Part 7

(Jonas)

I kept my back to Alen, huddling up so close to the edge of the bed that I could’ve easily fallen off. My fur stood on end, sheets doing nothing to warm me no matter how tight I held them.

How could he do this to me? How could Alen even mention me in the same breath as that bastard, Zoran!?

I brought my hand up to my face. The chunks his teeth had taken from my fingerpad were clear to see. He’d not drawn blood, but it was still more damage than I’d ever caused him.

I balled it into a fist. Hit the mattress. Why the fuck did Toni have to go and mention this? To Alen, of all people! If I’d not left them alone… My teeth started to grind, tail lashing beneath the sheets. If he wasn’t so damn lazy, it would have been him helping dad out, not me. Gods above us, I could have run straight to his room and strangled him there and then.

The clock was close to striking half two the last time I did the same to the mattress. By the time it passed three, I needed to wipe my eyes dry to be able to confirm it. This bed had grown an awful lot bigger. Not that I wanted to stretch out to make up for it.

Maybe I shouldn’t have said what I said. I should have been calmer. More understanding. He told me he needed space. Simple. No big deal. But for an otter of so few words, it was always the ones left unsaid that worried me the most.

I kicked out my paws from the sheets, sitting up at the side of the bed. Bringing Alen back home with me couldn’t be what’d spoil this relationship, could it? This was all an overreaction. By both of us. Surely.

I threw my hands to my face. Slumped forward. Gripped my fingers to my scalp. Things had barely begun. We’d barely had a chance to be together. This wasn’t fair!

Forget the bed. In the blackness, this whole room had grown bigger. Being able to see in the dark usually stopped it from unsettling me too much while alone. Now though, joined by this unending silence, the darkness outweighed that completely.

All I wanted to do was talk to someone. Get these thoughts outta my head and into someone else’s. Too bad I didn’t have a clue how to begin verbalising them, or even who I could direct it all at. Not my parents, not my brothers, and definitely not Alen.

But, if talking couldn’t solve it… what in the hell else could I do to stop this!?

I fell back down into bed, way too exhausted to sleep. The only thing I did know in this crazy, swirling, fucked up mess that my mind had become was this: I adored Alen, and I wanted nothing more than to prove it to him.

I feared that wouldn’t be so easily done. The idea of having this out with him, possibly making things even worse terrified me. I’d have to give it a shot, though. No damn way in the world I’d forgive myself if I didn’t.

It took a deep breath and a solid swallow of my pride, but I rolled away from the edge of the bed.

I found Alen still lying across from me, almost touching the wall opposite. He’d buried himself beneath a small, scrunched up section of our blanket, almost hidden by the corner of my top pillow hanging out over him.

“Alen?” I slid closer, trying not to rock the bed too much. “Are you awake?”

Lifting the sheet, pressing my muzzle past it, I got my answer. His tiny body moved delicately with his breathing. He’d curled himself up tight, almost into a ball. If his thoughts had been running even half as fast as mine, I had no idea how he’d managed to drop back off to sleep.

As much as I’d have liked to have this talk, I had no intention of waking him. His little arms flicked on occasion, while the odd murmur slipped from his muzzle. Compared with how hard he’d been kicking and screaming in his sleep barely an hour ago, Alen looked to be at peace. How much I’d have given for the same right then.

I shuffled again, nose almost pressed to my little otter’s. Whatever had been said, whatever might have been going on in Alen’s head, I just wanted things to go back to being as great as they’d always been between us.

Slipping my hand under the sheet, curling it up and over him, I came so, so close to cuddling him deep into my chest fur. Instead, I resigned myself to pulling away and leaving him to the hideaway he seemed so comfortable in.

My ears splayed as I settled down to my cold pillow. Watching over him, I figured I’d finally got an understanding of how he felt when getting himself worked up over something. Personally, I hated it, but this wasn’t something I could step back from. It wasn’t something that was gonna just up and fix itself.

Breathing in, I caught my otter’s scent. It helped to calm me, but also reminded me that I couldn’t rest easy. I might not be able to talk him round, to reassure and stop the thoughts that had brought his nightmares back, but no chance could I let them ruin things between us. He meant far too much to me for that to happen without a fight.

