Snapshot (Preview, Chapter 1)
_ November 26th, 2010 - Friday _
SPRING
Ryan
As soon as I stepped foot out of the bus and up the stairs leading into the school, I knew that I was surrounded by dozens of people that I'd never met before. It was a warm Spring morning, and it was going to get much warmer, as Summer was right around the corner.
I'd been practically pushed out of the house and onto the bus by my father, as he wanted the house to himself before he went to work. My little brother took a different bus, as he went to Port Alton Primary.
It wouldn't be long before he'd be going to my school; Port Alton High.
The day went quickly, and most of it was pretty uneventful. It didn't differ from any other day, at least, that's what I thought. But just before the school day was about to end, the sixth period's bell went and we had five minutes to get to our classes.
I walked to my locker and rummaged through it before I was approached by a black wolf.
"Hey Glen," I greeted him with a smirk, "What've you got?"
"Hospitality," He rolled his eyes, "I think I'm just gonna get Josh to do all of the work for me this period."
"Like every other time you go to hospitality?" I shut my locker.
"Speak for yourself," He scoffed, "You have photography. You don't even_like_ photography."
I shrugged and leant against my battered locker, with my arms by my side, while looking over at Glen.
Glen has been my friend since fourth grade, and now we were in grade nine, but he hadn't changed a bit. He was a black wolf, and he'd kept the same appearance and figure throughout the years, similar to myself. He kept his thin figure, while I built up some muscle, but when fourth grade came along, he'd dyed his hair grey, and he hasn't changed his hair since then. I never understood why, but I didn't feel that it was important enough to bring up.
I felt a smile crawl onto my lips as I answered, "Doesn't mean I can't go," A smirk replaced the smile, "I pretty much chose it because of how easy it is compared to the rest of the subjects here."
His emerald eyes met my deep blue ones, "Doesn't mean they don't have tests and exams," Glen answered, pressing his paw against his locker and putting in his code, "And when they come around, you'll be regretting that you didn't pay attention in class, tiger." I shrugged and turned away from him as he started ruffling through his locker.
Tiger was his nickname for me when he was irritated with me, and every time he said it, I felt the urge to punch him. I rubbed my eyes and yawned as I glanced at my timetable.
I heard a bang and turned to face him. Laughter crawled through my body as I saw him rubbing his head, with his locker still wide open, "How can you do that every time?" He glared daggers at me, wincing as he rubbed his head a little gentler.
"Not like you haven't done it, Ryan." He grumbled as he pulled a book out of his locker and slammed it shut. I chuckled quietly and he punched me in the shoulder as he turned to walk away, throwing his backpack over his shoulder.
"Hey, come on, Glen!" I exclaimed, "I was just kidding, come on!" He raised a paw near his face and flipped me off, "Is it that time of the month again!?" I snapped as he turned a corner.
I growled quietly and adjusted my backpack, walking in the opposite direction. The hallways were pretty quiet, which surprised me, as more than two thousand people came to this school every day. I bit my lip and folded my arms, "Where the hell is everyone...?" I trailed off as I turned a corner and approached the Art room.
I rested my paw on the knob and opened the door, just as the bell rung. I pulled the door open and walked inside, raising an eyebrow as I noticed a fox already in class, sitting near the back of the class and staring out the window, and a blue wolf at the front. Mr. Krach - our teacher - was standing at the front of the class with a camera in his paws. The arctic fox was inspecting it, with a screwdriver in his second paw.
As I sat down in the back, only a few seats away from the other fox, I rested my backpack beneath the table, and took a few minutes afterward for granted, letting my eyes wander throughout the classroom.
It was definitely an Art room. There were pictures drawn and painted by students from this school, and a half-dozen wonderfully odd sculptures near the front door, and the massive window to the left of the desks, which were lined up irregularly, almost surrounding a single desk in the middle of the classroom.
I looked down at my desk, resting my arm on it, I dragged it across the desk, wiping the dust off before I rested my notebook atop of it. I opened it and studied it with a smirk, before leaning back in my chair. The notebook was completely empty, devoid of any sketches or notes. I glanced to my left and noticed the fox that I saw when I entered once more. This time, he was looking back at me, with a tired expression on his face.
His magenta eyes were locked with mine for a few seconds before he quickly looked away from me, avoiding any more eye-contact. I looked away from him and sighed as other people started entering the class, "Whose that guy?" I muttered to myself, before glancing back at him. He was sketching in a book on his table, and before I could get a closer look, Mr. Krach came to the middle of the room, with the camera in his paws, but no screwdriver.
