THE PARK
Book 1
Chapter 5- (Don't Take It Personally)
Chapter 5- (Don't Take It Personally)
Krrnch!
Pain shot through Felix's foot as Liam's heel dug deep into his toe. "Mreeoow! Hey!"
Liam gasped and jumped off of Felix's foot, mortified. He bunched his fists close to his chest, big blue eyes pleading for mercy. "Sorry!" he whimpered.
"Just..." Felix growled, flustered. "Watch your step next time!"
Liam shuffled forward in the lunch line, keeping a wary eye on Felix's feet from then on. Felix sighed and shook his head. This kid's a walking disaster.
Sarah cleared her throat. She gave him a stern glare--- one that asked, "Could you at least try to be nice?"
Felix shrugged apology. He was trying. There were plenty of far meaner things he could have said. "Get off my foot, you clutz!" came to mind. He could have said that, but he hadn't.
"Hey, uh, Sarah," Liam began as the three made their way to Felix and Sarah's usual table. "Is that a new skirt?" He pointed one bony red finger down at the billowy blue skirt, which reached all the way down to her ankles. Sarah's skirts usually reached about halfway down her thighs, and were never embroidered with so much detail. Its deep, vibrant color matched her sapphire hair scarf perfectly. Felix quite liked it.
"Actually, it's an old one," said Sarah. "My mom bought it for me a month before she... yeah." She shrugged. "I like it, but I don't usually wear it because it's so long." The bridge of her nose wrinkled as she lifted the skirt ever so slightly to sit down. "I've almost tripped on it twice today."
Liam sat down beside her, right in Felix's usual spot. "Maybe you could pin it up?"
Felix loudly cleared his throat, looming over Liam's shoulder. The tabby's eyes bugged out again, and he slid his tray down another seat. Sarah shook her head. "That would look sooo tacky."
Liam scooted down to join his lunch tray, and Felix sat down, struggling to find the elbow space while sandwiched between Sarah and the too-close-for-comfort Liam. The latter shrugged and picked up his fork. "Maybe. It's better than stepping all over it." He jabbed the fork at Sarah, past Felix's face. The tomcat winced back. "Especially with all the rain this morning. Walking up the hill's gonna be a mucky mess!" The little cat stuck his tongue out with a 'mrowr' of disgust.
"I'll deal with it," Sarah stated. "But if you find any safety pins between now and club, let me know."
Liam beamed, his eyes sparkling. "Oh... yeah! Sure thing! Anything you want! I uh... um..." He bit his lip. "I don't know where to find safety pins." Liam shoved food into his mouth to shut himself up.
Felix was almost amused by Liam's naivete, but that little bit of positivity was ripped away when Liam's right elbow rudely jutted into Felix's personal space. And again, every time Liam stabbed his fork down. Felix let out an exasperated huff. "Liam. Scoot down," he growled softly. "You're elbowing me."
Liam swallowed, brow scrunched. "Oh... sorry," he grunted. He shimmied to the far end of the bench, now giving Felix a rather irritated glare.
Felix shook his head. Smushed feet... his spot in the lunchroom... a fork in his face, and one dumb skinny elbow in his rib! All within five minutes. Felix refrained from any sort of remark; he shared a desperate glance with Sarah and that was it. The hyena shrugged apologetically. Felix smiled just a bit, though irked. Of course, Sarah had to go and befriend this guy. Whether from a genuine desire for friendship or a drive to clear her conscience, she'd done just that, and now Liam was here to stay. So now the little cat had happily taken a spot at their table, contrary to his prior hesitance.
Felix had promised her earlier that he'd make a genuine effort with Liam. Effort was the right word. Too bad he'd probably expend all that effort trying to stomach today's menu.
The tomcat frowned at his tray, heaving a sigh at its contents. The liver looked like cafeteria liver--- the worst kind of all. Even Sarah, who had once claimed she didn't mind the stuff, avoided the liver and ate the beans instead. All the apples were bruised, and there was no butter for the mashed potatoes. Not that he'd complain; food was food, and one scoop of sticky potatoes wasn't going to kill him. At least the asparagus looked crisp and tasty.
Liam ate the liver robotically, staring down at it without a hint of enthusiasm. Clearly, he didn't care for the stuff either. He wasn't saying anything; now would be a great time for that "genuine effort" to be made. Felix twisted his fork in his hand. "So... Liam." The little guy's fluffy head shot up immediately. Felix gestured toward Liam's tray with the fork. "What do you think of today's lunch?"
Liam shrugged. "Same as usual, I guess." He nudged the liver around with his fork, an eyebrow raised. "Uh... what is this stuff, anyway?"
"Liver and beans." Felix purred a soft laugh. "What, you've never had it before?" Lucky kid.
"No." Liam's face scrunched up. "Liver? Seriously, who thought cooking a liver was a good idea?" He stared back down at his tray with suspicion.
Sarah raised her fork. "It's like my dad says. It was a different world twenty years ago." She ate a small bite of liver.
"Beats me why our parents still cook it," Felix grumbled, eating some asparagus instead. "It's 1956. There's plenty of better food out there."
"Yeah," chimed Liam. "Why make liver when you can grill hamburgers instead? Liver is awful." He took a big bite of the stuff anyway.
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "But you're eating it."
Liam continued to shovel the stuff. "It doesn't taste any worse than the rice yesterday," he said between bites. "Besides, what else am I supposed to eat? Filet mignon?" He polished off the liver. "Lunch is lunch."
At least he wasn't picky. "Well, if that's your attitude..." Felix pushed his tray toward Liam. "You can have mine. I hate liver."
To Felix's surprise, Liam didn't object. He even brightened at the prospect. "Cool. Thanks." He forked Felix's liver onto his tray. Then he passed Felix's tray back with a polite smile.
So the kid would eat two servings of liver. Maybe having him around at lunch wouldn't be so bad after all. He'd be a great alternative to the wastebin.
,.~*~.,
By the time school let out, the rain had passed through. Felix and Sarah stepped out the back door of the school into crisp, moist air, made fresh by the showers. They walked together, side by side, down to the bicycle rack.
"You know, we can always come back for your bicycle," said Sarah.
