Make It Count | ✓

02 - blizzard

[ out of my league ]
stephen speaks
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—two—

blizzard

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" the first thing Belle said to me the second she saw me. She was at the counter, punching the sold items her customer got on the cash register.

"Good evening to you, too," I said in my straightest voice, I would probably give a line a run for its money.

I was about to go to this party arranged by my filthy rich, British friend, Richard Heusaff. All of my friends would be there since nobody really wanted to miss the fun, given the fact that the bastard organizes the best, wild parties in town for as long as I could remember. Girls, booze, good-ass music, you name it, the idiot had it. It surely would be full-house tonight.

But for my biggest tough luck of all time − towing a freaking dog for hours now. Great. Just great. You see, I'd been stopping by Ms Petunia's store to see Belle so I could leave the dog to her. In retrospect, deserting it in my house would've been a lot easier but I didn't want to for the reason that I wasn't good-natured enough to take care of pets, and I was a full-fledged sluggard in terms of house chores. Mainly cleaning dog poo.

Belle, however, was apparently avoiding me every time I dropped by and that left me only seeing her grandma at the counter. I surmised she could see me approaching since they could see the passersby from inside. Fortunately, I was able to face her down this time around; and judging by the look on her face, I knew then and there that this wasn't going to be a cakewalk.

"Have a nice night," she said to the customer, watching her walk off, before turning to me; her hands propped on her waist and here goes, "You know what, Chase, I can be the nicest person you'll ever know only if you're not being such a dick."

I flouted, scratching my eyebrow. "Are you on your period or something? 'Cause I'd completely understand that."

"No!" she hollered. "I just hate people like you − patronizing, obnoxious, and insensitive."

Every word riled me up in places no one else could see. I let out a scornful air as I gave a cursory glance at the shelves. "Wow," I muttered, sardonically, caving my hand in my pocket as I perched the box with the dog on the counter top. "So much for being insensitive, huh? You hate me? Trust me, the feeling's mutual. Hold off the trouble because I'm just going to give you your dog and you'll never have to see me again. So please take him and the party's now in full swing."

She raised her eyebrow, tempting enough for me to pluck them all off. "I take it that you're more concerned about getting laid tonight rather than taking care of the dog."

"So what is it to you?" I paused, taking my sweet time to give her a once over. "Jealous you won't be the girl on my bed for the night?" I smirked, and my reply only added fuel to the fire for Belle held a furious gaze that almost burnt me to the balls.

"Piss off, Chase," she spat, rounding the counter and stalked off towards a shelf of canned goods. It was simple logic to know she was occupying herself to ignore me. I felt privileged by the effort, honestly. Please note that I speak sarcasm. "I'm not going to keep the dog."

I sighed, keeping my patience. There was no way I was going to keep a dog. I had to train and I absolutely wasn't a pet person. "Why? Are you saying I'm going to keep him?"

"Yes, you're going to keep him. How do you like them apples?" she mocked, arranging the cans. It was honestly comical that she was trying to put a batch of milk at the furthest part of the shelf but deciding against it seconds later. Apparently, she was vertically challenged − but I wasn't about to laugh here.