The Smiling Critters: A Day With Catnap

Block Bash Break Up!

Meanwhile, Bobby is, once again, searching for DogDay. The dog has disappeared for over an hour and her stomach is starting to churn with anxiety—the kind that came from knowing her boyfriend could be climbing up a telephone pole or gyrating on a fence somewhere.

She rounds the corner behind her house, where a smaller garden path leads to the community greenhouse. Her eyes light up at the sight of the canine's back in the distance. Racing over to her beloved, she stops short, realizing what she is seeing.

DogDay is sitting in the grass, shirt half-off, laughing drunkenly with Kickin slouched beside him, sharing a bottle of something that definitely wasn't the punch they served.

Kickin leans further into DogDay's side, a feathered hand on the canine's chest, laughing uncontrollably. The two seem to be talking about something, but the bear can't catch any of their words. DogDay grins goofily, his arm flopped around Kickin's shoulder.

After a moment, their faces collide into a sloppy kiss.

It's in no way affectionate, but unsettlingly passionate, nonetheless.

Bobby's heart drops at the sight. Her breath hitches in her throat—not in shock, but in a sad, inevitable realization. This is her relationship. A dog with dangerous drunken tendencies. This isn't DogDay's first time getting drunk and this scene made Catnap's previous warnings to her make so much more sense.

Taking a deep breath, she doesn't make a scene. She turns away and walks back to the party.

The Next Morning

The street looks like a battlefield—confetti-strewn lawns, crushed cupcakes, and a shopping cart full of ramen noodle packets for some reason.

DogDay groans as he sits up under the table in the greenhouse. His head is pounding, his mouth tastes like chalk and mud, and he coughs up a couple of feathers. He glances down and notices a bruised Kickin lying beside him, still asleep. Rubbing his eyes and taking in the sight of the chicken, he realizes those marks aren't bruises. 

"Good Lord, Kickin... The hell have you been doing?" He mumbles and slowly rises to his feet. He stumbles into the backyard, squinting against the sun.

He sees Bobby sitting on a picnic bench with Catnap, sipping tea like the apocalypse hadn't happened overnight. Catnap glances at DogDay with unreadable, yet knowing eyes before returning his attention to the camera in his hands.

DogDay shuffles over to Bobby like an abandoned wet poodle.

"H-hey... CareBear." he rests his head in her lap, whimpering softly from the pain in his head.

She looks at him. Calm. Collected. And a little tired.

"G'morning, DogDay." she says softly, gently and briefly patting a pawed hand on his head.

"I-..." DogDay rubs his temples. "I don't really remember much after the jello pool. Did... Did the party end on a good note? Or did I do something stupid again like the rope incident with Bubba..."

Bobby gives him a long look. "...You and Kickin got "busy" last night."

DogDay blinks for a moment, letting the words process before his head pops up off her lap. "Wh-what?! Kickin?! But- How-? We're not even together any-"

"It doesn't matter," Bobby interrupts gently. "I'm not mad."

"Y-you're... not?"

"No," she says, smiling wryly. "DogDay... I love you. I really do. But I just don't think I can do this, anymore."

DogDay's breath hitches like the wind had been knocked out of him. "Wait... Are you breaking up with me? Bobby-"

"I think we both know it's for the best."

He remains seated at her feet in stunned silence. Catnap is still present, but his attention remains locked on the recorded memories of last night.

Bobby continues, "You're wild and fun. So magnetic that I couldn't help being attracted..." she takes a breath as she finds the right words. "But you never stop when you need to. Even last night, you got so hammered that you hooked up with your ex. Even if he was also drunk and didn't mean it..."

DogDay lowers his head, ashamed. He always knew that he can get himself into a lot of trouble whenever he went off the deep end, so he always promised himself to remain in control. However, last night he slipped up and repeated the same mistake that strained his relationship with Kickin in the past.

Noticing his lack of response, Bobby runs a hand through his hair and cups his cheek, softly. "I will always love you, truly. But I know how you are when you are drunk and last night has shown me that it only gets worse."

"I-I'll stop," DogDay said almost instinctively. "I won't drink ever again! I can change-"

"No, you can't," she interrupts firmly, but there is no bitterness in her voice. "Not the way I need you to. But that's okay."

DogDay looks down, slowly resting his head on her lap in defeat. He wants to protest, to crack a joke and brush this off or even cry--anything to make her stay. But deep down, he knows she's right. He couldn't remember half the night, but he has an inkling that he probably looked so foolish and vulgar. Just like back then.

"I didn't mean to get involved with Kickin," he says. "That wasn't intentional."

"I know. If it had been with Catnap, I wouldn't trust you at all. But that's not the point."

"...I'm sorry."

They sit there for a while, the sound of birds beginning to fill the morning air. DogDay finally lets out a quiet laugh, despite the tears that begin to well in his eyes.

"I'm gonna miss you...so much, love." he says just above a whisper as his tears finally cascade down his face.

"I'll still be here," Bobby smiles, petting the sad puppy behind his ears. "Just... not like before."

He nods slowly, his smile unwavering. "You're the best critter I've ever loved."

She leans over and kisses his forehead. "Don't lie. Of all the critters you've dated, Catnap is the only one you prevent from dating other critters to this day."

The canine's eyes widen as he glances toward the feline, who only glances back briefly followed by an eye roll. "S-sorry buddy..."

The feline leans back a bit and shapes both of his index fingers and thumbs into a 'W'. Scrunching his face slightly, he gives a sarcastic smile as he pushes the 'W' forward. "Whatever." 

"Have the two of you ever thought about getting back together?" Bobby asks, glancing between the two. "You guys have good chemistry and you still have a thing for Catnap, don't you?"

DogDay flusters as he snaps his eyes to the Catnap, who only gives him a bored stare. His ears droop slightly at the sight of the feline's disinterested gaze. 'Is dating me really that bad?' He thinks to himself, feeling guilt creep into his chest.

"No. I'm keeping to myself for a while." The cat signs with a small smile, returning to his camera.

Bobby and DogDay stare at the feline, then each other before letting out a light laugh. The weariness of their voices is clear, but just as heartwarming as old friends.

"Well, that's that...," Bobby says, gently pushing the canine off her before standing. "Anyway, let's start cleaning this mess before Picky loses her mind."

DogDay watches her walk off, then turns to Catnap, who hands him the camera.

He looks at the screen. It's a picture of the canine curled up beside Bobby during a sleepover. Taking in the photo, a soft smile slowly finds its way to his face. His ears perk at the sound of light popping sounds and he glances back at the feline, who is now stretching and popping his joints.

Catnap stands and pats Dogday's head briefly before pointing between himself and Bobby's house. He taps a fist against his chest twice and points to the dog.

DogDay's tail wags slowly and he nods as the feline walks away toward last night's wreckage.

"Yeah. I still love you guys, too."