Chapter Twelve
Adopt a Puppy - Part 1
Gabriella's Point of View
"I'm just saying that, maybe you shouldn't talk to him." Nick said.
Nick and myself were just about at the shelter. He was telling me that James was a guy who I shouldn't be hanging out with. Nick told me that James had been in after school detention, almost every week, and that he was considered one of the bad kids. I really did appreciate that Nick would tell me this, but I hardly even knew James and I was pretty sure I could figure him out for myself.
Nick slowly pulled the car up to the shelters parking lot. I grabbed my bag off the ground and turned to Nick.
"Thanks for your truly inspiring speech about this .. James, but I can figure him out myself." I smiled to him. "I'll see you later." I opened my door.
"Gabriella." Nick said. I turned to face him. "Please, just remember what I said. He might come off a little different at first .. and when you get to know him, it might be a little late." I bit my bottom lip.
"I'll keep that in mind, bye Nick." I closed the door and went into the shelter.
Why was Nick acting like this? I hadn't really talked to Nick until today, but when I first met him he didn't come across like this. It was almost like he was the complete opposite. It surprised me. I opened the main door and didn't see Nicole. I walked up to the front desk and looked around. I didn't see her anywhere.
I decided to ignore it and just go back into the office. I put my bag down and went to sit at the desk. I put my head on my arms and closed my eyes. I shouldn't have come back today. I could feel my head pounding. I needed a nap or an Advil. The office door flew opened. I lifted my head and opened my eyes to see an African American man standing in the doorway with a stack of papers in his arms.
"Oh, I'm sorry." He said, a warm smile crossing his face. "I thought all the volunteers were out back." Oh, maybe that's where Nicole and Troy and Nick were. "I'm Dean Charles, I work with the adoption service." He extended his hand. I stood up and shook it.
"I'm Gabriella Montez, I'm a volunteer." Dean smiled, then released my hand.
"Don't mind me, I'm just going to photocopy some papers." He said.
"It's fine, I'm just going to go for a walk." I picked up my bag and walked out of the room. The photocopier was aged and it was the loudest thing I had ever heard. It wouldn't help my head ache. I just needed a quiet place to lay down.
I walked down the small hallway and went out the front doors. I decided to take the long because I didn't want to talk to anyone and from what Dean had just told me, everyone was outback. I slowly turned the corner of the building and saw all the volunteers and some staff that I had seen around. Among the crowd I saw Nick and Troy, off to the side, having a serious looking conversation. My head began to throb. I put my hand to my temples and prayed for it to stop.
There were dogs next to the crowd, all barking. I looked around for someplace I could just lay down. Then I remembered the small pond Troy had showed me. I looked back to the crowd and walked quickly across the field, not wanting to be seen.
I made it to the clearing unnoticed and placed my bag on the bench. I laid down, my head on my bag, and closed my eyes.
Troy's Point of View
"I tried, man." Nick said. "She said she could make the decision for herself." I crossed my arms over my chest.
Who was Gabriella trying to fool? James was bad news, period. It she went up to him and asked to be friends James, more than likely, would play around with her and everything would go downhill for her. Once you talk to James your either dead or dead, there isn't a way around it. I've seen people being pulled into James' little tricks and I've tried my hardest to stay away from them. Everyone at East High knows how messed James is, but yet some still want to be his friend and prove everyone wrong. Just like what Gabriella was trying to do.
"Where did she go?" I asked. Nick shrugged his shoulders.
"Last I saw her she went inside." I nodded and started to walk away from the group.
Today was the shelter's 'Adopt a Puppy' day. It was a day where everyone came down to the shelter and their kids could watch how we train them, feed them, bath them, etc. The kids also got to help and at the end of the day they could adopt a puppy and get it's first two shots at the shelter for free. The volunteers and staff were responsible to set up and take down, but they could survive without me.
I walked into the building and opened the office door. It was empty. I slammed the door and went up to the front desk. She wasn't in the waiting room. I went up and down the hallway, checking each room. I looked in the pet care rooms, staff's offices and she wasn't to be seen. I went to sit in a chair in the waiting room. I rubbed my temples and thought about where she might have gone.
Idiot! I thought to myself. She has disappeared like this before and I found her at the clearing, who's to say she wouldn't go there again?
I jumped to my feet and went out the main doors, turning the building's corner, I ran to the clearing. I pushed the branched out of my way and finally saw the clear water and a wooden bench. Gabriella was laying on the bench, her hands folded under her cheek and small breaths escaping her lips. I walked up beside her and sat on the grass.
I just sat silently and watched, someone who seemed to mean the world to me, sleep thoughtfully.
...
PLEASE READ!
First thing, I'm very sorry for the late update and short chapter. It's been over a week and I feel terrible. My sister's knee turned out to be worse than expected and she had to under go sugary a week ago. She has just started walking now and I've been trying my best to help out as much as I can, but between helping her, going to school, doing homework, and helping her some more, I can't find much time to write these days. I will still be writing, but it wont be posted until the weekends. I'm very sorry to everyone.
Second thing, you guys are absolutely amazing! I can't believe that after all this time and all the crap I've put you guys through your still very supportive and understanding! I have tones of ideas for future chapters, now it's just a matter of what to use. I really hope you guys understand and that you don't give up on me yet. It should get more exciting in the next few chapters, leading up to the climax! Very exciting. So, the next chapter will be up sometime next week or weekend. Thanks once again, I'd love to hear what you guys thought. Stay tuned!
