The Legacy List

Chapter 4- The Gift

I roll over the next morning and check my phone. 4 new texts, three e-mails, and five missed calls. It's only 9 a.m., why do I have so many friends today? I check my e-mails first. Two of them were just reminders for sales at Abercrombie and Fitch. The third one is from the school. I open it and begin to read.

SPECIAL REMINDER!!!

The school's annual Homecoming Dance is in THREE WEEKS!!!!! Be sure to sign your guests up by next Tuesday and vote for Homecoming Queen and King! 

Just reading that gave me a headache. Our principal is way too enthusiastic. I quickly go through my missed calls and texts and reply to them all before turning over to wake Rikki up. I shake er shoulder and she turns over. She opens her eyes and smiles at me before she resumes her natural chatty self.

"Last night was sooo much fun! I'm so happy you came over. What do you want to do today? Are you hungry? I'm hungry, let's go to the diner and get pancakes!"

I laugh, "Yeah last night was super awesome! I have to go home in a couple hours, but I have time to get breakfast."

"Okay let me go get ready. I'll be ready in thirty minutes!" She rolls off the bed and runs into her bathroom to brush her teeth. I smile, she is such a busybody. 

Within minutes shes back in her room raiding through her closet.

"Rikki, we are going to the diner to get pancakes, not the Oscars."

She rolls her eyes, "I know I know, I just don't want to look bad."

"I don't think it's possible for you to look bad..."

She laughs and throws a pillow at me. She finally pulls out a pair of jeans and the hoodie she stole from me about three years ago. She goes and gets dressed and we meet at the door. We walk down the street to the diner. We go there at least once a week. It's kind of like our special weekly tradition. We walk inside and the waitress seats us and tells us she will be with us shortly.

By the time we finish eating it is already noon. I give Rikki a hug and tell her I have to go. She pouts and hits me playfully on the shoulder. I give her a hug and tell her I'll see her soon.

As I walk out of the diner I pull out my phone and call the animal shelter to make sure they are open. Once they confirm I begin walking in that direction. Rikki's second thing on her list is to buy a dog with a boy. Obviously she can't buy one with me or it will ruin the suprise and my whole plan. I did manage to remember the dog's name that she became obsessed with about 6 months ago whenever we came here for community service. Hopefully she hasn't been adopted yet, otherwise I'm screwed.

I walk in the front doors of the animal shelter and go to the front desk.

"Hi I am looking to adopt a puppy today. Could you show me where I have to go?"

The lady at the front desk smiles and motions towards the big doors on the right. I thank her and approach the doors. I go inside and I'm greeted by dozens of barking dogs of all sizes. I look around for a little bit until I hear a familiar yapping sound. I turn around and behind me is just about the cutest and sweetest Daschund I've ever seen. I recognize her immediately. I approach her cage and reach in to pet her.

"Hey Nicki, remember me?" She wags her tail and licks my hand in response. I remember now why Rikki loved this dog so much. Aside from the fact that their names rhyme, Nicki is the most loving little weiner dog you'll ever meet.

A man walks towards me with a clipboard and holds it out in front of me. "I was told that you were looking to adopt a puppy today? Have you made your decision?"

I nod my head and point towards Nicki's cage and the man's face immediately lights up. "Oh I am so happy you chose her! She has been here for almost a year. I'm sure she's ready to get out of here!"

I laugh and sign the paperwork on the clipboard. The man gives me a quick briefing on how to care for her and he give me a week's worth of food for her. I thank him and carry Nicki outside. I start walking towards Rikki's house and the closer I get, the more excited I become. She is going to love this. I walk up her front steps and walk inside. She isn't home yet so I sit on her couch and put Nicki on my lap. After about twenty minutes I hear footsteps coming up the porch. When she sees me she looks suprised. 

"Markus? What are you doing back already, I thought you had to go hom--" She looks at my lap and then back at the smirk on my face and she runs to me.

"Oh my gosh Markus you didn't! Oh my gosh is that Nicki?!"

"Yeah I just adopted her about  an hour ago. I figured she could be our little puppy. Unless, of course, you want her just for you because-" I am cut off by her leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. She pulls away and smiles.

"Of course we will share her. She will be ours Markus. We have our own little family now. Markus, Rikki, and little Nicki, family forever." She smiles and picks Nicki up and signals for me to come upstairs. I tell her to give me a minute.

As she walks up the stairs I am left on the couch wondering what is happening to my friendship. I already know that I love her, but could it be possible that I am falling IN love with her? Much less, could she be falling in love with me? She has never in her life placed her lips on me. I push my thoughts aside and pull her list out of my pocket.

1. Drink alcohol- check

2. Buy a dog with a boy- check

I fold the paper back up and head upstairs where I find Rikki and Nicki sound asleep on the bed. I back quietly out of the room and begin to walk to the front door when I hear Rikki.

"Markus where are you going?"

"I thought you were asleep. I was going to go home and let you rest."

"Don't leave. Please stay? I sleep better whenever you are here."

I nod my head and climb onto her bed. She grabs my hand and brings my arm around her waist. She nuzzles her head into my neck and as she drifts off I am left wide awake, wondering when I will wake up from the dream.