John Paul woke up when he felt as something moved under his muffle. He opened his eyes and squinted them as morning sunlight blinded him for a while. Don't you have curtains in room? Geez. He shook his head and quickly regretted this as saliva from his muffle landed on the bed and Craig's face, waking him. Ups! He didn't look to much happy as he noticed a dog sleeping on his legs and feeling something cold and stinky on the right cheek. When he took some fluid from the cheek on the hand and looked at it with disgusted, John Paul knew he crossed the line.
'What the hell are you doing here?' Craig shouted angrily and wiped his hand in his t-shirt. John Paul wagging his tail, trying to calm him down, but it only irate him more. 'Get out from by bed. Now!' John Paul quickly listened him and laid on the floor to not caught man's attention again. 'You sleep with me all night?' Not all night, only three quarters. It's not that much, isn't it?
Craig mumbled something under the breath and took some clean clothes from the wardrobe, all the time giving the dog unfriendly looks, which didn't bother John Paul too much seeing his bored gaze. The man closed the wardrobe door with too much force that it was needing and angry walked toward the door. 'Because of you I need to wash all coverlet and pillow. Thanks allot!' He said sarcastically and walked out from the room, leaving behind himself opened door. Don't kidding me. I'm pretty sure it's your mum whose cleaning everything in this house. John Paul his stretched frozen muscles during his morning gymnastics, which consisted of stretched out his long legs as far as he could and bending his back. When he was ready for a walk he quietly walked out from Craig's bedroom and started sniffing around living room. It didn't take him too much time to find a piece of chocolate at coffee-table, which quickly landed on his stomach, and few old spice crisps. It's boring here. He didn't have to much things to do as a dog, Craig even didn't want to give him his leaky ball. Miser. John Paul jumped in the couch which he quickly fancied, and laid down on some pink cloth with intensive smell of perfume. He immediately liked the odour and comfortably stretched out his body on it. Craig should use this. It'll be suit him.
John Paul had a lucky today, he knew that as he noticed a remote control hidden under the small blue pillow. He took it on the teeth and gently laid next to his forepaws. Although he had serious trouble with small buttons, but he finally turned on the TV and with claws he started changing channel to find something interesting. It was really hard job, but he could just for few minutes watching TV before Craig's return. Maybe it won't be so bad as I thought. They have although a TV. I think it's a good sign.
He was in the middle of some serial, when he heard somebody's steps and moment later Craig appeared in the living room only in blue jeans. John Paul's immediately stared at him, feeling as his heart beating oh his chest. He's gorgeous! I always thought that Brad was the most beautiful man in the world, now I know I was completely wrong...If I wasn't a dog...
'You turned on the TV?' Craig asked him puzzled, feeling uneasy. 'You're weirdo.' ...I'll kick you on the ass, dork! You ruined all moment! 'Stop barking at me, okay? Everybody sleeping now, so shut up!' He said through the teeth, and sat down on the floor, basing his back on the couch. John Paul wanted to back to watching TV as the door to the flat opened widely and young man with dark hair appeared in living room, his hand in the pocket of black jacket as he was searching for something. John Paul could felt from him strong odour of alcohol and something sweet as a...fruit lipstick? Where the hell he was?! When the man finally found for what he was looking for, his eyes stopped at John Paul lying on the couch. He wrinkled his eyebrows looking totally puzzled, not sure what to do. Finally he clapped himself on the forehead, mumbled quiet "sorry" and turned toward front door ready to walk away. What a strange guy. John Paul briefly looked at Craig who seemed think the same as him.
'Darren?' He called puzzled, didn't understand what the man was doing. A guy named Darren turned on his heel and shocked looked at John Paul. He slightly tilted toward him to looked at him closer. Darren nervously moved his hand through short hair.
'Shit! I must drink much more than I thought.' He mumbled hardly staying on his feet.
'Darren, over here!' Craig called him and leaned out from behind the couch. 'I'm sitting on the floor, dork.' Darren barely moved on the left side and breathed with relief as he noticed the man.
'Hi, Craigy boy!' He said in mocking tone, grinned widely.
'What are you doing?' Craig asked him and send to him unfriendly look. Next person with whom you don't want to talk? What's wrong is with your family? Why you don't talk with each other?
'I just came back from the party.' He replied still grinning as a loony.
'I see that.' Craig rolled his eyes. 'But where are you going again?'
'To home.'
