Chapter 20

I wake up in the clothes I had been wearing the night before. I reek terribly of alcohol, and it makes me wonder how much I drank last night.

I don’t even remember how I got home last night. I obviously didn’t drive myself.

I look around me as I sit on my bed, not seeing Whiskers anywhere; which is odd because she’s always on my bed in the mornings.

“Whiskers?” I call, only receiving silence as a response. “Where are you?”

I only hope that I didn’t blow up last night and scare Whiskers into one of her hiding places. It’s not good for her.

I get out of bed, ignoring my pounding headache. Wandering through the house, I don’t find her lying around anywhere, or even sitting on the counter where she’s not supposed to be, purring.

I look under the bed, in the bathroom, and on the couch; but she’s nowhere to be found.

“She better not have gotten out again,” I grumble, walking toward the door.

Just as I wrap my fingers around the handle, a tiny meow reaches my ears from behind me.

Turning, I find my kitty under a table chair. I smile, walking over to her. I notice she doesn’t stand and run to me like she usually does. “Whiskers, you okay?” I hold out my hand to her.

She tires to stand and rub against my arm, but falls again with a strangled meow.

Fear courses through my veins.

Could it be—?

No—

Not yet—

Whiskers can’t be in labor?!








“Bethany! Open this goddamn door right now!” I yell, pounding on her door rather loudly. I’m probably waking up every fucking person on this floor, but I don’t really care as of now.

I know I’m not supposed to be here-and am probably not welcome here for countless reasons, but I don’t know what else to do. I don’t have anyone else that will give a shit about my cat being in labor.

The door swings open after a few more seconds of me knocking loud enough to wake the dead, and a wide eyed Bethany appears. I cringe, waiting for a punch, or even just a scolding. But it never comes.

“What is it, Harry?” she asks quietly, sweeping her long hair over her left shoulder.

I take a deep breath. “Whiskers is in labor . . . and I’m so sorry for coming but I didn’t know what else—.”

“Harry, it’s okay. Where is she?” Bethany asks, snatching a coat from the closet beside the door.

“In my car,” I tell her, scratching the back of my neck.

“Your car?! Harold! Take her to an animal hospital or something!” she shouts, running with me to the elevator.

As we drive to the animal hospital, I can’t help but feel guilty for doing all of this to her. She’s really a good person for helping me after everything I did. I really owe her one.

Waiting in the animal emergency room is like waiting for news of my best friend. Whiskers is my best friend in a way. She’s been there for me when no one else has.

And now I sound insane.

“Bethany?” I mumble, folding my hands nervously in my lap. I’ve been fidgety beside her for the past hour and a half, but she thankfully hasn’t said anything.

“Hmm?” she looks up from her phone. Temple Run; naturally.

I clear my throat. “Thank you,” I manage to say.

She smiles sincerely. “Harry, even though you’ve been a dick for no reason, I still care about you and Whiskers,” she tells me, smirking lightly.

I smile back. “Will you forgive me for being a dick for no reason?” I ask, chewing my lip.

She grins. “Of course. If I don’t forgive you, it’s only hurting me”

It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and I know then that I can’t and won’t carry out the murder of Sandy.

I launch forward, wrapping my arms tightly around Bethany’s shoulders. “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I whisper, hugging her even tighter.

“Harry, you’re squishing me,” she chokes out, giggling.

“Mr. Styles?”

I let Bethany go, hearing the voice of the veterinarian. I stand, and she walks closer, holding a clipboard in her hands.

“Whiskers is fine; four kittens, one girl, three boys,” she tells us, not withholding her smile.

I breathe a long sigh of relief, squeezing Bethany’s hand I didn’t realize I was holding. “Can we see them, then?” I ask, trying to contain my excitement.

The doctor-her nametag reads Dr. Bale-nods, motioning for us to follow her.

They are perfect. The most perfect kittens I’ve ever seen. Three of them are pitch black like their mother, and the little girl has little white socks staining all four paws. She looks to me like she’s stepped in white paint.

Bethany picks the little girl up gently, cradling its tiny body against her chest.

“I want this one,” she says, more to herself than to anyone else. “I’ll name her Mittens.”

I smile, picking up one of the boys. Now that I see him closer, he has a little white patch on his muzzle and he’s a little smaller than the rest.

“That little guy’s the runt,” Dr. Bale informs us.

“I’ll name him Runt,” I say, grinning at Bethany.

She rolls her eyes. “You’re so unoriginal.”

I scoff. “What about you? Mittens?”

She sticks her tongue out at me, and I blow a raspberry at her.

“Fine, I’ll name him Booger,” I announce, setting him back down with his brothers and mother.

Bethany raises her eyebrows. “Booger? Why?”

“Because he reminds me of you.”

Notes

Damn I hurt my jaw and now it hurts to chew -_- waaaaaaaaaaa anyway don't forget to comment :3

btw i was gonna update yesterday but my internet is being a little fuck :/ sorry