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October - Freshman Year
Carina is a very empathetic person, anyone who knows her knows this. But she has always had a soft spot for animals. She is walking around campus on a cold day in October when she sees a kitten walking around and her heart breaks. She immediately picks it up and starts snuggling into her chest for warmth. Carina decides at this moment she is going to find a way to sneak this cat into her dorm. She isn’t sure how she is going to get it past the front desk and her RA but she is damn well going to try.
She has one of Maya’s track hoodies on that has a pocket in the front and sticks the cat in there she then takes her winter jacket and crosses it in front of her hoping to hide the bulge.
Carina walks across campus to their dorm with a sleeping kitten in her pocket hoping and praying she can get it in without anyone noticing. It does cross her mind how Maya doesn’t like cats but she is just going to have to learn to love them. This little kitty isn’t going anywhere and Carina doesn’t care what Maya has to say on the subject.
She walks into their building and smiles at the girl at the front desk as she walks to the elevators pushing the button. One down, she just has to make it to her dorm without running into her RA Lacey and all will be right with the world. Carina gets on the elevator and the door is about to shut but someone pushes the door open. It is none other than her RA and Carina immediately starts sweating hoping she doesn’t try to make small talk or notice her sweater is currently moving.
“Carina, hey. How have you been? I haven’t seen you or Maya for a little bit.” Lacey asks and Carina wants nothing more than to get off this elevator.
“Ciao, we’re good, finally starting to settle in which is nice,” Carina says the bare minimum hoping to get Lacey to focus forward and not on her. If she gets caught trying to smuggle in a cat they will get in some serious trouble, more like she will.
“I’m glad to hear it, you both are welcome to come to my dorm if anything changes ok?” Lacey asks and Carina nods, thankful when they finally arrive on their floor. Carina all but books it out of the elevator and opens the door to their dorm as quickly as possible.
Maya looks over from her laptop with a curious look on her face wondering what’s got Carina all frantic. That is until she notices something moving in her sweatshirt pocket, Maya immediately knows Carina is up to something but she isn’t sure she wants to know what.
“Oh, God. That’s your ‘I did something bad’ face.” Maya says.
“Cosa! What makes you think I did something?” Carina asks trying and failing to act cool.
“Well, my first clue is your sweater is moving, and don’t think I didn’t notice you stole that from me. I would like it back one of these days, it’s my favorite hoodie.” Maya says narrowing her eyes at her and pointing at her wanting to make a point.
“Okay I may have done something and you are not going to be happy when you find out what.” Carina says already knowing what Maya’s reaction is going to be. She takes out the kitten from her pocket and Maya’s eyes grow wide as she looks between Carina and the cat.
Maya isn’t exactly surprised this happened, Carina has always loved everything with her whole heart. Carina seems to have a huge soft spot for animals, Maya should have suspected this would happen. Maya wants to be angry she brought a cat into their dorm but the look on Carina’s face stops her. Carina looks so enamored with the cat and looks so happy that Maya can’t find it in herself to be upset.
“Why am I not surprised?” Maya laughs and stands up walking over to them gently petting the cat on its tiny head.
“Because I used to do this in high school and my mama hated it, remember that time I brought home two puppies because I found them in a cardboard box on the street? I was so sure I was going to get grounded for a month or more. Then we ended up keeping them and mama hasn’t complained since. She loves both of those dogs with her whole heart. That’s probably where I got this love for animals from.” Carina says smiling as she sees Maya pet the cat. Maybe this will work out better than she thought, maybe Maya doesn’t hate this cat so much after all.
“Yeah I thought your mom was going to murder you but Potato and Loui are the sweetest and cutest dogs around.” Maya smiles taking a step back and looking at Carina.
“I still cannot believe Andrea named the dog Potato and mama let him.” Carina rolls her eyes setting the kitten down on the floor.
“You have to admit though, that dog is the color of a potato plus I think it suits her. She sits around like a lump most of the time and is kind of boring, just like a potato.” Maya says knowing she’s not wrong but Carina isn’t going to see it that way.
“Whatever,” Carina grumbles sitting on the floor watching as the kitten takes in its new surroundings.
“I hate to say this, but you know we can’t keep it right? Not only will the litter box stink up the whole floor but this place is so tiny. Also, I don’t want to get fined for having a cat in here.” Maya says looking down at Carina and watching as her face falls knowing Maya is right.
“Io so, but I don’t even know who to give him to. All of our friends live in dorms, there’s no one we know who can take him.” Carina pouts getting sad knowing they have to give him away.
“What about that girl in our English class? The one who lives with her boyfriend in an apartment off-campus. She told me the other day they have been looking to maybe get a cat, this is perfect. I can text her and see if she wants him and they might be able to come and get him tonight,” Maya says not looking away from Carina.
“Yeah okay, she seems nice enough to take him,” Carina sighs as the kitten climbs into her lap and snuggles with her falling asleep. She hates the thought of giving this little guy up.
Maya is about to say something when the door to their shared bathroom opens and Andy walks in. “Hey Vic and I are going to that new Thai place that opened off-campus do you guys want to come?” Andy asks and then looks down to see what’s in Carina’s lap. “Is that a cat?”
“Yup, Carina found him and decided to smuggle him into the building.” Maya jokes as she finishes texting the girl from their class and Carina looks up to both of them.
