An Unusual Cat

Chapter 2 - Preparing for Him

Friday, only one day until her birthday, and she was ecstatic.

Willow sat at her desk, reading and taking notes from one of the textbooks. Most of it was inaccurate back then in the nineteen-eighties since the facts have been proven wrong or new things have been discovered in the subject. Yet Willow wrote down what the book stated. Her notebook was filled with writing. Most of them were quotes, the rest in her own words. She had three pages full, front and back.

The class was taking notes to study at home. There was a test on Monday, leaving two days to prepare. She was confident in her knowledge, having a particular grumpy doctor teaching her the subject.
Even so, she still wanted to take notes just in case. She could ask Raf to be her study partner. Or maybe Jack if he wasn't busy with his own homework.

She'd have to study after going to the pet store.
Pet store was first on her list. Willow already set a budget and had brought the amount from her allowance. She acknowledged that she was starting from scratch, so she would need a lot of supplies.
Two-hundred dollars should be enough for the essentials.

The dismissal bell made her flinch from the hole she was staring into the textbook. Willow gathered her schoolwork and shoved it into her backpack. Everyone filed out of the classroom as the teacher told one last reminder of the test.

The halls were packed with students talking to their friends, at their lockers, or leaving altogether. Willow pushed through the crowd towards her locker. Spinning the combination on the built-in lock, it opened with a squeak of hinges. She placed her school binders in the narrow space. As quickly as she opened it, she slammed it shut and reset the lock. She briskly walked out of the building, trying to avoid bumping into people. Willow escaped the small get-togethers and found the tree the other three hang out under. Jack was leaning against the tree, one foot on the bark and one firmly on the grass. Raf was sitting down with his laptop, typing away. Miko was standing to the side, bobbing her head to the music playing in her headphones.

"Hey guys," She greeted once she was in hearing range.

"Willow!"

Miko had yanked the headset off her head, making them rest on her neck. She ran over and trapped the girl in a tight hug. The air was squeezed out of Willow's lungs, and her diaphragm was constricted.

"Miko. . . Can't breathe. . ." She forced out.

The punk rock girl immediately released her with an apology. Willow, able to breathe, gulped in as much oxygen as she could handle. She was slightly hunched over with a hand on her chest.

"Are you alright, Willow?" Raf asked, concerned.

The named girl nodded as she caught her breath and was able to breathe normally. Willow walked the rest of the way to the cool shade and sat down next to young genius.

"Don't die right before your birthday." Jack joked.

The blonde turned and smacked her friend's shin with the back of her hand.

Miko had agreed to help Willow shop for pet supplies. When three vehicles pulled up, the teens and tween climbed in. Willow accompanied Miko and Bulkhead as they drove through town to the store.

"So I already made a list for the necessary things for a cat. If I have any cash left over, we can get some bling." The blonde in the driver's seat grinned.

"Sweet!" Miko cheered next to her.

A voice spoke through the radio.
"What do cats need?"

"The basic needs for any organic life; Food, water, shelter, health care," Willow explained to the Cybertronian.

"Entertainment and a place to go to the bathroom." The other girl added.

The three continued the conversation all the way. Jasper was a small town, so it didn't take long to reach their destination.

Willow adjusted her grip on the steering wheel as Bulkhead turned into the parking lot. Once finding a spot, the two girls jumped out. Willow took out the folded sheet of paper out of her back pocket. She opened it and reviewed the items written down. Miko was already racing to the entrance, the other in tow. The sliding doors opened and the cold AC blew in their faces. 

The pet store was decently big, with aisles upon aisles of just animal food and other necessities. Miko set off to find where the cat toys were kept. The blonde girl grabbed a shopping cart and wheeled it over to the grooming section. Along the three shelves were various pet brushes, shampoo and conditioner, styling kits, and nail care.

Willow grabbed some brushes and soap. Moving on to the next aisle, she looked at her list. Cat litter and litter box would be next.
As Miko had said, "a place to go to the bathroom."

She picked a litter and - without hurting her back - put it in the cart. Twenty pounds in that box. Willow wouldn't have been surprised if the reinforced cardboard broke. With the new weight, she pushed the cart towards the area that held the next item she needed.

Willow and Miko had exited the pet store an hour later. Bags upon bags were in the shopping cart. The larger and heavier supplies were on the bottom; the bag of cat food, litter, and litter box. The smaller lighter items were placed on top; food bowls, scratching board, and toys.
Yes, the blonde had enough extra to get some toys for the cat.

"That's a lotta stuff for your new cat." Bulkhead said when they approached his vehicle mode.

"Well, cats have a lot of needs." Willow replied.
Miko voiced her assent as she started lugging the bags into the trunk. The other girl joined in and helped with the rest. After the cart was emptied, Willow drove it back inside. Bulkhead had started his engine and backed out of the parking space. He stopped in the fire lane at the front of the store entrance. The blonde rushed out and hopped into the driver's seat.

And then they were off to Willow's house. They dropped off the pet supplies, as well as Willow herself. She wanted to get everything ready for when the new cat arrived. She raced inside and greeted her mother who was in the living room. She moved the large bags up the stairs and into her room. Willow dug everything out and organized them. She ripped off the labels and tags before putting them in designated containers.
The food and treat box was obviously cat proof.

It was four in the afternoon when she had everything in place.

"Lydia, Willow, I'm home!" A male's voice was heard from downstairs.

"Dad!" The girl exclaimed as she ran out of her room, "You're early!"

The two embraced once Willow reached the front door. It was only when she backed away that she spotted the pet carrier. A blanket was draped over it, letting no one see in.

"I found the perfect cat for you."

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Hello everyone!
Sorry for the insane wait. I had a lot of stuff going on.
School started back up and I'm having my a*s handed to me. Plus I have my job as well, so everything's just great! (Note sarcasm)

Hopefully the next chapter will run a bit smoother.

Please vote and comment what you think and what I can do to make it even better. I pretty much rushed the ending, so if you want me to add or change anything, go ahead and ask.

9/2/20