloud of silence descended upon them. "I mean I don't have any problem with that or anything. Just I thought…so are Fara and you…?" Sydney laughed again. "No no no, she's just cool. I'm just trying to figure things out and all." Fox nodded his head.
"It must be difficult, trying to figure things out like that. I don't judge you for anything." "Thanks Fox, I was right about you being a nice dude." He smiled back at her, "I'm gonna go back inside and talk to everyone, wanna come?" She just shook her head in response, "Nah, I'm gonna stay out here for a while."
Fox walked back inside, pulled out a chair, and slouched in it. "Well, I just found something out." They all laughed at his new knowledge. "So you told them?" He asked as he looked at Fara. "Yeah she told us, I was a little scared for you at first but I figured you'd take it well. Plus it would be funny." Falco said, trying to hold back a laugh. Fox only rolled his eyes at his friend, what else could he do really?
"So volleyball huh? That's your backup plan for a scholarship?" He asked Fara. She nodded her head. "My grades are good and all, but playing a sport doesn't hurt either. Plus I'm trying to branch out, try new things, meet some new people."
"I'm glad you are, It's nice that we can sit down and actually…coexist at least." Everyone laughed at Fox's comment, and the truth behind it.
Everyone was happy together, things felt great. 11 neared and everyone decided that since it's a school night, it may not be a bad idea to head home. "See you guys later!" Sydney waved goodbye to the boys and Fara. "Yeah, we'll see you around school I'm sure." Slippy said to her as they all waved goodbye and went their separate ways.
Fox cruised his way home, taking in all the scenery that Sydney opened his eyes too. He paid so much attention to detail now, taking in everything he could, looking at more than just the big buildings and big lights. He looked out his window and cocked his head a little bit. There was a car on the side of the road. 'Well that can't be good, it's late at night and someone's car broke down?'
Fox decided to pull over and help them out, like Fara said, meet new people and try things out. He pulled over just a few feet in front of the broken down car and got out. The car was in a great spot, as far as places to break down go. There was a streetlight covering at least the rear of it, a little light shining on the hood. He could vaguely see the owner moving around to the hood of the car, presumably to diagnose what the problem is.
As he got closer he could see the owner of the car, and the owner turned around to see who it was that was making their way towards them. The owner turned and leaned closer to see who it was, then their eyes widened a little.
Fox's eyes did the same thing as he got closer.
"Hi there." The owner said as the gap between them shrank to a few mere didn't say anything back.
'So, it's time.'
Uh oh.
