A dream come true by Pent Ghelsburg
Disclaimer: The characters depicted in this work are purely fictional. Any resemblance to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental. They are the original and rightful intellectual property of their creators. I use them with permission and respect. This work involves underaged characters. You have been warned.
Winter break had come and passed and with it school returned the students of the local secondary school to the grind of education. Pent and Xavier had had a lot of fun on the trip but other responsibilities had to be taken care of other than leisure time. The two of them began hanging out much more often, much to the delight of Pent. Xavier on the other hand passed it off as time to study, something he'd promised his parents he'd keep up with. Of course, the fox had no issue with it as he liked to spend time with his best friend.
About a week had passed since they started school back up, and the chipmunk's injury had healed up nicely. Xavier had been thinking a lot to himself lately. Much more than he ever had before meeting Pent. He knew full well that Pent still had feelings for him. It was something that the fox's sometimes awkward behavior towards him reminded him of on frequent occasions. Still, for both of them, the relationship had remained platonic and of a friendly nature.
Xavier had been thinking about his friendship with Pent a lot. He liked to hang out with Pent, even when Pent completely shut down into the security of his books. The fox was interesting to him and they had a fair bit in common. He had even attended some of the fox kit's hockey games, much to the delight of Pent who wasn't aware of his presence the first few times. It was a surprise that he welcomed.
As time passed, Xavier began to rethink more of their relationship. He wasn't exactly comfortable with the idea of being seen as "gay". Part of him wanted to try it. He hadn't had a relationship in some time and the last. Being around Pent made him happy and there were times when he experienced something he wasn't familiar with. His insecurity had kept him from pursuing it so far but he was becoming more okay with the idea as time went on and Pent became more of a staple in his life.
Valentiones's Day was a few weeks away. Most of the students in the school were talking about it. Xavier was familiar with the holiday and had only ever used it as a means of friendly extensions of support and compassion. But for the first time in his young life, he was considering it for something else. He was throwing around the idea of asking Pent to be his Valentiones. He knew the fox wouldn't have one and wanted to be his first.
One night Xavier was in his room on his computer. He was messing around doom scrolling on the internet. Just about every advertisement he saw was about chocolates and flowers. He thought about getting Pent something for Valentiones but didn't have much money. He was uncertain if he even should. After all…he was still certain that people would find out and judge him for giving it to a boy.
He decided to talk to his mother about it. She was the one who he'd confided about Pent in the past and she already knew the backstory. So that night, she took him up on the offer. The mother was already in her nightgown as it was rather late and she was getting ready for bed. It was late and she'd had very little time recently because of work. She wasn't about to deny her son's request as she considered him the most important thing in her life.
Xavier was already sitting in his bed, wearing his pajamas. The cub was playing with the medallion in his fingers. She entered his room and sat down at the foot of his bed, noticing he was toying with something.
"What's that?" She hadn't noticed it before.
Xavier looked up at her. "Oh, this? Pent gave it to me."
"That was nice of him. What did you want to talk about, hon?" The older woman leaned against the wall to give herself support.
The chipmunk boy looked to the floor. "I wanted to talk about Valentiones day."
"What about it? You don't normally care about that holiday." She was intrigued by why he was bringing it up.
Xavier tried to remain positive. "I want to get someone a Valentiones's Day card and chocolate."
"Oh? Is there someone you're going to ask to be your Valentiones?" She had a feeling she knew who it was.
The cub took a deep breath. "Promise not to be mad?"
She reached over and touched his hand. "Honey, why would I be mad?"
"Because I want to ask Pent to be my Valentiones." Xavier felt a pressure in his chest as his heart beat faster upon admitting it.
The mother leaned in and hugged him. "That's very brave of you honey. I am sure you will make him very happy."
"Can you take me later? I don't want Dad to know…" The boy didn't want people to think he was gay, especially his dad.
The woman shook her head. "Xavier, he wouldn't care. We support whoever you decide to date. If being with Pent makes you happy then so be it."
She kissed him on the forehead. The two of them went out later to let Xavier purchase a box of chocolates and a card. Xavier spent a lot of time coming up with what to write in the card eventually settling on something he thought would be meaningful.
"Pent, there was a day in the past I remember well. Your mind was confused and torn. Your emotions were mixed and yet you found the strength to tell me your feelings. I have something to share with you. Meet me at the same place at the end of gym class." -Xae
It was only a matter of time before the day in question. His nerves tensed as it got closer and closer. He wasn't sure he could go through with it. The card and chocolate on his counter laughed at him.
The day of Valentiones's Day arrived and Xavier got out of his bed slowly. He looked at the clock. It was just as early as any other school day. His stomach churned in response to his nervousness. He had played it out a hundred times in his head. Each time someone discovered him asking Pent a different way. There was just no way to get around it. He wanted to fake sickness and stay home.
His father came to check on him since he hadn't shown up for breakfast yet. The man popped his head inside the boy's room and saw he was still lounging about in his pajamas.
"Why aren't you up yet? It's time to go to school." The father stood at the door awaiting an answer.
Xavier faked a cough. "I don't feel well. Can I stay home?"
He was a terrible actor and his parents always saw through his game.
The man approached him and touched his forehead. It wasn't any warmer than normal.
"You don't have a fever. I think you are fibbing. Tell me the truth." The older male hated being lied to.
The chipmunk boy stammered. "I don't want to go to school today. Can't I just play hookey?"
"Why? Your mother told me you've been talking up the storm about Valentiones Day. Don't tell me you are nervous about asking, Pent. Are you?" He had a feeling this was the case.
Xavier looked up at him. "She told you…?"
"She told me yes but even if she didn't I can read you like a book. I've seen how you act around him. You can't fool me." He got up and picked up the chocolate and card and tossed it to his son, seeming annoyed.
The boy frowned sensing his father was disappointed in something. "Are you mad?"
"I'm mad that you think you need to lie to me. That boy has feelings for you. He told you as much. I think it's about time you stop lying to yourself and tell him the same." The older male huffed and rolled his eyes.
Xavier yelled. "But…I don't have feelings for him…I swear!"
"Whatever you need to tell yourself, Xavier. Get dressed. You're going to school. I'm not arguing with you about this." The man shut the door on the way out.
The chipmunk fingered the box and looked at it. Did he have feelings for Pent? He told himself time and time again that he didn't. Yet, he wanted more than anything to go through with this. Not just for Pent but for himself. Questions continued to swim in his mind.
Xavier was slow to get dressed and skipped breakfast that morning. He was a bottled-up mess of nerves. He had put the chocolate and card in his bag and placed it at the door. He ate only a single apple and a small breakfast bar before drinking more juice than he normally did. Hoping that it would sate his fears and settle his stomach.
He followed his father outside, fingering the necklace he always wore. He wanted it to bring him luck. He wanted Pent to say yes…more than anything. His heart pounded in his chest as he sat down in the car with his father. His father remained silent in the car, still upset that his son had lied to him. As he was about to drop him off, he gave Xavier parting words of wisdom.
