Alley Cats Runaway

#10 Pressure

Since the birth of my siblings, Ginger, Rings and Scout, mom has been busy and has been leaving the responsibilities with her sister Shadow and Shadow has been expecting me to take the responsibility as a leader.
Not that I won't be a bad one, just that I am too young.
But Shadow doesn't make excuses.
" You will be bringing us at the meeting at midday, and I want you to participate. "She ordered me. I let out a small groan.
Shadow ignores my groan and walks off to join my mother.
Great.

"Feeling down?" Jay says through fur as he joins me. The scent of fresh mouse follows him.
"I feel more annoyed than down. " I say. He drops the mouse at my feet.
"How about a walk? To clear your head?" I gave him a small, tired smile.
"That would be nice, but I have a meeting to go to at midday."
"We don't have to go far. "
"Jay..." I warned him.
Jay nipped me gently by the ear.
" You need a walk and you know it."
After a quick breakfast,
Jay guided me out.
We walked along the sidewalk in front of the building. Our pelts brushing silently while the rest of the noise of the city, people chattering, trash littered on the ground by our paws, all fall into the background.

Just me and Jay walking side by side.

"So how does it feel? To be an older sister? " He asked. After moments of silence.
"It feels, different. They are cute for sure, and exciting but its different. I can't explain it. They are not my litter mates I just feel odd being around them."
"You'll get used to them" He reassured me with a light tap on the shoulder.
I shiver at the touch.
For some reason lately I have been feeling strange, and my actions around Jay can never be any weirder. For months he has been another brother to me, then all of a sudden as we grow up that distance between us grows bigger and bigger, up to the point that everything he does to me feels foreign. Just a simple touch and I shiver. It doesn't stop there. When someone else, like Wasp, talk to him I feel annoyed and protective.

That's normal right?
"Hey Nut, are you okay? You look a bit flustered.
I shake my pelt, trying to forget my weird thoughts.
"I'm fine. " Then smile to convince him that I am, the last thing I need right now is to have him pestering me with deep questions I don't have the answers to. Fortunately, he moves on.
"Wanna do some tricks?" He asked as she approaches the end of the sidewalk.
"Where? You can't really do flip tricks on the sidewalk. You need a beam. " I reminded him. Jay smirked.
" Who says we need anything?" Then the grey striped tom took a couple paces back then ran at full speed. Jumping midway and frontflips in midair, landing on his feet perfectly.
I stood there with my mouth hanging open.

"How you do that?" I gasp in admiration.
"I can do it backwards too." He bragged. "Wanna try it?"
I scoff. "If you want to break my neck."
"Aw, are you being a scardy cat Nut?" He teased me. He crouched before me. His eyes twinkled.
I frowned.
"No, I am not, I'm being logical," I argued.
"Since when you became logical? What happened to the Nut I know and-" He stopped himself. His eyes wide as if he spoke too much, revealing some precious secret. A secret I now want to know.
"You know and what Jay?" I asked. Jay shook his head. "Come on Jay, what were you going to say?"
I pestered him. Jay stared at me uncomfortably. Then broke off, diverting his gaze elsewhere than me who was trying to grab his attention.
" You do know I will keep pestering you until you crack." Even though he wasn't looking at me but the zooming cars on the road in front of the shelter, he couldn't help but curl a smile. He chuckled lightly.
"I supposed you would."

I was about to open another pestering meow when I, felt a pair of eyes piercing at the back of my head. I looked above my shoulder to see in all the mayhem of New York City, between the quick and slow strides of humans on the other side of the sidewalk, a familiar red cat sitting off the corner of the building. Our eyes met, His brightened with recognition, mine narrowed. Jay followed my gaze. As we were about to turn and approach him, a boy on a bicycle honked the horn as he peddled past u, scaring our cat off.