While I might have worked myself up into trying to fix things between us at three in the morning, the terrible night’s sleep that followed left me half-comatosed come my alarm call at seven. The drive ahead of me back to Sturanja might not have been the longest, but in no way was I in the mood to face it. How lucky would I have been to have that as the worst of my problems...

“It was so nice to have you back home,” Ma sang, following me down the front steps. “Such a shame you couldn’t stay longer.”

“I know.” I adjusted my backpack, stopping in the cool shade of her cypress trees. “There just wasn’t a way out of working this afternoon.”

“...And it was good to meet you too,” I heard Dad say, a few steps behind her.

“Thank you, Mr. Dev-- Mirko,” Alen replied, riding the stairlift down beside him. “It was nice of you to have me.”

“Don’t be silly,” Ma insisted. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”

“And you.” Alen managed his first smile in what felt like forever.

I watched him all the way down to the path before clearing my throat. “Want me to help you to the car?”

“I’m good for now.” He stood up, slipping his own backpack on. “Thanks.”

“Okay.” There went my ears, flicking down in spite of how hard I tried not to let them in front of my parents.

“You’ll both have to come back soon,” said Ma, glowing. I don’t think she’d noticed. “Find a weekend for you to do this again.”

“Mayb--”

“What about independence day?” Dad suggested. “That’s not long away now.”

“You know, you’re right.” I couldn’t get a word in between them. “That’s come around awfully quick again.”

None of this was helping my headache, but I forced myself to play along. “That’d be nice. If I can get the time off work.”

“Come on, you know your Ma won’t take no for an answer.” They looked to each other. “We’re expecting pretty much everyone to be here this year.”

“There’ll be all of us. Denis and Lara, if she’s feeling up to it. My parents will be driving down...”

“Mine will be back from their cruise by then,” Dad replied, really helping to work the emotional blackmail. “So they’ll be here.”

“We’ll be making a full weekend of it,” Ma explained to Alen below. “Lots of food, drink, all outside in the back garden.”

“The council throw an all-day party down on the seafront as well,” Dad added. “I’m sure Jonas will take you along to see that.”

“Sounds good.” Alen smiled up at them both. “Hopefully we’ll see you.”

With all that’d been said last night, I couldn’t know how genuine that hope of his was. Whatever the case, he’d started my parents’ tails swaying like crazy.

“I guess I’ll look at the shift rota when I go in later,” I said. “See if I can work it out.”

“Be sure that you do.” Dad wagged a finger at me. “Because we won’t be best pleased if you’re missing.”

He was joking. I knew that. It still got my hackles up, though. Everything that’d been said and done here should’ve had me barely able to contain myself. Both my parents were thrilled to pieces over meeting Alen, and maybe even more so at the thought of seeing him again in a month’s time. I didn’t have that luck.

Instead of sharing in their delight, I stood here trying my best not to rush down the path, jump in my car and get the fuck back to Sturanja as soon as possible. Instead of smiling down at Alen while we worked out rough plans for a second trip back, I watched him wait with hanging shoulders, looking more ready for a funeral than a shorefront party.

“We should be making a move... I don’t think I have any work clothes washed and ready, so I need to sort that before this afternoon, too.”

“Oh, don’t go making excuses,” Dad answered with a scoff. “If you can’t wait to leave, just say so.”

“It’s not that! I just--”

“I’m joking.” He grabbed my shoulder, smirking. I managed to stop my eyes rolling. This wasn’t his fault. He didn’t know. “To be honest, Denis will be waiting down at the boat, wondering where Toni and I have got to.”

I looked up to the top of the steps. I wasn’t sure how long Toni had been hiding away on the terrace. Frankly, he could’ve stayed up there for all I cared.

“Drive safe.” Before I knew it, Ma had wrapped her arms tight around me. For her, I put all this annoyance on hold, leaning down to do the same. “Take care of yourself.”

“I will.” She rubbed my sides before letting go, stepping back to let Dad have his turn.

“Let us know when you get back.” He offered out his hand. “And come back soon.”

“I’ll do my best.” I flashed a smile, clasping my hand to his before we pulled in for our own hug.

Ma bent down beside me, reaching towards Alen. “You take care of yourself, too.”

“Will do.” He perked up for the second time today, letting himself be lifted into a hug of his own against her muzzle; just another thing these bad feelings stopped me from being happy about.

