Simon was at home when he got a call from his friend Marcus to say that he was planning a meet up in the local café with a few others to celebrate his friend's birthday, during the conversation Marcus asked what he wanted so the café could have everything ready for them when they got there. So, Simon ordered braised beef, mash and veg for his main and the old favourite apple crumble and custard for dessert.
A few days later he arrived at the café in the middle of the town centre, he arrived early so he sat outside and had a coffee after about an hour he saw Marcus trotting down the road he was dressed in a shirt and a waistcoat that didn't do him any favors as he was a centaur so you can imagine how awkward it was trying to dress all that Simon thought he had a chuckle to himself.
After trying to stop chuckling before Marcus could see him they greeted each other with a hug to which Marcus nearly crushed the old dog and after a few minutes the others started to arrive there was Matt who was a golden retriever, and then a sleek looking otter and that was Julie, and then an old croc whose name was Jack, and to everyone's surprise there was Bruits the overpowering orc but these days he was so laid back that nothing bothered him.
As the group of friends went into the café they sat around the extremely large round table the only one that was standing was Marcus as being a centaur there was nothing big enough for him to sit on, the waiter asked what drinks we wanted and moved off to the bar, it was nice to see the gang again Simon thought.
After leaving school they had got different jobs which kept them apart and everyone kept in touch through the social network furbook, Marcus had organised this get together for Julie who had just turned 30 and between days off and holidays they had managed to meet up. When Julie looked around, she started to clap her hands and jumping around as she is a lively otter, she was amazed at all the banners and balloons around the place, then Marcus dropped the other surprise he had planned.
He revealed it was a ride in a stretched limo around town and then back to the café for a disco, where there wouldn't be and alcohol as a few of the friends have severe reactions to it in the past and of course Marcus you wouldn't want to try and pick up nearly 1000 pounds of horse so getting drunk wasn't on the table.
As the meal was devoured they talked about old times in school, and what each other now did for a job, Simon told the group that he now owned an arcade that was left to him in his grandfather will, Julie went second she told them that she now worked as a writer and proof-reader for a local publishing company next it was Marcus and he told them that he worked as a farmhand he was in a group of other centaurs that went around to different farms to help out with the heavy ploughing in the fields as they were half horse anyway and the pay was good, next was Jack who worked in a local supermarket and had made manager and next to last was Matt he said he was a freelance 3d modeler and artist and last to go was Bruits who worked at the local quarry driving one of the big earth movers and he said they made him look small when he stood at the side of them he then took a photo out of his pocket and showed it around everyone laughed even Bruits had to see the funny side.
As the conversation went on Marcus announced the limo had arrived and everyone piled into it Julie had the sunroof open and was dancing through it the music was thumping away as they toured the town the route had taken them passed the school that they all attended and as they went passed some of the teachers that had taught them were stood out in the entrance and waved as the limo went by this time Julie had the biggest smile on her face and waved franticly back then the limo stopped and Marcus opened the limo door as Julie went and gave her old teachers a big hug before hopping back in the limo after going up and down a few streets in the town where they would hang out as teenagers, as the limo turned the last corner as the café came into view she could see that a red carpet had been placed outside the entrance then the limo stopped at the carpet.
Marcus opened the doors and everyone got out and walked up back into the café that had now been cleared of all the tables and disco was now at the far end she was gobsmacked at the sight and it was then that the lights in front of the disco turned on and it read "will you marry me" all in multi colours as she turned around Marcus was bent down on his two front knees with a ring in a little box, then that Julie started to cry and everyone held their breath as she nodded yes and all the friends started clapping at the sight there was a lot of teary eyes as everyone congratulated them, after a long time at the café Marcus and Julie made their way out with Julie riding on Marcus's back everyone else stayed quite late.
So Marcus and Julie made their way back to the apartment as they reached the front door Marcus turned around only to see Julie had fallen asleep so he unlocked the door and walked in and pulled a big bean bag in front of the tv then placed the sleeping otter on the bean bag and lay down beside her and fell asleep.
