I'm Not a Catnip Kind of Girl

Chapter 2

Matthew makes enough for both of us, and pours a generous amount of syrup on both stacks. He puts one of the plates holding several pancakes on the table in front of me. "You can probably change into a human if you want," Matthew says. "Alfred usually sleeps in late."

I jump onto the chair by my plate of pancakes. Then I shift back to my human form. "It's so much easier eating as a human, you have no idea."

Matthew lets out a soft laugh. "I guess you're right. I don't really know what it's like to be a cat."

"It's fun, but also a little strange too," I inform him. "My cat senses are much sharper than my human ones, so it's a little overwhelming sometimes."

Matthew nods while chewing. "I can imagine it is," he says after swallowing.

"Sometimes it's awkward when other cats think I'm one of them," I say. "I've had a cat come onto me more than once," I say sheepishly. I don't know why I'm telling him all this, but he's very easy to talk to.

"That's happened?" Matthew asks in shock. I nod. "Well, I won't let that happen anymore," he says in a protective voice that surprises me. He's usually so quiet. "Er...since you're my friend and everything," he adds in his usual soft manner.

"Thanks," I say, unsure what else to say. No one has ever stood up for me before.

"Would you like something to drink?" Matthew asks with a smile.

It takes me a second to comprehend his question. His smiles have a way of making my thoughts jumble around in my head. "Uh, sure," I finally manage to get out.

Matthew gets up from the table to get two glasses if milk. I get up and follow him to the kitchen. I'm not sure why, but I just do. He pulls out a gallon jug of milk from the fridge. I grab two cups from the cabinet that I saw him get some from last night. I place them on the countertop near the fridge so Matthew can fill them with milk.

"M-Mathew?"

"Is something the matter?" he asks concerned. He must have heard the hesitation in my voice.

I take a step closer to him. "You're really not scared of me?"

"No," he says while shaking his head. "I'm not."

I take another step, and now I'm standing only a foot away from him. I have my head slightly bowed to avoid looking at his eyes. "Why?" I whisper.

"Because you're like me," Matthew answers. Then he bends over slightly and moves his face closer to mine.

Our lips are a hairbreadth away from touching when Alfred loudly stumbles into the kitchen. I shift into my cat form before he can see me.

"Whatcha doing bro?" he says sleepily rubbing his eyes.

"E-e-eating b-breakfast," he stutters out nervously. I'm not sure if he's nervous that Alfred saw me, or from the fact we had almost kissed.

Alfred slouches into the kitchen, and grabs a box of poptarts from a cupboard. "Why are there two plates?"

"I was, um...hungry?" Matthew tells him. It sounds more like a question than a statement.

"Oh," Alfred says. He obviously doesn't care. "Hi (y/n)," Alfred greets me with a stroke down my back. I do my best to try to settle my fluffed up fur. He grabs the gallon of milk in his free hand, and walks to the living room to watch tv.

"He doesn't use a cup?" I whisper to Matthew.

"No," he says still a little tense.

"Well I'm never drinking milk again."

He laughs slightly at that, and relaxes slightly. "Do you think he saw?"

"He would've said something if he did," I answer.

"Yeah, I guess so."

The two of you go back to the table with your breakfast on it. Matthew continues eating silently. I lick some of the syrup off my plate. I won't be able to finish these pancakes until I can change back. Alfred comes back into the kitchen, and puts the milk back in the fridge. He starts to leave when he jumps in surprise.

"Don't scare me like that, dude!" he says to Matthew. "I didn't even notice you there."

Matthew sighs sadly and continues eating his breakfast. I get the feeling he's used to that reaction from Alfred. It's sad to think he doesn't get noticed by his own brother. I put a small paw on his arm to try to comfort him.

"I'll be in the shower," Alfred informs Matthew. Then he walks out of the kitchen and to the bathroom.

"That was close," I say after shifting into my human form.

I don't get to say anything else because as soon as I turn toward Matthew, he crashes his lips onto mine. The kiss is sweet from the syrup on our lips, and the gentleness of his lips moving on mine.

"Thank you (y/n)," Matthew tells me when we break apart. "Thank you for noticing me."

"You're welcome," I say back. I don't know what else to say after what just happened. The intensity of his gaze holds me in place.

I lean in and kiss him again. He pulls me onto his lap, and I straddle his waist with my thighs. He holds my face in both of his hands, and kisses me hungrily. I have one arm draped over his shoulder and down his back, while my other hand is tangled in his sandy hair. I twirl the one long, curly hair that hangs from his head around my finger. That causes him to moan. His hands hold me tightly to his chest as he continues to kiss me.

The kiss shifts from sweet to intense as he starts nibbling on my bottom lip. I lick his top lip back in response, and let out a small, teasing purr with a roll of my tongue. This causes him to laugh slightly against my lips. Our lips break from each other, and we breathe in ragged gasps.

I've had a few friends before, but this, this is all new territory for me. I stare into his eyes, and see desire. That's something I've never seen in anyone's eyes. At least, not when they're looking at me.

"Matthew," I whisper between breaths.

"I've never done this before," he says a little embarrassed.

"Neither have I," I admit.

"I kind of like it," he says with a grin. "Probably because it's you. I've never met anyone like you before."

"Well, there aren't that many cat girls out there," I tell him jokingly. I'm still sitting on his lap, but he doesn't seem to mind.

"No, I mean I've never met anyone that makes me feel this way before."

My heart skips a beat as he says that. "Me either."

"Stay with me," Matthew pleads in his soft voice. "Please don't ever go."

"I won't," I tell him. "I'll stay with you as long as you'd like. This is my home now."

Alfred watches the whole thing take place from the hallway. He's surprised that the two haven't noticed the shower's not running. It's no surprise though, after what he's seen them doing. He saw (y/n) transform when he walked into the kitchen, but pretended not to notice. Alfred is well aware of what he saw in that alley, and in his own kitchen.

"I'm happy for you bro," he whispers to Matthew, even though he can't hear. He walks down the hall toward the bathroom. "Now it's time for that shower."