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~* Sixteen Black Candles *~ After hugging Margie, to furious giggles from the both of us at knowing what really lay beneath the wrapping paper, I made my way downstairs, across the lawns, and into the Joneses’ house. Kelly had just come downstairs as I neared the basement. She smiled warmly. “Hi there. You must be one of Nikki’s friends. Everyone’s down in the den I think.” She casually nodded toward the basement stairs. I giggled. “Kelly? It’s me.” She blinked several times, moving in for a closer inspection. “Oh my God… Robin?!”

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As I lay on my bed reading the latest issue of Aria Blade, I couldn’t help again losing myself in the fictional world. Aria’s romance of sorts with Raven had been drawn out into the open by Volcaness of all people, and then impressed upon further by Raven’s parting kiss on the last panel. In so many ways, Aria’s life seemed harder than mine, but I still couldn’t help myself in escaping to this fantasy world for a little while.

After carefully securing the latest copy, I glanced back toward my closet with a sigh. I needed to decide what to wear, and Nicole would be here soon. But should I wear something casual? We were just going to the mall and then a movie. Should I wear what I’d normally wear, or should I make a peace offering and wear something darker?

Nicole never really talked about her other friends. I knew from casual conversation that they weren’t all that close and rarely spent time talking outside school, so I gathered they were more like acquaintances with good taste in clothing, but I also sensed Nicole wanted us to finally meet as well. It was kind of funny how this whole thing came about, really.

I suddenly felt a pair of arms around me from behind, though I recognized the plum nail polish instantly, grinning as I spun around to wrap her in a hug. I didn’t notice the tall red-head dressed in the black short-sleeved blouse and skirt standing further back, though, even as she nervously fumbled with her hands, staring at the floor at Nicole’s and my familiar greeting.

My attention remained laser-focused on Nicole herself, and her cute v-neck black peasant top. It always amazed me how she could take black to new levels of attractiveness in varying style and still look like an extra from a vampire movie.

“Hey cutie,” she offered with a broad grin, resting her head on my shoulder briefly.

“Hey you. You’re early. I still haven’t decided what to wear.”

I still had on my hunter green knit top and jeans from this morning. Nicole stepped back a moment and looked me over, smiling approvingly. “What’s wrong with what you’re wearing now?”

“Nothing. I just… I, well-” I fumbled, causing her to giggle.

“Look, the others aren’t going to care what you wear, alright? If I thought they’d give a damn that you’re not ‘one of them’,” I noted she didn’t say ‘one of us’, “then I wouldn’t still be friends with them. Oh!” She suddenly turned back to the redhead. I thought I knew all of Nicole’s other friends at least by face, but this girl didn’t register.

“Robin, this is Trina,” she paused with a wicked grin, leaning over to me and whispering in my ear, “Actually, this is Trent.” She smiled knowingly, letting those words sink in before she continued, lowering her voice to a point that even I could barely hear her. “’She’ isn’t like you and Kelly in that she’s still a guy at the end of the day, but damn if she doesn’t make a cute girl.”

I peeked over Nicole’s shoulder, causing the girl to shift her gaze nervously away. I admit I felt more than a little stunned. Had Nicole told her my secret as well? I shifted slightly, looking back at her. As if she had read my mind, Nicole continued, “And before you ask, no, she doesn’t know anything.” She spoke a little closer to a normal tone after this point.

“Apparently Trina’s wanted to go shopping like this for a long time. Her younger sister thought it would be hilarious to out her in front of one of our mutual friends, one thing led to another, and now said friend asked if it would bother us to have her along for our outing tonight.” She rolled her eyes and laughed, “As if!”

By now I had managed to regain my composure. I felt guilty now because the poor thing probably thought my surprise meant that I disapproved, which of course was the farthest thing from the truth! I understood only TOO well how she felt, except for that ‘still a guy’ thing. I smiled warmly as I approached her, offering my hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Trina.”

She trembled in her two-inch heeled boots as she took my hand and shook it. I couldn’t tell her the truth of my past, having only just met, but I could try and compromise. I stepped closer and gave her a hug.

“I’m sorry if I seemed apprehensive at first. I was just surprised. It’s okay to like dressing like a girl. It’s fun being a girl, even if it’s just once in awhile.” I giggled a little. She cracked a smile as she spoke in a soft, practiced tone. Admittedly her voice fell a little on the mannish side, but not enough to really read her as the second coming of Barry White or anything.

“Thanks Robin. Your support means a lot.” She smiled shyly and seemed to relax a little. Nicole wrapped an arm around each of us.

“Laura’s waiting downstairs for us. I didn’t want to invade your personal space too badly, but I wanted you to meet Trina because I wanted her to know she has your support as much as mine.” She tilted her head away from Trina to smile and wink at me, then turned to drag us both out by the arm.

I grabbed my white handbag, mostly because I still hadn’t had time to move everything over to something that wouldn’t clash so strongly with either my sweater or the present company’s love of all things dark, and followed them down, to where this Laura person had been waiting.

