rock & rollers

That laugh, oh, that laugh. They would do anything for that laugh, pull down the moon and every single star if she asked, put them in a little jar like fireflies. Whatever she wanted, just to hear that laugh, see that smile. “I think he’s going to be great at whatever he wants to be. Isn’t that right, Sunny?” Halfway into leaning down, they stopped, asked, “Can I pet him?”

Sunny looked up at Ethan as if to say ‘of course,’ stealing a laugh from Olivia. She almost catches herself saying yes, but instead she shakes her head, “When he’s done training, yes. For now he’s a little busy.” 

“doggy work and make money?” parker asked. morty snickered and pushed the baby’s hair out of her face. “kind of. he does what he’s supposed to and he gets treats for being good. and then he gets to play when he’s all done. that doggy’s gonna be able to help people that need help. like how mommy’s nonna has thatcher, he helps her get stuff from the house and helps her,” she explained, knowing they wouldn’t completely understand, but it was worth a shot. “she’s teaching him how to behave. when she’s done teaching him, he’ll know what he’s supposed to do even without telling him,” she said. “goliath do that,” booker said. “no, goliath does things we tell him not to do, there’s a difference, baby.”

Olivia was a bit amused at the idea of the dogs receiving money for their work. It was a sweet thing to think as a kid, she thought. It almost reminded her of herself when she was little and her mom was training dogs around her. “That’s pretty much my job.” She reached her hand next to puppy, who tapped it, to ensure he was still focused. “Goliath sounds like a riot already.”

It was instinctual, almost, a second-nature kind of muscle memory that led them to wrapping their arm around her middle. They didn’t even think, it just happened. Olivia was muscle-memory. “What do you think of him, you’re the expert.”

Olivia laughed a little. A bit nervous, but mostly sweet and giggly and bubbly, a version of her that only Ethan could manage out of her. Being close to him felt right. “Well, I think we shouldn’t decide a career until he’s ready.” Although it comes out with another giggle. Being with him was easy, but her body sometimes did anything and everything to keep him around.

“No! No, sorry, I should’ve said something first.” Once Sunny moved to the other side, Navi came skittering out, jumping into Aedan’s arms. “She’s really good. Most dogs freak out when Navi gets under them.”

Olivia followed the puppy’s movements. She wasn’t trying to read it per say, just trying to understand how she missed the little thing running. The dog must have been really fast. “She’s trained not to react to stuff like that.” 

“Cool.” Except, being around Olivia, they were always the opposite; Ethan was a writer, they promised…conversations with Olivia notwithstanding. They stood next to her, walked in step with her, resisted the desire to reach down and grab her hand. “So, what’s his name?” they asked, chin tilting in the direction of the lab.

“This is Sunny.” She gave them a smile, her heart and stomach fluttering. Ethan always had her. And he would always have her. “He might be a seeing-eye dog, but we’re still assessing it.” She leaned down and pet the puppy a bit just as it lied down, almost sensing this conversation would be a while.

“Okay?” Sebastian snorted, shaking his head. “I just wanted my·lighter, it fell out of my pocket.” He bent down to pick up the cheap orange BIC pocket lighter before putting it back in its original place.·“I was going to light up but now I’m intrigued. What is this all this _special _training time for?”

“Sorry,” she said, then instructing the dog to keep holding its stay. “I work with dogs all the time, and people always want to pet them.” The puppy looked up to check on her before turning away again, still focused on her from the corner of his eye. She let him have a treat before she said,·“He’s training to be a service dog so we’re doing some public access training.”·

Ethan looked up at Olivia, and grinned at her, warm and easy. “Sorry, sorry. You know how I get sometimes when I see a cute dog.” They stood, stuck their hands in the pockets of their jacket. “Can I bug you while you’re training hm? Or is that not allowed, either?”

