#braedon

“Have we…” I say, and, oh gosh…! His brow arches up. Am I going to sound too weird if I do ask…? I glimpse away. “Don’t worry.” but he is still staring at me… That is, until his mouth twitches. 

“I don’t believe we’ve met.” But, oh gosh…!? How did he know on what I was going to say…!? “Trust me, I’ve had my fair share of encounters, but this…” He pauses, glancing away towards the exit that’s getting nearer and nearer towards us. “It’s interesting.” 

“Interesting…?” I say, and he gives a nod.

“Yes, Interesting.” He says, as the plants that shows behind him is shrubs and greenery. “I know I haven’t seen a canine like you up and abouts, so you must be a tourist.” But there’s actually not people like me here…!? But with his stare, glazing away as the stony steps are the only thing that makes this feel any better. “But at the same time, I feel like in a sense… We’ve at least… Met somewhere else.” Gosh, so it’s not just me… But he goes and scratches the back of his head. “This sounds insane and maybe even wrong in a sense…” “But, I think we will see each other again someday. Perhaps in another sense or life…” And he gives a hollow chuckle as he stares at me with just the briefest smile. “No, I don’t understand why I’m going all philosophoical over a person I’ve barely met. Maybe because you haven’t even asked me for my autograph yet.” 

“A auto… graph?” I say, and he gives a laugh, one that sounds more freeing as he goes and touches on the side of my shoulders. 

“I like you.” And I jerk back to his smile flashing on his lips. “Seriously, not knowing on who I am, I have to say, I’m impressed.” Not knowing on who he is…?

“But… Who are you…?” And just when we are about to get out towards the gate, his hand drags me away from the opening and we’re at the side, where he steps closer towards me.

“I’m Braedon.” And a wide smile trickles from the side of his lips. “That is all you need to know.” And the bustles of people are the only sounds that’s there, except the sounds of familiar yelling, but I glance towards him. “Who are you?” 

“Lucie.” I say, and his eyes flickers around me as his hand grasps onto mine and I can feel his lips kissing my hand. Gosh, I can feel myself getting hot all over, as his smile… Was it the sweet edge that was there, or perhaps something more… foreboding…? 

“I mean, my mum’s strong on her opinions! But… Uhh… I’ve got to show my support somehow.”       

“I’m proud of the support Lulu.” My heart, oh gosh… They didn’t mind it…? Uhhh… 

“Here,” I say, extending the present I held towards Jules. “Since it’s your birthday soon, I got you a gift.” 

“A gift…!” Jules say, laughing. “No, it’s ok Lucie, you don’t need to get me anything-”

“It’s ok Jules.” I reply back, and their smile falls, their eyes glance at her, still looking as they grasp the present and flickers down towards it. They twist towards the table nearby and sit on the table. I sit across from them. Jules tears the paper with a quizzical look. But when there is a sign of black fabric, their mouth twitches to a tight curve. And throw their head towards the table as they laugh.

“Oh my god!?” They glimpse back at me. “A dress…?” Oh… Did I choose something wrong? But with how the corner of Jules’ mouth perks up and the touch of their hand on my arm makes my fur stand on its ends. “It’s ok Lulu. I love it.” They actually do…? And with their eyes crinkling up to their teeth showing… She couldn’t help but look down. 

“Thanks…”

“You welcome.” I lay my head low for a while longer. Paper shuffles as the fabric comes off the table… But, they mustn’t be looking. So, I flicker up, and they had held the black dress towards them,  with a slight smile on their face. She couldn’t help but smile back at how happy they look, until they flip the dress through their head and it went through them… The flaps of the dress goes down their knees in spikes, with fabric overlaying each other. And there is a bit of a gap between their body… Jules’ smile withers.” It seems a bit too big…” But then their muzzle flings towards with a weird smile creeping up their lips, and their eyes glimmering. “I got an idea. Follow me Lulu.” 

They fling the dress on their arm as they picked up the scrunched up paper and throw it in the bin. Then they start walking. I start to follow, going through the pavement floors and up the stairs into a room, when a ringing sound goes throughout the school. I twist to Jules, my brows. “The bell…! We might have to-” 

“Lucie, it’s ok. Let me assure you, you’ll be fine.” And their arm wraps around me, and my tail couldn’t help but shift as they glance down towards me. “Sometimes, the teachers they’re… Not that helpful, there wouldn’t be much point in taking a lesson from them.” 

