YAAAY! Brand new chapter for you guys! The first chapter I thought went pretty well, so here is the second chapter for you guys!
I want to give a BIG thank you to AquilaTempestas for helping me with the MSN conversation. I asked her before-hand if she would help me with the convo and she accepted. So thank you soooo much!!!!
And also thank you all who reviewed last chapter and to those who have faved and set it on watch =)
Here's new chappie and please enjoy! =D
It was now five forty three in the afternoon with the sun steadily setting just above the horizon of the mass of buildings in the city of Melbourne. The city then came alive with people getting to public transportation to get home and prepare their dinner or just sit down and watch whatever was on the television. Many cars were littered in the drive-through to the city's most popular KFC, which was situated just outside of the city, and the biggest one in Melbourne.
Outside the KFC wasn't as bad as it seemed; but inside was a different story. The inside of KFC was like a swarm of flies trying to get places but always getting in the way. Behind the register was difficult seeing as there were only two people manning the registers. One was a tall blonde male with a swarm of acne over his face and a long face with thin lips and light blue eyes. He had at least five customers to deal with.
Behind the other register was Chadwick. He had just under a dozen customers to deal with. He never knew why he got more customers than everyone else, seeing as most of those customers were teenage girls who were busy sighing instead of ordering. He would roll his eyes and lean on the register while they stared at him and pretended to be innocent.
Most of the girls he served never really wanted to order anything. They would come to the register and nod at him and look up at the menu and then back at him, saying: "Oh, sorry, this is the wrong restaurant. My bad." Then walk out and be back the next day. The worst he had was a pancake face girl, with her make up making her look orange , asked for his number.
Chadwick was down to three customers and looked up at the clock. His eyes went wide 'Shit! It's nearly six o'clock.' His mind shouted and he left the waiting customers and went to the managers office to have a word with her. He knew the manager wasn't a nasty woman, but if you got on her moody side, then lights out for you. He stopped at her door and knocked the wooden door sturdily a few times before being shouted inside.
The manager was a plump woman with greying brown locks of thin and scraggy hair, a round face and fading hazel eyes. She looked up at Chadwick and smiled to him. "Chadwick! So good to see you. Take a seat." Chadwick did so and she went on, "Now, what can I d for you?" She asked, eyeing him carefully.
Chadwick scratched behind his neck and shook his head, his bangs brushing from side to side. "Sorry to disturb you, Karen. Uhmm, this is the third day in a row I've worked over-time. I need to head home and take care of Sheila..." He trailed off when Karen's hand slammed down on the desk, startling him slightly. "Is there a problem?" He asked her carefully.
Karen shook her head and raised her head to look at Chadwick's face. "No problem at all. But I suggest you go out there and finish up with those customers." She said, warningly.
Chadwick narrowed his thick, slate, eyebrows slightly. "Hey, Jade isn't doing anything. Maybe you should get her off her ass and onto the registers. My poor pup is getting lonelier by the day! Does that not bother you?" He began, raising his voice just a little.
Karen crossed her fingers together and held them under her chin, supporting it and its many rolls. "Chadwick, I care nothing much for animals. But I understand where you are coming from. A puppy needs all the attention they can get, but maybe you should have thought twice about that before purchasing it."
It? It?! Sheila was not an it! She was the most beautiful... Chadwick narrowed his eyebrows further and stood up, the chair toppling over and crashing to the ground. "Sheila is not an 'it'! I will be heading home now to take care of my pup. I finished my shift and now I'm going home. Goodnight, Karen." He stated plainly and turned his back on her, walking to the door and ready to open it when a hand clamped down on his wrist. He turned back to her. "Let go." He said softly.
Karen began to twist his wrist slightly until he began to try and yank it from her grip. "You are not leaving until your shift is finished! You're staying for an extra hour, now get back out there and serve those customers!" She yelled, alerting the entire restaurant; causing everyone to look to the closed office door.
Chadwick pulled his wrist free from her strong grip and rubbed it. He huffed and took the KFC cap off and threw it on the desk. "No." He said plainly. "Keep your job, you fat slob. I'm going home to take care of my pup." He said, beginning to remove his filthy KFC work shirt. He pulled it off over his head and threw it on the desk as well, his slightly tanned chest and abdomen naked for everyone to see. "Keep it because I quit!" He yelled and stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
He walked past the gawking customers and staff as they stared at his chest and abdomen. Girls squealed and ran to him. They were startled when he pushed past everyone and pulled his house keys from his pocket along with his wallet. The city seemed like a dangerous place to wander around at night time, but he didn't care. He just wanted to get home to his pup. And get in the shower and prepare their dinner.
