The Last Chocolate Croissant

Luke

I'm sure you're tired of these stupid notes, but I just wanted to say I'm really hoping you are enjoying this story. Thankum. P.S. Vina if you are reading this ilysm and I don't know what I would do without you.

Charlie took out her phone and searched for the nearest pet store. The nearest pet store was a little over a two miles away. Charlie and the puppy hurried down the sidewalk to the right of the neighborhood and made a left at the end of the street. They briskly walked along street to make their way to the Broadway Pet Store.

After walking for almost an hour Charlie and the pupper made it to the pet store and stepped inside. Charlie walked the dog to where the dog food was located. She found a bag of dog food for a reasonable price. She grabbed the bag of food and hurried to the purchasing counter. "Hello there, Miss?" The young man said. He had dirty blonde hair that had fluffy curls in the front. He wore a blue t-shirt covered by his red work vest.

"I'm Charlie, and you are?" She smiled. She noticed his name tag had the name 'Luke.'

"The name's Luke." He smirked."What can I do for you, Charlie?"

"Well, I need to purchase this dog food." She placed the bag of food on the counter.

Still smirking he replied, "Is that all?" He winked.

Charlie giggled. "For now." She said in a soft monotone.

"Okay, well for now, it costs ten pounds." She laughed and handed him the money she had. Luke, still smiling, took the money while he dragged his fingers across her hand. She rolled her eyes and took her hand away. Luke gave back her change with another wink. Charlie picked up the bag and carried it with her left arm while holding the leash in the right. "Hope to see you again, Charlie." Luke said.

"Maybe you will. Maybe not." She said swaying her hips out the door. She stopped outside the pet store and checked the time. Damn it, I have to be home in two minutes. She thought. She texted Ryan. 'I need you to tell my mom I'm with you.' She walked down the street back to her house. Her phone rang with a text. 'Why?' Ryan replied. 'Don't ask questions. Just do it.' She texted back. 'Why should I trust you?' He asked. 'If you didn't trust me why the hell did you give me your number?' She replied. 'Good point. Where are you anyway.' He texted back. She scoffed. 'No time for questions just call my mom and tell her I'm with you. Got it.' He texted her again. 'Alright alright, what's her number?' Charlie texted Ryan her mother's phone number and put her phone away. A few minutes later she got another text. 'Done.' It was Ryan. Just as she was about to put her phone away, she got another text. She rolled her eyes, thinking it was Ryan asking more questions. It was her mother. 'Where are you?' Charlie began to walk quicker with the pup just behind. 'I'm with Ryan. Please just another a little while longer?' She hoped her mother would allow her more time so she could make it home. 'Fine. Since you are bonding with our neighbors.' Charlie laughed at how ridiculous her mother sounded, but was grateful she had more time.

She finally made it to her street in the neighborhood. She got to the front door and peeked through the windows to see if anyone was close by. "Hey you." A familiar voice came from behind her. She turned around and it was Ryan, with a bright smile.

"Hey." She replied.

"Is that a dog?" He asked.

"No. It's goldfish." She stared him down. "Of course it's dog."

He laughed. "Are all American girls this much of a smartass?"

"Pretty much." Charlie said."Now I have to sneak this pupper in the house, I'll see you later Ryan." She winked. He walked back to his house. She checked in the windows once again. No one. She quietly opened the door and ran upstairs with the dog and its food. She made it to her room and closed the door behind her. She placed the food on the floor and took the leash off the pup. She backed up out of the room and out the door. She went downstairs and told her mom she was home. She went to the cupboard and found a food and water bowl for the dog. She went to refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water. She ran back to her room and slowly opened the door. She placed the bowls next to the window and poured water into one and food into the other. The pup came running up between her legs and lapped at the water. Charlie giggled at the little dog. She got her phone out to take a picture of the pup. "Look. Look up here." The puppy ignored her. "Come on. Look over here." Still the dog would not listen. She whistled to the pup and snapped her fingers over her phone. Finally, the pup looked up at her and she took a picture. She grabbed her computer and downloaded the photo. She created a printable poster that read 'Dog Found' with the description of the pup and her phone number. She connected the printer in the little office across the hall. She went to the office and filled the tray with enough paper to make about a hundred copies. She clicked print and waited for the copies to be printed. Charlie walked back over to the enormous bookshelves and picked up a copy of 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare. She went to the the window cubby and set the book down. Her stomach was growling, she needed a snack. She scurried down stairs and checked the fridge. "There's no food." She said to herself. "Mom! Why is there no food in the fridge?" No answer. "Mom?"

