Chapter 40

Faye was frying potatoes in bacon with onions and heating the oven,
The eggs and zucchini were ready and the bread was ready to go into
the toaster.

Bobbie woke up sweaty. And her hands were... engaged. She looked around,
touched her ample breasts, and relished her own touch. Rolling out of
bed, she grabbed another pair of the frilly panties Faye wore so
often, and grabbed a shirt that barely covered her chest, the bottom
of the shirt dangling in the two tails meant to be tied together.
Bobbie tied a hasty knot. She moved out into the living room.

"Smells tits, what is it?"

"Bacon frittata. You want to explain why I know that and you don't?"
Faye looked at Bobbie, shrugged. "And you're doing your own laundry. I
have to leave soon. You going to be okay here?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure I can entertain myself."

Faye hummed. She put some of the baked omelet on a plate and handed it
to Bobbie.

"Thanks, but coffee first."

Faye handed her a mug. Bobbie sipped, frowned, and added more sugar.

Faye ate in silence. This is going to be fun. Even the voice in her
head couldn't help but sound facetious.

****

Faye got out of the car at Shear Ecstasy, there was some noise by the
Curious Cabinet. Some of the skate punks were whooping and hollering
at her, the smarter ones were rubbing themselves against the corner of
the building. Ugh. Minus one d twenty for intelligence.

She walked in to see the woman who obviously Frankie.

"Hi, Bobbie, ready? You've had a rough month. I hear what people are
saying. I don't believe it. You're too sweet for something like that."

Faye said. "You have no idea. I was wondering if we could do a little
something extra...

***

Faye had the music in the Evo playing. It was a little too loud, but a
quick adjustment of the volume fixed that. She pulled into the
Freddie's and parked far from the store due to the lack of parking.
How does that girl get around without a car?

She had a cart and was weaving through the other customers. Soon she
had the eggs, chicken, and cheese. Ducking into the baking aisle, she
reached for the flour and saw a slender arm reach out for the same
bag. Faye locked eyes with Tim.

A gasp. "Bobbie. Your hair."

Shit, Tim. Faye looked at him, daring him to say something else.

"Bobbie, I.. I..."

"You what?" She smacked him on the head.

"Ow!"

"No, hold your head like this." She made to smack him again.

Tim smiled. Faye didn't.

"Look, Roxx? Seriously?... You think I even want to see you right
now?"

"It wasn't like that at all," Tim blurted. "She was there, and she was
just..." Tim started to tear up. "I told her no." His voice cracked. "It
was weird."

"I miss you." He looked away, hoping to reabsorb the moisture.

Faye rolled her eyes. She'd heard it all in the past year, but she'd
never seen crying used in this way before. Boys, geez. "Look, this
isn't a good time, really. I can't miss you if you don't go away, can
I?"

Tim grabbed the flour he was reaching for.

"Sorry, Bobbie." He lowered his voice. "I'm so sorry."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm sure. I'm also sure that I'll stop missing you after
I take a couple of warning shots. I've got to go."

Faye spun the cart around. "Tim," Faye said. She removed Bobbie's
necklace and put it in his hand. "Seriously, I'm going to need time."
She pushed the cart away quickly. She didn't see him grip the charm in
his hand.

Put his hand to his face.

And sob. Right over the flour in his lap.

She was in the checkout when the cashier looked at her too long.
"Angel, alright." He winked creepily. Faye paid the total and left,
piling the groceries into the car. She saw Tim leave the store from
the tinted windshield. He was still crying.

Oh, Faye realized, so it's not an act?

What's Bobbie gonna do? That moment slammed the realization that she
was Bobbie home.

What am I gonna do? FUCK! She honked the horn, irritated. Faye looked
up as Tim looked toward the EVO. She started the car and did her best
Tokyo Drift to get away.

Chapter 41

Faye returned home, ready to start packing Bobbie for the shoot. She
was three steps in the door when Bobbie shrieked.

"What did you do to my hair?"

"What," Faye said, grabbing at the blue peek a boo that imbued her
right side. "It's blue, works great with your eyes. Frankie approved..."

"I didn't. Dammit, Faye."

"Hey, I don't know how long I'm in here. I can decorate the walls a
little."

"Besides-" She turned her head back and forth. "I think it's hot."

Bobbie had to agree, she still would have liked to have a say in the
matter.

Faye made some sandwiches with the leftover meatloaf and went to pack
her suitcase for Bobbie's weekend at Mt. Forbes.

"I saw Tim at the store."

"That's nice." Bobbie flung her hand up nonchalantly. "Screw him.
After..."

Faye cut her off. "I don't think that you know the whole story. He was
crying for fuck's sake."

"He does that, still don't know why."

Faye was folding and moving things in the suitcase. Satisfied that she
could pack no more and had everything, she closed the hard sided
luggage and zipped it shut.

Nick didn't return home for dinner. He sent a text straight to
Bobbie's phone:

Sav me dnr, pls :)

Faye looked at the phone. "Okay. I think we are almost ready. You, my
dear, need to turn in early. Rach will probably make you drive, at
least part of the way."

Bobbie looked at Faye. "I... don't know how to ."

Faye shook her head, the blue streak moving like a water spout.
"Fucking great. Just tell her you're sick or something. I don't know,
cramps?"

Bobbie ran a hand through her hair. This is gonna be a long weekend.

Faye and Bobbie ate leftovers that night while Faye went through the
final checklist.

"Faye, I think I've got this," Bobbie said, hoping that Faye would
stop droning on about the minutiae of her life.

