Chapter 2: One Date Later
The young pink cat girl and the grungy haired teen sat silently in the empty pizza restaurant. It was past closing time but Reggie had allowed them to have a late night dinner regardless. They sat at a table under a faded emerald light that shined on the glistening soda cans and empty pizza plates; awaiting their order to be fulfilled by Graham's boss.
Any curious onlooker would have found it strenuously difficult to avoid the suffocating awkwardness between the cat girl and human boy. Clawdia lazily scribbled a single claw against the vacant plate, her nail shuffled amongst the leftover crumbs from the garlic bread they had eaten moments ago. Graham's eyebrow twitched with jittering irritation at Clawdia's screeching claw movements.
"Could you please stop doing that? You're going to scratch Reggie's plates up, not to mention it's pissing me off something fierce," Graham bitterly griped.
Clawdia's purple eyes glared dully at the sarcastic pizza boy. The idea of annoying him seemed to please the cat girl; she proceeded to scrape and scratch the plate more vigorously. Graham winced at the screeching sounds. A mischievous smirk appeared on the feline's whiskered face.
"I'm beyond serious, cut it out! You're gonna make Reggie mad. Besides, he's giving us this free dinner so show a little respect!"
"Oh, respect? You mean like when you were getting all handsy with me back there? Here's your respect," Clawdia snapped.
She started shredding the table top into confetti. She laughed mockingly at Graham's panicking reaction. He ducked down; hiding under the table before Reggie came around.
"Just what the HELL do you think YOU'RE DOING?!" snarled a gravelly voice.
Clawdia stopped instantly. Her fur stood on edge from the tips of her ears to the nails on her toes; instantly chilled by that gruesome sounding voice that boomed from behind. She slowly turned to see the owner of that odious scent; clogging her nostrils enough she could barely smell the fresh pizza he had just brought out.
Reggie was a large, oafish, troll like man with a portly belly, unsightly 5 o'clock shadow and a face that looked like a disgruntled hippopotamus. The thuggish restaurant owner wore a traditional chef outfit, though his was severely soiled with multiple grease stains and pizza sauce splatters. No signs of any hair poked out from that limp chef hat that sat on his head like a wilted flower. He glared down at Clawdia with shallow green eyes that had splashes of grey mixed in. This brutish looking man was even scarier looking than most of the Foodon monsters she cooked up.
"Heh…I was just uh…trying to uh…you-you have a l-l-l-lovely restaurant Mr. R-r-r-r-reggie," Clawdia said; babbling aimlessly. She laughed sheepishly and tried to play her cat-scratch behavior off as a poor joke.
Reggie growled at her like a Neanderthal. He slammed the pizza down; rattling the table and Graham hiding below. The troll-like man proceeded to slam the napkins, silverware and drink refills down as if he was hammering nails. Graham slowly poked his head back up. He was hesitant but he was also quite hungry, and even though he wasn't the one who angered Reggie; he was the one who convinced him to let Clawdia stop by for a meal after closing.
"Quit screwing around kid and eat your damn dinner. I don't feel like dealing with this stuff," he grumbled and stormed off. His footsteps created deafening thuds with each step he made.
"T-t-t-thanks boss, see ya for work tomorrow," Graham squeaked out.
Clawdia was about to thank him as well but was promptly silenced by a red and white checkered apron that crashed into her face with the force of a softball. She grunted and fell onto her back; weak groans murmuring from the floor. "What the heck is?" she pondered. Clawdia sat back up and examined the apron; finally realizing what it was. "Why did he give me an apron? Does he want me to wipe up with this or something?"
"Don't be a ditz, he wants you to work here so you can pay this off," Graham clarified.
"WHAT? I thought you said this meal was free you cheese dick!" she shrieked; eyes bulging vividly.
"Yes, the meal is free, but the plates you scratched up and the table cloth you tor up isn't free. Judging by your job history and the fact you agreed to this impromptu dinner, I'm betting you don't have the cash for it. So naturally; waitressing it is," he replied.
"Great, now I can get oogled and mistreated at an Italian restaurant as well at a Chinese restaurant," she grumbled and planted her feet onto the table. "Some date you turned out to be," she said angrily under her breath.
