Heart of Titanium

Chapter 6: Moonlight

As Bryson and Cherise say goodbye to Mrs. Granger, they both leave the store and climb back into the truck. After helping Cherise in, he closes her door and climbs in, too.

Bryce doesn't start the truck immediately. He just sits there with his hands on the wheel.

"Bryce? Are you okay?" She asks, slowly extended her arm to rub his shoulder. He turns and looks at her slightly while grabbing her paw on his shoulder gently and bringing it down. Cherise blushes a little at him holding her paw, and looks back at him.

"I guess we gotta work on your breathing." He said.

"My breathing?" She asked, puzzled.

"Yeah..." He replied, "Mrs. Granger caught on that I'm trying to help you and that you weren't some machine just by your breathing."

He paused, "I'm scared because what if it wasn't her there? What if someone tried to take you or call someone? I'm just so on edge..."

"You're right...I'm sorry...I'll try to do better." She said, squeezing her legs together and slumping slightly.

Bryson sighed, and then looked to her and smiled. "Aw c'mon, Cheri...don't be so down. Its your first day out of the house, there's bound to be maybe one or two mistakes. Just...do your best. I know you can."

She smiled a little and unclenched her legs, "That means a lot...thanks, Bryson."

He leaned back in his seat started twiddling his thumbs. "I know we only came out here for you to get new clothes but I...hm. I really wanna do something else, too. This is a pretty small town, people aren't as interested in big news or whatever the case. So we should be safe..."

He turned and looked at her, as she patiently sits in the seat, looking back at him and smiling. "How would...you like to go to the park?" He asked her.

She smiled big as her tail wagged, "I'd love that a lot!"

Bryce chuckled at her being giddy, as he then smiled and got his key.

He fired up his truck and drove down a dirt road area with some trees, then got onto a main town street where they ended up at a really beautiful public park. 

"This is the park my parents took me to when we came down here to visit my uncle Charlie." Bryson said. Cherise exclaimed and went wide-eyed staring through the window, "Its so pretty! Let's go-!"

"Wait, wait." Bryson said, softly grabbing onto her arm. She turned around and looked at him, "Hm? Is something wrong?" She asked.

"No, not at all. Just saying you might wanna change into some of these warmer clothes before we go outside again. My trucks back windows are tinted, so go change back there. I promise, I won't look."

He ruffled through the bag and gave her the jeans he found and a black hoodie with a pink heart on the back. She smiled and climbed into the back, rustling around since the space is still limited for a crew cab.

Bryce keeps his eyes glued straight ahead of him as to not peek. He then started fiddling with his radio as the Bluetooth function works, not so much the actual FM/AM function.

"Ugh, definitely sucks trying to change in a cramped space." She said, laughing a little while struggling.

"Heh, sorry, Cheri. Didn't wanna bring you all the way back home then here again, it would get dark too soon. I would offer to help, but I don't wanna invade your privacy."

She went quiet for a second, as then she spoke up, "W-well...out of anyone I know I wouldn't mind...if it was you helping me."

Bryce clenched his steering wheel as he his eyes went wide and he started choking on his own breath.