I twist back… Maybe my mother might… then I shake my head. No, even if she did, there wouldn’t be any point in going to those lessons. Either being yelled at by the teacher or falling to sleep because of their lessons. There’s no point, and maybe… My mum wouldn’t know either. I shake my head as I allow them to lead me deeper into the school rooms. 

It has been a while since Jules opened the door to a classroom -- the textile room to be precise. There’s a table of sewing machines on the side of the room. Then in the center, there’s some mannequin wearing a white dress. Lucie couldn’t help but stare at it as Jules goes and sits down on the sewing machine and slides the thread into the needle. And now, they have the dress placed into it, and they are sewing the dress up. They said they were tightening the dress, and they even offered me to do it a bit. I did try, but… Uh, let’s just say that they squealed as they said I was doing it the wrong way. Part of me felt bothered, but Jules was laughing as they said it was ok to me. It somehow helped. 

They unpicked some of the hemmings off and twist towards Lucie. 

“There’s a certain way and a certain space to go and sew the dress.” Jules says, clipping the footer back onto the sewing machine. Then the needle starts to move, gliding up and down as the dress shifts more towards them. It’s captivating to see how focused Jules is as they look at the dress coming towards them. And their hands laying flat on the fabric. That is… Until the door’s knob starts to twist! I swift my head towards the ajar door as someone orange comes in. 

“Jules, I get you love your sewing but shouldn’t you be in…” The orange bear trails off, his cerulean eyes narrows towards me, I couldn’t help but tense up at how his ear twitches slightly as the needle throbs continues… “Of all the people you could bring to ditch class with you, it had to be Lucie?”  But then it slows down to a stop. 

The room tremors to a jittery vibe as Jules shifts their muzzle towards the well-putted bear’s direction, and the corner of Jules’ mouth twitches. “Yeah. You jealous?” 

“No,” He scoffs. “I am not-” 

“Then why would Mister School Councilor Braedon want to pry here of all places, hmm?” Their feet taps on the ground as they take a quick glimpse at Lucie. “Are you, perhaps…” They pause, their eyes turning towards Braedon, but with the subtle big smile on their face… What are they planning…!?  “Interested in seeing more of my sewing skills like you usually do?” 

“What…!? No!” Braedon says, but his face starts to tint red. “I usually crochet here too, Jules. It has nothing to do with your sewing skills.” 

“Sure.” They say. I would think that they’d go and continue sewing, but instead, they’d interlace their fingers together as they stare at Braedon. 

“So… What are you doing here Braedon?” I ask. 

“Trying to get Jules out of trouble.” he gives a smirk back and looks a bit too amused. Considering that Jules jerks off the chair to a stand. 

“No Mister Councilor…! I am not in any trouble!” Jules says, giving a slight laugh. “And what about you? How’s your cause of trouble?” Braedon’s brow perks up, “You’re not wearing any rainbow today.”

“And?” 

“Why not?” 

“Because. I can always celebrate Pride month without the festivities of the rainbow.” Braedon says.  

“Yeah, true true…” They say with a slight smile on their face. But wait… I could have always celebrated Pride month without the hassle of putting the badge? But then, the hassle was kinda worth it, right…? “Oh wait! I have an idea!” Jules says as they had gotten the black dress and ran towards Braedon, interlocking their hands around his body to see how it’d fit. “Let’s make our own fashion parade! You can wear this dress and-” Braedon breaks the hold around Jules and they fling their arms back with the black dress and groans.

“No Jules, you can wear that dress.” Braedon says as he twists his muzzle towards me, “Luce did give you the dress afterall.” My face started to heat up. How did he know? But Braedon takes a few steps towards Jules. “And besides, the only thing I will do, is to make sure that you will get flung towards the ocean, and make sure that you’d look stunning there.” But Jules lets out a gasp. 

"No! You wouldn’t…!” 

“Try me.” He says with a smirk going across his muzzle. He actually couldn’t be serious…! I quickly bring my legs towards Braedon. 

“Wait…! You’re not going to actually throw them, are you…!?” I say, and Braedon gives a slight laugh. 

“No. They’re too cute for that.”

“Hey…! I am not cute!” Jules’s fur puffs out slightly and he snorts. 

“Yes you are Jojo.” Braedon looks a bit too pleased, even with Jules tightening their mouth to a smile with their ears twitching and eyes narrowing. “I am proud of the cheeky little gremlin you’ve become. Especially with involving Lucie with your love affairs.” 

