I Live With A Witch (Chapter 7)

I didn't remember falling asleep...but I must have, because I found myself groggily opening my eyes and yawning sleepily. I looked around, and the first thing I noticed was that the world looked so much larger than I remember. Also, I realized that I was resting on a cushiony black fabric. It was softer than my own bed and it was really comfortable. I stood up on all fours and stretched my paws...PAWS?!
"You sure have slept a lot today." I looked up and saw the giant body of Eva smiling down at me. The black fabric I had been sleeping on was her dress...I was in her lap...and I was a kitten. Suddenly, all of the memories came back to me. I remembered being turned into a kitten and carried into the sky on Eva's broom. I remembered the beautiful scenery I had seen. However, now it looked like we were both sitting in the grass now.
"When did I fall asleep?" I asked. Eva shrugged in response.
"About 30 minutes ago while we were still in the air." She answered. "I think scratching your ears must have made your little kitten body sleepy." If cats could blush, I would have. I felt her hands stroke my back again, and I instinctively purred in response. It felt so good to be pet....wait...WHAT?!
"No...stop!" I shouted. Eva stopped and looked down at me with a surprised look.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
"Look, I really enjoyed flying with you and seeing that view...and thanks for letting me sleep on your lap...but you need to go ahead and turn me back now." I said desperately. "If I stay like this much longer, I may lose my mind!" Eva laughed and scooped me up in her hands.
"Aw, I understand...okay, I'll change you back...but first I want you to promise me something." I cocked my head to the side in suspicion. "Promise me that, on Halloween, you'll go trick-or-treating with me." I sighed and rolled my cat eyes. I looked at her sad, desperate expression and groaned.
"Okay...fine. I'll go with you." I said in defeat. Eva beamed and pulled me close to her, hugging me tightly.
"Thank you, Christian!" She cried. "This means so much to me!" I smiled slightly. I couldn't help it...she was too sweet. Suddenly she set me down and I sat and looked up at her. She stood on her feet and smiled down at me.
"You left your clothes by the cottage. Go over to them...once I go inside, I'll change you back." I gave a happy meow and took off across the lawn towards the cottage. Running on all fours felt so natural...it felt almost like I had been doing it for years. Before I knew it, I had found my jeans and was standing next to them. I looked behind me to see Eva had made it to the cottage doors. Right as she walked in, I heard the familiar snap of her fingers.
*snap*
Within seconds, I was back to normal. I smiled and grabbed my pants quickly, anxious to get out of the fall chill. I slipped them on and then threw my shirt over my body as well. The instant I did, I felt instant relief. With all the cat fur I had earlier, I had forgotten how cold it was out here.

*CRASH*

I spun around to where the sound had come from. It had come from inside the cottage. I felt a jolt of dread in my body as I thought about what could have made that sound. The only other person in the house was Eva...what had happened!? I leaped to my feet and ran to the door.
"Eva! What's happened?!" When I opened the door I saw a bit of glass had fallen on the kitchen floor and it was shattered into pieces. I looked and Eva was just inside the den...and there was someone else there too. Eva turned and saw me, and beamed happily.
"Christian, this is an old friend of mine!" She cried, stepping aside so I could see the other person. "This is Garrett." I got a good look at Garrett. He was tall...but not as tall as me...maybe a little shorter. He was very thin and slim...almost like a stick. His black hair was straight and combed down. His eyes were a piercing pale blue color and his body was a little palish. His clothes looked rather fancy. He had on pleated pants and a dress shirt with a black vest. Around his neck was a blue tie that matched his eyes. He was a very handsome young man...and I was certain that I had never met him before...and yet...there was something off about him. I felt like I had seen him before. Garrett only nodded in my direction absentmindedly.
"It's a pleasure." He said snidely. He then turned back to Eva, who was looking at him much like a love sick child...and it made me very uneasy.
"I was just passing through and it was getting late...so I figured I'd stop by and say hello." Eva beamed in reply.
"Would you like a place to stay tonight? It's starting to get dark out." Eva asked. I looked out the window and, sure enough, the sun was starting to go down. Garrett nodded.
"That would be very nice of you, Eva...you certainly haven't changed a bit." The two started laughing like old friends...making me feel very left out.

"Excuse me," I stepped in, "but how do you two know each other?" Eva didn't even turn to look at me when she replied.
"We were childhood friends. Garrett was my best friend when I was little, and he was the only other person that I revealed myself to."
"I fear that I startled her when she came in, so she accidentally dropped that glass she was holding." Eva blushed furiously and looked down.
"Oh, I didn't meant to...it's just...you see I...I didn't expect to see you after all this time, and...I..." I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Eva was stumbling over her words and flushing! She was always so straightforward and level headed. I looked from her to Garrett...and I felt an odd feeling...it wasn't sadness...and it wasn't anger...was it something in-between? For some reason, I just didn't like Garrett. I didn't even know the guy, but I despised him...with a passion.

