Feline Friend

Not Feline Well

Tony was not at school the next day. According to his homeroom teacher, he had caught a virus that was going around the school.

Great. Now what do I do? I can't not show up, or it'll be suspicious, but I can't show up or I'll get sick.

Millie thought about the dilemma until she went home. Once she was in her room, she searched the internet for illnesses cats can get.

Okay, cats can get the flu, but they can't get a human cold. Assuming that's what Tony has. What's worse, getting sick for like a week or becoming a cat every evening for the rest of my life?

Millie decided the latter was worse. It wasn't that she hated cats, she just wanted to live a normal life, and if when she lived on her own someone came over and stayed after five o'clock and saw her turn into a cat, she wasn't sure how she would explain that in a way that made either of them look sane.

Millie waited until she turned into a cat, and walked over to Tony's house. His window was open as usual, and Millie hopped onto it, meowing to make her presence known. Her meow was answered with a cough coming from Tony's bed. There lay Tony, covered in blankets. His pale complexion was a near ghostly white, and he had dark circles under his eyes. Millie slowly walked to the edge of the windowsill nearest Tony.

"Hey," Tony said weakly.

Poor kid. He looks terrible.

Millie leaped from the sill and made her way over to Tony's bed.

"You'll get sick," Tony mumbled. Millie ignored him and sat down beside him.

How's he gonna get his presentation done? Will I be able to get my curse removed if he doesn't do it? No, that doesn't matter right now. Tony needs me here. I can worry about the curse later.

Millie's thoughts were interrupted by a sneezing fit from Tony. Millie jumped straight up, claws out and fur on end.

Tony laughed weakly.

"Sorry."

Millie hissed in annoyance and laid down. She returned to her thoughts.

Tony's been working really hard. It'd suck if he couldn't do this. Dumb kid, getting sick. So rude.

Millie sighed.

What happens happens. Not much I can do about it except stay here and help him feel better.

She looked up at Tony, who met her gaze with wet, droopy eyes. Millie had never noticed his eyes before. They were almost as green as her own, a bright emerald color. Tony smiled.

"Thanks for coming," he said. He sniffled and took a drink of water. "I feel terrible."

You look it, too.

The two lay in silence for a few minutes, the only noise being Tony's occasional sniffs and sneezes, which scared Millie less and less over time.

After a while, Millie felt a hand on her back. Tony gently stroked her fur, and she could sense him relaxing. She didn't like being touched, not even if it was a hug from her mom, but she sat and accepted the pets regardless. After a few minutes, Tony stopped petting her.

He fell asleep. He deserves some rest.

Millie returned to her house.

This continued for the next couple of days, and Millie grew to not hate being petted. She stayed by Tony's side every night. He gradually improved, faster than most kids at school, and he and Millie liked to believe it was because Millie was with him. Eventually, Tony felt well enough to do his homework and practice his presentation, though he still had a mild fever. His throat hurt from being sick, so he couldn't speak for very long, but he was improving to the point where he only restarted three times on average and was speaking loudly enough that at least half the class would be able to hear him.

"I think I'll be ready for the presentation tomorrow," Tony said. "If my fever is completely gone, that is."

Millie meowed in congratulations and rubbed against Tony's hand.

"It's all thanks to you," Tony said, gently scratching Millie's cheek.

Millie returned to her house later that night, her heart swelling with pride. Tony was going to do it. He was going to do his presentation, and he was going to do it well. Maybe then, Millie's cat double-life would be over. All she could do was hope that Tony's fever allowed him to return to school the next day.