Chapter 1: "Let's do it, partner!" (part 2)
The two walked a few blocks away from the park, on the way they talked about a couple things. They found out they generally like the same music, although Jake was into dub-step and Chance was appalled by it, same going for Chance's love of metal core. They found that both of them loved spicy foods, they had both just moved to Death City and that both of them were attending DWMA at the start of the year.
"So I'm guessing your a meister?" Jake questioned
"Now what makes you say that?" Chance chuckled playfully. He was walking nonchalantly with his paws behind his head. Truthfully he was showing off his muscles but he wouldn't say that aloud.
"Well you didn't go weapon form at all during that fight."
"Hah! With these I wouldn't need to use my weapon form!" Chance said, flexing his arms with a smirk. Now he semi-admitted it.
"Then what would've happened when that Sky kid came at you with the spear?"
Chance stopped dead in his tracks with a vacant stare on his face,"Shut up" he said pouting, causing Jake to laugh. "By the way I never thanked you for that."
"No need to, I would've done that regardless." Jake stopped and looked at his new found friend. "Look, I said it earlier but again, thanks so much for helping me, who knows where that could have went if you hadn't come along" a shudder went through Jake's body as he said that. He may have thought he could take all of them on earlier, but now, thinking back, the realization hit him that he would've died had that went much further. Jake grabbed his arms in his paws and he began to shake with fear.
Chance put a paw on Jake's shoulder. Jake quickly looked up at Chance to see him giving him a warm smile, "Don't worry about it, it's like you said I would've done that regardless. And if those punks ever try that shit with you again, they have to go through me buddy." Buddy. That word alone made Jake smile broadly. "But..." Chance said wrapping an arm around Jake's shoulders and giving him a noogie, "...I still wanna say thanks, so how about I order us some pizza when we get to my apartment?!" Chance sounded just as excited about that as Jake looked.
"Sure!" Jake said, clearly having recovered, "Although you'll think I'm a freak when I tell you what I want on it."
"Try me." Chance responded.
"Mango peppers and anchovies!" responded Jake, his mouth watering at just the thought.
"NO WAY! THAT'S MY FAVORITE!" responded Chance. "Jake I think this is the start of a radical friendship!" said Chance, still holding Jake's shoulder
The two only laughed as they continued to walk to Chances apartment.
"Alright this is it" said Chance when two walked up to apartment 207. It turns out that Chances apartment is only a couple blocks from Jake's friends house, they just ended up taking the long way because Chance had been all too distracted with their conversation. "Rather I should say this is the temporary apartment" Chance said as he fiddled with his keys.
"Temporary?" Jake questioned
"Yeah, the landlord is making renovations on the apartment I'm actually renting, so..." Chance opened the door after he finally unlocked it, "...for now this is casa de Furlong" he said smiling. Chance walked in the door followed by Jake. Jake gave a quick look around and saw a simple set up. There was a nice looking leather couch in the living room, everything else was definitely temporary. There was a tv atop a box, a coffee table, and a few pillows and a couple blankets lying around. In the kitchen was a single table and a few dishes lying on the counter-top. "Sorry about the mess in the living room, I forgot to clean up after I woke up this morning." said Chance
"You sleep in the living room?" Jake questioned
"Yeah, I didn't wanna set up my bed until I actually moved into my apartment, right now most of the place is occupied by boxes." Chance laughed as he opened the fridge. "Here!" he said as he tossed a can of milk to Jake.
"Thanks" Jake said, catching the can and immediately opening it.
"Come on," Chance motioned with his paw to the back of the apartment, "I have a first aid kit in the bathroom we can clean up that cut there." Jake swallowed some of the milk and then followed Chance to the bathroom. Chance flipped the light as he walked into the first door on the left side. Chance really didn't set up anything in the apartment, the shower didn't even have a shower curtain on it!
"So I take it you haven't showered in a while," Jake said as he pinched his nose jokingly
Chance looked confused, then Jake pointed to the curtain-less tub. "Nah, I've had to take baths because ..."
