\n "Haley? I- Is that you?" I walked towards her and looked at her. I couldn't believe it. Haley was a fox. What... What the fuck? "Who?" I loosened her bindings and she fell into my arms.

"My dad." She whimpered, curling towards me.

I cocked my head. This wasn't something that he would do. He hated them so much. Why would he do that to her? "I don't get it. I mean, he hates us. Why would he?" Jake looked uneasy.

"I-I told him the truth. And he panicked. He... I don't know. Something snapped." She was crying into my shoulder and I examined her. Her fur was a dark orange, almost red. It was matted and mangy and stained with blood and bruises. They had abused her. But to what extent? I stroked her cheek as she cried. Her left ear was misshapen and stiff. Haley looked at me. "He-" She sobbed loudly. "He tried to kill me. He said that I'd served my purpose and was no longer necessary. Mom stopped him though. But Dad, he said that he'd make an example of me."

Jake hit me on the shoulder. "We need to go now."

"Why?"

"Someone's coming." Jake was probably right about that. He had better hearing than me, partly cause his breed, but also because he set off a firecracker next to my ear in middle school.

"Can you walk?" I ask Haley.

Haley shook her head. "I don't think I can even stand." I picked her up and we ran off to the fence, behind us I heard something.

"Intruder! We have a breach!" Jake and I ran as fast as we could to the fence. I heard dogs start barking and screams going out everywhere. Adrenaline flooded my system as Jake held the fence open for Haley to crawl first. I went next, diving under quickly. I turned around and grabbed the fence for Jake.

"C'mon!" I screamed.

He crawled and grabbed Haley for me. "Go get the car!"

I sprinted the few blocks to the car, turning the engine over, when the sirens start. "Shit!" I pulled the stick out of park and accelerated as fast as the Dodge would go. With a screech of the breaks, I stopped next to the two and Jake put Haley in the back before getting in the front. We then left, anxious to avoid the sirens.

"Shit. That was close." Jake sighed.

"Yeah." I reached back to grab Haley but she was passed out on the back seat.

"What are we going to do with her?"

"What do you mean?"

"Brent, they'll be looking for her. She needs a place to hide."

"Easy, my house."

"Dude, your parents aren't going to let your girlfriend stay at your house, no matter the situation." I sighed. Jake clearly had put more thought into it than I had thought to.

"What'd you have in mind?"

"Well, I was thinking, my parents wouldn't have an issue with it considering, well... Dur, I'm gay."

"Right, but are you sure they'll be okay with it?"

"They will be once I explain the situation. We have that guest bedroom and my parents won't mind."

"Right, let's head to your house then." At least now I had a destination. "Jake?"

"Yeah Brent?"

"Thank you. I mean, you really didn't have to do that."

"I wanted to. Haley's a nice person and I want you to be happy." He patted my back.

"Thanks." I grinned. "How're things with Logan?"

"Stressful. He's... He's just been all over the place. He'll be fine one minute and then go crazy the next. It's getting to be a hassle. And I don't want to feel needy, but sometimes... I just want to talk to him right? And he's busy, but I feel hurt when he doesn't respond."

"Well I get tha-"

"Brent, I- I think he's cheating on me."

"What?" I turned the wheel as we approached Jake's place.

"He's distant and cold. I feel like we're moving apart."

"Did you two ever talk about what you wanted out of the relationship?"

"Meaning what?" Jake answered, defensive.

"Are you two on the same page about what you want? Do you both want a committed relationship? Do you just want a fuck-buddy? These are important questions. You have to figure it out."

Jake fell silent and I knew that they hadn't. The question went completely unasked until now. Jake and I could read each other so well; his silence said more to me than words ever could. We were that kind of friends. With a look we could communicate everything. I pulled up to Jake's and killed the engine.

"I'll go in first and start explaining, alright?"

"Okay." We both got out of the car. I went into the back and sat next to Haley. I stroked her cheek. It was so weird seeing her like this. So different and furry.. I wasn't sure how I felt about the whole thing. How do you adjust when so much has changed? Can you still love them in the same way? How much changes and how much stays the same? Haley stirred.

"Brent?"

"Yeah, I'm here." In the darkness she couldn't see me very well, so I reached out and grabbed her hand. "I'm right here."

"Where are we?" She sat up.

"We're at Jake's it was the safest place we could think to take you."

"Oh. Okay."  She cuddled up to me. "I missed you."

"I missed you too." I went in for a kiss but she pulled away. "What's wrong?"

"I- I'm still just a little weary. It was a hard couple of weeks for me." I hadn't realized how long it had been. But she was right, it was well into October. She was gone for almost a month. How could I have been so blind to the passage of time? It seemed unreal to me, that she would be the one who kept my life in some kind of order. Haley wrapped her arms around me and squeezed.

"Haley?"

"Yeah?"

"What was the truth?"

"Huh?" She loosened her grip.

"Before, you said you told your dad the truth and he panicked. What was that truth?"

"Oh that. Well-"
\n A rapping on the glass stopped her. Jake opened the door.

"Alright, we're good to go." He offered a hand to Haley. "Can you walk?"

"I'll try."

I went out my door and around to the back so I could help her out. Jake and I both took one side as she climbed out. She stood, wobbly with weakened legs.

"You alright?" I asked.

She nodded so I hesitantly let go. She could stand alright but when it came time to walk forward, she faltered. Jake and I caught her. We helped her inside and into the guest bedroom. Jake's parents came in close behind.

"You doing okay?" Mrs. Carter asked. She was a very helpful woman so when she couldn't help, I had the feeling it would eat away at her.

"Anything we can get you?" Mr. Carter asked. He was just being polite, Jake and I knew he rarely cared for anyone apart from himself.

"No, I'm fine." Haley smiled.

"Brent, are you going to be staying as well?" Mr. Carter asked.

"Yeah I planned on it."

Mr. Carter nodded slowly. "Okay, I don't want any yiffing going on."

I was more than a little astonished to hear him say that, to hear him being so blunt. But I agreed. I couldn't leave Haley that night. Jake went to bed before too long. I on the hand, cuddled up with Haley. I held her so tightly when she cried again. As the memories of the weeks rushed back to her head once more. As the nightmares took over. I was worried that if I fell asleep, she'd be taken from me again. So I didn't get much sleep that night.
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\n *****

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"Brent. Brent wake up." Haley was pushing on me, shaking me.

I stirred and opened my eyes. "Huh? Yeah?"

"I- I just need you to hold me right now." She whimpered.

I happily obliged and wrapped around her. I kissed the top of her head and she smiled. "Wanna tell me what the truth is now?"

Haley fidgeted. "Do I have to? It's so nice. Don't ruin the moment."

"I have to know."

"Well... The truth is... I love you."

I tingled and felt electrified with these words. Those three powerful words. They made me giddy and filled with butterflies. She had said it. I stammered for the words before they came out in a river of emotion. "I love you too."

Haley smiled, relieved, and pressed her face into my chest. She sighed with contentment. I was unaware of the backlash that was happening because of my actions the night before, but they were severe. And costly.

I still wonder if they were worth it to this day.

Rawr chapter! Anyways, review, rate, repopulate. Um... Not sure what the last one is doing there... -Kergiby
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