Attention What If

Chapter 17

POV: Skylar

"One, then two, one, two," I hop on one foot then two. Today is hopscotch day. I challenged myself to hopscotch on my walk home, I mean to Darleen's vacation house after I got off work.

"This one isn't so bad," Darleen does it with me.

"Kind of childish, but still fun." I hop some more.

"How was work," she skips and jumps.

"Work was work, what about you?"

"I learned the difference between black coffee and dark coffee today." She says.

"I don't think that's what your internship is about," I frown.

"Tell that to my trainer," she snorts in amusement.

"And done," I hop up to the driveway.

"High five," Darleen high-fives me.

"Another one bites the dust," I cross it off my list.

"What next for tomorrow? Make it a good one since we are both off."

"Umm... what about rock climbing?" I offer.

"Anything else?"

"Well I still have interior decoration, learning to play an instrument, and video gaming for some long activities that will probably take all day. The others are just short things I can squeeze into my schedule."

"What about planning a party?" Darleen suggests.

"Darleen," I say in my warning tone.

"Oh come on, it's your birthday Skylar, we have to do something. All you did was work all day." She pouts.

"No way, no birthday stuff. I just want to—"

"You're 21 now, the legal age to do whatever the fuck you want. Live a little."

"Rock climbing it is," I unlock the front door.

"Okay, since you refuse to celebrate your birthday, you can't be mad." She says.

"Mad?"

"Wait here," she runs inside.

"What did you do!? You know I said no gifts!" I shout after her.

"La la la, I can't hear you." She calls back.

I let out a heavy sigh.

I should have known. No way Darleen can resist spoiling her friends when she has a chance. She's been practically begging me to let her do something for me all day. I had to silence my phone because she kept texting and calling me at work.

She walks back over to me with her back to me.

"Don't be mad." She says again.

"Darleen."

"Ta-da!" she turns around. In her arms is the most adorable little Dalmatian puppy I've ever seen.

"Oh my goodness," I take the little puppy from her arms, it wags its tail happily. "Darleen, I hate you," I say in a high squeaky voice as the puppy licks my face.

She laughs.

"Hey there, aw, look at you," I hold it close.

"It's a boy, I haven't named it yet. He's all yours."

"I can't have a puppy."

"But look at his wittle face," she says.

I sigh in defeat, "Fine. I'll call him Ace."