"You're too lazy to put up a curtain?" Jake cut him off
Chances expression sagged, "Shut up" he replied jokingly. "Come on sit down while I get the kit out." Jake took a seat on the lidded toilet and took of the shirt Chance gave him while waiting on him. Chance walked back with the kit and pulled out a few things; cleansing pads, gauze, and antibacterial ointment. "Alright this might sting a bit" said Chance as he pulled out one of the pads and began to wipe over the wounded area. Jake winced at the pain but that was about it. After chance had thoroughly cleaned over the wound he applied a small amount of ointment across it's entirety and the wrapped the gauze around Jakes chest. "Alright, all patched up" said Chance giving Jake a gentle pat on his chest.
"Thanks buddy!" Jake said as he put Chance's shirt back on
"Alright how about I go and order those pizzas?"
"Sure! Wait, more than one?" Jake questioned.
Chance blushed and rubbed the back of his head, tussling his fur "yeah I'm kind of a big eater."
Jake poked Chance's belly, "I can see that" he said as he smirked. Jake drew his finger back in shock when Chance's belly actually gave under the pressure.
Chance blushed further. "Don't do that!" Chance said, obviously embarrassed.
"Sorry, I'm just kidding, so what if you have a bit of a belly anyway? I can almost down a whole medium by myself anyway. Now if you could down a whole large.." Jake trailed off as he and Chance walked back out the the living room. He looked back and saw Chance still blushing, "You've got to be kidding me!" he said, responding to Chances blush. "Where the fuck do you put all of that?"
Chance rubbed his head again, "My mom used to ask the same thing, hahaha" he laughed. Chance went to the kitchen while he called his favorite pizza place with his cell. "Hey Marty! Yeah the usual but..."
Jake went to sit on the couch when he noticed something by the TV. He looked over and noticed Chances black Xbox 360 sitting next to it. "Whoa!" he exclaimed as Chance walked into the living room.
"Wanna play on it?" questioned Chance. Jake looked back at Chance with a gleam in his eye, more than answering his question. "Here hang on, I've got an awesome idea!" Chance walked down the hallway toward the bedroom. After a few minutes, Chance came back carrying a Rock Band guitar and mic. "Damn, I couldn't find my Rock Band 3 but I found 2. Here, catch! It should be synched." Chance said as he tossed Jake the mic. Jake more or less juggled the mic as he attempted to catch it before it rested in his palm making Chance chuckle.
"Umm I can't exactly sing" Jake said as he blushed, making his already cinnamon fur even darker. He was lying, Jake found that he was actually a pretty decent singer when he had heard a recording Jackie had made while he was in the shower. He was lying out of nervousness.
"Well it's either you or me singing, and personally I think that I sound like a kat getting run over. Come on, I'm sure you'll be good at it if ya just try." Chance gave Jake an almost expectant look, widening his hazel eyes. Jake didn't know why but he couldn't say no to that face.
"Damn his face is so cute! And those eyes.."Jake thought. Now he knew why no wasn't an option. "Fine." Jake said after he shook himself out of his thoughts. Chance jumped up and pumped his fist in the air. Jake laughed at the gesture and quickly reverted back to his earlier thoughts. "Goddamn it Jake! You just met the guy!" he thought. Chance began to scroll through the song list when a certain song caught Jake's eye. "Oh! Do the Linkin Park one!"
Chance looked over at Jake. "Don't tell me Linkin Park is your favorite band." Chance asked in near disbelief.
"Top-ten all-time favorites!" Jake replied.
"Wow next you'll be telling me we have the same favorite movie." Jake and Chance looked at each other for a second before simultaneously saying "ALIEN!" They both stood there mouths agape until Chance suddenly picked Jake up into a big bear hug. "Goddamn I love you already!" He said. Jake blushed, he knew Chance was joking but still.
"Ah let go of me!" Jake managed to eek out.
"What? Hugging you this quickly creep ya out?" Chance pried jokingly.
"No you're KILLING ME!" Jake yelled.
Chance immediately let Jake go and Jake stood and caught his breath for a second. "Damn... biggest... bear hug...ever.." Jake said through stammered breaths. Chance scratched his cheek, "Sorry, sometimes I forget just how strong I am." Chance flexed his arms after he said that.
Jake stared for a second, "And the fact that you have a slight belly embarrasses you." he said, shaking his head.
