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I sat down, wondering how I could make my escape.

With the Collie on one side and Justin and Charlene on the other, I had been walked onto the set. I had tried to run but a burly Bulldog had appeared behind Justin, whom the Cheetah introduced as Igor, his new set security chief. "This way Adam, let's get started," the Cheetah said with a grin. "Hey, I don't work for you anymore," I replied indignantly. "I'm leaving." I turned but walked straight into Igor's chest. "You go with Mr Vannucci," Igor growled. "This is kidnapping," I protested. "If you don't let me go I'll call the cops." "I'll pay you a lot," Justin replied with a friendly grin. "A lot of money if you just design me one set. Just one." "Yeah, like a lot of money," Charlene added, looking up from her phone. "And where exactly are you getting this money from?" I asked, folding my arms. "We have some money from a new investor over in Kazakhstan or Tajikistan or some such place," Justin explained. "It is really cool." "Yeah, like so cool." "I don't care how much you want to pay me, I ain't working for you," I replied. "You can't just kidnap me, this is bullshit." "Adam, I promise I will value whatever ideas you come up with and I won't shout at you. I realise my behaviour last time was very irrational, but I've since started a new therapy course. It has helped a lot," Justin explained. "Yeah, like a lot," Charlene added. "Okay," I replied slowly. "How much are you planning to pay me for designing just one set?" "Fifty thousand dollars," Justin replied. Despite the situation I threw back my head and laughed. "Okay, really. How much are you paying me?" I repeated. "Fifty thousand dollars," Justin explained. "You tell him." "Yeah, that's about how much I make," the Collie shrugged. I contemplated what I should do. Part of my mind was screaming at me to get the hell out of there, but the other half wondered that if Kurt no longer wanted me and my family were cutting me out, how was I to support myself. If Kurt and Doug were no longer my friends I couldn't go back to working at Wolf & Coyote.

I guess I could try, and if Justin goes crazy I'll just walk away.

I looked at Justin and nodded. "Okay, I'll do one set and see how it goes," I said. "Excellent, this is really quite excellent. Don't you think Charlene?" Justin asked. "Like so excellent," Charlene replied, smacking her gum. "This way then," Justin said, leading me towards one of the white tents.

Wait, what the hell am I doing?

I suddenly felt like running away as Justin led me into the tent where a desk sat in the middle with sheets of design paper on it. I saw there was another Doberman sat behind the table dressed in jeans and a black t-shirt. He was younger and skinnier than Kurt with a build more similar to Tobias. His tan patches were also more of a sable colour and his eyes were blue, but he still had the classic and handsome Doberman looks with upright cropped ears and a trim figure. "This is Peter," Justin explained. "He's our other new designer and he'll be working with you. Now, we'd like you to design a set for a reshoot, this for a scene in a motel room that Stacy stays in before she goes outside and is mistaken for an astronaut." "Okay," I replied, feeling a little weary. "I'm sure it will look simply amazing when you draw it," Justin continued. "Like, so cool," Charlene added. "Peter here will help you," Justin explained. "Now, just let those magic paws sketch away and I'll be back soon to see what you've prepared for me." Justin and Charlene left. The Doberman put his head in his paws and sighed. "If you want my advice just leave and run as fast as you can," he said. "It hasn't improved then I guess?" I replied. My question was answered for me as I heard people gathering outside to shoot a scene.

I glanced out of the tent and saw the familiar figure of the director Brandon Greene getting ready to bark orders. I also recognised the Lioness actress called Stephanie wearing a rather comical looking silver space suit. "Okay, Stephanie you have crashed on another planet, you're exploring and suddenly a Spacecat played by David runs up and chases you," the Bear instructed. Behind Stephanie stood the Hyena in a green CGI suit. "But there's only one of him," Stephanie replied. "We'll duplicate him post-production," the Bear replied. "Anyway, you walk along, look at the rocks on the ground. Say your line They wanted some rock samples, hmm I'll take some from here and David you jump out at her. Got it?" "Yes!" The two actors replied. Rolling! Aaand, action! "They wanted some rock samples, hmm I'll take some from here." Cut! I need more curiosity, okay? Action! "They wanted some rock samples, hmm I'll take some from here." Cut! More curiosity, imagine you've seen the most amazing thing ever, so mystifying and you are really, really intrigued by it. "But it's just some rocks, and there's like a crab crawling on them," the Lioness replied. Okay someone remove the crab, moved it? Okay, just be really curious. Imagine there's a fairy sitting on the rocks, a pink sparkly fairy. You are nervous about approaching but you also want to ask it for a wish, that's how curious you have to be! "I didn't know there was a fairy in this scene?" Oh for fuck sake, we'll just shoot the damn thing again. Action! _ "They wanted some rock samples, hmm I'll take some from here." _CUT! I walked back into the tent and sat opposite Peter. "Yup, it certainly hasn't improved since I was last working with these people," I sighed. Peter looked equally miserable.

