Rain stood beside Farrah as the hamster glared at her. There was no way it would let Farrah pet it, not if she wanted to be bit, but despite having her favorite animal in front of her, Farrah's mind sat elsewhere.

Everyone around me has found someone new. When will I? Will it even happen? Do I want it to happen? Yeah... I do.

Rain stared at Farrah as she looked through the glass cage and further beyond the pet store, the only sound between them being her quiet breathing fogging up the glass. Rain reached out and touched her fingertips that laid at her side. His fingers wrapped around hers and lifted. Rain brought Farrah's fingers to the glass of the cage.

The cold sensation woke Farrah from her thoughts. She flinched, seeing Rain's worried eyes looking at her. Her gaze slid down her arm, noting the blue fabric she knew wasn't hers pooling around her, until she landed on her hand. Rain's fingers held hers pressed against the cage. Though the cage was cold, a soothing warmth spread through her hand from his.

"Here, I'll help you touch him." Farrah looked up from their joined hands to settle on his soft, hazel eyes.

Beautiful... Farrah thought to herself as she stared at the green-blue iris with a dark outer ring and a light brown center. She tore from them as they turned away.

Rain reached inside the cage and picked up the small creature with ease. It didn't bite, didn't do anything. It just sat in Rain's curled hand as it inched towards the towering bodies.

"Looks like she's a girl. If I remember correctly, they're the ones who are more aggressive. Might be why she gave you such a hard time," Rain explained, holding the hamster near Farrah.

As the hamster sat up to sniff the air, Rain held his other hand in front of her to prevent her from falling. The hamster sat back down. Rain grabbed Farrah's hand and moved to pet the hamster with her.

"They like it when you pet them like this."

With his finger atop hers, Rain helped Farrah stroke the hamster's back.

Her fur is soft. The hamster looked up to meet Farrah's gaze, and for some unknown reason, she reminded Farrah of Shae. Is it because she's so small and submissive? Farrah remembered only a few minutes ago when the hamster was the reigning champion looking for a challenge. When you get to know her, I guess.

As the hamster yawned, Farrah said, "Thank you." Rain glanced at Farrah, unable to tear his eyes away at the look of pure joy on her face. Unlike before, Farrah was smiling, more so than Rain had ever seen. The light radiating off her almost blinded him, but Rain could just make out Farrah's white teeth poking from inside her lips.

"Would you like to hold her?" Rain asked, a loud thumping in his ears. The strange feeling had confused him. Never before had Rain known the sound or the explosion about to happen in his chest, except maybe after running. But, his legs were planted to the ground. Rain wondered what could cause this?

"Sure," Farrah said, holding out her hands in a ball. Rain made sure to be slow as he placed the sleeping hamster in them. "I've never been able to hold one before. They were always too scared." Rain stared at her gentle smile. Farrah looked sweeter this way, much sweeter, unlike the attitude she had only for him. Rain wanted to see it more.

~

Shae ran to the puppy section, his heart racing. Kylian told him the day before it was the shop's most popular section; customers always kept him there.

In the back of the store, glass cages lined the wall from each side. Each one contained a different dog breed. The puppies howled and scratched at the glass as a swarm of people gathered around them, staring in awe and pointing. Shae didn't care, though. He pushed through the wall of strangers until he could see through the glass, at the people behind it.

Shae walked along the wall until spotting a familiar figure. He stepped up to the owner's cage and waited.

Kylian bent down, reaching for the excited husky who licked his cheeks and face. He pawed Kylian's vest.

"Hey, hey! Calm down, boy. There are some people who would like to see you," Kylian told the puppy, giggling. Watching the puppy continue to show Kylian his love brought a smile to Shae's lips.

Yesterday, too. The animals really love him, Shae thought.

Kylian stood up, locking eyes with the one person blocking the husky's cage: Shae. His eyes lit up. He darted out the door to his side and sprinted to Shae with the puppy in his arms.

"Hey, I'm glad you could come," Kylian told him, his voice like a child's.

"Um." Shae pointed to the husky. Kylian looked down.

"Oh! Sorry, I'll be right back." Kylian scurried away to a mother and her two children, whose faces exploded in excitement at the dog. Nothing could make those children happier.

Kylian led the family to an open gate for them to play with the husky. The children hurried inside and washed their hands, their bouncing showing how impatient they were. Kylian chuckled, handing the daughter the puppy. He waited for a moment, making sure the children wouldn't hurt the puppy, before strolling out the gate. His gaze landed on Shae. Kylian bounded towards Shae, his responsibility to uphold the store's image out the window.

"You could have taken your time with that family. I would've waited," Shae told Kylian as he reached him. Kylian shook his head.

"You're more important than them."