Chapter 4:

*LUNA'S POV:

Considering we didn't get home until 2am last night, I wasn't surprised at all when I woke up at 1pm. Turning over in my bed, I fell into an empty dip where Eddie should have been. Thinking he must've been up for a while now and didn't want to disturb me, I thought nothing of it. Getting myself a bit situated as in brushing my teeth and fumbling with my hair, I continued down to the kitchen, my fingers tapped along my phone screen to answer the few notifications I had gotten already. Reaching for the apple juice in the fridge, I nearly had a heart attack when my grandma appeared on the other side of the appliance door. The thought of her coming back with us had slipped my mind for a split second. She greeted me happily, giving a warm hug to start out the afternoon. The question of whether or not me and my friends were entertained came up.

"Yeah, it was really nice. Thanks again for letting me bring friends." I smiled. "Have you seen Eddie per chance?"

"No, I haven't. Did he stay the night? We were never introduced."

"He did, yeah. Once I find him I'll bring him down, okay? He might be in the shower."

She nodded, but soon replied with the fact that she was heading out to town in a few minutes. It wasn't a big deal, she'll meet him another time. I shrugged as I headed back upstairs. I walked by the bathroom and heard the shower running, along with a muffled singing voice. Smiling to myself, I walked back to the bedroom. As I was free falling onto my bed, I realized the glass of juice still in my hand and accepted the mess that was about to happen. Luckily it was just a small splash, but I still had to find something to wipe it up with. Tissues would suffice, so I grabbed a few from my desk and soaked up the droplets. After I finished I went to my laptop, a sticky note made its message quite clear once the device opened.

LUNA, START SUMMER THINGDON'T PROCRASTINATEBE A GOOD PERSON

This seemed easy enough. Thank you, me, for giving me something to do. Logging in and heading for a trustworthy search engine, I tapped along the side of the computer device and contemplated if I really wanted to start this. Don't procrastinate. Stay focused. You want to do this.

Senior year of high school is stressful for any student who's struggling with deciding a future career. You need to mingle and play around with different fields and find which feels like home. I've always had an idea as to what I've wanted to pursue a career in, so it wasn't as stressful as it could've been. Psychology seemed to be my home. The research aspect of it never sparked any interest, however. The assistance and helping people felt best for me. With my grandfather having an unmanageable illness, I've seen what disorder can do to a person and those surrounding. Though medication was prescribed, he seemed helpless nonetheless. Of course I'm no professional and have no say in what went wrong, but it's as if it were some type of placebo. Being around him made me want to help people with uncontrollable conditions.

I was able to snoop around and find a mentoring program at a mental health clinic located a half hour away. Institutions in general always seem to get a bad reputation with the way they're portrayed in movies. They make something so professional and safe into horrific buildings with extremely dangerous and psychotic patients that are constantly abused by careless workers. Sure, somewhere out there in the world there is one like that, but the majority are no where near as similar.

Too focused to realize my mom was standing behind me, I screamed when she asked, "Whatcha doing?"

"Good afternoon to you, too." I said placing a hand over my racing heart. Answering her question with a mentoring application, she nodded in approval and took a seat next to me. Like any curious mother, she was firing questions left and right, most with answers I didn't have yet.

"So as a whole, I was looking at possible things to do at the Bakersfield health clinic. If I really want to work in a place like that someday, this will give me more experience with the patients and more knowledge of the different sufferable conditions. It's like a head start for college to see if this is actually what I would want to do."

"I feel like mentoring in a place with potential threats could get a bit sticky. You sure they have what you're looking for?"

Maneuvering the cursor to the needed link, I clicked and started to read along the details given. Luckily they had a program similar to one being searched for. Other clinics normally wouldn't do that, but I'm guessing since this specific facility is much smaller it's doable.

"You won't be near dangerous patients will you? Like the criminally insane and psychopaths?"

"Highly doubt it, Mom. I'm way too inexperienced to be near those degrees of patients. From what I can tell, enrolled students can only go into certain wings." I quickly pulled up a map of the building. "There's, let's see, five wings each categorized for different patients. If I were to do the program, I'd only be allowed in these four wings."

"Okay, good. I don't want you exposed to. . .evil things." she said, cringing.

"Actually, since it's such a small facility, a lot of the dangerous ones aren't even held there. They're mostly sent off to a larger holding institution. In fact, it says that most of these patients are only monitored for a week or two. It sounds like an in-between step."

"In-between step?"

"Yeah, so if you suspect a problem, you go in and have professionals test and monitor you to check symptoms and and progress. I guess if your state of mind passes all the tests, you're fine, but if it fails, you're treated and possibly sent to another facility."

"That's a pretty good idea. I like this. From what I'm seeing, it looks safe but you're still getting the overall environment of working in a normal ward." Mom nodded, "Oh, look. They even have a children's center."

