White Sheet

Max sat inside the weird box, his head outside the hole, watching the world moving backward and disappearing. He closed his eyes, feeling the wind on his fur.

[ "Vivian, please hold Max and make sure he won't jump outside the car." Angelica said to her daughter in the back seat, worried. ]

Max opened his eyes, when he heard his name, turning his head, to look at Vivi, wondering.

[ "Come on Max." Vivian said, holding Max and getting him away from the window. ]

Vivi pet his head and picked him up, making some weird noises, that his name was the only thing he could understand. Max felt uncomfortable and he tried to get down. After few seconds he stopped. After all he trusted his best friend. Vivi put him on her lap, stroking him while closing the hole. Max felt sad that he couldn't feel the wind anymore, but he was happy to be with Vivi, and let himself to fall asleep.

When Max opened his eyes, the world stopped moving. He yawned and starched, looking up to Vivi. She made some noise. Max heard his name and 'outside'. He started to get excited, his tail wagging. Vivi smiled and opened a side hole. Max jumped down near the hole when he felt a cold wind in his face. It hurt his face and he went back near Vivi, howling and hiding behind her legs.

[ "It's pretty late, the movers will come tomorrow, for now let's start settling." Angelica said, looking at her watch. ]

He heard The Provider talking to Vivi.

[ "I think Max is scared of the snow, should I take him?" Vivi looked at her mom, worried.

"I'll warp him with a sweater so he won't be cold, don't worry. For now, wait for me near the door." Angelica said calmly. ]

He moved his head between them, hearing his name. Vivi started to move toward the hole taking a bag with her. Max barked, worried, and tried to prevent her from going to the cold hurting outside. The Provider came near the hole, saying 'NO'. When Max heard that he let go, howling sadly. He knew he did something wrong, but he just wanted to save Vivi.

[ "Mom, are you sure? Max seems really scared." Vivian said, worried.

"I know, don't worry, I'll get you two in and start bring some stuff." Angelica reassured.

"Okay, I guess." Vivian said, still not entirely convinced. ]

The Provider talked to Vivi helping her getting out. Max barked, trying to stop Vivi. He knew The Provider know the best, but he still was worried. He heard The Provider and Vivi talking for few seconds, and then he saw Vivi walking toward a big box. He started howling, when The Provider got inside, warping something soft around him. He felt trapped, and struggled to break free, but when they got out, he noticed that its less cold and it didn't hurt anymore.

Everything around them was covered in white, the moving boxes, the trees and the ground. He felt his tail wagging when he saw Vivi standing near the portal of the big box, safe. The Provider caused the portal to make the weird noise that indicate the opening of the portal. She put him down on the ground inside the box, where it was warm and talked with Vivi.

Max started to explore this new place. Everything was strange and smell different. He heard the familiar sound of the food hitting his bowl. He run to the portal, which was closed now, the smell of the food causing him to drool. He started to eat, almost numb to his surroundings. The present of Vivi was enough for him.

[ "Vivi, do you want to go play in the snow, while I bring the boxes from the car?" Angelica asked, when she saw her daughter excitement.

"Can I play with Max?" Vivi asked, jumping on her toes.

"We need to find something to cover him with first." Angelica said, putting down the box she was holding.

"Can I put one of my sweaters on him? I think he his big enough." Vivi asked, still excited.

"Okay, but keep an eye on him. I'll call you when I'm done." Angelica said, patting Vivian's head with a slight smile. ]

He heard in the distance the portal opening a few times, and the voices of Vivi and The Provider.

[ "Max." Vivi called from the living room. ]

He lifted his head upon hearing his name, looking for Vivi. When he found her, she held something soft that smelled like her. He couldn't wait to explore this new place with his best friend, his tail wagging in excitement. She held him, trying to put him, inside the soft thing. He struggled, suspicious of it.

'Max, sit' Vivi said, her voice assertive. He sat down and let Vivi put the fussy soft thing around him. He didn't like it, but he didn't want to make Vivi sad.

'Good boy.' Vivi said happy and pet Max. He was so happy, that he didn't mind being inside the annoying fuzzy thing. He barked with excitement, when Vivi hold the rope that meant they are going out.

They went outside, Max was so happy he forgot about the harsh cold that awaits outside. He was surprised when he stepped on the ground. His paws felt cold as they sank inside this white coldness. Max barked, surprised, and look at Vivi who was excited.

[ "Come on!" Vivi said, tagging a little bit the leash to convince Max to come. ]

Max, heard Vivi talking, and tagging the rope. He knew she wants him to come with her, but he felt unsure of this white coldness. It felt soft, yet a bit rough, and made him confused. He tried smelling this weird thing, but when his snout touched it his snout got cold and he couldn't smell anything. He took a step backward, shaking his face, to get rid of this white coldness.

When he looked up, Vivi was already in the other side of the yard. Max ran toward her, the rope flying behind him and the cold air hitting his face. He barked, and jumped at Vivi, that felt down to the ground. Max was worried she got hurt, when she started to laugh. It was his favorite sound in the world. He jumped around her, ignoring the white coldness.

***

Max didn't understand why they stay in this weird place that felt so unfamiliar and smelt weird, but he decided to stay near Vivi, to keep her safe. He sat near the bed tense, listening for every little sound, anything that could hurt Vivi.

[ "Mom?" Vivian asked quietly as Angelica was about to turn off the light.

"Yes?" Angelica turned, a bit worried. She knew the first days will be hard, for everyone.

"Can Max sleep in my bed?" Vivian looked at Angelica with her puppy eyes, it didn't help that Max looked at her the same way.

Angelica sighed. "Fine, but just for today." She said fully aware it won't just for tonight. ]

Max stood up when Vivi called his name, his tail wagging. He wanted to come, but he knew The Provider will be mad, and even though Vivi was his favorite person, he still liked The Provider. He looked at her, begging for her approval. The Provider nodded toward him, and he jumped onto to bed, nestling in the bed, between Vivi arms.

["Now go to sleep you two." Angelica said firmly.

"Good night." Vivian said hugging Max.

"Good night." Angelica said with a smile before she turned off the light and closed the door behind her. ]

He heard The Provider talking for a few seconds, before the room went mostly dark. There was still a warm light near the bed.

[ "Hey Max, can I tell you a secret?" Vivi whispered. ]

Max lifted his head, looking at Vivi. He could feel she was sad.

[ "I don’t want to move. I wish mom and dad could get along." Vivian felt her eyes filled with tears.

"Max, I'm scared." Vivian felt the tears on her cheeks. ]

Max did what he knew best, listen and be there for Vivi, even if everything was confusing and he couldn't understand her. He wanted her to be happy. He licked her cheeks, that were wet and salty from her tear, telling her he'll always be there for her, even if it means going back to the cold.