We sketched our set as I asked Peter how he became tangled up with the movie studio. "I finished a design course at college in San Fernando," the Doberman explained. "I put some of my drawings online and Justin emailed me almost straight away." "Unsurprising," I replied. "They did the same with me. I guess they've become especially desperate for new designers as they can't retain them." "Figures," Peter sighed. "What brought you back here anyway?" I paused, not knowing what to say. "I've had some trouble with my lover, he doesn't seem to be talking to me and now he's vanished. So I don't know what else to do." I notice Peter perk up as I said he. "Oh nice, well it's not nice that you and your lover are having problems but I'm glad I found another guy who likes men. I thought I was the only one when I moved near here." "Where do you live?" I asked. "San Amador," Peter explained. "Heh, it's full of gay guys, probably more so in California than LA or San Francisco," I laughed. "I don't get out too much as I don't know many people around here," the Doberman admitted as we kept sketching.

Fifteen minutes later we had finished the drawing of the motel room. "It doesn't look too bad," Peter said with a smile. "I hope Justin will like it." "I won't hold my breath," I warned. A minute later Justin reappeared with Charlene. "I can't believe they didn't sell the latte I wanted," the Cheetah sighed. "I mean only white coffee or filter? That is really poor." "It like so sucks," Charlene added, looking up from her phone. "Ah gentlemen, let's see what you have drawn for me," Justin said, glancing down at the sheet of paper. The Cheetah's face contorted for a brief moment as if he was going to shout, but he took a deep breath and counted to five. "That wasn't quite to my style," Justin said, trying to put on a diplomatic tone. "Oh, well just in case it was bad I did this drawing of a motel room earlier," Peter piped up. The Doberman slid another drawing across the desk to Justin. The Cheetah glanced over it and his face contorted again. "That's..." he began, trying to take a deep breath. "My god that is fucking awful. Where did they teach you to draw?" "Yeah, so awful," Charlene added. "It looks like you just scribbled on the sheet of paper, no precise shapes, no clear image. Just a load of scribbles. Oh it's so bad it's making my eyes hurt," Justin shouted, making a kind of choking sound. "Right, as you two can't draw a fucking motel room, how about we draw something else." The Cheetah stopped ranting to catch his breath. "What about a drug store. We're adding a scene where Stacy goes to buy some medication in the opening scene," Justin explained. The anger had vanished and his tone was now calm. "That's a good idea, don't you think Charlene?" "Like, so good," the Vixen smacked her gum. "Very well, we'll come back in a short while and check out your drawing. Man, thinking of ideas makes me need a drink. There's a cocktail place in the town, let's check it out." Justin and Charlene left the tent. "Great, Justin and alcohol, what a perfect combination," I muttered sarcastically to myself. I knew that whatever Kurt was up to, it was a mistake coming back to Justin. Peter's cropped ears were splayed and the Doberman looked like he was about to cry or faint. "I wanna go home," he murmured. "I'm leaving, come with me," I said, gesturing for him to follow.

I glanced out of the tent, but saw Igor standing outside. "What are you doing?" The Bulldog snapped. "Just getting some air," I replied, putting on an innocent smile before retreating back into the tent. "Dammit, Justin's security guy is outside," I sighed. I paced up and down as Peter watched, trying to think of a way out. As if on cue my phone began buzzing and I scrabbled to get it out of my pocket. I felt a mild pang of disappointment as I saw it wasn't Kurt, but that was replaced by a feeling of relief as I saw Doug's name. I swiped to take the call. "Hey Doug," I said. "Hey mate, sorry I didn't call back sooner," the Dingo replied in his sing song voice. "I dropped my phone on the floor this morning and it was all messed up. I tried sending you a message back but it garbled it up and sent you old messages I'd texted to other people. Is everything okay with you?" "I'm being held captive near Vincentville," I whispered. "Held captive?" Doug repeated, sounding confused. "Yeah, on a movie set on the beach near Vincentville," I elaborated. "I need to get out of here." "Woah bloody hell, slow down mate," Doug cut in. "You're being held on a movie set?" "Yeah, I ended up going back to the people who employed me in LA, long story, but they're keeping me here. I want to leave but there's a guy outside stopping us, can you help me?" I pleaded. "Near Vincentville?" "Yes, on the beach," I explained urgently. "This isn't a prank." "No, it doesn't sound it. I'm kinda worried to be honest mate. Listen, you stay put, I'll be over with Rex," Doug said. "Hang in there, I'll drive as fast as I can." Doug hung up and I glanced over at Peter. The Doberman was fixing me a hopeful expression. "We have someone coming to rescue us," I said as my tail wagged. Peter's eyes lit up and he pumped his fist.

