Heart strings

Going to be late

7:30 AM, Wyatt checked the time and pocketed back his phone. Still an hour before the tour. Since he lived not so far from the RASAC, he didn't need a ride. That's actually how it always was with school, at least once he reached the age to go by himself. His high-school wasn't that far at that time either, so he used to walk back then too.

Walking, not necessarily his favorite part but still an enjoyable one. He could breathe the fresh air and feel the wind ruffling gently his fur as he walks. One of the things Eastpave was quite proud of, despite the great activities and buildings, it wasn't that much polluted thanks to the source of energy being the sun.

Pretty much everything here was relying on batteries stacking up solar energy to fonction properly. But eventually some tech companies are already working on better ways to access energy, that's what Wyatt's father company does as well.

Wyatt was walking the neighborhood main street, it was silent. Most of the people living here are either old or not really present. To Wyatt there weren't even kids here, well, there used to be another kid living next door but his family traveled 3 years ago. So now, Wyatt is the only kid in the surroundings. It's not so bad, he isn't that much of an extrovert so it doesn't matter.

Wyatt walked past a beautiful split level house, its walls were cinder grey and white. It had some round windows here and there and wooden door. There was also a small flower garden before the house, quite pretty for this time of the year. Wyatt paused just to admire the scene a bit, and as he did, he heard a soft voice calling. "Oh dear, if it isn't our little Wyy" he turned to see a vixen in her seventies.
She was smaller than him, she had a yellow cardigan and a green dress underneath, quite stylish with the black belt she wore. Her head fur partially grey-ish was folded in a pony tail, only a lock falling on front side on the temper. She had thin features and had a welcoming smile while looking at Wyatt with her glasses.

Wyatt: "Hey Miss Goodfolk, hope you had a great night"

Goodfolk: "I sure did my dear, where are you going so early dear" (*adjusting her glasses*)

Wyatt: "I m heading to college now"

Goodfolk: "oh my, you already go to college, you sure do grow fast (*chuckle*)in that case, I wish you a good day my lovely dear. Oh and tell your father I said hi"

Wyatt: "I will tell him. (*smiling*) have a nice day too Miss Goodfolk" (*waving goodbye as he walks away*)

Wyatt walked few meters, the house of the lady slowly fading in the background behind him. Suddenly his phone beeped few times. He stopped and reached for it. He looked at the screen, some notifications of various apps, some texts too.

He opened the texts notifications bar, 2 messages from his father. Those were saying "Hey buddy, sorry I guess I will be staying overnight at work again. I know you mad but you know I can't do else." "Be sure to eat and close doors before heading to sleep and have a nice day champ. Ps: No girls while I am not around okay 🤣 Love you son." Wyatt replied "It's okay dad, be safe." And pocketed his phone sighing a bit.

This situation wasn't new, it's been some years now, his father would be absent very often and he would have to be by himself. Sure, he was used to it by now, but it's still a bit annoying that he couldn't live with his dad like they used to.
He understood that his father had an important job and had to deal with it so that he himself could have the life of comfort he has. But, sometimes he wished his father would spend a bit of time with him like when he was younger. Going out for a movie or eating or just even having a proper dinner with him. But he exhaled as those were no longer a thing worth wishing for. Now he only had the few times he could have with his father and he cherished those.

As he kept walking still deeply in his thoughts, he reached the crosswalk. As he made his way on it, a hand grabbed his arm from behind pulling him rapidly as a car almost blow him away not even slowing down after that.

Wyatt regain his composure and turned to the person who just saved him. It was a tall lion probably in his thirties with a reddish mane wearing a suit and glasses. He looked like a business man with his briefcase. He looked worriedly at Wyatt before saying "Watch out, this ain't a way of crossing a road young man, you could have been hit just now. (*sigh*) are you okay?" Wyatt looked at him slightly embarrassed "s-sorry I was just in my thoughts and didn't pay attention to the traffic lights. Thanks for saving me sir" as Wyatt looked at the man, he noticed something on his suit. There was a badge, a RASAC professor badge, with the name Pr. Kayn Reth.

Wyatt: "you teach at RASAC? "

Kayn: "Pardon?" (*surprised*)

Wyatt: "Sorry, I kinda read on your badge"

Kayn: "Oh of course. (*chuckle*) I do, are you perhaps a new student? "

Wyatt: "well, I am not a student yet but I guess. The name's Wyatt Fael"

Kayn: "Nice to meet you Mister Fael"

Wyatt: "nice to meet you"

Kayn: "are you heading there now, I mean RASAC, is that where you were going?"

Wyatt: "well it's still early, so I was heading at a café not so far from here"

Kayn: "The Suntaste?"

Wyatt: "yes, do you know it? "

Kayn: "quite well actually, I go there at my break when I am already done with stu...I mean when I want to ease my mind" (*correcting himself mid sentence while chuckling*)

Wyatt: "I see, I only go there in the morning to grab a latte"

Kayn: "good thing. (*checking his watch*) you better hurry then, you have less than 20 min for the tour "

Wyatt: "wait what? Oh gosh, I guess I didn't look at the time. Well then, it was nice meeting you Pr. Reth"

Kayn: "Same here. Be more careful while crossing the road next time(*chuckling*)"

Wyatt: "(*blushing*) yes I got the lesson. Bye" (*quickly speeding his pace*)

Wyatt began walking faster and reached the Suntaste in less than 2 min. It was really cozy coffee shop, with wooden features and an exterior design quite appealing. Its logo was a smiling golden sun. He got in and fortunately it wasn't that crowded, he reached for the counter and met a familiar face.

It was Emily, a she-bear quite eccentric in her early thirties. She was a joyful fur, with a warm smile. She looked at Wyatt and jolted in excitement "Hey Wyy! Another funny story, eh? "

Wyatt: "yeah, got almost hit by a car today"

Emily: "if it was someone else I would be shocked but nyeah I am used to you having such stories"

Wyatt: "what's that supposed to mean?" (*raising an eyebrow*)

Emily: "last time you were late, you were chased by bees before crashing on an old man...and that was yesterday" (*sassy tone*)

Wyatt: "well, I wasn't aware that gramp was there...anyway, the usual please ASAP I'm going to be late"

Emily: "for the tour i guess, I knew you would come around this time so I made your order already"

Wyatt: "I am too glad right now to say you're a witch but still " (*taking his coffee cup and handing the money*)

Emily: "get out now before I kick your ass" (*chuckling*)

Wyatt: " yeah as if, bye Emy" (*while walking rapidly out the place*)

Wyatt checked his phone, barely 15 min before the tour. After what seemed like a speed run between passersby, he reached the place he always dreamed about, RASAC.