Chapter 24

Erika's pov

I walked home from class, my mind lost in thoughts of the day. I thought it was so crazy that Cat offered to adopt me. Like what? It feels like I've known her forever, even though it's only been three months.

The crisp autumn air brushed against my cheeks, and I tugged my scarf tighter around my neck. Cat wouldn't let me leave the house without one because it was "too cold." Her overprotectiveness was something I was growing used to, though it now made me smile rather than gag.

As I turned the corner, I nearly bumped into someone. "Erika," a familiar voice shouted. I looked up to see Calliope, her striking features framed by the golden light of the setting sun.

"Calliope," I responded, a little surprised to see her here. "What are you doing—"

Suddenly, a harsh, sharp, burning sensation exploded across my cheek. It happened so fast that I barely had time to process what had just happened. I instinctively held my face where I'd been slapped, my heart racing with shock and confusion.

"You slut," Calliope spat, her voice trembling with anger.

"Calliope, what the literal fuck?" I shouted back, still reeling from the slap. My voice wavered, not entirely sure what had provoked this sudden outburst.

Her face remained hard, her eyes blazing with fury. "You slept with Josh? You knew he was my best friend!" Her words were like knives, cutting into the confusion clouding my mind.

"What? Where did you hear that from?" I asked, bewildered and hurt. This was so high school, I thought to myself, unable to believe this was happening.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes as if my innocence was an act. "Everyone knows, Erika! He told everyone. Do you know how embarrassing that is?"

My heart sank, a mix of anger and sadness welling up inside me. "Calliope, I didn't sleep with Josh. I don't even like him like that anymore. He's making it up!" My voice was pleading, desperate for her to believe me.

She hesitated, her anger faltering for just a moment. "Why would he lie about something like that?" she asked, her tone still sharp but less certain.

"I don't know," I admitted, tears stinging the corners of my eyes. "But I swear to you, Calliope, it's not true. I would never do that."

Calliope's expression softened slightly, the fire in her eyes dimming. She looked down, clearly torn between her anger and the years of friendship we shared.

"I... I don't know what to think," she murmured, her voice wavering. "I just... it hurt so much to hear that."

"I get it," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But you have to trust me. Please."

After a long pause, she finally nodded, though the tension between us remained. "Okay... okay, I believe you," she said, her voice quieter now, more uncertain. "But it still hurts, Erika. I don't know if I can just brush this off."

"I know," I said, swallowing the lump in my throat. "But I promise you, Calliope, I would never hurt you like that. We'll get through this."

We stood there in awkward silence for a moment, the weight of what had just happened hanging between us. Finally, Calliope stepped forward, her expression softening even more. "I'm sorry for slapping you," she said, her voice thick with regret. "I just... I let my emotions get the best of me."

"It's okay," I said, though my cheek still throbbed. "I just want us to be okay."

She nodded, pulling me into a brief, tentative hug. "We will be," she murmured, though I could still feel the strain in her words.

As we pulled away, I forced a smile, trying to push down the hurt that still lingered in my chest. "I'll see you later?" I offered, hoping we could start to move past this.

"Yeah," she replied, though she didn't sound entirely convinced. "See you."

As I walked the rest of the way home, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I couldn't believe how quickly Calliope had turned on me, how easily she had believed a lie over our friendship. It hurt more than I wanted to admit, but I tried to brush it off. We had made up, and that's what mattered, right?

When I finally walked through the door of our house, Cat was in the kitchen, finishing up dinner. She looked up as I entered, her warm smile instantly fading as she noticed the puffy redness around my eyes.

Tsuki came up to me immediately and brushed her fur against my leg. This brought a smile on my face, and brightened my day a little.

"Erika, honey, are you okay?" she asked, her voice full of concern as she quickly crossed the room to meet me.

I tried to shrug it off, forcing a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a long day."

But Cat wasn't convinced. She gently took my hand and led me to the living room, sitting me down on the couch. "Monkey, I know something's wrong. Please, tell me what happened."

