new cat smell (redux)

Eric and Jodie rushed into the living room where Lauren continued to swear into her phone before hanging up and addressing the others in the room. "Didn't you guys get enough of that last night?" Jodie looked down, realizing that he was dressed only in his underwear and corset.

He immediately ducked behind the larger Eric. "What happened? Eric asked while his faux girlfriend peaked around his arm.

"That was Marcy, my friend at work, or my old work. Apparently they're doing renovations and they won't be finished for six months!" Lauren threw herself on the couch

"Did they, like, fire you?"

"Might as well have. I'll get one more check and then that's it. But after rent next month I'll be broke and without a job!" Eric looked to Jodie and immediately they knew what the other needed to do. Eric went to his sister while Jodie got dressed quickly.

"How much money do you have saved?"

"About three hundred bucks. Four-twenty something with this next check." Lauren let out a deep sigh. "You wanna know the worst part?"

"Of course."

"I hated that job. Guys leering at me, pinching my ass, lousy pay, worse tips."

"Why'd you stay then?"

"I liked sleeping indoors." Lauren pinched her nose, "It's bad enough to lose a job you like, it's worse to lose a job you hate."

Eric put his arm around his little sister and held her close as she tried to keep from crying, or screaming, exploding, or maybe just all three.

In Jodie and Eric's room, while he put the finishing touches to his makeup, Jodie's own phone buzzed with urgency. It was Tiffany in the group chat.

"Jodie!!!! 911¡!¡!" Tiff's text did all but scream.

"Gurl like wuts wrng " Jodie rolled his eyes at his errors. Some were intentional while others were not but the fault of his new lengthier nails and the autocomplete function of his phone that would predict what he would say next and had quickly picked up his new airheaded way of texting.

There was a long wait as the ellipses danced before a message finally appeared "to much cum over? You and Lauren? Plz??"

"K"

"Luv u Jodie "

"Luv u 2 "

Jodie returned wearing a light blue skater dress that made Eric feel strong emotions for his friend's legs he didn't want to think too deeply on. "Hey." Jodie spoke softly as he sat on the arm rest crossing his bare legs as he quickly became accustomed to do.

Jodie interlocked their fingers as he looked down at his friend and his sad sister. "Hey?"

"There's, like, some drama with Tiffany. Are you gonna be okay if I, like, go see her?"

"Sure." Eric was the most unsure he had ever been in his entire life.

"Kay." Jodie looked to their intertwined hands, freezing immediately and realizing what he had done. Jodie bit his lower lip nervously, hoping Eric didn't notice it either.

"Is she ok?" Lauren asked pulling herself up.

"Huh? Who?"

"Tiffany."

"I don't know, she, like, texted me totally upset and wants us to come over."

"Sure. Gimme a sec' and I'll be ready."

"Wait, you don't have to, like, go anywhere. After, like, what happened and all. I'm sure she'd, like totally, understand."

"No way, she's my friend too. Besides misery loves company."

Lauren walked off to the newly restored room and began a quick shower. "They're friends?" Eric asked, confused. "When did they even meet?"

"Yesterday I guess. Plus she was at the club with us and they really seemed to get along."

"Man, girls make friends fast."

"We were besties after, like, a day."

"Yeah, we were kids and...besties?"

"Shut up. That's, like, how Jodie talks." Jodie blushed furiously, he tried to keep some semblance of his real self when it was just Eric and him but 'besties' had slipped out unintentionally.

About a half hour later the girls arrived at Tiffany's. Tiffany lived in an upscale loft apartment with nice hardwood floors and a window that replaced a wall allowing for an excellent view of the city. Tiffany and the other girls sat at the dining table sipping from wine glasses.

"So what exactly is the problem?"

Tiffany frowned then took another sip of wine. "Like, I met a guy last night and he was like, totally, great."

"Great how?" Jodie bit his lip genuinely confused.

"In bed, duh." Tiffany pouted.

Jodie wasn't the only one confused by the ditzy girl, "And the problem is he's too clingy?"

"No...he left. I just...I don't know I feel, like, sad. Cause, like,...Ben."

"Ben?"

"He's a doctor," Jodie answered, "I didn't know you guys were, like, dating."

"We're not. We're just, like, fwb."

"What's that?"

"Friends with benefits. You know, like, we call each other and we come over and have sex."

"Who's idea was it to do things that way?"