Chance just laughed. "Come on let's play already!" he picked up his guitar again and Jake picked up the mic. Chance picked the song and it soon began. Chance played the first guitar riffs excellently and began to bang his head to the beat when it picked up. Jake waited in anticipation for the lyrics, he knew the song by heart almost.
The first lyrics came up, "I cannot take this anymore.." Jake was off tune and did the lyrics too fast. "Come on!" he thought. The second verse came up, "I'm saying everything I've said before.." Jake's nervousness was apparent.
Chance paused the game in the middle of his guitar riff and put a paw on Jake's shoulder. "Just relax buddy. I don't care if your good or not, just have fun with it!" Jake looked over to see Chances face, almost expressionless, but sincere at the same time. It put Jake at ease. Jake sighed, not out of annoyance but more of like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He didn't know why but he felt that he could be himself around Chance and it wouldn't matter, he has felt nothing but at ease, for the most part, since he started hanging out with him."Sorry just a bit rusty." was the excuse he came up with. "Fuck trepidation" Jake thought. He turned to Chance with a grin, "alright..LET'S ROCK!"
Chance returned the smirk, "Cliche but I'll let it slide," and then he continued the song.
"..Cause I'm one step closer to the edge and I'm about to …. BREAK!" With that the song finished and
Chance looked at Jake with sheer awe. "He's more than good, he's fucking fantastic!" he thought. "Dude where did you learn to sing like that?" he questioned.
Jake looked over at him, still kinda in the moment, and blushed when he comprehended what Chance was asking him. "Well me and the shower head were best friends for a while" he said while sticking his tongue out.
Chance chuckled, "You seriously have talent dude!" Chance replied. Jake smiled and blushed even further, it was completely visible through his dark fur and it only made Chance laugh even more.
"Speak for yourself, you didn't even miss a note" Jake said while looking at Chance's perfect score.
"Yeah, I actually play guitar so this is cake!" Chance responded
Just then there was a knock on the door, "Yo Chance! Next time you order pizza don't do it so late!" said the person.
"Yeah, yeah Marty hang on!" Chance said as he picked up his wallet from the kitchenette counter and went to the door.
Jake looked at the clock and saw that it was 9:30. "Damn it is late." Jake said.
Chance came back to the living room with the pizzas and set them down on the small table in the center. "Here is yours," he said handing Jake his medium pizza, "AAAAnd mine!" he said taking the large pizza over to the couch with him. Jake sat down on the floor. Chance turned the TV over to the cable and flipped through a few channels, until he came across The Litterbin show.
"Oh oh stop there!" said Jake.
"You like this show?" questioned Chance with a tone.
"Yeah!" Jake replied excitement. Jake looked over at Chance to see his apparent disinterest. "Oh but if you don't like it..."
"Nah, if you like it I can sit through it. He's got his funny moments." Chance said while he set down the remote. Chance and Jake ate as they watched the show, Jake was laughing uproariously and Chance even got a good laugh in. By 10 both of them had finished eating.
"Oh that was soooooo good." Said Chance, who had downed his entire pizza.
"Yeah I couldn't eat another bite!" said Jake who had finished most of his. Jake looked to the clock and saw that it was 10. Jake looked back at the TV when he realized he had yet to let his friend know where he was! "Oh damn it!" Jake said quickly bolting up and trying to get his cell from his pocket.
"What's the matter?"
"I forgot to call Jackie, she's the friend I'm staying with while I look for an apartment." Jake walked into the kitchenette and held the phone next to his ear.
"Looking for an apartment? I wonder..." Chance thought
"Hey Jackie! ...Yeah sorry about that haha. No, no I just made a new friend, I'm hanging out at his house now." Jake winced as an excited squeal came from his phone. Chance just looked over and gave Jake a weird look. "Yeah, I'll be back in a bit, see ya soon!" Jake hung up.
Chance gave Jake a somewhat sad look, "So you're going home?"
"Yeah, Jackie was worried sick."
Chance sighed as Jake put his shoes back on. "Damn, and to think I was gonna find my DVD's and put on Alien after this too.." said Chance, painfully trying to be coy.
