“Hey, Mister… You don’t look like you’re having much fun right now… Y’know this thing is only as fun as you make it! Why don’t you dance with me? Or just talk… I can do that too…” She grinned widely, blue eyes wide peering out from under her mask. “You’re Colby Steele, right?”

Captain Bells loved puppies. However, what he didn’t like was the sudden human face. He rose to his feet in quick session and coward beneath Colton’s legs. With hasty, Colton grabbed hold of the dog’s leash and looped it around his hand. He didn’t know why, but he put the magazine up to fend her off. “Woah, woah, woah.” Colton almost shouted. “Please, be careful.” Colton looked between his legs and put a hand on Captain Bell’s head. “He is very shy, you’re going to scare him.”

“You said sorry, I was asking why are you sorry.” Colton pointed out. “And no. I normally buy my books.”

“Because I was asking you to move… That’s… all.” She gave a slight shrug. Unsure if this guy was being too literal or if she’d been so concerned about getting back to her book it was genuinely unclear. Either way, it didn’t matter she dismissed it quickly. 

Colton stopped and looked at the other. He tilted his head when she asked if he squished it. Then he realized what was going on. “Oh, I left work for lunch to take Captain Bells out. The director wasn’t happy but Captain needs to be walked.” He bowed. “Pardon, but I do need to get back.”

“Colton Hudson.” Colton said on queue. “I think that you should too, I happen to know several shelters that have rescue animals.” Colton piped up. It wasn’t common knowledge that Colton often took part in animal recues, even to the public. The rescue campaign he was apart of was excited to have a famous actor though Colton never wanted them to use him as a public imagine. He felt that it was a campaign that he could help more with action than with commercials and ads. “By the way, his name is Captain Bells. He is believed to have fathers multiple puppies. He spent three years in a puppy mill and I was there when they finally shut it down. He was one of the first we released from the kennels. Before then, we doubt that he ever ran or saw much of the sun. I was there to ensure that the mothers were also released as well. I have a portfolio of dogs that are up for adoption at the moment if you are ever interested.”

Captain Bells looked at the other male curiously before coming to sit down next to the man. He placed his hand on the man’s knee and kept his ears up.

Colton had a goal to get back to his house. He knew that he had a job to do, but he couldn’t allow Captain Bells to be in the house for too long. Briskly, he walked. A girl shouted out to him, but Colton was too mixed up in his own thoughts to really notice it.

It wasn’t until the bug reached the root of his hair that Colton stopped in his tracks to attempt to stop the odd feeling on his scalp. For a second, he paused and ran his hand violently through his hair to feel a small wet spot on his head. When he looked at his hand, it was too late to save the bug from impending doom. Of course, Colton didn’t know that yet.

Colton had known fame for years. In his earlier years, he smiled every time he looked at a magazine with his picture on it. It use to be with great pride. He knew to buy it just o boost about it to his coworkers and employers. Now, whenever he sees it, he felt a slight glow in his cheeks. Reaching to pick up the magazine on the stand, he glanced at the front through his dark shades. He could see the unrealistic soft lines in his face and the bolding in the shoulders. Colton knew it was photo shopped. He walked to the counter and paid for the magazine. It was surprise to see that the woman at the stand didn’t even recognize the man on the front cover of the thing she was reading.

No matter, Colton appreciated that he wasn’t being cooed over or swaddled for an autograph. He walked over to the nearest park with his dog’s leash tight in his hand and settled down on a park bench. Luckily for him, there weren’t many people in the park and Captain Bells, the German Sheppard wasn’t as rowdy as he usually was. Crossing his legs, Colton glanced down at the magazine and flipped it open to read the newest reviews and his own story in the magazine.

Star was taking all eight puppies for a walk. Thankfully they were small because they were all tugging every which way. At least they don’t still have lasers! Then again, if they did I’d have magic… And I wouldn’t mind that. I miss magic… She sighed, watching the puppies scramble over one another. There were so many feet going every which way. She tugged them all gentle. “Puppiiesss” She whined. “Please just walk with me or next time I’ll just tell Marco to keep you in the yard!” She scolded. Knowing she never would but it seemed to calm them down ever so slightly. 

She continued to hum to herself as she walked. What tune it was actually no one really could peg. It was just Star, humming any random tune to herself. Little to no care in her mind for an actual song. She was watching the puppies for a while before she glanced up. Her eyes landing on a face that seemed vaguely familiar. Suddenly there was an audible gasp and Star bee lined it for the man sitting on the bench, puppies in tow. “Oh my god!” Finally she was right in front of the man and his dog and she dropped down to her knees in front of the dog. “Your doggie is so cute! I just love German Sheppards! I kinda wanted one but we already have eight puppies-” All of which were too busy bickering over themselves a couple feet away to notice the new, larger dog that Star’s attention was drawn to. “So the Diaz’s said no but I just think they’re so cute!”