Unlike Nicole and Trina, Laura’s attire, and apparently attitude, seemed far more casual with a dark t-shirt and black jeans, and a cute pleather jacket. Her hair hung in the cutest tight, dark brown ringlets. She stood as we entered the living room, offering her hand.

“Hi Robin. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Hi there,” I offered in return as we shook hands. “I’ll probably end up saying this again later tonight when we’re all together, but I’m sorry if I seemed distant toward you guys in the past. It’s just, you all and Nikki seem to share a different kind of friendship, and I didn’t want to intrude.”

She stared at me for a moment or two, and finally smiled, rolling her shoulders. “Nikki’s right. You really are a girl scout.” She grinned teasingly, adding, “Just kidding. Really, it’s kind of awkward for us too because we all used to be Jason’s friends. After that crap he pulled with you though…” She trailed off, but Nicole continued immediately.

“After the ass attacked you, they dropped him like a hot potato.”

I couldn’t help noticing Trina growing increasingly uncomfortable with the subject of Jason. When I glanced over at her, her gaze immediately shot straight down. She started chewing her lower lip.

“I’m sorry about that.” She spoke in a quivering tone. “I overheard him talking about wanting to get back at you, but I thought he was just being Jason. Y’know, the guy’s a jerk, but he’s never been really violent before. If I knew what he was planning I would’ve warned you guys.”

Nicole glanced between the three of us. She seemed as stunned as I felt at this unexpected revelation. An unsettling silence fell over the room. I finally shook my head.

“Don’t blame yourself. Like you said, the guy’s a jerk. You can’t let what you didn’t know dictate your life any more than I can. If I’d known he was going to attack me I would’ve tried to keep my self-control a little more tightly. No more blaming yourself, okay?” I smiled, trying not to sound chastising.

Trina had enough on her mind with her first real outing as a girl. I still remember how unbearably scared I felt when I had been taken to the hospital as ‘Robin’ that first day. In a way I envied Trina at least having some control over these circumstances by traveling with supportive friends, but on the other hand, her sister’s prank must have been heart-wrenching.

A short drive and some minor chit-chat along the way later we arrived at the Alpine Springs mall. Nicole and I had both taken summer jobs here after Mom recovered enough to move to Alpine Springs, but since school started, we had only made a few token visits. Not much had changed, though I noticed some subtle differences, aside from the Halloween decorations everywhere, of course.

“Where are we meeting the others?” I asked as we passed a jewelry counter set up in the center of the walkway. A gorgeous Celtic knotwork ring caught my attention, and I just had to stop and look at it.

“They should be around here somewhere,” Laura responded.

I felt Nicole’s arm around my waist a moment later and giggled. “Don’t mind me. I just find these knotwork styles really pretty. I keep the friendship bracelet Jen gave me in a safe place so I can wear it at camp next year.”

The old woman running the booth smiled at us as she turned to approach. “That’s sterling silver, too. My husband used to be a silversmith in our younger years. It’s a dying art, but we still have a few connections.”

“Probably too rich for my blood,” I offered with a giggle, “But they’re still very pretty.”

A few minutes passed before Nicole’s other friend, Mark arrived. Mark stood at about five feet seven inches with long, jet black hair. The oversized black trench coat looked a little goofy on him, but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“You look adorable,” she whispered, stepping back again. Mark smiled uneasily. Trina’s transformation, if only a temporary one, had left the poor guy floating in a sea of estrogen, but he at least didn’t give her a hard time about it. I had to admit, whoever had done Trina’s makeup really knew what they were doing.

Laura motioned a hand toward me as she spoke. “Guys, you all know about Robin. We’ve already talked about Jason and everything, so everything’s okay.”

Mark nodded as he turned to me. “I don’t know much about girls liking girls or any of that, but Jason went way too far. Him and his little crackhead buddy can go stick their bits in a golf ball polisher for all the rest of us care.”

I had to giggle at his comment, but smiled just the same. “Thanks. I told Laura and Trina earlier, but the reason I never let Nikki introduce us before is because I didn’t want to intrude. I mean, I’m this straight-laced Girl Scout homecoming royal. It’s not that I look down on anyone else. Totally the opposite. I was worried about you all thinking I would, if… that makes any sense.”

“I can totally empathize actually,” Trina offered as we turned to head further into the mall. “I never told anyone about ‘Trina’ because I was worried about what others would think. Then my bratty little sister dropped the bomb on Laura.”

Laura giggled, which to my surprise, caused the entire group to stare at her. Nicole finally broke the awkward silence that had followed. “Laura, sweetheart, are you high?”

Laura smiled, shaking her head. “No. Why?”

Mark chuckled. “Because that’s the only time you ever giggle like that… Or at all, ever.”

I wondered if she’d be blushing, if she hadn’t worn makeup to make herself look even paler. She rolled her shoulders. “Oh shut up. I just think it’s nice that Trina’s being honest with herself.”

