Normalcy?

Reid's shift as a bartender ended and he slowly made his way to the back room, where he changed. He was sick of this job. He made up his mind, then and there, to start looking for a new job. He'd bring it up to Calvin. The hours had been convenient when Chase was living with them, because she could keep an eye on Cal. But since she had left and his hours had been moved, there was far too much time Cal got alone in the apartment for Reid to be able to expect to return to a home in one piece.

He tucked his uniform into his satchel and made his way out. Ricki, the guy that came in after him, waved him good bye and he bid him adieu as well. Their manager jerked his chin but Reid just eyed him in a strange manner- Reid did not take to authority well, and he was paranoid that the man was wrapped up in the mob.

He made his way out onto the street and sighed. He knew that Calvin would be awhile before he got home and Reid was dying for a burger, but he would not go back into the Leaky Cauldron until his manager was off. So he went outside it, and decided to find a nice bench to sit at. No sooner had he sat down did a visitor arrive.

His head jerked at a slight movement and his eyes widened. "CAT." His voice was automatic, loud, and he was already standing up, walking in a squatted fashion until he reached the tabby feline. He picked it up and received a gentle "mrrrow." Reid took it over to a bench and plopped it next to him.

He rubbed the cat's ears and he felt it rub it's head against his elbow, purring loudly. He grinned and reached into his pocket, fishing out his gameboy. He turned it on and began playing Mario Bros. Mario Bros, a cat, and waiting for dinner. What could be better?

Leaila had been wandering around for a while, not knowing where to go. She needed to get some things ready for May's return from Hogwarts. The year was almost over and she knew that May would be eager to return home with her big sister. But Leaila didn't want it to be like the other years, of just receiving her and taking her out for something to eat of anything of the sort. Leaila wanted to welcome her home with a party. It was close to May's birthday as well. She would be turning 16 and this was another motive for Leaila preparing a party for her.

But nothing seemed to be right for a 15 year old girl who would soon be 16 to Leaila. She wanted everything to be perfect. But it seemed like it wouldn't turn out to be like that. She was becoming tired of just walking around staring into store after store, looking for something that would fit May's personality.

She decided to sit at a near by bench. She hadn't really paid attention to the fact that someone was already there, and she sat there anyways. She was tired and stressed from looking for things for May. But she soon saw the cat that was also on the bench next to the man who was sitting there. He was playing some sort of game, but she couldn't tell what it was. She shrugged and looked back down at the little purring cat. She put her hand on it's head and gently stroked it's head.

"Is this cat yours?" she asked the man.

Reid felt a presence, suddenly. He had been so wrapped up in his game, he had not noticed them approach nor sit down. When he finally sensed them, he quickly looked over at the figure and immediately froze, his eyes growing comically to twice their usual size. There was a sad trail of descending notes from his game as he forgot about it and lost a life. But it did not matter. He was staring in shock at the obscure figure next to him.

A... A girl.

She looked over at him and his eyes grew wider, looking like a terrified deer stuck in the headlights. His mouth tipped open and he stared at her, agape, as though she were an alien beamed down next to him rather than a female- scratch that, it would have been easier to speak to an alien. He and Calvin ha already figured out what aliens must speak- a mix of Klingon and Wookie.

She spoke to him and he made a weird sort of high pitched grunt, like a tiny squeal of surprise, though it was very quiet. He just stared at her, completely unable to answer. Finally, he shook his head wildly and his hair flopped over his eyes.