First Stop-1

[Ren Hilton's POV.]

Aron shot me a glare before regaining his composure and looking away, staring out of the window as if avoiding any further interaction. Erik, on the other hand, seemed utterly mortified by Blaze's unexpected antics.

"Sorry about that," I apologized, reaching down to pick up the fallen gum box. Blaze, satisfied with his plunder, hopped back onto my shoulder.

Erik nodded nervously, still visibly shaken. "N-no problem. It's just a gum box."

I chuckled, trying to diffuse the tension. "Yeah, Blaze has a thing for shiny objects. Especially gum, it seems."

The driver, having witnessed the brief chaos, chimed in, "Quite the lively group, aren't you?"

Ignoring Aron's continued brooding, I extended the open gum box towards Erik. "Help yourself. Blaze can be a handful, but he means no harm."