Alex is back with more than just cookies. He dragged several packages of groceries and did not want to listen to my protests. In a businesslike way, he laid out everything in the refrigerator, and then apologized that he still wouldn’t have tea. She led him to the door, glancing sadly at the mugs cooling down on the table and the mysterious tube of cream from a no less mysterious allergy.

I won't be in town for a few days. I'll call you when I arrive, Anya. Can?

- Need. I have your chinchilla...

...and a heart!

He smiled, jokingly waving goodbye to his little animal.

The first thing I did was rush to my cell phone and put it on charge. I found there a bunch of unanswered calls from my grandmother and from an unfamiliar number. I received an SMS from the same number a few hours ago:

Anna, can I come to you? Your boss suggested the address.

At least she did something good.

I re-read the message two hundred more times with a pleasant feeling of warmth in my chest. Magic day. Too good to be real.

She reassured the granny, keeping silent about the dismissal and the blonde. Granny didn’t believe me, but she didn’t ask questions, and five minutes later she transferred another five hundred rubles to me on a card, making me feel even lousier. Unlucky granddaughter.

She dragged the cage with the chinchilla into the only room, in the hope that the owner of the apartment would be in a hurry on her next visit and would not go further than the hallway. It was nice to fall asleep not alone. The kid got used to it pretty quickly, as if he was waiting for the moment when I would crawl under the covers, and now he furiously shook the walls of his dwelling, rattled his bowl, gnawed at the wooden shelves. It didn't annoy me, it just pissed me off. The last thought before going to bed was the idea of ​​naming the chinchilla Shorokh, marrying Alex at any cost, and when I wake up, find the allergen before it finds me.

The next morning, irritation crept up to the neck and shoulder. I smeared myself with a saving cream, and then I stuffed the bed linen into the washer and dragged all the clothes into the bathroom. I walked around the apartment with a vacuum cleaner, washed every corner. The rustle was nervous from my suspicious activity and drilled me with displeased black eyes. Still would! Didn't let me sleep after his night vigils.

I collapsed on the couch after the work done and reached for the phone.

Empty.

Maybe write it yourself?

Hi Alex. Your chinchilla is just lovely, I named him Rustle.

Sterla.

By evening, I decided that he was nice to me just to merge the animal and never appear in my life again. Probably also changed the phone.

She slept worse that night. Rustle decided that jumping from shelf to shelf with a bowl in his mouth was a fun activity, and it was also great to crack it on metal bars. She burrowed under her pillow and fell asleep under it.

The rash spread to my hand, and I seriously decided to go to the hospital.

- Do you interact with animals? Cats, dogs?

- I'm a veterinarian.

- Veterinarian Koshkina? The doctor's lips twitched into a smile.

Oh yes, how fun. I saw the ophthalmologist Morgunova in the same hospital. I wonder if they giggle at her too?

- Have you changed your eating habits, bought new clothes, laundry detergents?

She shook her head. The only thing that happened to me was a big black dog. But I am no longer sure that it was not a hallucination. Moreover, I have never met that animal anywhere else.

- I advise you to take tests for allergy markers. Now I will write the direction. But our hospital does not do this, you have to go to a paid clinic.

This predetermined my future fate. I gratefully accepted the leaflet handed to me and casually threw it into my bag, leaving the office. Such a study costs a lot of money, and now I have none. I went to the pharmacy and bought allergy pills, and for a long time I was looking for the magic cream donated by Alex. I had to grab a tube, otherwise the name somehow flew out of my head. Or was he not there?

The itch increased, and I increased my pace. Before visiting the doctor, I had to endure and not smear, and now it became simply unbearable, and even an idiotic feeling that someone was breathing and staring down my back. I turned around. Nobody. Only a creepy-looking black cat squints lazily at the sun, and superstitious passers-by walk around it in a large arc. I also decided not to linger. When I got to the apartment, my hands were frankly shaking with fright. She smeared herself with cream and threw herself on antihistamines, from which she instantly felt sleepy.

I was already lying on the couch when I imagined a blurry image of a half-naked black-eyed guy with a very distinct chinchilla on his shoulder.

- Rustle, who is with you? Alex?

The stranger affectionately scratched the animal's chin, and I passed out until evening.

The first thing I did after waking up was to check the locks and the chinchilla. The door is closed, the beast is in a cage. When the phone rang sharply, she almost screamed. Kind of a fucking thriller.

