Lara's POV

"Lara. Can you walk Barbara's dog? She's not feeling too well but that dog is restless," Mom calls out.

I would do anything right now to clear my head from my impossible Algebra homework.

"Sure," I respond, chucking my Algebra books out of sight.

I slip on a warm hoodie, old leggings and muddy trainers and tie my hair into a messy bun. Collecting a get-better-soon gift, I leave the house.

"See you later, Mom."

"See you, honey."

I close the gate behind me and stroll to the house next door. I ring the doorbell.

DING! DONG!

There's a bark and a hush behind the door. Barbara opens the door, eyes tired and her face paler than ever.

"Hello, Lara," Barbara croaks, clutching a worn handkerchief," How are you, dear?"

"Good. I can't say the same for you, though."

"Horrible sore throat and cough!"

"Well, I hope you get better. Mom made tomato soup. She hopes you get better, too, and that you enjoy the soup."

"Thank you. And say thank you to your mum. You're both nice folk. Should I get Sammy ready?"

"Yes, please!"

Barbara smiles weakly.

"Sammy! Come here, boy!" Barbara wheezes.

A bundle of blonde fur leaps onto me as a golden retriever licks my face with its sandpaper tongue.

"Hey, boy! I'm happy to see you, too," I chuckle.

As Barbara watches us, she smiles sadly.

"Poor dog! It's not fun being cooped up all day but I haven't been feeling up to it," she sighs," You do remember how he likes his walks, right?"

"You don't have to worry at all. Your dog will be in great hands while you rest," I assure her, stroking Sammy's fur affectionately," Won't ya, boy?"

"I knew I asked the right girl for the job."

Barbara disappears into the house but returns.

"Here," she says, passing me Sammy's lead and his favourite ball," Have a great time, you two!"

"We will!" I reply before she closes the door.

"It's just you and me, boy," I whisper lovingly, clipping Sammy's lead onto his collar.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sammy leaps ahead of me, laying down in the grass. We've just entered his favourite park. I unclip his lead, allowing him freedom. He barks happily, signalling his approval. I laugh while grabbing the ball from my pocket and tossing it at him.

As quick as a flash, he zooms after it and I settle on a comfortable patch of grass, chilling. I only open my eyes when Sammy receives the ball, placing it on my body to throw it again.

However, one time I don't hear his panting, telling me that he hasn't returned. I open my eyes, double checking, thinking maybe he's just being really quiet. There's no sign of golden fur.

My heart rate increases as I start to panick. I tossed the ball to him ages ago, he should have come back by now. I stand up, dizzy with anxiety.

"Sammy! Where are you, boy? Come here!" I yell.

I strain my ears, praying for an answer. There's no bark. Dark thoughts crowd my mind. What if he got stolen? If he did, what if he barked and was nearby but I didn't hear him because I had fallen asleep, unknowingly? Why did I lie down and close my eyes?

Sprinting like I never had before, I searched everywhere, stopping only to ask people if they had seen a golden retriever. Nobody had seen Sammy.

"SAMMY! WHERE ARE YOU? PLEASE, COME HERE!" I bellow as loud as I can, tryingnotto burst into tears.

WOOF, WOOF!

I stop in my tracks.

"Sammy?" I ask, trying not to get my hopes up.

WOOF, WOOF!

It's coming from an unsearched bush. I battle my way through twigs clawing at my clothes. There he is! Sammy, looking so innocent beside a girl whose back is turned to me.

The golden retriever leaps into my arms and I burst into hysterics, not caring on what the girl might think of me. I can't put into words the relief of finding the dog I thought I had lost forever.

"I'm so -," the girl starts, turning around to face me.

It's Luna.

"Lara?" she questions.

"Luna, what are you doing here?" I ask, just as confused.

"I needed to clear my head," Luna explains.

That's when I realise the state of her eyes. They're bloodshot.

"What's the matter, Luna?"

"Nothing."

"Then, why are your eyes red?"

"It's hayfever, that's all."

"Shouldn't someone with hayfever stay inside and not be sitting in grass?"

Luna sighs, defeated. I reach out my hand and place it on her shoulder.

"You shouldn't be alone when you're upset and you shouldn't keep it to yourself," I comfort her.

"But I wasn't alone. I was with Sammy. Is he your dog, by the way?"

"No, he's not mine. He's my neighbour's. Anyway, don't change the subject. What are you upset about, Luna?"

Luna exhales deeply.

"I had an argument with Mamma," Luna explains.

"Is that it? I've had loads with Mom that I've even lost count of how many."

"I've had loads, too. But this one was different. This was the worst one."

"What was it about?"

"I heard something I shouldn't have heard," Luna sobs," She was talking on her phone with a friend. The friend asked how I was and Mamma said that I was doing better and I had actually started playing basketball. I guessed her friend said no way because she said yes way and that if I didn't get better that she..."

"She?"

"She would have sent me to a counselor."

Luna's gasping, tears escaping her eyes.

"Oh, Luna!"

That's the only thing I could think of to say.

"I burst in on her and she stopped talking to her friend and that's where the argument took off," Luna explains.

"And you got fed up and left?" I guess.

"No. I said something terrible and she told me to get out and I did."

"What did you say?"

"She told me to get over Ella's death and I told her she doesn't know how it feels. Then, she started talking about Papa. I got so worked up I said..."

Her body is shaking as she weeps.

"I said I wished that the car that hit Ella had hit me, instead."

She covers her mouth, her face looking like she's in pain. I hug her and she whimpers as quietly as she can.

"I'm playing in the try outs round, tomorrow," Luna whispers.

"What?! Luna, you have to!"

"I can't risk ruining the chances of the team qualifying."

"I'm going to call Logan. He'll know what to do," I tell her, bringing out my mobile phone.

"No! You can't! I can't let him see me like this."

"Then, promise me one thing."

"What?"

"You'll never give up."