~* Heedless of Consequence *~ “Katelyn, hold on a minute.” She stopped, turning back to me with a neutral expression. “There’s a cheer retreat coming up soon. If you want to go, just talk to Victoria for a release form.” Her gaze softened as she stared back at me. “You’re serious?” “Yes I’m serious. Not everyone on the squad’s even going to be able to go because it’s the first weekend of Spring Break.” She continued to stare at me, untrusting. I shook my head. “If you want to go, talk to Victoria or Coach Greer for that matter.” “If you’re lying, and I did ask Coach Greer, you’d get thrown off the squad.” A calculating smile crossed her lips. I smiled right back at her. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of thinking she had me cornered. I turned to continue out to the parking lot.

---

Author's Note:
I wrestled with this chapter perhaps more than any other. It's sitting at its 23rd revision as of posting. I worried and wondered if it's just "too" sweet, but I like the way the characters handle the situation. I like the way everything ties together, and I like that it's not Robin that's playing peacemaker, so I've decided to keep it.

~Zoe

---

Allison and Nicole took the news that our big plans had been shot down about as well as we had. Still, a good night’s sleep really made things seem brighter a little brighter.

My new uniforms were as cute as I remembered, and Margie insisted I try them each on — five in total in differing styles, so she could take pictures to pass around to family and friends. Andrea’s reaction was priceless. She knew I had gotten on the squad, but I don’t think I truly sank in until she saw the pictures.

I wish Katelyn’s reaction had been so positive. I dreaded the inevitable encounter all day. As I stepped into the girls’ room to fix my lip gloss after lunch, Katelyn stepped out of one of the stalls, glowering at me.

“So I heard the big plan blew up in you guys’ faces.”

“Yeah, the organizers decided they didn’t want to risk anyone getting hurt.”

“Serves her right,” she sneered, turning to the mirror. As she applied a light coat of mascara, she continued. “So does that mean you’re going to quit the squad? I mean now that they don’t need you anymore.”

“Hey, you missed the tryout. We sent someone to find you, but you were already gone. I’m not going to drop out just because you’re upset with Chelsea.”

She turned to glare at me. “You know what? Screw you,” she snapped back, storming out.

I exhaled slowly, turning to follow her out. “Katelyn wait!”

“No,” she shouted back, continuing down the hall.

“Terrific,” I sighed, turning to head the other way, and bumped right into Principal Rochelle.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, keeping a professional demeanor.

“Oh, excuse me. No sir, no problem,” I responded as calmly as I could manage. “She’s just upset.”

He seemed to accept that explanation and nodded, turning to continue down the hall. I breathed a relieved sigh as Maria poked her head around the corner. She smiled a little as she stepped closer.

“Wow. I can’t believe you did that,” she mused quietly.

“What?”

“Stood up for her like that,” she answered as she lightly rolled her shoulders. “Katelyn’s like me. She’s hot-blooded. She says things she doesn’t mean, you know?”

“She does mean it though. She’s upset that I won’t drop out now that my “advice” isn’t needed anymore.”

“She said that?” Maria frowned. “I thought we were over this already.”

“I did too. It sucks that she blew her chance at making the squad this year, but it’s not my fault she wouldn’t listen. I’m trying to give her a chance, but my patience is wearing thin. Can you do me a favor?”

“Sure, what is it?”

“I know you guys are friends. Can you at least try and keep her from starting anything?”

“Like what?” she asked, concerned.

“I mean, I’ve got enough problems in my life without her spreading rumors about me or any other catty crap. I just can’t handle it right now.”

“Maybe if you weren’t such an over-achiever,” Maria shot back, abruptly covering her mouth. “I’m sorry Robin, I didn’t mean it like that.”

Nicole shook her head as she approached. “She already quit the school paper. What else do you want her to give up?”

“You … what?” Maria gasped. “You’re kidding right?”

“It was just too much pressure. Something had to give, so I resigned. Listen, for what it’s worth Victoria thinks Katelyn has a lot of talent. She’s the only one who could have given me serious competition for the open slot, and she has a real shot at making varsity cheer next year. She just has to stop jumping down my and Chelsea’s throats constantly.”