I had my own suspicions, but decided not to say anything. As we neared the music store where Nicole had worked over the summer, I glanced over. “Hey, do you mind if I look around for a second?”

“Actually I need to pee anyway,” Nicole unceremoniously announced, then added, “One of the benefits of knowing the manager – I get to use their employee bathroom even though I don’t work here anymore.” She winked. I couldn’t help giggling a little as we stepped inside, though not for the reason I’m sure they thought. This was the perfect opportunity!

I waited for Nicole to disappear into the back before I turned back to the others. “Okay, while she’s occupied, I need you guys’ help with something.”

Laura’s eyebrows rose slightly, and she giggled, speaking first. “You’ve been hanging around Nikki too long. I KNOW that look. So what are you plotting?”

“Weeell, have you ever seen the movie ‘Grease’? This guy Danny tries to impress the preppy foreign exchange student by becoming a jock, and at the end of the movie, she shocks him by getting herself made over to look like a biker chick. I’ve been thinking a lot about how many labels have been put on me since I moved here.

“I’m apparently a valley girl – even though I’m really from the Bay area. I’m also technically a jock now too, and lesbian, and homecoming princess … honestly, I’m tired of it the stupid labels. I want to do something for Nikki that no one would ever expect from me.” I grinned. Trina grinned too. She, of all people at least, had a better perspective to see exactly what I had in mind.

“Being a Goth girl is fun,” she twisted my earlier comment, grinning broadly, “Even if it’s only once in awhile.”

I had to giggle outright, nodding. “I want to make Nikki’s birthday absolutely perfect.”

Laura cackled, which again drew uneasy glances Mark. “You’re shorter than me, but I have quite a few things I think would fit you. Tonight, during the movie I’ll slip you my address. Come over tomorrow afternoon and I’ll teach you more than you ever wanted to know about Goth style and fashion.”

“I think I’ve created a monster,” I giggled, causing her to stick her tongue out at me. Trina and Mark both laughed, and Trina started to speak up, but Nicole returned, cutting it short.

“Find what you were looking for?” she asked as she wrapped an arm around my waist. I grinned at the others. “Yeah. I’ll pick it up tomorrow though. I don’t want to spoil the surprise.” I winked at her, causing her to giggle. Okay, so I had originally wanted to come in and find a Heedless Despair poster for the band to sign for Nicole, but this was even better!

During the movie, some new slasher film Hollywood remake, Laura, Trina and Mark sat a row behind Nicole and me. At one point I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. Nicole’s attention was so focused on the movie that she didn’t notice as I turned back to receive a neatly folded note. I couldn’t help noticing as well, that Laura was holding Trina’s hand now, at least partially confirming my earlier suspicion.

As Nicole and I sat in the back of the Morgans’ Lexus enroute to my house, I couldn’t help smiling at her. She’d dozed off with her head on my shoulder, a positively adorable grin on her face. Gina seemed to notice as well, but didn’t say anything. I caught sight of a smile in her reflection in the rear-view mirror, though.

As we pulled into the drive, Nicole yawned, smiling up at me, and unbuckling her seatbelt as I did mine. After stepping out, she walked me to the front door where we hugged, and I kissed her good night.

“Thanks for tonight. I had a lot of fun. The others never really wanted to hang out outside school.”

I giggled. “I had fun too, and I think you’re going to see a lot more of Trina in the future.”

“You think so? I know she said she still sees herself as a guy, but she smiled a lot.”

“Yeah, I think Laura had something to do with that though. From the way you guys talked she sounded like she didn’t smile a lot, but there was some serious chemistry going on between those two.”

She laughed as she nodded. “Laura is the proverbial ice queen. I spent the afternoon with her and Trina and I still can’t believe the difference. She’s … was, kind of like me before I met you. Anyway, Mom’s waiting. G’night cutie.” She grinned.

“Sweet dreams, vampire.” I teased, giving her one last, soft kiss before she reluctantly pulled away, walking back to her Mom’s car. Meanwhile I turned to head inside.

Sunday morning passed relatively uneventfully, at least so far as I could tell. I overslept again and didn’t exactly become a part of the ‘morning’ until somewhere around ten. Sunday afternoon however, was quite an eventful occasion for me. As it turned out, Laura lived in a gated community across town.

She didn’t exactly live in the lap of luxury like the Morgans, but their condo was certainly very upscale. I had to show the security guard at the gate the note she’d given me the night before as well as my school identification just to get to the parking area.

“Hi Robin,” Laura spoke mostly neutrally, though I could still hear a hint of cheer in her voice, as she opened the door. “I hope it’s okay that I invited Trina over too.” She added, slightly more uneasily. I giggled a little.

“Laura, it’s okay. I saw you two holding hands last night. And you know Nikki and I are going steady. Trina is a nice person, whether she chooses to be Trina or Trent.”

She smiled genuinely at that. “It’s just weird for me. Trent and I have been friends for like, ever, but seeing him like this is … kind of a turn-on.” She giggled. “Whatever he… or she… decides to do, I want to be supportive, but I can’t deny that I find the whole thing a little attractive too. But it’s not like I like girls normally, either. That’s what so weird about it. Err, anyway. Sorry. C’mon, I’ve got a ton of stuff for you to try on.”

