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DogDay sat on the couch next to his roomate and best friend. He let out a sigh of relief, though it definitely seemed like it was held for a long time. The cat turned to him. "You okay?" He asked the spaniel.
DogDay tiredly nodded his head. "Yeah. Just tired. You know how life as an idol is." He said before thinking. "Actually, I guess you don't know but you can imagine it's pretty tiring." He said, letting out another big breath. "Glad I get to finally let loose for the night." He said.
CatNap nodded turning his phone off and setting it next to him on the couch. "Yeah, you work hard. Even for an idol. I told you to calm down a little." He scolded. DogDay let out a tired. "You know I can't let down my fans. They admire me. I have to give my best everyday."
CatNap rolled his eyes. "That mindset is gonna get you seriously burned out." DogDay snorted at the comment. "You say 'gonna' like it hasn't already. I'm so tired." He closed his eyes and layed on the couch for a few seconds. Only a few seconds.
"How's it feel being adored by millions?" CatNap's words brought him out of his almost sleep inducing state of relaxation. He shrugged. "It's nice knowing so many people care about me and my work." He looked over to the feline. "I told you, you should become an idol, too. I've read the lyrics you write. I've heard you sing and I've seen you dance. You're more than good." He complimented.
CatNap just shook his head. "You already know how I feel about that..."
DogDay sat up, a clear newfound energy in his eyes. "No, like, I'm serious, 'Nap. You would make such a great performer, and an even better artist."
"Really, DogDay, I don't wanna talk about this right now."
"Well I do." DogDay's voice was almost demanding that the conversation be had. "I don't get it. You clearly want to be an official established artist, you have the passion, but you won't let me help you. What's with that?"
"I just," CatNap made an effort to look everywhere but DogDay. He couldn't look the dog in the eyes when he was so passionate about helping. "I don't want to put myself out there DogDay. I'm weird. People are gonna call me weird."
"So?" DogDay cringed at the word 'weird'. "Who the fuck cares what they think?" He tried to put a hand on the cat's, but the feline quickly moved his hand away.
"I do, DogDay!" CatNap exclaimed, finally looking at the dog. "I—I release a song, then what?! Everyone hears the depressing ass lyrics, they call me a weird poser, the song does horribly, I'm a failure, and worse off than I am now!" He described how it'd play out. Or at least how he thought it would play out.
DogDay shook his head. "CatNap, why does what they'll think of you're music matter so much to you?" He asked with a frown.
"Because they'd be right...." He said. His voice was much quieter than before. "DogDay, you're a popular celebrity because you deserve to be. You're bright, fun, optimistic, hardworking... happy..." CatNap's voice was soft, no sign of bass or defense in it. Just his raw thoughts. "I'm nothing like you. I don't have that 'star power' that everyone knows you do. You were popular in school and you've grown so much as a person since then. I'm still.....me..."
The sound of absolutely nothing deafened the room. Air seemed to sit still for CatNap as held held the tears the welled in his eyes as he thought back to their school years. He was always teased, always picked on for being different. He was the only dark purple critter. He didn't blend with the other bright colored animals. He thought different. He struggled with classwork. School was traumatic for him.
It's what caused his anxiety.
"Hey," DogDay pulled CatNap's hands in his and sat up on the couch, looking at the cat. "You're nothing like me because you're you, CatNap." DogDay said. "Do you know why I befriended you in grade school?"
He took CatNap's silence for a "why?"
"Because you intrigued me. You were different from everyone else, yeah, but that just made you stand out even more!" He smiled. "'Nap, it's okay that you're not an uppity person like me. If everyone was optimistic and bright all the time then who would ground me when I'm too hyper?" He questioned.
His tail started wagging. "You're my anchor, 'Nap. The thing that reminds me it's okay to relax. It's okay to not be in 'performer idol mode' twenty-four seven. You bring me back to reality after a full twelve plus hours of feeling like I'm in a crazy lucid dream. I need that in my life. Everyone like me needs that in their life." He said.
CatNap couldn't help but blush at the way DogDay was still holding his hand and refusing to let go. The compliments made his long tail sway next to him ever so slightly. His welled tears weren't from sadness anymore.
"You're a perfect circle drawn by a left hand. A story that begins with the ending. A drop of water in a desert filled with the dryest sand. A beautiful dandelion in a garden of bland roses. And in this world filled with extras," DogDay gripped the cat's hands toghter as his smile widened. "You're my celebrity! The main focus! The one who my life revolves around!" He stated proudly.
He rubbed his thumb on the back of the cat's hand. "And who cares what extras have to say when you're the main character?" He asked the cat.
CatNap sniffled as a tear dropped down his face. Then a second. And a third. Soon tears were spilling out of his eyes like a broken faucet. Though tears were clouding his vision, the biggest smile he could muster had spread across his lips.
He engulfed the orange spaniel im the biggest, tightest hug he could. "Thanks, DogDay. You always know how to cheer me up." DogDay patted his back as he reciprocated the embrace. "It's my job as a best friend." He replied. "So... will you at least consider it? Not for me, not for others, but for you?" He asked.
CatNap pulled away from the hug, still sniffling. "I.... if I do consider it... I'll need some time to... think about it." He admitted, shamefully looking away from DogDay. "But still.... thank you for saying all of that. It helped put... things into perspective." He wiped his tears.
DogDay smiled at the implication that CatNap took his words to heart. He pulled the cat into another hug.
"You're uniqueness should be shared with the world." He stated. He tightened the embrace. "And when you decide to share it, I'll be you're main supporter,"
He felt his exhaustion from his long day finally catching back up to him, as the hug loosened ever so slightly. He closed his eyes and smiled warmly, cuddling into the cat.
"My celebrity."
Those were the last words he spoke before CatNap could hear the light snores coming from his canine friend. He smiled down at the dog and ruffled the fur on the top of his head.
"You're my celebrity, too, DogDay. Always have been. Forever will be."