I practically fell out of bed at the sound of my alarm clock. It felt like I hadn’t slept at all. Dragging my corpse across the room I managed to get dressed and somehow ended up on the street. Slapping my cheeks to wake me up I began my jog. I couldn’t manage the fast beat songs so I was contently flicking to the next song. I made to the pull-up bar where I rested for a couple of minutes. What was wrong with me? Normally I would have no trouble doing my eight kilometres, but I was struggling to do three. Well you’re not going to get any better just sitting here Callie, so move it.

Sighing I got up and began slowly jogging when my foot suddenly caught on something sending me to the ground.

“Fudge Brownies!” I cussed, grinding my teeth. Sitting up I looked at my leg, nice and grazed and would no doubt be a flash flood in about a minute and purple by tomorrow. Had I done something seriously wrong, for my luck to on such a low? I looked up see what I had tripped on. A blue spotty rope? Shuffling over to it I pulled it gently finding the most adorable fuzz ball. “Oh mi gosh your so cute!” I squealed, jumping like three octaves, blame Erin for the jargon.  I pulled the little pup onto my lap. It gave a little snap at my finger. “No, bad boy,” I said firmly giving it a little tap on the nose. It seemed a little shocked by my action but ended up jumping up to lick my face, his little stump of a tail wagging a million miles an hour. Giggling I picked up what I was pretty sure was a shih tuz. Following the other end of the lead, I realized that the little guy had got himself tangled up with a bicycle rack and a sturdy plant. Kneeling down I quickly untangled the lead and went sit on the bench. “Where’s your owner little…,” I checked its collar. “Ah…Ripper?” Ok was seriously not expecting that. I looked up and down that path for any obvious person looking for a dog, no one. I checked his tag again finding a phone number. I quickly pulled out my phone and dialled. As soon as I pressed ‘ring’ I heard a phone in the distance.

My head snapped to where a guy hastily darted for his phone. I quickly hung up, hoping to save credit and picked up the little cutie.

“Hey excuse me, is this your dog!” I called. He turned but instantly froze as I approached, stroking the little dog who had suddenly gone all quiet. “Or are you looking for something else?” I asked.

“No, no no, I mean yes. Yes I was looking for my…my sister’s dog. Yes my sister’s,” he babbled. Taking a step back I forced a smile. What a freak and a terrible liar.

“I’m sorry, I think I’ve got the wrong person, I need to make sure this little guy gets to the proper home. Sorry for bothering you,” I turned away from the weirdo.

“Wait! I’m sorry, it is actually my dog, not my sister’s, I don’t even have a sister,” I turned back to the guy who was suddenly really close. “Ripper, that’s his name.” The dog barked on queue and stated wagging its tail again. “I swear I only turned my back for a minute while getting a drink. This guy is like a major escape artist. This is like the fourth time he’s done this,” he admitted shyly.

Putting Ripper down, I handed over the leash, still sceptical. I gave the little dog a pat but received another round of slobbery kisses. Thankfully the guy pulled the little terror off me before I exploded into a full out giggle attack.

“He’s such a cutie, wish I still had a dog,” I smiled. “He was a little bigger than this guy, a good old kelpie,” I smiled remembering the old boy. He was more my eldest brother, Connor’s dog, but still held a soft spot in my memory.

“Just a little bigger?” the guy in front of me laughed. “But a kelpie is a good man’s dog unlike this little fur ball.”

“I like this fur ball, less cleaning, less feeding, a million times more adorable” I noted.

“More mischief,” he added chuckling.

“Meaning more fun, he’d make you a good sidekick, think of him as you magnet for attracting girls,” I laughed. “Anyway I need to go, bye” I smiled turning away to leave still feeling ill.

“Wow Ripper you’re a ladies magnet? I didn’t know you also attracted crazy broads too,” the guy behind me spook loud enough for me to hear. That camouflaging jerk! I swivelled round, a little too fast stumbling. Finally noticing the blood running down my leg I gave up on getting back at Twenty-three.

“This is what I get for helping such an unappreciated little gutter snipe,” I mumbled to myself taking a seat on the bench once again. I checked my watch, at this rate I wasn’t going to make my eight kilometres on time. Sighing I began to hobble over to the bubbler to wash the grit from my wound.