She led me inside, past the kitchen where a pair of sandy-haired twin boys that looked to be about ten or twelve busily made themselves a sandwich each. She paused long enough to motion to the two. “These are my brothers, Chris and AJ. Boys,” she emphasized the word ‘boys’, causing them to scowl in unison at her, “This’ Robin.”

One of the two looked me up and down, and shrugged. “She doesn’t look like a … what did she call her?”

He turned to his brother, who replied casually, “Preppie valley girl.”

Laura’s jaw dropped as I glanced back at her expectantly. She sighed. “… Back when Nikki first told us you guys were dating at the beginning of school, I bought into Brittany’s trash-talk. I made a casual comment about it, but that was before Nikki actually opened up about how you guys met.”

I smiled a little. “It’s fine. Brittany’s … one of a kind.”

“Thank God for small miracles?” she teased, motioning toward the stairs. I laughed as I followed her up to her room.

Her bedroom exceeded expectations of someone who, according to her friends, held a mild obsession with the macabre. Not just posters of hot bands, but of ravens, graveyard landscapes, and the all important token blacklight posters. CD cases sat in a neat stack nearly as tall as me in one corner of the room.

Trina had stretched out on the black silk comforter with her arms behind her head, apparently waiting for us, dressed in sharp contrast to the casual attire she’d worn the night before. She looked positively gorgeous. The long-sleeved, scoop neck black velvet dress she wore under a heavy leather corset looked like it had been tailor-made for her. She grinned as she hopped up off the bed to hug me.

“Robin! I just want to thank you again for last night. Without your and Nikki’s acceptance I was ready to back out, but now…” she paused, grinning at Laura. “Well, I don’t know what the future holds, but I think I like it. I still stand by my ‘I’m still a guy’ thing, but it still feels so good not having to hide my feminine side anymore either.”

Over the next couple of hours I, and I suspect Trina as well, had a whole new world opened up to us. Laura explained, and pulled examples from her closet to show, every facet and subtext of ‘Goth’ imaginable, from the ‘Romantigoth’ and EGL to industrial and old-school punk.

After much discussion on the matter, comparing Nicole’s and my personal tastes and interests, we settled on Romantigoth for me. Romantigoth was one of those things that varied from person to person, but at the same time that made nailing down what it meant for me all the more special for Nicole’s surprise.

The three of us delved deeply into Laura’s walk-in closet searching for the perfect dress. None of us knew exactly what we were looking for, but I knew I’d know it when I saw it. And then I saw it. Laura had this gorgeous, dark crimson-trimmed black Victorian style dress, though instead of a flared skirt, it hung closer to the body. Coupled with the plunging neckline and the long, flared peasant top-like sleeve, I instantly fell in love.

“That one!” I giggled, as I pointed it out. Laura glanced over, and Trina positively giggled herself.

“Oh, I can’t believe I forgot about this. I only wore it once to a costume party for my parents’ sake. They forced me to go, but with the caveat that I could at least wear whatever I wanted, so I dressed as Carmilla.”

“Who’s Carmilla?” I asked. She stared blankly at me, as though I had just asked who Ronald Reagan was.

“Carmilla? By Sheridan LeFanu? Joseph Thomas Sheridan LeFanu?” The name didn’t ring any bells. She shook her head slowly. “He was the premiere author of gothic fiction in the 1800s. His work practically shaped the Victorian era’s later offerings. Anyway, Carmilla was a noblewoman vampire who particularly enjoyed preying on young girls.

“They say it was a way of writing lesbian fiction without offending the sensibilities because the woman doing the seducing was herself a monster. Don’t get me wrong though, she fed on men too, but the bulk of the story revolved around her seducing a young girl. It was pretty funny seeing the faces of my dad’s friends every time one of them would compliment me on my costume and ask what I was supposed to be, and I’d answer ‘I’m a lesbian vampire’.”

Trina and I looked at each other, and started laughing uncontrollably. It seemed I really had found the perfect dress. Laura giggled, continuing.

“Let’s see if I have the shoes that go with it. I think they’ll fit you. You can keep this dress if you want it, by the way.” She added almost as an afterthought as she disappeared behind a rack of clothes to look for the aforementioned shoes. I stared, dumbfounded, meanwhile.

“… Seriously?”

“Yes, seriously. I told you, I forgot I even had this thing. Even if you only ever wear it one more time after the party, it will still be one more than I have.”

“Laura? Oh, I didn’t know you had guests,” a short, middle-aged woman with medium length light-brown hair appeared in the doorway. She quickly pulled the door closed again. We had been discussing makeup tips for both myself for the party, and for Trina in general. Laura glanced at the rapidly closing door and called after her. “Hey Mom, wait a minute.”

The door slowly opened again, and the woman gave her daughter a surprised, but welcoming smile. “Yes sweetheart?”

