In a catgirl's arms (Closed for palemoon2035)

[HotKittygirl]

It was just a tremble of emotion, a sudden surge that made her eyes water briefly and her nose sniffle slightly. Jo was never one for tears, even in trying times she rarely shed tears. Her eyes would water and threaten though very rarely did a single tear trickle down her cheek. She never knew if that was a good or bad thing, after all being in control of one’s emotions was a good thing; then again was she really in control of them or simply bottling them up? They had to go somewhere, they didn’t just evaporate into thin air; just where did they go though? If Jo had to hazard a guess, it would be her stomach. The more she sat here and thought about it, the more it ached. Not like a stomach ache but just a uneasy quiver that wouldn’t go away and seemed to only grow more intense with each breath. Every time her stomach tensed it felt like it was too much, but time and time again it never came to that point and Jo continued to sit and think.

It wasn’t until she heard the flush of the toilet that she realized that Heather was even up. The soft shuffle of her fluffy slippers were easily caught by her feline ears, even underneath the confines of her hood. Seeing Heather shuffle about in those things was always comical, why she had to draw her feet when she wore them Jo never understood but it was adorable nonetheless. But at this moment there was nothing adorable about them, they were shapless and hazy in the darkness, as was Heather’s frame. From her place on the couch Jo couldn’t see her entirely, at least not without turning her head and giving away the fact that she saw her. Jo tensed up slightly as Heather made her approach and silently wished she would just go back to bed. The mood hung thick in the air as she did though, Jo felt the tension in her belly only grow. As much as she wanted to talk about the moment and work it out as a rational person would, something inside her instead recoiled as Heather sat and asked the pointless question. The TV was already off, the controller set aside even as Jo sat there with her arms wrapped about her legs. The position was more than a little defensive, Jo only tightened her arms and stirred ever so slightly as Heather drew close. The newly formed feline didn’t give Jo a chance to retort though, which was a good thing as Jo suddenly found herself without a voice. Even as her lungs expanded and her lips parted she found no voice, no words would come. Instead, Heather filled the silence that Jo refused to break.

She listened intently to what she had to say, her frame stirring lightly, her hands tightening upon the material of her sleeping pants to bunch them within her grasp. Jo bit down upon her bottom lip once more, her throat tightening as she swallowed and once more tried to find her voice. How could she have forgotten all about the trip? Through all the intensity of the day’s events somehow Jo had, much to her chagrin. She took a breath and released it as a quivering sigh, least she sniffle once more. Weakly she began to move, shifting upon her spot on the couch as she leaned back just a bit. She felt Heather scoot closer and her frame tensed instinctively once more.

“I…” Jo began, though the sound of her own voice threw her off and she lost control of it all over. That brought out a hint of anger, a certain fluster that caused her ears to twitch and her brow to furrow. The hood started to fall a bit as Jo straightened herself and found a hint of courage to finally speak once more.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” She finally got out, though even as she said it she wanted to desperately take the words back. She felt silly and childish, yet something kept her from going back, something stubborn and foolish kept her in this position, this mindset.

 

[palemoon2035]

Heather gazed upon Jo curled up on the couch seeming to be not much more than a round ball with a hood, but under that cloak of shadows she knew there was someone she cared about deeply. As hard as Jo may have tried to hide her tears, Heather heard her sniffles. It became more obvious to her that maybe Jo was more upset than she thought she was. This venture from the bed to the living room was supposed to be a recovery mission. All she wanted to do was make things better and get Jo back to bed.

Heather didn't bury her feelings. She understood the importance of expressing herself. And yet, she wasn't really any much better at these emotional moments than Jo was. She just wanted to fix things. She thought she just did, even though there wasn't much substance to the words she just spoke, she thought they were enough. Regardless of what happened, let's move on and be happy again. She hung on Jo's "I..." Hoping it would be followed by, "I...will be right there, just give me a minute." Still, Heather sensed that Jo was about to say something else. She knew she just swallowed her words.

Then she heard Jo say, "I don't think it's a good idea." She felt a chill run through her spine. Goosebumps covered her body, but not the good kind of goosebumps, the bad kind that only come when someone tells you news you don't want to hear. Not just bad news, aweful horrible news. She might as well have just been told that someone died. That is how terrified she suddenly felt. What could she have meant by that, not a good idea? Suddenly she wasn't sure if she was standing there in darkness to bring her lover back to bed, or to save their relationship. For at this moment, she thought Jo was saying that it wasn't a good idea to go to her parents' house tomorrow morning, or that morning rather as the wee hours morning had been slowly creeping their way in. Wait...

"Wait. Wha..." Suddenly she suddenly felt a tickle on her cheek, becoming aware that it was a tear followed by another tear soon thereafter. "What do you mean...not a good idea? You-" The words wouldn't come out. She knew what she had to ask, but she didn't want to know the answer. "You mean you don't think coming to bed is a good idea or you don't think coming coming with me to visit my parents tomorrow is a good idea. Because-" Because? Because why? Because not coming back to bed just meant she needed her space tonight. Because not wanting to come along tomorrow meant things were falling apart over a stupid bedroom game. Heather didn't want to know. She decided regardless of what Jo mean, she just didn't want to know.

She turned around and started to walk back to the bedroom. She felt that clump form in her throat just as Jo did. She hoped Jo wouldn't speak up so that she could make it to the bedroom before she burst into tears herself. She got to the doorway, saw her bed, cold and empty, and then she hesitated. Just for a moment... She wanted to give Jo a chance. If she had an answer, maybe now was the time to hash it all out, but if she didn't say anything, then it was safe for her to hide under the covers and cry herself to sleep. If anything was to come from a good cry, it was exhausting and made falling asleep just a little bit easier. So she waited for 5 seconds or so. She wasn't sure how long because it felt like hours. Those seconds dragged. The clock on the living room wall ticked. tick...tick...tick...tick...tick...

 

[HotKittygirl]

It was the kind of thing you said in the heat of the moment, or at least sounded better in your head. In truth, Jo didn't put much thought into the words at all, they just leapt from her mouth before her brain could fully absorb them. They came out and there was no taking them back, even if she followed it up with such there would be the inevitable demand of an explanation; something Jo simply did not have. She was at the point where nothing really made sense, perhaps it was the lack of sleep, perhaps she was just simply thought about it all too much. Heather started, there it was, wanting the explanation Jo couldn't provide, though she didn't wait long at all before she pushed up from the couch hurriedly.

Jo hadn't looked up, hadn't turned her head in Heather's direct, even still she could tell when she was getting emotionally. If Jo was the reserved one, Heather was more free with her emotions; or perhaps Jo simply recognized the emotion in her voice. You could just tell sometimes when someone was on the verge of tears or even already there. That in itself hurt Jo the most, despite the torrent of mixed emotions that ran through her the sting of Heather's pain was felt the most. With it though came denial and anger, instead of taking the pain she felt as it was Jo rationalized it as some sort of guilt trip; after all anger was always easier to deal with than saddness.

“Just go to bed,” Jo said suddenly as Heather made her way to the door of her bedroom and stood there for a moment. It felt like ages that she hovered there, obviously waiting for some kind of response. Everything couldn't be fixed with a smile, even if Heather and Jo wanted it to. The overreaction on Jo's part only intensified, first in the bedroom and now. She should have left it at that so, just told Heather to go to bed. She would cry, Jo would sulk and in the morning they would get it out of their system and be able to talk about it rationally. Of course, didn't someone somewhere say never go to bed angry? It was one of those sayings you remember but can never really pin down where you heard it. Her mother, maybe, in the days past when she was a young girl.

“I don't know what you expect from me,” Jo retorted before the logical thought processes could keep her from saying something stupid. The words burned like cold fire through her as she tensed and instantly regretted saying them too. Jo was on a roll tonight, saying idiotic things and just making the entire situation worse. The panic settled in and Jo took a breath and released it with a broken sigh, those piercing blue orbs flashed in the darkness as they finally settled on Heather.

“I...fuck...I don't even know what to say. You just think I'm making a big deal out of nothing,” There she went, throwing the blame elsewhere. It wasn't going to end well tonight.

 

[palemoon2035]

That was really all she needed. Jo told her to go to bed. A simple command that made things simple. Go to bed. There is something about a fight or argument that one has to understand. That is, no one really understands anything in the heat of the moment. Heather knew this. She knew she would say hurtful things she didn't mean. She knew Jo would do the same, but those words would still hurt. All of this would happen during any fight, but fighting this late at night, when both of them were so tired, well, that was just as bad, if not worse than fighting after a night of wild and crazy drinking. The words hurt more. You say more hurtful things. You can't make any sense of what you or the other person said. The fatigue seems to fuck with your brain's word filter.

So Heather took another step towards the bed. Happy it was over really. Then Jo had to say something else. Jo asked her what she wanted from her. Maybe that isn't what she meant, but that is what she heard. what do I want from you? She thought about repeating the question back. She had a hundred answers. Each of them, more hurtful than the one before. Her nostrils flared as many more tears started to trickle down her cheek...then both cheeks. What did she want? Love, forgiveness, cuddles, hugs, undertsanding, and a wonderful visit with my parents the next day.

