Confessions to be Made
"Am I...dreaming all of this?"
Jake asked himself, as the world went in slow motion...though accidentally kissing Nicole...the embrace felt genuine...what he could not express in words...fate was taking him by the hand instead to do what he could not...confess his love for the blue feline.
Nicole froze for a moment, as her eyes locked with his...no...it couldn't be him again...of all of her luck...
"Wow...he really does look handsome up close...those eyes...his soft expression..."
Both young adults disengaged their kiss, as the small crowd that had gathered around them gave them some space, with some going on about their day and leaving the scene once they had known the two were okay.
"Uh...hi...again..."
Jake said in a warm, but meek tone of voice.
"Hi again...Jake..."
Jake couldn't believe how close the both of them were in this moment...and yet it was completely incidental, and not at all expected...it was like the universe itself refused to allow the young feline and fox to be separated from each other for too long...and if it wasn't creating an unannounced spark before...it certainly was now.
"S-sorry for bumping into you...I uh..."
"N-no! It's fine, accidents happen...no worries..."
Jake realized where his paws were laying, slowly regaining his senses after the impact of him and Nicole hitting one another...and it was directly on her jeans...specifically her glutes.
Feeling especially immodest and embarrassed now, he quickly resituated his paws to be on her back, not that Nicole noticed, since she was still staring down at Jake...and felt lovestruck...truly lovestruck.
His flushed expression melted her heart, and his courteous manner still was ever prevalent...even now. The two had spent only a short while together, yet she felt a connection and bond to him that she didn't even know was possible...this feeling was completely alien to her...inexplicable in its nature and hard to difficult to rationalize in words at the moment.
"Jake?! Jake?! You okay?"
Sifting through the crowd was a tall and fit German shepherd, wearing a black T-shirt and grey shorts himself, as his black and golden fur flowed freely in the cool summer air, and almost instantaneously after the male canine said this, another voice emerged from the crowd.
"Nicole? Girl, the last thing you need is to hit your head a second time! You already are in a coma for one of those injuries!"
A female snow leopard soon emerged wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans of her own, as she soon rushed over to see her best friend and protégé.
But before both could check on their friends, the snow leopard and German shepherd locked eyes through the crowd.
"A-Alyssa?!"
"Luke? Is that-"
Jake and Nicole began to recover their personal bearings, with Jake helping Nicole regain her footing as he lifted her up.
"I...how long has it been?"
Alyssa said with a half smile, as Luke began to have a warm smile spread across his face as well.
"Too long..."
Jake, after knowing that Nicole was okay, averted his attention to his best friend, who was standing firmly in a locked trance with Alyssa.
"Wait...do you...do you two know each other?"
Luke chuckled, as he began to nod his head slowly.
"Jake...before I go any further...did you ever question why I was able to meet you in the godforsaken alley on Plymouth street all those years ago?"
Jake paused for a moment, as Nicole stood next to him shaking the dust and ground that had accumulated from the sidewalk onto her jeans as a result of the collision with Jake.
Jake's ears perked up with inquisitive intrigue.
"I don't understand...Luke, what are you trying to say?"
"It...wasn't luck or chance that we're friends Jake...I'm actually...your guardian angel...just as Alyssa here is Nicky's..."
Jake's eyes widened with realization and revelation, all this time, and he was completely unaware and oblivious to the true origins of his best friend...someone who he had seen as the brother he never had...
"W-wow...I...had no idea..."
Nicole was just as shocked to learn this information as well. It was not even a week ago now that she had met Jake, and already new information was beginning to unravel in quick succession, it was beginning to become...strangely exhilarating and fatiguing simultaneously.
"If I may interrupt for a moment...Luke?"
Nicole soon asked with curiosity, as she shifted herself to be mere feet in front of the German Shepherd.
"How...did you and Liz meet?"
Luke glanced over to Alyssa, who was blushing with a warm smile, as he returned a blush and warm smile of his own.
"Well..."
20 years ago...
"You're the latest recruits that we have lined up to guide, guard, and grant a safe and secure existence to a batch of newborns ready to enter their respective realms of existence...we are here, as the guardians of Eternity, to ensure that you are the bearers of the torch to protect these individuals, and safeguard them through a happy and peaceful life."
