Electra tried to ignore the butterflies flying around her stomach. She smiled and nodded along with her friends games but her mind was elsewhere. She had gone through the steps to the first song in her mind so many times she felt sure she could do it but still the feeling of dread hung over her.
Jemima was scowling. "I still don't understand why Quaxo didn't ask me!"
Etcetera and Victoria sighed and Electra hugged herself happily. She was going with Quaxo, that was why he hadn't asked Jemima. She hadn't mentioned her meetings with Quaxo to any of her friends, scared they would think she had been betraying their trust. Jemima had been moping about not being asked by Quaxo constantly and her friends' annoyance was beginning to show.
Victoria took a deep breath before speaking, trying to calm herself.
"Jemmie, Quaxo must have not asked you for a reason. If you are so worried, ask him yourself!"
The calico kitten stared at her snowy friend.
"Fine! I will!"
Electra watched in horror as Jemima marched off towards Quaxo's den.
"Erm… I just remembered I had to umm… clean my… errr… catnip…" Electra mumbled some gibberish as an excuse and sped off towards the clearing.
"catnip? Electra? Is she on drugs?" Victoria looked around blankly as Etcetera raised her paws in despair.
"honestly Tori! Sometimes I think you are naturally blonde!" Victoria looked puzzled.
"but I'm white. I've always been white." Etcetera rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to hit her ditzy friend.
"she was making excuses Vicky! And what reason do you think would make her rush off like that?"
"But she said she had to wash her catnip!" Etcetera sighed and sat down next to her friend.
"Vicky, as if she would do something like that! Have you not noticed that whenever we start talking about Quaxo she goes quiet and awkward?"
"But Electra's always quiet."
"Well quieter then usual then."
"Hmm yeah, I have. I wonder why that is."
'Everlasting cat give me strength!' Etcetera thought in frustration.
"It is because she likes him and from what I can guess, he's asked her to the ball but she's not told us. That is why she's worried about Jemmie finding out so she's gone to find Quaxo!"
Etcetera smiled to herself, pleased with how she had figured it out. Victoria however, still seemed to be struggling getting her head around it.
"So Quaxo has asked Electra to the ball instead of Jemmie and now Jemmie is going asking Quaxo why he hasn't asked her and he's going to tell her that he's going with Electra and she's going to get very cross and…. Oh dear…."
Etcetera suppressed her surprise that her friend had actually said something slightly intelligent and began to get worried.
"Jemmie isn't going to be happy. We need to stop her asking Quaxo. Electra needs to talk to him first!"
With that, the two determined kittens rushed after their friends.
"Erm… Cety? Can we stop? I think a load of mud just threw itself at me!" Etcetera turned to see a single drop of mud on the vain kitten's coat.
"Vicky! Don't be stupid! Come on, I think I can hear them."
The two kittens pushed forward, one not quite as enthusiastic as the other.
"I don't see why we're doing this, Cety. We should just let them sort it out themselves. What can we DOOOooooo!" Victoria squealed as Etcetera threw herself on top of her, covering her mouth.
"Shhhhhh! There they are!" Victoria followed her paw and saw, through the mess of mud, vegetation and rubbish, the object of their search. Thankfully Electra had found Quaxo first. The two kittens, ignoring what Jenny had often told them about how Curiosity had killed their great, great, great uncle, twice removed second cousin's friend, watched the two cats intently.
"Electra? What's wrong?" the tuxedo tom's smile turned to a frown as he saw his friends expression.
"I didn't tell her Quaxo!"
"What? I don't understand. Didn't tell who what?"
"I didn't tell Jemima you were taking me to the Jellicle ball."
"What? I thought you'd told her. She's going with Tumble anyway, so what does it matter?"
"She's coming to find you now and she's going to hate me. I know she is." Quaxo comforted her as she began to cry, stroking her head gently.
"Electra, if Jemmie hates you because I love you, she is no friend of yours. She should be happy for you. Just remember, I'll always stick by you. Why didn't you tell her?"
"Well I knew she liked you and she was always saying you were going to ask her and I didn't want to upset her." Electra snivelled and Quaxo hugged her closer, smiling.
"I chose you and If Jemima was so confident I was going to ask her, maybe someone saying no for once will have done her good."
"I know but…" Electra struggled to think of what to say.
"Shhhh" Ignoring the gasps he heard from the bushes where he could see Electra's friends hiding, Quaxo kissed her.
"I cannot believe it."
Electra broke off from the kiss and Quaxo felt her whole body begin to shake.
"Jemmie, I… I'm sorry… I…" Electra stuttered, knowing any explanation would be useless. Quaxo took her paws, looked deep into her eyes and kissed her gently on the forehead before marching towards a shocked Jemima.
She reached out to slap him but he caught her wrist. For a moment she stared at him, the fight gone from the queen's face. He stared back, his expression cold. Tears pricked Jemima's eyes and through her sobs she screamed at the distraught Electra.
"How could you? You knew I liked him! It's not fair! I'm stuck with pathetic Tumblebrutus, you don't deserve him! You're not special enough! You're not as pretty as me and you can't sing. I hate you! I hate you!"
At this, Victoria and Etcetera emerged, separating, one comforting the weeping Electra and the other, pulling the hysterical Jemima away from Quaxo. He loosened his grip on her wrist, letting it drop before walking slowly towards the queen he loved, never once looking back. He didn't even hear her screams.
"Etcetera! What by the everlasting cat has happened?" Demeter looked from the crying Jemima to Etcetera several times in wonder.
"Jemima got taught a lesson, Demeter, and she needs to calm down. I really need to get back to Electra so can I please go? I'm sure Jemima will tell you what has happened when she's better." Etcetera didn't try to hide the venom in her voice and Jemima's mother looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Of course Cety, Just promise to come back and explain what has happened."
Etcetera nodded and rushed out of the den, leaving Demeter with her daughter, muttering about how she didn't need this as the Jellicle ball was tomorrow.
"How is she?" Etcetera asked through gasps of air. Running from Demeter's den to the place where Electra was wasn't something she was used to.
Quaxo was knelt next to Electra, his arms wrapped tightly around her, supporting her. Victoria was talking to her soothingly and as Etcetera tripped on her way over, Electra smiled through her tears.
Quaxo smiled back and let a single tear escape. Etcetera nodded at Victoria and finally resorted to grabbing the dopey queen as she walked past.
"Give then some time alone." She whispered to the confused cat.
"Etcetera, has really grown up. She is someone you can count on." Quaxo smiled at Electra who smiled weakly back. Quaxo took her paw firmly.
"We'll get through this. Tomorrow is the Jellicle ball. Anything can happen. It will all work out in the end."