Graham frowned and swatted her feet off the table. He shook his head as he looked at her bitter scowl. "Reggie may be a walking Fright fest attraction but he's not an A-hole. He doesn't tolerate that kind of treatment here. Besides, he's only doing this because you broke his stuff. He could have done a lot worse. Be lucky he didn't spit in the pizza or something," he pointed out.
"How do you know he didn't?"
"Come on, just because he's not Joe Sunshine doesn't mean you can't trust him," Graham said defensively.
"He's not the one I don't trust, happy hands," Clawdia hissed back.
After exchanging a few more insults, the two decided it would be best if they both stuffed their mouths full of pizza. At least then they'd both shut up for a change.
Clawdia carefully cradled an especially gooey piece of cheese pizza. She looked at it skeptically; sniffing it to see if any globs of spit could be detected. Graham chomped into his own slice eagerly though she didn't trust him anymore than the trusted the caveman in the kitchen.
Ah screw it.
She took a cautious bite. Her eyes widened suddenly. She was surprised at how good this pizza tasted, and she'd eaten tons during her time as a Glutton. Graham had a surprised-yet-smug look on his face. He knew she'd enjoy the pizza. She hated giving him the satisfaction of knowing he was right, but this tasted too damn good and she was way too hungry to stop eating just to put up a fowl front. Before she knew it, Clawdia had scarfed down half of the pizza.
"See? I told you this stuff was gourmet crap," he happily stuffed a piece of crust into his mouth, "I know my pizza and this is good pizza."
"Yeah, yeah; you're not a total loss after all. Just don't let it go to your head," she said dismissively.
CLINK!
Graham cursed under his breath. His fork dropped down to the floor, bent down to pick it up. It was at this moment that Graham's steely blue eyes discovered something truly alarming: he wasn't on a date with a girl; he was on a date with a woman.
Unsurprisingly, he was treated to a private view of Clawdia's body under the table. Her smoothly sculpted legs crossed alluringly with the sugary pink fur grinding whisperingly against one another. The cherry red boots she wore shaped her calves curvaceously. Very little was left to his perverse imagination upon seeing her red speedo, they made her thighs cling irresistibly close. Even her idly curling tail had its own unique charms that were not lost on the young man's mind. Though she was a humanoid feline and a pain in the ass, he was starting to see the beauty hidden within the beast.
"Ahem!"
CLANG!
"Ow! Dammit!"
Graham banged his head under the table. Clawdia's irritated grunt caught him off guard, she also caught him red handed for sneaking a peak. He groaned at the throbbing pain in his head and he rose up to face the furious looking feline; face to face. His cheeks blushed furiously.
"Looking for some other piece of pie to stick your fork into, eh buddy?" she snapped angrily. Her cheeks puffed up adorably as she growled.
"Y-y-y-yeah, I know, that wasn't cool. Sorry hot stu-ER I mean…Clawdia," he stumbled nervously.
"You done digging your own grave, or should I lend you these to help?" she flashed her claws threateningly.
Graham squeaked in fear. He hid his face behind his empty pizza plate; pitifully using it as a makeshift shield.
"I know I've been really inappropriate and I'm sorry for like…half of them," Clawdia raised an eyebrow at that remark, "but I'm just kind of…new…to all of…this." He gulped loudly and slowly lowered his plate. Clawdia seemed more perplexed then furious at the moment.
"What do you mean: new to all of this?"
"New to girls…you know…like talking to them, dating them, making small talk with them…so pretty much everything to do with girls," he laughed sheepishly. Clawdia remained sourly unamused.
"Gee what a shocker," she flatly. Clawdia uncrossed her legs and crossed her arms over her chest, her tail laid lifelessly on the ground. Even a novice like Graham could sense the cold vibes she was sending out. "You know, I think I'm done for the night. Thanks for the food but now it's time-"
"W-w-w-wait please; don't go. As weird as it sounds I'm kind of enjoying your company and this date is like, the most fun I've had in a long ass time. Just stay a little longer," he said earnestly. His shimmering eyes pleading for her to stay; twinkling like stars in the night sky.
