Chapter Text
Tem walked into his dorm room, a mixed smell of sweat and several colognes entering his nose. He lived with three other Alpacas; Carl, Victor, and Riku. Victor was laying on his top bunk while Riku and Carl were at the dinner table playing a card game. Victor greeted him, “Hey Tem, you’re a bit later than usual.”
“What’s there to be late for? You guys don’t look so productive yourselves…” Tem teased.
“Fair point,” Victor replied. “You got any plans tonight? Els invited a bunch of herbivores out for a nighttime picnic in the field. I heard Reiko might be there… She’s so hot!”
“Ah, actually I kinda have a… date?” All three of them perked up at Tem’s comment. “Sorry… hope you guys have fun though!”
Riku stood up and walked over to Tem near the doorway. “Oooooh! So who’s getting lucky tonight?” He crossed his arms idly.
“Oh it’s uh, this girl alpaca I met in Life Science…” Tem knew this was a lie, but he knew if they found out he was in love with a carnivore, they wouldn’t exactly take it well. Except for Carl, but he’d tell him the truth later. “I thought she was cute, so I asked her out! And she invited me to her dorm tonight. So… wish me luck, I guess?”
“Wooooo! Tem’s finally losing his virginity, boys!” Riku patted him, but basically slapped, Tem on the back and wrapped his arm around his shoulders, walking him into the middle of the dorm. “We’re gonna have a big celebration for you tomorrow alright?”
“N-no… guys it isn't like that… We’re just gonna have dinner and maybe watch a movie or something.”
Riku “patted” him again. “Hey, there’s no need to lie to us, yeah? We’re happy for you, Tem! You’re nearly eighteen and still a virgin, you’ve got this man!” Tem didn’t reply. Carl was still sitting at the table, staring at his cards, planning his next turn.
“W-well I better go freshen up, yeah?” Tem placed his bag at the foot of his bed and unbuttoned his uniform, throwing it into the overflowing dirty laundry basket.
Victor sat up on the edge of his bed. “Hey, I’ve got some condoms lying around here somewhere from when I was with my ex. They haven’t expired yet… I think.” He hopped off the bunk and started rummaging through his designated dresser drawer looking for them.
“Guys, really, it’s fine! Nothing sexual is going to happen between us!”
Victor turned around, giving him a smug look, a strip of unopened condoms dangling from his fingers. “Yeah yeah, whatever you say, Mister Pure Penis…” Tem just sighed.
“I’m gonna take a shower…”
“Alright.” Riku sat back down at the table and made his play in their card game. Carl played his turn, immediately winning. “Hey, did you cheat?!”
“Nope, you just gave me too much time to think!” He said smugly. They were so caught up in their game, they didn’t even notice Victor sneaking the condoms into Tem’s tote bag he always used outside of class.
Tem eventually came out of the bathroom, dressed in sweats and a loose long sleeve shirt. Victor and Riku were putting their shoes on, leaving for the picnic.
Riku looked at him with a cocky expression. “Hey good luck with your girl tonight, Tem! If things go bad just call me.”
“Will do…” Tem did his best to mask his frustration. “See you guys in the morning,” He noticed Carl was sitting in his bed on his phone. “Carl, you’re not going?”
Carl looked up. “Nah, I have a headache. Just gonna sleep it off.”
Victor and Riku gave one last goodbye before heading out. Tem walked over to Carl’s bed. “That’s not true, isn’t it?”
“Guilty. I just don’t feel like dealing with those assholes right now… Especially after what they were saying about you earlier. They’re too pushy.”
Tem felt a weight get lifted from his shoulders. “Yeah, I swear those sexpests drive me up the wall… why does it matter to them if I’m losing my virginity or not?!”
“If I knew I’d tell you, trust me,” Carl looked at Tem in his eyes. “So you’re not going out with an herbivore, let alone a girl, right?
“I- what?! How did you know?!”
Carl gave him a smug look. “You’re just easy to read is all.”
Tem sighed, although he knew that was true. “Yeah, it’s uh, there’s this bear I’m in drama club with, and I have last period with too. He’s just so kind and caring, I’ve never met anyone like him. I just feel like I can’t tell anyone but you, you’re the only one I know who doesn't care!”
Carl stood up, looking Tem in his eyes. “Tem, y-you know I love you as a friend, but please… be careful. I support you wanting to be with a carnivore, but you know how risky this is, right? Being alone with a carnivore… Earlier, I just thought you were lying because you don’t want Riku and Victor to know you’re gay.”
Tem got teary-eyed and looked down, almost ashamed of himself. “Y-yeah… I don’t want them to know. But it’d be even worse if they knew about the carnivore thing!”
“I understand that, Tem, but… please. Please, Tem. I don’t want-” Carl cut himself off before he dared mention the possibility of a devouring. But Tem knew what he was trying to say anyways. He put his hand on Carl’s shoulder.
“It’s gonna be fine, Carl. Trust me. I… I’m aware of all the risks, but I trust him. I know he wouldn’t want to do anything to harm me, or anyone else for that matter.”
“J-just please… if anything seems off, just get out of there immediately, okay?”
“Okay. I promise. I’ll text you when I’m on my way back so you know that I’m alright.” He took his arm off Carl’s shoulder and turned to go grab his tote bag from the foot of his bed. He walked towards the fridge and absent mindedly tossed a water bottle into the bag, landing on top of his phone charger and the condoms that he still hadn’t noticed…
“Well, I’ll see you later, Carl,” He walked towards the front door and slid his shoes on. “Ill text you. Promise.”
“Alright. Please don’t forget, Tem. Good luck.” He looked Tem in the eyes with a sense of genuine care.
“Thank you.” Tem opened the door and left.