"Nothing! Not a god damn fucking thing!" She stormed into he bedroom and slammed the door behind her. There was something else too that Jo said. Of course Jo was making a big deal about nothing. Jo decided she knew what Heather was thinking. That only pissed her off more, but that is why she slammed the door behind her. A moment of clarity reminded her that arguing when this tired was just not a good idea. She threw her slippers across the room, one at a time. Turning them into fuzzy weapons which the wall fell victim to. Fortunately, the only consequence was a muffled thud. Heather fell onto the bed. She let her tears flow as she looked around the empty room, overcast by the purple hugh of night. She closed her eyes and prayed that she would fall asleep sooner than later.

 

[HotKittygirl]

The slamming of the door settled the argument then and there. Jo resisted the urge to leap up from the couch and rush towards the door to get the last word in. Why people always had to do that was behold the feline at the moment. Instead, Jo simply slumped down against the couch with a exasperated sigh. She sunk into the folds of her hoodie and tried lose herself once more, not that her mind would let down for even a moment. She sniffed almost continuously, more than once she ran the back of her hand under her nose almost subconsciously.

After what felt like a retched eternity Jo felt the welcoming embrace of sleep seeping into her consciousness. Her eyes were so heavy she couldn't keep them open, though it felt like the just as she closed them the light from outside poured blindingly into the room. Just how long she dozed, Jo wasn't sure. One moment she blinked and the next the world settled into dawn, casting the annoying shafts of light and changing the entire shade of the living room to a off blue hue.

Jo moved and felt her stiff muscles resist, again she pondered just how long she sat there on the couch in that huddled position. Hours no doubt, her legs were stiff, her butt numb and her neck ached as she lifted slowly to her feet and stretched. Jo bent over herself to touch her toes, the thick black tail arched above her as she did and curled over her. She gave it a stretch as well before the tip thumped against the couch behind her as Jo righted herself. She felt a dull ache inside of her as well she couldn't quiet pinpoint, was it from no sleep or the over abundance of emotion? Either way it made Jo feel sick.

She fought against herself as she tried to come to grasp with last night, not that it really felt like last night, more like just a continuation of the same day a few hours apart. Numbly she stalked through the house, making barely a sound as she claimed the bathroom as her own and set about her business. It wasn't until she flushed the toilet that she really made any noise at all. The thought of a shower loomed over her briefly, though Jo had no energy for it and instead found herself in the kitchen. Her throat was parched and her lips dry, she must have dozed off with her mouth open, Jo thought as she licked her lips and tried to moisten her mouth. If she knew anything, Jo knew she would need some sustenance, not that her stomach was really rumbling for anything. She was never a morning person, her body simply hated to be up in the wee morning hours despite what time she went to bed. Breakfast was something Jo rarely partook of, more often than not she force fed herself something to keep going.

A quick investigation through the fridge and Jo found a can of caffeinated soda and a pack of English muffins. She cracked open the can and slurped it as she waited for the muffin to toast, her ears drooping above her wild, dark mane. She sat at the kitchen table and stared at nothing in particular, moving more on instinct than anything else. No doubt she should have thought of something to say to Heather when she finally emerged or even thought about what she was going to do with it all. Instead, Jo sat near comatose at the kitchen table, the only sound the subtle hiss of the opened can sitting on the table nearby.

 

[palemoon2035]

The last tears rolled down her cheek as her head lay on her pillow. She hoped that Jo wouldn't open the door. It had to be over. She was done for the night. She was physically and emotionally exhausted. She didn't mean those last words she spoke and she didn't want to say anything else that she didn't mean. The night seemed darker now. Heather closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

She opened her eyes and looked at the almost blinding bright blue numbers on the clock. She could have sworn she had only closed her eyes a few minutes ago. Hours, not just minutes, had passed and the first rays of sunshine rudely entered her bedroom to wake her up. Heather laid there, wide awake once again. The events of last night replayed in her head. Venturing out into the world for the first time with her new kitten features. It seemed like an eternity had passed since then. The fun they had in the club, the amazing sex that followed; it all seemed so long ago, overshadowed by the mistakes she made and the fight that followed. "I know better," she repeated to herself once more in a faint whisper.

Heather heard foot steps, then the sound of water running. Jo was awake. Would she take a shower? It didn't sound like it. She was in the kitchen now. Heather wondered how long she could stay in her bed and pretend to be asleep. Not much longer as she needed enough time to get ready for the visit to her parents. She decided she would make her way to the bathroom in stealth mode. A nice long shower wouldn't make everything better, but it sure would feel good. As she sat up, she heard a soda can pop open. Oh, Jo. There is a can of frozen OJ in the fridge. She couldn't help but giggle as she made her way to the door.

A moment later she took off her pink and purple plaid jammies and stood naked in front of the mirror. She admired herself, noting how much thicker her patch of amber fur had become between her legs. For the most part, her body remained unchanged. Her skin was still a milky pale white. That dark freckle was still on her right hip, and that mole was still placed perfectly between her belly button and left breast. She still had the after sex grime on all over her body. The wonderful mix of sweat and dried sexual fluids. She was sure that some of Jo was still on her. That made her smile.

A quick shower was all she had time for. There wasn't much time to enjoy the feel of the hot water on her bare skin. Besides, she didn't want to use up all of the hot water before Jo had a chance to shower. Assuming Jo would shower. She was about to meet her parents for the first time. She could at least have the decency to shower. Heather rinsed off the last of the suds as she dreamed of Jo jumping in with her. Then, she asked herself the question. Were they still fighting? Or was it over? God, I hope it is over. Of course, for it to be over, someone must end it, and no one said anything to end it. What did I even say last night? Shit, something, god damn...I don't want anything from you? Did I make any sense? I want everything from her? And I want to give her more! Jeez, I am a fool. The thoughts raced through Heather's mind as her soaking wet tail drooped down between her legs.

She stepped out of the shower, dried off, and put on her robe. It seemed her slippers forgave her for being thrown across the room, as they let her slip them on without a fight. They kept her feet snuggly and warm as she made her way to the kitchen. She gave Jo an awkward smile and went into the cupboard, seeking coffee and filters. "Ah, the breakfast of champions." She mocked Jo's choice of early morning soda in her usual playful way. A little joke couldn't hurt. She made her coffee, all the while saying nothing else and avoiding eye contact. She knew she should say something, but she didn't want to continue the emotion of the night before. She didn't want to fight. Still, she wanted to get everything out and help Jo realize everything was ok. Everything is ok...isn't it?

"I left some hot water for you." Heather winked at her lover as she sipped from her favorite Mickey Mouse mug. It was cracked and chipped, but a rare find since The Disney Company stopped selling Mickey Mouse merchandise, claiming he lost his appeal many generations ago. She decided not to bring up anything until the car ride. Three hours in a car would be the perfect time to sort things out. A car ride was the perfect place to have a deep discussion. Wasn't it?

 

[HotKittygirl]

The last thing on Jo’s mind was a shower. She was, well, a little flighty at times and when she really got to thinking on something little things that normal people took for granted simply evaded her. Left to her own devices no doubt Jo would have just sat slumped in the chair for an hour or two and let the soda go flat. Even as she sat there now the mechanic clink of the toaster behind her went unregistered by those feline ears, which drooped considerably from that wild mane of ebon. She had lost all track of time, at least, until Heather emerged from seemingly nowhere and made her opinion known on her choice of early morning beverages.

The scent of her soap suddenly assaulted Jo’s senses, one ear twitched and perked and the other folded back against her hair as Jo roused from her daze. Had she been thinking? It felt more like she had fallen asleep in all honesty, the idea of eating something to settle her stomach was all but forgotten as she shifted in her chair and sought an answer to Heather’s comment. Normally she would have went along right with the playful tone, though Jo felt somehow awkward now as Heather went about her morning rituals. She at once both wanted to say she was sorry and tell Heather to mind her own business; how those two thoughts came up at once Jo had no idea.

“Yeah,” She managed to say at length, a finger twitching as she started to make a grab for the can but then thought twice about it. Her mouth felt dry and icky, Jo suddenly realized even as her mind tried to find something else to say. Was everything alright? Were they just going to act like last night never happened? She wanted to ask, to see just where the two of them stood, though the emotional high from last night had been worn away with lack of sleep and the general strain of the moment. Jo was far from the confrontational type, if something bothered her she was more apt to simply ignore it and never bring it up again. That was how she handled most situations, instead of fighting she would simply walk away. And at this moment, she could think of nothing else to do. Now that Heather was up and about, especially in the kitchen, it was the last place Jo wanted to be. Slowly she pushed up from her place at the table, her legs feeling a little weary still.

“Alright,” Jo finally retorted as she circled the edge of the kitchen table and simply disappeared around the corner. The English muffin was still in the toaster, no doubt turning a nice dark brown and soon blackening, along with her soda she took a few sips from. Without a second thought Jo made her way into the bathroom and closed the door sharply behind herself. The room was still moist from Heather’s shower, it hung in the air like a curtain and clung to Jo as she moved. Slowly she wiggled and slipped off her bulky attire, leaving her bare and feeling more than a little vulnerable. Doubt was a horrible thing, more often than not the worst enemy a person could face was themselves. Jo couldn’t help but stop in front of the mirror after she started up the shower. Those blue eyes were a little less shimmering and piercing than normal, now they were more of a matte blue rimmed by red. She blinked them several times before she let her gaze trail over her naked frame and began to analyze herself, critical as ever. Just what Heather saw in her skinny frame she couldn’t fathom, compared to her lover she was a shriveled stick. Of course Jo didn’t take into consideration her modest bust line or her frame that was more athletic and lithe than Heather. It was simply how she was made, the feline splicing didn’t help that svelte body type either. Still, Jo was looking at herself through a overly critical lens, judging herself when no one else ever thought to. How long she stood there looking at herself was anyone’s guess, though by the end of it her mood wasn’t any better.

