[Hidden with a Smile.]

❼

I was used to the sun's rays brightly shining into my room's window and onto my face to wake me up, but the way I woke up this morning was to a Dalmatian licking my face eagerly, as if I knew it for it's whole life. Surprisingly, I sort of preferred the Dalmatian waking me.

Groggily, I looked around at my surroundings. I was still in the same couch Grayson had told me to pose in, but there was a warm brown blanket tossed over me and a soft pillow under my head. Confused about the dog, I slowly stood up and began walking over to his bedroom to look for Grayson. The Dalmatian jumped off the couch with me, following me happily.

Right before I knocked, he burst out the door, knocking me onto the floor. "Ah, Azalea, sorry," he apologized, putting his hand out to me, "I was just coming out to check if you were up. I couldn't finish my sketch because of you falling asleep last night."

Taking his hand, I let him help me get off the ground. "Sorry, and It's okay, but more importantly, whose is that?" I asked, pointing towards the still excited dog going around in a circle behind me.

"Oh, I forgot. He's mine. His name's Santeria."

"You named him after a Sublime song?"

"Yeah, since they have a Dalmatian, I thought it'd be cool."

"If he's yours, then why didn't I see him all of last night."

"His bedtime's at 8, you came at 9."

"Bedtime? A dog has a bedtime?"

"Well yeah, why not? They need rest too."

"Oh."

We both looked over at the seemingly grinning dog who stopped running around for a bit to stare back at us happily. I grinned, sighing from relief that the dog didn't just wander into the house somehow. "Well, okay then. I gotta leave, school's in an hour and I need to get to my neighbor's apartment to change."

"Your not going to your own house?" Grayson asked confused.

"I'd rather not right now" I said quietly, looking away. He nodded, then huffed.

"Well, I could drive you there."

"You have a car?"

"Yeah, why's that such a surprise?"

"Oh, well, I don't know, it seems like you own like a motorcycle or something."

"This coming from the girl who told me not to judge by appearances."

I laughed, shrugging my shoulders. "Well anywhoo, it's fine. I'll get there by myself."

"Are you sure? You don't even know where my apartment is."

I paused, thinking about. Damn, he's right. I never even stepped out of the apartment last night, let alone know where it is.

"Ughhhh fine, but you can't stalk my apartment building after you know where it is."

Grayson grabbed his keys, smirking. "No promises."

~

As we walked up the stairs to my apartment floor, I took each step carefully and slowly to ensure no one will hear us coming up. Grayson didn't get my hint and instead just casually ran up the stairs like nothing.

"Grayson, shhhh" I warned him.

"Why?" He asked, confused and entertained.

"Because I don't want my mother to know I'm here."

"Again...why?"

"I'll tell you later if you just keep it down!" I whisper-yelled. He sighed, obviously annoyed that he couldn't know at that moment. We made it over to Ms. Castillo's apartment, and when she opened the door, she automatically grabbed me and hugged me tight.