“Maria,” Katelyn called from further down the hall.

Maria frowned at us. “Sorry, we’ll talk later,” she offered, turning to sprint down the hall. Nicole shook her head.

“How those two remained friends when Chelsea’s part of Maria’s host family is beyond me. Hey you don’t think they’re…” Nicole trailed off.

“They’re what?”

“You know,” she wiggled her eyebrows. I had to laugh.

“I thought Maria was dating Jason?”

“Yeah, but so was I,” she teased. “Anyway, it got you to smile right?”

“You’re insane. I love you,” I replied, kissing her cheek lightly. “Are you ready for the concert?”

“As I’ll ever be. I was up all night learning the last bass riff, but I finally got it to a point where nobody’s going to question that it’s her. Plus being new material, if I screw up no one will notice. They’ll just think the band changed it later.” She paused, nodding to no one in particular. “That’s what I keep telling myself anyway.”

~oOo~

I felt bad for Maria. She really was a nice girl, and I cared about her a lot, but being friends with both Katelyn and me put a bit of a strain on her. It probably didn’t help that we all had matching Heedless Despair advanced print concert t-shirts to wear Friday, including the two we promised Maria and Brittany.

“Nice shirt,” Katelyn mumbled in passing as I was getting ready to leave school. I’d just put my books in my locker, but when I turned, she was already down the hall. I ran to catch up with her.

“Katelyn, hold on a minute.” She stopped, turning back to me with a neutral expression. “There’s a cheer retreat coming up soon. If you want to go, just talk to Victoria for a release form.”

Her gaze softened as she stared back at me. “You’re serious?”

“Yes I’m serious. Not everyone on the squad’s even going to be able to go because it’s the first weekend of Spring Break.” She continued to stare at me, untrusting. I shook my head. “If you want to go, talk to Victoria or Coach Greer for that matter.”

“If you’re lying, and I did ask Coach Greer, you’d get thrown off the squad.” A calculating smile crossed her lips. I smiled right back at her. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of thinking she had me cornered. I turned to continue out to the parking lot.

Nicole had to leave earlier that day under the guise of a dentist appointment, so Kelly was giving Allison, Jennifer and me a ride home. She stood by her car in the parking lot, chatting with the other two when I approached. Immediately they grew silent as Kelly wrapped me in a much-needed hug.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I ran into Katelyn again.”

Jennifer scowled. “What did she say this time?”

“It’s not like that — not this time. I approached her. I told her about the upcoming cheer camp. She doesn’t believe me, so I told her to talk to Coach Greer about it.”

Allison and Jennifer both wrapped me in a hug, the former adding, “Forget her. She’s not worth the energy.”

I smiled a little as I nodded. “We should get ready for the concert.”

“Hakuna matata,” Jennifer cheered playfully as she rested her head on my shoulder, giving me a big, goofy smile. I had to laugh.

~oOo~

I hadn’t spoken to Rachel and Natalie since the wedding, mostly because of my hectic schedule, though at least things were finally calming down. Seeing them waiting for us at home though really lifted my spirits. I immediately bolted from Kelly’s car, rushing over to hug the both of them.

“Spirit!” they cheered in unison and giggled as Allison and Jennifer hurried to catch up.

“How have you guys been? I’m sorry I don’t call more often.”

Natalie shrugged. “It’s fine. Jen and Ally have been keeping us up to date. We know how crazy things’ve been. Oh my gosh, is that the ring Nikki gave you?” she squealed. “It’s gorgeous!”

Rachel slowly glanced around. “Hey where IS Nikki? It’s not like her to miss a Heedless Despair concert pre-party.”

The three of us started giggling as I replied, “Oh, we’ll see her there.”

Natalie shook her head. “I know that tone. I’m not even going to ask.”

~oOo~

After hanging out at Allison’s for the better part of an hour, we arrived at the civic center. Already, parking was scarce, but we managed to find a spot. The security guards were nowhere to be seen, at least until we got closer. Two of them stood outside a side entrance where a shiny new tour bus bearing Heedless Despair’s band logo sat parked. Jennifer grinned at Rachel and Natalie. Natalie shook her head.