She took far longer in the shower than she really needed to, simply sitting under the constant stream of water and letting it pelt her hair and roll down her shoulders and neck. It offered little comfort though, but it did offer plenty of time to stand and think…something she was doing far too much of as of late.

 

[palemoon2035]

"You can finish your so–" Heather didn't mean to imply that Jo should drop everything and shower. Her breakfast, no matter how unconventional, was still something she should finish. After all, Heather would never admit this to Jo, but before she drank coffee, she had two sodas every morning, accompanied by a mass produced, preservative heavy, possibly toxic, cinnamon roll, wrapped tightly in cellophane, purchased from a vending machine. That was what you ate when you were in college. Then, one day she decided she was an adult and adults drink coffee.

Heather leaned up against the counter as she sipped her coffee. She heard the water turn on and she closed her eyes. She imagined Jo in the shower at that moment. She might have been standing there sulking, but she looked cute when she sulked. Heather couldn't help but let a little lust bubble up from deep inside her. Despite the current fight...or whatever it was, Jo was still sexy as hell to her and she longed to continue what they started last night. Heather pictured Jo and her skinny little naked body letting the hot water run over her skin. She would be all sudsy by now. Her little pink nipples glistening. Washing off the grime of sweat and sex. The remnants of her tears just rinsing away. She must smell wonderful. Like flowers or burnt toast. Burnt toast?

Heather's eyes opened and darted to the toaster. The potent smell of blackening English Miffin filled the kitchen. "Fucking toaster!" It hadn't popped up like it was supposed to in over a year. You had to watch it carefully or the bread would stay in there burning all day long. "Damn it, Jo!" She unplugged the chrome bread torturing device, opened the window, and threw the whole thing out. It plunged down a story leaving behind a trail of smoke. Maybe there was a hint of rage that carried over from last night that she channeled at that moment. The toaster caught the brunt of her misdircted anger and suddenly found itself shattered on the asphault below. Heather just smiled, happy and ready to buy a new toaster. That felt good.

She figured they would just stop somewhere for breakfast. She looked at the clock and suddenly panicked. If they were going to get there in time for lunch and stop for breakfast, then they needed to leave in fifteen minutes. She downed the rest of her coffee like it was a shot. It burned just the same as liquour would have, but didn't leave her with that same mellow feeling. Instead, her heart was racing. She darted back into her bedroom. She grabbed her overnight bag and just started grabbing clothes from her dresser. A bra, panties, socks, a pink v–neck T. "No, not that one." She went to the closet and found a gray shirt with pink flowers that she liked much better. Her tail whipped around as she pulled a pair of dark denim jeans up her legs. They had whiskers embroided on the rear and the back of the waist had a unique dip sewn specifically for her kind...the kind with tails.

Heather took a look at the clock again. Five minutes passed. How did five minutes pass just now!? She heard the shower still running. She went back to the "weathered" black dresser and pryed her fingers into the top of the drawer with the broken handle. The drawer she left for Jo was pretty empty, save one pair of underwear and one outfit. She grabbed whatever was there and went to the bathroom. She knocked on the door and peaked her head in. "We gotta run hun. I'll put your clothes right here on the counter and meet you in the car." It porbably wasn't best to have to rush when they were both still emotional. Heather knew she felt a little on edge so she was sure Jo was on edge too. Still, they had some place to be and who knew what traffic would be like. It seemed like every day a large number of "pure" humans were fleeing the city, clogging up the interstate.

She threw her purse over her shoulder, her bag over the other shoulder, and shot out the front door, not before giving the apartment the once over to make sure their weren't any other appliances left on that could cause a fire. She ran down the same stairs she and Jo chased eachother up the night before. This time she didn't hesitate to exit the apartment building. Her shoes splashed in puddle after puddle as she walked a block to the car. The joys of apartment living meant street parking. Something she had gotten used to over the years. She plopped into driver's seat of her little red bug. The car was old as hell, but she liked retro. She felt justified in retrofitting the thirty year old car with an electric drive system.

Perhaps it was rude of her to leave the apartment without waiting for Jo, but she wanted...needed a few minutes by herself to gather her thoughts. It was very possible that everything would be fine. They could just go on and not say another word about last night. They would drive in silence until a silly song came on the radio and they would both laugh as they belted out the words togther. Heather didn't work that way though. Deep down she would wonder how badly she had hurt Jo and it would bother her that she never said she was sorry. Something had to be said. An unsettled argument was like a splinter. There are those who, when they get a splinter, they leave it be. They would rather not pull it out because it hurt a lot to push it up and pull it out. It was easier just to leave it in and accept the minor discomfort. She saw Jo as one of those types of people. Heather, on the other hand, knew that if you leave a splinter in, your body will still find a way to absorb it or push it out in a much more painful and unhealthy way. Worse yet, it could lead to infection or poison you. Heather couldn't leave it in. She would rather experience the extreme pain of digging that son–of–a–bitch out, rather than suffer the long term effects. She knew it would feel better in the end.

So as she waited behind the steering wheel, she gathered her thoughts. As Jo was upstairs finishing her shower, perhaps wondering if she left without her, Heather was thinking about what to say. She would say she was sorry. She would tell her she loved her, and she would say many other wonderful things to her. Heather thought up the most eloquent of speeches. Yes! She played it all out in her head and she had put together the perfect words. It was like poetry. She knew exactly what to say and how to say it. She knew she could make this right. She had the words ready in her mind. This was to be such a meaningful discussion that would provide such profound insight into the events of last night and the future of their relationship. Of course, planning what to say and then actually saying it were two different things. Heather forgot that for a moment. She smiled and tapped her fingertips on the dashboard as she waited...

 

[HotKittygirl]

How long Jo stood there in the shower with her head resting against the tiled wall she didn’t know. The world just melted away in those moments as the steaming hot water ran down over her pale flesh in rivulets, leaving a rosy hue in its wake. Jo enjoyed the ambient warmth that surrounded her fully and let it soak into her fully, even as her mind waged war with itself. There was nothing to be gained from over analyzing the situation after hand, every thought that came to mind was all but forgotten a second later or a another contradictory idea bubbled to the surface. In the end, Jo was left as undecided and helpless as she was when she entered.

All that came crashing down as Heather simply emerged unannounced, violating the peace that Jo had sought for herself. Somehow, she had forgotten about it all for a few minutes, the very thought of getting in a car and driving for hours and hours sent a cold chill down Jo’s spine the steaming hot water could do nothing to settle. All too quickly Heather emerged, stated her mind and placed Jo’s clothing on the counter.

“Wait,” Jo said sharply, perhaps a bit too sharply. Her answer was only the constant rush of water from the shower faucet. “Heather.”
Jo said again, giving herself just a minute before she turned and stuck her dripping wet head out of shower, only to find the other feline was gone. She saw her clothing, neatly folded and stacked on the counter. It was obvious Heather had done such, though Jo wasn’t sure if it was instinct or not. Jo rarely folded her own clothing, the drawers of her own dresser was a clogged full of crinkled shirts and unfolded pants. It was more often than not a crap shoot as to exactly what she would find to wear on any given day; organization was not one of Jo’s best skills.

The sight was an unwelcomed one, the very idea of being rushed once more into a situation she wasn’t comfortable with made Jo feel the horrible panic all over again. Anxiety was a horrible feeling, that clutching in ones chest, cold claws sinking into ones heart. The more one would breath the worse the sensation felt, Jo never found trying to slow her breathing worked as everyone always told her. Suddenly, Jo was put on the spot all over, the panic came and with Heather’s absence it was quickly replaced with anger.

“Fuck,” She said under her breath as she disappeared back into the shower. Hurriedly she snatched up Heather’s body wash and squirted it into her hands. Jo was use to a bar of soap and a wash cloth, the idea never really came up unless she was in this position though. So she used her lover’s showering accessories to full effect, getting a good lather going before she washed her hair and rinsed the dried perspiration and passions from her frame. Jo was left refreshed, if only slightly for a few moments, much to her own chagrin. Sometimes people just wanted to sulk in their own self pity and resisted the most rational thoughts and ideals of addressing or fixing just what they were sulking about.

With a sharp squeak of twisting metal Jo turned off the water and slipped out, dripping and glistening in the bright light. She snatched up a nearby towel and proceeded to dry herself off as best she could, taking her time to run the towel over the length of her tail to dry it thoroughly. It was an interesting additional to the cleaning ritual, another appendage to take care of and ensure its needs were met. Normally Jo would use a hairdryer to dry it, but at the moment Jo felt rushed and instead simply towel dried herself. The unfortunately side-effect of such left her tail uncharacteristically fluffy. For the moment Jo couldn’t be bothered with it, despite giving herself another once over glance she set to getting herself clothed and ready.

