The Dance
Disclaimer: I do not own Animorphs
Chapter Two
My name is Cassie.
Well, it was just after Jake, Marco and Ax had left the barn that we talked. Basically, it was pointless chatter about Melissa Chapman and the Dance. I knew Rachel was steeling herself up to ask Tobias to the Dance.
Yes, I knew it. Rachel liked Tobias and vice versa. They just never really admitted it. And I knew Rachel would be nervous. What I didn't expect was Tobias's answer. I was sorting out food for the animals in the barn as Rachel asked.
"Tobias? Can…can you…can you come with me to the Dance?"
She'd finally asked him! I felt the hallelujah chorus sing in my ears. I was so happy for them! But I kept silent, privately wanting to throw my arms around Rachel and yell, "You did it!"
But everything went pop as I heard Tobias's answer.
(I…I don't know…I'd really want to but…the limit and everything…I…)
My heart sank. Was Tobias rejecting the offer? When he knew and I knew and Rachel knew that he cared about her more than he cared about himself?
Rachel had comprehended what I was still trying to digest.
"Never mind then," she said briskly but I could tell she was holding back tears, "It's okay. I understand."
(I'm really sorry Rachel.)
"No problem," Rachel said. I watched what should have been a perfectly sweet meeting turn into an awkward conversation, "I'll see you tomorrow Cassie. Bye guys."
Before I got the chance to speak, she was getting up and striding out of the barn, her golden hair swinging in the nighttime breeze. The red-tailed hawk hung his head behind me.
Turning around to face him, I stared incredulously at him.
"Why did you do that?"
(I…)
Tobias's voice was choked; even in his thought speak. He paused for a second before continuing the explanation that had ripped Rachel's hopes apart.
(I…don't deserve her. She needs someone she can enjoy herself with…forever. Whilst I have to keep rushing to demorph and then remorph every two hours just to enjoy a day with her. It's just not going to work Cassie.)
"What do you mean?" I exclaimed, "She cares about you! She doesn't mind you remorphing! And you care about her!"
Tobias shook his hawk head.
(We're practically different species now,) he continued, (she's a human! How can we be…how can Rachel and I be…us?)
"Tobias," I said softly, staring at his anguished yellow eyes, fierce by nature, but now humanly torn, "You are a human. Don't forget that."
He blinked, as if waking up from something.
(Thanks Cassie,) he said, spreading his wings, (But…Rachel still deserves someone better.)
I sighed as he took off into the night, my mind screaming with the unspoken protest.
But she loves you Tobias!
Rachel seemed to have forgotten the previous encounter the next day at school. Although I knew she was faking everything. Then, Melissa came running up to us. Rachel changed instantly. She laughed and talked with Melissa, as though they had just met, and avoided looking outside.
I got to know Melissa again as Rachel put it. We hung together for the entire school day. Jake and Marco gave me weird looks when we passed in the halls but I shrugged helplessly. In my heart, I knew Rachel wanted this little time with Melissa as much as Melissa wanted it.
After school, Rachel dragged me along with Melissa to the mall to shop. I shook my head privately. Had this 'break' from the Yeerks changed Rachel completely? Frankly, I wasn't even sure the Yeerks were completely redundant for the time being. Knowing Visser Three, he'd probably use stuff to his advantage.
But watching Melissa and Rachel laugh, tease and wink at passing guys, it was as if the invasion never happened. As if the Yeerks were still tamely in their own planet. As if we had never been able to morph.
"Ohmigosh!" Melissa squealed for the fifth time that afternoon, "A new store opening!"
"We should go and have a look," Rachel agreed enthusiastically, "Come on Cassie!"
But when she turned away, I caught the glint of sorrow in her eyes. I was always good at reading people. And I could tell that, even though Rachel was enjoying her time with Melissa, there were more things on her mind.
The largest 'thing' being Tobias.
But I allowed her to drag me along to a new store, which was having a massive opening sale. Even I, who never paid much attention to clothes, could tell it was cheap. The dresses were very pretty and came with matching headbands.I knew everyone would wear with those dresses to the Spring Dance. It would be the latest fashion craze.
Melissa and Rachel didn't even bother trying the dress they bought on. Rachel bought a really lovely medium blue dress and was given a headband and Melissa bought a pale pink dress. They tried to convince me to buy a dress but I refused the offer. Something didn't feel right…
Rachel was like that for theweek days leading to the Dance. She hung out with Melissa and her friends and barely glanced at Jake or Marco. And she refused to come over to my house. I hoped she was recovering but, somehow, I didn't feel like she wanted to be what she was.
