There She Is!! - Cake Dance
A homage to SamBakZa's There She Is!!
Chapter 2 of There She Is!! by SamBakZa.
Please enjoy.
A few days later...
Doki was with a few of her friends and acquaintances at somewhere other than the Cake and Bake. Turns out, her birthday location was moved last minute due to her party being too big. They decided to do it at a locally owned restaurant about a few blocks away.
Hana, a female cat in her late twenties, is the owner of a band that plays at the restaurant fairly regularly. She and the band members became friends with Doki a few years ago and took the time off for any get togethers, including Doki's birthday. Hana was a bit late to the party, mostly because of her bodyguard cat named Pizza needing to stop for a bite to eat elsewhere.
"Happy Birthday, Doki!" Hana said with a cheerful smile. "Sorry we're late. Pizza has quite the appetite. I told him that food would be served here, but he insisted."
"Hey, can you blame me?" Pizza interjected with a deep, gravely voice that so often compliments people in his profession. "I'm twice the size as you! I'm like a semi truck!"
The two of them shared a laugh with Doki joining in. "Oh, it's alright, Hana. I understand."
Hana and Pizza started to mingle with the rest of the guests at the party, with Doki looking on in muted anxiety. Someone was definitely missing. A certain cat with a green scarf.
"Hey, has anyone seen Nabi? He's practically the guest of honor!"
Hana gave her a small. knowing smile. "Let's just say that your little cat crush is going to be a tad bit late."
Doki looked almost crestfallen. "Aw, but why? We can't start the party without him! It's bad enough that Il-ho can't come, but now you're saying that Nabi might not make it?!"
"Now now, I didn't say that." Hana replied casually. "Nabi's gonna be a bit late thanks to a certain package that's being delivered. Notice how there's no cake on the table?"
Doki looked and sure enough, an empty space was set aside by the drinks and snacks. Doki's face lit up like she was a kid in a candy store. Not only was her crush showing up for the party, but he's also delivering the cake as well? Knowing him, it would be delicious.
"Oh, I can't wait!" Doki said with unbridled enthusiasm. "I hope he gets here soon!"
Boy, this cake was more expensive than it's worth.
He had a point.
The cake had cost him a good chunk of his paycheck. About an eighth of it. It didn't help that he was making a bit more than minimum wage at the moment.
Nabi was in a bit of a bind. On the one hand, he felt roped into this whole thing. Here he was spending money on someone whom he didn't even have any romantic feelings towards. This relationship, if he could even call it that, was feeling very one sided. Plus, he's known her for less than a week.
On the flip side, he wasn't a cruel person. He prided himself on being punctual, always keeping his promises. Even if he was against it, he wanted to show that he could be a man of his word. He couldn't place why he wanted to, though. Maybe it was for selfish reasons or to calm his sense of devotion. Whatever it was, he felt obligated to go.
Or, how about the fact that it's her birthday, you idiot. Nabi yelled to himself. I honestly wouldn't want someone to forget my birthday or worse, say they'd show and then turn tail and run.
So there he was with a too small carrot cake at too high of a cost. The baked good was delicate, though. He'd have to be careful, especially in this crowded section of town. The restaurant he was trying to get to was at least five miles away. The subway ride would shave that in half, but he would have to guard the cake with his life. Despite his inner turmoil, he didn't want to screw this up.
With that thought leaving his head, the door to the bakery opened a bit forcefully. With Nabi standing right in front of it.
He was shoved out into the busy sidewalk with cats and bunnies of every shape, size and age pushing and shoving around him. Nabi clung to the cake like a life jacket in the middle of the ocean and silently swore to himself.
It's gonna be one of those_ evenings, isn't it?_
Thirty minutes had passed and Doki was getting worried.
Everyone's getting bored. She stressed silently. Where is Nabi? Did he... forget to come?
_ _Hana saw the growing worry in Doki as she paced back and forth. "Doki, you shouldn't worry too much. The Cake and Bake is a while from here and it's in the most crowded section of town. He's probably just having trouble getting here."
Doki looked at her and gave her a small smile. "I'm sure you're right. I'm just nervous. I hate it when I get like this. I keep thinking that Nabi forgot to even come."
Hana just laughed. "Oh, if that cat knew what was good for him, he wouldn't stand up a woman of your caliber."
Doki had to grin and blush at that. "After what I put him through a few days ago, I don't think I'll lose him anytime soon. I'm certain of that."
"God help that poor man." Hana replied teasingly.