“No way. Did you see that bouncer? He’d break us in half!”

Allison giggled. “Yeah, but,” she flashed her backstage pass. “We know the band, remember?”

“If you say so,” Natalie replied hesitantly as she and Rachel followed us. As we worked our way through the crowd, a familiar voice called after us.

“Excuse me, girls, Tina Gale.”

Allison groaned, but I smiled as I turned back to her. There was no way she could remember us after all this time.

“Robin, I thought that was you,” she dashed my hopes expertly. “How are you doing?”

“Hi Tina,” I answered without really answering. “What are you doing here?”

She motioned to her camera crew further back, smiling. “I’m interviewing concert-goers, fishing for sound bytes we can use. I’m about to do my live report.”

“Oh, have you got anything you can use yet?”

“A few pieces; they’re running them during commercial break. What I really need is a live interview. Would one of you be interested?”

Rachel and Natalie immediately stepped back. Allison shook her head. “I don’t ‘do’ interviews.”

Jennifer smiled. “I’ll do it if you will Robin.”

“Sure, why not?”

“Excellent,” Tina responded in a friendly tone as she led us over to her camera crew. They had us stand with the crowd behind us ‘for atmosphere’ while Tina accepted her microphone, turning to approach us again.

“Now, this is going to be very informal, things like ‘Are you excited to see Heedless Despair’ or ‘is this your first concert’, that sort of thing,” she paused briefly, while waiting for her cue. “How did your fundraiser go?”

“Really, really well - someone made a huge anonymous donation. I really wish I could have thanked whoever it was that did that. It meant a lot to us, plus we were able to raise a lot of money anyway with your help publicizing it.”

She smiled sheepishly as she glanced away. Jennifer smiled brightly. “It was you wasn’t it?”

Tina slowly nodded. “Actually we took up a collection around the newsroom, but yes, I signed off as the anonymous donor.”

“Okay Tina, we’re live in three, two, one.”

Tina turned to the camera smiling professionally as she continued a conversation none of us could hear. “Thanks Don. That’s right; I’m here in Alpine Springs for what city planners have called the biggest event to hit the city in twenty-five years. As you heard during the commercial break I’ve been speaking to fans of the European band Heedless Despair. In fact I have two of their biggest fans right here with me.” She turned back to us.

“Is this your first Heedless Despair concert?”

“Technically it’s our first concert,” Jennifer answered. “But we got them to play at my best friend’s sweet sixteen last October.”

“I’ll bet that was a night your friend will never forget,” Tina answered warmly, turning to me. “What is it you like most about their music?”

“It’s not just their music, really. It’s the whole experience. They’re true theatrical artists. They take their music and their performance seriously, and it shows. It’s easy to get lost in the mythos and forget that they’re not big, scary monsters of rock, but it’s all in fun.”

“There you have it,” she responded as she turned back to the camera. “Back to you Don.”

“And we’re clear,” the cameraman stated. Tina handed the microphone off as she smiled back at us.

“Thanks girls. Your enthusiasm really shows.”

“No problem,” Jennifer answered. “Thank you for helping publicize our fundraiser last year. We owe you one.”

“How about an exclusive interview with the band?” she teased, quickly adding. “I’m kidding! I don’t want to spoil the fun after all,” she added with a wink. I giggled.

“Besides which the last paparazzi who tried to photograph them lost his job when the fans boycotted his publisher,” I added with a sly smile, turning to rejoin the others. As we approached the bouncer, he slowly turned to face us, arms folded as he began to recite his obviously prepared speech.

“No you can’t see the band, no you can’t have an autog–Wait a minute.” He approached us, checking our passes. He laughed. “Sorry about that. I assume these two,” he paused, motioning to Rachel and Natalie, “are with you?”

“Yup,” Jennifer replied cheerily. “They’re cool.”

“Well alright then. The band’s still getting ready, but you can go on inside.” He pointed to the building’s side door, following us as far as the door to close it behind us.

