Audrey could feel her life cycling through the motions: another fitful sleep, another wretched morning barging in with the force of a thousand hangovers. And she hadn't even tasted a single drop of booze.
God, I feel like shit.
No, forget the 'like' entirely - she was shit. A kitten-killing letdown of a friend, the shit-stain supreme. Just flush me away, already. She wanted to disappear along with all these crappy feelings hanging like leaded weights around her neck.
Sunday, she confirmed on her phone. Her day off, but where to go? She needed her blood-alcohol recorded before she could ditch the house but Kasumi was missing from the breakfast table. High on paint fumes, judging by the lively opera music resounding from the second floor art studio. Probably stayed up all night sketching pics and being happy. Audrey scrawled an 'A-OK' reading into her sobriety log and trudged into the scalding April sunshine.
Anywhere but here, she pleaded. Away from her family, away from the memories of her. And for the love of god, just let me be alone!
It was not to be. "For fuck's sake, not you again!"
That little Japanese teeny-bopper from the bus, wearing that same retarded schoolgirl outfit: blue skirt, white blouse and a sailor bandana like she'd jumped to life from the pages of Nikki's perverted comic books. This time the little stalker had planted herself outside the front gates, staring through the wrought-iron bars for a glimpse of the elusive 'messed up rich bitch'.
"Hey, you wanna fuckin' take a picture already? It'll last a whole lot longer and it won't beat the crap outta you."
The girl recoiled - shocked that this American zoo exhibit she'd been shadowing could actually speak! But as soon as Audrey grumbled her way through the gate, the kid was back to her staring. The twerp actually started walking at her side, staring and waiting.
Audrey halted, hands on her hips. "Whaddya want, kid?"
The schoolgirl's calm quickly morphed into a 'totally awesome' grin.
"So we meet at last, Audrey Belrose. Konnichiwa, senpai! Hmm… senpai?" The girl tapped her chin. "You are my senior in years but I do have a bit more practical experience. Audrey-kouhai, then?"
"No, none of this freaky moon-speak. English, Sailor Moon."
"Hidoi, how rude. Is that any way to greet a fellow priestess?"
Audrey stopped, really looking at the kid. Two striking, red eyes smirked haughtily, the same crimson colour as her own.
"Wait, you're like me? Like Misato? You can see things?"
"Brilliant. Nothing gets by you, does it, Audrey-kouhai?"
Snooty little shit. "So what, you here to invite me to some secret high school for magic?"
"Hmph, if we even had one, you'd flunk out within a month. Let's be clear - I'm not a fan of the whole 'fire and brimstone' transformation. Your pure-pure beam is a mess too - burning things, honestly! Still, you've got potential. Get a few more happy thoughts into that wine bottle you call a head; maybe you can work off the whole 'dark magical girl' aesthetic."
"If you're here to piss and moan at me, then -"
But then the girl plunged her head in a formal bow.
"Arigato. That's all I wanted to say: thank you. For taking care of Momo. For looking after my special little girl."
Special little -? But before Audrey could remember where she'd heard that nickname, the schoolgirl continued.
"Your time together may have been short but Momo was so happy to be with you. I hadn't seen her smile like that in such a long time."
"The fuck? How long've you been watching me, kid?"
The girl stepped closer. Audrey backpedalled, bracing for some sort of magical attack but the girl assaulted her only with praises and smiles.
"You were an excellent master, Audrey-kouhai. Momo doesn't have any regrets about what she did. Don't blame yourself."
Three simple words but Audrey felt their force like bullets. She staggered, catching herself against a tree while she worked out shaky breaths. "Don't - ? Who the fuck are you?"
Again, that curious stare. "Haven't you figured it out? No matter. I'll take my leave now, kouhai. Just remember: if you can't fulfill a dying kitten's last request – well, that's truly unforgivable."
Audrey blinked. The girl rolled her eyes.
"Haah… At least your magic covers for the lack of brains. Yes, you're going to be powerful, no doubt about that." She giggled, a musical chime. "Already, your eyesight has grown so strong. Even I couldn't see spirits and ghosts."
Audrey squinted. "Spirits and -?"
