I'm asking everyone that reads my story to review. I'd like to know what you think (Though I already know what you think, MegaPea!)

I'm having a hard time figuring out if things need to be changed and I'd really like to hear it from you.

I don't like begging but if I have to I'll resort to it. Or play mind games like Rika.

So yeah. Review please!

ooo

"Fries, fries, chili fries. Fries."

I looked at Rika. "Are you high?"

"Fries, fries, chili fries. Fries," she continued to sing.

I laughed. "Two please."

The man behind the counter scratched his extending stomach, pressing a few buttons. "Four twenty-eight, kid," he told me in a greasy voice.

I cringed, fishing out the money. I may have been gross at some point, but he was absolutely repulsive. "Here," I grimaced, handing him what was due.

He pushed two full, sloppy trays across the counter toward me. Rika stole them before I could even reach out for them.

"Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine!" Rika ran away, rushing out of the door.

I laughed. "Rika, I'm hungry. Get back here!"

"No! They're mine!" I could hear just before the door shut.

I pushed it open, finding Rika sitting on the curb, stuffing the chili-covered fries into her mouth.

"…Can I have some?"

She looked over her shoulder, putting another fry into her mouth. "…No," she refused in a childish tone.

I sat down next to her on the side walk. "Don't you think eight trays are enough? Can't I have one?"

She looked at the trays, then at me with big eyes. "…One. Fine." She handed me one fry.

"I meant one tray!" I objected, taking the fry.

"Oh. No! It's mine!"

I sighed. "Fine…"

ooo

"So we got a TV. So we got some plants. And we went to the grocers. Now what, Alien Boy?" Rika asked.

I smiled. "I have a present for you."

ooo

"Hey, stay here, all right? You can look at the toys and collars and things. I'll be right back."

Rika smiled, quickly turning to the freestanding shelving unit.

I watched her closely before running off to find someone that worked there. "Uhm. Excuse me. Can you help me with adoptions?"

The lady smiled. "Oh of course! The adoption fees are seventy-five dollars and you'll need proof of identification."

I nodded. "I've got that, don't worry." I sighed, relieved I could truthfully say I had identification.

Her smile grew. "So which were you thinking to adopt today?" She led me off in the direction of the kennels.

"A cat."

She laughed. "How sweet. You know, we don't get many single guys coming in to adopt cats. They're more into the puppies."

I shrugged. "It's for my… girlfriend," I cringed. That wasn't exactly the truth, it was just easier to say girlfriend than explain the entire situation.

"Oh, how sweet! Is it an anniversary gift?"

"Housewarming. She's always loved cats." Sometimes, I hate lying. Truth is, I don't know if Rika has ever seen a cat or knows what it is. Though, when we were talking about a cat before, it just seemed like a good idea. When my dog passed away, I always felt like I was missing something. Now maybe the kitten can keep us both company…

The lady reached out and unlocked the door, leading me into the windowed room.

"Could you wait here a moment?" I asked. "I'll go get Rika."

She nodded, holding the door open for me while I left.

"Rika!" I called out, looking through the aisles until I found her. "Rika, follow me," I told her, grasping her hand to pull her back to the kennels.

"Ben? What's gotten into you?"

"It's a surprise. Look!" I pointed to the kennel window where the lady inside was letting the kittens and cats out of their cages. They were already running from their barred prisons to the cat poles beyond. I smiled, knowing how it felt to be locked up. I rubbed my inked shoulder with my free hand, sighing quietly.

"They're cute, aren't they?" Rika smiled, leaning her head to the side as she watched them through the window.

"Which one's the cutest?" I asked, feeling strange using that word. Cutest. Guys just don't say that.

She slowly walked up to the window, looking at the kittens. One of them pawed at Rika through the window, its chocolate eyes watching her gracefully. Rika pressed her hand to the glass, as if to match the kitten's paw.

"This one's so sweet," she smiled.

The lady behind the glass looked at me, then gestured towards the one with vanilla-colored fur with a large chocolate blotch on its head, the one Rika was watching. I nodded back, and she scooped up the small kitten.

"Aww…," Rika whined. "You think someone's taking him home?"