'But you're in home.' Craig gave him odd look. 'Do you feel good, Darren?'
'Yes, I feel amazing!' He shouted and laughed. 'I just thought I went to wrong home when I noticed a dog on the couch. I've never before noticed that we have a dog. Are you hiding him from me?' Darren asked, glanced at him suspiciously.
'Cause the dog is from yesterday Darren.' Craig replied angrily, 'and tell me one thing. How many flats in Hollyoaks are above the pubs?'
'I guess only ours.'
'So it wasn't possible that you went to wrong home, Darren. Only we have a flat above the pub.'
'I understand your train of thought, and I must agree with you.'
'Wow, I'm speechless.' Craig said sarcastically and raised up from the floor. He approached the man and grabbed his left arm. 'Come on, Darren. I'll lead you to your bedroom.'
'I don't need your help. I can go there alone.' Darren complained, trying to extricate himself from Craig's grip. But he didn't go too far. Maybe Craig was more slimed and shorter than other man, but he was very strong. Without problems threw Darren's arm through his neck and helped him to go to his bedroom. John Paul observed them in completely silence, wondering how big family has Craig. The flat was small and was filled with full of people. How they can function here? The place is small and it looks like the all households don't have good relations with each others. They barely talk with each other, and all siblings attacking themselves all the time. I know it's a normal thing have a quarrel with siblings, but it's too much intense that it was normal. John Paul shivered as he heard Craig's screams and loudly small as the door closed. He quickly came down on the floor and with lowered tail walked back to Craig's bedroom and laid down on the blanket. He didn't want to pissing Craig off now, when he was angry as hell. He had feeling that angry Craig doesn't bode nothing good.
* * *
John Paul was in the middle of his breakfast and listening Steph's mumbling about "how cute you're!", when Craig came back from the shop, holding in his hand some odd red thing. John Paul looked at him puzzled as the man started squeezing this little thing which loudly squeak.
'What is it, Craig?' Steph asked him with curious in the middle of some dance system...or something like that. John Paul wasn't sure what was it.
'Toy dog.' Craig replied when his one hand started squeezing it and second patting his leg as he calling a dog. John Paul guessed it was his strange form to encourage him to play. Form which didn't accrued to his taste. In response to Craig's calling he just yawned widely and returned to his breakfast. The man didn't look too happy about this. 'This dog is weirdo.' If you call me weirdo I bite you on the hand or in the place where you surely don't want to be.
'If I was him I won't play with this stupid thing too, Craig. He's too wise for such toys.' Craig threw the toy on the floor and send his sister unfavourable look.
'Thanks Brutus for your help.' He said sarcastically while the door to the flat opened and their mum came in.
'About what you argue this time?' She asked with bored voice and headed toward kitchen. When she passed by John Paul she briefly glanced at his bowl. 'Craig is he eating a chocolate flakes?' She couldn't believe in what she see. They're really good. It's you who bought them?
'I don't know what he's eating. I just came back from the shop.' Craig shrugged, his eyes focused at his dog.
'I'll give him a flakes, cause he was hungry, mum.' Steph chimed out and stopped dancing for good. 'This jerk forget to feed him.' She added angrily.
'Only you could give a dog chocolate flakes.' Craig snarled. 'Dogs can't eat sweets, idiot. It may kill him!'
'Stop it right now!' Their mum shouted. 'Firstly nobody will die in this home Craig and secondly why you didn't give him dog food, Stephanie?' Craig bit his lip, feeling impending troubles.
'Cause Craig instead of buy it, he bought for him a toy.' Steph replied, didn't bother about her brother murderous look. The older woman immediately looked at her son.
'A toy?'
'He almost bite my things, mum.'
'Craig you're not five.' His mum said coldly, shaking her head. 'You need to understand him too. Maybe he wanted to bite them, cause he was simply hungry. '
'No, mum he wasn't. He do this specially. I swear he planned this when I walked out from the room.' Craig said absolutely sure. That's not true! John Paul barked above the bowl. I've never touched your things, except this bloody ball!
'It's a dog, Craig, not terrorist. Give him a rest, otherwise I'll think that he's more wise than you.' She said giving him odd look and walked to the kitchen with giggling Steph.
'Thanks mum!' Craig yelled offended. 'I always knowing that you supporting me as nobody in this family! Don't be so pouter. She has a right. 'Stop looking at me like that!'
