The Fox held his paws in shock in awe towards his mouth, his tail standing upright and with follicles standing on end. He couldn't believe he let his feelings and thoughts blurt out like that, with such ill restraint and poor consideration, all audible and within earshot of the blue female feline in front of him.
His eyes immediately shot upwards towards Nicole, who just held a confused expression; conveying a sense of: "Is this guy drunk, stupid, or just both?"
"Pardon...me?"
Nicole stated with apprehension, as Jake slowly lowered his paws from his mouth.
"Sorry, Ma'am...uhhh...it was a late night last night of-"
"Drinking?"
Nicole had her arms crossed with one eyebrow raised, as she slowly tapped one of her feet.
"Wha-? Oh no, no, no, no! Of course not! I don't like alcohol, or the taste of it...it's actually repulsive to me, to tell you the truth..."
Jake started clawing the chestnut oak varnish that the front desk had, he had always done this since he was a young kid, indicating he was nervous or anxious.
Nicole nodded slowly, but still maintained a level of acquiescence to accept the fox's help...if this really WAS Jake she was talking to.
"Right...So are you Jake?"
Jake quickly glanced at his chest, and noticed his pin and name tag were not present. He quickly looked downward towards the pile of name tags at the front desk, and started rummaging through them, before finally spotting his own; which read:
"Jake: Assistant Archivist"
Jake gave an awkward smile, reminiscent of a friendly HR spokesperson, trying to lighten the embarrassing mood he had set in Nicole's and his introduction.
"Yep! That would be me! Hehe!"
Nicole rolled her eyes.
"Okay...I could understand the sister being a bit eccentric given her choice in a boyfriend, but the brother is just...a classic nerd!"
Nicole removed a pamphlet from her purse, and carefully presented the cover of it to the fox.
"My Guardian An- I mean- Alyssa told me that I should familiarize myself with the surroundings of New Haven, how you all live, how you operate, the ins and outs of the place basically...you're sister also referred me to you."
Jake's eyes soon shot wide open.
"Well sis, first the mac and cheese...then this? You're either really trying to redeem yourself...or you're just trying to to get on my good side..."
Jake then gave a warm smile, as he arose from his chair and stood towering half a foot higher than the female feline.
"I'd be happy to assist you, Nicole!"
Nicole then gave a slightly warm smile in return, trying to also mask the awkwardness between the two beforehand.
She followed the fox through the many aisles, she was amazed at how pristine and cleanly everything had been organized. Litter or desecration of the building was non-existent, and for once...the library was actually...quiet?!
Despite it being bustling with citizens much like herself and Jake, everyone seemed to be keeping to themselves and simply immersing themselves in an atmosphere of tranquility.
"So...you're new around here, huh?"
Nicole quickly dissolved her thoughts, and redirected her attention to the question Jake had posed to her.
"Huh? Oh...yeah, through some rather...unlucky circumstances to tell you the truth..."
The young female feline shifted a loose strand of fur behind her ear, as the conversation once again became a little sullen for her.
Jake picked up on this, and assumed a reassuring tone and to his voice.
"Well, I just want you to know that...whatever happened, it wasn't your fault. We all make mistakes, that's part and parcel of being who we all are...regardless of our species."
Jake stated, as he continued walking through the vast expanse of the library, Nicole still in complete awe at the architecture.
"Well...it wasn't a mistake...more like fate having different plans..."
Nicole glanced towards her feet now, as the two continued walking towards the computer section, families, friends, and citizens of all species were shuffling through shelves upon shelves of literature.
Jake's ears propped up, showing a sign of intrigue at the female cat's solemn remark.
"Oh? Do you...want to share a little bit of...what that entailed? If you're comfortable with it that is, but just know, everyone has a story as to how they ended up in New Haven. I promise that as an absolute certainty."
Jake stated calmly, leaving a kind, warm tone to his voice that was much appreciated by Nicole. Perhaps she could tell him what happened...after all, he was helping her with the layout of this new place she found herself in for the next 3 months...
