I began to panic and just stared at his bare sexy nonhairy chest and found myself looking at something else... “So um tomorrow is Friday and that's a thing.” I looked to Connor’s face and became a wreck as I tried to say something that made sense, “yes Friday’s are a thing.” I smiled and looked at him “Great,” I said as if he understood anything I was saying. He chuckled and looked at me “So what would be so great about a Friday?” he said smiling as if he was enjoying the fact I was an utter mess trying to ask him on a date. “ You could make my Friday great by showing up to my work. So I can show off my little cinnamon roll” I looked at him and nodded. “Should I bring something?” He shook his head and laid down on a bed and held the phone over him I tried not to drool. “What are you doing right now?” I looked to Muscle and paused “I am… working on a new project?” He looked at me doubtfully “You are a very bad liar.” I chuckled “fine you caught me I am not doing anything right now what about you?” he looked at me “thinking...” I looked up to see Muscle gone I stood, “Muscle?” I looked around and began to panic, “Muscle?” Walking around the room I found him curled up on a blanket. He looked at me confused I patted his head and he closed his eyes “You scared me, buddy don’t do that okay.” I looked at his new paint and nodded rather happy with myself “it fits you.” I sat back down in my chair and Muscle rested his head on my lap. “What was that all about?” I looked to see my phone on the desk I picked it up and chuckled “Me and my crazy self.” Muscle looked at the phone and pressed his nose to the screen, “Ash” A robotic voice rang out, I pressed end call and looked to Muscle. “Yes, I am Ash… You are Muscle.” I watched as he paused to think “Muscle.” I felt my heart jump around as if I had taught my child to talk “yeah good job.” I pet Muscle and hugged him and I heard someone try to open the door. “Open the door,” It’s was Cole I opened the door and pulled Cole in and closed the door. “He spoke! Muscle spoke! He said Ash and Muscle.” I pushed Cole toward Muscle, “This is Cole.” I watched as Muscle looked to him sitting down the voice rang out “Cole.” I jumped around and Muscle started to bark and jump around with me. “You are so smart! Yes, you are. You are such a smart boy ” I rubbed his head. “Would you listen to yourself he is not a real dog. It is learning to speak if it’s learning then what do you think is gonna happen when something it doesn’t like happens huh. This is not a dog this is a killing machine made to replace humans on the goddamn field. This isn’t a fucking car or bike you can’t control it. You and I are going to a military base and turning it over this isn’t something we should mess with” I looked to Muscle and he looked to me “I can’t do that to him he trusts me he gave him his bonding tag. I won’t throw him aside like trash he understands me and listens he is all I have...” I looked at Cole and I went to Muscle and he stood, “You need real friends, not a fucking robotic killer dog!” I chuckled. “Says the one who tried to take the guy I like as a hostage. What has he done to show that he will hurt anyone?” Cole scoffed and walked out “I don’t want you running to me when that thing has gone nuts. If I were you I would have let that thing collect mold out in that junkyard with all the other useless shit.” I looked to Muscle and sighed sitting down in the chair he rested his head on my lap. “Don’t you listen to that mean man I won’t let anyone hurt you okay?”