'Craig, don't you have something to do?' his mum yelled from the kitchen. The man rolled his eyes.
'I wondering if I can find for a dog some place to sleep.' Craig replied, looking around. Some place for me?
'You said he'll sleep in your room.'
'And now I regretting this. He's stinking and dirty, mum. He smudged my all bed!'
'So why you don't clean him?' Craig stared speechless toward kitchen, intensively thinking about something. You have some problem with thinking, don't you? It should be your first thought when you noticed that I'm dirty, idiot.
'I didn't have time for this.' He replied, rubbing his neck with right hand. He's looking so cute know. I guess I can't be angry at you too long. That's a crap, cause you all the time pissing me off.
'Now you have. Take him to the bathroom, Craig.' His mum ordered in a tone the brooked no opposition. 'There weren't any more places for a dog in this home.' Craig mumbled something under the breath and gently stroked John Paul's head.
'Come on, boy. We need to wash you.' He sighed heavy and leaded a dog to the small bathroom. I don't know why, but I'm really worried about this. I had feeling that something will go in wrong direction. John Paul gulped as he noticed shining bathtub and Craig standing on the middle of room, holding in one hand green towel and in second pink bottle of some liquid, which reminded John Paul a weapon. It couldn't end good.
* * *
The empty bottle landed on the floor and flowed away with a water which poured out from the bathtub, when John Paul was nervously jumping there, trying to caught a breath again. Idiot! I'll drown because of you! He was fighting with foams which flowed to his nose and muffle, choking him. Craig didn't help him either when he was trying to kept him in one place, shouting at him like he was doing this specially to pissed him off.
'Calm down! You'll pour over the whole bathroom. Mum will kill me if see this!' He shouted angrily with all strength trying to kept him in place, but nothing worked. Survival instinct was stronger than anything, nobody could stopped John Paul now. When Craig tilted in his direction to grabbed him harder, John Paul jumped back and pulled the man with himself into bathtub. Moment later Craig was sitting next to John Paul, trying to sorting out what's just happened. 'I fucking kill you for this.' He said trough the teeth. John Paul leaned toward him and licked him on the cheek to apologize. Sorry Craig, but you asking about it.
Suddenly the door opened widely and Darren appeared on the threshold with sarcastic smile. He leaned on the doorstep nonchalant, crossing his arms against chest. His eyes shining with a joy, observing them with growing curious.
'I thought I'll take a shower now, but it looks like you were quicker than me and took a bath with your new object of love.' He said grinning widely.
'Yea, that's very funny Darren.' Craig snapped and stretched out his hand toward the man. 'Instead of talking this shit, you could help me!' He yelled angrily. Darren, still grinning as a idiot, took his hand and helped him to stand up on the feet. 'Thanks.'
'No problem...So how's the bathing?' He asked as he noticed scared dog standing on the bathtub, shaking slightly. He wondered if he was shaking because he was so terrified or because he was cold.
'Like you seeing it's completely disaster.' Craig grunted, growling slightly as he looked at his all soaked clothes. He started hating this dog.
'Maybe you did it wrong.' Darren suggested gently, trying to not pissed him off knowing how dangerous is angry Craig, especially when he's all wet. Course he did it wrong! John Paul barked, putting his paws on the edge of bathtub. Craig send him murderous looks, thinking in the same time how kill him.
'I'll do it like it should be! I poured to the water bubble bath and tried to laid him down to soak him up, but he didn't want listen me!' Craig complained, crossing his arms against chest.
'Laid on the bathtub? If you're bathing as you tried him, I know now why are you sticking as a skunk.' Darren mocked. 'This odour it's hard to call it perfume!' I agree with you!
'So how do you want to bath him Mr. I know everything, hmm?'
'I just will pour a little shampoo on my hand and started cleaning his fur.' Darren replied giving him odd look. 'I know it's a dog and it could mislead you,' he added with a delicate note of malicious, 'but you need to clean him as you'll clean himself. Dogs don't have hands as we.'
'Okay, I know your point.' Craig said irate raising up his hands. 'If you're so wise and know dogs so well, clean him. I need to change now.' Didn't wait for his response, he walked out.