She motioned toward me with a smile. “Can you give Robin a ride home? I’m going to take Trina out to dinner.”

She looked between the three of us, as though wanting to ask why she couldn’t simply drop me off, so I added a moment later, “I still have to get a birthday present for Nikki, plus some last minute prep for her birthday.” I smiled genuinely, hoping she’d leave well enough alone for now.

She nodded. “Certainly dear. Robin, just let me know when you’re ready to leave.”

Laura exhaled slowly. “That was close. I can’t believe I just blurted that out like that.”

I laughed. “Hey, like I said last night, I’m tired of living by labels. You’re you.”

She smiled at that, and to my surprise, leaned over to hug me. “Thanks. I think I needed that. Like I said before, it’s not like I’m attracted to girls normally, but… Anyway.”

Trina nodded as she stood. I watched them awkwardly take each others’ hands and step out. I couldn’t help seeing Nicole’s and my relationship a few chapters back. I gathered the white hat box Laura loaned me to put my new dress in, and headed downstairs. I found her mother in the kitchen cleaning up after the twin terrors’ earlier sandwich excursion. After a few minutes of silence between us, she closed the refrigerator door and sighed, turning to me.

“Robin, can I be honest with you?”

I blinked, but nodded. “Um… Sure.”

“When I first heard about Laura’s friend Nicole dating another girl, it bothered me a little, but I put it out of my mind. ‘It’s not my daughter, so it’s not my business’, I thought.” I could see where this was going, and I didn’t like it, but I decided to hear her out. “Now though, Laura suddenly brings home this girl I’ve never seen before, and … well, I haven’t seen her genuinely smile like that in a long time.

“She’s been so depressed that even her friend Trent couldn’t pull her out of it. I just don’t know what to think. Am I a terrible person for worrying about Nicole um… ‘rubbing off’ on her like that?” She frowned.

I sat down at the breakfast bar that divided the kitchen from the dining room, considering how I could set her mind at ease without betraying Trina’s trust.

“Well… To start with, I have to be honest with you. I’m ‘that girl’ Nikki’s dating. We’ve been going steady for a few months now.”

Her cheeks shifted through several hues of red, and she sheepishly lowered her gaze. I offered a smile as I stood and walked around the bar to give her a hug. “No, don’t take it badly. I’m getting used to people’s preconceived notions about this sort of thing. My own step-sister’s real mom had some nasty things to say before she actually met me. The thing is, the boy Nikki was dating before… One of Laura’s former friends, Jason? He was a real jerk. I don’t know if you know this or not, but he attacked me at school a few weeks ago.” That got her attention.

“He what?!”

I nodded. “He and another boy tried to gang up on me as I was leaving cheer tryouts because I humiliated him that morning. It’s a really, really long story that I don’t really want to get into, but basically, everyone I’ve talked to who knew Nikki before we started dating says she’s a much brighter, much happier person now. Now that said, I’m not saying your daughter might be lesbian.

“She’s actually confided in me, of all people, that she isn’t normally attracted to girls at all. Trina is a very special case, and I don’t know if I can violate her trust by telling you why that is. I just have to ask that you trust your daughter, and think of her happiness. Would you prefer she date a person who makes her smile, or someone like Nikki’s last boyfriend? And… I should also mention that unlike Laura, Nikki’s admitted several times that she’s known she likes girls for a long time now as well.”

She stared at me silently for a long, awkward moment, and finally sighed. “I suppose you’re right. I don’t know how I’m going to tell her father though.”

“Why not show him instead? I mean, let him see the difference Trina’s already had on her. Her friends were shocked last night that she was actually smiling and laughing. I only just met her, but I’ve seen that kind of change before in Nikki, before and after we started dating. This really isn’t as big an issue as it seems, but I made a promise to support Trina. If I thought for even a moment that Laura was in any danger, you’d be the first person to know.”

“Thank you, Robin,” she offered more gently this time as she smiled. “You’re a great kid. I just want what’s best for Laura. I eventually do want grandchildren too,” she chuckled. I grinned.

“Trust me, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem. Thank you for giving me a ride home by the way,” I added, quickly changing the subject. “Laura actually gave me one of her dresses to wear as a surprise for Nikki’s party.”

By Tuesday afternoon, everyone knew about Nicole’s party. I had a number of people asking what the big surprise was, and I had to give the same answer every time. “It’s a surprise. You’ll find out when Nikki does.”

Immediately after school, we all met at Allison’s for a private pre-party party. All except me, at least. Under the guise of getting her present, I returned to my house to get ready while Allison, Jennifer, Chelsea and Maria kept her occupied down in the den.

I had just stepped into my ‘Carmilla’ dress and stood at the floor-length mirror that hung from the inside of my closet. I fiddled and tugged, adjusted and shifted until everything hung just right. The dress showed more cleavage than I honestly felt comfortable with, but with it being only this one night and a special occasion I convinced myself it would be okay just this once.

