Chapter 98

Roxx wasn’t tired at all, if anything she was jacked up on what seemed like a much finer drug than any she had ever used. She could feel a connection with everyone. If only Lust had thought of this, using sex is just so sixteenth century.

Drugs were certainly the future.

Roxx had come to think of it as tanning; soaking up invisible energy to make oneself darker.

Sounds perfect to me.

“Oh, look.” She said, recognizing the tune.

“They’re playing my song.”

 ***

CamiLynn was enjoying the party so much, and now this guy was letting her give him a blowjob. She idly wondered how many of the boys here wanted to fuck her.

All of them, she hoped. The idea of dealing with so many cocks that it got confusing seemed like it would be the best party ever. She grabbed at her own oversized breasts while she slid her hand up and down the slippery shaft.

“Uhh,” The boy said. CamiLynn kept her hand down by the base as she redoubled her efforts. She felt the salty goodness hit the back of her throat. She kept sucking, speeding up, trying to get every last twitch. It was so hard to not laugh each time his knees threatened to buckle.

 ***

Rubi and Rosa were by the kegs. They had started dancing with some boys… and some girls; swapping partners, handing out some of the tiny bags of green crystals to some people.

Definitely making sure that the beer kept flowing.

That blonde girl with the blue in her hair…Bobbie? Rubi saw her approach. She’s so pretty, too bad she’s such a good girl priss.

 ***

Roxx could feel everything get stronger, the gravestone she sat upon gave her a good vantage of the party. She knew that Bobbie would be out there somewhere.

You can’t stop me now. I know the secret. Something you never could figure out.

Surely that meant that the endgame was upon her.

I’m gonna have so much fun ending this. It was all so close to her, Roxx started to walk slowly down the slope while rocking her hip to the beat.

She could see a blank spot in the sea of colors, one right next to that singe unique pattern.

I better know that one… After all…

I gave it to him.

 ***

The darkness was starting to move in like black storm clouds as the party grew louder.

None of it spelled joy for Bobbie.

Moving through the crowd, Bobbie was piecing together what was going on. The amount of plastic cups on the ground… the appearance of the girls that followed Roxx everywhere. Suddenly, the weird, creeping fuzziness suddenly made sense.

Roxx is draining people the only way she knows how.

Drugs, sex…

Bad ideas. That was her influence, tainting what should have been a tapestry of beautiful lights and darks was showing a creeping taint, a dark imbuing that if left unchecked…

And with the amount of people at the graveyard tonight?

“Tim.” Bobbie said. “Stay here.” She just wanted him safe.

“Fuck no.” He said defiantly. “You’re my girl, she hurt you. She’s up to no good. Look I may not be any kind of hero.”

“But I can fucking sidekick.” Tim smacked a fist into his palm.

“Hanging out with Kim?” Bobbie smirked.

“And I pick the bad time to make jokes.”

 ***

Plugman was having a good time, this jam session was a great idea. He’d have to get GRRL ARMY to do this again. Everyone was having fun, the party was loud and jumpin’.

Viggo grinned, knowing that Plugman had one hell of a future.

Be a hell of a way to get paid while I go to school.

 ***

The mass of flesh parted, just for Roxx.  She strode confidently to the end of everything she had worked toward. After tonight, Krakatoa would become the heart and soul of Delacroix.

Which means that I will.

The drunk and screwing teens that were dotting the landscape were feeding energy into Roxx’s ethereal coffer. And this is only a fraction of what’s available.

“C’mon, Bobbie. Let’s have some fun.”

 ***

Bobbie was just about to give up, eyes darting frantically, wondering where the redhead would strike. When she felt it flanking her, she spun to see the second face she had seen the other girl wear. Melanie… Roxx…

“Robb.”

Bobbie froze, she wheeled right to see Roxx standing there in a tight purple dress that shone like latex.

“Mel.”

“Told you it’s…”

Bobbie nimbly crossed the two steps forward and swung one foot around Roxx’s leading leg and delivered a perfect palm thrust between her constrained breasts. Roxx went down to the ground in a heap. One stiletto heel flew off in the quick scrum.

“Fine…” Bobbie said loudly, angrily. “Roxx.” She raised her pitch and added a mocking tone.

“You’re too late.” Roxx said. She started laughing, not even bothering to get up. The redhead pulled a metal cigarette case out and puffed one alight.

“You were too late for Kim, too late for Faye…”

“Too late for Tim… How is Timmi by the way?”

Bobbie saw red in the darkness as more blood than ever was squeezed through the capillaries of her blue eyes. She dropped to a knee and brought a fist down hard. Pain exploded in Bobbie’s hand as she felt a crack. Roxx’s cheekbone bruised and began to swell.

She brought her fist back again.

 FZZT!

