It was around eleven by the time Sebastian and I decided to pick up the five. We snuck out of the dorm and off campus. It wasn't as if there was anyone around at this hour, as the staff of the place didn't watch us all very strictly at night time. Admittedly, there were camera's, but for some reason, Sebastian knew how to deactivate them. When I asked, he simply gave me the same response he had when I'd asked about his knowledge of how to lock pick a door:
"It's only natural that a member of the Michaelis family would be able to know how to deactivate a security camera." Just what type of people did the Michaelis family consist of? I'd have to ask sometime. The two of us entered the cabin, and pushed the door open. The cats didn't even need to be called over this time, they were already up and hunting. Jasper waddled over to Sebastian, followed by the Rose and Lily, while Kiwi and Seras finished their hunting before coming over. Seras dropped a mouse on my shoe. I wondered how I was supposed to feel about that. Sebastian picked up Seras and Kiwi, and I picked up the smallest kitten, Rose. She'd probably fit in my pocket, so that's where I placed her. She nipped at my hands as I tried to do this, and despite the bites, I ignored her. Lily was only a little bigger then her sister, so I put her in my other pocket. Jasper, I'd just have to carry. As I stood up, the kittens cowered deeper in my pocket, for fear of falling. The parents seemed slightly uneasy about me, but I guess Sebastian had his way with cats, for they didn't get mad.
We headed back for the dorms. However, when we arrived, it turned out that Allen and Daniel were still awake. They looked dumbfounded."You tell anyone, you die," Sebastian announced with a smile on his face. "Kitties!" squealed Allen. "Shhh!" I hissed. I opened the empty supply closet to find that it was already set up for the cats. There were toys, balls of yarn, bowls for each of them…"How'd we miss that?" Allen asked to Daniel, who shrugged. I placed Rose, Lily and Jasper onto the ground, and they began to eat. They were soon joined by their parents."We aren't allowed to have pets in these dorms," Daniel reminded us. Allen shrugged."Sebastian likes cats, I like cats, Ciel probably likes cats-" I fell into a fit of coughing, probably from being around the cats, so I stepped outside. "Or maybe Phantomhive is allergic to cats and is just helping move the cats to safety because I asked him to?" suggested Sebastian. I cast him a warning glance. He merely smiled at me. I sighed and gave a tired smile as I stepped back inside."I'm going to bed. Goodnight." I lay down on my bed. Sebastian stayed up with the cats for some time, and Allen did too.
The following morning was a Sunday, and a school dance was announced to be taking place on Wednesday. There was immediately a lot of buzz about this event. As for me, well, I wasn't sure whether or not to go. I'd never been to a dance before, because I don't dance well at all. Plus, there had never been a boy I'd been interested in going with, not even Alois, and even if the opportunity had presented itself, it was unlikely that I would've gone with him. Sebastian paid no attention to the announcement, focusing on the cats in the once empty supply closet.
"So, you going to go, Ciel?" asked Daniel in a condescending way. Allen threw a pencil at his head. "Worth it," chuckled Daniel."Ignorance is bliss, they say," I commented."What's that supposed to mean?" asked Daniel, raising an eyebrow."He's saying that you're a retard," Allen explained brightly. That wasn't exactly what I'd meant, but I guess it was close enough to get the point across.
"I take offense to that." Well, after hearing that, we all decided to ignore Daniel."What about you, Sebastian?" asked Allen. "I have someone in mind. I just don't know if they want to go with me, so I'll wait to see if they ask," Sebastian answered, batting a ball of yarn towards Kiwi. "You should ask!" Allen stated. "Besides, isn't it the guy's job to ask out the girl?""Now when did I say that the person I was considering taking with me was a girl?" asked Sebastian with a devilish smile. I blinked. Daniel had a look on his face as if he'd just been smacked in the face. Allen, however, hopped off his bed, walked into the closet, and came out carrying a pair of stiletto's."That would explain these?" he asked. Sebastian stood up and snatched the pair of shoes from his hands, placing them back in the closet."You shouldn't go through other people's belongings," he snapped. Allen just shrugged."Sorry.""Well, that aside, I think the girls are missing out," I admitted, getting a strange look from all three of them. I picked up a magazine and opened to a random page, laying down and pretending to read it for the sole purpose of focusing on something that wasn't the other boys."Sebastian is very handsome…their loss, I guess." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Allen glance at Sebastian and Daniel raise an eyebrow. Then Allen grinned and looked at me."I guess you're right. So, Ciel, ARE you going to the dance? If so, man up and ask the guy you like! You're the only one who's out at this school," he pointed out. As if I needed the reminder. I glanced up from the magazine and cast it aside."You know what? I think I will ask the guy I like out to the dance," I decided. I glanced at Sebastian. "Hey, Sebastian…" Daniel's jaw practically hit the floor. Allen laughed and clapped his hands together as if this was some sort of interesting TV show and a hilarious plot twist had just been revealed.
