A/N: As requested by pouncii, this is Electra. This is not in chronological order, so...yah. :D

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Cats. But I wish I did :(

"Lexi! Wake up! Lexi! They're here, get up!"

"Ugh…" Electra let out a low groan, rolling over. "How many times have I told you how much I hate that nickname?"

"Fine," Etcetera huffed. "I think it's cute. But come on, I can see them outside!"

Electra groaned again, slowly setting herself upright. "Okay, okay. I'm up." She gave Etcetera a few lazy blinks. "Did you really stay up all night?"

"Duh."

"You are craaazy." Etcetera rolled her eyes, and Electra padded down from her bed to give her an affectionate nuzzle. "I still love you, though."

Etcetera gave her a wry grin. "Me too, you loser." Just then there was a sharp knock. Etcetera bolted straight upright, and bounded away to answer it. Electra let out a long sigh, following her leisurely, still blinking sleep from her eyes. Jemima and Victoria stood at the door, wide grins on both their faces.

"Sooo?" Etcetera was practically bouncing, she was so excited. "How was it? Was it fun? Was it amazing? Was it the best time of your life?" These questions were mostly aimed at Jemima, who gave a breezy laugh.

"It was all of those things! Cettie, it was perfect."

Electra sighed again, leaning back against the wall, her arms crossed. Jemima's first Jellicle Ball had been last night, and Etcetera had requested she come see them first thing in the morning to tell them all about it. She'd been waiting all night, unable to sleep because she had been so excited. Victoria, who had already been once, had endured the same treatment last year. Now the three of them stood in a circle, tails twitching. Etcetera let out a few squeals once in a while, listening to the queen-kits' excited recitation of the Ball.

Electra couldn't say she was quite as interested as her sister. She'd never really been as open and outgoing, and she was fine hanging out with her three best friends and not talking to anyone else. The thought of going to a Ball with all the cats in the Yard was terrifying. Her sister had always been the front-runner, and Electra was fine with that.

"You haven't told the best part, Jemi," came Victoria's excited voice. Electra snapped up, realizing she had totally tuned out.

"There's more?" Etcetera let out another of her signature squeals and grabbed Jemima's forearms. "What is it, Jemi? Tell me!"

Jemima bit her lip, looking down with that quiet smile. "Well…" She paused, turning to Victoria, who gave her a delighted nod. "Tumble asked me to dance." At this Etcetera stilled, her jaw dropping open. There was a moment of total silence and then she gave possibly the most excited squeal Electra had ever heard.

"No. Way! Heavyside, Jemi that's so cute!"

Jemi let out a squeaky laugh, blushing. "I think he might ask me to be his queenfriend."

At this Etcetera seemed to take no more. She began to jump around, taking Jemi with her, laughing and shrieking at the top of her lungs. Victoria joined in, and in no time the three kittens had collapsed on the floor in laughter. Electra watched this emotionlessly, her eyebrows raised. Sometimes she just didn't understand her friends.

The three untangled themselves, laughing, and settled down in a little circle on the floor. Victoria waved her over. "Electra! Come sit with us!" This was met with a chorus of agreeing mews from the others.

Electra rolled her eyes again, but she reluctantly pulled herself from the wall and joined in the circle. "Did anyone ask you, Vicky?" Etcetera asked as soon as she sat down.

Electra saw Victoria's smile falter for a moment. "No." Same as last year, Electra thought.

"Oh, don't worry," Etcetera said dismissively. "Someone'll ask you next year."

Victoria nodded, but Electra saw a glint of unhappiness in her eyes. She didn't say anything, only patted her white paw as Etcetera started grilling Jemima on exactly what had happened. Victoria flashed a thankful smile. Electra nodded and turned back to her friends.

"He was dancing with Bomba," Jemima was saying. "Sorry, Cettie."

"Whatever," Etcetera sniffed. "Next year, when Electra and I are old enough, Tugsie'll finally notice me for real."

Electra looked down, smiling softly beneath her whiskers. She wondered if her sister would ever grow out of her ridiculous childhood crush. Electra certainly had, although she'd never tell her sister. But judging from her glance at Etcetera, who was talking adamantly about how perfect Tugger was, her sister was still set on him and him alone.

But her white tabby sister surprised her later that night. Jemima and Vicky had already left long ago, and the sun had set below the horizon. Etcetera and Electra lay side by side in bed, resting against each other's backs. "Lexie?" Etcetera asked in the darkness.

Electra groaned. "Cettie, don't call me-"

Etcetera cut her off. "Do you think someone'll ask me at the Ball next year?"

Electra paused, hearing the genuine concern in her sister's voice. "I don't know. It's still a while away. Besides, it doesn't really matter." Even this sounded like a lie to Electra. She had seen how upset Victoria had really been. And even though she would never tell, there was a certain cat she wouldn't mind dancing with at the Ball.

"You know I love Tugger," Etcetera continued. "But…he danced with Bomba last year too. And I see them together all the time." She sighed. "And I can't be Tugger's queenfriend if he already has one."

Electra swallowed, hearing the sadness in her sister's voice. "Cettie-"

"It's ok though," Etcetera cut her off again. "I think… I think I might like someone else."

Electra turned to face her sister, eyes widening in shock. "Really?"

Etcetera didn't meet her eyes. "I mean, I'll always love Tugger. But…" She took a shuddery breath. "Well, Pounce is really sweet."

Electra felt her blood run cold. No. Not Pounce. Because of course Electra knew Pounce was sweet. He was more than sweet. He was funny and carefree and not so serious all the time. He was always happy, and he made Electra feel that way too, anytime she was near him. But... Etcetera. She couldn't like him. She couldn't. Not when Electra…not when Electra liked him too. He's mine, she thought miserably. But of course he wasn't, because Electra had never told her sister how she felt. She had never been brave enough, and she was always certain that she would get laughed at. But if Etcetera liked him, and she said it first…there was nothing Electra could do. Even if she'd liked Pounce long before this Ball, probably before the last one too. All these thoughts went through her head as her sister waited for her reaction.

Electra wanted to scream. Or maybe cry. She had a flashing image of next year's Ball, Etcetera dancing with Pounce while Electra stood on the side, unable to do anything. The imaginary image made her so angry that she almost did scream.

"Electra?" Etcetera's voice sounded small, and scared. Electra took a few deep breaths, looking down at her sister, who had turned to meet her eyes. Her throat had tightened up.

"That's…that's good," she managed to say. Except it wasn't.

Etcetera gave her a small smile and then turned back around.

Electra stared up at the empty ceiling, her paws shaking.

Another A/N: As usual, review and leave and requests you'd like for other characters!