X, Luca

Chapter VIII

Journal,
Our dog days have started.

Nakia was probably the most expensive gift I have ever gotten Skye. It was a couple days before Christmas and I had realized that I wanted to get one more thing that was a bit more on the expensive side of the spectrum. Even though Skye grew up in an Islamic household, her family still celebrated Christmas because her parents wanted to almost "reward" their children with gifts and they weren't a religious Muslim family either. To shorten it up- they weren't super strict religious- more of a spiritual type family.

We had decided to get each other gifts because it was a giving season after all. I had gotten some of the things she mentioned to me through the course of the year- well I wouldn't say most I would say all of them actually. They weren't items to any heft but if they were I still would've bought them. She's my girl, dude, my Arabian princess- she deserves it.

I was walking around Southern California to get some ideas. Nothing had really caught my eye until I passed a pet store. This little dog held my attention- the red Christmas bow on her adding to how cute she was. From just looking at her it was easy to say she was some German Shepherd mix and would fit great into the Zaman family. I walked in and bought her.

Skye had had dogs throughout her life but hadn't had one since the dog she had since she was just a baby passed away in eighth grade. It was heartbreaking for her and I wanted her to feel the love that she and her family once had with their dogs.

I decided to give her an Arabic name because the Zaman dogs all had Arab names in the past. After thinking over the few basic names I had heard and learned I decided on Nakia. Nakia could be either a boy or girl name and meant chaste and faithful. I thought it was a good fit because that's basically the job of a dog- to be faithful to their owner.

I placed Nakia in my car and drove to Skye's house. Even though it was a couple days until Christmas it's not like I could put this sweet little thing in a box and wait. I pulled up to her house and made sure that her car was in the driveway. I ran up to the door and knocked, leaving Nakia sleeping in the car.

"Hey, what're you doing here?" She smiles, revealing some dimples.
"I have a surprise, I know it's not Christmas but I couldn't resist and-"
"Stop rambling," She giggles, placing a sweet kiss to my lips.
I didn't say anything but grabbed her hand and gently dragged her to my car.

"Close your eyes," I smile standing in front of the door so she couldn't see Nakia.
"Why? What's happening?" She questions, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"Can you trust me please?" I bargain, flashing her a cute smirk.
"Fine," She sighs and rolls her eyes.

I unlocked the door and pulled Nakia out and held her out in front of me.
"Ok, you can open them," I smile.
"Oh, she's so cute! You guys got a dog?" She asks, taking Nakia from me and cuddling with her.
"She is, isn't she? But no we didn't get a dog. I got the dog for you," I explain, leaning against my car, smiling at the interaction between the two.

"No, you didn't Luca. Didn't Nönna say something about getting a dog?" She asks, still not believing me.
"She did but this isn't the dog. I seriously got Nakia for you baby," I smile at her wide eyed expression.
"You named her Nakia? Luca, you didn't have to. You really didn't have to," She quickly speaks, shaking her head and blinking away tears.

"I know you miss the relationship you had with Kadri- even if you won't admit it," I say, pulling her into me.
She nods and placed Nakia on the ground to walk her into the house.
"What are you gonna just stand out here?" She laughs once she realized I'm still in the driveway.

I run up to the front door and follow Skye up to her room. She places Nakia down on the floor while she pulls out a dog bed and some toys from under her bed.

"These were all Kadri's but she'll love them the same," She whispers, sitting down next to me once she places the bed and toys where they used to sit when Kadri was still alive.
"I had no idea you kept those this entire time," I say, laying down and pulling her into my chest.

"I still miss him so I kept them after all theses years. He was my best friend before you were, you know?" I nod at what she says, I'm the same way with my parents.
"I'm sure he's happy up there in puppy heaven. Playing with everyone else and watching over you- still on his doggy duties," I say to her, placing a firm kiss on her forehead.

"I'm sure he is. Thank you so much, Luca. It was time to get a new dog. Thank you so much," She repeats, cuddling even closer to me.
"You're welcome baby," I mumbled running my hands up and down her arm.

"Merry Christmas Skye." "Merry Christmas Luca."

x Luca