I started this story a long time ago and never published it. I've been missing writing for a long time so I figured now would be a great time to publish! (Obviously you can tell I started it a long time ago because of the Vine reference lol) So, without further ado, hope you enjoy
I groaned as a familiar tongue found its way all over my face, drenching me in slobber. "Fang!" I whined, attempting to shove the Great Dane off of me. However, this was no dog, this was a miniature horse, so of course, he didn't budge.
"Ruff!" Fang barked in my ear, making me groan once more and turn onto my stomach, covering the back of my head with a soft feather pillow. Fang nosed around the offending piece of comfort, trying to shove it away with his muzzle, and succeeded after a few valiant tries.
"Stop it, boy." I mumbled as he circled around me, stepping on my back as many times as he possibly could before oh-so gracefully laying down on me. I banged my head against the headboard a few times in amused annoyance before rolling over. With a howl of fear Fang landed in a heap on the tan carpet and quickly got himself back on all paws as I sat up, yawning as I stretched my arms out.
Seeing as he had successfully woken me up, he trotted out of my room in triumph and I followed after him after changing quickly, knowing I'd have to give him some fresh food and water before we went on our morning walk.
"Max! Make me breakfast!" Ari demanded as I walked into the kitchen and headed for the pantry. His freshly-dyed black hair still hung in his eyes, unstyled and dull on top of his head.
"Ari! Make it yourself!" I answered back, filling up a large cup with dog food before walking over to Fang's bowl and dropping it in there. Fang, already sitting by his bowl, immediately attacked his food. "Whoa boy, chew before you swallow," I joked and he answered by smacking his wagging tail against me. I rolled my eyes, picking up his water bowl and rinsing it out in the stainless steel sink before filling it up with water and setting it next to his food dish.
Immediately, Fang switched bowls, slurping up all the water he could hold and then some before skipping over to the hooks on the walls by the fridge that held his leash and collar. Honestly, he didn't even need them, but we had a strict leash law in the neighborhood that came with a three hundred dollar fine.
I snapped his light pink studded collar (Ari's idea) into place and hooked the black leash to it before walking through the dining room to the front door and pulling it open.
Fang instantly bolted out the door, stopping by his favorite tree on the left side of our yard to mark his territory like every morning. He was currently in battle with the frisky French poodle that lived next door. For some reason that curly-furred creature thought that the tree was his for the taking and of course Fang wouldn't have that.
He kicked some grass up on the dark gray tree before walking back over to me and waiting for me to grab my skateboard from behind a pillar that held the roof up over the porch.
I plucked it up from its hiding place behind some half-alive bushes and hopped on, looping Fang's leash around my wrist and letting him pull me along. The board stumbled over the curb as Fang dragged me onto the street and pulled me along up the road.
As my precious pup galloped along after a butterfly that seemed to make it a point everyday to play tag with my dog (he lost every day) the dreaded mail truck began to make its way down the road. "Fang, no!" I snapped as he skidded to a stop. I was propelled forward and lost my grip on his leash. I landed in a heap on the scratchy grass in Mr. Batchelder's lawn. I hated this guy more than the mailman who threatened to have Fang sent off to the pound. Mostly because Mr. Batchelder was a Dogcatcher himself, and absolutely despised my wonderful Great Dane just because he might've chased the Dog Catcher's cat off... twice. But there wasn't any proof!
"Fang stop!" I screamed as he raced after the truck. I got on my skateboard and kicked down on the ground hard, trying to catch up with my galloping pony.
And of course, as if he was psychic, thay stupid Jeb made his way out of his house for some unknown reason in only a black robe. Yuck! "Max! That better not be your dog chasing the mailman again!" He hollered. I didn't answer, pretending I couldn't hear him as I hopped my board over the curb and onto the sidewalk. My speed never slowed, however, the mailman's did.
I groaned as he made a stop right outside our house and jumped off my board as I approached my barking dog and the glaring Jacob Griffiths. "Get your mutt away from me before I call Animal Control!" he sneered and I grabbed Fang's collar, but didn't bother pulling him back since he was at least two feet away from the horrible man who had been raising one of my best friends for years.
"You can't do that! Fang's never even sniffed you." I growled in exaggeration, scratching my precious dog behind his ears. He immediately stopped barking and sat down, shaking his foot like crazy and letting his tongue loll out of his mouth. That was the thing about Fang. He had an off-switch right behind his left ear that transformed him from snarling, foaming beast to adorable puppy dog. It was odd, but it kept him from taking a bite out of the mailman quite a few times so I never questioned it.
