Zach enters the break room and immediately gets his lunch from the fridge before quickly sitting at one of the tables alone. There, he opens and prepares his food before starting.
“Yo, Zach!” He stops and looks up to see the bear approach him and grab a seat in front of the fox. “How are you doing today? You feel any better?”
“Slightly,” responds Zach. “Still not very happy about what happened, but I don’t feel too horrible.”
“Well, that’s good, right?” Zach remains silent. “Are you mad at me for what happened?”
“Why would I be mad at you?”
“Because I interfered with your chances of getting the role on the superhero show.”
“It isn’t your fault, Josh… You were trying to stop it… Besides, I’ve decided to go into a different direction.”
“Different direction? What do you mean by that? Wait, did you take the tech exam?” Zach nods. “You still pursued that? I thought you’d keep trying for an acting role on the show. I can talk to the managers so-”
“I already made my choice,” Zach interrupts. “Besides, I’ve passed the exam… Supervisor’s pleased with my results, and has decided to ‘promote’ me, even though they heard about the ‘incident.’”
“They know about that, huh?” Zach nods again. “Did you explain to them everything and tell him it wasn’t your fault?”
“I-”
“Fox!” Willy appears in the doorway and comes stomping into the room toward the two animals. “You have some nerve!”
“Hello, Willy,” responds Zach.
“Don’t you ‘Hello, Willy’ me, Fox! This is all your fault!”
“My fault? What did I do this time?”
“You’re trying to ruin my reputation by ratting me out!”
“What…? I didn’t even say anything to anyone…”
“Oh really?! Then why did I see you go to the manager and HR, huh?!”
“Maybe it’s because of your horrible sense of nature caused Zach to report you,” adds Josh. “You’re always an asshole to everyone, especially more toward us ‘predators.’”
“You, stay out of this!” Willy claims toward Josh. He then turns back to the fox. “And you, start talking, now!”
“Willy, please,” Zach utters. “I don’t want any drama. I’m trying to have lunch…”
Willy walks around to get up into the fox’s personal space. “You better tell me what you said to them! I swear if you were trying to get me in trouble, I swear…!”
“That was different, Willy. I was meeting with them to discuss my scores for the tech exam. It had nothing to do with you.”
“Bullshit! Nothing but a lie! You predators are nothing but horrible animals trying to take advantage of everything! You just couldn’t accept defeat because you didn’t get the role, so you had to get back at me for taking that away from you! God, you’re so pathetic!”
Zach shoots out of his chair and stands over him. “WILLARD WOOL, THAT’S NOT WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT!” His initial shout draws everyone’s attention. “I didn’t try for the superhero role just to take it away from you! I have a passion for superheroes and action stuff! My friends encouraged me to try out and achieve my dreams! When I was rejected, I felt horrible about it!”
“You expect me to believe all of that?”
“I expect you to hear my side instead of assuming things! I didn’t tell the manager about what happened…! I went to take the tech exam and got assigned the new position…!”
“Doesn’t make sense… After all that, you decide to go for a position much shittier than what you do now?”
“You don’t understand my story or my situations, or even my life, Willy! All you do is judge me, and others, based on their species and assume things! I don’t come here looking for drama like you do! I come here every day only to do my job, get paid, and go home! That’s it! So, I decided to go for the tech head position to make more money!” He looks at his phone once his alarm rings. After putting it away, he takes his food. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to eat at my station since I used up my lunch break…” He exits the room, leaving everyone to stare at him, appalled.
***
Much later, Zach spends time with Fiona at a diner. They both sit in a booth across from one another. Zach is fairly quiet with his head in his paw as Fiona finishes browsing the menu.
“Everything all right, Zach?” Fiona asks.
Zach shifts his eyes on her. “Somewhat…”
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, just a rough week…”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“I… don’t think I want to…”
“Talking will make you feel better… Are you still thinking about the whole ‘rejected for the superhero role?’”
Zach lets out a sigh. “Well, yes, but that wasn’t the only thing that happened… I met a strange rabbit and kobold who made a mess of Ralph and my apartment… Also, Willy Wool was trying to start trouble with me at work…”
“What did Willy do? Did he go up to you to rub it in your face about taking the role from you?”
