what would we do without each other? ~[paw patrol]~

2 - [Convenience Store Encounter]

[Tracker POV]

"¡Mierda!"

Of course all the noodles OTHER than the one Rocky wanted were still on the shelf. That's kinda what he gets for liking such a popular brand anyways.

I fished my phone out of my cargo shorts and dialed mi amigo's number.

He picked up immediately.

"Helloooo? Tracker? You got the goods?"

"Yea, about that. Every brand of noodles is in stock other than the one you wanted. Lo sien-"

"No, no, don't apologise. You have no control over the store. It's fine, just get the brand YOU like. Oh, and cook it AT the store, I might wake my parents up if I boil water this late."

"Entiendo. Bye!"

I hung up immediately, then subconsciously swiped off a cup of miso-flavoured noodles off the shelf. I'd been here so many times for cup noodles that it was just muscle memory at this point.

I walked over to the cashier, eager as ever to get out of this dim, dusty, and derelict place. I still don't get why mi bebé and Rocky like coming here to buy stuff so much, it is near their houses, but that's pretty much the only upside. It was mangy, always humid, the lights flickered non-stop and I could've sworn there were mushrooms growing out of a few shelves. But regardless, I walk over to the counter, ready to pay.

However, as I ran over, my ears had somehow failed me for the first time in years, as I didn't see a person turning the corner.

"AHHH!"

I whisper-shouted as a guy carrying a box straight up walks into me, as if he didn't see me.

We both fall backwards, and the box gets knocked out of his hands, sliding a few feet away from us.

"Ugh, jodienda puta..."

[The boy's POV]

"Ugh... damn it..."

I reach out my hand to the guy I'd just walked into, couldn't see him over the box of food I was carrying.

He grabbed my hand and pulled himself up. Honestly, no wonder I couldn't see him over the box. He's pretty damn short.

"Uhm... sowwy about walking into you like that... awe you good dude?"

"Yea, but can you presta atención a tus alrededores next time?"

"Sí, clawo, no hay pwoblema."

"EH?!" the boy recoiled, blushing a deep shade of red, ears twitching as well, as if he didn't expect me to reply like that. "You speak Spanish too?"

"Yea? I'm fwom Tijuana. Moved hewe after something happened. You?"

"Emigrated with my parents."

"Oh... I see."

"What are you even carrying anyways?" The boy motioned over to the box, still sealed, lying on its side on the floor. "You don't look like the usual employee."

"Oh, it's nothing, just my food fow the week."

"..."

"You get your food from here of all places?" At that moment, the lights started flickering on and off, as if proving his point.

"It's not exactly food..."

"Como en?"

"Uhm..."

At this point, I could see he was pretty frustrated at me trying to stall the conversation, so he just walked over to the box. Oh god...

*tzzzzzzzzzzt~*

I watched as the midget ripped the tape off, then pushed the flaps away, as he started rummaging through the layer of packing peanuts on the top.

"¿Que? This isn't food..." He said as he pulled out a cup of instant noodles. It was the cheapest, yet most delicious brand they sold here.

"You know, you pwobably shouldn't look through MY stuff."

"Hehehe, lo siento." He rolled his eyes with the smuggest smirk I've ever seen. "But seriously, can't you cook?"

"Well, kinda nevew leawned how to, dude. They... uhm..." I tried explaining to this puny little hobbit, but the pain of the 'incident', so to speak, was stabbing into my back like a million blazing red knives.

"¿Estás bien? You look a bit troubled... Sorry if I said something..."

"NO, NO, IT'S FINE!" I could feel my face heating up in embarrassment, and my tail stiffening.

"Hmm... how about this." The crotch gremlin caressed his chin with his thumb, before pointing at me. "How about... I, teach you to cook, or maybe cook for you from time to time? I'm a pretty good chef, you know?"

I was just in straight up shock. Not only had a complete stranger whom I haven't even told my name to just offered to help me, but his charisma was also overflowing to the point it made me want to throw up.

"Uhm... sure? But first, we fowgot to intwoduce ouwselves. I'm Zuma Waters, I'm a chocolate lab. You?"

"Tracker Cortez. Chihuahua."

"Twacker... That's a cool name..."

"It's Tracker, not 'Twacker'."

"Sowwy, can't help it... it's something I was bown with..."

"UH, no, no, I didn't mean it in a mean way..."

"It's okay, I undewstand."

"So... do you accept the offer?"

"Yea. Suwe."

[Tracker POV]

"Alright, Neat. So I'm gonna need your dirección and Medios de contacto."

"Uhm... it's the apawtment building on the cowner of Fewwon Stweet and Fiwst Avenue. You can have my PuPcowd tag if you need to text me."

"Cool. Isn't that building directly opposite the school? Do you go to Adventure Bay High?"

"...Yea? Why?"

"Oh, cool, I go there too! What grade you in? I'm in 11th."

"11th as well. But they're making me retake cause I failed last year."

"Damn, es una pena. Hope you pass this year. So when can I start?"

"Two weeks latew? Like... the 9th? Is that okay?"

"Why not next week?"

"I'm... wowking on something."

"Sure, okay."

I waved goodbye, as Zuma picked up his box and walked out of the store. I then proceeded to the checkout to buy the noodles. After paying, I'd left the store and was halfway to Rocky's house, but I had a feeling something wasn't right...

"MIERDA! I FORGOT TO COOK THE NOODLES!" I screamed in my mind internally, as I started running like a madman back to the store.

"ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ring-a-ling~~"

My phone went off. Assuming it was Rocky, I shouted at my phone to answer the call. Gotta love modern technology.

"Hello? Twacker?"

"Zuma? ¿Por que me estas llamando?"

"Have you seen my keys? You wewe the only pewson I talked to aftew leaving, so I assumed that you'd know."

"Come to say, I did see something brillante-ing on the floor when we bumped into each other. Could be that."

"Oh, alwight. Got it."

Reaching the store again, I immediately ran to the back, where there was a hot water machine. I turned it on, letting the noodles be submerged as I watched the noodles cook.

"So, I'm starting on the 9th, huh?"

NOTE.
I WILL UPDATE MORE I PROMISE. MAYBE A TWO CHAPTER ONCE A WEEK-ISH? IF NOT LESS.