Author's Note: I GOTS REVIEWS! WOOT! Nobody said that I suck at first-person, so I'm continuing! Well... I got some private messages on the love-interest thingy, so I private messaged the people my explanation. Thanks for being polite enough not to criticize in your review, anonymous person! You gets a virtual Misto pin! Er... This'll switch from Misto's POV to Quaxo's POV and vice-versa. Starts out in Quaxo's POV, this time around. HeheheHE!
I've never, ever had alcohol cause I'm underage, so I don't know if the hangover is accurate... Read some books where people had hangovers, so...
Chapter Two:
Quaxo
I rolled out of my nest on my side of the den and groaned, I had the worst hangover. My head was pounding like some sort of miniature drummer was beating on my brain, and I had an awful taste in my mouth. Why had I let Alonzo convince me to go to that stupid party, anyway?
I told you not to. Mistoffelees muttered snobbishly in my head. He was Mr. Oh-so-perfect, never the one caught partying. He had no idea how to have fun.
Just shut up and go away. I like you better when you're quiet. I retorted, hoping that he wouldn't hear my private thoughts.
You never leave me alone.
I did all day yesterday!
You were hung over. In a drunken stupor. Remember now?
Whatever, Misto. Cool it.
My name is Mistoffelees, not Misto. And you're going to be late for school, genius.
Who cares?
I will MAKE you go to school.
How? I almost laughed at the thought, but my head hurt too much.
I will come out, go to school, then force you out.
Poor teacher. I snickered sarcastically.
I walked into the main part of the den. Mistoffelees was fully capable of forcing us to change in class. He hated it as much as I did – seeing the looks on our classmates' faces when we'd change color slightly, then shake our head and be a different person.
"Quaxo." My mother was sitting on the floor of our den, waiting to ambush me. I flinched at the sound of her voice; it didn't help my headache.
"Mom?"
"Mistoffelees was drunk last night."
"And that has what to do with me?..." I looked at the roof of the den, hoping I had gotten Mistoffelees too sloshed to speak coherently.
"Everything, according to him."
"Wait. Hold it. How did you understand him? If he stutters, and he was slurring..." I stopped, I should not have said that.
"Quaxo, he said you were the one drinking alcohol." Her glare seemed to go right through me. I shuffled my paws.
"I, er... may have had a little bit to drink."
"Enough for it to get Mistoffelees drunk?" Mom was practically shouting now.
"Apparently." I grumbled, wishing that I was just a little bit more responsible. I just couldn't stop having fun once I started, I guess.
You've got that right, Quaxo. It wasn't enjoyable, having an even harder time speaking.
Go be quiet or something. Mom's talking.
Well, I wouldn't know that, now would I?
" - AND YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING!" I jumped when Mom shouted, and Mistoffelees cowered farther back in our mind. Even I rarely saw our mother this upset.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
"Sorry doesn't cut it!" She'd stopped shouting, at least, "You could have been banished! You could have overdosed! You could have died."
"I'm really, really sorry, okay?"
"No! It's not okay! How am I supposed to trust you? How will you grow up to be a respectable young tom?"
"I-I don't know what else to say. I'm sorry. Really." That time, I wasn't lying just to get her off my back. I really was sorry, and would try my best not to do it again.
"Look, Quaxo. I'm only doing this so that you don't get yourself killed. I love you, and that's why I do these things." Mom looked like she was about to start crying.
"I understand." I meowed quietly; I hate it when she cries, especially when it's my fault.
"Then you'll understand why I'm giving you a curfew." I gasped; Mom had never gone so far as that.
"What about Mistoffelees? What if he's out past my curfew?"
"I have to do the same to him, only because you two lack full control over when you change personalities."
"Okay." I sighed; there was no way I was getting out of this one.
"I want you home and inside by nine o'clock, understand?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Good. Now go to school, you're already late."
"Yes, Mom." That was my immediate response to everything, don't make a fuss, just do what she said.
I walked outside, rubbing my head. Today was promising to be a bad one. How come I couldn't ever be responsible? Mistoffelees was able to sit still in class, I had to fidget and make faces when Jennyanydots wasn't looking. Sometimes, I just wished that I could be the good kid for once. I know it sounds stupid, but I can't help being a little louder than everyone else, a little sillier. It's just who I am.
