LonelyBallerina's Note: Chapter 4 of Cat Trouble is here! Yey! :)

Oh, on an important matter, I was thinking of removing the Exceeds from the story since I want everything to be as normal as possible. Any objections?

Cat Trouble

Crazy cat lady

"Um..." a blonde high school student hesitated. Four sets of eyes were quietly observing her in an unblinking gaze. They had been gathered during the lunch break for a supposed revelation from their closest friend, Lucy.

The redhead girl with an obvious strict demeanor because she was also the infamous demon class president suspected that her almost favorite author will give up writing, to which she would very much dislike considering the fact that she nearly persuaded her into adding a bit of sizzle or in other words, "erotic", material to her book.

Beside her, was the petite blunette with a concerned look and a minute breast size. Her thoughts revolved around her friend's current medical and health status. As she bit her lip, she wondered if the blonde had the end stage of a grave and incurable disease and that her life was surely at the edge.

Half-naked and coolly staring was he but inside, he wondered if his friend was pregnant and was about to announce her misfortune and the unlucky culprit with whom he was about to beat up mercilessly.

Last but certainly not the least was the salmon-haired boy who was gawking at the ceiling wondering if the breakfast he had that morning was indeed spoiled or not.

"Add more yaoi!" "Don't die!" "I'll murder the bastard!" Erza, Wendy and Gray chorused all of a sudden which ended in a loud outburst. Lucy could only gape at them while Natsu added in a serious tone, "If the chicken is green, is it still okay to eat it?"

"Idiot. I thought you have a strong sense of smell," Gray asked, folding his arms.

"Bastard! Wanna fight me?" he countered.

"Stop it, you two. Lucy still has to inform us about a relevant information," said Erza, all the while glaring at the pair.

"R-Right. The thing is...would you guys believe me if..." Lucy stammered. The four heads was leaning towards her, eager to hear the alleged 'relevant information'. "...I say that...my cat can understand me...?"

Eight eyes blinked repeatedly in awkward silence. Lucy waited for another reaction. If possible, the 'not seriously staring at me as if saying I've gone insane' type but no one moved an inch.

"Are you still alive?" Lucy asked, annoyed.

"Lucy-san, are you joking or something?" Wendy squeaked.

"What? No! This is not a joke. I'm serious!" she almost yelled.

Amidst the situation, Natsu laughed. "You're going crazy!"

"I'm not, baka! If you don't believe me, then I'll prove it," Lucy declared as she folded her arms.

At that, the pink-haired idiot perked up. "I hear a challenge. You're on, Lucy!"

"Come on, Leo. Nod if you understand me. Come on. Who's a good kitty?" Lucy coaxed the orange ball of fur for the nth time.

Gray approached her with a sigh. "Lucy, you've been at it for-" he checked his watch, "two and a half hours now. How long are you gonna do it?"

"Um, Gray-san is right, Lucy-san. And, I think the cat is traumatized," Wendy hesitated.

"What? No! Just gimme a minute" she turned to the cat and hissed, "I swear if you don't nod, I'll cut your tail off"

"Meow!" Leo purred lazily. He was comfortably perched on a baby blue pillow, staring wistfully at the group gathered around him.

"See? He probably said um, 'You need to believe Lucy because she is telling the truth'", Lucy explained desperately.

The four shared a look which openly indicated 'Lucy went bonkers'. Their next reaction confirmed her theory. They approached her cautiously as if she's a mental patient. "Lucy..."

"Y'know what, just leave. You don't believe me anyway," she said as she sat at a nearby chair, turning her head away.

Natsu began to move towards her but was stopped by Erza. When Lucy was like this, it meant that her mind was set and that she was generally not in a good mood. In defeated silence, they left the room in a single file. When the door closed, she gave the cat a single look. "Don't tell me, you understand me now?"

Leo nodded.

The blonde grumbled, "Thanks a lot. Now my friends think I'm a crazed cat whisperer gone all wrong"

"Meow"

"Shut it. You're stay in our lovely home is over," she said as she picked up the cat under its arms.

It's eyes, once again, bore into hers. "Meow"

She nearly gave in by this cat's version of the 'puppy dog with a hint of sexy lion' eyes but the memory of the earlier experience stopped her, "No. You're not staying any longer. Plus, I promised Erza"

Lucy stopped at an alley six blocks away from their apartment and set the cat down on the ground. "I'll drop you here so that you won't know your way back. Well, it's been nice knowing you, Leo or whatever your real name is. Sayonara".

It just stared at her without a meow being said as she turned and left.

Whew! It's as if a weight has been taken off my shoulders. Lucy exhaled. I really wish I didn't name him, though. It makes me feel like he's already a part of the family. She shook her head to clear away her bizarre thoughts. No. I mustn't think of it. I should just go home and-

A hand clamped over her mouth as she was pulled deeper into the dark alley. "Gimme your money and no one gets hurt," said a hoarse and deep male voice from behind her. Lucy's back was to him so she couldn't very much see any of his face. Although the situation was perilous to a certain extent, she didn't feel scared at all. After all, this was a normal happening in the town of Magnolia.

Damn it. Just my luck. Maybe I could step on his foot or jab his elbow-

"Don't get any ideas, missy. You don't want no knife in your ribby cages now, would ya?" he whispered near her ear. True enough, she felt a fairly sharp knife directed at her back.

This time, an unpleasant wave of fear engulfed her.

Crap. What would he do if I said I have no money?

LonelyBallerina's Note: Wow. I finished in one day. Guess I'm feeling inspired by the whole cat thing.

Well, let me hear your thoughts.