Brian Walker couldn't believe the wonder of it all as he walked his girlfriend Patricia Monet home from school that warm Tuesday afternoon.
It had started out innocently enough, when Brian was working his penance for past sins (under the mistaken belief he should be a male gigolo to help his cash strapped mother with the bills) at the Elders' Council building.
Granted, he was basically nothing more than a go-fer doing odd jobs, which was ironic considering he was a were-otter, when he first saw her.
Patricia was working part time for the Elders in her were-beaver fursona, hopeful of eventually saving up enough money to attend Moon Lake College after high school graduation, because she was seriously thinking about a career in education.
College seemed like a long way off to the Freshman Brian was then, especially considering his estranged father long ago had maxed out all the family credit cards and stole everything he could to run off with some blonde bimbo half his age.
Was it because of working for the Elders or meeting and falling in love with Patricia that was the catalyst for Brian turning his life around? Truthfully, he leaned toward it being the lovely teenager who was walking hand in hand with him from the first day of Sophomore classes at Moon Lake High School.
His heart certainly knew how he felt, if only Brian could actually express the words to her...
They stopped at the local convenience store for sodas, his treat, thanks to his part time salary with the Elders, and continued on to her place, since it was the closer of the two; although it was nice to discover that they lived within a short walking distance of each other.
While Patricia opened the front door of her house with her key, Brian actually held the door open for her.
"Err... where is everybody?" Brian wondered, noticing that they were alone in the Monet house right now.
"Both my parents work, so it will still be hours yet before either of them get home," Patricia reminded him, while setting her books down on the coffee table in the living room. "My siblings will be here soon, so we won't have much privacy," she added, while putting her arms lovingly around her boyfriend. "Next time, we should definitely go to your place," said Patricia, before reaching down between Brian's legs to feel the denim covered pole growing between his legs.
"I'd like that," Brian said with a smile, before kissing his girlfriend again.
"We better at least look like we're doing our homework before one of them gets home. Those younger kids love to try and get me in trouble whenever they can, so they look better than they are the next time they might get in trouble," explained Patricia, while sitting down on the sofa and spreading out her textbooks.
"Listen," began Brian, while sitting down next to her and doing the same thing with his school stuff. "While we are alone for the moment... I'd like to talk."
"Okay," said Patricia, turning her full attention to him.
"I..." began Brian. "We... that is, we've been together for almost a year now, and..."
"And it's been a wonderful year, so far," Patricia replied, snuggling up next to him.
"Well... I know my mom might freak when she hears this. After all, it seems she's so rigid about us as it is. Making sure you always take your were-beaver birth control pill and all."
"She's just looking out for you, and us. After all, while you're not the kind of man your father is, your mother certainly doesn't want you to make any of the mistakes he did, let alone repeat any of hers," gently said Patricia.
"Yeah. It's been a rough life for both of us since he took off," admitted Brian. "While I want to do something with computers, unless I earn a scholarship somewhere, I may not even be able to afford going to Moon Lake College after I graduate high school and might have to go directly into the work force for a while, let alone do something other than what I want to."
"I'm part of a working class family too," Patricia reminded him. "College isn't exactly a guarantee for me either, no matter how good my grades are. But something tells me this isn't what you wanted to talk about."
"No," conceded Brian. "It isn't."
Then he paused before taking Patricia's hands in his. "Patricia, I honestly don't know what the future holds for the two of us. This may sound totally selfish, but I do know that my life will be much worse without you in it."
Patricia drew in a sharp breath. He can't be asking—
"There are a lot of things I wish I could say to you, but I really can't right now. But I did want you to know that... I... I love you, and I do take our relationship seriously."
"B-Brian..." was all Patricia could say, as he saw a tear begin to form in her eye.
"I'm not my father, and you can kill me with your bare hands or paws if I ever mistreat you in any way. But I do love you, and... I just wanted to tell you that and hopefully not make a fool out of myself in the process."
"You're definitely no fool," said Patricia, as she hugged him close to her. "I love you too," she whispered in his ear.
Brian smiled at her before the young couple kissed again.
They were snuggled within each others arms, still kissing, when Brian and Patricia had to break apart as they heard someone's key trying to unlock the front door of the Monet house a couple of minutes later.
But as the two played innocent and turned their attention back to their homework, Patricia couldn't help thinking Mrs. Patricia Walker does have a nice ring to it.