Then the wind kicked up, sending strands of cinnamon hair blocking Audrey's vision. When she brushed aside her bangs, the girl had vanished.
She was alone.
Last request? What had that bitch been on about? Last- ?
That was when she felt it - in the middle of her bewilderment, darting left and right, trying to figure out this shit - Audrey felt a familiar, furry presence brush past her ankles.
"Momo?"
Behind her, a giggle in the wind. To her side, a rustle of the grass. As frantically as her eyes darted, Audrey couldn't see anyone but she could feel her - the warmth of unseen arms embracing her from behind, the delicate nuzzling of a cheek along her neck. On the wind, she could hear the syrupy-sweet voice crooning out -
Master...
"Momo..." Audrey shivered as the first tear fell down her cheek.
Master...
The voice was faint, a spring breeze rustling through the newly budded trees but Audrey felt it. She knew its weight and tenor like the back of her hand.
Smile, Master.
"Yeah... I hear ya. Smile, for both of us..." In her mind's eye, she could see soft lips part in a toothy grin at her ignorant, silly-billy reply.
No, Master. Make her smile!
A blaring honk ruined the moment. "Hey, you getting on or not?"
Audrey realized she'd been standing at the bus stop for a solid minute, talking to herself. She leveled her best scowl at the driver before hopping on board.
"This junker go by the hospital?"
"If you've got the fare, sweetheart."
Audrey flashed her bus pass. The doors hissed close behind her.
Wait for me, Tiffany...
Racing up the hospital's front walk, Audrey barely noticed the love fairies stationed at the front doors like sentries. She didn't spare a second glance at Carol behind the front counter or the people milling about the lobby. But after stabbing the elevator button and tapping her foot for a hot minute, Audrey started glancing about.
Wh-what the fuck?
Wide, startled eyes. Mouths dangling open. Every single nurse, orderly and patient in the front lobby had that same stupid, star-struck look on their face. Some had tears of joy streaming down their cheeks. Others stammered excitedly. All of them looked like they'd shot up on meth at the exact same instant. They were spellbound.
Freaked beyond words, Audrey raced up the stairs.
It was the same shit on Tiffany's floor – doctors and attendants dazzled in their tracks, starry-eyed fanboys who'd just gotten a tug job from their favorite porn star. Even the flutterflies lining the hallway to Tiff's room had all collapsed on the linoleum floor, twitching impotently like they'd just absorbed the motherload of all love.
Audrey shook one white-coated physician awake. "Hey, what's going on?"
The doctor was every bit as perplexed as she. "Elevator … waiting for the elevator. It opened … I saw –" Then that blank-eyed stupor reclaimed his face. "Huh … who did I see? Can't remember…"
Around her, Audrey watched the various worker bees rouse to life, a ripple of magic cutting off from the elevator and continuing down the hall.
Tiffany's hall.
Audrey couldn't barge through the door fast enough. "Tiff, you okay?"
Too late. Her friend was sitting up in bed, frozen in that same zombie look of ecstasy that had overtaken the staff. Tears of joy stained her cheeks and every breath shuddered through her chest with an unbearable ache. Tiffany was enthralled. The cheerleader leaned forward on the edge of her seat, a hopeless romantic watching the heartbreakingly beautiful climax of the cheesiest romantic comedy ever. Except the movie scene – and her heart flutters – were on a permanent loop, forcing her body to suffer the overwhelming ecstasy forever.
Audrey traced Tiffany's gaze to the source of her joy. Who the fuck?
A tall, commanding woman in a prim and immaculately white pants suit, mint-green hair cascading down her back and over her firm ass. What's … with her? Audrey had to scrunch her eyes just to focus on the woman's impossibly perfect figure. A glance at her hourglass curves ratcheted her headache like someone had shoved a flashlight into her face.
Like staring into the goddamn sun, Audrey grimaced. Jeweled bracelets clinked on the woman's wrists and a golden theatre mask dangled from her hand. "Hey! Who the fuck're you?"
Without looking back – without dignifying Audrey with as much as a glance – the woman gave an immodest shrug. "No one worth remembering."
Tiffany's chest seized as the woman stepped closer to her bedside. Audrey grit her teeth.
