Bonding

“You two are going to make me explode from cuteness.” You chuckle. “Well I’m glad you get along.”

El and Button laugh and turn to up look at you. As naturally as breathing they settle into a cuddling embrace with El’s arms around the spirited dog girl’s shoulders and Button’s around El’s waist with head resting on your sister’s plump bosom. Elsie rubs her cheek into the fur atop Button’s head as Button lifts her head to nuzzle beneath Elsie’s chin.

Her hands rubbing down Button’s back and arms Elsie asks. “Are you cold Button? It’s chilly down here. I could bring you down a blanket or a get a coat replicated.”

“I’m okay Elsie.”

“I wouldn’t mind one of them coats.” You rub your arms. “Or at least a sweater or something. It’s not bad where we’re staying but out here…brrr!”

“Where you’re staying?”

“Button’s got a hiding spot. It’ll be a lot easier to hide there.”

“Oh.” El says, a smidgen of disappointment in her tone.

“Being roomies woulda been fun. But there was no way I could have stayed there.”

“Yeah.” El nods. “You’re right.” Petting Button Elsie feels on of her ears. “You’re so soft Button!” Elsie waves you in. “Feel her.”

You kneel beside them. “I wish I could El.”

“I might imprint on him if we touch too long.” Button explains, quite contented by the ear pets. “It’s a thing that happens between pups and boys.”

“Imprint? Oh my!”

“They’re some sort of **** race. Button would have been killed if she stayed because she wasn’t getting adopted. It doesn’t sound nice El.” You say. “Not at all.”

“**** race?” El’s smile disappears as she looks at the woman in her arms with growing concern. “Grandma and Grandpa never told us about any **** race. They didn’t even tell us about people like Button.”

“We’re not that common.” Button says. “There’s only a handful of kennels.”

“Kennels!?” Elsie gasps. “No.”

“You see what I’m saying?” You say.

El looks at Button and pets her curly brown hair. “Grandma and Grandpa were pretty insistent that you not come Jesse. They said it would complicate a lot of things.”

“Maybe we should have listened, huh?” You take Elsie’s hand. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”

“Well, that might take care of itself.” El sighs.

“What do you mean?”

“Mom. She’s worried sick about you.”

“Ha!” You grin. “I heard how worried she was back in the room.”

El blushes. “Sorry about that. But I’m serious Jesse. We’ve calmed her down for now but…well, you know how she gets with you.”

“Yeah.”

“And the fact that you can’t answer your phone, she’s not going to be able to deal with this for long.” She says. “It’s going to be a problem, and soon. If Mom thinks you’re in trouble there will be no living with her until Kazia turns the ship around.” After a short pause she adds. “Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad going back.”

“Elsie! No way. You were so excited about this.”

“Yeah but…I don’t know.” She ponders a moment. “On the Mom thing, if I just knew how any of this technology worked maybe I could somehow patch your phone in and make it seem like it’s coming from Earth. But it’s just beyond me. Even Peg said it’ll take her a couple of years to catch up.”

“Well, Button here seems to know her stuff.”

You both return your attention to Button to see something had come over her. She was very, very still, as if frozen. Her huge eyes were as wide as they could go, the blacks of her eyes so big they nearly blotted out the caramel, her mouth hung open and with a look of awe she just…gazed into Elsie’s eyes.

“Button?” You whisper. “Are you okay?”

“Button? Button?” Elsie takes her head in her hands and stares back into her eyes. “What’s happening? What’s wrong? Talk to me Button.”

“Elsie.” Button swoons and, just for an instant, you swear that you see a neon pink glow glimmer in the centers of her humongous glossy black pupils. Some sort of bioluminescence? Implants? You didn’t know. Whatever it was it had looked an awful lot like a pair of tiny hearts! “You’re…different.” Button smiles a drunken smile. “You’re sooo different Elsieee. Ohhhhhh!”

“Oh my God!” You gasp as bring your hand to your mouth. “It’s not supposed to happen with girls.”

“What?” Asks El. “What’s happening to her Jesse?”

“I…I think she’s imprinted on you!” Though it looked like you were already too late you dive in to pull Button away from your sister.