No, it was too much to even hope for. Zach had fought and struggled for centuries before finally accepting his fate. His existence wasn’t what it once was, but it was by no means as terrible as it could be. He’d finally come to terms with it, and to even contemplate escape, even as a passing thought, would make the disappointment that would occur when it never eventuated too crushing. Best to dismiss the notion before he allowed it to take hold.
Next to him, Drew mumbled in his sleep, a soft little sigh of unintelligible words, before rolling over and pressing his face against Zach’s shoulder. Zach stilled for a moment before turning over onto his side and slipping an arm over Drew’s waist, his resolve beginning to crumble.Fuck it, he thought.I’m no angel, what do I have to prove? Why not enjoy myself while I have the chance?
They were still tangled together when the first rays of the morning sun filtered through the window and woke Drew from sleep.
Stubborn versus Bossy
Drew gave a little wave as he entered Dominic’s house, where the rest of the study group had already mostly gathered. Dom’s parents were well off and paid his rent, so the house was large and well furnished, and after two failed sessions in the library, the group now met there exclusively. They didn’t have to be quiet, they could eat their lunch in peace, and they wouldn’t get kicked out at closing time. It worked well and they’d all grown quite comfortable there. The house was located near Westwood Lake, so it was a little further away than Drew would have liked, but he’d gotten the bus timetable memorised and the benefits of a private study area outweighed the inconvenience of public transport.
Before he sat down, Drew got Dom’s attention. “Um, I’m not sure whether it’s okay if I stay,” he said and opened the zipper of his backpack to show off Zach’s furry head.
“Oh, wow, you got a cat?” Dom said, standing up from his chair so he could see better. He was shorter than Drew, with wide shouldersand huge biceps. His hair was dark and slicked back neatly, and the warm brown skin of his cheeks was scattered with freckles. He was always dressed nicely, never in clothes from Walmart, but he wasn’t ostentatious and flashy with his wealth.
Drew instinctively pulled back a little. “Yeah. He’s not very good with people, though,” he explained and held up his scratched forearm as a warning.
“Ouch,” Dom said with a wince. “That looks painful.”
“Yeah, it hurt like a bitch,” Drew confirmed.
Sorry,came Zach’s voice in his mind, and Drew wasn’t sure if it was his imagination or not but Zach sounded contrite about it.
“So you’re keeping the demon cat?” Gwen asked from her place on the sofa. She’d kicked her shoes off and her socked feet were curled up beneath her, her long blonde hair in a ponytail today.
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because he’s an asshole!”
“He’s just a cat, Gwen. It’s what cats do.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Whatever, dude. It’s your skin on the line.”
Zach jumped out of the backpack and hissed at Gwen, then turned around and wound his way through Drew’s legs in a figure of eight, rubbing his cheek against his shins every now and then.
“Is it okay?” Drew asked Dom again. “If he’s here?”
“Sure, I love cats,” Dom assured him. “So, does he have a name?”
“Oh, I hadn’t really thought about it yet,” Drew admitted.
Why not just Zach?the demon asked silently.
Drew concentrated on sending his thoughts inward, hoping Zach would hear him, but they hadn’t experimented yet to see whether he could.And how will I explain if they ever meet you in person? I’ll look like a nutter for naming my cat after you.
It appeared to have worked as Zach chuckled, and it was annoyingly low and sexy. Getting an erection in the middle of his study group reallywouldn’t be appropriate, so Drew bit his lip hard, hoping the pain would distract him.Maybe they’ll just think you want me?
Deciding it was safer not to respond to that at all, Drew said out loud to everyone else, “I’ve got a few ideas.”
“Lucifer?” Gwen suggested.
Don’t even think about it,Zach warned.
“How ’bout Rudolph?” Dom suggested, holding his fingers above his head and waggling them. “You know, ’cos it looks like he has horns or antlers.”
Several other names were suggested, and Drew dismissed them all, having a stroke of inspiration of his own. “I think I’m going to call him Noodle.”
Gwen frowned. “Why?”
“Because when I found him, I’d been trying to make chicken noodle soup.”