"Whatever bullshit this is, quit messing with my friend!" Another priestess? No, another bitch like Aiko who'd gobbled down black magic - that had to be it!
"Oh, she's your friend, is she? This little thief?"
"Thief?"
"Yes. It's faint but I can still smell it all over her – the stink of fairy magic."
Crap, she was from Kyu's magic garden land!
"I don't know how this little speck got her hands on such power but this anomaly ends here and now." She paused to admire her nails and Audrey swore she saw a crackle of purple energy race between the woman's fingers. "Now, how shall I punish this little thief?"
"Bitch, get your whore-ass away from her!"
That earned her a laugh. "Oh, it's adorable how you dust-clods always assume you have a say in what I do. You yell, you stamp your feet and you rage but in the end, you forget everything. All it takes is one little look."
The woman whipped around, green eyes cackling like a master strategist declaring 'checkmate'! Audrey winced, shrugging off an eyeful of that damn light burst and bracing herself for the magic attack.
The woman grinned.
Audrey glared back, waiting.
The mad grin faltered. "You can see me?"
"Um, yeah?"
"You can see me."
"Yesss?"
The woman, though dressed like a powerful CEO, staggered back like she'd been stripped naked. "How can you -? You're supposed to be losing your mind! You're supposed to be falling madly in love with me!"
"You? Look, maybe I am bi but it's not like I'm gonna fall for every nasty-ass cougar with fake stripper tits. Seriously, green hair? What are you, some kind of weeb?"
"Nasty? You worthless little speck!"
Audrey had to bite back a laugh as the woman raised her crackling nails. Oh my god, you're gonna scratch me, grandma? Audrey caught her wrist mid-strike. An explosion of steam blasted from their touch.
"AAAH!" Wrenching free and clutching her arm, the woman fell to the corner of the room. Her once-flawless skin was now marred by a band of ugly, red welts around her wrist. The woman looked at the steaming wound with beady-eyed horror. Two words – one name – trembled from her ruby lips:
"A lightbringer?"
Audrey glanced at herself. Crappy jeans, a t-shirt and stale, brown hair you could find on any number of mallrat bitches but to this grand goddess of a woman, she looked abso-fucking-lutely terrifying.
"Yeah," Audrey nodded, "that's what they call me."
"No, that's not possible! We got rid of all you people! How can you be –?"
"Bitch, shut the fuck up!" Audrey punctuated her command with a swirl of hellfire – her priestess hair and robes materializing around her. "Yeah, I'm a virgin – laugh it up, grandma – but you know who I really am? I'm Audrey fucking Belrose. I'm the mega-bitch who brings on the pain whenever some magical freak pisses me off! So unless you want me to purify your sorry ass, barbecue style, stay the fuck away from my friend and get the fuck out of my town!"
The woman scrabbled back from the flames, shrieking for help. Two love fairy attendants phased through the walls.
"My goddess?"
"My lady, what's going on?"
"Get me out!" the woman screamed. "Portal – now! Get me away from this - this abomination!"
The fairies searched for the cause of their mistress' distress but Audrey had already reverted to her normal human clothes and hair. To her attendants, the green-haired woman may as well have been cowering before a mouse.
"Don't just stand there, you worthless imps! Portal!"
The air behind the green-haired goddess warped and twisted into a human-sized whirlpool, a gateway to another world. Abandoning all dignity and pride, the wounded goddess scrabbled on hands and knees for the emergency exit, diving head-first into the magical, swirling toilet bowl. Her befuddled love fairies shrugged and followed after.
As quickly as it appeared, the rift winked shut – so swiftly that a small, golden souvenir slipped backwards to Audrey's side: the woman's Greek theatre mask. It hovered in the air a second, then shattered on the floor, two wide eyes and a mouth gaping in terror.
Wonder who the fuck that was. Kyu had said something about a bitchy boss. A fairy HR director? Honestly, green hair?
Audrey spared a moment to catch her breath, then rushed to Tiffany's side. "Tiffany? Tiff, you okay?" Whatever freaky magic had enthralled the blonde seemed to be wearing off.
"Audrey? When did you get -?"
