Duet
The sky was overcast as rain was approaching the town of Chipping Cheddar. Coming home from ballet class were two mice and their names were Angelina and Alice. Angelina had white fur, a pink bow atop her head, a pink scarf around her neck, and a blue coat with red buttons. Alice, on the other hand, had brown fur, with a green bow on her head that matched her own coat, all while having a red scarf around her neck. The wind wisped a few leaves from the ground as the two made their way down the road.
"Brrrrr, it ain't half chilly this evening, init?', said Alice as she rubbed her arms.
"Perhaps, but at least my mother's making soup tonight, that'll warm you up", replied Angelina.
"Oh, yeah, your mum really knows how to cook, I can never keep my hands off her cheese pies", Alice grinned dreamily.
"You know, she's considered putting a lock on the pantry so no one can sneak in", said Angelina.
"Really?", gasped Alice.
"...No", Angelina smirked cheekily.
"Awwww, ya' had me goin' there for a second", Alice chided playfully.
"You know, you amaze me sometimes, Alice. With how you balance snacking and staying fit", Angelina observed.
"Well, it's all a thing of portion control…sometimes", replied Alice, "besides, I've yet to really worry about my health anyway."
"True, while we're young yet, we might as well indulge ourselves", replied Angelina before she chuckled, "like that time I got three scoops from Mrs. Thimble's shop."
"Didn't you come to regret that?", quizzed Alice.
"Only because that much ice cream gave me a headache, I think two scoops is enough", murmured Angelina.
"Hmmhmm, you're a funny sort, Angelina", chuckled Alice. It was then that the sound of thunder boomed above them, causing Alice to jump.
"We should really pick up the pace", suggested Angelina.
"Yeah, let's do that", concurred Alice, and the two mouselings rushed for shelter. They had just arrived at the gates to the Mouseling residence when the rain started to pour down. Angelina could see her father in the living room and knocked on the door to be let in. Mr. Maurice Mouseling stood up from his chair and went over to the door to let his daughter and her friend inside.
"Ah, Angelina, Alice, arrived just in time", the elder mouse said as the two mouselings removed their coats, "dinner will be ready in a moment."
"Thank you, Mr. Mouseling", replied Alice as she put her coat on the rack.
"Will you be staying over?", asked the full grey mouse.
"Ah yes, mum and Alice's mother agreed Alice could stay over for the night", said Angelina.
"Dinner!", came a voice from the kitchen. The three turned and headed over to the room where an orange mouse with a white undertone was setting the pot atop a wooden coaster. Mrs. Matilda Mouseling smiled as she saw Alice come into the kitchen along with her daughter and husband, before she went to give her youngest daughter, Polly, her own meal.
"Hmmmm, this is delicious, Mrs. Mouseling", Alice complimented, though made sure not to speak with her mouth full.
"Why thank you, Alice", smiled Matilda, "it's nice to see that other mouselings appreciate my cooking."
"Oh! Will you be making your cheese pie for the school's upcoming bake sale?", asked Alice in anticipation.
"Haha, we'll see, my dear, just make sure you don't eat the whole thing", chuckled Matilda. Alice gave a modest blush at the thought.
"I'll make some space in my room when we go upstairs", said Angelina.
"Yes, because to my knowledge, you still haven't cleaned that room of yours, young lady", Matilda said in a tone that was firm but fair.
"Uhhh, I was going to get to it when I got back home…", Angelina said, blushing slightly.
"Well, please make sure you do, we have a guest after all", replied Matilda.
Just then, the elder mouse noticed Polly's bowl about to fall off her stool. Quickly, she grabbed it before the contents could fall onto the floor.
"Phew", Matilda sighed in relief.
"Hehe, mama", giggled Polly.
"Nice save, darling", said Maurice, "always on hand to prevent disaster."
"Why thank you, dear", replied Matilda, "so I can trust you to do the dishes after we're done?"
"Oh yes…eh, what?", Maurice suddenly looked up in surprise.
"It's your turn, I've been preparing food all day and I could use a hand", Matilda said, "unless you had other plans…"
"Uhhh, of course not, will do, dear", Maurice flustered, straightening his collarbone. Angelina and Alice couldn't help but stifle a giggle.
After dinner, the two girls went upstairs to Angelina's room. Much like her mother had said, it wasn't exactly the tidiest at present.
"Jeez, Angelina, what happened in here", quizzed Alice.
"I might have gotten a bit carried away looking for my ribbon…", replied Angelina, rubbing the back of her neck, "turns out it was under my bed the whole time…"
"Ah…well, we might as well clean it up, eh?", said Alice. Angelina nodded and the two mouselings set about tidying up the room. Soon, everything had been placed back in its proper compartment and the two girls had retired into their pajamas. A sudden rush of wind caused the window to shutter, alerting the two.
"Oh my!", cried Alice.
"Oh, the storm, I forgot!", gasped Angelina. She rushed over to the window and closed it before the rain could get it. After she secured the latch, the mouseling breathed a sigh of relief, "Phew, that was close."
"You can say that again…", replied Alice before she looked over at the bed, "so…which side am I taking?"
"Huh? Oh, you can take whichever, really", said Angelina.
Alice nodded and jumped onto the right side of the bed while Angelina climbed onto the left side. The two mice giggled to one another before a thought struck Alice.
"Um…Angelina, can I ask you an odd question?", said Alice.
"Oh…well, depends on what you mean, go ahead", replied Angelina.
"Okay, we've been best friends for a long time, and I was wondering…when you get older, were you planning on moving…?", Alice asked.
"Uh…well, that's an interesting question…truth be told, I haven't really given it much thought", Angelina admitted, "I quite like being here, I have all my favorite sweets, my favorite dancing class, and all my friends."
Alice blushed modestly, "Awwwww, you flatter me, Angelina."
Angelina smiled, but then quirked a brow, "What's brought this on, anyway?"
"Oh, it's nothing, really, just…I do hope that when you say we're friends forever, we'll actually stay like that…you're the best friend I've ever had, Angelina", Alice said softly.
"Um, Alice?"
"Yeah?"
"Your…paw."
Alice looked down, while she had been talking, her paw had made its way to Angelina's right side. The brown mouseling quickly retracted in embarrassment.
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to invade!", flustered Alice.
"Oh nonono, you're perfectly fine", assured Angelina. She extended her own paw onto Alice's, "When I say we're best friends forever, I mean it. I couldn't think of a world where you weren't my friend, that's how I know we'll always have each other's backs."
Alice looked down at Angelina's paw, and then back up at her longtime friend. Angelina's smile looked so…nurturing, like anything could happen at that moment, and yet she'd feel safe in her friend's presence. Alice gave a grateful smile towards the white mouseling.
"Yeah…I hope we stay like this. You're the best friend I could ever ask for", Alice said. She then felt Angelina moving forward and locking her arms around the brown mouse. "Wha…what are ya' doin'?"
"Surely friends can give each other hugs, besides, I like being close to you", replied Angelina. Alice blushed, but couldn't deny that it felt nice being in the white mouse's embrace. It was almost a minute before Alice realized how long Angelina had been hugging her.
"Uh…Angelina?", Alice piped up, causing her friend to blink and retract a little too hastily.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize…", Angelina started, but trailed off when she saw Alice's expression.
"You don't have to apologize, like you said, friends can give each other hugs…", smiled Alice.
Angelina smiled in return and the two mouselings rubbed the tips of their noses together affectionately.
They did hope that no matter what happened, their friendship would stand the test of time. The thought also came to them, perhaps they could be more affectionate around each other, at least when they were alone. Such thoughts lingered in both of their heads throughout the night, it was a comforting thought to say the least.