A small snow leopard kitten stood with a jubilant smile across her face, jumping up and down with palpable excitement, in stark contrast to the reserved and stoic demeanor of her angelic colleagues, who were still, by all accounts and purposes, very much kids...but kids who far exceeded the maturation period that mortal anthro kids did.
Alyssa purred with anticipation, but tried to remain reserved on the outside to mask her true feelings on the inside. It was the dream of every young angel to be bestowed their "Life-bond". A life bond is the testament to an angel's competency to guard and protect their person, and the day had finally arrived for Alyssa to finally know who it was she was supposed to protect with the sworn and solemn vow every angel had taken at such a young age.
"Before you know who you will be assigned to, it's important to review what you have learned here with the rest of your fellow classmates. This may be the only opportunity you have before you venture out to Purgatory or Earth...and even from there, not all that you have been taught is applicable at any given situation..."
The female bear angel soon loomed over the younger recruits, slowly pacing down the line with a rather concerned motherly expression.
"I have known you all now for some years now, and I am confident in all of your abilities, and your devotion to duty...you have all earned the right to be decreed as guardian angels. So please, pick a partner, and I want you to create a hypothetical scenario with each other, and the advice you would give to them in their time of peril and strife."
Alyssa's ears drooped, she always hated group activities because it would always mean that she would be left without a partner almost indefinitely.
The line soon became more disorderly, as the guardian kids soon connected with a partner in almost quick succession. Alyssa had observed the social cliques of her fellow recruits, and there wasn't much room for an angel who was more...idiosyncratic in her quirks. Alyssa was always the more hyperactive and boisterous of her class, which was different in the midst of so many in her group who valued a soft approach, rather than a forthcoming and rambunctious personality.
The duos began to form, one after one, and the pool of partners was beginning to shrink at a rapid rate. Alyssa was never bullied per se, since kindness and compassion were paramount in Eternity, and above all else, in the guardian angel ranks...but she wasn't sure if that was worse, or the ostracization she was faced with now.
The kindness she was shown by her peers...always came off in a tone that could be perceived as a "superficial kindness", not out of genuine good will...but out of a rapidly approaching indifference.
Soon, the room had their partners picked, and from what Alyssa could see in her immediate surroundings...there was no one left.
Crushed with betrayal...it seemed like her last memory of Eternity before being assigned to her "Life-Bond"...was going to be that of loneliness...
Placing her paws against her forearms, she gave herself a "bear hug" of sorts, one that provided a miniscule warmth to console her feelings of sadness.
On the verge of tears, she slowly walked towards the corner of the recruitment academy, and sat herself down against the wall, burying her face into her knees.
When she thought she was about to sit out on another group training exercise, she could hear the soft patter of footsteps coming towards her.
"Hey..."
The snow leopard's ears perked upwards, as she slowly lifted her head from the depths of darkness that was her sadness, to be greeted with the blinding light from one of the room's fixtures on the ceiling.
"Are you...without a partner too?"
Her vision adjusted to place a face to the voice she was hearing, and soon saw a young German Shepherd boy that was slowly wagging his tail, and was smiling down at her; before he quickly took a seat next to her.
"Y-yeah..."
The snow leopard kitten was still shaky in her voice, recovering her composure and demeanor once more was going to take a bit of time.
"Same here...I actually hardly know anyone in this class...I missed my graduation of guardian angel with my original class and slept in...accidentally..."
The German Shepherd sighed, rubbing his paws together sheepishly.
"Are you okay? Trust me, this isn't the first time I have been without a partner too, so you're not alone...it happened with my original class as well...I'm kinda glad I didn't have to graduate with them..."
The snow leopard continued to observe the canine, he had a very cute nature about him, and he seemed...very calming and soothing in his tone...a welcoming and soft tone that began to soothe her feelings of betrayal just moments earlier.
"D-did you have anyone that you were friends with?"
Alyssa tried to join in on the engagement and flow of the conversation, showing that she was truly listening to what the boy was saying, and not dismissing his words or half listening.
"Not really, I just...I dunno, I really just preferred working on my own for the most part, which is pretty ironic given how we're going to be overlooking and watching another person's life to ensure their safety...I guess I'm not going to be cut out for this sort of thing..."
