Parfait

6: Melon

Our shift dragged on and on...and on. It was the most boring of times I'd had since after the exams. Maybe it's going to be more fun when we actually work there, but today Alice was glaring at us every time we started talking. So, naturally, I couldn't have been happier when the shows of the clock stroke four.

Riding my skate back home in the middle of noon didn't turn out to be a great idea, but I didn't complain much. Alex had to carry Kal.

I skate the last few yards to my porch and jump off my skateboard and on the steps. Lucky is outside, munching on her food. I can't believe I let Kal walk her later.

Bending down, I stroke her head. She doesn't give me much attention, but I continue doing so anyway because her white and orange fur is soft and warm.

"You like me more than Kal, don't you?"

She doesn't reply.

"You know, if I told you something bad about him, it would be because he actually did it. Not because I want to make him look bad, right?"

No answer.

"Summer, stop talking to the dog and come in!" I hear my dad say.

"David, no. Can't you hear they're having a serious conversation?" Mum tells him and they both burst out in a hysterical laugh.

Have I mentioned my parents are the absolute worst?

I glare at them through the window and shift my attention back to Lucky. "He's going to take you on a walk this afternoon, so you'd better make him run." She wags her tail a bit but doesn't lift her face from the bowl of food.

Alice was kind enough to buy us lunch, she even covered for us on our break, so I head straight to my loving bed. I lay down and watch every video Youtube's algorithm suggests to me until my eyelids are too heavy for me to keep open.

The next time I open my eyes it's eight sharp. I'm starting to believe my body has its own clock and likes waking me up at eight, whether it's in the morning or the afternoon. I can hear voices and laughs from outside, so I slip in my flip flops and head out. It would have been pitch black by now in winter, though as I step outside I'm met with a golden sky.

Kal and Olivia are at the lawn, playing with Lucky and...is that a puppy?

I run to them and see there is in fact a tiny puppy there. It's almost like a teddy bear with its soft brown fur and cute black eyes.

"Whose puppy is this?"

"Look who's finally awake," Olivia says quirking up an eyebrow. "This" -she holds up the puppy- "is Belle. The twins finally persuaded my parents to buy them a puppy."

"Isn't she the cutest?" Kal coos. Immediately, he drops to his knees and hugs Lucky. "You're way cuter," he whispers to her.

The little traitor hops on him and licks his cheek.

"Hey, cutie, did you have fun with Kal?" I ask her but she doesn't even acknowledge me.

I take Belle from Olivia's arms and half-expect Lucky to get jealous and hop on me, but no. She keeps on jumping around Kal, and he keeps on enjoying every second of it.

"Are you ready to go to Kal's?" Olivia asks me.

I look down at my wrinkled shirt and mismatched flip flops. "Not really."

"Make sure to brush that bedhead too," Mum says out of nowhere, making me jump out of my skin. Kal and Olivia laugh.

What in the world did I do to have so horrible parents?