“Oi Crazy Broad!” my head snapped up to glare at the number. “Just so I don’t feel guilty, let me give you a lift home,” he said casually. I continued to glare. There were a number of things going through my head at that single moment in time. Firstly why? Was this a joke? How did he know where I lived? Why would he feel guilty…for making my life difficult perhaps? Why didn’t he use my name when he clearly knew it, unlike me… This may be a great opportunity to get the info you need to seduce him… “I just wanted to pay back the favour,” he continued seeming a little awkward. Pay back what favour? Slapping him, getting him into detention, making him believe that his rep was down the drain? “Don’t over think it Calista.” Now that was creepy, was he reading my mind? If he was, did that mean he knew I was dared to get him? No, there was no way he could.

“Why?” I finally managed to ask.

“For not running off with Ripper, and because I can see you’re not in the best of shapes,” he answered. Did he just insult me? “You’re leg,” he quickly clarified pointing at the red stained limb. I nodded not sure if this was the best idea, but I really didn’t want to hobble home like a cripple, plus if he tried anything funny I’d beat him to a pulp.

I was surprised at how little I had to walk, but what I found even more surprising was actually the car itself. Now you have to understand I have lots of ‘friends’ and seeing as mum doesn’t have the nerves to take me out for lessons, it’s not uncommon for me to get lifts from others. Another thing I should mention is that all my ‘friends’ are fairly well off but this…wow.

“Umm, so this is…ahh…your car?” I asked once again sceptical wondering if this car would even start.

“What? She’s a classic,” he smiled opening the door. “There you go princess,” he grinned doing a dramatic bow.

“What? Are you trying to be charming?” I teased, sliding onto the old leather seats of the ute. Twenty-three ever so delightfully slammed my door and walked around and took a seat next to me. “Where’s Ripper?” I asked noticing the lack of cuteness.

“In the tray,” he replied pulling out his car keys. I quickly snatched them from him. “Are you kidding me?” He let out an irritated groan before turning to me waiting for the expected explanation.

“How could you just put him there? He’s only a small dog, a puppy no less,” I turned to see if I could see the little shih tuz out the back window.

“You care more about that dog then your leg and whatever else is wrong with you,” he sighed. “If you make sure you don’t let him run around the cab, will you give me my keys back?” I nodded. Sighing once more he got out of the cab and quickly returned with fuzz ball who happily sat on my lap. Ignoring the deepen creasers in his forehead I looked about the interior of the car. Nothing really unusual; CDs, fast-food wrappers, useless air freshener, video camera…

“What’s the video camera for?” I asked finding it a little strange. He didn’t answer. Judging by the quality, it was a definitely in the higher price range. “You know most people just use their phones, it so much easier and convenient,” I commented giving little Ripper a scratch behind the ears.

“It deepens on what you’re filming,” he murmured.

“So what are you filming? A documentary of the growth rate of grass. No how about filming paranormal activity,” I laughed. “Actually you are probably more likely to use it for filming your victims,” I said in my creepy voice.

“Well if that was my topic, what part do you think you’d be playing?” he returned in an equally creepy voice. However there was a hint of seriousness behind it. I instantly closed my mouth looking away from the camera. If I was in his film what would I be? I knew the answer…the victim. This was shortly backed up with the arrival of our destination, my house. Stalker, I knew it. Though if I was thinking straight, he knew my brothers, and likely knew where they had lived.

Twenty-three didn’t open my door, I put Ripper down who had decided at that moment was the best time to start barking. Clambering out I took a glimpse of my leg. The blood had dribbled all the way down my leg and was now being absorbed by my socks. Joy oh joy, that was going to be fun to clean.

“Umm thank you,” I said out of politeness.

“Just clearing up my debts,” he announced before taking off. That was awkward; however I had unintentionally somehow completed my mission. Gather information, check.

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sorry about this one taking so long to get out. been to busy partying (only took nearly 2 decades)

Anyway, hope everyone had a great holiday, and i'll try and get the next chapter up soon..once i actually write it.

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