Saturdays were always her favorite.
Tris would wake early and go for a jog around her neighborhood. She would take in all the sights and the sounds, and nod to her neighbors as she passed them. She always felt like it was her time to just be one with Mother Nature.
She would enjoy a long, hot shower then take her dog, Bruno, out with her while she picked up breakfast — a bagel and an iced coffee from the shop on the corner. There was a pet store a few doors down called Smarty Pets, and if Bruno was good, she'd let him pick out a treat before their trek to the dog park.
She loves that dog.
He was a rescue. She wasn't even thinking about adopting a dog, but when she happened upon the Chicago Pet Rescue Foundation page, she fell in love with his adorable face.
Most people are wary of him, but she always thought pit bulls got a bad rap. As a former fighting dog, he was extensively rehabilitated, and is now the biggest baby on the planet. He sleeps at her feet every night, and is patient and friendly with everyone, other dogs included.
"Good boy," she says, patting his head as she takes her last bite. He watches her toss her trash, and wags his tail when she starts to come back. It's probably the only thing on him that could be considered dangerous.
She lets him choose between a peanut butter flavored dog cookie, or a chicken one in the pet store. He sniffs each one and puts his paw over the peanut butter one.
"Great choice," she says as she hands it to him. He takes it gently, but wolfs it down once she's taken her hand away.
They walk the few blocks to the dog park, both enjoying the warm, spring breeze. There are two other dogs at the park when they show up. She's mindful of the owners looks when they see Bruno, and lets them know that he is a big baby before letting him go.
He runs around, sniffing at a couple dandelions before making his way to the golden retriever. They chase each other around, and Tris loves that he's happy. It makes her happy.
She hears the gate creak, and turns to see someone else coming in. A very tall man…with a tiny chihuahua? She smirks as he makes his way in, making sure the gate is closed tight behind him. She turns her attention back to Bruno, but finds it hard to watch him with the guy standing next to her talking to his dog.
She can't quite make out what he's saying, but he's holding the dog close, petting it and whispering the whole time. She catches his eye, and he looks up. For a second, she's caught off guard by how blue his eyes are. She snaps out of it though, and blurts the first thing that comes to mind.
"So, a chihuahua?" She eyes him up and down, challenging him as if to say, that's not a real dog. It's a horrible trait she picked up from her ex. One she immediately regrets letting out when she sees the look on the man's face.
"Yeah. It was a rescue." The satisfied smile she had on her face disappears, and she really feels like a jerk. It's probably the poor thing's first trip out. She looks to Bruno, who is enjoying himself still with the retriever.
"Sorry," she mutters. "I have a rescue too. Want to meet him?"
"No thanks," he says, his voice deep and stern.
He glances down at her with a look that sends a shiver straight down her spine, and she wants to disappear. He mutters again to the dog before throwing one last look her way, and leaving. Tris has never felt like a bigger ass.
She picks up a small treat to take with her the next Saturday as an apology, but he isn't there. Probably would never come back, thanks to her. But she keeps it up, bringing an extra treat with her three weeks in a row until he finally shows back up.
He hesitates at the fence when he sees her, but she gives him a soft smile from the bench she's sitting on. He comes in and walks straight to the opposite side, just to be far away from her. He sets the little dog down, and she watches as the poor thing shakes like a leaf.
She can tell he's trying, but he's frustrated. The little dog just hides behind his long legs when he stands up. She sees him sigh, and decides to take a chance.
"I have a treat for him, if you want it," she offers as she walks up.
"Her," he corrects, his tone exactly the same as she remembered it.
"Her, sorry. I bought it from Smarty Pets this morning. It's peanut butter. The same one my Bruno picked."
She smiles when he looks over, hoping to see one in return, but all she receives is a scowl. She holds her hand out anyways. He looks between Tris and the dog, and gives a small nod.
"Hey," she says as she kneels down. She clicks her tongue a couple of times, but the dog ignores her. "What's her name?"
"Marshmallow." Tris fails at muffling her snort, and looks up apologetically. "I tried to change it, but she won't respond to anything else."
"Marshmallow," Tris coos at the little white dog, and she lifts her ears. "Here, girl. Come have a treat."
The dog sniffs the air and inches forward slowly. Tris holds her hand still as Marshmallow licks at the treat first, then takes it from her. She looks up at her owner, who has a big smile of his own.
"She's never done…anything like that. She even hated the people at the rescue," he says, a little laugh escaping. "I just happened to be walking by when I saw this little white blur run out of the building and head straight for me. I bent down, and she jumped right in my arms. The people who ran the rescue were amazed, and begged me to adopt her. She only likes me."
Tris reaches out and gives her a pat on the head. Marshmallow looks up and gives her a tiny lick before taking her spot back behind her owner's legs. She smiles that this tiny little scaredy cat seems to like her too.
"I'm Tobias," she hears, and looks up to see a smile plastered across his face. She can't help but return it.
"Tris," she says, standing. She holds out her hand, and he shakes it once.
"So, which one of these beasts is yours?" he asks as he bends down and picks up Marshmallow.
"Bruno!" she calls out. The black and gray dog stops what he's doing and looks at her. "Come boy!" She pats her leg, and he takes off at full speed, skidding to a stop right next to her.
"Tobias, this is Bruno, my rescue."
"This one?" he says, raising an eyebrow and pulling Marshmallow a little closer to him.
"Yep. He's a big baby, I promise. Bruno. Want to meet a friend?" Bruno wags his tail and gives a little whine. "Okay. Sit." Bruno promptly sits and looks up at the two of them.
Tobias looks between her and the dog a few times. She smiles, and gives him an encouraging nod. He crouches down, and loosens his grip a little on Marshmallow.
Bruno leans forward, smelling both of them. Marshmallow sniffs back, and Tris can see that Bruno is anxious to play.
"Put her down."
"What? No way. She's like a snack for him."
"Do you really think I'd bring my dog here if he was going to eat other dogs? He's not a cannibal." Tobias lets out a little chuckle, and nods his head.
"Okay. Fair point," he concedes.
He gives Marshmallow a little kiss on top of her head, and sets her down. Tris swears her heart thumps a little at the sight. She takes a deep breath and tells herself not now. She hasn't been single that long, and she was finally enjoying being just Tris.
She watches as the two dogs sniff each other again, and Marshmallow takes a few steps away from Tobias. Instead of playing, Bruno lays down, and not for the first time, Tris wonders if he could be a therapy dog. He always seems to know just what to do. Marshmallow takes a few more tentative steps, and to everyone's surprise, curls up right next to Bruno. Tris smiles, and looks up to see an even wider smile on Tobias' face.
"Well, I think I would call that a success," she says. Tobias nods his head, unable to take his eyes off his little dog curled up next to her humongous one.
"We should get together every Saturday," he says. She knows what he meant, but it doesn't stop the heat she can feel in her cheeks. He must realize how it sounded too, because he reaches up and scratches the back of his neck. "I uhh. I just meant…"
"I know what you were trying to say," she says, chuckling, "And I think that is a great idea."
Saturdays were always her favorite.
They were always about just Tris. But she knew, deep down, they were about to become so much more.
A/N:
Holy cow you guys! Just, thank you so much for all the support. I've been grinning like a goofball the past couple days because of all of you.
And thanks to Bamnc24 and Enj412 for this idea.