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Two Years Ago...

Just graduated my high school a couple weeks ago. Me and Janelle both.

I open the door to our apartment. We've had the place for about a month. I make her pay half the rent. Jani plops herself on the couch, exhausted.

"Well," she starts out, " That... was... tiring."

"I know." I say. "Who knew the temperature would rise so high while we were there?" Me and Jani walked to the Big Brother Big Sister building. I signed up to get an older brother. After all, I never had a brother before. Janelle didn't do anything at all. She was just... there.

"So, any idea who your 'older brother' is?"

"No. I'm meeting him tomorrow at the food court." I say. All I was told is that he was a 25-year-old tiger named Dexter. Other than that, who knows?

"Are you sure it's ok to be meeting an unknown stranger?" Jani asks.

"Are you kidding?" I take a seat at our kitchen counter. "Other furs do online dating all the time with eventual meet-ups."

"Yeah. But, this isn't a date."

"Jani, if you're so worried, come with me."

"No," she moans.

"C'mon, at least you'll know if I need help."

"Angie, you're the strongest girl in school."

"True. But, I'm just saying."

"Ughhhh... Fine. I'll go. But, I'm bringing the baseball bat."

"No. Don't. That'll ruin it." I completely ignore the rest of whatever she has to say. She said yes and that was all I was wanting out of her. I go into our room, grab some clothes for tomorrow and get a shower.

No way, I think, This is just meeting an older fur as a brother figure. Not a date. Most of my thoughts are pretty much exactly like that as I'm scrubbing down my pink fur. I just re dyed it a few days ago so, it won't come off for another 28 days or so.

The rest of the night goes on really slowly. I try to pass time by watching a movie or two, but it's still 7 and I'm not even tired. Jani's taking her millionth nap of the day for her headaches. Just when I couldn't get any more bored, my phone goes off. The same ringtone for my cousin. I hit answer.

"Hi." I say.

"Hey." Wendell says.

"What're you doing?"

"Nothing. My family's just really excited that my freshman year of high school is over."

"Yep. One down, three left."

"I know. They couldn't get any slower. What're you up to?"

"Trying to get to sleep. I'm meeting someone tomorrow."

"Really? Who?" He's got that teasing tone like I've finally found a boyfriend.

"It's not like that. I signed up for Big Brothers Big Sisters." When I say that, I can practically hear Wendell pi his ears to his head. Plus, he doesn't say anything back, but I can still hear him breathe into the phone. " Wendell?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you have that depressive tone?" You can tell from the way he said 'yeah'.

"N-N-Nothin. Why?"

"I'm just worried. Is something wrong over in Tennessee?"

"Well... I... uh... I'm having some problems."

"About what?"

"Boy troubles."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I think I'm in love with a boy at my school." Woah! Did he just say-?

"A boy? Wendell, are you... gay?"

"I don't know. But I can't stop thinking about someone."

"Who?"

"His name is Todd. My best friend since we were nine. Lately, I've been seeing him a different way. I... I love him, Ange. I really do."

"Oh. Well, I don't know what to say Wendell. But, if I were you, I'd hold off on trying to get in a relationship with him."

"Why?"

"Because. What if he isn't gay? That could destroy your friendship."

"When should I?"

"I don't know. But, wait for the right moment to come out to him. You'll know when the time is right."

"Ok. Thanks Angie."

"You're welcome cousin."

"I've gotta go."

"See ya."

"Bye." He hangs up. I never imagined my cousin liking other boys. I wonder if this Dexter fellow is? If so, will I care? Of course not. I've never had problems with gay people before. I walk into my room. Jani's wide awake, reading her comic book. She puts it down when I walk in.

"Who was that?" she asks. It's like she knows everything that happens in my life.

"My cousin, Wendell. The wolf. Remember him?"

"Of course. What'd he have to say?"

"Well, I think he came out to me." Jani looks at me in awe.

"No!"

"Yes. Even told me he has a crush on one of his best friends."

"Get outta here!"

"No, because I'm paying for half." I say in a serious tone.

"He's gay?"

"Probably. He could be bi. I don't know." I hop into bed and cover myself with my blanket. "Now get to sleep. Huge day tomorrow."

"Fine." I can tell she rolled her eyes at me.

***

I slam the door of our pickup truck. We parked outside the mall ten minutes before Dexter said he would be here. The food court is right in the center of the place with a bunch of stores branching off of it.

"Are you sure I can't beat him up?" Jani asks. I swear, this girl is way too defensive.

"No. I want to see if he's a nice guy," I say," If he's not, then you can beat him to a pulp for all I care." I feel a little bad for saying that, but we've been a team for a long time. We walk inside. I told her to sit at a table on the far end of the place. Dexter said to meets in a table towards the center of the place, right near where the fountain is.

