The following Monday morning, Etho tried to push away lingering feelings of just Monday morning disorientation.

He looked into his bathroom mirror, staring at himself. He hated how the bags under his eyes made him look more tired than he actually felt. At least he didn't look completely awful, however. He took a deep breath, leaning back against the bathroom wall. He could hear the distant hum of the vent in the corner of the bathroom, the muffled sounds of the apartment above him- a clack of dishes, he guessed. Muffled humming of a distant song. Someone's up early to do the dishes, He hummed to himself, smiling. Our dishes have been stacking. I'll probably do them soon..

He ran a comb through his hair, trying to tame his tangled locks before throwing the comb back in the drawer and grabbing a hair tie, putting his hair in a messy bun, leaving some hair free. It wasn't much, but it'd do. My ears are always in the way. He didn't love having his hair up- it made his neck feel cold especially because it was the chillier time of year. But he'd live, and plus he'd only be outside for fitness and walking to and from school.

He searched the drawer for his headband, tying it over his forehead and behind his neck.

He flinched hearing a glass shattering, followed by a frustrated grumble. Oh gosh, Mom's awake.. He sighed, running his hands through his tail, grounding his feet in the soft matt, trying to find something to be grounded to in the moment. And I bet she's hungover. When he considered the sound of the impact, he concluded that it was probably something light which would have been a far better outcome than previous times. It didn't happen a lot, but it happened a considerable amount. He could feel the dread build inside his chest when he was reminded of all the things he had to do, and now he had more chores to put on his to-do list when he came home after hockey practice. Again. He didn't have time to clean it up now, and he knew his mom wasn't going to clean it up. It's not that she didn't want to clean it up, it was just that she wasn't really ever mentally capable of it.

He was glad he'd brought his backpack into the bathroom with him (He didn't trust his mom around it at all) and he looked at the back before slinging it over his shoulder. He looked at the bathroom window, tempted to just leave then and there.. Frick breakfast, I'm sure Beef'll have something. He always has snacks.

He unlocked the window, placing his leg on the window stool, pushing up with his arms and leg. Etho shivered at the cold air swinging his legs outside and hanging over the edge of the window seal, dropping onto the bushes. Shoot I hope this doesn't piss off the landlord..

He scurried off the plants, stumbling back. He tipped over, falling on his back. Forgot I had my backpack on.. He rolled over off his backpack, rubbing his back as best he could. Shoot. That's gonna be sore for a while.

He looked at the backpack sorely, cursing at his text books and binders for being unreasonably painful to land on. He yanked his black hanky out from his pocket tying it around his neck before pulling it up over his nose. Can't forget it.. That would be awful.

(〃•ө•〃)

Etho walked up into the school stairs, using all his body strength to open the doors. It wasn't that he was short, it was more that he was small and scrawny and hadn't really hit puberty quite yet. It was a little late- he was a Junior. He hadn't hit his growth spurt yet. At least he didn't think he had- he blamed it on his stressful home situation. He pushed through the crowded bubble of boys in the middle of the hall.

He accidentally bumped into one of them, mumbling a 'sorry' before feeling himself get shoved pathetically into the wall. His back sprouted with newfound awful pain. HOLY-.

"The f*** was that?" One of the boys turned his head looking at his friend, the one who aggressively pushed Etho. The one who'd pushed Etho rolled his eyes, shooting Etho a nasty glare, "Ey, the pimp has grown!". Etho seemed to slouch smaller, averting his gaze, rushing off further down the hall. He tried to push down his feelings from being called a pimp, the boys were just that way and if he were anyone else they'd call them that too... right? He didn't even know the boys well enough to put a name on them but they all knew him.

He knew there were people who didn't really like him because he was... popular. He wouldn't ever call himself popular, but he was well loved and known by most of the kids at the school for being extremely well at his craft and it made it even worse that he didn't really talk at all, adding to his 'mysterious' persona.

He'd argue that he wasn't that mysterious at all and was really quite boring.

