A/N Hey, people! I know I update slow, so please bear with me and hang tight. The school year is almost over here, so I should be maybe getting these up a little bit faster. I sure hope so. Drop a review by if you liked the fic. If you hated it, drop a review by anyway and tell me how to fix it. ;)

Oh, and the story seems to be winding down to a close. I think we'll have a happy ending, but you know I love emo crap so it's a toss-up. If you have any ideas or suggestions you want to see in here, tell me! And don't kill me for the emo-ness! I have a plan!

Chapter Fourteen: University for Exceptional Felines

~~Quaxo~~

"What's the good news?" I asked, knowing it would probably cheer me up now that I was depressed.

Or you'll be too sad to appreciate the value of the good news, you know. Mistoffelees snapped in response to my optimism. He must really hate knowing I'm so much happier than he'll ever be, since he can't stop looking on the bad side of things; overthinking everything and deciding anything that can go wrong, will. He's so dull.

Like you're the sharpest tool in the shed, he replied sarcastically. I sighed.

What does that even mean? I thought, confused. Mom, who had wandered off, had returned with a letter of some sort in her paw. She sat down in her previous spot, directly in front of us, and began to read it while trying not to grin ecstatically.

"Mistoffelees-Quaxo, resident of the "Jellicle" Junkyard, has hereby been accepted into the University for Exceptional Felines. He may enroll any time during this school year or after and will be expected at the campus two weeks after such. He will need to choose his major and minor(s) and pick up a list of books after doing so," she folded up the paper and beamed over it at us. I could feel Mistoffelees excitement rising, but I really couldn't care less. A scholarship- wait. Twenty-year-old cats went there. And that meant Twenty-year-old queens would, no doubt, be running around the campus, and I've heard they actually wear clothing, which make them look like they've got something that's too good for us toms to see. And that sparks curiosity. I think I could learn to like college.

You're gross. Can't you wait to learn about the universe and it's mysteries?

The only mysteries I want to learn about is the mystery of why college queens are so sexy.

Everlasting.

Sexy everlasting? Awesome!

"So, do you two want to enroll now and leave for college, which would make you the first cat in our family to get into a college - and it's a university, and you're only sixteen! - or do you want to finish school here and be caught up when you do go? Because you are going, Quaxo. Don't you doubt that, Mister. I won't have you ruining Mistoffelees' education along with his life."

I blinked at her sudden spurt of anger, "Yes, Mom. I'll ask Mistoffelees. Okay?" She smiled.

Well...he paused, seeming torn and a little hurt, Without Victoria...I don't think there's anything to stay for, is there? I mean...we have so few friends, and they sure won't miss us, y'know? You'll have to stay for your AA until you're clean, I'm sure, but other than that and Mom, we have absolutely nothing holding us here.

I thought about that for a moment. Mom would force me into staying with AA until I stopped drinking, I was sure. Yeah. Makes sense. We need some new opportunities, don't we? A chance for you to find some more nerd buddies and for me to get away from this reputation I'm sure I have from all this boozing around.

Right...go ahead and tell Mom, then. I still feel almost sick over leaving, but we'll get over it, I'm sure.

"We've decided to go as soon as I'm done with AA. We...we don't have anything keeping us here, like Misto said," I mumbled, feeling down. Wow. Good news had depressed me. I had to think happy thoughts. College queens. College queens. College queens...

Please stop. You're disgusting.

I swear you're either gay or have been neutered somehow without me noticing it. College equals school equals bad. College queens equal sexy equal good. Very good.

Just...just stop. I have something I need to take care of before you go to AA tonight, okay? I really need to do something.

I sighed and relinquished control, wondering what he needed to do so soon. I mean, we'd have lots of unfinished goodbyes and plans, but only when we were a week from leaving. Not now, when we'd have possibly months to tell everyone we were leaving.

~~Mistoffelees~~

I sighed and looked up at Mom, "Are y-y-you sure you w-want t-t-to leave us at-t a univ-v-versity...all alone?" We were, as she'd so proudly stated, going to college at the age of sixteen. Surely that had to be illegal? Wouldn't we need a guardian?

She smiled, "I don't think I can leave right now...I've got to tell you something else, baby." I raised an eyebrow. More good news? More bad news? "You know Asparagus Junior, the brown and grey tom that's a year or so older than me?"

I nodded, fairly certain I knew where this was going.

I do! They've been getting it on when we weren't hovering! I don't know whether I like the idea of Mom happy or if Asp getting frisky with her just creeps me out.

She continued, "Well, he asked me to be his mate recently, so he'll be moving in, since I don't think his den has a room just for you two. And I don't want to leave you, but I trust you. You two mess up once and I'm going to pick you up and take you home until you graduate here. All right, honey?"

I smiled, and it grew into a grin, "If h-h-he makes-s you happy, I'm happy t-t-t-t-too." Mom beamed at me and pulled me into a bear hug, kissing my face and I thought she'd started bawling. This was proven true when she let out a strange noise somewhere between a sob and a laugh.

"I'm just so happy that you're already going to college! You're just sixteen, and I don't want to leave you, but college is something for you to do without me hovering. Oh, baby, please be good! I trust you, but keep Quaxo out of trouble. You're still so young and I don't want you moving away...please come back to visit, or Asp and I'll come visit you," she said, leaning back and wiping her nose with a tissue. "I'll save the real tears for your goodbye trip, okay?"

