May the fur be with you.
“Where’s a hero when you need one?” Abby sighed as she looked at the sad remains of her beef and broccoli oozing across the floor just outside of her apartment. “I had my stomach all set for that, too.” She juggled the bags, books, and purse cradled in her arms until she was able to twist her wrist just so and slide the key into the lock. There was just one problem. It was the wrong key. “I can hear Granny now, ‘That’s what you get for trying to carry everything in one trip.’ Yeah, yeah. But, why make four trips when one will do?” Biting the corner of her bottom lip in concentration, she fumbled through her keys, feeling for the one she needed. “Let’s try this one.” The key slid in and turned smoothly, the bolt clicking back with a satisfying thunk. “Ha! Take that, Granny!”
She staggered across the threshold, divesting herself of items as she walked. Keys went in the bowl on the table by the door. She shifted the plastic bag in her right hand to her teeth and hung her purse on the hooks above the table. Then, it was a few short steps into the small kitchen where she deposited bags willy-nilly on the counter. She grabbed a couple of paper towels and headed back to the hall. Halfway to the door she reconsidered, turned around, and grabbed the entire roll.
Stepping over rapidly congealing stir fry, she began swiping at the mess. While the paper towels rapidly soaked up the broth, the stain just seemed to spread, chunks of beef and broccoli as far as the eye could see.
“I’m here to rescue you.” A familiar voice sounded from near Abby’s elbow. There was a brief pause before it repeated. “I’m here to rescue you.”
Recognizing the line from one of her favorite movies, Abby turned to greet her savior. Words failed her when she saw no one except a rather battered brown tabby hunkered down licking the gravy, a look of feline bliss on his face. Her head swiveled as she looked for whoever had spoken.
Then, she heard it again. “I’m here to rescue you.” She looked down. There was no doubt about it. The voice had come from the cat. She reached out a cautious finger and stroked the tabby behind the ear. He leaned into her touch while continuing his feast. He paused long enough to look at her with large green eyes, blinked, and said “I’m here to rescue you.”
Forgetting about cleaning, Abby dropped to her knees and stared. However, she couldn’t help answering in kind. “Fine. I’ll play along. Aren’t you a little short–and furry–to be a stormtrooper?”
Her hero didn’t answer. A deep purr began rumbling through his chest.
The door to the apartment across from hers opened and a harried young man with flyaway brown hair rushed out. “Have you seen…” His gaze fell to the cat and he sagged against the doorframe, resting his head on one forearm while the other hand clutched his chest. “Oh, thank God!” He turned his gaze to Abby, his eyes as green as those of the cat. “I thought for sure Lucas was gone! The folks at the shelter would have killed me.” He twisted the old-fashioned cut-glass door knob a couple of times. “That does it! The landlord has got to fix this door. It doesn’t always close well and this guy—” he nodded at the cat “—is a regular Houdini.”
Abby stood and brushed off the knees of her slacks with her free hand while searching for somewhere to put the wad of soiled paper in the other. No community trashcans magically appeared in the hallway.
Her predicament must have reached the newcomer because he ducked back into his apartment and came out with a waste basket which was already just this side of overflowing. “Put your trash in here. I was planning to empty it later tonight, anyway.”
“Thanks.” She shoved the used paper towels in the proffered bag, then tore off a clean one and wiped her hands before offering her right one. “You must be my new neighbor. Hi. My name is Abigail, but everyone calls me Abby.”
“Hi, Abby. I’m Ryan.” He placed the trashcan on the floor and wiped his hands on his jeans before shaking hers.
“I’m here to rescue you.” Lucas chimed in from his seat at the floor-level buffet.
“So I’ve heard.” Abby smiled at the cat, then turned her attention to Ryan. “Care to tell me what’s going on? I feel a bit like Alice standing on the edge of a Star Wars-themed rabbit hole.”
“Oh, Lucas is part of a project I’m working on for Unconditional Love Animal Shelter.” Ryan nodded at the mess on the floor. “Hand me some paper towels. I’ll help you clean this up, then I’ll show you.”
They worked side-by-side until the worst of the spill had been removed. Abby left Ryan to dispose of the paper waste while she ran back into her apartment for a damp mop. Lucas seemed disappointed when the last of his feast was wiped away before his eyes. He chirruped once, sat down, wrapped his tail around his feet, and began bathing.
