Back in Time
– Part 4
Friday 18th
November
10 pm
The Manhattan
Penthouse
“Let Carina
intervene,” Heather spoke in a barely audible whisper. “I know both of you want
nothing more than to run across there and comfort Holly, but for now let
someone else talk to her.”
“I guess so,” Sandy tried to imagine what was being said between the two women.
“Leave them
alone darling,” Heather warned her young charge.
“Alright,” the
young woman paused to collect her thoughts. “How are you enjoying yourself
Krystle?” she asked in a barely audible whisper.
“I'm confused
as hell if you really want to know.”
“I guessed by
this time you might be,” Sands giggled. “It's not easy being a woman is it?”
“No, I have so
many thoughts running through my head.”
“Well before
you say more about that,” Heather intervened, “Incoming.”
“Oh?” Krys
looked round to see Carina leading Holly in their direction.
“Hey Heather,
Sands – and this must be your friend Krys.
I’m Carina Huntingdown.”
“It’s a real
pleasure,” Krys said as she looked at the two diminutive blondes. “Are you friends of Heather?”
“Yeah, we are –
look, can I borrow you for a few minutes Heather? Krys, Holly and Sands really need to
talk. Do you mind acting as referee?”
“Referee? What for,” Krys said as she looked at the
other two.
“Holly – I’m
glad you could come here tonight,” Sands said as she looked at her
girlfriend. “But you don’t look happy.”
“I’m not – not
really,” Holly said quietly. “Sands, it
is good to see you, but…”
“So are you
two?”
“In a way,”
Sands said, it’s complicated.”
“Does it say
that on your Facebook page?”
“I don’t have
one,” Holly laughed – a bitter laugh.
“Let me guess –
relationship problems?”
“What makes you
say that?”
“My boyfriend
and I are going through a rough period,” Tommy was amazed to hear those words
come out of Krys' mouth. “I recognise
the signs.”
“You too?” Holly looked carefully at the beautiful woman. “My sympathies.”
“Are you having
problems?”
“Krys you don't
what to know what problems I'm having, and I'm not sure you'd even believe me
if I told you.”
“Try me –
Heather says one of the good things about me is I’m a good listener.”
Shaking her
head, Holly said “why not – it might do me some good to vent, but Sands…”
“It’s okay –
I’ll go and see what the rest of the Super Six are up to,” Sands said as she
walked off.
“The Super Six?”
“Her friends
from school,” Holly said with a hollow laugh as she sat down, Krys sitting next
to her. She saw the way Holly’s eyes
followed her, before she said “so you love her?”
“Yeah, I do,” Holly
said quietly as she sat with her head down, “the problem is, I also love my
boyfriend.”
“Ah – and he
found out?”
“You could say
that,” Holly said quietly, “it came out by accident at a party, and – well, he
did not take the news well.”
Krys was silent
for a moment, before she said “he lost it?”
“And then
some. Not that I can really blame him,”
Holly said quietly, “I kinda knew how he felt.
I struggled for ages when I realised how I felt about Sands, especially
when I found out it had started in order to deceive someone else.”
Krys looked at
her as Holly turned her head and smiled.
“I told you it was complicated.
Oh I forgave her in the end, after other things happened, and I realised
I really did love her – but I also love Tommy.
So when he stormed out that night, I was so scared…”
“How old is
Sands?”
“Thirteen…”
“She looks
older.”
“She does – and
she is a really wonderful young woman, but I was so scared he would tell the
authorities, have me arrested…”
“He didn’t, did
he?”
Holly shook her
head as she said “no, but we didn’t talk for an age – and even now he still
seems a little off.”
Throwing her
head back, Holly sighed as she said “listen, I think I can talk to you – maybe
you are the good listener Heather says you are?”
“Do you mind if
I ask a question?” As Holly shook her
head, Krys said “Holly, where are you on the LGBTQ scale?”
“B – I love a
man and a woman, and I know one does love me, and the other I think still loves
me, but he’s hurting so much he doesn’t know what to do.”
“That sounds
natural,” Krys said quietly, “but it could be he does not know how to react, or
what to say that would hurt you more.”
Holly turned
her head and said “so there is a chance he still loves me?”
“Yes – there is
a chance, but maybe… Maybe he can’t find
the words, and is still trying to work things out.”
As Holly
nodded, Sands came back over. “Want to
come round tomorrow night, Holly? Krys
is coming to dinner, but we could talk afterwards?”
“Yeah – why
not,” Holly said with a smile as three boys from St Augustines came over.
“Hello ladies,”
one of them said in a slightly slurred voice, “would you like to dance?”
“With you?” Sands looked at them and said “oh go on then
– I’ll dance with you” as she dragged the redhead off.”
“And what about
you,” the blonde haired boy said as he looked at Krys, “a pretty lady like you
should dance with a real man.”
“Point me
towards one?”
“Lowell who are
those two young men starting to make fools of themselves slightly?” Nessa
whispered to her dance partner.
“Two of mine I'm afraid,” the teacher looked closely, “They are both normally
nice lads, but I think they may have both had a little much to drink.”
“You might need
to have a quiet word.”
“I can see.”
