Skye was laying down with her boyfriend, Chase. They were observing the setting sun, which had a pretty orange-red glow.
Skye inwardly sighed.
Her body was pressed against the German Shepard dog.
Something about it sent signals off in her mind, but they had been dating for at least one year, so why should she feel as if this wasn't the right dog for her?
Skye shook her head. That's ridiculous! Of course I love him! I just had to accept it. He's such a sweet dog.
But was he truly the dog for her? It seemed like they were being distant with each other, like they both knew something was wrong with the relationship.
Chase took a deep breath before exhaling in a sigh.
"Chase?" Skye began, sensing with her heart something was the matter. "What's wrong?"
The question seemed to make the male Shepard freeze. Was it something I said? Why does he look horrified? Skye placed a paw on Chase's shoulders.
"You can tell me. I won't be mad." She sweetly yipped at him.
The pup's shoulders sagged. "It's nothing, Skye. No need to be worried about me."
Either way. It seemed Chase was battling something in his mind, but Skye had no idea what it could be. He always kept things like this from her. He always tried seeming like a strong dog, who didn't need to talk.
But talking won't make you seem weak. I wish you would tell me what's bothering you, Chase. Maybe then I can figure out what's bothering me. It's not Chase isn't a good dog--that's why I must stay with him, it's just I feel as if I'm missing something. Like, he's not the dog I love, but...I know I love him. I just know I do. Otherwise...
She shivered thinking about it.
No! Adventure Bay is counting on us to be together! Most of our amazing friends told us we would be cute together, so I just know this is the right thing...for now?
Skye felt a presence nearby lay down next to her.
She heard additional paw and foot steps.
"Sorry to interrupt your quiet time together, Chase, Skye. You don't mind if we join you, do you?" Ryder asked as he sat down next to Chase.
Chase licked Ryder's cheek. "Of course we don't mind, Ryder. Right, Skye?" The German Shepard responded with a shy and sweet smile.
Skye shook her head. "Of course not!"
"Yeah. We're all friends here!" Chase barked, straightening his back. He looked like a stiff piece of cardboard for some reason.
Skye snorted at her boyfriend's reaction.
Boyfriend. The word rolled around in her mind like a piece of kibble.
She was trying to decipher whether or not it was right to be like this.
She shook her head.
Stop being ridiculous. He's your boyfriend. You don't deserve him...
"Yeah!" Rocky barked from right next to her.
Their friend, Marshall, was the only one who sat up. It was probably because when he tries to lay down he ends up tripping. Poor Marshall.
"So how's the sunset so far, lover pups?" Rubble asked.
He seems disappointed.
Skye knew he had this huge crush on her, but she did know one thing: she didn't love him. Poor Rubble. He'll find his match someday. He was such a good sport about this.
When Chase asked her to be his girlfriend, Rubble backed off. Of course that didn't change his disappointment in not being her boyfriend, but he was super supportive of them, and always went above and beyond to help them on their dates.
He even gave away his favorite treats to help Chase, which they were both happy about.
"It's excellent," Skye said, eyes hollow. She couldn't focus tonight.
Wasn't tonight about her and her boyfriend? Of course it was all about her and her friends too, but wasn't she not supposed to be worried about...these odd feelings?
Heh. It was silly when she thought about it. This feeling of not belonging with Chase was getting to her head. She did belong with him. Otherwise he would tell her, right?
Skye continued to stare at the sunset, watching as the sun continued to dip farther into the west side, being consumed by the earth.
She didn't realize the other Paw Patrol members had gotten up until a paw laid on her shoulder.
"Skye," Rocky said with concern in his brown eyes, his gaze fixed on her.
"Is there something you need, Rocky?" She asked him.
"I want to know..." Rocky began as he trailed off his request. He took a sigh as if what he was about to say was going to be the toughest comment ever.
Rocky gulped.
"I want to know if you're okay. It feels like you're different than when I came out. You look like something is on your mind. You can tell me what's wrong if you want. Heh. Tracker probably won't mind if I say this: 'I'm all ears!'" Rocky barked, throwing his head back. His ears were perked, ready to listen to her.
Skye giggled at his little action. She thought it was adorable, but she wouldn't let a Rocky know that.
Then her expression changed.
Maybe talking to Rocky would help her figure out why she was like...this.
"Sure, if you don't mind." She yipped.
He only smiled and nodded his head.
"Just don't judge, okay?" She barked, looking uncomfortably at the ground, nervously moving her paws.
She was afraid he would be mad she wasn't faithful to her boyfriend, and that she didn't love him as much as she wished.
Rocky's smile turned softer, eyes questioning Skye. "Why would I judge you? You're my friend! There's nothing you could say that would convince me to judge you in such a hard manner." He promised her.
Her ears fell a bit. She sighed, eyes on the ground.
"Well, you know how Chase and I are together?" She asked him.
Rocky nodded, waiting patiently for her to continue.
"Well, I know this might be a little 'unfaithful', but I feel..." Skye began, trailing off. She could feel the guilt overwhelm her. It was almost choking her.
"I feel like Chase and I aren't what we used to be. Yeah, we're still together, but...I don't feel anything towards him. It feels like he's keeping secrets from me also, and I'm not sure what to do. I feel like I'm being silly." Skye whimpered, closing her eyes.
She was afraid of the outcome.
Rocky was silent for a second. He seemed to be thinking things through. Then the mixed breed recycling pup took a couple steps towards her, and placed a paw around her neck. He pulled her into a dog-sort of hug.
His paw patted her back softly. "Maybe..." Rocky said as he pulled away with a sweet smile on his muzzle. "Maybe you should tell Chase this. He's a nice pup. I'm sure he'd understand you don't feel the same. In fact," Rocky said with a curious look on his face.
He had his paw on the bottom of his muzzle, rubbing it to think slightly.
"I think he feels the same way. He doesn't seem to be in love with you, so maybe the best thing to do now is just tell him. He's not a jerk, you know? Heh." Rocky said.
Skye nodded. Talking to Rocky did make her feel better. She felt more confident around him. She felt like he was one of the nicest members of the Paw Patrol. She felt if she talked to someone like...well, it's not like anyone from the Paw Patrol was not nice. It's just...she felt as if she would be letting them down if she talked to someone like Zuma who was really obsessed with their romance. It was actually kinda weird.
"Yeah. You're right, Rocky! Thank you so much!" She beamed. "You don't know how much this means to me!" She barked.
"I'm going to talk to him right now! Bye!" Skye barked in excitement, waving as she left Rocky standing there with a smile.
"Huh." He yipped. "That went well." He looked up at the moon as it rose into the sky. "Heh." He laughed. "Maybe now I'll have a chance. Now that she's...admitting she doesn't have a crush on Chase."
He laughed once more, sadness filling his eyes. "I hope."
