The Grinch's Monster [COMPLETE]

Back At The Cave

Turns out the trash can's actually a tunnel that takes me on probably the best ride of my life, surprisingly. I come flying out first, suspended in the air for only an instant, before flopping down on the ground. Laughter fading, I turn over so that my stomach's to the ceiling, just as Grinch comes flying out and lands directly on top of me. Time stops as soon as his eyes line with mine.

It doesn't surprise me at how heavy he is, he's got height and weight on his side, but the fact that we're so close, again, makes my heart race. Silence falls, almost suffocating in such an echoing atmosphere, he doesn't move. And I don't ask him.

"So...you had fun today?" His breath dances across my cheeks, making them turn pink. "Yeah. It was...invigorating." He smiles, something about it seemed somewhat sweeter then the ones from before. Max barks and the spell's broken, Grinch scrambles to his feet and I'm left on the floor. He brushes himself off and pauses before holding out a hand, refusing to look me in the eye. I smile before taking it and standing.

"So, about Christmas-" "Yes!" I jump at his exclamation. "To get rid of their holiday cheer!" He stomps off to think and I'm left watching him go with a light shake of my head and faint smile.

~

At some point I went off to have a quick nap, seeing there's more then enough free time to do so, and woke to the light laugh of a girl. Several seconds later Grinch calls for me, then he calls again, and three more times. Until I finally enter the living room rubbing my eyes.

"Okay I'm up what is it?" My question's quickly answered at the sight of the Who girl from before, she smiles brightly. "Hi!" Grinch averts his eyes from my nightdress, I gape at her for a moment before looking at him.

"What's she doing here?" "She came up to invite us to some big party." I arch a skeptical brow. "You mean the Whobalation?" His eyes look into mine. "You know about it?" I shrug. "Who doesn't? That event's the biggest thing after Christmas itself. My mother-" I stop short, realizing what I'm about to say. "Used to love it." Grinch doesn't catch on, the girl does a little too quickly.

"Where is your mother?" It feels easier to answer her then it would someone older. "She's dead, she been dead for...possibly six years now." Grinch looks like a guilty deer in headlights. I do my best to ignore him. "Let's talk alone shall we?" The girl nods and skips to my side, together we walk off to leave Grinch stiff as a board.

~

"So, you want to invite The Grinch to the Whobalation?" She nods. "You could come too if you like, he seems more comfortable around you." I roll my eyes with a pressed laugh. "Him? Comfortable? The only person he's ever relaxed with is himself." Upon realizing that sounds like me, I wince.

"How long have you been here?" "Not that long, maybe a week and a half. It's hard to keep track in a place that's mostly shadows." "So will you come? Will you convince him to come? I was planning to tell him Martha May would be there, but now I think I shouldn't." I could swear my heart stops.

"What's Martha May Who got to do with the Grinch?" She pauses before replying. "They...knew each other back when they were kids, they were in the same class." Now I know my heart stops.

"You know who Martha May is right?" "Who doesn't?" That was the honest truth; that woman was the most sought after Who in all of Whoville, I've seen her before, she's beautiful. She's one of the few Who's that doesn't have a goofy looking nose, like me, it's probably because of that that I respect her. Rather, used to respect her.

"I suppose everyone will be there." "It is a pretty big event." I nod lightly, thinking. "I can ask him to go but I make no promises." She squeals and I jump, not out of surprise, just because it's been a while since the last time I heard a girly squeal that wasn't my own.

"But...how am I going to get back to Whoville? I didn't really like the hike." I smile playfully. "Who said anything about hiking?" I lead her back to the main room, ignoring Grinch, and place her on the doorstep before striding to a rope cord and taking it in my hand. "Talk to you later girly!" Before yanking it and watching her disappear down the shoot, invitation fluttering out and landing at my feet. It isn't until she's gone when I realize I don't know her name.

Picking up the invite, I look over it before handing it to him over my shoulder. "I believe this belongs to you." There's a pause before he takes it. "Wilma, about your mother-" I hold up a hand and he falls silent. There's a pause before I walk off. "We're going to that party." And for some reason, he doesn't argue.