He sighed on the walk home. It was going to be harder now that he was going to be job-less. He needed to get out tomorrow and look for a new job. He just needed that money to support himself and his girl. Nothing else mattered to him aside from his pup... and Tala08. As much as Chadwick didn't want to admit it; he became very close with Tala08. He seemed like a great guy and a nice friend to chat to. Chadwick could only sigh and continue on home, just around the next block.
Tala08 seemed to read Chadwick's mind every time they spoke on the msn window. Chadwick wasn't really one to admit his feelings and had never had a girlfriend or a close friend.... except for Sheila. She read Chadwick like an open book and knew if something was wrong. She was not even a year old and already knew her master like her tail.
Chadwick smiled when he thought back to when he first got her. He saw an ad in the paper for Siberian Husky puppies so he decided to investigate and possibly adopt one.
It was a fine and warm day on the twenty-fifth of June, 2009, when Chadwick walked down a path in Collingwood; to a house he would be visiting for a very special reason. He had been lonely and living on his own for three months now and needed a friend.
He looked down at the piece of paper that had an address scribbled on its scrunched surface with a red pen. He blinked a couple of times and looked back up to cross the road since the green man was flashing for him to walk. He walked across the road and further down the street to the address on the right hand side of the street. Number twenty-three. He smiled and stopped at the wire gate and pushed it open, shutting it behind him and admiring the work that had been given to the garden.
The garden had various colours of rose bushes: red, white, yellow, pink, burgundy. It was feeling a bit like Wonderland with all of these amazing and vibrant colours across the garden. He chuckled and walked to the front door, ringing the door-bell and hearing the shrill and rhythmic 'ding-dong'.
After a few seconds, someone attended to the door and smiled at Chadwick. It was a woman in her mid-forties with burgundy coloured hair and blue eyes. Her hair reached down to her mid back, tied in a tight ponytail, and flowed in the slight wind. "Hello there. Are you here to look at the puppies?" When Chadwick nodded she beamed. "Oh please, do come in!"
Chadwick smiled and walked past the woman after wiping his feet on the door-mat and walked to the hall and into the lounge-room where the puppies were playing with each other. He smiled and walked to them, all of the puppies being black, grey and white. He chuckled and kneeled down on the floor, all of them rushing to him and tugging at his shirt and trying to pull his keys from his pocket. "Hey, easy there." He chuckled and looked back to the woman. "They're all very playful." He told her and looked up, seeing a reddy-brown mass of fur mixed with white. He tilted his head to the side and placed the puppies down on the floor, all of them running back to each other and playing.
Chadwick stood up slowly and walked to the puppy that sat all by itself, its ears folded; looking like it didn't have a friend in the world. The woman shuffled a little and watched as the boy made his way to the outcast puppy, smiling just so slightly. "She was born a little late and didn't come out the same colours as her brothers and sisters." She told him and watched him kneel down at the puppy.
Chadwick could only nod at the woman as he stared into the puppy's eyes, watching as she made a move towards him ever so slightly. She tilted her head to the side a little and sniffed Chadwick's hand for a couple of seconds before lifting her tail and swishing it from side to side as she placed her front paws on his lap as she poked her tongue out and panted happily, barking cutely and jumping up on him. Chadwick chuckled and looked into her bright and vibrant ice-blue eyes. "Need a friend?" He asked her and watched as she circled him and began to sniff him and tug at the back of his shirt, causing him to chuckle. "Yeah? I need a friend as well." He stood up and picked her up with him, staring into her eyes and smiling in contention. "Would you like to be my friend?" She barked happily and wagged her boofy and small puppy tail.
The woman smiled at the boy and the puppy and walked to him. "Made a friend?" When he nodded she smiled. "Are you going to take her home or come back for her?" She asked and watched as Chadwick held the puppy in the crook of his right arm as he dug into his pocket with his left hand and pulled out his wallet.
"I'll take her today. I need a friend before I go insane." He chuckled and set the puppy back on the floor next to his feet as he opened his wallet and prepared to remove the money. "Six hundred, was it?" He asked and watched the woman nodded. He nodded to her and pulled out a dozen lot of fifty dollar notes. He slapped them down on the table, one at a time, and counted twelve. "Six hundred dollars." He said and handed her the money.
