The rest of our day passes with the typical exercises and him instructing me on the basics of his fancy supercomputer he’d installed for me. After another shower and returning to my original clothes, we get ready to head out. When we reach the door of the warehouse, I steel myself and ask my new celebrity friend a simple question. “You want to come over for dinner? N-not like a date or anything! I know you’re straight! I just meant-” I stop my rambling and blink the focus back into myself. “My neighbor, my best friend, has trouble meeting people and leaving the apartment building. We planned on ordering in and I was hoping you could come over and just meet her. I’ve been trying to help her get back out there, literally speaking, and letting her meet new people is usually a good, safe step.” I sigh and adjust the new blue backpack holding my armor on my shoulder.

Bryan has a huge, genuine smile. “Of course! I’ll tell my son that he’ll have to make his own dinner tonight. And don’t worry about that, we have a pretty good relationship. I’m not being the absent father that every family movie wants you to think businessmen are.” He turns and waves me out the door as he says the last part. “I’ll drive us over there. You just figure out how you’re gonna introduce me. I know this can be a hard scenario.”

We spend the ride back making general small talk and discussing what kind of crimes I should start with. We agreed on things high enough profile to be noticed but not so big as to put me in extreme danger right off of the bat. We brainstormed some ideas and Bryan said he’d put them in and monitor police reports for our keywords while I was in class.

He parks out front and we make our way inside, laughing and talking as normal. I start by knocking on Rise’s door to no answer. “I guess she stayed in my apartment.” I shrug and walk down the wall to my front door and open it for my guest.

“Why, thank you.” He gives a faux bow and steps inside.

“May I take your coat?” I hold out a hand to Bryan who grins and hands me his black jacket. “Thank you, good sir.” I toss it onto the back of a chair and we both chuckle. I look at the paused show on my TV and figure my earlier assumption was correct. “Rise?” I raise my voice to pierce the walls of my home.

A second later, a soft whisper eeks its way from my bedroom. “I’m in here…”

I hold up a finger to Bryan to ask him to wait a moment. He gives an understanding thumbs up and sits down on the couch. I push open my bedroom door, gently, and step inside. “Rise? Why are you in here?” I try to keep my voice soothing.

She’s changed into a large, grey NYU hoodie I’d bought her and a pair of black sweatpants. Her hair was in a braid now and she was looking down - holding her glasses to her face with a hand. “I heard another person’s voice with you in the hall so I hid…”

I tilt her head up to look at me. She’s beet red. I put on a soft smile to let her know what she did was alright. “It’s fine. He’s a friend of mine and my dad’s. I promise you’ll like him. You just gotta trust me.” I put my hand out for her to take. She rests hers in mine and let’s me lead her out to the living room.

What happened next shocked me more than the suit of armor’s transformation. “Bryan?!” Rise’s voice exploded in excitement from behind me. Her hand left mine and she sprinted over to Bryan who stood up with a smile.

“I’ll be damned! Rise! I’m so glad you’re alright.” The short girl embracing the tall man was amusing to see but the pure joy on both of their faces made the whole scene heartwarming.

“Would somebody like to fill me in on what’s going on?” I walk over to the two of them as if the answer was inside of their hug.

“Bryan was the one who got me out!” Got you out? Her words felt foreign, yet familiar. I squint my eyes trying to piece together what she was talking about.

“Tyler,” I look up at Bryan, “remember what we talked about last night?”

Memories of the diner started to flood with my limited knowledge of Rise’s past. She’d been open enough for me to help her but was always too pained to discuss details. “Rise… The abuse was… You were part of that prostitution ring?” My words felt blunt and I was worried about mentioning the truth to her. Thankfully, she nodded without much fear. Clearly the happiness of Bryan being here was outweighing the painful memories of her past.

“Rise was one of the few I was able to get out. I guess it was nearly two years ago now. I’ve been paying for her necessities but I had no clue where she was.” They let go of their embrace and Bryan sits back down.

“I’m so sorry, Rise. I had no clue about the extent of what you’d been through!” I wrap her in my arms next and let her joyful tears soak my sweater.

“It’s OK. Really. You’ve been a really big help.” She pulls her head back to give me a big smile. “Just do me a favor and order some pizza.”

“Only if you help me cut my hair later tonight.” Her eyes explode open along with her mouth.

“Really? I’ve been dying to trim that stupid cloud on your head for months!” Bryan laughs at her excited analogy. I slap my forehead with my palm and shake my head.

“Yes, really. I think it’s time for a change.”