#upperclassredneck

It was an early December morning when Jack walked into the small village near the northern border of the Kingdom. He pulled his scarf up over his nose and his coat tighter around him as he made his way through the village’s few narrow streets in search of food and an Inn. He reached what seemed to be the village market rather quickly, making his way over to the nearest food vendor.

“Good morning, Sir,” Said the kindly old woman who stood behind the stand, “Are you from out of town? I don’t recognize you.”

“Yes, I am Ma’am,” Jack said, giving her a warm smile as he picked out a few pieces of fruit and a loaf of bread and handed them to her to buy.

“Well, it’s always nice to have visitors. But if you’re looking for a place to stay - I’m afraid you’re out of luck. This village doesn’t have any Inns,” She told him as she counted how much money he owed her, “That will be two gold by the way, young man.”

“Really? None? Not even a boarding house?” Jack asked, a little shocked as he handed over his items and the money to the woman.

“No, nothing at all. Not many outsiders come this way,” The old woman told him, taking his money and putting his items in a paper sack. “What will you do then, young man? Try and make it to the next village?” She asked as she handed the sack to him.

“I guess I’ll have to,” Jack said, taking the items, “It’s too cold to try and camp out in the forest.”

“Well, then I must caution you, to get to the next village you’ll have to travel through the Birch Forest. There are a lot of dangerous creatures in that forest, young man, so be careful,” She warned him in a serious and hushed tone, as if she were afraid that the creatures of the forest might hear her.

“I will be, thank you for the warning,” Jack said, offering the obviously worried old woman a reassuring smile, “And thank you for the food.”

With one last bright smile to the woman at the stand, Jack set off in the direction of the next village. He would have to move quickly if he wanted to make it there before night fall. It was midday before he reached the Birch Forest that the woman at the market had told him about. The sun shining through the leafless branches of the white-barked trees was such a beautiful sight it made Jack wonder about the trustworthiness of the old ladies words.

But still, Jack kept his guard up as he continued on his journey, just in case there really were dangerous monsters in this forest. He continued on walking for another couple of hours and just as the sun set behind the horizon, snow began to fall from the sky.

“Wonderful,” Jack said sarcastically to himself, pulling his coat tighter around his body, “It’s dark, snowing and I have no idea how far I am from the next village. So, this is how I die.”

It didn’t take long at all for the night sky to become too dark for Jack to see anything, and so he attempted to find a somewhat secluded space to bunker down in for the night, but the darkness made it difficult. After searching unsuccessfully for some time, Jack became frustrated, deciding that a tight cluster of trees would have to be enough.

Jack settled down with his back against the trees, hoping that they would serve as some sort of insulation. Snuggling down into his scarf and coat, he slowly drifted off to sleep as the snow continued to fall slowly from the dark sky.

Jack didn’t know how long he had been asleep when footsteps woke him. The foot-falls crunching the layer of ice that had formed over the snow drew closer, and Jack’s heartbeat began to race. He did his best to pretend to be sleeping, fearing that this might be at least one of the creatures that the old woman from the village had talked about.

“Well, what do we have here?” Came the voice of a man that Jack could only imagine was standing a few feet in front of him, “A lost little puppy left out in the cold?”

Curious, Jack slowly opened his eyes to see who it was that had found him sleeping out in the snow. Standing in front of him was a tall man with shaggy brown hair, a handlebar mustache, and the most piercing blue eyes Jack had possibly ever seen. The man’s eyes weren’t the only feature that Jack took notice off. Sticking out from under his coat were several fluffy brown fox tails.

“What are you doing sleeping out here in the cold, Pup?” The man asked, offering the other a hand to help him up from the snow covered ground.

“I w-was…I was t-trying to m-make it to the n-next village, b-but it got too d-dark,” Jack said through his shivers as he took the hand and hoisted himself up.

“Well, if you stay out here any longer you’ll freeze,” The man said seriously, not letting go of Jack’s hand as he started to lead him through the forest.

They walked for a little while before Jack caught sight of a well lit cabin with smoke rising from the chimney. The two of them approached the building, and only when they reached the front door of the cabin did the other male let go of Jack’s hand, only to usher him inside.

Once inside the brunet led Jack over the the fire, where he gladly began to warm his hands. The tailed man walked back over to the door and took off his coat, hanging it on a peg next to the door frame. “By the way,” The stranger said, turning and making his way back towards the fire, “I’m Geoff.”

“Jack,” The other replied, reaching his slightly warmer hand to shake the others. Geoff took the hand and flashed him a friendly smile.

“Please, sit down,” Geoff began as he made his way into what seemed to be a kitchen, “Are you hungry? I’ve got some soup left if you like?”

“Yes please, if you don’t mind,” Jack accepted the offer, going and sitting down at the table that was in front of the fireplace. Geoff quickly fixed up the pot of soup into a bowl and handed it to Jack before sitting down across from him.

“So, why were you headed to the village?” Geoff asked curiously as Jack began to eat.

“Just passing through. I was hoping they would have a place for me to stay for the night,” Jack responded. The soup was delicious and warm, just what Jack needed.

