#voice of an angel what a human... love you so much sweet elvis

[omanu]

decided to post this digital collage i did last week... ive been obsessed with this song, it's so beautiful! i went after the first recording by Clyde McPhatter and it is beautiful as well, i love his high tone! To know Elvis chose this song to sing in 69 makes me think a lot of things and the way he delivers it is devastating.

I went after the takes he did until the master, i think it was the 5th take that made it to the final cut, and then they added the choir and more instrument lines... i think it was such a pretty arrangement, the album version is my favorite. I've seen a lot of ppl saying that they like the raw version better. i understand, cuz there is elvis and his voice and it's kinda simple and it is enough and beautiful as always! but as an instrument and melody lover, i always surrender to beautiful arrangements and backing vocals, i think it adds a lot to elvis' performances cuz they make everything feel magnificent, like it's heaven jfkkdf

anyways. when he sings "i have conquered the world, all but one thing did i have...." it's so beautiful, his signature Cry brings me to my knees. sometimes i dont understand how he is such a really really good singer, technically speaking! cuz his tone is its own thing, and his technique is another thing entirely, both amazing, but like, he REALLY knew how to sing... i wish he had talked about it, if he did, at least once, i dont know about it. need to geek on it but well, limited historical sources 😭

ok! feel comfortable to comment or reply i love talking about elvis and im lonely

here they are:

[adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy]

The Switching Hour [sneak peek!]

A/N: so I don’t think the angel and demon halloween piece will be done by tomorrow because I’ve had so much work with school lately so I bit off more than I could chew, but!!!!! it’s about 3/4 done, I’ll try and finish it and have it up by Friday night maybe?? it’s just over 5k rn now so it’s going good :D here’s a sneak peek as a thank you for being so patient! I love y’all :’)

///

Harry was aiming to be an angel. 

Well, not literally. Hell forbid it, in his opinion. Most of them are wound so tight, they wouldn’t be able to fly if they tried. 

Plus, he actually quite enjoys being a demon. Immortality, flexible work hours, free range of the human world, and not to mention a pretty sick gig with the sorcery. It’s a sweet deal, once you get past the decades of excruciating torture and training, of course.

So no, he’s not aiming to be a literal celestial being. Rather, he’s planning to be one for Halloween on behalf of Y/N’s approach to switch identities as a couple’s costume. 

The idea had stemmed from when they had been walking around Party City a few days prior, trying to gain inspiration for the annual costume party a friend of Harry’s is hosting. 

Y/N hadn’t really been keen on going, despite the invitation being extended to her through Harry. She felt like she never really fit right with her boyfriend’s inner circle and it was for an obvious factor: they were all demons. 

She’d only ever gotten along with one demon before (granted, she’d only ever put effort into befriending this single one) and she was perfectly fine with that number. It isn’t that Harry’s friends treat her coldly in any way (they were pretty welcoming, much to her surprise), but she could practically drown in the awkward tension that milled whenever they had to interact. She stuck out of place in a painfully obvious manner and she refuses to force herself into bonding with them; it would just make the situation a whole lot worse. 

The connection remained as a polite acquaintanceship, and from what Y/N could tell, both parties are more than happy for it remain as so. 

Either way, Harry had managed to sway her into accompanying him. She wanted to give out candy to the children from the complex and he wanted her to be his plus-one, so a compromise was settled. They would hand out candy from six in the evening until eight, then get ready and leave for the party at nine.   

After agreeing upon the terms, they’d spent well over forty minutes in pursuit for their costumes at the store. 

The choices they had weren’t very compelling, according to Harry.

He outright refused to be a vampire, warlock, or werewolf— the overuse of the genres made them tacky. He’d rather be caught dead (a second time) than have to wear a cowboy hat, so that was a bust on Y/N’s part. No aliens, no zombies, no Frankenstein (which he filed under zombie and it was an entire five minute bicker session between them before Y/N finally let it go with an exasperated sigh). 

No superheroes. He’d cycled through all of them already, including Black Widow. He looked great in a bodysuit, if he does say so himself. 

Historic figures were a bore considering there isn’t anything truly scary about King Tut, other than his crippled foot and untimely demise. Animal costumes are for children, as well as ghosts and ghouls. Mummies were too messy. 

Due to his selectiveness, they ended up circling the store five times, coming up empty-handed. Y/N had stopped giving him suggestions after he’d used a release spell to make her drop the Elvis wig she’d been inspecting.

Her voice chimes up, prickly with annoyance and just the slightest bit of awe. “Are you always this picky when it comes to your Halloween costume?” 

Harry rubs the material of a Jack Skellington pantsuit between his thumbs and forefingers, humming in absentminded disapproval at the flimsiness of the fabric. “Always.”

“Why?” 

He drops the article of clothing, watching it sway back and forth on its hanger for a second before glancing up to meet her irritated expression, answering with a prideful undertone. “Because Halloween is the best holiday of the year and I’ve built quite the reputation for myself amongst my group. I always outshine and I tend to keep it that way, darling.” 

Y/N rolls her eyes lightly, crossing her arms loosely over her chest. “Right, I forgot how competitive you are.” 

“Actually, I like the praise,” Harry gives her a slow, sultry once-over, lips buckling with a sly smirk, “but you already knew that.”

Her arms tighten instinctively across her body. 

Harry goes back to filtering through hangers, scrunching his nose in distaste at yet another Dracula ensemble. Drac never even wore a cape, he preferred tapered vests. He was the one who taught Harry how to style flared pants centuries before they came into fashion. With the way humans stained his cherished outfit designs, he’d be rolling around in his grave right now if he had one. 

He wasn’t even a vampire— just a crossroads demon with a very peculiar taste in beverages. 

Y/N toys with the visor of an astronaut helmet, staring at her warbled reflection in the grey plastic and sighing with defeated boredom. “Why don’t we just get the Purge masks and go?”

Harry gives her a look of incredulous disdain. “And cover up one of my most prized assets? I’d rather let a hellhound disembowel me again.”