"But I see him as a threat, and legally I can call Animal Control on him," Griffiths insisted, glaring at me as he shoved some papers in my mailbox.
"Legally, I can have you arrested for threatening my family," I countered.
"That dog isn't family, he's a menace!" Mr. Griffiths snarled, sending a disgusted look to Fang, who growled viciously. I almost smirked at the comeback that was about to leave my lips when a flash of mother hit the corner of my eye. Oh great, now she was getting into the middle of it. Again.
"Jacob! Is that you? What have you got today for me?" Mom called, smiling as she walked out of the house towards the man who had a painfully obvious crush on her. She was all ready to go in a black pencil skirt and white button up blouse along with her shiny black high heels and silver hoop earrings. She had a golden necklace around her neck that Ari and I had gotten her for her birthday last year and a little bit of white eyeshadow on even though she didn't need it. My mom was beautiful, and I hoped I was growing up to look like her.
"Oh... Um... hi Val," He said, his ears turning a bright red. Honestly, if this guy didn't hate Fang, he'd be perfect for my mom. Plus having Iggy and Gazzy as brothers would be awesome. I mean, I love Ari, but Iggy's my best friend and Gazzy, well, they're a package deal.
"No flirting on the job! Don't you have other people's dogs to hate?" I snapped and Mr. Griffiths glared at me before abruptly getting into his mail truck and waving a goodbye to my mom, adding a warm smile to his farewell before driving off.
"Max! Jacob's very handsome! Stop scaring him away!" Mom scolded, though she seemed to be smiling.
"Mom! He hates Fang! When I move out that man is all yours, but not until then." I reasoned.
"But what if he's taken by then? You're the one who pushes for me to go on a date with someone. Why not Jacob? I mean, if we get married you and Iggy can have sleepovers together!" She insisted brightly.
"Mom, we do that now, you just don't know cause he sneaks in," I pointed out.
"Max, I do know. I've known since the second time because he comes in through the squeaky window." Mom countered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well would you look at the time, gotta get ready for school. Love you, bye!" I kissed her cheek and raced Fang inside the house. When we were safely away from my mother's possible attempt to ground me, I walked into the kitchen to Find Ari happily chowing down on some eggs and bacon. His hair freshly styled up in all of its spiky glory.
"Hey little bro, want me to drive you to school in my brand new-"
"A used car is not brand new." The twerp pointed out, his mouth half full with egg.
"Don't insult my baby like that. Anyways, want a ride to school or not?" I asked.
"Sure, as long as I'm not late. Again." Ari muttered.
"No promises." I ruffled up his dark hair and made my way up the stairs and into my bathroom. I took a quick shower and changed into some better school clothes. Some light gray skinny jeans and a black tee shirt that had a band logo on it. I quickly yanked on my red converse and dried the tangled mess that hung from my head, brushing the dirty blonde hair out until it was pin straight. Then I pulled my backpack out of its hiding place wedged in between my dresser and the wall before sprinting down the stairs.
Fang laid at the bottom and I easily hopped over him, finding Ari by the garage door. "Bye Boy! See you after school!" I said, scratching Fang's chin before heading off.
After dropping Ari off at Middle School I made my way to the high school he would soon be going to. And after a long five minutes of finding a parking spot, I was now walking up to the doors of the educational center I was forced to go to. "MAAAAAAAXXXXX!" Iggy shouted, speeding towards me like Fang did when I got home from school. The boy pounced on me with a hug, effectively forcing me to the ground.
"Don't kill her!" Sam exclaimed, racing after the boy who had just tackled me... on asphalt.
"Oh I just love you for coming to school today!" Iggy shouted in my face, smiling like an idiot, his wild strawberry blonde hair was all over the place and his icy blue eyes seemed as bright as ever. Without hesitation he yanked me up by my shoulders and kissed me sloppily before getting to his feet and bouncing up and down with joy.
I wiped my mouth off, pushing myself up on my elbows and giving him a What the hell is wrong with you? look. "Did you just kiss my girlfriend?" Sam asked Iggy as he approached, as if that was the biggest issue here.
"Sam, Iggy's on a sugar high and that's the only thing you're thinking about?" I asked, getting to my feet and brushing myself off.
