A/N: Happy, funny chapter coming right up! Enjoy! XD

Also, here's a picture of Pollock:

"Wait for it... Wait for it..." I whisper.

Pollock and I are standing inside the house - peering through the tinted glass part of the front door and waiting patiently for our target. This is a life/death situation and the world could be in danger if not handled delicately.

"Grrrrr," Pollock growls.

"Wait for it," I urge.

A bead of sweat slides down my brow and I glance over my shoulder to check the clock in the kitchen. Half past eight. It should be any moment now... I look back in front of my and scan the front garden through the yellow tinted glass.

As soon as the intruder is visible at the gate, I swing open the front door in a flash. "Now!" I yell and Pollock zooms past me in a fury of high-pitched barks and flapping ears.

My pup storms clumsily down the path to the front gate - his tiny legs allowing him to go only as fast as they can carry him. But Pollock has his target and he's not giving up soon. Just like I taught him.

"Not again!" The postman cries out before chucking the morning paper over the gate and running away. He's a bit on the heavy side, so running is hard for him.

I run outside just as Pollock jumps onto the trashcan and leaps to get on the other side of the wooden fence - he falls short and head-buds the gate before even comprehending his fail.

"That was so close!" I exclaim and pick Pollock up in my arms. I lean over the gate and yell out after the postman: "See you tomorrow!"

"Fuck you!" He yells back while running down the street. I'm seeing an improvement in his weight though. Maybe he really does need this.

"I think we're friends now," I smile while watching the poor man run for dear life. "Come on, Pollock," I sigh and set him down so he can follow me back inside. I grab the newspaper on my way, wipe off some dirt and tuck it under my arm.

The kettle is done boiling and I turn on the radio that's on the kitchen counter. I'm happy when an eighties song starts playing. While still in my jogging clothes from this morning, I pour myself some water into my coffee cup. At the same time, I multitask and fill another cup with cold water with my other hand and water a plant just when I'm done pouring boiled water to my coffee. I grab the coffee cup and cautiously dance my way to the living room. Making sure not to spill, I put down my cup and fall down onto the comfy sofa so I can read the newspaper.

"Oh wow, Susan from two days ago is still suing the supermarket for putting up a 'Caution: Wet Floor' sign. Seriously, Susan? It's not the supermarket's fault that you tripped over it. Get a life. Am I right?" I ask while flipping over to read more.

Pollock barks in agreement.

"What's that?" I ask.

Pollock barks again and jumps up onto the sofa.

"You're right!" I say, "Susan's name should probably be spelled Sue-san."

I read the article some more and sit up a little straighter. "Oh my God, she's suing them for a hundred thousand!" I exclaim.

Pollock cuddles up next to me to take a good look at the paper as well and ends up chewing the corners. God, this dog can chew a lot.

"You know what? We should just go to the supermarket and trip over stuff. We can make millions!" I say excitedly.

Pollock sneezes and jumps off of the coach to find something else to chew on.

"Don't judge me like that, Pol. What does it matter?" I ask, "Being a millionaire already should not mean I can't try making more millions! Imagine what fun Susan is having with suing the supermarket? Will she win, will she lose? It's a game. We should go do it. Let's go right now," I say and get up.

I'm fed up with staying in here in anyway. I've done everything to try and not get bored. In four days, I've painted five paintings and taught Pollock how to sit.

Okay, maybe he sometimes mistakes sit for shit, but it's a work in progress.

Jumping into my routine, I run upstairs to take a shower, throw on a vintage striped pants and shrug one of my paint-stained shirts on before stepping into my sneakers and running back downstairs. I dry my hair with a towel while looking for my shoulder bag.

When ready, I just chuck the towel on the sofa. Excited, Pollock jumps up and down and I laugh at his adorable little face and pathetic jumping ability. I clip Pollock's leash to his collar and grab the house keys. "Come on, Pol," I urge when he's preoccupied with chewing the corners of the carpet. I tug a bit and he finally decides to join me. Making sure to lock the house, I step outside the gate and make my way down the road.

