Chapter Text
“Reggie, what do you have for me? Oh, is that a flower? That’s so sweet. Is there something you want to tell me?” Beatrice asks Reginald, as she pets him on his head and scratches under his jaw.
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And yes, that’s me.
Hello. I am Reginald Young the Third, Beatrice Young’s esteemed cat. Why the Third? It just sounds grand, don’t you think? I am a rescued black cat, and I like to think I rescued Beatrice from loneliness. Bringing her flowers and leaves seems to make her happy, or so she thinks, but I know I can do more.
What that is, I have yet to find out. For now, the simple flowers and twigs will have to do from my daily prowl. But I’m sure I’ll find something better for my worthy rescuer.
Beatrice takes a slow, deep breath and sighs.
“Those flowers cheered me up, Reggie. That meeting could have just been an email.” Beatrice continues to pet Reginald as she shares her day.
“What would I do without you?”
Reginald looks up at Beatrice with an almost quizzical look as if to say, “What indeed, human?”
Sigh. My rescuer needs to get out more and meet someone worthy of her. That is my goal in this life. She has her friends who visit her. Well, just one. Scary Lilith.
I think she needs someone who can understand her. Never mind, I’ll do what I can.
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Beatrice ponders her new problem with her computer as she sits in front of her desk. She absentmindedly scratches Reginald’s ears as he brushes against her pant leg.
He leaves the room and then silently steps out for his daily prowl. He leisurely walks around the yard, checking for new things he could bring home to Beatrice.
All was normal like always.
His ears twitch as he hears a commotion at the house next door. His tail straightens and points upwards as he lithely jumps up the fence to take a quick look.
New neighbors. Interesting.
He picks up his usual flower for the day and saunters back home.
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At the New Next Door Neighbor’s
“Can you pass me that screwdriver?!”
“Jeez, Ava, do you really need to be so loud?” Mary asked as she passed the screwdriver to her.
“You know how it is, Mary. I’m just so excited about the prospect of having a place I could call my own. Plus, this neighborhood seems so cozy. It feels like home.”
“I get you, Baby girl. I’m proud of you.”
“After bouncing from foster home to foster home. I almost can’t believe it! I just wish Shannon could be with us tonight, fixing up the furniture.”
“Well, you know how her shift is, Ava. But I’ll make sure she’ll be at the housewarming party.” Mary smiles at her.
“I know I can always depend on you, Mary.”
“Well, we’ve set up your bed so you have a place to sleep in. I have to go home.”
“Let me walk you out,” Ava says.
“Don’t forget, you’re on the evening shift tomorrow at the bar with Camila and Hans. Okay? See ya, Baby Girl! Don’t stay up too late!” Mary leaves in her Jeep.
Ava looks on and waves as Mary drives away. She turns around and returns to her house. As she walks through her door, she sees the lights next door and wonders who her neighbor could be.
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The next day at Bea’s House
The sound of a key turns in the door.
Who could it be at this hour? Who is disturbing my beauty sleep? Reginald yawned, ears pert.
“Beatrice! Beatrice! Open up! I know you’re in there!”
Ah. Scary Lilith.
He side eyes her intrusion as she opens Beatrice’s door and goes back to sleep, his tail whipping as he tries to fall asleep.
“Lilith.. It’s so early. I had a late night last night.” Beatrice mumbled, hiding in her blanket, her voice thick with sleep.
“Do you have a girl in there, Beatrice? You could tell me.”
“What?! No! I was just up working all night, Lilith. What made you think that?” The question rouses Beatrice from her sleep.
“This won’t do, Bea. It’s Saturday. We’re going out later. No buts,” Lilith said in an authoritative voice.
Scary Lilith’s taking my owner away for the night, then. Goodness knows she needs it.
Reginald curls back up in his corner and dreams of catnip and mice at his disposal.
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At Shotgun Mary’s (Mary’s Bar)
Ava rushed into the bar wearing a black blouse with colorful confetti over her white tank top.
“How was your first night at home, Ava?” Hans asked as he wiped down the bar and prepared the glasses for the shift.
“Oh, it was wonderful! Mary helped me set up my bed and some furniture. Where’s Cam? I thought she was supposed to be on shift tonight?” Ava replied as she was setting her stuff in the locker.
“Ah, she called and said she had an emergency with Todd and couldn’t come in, so she asked to switch shifts.”
“I see,” Ava replied, pouting a bit. She wanted to tell Camila about her new home, but that could wait. Their customers have arrived. Oh, it’s tall, dark, and broody, the one who was interested in Camila the other night. But she’s with someone hot tonight.
