Friends, Pets, and Family
She quickly took out her phone and dialed the number that was on her mind.
“Yeah, yeah relax, I’m on my way.” With a childish air to her, she added. “I’m bringing home a friend.”
Sersi had quickly cleaned her flat and eagerly waited for Sprite to come home. The smallest of the Eternals had been having quite a rough time blending in and getting used to human life. So imagine her immense happiness when she found out Sprite had made a friend. Although she would have appreciated a little warning the next time.
The doorbell rang and she could hear Sprite shrugging off her coat and hanging it. But other than that she didn’t hear the usual sound of voices when children usually came over to a friend’s house. Instead, she heard. Was that meowing?
Sersi groaned, standing up from the couch. “Sprite.”
The said girl walked in cradling a black cat in her arms, burrowed underneath her scarf, that she had apparently taken off.
“What? I said I was bringing home a friend. I didn’t say human.” Sprite passed by Sersi, casually throwing her bag on the couch. Her soaked bag, considering it had been snowing outside. The woman quickly took it and settled it beside the coat rack.
“Why didn’t you say so? I even made snacks.”
Sprite laid the kitten on the table and took a look at her surroundings. “And cleaned up it seemed.” She looked back at Sersi and gaped. “Sersi are you pouting? I told you I have plenty of friends at school. Do you want to meet them that much??”
“No, those are your classmates. You never play with them or even call them.” Sersi deadpanned.
Sprite crossed her arms. “And how would you know that- have you been stalking me?!”
“What? No! Never. It’s just I haven’t heard you mention any one of your friends’ names ever. Not even once.”
Sprite turned her attention back at the little cat. She made sure to tuck her scarf fully around it but it was still freezing. “I’ve got plenty of friends. There’s Stella my class representative, and, and-“
Now it was Sersi’s turn to cross her arms. “And?”
Sprite scrunched her face, “And some, other- people. Now, this poor thing looks like it’s gonna die and I don’t know what to do, are you helping or not?”
Sersi sighed. “Scoot over, go grab a towel, the poor thing’s drenched. Also, get some blankets. Lots of them.” She took one look at Sprite and scanned her from head to toe. “Actually, you should change first, or else you’re going to be sick.”
Sprite tore off running upstairs. “I’ll be fine. The kitten comes first.” She yelled.
“Sprite-“ Sersi broke off, knowing she wouldn’t listen anyway. She focused her attention on the little cat in front of her instead. She grabbed a blanket from the couch and folded it so the cat could lay on top of it.
“It’ll be okay little guy.”
The little kitten had been warmed, fed, and was now resting in between Sersi and Sprite while they sat on the couch. Sprite had also changed into more comfortable and necessarily, warmer clothes. They both had a cup of hot chocolate, thanks to Sersi.
“So tell me about this Stella.” Sersi started.
Sprite groaned. “There’s nothing to tell. She’s the class captain. She knows everybody in the class, and everybody in the class knows her. Simple as that. Oh and she’s also annoying.”
Stella had helped her fit in. She first thought it was out of duty and responsibility, but now Sprite just couldn’t seem to get rid of her. It started from “Sprite did you do your assignment?” to “So you live with your older sister? Why don’t we do the project at your house? You know, I’m an only child. Is it nice having siblings?”
“Judging by your smile she’s a good friend then?” Sersi’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts and she realized she was in fact smiling.
“She’s a bother.”
“But a good one.” Sersi laughed. She rose to wash the dirtied cup.
Sprite had a mischievous grin on her face as she looked between Sersi’s back and the softly purring animal beside her.
“So… can we keep the cat then?”
“No. Sprite. Then I’ll have two troublemakers living with me.”
Sprite snorted. “Oh, come on. Compared to me, this little buddy is a good influence.” She took Sersi’s outburst of laughter as a good sign.
But she didn't get an answer, so she stood up and went to the kitchen. Sersi avoided looking at her. She ended up following Sersi around for the rest of the day, making various arguments for why they should keep the cat.