Blue Jay is in the garage, but I don't think it's very safe to drive her around here. If not for someone recognizing the car and informing Jane, then because my neighbors would be suspicious of my fake backstory.

"Morning, Melissa!" someone greets.

I look over and it's Misses Davis, my next door neighbor, waving from her house. "Morning Misses Davis!" I great back and walk on. She ducks back behind her fence with that dyed yellow hair of hers and probably continues gardening.

Pollock and I continue the short walk to the main road - which really isn't busy enough to be main. "Okay, time to get in my backpack," I say and crouch down to get the small pup into my larger backpack. He nibbles on my hands, but gets in anyway.

"This makes up for you being too young to jog with me," I tell him and he barks as if to tell me he's not too young.

"Yes you are," I answer and close the bag - leaving a tiny opening for air.

I shrug the backpack on and hope Pollock goes to sleep like he usually does. Last time we did this, he peed on me. I got peed on by a dog. It was not funny at the time.

When we get to the supermarket, the old, dusty-looking security guard sends me a glance before looking back ahead of him.

"He suspects us, he suspects us, he suspects us," I whisper.

Pollock wines inside the bag.

"Shut the frick up, Pollock. He's suspecting us," I growl while walking stiffly on. 

Pollock whines again.

"No, I'm not being paranoid," I whisper back.

Pollock stays quiet and I'm taking that as a sign of sass. I do not want to see his teenage years if this is the level of sass I'm already getting. Kids, am I right?

I move to the Candy isle and freeze when I spot one of the employees marking down prices. Right next to him is my target. The Nutella jars...

"The eagle has spotted the nest. There seems to be a falcon in the way though. I repeat, there seems to be a falcon in the way," I whisper. Pollock softly wines and I nod. "You're right. I should just act casual. I can do this," I say and then start to move.

Very casually, I walk to the employee like my limps are filled with sand or something. Back, arms and legs straight, I make my way down the isle. Casual, Amber. Just be casual. 

When I get to the employee, the pimple-faced teenager turns to me with a blank expression. "Can I help you?" he asks. I hear the faint sound of metal and notice through his messy hair, the earphones he has on.

Oh, fuck. He knows. He knows I brought a pet into a no pet zone. This is it. This is the end. If I don't say something super casual, I'm going to get locked up. Susan is probably going to sue me. I'll be done for it. Come on, Amber. Say something normal.

"Uh duu Tunella urs tight bex tuh u," I say.

Dammit. You had one job brain! One job!

"What?" the employee asks with the same bored expression. 

"I don't have a dog in my bag," I try again.

This time, he eyes me skeptically. "That's good?" he says.

"I'm innocent."

"Uh-huh."

"I just want to get some Nutella."

"Okay."

"I'm cool."

"Okay?"

"No dogo here."

"Okay..."

"Yup," I laugh awkwardly and reach out for the Nutella jar next to him. When I clutch the jar, I hold it to my chest and just stay frozen. Right on cue, Pollock let's out a bark and I freeze up all over again.

The employee continues to look bored. "Is there a dog in your bag, Miss?" he asks.

"No," I squeak.

"You're going to have to take the dog outside," he sighs.

"DON'T TAKE ME TO PRISON!" I yell and chuck the Nutella jar at him. Before he can even catch it, I spin around and sprint for my life.

I run past the security guard - who's just looking at me funny.

"I'M INNOCENT!" I exclaim and run across the main road and over to the residential area. I stop in time to let Pollock out of the bag. "Come on! They're going to get us!" I yell and sprint down the road again. Pollock is quick to follow and actually keeps up with me. Puppy legs and all.

When I get to my gate, I storm inside, lock it and wait with Pollock in the front garden under a shrub. We both stay quiet and only when I don't hear the sound of sirens, do I get up and wipe the sweat from my forehead. "That was way to close," I pant.

