Today is the 12th anniversary of their friendship, and Salem was walking down the road to the nearby restaurant to have lunch with Leo. Arriving at the restaurant, he checked in a t the counter then followed the waiter (which, oddly enough, was a Furret who was wearing a large, red bow tie around his neck) to his table, where Leo was already waiting, sipping on a soda. Salem thanked the waiter, then took his seat across from Leo. Leo looked up from his drink and smiled at Salem, who smiled back. “So, how’s your mom’s tail?” asked Leo. Salem’s mom, a Sylveon, had accidentally shut her tail in a door two weeks ago and had to go to the hospital. “She’s doing alright, I guess,” Salem sighed. “Her tail is still in a splint, and she still can’t really do much…” Leo noticed the melancholy tone in Salem’s voice when he talked about his injured mother. Leo put his paw over Salem’s and stared into his eyes, saying, “hey,everything’s going to be alright; your mom will be fine.” Leo offered him a warm smile, and Salem smiled back.

They were both startled by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Salem and Leo both turned to see another Furret, this one wearing a light blue bow. Salem wondered if the different colored bows was to distinguish one waiter from the other. The waiter hesitated, then said, “um… I’m sorry to interrupt sirs, but my name is Riley, and I will be your server this afternoon.” He turned to Salem, noticing Leo’s still-full drink, then continued, “May I start you off with a drink, sir?” Salem glanced at his menu then responded, “Yes, Riley, I would like a Cola please.” The waiter left and came back with the drink. Leo and Salem placed their orders, and then after their food came, ate. About half an hour later, after finishing their food, they sat sipping at their sodas, waiting for their receipt.

Salem sat back and patted his belly. “That was really good.” Leo tried, and failed, to stifle a belch. “Oh, yeah! I wish I could have more, though…” Salem scoffed. “Yeah, your taste buds and tummy might enjoy that, but you credit card definitely would not!” Leo rolled his eyes. “Damn, I hate it when you’re right.” Salem went to finger-gun Leo, but didn’t pay attention to where his paw was going. He knocked over his cup, spilling soda all over the table and floor. “Oh, fuck!” cried Leo. Salem jumped. “Shit! Dammit!” he hissed. “I’ll go get some paper towels.” Leo said, then walked off. Salem sighed and started cleaning up some of the spilled drink with the thin, cheap napkins on the table.

Leo came back with a giant wad of paper towels. After a while they moved to under the table. They both looked up at the same time, and their noses pressed up against each other. They both blushed and pulled back, trying not to look the other in the eye. For a while it was super awkward, and it took a while before either of them said anything.

They went back to cleaning in silence, both trying their hardest not to meet the other's gaze, but after a little bit Leo broke it. “Hey, um, Salem?” Salem looked up from his cleaning. “Yeah?” Leo nervously glanced off to the side. “I-I want to tell you something.” Salem looked at him expectantly. “What is it?” Leo stared at Salem in the eyes. “I-it has to do with the way I feel about you. I know we’ve been best friends and all, a-and I think that…” Leo broke off, seeming to choke on his words. Before Leo could continue, Salem interrupted. “I know how you feel, and I feel the same way.” Leo’s eyes widened in surprise. “You do?” “Well, um, yes.” Salem looked away, blushing. “I’ve been meaning to tell you about it for a while now, but I wasn’t sure how you would react.” Salem looked back over at Leo. “I-I have feelings for you that would go beyond friendship… I-I…” Salem sighed to compose himself. “I love you.”

It was now Leo’s turn to blush. “Seriously?” Salem put his paw on the side of Leo’s face and leaned in closer. “I mean it with all of my heart.” They pressed their lips together in a light kiss. They pulled apart for a second, then kissed again, pressing their lips together more fervently and pulling each other into a tight embrace. Their tongues danced with each other, brushing up against and wrapping around each other. They stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity until Leo heard footsteps. He pulled away and whispered, “someone’s coming.”

Salem swore, and both hurried up and got back in their seats. As soon as they settled the waiter, Riley, had returned with their receipt. “Thank you, and have a good day.” Salem took the receipt, nodded then said, “yes sir, thank you.” The waiter walked off and Salem turned back to Leo. “We should probably find somewhere a little more private…” Leo creased his eyebrows. “Yeah…” He looked up. “Hey, I know, we can go to my place. My mom isn’t supposed to come home until tomorrow morning!” Salem nodded. “Sounds like a plan.” They left a tip, then started on their way over to the house. They walked over, enjoying the scenery. Leo looked over at Salem and said, "sorry that we have to walk there..." It was a really far distance from the restaurant to the house. "Ah, no. I don't mind..." Salem responded, although he said it in a rather distracted voice. Leo gave him a confused look. "Are you okay?" Salem looked over at him and blushed, "me? Yeah, I'm fine, why do you think I'm not?" Leo just shook his head. "I don't know, you just seem really far off, that's all." "Nah, I'm fine," said Salem. They finally arrived at Leo's house, and went inside.