For Rent and Love

CHAPTER 3

It was 7 in the morning, the girls stood outside Mrs Trevor's apartment, Summer in her uniform, flyers clutched in tired but determined hands. Summer's stack read _Winking Corgi Designs - Logos That Stare Into Your Soul_, and she tapped the top one with a grim sense of purpose.

"Okay, phase two," she said. "We hit Mrs. Trevor, guilt-trip her with the flyer, then offer dog walks at a limited-time discount. Professional."

Luna smoothed a strand of hair back from her face. "We're not guilt-tripping an eighty-two-year-old. We're offering help."

Before Luna could knock, the door swung open. Mrs. Trevor stood in the doorway, small but formidable, holding leashes for three dogs. A hyperactive corgi bounced at her feet, a wheezing bulldog panted behind it, and a German shepard glared up at them like it had personally been wronged.

"You're late," Mrs. Trevor said.

Summer blinked. "We're early."

"I said eight o'clock sharp," Mrs. Trevor replied. "It's 8:05. Do you want the job or not?"

"We want the job!" Summer said, quickly putting on a bright smile "We also have these flyers-"

Mrs. Trevor cut her off, shoving all three leashes into their hands. "Good. Take them. All three. At once."

The dogs exploded into motion the moment the leashes left her grip. The corgi yapped and lunged forward, the bulldog wheezed and planted itself stubbornly, and the German shepard twisted toward Summer's ankle with clear intent.

"Luna, help!" Summer hissed, struggling to keep hold of the writhing leashes. "I think the corgi just ate my flyer. That's our marketing material!"

Luna braced herself against the bulldog, which seemed intent on sitting down permanently in the hallway. "Mrs. Trevor, do they always-"

"They do when they smell fear," Mrs. Trevor said, already stepping back inside. "Don't let them near the rose bushes. And be back in an hour."

The door shut with a decisive click. Luna and Summer were left alone, being dragged in three directions by sixty pounds of chaos.

"This is worse than t****k," Summer panted, stumbling toward the stairs. "At least t****k didn't try to eat me."

Luna laughed despite herself, holding onto the bulldog with both hands. "Okay, new plan. We walk them, we get paid, and if we survive, we use the money to reprint flyers."

"If we survive," Summer echoed as the German Shepard yanked her down a step. "Note that."

They stumbled down the stairs together, dogs barking, flyers scattering into the air. It was chaos, but they were laughing.

---

Twenty minutes later, Summer and Luna collapsed on the couch, soaking wet from sweat.

"That was awful," Summer said. "I think I might die before Friday"

"Those dogs are definitely demons... I could swear I saw the corgi smiling at me"

"I never thought I'd say this but I wish I'd gone straight to school"

"Right! School! It's almost time for class Summer. You should get going"

"Noooooooooo. You can't do this to me Luna. I might really die if I attend class after that torment. Skipping one day won't hurt, pleassssssssseeee?"

"You skipped school yesterday too"

"But I've been regular so far. Just this one time pretty please?? Summer whipped out the most pitiful face she could

"Alright, fine. But just this once" Luna gave in, dragging herself off the couch

"Yesssssss!! You're the best Luna. I mean it" Summer squealed

"You're a whole lot of trouble"

"I know" She grinned

"Alright, go freshen up. I still haven't completed Seth's flier design"

"Seth from downstairs?"

"Yes"

"I heard he works in the CIA and is here undercover" Summer whispered, her gossip mode already activated

"And you know that how?"

"Isn't it obvious? No one knows what job he does, he drives an expensive car but lives in this cheap building, his dog acts like one of those trained police dogs and have you seen his absss.... He works out no doubt"

"So you came to a conclusion that he's a spy?"

"I'm telling you I'm unto something. What if I create a t****k account and film him until we expose whatever secret he's hiding?"

"That's illegal Summer. You really have to stop watching those spy movies. They're getting into your head"

"Lu-"

"You know it's not too late to attend class"

"I'll keep my mouth sealed" Summer said running to her room

"You're really something" Luna shook her head, smiling