I kept pacing up and down until I heard a noise at the tent's entrance. I almost jumped with excitement but my joy was short lived as Justin and Charlene walked inside. "Okay, let's see what you have for me," the Cheetah said, glancing at the desk. His face crumpled into a frown as he saw the sheet of paper was blank. "It's a new modernist thing," I claimed, trying to think on the spot. "Less is more is my new style." "Less is more?" Justin repeated. "Yes, it allows you and the theatre audience to paint the scene in their minds," I claimed. Justin looked confused for a moment before nodding. "Less is more, yes I see it now," he replied, a grin spreading across his muzzle. "What an interesting idea, isn't it interesting?" "Yeah, so interesting," Charlene replied, looking up from her phone. "That is quite a clever idea, less is more. I like it," Justin kept musing. "Do you have any other sets for me?" I shifted uncomfortably but Peter reached behind and slid over a sheet of paper with another design on it. "I revised the space control room from the other day," the Doberman explained. Justin took one look at it before his face contorted back to anger. "That fucking awful set. I told you we were not doing that design anymore!" Justin shouted as his expression of interest vanished instantly. Peter's cropped ears splayed. "It still looks terrible, doesn't it look terrible?" Justin continued. "Like, really shit." I growled to myself. I wasn't going to stand in the tent and wait for Doug, I was getting out of there now. I brushed past Justin and walked to the entrance. "Where are you going?" Justin demanded. "Where do you think?" I retorted. "I'm leaving again, you and Charlene are nuts. I should never have come back." I opened the folds of the tent but Igor was standing outside.

Dammit.

Igor opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off by the sound of someone talking loudly. "Hey, has anyone seen my friend Alec around here?" I breathed a sigh of relief as I saw Doug and Rex walking in our direction. "Who is that?" Justin said, looking bemused. "My rescue," I replied as my tail wagged. Doug saw me and began walking in my direction. "Hey mate," he called. "Ready to go home?" "He can't go home, he's got to design stuff for me," Justin replied. "He's staying here and I have no idea who you are." "Yeah, like who are you?" Charlene added, glancing up from the game on her phone. "I'm his friend, that's what," Doug replied. Igor fixed Doug a growl. "Oh bugger off," Doug said, rolling his eyes at the Bulldog. "I'm an Aussie outback canine, I know how to fight so don't try that growly shit on me." "Hey, you're kinda hot, are you doing anything later?" Charlene asked, as Justin fixed her a perplexed glance. "He's already taken," Rex said, putting his arm around Doug's. I walked out of the tent as Igor fixed me a growl. "You coming?" I asked Peter. The Doberman hesitated, but smiled and followed me outside. "Hey, you can't just leave," Justin exclaimed. "I order you to stop!" "Whatever," I sighed as the four of us began walking away. "Right, you're fucked," Justin snarled. "Yeah, like so fucked," Charlene added. "Igor stop them," Justin ordered. The Bulldog began following us with a leer on his face, but all four of us turned and growled at once. Igor seemed to think better of it and backed off. "No, stop them you idiot!" Justin screeched. The Cheetah jumped up and down before throwing fistfuls of sand everywhere while Charlene texted on her phone. I blocked out the sound of Justin's screeches and followed Doug away from the movie set.