"It wastes time," said Felix. "It's a whole lot easier to grab the bike and take it with me to the park. That way I can ride straight home." He took it down from the loop and rolled it out, peeking up toward the main school doors. "Think Liam will show up on time today?"
"No idea," Sarah replied as they headed down to the road. "We just met him on Tuesday. I hope he doesn't make a habit of being late, but... if he wanted to get there on time, he'd be heading over there with us."
"Well, it's a straight shot from here," said Felix with a swish of his tail. "If he is late again, it'll be his own fault."
They crossed the street, where Sarah paused. She motioned over her shoulder. "I'm going through the field. It might be muddy, but it's the fastest way to the hill from here."
"Well I'm taking the sidewalk. The less muck I have to walk through, the less chance Mom will get onto me about my nice khakis getting messed up."
Sarah sighed. "OK." She smiled and bumped his shoulder with her fist, ears perked. "Race ya. See who gets there first."
Felix chuckled. "You're on."
Sarah lifted up the hem of her skirt and ran through the mucky field, splashing up brown water all around her.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Felix called after her, still grinning. "Some of us have to walk!"
The hyena just beamed cheekily over her shoulder and continued to run. She slowed down to a walk once she was further off. Felix continued to watch her go as he strolled down the sidewalk, guiding his bicycle by the hand. That girl is crazy, he thought to himself. Her uniqueness delighted him any moment she let it shine.
They were both about halfway to the park when Felix noticed some boys from the school running up from behind Sarah, led by that scummy coyote. They stopped her, shouting out her species and other unflattering words that should've been left in the 1940s. Felix halted, watching them with a frown. What did they want with her?
Sarah spun around and faced them head-on, fixing them with a dry glare that could bite. "Don't you have something better to do? Sports? Homework? Swinging from a tree?"
The tall coyote tilted his head and smiled, smug. "It can wait. Y'know, we're concerned about you."
Sarah raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Really."
"Yeah. I mean, you already look like an ugly old lady. The granny skirt doesn't help you any." The other boys snickered. Felix's anger swelled in his chest.
Sarah growled. "Ugh. Get lost. I have more important things to deal with than a bunch of monkeys like you." She headed on her way, chin high.
The coyote then pushed her--- down onto her hands and knees, straight into a mud puddle. Felix winced--- her yellow blouse, her pretty skirt, and her notes for the day's club, were now coated in gritty brown sludge. The boys laughed and sneered, mocking her as she struggled to stand. The coyote kicked her back down into the mud--- onto her elbows, splashing it into her hair.
The anger bubbled up from Felix's chest and seized him by the throat. Without another thought, he dropped his bike and stormed his way through the peaty field, disregarding the muddy water which sloshed onto his good trousers with each livid step. It was bad enough they called her names. But the insults slipped off like water from a duck's back; Felix had never needed to stand up for her. But to see them humiliate her like that, and ruin that skirt she'd been trying so hard to keep clean--- it was unacceptable.
"Hey!" Felix roared, rising to his most intimidating stance. Three of the boys backed off immediately, horrified that they had been caught bullying a girl they knew was tight with this popular guy. The tall coyote stared, but didn't back off, maintaining a still-amused, yet now-unsure smirk. Felix stopped directly in front of the guy, glaring him cold in the eye. "You wanna explain yourself, buddy?"
"I don't answer to you," the coyote snarked back. "This isn't school property. I can do what I want."
"Not when it hurts good people," Felix rumbled. "Especially not when it hurts my friends. Now do what she said, and get lost. Before you get hurt." He squeezed his fists to emphasize his point.
The coyote considered it for a moment. Then he seemed to make the right decision, turning toward the sidewalk, as if he intended to leave. But then the boy whipped around, one arm outstretched to grab Felix's shirt. Felix drew back a step and seized the kid's forearm. With a mighty yank, Felix threw the coyote down, where he landed face-first into the same puddle he'd pushed Sarah.
Felix plodded up to his friend, who stood wringing muddy water from her skirt. She looked up with mild surprise. The tomcat held out his handpaw, smiling reassurance. She smiled back. Sarah took his paw, mud still caked beneath her claws--- but that didn't matter. Despite the nasty mess that bully had made of her, she confidently walked with Felix down to the sidewalk, holding up the fringe of her soiled skirt.
"You OK?"
Sarah nodded. "Yeah. I just need to get cleaned up. There's a hose behind the school, right?"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "Uh... wouldn't you rather go home and shower? Get a change of clothes?" He bent down to lift up his collapsed bicycle. "We don't have to do club today if you..."
"Oh, I brought a change of clothes," Sarah said with a sparkle. "No reason to call off club because of a mud puddle."
The pair booked it back to the school, where they arrived just as the last trickle of students left the building. Liam just happened to be at the bike zone, hauling his dinged-up blue bicycle from the loop. His eyes brightened when he saw his clubmates coming. He rolled his bike over to them, waving. "Hey! I thought you guys were already at the park. Sorry I was gonna be late again, but..." He took a closer look at Sarah's soiled clothes, and his brow deepened. "Sarah? What happened?"
Sarah waved her paw once. "Some nosebleed shoved me into a puddle. It's no big deal. Really."
Liam strolled alongside her, eyes dragging the ground. "You too, huh?" He scoffed. "Bullies are the worst."
Sarah shrugged casually. "I'm used to it."
"But... why are you a target?" Liam's brow furrowed, blue eyes intense. "You're so... not... bullying material."
"I'm different. And a hyena." Sarah shrugged again. "Some people see that as an invitation."
"You're a really cool person," Liam said, smiling at her. "Like... crazy cool. They don't know what they're talking about."
Sarah smiled.
Felix's attitude about Liam softened just a little bit more. While the tabby might have been trying to get on Sarah's good side, it was clear he genuinely did care about her, crush or none.
"You should've seen Felix throw down with those guys," said Sarah with an exuberant giggle. "You know that tall kid who wears that red vest all the time?"
"Ugh. Jonny." Liam's eyes shot up to the heavens. "Yeah, I know him. He messes with you too, huh?"
"Yep. You're going to love this then," Sarah said, beaming with excitement.