“You’re so dramatic.”

He pulls a pirate costume out from the metal rack, eyeing it judgingly. “You don’t get crowned best costume every year without being dramatic.”

[thirstygirlclub]

New Years Day - Juice x Reader

To Listen While Reading:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNQlkl8EHBI

Speed 0.75=

Something my angel, @samcro-saint99, and I wrote for you all! Pretend this was up at the right time!! I had so much fun collaborating and I’m not sure why it took so long for us to do it. Look forwards to many more in the future I’m sure!

This is based on the song “New Years Day” by Taylor Swift which is a song I had never heard before we started writing this but now I can’t stop listening to it. Crazy, huh? 

We really hope you love this as much as we do! Have a great rest of the year my angels and look after yourselves.

Love, Doe xxxx

You tiptoed carefully through the carnage of the night before, Juice holding your hand tightly as he leads you outside. He pointed, snickering, at a passed out Tig whose hands were covered in the varying colors of glitter he had been throwing the night before. It had been fun at the time; making the night seem magical, but now all you could think of was how hard it was going to be to clean up and to get out of your hair and clothes. You couldn’t help noticing the specks of dark blue shining through your friend's hair and dusting the shoulders of his kutte.

Your feet splashed through the puddles of spilled beer and crunched over stubbed out cigarette ends as you stepped over a snoring Bobby still in his Elvis wig and costume although he was looking slightly worse for wear than when you had last seen him. The Croweaters that had roused at the same time you had, slipped out from the arms of various men and picked through the people, looking for lost shoes and possessions but ultimately gave up and left without them. You winced when you saw their bare feet walking over the rough concrete of the forecourt and out the gate. You were thankful you chose more sensible shoes than skyscraper heels that had little to no comfort in them at all.

The sunrise had cast a faintly orange glow over the forecourt and Juice’s face. His eyes were closed and he took a breath of the fresh January air; clearing any trace of drunken fog that may have been clouding his thoughts before his eyes fixed on your face with that warm smile he seemed to always have, saved just for you.

Grabbing the first rung of the ladder, Juice placed his hand protectively on your back as you began to climb, with him following close behind. Walking over, you sat on the edge of the roof, overlooking the forecourt, Juice sitting beside you, leaving a small distance between you both. You turned to look at him, into his deep, brown eyes. You felt your cheeks grow warm as images flashed across your mind from the night before.

The countdown has begun, cheerful bodies buzzing around you, electricity in the air.

5…

Juice reached out and took your hand.

4…

You looked up at him, both smiling widely from the energy of the night.

3…

The distance between you closed.

2…

Your faces, inches apart, you could feel his breath on your face.

1…

As the cheers rung out around you, he pulled you close to him, as Tig showered glitter upon you all. And you were kissing how a drowning person would breathe - suddenly you’d discovered something that you never knew could be so sweet before that very moment.

You pulled apart and stared at each other momentarily, almost as if in shock, before you were interrupted by New Years hugs from the other sons, except for Tig who, as always, expected a kiss.

Brought back to the present as Juice reached out and took your hand in his, you smiled reassuringly as he gently squeezed your hand three times. You don’t know where it had come from or why that was the signal that he had something he needed to say or at least get off his chest. Perhaps it had started when he was around the guys and felt too uncertain to say something in front of them; signaling that he needed to speak with you alone because somehow you just seemed to understand what he needed. You knew he struggled.

He loved the club more than anything in the world; they were his family. But sometimes it was too much for him, and there are things he just couldn't tell them. It wasn’t because he didn’t trust them or that he didn’t think they would understand. It was just that you understood better. You were the person that would accept him no matter what, whether he helped the club or complicated something for them because you weren’t invested like they were. You were the person that was there just for him.

“Are you trying to apologize for trying to slip me the tongue during our kiss last night? Like, Tig tried to as well, but I’d be worried if he didn't” you joked light-heartedly, while your eyes searched his face for the answers you needed.   

Juice laughed awkwardly, his head turning away from your gaze, his hand never let go of yours although now he was holding slightly tighter. Whether he realized or not you didn't know. His free hand came up to rub the back of his neck; causing some of that glitter to float dance in the light of the rising sun before disappearing into the morning breeze. He tutted quietly when he noticed it stuck to his palm but you never stopped looking at him. You needed to know his answer but he was obviously avoiding the subject.

Looking at the man in front of you, your heart filled with love, gratitude, and worry. He deserved the world. He deserved better and it killed you that he didn’t seem to realize that. He would take all of their jokes and all of the bad jobs without argument, never once uttering a word of complaint.

“Promise me you won’t be so hard on yourself this year, Juice….Please,” you begged sincerely.

Then those warm brown eyes looked back up at you and you knew he was telling you that he would try. But his head fell, he knew that he couldn’t promise.

You felt his hand tighten around yours, and you knew instantly that his head was flooding with those dark thoughts and voices, drowning out what made him the man he was.

“Hey...look at me. I’m not going anywhere. I’ve got you.” you almost whispered, reaching out and placing your other hand under his chin, forcing him to look at you, to see the emotion in your eyes. The emotions you couldn’t speak. And to know that you meant every single word you had said.

Then his hand let go of yours slowly before his arm curled across your stomach and around your waist, burying his face into the warmth and security of your neck. You put your palm on the back of his neck to keep him close and rested your cheek against the top of his head. You ran your fingers softly through the short hair on his head and traced patterns over his skin under the neck of his kutte and t-shirt.

“I’m here. I’ve got you. It doesn’t matter what happens, baby boy. I’ll always be here. Always.” you reassured tenderly.

Your heart was filled with so much happiness and heaviness at the same time, as you held him against your chest, his warm breath calm and content against your skin. You loved him with everything that you were and would ever be, but you could never tell him - you couldn’t risk ruining what you had between the two of you. Once the words passed your lips, you could never take them back. And the thought of losing him scared you more than your worst nightmares as a child.

For those few precious moments, all was quiet, until the silence was broken.

“I love you,” Juice mumbled from your arms.

