The Gangleader and Me(ON HOLD)

•Chapter 24•

Ashley's POV:

I felt a wet thing swipe across my cheek so I groaned, turning my head to face the other side. Again I felt something, this time nudging my head and I could hear breathing and panting. I opened my eyes tiredly and I turn my head to be face to face with a yellow lab's snout.

The dog's tongue that was hanging out of its mouth licked my cheek making me laugh. "Hey, buddy. You're a cute one aren't you." I said after I sat up in bed and scratched its head. The dog jumped into my head and barked loudly before plopping down and laying its head on my lap.

"Aww, you're such a cutie." I coo, scratching behind its ear. "I see you met my dog." Abby says laughing. "Yeah, what's it's name?" I ask her. "His name's Monty." She tells me and I nod. "Well, Monty is such a cutie." I say, running my fingers through Monty's fur. "Yeah, well come on down, my mom made breakfast and she wants you to join us so let's go." She says. "Let me at least brush my teeth first." I tell her. She shrugs and told me they were gonna wait for downstairs.

I walk to the bathroom with my toothbrush and toothpaste, Monty tailing behind me. "Gonna follow me in the bathroom too?" I ask him and he barks. I laughed and walking into the bathroom, Monty following. I quickly but thoroughly brush my teeth and spit out the toothpaste before washing it out with water.

"Come on Monty, time for breakfast." I say and I start running down the stairs and he runs after me while barking. I laugh and run into the dining room, and sit down. Monty barks before standing up on his hind legs, putting his front paws on my thighs while panting.

"Oh, who's a good boy? You are!" I coo, scratching him behind the ear. I kiss his nose, making him lick my nose. "Alright Monty, go eat your food and stop bothering Ashley." Stacey says, coming in the kitchen with a plate full of bacon. Monty barks before running towards his bowl of food.

"I'm sorry about him." Stacey apologizes as she places a plate full of eggs and hash browns in front of Abby and I. "Oh no it's fine. I'm a sucker for dogs. I just love them." I tell her. "Oh, you haven't met Maggie." Abby says. "Maggie come here!" Abby yells and suddenly I hear little footsteps running towards us.

I spot a little cocker spaniel running in our direction, immediately hopping into my lap. "Oh aren't you such a little cutie!" I coo, making faces to the dog as if it was a baby. I scratch behind her ears like I did to Monty and she wagged her tail, obviously enjoying the treatment.

"Maggie off of Ashley!" Stacey chuckles. The little cocker spaniel hops off my lap and heads in the same direction Monty went to a while ago. I only chuckle while shaking my head and turning in Stacey's direction.

"I love your dogs." I say, making her chuckle. "Do you not have pets?" She asks and I shake my head with a frown, "Sadly, no. I've always wanted dogs though." I tell her. She tilts her head in curiosity, "How come you never had pets? Are your parents allergic?" She asks.

"Actually my parents aren't big on dogs... or cats... or hamsters... or any pets and animals in general so they never really allowed me to have pets. They did allow my oldest brother to have a dog, a rottweiler to be specific but only because he was the favorite. To this day my brother still has him but onyx was the only animal to be able to stay in our house and that was only for a few years because my brother took him when he moved out to live with his girlfriend at the time who's his wife now." I tell her honestly.

She pouts, "I'm sorry sweetie. You can stop by and stay over whenever you'd like. Our door is always open if anything happens." She says and I nod silently, looking down at my plate of food, pushing the eggs around with my fork.

"Thank you, Stacey... I really appreciate that. YOu hardly know me and you're opening your door for me to come by anytime I please. Not many would do that." I tell her, some sadness lingering in my voice.