"Good morning, Jaze," Dad said with a frown as he patted his neck softly. He was still in his pajamas, did a spinal stretch, and sat on the couch drinking coffee.
"Good morning, Dad. Um, I'm heading out for a morning jog," I responded. Dad looked at my sweatpants and sweatshirt with a look of surprise.
"Are you my son?" Dad asked, looking at me flustered, his hands clutching the mug.
"Dad, what are you talking about? I'm going out for a jog," I replied, doing a few jumps.
Dad slowly stood up, placed his mug on the table, squinted his eyes, and walked up to me. He held my cheeks and pulled on them, peering into my eyes as though inspecting something strange.
"You're not my son, are you?" he said in a weary tone, a glint of sorrow in his eyes.
"What in the cat's tail are you doing? Get off me!" I snapped, breaking free from his grip. I wiped my glasses with my sleeve, put them back on, and faced him.
Dad took a few steps backward with a smirk.
"Oh, you are my boy, alright. Only you could say something that funny," Dad laughed, his right hand clapping against his chest.
"'Cat's tail!' Ha!"
"Whatever, Dad. I'm heading out now," I replied, jolting out the door.
"Good luck hula-hopping," Dad called after me between chuckles. Now he's mocking me. Goodness, I don't understand that old man sometimes.
I closed the door behind me and started jogging. The sunlight held its usual beauty, and I could feel the early morning wind brushing against my skin. As I opened my eyes and approached the tree, I spotted the cat.
Looking up, I saw Meredith sitting on a branch, Scarlet curled up on her lap, licking her fur.
"Good morning, Jaze. Did you sleep well?" Meredith asked, her legs swinging back and forth. She was dressed in black sweatpants and a matching sweatshirt, her entire body covered. She also wore short black gloves and white canvas sneakers, her hair tied back in a ponytail. From where she sat, I could barely see her eyes.
I adjusted my glasses and squinted against the sunlight dulling my vision.
"Um, no," I admitted with a small smile. "I've got a slight headache. Last night, I had a nightmare, so I guess 'no' is the right answer."
I replied with a smile. She chuckled gently and let go of Scarlet, who leapt gracefully to the ground. Meredith climbed higher onto the tree branch, her legs balancing in a way that seemed almost unnatural. She looked down at me from above.
"Meredith, what are you doing? Get down, get—woah!" I yelled as she leapt from the tree, landing effortlessly on the ground. I covered my face in fright with my hands. Slowly, I lowered them and saw her standing right next to me.
"I'm down. C'mon, let's run," she said casually before jogging toward the side of the road. "C'mon, Jaze, don't be a drag," she called over her shoulder, her voice playful and laced with chuckles.
Still shocked by her leap from such a height, I hesitated before running after her. We began jogging side by side. I hadn't felt this free in years—not since Mom passed away. As we ran, I glanced at her face. She looked calm, but her skin seemed unusually dry. She didn't even break a sweat.
She caught me staring and smiled. Her crimson eyes glistened in the sunlight, and for a moment, I thought I saw her canine teeth—sharp, almost like Mom's used to be. I shook the thought from my mind as we continued running.
Eventually, we stopped in front of a two-story Cape Cod-style house.
"This is me. I'll see you tonight," she said, stepping closer to me. I froze, shutting my eyes instinctively as she leaned in. I could feel her breath against my skin. Seconds passed, and then I heard her giggle.
"You're funny," she said softly, adjusting my glasses. I opened my eyes and found her crimson gaze fixed on mine.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have beautiful eyes? They're like the sea in my home—blue and serene," she said with a warm smile.
"Bye, Jaze. Don't be late for the party," she added as she opened the small gate and jogged up the stairs to her front door. She paused for a moment to smile at me before disappearing inside.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, wondering how she could see through me so effortlessly. Even my deepest thoughts seemed shallow in her presence. I smiled to myself and turned back toward home, feeling content.
I couldn't believe I was happy—truly happy. I hadn't felt this way since Mom passed away. But somehow, those feelings of peace had returned.
Once home, I lay on my bed, still thinking about her. I hated parties. I hated people. But I needed to see her again, even if it was just to catch another glimpse of her smile.
I searched through my wardrobe. It was just a welcome party, right? No need to panic.
"Plain jeans? No. T-shirt and jeans? No. Aha! What about wearing a suit?" I muttered to myself. "God, I must be crazy. Wearing a suit to a welcome party."
Shaking my head, I rummaged through the books scattered on my desk until I found a teen fashion magazine.
"Nice. This will do," I said, relieved I'd bought it not too long ago. I just needed to wear something cool—not too plain. The worst that could happen was Jack kicking me out, but at least I'd get to see her again.
I glanced out the window and saw Scarlet sitting on the roof, licking her paw. This was the first time she had come this close to my home. I opened the window, and she leapt inside, landing in my arms with a soft purr.
Her fur looked unkempt—strange, as I'd never seen her like this before. I decided to call her "Scar" from now on. She curled up on my lap, purring softly.
I carried her to the bathroom, and to my surprise, she didn't growl at me. I applied the cat shampoo I always kept on hand and began washing her fur. I had bought one every month, waiting for the day I'd get to bathe her.
I knew she must have an owner since her fur was always so clean, but still, I wanted to take care of her. Watching her relax in my hands gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.