I sit down, unable to calm down my nerves. I'm wearing my cameo shorts and my pink and white tye dye T-shirt. It's not a good match, however, better than going naked. Plus, it's all I have.

I stare at the clock on the far wall as I wait for him. " Hey there, missy." A southern accent says with a paw placed on my shoulder. I look up and see a tiger in a green vest and a trucker hat.

"Dexter?"

"Angie?"

"That's me." I say.

"Nice to meet ya. I'm Dexter. Some call me Dex." He holds out his paw and I shake it.

"Angie Tripp. Sometimes I'm called Ange." Dexter takes a seat in front of me. "Are you a trucker?" I ask.

"How'd you know?" the smile never leaves his face.

"The hat was sort of a giveaway." I say, nodding toward his hat.

"Should've known. So, what made you want an older brother, may I ask?"

"I was adopted. I have no idea if I have a real brother or not. And to be honest... I've always wanted one."

"Nice. I've always wanted a younger sister. You know? Someone to look out for."

"Any brothers?"

"Nope. Only child."

"Oh. I'm so sorry for you. So, how long are you going to be in town?"

"I live here in Los Angeles. I drive all over the country. You caught me on a two-week break."

"Well... that was lucky."

"Sure was. So, what about you? What do you like to do around here?" he asks.

"Ummm... I just graduated so, I have no idea. Sometimes I like to watch movies."

"Really? What's your favorite?"

"Hunger Games. Paws down. It was awesome. What about you?"

"Road Train. The one where five kids fine a huge truck in the middle of the desert, take it for a spin and get lost."

"I saw that too. It was amazing."

"I know! Why do you like the Hunger Games so much?"

"Well, I like shooting a gun. Sometimes I would go to the range and do... that."

"Really? You know how to shoot too?" I nod. "Wow! You think that we could go there sometime?"

"Sure." I say. By now, Jani probably has taken the hint that this is going really well. Dexter seems really awesome. "By the way, are you dating anyone?"

"Aren't you a little young for me?" He teases.

"I know, but that's know what I meant."

"I get it." Dexter giggles, but continues, "Anyways, I don't 'date' per se."

"Why's that?"

"Honestly, I'm asexual. I'm attracted to neither gender."

"What? You mean... you're never gonna date someone?" I ask. This is shocking. This was going so fine. Why did I have to ask that? Why?

"Probably not. But, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I never really was a 'ladies man' as they'd call it. And I'm definitely not gay."

"Do you have an issue with gay furs?"

"No way! I love gay people. Just do not love love them. You know what I mean?"

"Of course. I get it." It must be sad though, never going to find love. He puts on a smile like he's the jolliest man on earth and when you talk with him enough, Dexter turns into a... sad creature.

"May I ask you something?" Dexter asks.

"Of course."

"Are you a lesbian?"

"No. I'm hetero. I don't know any lesbianics in town. Other than Jasmine, but she's shy."

"How shy?"

"I-can't-even-utter-a-sentence-without-freaking-out shy."

"Wow. That's sad. I'm sure she'll get over it. Shy people this age usually do in a matter of time."

"Let's hope so. So, you never told me, what do you do driving around the country?"

"Mostly I deliver stuff nationally for Wal-Mart, but other times, it's just to explore. I've gotten to see so much of the country."

"What about outside the country?"

"Bien sûr, je suis allé à l'extérieur du pays." Dexter says in fluent French.

"Ok. You win." I say. I know what he said in French. He said "Of course I've been outside the country".

"Haha. So, what about you? Any good at foreign languages?"

"Ummm... Me gusta el número seis." That's all I remember how to say any Spanish.

"You like the number six?" Dexter says, taunting me.

"Shut up! It's the only one I remember. I haven't been in Spanish class in over a year." I blush.

"It's fine, Angie."

"What else do you know how to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"I don't know. Anything." I'm curious. Even with a southern accent, he makes it sound... cute. In a way.

"Ok. Uh... J'aime la couleur de votre fourrure." he says.

"Awww, you like my pink fur?"

"Yeah. I've never seen a pink vixen before. Is it natural?"

"No. I lost a bet. Had to dye it pink and I never got around to keeping it undyed."

"Oh. Well, it's pretty awesome."

"Thanks."

"Want me to take you around? Maybe see a movie?"

"Sure. I'd like that." We both stand up and head off. We pass by Jani on the way to the exit. "Oh, by the way. Dexter, this is my best friend, Janelle." I point her out.

"Oh. Hi there, Janelle. Name's Dexter." he says.

"Nice to meet you Dexter." Jani shakes paws with him. I can already tell that this will turn out good for me in the long run.