Homecoming Part 4

The lights dimmed in the area and Roth made his escape.

Zack sighed and shook his head as he watched his brother dart to one of the darker corners of the gym.  "I'm sorry big bro, I wish I could do something more for you..."

"Hey Zack, what's wrong?"  a short chipmunk had entered the pressbox turned DJ station.

"Oh, hi, Kelly, its,... nothing."

She snorted.  "Its your brother, isn't it."

"Why can't they just leave him alone?"

Kelly looked out over the student assembly.  "I still can't believe that you two are brothers, you're so different.  You're so cool, and he's so..."

Roth tried to duck behind some bleachers to avoid a group of talking students, but he hit his head with a loud thunk, staggering himself.  The group looked and laughed, then returned to their conversation.

"Hopeless."  Kelly finished.

"He's my brother..."

"Good grief, so what?  He doesn't play sports.  He ruins the grading scale on every test he takes.  He should probably wear protective padding just to keep from injuring himself when he walks."

"Kelly?"

"Yeah?"

"Get out."

"What?!"

"For a chipmunk, you can really be catty sometimes.  I don't have time to deal with you.  Just, get out."  Zack turned his back to Kelly and raised his tail.

"Why you, oh!"  Kelly turned and stormed out of the box.

A few minutes later another person came into Zack's domain, this time a grey tabby.  "Hey, Zack, I'm impressed, you really managed to tie Kelly's tail into a knot, and there's not much material there to work with!"

"Heh, Hi, Krisha."

"So,"  Krisha sidled up next to Zack. "What happened?"

"Ehh, she was making fun of Roth."

"And this makes her different from ninety percent of the student population, how?"

"Not you too?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruff your tail, as fun as that is..."  she ran her fingers through his plush black fur.

Zack sighed.  "Roth isn't that bad, he's just different."

"I know.  Zack?"

"Yes, Krish?"

"Are, ... you going to be up here all alone all evening?"

"Well, I was going to get some of the food from the buffet, I got a few songs keyed up that should give me enough time to..."  Zack noticed how she would wrap her tail around her legs and fidget with the end when she got nervous.  "Actually, there is another chair up here if you would care to stay up here with me..."

"Thanks!"  she purred, "I would like that very much!"