Chapter 21: Spying

"Why do you pull me up this early, mini man?" Doyle complained. He didn't get a good night sleep lately.

"Come on Uncle Doyle, I just need you to come with me," Zak said.

"To where?"

"Follow Kim and Aron,"

"Whoa-whoa, mini man, why do you want to follow your girlfriend?"

"Because they had been acting weird lately. They went out to town at the morning and came back late at night. I gotta find out why,"

"There's a thing in this world called 'asking',"

"Well, I did but Kim doesn't tell me. Please, Doyle, please,"

"Fine, mini man, if that's what you want. If purple head blames, she blames you, not me,"

"Come on,"

Aron and I finally made it to the animal care centre. You're probably wondering why are we here, right? That's because Aron saw an ad on the newspaper and found out that this shop needs help by taking care of their pets. Since Aron and I were free, we offered help. The shop owner, Jess welcomes us.

"Hi, Jess, sorry we're late," Aron said.

"No problem, Aron," Jess replied.

"What do we have to do today?" I asked.

"Muffins needs a walk and Cuddles need some treatment. Seems like she's sick," the telephone rang. Jess received an urgent call and left in a hurry, leaving the centre under our care.

The centre wasn't very big and grand. It has only 5 dogs and 3 cats and a few birds and fishes. The animals here were abandoned but Jess took them in. Jess's mother had run the centre for 20 years and now it's under Jess' care. Jess only has 2 workers but they had taken leave. So Aron and I came to help her temporarily for a few days. We didn't know that there were 2 spies spying on us.

"They're at an animal care centre? Girls should be shopping," Doyle whispered.

"How should I know? Why don't you go and ask them," Zak said.

Aron took Muffins to a walk outside. She passed by the boys but she didn't notice them. I was taking Cuddles to the medical room when I heard someone whispering. I walked out until I saw the boys.

"What are you dong here?" I asked.

"Umm..."

"Are you spying on us?"

"No of course not purple head, we were just curious about what are you doing here,"

"We were taking care of the animals," I said. I still dislike the fact Zak is spying on me.

"I'll... help you," Zak took Cuddles' leash and walked to the pantry (which is not the place I was heading right now).

"The medical room is that way," I pointed to the left. He quickly changed his direction. I turned to Doyle.

"I'll leave you love bugs alone," he left. I sighed.

Doyle walked down the street Aron walked before. He saw Aron was in front of him at the other street. There's a road between them. Aron was cuddling Muffins and taking him a walk. She didn't caught hold of his leash tightly and he ran towards Doyle's direction. Aron chased Muffins but when she crossed the road, she didn't realize a car was driving towards her. Muffins had crossed the road but she didn't. Doyle saw the car and he caught Aron in his arms and both of them rolled down the street.

Aron landed on Doyle. Doyle had saved her life. She rubbed her head. Then she realized she was on top of Doyle. She blushed and quickly got up.

"Thank you Doyle for saving my life,"

"No problem queennie,"

"By the way, where is Muffins?"

"Your dog?"

She nodded. Then they heard a growl behind. It was Muffins, the golden retriever. He showed his fangs at Doyle. It seems like Muffins thought that Doyle was an enemy. Doyle backed away.

"Nice doggy," he said. But Muffins didn't care. He leaped onto Doyle. Doyle tried to push Muffins away. But Muffins then scratched his hand with his claws. Doyle yelled in pain.

"Muffins, down!" Aron pulled Muffins away. Muffins listened to Aron and backed away.

Doyle's wound was bleeding. He torn a piece of cloth from his shirt and stopped the bleeding. Aron convinced Doyle to return to the animal care centre to get proper treatment. They walked back quickly and we were stunned to see Doyle's wound.

"Aron, take him to the medical room. I'll deal with the troublemaker," I locked Muffins up in his cage.

Doyle sat on the bed while Aron find for the first-aid-kit. Doyle unwrapped his hand and washed his wound. Aron gave him cotton to wipe the water away.