 ***

Beth saw Bobbie knock someone in a shiny dress down. She wouldn’t do that without a reason…

It was at that moment that she realized the identity of the downed girl. She let go of Steve’s hand and ran to help her friend. She remembered Bobbie running to the rescue that day so long ago. Everything she had become and done since meeting that awesome blonde girl and her tough little sister…

I’m coming, Bobbie!

 ***

Rubi and Rosa had to see Roxx, so did CamiLynn. They didn’t know why exactly, but there was no way they would ever disappoint Roxx.

She’s so cool and she takes care of us.

They all just stopped what they were doing and walked away. All towards the spot where Bobbie and Roxx had gathered for one last face off.

Chapter 99

The wasted time

Always searching for those wasted years.

Kim could see the bubble of nothing expand as they all converged. She knew what was happening, this was it. She had to get there.

Kim couldn’t miss this. She hoped the song would be the last.

She couldn’t leave her sister out there; even if she was her brother once.

 ***

Nikolai was sitting in the car, sipping tea from his insulated cup. At least he could get away from that loud club for a change. Prokofiev was far more enjoyable to listen to than that metallic clanging that Roxx passed off as music.

She was a strange girl, this one that carried the Magiya. She would have been a major asset in the GRU. Those simple days of a clearly defined enemy made him feel nostalgic. He could see that she liked him after a fashion, that impassive mask of hers left him to wonder how much of it was intentional.

Whatever it was she was doing, it seemed to be making her some money, and by extension, making him more money for his sabaka.

If it seemed to be quieter now, it wasn’t the case. Years of training gave him the vision of the Steller’s Sea Eagles he admired so much as a boy in Kamchatka. He checked the chamber on his Makarov and got ready for the inevitable trip into the fray. His razor focus stared at the screen of his phone.

The old days… how did we ever get along without GPS?

 ***

Bobbie was submerged in Roxx’s reality, she was both part of the universe and outside it at the same time.

“Why is your hair like a skunk?” The chubby boy with the striped rugby shirt asked.

“It’s not like a skunk… it’s like a superhero.” She shot back.

“Looks like a skunk to me. Hey Charlie, come check out the skunk.

Little Mel covered the white streak with her hands as she ran away from the taunting boys. When she finally lost them, she sat under a tree and cried.

Her mommy had told her that she had a special birthmark on her scalp that made the hair there grow white. It wasn’t fair, nobody else had one. Mommy said that it made her special.

Then why didn’t it make her feel special?

 ***

The girl with the dark skin and dirty blonde hair who rolled her ‘r’s’ was getting closer to Bobbie, who was on top of Roxx with a fist ready to deliver a mighty smite.

Beth took off, leaving Steve behind. She could see the girl getting closer, she prayed for a burst of speed before launching herself at the unseen assailant.

She had a brawny arm back and flying when it looked like the tackle she was aiming for would miss.

Crack!!

Rosa screamed as she felt the bone in her nose fracture, her hands flew up to her face as blood spurted.

“You leave Bobbie alone.” Beth screamed as she landed, levering her shoulders and bringing the other fist around to feel a satisfying crack on the opposite side.

Rosa spun and fell in a heap. Beth turned and saw Rubi also heading towards the fracas.

“STEVE!” Beth yelled, turning to pull Bobbie off of Roxx.

The big guy was moving to hold Rubi back. He saw another girl with green hair approaching.

The sound of Roxx’s laughter grew louder as the other girls approached.

 ***

Kim saw… something, that weird fuzzy texture to what she saw was growing and pulsating. A gangrenous cancer with AIDS. She heard it, too. A laughter in her head that made her uneasy. Once Amber hit the final chord; Kim dropped her guitar and ran for the end of the stage to loud, thunderous cheers.

She jumped, flying out smoothly into the crowd. I’m comin’, sis. She knew Bobbie had to be there, as did Roxx.

The audience caught her and floated her on a cushion of hands right to the scuffle.

A blur of pink overtook the flash of green as CamiLynn was knocked down, with the angry gaze of Queen Kim the Terrible bearing down on her.

 ***

He made her feel pretty. It was the only reason she did it. When her mom suggested dyeing her hair, it was kind of cool with nobody noticing. But now that her young budding breasts were starting to form, she wanted people to notice her again.

Just not the way they used to…

So she started dyeing the area affected by the birthmark in bright, vibrant colors. Later she started to have more holes put into her ears.

She planned to get some tattoos when she got a little older. The boys paid attention now.

The girls did, too; usually in a way that had more in common with her earlier tormentors. In the end it was the same, teased and tormented. Her mom’s new boyfriend seemed supportive.

He said that he thought she was pretty. He didn’t act like the others, she thought it was cute how he was kind of shy at first. Tomm, he said his name was.

“Two Ms, first one’s silent.” She thought it was so funny when he first said it.

She thought he was strange looking, but now she just found Tomm’s shiny hairless dome kind of sexy.

Her mom would be so pissed when she found out. But he’d be gone eventually like all the others. Maybe Tomm could be her boyfriend and he would take her away from this dreary ramen filled life.