Liam rubbed his paws together. "Ooo! I like this already," he chirruped.
Sarah grabbed Felix's shoulder and gave it a little shake. "After Jonny threw me into the mud puddle, Felix showed up and threw him into the mud puddle."
Liam's jaw dropped open. "O-ho-hooo!" he laughed, eyes huge. "No way! You really did that?" He stared up at Felix like a little kid meeting his hero.
Felix rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh... yeah." His stomach turned. Liam's pale blue stare was really freaking him out for some reason. He wished the kid would stop... gazing up at him like a little creep.
"Aw man. I wish I'd been there to see that."
Sarah trotted off, waving. "The hose is by the basketball court, right? I'll be back in a few minutes."
Liam enthusiastically waved back. "We'll be waiting!"
A stone fell into Felix's stomach. I throw a bully in the mud for Sarah and this is how she repays me? She leaves me alone with... He sent a wary glance Liam's way. The little cat bounced himself up and down over and over, restless. Then Liam shot an equally wary glance up at Felix. He stopped bouncing, and the giddy, Sarah-induced smile faded from his face.
Felix looked away with a quiet sigh. He couldn't say he didn't feel guilty for how he'd been treating Liam. He was no bully, but Liam had clearly been hurt by his harsh words. Should I say something? He wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't form on his tongue. He couldn't even open his mouth.
Perhaps it was the fear that opening his mouth to form any sort of apology would flip Liam's switch and make him start to yammer. The tabby's present silence was welcome.
But Liam wouldn't remain that way for long. He cleared his throat, then whistled a few notes. Felix leaned against the wall, crossing his ankles. Liam rocked on his heels, clutching the strap of his overstuffed bookbag tightly. Finally, he loosed a reluctant sigh and slumped beside Felix against the bricks, allowing the fat bag to slip to the ground. The younger cat chuckled. "Sarah's one cool crit, huh?"
Felix's whiskers twitched. "Yeah. Nifty."
Liam stuffed his handpaws down his pockets. "I'm glad she... has you for a friend." He beamed up at Felix with that same childish, hero-worship smile as before. "Hey! If you're her friend, and I'm her friend, does that mean we're friends too?"
Felix sighed. So much for silence. "Liam, that..."
That isn't how friendship works. Felix's own tongue foiled him again; he couldn't spout off the words. He didn't have the heart. Liam was just a kitten--- and an impressionable one at that. What's more, he was inexperienced; his social skills weren't developed quite yet. The tomcat drew a deep breath. Patience, Felix.
"You should trash Jonny again. But like, where I can see him! I'll bring my Hawkeye and take pictures! He'll be so embarrassed!"
"Just hold your horses, OK?"
Liam's brow furrowed. "For what?"
"Being friends. I..." Felix folded his arms. "I'm gonna need some time. That's all."
Liam's shoulders slipped down a bit, as the pink tinge of embarrassment crept into the tips of his ears. Those big blue eyes darted down to his shoes, his entire face sinking into an irritated frown. "Felix... if you hate me, just say so. I'm a man, I can take it."
"I don't hate you." Liam looked back up, countenance lifted. Felix himself was surprised by the certainty in his tone. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just... particular about my friends. Secondhand friendships, friends of friends, I... I just don't do that stuff, OK?"
Liam thought about it for a moment, the gears turning behind those glassy blues. Then the realization seemed to click. "Uh... sure. OK." Another light turned on in his head. "But... even though we aren't friends. We can still be, like... pals, though, can't we? Good buddies?"
The realization had, apparently, not clicked. Felix opened his mouth to correct the clueless little cat, but Sarah's chipper voice came out instead.
"Hey guys, I'm back!"
Both boys stared at the indigo hyena who'd just come around the corner. She'd let her hair down; free from the restraint of the hair scarf, it nearly reached her waist, although the fact that it was now soaking wet might have made it look longer. She wore a black button-up shirt with a narrow v-neck, and a pair of loose-fitting yellow khaki pants. Her feetpaws were completely bare. She'd tied her hair scarf around her waist, which brought the whole outfit together.
Felix liked it. Liam looked like he'd just seen something new and impressive and didn't quite know how to comprehend it. Felix tried to help the other cat along. He gave Sarah a thumbs-up. "Looking good, Sarah. Keen."
"You... I, uh... you. Girl..." Liam stammered. He pointed at her. "Pants? Girls can wear pants?"
"Duh, girls can wear pants," said Sarah, folding her arms. A cheeky smirk formed on her mouth. "They usually don't. But I do. On weekends."
"Wow. OK." Liam scratched behind his ear, eyes still wide with shock. "I guess I've never seen a girl wearing pants before. Is it a new trend? Did I miss that?"
Sarah laughed. "I'm a beatnik. We're not exactly big on traditions, or fashion trends. Who said girls could only wear skirts and dresses anyway? Factory girls didn't."
"I... can actually get behind that," said Liam. "You look good. In... pants." He chuckled nervously. Felix rolled his eyes.
Leaving both bicycles against the wall, the trio made their way down the sidewalk, back to the park. Liam swung his handpaws at his sides. "So, Sarah. What're we gonna talk about today?" He stopped swinging his arms to haul his slipping satchel back over his shoulder.
"I was thinking... short stories. Or any comic book you've ever read, in your case."
"They'll have to be short stories. I'm not sure how long we can just stand around in the wet grass," said Felix. He laughed. "I'm not sitting down in it. My khakis are wet enough."
"Never fear, Liam-man is here!" Liam opened up his bursting satchel bag and dug out a large, rolled-up blanket. "See, I knew it was gonna be rainy today, so I came prepared. It's big enough for all of us. It'll be like a... like a picnic! And I brought a whole stack of comics with me, so..." He skipped a couple of steps in excitement. "I have the pictures to go with the stories!"
Well... that blanket was thoughtful of him. Certainly unexpected. So were the comic books. Maybe the guy cared about the club after all.
"That's great, Liam," said Sarah with a smile. "That'll be a big help. Maybe we'll talk about visual storytelling today instead."
Liam beamed proudly. "Well... visual storytelling is my forté. You're looking at a connisewer of film and comic books alike."