Nicole sighed, as she cleared her throat with a long gulp.
"Well, I was on the Golden Gate Bridge, on a bus leaving for...who knows where...just out of Elmore."
Nicole stated, as Jake had a questioning expression on his face.
"Why were you leaving...Elmore? That sounds like a quaint name for a town."
Nicole softly chuckled at the fox's remark, it had a cute undertone to his voice; almost as if he was fascinated simply hearing about another town other than New Haven.
"Well...Jake, my relationship with my ex abruptly ended...with nothing more than the remnant of a letter at our apartment. I still don't understand the true reason as to why he left...the stress of our relationship...how we were living...me? I guess...none of it really matters now."
The male fox looked away for a moment, as a tinge of guilt and remorse swept across his face. He momentarily glanced back to see Nicole still glancing towards the floor as she walked. Jake could see that she was uncomfortable with the current topic of discussion and decided to tone the degree of his questions and their intrusiveness down a tad bit, instead, shifting to a tone of understanding.
"I see...I'm sorry to hear that Nicole, but whatever may have occurred...don't blame yourself too much. I'm sure he just didn't want to make leaving a hard thing to do...saying it in person...he was probably afraid of seeing you hurt."
Jake said, as Nicole lifted her head to meet his eyes with hers.
"Probably...Richard was always the type to avoid confrontation and conflict. Still though...to leave without saying anything, especially the night before he left being so...cheerful...I can't wrap my head around it...I still can't bring myself to believe that he's gone."
Jake gave a warm expression of sympathy, before staring towards the hallways before them. They were nearing the computer section of the library, as the maze of stacked and towering bookshelves transitioned to row upon row of computer desks.
The blue feline and fox soon selected a vacant computer station, as Jake kindly pulled out the rotating chair for Nicole, her giving a nod of thanks, as Jake slowly pushed her closer to the computer screen. He quickly turned to grab one of the nearby empty rotating chairs for himself; as he scooted beside Nicole, who was fidgeting in her seat with anticipation to see what laid in store for her about New Haven, any further knowledge into what made the place tick would be greatly appreciated.
"Y'know, you never did tell me how it is you ended up here...in Purga- I mean, New Haven."
Nicole turned her head to face the male fox, as he crossed one of his legs, his baggy jean pants looking pristine in their blue craftsmanship.
"Well, when Richard left, I called a bus depot and took the best departure I could board. We headed towards the Golden Gate, and that's where I met Alyssa for the first time...then it happened. A kid had somehow managed to find himself on the other side of the railing of the bridge...I couldn't let him die...but in the act of saving him, that's what nearly happened to me. Alyssa told me that it was a miracle that I only managed to be in an induced coma, and that the physicians back on Earth, monitoring me are still baffled..."
Jake's eyes widened with shock and awe, amazed at how the young woman before him was so selfless to risk her life, despite the emotional trauma off having a breakup with her ex boyfriend, Richard.
"Wow...that's...actually one of the more heroic spins I've heard from people arriving here...if not for being in a coma, that would have gotten you a one way ticket to Eternity for sure! To sacrifice your life for another? That's extremely brave of you, Nicole!"
Nicole blushed from the flattery, soon fidgeting more in her seat.
"Well...there's a lot of things that happened prior to that night on the bridge...some I'm not super proud of...namely the relationship with my parents..."
The blue feline gazed at the computer keyboard in front of her, as her ears drooped at the sour memories of the numerous arguments that her parents and her had inflicted upon one another through the years.
"...To leave it short and succinct...they were...very overbearing and strict in the conduct of my childhood...from the onset I was born. All I wanted...was to know they cared about me in something other than my marks in school, my Karate competition wins, or if I received another youth scholarship for college...I wanted something more...and that's when I met Richard. On the night of our high school graduation day...both of us had departed from our homes...Richard, kicked out by his mother, and me...on my own accord after a tense argument with my parents...which was the final straw for me to leave my home..."
