Down in the alley, the cardboard box that Furrball slept in the previous night, is now closed by the side flaps, but they were still open just a crack.
From between the flaps, a small stream of clear fluid protruded into the concrete, creating a little puddle. The source of the fluid was from the eyes of Furrball.
The blue cat is inside the box, sprawled out onto his side, sobbing & whimpering hopelessly. The tears flowed from his eyes & down his face, where they continued their way out of the box.
In front of Furrball was the gold locket, which is now open, revealing the picture of himself & Fifi. Furrball is just laying there, crying in choking pain, feeling that his life with Fifi is over. His last minute attempt to get Fifi to forgive him has failed, and the fact that he ended up being humiliated in front of everyone made things worse.
The blue cat knew for sure that there's no hope left for him. He knew that he won't be getting his life with Fifi back. He knew that she will always be mad at him & she'll never love him ever again. This thought left his heart broken. In fact, he felt like his tears weren't real tears. He felt like he's crying blood from his shattered heart.
Outside the box, Sweetie & Sneezer both stood there, listening to Furrball's heartbroken sobbing. They both have looks of sadness, knowing their friend's pain & loneliness. They felt very sorry for him, and wished they could do something for him.
Sneezer started his way toward the box, but Sweetie placed a hand on his shoulder & stopped him. The mouse then turned to Sweetie.
"Let's leave him be", Sweetie said. Sneezer nodded, before they both left the alley, leaving the blue cat be.
Meanwhile, down the street, Fifi's walking along with Cosette & Heather, each carrying their books.
Heather & Cosette were having a chat together, but Fifi's still thinking about what happened at the cafeteria today, and she's thinking about what Furrball said to her, about being there for her & wanting to make her happy.
"Fifi", Cosette said, "are vous okay?"
"Oui, I'm fine", Fifi replied.
"Are you sure?", Heather asked, "It looks like you got something on your mind."
"Non, I'm fine. I just...I don't know what to do."
"About what?", Cosette asked.
"About Furrball. I don't know whether I should talk to heem or not."
Soon they walked by the alley where Furrball is, and Heather then came to a stop. She leaned toward the alley as she heard something.
"Oi, guys", Heather called out to Fifi & Cosette, who both turned. "Do ya hear that?"
"Hear what?", Fifi wondered. Heather cupped her hand near her ear to listen more closely.
"I don't hear anytheeng", Cosette said. Soon, Heather's able to figure out what she's hearing.
"It sounds like somebody's crying."
Fifi & Cosette then joined alongside Heather & listened. They both could hear Furrball crying as well.
"Eez zhat Furrball cryeeng?", Cosette asked.
"It may be", Heather said. Both she & Cosette then turned to Fifi, who felt a bit uncomfortable about the situation.
"What do I do?", Fifi questioned.
Heather replied, "Right now, the best thing to do is to go talk to him."
Fifi still felt very uncomfortable. She wants to talk to Furrball, but at the same time she doesn't, just like before.
"I don't know eef zhat's a good idea."
"Why not?", Cosette asked, standing in front of Fifi.
"Well...I...", Fifi started, trying to come up with a reason. Cosette then set her book down, and placed both hands on Fifi shoulders.
"Fifi", Cosette started in a polite tone, "Go talk to Furrball. Please."
Fifi looked up to her cousin, seeing that she has no other option. Slowly, Fifi walked around Cosette & made her way to Furrball's box. Cosette picked up her book & followed her cousin, along with Heather.
Inside the box, Furrball continued crying in miserable pain. He opened his eyes & looked at the open locket in front of him.
"Why, Fifi?", he whimpered. "Why did it have to end like this?"
The locket sat there in silence & motionless, just facing toward the sad blue cat.
"Don't just sit there, say something."
Still, the locket did nothing.
"What am I doing?", Furrball whispered to himself, "I'm talking to a stupid locket."
Furrball then took one last look at the locket, before he reached out weakly & grabbed it. He pulled the locket closer to himself & clutched it against his chest.
The blue cat continued crying as Fifi, along with Heather & Cosette, arrived at Furrball's box, hearing his sobs loud & clear.
Furrball started choking in his sobs again as he held the locket into his chest. He felt like he is dying inside.
"I blew it", Furrball whimpered, "I really really blew it. The one life I've always dreamed of...with the most special person in the world...is now gone. Gone forever."
