As Old Deuteronomy sang his closing speech to the other cats, Annie Spadero couldn't help but cringe. She'd tried hard not to look out at the audience, but her eyes continuously went to the rows and rows of empty chairs that should have been filled with fans of the long running musical. After all, who didn't love seeing Cats at the Winter Garden Theatre on Broadway in New York City?

Apparently hundreds of people.

But sadly when the show opened one act before, every seat was filled. That is, until Jimmy Callahan came on stage. Now she shuddered to think of how many (or in this case how few) bodies would be left by the time the final bows were taken. She had no doubt that there were probably more people in the cast than were actually sitting in the audience!

She sighed, thinking of the IRS agent that had made her life a living hell.

Why couldn't she have found a different IRS office? One that employed senile old ladies instead of young, arrogant men who complained about everything and still managed to find something wrong with her taxes? So she didn't keep records of her finances. Who did? It wasn't like it was the crime of the century!

But to Jimmy Callahan it was.

The applause, which usually thundered throughout the building was drowned out by boos and hisses. Clearly the audience hated it. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize that hurling objects at the cast members was a sign of disapproval.

But then again, Jimmy wasn't like other cast members. He was... strangely cute in a way, with his blonde hair and blue eyes...

Damn...

Well, she just thanked God he was virtually unrecognizable with his makeup, but once her boss caught wind of this... horrible cast member who somehow managed to find his way into the show, she was sure that her career was over and she was even more sure that she'd never find another role anywhere in New York, on or off Broadway.

Damn that Del... And Charlie was even worse! All she wanted was for them to pretend to give Jimmy an audition because he promised her that she'd never have to pay taxes again.

She could just imagine it... never having to pay taxes on anything for the rest of her life. She could move into a huge condo (after she found a husband-and it wouldn't matter if he was richer than she was. Well, not much anyway.), and take trips to Paris, London and practically anywhere else. The thought made her heart race with excitement.

But her plan backfired in a big way. After the audition (and boy it was the worst display of acting and singing that Annie had ever seen!), instead of saying "Thank you very much, we'll call you!" Charlie (the idiot that he was) freaked out and told Jimmy that he got the part! Even Del was horrified! Only an idiot like Charlie would find it remotely enjoyable.

And so against her wishes, she dragged Jimmy to the Wintergarden Theatre where he insisted that he didn't even need to rehearse the lines, for he knew every line and song by heart.

Amazingly he was right.

But she shouldn't have been surprised. The man was completely deranged, freaking out about being passed over for an office with a window. And anyone who bothered seeing Cats thirteen times was definitely in need of psychiatric help! Even she hadn't seen it that many times and she was in it!

She feigned a smile and bowed, praying that no one noticed her. But she didn't really have to worry, because there were so few people that she had to strain to hear the applause. As the curtain closed she breathed a sigh of relief and began pondering where she could buy a New York Times at this hour and begin scouring the employment section. But once the review came out in tomorrow's paper, she'd be lucky to find a job as a waitress in the sleaziest restaurant around.

She was just about to head to her dressing room when she spotted a very familiar face adorned in black and white makeup and wearing an orange and black cat costume.

Oh no...

"Annie! There you are!" he cried, rushing toward her.

"Jimmy..." She replied through clinched teeth, as he put his hands on her shoulder.

"Wasn't that magnificent? The excitement, the freedom, the music... the dancing! Why... I've never felt such a rush of... satisfaction in my entire life! Do you have any idea how long I've been dreaming of being in such a spectacular Broadway show? And not just any show... Cats! The TS Elliot masterpiece composed by the brilliant Andrew Lloyd Webber!"

"I can imagine." She said with as little enthusiasm as possible.

"You can't possibly imagine how happy you've made me, Annie! And I intend to fulfill my promise!"

She swallowed hard, trying desperately to remember whether or not she'd agreed to sleep with him. She certainly hoped not.

"Um... what promise was that, Jimmy?"

He gently squeezed her shoulders and smiled. "You'll never pay taxes again! So when's our next performance? I can guarantee it will be even better than this one, although I don't see how that's possible! And I owe it all to you!"

"Uh yeah... Jimmy... about that..."

"Yes, Annie?"

She swallowed hard.

Oh God...

"Jimmy, I-."

Before she could finish he turned around and gasped. "Oh look! Some fans are waiting for me! I'd better get out there and start signing autographs! I don't want to disappoint them!"

"Jimmy-."

He returned his attention to her and smiled. "I'll never forget this, Annie. And there's something I need to tell you. Something... I've been wanting to tell you for a while now."

"Uh oh... Don't tell me I owe more back taxes... Jimmy, you promised!"

"This has nothing to do with that." He said, somewhat reassuringly.

"All right, then what is it?"

He stared into her eyes, brushing a lock of hair from her forehead.

"Annie Spadero, I think I'm falling in love with you."

She barely had time to react when his lips were on hers for the most incredible kiss she'd ever experienced.

This was definitely not part of the plan.