User:MatthiasRat/Suspected Alone
 | [[:Category:Paradise|Paradise]] story universe |
[[Setting::Paradise| ]]
{{#if:Work in progress.png|}} | This story is a work in progress. |
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{{#if:Nuvola apps bookcase.png|}} | Works by MatthiasRat on Shifti |
This is the fourth story of Christopher's life in the Paradise setting. New scenes will be added to the end.
{{#ifeq: User |User| Suspected Alone | Suspected Alone}}[[Title::{{#ifeq: User |User| Suspected Alone | Suspected Alone}}| ]]
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Author: [[User:{{#ifeq: User |User| MatthiasRat | MatthiasRat}}|{{#ifeq: User |User| MatthiasRat | MatthiasRat}}]]
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Rob fished in his pocket for his keys as he shifted his backpack on his back. His long black and white tail flicked to one side as he worked his clawed fingers carefully through his pocket. He'd torn a hole in one of his pants while trying to get his keys out, and he didn't want to do that again. With the advent of his tail, his pants had enough new holes in them.
After a long day of classes, the skunk looked forward to checking his email, making sure the server he'd built for CM and Carter was still running properly, and then spending the evening at SOAP gaming with his friends. He'd spend some time this weekend reading through the Changed forums, and the following weekend CM and he would drive down to Bristol to meet a young mother who'd changed into an otter the year before. She was the closest of any Changed in the network, and after five weeks he was willing to brave driving with a bear again.
He finally grabbed his keys and unlocked the apartment. "Hello! Hello!" he shouted, turning around as he entered to make sure his tail got through the doorway. Rob heard Nick's voice calling back to him from his bedroom. He could also smell Patrick. There were some advantages to being a skunk!
AS he walked past Nick's room, Patrick stuck his head out and grinned. "Hey, Rob! Nick and I were just discussing some ideas for SOAP."
"Oh?" Rob asked. He tossed his backback into his bedroom. CM would growl at him if he didn't remember to pick it up later, but he rather enjoyed needling her from time to time. He steppedinto Nick's room, which was more typical of a college student and found him sitting at his computer. HE brushed his light brown hair from his face and pointed at the screen. "Hey Rob, checkt his out. Mill Mountain Zoo is having a discount next weekend. Why don't we go as a group?"
Rob grimaced, his tail lowering and brushing against Nick's door. "Oh no! I have plans that weekend. Chris and I have to head down to Bristol for this job thing."
Nick didn't change expression, merely shrugged fainly and said, "Oh. Well that's too bad. The rest of us will have fun."
Patrick however shook his head, eyes narrowed behind his rims. "What's up with you and Chris anyway? This entire semester the two of you have been doing stuff by yourselves. You didn't even invite anybody to go with you on your hike last weekend, and now next weekend your going to Bristol together?"
Rob frowned and wanted to tell Patrick to mind his own business. He certainly wasn't about to invite anybody else along when CM and he went to bathe by the waterfall! It was embarassing enough with just the two of them.
But, as he dug his toe claws into the old carpet to relieve his tension, he realized that Patrick was right. He had been leaving his other friends out. He sighed and nodded. "Yeah, sorry about that. It's just this job thing has us really busy."
"What is this job?" Patrick asked. He gestured a skinny arm at the wall toward Rob's room. "You have all this nifty new computer equipment and you won't even tell us what its for."
"I just want to know how he afforded it," Nick added with a smile.
"I'm sorry I can't tell you what it's about. The guy who gave it to us was very explicit about that."
"Well he better be paying you well to neglect all your friends."
Rob winced. "Have I been neglecting you guys?"
"Not that I've noticed," Nick said.
"Yes!" Patrick jumped in over Nick. "At least that's how it seems to me. I don't want to be mean to Chris or anything, he's my friend too. I just wish you guys wouldn't go off in secret all the time."
The skunk did his best to lower his hackles. He'd need to brush himself again before going to SOAP, or CM would snicker at him the whole time. He licked his fangs and began to nod. "I'll see if I can reschedule this Bristol thing," he said at last. "It would be fun to go out to the zoo with the gang. Make sure Cindy and Van know too."
"Okay then," Nick said with an amused grin. "I guess we have actual business at SOAP today."
Rob flicked his tail against his back. "That should please Aaron!"
"Yeah, he keeps grumbling that we never do anything official," Patrick added. "Would either of you like a ride over?"
Rob shook his head and turned toward his bedroom. "No, I'm good."
"I'll ride with you," Nick replied. He closed his browser and pulled up a video game. "Want to play ?"
Patrick accepted, but Rob stuck one claw over his shoulder. "I've got a lot to do before the meeting. I'll see you over there in a few hours." He left his two friends alone and closed his door behind him. He sighed heavily. Well, at least he defused that situation. It hadn't occurred to him just how often CM and he had been getting together lately. There was no question they'd have to be more discreet. He'd find someway to let CM know at the meeting.
With a grut, Rob sat down and began checking his email.
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