The three girls standing outside the box all felt touched by Furrball's words. Especially Fifi, who wanted to hear more of what Furrball's going to say.
The blue cat then looked down at his locket & continued, his voice breaking.
"Oh, Fifi. I didn't want it to end this way. Not in any way. I just wanted you to be happy, to have someone by your side."
Furrball paused & sniffed a couple of times, his eyes flooded in tears.
"Please, just give me a chance, Fifi. Just one last chance for me to do the right thing. To set things right for you, to tell you that I miss you. To tell you...that...I love you."
Furrball closed his eyes & held the locket close to him as he resumed his crying.
Cosette & Heather, upon hearing Furrball's words, both now felt his pain. The two girls then turned to Fifi, both wondering what she's gonna do.
Fifi herself is feeling all the more reason to talk to Furrball & comfort him. In fact, her anger towards him has almost faded away.
Fifi handed her book to Heather & stepped up to the cardboard box. Once she opened it, the blue cat opened his eyes & saw Fifi looking down upon him.
The blue cat then reacted in fear & backed into a corner, which made Fifi a bit surprised. The blue cat stared up at Fifi with horrified eyes. He felt that Fifi is still furious with him & that she's ready to unleash unspeakable fury on him.
Fifi turned to Cosette & Heather, who both waited patiently for Fifi to talk with Furrball. With a sigh, Fifi stepped inside the box & closed it. She then faced Furrball, who's on all fours, looking up at Fifi with fearful eyes, cowering, not knowing what Fifi will do to him.
Fifi could easily see that Furrball is afraid of her right now, like he was before they got together. Slowly, Fifi lifted a hand & reached out towards Furrball.
The blue cat closed his eyes & covered them with his hands, his whole body trembling in fear. He felt like Fifi is gonna hit him, as punishment of the way he acted toward her in the past couple of days.
Furrball then felt Fifi's hand on his back, which startled him, but then he felt her hand gently stroking his back. This made him feel a bit relaxed, but he still feels scared to death.
Once Fifi removed her hand, Furrball looked back up at Fifi, still scared. He didn't know what to do. He could feel her anger in him, and that one little slip-up would end up with her leaving for good. He does not want to lose her.
Fifi then opened up her arms & said in a soft tone, "Come here."
Furrball looked on, not knowing if he should approach her or not. The blue cat timidly pointed at himself, wondering if she's referring to him.
"Oui", Fifi replied in the same soft tone. Furrball still felt scared about approaching Fifi. Slowly, he took a step toward Fifi, then backed away.
After a moment, he took a step forward. And then another. Then another. Slowly, Furrball approached Fifi, until the purple skunk reached out & pulled him in for a hug.
The blue cat felt his body fill with dread. He does not know what Fifi's gonna do to him. She has him wrapped up in her arms, her hands stroking the back of his head.
"Eet's okay, Furrball", Fifi whispered. "Eet's okay. There's no need to worwy."
Fifi continued holding Furrball in her embrace, as Furrball started feeling the power to use his arms. Slowly, he lifted them up on Fifi's back & gently returned the hug.
At that moment, Furrball felt his lips trembling, and then he started crying softly. He felt like he's hugging Fifi for the first time in a million years & he completely forgot what it felt like.
He also felt like this is the very last time he'll ever hug Fifi. In fact, he felt like this will be the very last time he'll ever be with Fifi. Furrball gently hugged Fifi a bit tighter, not wanting to let go, as he sobbed softly. He really does not want to lose Fifi.
The two of them continued their embrace as Furrball opened his mouth to speak, but he felt his throat swollen up like before. He couldn't say the words & just continued crying.
He's too scared to say anything, because he felt that Fifi is ready to leave him forever, and that saying anything to her will result in her leaving him permanently heartbroken. But he want to set things right, and in order to do that, he has to speak.
Finally, after a few moments & a couple attempts, Furrball is able to speak, with a broken voice.
"Fifi?", he asked, feeling his body fill with dread, not knowing what Fifi will do next.
"Yes Furrball?", Fifi responded in a soft tone. Furrball then felt that it was safe for him to continue.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?"
"Everything", Furrball said automatically. Fifi then broke the hug & faced Furrball, who hung his head down, tears dripping from his eyes. He kept his hands on Fifi's shoulders, trying not to let go of her.
"I'm sorry for what I did", Furrball whimpered. "I'm sorry for treating you like garbage." Furrball paused & sniffed. "You didn't deserve any of that."
