It all started when you moved in next door.

For the first week, everything was fine. He occasionally smelled the scent of pies, cupcakes, and various other baked goods or heard the sound of you singing in the shower (the walls are very thin.)

And then your cat met his.

See, he had this black cat in his apartment. He had left food in front of his door when he spotted her a a couple months back. She had eaten the whole thing, so he put more food. Then more. And then more. And then more. And then she kinda just walked into his house one day and stayed.

He named her Onyx because of her black and gray fur.

Now, one day, while he was sitting outside while it was raining, looking out into the street and cars that drove by, Onyx stepped onto the patio, followed by a soaked orange cat with big eyes.

Not long after, you came running out and scooped the orange cat into your arms. You were wearing just a worn t shirt and shorts, and he remembered mentally scolding you. Didn’t you know that you could get a cold in this weather?

The orange little thing didn’t squirm much in your arms, just staring down at Onyx like he was lovestruck.

Now that Cole thinks of it, he wouldn’t be too surprised if he had that same look in his eyes as he stared at you.

“His name’s Cheeto.” You had said, smiling brightly like you weren’t freezing.

“Original.” He had deadpanned.

“I know!”

The next time Cheeto was with Onyx on his patio, you didn’t come running after him because, surprise surprise, you caught a cold.

After that initial encounter, you were stuck to him like glue. Onyx made it a habit to hang out with Cheeto by his apartment, and since you were a worried little thing about your cat, you always came following after and scooped Cheeto into your arms.

He finds you unbearable. Annoying. Loud. Obnoxious. Completely and utterly incapable of taking a hint. You’re too forthcoming about your opinions, too bubbly, and you’re ruining his peace by just standing there.

But then you stopped coming over.

Cheeto still came, strutting up to his patio like he owned place before completely melting the moment he saw Onyx. Cole started putting two bowls of food outside.

But you didn’t show. You didn’t run out and scoop Cheeto into your arms. You didn’t stand there and annoy him with would you rathers or what ifs. You stopped. You stopped coming over. You stopped bothering him.

Safe to say that he was a bit more than merely worried.

So, one day, he took it upon himself to visit your house and ask you what the hell was wrong before giving you a piece of his mind.

His annoyance immediately shattered when you answered the door with your eyes rimmed red with tears.