Olivia found her heart skipping a beat when she heard the familiar voice. Something about Ethan always, always got her. She smiled softly at them, almost forgetting everything going on around them. “You can bother me anytime.” 

morty’s brows furrowed and she gently pushed the other’s hand away, reaching down — but not to touch the dog. she leaned down and picked up her two-year-old daughter that had been pushed down by her grumpy sister, sitting her on her knee while she was crouched down. “i was picking my kid up, i don’t care about your dog,” she said before turning her attention to the other two-year-old that was standing. “i’m gonna bust your ass if you keep doing that to her. keep your mean little hands to yourself or you’re gonna stay with daddy from now on,” she said sternly before she stood up with parker on her hip and looking back to the other girl. “i don’t touch animals i don’t know, by the way. i know not everyone has common sense, but i own several pets and respect their personal space. these two are still learning — booky, hold mommy’s hand, you can’t touch the doggy,” she said as she took booker’s hand and pulled her out of reach of the dog just to be on the safe side. “doggy bite?” booker asked. “no, but his mommy said he can’t be touched, and we listen to mommies.”

“Ignore,” she told the puppy, trying not to watch the other girl scold the child, before looking at her. She handed the puppy a treat before saying, “Right. Sorry if it came out harsh. I train service dogs, so I know pretty well about people lacking common sense. Even with a big Do Not Pet sign on the dog.” Then again, there was also making kissy noises, calling the dog... She’d seen it all. She gave an apologetic smile to the little kid, “Maybe when he’s on break you can pet him. But right now he’s working.” 

“Oh, sorry, I wasn’t gonna pet him. My dog, er…” Aedan motioned vaguely to the ground. “My dog ran under your dog.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she said, a slight laugh in her voice. Although, she did feel a little proud that the puppy didn’t even react to this weird circumstance. “Sunny, other side.” She points to the spot opposite her to uncover the other dog. She hands the puppy a treat after he follows the instruction. “Sometimes people just try to touch her, so I’m a bit paranoid.”

Don’t be fooled! That’s not VIRGINIA GARDNER you saw on campus but in fact was OLIVIA DAWSON. The 21 year old SOPHOMORE identifies as FEMALE and is often described as SWEET, CARING & MISCHIEVOUS. When I think of her I imagine FIELDS OF FLOWERS & COLORFUL DRINKS. I sure hope studying MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS is keeping HER… busy. ( mitchie. 22. EST. she/her. )

Rory’s eyebrows shot up at the explanation, and they grinned. “Well, isn’t that a very fun way to spend a Tuesday night?” they teased, nudging the other with their shoulder. “I think you and cute bartender girl should hook up more often. Do crazy, spontaneous stuff like that more often, in general.”

Olivia shrugged. Surely, if she was in the mood. Sometimes she wasn’t, though. Sometimes she just wanted to drink a glass of wine and be alone so she had to avoid going to that bar on Tuesdays. Not that she’d ever admit that to Rory. “I’m spontaneous.” Those were words she barely believed herself. “There’s no substance there, you know?”

Arms linked, walking was only a little bit easier, but somehow, a little more difficult, too. “Ew, why would you go to the bar that’s farther?”

Olivia shrugged, mostly because it was actually quite simple, although she’d never told anyone before. “Well, at this bar I can get free drinks on days like this because I know the bartender. At the other bar the girl works on Tuesdays and she gives me free drinks and sometimes we make out when she gets off.” Then she said, “But of course, never when Ethan and I are together. She’s respectful. In fact, it's only been twice.” 

“I feel like a goat would really be the right move for a pet, but with goats you have to get two because they get lonely and depressed on their own.”

“Do they actually? I’ve never heard that before. I’d love to try and train two goats to do whatever you want them to, though.” 

“Yeah, I’m not - like, this is gonna sound paranoid, but like, I don’t like to do that kinda stuff if I’m not sober?” It wasn’t rational, but they’d heard one too many horror stories, probably. Walking in step with Olivia was easy, anyway.

“Oh, I can understand that,” she said, linking her arm with Rory’s to start their walk. Maybe they’d both be a little bit more stable that way. “I always take Ubers back home when I’m at the other bar, but it’s like, farther.” 

“We love an educated pup.” He smiled knowing that a good pup made his Olive counter part happy. “Everything’s good with me, sometimes I wish I had a pet goat though.”

Olivia laughed at the unexpected response. It was so like Oliver to say something like that. She shook her head a little, amused. “I could strangely imagine you with a goat.”