“I know Juice,” you chuckled lightly, feeling the familiar pang of guilt within your heart that always came with knowing he saw you as no more than a friend, “I love you too.”

The feeling of soft, fuzzy hair went over your cheek as he lifted his head from the comfort of your shoulder to look at you. It was the same way he had looked at you the night before, a matter of hours ago in fact, but he wasn’t drunk now and neither were you.

“Juice…”

But he shook his head slightly with his eyes never leaving yours.

“No...I love you, Y/N…” he stated as though it were an irrefutable fact, leaving no room for argument.

Maybe he had taken your baffled silence as a sign that you didn’t feel the same, or maybe the weight of his words and what they could have possibly done to your relationship had hit him suddenly. His arm slinked back towards his body and away from yours; leaving you cold without him holding you but he was still just as close. Or was he closer? Closer.

He loved you. The words spun through your mind, like the needle of a record player, playing the words over and over. I love you, I love you, I love you...You were speechless.

He loves me.

A teasing smirk curled at the edges of his lips as he ducked down to look into your face. The words still echoed but it was almost as if you couldn’t believe it. And his hand was on your cheek, his eyes flickering across your face with his usual humor reflecting in them.

“Well?” He prodded, “What do you say, Y/N?”

And you answered. With a small nod and a smile and the smallest, happy whimper that escaped your throat, you practically lunged at him; pressing your lips to his with a sense of urgency you had never felt before. It was the kiss of someone who had waited years for this exact moment, and who feared that it would never come again. You knew you would hold onto this memory forever. You would hold onto him...forever.

Your lips parting from his, you rested your head against his, the new sun shining in the space between your faces, casting a light glow on your smiles. Never in your wildest dreams could you ever imagine a moment more perfect than this, right now.

Sometimes though perfect moments are ruined by human nature, as you stifled a yawn. Your hand clapped over your straining mouth as Juice laughed and pulled you closer to kiss your forehead tenderly.

“I think someone needs sleep,” he chuckled against your skin.

“Only if you come too.” You bargained, finally letting out the yawn.

Together you climbed back down to reality, and carefully navigated the chaos inside the clubhouse, to find the apartment which was thankfully untouched. There was never any telling what the rooms would look like after a party.

You didn’t fight when Juice led you to his bed, just flopped down and kicked your shoes off as he stood by your side toeing off his boots. There was no awkwardness. You were both too tired for that. Then as soon as your head hit the pillow a breath of relief left your lips. He scooted next to you, rolling onto his side and wrapping his arm over your stomach and snuggling his face back into your shoulder but it wasn’t because he was overcome by the heartbreak this time. This time he was happy. He was so happy that he had finally admitted how he felt and you had accepted him, as you always did, and even kissed him back. You felt the same.

It felt so natural, his arms around you, holding tight. Of course, you had slept together at night before, but this time was so much different. It was something new. It was the future.

[niallsstainedcoffeecup]

Wake Up Call

Harry despises Y/N, but a barista pulls the couple together.  I hope you all enjoy! Feedback and Requests are welcomed! Lots of Love! 

           Her worn sneakers clicked against the sidewalk as she hurried toward the red brick building.  The cool autumn wind brushed away the nervous sweat gathering on her forehead.  Her hands gripped the straps on her pastel pink backpack. The gold watch that she inherited from her grandmother ticked with dread and excitement.  A new school year began.  She loved learning new things but despised the hectic schedule that came with courses. She tugged open the heavy glass doors, entering the dark hallway.  She glanced down at the room number written on her wrist.  She sighed, checking the room number for the fifth time.  One time, she walked into the wrong classroom and interrupted a lecture, resulting in this fear of embarrassing herself again.  She marched into the crowded classroom, beginning her search for the perfect seat.  The first row classified you as a teacher’s pet.  The back row created this tension between you and the professor. The window seats would distract her from the lecture.  She nearly gave up when her eyes landed on a handsome guy.  He looked as if the gods and GQ came together to sculpt this man. His short brown curly hair fell in a tousled mess.  His tanned skin seemed to glow as if the sun pressed delicate kisses on every inch. What she liked the most was his crystal green eyes that shined brighter due to the pastel blue shirt that he wore. The open seat beside him shined with luck.  She shuffled toward him, controlling her breathing.  How embarrassing would it be if she began to hyperventilate around him? Her hand slipped around the cold, black chair and slid it out.  She locked her eyes on the gray stained carpet to avoid making awkward eye contact with the stranger.  She sat down, feeling accomplished in not making a fool out of herself.  She placed her backpack on her legs, unzipping the pockets.  She set one notebook, three pens, and water on the wooden desk.  She cleared her throat, facing the man with the sharpest jawline.  She watched him slowly face her.  She stuck out a hand, caught up by his rosy lips. “Hello, I’m Y/N.” Harry smiled, revealing two adorable dimples, “Hi, I’m Harry.” Harry shook her hand, “Are you a history major?” She wondered, hoping someone else enjoyed history as much as she did. Harry shook his head, “No, I love learning about the World Wars.  My advisor suggested this class.” She nodded, “I’m a history major.  You’ll love this professor.  The only part that sucks is that they scheduled this class at eight a.m.” Harry chuckled, “Yeah it’s the worst.” She swore that Harry’s laugh sounded like angels giggling.  Harry’s husky voice might be her favorite sound.  Usually, whenever she flirted with anyone, she would tell them a compliment. A compliment went better than cheesy lines.  Her best friend, Niall, constantly used lines and it never worked out in his favor. “I like your shirt.  It brings out the blueish green color in your eyes.” Harry smirked, “Thank you.” She smiled, basking in the happiness her compliment caused.  Sadly, the professor walked in, ending her conversation with Harry.  She sat back, feeling as if this semester would be her best yet.  She chose the right seat and made a new friend.  What could go wrong? * * *

