Victoria wondered around the Junkyard, trying to find a quiet, empty spot where she could practise her dance for the upcoming Ball. As she climbed up the tyre to scan the area her eyes fell across the orange, black and white heap of fur that was the sibling duo of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. As she watched the pair tumble across the dirty floor she had two sudden feelings: one of disgust at the state at which both of their fur would be later, and one sudden, unexpected pang of jealousy for Rumpleteazer. Trying to ignore this green eyed monster that was emerging in the pit of her stomach she forced herself to look away from the pair and continued her search for a quiet corner. As she searched she shook her head, trying to clear the image in her mind, that of her rolling around with Mungojerrie.
"Get orf my 'ear Teazah!" cried Mungojerrie as Rumpleteazer tugged playfully on his ear.
"Im bored" she whined. "Let's go out" she added, her eyes alighting with sudden inspiration.
"Nah…I'm too tired Teazah." moaned Mungojerrie.
Rumpleteazer sat up next to her brother and looked down at him reproachfully.
"You're no fun" she stated, sauntering off with her tail in the air.
Mungojerrie watched his sister go from his upside down position on the floor. He sat up and brushed the dust off his fur, as he started to clean his ears he noticed a small flash of white from a far corner of the junkyard. He abandoned the attempt at cleaning his fur and tip-toed forward towards this odd vision. As he grew closer he heard odd muttering and groans coming from the corner. Mungojerrie crouched down, preparing to pounce on this unknown intruder. Shaking his rump, as cats tend to do, he jumped, and landed on a somewhat startled and bewildered Victoria.
"Mungo!" she yelled at the surprised tom on top of her. "Stop doing that!"
"Sorry." He mumbled, climbing off his friend. "I nevah' realised it were you"
"You never do!" she snarled, grooming her filthy fur. Oh how she hated being unclean.
Mungojerrie looked down and shifted on his paws, looking up at Victoria.
"You alrigh' now?"
"I suppose so" she said, tossing her head fur. As she looked at Mungojerrie, looking so sorry for himself her heart melted. What was wrong with her? She could hold grudges for much longer than this. She still hadn't spoken to Pouncival since he stole her collar. And that was three moons ago.
Victoria sighed as Mungojerrie looked up at her hopefully.
"Go on then, I forgive you. Now go, I need to practice for the Ball"
Mungojerrie smiled happily and nuzzled her side. Victoria's heart fluttered.
"Can I watch?" he inquired.
Victoria blushed under her fur. She suddenly felt very glad she treated her fur well; at least he couldn't see her blushing.
"Oh well...I...um...it wouldn't be...um..."
Mungojerrie tilted his head to the side, grinning.
"Not shy are yah? You 'ent usually the shy type!"
Victoria reddened again, but angrily this time.
"No! Why would I be shy?! Fine! Watch! See if I care!" she half-shouted, breathing deeply to catch her breath back.
Mungojerrie chuckled and moved away to a more comfortable spot to watch his friend perform.
Victoria walked as far away as permitted from Mungojerrie and tried to clear her mind of him.
Mungojerrie watched in awe as she showed off her flexibility and grace. He let out an audible gasp as she performed one particularly spectacular move. His gasp threw her off balance in embarrassment and pride. She wobbled, and fell to the floor in a miniature Jellicle pile.
Mungojerrie rushed to her aid.
"Vicky! Vicky! Are yah alrigh?" he put his paw on her back and she shivered, but not from cold.
"I'm fine" she mumbled, her pride hurting more than her body.
He offered a paw to help her up and she took it grudgingly.
"You put me off!" she growled at him.
Mungojerrie giggled – unnervingly like his sister – and nuzzled up close against her. Victoria was paralysed in shock and a sudden thrill of excitement rushed through her. She tentatively licked his furry cheek, immediately regretting it as his fur was still dusty from his tussle with his sister.
Mungojerrie's head swivelled round so fast that his neck clicked.
"What was tha' for?" he demanded, rubbing his neck.
Victoria mumbled something about a 'Thank You' and quickly ran off to her den to ponder her feelings about Mungojerrie.
Rumpleteazer roared with laughter when her brother told her about the previous days events. Mungojerrie was finding it difficult to keep her quiet.
