Opposites in Orbit

The Cat's Perspective (1)

The fluorescent lights of Mia's office flickered as she hunched over her keyboard, her fingers moving like a pianist possessed. Sheet music scattered the floor around her, notes scribbled in perfect, tight handwriting, each bar meticulously aligned. I watched from my perch on the windowsill, tail flicking in boredom. She'd been at it for hours, probably forgetting that I, too, needed sustenance.

Vampires, I thought, narrowing my eyes. Work, work, work. And they say we cats are the self-absorbed ones.

Mia is like a perfectly sharpened claw—precise, sharp, and always in control. Brilliant, yes, but as emotionally warm as a sunbeam on a rainy day. You can admire her from afar, but good luck getting close enough to feel it.  But that's why I stuck around. There's something amusing about watching a perfectionist struggle with the chaos of the world. Besides, it meant I didn't have to deal with unnecessary affection. Too much petting ruins the fur.

The door burst open, and there he was—Alex, strutting in like a peacock who just discovered mirrors. Loud as a thunderclap and as overconfident as a tomcat who's never been swatted, he filled the room with his presence. I narrowed my eyes. Ugh, he was here again.

"Mia!" Alex's booming voice filled the room, completely out of sync with the quiet, focused atmosphere. "Got a minute?"

Without even turning, Mia's voice cut through the room like a winter wind, the kind that makes even the bravest mouse freeze mid-step. "If you want to ruin the track I've been perfecting for the last twelve hours, sure."

I stifled a laugh, a low rumble vibrating in my throat. Oh, Alex had no idea what he'd just walked into.

He, of course, ignored her cutting remark. With his charming grin and tousled hair, Alex swaggered over to her desk, leaning on the side casually. "Come on, I've got an idea. You're gonna love it."

Mia didn't even flinch, eyes still locked on the screen. "Unless your idea includes a miracle for finishing this track by midnight, I'll pass."

Alex leaned in closer, completely missing the sharpness in her voice. "No need for a miracle when you've got genius talent, like me."

At that, Mia's fingers finally stopped typing. I could feel the tension rise in the room. Her head turned slightly, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at him, a predator eyeing an intruder.

"Alex," she said calmly, but there was an unmistakable edge to it, "the last time you had an 'idea,' we nearly missed a release deadline because you decided to throw an impromptu party for the sound engineers. I am not—"

Before she could finish, Alex leaned over, plucking a piece of sheet music from the desk. "Oh, come on. That party was legendary. Loosen up a little."

I flicked my tail, thoroughly entertained now. His carefree attitude always grated on her nerves, and today was no different.

Mia finally turned to face him fully, her hands resting on the arms of her chair as if she were about to deliver a lecture. But just as her lips parted to lay into him, she caught sight of me staring, my large green eyes fixed on her with clear intent. I made sure to throw in a long, deliberate stretch, reminding her of the one thing she'd forgotten.

Her gaze softened for just a moment—defeated, if only by my presence. And then, in an instant, she rose from her chair, her long coat swishing as she made her way to the kitchen. Alex, confused, looked between her retreating figure and me.

"What—did I break her?" he asked, half-joking, half-concerned.

I gave him a pointed glance, tail curling neatly over my paws, smugness oozing from every whisker. The great Alex of Devereux Coven, clueless as ever.

Mia returned moments later with a small dish in her hands, crouching down to place it before me with precision, her stern expression cracking just enough to offer me a subtle nod. My dinner had arrived.

"There," she muttered, more to herself than to anyone else, "priorities."

Alex stared, mouth half-open, still trying to make sense of the situation. "So... feeding the cat takes precedence over my idea?"

I couldn't help but purr, the sound echoing off the walls. Oh, this was too rich. Alex may have been a charmer, but in this room, I was the one who truly ruled.

Mia, standing up, didn't miss a beat. "Yes, Alex," she said flatly, resuming her place at her desk. "The cat takes precedence."

Alex blinked, clearly unaccustomed to being upstaged, especially by a feline. His grin slowly returned, though, as he leaned against the desk once more, unfazed.

"Alright, fine. But you'll come around to my idea eventually, Mia. They always do."

She didn't bother responding, diving back into her work, fingers flying over the keys once again. Alex hovered for a few moments, but when it became clear she wasn't going to acknowledge him, he finally left with a playful wink in my direction.

As the door closed behind him, I resumed eating, thoroughly amused. "Vampires," I thought with a twitch of my whiskers. "Completely oblivious."

Mia, ever the stoic, sighed deeply and muttered under her breath, "Why did it have to be him?"

I paused, glanced up at her, and continued eating. Poor Mia. Little did she know, Alex was far from giving up. This was just the beginning.