Chapter two.

A beautiful morning..

Chapter 2.

 

    The next day, Gabriella awoke on the couch. She stretched her legs and back, before sitting up to see Rudge staring out the back down, fur sticking up.

 

"Rudge?"

 

    She called, but he sat there, motionless. She stood up and walked over to him, opening the back door. He bolted out, barely missing the squirrel by a few inches. He barked continuously, causing a chain of barks. Gabriella closed the screen door, letting in the cool fall air. She opened up the blinds to let more light in. She ran a hair through her messy hair a couple times as she trudged her way to the bathroom. She flipped the light switch one revealing just how messy her hair actually was. She jumped slightly at the sight, pulling at her hair. The florescent lights lit up the white tiles that covered the floors, the eggshell paint on the walls. She hated the color, but couldn't stand a full white room. The shower walls matched the tile floor, assorted soaps and conditioners lined the ledge that ran around a foot above the floor of the shower. Her towels were always color coordinated, this year round being oranges, green olives, and browns. She dropped her clothes, before stepping into the shower, shutting the glass door behind her. She figured a stand up shower would be easiest to clean, and wash Rudge in. Well, that was the main reason for it anyway. After a good 20 minutes, she opened the glass door, letting the steam that hadn't already escape, billow out all at once.

 

    Gabriella dried off her body, before flipping her hair over, to place it into another dry towel, twisting it before standing back up, laying it atop her head. She walked to her minimalistic bedroom that held a bed, dresser, necessary clothes in her closet, and a desk with a chair. A laptop sat stop her desk, in the middle. She hardly used it, and only had it to seem normal. Dark blue black-out curtains hung in front of her window. She pulled back one side of the curtain to check on Rudge who was currently laying on his back in the middle of the yard.

 

"Such a strange wolf.."

 

    Going through her clothes, she heard whining at the backdoor. She huffed and wrapped the towel around herself, and made her way to the back door, letting Rudge back in. She shut the screen door, before the glass sliding door. She walked back to the bedroom, hanging up the wet towel along the way, folding it three times. Gabriella walked through the short hall to her bedroom. She stretched once more before pulling out a red t-shirt that fit her snuggly, undergarments, and a pair of dark blue skinny jeans. She pulled on some socks, and her regular tennis shoes before walking out of the bedroom. She took the towel off her head, hanging it up, folding it three times inwardly. The steam from the shower was gone, and the mirror was mostly cleared up. In the background, the A/C kicked on, cooling the house off by the time she was done blow drying her hair.

"How about a walk today? Maybe to the pet store?"

    Rudge was at her side by the sound of 'walk' coming from his owner's voice. His tail wagging, thumping against the wall, his paws bouncing off the ground. She spun around a couple times before sitting, his front paws still bouncing a little. Gabriella smiled at Rudge, running a hand over his head.

"All right, all right. Come on, boy."

    Gabriella walked, well, tripped her way to the front door to grab his leash and collar. He stepped all over her feet , his tail repeatedly hitting her. She put a hand up, and he sat immediately, his tail stopped. She slipped the collar on, and hooked the leash to it, before standing up straight. She grabbed her phone, wallet, and keys before opening the front door. She grabbed the end of the leash and led him outside. He sat on the small wooden porch, wagging his tail. He looked around at the small front yard, like he had never seen it before.

"You are one crazy dog, you know that?"

    Gabriella locked up the house, and slid her keys in her pocket before walking down the small two steps to the pavement and heading in the direction of the pet store. She let Rudge lead the way, since he had memorized the location to the exact aisle that he loved the most. Rudge stopped occasionally to smell a tree, or eat some grass, but for most of the walk, he stayed in time with Gabriella, keeping guard.

"Morning Gabbi!"

    Daniel, one of her many neighbors called out. He worse his usual green robe with his matching slippers, sitting on his front porch. She gave him a wave, Rudge sending out a small bark toward him, tongue hanging out. She had met Daniel during the first week she had moved in. Rudge ran from the house, and she found him sitting on Daniel's front porch with him. Gabriella had never felt fear like that before. She grew to like Daniel, though always kept her distance from him. She never saw him wearing anything other than that robe; Gross.

    The automatic doors flew open when they arrived at the pet store. Rudge, stay obedient, putting fear in some dogs, and challenge in others. He always waited until she said it was okay before introducing himself to another dog, which made him many friends throughout the past few months. Gabriella said her hellos to the cashier as she made her way toward the middle of the medium sized store. Rudge wagged his tail, tongue hanging out as he looked across the toys.

