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Among the lazy knolls and forests of Indiana was a town named Povey. While most of the land of Povey was vast and agrarian, a small tightly knit midtown could be found in the sea of grain fields and pastures, called by the locals 'The Lincolnshire,'. The origin of the name varies depending on which Povelian you ask, but most would assert that it is from the creek by the same name which once ran under Main Street many years ago. The Lincolnshire was home to Povey's meager gathering of businesses and neighborhoods, none of which continued for more than five houses on a single road. Most of the citizens who lived in the Lincolnshire excavated limestone from the Cooper-Lane Quarry nearby.

One of Povey's biggest boasts was its acclaimed St. Thomas Senior High School, a private high school located outside of The Lincolnshire, down a winding dirt road which lay nestled between two large ponds at the entrance of the school's grounds. St. Thomas proudly sported a high rate of graduation, most students of which would go on to be very successful, and a two time nationals winning football team. Aside from the appellation of The Lincolnshire, another popular debate between the Povelians was whether St. Thomas had been erected before the town itself or not. Whatever the case may be, the school was known to be roughly eighty years old, which was another often brought up point of raucous flaunting.

The youth of Povey all attended St. Thomas, accommodated in the campus dorm rooms. They were allowed to leave campus after their last class at one o'clock in the afternoon, and are expected back at eight o'clock at night. During this given time the students would try occupying themselves with the limited entertainment Povey had to offer. Such was the case on the afternoon of September 5th, 1955.

CLANK! A bottle toppled over from its spot on the fence post. Three boys were standing several yards away under a yellowing maple tree.

"That's three in a row!" cried one exuberantly. He was a characteristically portly hog; his pink skin dotted with bristly golden hairs, mostly around the face. His hair was long and greasy, parted down the middle and flowing just above his shoulders. He looked at his two friends, arms folded, and pudgy face in a smirk.

"Cool it Gabe, you're still about four points behind me," spoke another. He was the tallest of the group, a gray-brown buck. His well groomed pelt was dotted with paler speckles, and his antlers were modest, not yet having fully grown. His dark brown hair was parted neatly to the side, and his relaxed eyes rested on the hog's satisfied form.

"You didn't hit them all consecutively though, did you Mike?" answered the hog back, smiling.

"You don't even know what that word means," the buck retorted.

"Phooey. The bottles are all broken, that's all that matters."

"Apart from the ones you threw at. This is why you play defense, Gabe."

"I blocked the hell out of that Palaski jerkoff Friday's game though," Gabe sat down next to Mike, "Speaking of, hey Toby, you gonna make it to practice tonight?"

The final member of the group stirred from his silence. He was slightly shorter than Gabe, but nonetheless strong. He was of lupine blood, graced with soft gray fur which at his neck formed a small crest, peeking over the collar of his letterman's jacket. His hair was short and combed straight upward, and almost pure yellow in color.

"Sorry fellas, nocando, I've already got a commitment. Annie and I are going out to eat at a fancy dining establishment," Toby replied proudly, with only a hint of hyperbole. Mike and Gabe both groaned. "Come on man, don't you think we should have like, our quarterback?" Mike sighed.

"It's just practice. I'll show up to the next one," replied the wolf.

"Well that's ridiculous. Who's Gabe supposed to defend?" Mike looked at the hog, expecting an agreement.

Gabe ignored this however, and redirecting his interest, questioning, "So tell us about your squeeze again. Is she like, a babe?"

"No, she's a fox," Toby replied flatly.

"Oh come off it, we already know about that," Mike snickered.

"Okay. She's very sweet and pretty. In other words, too good for a couple jerks like you," the wolf gave a wry smirk.

"Hey watch it, you're gonna hurt Mike's feelings," Gabe bantered.

Mike began laughing. "Can it whole-hog, we all know you're desperate enough to try to steal someone else's girl. I, on the other hand, have no trouble with ladies."

"That's not funny," Toby replied. "I think we should shove off now. I don't want Annie to be waiting."

The other two agreed, and they all emerged from their spot under the tree in a shared silence, as the sun began to sink beneath the hills, and the crickets joined in the cicada's hazy song. Their prodding banter filled the air as they walked their bicycles up the hill of the pasture and toward the road. The sun was no longer visible above the distant treeline, and the sky's orange-to-lavender gradient indicated dusk was near. By now the trio had started riding their bicycles, hoping they didn't stay out too long.

Ah, I can see the speed limit sign. We're only a couple minutes away, Toby thought with relief.

"Can we take a breather guys?" Gabe panted. Agreeing nonverbally, Mike and Toby dismounted their bikes, and the three stood under a row of ancient cedars for a moment.

"Hey, move over fellas; a car's coming," Mike noted a pair of headlights coming up from behind.

Curiously, as the boys pulled their bicycles to the side of the road, the car began to brake. Confusion turned to dread as the '53 Sedan sat motionless in front of them, and the driver turned his head. The faint orange glow of his cigarette illuminated his visage. His broad, hardy beak spread an ill-intentioned grin. Stepping out of the car revealed a rooster, roughly six feet tall, clad in a dark brown leather jacket. "Lost?" the rooster's snide smile curled.

Toby, Mike, and Gabe hesitated, glancing at each other worriedly. "Don't you think it's a little late for this, Chris?" Mike frowned, trying to maintain his composure. Ignoring the deer's quip, Chris and two others stepped out of the car, and an uneasiness struck the boys as they braced for a routine heckling. The three figures stood outside of the car and exchanged vexatious grins with each other. Aside from Chris, the leader, they were around the same age as the boys. The smallest figure was a white-furred mouse with black curly hair, called Ronnie. He looked to them and sneered, "Late? Don't give us that. You're the ones out here walking around at night."

"Yeah, we were only heading back to campus," The final member, a handsome golden retriever named Roger, added.

"You're not fooling anybody. So get out of our way, and we can both go where we need to," Toby said authoritatively.

"That's a shame," Chris pushed himself to the front of the group and chuckled, "We were gonna offer you a ride. But since you panty-waists are so insistent on staying..." The rooster looked at his contemporaries, and signaled to them with a nod.