“Where are you headed too then?” Geoff inquired, folding his hands and resting his chin atop them.

“Not sure,” Jack replied as he finished his soup, “Some where that I’m needed I guess.”

“Is that so,” Geoff said with a hum, “Well you won’t be going any where for a while. By morning the snow will be too thick to travel very far in.”

Geoff stood and went over to a closet, pulling out blankets and a cot, before setting them up near the fire. “But, don’t worry, Pup. You can stay here with me for a while,” Geoff said once he was finished, flashing the other a smile, “You said you wanted to be needed right? Well there are a few projects around this place I could use a hand with, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all,” Jack responded with a smile, pleased to be needed, “I’d be more than happy to help.”

“Great - then we’ll get started in the morning,” Geoff replied, grinning at the other. It wasn’t long before the two of them were settling into bed for the night, falling asleep to the sound of the crackling fire.

~ Page Break ~

Jack had been staying with Geoff, the kitsune man that had found him half frozen in the forest, for a few days now; helping with repairs to the cabin and other odd jobs. Jack was currently cutting firewood as Geoff took it and stacked it up near the front door.

“Hey, Geoff?” Jack began as he swung his axe down onto a log, splitting it in two.

“Yes, Pup?” Geoff responded, as he picked up some more wood to go and stack.

Jack set the head of the axe down on the ground and leaned on it, watching as the other man stacked up the wood. “Well, you’re a kitsune right? Don’t they normally have nine tails? I’ve only counted eight on you.”

“Well. for kitsune,” Geoff began as he finished stacking the wood and straightened up to regard the other, “When you’re born you have one tail. As you grow up and different events in your life happen, you grow more tails. You only get your last tail though, when you and your soulmate find your happiness.”

Jack gave a hum of understanding, picking the axe up and going back to his work.

~ Page Break ~

Jack had stayed with Geoff for nearly a month and a half before the snow cleared enough for Jack to start back on his journey. During the time of Jack’s stay though, he and Geoff had grown close. The two of them would work closely during the day, and in the evenings - sat by the fire and talked.

Geoff had grown quite attached to the younger man, immensely enjoying having his company and, gradually, he could feel himself becoming attracted to him. It nearly broke his heart to tell Jack that the snow would soon be melted enough for him to start back on his travel.

The morning was calm and peaceful as Jack stood on the front steps of the cabin, looking out towards the forest. Geoff came out to join him a moment later, handing him a sack filled with food.

“There should be enough food in there to last you a good while,” Geoff said with a sad smile, “And remember, head towards the sun and you should make it to the village before midday.”

“Right,” Jack responded taking the sack and smiling at the older man, “Thank you for everything, Geoff.” With those last few parting words, Jack started down the stairs and into the woods.

It didn’t take Geoff long to make up his mind as he sprinted down the stairs and caught Jack by the arm just as he was about to disappear into the forest.

“Pup…Jack I...I don’t want you to go,” Geoff confessed with a lowered head, “I want you to stay here, and live with me. I can keep giving you jobs to make you feel needed, but please, just don’t leave me. This is the happiest I’ve been in years.”

Jack turned to look at the older male with wide shocked eyes, before a grin broke out over his face as he pulled the other into a warm hug. “I had been hoping you would ask me to stay,” Jack whispered into the others neck as he held him just a little bit tighter.

“Does that mean you’ll stay?” Geoff asked, slowly wrapping his arms around the other, almost not believing that this was really happening.

“Yes, I’ll stay,” Jack answered, pulling back from the hug to flash the other a bright smile, “After all, this is the first place I’ve truly felt needed.”

Title: Your First Raywood

There wasn’t anything more melancholic than a sunny sky with a light breeze, as he wore his favourite pair of red Chuck Taylor’s and his glasses were settled perfectly on his nose. His friend, his best friend, his childhood friend, was declaring that he’ll be starting senior high in 3 months.

  Oh. He kept forgetting about that age difference. An age difference big enough to keep them from attending the same school for a few years before they were off to their own devices.  This year was great, having him by his side in between classes and seeing his face at their lunch break. Having him over after school to help him with homework he had already done.

“Don’t be like that, you’ll catch up with me, like always,” he said with a smile on his face. Ray wasn’t feeling it this time around. This was high school, and Ryan was already growing into looking like a handsome young man. and he still looked like he was twelve. It wasn’t fair but, nothing was going to be fair anymore.

That fall, Ray walked out of his mathematics class, looking up and down the hall to meet up with Ryan, but he wasn’t there, and he should’ve known better.  His day felt empty, and he would say hi to his classmates like they were his friends, and he tried so hard to let him into his life but they just couldn’t get through and became distractions for when Ryan wasn’t there.

“You can’t just have me Ray, I know it’s hard to make new friends but we’ve done it before,” Ryan told him as he laid on Ray’s bed with a copy of Shakespeare in his hands. Ryan was studying in the theatre club, and there were evenings he didn’t show up, leaving the hole in Ray’s heart a little deeper.

“Why do I need new friends if I have you?” Ray argued as he tried to work on his algebra homework. He had Ryan’s old notes in front of him, but sometimes the writing got so bad that he could barely decode numbers.  