"Dammit, what is it with you and nearly getting killed by freaky, dark magic creeps?"
"Audrey?" But she froze when she saw the tears overtaking her friend's eyes.
"I changed my mind. I want in."
"Excuse me?"
"I get it, okay? You don't wanna be friends anymore. So I'm in. I'll be your lezzie experiment and go out with you and stuff."
Tiffany stared as though her best friend had gone crazy. Probably not far off the mark.
"Truth time: that week you were conked out in the hospital? I thought I was gonna lose my goddamn mind. I kept freaking out at the littlest things! I can deal without the booze and without the pot. Hell, I could spend the rest of my life in jeans and this crappy, brown hair and get by. But if you're not with me, I'm never gonna feel right. I need you, Tiff."
Was that it? Was that enough? Tiff hadn't changed her expression.
"I like your hair," she added.
Faster than she could react, Tiffany seized her shirt and pulled their mouths together. Sweet, was all Audrey could think. Tiffany's lips were so sweet.
"Yes," Tiffany gasped between steamy kisses. "Yes, I'm all yours."
Then their mouths met again and it was all Audrey could do to keep from crying. It wasn't her first kiss but it was the first time someone had kissed her and meant it. Boys had kissed her when she wowed them with her flashiest designer dresses and her dazzling coloured hair, but as a plain-Jane brunette in faded jeans, no one had ever batted an eye at her. No one had ever made her feel this special.
And as their kiss went on, Tiffany made her desires clear - lunging at her like she was starved for air, sucking on her lip until she whimpered and snaking her tongue into Audrey's mouth to soothe the ache. When she finally let go, Audrey was panting.
"Holy ..."
Tiffany was panting just as heavily. "Sorry ... I just really wanted to do that. Was it okay?"
Audrey couldn't reply over the tremble in her hands. "Don't just - you can't just jump me like that, jeez!"
"My bad." Tiffany averted her eyes but mischief filled her smile. Sorry, not sorry. Audrey sighed.
"Look, it's not you. I'm the messed up one. Can we take a breather?"
"Sure." Tiffany bit her lip. "Is it okay if I hug you?"
Audrey reared back. Too much, too soon and Tiffany seemed to understand.
"Then, could you hold me for a bit, Audrey? I'm just so excited and I need to know this is real."
"... okay."
Once more, Tiffany scooted over and Audrey joined her on the bed, shifting to the back so Tiffany could lay against her. "Just like that," the cheerleader murmured. Audrey didn't resist as her arms were guided to drape over Tiffany's shoulder like a comforting blanket.
"Hey, Audrey? What made you change your mind?"
"I dunno. Guess I got a swift kick in the ass from a magic cat."
Tiffany chuckled at that. Still, as peaceful as this was, Audrey couldn't help darting her eyes to the open doorway.
"Hey Tiff, we don't have to make a big deal about this, right? I mean, it's not like everyone needs to know."
A hesitation. "If that's what you're comfortable with, I guess."
"I mean, it's more special that way, right? If it's just between us."
"Our secret," Tiffany echoed. "All right, but you have to promise me."
"Promise what?"
Tiffany looked back at her with the cheesiest smile. "That you'll never let me go."
Audrey said nothing, she just pulled Tiffany in tight, relishing the blonde's melodious sigh. Perfect. The moment would have been perfect except for the sudden, irritating pop, pop, pop of flutterflies blossoming on the ceiling, a swarm of living cameras. Nosy little freaks. Audrey opened her eyes at the magical bugs carpeting the ceiling and loosed a fiery flash.
As they sat together, holding each other, a shower of rose petals and cinders drifted over their moment of peace.
Several weeks later, the digital cheer whooped over everyone's cell phones:
AUDREY 6:45 pm
=Fuck yes comm service is over and done ladies!=
TIFF 6:46 pm
=Yaay! *\_(^ v ^)_/*=
NIKKI 6:46 pm
=ngl, took you long enough.=
NIKKI 6:46 pm
=oh Cel says congrats btw.=
AUDREY 6:47 pm
=imma free woman baby!=
TIFF 6:48 pm
=:D We should celebrate!=
TIFF 6:48 pm
=and I know just the thing! XD=
To Audrey, 'the thing' would have been an all-out, no holds barred night of dancing at Lusties but somehow she found herself sitting on a park bench next to Nikki, puzzling over a flyer for -
"A concert in Dawnood Park, really?"
