01: in which it is discovered that the lion king is not the only musical with characters who are furry felines
<<Macavity's a Mystery Cat: he's called the Hidden Paw >>
"Please? Pleeeaase?"
Allison flinches at Toby's tone and shakes her head vehemently. "Toby, for the last time, the project's over and done with, I'm not going to watch another musical," she says firmly, slightly amused that he's even trying to get her interested in a musical which is literally about singing cats.
"But Allie," he starts, but doesn't get to finish, because Allison punches him in the stomach. Hard.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that? Especially not in public," she hisses. Inside, though, she's kind of pleased that he has a nickname for her.
He grimaces in her general direction while clutching his stomach, and says, "Does this mean you're watching 'Cats' with me?"
She huffs, because she notices that he even has the audacity to look hopeful. Rolling her eyes, she stalks off to her next class, which unfortunately happens to be AP English. Toby follows her like a lost puppy, and takes a seat next to her, earning him a scowl. Whenever Ms. Blake pauses in her spiel about how Edward Thomas was close friends with Robert Frost, Toby pokes her with his pencil and makes his infamous puppy dog face. By the end of the lesson, Allison is so worn out that she reluctantly agrees to watch the musical if Toby shuts up. She even manages to convince herself that she absolutely did not see him jump in the air and tap his heels together.
~♪♫~
Allison does not sniffle when Grizabella sings 'Memory'. Okay, maybe she does, but she hides it from Toby. If he notices, he doesn't say anything, but a few moments later, Allison realizes that his arm is thrown across her shoulder and her head is resting on his chest. He is acting strangely, singing along to the songs with only half the enthusiasm he usually has. He's tapping his feet on the ground, the taps synchronized with the beat of the songs, something he only does when he's nervous.
Allison stops paying attention to the screen and looks at Toby curiously. His brow is furrowed slightly, and the dim lighting makes his features look sharper than they actually are.
Toby murmurs, "You're missing the best part, Allie." Allison snorts in derision and he looks down at her, their noses almost touching. Her breath hitches and his mouth dries up as he gazes at her intensely.
Ignoring the butterflies in his stomach and the nagging voice in the back of his head telling him that she was his best friend's ex and so was off limits, Toby whispers, "You're beautiful."
Allison blushes and mumbles, "Shut up." She laces her fingers through Toby's and snuggles further into his chest, revelling in it's warmth and the fact that she could hear the not-so-steady thump thump of his heart.
Toby grins, remembering how Lydia always responds to Allison when she is told to stop talking.
"Make me," he retorts playfully.
Sorry this is so short! I have almost no free time, but I really wanted to write a one shot for defend, because Eleven O'Clock Number is amazing and it combines two of my favorite things: Sarcasm and musical theatre.
