Normally before a show, Luan would be so energized she could power a small city but tonight was different because Maggie was in the audience with two girls one of whom she'd just met surrounded by strangers.
When Luna had first decided to invite Maggie she'd been comfortable in the knowledge that open mic night at the Woods was usually so dead, one might not be surprised if a zombie took the stage.
But now Maggie was surrounded by a packed house and Luan couldn't help but worry for her girlfriend's anxiety.
Maggie had shown up in Luan's life in grade seven when she had first moved to Royal Woods from Grand Rapids.
When Maggie first arrived, Luan had found her to be a bit standoffish and irritable it wasn't until the previous September she got to know Maggie better.
It had been during the third week of high school, Luan was finding it to be as hard as everyone had warned her.
If she had not had her older sisters Luna, Leni and to a lesser extent Lori she didn't know how she would have gotten through it.
She had been changing in the locker room after gym class, the gym was split between two classes so there was a group of senior girls as well. Luan noticed a group of self-appointed mean girls picking on Maggie.
They were critiquing her individual style, it made Luan mad but she didn't know what to do, she was after all just another minor niner and no one else was intervening.
The harassment seemed to reach Maggie's breaking point because she took a swing at one of the older girls, unfortunately, Maggie lost her footing and took a header into the floor.
This caused what must have seemed like the whole locker room to burst out laughing.
Maggie got up and ran out of the locker room to the calls if freak and psycho from the senior girls.
Luan couldn't stand by anymore she finished dressing hurriedly and grabbed the stuff Maggie had forgotten in her rush to leave.
Unfortunately, in the elapsed time Maggie seemed to have disappeared. It was lucky it was lunch because it took Luan ten minutes to find her.
Maggie had retreated to the goth hall, a hall in a quieter part of the school that led to a small staircase and emergency exit.
When Luan got there three older goth boys were forming a protective semi circle around her and a second girl was taking care of Maggie who was crying and shaking the other girl stroked her hair and whispered things Luan couldn't make out.
As she approached the boys sneered at her, one elected themselves spokesperson for the group glaring at her, "never seen a girl have a panic attack before just keep walking."
Luan raised Maggie's backpack in self-defense, "Maggie forgot this I just wanted to return it."
One of the boys snagged it from her hands then gingerly set it down by Maggie. The spokes goth looked at Luan a little less harshly and asked: "is that all?"
Now understanding that the boys were just trying to protect a friend Luan was a bit less intimidated she stood a little taller and looking at Maggie asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
A different boy answered this time, "Why are you Prozac?" Luan shook her head, "no but a lot of people think I'm funny."
The boys looked unsure but Luan saw Maggie whisper something to the girl taking care of her who nodded to the boys to let Luan past.
They were hesitant but parted, Luan walked past them and sat on the opposite side of Maggie.
Luan took a breath and began "so, where do vampires keep their money?" Maggie looked up at Luan and shook her head. "The blood bank!" Luan exclaimed.
This joke only received an eye roll, undaunted Luan tried again, "Who did the vampire go to when she chipped fang?" Maggie stared not showing any expression. "Dr. Acula! get it?"
Receiving no reaction Luan tugged on her collar "Dang I'm dying up here." Then she mimed holding up a noose rolled her eyes back and slumped over, lolling her tongue out for good measure.
Finally, Maggie giggled, and Luan smiled finally on the right track. The rest of lunch she told bad jokes and performed violent mime until Maggie stopped shaking and had cleaned her face up.
When Luan finally looked up it dawned on her she'd been so absorbed she hadn't noticed the arrival of about twenty odd goths.
As the pack of pale ones began migrating out for their final smoke break before the next class; Maggie stood up and gave Luan a peck on the cheek then said, "you're a bit kooky but I think I like that." With that, she left Luan sitting on the stairs stunned but smiling.
Now ten months later she was walking onto the stage for a packed club with her spooky girl in the audience.
Taking a deep breath Luan broke into a cart wheel and began her shtik.
For the first half of her performance the crowd was responding pretty well Luan was also fairly absorbed until she noticed Maggie.
She was rocking in her chair hugging herself very tightly not making eye contact.
Luna seemed to have read Luan's face and made the connection to Maggie.
She turned to Sam and said something then they both got up changing seats so they were on either side of the Goth girl and got her to accept their hands.
This seemed to calm the scared girl down, Luna nodded to Luan who suddenly realized she had gone quiet on stage.
Ever the pro she jumped back in with the joke she had first told Maggie. "Sorry about that everyone hope I'm not dying up here." She followed it with the same mime routine she'd done before.
It got mixed reactions but listening carefully she could hear Maggie laughing softly and that was all she really needed.
Luan continued the second half with safer material and ended with a thirty-five-degree bow at her ankles that she had been practicing for some time. It received a mad roar from the crowd but before the house lights could even rise she was off the stage and back to Maggie. She nodded to Luna who seemed to sync with her in carving a path way to the door for Sam and Maggie to follow. Once outside they crossed the street away from the crowd streaming out.
Luan wanted to check in with Maggie but without the risk of increasing her anxiety by doing it in front of Sam and Luna. Getting her sisters attention and looking back at the Woods she hinted "hey Luna didn't you want to say bye to Chunk?" This time it took her sister a moment to click in but Luna eventually nodded, "oh yeah dude, Sam come with me maybe I can hook you up with him for future gigs." Sam seemed much quicker on the up take leading the way back.
Luan looked at Maggie and gestured to the curb. They both sat down Maggie carefully folding her dress. Lean looked at Maggie and started, "you okay Spooky?" Maggie shrugged looking away, "I'm okay just a bit shaky." Maggie was twirling her parasol in her hands. Lean began stroking her girlfriend's hair, "I'm sorry sweetie I thought it would be quieter tonight." Maggie looked up speaking quickly the way she did when she was nervous, "it's not your fault kooky I did this to myself, I knew you were worried about Luna, I thought maybe I could replace one anxiety with another." Maggie looked down again and Luna stared at her confused, "what do you mean you did thi . . ." Luan trailed off as the puzzle pieces began falling into place. A smile crossing her face she looked at Maggie, "Your the one who created the social media hype?" Maggie nodded not meeting Luan's eyes. "And you did it all so my sister wouldn't be scared in her date?"
Before Maggie could respond Luan crushed her in a wrapping her arms around her tightly. Maggie tensed up at first but then relaxed reciprocating Luan's embrace. They stayed like that for awhile before they were interrupted by a cough.
Neither looked up right away so Luna was forced to speak, "hope we're not interrupting something."
Finally wrenching themselves apart Luan and Maggie arose from the ground and put her hand to her mouth stifling a yawn.
Luan put an arm around her and looked at Luna and Sam. "If you two don't mind it's been a long day and I think I should get my girl here home to bed."
Luna nodded looking at Sam who was also yawning, "Yeah I should also get my girl, Sam home." Luna didn't quite catch herself before saying, girl.
Sam laughed punching Luna in the arm playfully causing the rocker to blush.
The group exchanged pleasantries before the two musicians headed back in the direction from which they'd first arrived.
Luan turned to Maggie and kneeling in a faux bow extended her hand, "may I escort you home from the vaudeville my lady?"
Maggie giggled accepting her hand," you may."
Then shaded from the moonlight by Maggie's parasol the couple began off into the night.
...
Going to write one more chapter from Maggies point of view and then maybe an epilogue
