I was almost shocked to the point of heart palpations for the second time that day and it wasn't even noon yet. First people, real people show up. Then I learn that I get to go to real life high school. Can you believe it?

All the questions I had spent hours formulating and perfecting disappeared Just like that. Whooosh. What were we? Why were we stuck there? Who were we? None of that mattered because my brain was caught on the idea of socializing with real life teenagers and stuck there. It may have seemed a bit silly of me, to be that obsessed, but that was the one thing I held on to for all of my years in captivity with my monster of a brother. High school was this magical place and I would be popular and surrounded by friends and I would find my prince. You can only imagine what a reality check I got.

I heard Caliborn's pained voice as he got to his feet. "What the ever-loving fuck is this. "High school." You speak of?"

His stupid question helped me find my voice and I turned to the two adults in the room, "Oh, oh my. Really?"

Slick turned towards me and said, "No, we're just pretending that you have to go to that shit hole, of course you're going to school!" In that moment the resemblance between him and Caliborn was striking. So striking I almost lost my breath because one Caliborn is bad enough on his own and I couldn't even begin to imagine what two of them would do together.

Half an hour later we were all sitting upstairs, I didn't even know there was an upstairs! Caliborn and I had been living underneath a beautiful sprawling mansion the entire time. The only problem was that everything was green, and when I say everything I really do mean everything. It was extremely tacky and a bit of an eyesore.

"You two will need disguises to go out into public. Your appearances are..." and then Snowman sealed my fate with just one word: "Abnormal." Throughout the rest of the visit of the two strange people my mind was stuck on that one word. I was abnormal. I wasn't pretty, or cute, or even decent looking. I was just abnormal and there was nothing I could do to change it. Just that one little word confirmed my worst suspicions.

My mood was lifted a little when we got our make-overs. It was so that we would look human, which meant that I didn't look human, but I was still excited by the promise of wigs and make-up. A smaller plump woman with a blonde bob and a pastel dress had walked in smiling, toting a large metal suitcase full of God-knows-what behind her. She pulled me away first to a surprisingly green drawing room. "You can just call me Ms. Paint and I'll get you looking like the sweet thing you are." Ms. Paint had a slight twang that I recognized as a British accent from the Harry Potter series. She seemed like the Southern Belle type.

Where Snowman had an aura that demanded respect and a bit of fear, Ms. Paint was warmth and smiles. I decided that I liked her too. "I'm sorry that you can't go out like you are," she said as she had me sit down in one of the plush chairs that she drew a stool up to, "but people aren't that accepting."

"Oh, it's okay. I think I'd stand out even if I wasn't green," I said and she smiled back at me.

"Have you given any thoughts to what you want yourself to look like? I have a variety of wigs and skin tone creams. Disguises are my thing, besides cooking and patching people up."

I thought for a moment, then produced a picture from my pocket that I had stashed in there early. It was one of those wishful three in the morning pictures I've drawn when I'm down and I vent through my artwork. It was what I wanted to look like as a human. The girl was definitely prettier than what I would look like though.

"Very nice choice," Ms. paint complimented me.

Some amount of time later I was properly instructed in how to evenly coat myself in the mocha colored cream. I already knew it would be a pain. It felt strangely thick on my skin and I was already worried about it getting rubbed off or accidentally missing a spot in the morning.

"You'll have to be especially careful with your hands. I think we'll pick you out a nice pair of gloves later when we go shopping. Gym class is also obviously a no and you'll be excused from that. Now let's find you a wig to match this excellently drawn picture."

"I'm going shopping? Out in public?" I asked as the woman sorted through the various drawers and compartments of her case-o-disguises.

"Yes, we're taking a trip to the mall for a new wardrobe. Your school has a dress code, but it is very lenient," she had a pair of scissors in her hand was talking as she was snipping away at a wig she picked out.

Then she placed it on my hand and adjusted it, brushing the bangs out of my face with her free hand. "Gorgeous." She pulled out a hand mirror and a make-up case. Ms. Paint brushed some setting powder onto my face and neck and applied some light make-up. "Now which lipstick would you like?"

I bit my lip as I contemplated my options, the light pink seemed like the most normal and safe option, but the green was very tempting. It would probably turn the most heads, and in a bad way. I decided that I wanted to be able to fit in a little at least so I ended up with a sophisticated black. Well, I thought it was sophisticated and Ms. Paint didn't show any sort of reaction besides the usual content smile on her face as she helped me apply a few coats so it was an even darkness.

