i haven't updated in a while so let me just express my apologies first

but this story is going on a lot longer than i initially planned it to wow guys look how efficient I am

seriously, this book was supposed to only be like a fifteen-chapter story. we're almost at twenty, and the conflict i have in mind hasn't even arrived yet.

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August 18

~•~

Katherine woke up in the middle of the night to something scratching at her door. The pattern of the sounds were close together, but Katherine eventually heard a low cry follow it. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes before standing and approaching the door. The moment she opened it, the silhouette of Pip entered the room and instantly jumped onto the bed, causing a groggy laugh to escape her lips.

Pip laid down in the center of the bed, causing Katherine to have to pick him up and set him down at a different spot in order for her to have room. She pulled the covers over her body, feeling Pip's nose nudge the edge of the fabric so that he, too, could be under the sheets. Katherine brought a hand up, petting the puppy and letting him curl up next to her.

"Goodnight, Pip."

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September 1

~•~

It was the day of the checkup, and Katherine was more excited than she had ever been. She rushed down the stairs, Pip close at her heels—feeding off of her excitement—until she was downstairs, looking out the window every two seconds. Jack noticed her excitement, simply watching her in puzzlement and curiosity.

About ten minutes later, Katherine noticed the car driving up the road. She quickly fixed her outfit despite nothing needing fixing, turning to Jack, "They're here."

"How come you're so excited?" Jack asked. "It's just the checkup."

"Yeah, yeah," Katherine nodded, turning away. "Just the checkup. Okay, Pip, go outside."

"How do we keep him quiet?" Jack asked.

"I already have that figured out," Katherine answered. "There's a bowl of food and several non-squeaky toys for him. Also, he kept me awake nearly all night, so he'll probably nap while he's out there."

"Of course you have it figured out," Jack remarked, watching as Katherine led Pip out the back door and tied him to a post by the wall where there wasn't a window.

"Don't doubt me," Katherine called into the house through the opened door as she tied the leash to the post.

"I never do."

Knocks sounded at the door, just in time for Katherine to close the back door. She struggled to hide her increased excitement as she bounced over to the front door.

"What's with you?" Jack asked. Though he didn't receive an answer, for Katherine had opened the door to reveal Hannah and a familiar face he hadn't seen in months.

"Crutchie?" Jack breathed in disbelief as the younger boy limped inside after Hannah.

"Hiya, Jack," Crutchie responded with a crooked grin, his eyes darting back and forth between Jack and Katherine.

"Katherine," Hannah began, already knowing that the two boys were the best of friends, "why don't we go up to your room in order to get started?"

"Yeah, okay," Katherine replied, winking subtly at Jack before following Hannah up the staircase, leaving the two old friends in the living room.

"Well, Jack, how've things been here?" Crutchie asked, nudging Jack with his elbow as he limped past him and to the couch.

"Good, I guess," Jack said with a shrug, trailing behind Crutchie and watching as the younger sat down on the corner of the couch. "What're you even doin' here?"

"Got a new job," Crutchie answered. "I sent in a application to the Institute a while back. I got a answer a few weeks ago."

"You workin' for the Institute now?" Jack arched an eyebrow, crossing his arms casually at his chest. "How's that workin' out for ya?"

"Great, actually!" Crutchie expressed, a smile growing on his face. "Lots o' people there are actually nice, so that's good." His eyes darted to the balcony of the second floor that overlooked the living room, but he quickly brought them back down to Jack. "So she's a Pulitzer, huh?"

Jack exhaled sharply. "Yeah," he answered, unsure what else to say. "Which means you're workin' for her old man. Good luck with that."

Crutchie laughed, "Ain't much of a problem for me. Oh, the boys told me to tell ya they say hi." Crutchie paused. "Race more than the others."

"How're they doin'?" Jack asked, leaning against the wall across from Crutchie.

"They's real good," Crutchie answered. "Things've been crazy without you and Davey there, though. It's kind of a problem."

"Great," Jack responded sarcastically. "Just what I need to go back to."

"They'll straighten up once you get back," Crutchie assured him. "They always do."

"They better. I'm not gonna deal with 'em."

Crutchie exhaled deeply, reaching for a file of papers he had carried in with him. "Alright, 'bout time I actually did my job."

Jack relished in the time he spent with Crutchie, even if it was mainly spent with the younger asking invasive questions about his relationship with Katherine. Still, just the sight of seeing Crutchie made him look forward to the moment the Appraisal would be over. There was a new hope there, too, one that reassured him that Crutchie would be visiting every month for the rest of the experiment.

Once Hannah and Crutchie left, leaving both Katherine and Jack in lifted spirits, the mood changed. "You knew, didn't you?" Jack asked the girl, who gave him a crooked grin.

"Maybe," she answered, stepping past him to go let Pip back inside.

Jack followed her, "Davey?" Katherine nodded, about to walk past him again when he grabbed her wrist. "Hey," he said, causing her to look at him, "thanks. I'm not big on surprises but you sure did good on that one."

Katherine smiled slightly, "I thought you would like it." She stepped back inside after the yapping Pip, going to fetch his bowl to fill it with more water. "He seemed nice," she continued. "I can see why you two are friends."

"He liked you, too," Jack replied. "I could tell."

Katherine took Pip's bowl, stopping in front of the sink in a moment's hesitation before she looked back up at Jack. "Do you think...?"

"What?"

Katherine shook her head. "Nevermind," she breathed, turning the faucet on. "It's nothing."