~* The Calm Before *~ “I’ll give you two some privacy. See you both tomorrow!” She patted my shoulder lightly as she passed, humming the theme song of the movie we had just finished watching. Nicole rolled her eyes, dipping her thumbs into the pockets of her black jeans as she pressed her backside against the car. “What are we gonna do with her?” she joked. She looked back up at me again with a nervous smile. “I know what you’re going to ask. Please don’t. I might chicken out.” Rather than say anything, I stepped closer and wrapped her in a tight hug. She tilted her head to the side, resting her cheek against my shoulder facing me with her eyes closed. I couldn’t resist stealing a kiss, which caused her to smile even more.

---

I had hoped to try and make peace with Katelyn at the game Friday evening, but like tryouts, she never showed up. Coach Wilson was furious. We managed to pull out a victory without her, but we definitely missed her defense skills. We went into overtime, and only won by a single free-throw after the other team fouled Allison. We only had one game left now.

Since a few of Mom’s coworkers including Kelly convinced her to go out clubbing in New Haven in lieu of a bachelorette party, we decided to hang out at Nicole’s house after the game. It was a tragic sacrifice, cuddling with her by that warm, toasty fireplace under a heavy blanket while we watched a sappy romantic comedy.

The weather had turned colder again, and a light snow had started to fall by the time the sun went down, casting a faint, almost celestial glow from the security lights outside. A flash of light through the window caught my attention, but I was too comfortable to investigate. Gina poked her head around the corner, clearing her throat.

“Nikki, there’s someone here to see you.”

Nicole groaned with irritation before responding. “Can’t they come back tomorrow?”

Moira called from the hallway. “Sure, I’ll just hobble my arse back out to the limo.”

Nicole’s eyes lit up, and she practically threw the blanket over my head trying to get out from under it. “MOIRA!” she squealed excitedly as she raced across the hardwood floor. To our credit, we weren’t far behind her.

Moira, propped up on heavy crutches, limped further into the room. She had a large bandage wrapped around her forehead holding gauze in place, and her left ankle bore an intimidating cast, but she still smiled and opened her arms to catch my girlfriend.

“Ow, easy,” she chided, even though she was the one giving Nicole a squeeze. A moment later Jessica appeared in the doorway. Lucia stepped up beside her.

Jessica glanced at the awful movie still playing on the 40 inch widescreen HD TV, then back at us. “Hope we aren’t interrupting anything.”

Nicole giggled as she helped Moira to the sofa, shaking her head. “Not at all. Come in, come in! Make yourselves at home! Hey, where’s Kristen?” she suddenly looked concerned, glancing back.

Lucia scoffed. “She’s back at the hotel, sleeping off a hangover. Kris really hates flying,” she added.

Jennifer quickly moved one of the wingback chairs’ matched foot rests over to the sofa for Moira, who gave her an appreciative smile as she propped her ankle up on it. “Thanks. I had to see Regina again, and these two wouldn’t hear of me flying on my own.”

Jessica gave the bassist a serious stare. “Doc’s orders were clear. You hit your head pretty hard. We’re just worried about you; you know that.”

“Yes Mum,” Moira shot back. She flashed a playful smile a moment later though. “So what have I been missing here? Besides Robin’s mum’s wedding, I mean?”

“Actually, that’s tomorrow,” I offered. “You guys are more than welcome to come if you want.”

Moira forced a smile. “Ah, I don’t know about all that. Me and churches don’t get on well.”

“Oh come on. You were just saying on the plane this morning that you felt guilty about missing it,” Lucia teased. Moira scowled.

“I know that!” She finally sighed. “Okay, you win. I’ll go.”

“Yay!” Nicole cheered. “It’s going to be great. You don’t HAVE to go, but more bodies on the bride’s side won’t be a bad thing.”

A comfortable silence fell over the room for only a moment before Jennifer cleared her throat, staring seriously at me. “So are you going to tell her, or do I have to?”

“Tell me what?” Moira asked. Jennifer had piqued her curiosity now. Lucia slowly paced over to the fireplace, kneeling to warm her hands. I rolled my shoulders as I moved to sit beside Moira.

Before I could answer, Allison piped up, “Robin’s a cheerleader!”

Moira giggled. “Oh jeeze. You’re one of those fru-fru pompom-wavers now?” she teased as she reached over to pat my shoulder. “Kidding aside, that’s great as long as you don’t work yourself too hard.”

Jennifer and I both started laughing . “You do know Jen has been all along right? But it’s more than that though. We’re going to be competing in a national competition in May.” I paused, glancing at her foot. “How are you feeling?”

She smiled sheepishly. “Stupid. Kris still blames herself for my accident when it really was my fault. I shouldn’t have yelled at her.” She exhaled slowly, cursing under her breath. “I really screwed up.”

Lucia stifled a laugh as she stood. “Funny, she said the same thing at the hospital. Hey,” she called, motioning quickly. “Jess, c’mere!”

Jessica, curious, stepped closer, poking her head over the drummer’s shoulder. “Look,” she pointed at a photo resting on the mantle. “You thinking what I’m thinking?”

Jessica, picking up the framed picture, slowly turned back to approach us. She looked from the picture to Nicole and back again, a slow grin forming on her face. Moira stared at her. “What’re you two on about now?” she asked.

Jessica turned the picture frame around for us to see. It was a framed photo Trina took of me as Aria Blade, standing with Nicole as Raven Wing in her new armor, and Moira as Shadowfang, during a short break in their set at Nicole’s Halloween party, just before we had to leave for the hospital.