When she did eventually find out, and he did eventually leave. Young Melanie decided to get herself emancipated. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and all she needed to do was get a GED.

Seemed simple enough.

But, one day at a bus stop in her new town; she met this one guy, only a little older than herself.

Robert… sounded geeky. But he thought she was pretty, he seemed to care…

 ***

 Bella threw the drumsticks out into the audience before bolting for the edge of the stage and vaulting out in the same manner Kim had.

“FUCK YEAH!!!” She screamed as the crowd caught her.

From the stage, Amber and Heather looked at each other. They smiled knowingly and shrugged before dropping their instruments and launching out into the crowd.

Hell of a showstopper.

 ***

This mindscape was new to Roxx, she looked down and saw Robb. Only he was much younger than when she had met him.

He was moping in his room, that sister of his bugging him to play with her.

He said no, he always said no. Now that his dad was gone…

Pfft, why should that matter?

Everyone always thought he was weird.

Explains why he was so happy to meet me.

 ***

Steve was straining to hold Rubi back. Kim was soon upon him. Staring into her, she saw something she recognized.

Mary?

Looking around, it dawned on her brightly. Roxx had changed them somehow.

Energy.

Lust.

The other members of the ARMY arrived, laughing.

“Fuck, Kim.” Bella said with an enthusiastic laugh. “Need to fuckin’ upstage everyone?”

Amber was the first to notice the anger.

“What’s going on?” She asked.

“BOBBIE!!” Kim yelled. “IT’S ROXX’S BEER!!”

“Roxx?” Heather grunted in recognition as she started stomping her way to the two girls.

 ***

I need you to believe in something…

Melanie had this great idea for the two of them to fuck on camera. Sure it wasn’t exactly romantic, but damn was it erotic.

The money looked pretty good, too.

But coming out of the shower, ready to start using that money to hopefully build something of a new life.

He had disappeared. By the time she indulged in the panoply of feeling dullers, and dropped that lit cigarette.

Lust was upon her.

 ***

“IT’S ROXX’S BEER!” The voice was familiar, it came from somewhere. Bobbie felt hands on her shoulders, pulling, bringing her back, away from …

Where?

  ***

Why does everyone leave?

Why does this happen to me?

“Ooh, you are in trouble, aren’t you?”

Melanie’s mind became the inside of an insane zoetrope. Spinning and twisting in a gasping attempt to wriggle her way awake and free from danger. Robb may have left, but that didn’t mean she was helpless…

Did it?

 ***

The world jolted in in fits and starts. Bobbie shook her head.

Roxx was straining against Heather and Bella, each holding her back.

Bobbie saw the dark, mossy taint settling over the tapestry of people at the party. She inhaled slowly, without taking her eyes off of Roxx. The taint moved towards Bobbie. She felt it, welcomed it. She could feel the Mel in it.

The Roxx.

She drew it in, the air crackled with acrid tension. Bobbie could feel the hairs on the back of her neck bristle. It was cold, so very cold. Bobbie could feel all the hurt, all the pain.

All the suffering. Bobbie could feel it covering her, enveloping her like an oil slick…

Or a chocolate covered strawberry. Bobbie’s mind compartmentalized to keep the darkness out of the forefront of her mind.

***

 Rach and Faye got there to the fracas late, Faye just needed to refill her cup first. I swear, getting that girl to hurry is like pulling teeth. What Rach saw looked like a spreading fungus from high altitude. A weird, creeping… fuzziness was encroaching on the tapestry of need.

Like last week’s cottage cheese.

“OH MY GOD!!!” Zoe yelled in a manner that would assure a painful morning. "I FINALLY FOUND YOU GUYS!!” She swayed a little, an empty cup in each hand. A tall, similar looking blonde stood next to her.

Faye hugged Zoe. “I know that’s so awesome. Now you don’t have to go to that boring old school anymore.” Stacy remained silent. “Hi, Stacy.” Disdain dropped like the finest honey from Faye’s voice.

Rach stood bristling, and Stacy was not the cause. She waited for the first punch to fly.

Rach saw something. It was different, odd. It looked wrong somehow, more wrong now that she was closer to it. She clutched at her purse, feeling the rough outlines of the gray statue within. She didn’t know why she brought it, but long since learned to second guess those feelings.

Especially now.

Dammit, I can’t wait to understand what all of this shit means. You’re really gonna have to explain this better, Bobbie.

Once she got there, and saw the players involved. She started running, blue hair flying.

 ***

Bobbie could feel it pressing on her. It was hurting, stinging frigidity coupled with being caught in a hydraulic vise.

Tim was talking, but she couldn’t hear, the blood was singing in her ears. Or is that music?

It was so much, how could she keep it all?

Isn’t that what you always did before? A voice, strangely familiar.

Cough.

Robb?

Just let it go, Bobbie.

Let.

It.

