It was mid July; the San Diego sun was hotter than ever. I had finally decided to move out on my own, Jaime liked the idea because he was going to ask Jess to move in with him. I was standing out on the small balcony of my apartment, smoking a cigarette, a bad habit that came about to me a month ago. Vic, Jaime, and Tony were moving my stuff in. Casey was standing out here with me. It had been a month and a half and I hadn’t spoken to Mike. I only saw him once, when I had to go get something from Vic. It was like he fell off the face of the earth. Part of me was glad, because I didn’t want him to continue on with our competition from winter. I didn’t want to know what the wrath of his anger would be. I didn’t want him to tarnish my reputation and ruin my relationship with our mutual friends. But I missed him. I was under so much stress the first few weeks because of it, so I picked up smoking. I lost ten pounds because I was too upset to eat. I didn’t know that he was going to affect me so much, but he did. The guys knew we were done - none of them knew why - and no one seemed to push anything either.

I breathed in the toxic smoke and looked at Casey. He shot me a sad smile and I shrugged.

“You know he misses you too,” he said while leaning against the stucco building.

I pulled the cigarette from my lips and exhaled, “I don’t care anymore.”

“That’s a damn lie, Rae,” he smirked. “If he saw you right now he’d say you’re too pretty to be smoking.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed, “He’d probably tell me to smoke another and hope I die a slow, painful, cancerous death.”

“I still want to know what happened,” Casey shook his head with a laugh. “But he won’t even say your name.”

“Then drop it,” I smiled and flicked my cigarette. “Why is everyone else helping me set up my apartment and you’re standing out here?”

“Why are you standing out here while everyone else is setting up your apartment? Casey smirked.

“Touché,” I laughed and opened up the sliding glass door and walked inside. My living room was already set up other than Vic putting together my coffee table in front of the sofa. I smiled, “You guys did such a good job already. And you didn’t break my TV!”

Vic laughed, “Yeah, somehow we didn’t break that giant fucking thing. I don’t understand how you even got it off the wall in your room.”

“I kind of just popped the nails out of the wall and threw it onto the mattress,” I laughed. “It’s going to be so weird, you know? Living by myself. I feel so grown up.”

Jaime pouted and wrapped his arms around me, “My little Rae is all grown up.”

“Get off me,” I laughed and pushed him off. “I think I’m going to get myself a pet to keep me company.”

“What kind of pet?” Tony asked while walking out of the bathroom. “Like a guinea pig?”

“Like a dog?” I asked in a stupid voice, mocking him. “I think I’m going to go to the pound tomorrow!”

Vic smiled, “That would be nice. You’d always have someone to come home to after work.”

“But why do you have to get it tomorrow,” Jaime whined. “Why not after your party?”

I groaned, “There will be no parties here, gentleman. So if you invited anyone over this place this weekend you can tell them it’s off.”

“Rae,” he whined.

“No,” I glared. “I moved here to grow up, guys. This is my place. There won’t be parties. There won’t be loud music. This is going to be my little piece of home for when I’m off work and need to drink wine and watch girly movies with me, myself and my dog.”

“Great you’re going to turn into a boring old woman,” Casey groaned.

Tony beamed, “Can our dogs have play dates? Oh my god, Rae we can be like two mommies together and go to the park! And tea parties!” We all bursted into laughter and he blushed, “I was being serious, guys.”

“I would love for our dogs to have play dates, Tone,” I smiled and hugged him. “I’ll even invite you over for wine and movies.”

“We just can’t tell Mike because he still thinks you’re his property,” Tony kissed my cheek and everyone stopped laughing. “Shit. I wasn’t supposed to say that, was I?”

“He thinks I’m still his property?” I questioned, raising an eyebrow and stepping away from Tony.

Tony let out and awkward laugh, “Yeah he pretty much said that if any of us ever tried to get with you he’d beat the shit out of us.”

I laughed, “He’s such a cock sucker.”

“That’s my brother for you,” Vic laughed while rubbing his arm awkwardly.

Everyone was just being really awkward now, and I wasn’t in the mood for it. “Guys, Mike and I have been done for almost two months... things are just going back to the way they were. You don’t have to be so weird about it.”

“You guys were just so perfect together. I never saw my brother that happy in a long time,” Vic shrugged. “It’s just weird now; especially because none of us know what happened, all we know is that you guys hate each other again but he still stakes claim.”

I rolled my eyes, “How about we call it a night? You guys have pretty much set up everything other than my closet and drawers; which I can do on my own. I’ll see you guys tomorrow after I get my dog. I’ll stop by everyone’s place and show him or her off.” The guys all said their goodbyes and gave me hugs, “Seriously though, thank you so much. I really appreciate you guys helping me move stuff in.”

“Anything for our Rae-Rae,” Jaime gave me a giant hug. “This is going to be so weird.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” I laughed and kissed his cheek. “Go move Jess in. You guys can fuck everywhere.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me then left.

