Chapter 10 and things are getting interesting, I just hope I can keep this pace for a while. Enjoy, Read & Review
Chapter 10
Balto walked into the kitchen just in time to see Aleu serving Bolt his breakfast. He and Jenna had decided it would be best if Bolt had no knowledge of the phone call he received earlier.
"Don't get to attached Aleu, Bolt's still a wanted dog and more importantly five years older than you." Balto said giving Aleu a typical fatherly glare.
"Oh, come on Papa it's not what you think anyway, Bolt was just telling me a story, and I thought it might be nice to fix him breakfast when he finished." Aleu said walking up to Balto and giving him a hug, but as she did so she looked around his shoulder and looking at Bolt put a finger over her lips.
'Does this girl keep everyone on a string? I'll need to watch myself around her.' Bolt thought to himself and he watched Aleu and then turned to eat his breakfast.
"So where's Kodi? He should be awake by now." Balto asked as Aleu let go.
"He hasn't come down yet, you want me to go get him?" Aleu asked her father.
"Yeah that would probably be best." Balto said walking past Aleu and sitting down at the table as Aleu headed back up the stairs.
Bolt didn't say anything to Balto and simply sat and watched him through bites of food. Balto appeared to be deep in thought, but suddenly he looked straight at Bolt and smiled.
"Say, Bolt, you never finished school did you?" Balto had his eyes set on Bolt as he said this. Bolt swallowed slowly before trying to answer.
"Technically, no I didn't graduate but I have a diploma." Bolt answered trying to gauge Balto's reaction before he replied.
"Well no problem cause it wouldn't matter either way, look I need you to go to school today with Aleu and Kodi." Balto said still not looking away and still with a smile on his face
"Why the hell would you want me to do that?" Bolt asked giving Balto an incredulous look.
"Bolt, I don't really know what to do with you right now and if your at school at least Aleu and kodi can keep an eye on you and I'll know where you are, look I don't care what you do while your there just stay put till 4:15 okay?" Balto asked almost begging.
"Fine, I'll do it but one question. Why can't you keep an eye on me? I mean what are you up to that's so top secret that I can't tag along?" Bolt asked emphasizing the 'I' to remind Balto of yesterday's events.
"Look, Bolt I have to attend to some business that is a little personal and I'd like it if you'd stay out of trouble until I'm finished. Can you do that for me?" Balto questioned, his smile now gone and replaced with a much more serious look.
"I get it Balto, I'll stay quiet for today," Bolt said leaning back crossing his arms and giving a contented smirk "but you own me."
"Kid," Balto said as he stood up "you have no idea."
Balto headed for the door as Aleu came back into the kitchen and called him back. "No breakfast Papa?"
"No, afraid I don't have much of an appetite today, see you when I get home." Balto said as he exited the front door.
Kodi appeared behind Aleu a moment later. "Hey sis what's for breakfast?" He said walking around her toward the counter.
"Morning Kodi." Bolt said he had finished the last of his meal and was standing up to dispose of his dishes.
"Moring Bolt! So what do you plan to do today?" Kodi said with the same chipper attitude Aleu had.
"Well today I plan to go back to school." Bolt said tossing a look in Aleu direction.
"So where to next Mittens?" Penny asked her feline companion.
The two females where carrying a few shopping bags, proof of their early morning exploits.
"How about that café over there I could use a rest." Mittens said with a sigh.
The two women sat down at the tiny outdoor café, which was surprisingly busy regardless to the fact that it was snowing lightly. After ordering their drinks Mittens spoke up.
"So why exactly did you call me Penny? This trip was kind of short notice." The feline asked her human comrade.
"Well it's just been so long since I've seen you and when this trip came up I couldn't think of a better cat to call" Penny said looking at Mittens as she spoke the last three words.
"Why didn't you just bring you watchdog? Or is he out chasing some cute poodle or something?" Mittens spoke with distain in her voice.
Penny was a bit taken aback by Mittens' statement.
"Mitts…I thought you knew Bolt still hasn't reported back from wherever the hell it is the military sent him?" Penny said with a confused look on her face
"What! I didn't know any of this how long has he been gone?" Mittens asked at first trying to hide her concern but she failed and managed to draw the momentary attention of a few of the café's patrons.