"Good morning everyone," The class was filled with fifteen students, with all of them pulling out their books and pens, "It is quite the good day, isn't it? A perfect day to go outside and take some pictures..." He folded his arms and glanced at the window, with the entire class following his gaze.
"Well, unfortunately, because of 'regulations', we can't do practical work on a Friday," He raised his paws and made physical quotes, with a grimace on his face.
I never understood that, myself, and he never gave us an answer as to why we couldn't do that. It's not like I wanted to actually take pictures, it's more that I wanted to screw around, kick a soccer ball around or something, but of course the school wants to deprive me of that, "But, I do have an assignment planned for the weekend to make up for it. Take out your notebooks..." He paused.
"Looks like you've already done so," He rested atop of the desk in the center of the classroom, "Good. While the rest of you trail behind, I'll tell you all about the assignment," He folded his arms and gestured towards the window, "This week's theme, what was it, class?"
A panda bear sitting near the front raised his paw, and the teacher glanced at him. The panda lowered his paw and answered accordingly, "The Golden Hour, sir." The teacher nodded and grinned at the class.
"Thank you, Kyle. Yes, the golden hour," His voice faded into a mutter, "That beautiful period of time nearing a sunrise, and a sunset. You've seen them in pictures, and movies. That moment when the sun peeks beneath the horizon, giving off a beautiful glow that pokes through trees..." His grin faded,
"And the time where the sun just nears the horizon, giving off a deeper and darker color, that makes beautiful patterns in the sky." He said.
"Your assignment is simple," He smirked, "I want three pictures of the Golden Hour. All in different places. Simple, right?" The class murmured amongst themselves as the teacher continued.
"Good. They're all due on Monday afternoon, period six." The teacher stopped talking about the assignment, then proceeded to speak about something that involved contrasts and colors. I rested my chin atop of my paw and stared into space, yawning and feeling my eyelids slowly close.
The class couldn't have gone fast enough, and thankfully, it was the last period of the day. I always felt a twinge of happiness at the last few minutes of school. I'd always spend those minutes thinking about what I'd be doing on the weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything planned, and Glen didn't seem to want to answer any of my phone calls, so I emptied my books out of my backpack and into my locker before I walked out of the school.
My thoughts drifted to my photography assignment as I walked outside, pushing past a few students, "There's a camera in my dresser." I muttered to myself. Now I'd just have to pull everything out of my dresser to find my crappy old camera. But for now, I was just going to catch the bus to my place, and get some rest.
I might go out early tomorrow and go for a walk, I thought as I rested a paw near my thigh.
I could feel a bit of fat near my thigh that made me feel self-conscious, so I'd already decided what I'd be doing tomorrow.
I sighed and glanced down at my watch on my right arm. The school day had ended twenty minutes ago, and my bus still hadn't shown up. I was standing out the front, alone, until I noticed Glen's bus approach.
I narrowed my eyes and saw Glen resting in the front seat, with a big grin on his face. Glen's bus didn't get past before he sent me a message on my phone. I pulled it out and glanced down at it.
'Suck it, tiger.' I put my phone in my pocket and clenched my fists as his bus went straight past me. I sighed to myself and looked away from the bus, letting my eyes wander around the front of the school. I noticed the front doors swing open, and the fox from earlier was walking down the stairs, with a rather large bear behind him.
I recognized the bear immediately, especially in his all-stars football jersey.
The big; 'Chuck Tate'. The quarterback for our school's football team, and an all-around jackass. He stayed away from me, and he was always nice to me, but I always saw him as just an arrogant asshole who messes with people and can't take a punch.
He was laughing with his friends while shooting the fox a look every couple seconds. I was watching the fox intently as he walked down the stairs, and away from the front of the school, with the bear and some other football players following him. The fox turned to look at them, then walked away. The bear and the other football players laughed amongst themselves as the fox left.
I sighed and shook my head. But during all of this, I hadn't realized that my bus had stopped right behind me, and by the time I had turned around, it was already pulling away. My eyes widened as the bus pulled away from me. I thought that I could catch up to it, but I just lost interest and swore to myself.
"Guess I'm walking," I grumbled and walked away from the front of the school. I looked in the direction that the fox went, noticing the bear and the other football players sitting on the curb. My house was in that direction anyway, so I decided to go down this road instead.
I folded my arms and approached them with a small smile on my face, "Hey Chuck." I said, in a quiet tone. Chuck looked up at me and smirked.
