Chapter 5
Tugger lay on his back, staring up at the ceiling, hugging a purple cushion to his chest. It had been ages since Munkustrap had gone and Tugger hadn't left his bed the whole day. The rain had started to fall heavily and the only sound was it pattering against the windows.
"Bom-ba-lur-ina." Tugger whispered slowly to himself, each syllable feeling as sweet as honey on his lips. "I'm so sorry babe."
He shifted onto his side, whispering as if she was there, beside him. He could almost feel her arms wrap themselves around his neck, almost smell her sweet, exotic, coconut scent, almost hear her whisper in his ear, "I love you so much Tuggs."
"I love you too Bombs." He whispered back to the imaginary Bombalurina. "More than you can possibly know."
He reached down and rested a paw on his silver belt. It always made him think of her. She had been the first cat to compliment him on it when he had first worn it. He had come strolling into the junkyard feeling so cool in it. She had spotted it first and had come over.
"Well well well, what have we got here?" Bomba asked smiling at Tugger in his new, silver belt.
"Just a little something a found in the 'yard. Pretty cool, right babe?" he smirked, hooking his paws in it.
"Mmm very sexy." She winked, taking a step closer and hooking her own paws in it at his hips, stroking him slightly and making him purr.
"Well I'm glad you approve, wouldn't want to disappoint my favourite queen, would I?" He whispered in her ear.
"You never do. In fact," she had whispered back, going right up on her toes so that her breath tickled his neck, "it makes you look hotter than ever."
And with that she had unhooked her paws, turned around and sauntered off, leaving the little kittens to come screaming over.
That was so long ago. Back when they had flirted non-stop, he had pretended that that was all it was, just flirting, but he had known he loved her. Deep down.
He dragged his claws through the cushion in frustration. What had gone wrong? How did they manage to have fun back then and now…
Of course Tugger knew the answer. It had been OK to just flirt, but he had taken it too far. He had just…wanted her so badly. He had been so stupid, thinking he could go all the way with her and then pretend nothing had happened. That wasn't the way it worked. But he had grown up; he was ready to commit to her. He had been ready since forever, just to scared to admit it.
What was she doing now? Was she thinking about him? Did she know that he loved her? How could she, he had never told her. Even on those special nights when they were alone he hadn't told her, the perfect opportunity had come and he had let it go. Why had he been so stupid?
A sharp rap on the door made him jump. The last thing he wanted to do was have to make forced conversation with Misto or Alonzo or whoever it was.
"Bugger off!" Tugger called from his bed.
"Oh trust me, there is nothing I would rather do more!" a queen's voice called from outside.
Tugger rolled his eyes at the unwelcome voice of the queen. He couldn't even pretend he was out now.
"Who is it?" he called, making no effort to get up.
"It's Demeter. Let me in!" she called, banging on the door, "I'm getting soaked!"
"Demeter?" Tugger repeated. She was the last queen he had imagined it to be. Well, second last.
"God, you're more stupid than you look. Yes Demeter! I'm coming in!" she said unnecessarily as she came in, filling the den with icy air as she shut the door behind her.
She looked over at him in his bed, a disgusted look on her face.
"Awww is poor little Tugsy not feeling to good?" she asked sarcastically, "Get up, now. I need to speak to you."
Tugger reluctantly hauled himself out of his nice warm bed and went down to where Demeter was now sitting on the sofa. He sat down on a chair, sighing.
"Look, about last night. I'm sorry; I was drunk and-" he was cut off.
"Ok, save it for somebody who cares. I'm not here to talk about me; I'm here to talk about Bombalurina. Quickly though, I'm going over to Munkus's, giving Bomba some time to think."
Tugger rubbed his eyes; Demeter was the last cat he wanted to talk about Bombalurina with.
"Can't we do this some other time? I'm not feeling-"
"No, we can't! I don't care if your leg's coming off, you are going to tell me what the hell you think you are doing!" she yelled.
"What do you mean? I'm not doing anything." Tugger said quietly. Demeter flung her arms in the air, exasperatedly.
