(Fun fact: Ryan retweeted this, and it received 206 likes in a week.)

"Hey, what else'd you put in these bags?" Mark asked Lauryn. The editor shrugged, not looking up from her phone. Barry rolled his eyes and snatched it from her. Lauryn glared at him.

"The usual crap. Pre-packed snack packs, weaponry of sorts, bobby pins, first aid stuff, dog treats, paper and pencil-"

"Wait.. Why would we need dog treats?" You asked the brunette geek.

"... I dunno..." She replied, blushing in embarrassment.

"Are they ta eat or something?" Sean questioned, pulling out a baggie of milk bones. Sean opened it, and gave the contents a curious sniff.

You and your friends around you stared.

"No." Stated Barry flatly. "I think it was more a 'Hey Barry! Let's befriend a guard dog!' idea."

As if on cue, a dog barked loudly outside.

"Mmdoggie!" Lauryn exclaimed, wriggling out of her sleeping bag like toothpaste out of a tube.

You watched Mark scamper over to the window. Looking in, there was a big, light gold dog that almost looked like it was smiling.

"There's seriously a dog here.. Damn." Sean dropped the bag, gazing off towards the distance. "That is some plot convenience shite right there."

There was a squeak and a thud as Mark opened the window, and Lauryn popped the screen out.

"Hey buddy! Hi there! Hi! Oh you're a good boy or girl!" Mark cooed, scratching the retrievers ears. Lauryn decided to check. She nearly fell out the window. Mark had to pull her back in by her belt loops.

"She's a girl!" Lauryn called triumphantly, wiping off the wood chips that were stuck to her palms. Her eyes widen and she whipped to face Barry. "Hey Barry? Can we adopt a poor, lonely orphan..?"

"No."

"But she's so cute! And nice! And pretty! And sweet! And look at her! Barry~!"

"No."

The glasses-donning nerd looked over her shoulder at Mark, who was still petting the dog.

You decided to say what you'd been thinking since Mark first saw the dog.

"Hey, what if we took her in, Mark?"

The reaction Mark had was priceless. You could practically see sparkles and hearts floating off of him when he heard you suggestion.

"Really?! Yeah! It's a bit of a rash move but-" Mark flapped the dog's ears and used a baby voice "-then who'd take care of you, huh? Huh? Who's a good little pupperschnup? Yeah that's you. Yeah!"

The dog remained completely indifferent to your boyfriend's unusual-usual behavior.

"So what'cha going ta name her, Mark?" Sean asked, swapping his and Mark's cards from their unfinished game of go fish.

"I dunno.. She just kinda came out of nowhere.."

"Lazy writing, Mark." Sean replied, shuffling his (previously Mark's) cards.

"Hmm.. She just popped into existence and stuck her face in the window."

"Sounds like that hellspawn chicken." Lauryn hissed. Barry groaned.

"Chica?"

"Chica.. That's a really cute name!" You exclaimed, hopping up and letting the pale retriever smell your hand.

"I'm fine with it. Are you okay with it, Chica? Huh? Chica-pika! Aww!" Mark devolved into amused noises and happy sounds. You scratched Chica behind her left ear.

"Welcome to the madhouse, Chica.."

CHIIICAAA~ IS HEEERE~

Agh, look at me being way late to updating. I'm so, so, SO, sorry. You've shown me nothing but kindness and support, and I repay you with "Oh, I'm sad. Later, dorks!" I feel like such a wad. Sorry...

Okay, I have a plan for this story. Book 1 ends at Chapter 66. Book 2.. Oh-ho book two.. You're going to HATE me for doing what I have planned. *crazed laughter*

But hey, I won't be having Lauryn and Barry in it as much. I let my shameless author-insert get out of hand. They won't be.. Around.. Much longer. (No promises in Game Over. There're going to be many New Neighbors references throughout Game Over.)

ANYWAY, I'm wasting time with this "Waaah, I'm sorry I didn't post, but.." note thingy. I'll stop. After all, you probably just read the after-notes for the PS at the end.

Alright. I'll give ya what you're after. Catch you later. See ya!
~Lizard

P.S. How about a 2V2? After all.. It's what we do. Don't you cry, now don't you fret. Not much is really over yet.