“This is so cool!” Rachel squealed. “I mean, meeting Heedless Despair hanging out at Nikki’s is one thing, but I’ve never been backstage at a concert before!”

“Yeah, but for a second there I thought Robin was going to ask Tina to come backstage with us,” Jennifer teased.

“I thought about it actually, but the whole situation with Moira just would’ve made it too complex. But given the size of the donation they gave us, I wouldn’t feel bad about at least asking the band.”

“Wait, what donation?” Allison asked.

Jennifer grinned. “Tina confessed that her newsroom took up a collection to donate to our cancer walk last year.”

“I thought it might’ve been Crystal’s parents,” I offered. “I mean, I never expected Tina to be involved like that.”

Natalie smiled as she squeezed my hand. “They left Connecticut after the incident. Still I know they would’ve done the same if they were here. You’re just like her in a lot of ways.”

Silence fell over our group as we walked down the hall. Officer Jane Garrett stood outside the dressing room opposite the woman I’d met outside the civic center the other day. The woman started to hold up her hand as we approached, but Jane quickly stepped forward, surprising me with a friendly hug.

“Robin Smith, what on earth are you doing back here?”

I smiled proudly as I held out my pass for her to inspect. “We’re friends with the band. I should ask you the same question though.”

“Some of us on the force work as security for public venues like the civic center when we’re off-duty. It’s good to see you again,” she added as she released my pass. “I hope you’re staying out of trouble?”

“Mostly,” I answered sheepishly. “Nothing as bad as last year anyway. Oh, Jane these are my friends from Girl Scouts, Rachel and Natalie, and you remember Jennifer and Allison? Girls this is Officer Garrett. She’s kind of my guardian angel.”

I don’t think I’d ever seen Officer Garrett blush until today. She shook her head as she smiled. “I wouldn’t say that. I was just in the right place at the right time.”

She stepped aside to let us pass, though even so, the door had been locked tight. Before I could knock, Lucia, dressed as Solace, pulled it open.

“Fresh meat,” she hissed playfully as she stepped aside to let us enter.

By now Kristen had her cherry red electric guitar back in-hand as she and Nicole, dressed as Shadowfang, sat across from one another. Nicole had a sleek black bass guitar resting across her lap, and though their amplifiers were both turned down very low, I could still make out the strains of their battle duet.

Kristen suddenly stopped playing though, staring expectantly at Nicole.

“What?”

Kristen shook her head. “You’re not even going to say ‘hi’ to our visitors?”

Nicole tilted her head back. She looked like she wanted to squeal as soon as she saw us with Rachel and Natalie, but she quickly composed herself and set her bass aside. She stood and approached us, and with the two not yet in on the practical joke staring in stunned silence, grabbed me in her arms, spun me around into a low dip and kissed me. I melted in her loving, dark embrace as she stared into my eyes for only a moment, pulling me up again.

“Hello lover,” she hissed in her best approximation of Shadowfang’s stage voice.

“Robin, what’s going on?” Natalie asked nervously. Moira giggled as she approached. She still had a limp in her step, but the cast had been replaced with a lightweight brace.

“You didn’t tell them? You little sneaks!” she laughed as she extended her hand. “Hi ladies. You probably don’t remember me without the stage makeup-”

Rachel ‘got it’ first, turning quickly to the fake Shadowfang. “Nikki?!” Nicole started laughing as Rachel squealed and hugged her. “Oh my God, you look just like her.”

“Really though,” Natalie added. By now Jennifer and Allison’s cheeks were stained with fresh tears from laughing. Nicole motioned to the twin sofas.

“Make yourselves comfortable. We’ve still got some time before the show starts.”

“Now I get why Robin didn’t want Tina involved though.”

“Huh?” Nicole asked. As we sat down, I explained about the interview, and Nicole and Moira explained about the accident. When they finished, Jessica stepped closer, that familiar steaming mug in-hand.

“Nicole really saved our bacon. Even when Kris had the flu, we still went on.”

Kristen rolled her shoulders. “Heedless Despair’s got a reputation to keep up. We’re supposed to be inhuman monsters. Besides, I slept for two days straight after that show.”