Go.

 ***

Rach stared at the scene, confused. She finally settled on Roxx, because of all of them, she was the only one that could have made everyone’s darkness look so similar.

Maybe I’ll start to get this quicker than I thought.

Feeling the pressure radiating from Bobbie, Rach let the pressure move through her as well.

And that music… what was that?

 ***

Bobbie felt the drop in intensity almost immediately. She knew it was Rach, she didn’t have to look. Bobbie nearly basked in the lessening pressure.

Was afraid to move her gaze one single micron.

 ***                                                                                         

Rach looked around a universe stuck in time. She could smell the acrid tang of diesel as she looked at the early morning. The sign at the bus stop was dirty and the chill in the air was pleasant.

A geeky looking boy standing there with a girl who was way out of his league. The words were mumbled, but when she smiled and touched at her ears, she saw something.

Who are these people?

Realization broke over her as she found out as the scenes played out.

She really loved him. The situations grew more dim for the pair.

Ending with the boy fading into…

“Bobbie.”

Then Rach found out about the video, then Kim, then…

Massive blocks of understanding moved together to form a larger picture.

When Melanie became Roxx, that larger picture unveiled all of its mysteries.

 ***

Realizing now what was happening, and who it was happening to. Rach thanked her lucky stars that she threw that statue into the bag. Women’s intuition kicks ass. She pulled out the grey statue of Roxx. She didn’t need to see the statue to know it was turning blue. It was grounding them, Rach started to smile as she figured out what was happing. She just hoped that Bobbie would hold out long enough.

Bobbie already wasn’t looking too good. She was pale, and the blue that she wore so much? The color that suffused her soul? It had spread to her lips and fingernails… Her pupils had shrivelled to nearly nothing, leaving her already beautiful eyes an almost reflective, ponderous blue.

“BOBBIE!!!” Tim screamed, he didn’t know what was happening.

And he was terrified.

 ***

Rach saw the dark spots streak away like oil scattering across serene water, she could see a path open up in the middle of it all.

Where all the darknesses trailed towards Bobbie and herself. She looked down at the statue and saw the finished clay finish the change to that familiar, wonderful blue. Streaks of clarity streamed in from various angles.

With all of the clarity pointing directly to Roxx.

 ***

As if The Greater Magellanic Cloud had finally parted, Lust was once again able to touch the mind of what would have been her greatest creation.

And the universe proved its sense of humor.

It was the Advocate that had done it. Lust was being bitten in the ass by her own decisions.

And now an Advocate comes to my rescue... however inadvertently. Even Lust had to appreciate the situation.

She really does help everybody, even me.

Should have taken him myself. Could’ve gone so differently.

Lust sighed; every brilliant creation has a flaw.

You’re so much like them.

It was a shame; this one was so different to all of the others. None had ever given over so willingly, nor fed so well. In all of her history, none had ever become so efficient so quickly. In times past, Roxx would be put down like a beloved dog that had gotten the taste of chicken blood.

But those times were long since passed. Lust had to be careful with the energy she spent, and had to be careful with potential sources. Time was, she would swat them hard.

Now? She could ill afford it. Roxx could still be useful, useful in ways even she couldn’t be aware of yet.

Besides, better the devil you know.

Right, Roxx?

 ***

Roxx finally found her voice. She raised an arm heavily.  It was going to be really simple to make her do what she wanted.

Hmmm… my own pornstar… Bobbie would make such a willing lackey.

A warmth, and a recognizable tightening started to spread.

             “You can’t stop me.” The sound of Roxx’s grinding teeth was almost audible behind her words.

Bobbie felt herself smile. “I don’t have to.” She wanted to smile and laugh, but it came out as a breathless whisper. “You have no power over me.” Bobbie murmured as her eyes rolled back into her head as she began to collapse.

 ***

“You and your fucking movie….. unhhh.” Roxx said before collapsing suddenly herself.

“Someone’s been bad.” The voice played in her head. That voice.

Lust.

Roxx’s pussy throbbed and dripped, her back threatened to snap from the strong convulsions. She slapped at the watch on her wrist on the way down.

“You need to learn your place.”

“No.uuuunnnh…ooo…” Not now… so… close.

“With everything put into you,” Lust tsked. “You repay me for saving you like this? You got your revenge, you turned Kim. You were doing so well. But someone got too big for their doublet?”

“Didn’t they?”

“I…I…Mmmmmm.” Roxx fought so hard to keep her hands away from that sensitive button, knuckles white from clenching her fists.

“Do you think you can hide anything from me? Hide from what you are now?”

“Did befoOOOOOOhhh….” Roxx’s gritted teeth made the words sound strained.

“Defiant to the end, huh?”

ALWAYS! Roxx forced the thought through the thickening fog of orgasm.

 ***

Nikolai heard the beeping of the panic button he insisted that she wear that night. He was out of the car with the Makarov locked and loaded.