Doki smiled, but then deflated a bit. "I did come off as a bit forward to him. I'm surprised he's even taking the time to get a cake and get here. I was probably nothing more than a stalker to him."
"Hey now, don't act that way." Hana said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're a sweet girl. You got a heart full of love and all you want is for that returned. Just give it some time."
Doki had to smile at that. "Thanks, Hana. I appreciate it."
"Hey, Hana... I got you guys some cake..."
Hoisaek, a grey rabbit with a not too subtle crush on Hana, offered the cake to the two, with Hana facepalming hard.
"Well, I am a bit hungry." Doki said, taking the proffered cake. "Maybe just a nibble or two until Nabi gets here."
Doki then proceeded to devour the cake in no more than a few bites, with the rest of the party guests looking on in amazement. Afterwards, she gave a small burp.
"Oops! 'scuse me." Doki said, blushing slightly.
"And I thought I had an appetite!" Pizza exclaimed.
What is with this part of town?!
_ _Nabi was having a bit of trouble getting to the restaurant.
The subway ride was bad enough. Having his back to the crowd and a foot on the wall for leverage proved useful for giving the cake space without being flattened. However, it turned out that animals are really partial to baked goods.
Nabi couldn't avoid the busy sidewalks and was getting sick of being repeatedly clonked in the head, so he took a back alley route. What proceeded to chase him was a dog, a lizard, even a rhino! A freaking rhino! He managed to hide, only to bump into some loose scaffolding and nearly crush himself to death under a ton of sandbags.
He still managed to save the cake, though. A for effort.
So, battered, scuffed up and bruised, he made for the home stretch. The restaurant was within sight and he would make it in time. Ha! Nabi:1, Murphy's Law: 0! He thought to himself with a grin.
That was until he knocked someone over turning the corner.
Both of them fell and hit the ground hard: Nabi on his rear and the bunny with the surgical mask flat on his stomach.
"Nice going, Sam! Looks like gravity wins again!" said the bunny with the eye patch.
"Can it, Yi!" Sam said from the ground. "That cat klutz over there ran right into me!"
"Cat klutz?" Yi said, turning to Nabi. "Oh damn, I know of this guy!"
Nabi was rubbing his newly formed bruise on his head while he got up. "I'm sorry, have we met before?"
Yi frowned and pointed an accusing finger towards Nabi. "No, but I've seen you running around town a few days ago. You're macing on Doki, aren't you? How could you even stomach the thought of interspecies? It's messed up!"
Nabi was taken aback. "I beg your pardon?!"
"You heard what he said."
A third bunny turned the corner to join the other two. "So Yi, you're certain this is him?"
"I know for a fact it is. I recognise that green scarf anywhere."
"Hmm." The third bunny looked from Yi to Nabi with lowered eyes full of malice. "Tell me, cat. What makes you think you can fool around with my little sister?"
Nabi took a few shaky steps back. "I think you got this backwards." he said, trying his luck.
Looks like Murphy's Law just scored a point.
"Make it hurt, Il-ho!" Yi said from behind him.
Great, now I have to run.
_ _"Three against one ain't exactly fair odds!" Nabi said, trying to buy some time. He had to wait for an opening.
"Everything's fair to the Jjintta Set!" Sam said, slightly muffled by his mask.
At that, all three of them cracked their heads in preparation to fight. Il-ho and Yi spat on the ground, with Sam attempting to. Turns out you can't spit past medical masks.
"Aw crap." Sam said. "Not again."
The other two looked back at him. "You really are dense, you know that?" Yi said with blunt amusement.
"Shut your mouth Yi, or I'll give you another eye patch to wear!"
There it is. Nabi mused to himself.
He took advantage of the distraction and made a hard left for an alleyway. From there, he managed to put his agility to good use and get onto the rooftops.
"He's making a break for it! Get your asses into gear!" Il-ho shouted from behind him.
The gang kept pace with Nabi from the sidewalk. They ran alongside the buildings as he tried to make a beeline for the restaurant that was in plain sight. It was unfortunately on the other side of the street, so Nabi had to abandon the safety of the roof and make it across the street, with Il-ho's gang hot on his tail.
"Here kitty, kitty!" Nabi heard one of them mock from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see who it was, only to find that there were just two of them chasing him. He looked ahead and narrowly dodged a swift kick to the face by Yi.
"I'm gonna lay you out!" Yi shouted as he threw a punch, this time aiming for a bodyshot. Nabi felt the wind from that one as he backhandspring'd out of the way, surprisingly keeping the cake from flying out of the box.