Before they knew it, the greasy trio grabbed the three boys, restraining them while Chris fetched some rope from the trunk of the car. The crooks were met with resistance as they expected, and in response instinctively flicked their switchblades from the pockets they had been fingering, holding them against their captive's throats and successfully quelling any squirming on the jock's part.

"Don't you pukes have anything better to do?" spat Gabe in anger.

"What's the matter Gabriel? Afraid you'll miss supper?" Ronnie derided.

The greasers shoved their captives against the trees and began binding them with the rope.

"You should really be respecting school rules," Chris looked down at his wristwatch, "Hope Mr. Adkins isn't too hard on you for getting back late."

The greasers piled back in their car and sped off, gone as fast as they arrived. There was a brief silence before any of them spoke again, each boy knotted to a different tree along the side of the road. "Think you can eat through the rope Gabe?" Mike joked nervously.

"I know what Ronnie said was a joke and all, but I really am hungry. I might actually..." the hog stared at the rope constricting his wrists.

While Mike and Gabe made light of the situation, Toby sat quietly, deep in thought. This would be the second time he would miss a date with Annie, and it would further sully his reputation, especially among Annie's friends, who always seemed to be looking for another reason to despise him. Next to that, there was Mr. Adkins, the dean of the school, who was very much the same, threatening to even cut the wolf from the football team at times. Being out past curfew would surely bring about another pontification, and he felt bad that his friends would have a share of discipline. He had been framed for a variety of misdemeanors multiple times by the greasers before, and no matter what he told the principal, he refused to believe a word he said. And yet, the greasers never seemed to receive punishment for anything, now matter how unruly and transparent the offense.

"I hate those Royals," Toby sighed. That was what the greasers called themselves; The Royals.

"And who doesn't? Aside from old Mr. Adkins, of course," Mike replied. "Just a band of two-bit thugs that suck so bad they have to take down better people to feel good about themselves. If you ask me, they're jealous."

"Yeah, jealous," Gabe said as he fidgeted thoughtlessly with the knot around his chest. Toby found that fairly humorous coming from Gabe, and manifested a half-amused smile.

The boys continued making light of their unfortunate situation for some time, despite the mounting fear of the eventual lecture and punishment from the dean.

After what seemed like an hour of aimless conversation and the occasional struggle to rend their bindings, fear reemerged as a pair of headlights glared in from the direction The Royals drove off in.

"Oh no," Mike groaned.

"Maybe they came back for that," Gabe motioned toward a shiny object in the grass, just out of his reach.

"A knife? W- how long has that been there? Gabe, why didn't you grab it and cut everyone free?" Toby cried impatiently.

"I-, well, I only noticed it just now! And I can't even reach it," Gabe defended himself in a similarly panicked tone.

The vehicle slowly drew closer as the boys argued and yelled at each other, trying to reach for the blade.

"Nobody cares about your dad's salary Gabe, just take the knife and cut us free! We can get out and away before they're too close."

Despite the best effort of the hog, he just couldn't reach the knife.

The hysteria saturating the atmosphere was very quickly sheared once the incoming vehicle came close enough into view to reveal that it was not the same car as before. Instead, it was a delivery van of indeterminate affiliation. Taking note of the wild commotion, the driver halted his automobile. The road-worn van's driver-side door closed with a thunk and the driver circled around to see the three boys, restraints tangled from their desperate effort to grab the knife, leaving them pretzeled in uncomfortable poses.

"Howdy mister. Mind uh, giving us a hand?" Mike chuckled and motioned to the knife from his position upside-down, both arms knotted to each other.

The man who stood before them gave a loud, high-pitched chortle, failing to answer the buck's question. "Guess the mob's running out of ideas. They used to just kill people, y'know?" He was a poodle with cream colored fur and long hair of the same hue. It was slicked back, revealing a slightly receding hairline. He wore a green vest and brown, tweed slacks. Most unusual though, were his large eyes, the pupils of which were red and small, and seemed to almost glow in the dark shroud of night, like the taillights of some distant vehicle.

"If that's the case I wish it was the mob," Toby retorted, not seeming to appreciate the man's joke. "Could you cut us out? We really have to be somewhere."

"Of course, of course. I was a teenager too, once. Though I never did anything like this," the poodle grasped the switchblade and began sawing at the ravel around Gabe's wrists.

"Believe me, this wasn't by choice," Toby said.

"Oh, yes, nobody chooses to lose a bet. But I commend you three for being good sports even though you clearly lost," The poodle finished freeing Gabe.

Toby looked at him confused, "Uh, no sir. You see there's this gang called The Royals-" he was interrupted by the strange man moving over to unknot him, "Oh, gang activity? That's dangerous stuff right there. Nosir, can't have any of that. I sure hope it's safe to be out at this hour."

"I mean, it should be. There's only a few members here in Povey, and they left a while ago. You're not from around here are you?" Toby responded, feeling only a smidgen less uneasy around the man than The Royals. "Me? No, I'm from Pearlington. My name is Isaac. I'm in town visiting some friends. Now, where are you fellows headed?" He asked as he finished sawing through the last rope. "It would be swell if you could take us back to our school campus," Mike urged.

The man agreed, and they climbed into the van. The vehicle's interior was worn, similar to the outside, and held a dusty scent. As it lacked back seats, the boys sat in what was presumably the cargo hold. The ride was relatively silent, each teen reasonably tired from the ordeal with The Royals.

The sound of Gabe snoring became apparent. "Like nothing ever happened," Mike snickered quietly to himself, bits of rope still ensnared in his antlers.

Toby stared out the backdoor window of the van, seeing The Roller Barn, where his date was supposed to take place that night, come and go as they passed it by.

Soon enough, they were back at campus where they needed to be. Thanking Isaac as they departed, the three sneakily walked up the courtyard stairs and in the direction of the boy's dorm to the right. Looking at the clocktower which stood in the center of the main building, they could see that it was 9:47 PM.

