𝓐 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓮 𝓡𝓸𝓼𝓮 (𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀 𝓠𝓾𝓮𝓮𝓷: 𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓞𝓷𝓮)

Dude

"Okay Carlos, we're gonna do some sprints," Brooke called to him on the other side of the field next to Ben. It was the first time he had ever heard her speak higher than her normal light whispery tone. This voice was stronger more authoritative and honestly, he liked it, it took his attention. He nodded his undivided attention on her.

Ben wrote something on his clip board and started his stopwatch, "Ready...go!" He shouted. Carlos was fast, really fast. Brooke noticed Dude behind him, but she didn't think anything of it, at the moment. Then he shot off into the wood, "Carlos?"

The princess's eyes widened, "Dude was chasing him," she told her brother softly It didn't make sense that the son of Cruella De Vil of all people was afraid of dogs, but that was the only plausible answer. Brooke ran off after the boy hoping both him and Dude were okay.

Ben seemed to realize what was happening and got his bearings, "Carlos!" Ben shot off after them. When he got there, Carlos was in a tree holding on for dear life. Brooke was holding the brussels griffon dog calming the animal and trying to coax Carlos down gently.

"Ben, Brooke, help me this thing is a killer he's gonna chase me down and rip out my throat. This this is a vicious rabid pack animal," He pointed down at Dude, hugging the tree a little tighter. How he got all the way up there so fast would forever remain a mystery.

"Who told you that?" Ben asked as Brooke picked up Dude.

"My mother!" he snapped.

"Cruella?" Brooke questioned.

He nodded "She's a dog expert, a Dog yellerer. Why are you holding him Brooke he's gonna attack you?" He was hysterical and seemed genuinely concerned for her safety. She found it really sweet but below that her blood was boiling, how could Cruella instill such a fear in her son. She was just now seeing truly how bad the isle was, she had always seen it as an injustice, but this was proof of everything she believed. For once she wished she hadn't been right.

He hugged the tree tighter, "have you ever really met a dog?" She asked.

"Of course, not."

She picked up his paw and waved it at Carlos. "Dude this is Carlos; Carols meet Dude he's the campus mutt and unofficial mascot," Ben introduced in his normal cheery tone.

Carlos looked at Dude and started to loosen his grip on the tree. He slowly came down, "he doesn't look like a vicious rabid pack animal." Brooke held him loosely incase Carlos wanted to take him. "You're a good boy, aren't you? Yes, you are,'' he said petting Dude. She carefully placed the dog in his arms.

"Good boy," Ben said, patting Carlos on the shoulder. Brooke chuckled lowly at Carlos' confused face. "I mean, you're a good runner. You're fast. I'm gonna give you guys some space come find me when you done."

Brooke and Ben go to walk off, "Brooke could you stay with me for a while," she looked back at Ben who smiled and nodded. She sat next to Carlos on a fallen log figuring he just wanted assurance that Dude wasn't going to attack him. Ben smiled at the two and took his leave. 

"I guess you guys have it pretty rough on the isle," she spoke.

"Yeah, let's say we don't get a lot of belly rubs," She giggled a little, her eyes widened in horror when she realized what sound escaped her. Carlos laughed, it wasn't a very often that she showed emotion beyond a rare smile, that much was clear, but he just got her to laugh a genuine laugh not a low chuckle.

"I can only imagine. When I was a kid, I always asked to see the isle and my dad always said no," Carlos looked over at her with a glimmer of optimism. He thought the royals just locked up the isle and never looked back, but here was a girl who cared. A princess his age who really wanted things to change who had the power to change things and was doing what she could. "I get why but I think he forgets that they're our people too," she said she leaned her head on his shoulder. At first, he tensed then slowly loosened up. She spoke of her father with such venom, "I can't imagine what you went through, anything I ever wanted was always given to me. That's how a lot of us grew up."

"You don't wanna see it," he said bitterly, with the bite of a villain. "Frankly 'm glad you didn't. It's small, it's broken, we don't get anything good. We mostly get what you throw away, the fact that the others gained any sorta muscle mass is amazing. Especially Jay," He saw her horrified expression and added. "I'm almost 16 years old and at dragon hall I fit in my locker with enough room for me to move my arms." Her features grew even more distressed, and she made a silent vow that if she couldn't bring everyone over, she would at the very least fix up the aisle.

After a few more minutes and some chatter she checked her watch out of habit. "I gotta start some homework. Oh, and I looked at some of your grades and achievements on the isle, you're really smart. Maybe I can move you into a better class. If you want that is. I think there's an open spot in my physics class. I'm in need of a lab partner."

"That sounds good, great actually," he smiled.

"Kay I'll see what I can do. See ya. Pup," She teased. It sounded odd yet comforting coming from her. She wasn't making fun of him, just make fun. He liked the feeling that it gave him.

"Bye Beasty," he teased back having heard her growl earlier. She smiled but otherwise he couldn't read her reaction he wasn't sure if that was a forced smile or a real one, she rushed off to do her homework. Brooklyn Allard was a mystery to him one he desperately wanted to solve.

Updated: March 26th, 2023