“Sure, when you weren’t worshipping the porcelain goddess,” Lucia chided playfully.

“So, Nikki’s playing Shadowfang tonight. I’m guessing this means we’re sworn to secrecy on penalty of death and dismemberment?” Rachel teased.

Kristen laughed. “Something like that.”

Jessica started to raise her mug to drink, stopping as someone knocked. She stepped away to open it a crack.

“Ten minutes,” a male voice spoke from outside the door. Jessica turned back to us, downing her mug.

“Alright ladies, it’s show time. Robin, do you and your friends need an escort?”

“I’ll go with ‘em. Nobody’s going to get in MY way if they don’t want a crutch up their arse.”

Moira walked with us down the familiar hall, through staff and security that littered the area. The lights had been turned low, enough to allow concert-attendees to move about, but not so much as to spoil the atmosphere. A few vapid screams and cheers went up as we appeared from behind the curtain, quickly fading as realization dawned that we weren’t who they were expecting. Moira laughed, even as she nodded toward the stage.

Where a bare stage had once stood not a week ago, a grim, spooky cemetery now awaited the performers. A thick fog rolled across the stage and over the edges, disguising whatever lay below.

Jennifer giggled. “That is so cool,” she started, but paused. “Hey, is that… Crap, it’s Katelyn.”

Jennifer pointed to where Katelyn, Maria and Jason sat in the front row right where we would be.

“Like I needed this,” I exhaled. “Please dear God don’t let her say something stupid. I just want to enjoy the concert.”

Moira frowned. “If she gives you any problems I can have her thrown out.”

“No, it’s okay,” I tried to defend her, again. “She’s just… It’s a long story. It’s okay though, really.”

“Well, alright,” she answered simply. As we approached, Maria jumped to her feet.

“Robin! Hey! Mi Dios, are those backstage passes?”

I nodded sheepishly. “Yeah. Oh, Maria this is Moira. She’s-”

“I’m with the band. You know, sound and stuff.” It was a clever half-truth, and Maria took it on faith without a thought as she smiled, shaking her hand.

“Nice to meet you. This is my boyfriend Jason, and my friend Katelyn.”

Katelyn nodded neutrally. “Hey,” she responded.

As we took our seats, Moira smiled. “Enjoy the show, hey?” She turned to limp away back toward the curtain, where a bouncer quickly pulled it aside to let her through. Meanwhile Katelyn looked over, speaking in a careful tone.

“I called Coach Greer. She thinks me going to that cheer camp would be a great learning experience. I…” She trailed off, shifting her gaze away. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

“Katelyn, I’m sorry,” I offered as gently as I could manage. “I’m not trying to ruin your life.”

“I know that,” she shot back. She paused to take a deep breath as Maria stared at her.

“Kate, she promised, and she’s really trying, but you gotta be willing to try too. Robin isn’t Chelsea, remember?”

“I-I know,” she stammered. Jason cleared his throat.

“I’ll… just be over there,” he offered dryly as he stood to step away and give us some ‘girl time’.

Maria smiled sympathetically at him, turning back to Katelyn. “She quit the school paper too you know.”

“What?” Katelyn leaned forward to stare at me. “Why?”

“It was just too much stress. I was afraid my grades would suffer so I told Mrs. Ellis I couldn’t do it anymore. I’m also active in the Girl Scouts, my mom’s wedding was last week, and I’ve had basketball to think about until now.”

“Jeeze,” she mumbled.

“Don’t say it,” Maria warned.

Katelyn smirked. “I wasn’t,” she answered. “We can talk about it later. Let’s just enjoy the concert.”

“Truce?” I asked as I offered my hand. She stared hesitantly, but Maria grabbed her hand, gently pulling it up to meet mine. She giggled as she bumped Katelyn’s shoulder.

“Truce,” she answered softly. “Oh, Coach Greer told me something else. She um,” she trailed off. “She said Victoria thinks I could make the squad easily next year.”

“Told you so,” I replied with a smile.

“Whatever,” she responded with a weak laugh and a hint of a smile. She suddenly glanced around though, just as the lights fell. “Hey, where’s Nikki? Isn’t she like, THE biggest Heedless Despair fan ever?”