After furtively making their way inside, the boys lurked up the dorm stairs and to their room. It was on the far eastern side of the second floor. It contained five beds and accompanying nightstands, positioned opposite the windows. One for Gabe, Mike, Toby, his brother Billy, and the fifth roommate, a weasel named Todd. When the three entered the room and flipped on the lights, the other two were asleep. Billy stirred, but did not wake. Todd, however, tossed and groaned sleepily, "Shut those darn lights off."

"Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, your highness," Mike sighed tiredly as he removed his sneakers.

"You guys shouldn't be coming back so late. The heck were you doing?" Todd covered his face with his pillow.

"If we told you, you wouldn't listen anyway," Toby muttered as he removed his jeans, taking a moment to look at the switchblade he had taken from where they were tied, and Todd pointed his fingers in agreement from under the covers. Todd wasn't very fond of his roommates, and most of the time, wanted to be alone. "Just don't be surprised when Mr. Adkins gives you dopes a lecture tomorrow," the weasel said.

Each boy quickly slipped into sleep with ease after the excitement of the previous couple of hours, regardless of what troubles laden their minds. And just as quick, the gray of morning showed its face.

Across campus, the peeking sun's rays faded in through the blinds of the girl's dorm. This is where Annie slept, on the western side of the first floor. Annie's dorm room was arranged the same as Toby's dorm. Five beds, one for Annie, her closest friend and duck, Delores, a goat named Margaret, a squirrel called Janice, and Toby's older sister Alice.

Annie's bed was positioned farthest from the sun, so she always woke up last. When she had awoken that morning, she was dismayed to be reminded of what transpired the previous night: she waited by herself at the skate rental for an hour and a half, and Toby never appeared. Delores was giving her account to her roommates. "And of course, that no good jerk stood her up again! This is the second time in a month." The girls all gasped and expressed their disappointment. Delores was always at odds with Annie over her relationship, and never missed a chance to be vocal about it.

"She's too good for him," agreed Janice.

"I for one am not surprised that my idiot brother would pull a stunt like that. He never showed up to any of my school plays. He probably won't even take her to homecoming," Alice hmphed.

"Hey, hey wait a minute," Annie wiped her eyes groggily, "We were actually planning on it! We even have our tickets already,"

"So soon? Homecoming's a month away," Janice was taken aback.

"You must've been one of the first couples to buy them," Margaret added, a hint of excitement in her voice.

"You know what they say about moving, like, too quickly into things, Annalise. What if he abandons you for good? I wouldn't put it past the little freak," Alice asked.

"In three weeks?" Annie shot back, annoyed, detangling her hair curlers.

"Well, I've never had a boyf-" Margaret began meekly, but was interrupted. "It's up to you, ultimately. We're just trying to help. I just couldn't imagine dating an athlete. None of them give the marching band the respect it deserves," Delores almost shuddered at saying the word 'athlete'.

"Or theater; not to mention The Royals. Their involvement with those goons is a little more than frightening," Janice added.

In an instance like this, Annie would avoid engaging in an argument with four people, and simply stay silent. Blocking out all the conversation around her, she put on her school uniform, and gathered in her mind what she would say to her boyfriend come lunch hour.

The day dragged on as usual, as the students went about their classes. World Science was Toby's first class of the day, and the pupils partnered up to visit the library to study for their ongoing projects on weather patterns. Toby's lab partner was his brother, Billy. Where Toby was healthy looking and strong, Billy was the opposite: Pale and scrawny, spotted fur as opposed to Toby's clear, nearly monochromatic coat, and long brown hair which resembled a wooden helmet.

The library was excessively large, featuring a vast and varied collection of books which lined every wall. The room itself was an atrium, with a second floor balcony above, equally stocked with literature. Four rows of twelve towering bookcases bisected the room, with tables filling the gaps in between. The air carried a certain scent of old, yellowed parchment and aged ink.

Billy found a spot to sit at one of the small square tables nestled between the bookcases, while Toby sought out a book on tropical storms in a different section. Upon returning, Toby found his brother conversing with Nicholas, the hall monitor. Seeing the wolf reappear, Nicholas whispered something to Billy, then slinked back to the Horror section.

"What was that about?" Toby asked in a hushed voice.

"What?" Billy replied innocently in a normal speaking volume.

"Hush, we're in the library. Now, with Nicholas. What was he saying?"

Billy suddenly snatched the book his brother had returned with. "Weather systems are driven by differences in temperature and pressure trying to be equalized. This is called convection," he read aloud. There was a shushing noise from the librarian on the other side of the room, and Toby's face turned a light red.

"If only you were that eager to start all of our projects, jeepers," Toby sighed.

"Get off my back for once why dontcha. Not even Mr. Adkins is such a nag," Billy rolled his eyes and set the book down in front of him. "Oh, yeah, Mr. Adkins. Nick was telling me he like, wanted to see you."

"Just what I need," Toby muttered. "I've got the world on my mind right now, and now I've got to go get lectured by that stupid beaver about curfew."

A clever smirk grew across Toby's face for a moment. "Hey Billy," he whispered, "Did you know that the weather cycle is heavily influenced by the ocean? You're into that kinda crap, right? The ocean?"

"What are you getting at?" Billy continued to use his regular speaking volume as he pulled a magazine out from his book bag and started to read.

Toby frowned, "Look, I feel like Atlas right now. I've got a full plate, and it would be really helpful if you did all the work for once. I'm in trouble with the dean again, The Royals want my head, it's football season, I still need to buy homecoming tickets..."

"But wait, I thought you had them already?" Billy looked up from this month's issue of Boogie Boards and More.

"What? No, where'd you hear that?"

"Nicholas also told me that. I dunno where he got it from."

"I hope Annie didn't tell him. Knowing that dweeb he'd probably try to steal the tickets or something. I hate that loser."

"That 'loser' is also a hall monitor. And something tells me that Mr. Adkins wouldn't appreciate someone defaming one of his best," a particularly snarky pair of ears pricked up from behind one bookcase.

