Behind the Lookout

Everest: "Oh my gosh, what's wrong with you!? Seriously, Marshall?!"

The Husky steps forward, planting a firm paw on the black asphalt underneath her. An arm's length away from her sits Marshall with an annoyed expression.

Marshall: "Me?!" He gasps. 

Everest: "Duh! You're like the only one who keeps causing problems!"

Marshall: "Ha, that's funny." He rolls his eyes. "Last time I checked, you weren't exactly happy that they got together either. I wasn't the only one."

Everest: "So what if I'm unhappy about it!? It doesn't matter! I'm not going to keep sabotaging them, I stopped!"

Marshall: "Well good for you but I won't! I can't!" 

The Dalmatian takes a step back and turns his face to the side so Everest can't look him in the eyes.

Marshall: "I can't... You don't understand."  He whispers.

Everest: "You're right, I don't understand because I'm not a monster."

The Dalmatian's eyes dart over to her, he's visibly frustrated.

Marshall: "I'm not a monster." He declares. "I'm not!"

He's shaking and Everest wonders why.

Everest: "Then why are you acting like one?"

It's as if Marshall hit an unexpected wall and there is no way around it. This doesn't go unnoticed by Everest who eyes him curiously.

Everest: "Aren't you ever afraid you might become someone you're afraid of?"

Again, there's no immediate answer just a long pause.

Marshall: "I'm afraid I've always been that way."

There's another pause as they both let each other's words sink in. Then after apparently too much silence it breaks.

Everest: "Oof, maybe we should head back?"

Whipping his head, the Dalmatian's eyebrows immediately furrow.

Marshall: "Why? So they can yell at me again?"

Everest: "Well, can you blame them?"

Marshall: "I guess not."

Everest: "Right, so stop whining you big crybaby!"

Playfully, she punches his shoulder. Afterwards Marshall rubs a paw over where she made contact with him.

Marshall: "Wow, you're... Different."

Her ears perk up.

Everest: "What do you- What did you-" 

Marshall: "No one else gets on my nerves as much as you do." He scoffs.

The Husky swings and hits his shoulder a little less playfully.

Marshall: "Ow! Okay, okay! I take it back!"

Everest: "I wouldn't get on your nerves so much if you just listened to me!"

They both give each other a death glare.

Marshall: "Right, whatever you say, your royal highness." He mocks.

Everest: "I do deserve royal treatment." She declares. "At least princess treatment."

The Dalmatian laughs at this.

Marshall: "Does Chase know that?"

Everest: "Shut up."

Marshall: "Ugh, not another delusional and desperate Chase fan."

She goes for another punch but Marshall dodges.

Everest: "I said shut up!"

Marshall: "And I'm telling you to get over him. He's never given anybody but Skye a chance!"

Everest: "I know... I know that."

Marshall: "So then... Why? Why bother trying to get him to like you?"

Everest: "I can't help it!"

The Husky turns and faces away from the Dalmatian. There's a light but bright pink blush on her cheeks.

Marshall: "Pfft, things would be easy if we could just turn off our feelings for someone."

Everest: "Didn't you?"

Marshall: "Did I what?"

Everest: "Do I seriously have to remind you about the time you were obsessed with Skye?"

The Dalmatian freezes and then cringes at himself.

Marshall: "Pfft. That wasn't love. Not really. I only thought she was pretty and we would look like a cute couple."

The Husky gives him the most judgmental look she can muster.

Everest: "Soooo you only liked her because of her looks." She states.

Marshall: "Uh, it sounds wrong when you put it that way."

Everest: "It's the truth."

Marshall: "Fine, whatever, I guess so."

Everest: "You're unbelievable." She rolls her eyes. "You got some reflecting to do."

Marshall: "Ugh, sounds like a lot of work."

Everest: "That's the whole point, dummy! You want to find real love eventually, right?"

The Dalmatian releases an exhausting sigh.

Marshall: "I doubt either of us will get it at the rate we're going."

Everest: "That's why I'm changing and you should too. I think you know what you have to say to both Chase and Skye. Right?"

Marshall: "Suck it up?"

The Husky glares at him and balls up a fist but before she does anything Marshall raises his arms in surrender.

Marshall: "Wait, okay! Maybe I could apologize."

Everest: "Maybe?!"

Marshall: "Fine, I should. Happy?"

Everest: "Very. Let's go."

They both walk back to where Chase and Skye were supposed to be. But they weren't.

Marshall: "Well, looks like we can forget all about an apology, right? It's not like it'll change-"

Everest: "Let's find them."