"Xavier, I know you're nervous. I can see it in you. You're my son. Have faith. I promise it will go well. Just be honest with Pent…and yourself. Have a good day today. Good luck." The man pulled out of the school.
The chipmunk had listened to the mini-lecture. He was still nervous, butterflies racing in his stomach. He wanted to avoid Pent for now, considering his options. The cub decided to stop into peer counseling and see who was around to help him out. Xavier made his way through school, making sure to wave to Pent but continued past him. The fox assumed he had some other engagement and didn't make much of it.
Xavier had never gone to peer counseling before. He knew it was a service that the school offered and that cubs could take advantage of when they wanted to. He wanted advice from someone his age. His father's words just weren't enough for him. He padded into the peer counseling room and was relayed to one of the offices once he informed them that he was there and preferred to talk to someone of a similar gender.
He walked into the room and saw an unfamiliar face. It was Santiago. The very peer counselor who had spoken to Pent about similar issues. Though Xavier didn't know that. A mere coincidence more than anything.
"Go on and sit down." Santiago leaned back in his chair, easing into a bit.
The door was shut by the teacher's aide so they could have some privacy. Xavier sat down across from the older boy.
"You're name and grade, please." The squirrel wasn't familiar
with the cub.
The younger boy looked up. "My name is Xavier and I am a first year."
"Very well. I would like to remind you that everything spoken about here is private between us. How can I help you?" The teen took his volunteer job very seriously.
The chipmunk took a deep breath. "There is someone I want to ask to be my Valentiones and I don't know if I should."
"I see. Is this person a friend of yours?" Santiago began to take down notes so he could keep track of and document things.
The cub nodded. "Yeah, they are my best friend."
"And do you have romantic feelings for this person?" The older boy tapped his chin with the butt of the pencil.
Xavier looked down "I think so….I've been thinking about them more and more as time has gone on and I have gotten to know them better."
"And does the idea of dating this person appeals to you?" The teen continued to listen intently.
The bell for the first class rang.
"Do not worry about that. I will give you a pass. Please continue." It wasn't abnormal for cubs in peer counseling to come to class late.
Xavier nodded. "Yeah, I would like to spend more time with them."
"I see. I suppose you are worried about what they will say?" Santiago bent forward in his chair.
The younger boy hummed. "I guess. They admitted their feelings a long time ago...but I made them wait."
"Ah, you weren't ready then? The squirrel was intrigued by the other boy's situation.
The chipmunk sighed. "Yeah and...I'm worried about what people will think."
"Hmm. Is it a boy? You are worried people think you are gay?" Santiago assumed it was the case.
Xavier hesitated before answering. "Uh-huh."
"I understand. Your feelings matter but so do this other boys. I think that you need to search for what you want. Do whatever makes you happy. Don't worry so much about what other people think about you. I think you should ask him but whether you do that or not is up to you." Santiago took out the hall pass the school had given him.
The chipmunk figured the session was over, even if he wasn't sure it had helped. "Thanks..."
Xavier returned to class. The cub was distracted by his thoughts during all of his early classes. There was no one class he enjoyed enough to take his mind off it. Thinking only about if he should ask Pent or not. By the time the third period came, he had a headache. Luckily for him, the school had planned an event for the holiday. The cub remained in his seat when the announcement came on the intercom that it was soon to begin.
Each of the halls had been sectioned off to the grades. The doors to each of the classes had signs on them with letters that included the group of students they were assigned. All of them were organized by last name, making it easier to find. The students had set up bags they had made earlier in the week so people could drop off gifts anonymously or otherwise. It was a rather simple process that had proved its worth in the past.
Xavier was pushed along to set himself up. Putting his bag up, expecting nothing more than silly cards from the girls who supposedly liked him. He had more than enough girls who were fans of him and every year he got cards from them. It was meaningless and empty and he ended up throwing them away. He hated it and had never liked the holiday. But this year was different...he wanted a Valentiones from someone he cared for.
He got up and proceeded to look around. The halls had been decorated with streamers that lined the tops of the halls. Hearts with arrows going through them hung from the ceiling. The words "Happy Valentiones" spelled out through the halls. Xavier sighed, trying to work up the courage to do it. The chipmunk went back to his bookbag and pulled out the card and chocolate he had purchased.
Xavier took a deep breath, telling himself he was going to do it. He walked with the two things in hand. Taking slow and steady strides to the room that had the G last names in it. Filing through the bags of students who had left them there. Most of them ruffling with whatever they had inside them. When he got to Pent's the bag was poorly decorated. Nothing was inside and it made him feel bad. He placed his card inside, deciding to give Pent the chocolate later since it was too big to fit inside.
He walked away, some students had seen him drop off a card but it wasn't clear where he'd done it. They didn't question it since he was popular. Xavier looked back to make sure they didn't check Pent's bag. He didn't want them to know. Fortunately for him, they didn't bother to look as they were looking for their own supposed Valentiones. It was only a matter of time now. Xavier felt excitement and nervousness build within him. He grabbed his bag without checking it and stuffed it into his book bag.
The rest of the day went by at a snail's pace. Xavier didn't sit by Pent at lunch, he was afraid the other cub would say something. The fox instead sat with Santiago, something that made the chipmunk even more nervous than he already was. Playing with his food until the last few minutes when he shoved the food into his maw. He knew it was only a short while until he planned to meet Pent.
Xavier fiddled with his necklace. The bell soon rang. It was almost time...he had a knot in his stomach. He forced himself to get up and proceeded to walk. He made his way into the gym. He went to his locker to change into his gym clothes. He was looking forward to going and playing today. He finished changing and almost ran right into Pent.
"Oh...erm...Hi, Pent." His heart began beating fast.
Pent had a smile on his face. "Hi, Xae. I got your card..."
"Not now, Pent, okay?" He interrupted him because he didn't want anyone to hear.
The fox nodded and proceeded back to his locker to change. He couldn't help but be curious about what the other cub wanted to tell him. They reported to the gym floor. The fox wasn't far behind his best friend standing right at his side. The coach soon announced the activity. It was to be volleyball. They drew an imaginary line among the cubs and divided them up without much thought.
Pent and Xavier were to be on the same team. Neither of them had much experience with volleyball but it was an easy enough sport to take up. The game started before long with most of the students trying way too hard to spike the ball. Pent and Xavier continued to pass the ball and make whatever attempt they could to save it from hitting the ball. Laughing at each other when they ran into one another.
The game was a deadlock. Neither side could score. The coach tried to spur them on but it was to no avail. Eventually, the ball got to the one kid who was able to make a good serve. Neither Pent nor Xavier was able to grab it. A point was announced to the other side and the coach and cubs who were watching cheering them on. It wasn't much longer before the bell rang, both sides reeling in to go inside but both Xavier and Pent stayed behind.
