21| Baby
I was pulling on my shoes when my phone started ringing beside me. "Hello?" I answered, holding it between my ear and shoulder as Nathan walked in.
"Hi, this is Emma, right?" a girl asked.
"Yeah, that's me," I said, tying my laces. Nathan looked at me in confusion but I just shrugged my free shoulder at him.
"I'm calling from the animal shelter, you were supposed to volunteer today, is that correct?" she asked.
"Yeah, I was just leaving," I said, holding the phone now in my hands.
"I'm very sorry to inform you, but you can't be volunteering here anymore.
You see, we had a lot of people sign up this time around and most of them were available to foster but in your form, you said you can't foster or adopt, because of that we had to take more volunteers that could foster, and unfortunately you weren't one of them.
For the time being, we have a lot of staff here, I'm very sorry," she said.
"Oh," I said, my shoulders slumping, "Uh, that's okay, I was actually wondering if I could adopt one of your puppies, his name's August, he's a 6-month-toy poodle, could you just tell me if he's still available?" I asked.
"What's going on?" Nathan asked, sitting beside me.
"Just give me one moment," she said.
I covered the receiver turning to him, "We're not going. I'll explain, just one sec," I said quickly.
"August, right. We just had an applicant fill out a form for him this morning, you can fill one out as well if you like and then we'll go through both forms and decide who he's more suited to, would you like to fill one out? We can do it over the phone," she said.
"Um, no, that's... that's all right. Someone already signed up for him, you said?" I asked, scratching my brow.
"Two people did this morning," she answered.
"Then that's okay, maybe another time, would you please let me know if and when you need other volunteers," I sighed.
"Of course, thank you for your time," she said in a sing-song voice.
"Thank you," I said before hanging up.
"I'm very confused," Nathan said. I lay back down, groaning into my pillow. I started explaining to him what happened through the pillow but he stopped me halfway and yanked the pillow away. "I can't hear anything you're saying."
I sat up with a huff, "There were a lot of volunteers and they needed as many that can foster or adopt, and because I couldn't, they took in some other volunteers, and now they have too many so I can't go. As for the puppy, he was adopted this morning," I explained.
"Wait, you mean... you're not getting a puppy?" he frowned.
"No," I sighed.
"You're not getting a baby?" he mumbled. He looks so cute right now, it's not even funny. He's pouting, he has glassy, puppy eyes, his face looks adorable and squishy.
"No, I'm not getting a baby," I groaned. I chuckled, "I was just about to make a very inappropriate joke, nevermind."
"You were gonna say 'but we can make one right now if you want' I know," he nodded, rolling his eyes.
"How did you know I was gonna say that?" I looked at him in shock.
"What? That we can make a baby?" he laughed, "What other inappropriate jokes could you make?" He's not wrong.
"I really wanted a puppy." My shoulders slumped as I faked a sniffle.
"There, there," he said, patting my shoulder. "We can still go out though," he said.
"Where?" I asked.
"I don't know. But you're dressed, I'm dressed, we can go somewhere," he shrugged.
Or we can get undressed.
Oh my god, the sexual jokes are just on a roll today. Good thing I didn't say that one out loud.
"We can go to the park."
"Are we gonna have to walk? Cause I really don't-"
"It's good for the body, get up," he ordered. I sighed, standing up, taking my phone and house keys with me. And then we walked. To the park. Which is full of kids and people walking their dogs, and a couple of teenage boys skating on the ramps. Yes, it's also a skatepark.
"What are we gonna do here? Play tag?" I asked, squinting under the sun.
"We could," he shrugged, "But there are puppies everywhere."
There was an elderly man walking around with a beautiful golden retriever on a leash. "Can we go ask if we can play with that dog?" I asked, pointing to the puppy and the man.
"I think that's Mr. Hemmings, he's really rude to all the kids around here. That's what I've heard. Like a grumpy old man, we should probably avoid him," Nathan mumbled.
"Oh, so he's like... the older version of you," I laughed.
"Very funny," he rolled his eyes.