After all, he had to protect his meal ticket. Things were so much easier now that Bogdan and Yevgeniy were gone. No supplier hiccups.

            And a lot less wetwork. His mamushka had always said ‘chase two rabbits and you will catch none’. With Roxx in charge, the warren of rabbits had dwindled down to one or two.

The Sea Eagle chose his target from that place of special quiet and darted for the origin of the signal.

 ***

Tim was there just in time to catch Bobbie’s slumping form. Her eyes were wide open, she appeared catatonic. He set her down gently, taking special care to not hurt a single part of her.

 ***

Tim’s face was all over the place, taking up Bobbie’s entire field of vision.

“Bobbie!” He mouthed. Like watching a movie with the sound off.

Always liked Buster Keaton more.

“Bobbie Blue. C’mon.”

His eyes crinkle funny when he starts to cry.

Blue hair replaced his face.

Rach, she’s cool… we’re all good cop bad cop…

The sound of the blood in her head started to slow down like low tide, but that musical sound didn’t fade as quickly. Why am I on the ground? Did I fall?

“..BIE!!” Tim yelled.

“Sis.” Kim screamed, running towards Bobbie.

A big man stopped Kim in her tracks, she raised her hands. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? They recognized him from the club. The quiet one that never left her side.

He held his gun on a bunch of teenagers that put their hands up. A boy and a girl with blue hair huddled over the blonde girl that causes Roxx so many headaches. Obviously, they were scared. Roxx was in a quivering heap, moaning wantonly. He got her over one shoulder in a fireman’s carry. whatever was wrong with her,

He surveyed them with his firearm. They are children. What can they do?

“Not see again, da?” Nikolai made it very clear what he meant, even if his English wasn’t cooperating. The menace dripped thicker than his accent.

“Da,” Kim said, resorting to one of her three words of Russian.

Nikolai left quietly, only Roxx’s moans marked his position.

Some grubby girls in ill fitting stripper uniforms held their heads.

“Mary.” Kim said, seeing a much less healthy version of her friend.

“Kim? What’re you doing here?” She looked around confused. “Where’s here?”

“I’m with the band. Come on.” She said, helping the blond girl up.

“Let’s go.”

“What the fuck just happened?” Bella asked.

“Yeah.” Heather checked her hand. “Broke a nail, but I finally got to sock her before she…”

“What the hell just happened?”

 ***

Roxx was rubbing herself against the arm she had planted in the middle of the seat, elbow locked.  Nikolai had turned up the stereo to drown out her wanton moans of pleasure. She wanted to cum so badly, but the closer she got, the further away it seemed. She looked to Nikolai. He was attractive, in a rugged way.

Oh, what the hell.

Roxx reached over and wrenched his pants open, button flying upwards and the zipper giving way all at one with a loud ripping sound. Her expert hands had his cock out and hard in seconds. With her tongue, she moistened the tip before beginning to suck and stroke like her life depended on the antidote to the poison she just drank, Dr. Jones

Mmmm, so good, so hard….

Roxx ignored the screeching of brakes and Nikolai’s surprised face. Her free hand had found its way beneath the panties and began to rub furiously.

Oh… moremoremoremore…

“Good little thrall.” Lust said into her mind with a purr.

Roxx’s hand and tongue worked around all the sensitive areas, his rigid cock turned into a throbbing sticky mess. He came, and Roxx nearly gagged on the salty goodness that was like Ambrosia.

She couldn’t get enough, she licked and sucked every last tasty drop from his dick and used her free hand to finally invade her inviting pussy.

“Aoaooooahhhoaaooahhh.” Roxx came, Nikolai’s dick still in her mouth. She retracted, and swallowed twice, blinking rapidly before wrapping herself around Nikolai and shoving her tongue down his throat.

“MmmmmMMmmmmmmPhhhh.” Roxx mumbled. Finally achieving presence of mind for a moment she started to breathe.

“Cl…club……”

Nikolai stared at her wide eyed, nodded and put the car in drive.

Roxx enjoyed a calming moment.

“Not getting off that easily, dear.”

Roxx thought it was over.

Until her pussy CLENCHED hard, sweat broke out all over her skin. She found her hand expertly manipulating her clit and labia; the sudden intense arousal overtaking judgment and good sense.

Unnn...unnnunnnnunnnn…

She looked back at Nikolai. She just wanted to fuck him again right now. Ram that big cock inside her, rattle it around, suck on it again, make him cum and cum and cum…

The thoughts were driving her to explore further.

Her tits around his shaft bouncing up and down.

Rubbing it around my ass before sliding it in…Oh…

“Nikki…” Roxx rubbed and played and waited, Nikolai’s cock would get hard again soon.

But the wait is so so long.

“Oooh.” Roxx’s moaning threatened to send the car into an opposing lane as Nikolai began moving the car again. They could treat that black eye once they got to the club.