This should be interesting.
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At Bea’s House
“Hurry up, Beatrice! We’re going to be late!” Lilith hollered.
“Okay, okay, I’m just saving my work and closing my laptop. What’s the rush anyway?”
Lilith blushed, “I just want us to get good seats, is all.”
Beatrice raises her eyebrows in a curious blend of amusement and disbelief, a slight smirk playing on her lips. She shakes her head and just takes her keys and locks the door.
Something’s up, but she’ll have to wait and see.
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Beatrice and Lilith push the door open into Shotgun Mary’s.
“Go sit in that booth. I’ll get us the drinks. What’ll you have?” Lilith asked.
“Anything without alcohol. You go ahead and order whatever you want, I’ll be driving us home,” Beatrice replied.
She sat in the booth, taking in the rest of the bar. It was a nice place with lots of old memorabilia strewn about. She looks on as Lilith approaches the bar and orders from a very attractive bartender with a short bob, wearing a black polo shirt with colorful patterns. Her shirt is unbuttoned at the top and reveals some skin on her cleavage.
Beatrice blushes as she sees the bartender interact with Lilith. Did I just notice her cleavage of all things… She notices the bartender catching a glimpse of her and giving her a wink, too. She’s cute.
Did she just wink at me? She thought as her gay panic bubbles deep inside her, so she turned her eyes to her napkin.
Lilith walks back to their booth with their drinks, shoulders slightly slumped, her cheek muscles clenched as her fingers tightly hold their drinks.
“Here,” Lilith said, her voice flat as she slid Beatrice her virgin Cuba Libre.
“What did the cute bartender tell you that made you broody? She seemed nice.” Beatrice asked curiously as she took a sip of her drink.
“It’s nothing.” Lilith took a drink of her vodka, lost in thought.
“C’mon, Lilith, I’ve known you since we were kids. Something turned your mood sour. You were looking forward to going to the bar tonight.” Beatrice prodded.
Lilith rolls her eyes and sighs. “Fine…” She takes a deep breath and swirls her vodka before she takes a sip, then starts talking once more. “I saw a bartender here the first time I spotted this place. I just wanted to know her more.”
“Her.. She must be special. Plus, it seems you’ve finally gotten over your Adriel phase. I don’t understand what you saw in that guy…” Beatrice said with a shake of her head as she took a sip of her virgin Cuba Libre.
“Well, definitely over that basta—”
Bzzt Bzzt Bzzt…
Beatrice’s phone lights up.
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Back at Beatrice’s home
Mrrrgl…
Why, that seems to be my stomach, Reginald thinks as he stretches and yawns from his deep slumber.
Interesting, no food in my bowl, and oh, it's nearly 11 pm. Where could my rescuer be? She seems to have forgotten about poor old me… Woe is me. I’m about to die of hunger…
He stares at his food bowl and starts poking at his bowl as if he hadn’t been fed in days.
Oh, when will my rescuer come back? Surely, I couldn’t survive for longer… He thinks as he stretches out beside his food bowl.
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**** FILL REGGIE’S FOOD BOWL ****
Beatrice's eyes go wide as she grasps her phone tightly, then urgently whispers,
“Oh shoot! Lilith, I’m so sorry to interrupt your drink, but we have to go back home now.”
Lilith takes a quick sip of her vodka and stares deadpan at Beatrice, then says,
“What? Why? What happened? Is your house burning?”
“No, it’s worse. I forgot to feed Reggie!” Beatrice says as she continues to clasp her phone tightly.
“Your cat? Bea, I’m sure he’ll survive for a few more hours,” Lilith scoffed as she drank more of her vodka.
“But, he’s my family, and so are you. I couldn’t let him starve. Please, Lilith? We could continue this at home,” Beatrice pleaded with her doe eyes.
“Fine. One of these days, I’m going to turn that cat into a stuffed animal…” Lilith grumbles as she downs the rest of her drink and hands Beatrice her keys.
“You’re driving..”
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Ava looks over at the two sexy brunettes’ table as she hits a lull in service for the night. Her face falls as she sees an empty table with two empty glasses…
Oh, they left.
Ava moves to pick up the glasses and wipes down the table.
I wonder if I’ll see her again soon. I should have brought her a drink sooner.
She turns her attention to a tall, handsome, curly-haired guy who wants to order a drink and winks at her.
Oh, a customer; he’s kind of cute. Not as cute as her, though. Anyway, let’s go, Ava.
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