Fetch, Felix!

Chapter Eight

Felix POV still :)

I shook out my silky black coat, sending hairs flying onto the unkempt grass. The school really needed better groundskeepers. I shook the thought out of my head, refocusing on my purpose. I was on a mission, and couldn't be distracted.

I treaded carefully to the sunny courtyard, sneezing when Sam's scent hit me at full force, making me pause. Did I really want to do this?

Yes.

I let out a sharp yip, attracting his attention.

And the attention of his friends who were currently trying to cheer him up.

"Fel- Ricky? What're you doing here?" Sam said when he saw me, eyes widening. I gave him a dog grin and went over to sit at his feet. He was sitting on the short stone wall surrounding the courtyard, so my head reached his knees.

"You named him Ricky?" the tall friend said, laughing. I was pretty sure his name was Thomas or Dylan or something. Emmy, the girl I did know the name of due to our encounter, bent down to pet me. I growled.

She had learned her lesson, and quickly jumped back. Sam sighed and flicked me in disapproval. I returned my focus back to him, licking the hand that had flicked me. His nose crinkled and he wiped off my slobber onto his jeans.

"Gross..." he murmured, then hopped off the stone wall. He patted his side, signaling that I should follow him. I happily obliged. "I gotta get him home, guys, I'll be back," he told his friends as he trudged across the grass, me trailing after him.

When we were out of ear and eyeshot, he turned around sharply, squatting down so we were at eye level. "I thought you could control your shifting! What happened?" he said, stressfully running his hands through his hair.

Okay, now I feel bad. I felt guilty too.

I couldn't shift back now, due to the windows and security cameras littered around the school. So I tried to do what I came to do. Comfort him.

I slowly inched forward, closer to him, making a confused look cross his face. I stopped centimeters away from him, gazing into his eyes. Trying to make him understand I was here for him. He stared back. Then, tears started rolling down his cheeks. I was startled, wondering if I had done something wrong or made him frustrated, and backed up. But soon, he was grabbing fistfulls of my coat, tugging me closer, and even closer. And then he was hugging me as hard as he could, stuffing his face against my chest and sobbing silently.

I released a sigh of relief that I hadn't messed up, and nuzzled my snout into his soft but disheveled hair.

We sat like that until the bell startled us.

He pulled away slowly, sniffling and wiping away the stray tears that had made their way across his gorgeous face. I eagerly started cleaning his face with my tongue, tasting the salty tears remaining. He began laughing, pushing me away and saying, "Stop, Felix, that tickles!"

I had missed seeing him happy.

I had hidden spare clothes in the school bathroom earlier, and was now changing into them. Sam laughing kept replaying in my head. Over and over. 

Sam was in a better mood today. He walked silently next to me, eyes darting around his surroundings. The sun was setting, and I had asked him to follow me to a surprise destination. He seemed slightly excited. We hadn't talked about what had happened yesterday, which I didn't mind. It was a memory, not a moment to mention.

"How're you holding up?" I said softly.

A frown enhanced his face for a second, then it left. "Alright, actually."

He shivered. I suddenly remembered it was December, and slipped my prized possession off my shoulders and onto his. The thick leather enveloped his form, making me realize how smaller he was compared to me. He didn't say anything about my gesture, but pulled it closer to him.

A dark shadow flitted across the horizon in the corner of my vision, and I looked up with a grin.

"We're here, Sammy."

He stopped in his tracks, eyes widening at the sight in front of him.

"A dog park?"

He looks unsure. Nervous.

"We can go back if you want," I say hurriedly, not wanting him to dislike me. "I just thought it could help you get over your fear a little?"

Sam hesitates, considering my offer.

"No." He says confidently, taking a step forward. "You're right, I should do this."

"Are you sure?" I question, but match his stride.

"Yes."

And soon we're at the gate, unlatching it and closing it behind us.

Instantly, the few dogs at the park run up to us, snuffling around us and checking us out. A dalmatian mix hops up, placing his paws on my chest, and I want to giggle and kiss it, but know this behavior shouldn't be rewarded.

"Down." I command, snapping my fingers. The owner runs up, apologizing, and corrects the behavior as well. I give her a sincere smile, telling her it's okay. I turn around to see how Sam is doing, and find him surrounded and shaking.

I shoo the dogs away and get him to a bench, where he sits and takes a few breaths.

"If you don't mind me asking... why're you so afraid of dogs?" I cautioned, watching his expression to see if I had crossed a line of any kind.

A mixture of emotions passed across his face, causing him to falter, but he still answered. "I, uh, have had a really bad incident with one." He inhales slowly, letting out his breath in a big whoosh. He continues, and I listen carefully with a small reassuring smile.

"When I was a kid, around 6 or 7, my dad got a great job offer in this town and we packed up and moved here. Our new neighbors were great and would let me and my sister come over to their house when my parents were at work and we were on break from school. Well, they always told us never to go into the basement. Never told us why," Sam huffed, crossing his arms. "We were kids! You don't tell kids with imaginations and curiosity to never do something. But we should've listened." He admitted, sighing.

"They kept their territorial dog in the basement. My sister and I found this out firsthand. As soon as we opened the door to the basement, the dog was on me, shredding my clothes and skin," he paused, eyes glazing over from the memory, trembling. I pulled him into me, whispering words of encouragement and rubbing my hand in circles on his back. He took another deep breath and continued.

"I thought my sister had abandoned me... I remember screaming and passing out. I woke up in a hospital and was told the rest of the story. My sister had run off to get help, and the neighbors had called 911 and ripped their dog off of me."

Sam looked up at me. "Is that a good enough explanation?"

"Of course. Thanks for telling me. I'm so sorry you had to experience that, Sammy."

He looked away, eyes following a pomeranian chasing a lab. "It's not your fault. Don't apologize."

I dropped my hand away from his back, stretching it above my head. "Do you mind me asking what breed of dog it was?"

He was quiet for a second. "A poodle. Apparently the blood was terribly hard to wash out of its coat."

I covered my mouth, hoping that would stop my laughs from spilling out. His eyebrows furrowed and he glared at me with a pout. I held a hand up and looked away, coughing.

"It's not funny, Felix."

I cleared my throat, straightening my shoulders and looking back over. "You're right, sorry."

A small smile makes its way onto his face. "Okay, maybe it's a bit funny."

The dogs race over to join in on the excitement when we both break out laughing.