"Ryan. The 'big' Ryan Wilkin himself," He inspected me, "What's up? Glen say more stupid shit about you?" I shook my head.
"Nah, he's just basking in the glory that is a bus seat," I chuckled quietly, "I was just wondering who that fox was earlier, that went past here?" Chuck grinned.
"Not sure of the name, but he's in my Math class," He replied, "He's been going to this school for a few years, though. That's all I really know." How had I not noticed that fox if he's been here for years? I know pretty much everyone that goes to this school. Guess that fox was part of the minority that I didn't know.
"Why do you ask?" Travis - another football player, a brown bear, just like Chuck - asked, a frown on his face, "Did he say somethin' to ya?" I shook my head and unfolded my arms.
"No, was just curious of who he was." I shrugged.
Chuck scoffed, "Well, don't waste your time."
"What makes you say that?" Chuck looked back at me with a confident expression.
"If there's one thing I admire about that weirdo, it's that he keeps well away from everyone," Chuck said, "And none of us are complaining. He tends to keep away from us especially."
"Ah, that explains why I haven't met him before," I looked in the direction that the fox went, "I'll see you guys at the game next week, right? I may be a soccer player, but football is pretty fun to watch."
"Sure, sure," Travis chuckled, "And bring a girl or somethin', man. I know at least a dozen vixens that want you in bed with them." My eyebrows furrowed and I chuckled quietly.
"You're like a chick-magnet, dude," Travis smirked, "Plus, vixens are real good in bed I hear."
"We'll see," I said my goodbyes and started walking away from them. My home was only a few blocks from the school, so I didn't mind walking that much. I was just really tired and didn't feel like waiting another hour for another bus, or walking home.
I didn't see the fox on my way home, so I pushed the thoughts about him away and opened the front door to my house. The exterior was painted white, with a gray garage door. It was a two-story house, with a timber door, and the interior was painted in a gross coffee color, "Hey, I'm home." I said as I closed the door behind me.
The house was filled with boring and colorless furniture, with the exception being a few colorful paintings hanging in the hallway that was done by my little brother when he was really young. My room was another story, though. I purposefully filled it with colorful furniture because of how boring the house was. I had pictures of tigress models strewn across the room, with some just above my bed, and a window near the back of the room that had a good view of the backyard, and the country behind it.
I heard a pair of footsteps approaching quickly. I glanced at the stairs and saw my little brother walking down them. He looked up at me with a tired expression. He was holding his phone tightly in one paw, and a box in the other. My father had forced him to do some cleaning out in his room before his birthday came around so that there would be room for more toys.
"Ryan, you're back," My brother was pissed. I had forgotten that he wanted me to come home earlier from school to help him out, because he had plans to go out at four thirty, which was only half-an-hour away at this point, "Took long enough." He had a hint of anger in his tone.
"I'm really sorry, kiddo," My ears flattened against my head, "I forgot to come home earlier...and then I missed my bus. But I'll help you until you need to go, that alright, Gabe?"
"Well, sure," My brother's innocent smile returned, "Dad doesn't get home for another hour, but I could use your help." He started walking back upstairs. I followed him closely until we made it to the second floor. He rested a paw on his door and walked inside, with me just after him. I shut the door behind us and sat down beside the door.
"You'll be in high-school next year," I smirked at him, "Thirteen...you're growin' up way too quick, kiddo." I ruffled my brother's head fur and grinned as I saw his cheeks light up in an embarrassed blush.
"Only five days till I turn thirteen," He smiled at me. I started helping him clean up his room, stuffing some of his old toys into a few cardboard boxes that I had marked with a permanent marker a few days before, "I wonder what you'll get me for my birthday." I'd actually forgotten what I was going to get him, but after a few minutes of going through his toys, I was quickly reminded.
My brother and his friends had just gotten into video games. And as I rummaged through his toys, I noticed a green GameBox (G-Box, for short) resting underneath his bed. I saw a small box beside it, and another small box, that had a few cords coming out of it. I glanced at my brother with a raised eyebrow, as he picked up a box and rested it beside his bed.
He looked at me, then frowned, "What's with the look? Did you find something incriminating?" His frown turned into a grin, and I found myself returning the grin as I pulled out the G-Box.
"Don't you still use this?" I asked, "It used to be downstairs. You've had this for years." His ears flattened and he sat down on the floor, resting his back against a nearby dresser. I put the G-Box down and frowned at him.