A clap of thunder roared through the arena as thousands of screaming fans drowned her out as well as any response I could’ve given. We leapt to our feet and cheered as a bluish light shone through the mist. A lone silhouette stood amidst the fog. Her features were hidden beneath a tattered veil. She turned to the side, to one of the grave markers, pantomiming mourning at the grave as the sounds of a woman sobbing filled the arena.

Suddenly another figure rose slowly from the mists, followed by two more, further behind her. The stage lights rose enough to reveal Jessica as the Scarlet Witch, flanked by Lucia and Kristen as Solace and Demona Rose. The sobbing woman slowly stood, turning to face the trio. Jessica reached for her veil, but the woman recoiled.

Lucia stepped forward this time. She wore a creepy smile as she tugged innocently at the veil, pulling it aside. She took Nicole’s hand and pulled her along to join the others. Jessica picked up her microphone as the other three took their places.

“The dark wind howls for flesh tonight,” she hissed. The arena exploded into cheers as they began their first number of the night.

~oOo~

As the final note rang out, choruses of cheers threatened to blow the roof off the civic center. The band descended back into the mist as the lights rose. Katelyn seemed oddly quiet though. She gently took my hand as we stood to head backstage again.

“Can I ask you something? Can I trust you to be straight with me?”

“Sure. What is it?”

“You never answered my question before. Where’s Nikki?”

“She’s…” I hesitated. Katelyn stared expectantly. “How big a fan are you of Heedless Despair?” I asked. Maria giggled.

“Are you kidding? They’re the reason we became friends. Katelyn has more Heedless Despair stuff than anyone I know, barring Nikki.”

“Come backstage with us,” I offered. “It’ll be quieter back there, and we can catch the band before they get on their tour bus. And it’ll give us a chance to talk in private.”

“Really?” she gasped. “You’d let me come with you?”

“Sure,” Allison answered, grabbing Maria’s hand, who in-turn pulled Jason along. Jennifer stayed with Katelyn and me while Rachel and Natalie followed Allison.

“What she said,” I replied.

Katelyn hesitantly nodded. At the menacing black curtain, where three equally menacing bouncers stood, Jennifer and I showed our backstage passes. They stepped aside, letting us through. Jennifer smiled back at us.

“I’m going to go on ahead.”

Katelyn waited for Jennifer to get further down the hall before turning back to me.

“Okay, what’s going on? Where is Nikki? I’m starting to get a little freaked out here that I’m the only person who seems to notice she’s missing.”

Moira limped around the corner, causing Katelyn to tense up. She smiled as she stuck out her hand. “I’m sorry for deceiving you earlier, Katelyn was it?”

“Yeah. What do you mean ‘deceiving me’?”

“Truth is, I play bass for a popular Euro band. You might have heard of us?” She paused for dramatic effect and smiled. “Underneath all the glamour and makeup, I’m just plain ‘Moira’. And a couple of months ago, I almost broke up the band because I didn’t believe in myself, in what our music stood for, or my friends.”

“And then you met Robin?” she asked condescendingly. Moira laughed.

“No, actually our lead guitarist knocked her ex-boyfriend out cold for threatening to throw me out of the band.” She grinned. Katelyn covered her mouth to fight the surprised giggle. “It all started, several months ago. We had a bit of a falling out, and, frankly, I thought Kris-I mean Demona hated me after that.”

Katelyn stared down at Moira’s ankle, obviously confused. Moira smiled sheepishly. “It’s all part of the same tangled web. We had an argument a few weeks back. I said things I shouldn’t have said, and stormed out, angry, confused, hurt. I wasn’t watching my step, and an ice patch knocked me off my feet. Truthfully, we almost cancelled the show.”

“B-but you guys never miss a show,” she responded.

“We were ready to, but we convinced someone to be my stand-in just this once; a musician who knew our style both theatrically and musically.”

“Nikki, right?” she answered softly. I thought, given our past conflicts, that she would explode right then and there, but she just shook her head slowly. “I’m so confused. I don’t know whether to be jealous of her or happy that she saved the show.”