Jake's face grew more and more sympathetic to the melancholic and somber shaking of emotion in the female feline's voice.
"I'm so sorry both of you had to go through that...to leave home at such a young age...unknowing of the world around you and fresh out of high school...if you don't mind me asking; but how did you both manage afterwards?"
Nicole diverted her attention from the keyboard to meet eyes with the fox, who had a calm and gentle expression still spread across his face.
"Well...it was...loving, very loving. We were the complete opposite in personality and how we conducted ourselves in our daily routines and lives...but we just had a connection that was inexplicably beautiful. Days that were rough at the factory I worked at...I would always return back to our modest apartment, unlock the locks to our door, turn the knob...and there he would be, arising from the couch to embrace me in a hug and kiss..."
Nicole paused for a moment, slowly rubbing the fur on her arm, in apprehension of continuing for a moment.
"I just...don't understand why he left still..."
Jake placed his paws on the table, in a cupped fashion, as he leaned inwards with intrigue and concern.
"What do you mean, Nicole?"
"Well...the night Richard and I became engaged as girlfriend and boyfriend, he guided me to a small and secluded wooded area in a nearby park where we lived on Earth, Elmore, and...we made a pact together. When we first met as kids, we each shared an acorn together in that same park, but on this occasion, he brought me here to confess just how much he loved me...and provided me with a promise...a promise he said he would never disavow until the day we both depart..."
"And what was that...if you don't mind me asking?"
Nicole cleared her throat, the lump in her chest filled with emotion struggling to not be released in front of a new acquaintance.
"That as long as the acorn he gave me that day stayed by my side, and didn't return to him...he would always stay by my side, his love never ceasing to be shown to me...the night he left the apartment...I-...I found that exact acorn once more...he left it behind. He broke his promise to me..."
Nicole fidgeted further, being this vulnerable with someone new was completely uncharacteristic of her, but given everything she had endured in the past 48 hours? It was something she just couldn't keep concealed any longer.
Jake's eyes were full of sympathy for the young woman before him, so much sadness and heartbreak was conveyed through her eyes...he could swear she was on the brink of tears.
The fox slowly placed his paw on hers, and provided a slight warm smile, as if to say: "I completely understand your pain...and it's going to be okay."
"Look...I've never been in a relationship before, but just off of the few personal details you have told me...it sounds like this "Richard" is a very genuine soul. If he provided you with that promise, and if he truly showed you just how much he loved you every day you both were together...I don't believe he left you."
Nicole had a confused and somber expression when she stared back towards Jake.
"Jake...he left a note for me stating that he wasn't able to withstand the stress of our relationship...that he didn't want me to search or follow him. His clothes were gone when I checked our armoire and wardrobes."
Jake realized that he still had his paw on the blue feline's, and quickly removed it out of embarrassment, hoping that she wouldn't notice. Nicole just continued to stare into the fox's eyes, seemingly too distraught to care that this person that she had just met tried to comfort her.
"Well...I...don't believe that necessarily means that he left..."
"What else would you call it, then?"
Jake crossed one of his legs in his chair.
"Because...from personal experience with my Sister, Jennifer, and her boyfriend Eddie. You see, us guys, we're a strange bunch sometimes...as you can probably already tell and know. A few months after Jen and Ed met, Eddie proclaimed that he could no longer handle the stresses of a relationship...and he left Jen...or so we thought. My sister cried in my arms that night when she told me...but I kept telling myself that they both had a strong connection...and inseverable bond. A few weeks later, Eddie shows up at our apartment, begging to see Jen and getting on his knees for forgiveness in front of her. After a lengthy explanation together, Jen told me that Eddie just needed a bit of clarity to see if he truly was ready to tackle a relationship...he chose to take a chance on love. Years later, he's still with my lovely sister, and despite their... *sigh* antics...they really are two love birds that were made for one another."
Nicole then contemplated all the details of the fox's words, trying to grasp what it all meant and how it would translate to her own situation.
"So...Jake, if I'm reading this right...are you saying Richard may have just needed to take a break?"
