Good Luck Anna

Cat Cafe

   Thanks to smoothing things out with Alex, Tuesday doesn't feel half as hellish as Monday, this morning he was starting on some online Admin course that Edward insisted he take before work next week.

  The trepidation on Alex's face while Edward set up his laptop had me cackling like the witch I am, it resulted in him flipping me off behind Edwards back which only increased my cackles.

   Even school doesn't seem as daunting, after phoning Lindsey and Ellen last night filling them in on why I was a state in class they were naturally both super supportive and equally murderous toward my dad as Becca was, -which was massively comforting- my friends are the best.

  School passes relatively quickly, when a text arrives from Edward letting me know that he is having a disaster day and is running a couple hours late, I take it upon myself to ask Thomas if he would like to meet.

  His never ending enthusiasm practically explodes through the phone when he instantly agrees to meet me outside the British museum or as Alex calls it the museum of stolen artifacts.

  I fully intended on making this an educational detour, since I'm aware that we have an Egyptian module coming up but when Thomas appears around the corner all thoughts of school go clean out of my head.

  Fucking hell that boy in a blazer is going to give me an aneurysm.

  His hair is its usual dishevelled wonderful mess as his sea blue eyes scan the crowds of people before me. I'm kind of enjoying observing him from afar when his eyes meet mine, I literally watch the tension leave his body as he starts sprinting straight for me.

   Not sure what comes over me but my feet also begin running toward him. When we collide into each other's arms, for a brief moment all the miserable shit just dissolves. Thomas wraps one of his arms around my waist while the other clutches the back of my head pressing me firm to his solid chest, tightening both my arms around his waist he lets out a satisfied sigh onto the top of my head.

   Thomas drops his mouth to my ear whispering "are you OK?"

   Nodding, I pull my face from the safety of his chest to look at his beautiful one. "Yeah, the shock has worn off for the most part now, I'm obviously still devastated but on the mend."

   Offering him the best smile I can muster at the moment, the furrows between his eyes soften slightly. Thomas raises a hand softly running his thumb across my cheekbone, it takes a great effort to resist shuddering under his touch.

  Panic flashes through his features before snatching away his hand like I have scalded him. Thomas quickly untangles from me while a blush colours his cheeks, nervously cracking his knuckles then saying. "I've booked somewhere fun for us to go to nearby if you want to join me."

   Oh god that blush is damn adorable, combine that with the sheepish look on his face makes my heart almost leap clean out of my chest.

  "Yes, I'll go anywhere with you." Now it's my turn to beam bright red but the glowing smile he returns me with makes the embarrassment entirely worth it, causing heat to bubble inside me.

   No less than twenty minutes later, I'm sitting with Thomas on a huge comfy sofa, an adorable little orange tabby curled up next to me, while a huge fluffy grey cat glares at us across the table. Kitties roam all around us as I constantly need to resist the urge to squeal or pick them up.

  We've already been warned that the cats choose us not the other way around, which as you can imagine is purest form of torture.

  I'd told Thomas during one of our two AM conversations how much I have always wanted a cat but could never get one since mum was deathly allergic to them and the sheer fact that he remembered that has me feeling all kinds of giddy about the beautiful boy next to me.

  The waitress places the scones we ordered in front of us, then gives the fluffy grey cat -who I learn is named Marley- a scratch behind the ears. He purrs in response, while I suppress another girlish squeal.

  A black and white cat rubs itself on Thomas' legs before jumping onto his lap where it instantly starts to knead his thighs. As if this guy can't get any more gorgeous, just give him a cat. Jesus he is going to give me a nosebleed.

  I swipe out my phone double checking that my flash is off, before snapping about a hundred pictures of them together. Thomas grins in every single one clearly proud to be chosen. His smiles make my heart flutter around like a bird's wing.

  While Jess sleeps on Thomas we eat our thick cream filled scones, casually chatting about school both skirting around the topic of our shitty parents. I'm relieved for the break from it but equally aware that he won't let me dodge it for long.

  "So, have you heard anything from your dad yet?" Thomas keeps his voice low but there is so much going on, no one is paying any attention to us.

  As if anticipating my inevitable tears Marley leaps from his chair, plodding over to us. He terrifies the poor sleeping tabby when he drags his chunky body up next to us, promptly planting his fluffy butt right on my knees nuzzling its face into my stomach.

  The cuteness of it all already has tears pricking my eyes. I pet him while attempting to form words that won't send me over the edge.

  "Nope, not a word." Swallowing down a sob threatening to leave my mouth, "Edward did take a punch for telling dad what I wish I'd been stronger to say to him." My eyes well then overflow making Marley stand up on his back legs placing a paw on my shoulder, his soft purrs warm my chest.

  Thomas slides an arm around my back while contemplating what to say next, as many ranges of fury flit through his face. He let's out a long frustrated breath giving Jess a scratch between the ears.

  "You have been so strong through all the shite life has thrown at you recently, I don't think I would have coped as well as you have." Thomas grinds his teeth together then continues, "If your dad's rage was even half as bad as you described then I can only imagine how much worse it would have ended for both you and Alex if you had been able to say anything to him."

  Mulling over his words, swiftly realising that once again he is right. If dad had turned on me Alex would without a doubt have placed himself between us. Who knows how many more punches he would have taken to protect me. Perhaps we wouldn't have walked out of that house at all.

  The thought of that alone sends a shudder running through my body. Thomas tightens his arm pulling me closer, so our sides are flush together my head naturally lands on his chest. Marley glares at him making us both laugh.

  When Edward is finally ready to collect me, I insist that Thomas let us give him a lift home but he point blank refuses, only compromising that we drop him off at the train station to which I reluctantly accept.

   Edward does some low level quizzing on the way back but not sure what can I tell him other than that Thomas is my friend – with a girlfriend- My brain refuses to stop thinking about that weird moment when he stroked my face. What was that? It didn't feel exclusively friendly.

  Deciding not to dwell on it any longer, putting a cork in that and all the weird feelings that flutter around my chest in regard to my beautiful friend Thomas.

  Returning to Edwards we find Alex at the kitchen table, papers filled with notes litter the surface, he is staring intently at the screen. "How's the course going?"

   Alex jumps eyes flashing to mine, confusion flits across his face before he smooths it all out grimly responding "badly." Alex glances around the darkened room adding "your back late."

  Flopping down in the seat next to him, I kick off my shoes rubbing my aching feet. "Yeah, Edward was running late. I went to a cat cafe with Thomas."

   Alex quirks an eyebrow, "so he is back then?"

  Rolling my eyes, I'm unable to keep the smile from my face. "He is just a friend"

"Yeah, keep telling yourself that" Alex rewards me with an upturn at the corner of his mouth as I decide that second to make it my mission to see his teeth by the end of the year.