When I looked in the mirror, I was surprised. I looked like I could pass for a mostly normal teenage girl, and a nice looking one at that. The wig itched a little on my bare scalp, but it looked and felt real and that was what mattered. My new appearance gave me a strange sense of confidence. Like I could tackle any problem life threw at me. "I've ordered make up and such before but I could never get myself to look as pretty as you did," I sheepishly admitted. "Thank you. Thank you so so so so much. I can not even begin to express-"

"Calliope, hush. You are beautiful and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Even with your green skin. You deserve to feel beautiful, like everyone does." She kissed me on my cheek. "Maybe we'll meet again someday."

"What?" My brain froze. "You're not coming back?" That was unimaginable, even though we spent only an hour together at the most. I thought I had found a motherly figure and I was nowhere ready to let go.

Ms. Paint thought for a moment then leaned in towards me whispering, "Can I tell you a secret?" I nodded my head carefully so the wig wouldn't slip and I leaned in too. "That man out there is my fiance."

I must have looked very surprised with my jaw hanging near the ground because she laughed, then went on to explain. "He's actually a sweetie once you get to know him and get past his prickly outside. He cares so much he's overbearing at times. We're running away together tonight because our mission is over- whoops! I bet I wasn't supposed to say that! Oh well. Hopefully one day you'll understand this all. Just remember the Midnight Crew. Now go get your brother and I'll see what I can do with him."

"Be careful," I said, "he's an ass."

"Don't worry, I never go anywhere without my knife anymore."

I paused at the door, smiling at her for the last time. "Goodbye Ms. Paint, and good luck in becoming Mrs. Slick."

"I'm coming to the mall with you later. Snowman wouldn't know fashion even if teen vogue bit her on the butt. You can't get rid of me that easily. Bye Calliope!"

After retrieving my once again complaining brother and pointing him in the right direction, I found myself in the main parlor with Snowman, Slick-the-fiance, and a group of strange looking men in color-coded hats.

"These men work here and have various jobs. Don't be afraid them to ask them for anything. They'll also serve as bodyguards," Snowman explained gesturing to them. Then each of them introduced themselves. The long process was made even longer when on of them forgot their own name.

"And I am Doc Scratch, which is what I would prefer you refer to me by." I looked around for the source of the voice and I saw that there was a small man I didn't notice before. He was short and dressed in a white dapper tuxedo.

"Oh, I didn't see you there, hello," I extended my hand politely.

I assume that he wasn't amused by my accidental jab at his short stature, but it was hard to tell because of a white globe encasing his head. I decided it was better not to ask. It's always better not to ask. That useful tip was learned over my years living with Caliborn.

Doc Scratch shook my hand. "I will be your caretaker, for now, and also your legal guardian. You probably have many questions, as your brother did, but I do ask that you do not throw a fit as he did. They will all be answered in due time. Now, when Caliborn is done threatening the lovely Ms. Paint we will be on our way."

I sat waiting and inspecting the faces of the strange hatted men until Caliborn came out. He walked out of the hallway slouching, with a mop of black hair in his face and skin so pale you could've mistook him for a cadaver. He basically looked like the polar opposite of me, which I knew he did on purpose. Lovely.

The mall trip was quite interesting and quite overwhelming. I pictured it being fun and exciting, filled with social interaction, but the most we got were the stares of passerby's. I do admit, we weren't the most normal of groups there. I also had to say my goodbyes to Ms. Paint and she slipped me an envelope, which I wasn't allowed to open until "the time was right." It was the sort of cryptic exchange that only happened in books and I hoped that I had enough willpower to not rip it open the second I was alone.

That night I sat in my bedroom after having dinner at the way too long dining room table and sighed. I was physically tired, and mentally tired too, but I knew that sleep would not come. My wig was placed on it's stand and my make up was washed off. My outfit for the next day was hanging on the closet. It was a green tailcoat jacket with a red bow tie over a black tank top and skirt. Hopefully I wouldn't do too much sweating with it, I wouldn't want my fake skin to run.

Caliborn and I moved into furnished rooms in the main part of the house, no more secret hide-away bunker for us. I can't say I exactly missed it. It would be strange sleeping in a new room, but I was filled with excitement. The next day would be my first day of high school, the first day of my Freshman year, and the first day of the drama to come.

AN: A new chapter! Finally! I'm sorry there's no Roxy yet, but just wait! There will also be some Dirk x Caliborn and you guys can suggest any ships you would like to see~