Sometimes, like tonight, the orphanage would take all the kids to the park as the sun was setting and play a movie on one of those screens you set up. Shay didn't know what they were called, but she liked these nights. They didn't happen often, but she savored them.
They watched kid-friendly movies. Something everyone could enjoy. Last month it had been Lion King (a fan favorite) and before that The Secret of Nimh (a personal favorite of Shay's). This time, they watched Fox and the Hound (catching a theme?).
Shay felt this months movie was a cruel jab. She was positioned in the far back, near a line of trees and laying on her stomach. Her arms served as a makeshift pillow. The movie had been playing awhile, long enough to be near mid-point.
As with every evening, Kenta wandered aimlessly about the city, eventually coming past the park, where the lights and sounds of a movie caught his attention. He... doesn't remember the park ever playing a movie before. He made his way to the back of the crowd, hoping to relax and watch what was left of the movie... Noone stopped him, so he assumed he didn't need a ticket. When he went to join the crowd, a familiar face caught his eye. Instinctively, he reached for his gloves, but stopped when their last interaction flooded back into his mind. "She...doesn't wanna talk to me..." he mumbled to himself. He bit his thumb and thought for a second, soon opting to hop into a nearby tree instead. He could see the movie better and... Maybe she wouldn't notice him. He popped into his fox form, laying his head on his front paws as he watched the movie. Occasionally, he would glance at her while he watched. Part of him really wanted to say something... He missed her.
Shay had realized something, but it was too dark to notice exactly what it was. She found herself staring at the tree, alert, ready for something to happen. She should have felt safe here in the group, but she didn't. She considered moving up, but she didn't want to show that weakness.
Kenta looked down at her, only briefly surprised she had noticed him. I... Shouldn't have stayed. He thought to himself as he hopped out of the tree and onto the ground, his silver fur catching what little light there was to be caught. He visibly hesitated for a bit, unsure what to do, but his nerves won out in the end, and he ran off toward the park gates. He couldn't... He was sure she was still mad... And he didn't even have a better answer for her yet. He wanted to, but he was too scared to try talking to her yet...
Shay blinked as she saw the silver fox stand jump from the tree and sprint off. Despite her better judgement, the young girl snuck off from her group and chased after him. What right did he have to let her go? To yell at her? And then watch her? Maybe a part of her missed him, too.
A few stray tears flew from his eyes as he ran, occasionally catching what little moonlight there was. He noticed her following and sprinted faster, rounding out to the right when he hit the sidewalk. All the while he was cursing at himself. He shouldn't have stayed. He should have snuck away. Why did he hop down like that? Why... Why was he so scared? When that question came to mind, he couldn't answer it. He didn't think she would hurt him... Didn't care much anyway. He knew she already hated him... He had literally nothing left to lose here, yet he couldn't face her. Down the road a bit, he ducked into an ally and hid behind an old abandoned box. He hoped she wouldn't notice and would just keep going... A small part, ofcorse, hoped the opposite. Maybe she would find him, and he would have no choice but to talk to her. Maybe they could talk and make things ok. Maybe... Maybe everything would go back to normal... Maybe he could have his friend back...
Shay paused at the beginning of the alleyway, still staring at the street ahead. She was breathing deeply and looked around once. After standing a moment more, she sighed, turned, and headed back at a much slower pace.
The little part of him that hoped she would find him screamed when she turned back. It kept repeating to him that everything could be fixed. Everything might get better. He could be with his friend again and everything might not hurt so much! Without his own choice in the matter, his voice whimpered out timidly. "Shay-shay..." He had changed back without even realizing, and was standing on the sidewalk behind her. His body trembled and stray tears rolled down his cheeks, though he did his best to suppress them.
Shay jumped when she turned and looked at Kenta. For a long moment, she was silent, unsure what to say. What had she planned on saying to him when she caught up to him, anyway?
"You don't get to run away from me," is what came out. "I started it. I'm the one running. You don't get to do it, too."
Kenta didn't know what to say. Running... She was... What? He was lost, but one thing came to mind. "I'm... Sorry, Shay-shay... I..." He took a deep breath. "I don't... Know what to say yet... But I think I can make that promise soon!" He told her with a smile. The occasional tear still slipped out and rolled down his cheek. He wasn't sure what he had said for a moment. He just sorta talked.