Alyssa's ears perked up momentarily hearing this, before they drooped once more...this boy was kind enough to see how she was doing, the least she could do was to help console him as well.
"W-well...I think you're wrong about that..."
The canine boy had his own ears perk up, as he turned to the snow leopard girl.
"What makes you say that?"
"Well...you approached another to see how they were doing...nothing compelled you to come talk to me...you saw someone in need, and now we're talking to one another...that doesn't seem selfish to me at all...that...shows compassion...a trait that is needed to be a guardian angel..."
The German Shepherd boy smiled, as he rubbed the back of his neck scruff.
"I-that...actually makes a lot sense...thank you for that..."
"You're quite welcome..."
The two angel kids sat in silence for a moment, before the canine boy extended his paw.
"I'm Luke by the way, it's nice to meet you-"
"Alyssa, and it's wonderful to meet you too, Luke!"
Alyssa gently cupped her paw with his, as the soft pads of them both met in a kind and warm manner.
"Say...since we're both without partners...would you care to be mine?"
Alyssa's smile gasped with joy, as she wrapped her arms around Luke in a hug.
"Oh absolutely! I'd love to!"
Initially caught off guard, Luke soon chuckled to himself as both the rejects of their respective angel classes...outcasts...had found common ground as newly formed partners.
*Present Day*
(If "Unforgotten" is compatible with your device, please press play now)
"We didn't initially know it at that moment, but the chemistry we had during that duo group activity...had earned us both a cheer from our classmates and angel instructors...but just as quickly we had formed a bond together as friends and partners...our duties separated us...I was tasked with seeing to Jake in New Haven..."
"-And I was tasked with Nicole in Elmore...on Earth..."
The two guardian angels stared at one another, as Jake and Nicole had their eyes glazed with complete bewilderment.
Luke took a few steps closer, before extending his paw.
"I'm glad to know you're oka-"
He was quickly embraced once more by Alyssa, just as they had years ago as kids.
"I'm...happy to see you again Luke..."
The German shepherd smiled, closing his eyes and accepting the embrace of the snow leopard.
"And I'm happy to see you again too, Alyssa..."
In the background, Nicole and Jake were smiling at the sight of the two angel friends reunited after so long.
"If I had known my best friend was actually a guardian angel AND was friends with your guardian angel...I would have told him Alyssa had given Jen that tip to meet with you, Nicky..."
Nicole turned with a warm smile, as she unconsciously took Jake's paw, causing the young male fox to freeze, but quickly accept the gesture.
Subconsciously unaware of the action she just took, the blue feline simply smiled at the sight of her new friend being reunited...she truly was overjoyed at the sight of her guardian happy...she didn't want to admit it to Alyssa yet but...their friendship was becoming a reality by the second, not just because she was Nicole's guardian angel...but because she truly was enjoying her company and bubbly, optimistic personality...
"I know you would have Jake...from what little I have seen of you so far...you seem to care about those around you with a genuine heart..."
Snapping back to reality periodically, she felt something soft grasping her paw, and quickly looked down before coming to the stark realization that she was holding Jake's paw.
"Oh...CRAP!"
"Okay...play it cool Jake...she's holding your hand...no big deal...oh, who am I kidding...this IS a big deal! She and I just witnessed a reunion, and now she's feeling sappy too!
"Should I just...stealthily move away from his grasp so he doesn't notice? Surely he's not paying attention to this...is this creepy or awkward? How many times have I done something awkward with him since I arrived in this place? His hand does feel warm and soft thoug-NO! No! You got to recover the situation here Nicole...just slowly...move your hand out of his grasp..."
"Do I just...wait until she realizes? Or is she doing this on purpose? Does...she have feelings for me too? What if she notices that I notice that she's holding my hand? Will I be making a possibly romantic situation awkward? This is...all so confusing...how do people do this stuff?!"
With both blue feline and red fox in a mental clash with themselves, a voice within a few feet of them soon broke the silence.
"You two okay over there? You seem pretty...what would you call it, Alyssa?"
"Like...two deer caught in the headlights, Luke?!"
"That's the expression!"
