Chapter Twelve.

Singing to myself, I folded the last of my clothing, one of the lucky underwear well the Queen Mia spared into my grey dufflebag and zipped it.

About Mia, the Panty-ripper, laughing my cute derrière out because that was gold, but still Mia, well she isn't cat pelt.... yet.

All she got was a brand new fancy cage that cost me a little bit higher than my Agent Provocateur Bra, but a worthy sacrifice.

What's more, my baby got her first grounding, complete with cat toys and snacks in her new space. Maybe after awhile, she would learn to respect mine, hopefully.

The little tucker even got me to give her a rubdown, those eyes.... Mama knows how to work them, like her Mum. I am almost proud.

Okay, I so had an ulterior motive, I was going to spend my weekend in my hometown Belville, because of the upcoming gala I would be going with Auntie Tamara on Sunday, today's Friday. Also I kinda missed my Mum's special Chicken stew, yes I am going with that as my cover story, you can't prove nothing. I totally don't miss them. Okay, I might miss just my Dad, I will admit nothing else.

So getting back on track, I was going to give Mia to my new besties. Besties might be stretching it a bit but moving on.

I, Kate and Zoe had somehow gotten close, they had given me a grand tour of the town, we text from time to time and let's say they are not half bad. That is, they are awesome company, actually. Yes, even Zoe.

I even discovered a shocking secret, Zoe has a sense of humour, albeit a dry one but progress. Also, apparently she love cats too, she has two of them! If they are anything like Mia, then that says something about the big softie she is, somewhere deep down because come on, I am a softie and I love Mia uh less on some days.

Just yesterday, Kate had blurted out, "I love your eyes, they are just so exotic." surprising me. Zoe had rolled her eyes, smiling good naturedly "how long have you waited to say that?"

Kate humoured her, "Forever." She just laughed and turned to me, "your eyes are pretty though, I am kinda jealous."

I just gaped at her. She laughed, "I like you, get used to it."

"Gracias, that other one might take a while." I quipped and everyone fell into fits of laughter. See, besties in the making.

They were coming over for the first time to my place, although to pick Mia up mostly.

I'd told them all about Mia, and as you'd guessed I kinda, sorta stretched the truth a bit. Apparently Mia is a sweet little kitty, with a teeny weeny attitude issue but nothing a good plate of milk won't solve. My fingers were crossed behind my back the whole time I sprouted that um bull-dump?

On cue, my doorbell rang and I walked over Mia's new space and scooped her out, she hissed and swiped at my face with her claws, thankfully missing. Thank God.

She hopped down, landing gracefully on her feet and started towards the parlour. "Bad kitty...." I started before remembering I was meant to butter her all up.

"Good girl, Mia. You will be a sweetheart for auntie Zoe and auntie Katie, right honey?" I gritted out with a fake sugar tone loudly enough for them to hear over the door before going to open the door.

"Good morning, Zoe. Good morning Kate, how do you do?"

Zoe looked at me, "Good, your smile is so wide, it looks almost painful." Kate was breezing in "Oh mi gosh, aren't such a cutie?" She went to cradle Mia.

"Careful!" She looked at me questionably, I bared my teeth in what I hope was a smile "She's um fragile?" Zoe rolled her eyes and Kate scooped Mia up and I closed my eyes awaiting shrieking, but after three seconds I popped one eye open.

Mia was in Kate's arms, not exactly purring like she had with Jason, more like calmly laying there with a long suffering look kids get when smothered by too loving aunts. I narrowed my eyes at her and she seem to mirror me. This beef was starting to look too personal.

Zoe briefly spared Mia a glance and sank down on a couch. "Nice decorative touch," she said teasingly referred to the claw marks from the Third World War that'd happened between Mia and the innocent couches earlier this week.

Zoe made to sit down and Mia decided she'd had enough petting jumped off her arms. At least, she's athletic so she won't be a lazy, fat cat in the foreseeable future.

She tentatively walked towards Zoe while Zoe pretending to be interested in studying my couch design, peeking at her from one side of her eye. This show was getting interesting.

After standing in front of Zoe for about a minute and getting no attention, she moved forward and started rubbing on her leg.

Zoe just gave her an unimpressed look and went back to studying the couch, I smiled my first genuine smile for the day, finally Mia meets her match. A match made in heaven!

After a minute of absolutely no attention whatsoever, she totally surprised me. For first time since I got her, I saw the cat I first met. And she turned up the cuteness to a lethal level, even Zoe cracked.

"Awwwwww, Zoe don't be a hardass," Kate crooned, I just looked on suspiciously.

With an obvious sigh, Zoe picked Mia up and started stroking her back ever so gently. Loud purrs, even louder than with Jason filled the room and my mouth hung open.

"Whoa. This is sorcery, sorcery I tell ya." I yelled dramatically.

Zoe just chuckled, "I am actually good with cats, I told you I have two of these cuties. At first glance though, I could tell Mia was a brat, so I had help her tone it down a bit."

"Okay, okay. That was awesome." Kate looked up at me a bit sadly, "Zoe will be taking her home as my dog, Dawg doesn't really like cats and....."

"It's okay." I said simultaneously with Zoe, Zoe continued "My cats will love her, especially Max, Max is a bit of a hoe though." She wiggled her eyebrows.

I bit my lips, looked at my wristwatch "How bad is he? I don't need more than one Mia right now."

"Really bad, I just sold a batch of kittens last week and its the second batch this year, Grace is much of a hoe as he is too. Don't worry, I will protect Mia."

"Okay, please do. My flight is in thirty minutes and my cab would be here any minute." On cue, a car honked outside, I was already moving to my bedroom whilst shouting out of habit "I am coming!"

I came out a minute later with my duffel bag slung across my shoulder, Mia's cage in one hand, and her Hello Kitty holiday bag in the other.

"Thank you so much for doing this, Mia had her shots when I got her last week, and for some reasons best known to her, likes baby formula, so there is a big tin of baby formula there, amongst other snacks and lest I forget there are toys there too. I should be back tops Tuesday. Please call me in case of any emergency. I will text you when I alight from the plane, that should be all, I guess."

"Okay, no need for the cage though and safe journey." Zoe said, collecting her bag instead while Kate took an already sleeping Mia. "Safe journey!" Kate joined.

I placed the cage beside the couch and fished out my keys.

A second honk had us moving outside, I locked my door, gave Mia's head a light peck and walked down to the taxi.

"Bye girls, see y'all Tuesday. Take care of yourselves. Mia, momma loves you. Be good for aunty Zoey." They were waving before the taxi drove off towards the airport.

Belville, here I come.