“Don’t think like that,” Ryan said as he turned the page and mumbled the lines .

Theatre club took most of his time by November and Ray was left with nothing to do after school.  It would be two years of torturous times of dancing around in circles around each other. Weekends were the truest days. as he heard the doorbell ring at 11am on the dot and Ryan would walk in to spend time with his best friend.

He had to give Ryan that much credit for coming over whenever he had free time. He didn’t abandon him and probably knew how much he was hurting from not having him around during the week. Ryan would bring his weekend homework there, and even though they could spend hours not talking to the other, it was the comforting presence of the other.

A new thing had started, Ryan’s cell-phone would not stop buzzing.

“Who keeps messaging you?” Ray asked as his phone had vibrated for the tenth time in half an hour.

“People.”

“People?”

“People.” Ryan repeated and it was let go as he put it on silent. Ryan tried to ignore them but he took his phone, texted away for about five minutes and then put the phone away. He had never Ryan respond so vaguely before.

“Tell me I’m still your first,” Ray pleaded one Friday evening after Ryan was on the phone with someone. Ryan looked at him with big blue eyes. as if he broke a mirror.

“You’re still my first,” Ryan assured.  “Look.” He brought up his phone, and there was Ray’s name and number under his favourites.  Ray’s heart skipped a beat as Ryan smiled.

What was the point of being so paranoid about this?

“You’ll always be my first,” Ryan said as he leaned on Ray’s shoulder. The older man was heavy and bigger but Ray didn’t care when his shoulder started to ache to keep him up. It was getting late and Ryan should be on his way home, but he showed no signs of moving from his side and Ray couldn’t complain. They have stayed up late some nights before, and this was nothing new. Hell, Ryan sometimes left clothes behind so Ray could put them away, giving him a promise that he’ll stay the night.

They would share Ray’s bed, and while they weren’t romantically involved, there was nothing nicer than the feeling of Ryan’s gentle snore next to him. Ray would fall asleep after him and Ryan would be up first.

Ray thought that perhaps they were getting too old for sharing a bed. They were no longer children when it was adorable. Ryan’s legs were longer than the bed, leaving him to curl his ankles near Ray’s.  He always wondered if Ryan was aware what he was still doing. He rather not ask.

The months went on and Ryan was still committed to seeing him, through all the rehearsals and memorizing lines. Ray felt like he was nothing special compared to hearing Ryan recite poetry to him.

“You’re growing out your hair,” Ryan mentioned. Ray had stopped caring about his hair a while ago, probably his teenager rebellion kicking in.

“So’re you.” Ray replied, seeing the curls that could make anyone jealous around his face.

Ryan chuckled as he continued his math homework. Ray pulled his hat more over his ears and pushing his hair out of his face.

“You coming to my play?” Ryan asked.

“No shit I am, wouldn’t want to not see you recite Shakespeare,” Ray replied sarcastically.

Ray hadn’t been to the high school yet, and walking through the doors felt weird. He would be attending soon, but he never thought of walking through the doors before.  He found a place and sat down. Many parents were there along with other students.

And then it happened, as the spotlights turned on and the curtains opened. There were awes and squeals from female classmates as Ryan stepped on stage in appropriate costume as he acted out Hamlet lines. His voice, deep and full of emotion left Ray with a big smile on his face as he caught his eyes many times. Ryan’s movement in his acting was flawless.

“What did you think?” Ryan asked as he rushed offstage with his make up still on but in his usual t-shirt and jeans. There was a group of Ryan’s friends trying to get him to follow them.

Ray understood now all the friends that Ryan had made, and he couldn’t complete a sentence without a girl giving him a flower or telling him congratulations on his performance.

It was only when he entered the high school that he saw how popular Ryan was. Ryan would rush to see him at lunch, and excuse himself for being so late to have the bell ring only as he sat down.

Ray began to avoid Ryan. For the selfish reason that he thought he wasn’t cool enough to hang with Ryan anymore. He saw his friends, he learned who they were, who Ryan was then. He had become the most popular guy in the high school, and Ray was the one to have max 3 classmates who hung out with him when Ryan wasn’t around. They were on different poles of the social status.

“Stop avoiding me. I haven’t changed,” Ryan begged as he caught him in between classes.  Ray tried to slip under his arm but Ryan was quick to block him.

“Oh, sorry Mr. Popular,” he snaked through and ran off to his next class.

“Ray, please,” Ryan continued to chase after him. It had become this pulling and pushing. Freshman versus Junior, and no one was winning. “Why can’t you understand that I still want to hang out with you?”

“You’re better off without me,” Ray began to say as everyone walked passed them on their way to lunch.

“That’s not true.”

“You’re too cool.”

“And you’re cool too. You’ll always be my first.”

“You’re lying.”

“Can you stop and listen to me for a second?” Ryan raised his voice. Ray wanted to open his mouth but stopped. “These friends, these things, are nothing compared to having you as my friend. Now, come to lunch with me, and it’ll be only me, I promise.”

Ray tried to look like he wasn’t about to cry as Ryan put his arms around his shoulder and shushed everyone who asked if they wanted to hang out for lunch.