Autumn of 2016

A New Day

After Shiro left in such a rush Kai sent a worried text to Shiro saying, 'Everything ok?' an hour later Shiro said 'Yes sorry' and nothing more. Kai shook it off and cleaned up and went to bed.

The next day at school Kai made their way to the Biology classroom to see Shiro sitting at their table with Tommy leaning over his shoulder. Tommy saw Kai enter the room and sneered. He said one last thing to Shiro and left to sit with his partner. Kai sat down and looked up at Shiro. "You ok?" Kai raised their eyebrows and straightened their glasses. Shiro grinned. "Yes everything is ok." His smile lightened Kai's mood and Kai took out their notebook for class. 

After class Tommy chased down Shiro in the crowded hall "Shiro! SHIRO!" Shiro turned to Tommy's angry face. "Wut?" Tommy furrowed his eyebrows "The fuck was that about!?". Shiro looked around "What?" Tommy was furious, "Sitting with that fag! Why did you want to sit with it! It's bad enough you're it's partner for this project!" People in the hall stared as they walked by. Shiro put his hands up in mock defensiveness. "Tommy, they are a nice person. We worked on the project at their house and had pizza.". Tommy was having none of it. "you went to it's house!" Tommy paused for a minute and grinned. His demeanor changed entirely. "So you know where.. they.. live?" Shiro nodded slightly afraid. Tommy patted Shiro's shoulder. "We have our first football meet tonight. Be there." Tommy walked off whistling. Shiro didn't know how to think and walked to his next class wondering what Tommy was insinuating at.

The rest of the day was uneventful for both Kai and Shiro. Shiro texted Kai 'Hey apparently the first football meet is tonight, so I wont be able to come over srry.' Kai responded 'It's ok, thank you for the heads up.'. 

Kai walked home and caught a glimpse of Tommy chatting to the lion who lead the team. Tommy saw Kai and his eye twitched, Tommy turned back to the lion who also eyed Kai. Kai turned away and sped their way home. Once Kai finally got home they deadbolted the door and stared at their phone at the last texts from Shiro. Kai didn't know if he was worried for themselves or Shiro, but they knew something was going to happen.

Back at the school Shiro made his way to the football field and saw Tommy and Rylan. Rylan's mane looked majestic in the light breeze. Rylan grinned, "Shiro! there's my linebacker!" Rylan gave one of those handshake hug things to Shiro nearly knocking him off balance. Shiro smiled back, "Yes, hello!" Shiro looked around, "Where's everyone else?". Tommy stepped forward, "They couldn't make it." He grinned. Shiro looked confused, "Couldn't make it..? Only three out of eleven made it?" Rylan smiled, "It's a neat coincidence ain't it?". Shiro got more defensive, "Where's the coach?" Rylan slapped his chest, "Right here man!" Shiro was beginning to see past his faux kindness. Finally Rylan stepped forward, "I know you're partners with that Kai fella and to be honest, I was shocked. I don't want no pansy on my football team, you hear?" Shiro was startled by the sudden change in emotion, now Rylan's mane gave a threatening feeling. Shiro nodded, "I understand.. sir.". Rylan took a step back. "Good good, now, don't fuck up my team you understand. I can and I will make your life a hell, your rep is in my hands now." Shiro nodded again. Rylan smiled. "Go home.". Shiro left without a word. 

Shiro stood at the intersection that could take him to his house or Kai's. Shiro looked down Kai's street, than his. "Fuck it." and Shiro headed down Kai's street. Shiro saw the lights on in the living room of Kai's house and knocked on the door. Inside Kai's ears perked up. Kai stared at the door for a moment until the person at the door knocked again. Outside Shiro piped up, "Hey Kai, uh, can I come in?" Kai exhaled relived. They got up and opened the door. Shiro looked down to Kai and smiled. Shiro's eyes welled up with tears. Kai frowned feeling the emotions and pulled him in and closed the door. "What's wrong, Shiro?" Shiro collapsed onto the couch and burred his face in his hands, "I don't know.." He began crying. Kai locked the door and went on to the couch to talk to Shiro. Kai put their hand on Shiro's back. "Shiro, what happened?" Kai tried to make eye contact. Shiro looked up, "Rylan and Tommy threatened me after school, they lied about the football practice." Shiro looked up and sniffled. Someone knocked on the door abruptly. Shiro and Kai gasped in shock. "Knock knock friends!" It was Tommy's voice. "Now I'm not going to come in or anything, just know that I know where you live Kai, Shiro lead us right here quite literally." Kai glanced at Shiro then back at the door. Tommy continued, "Kai, do all of us a favor and leave Shiro alone please. We don't need any distractions on our football team. Shiro, come with me please, it's time to go home.." Shiro shook his head at Kai. Tommy knocked again, "Shiro, I know you're in there, come on now." Shiro said nothing. Tommy shifted his footing, "Alright, Shiro, suit yourself." Tommy walked off. Shiro exhaled and looked at Kai. Kai was mad Shiro basically put a target on their head, but couldn't stay mad looking at his face. The same feeling they felt last night creeped in. Kai put his hand on his shoulder. "Why don't you stay here for the night" Kai asked. Shiro smiled, "I'd love that, thank you.". Kai smiled, "I'll make us some dinner. 