"You better hope so," Faye replied. "I don't want to make a decision
on which body to stab."

They went to bed that night feeling anxious.

Rachel rolled up in the SUV early, the sun was barely breaking over
the horizon when she honked. Bobbie sat up quickly, only to find that
Faye had taken care of the morning caffeine duties. She handed Bobbie
two egg sandwiches wrapped in yellow paper. "Break a leg, Faye."

"Sure thing, Bobbie."

***

Faye watched Bobbie hug Rach and get into the gas guzzler. She waved,
Bobbie and Rach waved back. Remember, It's a rental... She felt the fear
as the vehicle disappeared. Rach, the shoot, anything could go wrong.
Given the last couple of days, anything already had. Looking across
the street, she saw an older woman. Her hair was white, her eyes
clear. She felt rather than saw the ankle give way.

She tumbled to the ground roughly. Faye was across the street in the
space of two breaths.

"You okay, ma'am?" Ma'am?

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks. Could you?.." She raised her hand. Bobbie
helped the woman up. Looking down she saw that the ankle was starting
to swell lightly. The woman hopped on her one good foot for a second.
Faye helped her to a white resin chair.

"That never happens. Getting old I guess."

***

Rachel was singing along with whatever song was on the radio, and it
was terrible. Dogs heads were exploding from as far as fifty feet away
in Bobbie's mind. She tried to tune out the new darknesses NOW IN
COLOR!!. But she couldn't, it was drawing her attention like never
before. The reds, pinks, and greens were richly hued, the shadows
making a ballet of darkness and color. Everyone's was different.
Rachel's was a bundle of streamers, like those found on a children's
bicycle, flapping in the breeze.

"What's wrong, sugar tits?" Rach asked, causing Bobbie to burst out
laughing. She never thought anyone ever said that in real life, only
in reel life. She burst out laughing, causing said tits to bounce up
and down. Rach scrunched up her face, barely paying attention to the
scant traffic. Faye had never laughed like that, her movements
strange. Faye covered her mouth as she tried to get some composure.
"Jeez, Fay-fay, blunts for breakfast? What did Bobbie put in that
sandwich?" She eyed the other, paper wrapped package. There was no
reason for Faye to laugh like that. 'Sugar tits' had faded into the
private slang they used when alone.

"Must be tired, I guess," Bobbie said, stifling titters. "I'm just
gonna get some sleep."

"Okay," Rach took her right hand off of the steering wheel and touched
the back of her girlfriend's neck. Bobbie shivered.

"You need a blanket, babe?" Rach smiled.

"No, I'm fine," Bobbie said. Curling herself into a semi ball. It was
quick, Bobbie drifting off to sleep by the subtle rocking and swaying
of the car.

Bobbie sighed. I'm never gonna figure this out...

Rachel looked over at the girl that got into her heart. This crazy
girl that used to be a guy. Almost no sign of guy left in her now. She
spied Faye's sleeping form. Rach admired the lines and curves of her
body. She could see Michaelangelo's and Donatello's unmistakable
influences, but something more.

A heart. It was hard for Rach to believe that Faye had ever been a
guy. From the moment she'd run her old bike into her in the middle of
the path, she was smitten. Now, Faye was hers.

Being with Faye was different, Rach mused. There were more than enough
boys who had tried to make a run at her. Yuck! But, she had always
known that she wasn't interested in them. She didn't want to be her
mother, some trophy wife who sold pottery at street fairs. The idea of
being like her father caused a full body shudder, there's more to life
than money.

Faye was her ticket out, her chance to be something different.

And, after this weekend, she'll know how different.

The bouncy vehicle changed lanes to exit the freeway. Mt. Forbes crept
across the windshield from the right, the midday sun slowly creeping
behind the craggy peak.

***

June laughed. "My husband was drunk, and he grabbed me and jumped in
the pool," Faye laughed. "Ruined my makeup," She took another bite of
the oatmeal cookie. "These remind me of my grandmother's. You know,
Bobbie. I like you, you're not like the other people, here on this
block."

June got up and headed for the house. "I'm going to a doctor's
appointment. I would have been late if you hadn't been there to make
sure I was okay. Nice to see kids helping people these days."

Faye smiled. "Just lucky, I guess," She felt a warmth, a fuzziness.
Her usually hardened core, molten, like perfect caramel. "You going to
be okay?"

June waved. "Yes, yes. Before you go, though. One question."

"Sure."

"What's with the blue hair?" She chortled. "I swear, you kids today
and your hip hop..."

Faye grabbed at the blue strands. "Brings out my eyes."

"Well, it does that," June laughed. "You have a nice day."

Faye went back to the house. She didn't recall feeling this good
without wiping the floor with basement dwellers, or a forty ounce Red
Bull. She watched as June drove her car away in the same direction
Rach had used earlier. Entering the house, she started thinking about
dinner. There was chicken, vegetables...

The rumbling mass of Detroit steel that made up Nick's Camaro crunched
and popped into the driveway. It's suspension making noises it wasn't
meant to. Nick came in, looking like he hadn't slept.

"Hey, Bobbie. Faye leave already?" He asked as he watched her... well,
dance was the best way to put it. There was a grace to Bobbie's
movements. More than feline or ninja, yet containing pieces of both.

Faye turned quickly, grabbing the counter to stop her spin. "Hey,
Nick."

Nick looked at Faye, noticing the blue streak. He chuckled. "Like the
color, Bobbie. Looks like Faye's starting to rub off on you," Nick
watched the humor disappear from her eyes and turn into a stare that
would stab the sun.