“I don't know
the taller woman, but Holly is in a rather delicate state emotionally and the
last thing she needs is to be fighting off unwelcome advances.”
“Allow me,”
Lowell said as he walked over…
“Okay who
invited Buffy McGeorge?” Nell asked as her sister’s former archenemy appeared
in the entrance, dressed in a fabulously over-the-top sequined evening dress
with a luxurious mink stole around her shoulders.
“As far as I know then nobody did,” Doc looked troubled, “I think she's
crashing.”
“SHIT!” Nell
cursed noiselessly, “I thought she was keeping safely out of the way.”
“So did I.”
“Nell,” Buffy
said as she sashayed over, “I heard there was a party here tonight – who is the
lucky birthday girl?”
“Buffy,” Nell
whispered “what the hell are you doing here?”
“Looking for
fun, don’t worry, I’ll try and avoid trouble,” she said as she looked round, “but
who is that talking to Holly?”
“A friend of
mine,” Heather said quietly, “so steer clear of her and Sands, Buffy – only
warning…”
“Others might disagree,”
Tom Callaghan smiled as he poured more champagne, “but personally I think Adam
and I are accompanying the two most beautiful women in the room.”
“How many of these have you had?” Janice giggled.
“Oh don't try
and stop him, I get few enough compliments from my husband.” Gale took a sip.
“Personally, I
have to say that I agree with Tom.” Adam looked very happy, “those dresses are
incredible.”
“They are
actually rejects would you believe?”
“Rejects Jan?”
Tom looked puzzled.
“Dresses that Nolan
Miller made for Dynasty, but which Joan Collins and Linda Evans didn't like and
thus were never used.”
“On the other
hand Jan and I both said 'yes' when we saw them.”
“They look
perfect on both of you,” Adam looked round when he heard a couple of raised
female voices behind him.
“What’s going
on,” Jan said as she turned round, to see Sands looking at Buffy.
“This is
Erica’s party, Buff DARLING,” Sands said quietly, “do not embarrass her or me,”
before she walked off.
“Thank you for
singing at my party,” Erica gushed at Emma, “you were all brilliant.”
“No,” Andi Morecambe said with a smile, “thank you for not booing us off stage.”
“Why would we do that?”
“Yes why would
they do that?” Shirley asked as she joined the conversation.
“Because I
think in a way we looked a trifle ridiculous dressed as we did back then. I
think we are all too old for these,” Emma looked down at what she was wearing.
“Ah but could
you perform like you did in evening dresses like this?”
“That I'm not
sure.”
“The music was
brilliant though. Took me back to the time before...” Shirley for a
few seconds looked sad and wistful.
“The time
before?” Erica looked concerned.
“Oh it's
nothing,” Shirley shook her head, “just old memories and thoughts of what might
have been.”
“So how are you
doing Jeans?” Becca asked as she plunked down beside her friend.
“Bluddy well,”
for a second Jeannie let the Essex Girl in herself out and giggled. “I have
never in my life danced this much, and the guys have all been so gentle and
respectful.”
“We told the
guys recruiting boys that we needed several big enough and strong enough to carry
that overweight body of yours around,” Becca laughed aloud at the expression on
Jeans' face.
“FAT am I? Oh
you'll pay for that one Rebecca Morse,” Jeannie giggled more. “But it was nice
of you all to find me some partners with no Winston here.”
“Having fun
girls?” Brooke Hutton asked the younger women.
“Immense fun
Judge.”
“Girls I truly
think both of you are old enough to call me Brooke.”
“Okay,” Becca
smiled. “Are you here on your own Brooke?”
“Sadly,” the
older woman sighed, “my date let me down.”
“With you
looking that incredible in that silver dress?” Jeannie shook her head.
“Well, I can
still enjoy myself,” she said quietly as she watched Krys walk to the restroom.
“This is not as
easy as I thought it was going to be,” Krys told herself as she tried to
straighten up in the lavatory stall. Those beautiful and elegant long red
talons on the end of her fingers made pulling things out and then putting them
back in place almost hellishly difficult. The problem was gripping on and
holding things. It was as simple as that.
“Well what do
you make of that friend of Heather's?” She heard Liz Lodge talking to someone
and stiffened.
“Absolutely
gorgeous looking woman,” she heard Kelly Rochermann reply, “and brains as well.
A first degree from Yale, a Masters from Boston University, and she can look
that hot?”
“I know it's
unfair,” Liz laughed lightly, “For those of us who barely made it through
college its depressing when you meet someone with both those smarts, and those
looks.”
“Well at least
I hear she has a steady boyfriend so we don't have to worry about her casting
her lures for any of 'our' men.”
“Be thankful
for small mercies,” Liz laughed again.
“Okay this is
good as I can look,” Krys heard Kelly sigh, and a faucet start to run.
“You still look
hot Kel. Krystle Ernst be damned, let's get back in there and strut our stuff.”
“Wow they really think I'm that hot?” Krys looked at her reflection after
touching up her makeup as Heather had taught her. “I guess I don't look that
bad.”
Laughing
lightly she draped her fur back over her shoulder, and with a wiggle in her
walk headed back to the party. As she
walked out, she passed Buffy McGeorge heading in…
“Why does my
Mom keep looking so sad Aunt Madeline?”
