Ever have that feeling in your gut that tells you what just happened was wrong. This gut-munching guilt that just doesn't sit right? I hate that feeling. Ever since what happened with Darleen, I had that feeling in my stomach. It made me nauseous. So much so that I could barely sleep at all that night.
I wanted to tell someone, Jade to be exact. But at the same time, I didn't want to tell anyone. I mean, nothing happened... She stopped. Plus, I was kind of leading her on. Still, it just didn't sit right with me. She was just so... pushy.
I wonder what Jade would say if I told her. What could anyone say to something like that? What would I say if Jade told me something like that? I'm so confused. It's like someone put me in a blender and chopped me all up before pouring me out. I was a mess and all over the place. Part of me wants to write the whole thing off and forget it ever happened. The other part...
"Skylar," someone shakes me awake.
After I had just fallen asleep too.
"Hmm?" I force my eyes open.
"Something's wrong with Dukin," Oli says.
I squint into my little sister's eyes before forcing myself to sit up. The sun peaks through the cracks of the curtains, providing more than enough light to illuminate my room. The light allows me to see the panicked look on my sister's face.
"Come on," she pulls me out of bed. "You have to come look."
"Oli," I complain.
"Look!" she drags me to her room where Dukin often sleeps.
I eye the black lab in concern. He's whimpering and his tongue is sticking out of his mouth. He's laying on his side and his tail isn't moving. I bend down to try and help him stand up but he falls back down to the floor.
"See! Told you!" She shrieks.
I can feel fear shoot through me. I mean we've had the dog for a while, so he's old. But I thought he was healthy; he always runs around and gets into trouble. He shouldn't be sick.
"Did you call mom?" I ask.
"She's at work, she won't answer the phone."
"We have to wait until she gets home," I stand up.
"We can't! He's dying!" she declares with tears in her eyes.
"What can I do? I don't have a car or money, or a vet for that matter."
"I hate you!" she pushes me.
"How is this my fault? What do you want me to do about it!?" I shout back.
"You have to save him!"
"How!?"
"Don't you know someone who can help?" she pleads.
I turn back to the dog and sigh. Jade has a car, but I know she doesn't have money. Plus she's been acting weird. I could ask Aunty I guess. It's better than nothing.
"I'll go ask Jade and Aunty, wait here."
She sniffles and nods.
I run to my room and quickly change and slip on some shoes. I grab my phone and quickly wash up before running downstairs. When I swing open the door I smack right into Darleen.
I freeze up.
"Oh, uh, sorry. I was about to knock," She says.
"What are you doing here?" I ask.
"I just feel awful about yesterday. It's not sitting right with me. Things got out of control. I don't want you to think that I would ever do something like that. That was so dumb. I'm so sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I couldn't get any sleep last night. I just had to come and apologize to you first thing in the morning."
I don't know why but hearing her say that really does make me feel better. I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one feeling weird about it. It's like a weight off my chest. I can tell by the tone of her voice she really means it.
All that being said, I really don't have time for this.
"Thank you, for coming. It means a lot, really, but I'm sort of in the middle of a family emergency," I push past her.
"Wait maybe I can help," she turns and stops me.
I eye her.
"Please, let me do something to make up for yesterday. I feel horrible."
"My dog is dying. My mom is at work and I don't have a car or money to take him to the vet. I was just about to go ask Jade for help," I explain.
"I can do it. We can take my car. I know of a pet hospital."
"Really? He's a big dog and sort of smelly. I don't want him to smell up your car."
"I don't care about that, your dog is dying. Let me help you."
"Okay, uh... thank you." I turn to head back inside.
"Don't mention it," she smiles at me.
We head inside and I jog upstairs over to Oli who is soothing Dukin.
"My friend is here. She's going to help us take him to the vet."
Darleen pokes her head into the room.
"You mean your girlfriend?" Oli teases.
"Shut up," I push her. "She's not my girlfriend." I feel my cheeks heat up.
"Sure," she rolls her eyes.
"Just shut up and get ready and get Dukin ready."
She nods.
Soon we are all carrying the very overweight dog to the car. Oli made sure to grab his leash and secure his collar on him. We lay him in the back seat and Oli sits with him. I take the passenger seat and Darleen drives.
