Disclaimer: I do not own The Lost Boys.

(Calliope POV)

We stayed away from the boardwalk for a week. I would take trips to the convenience store just to get the leftovers. We all talked about what I had seen. Star was horrified by the part she would play in the deaths of the guys. She wanted freedom but not at the expense of them dying. She did not hate them.

Star had blushed deeply when I revealed that the guy that had been following her at the boardwalk was her mate. He had fallen in love with her at first sight at the concert. He would be her forever man and they would have two children: a boy and a girl. She seemed contemplative at those revelations.

The guys and I discussed in depth about Max. We would have to find ways around his orders for Michael. He would want them to change him. They did not need to do so. They needed to become actual friends with him. Bring him into the fold, let him get close to Star, do not offer him the bottle. Offering the bottle would lead to all of them dying. It was decided that everything would go natural. Max needed to butt out and stay out.

Today was our first day back to the boardwalk. We saw a new motorcycle at the entrance. We parked beside it. David gave Star some money for her to shop and get some food. Laddie tagged along with her. The boys and I wandered around the boardwalk. I stopped at the hotdog stand that I liked. Marko got me a footlong with all the fixings. Yum! I asked for a cherry coke too. We sat and I ate my food as I looked around at the stores.

I caught sight of Michael's little brother going into the Frog's Comics shop. I finished up my food and threw away my trash. I stood up and went to the comic shop. The guys couldn't go in since those boys had the store vampire proof. I went in and started browsing the shelves. I got to the Batman comics and saw that they had some new releases. I grabbed one the exact moment that Michael's brother did.

"Hey." I said, "Need this one?"

"Y...yeah. It's new." He said with a stutter and a blush.

"Yeah, it is." I said, "I'm Calliope."

"Sam." he said and looked to the comics.

"Oh, look there's another one. I'll take this one. Here you can have this one." I said and handed one to him.

"Thanks." he said.

Sam and I started chatting about hero comics. I mentioned that I liked Black Kiss. He didn't know about that one. I said it wasn't a hero comic, but it was a darker vampire comic, a bit racy too. He said that wasn't his speed. I told him that was ok but if he got curious, he could borrow mine anytime. We talked for a bit, and I invited him to hang out with our group.

I saw his face light up at being invited. I could see that he needed friends. He wanted friends. We bought our comics and went to walk out. The Frog brothers once again shoved one of their preferred comics in my bag. They also warned Sam of their being bad elements on the boardwalk. Sam followed me out and over to the bikes where the boys were.

About the same time Michael was walking up with Star and Laddie. Michael seemed a bit awkward about our group. He noticed Sam talking with me and Paul about comics.

"Sammy?" he said.

"Hey, Mike. This is Calliope and Paul." he said to him.

"Michael." Mike introduced himself to us.

"Hey." we said back.

"Hey, Star, is Michael coming with us?" I asked her.

"Yeah." she said and waited as Michael came to his bike.

"Let's go." David said and pulled me behind him.

I looked around as Star got on behind Michael. Paul doubled with Sam and Laddie with Dwayne. Marko was free and by himself. We took off from the boardwalk. Racing down the stairs and down the moonlit beach. Whooping and hollering. I could see Star grinning wildly as her hair whipped around her as she gripped Michael. We raced down the cliffside and slowed when we reached the bluff. We turned off the bikes and all gathered at the stairs.

"Come on down." I said and headed down the stairs.

Paul rushed ahead of me and into the cave. The cave lit up bright. I chuckled knowing he would be in wait to snag me and swing me around. When I entered that was exactly what occurred. I giggled madly when he tossed me up and caught me. Laddie rushed forward and turned on the radio. We watched as Michael and Sam looked around the cave in interest.

"Like what you see?" I asked as Paul and I danced around.

"Yeah, it's cool." Sam said as he spotted my comic stacks.

"Yeah, do y'all live here?" Michael asked.

"We do. Freedom." David said as he lit a cigarette.

"Aw man a Batman #14!" Sam cried out.

"Yeah. Part of my collection." Paul said and plopped down beside Sam going through the comics.

I pulled Star over to me to keep dancing. She and I danced around, and Laddie jumped in the middle. We laughed as we danced around him. Michael started talking to Dwayne when he observed Dwayne working on a motorcycle. This is what I was talking about, getting them into our group naturally, be friends. Laddie looked at us and said he was hungry. Star continued to dance with him as I got my backpack.

"Anyone want chips?" I asked.

Paul held his hands up as I tossed some cheddar Pringles for him and Sam. I tossed out some treats to everyone. I sat on David's lap and shared a giant beef jerky with him. It wasn't long before Laddie started getting sleepy, I stood and got him ready for bed. I put him to bed and read him another chapter of Peter Pan, letting Star have the night off. He went to sleep quickly. I waited a couple minutes then rejoined the group to start talking.

"Are you new here or on vacation?" David asked Michael.

"Parents divorced. This is mom's hometown. We're new residents." Michael answered.

"Oh awesome." Star said and moved closer to him.

"So, are you all family or just friends?" Michael asked.

"Star and I are sisters. Laddie is our baby brother. We were runaways. The boys are brothers, and they took us in." I answered him.

That spurned intense conversation. It was just what I was hoping for. A natural process.