“Is she Maisha?” Maddie stood and looked at the teenager, her
head cocked to one side.
“Yes, and
please don't tell me I'm imagining things. I saw you looking concerned as well.”
“Listen
darling,” Maddie said as she sat down, “if I tell you a few things can you
promise me you'll never tell your Mum that I told you?”
“I suppose so.”
“No Maisha you
must promise on your oath.”
“Alright
I promise, now please what is going on?”
“What has
Shirley told you of the time before she became Madame?”
“Only really
that she was a typical eighties teenager.”
“That she was,
full of dreams and hopes for the future,” Maddie sighed. “I suspect some of
this is bringing back old memories.”
“What old
memories?'“
“She hasn't
told you about her being kidnapped has she?”
“Mum was
kidnapped? No, she never said that. I know Aunt Catriona has said something about
her not appearing in public for years.”
“Well, the two
are linked. When she was eighteen,
someone kidnapped her and made it appear she had been killed in a car crash, to
hurt her father. That’s how your Aunt
Sandra and I first met her, and we became friends. It was some years before we all managed to
escape, and she was reunited with her father – but those years changed her,
they were the start of the journey to becoming Madame X.”
“So she was
like me, taken from her family and home?”
“And taken to
another country to be a slave, yes.
That’s why she was so determined to end the trade that brought you and
Ama here – it was a red flag to her.”
“I never knew
that – but it does explain why she is such a wonderful mother. It makes me even more determined to make sure
she and Dad are happy together.”
As Buffy came
out of the stall, she was surprised to see Holly standing in front of the
mirror, looking at herself. She walked
over, taking a lipstick from her purse as she said “Well, I should have
realised you would be here, Holly. Is
Tommy here as well?”
Looking over,
Holly’s brow darkened as she said “Buffy – what stone did you crawl out of
under, and what the hell are you doing here anyway?”
“I came to have
some fun – so is he here?”
“No – he had a
trip out of town.”
“I heard a
rumour he had dumped you – any truth in that?”
“What business
is it of yours, Buffy – didn’t you cause me and others enough problems in the
past,” Holly whispered, “I still haven’t forgiven you for that weekend, and
what I had to do to protect those I loved.”
“I did see
young Sands – she has become a beautiful young woman,” Buffy said as she turned
and smiled. “You two belong together – a
pair of real bitches who don’t know how lucky they are.”
Holly gripped
the edge of the bureau, before she turned and flew at Buffy, knocking her to
the floor as she clawed at her face.
“Oh crap.”
“I didn't hear, or even want to know,
the details, but I heard there was bad blood between them back in the summer.”
“Yes there was...” Heather's voice
trailed off for a second. “Can I ask why you didn't want to know?”
“Because I was in love with Holly and I
didn't want to even hear any gossip about her.”
“Hence how you never heard about her and
Sands?”
Shrugging her shoulders, Krys said
quietly “I guess so. Plus you were away
for half the summer…”
“Do you still not want to know?”
“No...Yes...I'm not sure. Does that make
sense?”
“Yes,” Heather smiled kindly. “Leave it
to me and Sandy then to sort this out. You stay well out of the way.”
“Excuse me – may I have this dance?”
“Of course,” Krys said as she went on
the dance floor with David, while Heather took Sandy by the arm.
“What is so urgent lover?” Sandy
whispered.
“Holly and Buffy alone together in the
powder room.”
“You think it might turn ugly?”
“Do you want to take the chance?”
“Not really.”
“I think we had better get in there and head off any trouble at the pass.”
Heather started to head towards the lavatory.
“Coming,”
As they got closer, they heard the
screaming, and quickly walked in.
Holly was letting nothing hold her back
– all the anger, the fear, the frustration was coming out as she clawed at
Buffy, screaming “You have no bloody idea how much I have hurt, and still am
hurting. You think you’re so much better
than me, but you’re not – you just don’t ooofff…”
The last phrase escaped as Buffy drove
her knee into Holly’s stomach, making her fall back as she stood up.
“I know exactly what I am,” Buffy said
quietly, slowly, as she wiped her cheek.
“And I still am a million times more alive than you, Holly – I’d never
let any man, or any woman, drive me to the pathetic levels you are at now. You need to get over yourself Berryman.”
“How dare you…”
The slap took Holly by surprise as Sandy
and Heather came in. “You stupid cow,”
Buffy whispered, “make your bloody mind up and spare us all your moaning and
moping around. Because if you don’t, I
may just take Tommy for myself.”
“Why you…”
“And that is enough,” Sandy said as she
grabbed Holly from behind, and took her out of the restroom, Buffy looking at
Heather.
“And what do you want?”
“You to leave – I’ll say nothing to
Erica or her mother, but you leave.
“Now.”
“Did we ever
meet at Yale?” Pussy asked as she sat with Krys.
“Not really,” Tommy went into the background story that Heather had created for
him. “I was a lowly freshman and you were a grad student working on your
Masters. I think I sat next to you a couple of times to eat, but I was pretty
anonymous back then.”
“That might explain
it,” Pussy smiled.