"You have a million toys, Rudge, why would you need another?"

    She chuckled to herself as she grabbed one off a hook, holding it in her direction. She took it from his mouth, placing it in the small red basket she managed to pick up on the way in. The toy had a balled up bone in the middle, looking like a metal puzzle one would do to get the center out. She sighed and let him pick out a couple big bones, before she turned down another aisle.

    "Hello miss."

    Gabriella jumped at the voice, not noticing the man standing next to her. She looked up at him, smiled, and gave him a polite nod. The voice sounded familiar, yet she's heard so many, she figured it was just another man from in town.

"I love your dog. What breed is he? She?"

"He is a hybrid of a wolf and a husky. Though as you can see takes more of the wolf genes than the Husky's."

    The man laughed some at the statement.

"Ah yes, that makes sense. I see it now. My name is Damon."

"Gabriella. And that's Rudge."

    Gabriella shook his hand that he held out for seemingly too long before dropping it, grabbing ahold on Rudge's collar. Rudge inspected the strange man, sniffing him from where he stood on the opposite side of Gabriella. He turned his head upward and away slightly, as if to say 'he's fine, but I don't care for him'. Gabriella chuckled at Rudge before looking back at the man.

"I must be going now."

"Will I see you again?"

"Around town perhaps."

    Gabriella paid for the toys and disappeared out of the store, as Damon watched them leave. He kept his eyes on her for as long as he could see her. She hadn't seen much of him, hardly giving him a second look, but what she did see, she could melt for. His chiseled jaw line, and slightly pointed, though more rounded chin. He cheekbones prominent, though covered with slight fat. His hair black as the night, broad shoulders. His biceps thick, though not embarrassingly so. She shook her head, erasing the image of him. Rudge looked up at her, feeling her concern vibrate off her. She shook her head at him, and they made their way down the street toward a small bistro.

"Good morning miss and mister! How about a small breakfast?"

"Well, we do have the time, a table for one then. Well, I guess for two."

    Gabriella looked at the waiter that caught her attention. She gave him a smile as he led her to a table.

"Have we ever been here before?"

"Once, when I first moved here a few months back. So let's go with a cup of coffee for me, whatever you recommend for breakfast, please. and a small plate of chopped up ham for Rudge here."

    The waiter gave her a nod, and took the menus, soon returning with her cup of coffee and assorted creamers and sugar. He also brought a small bowl of water for Rudge, setting it down in front of him.

"Your food will be out shortly, miss."

    He gave a nod, smiled then disappeared back inside. Within minutes her food appeared in front of her along with a plate of ham for Rudge. He ate slowly, glancing around every now and then, facing the street, watching. Gabriella took her time, looking over the stuff French toast, eggs, and sausage. She was always a bacon person, but figured a little sausage for once wouldn't hurt. It was sweet yet salty. Maple syrup infused sausage, what a delight! The eggs peppered to taste, sunny side up. And the French toast, she felt she could eat about 3 plates of them. Once finished with her food, she paid and began the walk back to her small home. It was cozy, and old, but most of it had been refurbished to meet today's standards. She left the outside the way it was, loving the old timey feel it had.

    Rudge barked as they neared the house, the fur on his back standing straight up. He bolted from her grip, toward the house. Gabriella followed as quickly as her legs would carry her, shoving the front door open. Someone had been inside her house, and they were still there. She rushed to her bedroom, but was stopped by a man standing in her room.

"Who are you?!"

    The man shadowed his face to avoid being noticed. Fangs hung from his mouth. Rudge barked, growled, and snarled at the man, not sure whether to attack or not. Within a blink of an eye, the man was gone, wind rushing by her. She heard the front door slam. She slid down the door frame, her hand shaking. She clasped them together. Was it the same man from the night before? He looked familiar, but she couldn't bring herself to recognize who it was. Rudge stood over her, keeping alert, until he knew the whatever he was, was gone.

Reviews

[Howling_Wolf]

I think you have a interesting story in the making; I look forward to seeing more.

[Haley Bryann]

Thank you so so much! I'm planning on putting up the third chapter this weekend! I wasn't planning on catching attention, and I found it pretty dumb, but I'm falling in love with it the more I write! Any advice for the next?

[Howling_Wolf]

My biggest problem when writing is proofreading. Always take that extra time to read it once or twice, and sometimes reading it out loud helps you catch stuff. Sorry I cant be more helpful.

[Haley Bryann]

Thanks! No, anything helps really.