Ryan scooped up the cat and headed back to his apartment. “C’mon.” He used one hand to motion for her to follow.
“I, uh, appreciate the help.” Abby followed slowly, clearing her throat. “I’m just not comfortable going into your apartment. We just met. I don’t know anything about you.” She met his eyes briefly, then looked away. “Sorry. I guess that sounds pretty mean.”
“It’s understandable. How about this? You can stand here in the doorway and just look while I give you an overview of what I’m doing.”
Lucas twisted his head around to look at her. “I’m here to rescue you.”
Abby laughed. “How can I resist such a smooth talker?” She propped her mop against the wall outside Ryan’s apartment, stepped into the doorway and leaned against the doorframe. His small living room was cluttered with enough electronic equipment to stock a small store. “Wow. This stuff looks pretty serious.”
“It is–and it isn’t. I’ve always been fascinated with movies and making them. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. My hobby comes with a lot of fancy equipment. A year or so ago, I started volunteering with the animal shelter.” He shrugged. “There are so many awesome animals in need of homes–especially adult dogs and cats–that I decided I needed to do something more to help. It dawned on me that I could put both of my passions together. I’m going to make knockoffs of some popular films, using the animals as stars, in an effort to help them find homes. My first project is called Claw Wars.”
“And Lucas?”
“Lucas will be playing the role of Luke Pawwalker in the film. Look out!” Ryan warned as a black cat darted for the door. “I forgot to tell you—standing in the doorway also means you get to play cat goalie and stop any of my feline guests from escaping.”
Abby snagged the black cat and settled him in her arms before noticing something was wrong. She examined him closer. “What happened to this guy? He’s missing a foot.”
“That’s Darth Jellybean, and he was born that way.”
“Darth Jellybean?” Abby giggled as she tucked the cat into the crook of her arm. He seemed eager for the attention and snuggled close to her.
“Black cats and dogs are the hardest to find homes for. I remember reading a story about a shelter volunteer who started naming all black cats Jellybean and it helped! The name caused people to stop and look at the cats they would normally ignore and they got adopted.” He nodded at the now purring bundle in her arms. “So, this guy is Jellybean. And, since he’s missing a foot, he’s perfect for the Darth role. But, you asked what happened. When he was born, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his foot. He lost the foot but the leg healed cleanly. He gets along fine with just three feet.” He chuckled–a warm sound. “He doesn’t realize he is supposed to be any different.”
Abby scratched her new buddy under the chin. He pressed his face against her hand, urging her to scratch harder. “What? No raspy breathing from the villain?”
Ryan laughed. “Initially, I planned to make the film and dub the voices in later. Then, I had a ‘brilliant’ idea. I worked with a friend of mine who is an electronics wizard. He came up with a small recorder for me to put on their collars. That way, I could record the lines for each cat and trigger them as needed with this.” He rummaged around on the top of his table for a moment and came up with the smallest remote Abby had ever seen. “Lucas–who was named for George Lucas, by the way–was the first test of the system. As you can hear, there are a few bugs to work out.”
“I’m here to rescue you.” Lucas leaped onto the table, scattering papers and electronics everywhere. He rammed his head into Ryan’s hip searching for attention.
Ryan scratched him behind the ears absent-mindedly. “So, what do you think?”
“I’m impressed.” Abby nodded as she took in the equipment, the movie posters decorating the walls, and the comic books–er, graphic novels–scattered across the coffee table. “You’re a regular nerd in shining armor.”
Ryan’s face lit up and he executed a bow. “Why, thank you, madam. I think that’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“So, why Star Wars?”
“Well, it’s both an easily recognizable classic and my favorite movie.”
“Mine too.” Abby ducked her head.
“Seriously? I would never have guessed.” He nodded at her work attire. “You look so… not Star Wars,” he finished lamely.
