Help Me Remember

Chapter 5

Charlie Walsh's POV

*

"Darn it!" I complain rather loudly when I feel the cool of the first few drops of rain on my skin, that arrived so suddenly without sparing the slightest hint of its visit. 

It was probably in the forecast but I'm not used to regularly checking it. Out of all of the irrelevant things I do remember, Foot Creek's weather consistency is one of them. On the contrary, Oscar seems quite content by this turn of events, splashing in the puddles and enjoying the the cold water in the summer heat. It's easier for him. All he would have to do upon reaching home was shake about and he would go about unaffected, unfortunately the same thing cannot be said about anything that was within a 3 ft radius of the puppy.

The past month had gone by in a whirlpool of events ranging from failed attempts of trying to imitate Dania's perfect eyeliner - saved from the embarrassment at the last moment by a few deft strokes made by Dania's steady hand - to witnessing her almost regular fights with Chase when he tries to drag Natsu away. 

"Who do you think you are, trying to control every aspect of Natsu's life?" she would usually shout as Chase appeared.

"Umm..his best friend?"

"Hah! With friends like that who needs enemies"

"Well I'm not the one sabotaging his social life!" 

"And I'm not the one sabotaging his life in general!"

And on and on they go, seriously those guys would fight over everything. If they don't it's highly probable that the balance of the universe will start to shift.

And now on this fateful rainy Sunday here I am calculating how much time it would take to reach 'home'. Deciding on 'not enough', I shift to working out whether I would rather drench myself in the rain in search of shelter or rush back and be stalked by the heavy sympathetic gaze of aunt Camila for the rest of the day. I know she means well and all but I don't think anyone wants to be treated like glass. Plus there was also the slight possibility I will find shelter sooner than later; if the blue car pulling up next to me was anything to go by.

I muster the least pathetic expression I can manage as the window rolls down. But if the amusement on the boy's face was anything to go by, I fail.

"Hey there! Do you want a ride? There's no way walking in this rain is good for you."

" Oh it's you."

"Why are you disappointed Charlie?"

I barely have time to voice my disagreements when at sound of Natsu's voice Oscar excitedly leaps to the cars window, placing his tiny paws on the door, to reach Natsu's face level.

"Hey buddy!" Natsu laughs, me joining him knowing all too well of Oscar's plan to attack Natsu with an onslaught of doggy kisses.

"Well, come on in then," his voice succeeded by a click indicating that the locks have been opened. With little hesitation, I enter first, Oscar following after me. 

Out of nowhere Oscar shakes his body with vigour, spraying water in all directions. Natsu cringes and I offer him an apologetic smile. He waves me off in a "doesn't matter."

Once the car started up again Oscar was in his element: poking his head out of the window either howling or hanging his tongue out, relishing the wet wind on his face.

Out of the corner of my eye I catch Natsu admiring Oscar from the back view mirror. His eyes had a look of longing like Oscar represented something he always wanted but never got; a pet? In normal circumstances I would get awfully protective of Oscar and pull him towards me. After all he was all that I have left. But when it came to Natsu, surprisingly, no such feelings arise. As if somehow Natsu has this pass.