Chapter Text
“Hoops?” Chad searched under the teacher’s desk, utterly distraught. “Hoooops?”
The cage stood open by his chair, with half-eaten dandelion leaves and a near-empty bowl of pellets.
“Come on, Hoops! Where are you, buddy?”
He reached out as far as he could and blindly searched the dusty floor.
Somebody cleared their throat. “Looking for this?”
Ryan crouched down beside him, holding Hoops’ small, white, brown-spotted body in his arms.
“Oh!” Chad sat up on his knees, wiped his hands on his pants, and took him. He held him gently by his bum and lower back, positioning his small paws on his shoulder.
“He’s adorable,” Ryan said and reached out to scratch behind Hoops’ ear.
Chad smiled. “I know, right? I’d kill for this guy.”
“I bet you have.” Ryan ran his fingers along Hoops’ fur. “What was his name again?”
“Hoops.”
“Hoops…Of course you’d name your pet Hoops.”
“It suits him,” Chad said. “I’ve been trying to teach him to play, but so far he can only kick with his snoot.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I…I bought him a tiny ball and hoop. I think if I show him enough times how to do it, and I give him a treat when he tries, he’ll learn eventually.”
Ryan smirked at him. “Solid plan,” he said with a dash of sarcasm. It flew right above Chad’s head.
“Isn’t it?” He smiled brightly. “One day he’ll do it.”