I feel like I've been neglecting Victoria. So here is some relationship building!

Chapter Eleven: Strawberries

I walked inside the house and made to collapse on my bed, but Mom grabbed my shoulder and whirled me around.

"Ahem." Mom said, pointing to a stack of books I hadn't noticed. "You have homework for yesterday, when Jennyanydots said you skipped class, and for today. When you were so hung over you could barely think."

I rolled my eyes."Sometimes I wish Jennyanydots wasn't one of your best friends." Mom simply picked up the books and dropped them into my arms. I grunted; there must've been at least three pounds worth of books in there.

That's what you get for skipping. I'm not going to do it all.

Naw, you can just do most of it. I'll do one problem.

Lazy drunk.

Broken record.

Well, look who's talking. You just go through the same cycle; drink, hangover, flirt, drink, hangover-

Okay. I get it, I get it.

I sighed and plopped myself on the floor, my white-tipped tail flicking about with annoyance. I really hated homework. I nibbled on the eraser of my pencil and tapped it against my forehead; math is not my forte.

Twenty-four. Mistoffelees said randomly. He seemed rather alert though, so I decided to pay him a little mind.

What?

The answer to the problem is twenty-four.

Well, it seems you just can't keep your paws off the math homework, now can you? I asked smugly, writing down the answer and moving on to the next problem.

You're just so...slow. I can't take it. 3/4 is the answer to that one.

Well, thanks. Why don't you just do it then?

Fine, you little...

I grinned triumphantly as Mistoffelees took over.

~~~Mistoffelees~~~

I shook my head slightly and bent down over the schoolwork, concentrating. My mind went blank, excepting for solving math problems and answering questions. Before I knew it, I was done. Mom smiled and looked up from the book she was reading.

"You hungry?" She asked.

"No, thanks." I replied, packing up my books and stretching. I tended not to eat much; I either wasn't hungry or had forgotten.

"Alright, then I'll be going to bed. It's been a long day." Mom said. She stood and walked towards her bedroom. "Goodnight."
"Night, Mom."

"I love you both."

"We love you too, Mom." I replied as she closed the door. I now had the whole den to myself. Well, to me and Quaxo.
Can't forget me. I'm the life of this party.
Party? No, I'm going to dance a bit, and maybe read some.

Oh my. You really are a rule breaker. Dancing inside! What will Mom think?

Oh, quiet, you.

I sighed and began the necessary stretches that would allow me to dance without cramping. But when I rose, I felt a strange itching in the back of my throat. I thought that perhaps I was just thirsty, and lapped some water from a basin we keep full in the house. Unfortunately, the itch persisted, and I slowly came to the realization that I was developing a craving for something I'd only tasted in my mingled dreams with Quaxo. Alcohol.

Quaxo, What did you counselor say to do if you got cravings? I asked frantically. I would not go anywhere near that foul liquid. Not even if I forced Quaxo through withdrawal.

Uhm. Let me think...er...he said grape juice or something fruity, I think. He seemed a little surprised with my urgency, and responded seriously for once.

With that in mind, I left the den in search of fruit. Which, may I add, is not very appetizing.

~~Victoria~~

I walked up to Plato's den and knocked on the door. I couldn't bear to string the poor tom along anymore. The door swung open and Plato stood there, smiling in an... an almost forlorn way. What did he know?

"Hey Victoria." He meowed. I smiled sadly up at him.

"H-hey. There's something I need to tell you." He gently put his finger on my lips.
"I know. You like Mistoffelees and or Quaxo." The russet tom sighed and allowed me to speak again.
"I'm so sorry. I just can't bear to keep stringing you along, and-" I said in a rush, halting for breath. He jumped in when I paused.
"It's all right. I'm not going to say it doesn't hurt, but I'm not going to keep you here if you prefer a sparkly magician with duel personalities. Remember, if he hurts you, I'll still be here." I nearly broke into tears – Plato and Mistoffelees – Quaxo was a completely different type of wonderful – were great toms. I deserved none of them.

"T-thanks." I hugged him quickly, then, unable to bear the guilt of seeing the look on his face, ran out into the night.

Right into Mistoffelees.

~~Mistoffelees~~

Victoria came running into me, nearly in tears. I stood there nervously for a moment, unsure what to do, before she spoke.

"Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost!" She said. I realized that I probably looked quite insane, with my somewhat frazzled and desperate expression and my running around the Junkyard at night.

"I...l-look at-t-t yourself!" I hoped to change the subject, but to no avail. Victoria continued to press the

matter.
"I know about me, but you..you look awful!" I blushed faintly at the way she fretted over me, but the growing itch in my throat required I found some way to satisfy it – and soon.
"Well, Quaxo, h-h-he has a b-bit of-f a drinking p-problem. And-d I believe it's-s-s affecting-g me some. D-do you have any fruit?" I spilled every secret in a few sentences. Just to relive an itch. What a weak creature I was. Surprisingly, Victoria wrapped her arms around me.
"Of course. I know it's weird, but I just love strawberries. I grow some behind my den. Come on."