"Look, I don't have much of a life but I do have one and I need to get back to it. So tell Grunty McGrunterson thanks for the grub but this cat is splitting," she said with a sneer. Clawdia stood up from her seat and headed towards the door.
Graham panicked slightly and decided to follow after her.
"H-h-hold up, it's late and you're nowhere near your place. I can at least give you a ride back home," he said; feet stumbling to keep up with her brisk pace.
"Thanks but no. Just because Jonas and his buddies jumped me doesn't mean I'm a helpless little flower. I'll claw the face off any mugger or murderer who tries to mess with me tonight," she said stiffly.
"Hey I never said you were helpless. I'm just saying it'd be smarter if you-"
"UGH! Would you just piss off already?! God, this is why you don't know anything about girls. You're too grabby, you don't take a hint and most importantly; no girl is interested in some orphaned loser who lives in a crappy RV behind a dumpy pizza place, GOT THAT?" she shrieked deafeningly.
Graham felt the warmth of this strange evening turn violently cold. It crept on him like a virus; crippling all sense of feelings and emotion inside him. The color drained from his face along with the lights in his eyes. Clawdia immediately realized the magnitude of her horrible words, but already knew it was too late to take it back.
The damage had been done.
"H-h-h-hey, look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"No, no; you're absolutely right. I uh don't know what I was thinking. Just um…just head on home and I'll…I'll t-t-take care of your bill with Reggie. Sorry for wasting your time."
Clawdia didn't know a person's voice could sound that low, so hollow and broken, and she was the one who caused it. Graham couldn't bear to look at her as he picked up her plates and utensils off the table. He carried everything back to the kitchen without uttering a single word. He felt as broken and scarred as the plates Clawdia damaged, and yet, despite the fact he knew how absurd it was to be this wounded over a forced date…he felt like a gash had been opened up in his heart.
The pink cat girl didn't know how to react. She wanted to apologize but no words could be formed, no gesture could mend the unmistakable pain she had clearly caused. Clawdia vainly called out to the young delivery boy. "Um Graham…I just wanted to say…thank you for you know…everything," she raised a paw towards him; reaching for his shoulder. She was hoping he would turn around to look at her or even acknowledge her in some way, but he didn't.
"Goodbye then…"
Clawdia watched Graham disappear into the shadows of the kitchen, any hope of getting lost in those enchanting blue eyes vanishing with him.
She left the restaurant and started on her not-so-merry way back to her home. The memory of that heartless exchange replayed in her mind over and over again; tormenting her. Just thinking about the long, draining walk back to her rat hole of an "apartment" in the Chinese restaurant basement made her shiver with loathing. She couldn't believe she called Graham's RV crappy considering where she had to sleep tonight.
It's definitely a major downgrade compared to the accommodations the Gluttons offered. Even when I was at the bottom of their corporate ladder, I still lived and ate better than I do now.
After the Gluttons fell, those that weren't arrested only had two options: flee the country or tough it out here and try to find work in a society that you once imprisoned and attacked. Clawdia lacked the finances or resources to leave. There was always Chase and his friends, but she felt she burdened them enough with all she put them through and swore to herself she would be strong enough to make it on her own. Plus, she hated relying on others for anything.
Cinnamonkey, Cole Slaughter, Rose Marinade, Grill, King Gorge; none of them had my back when I really needed it or asked for it. I always swore I'd try my hardest to be better than they were, to treat others better than they treated me…look how that worked out.
She remembered spending numerous days going from place to place, asking everyone for some kind of job. Just about everyone slammed the door in her face and wouldn't give her as much as a penny for her troubles. She did it so long, days started to blur together and the cold nights she spent sleeping in alleyways and cardboard boxes always reminded her she couldn't give up. Eventually, she found a Chinese restaurant that had a rundown basement that they agreed to let her live in and make her own so long as she worked as a waitress to earn her stay and meals.
I felt like some pink, furry piece of meat that everyone wanted to take a bite out of. The customers, the chefs, the manager; no one gave a damn about my existence. Prison sounded so tempting after one week in that dingy dump.
