Trackstar Antelope

Trackstar Antelope Volume 29

Chapter 261: The Sinful Protein

I hop over the fence and into the school grounds. I hope Riley isn't hiding from me or anything... I keep moving into the school, towards my locker and keep an eye and ear out for Riley. It feels weird being at school on a weekend. The schoolyard feels even more quiet than when I'd be in class. Just knowing there's no one else around is kind of... eerie

I walk through the passageway towards the locker area to see Riley, wearing his muzzle of course. But I also see... Sam? I hope Sam didn't follow him here and jump to conclusions.

"Oh, hey Jamel. Glad you could make it—" Sam says, before being interrupted.

"Sam, wait! Before you do anything, Riley invited me here, he didn't do anything wrong!" I inform him quickly.

"Jamel, I invited Sam here." Riley tells me. "I invited him here so we could both give you something." I can see Sam holding something behind his back. Maybe he had something for my bruise...

"Now, I don't want you to freak out, but I did a bit of research, and called up Sam for his help. I think there's something that can fix that bruise of yours." Riley explains. "It might be the only way we can help your bruising."

"Uhh... I was wondering if I could take a look at it." Sam asks nervously. I can't blame him, it's not normal, or polite, to ask an herbivore to show a carnivore their body. Plus, he's only looking out for me. I lift my shirt up, and he leans in to see it. I can hear a paper bag rustle behind his back

"Shit... that looks bad. What'd you do?" Sam asks me, stepping back.

"That asshole, Murray, kicked me in the side with his steel cap boots. I'm lucky my ribs didn't break, or that my lung didn't get punctured" I tell them. I shouldn't tell them about the things he said about my friends. I don't want any carnivores to get angry at him, or it could end badly.

And I don't want to be responsible for something like that.

"I think we can help you out Jamel... although, I'm not sure if it will work though..." Sam says.

"There's no harm in trying it though. If it works, hooray; problem solved. If not... oh well." Riley replies.

"What are you guys talking about?" I ask. Sam thrusts the paper bag in my direction, into my hands.

"Promise you'll give it a try. Riley and I have had some already, it's delicious..." Sam says. I notice a growl in his voice when he said 'delicious'. He must really like this then...

"We think you might be a bit against it first, but you need to give it a try." Riley responds. "It's full of protein, by the way..."

Suddenly... it all adds up.

Earlier this morning, Riley mentioned something about proteins, which can fix the body. In my mind, I already listed off three sources of protein. Eggs and milk, which I've already tried and didn't like them, and...

Meat.

Coach Harris told Sam and I that there's no Black Market in Whigata, but there are "other ways" for it to get around town. Because Riley's parents are keeping a close eye on him, he must've called Sam to get him some meat somehow. I don't know who I should feel angrier at; Riley for giving into his evil temptations, or Sam for betraying all that his brother had gone down for.

This can't be!

"N-No. I don't want any." I tell them, beginning to panic.

"C'mon Jamel, you don't even know what it is." Riley replied, temptingly.

"I can take a guess!!" I cry out, shaking.

"Jamel, just liste—"

"It's not legal, I shouldn't be seeing it, I don't want any!!!!" I say, dropping the bag in disgust. Sam and Riley quickly look at each other in confusion, then realization.