Claws

Chapter Seven

      "Wakey wakey eggs and secret organizations!"

"Adrian!"

"Geez, girl, okay! I still made bacon!"

"Good." I say assertively. I really like bacon. I open my eyes a bit. "Why's it so bright?" I ask.

"Because you're not wearing your mask, silly. Your face isn't constantly shaded." Adrian tells me. I squint, and his face comes into view above me.

"Oh, right. Hey, can you go fix me a heaping plate of eggs and bakey while I get dressed?"

"Sure. Oh, and I was looking through your clothes last night-"

"What? Why?" I interrupt him.

"Because I was doing laundry, duh. Anyway, why do these jeans have a hole in them?" He held up the said jeans, pointing out the perfectly round hole directly above the seat. I jumped up and snatched them from him.

"It's for my tail. This is what I wore at the asylum."

"Good thing you have them. Now you don't have to worry about your tail being all stuck and cramped constantly!

"Okay, whatever. Just fix me breakfast while I get dressed!" I march into the bathroom and close the door. Then dash right back out and grab my clothes, running back to the bathroom quickly. I hear Adrian laugh through the door. I get dressed hurriedly and then exit, grabbing my breakfast and sashaying towards the door.

"Uh, Alexis?" Adrian interrupts. I whirl around. "You might want your mask."

"Oh, yeah. Might want that." I say, feeling a blush climb up my cheeks. I run back to him, taking the mask. I shove the last of my food into my mouth, then fasten the mask.

"Uh, okay? Race as usual?"

"Mm mmm mMMmm mmm."

"What?" Adrian says, giving me a strange look. I swallow.

"I said, as we always do." He smirks at me as we exit the apartment. We lock eyes, and dash down the hall. I win, as usual.

"I win again!" I shout.

"At least now I know why you're so fast. You're-" I cut him off, putting my hand over his mouth.

"Adrian, I don't want the world to know." He nods, and I let my hand off his mouth.

"Right. So I won't be telling Jeremy that you're part cat." Adrian says.

"Adrian!"

"Relax, relax! I was kidding!" He defends himself. The elevator doors pop open, and I jump out.

"Bye, Adrian!" I call over my shoulder. I stalk through the lobby, waving my hand in a lay goodbye.

"Whatever, Alexis. I'm still right behind you." Adrian says.

"Bleh, you're no fun." I reply, turning to face him. He draws even with me, and pushes open one of the double doors.

"Go on then, my lady."

"You're a dork." I proclaim.

"Never said I wasn't!" He shoots back. I go outside and turn right. Adrian turns left, and we part ways.

About halfway to the police station, I start feeling uneasy. There's nobody on the street, and I can't see the apartment building anymore. The buildings on this side of town are smaller than the skyscrapers of downtown, or even the buildings on the edge of downtown, like the apartments. Here the buildings only go about four stories into the air, and are mostly residential homes.