“I didn't
really get to know Heather till our junior year when I changed floors in
Brantford and I ended up on the same corridor as her.”
“And by then I
was doing my doctorate in Germany.”
“So I later
learned.”
“By the way
have you met my wife?”
“No.”
“Well this is my lovely Frieda,” Pussy smiled proudly.
“It's nice to
meet you,” Krys extended a hand.
“And this is
Krys Ernst, a fellow Yalie, and Brantfordian,” Pussy completed the
introduction.
“It's lovely to
meet you as well. Didn't I hear you a biologist?”
“I'm a
microbiologist.”
“Oh? Your particular interest?”
“The
applications to forensic science – one of my interviews this week is with the
PD,” Krys said as he saw Buffy McGeorge walk out, and Heather come out with
Holly. “Has there been a fight?”
“As I
understand it, there is no love lost between those two…”
“You look
worried about something, Maisha,” Shirley said as she sat next to her daughter.
“Not worried –
well, not about me,” Maisha said with a smile.
“I was worried about you, you seemed a bit distant… Mum, I once overheard you and Aunt Catriona
talking about when you disappeared. Were
you kidnapped?”
Shirley let out
a sigh and set “yes I was – and I should remember about teenage girls hearing
things. But I should not have any
secrets from you, so yes - like you, I was taken against my will by someone,
and lost far too many of my best years in servitude.”
“And that is
why you fight for those like us?”
“It’s a big
part of it,” Shirley said with a smile.
“Well, I for
one thank you always for that – but how did you make your way home?”
“Ah – a
combination of having had enough and your Uncle John recognising me in Paris
one day. I was able to be reunited with
my father, but sadly my mother had died while I was away.”
“Would they
have liked me?”
Shirley smiled
as she said “I think they would – but I see Erica and others celebrating, and
sometimes…”
“So what were
you going to read at Cambridge Mum?” Maisha asked. “You've never said.”
“I was going to
read architecture,” Shirley said with a sigh.
“You wanted to
be an architect?” her daughter asked in surprise.
“Yes, I did.”
“WOW!” Maisha
shook her head, “I never dreamt.”
“I've never
told anybody, even Madeline doesn't know that.
I got A-levels in Art and Graphic Design as well as History and
Economics.”
“It makes sense
of a few things though,” Maisha smiled, “all your insistence on getting the
Aldwych offices fitted out properly. Your huge interest in the work Nessa
Richmond had done at Curragh Park, etc.”
Shirley looked
at Maisha and smiled. “Point, as you
girls say. I guess I still have an
interest.”
“So why didn't
you go to university when you returned?”
“Because by
then, with everything that happened to me, all the things I had experienced,
I'd decided to become Madame. The girl who wanted to design buildings no longer
existed.”
“Not even deep
inside Mum?”
“Oh a little,”
Shirley sighed again. “Your Aunt Cat tried to get me to think about going back,
but I was set on another path.”
“Holly, are you
all right,” Sands as she sat with her girlfriend. “Did someone hurt you?”
“It’s nothing,”
Holly said quietly, “I vented, that’s all?”
“That’s
all? I can see the scratches – who did
this?”
“It’s not
important, Sands,” Holly said as she tried to smile.
“Holly, are you
all right?”
“I am, thank
you Denice,” Holly said as she stood up, “and I’m sorry if I’ve caused any
problems.”
“Of course you
haven’t,” Denice said with a smile as Jack came over. “May I have this dance,” he asked as Simon le
Bon started to sing.
“Yeah – why
not,” she said with a smile as Krys came over.
“When Tommy
sees Ms McGeorge…”
“He’d have to
explain how he knows,” Sands said quietly.
“So what have you learned?”
“Apart from
been a complete idiot at times?”
“I wasn’t going
to say that…”
“You don’t have
to,” Krys said quietly, “but I may slip away soon.”
“Mind if I come
round and see you tomorrow? I’ll call in
advance so that you are decent.”
“Do I regret my
life?” Shirley asked herself as she watched Maisha and Ama dancing with the
other girls, “If I could really go back to the eighties, not just for a night
like this, but for real, would I change anything?”
Almost without realizing she was doing it she reached into her handbag and pulled
out a piece of paper, smiling as she looked at the fading pencil sketch of a
house on it. It was what she'd drawn that fatal morning, an idea that had come
to her over the last breakfast she'd ever eaten with her family, she'd intended
to work it up when she got to Cambridge and it had been in her pocket when she
was snatched. She had guarded that precious scrap of paper throughout her
captivity, it had been her only link with her past life, her real life.
“No I'm not going to cry,” she told herself as she returned the drawing to her
bag, “I've done far too much of that in my life.”
But she felt
the tear on her cheek, and wiped it away as she shook her head.
“Oh what would
people say if they knew that Madame X actually cried?” Shirley smiled slightly
at the thought. What would they think if they knew that beneath the
super-villainess was still that 18 year old girl so full of ambition, so
looking forward to her life?
“What is
upsetting Shirley John?” Mary Thomas asked as she caught the photographer
standing at the bar chatting to Missy.
“Is she upset?”
he glanced across the room to where his wife-to-be was standing up against a
wall alone.
“Somethings
bothering her,” Mary looked concerned, “at times she's looked as though she's a
million miles away.”
