Reunion.

After ten minutes of struggle, Mila finally gave up and came to sit with us in the living room.

“I didn’t give up!” she insisted. “I’m letting her rest. It won’t do to be so pushy.”

Cake herself decided that this was her opportunity to explore the house some more, so she walked around under my watchful gaze. I didn’t want her to drop anything or trip over any cables.

“So your sister found Cake and brought her home?” Grace asked.

I nodded. “Her friends, actually, but yes. Mom said no until I asked. I almost wish she had told me no, too.”

“Why? Didn’t you want to have a pet?” Sarah asked.

“Taking care of a living being is scary.”

Grace chuckled. “You always take everything so seriously.”

“I just don’t want a cat to die because I forgot to feed it.”

“Don’t worry, I bet she’ll tell you when she’s hungry,” Mila said, laughing.

“And besides, it’s not just your responsibility, right? Your sister brought her here.”

Yeah. I said I’d help take care of Cake, not take on all the responsibility. Isabelle had to do her part as well. And speak of the devil and she shall appear. The main door opened and in came Isabelle with her friends, Alice and Noelle.

“Oliver, Ms. Hope says thanks for the chocolate,” she said from the door.

She stopped at the entrance to the living room and saw us all there. It was Alice’s reaction in which I was interested, though. The blonde girl’s eyes went wide at the sight of the three other girls in the room, and her mouth half-opened to say something before she stopped.

“Um… Hello,” Noelle said with a small, nervous smile. “Sorry to intrude.”

I stood up from my seat. “Make yourselves comfortable. I… need to prepare Cake’s milk.” That was true, it was about time for her to have it, but I mostly wanted to run away.

Five guests in our living room felt way too oppressive, even if three of them were my girlfriends. I’d let Isabelle play host for now. This was her idea, after all.

I went to the kitchen followed closely by Cake. Did her instincts tell her I was going to make her food?

“Go to the living room,” I told her. “They’re all here to see you.”

She meowed at me and stayed there, looking up. I don’t know what I expected.

While I made Cake’s formula, my ears perked up at the voices coming from the living room.

“Was this your idea, Isabelle?” Alice asked with a resigned sigh.

“I mean… not exactly?” my sister said, sheepishly.

“So you told her?” Grace asked, sounding amused.

“That we’re friends, yes,” Alice admitted.

“W-Wait, you girls are friends?” Noelle asked, shocked.

“Since forever,” Mila said. I couldn't see her, but by her tone I could imagine the smile on her face. “We just don’t hang out a lot these days.”

“Why?” Noelle asked.

“It wouldn’t do for Ms. President here to be seen with a girl with a **** record,” Sarah said.

“So… You really have hit someone, Sarah?” Isabelle asked, carefully.

“I threw a racket at a guy in the tennis club,” Sarah admitted easily.

“But why?”

“He deserved it,” Grace and Alice said in unison. Mila laughed at that.

“There are enough rumors about us that we don’t want to stain Alice’s reputation. That’s it,” Grace said. “Unlike previous presidents, Alice is actually trying to get things done and not just fill a position. Did you know that she’s trying to bring back the Talent Show this year?”

“Wait, what?” Isabelle and Mila exclaimed. “The Talent Show?” my sister asked.

“They canceled it in our freshman year because the school deemed it a waste of resources since not many people signed up for it,” Nolle explained. “But Alice wants to bring it back. She’s been trying to convince the teachers and the principal that it’s a cultural event that can bring students together.”

“That’s the speech I give them,” Alice said, laughing softly. She had a soft tone of voice in general. “I also told them it would raise the prestige of our school even more, and that seemed to strike a chord with the principal. Apparently the focus on poetry of one of our rival schools has made them win prizes and appear in the news. The principal thinks we’re lagging behind. I took that chance to offer some suggestions for the anniversary festival as well.”

“Please do,” Sarah said, grunting. “Every year is the same, and it’s boring. Spelling contests, decorate the classroom, maybe the drama club will prepare a play…”

“For a school that prides itself on its cultural events, things get duller each year,” Grace agreed.

“Right?” Alice said. “They’re pushing academics so much that they’re forgetting that most people choose our school for its variety of club activities. I’m trying to bring that back.”

“Yeah! That’s my President!” Isabelle cheered.

“One more term! One more term!” Mila chanted along, laughing.

Things in there sounded surprisingly civil, even cheerful. Even Isabelle sounded like she was having a good time, and two weeks ago she acted like she loathed Mila, Grace and Sarah.

In fact, I almost didn’t want to go back. I got the feeling I would make things awkward, and I didn’t want to risk it. Alice did seem to be the friend the girls had told me about, and if she was, I didn’t want to get in the way of them being able to talk and laugh like that.

Cake clawing at my pants brought me back from my thoughts. I had stopped stirring the milk in the glass, and she wasn’t happy about it.

I took a syringe without a needle and filled it with milk. I took Cake in my arms and walked to the kitchen entrance, looking towards the living room. I would just watch from here while I fed Cake for a while.

The conversation over there was getting more lively.