- Alex?

- Hello Anya. How are you?

- Not really, - honestly answered handsome.

- Something happened?

Do not load him with problems? I was fired from my job, there is no money for allergy treatment, and a few hours ago a naked man was standing in the middle of my room.

- Just tired.

- Tired? - laughs.

The idiot is unemployed. When did you get tired? I can read his mind right now.

- From the problems that have piled up, - she quickly corrected herself, but Alex had already stopped laughing, and suggested in a serious voice.

- I think you need a change of scenery.

- Yeah, move to another planet, - she twitched again when the chinchilla crashed into the iron bars of the cage with a roar, only increasing my paranoia. I didn't check the toilet! Suddenly this pervert is waiting there.

- I propose to start with a trip to the cafe. What do you think about that?

At that very moment, I was looking at the knife holder and settled on the largest one.

- Date?

- It's the same, - Alex confirmed my guess.

At another moment, I would have squealed with delight, but now, trembling all over, I squeezed the handle on the door of the combined bathroom. A sharp jerk towards myself, and here I am, like the very last fool, threatening a push with a knife. Judging by the murmur of a faulty flushing system, the toilet was clearly frightened.

Anya Koshkina - plumbing thunderstorm ...

- You're probably right. I need to unwind. Where will we meet?

- I'll pick you up, I'm in your area now. By the way, how is Shorokha doing?

- Fine...

- Well, that's nice. My savior, - a cute chuckle in the tube.

Alex passed out faster than I could ask how he knew the chinchilla's name. I didn't tell him, did I? She didn't exactly say.

She reached into her phone to check sent messages. Maybe she wrote something in an antihistamine frenzy?

Oh my God!..

Slipped down the wall, finding a voice message recorded by me. The apartment was filled with my half-drunk perky voice.

- Hey, blondie. This is Anya Koshkina. Although what am I? You know, I gave you my number myself. In general, your chinchilla is a complete pipets. Perforates me with nasty eyes and does not let me sleep. Consider that I saved you from a terrible angry beast. By the way, I named him Shorokh. But in fact, he is not a Rustle, but ... - she hung for a few long seconds, then grunted loudly. “Sho…” she choked on a vile, shrill laugh. - Shorkh... Rustle... Rustle! Here. Oops, I think I need to go to the toilet! I switch off. You can't go there with me!

Your own mother!

Well, at least I know who broke the toilet. Not sour me so from the pills stuck. Now you definitely need to move to another planet, and preferably not in this galaxy.

How can I look Alex in the eye? Although, judging by his call, the guy was not offended. Would you like to know what he thinks? But since I called you on a date, is everything okay? She squeezed her temples with her hands, forgetting that a knife was still clamped in one of them.

So. We need to stop being paranoid! There was no half-naked guy in the apartment. If I do not remember my shameful message, how can I be sure that the black-eyed one is real? Maybe that dog didn't even exist? The apogee of everything will be if I find a supply of konakion in the apartment.

Being at home was still creepy. I didn't feel protected at all. Alex is right, I urgently need to unwind. I put on my favorite jeans, a T-shirt with a funny print in the form of a pop-eyed cat and the inscription on the chest “Kids are CAT even in a crisis”, put on a windbreaker and crawled out into the street without waiting for a call.

But if you think about it, then I'm going to get into the car of an unfamiliar man. Again he shook from an unpleasant presentiment, even his cheek itched again. Indicator, pancake, anxiety. Thank God there is no rash. Praise the miracle cream. She danced at the entrance from the cold and nervousness, feeling someone's eyes on her. Where are you, Alex?

As if hearing my silent cry for help, the imposing white SUV slid into the yard, gracefully weaving between the parked cars until it pulled up at my driveway. The driver's side door opened and the guy jumped off the footboard.

- Good evening, Anna.

A disarming smile, chuckles in blue eyes, perfect negligence in her hair. He straightened the collar of his snow-white shirt with a graceful gesture and held out his hand to me. Frightened, she shoved both hands into the pockets of her jeans.

- Hi. I'm sorry for that message, I don't understand how it happened. Apparently, under the medicines for allergies, something found on me.

- Everything is fine. It was even cute. I've been waiting for your call, Anya. And Shorokh is a great name, I'm sorry if I didn't get enough sleep. I can take it.

- Not! - the deserted courtyard echoed my loud exclamation. - Don't take it, - already quieter. If he takes away, and we will not have a reason to see each other.

