Zoophobia: Alternative

Basket Case -- Part 2

It was about 5:30 in the evening.

Ryan gazed around the currently vacant halls of Zoo-Phoenix Academy, almost in wonder of how much open space there was, as he carried his musical equipment toward the art hall. He almost felt a sense of elation about not having to worry about bumping into other people while he raged against the tide that was crowds of students heading in the opposite direction as him, as was normally the case when he navigated the corridors of the school.

Eventually, his trek through the now-mostly silent red-colored hallway ended at the door to the music room, which in turn led to the backstage area of the auditorium.

Since Ryan was carrying his microphone, his amplifier, and his guitar in both hands, he didn't exactly have any free appendages with which to open the door. Though of course, with his psychic powers taken into account, that wasn't a very big deal. Ryan simply focused on the doorknob, which became surrounded in the signature indigo glow of his power, telekinetically pulled the door open and strode inside.

The first person he saw was Jackie, who seemed busy packing up to leave. Jackie instantly noticed him, and beamed.

"Hi, Ryan!"

"Mrs. Valdez," Ryan greeted her back, giving a small wave. "You going to pick up your nephew?"

"Yep. I'm just packing up right now," Jackie replied. "Although I wish I could stay and watch today's auditions."

Ryan nodded in acknowledgement.

"Alright, real quick, I just wanna ask: what kind of stuff usually happens at tryouts?" he asked. "I want to know what I'm in for."

Jackie chuckled.

"Oh, people always come up with the craziest acts for the show.

Ryan squinted.

"'Craziest'?"

"She means creative," a Southern-tinted voice said from nearby.

Ryan looked over his shoulder, and saw the reptilian blonde woman from the previous week standing next to the door, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Hi, Carrie!" Jackie said, waving.

"Hey, Jackie," Carrie responded. She turned her attention back to Ryan.

"So, Ryan. It's been a week since ya first got here," she said. "You adjustin' okay?"

"Eh," Ryan responded, shrugging. "Well, I've at least gotten a good idea of what to expect from living here, so that's progress."

Carrie nodded in acknowledgement.

"Alright, good," she said. "One more thing: if y' ever feel like really gettin' to know this place, just come up and let me know. There's a lot more to it that what you've seen so far."

After that, she walked toward the door to leave. When she opened it, though, she, along with Ryan and Jackie, met the eyes of a humanoid fox with crimson fur, who Ryan recognized as also having been from the initial "welcoming party".

Carrie and the fox both briefly stared awkwardly at each other before Carrie's face darkened, and she leaned in close to the fox.

"Don't get any ideas, ya furry Lupin III wannabe."

The fox sighed in exasperation as Carrie stormed off.

"Carrie, what exactly do you mean by that-"

"Ooooh, Fabian!" Jackie suddenly called out, waving her arm to get the suavely-dressed vulpine man's attention. "I was just leaving. You wanna judge the tryouts for me today?"