          The first few weeks sitting beside Harry were amazing.  She showed up early to class, eating whatever snack she stole from Niall’s kitchen.  Harry would be there, reading a textbook or scrolling through his phone.   “Hi Harry, how are you?”   “I’m well, how are you?” “I’m well, what did you do last night?” Harry would either shrug or smirk, “I had a date.” Her heart ached at the thought of Harry dating someone.  She pictured the most beautiful woman that she could not compare with, spending an evening with Harry.  Harry would dive into the details whether the date was good or bad. Other days Harry would tell her about his mom and sister.  His mom worried about Harry’s eating habits, and his sister mocked Harry’s recent obsession with flared pants.  Y/N always reassured Harry that flared pants were totally in style.   “Do you want to hear a joke?” Harry would ask. Y/N could never say no, seeing the excitement in Harry’s eyes. “What is green and sings?” “What?” She’d wonder, smirking with anticipation. Harry’s giggles would interrupt the punchline, “Elvis Parsley.” Harry’s loud laughter would fill the silent classroom, causing Y/N to break down into a fit of giggles.   “My mom told me that one last night.” “She has a great sense of humor.” Those first few weeks created a bond between the couple.  She considered Harry, a friend, and she hoped he felt the same way.  The fourth week brought a drastic change.  Harry showed up to class during the professor’s lecture. He stopped taking notes and instead started sleeping during class.  He decided his dreams were better than learning about British war tactics.  Y/N frowned, concerned about Harry’s grade, but it all fell on Harry.  He was not her responsibility.  The professor hadn’t noticed Harry’s sleeping habits until the day Harry snored during a serious part of the lecture. “Y/N, could you wake up Harry?”  The professor called out, glaring at Harry. Y/N nodded, shaking Harry until he jolted awake.  The professor appointed Y/N as the person to wake up Harry whenever he fell asleep. Her notes suffered since she spent a majority of her time shaking or poking Harry awake.  Harry shrugged her hands off his body, shooting daggers at her each time she woke him up.   “Can you stop?” Harry hissed. She glared, “Harry if you stayed awake I would leave you alone.” “You are annoying,” Harry spat out, “No one cares if I sleep.” “The professor cares and so should you.” Harry rolled his eyes, “Shut up.  I don’t need a lecture from you.” She huffed, ignoring Harry’s complaints. Harry’s attitude ended her friendship and birthed her annoyance with the handsome man. * * *

           She stirred the pot of quick minute rice while Niall flipped the sizzling chicken. George Ezra’s melodic voice filled the tiny kitchen.  She hummed, swaying with the song.  Condensation rolled down Niall’s beer bottle, wetting Niall’s palms with each sip.   “How’s your morning class?” Niall wondered. She huffed, gripping the wooden spoon tighter, “I hate it.” “Why?” Niall raised an eyebrow with shock. She loved every history course she enrolled in.   She rolled her eyes, “Harry Styles.  He’s a scumbag.” Niall nearly choked on his beer, “What happened?  You are hardly mean to anyone, but this guy gets called a scumbag?” She blushed, facing Niall, “He won’t stay awake.  My professor forces me to wake him up, and he complains every time.  I can’t take notes, and my grade is slacking.” Niall nodded, “That does suck.  Wait, didn’t you mention a Harry like two weeks ago?” “We were friends.  We talked and laughed, but something changed, “She shrugged. “Maybe he’s too busy with school and work,” Niall mentioned, leaning against his messy kitchen counter. She frowned, realizing she hadn’t stopped to think about Harry.  Maybe he was working too hard, and couldn’t help but fall asleep.  Maybe she judged him before she asked what was wrong. “You’re right he isn’t a scumbag.  I’m a terrible person for judging him,” She sighed. Niall shook his head, spinning around to fix his burning chicken, “You’re human.  You should bring him a coffee or a snack.” She nodded, “That’s a great idea.  Now I know why I keep you around.” Niall snorted, “I thought it was because I have a kitchen in my dorm.” She giggled, “That’s my second reason.” Y/N decided tomorrow she would surprise Harry with a cup of coffee from her favorite shop.  She could rekindle their friendship with baked goods and coffee. * * *  

           Niall bounced in line, eyeing the people in front of them.  Y/N rolled her eyes, scrolling through her phone.  Niall huffed for the tenth time, glancing over at Y/N. “They need another barista.  Twenty people are waiting for coffee, and she’s taking forever.” Y/N placed a hand on Niall’s shoulder, “Calm down.  She’s doing the best she can.” Niall scoffed, “You are only supporting her because you find her attractive.” She blushed, looking at the beautiful barista, Angie.  Her smile lit up the entire room.  Her long hair bounced with each effortless step she took.  Y/N recalled complimenting her recent hair color, hoping Angie caught on that Y/N was smitten with her. “Well, she’s beautiful.” Niall nodded, “She is beautiful.  Maybe I should use my line.  Is there something in your left eye because you’ve been looking right all day.” Y/N burst into a fit of laughter, clutching her stomach, “Niall, that is the worst one.” Niall bumped her hip with his, “Shut up. I’d like to see you flirt with her.” Y/N quieted down, “I can’t.  She’s out of my league.” “You are beautiful; she is beautiful. You two could be great.” She grinned, “Thank you, Niall.” Upon seeing Y/N, Angie’s smile grew wider. “Hey, how is my favorite customer?”  She asked, winking at Y/N. “I’m well.  How are you?” “It’s been busy.  Are you grabbing the usual?” She asked, scribbling Y/N’s order down. “Yes, but I need to add another coffee. I plan to surprise a classmate with a cup of the best coffee.” Angie clutched her chest, “You are sweet.” Y/N blushed, “Thank you, can I ask you something?” Angie nodded, “What’s up?” “Would you like to have dinner with me?” She asked, feeling her heart race with anxiety.   She pictured Angie laughing in her face, but she giggled and nodded. “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me. Niall bet me that it would take another two weeks,” She answered. Y/N laughed, “I hate that man.” Angie chuckled, “Well, give me your number.” Y/N nodded, scribbling her number on a cardboard cupholder.  Angie grinned, looking over the number. “I look forward to our date.  Tell Niall that he owes me twenty dollars,” She called out. Y/N nodded, walking out of the warm shop with her two coffees.  Niall waited outside, sipping on his cup of tea. “Did you ask?” Y/N smirked, “I have a date with her.” Niall cheered, clapping a hand on her shoulder, “I knew you could do it.” The chill wind blasted against Y/N, drawing her attention to the two cups of coffee.  She hoped Harry would accept her gift.   * * *