"Your mother went to the grocery store to grab food!" She heard her father yell from the front room. "There is food in the pantry though!"

Thank god. She thought. "Okie dokie!" Charlie replied. She slid to the pantry and scanned the shelves. She eyed the box of Famous Amos cookies. She turned to the island counter remembering the basket of fruit sitting there. Should I be healthy? Or not care and eat those delish cookies? Charlie thought. She grabbed a bright, green granny smith apple out of the basket and dashed up the stairs. She went to the little office and grabbed the homemade posters. She made her way back to her room and slid through the door. She sat down in the cubby and picked up the book. She took a bite of her crunchy apple and out of the corner of her eye, a chocolate colored blob came rushing over. She turned to see the pup laying its chin on the edge of the cubby. She patted the seat and the pup hopped up on the seat and curled into a ball by her side. She patted the good little dog and began to read.

After a while of giggling throughout the book, Charlie heard the front door open. The chocolate dog popped its head up at the noise. She closed the book, grabbed the little posters, and slid out the door once more. "Mom! You're home!" She told her mother, excited there was more food to be put in the house.

"Yes. Could you help me with the groceries before the taxi driver gets annoyed?" She asked Charlie.

She sighed. "Yes mother." She placed the posters on the washstand next to the door and walked out to the cab. She grabbed the last of the groceries and headed inside. She placed them on the counter and went back to the front door. After her mother came back from paying the cab, she asked, "Ryan asked me to take a walk with him later tonight. Can I go?"

Her mother sighed. "Charlie you already took a walk, and was with Ryan earlier."

"But mom." She drawed out the word 'mom.' "Please. We are on vacation. How am I supposed to have fun, if you won't let me?" Charlie manipulated.

"I know you are just manipulating me, but you do make a very good point." Her mother's rolled her eyes, but smiled.

Charlie hopped up. "So can I go, please." She begged.

"Alright, alright you can go." She smiled. "What time is he coming to get you?"

"Umm." Charlie had to make something up. "I think he said after dinner." She lied.

Charlie's mother began to load the groceries in the fridge. "Alright. And how long will you be out?"

"How long am I allowed to stay out?" Charlie smirked. Charlie's mother gave her a glare. "What? I'm just asking."

"Be home by eleven tonight, after dinner." She continued with the groceries. "Is that good enough for you?"

She ran and hugged her mother. "Yes! Yes. That's great." She pushed off her mother. Her mother gave her a confused look.

"What was that." She raised her eyebrow. "Why are you so happy about this? I've never seen you this happy about a walk." Her eyes widened. "Is it Ryan?! Do you like him sweetie?!"

"What?! No!" She looked to the floor. I just like it here, and he's going to show me around." She looked back up to her mom, who was smiling ear to ear. "That's all. It's not because of Ryan." She emphasized 'not.' Her mother obviously did not believe her, since she was still smiling so big. "Thanks mom." She said.

"Of course sweetie." Her mother said, still smiling. Charlie rolled her eyes at her mother's state. She ran back upstairs and hopped back into the window cubby. She curled up with the chocolatey pup and felt extremely tired. Must be the jetlag. Charlie thought. She scooted the fluffy pup into her arms and fluttered her eyes shut. She fell fast asleep dreaming of the adventures she would soon come to during her summer in England.