"It's entirely plausible! Plus, he made a promise didn't he? It sounds like from what you told me...he didn't exactly say anything about his promise being revoked in his letter, did he?"
Nicole sat back in her chair...maybe Jake was right? Perhaps Richard DID need some time to recuperate and plan out where to proceed next in their relationship.
After a few moments of silence, Jake feeling a sense of unease in wondering if he might have given her the wrong impression.
"Thank you Jake...thank you for that reassurance...and I'm sorry if I distracted you with my own problems from your job today...Alyssa mentioned it was your scheduled day off."
Jake heard these words, like a butter knife meshing with butter...it was beautiful...captivating. This beautiful blue feline...actually appreciating his advice?!
"Don't mention it Nicole, I'm happy to provide any advice you need. Plus, you don't have to apologize, even though it's not in my job description, part of my job is giving advice and information, so don't sweat it!"
Nicole let out a soft chuckle, this fox was most certainly eccentric and nerdy in his behavior...but he seemed very gentle and kind in his interaction...almost as if he was hiding his own past and understood where she was coming from in her current position. She decided in that moment, to pursue on the offensive herself, considering this chat was going smoothly, perhaps she could get him to open up a little bit about himself as well?
Nicole adjusted her seat, and made herself comfortable straightening her back and folding her arms; before crossing one of her own legs in the computer chair, and lying back.
"So...I guess I told you a little bit about my past, would you like to divulge and humor me a bit with yours?"
Jake's ears perked up, his expression shifting to one of deep thought and introspection. He placed his hands into an interlock on the computer desk, his fur matching the oak finish it bore.
He was organizing his thoughts, attempting to piece together the fragments of an obscured and discombobulated childhood he could hardly remember.
"Well...if I'm being completely honest with you...it's rather hard to recite exactly how Jen and I arrived here. All I remember was...being brought in by a man called Nate Drexler, who just so happened to be the number one Mafia contraband smuggler here in New Haven. He raised Jen and I when we were just kits, telling us that something terrible occurred to our parents; and that we were under his care. He was...not the most compassionate parental figure to say the least, and being in an underground bunker facility...just wasn't the environment I wanted to see Jen grow up in. So, one night, I snuck us both us towards the entrance of the bunker, making sure to evade guard patrol's and Drexler's men. We remained incognito to go under the radar where Nate may find us. Eventually, we settled in one of the universal districts' orphanages until we reached our teen years, and I transitioned us to one of the new "Youth residential fund" apartment complexes...where we have stayed ever since."
Nicole remained silent for a few moments, processing the details of what Jake had told her.
"I'm so sorry that you and your sister went through that Jake...I truly am..."
Jake gave a warm smile of reassurance to the blue female feline, indicating that he wasn't shaken by the recollection and retelling of those past events.
"It's okay Nicole, I'm...actually glad to have shared that with you. Plus, it was only fair to have shared a little bit of my own past, after you had been so transparent with your own."
The fox and feline both stared with understanding for a few brief moments, before Nicole stared at the computer screen.
"Well...I guess we better actually get to the purpose of this entire meeting, huh?"
Jake nodded, as he pulled his chair in closer to the desk and computer screen, as he sat directly beside Nicole.
"Indeed! What would you like to know? Honestly, Purgatory is a lot less complex than you might guess, trust me."
Nicole sat at the computer screen, the internet icon was directly in the path of her mouse; as she tried to formulate a question that could be the most pivotal to her.
"Well...I did hear about district passes when I met Eddie and your sister, perhaps I could understand a little bit about how those work?"
"Ahhhh, that's an excellent question! Given how vast this place is, as you can tell, not everyone i going to be as cordial to rival species. Unrest between canines and felines- just an example, no offence to you, you're pretty pleasant."
"None taken, continue."
