His Choice

Chapter 11: Midnight Snack

Carlos and Ben didn't continue practicing tourney; Ben let Carlos off the hook. He decided that Carlos really didn't need to love the sport and allowed him to head back to his dorm. The boy wasn't even off the field before he ran into Jay.

"Carlos?" Jay said blinking a few times as if he couldn't believe his eyes. "Are you holding a dog?"

Apparently, he had been on his way to talk to the tourney coach, like he had told him to do during practice. Jay nearly fell over when he saw Carlos walking towards him with Dude in his arms. Carlos saw him stumble a little when he noticed the dog.

"Uh, yeah," Carlos said sheepishly.

Jay couldn't seem to form words as he stood before Carlos. He just stood there with his mouth open, searching for something to say but utterly failing. After his initial shock, he managed to ask, "How?"

"Kind of a long story," Carlos said, readjusting Dude in his arms. "But Ben showed me that dogs aren't evil and introduced me to Dude, here."

"Dude?"

"The dog," Carlos held him up, "He's the campus mutt apparently."

"I-I just can't believe it," Jay muttered petting Dude. He looked Carlos in the eyes and grinned fondly, "You faced one of your fears today, Carlos. And didn't die like you always think you will."

"Shut up," Carlos rolled his eyes and grinned. Jay patted his shoulder and then started off towards where the coach was. As Carlos was walking back towards the dorms he stopped, turned and called to Jay, "Hey, I'll meet you in Mal and Evie's room later, okay?"

Without turning around Jay raised his hand and waved, "Not as I have anywhere else to be!"

Carlos smiled and watched Jay walk away. Dude barked pointedly.

"Hey, you shut up too," Carlos joked, scowling at the dog. "I don't you're your judgment."

Before going to the girls' room, Carlos made a quick stop in his own room. He changed back into his clothes, grabbed his bag and slid his laptop into it. On his way down to the girl's dormitories, he said to Dude,

"Are you excited to meet Mal and Evie?" he asked the dog as he grabbed his laptop. Dude perked his ears.

"I promise, they're nice," Carlos told him. "Well, nice enough."

Turns out they were nice enough. When Carlos let himself into their room with the dog in one arm they had the same reaction as Jay.

"Carlos. What is that?" Mal froze as he walked into the room.

"Are you holding a dog?" Evie practically shrieked.

"Yes, but it's okay!" Carlos reassured them quickly. He explained how he went to practice tourney with Ben and how he met Dude.

"I mean, I was scared out of my mind when he came running after me," Carlos explained. "I'm pretty sure I was screaming like a girl."

"I thought I heard someone screaming when I was under the bleachers earlier," Evie said, remembering. "You did sound like a girl."

Carlos gave her a look.

"Anyway," he continued, "Once Ben introduced us I wasn't scared anymore. Dude is too friendly and furry to be scary."

"Well, he can definitely stay," Evie said reaching out and scratching behind both his ears. "He's absolutely adorable."

"Whatever, just don't let him near my stuff," that was the best acceptance you could get from Mal, so Carlos grinned. She headed back to her bed and picked up her spellbook.