Out to get him
by M. F. Luder
Seth believes this is a conspiracy against him. It has to be. It just has to be, because, really, it can't be this awful.
He sits down on his bed because lying down doesn't help him. He can still hear that sound... that horrible, horrible sound.
He jumps off his bed and walks towards the window. It's out there, and it's not even really that near, but he can hear it.
He can hear the barking of Marissa's new dog. Pepper. What kind of name is that anyway? Pepper, a Rottweiler that scares the crap out of Seth.
Seth groans as he hears that barking again. Pepper, the dog from hell. Because, really, it has to have come from hell. That dog, that stupid, stupid dog has been following him everywhere.
Last week, when they went to the market, it was there. Three days ago, while they were on the pool, it was there. Well, not the dog, but the barking. Last night, he heard the dog bark all the way up to three am. His parents said they didn't hear anything, but the damn dog was barking! That dog was barking. It had to, because Seth isn't imagining this. He isn't.
He just isn't.
Seth closes his eyes, forehead against the glass and takes a deep breath. The barking stops. Well, now maybe he can get some work done. Like, his homework, for example. Or finish level eight of Diablo. Or...
Seth groans. There. Again. That barking. That horrible barking. No, he will not be beaten by a stupid, brain size of a marble, dog.
He turns around, picks up his books, and walks out of his bedroom. He walks down the stairs, through the kitchen and out the door. He barely manages to open it without his books falling. He knocks on the pool house with his foot. Usually, he wouldn't even knock, but he's certain he won't be able to open the door with all these books on him.
Ryan opens the door a second after, eyebrow raised. "Seth?"
Seth nods, pushes past Ryan and throws his books on the bed. "Yes, yes it's me." He sighs. "I hate this Ryan. I'm telling you dude, I'm about to have a nervous breakdown and I'm only sixteen. Sixteen! A nervous break down. You gotta help me dude, you gotta help me. Please?"
"What do you--?"
"That dog! That dog from hell! That evil, evil dog is out to get me."
Ryan tries his best not to laugh. "Excuse me?"
"He wants me! He wants to break me but I won't let him! I won't." Seth folds his arms over his chest.
Ryan sighs. "Okay, by that dog you mean--"
"Pepper!"
Ryan nods. "Okay, Pepper."
"He hates me."
"Pepper?"
"Yes, Pepper, of course Pepper. Who else? Aren't you listening?"
"I'm trying."
"He hates me."
"Pepper?"
"Yes, Pepper," Seth says, his voice raising with his frustration, "didn't we establish that a second ago."
"Okay, so Pepper hates you?"
"Yes."
Ryan smiles. "He's a dog."
"He's a dog from hell."
"But he's still a dog."
"And he hates me."
Ryan bites down on his lower lip to keep his smile to turn into a smirk. "Pepper?"
"Yes! He hates me. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Sorry Seth, but he's a dog."
Seth sighs. "You hate me too."
Ryan chuckles. He coughs as Seth glares at him. "Seth, really--"
"You hate me too, and you think I'm crazy. You hate me and think I'm crazy."
"Well, I don't hate you."
Seth glares.
Ryan smiles.
Seth keeps on glaring.
"Seth, really, calm down--"
"He hates me!"
"Okay."
"You don't believe me!"
"Pepper is a dog. He's four months old."
"And he hates me!"
Ryan sighs. "I don't think he hates you."
"Why?"
"Because he's just a puppy. He'd do anything for a bone, you know?"
Seth pouts, folding his arms.
Ryan smiles, taking a step forward. He knows Seth will deny ever pouting. Placing his hand on Seth's shoulder, Ryan squeezes gently. "He doesn't hate you, you know?"
"He didn't let me do my homework, so, if I flunk, it'll be Pepper's fault."
"Yes, yes, I know."
Seth tilts his head. "You believe me?"
With a soft sigh, Ryan nods. He can't do anything but. "Of course."
"You're nice."
A low chuckle and a duck of Ryan's head. "Thanks."
Taking in a deep breath, Seth squints slightly. Ryan's eyes are really blue. Blue... like the sky blue. A nice blue.
Ryan frowns. "Seth?"
Seth smiles as he leans over and kisses Ryan. Ryan tastes of coffee and cookies. Ryan closes his eyes, hand moving to the back of Seth's neck. And as they kiss, and Seth's arms go around Ryan's waist, Seth doesn't hear the barking.
Finished: May 23rd, 2004. 7.48pm