'But you cleaning the whole bathroom!' Darren quickly shouted behind him. John Paul waggling his tail in friendly way as the man turned toward him and sighed heavily. 'Okay, I'll clean you, but you have to be a good boy.' He started while he was rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. Good boy? Do I look as a five years old boy? 'I know you're not happy, but not only you.' Darren said to him as he heard John Paul's loudly barking. He carefully approached the bathtub with hope that he won't slip on the wet tiles and won't smash his head on it. He kneeling next to the dog and took the nearest shampoo which standing on the wash machine, and poured a little on the hand. He gently started massaging dog's back to lathered the shampoo and spread it over his all body. John Paul was standing quietly, didn't even move for a millimetre enjoying this "bathing". The man was really delicate, like he was afraid that he could hurt him or John Paul would bite him on the hand when he'll do something wrong. But nothing like this happened. Their just enjoying their company in completely silent trying to get used to new situation.
'I had a dog only once, when I was a kid.' Darren said, strangely having urgent to talked with a dog, whose crystal blue eyes stared at him friendly, like he was encouraged him to opened up a bit and tell something about himself. Now he knew about what has been talking Frankie when he has met her today in the morning. The dog was really strange, but he guessed in a good way. He could be a good listener. 'But I don't have a good memories about it.' Why not? 'It's a long story.' Darren mumbled as he noticed John Paul's stare. He started washing off him from the foams, his moves became nervous. 'I wonder when Craig finally call you. Everybody's calling you "boy". If I was you, I'll feel offended and do something really nasty to Craig for this.'
'So now you're creating the coalition with MY dog against me. It looks like I can't leave you alone with him even for five minutes. I'm afraid to think in what idea you'll fall if I back half hour later.' Darren jumped scared as he heard behind himself Craig's cold voice. He even didn't notice his steps, he just appeared here as a ghost. He turned to him with a small smirk, ready to fired back if it was needed. Craig was standing on the threshold with arms crossing against chest, in his clean clothes; some old blue cardigan with white snowflakes and in blue jeans.
'And you're again in your famous, granny 's cardigan.'
'I don't know why you hate him so much? He looks good!' You're look like old granny, Craig. It's a crime against fashion. If my sisters see you in this, you'll be finished at all birds in this town. Even Darren's pink shirt is looking more good than this cardigan. Throw him away!
'It's old-fashioned.'
'And who says that? You? You don't have any taste of style, Darren. Just look what are you wearing!'
'Maybe you're right, but it's me who has a success with women, not you.' Darren said maliciously and wiped his hands in towel. 'I finish with him. You want some advice for me?'
'Fuck off.' Craig barked at him, angry at himself that he has let him took care about the dog. If he didn't do this, he won't be feel so daft as he felt now. It was Darren who triumphed his victory today and Craig felt really bad with this feeling. He'll be now parade around him as he ate all the minds of the world. It pissing him off more than even his suddenly bathe with a dog.
'I think he needs to be dried, Craig. He has really long fur and he won't dry up so quickly.' Darren said, pointing at the dog who happily barking in the bathtub, ready to go out.
'Jesus, I've never thought that I'll have to dry a dog.' Craig mumbled irate. 'You know where is the hair dryer?' He asked as he was searching of the cabinets.
'I guess Steph has it.' Darren said quietly, biting his lip. He knew that if he go to her and ask if she can borrow the hair dryer, she'll ask for what they needing it. When she find out for what, then they'll be really troubles.
'She'll mumbling for all the time, Darren. I can't stand her and drying the dog in the same time.' Craig growled, staring at him with begging.
'We don't have any choice, if you don't want to be kill by Frankie.'
'Come on boy, get out.' Craig said quietly to the dog who immediately jumped out from the bathtub and headed with his owner toward living room. I don't want work you up, but I'll left wet traces from bathroom to living room...Okay, do what you want. I don't care about it, I just wanted to be nice, that's all. John Paul sat on the middle of room and waggled his tail as he noticed two man heading to their sister room. Like I was seeing himself.
* * *
Frankie Osbourne was cleaning the counter when she heard loudly music from the upstairs. She raised up her head toward ceiling, totally puzzled. She knew that Steph never listening so loudly her music when the boys were there too, cause they hated it. Although it wasn't her.
'Did you see Stephanie today?' She asked the barman.
'Yes, she's upstairs with Craig and Darren. They needing to do something.'
