Floral and Fading

*2*

The next day at school, Mark took my schedule and looked at it during first. He handed it back to me after a few minutes.

"We have all the same classes today." He said.

"Are you serious?"

"Yep."

"Shit."

"Is that really a bad thing?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I guess." We didn't talk after that, we just paid attention to the teacher. Why did I have to have classes with Mark, I just hope he doesn't find out about what I am. We actually didn't talk until lunch.

"Tim doesn't have lunch with me today, if you want, we can sit together."

"Mark....."

"I know you don't trust me, but I'd prefer to sit with you than by myself."

"Sam doesn't have this lunch either, so.......I-I guess."

"Jack, I promised that I wasn't going to hurt you, and I mean that, please don't be afraid of me."

"Everyone's afraid of you Mark, why shouldn't I be?"

"I don't know, but will you sit with me?"

"Y-yeah."

"Thank you."

"Y-yeah...." We both went and sat down at a table and just continued talking until the bell rang. Mark and I just walked to our next class together, and he was just looking at the ground as everyone just stared at us. I felt bad for Mark in all honesty. "Mark......D-do you and Tim want to hang out with Sam and I later?"

"Are you sure, you said no to me yesterday."

"I'm asking aren't I?"

"True, we'd be glad to hang out with you two."

"Okay, cool." I knew that it was risky to let Mark and Tim hang out with us, but I knew that Mark didn't really have any friends. That and I knew that he trusted me for some reason.

~End of School~

"This is where you normally meet up with Sam?" Mark asked once we got outside.

"Yeah, it was their idea."

"Oh, okay."

"Is that a problem?"

"No, I'm just thinking that maybe Tim and I should do that too instead of just trying to look for each other."

"Oh, that would be a smart idea."

"Hey Jack, Mark." Sam said when they got to us.

"Hey Sam, Mark and Tim are going to be hanging out with us....if that's okay with you."

"Y-yeah, it's fine, a-as long as h-he doesn't hurt us."

"I told you guys that I wasn't going to hurt you remember?" Mark asked.

"Y-yeah, but I'm not s-so sure."

"Okay......TIM, OVER HERE!!!!!!!" I looked to where Mark was looking, and saw Tim start walking over to us.

"Hey guys." Tim said.

"Hello." I said.

"We're going to be hanging out with Jack and Sam today." Mark said.

"Cool, let's go." Tim said. We all then began walking to my house. Tim and Sam were walking next to each other and were talking.

"Thanks for letting us come over Jack. I know you don't really trust me, but thank you." Mark said.

"You're welcome Mark." It didn't take us long to get to my house, but when we got there, Sam dragged me to another room.

"Are you going to tell them?" They asked.

"About my ears and tail?" They nodded. "No, I don't trust them enough to tell them."

"Okay, I just wanted to know."

"Why?"

"Cause I didn't want to ask you if you were going to take your beanie off."

"Oh, okay, thanks Sam."

"You're welcome Jack, now lets go play some video games." Sam nodded as we both walked back to the living room. We all just played video games until my mom came home.

"Hello Jack, Sam....who are these two?"

"New friends." Sam said.

"Oh, okay. Sam, is it alright if Jack stays the night at your house, or are your parents working again?"

"They actually wanted to know if I could spend the night here."

"Oh....."

"They can stay with my family for the night, my parents always make sure we're up and ready for school before they head to work." Mark said.

"Um....I'm not sure....."

"I won't do anything to hurt either of them, if I do, Tim will get mad at me and so will my parents."

"I'm still not sure, I don't really know either of you, nor your parents."

"Do you want me to call them and you ask them?"

"Yes please."

"Okay, one sec." Mark then pulled out his phone and did something on it before he handed it to my mom. She left the room right after.

"Mark, you didn't have to do that." I said as I looked at him.

"It's what friends do....right, I haven't had one since eight grade."

"Yeah it's what they do, but you didn't have to."

"But I wanted to."

"Why?"

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"Th-thanks."

"You're welcome."

"Okay, but what about me?" Sam asked.

"I don't want either of you to get hurt."

"I don't want either of you to get hurt, neither of you deserve it." Tim said.

"Thanks guys." Sam said.

"You're welcome."

"Okay, so you're parents said that they could stay the night, but that you guys don't have guest bedrooms." My mom said as she walked back into the room and handed Mark back his phone, which he took back and put in his pocket.

"Jack could stay in my room and Sam in Tim's." Mark said.

"That's what they were saying."

"Okay, are you two okay with that?" Mark asked as he looked at me and Sam.

"I-I guess." I said, I didn't want Mark to know about me being a neko, sleeping in his room would probably ruin that.

"Yeah, I'm okay with that." Sam said.

"Okay, then it's settled, Jack, you need to get some clothes for tomorrow." My mom said.

"O-okay, I'll be right back." I said as I stood up and went to my room. I immediately took my beanie off once I was in, and I also let my tail loose. I hated that I had to hide it, but it was better than letting people know and being bullied for it.

"Jack, it's me, can I come in?" I heard Sam ask through the door.

"Yeah." I said as I grabbed a different backpack than the one I used for school. I heard the door open and close quickly before I turned around, "I'm going to have to let them know Sam, what am I going to do?"

"I don't know Jack, but I'll be right there with you okay?"

"Okay." Sam helped me pack up some clothes before we hid my tail and ears again and left the room. My mom then drove us to Mark's house. Tonight was going to be interesting considering I have to show Mark and Tim. I just hope they don't make fun of me.