"Furrball...", Fifi said in a soft, gentle tone.
"You're a very special person, Fifi", Furrball continued, before he sniffed twice. "You mean everything to me. I...I don't want to lose you."
"Furrball...", Fifi repeated in the same previous tone.
"You're like the air we breathe, Fifi. I can't live without breathing air, and...I can't live without you."
"Oh, Furrball", Fifi said, feeling very touched by those words. Even Cosette & Heather both felt touched by Furrball's last sentence, as they felt their eyes watering up.
"I want to set everything right", Furrball continued, still crying. "Just...give me a chance. Please. I want you to be happy again."
Fifi felt touched by Furrball's words. She's even beginning to feel his current pain, but she's doing her best not to show it.
"Furrball", Fifi said politely. "Look at me."
Furrball tried to do as she said, but he's struggling to lift his head up. He's so broken up & horrified from Fifi's anger right now.
"Look at me, Furrball", Fifi repeated, still speaking in her soft, polite tone. Furrball used all his strength, but could only lift his head up an inch, before he left his head fall limply again.
"I can't", Furrball wept.
"Why?", Fifi asked. After a moment of no response, Fifi spoke again. "Why won't you look at moi?"
"Because", Furrball started, "I'm scared."
"Why?", Fifi repeated. Furrball did not answer, so Fifi asked again, "Furrball. Why are vous scared?"
"Because, you're mad at me", Furrball whimpered, before he sniffed again. "I can feel your anger, Fifi. I know you're ready to leave me any second. I'm scared that...I might screw everything up & be left alone without you."
Furrball sniffed & choked a couple times as Fifi waited patiently for Furrball to continue.
"I don't want you to leave me, Fifi. You're the only thing in my life that's worth living for, and...I'll be nothing without you."
"Aww...", Fifi said as Furrball started dabbing his tail into his eyes. Fifi then grabbed her tail & held it out to Furrball, allowing him to wipe his tears with her tail. Furrball stared down at Fifi's tail, then cautiously & nervously took it.
"Thank you", Furrball wept, before he started dabbing his eyes with Fifi's tail. He then started crying again, as he wrapped his arms around Fifi's tail & hugged it.
Fifi then asked, "You're afraid zhat I'm still mad at vous?"
"Mmm-hmm", Furrball nodded with a broken voice, before he continued sobbing softly as he held Fifi's tail like his life depended on it.
"Awwww", Fifi said, as she placed her hands on Furrball's cheeks & gently lifted his head up, so that he could finally see her face again.
"Listen to moi, Furrball", Fifi started. "I...I..." However, Fifi could not continue, for she could see the sad, watery, heartbroken eyes of Furrball staring at her. She could see deep into his eyes & saw that from inside of him, he was bleeding hopelessly.
At that moment, a surge of emotions ran through Fifi's body. Emotions that were coming from Furrball's broken heart. Once she felt the absolute pain he's in, she couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Oh, Furrball", Fifi said, as she pulled the blue cat closer to her & hugged him. Furrball hugged back as Fifi wrapped her tail around the sobbing blue cat.
Fifi felt the emotions continuing their travel throughout her body, trying to get her to feel Furrball's pain. She tried her hardest to fight them off inside, all while she held the blue cat in her arms & tail, still crying with his ears drooping, his tears soaking up Fifi's chest.
"Please, Fifi", Furrball wept, "please don't leave me. I miss you so much. I...I love you."
Those last three words struck Fifi's heart, giving her a more powerful surge of emotions. Heather & Cosette both felt tears running down their faces, as they can now feel Furrball's heartbroken pain. Cosette dabbed her tail into her face, while Heather place a hand over her mouth, finding Furrball's pain to be so difficult to bear.
As for Fifi, despite the last emotional rush she felt, she's still able to prevent herself from crying, but she was close to doing so. She looked down at the blue cat, who continued sobbing with his face buried into Fifi's chest.
"Furrball", Fifi started, "look at moi." Furrball then opened his eyes & stared up at Fifi. She could see the sad, miserable, heartbroken eyes of Furrball again.
This proved to be a mistake, as she just let her guard down & seeing those sad eyes of Furrball has struck bulls-eye onto her heart, as she can now feel once & for all the absolute heartbroken pain Furrball is currently in.