"It's true," I shrugged. The dog is so cute. "I'm going."
"Emma."
"I'm going to ask." I ran along before he could stop me and I walked up to the man. "Excuse me, sir?"
"What?" he snapped, turning around to look at me. Jesus.
"My name's Emma, I was wondering if I could maybe just play with..." It's a girl. "Her, a little bit? Maybe just walk her around, would that be okay?"
"Her name is Mia," he said gruffly.
"Hi, Mia," I grinned, kneeling down to pet her. "Please?" I squinted up at him.
He eyed me suspiciously before huffing and then walking off, taking Mia with him. I frowned at his back, walking back to Nathan.
"You know, usually when I say things... I'm right," he smirked.
"Shut up," I scoffed, nudging his ribs. He looked around the park, both of us settling on walking around and talking.
I got to know him a little better throughout the day.
I got to hear some childhood stories, some funny moments, and I got to hear about some of his firsts.
First roller coaster, first date, first crush, first kiss. Even his first soccer game.
The day flew by and the sun was starting to set. The sky was turning orange and pink and there was a soft breeze blowing around. "Do you know how to skate?" he asked.
"Not at all," I shook my head.
"The kids are taking a break, let's go skate," he shrugged.
"Do you know how to skate?" I asked.
"A little bit," he nodded, pulling his hands out of his pockets, "Come on, you'll be fine," he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me to the skate ramps.
There were mainly freshman boys around here.
They were all sweaty and flustered and sitting around taking a break.
"Mind if we borrow a board?" Nathan asked a group of boys.
One of the boys handed his board to Nathan while conversing with his friends. "Get on," he smirked.
"You get on. I think I'll sit this one out with them," I said, looking at the boys. They all looked up, grinning at me. I didn't remember freshman boys being that horny in Miami. "Or I'll sit this one out on my own," I smiled at them.
"Damn it," the kid who handed us his board said.
"Dude, you're 15," I said to him, sitting beside him anyway. Nathan laughed, shaking his head and skating around on his own for a little bit. He can skate. He almost tripped the first few tries but then he got it, and then he was going all around the ramp.
"Are you single?" the boy asked me.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Charlie," he answered.
"Charlie," I cleared my throat, "I'll play the 'you're 15' card one more time," I smiled apologetically.
"Age is just a number," he shrugged.
"Oh, my god, where did you read that?" I laughed. He shrugged again, staring at the ground. "You're a cute kid," I said, ruffling his hair.
"Can I buy you ice cream then?" he asked.
I bit back a laugh, pulling down the sleeves of my crewneck. "I tell you what," I said, tucking my hair behind my ear, "You can get us both ice cream," I said, pointing at me and Nathan.
"I can get us both ice cream," he said pointing at himself and then me.
I laughed, shaking my head. "Okay, you can get that ice cream," I nodded.
"I'll be back in 10 minutes, don't leave with my board," he said, shooting up and sprinting all the way down to the ice cream parlor down the road.
Most of his friends left, he's just left here with a few now.
He came back quicker than I expected and he was panting.
Poor kid. "Here," he said, handing me an ice lolly.
"Thanks, blueberry?" He nodded, sitting beside me. "You know I'm not going out with you, right?" I asked, looking down at him.
"Yeah, I know," he sighed, catching his breath. "But your boyfriend has my board."
"That's not my boyfriend," I laughed, "Thanks for the popsicle," I said.
"Anytime," he nodded. "Can I least get your number?" he tried again.
"No," I shook my head, watching Nathan.
"Oh," he sang, "You like that guy? Really?"
I glared at him, "Shut up." He mimicked a zipper over his mouth, stating his lips were sealed. I sighed, staring at Nathan. "I dolike him. That's the problem," I said.
"Why? He's privileged to have you," he said.
"Okay, Augustus Walters," I chuckled, "How don't you have a girlfriend your age?" I asked.
"They don't appreciate me," he shrugged.
"Damn," I nodded.
This 15-year-old kid is better company than anyone I've ever met.
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