"Vicky loves Mungy! Vicky loves Mungy!" screamed Rumpleteazer at the top of her voice. Mungojerrie had to clamp a paw over her mouth to shut her up.
"Shut it Teazah!" hissed Mungojerrie as his sister rocked with silent mirth. Rumpleteazer licked his paw pads to get him off and Mungojerrie drew his paw back in disgust.
"Eurgh Teazah tha's 'orrible! Why do yah always do tha'?"
Rumpleteazer didn't answer; she had just noticed Etcetera on her way up to Victoria's den. An evil grin spread on Rumpleteazers face.
"Oi! Cettie!" yelled Rumpleteazer. "Come 'ere!"
Etcetera's head swivelled around at the mention of her name and she bounded over to the sibling duo.
Rumpleteazer grinned at her brother and answered Etceteras enquiring look.
"Guess who likes Mungo" she said promptly before Mungojerrie could stop her.
"Oooh, who?" said Etcetera, her ears pricked up and her eyes shining with curiosity and anticipation.
"Victoria!" sang Rumpleteazer happily. Mungojerrie groaned.
Rumpleteazer cackled at the shocked expression on Etceteras young face. As Etcetera scampered off to tell everyone she knew, Rumpleteazer turned to her brother who, understandably, looked thunderous.
Later that day, Victoria left her den to find her friends, as she approached Jemima, Electra and Etcetera whispering together their heads swivelled around at her approach. They greeted her with highly enthusiastic and un-necessary welcomes, clearly meaning that they had just finished talking about her.
"What?" asked Victoria, annoyed and disgruntled.
The kittens glanced at each other, Electra barely managing to stifle a giggle.
Victoria snapped.
"I know you were talking about me!" she screeched. "What have I done now? Am I getting fat? Is that it?? Is my fur knotted? Am I going bald?? Tell me!!" she screamed.
The kittens, stunned, didn't answer. With a snarl and several uncomprehendable threats she turned on her tail and ran off to find comfort in the form of Mungojerrie.
Mungojerrie kicked moodily at a stone and lay down with his head on his paws, sighing dramatically. As Victoria scurried up to him, he looked up, shocked to see that tears were flowing thick and fast down her beautiful white face. She lay down next to him, put her head in his fur and howled.
Mungojerrie was unsure of what to do. He looked down at his side, where he could already feel an alarming dampness under his fur. Gently he tugged her ear. "Wha's the matter?"
Victoria looked up, her eyes swimming with tears, and let out a mix of strangled sobs and words, all indistinguishable to Mungojerrie.
"Ok" he crooned "Jus' cry."
Half an hour later Victoria was on her way back to her den behind the sewage pipe. She kicked the tyre in frustration; angry at herself for breaking down in front of the kittens and Him.
She heard footsteps approaching and turned her head to see Plato making his way towards her. She sat down and waited for him to draw closer. He seemed annoyed about something from the aggravated way in which he approached her. He opened his mouth to speak and Victoria braced herself.
"What's this about Mungojerrie?" he demanded. "I thought we were going to the Ball tomorrow!"
Victoria opened her mouth to explain herself but Plato hadn't finished.
"When were you going to tell me? Afterwards? Minutes before? Were you going to embarrass me in front of our families? Our friends?" Plato broke off, anger and hurt swimming in his eyes. Victoria looked at him pityingly. She didn't want to hurt Plato; he had always been so good to her. He was reliable, nice, not to mention good-looking. Jemima had been murderous after he'd asked her to be his mate.
Victoria had a choice to make. She loved Mungojerrie with all of her heart, his beautiful sunny fur that reflected his personality perfectly, his deep chocolate brown eyes, and his wonderful sense of humour. But she knew deep down that he would never love her, she knew he thought himself unworthy of her, and that he had never even bothered to chase her because of this.
"Plato." Interrupted Victoria. "Nothing's going on. Whoever has said anything has a wicked sense of humour. He helped me up after I fell over from practising. That's all." She finished, stroking his beautiful autumn coloured cheek.
Plato nodded, smiling from relief. "Good. I can't lose you" he said, nuzzling her neck. "I love you too much."
Victoria closed her eyes and sighed. She knew she had made the right choice.