The woman smiled and took the money generously from Chadwick. "Thank you very much." She reached down and picked the puppy up. "And here is your new friend." She then placed a hand to Chadwick's shoulder as he kissed the top of the puppy's head and held her close. "Let me give you some friendly advice." Chadwick nodded and pet along his new friend's back. "You treat her with respect and she will do the same. A bond between man and dog is a powerful bond. Love her, care for her and she will protect you and stay forever vigil at your side." She smiled at the puppy and pet behind her ears. "Take care of him now, pup." She chuckled and slapped Chadwick's shoulder.
Chadwick smiled at the woman and nodded. "Thank you. She and I will be friends," he held the puppy to his face and smiled into her eyes, "forever." He then kissed her wet nose and she rest her head on his shoulder like a babe on its mothers breast.
Chadwick then made it to his room after his long memory and slid the key into the keyhole and turned the lock, opening the door and being greeted by a jump and licks to his hands and neck. The happy barks of his girl were so relieving to him as he shut the door and plopped down on the couch with her jumping on him and lying on his torso. She folded her ears back and knew there was something wrong. She whined at him for the answer.
Chadwick knew he couldn't keep it from her and scratched behind her ear, looking deep into her ice-blue eyes. "Yeah, I know. You know there's something wrong." He told her and felt her weight shift as she crawled further up his torso and rest her head on his right shoulder. "Got fired today... well I quit really." He admitted to her and heard her whine. "Don't worry, girl," he told her; soothingly, "we'll manage... somehow." He sighed and closed his amethyst eyes and kept his hand on Sheila's boofy neck and dreamed of some wonderful place they could escape to and forget about this nonsense. 'Heh.. if only dreams came true.'
Chadwick then stood up, which pushed Sheila off of him, and walked to the tiny kitchen to prepare their meal for the night… sausages and mashed potato. Okay yes, he was low on money because of the crappy job he had and now that he was jobless, he was in need of a new one.
'I'll have to go job hunting tomorrow with Sheila.' He smiled and pulled a tray of eight sausages from the fridge and pulled four potatoes from the cupboard under the sink along with the vegetable peeler. Chadwick then pulled the bin over and prepared to peel the potatoes. He wasn't a very good peeler and often found that he cut himself and scraped the peeler over his fingers and hands while he was peeling; which afterwards was very painful to clean up.
Once he finished peeling the potatoes, Chadwick got out his only cutting knife and began to slice the potatoes in fours; since they were fairly large. Once they were cut, he dropped them into the steel saucepan and ran water and cooking salt overt hem and then drained the water from it knowing that all he needed to cleanse the potatoes were salt and water. He smiled and added just a touch more salt and then water, turning on the front hot plate and placing it on it.
Chadwick then moved to the sausages and began to cut them apart and then dig fork holes into the sausages to help the inside meat breathe and cook properly. Once that task was complete he placed all eight sausages on a fry pan and turned the second front hotplate and turned it on. After a minute or so he heard them beginning to sizzle. The whole dinner would take twenty minutes to cook.
He then looked back to Sheila and watched as she waited patiently for her dinner to be ready. She knew that her master always liked to prepare dinner that would suit them both, so he usually cooked the same things for him and her so there was nothing unfair about their dinner that night. She looked to her left and wagged her boofy tail about while she listened to the sausages sizzle on the fry pan. She then looked back up at her master and stood up when he approached her and pat her head and behind her ears. She barked with delight when he chuckled at her and walked to his room with her following close behind.
Chadwick looked back at Sheila and smiled. "Want me to put a movie on for you, sweetie?" He asked and watched as she wagged her tail and jumped onto the neat bed and barked happily at him and watched he pointed to a movie, wagging her tail and barking as her response. "One Hundred and One Dalmatians it is then." He chuckled and put the DVD into the player and switched the television on, starting the movie with the Disney Fast Play.
He smiled and watched as she sat down at the edge of the bed and watched the movie with content ice blue eyes. He chuckled and walked back to the kitchen and ran his hands under some water and turned the tap off and turned the sausages. They were looking lovely and brown. 'Just about ready. Five minutes I reckon.' he told himself and drained the water to the potatoes and grabbed his masher and whisk, along with the butter, milk and a butterknife.