“Then, my disguise is working.” Abby threw caution to the wind, stepped just inside the apartment, and leaned back against the wall. “I’m both a bookkeeper and the youngest person in my office. None of my coworkers understand my fascination with Star Wars and other stuff like that. So, I dress the non-nerd part during the day, then let my hair down after work. Not that there’s been much time for that recently. The person I’m replacing left everything in a mess. I’ve been working a ridiculous number of hours the past few months. I’m just starting to get my life back.” She laughed. “My dark purple hair is my one non-conformity. I think the boss would like to tell me to get rid of it, but since I have been kicking butt and taking names job-wise, he hasn’t.” She jerked her head back toward her apartment and continued. “All of this excitement happened before I had a chance to change.” Her stomach growled. “Sorry. It’s been great to meet you. All of you,” she added, including the cats. “However, since my supper wound up on the floor, I really need to go in search of sustenance.” She gave Jellybean one last scratch under the chin before placing him on the couch and heading for the door.
“Abby?” Ryan called. “Would you like to help me with my project? It would go much faster with an assistant.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“Well, tomorrow is Saturday. I’m planning to go to the shelter and spend some time with the cats. I need to decide which ones I’m going to cast for the remaining roles. Once that’s done, the actual filming can begin.”
“I’m here to rescue you.” Lucas wandered to the door as if he were planning to leave with her.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Ryan stopped the tabby before he could escape again. “Since the recording devices are a bit of a bust, you could also help with the voices, if you’re willing.”
“Really? I’ve always thought it would be fun to do voiceovers.” Abby cocked her head and studied her new acquaintance. “Okay, I’m in. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m an early bird, so, just knock when you’re ready.”
o0o
Abby had just finished breakfast when there was a knock at her door. She looked through the peephole and saw Ryan, as expected. She took a few extra seconds to look him over in private and decided he was definitely easy on the eyes. When he knocked again, she realized she might have been staring longer than she thought. She smoothed her hair and ran her hand over her shirt checking for errant crumbs as she unlocked and opened the door.
“Good morning, are you re—” Ryan’s words fizzled as he stared, open-mouthed at her chest. “Holy video games! Is that a Massive Age of Dragons shirt?” He raised his eyes to hers. “You’re a gamer?”
“Yes. I take it you are too?”
“Absolutely. MAD is my all-time favorite game.”
“Mine too.”
“What’s your gamer name? We’ll have to play together some time.”
“No way.” Abby held her hands up to ward off the suggestion. “I don’t do multiplayer online. I’m a campaign girl only. By the time I get home from work, this introvert has had enough of dealing with people.”
“Oh, that’s a shame.” Ryan drummed his fingers against the leg of his jeans as he thought. “What if we just play campaign together? No online. What sort of character do you play?”
“I’m a spell-slinger. You?”
“I’m a warrior. We’d make a killer combination.”
“Tell you what, I’ve never played with anyone, but I’ll at least think about it. So, are you ready to get this party started?”
“Absolutely.”
“Let me grab my purse and we’ll hit the road.”
o0o
Several hours later, they returned to Ryan’s apartment armed with blankets, a rough draft of project plans, fast food, and two more cats.
As Ryan unlocked the door, he teased, “So, do you think you know me well enough now to actually enter my apartment?”
“I’ll take my chances,” Abby responded. “I don’t expect trouble, but I know if it manifests, Lucas will be there to rescue me. Or, so I’ve heard.”
“Well, he will be quieter now. I removed the voice unit from his collar. It got to be a little creepy hearing it at all hours of the day and night.”
“I can imagine.” Abby lifted her arms to display the cat carriers in each hand. “What do you want me to do with these guys?”
“Oh, hang on.” Ryan tucked the blankets under his arm and opened the door to his bedroom. Abby watched as he laid the blankets on his bed. He then returned to the living room, picked up Lucas and Jellybean, deposited them in his room, and shut the door before they could dart out. “Now, you can let them out.”
Abby set the carriers down and opened the door to the first one. The dainty calico inside stepped to the door, her nostrils flaring as she scented her new surroundings. “Welcome to your new temporary home, Princess Organza.” When she opened the second carrier a self-assured gray cat strolled out as if he owned the place. And you as well, Han Pawlo.” She nodded toward the bedroom. “What was all of that with the blankets?”
“The blankets are from the shelter and have the odors of the new cats. Lucas and Jellybean can now get used to the scents of Callie and Smokey while the newcomers get used to their smells out here. Tomorrow, I’ll open the door and let them meet face-to-face. Hopefully, by then, there will be a minimum of hissing and no bloodshed.”
