RYOT GRL

Chapter 19

He didn’t fall on the ground like I had hoped, but he did stagger backwards. I don’t give him a chance to recover pushing him back. “What is wrong with you. You’re crazy”, he shouts trying to retrain me, but I’m pushing and kicking him; the rage inside of me overpowering my movements. It’s only when Georgina and Stella have appeared beside me to pull me back do I stop, so I don’t hurt them. Hames and Jordan are there standing protectively by Castle, who’s holding his split lip, his blazing eyes matching mine. “You’ve really lost it”, he spits at me and I lunge for him. “Give me back my dog or I swear to god I’ll make your life a living hell”, I yell being restrained by Georgina and Stella. “Your dog?”, he questions looking at me like I’ve gone mad. “Georgina that video”, I mutter, and her eyes searches mine questioningly before she pulls up her phone, showing Castle the video of Ruben. At this point I am pure anger; nothing could calm me down.

Castle frowns at the video. “What has Rain got to do with it?”. “Rain?”, I spit. “Yes. I found him in the rain. It seemed to fit him since he’s always gloomy”, he laughs and before anyone can stop me, I grab him by the scruff of his neck. “That is my dog, you nutcase. Who goes around stealing other people’s dogs?”, I thunder. He pushes my hand away. “I didn’t steal anything. I found rain outside the school by the bins”, he mutters, and I gasp. He was looking for me, he didn’t know where to go so he tried to find me here. I feel my eyes welling up with tears. “Just give him back Castle”, I lock eyes with his and they soften as he notices my tears. “Come on. If he is really your dog. You can prove it”. I follow him silently behind, trying to contain my tears. I slip into his car, silently, whilst he drives off. “You didn’t need to pretend. If you wanted to spend time with me, you didn’t have to go to such lengths to do it”. And I clench my fists at how arrogant he is.

“Listen asshole. After I get my dog, I will gladly never speak to you again”, I seethe. “What’s his name?”, he asks. “The dog. What’s his name?”. “Ruben”, I mutter silently. When he pulls up, I’m the first one to jump out. “Come on he’s through here”, he says. Unlocking the door of his house and I step in. The first thing I notice is how it looks like I’ve just walked into a catalogue. I don’t know I expected anything else. I crane my neck up seeing a glass chandelier hanging on the ceiling and black laminate flooring. “Rain”, he calls, and nothing happens. “Rain”, he calls again and still nothing. “He takes ages to respond”. “Because that’s not his name”, I seethe. “Ruben. Come here Ruben”, and I hear the bounding footsteps as he clambers down the stairs. I run to greet him. “Hello boy”. He puts his paws on my shoulders as I hug him tightly, tears slipping away from my face. “I missed you so much”, I exclaim, wiping the tears from my face before Castle sees.

“So, he really is your dog”, I don’t miss the twinge of disappointment in his voice. “How long have you had him?”, I say, rubbing his back. He looks healthy, and well cared for. “A few weeks. I’m sorry I really thought he was a stray”, he is scratching his neck, clear embarrassment on his face. “You didn’t think to take him to the pound or a rescue centre”, I say annoyed, and he shrugs. “I reckoned he didn’t belong to anyone since he didn’t have a collar”, he says softly. “Rain. Where are you?”, I hear a girl calling, a hold onto Ruben’s collar tightly. I notice her as the girl castle was hugging before in the hallway. She lands on the last step, watching me hesitantly. “Who are you?”, she asks. “This is Dodo. Dodo, this is my sister Amy”, he mutters, and she nods before her eyes drop to Ruben. “Come here Rain”, he doesn’t move, and she frowns before her eyes lock on my fingers held protectively around his collar. “What are you doing? Mum said we could keep him”, she says, stamping her foot. “Take your hands off him you’re not taking him”, she threatens coming towards me. “Amy. Stop”, Castle positions himself between us. “He wasn’t a stray. Rain belongs to Dodo”, he mutters, and I watch as she frowns. “But you said you find him by the bins at school”, she presses. “He ran off. He came to school because he was looking for me”, I explain rubbing his head. “You can’t take him. He’s better here with us. He likes it here”, she says and goes to grab him. “I’m leaving”, I say and start walking. “Wait Dodo. I’m sorry. Just stay for a minute, I want to talk to you”, he says. “I have nothing to say to you”, I order. “Please Dodo. 5 minutes”. I search his face, his eyes holding only comfort towards me. “Fine”, I relent, and my heart skips a beat as his eyes light up.