"Oh my god Tugger! Do you actually think about anyone else in the world but yourself?!"
"Yes, I just…" he didn't know what to say.
"Do you understand how she feels about you? Do you understand how upset she is?" Demeter asked, looking like she might slap him again.
"I don't know how she feels! She hates me, I can guess that. And she has every right to, I know how I've treated her and I'm sorry." He said, raising his voice slightly. Then lowering it again. "But she has no idea how I feel about her."
Demeter sighed. "Well, she does hate you, understandably, but…how do you feel about her?
Tugger shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does! It matters immensely! But you don't have to tell me."
"Really?" Tugger asked, relieved.
"You have to tell Bombalurina." Demeter said, getting up to leave.
"What? Is that it?" Tugger asked, surprised at how brief she had been.
"Yes, I think that's about as long as I can bear to be here. You know what to do, and if you don't…well it could be more than just a slap next time." She said as she went back out into the now dark night, closing the door behind her.
Tugger put his head in his paws. Demeter was right. She was just like Munkustrap. Annoyingly always right. He went back to his bed, sitting down on it.
Bombalurina had been here, in this bed with him, twice. He had felt so good, lying there, being able to hold her and kiss her and touch her and talk to her. And love her. He picked up a dark blue satin cushion with little golden stars embroidered on it. It was her favourite one. He held it to his face; it still smelt faintly of coconut. He breathed in the scent deeply, wishing it was her.
What was he meant do to? He knew Demeter wanted him to go and talk to Bombalurina but…it had only been a day since the party. Shouldn't he let everyone calm down? Yes. Leave it for tonight, go tomorrow.
Tugger looked around the den. It was only about 7pm, and now Tugger knew he had to go and talk to Bombalurina he couldn't sit still. He paced about and sat down then got up and attempted to tidy things and re-tidy them. It felt like hours had passed but it turned out to only have been thirty minutes.
'Couldn't I just pop over quickly, just to see if she's in? To apologise? Wouldn't that be the gentlemanly thing to do?' Tugger asked himself. 'Yes, just to make sure she's ok on her own, even though she probably won't even open the door…but just to maybe see her, or hear her.'
Tugger walked purposefully towards the door, then backed away from it, as if it was covered in flames. 'C'mon, at least try to redeem yourself! You've got nothing to lose.'
He pulled open the door slowly and was greeted by a gust of icy wind, as well as the rain, lashing down him. He stepped back into his den, searching for something to keep him warm. He grabbed an old black scarf he had found lying about and knotted it round his neck, covering up his leopard-spotted chest. He wished he had some of those lovely woollen gloves that humans had, his leather ones may look great, but they hadn't any fingers so weren't exactly warm.
He checked his appearance in one of his many mirrors, fixing his head-fur and mane, even though he knew that they'd be ruined within a minute of being outside. He touched his belt again for reassurance, "I'm coming Bombs." He whispered to himself again, "I'm going to make it ok babe, everything's going to be fine." Tugger knew he was saying it partly to comfort himself, partly because he wished Bombalurina could somehow hear him.
He stepped back out into the night, and then a thought struck him. He ran back into his den and up to his bed. He grabbed the cushion with the stars and left for the third time into the storm.
Bombalurina's den was quite a distance and Tugger hoped he wouldn't meet anyone on his way, they'd wonder why he was wondering about in the storm carting an old cushion about. He wasn't in the mood to explain.
Tugger walked briskly so as to keep warm, through all the little alleys in the junkyard, the cushion tucked under his arm hoping it wouldn't get too wet.
He turned around a dark alley and walked slap bang into the worst possible thing he could've walked into.
"Well look who it is! The little pretty boy with the fancy mane!"
Macavity. And not just Macavity, he had all his little black henchcats with him. Tugger knew he wouldn't be able to handle them all, he didn't know how he was going to deal with this.He could fight and well, he just wasn't in the mood. He swallowed nervously.
"Look, I'm not here to cause any trouble, I just want to get past."
