A/N Please remember to review! They're the only things that keep me going, and I love your feedback!
Chapter Thirteen: Rebound
~~Quaxo~~
"Quaxo, Mistoffelees, it's time to get up! You're going to be late for school!" Mom shouted, knocking on the door. I sighed and fell out of bed, pulling the blankets off of myself; she'd keep that banging up until one of us got up. I paused momentarily, lying on the floor; I felt much better than I had in recent days. I was puzzled until I realized why; I didn't have a hangover.
That's such a feat there, Quaxo. I'm proud, Mistoffelees thought dryly. I snorted and stood, rolling my shoulders happily. I guess not having a hangover was pretty good. Getting drunk was great when you wanted to drown sorrows, but hangovers will kill you in the morning, really. I couldn't decide then whether or not the drinking was worth it; I had a love-hate relationship with it.
With my deep thinking done for the day, I left the room and waved goodbye to Mom, stepping outside and heading towards Tumble's house. He was sure to be waiting for me, anyway.
Of course, Misto assured me boredly, You two have a routine and I would be shocked if either one of you ever deviates from it, even after we've graduated. I scoffed at his silliness and continued on my path. I wasn't that glued to a routine, was I? And, anyway, wasn't he the same way? All he ever did was complain about bullies that hadn't touched him in ages, daydream about Victoria, stalk Victoria, read, nag at me, and dance. Hmph.
Ah, he disagreed, but I do do other things. I talk with my friends, do your homework, do my homework, comfort you, assist you, keep you from drinking, basically care for you in every way. You're my helpless little alter-ego. I shot a glare at the nearest object in response to this, as I can't really glare at my brain, can I?
What put you in such a bad mood? I asked, a little less than conversationally. He only snorted in response and pointed out that I was at Tumblebrutus' house. I grinned and knocked on the door, waiting impatiently for him to show up. Only, it was his mother at the door and not Tumble.
"Quaxo," she said dryly, "Your mother said you weren't to visit Tumble again. Frankly, I agree. You two feed off of each other."
"Oh, come on, Jelly, you know me-" I whined, spreading my paws out imploringly. She raised a paw, silencing me.
"Which is exactly why you two are going to be kept apart as best as your mother and I can," Jellylorum snapped sternly. She paused and sniffed my shoulder, "You don't smell like booze. Is that Alcoholics Together or whatever it's called working, then?"
"It's Alcoholics Anonymous," I muttered, correcting her dryly, "And sure. Beck's just great. Smiles all the time, super preppy. I love it." With that, I turned grumpily around and left for school, not knowing what else to do, really.
Because your routine's been interrupted. Mistoffelees sniffed airily, sounding more full of himself than I did. Pft, and I thought I was arrogant.
Misto, has all that dashing height and strength gone to your head, then?
Oh, no, if we were either of those, it would have gone to your head far before mine. I scoffed at that remark; he really must be feeling important today. Those bullies had better find him and beat him up again, I thought. He was long overdue. Maybe they couldn't find him when his bookends weren't flanking him all the time. Hm..
I scratched my chin and was so involved in the process of making Mistoffelees miserable and returning his low self-esteem I so enjoyed making even lower that I entered the classroom silently and sat down without making my usual scene. Jennyanydots did a double-take when she saw that it was me sitting there, quietly and well-behaved. In fact, her expression was really pretty hilarious.
"Well, Quaxo," she said, as though she didn't really believe what she was seeing, "Did you do your schoolwork?" I smiled and nodded, handing her the completed papers with an eager smile I'd often felt on my face when Mistoffelees was wearing it. Jenny seemed to be absolutely stunned; she pressed her paw to her heart and closed her eyes. Maybe she thought I'd be my alter-ego when she opened them. I guess I disappointed her, because I wasn't going to change. My pretending to be a good kid was going to give her a heart attack, though, if I kept it up.
See, everyone likes me more than they like you, because I'm mellow and polite and nice... Unlike you. I rolled my eyes at that. He was so arrogant, and he didn't even admit it. I know I'm full of myself, at least.
