The annoying warning message:

This story deals themes of homosexuality, discrimination, depression, love, and growing up. I started this series in my own senior year in high school, and which feels absolutely ages ago. (Because it is.) But this is a story about growing up, about what it does to you, and to those around you. I hope that even though this story is so very late 90s, you can still enjoy it.

If homosexual content is not your cup of tea, you can leave the tea party. The characters and story are copyright Teiran 2001, with updates made in 2021. Do not redistribute without permission.

-Teiran

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High School Days
Young Love Part 2: Torn
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Mrs. Hayes looked behind her as the garage door opened. She smiled as her son Todd and his kangaroo friend David came into the kitchen. The young fox laughed and squirmed, dropping his school bag as David began to tickle his sides. Rebecca smiled and watched her son laugh as his said, “Hey mom! I’m home!”

Mrs. Hayes smiled. “Hello Todd. Hello David. How was your day at school?”

Todd sighed. “Horrible Mom, we got hit with a huge load of homework, and its game night.”

Todd’s mother just nodded and smiled, “Hello David.”

Mrs. Hayes kept her smile in place as the kangaroo took a step behind her son and ducked his head a bit, only mumbling, “Hello Mrs. Hayes.”

Mrs. Hayes turned back to her cooking, as if everything were just fine. David had been very nervous around her since Todd’s birthday two weeks ago. Despite what Todd had told David about his parents being okay with them having feelings for each other, the poor boy had remained practically terrified of both her and her husband. Mrs. Hayes said, “Would you two like me to make burgers for you before the game?”

The kangaroo smiled a bit and raised his head when she smiled at him, and her son grinned. “Sure Mom, that’ll be perfect, but David has extra practice for the soccer game tonight so we don’t have much time.” Todd picked up his bag and said, “Come on David, we’ve got to finish that Physics work before dinner if you want me to be at the game tonight.” Mrs. Hayes smiled as the two boys bounced off together to study.

***

David let out a loud sigh of relief once they were inside Todd’s room. Todd smiled a bit at him. “What? What’s wrong?” The fox’s ears flicked back a bit and he looked worried for a moment, “You still worried about my parents?”

David nodded and ducked his head a bit. “Yeah, I am. It’s stupid I know, you said they’re cool with you being…” The kangaroo swallowed, his long ears flicking. David couldn’t even say the word for what he was increasingly sure he and Todd were. Instead he just shook his head and mumbled, “but…. my parents….”

Todd sighed hard, “Yeah, your parents…” They both looked down at the floor for a while and Todd rubbed his forearms nervously. David hadn’t said anything before now, but Todd hated that he’d been more distant in the last two weeks since they’d admitted they had feelings for each other. Todd looked at him nervously out of the corners of his eyes.

The day after his birthday, the first day they’d admitted to each other they had feelings for the other, that day had been wonderful. They’d gone to the mall, saw a movie, ate together, laughed and played games… It was just like it always was when they were together, except even happier. But eventually the weekend ended and David had gone home.

And when Todd has seen him at school on Monday, David was nervous and fidgety and too scared to do anything more then hold the fox’s hand for a few minutes where nobody could see them. They’d almost kissed again that night while working on homework together, but Todd’s father had come in the room to check on them at the wrong moment and David had been too scared to even hold hands since then.

Todd wanted to do more. He wanted to kiss the kangaroo again, he wanted to be close to him but David’s parents, especially his father, scared the kangaroo to much. They didn’t know what had happened, but they knew David had done something they wouldn’t approve of. It was obvious from the way the kangaroo had slunk from shadow to shadow, and it had made his father especially suspicious. Mr. Weather’s had called Todd’s house five times already checking on him, and he didn’t usually do that unless David was late getting home.

Todd fidgeted, knowing he shouldn’t say anything, but unable to stop himself. “Are you going to tell them that you… like me?” The fox asked quietly.

David shook his head, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet, something Todd knew the kangaroo only did when he was worried and very nervous. “No, I’m not. Come on,” David said without looking up, “let’s finish our homework.” They sat down together at Todd’s desk and started to work.

