Basehor, Kansas

2018, AD

4:45 pm

With their bodies spread across the couch, Kai and Elly were inside next to a cozy fireplace instead of outside in the freezing cold on an endless fish hunt. Neither of them saw the point in looking for Teddy.

"Yesterday during art I saw Lacie Adams watching Marley and Me in the back of the class," Kai said out of the blue.

"Uh no offense, but why is that important?" Elly asked him, turning her head to look over at her friend from under a ball of thick blankets.

"Because I saw a dog in the background and just thought of that. Also, Lacie started crying towards the end when...ya know."

"Don't remind me! I hated that movie," said Elly with a pouty look on her face. "For the exact same reason Lacie was probably crying."

"I still don't see how you didn't cry during Infinity War or Endgame!"

"I may be a nerd, but little did you know I am a nerd with no soul!" She announced standing up while trying to conceal a playful little smirk on her face. Kai tilted his head at his friend who burst out in laughter at his response.

"What's so funny?"

"I just," She laughed trying to form the right words in her heard, "When you tilted your head you looked like a puppy! And we were talking about a dog!"

"I have no idea how that is funny." Kai immediately deadpanned after her explanation.

Attempting, and failing, to look threatening Elly tried to stomp her way over too Kai on the couch and ended up tripping over her mountainous pile of blankets, landing on the ground with a thump. Upon impact with the ground Elly's laughter ceased into nothingness. Kai shot up out of his designated spot on the girl's couch and rushed over to make sure his friend was okay.

Before he turned her body over to face him, he took a deep breath preparing himself for the worst possible outcome. Once he saw the adorable shocked look on her face, his muscles relaxed. She burst out into a fit of laughter again, only this time Kai joined in. Their laughter echoed around the broad space of Kai's living room creating a chorus of joy.

Thinking someone had found their way into the house a black German Shepard rushed down the stairs, his paws pounding on the wood floor. Once the dog, Ace, saw that his owner was okay he rushed forward and crawled into Kai.

"It's okay, Ace! I'm okay boy!" Kai said trying to get the dog to stop licking his face from up above him. Elly watched as her best friend was being mauled by Ace's cuteness and took it as her cue to stand before he could get to her. While Kai continued to struggle Elly reached for her phone that had fallen down the crevasse of the couch's cushions.

Nala
Elly

Nala
Need ur help

El Bells
What up?

Nala
Can u drive me and my friend somewhere? It won't take long. We r at Mag. River

Elly looked up from her phone and locked eyes with Kai, who had just rolled out from under the german shepherd's grip.

"Hey is it okay if we pause the movie so I can quickly drive Nalani and her friend somewhere?" She asked him, even though she knew him well enough to anticipate his answer.

"Sure. I mean, it's not like we were really paying attention to the movie anyway."

"Okay, thanks!" She said while typing away on her small, outdated phone.

El Bells
See you in 5

-----------------------

Sat alongside the rushing river's edge Aline was endlessly looking for Teddy the goldfish. As the minutes went by Aline would have to dip her hand in the water and throw it at her brother to keep him awake.

"This is boring," He protested after Aline's seventh attempt at dousing his face with water.

"Well, the time would go by faster if you started looking for Teddy."

"I did!" At his outburst Aline furrowed her eyebrows at him, becoming more annoyed by the minute.

"For ten minutes! Is that all my life is worth to you? Ten minutes?" She said, still facing away from him. "It doesn't matter. You can leave now. I'll just walk home." Aline stated while dipping her hand back into the water. Aaron sat up, dusted the dirt off of his jeans back pockets, and turned away from the river ready to head to his car and then back home.

On his way back to his car on the other side of the parking lot, he recognized one of two brunette figures slowly walking in the distance. An idea forged itself into his head as his lips curled up into an enthusiastic grin.

"Nalani!" He called out to the girl gaining her attention. When she was able to distinguish who had called her by walking closer, a shy beam of light glinted off of her dark umber eyes. Putting Helani's hand in her own the girls ran toward Aaron. "What are you doing here?" He asked Nalani.

"Well we were looking for Teddy but my friend said that she had an emergency. We're just waiting for our ride," She explained. Beside her, Helani rocked back in forth on the balls of her feet trying not to intrude.

"I can give you two a lift. Where are you headed?"

"That'd be awesome! We're going to—"

"We already have a ride," Helani said suddenly speaking up. Nalani sent her a look of disappointment. Helani looked away from guilt.

"That's okay! Can I come with you guys? I'm so bored."

"Yes!" Nalani quickly replied before Helani could.

"Sweet, thanks. Wait," he said while focusing on the silver car behind the two, "Is that your ride?"

"Yup!"