Felix barked a silent laugh at Liam's pronunciation of "connoisseur". French, it seemed, was not his forté.
Sarah elbowed Liam. "So. Where's our picnic lunch?" she asked.
Liam smiled even wider. "I'm glad you asked." The goofy smile turned into an exuberant grin. "I brought snacks!" He shoved the blanket into Felix's arms and reached back into his satchel bag, from which he retrieved a large box of macaroons.
Sarah's mouth fell open. Felix's eyebrow reached his hairline. Liam opened the box and offered it to his friends. Sarah took one, still flabbergasted. "How did you find this? It couldn't be cheap."
"It wasn't." Liam shrugged and picked one out for himself. "I'll just have to forgo muffins before school tomorrow. The thing ate up most of my allowance." He put the entire cookie in his mouth.
"You... could've just gotten a box of donuts or something," said Sarah.
"My friend... and my bud... deserve the best." Liam beamed. "I could buy a box of donuts any day. Macaroons... that's a little more special." He nudged Felix with the macaroons. "Hey Felix, are you gonna take one?"
"Once we're on the hill," said Felix. He shrugged his shoulders, lifting the massive blanket. "Once my hands aren't full."
"Uh, ha ha..." Liam rubbed his ear. "Sorry. My bag was getting heavy."
,.~*~.,
Liam rolled into school on Friday in a fantastic mood. He hadn't gotten his usual muffin, but he was so full of good feelings that he didn't care.
Sarah and Felix... Felix and Sarah. What a pair of real pals! When he'd started the school year, he'd thought the both of them were out of his league. Felix was so cool, and so popular, and all the girls liked him too. Liam really looked up to the guy, especially now that he'd dragged Jonny through the mud. And Sarah was a treasure, constantly by Felix's side, and always out of reach. Liam never would have imagined he'd have so much in common with her, but he did.
He liked to draw sometimes, and so did she. He'd accidentally brought one of his own terrible hand-drawn comic books to club (how embarrassing!), but Sarah had taken the opportunity to encourage him and show him some of her own "bad" drawings. Hers were way better than his, to be sure. A lot sketchier, but so much more detailed and true to life.
He'd have to ask her how she did it.
Sarah was so open and easy to get to know. Felix was the exact opposite. Liam tried to be friendly, but the tomcat was having none of it. Always aloof, hands in his pockets, responding to Liam with more exasperation than anything else. Sure, Felix didn't hate Liam--- and Liam considered him a friend even if the feeling wasn't mutual--- but the guy sure was grouchy when Liam was around.
Sarah had told Liam to give Felix some time. Liam had tried his best to do so, but he just couldn't help himself. Felix was the coolest crit in school, and Liam was over the moon to be associated with him. So over the moon that most of what he'd done since arriving was brag to all his classmates about how cool his buddy Felix was.
Too bad it didn't stop the other kids from picking on him. They probably didn't believe a word Liam said. If they had, they wouldn't keep picking on him for fear of Felix... stuffing their sorry hides into a locker or something. Come to think of it, Felix probably wouldn't do that. But the fantasy certainly brought a smile to Liam's face!
Speaking of getting picked on... Liam halted. That was Jonny standing at a nearby locker--- and Liam almost hadn't recognized him. Instead of his trademark red vest, the coyote wore a dark green cardigan. Liam grinned wickedly and rubbed his paws together; he knew exactly why Jonny's favorite sweater vest had disappeared. Now was the perfect time to gloat.
Liam rolled up beside the bully and leaned into the locker beside him, smirking. "So, Jonny," he began with a flick of his tail. "I heard you got into a bit of a muddy situation yesterday."
Jonny's ears flattened, and his brow furrowed. "How did you hear about that?" he growled.
Liam examined his knuckles, his smirk growing even more smug. "From my friends. I only wish I was there to see it when my good buddy Felix threw your sorry face into that puddle."
"Get lost, germ," Jonny snapped.
His usual cool, snarky attitude was gone. Liam chortled; someone had a bruised ego! "OK, I'll go. But next time you wanna pick on me, just remember my friend threw you into the mud." He backed away, while a red-faced Jonny glared back at him with murder in his eyes. Liam waved happily. "Our reservoir, Jonny!"
Liam bumped into someone else, who stumbled backwards in response. Disbalanced, Liam teetered backwards. "Whoah!" he yelped.
A sturdy paw steadied him by the shoulder. Felix chuckled. "Our reservoir?"
Liam turned around. Felix's whiskers quirked upwards, amused. Liam had expected a response like "Ow! Watch it, Liam!" or "Darn it, Liam! Can't you look where you're going?" After all, Liam had trundled into the tomcat before, and Felix had not proven himself to be the patient type. But the apparent humor of Liam's bungled French must have overridden his short temper... for the moment.
Liam braced himself, stepping back. "Oh... sorry! Did... I say it wrong?"
Felix laughed softly, one eyebrow raised. "I think you mean 'au revoir', pal."
Liam giggled, relieved. "Oh... Thanks, buddy."
Felix waved at Jonny, who had been watching the exchange with a brooding frown on his face. "You know, you don't look half bad in green, man. It complements your face." The smugness and laughter in Felix's smile could have matched Liam's own.
Jonny turned another shade redder, slammed his locker shut, and stormed off to class, lips pinched tight. Liam cackled. "Oh, that was priceless!" He slapped one skinny thigh.
Felix shrugged, shoving his hands down his jacket pockets. "Normally I wouldn't even waste my breath on that guy," he admitted. "But I can't just stand around and let him bully you guys if I can help it." He ducked his gaze for a moment, then looked Liam in the eye. "Hey. I'm sorry if I've given you a hard time too. I misjudged you." He held out a paw.
Out of nowhere, but... OK! Liam beamed and shook Felix's handpaw. "It's fine, man. We're buddies now. Pals, right?"
Felix didn't confirm or deny. He gave Liam a weary half-smile. "So... we'll see you Monday at lunch, I guess."
Liam grinned. "Yep! You will."
Pain shot through Felix's foot as Liam's heel dug deep into his toe. "Mreeoow! Hey!"