           Harry stumbled through the door later than usual.  He plopped down next to Y/N, stretching his tired limbs.  His eyes bugged out when he saw the coffee cup sitting on his desk.  He raised an eyebrow, wondering if the person in an earlier class left their coffee there. Harry picked up the warm cup, catching sight of pretty handwriting.  Y/N bought him a cup of coffee and apologized for not treating him like a friend should. Harry’s heart fluttered as he faced the woman.  She glanced over with a smirk but quickly turned to face the board.  Harry felt terrible for treating her badly.  Lately, he had been busy with his job, and his courses weren’t making it easier.  He treated everyone badly because he needed sleep and space.  He didn’t expect it to hurt the one person he cared for.  He planned to ask Y/N out to dinner three weeks ago, but he couldn’t fit time in for her.  Harry sipped the coffee, and nearly moaned at how delicious the brew tasted. Vanilla and hints of nutmeg snuck out past the roasted bean flavor.  Harry focused on the lecture, deciding that it was time he changed his attitude. Occasionally he would glance at Y/N, admiring the glow that surrounded her.  Harry pondered what had her glowing.  Was it the possibility of their friendship blossoming?  After class, Harry hurried to catch Y/N before she left. “Hey, thank you for the coffee.  I’m sorry about lately.  I haven’t been very kind to you,” Harry winced, rubbing the back of his neck. Y/N waved him off, “Don’t worry about it. We all have those moments.  I’m sorry for not asking if you needed help.” Harry smiled, “It’s okay, can we be friends again?” Y/N giggled, “I would like that.  I’ll see you later, Harry.” Harry watched her leave the empty classroom, unaware of Harry’s racing heart.  He sighed, shuffling out of the classroom.  He kept the coffee cup, hoping he could buy another cup from the same shop.  Harry gripped the strap of his messenger bag that kept banging into his hip with each step. He typed the shop into his phone, looking at the directions to the coffee shop.  Harry strolled around the empty streets, breathing in the fresh air. His mind shifted between thoughts of Y/N and work.  Harry opened the glass door for an elderly couple, who thanked him for being so kind. Harry grinned, inhaling the scent of the roasting beans.  He waited in line, admiring the art on the plain white walls.   “Sir, what can I get you?”  Harry glanced up, making eye contact with the beautiful barista.   Harry smirked, “Hi, I’m Harry.  My friend got me a cup of coffee, and I would like another.  I can’t tell you what it had in it, but it tasted like vanilla and nutmeg.” Angie grinned, “That would be Y/N.  She likes to tell people that she created that drink herself.” Harry laughed, feeling his stomach somersault at the mention of Y/N.  A pang of jealousy hit his gut when he caught the look in Angie’s eyes.  Was she in love with Y/N too?   “She’s amazing.  How long have you known her?” Angie shrugged, “I can’t remember.  Once she’s in your life, it’s hard to think that she hasn’t always been there.” Harry nodded, “I understand.  Would you like to see a movie with me?” Angie blushed, “You are very handsome, but I am not interested.  Your coffee is ready.” Harry’s heart sunk with the rejection.  How could he end up with Y/N?  She was perfect.  She deserved better than him.  That’s why he kept dating other girls, in hopes that they filled the hole that Y/N seemed to fit into.   Harry grabbed the coffee, walking out of the shop.  The chilly wind swept up his hair, resulting in his grumbling.  Harry glanced down at the cardboard holder, noticing a number scribbled across with a heart beside it.  Harry furrowed his eyebrows, didn’t she say no to his date? Harry shrugged, adding the number to his phone.  Perhaps this was fate placing him with someone he belonged with.   * * *

           “Why do you think she hasn’t called me?  She seemed interested right?” Y/N wondered, laying upside down off of Niall’s lumpy couch. Niall nodded, focusing on the golf match, “Yeah.  She even gushed about you later that evening when I returned for my second cup of tea.” Y/N huffed, checking her calendar.  Two days ago she gave Angie her number, and she hadn’t called Y/N.   Niall leaned back onto the couch, stuffing a handful of chips into his mouth.  Y/N sat up, placing her feet across Niall’s lap.  Niall looked at Y/N, frowning whenever he saw tears pricking her eyes.  He scooted closer, holding her fragile figure in his arms. “She’s insane not to call you.  Would you like to go out with me?” She giggled, “No, but thank you for the offer.” Niall chuckled, squeezing her shoulder. She leaned her head on Niall’s shoulder, watching the game with Niall.  During a commercial break, her phone lit up.  Niall’s eyes widened, and she leaped across the room.  She answered the call, breathing heavily after moving quickly to get to her phone.  Niall watched with anticipation, hoping Angie had called. “Hello?” “Hey, it’s Harry.” Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Harry, when did you get my number?” Harry raised an eyebrow, “You gave it to me at the coffee shop.” “Harry, it’s Y/N.  I did not give you my number.” Harry froze, realizing the barista gave him the wrong number, “Oh my gosh.  She gave me the wrong number.” “Who did?” Y/N wondered, standing to her feet. Niall kept asking whom she was talking to and asking what was going on.  She shushed the Irishman, escaping to the kitchen. “The barista told me that she knew you. I asked her out, and she gave me your number.” Y/N frowned, realizing the girl didn’t like her, “Are you sure?” Harry noted the disappointment in her voice, “Yeah.  Are you upset?” Y/N chuckled bitterly, “No, I just thought she liked me.” Harry frowned, “I’m sorry.” “Don’t be sorry.  I’ll see you later.” “Wait, I’m not doing anything tonight.  I have two tickets to a super romantic movie. Do you want to go with me?” She smiled, “Sure, Harry.” “Great, I’ll pick you up.” She hung up, walking back into Niall’s living room.  Niall jumped up, knocking over his bowl of chips. “Shit! Who was it?” He asked, bending over to pick up his mess. Y/N laughed, helping Niall clean up, “It was Harry.” “Harry?  The guy you hated?” She nodded, “I don’t hate him anymore. We didn’t talk for a while, but we are friends again.  She gave him my number, but he asked me out to a movie.” “Is this a date?” She froze, realizing that Harry asked her out for a romantic evening.  She had a date with Harry Styles.  She had a chance with the man that she found attractive and dreamt of dating.  The man that told her basic stories, but she listened with full attention because she loved seeing the sparkle in his eyes. “Do you think it’s a date?” Niall hummed, “I think it might be.” “Niall, what do I do?  Do I need to dress up?  How do I know?” Niall gripped her shoulders, “Hey, you need to calm down.  If Harry asked you out, then he’ll be flirty.  You look fine.  You will be okay.” She nodded, “Okay.” “Are you okay?” She nodded, “What would I do without you?” Niall laughed, “I don’t know.” The minutes leading up to her night out with Harry were stressful.  Was this her chance of connecting with the curly haired man? * * *

