Fighting Love
Joey Indigo entered the school gym, the young Doberman was feeling as confident as ever. As soon as he walked in all eyes were on him. The cheerleaders, his wrestling buddies, even the nerds. It was always like this and he never expected it to change so suddenly.
“Hey, Joey!”
Joey turned around to see Abe Stone, a large black grizzly bear heading his way. Joey and Abe had been best friends since elementary school. Together the two were a force to be reckoned with.
“Hey, Abe, what’s up?” Joey said as he gave the bear a high five.
“I just thought you should know that yours truly is now dating Marta Cascade.”
“Seriously!? Dude, that’s awesome.” Joey said. Marta Cascade was a hot tigress, one of the most popular cheerleaders in the junior class too.
“I know, so what about you, is the move in today?” Abe asked.
“Yeah, I still can’t believe my dad hooked up with a cat, he could at least have found another dog.”
“Hey, man I know you don’t like the idea of a stepparent, but your dad deserves to be happy too.”
“I know but its worst,” Joey took a deep breath before speaking. “I’m going to have a stepbrother.”
“Oh, well that’s not so bad.” Abe said. “You’re going to have someone who looks up to you. We can show him the ropes and—
“He’s my age,” Joey interrupted. “I’m four months older than him but he’s a junior like us.”
“Oh, okay that might suck. What is he like?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never met him. But when he shows up, I’m going to make sure he knows who the top dog is.”
****
“I know I’m not going to like this.” Joey said.
“You’ll get used to it,” Joey’s father said. “I know you don’t like the idea of having a brother, but please for my sake… please behave, Joey.”
Joey looked at his father’s eyes. He was actually begging, could this cat really be that important to him?
Joey took a deep breath and looked towards his father. “Alright dad, I’ll do it for you.”
At that moment the door bell rang and Joey’s father went to answer it. The first person to enter was a white cat, Joey’s future step mom. Joey’s father and the cat embraced each other. Joey thought about throwing up but seeing his father so happy, he just couldn’t ruin this moment. The next cat that entered was also a white cat, only he had brown spots over his fur.
Joey was surprised, he knew the cat was his age but he also seemed to have the same build as Joey. Joey was so focused on his new brother he didn’t even see notice his “mom” talking to him.
“Hello Joey, it’s good to see you again.” The white cat said.
“Uh yeah,” Joey said. “It’s good to see you too, Beth and…”
“Paul…” The spotted cat said. “I’ll just start bringing the stuff in.”
“Great, Joey and I will help.” The large Doberman said. “If that’s all right with you, Beth?”
Joey glared at his father but the white cat simply smiled. “Sure Peter. We don’t mind the help.”
****
While the males were bringing in the furniture, Beth decided to cook dinner to celebrate. During the dinner Peter and Beth talked about various things that neither of their sons was interested in, but both of the boys cast a glance at each other while they ate.
After dinner everyone headed to bed. Joey regrettably brought Paul to his room, the room they would be sharing. Joey wanted to do nothing more then go to bed and wake up to find out this was all a horrible dream, but that wasn’t happening. He removed his shirt and pulled his weights from under the bed.
“What are you doing?” Paul asked while removing his shirt.
“What’s… it… look… like,” Joey said in between his curls. “I always… work out… before I… go to bed… it helps… me sleep… better.”
“Hmmm, never heard of that,” Paul said. “I just read a good book to help me sleep.” The spotted cat went over to his suitcase and pulled out a green book. Joey looked at the title and his jaw dropped, it was the latest edition of The Animal Clans: War of the Species.
“Are you serious!?” Joey shouted. “You actually read that crap?”
Paul had a confused look on his face. “What’s wrong with it?”
“It’s about people in freaking loincloths for starters, plus the lame magic, and I’ve even heard it has people raping each other in that thing.”
“Nobody gets raped… okay one person, but that was in a flashback.”
“That book is for geeks,” Joey said as he crossed his arms over his bare chest.