"For the love of Pete," Toby sighed as Nicholas butted in. "Can't you see we're trying to work on a project here?" The wolf motioned to his brother who was hiding the magazine he was reading in the weather book.

"Oh, but you have plenty of time to make unsavory remarks towards me. And when you think I'm not around to defend myself no less! Mr. Adkins might want to hear about this..." taunted the cottontail.

"Why are you here Nick?" Toby glared.

"Just because I'm a hall monitor, it doesn't mean I'm restricted to monitoring the halls. I can go all sorts of places. All sorts. And I prefer Nicholas, by the way," he sneered back. Billy sat quietly in the background, enraptured by an article about dolphin energy.

"Well why don't you bug off and go 'monitor' someone who's actually doing something wrong? The Royals are probably causing all sorts of trouble,"

"Well, it's not like they're ever here anyway. They're always skipping, y'know? How do you expect me to write someone up if they aren't around?" Nicholas hesitated at this, seemingly knowing who the wolf was talking about.

"But you're not just a hall monitor. Can't you go 'all sorts of places'?" mocked Toby.

Nicholas became flustered, "You are in no position to disrespect me, heel! I'd love to stay here and engage this verbal tennis, but my talents are better used elsewhere. Have fun with your weather project Billy."

Billy raised his head from his magazine at the mention of his name.

"Talents," Toby rolled his eyes. Billy kept reading his magazine.

Not long after a promising knell rang out from the top floor of the school, signifying the end of the day, Annie made her way into town to begin her shift at the local diner, Richard's. It was Povey's only eatery, and Annie worked part time as a waitress. Oftentimes the job held her back from completing assignments in school, but there was a reasonable employee discount, and Annie enjoyed talking with the other hirelings. There was Rosa Lee, a robin and fellow waitress, who despite being married was still very in touch with current dances, fashion, and songs, as opposed to her dowdy co-workers. She was always pushing for improvements around the diner and putting her own albums in the jukebox in an effort to 'modernize', as well as singing along in a window-shattering, warbling soprano. Then there was Lynn, the cook. She was quite a corpulent cat of middle age, with a cheerful demeanor, and long rusty brown hair which she wore in a bun while she worked. She was quite apt in the culinary arts, being a mother of six at the age of forty-five. As the owner's spouse, she never ran out of people to cook for even after most of her children had left home, which always gave her something to be happy about. Though cooking recipes and ingredients seemed to be all that filled her head, as she was otherwise quite absent-minded and dimwitted even.

On occasion, a seemingly mute custodian called Lawrence would appear as well, but not make any effort to socialize.

Annie's arrival at the luncheonette was signified by the painful squeak of a back door in need of oiling being opened.

The pleasing aroma of fried viands and the accompanying greasy smell saturated the air, as Lynn was busy preparing a set of chicken legs. "Howdy Anne!" She greeted the vulpine with her ever-present cheer. "Hello Mrs. Dunhurst," Annie replied back plainly as she stamped her time card. She never quite got used to the cook's magniloquence.

Lynn finished garnishing the fried chicken with a pinch of pepper as Annie was done clocking in. "Table six," She smiled warmly as she handed the tray to the fox. Taking the tray to its corresponding table, Annie greeted Rosa Lee with a nod as she passed her by, bussing another platter; "Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino played on the jukebox.

The fox placed the tray on the table. It was occupied by two men, a crow and bat too deep in conversation to acknowledge the food put in front of them. Returning to behind the counter, Annie slumped gloomily with her head resting on her hand.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd mistake you for a flower out of sunlight. Why so glum sweetie?" Rosa Lee approached.

"I'm not glum," Annie said defiantly, keeping her gaze fixed ahead of her, "I'm indifferent."

"Okay, so why are you indifferent?" the robin prodded.

"Because there's nothing to be sad or happy about. It's just a normal day. I don't feel anything, I'm indifferent." The fox scowled, refusing to budge.

"Well have it your way then," Rosa was slightly taken aback by the fox's prickly tone. "But if you change your mind about 'feeling indifferent' then I'd be happy to talk to you about it," she made her last offer before going back to wiping the counter clean.

Annie kept leaning on the counter and gazing mindlessly out the large picture windows of the diner. She sunk into herself, as all the noise of silverware and platters clattering, the shopkeeper's bell ringing as someone entered the building, and the jukebox fizzled out into white noise and she became lost in thought.

"Annalise," a familiar quack brought the fox back to reality.

"O-oh. Uh, Delores, hi. What're you doing here?" Annie jumped.

"You left your euphonium in the band room," the duck cradled the maroon leather case under her arm.

"So you brought it here? We have the same dorm. I'm very...busy here, I can't just take it right now," Annie replied, the instrument being passed over the counter to her.

"Just put it in the break room hun," Lynn hollered from behind the counter.

Rosa Lee reinserted herself, "Is that what was troublin' you? I used to play the flute, myself you know."

"Nah," Delores said slyly, "She's just upset people keep makin' fun of her boyfriend." Annie's face contorted in frustration. What an oversimplified explanation of the situation! It was much more complex than this and she knew it. Delores was always doing things like this. "Just the other day, Nicholas told me that Todd told him that Gabe's parents had to pay for a stage lamp he broke. Like why was he in the theater anyway? And think, that could be your euphonium next. Then what?"

"What? But that's Gabe. What does that have to do with Toby? You guys are treating me like I'm dating a murderer!" It took Annie a moment to notice that she raised her voice when she felt the eyes of the patrons of the diner looking at her confusedly. She let out an embarrassed 'sorry' before, along with Delores, being escorted to the kitchen to avoid further disruptions.

"What is going on between you two? I've never seen friends fight so much," the robin questioned sternly.

Instantly, the two started squabbling incoherently, talking over each other and making motioning with their hands wildly.

Sighing, Rosa pinched her forehead.

Lynn waddled in at the moment, " What on earth is going on in here?" her hands on her hips. Her expression softened with understanding when she saw Annie and Delores.

"Hello Mrs. Dunhurst," Delores greeted her calmly.