Grabbing a controller, Faye tossed the other one at Nick's head.
Surprisingly, there was an almost magical catch.

The glare continued. "Defend yourself, infidel."

***

Tim was crying again. Staring at the necklace and the scabs on his
torn knuckles, he shut off the radio. It seemed like he was crying
more now, every song on the radio attacking him again in a new and
interesting way.

"Fuckin' Roxx."

Roxx! Tim suddenly remembered the joint she left. He looked for it. He
used a book of matches from an old closed hotel to light it. Within
moments, he was getting high. Just to not feel.

He started to raid the liqueurs that helped form the flavoring base
for the frosting. He hadn't had a drink since...

Bobbie...

He hit the joint again, the paper burning his fingers.

He was freely swigging from a bottle of 99 Bananas, he decided what he
was going to do.

Tim had seen Bobbie drive off from Freddie's in the car that model
chick drove. Some anime name. Faye Valentine. He figured out where she
lived shortly after that. Then the crying started, again...Always again.

He grabbed his radio, and started walking. He was still crying. And he
didn't care. He'd tell her everything. What could he possibly have to
lose?

Chapter 42

Faye was starting another batch of cookies. Oatmeal raisin. Next,
sugar cookies with frosting. Suddenly the ideas were coming ...

Faye watched June's car head back into the driveway. She walked
quickly inside, no sign of the earlier ankle injury. She smiled, she'd
felt good all day. She grabbed a Red Bull and hesitated, putting it
back. The smell of Faye's baking binge filled the room.

She made to take some of the freshly cookies to June, putting it on a
plate. Faye was barely out the door when, from the direction Rach,
Bobbie and June had left, she heard it and saw it.

Every time I think of you

I get a shot right through

To a bolt of blue.

Tim.

He was staggering, but made good time toward Faye. She froze.

"Bobbie!" Tim slurred. "I'm sorry, you don't understand what..." He
swayed, he was covered in sweat. His tongue worked thickly. "You.
Belong. With Me!" He yelled, dropping the radio, he fell forward on
her. Faye caught him, just barely. He couldn't stop crying. Faye was
annoyed, but wasn't sure why. She could smell the marijuana and
bananas.

Pulling her hair over one shoulder, she said. "C'mon, let's get you
inside."

Faye, what the fuck are you doing?

She looked across the street. June waved from the door. She waved
back.

Helping?

*****

Bobbie was checking into her room, the bellboy wasn't even upset that
he hadn't been tipped, especially when Rachel started making out with
Bobbie. It was different from how it felt when Mary had kissed her.
There was no tension, no hesitation. Rach's kiss reminded Bobbie of
Tim's somehow, not in any readily apparent way. But there was
something. Hands hovered downwards, teasing her skin with the promise
of touch, only to be pulled away at the last second. Rach was nearly
mummified by the ribbons of her darkness? What is it now?

She threw her bags on the bed, Rachel told her that she was going off
to get a few runs in while the snow was still there. Another kiss and
a nibble of an earlobe

Bobbie had been told that she(no, Faye.) was supposed to meet the
photographer and the other models in the lounge.

Bobbie showered to get the six hours of sitting in a car with Rachel
off of her, there were shreds of lettuce and cheese in her cleavage
from the tacos and burgers that constituted the ride. Bobbie writhed
with the energy only a half gallon of Red Bull and Mountain Dew can
bestow. She stripped off the ensemble Faye had dressed her in before
leaving.

Wow! She looked into the bathroom, It looked like someone had moved it
from a movie set. She turned the shower on and was greeted by six
massage nozzles. Water was spraying her body from every angle. Bobbie
noticed the shower radio, found a dance pop station and let the shower
gel do the rest. Everything felt so amazing, she remembered vaguely
how everything used to taste, now her sense of touch was just as
acute. Bobbie took so long cleaning that the deejay had changed.

She slipped on one of the color coded outfits Faye had laid out. The
vinyl top with the purple stitching. Jeans so tight, Bobbie considered
buttering them before trying to slide them on, and the classic purple
Chuck Taylors. She grabbed the mint from the pillow, she spat out the
thing just before it dissolved into buttery, sugary goo.

Checking for her keycard, Bobbie took a deep breath. Ok, okay. You can
do this, you can do this. I must not fear, fear is the mind killer...

She headed out the door and down to the lounge. Hoping like hell that
this crazy plan would work. Walking down the hall towards the
elevator, she saw the bellboy from earlier. He smiled at her with an
appreciative leer. Bobbie smiled back, offering a wink as she entered
the elevator.

She was rubbing her breasts thoughtlessly as the metal car sped down
the shaft.

*****

Faye couldn't believe that this guy was melting down in front of her.
"I hate that bitch," He was speaking slowly, trying so hard to
enunciate.

"Roxx she...she," Tim looked at Faye with his sad eyes.

"I know, and..." Faye tried to put on Bobbie's angry face, only to
realize she'd never seen the expression. She began to wag her finger
at Tim.

"She forged my mom's signature to let me drop out," He wiped at his
eyes. "Goddammit!" Tim growled, pounding his fist into his leg.

Faye raised her eyebrow. She didn't know that, that explained nothing.
"What is up with all the crying? It's making it really hard to
understand you."

Tim sniffled. "Remember how I told you my dad and sister died?"

"It's my fault," He yelled," They were coming to pick me up. I was so
drunk, they said," He was wiping his eyes after nearly every other
word.

