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Lance would've rather died than be seen in public with his abuela's crusty white dog, Pearla. She was a freak of nature, but Lance had grown up with the little rat and loved her like it. He also couldn't say no to his Abuela, so he found himself walking Pearla down to the local dog park and watching his favorite crust ball run around.
It was a nice day out, the sun was bright but not oppressive and the grass seemed greener than usual. A few people littered the park here and there, dogs playing catch like normal, healthy dogs. Lance was a little miffed he had to spend his one day off work and university chaperoning Pearla around, but the warm weather brightened his mood.
Lance watched Pearla with some pity as she wiggled around in circles, unable to do much but trot and yap. She was still cute, just in an ugly way. She had a crusted face only an owner could love.
After her romping was over, Lance put her leash back on and did some exploring of his own, Pearla in his arms.
He wandered down to the more shady part of the park, deciding he'd rather not die of a heat stroke.
Just as the trees thickened, Pearla—being the rat she was—jumped out of Lance's arms and bolted into the brush. Lance grumbled before starting his search for his abuela's beloved freak.
He called her name a million times and was starting to believe she was just gone forever. Finally, he heard the sound of rushing water, laid eyes on the perimeter fence of the dog park, and heard wimpy yapping.
Soon after Pearla's shameful yips, what sounded to be a much larger dog barked. Lance quickened his pace, scared Pearla might be starting a fight she couldn't win.
When he got to the edge of the brook, he found her splashing in it with another dog. At first, it seemed like a fight, but upon further inspection, they were just splashing happily. The bugger dog kept to itself, letting Pearla run between its legs.
The other dog was far more majestic than Pearla. It was a blueish husky, white fur now brown from the mud.
Lance's ears pricked up at the sound of another person, also calling out. "Kosmo!" the voice said, "where are you, boy?"
Just then, a mop of black hair pulled out of the trees, setting eyes on the dog Lance assumed to be Kosmo, then Pearla, then Lance himself. Lance waved awkwardly.
This stranger was just as beautiful as his dog. He had a sharp expression, but his eyes shone with the peeking light from the sun. His hair was jet black, and he wore regular alternative fashion—baggy pants and a band shirt.
"Kosmo, come here," he called, patting his leg. Kosmo spun around the water before returning to his owner, bounding over happily.
Lance called Pearla himself, but she could only really waddle.
"Sorry about Kosmo. I hope he didn't bother your dog." The stranger said, voice monotone with either a lack of care or a lack of fluctuating opinion.
Lance waved his hand. "He's fine, no bother." He said, trying to hide the obvious blush coating his face as the stranger tilted his head.
God, he was gorgeous.
"Name's Lance," he smirked, trying his best at flirting. Although he tried his best, he never was very good at it. "Has anyone ever told you you're beautiful?" He said lamely.
The stranger looked around as if searching for someone else, before saying, "I'm Keith." Simple, nice. "Uh, thanks?"
Keith turned to leave, but Kosmo and Pearla decidedly had other plans. They ran towards each other, yanking their owners by the leashes until they were both in the center of the field. The two dogs ran circles around them until the leashes tied them together, uncomfortably close.
Lance laughed before noticing Keith staring up at him with something like awe in his sharp eyes before they snapped away and focused on untangling them.
Lance was practically wiping tears from his eyes as the stranger tried to untangle them, somehow making it worse.
Lance laughed some more before gently taking the leashes from Keith's hands, effectively brushing his hands for a moment, and untangling them correctly.
Keith was blushing, hard. Lance tried to stop laughing for his sake, but couldn't manage with Pearla's incessant yapping and the red on his face that matched the red on his shirt.
The two dogs bounded off towards the entrance of the trees, leaving Lance and Keith in the dust.
Lance started to run after them, but Keith grabbed his hand to stop him. "I know a faster way, we can beat them there," Keith said quickly, the red on his face now dimming a bit.
"Lead the way," Lance grinned, noticing how their hands were still clasped together as Keith brought them through a denser part of the trees and out the other side.
Once he realized he hadn't let go of Lance's hand yet, he dropped it like it was hot metal. Lance's feelings would've been hurt if he wasn't immediately distracted by Pearla and Kosmo bounding towards them at break-neck speeds.
Pearla jumped around until Lance picked her up, tired from her first exercise of her million-year life. Kosmo padded over to Keith proudly and received some head scratches which he seemed to enjoy with an exasperated sigh from his owner.
"Sorry about that," Keith smiled awkwardly. The smile seemed unnatural for him, like he reserved it for special occasions and it was slightly rusty. They didn't make it any less charming, though.
"No worries. I got to meet you, after all," Lance smiled back. His smile was practiced, and it showed on the blush on Keith's cheeks.
Keith pulled out a piece of paper and a University-branded pen from his pocket and scribbled out something before handing something to Lance and smiling once again.
He stuck around just long enough to see a grin spread on Lance's cheeks as he realized it was a phone number and wave goodbye before picking up Kosmo's leash and starting his walk back to the entrance of the park.
Lance was starting to think he should bring Pearla to the dog park more often.