"Reptiles and Amphibians, different classes of bird citizens, Insects and Reptiles...the list really does go on. Any rivalry that was retained in half of our DNA from our parents, to their parents, so on and so forth; was passed down to us. Even mixed species couples and marriages still retain a bitter rivalry in their offspring, should they be from contending interspecies sects. So, to combat unrest amongst us all, Death created a "District Card" system, which allows some visitation and living rights to all anthropomorphic citizens like us, but also retains the security of each species' different traits. For instance, if you are a rival species in a district with a valid district card, you can still live there, granted you do not cause mischief or problems within that district. Violations of the rules can lead to temporary bans from visitation, or if enough offences are had, criminal charges that could lead you to be imprisoned in purgatory penitentiary...which is an excruciating sentence to have."
"...Because of the harsh punishments and conditions?"
Jake quickly moved the cursor to the internet icon, typing some words into the default search engine, before clicking onto the images taskbar at the top of the page.
Nicole gasped, as she used on of her paws to cover her mouth. With the images associated with the search "Purgatory prison pictures", she saw anthro citizens from all walks of life and species being placed into solitary confinement like cells, being left with practically nothing in their rooms.
"How...how is this allowed?"
"We don't operate under normal bodily functions as you do on Earth, and since every citizen is equipped with magic, you're revoked from using practically anything while imprisoned in New Haven. You're limited to a rationed supply of magic in there for basic necessities, but that's it. Magic will help you maintain a somewhat healthy supply of food, exercise, and rest while in your cell...but the padding inside restricts movement, preventing anyone from leaving their cells. It's basically punishment on the premise of psychological torture, enough amenities to keep yourself cleanly and occupied...but restricting he most important aspect of any person: The freedom of movement. It's even worse when they show you images of the outside world on the large teleprompter at the center of the detention facility...practically mocking you by saying: "This what you gave up...happy now?" "
Nicole then placed a paw on her chin.
"It seems like from these images, these cells are pretty spacious...much more than the prisons back on Earth..."
"You would be right, they're basically the size of a one bedroom apartment for each inmate. Plumbing and basic utilities, food rations, and small entertainment like Television, books, and video games are provided to you...but that's it. No freedom, no exiting your cell...eventually every inmate becomes bored out of their minds...literally. By the time their sentence is up, most would not dare to commit any more crimes ever again."
"So...they provide you a taste of freedom...but not enough to actually be like a law abiding citizen?"
"Precisely, Nicole."
Nicole continued scrolling with the mouse, as she stumbled upon an exterior view of the prison.
"WOAH! This place is massive!"
"It spreads across an entire sector of New Haven and Purgatory, so you're talking miles stretching in every direction...which, come to think of it, makes sense for one of the immortal realms of the afterlife."
Nicole nodded in understanding, before stopping to turn to Jake once more.
"What about serious crimes and offences?"
"They're immediately transferred to Damnation with Satan."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that. Death has officers of the law everywhere, and their criminal prosecution process is much more extensive and efficient than you had back on Earth. Nothing slips past them, which may sound rather harsh, but it helps to maintain peace and order."
Nicole raised an eyebrow.
"Wouldn't that allow corruption to be available to anyone who wanted to abuse their power in the force?"
"When you're a member and "employee" of one of the three main deities of Hell, Heaven and Eternity, or New Haven and Purgatory, you MUST remain ethical to your omnipotent mandate set by your eternal boss. Satan, God, and Death may have their different methods to maintaining order in their realms, but none of them are unethical. They are there to ensure each realm operates to their mandate, not overthrow each other in petty rivalries or squabbles; or allow their minions to overthrow each other."
Jake, in providing the best explanation he could muster, soon flicked his finger and spawned a cup of hot chocolate.
Nicole's eyes widened at the sight.
"Is...this the magic you were talking about earlier?"
Jake chuckled, as he quickly took a sip from the warm liquid that was almost overflowing from the styrofoam cup.
"Bullseye! It's what makes this place tick and run!"
Nicole then turned in her chair to face parallel to the male fox.
"Would you mind showing me how it works?"
Jake smiled, as he placed his cup of hot cocoa on the computer desk.