“Wow, Robin you look amazing!” Margie giggled, placing a hand on my bare shoulder. I spun around and curtseyed playfully.

“You’ll never catch me in anything this… exposed again, but it’s so worth it to see the look on Nikki’s face.”

“That is an awful lot of exposed skin for a girl your age, but it could be worse. The lace on the bodice looks like whoever made it wanted to intentionally provide a little extra modesty without looking like they were doing so. It’s actually kind of clever.”

I had to giggle. “You sound like Aunt Jane. I never new artistry ran in your side of the family, but it kind of makes sense now, with your hands-on approach to running Touch of Style.”

She smiled proudly as she nodded. “Want some help with your hair?”

By the time we had finished, I looked absolutely nothing like my former self. We put my hair up in loose ringlets, tying some back into a ponytail with wide, dark red ribbon, while framing my face with my more tightly curled bangs. For my makeup, we accentuated my already naturally light skin with heavy, dark eye makeup and lipstick, finishing off with matched nail polish.

“How do I look?” I asked Margie as I stood to face her. She giggled. “There’s just one thing missing.” She disappeared into the hallway, presumably heading for her bedroom. “Okay, sit at your vanity and close your eyes,” she insisted as she returned.

For the next few seconds I could feel her removing the silver stud earrings I had been wearing, replacing them with something that had much more weight, then something cold and metallic settling just above my breasts. I opened my eyes to find a matched set of silver ankh earrings and a pendant hanging from a chain about my neck. I giggled as I stood to hug her.

“They’re perfect! Where did you get these?”

She laughed. “The short answer is, costume party back in college. I’ll give you the long version another time, but right now Nikki’s probably starting to worry about where you’ve gone.”

“Yeah, no doubt. Oh! Almost forgot this,” I added, reaching for the box-shaped brightly-wrapped parcel. After hugging Margie, to furious giggles from the both of us at knowing what really lay beneath the wrapping paper, I made my way downstairs, across the lawns, and into the Joneses’ house. Kelly had just come downstairs as I neared the basement. She smiled warmly.

“Hi there. You must be one of Nikki’s friends. Everyone’s down in the den I think.” She casually nodded toward the basement stairs. I giggled.

“Kelly? It’s me.”

She blinked several times, moving in for a closer inspection. “Oh my God… Robin?!”

I nodded, giggling. “I’m giving ‘myself’ for Nikki’s birthday, so to speak. If you want to see her reaction go on down. Just tell her I sent you to let her know I’d be right down.”

I watched as Allison’s giggly older sister practically bounded down the stairs. I hadn’t seen her this excited about anything in … well, ever. I waited around for a few more seconds for dramatic effect, then pushed the basement door open.

I could clearly hear strains of Heedless Despair’s latest album echoing from below as I stepped onto the stairs. The music suddenly shut off, and the heavy stiletto boots Laura gave me to wear with the dress resounded loudly. I could hear a whispered “Ohmygawd” from Nicole as my boots and the bottom half of my dress became visible beyond the stairs, but it was nothing compared to her reaction when I appeared.

Standing there, dressed every bit the Gothic Birthday Princess in a flowing, dark purple-and-black gown, she frowned, turning back to the others. “False alarm. It’s just Laura. Who else did you guys invite anyway?”

I walked right up behind her, tapping her on the shoulder. When she spun back around, I grinned. “It is me, you goof. Laura’s like, two inches taller than me.” I giggled.

Her mouth fell open and she stared in stunned silence. Allison, Jennifer and Kelly giggled, but Maria and Chelsea joined Nicole in that stunned silence. I ‘d forgotten that neither of them actually saw me in my ‘Carmilla’ dress until now.

“Oh my God!” Nikki squealed as she hugged me tightly. A flood of tears poured down her cheeks. “Robin, I… Wow!” she stammered.

“Happy Birthday Nikki. Laura DID give me this dress so you were half-right, but I wanted to make this night perfect for you, so this is just the start.”

“You guys…” she sniffed, wiping her eyes with her hand. “Robin, you didn’t have to do all this. Thank you so much.” It took her until now to notice I still held a brightly wrapped box. I offered it to her with a broad, innocent smile, which with my heavy makeup probably looked as mischievous as Shadow’s.

I watched as she tore open the paper, and a round of giggles echoed at her puzzled expression as she found a cracker box inside.

“… Sorry. I’ve been hanging around you and Ally too long. Look inside.”

She carefully opened the box and peeked inside. “There’s… What is… Oh my Gawd.” She carefully pulled the signed comic book from its box, shifting her gaze from it to me in utter confusion.

“How… How did you know?”

“I didn’t. Nikki, I’ve been following this comic book since like, July. I first noticed the characters kind of looked like us, and went and tracked down all the old issues. A couple of days ago, Margie told me the anonymous author dropped two of these off.”

Allison giggled as she came over to wrap us both in a hug. “I’ve wanted to tell you both that you were overreacting on not wanting to tell each other for awhile now, but you both vehemently made me swear not to say anything.”We both turned to stare at her. “No, I’m not the author before you ask.” She grinned.