"You okay, kiddo?" I asked, tilting my head.
"Eh. I know you gave it to me...and I know that this thing is an antique..." I rolled my eyes at him.
"It's seven years old, not fifty," I retorted, "And it's still playable! It isn't broken...wait, did you break it?" He raised his paws with a quick denial.
"No, no!" He exclaimed, "My dad caught me playing this game where you shoot people...which is pretty much every game ever. To my surprise, mom came over and said I was allowed to play it," He continued, chuckling slightly, "Then...dad started yelling, and before I knew it, I was unplugging it and bringing it up here."
"Now it's gathering dust under your bed?" My ears lowered, "Aww, I'm sorry kiddo."
"I love this thing," He gestured to the console, "Really. But I can't play it, not downstairs..."
"You can always use my TV. When I'm not studying, or sleeping of course," He beamed at me and stood up. I stood up and he hugged me tightly, "Phew! Tight hugs are good hugs." He nodded and nuzzled my chest. I stroked his head gently and he pulled away.
"Come on," I said, pushing the G-Box underneath the bed, "Let's get back to work, kiddo."
The half-hour went by quickly, but so did the room. We'd cleaned up the majority of his toys and the room was borderline spotless. Gabe thanked me and jogged downstairs. I followed him as he walked outside and stood at the door as I watched him get in the car with his friend, "Be back at seven!" I exclaimed. He waved at me as the car pulled out of the driveway and down the street.
I walked back inside and closed the door. I had a half-hour until my father arrived. I sat down on the couch and stared at the ceiling. I couldn't figure out anything to do while I was lying there, so the time passed by quickly. Soon enough, the front door opened, and my father walked in. I glanced at him, "Hey, dad."
"Ryan," His voice was deep, and his tone suggested that he was uninterested, "When is your mother coming home?" His dark blue eyes locked with mine.
"She should be back soon," I answered, "She left you some food in the fridge, I'm sure." My father nodded and walked past me. He was a tiger, like me, but had less muscle, and more fat in his stomach. His voice was deep, and loud, but I wasn't scared of him. My brother was, though. That's why he did everything that my father told him to do. He was scared of him. Not just of his father, but of what punishments he would receive if he didn't follow his father's orders.
I laid there, pondering all of that, and before I knew it, mom had arrived home. A pair of brown eyes peered over the couch with a frown. It was mom. She smiled and pet my head, "Hey Ryan," She smiled, "Dinner's on the table. It may be leftovers, but you like your potatoes!" I rolled my eyes with a smile and nodded, pushing myself off the couch.
Dinner went by quickly, with some small-talk filling the silence. I waved them off and walked up the stairs, just as the clock struck seven. I walked into my room and sat on my bed, taking off my socks and stretching my arms over my shoulders.
As if on cue, I heard the front door downstairs open, followed by my father's muffled speech. Gabe was back from whatever he was doing, and it didn't seem like my father was happy.
The night went by without any trouble. I brushed my teeth and sat at my desk in my room, glancing at my clock.
It was only a few minutes after nine, but I was exhausted. I sighed and glanced at my dresser. I was planning to stay up tonight and work on some stuff on my computer, but I was nearly passing out due to exhaustion. I was mentally slapping myself for not sleeping during photography so I could've stayed up an hour longer.
I sighed and approached my dresser, opening the top drawer. I rummaged through it and eventually found my old FurKon camera. I blew the dust off of it and rested it atop of the dresser, closing the top drawer straight after, "I'll go out at...six in the morning, and get some pictures of the sunrise." I said to myself as I hooked my claws at the hem of my shirt and pulled it off.
I glanced at myself in a mirror and smirked. True, I was bulky, and I worked out every now and then, but I was still slightly chubby. It wasn't noticeable by others, but it was to me.
"Not bad," I said to myself as I switched off my desk lamp and trudged over to my bed. The light switch was just to the right of the bed, so when I crawled underneath the covers and made myself comfortable, all I needed to do was outstretch my arm slightly and switch off the light.
I adjusted my pillow and rested my head atop of it with a smile. I exhaled and closed my eyes. I found it hard to sleep that night, which frustrated me immensely. I kept thinking about that fox that was in my photography class, and Glen, who I wanted to punch in the face for that text he sent me.
Both thoughts made me smile, as I finally found a comfortable spot and sunk into the bed, my head slowly finding a spot where it sunk into the pillow, and my eyes slowly closed, leaving me in beautiful darkness and peace.
I let out a small smile before I let sleep take over me.