Moira’s eyes slowly widened. “Wait, I played Raven Wing at that party. I even had you fooled Robin,” she added with a grin. “Oh this is perfect!”

She quickly turned to Nicole. “How would you like to be a rock star?”

Nicole blinked several times. “Um, what?”

“You know all our old songs, and you’re a clever girl. You probably already figured out the new ones just from our jam sessions.”

Nicole’s cheeks turned a shade red. She offered a wry smile as she nodded. “Mostly, except for that one wicked battle duet, but I almost got that part down.”

“I can work with you on it now that I’m back. But Nikki, we’re about the same height. Onstage, in heels, nobody’s going to know the difference. With the amount of stage makeup we wear, you’d make the perfect Shadowfang.”

“But you’re talking about a concert — a real, live, concert in front of a LOT of people,” she answered uneasily. “Plus you’re supposed to debut your new song.”

Lucia stepped forward now. “We came here tonight to tell you that we were going to cancel the concert and find a way to make it up to you guys later. With Moira’s bum leg, she won’t be healed up enough in time to learn the choreography.”

Jessica picked up, pleading, “Heedless Despair has never missed a show. Not even when Kristen had the flu.”

Moira slid an arm around Nicole’s shoulders. “I know this is all really sudden, and I don’t want to push you into something you genuinely don’t want to do, but it would really mean a lot to me.”

Nicole cracked a smile as she leaned over to rest her head against Moira. “You really are like a big sister, and I’m glad I can help, but that doesn’t mean I’m not completely terrified of the idea.”

“Think of it as job experience,” Jessica offered reassuringly. “You’ve got some great talent. You really impressed us all when you and Moira were doing that battle of the bassists thing at your sweet sixteen.”

Lucia practically begged now, “It’s just one concert. No one ever has to know it wasn’t the real Shadowfang up there.”

Nicole started to giggle. “Actually it’d probably be better if nobody ever knows that. It’d ruin the mythos if anyone found out the mighty Shadowfang was defeated by an ice patch.” She grinned at Moira, who laughed, shaking her head. Lucia rolled her eyes and started laughing.

“Oy! No bloody wonder those two get on so well.”

Jessica laughed as she turned to return the picture frame to the mantle. “We should probably get back to our hotel and check on Kris. They don’t call it sex, drugs, and rock and roll for nothing.”

Lucia nodded somberly as she stepped closer, offering Moira a hand. The bassist grabbed Lucia’s hand, pulling herself up even as I gently slid the footrest away, and Nicole handed her the crutches.

Moira balanced herself, speaking defiantly. “I’m not about to let Kris fall into that trap. I’ve been off drink since December, and I’m going to help her with her addiction whether she likes it or not.” She hobbled closer, stopping in front of me.

“You girls take care, and Robin, give yer Mum our best. She’s lucky to have you.” She smiled, leaning over to wrap me in a brief hug before she turned to limp out with her bandmates following close behind.

“So, what just happened?” Allison asked, staring at Nicole. Nicole cackled. “I think I just became Shadowfang, at least until after their first concert. They’re right though. NOBODY can know about this.”

Jennifer smiled. “My lips are sealed.”

“Mine too,” Allison offered. They turned to look at me.

“What? I’m not going to tell anyone. But does this mean I’m dating Shadowfang now?”

“I think I’m jealous of myself,” Nicole teased as she pulled me into a brief, soft kiss.

~oOo~

Nicole had us all home by nine that evening, and with Allison and me as the last to drop off, we had a few seconds to really talk. Allison and Nicole hugged then she turned to wink at me.

“I’ll give you two some privacy. See you both tomorrow!” She patted my shoulder lightly as she passed, humming the theme song of the movie we had just finished watching. Nicole rolled her eyes, dipping her thumbs into the pockets of her black jeans as she pressed her backside against the car.

“What are we gonna do with her?” she joked. She looked back up at me again with a nervous smile. “I know what you’re going to ask. Please don’t. I might chicken out.”

Rather than say anything, I stepped closer and wrapped her in a tight hug. She tilted her head to the side, resting her cheek against my shoulder facing me with her eyes closed. I couldn’t resist stealing a kiss, which caused her to smile even more.

She finally murmured, “Is this what it’s like, every time you get suckered into doing something crazy?”

I tried not to laugh. “Pretty much. See also, Girl Scouts, basketball, cheerleading, writing for the school newspaper, Homecoming, and very nearly joining the drama club. Kenpo was my choice at least.”

“You know you could’ve said no,” she offered, unmoving except to wiggle her fingers up underneath my heavy coat resting her hands at the base of my back.

“I could have, but I wanted the experience. I just wanted to experience too much. I’d never been a girl before this year, remember?”

She slowly raised her head to stare at me, as though what I’d just said were the most alien concept imaginable. “No, I don’t remember. Robin you’ve always been a girl. You just didn’t realize it.” She smiled, leaning in for another quick, almost chaste kiss. “But I guess you’re right. I mean, how often does a girl get a chance to pretend to be her idol for real?”

“And look on the bright side. You don’t even have to sign a contract with Disney.”

“Oh gawd,” she balked, laughing. “I’d better call Dad’s lawyer this weekend though. There’s going to be a ton of paperwork to deal with to make this all work. Anyway, I’ll see you tomorrow. G’night, cutie.”

I smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Sweet dreams, vampire. Enjoy your goth-hood while it lasts, for tomorrow, there will be photographic evidence that you were a bridesmaid.”

“And I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she responded with a whimsical tone. With one last goodnight kiss, she untangled her hands from my coat and stepped around to get in her car. She waited for me to get inside before pulling away to head home.