Professional Hugger

Cathulhu stretched his paws forward, leaning his chest toward the floor. His mouth opened widely as he began eyeing one of the humans, Darby. The human grinned and bent his knees a little, leaning his hands against his knees. He blinked slowly at the furry beast.

"You want some food little guy?" Darby said.

"Reh reh!" Cathulhu chimed.

Darby wasted no time. He grabbed the clean dish from the sink rack and filled it with his usual. Kibble and fresh tuna.

"Here you go buddy." Darby placed his dish carefully in the ready to eat zone.

Cathulhu's eyes fully dilated for a moment. He licked his tongue once before bending his head, and chomped into the tuna.

"You like that buddy, huh?" Darby smiled and lightly rubbed the top of Cathulhu's head.

Another human walked toward the kitchen. The feline was mid-bite while it cocked its head to see a human looking back. The cat didn't blink for a few seconds. It finally swallowed the rest of its food.

"Is that your cat?" The human girl said.

"Yes. His name is Cathulhu." Darby flourished an arm toward his fur baby.

The human girl's eyes scrunched a bit as her nostrils flared at Darby.

"His name is WHAT?" She exemplified the final syllable, exposing her crooked front teeth.

"Cat, Thoo-loo." Darby's eyelids closed halfway as he sighed. "His name is Cat-

"I'm not saying that!" She shook her head swiftly.

The moment Darby's forehead scrunched, the human girl's expression went blank. Darby released a quiet sigh, releasing the tension in his face.

"It's okay."

Cathulhu finished the rest of his tuna bits, and licked the bowl clean.

"Wow, he musta' been hungry. You starving him? Are you fricking starving him?"

"Meli." Darby looked into the human girl's eyes. Her eyelids shook, her lip quivered.

Cathulhu straightened his tail for a second. Then allowed it to curl at the end like a little hook. Meli sniffled and rubbed her eyes.

"What's he doing?"

"He won't hurt you. As long as your gentle, he'll be gentle." Darby said.

"What's he doing?!"

The furry black cat softly bumped its head against Meli. Her little heart raced, but she stood tall. As the kitty rubbed the side of its body against her leg, she could feel a trilling vibration.

"What's he doing now?!" Meli's eyes nearly exploded out of her head.

As she said that, Cathulhu stopped and simply looked at her. Meli stared at him for a solid minute. She extended her hand, almost touching his head. She froze and looked at Darby.

"It's alright Meli. But if you want him to initiate, he will."

"In... ish?" Her eyelids squinted.

Cathulhu raised his head into her palm which caused her whole body to twitch. Her eyes darted right at him.

"Reh reh." Cathulhu spoke in a high, soft tone.

Immediately Meli's face softened. She sagged her shoulders and scrunched her face. She covered her face while sniffling.

Darby bent a knee next to Meli. "What's wrong Meli?"

After a few vocalized sobs, she wiped her eyes. "I don't know... Did you hear him? Did you frickin' hear him?

"Watch your language Meli or I'll tell your mom."

"I'll tell your mom you have a girlfriend." She placed her hands on her hips.

"Not unless I tell her first." Darby raised his eyebrows at her and looked at the back door.

"Aunty Jessica!" Meli ran out the door into the backyard, not closing it behind her.

Darby shook his head in silence and then looked down at Cathulhu. Meli's head bent into the doorway once more.

"Why did you call him Cat-thoo-loo? Are you messed up Darby? Are you crazy Darby?"

Darby half-smiled. "Yes, to all of those things."

As Meli pondered Darby's outlandish reply, Cathulhu propped himself next to her. She turned and looked down. "Hi Cat."

Cathulhu slowly blinked at Meli. "Reh Reh."

Darby's mom, Vicky, appeared beside Meli.

"Hey mom, what's up?" Darby looked at her.

"I saw Meli coming towards me, then quickly run in the opposite direction. What're you guys doing?"

"Darby's got a girlfriend." Meli crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

"And Meli said fricking."

Vicky shook her head a little and shaped a letter "T" using her hands. "It's too early for this. Don't be late for first period Darby." She walked out of sight and into the backyard.

"And you better get some fricking math done tonight, or I am cutting you off at 7 PM." His mom's voice carried over. "Come here Meli, your mom's on her way."

Darby blasted a large breathe from his mouth which made Cathulhu glance his way. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Let's get some homework done buddy." Darby clicked his teeth and exited the kitchen, heading upstairs.

Cathulhu instead walked into the backyard, through the little cat door. His bushy tail stood strong against the outside breeze. His tail transformed into its hook shape as he blinked at Meli. She sat on the side porch, with a little backpack adjacent. Cathulhu carefully approached, and from a few feet away, mewed very lightly.

Meli sniffled suddenly and rubbed her eyes.

"Cat-thoo-thoo."

As the girl sniffled Cathulhu inched closer, looking at her with big eyes.

"Go away Cat."

He paused. Blinked slowly at her and waited.

"Cat-thoo-thoo get away from me!"

The black feline lurched back from her, and turned around. Cathulhu laid down nearby, his head looking away from her.

Meli's face scrunched together as she got up. "Come. Come kitty." Her voice trembled.

Cathulhu looked at her for a second, then stood up. Meli sat back on the porch and tapped the spot beside her.

"You can sit if you wanna." Meli sniffled once more.

As Cathulhu stretched his limbs, he moved to the spot she had given. As he sat there as a loaf, Meli brushed her hand lightly across the top of his head. Cathulhu replied in full purr.

"That's where you went." Darby walked from inside.

Meli looked up at him and wiped her face once more before grinning. "Cat-thoo-thoo's awesome!" She embraced Cathulhu tenderly and gave him a little kiss on the forehead. "Good boy Cat-thoo-thoo! Good boy!"