"Oh no," Kayla disagreed, shaking her head. "That color scheme would never work."

I flipped through the book of color schemes again. The book was sitting in my lap as I sat criss-cross on the floor.

"What if you went black and white?" I suggested, looking over at her. "It's very classy."

"Let me see?" she asked.

I passed her the book, letting her view her black and white options.

"I don't know," she mused. "What do you think Bryce?"

"Huh?" he asked, his eyes never tearing away from his current GTA 5 mission.

"What about this color scheme for the wedding?"

"Looks like the last six."

"You're useless," she muttered.

Bryce let out a groan, pausing his game to look over at the picture Kayla was holding up. "Look's beautiful, I'm sure the wedding will be great." He restarted his game again.

Kayla rolled her eyes, studying the pictures again.

"I do quite like the black and white theme dear," Regina said, after looking at the pictures for a few minutes.

"I think I might too," Kayla said, making note of it. "But I also liked that pastel theme."

I stood up, heading to the kitchen to grab a glass of water and stretch out.

It had been a long day of wedding planning, and I'd been sitting in that same position far too long.

Bryce came into the kitchen as well, leafing through the pantry.

"Looking for some nuts there?" I teased.

"Funny," he deadpanned, making a face at me.

The steroids they had him on for pre-surgery had puffed out his cheeks, making him resemble a chipmunk.

He grabbed a package of Pop-Tarts before heading over to the side door and letting Dawson in.

Dawson immediately headed for the living room, and I exchanged glances with Bryce.

Kayla was sitting in Dawson's usual spot.

"Bryce!" Kayla called. "Did you let the dog in?"

"The dog has a name!" Bryce called back. "And he's not an outside dog, so yeah."

Dawson came trotting into the kitchen and let out a bark.

"Sorry," Bryce apologized, tossing him a treat.

Bryce handed me one of the Pop-Tarts in the package before he hopped up on the counter, munching on the other one.

I fed part of my Pop-Tart to Dawson before eating the rest myself.

"You spoil him," Bryce accused, before feeding part of his Pop-Tart to Dawson.

"Hypocrite."

"He looked at me with big eyes," Bryce defended. "He probably felt offended that you would share yours but I wouldn't share mine."

"Or he just knows how to play you."

Bryce's jaw dropped, clearly offended. "Dawson would never play me like that."

I couldn't help but laugh, reaching down to scratch Dawson behind the ears.

"Right buddy?" Bryce asked Dawson for reassurance.

Dawson just wagged his tail.

"See?"

"Hey Sophie!" Kayla called from the living room. "Can I get your opinion on this flower arrangement?"

"The flowers are calling for you," Bryce whispered.

"How could I resist?"

"I'll just be glad when this wedding mess is over," Bryce said, hopping down off the counter.

"You're so unhelpful."

He just shrugged, reaching down to give Dawson a good rub. "Come on buddy, let's go watch some Hairspray."

~*~

"It's so puffy," Clayton said, reaching over to poke Bryce's cheek.

"Don't touch me," Bryce said, slapping Clayton's hand away.

"You look like a little chipmunk."

"Shut up."

"Geez Bryce, lay off the sweets," Kylie teased, taking a seat next to me.

"Aren't we all the funny guys today?" Bryce muttered.

The bell rang, and the rest of the table packed up and left.

"I was joking," Clayton informed him. "You look more like a marshmallow than a chipmunk."

Bryce chuckled, rolling his eyes.

"Feeling ready?" Clayton asked him.

"Do I have a choice?"

"Aren't we a bit bitter today?" Clayton teased, as we reached the hallway. He slapped Bryce on the back. "Cheer up."

"Thanks."

"If it makes you feel any better, I'd probably eat you last if you were a marshmallow."

And with that he headed to class.

"I hate him," Bryce informed me.

"It's the steroids talking," I informed him, kissing his puffy cheek. "Chin up dear, it's Friday."

~*~

"We're headed to the dog park," Bryce informed his sister and mom.

"Okay," they chimed in unison.

Dawson and Bryce raced out to my car, Dawson careening into my car and Bryce a few steps behind.

I unlocked the car, and Bryce opened the backseat door for Dawson before taking the passenger seat.

Bryce immediately began to fiddle with the radio station as I backed out of the driveway, Dawson poking his head up through the center console.

The seven minute drive seemed like the longest drive of my life.

"Get out," I ordered, as I put the car in park.

Bryce let Dawson out and the two took off running towards the dog park.

Those two, I swear.

I headed out there myself, Bryce already halfway up a tree.

Dawson ran through a tunnel, and then looked up to Bryce for approval.

"Good boy!" Bryce called down.

Dawson let out a happy bark before trotting over to find something else to play with.

I took a seat in the grass, a couple of Dawson's toys with me. I tossed Dawson one of his rope toys, which he happily went chasing after.

After a few minutes Bryce joined me, sitting criss-cross next to me.

Dawson came galloping back with his rope toy and dropped it at Bryce's feet, wagging his tail expectantly.

Bryce hurled it, and Dawson took off running.

"He adores you," I informed Bryce.

"Well he should," Bryce huffed. "I'm his link to survival."

I rolled my eyes.

Dawson came sprinting back, careening into me as he went to drop his toy at Bryce's feet.

"Good boy," Bryce said, laughing as he picked up the slobber-covered toy.

I patted Dawson before giving him a good shove off of me.

Bryce hurled the toy a little further this time.

"I got him when he was a puppy when I was 9," Bryce said, watching as Dawson chased after the rope.

"So he's 8?"

Bryce nodded. "He'll be 9 this year."

That was old for a dog.

"Still full of energy though," Bryce said, bracing his arms behind him and leaning back. "Like a puppy."

Dawson came running back, dropping his toy before dropping to the floor.

"I was just bragging on you," Bryce complained, scratching behind Dawson's ears.

Dawson reached out and licked Bryce's leg.

Bryce chuckled, giving him a good scratch behind the ears.

~*~

"Double burger, fries, and a chocolate milkshake for me," Bryce ordered, his arm loosely tucked around my waist.

"Vanilla milkshake and fries," I ordered.

Bryce paid for us and then we stepped off to the side, waiting for our food.

"My last Friday night," Bryce said to me.

"For a few weeks," I amended.

"I wonder how much brain surgery affects your life."

"I wouldn't suppose too much," I said, wrapping my arms around his waist. "It probably hurts a little."

"You think?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe just a little. And then you have to a little bit of recovery. But they're just removing a brain alien."

He nodded.

"They aren't removing a part of you," I reminded him, rising up on my toes to kiss his cheek. "You'll still be Bryce Harrison when you come out of that surgery room and into the ICU."

"But what if it made me act a certain way or what if I was good at baseball because of it?"

"What if it gave you superpowers?"

He rolled his eyes.

"There's no use in the what if game," I reminded him. "Whatever comes our way, we'll deal with it. And so be it if you're a jackass when you come out that of that surgery room. I'll just have to whip you back into shape."

He laughed, shaking his head at me.

"And so be it if you suck at baseball. Maybe you'll kill at water polo."

He hummed in agreement, a smile stretching across his face.

"Whatever happens, we'll deal with it together," I reminded him. "So let's get this alien out of your head."

So what did you guys think about Kayla's wedding planning? What about Bryce's reaction to all of it? And then Bryce's attitude towards Clayton? What about Dawson & Bryce, a little backstory on them? And the ending with Bryce's worries about his upcoming surgery?

Teaser: Bryce's surgery!