- If you like, I can give.

- Like. Only I'm still unemployed. I don't know how long the food will last.

Come on?! Is that really what I'm talking about? I'm raising this rich handsome man for money.

- I'll buy it. No problem. Will I go tomorrow?

- Well, you bought a stock for a long time. Tomorrow is not required.

- It's a pity.

Kill me here and now! He asked for a visit. Here's a fool!

“But you can just come,” I quickly corrected myself, bringing back the sweetest smile in the world on his lips.

- I'll come. We didn't even have tea. Will you let me have your hand? I'll help you sit down, it's high up here.

Nice feeling. My hand, his hand. I follow Alex to the passenger seat, and there is a blissful vacuum in my head, such that it pulls upwards, and my legs barely touch the ground. I haven't had that feeling since high school. Am I not in love?

The guy opened the door and helped her sit down, and then took his seat.

- Have you eaten well these days? - fastened, presses something on the navigator. A simple question, simple unpretentious movements, and I catch every word, every wave of my eyelashes.

- Not really. There was no mood.

- Hm. Then you have to catch up. I know an excellent institution, - he winked and smoothly moved off.

If I only knew where Alex was taking me, I would think ten times about the appearance and quote of the seals.

- Grand Levoire? Are you serious? - I looked at the most pretentious restaurant not only in our city, but in the whole country. How many Michelin stars do they have there? Twenty?

Silent laugh. It is necessary to fine for such chuckles, they give me goosebumps on the back of my head.

- The maximum number of Michelin stars is three, and there are no such restaurants in Russia. Not even with one.

- Seriously? - somehow it didn’t get easier, I just saw a girl in an evening dress worth three of my salaries come into the room.

Relax, Anya. It's just a restaurant. Breathe out.

It's good for him to talk. An ugly bug-eyed cat does not look from his chest.

She wrapped her windbreaker and doomedly trudged after Alex. They even took our car to park. Like in the movies!

At the reception, my gentleman handed the administrator a plastic card, and received in response a million wishes for a pleasant evening. I turned my head, studying the gilded frames on the mirrors and the crystal chandeliers.

- Your jacket, Anna, - Alex clearly intended to help me undress, but I only clutched the collar tighter. It's not too late to persuade him to go to an ordinary cafe with loud music and promotional rolls.

The guy sighed heavily and led me to a large mirror. Staring at me from the reflection was a terrified girl with a bashful blush. Didn't even make up. That's how in a hurry to escape from the apartment!

Alex leaned down and almost touched my ear with his lips. Close, too close! And unbearably hot.

- You are very beautiful, Anya. I like the way you are now. Nothing superfluous, and you also have an adorable cat. I love kitties.

Bams. The heart pushed the remnants of oxygen out of my chest, my hands unhooked and allowed the guy to pull off my jacket.

Mouse! Gray nondescript mouse, that's how I feel here.

The hall manager escorted us to a secluded table, and I could feel on my skin how the visitors were staring at us. She pressed her head into her shoulders, and even when she was behind a small screen, she could not relax in any way.

There were no prices on the menu. And how to navigate here?

- Choose what you want, - Alex clasped his hands under his chin and studied me with a gentle look.

“I don’t understand names at all,” she helplessly ran her finger along the lines, feeling extremely stupid. - Surprise me. She closed the menu and looked hopefully at the guy.

- Oh good. Let's take care of your gastronomic education. Do you eat meat?

How can I not like this question. Always leads to a stupor. I'm not a crazy vegetarian, I calmly eat fish, eggs, milk. But here's the meat... Maybe it's some kind of professional deformation, but I can't force myself.

- Not really. I do not like.

- Good. I understand you, - Alex winked mysteriously and called the waiter.

I didn’t make out a single word from their conversation, I just twisted the salt shaker in my hands. Crystal? Horror. Even the salt shakers here are a work of art. I'm clearly not quoted here ... How I want to run away.

- I'm going to the toilet, - interrupted the abstruse communication between the two men and the discussion of sauces for the main course.

The waiter got distracted and tried to explain the way. I didn’t remember anything, I immediately got lost, almost fell into the kitchen, almost demolished some kind of rack, and crushed the leg of a respectable lady with a hairdo as high as the Ostankino TV tower. When she finally got to the booths, she could hardly imagine how to get back to the table.

- Madhouse! She splashed cold water in her face as she leaned over the sink. Even the cranes here are like in a museum.