Both angel friends broke the trance Nicole and Jake were currently in, as both in perfect synchronization, slowly glanced down at their bound hands, as they quickly pulled away with a blush.
"Hehe...it seems we uh..."
"Yeah...it seems like Liz and your buddy Luke are having an effect on both of us..."
All four anthros now chuckled with delight, as Jake moved towards a free park bench to sit down.
"So, Luke...I guess we'll call that one a draw too?"
The German Shepherd bellowed a hearty laugh, as he nodded his head.
"I think that's reasonable Jake, especially with what just happened...but don't worry, we'll get a proper rematch, one day..."
Jake winked at his best friend...and now revealed guardian angel.
"I'll hold you to that!"
Jake looked at his friend once more, as Nicole came over to sit beside Jake, watching the beautiful park surroundings.
"Well...this was a crazy week for us all it seems..."
Jake stated, as Alyssa and Luke took the last two vacant spaces on the bench, and nodded to the male fox's statement.
"Well...you can say that again...I'm pretty sure, and I don't get these gut feelings very often, but I am pretty sure what has happened in recent days...has set forth in motion events which have already changed our lives going forward...whether we know it or not."
Jake paused for a moment, contemplating Luke's words...thinking back to what Jackie had proposed to him the other evening in regards to Nicole...
Why did they need her? What power within her did he speak about...she had only arrived not even a week ago, and now they were asking Jake to bring her to them in 3 months time...if Nate was interested in her...it could only mean trouble...and Jake wasn't going to let her enter harm's way to meet the ends of his once abusive mentor and the only father figure he had ever known. He truly cared for Nicole and he knew it...he fell in love with her the moment he saw her enter the New Haven library on that fateful day...even if she didn't feel the same way towards him...at least ensuring that she made it out of New Haven safely back home to Earth was enough for him...his life was here in New Haven...for who knows how long; bur she was mortal...with an entire life ahead of her back home...and if there was a chance that her boyfriend, Richard, does indeed return...and they repair what had transpired...create a life of their own together...a potential family...he could rest easy knowing he had saved a life...and possibly more.
Before he could continue with his train of thought, he felt a paw grasp his shoulder, as he looked to his side, where Luke and Alyssa were now sitting, with Luke having a considerate expression on his face.
"Listen...Jake..."
The canine's black ears drooped and furled downwards, as he spoke with a tone which resembled an older brother talking to a younger one.
"I'm sorry I wasn't more...clairvoyant with you on this...in regards to what us angels call a "life-bond". I didn't want to make it widely known that I was your guardian angel, especially when I first met you...when we were both kids. If Nate knew that I was protecting you...a guardian angel...I was afraid that Drexler would have put you and your sister in peril, and you through more intensive training if he knew my presence was that of a guardian angel...I didn't want to take that risk but...just know that I was always there in case things ever got out of hand...out of sight but always watching over you...until the day you had the courage to escape with your sister, Jennifer...Drexler wasn't going to get away with seriously hurting you, I swore an oath to protect you from mortal danger without compromising my presence...but I was immensely proud of you that night and the initiative you took to save yourself and your sister...and even then...I wasn't far away...guiding you along the way...ever notice how some of the usually locked doors were open on that night?"
Jake's ears perked up.
"That was you?"
Luke nodded, as he crossed one of his legs over the other on the park bench, and folded his arms.
"I couldn't stand idle and watch you potentially get caught and face dire consequences, but as I stated...back then I couldn't make my presence known around Nate and the rest of his goons; so I did what I could with limited capacity of intervention...and helped aide you in your escape that night...the last thing I wanted was to see you recaptured and subjugated to more brutal training...or worse..."
Jake's eyes flicked with revelation...all this time when he felt he was alone...he had someone guiding himself and his sister to a safer and better life...
"I understand if you're angry with me for not doing more, and if you need to vent that's okay too-"
Luke stopped as he saw an orange paw rested on his shoulder.
He turned to see Jake with near tears in his eyes, as he hugged the German shepherd.
"Thank you Luke...for everything you have done so far...for looking out for me and my sister...thank you..."
Luke embraced his best friend...and who he had considered a brother for years now, and smiled with his eyes closed.