***

After a while, they were laughing again, leaned over their books together. They forgot about their parents, both the good and bad, and were just together. David smiled at Todd, who giggled and ducked his head. David smiled wider, watching the fox laugh. He’s so handsome and he looks so happy all the time, thought the kangaroo. David just stared at him, marveling at how lucky he was that Todd had walked into his life. The fox smiled at him, turning his head to the side a bit in puzzlement at the kangaroo’s stare. David leaned forward and Todd grinned as they kissed softly. They both closed their eyes and just stayed there, their lips pressed together softly. The kiss ended reluctantly, and they stared into each other’s eyes for a moment before they both blushed and turned away.

David moved his chair closer to Todd’s, slipping an arm around the fox’s waist, who moved closer so their sides touched. David smiled as Todd put his paw on his leg gently. They both blushed together as they looked into each other’s eyes. They looked at their schoolbooks again, nervously holding each other, each wanting to do so much more but not knowing where to start. Todd eventually stuttered, “Umm, David? Do you think, after the game tonight, that maybe, maybe you could spend the night again?”

Todd smiled as the kangaroo put his paw over his and said softly. “Yeah, yeah I would like that.”

Todd smiled and blushed, “Good, cause I, I wanted to…” the fox stopped talking, the insides of his ears flushing red as his fur before he blurted out, “Kiss you again.”

David blushed and nodded, looking away as he said, “Yeah, um, about that, I’ve been thinking about that… kissing… a lot.”

The fox smiled and laced his fingers with David’s. “So have I.”

Todd looked up at David, who smiled back at him. They both leaned in to kiss again when Todd’s mother called out, “Boys! Dinner’s ready!”

Both boys jumped in surprise, but instead of pulling away the huddled together and tightened their grip on each other. They blushed deeply, standing up quickly, each finding themselves very close to the other, their shirts barely touching. David nervously bounced and Todd ducked his head and blushed before David leaned down and kissed the fox quickly, holding his muzzle still for a long moment before they both went down for dinner.

***

After dinner the boys stood the driveway, the keys to his parent’s car in Todd’s paw. David smiled at him a bit nervously and said, “Well, I better go tell my parents I’m going to be spending the night with you.” Todd nodded and said nothing, trying to smile a little as David turned and hopped towards his house. The kangaroo rung his hands a bit as he hopped, calming himself. After all, his parents didn’t really know what was going on between him and Todd. How could they?

David closed his eyes and breathed deeply, his hand on the knob to his back door. “Mom? Dad? I’m home!” He called out as he opened the door, looking around for his parents.

His mother poked her head out of the kitchen, “David? Where have you been? You said you would only be at Todd’s house a little while. You’re father just got home and he’s looking for you…” David felt his stomach tighten as his mother’s words trailed off. She had a worried look in her eyes, and David knew what that meant. His father was mad. David looked up at he heard the sound of heavy footfalls coming from upstairs and a door bang open. No, he was really mad.

David set his books down and said, “I’ve been at Todd’s, doing homework.”

His father’s voice bellowed down the stairs, “When you’ve got a game you’re supposed to be at tonight? What are you thinking boy, fooling around with that fox?”

David bounded on the heels of his feet as his father stomped down the stairs. “He’s my physics partner Dad, we had some work to do.”

His father’s muzzle broke out into a smile, “Oh really? Well, how are you going to eat dinner and make it to the game on time? You know what our deal about soccer is David, if you don’t play in every game this season you’re switching to football. And you can’t go to a game without eating first.” David swallowed hard as his father glared down at him, clenching the day’s newspaper in his hand.

Daniel Weathers was nearly a foot taller than his son, even though his son was quite tall for his age. David always felt like he was shrinking when his father would fix him with that angry, uncompromising glare. “Todd’s going to drive me to the game tonight and I already ate at his house. He also invited me over to spend the night…”

David’s father tightened his grip on the newspaper. “What have I told you about going to other peoples house’s without telling us first?”

Mrs. Weathers said softly, “Umm, honey, David did call me from the school to tell me where he was.”

Mr. Weather’s shot his wife a glare and said, “Well then, I guess it’s alright. But you had better win the game tonight, or no sleepover, understand?” David swallowed hard and nodded, turning and bounding out of his house as fast as he could. “And be home Early in the morning!” His father yelled after him as he raced out of the house.

***

Todd and David hollered and shouted at the top of their lungs as they pulled back into the driveway. They were on top of the world. The game had been tied at the end of overtime, and had to be decided with a shootout. David had been the last person to kick, and he’d scored the winning goal. The crowd had gone wild, and rushed the field. Todd had raced to his friend and everyone had been so excited, no had notice that when Todd leapt into the kangaroo’s arms, they kissed as David spun him around. It had been a perfect evening. The bounced and laughed as they made their way inside, laughing loudly.

