Sorry, I forgot to put a disclaimer in: These characters belong to TS Eliot and Andrew Loyd Webber. Athena is my OC, but the rights of the others go to them.

It was early morning when Misto woke up. Athena was still asleep, snoring quietly and twitching every few seconds. Misto was a light sleeper, and often woke hours before Athena did.

He got out of the bed and idled his way to the kitchen. He made a cup of tea, and sipped it. The Jellicle ball was the following week, and this was around the point people began preparing.

He was surprised to hear Athena coming into the living room.

"Good morning." Misto said.

"Yeah, hi."

"Did you have a good sleep?"

"Yeah. I kept having weird dreams."

"Oh?"

"Yeah."

"What about?"

"Oh... err... Macavity."

Misto automatically tensed at the mention of his brother.

"Oh."

"I was going to wake you up, but I didn't want to disturb you."

"No, no. It's okay. You should've woke me..."

"And you'd better not try anything stupid like last year!"

Tugger was receiving a lecture from his brother, Munkustrap, about proper conduct at the ball.

"Relax. Since when do I do stupid things?"

"Since always." Munkustrap sounded wary.

"Well, you needn't worry. I'll be on my best behaviour."

"Yeah, well, you promise that every year."

"The others like it."

"Well, I don't!"

"I can tell."

"Listen, if you could not be a pain in the arse this year it would be a really big help."

"I've already said yes, what else do you want from me?"

"I want you to mean it." Munkustrap said with a sigh.

"Well, you'd better get practising, Athena. It's your first ball this year."

"Yeah. Erm, what's it like? Does everyone get drunk?"

"Well, you won't."

"Awww. Why?"

"Because you're 14."

"And?"

"It's illegal."

"So?"

"Athena, shut up. Go and play outside."

"Okay."

Athena took off outside with a football, much to Misto's surprise. He had expected her to complain more, but as long as she didn't get up to mischief, he couldn't care less what she did.

It's a lovely day, He thought. Maybe I'll go outside.

The sun was shining. It was neither too hot nor too cold. Misto stretched off and began to walk. He hadn't got too far when Tugger came up next to him.

"Hey."

"Hi." Tugger replied.

"Where's your fan club?"

"I don't know, actually. I thought I'd come and talk with someone who won't try and put their head between my legs. You aren't going to put your head between my legs, are you?"

"No." Misto said, but god knew if he had the chance...

"You know, I've always admired you." Misto's thoughts were interrupted.

"Yeah?"

"I mean, you've been through a bit of a hard time."

"I suppose so."

"What with your mother dying, and your brother being Mac-

"Tugger, can you not?"

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

Misto turned away, silent. Tugger watched him, he seemed lost in thought.

"You know, I don't get you."

"Sorry?"

"Like, you're not like the others. You don't try to spend your entire life in my bedsheets, unlike a certain queen."

"Yeah, well."

"Why don't you like me, you know, like the others do?"

Oh, god, Tugger. If only you knew.

"You're a terrible bore."