"You know if you want me to stay over all you gotta do is ask. Besides I was planning on asking the same" Jake replied while chuckling at Chances antics.
Chance pouted again, "you ass" Chance said as he slugged Jake in his arm just hard enough to be a bit painful.
"Ow! And I'm the ass?" Jake yelped as he rubbed his arm. Chance grabbed his keys and he and Jake walked out of the apartment.
There was an awkward silence as they started walking to Jackie's house. All Jake said was that it was just a couple blocks away. Chance finally broke the silence, "So..your looking for an apartment?"
"Yeah, so far all the rates are too high for the allowance DWMA will give me. Wait how are you affording yours?"
"Oh, someone is helping me pay for it till I find a roomie" Chance dawned a semi-dark expression.
"Hmm why do you ask?" Jake questioned, he didn't want to pry anymore on the seemingly sensitive issue
"Aww no reason, I was just wondering if the person I was going to ask to partner with me would also like to share an apartment." Chance said matter-of-fact.
"Hmm," was Jake's only reply as he didn't quite register what Chance had just said. That lasted all of two seconds before Jake whipped around to face Chance and ask, "Wait you mean.."
Chance gave Jake a warm smile, "Yup, I don't have a partner yet and I want you to be mine buddy! That is if you don't have one already." Chance looked sad at the thought.
"No, I mean yes! I'll be your partner! And I'll definitely room with ya!" Jake could barely hold back his excitement.
Chance jumped in the air and pumped his fist, "AWESOME! We are gonna be the best duo at DWMA buddy!" Chance brought his arm out into an angle. Jake took the cue and placed his paw in Chances, "And the apartment is two bedroom too so it works perfectly! Dude this is gonna be awesome!" Chance pulled his arm back and both he and Jake continued to smile as they walked the remainder of the way to Jackie's house.
(insert break)
The two reached Jackie's house within minutes and Jake rapped his knuckles on the door. A thin girl with fine black hair down to her shoulders answered.
"There you are, do you know how worried I was!?" She huffed at Jake.
"Geez, sorry mom stuff happened" Jake teased. Jackie turned her gaze to the large tom next to Jake. "Why hello there, you must be Jake,s new friend!"
She held out her hand and Chance gingerly grasped it, "Chance Furlong, and you, beautiful lady, must be Jacqueline."
Jackie giggled, "Just call me Jackie. She stepped aside and let Jake and Chance enter the home. "Just take a seat on the couch, I'll be back down in a sec OK?" Chance nodded and looked at Jackie for approval, she nodded back and he took his seat. Jake was already upstairs and Jackie followed him to the guest room he was staying in.
"By the way I'll be staying over at Chances tonight so I won't be back till tomorrow." Jake heard the door to his room close behind him after he and Jackie entered. He looked back to see Jackie smiling maniacally. He soon blushed furiously when he realized what she was thinking. "NO, It's nothing like that, damn Jackie I just met the guy!"
Jackie giggled, "Sorry but what's a girl to think when her gay friend says he's staying at a cute boys house?"
"I never said he was cute. And he's just a freind" Jake pouted.
"You know you're really cute when you blush." Jackie said, still giggling.
Jake only blushed further, "So does Chance" he muttered.
"So you do like him!" Jackie nearly shouted.
"SHHHHH, don't let him hear you!" Jake clasped his paws over Jackie's mouth. "Besides there's no way, he's too obviously straight." Jake sulked.
Jackie pulled Jake's paws off of her mouth"Yeah, kinda. Well don't be down kiddo." she said while sticking out her tongue.
"You're only a year older than me you can stop calling me kiddo" Jake pouted. Jake took off Chance's t-shirt that he had still been wearing and was sifting through his closet to find a new one.
Jackie's expression changed the instant she saw the bandages across Jake's chest. "Oh my God! Jake what happened?" She ran over and took a closer look at Jake's chest.
"Oh, I ran into some trouble at the park, don't worry about it, Chance patched it all up for me."
"He didn't do this?"
"No," Jake looked back to his closet and smiled, "Chance actually helped me get rid of the people that did do this." Jake replied.
