Hidden Hearts

10 - Strange Behaviour

Josh

It's been a few weeks of college and I feel rather fine now. At first, I felt really scared. You know, new environment and all but now, after meeting Max and having some friends, I can safely say that I'm comfortable now.

My friends are all, more or less, the same as me. Well, not the same as me but sexuality wise. A pretty diverse bunch really and they're fun to hang out. One thing I'm glad is that they didn't just use me just so they can hang out with Max. That would have been a really scummy move.

I'm not gonna lie though, I do have a bit of a crush on one of these guys. A stallion named Maverick. He can be a bit cocky and arrogant at times but he's really kind and compassionate under all of that. He almost takes up the role of a brother figure. Though, I won't deny that I do feel an attraction and not because I have a brother kink. Do not even go there!

Still, I do have a crush on Max but knowing that he's pretty much out of my grasp there, it makes it easier for me to shift my crush from Max to Maverick.

Though, why do both of my crushes name's start with the letter M?

"Hey, Josh!", I hear a voice yell out to me. It is Max that was greeting me.

"Hey, Max. Need something?"

"Yeah, you free?"

I look at my phone and scroll through my schedule. No classes and no obligations today so I'm pretty much free for the entire day.

"Yep. Are we going somewhere or do you want to stay here?"

"Going somewhere. Remember that café we went to? There."

I stand up to follow him though I do pick up the fact that he's talking rather strangely. The way he speaks makes it sound urgent though with the way he walks right now, it seems anything but urgent.

I notice whenever he is in deep thought, his left ear tilts down to the left. Why am I saying this? Because he is doing it right now as we are making our way to the café that we had hung out at.

Even though to him, we had only met for about three weeks, I still remember every little detail about him during our brief meetings throughout high school. Especially his speech patterns and tone of voice. His voice sounded deeper and his speech was slower. His eyes were looking me up and down while he was talking, almost like he was analysing me.

Well, I can worry about that later since we've arrived at the café. This time he decided to take a corner booth in the more secluded part of the café.

Well, whatever this is, he really doesn't want anyone else hearing about it if he's picking a spot like this. Before we could start talking, a waitress pops up to our table and asks for our orders. Though, I can't help but notice how her eyes linger a bit too long on Max and how she seems excited whenever Max looked up at her to place his order.

I placed mine as well and she left but this time, slower than when she had arrived at our table.

"So, Ma-"

"How long?"

"Huh?"

To be perfectly honest, that caught me off guard but the way he asked it was too vague for me to really understand. How long? How long what?

"I'm sorry but could you elaborate?"

He sighs.

"How long have you known me, Josh?"

Ah, I see now. It seems he has finally remembered who I am. Still, three weeks is a really short time for someone to remember someone as unimportant as I am.

"Since high school", I answered.

"Yeah, but how long?"

"I knew you when you were in your senior year. I am one year younger than you, Max."

"But, how come I couldn't remember you?"

"Well, we only ever spoke after school and you only ever talked about school stuff with me. I would say we were more of acquaintances back then but to you, I guess stranger would be more apt."

"Huh. Though, why did I decide to talk you?"

"I don't know, Max. I don't know what you were thinking back then and I don't even know what you're thinking about right now. The answer only lies with you."

He looked conflicted. Confused. Distraught.

He's experiencing an inner turmoil. One that centered around the fact he forgot about me. I never really took him for someone who would feel so distressed when they forgot someone. Maybe he'd feel bad but I didn't think he would feel this bad.

"Max. Look at me."

He looks up at me but I can see his eyes darting to anywhere but my eyes.

"Max. Why does this bother you so much?"

His ears flatten and he slumps down a bit in his seat. Ultimately, he does answer my query.

"I...I don't know. I don't like forgetting stuff like this. Forgetting about furs just feels so wrong to me. I feel like you'd hate me."

Although I could barely understand the thought behind it since I don't experience the same thing as him, I could still understand how he feels about the situation. He doesn't like forgetting furs because he doesn't want them to hate him for just forgetting about them.

Though, I think that may be something that he adopted when he was being bullied in high school. He was always harassed for his money and when he forgot to bring enough money, he'd often get beaten up badly. Maybe he associates forgetting me with that and fears that I might lash out at him for forgetting.

Poor wolf.

"Max. Why would I hate you? I still decided to hang out with you even when you didn't remember me."

"I...guess."

"If I had hated you, we wouldn't be sitting in this café, having this chat. But I don't hate you and I'm still talking to you. And... I still want to be friends with you, you know?"

He goes silent as I see him biting his lips, anxiously.

"You...mean it?"

"Of course, I mean it. After all, I did say I wanted to be friends with you in high school. I was just...too much of a coward to even say hi."

He smiles, though it is a sad smile.

"So, I was the kid you wanted to be friends with and inspired you take up track?"

"Yeah, you are."

He goes to say something else but just then, our food arrives. We decided to put all conversations on hold as we ate our meal.