Totally out of the blue.

Tonight Billie and I were meeting up for pizza at her place. I was excited to see Billie again and thought hopefully she would have forgiven me by now. I understood why she was mad and I didn't expect her to forgive me instantly, but I also thought it was time she let it go. To say sorry I decided I would buy her an extra-large pizza and also bottle of her favorite wine which I brought over to her place straight after work.

“Hey,” I smiled after she opened the door.

“Hey, come in,” she smiled, stepping out of the way for me.

“Jeez, the weather is crazy out there!” I laughed, unraveling my scarf from around my neck and hanging up it up along with my coat.
She then disappeared into the kitchen to warm up the pizza and pour us both a glass of wine. I sat down on the sofa and waited till she came back. When she reappeared with the pizza I sat up.

“So guess what...” I smiled, “I got kittens!” I announced.

“No way!” she exclaimed looking a little shocked.

“Yup two, a girl and a boy,” I smiled, grabbing a piece of pizza.

“Wow, that’s so cute, what breed are they?” she asked, sitting down on the sofa and taking a sip of her wine.

“They are half Persian and half something else?” I laughed, not really knowing, “they were left at Ace’s surgery because they weren't full breed,” I told her.

“Oh, I see, so they are really fluffy, right?” she smiled.

“Yeah, I have to brush them like all the time, but it’s actually really relaxing and  it’s so cute watching them playing, Benji, the boy is more playful than Sunny the girl,” I smiled.

“And how is Ace?” she asked.

“He’s good, I went to his apartment for the first time the other day,” I said.

“For the first time?” she asked, raising her eye brow.

“Yeah, he only just invited me,” I told her.

“Well, he’s defiantly got something to hide in there,” she said simply.

“Well I went there and he doesn't,” I told her, kind of annoyed she was accusing him of something.

“Hmm, well maybe he’s just shy but from past experience a guy who doesn't invite you back to his always has something to hide.”

“But, I went to his apartment and everything was fine,” I mumbled.

“Everything?” she asked.

“Well, he, yes, everything was fine!” I told her.

“Scarlett, if you don’t want to tell me then fine,” she said, sitting back.

“Billie it was nothing, I over reacted at the time,” I said. I knew Billie would over react more than me so I felt uneasy telling her. I then remembered how not telling her only made things worse so I explained to her what happened.

“That pig!” she burst afterwards.

“It wasn't like that though, he was just talking to me like I was one of his mates,”

“Scarlett, your not "one of his mates" your his girlfriend, he should treat you with respect,” she said raising her arms.

“But Billie I really like him and everything else has been fine, it was just that one time, you haven’t even met him yet, give him a chance,” I pleaded.

“I’ll give him a chance Scarlett but you know I don’t like men who treat women like shit,” she said, turning her head away.

“So do I, that’s why you know I would dump him straight away if I thought he was like that but he’s not, he just slipped up,” I said, realising how out of hand this had all become, what Ace had done wasn't even that bad.

“Okay, okay,” she said, “now I need to tell you something,” she said. I nodded.

“Freddy and I are dating,” she said, taking a deep breath. My mouth dropped and I was literally speechless. ”I know, I know, but I agreed to go on a date with him and he’s really not that bad,” she said.

“What,” I blurted out, “when did this happen?” I gasped.

“Last weekend, I was going to tell you the night James was rushed into hospital, but then-“

“But Billie, he wouldn't stop texting you! he was like a stalker, what!” I said scrunching my face up in confusion.

“He really likes me Scarlett, I've never had a guy like me that much before, and with you and James gone I needed some company and he was there to give it to me,” she sighed.

“I mean okay, have sex with him but a relationship!?” I exclaimed.

“Scarlett jeez, can’t you just be happy for me!” she sighed.

“I am, Its just all a bit fast, I mean Freddy, Freddy Parker...” I said, still trying to take it all in.

“I know, but he’s actually really sweet, he's changed a lot since high school, you shouldn't be so judgmental, anyway I was thinking we should all go out sometime, I can meet Ace and you can meet Freddy, again, and we can see how everything goes,” she said.

“Sure okay,” I said, still feeling like something was wrong.

After chatting to Billie and after finishing our pizza and wine I made the excuse that I had to go home to feed the cats, which was true but I could have stayed longer. Although we didn't really talk much about James I got the hint she didn't really want to bring it up so I didn't either.

