Chapter 21: Trading

"Plato?" Victoria asked that same morning, around the same time. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Plato grinned. "What's up?"

"Are you taking me to the Ball?" Victoria blurted out. Plato's grin vanished. He shuffled his feet.

"Well, erm, I wanted to talk to you about that…" he began. Victoria grew anxious. "It's just…I know we had planned to go together, but right now I don't feel like you really like me. Besides, there's Persephone…" Victoria's hopes fell. So that was it, nobody wanted to take her, Victoria the white, fluffy, and beautiful, to the Ball. She felt terribly hurt.

"Oh," she murmured as she began to walk away. "That's okay." This was almost as bad as when she was asking Misto…To think that everyone else would get dates. Except her. Persephone and Electra would steal Plato and Mistoffelees. Jemima was going with Tumblebrutus. Etcetera with Ademetus. Munkustrap and Demeter must be thinking about it since they'd made up. Cassie and Alonzo and Jenny and Skimble were obvious, they were mates. No one felt a desire to take Victoria.

"Sorry," Plato called after the white queen.

*~*~*

"Mistoffelees, hi." Electra wandered over to the magician later that morning. "I just wanted to tell you that I can't go to the Ball with you."

Misto, who had been smiling eagerly, looked crestfallen. His smile fell. "Oh, well, that's ok." He was really sad that Lecta would go with him. He was also a little angry.

"I'm sorry, but it's really upsetting Victoria. I don't want to break our friendship. Even over a tom as admirable as you." Electra looked a little wistful, so Misto asked,

"But what do you want, Lecta?"

"Really, I'd love to go with you. I just don't think it'd be smart." Electra replied. "You aren't too disappointed, are you?"

Misto bit his lip. He had to admit, he didn't really believe her explanation. He figured it was excuse. He told her so. "I think you just don't want to go with me; so you're inventing an excuse. Your using your friend to save you from something you'd prefer to avoid."

"What did you just say?" Electra asked incredulously. "Did you just tell me I was lying?"

Misto turned around and looked Electra directly in the face. "Yes, I suppose I just did."

"How dare you?" Electra cried. "I would've gone with you, but I consider my friends a little more important then a date to the Ball."

"Well, thank you very much. You're too kind to bestow the compliment." Misto yelled sarcastically. "If that's the way you think of me, I don't want you to go with me anymore. You can try your luck with one of the other toms!"

"Thank you!" Electra yelled at him. "I'll do just that!" He glared at her for a moment, then turned and stalked away. Electra stood still for a moment, fuming silently.

"Problems?" Victoria's voice was sly as she sauntered up to Electra. "You see, I told you he wouldn't want you after all."

"You're not so perfect yourself," Lecta spat. "Jemima told me that Plato dumped you this morning."

Victoria hesitated. She didn't have an argument for that. She sighed. "Electra, this is ridiculous. We should just resign and become friends again. Band together, no matter if anyone asks us or not."

"I have no intention of joining forces with you." Electra told the white queen. "You started this. You've been insulting me. Why should we be friends again?"

"Because we're both the ones who should have dates, but don't." Victoria was obviously trying very hard to be friends again. "We're too similar to be enemies. I didn't mean what I told you earlier. That was mean of me." Electra snorted.

Then she reconsidered. They had been friends up until Misto. Now, Misto didn't want Electra anymore, but he didn't want Victoria. Why shouldn't they team up? What would be the harm in that? And if they didn't get dates, they'd make the toms jealous. Make them wish they had asked Electra or Victoria. Or something like that. "Ok, I guess."

Victoria smiled and linked arms with Electra conspiratorially. Then the two wandered off, whispering to each other.

*~*~*

Pouncival had been watching the scene. He'd seen the various arguments and 'break-ups' of the day. The last events had puzzled him. One moment the two queens were fighting; the next, they were acting like best friends, closer then they'd been before.

But the scene he'd witnessed had cleared his mind on one thing. He knew now who he would take to the Ball. He had wanted to ask her for the longest time, but she'd had plans. Now, she was free. And he had to invite her before some other tom snatched her up. He mentally reviewed the list of couples who were officially going to the Ball together. Not too bad. There weren't many couples though.

He wasn't too worried about the lack of couples, or his lack of date. Most toms put the asking off till the last day, or even the day of the Ball itself. He had one day before the big event. He would do it tonight.

*~*~*

Persephone sat on top of the oven. She was in a position to eavesdrop of the various conversations, but she was to upset to bother. She knew she shouldn't have spoken to Demeter like that, though she had every right to. She was just afraid that she had ruined every chance of reuniting with her mother. She didn't want that. She wanted to have family again. (She said again though she didn't remember ever having one in the first place.)

She was curled up, her head on her paws, when she heard something going on below her. Plato and The Rum Tum Tugger were yelling at each other. She sat up and listened.

"You can't ask her!" Tugger was yelling. "She's mine! She wouldn't want to go with you!"

"Well just because you're 'Mr. Perfect-Who-Every-Queen-Drools-Over' doesn't mean that you should get any queen you want!" Plato yelled back. "It's whoever asks first and you can't claim without inviting!"

"How do you know I haven't asked her?" Tugger jeered. "How do you know she hasn't accepted?"

"Because she doesn't like you," Plato crowed. "She's the one queen who doesn't think you're so great!"

They're talking about me! Persephone realized. She peered down at them. But he's right, she went on thinking. I don't like The Tugger. Plato on the other hand…

"But aren't you going with Victoria?" Tugger asked hopefully.

"You're out of it mate! That's a thing of the past." Plato smirked. "I'm not going with her. I'm not going with anyone…yet." And with that, Plato turned and strutted off. Looking terribly dejected, Tugger slouched away.

But poor Vicky! Persephone realized. Plato must have dumped her this morning! For me? I guess so! It was kind of exciting, but she felt horrible for Victoria. She had stolen her date. Feelings would be tense. Oh well, she hoped things would resolve themselves somehow.

(Note: Ademetus. I've seen the name spelled two different ways. The first is Ademetus. The second is Admetus. As you can see, I prefer Ademetus. For the moment, I will spell it that way. Bear with me. Also, I'd like to add a long overdue thanks to jelliclesoul635 for being the first reviewer! )