However, he was cornered by all three with his back to the restaurant entrance. He turned and dove for the door, hoping to at least get the cake in safely. To his dismay, the three jumped him at once and dogpiled him through the door as the cake flew out of his hands. No, no, No, NO!
_ _The box hit the ground with the dessert springing out. It flattened as it hit the floor, ruined, right at Doki's feet.
She picked up the box with her friends behind her watching angrily. Nabi saw the same look of drive and indignation on her face that he saw a few days ago. That look of anger and determination that could make even a bodybuilder cringe in fear. At first, he thought that she might be upset over the cake being smashed, until he saw that she was staring right at her brother.
"Hello, Il-ho." Doki said coldly. "Looks like you were able to show up to my party after all."
What followed was a side of Doki that Nabi never wanted to invoke.
"Not only did you ruin the cake that he went out of his way to get me, but you and your friends made yourselves look like the biggest jerks! Like it or not, I am an adult now able to make my own decisions!"
Il-ho took the beratement in stride. "I was only trying to protect you. You're my sister and you're family. I have to make sure that you stay safe."
"Do I look hurt to you?" Doki asked in astonishment.
Il-ho was about to say something else, but Doki beat him to the punch. "I know what my actions might bring if I date him and I will face them. You underestimate me, brother. My resolve isn't as weak as you think it might be."
Nabi just sat at a table and watched in silence. I do have to admire how she can stand up to him like that. he inwardly spoke. He about turned my face into coleslaw.
_ _"Now, despite the fact that you demolished the cake, you and your friends are welcome to stay for the party." Doki offered to her older brother, who reluctantly accepted.
And like that, the party was underway. There was the usual fare when it came to birthdays: Streamers, poppers, music, etc. They sang Happy Birthday to her, with everyone, including Nabi applauding afterwards.
An hour or so later, Il-ho sat with an annoyed look on his face. He looked to see that Sam was stuffing his face with snacks, giving a small chuckle. He turned to see Yi flirting with the band's keyboardist named Catlip. "What was that you said about interspecies no less than two hours ago?" he sarcastically stated to him.
"That it's not as bad as I thought it might be?" Yi said, with Catlip laughing at that.
Il-ho half heartedly hit him in the shoulder. What a hypocrite.
Despite the fact that it was hardly salvageable, Doki did try a bite of the cake. "Oh, it's so delicious!" Doki said with enthusiasm. "Thank you so much!"
With that, she practically tackled Nabi in a hug. Startled, he just sat there while she hugged him, with a face that screamed, "Just ride it out."
There was a clatter of food and plates crashing down.
Doki and Nabi looked to see the rest of the restaurant staring with mixed reaction. Some wore expressions of encouragement, while others looked absolutely disgusted. None of that mattered however, as the owner of the place pointed to a sign that hung behind the door.
An anti-interspecies sign.
"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask your party to leave."
"Sorry you and your band were banned from the restaurant." Doki said with a tinge of sadness.
Hana smiled. "It's quite alright. There are other places to play at in the city. We'll be fine." She knelt down and gave her a hug. "Happy birthday. You be sure to keep that cat close." she whispered.
Doki smiled. "I will."
Il-ho approached her. "I gotta get loverboy here back home. I'll talk to you soon."
He turned to leave, but Doki grabbed his arm. "Wait."
Il-ho looked at her with impatience. "Alright, look. You're right. You are your own woman and I'll stay out of this. I just don't want you to regret it."
She eyed him with determination. "Don't worry. I won't."
He nodded as he turned to leave with his gang in tow.
"Well, this was a Hell of a night." Nabi said with his hand scratching his neck in embarrassment. "I hope you had a good birthday."
"I did." Doki said, blushing. "I'm uh... I'm glad you came. It wouldn't have been the same without you. Shame about the cake. It was still delicious."
"Heh, good to hear. Sucks that it got destroyed." Nabi said, actually meaning it.
"Tell you what." Doki said with a smile. "Next date we go on, it's my treat."
Nabi was still apprehensive. "That... sounds... generous. Thanks."
Doki gave an open mouthed grin. "Happy to hear it. I guess this is where we say goodbye for now."
"Yeah." Nabi said, relieved. "Work has been picking up, so we'll have to do something a bit later."
"Oh, that shouldn't be a problem. I can be patient." Doki said, mischievously. "Until then, have a good night, Nabi!"
"Yeah, you too, Doki."
With that, she gave him a quick hug and they parted ways. While Nabi was still a bit torn, his feelings were sure to change in the future.