And I felt stung she had simply put the Animorphs aside just to hang out with Melissa. I was stung she had put Tobias aside and completely ignored him. And I was disappointed she was turning back into her old self, but shallower and more preppy than I felt comfortable around. And being with them meant I was not allowed to talk to the group either.
In the end, Jake cornered me at my locker. Rachel and Melissa had gone off to class together and I was putting away some books.
"What happened to Rachel?" Jake demanded, glaring at her retreating back, "Why is she ignoring us?"
I sighed heavily.
"Jake, she's just trying to catch up with Melissa," I said feebly.
He wasn't fooled.
"We don't even know if Melissa is a Controller or not," he hissed, alerting me to an alarming possibility, "She may be and Rachel could be infested at this moment!"
But somehow, I knew that was wrong.
"Rachel's not infested," I said quietly, "I know she isn't."
Jake scratched the back of his head. And then sighed in frustration.
"Look, Cassie, would it be okay to meet at the barn? Today at around six?" he asked.
"Sure," I said, "Do you want me to tell Rachel?"
Jake hesitated and then replied, "Yeah. Tell her. If she doesn't want to come, don't force her to. We need to discuss something."
Of course, Rachel hadn't come. She had apologized to me but said she was busy. Yeah right. When had Rachel ever been too busy for an Animorph's meeting? Jake was obviously annoyed. Marco was irritated. Tobias felt guilty. And Ax had come with disturbing news.
(I was informed the Yeerks have developed a new technology,) the Andalite began gravely, (Apparently, they are using their parasitic ability to created a strange electronic power.)
"What kind of power Ax?" Jake asked.
(Well, it is called Egma Statoos,) Ax said, (It is to temporarily hold someone's mind and to compel them to go to a specific place. It's not really controlling the person but it's making them want to go to a specific location. The Yeerks are probably using this to get more Controllers.)
"How does it activate?" Jake asked again, frowning.
(The Egma Statoos needs an outlet to function. I believe it needs to be something the person has to have direct contact with. And it must be on the person's head so the waves will reach the person's brain,) Ax said, (However, this wave is very fragile and deadly for the Yeerks to use.)
"You mean it could destroy them?" Marco asked eagerly, "Like a virus?"
(Yes. But our best bet is to destroy the entire thing so the Yeerks can't use it. The central 'meeting ground' is a huge machine. It would be hard to hide.)
I felt a nagging in my head, as if I was forgetting something important.
"Well…we'd best be on our guard then," Jake said resignedly, "The Yeerks haven't made any distinct moves or threatened anything. We'll just be on the lookout for any disturbances. You up to it Tobias?"
(Yeah. Sure,) Tobias said but I could tell his heart was not in it.
The moment the other three left, Tobias fluttered onto the ground and hung his head.
(This is all my fault,) he said miserably.
"Tobias," I said firmly, "It's not your fault."
(It is!) he argued, (It's my fault Rachel's depressed. And it's my fault she's now avoiding us.)
"It's not," I repeated, making my tone gentle.
(See Cassie?) Tobias suddenly burst out, (See how we can't be together? How can we? I'm a hawk now and she's got her own life! She needs someone who can be there for her and I can't simply stroll into class and say 'Hello! I'm Tobias! Remember me? I used to be a human boy!')
I sighed.
This was almost as bad as fighting the Yeerks. Well…even worse. When we fight the Yeerks, at least everyone is on good terms and a team. Now…we still have Yeerks to fight and Tobias and Rachel are avoiding each other.
To the team, this was a big loss. Tobias, in his hawk form, is the eye of the group. Rachel is the one with the firepower. In short, our group minus Tobias and Rachel equals…not so good. And I was sad for them too.
"We'll have to see Tobias. We'll have to see."
Author's Note
I know it's short but I needed to clear some things up about before. The Egma Statoos is my own creation. It's a basic form of hypnotism that is activated through an object. Guesses on what the object was and is? Heh. Okay, I apolohize for the length butChapter Three will be coming up soon. Andyes, I wrote the chapter in Cassie's POV because I needed some reflection on thissituation and not from thebiased POV of either Rachel or Tobias. And, in case you haven't noticed, Rachel, Cassie and Tobias are my three...preferrable characters.
Don't worry, there's more to come. Review please? The little purple button.
Arlay