“Sounds like you’ve done this before.”
“A few times.” Ryan checked to make sure the newbies were okay and motioned for Abby to join him on the couch. “Let’s get started.”
“With what?”
“Lunch and research.”
“What kind of research?”
“We need to watch Star Wars.”
“The original?”
“Not just the original–the original trilogy.”
“Sounds good. When do you want to do this?”
“How about now? Today? We’ve got lunch and can order in dinner.”
Abby cocked her head, grinning as Ryan added, “Pleeease?”
“You’re cute when you beg. Okay, I’ll stay.”
“Yesss!” Ryan pumped his fists in triumph. He patted the couch. “Make yourself comfy. I’ll start the first movie.”
“The least I can do is contribute some snacks. I’ll get them while you get set up.” Abby dashed across the hall to her apartment and returned within minutes with a cloth bag full of a variety of salty snacks, candy, and sodas. “Excuse me, Han.” She moved the gray cat off of the coffee table and spread the bounty out for easy access.
Ryan plopped down on the sofa, remote in hand, stared at the table, and selected a soda. “You had all of this at your place? How much junk food can one person eat?”
“When that person is me, quite a bit. In addition to being a closet nerd, I’m also a certifiable junk-food-aholic.” Abby snagged a snack-sized bag of cheddar cheese flavored potato chips and a diet soda and settled on the unoccupied end of the couch. Callie climbed into her lap before her full weight had settled.
“Ready, padawan?”
“Ready.”
When the credits rolled, it had taken them almost four hours to watch a movie that lasted just over two. They stopped the movie often to make notes for the project, and, in true nerd fashion, to debate the relationships between the characters and how they would have reacted in the same situations. Their discussions contained a lot of good-natured teasing and occasional popcorn battles. The cats were happy to dispose of any ammo not consumed by the humans.
“Okay, okay, I surrender!” Abby threw her hands up in defeat after losing yet another round of Star Wars trivia. She used the internet search feature on her phone to make sure Ryan wasn’t feeding her a line of horse hockey. He wasn’t. “You are indeed the master and I will be your student for years to come. But now, Obi Wan, I must go home. My apartment isn’t going to clean itself. What’s on the agenda for tomorrow?”
“I think we should start filming.”
“What happened to watching the rest of the trilogy?”
“We’ve got enough notes to get started.”
“Do you need some help?”
“Sure.”
“All righty, then. I’ll see you in the morning. Say, nine? Breakfast is on me. Callie, you have to move now.” Abby laughed when she looked down at the cat who had been in her lap almost all afternoon. She was now curled into a furry, multi-colored ball, the only distinguishing characteristics were the paw sticking out of the middle of the mass and the golden eye that stared unseeing. “You’re kind of creeping me out, you know.” Abby laid one hand on the cat’s side to make sure she was still breathing. Callie gave a deep sigh and pulled her paw back, covering her eye as if to block out the light.
“That, my friend, is a very happy cat.” Ryan leaned back against the arm of the couch, the corner of his mouth quirked up in a grin as he watched the couple.
“Can I ask you a question?” Abby continued to stroke Callie as she turned her attention to him.
“Sure.”
“Why do you do this?”
Ryan dropped his head, studying his fingernails. He took a deep breath before speaking. “I know how they feel.”
“What do you mean?”
“I lost my family when I was young. They died in a car accident. I was supposed to be with them, but wasn’t.” He laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “Devastating grief and puberty aren’t a good combination. I wound up in the foster care system and got passed around a lot.”
“How terrible!”
“I don’t blame the families. I acted out and pushed everyone away. Not everyone is willing–or able–to deal with that type of behavior. But, I was lucky. Eventually, I wound up with a family who wouldn’t let me go. They told me that they would love me, no matter what.” When he looked back up, his eyes were filled with tears. “And, they did. As soon as they could, they adopted me.”
After a moment, he went on. “So, I know how these guys feel. They just want someone who will love them. They don’t want to spend their lives cooped up in a cage or shelter. I found my new family. Now, I want to help them find theirs.”