"Oh really? Well we're feeling a bit bored tonight, aren't we lads?" Macavity said scornfully, the black cats all laughed and nodded. "We fancy a bit of entertainment."
Macavity's black eyes glimmered in the shadows; his red and orange striped fur was wet and rugged.
"Excuse me." Tugger said as he tried to squeeze past the taller cats.
"What's wrong pretty boy? Scared you'll break a nail?" Macavity laughed, grabbing Tugger back by his mane.
"Let me go Macavity." Tugger said through gritted teeth.
"Say please." Macavity smiled, grabbing Tugger's jaw so he was facing him, digging his claws deep into Tugger's face. There was silence.
"Please." Tugger said. Macavity and the cats laughed cruelly, Macavity threw Tugger down onto the cold, wet concrete.
"What have we here then? A little pressie for a special girly?" Macavity cooed mockingly, picking up the satin, starry cushion. "Very nice indeed. Get quiet a bit of catnip off Griddlebone for that."
"Give it back!" Tugger yelled, getting up. There were three deep claw marks down his face, dripping blood onto his mane.
"Awww look it is! Who's the lucky lady pretty boy?" Macavity grinned, showing off his dirty fangs. Tugger reached for the cushion, Macavity threw it over his head into the paws of a henchcat.
"Give it to me now." Tugger said, standing practically nose-to-nose with Macavity.
"Oooo, we seem to have a struck a nerve! But I think I'd quite like it actually."
Tugger stepped back, then quickly reached out a paw and pulled his claws across the ginger cat's face. Macavity staggered back.
"That's how you want to play? Fine, I think I can take on a little poser." Macavity said, flexing his claws.
"Leave our poser alone!" a voice shouted from the darkness, followed by a red flash of light. The light struck Macavity in the chest and he was knocked off his feet by the force and pain.
Suddenly there was a blinding blue light and the henchcats were bound in glowing blue chains.
Tugger grabbed the cushion off the ground – it was soaking wet and practically black with muddy water. He then turned around to see who had saved him.
"No need to thank me!" Mistoffelees said strolling proudly out of the shadows, followed by Alonzo.
"Thank you Misto!" Tugger smiled, enveloping the little black and white cat in a huge hug.
"Little air, please Tugger!" Misto said through Tugger's bloodstained mane.
"Sure, I'm sorry. Just thank you. I wouldn't have been able to get past them all."
"No probs, it'll have worn off by morning though." Misto said smiling.
"Pretty smooth Misto, prettay smooth!" Alonzo laughed, patting the magician on the back.
"What are you guys doing here?" Tugger asked, one eyebrow raised. Alonzo quickly took his paw off Misto's back.
"Um…just walking. Around." Alonzo said, his eyes darting around the alley.
"Yeah, nothing. Do you want me to clean your…" Misto paused, "What are you carrying?"
"Nothing, nothing. Just this." Tugger said, embarrassed. He handed Misto the cushion.
"Um…I'm not even going to ask Tugger, just…" Misto shot some white sparks at the cushion which glowed bright white, then back to it's usual blue and gold.
"Thanks, it's just a gift for…somebody."
Misto and Alonzo exchanged a disbelieving look, but didn't say anything.
"I'm sure she'll - I mean they'll love it." Misto smiled knowingly. "Hey you need to get that cut checked out. He got you right across the face, I can't help you but Jenny should."
"It's fine honestly. I'll see Jenny later."
"Ok, but it's still bleeding a bit. Looks painful." Alonzo added.
"I'll get over it, thanks again for helping me out. Have a good night, whatever you're up to."
"Bye then Tugger." And the two black and white toms hurried off down the alley. Tugger couldn't help but notice their arms were linked.
He smiled to himself, then looked back down at the cushion, the stars seemed to have had glitter or something added to them and the blue satin appeared shinier.
Tugger put a paw carefully up to his face. It stung terribly, if only Misto could heal wounds. He dabbed at it, sucking in air through his teeth in pain. He took his paw away; it was covered in blood. He would just have to leave it; he had to get to Bombalurina.
So he tightened his scarf and carried on through the rain.