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The pet store hummed with the chirping of crickets and the soft rustling of snakes. TK , ever the impulsive one, had dragged Carlos on a "quick errand" that had somehow turned into an expedition into the exotic pet aisle.
"Carlos, look!" TK exclaimed, his eyes wide with wonder. "He's so cool!"
Carlos peered into the glass terrarium. A large, green iguana with spiky scales and an intimidating stare looked back at him. "TK, that's… that's a dinosaur."
"He's not a dinosaur," TK corrected, though a hint of doubt flickered in his voice. "He's an iguana. And he needs a home. Imagine him chilling on the couch with us, watching movies!"
Carlos shuddered. "I'm imagining him chilling on the couch, eating the couch. And then eating me."
"He's a herbivore!" TK insisted. "He eats vegetables. We could get him a little salad bowl, maybe a tiny sombrero..."
Carlos pinched the bridge of his nose. "TK, we live in a loft apartment. Where exactly are we going to put a lizard the size of a small dog? Especially with Lou already lurking about."
TK waved a dismissive hand. "Lou's tiny! He's like, a glorified gecko. This guy," he gestured towards the iguana, "is practically a miniature Godzilla!"
"Exactly!" Carlos exclaimed. "One Godzilla is enough! I still haven't recovered from the time Lou escaped and ended up in my sock drawer. I nearly had a heart attack!"
TK chuckled. "He was just saying hello! And besides, this iguana will be different. We'll train him, take him for walks—"
"An iguana on a leash?" Carlos raised an eyebrow. "TK, that's not going to happen. And besides, I can barely handle one reptile in my life, let alone two. My heart can't take it!"
TK, seeing the genuine fear in Carlos's eyes, softened. "Okay, okay, I get it. No iguana. But he does look lonely, doesn't he?"
Carlos, despite his apprehension, had to agree. The iguana did seem a bit forlorn, staring out of its glass prison. "Maybe we can get him a friend? A nice, leafy plant, or...or a cricket buffet?"
TK laughed. "You're worried about the iguana's social life? That's my Carlos."
They ended up buying the iguana a large, leafy fern and a bag of extra-large crickets. As they left the pet store, Carlos couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. He loved TK, he really did, but sometimes his impulsiveness could be a bit much. Especially when it involved scaly creatures with sharp claws and an unnerving stare.
"So," TK said, as they walked hand-in-hand down the street, "about that dog you were mentioning..."
Carlos smiled. "Now you're talking! Anything has to be better than another Lou situation." He shuddered at the thought.
TK grinned, pulling Carlos closer. "Don't worry, babe. We'll find the perfect furry friend. One that won't give you a heart attack every time it moves."
And as they walked towards home, Carlos couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Maybe a dog wasn't such a bad idea after all. At least it wouldn't be able to climb the walls. Probably.