“Here, take this,” she said handing me an umbrella from her cupboard. I smiled.

“Thanks, and no hard feelings yeah? I’m happy for you, it was just completely unexpected but I guess if he makes you happy and you really like him then everything is fine,” I told her. She nodded and ran her fingers though her curls. She smiled softly and nodded before closing the door behind me.

Sunny And Benji!

Ace was right; having pets really did take my mind off of worrying about James. I had forgotten how relaxing it was to just sit curled up with a cat purring away on your tummy. It took a while for me to learn which one was which but I soon realised although they were both half Persian cats and white with a grey noses and grey tipped ears, the boy was a shade darker. It also took me all night to decide what I should call them. I finally came up with the names Sunny for the girl and Benji for the boy which I thought suited them purrfectly... pun intended.
While I was getting ready for work they both sat beside my dressing table looking up at me until I finally got up to feed them. After feeding them and making sure they couldn't destroy anything I left for work.

“Hey Scarlett!” Amy smiled as I walked in the door.

“Hey Amy, how was your weekend?” I asked, walking around the back of reception.

“Tough, George broke his leg, Steve came down with food poisoning and to top it all off our house is completely flooded and were living at Steve’s parents,” she groaned, referring to her child and her husband.

“Wow, I saw it on the news this morning, but I didn't think it was too bad around here, it’s luckily I haven’t had any around my area yet,” I said realising how bad the weather was getting. I did hear a lot about it on the news but being so busy with James I hadn't really thought much about it too much.

“Yup, it’s a nightmare and they say it’s going to get worse,” she told me.

“Well I hope everything gets better, I really do,” I said.

“Anyway, why weren't you here Friday?” she asked taking a sip of tea. 

“A friend of mine was rushed into hospital,” I told her.

“Oh no, is everything okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, it’s fine now,” I smiled, not really wanting to talk about it. She smiled and swiveled her chair back around to face her desk. 

After work I told Michael about getting my new cats and I found out he actually had a Persian cat too. He told me that it was super important to brush them as they get knotty really easily so on the way home I popped into the pet store to grab some grooming products for them. I also bought them each a collar, one was pink and the other blue. 

When I got home they were both sitting on the carpet looking up at me.

“Hey, I got you presents!” I said, holding up the bag, "hold on!" I laughed as they meowed and curved in and out of my legs as I tried to move across my apartment. After I managed to get to the kitchen I gave them both their dinner and afterwards a long brush down.
Just as I curled up on the sofa with Sunny on my lap I heard my phone begin to ring. 

“Hey Ace,” I smiled down the phone.
“Hey babe, how are the kittens?” he asked.

“They are soo adorable, and I've named them!” I laughed.

“Hit me,” he laughed.

“Sunny and Benjii,”  I smiled, kissing Sunny gently on the fore head.

“Sounds… cute?” he laughed.

“I know, and I’m turning into one of them crazy people who treats their cats like babies!”

“Oh great,” he laughed, “one of those...”

“But I can’t help it! They are so small and dependent on me, they are like real babies.”

“Anyway I wanted to know if you’re okay?” he asked.

“Okay?” I replied.

“Yeah, the storms been pretty bad, the powers been out here and I saw on the news about the flooding.
+”

“Oh, I haven’t been affected,” I told him, flicking channels on the TV.

“Just be careful okay? If it gets bad call me,” he said.  I rolled my eyes and laughed.

“Yes mother!”

“Scarlett, its serious.”

“I know, but I’m on the 4^th flood of an apartment building, I can’t get flooded!” I laughed.

“Alright, if you’re so sure, I better go, I’m on call tonight,” he told me.

After putting the phone down to Ace I decided to make myself some soup and then crawl into bed. As I lay in bed I could hear the wind howling outside my window and the heavy rain drops hitting against the window pane. I went to lift the bed covers up around my neck when I found it was too heavy to pull up. I sat up and looked down at the end of my bed where I saw two pairs of green eyes staring back at me.
“You’re meant to be in your own beds!” I laughed realising it was Sunny and Benji. I thought about getting up and taking them back into the living room when I suddenly had a change of heart. “Come here then,” I smiled, gesturing them for them to come closer. A few minutes latter all three of us fell asleep curled up under the covers.