"Don't thank me, Jake...it was what I was born to do...it's a duty...what you have done for Jennifer and yourself took strength, courage, love, devotion...and determination...you yourself have made these decisions in spite of all that you have faced in adversity...on your own and by your own volition...through the darkness...you still believed in hope...in the light..."
As the two "brothers" embraced, Nicole glanced over to Alyssa, who gave her a smile.
"Don't think I don't feel the same way about you too, girl! You have always made me proud...even when I desperately wanted to tell you but couldn't...you were never alone..."
Nicole felt herself get a little emotional, as she rushed over to her fellow feline, and gave her a hug.
The guardian angels...had confessed themselves to their protectives...and now they were never going to retreat to the shadows ever again...they were here to see Nicole and Jake through thick and thin...no matter the cost...
New Haven Park, Universal District, 1:00 PM
After conjuring a picnic, the four newly formed friends sat and ate a wonderful lunch, compliments going to Alyssa for her mastery at food selection.
Assorted meat sandwiches, bounties of fruit to choose from, cookies, muffins, sausages, cheese...all of it provided enough energy for the afternoon ahead for the group in their adventures in this strange, but wonderful town.
"Okay, it must be said...Alyssa, you are a STELLAR hostess! I mean...this was all so very thoughtful of you!"
Nicole stated with a true kindness in her tone, as the humility began to wash through Liz like a tsunami.
"Oh it was nothiiiiing! Just a little pick me up for the rest of the day, I mean...I did wanna show you the town a little and see the sights...but as we all know it kinda turned into a family reunion of sorts..."
The group of young adult anthros laughed and chuckled at Alyssa's adorable response, as Luke chugged down the last bit of apple juice that was in his glass, as he sighed with revitalized vigor.
"Amen to that! And what a reunion it was...all because of Jake's masterful awareness of his surroundings!"
Jake rolled his eyes, and gave a playful nudge to his German Shepherd best friend.
"Yeah well, that draw streak we had was almost ended today, so don't forget that!"
Luke winked and gave a thumbs up.
"Don't worry, it's all stored up here in the membrane! In the meantime-"
Luke quickly arose from the picnic mat, and stretched.
"We are in a park...and we still have a long day ahead of us...soooooo-"
Luke conjured a cone shaped ball, with straps and laces surrounding an outer portion of it's elongated spherical shape.
"Is anyone here perchance familiar with American football?"
Jake gave a surprised look, before waving his paw.
"Well uh...yes...but are we just doing catch and tag or are we...playing actual American football because the actual game is...a little rough..."
Luke juggled the ball from one paw to the next.
"Well..."
The German shepherd glanced down at Nicole and Alyssa.
"Let's ask our lovely ladies accompanying us! What would you rather?"
Immediately, Nicole cracked her knuckles.
"I'm game for some contact football! It seems like injuries are rather non existent here right? I mean, I took a full impact from Jake here going top speed not too long ago, and I don't have a scratch or feel sore! I also used to play in a girl's league when I was little besides my soccer so...it would be nice to play again!"
Luke nodded.
"Very well! We have one vote for yes to contact football, annnnnnnnnnd, what say you, Liz?"
Just as Luke posed the question, Alyssa had a facial expression akin to Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western, as she streaked two lines of eye black just underneath her eyes on her grey fur.
"Let's...DO THIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!"
The snow leopard jumped and sprung to her feet, as she did some quick stretches with some jumping jacks.
Luke, chuckling at the enthusiasm of his angel partner in fighting for good, soon raised two claws in the air.
"Well, 3 against 1 Jake! What do you say?"
Jake, at first baffled that this was actually happening, soon smiled at the prospect of a game with his newfound friends...he couldn't recall at any point having a game with more than just him and Luke...and now they were about to play contact football with two extra!
"Well..."
Jake rose to his feet, with a smile.
"As Alyssa just put it so perfectly...let's do this!"
A cheer rose from the four young adult anthros, as they walked along the long stretch of park field, where they could locate a vacant spot to play.
Nicole kept her eyes trained on Jake, as he would glance back at her with a warm smile.
"Soon...soon you got to let him know how you truly feel, Nicole...but for now...let's see what he's got...and what you can show him...or surprise him with!"
*END OF CHAPTER*