The Cat's Out Of The Bag

Chapter One

I pull out a book, scanning the page and soon getting lost in it.

It takes a few minutes before the teacher notices my lack of focus, and I jump as she materializes beside me.

"Natalie. Book down, please." Mrs. William says briskly, and with a blush of embarrassment I put the book down, looking away.

I always hate when this happens. I know I should be paying attention, but sometimes I get so absorbed in my books I can't bare to glance away from them for a moment. It's like an obsession, honestly. One old people always adored, but teachers? Not so much. It is both a flaw and a strength I have.

I try to pay attention as Mrs. William goes on about math stuff, but I still find myself zoning out even without the book in my sight.

"How much more time until class is over?" yells a voice suddenly, snapping me out of my daze.

It's Riley, the star child as I called her.

Straight As, straight blonde hair and everything, that kind of student. It is honestly surprising she is asking such a thing without raising her hand. It isn't like her.

Mrs. William stares at her as if she was surprised, too. "Why are you asking, Riley? Are you as well finding it hard to focus? Because I hope you know that you will be quizzed on this next week," she says, looking sternly at Riley.

Riley suddenly looks more paler than usual.

"Oh, of course not! Sorry, I forgot my watch..." her voice wanders off, and she looks away, just as I had when I was scolded.

Mrs. William quickly finishes her lesson, and soon we are off into the halls once again, but at least now the next time the bell would ring the day would be over.

As I near my last class, I check my phone and I am both delighted and surprised to see that I still have five minutes to spare. I stare out at the field, which has a track around it for running.

I have nothing else to do, and after the Mrs. William and book situation, I don't feel like reading.

I soon reach the pale white fence that separates the school's field from the public park just beside it. I rest my head on the fence and sigh.

I quickly grab my phone and sneak a glance at my grades.

There are lots of As, but also A minuses and Bs that make my heart drop. So much for being the other straight A student.

Not like it was on my New Year's resolution, but it still would've been nice to see.

Suddenly there is this sound, and I put my phone down, thinking it was just the other seventh graders from afar making animal noises, which wouldn't be unusual.

But I hear it again, so clear, as if it's right behind me.

Mrrrrow!

I snap my head around so quickly I wince—but there it is.

Just beyond the fence, rubbing its head against it, is a black cat.

Many people believe black cats to be bad luck, but I just think that's stupid and cats are not responsible at all for any human problems. Especially black cats you've never seen before that cross your path.

So I do not hesitate to pet it through the fence.

Its fur is stiff in places and leaves a dust residue on my fingers as I pull away.

"Where have you been, little one? What's your name?" I ask, knowing it's physically impossible for the cat to respond. It just purrs deeper and louder and rubs its head more vigorously against my arm.

Yep, I'm falling in love with this cat. Even the wild fantasies of me taking this cat home are already racing through my head, but I push them away and force my hand off of the cat's head.

My mom would never allow it, being in an apartment. And not only that, this cat could already be someone's pet for all I know. Perhaps it's normal that they just let their cat go for a stroll through the park on week days.

But the built up mud on dirt on its fur is starting to convince me otherwise. It's not ideal to constantly bathe your cat, but if this cat did have an owner, surely they would have bathed it already?

I watch as the cat shoves itself through the fence and looks up with its bright copper eyes. It lazily swats a passing bug with a paw, and that's when I see its toes are gray.

"Oh, you're a Bombay!" I blurt, and even though I am alone, I still feel myself blush with embarrassment.

The cat rubs its head against my legs, winding itself around me and purring so hard I can feel the rumbling on my ankles.

Okay, cat. You better stop before I just pick you up right now and take you home.

Then, the bell rings, and students are running to their classes.

"Oh, shoot! Sorry cat, school calls." I stop as I get up, glancing back at the cat.

Its siting, paws tucked neatly under its fluffy black tail as it watches me with intense yellow eyes.

"You will be here tomorrow, won't you?" I ask the cat hesitantly. All it does is perk its ears as it rubs its face against the fence again, purring.

"Okay, cool." I say, petting the cat one last time before running off to my class, feeling the happiest I have felt all day, maybe even all week.