Abby leaned forward and snagged a napkin from the coffee table. Callie grumbled as her human bed shifted. Moving the cat to the cushion she had just vacated, she turned her attention to Ryan, wiping away his tears. She then leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. The stubble of his whiskers was soft and damp against her lips. She wondered what his lips would feel like against hers, and pulled back before she could act on the impulse.
“What was that for?” Ryan raised his hand to his cheek, his eyes growing large in surprise.
“You’re a pretty cool guy, Ryan. I’m glad I met you.”
A rosy blush touched Ryan’s cheeks.
Abby patted him on the knee and stood up. “Now, I really am out of here. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Bye.”
o0o
“Knock, knock!” Abby sang out at exactly nine the next morning.
Ryan opened the door to find her holding a picnic basket in both hands.
“Come in, come in.” He stepped back, giving her room to enter. “You look like you’ve got enough food for an army.”
“I love to cook.” Abby smiled and ducked her head. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had a chance to cook for someone else.”
“Well, I’m glad I could give you the opportunity. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a home-cooked meal. What culinary delights await in yon basket, milady?”
“Ham and cheese omelets, pancakes, and bacon. We need to eat up while it’s still hot.”
“I’ll grab some dishes.”
“Don’t bother.” Abby opened the basket, displaying the plates and flatware stored in the top. “My basket comes fully equipped. Well, almost fully equipped. Mugs would be good. I have carafes of coffee and hot chocolate. Choose your poison.”
“Hot chocolate for me.” Ryan dashed to the kitchen, grabbed mugs, and then returned to the living room and cleared the coffee table, which still held snacks from the night before. He then helped Abby set everything out. They piled their plates with foods and balanced them on their knees as they sat on the sofa.
“You do know there are tables designed for the sole purpose of supporting plates while meals are consumed, don’t you?” Abby asked, swallowing a mouthful of omelet.
“Ooh, the lady is a smart aleck! If you are referring to a dining room table, what do you think is holding all of my equipment?” Ryan pointed across the room.
“Ah. Point taken. Tell you what, next time I cook for you, we’ll eat at my place.”
“Next time?”
“Sure. Why not? Even nerds have to eat, right?”
“Uh, yeah. Of course.” Changing the subject, Ryan said “Don’t look now, but we’re surrounded.” Four furry faces peered over the edges of the coffee table.
Abby paused in the act of putting a forkful of pancakes in her mouth. “Hey, the whole crew is in one room! When did that happen?”
“This morning. They hissed at each other under the bedroom door last night. I decided to let them meet face-to-face this morning. So far, so good.”
“I’ve been thinking. I think you should change the name of your movie.”
“Why? Star Wars, Claw Wars. It’s perfect.”
“Well, claws are sharp, pointy, and dangerous. Paws are soft and warm. Why not use Paw Wars instead?”
Ryan stared at Abby thoughtfully. “You might be right. Okay, Paw Wars it is.” They clinked mugs companionably.
When Abby moved to put her mug down, she noticed a black paw snaking onto her plate, heading for the bacon.
“Hey, Jellybean! What do you think you’re doing, dude?”
Jellybean didn’t comment, just licked his paw.
Ryan laughed. “C’mon, let’s clean up and start filming.”
“So, what exactly do my duties as your assistant entail?” Abby began stacking plates as she talked. “Do I escort the guests to and from the green room? Make sure they have bowls of green kitty treats, or what?”
“Nothing that difficult. I’ll get a lot of footage of them just doing what they do. But, I’ll also need you to stand behind me with toys and treats to help with action shots. Think you can handle it?”
“Point me at the toys and watch me work. You will be ah-mazed.” Abby removed a scrunchie from her pocket and pulled her hair into a ponytail.
Two hours later, both she and the cats were exhausted. “Cut!” Abby flopped onto the couch–after moving Jellybean to the side. He pulled himself into her lap and collapsed into a purring pile. “You never told me you are such a slave driver.” She glared at Ryan as he pointed the camera at her and continued to film. “Turn that thing off! You have no need for footage of me in a movie starring cats.”
“You’ll be in the part that shows after the credits. Audiences have come to expect extra scenes.”
