A/N: I apologize for the uncharacteristic of me lack of update for a few days. I got extremely busy being a Thespian and having a sister going up to a college for Senior Day which caused me to have to stay somewhere else. However, the play is done and my sister and dad are back, so I can write a little more now. Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! :D
Ch 10: Thursday at Midnight
I woke up sometime later, though it was still dark, and found that I was still on my roof. There was a slight sound of breathing about a foot to the side of me. What in the world? I flipped over, only to come face to face with the sleeping form of my best friend, Tumblebrutus. Oh, now I remember…
I looked to see Tumblebrutus sitting next to me on my roof. I smiled at him.
"Isn't the year nice for this time of weather?" he asked. *
"I beg your pardon?" I replied, confused as to what he meant.*
"Weather… nice weather…" he said, chagrined.*
"Ah, well yes, the weather is nice," I replied, no longer confused.
"So, uh, how are you?" he asked, quietly.
"I'm alright, I suppose. You?" I replied, quietly.
"I'm, okay, I guess," he said.
"Well that's good…" I replied. I wanted so badly to ask him where he'd gone the past few days, but I couldn't bring myself to. We lay on the roof for a little while, talking about the stars. Again, I found myself getting lost in his features, instead of paying full attention to our conversation. After a short time, my patience with myself grew thin. I decided to ask my question.
"Where have you been the past couple of days, Brutus?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound desperate or anything.
"I was… around…" he replied.
"Nowhere that I could find you…" I said quietly, almost more to myself than to him.
"Oh…" was all he said.
"Brutus, can I ask you something?" I asked, as a new thought popped into my head.
"Go for it," he replied.
"The other day, when we were playing Truth or Dare, and I told you to answer the question Electra asked me, which was who I would want to go to the Ball this year with, what would you have said, if no one else were around?" I asked.
He started to blush a deep scarlet. "Well, um…" he said, suddenly very nervous.
"Brutes, you can tell me… I could help you ask her, or do nothing about it at all if you'd prefer…" I said, wanting to help my friend and possibly the tom I wanted to be with.
"I, eh, well…" he paused, and he looked as if he was having an intense internal battle about something very important. After about a minute, he sighed, perked his ears, and had an air of confidence about him. That's, well, interesting… "It's you, Pepper. I would like to go to the Ball with you, if you want to," he said. Me? Oh, Everlasting Cat, YES! Gwah! Calm down, self, you don't want to look too eager…
"I'd love to attend the Ball with you, Tumblebrutus," I said, smiling at him.
"Really? That's great!" he said, leaping up. He pulled me up too, and hugged me tightly. I hugged him back, purring. I didn't bother to try to stop, because I knew I couldn't. Thankfully, he was purring, too. We eventually sat back down on the roof and stargazed again. I inched closer to him, hoping he wouldn't notice. When I felt I was close enough to, I nuzzled my head into his neck. What he did surprised me. He wrapped his tail around me, drawing me in further. We sat like that for who knows how long, until we both fell asleep.
I smiled at the memory of the previous night. I looked at Brutus's face. He looks so peaceful and happy. He's almost, divinely, tranquil. I felt bad for what I was about to do. I readied myself for attack and pounced, my front paws landing on his chest.
"Wake up, Brutes!" I whispered into his ear.
"Who, what, where?" he asked, sleepily.
"Pepper, waking you up, on my roof," I said, in response to his groggy babbling questions.
"Meh," he said and rolled over. I batted his nose with my paw.
"You gotta get up, Tumblebrutus," I said.
"Fine…" he grumbled and sat up. He looked annoyed, but handsome nonetheless.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Brutus. We both need to get into our dens before our parents notice our absences…" I said, sadly.
"Okay. See you tomorrow, Pepper," he replied sadly. He rubbed his head against mine, in a gesture of affection. He helped me down from the roof, and I watched him walk to his den and disappear inside. I did the same. I had almost made it to my room when a voice stopped me dead in my tracks.
"So, how'd it go?" Admetus asked me.
"Uh, pretty well…" I replied, nervously, turning to face him. Please, oh please, let him be the only one awake.
"Don't worry, no one else is up. I just have insomnia sometimes… So are you and Tumblebrutus going to the Ball together or what?"
"Yes, yes we are," I replied, happily.
"I see. Ele and I are going together again. This time, as mates," he said, smiling a smile I had never seen before. Whoa, MATES?! When did this happen?
"Oh, wow, well congratulations!" I said, genuinely.
"Thank you," he said, smiling. "I guess that leaves the Mating Dance open for another queen…"
"Yeah, I suppose so. I wonder who will dance it this year. Do you think Vicky will?" I asked him.
"I don't know. She might, if Plato ever warms up to her," he said, laughing a little. I laughed as well.
"Well, I'm kinda tired. I'll see you in the morning, Addie," I said and hugged my cousin. I padded the rest of the way to my room and lay down on my bed. Goodnight, world. Have a pleasant night…
*The lines of dialogue with the asterisks are from the script of the play I was in. The quotes themselves belong to the writer of HOLDER POSEY, THE FELONIOUS PHOTOGRAPHER Or… Step into My Darkroom and We'll See What Develops, Billy St. John. The part that belongs to me is the 'he said, I said' parts.
A/N: I'm sorry this chapter is short. I'm going to start the next chapter today, as well, though I'm not at all aware if I'll finish it today or not. Please, review my work and tell me what you liked or didn't like! :D