- Paige's POV -

Moms got home earlier. I'm in my room just chilling for a little bit when they come in my room.

"So, we said when we got home you'd be telling us the whole story of why you hid your brother." Mama starts. "So, start." Mom finishes, after she sits down in my desk chair, which Mama is sitting at the foot of my bed, which I'm laying down on. "I'd rather jump off a cliff." I say. "Paige." Mama says and slaps my leg really hard. "Ow." I whine. "Explain." Mama says. "I don't want to." I say then my phone begins to ring. "Oh in saved." I say when I see it's Mal and I go to answer but Mom takes my phone.

"Hi Mal, Paige is currently not able to speak with you, but she will call you later." Mom says and I can tell that she didn't even get time to answer because Mom hung up. "I feel attacked." I say and I then sit against my wall since my bed is against the wall. "We just want you to tell us about your brother, sweetie." Mama says. "And you have to be this extra about it?" I ask. "Attitude." Mom says. I look down and roll my eyes so they can't see. "Like what's his name, how old is he, what does he do, why did you hide the fact he exists?" Mama rambles. "Fine, fine." I say then take a deep breath. "His name is Brandon, he's now thirty, he's in the Army, and I hid him because we hadn't had contact since right before he turned nineteen." I say. "Oh..." Moms both say. "I hid him because we didn't know if he was still alive. We didn't know where the hell he was. No one in the Army would tell us. They didn't even tell us he was missing. We tried searching him and everything in the military database and he was erased." I say. "It was like he didn't exist. I don't even know what that means and then he just showed up on New Year's Eve." I say as silent tears roll down my face. "Oh bubbles." Mom says and comes over to the bed, embracing me in a hug. I soon felt someone else join so I knew it was Mama.

"I had to tell him that they are gone." I say quietly.

___________________

- Few Hours Later -

I'm still in my room, but my mood has changed quite a bit and now I'm just looking on PetSmart's website to see what puppies they have available. They actually have quite a few available and I see a few chocolate labs and I really want a chocolate lab. The catch is that I don't know if moms would allow me to get a dog since we have Logan, but I guess I just have to ask.

I walk downstairs and hear music in the kitchen so they must be cooking dinner. I walk into the kitchen and pause when I see my moms dancing while handling food. Let's just say they're definitely having fun but my eyes aren't. "Ahem." I clear my throat, causing them to freeze before acting like nothing happened. "Hey, sweetie." Mama says. "Hey. I was wanting to ask you both a question." I say. "Ooookay, go ahead." Mom draws out a bit. "I was wondering if I could get my own puppy. I will pay for it and take full responsibility of it." I say. I can literally see their gears turning. After a few minutes, they answer.

"Yes." "Cool! Thank you." I say then hug them both. "You're welcome." Mom says. "Wait, how long do we have before dinner?" I ask. "About two hours." Mama says. "Oh, well I already know what breed I'm getting and where I'm going, so could I go?" I ask. "You have a car." Mama retorts. "Duh. Alright, I'll be back soon." I say. "Alright, drive safe please." Mom says. "Will do." I say as I leave the kitchen to go find my slip on Vans by the front door and my keys, and for some reason my wallet too. That's odd but I'm going to get a puppy anyways so yaaaaay.

Once at PetSmart after the like ten minute drive, I walk in straight to dog adoptions.

"Hi, how may I help you today?" A girl who can't be much older than me says. "Hi, I was wondering if I could adopt a chocolate lab puppy?" I say. "Well I can help you with that. If you'd follow me please." She says. I follow her back into where the dog kennels are and she leads me to the chocolate labs. "We only have two pups. We have a male named Asher, and then a female named Coco." The girl, who I see is by the name of Katie, says. "Can I see both possibly?" I ask. "Yes, of course. You can go ahead into the room right over there and I'll get them for you." I nod then head over to the room. I eat a few seconds before Katie comes into the room with both the pups and sets them down gently. "How old are they?" I ask as the Asher bounds over to me with a ball. "They both just turned a month old." She says. "I'll give you a little bit with them." She says and exits the room, shutting the door behind her. I play ball with Asher, while also keeping my eye on Coco who's just slowly walking around the perimeter of the room. I throw the ball again and Asher takes off after it and he's so cute. I then see Coco starting to slowly come to me. "Come here pup." I say softly and click my tongue. Coco then walks a little faster and then nudges my hand that I extended out, sniffing it. Soon she nudges it with her whole head, causing me to giggle before petting her gently. I pick her up and hold her while petting her. I then see out of my periphreal, someone trying to get my attention. I see a dog that I recognize to be Blue so I look up to see Alex and Kelley, well a very pregnant Alex. They wave and smile at me, so I wave back. Then Katie comes back in the room. "So, have you decided?" She asks. "Yes." I say. "I say you've chosen Coco?" "Yep." I say as I carefully get up. I carefully pick up Asher for her as well, and hand him to her. Once we leave the small room, she puts Asher back in his kennel and leads me back out to where the counter is so I can sign the adoption papers and pay. Coco was $315, where she is so young, and she's up to date on her shots and all. Now I'm off with my folder with the copies of my papers and all. Alex and Kelley come back to where I am again.