Jackie smiled and turned to leave the room,"You know you shouldn't give up hope so quick, you never know unless you try. Alright well imma go talk to Chance, remember to pack some condoms!" Jackie said as she quickly left without giving Jake a chance to rebuttal.
Jackie walked back downstairs to find Chance still sitting on the couch, actually twiddling his thumbs. Chance looked up when she came into view and smiled at her. "So how is this evening?" She questioned and stuck out her tongue.
"Jake told you about that hunh?"
"I saw the bandages, seriously though thank you."
Chance smiled and simply said, "not a problem at all."
"You know Jake never takes to being someone's friend this easily."
Chance cocked his head in a bit of confusion, "Really? He's really easy to talk to, I'd imagine him as the kind of guy with a lot of friends actually."
"Yeah he seems that way once he warms up to you, that being said do you wanna know how long it took him for me?" Chance stared at Jacqueline with anticipation. "I've known him since the 8th grade.." Chance leaned forward, Jackie smiled at Chances eagerness to hear the rest, "but we really weren't friends until Sophomore year."
Chance's eyes widened in disbelief "2 years?!"
"Yup, ever since we've been really good friends. I would hang out with him at lunch and stuff all the time before we were actually friends and I tried to get him to go out to movies and stuff like that, you know try to get him to open up, but it just didn't happen. Way to far out of his comfort zone. But with you, it hasn't even been a day and already you seem to be awesome friends. Hell he's even staying at your house!"
Jake was standing atop the stairs listening in on the conversation. Tears began to well up in his eyes, "Damn it, what's he going to think now? He'll probably think I'm just a weird, sheltered, pussy! I just made a new friend and he's probably never gonna talk to me again!"
He snapped out of it when he heard Chance laugh. "I guess I'm just that awesome hunh! " Chance finally said after a few moments of laughter.
Jake almost busted out laughing too, the tears had subsided. "Chance, you just have this uncanny ability to make things better doncha? Maybe I was just over-reacting" he thought. Jake promptly walked down the stairs and smiled at Chance and Jackie who were laughing uproariously. "Now what did I miss?" he questioned innocently, "Here's your shirt back Chance."
Chance caught the shirt. "Nothing buddy, you all ready to go?" Chance said wiping his eyes.
"Yeah, oh yeah! Jackie I've found an apartment!"
Jackie's eyes widened "Really! Oh that's awesome Jake," she pulled him into a hug, "where?"
She let go of Jake and he gave a slight nod toward Chance. "With Chance actually!" Jake smiled and then quickly grimaced at what Jackie must be thinking.
"That's awesome! When do you move in?" she asked shooting Chance a look.
"Well I won't be in my actual apartment for about a week but there's still a lot of room in the temporary apartment if you wanna start moving your stuff over there tomorrow."
Jake almost responded when Jackie cut him off "Yes! He will!"
"Hey I was gonna say that!" Jake snapped. The three laughed as Jake and Chance left the house.
Jake and Chance had just finished watching "Alien" and it was about 1 in the morning. "Damn that kat Ridley makes a good movie! I guess we should get to bed, we still have orientation tomorrow" Chance said while stretching out his arms.
"Yeah I guess so" Jake responded with a yawn. Chance got up and went back to where the bedrooms were. Jake got up and quickly went to use the bathroom before he went to sleep. When he was leaving the bathroom Chance was walking by with a few blankets and pillows.
"Here take these for me, I reallllllly gotta pee!" Chance said anxiously. Jake giggled and grabbed the blankets and pillows and went down the hall to the living room. He laughed again when he heard the relieved sigh Chance made from the bathroom.
When Chance came back he found Jake setting up his blankets on the floor and that he had set some up on the couch. "Oh no no no, you get the couch bud."
Jake looked up at Chance who had walked to the couch and pulled off the blankets and pillows.
"No I wouldn't feel right, it's your place after all."
"I insist dude"
"No I'm fine"
"Get on the goddamn couch"
"I said no!"
"Then I guess no one gets the couch hunh?"
"I guess so!" Chance and Jake just stared at each other, and then burst out laughing. "Dumbest argument ever!" said Jake.
"Yup Jackie was right when she said you were stubborn." Chance began to strip down to his boxers.