“You think
I need have a word?”
“It might be an
idea.”
As he walked off, Mary smiled and shook her head, before someone else
approached her.
“While John talks to Shirley, you and I need to have a word Merlin,” Missy said
as she gave her old friend another glass of champagne.
“Oh – about what?”
“Krystle Ernst, young Heather's friend.”
Missy smiled as she sipped her champagne. “Tell
me about her.”
“I've never
even met her,” Mary laughed.
“Bullshit,”
Missy sipped her own drink, “I know a graduate of the Mary Thomas School of
walking when I see one. Was she once a model?
And if she was why does she want to keep that secret?”
Mary shook her
head as she said “no – maybe she’s another Love Bandit? I genuinely do not know the woman…”
Shirley looked
round to see who had joined her.
“A penny for
them darling,” John asked softly as he passed Shirley a glass of champagne. “You
looked so deep in thought.”
“Oh how do I
answer that?” the inner voice in Shirley's head asked. “What can I possibly
tell the man I love of what is going on in my head without revealing secrets
about myself that would repulse him, and probably send him running to the
police to reveal my secret identity?”
“Sorry, I'm
just wallowing a bit in my memories,” it seemed a safe answer she told herself
as she said the words.
“Some good...”
John said quietly, “and an awful lot that aren't?”
“I suppose so,” Shirley tried to become her 'normal' self, “what gave me away?”
“Some looks of
genuine pain I saw on your face as I was walking over here.” John smiled, “sometimes
that face of yours betrays you my love.”
“It does?”
“Yes, so talk
to me please, what is upsetting you?”
“John...”
“Shirley, I've known since that night we met at your New Year’s Eve party that
you keep a lot of things locked up within you. I've never pressed it and asked
you because I love you, but one day will you please tell me at least some of
those deep, dark, things that lurk inside you?”
As she smiled,
Shirley said “what makes you think there is anything there?”
“Shirley I was a military officer - that requires you to be able to read and
understand the men you command. I'm also a photographer who is fascinated by
how I can reveal the true nature of people with my camera,” John smiled, “and
also I once asked Cat, and she said that as and when you are ready that you'd
tell me about some of the inner demons that haunt you.”
“Cat said that?”
“She wouldn't
tell me what, like Maddie, Penny, and all your other friends she keeps your
secrets darling, but yes she confirmed what I'd already guessed, that you've
been hurt in your life, and hurt badly. I just pray one day you'll trust me
enough to at least tell me a little about what happened to you?”
“Why don’t we
dance,” Shirley said as she led John onto the floor while Simon le Bon started
to sing a Tracy Chapman song.
Sorry
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like sorry like sorry
“John,” Shirley
said quietly as they held each other, “You’re right, there is something I need
to tell you – might go some way to explaining why I feel the way I do
tonight. When I was eighteen, I left
home to drive to Cambridge and…”
“Shirley?” John looked into her eyes and saw the tear as
she looked up and said “I was kidnapped by a gang of men, taken to work as a
slave, and it was years before I was rescued, and returned home.”
“My god,” John
whispered, “who else knows?”
“Cat, a couple
of others – but when I returned, I was changed in so many ways… that’s why when I heard about Maisha, I felt
I could provide a home for her.”
“Because you
had been there?”
“Because I had
been there…”
Forgive me
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like forgive me forgive me
But you can say baby
Baby can I hold you tonight?
Maybe if I told you the right words
At the right time you'd be mine
John held her
close as the tears came, saying nothing, knowing she had told her something so
personal, so precious to her…
I love you
Is all that you can't say
Years gone by and still
Words don't come easily
Like I love you I love you
“I can hardly imagine what you went through,” he eventually said, “but it has
made you a wonderful and caring woman. A
woman I am proud to stand beside in a few weeks.”
“You don’t
think worse of me.”
“No – I think I
just fell even more in love with you,” John said quietly as he kissed her.
But you can say baby
Baby can I hold you tonight?
Maybe if I told you the right words
Ooh, at the right time you'd be mine
Baby can I hold you tonight?
Maybe if I told you the right words
At the right time you'd be mine
You'd be mine
You'd be mine
“Excuse me?”
As Krys turned
round, she was surprised to see Missy Auerbach standing beside her.
“I’m sorry, do
I know you,” she said quietly.
“No – my name’s
Missy Auerbach, I’m the head of NorStar.
I take it you have heard of us?”
“It’s a
modelling agency, right? I know my
friend Heather knows some of the models you represent.”
“That’s right,”
Missy said as she handed Krys a glass of champagne. “Tell me, have you ever modelled?”
“No.”
“Have you ever
considered modelling?”
Under the
disguise, Tommy had no idea how to react to this. “I can honestly say I haven’t,” she finally
said, “nor can I say I am interested at this moment in time.”
“Well, if you
ever change your mind, call me,” Missy said as she handed Krys a card, and
walked off, thinking she would call her…
“Okay what just
happened?” Krys asked herself as she slowly sipped her champagne, “did I, or
didn't I just get approached by Miss Auerbach about considering modelling... as
a woman?
“Do I really look that convincing? Do I really look that good?”