“Hey,” Alice called after them, closing her book and shielding her eyes from the sun. “There’s a bug on your head.”

Cautious around strangers, Captain Bells looked up at Colton before glancing over at the other human. Colton reached forward to grab a hold of his collar. “Yes. He is actually a rescued animal from a puppy mill. He is quite timid.” Colton informed as Captain Bells sniffed and then put down his ears.

“Just a magazine I picked up.” Colton smiled and folded it up and put it inside of his coat. “Would you like to sit down?”

Colton’s mind was now infatuated in the thoughts of his youth days when that was the case. Not the fighting part but the constant hangovers. There was a bit of a smirk on the man’s face. He turned his face to show off his manly stubble to the younger man. There was a bit of thought that swirled as he mentioned that this was possibly a usual thing. He could see now the details in the cuts that were on the other’s face. “Why did you insult him?”

Colton had known fame for years. In his earlier years, he smiled every time he looked at a magazine with his picture on it. It use to be with great pride. He knew to buy it just o boost about it to his coworkers and employers. Now, whenever he sees it, he felt a slight glow in his cheeks. Reaching to pick up the magazine on the stand, he glanced at the front through his dark shades. He could see the unrealistic soft lines in his face and the bolding in the shoulders. Colton knew it was photo shopped. He walked to the counter and paid for the magazine. It was surprise to see that the woman at the stand didn’t even recognize the man on the front cover of the thing she was reading.

A chuckle came out of Colton’s lips. “I am Colton, nice to meet you. I’m here to see the game, so I’ll be here for a while. Haven’t thought about if I’ll have a drink with my meal though. So you could possibly treat me. Thank you. So why are you all beat up.”

Bill smiled. He had minimal knowledge of sports. Glancing at the screen, Bill gathered all the information he needed. A little more than half the game left. “It’s nothing,” Bill shrugged. “Least I can do for interrupting your game watching.” He had more money than he knew what to do with, but he was young; he’d run out eventually. But where’s the fun in saving money for when you’re old and incapable of doing most things? 

Taking a sip of his drink, which was very strong, Bill smirked. “Oh, you know, the usual. Implied some less than kind things about his family lineage, among a few other actions that led up to him throwing a few punches and then throwing me. But, I mean, it’s fine. I’ve been through worse. This is nothing a little alcohol and Advil can’t fix.”

Colton grabbed a hold of the coffee waiting for him at the counter and brought it over to the sugar stand. “What for?” He questioned in a husk voice. He monitored the sugar carefully through his dark sunglasses. When he was done pouring half the sugar into his coffee, he threw the packet away.

“What… for?” Belle tilted her head a bit to the side not sure what he was asking. “I was just trying to read and you’re standing in my light… that’s all.” She motioned to the book in front of her. Curious now though, the man looked familiar enough… “This might sound silly but do you come into the library much?”

“I think any man over two hundred pounds could throw you a good distance.” Colton pointed out as he looked down at his drink. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll pass. Too many and I might not find a way home tonight.”

Bill chuckled, passing a glance to the man. “Well, you’re probably not wrong.” He looked the man over. He seemed tired. 

“Alright then,” Bill said, not going to press him. “I’m William,” he introduced, taking his drink from the bartender. Something about the man seemed familiar, like he’d seen him before. He shrugged the thought away. Too young to be anyone who could know you. “I’ll be here if you change your mind and want something more to drink or if you want just someone to pay for your drinks.”

It was one of the weekends when Mary went hiking. People were often surprised to find out that the pampered Mary enjoyed camping, and it was true that all of her gear was the best quality, but she didn’t see the point in not doing it properly. It only added to the enjoyment that her tent wasn’t at risk of leaking. 

She was driving out to her favourite place when she felt and heard the tire pop. With a rare swear escaping from her, she pulled over quickly, getting out to check the damage. It was a jagged tear, and she looked back at the quiet road to find what had done the damage, seeing a broken bottle. Not wanting anyone else to suffer the same fate, she jogged over to clear it away, before coming back to her own trouble. 

Considering how much she drove, she should know how to change a tire - she had a spare one and everything - but she’d never had to before, and she stared at the equipment blankly. Maybe Google would help… Mary pulled out her phone, starting to search “how to change a tire” when she heard another coming. The phone lowered as she looked up hopefully. 

“Do you have something, like, with a lot of vodka? I want that. Oh, and,” he looked to the person he had sat down next to, “A refill of whatever my friend here is having.” Bill smiled to the person next to him. “Word of advice, kid; if someone claims they can literally throw you, they probably can.”