FSE

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Issac turned off the water to the shower. The air was thick and smelled of cheap soup and sweat. His local gym was small, but was well equipped for many different types of work outs. It was only his second week but the schedule fit his (not so busy one) perfectly.

He glanced at the empty shower area. It was just a wide tiled space with shower heads, but it worked. Fortunately no one was there at the late hour. Issac had been forced before to shower with other, on occasion creepy, men. Needless to say it didn't float his boat.

He was a thin, (but growing) German shepherd mix, a runt really. The others his age towered sometimes a foot higher then himself, and they were all muscle heads at his school, bulking twice as wide as he was. Not to mention he wasn't exactly popular in high school. Even as a senior, gay was a target. He wasn't technically gay, he was bi, but when anything gets that complex, you're shunned. Only the girls liked him, and as nice as that was, having a dude friend would have helped.

Sighing, and stretching his sore muscles, Issac downed his towel and started to leave, soap in hand. As usual he followed the tiles with his eyes, walking odd to follow the pattern. Then, unexpectedly, he collided with another, stumbling back.

Red in the face he looked up. "Sorry, I....."

It was Vincent, a bear from his school, and not just any student, but the all star quarterback. He looked down, just as surprised at the run in.

"My bad." the bear finished, squeezing by into the showers, running the water.

Issac sighed in relief; Vincent was one of the very few nice ones. Even when tempted by his Jack-ass teammates, he wouldn't do anything wrong. What was even odder was that he went to this gym. Issac did it to build up in secret, if Vincent needed a gym, he had the school ones.

Issac walked a few steps toward the lockers, but then took the steps back, looking in. The bear was waiting for the water to warm.

"I just used the fourth one from the back, it should be warm." Issac threw in, walking to the lockers without expecting a reply.

"Thanks!" was shouted back, followed by the turning off and on of showers.

Opening his locker, Issac changed into pajama pants, and a plain tee. The hole for his tail was tight; he would need another pair soon, preferably with a similar solid color. He got his things together and fetched his keys, heading out to the parking lot.

He eyed his beaten up rust bucket with a love/hate feeling. It got him places, but sucked, and it wasn't exactly a looker. The car was rusted with the paint chipping away, and the back, left side passenger window had a crack.

Sighing, Issac got in putting his stuff in back, and tried to start it up. The engine refused to co-operate, making the traditional pained whirring of a car the refuses to start.

"Come on you piece of crap!" Issac complained. "Not now! Damn it." he stopped, hitting his head on the horn, producing a beep.

Issac tried again, and again, and again. Then, he started to cry. "Just another thing to fucking blow back in my face." he sniffed, wiping the tears. "Let's see just how bad my life can get!" he turned the key again, hoping maybe for a miracle.

One didn't come. He got out, popping the hood. Issac hoped for an easy fix, maybe an obvious loose piece or something. "Oooof course not." Issac grumbled, trying to look around by cellphone light, but that didn't help much.

After a minute of looking blind, Issac heard footsteps come from behind him. He turned quickly, seeing Vincent's large shadow.

"Something wrong?" he asked, a sense of genuine concern in his voice.

He wore sweats and a jacket without a shirt underneath, exposing his chest, his muscles clearly visible behind his fur.

"Umm...yeah." Issac admitted, he wasn't one who asked for help, not many people had ever given him any. "My car...."

"I can gather it won't start, it's typically why one 'clueless about engines dog' like yourself would be peeking under the hood." Vincent teased.

He walked over to his car, three spaces away and brought out a flashlight. "I'm not a master to any degree, but a better light might help." he smiled. "Let's see how many guys it takes to start a car." Vincent continued, taking a look.

Issac had to look in from the side of the car to see past the large bear. The complicated puzzle of tubes, wires and metal meant nothing to Issac, but when the battery of the car is literally crusty with white......battery acid stuff, that would be the likely cause of car troubles.

"Shit man," Vincent said, "What did you....? When was the last time this thing saw an auto shop?. The battery's trashed, and the rest is.....well in bad shape."

Issac sighed heavily, "Great. Well, thanks for trying." Issac opened his phone, the battery blinked before him, indicating low power "Son of a bitch." Issac muttered as the phone shut off on its own.

Vincent watched Issac from his car door. "Need a ride?"