 ***

Bobbie saw the world fade in as the tunnel of her vision widened. Her eyes felt too big for their sockets and her mouth was a desert, parched. She began violently shivering.

“C…C….cold.” Bobbie said.

Tim’s face slackened, he hugged her so close to him.

“Bobbie.” He teared up. “What happened?”

“I saw…I…”

Tim nodded. “That’s enough for me.” He hugged her again. “I don’t wanna know.”

“I don’t care.”

“I love you, Bobbie Sharpe.”

Bobbie felt her strength returning slowly. She got to her feet with a wobble, Tim keeping her close.

“See? Not letting you fall.” Tim smiled. “Ever.”

 ***

Not the first time I carried someone while kicking and screaming. Nikolai had carried Roxx upstairs. Her ecstatic moans and wanton thrashing started to subside once he got her to the booth and listened to her labored breathing and assured himself of her continued existence.

Roxx had a cigarette out and inhaled hard enough to crush the filter between her lips. Lust was fading  now, her influence disappearing altogether once inside the building. Now it was just a fading memory.

But one that would never fully fade.

She sat there for a long time, still pulled taut from having Lust back inside her head after so long. Never again.

She called for Staci and Jenna, wanting a sort of protection that Nikki couldn’t provide.

It was hours later that Roxx’s party of three settled down enough to think.

The ding of the tablet drew her attention immediately.

How…? It hadn’t gone off in a while. She honestly thought that there was nothing else to be gleaned. According to all of her searches, there were no more languages to compare.

But anything that would take her mind off of her current situation. One of the girls brought her a freshly rolled joint. It suddenly didn’t interest her at all; she wanted to relax, but needed to stay sharp.

And will someone please turn that fucking music down?

 ***

“ONE MORE SONG!! ONE MORE SONG!!” The crowd was chanting loudly, and the onlookers that had carried the band members.

It got loud as the crowd closed in.

“HOLY FUCK!” Bella yelled. “WELL? COME THE FUCK ON! LET’S FUCKIN’ DO THIS SHIT.”

Amber and Bella ran back to the stage while Kim and Heather smiled at each other and held hands.

Some of the closer fans beckoned them over. When the two girls approached they were floated up and carried away. They walked hand in hand on a cushion of love back to the stage.

 ***

Bobbie was downing another bottle of water and trying to keep her feet under her. Rach came up and stood by Bobbie.

“You okay?” Rach asked. Faye went to stand by Tim.

“Yeah. You?”

“Fine, I think.” Rach rubbed at her forehead. “What the hell was that?”

“Not sure. I think I did the opposite of whatever it was she did.”

“The bakery!” Rach blurted.

“It’s fine.” Tim called. Faye had herself under an arm under the pretense of cold.

“No. You both…” Rach brightened. “Check it out. You both give people something, and you can both take.”She held up the statue, “We… I dunno… soaked it up?”

Remembering what Kim had said about Lust being unable to contact Roxx. “We cancelled her out, and then…” Rach shook the statue.

Bobbie took the statue and regarded its blue color. “Frankenstein came for his monster.”

Tim let go of a pouting Faye to rush back to Rach.

“So what do we do now?” Rach asked. “She’s gone. That human tank took her.”

“She’s not going anywhere yet. When she pops back up…”

“DELACROIX!!!” Heather yelled over the PA, the booming sound cut through any attempts at conversation.

A cheer went up, flashes of cameras were strobing wildly in an effort to induce epilepsy. Everyone turned back to the stage.

“This is gonna be the last GRRL ARMY show. I know, I know. But, I mean it this time, our lovely drummer Bella went and got herself accepted to Brown.”

The crowd awwwwed.

“But, we do have something special. It’s a new song we’ve been working on.” Heather continued. She removed her hat and swept the hair from her face.

“We’ve all known each other a long time. It was a hell of a ride, wasn’t it? We all come from the same place. And tonight, that time is over.”

“Wherever you go, whatever you do. This place will always hold onto your heart. When things look bad, or you’re down. There’s only one thing you can do…”

“SOLDIER ON!!”

Bella cracked her sticks against each other four times before launching into the beat. Kim and Heather laying down some background riffs.

Then out came Amber and her shrieking guitar.

When the moments fleeting

There’s no retreating.

“Soldier on!” Heather and Amber sang background while Kim belted out the lyrics.

 ***

Bobbie looked at the band, then to Tim. She got an arm around him and squeezed.

“THAT’S MY FUCKIN’ SISTER!!” Bobbie yelled, wishing she had a lighter to hold up. She had devil horns in the air as a tribute to Bella.

Tim Flaherty hugged back at his girl, he moved closer for a kiss. Bobbie accepted gladly.

And there they stood, graduates of Delacroix High School. The experience changed everyone…

But no one more than Tim Flaherty…

…and Bobbie Sharpe.

 

 

 

Epilogue

“Nick? Do you like this one?” Faye came out of the hallway wearing a swimsuit that was more skin than swim.