"My dad was pissed, and so was Stephanie. She was gonna let me have
it," He shakily pulled out his wallet and removed a folded green piece
of paper. He carefully unfolded it. The fold lines much lighter than
the rest of the paper. There was a rainbow on the front, crudely
drawn.

He opened the paper towards Bobbie, and read, knowing the words from
uncounted readings. "Dear Tim, I love you and I miss you. I want you
to not drink, okay. I'll play with you, you don't need them," Tim was
sobbing heavily. "They found that in the wreck. I never got to say I'm
sorry. I wanted to play with her again," He put his face in his hands.
"By the time I sobered up, Mom had already identified the bodies. My
dumb ass kept partying. Stoned, drunk, having a great time. .," He
couldn't look up, his shoulders moving up and down like an oil
derrick.

"I never told anyone," He said hoarsely. "I don't even think Mom
knows. You see the way she acts. That's my fault. If only... If..."

Jesus. Faye wanted to cry for him. Just so he'd stop.

"Then it just got worse. I just wanted to be high. No, I needed to. I
didn't want to feel like that. I didn't wanna feel anything."

Tim's eyes met Faye's.

"Then one day. " He grabbed her hand. "This beautiful young woman came
up to me with a cupcake," He smiled.

"And my life was never the same again. I never wanted Roxx. I want
you. I threw Roxx out. She rubbed frosting on my cock for god sakes. I
was upset she was cheating on Kim. Next thing I know, you're walking
in the door, I can't think straight, I can't talk. I never said, 'hey
Roxx, How about a handjob. Use that frosting over there.'"

He laughed. "And it wasn't mixed right. It was all gritty. The stupid
things you think of, huh?"

Faye laughed out loud.

"If anything, she attacked me. I could never hurt you, Bobbie."

The corners of his mouth turned up. "You don't get it, do you?" He
touched her face.

"Bobbie. You mean more to me than...well, anything. " He looked deep
into her eyes.

Faye looked at Tim. That's horrible, no wonder... Awwww, poor guy. I
bet that it's just like he says it was. The accident, the drugs. Roxx.
She felt concern flare up, he had opened himself up to her completely.
It seemed like that was the final boss. He had let it out after
harboring it for just over a year. To watch everything fall apart and
not be able to reassemble it, she saw what Bobbie meant to him. Faye
admitted she kind of had to like him, too.

The pan-fried jerk.

"I'm sorry," Tim said. "Peas and carrots?"

"More like broccoli and beets," Faye shot back. Tim looked confused.

Faye wondered what Bobbie would do. She'd probably fold, what's the
worst that can happen?

Faye grabbed the plate of cookies and offered him one.

"Right as rain," Tim said eating the cookie slowly.

Faye was reminded of seeing the movie showtimes next to the grocery
sale in the paper. "Hey look, this probably isn't the best time. But.
There's a double feature tomorrow. Both Dawn of the Deads. We could
go," Faye regretted it instantly. Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Tim looked like he had been shot with adrenaline. His spine
straightened. "Really?"

Faye looked at his brown eyes. She knew what a girl like Roxx could do
to anyone like him, especially one so...not broken, but certainly
sprained for sure.

He certainly hadn't told Bobbie. Faye couldn't imagine having that in
her face every day.

"Yes , you stupid shit. Now, get out of here before I change my mind,"
Faye hugged Tim, she felt his heat and smell. The feeling of
closeness, she sagged against him.

Faye watched him walk out the door with a minimum of swaying. As the
door closed, Faye smacked her forehead. Bobbie's forehead.

What the hell did I just get myself into?

Chapter 43

Bobbie was aware of feeling warm. Warmer than usual. She didn't know
what it was, but the world was intense. Had been since the switch.
Well, Justice? Being a model is going to teach me a lesson? I don't
understand.

She walked up to the bar and was about to ask about her meeting when
she heard a deep voice from one side.

"Faye!" She looked over and saw the photographer. He was wearing a
pink shirt and a green vest. A tall man with perfect hair that
appeared to be combed with buttered toast, a large gold watch. And the
eyes of a serpent.

Literally. Bobbie noticed that he had contacts in. He raised his arm
and shook his glass of scotch. Bobbie went to the table.

"Mike Sobol," He offered his hand, Bobbie shook. His grip sweaty and
hot, the skin of her hand leapt at the joy of being touched.

" So," He began, his voice mellow. It was smooth and fake, like
Velveeta. "You're Allegra's new girl? First thing tomorrow morning..."He
slid an envelope toward her. "You're gonna take the lift to the top,
and we'll get the shoot done. Gonna be a busy weekend for me. Got
another shoot set up tomorrow night. Allegra says you're popular and
you work fast. I hope she's right," The waiter brought the Scotch. He
sipped at it, baring his teeth briefly.

"Lift tickets are in there, and well, eat away. Room service is on us.
Have fun," He slid an envelope across the table at her.

Bobbie took the envelope and looked into his snake eyes and grinned.
"Thanks," She said. "I guess I'll see you in the morning."

"You've got an early wake up call. Don't party too hard," Mike
chuckled, sipping his scotch again.

****

Faye was making a salad, something which surprised the hell out of
her. It still freaked her out a little that she knew the difference
between radicchio and endive. But, she shrugged it off as she tossed
the dressing into the mixed greens.

"Bobbie," Nick said. "When you came here to stay. Faye didn't tell me
we were getting a wife," He chuckled.

Faye walked all the way into the living room for the sole purpose of
punching Nick in the arm. "Dinner's ready."