Jo’s sense of style was simple, more often than not it was jeans and a t-shirt. That was exactly what she had left in the drawer than Heather had given her, a pair of jeans that were more tight fitting than the baggy pair she had worn the night before and a baggy black T-shirt with the words ‘+1 T-shirt’ printed in white over the bust. Jo had tried to explain the reference to Heather once, the look on her face when Jo told her how it was funny and related to Dungeons and Dragons was well, priceless. The thought came to mind readily as Jo wriggled into the shirt and slipped from the bathroom barefoot. Silently she padded over the floor into the bedroom, only to find it empty as well. Heather was gone, no doubt to start the car up and get it warm. Jo found her boots where she had left them and after slipping on her socks she laced them up slowly but surely. It took a few moments to remember just where Jo had left her bag, which she eventually found near the door. It contained the rest of her life, her book, wallet, cell phone, and other items needed for daily life. Jo snatched it up along with her jacket before she followed Heather’s path down the stairs and out the door. She made sure the door locked behind her before Jo set down the street only to realize that she had done an inadequate job of drying her hair. She felt the chill of the morning with a shiver as she hurried her step just a bit more.

It wasn’t long before she caught sight of the smoke billowing up from the back of the familiar red car that Heather so loved. Jo never could grasp why it was so endearing to her, a car was a car to her blue eyes. Jo herself didn’t own a car herself and rarely drove, though she still had her license. Jo unconsciously slowed her pace as she approached the side of the car, a sudden inner debate welling up once more as she did. The unmistakable beauty that was Heather waited within, Jo’s keen gaze caught the fingers rapping lightly against the dashboard. Jo felt the apprehension settle in uncontrollably as she approached and came to stand beside the door to the passenger side door. One part of her wanted to just walk away, to go home and do exactly what, Jo wasn’t sure. The day was going to be long, a change in the ritual of normal day life.

The bag felt suddenly all too heavy in her grasp and Jo’s throat felt a little too tight. She stood there only for a few seconds, though it felt like several long minutes of indecision. No doubt Heather had seen her by now. Jo was put on the spot all over, it was do or die, call it quits or balls to the wall. With a gentle breath Jo released a light sigh that almost sounded like a mew before she closed her eyes and swallowed down that anxiety. Perhaps a little too quickly Jo snatched up the door handle and flung it open before she threw herself into the seat. She slammed the door closed and plopped the bag aside before she almost shyly offered Heather a side long glance.

“Let’s go,” She said softly before she cringed, finding her own voice all too soft and pathetic. Jo cleared her throat and instinctively reached up to brush a wayward strand of black hair from her face. “If…yer ready I mean…”

 

[palemoon2035]

Heather wasn't sure how long she had been waiting. She had gotten lost in her thoughts. That was the point after all. Escape down the stairs and into her little red bug. A Volkswagon of tranquilty. There was something that felt so safe about being alone in an unparked car with the doors locked. It was her own little safe haven, even for just a moment. She had solitude during which time she had managed to roleplay the entire upcoming argument in her head. Lost in a daydream, she didn't see Jo walking up the sidewalk towards the car. "You're right. This is so silly," imaginary Jo said in Heather's head before she winked and leaned in for a passionate kiss.

Heather snapped out of it just as the real Jo walked up to the passenger side door. Her heart sped up again as she noticed Jo stand there and hesitate to open the door. She began to regret rushing to the car to think, rather than waiting in the apartment. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now she wondered if Jo might have minsinterpeted this act as well. There was no time for anymore regret as the handle suddenly clicked and the door flung open. There was a rush of cool damp air, disturbing the warmth of the cocoon that Heather had just gotten comfortable in. Suddenly Jo was plopped down next to her.

She didn't look over at Jo until she spoke softly. "If yer ready?" She couldn't help but perceive that comment as sarcasm. A jab for leaving her in the dust. Even if her tone gave no hint of sarcasm, Heather's guilt put it there. She looked over with a sort of pout as Jo brushed her hair aside from her face. Her face, her beautiful face. She wanted to tell Jo how beautiful her face was. How beautiful every part of her was. Instead, she looked forward beyond the windshield. "Of course I'm ready. Now we have time to stop for breakfast."

She reached over and grabbed the shift. She tried to step on the clutch with her left foot, only to be reminded the clutch had been removed. "Stupid retrofitting electric piece of shit system," she grumbled as she threw the car into drive. She learned how to drive manual and much preferred it. The fact that even an "antique" car had to be changed in such a way annoyed the hell out of Heather. It wasn't that she was some kind of car freak. She didn't know the first thing about how the car worked. She just liked old thigs and felt that if something had a certain charm about it, it should be left alone. A car that was manufactured nearly forty years ago, should be left as it was. Not changed to meet some pollution standard decided on by some stupid politician. Probably the same politician who wanted to outlaw gene splicing. They just didn't understand. Still, it was what it was, and she still had her little Beetle which she pulled out into the street.

Something else didn't quite feel right, aside from her old car molested by modern engineering. Well, two things didn't quite feel right. For one thing, this was the first time she had driven with that tail pressing into the seat. It seemed to have a mind of its own again, wiggling around as if it was struggling to find room and space to breath. The amber colored tip whipped against Jo's thigh. She felt it, her tail telling her that Jo's thigh was solid, tone, and sexy. It was strange that this tail of hers could tell her that, but it was her own appendage now. A new digit that could explore a lover's body. She ignored it all though...or at least she pretended to. Her eyes stayed on the road, but driving was far from the first thing on her mind.

What else didn't feel right? They were both anxious, upset, and other than a few awkward exchanges, silent. Heather thought about what she had planned to say. She had it all figured out, but butterflies were filling her tummy. Her heart was racing. Suddenly all of those words that fit perfectly together in her imagination started to fracture and fall apart. The poetry she thought she would recite, that would make Jo smile and forgive her, started to fade. Suddenly, Heather didn't know what to say. Suddenly, the double yellow line and upcoming red light was all she wanted to focus on. The long line of brake lights on the on ramp didn't make her feel any better. More traffic meant a longer drive. Now, she just wanted it to all be over. Arguments aside, she decided she wanted to be in bed right now, laying next to Jo. She imagined how it would feel to be back in her childhood bedroom with the love of her life. It was only a double so it would be tight, but they could stay close and cuddle all night.

Alas, they weren't in bed. They weren't cozy. They weren't even talking really. Instead they were creeping up on a line of cars that weren't moving. "So much for breakfast." There was nothing but frustration in her voice. She needed more coffee and she was starving. "I don't know why they have to flee like we are carrying the plague. They aren't any better than we are, ya know." She turned to glimpse at Jo for at least a nod of sympathy. "Fuck, I'm hungry." She could have said something else. Maybe I'm sorry. But she wasn't ready. She was going to talk about last night, but not yet. After more coffee. After the traffic let up. After her heart slowed and she could remember at least half the words she had planned to say just fifteen minutes ago.

"My parents are gonna love ya, Jo." She wasn't sure where that came from, but it was something. It was a start. She was really just fishing for a smile from the woman she cared about more than anyone.

 

[HotKittygirl]

The little red bug started off with a grumble, at least from its driver. The idea of retrofitting a car was beyond Jo's capabilities of imagining, it seemed like a waste of resources that could otherwise be spent elsewhere. Of course, she was not Heather, some things just had certain sentimental value; like they always said, one man's junk is another man's treasure. But why did it always have to be about a man? Greedy little pigs, always out for themselves.

That was how Jo's mind worked sometimes. Already she was thinking about her rather unimpressive experiencing with the other gender. She hadn't always been attracted to females, though Jo came to the rationality that she simply didn't know she did. It was expected of you to be with a guy, that was just how it was; of course Jo never saw things exactly how they should be. It was the curse of her life, to never be understood by those that were suppose to care for her most. But did she let that get to her? For the most part the answer was no, but nobody was perfect, no body could be an island onto themselves forever. If anything it left Jo with an inflated sense of insecurity even about things she shouldn't be.

How she got from a car, to men, to her own sense of self was a lurid process, Jo didn't even realize she was thinking about it until the car came to a sudden stop. Those piercing blue eyes, well, they weren't that piercing today, blinked a few times before they focused on the myriad of different shaped red lights flickering and glaring at them for miles upon miles.

Just what the two of them needed was traffic.

Jo felt the anxiety all over again as her fingers curled into the sleeves of her jacket and that bottom lip was gnashed upon something fierce. A nasty habit, one that really had no particular connection with one mood. Jo did it more often than not when she thought.

At this moment she thought heavily, though anything lucid was much to difficult to form. Jo was many things at this moment, tired, achy, worried, anxious, angry, and hungry to name a few. The thought of food, despite the awkwardness of sitting down and eating together would bring, was a primary thought for the feline. But the thoughts were diminished by the sight of so many tail lights. As if the very word awoken something Jo felt her own tail twitch and move. Car seats were not made for people with appendages such as she currently had. It was difficult to find the proper position where it wouldn't pinch or be uncomfortable. Her hand rose to instinctively reach for the nearby tail, only to find the tuft at the end was not black as her own was, but amber.

Her fingers instantly hesitated as she realized the tail as Heather's and not her own. Indecision reigned as to what to do about it exactly, should she push it off or touch it, offer a pet and a stroke? Both seemed like logical choices, the latter unfortunately did not fit the situation or her current mood. With another nibble of her bottom lip Jo forced her attention away from the tail and out the passenger side window. Her hair once more fell out over her cheeks, the bangs nearly touching her chin. As much as she would brush them away they would just fall back down a moment later, that was just how Jo's hair did things. It was always wild and wind swept, a moment after she brushed it those short locks would be ruffled all over again.