Pollock barks and I frown down at the pup. "It's not my fault we have to avoid another supermarket from now on," I defend.

Pollock sneezes and then goes off to dig up a few plants.

I shrug and head back inside. That was fun, I think to myself and go to pour myself some water. That was really exciting. Such a thrill. That supermarket didn't know what hit them! They're yet to learn of Amber Marigold. That was fun.

I stop smiling after taking a few sips. 

No that wasn't. It was stupid. Not exciting or thrilling. Not what I used to do... 

Without even realizing, I get filled with a heavy sadness so sudden, I have to leave my glass of water, slide down the kitchen counter and sit on the cold tiled floor.

The emotion is so random and over-bearing, I can't even think straight. I was doing fine. I was doing so well. What happened?

I'm never living the life I was meant to live again. They haven't come for me yet. This really is over. I'm doomed to live a boring life until I die. I'm safe. So safe, I feel threatened. I hate this. I fucking hate this!

Screw Xavier! Screw him for pretending to be the villain when he wasn't! Screw him for trying to get me to marry him! Screw him for not convincing me in time! Screw him for saying he actually liked me! Screw him for making me feel so weird and confused! Screw him for thinking of this plan! Screw him for getting the plan to actually work! And screw him for everything else!

Pollock comes plodding into the kitchen and snuggles up against my leg.

When my breathing gets uneven and I feel like I can't control the threat of tears, Pollock starts wining and chews my paint-stained shirt. He pulls and tugs at it and I muster up enough strength to rub his head.

"Good boy. Good boy, Pollock," I breathe through the crashing waves of panic and tears.

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

Just breathe.

It takes me half an hour to breathe normally again and I just stare out blankly in front of me. My tears turn dry against my cheeks. All the while, I continue to rub Pollock's head while he patiently waits for me to be fine.

This is not the first time.

At the most unexpected  moments, I feel my world ending.

Maybe because my world did end.

At least the one I learned to love.

And it's hard starting over.

A little more calm, I get up and continue with my routine. I paint for a bit, go out to garden with Pollock and read Harry Potter again. When it gets late, I start with dinner. Feeling sorry for myself, I decide that it's going to be pancakes. While flipping my dinner, I get Pollock's dinner ready as well.

When I have enough pancakes to feed an army, I apply some cinnamon and sugar and head to the small dining table in the corner. There's only two seats and as usual, I sit by the one next to the window. I watch the sunset and pretend its a sunrise.

Feeling better, I put Pollock's bowl of dog food on the table and help him get onto the chair.

"Waaaait..." I warn Pollock and he actually listens this time - patiently waiting to eat his food.

I sit down and smile at my pancakes. I should've bought that Nutella earlier. It would've been a good bonus.

"Let's eat," I smile and without question, Pollock jumps with his front paws onto the table and cleans out his bawl. I rip into my own food as well and even allow him a pancake when he hands me the puppy eyes.

After dinner, Pollock licks my plate clean while I just sit there. As routine goes, I take my phone out and call everyone again. Xavier, Owen, Blake, Nessa, Sean, Daniel, Jack, Ryan, Bryan... They all are still unavailable to me.

Feeling unbearably lonely, I go to Jessy's contact number and send her a few messages.

I put my phone down and stare blankly out of the window.

For the first time, I wish I could get attacked. I wish someone could break in here so I could beat the shit out of them. I'd go for a right hook, left hook, right hook, upper cut and then bam! A kick to the guts. I'd dive for the kitchen counter and grab the two handguns I have hidden and aim it at them and ask them what they want and who sent them.

But that's not going to happen... And only person keeping my life interesting right now is Susan from the papers.

Fuck Susan.

Well hello goldies :)

See, I told y'all this would be a happy, funny chapter! Okay sure, it got sad, but nobody died! Y'all can trust me sometimes. I'm not a complete monster.

Yet.

PS: Is Pollock not the cutest? Just imagine if I was to kill him lol.

Anyways, remember to vote and stay cabbage! 

~ Holly Shmit