Nick rubbed his arm. "Owww. Hey, that area is like, permanently
bruised or something. I swear, you two have deadly accuracy."

"Faye's punched me a hundred times in that same spot."

Faye smiled. Good to know the Fayedar still works.

"Okay. What am I gonna do tomorrow night?" Nick said.

Faye looked puzzled at him.

"Your big date? You're not gonna be here. I mean, you're going to
leave me alone with all those leftovers?"

Shit, must have let that slip. Good thing he said something.

"Yeah. I'll just take a bite out of everything in the refrigerator,"
Faye said, scrunching up her nose. "I've already licked the rims of
all the bottles," Nick laughed.

"Well, Nick. You wanna hurry up and eat? There's basement virgins for
us to take to school."

"You've totally been hanging around Faye too long."

"You have no idea."

Faye and Nick ruled the leaderboards for the next few hours. For Nick,
it was like old times with Kane. For Faye, it was like it used to be,
with more boobs. The anime jokes and references flew back and forth
between Nick and Faye. They played and laughed, their trash talk
causing laughter. Even the defeated were laughing through their Dorito
stained tears. Much Mountain Dew was spluttered over control pads.
Even digitally, Faye had a way of making people all sticky.

"Bobbie," Nick said, stretching. "That was a good session," Faye held
up a hand. Nick high fived her.

"They'll think twice before messing with the Dynamic Duo again," Faye
said, forgetting the swap. The last year just kind of vanished, The
Nick that Faye remembered from the Kane days. She smiled broadly, eyes
beaming. It was nice not having too much being piled on for a change.

"Well, time for me to be hittin' the ol' dusty trail," Nick said. Faye
noticed that he looked younger, the crow's feet gone. His eyes clear.
She just wanted to cry. There he was, the old Nick.

They'd spent time together, just like the good old days. And, just
like the good old days.

They spent it playing games, and talking about nothing.

Faye wouldn't have had it any other way.

She went to bed that night staring at the spot where Nick had
disappeared around the corner, happy to have gotten one more night
with her best friend in the world.

The way it used to be. She closed her eyes and fell into sleep.
Unconsciousness beckoned with a new lightness. Even worried about
Tim's date with her, the lightness carried her off into slumber.

***

CLANG!!

Faye looked around. She had a chill. The place was cold, antiseptic,
yet warmly lit.

...And then Bobbie appeared in a robe.

"Bobbie? What the hell?" But one look into her eyes told her that It
wasn't Bobbie that appeared Before her.

"No, thrall," Justice said distastefully. "Not Bobbie."

"Oh," She said. "You're the one behind this. Well then..."

Faye bolted for the blonde in front of her, hands raised. Abruptly,
and against the law of inertia, she stopped cold.

"I'll..."

"You will what, thrall? Your dark matriarch will not help you here."

"Dark...?" Faye's eyebrows attempted to touch each other. "Lust? Oh,
hell no," Faye twisted her face into a snarl. "Thrall? Bitch, you
don't know me. This lowly human beat her with nothing but my wits. You
want some too?"Faye was suddenly able to move, slowly. Letting her
hands drop was like watching things fall on the moon.

Justice looked at her quizzically. "Is that all? No speech about
freewill and how we need each other?"

Faye scoffed. "Why? We don't. Lust took everything from me, and I got
it back. I fought so hard," Feeling gravity return to normal, Faye
shook her head. 'You know this doesn't make any sense, right? I mean
Bobbie doesn't deserve this. She's too sweet and nice. I don't know
what he was like, but you took away his identity. Surprised she hasn't
fought you tooth and claw."

"When I found Robb, he was dying of a gunshot wound. A drug addict,
look at the person Bobbie became."

"Yeah," Faye countered. "Think you can do better? Take your best shot.
Lust couldn't turn me into a nympho, so I don't like your chances with
this Suzie-homemaker bullshit."

"Suzie Homemaker?" Justice asked. "Oh," Realization spread. "The
cooking? That was her choice. It was the first thing she did to make
herself happy. Everything she is, she made herself."

Faye rolled her eyes.

Justice cocked her head. "Have you considered that this might help
both of you?"

"Hah. Like I told Bobbie, any lesson I can teach can't be a good
thing."

"That is exactly the point. You will not understand yet..."

Faye knitted her eyebrows and cut her off. "How does this work with
you? Bobbie doesn't seem to have a clue sometimes. Then, out of
nowhere, she starts helping people."

"I cannot tell her everything. Believe me, it is sometimes frustrating
to watch. If I told her what she truly was, she would shrink away from
everything she's supposed to do."

"And that is?

"Ah ah," Justice wagged her finger. "If someone came to your village
and said 'Only you can slay the dragon.' What would you say?"

"Yes, pass me that sword?" Justice stopped wagging and started
pointing. "Or would you run and hide?"

Faye inhaled and exhaled. "You have a point," She slumped

"I will admit it is taking her longer than I would like, but this
should speed things along nicely."

"You were right about one thing, thrall. No one should find out about
where you are."

"Really, Doctor? That's my plan," She raised her arms and let them
slap on her legs. "Keep it all quiet until," She pointed at Justice.
"...you switch us back. Don't worry about me," She jerked her thumb at
herself. "This girl don't break. One question, though. How long is
this gonna go on? I appreciate what you're trying to do here, I think.
But, this..." She indicated her body. "Isn't me. And I'd kind of like to
be back in my own underwear before too long. How long are we stuck
like this?"

