Ch 3: You're it!
In his pup house, Marshall had rolled over in his sleep. His mind still off in dreamland, content to have a certain police pup so close to him in his doggy bed. However, reaching his front paws forward, he did not feel Chase sleeping next to him. His eyes slowly fluttered opened and noticed that Chase was no longer in bed with him. He managed to flip himself back over and look around. Sticking his head out of his pup house, He noticed the others had also gone. He figured they had left to get some breakfast kibble
``Whoa! Wait for me!'' The dalmatian spoke. As he stood up to take off, his font paws tangled on the blankets of his dog bed. He leapt forward only to get pulled back by the blanket, he tripped over his front paws and landed right on his chin, his body put in a kind of scorpion position, his tail and back legs over his head.
``Ouch...'' He muttered.
Just then, a bowl of breakfast kibble slid right in front of his nose. A familiar pup walked towards him.
``Morning Sleepy head!'' Chase had greeted him ``Thought you'd wanted to sleep in a little bit, so I brought you some breakfast''
The dalmatian blushed at the sight of his companion ``Morning! Thanks Chase'' Marshall's tail wagged wildly; glad his pal was considerate enough to bring him food but would have preferred if he could cuddle him just a little longer.
``Uh? Are you doing some yoga there Marshall? That doesn't look too comfortable''
``Oh! Uh...yeah! I might have gone a little overboard with it'' He laughed. He was a little embarrassed, but the pup managed to push his front paws back and get himself right side up
``I might need some more lessons from Zuma later''
Chase giggled at his friend ``Well, once you finish up with that and breakfast, Skye and Rocky wanted to play tag! You up for it?''
``Oh yeah! I'm soooo in'' Marshall beamed back
``Great, I'll see ya in a bit!'' Chase smiled and took off towards the other side of the lookout.
Marshall looked on at the shepherd as he ran, feeling all mushy and gooey on the inside.
``Oh heck!'' He thought. He had forgotten what he told himself last night. How he was intent on telling Chase how he really felt about him. Suddenly the once confident Dalmatian felt goosebumps run down his back and down his tail. He had felt so sure when he was so close to Chase last night, but now the idea of telling his best friend that he was in love with him made the dalmatian very nervous. What was the worst that could happen? They could still be friends, right? They could still be best of friends...Couldn't they?
Marshall shook his head, his ears flopping around. ``I've got to try...just got to wait for the right moment. Whenever that will be.''
The fire pup was determined to go through with it. After breakfast that is, and maybe after tag...
``I almost got you Wocky!''
Zuma raced and bounced after his mixed breed friend, The chocolate lab just inches away from him.
``We'll see about that!'' Rocky said back, But the lab managed to leap and jump on top of the recycle puppy.
``Ah heck!''
``Gotcha, You're it!''
The others circled the boys and laughed. Rocky, being sneaky, stood up quick and took this opportunity to pounce at the closest Pup near him, He managed to tag Chase. Pushing the Shepherd on his side.
``Aw no fair Rocky'' Chase said
``Sorry! Might have gotten a little too competitive there'' The mixed breed admitted
Chase chuckled ``It's ok, Plus I'm the fastest pup here. I won't be it for very long''
Confidence rose out of the pup and the others took that as a single to start running. Skye and Rubble managed to take off very quick. Rocky had jumped off the pup and ran past a tree with Zuma right behind him. Chase scanned around to determine who would be the closest to tag. Of course, The shepherd couldn't help but notice his best pal Marshall running near the swing set. Predictably, the dalmatian managed to run face first into the swing. Rocketing himself forward, Around the tree branch the swing hung from a few times and back around, sending the pup flying to the grass. Rolling several times before stopping
``Uhhh! I'm good!''
``You ok Marshall?!'' Chase called out as he approached his friend
``He really does care for me'' The dalmatian thought before calling out ``Nothing broken!''