Nikki shrugged. "It's all local artists or something and there's fireworks after."
"So they're not even famous? Just a bunch of home town wannabes?"
"I dunno, Celeste likes the sound of that one group – Third Betrayal. She says their bass lines are 'stimulating'."
"Oh my god, what's with the loser names these weirdos pick? Third Betrayal? Clueless Emotions? Please don't tell me this is all mopey, emo kid bands!" She sighed. "Well, whatever – if it cranks Tiff's motor, I guess we can check it out."
Nikki had been oddly quiet since arriving but that comment roused her curiosity. "Hey, are you guys like, 'together' or something?"
"No! Why, what's Tiff been telling you?"
"Nothing, geez! It's just – well, at Lusties you guys are always dancing together now."
"So? Girls can dance together!"
"And at the cafe, you're always sitting next to each other and sharing a pastry."
"Well if I ate a whole one, my ass would be as fat as yours, Nicole!"
"And when I checked your physics homework last week, you doodled a picture of Tiff on the side."
"And? Friends can draw pics of each other!"
"Audrey, you drew her wearing black underwear."
Crickets chirped.
"... fuck."
"I knew it!" And suddenly nerdy little Nikki was sidling up to her with a goofy, gossip-starved grin. "So…?"
"Look, we're just hanging out, okay? And sometimes at her place, we'll hold hands 'n shit."
"Have you … y'know, actually kissed 'n stuff?"
"Not when there's gross perverts like you watching!"
Nikki nodded. "Taking stuff slow, okay. So is this your first real date-date?"
"No, we've done stuff, it's just –" Audrey gripped her hair. "Argh, it's annoying. I mean, no one's really noticed yet but people are gonna start looking at us and thinking we're –"
"In love?"
Audrey froze.
"I was gonna say 'dykes' but -"
"Wow, you are so mature."
"Well? What if people get all ... y'know, judgey?"
"Since when the hell do you care what people think? I thought you were Audrey Belrose."
Now that hit home. Dammit, how come Ann-Marie can just out and say the 'L-word'? I mean, is that … how Tiff feels about me? Not just a crush but -
"Anyway," Nikki continued, "I just figured tonight was something special for you two. I was trying to figure out why you got yourself all fancied up."
"What, you mean this thing?" Audrey gestured to her strapless, black polka-dot dress. "Thrift shop! Can you believe people actually give away awesome, old stuff and these places sell it for next to nothing?"
"Wow, it's like daddy yanking your trust fund suddenly isn't the end of the world."
"Clop off, Nicole."
The nerd girl laughed. "Aww, don't be fluttershy about your feelings, hoe. Tell us how you really feel."
"Wow, you're a real rarity, Nik."
Nikki gave a wry grin and they kicked back to watch the sun set, content in their friendship.
Tiffany had warned them she'd be late from a babysitting gig but it wasn't until the stars were dotting the night sky that they saw the cheerleader racing across the field, hair drawn back in a long ponytail that swished behind her yellow sundress. "Audrey, sorry I'm -"
But noticing Nikki, the cheerleader backed off the full-body hug. "Hey, girls. Thanks for waiting. That a new sweater, Nikki?"
"Nah, just a spare." A mischievous smile lit the gamer girl's face. "Audrey's got a new dress, though. And she changed her hair again."
Dammit. She'd had a whole speech lined up about how 'it didn't turn out right' but Tiffany was already looking on in shock at her hair and the mop of golden bangs jutting out from her cinnamon locks. Tiffany held her ponytail up alongside to confirm. "You got my colour!"
"It's just something I thought looked good on me." Audrey coughed. "Well?"
Tiffany waited until Nikki had turned away to deliver a quick hug. "It's a perfect match."
A melodious voice called them from over the hill. "Nicole? I have the carbonated beverages you desired." Disguised beneath her human holograms, Celeste joined the group with soft drinks cradled to her chest. Tiffany whooped.