Jo had nothing to say to Heather's comments about the humans rushing away from the city. They were still human too, after all, weren't they? Just slightly altered, slightly different but still people. Jo pondered the thought as her fingers played over the curved metal lining of the door, unconsciously trailing her fingertips over it again and again.

It wasn't until Heather finally said something about her parents that the whole journey ahead of them flashed in Jo's mind once more. She took a breath and released it with a sigh, the kind someone did when they tried to calm themselves. Indecision reigned supreme once more as Jo visibly tensed in her seat.

“Do you think this is really a good idea?” Jo finally blurted out, just like last night, the words came before she realized she was speaking them. One blunder, one mistaken, could she leave it hanging out like that?

“This trip. I mean. After...” Jo started to explain her intent though as she brought up the night before she couldn't even find it in herself to say it. Instead she bit down on her bottom lip and looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

 

[palemoon2035]

Heather's knuckles turned whiter as her entire body tensed upon hearing those words again. Her hands clenched the steering wheel like a sixteen year old would when they pull out onto the road for the first time. But this wasn't anxiety she was feeling, it was anger...rage at the idea that Jo didn't want to meet her parents. No, that wasn't what she said, but that is what she meant. Heather was sure of it.

She found humor was always a good way to deal with discomfort. "This isn't a good idea? I think you said that last night. Jesus, Jo, you sound like a broken record. Let me fix that for you... Oh, do you even know what a record is?"

Was that even humor? It sounded more like a personal attack. Heather regretted every word she just spoke. How did she jump to criticizing Jo for her lack of appreciation of old things? Or worse yet, she realized she had insulted her lover's intelligence. She didn't even knew that assumption was true. Just because the woman didn't appreciate her car didn't mean... And suddenly Heather was all out of sorts. Her thoughts were jumbled and she was angry about anything and everything. It didn't matter what Jo would have said, she was ready to pounce. She was still overly tired and not thinking clearly.

She wasn't proud of this, but deep down inside she felt a certain satisfaction in the fact that they were in the car and stuck in traffic. Jo had no where to go and no where to hide. It was time to pull the splinter out and make things right. Of course, how do you pull out a splinter that has been stuck all night. The longer it sits, the more it hurts to pull it out, and the more it has dug into you and annoyed you. Besides, the next chance she had, she would get back off the interstate and pick up some breakfast. At this rate, a drive through might have to do. She wasn't a big fan of eating while driving, but she had mastered it after many last minute commutes to and from work.

Still, as of right now, they weren't moving and Jo had really pissed her off. If the color of her hands and knuckles was any indiciation of what she was thinking and feeling inside, then her interal dialogue was most definitely full of a a slew of rage. This trip? Not a good idea? Where does she get off? Does she not want to meet my family. My family who almost disowned me for undergoing the change. The change we both agreed to do together. Is that not love? Is that not commitment? She wasn't sure if she should be saying any of this out loud. One thing she knew now, she wasn't ready to say she was sorry yet.

"We're going on this trip! My parents are expecting us. They want to meet my girlfirend. I want them to meet my girlfriend. Even if she is overly sensitive and can't handle a little dirty bedroom play." Heather had turned off her filter and she didn't care at the moment. Lack of sleep told her...fuck it. Let her have it. She knew she had thrown out too many insults. None of it she really meant. This wasn't what she had planned to say at all. This was just a storm of emotionally charged jabs. Jo wasn't overly senstive. She was perfect in every way. So perfect that she was going to meet her parents. Yes, that was why she was mad, because this beautiful, perfect woman next to her didn't think this trip was a good idea.

Heather didn't know how or why it happened, but her tale suddenly snapped away from Jo's thigh and struck her own leg. That was surely going to leave a welt. She jolted back. "Ouch! Fucking tail!" Then it seemed the tail, with a mind all its own rubbed and soothed the spot it had just whipped. Suddenly the brake lights of the giant silver beast in front of them turned of. Heather gladly inched forward, following as close to the SUV as she could. Unfortunately they only moved at a snail's pace, but at least they were moving. She made another attempt at humor. "At this rate we'll get there in time for dinner tomorrow."

 

[HotKittygirl]

Heather retorted, the sarcasm in her voice was undeniable. The first reaction Jo had was to simply tense up as the words assaulted her, even as her feline ears folded back against her head; a most rather visible indication of her feelings towards it all. At first Jo didn't know how to react to it all, she was at the core being honest, was this what she got for expressing her own ideas? It was a cold chill, not from the cold outside, but from an undeniable anger that seethed through Jo as she tried to digest Heather's statement.

It was an insult, a jab, a petty one at that, directed at more than just her opinion of last night. Jo didn't realize it for what it really was, after all she was in the same position Heather was in, sleep deprived and already on edge. The dull ache of hunger didn't help at all, indeed, Jo felt the irritability seeping in as the chilly rage settled into her empty stomach.

“Where do you get off talking to me like that? You can't just dictate every little thing about me. I'm not your little puppet, Heather. If you got off your fucking high horse sometime you might see that,” Jo finally snapped back, if the sarcasm was clear in Heather's voice, well, the emotional discharge she just spewed forth was reeking of it. The floodgates came crashing open and it took all of Jo's resolve now to hurl more hurtful things in Heather's general direction. At the moment she was angry, more angry than she had been in some time. But that was how it went when you bottled up your emotions, they had a nasty habit of bursting forth as the most inappropriate of times. Jo wanted nothing more than to get out of the situation, those icy blue eyes even lingered on the handle for a moment. To leap from a car on the highway wasn't exactly safe, even if they weren't moving but a foot or two every few moments. Still, an uncomfortable lump formed in her throat to go along with the pit in her stomach. Jo felt the waterworks coming on, unbidden and unwanted. It wasn't like her, that made it even worse as she blinked rapidly and brought her sleeve to her eyes to hide it.

“Just pull over somewhere,” Jo blurted out again. She wanted out, her rational thought process had all but said 'fuck this shit I'm out of here'. Now she was scared and alone, or so she felt that way. Heather was the enemy, someone out to get her, she didn't want to be trapped in a metal coffin for hours on end; ah the anxiety!

 

[palemoon2035]

For just a moment, that sounded like a good idea. Just drop Jo off and be done with it. The car would be silent and she would have some peace. Then Jo wouldn't have to go through with what she kept reminding Heather was not a good idea. Of course, Heather knew better and she could never be so cruel. Despite the current mood of hostility between them, she loved Jo. "Don't be ridiculous." She snapped back with just a subtle hint of concern in her voice. The last thing she wanted was for something to happen to Jo as she drove away and left her. She also new that, despite the quick fix and elminitation of the currrent figthing, she would only have to face more horrific consequences later. She could hear Jo now, 'where do you get off just fucking leaving me? It's over.' Yes, that would just not be a good idea.

"I am not pulling over. Besides, I couldn't if I tried." The traffic came to a stand still once more, and then teased them just enough with a slow push forward a few feet before coming to a halt again. "You're stuck with me." Her tone softened and turned a bit more playful. She didn't put it past Jo to just walk out of the car and she wanted to change the mood to tolerable.

Heather was, after all, still digesting what Jo had said. She was right. She really had no right to talk to Jo that way. The words just came out. She had a moment of sensibility and realized she needed to stop attacking Jo or it was just going to explode into World War III in her little red bug. It just seemed to her that Jo made it easy. She hid her emotion and didn't speak up often...at least not often enough for Heather to realize she was being a little too controlling, or a little too pushy, or a little too emotional; all of which she could be. She was right though...maybe...just maybe Heather had treated her like she was her puppet. Maybe she pushed her that way last night. It wasn't what she meant at all, but this was one of those rare moments where Jo spoke up and kept her in check.

Still, Heather wasn't ready to just admit defeat. She didn't mean to try to take control or talk down to Jo. The woman Idid over react, and that wasn't her fault. "Look, can we just get some breakfast before we say anything else. I am running on empty here. And so is my tail." The thing did seem to have a mind of its own and it whipped from side to side just as she said that, suddenly curling around Jo's thigh, almost latching on to it affectionately. Heather ignored what she was doing, because deep down inside she knew she wanted her tail to do that. She didn't have the courage to take Jo's hand. That would seem too awkward. She could pretend her tail was still separate and detached. It slid over Jo's thigh and took hold as if to say, I love you, don't leave me.

Heather kept her eyes straight ahead on the road. She was looking ahead for the next exit. Fortunately they were still in the city and the exits were close to one another. Any drive through would do as long as they served coffee and some sort of egg, sausage, and cheese concoction. She saw the exit for 2nd St. only a mile away. It was also known as The Alley. A street full of trendy coffee shops, breakfast nooks, and lunch cafes with rod iron tables on the sidewalks. It was the place for the trendy cat folks. Not exactly what Heather was looking for, but as she thought about it, a Caramle Latte sounded really good. As long as it was to go... She knew Jo wouldn't go for it. It didn't seem like her style, but Heather liked to be trendy from time to time. So, she figured Jo would get over it and eat if she was really that hungry.