Dad moved over to join them, lowering a finger for Alen to shake. It’d have been so much easier for everyone if he’d just let me bring him up into my hands…

Once we’d finally got the goodbyes over and done with, the time came at last to head off down the front path. As harsh as that sounded on my parents, I couldn’t imagine I’d be looking back at this weekend too fondly.

I kept my steps slow, matching my speed with Alen as he padded along the path’s edge. It wasn’t a long walk, but it seemed to last forever what with how much I wondered if I should ask, “Help you into the car?”

We stopped where the path met the pavement. He glanced up at the passenger-side door, maybe remembering how he’d joked about the lack of access ramp on the way here. “Sure.”

I reached down, grateful for the chance to gather him up into my hands. Yeah, he might not have had a choice, but at this point I’d take it.

Careful as I could, I carried him the rest of the way. Again, I resisted my urge to bring him into a hug.

“Hold on.” I freed up a hand to grab the door, taking extra care as I lowered myself down. I caught a passerby watching as they walked on up the street. Not that I cared for the reason. My sole focus was on setting him onto the seat as delicately as possible.

“Thank you,” he muttered, slipping off his bag before reaching around for the Maleni-sized seat belt.

“You’re welcome.” I watched him pull it over himself, fasten it… and then stare directly ahead. Deflated, defeated, I closed the door.

“Hey, Jonas.”

I turned to Toni’s calling, not missing the twitch of my tail. He’d already made it halfway down the front steps, jumping the last few before side-stepping past Ma and Dad. “Hey.”

He rushed down the path, stopping to keep the pavement between us. Probably for the best. “I, uh…”

I folded my arms, glaring. My tail lashed again, hitting my car with a metallic thump. If the little… If he had something to tell me, I didn’t plan on making it easy for him.

“Just wanted to say…” He glanced up the road, scratching behind his ear. “Didn’t want you to go without saying bye.”

“Right,” I answered, huffing. “Bye.”

Down dropped his head, ears sinking back as he shuffled on his feet. He looked around to our parents, letting me see how far his tail had tucked. So what? I was ready to leave him right there, march around to my driver-side door and be done with all of this.

“Listen,” Toni said, half-whispering. “There’s something else.” I grunted back at him, but still he carried on. “Seeing you and Alen like this… I’m thinking I ain’t gotta tell you about Saturday morning.”

“Gold star.”

“So, you two spoke about… what we spoke about?

“And another.” My fists clenched as I crossed my arms tighter. “Was it how pissed off we both look that gave it away?”

“Look, I didn’t mean to. It just… We got talking about school days. How I got bullied. How you ended up getting involved.” Toni finally saw fit to look back up at me. “Somehow the suspension came out.”

“Yeah, thanks for that.”

He cringed, ears splaying. “I’m hoping I’ve not caused too much drama between you guys.”

“Well that makes two of us... but I don’t think we’re gonna know for a while.”

A little nod and there went his focus again. I expected him at this point to just up and walk away, leaving me to deal with the aftermath of his fuck up. In fact, I’d got myself so prepared for that, that I turned around to do the same.

“I’m sorry.” Toni grabbed my arm, making me jolt so hard I nearly lifted from the ground. “I never meant for this.” He tugged himself back in front of me. “He’s a cool guy.”

“Yeah…” Somehow, he started me smiling. “I like him, too. Funny that.”

Toni snorted, grinning up at me for just a second. “It’s probably not an offer you really want, but y’know, if there’s anything I can do… anything I can say to him that might help, let me know, okay?”

“I think you’ve probably said enough… but thanks.”

“Is everything okay?” Ma called from towards the house, looking just as puzzled as Dad beside her.

“Yeah,” we replied in unison, right before Toni poked a jab at my arm.

“Take care of yourself up there in the city, okay?”

I looked down further to find his hand, reaching out, waiting to be clasped. See, I hadn’t forgiven him for what’d happened. Probably wouldn’t be able to until I knew for sure me and Alen were going to be okay. Thing is, this was Toni; that same dipshit who I’d spent so long looking out for growing up. He’d spent the best part of our childhood fucking things up, so why change the habit of a lifetime? Besides, I figured if I hadn’t done what I’d done back at school in the first place… there wouldn’t have been anything for him to screw up this time round.