- Dream date? - mockingly was heard behind me, and I heard the sound of a latch closing.

The cheek itched furiously.

She turned around and almost fainted. My pervert with Rustle on his shoulder!

Tousled black hair, dark eyes, a leather jacket over a naked body and a nasty grin. I swear, that same dog was grinning the same way.

- Who are you, and why do you have my chinchilla?

- Yours? The stranger's eyebrows arched in question. - Hear, Rustle, she says you are her pet.

The animal squeaked something in the shaggy man's ear, and he laughed as if he had just been told a joke.

- You stole the konakion from the clinic?

She studied the room with peripheral vision, looking for an open window or an emergency door. There is nothing. I am trapped!

Smiling.

- I have no idea what you mean.

- You're lying. How did you get home to me?

- Aren't there many questions?

I decided to go around the stranger, but he leaned against the door and did not let me in. And why hasn't anyone had an itch to go to the toilet yet?! Rather, Alex missed me. But if he and the waiter discuss each dish for such a long time, I should sit here until the morning.

- Get out!

- Nope.

- What do you need?

- You.

They poured a bucket of hot coal on me. I was thrown into a fever from such a confession, and then suddenly there was a knock on the door and they asked with displeasure:

- Have you been there for a long time?

“Now, now,” the black-eyed man sang sweetly, and then added menacingly, playing with a syringe with a colorless liquid in the light: “No nonsense, kitty, not only the conakion disappeared from your refrigerator.

I swallowed nervously, wondering what the shaggy-haired man threatened me with, and he quickly pulled me to him by the waist.

- Smile. You have a date. Are you not happy?

- The date is not with you.

“Yeah, but you still don’t have the happiest face,” the pervert scoffed and slammed the door open.

The Ostankino Tower was dancing outside and almost forgot why they came at the sight of my kidnapper.

- Have a nice evening, - a black-eyed bastard with a chinchilla wished her, and led me in the opposite direction from the hall.

- I'll scream. I will be saved.

- From whom?

- From you.

- What do you think I'm doing now? - asked the pervert, pushing me in the back.

- You threaten and are going to kidnap.

- Or maybe I'm a good guy, didn't you think? How is your cheek doing?

- Beast, - hissed through her teeth. - Did you infect me?

- I swear it's not me. It's all Shorokh. I sneeze from it myself. Small allergenic wad of fur.

- Or your tongue!

- Do you want to check?

My shoulder blades touched the wall, and shaggy hung on top. Only now I saw that one of the employees was walking from the other side of the corridor and diligently did not look in our direction.

- I'll scream. The drug won't work.

- Then I'll gnaw the throat of extra witnesses, their death will be on your conscience, kitty.

Not joking. Really not joking. Psychopath.

A hot hand crawled under my shirt, making my whole body tremble. And why doesn't this waiter call security? Or are the wealthy visitors of the Grand Levuare allowed any indecency?

She stared desperately at the retreating back in the white uniform. Leaves. Damn, he's leaving as the pervert's fingers continue to draw hot patterns on my skin.

- Help...

My scream was drowned out in a rough kiss. Or rather, he was not rude, I did not feel anything at all. The face of the shaggy one approached, his lips touched mine, and then a flash, and the whole world sharply increased a hundred times, but I suddenly found myself on the giant palms of the kidnapper. Long vibrissae trembled in front of my nose, touched by the too distinct scent of a naked male body and distant smells from the kitchen. Suddenly heightened sense of smell, forced to stagger. But the four paws turned out to be very stable, and I did not fall. She lifted her head up. The black eyes of the stranger reflected a small, frightened to death gray mouse! ..

The world instantly turned into a blurry bright whirlpool. My kidnapper covered me with his other hand so that I wouldn't run away, and all I had to do was look around through the crack between my fingers. The walls of the "Grand Levuare" were quickly replaced by dark streets and shop signs. The familiar world suddenly became alien, gigantic and hostile, like a restaurant for the rich left behind. What am I now? If I could cry, I would have been in tears a long time ago. But I don't even have the strength to be surprised by what happened. The new tiny body is already shaking from cold and fear, and there is simply no place for other experiences in it. She pressed herself against the warm palm of a stranger to calm her trembling. My new ears picked up the pulse under my skin, the steady beating of my heart. This guy's groin is also nice and familiar. I have no doubt that he was that black dog. Questions later... Warm up, I need to warm up.