Xavier made sure everyone was gone and guided Pent to behind the bleachers. The two of them sweating a bit but not tired from the activity. The chipmunk took a deep breath once they were at the corner of it. He was certain they were entirely alone and wouldn't be bothered. He lost track of what he was doing as he kept looking behind him, just to be certain.
"Did you get my card today?" Pent started the conversation as the other boy seemed distracted.
Xavier turned back around. "Your card?"
Xavier opened up his backpack and pulled out his Valentiones bag. Rifling through it he went through all of the cards, all of them looking like they were from girls he didn't even know. Until he found one with "From your friend Pent."
He peeled it open and read the card. It was a simple read card with a quote he didn't quite understand. Inside he found something written by Pent and read it.
"Now and forever we stand together. You are the center of my universe. The sun which I orbit. I will always gravitate to your presence....even if you don't feel the same way I do."
He frowned a bit. "Pent...it's beautiful. Thank you..."
"Thanks...sorry I couldn't afford to buy anything else for you." Pent had to pay for his brother's medication.
Xavier nodded. "It's okay...It was very thoughtful of you. I will treasure it."
"What did you want to share with me?" The fox's curiosity was still piqued.
The smaller cub took a deep breath telling himself he could do it. "Pent, I know it's been a long time since you told me how you feel. It's been something I've been thinking about a lot. Spending time with you has been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. My grades have gone up...I feel happier...I feel more complete...you make me feel funny inside when you're around me. Pent...I'm ready. Will you be my Valentiones?"
Xavier had put it all out on the line. His heart was beating fast. His entire body was shaking. Standing in front of him was the other boy, stunned and without words. It took a moment for Pent to process what he heard. Lurching forward and hugging Pent. The fox's eyes balled out in pure unadulterated happiness. Xavier stroked his back. The familiar sense of warmth filled his insides.
"Is it okay if we keep it between us for now, Pent? I'm not sure I want people to know yet..." The chipmunk whispered still trying to console the other boy.
It took a few more seconds for Pent to collect himself. Wiping his red eyes. He simply nodded. He didn't care. This was what he'd been wanting for what seemed like forever. It was a dream come true. The white fox's skin underneath his fur had turned bright red. His heart raced as he stood there in a slight state of disbelief.
"Happy Valentiones, Pent..." The chipmunk handed him the chocolate he had brought for him.
The bigger boy hugged him again. The emotion was too much for him to bear. He still couldn't speak. It was all too much for his young mind to process.
"So...will
you be my Valentiones?" Xavier wanted a verbal response more than anything.
Pent gulped and stammered. "Y-yeah..."
The fox finally took the chocolate and held it proudly in his paw. His heart was riding high. It couldn't possibly get any better in his mind.
"Thanks, Pent. Do you want to come over for dinner?" The chipmunk sheepishly shuffled his paws in place.
The bigger boy nodded. "Y-Yeah, that would be fun."
"Cool, let's go home." Xavier had a big goofy grin on his face.
The fox wasn't far behind him, still in a bit of a state of disbelief. His tail wagged rather visibly behind him as his emotions rode high. Xavier took a deep breath. The deed was done. A weight off his chest. Though still uncertain if he had made the right choice, he felt better about himself. He was glad that he'd gone through with it.
They walked into the locker room together. By this point, all of the cubs had left. Even the coaches were nowhere to be seen. They proceeded to get changed out of their gym clothes and back into their warmer winter garments. Spring was soon to come but it was still rather cold out. Neither boy bothered to look at the other. Once they had dressed Xavier walked up to Pent and patted him on the back.
The chipmunk and his best friend walked out of the gym and into the halls of the school. Only a few members of the maintenance crew were around. None of them bothered to give them any mind as it wasn't the first time students had wandered around after hours. Back outside it was snowing again. Xavier's father's car was sitting waiting. He hoped the man wouldn't be too upset about him being late.
His father spotted the cub coming out of the school. The familiar sight of the white fox cub was soon behind him. He wondered if Xavier had gone through with it. He waited until the boy was in the car. The two separated themselves, not thinking much about it. The chipmunk's father looked at him expectantly.
"How come your late?" He asked before starting the vehicle.
The cub felt a bit nervous about telling his father again. "I was hanging out with Pent."
"Oh, I see. Does he need me to take him home?" The father pulled out of the school roundabout.
Xavier shook his head. "I was wondering....can Pent come over for dinner?"
"Do you two have homework?" The older male wasn't averse to the idea.
The boy hummed. "Yeah. Pent, can you help me with my homework?"
"Of course, Xae." The fox wasn't about to stop helping him now.
"Sure, as long as his foster mother doesn't mind then he's welcome to come over tonight." He made a sharp turn since he assumed he needed to go to Pent's home.
The rest of the ride was rather silent. The father didn't want to prod his son. His wife had lectured him about being hard on the boy. After all, adolescence was a hard time for any kid, and Xavier was very much in the thralls of the early stages of puberty. They were very much aware that it was a confusing time, especially for a cub who appeared to have a homosexual attraction in his life.
When they arrived at Xavier's place, the snow was starting to fall again. Plenty of powder was already on the ground and they certainly didn't need more. The weather was reporting heavy snow that night. There were already rumors of a snow in and the cancellation of school but both boys knew better than to count on that. They all got out of the car and made their way inside.
The three males arrived inside, told by his father to take their shoes and coats off. Pent and Xavier were more than happy to oblige since the heat inside was roaring. They ran off before long, both of them skipping along without a care in the world. His wife soon showed up.
"I suppose it went well, eh?" She said with a smile on her face.
He shrugged. "He didn't say but that would be my guess since Pent's here."
"Time will tell, Doug. Let's leave them be. Is he staying for dinner? The woman wanted to plan.
Her husband nodded. "Yeah. I hope it's alright with you."
"Of course, honey. I respect your decision. The weather is supposed to be bad out tonight. I don't want you going out again, alright?" She knew he could be stubborn sometimes.
He cocked an eyebrow. "So how is he going to get home?"
"Pent can stay the night. I doubt they will have school tomorrow. We're supposed to get several inches and it's already deep out. Come on, let's go make dinner." His wife kissed him before heading back toward the kitchen.
He shrugged and followed her. He didn't mind if Pent stayed or not. It wasn't like it was the first time. Xavier and Pent had already gone back to the chipmunk's room. The smaller cub wasn't about to defy his parents and pulled out his math book and placed it on his bed.
"So what kind of homework do you have?" Pent asked since they weren't in the same classes.
The brown-furred boy hopped on the bed and patted the spot next to him. "Math."
The white fox joined him without much of a second thought. Xavier opened the page in question and the two began to go over the homework. For Pent, the task was a simple one. Translating word problems into graphs and planes was something he'd done in the past before. It wasn't something that needed much explanation either. Xavier smiled at Pent as he showed him how it was done. It was so much easier when his friend explained it.
"Hey, Pent. Want to see something cool?" He asked with a big goofy smile on his face.