Liam gasped and jumped off of Felix's foot, mortified. He bunched his fists close to his chest, big blue eyes pleading for mercy. "Sorry!" he whimpered.
"Just..." Felix growled, flustered. "Watch your step next time!"
Liam shuffled forward in the lunch line, keeping a wary eye on Felix's feet from then on. Felix sighed and shook his head. This kid's a walking disaster.
Sarah cleared her throat. She gave him a stern glare--- one that asked, "Could you at least try to be nice?"
Felix shrugged apology. He was trying. There were plenty of far meaner things he could have said. "Get off my foot, you clutz!" came to mind. He could have said that, but he hadn't.
"Hey, uh, Sarah," Liam began as the three made their way to Felix and Sarah's usual table. "Is that a new skirt?" He pointed one bony red finger down at the billowy blue skirt, which reached all the way down to her ankles. Sarah's skirts usually reached about halfway down her thighs, and were never embroidered with so much detail. Its deep, vibrant color matched her sapphire hair scarf perfectly. Felix quite liked it.
"Actually, it's an old one," said Sarah. "My mom bought it for me a month before she... yeah." She shrugged. "I like it, but I don't usually wear it because it's so long." The bridge of her nose wrinkled as she lifted the skirt ever so slightly to sit down. "I've almost tripped on it twice today."
Liam sat down beside her, right in Felix's usual spot. "Maybe you could pin it up?"
Felix loudly cleared his throat, looming over Liam's shoulder. The tabby's eyes bugged out again, and he slid his tray down another seat. Sarah shook her head. "That would look sooo tacky."
Liam scooted down to join his lunch tray, and Felix sat down, struggling to find the elbow space while sandwiched between Sarah and the too-close-for-comfort Liam. The latter shrugged and picked up his fork. "Maybe. It's better than stepping all over it." He jabbed the fork at Sarah, past Felix's face. The tomcat winced back. "Especially with all the rain this morning. Walking up the hill's gonna be a mucky mess!" The little cat stuck his tongue out with a 'mrowr' of disgust.
"I'll deal with it," Sarah stated. "But if you find any safety pins between now and club, let me know."
Liam beamed, his eyes sparkling. "Oh... yeah! Sure thing! Anything you want! I uh... um..." He bit his lip. "I don't know where to find safety pins." Liam shoved food into his mouth to shut himself up.
Felix was almost amused by Liam's naivete, but that little bit of positivity was ripped away when Liam's right elbow rudely jutted into Felix's personal space. And again, every time Liam stabbed his fork down. Felix let out an exasperated huff. "Liam. Scoot down," he growled softly. "You're elbowing me."
Liam swallowed, brow scrunched. "Oh... sorry," he grunted. He shimmied to the far end of the bench, now giving Felix a rather irritated glare.
Felix shook his head. Smushed feet... his spot in the lunchroom... a fork in his face, and one dumb skinny elbow in his rib! All within five minutes. Felix refrained from any sort of remark; he shared a desperate glance with Sarah and that was it. The hyena shrugged apologetically. Felix smiled just a bit, though irked. Of course, Sarah had to go and befriend this guy. Whether from a genuine desire for friendship or a drive to clear her conscience, she'd done just that, and now Liam was here to stay. So now the little cat had happily taken a spot at their table, contrary to his prior hesitance.
Felix had promised her earlier that he'd make a genuine effort with Liam. Effort was the right word. Too bad he'd probably expend all that effort trying to stomach today's menu.
The tomcat frowned at his tray, heaving a sigh at its contents. The liver looked like cafeteria liver--- the worst kind of all. Even Sarah, who had once claimed she didn't mind the stuff, avoided the liver and ate the beans instead. All the apples were bruised, and there was no butter for the mashed potatoes. Not that he'd complain; food was food, and one scoop of sticky potatoes wasn't going to kill him. At least the asparagus looked crisp and tasty.
Liam ate the liver robotically, staring down at it without a hint of enthusiasm. Clearly, he didn't care for the stuff either. He wasn't saying anything; now would be a great time for that "genuine effort" to be made. Felix twisted his fork in his hand. "So... Liam." The little guy's fluffy head shot up immediately. Felix gestured toward Liam's tray with the fork. "What do you think of today's lunch?"
Liam shrugged. "Same as usual, I guess." He nudged the liver around with his fork, an eyebrow raised. "Uh... what is this stuff, anyway?"
"Liver and beans." Felix purred a soft laugh. "What, you've never had it before?" Lucky kid.
"No." Liam's face scrunched up. "Liver? Seriously, who thought cooking a liver was a good idea?" He stared back down at his tray with suspicion.
Sarah raised her fork. "It's like my dad says. It was a different world twenty years ago." She ate a small bite of liver.
"Beats me why our parents still cook it," Felix grumbled, eating some asparagus instead. "It's 1956. There's plenty of better food out there."
"Yeah," chimed Liam. "Why make liver when you can grill hamburgers instead? Liver is awful." He took a big bite of the stuff anyway.
Sarah raised an eyebrow. "But you're eating it."
Liam continued to shovel the stuff. "It doesn't taste any worse than the rice yesterday," he said between bites. "Besides, what else am I supposed to eat? Filet mignon?" He polished off the liver. "Lunch is lunch."
At least he wasn't picky. "Well, if that's your attitude..." Felix pushed his tray toward Liam. "You can have mine. I hate liver."
To Felix's surprise, Liam didn't object. He even brightened at the prospect. "Cool. Thanks." He forked Felix's liver onto his tray. Then he passed Felix's tray back with a polite smile.
So the kid would eat two servings of liver. Maybe having him around at lunch wouldn't be so bad after all. He'd be a great alternative to the wastebin.
,.~*~.,
By the time school let out, the rain had passed through. Felix and Sarah stepped out the back door of the school into crisp, moist air, made fresh by the showers. They walked together, side by side, down to the bicycle rack.
"You know, we can always come back for your bicycle," said Sarah.
"It wastes time," said Felix. "It's a whole lot easier to grab the bike and take it with me to the park. That way I can ride straight home." He took it down from the loop and rolled it out, peeking up toward the main school doors. "Think Liam will show up on time today?"