For a few
seconds Tommy tried to look at Krys from outside this body. yes Krys was tall,
she was blonde, she had lovely eyes, and thanks to the skills of experts she
was beautifully made-up, but Tommy had known Carina and her mother long enough
to know that superficial looks were only part of what made a model. Insiders
like Missy Auerbach were trained to look underneath the externals, and to look
at the woman underneath...What was she seeing in Krys?
Part of Tommy was immensely flattered that he'd been approached like that, but
part was also saying, “you are a man, not a woman,” why was he even thinking
about what it might be like to be a female model?
“Does this mean I'm gay?” Tommy asked himself, “I've had sex with lots of
women, was that all a lie?”
For a few
minutes he thought carefully and tried to work out some answers. No he wasn't
gay, but he did have to admit that since he'd stepped into Krys's high heels
several confusing and conflicting emotions had washed over him. Why had he even
fleetingly dreamed of what making love as a woman felt like? Why had he
wondered what lesbian lovemaking was like? Why was he so confused?
He had met the
likes of Courtney Love, is this how they felt when doing their act? This sense of empowerment under an assumed
disguise? He went and sat down to think
it over…
“Now it's
traditional on occasions like this for the father to dance a solo dance with
his daughter,” Denice said as she stood at the microphone. “Now as most of you
know Erica's father deserted me when he heard I was pregnant, he cannot
therefore be here to do this. Nor sadly can my own Dad who would have been
bursting with pride I know if he could see his granddaughter tonight.” Erica
took a deep breath, “I put a lot of thought into this and in the end I found
myself asking young Simon as Erica's boyfriend for help.”
Denice let the murmuring die down.
“Simon
suggested a name, and I'm so glad he did. Ladies and gentlemen can you please
clear a space and let Sam Lodge dance this dance with Erica.”
There was
applause as Sam led Erica onto the floor and put his arm round her waist as a
waltz started to be played.
“You know in so
many ways Simon truly is perfect,” Poppy watched as he led Denice onto the
floor to join Erica and his father in the slow dance.
“I know,” Lynn
smiled, “Just hopefully one day I'll meet a boy that caring and loving.”
“I think we all
want that,” Jess sipped a coke.
“In the
meantime though, has Missy Auerbach talked to you yet Bugs?” Poppy asked the
tall blonde.
“No, why should
she?” Mel looked puzzled.
“Do you never
look in the mirror?” Aileen Gaunt asked as she and Vicky Clarke brought more
food for the group.
“What do you
mean?”
“What she means
Bugs is that you are tall, blonde, gorgeous, and the scuttlebutt is that Missy
sees you as a Norstar girl of the future,” Poppy grinned at the reaction on her
friend’s face.
“Me model? You
can't be serious?”
“I heard that
before,” Suzie said with a smile, “both with Mary and then out of my own lips –
although in my case, it was in Sydney.
So my question is – why not?”
“You too eh?”
Krys heard a voice to her side, and turned to see Holly had sat next to her.
“Sorry, what? I
was miles away,”
“Regretting
that 'your' man isn't here to dance with to this?” Holly said quietly as she
finished yet another glass of champagne.
“What makes you think that?”
“I recognize
the look on your face,” Holly half-smiled, “I just saw it on my own face in the
mirror.”
“Are you
missing your boyfriend that much?”
“At moments
like this? Then yeah. Tommy can be an idiot, but when he holds me close as we
dance he sorta makes me melt.”
“And yet I
heard whispers you have a girlfriend?”
“Yes,” Holly's
face changed, “I'm in love with both a man and a woman.”
“That must be
hard?”
“You have no
idea,” Holly sighed, “my life's a bitch.”
“You can’t be
the only person who has been in that position though – perhaps you need to talk
to someone who has.”
“Like who?”
The partygoers
applauded as Emma came back to the stage, and said “I’d like to do an old
Lionel Ritchie classic.” She nodded as
the band stated to play, and began to sing.
I've been
alone with you
Inside my mind
And in my dreams I've kissed your lips
A thousand times
I sometimes see you
Pass outside my door
Hello!
Is it me you're looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile
You're all I've ever wanted
And my arms are open wide
'Cause you know just what to say
And you know just what to do
And I want to tell you so much
I love you
“Alright now
she's pushing things,” Alex stood and watched as Nessa danced with her arms
round Lowell's neck, and then started to kiss him with obvious passion.
“I hope she knows what she's doing?” Gus van Roon whispered in his old friend’s
ear. “Paulie tried to warn her to be
less obvious earlier, but it doesn't seem to have worked.”
“I noticed,”
the priest sighed, “I'm all for my sister enjoying her life finally, but a
little discretion would go a long way.”
“Agreed.”
“Can I beg a
ride home from you tonight Gus, I think Nessa will be taking someone else.”
“It looks that
way, and of course you are more than welcome to come with us.”
“Care to dance?”
Krys looked up
at the young man, and smiled as she said “why not?” She walked onto the dance floor with him as
they started to dance a slow dance.
“You’re a very
beautiful woman – where have you been hiding,” he said as his hand moved down
her back.
