*Hello all, so if you are just seeing this as the first update in a long while, you should check out chapter eight. I updated recently but it didn't send followers any notifications. Well that is all, I guess. Thank you for reading :]*
Catch Me: There is No Choice
"Are you really sure I have to wait another week until you can release me?" Nepeta asks the doctor for the third time in the last thirty minutes. Sitting up in her hospital bed under the covers has become her most frequent "activity" since her stay at the hospital. Although a few classmates come and go to say hello and wish her a "speedy recovery", time passes obnoxiously slow. Staying in the same room can, and definitely has, become completely monotonous. And although the nurses try to keep her entertained, they fail for the most part. She understands that she needs time to heal and recover from any physical or mental trauma, but at this point she might just go crazy if they continue to keep her caged up in this sterile prison.
"Yes," the doctor says firmly but gently, "you really are lucky to have healed as much as you have and showing all positive signs. Usually we would keep patients such as you for longer. I am sorry, but there is nothing else we can do."
"Alright," Nepeta grumbles unhappily. The doctor gives her an empathetic look before excusing himself and leaving the room to probably meet with another patient. Nepeta, now alone in the room, begins to wonder where Equius has gone. It has been three days since she last saw her best friend and she cannot help but long to see him. And as if on cue the door to her stale hospital room opens, revealing a familiar face. "EQUIUS!" The girl cheers spiritedly, barely resisting the urge to tackle-hug her best friend.
Nepeta smiles as the teen walks into the room, however upon inspecting him her grin falters. His eyes have incredibly dark circles around them and are noticeably bloodshot. is face seems longer than she remembers and his skin definitely lightened a couple of shades. His hair, now much greasier than before, hangs in his face, partly covering his sunglasses. Although he still wears the same school uniform, his whole ensemble appears unusually sloppy.
"Equius…" the girl whispers with an obvious tone of concern, "are you alright?"
The boy simply manages a weak smile and nods his head. And although the girl is not at all convinced, she leaves it at that. Equius places his bag on the ground and sits on the chair next to Nepeta and delicately grasps her hand.
Nepeta, not used to this side of Equius simply sits there quietly, waiting for him to speak.
***************Equius***************
You look at the pretty girl before you and resist the urge to breakdown to tell her everything. Holding her hand feels so wrong after the horrible thing they did. Eventually, however, the awkward silence between you two becomes too much to bear and you sigh quietly before speaking. "Nepeta, I am sorry I haven't visited before. That was wrong of me," you apologize timidly, eyes looking down to the floor. She doesn't respond but instead offers a slight smile and squeezes your hand softly. "Have you been bored?" you ask, examining the mostly empty room.
"Oh it's been so BORING," the girl responds light-heartedly with a small chuckle, "but at least all the people here are awfurry nice". The adorably cheesy cat pun elicits a small grin from you, seemingly making Nepeta smirk grow even wider. "Oh!" she exclaims, suddenly remembering something, "I made something for you!" Quickly rummaging through the nightstand next to her bed, she pulls out her sketch book and shows you a new sketch. Your eyebrows raise as you look at an almost perfect reflection of yourself made entirely of paper and graphite. Down to the cracks in your sunglasses, the picture matches your own likeness. Stunned, you look up at your beaming friend and back down at the amazingly realistic portrait. "Do you like it?" she asks expectantly, clearly proud of her work.
"Of course I do, Nepeta," you reply staring at the picture, eliciting a huge, beautiful smile from the young artist. Upon further inspection, you begin to notice the little lines and marks, as well as the extremely careful and thought-out shading. "Nepeta, how long did it take you to draw this?" you question in awe of your dearest friend.
"Well, you see, there was a nurse who was trying to make my days here more pawsitive and she asked if I had any hobbies," Nepeta begins excitedly, "and of course I told her I liked to draw." Quickly she flips back a page and reveals a new picture of a calico kitten. "At first I drew this purretty quick and she said that is was very good. However, she said that to pass the time, I should draw something I couldn't rush through."Looking at the impressive little picture, you notice that while your friend had drawn no obvious flaws, the previous portrait clearly had an extensive amount of detail. "Sooooo," she continues maintaining her enthusiastic tone, "She told me to draw something which made me happy so I couldn't leave it sub-pawr". Surprised at that last statement, your face flushes uncharacteristically causing the cute cat-obsessed girl to giggle. "Oh, don't be silly Equius," she exclaims while suddenly embracing you around your neck, "Of course you make me happy! You are my best furrend, and you make me feel safe and loved."
Chuckling nervously, you hug her tightly. You have had a tough time these past few days but maybe, just maybe, you can get through the rough times ahead as long as you have her. And now looking at how much you mean to her, you realize you need to get through this, if only for her. When it comes to keeping Nepeta happy or leaving her all alone, there is no choice.
*Hello everyone! So it turns out I won't need to shorten my chapters which is totally awesome! I am not sure what it is, but I seem to have really gotten into the writing spirit again! Anyhow, I would also like to thank my beta-reader/editor person who is also a wonderful friend! Thank you shauntrai for being amazing :]! And thank you readers for being amazing as well!*