Marshall: "Dang it."

Everest: "Go find Skye and I'll talk to-"

Marshall: "Yeah, yeah, I know."

Everest walks over to Chase's dog house and knocks on the door. No response. She puts her ear close to the door and hears a lid of something being closed shut, hard.

Everest: "Huh? Chase?"

Again no response.

Everest: "Chase I know you're in there! You better come out before I come in!"

Chase opens the door.

Chase: "What do you want Everest?" He snaps.

Everest: "I just want to talk but where did Skye go?"

Chase: "Why should I care?"

Everest: "Because she's your-"

Chase: "Not anymore."

Everest: "What? Wait, no. There's no way. Did you two actually break up?"

Chase: "Yeah..."

Everest: "So you don't want to see her anymore?"

Chase: "What do you think?"

Everest: "Right but just so we're on the same page here, you are single?"

Chase: "Everest, what do you want?" He interjects.

Everest: "I just wanted to see that you are okay."

Chase: "That would be a first." He scoffs.

Everest: "I also wanted to let you know that Marshall and I talked and he wants to apologize."

Chase: "He doesn't actually mean it and you know what? I really don't care."

Everest: "I hate to see you like this..."

The Shepherd raises an eyebrow.

Everest: "Y'know, all sad and alone. Maybe you should..."

Chase: "You think I should find someone else? Really? That fast? No."

Everest: "Why not? Replace Skye already so you don't have time to think about how horrible you feel."

Chase: "Replace? Why? So I can get hurt again?"

Everest: "No but I don't know... Moving on... The faster, the better, right?"

Chase: "I'll think about it."

Everest: "And I'll-"

His door shuts in front of the Husky's face as Chase retreats inside.

Everest: "Be here... Waiting."

Marshall: "Hey, Eve!"

She turns to her left and spots Marshall waving her over.

Marshall: "Over here! Hurry up, sloth!"

The Husky walks over with an eye roll.

Everest: "What? Where's Skye? Because I had no luck with Chase."

He points to the pink and gray dog house.

Marshall: "In there. She locked herself inside and won't talk to me."

Everest: "Let me talk to her."

Marshall: "Are you saying you can do better?"

Everest: "Watch me."

Gently, Everest knocks on Skye's door.

Skye: "Go away!"

Everest: "Skye, I just want to talk."

Skye: "And I want you to leave!"

Marshall: "Not so easy huh?"

Everest: "Shut up." She demands.

Marshall: "Fine, sheesh."

Everest: "Hold on... I have a plan."

Marshall: "Plans are my thing."

Everest: "Yeah but this one won't backfire on me."

Marshall: "Seriously? Low blow."

Everest: "Ha, when don't I? Come on I'll tell you. But! In private."

Marshall: "I already don't like where this is heading."

Inside Chase's Doghouse

~Chase's Thoughts~

Thank goodness Everest didn't come in here. No one should ever see anything in this box... Anyways, Everest is crazy. I mean sure I would like to distract myself from feeling this awful but... Seriously, Skye shouldn't be replaced that easily. Of course, I miss her and all but I know she'll just trigger 'rage change' if I get anywhere near her right now. But... Now that I think about it... If love calmed me down in the first place maybe I should consider getting a new girlfriend so I won't be so angry all the time. But isn't that moving on way too fast? Then again, I actually could distract myself enough that I wouldn't even be bothered by Skye's presence. Skye will definitely hate me now if she doesn't already. Still... It isn't a horrible idea. Maybe this could work after all. And if Skye is out of the picture then I wouldn't have to worry about hurting her, physically or mentally. Well, that is if she gets over me... But I'm sure she will... Eventually.

~End of Chase's Thoughts~

Chase: "The only thing is... Who? Who would I even want my next girlfriend to be?"

The German Shepherd glances at his box.

Chase: "No one in that box that's for sure..."

Gently, he puts the box in its proper hiding spot.

Chase: "Above all else I have to be able to trust her. I should be able to trust her... With... My... Life... Wait a second, there IS a girl that I can trust with my life because they actually have saved my life before! That's right, the mysterious girl who saved my life. My hero. I can trust her with my life because she already saved it! She is the one for me! But how am I going to find her?"

He looks around his room then it hits him.

Chase: "I need Marshall's help..."

A/N: Soooo sorry if it took so long it's just there was a saving problem and basically the whole 1616 word chapter got erased! But I did the best I could to show you the main points. Oh and all Skase fans out there I wouldn't say it's over for them. 😴💭✨