Arcane

chapter 63

Harry drove me to work like regular, dropping me off and saying goodbye with a loving kiss. Owen was out today, I felt my mood grow as a coworker told me he got the flu or something.

Customers were nice, people I worked with minded their business and I was looking forward to break. I decided to call Harry and stepped outside, about to dial his number when I heard a small noise from the dumpster behind the cafe. I ignored it at first, figuring it was the trash inside moving from the wind.

I turned my phone off when I heard it again, it sounded like.... scratching? I know I shouldn't but I couldn't help myself as I started walking towards the dumpster, leaning down to listen more closely.

That's when I heard it, a small meow from inside. I blinked and listened again, wanting to make sure I heard it right. There it was again, I placed my phone on the ground and took off my apron, pulling my hair into a quick pony tail as I stood on my tiptoes, just barely being able to look over the tall dumpster.

My heart broke as I saw an older looking cat inside the bin, looking right back at me. "Oh my god, you poor thing!" I cried out, suddenly feeling the need to help it get out. "Give me a second okay?" I asked, knowing there was no way it could answer me, but it meowed again as I moved away.

I scanned the area looking for something to stand on when I saw an old milk crate we leave outside for the trash and grabbed two of them, stacking them on top of each other as close as I could and standing on them. I took a breath as I placed my hands on the side and swung my leg over, sitting on the bin and closing my eyes.

"I cannot believe i'm about to do this" I held my breath and my other leg over the side, jumping into the bin and landing on the giant trash bags. The smell immediate overwhelmed my nose as I grimaced, looking for the cat that's was sitting on a cardboard box looking at me with its tail swinging from side to side.

"I really don't want to chase after you, can you just come here please?" I begged, my voice nasally from my hand plugging my nose. I held my arm out, surprised when the cat walked towards me and let me pick it up. "No way" I mumbled as I held it close my chest.

I took a deep breath and held it as I grabbed the top of the bin and pulled my self up, my legs climbing over it with the cat by my side as I jumped back down. I let out a breath and placed it on the ground, it sitting down and staring at me.

"There you go little guy, your free now." I smiled proudly as I grabbed my apron and went to put it back down, looking back and seeing the cat continue to gawk at me. "What? You're free, it's okay to go, don't need to thank me or anything" I chuckled at myself realizing i'm talking to a cat.

It never left, following me to the door as I went to walk inside. "Oh! You're hungry, no problem. I'll be right back yeah?" I quickly ran inside and grabbed a small bowl filling it with water, then some tuna we had for sandwiches and placed it on a plate, heading back outside without anyone noticing.

The cat was in the same spot where I left it when I squatted down and placed the dishes in front of it. "Here you go" I took a small piece of tuna and held it up to the cat, it sniffing it and taking it gladly. It walked to the bowls and finished the meal quickly, looking back at me after it finished.

I chewed the inside of my cheek and nodded, "Okay... well, um, it was nice rescuing you little cat" I said, smiling as it let me pet it, hearing small purs leaving it. "Got to get back to work now" I chuckled, looking back as I walked inside.

I worked for another two hours, texting Harry to come pick me up as I waited outside in the back. I walked out the door, freezing as I saw the chubby grey cat sitting exactly where I last saw it. My jaw dropped slightly as I ran my hand through my hair, looking around for its owner.

I walked towards it slowly and it immediately rubbed itself against my legs, "Erm- hello again" I said, not knowing what the fuck is happening. It reached its paws up and placed them on my thighs, stretching as it looked at me.

Does it... want me to pick it up?

"Okay- here we go" I chuckled awkwardly as I put my hands under its arm and picked it up, not believing as it leaned into my chest right away and curled itself up in my arms.

I looked around again with wide eyes not knowing what to do as I saw Harry's car pull in. He stepped out of the car to say hi, slowing down as he saw the fat furball in my hands.

"Pick up a pet did you?" he chuckled, walking closer. I shook my head not knowing what to say, "Uhm, I don't know it just kind of stayed here? I saved it from the dumpster and now it won't leave!" Harry's face faltered as he let out a short laugh, "Dumpster?"

I rolled my eyes with a smile, rocking the cat in my hands as it purred. "Shut up"

He laughed and came to kiss my cheek, stopping to look at the cat. "Well, he's pretty cute" Harry said, running his hands through the cats fur, it not seeming to mind the affection.

"We should find its owner" I said, checking for a collar that I didn't find. "It was in the trash?" He asked me, and I nodded, swaying a bit. "An owner that leaves its pet in the trash isn't much an owner"

He has a point there.

"Well we can't just leave it here" I said, finding myself getting attached to this little fuck already. "How about we bring it home and figure out what to do with it yeah?" I looked at Harry with parted lips, "Really? You're fine with it going into your apartment?"

"Well I'd like to think of it as our apartment, you should have a say as well"

I felt my lips turn upwards and smiled brightly, my chest filling with warmth. I looked down at the cat who seemed to have fallen asleep, "Okay, let's bring it home"

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THIS IS THE CAT