"Luke would kill me if he saw me drinking this so close to a computer...ahh what the heck, we got an infinite supply of keyboards and monitors! Alright, I will show you how this all works...you are your own lifeline in this world...and I'm going to show you how easy it truly is!"
Jake then turned to face Nicole himself, sitting in a relaxed stature as he stared into the eyes of the beautiful female feline in front of him.
"Okay, since you're a novice to all of this, the first thing I want you to do is relax your shoulders and close your eyes and try to think of an object that brought you joy in your past. It could be anything, anything at all!"
Nicole did as instructed, closing her eyes, various uplifting memories of her childhood flashing before her. Christmas morning with her parents, Karate training with Yuki Yoshida, and writing in her journal...but one memory struck her.
"Jake...I...can see all of my memories!"
"Excellent! That means it's working, try to concentrate on one that brought you immense joy! When you have something in mind, I want you to flick your finger and claws together, while outstretching your palms!"
Nicole smiled, as she held her eyes firmly together focusing all of her energy into one memory that struck a chord with her...and then she flicked her middle finger and thumb together, and held out her paws.
"Now...open your eyes, Nicole."
Nicole slowly opened her eyes, she saw Jake giving her a warm smile, as he laid out his hand to gesture her attention to her own paws.
There, lying in perfect health, and immaculate Pink O'Hara rose that she had plucked from a garden while on a trip to France with her parents as a young girl.
"Oh my goodness...Jake...Jake I did it!"
Nicole quickly grasped the flower in her palms gently, before lunging forward to hug the fox who taught her magic.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"
Jake was a little bewildered at first, his heart throbbing with excitement and wonder.
"Don't faint, don't faint, don't you DARE faint, Jake!
The young male fox kept repeating this in his head, as he slowly accepted.
"Uh...no problem Nicole! Hehe..."
Nicole then opened her eyes quickly, as she quickly disengaged the hug.
"I-I'm sorry...that was...inappropriate of me."
Jake quickly waved his paws.
"Not at all! It's okay! You were excited and happy to learn magic! I can only imagine what it must be like to see this for the first time from your perspective, this is an every day occurrence for me!"
Jake smiled and chuckled, as Nicole joined in.
"But truly Jake, thank you for teaching me this...it's amazing!"
Jake gave a warm and playful bow in his chair, as he rose once more.
"Happy to be of service, Nicole! Now, you may see-"
Before Jake could continue, Nicole's eyes were shooting upwards towards the ceiling.
"Jake? Why am I seeing numbers in my head right now?"
As if through a projector inside her subconscious, a display which read: Magical currency spent: 1, Magical currency balance: 9,999, next magical surplus: 1 hour
"Annnnd there it is. Don't be alarmed! It's just like a holographic display you see in one of your Sci-Fi movies back on Earth. It's telling you that you spent a portion of your magic to conjure an item, your total balance remaining, and when the next magical surplus will enter your account as it does for all citizens of New Haven! Pretty cool, huh?"
Nicole then saw the prompt disappear in front of her eyes, as she stared at Jake in a mixture of slight unnerved excitement, and bewilderment.
"Interesting for sure, but it may be a little adjustment process to get used to."
Jake laughed softly, as he nodded at Nicole's words.
"That's exactly what Jennifer said the first time she saw the number prompts! Haha!"
Nicole also hid some subtle laughter, before Jake recomposed himself. His attention was soon drawn to the pink O'Hara rose in Nicole's grasp.
"Would you mind telling me what the significance of that rose is to you?"
Nicole glanced downwards towards the rose, before staring back towards Jake.
"Oh! This? This is the rose I plucked from my Grandmother Senicourt's garden in France when I visited with my parents. Both sides of my family have French origin, so my connection there is quite strong...Grandma Senicourt always did bake the best cookies...and the peaceful French countryside? Aww! Jake! You should have seen it! It was...it was...wonderful."
Jake was still smiling as he listened and observed the beautiful blue feline in front of him...her mood completely changing 180 degrees from when she first entered the library. He was thrilled to know she seemed happy...especially given the circumstances that brought her here.