I walked up to her, putting my arm over her shoulder. "Yup."

She watched the small cat as the lady locked up the others, the strange, almost Neapolitan kitten sprawled over the brunet's shoulder.

Rika looked at the cat for a moment, then back at me. "Are you crazy?" she asked me quietly.

I smiled. "Just might be."

She sniffed in. "Aww, Ben!" she squealed, throwing her arms around me. "When you were talking about a cat, I thought you were kidding!"

I laughed. "I was, but the idea grew on me."

She squeezed me tighter. "Thank you, thank you! He's so cute!"

The lady walked out with the kitten on her shoulder. "Come on. We'll go get the paperwork filled out for this little guy." She handed off the cat to Rika, who quickly traded me for the cat.

I laughed.

"Any ideas on a name?" she asked.

I looked at Rika, who shrugged. "No, not really," I laughed nervously.

"Well, sometimes it just takes time. Gotta get used to his personality, you know?" the woman smiled.

Rika giggled. "Stop! That tickles!"

I smiled.

She walked around a counter, stepping over several other crates full of cats, none of which caught Rika's attention. "Uhm… ID, please?"

I blinked. "Oh. Here," I pulled my walled out, handing her my license.

"Fill these out while I get a copy of your license for the file."

I nodded, taking a clipboard while she left.

"Isn't he cute, Ben?" Rika asked, holding the cat out at arms' length. The cat had some affinity for her hair, thinking it must've been a toy.

"Kinda playful, don't you think?"

She nodded.

"All right… Name: Ben Tennyson…" The form was rather easy… until I read something of a survey. "Who's living there… Rika, do you even have a last name?"

Rika smiled, scratching the kitten's head. "Uh… what?"

"Do you have a last name? Surname. Anything?"

I could tell from there that she was too preoccupied with the kitten. "Just… put something down…"

I laughed. "Lie number one." I wrote down the first last name that came to mind. I tried to keep my focus off my eye, hoping that damn twitch wouldn't ever come back. "Uhm… How often will you be out of the home?" I blinked. That was an almost undeterminable variable. How often I would be gone depends on if I get caught…

I wrote some typical job hours down for myself, but mentioned that Rika would be there while I was gone.

"Any prior convictions?" My heart stopped. Why would they need to know that?!

Twitch.

DAMN IT.

I nervously checked the 'no' option and ignored the following questions applying to that one.

Donate a dollar to save homeless pets was the next question. "Yeah, sure, why not?!" I said quickly, checking the box. I felt bad enough for lying about what I had to, at least this would save me some guilt.

The lady came back. "All right. All done?"

I quickly handed her the clipboard, the tainted paper out of my hand. "Yep."

She smiled. "All right. I'm sorry to say, but your little guy has to go out in a carrier… Do you have one Mr. … Tennyson?"

I shook my head.

Reaching under the counter, she pulled out a cardboard carrier.

"Hey Ben," Rika whispered. "You can't carry that thing on your bike."

I laughed. "Don't worry, I have the perfect idea."

Rika smiled, handing over the kitten. "Good, cause I don't want the little guy getting hurt."

"He won't."

"All right. And the adoption fee?" the woman asked, handing the shut carrier to Rika.

I pulled my wallet out again, fishing out a one hundred dollar bill. I picked my ID up off the counter and put it back in its place.

"Here you go!" She handed me my change. "Eighteen dollars and thirty-seven cents is your change. Eighty, sixty-three for the cat, and a dollar for the humane society."

I nodded, taking the money.

"You guys should get him a collar once he's big enough, and tags so if he gets lost…"

I laughed. "Don't worry. I have a team of ten willing to look for him if he gets lost." I don't think we have to worry about anything.

"Ooh! Determined! All right, you guys have a great day!"

I waved, nudging Rika toward the front door.

"So what's your brilliant idea, Alien Boy?"

Once we were at the bike, I pulled out Rika's jacket. "Zip him up in here."

Rika laughed. "You're kidding right?"

"Well don't ask me! Kevin wouldn't pick us up over a cat. Trust me."

Rika sighed. "You're insane, you know that?"

"Sadly…"