"Until she learns what she is fighting against," Justice turned and
looked at Faye with great consternation. Her face sagged, becoming
less hard."You are different from the others I've met."

"Yeah? Well let's just say that I've ridden this horse before. Much
easier a second time."

"I misjudged you. You are not the hedonist your kind usually are,"
Justice said.

"Oh, I wouldn't go that far," Faye smiled. "Like I said, you don't
know me. But, I'm not heartless. I'm not her plaything anymore."

"Then, accept my apologies....Faye."

"Faye. I could give you your old life back when this is over," Justice
opened her mouth to continue,

"Look, Justice. I know you're trying to be helpful and put things
right the way you see it. But, My old life? What old life do I have to
go back to? This isn't much, but I've given up everything just to
survive as a girl. And there's no goddamn way I'm going to let you
take away everything I've worked for, the friend's I've fought to
find, just so you can hit the world's biggest reset button to ease
your guilty conscience!"

"Kane's gone. But, Faye remains. It's okay. It really is. I've come to
grips with what I am. Bobbie'll figure it out, she's a smart girl.
We're tougher than our delicate feminine looks belie."

Justice gave a knowing look and a nod of approval. "Sometimes you
people still amaze me after all this time."

"That's me," Faye said. "Amazing. Always, with a dash of awesome," She
flashed her smile again.

"Good luck, then."

"Faye."

CLANG!

*****

Faye woke to the familiar smells of breakfast. Bacon, maple, and a
slight burning smell. Quickly dressing in Bobbie's Marvin the Martian
sleep pants, she heard the sizzling. Looking up, she noticed that the
smoke alarm had been removed. Coming around the corner, She saw Nick.
He was running back and forth as his hair was on fire. That would have
accounted for the smell. Looking around, Faye saw a plate full of
partially blackened bacon, one of pancakes with inkblots of burns, and
one empty one. That one was waiting for the eggs that Nick was burning
with great care.

"Morning, Bobbie. Coffee's ready, this is almost done, and..." He
grabbed the pan too close to the hot surface. "Son of a... He dropped
the pan.

"Run it under cold water. Right now," Bobbie called, running in to
turn off the flame and transferring them to the plate."

"Shit, that's gonna blister," Nick said, looking at the welt starting
to form on his hand. "Thought I could do this, but..." He put his hand
back under the water. "How do you juggle all this? Oh, nevermind," He
smiled at Bobbie broadly. "I wanted to make you breakfast today. I
mean, you have that date tonight..."

Faye smiled. Sappy bastard, Wonder how Bobbie's doing up there with
Rach?

"Faye called me earlier. She's fine, she said something about hair and
makeup for the shoot. She asked how you were. And I said you were
asleep. She always forgets to call, seems weird she remembered this
time."

Turning off the water, Nick looked at Faye. "Maybe this won't blister
too badly," He grabbed a plate and served himself some of the fruits
of his labor. Faye poured herself some coffee, and ate some of Nick's
burned first attempt at breakfast.

"Thanks, Nick. For breakfast, I mean."

"No problem. I'm all set to give you a ride when you need it. Tim
texted me this morning."

Nick ate everything on his plate, as did Faye. The burnt spots took on
a different flavor. As Nick moved his plate to the sink. Faye silently
moved across the room.

"Let me see that hand," Faye grabbed his hand, twisting it so she
could see. "Yeah," she grimaced. "Might blister."

Faye dropped his hand and hugged Nick. "I know you've been through a
lot, Faye must have put you through the wringer more than once."

Nick returned the hug, he closed his eyes.

"Bobbie, you have no idea. But I endure. Meeting people like you makes
the whole thing worth it."

Faye softened. He still cares about me that much? Even after all
that's happened?

Nick, I love you too, man.

Chapter 44

Bobbie was up early. The anticipation was killing her. Trying not to
wake Rach, she dressed and snuck out of the room like an assassin in
the night. Riding the elevator down, she gripped the metal rail.
Hoping that the nervousness would drain out of her the way electricity
flowed to the ground.

Looking at her reflection in the metal surface of the elevator door
Bobbie started realizing the problem. She was trying way too hard to
be Faye. She needed to let it come naturally. The elevator opened, a
bellboy stood there, stunned by her presence in the elevator. Okay,
okay. What would Faye do?

Quickly, Bobbie flipped up her top, baring the tiny purple bra that
covered her nipples, and not much else. The poor kid's jaw nearly hit
the floor. Bobbie didn't see the rest because the door had closed. The
look on his face... No one's gonna believe him, best tip he'll get
today.

That wasn't so bad. There was less nervousness abruptly, followed by
exhilaration. Looking at her face in the mirror again, she knew what
she needed.

Bobbie grabbed a quick espresso from the coffee bar. The heat from the
caffeine warmed her core. She stepped out into darkness. The sun
hadn't come up yet, but the snow machines were already working; laying
the thick layer of powder down, as they had been all night, their
noise in the distance. She looked in wonder. It never snowed this much
in Delacroix. The icy morning had extra snap. She didn't know if it
was giddiness, fear, or what... But she felt feverish, like her body was
radiating extra heat. The snow jacket came off immediately. There was
no sweat, Bobbie turned into the distance and headed for the lifts.

Once there, she calculated the complex geometry of entry, Bobbie felt
the seat scoop her up and begin trundling its way to the top of the
mountain. It was kind of scary. Watching the world below her slide by
whilst suspended by a single, slender cable, the seat jumped under her
as the chair passed the first sheave. It wasn't really cold, but the
amount of snow did cause a slight chill. Bobbie's unusual feverishness
cut right through it. Awash in a river of endorphins and conflicting
feelings, the trees passed by blackly in the morning's purple, velvety
night.