“More like accuse me of reporting him… I didn’t report him, though…”
“You didn’t you tell your supervisor about him and what he did?”
“No…”
“What?! Zach, if this sheep is harassing you, don’t you think you should speak up?”
“They’re not going to do anything about it… Willy is a huge tv star and I’m nothing but a technician. Well, ‘technician manager’ now, technically…”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I took the head tech exam and passed. I’ve been promoted…”
“So, that’s somewhat of a good thing, right?”
“I suppose…”
“You don’t seem happy about it.”
“I’m not, really… I wanted to make more money…”
“I understand you didn’t really want this… But, think of it this way; you’ve shown to them you’re reliable and they see that. That means they have more trust for you, right?”
“Well, when you put it that way, I suppose…”
“Also, just because you couldn’t get the superhero role, doesn’t mean you can never apply for another time. You just need to try again.”
“I should wait, though… I already got ‘promoted’ and I’m making a little more now…”
“Hey, if I hear any opportunities, I can let you know.”
He forms a smile. “Thanks, Fiona… I appreciate your support.” Their waiter comes over with two coffees and places them down. “Thank you,” Zach tells them. Once he asks if they’re ready to order, Zach looks at his date. “Know what you’re having?”
“Oh crap!” Fiona quickly raises her menu to hide her face.
Zach’s smile disappears. “What’s wrong, Fiona? You forgot?”
“Fiona!” utters a voice, interrupting them. Zach turns around to see another fox approach their table. He dons a pair of rectangular glasses and a black suit and tie over his brown fur. “What are you doing here?! Who is this other fox?!”
Zach looks at the brown, suited fox. “Uh, I’m sorry, can we help you?”
“What are you doing with my wife?!”
Zach’s eyes open wider. “W-what…? I’m sorry, your wife…?” He turns back to the other fox. “Fiona, what’s he talking about…? Do you know this guy?”
“No way!” shouts an onlooker, coming up to the group. “Chad Steele?! What are you doing here?!”
Zach turns to the onlooker. “Chad who? Hold on, what’s going on here?!”
“Fiona, explain,” demands the suited fox. “What are you doing here with this other guy?!”
Fiona places down her menu and reveals herself. “Oh, hello, Chad… Fancy seeing you here. I’m just having dinner with a ‘friend.’”
“Friend?!” Chad turns to Zach. “How long have you known each other?!”
“Fiona and I have been dating for a few months.”
“You what?!” Chad grabs the fox by the bandana and pulls him out of the seat into a standing position. Many other people stare with their phones aimed at the two. “You’ve got some nerve!”
Zach, scared, holds up his paws. “Hey, take it easy! I don’t want any trouble!”
“Should’ve thought of that before you went and slept with another man’s wife!”
“Hold on a minute! I don’t know what’s going on here! I don’t even know who you are…!”
Chad points to himself. “Chad Steele… Action movie actor! And you’ve just made a grave mistake!”
“Hold it right there!” shouts a voice, stopping the two. Everyone turns to see two police officers cut through and make their way to the two foxes. “Break it up, now!” Chad releases Zach from his grip. “What’s all of this about?” asks one of the officers.
“This fox has been messing around with my wife, Officers,” claims Chad.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” Zach utters. “I swear…! I-”
“Slow down,” orders the other officer. “You in the blue bandana; can I take your statement?” Zach nods, then proceeds to follow the officer to the counter, away from the suited fox. “All right, now tell me, what happened?”
“Well, I’m out on a date with my girl over there.” Zach points to Fiona. “All of a sudden, this other fox comes out of nowhere and accuses me of being with her, claiming he’s her husband. I don’t know what’s going on, Officer. Honest…”
“What’s your name?”
“Zach… Zach the Fox.”
“Do you have I.D. on you?”
“Yes…” Zach presents his card to the uniformed animal. “I just want to let you know I am not sure what’s happening, Officer…” He takes his card back.
“That’s why we’re investigating, Son.” The officer interviewing Zach is interrupted when his partner asks him over. “Stay right here. Don’t move.” The fox in blue watches as the two officers speak with each other. He is unable to make out what they’re saying, however. The one who had interviewed him comes back up. “You better come with us to the station.”
Zach gets taken aback by this. “W-What…? Am I in trouble?”
“Just come with us.”