Pent nodded. "Yeah, sure what is it?"
Xavier reached into the back of the book where he'd stored a paper he'd gotten a good grade on. "Look."
"Oh, nice. You got a B. Well deserved, Xavier. You've been working hard." The bigger boy patted him on the back
The smaller boy felt proud. "I couldn't have done it with you. I want to have good grades like you."
"I'm happy to help, Xae. Let's keep working hard." Pent didn't easily get distracted when he was focused.
The two continued working on math. Pent went above and beyond as usual, even previewing the next section that Xavier would likely be working on. They lost track of time soon Xavier's mother appeared at the door.
"Come on boys, it's time for dinner." She watched as they sped by, seeming just to be happy together.
They reported to the dinner table where everything was ready. Xavier's parents had prepared a nice meal for both of them. Their plates are opposites of the two cubs. An idea popped into the chipmunk boy's head.
"Hey, mom and dad. Can Pent and I eat in the living room?" Xavier wanted to eat alone with Pent.
The father and mother looked at each other before the man responded. "As long as you two don't make a mess...that's fine."
"Thanks, Mom and Dad!" The brown-furred boy was surprised they had allowed it.
Pent and Xavier grabbed the plates and cups that had been placed for them before heading back to the living room. The table in the living room was much lower to the ground. The chipmunk boy placed his stuff down first before sitting down on the floor. He could hear the roaring of the fireplace and the television was churning on with the news. The fox soon joined him, the two of them sat next to each other with their backs towards a large sofa.
The television rung off the latest update regarding the weather.
"Your local news at 6. Several inches of snow are expected throughout the night. Strong winds and temperatures are expected well below 0. Do not leave the house unless it's an emergency. Schools will be closed tomorrow."
Xavier smirked. "Looks like we don't have to go to school tomorrow."
"Yeah, I guess but...how am I going to go home?" Pent hadn't slept over during the weekdays quite yet.
The chipmunk thought to himself. "I don't think my parents will mind if you sleep over tonight."
"Oh...cool. I would like that." The bigger boy began eating his food.
Xavier looked at the television. He wasn't much into watching it but he didn't know what to talk about.
"Do you want to watch something?" He asked to see if Pent wanted to watch the television.
The fox didn't much watch the TV either. "We don't have many channels…just the local ones."
"Oh, alright." Xavier scrolled through the channels, not finding anything interesting.
"What do you want to do tonight?" Xavier didn't want Pent to get bored as he was sure he brought enough books to occupy himself.
The bigger boy took a quick bite of his food. "I don't mind doing what you want if you have something in mind."
It seemed as if they were at an impasse as they both wanted to do what the other wanted. Xavier wasn't sure what to do and there was an awkward silence shared between them.
"Why don't you two see if there's a movie on you're interested in? I don't mind paying for it if it will keep you guys occupied." Xavier's mother had overheard their conversation.
Xavier looked at Pent. "Does that sound keen to you?"
"Yeah, sure. Maybe we can share popcorn if you want." Pent remembered the time from the Imax when neither ate from the popcorn bucket.
The chipmunk smiled and nodded. "Mom, can you make us some popcorn please?"
"Only if you finish your meals…I want to see clean plates from both of you. No excuses." She made them a deal they couldn't refuse.
Both boys nodded and began to chow down much faster. Neither of them complained about the compromise. She giggled as she went into the kitchen to make them some popcorn. When they finished the two cubs went into the kitchen to put their dirty dishes in the sink. The mother hadn't started making the popcorn just yet.
"Good boys…now go take a shower and get dressed for bed. I will have the popcorn ready when you both come out." She pointed out of the kitchen.
Xavier whined. "But mom…."
"But nothing, you both smell. Go get washed up." She hated how her son smelled when he was sweaty.
Pent tugged on the smaller boy. "Come on. It's not a big deal."
They retreated from the kitchen and back through the hall of the home. Xavier led back into his
room where stopped for a moment. The other cub recognized his hesitation.
"What's wrong?" Xavier didn't want his best friend to be uncomfortable.
Pent murmured. "I didn't bring a change of clothes other than my gym stuff and the school clothes I'm wearing. I have nothing to wear to bed."
"You can borrow my stuff if you want. You're not that much bigger than me. It's not like I didn't do the same the night I stayed over." The chipmunk offered a simple solution.
The Arctic fox thought about it for a second, he knew he didn't have a choice. "O-okay…"
The smaller boy nodded and padded over toward his dresser drawer. Pulling out a set for himself and one for Pent. They were both two-piece pajama sets and a pair of boxer shorts for each of them. He handed the bright yellow set to the fox and waited for him to take it. The bigger cub hesitated before taking them into his hand. Part of him wanted to smell them…to smell the cub's scent on them but he controlled himself.
"I guess I'll go first. I promise I won't take long, okay?" Xavier rushed as he wanted to get to watch a movie with Pent.
The fox had been left alone. He looked at the clothing in his paw. Thoughts swirled in his head. He knew he sort of liked how the other boy smelt. He sat down on the boy's office chair and put them on his lap. He crossed his legs awkwardly and twiddled his thumbs as he waited. Taking a deep breath as he looked up trying to avoid looking at the clothing. It wasn't much longer before Xavier appeared, wrapped in a towel but a long sleeve bed shirt covering his upper half.
The chipmunk walked into the room. "Your turn."
Pent was glad he could take a shower now. Wanting nothing more than to wash away the thoughts he was experiencing. He didn't want Xavier to think he was weird. He wanted to be normal, just like his best friend was. He wasted no time in getting the shower turned back on. It was already steamy and still a bit hot inside from when Xavier had showered. He put the change of clothes down and got inside.
The fox allowed the water to soak his fur. He loved the feeling of cold water against his skin. He cleaned himself thoroughly and shampooed his fur. He wanted to smell good for Xavier. After he was done, he poked himself out of the stall. His body was dripping wet. There was only one towel in the bathroom and it appeared to be damp. He guessed it didn't matter if he used the same towel Xavier did.
He began to dry himself off. The cub starts at his head and face. He couldn't help but smell the towel. After all, it was dangling against his nose, even if it wasn't his intention. Taking a few inadvertent sniffs of it, he smelt something vaguely familiar. The light smell of the other boy's body. It was slight but it was there. He drew his nose away from it. Xavier smelled so nice….he told himself quietly.
Pent continued to dry himself, taking more time than usual since the towel was damp. When he was done, he slid on the borrowed pair of boxers. They fit well enough. Putting on the pajama pants was a little short on his legs but was plenty around the waist. The fox finished with his necklace and shirt, feeling it a little snug around his form but still covering his torso and arms. He soon returned to Xavier's room.
He put his dirty clothes in his bag. Xavier was nowhere to be seen so he went to go look for him. He found the cub in the kitchen putting on some salt on the popcorn. The chipmunk turned around with the overly large bowl in his hands.
"Oh, hey. All done? Sorry, I don't have anything bigger." Xavier could tell the shirt was a bit of a tight fit on Pent.