"I bet it was Nicole...I bet it was..."
"Y'know...one day I'd like to go back there, and live out the rest of my days in peace...with someone I love, have a nice house on the Mediterranean southern coast, next to the sea...and the both of us just...sitting in a grass field...listening to the ocean together."
Nicole smiled at this thought, as Jake also smiled.
"That would be wonderful Nicole...I truly hope that comes to fruition for you..."
"Me too Jake...me too..."
Universal District, New Haven, just outside the New Haven library, 6:00 P.M
The rest of the time spent in the library, involved Jake showing Nicole everything New Haven had to offer in sights and attractions on the library computer, and considering that she didn't have to worry about money as she did in Elmore, the next three months could be treated as a temporary vacation until she resurfaced from her coma.
"Wooooo! What a day! Thank you so much for showing me all of this Jake!"
Jake put on his jacket, as he smiled at Nicole.
"Don't mention it! I actually am really glad I decided to come in for this shift! It was a pleasure meeting you!"
Jake let out some soft chuckles, mixed with some high pitched fox cackles.
"Wha- HA! HA! HA! Jake! What was that sound you just made?!"
Jake blushed with some slight embarrassment.
"Oh, that...yeah that's uh...that's the laugh that us foxes do sometimes...it kinda happens spontaneously without us really noticing. Unless...we're told by someone else."
Jake continued to rub the back of his neck, trying to explain away the awkward feelings he felt inside his chest, anxiety gripping him like a knot.
"Well...I thought it was cute and adorable personally...hehe."
Nicole gave a smile of admiration and joy, as she extended her paw for a handshake.
Jake smiled as well, wiping away his feelings of embarrassment that he did have.
Jake accepted her paw, and both the blue feline and red fox exchanged a friendly handshake.
"Say...would you like to go out for a coffee sometime? I'd love to spend a bit more time with you...you seem like a person I'd like to know better."
Jake's ears perked upwards.
"Is...she asking me...to go out with her? ME?!"
Jake was in a trance for a few minutes, frozen with shock.
"Jake?"
No response.
"Jake?!"
The fox's expression had remained in a state of complete entrancement and love...he couldn't believe the words he just heard.
"JAKE?!"
The rumpus tone in the feline's voice soon led the fox to look slightly downwards to the 5'5" feline in front of him.
"Oh! Sorry Nicole, I uh...got lost for a second in my own thoughts..."
Nicole rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Well, I was asking, if you wanted to...would you like to go out for coffee sometime? There was a nice little café that I noticed on the way here, and they seem to have a nice little view of the feline district outside it's windows! We could grab some lunch, chat for a bit, go for a walk, and I can show you my new apartment that Alyssa helped set up for me! I got some movies and snacks, it could really be a wonderful day for both of us!"
Jake smiled, for the first time in his young existence...a girl was actually interested in spending time with him. Nicole's eyes were filled with joy and anticipation in awaiting the fox's response.
"Yeah...yeah that would be nice! You can count me in, Nicole!"
Nicole smiled, before giving Jake one last hug.
"Oh...sorry, it happened again..."
"Hehe, no worries! When do you want to meet up?"
"Well...I don't have anything really to do here so...anytime you want really!"
Jake smirked, before speaking.
"Would tomorrow be okay? Around noon?"
Nicole's eyes soon lit up.
"That would be great!"
Nicole smiled, as she walked towards the bus stop for the feline district; the universal districts always using signs along the roads to indicate which bus route passengers were embarking on.
"It's a date then?!"
Nicole shouted out to Jake from the bus stop cupping her paws around her mouth, her voice actually managing to be clear and crisp despite the surrounding noise and bustle of the city around her.
"It's a date!"
Jake shouted back, giving a thumbs up back to her.
Nicole waved back and gave a thumbs up of her own, before boarding the feline district bus to her apartment.