"I'm gonna get off at 2nd Street. I mean, a latte sure beats a soda for breakfast. Eh?" Heather had wit and she liked to use it. It came in handy at times such as at The Cat's Whisker last night. She loved to make Jo laugh. Even though Jo didn't laugh quite as hard as she had hoped. A smirk was all she really aimed for. Either way, Heather sometimes overused her wit. It was good for laugs, but equally as handy for taking a stab at someone. And she just did it again. Fuck! She tried to smooth it over with "I'm just sayin'..." Either way, Jo would take it the wrong way, just as she always did. Of course! That is why she was still mad at her. So, fuck it. She was having a latte even if Jo chose to starve.

 

[HotKittygirl]

Jo knew it was already too late to all anything off. She had gotten in the car, it was sealed; she could have easily just stood at the curb and watched Heather go. No, she made the choice, even if she regretted it a second later she had made it and there was no turning back. She knew it, even as she spoke the words she knew she shouldn't have let out. It was becoming an awful habit as of late, ever since last night, ever since Heather underwent the change.

Of course it wasn't like Heather was a new person now, she was the same old girl that Jo had fallen for. She was high spirited and confident, her opinion was always known and she was the first to take the situation by the horns. That was what she loved about her, the very thing that drove the closed off woman into Heather's arms in the first place.

Yet here it was, the thing that Jo was loathing, but was it really Heather that she had issue with? Some where deep down inside Jo knew it wasn't true, no, Heather had done no wrong, the only thing she had done is provoke Jo's irrational insecurities; feelings that Jo had left hidden and forgotten; things that were simply discarded and not fully addressed.

Unconsciously Jo bit down on her lip as she shrunk into her chair, her shoulders drooped as much as her ears and if she could she would have drawn her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. It wasn't exactly comfortable in a car with a seat belt on and thus she made do with folding her arms defensively over her chest.

“Fine,” She said with no small amount of annoyance in her tone. She was denied, again, and even as she knew she had no other choice it did not help her attitude any. She was stuck, just as Heather had pointed out. Instead of poking the bear further they just left the words at that, of course that gave it ample amount of time to simply stew. Jo didn't look in Heather's direction, her pale blue eyes focused themselves out the passenger side window, as if the sea of red lights and bumpers were far more interesting than anything else.

Jo felt the tail at her thigh, squeezing and coiling about her jeans as if it had a mind of its own and wasn't letting Jo go so easily. It Jo had taken the time to acknowledge such she might marvel at how fast the fur grew over it and just how flexible it truly was. Hers at the moment, sat lifeless and dead at her side, the tip occasionally flicking but nothing more than that.

To answer Heather's comment Jo let out a rather audible sigh and a slow roll of her typically bright blue eyes. The idea of setting foot on 2nd street made Jo itch. Scarf wearing, iPhone carrying Hipsters littered the streets there.

“I think you forgot your beret,” Jo said, well, rather cattily and her left ear flicked in a visible annoyed manner. It was a horrible, general assumption on Jo's part, but at the moment she didn't feel the need to be gentle or even think straight. “I can see the horn rimmed glasses and fedoras from here...”

Jo sat back with another sigh, her arms tightening over her chest and her bottom lip gnashed upon fiercely. Despite it all she was hungry and while she wouldn't got for a mocha frapachino no foam extra whip (insert more here) latte, she sure could go for some food. As if on cue her stomach released a rather audible rumble, much to her chagrin.

 

[palemoon2035]

It was that last little witty remark of Jo's that sent Heather into a sort of epiphany. She started to think about what was really pissing her off about the entire situation. Of course most of the regulars on 2nd St. wore berets and played with their fancy tablets and phones as they drank their fancy coffee. Jo described the crowd to a T in just two sentences. It was fact. There was no denying the type of person who frequented those shops and cafes. What irked Heather was that Jo made such a big deal out of it.

Heather didn't fit in with this crowd. She was pretty sure she didn't fit in with any crowd, but she had lots of friends, each from their own niche in the self–imposed social cast system. Heather had a few friends, fellow photographers, who spent every day at the coffee shop which she planned to stop at this morning. They were wonderful people. She enjoyed the company of all types of people. That was life. People and experiences.

Heather just wanted to enjoy life. She liked the idea of casting aside all of her reservations and enjoying the moment. That is what she did last night. She wasn't sexually dominating by nature. She just wanted to play a little and try something diffferent. Jo was always so reserved and although that was something the ambered haired kitten loved about her, sometimes it was just a little to much. It seemed like she never broke out of her comfort zone. This wasn't really true, Heather knew deep down inside she had a way of making jo smile when she really didn't want to. Maybe that is what upset her about last night. Heather had gotten used to getting Jo to bend a little and open up every so often, so when it didn't happen last night... She had failed. She hurt the woman she loved and didn't make her feel comfortable enough to open up. Sure, she was mad at Jo just for being this way, but that was Jo, and she learned that a long time ago.

Heather realized that this could only go on for so long. It was both their faults they were figthing, but they were just being themselves. It was time to apologize..after breakfast. She realized all of the roleplaying she did in her mind as she waited in the car earlier was just delusional. She needed some more time to work things out. The silence and random insults were just what she needed.

Despite having a clear thought for the first time in nearly 24 hours, she knew she needed food before she should even try to continue the discussion. She decided that breakfast was an absolute necessity. And it was as she had this epiphany that the cars suddenly moved farther than they had all morning. It was a parting of steel and wheels, and at then end, The Alley. She gunned it. A lane changed and traffic light later, they were making their way down 2nd street. Heather found an empty spot in front of The Catnip Cafe and parked the car. She released her seat belt and spun around, reaching to the back seat behind Jo. She dug under what appeared to be a pile of rags and pulled out a jet black beret. She drug the cloth trendiness along Jo's shoulder as she turned back around; placing it on her head and tilting it for the perfect fit. Heather winked at Jo. "You're not the only one who wants to blend in and go unnoticed sometimes." She was purposely smug, but not mean like she had before. "So, ya comin' in with me? I have another one back there if you want it." Of course she was bluffing and she hoped Jo would just stay in the car and tell Heather what she wanted.

 

[HotKittygirl]

At first, Jo had no idea what was going on, or at least just what Heather was reaching for. It wasn’t until the beret was slapped on and adjusted to the correct jaunty angle that Jo’s blue eyes fell upon Heather and they slowly started to roll from right and up. Inwardly she cringed, even as her large, liquid orbs finished their full roll before setting upon Heather all over.

“Only if it has the name Rusty on it. We’d fit right in on our European vacation…” Jo mumbled under her breath as she reached for her own seatbelt and unlatched it. She couldn’t help but imagine the old movie with Chevy Chase, the idea made her want to laugh and sigh at the same time. She knew Heather was doing it to rub salt in the wound, to make light of her own comment she had spat out in contempt of the little world that they entered.

What was Heather expecting? Jo couldn’t help but feel a little challenge in that sentence, would she expect Jo to sit in the car and hide while Heather sauntered around with that ridiculous thing on her head? It wasn’t like her, Jo rarely felt goaded into things like this but at the moment she felt like she had something to prove to this woman; even as part of her wanted this little spat to just end and they could get back to the way things had been, the way things should be.

“It’ll be a cold day in hell before you get that ridiculous thing anywhere near me,” Jo huffed and flung the door open and leapt out of the car. Her tail snapped out behind herself and swayed, letting Jo keep her balance as she moved so quickly and fluidly. The cold started to creep into her all over again as she left the little bubble of warmth the little red bug provided. Still, Jo wouldn’t let it show for the moment, it didn’t matter as she let out another huff and strode towards the door to the café. She wanted to fling the door open and step inside, just to leave Heather in the dust. Yet as she approached, Jo hesitated, instead of going with that initial instinct she simply stopped and waited for Heather to exit the car and join her side.

 

[palemoon2035]

Heather was amused by Jo's reaction to the sight of the beret. There was a certain satisfaction in knowing that the symbol of trendy douchiness on her head really rubbed Jo the wrong way. It wasn't something Heather wore often. She had only come across it a few weeks ago during a different visit to 2nd St. The owner of the Catnip Cafe was going through the lost and found as Heather was finishing her breakfast and pulled out the black beret which had apparently been in there for two months. He offered it to her, and Heather accepted. It was a perfect fit and a wonderful way for her to fit in at a place where she often felt out of place. The truth was, and she would never admit this to Jo, that she liked the way it looked on her.

She chuckled at the Europeam Vacation reference and was left without a chance to make an equally witty comeback. Continuing with her sadistic adventure, she watched with a smile as Jo ventured toward the door of the cafe, alone and beretless. Then Jo slowed and came to a halt. Even though Heather could not see her face, she knew Jo had reached the threshold of discomfort and would probably not continue further without Heather at her side. And so, she opened the door and walk with a slight urgency to catch up. Now, at Jo's side, she winked at her and opened the door. The vintage shop keeper's bell rang as the door knocked it side to side. She took the lead and walked right in. She assumed Jo had followed but the sight of the counter with all of its yummy pastries reminded Heather just how hungry she was. There was no time for doddling or keeping track of Jo.

Inside, the cafe had only a few customers. Each fitting the stereotype of who one would expect to be at a place like this. The only true common thread between the other patrons, Heather, and Jo was that they were all Whiskers. Each having at least a tail and cat ears, one woman, with more distinct cat–like facial features, was purring continuously, loud enough for all to hear.