“Whatever.” She began stroking Jellybean who turned turtle, inviting her to scratch his belly. She obliged. “Darth and I have bonded today. He’s a really cool guy.” Abby turned to Ryan, her expression soft. “Your movie’s already found a home for one cat.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I want Jellybean. He already has me wrapped around his paw.” She stroked the sleek black fur again. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, playing the role of a bad guy. You’re a total softie.” She looked back at Ryan. “What do I have to do to make it official?”
“I’ll let the adoption coordinator know. She’ll draw up the paperwork and you’ll have to answer so many questions you’ll think you’re adopting a human child. Are you sure about this?”
“Absolutely. I’m excited…I’ve never had a pet of my own!”
“Between your expression and your hair, you look like a big kid.” Ryan tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear. “But, no pets? Wow, I can’t even imagine.”
“My dad is allergic to almost everything with four feet so, our house was a fur-free zone. I’ve gotten so used to not having animals around that I guess I’ve never really considered getting a pet before. I may have to rely on your expertise sometimes.”
“Of course. I’ll be here whenever you need me. Now, have you got your second wind? We need to start looking through the footage to determine what can be used and what we still need. Excuse me.” The Imperial March began issuing from Ryan’s back pocket. He dug his cell phone out and glanced at the screen. “It’s the animal shelter director. I need to take this.” He swiped the screen to answer and wandered into the kitchen as he talked. When he rejoined Abby, his skin had taken on a decidedly grayish hue.
“Are you all right?” Abby struggled to move Jellybean, who was sleeping hard. He had gone limp and was about as easy to move as a sack of potatoes–if the sack was small and covered in slippery black fur. Giving up, she leaned forward and grabbed Ryan by the hand, tugging until he took the hint and sat beside her.
“That was Mrs. Hill.”
Abby nodded. “You said the director of the shelter was calling. What did she say that has you so shaken up?”
“She, uh…” Ryan stopped, cleared his throat, and tried again. “The shelter is having its annual fundraiser in three weeks. It’s a really big deal–it’s even black tie. They have all sorts of auctions and giveaways and all of the proceeds go to the support of the animals at the shelter.”
“Okaaaay. So far, I haven’t heard anything earth-shattering.”
“She wants Paw Wars to be the highlight of the night. What if it’s not good enough? What if we can’t get it finished in time? What if…” Ryan’s gaze darted from one place to another and he began jiggling one leg nervously. Abby wouldn’t have been surprised if he had gotten up and run out of the apartment.
“Ryan, look at me.” He didn’t respond, so she tried again. “Hey, you.” Abby placed her fingers under Ryan’s chin, forcing him to face her. “You need to breathe. C’mon. In and out. In and out. That’s right, keep going. Everything will be all right. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? You wanted your movie to find homes for these guys. What better place to show it than at the biggest shelter event of the year?”
“But, three weeks?” The color that had just started returning to Ryan’s cheeks fled as the hunted look returned to his eyes.
“Yes, three weeks. You don’t want to let the shelter down so, you work with what you’ve got. And, it’s not like you’re in this alone. I’m here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re done on time. Okay?”
“Okay.” Ryan took a deep breath, then reached over, took Abby’s hand in his and squeezed. “Thank you for sticking with me—and for talking me off the ledge.” He chuckled, the sound cutting off abruptly. “Oh no. It’s black tie and I don’t have a tux! What—”
“You know, I would’ve never guessed you were the panicky type. Breathe, Obi Wan. One crisis at a time. We’re going to start viewing the footage like you said we should and go from there.” She had unconsciously twined her fingers into his when he took her hand. She held their hands up where he could see them. “We’ve got this. Together.”
o0o
“Yoo hoo!” Dale Hill sailed across the crowded floor. A solidly-built, well-endowed woman, her bosom parted the crowd like an ice-breaker on a frozen sea. “Ryan!” She waved to get the attention of the star of the evening. “There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere. It’s almost time to start the movie. I’ll go on stage and get everyone to take their seats, and then I would like for you to do the intro.”
“Me?” Ryan squeaked, his forehead beaded with sweat. Abby was afraid he was going to pass out. If she had had a paper bag, she would have made him breathe into it.
“Well, of course, dear. You’ve done all of the work, it wouldn’t be right for anyone else to do it.”
Abby interrupted, extending her right hand. “Hi, Mrs. Hill. Remember me? Abby Sanders?”