"So, you girls are having boy trouble, hmm? How about a compromise: Annie can date Tobias and Delores can date Gabrial,"

Delores' face reddened at the suggestion, while Annie stifled a giggle. "That's disgusting," was her shy response, any smugness from moments before wiped from her face.

"...Anyway..." Delores tried regaining composure and shaking Lynn's mortifying suggestion. "Are you just going to forget about how he stood you up at the Roller Barn just last night?"

"He did what?" Rosa gasped.

"No...yes...listen! It wasn't his fault! I bet those Royals had something to do with it. We haven't gotten a chance to talk today yet..." Annie defended her position.

Rosa and Lynn both seemed lost. "The Royals?" Rosa queried.

"The Royals are a group of greasy miscreants that make jocks feel bad about themselves. They only complain about them to get even more attention than they already do, and don't deserve," Delores explained.

"They're not just 'miscreants', they're seriously dangerous! They smoke, they steal things, they skip school," Annie was growing impatient.

Lynn seemed unmoved. "Oh, they don't sound too bad. My Richard's poker buddies are the same way."

"Exactly," Delores nodded.

Rosa could tell Annie's patience was wearing thin. "Hey, if you'd like, I could let you off early. To give you time to talk to your dearest," the robin offered in understanding. Annie graciously accepted, knowing that even though he was away at a football game tonight, she could use the time to be alone. Picking up her band instrument, Annie left through the backdoor without Delores.

The otherwise shadowy dorm room was illuminated by the orange glow of a bedside lamp. Todd was doing what he always did when his roommates weren't present: reading. To be specific, his current engagement was The Catcher in the Rye. This solus was all Todd longed for, his wit not wasted on the bumbling morons he was assigned to live with. Here on his lonesome, he could properly reflect on the ideas he considered important and correct, without the sound of armpit flatulence completely shattering his deep introspection.

Just as chapter sixteen was coming to a close, there was a knock at the door. Leaving no time for a response, the intruder, Nicholas, let himself in. "Hello Todd."

"Nicholas," the weasel nodded. "If you're looking for Billy, I don't know where he is. Probably in the office being reprimanded for not paying attention in class."

"That loafer..." Nicholas sighed his disappointment.

"Yeah," Todd said with a deadpan tone, pretending to keep reading in an effort to show his disinterest. Glancing up from the pages however, the rabbit was still standing idle in the doorway, looking around the room. "Is that all?" Todd asked impatiently.

"Hmm? Oh, my mistake, I'll leave you to your reading for...twenty minutes, is it? Before they get back?" Nicholas glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Don't remind me," Todd grumbled.

Nicholas grinned. "You really hate them, don't you?" he progressed forward.

"Yeah, but so do a lot of people," the weasel was adamant on appearing incurious.

Nicholas, now sitting on the bed next to Todd's, facing him, asked excitedly, "Don't you think it's about time someone did something about it?"

"I'll leave that to the people who have the authority,"

"Well, I hate to brag," Nicholas flaunted his hall monitor sash from his book bag.

"Right, right. So what are you planning to do, give them all tardy slips? Oh no, look out! Two more and you can't go to the library after school!"

"Of course not! Don't you think I would've come up with something more sophisticated? No, we're not giving them tickets. We'll be stealing one of theirs."

Before Todd could question what he was talking about, Billy emerged from the pile of clothes that was his bed, asserting "But that's wrong, Toby doesn't actually have the tickets yet."

"Oh, Billy, there you are. I was just about to mention you, actually," Nicholas seemed unsurprised, "You know how your brother said that I'd probably steal the tickets? Well, that got me thinking..."

"What tickets? What is going on exactly?" Todd asked in bewilderment.

"How are you gonna steal something he doesn't have yet, genius?" Billy asked sardonically.

"He doesn't have them? But Delores told me..." Nicholas trailed off.

"Annie probably made that up because she's insecure about dating a total moron. I'm just worried it'll cause more trouble than anything. And what are you gonna do with them anyway? Use them to steal Annie?" Todd continued to seem unconvinced.

"I dunno dude. Wouldn't you too?" Billy butted in dreamily.

"Can it, beatnik. Shouldn't you be working on your science project?" Todd retorted.

"He is. There's probably a whole advanced ecosystem in that hamper he sleeps in." Nicholas chimed in.

"I'm studying the weather, man."

"I'm just poking fun. Anyway, Billy, doesn't it sting that he dumped all the workload on you? Are you going to take that lying down?" Nicholas said. "And remember that time he glued your textbooks together, Todd?"

"To be fair, I think that was more Mike and Gabe. Shame they don't have girlfriends to buy tickets for that we can steal. I'd hate to imagine the dame that would fall for them though," Todd chuckled. "What are you planning on doing with the tickets once you steal them anyway?"

Nicholas smiled crookedly. "That's where the fun begins. We give them to the Royals for ransome. I've got connections to them, and they hate him more than all of us combined!"

"The Royals? I dunno if I want to get involved with them. Aren't they...criminals?" Todd's reluctance was still fairly strong

"Exactly, they are! Come on...It'll be so funny seeing him try to reason his way out of this one!"

"Yeah! Todd, don't be a wet blanket. I can see him now, 'Duhh I know you hate my guts but would you like to work these feelings out over a friendly study session?'" Billy agreed at last.

"Yeah, and not even schoolwork. He'd probably want to study the constitution or football plays or something to convince them that ransome is unAmerican." Nicholas added.

Todd couldn't help but laugh along, despite his objections. "Alright, maybe. I'll have to see how uh, my schedule plays out, and uh...yeah."

The conversation was stopped there by the dorm door opening following a few ginger knocks. It was Annie.

Each of the boys started sweating profusely.

"Oh. Hi, guys. I guess they're not back from the game yet?" She asked, unaware of the conversation that just took place.

"T-that's right. They're still, uh, over there kicking North Gosling butt, heh-heh. Go Paladins, woohoo," Nicholas made a fist-pumping motion as he tried to act inconspicuous.

