Chapter Two

'There you are, Flik, all done.' Dr. Flora told him.

'Does this mean I can go to the party?'

'Yes, a little dancing shouldn't affect you as it's mainly bruising,' she replied 'Just don't go too mad,' she added quickly, remembering Flik's tendencies, 'And if you feel any sudden pain you must stop and sit down to avoid any further damage.'

'Do you think he's coming, Ivy?' Atta asked her over the noise of chatter and music. They had all gathered in the main chamber. 'It would be such a shame for him to miss his own party . . .'

'Flik should be coming, shouldn't he? Dr. Flora said he would be able to, didn't she?'

'She said he might be able to. Oh, there's Dr. Flora over there; I'll go ask her. Dr. Flora?'

'Oh, yes, Your Highness?'

'Flik is coming, isn't he?'

'Oh, yes, he was insistent upon it, especially as . . .' She looked up at Atta, 'um . . .as . . .'

'As it's his own party?'

'Um, yes. Yes, of course . . .' Atta hurried back to Ivy.

'He's coming,' Atta told Ivy.

'Why do you look so worried?'

'Oh, Ivy. What if he doesn't like me?'

'Of course he likes you!' Ivy exclaimed, spluttering with laughter, 'It's been obvious for ages and ages!'

'Well, what I mean is, well, after I banished him and everything . . .'

'Oh, come on, Atta! He's not going to think about, well . . .'

'I suppose you're right, I'm just panicky and nervous . . .'

'Don't be. You need to relax yourself. Get out there and dance!'

'What! Ivy are you insane!'

'Oh, go on, Atta. I'm waiting for Carlos anyway,' she said with a slight blush.

'I – I dunno . . .'

'We all know you can. You're brilliant. Now get over there and dance!'

'Alright, alright. I'm going, I'm going . . .' Ivy was correct. Atta was very good, noticeably in fact but that wasn't the only reason a large majority of the teen males were staring at her. Several workers pulled their boyfriends away.

Flik hadn't wanted to be late, in fact, he had wanted to be early but by the time he had left the infirmary, the corridors were crowded and he had put off arriving to avoid the giggly workers. He had managed to sneak in, so far, undetected. He caught sight of the princess dancing. He smiled to himself and gazed at her. He wasn't paying attention to where he was going and crashed into some of the other ants. He felt frustrated; he hadn't been clumsy in this way for ages and ages.

As the ants tried to stable themselves, one of them accidentally jabbed him with their elbow. This wouldn't have had much effect if it hadn't been for Flik's bruising. He ended up toppling over into one of the chamber walls. Very luckily, he wasn't hurt.

He heard someone giggle. He turned his head to see Atta who had temporally stopped dancing. She gave a small smile; there was something in her expression that asked if he was alright. He gave a nervous laugh and an awkward smile in reply.

For a moment, she hesitated, but then she beckoned him over. Flik was thrilled. She wanted him to dance with her! He was having to use a great amount of self control to keep himself from leaping around wildly in circles and cartwheeling around the chamber shouting yippee!

Not long after they started dancing, the other ants began to notice, particularly the teenagers. Quite a number of them couldn't believe they hadn't known about this development earlier. Those who were still not looking, had begun to gossip eagerly.

Dot had stopped telling Grub a first hand account about the bird incident in the summer and was staring open mouthed at her sister and her best friend in each others arms. How had she not known before?

Heather, who was dancing with Fossil, let out a girly giggle when she saw. Petal whooped while spinning herself and Kevin in a continual circle. Kevin was getting a little dizzy.

The teenagers remained silent for a few moments but soon a large amount of them burst into applause. Atta and Flik stared, blushing slightly.

A white teenage male glared; Myrmica. He was in a terrible rage. He was shaking with fury, his eyes flashing wildly, his fists clenched. The sight of that loser and the princess together, so happy, was maddening.

'Hazel would have loved to see this . . .' the queen said to herself.

'Who?' Dot asked.

'Oh, your father, dear.'

'What happened to him, Mom?'

It seemed impossible for Atta and Flik to get out of the public eye. Everytime they did anything there was an enthusiastic crowd watching. If they sat down, the crowd would all come over, asking questions.

'We need a distraction,' Flik whispered to Atta, 'to get them off our backs.'

'We can help!' Fossil said coming up behind them, accompanied by Heather, 'We'll distract them. And if it doesn't work, the circus bugs have a few ideas. Slowly start to walk to the chamber entrance, that way you are less likely to be noticed.'

They walked down the corridor hand in hand. It was peaceful now they were some distance away from the main chamber. They entered a chamber and sat down on a large rock together. Atta suddenly noticed a patch of dirt on her shoulder.

'Oh, dear,' she said in an embarrassed tone, 'I look a sight don't I?'

'Doesn't matter. You still look beautiful . . .' She looked up at him with slight surprise before a slow blush began to cross across her face. Flik smiled awkwardly. 'Here, let me get that for you . . .' He brushed the dirt off her shoulder.

There was a moment's silence. Flik felt he should say something. 'Um, sleep well last night? Haven't had any nightmares?' Atta went pale. Flik felt very bad. He had been thinking about their experience with Hopper but the subject had made her think of Thistle. 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please forgive me! I didn't mean . . !'

'It's – it's okay,' she said weakly, 'It's just, well, I still feel scared . . . I just feel that one day she'll come and get me . . .' Flik didn't know what to say for he knew that Thistle would try to kill Atta again and again. Atta had no real idea how Thistle felt about her or how much danger she really was from her. 'Do you think she will? Tell me. Will she?'

'No, well, yes, maybe, she will, might try but don't worry; I'll protect you. Nothing will happen to you.' Atta gave a small smile.

'When you stood up to Hopper it reminded me of when you defended me from Thistle. I didn't know, I guess I forgot how heroic you were. I guess I never gave you as much appreciation as you deserved . . .'

'It doesn't matter,'

'And something else, Flik,'

'Yes?'

'Do you remember, what I did when I found you were alive?'

'Y-yes, you . . .' They both blushed.

'Well, I know I did it because I was so happy you hadn't been killed but . . .' She hesitated for a second, 'Well, what I mean to say is that I had feelings for you then but, I don't know, I guess . . . I should've told you then. And after we came home, the whole impact of what had happened came to me and I felt I couldn't trust anyone, and I connected you with this . . .'

'I was gonna tell you how I felt about you. Remember, back at the pool but I didn't have enough courage and after, when we came back, you don't know how much I regretted it.'

'We've wasted so much time when we could've been together, Flik.'

'I know, and I wish we hadn't, but at least we're together now . . .' They drew closer. The sound of giggling was heard from near the chamber entrance. They drew away. 'Alright, who's there?' Flik asked. Four children stepped into view: Dot, Grub, Petal and Kevin. They were still laughing.

'Nothing like a bit of privacy.' Atta sighed with an unwilling smile.

'Who's Thistle?' Dot inquired. The color drained from Atta's face.

'N-n-nobody . . .' she replied. Dot put her hands on her hips.

'Come on, let's go,' Dot grumbled. The other three followed her.

'Nice work, Gretel,' Petal whispered to Atta who stared at her as she left. How did Petal know? Atta had told her the story it was true but how had she worked out that it was actually about her and Flik?

'I have to tell her, Flik,' Atta said to him, 'I mean Mother. I have to tell her what happened, you know, with Thistle. I should've told her in the first place even if she was unlikely to believe me.' Flik put a hand on her shoulder.

'Tell her tomorrow. I'll come with you,' Flik told her, 'You'll feel better tomorrow.'

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