Stepping out of Paws N Burgers, I glanced at my phone, with the screen reading “5:17pm Fri, November 20”, before sticking it back in my pocket.
Only a month until the school dance.
Thursday Mikal came over again to work with me on the music for the dance, and he spent lunch with Noel and I today, always sitting next to me. Throughout the day my mind still slipped back and forth to Mikal, to his eyes, his soft fur, but I tried to push those thoughts to the side so I could focus on school and figuring out the songs for the dance. Noel chimed in some on Thursday to help out with song selection, and the two of them continued their pestering of wanting me to sing for the dance as well.
Nervousness grew in my stomach as I grew closer to my home, each passing building and tree only serving as a reminder of how close I was to facing my mother again. The chill in the late November air didn’t even affect me with my mind racing.

Approaching my yard I could see her car in the drive way, with the sun setting in the distance I could also see that kitchen and living room lights were on. Placing my paw on the doorknob, I let out a sigh as I internally gather myself. Pushing the door open, I was greeted with a rush a warm air hitting my fur in contrast to the cold air outside. My nose twitched as I picked up the smell of something sweet in the air.
“Mom?” I called out into the house, while hanging up my coat. “I’m home!”
“In the kitchen, sweetie, welcome home.” Mom responded from the kitchen, her voice had familiar warmth to it, but at the same time it sounded courser than I remembered.
Rounding the corner into the kitchen, I saw my mom leaned against the counter in a knitted sweater dress, holding a cup of coffee between her paws. My breath caught in my chest as I felt all the angry I had felt all week wash away in the realization that she was actually here. Mom was finally here with me.
“Momma!” My sneakers squeaked on the kitchen tile as I run towards my mother, throwing my arms around her waist as I held on tightly to her.
I heard the coffee mug clink as it was rested onto the counter, and then felt her arms wrap me. Letting out a sigh, I felt myself melt against her, as the stress of the week left my body, feeling the chance to finally relax for the first time in a while.
“Someone is certainly excited.” Her laugh made me feel warm, I hadn’t heard it in so long. “Wanna tell me about what I’ve missed?”
“A lot!”
We moved from the kitchen into the living room and sat on the couch, mom wrapped her arms around me as I laid my back on her chest. We chatted back and forth for a little bit, before I went into telling her about my week. I told her about going to the diner for the first time with Noel and how amazing the food tasted. Finally I made it Mikal, she told me she was proud of me when I mentioned joining the staff for the school dance, as I spoke about Mikal I felt myself begin to feel flustered and moved back to the school dance. She asked about how Mrs. Dupont was, and if I felt safe at Noel’s house.
Outside the windows grew darker as we spoke, and before long I heard mom let out a yawn, I was beginning to feel tired too.
“Honey, I have something for you.” My ears perks at the sound of getting gift. “Get up, and close your eyes for me.”
Doing as I was told, I got off the couch and stood in front of her, my fur bristling in excitement I closed my eyes. I heard a small jingle, and then felt her bump my ear as she placed something over my head, but I forced my ears to stay shut.
“You can open you eyes now, Hayden.” I opened my eyes and immediately looked down at the pendant hanging around my neck. Taking the pendent in my paw, I examined it closely, taking in the sight of droplet shaped clear crystal that had a gradient to black. “That crystal was made with the ashes of your dad, Hayden. I wanted you to have a safe way to keep them for a long time.”
Staring into the crystal, I felt my stomach sink but I didn’t know how to feel. A piece of dad, and a reminder that he was gone. Letting out a sigh, I let the pendent down against my chest and looked up to meet the amber gaze of my mom’s stare.
“I think I’m going to lay down, mom. It’s been a long day.”
“Alright, sweetie.” Placing a paw on my head, she stroked my fur for just a moment. “You get your rest, I’ll be just in my room if you need anything.”

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My damp fur was pressed against the bed sheets as I laid nude on my bed, staring up at the ceiling while fumbling the pendent around my neck in my paw. 
All that’s left is this pendent…
Beside me my phone chimed, catching my attention and causing me to drop the crystal. Rolling onto my side, I swiped my phone to unlock it and opened my message. Immediately I felt myself freeze as my face flushed, on my screen of was a selfie of Mikal leaned against a wall without a shirt on and a toothy smirk. My eyes went up and down the photos many times before I replied, taking time to take in the sight of his hazel eyes as well as the soft and fluffy fur on his chest.