"That's okay. I guess I'll come back later." Annie said with folded arms, looking at nothing longingly.

As she left, Todd, Nicholas, and Billy jumped up immediately.

"Does that door have a lock?"

"Wait, she's still in the hall!"

"Can I just peek at her a little bit?"

The night was low, but spirits were high after another victorious game. Toby and Mike sat next to each other while Gabe was away seeing a physician after breaking a rib or two during the match. North Gosling was a town at least 20 miles away, so the bus had been travelling for an hour now.

"Alright champs, we're going to stop for gas, so if anyone wants to get out and stretch their legs for a moment you can go ahead," Coach Callahan announced from the front.

Toby, Mike, and a few others stood up as the bus pulled into the filler station.

"That ruled," Mike recounted to his friend, while they wandered into the building.

"Eyup," Toby wanted to remain humble, "The Ganders are never a tough opponent though." There was a scoff from behind the counter at this, though they chose to ignore it.

"Who are you taking to the dance, Mike? Are you still dating that Dorothy gal?"

"Nah, we stopped seeing each other. I think I'll just go to hang out," the buck replied.

The man behind the counter grumbled again. "When will they learn?" he sighed as he reached for a cigarette.

"Pardon mister?" Toby inquired.

"Love at your age is just a hobby. Or a gamble, more like. A dangerous game of cards where you're betting your future."

"With all due respect sir, if it's a gamble, then I'm winning. You see, my squeeze and I are soulmates," Toby objected politely.

"I thought the same once. And just see me now," the man behind the counter said, resignation in his voice. It was then that Toby actually took the time to look at the man. He was a gray cat wearing a stained pair of coveralls, was overweight, and balding. His fur was dirty and unkempt, and he had a slumped posture. "I haven't had a lover since I was eighteen; I'm thirty-one. You only get one chance at love, and if you don't get lucky, you're alone forever."

"If you say so mister. But I'll have you know that I've had plenty of girls in the past. And I don't doubt that my pal Toby could find another if things don't work out for him," Mike responded cooly. Coach Callahan walked in behind the two just then. "Don't listen to him scout," he put his arms on Toby and Mike's shoulders Paternalistically. "'Ol Mr. Sanders doesn't know the first thing about love."

"Yeah, well," Mr. Sanders sighed. "And how about you, Cal? You're not even married."

"Sure, but understand: I'm these boys' coach; and I like to think I know a little more than just football. And when I see Toby with his lady together, I can tell there's something there. And like Mike here said, even if things don't work out, I can bet he'll bounce right back. I've seen him make full recoveries from much worse physical wounds."

"Oh, but that's what you think. I used to be the best second-baseman in all of Larue County. Now I sell gas."

"Well, I've never coached baseball before, so you'll have to take that up with Mr. Hewwitt."

"Funny you say that. He advised me against dating, said it would unfocus me. Only I didn't listen! Now look at me. Listen, kid, quit while you're ahead. Trust me. You can find another floozy later."

"Brother, you have no idea who you're talking about. Annie's no floozy," Toby retorted. "Yeah, she's in marching band," Mike added.

"Alright, Sanders, we have to go, but I'll just add before we do that you're in no position to insult other people's decisions," Coach Callahan motioned for the boys to leave. Jesse sneered and pulled up a magazine to read.

"Do you know that guy, coach?" Mike asked once they were all back on the bus.

"Yep. He was a couple years younger, but we went to school here at St. Thomas together. I was more friends with his brother. He was always sort of quiet and lacked self-confidence. It was only natural that he would crumble the way he did when his sweetheart left him," Callahan explained.

"Very sad," Mike replied. Toby hmmphed an agree and remained mostly silent on the way back.

The bus eventually pulled in to the back of St. Thomas, letting all the football players off at the boy's dorm. Walking into the foyer, Toby was surprised to see Annie waiting for him on a bench across the room. She came running up to him, colliding in an embrace. "Ouch- careful, I've got some bruises...Annie I'm really glad to see you. I really wanted to talk to you today," the wolf said, his voice muffled in Annie's curly hair.

"So did I!" She replied hopefully.

"I'm so sorry about the Roller Barn. I was on my way there when-"

"The Royals?"

"Exactly. They tied Gabe, Mike, and I to trees with rope and left us there."

"Oh my gosh..."

Hearing the stirring downstairs, Nicholas snuck out of Tony's dorm and down the hall, peeking over the edge of the banister and cocking his ears into the foyer.

"Toby I'm worried for you. This has to stop! Those jerks are stepping too far...I mean, that should be illegal! I think you should get the police involved at this point." Annie pleaded her concern. Toby scratched his back awkwardly. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely! If the school won't do anything about it-"

"Tobias," a commanding voice called authoritatively.

"Oh no." The wolf sighed. "What can I do for you Mr. Adkins?"

"I need to talk to you tomorrow morning, before class. It's about your behavior. And Annalise, get back to your dorm. There is no reason any student should be outside of their dorm at this hour," the principle instructed sternly.

Toby, agitated, gave a parting "Yes sir," and walked up the stairs in the direction of his dorm, exchanging a final glance with Annie before disappearing down the hall. Seeing Toby approach, Nicholas jumped and scrambled for his own room.

The clock ticked impatiently in the office's waiting room. Toby sat there anxiously, staring down at his twiddling thumbs, waiting to hear what punishment he would receive. Removal from the football team? Suspension? Expulsion? And for what? He reached deep into his recent memory for anything he could've done that would warrant this, but came up fruitless.

The very idea of such a stain on his rather neat permanent record horrified him. Finding a job and being successful would become nearly impossible if employers found out he was suspended, or heavens forbid, expelled for whatever reason, Toby thought to himself. And not just jobs for that matter; land as well. Would any self-respecting land-owner be willing to sell acreage to a known errant? And what kind of future does that leave for Annie and our yet-to-be ten children? And think of how disappointed everyone would be back at home in Cedarside, especially Dad-

"Tobias Lewandowski," the receptionist called, pulling him from his troubled thinking, "Mr. Adkins is ready to see you."

