A nostalgic walk.

Leaving that Monday morning was hard for all of us, even for mom. We set up the laundry room with all of Cake’s things. We left her bed there, her litter box, the bowl with auto-dispensed food and water, and nearly all her toys. We made sure no cables or breakable things were around and closed the door without making a fuss while she eagerly chased a toy mouse around.

“The neighbor said she’d come check on her every once in a while,” mom told us. “She’ll let her walk in the backyard, too. Cake will be fine.” She still sounded apprehensive about the whole thing.

It really made me feel like we made a mistake taking her in. I was sure other pet owners would slit our throats if they knew we left a young kitten locked in a room alone. I felt terrible about it, but what else could we do?

“I’m gonna buy a pet cam after school,” Isabelle said, sighing.

We left together, which was unusual. Mom drove off and Isabelle and I walked to school.

“Noelle and Alice might come check on Cake after school again,” she said.

I nodded absentmindedly.

“M-Maybe you should invite your friends, too?” she said in a meek tone that caught me completely by surprise.

Invite the girls to see Cake? I mean, their responses to the picture I sent them were a clear indication they would come as soon as I offered, maybe even if I didn’t, but that my sister was suggesting it was… strange.

Isabelle pursed her lips. “Did you know that Alice is friends with Grace, Sarah and Milana?”

My eyebrows shot upwards and I almost choked on air. “E-Excuse me?”

“Alice told me. Apparently they’ve been friends for years, but now they mostly talk through video-calls. Something about them deciding that hanging out with Alice in public would be bad for her reputation.”

“...” My mind went back to confessions made before and started connecting dots. I had no proof Alice was the girl they had mentioned, but she fit the bill, didn’t she? But even if she was, was it any of our business?

…

If I had it right, it meant that these four girls who used to be so close now barely saw each other. Sarah had been adamant in saying that they were as close as ever, but that they simply didn’t hang out in public.

“I see. You want to give them an excuse to get together, right?”

Isabelle smiled from ear to ear. “I knew you’d understand!”

Alice was friends with Isabelle. That was widely known. And for better or worse, nearly the entire school knew I was close with Mila, Grace and Sarah by now, even if the details escaped them. It wouldn’t be strange if we all happened to be at the same house at one point.

“I’ll ask,” I said.

“Don’t forget to text mom if they agree,” she reminded me.

I winced. “Have we ever had five guests over at our house?”

Isabelle’s eyes widened. “Now that you mention it…”

“Is the living room even big enough?”

“Ugh. We really don’t fit in with the rich crowd,” Isabelle groaned. “Alice’s and Noelle’s houses are huge.”

So was Grace’s house. And Sarah’s house especially screamed expensive. I wasn’t going to mention those, though. “Thomas’ backyard is bigger than our house.”

“Don’t mention his backyard! It makes me ashamed of ours!”

I nodded at that.

Isabelle and I sighed our frustration in perfect sync.

Before we knew it, we were climbing the stairs to the second floor of the school, and I paused in a panic. I was about to make the turn towards the old music room, but my sister was right beside me. I would just have to go to my classroom and text the girls, but before I could finish that thought, Isabelle spoke.

“Ah! T-That’s right!” she laughed awkwardly. “I… forgot I had homework for today! I’m gonna go to my classroom and finish it before the bell rings! D-Don’t you dare bother me!” She ran up the steps, sparing a single glance back at me, and I thought I saw a blush on her cheeks.

She was hiding something, though I didn’t know what. None of my business, that was for sure. I took the opportunity and went to the old music room, as always.

Once there, I stood by the window, overlooking the big, empty yard. I had so many things filling my head. There was our new cat; the revelation that Alice might be the friend the girls spoke of, the one who went through a really bad experience with a couple of guys (did Isabelle know that part?); the reminder that I had to go to work tomorrow, and go to the gym before that; there were people I needed to stay in contact with, like Kevin and Ben, since I didn’t see them every day; the thought of Mila, Grace, Sarah and Alice getting together at my house, and… Noelle would be there, too; and the even more sudden realization that the walk to school with my sister… had felt just as it had been years ago.

So busy was my head that I didn’t react when I saw Sarah coming into the room. I was looking at her walking up to me, but I didn’t process it. I kept thinking that maybe I could finally start fixing my relationship with my sister if she truly had decided to stop antagonizing me at every stop. I think I answered Sarah’s greeting with an absentminded ‘hi’.

I didn’t fully wake up until Sarah grabbed my head from both sides and pulled me into a kiss, practically shoving her tongue down my throat. Even startled as I was, my body reacted.

I embraced Sarah close to me and deepened the kiss. Her moans drowned out unnecessary thoughts. All that mattered was the feeling of her body in my arms, our lips brushing, her daring tongue swirling with mine, and her sweet voice in my ears.

She pulled away, looking at me with a cute, angry frown I was just noticing.

“S-Sorry! I was… thinking about things.”

“What things?” she demanded, nibbling my lower lip.

“...Too many things.”

“Is that so?” Without warning, Sarah kneeled in front of me and started unbuckling my belt. “I’ll make it so you’re only thinking about me all day, then.”