His muzzle started to dip, arm reaching a fraction further. I decided I’d go one better.

“Oh gods--”

I wrapped my arms around him, hugging tight. He did his best to push back against my stomach, but had no chance of stopping me from locking it in and lifting him up.

“You overgrown-- ah!”

He squirmed from another squeeze. Maybe I was being more forceful than usual, but still, this was a massive comedown from what I could’ve done to him a few minutes before.

“It was real good to see you, bro.” Toni reached around to hug me back. “Just… don’t go leaving it so long next time.”

“You know you’re welcome up at mine, too.” That came out without thinking. Not that I regretted it for too long.

“Good to know.” He smiled up at me from between my arms and chest. Again, it didn’t last. “I am sorry, though.”

I loosened my grip, dropping Toni back to the ground. A firm flick of his ear earned a wider grin.

“Yeah… you’re just lucky I can’t reach yours, Goldie.”

I smirked, starting around to my door. “Later, Toni.”

Climbing into my car felt like entering a different world. Hot and stuffy. Quiet. Way too quiet. I slipped the key into the ignition, taking a crafty glance over at Alen. Still he stared straight ahead, hands clasped in his lap. He looked so small, so lonely, sitting in a seat much too big for him. I wondered if he’d seen my screwing around with Toni out there. Wondered what he thought of it, given everything that’d happened. Finally, I wondered about the specifics of what they’d said to each other to leave us sitting here alone like this. Whatever the case, I figured it best to stay quiet. Let things lie for now. Last thing I wanted was to go making things even worse.

A turn of my wrist brought my car whining and, eventually, chugging into life. Toni and our parents were still there waiting, waving cheerily. A complete contrast to Alen out of sight to them behind the passenger-side door.

I waved back, smiling to keep up appearances before throwing it into first and pulling away. We had a decent amount of driving ahead of us, but all I could do was stare at my rear-view mirror. My family were still in view, heading back up into the house. They got smaller and smaller, blurry, before slipping from view completely. I couldn’t help worry about what else I might be leaving behind here in Padinica.

It didn’t take long to slump back into the regular routine once back in Sturanja. The weekend at home soon became a memory I’d occasionally reflect upon. Unsurprisingly, one thing in particular remained on my mind more often than not, nowhen more so than during the increasingly frequent silence around the apartment.

I had to try and bring Alen round. Prove to him that, honestly, he was probably overreacting… not that telling him that directly would’ve done much to help.

Instead, I needed to show him that in the ten-plus years since high school, times had changed. Dramatically. The raccoon I was back then… by no means would I have considered myself a bad one, but I was still a kid. I made bad choices. Did stupid things on the back of them. But, show me a teenager who didn’t, and I’d be amazed. Hell, show me someone in their twenties that still didn’t on occasion...

The real question I faced wasn’t over if I should shed light on that point in my life, but how. I’d tried to explain to Alen back at my parents’, the night that damn conversation with Toni first came out, but got shut down before I could even get going. How could I get him to believe that what happened back at school was just a stupid, horrible mistake when he refused to listen? Maybe… with all this friction between us, it might help if it wasn’t me he had to believe.

That thought paved the way for a whole load of others to start bubbling up, bringing me ideas on how I might be able to put them into action. The one that really took hold, though, really started to lift and give me hope wouldn’t come until a few days later.

“What are you up to?” I asked, re-entering the living area from our adjoining kitchen. We’d barely said a word to each other over dinner, and even less than that since I’d helped him up onto the couch. He kept himself to his phone as I eased myself down next to him. I wasn’t sure he’d heard me. “Anything fun?”

“Group chat,” Alen replied, barely more than a mumble.

“Oh… like a text message?”

“No.”

“What then?”

“Something some friends from Lucica set up.”

“That’s nice.” His answer didn’t really explain much for me, but at least we were talking. Kinda. “So… they found you online or something?”

“No.” Alen paused, frowning before tapping away faster. Concentration, I guess. “We were already on each other’s friends list. They invited me.”

“Got it… So, that is online?”

“Don’t you use FriendHive?” he snapped, glaring up at me.

“No.” My ears folded. I’d started getting used to that around Alen. “You know I don’t. Haven’t for years. Most everyone I speak to nowadays are local anyhow.”