"Eva, why don't we go talk in the den?" Garrett asked, taking Eva's hand. Eva blushed and looked back momentarily.
"But...what about the glass?" She asked. Garrett shot a look back at me.
"Oh don't worry...I'm sure Christian wouldn't mind cleaning it up." I felt myself redden with anger. Then Eva turned back to me with a desperate expression on her face.
"Christian...would you?" She asked. "I haven't seen Garrett in years and..." I held up my hand for her to be silent. She didn't need to say anymore. I knew what she wanted...and I couldn't help but feel betrayed...although, I didn't say this to her...I simply smiled.
"Sure, go talk...I'll clean this up." Eva beamed and then lead Garrett into the den. I stayed behind to look over the broken glass. I leaned down and carefully began to pick up each shard and carry them to the trashcan near the door. As I did, I couldn't help but let my thoughts wander back to Garrett.

"Who is this guy?" I whispered to myself. I trust Eva...but there was no way I could trust this guy. I don't know what it was about him, but there was something that I just despised! "Why does he piss me off so much!?"
"It's cause he's dangerous." I thought to myself. I shook my head, trying to shake those thoughts away.
"No...he can't be...Eva trusts him...she clearly likes him."
"Eva's been wrong before though."
"But what can I do?" I groaned. "She likes this guy...no...she's infatuated with him...could she maybe...just possibly....."
"...Love him?" I suddenly grabbed at my head trying to wish that thought away. There was no way she could love this guy! And even if she did...why should I care? What business was it of mine who she falls in love with? I finished cleaning up the glass and looked outside. The sun had set and the sky was basked in a thick darkness. I felt tired from all that had happened and all the excitement.
"Maybe...maybe I should just head to bed." I said. "After all...he'll be gone tomorrow."
"That is unless Eva want's him to stay." The thought came before I could stop it. It haunted me...it chilled me to my core. How could she want that? It was so much easier when it was just the two of us....besides, any person with eyes could see this guy was a creep! I clenched my fists angrily...wanting nothing more than to step in and say something...do something...ANYTHING to help Eva see what I saw.
"No." I finally said out loud, forcing myself to calm down. "I can't." I whispered. I trusted Eva...she was the only person I truly trusted in the world...and if this guy was someone special to her, then I would have to come to grips with it. I turned and left the kitchen.

I walked into the den and saw the two sitting on the couch together laughing. Eva looked up and saw me and grinned.
"Thank you for cleaning that up, Christian." She motioned to the chair next to the couch. "Come and join us!" I looked from her to Garrett and I felt my blood boil over, but I cooled myself down and smiled sadly.
"No thanks, Eva." I answered. "You two enjoy yourselves...I'm just gonna go to bed." Eva suddenly gave me a very sad look.
"Aw, but why?" She asked. I was about to answer when suddenly Garrett moved in close to Eva and wrapped his arm around her.
"Don't worry about him, Eva...he's obviously had a hard time of it...humans get very tired very easily." For a split second I felt a sudden rage. I knew that smug attitude...that snide voice...there was something so familiar and so despicable about him...but I couldn't put my finger on it. I'm certain I never met him before...but I couldn't help but feel like I knew him.
"But...Christian's not like other..." Eva tried to speak up, but I cut her off before she could finish.
"No...it's okay, Eva." I said quickly, "I do feel tired. I'll see you tomorrow." I left the two and went up to my room, throwing myself on the bed. I placed my face in the pillow and tried to drown out the noise from downstairs.

"Ahh! Get off me!" That scream caused my eyes to burst open. I leaped from the bed and burst out of my room. I practically jumped down the stairs until I was back in the den. On the couch was Eva and Garrett, only neither one of them looked happy. Garrett was holding one side of his face where the cheek had turned very red. Eva was flushing furiously.
"What the hell happened?!" I demanded. Garrett looked at me directly and snarled. His face was no longer kind and charming...nor did it have that despicable sneer. There was just evil there. I could see it plain as day. There was true maliciousness.
"It's none of your business." He snapped.
"He tried to kiss me...and he got this scary look in his eyes." Eva explained shakily. Fury raced through my blood. I ran forward and I grabbed Garrett by the collar and slammed him against the wall forcefully. I stared into his blue eyes and met his gaze.
"Get. The. Hell. Out." I spat. I then tossed him towards the door, where he fell backwards and landed on his backside. He jumped to his feet and brushed himself off, giving me a cold look. He then turned to Eva, trying to look charming again.
"Eva...please I..."
"NOW!" I bellowed. Garrett stepped away and backed towards the door. He made one last look back at me and gave me that same dangerous look.
"I'm not through." He sneered. "You'll see me again, real soon. I hope by then, you'll have come around, Eva."
"Just go!" Eva cried. I made a threatening move towards Garrett and he quickly rushed out the door, slamming it behind him. Personally, I felt a great sense of relief watching him leave.