“It looks like you might have lost your shirt.”

“I lost everything. ;3”
“I’m in bed for the night.”

“Same. X3”

“Oh? Any chance there’s a Show to that Tell?”

I felt my face burn underneath my fur again as my brain processed his question. I’d never sent many selfies, let alone any while nude. Sitting upright, I leaned my back against the wall and crossed my legs. Pressing the camera app icon, I brought my phone up above my head, lifting my head to look at the screen I could see my sheath was visible in the shot. Covering my sheath with my free paw I smiled and clicked the shutter button, the camera chimed a sound letting me know it took the selfie, I fiddled with the lighting and contrast for just a moment before sending it over to Mikal, waiting for his response in nervousness. But in typical fashion for Mikal, I didn’t have to wait very long at all.

“I’d love to see what’s under that paw sometime.”

“Maybe you could spend the night tomorrow. Maybe you’ll have a peak.”

100%. It’s confirmed. He is flirting...with ME!
I couldn’t help but feel ecstatic, I felt myself nearly vibrating with excitement in my bed as I couldn’t help my excitement. I gripped my phone tightly, waiting for a reply, wanting to hear more from him, wanting to hear that he would in fact be coming over.

“I’ll ask in the morning cutie.”
“I’m going to try to sleep school wiped me out.”

“Good night! Let me know!”

Staring at the ceiling, my chest felt tight and my head spun. I invited Mikal over, and now he would be spending the night here, with me.
Where’s he gonna sleep?
My heart pounded as the realization of him sleeping in my bed set in, pushed up next to me, and probably trying to cop a feel. Taking a deep breath in, and slowly exhaling, I tried to calm my nerves. I needed to get some sleep, especially if Mikal was going to be coming over.

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My eyes stung in the morning light that blazed through the window, blinking slowly I took in the world around as I let out a yawn. Tapping my phone, I checked the time with the screen dimly reading out “9:47am Sat, November 21”.
Stepping down onto the floor, I stretched my arms above my head, feeling the cool air ripple through my fur. In my sleepy daze I began to pick up the clothes I had thrown across the room, stumbling time to time as I threw them into my wash hamper.  I knew Mikal wouldn’t expect perfect, but I at least wanted to get my room tidied up for him. Especially if he was going to be sleeping in here as well. Satisfied with the state of the room, I cracked open my door and listened for any hints that mom was awake. The house was dead silent.
Yes! Don’t need to get dressed just yet.
Proudly strolling down the hallway while nude, I made my way to the bathroom which also needed tidying up. Stepping in, my eyes caught the sight of myself nude. Slim, faint muscle definition under my fur from all the walking and PE, and clean white fur down my belly. My eyes broke off the sight of myself as I looked around the bathroom to find problem areas. I picked up the bathmat and threw it over the curtain rod, threw my old towels in the hamper and put out fresh ones, finishing with rinsing the sink to make it look better. Everything needed to be perfect, or at least better than it was. I kept my ears perked the entire time, listening for any sounds coming from the living room or kitchen, but the house stayed silent.
Looking around, I spied some boxerbriefs I had left on the bathroom rack. Grabbing them, I stepped into them, pulling them up and feeling the fit snug around my sheath, leaving a visible outline of it. But it was clothes. 
I crept down the hall and through the living room and kitchen, standing outside my mothers door I couldn’t hear any sounds. Raising my paw, I gently knocked on the door knowing that if she was awake that she would respond to me. I listened for just a moment, and still nothing. 
I know shes here, I saw her car in the driveway!
Lifting my paw, I turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door. Immediately my nose wrinkled at the sour scent of alcohol billowed out of the room, I leaned forward to get a better look. There was my mom, stomached down, passed out on her bed. An empty bottle of something laying on the floor, with several more left on her nightstand. 
Pulling the door down, I leaned my back against it and let out a sigh as my jaw quivered.
I thought she was going to get better...