Jake watched as the bus slowly moved out into the street, and as it was passing, Nicole waved from one of the bus windows; causing Jake to smile and wave back.
Jake stood with a warm expression on his face...he finally was going to meet someone for a fun day...to converse...to connect! A genuine connection this time...
Suddenly, Jake's phone began to ring in his pocket.
The fox rummaged to gain a grip of his cellular device, and checked the caller I.D.
Incoming call from: Jennifer
Jake smiled and rolled his eyes, as he pressed accept.
"Heeeeeeeey big bro! Sooooooooo...how did to go?"
"It was great Jen, actually we just said goodbye to one another for the evening just a few moments ago, how are things at Eddie's place?"
"Oh, it's been fine over here! Eddie was just flipping a bit of pizza dough...and between you and me, failing miserably..."
A faint voice could be heard in the background.
"I heard that!"
Jennifer and Jake both laughed for a few minutes over the phone, with Eddie eventually joining in the background.
"So you're making homemade pizza together?"
"Yep! Or...at least trying, it's our first attempt."
Jake let out a soft chuckle.
"Well, I'm glad you're having fun! Say uh, can I ask you a favor Jen?"
"Of course! Shoot!"
"Do you have any way of contacting...you know who? I need to get in touch about acquiring a new pass for the feline district..."
The other end of the line remained silent for a few moments, indicating to Jake that Jen was curious and concerned about his intentions.
"Okay...first off...why? And second of all...why would you need to get in contact with him? Do you realize what he put us through?"
Jake scratched the top of his forehead, the fur becoming ruffled.
"Trust me sis, I know...it's just...I don't want to spend extra currency on a legitimate pass...especially when I have a date with-"
Jake stopped in his tracks, but it was too late...he already spilled the beans.
"...Damn bro! You ARE more likeable than I initially thought!"
On the other end, Jennifer looked to Eddie, who smirked at her.
"I guess I do owe you 5 bucks Ed!"
"Wait a minute...Jen...did you make a bet with Ed that I would go out on a date with Nicole...after having just met?!"
Jennifer could be heard laughing.
"Hey! It's not my fault you're kind, lovable, and all around considerate to those around you! Eddie thought moreso along those lines than I did, but I guess I slightly underestimated your charm and charisma! I guess Nicole REALLY liked your first meeting together! 48 hours into Purgatory and she already has a date! Unbelievable! And with MY brother too!"
Jake rolled his eyes.
"Is it still the same address from years ago, Jen? I have the date with her tomorrow, and I really don't want to be late to reach "him" at a bad time..."
"It is...he's still on Plymouth street, just a few blocks from where you live in the Universal district...that same god awful bunker..."
Jake let a warm grin spread across his face.
"Thanks Jen, you're the best sister any brother could ask for."
"No problem Jakey...and Jake?"
"Yes, Jen?"
"...Be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt...especially where you're going now."
Jake looked down at the ground, kicking a rock across the sidewalk.
"Don't worry Jen...I'll be around to visit you and Ed after tomorrow's date...perhaps if Nicole is in the mood, she can drop by too?"
"She's welcome here anytime! She seemed very sweet in our first meeting today...a little quiet, but nice."
Jake let out a slight chuckle.
"Well, it's her first time seeing a world completely opposite in structure to her own, I don't blame her."
"Yeah..."
A few moments of silence between siblings remained, before Jake broke it.
"I'll see you tomorrow, and don't worry...things have changed a lot since I last saw him...I'll be okay. I'm not the same vulnerable kit I was, Jen. Tell Ed I said hi and good luck with that pizza, okay? I love you with all my heart sis."
"I love you with all my heart too, Jake...goodnight."
"Goodnight."
BEEP!
Jake slowly placed his phone in his pocket, and faced his body in the direction of Plymouth street...walking amongst the masses of fellow anthro citizens...unsure of the reaction his old father figure, Nate Drexler, would have after his years long absence from his side...
(If "Gotta be Somebody by Nickelback" is compatible with your device, please press play now)
*END OF CHAPTER*