KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 85: Cat's Out of the Bag (Ace)

"Hey can I get you to do me a favor this week? You owe me one after Friday." 

I looked up from my sketchbook with a sigh, flashing Peter a smile. "Yeah, you got me there. Thanks again for that, babe. So what do you need?" 

Eyes twinkling, he slapped a key into my palm. "I'm visiting a bunch of colleges this week so my grandparents and I are going to be out of the house. Can you stop by once a day starting tomorrow to bring the mail in and make sure Hooligan's fed? And now that I'm trusting you with a key instead of Eric you can't be mad at me for that." Rolling my eyes, I added the key to my lanyard, stuffing it into my pocket. "Aw, your cat sucks. But yeah, I'll do it." 

"Hey! He does not suck, and if anything happens to him I'm dumping you. We'll give you like $15 a day for your troubles, my dear," he said, finishing by giving me a kiss on the cheek. My heart melted like it always did and I rested my head against his chest for a moment before he straightened up with a wink, heading back to his seat. 

I mean he had basically saved my life at the party, I did kinda owe him one. 

I grabbed his hand once the bell rang and we walked to class together. "So anything I should know about your demon cat before I take care of him?" I teased. His face grew pink and he gave me a push. "Don't be jealous because I love Hooligan more than you. But all kidding aside, just make sure you don't leave the door open and it'll be fine. He's an indoor cat, so if he gets out of the house he's gone. And I don't want to lose him, you got it?"

I nodded, swinging his hand. "I know how much he means to you, don't worry! Nothing's going to happen. We'll be best of friends by the time the week is over." 

But he still wasn't reassured, squinting at me. "I'm serious, don't leave the door open. You gotta follow that rule, and I don't mean how you followed Gene's rule." 

"I mean did you two follow it either?" I countered, making him smile. "Paul didn't, but I did for once!" he said triumphantly. Letting out another sigh, I held up my hands in defeat. "Alright fine! I'll stop by starting tomorrow," I grumbled. 

3:17 Tuesday afternoon, I pulled into Peter's grandparents' driveway, staring at the dark house with a sigh. I really hated Hooligan. Little pest, always running around the apartment making a mess of things and getting in the way and waking me up whenever I try to sleep over. 

"The tables have turned now, haven't they?" I shouted once I stepped inside, setting the mail and newspaper on the counter and looking around for Hooligan. Frowning, I scanned the living room, looking for any sign of the pest. Ahh, there, a pair of eyes gleaming out at me from under the couch. 

"There you are, you brat. Come here, let me give you food. Pspspspsps," I said, snapping my fingers at him. In response he took a hesitant step out from under the couch, hissing at me. "Hey! Don't disrespect me like that!" I cried, taking a step toward him.

Hooligan arched his back, hissing louder, before darting forward, running through my legs and out the front door.

Which I had left open.

Just like Peter told me not to. 

"Hooligan, no!" I shrieked, bolting after him. I chased that stupid gray and black cat down the block until I drew to a halt, panting, scanning the sidewalk desperately for any trace of him. Nothing. Not even little pawprints in the snow. My heart was starting to pound as I walked up and down the sidewalks, searching for the cat. Oh no oh no oh no he's going to kill me. 

Hands shaking, I pulled out my phone, calling the first person I saw. "Heyyy, Eric, you wouldn't happen to have a cat, would you? Or like, know how to take care of one?" I asked in what I hoped was a casual voice. "Uh...no? No I don't, sorry. Why do you ask?"  "Oh, oh no reason! Just curious! Bye curly!" I said, quickly hanging up. 

Next on the list was Gene. Come on Simmons, you saved my life last weekend, do it again now. "Hiya Gene, do you know how to take care of cats? Like maybe, catch them after they get out or anything?" 

He let out a long sigh and I could almost see him facepalming. "Ace what did you do?"  "Well see I'm at Peter's house and...uhm..." "Oh Ace, Ace tell me you didn't lose Hooligan." 

"I might've...that might've happened," I mumbled. "Ace you're screwed. You know he loves that cat man, you gotta find him before he gets home! If anything happens to Hooligan you're dead." 

"I don't know how! Gene you gotta help me, he ran out the door and I tried to chase him but I lost him and I don't know how to get him back help me find him please man, please!" I wailed. "Come on Ace, you're better than this. I have practice so I can't come over, ask Bruce or Paul. Good luck finding him, you better pray he doesn't get run over. Bye." 

The blood drained from my face and I nearly dropped my phone. Oh no oh no I didn't even think about how that could happen. If Hooligan died I might as well kiss my relationship with Peter goodbye because he would never forgive me. 

"Come on Bruce, please be able to help me with this," I whispered, dialing his number and waiting with bated breath. "Hello?"  "Bruce! Bruce are you free right now? I really need your help I lost Peter's cat and I need to find him and I don't know how--" "I'm really sorry man, I'm busy right now, I'm honestly not supposed to be on the phone right now anyway. I gotta go, ask Paul." 

He hung up and I stared at my phone, fighting back tears as I reached out to my last hope. "Paul curly I need help really badly I lost Peter's cat I need you to help me find him please I'll pay you or whatever!" I cried. 

"Yeah okay fineee, give me ten minutes and I'll be there," he grumbled, hanging up. I could've kissed him by the time he finally pulled into Peter's driveway, stepping out of his car with a shiver. "So what did you do?" 

I let out a sigh, running my hands through my hair. "I went to feed him and I forgot to close the door and he got out and I chased him for a bit and I lost him but I need to find him!" Paul let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Yikes. Call Peter and tell him what happened and ask him how to get him back." 

I shook my head violently, hands starting to tremble. "No no I can't do that! He'll kill me! Paulie you know how much Hooligan means to him, we need to find him and make sure Peter never ever finds out about this!" I cried.

Letting out a sigh, Paul patted me on the shoulder. "Alright let's split up and try to find him. We have what, until Friday?" 

I nodded, heart in my throat as I trudged through the snow, walking off in the opposite direction Paul had gone. As I walked up and down the streets, searching desperately for any sign of that cat, even just little pawprints, tears started to well up in my eyes. He trusted me, he trusted me with this, he said he'd trust me over Eric this time, and I let him down. 

"Hooligan! Come on, where are you?" I wailed, kicking the snow and praying he would appear out of nowhere. But of course there was nothing. 

I felt my phone buzz and looked at the text in horror. 

Peter: Lemme see a pic of my two babies <3

Haha sorry I already left ur house but don't worry he's doing fine. Still hate him tho, so we'll see how I'm feeling by Friday

Peter: Aww boo :( Send me a pic tmrw bc i miss u two! <3

Miss u too! Love u babe 

I sat down in the snow and buried my face in my hands, shoulders shaking. Oh no he was gonna kill me.