“What…!?” I couldn’t believe what he was saying either. Love affairs!? “Brae Brae, I like people watching me with what I do, and with Lulu…” Their eyes barely glimpses at her… Her face bubbles like a kettle with the way they almost seemed… Shy. “She gave me a gift and… I really wanted to show her that I liked it…” They finish quietly and I couldn’t believe it… Was that why they wanted me to follow them? My stomach flutters like a huge gust of wind storms around my stomach. I didn’t think Jules would like the dress that much. But with a small smile tracing their lips… 

Gosh. My throat tightens. I didn’t know what to say… Or if I should say anything. 

“How nice of you.” Braedon says. “I am sure Lucie gladly appreciates that comment.” Am I really that obvious…!? But before I could say anything else, he twists towards the door. “Anyway, I’ll let you two do whatever you were doing… Admiring each other's company or something.” 

“You’re not going to stay?” Jules says, and Braedon barks a laugh.

“As Councillor, I can’t always shift duties like you two.” And his laugh quietens and Braedon flickers between Jules and I. And what’s with the jittery air? Was there something wrong…? That is until a smile stretches across Braedon’s muzzle. “Seriously, have fun. I’m not going to tell anyone.” 

“Will do.” Jules says putting their thumbs up. 

“Mhm.” I reply and Braedon gives a wave before he turns and closes the door behind him. 

And now, it is just me… and Jules. They turn, and my heart starts to churn. What is making me feel like this…!? To the way they scan from my head to my toes. But they stutter back with Jules’ eyes widening. 

“Aah, sorry Lulu. I just…” Jules bites their lips to their ears flopping down. “Let’s just…”  They stare at her for a bit longer before they suddenly twist away. “Forgive me. Let’s continue.” Jules goes towards the sewing machine and sits onto it with the dress on hand and starts to put the dress on the sewing machine and the needle weaves in and out. But… Do I even go near them…? Their brow curves as they continue to use the machine… Their tense mouth wavers a bit as they focus on the dress. The machine stops moving the needle. And the pink fox turns towards her. “You coming Lulu…? I’m not going to bite y’know.” Their lips curve as their eyes scan around my face. I give a slow nod. Taking my time to walk towards them, and their eyes seem to be glimmering… It made my legs want to freeze in place and my heart beats as if they… Admire me. That is, until Jules jerk their face away when I am close enough. A laugh wanted to come out of my lips, but I tried holding it in as I sat on the chair next to them… But the way their eyes tenses as they glance at me from the side, and with their fur tinting… Ahh, they must have noticed it.

“Sorry.” I mumbled.

“Lucie… It’s ok.” Jules gives a small smile. “Everything’s ok.”  

And a sense of calmness flows through me as I couldn’t help but smile back. Jules had continued sewing the dress. The dress shifts with Jules sitting, their body relaxed and their tail twitching.  That is until a smile spreads across their face as they shift the machine forward and back a few times before lifting the needle up and snipping it off. They take the dress and they opened the zipper from the back, and taking their old leather jacket off and flopping it onto the table. Then they ride the dress towards their shoulders and try to zip it up… Their face starts to blossom like roses. 

“So… How do I look?” Jules asks. The way their dress hangs throughout their legs to the way they stare at me with their brows curving down. I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around them as their floral scent captivates me. Jules lets out a gasp, along with my heart humming to their heart beats. I glance up at them, and couldn’t help but smile as I felt myself want to come closer to them. I shift my hand to their face as I went and place a kiss on their cheek. 

“You look nice and beautiful…” I pause…  “Or should I say handsome?” Their mouth twisted. Did they actually not like that compliment? But they give a smile, a crinkled one. 

“It’s ok Lulu.” Jules says, their ebony eyes stares at me before their soft hands places on my sides! My fur starts to prick out when I could feel their lips brushes on my forehead. And with the smile that spreads throughout their muzzle, “Thanks.” Nothing wanted to come out of my throat. Not even a peep! All I could do is give a slow bob. Then a bell went. Loud and clear. We are still looking at each other… Their eyes dark enough they would probably suck me inside a hole I could barely escape in. 

“Shall we go?” Jules asks. 

“Yeah.” I say. We turned as I opened the door, and there were other people walking outside. Some are familiar, others not. I turn to Jules. “You ok?” Jules gives a nod. 

“I’m ok.” They said, just low enough that I could hear. We started walking. And as I searched around, people seem to be waving at us. I couldn’t help but smile. And then my fur starts to fluff up at the touch of someones -- Jules’ -- hands wrapped onto mine.