“Right,” he muttered, attention back fully on his phone.

“Well then. I’ll leave you to it.” This increasingly shitty way he’d started talking to me, treating me, had become upsettingly common. So much for ‘giving him space’. Since getting back home, it was like he wanted to push me away completely.

I hauled myself back up onto my paws, not caring how hard they hit the ground on my way to the kitchen. Maybe a couple of those cake slices on the counter would help clear this bitter taste in my mouth.

I processed what we’d spoken about as I went. More on what exactly he was getting up to with his friends back over on the couch. It’s then that my ears perked right back up again.

Snacking could wait. I stopped, turned and strode back into the living area. An idea formulated in a flash, coming together completely by the time I’d padded out into the hallway and along to our bedroom. If Alen could use that stupid site to track down and speak with old friends, then why couldn’t I do the same? It’d be easy, right?

I lowered myself onto the creaky chair of my computer desk, positioned in front of our bedroom window. It gave a good view out over the houses around our complex, and on beyond the other buildings that sloped down towards the darkened beachfront in the distance. We didn’t have much summer left for this year. On an evening as clear and warm as this, I’d have much prefered to be heading out with Alen someplace. Not messing around inside with this old computer of mine. All the more reason to press on and get things underway.

It didn’t take long for me to realise that this plan wouldn’t be as easy or quick as I might’ve hoped. Logging in alone took the better part of a half hour. Password reminders aren’t that useful when you’ve forgotten the contact details you’d used in the first place. I pushed on though, hoping this thing would point me in the direction of someone I could get in touch with. That hope didn’t last long.

Getting access to my account only brought with it the realisation of just how rarely I’d ever used it. The only links I had set up were with a few old ‘friends’ from back home, which in real terms were just people I’d taken some classes with in high school. I hadn’t spoken to any of them since… well, since I’d left to go to university almost a decade ago. Most of the friends I had now were people I’d met here in Sturanja. This net page filled to the brim with nothing proved that in spades.

The stationery on my desk jumped from the slam of my fist. This was gonna take more work that I thought…

Nighttime rolled around so fast that I barely even realised it. I’d been staring at this screen for so long, searching the names I could remember from Padinica, that it’s all I could see in the darkness.

Most of the people I knew from school had long since moved away. A decent number of them had come here to Sturanja, or headed to other places all over the country. A good many had even headed overseas completely. My luck being what it was, of those that’d moved locally, pretty much the entirety were people I’d had nothing to do with back home. One or two I sent a speculative message to, asking how they were doing, but for the most part, none of them knew me well enough to stand in as a decent character reference.

It’s then that even more questions started to rise. Was this really such a great idea? Did I want to start poking around at people like this? People I’d had, and would have had, absolutely nothing to do with under regular circumstances? Would they really want to hear from Jonas Devic, that raccoon they kinda maybe knew a bit from school, getting in touch for a chat after a good chunk of our lifetimes apart?

Usually? The answer would’ve been a big, fat no. But this wasn’t ‘usually’. I knew what was at stake here. If going through a bit of social pain and awkwardness might help give Alen a better look into my past, then I had to give it a shot. No matter what it might bring.

“What are doing here in the dark?”

My eyes narrowed to Alen flicking the light switch down by his doorway. “Got caught up with a bit of work, I guess.”

That just seemed to confuse him even more as he wandered off behind our bed. “Okay.”

“Actually… I decided to follow your lead. I’m giving FriendHive another try.” Our bed started to whirr as it lowered. “Thought it might be a good way of getting in touch with people I lost contact with from back home.”

The bedframe eventually sank low enough for Alen to reappear from behind the mattress. Not that he bothered to look back, eyes fixed to the control panel beside the now ground-level headboard.

“Hey,” I snapped. “You know, I’m only talking to you.” My chair squealed as I spun to face him. “It’d be nice if you could maybe try and return the favour.”

“Well, what do you want me to say?”

“I don’t know. Just show a passing interest maybe? Don’t treat me like an idiot for trying to make conversation.”

“Okay, fine.” He yanked off his t-shirt, tossing it onto our bed. “That’s nice. Hope you have fun.”

“Thanks. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear the sarcasm.”

“You do that.”

“I don’t know why I bother sometimes.” A swipe back at the desk sent my mouse tumbling across it. “With any of this.”