Her red boots clomped along the lowly, lonely road back to her home. She cringed at even using that word home when referring to that rancid basement. The flickering lights from the streetlamps only made her more anxious to get going. She felt so down and lost though, she couldn't even remember how long she had been walking or how much further she had to go. Clawdia barely remembered any of the surroundings whirring past her when she was riding on Graham's bike. Might have been useful to pay attention to where you are, idiot.
Graham…I never thought I'd say this but I feel bad for the guy. Sure, he was perverted, bossy, sneaky, and obnoxious. And also kind of thick headed and doesn't understand one damn thing about girls…but still…he was also really kind of sweet.
"Even after all I've done in this world and all the things I said and did to him after he saved my life, he still wanted to help me. No one's ever done anything like that for me," she sighed miserably.
Her boots slowly came to a halt. Standing in the middle of the seemingly endless road, Clawdia looked back in the direction of the pizza shop that had long vanished from view.
"What am I doing? What am I doing trudging around here; moping and groaning to myself?" she nodded firmly. Clawdia turned around and started storming back towards Reggie's place and Graham's RV. "That dork is the only one who'd listen to me gripe all night like this. And since he was kind enough to give me dinner, it's only fair I reward him with my charming company," she paused to snicker; "besides…I still owe him an apology."
She made her way back to Reggie's restaurant. Her magenta eyes seized up for a moment when she spotted the shadowy RV hiding in the back; realizing what she had to do. The cat girl had never been good with apologies. She said sorry all the time to her former employers when she screwed up, but she saw that more as sniveling than a genuine apology.
The feline cautiously approached the RV door. She made sure her steps were careful and quiet. She didn't want Graham or Reggie to spot her and ruin everything, it was taking all of her strength just to stand in front of that faded orange door and not run off in a panic. Graham would most likely still be hurt. Who wouldn't be? He'd probably scream, curse, cuss her name out and chuck stuff at her head, and she'd deserve every bit of it.
"Still, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. You owe him that much," she muttered to herself; mustering her courage.
Clawdia hesitantly rose up her left paw and reached out to knock on the door.
CREAK! SPLASH!
A gallon of water splashed onto her head; soaking her from head to tail tip. She groaned miserably as she felt cold droplets drip from her soggy whiskers. Standing behind the door was Graham, holding an empty pan that, up until 2 seconds ago, was filled to the brim with water. He was wearing a black, short sleeved "Amazing Spider-man" shirt and white pajama pants littered with tiny skulls all over.
"Oh sorry about that, I saw a great big lump of bitch in front of my home and I thought that'd wash it away," she stared grumblingly at the boy's snarky remarks, "guess I need more water."
Clawdia held up her soaking paws in surrender. Her hair slumped together in damp, thick patches of matted hair as she bowed her head. "Look, I know you're pissed and if someone gave me a brutal tongue lashing like that, I'd probably want to soak their head too," she paused to wipe her face clean, "and I don't expect you to forgive me I just want to ask you to listen."
Graham stared rigidly at the drenched cat girl.
She was right, he was firmly justified in his anger and the fact she's asking him to listen to her after that low blow was an insult to injury. But there was something stirring in him, something that told him he can't just leave her out here like this…just like he couldn't leave her when he saw her being attacked in the alleyway.
"You've got two minutes; make em count," he grunted.
"Life has been one giant pile of used kitty litter ever since the Gluttons went belly up. No, actually it was even before that now that I think about it. The point is, as miserable as my life has been and still is; it was beyond unfair for me to rip into you about yours. You've suffered a lot and all I did was rub salt into your wounds while you were kind enough to patch up mine. The truth is every guy that looks at me either drools over me or gives me a nasty case of stink eye.
You're the first guy who actually saw me as…pretty, I should be so lucky to have someone look at me the way you did. You have every reason to cuss me out or dunk me again, lord knows I deserve it. But I don't want to go back home tonight and I certainly don't want to head back soaking wet all alone. So…I know this is asking a lot and I've been such a little idiot but…do you think you could let dry off and maybe even…let me crash here for the night; please?"