“Uh… yeah.” He said, putting down the cheapie tablet he had picked up. Once finals were done, Nick had continued studying. Faye thought he was just being a nerd.

He had hidden what his studying was truly for from everyone, even Bobbie.

And god, it’s impossible to hide anything from that girl. He smiled thinking about the day ahead. Faye had talked him into going to the beach with everyone. He wouldn’t get any studying done there. He powered down the tablet and set it aside.

Bobbie knew stuff about magic? Then he would learn too. If he couldn’t get Kane back, which he’d given up on long ago.

He wanted Faye back. Faye, with all her sarcastic quips and lightning thumbs. Being at the top of the leaderboards was hollow, pointless.

Nick just wanted to argue with her again, about the Millenium Falcon’s top speed…

… or which of them was Batman in the Dynamic Duo that ruled the leaderboards.

At first, he’d imagined it to be much like the role playing games. Unfortunately, no one wants to do enough reading for a doctoral thesis to gain magic points. It had been difficult so far, Google was exhausted almost instantly.

Only, and this was the sticking point, the languages used in all those ancient texts were all dead ones. Luckily trawling the deep web had led to some tantalizing hints. Hence the tablet, the chronicle of the sixteenth century monk held the most clues

No one could know about his studies; Someone would have stopped him. And by someone you mean Bobbie.

She still came by; when she wasn’t busy with the bakery, which seemed to be almost never lately. But that Instagram page looks like a museum.

This day at the beach was just what the doctor ordered.

“Jeez, Nick. It’s not like you’re even paying attention.”

“Just waiting for this thing to shut…”

Faye’s top dropped. “Oopsies.” Nick looked up just in time to see Faye upon him, her tongue searching his mouth.

“C-C-C-C-Combo Breaker.” Faye said, laughing. “We have plenty of time before tomorrow.”

He sighed, knowing where this was going to end up. It was the only time she ever used video game lingo.

 ***

Bobbie was bumping the oven closed with her hip.  The new schedule was working out where her evenings were free, there was so much more time now. The newer items selling, the merch disappearing so fast it was on back order, and special order forms stacked to the sky.

The Daily Grind cheesecake was a big hit, made the paper; Gilda joking asked for some smaller, single serving ones. Which they delivered two weeks later, now with flavors like Dirty Blondie, White Raspberry Mocha, and Borgia; Gilda laughed…

All the way to the bank.

The phone buzzed with her newer Buckaroo Banzai ringtone. Both she and Tim went for their phones.  Ah, the perils of having matching ringtones.

“Bobbie, hi.” It was Sylvia.

“Hi, mom. What’s up?”

“We all still on for Lunch on Sunday?”

“Of course. Someone’s got to make sure that Heather gets some sunlight.”

“Ever since you moved in over there… I swear, do you two sleep?” Sylvia laughed.

“Could ask you the same.” Bobbie said. “Got a full house again.”

“Yeah. It’s nice, you know. I do worry a little. I caught Kim showing Beth how to open that little knife of hers.”

Bobbie checked the cooling racks and the proofer while on the phone. “Don’t worry about it, mom, just another of those crazy hobbies of hers.

“Yeah.” Sylvia agreed. “Now she’s talking about getting a motorcycle. The money she makes from modeling for Heather is gonna make her dangerous.”

“Nah.” Bobbie said, assuring herself that everything was off for the night. “She doesn’t want me to kick her ass.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, we’ll be by to get Kim and Beth in the morning. Big beach trip.”

“I’ll see you, Bobbie, have a good night.”

“Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too.” Sylvia said.

Bobbie hung up. “Ready to head out?”

“Yeah.” Tim said. “Y’know I heard that there’s gonna be another Drop Bears movie? Down Undercover? Looks like they’re heading back to Australia.”

Bobbie laughed as she and Tim headed out into the cool summer night. Holding hands, they walked to Heather’s… Well, Heather and Bobbie’s now. Hot Cocoa and churros while watching Captain America dodge the evil forces of HYDRA sounded like a hell of an evening.

 ***

Zoe knew that Zia would have loved this day. It was just crazy how she had somehow made anything like Zia seem normal and… cool. The double life that Zia offered was so different. She had to admit that clones had it pretty good sometimes. Always someone just like me.

Zoe was hearing the call of Zia now. A small part of her wondered if maybe Zia could make her some money.

Zia and Stacy planned to go clubbing soon. She wondered how much it would have chapped her sister’s ass to find out that she and Zia were one and the same.

The Playboy calendar had been released and the role Zoe had played had become one of those internet mysteries.  Who is she…?

…I’ll never tell.

Zoe adjusted her sunglasses and stared out over the water. Rach had made it a little harder to let Zia out. Oh, sure. I could tell everyone. But it’s good to have a secret.