. I hugged him and patted his head picked up my phone, I saw Connor’s face and froze. “Let me see it.” I looked at Muscle and hung up on Connor and patted his head. Tomorrow I would act like it didn’t happen and everything would be fine. When midnight came rolling around I decided to go to sleep, opening the garage door I looked around to see no one I gestured for Muscle to follow me and he did. The metallic tapping and weight of his feet weren’t exactly quiet or anywhere near quiet as we crept up the stairs we went to my room, I crawled into my bed and Muscle sat by the bedside. “Muscle up, come on just don’t lay on me you are heavy,” Muscle jumped up on the bed and rested his head on my legs I smiled and patted his head looking around my pitch black room I sat there what seemed like forever before I drifted to sleep. When I woke up my alarm was going off I yawned and stretched then was quickly reminded that I had a robotic dog. “Good morning Muscle,” I rubbed his head and he raised his head and he jumped down from the bed. I stood yawning and looking around realizing I didn’t have a bad dream I smiled, I then went to the bathroom and took a shower. I then got dressed wearing a red long sleeve shirt and grey skinny jeans I fixed my hair in the mirror and looked into my red eyes and smiled. I looked to Muscle “Wait until I call you okay.” I then went downstairs Cole sat at the table eating cereal, “mom is at a job interview.” I sighed and leaned to the stairs “Muscle come here,” I heard the metal clanging of his feet and Cole stood “You let that Monster sleep in the house?” Muscle looked at him. I scoffed “You hurt his feelings”, Muscle sat down and looked at me. I went to Muscle’s side “you are not a monster.” I glared down Cole and he scoffed and went back to eating, “I swear to god that thing kills us all I am going to kill you.” I nodded and patted Muscle’s head, I heard my phone ping and I looked to it to see a notification from Muscle. “Handler Ash your calorie count is very low.” I looked to Muscle and patted his head “Hey don’t you worry I am fine,” Cole looked over confused “What he do?” I scoffed “I thought you didn’t like him?” I said looking at Cole crossing my arms. “Keep your enemies close and your family in check or something right,” I turned away from Cole and he grabbed my phone “Hey” I watched as he looked at the message. He looked at Muscle and then back to him, “If he doesn’t kill us all... I hope he helps you.” He tossed me my phone back and I headed for the garage Muscle stopped me and my phone went off again. “Protective mode engaged,” I looked back to Muscle and his eyes were still teal, I froze not really knowing what I should do “Hey Cole... What do you think protective mode engaged means?” Cole froze. “Maybe he thinks you are in danger?” I slowly moved and tried to pass Muscle he stood strong and raised his head and came toward me. I backed up and walked into the table, I grabbed Cole’s hand and my phone went off slowly bringing the screen into view I looked to see another note from Muscle. “Calorie intake required,” I sighed and patted Muscle’s head “I am fine I do not need to eat.” I looked at his eyes and he didn’t let up, I grabbed an apple from the counter and started eating the feeling each bite slide down my throat and into my stomach giving a strange feeling throughout my body. I threw away the core and looked to Muscle “Ya happy?” I said looking to him he turned away and I went to the garage watching as Muscle growled I looked up to see my mother. Muscle’s eyes went Purple “Muscle be calm.” He let out a growl and charged my mom, “muscle STOP.” I said going in front of my mom as she screamed, “This is my mom you are not to hurt her.” Muscle sat and I turned to my mom and she looked at me then Muscle “What is that?” I gestured to Muscle and cleared my throat Muscle stood and looked at my mom “Muscle.” it’s Robotic voice rang out and my mom looked at me, “Mom” Muscle said looking to my mother. I shut the garage door and explained everything to my mom, “You need to call the police.” I grabbed my mom “you call the police and if they don’t think it’s a prank and take him away I will never forgive you.” She looked down at Muscle and turned away, “I need to think about this.” I watched as she left the garage I then started painting the metal flower I made the other day. I ended up making a few and then I got a call from Connor, I answered smiling.