The first thing that came to Graham's mind was: Hell no! He wanted to shout it to her water logged face and chase her off into the night with a spritzer bottle like any other stray.
But instead, he said something else.
"Fine…you can dry off and chill in my RV. Long as you don't snore or shed fur or anything, we should be cool for the night," he dryly replied.
"And from now on?" she asked hopefully.
"Don't push your luck pussy cat."
Clawdia realized this wasn't going to be fixed with a simple apology overnight. So she smiled, nodded and took whatever he was generous enough to offer.
She came aboard the RV and curiously examined Graham's room/home. For a guy living all by himself in an RV, she was surprised at how clean the place was. Granted, it wasn't perfectly immaculate. There were empty pop cans here and there, a few sauce stains on the inside of the microwave and some areas could use a good dusting but other than that; it was rather cozy.
"Here, I'd rather not get my socks soaked."
Graham handed her a towel. She stared blankly at him for a moment; taking a second or two to process what he was saying. Eventually, she realized she was still staring at the towel and apologized as she took it to dry off. He showed her to the bathroom so she could get out of her wet clothes.
"Thanks again Graham, you're a real gentlemen. You know…aside from all the pervy comments and grabbing and stuff but still-"
"Just hurry up already! I've still got to wash my face and brush my teeth and all that crap."
She nodded and quickly started the shower. He sat at his kitchen table and waited impatiently for her to finish. Eventually, the water stopped and the faint sound of dripping could be heard.
"You all done in there pussy cat?"
"Ummmm."
"What, what is it now?"
"Heh…it just occurred to me that I don't have any dry clothes to change into. I know you've already done so much for me, buuuuuut do you think I could trouble you for-"
"HERE just…take this and-and this!"
He grunted in annoyance and slight embarrassment. He wasn't used to having girls naked in his home, much less asking for his underwear to wear. But he knew he couldn't let her sleep in here butt naked. Graham removed his Spider-man shirt and handed it to her through an open crack in the door, along with a pair of black and grey biker shorts he wore on deliveries during the summer.
"T-t-t-thank you," she replied meekly from behind the door.
Thank god there was a door between them; neither one could see how unbearably red the other's face was. After a few minutes Clawdia finally exited the bathroom. Their eyes locked for a moment, inevitably following down to their bodies and finding it quite hard for either to look away.
Graham had seen that Spider-man shirt a hundred times. He's had it for years and the wear and tear on it was quite obvious, and yet, it looked amazing resting comfortably on Clawdia's shapely figure. It was as if seeing her in his shirt made her a thousand times more attractive, like it was some sort of magic coat that warped the world around her into some sort of personalized paradise for him. Something about her wearing something of his just made his heart beat a little bit faster and his cheeks growing a few shades hotter.
Clawdia had never seen Graham shirtless before. The sudden sight of his young form sent shivers down her spine. There were a few bruises and scrapes; no doubt from falls while on his bike, but otherwise he had quite the bod. She had seen plenty of big buff muscle heads in the Rebellion and the Glutton Empire, but they never impressed her much. Graham on the other hand had a natural, almost inviting figure that looked more sculpted and healthy. He was no Olympic athlete but his toned body was quite easy on the eyes none the less.
"W-w-what, what's wrong? Does my fur look all funny or something? I just showered so of course it's going to-"
"No-no it's not that…you just…look really pretty."
"Oh…Oh I see," she paused; blushing furiously. She looked down curiously at the shape of her figure in his night clothes. She twiddled her paws anxiously. "Thanks…you um…your kind of dashing looking…wasn't expecting that," she laughed uneasily.
"I could say the same about you. Definitely wasn't expecting this from a former Glutton commander," he chuckled.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I dunno, guess only time will tell."
Graham prepared his bed for Clawdia but she insisted on sleeping on the pull out bed in the couch. His chivalrous nature was quite touching, but deep down the cat girl felt that she deserved the less comfortable bed considering all she's put him through AND the fact this was his home. Eventually, he agreed to her terms and went to his bed while she got cozy on the pull-out one.
"Good night Graham."
"Good night Clawdia."
The lights clicked off as the two attempted to slip off into dreamland.
