One Cat, One Dog

Chapter 7

Hal the Dog was preparing for a date. A really important date. A date with his planned future husband, Nature Cat! Hal put on his black tuxedo and his red bowtie, and brought his favorite chew toy, Mr. Chewinsky, with him. Oh, boy! Will this night be the best one yet!, he thought.

*Two hours later*

"Um, Hal, there's something we want you to know", Daisy said with a sad voice. "It's about Nature Cat", Squeeks added.

"W-What? I-Is he taken by someone else?" Hal asked, clutching Mr. Chewinsky to his chest. He then watched his friends' sad and concerned faces and thought something. It turned out that Nature Cat didn't love him; he loved someone else! "But... How could this have happened? Does Nature Cat REALLY love someone else?" Hal whimpered with tears in his eyes.

"Sadly, yes. Nature Cat has a girlfriend. No, fiancee. He is engaged to Nature Dog", Squeeks informed the crying dog. Hal cried even more. "Uh, Squeeks, I don't think you should have told him that", said Daisy. Squeeks replied, "Yeah, well, it is what it is."

Hal sadly trudged back to his doghouse while crying and holding his beloved Mr. Chewinsky. He couldn't believe that his best friend and crush would reject him like that. Hal cried in his bed until he could cry no more. Then, a shadow came in. A shadow of someone familiar, that is. Hal looked behind him, and it was Nature Cat! And he had a sorrowful look on his face. 

"What's wrong, Hal?" Nature Cat asked. Hal wiped his tears and looked at him and replied, "Y-You... You were dating someone. No, ENGAGED to someone! Yeah, ENGAGED to Nature Dog, and you didn't tell me!" He resumed sobbing. 

Nature Cat looked at his best friend and asked, "Why are you sad about that, Hal?" "Because I-I-I am IN LOVE WITH YOU!" Hal howled with tears streaming down his cheeks. "I loved you for a long time, Nature Cat, and you didn't notice!" Nature Cat covered his mouth and then went to his crying friend. He said soothingly, "Hal, my friend, it will be okay. We'll find you another one; one who will love you for you. It... It just won't be me." The yellow cat and the light brown dog took a glance at the cat's golden engagement ring. 

Hal wiped his tears off again and hugged Nature Cat. "I-I hope you and Nature Dog live a happy, happy life together", he said, looking at Nature Cat's ring for the last time. They break from the hug as a certain darker brown dog entered the scene. She joined Nature Cat and took paws and kissed him on the cheek. "Well, it's official, Hal. Do you want to join us at the wedding whenever it's planned?" Nature Cat asked Hal.

"Y-Yes. I will, Nature Cat", Hal replied with a small smile.