It's been too long.


You know who at this point.

I froze and slowly turned towards her.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I muttered under my breath. It was her. I hadn't seen her since I... I did... it. I couldn't face her after that, I can't even believe that I did it, that I committed an act like that, that I killed Wyatt. Over what, her? How could I do that? How could I kill somebody over a highschool crush?

Sadly, all these questions came to me after the event. I did it, I killed him. Lucky, this town was so far away from Richmond and it happened a month later. But I knew that if she saw me, I would be in jail for life. I had to do something. I had to get out of there. I was still in my work clothes so I might not be as noticeable if I walked by with my face hidden. I stood up with my bear, walking through the crowd of other patrons at the bar.

Why is she even in a place like this? This isn't like the Isabelle I grew to love... Why is she in this area anyway?

"Maybe an event consisting of her lover dying at the hand of a long time friend scares an animal," I said, a little louder than I would've liked. I noticed some drunks started paying attention to me.

i wouldn't be like this if it wasn't for you... I would be at home with her! I would BE HAPPY! YOU SACK OF SHIT, YOU RUINED ME!

"You alright man?" some drunkard asked me.

"I'm all good my dude," I told him, taking another swig of beer. "I think the alcohol is just getting to my head."

"After only two and a half beers!? You're quite the light-weight my friend!" He yelled, a bellowing laugh emerging from his belly. "Please, come sit with me and my drinking companions. More alcohol on us!" He grabbed me and tried guiding me to the counter to a group of three. A hamster, another human, and a monkey.

"No, I really must be getting home, I have work in the morning," I tried explaining to him, attempting to escape from his grasp.

"Nonsense! Would you really be living if you didn't take a risk once in a while? C'mon! We drink till our keys are taken from us and a cab is called!" Everyone in the bar agreed, yelling in anticipation for me to actually sit with this guy. Who was this? What was going on?

She's trying to see what all the commotion is about...

Wyatt was right. There was a few people in-between myself and Isabelle, but she was trying to get a look at me.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," I muttered. I began to sweat. "I need to go man, I've got some prior engagements."

"Fine, you puss! We don't need your kind here. Get your furry tail and kitten ears out of my face!"

She has to know it's you now, or at least be pretty sure.

I don't think I can let that slide, I thought to myself. I was already on the edge of my seat, and now this ass just intimidated me for no god damn reason.

"Hey, buddy?" I asked the man. He turned around. "I'll get out. Right after this." I pounded his face in with a closed paw.

SHIT! I hadn't done that in so long, my paw ached immediately. He started to get up, and I scratched his back twice in a row. He screamed in pain.

"YOU FILTHY VERMIN!" he screamed, turning around and trying to kick me. I jumped and slashed at both of his legs. He yelped, staying down for the count. Everyone was yelling at me or the wounded man. The entire bar developed into an UFC fight, but no one was going after me for some reason. I ran through the crowd, scratching animal's or people's rear ends if they didn't get out of my way. I had to get out. She couldn't see me. I ran past her without a second thought, she was still gazing into the crowd of fighting patrons.

She looks like she hasn't aged a day...

"It's only been a month, Wyatt," I said, exiting the bar. I walked towards my apartment.

Time passes slowly when you're a ghost stuck with some deadbeat cat.

I chuckled. The first time I had in at least a week. It was good to laugh once in a while, it reminded us that we were still living. I approached a crosswalk and clicked on the button, waiting for my turn to cross the street. I tapped my foot as I scratched my furry chin. Anything I could do to get my mind off Isabelle and everything that happened tonight. I was about to lose my job. Lucky, I could sell some of the shit left over from robbing that mayor, some of the guns, ammo, and I still had at least 85,000 bells from Wyatt's statue fund.

I told him about it a week ago, he didn't take it very well. And I only spend about a thousand bells every two weeks since rent is cheap as hell and food isn't too expensive even in a town like this. I did spend just a shit ton of bells on entertainment the first week.