``Good! Cause you are sooooo going to be it!'' The Shepherd spirited towards Marshall
``Uh oh!'' Marshall picked himself up from the grass and quickly worked his four paws to run forward. In little time, The Police pup was on his tail. They circled back and around the look out, across the cement path and around their other friends. Chase had veered in his direction to chase the other pups but this was so he can circle back around and catch Marshall off guard
``Nowhere to run Marshall!''
``Oh yeah?!''
Marshall turned tail before Chase ran right behind him full force. His little paws carried him just a few inches away from the fire pups backside. Marshall's tail was close it brushed at his nose. With all his might, Chase had leaped forward. Jumping on Marshall's back and causing the pups to flip forward. Both boys managed to land on the grass but tumbled a few feet before falling in place. The dalmatian felt the whole world around him spin, his eyes tried to focus on the figure in front of his nose. A very handsome boy looked down at him. In their tumble, Marshall had fallen on his back and Chase had ended up on top of him. Their snouts pressed very close to each other. Marshall's face had turned bright red at how close his friend was. Chase himself was taken a back and lifted himself up a bit but not completely off his friend
``OH Marshall! I'm sooooo sorry! Are you Ok?
Marshall just stammered'' I'm...I'm...I'm...'' It was like he was broken. Every part of his brain was screaming to do something. He best friend, no his crush, Laying on top of him currently. So close! ``This was it, this was the moment'' he thought but the pup didn't move, frozen in place
``That was way too rough!'' Chase had lifted himself slightly off his friend ``I didn't mean to hurt you! Are you sure you're, ok?''
``Come on! Earth to Marshall! Response to him!'' He thought to himself, but the pup was just transfixed on his friends worried expression, those big brown eyes filled with concern over him.
``Marshall?'' Chase had asked one more time, inching back in to look at his friend. His snout once again so close to his.
``Say something to him!!!'' Marshall's Brain screamed.
With that, The Pup closed his eyes and leaned upwards. Letting his tongue slip out, he gave a quick lick against the side of Chases Snout.
Chase eyes widen a bit, his cheeks flushed a lot, and that familiar feeling came back to him. He quickly reacted and scattered off his friend's body.
Marshall saw his expression and felt his stomach sink. He quickly stood up. His face beat red at this point at what he just did ``Uhhh...Chase.... I...'' he held a paw up towards Chase, trying to find the words to express himself.
Chase held up his own paw and placed it where Marshall had licked. Looking back at the flushed pup
``Marshall...''
``Beep Beep! Paw Patrol! To the look out!
Saved by the bell! Well by Ryder, their collars flashed indicating they were needed for a mission.
``Oh! Uh! Look! Ryder needs us! Let's go!'' Marshall quickly said. Stumbling a bit before taking off towards the lookout.
``Why did I do that?! Why did I do that?!'' The fire pup thought to himself. He acted on instinct and took a gamble. Now he worried that his whole friendship could be gone just like that. He did not look forward to explaining himself later. He closed his eyes tight and sped off towards the other pups who raced to the lookout
Chase on the other hand was so taken aback, He hadn't moved from his spot. He never thought in a million years that his friend would ever do something like that. The more he thought about it, the more confused he got. ``Why would he do that? I mean...I didn't mind it. Wait! I didn't mind it? But why? Was it because it was Marshall? Is that why I feel that feeling again right now? Why do I feel all warm all the sudden? Wait a sec...''
Chase had gone bright red. A new thought had come to him, one he had only considered briefly before last night, but now the pieces were coming together, and it was starting to become clear what he was experiencing right now.
``Do I...Like Marshall? Does he...like me too? Is that why he licked me?'' The police pup pondered at this. That wasn't some sort of friendly lick ether. It was something more. Intimate even. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. This was a lot to think about all at once. The more he thought about this, the more he realized he didn't know what to do, how to even feel right now. He needed some advice; he wasn't entirely sure who to ask or even how to phase it but he'll have to figure it out later. Right now, Ryder needed him, His team needed him. This could wait.
For the first time in a while, Chase was the last one on the elevator.