“Oh, yeah. That’s it.” He dropped his shorts, kicking them off to land beside his shirt. “Scream, shout, break everything. Typical Visoka.”

That knocked me back in my chair. Alen didn’t notice. Or care.

“I’m gonna go brush my teeth.” He stormed off towards the door, barely even looking my way.

“Yeah, you do that.” That helped me to feel better. “Go play the victim some more.” That came with instant regret. “Wait, I didn’t mean--”

“And what would you know about that exactly!?” Alen grabbed his little door handle, throwing it closed behind him.

I slumped over, burying my face in my hands. That couldn’t have gone any worse if I’d tried. Alen was as much at fault for the crappy atmosphere around here as anything I’d done, and upset or not, this attitude he insisted on throwing about had started pissing me off.

But, no matter what had been said, no matter who was right and who was wrong, I only wanted one thing; I wanted the real Alen back. I wanted rid of this angry, unreasonable... sad, lonely otter roaming around the apartment. This otter who’d probably spend yet another night curled up over on the opposite side of the bed… as far away from me as possible.

No matter how crazy this whole idea of mine seemed right now, if finding my mouse, settling back down and working away at my computer some more meant getting my Alen back, then so be it.

“Hey! Raccoon?”

A hand slapped down to the bar, pulling me from whatever daydream I’d wound up in. Damn… I’d been doing that a lot lately.

“Any risk of getting some service ‘round here?”

A shake of my head cleared it. “Sorry--”

“Or am I gonna have to take my business someplace else?”

I bit my tongue, focus fully on the coyote scowling up at me. “What can I get you?”

“Another barman?” His slim, purple silk shirt had one button too many open, putting his thick, over-groomed chest ruff on display. The big gold chain cutting through it made my silver one look like a piece of string in comparison. Flash prick.

“If that’s what you want, that’s not a problem.” I pressed my own hand to the bar, standing up from where I’d been slumped over. “It’ll probably be quicker if I help you out, though.”

He needed to look up even further, jaw creeping open. I stopped myself from smirking. “Okay… I’ll take a bottle of Ruisseau Royal. Gold Label.”

I gave a nod way politer than he deserved, turning to head out back to the rack where we stored our pricier wines. Doubt this guy could’ve told the difference between something high-end and the drain cleaner you got for five tolars at an all-night store.

“You do table service?” he asked as I returned.

“Are you dining with us here today?”

“Why does that matter?”

I gritted my teeth, but not from the effort of opening his wine. “We only offer table service to those who are doing so. If you’re seated over in the lounge, you can order from one of my waiting colleagues, although you will have to handle your own refills.” Pop went the cork. Sadly not into his face. “I trust that’ll not be too much trouble?”

His muzzle twitched like he’d smelt something bad. Like my mood.

Guess he tried getting his own back once I reached up for glasses. He cleared his throat, way more smug than he ought to have been as he requested, “I’ll have two glasses.”

“Not a problem.” And there I was thinking noone in their right mind would be sharing a bottle with this creep. I grabbed a pair from the shelf above the bar, setting them down to ring up his bill. “That’ll be ninety-five tolars.”

He tapped his card to the reader. “Charge a hundred.” Another shitty grin. “Get yourself something nice.”

“Oh, thank you.” I wondered if this guy was born this much of a dick, or if it’d taken practice. I was almost done with him at least. Time enough still to offer the hollowest, “Enjoy.”

He didn’t reply, grabbing up his wine and his glasses before scurrying away from the bar area.

I tried not to slump back down to the bar too hard. Sundays evenings were slow at the best of times, but this rainstorm lashing down outside had killed things stone dead.

Whatever the weather, no matter the fact I was the most senior person on duty, I shouldn’t have been all lazy and mopey like this. That knowledge didn’t stop me, though.

In fact, I went one better in the lazy stakes; checking my phone for messages in full view of anyone who might have wandered over for service. Seeing that big fat zero staring back at me, just like the... however many times before, brought my mopey side catching right back up again.

This FriendHive crusade of mine had only been going for a few days, but I’d found close to a dozen people I recognised from school living in the Sturanja city area already. A couple of them were Maleni, even.