"That's right!" I said, as I crossed the intersection. "I'm finally watching Terminator 2 tonight!" I began running towards my apartment. That was one of the only things that made me happy anymore: watching movies. Too bad I wasted at least 400 bells on streaming services and picking up a movie or two every week. Maybe tonight wouldn't be as bad as I thought it would be.

I showed up to my apartment complex and put my key into the door, entering the main building. I saw the receptionist, Quin, sitting behind the counter. He had his feet up on the surface of the furniture, a soda can resting in his hand as he filled out a crossword puzzle.

"Who plays the main character in 'Full Metal Jacket?" he said, tapping a pencil against his lip, obviously deep in thought.

"It's Matthew Modine that plays Private Joker," I said, closing the door behind me.

"That's right! Thank you Kid Cat," he said, setting the soda can and his legs down, writing down the answer I gave him. "Hey, where you been man? You usually come back right after work. Doesn't your shift end at nine when you do overtime?"

"Yeah, I went to the bar after," I said, walking up to the staircase. "Wasn't there long though... Am I that late?" He pointed to the clock that was above the elevator. It was 11PM. "How was I out so late?" I muttered to myself. "I didn't realize that time passed that much, huh."

"Well, just make sure to be quiet when you head up. Mr. and Mrs. Crowe were complaining about how some, in their own words, litterbox-ridden scum was making too much noise throughout the night, I say we get him neutered as a public service." I chuckled.

"I may have been watching some Arnold Schwarzenegger comedies and then pass out, forgetting to turn it off," I said, grabbing the handle to the stairs. "I'll make sure to keep it down. Have a good night Quin. You checking out for the night?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to make sure you got here on time," he said, standing up and stretching. "Goodnight Kid Cat. I'll see you tomorrow." Oh yeah, that's right. This place was so far from Richmond that I just told all of them my real name; the whole story didn't get much traction out here. I waved goodbye and slowly walked up the stairs to not make too much noise, knowing that the Crowes probably weren't joking if they heard anymore disturbances. I got to the third floor and was about to open the door as I heard faint yelling. It was a thick door so the second I opened it, it got louder real quick.

"Let me the fuck in Rachel!" I heard someone yell, slamming on a door. "I need to fucking talk to you!" That was Pete, he was Rachel's boyfriend. Rachel was really nice, and I always wondered how she got stuck in something like this. Hell, how she even got stuck in this apartment complex. It was basically an old motel in a run down building managed by some pretty big asshats. At least the receptionist wasn't a pain. "Rachel, I fucking swear!" he yelled again, banging on the door harder. My room was a few rooms past Rachel's so even if I didn't want to get involved, I had no choice.

"Mister," I heard an old lady's voice say. "Can you keep it down?" That was Mrs. Tolbert and I'm guessing Mr. Tolbert was screaming about the youngster being an ass in the hallway. Pete turned from the door and stared her down.

"You want me to keep it down?" he said, his nostrils flustering. "My girlfriend won't let me get into my god damn apartment, I think I have every right to be a little loud, and I'm sorry if I'm disturbing your beauty sleep, Grandma." He continued to bang on Rachel's door.

"Damn it son!" Mr. Tolbert yelled, most likely from his lazy boy, watching the late night news. "Lemme at him Helen, you get some rest." He passed his wife and appeared in the hallway. "Pete, for chrissake, keep it down! It's 11PM and I'm trying to watch the tele!" Pete stopped banging on the door and looked at the man, slowly approaching him.

"Are you kidding me, Old Timer? I swear to FUCKING GOD, I ALREADY TOLD YOUR BITCH WIFE TO GET LOST!" Pete screamed at him.

"Why you-" Mr. Tolbert was saying as Pete took out a butterfly knife from his pocket. Mr. Tolbert stopped mid sentence, and started backing up. "Pete, put the knife down."

"Excuse me?" Pete said, messing around with the knife in his hand. "I couldn't hear you. I may be the one that needs to get his ears checked, eh?" Pete continued to slowly approach the old man.

Stop standing there, DO SOMETHING!

He was right. I started bolting straight down the hallway, my footsteps making loud thumps on the ground. They both immediately noticed me.

