Random Encounters: Home

Whispers, Shouts, Cats and Clouds

Gwen stares out the window as she sits with her knees to her chest. Mr. Meowse rubs up against her legs and meows in an attempt to get attention. Gwen ignores him and just stares, screams echoing in her mind, most throwing wild accusations about Nate, about Dimension 13.

"It's all your fault, you did this," one hisses at her, the voice is deep and gravely.

"If it weren't for you, Nate would still be here," another chirps maliciously in her ear.

Gwen rocks herself back and forth, petting her hair. She watches as birds fly outside and a squirrel runs up a tree.

"Just die already, you deserve it," a third voice whispers.

Tears stream down Gwen's cheeks as she buries her head in her knees. Mr. Meowse chatters to try to draw her attention, and then there's a purring noise. The noise isn't from Mr. Meowse though... It's from another animal. Gwen looks up slowly and a black ball of fluff enters her view. As her weather-beaten eyes focus on the object, the realization hits her that it's the P'nelope. Gwen screeches and jumps onto the back of the couch, wailing at the feline that is simply licking her own paw.

AJ runs down the stairs quickly, glancing around the room in a panicked fashion. Gwen continues to scream as the cat brushes up against AJ's legs. AJ looks down at the cat, then at Gwen, then at the cat. He squats down and grabs the cat who lets out a soft meow.

"GET RID OF HER!!!" Gwen screeches, pointing at the cat.

"Shh, no, no, it's okay, I am, I'm getting rid of her," AJ begins to leave the living room, "See, getting rid of her."

He steps outside, cat still in his arms. He holds her up, looking at her.

"How did you get here?" He asks her.

She meows and looks away. AJ shakes his head, holding her to his torso with his left arm. He pulls out his phone, dialing a number. The phone rings and he stares at the ground.

"I give you a nice, fun family, and you keep coming back here," he scolds her, "And you've got to be going through the park because you have all these goose feathers in your fur."

The phone is picked up and AJ readjusts himself, "Hello, Mrs. Lin? Yeah, this is AJ, Pinkerton. The one who gave you... Mhm, yeah, The P'nelope. Uh, she happened to show up at our house... again... Yeah, I'm really sorry, I don't even know how she got here... No worries, just a minor inconvenience. If you could come by and pick her up in half an hour or so that would be- Me? No, no, I'm sorry, I can't... drive... No, of course. I can do that, thank you!"

AJ hangs up the phone and shoves it in his back pocket. He readjusts the cat in her arms and begins walking to the garage.

"You're going to stay in here until Mrs. Lin shows up to take you home with her," he opens the garage door, "I'd let you stay in the house, but you're a nuisance to Gwen and if I want to have some peace and quiet for an hour or two, you don't exist."

He sets the jet black cat down on the paved garage floor. The P'nelope purrs and rubs up against his legs. He sighs, crouching and nudging her into the garage completely.

"I'm sorry, but this is how it has to be. I wish there was some other way, but there isn't," he scratches the cat behind her ears, "Besides, you don't really miss Nate, do you?"

The feline perks up at the name of her owner and meows. AJ hangs his head, letting out a somber sigh.

"No, no, he's not here... He's not going to be here again," AJ says, his voice faint.

The cat tilts her head as if she doesn't understand. Nate? Not coming back? It seems preposterous to her.

"I'm sorry, but he's gone, for good," AJ whispers.

The P'nelope stands up, trudging away from AJ, hanging her head. She lets out a cat sigh and curls up in the corner in a depressive manner. AJ stands up slowly and leaves the garage, closing the door behind him. He puts his hand on the door and takes a shaky breath before turning back to the house. Gwen's standing in the kitchen when he reenters. She's staring at a handful of marshmallows that are sitting on the counter. AJ walks up to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into a kiss. She pulls away when he's finished and continues staring at the marshmallows.

"Mind boggling, right?" AJ teases, jumping up and sitting on the counter.

"They're pure sugar..." Gwen mutters.

AJ tilts his head, "Okay...? Is that why you're staring at them longingly?"

"Not longingly..." Gwen says, "More out of curiosity."

"Okay... sweetheart, is there a reason you got the marshmallows out?"

"I... I don't know," Gwen cries.

She hangs her head in shame and AJ stares for a bit. Mostly deciding what to do. He jumps off the counter and pulls her into a hug. He smooths out her hair, rocking her back and forth.

"Shhh, it's okay, I promise it's okay," he whispers softly.

"But it's not okay," Gwen wails.

"No, no, it is, I promise it is. Tell you what," AJ pulls her out of the embrace, looking her in the eyes, "Let's go finish cleaning out Nate's room-"

"No, no, no, no, no. No room." Gwen pulls away from his grasp, digging her nails into her scalp.

"No, hey, hey, trust me, it's okay," AJ pulls her hands down from her head, holding them delicately in his own, "I cleaned everything important out, this is just scraps and stuff. We have to remove his computer and turn it into the guest room again. We can do that, right baby?"

Gwen shakes her head, "I- I don't know-"

"I think we can, and you can leave at any time and stop cleaning," AJ bargains, "Okay?"

Gwen swallows hard, nodding. AJ hugs her again and she lets out a sigh.

"I'm so proud of you, baby," he whispers, "So, so proud."