"I'm set!" I boasted, excited about the children's center. Working with children is something I adore.

"Alright, sign up then and quit stalling!"

The application wasn't in need of digging to find it on the institution's website. Typical of today's technology society, it was an online submission, but I printed one out just to have as an emergency reference. Scrolling through the whole thing sure was a process, but it has to be for a position like this. They need as much information as possible as a precaution. The questions kept coming and prying my life story from my fingertips.

"Hey babe,"

"Fuck!" I hissed, scared yet again due to deep concentration. "Y'all need to stop sneaking up on me!"

"Sorry, I thought you would've heard me." Eddie laughed, kissing my cheek and plopping onto the bed. Skin was light pink from the heat of the shower water, contradicting the navy blue towel draped on his bare shoulders. Rubbing the towel along his wet mass of hair with one hand, he snatched the application with the other and asked what I was doing on this fine day. A mentor program for college, I answered. Where? Bakersfield's.

"Oh," he nodded, taking a pencil. "I'm gonna fill this out for you."

"No, no. You have to use a blue or black pen, Eddie. Read the directions." I laughed, throwing him the correct writing utensil.

"Well sorry," he said sarcastically. After a good ten minutes of silence, someone decided to speak up. "What did you put for number eight?"

"This isn't a test you can cheat on." I laughed. "You can't copy answers!"

"Just tell me what you put."

"For the one asking about qualities of mine?"

"Yeah,"

"Um. . .I put that I'm a grace under pressure, intelligent, social, and good at problem solving."

Eddie nodded and continued to scribble on the form. "Definitely not copying that wrong answer."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I gasped, "What are you seriously doing?"

"Filling this out,"

"It's been like twenty minutes."

"You're not done either!"

"Yeah because they're actually going to read and judge mine."

"Okay, I'm done, but you aren't allowed to read it yet, you hear me?"

"Why not?"

"Because,"

"Because why?"

"I said so,"

"That doesn't mean anything."

"Yes it does."

"No it doesn't."

"I'm keeping it with me until I leave because obviously your curious little mind is gonna want to open it." he said, folding the paper and shoving it into his back pocket. He groaned and fell back onto the bed. "I'm tired."

"Why?" I asked, spinning around in my chair. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Not really. You're walrus noises kept me up all night."

"Sorry, my dreams get really wild sometimes." I said sarcastically, then asking again for a real answer.

"I dunno," he shrugged, "I just couldn't sleep. Since someone took forever to wake up, I decided to shower."

"Oh, I get like that sometimes in the summer, too." I shrugged, "Maybe you're going through a little phase."

"Let's go with that," he agreed. Asking if anything spectacular was happening this week, I mentioned Zoie coming over on Thursday. Joking about his sporadic neediness, I invited him to join and even bring Jalen along. That way the numbers are even and it's just the typical group of four. He nodded, then laughed with the question of why it's always the same group of people. Won't we eventually get sick of each other? We were just together. I answered with the sole fact that he and I have no other friends who are couples. Eddie accepted the statement.

"I'll text her. Throw me my phone?"

"I'll do it." he said, zooming through my passcode and pressing keys on the screen.

"Just say we can make it a casual double date sorta thing."

He nodded, sticking out his lip in concentration. He seemed to be typing a novel. I questioned the length of the message, arching an eyebrow. I already sent the message, he answered. Then what are you doing, I asked. No response, only a smirk.

"Eddie? What are you- Eddie!" I shrieked, realizing he was reading the conversation between Zoie and me. I pounced on him trying to grab my phone from his grasp, but he was taller than me.

"Oh my god! I just love him so much, like seriously Zoie." he read in a girly voice, avoiding my hands.

"Eddie! Give it back!"

"Well I just love Jalen, too! He's so sweet. With an A+ body." he read.

"No, no, no! Stop it, Eddie!" I squealed, jumping on his back, pinning him down. I snatched my phone from his hands before he could read my next message that probably said something along the lines of 'Yeah, but have you seen Eddie's?'

"What did that last message say?" he asked with shear cockiness, knowing his worth.

"Oh, um, ha well ya see," I awkwardly laughed, then quickly shoved my phone in my bra.

"You think that's gonna stop me?" Eddie chuckled, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll run downstairs." I stated, crossing my arms.

"What's that gonna do? You're dad'll hold you for me." he laughed, stepping closer.

"Yeah, because he's gonna hold his daughter while her boyfriend sticks his hand down her boobs."

"Dammit," he sighed. "Never would've guessed my girlfriend was so horny."

"Stop!"

"You said it!"

"I'm only dating you because you're hot."

He rolled his eyes, "Using me for my ass as always."

I giggled, nodding.

"Wipe that grin off your face before I do it myself." he said, grinning himself.

"Is that a threat, sir?"

"It's a command, miss." he said, acting tough.