"No idea," Sarah replied as they headed down to the road. "We just met him on Tuesday. I hope he doesn't make a habit of being late, but... if he wanted to get there on time, he'd be heading over there with us."
"Well, it's a straight shot from here," said Felix with a swish of his tail. "If he is late again, it'll be his own fault."
They crossed the street, where Sarah paused. She motioned over her shoulder. "I'm going through the field. It might be muddy, but it's the fastest way to the hill from here."
"Well I'm taking the sidewalk. The less muck I have to walk through, the less chance Mom will get onto me about my nice khakis getting messed up."
Sarah sighed. "OK." She smiled and bumped his shoulder with her fist, ears perked. "Race ya. See who gets there first."
Felix chuckled. "You're on."
Sarah lifted up the hem of her skirt and ran through the mucky field, splashing up brown water all around her.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Felix called after her, still grinning. "Some of us have to walk!"
The hyena just beamed cheekily over her shoulder and continued to run. She slowed down to a walk once she was further off. Felix continued to watch her go as he strolled down the sidewalk, guiding his bicycle by the hand. That girl is crazy, he thought to himself. Her uniqueness delighted him any moment she let it shine.
They were both about halfway to the park when Felix noticed some boys from the school running up from behind Sarah, led by that scummy coyote. They stopped her, shouting out her species and other unflattering words that should've been left in the 1940s. Felix halted, watching them with a frown. What did they want with her?
Sarah spun around and faced them head-on, fixing them with a dry glare that could bite. "Don't you have something better to do? Sports? Homework? Swinging from a tree?"
The tall coyote tilted his head and smiled, smug. "It can wait. Y'know, we're concerned about you."
Sarah raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Really."
"Yeah. I mean, you already look like an ugly old lady. The granny skirt doesn't help you any." The other boys snickered. Felix's anger swelled in his chest.
Sarah growled. "Ugh. Get lost. I have more important things to deal with than a bunch of monkeys like you." She headed on her way, chin high.
The coyote then pushed her--- down onto her hands and knees, straight into a mud puddle. Felix winced--- her yellow blouse, her pretty skirt, and her notes for the day's club, were now coated in gritty brown sludge. The boys laughed and sneered, mocking her as she struggled to stand. The coyote kicked her back down into the mud--- onto her elbows, splashing it into her hair.
The anger bubbled up from Felix's chest and seized him by the throat. Without another thought, he dropped his bike and stormed his way through the peaty field, disregarding the muddy water which sloshed onto his good trousers with each livid step. It was bad enough they called her names. But the insults slipped off like water from a duck's back; Felix had never needed to stand up for her. But to see them humiliate her like that, and ruin that skirt she'd been trying so hard to keep clean--- it was unacceptable.
"Hey!" Felix roared, rising to his most intimidating stance. Three of the boys backed off immediately, horrified that they had been caught bullying a girl they knew was tight with this popular guy. The tall coyote stared, but didn't back off, maintaining a still-amused, yet now-unsure smirk. Felix stopped directly in front of the guy, glaring him cold in the eye. "You wanna explain yourself, buddy?"
"I don't answer to you," the coyote snarked back. "This isn't school property. I can do what I want."
"Not when it hurts good people," Felix rumbled. "Especially not when it hurts my friends. Now do what she said, and get lost. Before you get hurt." He squeezed his fists to emphasize his point.
The coyote considered it for a moment. Then he seemed to make the right decision, turning toward the sidewalk, as if he intended to leave. But then the boy whipped around, one arm outstretched to grab Felix's shirt. Felix drew back a step and seized the kid's forearm. With a mighty yank, Felix threw the coyote down, where he landed face-first into the same puddle he'd pushed Sarah.
Felix plodded up to his friend, who stood wringing muddy water from her skirt. She looked up with mild surprise. The tomcat held out his handpaw, smiling reassurance. She smiled back. Sarah took his paw, mud still caked beneath her claws--- but that didn't matter. Despite the nasty mess that bully had made of her, she confidently walked with Felix down to the sidewalk, holding up the fringe of her soiled skirt.
"You OK?"
Sarah nodded. "Yeah. I just need to get cleaned up. There's a hose behind the school, right?"
Felix raised an eyebrow. "Uh... wouldn't you rather go home and shower? Get a change of clothes?" He bent down to lift up his collapsed bicycle. "We don't have to do club today if you..."
"Oh, I brought a change of clothes," Sarah said with a sparkle. "No reason to call off club because of a mud puddle."
The pair booked it back to the school, where they arrived just as the last trickle of students left the building. Liam just happened to be at the bike zone, hauling his dinged-up blue bicycle from the loop. His eyes brightened when he saw his clubmates coming. He rolled his bike over to them, waving. "Hey! I thought you guys were already at the park. Sorry I was gonna be late again, but..." He took a closer look at Sarah's soiled clothes, and his brow deepened. "Sarah? What happened?"
Sarah waved her paw once. "Some nosebleed shoved me into a puddle. It's no big deal. Really."
Liam strolled alongside her, eyes dragging the ground. "You too, huh?" He scoffed. "Bullies are the worst."
Sarah shrugged casually. "I'm used to it."
"But... why are you a target?" Liam's brow furrowed, blue eyes intense. "You're so... not... bullying material."
"I'm different. And a hyena." Sarah shrugged again. "Some people see that as an invitation."
"You're a really cool person," Liam said, smiling at her. "Like... crazy cool. They don't know what they're talking about."
Sarah smiled.
Felix's attitude about Liam softened just a little bit more. While the tabby might have been trying to get on Sarah's good side, it was clear he genuinely did care about her, crush or none.
"You should've seen Felix throw down with those guys," said Sarah with an exuberant giggle. "You know that tall kid who wears that red vest all the time?"
"Ugh. Jonny." Liam's eyes shot up to the heavens. "Yeah, I know him. He messes with you too, huh?"
"Yep. You're going to love this then," Sarah said, beaming with excitement.
Liam rubbed his paws together. "Ooo! I like this already," he chirruped.
Sarah grabbed Felix's shoulder and gave it a little shake. "After Jonny threw me into the mud puddle, Felix showed up and threw him into the mud puddle."