As they scampered upstairs, Todd’s father stuck his head out of the master bedroom and shushed them. “Go to sleep you two, its late.”

Todd and David giggled and blushed as the older fox smiled at them. “I take it you won tonight David?”

The kangaroo bounced up and down, a huge grin on his face. “I even shot the scoring goal!”

Mr. Hayes smiled. “Well good for you David, I’m proud of you. Now try and keep things down Todd, you’re mother and I are trying to sleep.” David beamed as the door closed and Todd hustled him into his room.

The kangaroo grabbed the fox’s paws, bouncing in excitement, “Did you hear that Todd? He’s Proud of me! My father’s never proud of me!”

Todd laughed and threw his arms around the Kangaroo’s neck. “Oh, you were so wonderful! I can’t believe you made that shot!”

“I know! It was so awesome!” The kangaroo picked the fox up and spun him around again. They laughed together, the fox’s feet high in the air.

When he set him down, David stared into the fox’s smiling face. Todd looked up at him with such joy on his face, grinning ear to ear as they stood pressed against each other. Slowly, both boys leaned into the other, turning their heads to the side and kissing slowly. They closed their eyes, paws holding the other boy’s side as they softly kissed. Eventually, their lips parted, and they opened their eyes again.

Todd blushed and looked away from David’s bright blue eyes. He licked his lips nervously, holding onto the kangaroo’s arms as they stood together. David tried to speak, and he could see the fox was trying to as well.

Todd looked up into David’s eyes as the kangaroo smiled nervously, his paws moving across the fox’s shoulders. “T, Todd, I, I think I’m ga-“ David felt himself blush and his mouth closed; he was too embarrassed to go on. But when he looked into the fox’s eyes, they were full of hope that he would. David stroked the fox’s cheek slowly with his paw, staring into his eyes, and everything seemed to fall into place. “You’re beautiful Todd, and I want you to know I love you.”

Todd felt tears welling up in his eyes as he looked up at David. His chest had gone tight at the word ‘love’, as all the fear he’d been pushing away about being attracted to David came crashing down upon him. This wasn’t just a kiss or holding hands when nobody was watching. This was… being gay. He felt so exposed and vulnerable, and yet totally safe. One look into David’s eyes told him the kangaroo loved him and would never hurt him. Todd leaned forward and pressed himself against the bigger kangaroo, whispering, “I love you too David. I love you with all my heart…” the fox’s last words were whispered into the kangaroo’s neck and David was blinking tears from his eyes

David trembled as he slowly wrapped his arms around Todd, staring into the fox’s bright green eyes. He felt his heart flow into the fox’s eyes, as if he were pouring his soul into him. David could feel Todd trembling, their clothes pressed together as they hugged. David hugged him so fiercely he was afraid he would hurt the fox, but he couldn’t let go. The fox was his soul mate, his partner forever; he could never let Todd go. David knew he’d never love anyone else again.

They stood like that together, looking into each other’s eyes for a long time before their legs began to complain about standing still for too long. Blushing, David sat on the edge of Todd’s bed, and Todd sat beside him. Todd wrapped his arms around David’s waist and buried his muzzle into the side of the kangaroo’s neck. Todd was shaking as he whispered, “Stay with me David, never leave me…”

David’s arms embraced Todd again, holding the slim fox against his chest, the fox’s muzzle tucked up under the kangaroo’s chin again. He kissed Todd gently between the ears and took his paw, lacing their fingers together like Todd had done that first time they kissed. David squeezed Todd’s hand, whispering, “Never Todd, I’ll never leave you… I love you Todd, and I will be yours forever.”

Both boys sat there together, Todd’s head pillowed on the kangaroo’s chest, and David’s head resting gently on Todd’s. They didn’t care that the lights were still on and anyone who came in would see them holding the other, their hands clasped tightly. They were simply together, happy, and that was all that mattered to them.

***

Daniel Weathers stood in front of the window in the hallway, fuming silently as he stared out into the rainy night. He was trembling with rage from head to toe, his long thick tail lashing back and forth. His tail had already destroyed a small plant when Maria Weathers crept up behind him. “Daniel? Honey what’s wrong?” The tall kangaroo spun on his wife and slapped her hard, his paws clenching in tight fists, “Damn you woman, I told you we shouldn’t let David near that fagget little fox.”