“In plain
sight,” Krys said quietly, “but please, keep your hand there.” Tommy was even more confused – he found Krys
attractive? A furtive glance down told
him more than he wanted to know…
I long to
see the sunlight in your hair
And tell you time and time again
How much I care
Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow
Hello!
I've just got to let you know
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely?
Or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying I love you
“So how do you
think 'she' is doing Merlin?” Heather whispered.
“I think young Tommy is being forced to confront a lot of what he thought he
knew about, gender, sexuality, and identity...And it's confusing the hell out
of him.”
“That was sort
of how I was seeing this.”
“I know this
started out as some form of nasty revenge from Sands, but I think it might have
a positive outcome,” Mary smiled.
“Only time will
tell on that, but I think that at least tonight it will all pass off okay.”
“Only if that
young man dancing with Krys doesn't do something stupid,” Mary noticed Krys
move the guys hands back to waist after he tried to squeeze her ass.
“Do I need
intervene?” Heather now looked concerned.
“Only if it
becomes obvious Krys can't handle Mister Obnoxious.”
Krys looked at
him as she felt his hand move down again, and said quietly “don’t do that – I
don’t like been touched there?”
“OH,” he said with
a sneer as he pulled her towards him, and she felt the bump as well as smelt
his breath, “where do you like to be touched?”
The pain in his
eye as a well-placed stiletto went into the young man’s foot gave Tommy some
joy, as Krys said “you’re never going to find out” and walked away, even more
confused.
Hello!
Is it me you're looking for?
'Cause I wonder where you are
And I wonder what you do
Are you somewhere feeling lonely?
Or is someone loving you?
Tell me how to win your heart
For I haven't got a clue
But let me start by saying I love you
“Why the
unhappy looks old friend?” Juliette asked as the dancers applauded and cheered.
“Two amazing prospects here,” Missy shook her head. “One says she isn't
interested, and the other I've been warned off even approaching.”
“Let me Guess,
Heather's friend Krys, and young Melinda...Right?”
“You are Ju.
Look at them both, tall, blonde, gorgeous to look at, and most importantly
smart and erudite with plenty of that indefinable quality all top girls
have.”
“I had noticed
darling.'“
“Well I refuse
to let either go without a fight. They can both make a good sum modelling...”
“They can also
make us a Norstar plenty,” Juliette laughed gently as she interrupted.
“Such cynicism
– but yes you would be right in that.”
She smiled as
she put her camera away, and finally left the party. She was so glad she had decided to sneak back
in – yes, Holly had spent most of the time moping or talking to Heather’s
friend, but the picture of Nessa dancing and kissing with the teacher was going
to make her a pretty sum.
Buffy smiled as
she quietly slipped out, and made her way home…
“I think I'm
going to call it an evening Heather,” Krys said as she kissed her on the cheek,
“can you come over in the morning? By then I think I'll have a lot of things I
need to talk about.”
“You aren't leaving because of that idiot trying to feel you up are you?”
“No,” Krys laughed, “I just need some peace and quiet to think a few things
out.”
“Well you have my cell number, call if you need a sympathetic ear.”
“I will,” Krys
smiled, “Now how does a girl get a cab at this time of night in New York?” she
asked as she positioned her fur back over her shoulder.
“A girl asks
this gentleman,” Heather laughed as she grabbed the man pushing Jeannie
Brewster. “John, Krys wants to go back
to the apartment she's borrowed for the weekend. Can you call her a cab?”
“You are a cab...”
“Granddad that
one is as old as the hills,” Jeannie groaned.
“I know, but it
still works,” John laughed as he typed a few words into his phone. “Okay there
will be a cab downstairs for you in five minutes.”
“Thank you,”
Krys smiled gratefully. “Just let me say
goodbye to the birthday girl…”
“Nice girl,”
Jeannie said as Krys talked to Erica, “I hope we see her again some time…”
“Thank you for
coming,” Erica said with a smile as she saw the young woman leaving.
“People are
starting to head home darling,” Denice hugged her daughter.
“I know,” Erica
smiled, “It's been a wonderful party, but even I'm starting to yawn.”
“You've enjoyed
yourself?”
“I have Mom, so
many wonderful friends here, and such amazing gifts, I really have been so
lucky.”
“It's not luck
Erica,” Mary Thomas put her arm around the young black girl, “it's because
people know and love you.”
“That's for
certain,” Poppy put her arm round her friend.
“I'm taking
Poppy home,” Pippa stifled a yawn, “but thank you for inviting us.”
“You were more
than welcome,” Denice hugged her friend.
“We’ll see the others leave, then head home – a lie in tomorrow I think.”
“Well at least
Sir gets lucky tonight,” one of the St Augustine's boys grumbled as they saw
their teacher help Nessa into her fur coat and head towards the exit.
“I know,” another young man looked unhappy, “all these so-called 'easy' girls,
yet we are all going home alone.”
“It isn't fair,
even Richmond is getting some tonight...”
“And from Katy
Carter,” another boy complained, “how does a zero like him get to have sex with
a supermodel?”
“By being a gentleman, and behaving himself,” Brooke Hutton interrupted the
conversation. “Now I trust all you boys are going to behave and there won't be
any unpleasantness?”
“Yes Judge,” a
couple of the boys mumbled.
