Meow. Meow. Meow.
"Do you girls hear that?" I say and my honeyed gaze turns to the alleyway near us.
"The sound of an absolute banger playing inside? Can this line get any slower!" Alia complains.
I squint into the darkness.
Meow!
"I think I hear a cat." I say and step towards the sound.
"There are plenty of stray cats in the city." Mya offers.
Cleo puts her pale hands on top of her head to shape cat ears and sways her hips. "I'm feeling like a naughty kitty tonight."
"Gross!" Alia, Dee and Mya cackle as Cleo pretends to lick Rachel's bare shoulder.
A buffed guy and his date for the night turn around to judge them but they're too intoxicated to care. Even if they weren't, they still wouldn't care.
I'm unable to join in on the fun as my attention zeroes in on the sound of a kitten crying out.
The line moves forward and we begin to step away from the entrance of the alley.
"Be right back." I quickly say and stagger into the alleyway.
"R-rubes!" Alia calls.
I go further into the shadows, the smell of garbage lingering in the air. I wave a hand in front of my nose. The night was slightly cold as my skin was still running a bit warm from the hours of dancing I had been doing. The mossy brick wall boomed with music reverberating from the inside.
"Here, kitty kitty!" I call sweetly.
There's no response and I stand in place. It would have easily scampered off if it heard me coming.
After standing there like a weirdo, I go to turn around.
Meow.
I jump at the sudden closeness and dart down to see a small, black cat sitting on the ground in front of me.
Its green eyes shine and its tail swishes lazily.
"Aww, hello sweetie." I coo and squat down to peer at it. It watches me back with innocent curiosity. There's not even a collar to signal an owner.
It moves from its spot and muzzles its head against the side of my leg with a loud purr.
"What are you doing out here by yourself, hmm?"
The cat circles me, returning to its sitting form. It only tilts its head.
There's nothing in here except overloaded bins and dew.
"Ruby! Have you been transported to another universe to find your prince?" Mya's voice echoes in the air. "We're about to get let in."
I turn around and see her standing just outside the alleyway.
"Coming!" I respond.
"You wanna come with me?" I say to the cat.
It purrs even louder and I tentatively reach my hand out to give it a pat on the head. The cat preens into it and allows me to feel the soft fur in my fingers.
Taking the risk, I take both of my hands and scoop the fluff ball into my arms like a baby. It happily lets me, its weight feeling healthy for a stray, and I amble over to where Mya is scanning the crowd with interest.
"I'm a mother now."
She snaps her head to me and does a double-take at the cuteness in my arms.
"Parenting tip number one: don't take your kids to the club." She says with a raised brow.
"I'm gonna take her—him?—her?—it home." I drunkenly beam.
"Whaaaat?"
I march in my block heels towards my friends who have made it near the front of the line. It stretched even further back as more party goers chose Verona's Garden as the place to end at.
"I'm gonna head off. This kitty needs my help." I announce triumphantly.
They all blink at me with glassy eyes and Mya sighs to my right.
"I think we've lost a party girl tonight." She says.
Dee goes to pat the cat. "Aren't you the cutest, fluffiest thing—"
The black cat hisses and Dee quickly retracts her hand with a dramatic pout.
"I think I'm the chosen one." I chuckle.
"Next!" The bouncer shouts.
They all clatter to him in their heels with IDs procured from their sparkling purses.
"Go be a savior, babe!" Alia tells me. "And message us when you get home!"
"Don't be mad when you see our hot pictures without you tonight!" Cleo says and my friends echo goodbyes, already being lured into the sultry haze of a good party.
I see them disappear before and boop the cat's wet nose.
"Let's head home."