All Mimsy Were The Borogoves

“No! I’m an adult! I can eat as many of them as I want to whenever I want!” Zander stood up, actually hurt. “I’m tired of people treating me like I’m a child! I might not always be the most mature, but I know how to take care of myself! I took care of my mother when my father went to war, and Anton and I took care of ourselves when we traveled up here. I’m more than capable of controlling my espresso intake.” Zander took a deep breath, calming himself. “I’m sorry, I just let that build up a little too long.”

Cassie dropped the bag, her face dropping to one of complete hurt and confusion. She didn’t even know what to do or say. All she could do was stare at him as he chewed her out. Maybe she really had been treating him like a child though she hadn’t intended too. “I… um…” Cassie cleared her throat. She had never been chewed out by the bird ever in her life and it was weird seeing it and being on the receiving end of it. “I’ll, um, just, um, let you have those and I’m gonna, just…” Cassie pointed towards the door, slightly hurt but more so confused as she started towards the door. 

“Cassie, no I’m sorry, please don’t leave!” Zander leapt up, running to her, and grabbing her hand. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to explode on you, I really didn’t! It’s just... It seems sometimes that the only one that thinks of me as an equal and not as someone who needs to be looked after is Charlie. Even Anton seems to think I can’t always look after myself. And Lydi just thinks I’m annoying most of the time, and I just feel like people don’t realize that I can take care of myself. That because I didn’t have some sort of tragic childhood, I’m sheltered and unable to make decisions.” He dropped her hand, and looked sadly at the ground. “I was the one that decided to leave home and come here. People seem to forget that I’m not a child.”

A single tear rolled Zander’s cheek as his best friend wrapped him and Cassie in his arms. What could possibly be better than this. He had the girl of his dreams and the approval of his best friend. His heart felt so full it could burst. “I’m so glad you approve,” he gripped tight to Anton.

“I’m just sorry you felt like you couldn’t trust me with this sooner,” he said as he pulled back from the hug. He was still smiling, though- it was kind of impossible for him to stop. “But I’m happy now. I’m ecstatic. We should celebrate! Lemme buy you dinner. Oh, oh, oh! We should throw a party!”

“Bro, we don’t need a party just cause we’re dating.” Cassie chuckled, only slightly pulling away from Zander, but staying close to him. “But food sounds good. Food always sounds good.”

“Food sounds great, Anton!” Zander grinned, clapping his best friend on the back.

“You can’t do that,” he pouted. “I bought them! They’re mine!” He pulled the bag back and looked at her with hurt eyes.

“Don’t pull that on me.” Cassie kept her hand on the bag. As much as she liked to pretend that pout didn’t effect her, Cassie tried to keep her stern look. “Fine, but I’m babysitting them. You can only have them when I’m here and you can’t have any more then I say you can. Does that sound okay?”

“No! I’m an adult! I can eat as many of them as I want to whenever I want!” Zander stood up, actually hurt. “I’m tired of people treating me like I’m a child! I might not always be the most mature, but I know how to take care of myself! I took care of my mother when my father went to war, and Anton and I took care of ourselves when we traveled up here. I’m more than capable of controlling my espresso intake.” Zander took a deep breath, calming himself. “I’m sorry, I just let that build up a little too long.”

“Great, so that means I can keep them!” Zander knelt down and started to gather the loose beans back into the bag.

“That is not what I meant.” Cassie seriously felt like she was dating a child sometimes as she poked him again and tried to grab the bag. Even so, if asked, she would say she didn’t want anyone else. “I’m gonna give these to Tansy. She needs something to stay up at night when she gets wrapped up in a project.”

“You can’t do that,” he pouted. “I bought them! They’re mine!” He pulled the bag back and looked at her with hurt eyes.

“Hey! Those are chocolate covered ones! I can’t even steal them and eat them for myself. I know they aren’t Anton’s.” Cassie pouted when she realized she couldn’t take the coffee herself.

“Great, so that means I can keep them!” Zander knelt down and started to gather the loose beans back into the bag.

PRECIOUS EVOLVED FLYING DINOSAUR

This is the world’s largest flying Engine of Murder marveling at the fact that it can actually have its tummy rubbed.

“I can smell them from here. Don’t try to pull one over on me.” Cassie went over to him and started tickling him.

“I don’t understand how he can be so blind.” Zander dropped onto the couch next to Tansy, and put his head in hands. “She’s so…terrible. Evil. A killer…. and she’s so RUDE! And not just like Charlie or Lydi rude. Like REALLY rude!”

“At least with Charlie and Lydi we know they’re good people.” Tansy sighed, bringing her head back up to look at Zander. “I don’t want her here Zander. Like really don’t want her here. She scares me.” Her eyes dropped to her lap as she whispered. 

“Has she done something to you?” Zander placed his hand on her shoulder. Has she done anything to you up here to make you feel that way?”

calum

“I like surprises,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around Charlie’s shoulders. “What kind of surprise?”

“The kinky kind… Kidding. I’m kidding,” he giggled and pulled back from the hug, but took one of Zander’s hands and started to lead him to his bedroom.

“Damn because you know how much I love a kinky surprise,” he chuckled, following Charlie.

Charlie shot his arms out and caught Zander around the waist, hugging him tightly. “I love you too, too.” He mumbled against the bird’s shoulder. “And I kind of, um, have a, um, surprise thing for you.”

“I like surprises,” he chuckled, wrapping his arms around Charlie’s shoulders. “What kind of surprise?”

Zander shook his head, flinching away from her touch. “It’s n-not. I shouldn’t have lost control. I-I shouldn’t have hurt him. I overreacted. I-I don’t…” Zander ran a shaking hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Felix accepted Zander’s apology even though he was pretty sure it was for Cassie and not him. He couldn’t help, but feel a little smug. He turned to his ex-girlfriend, “Wow you sure know how to pick them, huh?”

“Don’t be an asshole. Oh wait, you don’t know how.” Cassie’s attention went back to her current boyfriend. “Hun, he taunted you. It’s what he does.” What she was trying to do was keep Zander distracted enough to help him back into a happy space. “Hey, listen to me. Do you wanna go outside with me? Maybe go hang out in a tree?”

Zander took a deep breath, staring into Cassie’s eyes. He felt his heart rate return slowly to normal, but he could feel his fear and embarrassment flood in. He never intended any form of madness to follow him from Underland. It was an ugly side of him he never wanted anyone to see. Especially Cassie. “I-I can’t. I-I need to...to...” Zander stood up and backed toward the door.