Azalea

When Lambchop Runs Free

"LEA!!!" I hear Mari scream at the top of her lungs.

Without even thinking, not like I could do that in my half awake state, I run out of my room to see a extremely worried Mari.

"Wha-" a yawn breaks my tired sentence "-t are you yelling about this early in the morning?" I figure it's early since I just woke up.

Mari points out the door which is open. "I went out to grab...stuff, because I woke up a hour ago and I saw it was my time if the month and-" I cut her off.

"What's the point?" She gives me a dirty look. Even if I'm not fully awake I should know better not to mess with Mari and her wrath.

"The point is, Lambchop ran out when I came home, which was just right now and-" I'm fully awake now and I basically jump like one of those cartoon characters into my black flats.

I run out before Mari can say anything else.

It is very early because the sun is just barley breaking apart the darkness of night.

I look around outside of my apartment building. Left, right, behind me, in front of me, nothing. No Lambchop.

Then I hear a distinctive bark of a certain Boxer wanting to play with his owner. I turn slowly and he his suddenly there at my right, somewhere he wasn't just a second ago.

"Hey Lamby! C'mere, come to Lea so I can get you back inside." He wags his tail and bends down a bit to form that playing position that almost dog has.

"Lamby c'mon boy don't do this, didn't you learn when you did this when you were a puppy?" He barks happily and takes off. I groan and run after him.

I take off after him as he swivels behind garbage cans, runs in circles around me, jump here and there and even run across streets.

I must look like an idiot to anyone who sees me. In last night's dress, flats and loosened hair falling out of my updo hairstyle. It looks more like the walk of shame just in the form of running.

He runs straight into Central Park and dashes around the Alive In Wonderland park. He catches the scent of something and barks. He takes off into the direction of whatever scent he smelt.

"Lamby!" I yell and sprint after him.

My feet are starting to hurt from running this early in the morning without even stretching and fully getting up.

I see Lamby jump up on to something but my vision is obscured when I blink and my eyes water like crazy.

"Lam-!" I trip over a rock and crash right into someone with a coffee in their hand. I hear Lambchop's tail thumping on the ground behind the person.

"OW! Really?!" The guy shouts and I stumble backwards and fall on my behind, which does not at all feel nice.

I peek up at the guy to see the coffee dripping off the guy's shirt. I swallow and feel terrible. "S-Sorry."

"Well you know sorry doesn't change the fact that I'm running late to work and just got burning hot coffee spilled all over me because some girl couldn't keep a good hold in her dog's leash." He angrily says.

He looks at me and I can see him in the dawn's light that I know realized has risen.

He is about to say something else when his angry expression falls and pure shock mixed with realization falls into it's place.

He looks familiar.

I stand up then whistle to Lambchop who has calmed down a lot and now looks exhausted from running. "You see sir, accidents happen here in NYC get used to it. " I spit out coldly and turn.

I'm about to walk off when his warm hand squeezes my shoulder and turns me around. When he turns me he places his other hand on me.

"Jesus I knew it was you." He whispers to himself, but just loud enough for me to hear him.

"Get off"

His brown eyes glance up at mine then continue studying my facial features. The guy meets this gaze with mine again.

"Azalea, its me Sam."

My heart feels like it has just stopped beating.