When she got to the top after an interminably long time, she saw the
tents off to her left, a snowmobile sat idly between them. Bobbie
ambled in their direction, flagellating currents of wind cooling her
exposed skin. She walked into the nearest one, peeking her head in
first. The inside was almost hallucinatory. There were two people
running around stocking makeup tables, setting up mirrors, and
unfolding chairs. She recognized one as Mike. The other was a thin
redhead with sharp features and a commanding presence, she turned to
Bobbie.

"Ye must be Faye, I didnae think you'd be so eerly," She offered her
hand. "Ailie MacTaggart, the poor lass what got stuck runnin' this
fookin' gig solo."

"You guys need help?" Bobbie asked. "I mean setting up. I'm kind of
anxious. Be good to clear my head," Bobbie said, seeing blues and
yellows quivering so fast that they could vibrate through solid
matter.

"Nay, finished up in here," Ailie said. "Mike?"

"Nah," Mike said, Bobbie noticed his eyes were hazel. Makes sense he
wouldn't wear the contacts today. He laughed slightly. "We're about
done. So glad you're not a diva," He ducked out of the tent. "I'm
gonna set up the tripods. Just let Ailie know if you need anything."

As she watched Mike leave, Ailie swigged coffee from her cup. "Well,
since ye're the first one te arrive, what say we get started on ye?"

Bobbie stripped her shirt off. Is it hot in here or is it me? C'mon,
can we just get this over with already. Bobbie moved herself into the
chair.

"Well, this is what ye'll be wearin'," Ailie pulled out a hanger that
looked like an outfit more at home on a girl raised by wolves. "I
guess thee're lookin' for the 'wild child' thing."

Bobbie was stunned by the skimpiness of the garment. It barely would
cover the front of the breasts she currently called her own. Both the
breast coverings and bottom had a caramel colored animal skinlike
material. "Does it have a headdress with little ears on it, too?"

Ailie laughed. "Aye, there is," Bobbie groaned inwardly. "Yoo're
sharper, than the other lasses."

Bobbie smiled at the compliment as she climbed in the chair. "Well,
I'm smart enough to know which what side of my bread gets the
Marmite."

"Hah. What would you know about tha'?" Ailie asked.

"Girl's gotta keep some secrets."

***

Tim was shaving very carefully. In fact, everything he was doing today
was careful. He had talked to Grrl Army and postponed the Grand
Opening. He had even gone so far as to tell Bella everything that had
happened. He brought some cupcakes and waited until she was eating
them before telling her. To his surprise, he didn't break down. His
eyes stayed Ben Stein dry.

The suit he wore to the Winter Ball had been cleaned and the creases
were sharp enough to cut diamonds. He only owned the one tie. He
somehow knew Bobbie would be wearing blue, she always worked it in
somewhere. He looked into the living room to see his mother sitting
there, the same threadbare blanket around her legs. He wished he knew
what to do about her. I'll wind up taking care of her, as well I
should. This is my fault, no one else's. Don't know why she has to pay
for it so much.

Tim looked impatiently at the clock, Bobbie wasn't due for a few hours
yet. He was more nervous now than when he had told her how he felt. He
needed to be Iron Man today, not Tony Stark. Definitely need the suit
today.

He was in the kitchen, prepping everything for when Bobbie came over.
Nope, gonna make this perfect. The shopping was done, he just needed
to get the rest of the stuff up to the roof...

***

Faye was rummaging through both Bobbie's bag, and Rachel's infamous
'bag of fun'. She had to try to help Tim, she wanted the time she
spent in Bobbie's body to be smooth. She didn't want any weirdness
when they switched back. Rachel's bag yielded a shimmery blue sheath
dress, Bobbie's had a strapless bra and underwear. She had an idea of
what she was going to wear. Goddamit, Tim. You better appreciate this.
And Bobbie, you're gonna owe me free cupcakes forever.

Nick looked at the plate containing a sandwich with a bite missing
from it. He laughed, grabbed the plate and took a bite just as Faye
walked into the room.

"Just gonna eat it anyway, huh?" Faye asked. Nick smiled, flecks of
spinach and mayonnaise showing in his teeth.

"Yeah. I drank from the milk last night and didn't get sick, so I
figured I was ok."

"Well, I did have all my shots. So, you gonna need the shower or
anything? I need to start getting ready."

"No problem, just let me know when you're ready, and I'll get you
there," Nick looked at Faye, and into Bobbie.

***

Bobbie was happy to have the tickle of hair back by her bra strap.
Ailie had gone to work, she had put in temporary hair extensions and
covered up the purple streak. Her eyes seemed to burst with the
addition of the silver glitter to her cheekbones and the vertical red
lines that trailed down from her eyes. Bobbie looked in the mirror,
she turned her head to both sides. The headdress did in fact have
little wolf ears on it. Now that's more like it. She put a hand on her
hip, feeling the fur under her fingers. She had the look of a feral
child, one that was kept as David Bowie's pet. Bobbie absently stroked
the fur covering her breasts with one hand while scratching at her
back with the other.

"Ye've got it, lass. This should be fun," Bobbie noticed that Ailie's
yellow ribbons were gone, her colors muted back into the world. Bobbie
smiled.

When Bobbie went out into the snow, the sun had come up, casting an
unearthly glow from the ground. She saw Mike over by the lights and
bounce boards. The snow felt good against her body, keeping her
focused on the task at hand.