Yeah, Misto, everyone likes you. Everyone except the cats your own age, I thought in retort. He didn't say anything. I guess he was trying the route of dignified silence, maybe? I don't know.
When school was over, a rather confused-looking Jenny held me back after class. I leaned against the wall and waited, bored, until she was finished putting away today's schoolwork.
"Well, Quaxo, I'll thank you for keeping your mouth shut during school. I know you seem to have an issue with doing that, so today was a pleasant surprise," she said, seeming to have a hard time keeping the abrasiveness out of her voice when she spoke to me.
"Sure thing," I said, smiling brightly and rather uncharacteristically. She stared after me as I left the school building. I love tormenting adults.
When I got home, Mom was busy fixing something to eat. It smelled like unhealthy fried food, which means she has bad news. She always makes comfort food when she's got to tell us something we probably won't like. But, for me, the junk food is always, always worth it. Yum.
The way into the Quaxo's heart is not through affection, but through fried foods. Mistoffelees muttered enigmatically. I smiled and agreed with him. Fried foods are worth any bad news, or so I assumed. I'd never really known what truly awful news was, but so long as it wasn't girl problems, I'd be fine, right?
Soon enough, Mom stepped into the main room, carrying a small tray of fried chicken, causing me to lick my lips..um, what's the word...
Reflexively. Mistoffelees supplied, all too helpfully. I grumbled under my breath.
I like automatically better. I replied, now that the word I'd wanted had been remembered. He snorted with mild contempt and sighed as I picked up a piece of the chicken Mom was offering and wolfed it down as quickly as I could. I guess he was keeping up a running commentary.
"So, when you're done eating, Quaxo," Mom began half-hesitantly, "I have something to tell both you and Misto. So make sure he's listening, too. It's really important. I don't want one or both of you ending up hurt. But I've got some good news, too. So don't feel too bad."
I nodded and finished off the chicken, wiping the grease off one my fur, which earned a dissapproving glare from my mother and a disgusted whine from Mistoffelees, who was asking if I couldn't possibly carry around a napkin, since I ate everything offered to me and there was no point running to fetch one every three minutes.
"Alright, Mom," I said amiably, "Fire away. Bad news first."
Why not the good news? Doesn't my opinion matter?
I'll answer both questions. One, your whole existence is bad news, so you should be used to it by now. Two, your opinion has never mattered. Have a great day and thanks for visiting Quaxo's Tough Love Therapy! Come again!
He didn't reply and mom was starting to speak. "Quaxo, Mistoffelees," she said gently, smiling sadly at her paws, "I know you two have a crush on Victoria. I know that, Mistoffelees, you're certain you're in love with her. You're certain she's the One. Quaxo, you think you love her, and you might have a better idea of it than your brother, but you don't want Victoria to leave you like Jemmy. You've seen that she likes Misto, too, and you think maybe you're ready to try again. Boys, am I right about this?"
I nodded, "Yes. You usually are, Mom. But we know all this. What's the bad news?"
"Well, kittens, she didn't think that she could work things out with Plato; Jelly told me. They grew distant...he tried to convince her to do things she was against...she tried to force him into a mold that suited her. And they had a bit of a rough breakup. Jennyanydots heard the whole thing. And now, loves, she's clinging to you two, flirting - while she was still with Plato, and I've heard rumors that you were at her house late at night. Boys, I think she's using you as a rebound tomfriend. I'm sorry."
I blinked, "A what?"
What's that?Mistoffeles echoed my words.
Mom paused; she hadn't anticipated our lack of knowledge on the subject. "Well," she thought for a moment, "When a queen breaks up with a tom they love, or even like, they hurt. A lot. And who will comfort them when they're sad, hold them when they're lonely, and say what she needs to hear? A new tomfriend. And, Mistoffelees, Quaxo, these relationships hardly ever last. They hurt both participants in the end, usually. I think Victoria wants someone who'll love her, and thinks you'll do."
So, Victoria doesn't love us the way we love her. Mistoffelees thought forlornly. I sighed.
Nope.