“Of course, Abby! I could never forget young Ryan’s sidekick. How is Jellybean?”
“He’s spoiled rotten and settling in nicely. I don’t know how I ever lived without him.”
“Was it your idea to put a bow tie on Smokie and the pearls on Callie?”
“Yes, ma’am. This is a black tie event, so I thought they should be dressed for the occasion.”
“It was brilliant! It’s been a huge hit with the crowd.”
Abby placed her hand on Mrs. Hill’s arm and pulled her closer. “Ryan is more than a little nervous about all of this. Would it be okay if I do the intro? He’ll be on the stage with me, but I’ll do the talking.” She glanced over her shoulder at her friend. “I think there will be less chance of projectile vomiting that way.”
“Oh, dear. You may be right.” Mrs. Hill peered closely at Ryan. “I’ve never actually seen someone turn green before. Why don’t the two of you move toward the side of the stage? I’ll cue you when it’s your turn.” She turned to plow her way to the front of the room and stopped. “And dear? You look lovely.”
“Thank you.” Abby slid her arm around Ryan’s waist and pulled him into Mrs. Hill’s wake. “C’mon, Obi Wan. It’s almost over. All you have to do is stand beside me and look dashing in your tux. I’ll do all the talking.”
“You…will?”
“Sure. I don’t have any problems talking in front of people.”
“What are you, some sort of alien?”
“Nope, just a regular girl who is going to pull your rear out of the fire.”
“Thanks, Padawan.”
“Any time. Oops, there’s our cue.” Abby took his hand and started up the stairs. “Remember, I talk. You breathe.”
“Breathing.”
As they stepped onto the stage and into the spotlight, Abby raised her arm and waved to the crowd. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for your presence and your support for Unconditional Love Animal Shelter. My friend here, Ryan McAllister, has a heart for homeless animals and filmmaking. He had a wonderful idea and combined his passions into the film you are about to see. Now, without further ado, I present Paw Wars.”
As the crowd applauded, Abby steered Ryan off the stage and down the stairs as the lights dimmed and the movie began. They watched from the shadows at the edge of the room.
The crowd laughed as the electric sound of light sabers clashing filled the air. “Well, you were right.” Abby leaned in, whispering in Ryan’s ear. “I didn’t believe that Jedi cats were really a thing. I guess I owe you twenty bucks.”
“We’ll discuss the terms of your surrender later.” Ryan gestured to the crowd. “The important thing is that they’re laughing in all the right places!”
“Of course they are! You’re a genius.” She slid her arm through his and leaned her head on his shoulder as the film continued.
As the credits rolled, Mrs. Hill took to the stage again. “That was wonderful! Please, everyone give a big round of applause to Ryan McAllister and Abby Sanders for this wonderful presentation.” She pointed to their location and a spotlight searched them out, blinding them. They squinted and waved as Mrs. Hill continued. “Now, if anyone is interested in adopting any of the stars of our film, volunteers are waiting with applications at the back of the room.”
The members of the crowd got to their feet, laughing and talking. A line of well-wishers formed, congratulating Ryan, asking about his inspiration, and what it was like filming with cats. Abby stepped to the side and watched. Unlike when he was on stage, he was in his element, talking about his two great loves.
“But, I couldn’t have done it without Abby’s help.” He turned, searching for her, and smiled when their eyes met. He held out his hand, waiting. When she placed her hand in his, he pulled her to his side. “First, she rescued Lucas, the star of the film.”
“Actually, Lucas rescued me–or tried to, at least.”
“But, that’s another story. I think we’ll save it for the blooper reel. Believe me, we have plenty of outtakes.”
The crowd thinned out and volunteers swarmed the room, beginning the cleanup process. Mrs. Hill bustled over, brimming with excitement. “Ryan, you did it! We’ve got multiple applications for all of the cats. I’m sure they will all be in their furever homes by the end of the week. Get it, fur-ever?” She giggled girlishly, her gray curls bouncing. “I can’t wait to see what you come up with for us next!”
“Um, next?”
“Yes, dear. This was what you might call a rousing success and we have a lot more animals that need homes. The directors of several other shelters were here tonight and many of them expressed an interest in meeting with you. I think you might want to get some business cards, hon.” She bustled away to oversee the cleanup crew.
