Hey! Are you guys ready to see my return to the writing business? Let's get started!

Mistoffelees had always been different from the rest of the Jellicles. Sure, there was the whole magical thing, but Misto never bragged about it or took advantage of it. He was actually a very serious, extremely shy cat. He was small for his size, and bullied at school. So when Misto started to hang out with a girl, everyone in town was surprised.


Misto was just walking around town. The library was closed; there was nothing to do. He was just about to turn to go back home when he heard the sound of crying. Misto, being the kind hearted cat he was, tried to find where it was coming from. It was from behind the parking lot of the grocery store. Misto was about to walk up to the cat that was crying, when he stepped on a branch. The cat must have heard it, because they ran away, but not before Misto could see who it was.

It was that new girl that had moved there a few weeks before. Munkustrap and Demeter had adopted her. What was her name? Misto tried to remember. Jemima. That's it.

Why would she be crying?


Misto knew Jemima didn't have friends. She was quiet like him. But he could see that she needed someone to talk to. Preferably when she wasn't crying. So, with that in mind, during lunch the next day, Misto sat near her during lunch in the courtyard the next day. Jemima looked startled that someone was near her, but tried to keep attention to her book.

"You know, while Eragon is a wonderful book, the movie sucks." He smiled at her. "I'm Misto. My real name is Mistoffelees, but no one can remember how to spell it, so even teachers write my name as Misto."

"I'm Jemima." The girl said softly after a small silence. "Why are you talking to me?" She acted like there would be no legitimate reason to talk to her.

"Because I can? Because I want to know you? Because I think you might need a guide around town? Are those good reasons?" Misto shrugged, hoping he didn't sound like a smart aleck.

"I'm just not used to people talking to me." She sighed, then looked up with a small amount of hope in her eyes. "Can you show me around town? I mean, if you don't have anything better to do?"

"I would love to, mademoiselle. Tomorrow afternoon? After school?"

"Yes." The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch just then. Jemima got up off the ground and started to walk towards the school, but suddenly turned around.

"Oh, and you are right. Eragon is a terrible movie." She smiled at walked away.

Misto found that the smile was contagious. Am I good or am I good?


Misto and Jemima started hanging out together more after that first day. They found that they loved many of the same things, like reading, dancing, and being just randomly crazy, though neither ever had the courage to show it by themselves. Two weeks past without either of them noticing it. It was then that Misto met Jemima again, just like the way he did the first time. Jemima was behind the movie theater this time, sobbing her eyes out. Misto ran up to her and kneeled beside her, trying to figure out what was wrong. She tried to wipe her tears away. "I... I didn't want you to see me like this..." She trailed off to more sobs.

"What's wrong?" When greeted with silence, Misto very gently shook her. "Tell me."

"Fine!" Jemima spit the word out angrily. "I'm crying about my dad! The real one. When I was younger he would beat me up and now I can't get him out of my head! That make you feel better?" She cried angrily. "Now you think I'm some lunatic, right?"

Misto thought for a second. For the past two weeks, he had developed feelings for Jemima. No, not love feelings; more like caring, protectiveness, and companionship. He could never had asked the HeavySide Layer for a better friend, even one with problems like Jemima's. He looked into her eyes, held her hand, and said

"I'm in no way a knight in shining armor. I can't promise I can be in your wildest dreams. However, I can promise that I WILL be here here for you, as someone you can always fall back on. I know you don't believe in me, but I will do anything to protect you now. That's what friends do, right?''

Jemima searched Misto's eyes, trying to find the truth in them. Apparently, she found it, because she hugged him, and whispered,

''I believe you.''