The wolf stood up, almost shakily, and entered the principal's office, trying to maintain composure. Finding his seat in a small leather swivel chair across from the principal's desk.

"I'm sure you know why you're here," Principal Adkins said dryly.

"No sir, not truthfully," Toby showed his confusion.

"Yesterday in the library, you insulted Nicholas. I won't repeat what he told me, but it was nothing short of repulsive. Such language is most certainly not appropriate for a place of learning, and will not go unpunished."

"What? What did I- I didn't say anything to him!" Toby felt his temper rise.

"Mr. Lewandowski, please. Nicholas has an outstanding track record, and has no reason to lie to me. You on the other hand..."

"This is asinine! Nicholas has never pulled any punches when it comes to how much he hates me and thinks my girlfriend is too good for me," Toby's fur bristled.

"That is enough! I will not argue with you, Mr. Lewandowski. And if you try any further, I will be forced to call your parents. As of now however, for what you said to Nicholas, you will be prohibited from leaving campus until Thanksgiving break."

"But-" Toby began to protest, but thought better of it, and supplanted it with a reluctant, "Yes sir."

"You are dismissed."

Physical Education was the class Toby returned to, which was normally held in the spacious gymnasium. Today however, class was held outside on the football field behind the school. Mike and Gabe were sitting on the bleachers

Finding his group of friends by the bleachers, Toby sat down.

"What did 'ol stoneface want you for?" Gabe asked, sporting a black eye and wearing a brace around his waist from his injury the previous night.

"Yeah Tobe, what did he say?"

The wolf didn't respond.

"Hey come on, what's eating ya?"

"It's...nothing I can't handle on my own alright? Believe me, I'm fine."

"That tone says otherwise."

"You don't even know what that means, Gabe."

"Hey! I-"

"Hey hey hey, cool it Gabe, we all know you're very smart," Mike smiled and patted his head, then cracked his knuckles and said, "But sit back and watch The Stag crack this nut."

"Is everything some big show to you two?" Toby blurted out, Mike and Gabe immediately straightening up.

"...Jeepers, this is really serious huh?"

"I'll say! Mr. Adkins banned me from leaving the campus until Thanksgiving Break!" Toby spat his anger.

"Cripes, actually? That's beyond unfair!" Gabe cried, the pair now understanding the gravity of the situation. "How are you gonna go to homecoming? It's gonna be at the Roller Barn."

"I know. And what's more, my parents are expecting me to visit this weekend to get the money for the tickets! I can't believe I have to put up with this bologna."

"They've done you dirty before Toby, but this is beyond the pale. I mean..." Gabe trailed off, "What if...what if you didn't put up with it?"

"What are you getting at?"

"No, no, Toby, I think he's got a point: just sneak out and get the tickets. We'll cover for you!" Mike suggested.

"Oh come on, honestly. Are you insane? Do you think I wanna be expelled? Or-or sent to some massive penitentiary for troubled teens?! That's the craziest thing I've ever heard."

"No, really! Think about it like this: the year is 1812; the Boston Massacre just took place, and the minute-men are pissed. This is your Boston Massacre! This isn't just about taxes anymore, this is about freedom from an evil oppressor! Lives are at stake!" Gabe stood up rousingly.

"Well, what if-"

"Believe us Toby, we've got your back."

"I'll...I'll think about it."

"No! You'll do it. Not just to stick it to the man, but for Annie. Think about how crushed she'd be if she found out you can't take her to probably the most important event of her life so far. And-and how bad you will look! Imagine the ammunition this would give that bunny-eared mouthpiece Nicholas."

"Gosh, you're right...he wouldn't let me hear the end of it. I...I won't like it, but I'll do it. I'll do it for her." Toby's relent was met by his friends with cheers and hollers.

"And not just that, I'll do it to show that dweeb that I am too a swell- no, excellent boyfriend!"

"Now you've got it! He'd never do that for her!" Mike and Gabe cheered their support on an empty football field, gym class having ended halfway into their conversation.

Disorderly notes sounded from Annie's euphonium as she practiced the school's march song. She found it difficult to concentrate when stressing about her friend's disparaging opinions on her boyfriend, in addition to her boyfriend himself.

E...C...C sharp? No no no, it was flat! She thought to herself, uttering a frustrated sigh. She was all by herself in the dorm room as she typically was on nights she didn't work. After checking that she had the correct note in mind for at least the fifth time, she put her lips to the instrument. Before she could play however, a knock at the window parted her thoughts.

Turning around, Annie was startled by a figure wearing a dark green windbreaker, hood up. Retracting the hood after looking around, the figure revealed itself to be Toby. Opening the window immediately, Annie asked her boyfriend what he was doing. "You made me jump out of my fur!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I don't like this either. Anne, I can't stay long. I'm gonna...I'm sneaking out." Toby said shamefully.

"No fooling? Honestly! That has to be the single most blockheaded thing I ever heard you say! And I don't suppose you know what you'd do if you were caught?"

"Whatever you have to say won't stop me. I've already made my decision. I just wanted you to know in advance in case I was caught. Mike and Gabe are covering for me. I don't really trust them, but they told me something that really say well with me. I don't have enough time to say exactly what, but..." the wolf trailed off as he looked around him. "Look, I have to get going. Like I said, I can't be swayed. A gal like you is one in a million, and truthfully, worth soiling a clean record over."

Annie grasped out the window to stop him, but he was already turned around, walking his bicycle into the bushes. "Hey- no!" He turned his head before fully disappearing and gave a nervous smile. "I'll be fine."

The road was exceedingly dark with only brief intermittent lights cast from homes scattered in the grain fields, which at this hour seemed more like pools of black ink. Every once in a while a car would approach, at which Toby would scurry behind the weeds in the case that it was school staff.

Though Toby had travelled this road nearly daily, the Lincolnshire seemed farther away than ever, and the paranoia that he was taking too long was high.

After several more rounds of cowering behind shrubs and fences, the distant streetlights of the midtown came into view. Halfway there, Toby thought.

