Four Heart, One Roof

Four: Marshmallow Arrives

[Scene: It's a lazy Saturday afternoon. The boys are lounging in the living room, each engaged in their own activities.]

Marcus: (scrolling through his phone) Hey guys, check this out. The animal shelter downtown is having an adoption event today.

Jace: (perking up) Dude, we should totally go!

Leo: (looking up from his textbook) I don't think that's a good idea. Our lease probably doesn't allow pets.

Aiden: (quietly) Actually, I checked. We're allowed small pets.

[Everyone looks at Aiden in surprise]

Marcus: (grinning) Were you planning on sneaking in a pet, Aiden?

Aiden: (blushing) No, I just... like to know the rules.

Jace: (jumping up) Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go get ourselves a furry roommate!

Leo: (sighing) This seems ill-advised. We're still adjusting to living together.

Marcus: (persuasively) Come on, Leo. It could be a good bonding experience for us.

[After some more convincing, they head to the shelter]

[At the animal shelter]

Shelter Worker: Welcome! Are you looking to adopt today?

Jace: (enthusiastically) You bet! Show us your cutest, furriest, most awesome—

Leo: (interrupting) We're just looking, actually. We haven't made any decisions yet.

[They wander through the shelter, looking at various animals]

Marcus: (pointing) How about a cat? They're pretty low maintenance.

Aiden: (hesitantly) I'm actually allergic to cats...

Jace: (gasping dramatically) Aiden! How could you betray feline-kind like this?

Leo: (practically) A dog is out of the question. Our apartment is too small, and they require too much attention with our schedules.

[They continue browsing until they reach a section with small animals]

Shelter Worker: Have you considered a smaller pet? We have some lovely rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

Marcus: (thoughtfully) A smaller pet could work...

[They gather around a cage with a fluffy white hamster]

Aiden: (eyes widening) Oh, it's so cute...

Jace: (cooing) Look at its little nose twitching! Can I hold it?

Shelter Worker: Of course! This is one of our friendliest hamsters. We call him Marshmallow.

[The worker carefully hands Marshmallow to Jace]

Jace: (holding Marshmallow gently) Guys, I'm in love. We have to get him.

Leo: (cautiously) A hamster could be manageable. They don't need much space.

Marcus: (smiling) And look how happy Aiden is. What do you say, roomies? Should we adopt Marshmallow?

[After a group discussion and some paperwork, they leave with Marshmallow and supplies]

[Back at the apartment]

Marcus: (setting up the cage) Alright, little guy. Welcome to your new home.

Aiden: (arranging toys in the cage) Do you think he likes it?

Jace: (dramatically) Our son has the finest hamster mansion money can buy!

Leo: (rolling his eyes) He's a hamster, Jace, not our son.