"Hey kiddo, what are you up to?" Kelley asks me. "I got a puppy." I say and motion to Coco. "Meet Coco." I say with a cheeky smile because I'm so happy. "Awww, Coco's so cute." Alex says. Coco is legit asleep in my arm. "She is." Kelley agrees. "That she is, very much. So what are you all doing?" I ask as I stoop down carefully to pet Blue. "We're just getting some things for Blue here." Kelley says. "Oh. Blue's a needy doggo." I say. "Yes Blue definitely is." Alex says causing us to laugh. "Alright, I have to get my pup some things and get home fore dinner, so see you all, and love you all." "You too, Pai." They both say. I then buy a cute blanket with paw prints on it before getting a cart, that way she won't get hurt with the grating on the cart, before continuing our shopping.

I get her a a sea green leash with a sea green collar, before going to beds, which I get her a fluffy pillow, then we head to the hygiene things which I get what is needed before heading over to toys, getting things I think she'll like, which she's asleep during all of this. Then I get some puppy treats and an employee helps me choose the food that will fit Coco's need right now.

Once done, I check out and then we head out to my car. As I'm putting things in the back of my Jeep, my phone rings, so I answer it and put it on speaker.

"Hey babe, I saw you were playing with puppies." My girlfriend's voice says. "Hey beautiful, and how'd you know?" I say as I look at my still sleeping pup who's currently still laying in the cart. "Kelley posted a small video on Insta." She says. "Of course she did." I say and laugh. "I didn't even see they were there until I noticed them out of my periphreal." I say and she giggles. "Anyways. Did you get a pup?" She asks. "Nah." I say. "Then why can I hear you lifting a bag of dog food?" "Logan needed some." I nervously lie. "Haha you liar I can tell because of your voice. "Tell meeee." She says. "Yes I got a pup, but I have to drive home now so no facetiming." I say. "Ahhhh okay." She says. "I'll let you drive. Be safe please." "Always." I say and we end the call. I put my phone back in my pocket and then I hear my pup bark once. "Hi Coco." I say in a baby voice and pick her up, put her blanket in the trunk and shut it before putting the cart in a cart return and getting in my car, starting the drive home. And of course, Coco was in my lap.

I put her collar on her and leash when we pulled into the driveway and let her down when we got out so I could get most of the bags on our trip in.

I managed to grab everything on one arm easily and left the dog food in the trunk. I shut it before making my way to the front door, where Mama opened the door for us. I step inside and set the bags down out of the way before lifting my puppy up and taking her leash off of her. "Mama, this is Coco. She's a month old chocolate lab." I say. "Awww." She says and pets her head gently. "Is bubbles back?" I hear Mom from the kitchen. "Yeah." Mama says loud enough for Mom to hear. "We still have about twenty minutes on dinner. Aww who's this cutie?" Mom asks. "This is Coco." I say. "Aww she's so small." Mom says. "She looks smaller when she's on the ground." I say and set her on the floor before going to a bag that has a red ball. "Coco, get the ball." I say and toss it. She goes bounding after it and gets it.

- after dinner -

Coco has met Logan and is not intimidated by her, so that's good. They're already best friends even though Logan is currently like five times her size.

She looks really cute just playing with her ball. She's been playing with everything, but I think this one is her favorite.

Everyone meet Coco KH Pugh, my adorable little chocolate lab. She's the newest addition to the Krieger Harris family, and she's also Mal's. She can't wait to meet her other mama! @malpugh

I post that on Insta then I go to my notifications and see the notification for Kelley's post.

- video of Paige playing with Asher and Coco -

Alex, Blue, and I spotted a wild at PetSmart playing with pups.

So that's why my cute ass girl ain't answering lol

It was a random question from her if she could get a puppy... Hm...

I agree with Ash

I wonder if when she gets a pup if it and Wilma would get along 🤔

Really Rose?

YES!

I'm sure Coco and Wilma will get along. She's not frightened by Logan so...

_______

A/N - I know it's an odd chapter. Sorry