Pent shrugged. "It's cool. It's not that uncomfortable."
"Come on, let's go find a movie to watch." The chipmunk walked past him and into the living room.
They sat on the floor next to each other. Xavier began scanning through movies until he found something they would both like. It was the flick starring Rocket Raccoon.
"Does this look good?" The smaller boy assumed he'd be fine with it.
Pent nodded. "Yeah, sure."
The boy's shoulders were locked against one another. No space was between them. Their hands close to each other but not touching. Xavier placed the bowl at the center so they could both get it. They began watching the film. It was an action film that both of them were somewhat familiar with. They had both seen it before but they enjoyed it all the same. In the middle of the film, Xavier got up to use the restroom.
Pent remained there watching the movie. It was the corny romance scene between Rocket and Lylla. The otter and raccoon have a tender moment ending in a kiss. It made Pent long for one. He had fantasized about kissing Xavier before but had never actually thought about doing it. He wasn't sure if he should. Was it the right time? Would it bother the other boy if he did it?
Xavier came back before long. Missing the entirety of the corny romantic scene. Chomping on a bit more of the popcorn that they'd been eating together. The fox wasn't paying attention to the movie anymore. Instead consumed by his own wants again. His desire to kiss Xavier. He tried to stop thinking about it, wishing that he hadn't seen the scene.
Pent got up to wash his face. Using the same excuse Xavier had moments ago. Standing in the bathroom he tried to settle down. His heart was racing fast. He was enjoying himself for sure, even if the movie was one he'd seen before. He didn't care. He just wanted to be around his best friend. After a few minutes, he walked back to the room and rejoined the other cub on the floor.
The film came to an end and the two cubs yawned. It was late and they normally were asleep before that time of night. The lights in the house were turned off. Xavier knew his parents had likely gone to sleep for the night. Pent was about to get up, he tugged on the boy to stay there. The fox was confused since the movie was over and they both appeared to be tired.
Xavier looked eye to eye with Pent. The chipmunk's heart was beating fast. He reached in and hugged Pent. The fox embraced him much the same way. The two remained that way for a moment before, just enjoying each other's warmth. The bigger cub leaned in a bit and kissed the other boy on the cheek. The sudden showing of affection only lasted a split second but caused the smaller cub to blush.
"Pent…" He'd never been kissed by a boy before.
The fox looked down as if ashamed. "Sorry…"
"It's okay, Pent. I understand." Xavier hugged him again, showing his support for his best friend.
Pent stood there a bit motionless, still feeling a little guilty.
"Come on, let's go to bed." The brown-furred boy tugged on the other cub so he would follow along.
Xavier turned off the lights and television before they left the room. Leading back into his room. The fox sluggishly trailed him, still seeming to be distraught by his own choice. Soon coming into the room.
"Are you okay?" Xavier asked sensing something was wrong.
Pent shook his head. "I shouldn't have kissed you…I just…did….I'm sorry."
"I promise I'm not mad, Pent...it was kind of nice." The chipmunk wanted to be honest with his friend.
The white fox looked up seeming more hopeful. "Really?"
"Yeah, I promise. Come on silly, let's hit the hay. It's late." Xavier smiled and plopped on his bed.
Pent felt a lot better now that Xavier had said that. He retrieved the sleeping bag from the closet and put it on the floor. He yawned and stretched. They kneeled before crawling inside.
"Good night, Xae." Pent rested his head on the pillow and tried to sleep.
The chipmunk crawled his sheets. "Night, Pent."
The two slept through the night without much issue. Each boy dreamed about things boys often did. Pent envisioned himself winning some science fair and the chipmunk pretending to win a much coveted Lacrosse trophy.
The next morning came before long. The alarm had been turned off by Xavier's parents so the two boys could sleep in. The chipmunk rose when his body no longer wanted to sleep. Leaning over he found Pent was digging his snout into another book.
"You weren't up all night reading were you?" The brown-furred boy looked at his friend sitting up on the floor.
Pent looked up. "Huh? Oh, nah. I'm almost done with this book. I wanted to finish it."
"How much do you read anyways?" Xavier was genuinely curious since his friend was seemingly always reading.
Pent hummed. "I finish a book every few days but it depends how big it is, I guess."
"Wow, haha. I haven't read a single book this month except what class assigned me…" The chipmunk had never heard of someone reading so much before.
Xavier sat on the side of the bed. "Do you want to sit up on my bed? It's more comfortable than the floor."
"I'm almost done. It's okay." Pent didn't like being a burden.
The chipmunk smiled. "Please? I just wanna talk with you a little bit."
The white fox put his book down and pulled himself onto the bed next to Xavier. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I was kind of wondering…what got you into reading?" The chipmunk wanted to see if he could learn more about Pent.
Pent thought about it a second. "I have been reading since I was old enough to. You should try it."
"Yeah? How come?" The smaller boy eased his back against the wall.
His stomach growled but he figured it could wait a bit.
Pent shrugged. "It always helps me when I just want to escape. When everything just becomes too much you know?"
"Yeah, I guess I understand. Do you mind if I ask you something personal?" The brown-furred boy wanted to be cognisant of his friend's feelings.
Pent smiled. "Sure, but only if I get to do the same."
"Do people pick on you a lot?" Xavier wanted to solve Pent's bullying problems.
The white fox frowned a bit. "I guess. I didn't have friends until I met you."
"I'm sorry, Pent. I don't know why people treated you like that. Well if it's any consolation…I
like you just the way you are." The chipmunk smiled widely.
Pent grinned back at him, not seeming upset. Thanks, Xavier. I appreciate it. I like you too…a lot."
"Go ahead…it's your turn. Ask me whatever you want." Xavier hoped to share something personal as well.
The fox hummed to himself. "What made you want to be my friend?"
"At first, I felt bad for you. I saw you hit by the kickball and genuinely felt guilty. I don't like people being picked on. Just because you're different doesn't make you any less of a person. You're feelings matter just like anyone else's do. I just wish I had noticed you needed a friend earlier." The chipmunk tried to be honest.
Pent blushed. "Thanks, Xae…it means a lot to me."
Xae showed off his necklace. "Best friends forever, right Pent?"
The bigger boy showed his own off. "Heck, yeah!"
"Can I ask you one more thing before we go eat breakfast?" Xavier was feeling brave.
The white fox was curious about what it was. "Huh? Sure. Go for it."
"Well…you know how I asked you to be my Valentione's the other day? Well…I meant it. Do you want to go out on a date with me?" The chipmunk's heart was beating rather quickly.
Pent's smile grew on his face as he hugged Xavier. "More than anything..."
Xavier hugged him back and the two remained in one another's arms for a minute. Pent stroked the other boy's back a bit, enjoying the feeling of touching him a bit.
"Do you want to go to Chuck E-Cheese with me? That could be fun." The chipmunk had heard a lot about the place but had never been there before.