Liam's jaw dropped open. "O-ho-hooo!" he laughed, eyes huge. "No way! You really did that?" He stared up at Felix like a little kid meeting his hero.
Felix rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh... yeah." His stomach turned. Liam's pale blue stare was really freaking him out for some reason. He wished the kid would stop... gazing up at him like a little creep.
"Aw man. I wish I'd been there to see that."
Sarah trotted off, waving. "The hose is by the basketball court, right? I'll be back in a few minutes."
Liam enthusiastically waved back. "We'll be waiting!"
A stone fell into Felix's stomach. I throw a bully in the mud for Sarah and this is how she repays me? She leaves me alone with... He sent a wary glance Liam's way. The little cat bounced himself up and down over and over, restless. Then Liam shot an equally wary glance up at Felix. He stopped bouncing, and the giddy, Sarah-induced smile faded from his face.
Felix looked away with a quiet sigh. He couldn't say he didn't feel guilty for how he'd been treating Liam. He was no bully, but Liam had clearly been hurt by his harsh words. Should I say something? He wanted to apologize, but the words wouldn't form on his tongue. He couldn't even open his mouth.
Perhaps it was the fear that opening his mouth to form any sort of apology would flip Liam's switch and make him start to yammer. The tabby's present silence was welcome.
But Liam wouldn't remain that way for long. He cleared his throat, then whistled a few notes. Felix leaned against the wall, crossing his ankles. Liam rocked on his heels, clutching the strap of his overstuffed bookbag tightly. Finally, he loosed a reluctant sigh and slumped beside Felix against the bricks, allowing the fat bag to slip to the ground. The younger cat chuckled. "Sarah's one cool crit, huh?"
Felix's whiskers twitched. "Yeah. Nifty."
Liam stuffed his handpaws down his pockets. "I'm glad she... has you for a friend." He beamed up at Felix with that same childish, hero-worship smile as before. "Hey! If you're her friend, and I'm her friend, does that mean we're friends too?"
Felix sighed. So much for silence. "Liam, that..."
That isn't how friendship works. Felix's own tongue foiled him again; he couldn't spout off the words. He didn't have the heart. Liam was just a kitten--- and an impressionable one at that. What's more, he was inexperienced; his social skills weren't developed quite yet. The tomcat drew a deep breath. Patience, Felix.
"You should trash Jonny again. But like, where I can see him! I'll bring my Hawkeye and take pictures! He'll be so embarrassed!"
"Just hold your horses, OK?"
Liam's brow furrowed. "For what?"
"Being friends. I..." Felix folded his arms. "I'm gonna need some time. That's all."
Liam's shoulders slipped down a bit, as the pink tinge of embarrassment crept into the tips of his ears. Those big blue eyes darted down to his shoes, his entire face sinking into an irritated frown. "Felix... if you hate me, just say so. I'm a man, I can take it."
"I don't hate you." Liam looked back up, countenance lifted. Felix himself was surprised by the certainty in his tone. "Don't get me wrong. I'm just... particular about my friends. Secondhand friendships, friends of friends, I... I just don't do that stuff, OK?"
Liam thought about it for a moment, the gears turning behind those glassy blues. Then the realization seemed to click. "Uh... sure. OK." Another light turned on in his head. "But... even though we aren't friends. We can still be, like... pals, though, can't we? Good buddies?"
The realization had, apparently, not clicked. Felix opened his mouth to correct the clueless little cat, but Sarah's chipper voice came out instead.
"Hey guys, I'm back!"
Both boys stared at the indigo hyena who'd just come around the corner. She'd let her hair down; free from the restraint of the hair scarf, it nearly reached her waist, although the fact that it was now soaking wet might have made it look longer. She wore a black button-up shirt with a narrow v-neck, and a pair of loose-fitting yellow khaki pants. Her feetpaws were completely bare. She'd tied her hair scarf around her waist, which brought the whole outfit together.
Felix liked it. Liam looked like he'd just seen something new and impressive and didn't quite know how to comprehend it. Felix tried to help the other cat along. He gave Sarah a thumbs-up. "Looking good, Sarah. Keen."
"You... I, uh... you. Girl..." Liam stammered. He pointed at her. "Pants? Girls can wear pants?"
"Duh, girls can wear pants," said Sarah, folding her arms. A cheeky smirk formed on her mouth. "They usually don't. But I do. On weekends."
"Wow. OK." Liam scratched behind his ear, eyes still wide with shock. "I guess I've never seen a girl wearing pants before. Is it a new trend? Did I miss that?"
Sarah laughed. "I'm a beatnik. We're not exactly big on traditions, or fashion trends. Who said girls could only wear skirts and dresses anyway? Factory girls didn't."
"I... can actually get behind that," said Liam. "You look good. In... pants." He chuckled nervously. Felix rolled his eyes.
Leaving both bicycles against the wall, the trio made their way down the sidewalk, back to the park. Liam swung his handpaws at his sides. "So, Sarah. What're we gonna talk about today?" He stopped swinging his arms to haul his slipping satchel back over his shoulder.
"I was thinking... short stories. Or any comic book you've ever read, in your case."
"They'll have to be short stories. I'm not sure how long we can just stand around in the wet grass," said Felix. He laughed. "I'm not sitting down in it. My khakis are wet enough."
"Never fear, Liam-man is here!" Liam opened up his bursting satchel bag and dug out a large, rolled-up blanket. "See, I knew it was gonna be rainy today, so I came prepared. It's big enough for all of us. It'll be like a... like a picnic! And I brought a whole stack of comics with me, so..." He skipped a couple of steps in excitement. "I have the pictures to go with the stories!"
Well... that blanket was thoughtful of him. Certainly unexpected. So were the comic books. Maybe the guy cared about the club after all.
"That's great, Liam," said Sarah with a smile. "That'll be a big help. Maybe we'll talk about visual storytelling today instead."
Liam beamed proudly. "Well... visual storytelling is my forté. You're looking at a connisewer of film and comic books alike."
Felix barked a silent laugh at Liam's pronunciation of "connoisseur". French, it seemed, was not his forté.
Sarah elbowed Liam. "So. Where's our picnic lunch?" she asked.
