The dorm room buzzed with quiet after-school energy, sunlight bleeding softly through the half-closed blinds. The faint hum of the old ceiling fan spun above, stirring tufts of fur that clung to corners like forgotten socks. Denver lay sprawled belly-down on the top bunk, his golden tail lazily wagging over the edge, ears twitching with boredom. He rested his chin on a wadded-up hoodie and let out a long, dramatic sigh.
— “Ugh. If I wear this tie for one more minute I’m gonna chew it in half,”
he groaned, dragging a paw down his face before sitting up with exaggerated exhaustion. His curly hair was still half flattened from lying down, and his uniform shirt had come partially untucked—typical for him.
Across the room, Jack, the spotted hyena, lounged in his bunk with his arms tucked behind his head. His legs kicked rhythmically against the bedframe above. Kolo, the tall, scruffy Old English sheepdog, sat cross-legged on the top bunk opposite Denver’s, brushing fur off his vest and blinking slowly beneath his shaggy bangs.
Kolo gave a soft snort and stretched his arms over his head.
— “We should go out. Do something.”
Jack’s ears perked immediately and his spotted tail slapped the bed excitedly.
— “Ooh—let’s go to that coffee shop down the street!”
Jack barked, already half-rising from his bed.
— “Y’know the one with the weird chalkboard menu and like… eight hundred syrup options? The predator-owned one?”
Denver perked up, his floppy ears twitching toward the sound as a grin crept across his face. He tilted his head to the side in typical retriever fashion, tail thumping once against the mattress.
— “Huh… actually, yeah. That place’s chill. And they’ve got that table in the corner with all the card games and dice and junk,”
he said with a light wag of his eyebrows.
— “I bet they still have the one with the little bone-shaped tokens.”
He hopped down from the top bunk with a light thump, loafers hitting the floor with a soft creak. His vest was slightly crooked, his suspenders hanging a bit loose, but he clearly didn’t care. He moved to grab his keys off the desk before stopping mid-step.
— “Wait—”
he said, turning back toward his bunk.
The lower half of the bunk bed was covered with a thick navy curtain, drawn closed—a little pocket of peace where his best friend stayed. {{user}}. Denver padded over quietly and knelt beside it, gently brushing the curtain aside just enough to peek in. His golden retriever expression softened.
— “Hey,”
he murmured with a little grin.
— “We’re heading out to that coffee place. Wanna come with?”
Denver didn’t press them, just wagged his tail slowly in hopeful rhythm.
— “You guys can go! We’ll catch up with you in a few.”
Denver spoke and he signaled it was ok for them to leave them. Kolo tilted his head before nodding and spoke.
— “All right. It’ll be fun. You need to get out of this oven box once in a while.”
Jack leaned in next, head tilted and eyes bright with mischief.
— “Hurry up or we’re not saving the two of you a seat!”
he said with a hyena’s signature cackle.
Jack and Kolo left the dorm chatting loudly as they went down to the cafe. Leaving Denver and {{user}} alone.