As I Fell ?

Athena

"Okay, so tell me exactly what happened before you lost your dog."

Owen had asked monotonously, his head slumped on one raised arm, as I sat down on the side of the pavement near the entrance back to my neighborhood, my chest heaving up and down from running all over the park looking for a familiar white floof.

"Well, Maxie and I got out the house, won some eating challenge at Delta's, then went to the park before I stupidly fell asleep with Maxie out of her leash," I said told him.

I was going to be in so much trouble.

The 'just recovered' card I currently have might not be as useful as it had been before since I started being active again and Maxie was spoiled and loved so much by my aunt, I would bet my entire life's savings that she would spank me all the way to Greece if she knew I lost her.

I was lucky my aunt texted me that she was out with her friends today and might be back by dinner. And maybe, I was lucky I found Owen again.

"So she was the girl from earlier too," I heard him mutter to himself.

I didn't mind it though.

Clearing his throat a bit, he asked again, this time, with that tone older adults use on kids whenever they want to prove a point.

"Have you ever tried searching back at the park and diner?" he finally asked, maintaining his monotonous tone.

He looked bored. Like that bald, stern English teacher with round glasses we have at school. Well, I couldn't blame him, though. I kinda forced him to help me search for my dog and I was the reason he was stuck with me. Again.

"I told you before, I already did. Three times! I ran back and forth from the diner and the whole park and there was no sign of Maxie." I blurted out a little bit too fast before burying my head in my hands, looking down. He stopped for a while before he spoke again.

"Have you tried other places? Anywhere else she would like to go?" He asked.

I raised my head up to him, sitting in his chair, looking as bored as I am during class. He looked back at me coldly, his icy blue eyes piercing my stupid brown ones. While staring at his eyes, a thought finally popped up.

Maxie might be there.

"She did like going to the neighborhood playground six months ago. Oh, and bus stops. She loves them."

Hopeful, I stood up from the pavement and dusted dirt off my shorts. I looked at him to signal that I was ready to get going when he shot me a puzzled look.

"Six months ago? How long had it been since you last took her on a walk? No wonder she left you hanging." he said before clicking something from under his chair and started rolling back and forth as I fixed myself up.

"Excuse me Mr. Animal Rights Lawyer, it wasn't my fault I was stuck in a fucking halo for six fucking months. At least I walked her around our backyard."

I didn't mean to overshare that part about me.

I looked at him and he seemed taken aback. People have always reacted like that when I mention it. It was the reason I have bangs. The scars that came from the pins bolted into my skull were still healing and it would probably take time for them to turn into weird forehead scars. Think of Harry Potter. He has a cool scar.

"Let's go find Maxie, then. Before she ends up in Paris or somewhere. She might be eating baguettes with the French for all we know." He said as we strolled away from our previous spot.