A/N: I got this idea from my own dog (who is actually a black lab). It turned out WAY differently than I expected it too, but I think I like this version too. Most likely, Lee and Kell will make a return sometime in the future. Review to make it the near future!!!

Housewarming Gift

“Looks like we’re getting new neighbors, Brownie,” I said, eyeing the moving trucks across the street.

The dark brown lab barked, and I snorted. “Stupid dog, I can’t understand you. If you think I should make them something, you’re wrong. Housewarming gifts are for suckers.”

Brownie growled low, a sign that either she wanted to play or she needed to pee. Decisions, decisions. I finally hooked her onto her leash and dragged her onto the porch.

“Come on, girl. We’re going for a walk.”

The dog headed for the sidewalk in agreement. I had just relaxed my grip on the leash when she suddenly took off running. The leash slid out of my hand, leaving a stinging mark, as Brownie ran across the street towards the trucks.

“Brownie! You stupid mutt!” I called frantically, breaking off into a run myself. The stupid thing didn’t even look back, but ran straight for the yard. I cursed loudly and flung myself after her, grabbing for the black leash that was being dragged through the grass.

I had almost had it, too, when a hand reached down and snatched it from me. I scowled as I lay on the grass.

“This is your dog, I presume?”

Darn, that voice sounded snarky. I hate snarky neighbors. “Yes,” I ground out, “she’s mine, unfortunately.”

I was surprised when the voice giggled. Giggled. Funny, it hadn’t sounded like a female voice. Slowly, I got to my feet and looked at the owner of the voice.

I gaped quietly at the man in front of me. He had dark brown hair, but instead of neatly cut like mine it hung in curls around his face. His skin was pale, but it was a nice pale, like what you would see on a vampire.

I ran a hand self-consciously through my own red hair, wishing I hadn’t gone outside in my pajama bottoms.

The man handed the leash back to me, with Brownie attached. “I’m Kell, and you are…”

I snapped my mouth shut so quickly my teeth clacked together. “I’m Lee. Um… Lee Davidson. That’s Brownie. Uh, we live across the street.”

“I know. I saw you come out.”

“Oh.” I wanted to say more, but at the same time I was horribly embarrassed and wanted nothing more than to go home.

“Do you want some ice for that?”

I looked at Kell blankly. “For what?”

He smiled and curled a brown strand of hair around a finger. “Your hand. It looks a little sore.”

I winced as I was reminded of the stinging in my hand. “Th-That would be great.”

“All right, come inside.”

I followed him without protest into his house. It was styled much the same as mine was, minus the furnishings. I sat down on a lone kitchen chair as he dug around in a cooler for an ice pack.

“Thanks,” I mumbled as he pressed the ice to my palm. He smiled in return.

“S-So where did you move from?” I asked softly, trying to make conversation.

“Not from too far away. I moved out of an apartment me and my boyfriend used to share. Well, ex-boyfriend now.”

He suddenly blushed. “Oh! I-I mean, I hope your okay with, you know…”

I held up a hand and laughed. “It’s cool. I’d sort of be a hypocrite if I had anything against that kind of stuff, don’t you think?”

He nodded quietly, then pointed at my pants. “I kinda assumed that with pajamas like those…”

I smiled down at the rainbows. “Hey, I like these. A lot of people have commented on how sexy they make me.”

Kell laughed. “A lot of people? Like who?”

“You know… people.” I sniffled. “Stop rubbing it in that I have no life.”

“It’s okay. A lot of people don’t have lives nowadays.”

Childishly, I stuck my tongue out at him. To my surprise, and a little to my enjoyment, he captured it in his own mouth. I made some kind of noise between a squeak and a moan, before settling my arms around his shoulders. His arms moved to circle my waist.

I’m not sure how long we stayed like that. At some point, it became hard to breathe, and we finally broke apart, but still remained in a close embrace.

“So… I hope you didn’t mind that,” Kell said softly, flushing. “It’s just, I think I like you. I know it must seem weird, since I’ve only known you for a few minutes… but…”

I shut him up with a quick kiss. “It’s okay, I think I like you too. I even think I could grow to love you. How about dinner?”

Kell blinked. “Um… Friday night?”

I picked up Brownie’s leash and dragged her up from the kitchen floor, where she had been laying comfortably. I waggled my fingers at Kell before reaching over to give him a light peck on the lips.

“Consider it a housewarming gift,” I said, chuckling. Kell smiled as well.

“It sure beats the other things the neighbors got me…”

Exiting the house, I jogged back to my own home, Brownie in tow.

“Well, that was interesting,” I observed, patting her head.

She looked mournfully across the street at Kell’s house. I bet that stupid dog liked it there or something.

But truthfully, I liked it there too.