The concern in her voice, the softness of her touch, it was all too much. My carefully constructed walls began to crumble, and before I could stop it, tears welled up in my eyes. "It's nothing, really... just something with a friend," I whispered, trying to hold back the sobs that were threatening to spill out.

"Tell me what happened," Cat urged, her voice gentle and soothing.

I broke down, the emotions of the day crashing over me like a tidal wave. "She slapped me," I choked out, the words tumbling from my lips. "... she called me a mean word."

Cat's expression hardened with anger, but she remained calm, pulling me into her arms. "Oh, lovebug, I'm so sorry," she whispered, stroking my hair as I cried into her shoulder.

"I didn't do anything," I sobbed, the pain and betrayal finally pouring out of me. "She just believed him without even asking me... I thought she was my friend."

Cat held me tighter, her voice full of love and reassurance. "You didn't deserve that honey."

But the words weren't enough to stop the pain. I cried harder, the emotional strain of the day catching up with me. And as I cried, I felt a strong urge to have Paul, my monkey.

"Paul?" Is all I wanted to say.

Cat's face lights up, "Who's Paul?"

"My monkey!" I eagerly blurted out.

Cat had the biggest smile on her face. Why was she so happy? It's okay though because she immediately knew what I wanted and quickly left to go get it, but her absence apparently made my heart grow fonder because I was not happy about her leaving.

"No mommy, don't leave me." I demanded grabbing her hand and not letting it go.

She quickly picked me up and I huffed. I didn't want to be lifted or held. I wanted her to cuddle me and also get me my monkey, but also stay.

Mommy chuckled, "Oh what's with the pout? You were just whining about me leaving one second ago." She continued to have a strong grip despite my squirming.

"I don't want to be held." I whined.

Mommy laughed softly at my protest, but her grip didn't loosen. "Oh, I see how it is," she said, her voice teasing yet warm. "One minute you want me close, and the next, you're squirming away."

I pouted, crossing my arms in defiance even as I clung to her. "I'm not squirming! I just... I just want Paul, and I want you to stay."

Mommy nodded, still holding me close. "I know, sweetheart. How about I bring Paul here, and then we can cuddle together?"

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded, still pouting. "Okay... but hurry."

With a gentle smile, Mommy set me down on the couch, her hands lingering on my shoulders as if to reassure me she wasn't going far. "I'll be right back, I promise," she said softly, her voice soothing.

I watched her leave the room, my eyes glued to the doorway until she returned. It felt like forever, but when Mommy came back holding Paul, my stuffed monkey, my heart swelled with a mix of relief and joy.

"Here he is," Mommy said, handing Paul to me with a smile. "I think someone's missed you."

I immediately hugged Paul tightly, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me. "Thanks, Mommy," I mumbled, not really thinking about the word that had just slipped out.

Mommy's eyes softened at the word, and she sat down next to me, pulling me into her arms again. "You're welcome, monkey," she murmured, her voice full of affection.

As I snuggled into her embrace, holding Paul close, something shifted inside me. The stress, the hurt, the confusion—all of it seemed to melt away in Mommy's warmth. I felt safe, protected, like nothing in the world could hurt me as long as I was with her.

"Are you feeling a little better now?" Mommy asked, brushing a strand of hair away from my face.

I nodded, my face still pressed against her chest. "I don't want to think about it anymore. I just want to stay here with you."

Mommy smiled and kissed the top of my head. "That sounds like a perfect plan to me." She then cradled me in her arms, causing me to whine once more. I was perfectly comfortable.

"I have a fussy baby today huh?" She rhetorically asked. I remained silent and before I could even realize Mommy had milk right in front of me. I didn't need to drink from Mommy. I was a big girl.

"Mommy I'm not a baby. I don't need your milk." I pushed away her milk and turned my face.

"How old are you honey?" Mommy asked. She should have already known this?!

I hold up five fingers. My whole hand! I was so old.

"Wow, that is my big girl. Silly mommy forgot." She smiled and rocked me softly.