“Good – say
good night to Erica, and then head home…”
Saturday 20th November
12.30 AM
Sands and Holly’s Apartment
“Well that was some
day,” Krys locked the apartment door behind herself and sighed. She had started the day as Tommy, and now…
Quickly she walked to a chair, sat down, and let out a huge sigh of relief as
she kicked off her shoes.
“Oh that feels so much BETTER!” she laughed at her own reaction. “How 'they'
put up with wearing those I'll never know?” for a second Tommy was startled to
hear a male voice and then realized that unconsciously he must have turned off
the voice modification thing in the necklace.
“I better get all this off,” he told himself and draped the mink over the back
of the chair, “perhaps I'll think more straight when I'm back to being myself?”
Slowly he undid the zipper and started to ease the glamorous dress off before
realizing that despite his wishes, tonight he could not fully be Tommy. For a
second he looked at the breasts held securely in the bra he had on. They
weren't coming off, and at least tonight as much as he wanted to be himself
again, they were going to ensure he was Tommy with a woman's breasts.
With a groan he pulled the straps down, then twisted the bra round his body and
unhooked it. As he pulled the bra away his - or were they her breasts - bounced
free. He looked at them, and then made
his way to the bathroom.
Fifteen minutes
later, Tommy sat down on the couch dressed solely in an extremely long tee
shirt. In the intervening time he'd untucked his male parts, stripped off his
makeup, and for some reason changed wigs to the one that Mary and the others
had told him was for everyday use.
He'd looked in the mirror and that had just confused him more. With the wig on
his head, those long red nails on his hands, and with his breasts tenting the
tee shirt, he had still looked like a woman. He'd had to look hard to see Tommy
at all. What he had seem was Krys, his alter ego – his other self, and he had
admired that person.
What the hell
was happening?
After a few
seconds he was distracted by his phone going off and he read the message.
“Not so easy is it?” the message read, and it was signed Alexandra.
“Stop gloating
Sands,” he mumbled to himself as he turned it off.
No it hadn't
been easy, he told himself, but at the same time he had to say it had also been
fun in places, and it had given him some insights into what it was like to be
female.
There were just
so many questions racing round his brain, and so very few answers.
Had Missy
Auerbach truly been serious about going to see her about modelling? Or had
someone let her in on who it truly was under the fabulous dress, and it was
some kind of huge joke? Had he really had to fight off the advances of a randy
teenager like that? Gently he laughed he remember the satisfaction of putting
his heel into the boys foot like that.
“I guess I need
to sleep on this,” he said as he looked over to the bar. Walking over, he opened the fridge and took
out a bottle of Budweiser, then opened it.
He was about to drink from the bottle when he stopped, and poured it
into a glass before sitting down.
“What did I
just do….”
1 AM
Nessa’s Apartment
“Now am I doing
this right?” Nessa ran her tongue over her own gorgeous red lips before she
knelt in front of the naked man sitting in one of her beautiful Louis Quinze
armchairs.
“So far,” Lowell smiled down at the still gorgeous older woman as she knelt
naked between his open legs and gently started to lick the head of his cock
“Mmmmm that's
not bad at all,” she ran her long red nails up and down the base of his shaft, “I
think me and him are going to have a good time tonight darling,” Nessa looked
up and winked at the man before taking the head of his penis and slowly easing
it into her own mouth.
“Oh my God,”
she could feel him tense as the sensation of having her simultaneously lick and
suck on his cock began to hit him.
Gently she squeezed
his ball sack as she started to try and take him deep into her mouth,
consciously relaxing as she let the bulbous head make its way into her throat.
Her lips locked tight as she maintained suction.
As her mobile
phone pinged, Nessa glanced over. A
message with a photo? She would look at
it later…
3 am
Park Avenue
Shirley turned
over and saw John sleeping on his side, before she slipped out of the bed and
put on her silk dressing gown. Quietly,
she made her way into the kitchen and started to heat some water, the words
Maisha had shared going through her mind.
Her daughter
was right, in a way – the fact she had been snatched, her life taken from her,
was a motivator to the support she was giving now, but the road less travelled
was going through her mind. What would
have happened had she not been forced into servitude with Master?
She might have
qualified, and been head of her own architecture consultancy now – advising on
new projects, been happy...
But then… Then
she would not have bene there for Ama and Maisa when the time came, or for any
of the others for that matter. Her
organization had done so much good there – as if the burning of her old life
had allowed such lush, green shoots to come out with their freedom.
And the chances
were she would never have met John, or so many of her friends…
No – whatever
regrets she may have at what she did not have, she was Madame X and she had to
be what life had made her, and what had been allowed to come out.
The sound of
her cell phone buzzing made her look, and smile as she answered it. “Cat – do you know what time it is here?”
“And yet, you
are still up,” she heard Catriona Crawford say, “can’t sleep?”
“A lot of
things to think about – I told John about my kidnapping tonight.”
“All of it?”
“No – just that
I was finally returned home a few years later.
I don’t think he needs to hear the full tale – or that I should tell
him.
“Not yet,
anyway.”
“Which is why
my ears were burning – not long now, you know?”
“I know – I
look forward to seeing you all here for the day…”
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