"That's our dog Dukin, he's normally more energetic," I say to Darleen.
Oli sniffles in the back seat as she pets Dukin.
"It's going to be okay," I turn to look at her.
"You don't know that," she sobs,
"It will," Darleen assures her.
She wipes her tears and hugs Dukin.
I text my mom what's going on even though I know she won't see the text until her lunch break. My mom is the main manager at a fast food place. Which has come in handy more than once. Let me tell you nothing is better than your mom bringing free food to all your track meets.
We get to the pet hospital and explain everything to the lady at the front desk. They rush Dukin back immediately after Darleen drops her name. Apparently, her dad is a huge donor to the pet hospital. Because of this, we skipped a lot of people in line. Including a sniffling ferret, a foaming cat, and a dog with porcupine spikes stuck in it. They seemed pretty busy.
They could only take one of us back so Oli went. Darleen and I waited in the waiting room. She sat right next to me and couldn't help but scoot away from her. Just to put a few inches between us.
"I know this doesn't make up for what I did to you," she says.
I turn and look at her.
"I really am sorry. I just... I feel so stupid," she turns away from me.
"I mean, I get it," I say.
She turns back to me.
"It was the heat of the moment kind of thing. It's just biology. Hormones and everything. Not that I got issues, or that I don't. Wait, I'm not saying you were out of control or that you have issues. It's just sex, I mean stress!" I stutter.
She giggles.
I run my hands down my face, curse my awkwardness.
"So we're good?" she asks.
I peek at her through my fingers and nod.
She smiles romantically at me like she is hopelessly in love. The way she batts her lashes and sighs make my stomach tingle. I have a feeling it might have been more effective if the foaming cat didn't just puke behind her. I move my hands and force an awkward smile, doing my best to ignore the cat.
Before things can get any more awkward Oli comes back out with the Vet. I get up and walk over to her.
"Well?" I ask.
"Well, it seems your buddy back there has been eating a lot of stuff he shouldn't. It's got hid tummy all clogged up. We are going to have to go in and get out what's causing the blockage. This operation means we will have to keep him here for a week for observation. It's also not a cheap operation but I do think you will need to do this. If not your dog might not be able to pass this on his own. It's already gotten critical, he could pass away if we don't act soon."
"How much?" I feel my heart sink.
"It doesn't matter, I'll pay for it," Darleen speaks up.
"Darleen no," I say.
"Skylar!" Oli hisses.
"We can't accept that," I glare at Oli.
"It's okay, really. You should see my monthly allowance. But I do have one condition," she smirks at me.
"What?"
"You have to go on a date with me, a real date."
"A d-date!? I... I—"
"She agrees," Oli speaks for me.
"Then it's a date," she smiles.
"Okay I am just going to need you to fill out some paperwork then," the vet says.
"Of course," Darleen follows her.
"Oli!" I hiss once Darleen is out of earshot.
"What! This is Dukin's life we are talking about. Suck it up! Plus I saw you kissing her, I know you like her."
"I do not! She's just a friend. I like someone else."
"Jade," she rolls her eyes.
"What!? How did you—"
"Because you're obvious! Everyone knows. Even mom. Seriously, she doesn't like you like that. Take the hint."
"Mom knows?"
"Duh! She's been waiting for you to come out to her."
"She has?"
"Geez, you really are hopeless," she shakes her head at me.
"Am not!"
"Skylar, this chick is rich! And she's pretty and nice, what are you waiting for? Just marry her already so I can be rich too."
"Why are we related?" I sigh.
"Incoming!" she grabs me by the shoulders and whirls me around just as Darleen walks back over to us.
"Okay, all done. Your buddy is in good hands. So, how would you two like to go get breakfast? My treat."
"Oh, we would like," Oli pushes past me to get between us. "And my sister would like to marry you afterward."
I stomp hard on her foot.
"Ow!" she hops around on one foot.
Darleen laughs at us.
"Hehe, I don't know that girl," I pull Darleen away from her.
"So, you don't want to marry me? Darn," she mock pouts.
"I like her," Oli pops up behind us.
"Shut it," I snap at her.
Darleen giggles out the door, swinging her car keys from her finger.
To Be Continued...
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