I’d ploughed ahead with sending messages out to those I knew best, varying from a simple ‘Hi, how’s it going?’, all the way through to long-winded posts asking if they’d consider meeting to catch up on old times. Admittedly, those longer messages had been the more recent ones. The silence I’d been getting back so far had got me desperate.

A hand took my shoulder. My fur frizzed as I spun, finding my workmate Franko beside me.

“Hey, you good?” He reached up to give me two soft slaps, those buck teeth of his shown off with a grin. “Covering the bar’s not that bad.”

“Ah, it’s not that. I’m fine, just… some customers. Gotta love ‘em.”

“Don’t go worrying about that guy.” His flat beaver tail batted my legs as he turned, tossing an empty bottle of soda water into the bin behind us. “He came in last week, acting like some bigshot, trying to impress his date.”

“I’m not worried.” I stood up straighter, but kept my voice low. That coyote had taken a booth over in the lounge, next to the front window. “Just struggling not to rise to the bait lately.”

“Tell you what else…” Franko bobbed and weaved, trying for a better view. “That’s not the girl he was with last time.” He nudged me with an elbow. “So what d’you think? Womaniser? Cheater? Or just plain godsdamn awful with the ladies?”

I snorted. “Guy’s a prize prick either way.”

“No argument here. But he tipped good at least.”

“Yeah, maybe… He should’ve saved it for a shirt that actually fits him.”

“Hey.” Another nudge in my side. “I thought your days of checking out customers were all over with now.”

I smirked down at him, but couldn’t stop from groaning, too.

“C’mon, what’s up? Not like you to be getting in a mood about things.” I grabbed my corkscrew from the bar, turning away to toss it back onto its shelf. “Home stuff?”

“Could say that. Guess the mood back there’s finally spread to me.”

He nodded, showing some sympathy in his smile as he backed off down the bar. I appreciated him knowing when to leave it.

I’d resigned myself to getting back to work, forcing out a ‘thanks’ to a customer dropping off a few more empty glasses. I moved to gather them up, until the sharp buzz against my leg stopped me fast.

The speed I pulled back at almost sent them all tumbling across the bar. I reached down, needing two attempts at getting my hand into my pocket.

Pulling out my phone, seeing that big, orange ‘1’ shining bright from the corner of the screen got me all kinds of excited. Looking back, that message could’ve been from anyone, about anything. Not that it crossed my mind at the time.

“Going on break,” I called, stepping back. “Can you cover for a little bit?”

“Sure.” Franko looked at me from the draught taps, brow furrowed. “All good?”

“Yeah, yeah.” I slammed open the door out into the back area. “Back in a minute.”

I rushed along the corridor, almost tripping over some stock boxes. Turned out viewing a message on FriendHive wasn’t so easy through the phone. Either that or I’d done something stupid. Whatever the case, I was still battling for access to it by the time I reached the break room. A couple of the guys on waiting duty were already here, chatting on the old couch we had for ourselves. Across from them, on the scaled down sofa, one of our Maleni hostesses sat occupied with a book.

Judging by the look they all gave me, they probably figured I’d come to order them back to work. As if. Work could wait, and I needed privacy.

“Sorry… Don’t mind me.” I shoved myself back from the doorway, rushing along to the side exit and out into the alleyway.

The cold, wet wind blowing from the beach hit me instantly, making me regret not grabbing my jacket on the way here. At least the stinking trash pile that’d been building up had been taken away at last.

These crappy surroundings somehow helped improve my phone skills. Huddled away from the rain beneath the concrete awning, I managed to get this waiting message up and on display with just a few more swipes and pokes. At last, I could see who’d sent it… Martin Mandzukic.

‘Hey Jonas. Am doing good. Hope you are too.’

My shoulders lifted. Back straightened. Martin was probably the Maleni I’d got on best with back at school… after all the drama and hostilities died down at least.

‘Yeah, I moved up to Livadar a couple years back. Didn’t know you were over in Sturanja.’

Made sense he’d headed there, given the size of the Maleni community. Probably bigger than here, even.

‘Totally. We’ll have to figure out a date to meet up sometime. Get a drink or something...’

I clenched a fist and punched the air. The grin I’d got from reading this almost hurt with how wide it grew.

This was gonna happen. This was gonna get things fixed and sorted out between me and Alen, I just knew it! All I had to do now was work out how to send a reply on this damn thing...