Monday morning came.  After Ria left for her day job as a bank teller, Jareth took the time to go back to the Labyrinth and take care of things for a few hours.  Spending a weekend with the lovely young woman made coming home to the goblins even more depressing than usual.

While Ria was on her lunch break, she made an appointment for Jay with the local vet.  "He's a stray I found," she explained.

"Did you check for fleas and ticks?" the vet, Dr. Rudersdorf, asked.

"Yes.  None of those.  He's very clean for a stray."

"That's good.  I have an opening tomorrow morning at nine."

"We'll be there," Ria said.  "I'll just come into work late."

When Ria came home around 4:30, she found Jay dosing on the sill of her bedroom window.  She walked over to him and gently pet him, smiling softly. "How's my baby?"

Jareth opened his eyes and looked up at Ria.  If he could have, he would have smiled back at her and told her he was wonderful.  As it was, he yawned and stretched, then purred when she stroked between his ears.

**She has wonderful hands,** Jareth thought.  **I can just imagine...** His thoughts were interrupted by Ria's voice.

"I made an appointment for you with the vet," she said.

**WHAT?!  Why do I need to go to the vet?!**  Jareth took a deep breath.

**Calm down.  I'm sure there is a way out of this.  Dammit, I should have thought this through more.**

Ria could feel Jay tense.  "It's just a checkup.  He wants to make sure you're healthy."

**Don't I look healthy?**  Jareth did the feline equivalent of pouting --he turned his back on Ria.

She sighed.  "Okay, Moody, you can have your sulk, but tomorrow, you are going to the vet."  Ria went to get ready for class, amazed at how human Jay could act sometimes.

While she was in her night classes, all Ria thought about was Jay.  She knew he was not a typical cat, but she didn't know what made him so special.

During the break between the two night classes, Ria, Donna, Lauren, and Shelly were sitting at their table in the lounge.  Ria had a faraway look on her face.

Of course, Shelly had to comment.  "You know you have a sad life when the only male in your life is your cat."  When Ria finally came back to reality,

Shelly continued.  "Ria, you need a boyfriend.  I know the perfect guy --Joe."

"Your brother?" Donna asked.  Joe Douglas was 25 and thought he was God's gift to women.

"The very one," Shelly said, grinning.  "He just broke up with his girlfriend, so he's available.  I think he'd be good for Ria.  She needs someone like him.  I'll give him a call after class.  I'm sure he'll like her."

"I think Ria is perfectly capable of finding her own dates," Ria stated, annoyed by Shelly's eternal meddling in her life.

"You're absolutely right," Shelly said.  She quickly took out a blank piece of paper, wrote down a phone number, and handed it to her.  "This is Joe's number.  Call him ASAP."

"I can get my own dates," Ria protested.  "It's just that I'm not interested in dating right now."

"You're never interested in dating.  You really should live a little."

"I like my life."

"But you don't love your life," Shelly said, grinning triumphantly.  "You need a man."

Ria thought about Shelly's words on the way home.  She wanted a boyfriend, she truly did, but she didn't want to be in a relationship at the moment.  They were too much of a hassle.  **Maybe I should have a long-distance romance,** Ria thought wryly.  **All the fun of having a boyfriend, but none of the complications.**  She looked up as a shooting star streaked across the night sky.  **I wish I had someone to love.  That's all I really want.**