“You need to have more confidence in yourself — speaking from experience. I didn’t realize how much my band mates actually cared about my well-being. I thought Demona hated me when the reality was, that’s just her way, you know? I almost lost three really good friendships because I didn’t listen. It’s not too late to set things right.”

“I don’t want to hate you,” Katelyn spoke softly as she turned back to me. “I just hate what you represent. Chelsea thinks I don’t work hard. I do, but it feels like it’s never enough. You’re better than me at everything.”

“Oh, no I’m not. You have faster reflexes than me, and your situational awareness is a lot higher. That’s why Coach Wilson put you on defense. Chelsea and Brittany have better leadership skills than anyone else on the team which is why they’re captains. Everyone’s good at something, and nobody’s good at everything. I mean, you weren’t there when I got thrown off a horse at summer camp,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.

She cracked a smile. “You’re not just telling me this to cheer me up are you?”

I shook my head. “Ask Coach Wilson’s assistant Elaine about it. She saw the whole thing.”

“Well I still don’t know if I trust you, but,” she paused turning to Moira, “I’m not about to scoff at the advice of one of the greatest living bass players.”

Moira shook her head. It was finally her turn to blush. “I don’t know about all that. I hope I can trust you to keep this a secret though. I shouldn’t even be telling you this, but Nikki’s special to me. She’s like a little sister, and when one of her friends is hurting, I can’t just stand by and watch, ya know?”

Katelyn nodded quickly. “I won’t tell a soul, I swear.”

Moira smiled as she unfurled what had previously just looked like a roll of black cloth in her hand, revealing an autographed concert t-shirt. “I thought I’d smooth things over with this, but it seems it won’t be necessary after all.” She grinned as she offered it to Katelyn.

“For me?” she whispered.

Moira nodded. “Don’t worry. That’s the ‘real’ Shadowfang’s signature there.”

Katelyn squealed as she hugged Moira. “Thank you so much. I love all your music, and this is… Wow. Thank you!”

She turned back to me again. “Can we,” she hesitated, biting her lip. “Can we start over?”

“Hi, I’m Robin,” I answered as I offered her my hand. She laughed.

“You know what I mean.”

“Yes, we can start over.”

“Thanks,” she answered, as we turned to follow Moira.

“Thank Maria. She asked me to give you a chance. Honestly, I’m learning that when she tells you to give someone a chance, you should listen. Just look at Jason.”

“Speaking of your friends,” Moira advised, “They’re waiting in the green room. Lucia introduced one of them to her five alarm salsa. I’ve never seen anyone but her eat that mind-rotting soul-searing mess without downing a liter of water afterwards.”

Katelyn laughed quietly as we followed Moira to their dressing room. “Maria has a cast iron stomach.”

~oOo~

Nicole endlessly entertained herself scaring Jason. He hadn’t forgotten his run-in with Shadowfang, and unlike Katelyn, neither Maria nor he were in on ‘the joke’, which meant she had to keep up her stage acting, but the rest of the band played along, backing her up as though it were Moira they were interacting with. After the three of them had left, Nicole pulled me into a hug.

“So is everything okay with Katelyn now?”

“I hope so. Moira was eavesdropping on us,” I began. Moira laughed, throwing a piece of popcorn at me.

“Was not,” she teased. “I just happened to be within earshot, and around a blind corner.”

Kristen laughed. “Eavesdropping.”

“Anyway, Moira talked to her. It turns out Katelyn’s a huge Heedless Despair fan too.”

“Moira told?” Nicole frowned, but paused. She picked up the piece of popcorn from my hair that Moira had thrown, popping it into her mouth with a satisfied crunch. “But you said she’s a big fan, so she won’t tell right?”

“Actually,” I started, “She was really worried about you. Moira made her swear not to say anything, and, believe it or not, she seemed pretty sincere.”

“Cue the Twilight Zone music,” Nicole teased. Jennifer leaned over, singing in her ear. Nicole laughed as she playfully swatted her away. “Quiet you! I guess in the end, if she did blab, it’d be our word against hers though.”