She saw a group of pretty people off in the distance. Zoe felt the call of the wild, part of her just wanted to giggle in the sun and frolic in the water. Stacy would have like to be here to.

But she forgot about it, looking over at her friends she decided that Zia could wait.

Rach couldn’t keep Zia available by appointment only forever.

And besides, wasn’t the fun of a double life jumping back and forth?

Zoe laid out plans for what was sure to be an interesting new year.

 ***

            The hot late July sun beat down on the sand. The members of GRRL ARMY, Nick, Faye, Rach, Zoe, and Beth sat under the large beach umbrella.

“Glad we came out today.” Heather said.

“We fuckin’ had to.” Bella said. “Leaving next fucking week.”

“Well enjoy it, kid.” Kim said. “Ain’t no decent beaches where you’re going.” She had the bottom of her shirt flipped up and was applying suntan lotion, taking special care to cover her new tattoo completely. Urban inspired script inked in an arc over Kim’s tiny bellybutton defiantly shouted ‘KIMSTER’

“Hey, let me see that when you’re done.” Bobbie said, bending the wide brim of her floppy hat just so in an effort to make sure the baker didn’t develop a crust. She needed to get some of the lotion on her left shoulderblade. They had gone together, Bobbie and Kim.

Two underage girls getting tattooed; Normal, right?  Bobbie’s newest prized possession was the photo taken of Kim the second the inked needle touched her tender stomach. “Hey.” Bobbie had said. “You’re the one that said ‘go big or go home.’”

Bobbie’s artwork was much smaller. The outline of a bird painted in with blue flames, its talons clutching a spatula. When she explained it to Kim, it was a simple chain of three words.

Blue.

Rebirth.

Baking.

Tim liked it, considered getting one himself. He did think better of it, wondering what would happen to ‘Timmi’ once he had.

“Here.” Kim had the lid back on and she tossed it to Bobbie, who caught it in midair.

She pulled off her Depeche Mode shirt and Tim gasped.

Bobbie’s blue bikini was so small that Tim was worried she would get arrested. The front covered her nipples, and the straps were so thin.

“Where…?”

“I can see that you like it.” Heather said. “What do you think? Think I can sell a bunch?”

“Yeah,” Tim said. “To boyfriends,” Silently, he wondered if Timmi would like it.

Probably would, so skimpy.

Kurt and Amber were plucking away on their guitars while Beth laid out in the sun.

“I wish Steve was here.” Beth said, taking her position on the towel. The summer had been busy for her, moving into Bobbie’s old room. .

It had been a surprise to everyone when Heather offered to let Bobbie take Betty’s room once she headed back to Auckland, especially Sylvia

“Someone had to run the bakery.” Bobbie slapped at Tim’s hand when he went for his cell phone. “He’s fine, Tim.”

“Yeah.” Said Beth, rubbing suntan lotion on her arms. “I know, but still…”

 ***

Roxx was bored. The club’s same four walls were getting to her, she’d had to let her apartment go, electing to stay inside the concrete cocoon that was Krakatoa. In the time since that graduation party, Roxx had retreated into the club. The business end was still going well…

But now, Roxx never left the club. Not without at least three of the girls, logistics made that difficult. A small room had been soundproofed so she could sleep when she needed to, which was becoming less and less often.

She had spent the better part of the last month reading and rereading the old translations. The last one had shown her that while she had learned so much from what she had…

It was a matter of context, Roxx simply wasn’t getting everything from it. The last translation had explained why. Two of the languages she had tracked were read from right to left instead of left to right. Finally reading things the right way had clarified things.

She was half right; she was pulling energy from everyone connected to her. But, if the new information was to be trusted, she was thinking too small. Parlor tricks.

Lust had an almost unending reserve of power to make others bend to her will.

Roxx smiled as one of the new girls brought her a tray with eggs and bacon.

“Thanks, Kat.” Roxx smiled as the new redhead walked away.

She had stopped thinking about Robb… Bobbie now… dammit.

But she was no longer the target of Roxx’s wrath.

Girl’s gotta have goals…

Right?

Lust?

 ***

The sun was sinking below the horizon, and Bobbie wanted to get back into the water one last time. She ran for the ocean with its waves lapping at the sand. She winced as the cold water chilled her ankles. She jumped forward and dove, breaking the surface for a moment. She began to scissor her legs to keep her head above water.

The sun was a ball of orange nuclear fire on the line where sea met sky. Bobbie turned and saw the gathering of her friends.

No… my family.

She turned and dipped her head back below the water; the blue of the phoenix on her shoulder disappearing into the water, which faded into the coming night sky.

There was no fear, no thoughts of things going wrong. No sharks, no zombies, no Roxx or Lust. Things had grown quiet since graduation, but no less busy for the Cheepskates crew. She thought about her life now and how it was so different from what could’ve been… But now?

She was Bobbie Sharpe

She was The Advocate.

 

The End

Bobbie Sharpe will return in Teenager of the Year.