I finished up the rest of the night just putting all my stuff away in my room and organizing the apartment. It had one bedroom, one bathroom, a living room and a kitchen. It had suited all my needs. I grabbed the last box that was sitting by the door and opened it. I found a few framed pictures of Jaime and I from high school, and I set them on the shelving units I had next to the TV. Other things in the box were stuff like remotes, DVDs, old VHS because I still had a VHS player... things for the TV. I then opened up the boxes that were on my bed that had all my clothes in them. I hung up all the clothes that belonged in the closet, then started putting away the clothes that were meant to be folded in drawers. I came across one of Mike’s Pantera shirts and groaned because I forgot to give it back to him. There was no way in hell I was going to give it back now. I shrugged and threw it on the floor, deciding that I could just give it to the dog I would be getting tomorrow. I finished putting away my clothes and then my five hundred pairs of shoes. I then made a mental note to buy another TV for my room, and then climbed into my bed.

The next morning I woke up rather refreshed and happy. It felt good to wake up in my bed, in my apartment, and walk into my kitchen and make a pot of my coffee that no one else would be drinking from. I made a cup of coffee and sat down in front of the TV, watching the news for about a half hour before deciding to get ready. I took my first shower in my own apartment and then walked out of my bathroom and into my room naked, which felt so amazing let me add that in there. I let my hair air dry some before putting mousse on it and throwing it on the top of my head, and then I applied a little bit of make up before slipping on some clothes. I put on a pair of light distressed, high waist jean shorts and a white cami along with a pair of red Vans. I grabbed my tube of red lipstick and coated my lips making the perfect outfit complete. I grabbed my purse and heart shaped sunglasses, setting them on top of my nose and then walked out of my apartment and to my car. When I got inside I lit up a cigarette and drove in the direction of the closest animal shelter.

“Hi there, how can I help you?” A girl at the front desk of the shelter smiled at me.

I placed my sunglasses on top of my head and smiled, “I’d like to look for a dog to adopt.”

“Okay, just sign in right here and then go through those doors,” she pointed at the doors to my left.

I signed my name in on the paper and then walked into the area. I always felt bad coming into these places, seeing all the poor animals that were looking to be adopted. I wanted a dog that was a bit younger, so that it would be around for a while, and I didn’t want anything big because I was living in my apartment. All I saw at first was pitbulls, labs, and a few older yorkies. I kept walking down the hallway that was surrounded by glass and then I saw the cutest little thing, and definetly a face only a mother could love. There was this little hairless dog, who was sitting in the corner of his area on concrete shaking. He didn’t have a name and he was a stray they had just gotten in. They figured he was around three years old. I made my way back towards the front desk with a smile on my face, knowing that he probably wasn’t going to find a home other than me because he was so unusual.

“I’m in love with that little hairless guy back there,” I smiled at the girl at the front desk. “Is there any way you can take him out to meet me?”

“The little Mexican hairless?” She smiled, “He’s been here for weeks and you’re the first one to actually want to meet him. I’ll go get him for you.”

When she came back out of the room she had him on a leash, his tail wagging a mile a minute and his tongue hanging out of his mouth. She walked towards me and I crouched down on the floor and waited for him to approach. He came running and put his feet on my knees, looking up at me with a big cheesy grin.

“Hi there,” I smiled and ran my hand down his neck. It felt kind of weird to be touching a dog without hair, but I could dig it. “Aren’t you a little cutie?” He leaned in and licked my nose, “I have to have him!” I exclaimed while picking him up in my arms and looking at the girl. “Where do I fill out the paperwork?”

“Right here,” the girl smiled while walking behind a desk and handing me a clipboard. “Just fill out these papers and we’ll go over him and let you know if he’s going to be a good fit.” I filled out the papers and handed her them, and while she was reading them I was petting my new little buddy. She smiled at me, “Well, Ms. Matthews, if you’d like to make a payment now he can be yours today!”

“Yes!” I squealed and handed her my credit card. “You’re coming home with Mommy!” I smiled at the little guy who was now standing on the ground, his tail still wagging like crazy.

“The real name of his breed is Xoloitzcuintli, but it’s a mouthful so they’re mostly known as Mexican Hairless dogs. They’re extremely rare, but they make awesome pets,” the girl smiled. “I’m so glad you’re taking him. If he didn’t go by the end of this weekend he was going to have to be euthanized. What are you going to name him?”

I looked down at him and smiled before looking back up at her, “I think Diablo. Like Devil in Spanish, because he looks like a little tough guy.”

“Well, I wish you and Diablo a great life together,” she smiled.

I brought him out to my car in my arms and then set him down in the passenger seat. I smiled when I looked over at him, “Well, Diablo. Looks like we better go to the pet store and get you some stuff, huh?” He wagged his tail at me and barked.

