Hold Me Close

Chapter Ten: Revenge Part I

-=Alex=-

I looked up from my phone and out the window. The sun was starting to get lower in the sky, and the wall clock read 18:45. I took my paws off of the coffee table, standing up and heading to my room. I quickly packed a bag with a water bottle, my mouth guard, and all of the rest of my football equipment. Our first game of the season was today against UMaine, which wouldn't be that hard to win. Ten minutes later I was walking into the locker room, putting my car keys into my pocket. I twisted the dial around on my navy blue locker, opening it and exchanging my stuff. The rest of the furs on the team were mumbling about something with a knife, so I perked my ears up.

"...then the bird pulled a knife on Rob freaking Chrone!"

"I doubt it, no one would do that and live..."

"...no way!"

"Hey what're you guys talking about?" I asked, now intrigued. A doberman turned his head to me.

"Apparently some bird pulled a knife on Chrone and got away with it." Bird. Couldn't be Jason. No that would just be stupid.

"'Ey everyone listen up!" A deep voice called from the locker room enterence. It was the coach. "I want you all to play like your life depends on it, first game means everything. Also, Alex." I snapped to full attention at the calling of my name. "Brett is out, fractured his arm. You're playing wide." Yes! Wide receiver is the best! Poor Brett though. I had to tell myself to not feel guilty. A loud, shrieking whistle blast sounded from outside, signalling the teams to line up. I was the last out of the door, putting in my mouth guard and stuffing my ears into my helmet.

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-=Evan=-

Around seven I headed down to my car. Once I got to the field I slipped into the band locker room and put on my uniform, stepping back out and heading off to where we would be for the game. I took a seat, gripping my saxophone in two white-gloved hands. A few minutes later we were instructed to begin playing. We played "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes as the two teams were lining up. Because I had the whole song down in memory, I looked at the players on the field, looking for Alex. Finally I saw him near the end of the line, spotting him by his bushy tail wagging.

About an hour later it was nearing the end of the fourth quarter, the scores  20-21, us losing with ten seconds left. We were in posession, the quarterback taking his last hail-mary as he snapped the ball down the field. Then I saw Alex running into the endzone, leaping far into the air with a heavy look of confidence on his face. His paws outstretched, reaching for the ball. Then a panther grabbed his legs and threw him into the grass, face first. A chorus of boos and shouting soon erupted from the crowd as the panther jumped up and ran down the field back towards his team, both paws up in a victorious manner.

Alex was just there, the ball laying before him as he kneeled in the painted grass, speechless. I wanted to run to him, to comfort him, to tell him it wasn't his fault, but I couldn't leave my seat. Somehow I knew the painful cocktail of emotions flowing through him right now, I had felt them before as well. The crushing feeling of guilt and failure. He rose to his paws, walking back to the locker room with his head hung, helmet in his right paw.

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-=Alex=-

I couldn't believe it. I was so close! I slowly trudged back to the locker room as I saw some furs starting to stare at me. I felt fucking horrible. The rest of the team was silent as they put away their gear. I could feel their stares on me as I quickly shoved my gear into the locker, slammed the door shut, and speed-walked out the back door, to where my car was. It was dark out, but as I aproached my car I instantly knew something was wrong. My super sensitive wolf nose picked up the scent of dragon...and fresh paint. I pulled out my phone, clicking the little flashlight widget and shining it on my car.

Red spraypaint covered the blue sedan. "Fag," "Cock sucker," and "Homo" were some of the words on my car, as well as a quick spray of someone hanging and a swastika. I dropped the bag off of my shoulder, grabbing my head with both paws. Fucking Chrone. I was going to kill him. Maybe if I drove fast enough no one would really notice. I got in and started my car, throwing the bag into my back seat. I started to pull out of my spot when four loud pops sounded simultaniously. They were my tires. I slammed my head against the steering wheel before getting back out. I looked down at the front left tire to see a glimmering nail sticking halfway out of my tire. He must've placed them behind my tires. By this point I couldn't contain myself anymore. I howled as loud as I could, kicking and punching the stadium wall as hard as I could, fury blocking out the pain from doing so.

"Alex?" A worried voice asked as they turned the corner. It was Evan. At the sound of his voice my anger turned a complete 180 and became tears. Normally I'm pretty stoic, but right now too much had become too much.

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-=Evan=-

I rushed over to Alex at the sight of him. He leaned into my shoulder and cried. I didn't mind, and at first I thought it was from the game, but then I saw his car from the lights on inside.

"Who the fuck did that?!" I asked in shock.

"S-smell." He sobbed out. Confused, I did as he instructed. The scent of scale polish and that special cologne told me all that I needed to know. Rob. I unintentionally growled deeply. But that wasn't all that my nose picked up. I could smell the unique metallic smell of blood. I jerked back, looking at Alex.

"Alex your paws!" I gasped, looking at his four actively bleeding paws. He looked down but said nothing. "C'mon, leave your car here, I have bandages at my place." He nodded silently and got up with me. We walked down the lot a bit and to my car.