Tiffany shrugged morosely, "Mine. He's, like, a nice guy, and totally smart, and sweet and he deserves someone just as great."

Jodie stood and hugged his friend and for the first time realized she was indeed his friend. It hurt him seeing her sad and down on herself. "I think you're totally great." Jodie rocked his friend slowly side to side. "I bet if you asked him he totally wouldn't want anyone but you."

"Do you think so?"

"He'd be really dumb if he didn't." Lauren soon joined the girls in their hug. And while none of them spoke In that moment, they felt their individual loads lighten. It was a strange feeling for Jodie. He had had girlfriends before but never had girl friends. There was a different sort of support and intimacy felt between them than was felt with men. Which, save for Eric, wasn't really any support in the guys he knew.

The girls indulged themselves on wine and sorrow for the next two hours. Tiffany about her romantic trtroubles Lauren about her own and her stupid former boss, Jodie even managed to join in about his own job, swearing Tiffany to secrecy that she would never tell anyone that she hated typing, and filing, and fetching coffee.

"Okay," Jodie cleared his throat as he checked his makeup,"We should, like, do something fun. Get our minds off all this totally harsh stuff and on, like, something happier."

Tiffany smiled. "Well, going to the mall totally always puts me in a good mood."

"Really? We wer-" Jodie cut himself off seeing the look on his friend's face. "I mean cool! Let's go!"

Three makeup touches, and a friendly uber ride later the girls arrived at the mall. Tiffany insisted that having friends pick out clothes for you to try on and model was the most fun thing in the world, and Jodie wanted to accommodate his friend even if he felt ridiculous in the outfits chosen. He supposed it was only fair, he had used the game to see as much or Tiffany's and Lauren's skin as possible so now they had chosen an equally skimpy outfit for him to model.

Jodie came out in daisy dukes and a tube top. Picked out, no doubt, by Tiffany herself. Seeing the smile on his friend's face made him forget the embarrassment for the moment. He turned around and throwing his newly long hair around he struck a playful pose to emphasize his butt. The girls enjoyed their game, even Jodie agreed it was a lot of fun.

Later, while they walked through the mall Jodie saw a pet store and found he could not contain his excitement. "Kitties!" Jodie hurried inside the store and vied for the attention of every cat and kitten there was.

"Ooh look! They're so cute!" Tiffany and Lauren joined Jodie in his affectionate display. A small black kitten bumped its head against the back of his palm. "I think she likes you."

"You think so?" Jodie gently scratched under the black kitten's chin. The kitten purred with delight. Jodie smiled happily as he picked it up under its front legs. "Hi. I'm Jodie. What's your name?" The kitten meowed as a reply. "That's a pretty name." Jodie laughed happily as the little cat tried to climb up onto his shoulder.

"I'm surprised you don't have a cat already, Jodie."

Jodie's smile faltered for a moment as he tried to collect the curious kitty. "My mom hated animals so she, like, never let me have one."

"Why don't you, like, get one now?"

"I totally would if I had the money."

"Well, like, you should get paid soon." Jodie thought seriously about it while he nuzzled the kitty.

Sadly, Jodie had to soon leave the kitty behind when they left the store a few minutes later.

Several hours later the sun was already setting by the time Lauren and Jodie returned. "You're back." Eric smiled. The strange feelings returned seeing Jodie now in daisy dukes. "Were you wearing that when you left?"

"No way. It's new."

Eric pinched the bridge of his nose with a groan. "You know Lauren you don't have to spend every dime I have!"

"Hey, how do you know it was me?"

"Jodie wouldn't…she doesn't have the money."

Jodie frowned playfully, "you, like, know, I'm, in the room right? Ah forget it. I'm gonna change." Jodie hurried into their room to change into something simpler.

Eric not so subtly watched Jodie leave before sighing and focusing on Lauren. "Have you thought any about what you're going to do?"

Lauren's happy face took on a serious rigidity. "If I move somewhere cheap maybe I won't have to move back in with mom."

"You know she'd be happy to have you."

"Yeah but I just got out of there. I don't really want to have to go back with my tail between my legs."

"Look...if you want you can stay here until you can get back on your feet."

"Really? I wouldn't want to be any trouble."

"You're always trouble. But you're my sister so… yeah you can stay."

Lauren's face exploded in a happy smile as she threw her arms around Eric. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"

While Lauren squeezed her brother excitedly Eric hoped his friend would understand he couldn't just throw his sister out anymore than he could Jodie.