I turned back to Nicole, and she to me, and we both muttered a united ‘I’m sorry’, followed by another round of giggles.

“I didn’t want you to know because comics seemed like such a ‘guy’ thing,” I offered, smiling sheepishly.

Nicole laughed. “Seriously? I was afraid to tell you because up until the June issue, it’s been predominantly about Raven Wing, telling the story from her perspective as a villain. But I gotta say I like the way the author’s taken the story and shifted it. Have you read this one yet?”

“Yes! It is amazing, but I won’t ruin it for you. Trust me though, the last panel will leave you scratching your head. Something’s going on with Raven Wing mentally. Psychic Strike REALLY did a number on her.”

Maria rolled her eyes and laughed. “Jeeze, you two. I’m gonna have to borrow a copy of these things now. You make it sound really awesome.”

Although barely after five, we started for the hotel under the guise of heading to the ‘real’ party at Chelsea’s. Nikki started giving me strange looks when Carol pulled her SUV into the hotel parking lot, followed closely by Chelsea and Maria, and Mom and Margie. I wished Aunt Jane could’ve seen this.

Many, many other kids were already arriving, as well as a handful of reporters. I recognized Tina Gale among them, but there was no way she’d recognize me in this outfit. I did get quite a few stares, and a few giggles though, as people saw me holding Nicole’s hand as we entered, and put two and two together.

“Robin? What’s going on? I thought we were going to Chelsea’s?” I just grinned at her, giving her hand a light squeeze. I stopped outside the conference hall and turned back to her.

“I just want to say upfront, that this was all Ally’s doing. Jen and I helped her plan it, but she instigated the whole thing.” I pushed the door open, leading her inside. Beyond the door, a makeshift dance floor had been set up, black and purple balloons and matched decorations hung throughout the hall, and over the stage, a huge banner hung that read “Happy Sweet Sixteen, Nikki!”

She stared in awe as we gathered around her, and turned to hug each of us. I got an extra special girlfriend-only kiss as well, which admittedly made me giggle.

“You guys… Thank you so much!”

We moved away from the door as more and more people arrived. I couldn’t believe we managed to keep the big surprise a secret for how many people didn’t personally know any of us. I wasn’t complaining, though. With leaked rumors of a big name band performing, even if at this point we’d managed to contain it to JUST look like a bunch of rumors, it was to be expected.

Just as things seemed to finally be settling down, the lights dimmed and a familiar, blue hue cast on the stage. All eyes turned toward the tall figure shrouded and obscured in black cloth. A slow mist began to roll over the stage as the figure lifted a delicate, pale hand. Practically half the auditorium screamed in unison as the lights went out, a bright flash of red light exploded at our feet, and smoke billowed up. This had to be the cue we were waiting for.

In the confusion, the three of us made our escape. I felt kind of guilty abandoning Nicole in the chaos, but the lights had at least returned to reveal our mysterious disappearance now.

We, meanwhile, had run off backstage, where Heedless Despair waited, holding our costumes. We each quickly stepped into our black shrouds, and awaited our cue.

A long, loud, ear-shattering cackle followed from beyond the curtain.

“Come, my minions!” Scarlet threw back her hood, casting her robe aside. The crowd exploded into screams of adoration. The three of us, shrouded in our formless hooded robes, stepped onto the stage. For now, the band's instruments lay hidden safely behind a false curtain directly behind us.

She turned to us, then pointed a long, slender finger at Nicole. “Prepare the supplicant for ascension!” She hissed. The wireless microphone I dared not guess where she’d hidden sent her command throughout the sound system.

We walked slowly to the edge of the stage as ominous organ music played softly, the thickening fog rolling over the edges at our feet. As we descended the stairs, the crowd around Nicole backed away, watching as Jennifer and I each took an arm. Allison held up one hand and beckoned, not so much for Nicole to follow, but for us to lead her.

As we pulled her along and up the stairs, Demona appeared stage-left. She folded her arms and watched the spectacle with an amused smirk.

“Can I have this one? She’s awfully cute…”

“No, fool!” Scarlet snapped back. “This is the one that captured Shadowfang’s curiosity. Speaking of which, where are those two hiding. SHADOW, SOLACE!” She screeched.

I started to reach for my hood, pretending to be one of the two band members. Nicole turned to stare at me in surprise, which made the fiery explosion that revealed Solace’s appearance from the opposite side of the stage all the better.

She pantomimed a yawn, glowering at Scarlet, and with a tug, pulled away the curtain to reveal not only her drums, but also Demona’s and Shadow’s instruments, which I admit I had never seen before now.

Demona’s guitar body looked like a macabre, gothic depiction of a goat’s head, and Shadow’s, a bat’s wing. With no sign of Shadow though, we knew what to do next.

As Demona took up her guitar, and Solace took her place at her drums, Scarlet watched silently as we led Nicole to the bass. Allison knelt and picked up the instrument, turning back as Jennifer and I let go of her, and draping the strap around her neck. We then stepped off to the side, putting our hands together and burying them within the sleeves of our robes like good little ‘minions’.

