CHAPTER 9: Back to Normal…Almost

Over the following week, Tatiana pretended to flirt with Tugger, who thought his charm was finally working on this mysterious cat. After the week, however, Tatiana got sick of pretending and went back to actually showing her dislike for the tom. She had pretty much forgotten the dream, thanks to the distraction, and returned to playing with the other queens. She even went back to watching Munkustrap, albeit from more of a distance than before.

When Tatiana stopped flirting with him, Tugger became seriously confused. He had thought he must finally have been getting somewhere with the young beauty, but now she had suddenly gone back to being aloof around him, and the tom had no idea why.

A third cat was more involved in the situation than either realized. She had been watching Tatiana flirting with Tugger during the week, and, as that was the first time she had visited the junkyard since the arrival of the new queen, she had a very erroneous first impression of the cat. On the day Tatiana began to act normally again, the older queen was seen to be sauntering over to Tatiana, a dark scowl ruining the otherwise-perfect features of her striking, crimson-and-cream face.

Tatiana looked up in surprise at the arrival of another queen at her side. She hadn't seen this queen before, and wondered why she would be scowling instead of smiling. Obviously, she hadn't come for any pleasantries.

"You're new." It sounded more like a criticism than a statement.

"Yes."

"I've seen the way you act, especially around him."

Tatiana raised an eyebrow. She was puzzled. "I'm sorry?"

"Don't interrupt," the queen said harshly. "I've just come to let you know that I'm the Junkyard Flirt and nobody – I repeat, nobody – will steal my title. Understood?" And with that the queen turned on her heel and stalked off.

Tatiana stared after the queen, utterly bewildered. What had she meant by that cryptic message?

At that moment, Rumpelteazer walked past. Noticing her friend's perplexed expression, she stopped. "Yoo okoiy, Tats?" she asked with a grin.

Jerking her head around, Tatiana frowned. "I…don't know…" Hesitantly, Tatiana proceeded to explained what had just occurred.

Rumpelteazer, when she had heard the story, guffawed loudly. "That sounds loike Bombalurina – she's a flirt, orlroight! Chronic, but the best there is. But she's a not a bad egg, though – she can jes' be a bit 'ard ta get on wif sometoimes, that's orl."

Tatiana nodded. "What could she have meant, though?"

Rumpelteazer shrugged. "Search me." She walked away, shaking her head and still chuckling.

After days of puzzlement, Tatiana finally gave up on trying to decode the message that Bombalurina had given her, an action which rather defied her motto – 'never give up'. Tatiana thought that maybe this case warranted an exception.

Munkustrap, Demeter, Mungojerrie, Rumpelteazer, Mistoffelees, Victoria and the kittens had all been worried about Tatiana over the week and were relieved when she finally became her normal self once more. No-one dared ask her about her actions, though, as they all thought it best not to bring up the subject. (The only cats who seemed unaffected by the development were Bombalurina, Tugger and the four toms who were unaware of the events and who lived in a box together – and whom Tatiana didn't like.)

Soon everything settled down and went pretty much back to normal. Tatiana almost hated herself for how she had acted and decided she would not do such a thing again, as she did not like it. She had felt strange and very out-of-character. However, she ignored all of these thoughts and played with the kittens, shared little chat sessions with Victoria and Rumpelteazer, went dancing with Mistoffelees and hunting with Mungojerrie. As previously mentioned, she also focussed her attentions back on Munkustrap. Mungojerrie hung around the queen quite a bit, and his attentions didn't go unnoticed…at least, not by other Jellicles.

Everyone eventually managed to forget about Tatiana's little escapade. That is, everyone except for Tugger. He was the one cat who could not forget, and, no matter how much he racked his brains, he could not figure the queen out…and it was driving him crazy. She was driving him crazy.

Bombalurina would not forget, either. She noticed Tatiana acting normal, however, and, as she had not met her before the flirting incident, thought that her warning must actually have worked. She frequently smirked to herself in satisfaction, glad that the youngster was taking notice of her rules around the place. She'd never had that trouble before, and was pleased when she could solve it with just a few words.

One day, Tatiana found herself asking Mungojerrie about Bombalurina. He told her that she was a saucy queen who could get almost any tom in the junkyard should she request his company. "But," he added, "Oi'm not one of 'em."

Tatiana chuckled. "Are you sure?" she asked jokingly, winking.

Mungojerrie suddenly looked serious. "Certain."

Tatiana seemed oblivious to his sudden change in attitude. Along their walk, she would make little, teasing comments about it every now and then, to which Mungojerrie attempted to smile complacently.

It was on the Friday morning when Tugger was sitting upon the tyre, lost in thought. He wanted so much to figure Tatiana out. He wanted – no, he needed – to know how she really felt about him. Whether her usual attitude was just an act, or whether her flirtations were just an act. He had to know…

"Thinking about her?" a voice asked sharply.

"What?" Tugger jerked out of his reverie and looked up to the owner of the voice.

"I saw you frowning," explained Bombalurina.

"Oh." Tugger looked back down. "Is it that obvious?"

"Uh, yeah, it is, rather," Bombalurina replied.

"Oh." Tugger's ears went down.

"Chin up, munchkin. You've still got me."

"Thanks, Bombie," Tugger said none-too-enthusiastically. He added silently, But I want her.

As if reading his mind, Bombalurina said, "One can't always have what one wants, Tugger." With that, she walked away, swinging her hips as usual.

Tugger noticed this as he always did. Immediately, he started comparing her with Tatiana. Tatiana doesn't swing her hips like that…she's not outgoing…she's not flirtatious – well, except for last week…Bombie is all of those things…yet…somehow, Tatiana doesn't really need to be any of those things. Tugger shook his head, surprised with this sudden thought. Whoa, where did that come from? Surely I can't like her like that…? I mean, sure, I would love to have all of the queens hanging around me, but I couldn't ever love someone…could I? Tugger stood and stretched. He decided to go back to his owners, figuring it would allow him to properly sort out his feelings better than staying at the junkyard would.

Rumpelteazer, Victoria and the kittens never lacked something to discuss when Tatiana wasn't about. Their conversations were always very similar:

"Do you think he likes her?"

"Oi know 'e loikes 'er."

"How?"

"Whaddya mean, ''ow'? It's obvious, ain't it? 'E 'angs around 'er orll the toime!"

"I suppose…"

"Do you think she likes him?"

"Now that one's not quite so obvious…I really don't know."

"Nor do Oi."

"Say, what's up with Tugger? He's been acting really weird lately…"

"Yeah, I noticed. He doesn't even seem to want to hang out with us anymore."

"Do ya reckon 'e moight be thinkin' of askin' Bombalurina ta be 'is mate?"

"Oh, Rumpelteazer, you're so funny!"

"What?"

"Haven't you heard about the last time?"

"Sure, but that was years ago, wasn't it?"

And so they would go on, almost sounding like old gossips, much to the amusement of anyone who passed.