Ash: “Hey”

Connor: “Let me know when you are at the hospital okay”

Ash: “Oh yeah I will head over there now”

Connor: “Okay bye baby.”

Connor: “ I mean by ash sorry.”

Ash: “Bye Connor”

I hung up and looked to Muscle “Do you need some gas?” He shook his head no and I patted his head “okay well I will be back in an hour or two.” I grabbed the painted metal flowers and my black leather jacket “If you have any problems sent me an alert okay?” He nodded and I watched as the garage door opened, I turned to Muscle and smiled “thanks Muscle.” I got on my motorcycle and started it up I went to go without it and Muscle stood in front of me with my helmet in his mouth holding the strap the helmet hung in the air ad he whined. I chuckled and patted his head and gently took the helmet strap from his mouth and put on my helmet I waved bye to Muscle he sat down and I watched as the garage door slowly closed. I went on my way toward the hospital parking my bike I pulled out my phone and called Connor, “Hey Ash” I smiled and I chuckled “Doctor Wilson you are needed in the parking lot.” He chuckled “okay, be there in a few wait in the lobby for me.” I walked into the building and looked around seeing not that many people in the waiting in chairs. I watched as Connor walked over in his doctor outfit he struck a pose and looked at me, “What do you think?” I nodded and he scoffed “a nod that's it not ‘oh look at that sexy doctor’ you are so mean” I busted out laughing and a little old lady in the corner of the room stood pulling her oxygen tank with her  she patted Conor “If I was 30 years younger I’d ruin you.” Connor chuckled and hugged her “how are you miss Smith?” She nodded and cleared her throat “Getting by.” He patted her back and waved to the nurse “Hey I am taking my break,” She nodded and we walked out, gesturing toward a little bench. I went to sit down but was stopped as Connor pulled me to him from behind. I stood confused “I can’t wait to show you off but first food.” I pushed him away and felt my face get hot as I cleared my throat. I sat down and pulled “I made these for you,” I said pulling my metallic flowers from my jacket and showed them to him “They are called tiger lilies…” He gently took them from my grasp and looked over them in amazement “These are beautiful… Did you really make these yourself?” I nodded and he scoffed “You will have to paint my car next time I have you look over it!” I chuckled and we talked about what we would paint, he pulled out his lunch and began to eat. I heard my phone ring and I looked to the screen it was Muscle. I frantically unlocked my phone to look at the full message, “Calorie intake recommended.” I sighed and set down my phone and sputtered “What was that all about?” I waved my hand “Just an app that tracks my health I thought it said something else and it scared me.” I looked to the message and set it aside, “So you are trying to get better?” I paused and thought about how I had eaten this morning only because I knew Muscle would not let me leave the room without eating “That’s good cause I packed you a lunch to.” He pulled a container from his bag and handed it to me I took it and began to eat, I watched as Connor looked happy as if he had fixed me. “So why the sudden change of heart,” Conor said looking as I ate. I smiled thinking about Muscle “I met someone absolutely amazing and at moments scary.” I laughed and Connor looked at me worried “oh well that’s good… What’s he like?” I paused thinking about Muscle “He is very protective and when people go near me he gets between us. He looks really scary but he is actually really sweet.” I looked at Connor who looked utterly defeated, “So are you guys dating.” I choked on the food and Conor patted my back as I beat my chest drinking some water I managed to clear my throat. I waved my hands “No. But I really think you should meet him.” Connor looked at me confused “You do know I like you right?” I froze and slowly nodded. He looked at me “This is what you are your brother were yelling about last night?” I nodded and looked down “you weren’t supposed to hear that…” He looked at me and I went on eating feeling his stare I looked up from my food “are you done chewing?” confused I nodded as I swallowed he got closer and touched my hand “can I kiss you?” I froze and he leaned it gently touching my face and pulling me deeper into the kiss. It quickly turned into a french kiss and I could feel my heart thrashing around in my ribs. My phone went off, he stopped and I looked to my phone as my grew face hot and my heart thrashed around even more. I looked at my phone and looked to see a note from Muscle I opened my phone “Heart rate increased please confirm your health status.” I sighed and quickly typed “I am fine do not worry do not give me any more messages unless someone is entering the house so I am about to die or something.” I looked back to Connor and he held my hand I looked back at him and my face got hot and I looked away. He chuckled and lifted my chin “You act like I took your first kiss.” I pushed down his hand and rubbed my neck “Cause ya kinda did,” Connor looked at me completely shocked “You are 16 and never had your first kiss?” I chuckled and nodded “Yeah…” He held my hand “I want to show off these flowers you made.” He suddenly stood up and went to walk off I reached out to his coat and grabbed it looking down, “wait.” I said wanting him to kiss me again, “What?” He sat back down, I tightened my grasp on his coat. I looked at him and felt my heart start to freak out and my eyes darted away, “so cute ” he said looking at me as if I was a puppy he wanted to hug to death, “Come here.” I looked up and he gently touched me and kissed me pulling away and patting my head he turned and held out his hand to me I took it and he pulled me up. Man... Walking back into the hospital still holding my hand I tried to shake it from his grasp. I repeatedly whispered for him to let go and he seemed like he was having fun he finally let go when a nurse was looking at us strangely. We walked into a room that said employees only. I looked around to see a room with three woman and one man. There was two tables one where the people sat at and one where coffee, a microwave, and a toaster sat. A fridge beside stood and towered over that table, I watched as everyone looked at me confused. “Doctor Wilson Who is your shadow?” I stood and my eyes darted around the room why was I so scared? “This is Ash a friend of mine and he made these.” He held up my metal tiger lilies and everyone gasped and one lady stood and came over. I backed up and watched as she asked Connor about the flowers. “Pay attention woman he said that the kid made them,” A man sipping his coffee said and the woman looked at me “He is… He looks like he should be in one of those beds.”