I nodded, standing and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, realizing I'd grown. I was taller than her, if only by an inch or so. I knew I'd inherited her build and not my father's. Ah, well; the less of him I had in me, the better. Then I left the house and headed toward Coricopat and Tantomile's. I had to fix this; they were my only friends and I'd ignored them ever since our fight. I hadn't even tried to make this better. I would now, at least.

I can see it now; "Oh, f-f-f-forgive m-me, my l-l-love! C-C-Cori, I c-can't keep-p th-th-this s-secret-t-t any longer! I l-l-love you! Oh, h-h-hi, T-Tanto. L-Love you too." It'll become a major motion picture that the humans watch and your stuttering awkwardness will make you famous!

I frowned, clenching my paws. Why did I have to inherit all the brains? Couldn't whatever had caused this have given him a little smarts? He was so annoying. I do not have a crush on either of them. Besides, I think that they like the other set of twins. Mungo and Rump?

You know why they call her Rump? Because she's got one nice a-

Shut up right now. Just leave me be while I try to fix this up, okay?

"Well, Quaxo's actually right. They call her Rump for a reason, and that's it," a familiar voice said, causing me to look up. Coricopat was standing in front of me, grinning, while Tantomile looked at her feet. I suppose talking about queens really wasn't a favorite pastime of hers.

"H-hey, C-C-Cori, T-Tanto. I c-came to apologiz-ze," I mumbled softly, looking down at my feet. Tantomile stepped closer.

"It's fine, really. We-" she began warmly, or as warmly as a distant cat such as her can be.

"were just on our way to apologize to you when-" Coricopat continued, looking thoroughly amused with something.

"Quaxo just happened to scream his thoughts loud enough for us to hear it a mile away," Tantomile finished, smirking as I looked up and chuckled weakly. That was Quaxo for you. He couldn't even think quietly.

I resent that.

You mean represent?

Uh, depends on what either of those words mean.

You represent it. Just go with that.

"You two sure do fight-" Coricopat began, chuckling.

"a lot. More than Cori and I do." Tantomile said. I smiled and asked if there was anything specific they wanted to do. We went to the park for a bit, and Tantomile spotted Victoria reclining on a bench beside an older human woman. I stiffened.

"Well, I think you have something to say to her?" The psychic queen prodded, shoving Coricopat off without a second thought. Apparently she wanted to give me advice alone. Though I already knew that Coricopat would hear about it easily enough. "Don't you want to explain to her that you're going away?" I sighed and looked at her, trying to make myself seem even more pitiful than usual.

That's not too difficult.

Shut up.

"Oh, you can't just leave her without a word!" She hit Coricopat, who'd sneaked back here to finish her sentences.

"Oh...I...a-alright," I sighed and walked over to Victoria, and the older woman picked me up.

"Oh! I was sure you were a girl kitty, since you're so tiny!" She picked me up and eyed me again, "But no, you're definitely the smallest tomcat I've ever seen! That's so adorable. Do you want some fish, Mr. Kitty?"

"Let g-g-go!" I meowed, knowing full well she couldn't understand me. Victoria smiled and tried not to laugh.

"Aww, isn't that cute? Mr. Kitty can't meow properly. He stutters, doesn't he, Miss Kitty?" The woman turned towards Victoria as if to ask her opinion. She smirked.

"Misto, the less you squirm, the sooner she'll put you down," she said calmly, eating a piece of fish the woman had obviously given her. I sighed and waited until she put me down, then climbed over and sat down by Victoria, grooming my bib.

"I have t-t-t-to t-tell you something," I said quickly. Before the white queen had a chance to reply, to woman spoke, asking if I was "Miss Kitty's" boyfriend and saying that we'd better not be fooling around, because she couldn't feed more cats and we were sure to have lots. I blushed, looking down. Victoria smirked and snuggled up against me, purring and grooming my headfur. I couldn't help wondering if she was doing this to please the woman. I mean, she obviously didn't love me. I shouldn't have been surprised. The only thing I have going for me is that a few of my traits could be considered adorable. I hate that word. Adorable.

"Well," Victoria said anxiously when I stared at my paws, lost in thought, "we are dating, aren't we? That's what I thought it was...but if you don't feel the same...tell me." I winced; she was really laying the caring queenfriend act on a little thick, wasn't she?

Maybe she does like us!

No. Mom knows about these things. She's right, I'm sure. Victoria can't love someone like us anyway. I mean, we're a little messed up, aren't we, Quaxo?

"W-well, I g-got a scholars-s-ship and I r-r-really n-need the c-career chances. We're l-l-leaving as soon as Q-Quaxo gets clean," I said softly, unable to look at her. She didn't love me. I was a crude replacement for Plato. She didn't love me. She didn't love me...

"But...Misto...Misto, I thought we had something," she began, hissing softly and causing the old woman to scold her, "I thought you cared for me and weren't going to run away. What did I do?"

I sighed, deciding it would be best to come out with the truth, "I know y-y-y-you're using me as a-a r-r-rebound. I know you d-don't really like anyth-th-thing about me. I'm a r-replacement." And then I ran off to go sit by Tantomile and Coricopat, who had recently returned. I could hear her crying from across the park, and she looked at me with absolute hatred. Maybe Mom was wrong this time. And now I'd ruined any chance I'd had of a steady relationship.

"Ooh, nicely done," Coricopat said, shaking his head. "Ouch."