---------
After they had eaten dinner, Chadwick booted up his small laptop and looked up now and again to the movie playing over once again. It seemed to be amusing Sheila and he smiled at her innocence. Even though she was a dog, Sheila was the most intelligent person he knew.
He signed into the msn chat room and waited and watched the green and blue men dance around one another as the software booted up and signed him in with the little man in the bottom right corner having a green square with him. Chadwick shook his head at the strange technology and blinked a couple of times when he heard the msn ring go off, indicating that someone was trying to talk to him.
Chadwick looked to the screen and smiled when he saw the person he had hoped would be online.
Tala08: Hey, how was KFC today? no bitchy managers?
Chadwick.V.H: *sigh* You could say I've had an off day
Tala08: How come? Did your manager force you to work overtime again?
Chadwick.V.H: Yeah she did
The restaurant was packed with customers
Being a Thursday night and all
Tala08: That's shit. Glad I don't work at a fast food joint
Chadwick lowered his eyes to his crossed legs and listened to the movie in the background as he knew what he needed to tell Tala that he quit his job.
Chadwick.V.H: Well I'm glad I don't either
Tala08: Oh? You quit?
Chadwick.V.H: You could say that
Heh
Went right off at the manager
I mean geez! It was hitting six o'clock
I needed to get home to Sheila and this bitch wants me to stay back
Tala08: That sucks, complain. They have no right to keep you back
Chadwick shrugged his shoulders at Tala's suggestion and knew what he said to his manager would not help his case in getting a job. He sighed and looked down to the tiny keyboard of his laptop and began typing.
Chadwick.V.H: Don't need to complain
After what I said to Karen, I doubt I'll get my job back
Me and Sheila are going to go for a walk tomorrow to hunt for jobs
Tala08: Awesome, good luck! any places in particular?
Chadwick.V.H: I used to work on a farm a while back so maybe I could try looking rural or something
But then again I'm experienced at crappy fast food places
Maybe I could get in as a waiter or something like that
Tala08: Maybe
Or you could try something like Coles
Chadwick.V.H: Yeah, they might have jobs going.
Thanks
Tala08: No problem
Chadwick sighed and looked down at his hands and closed his amethyst eyes and breathed through his nostrils steadily. He knew what he wanted to ask Tala, he knew how he felt and wanted to know…
Chadwick.V.H: I... I need to ask something
Tala08: What is it?
Chadwick.V.H: Have.. have you ever spoken to someone and felt feelings for them over a short period of time?
Tala08: Oh yeah, and that person remained in my head for days
Chadwick.V.H: Yeah
How... how did they make you feel?
Tala08: Fuzzy and nervous when I was close to them
Chadwick.V.H: I see
Have you ever felt a long distance feeling for someone before?
Tala08: Hmm can't say long distance
More like short distance
Chadwick.V.H: Yeah, that sounds familiar
He then shook his head and noticed Sheila rest her head on his thigh and whine up at him. He smiled down at her and ran his handover her soft, thick reddy brown fur and looked back to the laptop and clicked on the keys, hearing the tapping of the keys every time he pressed a key.
ChadwickV.H: Ahem
So how's Wolburg?
Tala08: Healthy, let him have a run outside before
Went to the dog park
Chadwick.V.H: Yeah
I was hoping to take Sheila there tomorrow
She's been awfully lonely lately because of me working
Tala08: She could hang out with Wolburg
Chadwick.V.H: That would be great
I was thinking about getting another dog...
But I can't afford it
Tala08: What breed is Sheila?
Chadwick.V.H: She's a Husky
And a damn beautiful one at that
Chadwick could imagine Tala chuckling at the other end of the connection and smiled as he read what Tala had written. Simple, but fun.
Tala08:Yeah
Chadwick.V.H: When do you think you'll get off college?
On holidays I mean
Tala08: Hmm we have a 10 day holiday for Easter
Chadwick.V.H: I-I need to ask you
Would you consider... coming down to visit us?
If you can afford it that is
Tala08: Sure I'd love to
Chadwick.V.H: And you could bring Wolburg
Sheila would love that
After Chadwick typed that he smiled down to Sheila and pet along her neck and back as she wagged her boofy tail and continued to watch One Hundred and One Dalmatians.