Maria gasped in pain and clutched her face as she ducked away from her husband, “What are you talking about?” she gasped as her husband’s raised fist turned into an accusing finger.

“You convinced me to let him make his own friends, you said he could make the right decisions. Well you were wrong.” Daniel pointed at the window towards the Hayes’s house, through the pouring rain towards the one window with the lights still on. Through the rain, Maria could just make out the figures of a pair of boys sitting side by side, holding each other. Maria gasped and her brows furrowed when she realized her son was kissing the fox next to him. Her husband leaned down towards her, a mad gleam in his eyes, “Now get your things and get in the car Maria. We are leaving tonight.”

***

The pounding echoed through the house, and Mr. Hayes almost ran down the stairs, still closing his robe. The older fox made his way to the door, shouting, “I’m coming, I’m coming!” Todd’s father looked out the peephole and saw his neighbor, standing in the rain and looking mad as hell.

David and Todd crept down the stairs and stared at the door. They had both jumped like scarred cats when the pounding had started, and David was trembling so hard Todd had to hold him. The little fox looked up into his lover’s eyes as David whispered, “It’s my father, I know it…”

Todd watched his father open the door and say, “Mr. Weathers, what in the world is wrong? It’s the middle of the night…” The kangaroo stepped in the house, and he looked so angry the rain should be steaming off his fur. “Where is my son?” He almost growled.

Mr. Hayes blinked in surprise. “Upstairs asleep. He came to tell you he was staying didn’t…” Mr. Hayes gasped as Mr. Weather’s shoved him out of the way and advanced on his son, who he had spotted on the stairs.

David was almost crying as he backed away from his father, “Dad, please, nothing happened, please don’t… Dad!”

Todd tried to stand in the way, but Mr. Weathers shoved him aside and grabbed his son’s paw, yanking him bodily down the stairs. “Damn you boy, don’t you even lie to me… I SAW you kiss that faggot.”

Todd watched in horror as David’s father dragged him towards the door. David screamed and kicked him as hard as he could, but Daniel Weathers had backhanded his son so hard it knocked David senseless. Todd came down the stairs and saw his father block the door, saying, “Mr. Weather’s stop this right…” before the enraged kangaroo barreled through the door, knocking him down and dragged his son’s limp body into the rain.

Todd grabbed David’s other paw as Mr. Weather’s dragged his son across the lawn, yelling, “Let him go! Let him go!” above the pounding rain. Todd slipped in the mud and was dragged along behind David as the kangaroo slide across the lawn, almost unconscious. Todd and David struggled against Mr. Weather’s pull as the older kangaroo ripped the car door open. Todd felt David’s hand tighten on his own just before his father pulled him away and practically threw him inside the car. “You can’t take him away from me!” Todd screamed, “David! David, No!”

The impact of being thrown into the car brought David back to his senses, and he lunged for the open car door. “Todd!” He streamed as his father cuffed the fox across the head. David gasped as his father shoved him back inside and slammed the door. David’s howl of pain echoed in the rain, as the door slammed on the tip of his tail with a shark cracking sound. David tried to open the door to get his tail out, to escape, but it wouldn’t open. It was locked shut, crushing the end of his thick tail. “Todd! Tooooodd!” David screamed, pressing himself against the glass.

Todd pressed his face against the window, paws over David’s as he screamed David’s name. Todd heard the driver’s door slam as Mr. Weather’s got inside, and Todd looked into David’s eyes in desperation. Todd watched tears run down David’s face as he mouthed, “I love you Todd…” just before the car gunned its engine and raced away into the night.

Michael Hayes stumbled through the rain towards his son, rubbing the side of his head. Todd stood in the rain, trembling from head to toe. “Todd, Todd honey, what happened?” Michael hugged his son as the small watched the Weather’s battered Dodge turn the corner at the end of the street and disappear. Todd collapsed in his arms and began to sob, “He… He’s gone… David’s gone… he told me he loved me and now he’s gone…” Michael’s eyes widened in shock as his son whispered into his ear, and he leaned down and picked his son up. Todd just collapsed into his arms, and he cradled him as he carried him back inside the house. Rebecca stood in the door, watching her husband carry their crying son back to the house.