Hi! This is the first chapter of my first story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cats. I wish I did, but sadly I don't. My OC however (not in this chapter) is very much mine and you can't steal her. You may however borrow her, providing you let me know first.

Happy reading!

Chapter 1:

"Bye, Dad!" Munkustrap called as he ran past the kitchen.

"Have a good day at school, Munk!"

"I will, Dad, don't worry. I'll see you this afternoon. Bye!"

Munkustrap slammed the front door shut before his father had a chance to reply and ran down the front steps and out the wrought-iron gate at the street end of the garden.

He skidded to a halt outside number 27, before turning the corner into Whisker St where his best friend, Skimbleshanks lived.

"Hey, Munk", Skimbleshanks called as he ran down the path from his house.

"Hey, Skimble. Did you ask your mum if you can come to the Jellicle Ball next week?"

"Yep. She said 'yes'. Which now means I need to ask one of the girls. Who should I ask?"

"Dunno. Try Electra maybe, or…."

"There's no way I'm asking Electra!" Skimble spluttered.

"Scared, are you?" Munk teased.

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

The two friends were still arguing when they got to school, where there was a huge crowd in the middle of the yard. Cats were shoving and pushing to try and see past each other. Skimble sought out their friend Pouncival. Spotting the tabby, he tapped him on the shoulder.

"Hey Pounce! What in the name of cat's whiskers is going on?"

"Cass snubbed Tugger in favour of 'Lonzo so now the two of them are arguing."

"Umm….Why are Cass and 'Lonzo arguing?" Skimble asked. Pouncival sighed loudly,

"Honestly, Skimble. If you weren't in the top class, I'd say you were stupid."

"But?" Skimble was still confused, "Why are Cass and 'Lonzo arguing?". Munk slapped his forehead, groaning,

"No, Skimble. Tugger and 'Lonzo are arguing over Cass, get it?"

At that moment, the bell rang and the cats started drifting away to their respective classes. Tugger and Alonzo spat at each other, before parting ways. Munk, Skimble and Pounce meandered off to class, with Pounce and Munk still trying to explain to a very confused Skimble what the argument had been about.

The trio slid into their seats as Mr Gus walked, or rather shuffled, into the room and the lesson began.

"Now class, books out. I have rather a lot of work to mark for the younger classes today, so you can chat quietly amongst yourselves but please keep it down to a dull roar."

"Wish all our classes could be like this." This whispered remark came from Munk's other friend Mungojerrie, who everyone just called 'Jerrie. A lean, muscled, calico tom and the most rebellious cat in the entire school, 'Jerrie was just as popular as Tugger when it came to the queens. He leaned casually on his desk, green eyes glittering mischievously as he watched Mr Gus scribble comments on his roll as he marked the younger class's homework. Across the row, Exotica nudged her best friend Victoria and whispered something to the white queen, then flashed 'Jerrie a small smile. Munk raised an eyebrow at 'Jerrie in question, whispering,

"Dude, did you ask her to the Ball?"

"Yup!" 'Jerrie leaned casually back in his chair, twirling his pencil. "Asked 'er last Friday. She said she'd love ter". Skimble glared at 'Jerrie,

"How come you don't get nervous talking to girls, 'Jer?" "Jerrie grinned,

"Man, it's abou' lookin' confident. Oi get butterflies in moi stomach evry' toime. Jus' tell yerself yer got nothin' ter lose! Trust me, it works evry' toime."

Munk glanced across the room at Tugger who was sitting all by himself, looking very forlorn and upset. He nudged Skimble, gesturing to the Maine coon as he whispered,

"Look's like someone had a bad start to their day. I don't see any of the girls around him. Wonder where they all are?" In the seat in front of Munk, Mistoffelees turned round slightly, having heard the remark.

"I couldn't help overhearing your remark, Munk. The truth is none of the girls want be seen with Tugger because he's concentrating all of his attention on trying to get Cassandra to ditch 'Lonzo."

"Really? Where'd you hear that, Misto?" The black and white tom shrugged.

"Alonzo told me that Cass told him that she was told by Demeter, who was told by Tanto that Cori read Tugger's mind and came to that conclusion. I think?"

Skimble had given up listening to Misto and Munk's whispered conversation. He was listening to 'Jerrie and Pounce arguing about whether pen or pencil was better. 'Jerrie favoured pencil but only because he was left-handed and pen smudged. Pounce was losing the argument but was still trying to think up one last good point to say for using pen. He was failing, miserably. The tabby sighed,

"Oh, this is hopeless. I give up. You win again 'Jer." 'Jerrie stuck his tongue out at Pounce, using his pencil to mark another tally on his column. Arguments between Pounce and 'Jerrie were common, and though 'Jerrie always won, Pounce insisted that they keep a tally. 'Jerrie studied the table for a moment before remarking to Pounce,

"That's four hundred and sixty seven to me; zero to yer. Why don' yer just forget it?" Pounce opened his mouth to reply,

"Cos' that would be admitting de...

Bbbrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiinnnngggg !

"Ok, class. Out you go. And don't tell any of your other teachers that I let you spend the whole lesson talking."

The four friends filed out into the corridor. Munk grinned at 'Jerrie,

"Well. What did you think of that lesson, 'Jer?" The calico tom laughed,

"Yer wan' tha truth. It was a lesson well wasted, Munk. A lesson well wasted."

Okay, there we go. I went back through and edited it. (Found the odd proofreading error in need of fixing).

Thx for reading and don't forget:

There's a box at the bottom. I'd be grateful if you'd review. Even if it's simply to request something that happens later (I'm kinda stuck with this story and I don't really know where it's going), I'd appreciate it. Just don't flame me, or I will hate you forever.

Yours fearlessly, faithfully and truly
Scarlet Fire Dancer
xx