The fox nodded. "Yeah, I'm game for that."
"Cool, I'll ask my parents to take us. I doubt the weather is any better today." Xavier looked out the window and it had stopped snowing.
His stomach growled again. "Come on, let's go get breakfast."
They finally crawled out of bed together. Both of them were pretty hungry and ran down the hall together. Xavier was the faster of the two, able to beat Pent despite the other cub being bigger than he was. The chipmunk's father was there finishing his coffee.
"Good morning boys. Glad to see you slept in for a change, Xae." The man was used to his son being up at the crack of dawn.
His son looked at him. "Morning Dad. How are you?"
"I am well. Did you two sleep well?" He sipped the last bit of his drink.
Xavier nodded. "Yeah. Did you, Pent?"
Pent smiled and wagged his tail. "Uh-huh. Thanks for letting me stay the night."
"No problem. What are you two planning on doing today with all the snow?" He got up and put the cup in the dishwasher.
The chipmunk boy grabbed the two cubs two waffles and apples that had been left out for them in the toaster. He put them on plates and handed one to Pent.
"I was wondering. Could you take us to Chuck-E-Cheeses?" The chipmunk was hopeful his father would agree.
The older male turned around. "I don't see why not. It's better than you two lounging around the house all day. Just keep in mind I told Pent's mother I'd drop him off tonight as long as the weather doesn't pick up again."
"Cool thanks, Dad." Xavier smiled widely at him.
"Go ahead and eat your breakfast and get dressed and I will take you two. Pent grab your things and put them in a bag. I'll bring it when I pick you guys up tonight." He exited the room so he could get dressed to take them out.
Xavier poured them some juice before sitting down with Pent to eat breakfast. The waffles were a bit cold but neither of them was picky about it. They made quick work of their meals as they were both overly excited about going on their first date together. After they finished their meal, they beamed back into the chipmunk cub's room. Xavier let him borrow some other clothes, something much more casual and warmer.
The two of them changed in front of each other without much thought, with their backs to one another. Both boys were still respecting the other's privacy. When they were ready, Pent grabbed his bag and they made their way to the front door. Xavier's father was already waiting for them.
"Ready to go cubbies?" The man put his jacket on.
Both of the cubs put their coats on. The door was opened and they bolted outside. The fox and his friend didn't bother to wait for the chipmunk's father. He chuckled at them as they pushed at one another. Pent threw a snowball at the other boy who whined but put up with it all the same.
"You sure you two just don't want to stay here? Haha..." He said in jest.
They stopped horsing around and got in the car. Both boys sitting in the back seat, sitting next to one another, despite there being more than enough space to separate. The father smirked at them. He started the car before long and they were off.
Xavier leaned into Pent's ear. "I'm excited to go on a date with you."
"Me too..." Pent had been thinking about this day for quite a while.
The chipmunk placed his palm over the other boys, holding it beneath his own. The ride to the restaurant took a bit longer than it usually would since the roads were packed with snow. When they arrived, they found the parking lot to be mostly vacant. Much of it was full of snow and the only cars around were likely employees. The father drove up to the front door, an open sign indicating the place was doing business.
"Alright, boys. I will pick you up at around 5 or 530. Have fun." He unlocked the door so they could get out.
He stopped Xavier before he got out. "Here's some money for lunch and some games."
"Thanks, Dad." Xavier pocked it and headed out with his friend who was waiting for him.
Pent and Xavier darted into the restaurant. The inside of which was well-lit and smelt of pizza and nachos. It was warmer inside so they took their coats off and shuffled the snow off their boots. Both of the boys looked around. The place was full of games and activities. A small ball pit in one corner with a set of tubes leading to a slide. At the end of it all a counter with all sorts of prizes to pick from for kids who got lucky.
Xavier took Pent by the arm and tugged him along. "Come on…let's go check this place out."
They came across a line of skill games. Ski ball, basketball, and a pitching setup. Each of them had bright lights flashing with scores on the top of them indicating the highest score for the day. They were all low except for the ski ball game which hadn't been reset due to its age.
"What do you want to play first, Pent?" Xavier wanted the fox to enjoy himself.
Pent wagged his tail. "I'm just happy to be here with you. We can play whatever you want."
Xavier led them to a token machine that had prepaid cards on it. He hadn't looked at what his father had given him. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out two twenty-dollar bills. It was the most money he'd ever been given by his father at once. He put in one of them to the machine and it dispensed out a card for them to take.
"Let's go race, Pent." Xavier figured a two-player game would be more fun than a single-player one.
The bigger boy followed his friend to the left side of the room where some plastic cars had been set up. Xavier climbed into one of them and pointed at the one next to him. The fox understood what he wanted and got inside. Pent knew he was terrible at games but wasn't about to turn down the boy's request. The chipmunk paid for the game as the selection screen roared up for both of them.
Each boy picked a car. Pent picked whatever the first one was and Xavier picked a classic vehicle he was familiar with. The race started before long, counting down from the screen to a green flag. The chipmunk was more than competitive and certainly didn't let up on the gas as he sped down the track. The scene on the screen resembles the environment of the California backroads.
Pent was much more casual about his ride in the game. He tried to keep up with the other boy but his car wasn't as fast. When the race came to a close Xavier cheered as he was declared the winner.
"Nice race, Pent." He climbed out of the plastic car and helped Pent do the same.
The fox smiled even if he hated losing. "Yeah, you went fast!"
"I'm like Mario Andretti!" He chuckled at his corny joke.
The bigger boy had no idea who he was talking about. "Except faster, haha. I had no chance."
"Next time, Pent. Let's go play something else." Xavier hoped Pent would find a game he was interested in.
Eventually, they found their way back to the more luck-based games that granted tickets. A few claw machines and the rest were games that all had some gimmick to them. Xavier eventually walked up to one of the claw machines. He was terrible at them and had never won anything in the past. Inside were plushes of popular Pokemon, including his favorite who was scorbunny. He stared at it, wanting it. Pent couldn't help but notice the other cub's interest.
"Do you want a plush? I didn't you liked Plushes." The fox had never seen any plushes at Xavier's home.
Xavier blushed. "I kind of hide them in my closet. I want that one, Pent. Scorbunny is my favorite Pokemon."
"I think I can get it for you if you let me try." Pent was confident he could work out some form of a calculated plan to get the plush out.
The chipmunk seemed surprised. "Really? These games are always meant for you to lose. Do you want to try?"
"Oh, yes. I think I can calculate the most optimal route to get the plush." Pent walked to the side of the glass and began to do the math in his head.
"This appears to be about a 1.5-foot drop. The demo it has displayed has the crane above tilted at a 25% angle, which prevents it from being flat. The crane appears to be moving at a velocity of a nominal speed. The sticker on the side says it operates at a 32 kwh wattage…which means the game doesn't have a lot of power. Given this equation…if you place the crane…here….and wait for it to stop moving you are guaranteed the plush in question." Pent pointed to where he was talking about.