“You don’t even know what it’s about,” Paul countered. “This is the eleventh book in the series and the twelfth and final book is due next season.”
“Thank God for that,” Joey said.
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.” Paul said calmly.
“Fine, tell me what the stupid book is about.”
“It’s mostly follows the struggles of the Rabbit Clan,” Paul began. “The chieftains son is the main character and he’s trying to bring all the clan’s together to stop an ancient evil and-” Paul looked up from his book and saw Joey fast asleep on his bed.
****
The next day Joey awoke just in time to see his step-brother walking out the door already dressed for his first day of school. Joey wondered if he had overslept, but when he looked at the clock he saw that it was only seven in the morning and school didn’t start for another hour. He didn’t bother asking why the cat got up so early but instead just got ready for the day himself.
When he reached the school he saw Paul leaving from the library, still reading the book from last night. Joey briefly wondered how the cat even got the same build as him when all he seemed to do was read.
He went to his first class which was Biology, he expected to just fall asleep in class like he normally did but then he saw the teacher, a tall goat with a short grey beard wearing a brown coat, along with his brother.
“Greetings class,” Mr. Aries said. “Today we have a new student joining us. Go ahead and introduce yourself, son.”
“Hi, my name is Paul Thunder… Indigo.”
“Indigo?” The Goat said as he looked at his sheet of paper. “Are you related to Mr. Joey Indigo?”
“Yeah, at least I will be… soon.” Paul said as he hurried and rushed over to an empty seat.
All the kids in the class began whispering to each other. Joey didn’t have to guess what about. A cat who was almost the exact same size and build as Joey, some people would think they were blood brothers if they didn’t already know that Joey was an only child. As the class went on Joey was already seeing things begin to change. All the attention was on this cat, Joey Indigo’s new brother.
****
Paul was uncomfortable at first but he was really starting to like it here. Everyone was so nice, not at all like the kids at his old school. That’s why he had to work out so much; the bully’s always targeted the smaller kids or the ones without fangs or claws. He would miss his old friends, but he still had their emails and cell phone numbers. He just hoped that this new town had a library.
“Why did you have to go?” Paul said. He was remembering his father. He always seemed happy with his mom but one day the old cat just left without any explanation. His mom was able to support them for a time but soon the bills kept piling up. Then out of nowhere his mom meets this dog whose wife had passed away some time ago and was vulnerable to the first female he laid eyes on.
He was grateful that he helped out with the bills and the dog even made his mom happy, but he hadn’t expected him to propose. He didn’t object or anything he wanted his mom to be happy, now if only he could find someone to love.
While Paul kept on walking with his head in the book he bumped into someone and books went flying everywhere.
“Sorry,” Paul said immediately. He picked up his own books and placed it in his bag; he then started helping the person he had bumped into. A small chubby boar with short brown hair and wearing glasses.
“Thanks,” The boar said. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”
“Neither was I, one of these days I might just die with a book in my head.” Paul said as he helped the boar pick up the books he dropped.
While Paul was picking up the books he noticed something.
“You read the Animal Clans?”
“What!?” The boar said shocked as he saw Paul holding his book. “N-No, I was just holding it for a friend. I don’t even know about the Sacred Weapons.”
“I didn’t say anything about the Sacred Weapons.” Paul said calmly.
The boar stared back dumbfounded.
“Relax I’m a fan too,” Paul said as he revealed his book of the Animal Clan’s.
The boar looked shocked as he touched the cover of the book. “I thought… It’s rare to find anybody in the school who read these books.”
“I know right, we need a way to find people who are interested in the same kind of literature.” Suddenly Paul’s ears picked up. “Hey, is there a library in this town.”
“Y-Yeah, I’m sure we can find more people who love reading The Animal Clans.” The boar said quickly.
“Okay, we’ll have a meeting; see if we can work this out. I’m Paul Indigo by the way.” Paul said extending his hand to the boar.
“I’m Franklin Silver,” The boar said as he shook hands with the cat.
Paul began to wonder maybe living here won’t be so bad after all.