Issac stared in shock, not only was this football player not a total Jack-ass, but he was kind?. Issac almost refused, but then realized that meant calling his alcoholic mother from her stupor via the gym phone, and that that wasn't a good way to avoid a beating.

"Ummm, you don't mind?"

"Nah." Vincent reassured, easing into his car, "Were do you live?"

Issac smiled, getting his bags from his car, and his CD case. "North Chipping."

Vincent nodded, "That's only twenty minutes away."

Issac got in the passenger seat, tossing his stuff in back. It was a nice car, leather seating, a working radio, and room enough for the big bear. Issac made Vincent stop, nervously having forgot his papers in the car. But after a quick little nab, and triple checked locked doors, the two left.

"Thanks again." Issac said, "You saved my ass."

"No prob. Just one thing." Vincent said. "You go to my school right? Venetry high?"

Issac smiled looking at Vincent "Yeah, I sat behind you. I'm Ms. Fosters last year. Most boring English teacher ever."

"Issac!" Vincent shouted "Ha! That's it right?"

Issac nodded.

"See I knew, I knew you from somewhere". Then he paused not knowing where to go from there. "So why don't you use the school gym?" Vincent asked casually.

"I could ask you the same thing." Issac returned. "I doubt you do intense workouts twice a day. Well......maybe I shouldn't doubt it, you are the star quarterback." Issac added.

"Well I stay after school for other things after regular practice." Vincent said defensively, "besides, coach would be all up in my face about absolutely everything!"

"And the trainers here aren't?" Issac asked.

"Pfffffft." the bear responded "Compared to the Hall?. Hell the ones here are like saints. So tell me why you don't use the free gym."

Issac twiddled his thumbs, "Do you know anything about me?" Issac asked

"The names, The bullying?. If I'd stay after there, I'd get beaten up or something". The dog said, staring out the window now.

"What about your friends? Get them to join you. Numbers are a strong thing." Vincent pointed out, a little taken back.

It was Issac's turn to pffffft.

"What friends? I moved here two years ago and was labeled gay. My only friends are girls, and like hell any of those drama queens would go to the gym, let alone defend me. And my pride would be beaten if they did."

There was an awkward silence then.

"Let's see your music." Vincent offered, turning on the CD player, and ejecting his own disk.

Issac caught the album cover. "Resonance of Rain", "Halleluiah Girl."

"Keep that one in." Issac said. "Toppled Castle, track 8".

Vincent obeyed, pushing the buttons. The song started slow and low, a piano and violins. Then a bass followed with a faster beat. Then at the same time Issac and Vincent screamed the first line. "NOOOOOO! One. Will. Ever!..........get. In. Side. My. HEEEEEEAD!." they laughed at each other, it was a pretty loud and obnoxious, almost screaming song. "You. Have. Brought . Me . Pain!!". Then the female singer calmed off, and lifted the mood, quickening the pace. The two went on singing, but eventually stopped, dying of laughter.

"Oh god!" Issac managed. "Best cheer up song ever!".

"Agreed!" Vincent sputtered. "It shouldn't be!.......but come on! Your face was priceless man!"

"Mine?!" Issac retorted. "Please yours was all like." He squished his cheeks together, and looked up, holding a long tuneless note.

They laughed some more, and turned down Issac's street. "Which one?"

For a second, Issac felt ashamed, then he pointed out the house with the police car in the driveway.

Issac blushed. "Thanks". He got his stuff from the back.

As Issac got out he realized Vincent was typing away at the dog's phone, and as he returned the phone, asked for Issac's number. Issac was stunned, but managed to robotically repeat his cell number.

"I know this is weird," Vincent said, "but umm, if you stay with me after school tomorrow, you'll get to the gym and back again. I have.....things to do, but the gym right after."

Issac blushed, unnoticed in the dark, "Umm, sure, that would be great."

"Oh, and I left the number for my uncles repair shop in your phone too. Tell him I sent you." Vincent added, holding out a paw. Issac shook it awkwardly.

"Night, Issac."

"Night, Vincent." Issac called as the window shut. Issac watched Vincent's car drive away, smiling. Did he just make a friend?.

Then he turned to see Officer Franco, the same horse that always ended up at their house. He was a good guy, but he gave Issac's mother grief. He wouldn't hear the end of how it wasn't her fault for a few days now.

Issac waved the officer away too. Then entered his house, the smell of booze prominent.