Liam smiled even wider. "I'm glad you asked." The goofy smile turned into an exuberant grin. "I brought snacks!" He shoved the blanket into Felix's arms and reached back into his satchel bag, from which he retrieved a large box of macaroons.
Sarah's mouth fell open. Felix's eyebrow reached his hairline. Liam opened the box and offered it to his friends. Sarah took one, still flabbergasted. "How did you find this? It couldn't be cheap."
"It wasn't." Liam shrugged and picked one out for himself. "I'll just have to forgo muffins before school tomorrow. The thing ate up most of my allowance." He put the entire cookie in his mouth.
"You... could've just gotten a box of donuts or something," said Sarah.
"My friend... and my bud... deserve the best." Liam beamed. "I could buy a box of donuts any day. Macaroons... that's a little more special." He nudged Felix with the macaroons. "Hey Felix, are you gonna take one?"
"Once we're on the hill," said Felix. He shrugged his shoulders, lifting the massive blanket. "Once my hands aren't full."
"Uh, ha ha..." Liam rubbed his ear. "Sorry. My bag was getting heavy."
,.~*~.,
Liam rolled into school on Friday in a fantastic mood. He hadn't gotten his usual muffin, but he was so full of good feelings that he didn't care.
Sarah and Felix... Felix and Sarah. What a pair of real pals! When he'd started the school year, he'd thought the both of them were out of his league. Felix was so cool, and so popular, and all the girls liked him too. Liam really looked up to the guy, especially now that he'd dragged Jonny through the mud. And Sarah was a treasure, constantly by Felix's side, and always out of reach. Liam never would have imagined he'd have so much in common with her, but he did.
He liked to draw sometimes, and so did she. He'd accidentally brought one of his own terrible hand-drawn comic books to club (how embarrassing!), but Sarah had taken the opportunity to encourage him and show him some of her own "bad" drawings. Hers were way better than his, to be sure. A lot sketchier, but so much more detailed and true to life.
He'd have to ask her how she did it.
Sarah was so open and easy to get to know. Felix was the exact opposite. Liam tried to be friendly, but the tomcat was having none of it. Always aloof, hands in his pockets, responding to Liam with more exasperation than anything else. Sure, Felix didn't hate Liam--- and Liam considered him a friend even if the feeling wasn't mutual--- but the guy sure was grouchy when Liam was around.
Sarah had told Liam to give Felix some time. Liam had tried his best to do so, but he just couldn't help himself. Felix was the coolest crit in school, and Liam was over the moon to be associated with him. So over the moon that most of what he'd done since arriving was brag to all his classmates about how cool his buddy Felix was.
Too bad it didn't stop the other kids from picking on him. They probably didn't believe a word Liam said. If they had, they wouldn't keep picking on him for fear of Felix... stuffing their sorry hides into a locker or something. Come to think of it, Felix probably wouldn't do that. But the fantasy certainly brought a smile to Liam's face!
Speaking of getting picked on... Liam halted. That was Jonny standing at a nearby locker--- and Liam almost hadn't recognized him. Instead of his trademark red vest, the coyote wore a dark green cardigan. Liam grinned wickedly and rubbed his paws together; he knew exactly why Jonny's favorite sweater vest had disappeared. Now was the perfect time to gloat.
Liam rolled up beside the bully and leaned into the locker beside him, smirking. "So, Jonny," he began with a flick of his tail. "I heard you got into a bit of a muddy situation yesterday."
Jonny's ears flattened, and his brow furrowed. "How did you hear about that?" he growled.
Liam examined his knuckles, his smirk growing even more smug. "From my friends. I only wish I was there to see it when my good buddy Felix threw your sorry face into that puddle."
"Get lost, germ," Jonny snapped.
His usual cool, snarky attitude was gone. Liam chortled; someone had a bruised ego! "OK, I'll go. But next time you wanna pick on me, just remember my friend threw you into the mud." He backed away, while a red-faced Jonny glared back at him with murder in his eyes. Liam waved happily. "Our reservoir, Jonny!"
Liam bumped into someone else, who stumbled backwards in response. Disbalanced, Liam teetered backwards. "Whoah!" he yelped.
A sturdy paw steadied him by the shoulder. Felix chuckled. "Our reservoir?"
Liam turned around. Felix's whiskers quirked upwards, amused. Liam had expected a response like "Ow! Watch it, Liam!" or "Darn it, Liam! Can't you look where you're going?" After all, Liam had trundled into the tomcat before, and Felix had not proven himself to be the patient type. But the apparent humor of Liam's bungled French must have overridden his short temper... for the moment.
Liam braced himself, stepping back. "Oh... sorry! Did... I say it wrong?"
Felix laughed softly, one eyebrow raised. "I think you mean 'au revoir', pal."
Liam giggled, relieved. "Oh... Thanks, buddy."
Felix waved at Jonny, who had been watching the exchange with a brooding frown on his face. "You know, you don't look half bad in green, man. It complements your face." The smugness and laughter in Felix's smile could have matched Liam's own.
Jonny turned another shade redder, slammed his locker shut, and stormed off to class, lips pinched tight. Liam cackled. "Oh, that was priceless!" He slapped one skinny thigh.
Felix shrugged, shoving his hands down his jacket pockets. "Normally I wouldn't even waste my breath on that guy," he admitted. "But I can't just stand around and let him bully you guys if I can help it." He ducked his gaze for a moment, then looked Liam in the eye. "Hey. I'm sorry if I've given you a hard time too. I misjudged you." He held out a paw.
Out of nowhere, but... OK! Liam beamed and shook Felix's handpaw. "It's fine, man. We're buddies now. Pals, right?"
Felix didn't confirm or deny. He gave Liam a weary half-smile. "So... we'll see you Monday at lunch, I guess."
Liam grinned. "Yep! You will."
Chapter 1- Harvey Hollow
Chapter 2- School Days
Chapter 3- Day One
Chapter 4- Friendship 101
Chapter 5- (Don't Take It Personally)
Chapter 6- Small World
Chapter 2- School Days
Chapter 3- Day One
Chapter 4- Friendship 101
Chapter 5- (Don't Take It Personally)
Chapter 6- Small World
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