           Harry parked his car in front of Niall’s dormitory.  He breathed in, attempting to calm his nervous heart.  What would happen?  Should he try to make a move on her?  Would she turn him down or did she feel the same way that he did?  Harry’s worries drifted away the minute he saw her walking toward his car.  Harry scrambled out of his car, tripping over his large feet. “Hey, how are you?” He asked, hugging her tightly. She smiled, breathing in his comforting scent, “I’m well.” Harry opened the car door for her, hoping he didn’t mess up tonight.  She smiled at Harry, watching him step back inside the car.   “Thank you for the invitation, I felt horrible,” she mumbled. Harry frowned, “Well, we will have fun tonight.” She smiled, “You are a great friend.” Harry smiled, ignoring the pain in his heart when she called him a friend.  Did she have feelings for him?   “Did you ask out that barista?” “Yeah, I guess my flirting didn’t work.” Harry shrugged, “She’s crazy not to like you. You are amazing, funny, smart.  I could go on for days.” She blushed, “Thank you.  You are amazing too.” “How did you flirt?” She rolled her eyes, “It sounds stupid. I usually compliment the person that I have a crush on.  I complimented her hair color.” Harry nodded, recalling their first conversation.  She complimented Harry’s shirt because it brought out his eyes.  He might have read into that last sentence, but did she try to flirt with him? “Didn’t you compliment my shirt when we first met?” Her eyes widened, but she forced herself to nod.  Harry nodded, tapping his fingers on his steering wheel.  Silence filled the tiny car, suffocating her lungs. “That’s cool,” Harry mumbled, breaking the silence. She chuckled awkwardly, “Yeah.” “Was that flirting with me?” “Yes,” She whispered. Harry nodded, “That’s cool.” She groaned, covering her face with her palms. Harry chuckled, keeping his eyes locked on the road.  She lifted her head, eyeing Harry’s expressions. “Why are you laughing?” “All this time I’ve been going insane.  I didn’t want to have feelings for you because you were better than me.  I even thought this was just two friends hanging out, but you like me.” “You like me?” She gasped. Harry nodded, “The day I met you, I liked you.” She blushed, “Can this be a date?” Harry smirked, “It can be whatever you want it to be.” She snorted, shoving Harry’s arm playfully. The handsome stranger in her class was now her boyfriend.

[ssteezyy]

Ask the Vet With Dr. Kris: Dr. Kris Answers February’s Questions

On February 1, we launched our new “Ask the Vet With Dr. Kris” segment. Once a month, we’ll post a reminder for you to post your questions for Dr. Kris. He’ll answer as many of them as he can each month, and I’ll publish his answers in a subsequent post.

Dr. Kristopher Chandroo is a veterinarian, scientist, photographer, animal welfare advocate, and creator of Stress to Success (STS): The Essential Guide to Medicating Your Feisty, Grumpy or Reluctant Cat.  Dr. Kris wants  your cats to be twenty years old. And counting! And he wants to provide medication and therapy to them in a way that respects the bond between cat and human.

Here are Dr. Kris’ answers to some of your questions asked in February. If your question didn’t get answered here, Dr. Kris will answer them on his own website, in the future. Subscribe to his updates so you’ll be notified when the answers are published.

Persian male cat bites Himalyan’s neck

Dr. Kris, never had this in 30+ yrs experience with cats. I have a Persian n male, 3 yrs old, sweet, easy going, loving to all, even our yappy Yorkie. All are spay/neut. 7 months ago I adopted a 3 month seal PT Himalayan male, recently neutered. Now the male Persian mounts, no other word for it, the Himalayan and his hips do little jerks. Himalayan doesn’t retaliate, just lays there. Sometimes Persian starts by biting, not hard, the Himalayan’s neck. My husband says ” very disturbing” . As long as Elvis isn’t hurt, I leave them. (Suzanne Walker)

Dr. Kris:

So, you’ve got a cat named Elvis, and a Persian who is doing something naughty? I recommend that you listen to this song as you read this answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emjLXdsj6xA

You look like an angel Walk like an angel Talk like an angel But I got wise You’re the devil in disguise..

Your Persian is literally now “doing the Elvis”. Hip thrusts and all. It’s sexual behaviour on display. Just like Elvis did in the 50s. Believe it or not, cat’s have a “lust system”.

Ok, ok, ok. So here is what’s happening. Mr. Himalayan arrived on the scene. That’s a relationship change. Relationship changes in groups of cats are all about psychology. It doesnt matter that he’s been around for seven months and just starting the behaviour now. Because it’s all about how they feel and think about their group as time goes by.

If it gets worse, your Persian might need something else to occupy his time. Toy’s, treat ball, more places to climb and hiding spots for Elvis. Of course, Feliway Friends and Zylkene could play a role as well.

