The other cats cleared a space in the middle of the Junk Yard for Bombalurina to begin her dance. Her heart cried out for the Rum Tum Tugger but she knew he couldn't come. Old Deuteronomy stood at the entrance to the den and neither of his sons could get past. Instead Alonzo left the crowd and came towards her.

She kept dancing the music had caught her now but she wanted to stop and cry. He smiled at her as he ran his hand down her spine she arched away wanting just to run but he lifted her above his head and spun her before setting her on her feet and pulling her down with him. As she went down she saw Tugger being pulled away. She didn't think she had ever hated Demeter so much before. What she had done was killing Bomba and Bomba was going to make sure she paid for it.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Demeter and Munkustrap together, she felt the Protector was too good for Demeter, though to be fair she had said sorry to Tugger and Macavity for getting them in trouble. Whether she meant it or not was debatable but she had still said it. She had still said nothing to Old Deuteronomy which was why Bombalurina was currently having her first dance with Alonzo. She was pulled out of her musings by Alonzo. She wanted to die.

Demeter smiled as the cats lay down together. She had her objective, mate of Old Deuteronomy's favoured son, the next leader of the Jellicles. Munkustrap wouldn't be hard to control, she knew he loved her. She smiled at her triumph. Everything was coming together. But there was one flaw: Macavity. He wasn't in love with her but neither did he seem attracted to any of the other cats. She needed to find his weakness. His brothers maybe? No! Both Munkustrap and Tugger were stronger than her. Oh well she'd think about it later and turned her attention back to Munkustrap, this was almost the last step in her plan. Now she just had to deal with Macavity.

Tugger groaned as he heard the music for the start of the mating dance. He knew he could never reach Bomba in time and he longed to. His entire body yearned for her.

"Dad, please. This is important to Bomba."

As strong as he was, he began sobbing as he watched Bomba dance with Alonzo. Their eyes met for a second and Bomba seemed to pause. Tugger made one last push to get past his father but found himself being dragged inside, screaming for his love.

His cries went unheard. Then he heard the music change to signal the end of the mating dance. Tugger threw himself down on his bed and cried He had lost his chance with Bomba and would now have to wait a year for his chance to come again. He stared blankly at the wall with tears dripping down his face ignoring Macavity's efforts to comfort him.

His father stared at his eldest son and shook his head.

"There will always be next time son"

"But this was her first time and it should have been mine. And now you have taken that away from me. You and Demeter. Now leave me alone."

Tugger snarled at his father hoping he would be left alone to cry and retain something of his dignity. Old Deuteronomy left the den shaking his head. For the first time he began to wonder if he had done something wrong in confining Tugger and Macavity to their den during the Jellicle Ball. Jellylorum noticed his expression.

"What's wrong?" She asked, her face concerned.

"I'm just wondering if I did the right thing confining Tugger to the den during the Ball. Not being able to dance with Bombalurina seems to have really upset him and she doesn't seem too happy." He responded. They both looked towards the scarlet queen who was sat away from the tom she had just mated with.

"It's too late now but maybe you could let them out tomorrow." Jelly sighed. This wasn't the way things were meant to be.

"I will, it seems to be the fairest way." He nodded; Jellylorum smiled and went to rejoin her mate, Asparagus Jr, leaving Old Deuteronomy deep in thought.

Old Deuteronomy went back into his den to tell his two sons the good news. He walked through the door to see a guilty looking Macavity and no Tugger.

He stared at his youngest son, who wouldn't meet his eye.

"Macavity, where is he?" He stared down at the ginger tom, who didn't look at him when he replied.

"I don't know?" the tom replied, his voice rising at the end as if it was a question.

"Macavity, you know you can't lie so just tell me where he is!"
"He headed out of the junkyard, towards the woods." Macavity sighed. He knew he

shouldn't betray his brother but his father was right. He was pathetic at lying.

Tugger slowly removed his collar. The spikes would probably be sharp enough for what he desired. He hadn't thought seeing Bomba with another tom would hurt so much but it had.

He felt like his whole life had been torn apart because of one tom. He just wanted to die. The tears began to fall again and he took a deep breath and, grasping the collar so that the point glistened in the bright light of the Jellicle moon, the moon which had seen the end of all his dreams, he started to lower it towards his wrist.

His hand was shaking and tears blinded his vision. He was hurting all over, both physically and spiritually. He felt pain as sharp as lightening fly all through his body as the point pierced his skin. He was about to bring it across when a scarlet paw reached out and gently grabbed his wrist.

He turned his head to see Bomba looking down at him. He smiled sadly as she leant down and kissed him.

"What happened tonight was nothing. You know you are the only tom I will ever want and I will always wait for you." she looked deep into his eyes, her expression begging him to understand.

Tugger lifted his hand and stroked her face tenderly. He loved her but she was with Alonzo now. As hard as it was, those were the rules of the Jellicle ball. The cat you mated with was your mate, at least until the next Jellicle ball. Since he had not mated with anyone, he would remain single.

"It will all change next year. I promise." Tugger hugged Bomba tightly and she nodded.

"Next year."