Furrball closed his eyes & resumed his crying, as Fifi tried her hardest not to break down in tears, but she finds that she's failing, and hearing Furrball's sobs is not helping.
"Don't cry, Furrball", Fifi started as her lips began trembling. "Please...don't...cry..."
But it was no use, as Fifi finally felt her eyes go watery. She closed her eyes & held Furrball tight as she let her tears go down her face.
The cat & skunk both held each other for a few moments, with Fifi feeling heavily sorry for putting Furrball through the misery he's in. She now knows 100% of the pain he's in, and she could feel it in her heart. She knows that he desperately wants to be with her again, more than anything.
Fifi then raised a hand & wiped the tears off her face. She then gently lifted Furrball's ear, but this made the blue cat's body fill with fear.
"Please don't yell at me", Furrball whimpered in a barely audible tone. Fifi heard him & knows he's still feeling deathly scared.
But Fifi leaned toward Furrball's ear & softly whispered three little words.
"I forgive you."
The blue cat slowly opened his eyes after hearing those words. He felt the pain starting to leave him as he looked up at Fifi.
"What did you say?", Furrball asked timidly.
"I said 'I forgive you'", Fifi repeated in a gentle tone.
"Really? You do?"
"Oui. I accept your apology, Furrball. And you're welcome to move back een weez moi."
Furrball felt his whole body go tingly with joy. Hearing those words made him smile as he felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders. He can see that he now has a bigger chance to set things right with Fifi, and be her boyfriend once again.
"Do not worwy anymore", Fifi said as she put her hands on Furrball's shoulders, "I'm steell here for vous." Fifi then leaned forward & kissed Furrball on the forehead.
Furrball then felt a surge of emotions in his heart. But it wasn't sadness, it was pure joy. He smiled as he felt tears go down his face again.
"Thank you, Fifi", Furrball said. "This means a lot to me."
Fifi smiled back in response. After a moment, she spoke up again.
"Listen. I'm gonna hang out weeth my friends for a while. I want vous to stay here so zhat you can calm yourself down. Okay?"
Furrball nodded in response.
"And whenever you are ready, come over to my place, and we weell discuss zhis further."
"Okay", Furrball nodded. And with a smile, Fifi opened up the box & crawled out to rejoin Heather & Cosette. Heather gave Fifi her book back as the trio started walking off.
Furrball still sat in the box, feeling very hopeful to be together with Fifi again. To resume his wonderful life with his special sweetheart.
However, he's still feeling a bit shaken up. Even though Fifi forgave him, he thinks she's still mad at him.
The blue cat got out of his box & stood. He started his way toward Fifi, hoping to get the rest of the weight off his shoulders.
"Fifi?", Furrball called out. The three girls stopped & turned to the blue cat.
"Yes Furrball?", Fifi answered.
"Um...", Furrball said as he started wringing his tail. "Are...are you still...mad at me?"
Fifi took a moment to see that Furrball is still worried. She was mad at him before, but after knowing his pain, she no longer is.
"Non, Furrball", Fifi replied. "I'm not mad at vous."
"Okay", Furrball said. "And Fifi?"
"Yes?"
Furrball paused as he continued wringing his tail, not knowing what Fifi's response to his next question will be.
"Can I have a hug? Please?"
Fifi smiled & said, "Of course."
Fifi gave Cosette her book & walked up to the blue cat. The two then held each other in a warm embrace.
With each passing second, Furrball could feel the remaining pieces of his heart mending back together. Slowly, the blue cat smiled as he enjoyed every second hugging Fifi.
Fifi looked down at Furrball, then gave him a small kiss on his head. That kiss completely restored Furrball's heart, and soon enough, the blue cat started purring.
The cat & skunk both held each other for a moment, with Cosette & Heather looking on, smiling. Fifi then released Furrball & faced him.
"I'll see vous later", Fifi said, before she turned & rejoined her friends again. Furrball looked on with a smile as he watched the trio turn a corner & exit the alley.
Furrball then headed back over to his cardboard box & crawled back inside. He felt way, WAY better than he did today. He now has a much bigger chance to make amends with Fifi & hopefully get back together with her again.
The blue cat picked up the locket & looked at the picture inside. He smiled as he's looking forward to discussing things further with Fifi. Even though he want to get things over with, he figured that it would be best to give Fifi time to get ready to talk to him.
Furrball then closed his eyes, held the locket against his chest, and let out a big sigh of relief.