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Part Twenty One

Skipperrr: rn eli

E_J_K: k he's chillin w Leo lol

E_J_K: new image attachment

   Skip brought the picture up to full screen, taking in the scene of Sam sitting directly on Leo's lap, leaning against his stomach with his eyes closed. He most likely wasn't sleeping, waiting for Skip to get home, but it was possible the stress from that morning caused him to need a minute to relax. Skip felt a pang of guilt, but moved beyond it to lift the phone up to the lady's face.

   "I'm gonna step closer to show you the phone. I won't touch you," Skip claimed, but waited for the tiny nod before moving. Once it was given, he took slow and cautious steps towards her, finally reaching close enough for her little eyes to focus in on the image of her son, laying against a human of all things.

   Drizzle's first thought was how peaceful Sam looked. His eyes shut, his mouth parted open, his tail wrapped around lazily enough to cover his own lap. The human's hands weren't even touching him, a sure sign that he was there because he wanted to be. Such an idea was ridiculous, but Drizzle didn't doubt for a second That if anyone had the ability to befriend a bunch of humans, it would be Sam. Her little Sammy. Now grown to the point of nearing adulthood, and she missed the whole thing.

  
   Skip didn't know what to do when the lady started crying. He took a step back at first, wondering whether or not he should try to comfort her, but instead looked to the ground in an awkward attempt to ignore it. He really just wanted to ask how she was alive, but figured it would be inappropriate considering the circumstances.

   Not to mention, Jamie was still passed out on the bed beside them. This whole situation got out of hand too quick for Skip to process entirely.

   "What's he like, now?" The woman sniffled, setting her gaze back upon Skip with determined eyes.

   "Who, Sam?" He asked, and continued on after he was given a short nod. "He's cool."

   "Cool?"

   "Very cool," Skip confirmed. A smile barely presented on his lips, but it was visible enough on the face that usually only held a scowl. "He...I guess he's just really considerate. Blames himself for a lot of things, but overall, he's super forgiving and easy to get along with. He's kind, too, and likes to be touched a lot."

   Drizzle's posture slowly melted into a more relaxed stance, letting her knees quit buckling out of fear. The way this kid was talking about her son...it was as if they had been close for a while. For now, she couldn't detect any hostility from him, especially if he hadn't done a single thing to her yet.

   "He was always like that," She explained, looking down at her feet. "Sammy never liked being alone, so he would cling to the first person in sight."

   "Oh, he clings, alright," Skip huffed. "And it's not like we can say no to him."

   "You keep mentioning 'we'..." Drizzle hesitated to ask, but the question was clear and up in the air for Skip to grab.

   "Yeah, there's three of us-"

   Skip's words were cut short the moment a crash sounded through the room, echoing as tiny pieces of cereal broke off from their home and rolled onto the floor. The box that was previously filled, and most likely containing a mouse to Skip's knowledge, had fallen over on its own. It lay flat on the desktop, about as motionless as Jamie, and Skip's breath got caught in his throat when he realized what exactly was inside the whole time.

   "I'm assuming there's another borrower in here?" He asked, never taking his eyes off the cardboard box with decorative designs lining the middle.

   Drizzle didn't respond. She only swallowed the lump in her throat, visibly anxious at the kid's reaction. Sure, he might not hurt anyone, but if he were to get curious...

   "I'm also assuming I shouldn't have heard that, right?"

   Her eyes met his, awaiting the inevitable bombardment of questions. Instead, he simply turned a blind eye, focusing directly on Drizzle, and decided it was none of his business to begin with.

   Drizzle couldn't help but wonder how Sam managed to train these humans so well.

   "Don't look in that direction," she pressed, seeing how far she could get with him. "Close your eyes, and don't open them until I've told you otherwise."

   "Yes, ma'am."

   "Good boy," Drizzle complimented, before stopping directly in her tracks and realizing what she had done.
  
She had grown so used to praising the younger borrower, she never stopped to think that the term would be used for anyone else. But in the habit of expressing her approval as a mother, Drizzle accidentally used it on a human, of all things.

And the worst part?
 
   The human seemed to enjoy it.
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A/N: Everything will be cleared up with everyone soon, don't worry ;) I've been waiting so long to show Drizzle, I'm so excited for y'all to meet her and the others in the coming chapters. Thank you for reading! :)

(Also, no, this isn't the last time you'll be hearing from Jamie ;)  )