"Okay, Faye. I just need you over there and we'll get started," There
was a snowboard with a large white wolf graphic on it.

Bobbie took the position by the board, the lights came on. The bright
illumination making her skin feel even hotter, as if that were
possible. Mike gave the signal and Bobbie started to run through the
pose reel that Faye taught her, careful to not get too wet from the
melting snow.

The shutter on Mike's camera opened and closed with the rapidity of a
machine gun. It was over almost before it began. The light in her eyes
combined with the snow was blinding. Bobbie just moved her body,
keeping the vague bloblike shape she thought was Mike roughly
centered.

"GREAT!" Mike's voice called. Someone ran forward with a blanket and a
cup of coffee. Coming closer, Bobbie noticed it was Ailie.

Bobbie had the blanket on her shoulders and the cup in her hands. She
did not shiver, in fact the chill water offered respite from the fever
that wasn't one. Red and green splotches pulsated in her line of
sight, they focused on the vehicle that had trucked all of Mike's
photo gear up the hill.

It was a fairly large snowmobile. Mike was already standing over the
vehicle, booting up his MacBook and plugging his camera into the side.
Within moments, Mike had access to all the pictures. Bobbie and Ailie
both made their way to him in short order.

"Damn, Allegra said you work fast, but you didn't even need
direction," Mike had been a photographer for years, but the 'perfect
shoot' still eluded him. He scrolled from one nearly perfect frame
after another. "How are you not on every magazine cover?"

"School is very important," Bobbie said, although she could give it up
for this. Obviously, she had a knack for it. Wow, Faye could have it
all... why doesn't she?

"Ah, school first. Smart lass," Ailie said, Breaking the silence.
"Yoo're photos astound."

Bobbie didn't see what they were talking about. They looked plain and
boring to her, recycled from every modeling shoot since time began.
Seeing the snowmobile, Bobbie had an idea.

"Who drove this thing?" Bobbie asked, rubbing a small piece of snow
into her back. The cold dousing the itch.

Mike looked at Bobbie. "Me? Oh, no. That was Ailie."

"Whee're I'm from, ye drive one of these or ye stay in," Ailie said,
smiling, the freckles on her face moving up slightly.

"God, I say we pack it up. I want some more sleep if I'm gonna do
everything else this weekend," Mike was disconnecting the camera from
the laptop.

Bobbie turned to the "Ailie? Up for a drive?"

"Sure, lass. What have ye in mind?" Ailie answered. Mike looked paler
as he nodded resignation.

***

Mike felt his colon attempting to crawl out of his urethra as the
snowmobile careened wildly down the Green Circle run. Somehow, Faye
had convinced him to let this madwoman drive him down the course while
riding sideways shooting. She wasn't a great snowboarder, but she
somehow managed to stay on top of the thing without falling. She
looked sideways at him, looking like she was having the most fun in
the world.

And, as with every other shot of her taken that day, it was flawless.

She needs to come to the night shoot. There's something about her.

***

Ailie's hair was blown away from her face as she twisted the
accelerator. She still wasn't used to the grip being on the right
side. But, steering was the same. She drove closer to the wolf girl.
Mike didn't look like he was feeling well, but he kept like his camera
still and shooting like the professional he was.

This girl was a mystery. Who the hell was she?

She saw big things for this one.

***

Bobbie was sliding over the snow, she crouched and hopped, trying like
hell to stay on top of the damn thing. She'd been lucky so far.
Leaning forward, she turned her face into the wind and splayed her
arms behind her. Looking up, she felt the wind cooling the rapidly
escalating heat inside her body. Bobbie never saw the mound of snow
that launched her aloft.

There was a sickening sensation that caused Bobbie to look down. Using
her left foot, she kicked the board out to her side and fumbled for a
second as she brought the flat surface back on the pristine, sloped
ground. Bobbie held it together for about five more seconds before
falling and rolling to a jarring halt. For a moment it looked like two
cats were fighting, until she stopped.

She laughed, long and loud. That was fun, Faye gets to do this all the
time. She looked at Mike, who was already rebooting his MacBook again.
His...colors? Darkness? Was almost gone, some traces of scarlet and
ochre remained. Ailie was the same, almost nothing. She was there
quickly with an open thermos of coffee and another blanket.

Bobbie swigged at the coffee. It tasted funny, there was a slight
sting....alcohol? Oh, no. She handed the coffee back and waited...

Nothing, just a slight warming in her belly. When the initial feeling
finally subsided, She handed Ailie back her spiked coffee and huddled
into the blanket while walking over to Mike.

"Holy Christmas. You... you are amazing Faye Valentine. I can't name
another model who'd do that if I asked them to, let alone come up with
that on her own. And that jump? I got both your face and the graphic
on the board in the same shot. And this one..."

The picture on the screen also showed the board, and her face... and
some errant snowflakes, creating an ethereal effect. Bobbie marveled.
Wow, that's a great picture.

"Faye," Mike said. "Look, remember when I said I had another shoot
this weekend? Well, after this, I'd like you to be there. Be at the
penthouse, tonight at seven."

Bobbie looked at Mike, then over at Ailie.

"Ye can trust him, lass. I'll be theere as well," Ailie smiled. "He
never makes last minute additions."

"Ye're special, Faye."

Bobbie wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, her higher than normal body
temperature, or pride in a job well done. But she felt warm and
tingly.

Still helping people. Not sure what your point is Justice, but this is
fun.