Unlike most students at St. Thomas, Toby did not actually live in Povey. Instead, his home was in Cedarside, a lake resort town only a few miles north of Povey. The trip itself would take at least an hour and a half, there and back.

Slinking around the back alleys behind the businesses and hugging walls, Toby took note of his whereabouts and found the road he needed to go down. Crossing the deserted streets, the wolf sped down Bloore Road, leaving town.

Continuing his silent move and routine of dodging headlights, Toby's fears were beginning to wane. After clambering out of yet another culvert following another successful darting away, any confidence in his mission immediately dropped when he spotted the police cruiser camped on the opposite side of the road a few yards down.

Oh lord, oh lord, did he see me? I can't believe this. That looked so suspicious! Why, why, why did I do that?! Fear swirled in Toby's mind as he slowly walked his bicycle up the road, stopping at the cruiser. He knew what he needed to do. Walking over to the vehicle, he knocked on the window, gaining the officer's attention. He rolled the window down and answered in a nasally, seedy voice, "Can I help you?"

His brown hair was matted and he looked tired. Bags hung from his eyes, and a cigarette loosely dangled from his mouth. His equine face was unshaven, his tie was loose, and his sleeves were rolled up.

Toby gulped, fur glistening with sweat. "My name is Tobias Jones Lewandowski, high school freshman, son of Wilbur Finnegan and Ruth Josephine Lewandowski, home address of 366 Ackley Way, Cedarside Indiana, social security num-"

"Whoa whoa, reel it back Mr. Lew-lew...what did you say your name was?" The donkey was caught off guard by his response.

Toby hesitated, wondering if it was worth it to try to conjure a pseudonym. "T-Tobias. My name is Tobias."

"And what exactly is all this? Are you lost?"

"I should've known better...officer, when you take me to the station, can I at least call my girlfriend?" Toby hung his head down shamefully, sticking out his arms to be handcuffed.

"Now that's your right, but tell me what you did first!" the officer started losing his patience.

"I snuck out of school! I'm a dirty truant! And now I'm gonna get expelled! I gambled my entire future on a pink piece of paper and lost." Toby lamented as he climbed into the back of the cruiser.

"Are you gonna cuff me now or what?"

The officer was completely dumbfounded, he didn't know just what to say. "Is- is that it? Sorry kid, no matter how badly you want to go to jail, I can't arrest minors. I'll...write you an imaginary ticket if you really want, though."

"That doesn't feel right! It wouldn't be honest, I need-" Toby was about to mention his principal, but soon was glad he didn't get to. "So what, you want me to tell your parents?" the officer asked. This sparked an idea in Toby's mind. "I guess you're right, I was overreacting," he feigned defeat. "If you insist that this is no punishable offense, I would request you take me back home."

"Home? Don't you go to St. Thomas? I thought that school had lodging."

"Oh...they do. I have a special arrangement with the school though so I don't have to live there," the wolf winced. It pained him to lie like this. Despite being immoral, it proved effective though. He directed the officer to his home in Cedarside, where he was silently dropped off.

Creeping inside the unlocked door and up the stairs, Toby inhaled deeply before knocking on his parents' bedroom door.

"Hello? Mom? Dad? It's Toby." he called. The door opened, revealing two bewildered parents.

"Tobias Jones! What are you doing away from school this late?" His mother demanded.

"Mom, you guys were expecting me. I called, remember?"

"Yes, but we were expecting to see you hours ago! Surely the principal wouldn't allow you to leave so late."

His father stepped in. "Ruth, Ruth, calm down, I'm sure he was excused. Our boy would never do something he wasn't permitted to," he fetched his wallet from the nightstand, "We raised him better than that. Now I'd expect that from Billy..."

Toby shuddered. Every word was like pulling teeth. He just wanted to get the money and get out.

"So, you're taking your girl to homecoming eh? That's where your mother and I first kissed you know. Now, son, when you're in there, in the gym, there will be a million other people around you. But in that moment, when the slow song plays, and you're holding each other close...there will only be two. You understand me?" Toby's father explained.

"Yes Dad," Toby said thoughtfully, accepting the bills.

"Attaboy. Now that also means it'll be easier for her to notice that you can't dance, so don't mess it up!"

"I know! Thank you."

The bicycle ride back to campus was much smoother than the trip home. Toby felt better after talking to his father, although the guilt of telling so many lies and breaking so many rules in one night hung heavily in his head. He kept running his father's words through his mind in an effort to forget about his misconduct. It seemed to work, perhaps a little too well in fact, as he was no longer dodging the sight of oncoming cars as he flew down the moonlight highway. He felt more comfortable to ignore these vehicles so as to get back to campus quicker than to stop and hide every time.

From atop a wooded hill, Toby could see he was approaching the Lincolnshire again, its buildings' lights shining faintly. Almost there, he thought.

What he didn't notice however, was the car which pulled off from the side of the road and now followed him slowly. A 1953 Sedan. It cruised behind him slyly for some time before activating the high beams. Instantly gaining the wolf's attention, the car started picking up speed. Surprised, Toby veered to the left side of the road, but the car wasn't shaken. It followed right behind him. Its speed now surpassed Toby's bicycle, and it was rapidly getting closer. Toby kept swerving left and right, panicked, but the car kept up the chase.

"What's your problem?!" Toby squealed, to no response. He felt the car's bumper touching his bicycle's back wheel. Toby pedaled harder and harder, but the car kept speeding up. Looking behind himself again, Toby caught a glimpse of a white-feathered hand flicking a cigarette butt out the driver window and knew instantly who it was.

The hill's decline grew steeper, and the car edged up to the back of the bike once more, lifting its back end up into the air. "Stop!" was all Toby had time to yell before the bicycle flipped forward, flinging him into a ditch on the side of the road.

Battered, Toby climbed sheepishly out of the culvert to see the car gone and his bicycle in twisted, irreparable pieces.

He said nothing, simply staring dejectedly at the crushed bike, thinking of how he would explain this to his parents, or the school. He sat for a while before deciding to walk the bicycle back to the campus.