Sweeter Than Wine

The Cat

I'm lead to a car out back. John opens the door for me and Paul helps me slide in. Paul gets in after me and John rushes to the other side and traps me in the middle.

"Uh, guess I'll drive then?" George says hopping onto the drivers seat. Ritchie climbs into the passenger seat.

"Well, I've got no idea where we're going." George states tapping his long fingers on the steering wheel. Paul laughs, "right, head toward" he leans forward and whispers in George's ear. George nods, and we head off into the unknown.

After a few minutes, my house comes into view. The large nicely kept home has been passed through my family for centuries. George parks the car in the driveway and I hurry Paul out so I can get out as well.

Although it's only been a few days my heart is filled with complete joy as I see my home. I turn to look at the others, a huge grin stretched across my face, "let's go! Let's go!" I shout excitedly bounding up the porch steps.

I halt in my tracks,turning back, "wait a minute...how did you know where I live?" I ask suspicion clear in my tone.

John cracks a half smile and raises his hand slowly, "it was me. I followed you for a while before I could be absolutely positive it was you.."

I open my mouth in false horror, placing my hand on my chest, "John! You creep!" They all laugh then all of a sudden a high pitched, very annoyed meow comes from behind me.

My eyes go wide and I spin around crouching immediately, "Nadya! My sweet little pumpkin!" I scoop my small ginger cat into my arms. She starts to purr, but still let's out some mews of annoyance.

(This is my cat Nadya in real life!)

George grins widely at me and climbs the porch. Nadya eyes him suspiciously as he reaches a hand toward her. I'm shocked as she allows him to pet her.

"Oh wow, she literally hates everyone except for me. You must be good, Geo." I smile brightly at him. Nadya jumps from my arms and goes back through the cat door.

The others join us on the porch, and I take my spare key from it's hidey hole. We enter my former abode to find it an absolute wreck.

My mouth gapes like a fish out of water as I take in the tossed about papers and chairs. The four lads exchange a worried glance and George steps in front of me. Placing his hands on my cheeks he speaks softly, "I'm going to check the house to make sure no one else is here. Wait with rings, okay?"

"..okay.."  I whimper and take a seat at the only standing dining chair. Ritchie stands at my side watching the others go into different rooms. Nadya comes running in and hops up on my lap, meowing loudly.

"What is it punk?" I ask patting her head. She just continues to screech and runs in the same direction John went. I look up at Ritchie, "do you think we should follow her?" Ritchie thinks for a moment, "George said you should stay here.." he speaks, obviously nervous.

I stand up to follow my cat, but Ritchie grabs me by the elbow. "I can't let you do that, honey." I tug my arm lightly, then look back to him to try out my puppy eyes. Me eyes are met with his glorious blue ones.

Ritchie pulls me against him, "no honey, I mean it." He whispers gruffly in my ear, lips barely brushing it. I shiver as my body heats up. I relax into his grip and he moves his hand from my elbow to my lower back.

The trio walk back into the dining room simultaneously. "You lads see anything?" John asks looking over at me and Ritchie frowning slightly.

"I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't even messed up one bit." Paul speaks, shrugging his shoulders dramatically.

George shakes his head no, also shrugging, "it's only this front room. Everything else was perfectly in place."

Suddenly it dawns on me. I release myself from the warmth of Ritchie and head toward my kitchen. The lads trail behind me, curious expressions on their faces. As I enter the kitchen, I see it.

Turning to John I smirk, "there's nothing out of place in here, eh?" I put my hands on my hips, head slightly cocked. He looks more confused than ever, "uh, no love, I really don't see anything-" he gets cut off by a very impatient meow.

I laugh and point at Nadya's food dish, which has a perfectly circular hole of food missing out of it. "How could you miss it? Nadya is just absolutely starving. She's all flesh and bone!" I scoop up the furry diva.

Everyone laughs hysterically at the unfolded turn of events. Nadya leaps from my arms onto the countertop, tail wrapped around her feet properly.

I fill her dish back up and she hops down, sprinting for her dish before munching happily away. I watch fondly then finally speak, "Nadya can get a little...destructive when she doesn't have her food filled to the brim. She has got to be absolutely furious at me right now, seeing as she's been waiting these past few days. Having to hunt for her food. Poor little thing." I roll my eyes, smiling.

"How on earth did that small thing tip over furniture??" Paul asks lifting his fine eyebrows. I shake my head, "I've got no clue. But an angry cat can do just about anything."

A collective sigh of relief fills the room. John claps his hands, "right then, now that the mystery has been solved, is there anything you'd like to grab, ________?" 

"Oh yes, it's quite a bit of stuff. And y'know.." I gesture to Nadya. John purses his thin lips, "Alright, maybe we'll come back then. Later for the cat, and tomorrow for the things."

I bend and smooch Nadya on her head, "I'll come get you later, okay bub?" She raows and rubs her head on my hand. I stand back up and turn, greeted by four looks of adoration. I give them a small smile, flustered by their constant attention.

Paul grabs my hand and kisses the back of it, "let's go darling, we've got a few more stops."

We head out and pile back into the car. "On to stop 2, Georgie boy." John sings as he wiggles George's headrest. George sighs and pulls back onto the road off to the next destination.