Xavier
just watched the boy spill out concepts he had no understanding of. "Wow…okay…"
He paid the entry fee on the game and let Pent take control of the small lever that operated it. The fox continuously titled his head back and forth. Allowing it to go precisely to the spot he had shown before. He waited for a second as the little crane's hand settled down and let the thing drop loose. Sure enough, it landed right on the scorbunny plush and clutched the thing securely in its grasp. Xavier's eyes lit up as he watched it carry toward the drop zone.
Pent pushed the button once it was over the drop zone. The machine blared off some annoying noises, indicating he was a winner. He collected the plush from inside and handed it to Xavier.
"Thanks, Pent…that was… cool." Xavier couldn't believe the cub had done it so easily.
The fox smiled. "No problem. Anything can be solved with a little bit of math. I hope you like it."
Xavier clutched it on his chest. "Yeah, he's super cute. What should I name him?"
"He's yours now. I think you should name him whatever you like." The fox wasn't great at naming things.
Xavier thought about it for a moment. "I will name him Scorch."
"Cool, that's a fitting name for a Scorbunny." Pent was happy he'd won the toy for his best friend.
The chipmunk wanted to win something for Pent now but he didn't know what. They began walking around for a while. Some other cubs were around but they were all younger than the two boys. Most of them paid no attention to either Xavier or Pent. The fox and chipmunk made their way back to where the arcade games were. Lines of arcade boxes with different titles on the side of them were available to choose from.
Xavier began scrolling through them. He hadn't played any of them before. Eventually, he came on one-themed after Guardians of the Galaxy.
"Want to play this?" He asked Pent since he had mentioned he liked Rocket.
Pent nodded. "Yeah, Can I play as Rocket?"
"Sure, Pent. I'll pick Star-Lord. He's pretty cool." Xavier just wanted Pent to enjoy himself.
The two started up the game before long. It was a shooting game focused on the heroes of the Marvel franchise. It side-scrolled from end to end, not giving them much freedom of exploration. Each cub kept their wits about them as they shot down all the baddies. Both of them seemed rather content with the game and its offerings. Eventually, they came to the first boss of the game.
A large squidlike monster with tentacles that extended and flailed about. Neither of them was prepared for it. The ground beneath their characters erupted from scaly lizardlike arms that wrapped around them. Throwing both of them off the screen. Showing a "Game Over" only moments later. Both boys chuckled at the fact they had been beaten so easily but they didn't seem to care that they lost.
"Want to play again?" Xavier asked since Pent had appeared to like the game.
The bigger boy shook his head. "Maybe later. Let's see what else there is."
They started walking down the arcade aisles until they came to the place that had signs overhead in a retro-style font reading "Classics". Things that neither of them grew up with but knew all the same. Older games like Pac-Man and the original Mortal Kombat. Most of them were outdated but still had their charm about them. It appeared no one was around. It was darker in that area of the building since many of the games didn't show as well in bright lighting.
Eventually, they walked up to a game that read "Rampage" on the side of it. It was a game Pent was vaguely familiar with. The cub was a fan of Kaiju's and his brother had introduced him to it in the past. He had never played the original.
"Can we play this?" My brother and I have played this at home and I've never played the original before." Pent hoped Xavier would say yes.
Xavier smiled. "Yeah, sure."
He paid the fee and both cubs took one side to the arcade booth. The game flared it up with its corny intro scene. Images of a pixelated city being destroyed by several kaiju. Pent watched in interest as his favorite character thrashed through the city. The character screen showed up before long and Pent picked the wolf while Xavier picked the ape as it reminded him a little of King Kong.
The goal of the game was chaotic destruction. They were tasked with trashing different areas of the city, using huge and monstrous characters to bring terror to the residents. Pent chewed on his tongue. He was certain he could beat the other cub at the game. He'd played it before and wanted nothing more than to win. It was a rather short game lasting no more than a few minutes before their characters met an untimely end at the hand of the faux military in the game.
"Yeah! I won!" Pent declared victoriously.
Xavier had let the other boy win, though he wasn't going to say it. "Yeah, you were super destructive."
"Uh-huh. I was like Rodan and…." Pent droned on about his love of the giant pterodactyl monster.
The chipmunk was surprised at the cub's apparent excitement. "Who is Rodan?"
"He is a character in the Godzilla series…A big Pterodactyl. I prefer when he's nice though…" Pent pulled out his phone to show the other cub a picture of the monster.
The smaller boy looked at it. "Oh, he looks neat."
"He's only in a few of the Godzilla movies but they are my favorite ones." The fox put his phone away.
Xavier was curious about it. "You'll have to show me sometime."
"Yeah, totally. They are good movies. I wouldn't mind watching them again with you." The bigger boy was glad his friend wanted to check it out.
They continued walking around for a while, playing various games until lunchtime. Xavier took them to the cafeteria part of the building and let Pent pick something out before getting something of his own. He paid for the meals and grabbed both of them some soda. They found an open table and sat down together. The two chatting it up about what they would do after they finished their meal.
When they were done, they went back out onto the floor to find something else to do. They had already played quite a bit and had explored the whole place. An idea had popped into Xavier's head. He wanted to ride something with Pent, to share an experience with him rather than just compete or play with him. He headed back over to the racing part of the gaming arena.
"Do you want to play the motorcycle game with me?" Xavier asked as they got close to the single-player game.
Pent was confused. It was a single-seater meant for only one person. "It's only for one person."
"I was thinking we could ride together. I think it would be fun." The chipmunk said smiling at the other cub.
The ride was enclosed inside a small box that was designed to give a 360-degree experience. The thought of riding something with Xavier made butterflies float around in his stomach.
"O-okay…" Pent watched as his friend got inside and slid himself forward.
Pent eased himself behind the other boy. Their bodies pressed against one another. Xavier's warm body pushed back against the bigger boy. The chipmunk paid for the ride as the door shut itself, making it a bit darker than before. The only light in the little chamber was coming from the screen. Xavier picked the first thing on the screen as he didn't know the difference in the selections.
"Hold on…." Xavier warned his friend as the ride had a warning sign about motion sickness on the screen.
The ride began before long. Fans generated air that pressed against their fur to simulate movement. The ride swung to the right as Xavier hit a hard turn on a bank across the hills on the screen. Pent felt his stomach loosen a bit. He couldn't see much with Xavier in front of him and it made him feel queasy. Xavier soon hit another bank this time going in the opposite direction. Pent felt himself being justled around.
Instinctively the cub reached around Xavier's waist. Xavier felt it, unsure what it was but couldn't look as he had to keep his eyes on the screen. The ride ride rushed back and forward simulating a downhill descent of a speedy motorbike. Pent felt much better now, the security given to him by holding onto the other boy made the feeling of nausea go away. The ride ended before long, letting out a release of air as it settled back down to the ground.
Pent was still clutching Xavier's waist. The chipmunk finally realized it but wasn't bothered.