Heather made her way to the counter and looked at the tall barista with hair and fur as dark as his black apron. She placed her order without hesitation. "Caramel Mocha with whip cream and a rasberry danish...and whatever she wants." Heather tilted her head towards Jo who she assumed had followed her in.

 

[HotKittygirl]

Thankfully Jo didn't have to wait too long or she just might have lost her nerve, or she just might have left Heather outside in the cold. Either way, Jo didn't have to make her own decision before the beret and Heather were upon her. Jo slowly let those large blue eyes roll once more as Heather gave her that wink, for a moment Jo almost thought she was enjoying this moment. That in itself only ruffled her fur the wrong way all the more, Jo silently fumed at that little look her lover gave her as they entered.

The bell made Jo inwardly cringe, it was like some kind of announcement of their entrance (which of course it was) and drew all eyes to them. The last thing Jo felt like she wanted was to have everyone know she was here, were they going to look up and greet her like some cheesy scene from a sitcom?

They got nothing but the causal glance, if there was anything reassuring about it all was the fact everyone within was of the same type, a multitude of feline ears and tails poked and jutted this way and that; even if they were hipster douchebags they were feline hispter douchebags.

Jo's heavy boots echoed uncomfortably on the ground with each step, her bulky jacket felt awkward about her shoulders. There was so much judging going on at this moment, even if it was all in Jo's mind (she was probably doing most of it). Her black furred feline ears twitched and cocked to and fro, shifting towards the noise in her peripheral before they approached the counter and they shifted to focus upon the black furred feline behind the counter. He was tall and had sleek black fur, much like the fur of Jo's ear and tail. It matched her hair of course, resembling more of an extension of such than a complete covering of fur like the barista.

His look put her on edge and the menu above with all the flowery names for beverages didn't help either.

What the hell was a venti?

Jo might have asked the question if she hadn't already been on edge, she didn't need to give more fuel for Heather's smugness. She resisted the urge to snatch that jaunty hat off her head, instead Jo focused on just what there was to masticate. So many odd pastries, Jo was use to do-nuts and occasional do-nut holes (if she was feeling different).

“Uh...You got Mountain Dew?” Jo spoke up after Heather put in her order. Judging from the look the feline gave her Jo already knew the answer. She was directed to the nearby cooler and the selection of bottle drinks there. Her lips twitched and instinctively she bit down upon her bottom lip for a brief moment, if she kept that up she just might tear it clean off.

“Yeah. One of those bottles. And a toasted bagel. And one of those swirly...cinnamon...things...” Jo pointed at the cinnamon rolls nearby, something which even someone like her should know the name of. She was growing too flustered and her brain was shutting down. With a light muffled mumble Jo took a step back and disappeared from Heather's side. At least she had an excuse to bury her head into something, even if it was the fridge depths of the low cooler.

It was funny how even in the midst of an argument some things never changed. The two instinctively remembered just who's turn it was to pay, they always made it a habit of switching off, even if it was Jo's idea so neither would feel indebted to the other. Perhaps a little more subtle trust issues if one really thought about it...

 

[palemoon2035]

Jo was right in that Heather was enjoying this. She always found a certain satisfaction in making Jo feel uncomfortable. In her eyes, she was helping Jo. Teaching her that it really wasn't as horrible as she made it out to be. Heather rarely found it difficult to adapt and it suited her well. After all, she had only been a feline for a week now, and fully transformed only but a day, yet, she wasn't feeling even remotely self concious. Heather hoped she could teach Jo that it was ok to step out of her comfort zone...at least every now and again. At this moment though, her enjoyment was a bit more sadistic. She was just using another weapon in her arsenol in the battle that had been ensuing since the night before. She certainly loved playing the "I know you are starving so we are going to stop in the trendiest place I can think of that will make you most uncomfortable and you will no choice but to come because you are so damn hungry" card.

Heather smiled to herself as Jo ordered a Mountain Dew and then watched as her lover took cover in the cooler over to the side as if it were her fox hole and she were a foot soldier seeking the protection of the glass door, keeper of all things sugary and fizzy. Heather dug into her purse and pulled out her wallet as the black furred man behind the couter watched Jo with a smug grin as if to be both fascinated and judgemental at the same time. "$15.37" he bellowed with a suprisingly deep, sexy voice. Heather pulled out clean, crips green bills, placed them on the counter, and then proceeded to count out 37 cents in what appeared to be very old tarnished coins. In keeping with her like for all things old, she had an affinity for cash, even though the other 99% in the worlds population had gone the way of plastic and instant e–transactions.

There was a ching of an old fashioned cash register, a hiss of an espresso machine, and a whirl of some sort behind the counter, and suddenly she had her drink in hand. Heather took a sip and watched Jo as she sought her soda satisfaction. She couldn't help but eye the beautiful backside of her lover and feel a tingle of lust as she watched that black tail of Jo's move about, remembering just how sexy and naked that tush of hers was last night. Heather didn't realize she had started to purr at the counter where she stood.

"Your food, Miss." The barista snapped her out of her daydream of desire. He handed her a plain white bag with the top folded over in a perfect crease.

"Wow, you had that ready in two shakes of a lambs tail." Heather had been dying to work that into a random interaction with a stranger. It wasn't the perfect fit she was looking for, but she smiled with a certain satisfaction despite the keeper giving her a look of confusion.

"Don't you mean, a cat's tail." His confused look to to one of the same satisfaction his customer just displayed.

"No...I– Come on Jo. Let's blow this joint." She called over, anxious to get back on the road.

 

[HotKittygirl]

Jo was thankfully oblivious for just a few moments as she tried to select her beverage of choice. So many bottles with different colored, fizzy drinks. Unfortunately, one couldn't simply go by the color, much to Jo's surprise as she lifted a bottle out of the case only to find it a flavor she couldn't hope to pronounce, ending with 'berry'. If it took two breaths to get out the name Jo was certain it would taste like glorified anal drippings. With a sigh she bent over the cool and all but stuck her head inside of it as she began to rummage through the bottles one by one. It was instinctive as she did that her tail raised up behind her, a velvety black snake that curled up over the dangling edge of her jacket and tugged it up.

Anyone would happen to glance in her direction would get a rather magnificent view of her backside, not that it was sticking out or were her pants all that form fitting. Still, one could make out that pert little behind, no doubt Heather was recalling the swells and definition as she caught sight of it herself. Jo was still blissfully unaware that she was being watched with hungry amber eyes. The thought of lust, of desire for anyone, let alone Heather was simply nothing that would pop up for the young feline. For the moment they were segmented and divided, her feelings; more often than not stuffed down deep inside. Especially now at a time like this, when Heather seemed more of an antagonist than a lover, Jo couldn't help but eye Heather with a certain level of suspicion. She did so love to 'fuck with her', as Jo would put it. They never saw eye to eye on that, as far as goofing around and sarcasm went, Jo gave as good as she got. But when Heather started to try and get Jo out of her beloved comfort zone, well, Jo tended to freeze up or go balls to the wall. Since last night it seemed Jo had frozen in place, every part of her body was tensed and puckered, she could have backed up to a brick wall and sucked out a brick with her butt cheeks.

It took Jo far longer than she anticipated to find a suitable drink, one ear twitched in annoyance before she finally snatched up a purple bottle and carefully read the label, only to find it labeled 'grape soda'. She had always been partial to most things 'grape', though it just seemed more fitting to name it purple. It never really tasted like grape, so purple just fit. With a soft mutter under her breath Jo twisted the top off and tilted it back for a good long drink. It was fizzy and purplicious, the caffeine would do the kitten good in a few minutes. Along with the copious amounts of sugar she was about to intact Jo would be doing good for a little while. Perhaps it would be enough to get through this...

Jo had impeccable timing. She arrived at Heather's side just in time to hear the saying and catch that bewildered look the big black cat gave her. Jo let the bottle dangle in front of her lips for a moment as those cool blue eyes drifted between the two. It seemed that, somehow, the saying went over the guy's head. Jo simply took a sip before she let out a little sigh that people did after drinking, followed by a subtle little burp.

“I got it,” She interjected as she slowly drew towards Heather's side. Her voice was soft yet still held the undeniable huskiness to it. The tip of her tongue lapped out over her lips briefly after her sip, those blue eyes fell upon Heather as if she meant to say more, though no further words issued past Jo's lips.

She was thankful to be rid of the coffee joint, even the bitter cold was a welcome distraction as they departed, a metallic tinkle announcing their departure. Once freed from the judging eyes (even if they were only in her head...mostly) Jo felt a small rush. With a sigh she regained some of her composure and that quiet nervousness was replaced quickly with her typical wit and sharp tongue.

“So are you going to wear that thing the whole time? The last thing your parents need is to find out their daughter is a hipster as well as a pussy,” Jo cut straight to it, even offered a subtle glare over the roof of Heather's little bug before she yanked open the door and slid inside. Now that they were alone she pushed the envelope.

The game was back on.