Jake had taken off his shirt, but that was it, he looked over at Chance after Chance had taken off his shirt. "So his stripes are on his back too!" Jake thought. When Chance took off his pants Jake blushed and turned away.
Chance looked back toward Jake and saw the attempt to not look. "Oh sorry, is this awkward for you, I wasn't even thinking." Chance started to put his pants back on.
"No not at all, it was just unexpected that's all," Jake laughed. "I usually just sleep in my boxers too."
Chance smiled, "Good cause I hate wearing pants when I sleep." Chance tossed his pants aside and turned off the lights. Jake stripped off his jeans also. Chance and Jake were both just lying there on their makeshift beds now.
"Hey Chance" Jake had broken the silence, hoping Chance was still awake.
"Yeah?" He was still wide awake, in fact he wanted to talk to Jake.
"What do you think will happen if we test into different classes?"
"What do you mean?" Chance questioned.
"Well what if you test into NOT?"
"What about you?"
"Hunh" Jake didn't quite register what Chance was asking.
"How do you know you're in EAT?" Chance clarified.
"Oh, well I took a pre-placement exam and they tested me into EAT." Jake explained.
"Then we don't have a thing to worry about." Jake looked over at Chance, the moon illuminated the room just enough so that he could make out Chance's features and catch a shine from the necklace draped around his neck, Chance was looking back. "I took the same exam and tested into EAT too!" Jake's eyes widened with joy and confusion, he was delighted that he and Chance would be in the same class but he didn't figure Chance for the intellectual type. "Don't look so surprised there bud" Jake blushed, and he was glad there was no way for Chance to see it."I'm a bit smarter than people like to give me credit for, ask me anything about vehicles, anatomy, calculus, or chemistry and I can answer it."
Jake decided to try his hand, "Whats the second derivative of 3x4 + 4x3 – 6x?"
"36x2 + 24x + C" Jake's eyes widened to the size of small dishes making Chance laugh profusely. Jake only smiled as Chance sat up, holding his belly. "That coupled with my fighting instinct got me into EAT." Chance explained, finally ceasing his laughter.
"You took a physical portion of the exam?"
"Yeah, it's recommended if your a meister, I tested with a one-handed blade and a pike. Personally I prefer a blade, so you're in the clear." He smirked at Jake
"...Sorry" was all Jake could say, he did feel bad about assuming things about Chance.
"Don't worry about it, I've heard worse, some people thought I was retarded at one point. Guess I showed em hunh?" Chance said putting a reaffirming paw on Jake's shoulder before he laid back down.
Jake smiled and hugged a portion of his blanket, "You really do make things better" He thought. "Chance?" Jake asked as he yawned loudly.
"What're you worried about now?" Chance mocked slightly.
"I think..." Jake looked up at Chance,"That we're gonna be the best meister-weapon duo at DWMA!"
Chance gave Jake a wide toothy grin. "You know it partner!" Chance held out his arm at an angle. Jake smiled widely and took Chances paw in his. Chance tightened his grip and Jake responded in kind, "Let's do it...Partner!"
Jake smiled when the fond memory had finished, the past couple of weeks had been eventful to say the least. He and Chance hung out every day and Jake had gotten all of his stuff moved over to Chances, or rather their, temporary apartment. By the time they moved to their actual apartment they were in for a surprise. It looked exactly like the temporary one, only the renovations the landlord decided to make were a nice solo shower instead of a tub, a better fridge and the part that actually took a week, converting the two single bedrooms into one large bedroom. Chance and Jake were thoroughly surprised to say the least. The landlord made the 'improvement' not knowing about Chance's new arrangement with Jake. He apologized profusely and he compensated by lowering the rent, only by a bit but still. He even offered to rebuild the wall but that would take another week. The duo finally decided they were okay with sharing a room.
Jake looked at the clock and saw that it was 3 in the morning. His thoughts and he could finally sleep, but only for a few hours. "Dammit, Chance wants to get up early and practice using me tomorrow too." Jake's mind immediately south. "I need to stop that." He turned back on his side and was quickly falling asleep, "Is it weird that I'm really excited?" was his last thought before he drifted off into a nice slumber.