"The rides over Pent…are you alright?" Xavier tried to coax his friend softly.
The fox opened up his eyes and realized what he was doing. "Oh….sorry…"
Pent couldn't help but blush as he pulled away.
"It's okay. Let's go do something else." Xavier got out and helped Pent do the same.
The two continued to play games for a while until the card value that Xavier had warned him about. He only had enough left for a few more things. They came across a small picture booth. The side of it indicated it was a booth that provided instant photos with prompts. He tugged Pent inside, wanting to get more pictures of them together. The two sat together inside the small booth. The selection screen flared up before long showing the different options. Xavier picked the one with all of the options.
"Do something silly." The screen read with the first prompt.
Xavier stuck his tongue out playfully while Pent gave the other boy rabbit ears. The booth flashed, taking their first photo.
"Do something serious." The second prompt showed up.
The chipmunk gave a stern look while the fox simply crossed his arms defiantly.
"Do something scary." The third prompt showed up.
Pent smirked as he got up and did his best impression of Rodan. The other boy reeled in faux terror before chuckling at the fox's poor attempt at being scary.
"Pretend to be something you're not." The fourth prompt showed up.
Xavier circled his eyes with his finger, imitating a monocle. Pent gave himself a half-handed mask
as if he were the phantom of the Opera.
"Do whatever you want." A minute timer flared on the screen.
Xavier thought to himself. He had a lot of fun today. He wanted more of the same. He wanted to go on more dates with Pent. He took a deep breath as his heart beat quickly in his chest.
"Hey, Pent…I have a surprise for you. Can you close your eyes?" Xavier knew they didn't have much more time. About 30 seconds were on the clock.
Pent wasn't sure what the other cub was going to do but he was more curious than anything. He did as he was told. Xavier panned over and looked at the clock. It was down to 10 seconds. He began to count down in his head. Leaning forward closer and closer to Pent. Just as the timer was about to hit zero, he planted a kiss on Pent's cheek. The flash went off cementing the image for eternity.
Pent's face turned blood red as he opened his eyes. He didn't know what to say.
"I've had a lot of fun today, Pent. More fun than I've ever had with anyone else before. I was wondering…would you like to be my boyfriend?" Xavier said with a meek smile on his face, still slightly unsure of himself.
The fox leaned forward and hugged Xavier. "Yes…more than anything, Xae."
The two remained silent for a bit while they were in the photo booth. Both cub's hearts were riding high. Xavier took Pent's hand in his own, hoping no one would see. The alarm on his watch went off. It was time for the fox to go home. He grabbed their pictures and his plush before making their way to the exit. Xavier felt bad for not getting Pent a prize but was still glad he had gone with him.
They grabbed their coats and headed outside. Xavier saw his father's car waiting for them. Forgetting all about the fact he was still holding Pent's hand in his own. The two loading back into the car in the back.
"Did you two have fun today?" The man asked without looking in the back seat.
Xavier chirped. "Yeah, thanks for taking us today Dad."
"No problem. Let's get Pent home. It's almost time for dinner." They soon started the of the restaurant parking lot.
Xavier and Pent giggled as they chatted in the back. Both seemed rather giddy to be around each other all of a sudden. Joking about their day together and recounting what they did. Xavier gives Pent a hard time about being scared on the motorcycle ride but Pent was bothered by it. In no time they arrived at Pent's home. It was time for them to part for the day.
Pent got out of the car and Xavier waved to him. It was like a part of him was leaving him now. He knew Pent wasn't going anywhere but the feeling of knowing he was something more than a friend now gave him a feeling he wasn't used to. He wanted to spend more time with him but he knew that Pent had to go home.
He got out of the car and hugged Pent. The embrace lasted for several moments before they parted ways. The fox occasionally looks back but eventually turns to his own home. Xavier returned to his father's car. Letting out a deep sigh of mixed emotions. It had been a long day but it wouldn't be one he would ever forget.
"How was your little date?" The father joked with a chuckle.
Xavier's face turned blood red. "Dad….it wasn't a date!"
"Sure… haha." He chuckled at his son still trying to hide it.
The chipmunk crossed his arms defensively as if he was offended.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Did you have fun?" The older male decided to tone it back a bit.
The boy sighed. "Yeah, I had a really good time. I hope he did too…"
"I'm sure he did. He looked rather happy." He pulled out of the parking lot and began to go home.
Xavier contemplated telling his father the whole truth. "He won me this plush."
"Oh, that was nice of him." The father hit the highway in hopes of making it home faster.
An awkward silence followed. The chipmunk looked out the window thinking to himself. He wasn't sure if he was ready to admit it to his father yet. His father seemed supportive of him but his uncertainty was getting the better of him. When they arrived at the chipmunk's place he grabbed his plush and the photos they'd taken. He stashed the photos in his pocket and made his way inside.
His mother greeted him from the kitchen. It was already time for dinner and it was her turn to make it. She picked a family favorite, lasagna. The family sat down together and enjoyed their time together. Xavier seemed somewhat distracted to her even if a bit distant. She wondered if something had gone wrong at the restaurant. She decided to check in on him later at bedtime. She treated him to ice cream, which seemed to help his mood a bit.
The chipmunk boy was tired from the long day. He'd been through a lot and was more emotionally drained than anything else. He pulled out the photos from his pocket and placed them on his nightstand. The cub decided to take a shower and get ready for bed. Picking out a pair of pajamas before making his way into the bathroom.
He took longer than usual. His thoughts were still distracting him. Thoughts of kissing Pent again filled his mind. It felt good to him. Wondering what his lips felt like. Thinking about if he should tell his parents that they were boyfriends now. What would people think? Did it make him gay? The confusion of the moment swirled in his head as he battled it within. All he knew was he wanted to be with Pent.
The warm water relaxed his body and mind a bit. Allowing himself to think more freely. He stood there for a few moments and just let the water hit his naked form. Finally stepping out to dry himself. Feeling a bit better now that his thoughts were a little more clear. He dried his body and changed into his pajamas. Returning to his room he found his mother waiting for him.
"Hiya, Xae. Everything goes well today?" She asked certain he would talk to her.
Xavier confided within himself. "Yeah."
"You look like something is bothering you. Are you sure?" The woman knew how to read her son and it looked like he was hiding something.
The chipmunk. "Yeah, I promise. We had a lot of fun today."
"Alright, well if you need to talk…you know where to find me." She got up and headed out of his room.
Xavier got up and picked up a book from his shelf, one of the few he had there. He got back into his bed, trying to read it. Getting through all 3 pages before getting bored. He wanted to like it, convincing himself that Pent would like him more if he read with him. He tried again…able to read another page. It seemed he would have to train himself to get used to it or find something he liked more.
Xavier clutched the scorbunny plush against his chest and eventually passed out. It had been a long day for him and he was tired. He was glad to have had the date with Pent. His mind was still awash with possibilities. Of himself…Of Pent…Of the Future…and his Parents.
