Safe || Scotty Sire

4

AN: Fun fact: When I first started writing, I hadn't decided if this was going to be a Scotty or a Toddy story. I flipped a coin to decide :). Let me know if you're enjoying it so far!

We drove to the party in silence. I was running scenarios in my head, and basically freaking out when we got there. As soon as I pulled Rex out of the car, he started bumping my leg repeatedly.

Zane, of course, picked up on this, "You okay?" He eyed the dog nervously. I bent over, and unzipped the pouch on his vest. I pulled out one of the pill bottles in there, and took the mildest dose I could of my emergency meds. I dry swallowed the pill.

"Yeah," I said. "I'm good."

"You sure," he said, not convinced. "We don't have to --"

I cut him off, "Zane, if we don't go in now, I may never convince myself to do it."

"Okay, let me grab some of the beer, and we'll head in." I follow him, and carry a case of beer myself.

Zane doesn't knock on the door, he just barges right into the mansion. "I brought a friend!" he shouts, as he leads me through an entry way and into the kitchen. We set down the beer on the table as Heath shouts back "Zane, baby, you gotta stop bringing random chicks to these things."

Zane leads me into the room where they are all sprawled across couches, chairs, beanbags, and even the floor. "Not really a random chick."

"Ellie!" Heath cheers, standing up, and coming over to me. He gives me a fist bump. "How you been, Dollie?"

"I've been okay," I answer quietly. I kneel on the floor as Heath and Zane hug, and take Rex's vest off, so he can have a break. I take off my backpack, and put his vest into my bag.

"Is he-" Zane begins, but hesitates on how to ask. "He's off duty, you can love on him like a normal dog, but if something really bad happens, he would alert me."

Mariah throws her hands up from where she is on the bean bag with a squeal, "Come here puppy!" she cheers. He looks at me and l tell him "Okay," before he takes off to go get attention.

As I'm standing there, I start to feel my meds really kick in and I feel much better.

"What's his name?" Mariah shouts from across the room, while pressing kisses to his nose.

"Rex, short for T-Rex." I respond, and laugh as she starts talking to my dog. I could tell she had already been drinking.

It doesn't take too long before I am acquainted with everyone there. Everyone hangs out and chats, and I feel super included, as Zane, Heath, Scotty, and Toddy, all take time to talk to me a little bit.

David is about to start the movie, when I decide I should probably take Rex out.

I stand and tap my leg twice, and Rex comes over to my side, bounding playfully. David looks up at me, a little bewildered. "Where you going? I thought we were doing good."

I smile at him, "You are doing good, I'm just taking Rex out, so he doesn't need to go during the movie.

"I'll come," Scotty volunteers, as I pick up my backpack off the ground. I walk back over to the front door, and pause to let him catch up.

"You don't have to put him on a leash?" Scotty asks, as I open the door and let Rex rush out in front of me.

"No. He's my service dog. If he could, I think he would work off lead," I say, squinting into the darkness at my dog. He, of course, finds this to be an opportune time to poop. I reach into my backpack, and pull out a doggy poop bag to clean up after him.

"I bet you don't see this too often." I say, standing up and tying off the bag.

"Actually, I used to." He sighed, "I had a dog with my ex, but when we broke up, she took the dog."

"I see," I mutter as I walk back over to him. "Where's the trash can?" he points in a general direction, and I spot it, so I go to dispose of the evidence.

"This is about the most unattractive thing i can do," I say, as I toss my dog's poop in the can.

"I disagree," he responds with a smile. I feel my cheeks heat up, and I'm thankful for the darkness.

I walk back over to him, and call Rex. The three of us return to David's living room, where we all settle in to watch a movie.

I peek around the room about halfway through the movie, and see that everyone seems content. Heath and Mariah are cuddled up on David's lovesac. Mariah is asleep, with her head resting on Heath's chest. Heath's arms are hugged around her, and he has a content smile on his face.

For a moment, jealousy flares up in me. I am not jealous of Mariah, Heath is cute, but not at all my type. I am jealous that I don't get to be that way. I don't get to have someone hold me, so that I feel safe and warm. I'm messed up. No one wants to deal with the messed up girl.

Rather quickly, I decide to suppress those feelings. There was no reason to be jealous, that was how her life was, and this was how my life was. These are the cards I've been dealt.

The movie ends, and David leaves the lights off. Some of the people are sleeping, in a drunken stupor, including, my ride out of here. I look at him and sigh. This doesn't escape the notice of many of the people there.

"That's something you have to expect out of Zane," Todd says, "I'll take you home if you want."

At least someone was going to take me home. "Thanks, I would appreciate it," I tell him with a smile.

I open my backpack, and put Rex back on his leash before standing up. Todd placed his hand on my shoulder and gently led me out of the house. As soon as he did, the jealousy in me flared once more. I hadn't had human touch further than a handshake or a high five in so long, and some people just get touch like this all the time.

Todd takes me out to his car, and yet again, it's really expensive. I load my dog into the backseat, and Todd drives me home with my direction. As we near home, I'm fighting to keep my eyes open. It's been a big day for me, but it's been a good day too.

When we pull up outside of my apartment, my cheeks tinge pink. These people live in million dollar houses, so my rundown apartment probably looks awful to them.

"Hey," Toddy says, getting my attention, "Can I get your phone number? I want to make sure we can find you to hang out again."

"Sure," I answer, and wait while he fishes out his phone, and sets up a contact for me. Once he hands me his phone, I put my number in, and hand it back. "Thanks," I say, reaching for the door handle, "I had fun tonight."

"You're welcome, Ellie. Take care of yourself."

I unload Rex, and take him up to the apartment, not looking back as Todd drove away. As soon as I got in, I set food and water out for Rex and passed out in my bed with a smile on my face.