This one, suggested by Quiffin, is a bit shorter, but it tells the story: Tugger and Bombalurina must pick up the pieces of childhood romance. I hope you enjoy Tuggerina!
"I am going to split you up into pairs for this experiment," Asparagus announced to his chemistry class. He adjusted his glasses and read off a piece of paper. "Munkustrap and Admetus. Mistoffelees and Electra. Plato and Victoria. Tumblebrutus and Pouncival. Alonzo and Cassandra. Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina."
While most of the new partners happily paired up and began working, Tugger and Bombalurina shot daggers at each other from across the classroom.
Asparagus sighed. "Rum Tum Tugger and Bombalurina, please proceed to Bench 5 and begin the experiment."
Disdainfully, the two stomped over to the bench and sat down. "Asshole," Bombalurina grumbled. "Slut," Tugger shot back.
Cassandra, who was working with Alonzo at Bench 6, snorted. "You two dated for, like, six minutes in elementary school. It's time to get over it."
"Easy for you to say," Bombalurina hissed. "He left me for you."
Cassandra just rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding me? I can do better."
"Please," Asparagus begged his students, "focus on the experiment. Remember, you are working with chemicals."
"And it's just supposed to change color?" Mistoffelees huffed, folding his arms across his chest. "I could just make it change color."
"Yeah, yeah, Sparkles," Tugger joked with his friend. Bombalurina's hand shot up in the air.
"Mr. Asparagus, Tugger is not focusing on the experiment, and I don't feel safe."
Asparagus hid his face in his hands. "How many more years until I can retire?"
Tugger and Bombalurina glared at each other, silently resolving to just get this experiment done as fast as possible and get the hell away from each other. They set about pouring and mixing things, handing glassware back and forth, masterfully working together.
"You just think you're – can you hand me that beaker? – the Everlasting Cat's gift to queens," Bombalurina said.
"Because I am. Can I have that pipet? No, the ten milliliter one. Thank you. You, on the other hand, think you're so hot."
"I am so hot. Will you measure five grams of that? Thanks."
"When you say 'hot,' are we talking in degrees Kelvin, here? If you're hot, you should go see the nurse."
"You should go see the nurse about your huge ego."
"My ego's not the only thing I have that's huge, y'know."
Bombalurina slammed the Erlenmeyer flask she was holding down onto the bench. "You're disgusting!" she shouted. "Why on Earth am I into you?"
She and Tugger froze, staring at each other in shock. Bombalurina's cheeks managed to turn brighter red than her fur. She looked away.
"You're into me?" Tugger asked.
"I didn't say that."
"You did, just now. Didn't she?"
"Sure did," replied Alonzo.
Bombalurina hissed at the toms, before turning back to Tugger with tears in her eyes. "You broke my heart."
"W- We were nine."
"We were best friends, and after that, you treated me like I was nothing!"
It was Tugger's turn to blush. He began fiddling with the pipets. "I'm sorry, Bomba."
Bombalurina scoffed. "Yeah, right. Like hell, you're sorry. You're never sorry. Everything's always about you Tugger."
"For what it's worth," Tugger mumbled, still not making eye contact with his partner, "I think you're pretty hot, Bomba."
"Please. You're just saying that," Bomba sniffed.
At the next bench, Cassandra rolled her eyes. "Oh, brother! Bomba knows she's hot. Everyone knows Bomba knows she's hot. Would you two just kiss and make up, already? It's well past time."
Bombalurina blushed again, but Tugger was nothing if not bold. He took Cassandra's advice. He leaned in and kissed Bombalurina hard on the lips, and Bombalurina did not protest. The rest of the class just groaned.
"Can these chemicals burn my eyes out?" Munkustrap asked. "I need to burn my eyes out."
Suddenly, in the midst of Tugger and Bomba's make out session, Asparagus gasped. "Kits, pay attention to the experiment! It-"
Pop.
The chemicals ignited into flames, bursting out of the flask and singing the ceiling tiles as the students looked on in shock.
More entertained than anything by the sudden inferno, Tugger tossed his arm of Bombalurina's shoulder. "I guess you could say we have…explosive chemistry."
