"Come on Jemmie! It's your turn!" Etcetera clung onto her friends paw and swung on her heels as she whined.
Jemima dragged her paw free from Etcetera's grasp and laughed at her excitable friend.
"Alright, give me a chance, Etcy!" She stepped back, and took a deep breath before leaning forwards and attempting to copy the elbow stand Etcetera had just done.
Etcetera burst into peals of bell-like laughter when she tumbled straight over.
Jemima scowled, folding her arms. "You promised you wouldn't laugh!"
Etcetera stuffed her tail in her mouth and almost choked when the need to laugh became too much.
"I'm sorry, it's just so funny!" Etcetera spluttered again, rolling around on the floor.
Jemima launched herself at the giggling kitten and the two went rolling down the hill they had been sat on, squealing helplessly.
They didn't notice Victoria until they fell right into her. The two hysterical kittens stared up at their friend who was looking down at them in alarm. They had landed at her feet, covered in mud and screaming.
"Ummm… I'm not even going to ask." she said in disbelief as Electra came running up behind them, panting.
"Oh hello Electra" Etcetera smiled, still lying with her head on Victoria's feet.
Electra smiled shyly down at her charismatic friend and leapt out of her skin when two paws gripped her shoulders. The smile Victoria gave told Electra that it was her brother, Plato behind her and she playfully pushed him, squealing as he tickled her mercilessly.
Plato finally released her, smiling at Victoria and leaving Electra who was still laughing to walk over to his favourite queen.
"So, what are we all talking about?" he asked, giving Etcetera, who had still not sat up, a strange look.
"Etcy was trying to get me to do an elbow stand!" Jemima looked accusingly at her best friend who grinned innocently back.
"It was very funny!" Etcetera swiftly dodged a playful punch from Jemima and rushed behind a surprised Plato who was in the middle of what seemed a very importan conversation with Victoria.
Electra watched her best friends as they played. She was the quietest one in their group and preferred to just watch other people's enjoyment then actually join in.
"I know! Let's practise what were going to do for the Jellicle Ball!" Etcetera cried. This suggestion was met be several groans. The Jellicle Ball was her latest craze and all Etcetera ever talked about. Her favourite past time, aside from stalking Tugger, was to practise what they were all going to do.
Plato looked awkwardly at Victoria and, giving his sister one last tickle, took his leave, going to find his friends.
Plato found his three best friends sat where he had left them, on the huge tire, watching the four queens as they played.
Tumblebrutus was watching with a concerned expression and although Plato searched for something to cause worry, he could see nothing.
"What's wrong Tumble?" he asked, still searching for his cause of distress.
Tumble sighed and pointed to Electra sat in the corner. "They're leaving her out again" he said "They just seem to forget about her."
Plato knew that Tumble liked his sister but her still found his worry odd and a bit out of the ordinary.
"Well she's so quiet, she hardly ever speaks." Pouncival joined his friend in watching the quiet queen.
"I feel sorry for her; she just needs her confidence boosting." Plato said, anxious to defend his sister. He knew she was shy and obviously the most reserved of the queens but, try as he might, Plato could not bring Electra out of her shell.
"She's a nice kit, just very quiet." Quaxo agreed, sitting beside his friend.
"Ooo! Look at Quaxo! I thought it was Jemima you liked!" Pouncival squeaked as Quaxo almost pushed him off the tire.
So the teasing continued, and down with the queens, their practising was going well.
"You're so graceful, Tori!" Jemima squealed as the snow white queen finished her dance. Victoria smiled gratefully and sat down next to Etcetera who leapt up and down energetically.
"Jemmie's turn! Jemmie's turn!"
Jemima smiled as she began to sing the song she had been practising. Electra watched awestruck, the same way she did whenever her friends showed off their talents.
Finishing her song, Jemima turned to Etcetera and smiled gleefully.
"Now it's your turn Etcy!"
Etcetera, taking the challenge, threw herself into a backwards roll and began to show her flare for gymnastics. Again, Electra said nothing and didn't complain when nothing was said about her showing what she was going to do for the Jellicle ball.
Her friends knew her well and understood how much she hated performing, not forcing her into anything. She knew the time would come though, when she would have to dance and sing but until then, she cose not to worry about it. For most of the Jellicles, the ball was a dream come true but for her, the very prospect of it was a living nightmare.