Erika sat down in an alley a block away from the school, stroking the stray tomcat monopolizing her lap. He sprawled out in all directions, taking up twice as much space as he should in that way that seemed genetically programmed into anything feline. She scritched under his chin and behind the ears, watching the way his tail flopped lazily about with fond amusement. This cat had a particularly loud purr, one that could be easily heard by anyone happening to walk by the alley.
Sometime later, not far from the school
Erika sat down in an alley a block away from the school, stroking the stray tomcat monopolizing her lap. He sprawled out in all directions, taking up twice as much space as he should in that way that seemed genetically programmed into anything feline. She scritched under his chin and behind the ears, watching the way his tail flopped lazily about with fond amusement. This cat had a particularly loud purr, one that could be easily heard by anyone happening to walk by the alley.