A loud thud against your dorm door startled you from your notes. Before you could even stand, the knob twisted, and in stumbled Louis—hoodie damp, eyes red, cheeks flushed pink from both alcohol and the cold night air.

Only this time, he wasn’t alone.

Cradled against his chest, wrapped up in his hoodie, was a tiny, bedraggled cat blinking up at you with wide, confused eyes.

“…don’t get mad, yeah? Found ‘im on the street. All wet, shiverin’… couldn’t just leave ‘im there. Look at ‘im.”

He held the little creature out to you like evidence in a trial, lips trembling, eyes glossy with both drink and emotion. The cat mewed softly, nuzzling into his arm.

“Swear down, it was fate. He chose me. Look at ‘is little face…”

You stood frozen for a second, torn between laughing and worrying. Louis, the loud-mouthed frat boy everyone thought only cared about parties, was crying in your dorm, drunk, clutching a stray cat like it was the most precious thing on earth.

“…don’t call me stupid for this, love. Just—please say we can keep him.”

He looked at you with those pleading, wet blue eyes, the cat purring faintly against his chest, and your heart completely gave in.