Fetch, Felix!

Chapter Nine

"This is Veronica," she said, clearing her throat and looking away from our shocked expressions.

"What. The. Fuck." I blurted in amazement, snapping a picture of Emmy introducing her ex-enemy.

A glob of beans fell out of Tyler's slack mouth.

"Ew, Tyler, that's disgusting, clean that up," Emmy ordered, throwing napkins in his face. "Anyway, you guys won't mind if she sits with us, right?" Emmy said, narrowing her eyes and giving us a tight smile.

Veronica and Emmy sat down across from Tyler and I, setting their lunches down in front of them.

"Not at all," I replied politely, giving Veronica a smile. Veronica smiled back.

Tyler shrugged, receiving a sharp kick under the table from Emmy.

"So, Veronica, how'd you and Emmy become best buds?" I asked, receiving my own kick to the shins.

Veronica let out a small laugh, looking over at Emmy in an adoring manner.

Oh? I thought, etching this important fact into my memory.

"We had more in common than we thought, and when Emmy was oddly nice for a day, we found we got along great together," she said, shrugging.

I gave Emmy an evil grin. "Hm, how interesting."

Emmy left another bruise on my leg. 

I never looked at Kyle anymore.

Instead, my eyes wandered to Felix. I repressed the butterflies I felt when his slender fingers brushed on my shoulder or fixed a strand of hair. I ignored the way my heart beat faster around him. I fought the stupid, impossible, imaginary scenarios between us my mind tried to make at night.

Felix didn't make it any easier to push down these feelings. He seemed to always be near me now. He sat wedged between Tyler and I at lunch, slept in my bed every other day, walked me home, walked me to school, walked with me in the hallways at school no matter how far away our classes were, and did his homework with me.

He was everywhere. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself I didn't, I loved it.

"Good evening Mr. Brown!" Felix shouted, breath fogging in the chilly air. I stuffed my hands deeper into my hoodie pockets, rocking back and forth on my feet.

"Boy, what the hell are you doing on the roof?" My dad roared back.

Felix was slowly edging his way back to the ladder. I clicked the 'on' button on the remote hidden in my pocket.

Our house lit up.

My dad's mouth fell open as he stared in awe at the lights decorating our house. Usually this was his job during the holidays, but Felix insisted on doing it.

"Isn't it amazing?" I breathed, watching Felix skillfully climb down the ladder.

My dad nodded beside me.

Felix galloped over, nearly tunneling into me. He was always full of so much energy. "Back up goofball," I laughed, pushing him playfully.

"Let's go inside, kiddos," my dad said, rubbing his hands together and blowing on them. "The lights look great, Felix."

"Thanks, Mr. Brown!" he cheered, face beaming like the lights.

"Suck-up," I muttered under my breath as we walked inside.

He grinned down at me.

And my heart nearly stopped.