"Aww, you got us drinks, thanks Celeste."
"A toasting ceremony," the alien woman declared. "To good friendships."
"To friends," Nikki translated.
"And," the Norai continued, grinning, "to those who have forged bonds deeper than friendship."
That was Tiffany's cue to choke.
"I swear, Audrey – I didn't tell them anything!"
"It was kind of obvious," Nikki chimed.
"Indeed. The pheromones you exerted in each other's presence were so potent that -" but a quick ribbing from her girlfriend cut off that aside. "Ahem, that is to say ... you looked cute together."
"Thanks," Tiffany blushed.
"Well – c'mon, let's find some spots!" Nikki and Celeste set off hand-in-hand - the little lezzie show-offs - whereas Audrey could barely stand to brush fingers with Tiff.
"Don't the stars look pretty tonight, Audrey?"
"I guess."
Some test fireworks began popping up over the park canopy and in their flashes of fiery light, Audrey got a good look at her friend … My girlfriend, she corrected. Shit, still feels weird saying that. Golden hair framed in fireworks, a flirty smile on her face and the deepest, most inviting sapphire eyes.
"Hey, Tiff?"
"Yeah?"
A group of students from campus was passing by. It was now or never. Audrey grabbed Tiffany 'round the waist, pulling her close until their chests touched. Steeling her nerves, she pecked Tiff on the lips.
"You're pretty awesome." A second peck. "And amazing." The passing boys began hooting at them. She flipped them the bird and kept going, pressing their mouths together until she could taste Tiff's tongue swirling around her own. "In fact," Audrey panted mid-makeout, "I'd say you're the U of Excellence, Tiffany Isabella Maye."
Their first public kiss. Tiffany's arms swooped around to return the favor tenfold. "Mm, right back atcha, Audrey. I could stay up all night telling you how awesome you are."
Her eyes widened at her faux-pas.
"I mean," she stammered, "only if you wanted..."
"What?"
"Y'know ... staying up ... at my place..."
Oh.
Audrey swallowed carefully, weighing her words. "I mean, I'd need something to sleep in..."
"I've got spare pajamas."
"And your landlords -"
"You've spent the night before."
"Yeah, to crash, not to -"
The air was almost too thick to breathe. It was Tiffany who faltered first, breaking their hug and backing away to fingertips.
"Sorry. That got weird."
Audrey bit her lip a long moment before stepping forward.
"Hey ... maybe we could just ... cuddle or something."
Tiffany brightened instantly. "Mmh, I'd like that. Can I ... comb your hair?"
Audrey snorted. "Bitch, I'm coming your hair."
It was funny - she should've been quaking in fear, having someone so close to her, but her breathing was only ragged with excitement and her hands held steady, not even a tremble. Stealing one last kiss, they ran hand-in-hand to catch up with Nikki and Celeste, their trio now a quartet.
If me and Tiff do it ... does that mean I'll stop seeing everything magic?
They passed a little kiddie play structure and Audrey had to break away and check it out. Though it was way too late for kids to be outside, two brash little teeny-boppers were determined to wring out every last minute of fun from the day - swinging across the monkey bars, galloping up ladders and swishing down the slide as though these well-worn games were all delightful and new. The first girl was Japanese, the other was a bundle of joy unlike any other - a special little girl with rich, orange-brown hair and the largest pair of golden-almond eyes Audrey had ever adored.
Audrey leaned her arm against a tree, admiring the pair and their games.
"Audrey, you coming?" She rolled her eyes at Nikki's holler.
"Don't get pissy, I was just checking on my cat."
"Your … cat?" Nikki glanced at the play structure, deserted at the twilight hour. Except for that one random swing rocking in the breeze, it was empty. Weird.
Tiffany seemed to notice the change in the air – the wistful look in her eye. Tiff always noticed. "You okay?" she checked.
Audrey took one last look back.
Even if I can't see you, I know you're out there. That you're not alone. That you're happy, my Momo.
"Yeah," Audrey nodded after a pause. "Yeah, I'm good."
Then Tiffany's hand was in her own and she felt fired up and ready to take on the world!
"C'mon," Audrey grinned, "let's make some magic."
Fin