 

[palemoon2035]

Heather was, in no way oblivious to the fact that all was not right between them. Even though the stop at the coffee shop offered a brief peace where they focused on the task of acquiring food, rather than bickering, there were still unspoken words and thoughts that needed to be shared before the couple could enjoy themselves. It was nice though. The moment Heather had to admire Jo's beautiful backside. A reminder of her ongoing physical desire for such a lovely woman. A reminder that, that backside was, for all intents and purposes, hers to be touched, explored, and pleasured in ways that at this moment, no other being on the planet could. No one else was allowed to touch Jo, but Heather could. She was so lucky to have such a beauty as her girlfriend.

Then there was the humor and wit that Jo offered. A reminder that she was a smart little chicky who just, preferred to keep most comments to herself. But Heather saw the subtly in Jo, and she appreciated it in ways that words could not describe. Heather gazed lovingly at Jo as she interjected. Letting her know that she understood what Heather was saying.

And so the two left the coffee shop, and Jo reminded Heather that she loathed certain aspects of mankind that Heather appreciated. Hipsters were fascinating to her. She didn't consider herself one, but she liked to fit in with any crowd, because every crowd had something to offer. So, Jo's comment, though witty and funny, reminded Heather that the battle continued. The truce, if it was even a truce, was only in place so that they could consume calories and restore sufficient energy levels. Once restored, it was time for a troop surge. An epic battle that would settle this once and for all.

Heather threw the car into drive. She didn't say anything in response to Jo's comment. She just smirked and chuckled. It was funny after all. She pulled away, jerking the car so that Jo's purple drink would hopefully jerk just enough to scare her into thinking she would lose it, but hopefully not spill it all over her bug's lovely retro interior.

The traffic let up a bit during the 15 minutes or so that the couple were inside the cafe. Heather managed to exceed 45 mph and so, she partook in her breakfast. She was very skilled at eating and driving. Something she mastered early on in her life while driving back and forth to photography classes and various meaningless jobs.

Heather didn't mean to inhale her raspberry danish, but she did. She was hungrier than she thought. She crinkled up the wax paper, but not before licking off the frosting left on it. She purposely crunched and played with the paper so as to make every annoying sound she could with it. She played it like a musical instrument whose sole purpose was to annoy the one beside her.

She took a sip of her coffee, and then fired the first show of the next battle. "Ok, Jo, I love you, but you need to get over yourself."

 

[HotKittygirl]

The joy of leaving the cafe was short lived as Jo settled into her seat and the familiar feeling of being back in an uncomfortable situation settled in along with her. The little smirk and laugh she got from Heather did nothing to defuse Jo's defensiveness, indeed, all it did was strengthen those walls that much more.

She ate in silence, doing her best to slather her bagel with the cheapy plastic knife they had given her. All the while with her drink between her thighs, held precariously in the denim grip of her pants. The sudden and swift movement of the car didn't help anything either, much to Jo's disgruntlement. She shot Heather a side long glance that spoke more than any sarcastic words might.

The bagel was masticated within seconds only to be followed by her cinnamon roll, if there was one thing Jo could do it was pack the food away. She had always had an appetite even before undergoing the change, which only served to crank up her metabolism even more. She could have had a few more tasty treats to fill her hallow legs, it was nothing more than a light snack to the sleek feline. Still, she would make do, the calories gave her just enough of a boost and the rush of sugar and caffeine would help to clear her mind and offer some focus to the task at hand.

It felt daunting to even think about it, but someone had to say something. If not the elephant in the room was going to roll over and crush them. Her stomach quivered with an uneasy tension as Jo pondered on just what to say.

But it was Heather that would start things off and with such panache! Her words were a literally ring in Jo's ears, like the bell at a boxing match. Her feline ears perked up as fully as they could go along with her slender raven brows. She gave Heather an incredulous look as her arched brows slowly began to furrow. All too quickly she felt the sting of the blow where it hurt most, her pride. It was like a cold chill that seeped up from her bowels, accompanied by a bitter taster in the back of her throat.

“What?” Was all Jo could manage to get out. The disbelief all too quickly turned to anger upon that pretty face. Up until now it had been mostly passive-aggressive shenanigans, anything to really avoid the issue at hand but keep it close enough, as counter productive as that sounded. Yet now, Jo felt an anger welling inside her that threatened to burst through those defensive barriers she had erected about herself.

“Where the fuck do you get off saying that to me? You think your shit smells like roses? You need to get over yourself! Everything doesn't revolve around you and what you want,” Jo snapped. Her voice rose and cracked as she spewed out her words with such utter contempt. This was it, this was the time, any reservations of anxiety she had over this moment was gone, replaced by a seething anger at the one she was suppose to care about above all else.

 

[palemoon2035]

It was too late now. The band-aid had been ripped off with a powerful sting. They lie though...when they say that when you rip off a band-aid, it only hurts for a second. the sting remained and Heather found herself reminded of how deep the wound was. This was going to be painful.

Heather had a look of surprise on her face. She wasn't shocked by Jo's reaction. In fact, it was perfectly appropriate. She was surprised by her own words. One sentence was all she spoke, but she didn't mean to say it that way.

Heather didn't like to argue. Yes, it was necessary to talk things about, but what was scary about this moment was that the band-aid had been ripped off. She was exposing herself now; vulnerable to insult. Heather knew she was far from perfect. She just judged Jo for being judgmental. She saw the irony, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

It was true, what Jo said. Heather sometimes forgot that her shit didn't smell like roses. The truth hurt through, but she liked to believe she was above people sometimes. At least, she thought she was above judging others. She thought it was a strength to be open to new expediences. It was only now where she realized she was shunning the stunner. Did that make her any better than Jo? Here she was, deciding she didn't meet a certain standard. "My shit may stink like everyone else's but at least I don't avoid everyone because of it."

When she got flustered, she didn't always make sense. She hoped that came out right, but found herself continuing before she could even think about the previous sentence. "You avoid people like they are the plague sometimes, just because they are a little different. You go with the stereotype instead of getting to know them. And then, fuck! You know me, but you act like me trying to be a little kinky last night meant I was going to kill you. I mean...Jesus Christ! Step out of your comfort zone for once!"

Heather's voice got louder as her emotion grew in intensity. Her voice even crackled as it resonated through the shell of the bug. The car hummed along as if an innocent bystander. It seemed to be moving faster as if to try to escape the fight between its passengers. Of course, it was only moving faster because Heather was pushing harder on the accelerator. Herr eyes stayed focused on the road. She clenched the wheel with all of her might; her knuckles turning white.

"Oh fuck." She said under her breath as she looked down and saw she was going 85 mph. She let off the gas. Her eyes turned red and a tear trickled down her cheek. She suddenly hated Jo, but hated herself just as much. She had no idea where this argument was going, and that scared her. She just wanted to be over.

 

[HotKittygirl]

For just a brief moment, the rage upon that beautiful, angular visage was replaced by a quirked brow and a confused glance. It was obvious Heather was upset at this point, the words that came out of her mouth didn't exactly make much sense. Jo couldn't help but blink those shimmering blue orbs as she tried to decipher what Heather meant through her own haze of emotions. Yet, the auburn feline didn't give her much chance before she pushed on, which was probably a good thing. It was something else for Jo to sink her claws into, to focus on as the argument proceeded and intensified.

The words struck home as they always did, Heather made sense, at least some part of Jo had to agree she was a bit closed off and judgmental. Yet, that didn't help the situation, more of her felt angered by being called out on the floor so blatantly by someone she trusted, someone who was suppose to be closer to her than anyone else. Jo's anger and guilt was like ice cold water in her veins, a unrelenting hand tightened upon her full stomach and wrenched it from side to side before digging those bony fingers in further.

“You don't think I'm out of my comfort zone?” Jo retorted as best she could. Her voice cracking a little as the emotions resounded through her sleek frame. “You don't think being with you is out of my comfort zone? Or sitting in this damn death machine on the way to your fucking parents house? I'm out of my comfort zone every time I think about you. I'm not you Heather. I'm not some bubbly, beautiful woman who can smile at a stranger and start up a conversation about dirt!” Some of it was a bit exaggerated, but it was heartfelt. It took that moment of anger to get the truth out sometimes; it was as refreshing as it was terrifying. Jo felt a sudden rush of warmth at her eyes and then realized a few tears had welled up and trickled out of the corners. She suddenly took a big gulp of air and sniffled most unladylike, more of a snort as she had the image of snot dribbling down her lips and chin, like some young kid having a hissy fit.

Instinctively she raised her right hand and brushed the back of it across her eye to wipe away the trace of the tears. She sniffled again and just as quickly as the anger had begun it seemed to fade, leaving Jo tired and empty. It had never been easy for Jo to admit her feelings if only to herself. Sometimes the simple act of realizing she loved this woman was down right terrifying. Jo had never been in a situation like this. Instead of pushing it forward, instead of another snarky comeback or even another burst of truth, Jo simply shut her mouth and stared out the window. The silence was more than a bit overwhelming.

Her ears folded flush against her short, sleek mane, as if that would drive out the silence that consumed them now. It wasn't surprising that it didn't and in a sudden bout of desperation Jo reached for the only thing that could save them: the radio.

Quickly her hand snapped out and the index finger tapped the button on the dashboard. It brought to life the electric lights within the blank black screen and all too suddenly the small cab was aflood with the sound of a DJ's voice calling out the time and the traffic. It was one of the grating, annoying, nasally voices that sounded more appropriate for a cartoon character than a real person. Jo was just about to shut it off again when the radio did something amazing...it actually played...a song...!