“I had to! It’s so cold outside and this poor little guy was just wandering around campus. I couldn't bear to leave him knowing he might not make it through the night. So I brought him back here and didn’t think too much passed that. I did however take the elevator up here with Alyssa which was terrifying.” Carina says looking back down at the kitten slowly petting his back.
“Our RA Lacey?” Maya asks and Carina nods, “wow…You got lucky she didn’t notice although she is going here to become a vet so maybe she would have been a little more lenient.”
“He’s so cute!! Hello pequeño” Andy says picking him up disturbing his little nap and holding him in front of her face.
“Maybe Andy wants to take him!” Carina says not wanting to give him up, he is so adorable and she can’t seem to want to part with him just yet.
“I think you have forgotten that Andy also lives in these dorms as well and can’t have a cat either,” says Maya with a laugh and shakes her head watching Andy cuddle the cat into her chest just like Carina did.
Maya doesn’t understand people’s love of cats, she is more of a dog person herself if she is being honest. Cats stare into your soul and attack things and scratch, she doesn’t understand cat people. That’s one thing about Carina that she doesn’t understand and doesn’t think she ever will honestly.
“Right…he’s just so cute and I don’t want to let him go to Jessica from English class,” Carina says scowling at Maya not wanting to give him up.
“There’s nothing wrong with Jessica, Car. She is really sweet and wants to get a cat with her boyfriend, it’s a perfect situation for everyone.” Maya says sympathetic to Carina and her love for this cat but knows there is nothing they can do to keep him.
“What’s taking so long Andy I’m dying from starvation!” grumbles Vic as she comes into Maya and Carina’s dorm.
“Ohhhh look at this little guy! What’s his name?” Vic says petting his head with a small pout on her face.
“Okay let’s not get too attached, we are not naming him,” Maya says not wanting anyone of them to get too enamored with the cat. “I texted Jessica and hopefully and she said she can come to get him within the next few hours after her last class of the day.”
“Okay, but are we still going to that Thai place? Because I actually am starving,” Vic says moving on to the more important subject and the whole reason she came in here.
“Yes, let’s go. Do you guys want us to bring you back your usual Thai order home for you?” Andy asks setting the kitten back down on the ground. He started attacking the laces on Maya’s running shoes making the blonde smile more than she wants to.
“I’m game for Thai if you are,” Maya says looking to Carina who is smiling at the kitten from her place still on the floor.
“Yeah I’m up for Thai I’ll send you the money Andy,” Carina says grabbing her phone as Andy and Vic leave to go get the food.
“If you make friends with Jessica you can go visit him whenever you want, she really isn’t so bad. I don’t understand why you don’t like her,” Maya says as Carina stands up and Maya smiles at her as Carina sighs.
Carina pouts and looks up at Maya, “No va bene. I know we can’t keep him it just makes me sad that’s all. And it’s not that I don’t like her, but we had a group project and she didn’t do anything and now I hold a grudge against her.”
Maya laughs and shakes her head knowing Carina is the queen of holding a grudge but she thinks it’s cute, even if it’s a weird reason to not like someone.
“That’s hardly a reason not to like someone Car, but I also understand. Some kid in my psychology class did the same thing and I kind of hate him as well.” Maya says understanding the contempt for people who do that.
Maya smiles at the small pout on Carina’s face finding it adorable, she wishes she could tell her they could keep the cat. She would get over a fear of cats for Carina but she knows they have to get rid of him.
“I am sorry we have to get rid of him though, he’s kind of adorable.”
“Don’t lie, you have never liked cats.” Carina smiles and moves over to her bed jumping up onto it.
“I’m not exactly lying, he is cute, a menace but cute nonetheless.” Maya smiles sitting back down in her desk chair trying to move her laces out of the way of the cat but it only makes him want to play with them more.
Both of the girls laugh as Maya continues to lift her foot up watching the cat jump for it, there’s a knock on their door and Carina jumps down from the bed to answer it.
“Wait! What if it’s Lacey?” Maya whisper yells hoping the person on the other side of the door can’t hear her.
“I will distract her and you make sure she doesn’t see him. Sii calmo.” Carina whispers back with a smile on her face as she moves to the door. She looks through the peephole and sees it’s Jessica. Her heart drops but knows she needs to let her take him, he will be happier with her.
She opens the door and smiles at her letting her into the dorm, “I thought you weren’t coming for another hour or so.”
“I was but my class got canceled on account of my professor getting concert tickets and she needs to get there early. So I had time to come over here and get this little guy.” She coos and bends down picking up the cat and cuddling him.
Carina smiles, if she has to give him up it helps knowing she is giving him to someone who wants him. It makes her feel a lot better and happier she picked him up and brought her back to their dorm.
“I’m glad he has someone who wants him and seems to love him.” Carina says a smile on her face watching Jessica with him.
Maya looks to her and smiles knowing it's hard for her to see him go, she has always had such a huge heart and feels everything so strongly. Carina is such an empathetic person and feels everything so strongly.
It is what’s going to make her such a good doctor one day, her need to help anyone and anything. She cares so much for people and Maya loves this about her, it’s something that drew her to Carina in the first place. She watches Carina as she talks to Jessica about the kitten with a smile on her face and knows her best friend is the best person. She wouldn’t want to do life with anyone else in her corner.