"That was five years ago and I haven't heard a word about him since then." Penny said this a downhearted sigh.
"No…no that was after…well you know…" Mittens said the last part almost a whisper.
"Well he's gone now and I don't know if or when he's coming back, no one's willing to give me a straight answer but apparently he's still alive, like that's any consolation." Penny said as the waiter, a beagle, brought them their drinks.
"Hmm…well I suppose that he must be happy if he's been gone so long, Bolt never was one to stick with something he didn't like." Mittens said finally able keep her emotions in check for the moment.
"You may be right but I just thought I'd have spoken to him at sometime during this whole ordeal." Penny said sipping her drink "It's be quiet at home with out the two of you. You know all Rhino ever does is watch T.V."
Mittens laughed a little to herself at the mention of Rhino, a brown hamster that swore he was both part wolf and wolverine, something no one could verify of course. "Well he never was very athletic."
"So, Mitts how have you been all this time, I heard you've begun to settle down." Penny said a little eager to hear what her friend had been up to.
"Yeah well I did, I felt it was time to stop chasing a silly dream and start trying to secure a more stable life." Mittens tried to sound as convincing as possible as she said this knowing full well it was complete and total bull
"With the way you talk sounds like you've found Mister Right…So what's his name?" Penny asked smiling smugly at the cat.
Mittens should have known this would be Penny's next question, she was never good at hiding things and even if she had been, Penny could see through even the most bullet-proof lie, that's what made her such a successful Lawyer. "Well nothings set in stone yet but his name is Nick if you must know, he's an orange tabby and he's originally from New York City."
"Sounds like you've been doing okay then?" Penny asked to check if there was any other information she could get out of Mittens willingly
"Yeah I suppose, I finally got that job at "the Chicago Times" it's entry level work but hopefully I'll move up soon, Nick was a full-time author but he felt it would be better if he got a job at a local publishing company." Mittens said with a bit of her usual smug attitude
"Well sounds like you're doing alright for yourself then, and congrats on the job." Penny said contently sipping some of her drink
Meanwhile and unknown to the two females Aleu, Kodi and Bolt where right across the street walking toward Aleu and Kodi's high school.
"You know I was thinking… Someone may notice I'm not exactly a 17 year-old." Bolt mentioned now fully clothed as Kodi had offered him a blue button up shirt.
"I think you should be more worried about someone recognizing your face than your age…Marc." Kodi said not looking it Bolt's direction
"Marc? Is that my codename or something" Bolt asked slightly confused
"Do you like it? Kodi and I figured not to many dogs are named Bolt who look exactly like you so a different name might help hide you a bit more and about your age I wouldn't worry some of the football players look older than you. I mean you and Kodi are about the same height." Aleu pointed out
"I suppose you have a point." Bolt said giving Kodi a once over before looking aimlessly across the street when a pair sitting at the café across from him could his eye and he stopped dead. "There's no way…It just couldn't be."
Aleu glanced behind her when she thought she heard Bolt mumble something and noticed he had stopped following. Kodi also took notice when Aleu stopped walking. "What is it Bolt?" Aleu asked as she too gazed across the busy street at the café Bolt was staring at "Say that cat looks a lot like…Hey you don't think that's Mittens do you? What a coincidence if it was huh?" But Bolt never heard any of what Aleu said as he was already sprinting across the street.
'Penny!' Was all Bolt could think about as he reached the other side of the road.
"Bolt have you lost your mind? A car could've hit you! Aleu screamed at him as she to emerged from the street and onto the sidewalk with Kodi in toe.
Bolt failed to hear or care about anything Aleu was saying at the moment as all his mind could process was the red-headed girl sitting not 10 feet in front of him as his paws gained a mind of their own and shuffled forward.
Penny looked onward as she heard the commotion coming from the street and was struck dumb as she saw who was standing staring back at her with that dumb smile she knew and loved. She could barely contain herself as she jumped up and ran to him and embraced him.
"Bolt…I thought I'd lost you." She whispered to him as it was al she could muster at the moment.
"So did I Penny." Bolt replied holding her tight.