I started up the car and rolled the windows down a little so he could get some air. When we went to the pet store I kind of went overboard with buying him things. I thought I was just going to go in and get a leash and some food, but boy was I wrong. I ended up walking out of there spending a good $250. I bought him food, a leash, a harness, a dog bed for my bedroom, a dog bed for the family room, some toys, some treats, a few little outfits for chilly summer nights... I guess you could say I was going to have one lucky little dog. I sent all the guys a text, saying that I got my dog and I was going to be stopping by everyone’s place to show him off. Vic sent me a text back saying everyone was at his place cooking out, and that I was more than welcome to stay for dinner with my guy. Mike wasn’t even on my mind, all I cared about right now was my new man in my passenger seat that was about to meet everyone.

When I pulled up to Vic’s I slipped the harness and leash on Diablo, just to make sure that he wouldn’t run off anywhere. I grabbed him out of the car and carried him up to the front door before walking in. The house was empty downstairs so I walked out back.

“Hey, guys!” I smiled as I walked out. Everyone was here except Mike, which was a bit of a relief. They all turned to me with weird faces, I held Diablo up in my arms, “Meet Diablo... and before you call him ugly just know that if I hadn’t gotten him today he was going to be euthanized because no one had even given him a chance to get out of the run.”

Vic was the first to speak, “Is he friendly?”

“He’s super friendly,” I smiled and placed him on the ground. “Come on D, let’s say hi.” I walked him over to everyone and his tail was wagging like crazy. “It feels kind of weird to touch his skin, but I guess I’ll get used to it.”

Vic bent down and scratched his head, “Hey there, buddy. Welcome to the family.”

Tony spoke next while coming over and rubbing his back, “I don’t think he’s ugly. I think he’s pretty bad ass looking! May look kind of funny next to my little guy, but they’ll soon be best friends. How old is he?”

“They assume he’s around three years old. He was a stray. I got to name him and everything.”

“Diablo definitely suits him,” Tony laughed and continued to pet him.

Jaime was next to touch him, “He feels like a ballsack; what the fuck!”

We all bursted into laughter and agreed that he really did feel like that. Casey winded up getting Diablo on his lap while I went inside and grabbed a few beers for all of us. “I think I found my new best friend,” he smirked as I placed a beer in his hand.

“You’re gonna have to fight his mommy to the death for that, right baby boy?” I smiled and rubbed under Diablo’s chin. “I can’t wait until Mia and Alex see him. They’re going to shit themselves,” I laughed, kind of bummed that both of them were at work on this gorgeous Friday. “Jess, are you scared or something?”

She smiled softly, “Dogs don’t like me.”

“Oh come on, he loves everyone,” I said and grabbed her hand. “Just pet him, he’s sweet.”

“What the fuck is that,” an extremely girly voice that I never heard before sounded from behind my back. I heard Casey mutter fuck when I turned around. There was some girl who was about my height with long black hair, down to her ass, standing in the doorway with a coffee mug in her hand. She had on a pair of black pajama shorts and a Metallica shirt on that she was drowning in. I knew that shirt. I’ve worn that shirt.

I took off my sunglasses and raised an eyebrow at the girl, “Who the fuck are you?”

“My name is Josie,” she smiled. “I’m guessing that oversized rat is yours?”

“I’m guessing that oversized shirt is Mike’s?” I said in a matter-of-fact tone; pretty pissed off that this bitch insulted my dog and was standing right in front of me wearing Mike’s clothing.

A voice I most definitely didn’t want to hear sounded from the kitchen, “Babe who are you talking...” He stepped out into the backyard with a confused look on his face that soon turned to a smirk, “Oh, well, Josie, I see you’ve met Rae. Rae, meet my gorgeous girlfriend, Josie.” I let a laugh escape my lips, which was probably the worst thing I could have done, but I was humored. He seriously got a girlfriend, and nonetheless, a girlfriend who could be my twin sister. “Is something funny?” He asked and pursed his lips.

“No... nothing’s funny, Michael.” I smirked, “But since we’re introducing the new members of our life, let me introduce your replacement.” I grabbed Diablo off of Casey’s lap and held him in my arms, “Meet my new baby, Diablo.” I guess Di could feel the tension between the two of us and he let a nasty growl out in Mike’s direction. “I think I upgraded, don’t you?”

Notes

I GOT SO MUCH FEEDBACK ON THAT LAST CHAPTER.
I'M SORRY I RUINED ALL OF YOUR EXPECTATIONS.
DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA IS COMING YA'LLS WAY.

What are your thoughts on Mike's "girlfriend"?
What about Rae's nice comment she lets out at the end.

Next update will be posted by Wednesday.
I'm going to promote myself again
GO READ RUNNING

Thank you for all the feedback.
I hope to get a lot again.
xoxoxox

this is what I picture Rae's dog to look like: