Kiss The Boy - descendants

FIVE

I had never been a guy to worry much about anything until I met Add. Since then, I have worried about her. The tiny wonderland had a devastating skill of getting lost, sometimes disappearing for hours or even days til she was found in the strangest of places.
I once saw her in the chimney, another time on the highest branch of a mighty tree or on the gymnasium's roof. Nobody could explain why it happened or where she disappeared to. She was the first and only of her kind at Auradon Prep, perhaps even in the entire U. S. A., There was just no demand for finding out. So nobody cared. As long as she returned, it was utterly irrelevant where she disappeared. That was FGs opinion on that topic. So in empathy for the strange girl, and maybe a little to spite the old fairy bitch, Gillian and I had become Add's seeking team.
And that was a lot of work. So we took shifts looking for her, and unfortunately, today was my turn once again.
It had been at breakfast that Gillian had sat down next to me, a frown on his face, pupils sensitive to the light to explain dryly and very hoarse that he couldn't find our friend. And it was just half an hour later that I was roaming the school grounds hoping to stumble across the girl randomly. What else could I do? And while I walked around, I used the time and privacy to finish my morning coffee that had already cooled down by now, but I wasn't drinking it for the taste anyway.
And yes, I must look pretty stupid wandering through the woods with a mug in hand and dark circles under my eyes, but it was really nothing against what I found.
Or better:who I found. Loudly barking in excitement, I was greeted by the school mascot wiggling his tail. The dude was a tiny dog that had just appeared on the school ground one day and never left. He was a friendly little older man with love for anyone who was kind enough to spend him some time and cuddles.
I liked him and was more than willing to rub his chubby belly. There was always time for that.
"What are you doing here, man?" I asked as the dog closed his eyes in complete bliss.
"Shouldn't you be on the field or fetching a snack by the kitchen?"
The dog just liked my hand in answer. Of course, he didn't understand me. But he didn't need to, as the rustling of leaves above made me look up. Holding onto a branch for dear life was not Add, but Carlos, short legs and arms wrapped around the wood tightly, brown eyes full of fear. He was wearing his tournament gear, most likely for his morning run, and whatever had caused him to jump that tree had been holding him, prisoner, in that position for a while now.
He gawked at me, panting lightly, his exhausted muscles starting to strike. "Be careful! That beast might bite your hand off!" he pressed out through gritted teeth. I tilted my head, a bit flabbergasted.
"Which Monster?" Should I worry? "The dog!" Carlos was quick to explain.
I looked down at Dude, and the dog looked back with his wise puppy eyes. He seemed as equally clueless as me. I scratched my chin
. "So... the Dude scares you?"
"Yes." Carlos nodded violently, causing the whole branch to shake.
I looked at him again.
"Don't get me wrong; I don't want to hurt you or anything... But why?"
"My mom says dogs eat children for dinner." I blinked.
"Well, then, you're safe for now. The dude didn't even have his breakfast yet."
The boy's eyes widened even more. "So he's hungry?" And that was when I realized what an idiotic joke that had been.
"Sorry, that was just a bad joke. Dogs don't eat children. They eat smelly canned beef and sausages."
I tried to make it any better. Carlos didn't look very convinced, and as the son of Cruella, I couldn't blame him. But, I pitied him for having had to endure such cruel lies. I leaned down, scratching the dog behind his ear.
"See? Dude is our friend. He just wants cuddles." Carlos looked down at us with skepticism.
"You could come down and meet him." I suggested with a shrug.
"I don't know..." the other boy mumbled.
"He doesn't bite. I promise." I chuckled lightly.
"You promise?" he meekly asked. "Pinky promise." I replied .
Of course, Dude wouldn't bite. Why should he? Carlos was strangely quiet for a second as if he still needed to consider trusting the dog and me.And then his gaze shifted to the branch he was hanging on so awkwardly, and I understood.
He had no idea how to get down again. He had jumped the tree like a scared cat and now needed some help.
"Hang on." I sighed, downing the rest of the coffee and putting it down the mug on the grass.
Dude sniffed it curiously as I stepped closer to the tree, directly under the branch. I spread out my arms.
"Just let yourself fall; I'll catch you." I assured, well aware of what a dumb idea that was.
I wasn't particularly strong, yet luckily, Carlos didn't look particularly heavy either. Maybe my muscle would be enough. The boy had blushed in embarrassment but let go of the branch regardless. I wavered as his weight hit my arms, and big brown eyes looked up at me with an unreadable expression, his tiny body draped over my arms like a bride for crossing the doorstep.
He really was just skin and bones and his fingers digging into my shoulder where he had slung his arms around my neck were basically sticks. I had never carried a boy in my arms before. In fact, I had never carried anyone, but I somehow found myself liking it.
Or maybe I just liked how he looked at me all starry-eyed. Even I am a sucker for attention. But it became awkward rather quickly as the other boy had no intention of getting onto his own feet.
He just kept staring as if FG's wand had enchanted him, and I was well aware that I wasn't handsome in that way.
"So..." I mumbled, averting my gaze to the dog.
"You wanna meet Dude now?"
Carlos snapped back into reality with the intensity of a rubber band, making me waver once again.
"Oh... Okay." He peaked at the animal. Dude looked back .
"He doesn't look that grim anymore." the boy had to admit.
"He's actually... kind of cute." His gaze flickered back to mine again.
"Can you put me down?" That wasn't a question I needed to answer.
I just gently planted him down, a little bit relieved to end that weird and very confusing situation I got myself into. He stuck close to my side as he carefully leaned down, his hand tensely padding the dog's head.
Dude liked it. I could watch how Carlos fell in love with the dog in just minutes and eventually lifted the tiny creature into his arms. He beamed up at me, his whole face glowing in glee. "Isn't he the most adorable thing you've ever seen?" he asked, and I wasn't entirely confident of agreeing to that as the sight of the soft boy with Dude in his arms was way more adorable, in my opinion.
So I just shrugged.
"Sure."
"What were you doing in the woods anyway?" Carlos asked as he scratched Dude behind his right ear. "Oh, I'm looking for Add. She's been gone all morning. ." I responded, also reminding myself of that task.
"Is she your girlfriend?" the other boy asked, eyeing me from the side.
I laughed at the silliness of that question.
"Heck no!" He looked rather confused, so I added: "She's more into girls than I am."
Carlos shily smiled in response.
"So, can I help you find her?" I shook my head, running a hand through my hair in frustration.
"I highly doubt that. Unless you know how to understand her, there's no way other than luck to find her." Carlos looked up at me.
"I think I know someone who can help you with that."