“And ours,” Lucia added, giving her drumstick a lazy twirl. “I doubt anyone’d believe we had a sixteen year old on bass anyway. No offense,” she added, shooting Nicole a smile.

“Can we give you girls a ride home?” Jessica asked as she re-entered with a fresh bottle of water.

Rachel smiled as she held up her keys. “I’ve got my car. Unless you guys are staying in New Haven I should probably give Natalie a ride home, too.”

“Actually we are. We’re due to debark dressed like our setup crew.”

Natalie giggled. “So that’s why your stage guys all wear black with those black baseball caps?”

Lucia placed her finger to the side of her temple, grinning. “Smart girl. Nobody EVER suspects the four gals in black t-shirts - right Robin?” She shot me a glance as the four started laughing, reminiscing of my run-in with them at the Homecoming game.

“As cool as it would be to party with you guys, my parents would probably crap themselves if I got off a rock star’s tour bus instead of Rachel’s car. Thanks though.”

She turned to catch Nicole and me in a warm hug. “Don’t be a stranger, okay? I miss you guys.”

“Hey, what are you doing Spring Break?” Allison asked out of the blue.

“The first weekend there’s a big cheer retreat, but I’m not doing anything after that. Natalie?”

Natalie shrugged. “Same, minus the cheer retreat. Why?”

“Robin’s friend Andrea might be coming to visit. If she can make it, we were thinking of taking her camping and giving her the real wilderness girl experience.”

“I don’t think Andrea’s ever even seen a tent that wasn’t set up over a sidewalk sale at the mall,” I joked.

Rachel and Natalie giggled. “Sounds fun,” they answered in unison, glanced at each other, and giggled again.

“Awesome.” Allison beamed, hugging the two of them before they left. Kristen watched them leave then turned back to Moira.

“So is what you said to that other girl true?”

Moira turned back to her. “Pardon?”

“You thought I hated you? Just because you were eavesdropping on them, doesn’t mean I wasn’t eavesdropping on you, too. Now answer the question.”

Moira bit her lip. “Yeah. After-” she started, but Kristen shook her head slowly.

“I know I can be hard to get on with, but really? Hate you?” Then she did something none of us expected. She hugged the bassist. “I’m sorry about that night.” She paused. “I was so drunk that night, I…” she trailed off. “I said things I shouldn’t have, and things got weird, you know?”

“I know,” Moira answered simply.

“I’m sorry for stonewalling you. I just, the next day when I woke up and remembered what happened it … It freaked me out.”

“Kris, calm down. It’s okay,” Moira tried to interrupt her, but she was on a roll.

“No, it isn’t. If I had just been honest with you none of this would’ve happened. You wouldn’t have had to deal with that idiot, and we probably never would’ve argued the day you-”

“The day I fell? There’s no guarantee I wouldn’t have hit that ice patch anyway. Hell, for all we know it mighta been you or Jessica, or Lucia who went arse over elbow. There’s just no way to know. Besides which if I hadn’t left when your boyfriend threatened me, I never would’ve met Regina.”

By now the four of us had stepped back, like spectators in some sort of rockumentary or Behind the Music special. Jessica giggled as she stepped closer, placing a hand on each woman’s shoulder.

“I once told these girls it’s a shame that Robin and Jennifer aren’t musicians because they have the kind of cohesion that’s almost required in this business. It takes a special kind of person to spend months of a year cramped up together on a tour bus without killing each other. Sure we get mad at each other, but can you honestly say you don’t love performing together?”

Kristen cracked a smile. “Yeah, I do love it. Ever since our old bassist went all prima donna and joined that rubbish techno group.”

“The one that’s still struggling to find a record label that’ll take their arses?” Moira teased. Lucia laughed.

“That’d be them. Anyway,” she nodded toward us. “I think we’ve bored you lot enough for one night, hey?”

Jennifer giggled, “Oh, don’t mind us.”

Jessica turned back to us, nodding toward the door. “Come with us. You’re about to experience the best part of being a rock star — the glamorous backstage retreat and paparazzi dodge. We’ll drop you off at your houses after Nikki’s had a chance to change.”