'Together?' She wrinkled her eyebrows, didn't believe in what she heard. When they were in the same, it always ending with big row between them after five minutes. But this time it was different. 'I back in a minute. I just a check what they're doing.' She informed the barman and quickly went upstairs. She carefully opened the door and popped her head in, curios what they were doing. Thankfully the music was so loud, that they didn't notice her, still busy with a dog. Frankie leaned on the threshold and observed them with concern, smiling gently. Craig was drying up the dog with a dryer, when in the meantime Steph combing him with a brush and mumbling about something no important to Darren who cleaning the floor in living room. They were so quiet and calm with themselves, that surprised Frankie in a very positive sense. Finally they stopped arguing about everything. Frankie laughed slightly as she noticed that the dog was all the time sitting peacefully on the floor and watching a match on TV. He barked from time to time, waggling happily his tail. Come on, guys! She backed to the pub, before they could noticed her.
'Why you turned on the TV for him, Craig?' Steph asked puzzled, stopping combing the dog.
'Today he was watching TV and it was looking like it calm him down.' Craig replied, stroking gently dog's fur. 'I thought he may be afraid of the hair dryer, so I turn it for him.'
'It's a match.' Steph noticed and turned off the tape recorder.
'So? It looks like he's liking it.' Darren said, didn't see nothing strange in this. 'Do you notice he always waggling his tail when the Chelsea is close to get a goal.' He added, looking surprise.
'Maybe it's his team.' Steph said with gently smile. Course it's my team!
'It's a dog, Steph.' Craig said giving her odd look. 'He probably just want to get a ball.'
'So why he is always waggling his tail and barking when the ball have Chelsea?' Darren lifted his eyebrows, pointing at the TV.
'Let him watch the TV in peace.' Craig mumbled.
'You know how you finally named him?' Steph asked and kissed a dog on the muffle. 'Now, he's smelling nice.'
'I don't know yet.' Craig sighed heavy and spanked John Paul when he jumped almost pulled the hair dryer from his hand. 'You have some suggestion?'
'I thought about Maggie.' She said and quickly regretted it as she noticed two man's surprised looks. The dog didn't look happy about this too. Maggie?!
'Did you check which gender is he?' Craig asked, rolling his eyes.
'Nobody will check it, Craig. Maggie is very popular and nice name.'
'Not for my dog.' Craig snapped angrily. 'Some new ideas?'
'Maybe Sam?' Darren suggested.
'It's too popular name. I want something unique for him.' Craig massaged his temples, his eyes focusing at the dog. 'Maybe I should observing him for a while and find him a name which will be fit into his character.'
'Like what? You want to call him "waggling tail"?' Darren asked, giving him odd look.
'No, I don't want.' Craig replied angrily, rolling his eyes. 'I thought about something different.'
'Maybe we just call him gold? Or maybe baby-blue?' Baby-blue?! What the hell is that? John Paul looked at her totally taken-aback. Two man's didn't look convinced to this idea to much too.
'What?? Do you have better idea?' She barked offended. Craig wrinkled his eyebrows and bit the lip as his eyes still focused at the dog.
'Chelsea.' He said quietly with a small smile. What Chelsea? John Paul turned toward him with interested. 'We call him Chelsea.'
'What?!' Steph cried shocked. 'You can't call me as a some stupid team football!'
'Course I can, Steph. It looks like he likes Chelsea, so why I can't call him like that?' It sounds strange for me. Chelsea...
'It's name more for a female dog.' Darren chimed out.
'It's not.' Craig snapped. 'Chelsea sounds good for me.'
'I thought you don't like them.'
'But my dog likes. It's enough for me to call him like his favourite football team.' Chelsea. You know what, it's okay.
'For me it's stupid idea.' Steph mumbled, unhappily.
'Fortunately nobody ask you about your opinion.' Craig snapped. 'Darren?' He turned toward the man.
'I don't care how you call him. Chelsea it's okay for me.' He shrugged.
'Chelsea, come here!' Craig called the dog with wide smile. 'What do you think about your new name?' He asked when the dog approached him and waggling his tail. It's cool, I think. He licked Craig on the right cheek few times before he laid on his legs. 'It looks like he like it.' The man stroked his long fur and kissed him on the head.
'I wonder what mum will say when she find out how you call the dog.' Steph sighed heavy and put the brush on the floor.
'I guess she won't happy as always.' Darren shrugged and raised up from the floor. 'I'm going out now, so take the bucket and mop and go cleaning the bathroom Craig.' The other man growled with frustration. He totally forget about it. 'Have a nice day, little brother.' He said with cheeky smile and walked out from the flat.
'Cheeky twat!' Craig shouted behind him and threw the pillow behind Darren.
