My Guardian

Chapter 21

I should've planned better. With a wet rag I wipe at the clumsy stain I've created. Having dribbled my morning cup of tea down the front of my only scrub. The only one I've saved from school. The dove gray scrub was my first scrub purchase for school and a lot comfier to sleep in. I quickly found that out during exam season. After quite a few late night study sessions, I've grown addicted to it as my night shirt. Oh good times.

"You must be Sarah." A smooth voice speaks from behind me, smile in his voice. What a wonderful first impression. I turn around with a nervous laugh, unsure who this is. And you look like a dork with a hole in her lip, congratulations. His dirty blonde hair is colored with green tips, to match his mossy green eyes, he flashes a cheeky sideways smile, dimples on full display.

"I am, it's nice to meet you...?" I trail off with a hopeful smile as I reach out to greet him. He laughs as his lips stretch wider in a joyful grin.

"Derrick- it's nice to meet you, Angel filled me in. You're our vet right?" Derrick asks as he pulls out his keys, unlocking the heavy metal door.

"Yeah I am- I'm excited to be working here." I offer and take a sip of my tea, careful to not spill. Again. He chuckles softly with a smile as he holds the door open for me.

"You'll love working here, I imagine you'll run the vet side of things. We've had to out source all of our vet work and care so far, we do keep records, just not as well as human patients." He admits with a sheepish shrug.

"How many animals are currently in house?" I slip past him to stand by the desk in the vaguely familiar room.

"We have two dogs and three cats. I think there was talk of a stray being brought in- one of the prospects have been keeping an eye on the dog." He comments as he walks past me and around the desk he opens a door off to the right of the desk labeled break room. "Oh- we cleared out a locker for you, in case you wanted some space in here." He offers over his shoulder as he situates his items.

"Really? Does the club pick up strays often?" I shyly follow him into the well decorated room, comfy over stuffed chairs sit kitty corner to a table, a large couch sits on the other side of the room with a cozy breakfast table in the center. A long line of cabinets, sink and a fridge fill the back wall comfortably.

"It's mainly how we get pets. Some people in town will drop of animals here, either that or the ranch." He explains as the front door swings open, a slow thud sounds. The ranch?

"Good morning everyone, ready for another day of work?" Angel calls from the entrance with a bright smile, bag in hand.

"Good morning Boss." Derrick calls with a chuckle as he heads back to the front desk. Angel gives him a smile before she hands him her bag, she sits down on the office chair with a barely audible sigh.

"Good morning Angel." I offer as I step back to give her room.

"It's good to see you again Sarah, Snake said you got a bit of a scare the past few days, are you ok?" She asks, her brows pinched in what I imagine is a concerned motherly way. She'll make a great mother.

"Yeah- I'm fine, it could be some punk kids." Derrick snorts from the break room as if I've just said the most absurd thing ever. At least that's what I pray it was. I can't be that stupid to bet all my money on it... Just wishful thinking.

"Around here? Yeah right, the most pranksters we got are teens that go to old man Griffin's house." He chuckles making Angel laugh amused as she looks at him.

"Would one of those 'pranksters' happen to be you?" She gives him an amused look as he whistles, looking around in what I'd describe as an innocent look.