"So, practice is cancelled again." Stu sighed, laying his bass down.

"He needs to learn to even out between us and her. We're his friends, too. We'll never get anything done without him." Ringo groaned.

John's phone went off with a beep. "Guess where traitor is." He said, showing the other four the text he got:

"OMG LOOK AT HER ISN'T SHE ADORABLE?!? It's Ellie's new dog so of course she's adorable! Her name's Martha"
There was a picture of a sheepdog puppy to go with it. Paul sent picture after picture of Elise playing with Martha, him playing with Martha, him and Elise playing with Martha, and so on.

"I think the lad's flipped." George said, eating a bag of potato chips.

"Way to go, Captain Obvious."

...................

"C'm're,  Martha!" Paul said in baby talk. The little sheepdog puppy ran to Paul as Elise giggled.

"Where'd your rope toy go? Where'd it go, girl?" Elise teased, wiggling the red and white zigzag rope toy behind the dog. Martha turned around and started tugging on the end of it. Elise let go of the toy, letting Martha roll around. Paul and Elise began laughing again. Paul's phone suddenly dinged. He pulled up his messages.

John: gr8, but u do know that we're having practice right now

"Oh, shoot! I forgot about practice!" Paul smacked his forehead.

Paul: OMG sorry Ellie and I were playing with Martha and i completely 4got I'll b there

John: thats what you said last week and the week before and the week before that...

Paul: shut up i said i was coming

John: but u didnt come those practices what makes u think i can trust u again?

Paul: its taking me longer 2 text u all this than 2 actually get there

John: then stop txting me and GET OVER HERE NOW

John: by that i mean NOW

John: Now: adverb - at the present time or moment

Paul: OMW stop txting me

John: i will when u stop replying

Paul: im trying but u keep sending me stuff so i have 2 stop check my phone and read the mssge

"I'm so, sorry, I've got to go, love." Paul said, pecking her on the cheek and grabbing his coat.

"Oh, Paul, please don't."

"I'm sorry, I've got to-"

"Just for a minute?"

Paul waited for a second. "Okay,"