"I am sorry that you're hurt,"

"It's not your fault, queennie,"

"But if I get hold of Muffins, you wouldn't get that wound at all,"

"It's an accident; no one wanted it to happen,"

"I still apologize,"

"Don't feel guilty of it," he threw the cotton away and reached for the healing cream.

"You should not put the cream first. You must put the antiseptic liquid first. Let me help you," she took the alcohol bottle and poured some onto a piece of cotton and rubbed Doyle's wound. "Done,"

"Thanks,"

"Here is the plaster and the bandage. Before putting the bandage, place some cream on it," Aron smiled. Her smile made Doyle felt warm.

Zak came in. "Hi, Uncle Doyle. I'm not interrupting anything, right?"

"No,"

"I should go and help Kim with the pets," Aron said. "If you need me, I'll be at the pantry," she left.

"So, Uncle Doyle, how's your wound?"

"Okay, thanks to Aron," he replied.

"Hmm... seems like Aron is very concerned of you," Zak made a hypothesis.

"Of course. Everyone's her friend,"

"Maybe, but maybe not,"

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that maybe she likes you,"

"You're kidding me, right? She thoughts me as a friend,"

"A very special friend,"

"Keep your mouth shut mini man or I'll tell your mum you snuck out without her knowing,"

"You wouldn't,"

"I would,"

"Fine, I'll keep my mouth shut but you better keep yours too," he left.

Doyle walked outside of the room. He walked to the pantry and did found Aron there. Aron was preparing food for the pets. She didn't realize that Doyle was there. She was holding plates of dog food.

"Aron, can I get a glass of water?" Doyle asked. This surprised Aron and she dropped the plates. The plates broken and the dog food were dirty too.

"Oops," Aron said. "Sorry, Doyle, I didn't see you there," she squatted to pick up the broken plates. Unfortunately when she picked up the broken pieces, she cut her hand. Her wound was bleeding.

"Ouch. I am very careless," Aron said. She pressed her wound to stop the wound. Doyle looked at her wound.

"Your wound wasn't minor; you should go to the medical room to treat yourself,"

"I should but the mess..."

"I'll deal with it," I said as I came in. I took the mess with my mana and threw it into the dustbin. "It's done. You should go,"

"I'll... take her to there, purple head," Doyle escorted Aron to the medical room.

Zak came in. "What happened?"

"Aron gone careless," I replied. "By the way, don't you think there's something wrong with your uncle? Is he gone nuts?"

"Why do you say so?"

"Because... he doesn't care people much but then he starts to care people,"

"And that people is..."

"Aron,"

"Oh. Even I felt weird. Let's spy on them,"

"Good idea. But never spy on me again,"

"Deal," We crept to the medical room and spied on them by the door. Luckily they didn't see us.

Aron washed her wound and put some antiseptic cream over her wound. She sat on the bed while Doyle took a gauze swab and a plaster.

"Give me your hand," he said.

"I can do it on my own. I do not wish to bother you,"

"What? You've grown another right arm to help you?" Doyle took her hand. He put the gauze swab over her wound and used the plaster to stick it firm. Aron quickly took her hand back.

"Thank you, Doyle. I owe you gratitude,"

"Actually, we're even and I owe you an apology,"

"You do not owe me an apology,"

"Yes I do. If I didn't appear in the pantry, you wouldn't be cut,"

"Here we go again," she giggled. Doyle smiled.

"Did your uncle hit the head or something? Usually he smiles when he gets something he wants or there's something evil in his mind," I whispered to Zak. "Okay, maybe he doesn't smiles, he grins,"

"I had no idea, unless... you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yes,"

"He likes Aron!" we said together. Better hope the noise didn't draw attention to us.

"Finally something to get back on Uncle Doyle for winning me in the video games," Zak said.

"I should go and help Kim with the dogs. They're probably hungry right now," Aron left, dancing.

Doyle smiled again when he saw Aron dancing away. A smart guy as he assumed himself, he didn't realize there were two little spies spying on him. And those spies were me and Zak.

Aron seemed to like Doyle but does Doyle feel the same way? Find out in the following chapters.