Sorry for the delay, I had to get this beta read before posting it and I typically don't write on the weekends. Well, hope you're enjoying this rewrite. This chapter is probably the biggest change so far. Nothing really different, just the fact that it's a different chapter instead of a part of chapter 1. This one, Bolt discovered the power of a crush, and I added a little something so that I didn't completely leave out the Bolt x Mittens fans. Let's begin!

II: Star Struck

Bolt listened intently as the announcer dramatically narrated, "Can Queen Isabel retake her throne as the champion? Or will someone else take home the trophy? Find out this February in the Missouri All-Star Dog Show Championship, here on WXKL TV."

Rhino commented as Bolt continued to stare, "Pfft, it's all a sham! I watched one of those before, that Isabel dog won. She's supposed to be some kind of two-time champion or something."

Bolt, jaw still slack and amber eyes wide, commented, "Ohh, that doesn't surprise me one bit."

"Yeah, me neither. Give a dog enough makeup and expensive food and parade it around and you get a champion. Not to mention her owner probably doesn't love the dog as much as he loves the fame, that's what happens. First, they are acting like they can't believe it, being all modest, next thing you know they are drunk, high, and naked in the back of a Lexus, lost in an afterglow they will never remember. It's sad. Not a chance in hell I'll ever see you end up like that, Bolty. You're different; family is all you need. Am I right or am I right?"

Bolt didn't respond.

Rhino repeated himself like a broken record, "Am I right or am I right?"

Bolt remained silent.

"Bolt?" Rhino jumped down from the top of his cage onto Emily's bed and scurried over to Bolt. "You okay?" He noticed Bolt's vacant, mesmerized expression and began to wonder if he was a little surprised at what he had seen on TV. Rhino climbed up Bolt's furry body and perched atop his head, waving one of his little hands in front of Bolt's eyes. "Yoo-hoo! Anyone home?!"

To Rhino's surprise, Bolt replied with a hushed voice, "What chances would someone like me have with a two-time champion?"

Rhino let out a quick chuckle before replying, "You serious, Bolt? Her? What do you see in her?"

"Her stunning sapphire eyes, her shining golden fur, her beautiful smile, her... why do I feel like this? I've never felt like this about anyone, not even Mittens."

"Not even Mittens? But I thought you two were diggin' on each other for a while?"

"Not me. I liked her... but I never felt like this when we tried it out."

Rhino sighed, trying to understand exactly what he meant. He then hopped off of Bolt's head and back onto the bed, where he trekked back to the edge and jumped over to his cage. Rhino climbed back up the bars of his cage hurriedly. When he reached the top, he again scrolled through the channels until he came to channel 8, Soap Network. On the TV, there was a blond woman and a brown-haired man with a goatee locking lips.

"That's called love, Bolt. See, that man there is Alan, and that woman there is Candace. Alan is in love with Candace, but what Candace doesn't know is that Alan is seeing Alicia and Becky behind her back! Becky is good if Joey wants money and Alicia is good if Joey wants love, but this girl is very special to him, do you know why?" Rhino lowered his voice to a whisper, "Ask why!"

Bolt rolled his eyes again and sighed, amused by Rhino's antics, "Why?" He finally asked, semi-sarcastically.

"Because Candace is his best friend's sister!" Rhino continued enthusiastically. "See, his best friend Jason has been stealing credit for everything he does at work! So, what's Alan gonna do? Complain to his boss, Judy? Or his mom, Wanda? No way! He's gonna take care of things himself! He's gonna get that girl in that room, and then he's gonna take her clothes off, and then he'll start--"

"Alright, alright... I get it, Rhino." Rhino was panting, excited by the plot. Unfortunately for Bolt, he was not quite finished, "Oh! Oh! Oh! I almost forgot, Bolt! Love can occur between two people of the same gender as well! I'll find that show for you!"

"No! No, thank you Rhino." Bolt exclaimed, hopping up onto all fours and laughing a bit. Rhino was still panting, excited by the plotline and just the television in general.

"Calm down, Rhino." The familiar voice of the black and white cat added, joining the conversation. She had just entered the room, having overheard the conversation from the living room. Rhino and Bolt remained silent, allowing Mittens to speak. "That's called love, Bolt. Given that you lived such a sheltered life, I figured I'd be telling you about it someday. Love is when you feel intense passion for someone. If you need someone to talk to more about it, I'm here for you, Bolt."

Bolt smiled sadly. Then his ears perked up; someone was at the door. Startling both of his companions, Bolt immediately let out a loud yip. He scampered towards the living room, Mittens in tow. The front door opened, allowing a drenched Penny and Emily entrance. Bolt was there, of course, as if he had been waiting patiently by the door since they had left. He hopped up and down, trying to lick Penny's face as Penny giggled, reaching into her bags. "I'm sorry, Bolt, it's raining out, so we can't go play. I think I have something that will make it up to you, though." Penny lifted the hand that she had buried into her purse and pulled out a squeaky toy resembling a bone. "My friend gave me this at school. You want it, buddy?" She waved it teasingly at Bolt as he dropped to his forepaws, tail wagging rapidly, gesturing that he wanted it. Penny tossed the bone onto the couch next to Mr. Carrot and Bolt dashed after it and began gnawing on it enthusiastically and growling playfully. Penny and Emily made their way to the kitchen where Emily began putting away a few groceries. "So, mom... how did the date go?"

Emily dramatically rose up from her leaned-over position to access the refrigerator and faced Penny, "It went..."

"It went?"

"Awful! Charles is a bum! He has lived off his friends and family for the last three years. Hasn't held a job for more than three weeks in that time." Emily's speech was followed by a disappointed sigh.

"Well, mom... before you give up, let me just say that I was hoping for your date to go bad."

Emily turned to face her daughter, surprised she'd say something like that, "And why is that?!"

"Well, I told Mindy... you know Mindy, right?"

"Yeah, your brown-haired friend with the lip piercing."

"Yeah, her dad is friends with a dog trainer. Perhaps you've heard of Paul Osmond?"

Emily leaned against the counter, giving her daughter her full attention now, "Him? The winner of the 2006 and 2007 Missouri All-Star Dog Show? What chance would a mom have with a famous man like him?"

Penny chuckled, "Well, it's gone pretty well so far... because I told Mindy about your situation, and one thing led to another, and now he'll be waiting for you tomorrow at Eastridge Buffet. 7:30p.m."

Emily was a bit shocked at this, and it took her a moment to let all of it soak in. "So... my daughter got me a blind date? That's kinda silly, but I guess that's some good news. Thank you, honey."

Penny turned her back and head out of the room into the living room, where Bolt, Mittens, and Rhino, who had somehow managed to get himself into his ball on his own, awaited love from the family. Penny collapsed onto the couch, exhausted from the long Wednesday at school. Penny had to stay after school to make up a test, and therefore she was more exhausted than usual. Bolt of course gave her an onslaught of slobbery kisses, cheering her up and earning him an ear shake and a kiss on the forehead, "Good boy, Bolt." Bolt yipped playfully in response. A jealous Mittens approached from the other side of her, meowing. "Oh, Mittens..." Penny giggled a she sat up, beginning to stroke the purring Mittens' head, "I love you, too." Before long, Rhino joined them, resting next to Penny's foot in his ball. "You guys are great. I love you."

While relaxing on the couch alongside Penny, Bolt could not get the thoughts of the gold husky out of his head. They had burnt an image of her in his brain.