I ran into Victoria on my way to school.
"Sorry." I meowed, moving to the side so she could get past. Unfortunately, she had the same idea. I moved to the other side of the path. So did she. I got tired of moving back and forth, rinse and repeat, so I took her shoulders and spun her around so that I was on the other side.
"Thanks." She laughed, smiling.
"No problem." I replied.
"Oh, Mistoffelees said that he'd help me study, Quaxo. Thanks again for helping me ask him."
"All in a day's work."
"Ask him if tonight's good, please?" I didn't even bother asking Mistoffelees. He didn't have a life, so he wouldn't care if I told her to come over.
"He said it was fine. Right after school?" I hated being his wing-tom, but that's what brothers – or multiple personalities – do, right?
"Sure."
"Well, I have to go." I meowed, heading to Tumblebrutus' house. He was my best friend. I knocked a paw on his den, and his mother, Jellylorum, stepped outside.
"I'm sorry, Quaxo, Tumblebrutus can't come to school today. He and Pouncival caught some sort of bug and I don't want it spreading."
"Sure. I have to be going, before I get counted as absent." I meowed, sidestepping any questions she might have as to why I was so late. She nodded, and went back inside. I hurried off to school, faster than I'd ever gone before. I didn't want to give Mistoffelees another excuse to brag.
I ran into the school-den, earning a few strange looks from the few cats in the hall. I walked into the classroom.
"I have...ARRIVED!" I shouted, throwing my paws in the air at the last word. I felt Mistoffelees shrink with embarrassment. I ignored him, listening to my classmates laugh. I loved the attention, I just soaked it up.
"You're late, Quaxo." Jennyanydots scolded, checking my name off her list.
"I'm sorry." I meowed sarcastically, bowing low enough to bang my head against the floor. She was not amused.
"Get to your seat." I sat, pulling faces behind the Gumbie Cat's back. She picked a thick book off the floor. I shivered. Learning. Not my thing.
Now would be a good time to get your genius tail out here, Mistoffelees. I thought as quickly as I could, hoping that my alter-ego hadn't decided that it was time for a catnap.
What do you want me for? He yawned, I was having a very good dream, Quaxo.
Just shut up and get out here. The learning is going to kill me!
Whatever. You owe me one.
Fine. But hurry up! I felt lightweight all of a sudden. I smiled as most of my white markings disappeared, and Mistoffelees took over.
~~~Mistoffelees~~~
I shook my head, ignoring the well-earned stares from my classmates. It's not normal when a tom changes color and is suddenly a different cat. Even when the tom is me, it's still not normal.
"Everyone turn to page three hundred ninety-seven in your science books." Jennyanydots meowed, turning around, "I see that you've decided to oblige us with silence, Quaxo."
"Er, I-I'm Mist-t-toffelees, actually m-ma'am." I muttered.
"Did you see him at the party?" Bombalurina whispered behind my back, thinking I couldn't hear, "He was stumbling all over and tripping over his paws. Even Quaxo can hold his alcohol better than Sir Stutters-a-lot."
"Bombalurina!" Jennyanydots meowed, "Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"
Bast! She'd tell the whole Junkyard, if given half a chance! I buried my face in my paws. This was what I got for having a near-insane alter-ego.
Hey! I've been chewed out enough, thank you very much.
Not nearly enough, actually.
"Sure." The scarlet queen winked at me before continuing, "Mistoffelees was sloshed two nights ago. It was a sight you'd pay to see, I swear." The class broke down into a fit of uncontrolled laughter at the thought of me stumbling around drunk. Jennyanydots gave me a strange look, I assumed it was sympathy; she had no idea what a terrible gossip Bombalurina was.
"Well," The Gumbie Cat was obviously flustered, "Let's continue. Alonzo, stop making the book into spitballs."
"Sure." The black-and-white tomcat flicked his spitball at me. It stuck in my fur. That was going to take a while to get out.
"Class, please read to page four hundred." There were groans and whining from the cats. I ducked another spitball and started reading.
I may have read the words, but I didn't remember any of it. I just couldn't concentrate.
You're supposed to be the smart one! Quaxo whined.
I'll reread the chapter tonight.
