𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐍 (𝙰 𝙵𝚞𝚛𝚛𝚢 𝙽𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕)

❸ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞

•••

Vinnie

Mason is unlike anyone I've ever met.

Or maybe he's just like every other person and I haven't met anybody else.

I sat on the stoop in front of my grand, charming, and perfect house. It's a three-in-one deal. The laced, fancy, economic staircase felt hard underneath my weight as I tossed a rubber-band ball in my hand for what felt like hours. I heard birds singing sweet melancholy tunes as I watched the cloudy sky fade. The breeze hitting my fur and brushing my tail felt open and flexible.

I always sit on these steps, no matter how much I hate them, just to take a breath. I close my eyes whenever I'm conflicted.

I knew I liked him.

Something about that fox made me feel so attracted, or interested, in what more there is to life. And love.

I heard a car pull up to the front of the house as a loud buzzer sound cued the massive, shiny, metallic gates to open wide. The car, a design I had never seen before, (not in our driveway, that is;) pulled up towards the grand steps where I had sat. Not in the huge driveway where other cars my parents owned stood to collect dust. The driver seat door opened and my father exited the vehicle. My mother came out from the passenger side.

"Vincenzo, what are you doing out in the cold?" My mother asked sternly, grabbing a scarf from the car and wrapping it around my neck immediately.

"It's just October, mom," I deadpanned.

"What do you think, son?" My father questioned; not even looking at me, but at his brand new car. His paw, wiping the window frame from any smudges, quickly snapped back to take in its singular image. "Just bought it today." It looks like he loves that thing more than me.

"How was school?" My mother asked me (as if she cared), staring at her phone as she ushered me up the stairs and into the house.

"Good," I said, not exactly listening to her. I could tell she wanted to know if I had met Mason yet, or if I had gotten close to whoever they set me up with.

"Anything else?"

I pretended to act like I didn't know what she was talking about, then pretending to remember.

"Oh, I met this new kid called Mason," I told her.

"Oh!" She beamed, seeming very excited to see me gain friends.

"Who's this Mason kid?" My father also asked, intrigued, as we entered the house.

"What species is he?" My mother intruded.

"What is he like?" My father interrupted.

"Mom, Dad, he's fine," I spoke, silencing their questions.

I walked off into my bedroom, but I heard my parents following me. Jesus, what more do they want?

"Vincenzo, we have sudden news." My mother said to me as I plopped myself down on the bed.

"Tomorrow night, we will be attending a meeting for a new client on an overnight cruise." My father continued. "We will be leaving at 6 PM tomorrow on Tuesday and returning at 1 PM on Thursday."