He wasn't super into clubs but Lego Robotics was a whole different story. And he was well known for being really good at ice hockey.

But what made the boys (That he encountered) even worse was that now it hurt to walk in every step he took.

Playing hockey was better than Lego Robotics- or at least more addicting. He wondered if it was because of the people there that made him feel so... at home, welcome. And he was a natural- He loved gliding on the ice! (he blamed it on the Canadian genes!) Maybe he was selfish because he knew he did it mainly because it made him feel good, accomplished. But it was the start of a new year and many people were already dropping out, graduating or just becoming 'too cool for school'.

But that was fine, at least that's what Etho told himself, because they still had players, and it was inevitable that new players would come on their team. And while he preferred doing things with people he actually knew and trusted, he still liked to meet new people.

He slipped into one of the classrooms, a computer lab class, nodding curtly to the teacher. He opened a door that led to a separate room with a retro old tv probably from when the school was built. He walked through another door that led to the orchestra room. He stopped for a moment, his mind blanking. Why am I here? He stopped in front of one of the instrument racks, his eyes landing on his own instrument. Oh yeah, I left it here over the weekend.

He walked out of the room, using the main door that was locked (which is why he didn't go through that in the first place) taking a sharp left to go to a hallway with posters seeing the people he was hoping to see- or just person.

In a corner, Bdubs was sitting on a vent (like the big boxy ones??), grinnging as Etho approached. Bdubs playfully punched Etho's shoulder, "Heya! You're a lil' late. Beef just left to go to his boyfriend or somethin'."

Etho smiled, "Oh. Ok. Uh, hi." His tone seemed bare and awkward, not what he was going for but at least he said something. He was a little caught off guard by Bdubs enthusiasm especially so early in the morning.

"Ooo the heats on, come sit." Bdubs scooted over, patting the spot next to him. Etho sat next to him, letting his tail hang. Bdubs, looking down at the ground. "Well, what's cookin'? It's been an entire weekend." Concern seeped into his expression as he looked back up at the hybrid, "Something didn't happen, did it?" He snapped back to look up at Etho.

Etho shook his head, shrugging his shoulders, Bdubs was too quick to worry. "Oh snap, I don't think so. I just can't remember anything over the weekend.. Sorry.. What about you?" Everything was a blur and it hurt trying to recall anything that had happened in the past 2 days. All he knew was that he had a forgetful episode again.

Bdubs smiled apologetically, "Oh it's alright! You should come by the farm one of these weekends, though. And if your sister is ever in town, bring her too. She's just the cutest thing, and she'd love the new foal! He's so full of energy and mischievous, too. Yeah, the foal was born this weekend, that's what I've been up to. Oh! And I'm sure Pungence and Abigail would love to see her again." Etho smiled at Bdubs bright energy and passion, his eyes crinkling in amusement.

"I'll have to call my dad. He loves farm life, almost as much as you. But it's a little hard considering the distance." Etho looked down at his hands remembering how half his family lived in Canada. He tensed when he felt Bdubs' warm hands on his head, and relaxed as Bdubs rubbed the spot right underneath Etho's ears. He didn't know how Bdubs did it, but he always gave the best scratches.

The noise of the halls fell into the background, nothing else important to the two. His ears twitched, as the scratching continued, bending over so the shorter man could actually reach his head- maybe in a way that was a bit exasperated to tease but nonetheless. A sharp dull pain spiking in his lower back, reminding him of his earlier misfortune. "You're very tense," Bdubs said softly, the tip of his tongue sticking out, concentrating. Etho's heart was beating out of his chest, enjoying all the attention, even if he was in pain.

"'Mom broke a dish again," He muttered, glancing nervously at his hands, tugging at his hanky subconsciously. He decided against telling Bdubs about his fall on his backpack earlier that day, and the pain that sprouted in his back after he got shoved into the walls. He didn't want him to worry too much. And the emptiness in his stomach.

