It's in the eyes. Always the eyes.

Chapter Eight| A Heart Unmasked

       It was a bright, sunny afternoon, the perfect day to relax by the shore. Coco, as usual, was deep in concentration, tinkering with her latest invention—a portable solar-powered device designed to gather and analyze seashells. Penny, on the other hand, was happily strolling along the shoreline, collecting seashells to add to her growing collection. Her laughter floated on the breeze, carefree and light as she marveled at each new find.

Crash lay sprawled out on the sand, arms behind his head, trying to enjoy the lazy day. But no matter how much he tried to relax, his eyes kept wandering toward Penny. Every time she laughed or smiled, a strange fluttery feeling bubbled up in his chest—something that made his heart beat a little faster and his stomach feel a bit lighter, almost like he'd been tossed by one of the waves.

He furrowed his brow and sat up, rubbing the back of his neck as if trying to shake off the sensation. What is going on? He thought to himself. Maybe he was just hungry. Yeah, that had to be it—he'd skipped breakfast. Or maybe he was just tired after a busy week. He wasn't used to feeling this way, and it left him unsettled.

But then Penny laughed again, holding up a particularly large seashell she had found, her face lighting up with excitement. Crash's heart did that weird, fluttery thing again, and he felt a spark of something zip through him like electricity. He blinked, trying to focus on anything else, but his attention kept snapping back to her—the way her hair caught the sunlight, the sound of her laughter, the simple joy she radiated just from being in the moment.

He wasn't sure what this feeling was, but it was definitely something new. Am I... sick? he wondered, glancing at Coco, who was still working on her gadget. Maybe I need a nap.

Crash scratched his head, trying to focus on the waves crashing against the shore, but no matter how hard he tried to dismiss the feeling, it kept coming back every time he looked at Penny. Whatever it was, it wasn't something he could just ignore.

He sighed, leaning back into the sand, his eyes drifting back to Penny once again. He didn't understand it, but one thing was clear—being near her made him feel... different. 

As the afternoon drifted on, Coco was completely engrossed in tweaking her latest invention, her focus sharp as ever. Penny, after collecting her seashells, wandered back to where Crash was lounging. She dropped down beside him and grinned. "Hey, Crash," she said, "Aku-Aku told me about this cool cave nearby. It's supposed to have some incredible rock formations and hidden tide pools. Want to check it out?"

Crash's eyes lit up instantly, the prospect of adventure always sparking his excitement. He jumped up, nodding eagerly, and in a whirlwind of energy, he was ready to go. Penny chuckled at his enthusiasm, standing up and brushing the sand from her long flowy skirt. "Alright then, let's go."

As they ventured off from the beach and toward the cave Aku-Aku had mentioned, something strange began to happen to Crash. He usually charged ahead into any adventure without a second thought, but today, as they approached the entrance of the cave, he found himself taking the lead with a bit more care. His usual recklessness was tempered by something else—a deep, instinctual need to keep Penny safe.

The cave loomed before them, dark and cool compared to the sunny beach outside. Crash, who normally would have been the first to dive into the darkness, hesitated for just a moment. He turned to Penny, glancing back to make sure she was following closely behind him. His senses were suddenly on high alert, not just for the potential dangers inside the cave, but because Penny was with him.