"Well I guess he doesn't have a chance anyways so no. Why are you flipping out, Igster?" Sam asked. Obviously he hadn't been here much longer than me or he would've already gotten to the bottom of it.
"You'll see!" Iggy giggled like a maniac before skipping (honest to God, he was) to the school.
"Um, I'm afraid," I muttered as Sam slithered an arm around my waist and pulled me close against him.
"Max, everyone should be," And with that he locked his lips with mine for a second, or two, before pulling away and grinning at me.
"You taste like pixie sticks," He told me brightly.
"Probably because that's what Iggy's high on," I offered, readjusting my backpack on my shoulder before heading into the school.
Once inside, we found Iggy was moving right along to first period without a care in the world. Every now and then he'd get a weird look but most people were used to Iggy's strange antics by now. Even the principal, who passed him without a second glance. I rolled my eyes, following him at a distance to the first period we all shared together. That poor teacher...
As we made our way inside the dull classroom with long black desks set up for two at each, I found Iggy sitting in Sam's usual spot. "Guess I'm sharing with him today, Sammy. Hope you can manage a whole first period out of arm's length of all this," I joked, swinging my hips around.
"I just hope you can stay seated throughout the whole class and not run over to me like every instinct you have will tell you to do." He patted my shoulder and walked over to sit next to Gazzy, who also seemed oddly excited, which left Nudge to sit with Lissa. She smiled at Nudge as the fashionista sat down and they immediately got into a conversation about the latest outfits.
I sat down next to Iggy, who was practically vibrating in his seat. "Igs, what's up?" I asked, a little annoyed now since he hadn't told me what was going on in the life of Iggy since he saw me.
"You'll see," He repeated giddily just as Ms. Thompson walked in and shushed the class before turning on the morning announcements. I blinked. That was not the TV squad we were watching talk about the lunch menu. I stared in bewilderment at the youtube video in front of me that played loud and proud, my jaw struggling to unhinge itself so it could hit the floor.
"Iggy, you did not." I growled through clenched teeth, turning to my friend.
"Didn't what? Compile every vine we've ever made into a youtube video that's not currently playing throughout the entire school? I did." The grin that shown on his face stretched from ear to ear and I was fighting with myself internally, debating whether to kill him or laugh along with the rest of the class as I attempted to sing the national song and failed miserably. Although within a blink of an eye Iggy was on screen wearing a bra. I faintly remembered making that seven second video two years ago. It had been three in the morning and we were both a little… well, drunk. I sighed, shaking my head and attempting to black out the rest of the twenty minute compilation, partly to save what was left of my dignity, and partly to make it easier to hold in my chuckle.
The class was unable to control their laughter by the end of the video; even the teacher got a chuckle out of it after failing to turn it off. I decided to be the bigger person and not kill him yet. Sam turned to face the sugar-high boy with a wild grin on his features. I wish Ari could have been here to see himself reading fanfiction in seven seconds. That one had brought the teacher to tears.
"James, would you rather have a lunch detention, or after school detention?" Mrs. T asked, looking over to her favorite student curiously as she composed herself.
"After school, Jen, I have a food fight to attend at lunch," He answered casually. She twitched when he used her first name but didn't scold him for it. Mostly because Iggy would always be Iggy, and the teachers accepted that after freshman year. Well, except Mr. Dean, our third period teacher, but Iggy was somewhat normal in that class (I know, it shocks me too) because he loves science.
I sighed, "But Iggy," I whined. "We're supposed to meet JJ after school to teach Fang not to take a bite out of your dad's leg,"
My friend sighed, glancing up at Sam who was already copying down notes off the board like the brilliant nerd he was. "Why can't Urkle go with you? You know it's fish day!" Iggy insisted.
"Because, you know Sam is allergic to dog hair, and he hasn't gotten a refill on his meds yet," I explained calmly. My best friend sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Ms. T! I'm actually gonna need to re-schedule that detention for lunch!" Iggy called out. She glanced from myself to him before sighing and scribbling something out on the pink detention slip and setting it on our desk.
"Very well," she mumbled, and then went on to explain today's lesson.
"You owe me," Iggy mumbled as she droned on.
"No I don't," I whispered, smirking.
"Max-"
"You'll see why," I added brightly, ignoring Iggy's bewildered look as I turned back to pay attention to the teacher and her robotic voice.