"Yes, Phantomhive?" Sebastian asked. He was smiling. He knew what I was going to ask, but probably wouldn't accept unless I formally asked "I…uh…would you-""Look me in the eye when you talk to me," he instructed. Daniel sighed with exasperation."Don't lead him on like this only to reject him, Sebastian. That's just inhumane, even if he is gay." Sebastian cast him a dark look before glancing back at me."You were saying?""Would you go to the dance with me?" I managed to ask. He seemed to consider it for a moment, probably just to tease me. "Sure. I think I will." That was a load off my shoulder. I sighed in relief and gave him a smile."Thank you. I've…never actually been to a dance before, formal or not." He walked over to me and ruffled my hair."Neither have I." Allen lightly applauded. "Don't you think there's something kind of cute, about this, Daniel?" he asked. Daniel was shaking his head with either disapproval or disgust. Perhaps both."Urg, no. No, no, no. This isn't right!" he murmured. I pulled a piece of balled up paper from my pocket and tossed it at his head. I then turned back to Sebastian. I expected him to be disapproving of that action, but he seemed merely amused. "I'm stepping outside," announced Daniel, walking out of the room, looking like he might need some kind of sick bag. Allen just smiled and gave us a thumbs up and followed him out. I looked back at Sebastian. "I've only been in a relationship once. Would this count as my second time? I don't want it to go like last time," I admitted. He seemed intrigued by this. "Tell me about it, then. Take a seat." I bit my lip, and he must have noticed my hesitation. "Whenever you're ready." I gave a nod. I wasn't ready to share it yet, I couldn't let a simple crush know about these things, simply because they could use it against me in the future. I wanted to think Sebastian wasn't like that, but I had no evidence to support that. So for now, I kept tight-lipped about it. Besides, I had a hunch that when I went to the dance with Sebastian, Alois would respond somehow.
The days came and went, and an idea occurred to me on the day of the dance. I went to buy an outfit, but not anything very formal.
I stepped out of the restroom after changing, and upon seeing what I was wearing, Sebastian grinned from ear to ear. Perhaps it's not the most dignifying outfit, going to a school dance dressed as a cat boy. But seeing his face made it worth it. He stepped towards me and placed a hand on my head."You look adorable, Phantomhive." Despite myself, and the violent shade of red my face surely was at that moment, I looked up at him and gave a sheepish laugh. He took my hand and we walked out of the dorms towards the grand hall, where the dance was taking place.
We got several strange looks as we walked into the room. Some angry ones, too. I just gripped Sebastian's hand tighter. Allen was sitting down with a girl I didn't know the name of, but he excused himself to talk to us before the dancing started."Looking good, you two. Like the ears," Allen commented, batting the cat ears I wore on my head. I placed a hand down so they wouldn't come off. He noticed I had fake paws on too, and immediately began examining them. A group of girls wearing nice looking dresses walked over to us. Most of them looked angry."What're you doing with him?" she asked scornfully. Allen glanced at them, then back at me, advising that we ignore them. "Why is Ciel dressed as a cat? Tch, freak.""Come on, Sebastian! Dance with me! I'm sure you're wonderful.""Don't try and hit on him, Ciel! And release his hand, He's not like you!" And as they all threw insults and accusations, I held their gazes, tightening my grip on his hand. Though after a moment, I released his hand. "You can go with them, if you'd prefer, Sebastian," I offered, feeling slightly disheartened. I didn't want him getting any crap from these girls for being with me. It was his turn to tighten his grip on my hand. "No. Ciel is my boyfriend," he answered calmly. I looked at him, stunned. I had NOT expected him to refer to me as a boyfriend. The girls looked even more surprised. One of them looked disappointed, and the other ones looked indignant.
"Wait, you're-" one of the girls started to say. Allen cut them off."He's wearing stilettos, are you really that surprised?" he asked. Of course, this caused all of the girls to look at his shoes. Sebastian cast a death glare at Allen, who shrugged. "What does he have that we don't?" one of the girls snapped."A penis?" offered Allen. I elbowed him in the ribs."…That IS true," Sebastian commented."Sebastian!" I complained. The girls couldn't think of a witty response to say to that, so most of then turned around and walked away. "You've just dug quite a pit for yourself, Sebastian. I can't imagine you'll get a lot of respect at school after that performance," Allen admitted."Like I said, I never cared much for social standings," he answered calmly. Then the music began to play and people started to dance. I glanced at Sebastian."I can't really dance," I admitted. Sebastian shrugged, glancing at the cat paw gloves I was currently wearing before answering"Just follow my lead, then. It's not difficult," he assured me as he led the way.
And the night went on. Boys laughed and jeered, girls glared and insulted, but we didn't pay them any mind as Sebastian taught me how to dance. I picked up on several things, and was grateful that Sebastian didn't comment every time I stumbled or stepped on his foot. This happened with surprising frequency, I may add. I didn't see Alois, but I was sure the news would spread fast. He'd know soon enough.
After a moment, he froze, as someone caught the corner of his eye. My gaze followed his, and stopped when I saw an older man, an unfamiliar one, walking through the crowd towards us."Phantomhive," he whispered urgently."Is there a cooking classroom in this school?""Well, yeah-""Lead me there, now. And be quick about it." He looked dead serious, but I heard what could have been worry in his voice. Whatever was wrong, it was dangerous. I nodded, and began making my way through the crowd.