"I'M NOT A BABY MOMMY," I shouted at Mommy, my voice echoing in the cozy living room. The words came out harsher than I intended, and the moment they left my lips, I regretted them. Mommy's expression shifted slightly, and her eyes, usually so warm and full of love, narrowed just a bit.

"Erika, inside voices please," Mommy said, her tone firmer than usual. It wasn't often that she scolded me, but when she did, it felt like a sharp sting. The realization that I had upset her made my heart clench, and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

"You mad at me?" I managed to choke out between my sniffles, my voice trembling with the fear of disappointing her.

Mommy's expression softened immediately. She wiped the tears from my cheeks with gentle fingers, her voice soothing as she spoke. "Oh, sweet girl, why are you crying?" she asked, her thumb brushing away the last of my tears.

"You mad at me?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. The idea of her being upset with me was almost too much to bear.

Mommy shook her head, pulling me close against her chest. "Oh no, love, never. Mommy just needs to make sure you know not to shout," she explained, rocking me gently in her arms. The rhythmic motion was comforting, and despite my earlier defiance, I found myself relaxing into her embrace. "Mommy will try not to raise her voice again, okay?"

I nodded against her chest, feeling the warmth of her body seep into mine. It was the safest place in the world, and I never wanted to leave it.

"I'm thirsty," I murmured after a moment, feeling a little shy after my outburst.

Mommy stroked my hair, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Do you want milky or juice?" she asked, her voice full of patience.

"Juice, please," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips despite myself. Mommy always made me feel better, no matter what.

"Oh, what good manners. Good girl," she praised, and I felt a warm, tingly feeling in my tummy at her words. I loved it when she called me a good girl. Mommy stood up, still holding me securely in her arms as she walked us over to the kitchen.

She handed me my familiar sippy cup, and I watched as she poured apple juice into it. Apple juice was the best juice, no contest. I accepted the sippy cup from her, clutching it in both hands as I took a sip. The sweet, tangy flavor made me smile.

"Thank you, Mommy," I said, my voice small and content.

"You're very welcome, sweetheart," she replied, kissing the top of my head. She began to move around the kitchen, preparing to start dinner. "Now, lovebug, Mommy needs to cook dinner, okay? Why don't you go play with your toys until I'm done?"

I frowned, not liking the idea of being away from Mommy. "But I wanna stay with you," I protested, following her as she moved around the kitchen.

"I know, sweetie, but I need to focus on making dinner. I'll be right here, and you can come back as soon as it's ready," Mommy explained, her tone gentle but firm.

I didn't like that answer at all. The thought of being apart from her, even for a little while, made me feel uneasy. "No, I wanna stay!" I insisted, my voice rising again as frustration bubbled up inside me.

Mommy turned to face me, her expression serious but still loving. "Erika, I need you to listen to me. Go play until dinner is ready, okay?"

I stamped my foot, the anger and frustration building to a boiling point. "No! I don't wanna!" I shouted, throwing the sippy cup to the floor in a fit of defiance. It clattered loudly against the tiles, juice splashing out and creating a sticky mess.

Mommy's face hardened slightly, and I could see she wasn't going to let this slide. "Erika, that is not how we behave. You need to go to time-out right now," she said, pointing to the corner of the living room where I usually sat when I was in trouble.

"No!" I screamed again, crossing my arms over my chest and refusing to move. My heart was pounding, and tears were threatening to spill over once more. I didn't want to go to time-out, and I certainly didn't want to be away from Mommy.

Mommy's expression didn't waver. "Erika, if you don't go to time-out right now, there won't be any dessert after dinner," she warned, her voice calm but firm.

The threat of losing dessert was enough to make me pause. I didn't want to lose out on something sweet, but I was still so upset. Torn between my desire to be with Mommy and my defiance, I reluctantly stomped over to the corner, plopping down with a huff.

"You will stay here for five minutes, and then we'll talk," Mommy instructed before turning back to the kitchen.