Tala08: Of course
Chadwick.V.H: Heh she must know what we're typing
She's jumping all over me
Tala08: Aw that's cute
Wolburg is currently engrossed with a piece of steak
Chadwick.V.H: Haha
I made Sheila some nice sausages
It's all I can afford at the moment, but she knows when its tight and appreciates it
Tala08: Might get him a dog chew toy
Chadwick.V.H: Sheila has a squeaky hamburger
She loves it when I squeak it for her
Tala08: Aw
Chadwick.V.H: I was thinking back to when I got her
Her eyes locked me in place and I knew then and there that we needed one another
Tala08: How old is she?
Chadwick.V.H: Not quite a year old yet
Tala08: I've had Wolburg for quite a while
Chadwick.V.H: Oh, how old is he?
Tala08: Four years
Chadwick.V.H: Sheila was six weeks old when I got her
Tala08: Aw
Chadwick.V.H: And she's grown so much
A lot of people we pass don't think she's a puppy
Tala08: Cool
Chadwick.V.H: So when do you think you'll be able to come down for a visit?
Tala08: Well, I get holidays in about a week.
I'd have to book flights soon
Chadwick.V.H: And I'll prepare a bed for you and stuff
Tala08: Aw thanks
Chadwick.V.H: I've only got one room
My room, the lounge then the kitchen and the bathroom is connected to my room
Tala08: That' alright
Chadwick.V.H: That's good
The owner of the building is pretty good about Sheila staying here, so I'm sure he won't mind Wolburg
Uhmm... how big is he?
Tala08: Bigger than your Dingo and Husky
Chadwick.V.H: Wow, that's pretty big
Sheila still has growing to do
Chadwick knew then and there that he might be getting over his head for Tala's arrival in the land Down Under. But he was getting rather excited and continued their conversation.
Tala08: Yeah
Wolburg takes up a lot of space, other dogs are intimidated
Chadwick.V.H: I could imagine
T-Tala... I need to ask something again
Would our friendship change if I told you that I didn't like girls?
Tala08: Of course it wouldn't
Chadwick.V.H: That's good
Tala08: Did you have someone in mind?
He looked down and blushed just so slightly after he Tala asked him that.
Chadwick.V.H: I... I don't know
Tala08: You can tell me anything
Chadwick.V.H: Tala, since we've started talking, I've been feeling these strong feelings…I-I… oh don't worry about it. I don't want to scare you away.
Tala08:… Chad..
Chadwick.V.H: I'm sorry for wasting your time… if you never want to speak to me again, I understand.
Tala08: I've felt feelings for you as well, Chad.
I never wanted to admit it until you felt comfortable about telling me stuff
And…and we've opened up to each other so much.
Chadwick.V.H: I-I agree with you one hundred percent.
And even though we're on opposite sides of the world, I want to be with you more than anything.
Tala08: I feel the same way
I'll begin the arrangements tomorrow; since I have tomorrow off.
But for now mister, you must get some sleep and we'll talk tomorrow.
I promise.
This caused Chadwick to smile and nod at the computer after Tala had written that. He felt himself getting rather hot after Tala had admitted his feelings as well. He never knew that Tala felt that way for him and was determined to do anything to be with the Russian he was speaking to.
Chadwick.V.H: Yeah. I'll get some sleep and we'll chat tomorrow.
I need to go job hunting with Sheila tomorrow.
But thank you Tala.
Tala08: No worries Chad.
After I book my flight it'll be easier than making a bowl of soup.
Goodnight and sleep well.
Chadwick.V.H: Goodnight. Have a great day.
Chadwick then watched as Tala went offline and followed shortly after. He shut his laptop down and nestled back into his pillow while watching the end of One Hundred and One Dalmatians with Sheila. Anything to do with dogs and puppies she was all ears.
Chadwick chuckled and wrapped an arm around Sheila's boofy neck and watched as it came to an end and he yawned. "Mind if we call it an early night tonight, hun?" He asked her and watched she wagged her tail and nestled her way under the covers. Chadwick smiled and held up the DVD remote and the television remote and switched both off.
All of the lights had been switched off and the curtains closed. Chadwick yawned and nestled into his bed and cuddled Sheila as she nestled closer to him and snuggled against him. "Goodnight. Tomorrow is going to be a big day." He told her and went off into dreamland with a smile on his lips.
And there you have it. There's chapter two and chapter three will be up asap. I do need to finish off A Jounrey Of Self Discovery. So what did you guys think of this chapter? Hope you enjoyed it and next chapter will be up asap =D
Thank for reading and please do review =D
~SD