Like Cats & Dogs | H. S.

12

"Hi, honey." Harry answers the call, panting.

"Harry, you alright?" Camille asks.

"Yeah, I just went for a run."

"Is there a gym in that little town?"

"No, I went for a run over the beach."

"Outside?"

"Yeah, you should see this place, it's beautiful." He smiles, taking in the view.

"Harry, it seems to me you're not getting work done..."

"That's not true, I'm actually on the verge of a major breakthrough. There's nothing that can come between me and my paper."

"Oh my gosh, this is adorable!" He hears an unfamiliar feminine voice when he enters the house, then finds at least ten pairs of eyes turning to him.

"Hum Camille, I'm gonna have to call you back... Uh, hello?" He mutters awkwardly.

"Gigi, you didn't tell us there was going to be entertainment." One of the women speaks and they all laugh.

"Harry, you're home early." You appear with a bottle of wine, grinning at him.

"Yeah, apparently." He forces a smile, "Sorry to interrupt ladies, but can I speak to you in the kitchen, please?"

"Sure." You nod, and you both head to the division.

"I thought you said you were staying with your friends?"

"Yeah, but that didn't work very well, so I came back."

"I can see that... What's with all this?" He tilts his head to the living room.

"It's Gigi's baby shower."

"Why is it happening here?"

"It's the only place where we could fit all the people."

"And you didn't bother telling me because...?"

"Well, you're so busy with your paper, I didn't want to disturb you, and I know how sensitive you are."

He takes a deep breath to control his will to insult you, and simply turns around and heads upstairs.

"Bye!" You shout, laughing.

"'I know how sensitive you are'..." Harry mocks your voice as he opens his bedroom door, Mozart slipping through his legs, "No Mozart, no no no... No, Frank!" He screams when the animal comes out of your bedroom, immediately running after Mozart.

They instantly cause chaos just like the first day, only this time it gets worse, because there's cake and drinks spilled all over the guests, Harry's notes fly around when his cat jumps over the desk, you and Harry try desperately to catch them.

"NO!" You both scream when Frank bumps into the furniture Harry's record player was placed, making the device crash on the floor and causing absolute silence in the room.

---

You apologize repeatedly to all the women as you wave them goodbye at the door, then join Harry who was picking up the pieces of his ruined vinyl and player.

"Harry, I'm so so sorry..."

"It's okay, it was just an old record anyhow." He replies harshly.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"I think you've done enough."

"I didn't mean for this to happen."

"Of course you didn't. I just can't believe how you'd be so disrespectful. We agreed to share this house, and now look at it."

"No, all we have to do is to keep Frank and Mozart apart-"

"No, that's not going to be a problem anymore, because I'm leaving and I'm taking my cat with me." He scoffs, leaving the room, "Mozart, come here!"

"What? No!" You protest, following him.

"Mozart? Moz, come on." He continues looking for his cat, ignoring you.

"Harry, you don't have to leave, we can work this out."

"Why would we?" He finally turns to face you, "You hate planning, I hate surprises, we're not a match."

"There's nothing available in South Heaven, where are you going to go?"

"As far away as this house as I can." He steps away from you, still calling his pet.

You sigh, but then something comes through your mind, "I think I know where he is."

---

"I can't believe it." Harry shakes his head when you both lay on the floor and look under your bed, finding your pets there, laying next to each other.

"Well, at least they're getting along." You laugh.

He glances at you, "You know, it was really quiet around here last night with you gone."

"You must have enjoyed that."

"Not really... I know it's wrong, and I shouldn't be feeling this way, but... I missed you."

"I missed you too." You tell him truthfully, "Are you... are you really going to leave?"

"y/n..." He looks in your eyes, but the moment gets lost when the ring bell rings.

"I'll get it." You say quickly, standing up.

"Hi." You frown at the delivery man, "There must be some mistake, I didn't order pizza."

"I did." Harry appears behind you, giving the man some cash and taking the box, "Keep the change."

"You ordered pizza? I thought you were eating raw?" You ask him.

"I thought it was time to start doing things a little differently." He smiles, "Wanna share?"

"On one condition." You say, and he raises an eyebrow, "Three towels instead of two."

He laughs, "Okay, deal."