I sat in the corner, my arms crossed and my lip trembling as I tried to hold back more tears. It wasn't fair. I just wanted to be with Mommy, but she was making me sit here alone. It felt like the longest time-out ever, even though it was probably only a few minutes.

Eventually, my anger started to ebb away, replaced by a heavy sadness. I didn't like being in trouble, and I didn't like being away from Mommy. I felt so lonely sitting there by myself. All I wanted was to be with her, to feel her warm arms around me again.

When I finally calmed down, Mommy came over and knelt beside me, her expression soft but serious. "Are you ready to talk now?" she asked gently.

I nodded, my voice small and full of regret. "I'm sorry, Mommy. I just didn't want to be away from you."

Mommy pulled me into her arms, holding me close. "I know, sweetheart, and it's okay to want to be with me. But you have to listen when I ask you to do something, okay? It's important."

I nodded again, sniffling as I tried to explain how I felt. "I was scared that you didn't want me anymore, that you'd leave me if I wasn't good."

Mommy's grip on me tightened, and she kissed my forehead. "Oh, Erika, I would never leave you. I love you so much, no matter what. You don't have to be perfect for me to love you."

Hearing those words made my heart swell with relief, and I hugged her tightly, never wanting to let go. "I love you too, Mommy," I whispered, feeling safe and loved in her arms.

"I'm so glad to hear that," Mommy said, her voice full of warmth. She pulled back slightly to look at me, her eyes filled with affection. "Now, how about we get you cleaned up and ready for dinner?"

I nodded, feeling much better now that everything was okay between us. Mommy helped me wash my face and hands, then we sat down at the table together, ready to eat.

When Mommy placed a plate of food in front of me, I looked up at her, determined to prove that I was a big girl. "I can do it myself," I declared, picking up my fork with a determined look.

Mommy smiled, clearly amused but supportive. "Of course you can, lovebug. Just take your time."

I started to eat, but in my eagerness to show that I was capable, I ended up making a bit of a mess. Food tumbled off my fork and onto the table, and I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.

Mommy reached over, gently taking the fork from my hand. "It's okay, sweetheart. How about Mommy helps you a little?"

I looked up at her, feeling a mix of frustration and relief. I didn't want to get in trouble again, so I nodded, letting her feed me the rest of my meal. As she guided the fork to my mouth, I realized that it wasn't so bad letting her help. It felt nice, actually, to have Mommy take care of me.

After dinner, Mommy ran a warm bath for me, filling the tub with bubbles. I could hardly wait to get in, the sight of the fluffy bubbles making me giggle with excitement.

As soon as the tub was ready, Mommy helped me undress and guided me into the warm water. The bubbles surrounded me, tickling my skin and making me laugh. Mommy sat by the tub, keeping a watchful eye on me as I splashed around, my earlier worries and frustrations melting away with each playful splash.

"Look at all those bubbles!" Mommy exclaimed, smiling as I made a mountain of them on my head.

I giggled, feeling light and carefree. "I'm a bubble monster!" I declared, showing off my bubbly creation.

Mommy laughed, reaching out to tickle my tummy. "You certainly are, sweet girl."

We spent the rest of the bath playing with the bubbles and toys, Mommy joining in on the fun and making me feel so loved and cared for. By the time the bath was over, I was feeling sleepy but happy, my earlier tantrum long forgotten.

Mommy wrapped me in a fluffy towel, drying me off and helping me into my pajamas. "Ready for bed, lovebug?" she asked, tucking me into bed with Paul and Tsuki joined us on the edge of my bed.

I nodded, feeling content and safe. "Can you stay with me until I fall asleep, Mommy?"

Mommy smiled, brushing a strand of my hair, "Well since you asked so nicely."

With that my life felt complete and I was in a deep sleep.

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longest slowburn ever😬😬. sorry 'bout it. i think i took a while to regress erika bc i've never regressed and never rlly had the desire too so idk what a realistic way to potray it would be so hopefully this is okay🙏🙏.

sorry i am taking so long lately! i just started college , so i might be a tad bit (or a lot) slower.