Exiled (AmBw)

Chapter 23

After buying some puppy essentials: food, collar, leash, bed, and a few toys, we left the puppy at the vet to make sure it had all its shots. I didn't want to leave my 'child' alone, but I knew I had to.

Naoto: "Why are you moping?" Naoto asked while driving.

Layla: "I'm not moping. I'm just thinking about Mochi." I said, sinking into the passenger seat.

Naoto: "The dessert?" he asked, confused.

Layla: "No, the puppy. I named it Mochi." I said happily.

Naoto: "No, no, you can't name the dog that." He said with a bit of disdain in his voice. "It's a male dog if you're going to name it, it needs a stronger name." He said, posing his argument.

Layla: "Why not? I like it. It fits him well. Plus, it's way better than naming it 'dog'". I argued my point. "What kind of name is 'dog' anyway?" I scoffed.

Naoto: "Mochi is way too cutesy of a name. He needs something manlier like Oscar or Daichi. How about Max?" he asked.

Layla: "Max...Really?" I questioned his choice. "That has to be the most common dog name I've ever heard. I would have expected a bit more creativity from a designer, but I guess not." I said, taking a jab at him. "How about this? I'll call him Mochi, and you can call him Max." I said, proposing a compromise.

Naoto: "Won't that confuse him?" he asked.

Layla: "Well, I'm technically only going to be with him for three days, so he should be fine," I said, reasoning with myself.

Naoto didn't respond. He just grunted to himself, before sighing. He continued to drive with a slightly disgruntled look on his face. I just figured he was grumpy with the name, Mochi.

I turned my attention from Naoto to the window to watch the buildings as we drove through the city. I sat quietly, taking in the scenery until I saw a store I desperately needed.

Layla: "Oh, a shoe store, I need to go there! I've got to get some sneakers before I go to see Sato."

Naoto: "Why do you need sneakers for that? We are just going to collect your bag."

Layla: "Yeah, I know, but Sato always finds a way to make me dance whenever we meet."

Naoto "Really? He's not that bad," he said, coming to Sato's defense.

I looked over at him with a look letting him know it was that bad.

Naoto: "Nevermind then. We should probably go get you some sneakers." He said, making a U-turn.

As soon as he pulled up to the curb outside the store, I unbuckled my seatbelt, not wasting any time.

Layla: "Okay, I'll be right back." I said, one foot already out the door.

Naoto: "I'm coming with you." he said, turning off the engine.

Layla: "Really?" I asked.

Naoto: "Yeah, just let me make a call." he said, picking up his phone.

Layla: Ummmm...ok." I said, putting my foot back in the car before I closed the door.

I waited silently, listening to the line ring as he made his call.

Naoto: "Hey, I'm heading into a few stores on the strip." he said into the phone. "Yeah," he said, then hung up the phone.

Layla: "Ready?" I asked.

Naoto: "No, not yet. Just give it a minute." he said, looking over at me.

Layla: "Okay," I said, slightly confused as to why we were waiting, but instead of asking, I just slunk back into the seat and waited until he was ready.