The little one

Laureen slams on the breaks and braces me with her right arm. She's so nice and caring, she doesn't want me to get hurt. But what's going on?

"Why did we stop?" I ask.

"Get out of the car." Laureen says as she gets out. I get out too.

It's dark now so her headlights are on. We walk to a little black circle in the middle of the road. We step cautiously with each step, as if not to disturb it, whatever it is.

We're standin next to it now. It looks like a ball of fur. There's no way an animal would just fall asleep in the middle of the road, right? Maybe it's just a bunch of shed fur. But what exactly are we going to do?

I decide to pick it up. Laureen looks at me, worried at first, but then relaxes. As I pick it up, it has some weight to it. Then that's when I realize it's alive. I'm holding the tiny furball in my left hand. Then it wakes up. It snaps it's head up in a split second.

"Holy shit," Laureen jumps, startled. "it's alive."

"Give you a little scare?"

"How could it be alive though? It fell asleep in the middle of the road..."

"Maybe there wasn't any traffic. It probably fell asleep recently."

"Yeah, there's barely any traffic in this area. Especially during night."

We can see it better now. The small black kitten stretches on my hand and yawns. Once it closes it's mouth, it's big green eyes widen and sparkle in the headlights. Then the worst thing happens at a time like this. It rains.

It starts shivering and curls back up again, so we get back in the car. We sit there for a bit and Laureen takes a blanket from the back and wraps the kitten.

"So..." I pop the question. "what do we do about this?"

"My mom is allergic to cats, are your parents ok with taking a kitten?"

"Yeah, they love animals." They may be homophobic, but they're overall nice and love animals. Once in a while they'll help out at an animal shelter. My parents are nice, but they won't accept their own daughter.

"Ok, let me know how this cute little ball of fur does."

"Don't worry, I definitely will. You can name it if you want."

"I think we should focus on naming it after it gets inside. Also, I still need your number. You can text me about the cat." she says as she starts driving again.

"That sounds like a good idea."

"We're also only a few blocks away from your house."

"Ok, and I can I return this blanket tomorrow? I don't want to stuff the poor thing in my jacket."

"I think it's better if you do."

"Stuff it in my jacket or borrow the blanket?"

"Oh my god," she starts laughing that beautiful, youthful laugh. "you know what I mean."

"Do I now?"

"I'd hope so."

We pull up to my house and stop. She writes her number on a sticky not and hands it to me. I stuff it in my pocket and keep holding the kitten.

"Thanks again for today," I start saying my goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow." That tension is back.

"Goodbye, let me know how the little one does."

"Will do." As I say that I get out of the car and that tension is snapped as quickly as it came. I enter my house as she drives away. That's it.