I was walking around the Tourney field with Doug, (who had found me after Woodwork and was going on and on about how unfair the teacher was).

"If we fail the class, he makes us go a week-long retreat to help build a real village, do I look like someone who can put together a birdhouse, much less an actual house?" I let him talk, more focused on the white line I was walking tight-rope style on.

I didn't mind Doug, he certainly didn't care my dad ruled the underworld and he seemed like a chill guy. He was a little enthusiastic about things at times, but I didn't mind. He would sometimes ask me questions about the Isle, he seemed like he genuinely wanted to know.

Something red and white then crossed my vision, screaming wildly, a small dog chasing after the figure.

I blinked, "Carlos?" My eyes followed the boy as he ran into the woods, the dog not far behind him.

"Oh, snap." I told Doug I'd see him later, before dashing off after Carlos into the woods, where I ran straight into something.

"Hadey?" I looked up at what I first thought was a tree, to see Ben looking down at me, a concerned look on his face.

He held out a hand to me, "Are you okay?"

I ignored his hand, pushing myself up, wiping the leaves off my ripped jeans, "I'm fine, no thanks t-"

I was cut off by a familiar scream ringing out, followed by the sound of a dog barking. I then ran off in the direction of the noise, Ben not far behind.

My eyes landed on Carlos, who had climbed a tree to get away from the dog that was barking at him from the ground.

"Hadey!" The younger boy called to me, "It's gonna kill me!"

I quickly jumped in front of Carlos, my eyes flashing blue as I growled at the dog.

Ben then appeared, picking up the dog, "Carlos, Hadey, what are you doing?"

"That thing is a viscous pack animal that wants to rip out my throat!" Carlos yelled pointing to the dog.

Ben looked at him confused, "Who told you that?"

"His mother." I answered as I turned to white haired boy, who was slowly getting down from the tree.

The Prince blinked at me, looking at Carlos, "Cruella?" I rolled my eyes, who else would it be?

Carlos nodded from where he stood behind me, warily looking at the dog over my shoulder, "She's a dog whisperer. A dog yellerer."

Ben chuckled, and Carlos' eyes widened, "Why are you holding him?" He pointed to the dog in Ben's arms as he wrapped his hands around my arm, "He's gonna attack you,"

I tried to not mind Carlos wrapped around my arm, I was never really one for human contact, "Carlos, you've never actually met a dog have you?" Ben asked the boy.

"Of course not!"

"Dude," Ben looked down at the animal, "Meet Carlos and Hadey. He's the campus mutt."

"He doesn't look like a vicious, rabid pack animal." Carlos stated, slowly letting go of me.

I nodded, "He's actually kind of cute." Although I wasn't afraid of dogs, this was my first time seeing one (if you don't count Cruella's horrible paintings).

Dude then jumped from Ben's arms into mine, licking my face widely, causing me to laugh, "Hi, boy!"

Carlos slowly reached out, petting the dog's fur, "You're a good boy, aren't you?"

"I guess you guys have it pretty rough on the island." I looked up, Ben's eyes meeting mine, that was an understatement.

Carlos nodded as I handed Dude to him, "Let's just say, we don't get a lot of belly rubs back home."

"Good boy." Ben praised as clapped Carlos on the shoulder causing me to laugh, "I mean you're, you're a good runner, you're fast."

"Oh, yeah." Carlos nodded, as he sat down on a log, still petting Dude, "Thank you."

"Listen, I'm gonna give you guys some space." Ben told Carlos, and I nodded, "Get some time to know each other, and come find me when you're done."

I bent down next to Carlos, "I'll see you later kid, okay?"

He nodded at me, "Okay." I smiled at him, petting Dude one last time before I turned back the way I came.

A second later, I heard footsteps and Ben appeared right next to me.

I glanced at him, "You're like a lost soul, huh? Can't seem to get rid of you."

Ben chuckled, "I just wanted to make sure you got back safely."

I chuckled this time, rolling my eyes as I turned to face him, "Trust me, I don't need you to protect me."

"I'm sure you don't." He put his hands in his pockets as we walked for a bit, "So are you and Carlos a..."

I raised an eyebrow at him as he trailed off, "Are we a thing?"

Ben nodded as I finished his question and I almost gagged at the thought of Carlos and I dating.

"Carlos and I, nah." I shook my head, glancing back down the trail where Carlos was with Dude, "He's like the little brother I never wanted."

Ben hummed before reaching out and grabbing my wrist, pulling me towards him, "Tree root."

I looked at him carefully, then to where he was holding my wrist in his hand.

"There was a-" He cleared his throat, "A tree root there, you almost tripped."

I pulled my wrist out of his grip, looking at the boy warily, "Don't touch me." I addressed him, he nodded as we continued down the path.