“Since Shadowfang has decided not to join us, for which I shall … deal with her later … You may join us in her stead. I assume you know how to use that thing.” She nodded toward Nicole, waiting expectantly for an answer.

While it took Nicole a few seconds to really shake the cobwebs after being completely blindsided by what just happened, she stared down at the bass in her hands, and grinned like a great white.

“Err, yes, of course, O Queen of dark magic, thank you. You won’t regret this!”

Solace leaned to one side, whispering just below a stage whisper so Nicole could hear, without alerting the crowd, “Undeath’s a Bitch in ‘B’!”

She shot the living dolly drummer a knowing grin and nodded, and at the run-up, began to play. I’d seen Nicole play many times before, but never with such passion as she did during the Intro to that song. Throughout the song Demona would come and stand behind her, matching riffs with her, or Nicole would spin in a circle, Demona following.

Halfway through the second song though, the lights began to dim, and the blue hue returned. Scarlet abruptly stopped singing, pretending to be confused by the sudden shift, even as the other three kept playing.

At the part in the song where there would normally be just one bass playing an incredibly fast rhythm, the sounds of a second bass in compliment to the first could be heard.

As the lights slowly rose again, Shadowfang stepped onto the stage holding a brand new bass modeled after those old hexagonal caskets. As she played, she approached Nicole, who hadn’t noticed her yet. She abruptly jumped when she turned to find herself face to face with her idol.

Shadow grinned, hissing, “Hi there.”

Scarlet cackled in that fiendish, wicked-witch way as the music stopped. “Shadow, this is the girl we were told about.”

As Shadow sized Nicole up, walking around her slowly, the three of us took advantage of the confusion to sneak off-stage and out of our borrowed robes. We walked back into the audience. Nicole turned as Shadow circled her, each eyeing the other. Finally, Shadow smiled, a dark and creepy expression that, had I not met them already, would have given me chills.

“So you are the one. Well, let’s just see if you’re worthy! Hit it, Solace!” She shouted, and a the drummer struck up a new, faster beat.

Shadow strolled across the stage and turned back to face Nicole, starting a solid bass rhythm for Nicole to play to. Nicole matched her, and then bested her with a more complex riff. Shadow smirked, matching the rhythm, and adding more complexity still.

The back and forth continued for a full minute, until finally, Scarlet held up both hands. “Enough! Demona, what do you think?”

Demona Rose smiled an impish smile. “I think she’s awfully cute.” The crowd giggled as Nicole blushed deeply.

“You know what I mean!” Scarlet scolded.

She giggled menacingly. “I would call it a draw. What do you think, O Dark one?” She deferred the question back to Scarlet, who nodded.

“I agree. Nicole Morgan, Shadowfang, step forward.” Nicole slowly approached. Shadowfang, turning to hand off her bass to a waiting Demona, approached as Scarlet placed her hands on Nicole's shoulders, grinning wickedly at her. “You have matched the creature Shadowfang at her own game. Your reward is your continued existence, and this…” she motioned to the bass, with a grin.

I could only assume that on that cue, someone backstage shut off her microphone temporarily because she leaned over and whispered something to her that none of us could hear. Nicole’s eyes widened. A moment later, she turned to Shadow who also whispered something to her. Nicole grinned broadly, turning to race off-stage even as Shadow retrieved her Casket bass.

Unable to resist temptation, I left the others behind, heading backstage myself, where I found Rita carefully placing Nicole’s new bass into its custom carrying case. She looked like she’d been crying again, which wasn’t surprising in the least given all that had just transpired.

The moment Nicole saw me, she came running, very nearly knocking me over as she hugged and kissed me. I laughed as I held her close. “Happy birthday Nikki.”

“I love you so much,” she sobbed in response.

Rita grinned as she approached, setting the case beside us. “I done told ‘er you was by her side da whole time. I hope you don’t mind me spoilin’ dat surprise, but she was worried ‘bout where you disappeared, dat you might not seen what was happenin’.”

“When Shadow asked me why we were going to all this trouble for someone’s sweet sixteen, I told her it’s because you deserved it. You haven’t had an easy life, Nikki, and we all know that. We wanted this to be the best day of your life.”

Still crying, she nuzzled into my bare shoulder, clinging tightly to me. “Robin… Every day is a best day ever when we’re together. Thank you so, so much though. I can never make this up to you.”

“You don’t have to make this up to us. Just continue being you. C’mon. Let’s go catch the rest of the show.” I smiled at her, and, without letting go carefully led her back out to the audience.

Once in a lifetime experiences seemed to just find their way to us. A lot of bad things happened to us, and to me, but the good things far, far outweighed them, and now I could say I helped to contribute to another very positive memory for a very deserving young woman.

Even if Nicole and I didn’t stay together, for some unforeseen future reason, we would always be best friends, though from where I stood that day, wild horses couldn’t separate us.

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