"Ah, it's the pussy," Pete said as I pulled up. "What do you wanna, scaredy cat?"

"Put the knife down Pete, no one needs to get hurt," I said, standing next to Mr. Tolbert. "Mr. Tolbert, go back inside. I got this." Mr. Tolbert looked at me with fear in his eyes. I could see his entire life flash before his eyes, thinking that this little quarrel would turn out to be the end of his life. He patted me on the back and went into his room.

"Oh, you trying to be a hero, huh? Just like the characters in your films, huh? Grow up kid. This is real life," he said, the knife still present in his hand. "You better go to your room, and open the door to Rachel's room." Like I said, this used to be an old motel. So the joint-room doors hadn't been taken out. You know, the doors where each one had a separate lock and when both were open you could go in between both rooms freely.

"That's not going to happen, Pete," I said. "You've gotta leave Rachel alone already. You've been at this for a while now." He laughed.

"No shit! I live here!"

"No, you don't. Rachel does, you're just a squatter. Get lost, Pete," I said, beckoning him away. He furrowed his brow.

"I don't think so, buddy," he said, swiping at me with his knife. I wasn't ready for that. It's been too long since I had even worked out so of course I wasn't ready for a fight. A cut appeared across my stomach as the knife moved across my body. I yelped in pain. I hadn't felt pain like that in a long time. "You ain't got shit, big talk!" he yelled at me. He tried to stab me, but I jumped back. I kicked him in the hand, the knife flying backwards. I ran up to him and slammed my fist into his face. My right hand was going to be sore as hell tomorrow. "Fucker!" he yelled at me, covering his eye. I ran towards the knife, but he was already right next to it. I did a 360 and started slamming on Rachel's door.

"Rachel! Please open this, this psycho's gonna kill me!" I heard a lock get undone and the door opened immediately. I just stared at her for a second. She was in a loose t-shirt and pajama pants, you know, stereotypical, bright colored pajama pants. The things that stood out most were on her face. Her make-up was smeared because she had been sobbing, I mean, who could blame her? And her left eye was completely black.

"You gonna keep standing there or come in?" she asked me. I hurried inside and she closed the door again, locking the bolt faster than ever. Her apartment was a mess. There was a TV in front of her bed, the bed unmade. There were broken glasses on the ground and cabinets were open with utensils and other dishes on the floor. The white walls had a soda stain next to the refrigerator. I thought about making a joke about she had a drinking problem, but I knew she wasn't in the mood. Good thing too cause two seconds later a knob rattle came from the other side.

"Rachel, are you fucking protecting that pussy!?" he yelled, banging on the door. I heard him pop open a cell phone and dial someone. He was probably bringing backup. Rachel sat down on her bed and put her face into her hands.

"Hi," I said to Rachel. I sat down next to her.

"Hi Kid Cat," she said to me, her voice muffled by talking into her hands. "How are you?"

"Not so good," I said. "I was going to watch Terminator 2 tonight, but I guess I had a change in plans." She chuckled. She had a good sense of humor. "I'm guessing your day isn't too good either."

"Yeah, was it that apparent?" I smiled. "Ugh, why do I even try." I thought about putting my arm around her, attempting to comfort her, but I couldn't bring myself to. "Anyway, I'm sorry you got dragged into this. But thanks." She raised her head and looked at me, trying her best to smile. She had an amazing smile even if she had a black eye and her makeup was smeared.

"It's alright," I said, laying down on the bed. "I needed a little excitement in my life. It's been kinda boring recently."

"Your action movies not enough excitement?" I blushed, quickly sitting up. I had a problem of listening to movies pretty loud, and I had a few times where she asked me to turn it down. She laughed after seeing my face turn bright red. "I'm messing with you," she said, playfully hitting me in the arm. She was acting pretty chummy for having her boyfriend trying to break down her door.

"I know," I said, smiling. It seemed peaceful. Pete wasn't making anymore noise so I assumed he was gone. I sat there with her in the silence.

It was nice.