We walked back towards Vincentville and up the steps to the town. "What was that all about?" Doug asked. "I found some former employers of mine and decided to join them," I sighed. "Which was a bad idea." "I'll say, what made you do that?" Doug said. "Um, have you seen Kurt at all today?" I asked. "Yeah, briefly this morning," Doug replied. "I was jogging past his apartment block and he was getting into his car, he said he was going to show his brother around Bakerstown College today." "Oh," I breathed, feeling a rush of relief. "I was worried something bad had happened to him." "He seemed fine," Doug replied. "Although thinking back it did seem like there was something on his mind, but I assumed it was to do with taking his brother out today. To be honest mate, it might help if you give me a little background on what is happening here." We had reached out cars and I paused before explaining what had happened. Without mentioning the part of proposing, I explained that we had had an argument, I'd left and was now worried he'd vanished somewhere. Doug nodded as I spoke. "Aww, that's a shame, I think you two make a cute couple. He's fine as far as I'm aware though, perhaps he's just busy with his brother?" "I guess," I replied. "I feel so awful for arguing." "Love is like sex- it's fun but sometimes messy," Doug reasoned. "You know what, let's go to his and see if he's back?" The Dingo suggested. I nodded. "Have you got a way of getting back to town?" I asked Peter. The Doberman shook his head. "They sent a car to get me," he explained. "In that case come with me," I instructed. We climbed into our cars and I followed Doug's Porsche as he pulled off and led the way.

We reached the apartment block about forty minutes later and I was relieved to see Kurt's Lotus outside. Just as we pulled up, I saw the doors open and Kurt and Tobias climb out. Kurt glanced in our direction as our cars pulled up in the visitor spaces and I saw his eyes widen a fraction with surprise. I felt nervous as I climbed out of my car. "Hey," I called, wincing again at how weak the word sounded. "Hey," Kurt replied, shooting a confused glance at Doug, Rex and Peter. Tobias' behind was wiggling as he saw me. "Oh great, two chumps now," he laughed. "How are you Alec?" "Yeah, I'm good," I replied, trying to sound casual. "How was Bakerstown?" "Well, I really liked it at first. The campus was great and the people were nice, but then something terrible happened," Tobias explained, glancing around fearfully. "Oh?" "The squirt saw Josephine there," Kurt answered for him. "Hey ya big moron, I was going to explain," Tobias sighed. "She saw me across the campus green, walked right up to me and whispered love hex in my ear. It was scary." In spite of the situation I resisted the urge to guffaw and Kurt shook his head witheringly. "So, I think I'm going to apply to San Amador Coast based on that," Tobias explained. "That and I liked their campus a little better and the town is nicer." "That's cool," I replied. "What are all you guys doing here?" Kurt asked the others. "Rescue party," Doug explained. "Alec had an entanglement with some old bosses of his." "Justin and Charlene from the movie studio," I explained. "Oh, and this is Peter." I added, gesturing at the other Doberman. "Hi," Peter said nervously. "We might head home to leave you guys to discuss this in peace," Doug explained. "You okay for getting home?" He asked Peter. "Yeah, I don't live too far away from here. I can walk," Peter explained. "If you're sure mate, anyway see you two tomorrow. Our shoot is in the afternoon," Doug said as he and Rex waved before climbing back into their car.

We watched as they drove off. "My mother was in town today, she's coming to pick Tobias up soon so we can talk once she's gone," Kurt said quietly to me. I nodded and noticed out of the corner of my eye that Tobias and Peter had started talking. "I'm sorry I didn't answer your messages," Kurt continued as he glanced at the ground. "I honestly didn't want any further drama while I was with Tobias, but I should have messaged to let you know I was fine." "I'm sorry I walked out on you last night," I replied, feeling awkward. I was about to say more when Mia's Lexus pulled up. "That's my mother," Tobias explained to Peter. I noticed the two exchange numbers before Peter began walking off. "Thanks for organising the rescue," he called to me. "You're welcome," I called back, waving goodbye. Mia climbed out of her car and walked over. "Hell boys," she said to all of us. "Did you enjoy looking around Bakerstown?" "I did, but I think I'm gonna choose San Amador Coast," Tobias explained. "I thought you said it was too close to home," Mia laughed. "Josephine and her love hex put him off Bakerstown," Kurt explained, rolling his eyes. "Sshh, don't mention that," Tobias huffed. Mia looked confused for a moment. "I also like the San Amador campus better," the younger Doberman added to which Mia nodded. "Well, that's important as you'll be living there for a few years," Mia explained. "Anyway, we best get going. Would you boys like to come for lunch again sometime soon?" "Yeah, I'd like that," I replied, suddenly feeling very emotional inside and I blinked to stop tears forming in my eyes. "Excellent, I'll message Kurt with some potential dates," Mia replied as she and Tobias walked to her car. "Later chumps!" Tobias called. "Tobias!" His mother said sternly, before rolling her eyes at us. Kurt and I both waved as they drove off. "Let's go inside," Kurt suggested with a sigh. I nodded and followed the Doberman to the front door.

I felt my heart beating inside as I wondered what would happen next.