Finding Love

CHAPTER 3

I'm currently done with my classes and I'm walking to the shelter.
There's a small skip in my step as I feel my heart racing; there's a really small, thrilling feeling that I have, and I have no one to thank but him.

*When my eyes locked with his, I just couldn't bring myself to look away, that was until Brandon slung his hand on my shoulder. I looked up at Brandon and then back at my friends,
"Whatcha looking at, peach?"
"Nothing"
I laugh as I swat his hand away*

Back to the present, I'm kicking tiny pebbles while making my way to the small shelter. I love going there, it's the place I love the most.
I go in and write my entry, and once I'm in the back I put on my volunteer shirt and badge and head to the front desk.

The days go by as usual; I'm at the register for the first half of my shift, and later, when Lenna, my coworker, arrives, I get to go to the back and take care of the babies!!

After a while, Lenna finally arrives and clocks in as I head to the back. I love the animals. Currently, we have around nine cats, five kittens, two puppies, seven dogs, and two raccoons. It's a small shelter cum adoption center; it's really lovely.

All the workers love the animals, and the animals are really friendly; we've gained their trust, and they're all ready to be adopted or released.

There's this one grey tabby, and I'd say that we're meant for each other.
Literally. She loves me; I love her...so I plan to adopt her next week if she's still here.

Once I'm at the back, I change their waters, place their food, and play with a few of them.
Once I was done with my tasks, I lounged on the chair doing some paperwork, and finally, I was done for the day.

I change out of my working clothes and clock out at the register, I head to the park.

It's still light out, so I walk a little deeper in the park and sit down against a tree. I rummage through my bag and finally find the cigarette. I take my lighter out of my pocket and take a puff after lighting it.

I'm not addicted, per se, but I do smoke once in a while, probably once or twice a month. I'm not entirely dependent on it, but it sure as hell helps me with my anxiety, it calms me down.

I zone out as I focus on a nest up in the tree, continuing to take puffs.
There's rustling. My eyes quickly take in my surroundings as I search for possible threats. Instead, I see Zane; he's shuffling across the grass and sitting at the base of the tree that's right opposite to me.

I don't think he's noticed me yet, and I really hope he doesn't...not like he's going to speak to me or anything; I sigh lightly as I take out a book and place it open on my lap, so it looks like I'm Busy.

As I flip the page mindlessly, taking short puffs, zoning out again. 

"Hey"

I don't look up, cause why the fuck would I look up. I'm internally panicking as I flip another page. Obviously, he's not talking to me, right? RIGHT?

"Psst Harper"

My eyes quickly look up from the book and lock with a pair of beautiful grey eyes,
He knows my name.

"Yes?"

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