Nerd.
Moron.
Teacher's Pet.
Ignoramus.
Mr. Oh-so-perfect.
You think I'm perfect?
No...Yes...Maybe...
Well, I'm not. I can't get through a sentence, remember?
Oh, yeah! Quaxo brightened at the thought. I grimaced and focused on the page in front of me. The chapter had something to do with a cat's anatomy, and giggles were erupting all around the classroom. I ignored them as usual, and shut my book. I looked around. I was the first one done, what a surprise. Tantomile and Coricopat shut their books and nodded at me. I smiled weakly. Then Jennyanydots stopped grading papers.
"Class is over. Remember to study for tomorrow's test." I gathered my books up for break, when the Gumbie Cat called out, "Mistoffelees, I want you to stay after class." I groaned quietly.
"Y-y-yes-s, ma'am?" I walked over to her.
"Is what Bombalurina said true? Were you drinking two mights ago?"
"N-no, m-ma'am. Q-Q-Quaxo w-was t-t-t-the one drinking." She relaxed, then got agitated again.
"Quaxo. Was. Drinking?"
"T-t-that-t-t's w-what I said, ma'am." I – oddly enough – felt like I should protect Quaxo, "But-t-t it is a f-f-f-family mat-t-t-t-ter."
Aw, shucks. I feel wanted.
Please be quiet, Quaxo.
Never. It's impossible for me to!
Obviously.
Twinkle-toes.
I refuse to respond to that.
Too late!You already did!
"Well, have you told your mother?"
"Y-y-yes ma'am. S-s-she dealt-t with it-t-t."
"I'll talk with her tonight."
"Yes, ma'am." I walked out of the classroom without another word.
~~~At the end of the day~~~
I gathered up my books warily, on the lookout for queens aiming to run into me. Victoria ran up, and I flinched, but she stopped moving in time not to hit me.
"Hi." She meowed.
"H-h-hello." I was astounded that she'd talk to me for two days in a row. No queen – except Tantomile – ever talked to me.
"Quaxo said you'd help me study after school today."
"S-s-s-sure!" I stuttered, a little too eagerly.
"Um... you have a spitball in your headfur." Victoria pointed out. I picked at it self-consciously.
"Erm... I c-c-couldn't get-t-t it out of m-my f-f-fur." I rubbed it, and it still wouldn't come out.
"Oh dear. Let me help you." She laughed and gently pulled it out. I stared at her.
"How?"
"You must have loosened it." She threw the spitball in the trash, "Now I have to go wash my paws."
"S-s-sorry." I felt like an absolute idiot.
You are one.
Yeah, right. That's why I'm the one to take tests.
Okay, you're a smart idiot.
That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.
"It's okay. It's not like Alonzo wouldn't have spitballed me if he had the chance."
"Um... d-d-do you want-t-t me t-t-to w-w-wait for y-you?"
"Yeah. I don't know the way to your den."
"J-J-Jemima prob-b-bably has it-t memori-z-zed."
"I wouldn't be at all surprised." Victoria laughed again and walked off to the basin of water to wash her paws.
Misto, she's WAY out of your league.
And that's coming from the cat who can't shut up. I'm shocked Jemima would date you.
Says the broken record.
Says the idiot with the giant ego.
Blah, blah, blah. Not listening!
You don't have a choice. We share a mind, remember?
….I...Cannot...Hear...You...Misto...
Then why are you answering me?
Still...can't...hear...you...
Sure.
What? I'm not listening, remember?
Then shut up.
"Mistoffelees?" Victoria waved a paw in front of my face, "Anyone home?" I blinked.
"S-s-Sorry. I must've s-s-s-spaced out-t t-t-there." I didn't tell her I was talking to Quaxo. We both agreed never to tell anyone that the other personality had a sort of... semi-consciousness while the other was up and about. That would be too weird for any cat I know of.
"You do that a lot, don't you?"
"Dep-p-pends on t-t-t-the d-day."
"Well, let's get going."
"Yeah." I walked to my family den, hoping that I wouldn't suddenly turn into Quaxo. That would be awful. He was just as smart as me, he just refused to learn, seeing as I did all that for him.
Author's Note: I'm sorry for the abrupt ending, but this chapter was getting too long.
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