He felt a little selfish, wanting nothing but this, but he couldn't help it. It wasn't too often that Bdubs would give him this kind of attention and he wanted it all for himself. And Bdubs hands were tender and soft with each rub– probably experienced with the farm animals- sending shivers of pleasure down his spine. He started tapping his foot, his tail lazily thumping against the metal box. And it took everything in all his body not to murr- especially in school.

He wanted this concentrated and careful look only for himself. He admitted it was because he wanted to feel special to someone and the only person who took effort into making him feel special like this was Bdubs.

Maybe Beef, but Beef wasn't Bdubs. Beef had a different vibe to him. He liked his alone time very much, and while that didn't bother Etho, it just made him feel a little more isolated. Plus Beef was a whole grade ahead of him and concerned more with the grind of school, while Bdubs who was also a whole grade ahead put some time into paying attention to Etho. And Beef certainly wasn't as affectionate as Bdubs. He just makes me feel less alone. Yeah, that's probably it.

To put it simply, Etho sometimes had favorites.

Bdubs just hummed, nodding his head. "Did you at least eat this morning?"

Etho looked down at the floor, biting his lip. He was busted. Feeling the blood rush up to his face, "Maybe not." In response, Bdubs sighed hopelessly. His hands shifted from Etho's head, to his paws, holding on to them while he was dragged into the halls.

"You're hopeless, Etho," He started, taking a sharp left before banging on the locker next to Beef knocking him out of whatever he was doing on his phone. He let out a little "Oh."

"You said you were going to see Xb, huh?"

Beef grinned sheepishly, "He's not here today.. I got caught up in Clash of Clans for a moment there."

Etho rolled his eyes, lightly elbowing Beef's side. "You guys and your mobile games."

"Shut up, Treeman, you're addicted to that one maple game. Aren'tcha?"

Etho rolled his eyes, "Maplestory is different though. It's nostalgic and it has good lore an' stuff."

Bdubs rolled his eyes wrinkling his nose in disgust. "You guys are awful. Anyways, Ladders here, hasn't eaten anything. Again." A slight trace of a smirk was on his face and he kicked Etho in the shins.

"Hey- what was that for- you don't kick a starving man!" Etho huffed a laugh, scruffling Bdubs already messily styled hair.

"HEY! AND YOU DON'T MESS UP THE HAIR OF A SHORT MAN."

"So you agree you're short?" Beef raised an eyebrow smirking.

"OH YOU EVIL MEN.." Bdubs crossed his arms, pouting.

Beef just laughed, fishing something out of his backpack. He handed Etho a granola bar, looking at him sympathetically. "Sorry I didn't bring anything homebaked today."

Etho shrugged, "Don't worry about it. I wasn't planning on skipping breakfast today." Offering a small smile, Beef nudged his shoulder, "I get it. You guys going to practice tonight?" Bdubs nodded, grinning, "Couldn't miss it."

Etho nodded, agreeing. He wouldn't ever want to miss it- especially if it meant postponing when he came home. They all had hockey practice together on Mondays and Wednesdays, and while they all tried their best to come as often as possible. A lot of times people wouldn't show up for a while because of family trips, events, etc.

"And you're coming too right," Bdubs smiled, mischievously.

"Sure, I-" Beef was cut off, the bell ringing. Whatever silly thing Bdubs was going to do was interrupted.

"Shoot! I can't be late again!" Bdubs panicked, running off to his first period class which happened to be close to where the group was.

Etho was left alone with Beef who shrugged. "Must have not heard the 5 minute warning bell. Wanna skip First with me?"

"Sure. We're not doing anything important in coding today."

"You're probably already ahead."

"I wouldn't say that.. I just work when I'm supposed to."

NOTES:

I forgot how much I hate writing highschool aus after I started writing one- So I've changed it a little bit. The focus is less on the high school part and more on the hockey part-. This means I changed the first chapter. Just a little bit, not to much to actually matter.

I've also changed the Reader Info and disclaimers and all that Jazz. 

I do have someone who should be making my cover but I think he's slacking- I'll probably get a placeholder for the meantime.