CALEB'S POV:
I woke up with hella kottonmouth. I rolled off the bare mattress that sat in the corner of the cafeteria/office.
It was akward having to pretend to "go home" when Pierce left. I wasn't quite ready to let him know I slept here. It was embarrassing, I have no idea why I cared what he thought but I did.
Not to mention if word got out to the authorities I'd be kicked out and the rescue most likely shut down since I wasn't paying rent or anything. I couldn't risk that.
For now the only people who could know were the official members of the rescue, Pierce was just some guy who needed service hours.
I had a few assignments due today so I'd have to walk to the library later to use the computers. But first I had to do my rounds and tend to Onynx, the black lab bullie mix, she was pregnant and due sometime in the next week or two.
I had to take her to the vet today for probably her last check up. Today was payday so my paycheck would be transferred into my account by one O'clock.
The appointment was at three and the library was near that so I'd probably run to the library after the appointment around five before I had to get to work at 6:30pm.
I pulled my phone from my pocket, it was only eight am so I had some time to kill.
I loved my life here, yeah I ran away from loving parents, air conditioning, health insurance, and the security of never having to wonder where my next meal came from but It was all worth it to me.
I got to be myself, I got to do what I loved, and I had great friends.
But there was still an empty-ness, a loneliness, the dysphoria was still bad and my depression was getting worse, if I didn't have Amber and Oscar I don't know where I'd be.
I sighed before pulling myself off the floor. I glared into the cracked mirror that hung next to the entrance of the cafeteria.
My blonde hair was disheveled and my chestnut brown roots were beginning to show through.
I used to style my hair with a straight iron since there were a few working outlets scattered around the prison remains but somewhere along the way I lost it.
Now I just allowed the slightly wavy bleach damaged locks to fall into my eyes and around my ears.
I walked to what used to be a supplies closet (now a wonderful bearded dragon enclosure) and flipped the switch on Rene's uvb light.
She tilted her head and glared at me with one eye as if to say, how dare you wake me up, dad.
The entrance had a puppy gate to keep her from walking out if I wanted the door open but other than that the whole enclosure was just the walls of the closet.
It had a few inches of reptisand on top of the concrete and a stack of flat rocks making a sort of staircase to the last rock which she usually utilized for basking being it was right below her heat emmiting bulb.
The enclosure had a wooden hide that looked like a half a log for incase she wanted some shade, she also had a food dish with two separate bowls, which I filled up with super worms and kale from the mini fridge I kept in the office.
She scurried off her rock at the speed of light before chomping violently on the poor little worms in her dish.
I turned on my heel and put the kale back in the fridge and the container of superworms on top of the fridge.
I walked out into the hallway a few lazy woofs echoing through the hall. I rummaged through the CD case and slipped my go to into the cd player.
I took a deep breath as I allowed the screetching demon noises to infiltrate my brain.
Children with Knives, my favorite band, like three of the four tee shirts I owned had their logo on them, including the one I was wearing now.
I pulled my vape from my sports bra and hit it in till my lungs told me to stop. I then leaned against the wall as the buzz washed over me.
Suddenly I heard foot steps, I stood very still, controlling my breathing.
"Caleb?" her voice was drawn out and lazy. I rolled my eyes as my body relaxed, Amber really needed to work on her people skills.
"Why didn't you text me? Tell me you were coming?"
"I don't know, didn't feel like it." she shrugged, her normally straightened to perfection burgandy hair was wavy and disheveled swaying around her shoulders, her bangs all messed up and poofy.
She was wearing a hugely oversized black champion tee shirt, leopard print leggings and neon red nike slides.
"I figured you'd need some help though and today's Saturday so I thought I'd come by."
I slid the vape back into my sports bra and turned towards her.
"Thanks." I cleared my throat before turning back to her.
"Onyx has her eight week check up today, the appointment's at 3:00pm then I'm running to the library to get some assignments done, till then I guess we'll-" I was cut short by a scowling mexican woman.
"How many times must I tell you your welcome to use my family's computer and wifi! I'm sick of hearing about you trudging all the way up to that dumb library!" Amber barked.
"Amber we've been over this I like being self suffice-"
"Esos hombres y sus fràgiles egos, lo juro! I don't care how self sufficant you wanna be, but your gonna do it at my house on my computer!"
"Yes maam." I teased half heartedly. Amber raised an eyebrow but kept silent.
"Anyways till then we give everyone breakfast, switch around the toys and then we'll give everyone a walk after Onyx's appointment."
Amber nodded.
"I wanna go check on the soon to be mamma."
Amber had been the one to rescue Onyx, using her superb charm and people manipulating skills she had gotten her, her baby daddy and nearly fifty cats out of a hoarding situation, that was about eight weeks ago.
We had adopted the father out about three weeks ago. And we were forced to give like half the cats too another rescue with more space.
But Amber had a weird bond with Onyx from the very beginning. I was sort of hoping she would cave and take her home, solid black dogs were particularly hard to adopt out.
"Chill, we gotta check on the puppies first."
"We don't got a single dog under three months in here they're all as good as grown." she hissed rolling her chestnut brown eyes.
"Ok whatever, lead the way."
Amber and I made our way to the big dog kennels. The cafeteria/office was in the small dogs and puppies building so it took us a minute to get there.
Once we had arrived Amber sprinted onto the concrete floor of the hallway, she walked a few steps to Onyx's kennel before halting.
I followed her, wondering why I didn't hear the usual baby talk and tail wagging.
I soon saw why. Onyx was sprawled on her side with two little puppies suckling at her teets violently whilst she labored.
"Shit." I muttered. Amber turned to me a concerned smile spreading across her face.
"I mean they all look alright, both puppies are active."
I nodded.
"Don't get too excited, we don't know if everything's all right till all three pups are out and nursing."
Amber grimaced. She was here alone when Trixie died giving birth, I knew she wouldn't cope well if the same happened to her beloved Onyx.
But Trixie was too young to be pregnant and her litter was huge, Onyx was in her prime and only giving birth to three. She had hope.
"Agh! I wish we'd noticed her nesting so we could have given her a more comfortable space." I groaned.
"Too late for that now." She snapped.
I pulled my keys out of my pocket and unlocked Onyx's cell door. I sat down next to her cross cross apple sauce.
"Call Oscar and get him over here, we need all hands on deck."
I began softly petting Onyx's silky obsidian fur across her head.
"Alright, I'll let Pierce know too."
My head jolted up towards her, I felt Onyx flinch under my fingertips.
She didn't like my harsh movements. She had a history of a abuse in that hoarding situation I could tell, she was one of many dogs who had warmed up to me and me only so far.
"Don't, he'll just get in the way." I gruffed, averting eye contact.
"Mhmmmm" her voice was drawn out and deceivingly innocent.
"Amber! This is not about your stupid little ship between me and Pierce! This is about Onyx!" I spat.
She looked taken aback, that is before her signature I'm about to read you into the dirt, little boy look took over her petite caramel face.
"We could use the extra hands in case things take a turn. Someone should stay with Onyx, Oscar has to fill in the veterinarian and do administrative stuff, and we need a couple people to tend to the rest of the rescue. Stop being selfish just because you get nervous around him, put on your big boy pants and accept the help dumbass!" With this she pulled out her phone and began making the needed calls.