But I agree with you – as long as Elvis isn’t hurt, it seems reasonable to leave them.

This all assumes they are successfully neutered and spayed for sure!!! It’s hard to screw up that kind of surgery, so I would be surprised if they were not. Im also assuming there is no vaginitis / lower urinary tract infections going on (which can change behaviour and odours produced by your cats).

P.S. – Your hubby is hilarious!

Tortie constantly wants more food

Hi Dr Kris! I adopted a beautiful tortie girl 5 weeks ago, aged 3.5 years. She is very loving and was previously homed, not a stray. I am feeding her ZiwiPeak wet food 3 times a day (first thing in the morning, when I get home from work and later in the evening before bed). She has a small amount of dry food available but will only eat a few at a time if I encourage her or during the day when she’s alone. In the evenings she seems to constantly want more food, meowing whenever I get up (especially if I go to the kitchen where she is fed, obviously). I’m feeding her as guided on the can, and she often leaves some food from her second meal. I also introduced some poached chicken but she vomited a couple of times while eating that (though this was hours after eating, early in the morning), so I have been holding off giving it to her again to see if she is sick at all without the chicken. She doesn’t jump on the counter and only occasionally begs for food off our plates (we never give her anything), and will typically just watch from afar when I’m preparing human meals. I am able to get her to sit while waiting for meals now.

I get the feeling she isn’t liking being left alone during the day and is trying to make up for it by being needy at night. I give her lots of attention and try to play with her, but she just isn’t really interested in playing much at night until after the third meal. I tried a treat ball but as she doesn’t really like dry food much she isn’t keen on that. My vet suggested feeding her more regularly but that is obviously difficult while at work (she didn’t like the automated feeder I got her), and trying a limited diet if she is vomiting regularly, before any further tests etc. I’m really worried about her, I just want her to be happy in her new home and do the best for her wellbeing. Is it likely she is still just settling in?

Dr. Kris:

Ooohh torties are awesome. I once house sat while working in Vancouver Island, and it was me and this little Tortie watching movies over winter.

Ok, lets talk about food first. Maybe it’s the issue driving her behavior, maybe it isn’t. Because maybe she could just be settling in. That could make one anxious, right? And then, it could be both. Because you have a cat. And they are mentally complex. So the only way you really know is to test things. Like you’ve been doing.

So your cat is a specialized hunter. They are designed to eat 10 to 20 small prey items in a day. Now some are better at this than others. Some are more driven than others. Now imagine a voice in the back of your cats head – an urge to go hunt 20 to 40 times per day. “Let’s go hunting….let’s go stretch our legs, let’s stalk and sprint and pounce….”.

It’s the same frequency that we check our smartphones right? Now imagine your forgot your phone, and you’re stuck at work. It feels weird. You reach into your pocket every 10 minutes, and it’s not there. You can’t satisfy the urge…

We’ve got to activate her brain when she is eating the wet food. Satisfy the voices in the brain.

You want a wet food puzzle feeder: http://ift.tt/2mz1Jji

Start simple, then go more complex.

Test it, then report back. Extra points for considering calming pheromones (like Feliway) or adding Zylkene into their food for a couple of weeks.

Does it work? Great, problem solved. Doesn’t work? You’re the proud owner of a cat. The feeding enrichment now becomes your baseline, and you work up from there to solve the other potential issues driving her behavior.

Test it, and report back to us!

Cat coughs after drinking water

Hello Doctor Kris, I have a 2 year old female cat, she’s generally very healthy but lately almost every time she drinks water the water seems “to go down to wrong way”. She makes noises like she’s coughing up a hairball for around 20-30 seconds and then everything goes back to normal… is this normal? This used to happen occasionally when she would drink from the water fountain, but now it also happens when drinking from a bowl. We had a vet check her today and found nothing wrong

I gave her hairball medicine just in case. She’s using her litter box normally and eating normally as well… sometimes when she eats she will try to expell the food out, like a piece got stuck in her throat or something. It seems water is the main irritant though.

Dr. Kris, I write to you with an update. Since my comment my cat still hacks (I have a video of her doing this, I wish I could send it to you) when she drinks water. There was a day when she did it 2-3 without actually drinking water, so we worried a took her to the vet again. The vet said he heard a noise inside her throat and took xrays, we found out that her heart might be a little bit bigger on one side. We are waiting for another vet who is a specialist to do a ultrasound. I live in Turkey so forgive me if I don’t use medical terms.

When I play with her (I make her chase a ball around the house) she never shows any distress, actually I get tired first. I have played with her this week and nothing has changed in that regard. A couple of months ago the doctor saw redness at the back of the throat and said it was gingivitis, we gave her medicine once and it went away.

We’re still waiting for more results, but if you could tell us what to watch out for I’d appreciate it… thank you! (Lucia)

Dr. Kris:

Hi Lucia, you are on the right track. You were right to be concerned, as cat’s are really good at putting the food and water down the right tube. I would be looking for irritation, inflammation or something affecting the path of food and water from her mouth to her stomach. Sometimes when they hack, it’s actually a cough…it can be tricky to figure out, so make sure to bring the video to the specialist as well.

Assuming she is otherwise ok, main thing that I would be watching for is her body weight. If she’s dropping weight, I want to know and figure out what is going on faster.

Good luck and let us know how things go.

Vaccinations for cats – which ones, and for how long?

I recently read some conflicting opinions on the need for certain vaccinations for cats (other than rabies). What is your opinion on how often vaccines should be given and at what age they can be stopped? (Peggy Zamboni)

Dr. Kris:

Good question Peggy.

Literally (I kid you not), my approach with vaccination comes from this 1971 interview with the great one, Bruce Lee: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJMwBwFj5nQ

I promise you I am going somewhere with this.

As a vet, I will meet all sort of people from every walk of life.

And our experiences in life will of course give us the opinions we have, right?

So the biggest positive impact I can make in a person and their cat’s life is to respect their views, and work with them towards their goals. The things that are important to them.