Kai threw together some quick pasta dish for the two of them and sat them at the dinner table. Kai sat down and Shiro followed. Kai forked at the dish, "You can take a shower and stuff if you want, I'll get a pillow and sheets for you on the couch. I don't have any clothes that fit you I don't think, I can check though." Shiro smiled, "I'll be fine, I will take that offer of a shower though. Thank you again, especially on a short notice like this." Kai smiled, "don't worry about it, what else would I be doing?" Kai forked some pasta into their mouth. Shiro poked his plate with his fork, "What do we do now?" he looked at Kai. Kai took a bite, "I don't know, hell of a second day.." Kai shook their head. Shiro took his last bite from his plate and put it in the sink. "Well.. can I take that shower?" Kai got up, "Sure, let me get you a clean towel." 

Kai walked into the bathroom and pulled a dark brown towel from the closet and put it on the counter by the sink. "There you go, I hope you don't mind using flowery smelling shampoo, it's all I have." Shiro giggled, "I don't mind." Shiro and Kai were both standing in the small bathroom almost touching. They looked at each other in their eyes. The world seemed to stop existing. Kai blinked and shook their head. "I'll leave you to it." Kai left the bathroom in a hurry. Shiro closed the door and realized it didn't have a lock on it, he didn't notice it before. Shiro started the shower and waited for it to heat up. He took off his clothes and stared at himself in the mirror, "I just met this person yesterday and now I'm standing naked in their bathroom, and sleeping in their house...huh" Shiro looked at the floor where Kai's bra was the day before. It was gone. Shiro got into the shower, now nice and hot. Shiro looked at the shower puff hanging from the spout for the bath, "Should I use that?" Shiro picked it up but put it back, "Don't be weird." Shiro squirted some shampoo into his hands and smelled it. It smelled like roses. Shiro rubbed it into his fur until it foamed. Shiro cleaned his body and turned the shower off and dried off. Shiro looked again at his nude body in the mirror. "I'm too sexy for my shirt, too sexy for my shirt, so sexy it hurts." Shiro laughed at himself and got dressed. 

Shiro walked out and saw Kai caringly making a bed on the couch, "Oh hey, I hope you had a good shower. Do you want to watch a movie or something?" They smiled. Shiro sat down,  "Sure! That sounds nice." Kai opened a streaming service on the TV, "You can pick." Kai handed Shiro the remote. Shiro scrolled for a moment and chose a romance movie, "I think these are cute." Kai laughed, "I like this movie." Kai sat down close to Shiro and Shiro's heart started beating fast. Kai looked up, "You ok?" Shiro nodded, "Uh.. yea.". Kai smiled and felt the same feeling in their stomach and chest. Kai slowly scooted towards Shiro. Shiro held his breath and put his hand over Kai's. Kai froze, and awkwardly leaned their head on Shiro's shoulder. Kai closed their eyes. Kai quickly opened their eyes, "Sorry.." and sat back up and moved their hand. Shiro sat in silence. After a few minuets Shiro looked over at Kai, "Well when are we going to work on that project next?" Kai shrugged, "Tomorrow I guess." Kai stood up, "Uh, I think I'm gonna go to bed. Make sure to turn the lights off when you go to sleep." Kai walked to their bedroom and stood in the doorway, "Goodnight" Kai said, Shiro got up to look at them. "Goodnight, sleep well.". Kai smiled and closed the door. Shiro heard clothes being removed and the bed creak. Shiro decided it was time for bed too and turned out the light. Shiro snuggled under the blanket on the couch and stared at the ceiling, in the dark with the thoughts from today. He thought about Kai and Tommy and Rylan, the future, and what just happened. "What now?" Shiro said to himself, and slowly drifted to sleep.