"And if I don't obey this command of yours?"

"Well, miss, I would have to back you up against the wall and kiss the grin off of your face."

"Good thing I'm a rebel,"

"Is that right?" he smirked, backing me against the wall like he said. "There's step one. Now, what was step two again?"

"Step two is my ass taking a shower."

"Want me to join?"

"You just took a shower."

"I can take another one."

"Stop being inappropriate! No go watch tv or something while I wash my own body!"

"Fine!"

Grabbing some clean clothes and heading over to the bathroom, I took a quick shower and immediately felt better. Throwing my hair up in a towel, I walked back to the bedroom to find Eddie watching a show in bed. He looked a bit sleepy so I asked if he had taken a nap or something. No, he answered, even after the boring-ass show was that was on. He claimed to have been reading.

Curiously, I asked, "Reading?"

"About my big biceps and chiseled abs."

Freezing completely, I took notice of the phone next to him on the pillow. Dammit! "You read my messages! How did you even get my phone?"

"Magic," he answered, wiggling his fingers as I continued to blush. "I couldn't help myself, plus you're so cute when you blush."

"Gee, thanks," I replied, rolling my eyes.

He chuckled before checking the time on his watch. "Damn, I should probably head home. Dinner's gonna be ready soon."

"Let me drive you home. I have to pick Apollo up from the vet's office. He gets to come home today!"

"Aw, that's nice. I'll get to see him Thursday then?"

I nodded, messing with my hair and slipping into some flip flops as Eddie put his shirt back on. The two of us got into the car and I dropped him off at his house, kissing and waving goodbye as he walked up to the front door. Swinging around to drive towards the vet, it didn't take long for all the papers to be filled out for Apollo's discharge. The dog nearly busted through the door once he saw I was here.

"Hello, yes! How's my baby, huh? How are you? I missed you! Yes, yes I did! Yes I did!" I cooed, ruffling the fur along the jumpy husky's back.

I took him out to the car where he gladly hopped in, sitting properly in the passenger seat as if he were human. Once we got home, I let him get acquainted again before offering a leisurely walk around the neighborhood. Clipping his blue leash back onto his collar and grabbing a bottle of water, I announced our activity and opened the door. Apollo bolted outside, dragging me along with him. He was so excited now that he was out of the vet's office, and I was thankful the sidewalk was cool enough for him to walk on. His paws clicked along the sidewalk as he anxiously yanked on the leash.

"Alright, alright, calm down. Stay with me okay? You have to keep me safe, gotcha?" I spoke taking the leash off of his collar. Apollo barked, as if saying 'okay'. He only went a few steps ahead of me, sniffing at his usual spots.

It started getting a bit too hot as we kept walking, so I decided it was time to head back to the house. I called to Apollo and patted my thigh, and in response he jogged back to me, panting from the amount of running mixing with the heat. I took one last gulp of my water before topping the bottle upside down so Apollo could get a drink. He slurped the pouring liquid with his floppy tongue, splashing some of the water in various directions. I threw the empty bottle into a nearby bin and dashed towards home, the dog quickly catching up. When we got to the yard, he jumped up and tackled me to the grass, licking my face and rubbing his head against mine.

My phone buzzed from my pocket, so I checked my phone for messages. I had a new one from Zoie.

Zoe: We still on for Thursday?

-Yup. Did you tell Jalen?

Zoe: Yeah he said it sounds fun

-okay

Zoe: So you got Apollo back today?

-YES!!! I've missed him so much! It didn't help that the surgery had complications so he had to stay longer!

Zoe: Aw! How does he feel without his balls?

-Probably feels like a priss.

Zoe: he'll get used to it.

-Ahaha yeah

Zoe: So what do you have planned for Thursday?

-I have no clue. Bring some of that imagination of yours.

Zoe: Really? I have to do the thinking?

-Yes, you do.

Zoe: Ugh

-Oh get over yourself

Zoe: Nah.

Zoe: Well I have to help with some chores so I'll text you later.

-lame

Zoe: don't mock me

I decided to text Eddie to see what he was going.

-Whatcha doing?

Eddie: Laying by the pool

-Sounds refreshing

Eddie: It is, but it's a bit too quiet

-Too quiet? No such thing

Eddie: For me there is, babe

-I won't have much of that luxury now since Apollo is back.

Eddie: My main dog!

-Yup

Eddie: I'll probably pay attention to him more than you on Thursday xx

-Thanks, babe

Eddie: He's so lovable

-And I'm not?

Eddie: Okay, okay. You two are a lot alike.

-In what ways?

Eddie: Well, you're both furry.

-Did you just call me hairy? I shaved yesterday!

Eddie: I said furry, not hairy.

-Same difference.

...................................................A/N: It starts to get interesting next chapter. I promise 💕

Opinions on this story so far guys?

This book really fun to write😊

xoxo