The Third War

Chapter Eighty Four: Kristy

The two days leading up to December thirty first felt like two hours. We spent a night in the warehouse then got informed by Jerry the next afternoon that the power was back. I had spent the first part of the day drawing my cats. They were all tumbling around play fighting, except the kittens which slept with their mother that is. Annabeth began scratching at the door, but had to meow loudly to get my attention.

I set the sketchbook I had been furiously scribbling in down to open the door. They all rushed out and began their wrestling in the hallway running back and forth down the aisle. Jeremy who sat in the hall immediately scrambled to his feet to avoid getting hit by the sea of cats. I cleared my throat to get his attention, "Why are you just sitting in the hall?"

"Well, Zoe didn't answer, and it's kind of early, and I didn't want you to slay me, sooooo," he trailed off shrugging.

"Luckily for you, I don't plan on slaying anything today."

He raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

"Happy New Year's Eve, Jerry," I walked back into my room keeping the door cracked for my cats. The kittens had awoken from their slumber due to loud older cats, so as I sat back down to continue drawing they all started climbing over my legs. I started poking with my pencils causing them to squeak than start gnawing on it.

After a while, I looked up when someone knocked on my door. Dustin stood there awkwardly laughing since his knock pushed the door open wider, "Hiiii."

"Hello," I slightly waved my pencil causing Blackout to jump up and take it from me.

He walked in the room, "Whatcha doing?"

"Just, drawing and playing with cats," Blackout ran off to the other side of my bed with the pencil yowling victoriously, "Or I was drawing."

"Fuuun, can I play with the cats too?"

I shifted on the bed so there was room beside me and the kittens, "Sure."

They all migrated toward him. Dustin picked up Frosty, "Hello, you're very fluffy."

"Mew mrow," Frosty replied.

Poppy walked over as well nudging his hand and purring once he rubbed her head.  Tubbs, being the wonderfully unique kitten he was, rolled over.

Dustin smiled poking his belly, "Aww, chubby tubby."

As Tubbs started purring, Dustin began giggling like a little kid.

I couldn't help but smile.  However sadness still crept as it killed me to know he was leaving the next day. I looked down while petting Blackout because, really, there's nothing that petting a cat can't fix.

Dustin glanced over at me, "What are you drawing?"

I moved the sketchbook behind me, "Nothing?"

His eyes narrowed, "Reeeeally?"

He suddenly coughed causing my head to snap up. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, don't, avoid the question," Dustin cleared his throat surprising the urge to cough more.

I closed the sketchbook, "Are you really alright?"

He coughed once more before answering, "Yeah..."

I tried to believe him, "Well, it's a surprise. Or a secret. One of those things. In other words, I'm not telling."

"That's a shame," he smiled and returned to petting Tubbs.

"So, what are your plans for today?"

He hesitated, "I, uh, I don't know...I was just hoping to do something with you instead of sitting in a hospital room."