The door tinkled above the door of the bakery and in skipped a very happy Cat. "Hi, Mama Cheng! Is Marinette here?" Sabine handed a customer their order and smiled at the excited feline. She could read between the lines that Cat had a crush on her daughter. "Sorry, sweetie. She's at sewing class but she'll be back this afternoon."
Cat's triangle ears seemed to droop, and his tail was drooping too. "I'll come back this afternoon then," he told her in a dull voice. Mama Cheng couldn't bear to see him so sad. "You don't have to go. I sent Tom upstairs to make spaghetti for lunch, and I'm sure he would love the company."
Cat loved Mama and Papa equally just for different reasons, and Papa was pawesome because he laughed at all of Cat's jokes. A black blur and breeze swept by Mama, and she could make out a "see you later!" as Cat dashed upstairs.
After lunch, Cat wandered upstairs. There was nothing better then a full belly and a comfy box to snooze in. Plopping into his box, Cat curled up falling asleep as he awaited his Princess's return.
Awhile later, Cat's green eyes popped open for he could hear Marinette talking to her mother down at the bakery entrance. "Don't you think Ladybug will love these window boxes! I even got geraniums to match her suit!"
Cat didn't hear Marinette's response as he clambered up to the balcony. He peered down at Marinette and she caught sight of him staring at her, a wicked grin on his face. "What are you up to?" she asked.
"Romeow, Romeow," he begin, using the balcony as his stage and posing dramatically. He'd always wanted to use the balcony for this, but had never gotten the chance. Plus, he did have a crush on Marinette.
Down below, Marinette blushed the color of the geraniums and her mother had a amused expression on her face. "No, we are not doing this." Cat pouted. "Purrty Please?"
Marinette peeked through her fingers and her mother placed an arm around her shoulders. "Marinette, he's been waiting for you all day. He even helped Papa with lunch." "You didn't feed him?" "He's a nice boy."
Cat ears twitched and flapped, but he couldn't tell what her mother was saying. Five minutes later, Marinette looked up and sighed. "Just this one time."
He'd take it. "That's feline." "Yass!" "That is not the line!"
So, maybe she didn't have a crush on him yet, at least not as Cat. But things could change. Cat had all the time in the world.