And that is why I resonate with what Bruce said in 1971.

“You must be shapeless, formless, like water. When you pour water in a cup, it becomes the cup. When you pour water in a bottle, it becomes the bottle”. When you pour water in a teapot, it becomes the teapot”.

Someone really believes what Jenny McCarthy says about vaccines? It’s ok. We are all susceptible to the larger than life opinions of celebrities at some time or another.

Someone has had a bad experience with vaccines in the past and is concerned about how a new kitty in their life might react? Very reasonable way to feel, isn’t it?

Someone had had a pet or family member pass away or get really sick from infectious disease? We talk about the role of vaccines in preventing that.

So, I need to be formless, and bend to that person’s situation, their history with vaccination, and how they feel about this medical procedure (a vaccine is technically a medical procedure, with pro’s and con’s like every other medical procedure).

“Water can drip and it can crash. Become like water my friend.”

Bad diseases can drip, or they can crash. So can reactions to medical procedures, like vaccination.

So, for me, it’s a case by case evaluation. Not one size fits all. I definitely tell them about legal obligations if their cat is interacting with the public (i.e. rabies vaccination), and will form my opinion based on the age, behavior, medical status and exposure to the illnesses we vaccinate for.

I’ll tell people if I’m strongly for vaccination for their cat or kitten, or if I feel it’s much lower on the priority list to optimize the health of their cat. I always want the big health bang for the buck.

And the last thing I tell people about vaccination is that nothing that we decide is written in stone. We can always re-evaluate any plan.

“Be shapeless, formless, like water”.

Cat is overgrooming

I have 7 indoor cats; healthy, get along for most part, and use the litter box. I have a pair of orange and white, 7 yr old sisters that do slightly bully the others. One sister, Libby, is licking off her fur and it seems to be getting worse. First it was just on her tummy, then the underside of her tail, and now one of her arms. Is there anything I can do to help this? (Sheila Tabone)

Dr. Kris:

Yes.

Assuming that Libby has no thyroid issues, acquired allergy or food sensitivity, parasitic or other physical health issues (hint hint take her to the vet), then you might be looking for ways to help her with social stress and anxiety.

There is lot’s of info about that if you google it.

But here is the trick.

I used to work with fish. Big, large rainbow trout, way back in the 90’s. Part of my research was looking into social stress. Sometimes fish would bully each other as well. And you know what we knew to be true? That the fish that was the bullier, was sometimes just as stressed out (physiologically speaking) as the fish that got bullied.

And things could get better when we modified stuff about the fish tank, just as much about doing anything with the individual fish. The tank was what we needed to treat (for science geeks out there, the tank was the experimental unit, not the individual fish).

Your home is the tank. Help Libby as an individual, but also realize that true success comes from making changes for all the cats.

Now why do vets always say check them out in the clinic first, even though you have a strong hunch it may be a behavioral / anxiety problem?

Three reasons.

First, lets say it is purely a social stress and anxiety problem. Well, that’s an immunosuppressive force hitting your cat. Chronic stress is a driver for physical illness. And unless you catch that, it’s hard to make them healthy in the way you intended.

Secondly, some of these guys need supplements or medication.

Lastly, it always sucks when you have all the right techniques in place to deal with the social anxiety and stress, and the undetected medical illness makes it look like nothing is working…your cat has concurrent issues and all your efforts become confounded.

Good luck Sheila!

Cat is peeing on the bed

I have a 10yr old cat that seems to have taken up not urinating in kitty litter trays even though they are clean. How can I stop this behavior. He is always urinating on their bed I changed the mattress but that has not helped he is doing the same thing to the new mattress. Is there something I can spray on the mattress to put him off using it. Is there anything that is chemical free that i can use? Thanks. (Gladys Gauci)

Gladys, see this answer I posted here: http://ift.tt/2mZPrhl

Kitten has seizures

Hello Dr. Kris! I’d be ever grateful if you could help me with my question. Six months ago I rescued an 8 week old kitten from a gas station parking lot. She has been having a grand Mal seizure occasionally, the first on Nov. 24th, then one 6 weeks later, and a less severe seizure last week. When I brought her home she was seen by a vet and de-wormed. Her stool has been mostly loose and very smelly since being wormed. The same vet saw her after the first seizure and ran tests which were normal. He thought maybe she was getting too much fat in her diet so recommended low fat canned food but she’s since had the other two seizures. I found a blog that suggested grain and gluten in her canned food could be causing intestinal inflammation and her seizures, so recommended changing foods and supplementing with natural healthy omega fats. Since she was a stray it’s unknown if she had head teams but didn’t seem to have a head injury when found. Have you experienced the seizure reaction in cats due to grains and gluten in their food? I’ve since switched all my cats to grain-free, gluten-free and carrageenan-free food and have made coconut oil available for my cats to nibble at their option. The kitten’s stool seems improved already. I am very concerned to stop the root cause of her seizures because I also read that the more seizures she has, the more likely she will be to have them in the future. Thank you for any insights or advice you may offer! (Amanda Becher)

Dr. Kris:

I live by two seizure rules.

I don’t like seeing them very early in life, and they are rarely good news if they begin very late in life.

You are really an awesome person for intervening for this little life you found in the concrete jungle of a gas station.

You are doing an amazing job focusing on nutrition. It’s the foundation of good health and trying to get them to return to health. To answer your question, I have not observed seizures in kittens due to grains and gluten in their food.

When seizures start this young, then I think about Congenital anomaly’s (things they are born with that affect their nervous system), encephalitis (things that cause inflammation in the brain – not food based though), FIP, Toxoplasma, Cryptococcus (I use to see that a lot on the west coast) and toxicity. There are probably other reasons, and a talented veterinary neurologist could help.

You are right. Find out the root cause if you can. It’s not inexpensive to do that. Do the best you can.

Do you have a question for Dr. Kris? Leave it in a comment!

The post Ask the Vet With Dr. Kris: Dr. Kris Answers February’s Questions appeared first on The Conscious Cat.