Though Clawdia had no trouble sleeping, feeling comfortable and safe inside this little home on wheels; Graham struggled. He stared blankly at the ceiling. His mind raced with wild thoughts and endless questions, all concerning the young furry girl snoozing away peacefully just a few feet from his bed.
This is every level of crazy. How did I end up shacking up with a former Glutton? Ugh! Stop that, I'm NOT shacking up; she's just crashing here. She'll be gone tomorrow and I'll go back to my ordinary, RV bound lifestyle. Still…
He tilted his head up from his pillows. He could have sworn he heard an odd sound. Clawdia briefly raised a paw up before letting it collapse down next to her face. She yawned adorably before returning to silent slumber.
Graham couldn't stop smiling at such a sweet sight.
It would be kinda cool if she was here in the morning…and maybe even stayed a bit longer after that. Guess I'll see in the morning.
He closed his eyes, let loose a grumbly yawn and went to sleep.
The next day…
Graham slowly sat up from his bed; lazily rubbing his eyes and smacking his lips to get that dry sandpapery taste out of his mouth. His attention quickly went to the wrinkled blankets and ruffled pillows on the pull-out bed.
No sign of Clawdia.
"Yeah, should have figured that," he sighed miserably.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"I hear ya Reggie. Just give me a few minutes, I gotta wake my lazy ass up," he replied.
Normally telling your employer to wait and acknowledge your own laziness wouldn't be considered very smart. But Graham knew Reggie well enough to let that kind of talk slide. He scrubbed his teeth with his brush as he prepared himself for another uneventful, pizza slinging day.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Holy Hell, I'm coming I'm coming already! Jeez man, what happened? Did the place burn to the ground or something?" he stomped towards the front door. Graham pulled it open, his toothbrush still poking out of his mouth. "What could be so important that you-"
He nearly dropped his toothbrush in shock.
There, standing in front of his RV wearing a waitress outfit and holding a plate of steaming fresh pizza and breadsticks was Clawdia. Two small suitcases packed to the brim sat side by side her red booted ankles.
He was at a loss for words.
"I know pizza and breadsticks are like the unhealthiest things you could eat for breakfast, but since your boss doesn't serve much in the way of breakfast foods I kind of had to improvise," she said with a nervous laugh.
She politely handed Graham the food while he stood there; still stunned.
"So, I kind of slept well last night…like amazingly well and it gave me this crazy idea, which you may or may not freak out over. You see, I hate my life. I hate where I live, I hate my job, I hate pretty much everything and everyone that's in my dumpster fire of a life…except for you," she tenderly. A sweet smile warmed her furry cheeks. "I only just met you last night but that was the best night I've had in-in like forever, and I don't want to go back to the gutter where you found me.
"I want to do something crazy for a change and leave everything behind just so I can serve pizzas with you and travel wherever this giant heap can take us. I got up early, hitched a ride home and back just so I can pack up my stuff, leave my old life behind and come here so I can serve you breakfast. Which I know is REALLY presumptuous of me but," she slumped over and sighed, "I've got nothing left. You're the only thing that's ever been remotely good in my life and I'm not ready to let you slip through my paws right now."
Graham continued to stare silently at her.
"So what do you say, willing to give a crazy cat girl serving you pizza at 9am in the morning a shot?" she asked meekly.
He carefully considered her proposal. He raised his hand to his chin; projecting a haughty sense of intense contemplation. Finally, Graham had devised an answer. He picked up a piece of pizza and stuffed it into Clawdia's mouth. She almost gagged but managed to bite it down and swallow. The young man took a piece for himself; flashing that same devilishly charming smile that had inspired Clawdia to take this risk in the first place.
"You had me at pizza and breadsticks," he took a great big bite and nodded. That smile never leaving his face.
To be continued…
Nukem the author back again, finally with a new update! I'm still unsure on where I am going with this story or how its going to turn out but it'll probably be short; around 5 chapters or 6 at most. Tell me what you guys think! Like it, dislike it, think I should add anything? Whatever I can do to make this little romance more fun, let me know! I don't own Clawdia or any Fighting Foodons names, characters or settings etc.