“Business cards? Me?” Ryan looked more than a little flabbergasted when he turned to face Abby.
“See what happens when you find–and follow–your passion? I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks. Are you ready to get out of here?”
“Sure. Where do you want to go?”
“Back to my place. You still owe me a game of Massive Age of Dragons.”
“Well, then. What are we waiting for?”
o0o
Two hours later, Ryan crowed in triumph. “Did you see those Unnaturals run?” He turned to grin at Abby. He still wore his tux, but had loosened his tie and unbuttoned his collar. “I told you we would make a great team.”
Abby had shed her funky purple shoes with the glittery kitten heels and sat on the all-purpose couch with her feet tucked under her. “Well, don’t get ahead of yourself.” She motioned to the screen. “These were just low-level flunkies. But yeah, between my spells and your sword, we will rule this virtual world.” She held up her hand.
Ryan slapped his palm against hers in a high five, then waggled his eyebrows. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Really? I love surprises. Where is it?”
“Be right back.” Ryan went to his bedroom and came back carrying Lucas. The cat opened his mouth in a silent meow of greeting.
“Lucas! Give me some paw.” Abby held her hand out, palm up. Lucas patted her hand and chirruped. Abby scratched him behind the ears. “What’s he doing here?”
“I decided to keep him.”
“I’m so glad! I’m sure Jellybean will be, too. Is this my surprise?”
“Only part of it. The rest is in here.” Ryan held out a small white box. “It’s from both Lucas and me.”
Biting her lower lip in anticipation, Abby opened the box and removed a delicate gold chain with a small box-shaped pendant.
When Ryan reached over and pressed a recessed button, a familiar voice issued forth. “I’m here to rescue you.”
“It’s perfect—thank you! Would you mind?” Abby gestured toward her neck and turned her back toward Ryan, inviting him to put it on her. The brush of his skin against hers as he hooked the clasp and smoothed the links sent a shiver down her spine.
“Um, Abby?” Ryan placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her to face him. “I’ve got a question for you.”
“What’s up, Obi-Wan?”
Ryan ducked his head, looking up at Abby through his lashes. “I couldn’t have finished this project on time without your help. You know that, right?”
“It was fun. I’m glad I got to be a part of it.” She placed her hand on Ryan’s knee and leaned forward so she could look him in the eyes. “I’m glad I got to know you.”
“Same here. That’s… sort of where my question comes in. It’s been fun working with you and getting to know you. I’ve grown to treasure your friendship. I was wondering if you might be interested in taking our relationship to another level.” He paused and swallowed. “I was wondering if you would like to be…my girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend, huh?” Abby sat back, grinning. “I don’t know. Mrs. Hill called me your sidekick–that position probably comes with a cape. What do I get with the girlfriend gig?”
“How could a cape possibly compete with this?” Ryan stood and gestured from the top of his wavy hair to the soles of the sneakers he insisted on wearing with his tux. He gave her the lopsided grin she had come to adore. “What do you say?”
“Well…” Abby got to her feet and faced Ryan. She liked the fact that they were almost the same height. “I thought you’d never ask.” She grabbed him by his collar and tugged, stopping his forward momentum with her lips. After a moment, she pulled away and looked him over with a newfound respect. “My, my. You have been hiding your light under a bushel, dear sir. You are quite the kisser.”
“Well, I don’t want to brag, but I am a man of many talents.”
“Such as?”
“I can’t just tell you all of my secrets. Where would be the fun in that?”
“True. But, don’t worry. I’ll get them out of you. Now, kiss me again.”
“You sure about this?”
“Yes.” Abby clutched the front of Ryan’s shirt with one hand while sliding the other into his hair. “These are definitely the lips I’ve been looking for.”
About the Author—Isabella Norse
Isabella Norse scored major "cool mom" points by playing the same video games as her sons and their friends. In these virtual worlds, she’s slain demons and destroyed machines bent on galactic extermination while simultaneously wooing cocky assassins and sexy aliens. She fell in love with the make-believe worlds and rich characters that inhabited them and now writes her own tales of love, romance, and adventure.
Still a gamer–and still cool–Isabella lives in Georgia with her husband and a herd of rescue cats.