In The End, I'd Do it All Again (J.D. x OC)

Roomies?

Jayden was stressed. Very stressed. So what did she do?

She drove down to the local pet store of course. Something she's been doing every night for three months after her shift at work. It was better than heading home to her parents where they would only silently judge her for not getting out of the house sooner. She was 26 with a minimum wage job at the record store and well, apartments weren't very cheap for one person with her current wages so she had been hunting for a potential roommate.

Also, she really wanted this kitten that she had been petting each night upon her visit to the pet shop, knowing that the only way she could even adopt it was if she moved out. Her parents did not like pets as it required too much responsibility that they did not have time for nor cared enough about. Amazing considering they had time for her in their very busy schedules for the past twenty plus years. Notice the word time. Not much care went into her personal being besides the necessities to be honest. But that was a completely different story.

Putting the car in park and shutting off the engine, Jayden exited the warm interior of the vehicle into the slightly chilled air of the day, autumn fast approaching upon them. With a shiver, she hugged her arms to herself as she walked quickly to the door, pulling it open to be blasted in the face with warm air causing her to smile, bell ringing above her head. The employee on duty waved at her with a grin before resuming their task of cleaning the snake habitat, the baby ball python secured in a plastic tub beside them, recognizing Jayden from her routine visits.

Jayden returned the greeting before heading towards the back, passing the reptiles, birds, and rodents without a second glance, intent on getting to where the adoptable cats were staying until they found their forever homes. Her body seemed to become less tense the closer she grew near to her destination, knowing that playing with the cats, specifically a certain kitten she had her eyes on for the past few months, would help ease her mentally. She paused, however, upon nearing the glass wall to see there was another occupant inside playing with the felines.

Her kitten to be exact. (Shut up. She claimed this kitty the moment she laid eyes on it even if it's papers stated otherwise.)

She pushed the door open with a small pout on her face, door closing quietly behind her as she stared at the man playing with her future furry companion. The pout disappeared though seeing the joy on his face at playing with the happy orange furball. She sighed which startled the man it seemed.

"Oh!" He blinked, mocha colored eyes staring at her form, lips pulling into an easy going grin. "Salutations."

Jayden snorted, legs folding as she sat against the wall opposite the stranger, expression lighting up as the kitten mewled and trotted over to her, the feline recognizing her face after months of play. "Can't say I've heard that before," Jayden replied, attention focused on the orange tabby, her fingers wiggling in front of it's face as it pawed at them in play.

He chuckled, watching the woman play with the kitten with familiarity. "You must be Jayden," he commented lightly.

She snapped her head up. "What?" she asked, surprised he knew who she was while she had no clue who he was.

He raised his hands up in defense. "That's what one of the employee's told me. They said that I was playing with Jayden's cat when I took this one out." He grinned teasingly, motioning towards the kitten.

She lifted her hands to her face, feeling heat in her cheeks suddenly. "Oh my god," she whispered. She had built a reputation without really thinking, or knowing, about it.

She peeked through her fingers when something crawled on her lap, the kitten mewling at her, paws sat on her stomach as green eyes peered up at her adorably. Jayden melted right then, dropping her hands to grab the kitten and rub her face against it's own in a show of affection, smile on her face. "I just really love this little one in particular," she commented setting the kitten back down in her lap, unaware of the soft expression on the stranger's face.