It had been a 4 months since Riley's break down and she refused to talk about in true Davis style.
There where times were Roger would say " I just wish she would talk to be" and Mark or Mimi
would raise their eye's at him as if to say now you know how we feel. Riley had to learn other ways
not to feel pain since Mark and Roger had taken away her knife and lately have been watching her
like a hawk. So instead she threw herself into work never really stopping except to sleep and eat and
those she didn't do much of either. Riley had gotten a job at a small café and on some nights she
even danced at the cat scratch club leaving two very unhappy boys. One of the only reasons she had
agreed was because she was only in a cage on top and no men.
Tonight was one of the few times she was home, it was Friday the day before Riley's birthday
which happened to be Halloween which was tomorrow which she also had off. So here she was
sitting with Collins and Angel who seemed to be her designated baby sitters of the night playing
poker. Well strip poker to make it more interesting and at the moment Riley was winning , Angel
had lost her high heels and wig and Collins was down to his pants boxers and socks.
" Tomorrows Halloween" Angel said excitedly
" Yeah and my birthday" Riley said nonchalantly
" Really that's pretty cool" Collins said
" Yeah it's my first one without my mom" Riley said quietly
Angel and Collins didn't say anything for a moment simply looking at each other. They where glad
that Roger had set up a surprise party for Riley after work, it seems the first rite thing they boy had
done all year. Without a word the trio went on to continue there game. In the end Riley won but
only by a hair because she was stripped down to her bra and underwear. It seems the Hispanic cross
dresser had only been letting her win but had some real talent, while poor Collins was a sad case.
" Hey honey do you have costume yet" Angel asked
"No" Riley said
" Well we will just have to change that now won't we, get dressed" Angel said
After they had both gotten dressed Angel grabbed Riley and then jogged to her and Collins
apartment a couple of blocks up the road. It took a while but Angel finally was able to make Riley
the perfect costume, with a matchmaking scheme that the girl or the film maker couldn't avoid.
Riley had told angel that when she was little her father had taken her to see the Phantom of the
Opera and she had fallen in love with it. So with a old corset, a table cloth old curtains and a see
through Shaw Angel made Riley the dress from past the point of no return. It had taken 5 hours but
it was worth it for Angel could only admire her work and riley couldn't stop hugging Angel.
" It's amazing" Riley said
"Hey honey its your birthday you deserve it now lets get you home before you brother thinks I kidnapped you" Angel said
With a smile the two walked back to the loft arm in arm. It made Angel good to see Riley smile it
had been a while since the last time she had. By having Riley get ready at Angel and Collins
apartment it gave Roger time to set up the party. When they got there Collins was in the same place
before only this time playing with Roger Mark and Mimi and it seemed Mimi was winning. After
Riley took a bath Angel told them the plan luckily everyone agreed and neither Mark nor Roger
suspected a thing. After finishing the game were both Roger and Mark were stripped to their boxers
everyone decided to call it a night because tomorrow , both Joann and Maureen new the plan once
Angel called and had filled them in. Tomorrow was going to be interesting each person had their
own part. Mimi was going to be Meg Roger was going to be Andre Maureen was going to be
Carlota Joann was going to be Madam Giry , Angel was going to be Raoul Collins Firmin and
finally Mark was going to be the Phantom. Angel ever the fashion diva promised to have them all a
costume for tomorrow wanting to make everything perfect.
When Riley walked out of the bath every one had already headed home Riley was sad she couldn't
say goodbye but since they had left she decided to go to sleep knowing tomorrow would be cool
even if Roger didn't rember Riley knew she could hang out with Collins and Angel. It wasn't ten
minuets later she had fallen asleep, it was october so the loft was still cold. As Mark walked by the
couch he could see that Riley was shivering and not just because she was cold, he could tell that she
was still having bad dreams. Quickly he walked to his room grabbing one of his blankets because he
had too not wanting to bother Roger knowing that he needed his more. As he put his blanket on her
Riley calmed down. As Riley was dreaming she was lost in the woods suddenly a familar smell
came over her, it remined her of something she couldn't face and for once she felt safe. As Mark
watched her he quickly glanced down at the sudcative song Angel had given him to learn wondering
what it would bring knowing that once it was done everything would be change.