#uk1

“Surprise, surprise!”

Cheryl had only had to open the door to the oddly quiet living room to instantly jump out of her skin the sight and sound of all her friends, the synchronised bangs of party poppers, streams of colours through the air. Something shattered in the kitchen through the open door at the back of the living room (most likely the walking hazard that was Kendall knocking a mug over), but shrieks and cheers covered up most of the noise.

She instantly turned backwards to meet Vivienne’s smug smile, as she stood behind her, and hit her with the paper KFC bag that was in her left hand.

“I knew you were doing this!” Cheryl cried, although really she would never have guessed.

“Give over, Chez, you had no idea. You thought we were just going for nuggets. Anyway, d’you like it?” Viv’s grin was a little forced.

“I love it! Babe, thank you so much!” Cheryl tugged Vivienne down the six inch difference in height to hug her round the neck.

A gentle ahem from inside the front room interrupted them, and Cheryl turned to Divina, standing waiting her turn.

“Divina did the decorations,” Viv muttered, but she needn’t have said; it was obvious by their precise locations and mix of pastels (but no other bright colours) that it was Divina’s hand leading all of this set up. Cheryl just dragged Divina towards them both, happy they’d put their mutual dislike aside even if it just for this.

“You didn’t think we’d let you go off to America without one last party, did you?” Divina exclaimed.

“Guys! You really shouldn’t have! Oh, I’m gonna cry!” Cheryl finally put down the KFC bag, nuggets spilling on the floor, to wipe her eyes.

Divina seized her by the cheeks. “Less of that, Cheryl, no tears today, okay? Come in and we’ll get the party going.” Divina steered Cheryl into the living room out of Vivienne’s arms, and Baga grinned as she handed her a mug.

But Cheryl knew better than to drink it right off the bat.

“What’s this, Bags?”

“Just coke,” Baga shrugged.

“Coke and what?”

“Coke and a mug.”

“Coke and what, Baga?”

But Baga just grinned. “Drink it and find out!”

Cheryl put the mug to her lips and … Oh, yes, coke and some fucking paint thinner, she realised. This was going to be an interesting afternoon. Just Baga feeding them all more and more alcohol from her mum’s special cupboard and topping it all up with water or apple juice or whatever hair-brained scheme Baga seemed to have thought up next.

Speaking of her mum …

“Viv,” Cheryl realised, turning to her, “does my mum know you’re all here?”

Vivienne blinked and looked at the painting on the wall.

“Viv! Tell me!”

“What are we playing first, girls?” Baga ignored Cheryl, steering her to the dining table which was large enough for six, and littered with bottles and cans. “Make space! Cards? Anyone brought cards?”

“Baga, no way, I told you I’m not playing Ring Of Fire again.” Kat folded her arms, glaring at her.

“Shut up, Kat. Who wants Ring Of Fire?”

“I’ve got a deck of cards!” Vivienne declared, producing one from her bra.

“No way am I playing with those.” This time it was Divina’s turn to put her foot down. “Not when they’ve spent all morning in Vivienne’s tits. I might catch something.”

“Only thing you’ll catch is some class, girl.” Vivienne replied smoothly.

“Class? From you? I don’t think.”

“Okay, okay!” Baga huffed. “Jesus Christ, you lot. Someone else suggest something then. Chez, get that down your neck.”

Cheryl focused on drinking while the others argued about the game. Viv and Divina kept shooting barbs at each other, with Vinegar egging them on and Sum waving her hands in the air trying to calm both of them down. Baga’s face grew redder and redder as she fought not to shout at them, while Crystal, Kat and Kendall went to the back door to vape.

Wait.

“Is Blu not coming?” Cheryl asked in the kitchen, but the argument was reaching a crescendo. She drained the mug and went outside to the back garden. Crystal was blowing smoke rings, while Kat and Kendall sat in the grass, legs intertwined, passing Kendall’s vape pen between them and picking at the daisies.  

“Where’s Blu?” Cheryl asked Crystal, thinking Kat and Kendall were too preoccupied for company.

“She’s still got flu,” Crystal replied, blowing a cloud of smoke through the centre of her newest smoke ring. “She couldn’t come.”

——

Fuck this. Fuck the flu.

Blu felt like shit, and not just because of the flu. She was missing Cheryl’s surprise party. God, what irony. She hadn’t missed a day of term over the whole of sixth form, and now she had the worst flu of her life at the end of the summer holidays, right before everyone was going to uni and right before Cheryl was flying to America.

She looked down at her phone from earlier when she’d messaged Viv.

Blu: sorry im still sick

Blu: mam wont let me out the house

Blu: best i can hope for is to be better for monday to come to the airport

Viv: Can’t be helped girl xx

Viv: Hope your feelin better soon xx

She’d wanted to see Cheryl’s face when Viv brought her in for the surprise, because Cheryl would never guess in a million years and her face would be a picture.

She’d wanted to savour every minute she was still with her best friend before he had to get on the plane and go on that scholarship.

She’d wanted to give Cheryl her present at the party. Nothing worth a lot of money, or big, but something that meant a lot to Blu and she hoped to Cheryl too.

Sighing, she looked over at the corner where it was wrapped, ready to go. Where she’d almost fallen on it this morning, getting up and out of bed. Telling her ma she felt fine, before her unsteady legs gave out under her and she crashed into the wall.

It sucks being in bed all day.

She looked down at her watch - one of those new ones with the soulmate-finder on it, to see that the day was moving frustratingly slowly. There was nothing onTV, she’d watched what felt like the whole of Netflix, and she still didn’t really want to eat.

With a growl of frustration, she tugged the duvet over her head and snuggled down, hoping that being good and staying in bed would help her fever hurry the fuck up and leave her in time for Monday.

Then I can say bye.

She couldn’t let Cheryl go without saying goodbye. Cheryl was far more than her best friend.

Coming over from Belfast after her parents’ divorce two years ago felt like wrenching a tree from its roots and trying to plant it in rocks. London was too big, and even now Blu still wasn’t altogether used to central London, but here on the outskirts wasn’t as bad.

In addition to a different country, she’d had to shift her studies here too, and her first day at her new school had felt like all the wires in her brain had been rearranged. Besides, having the badge of honour of being the New Girl among these sixth formers who had already known each other for five years was never going to be straightforward.

But her first lesson, on her first day, Business Studies, had seen the prefect Cheryl toss her hair back from her shoulders and pat the empty space at the desk next to her, her smile charming and so fucking genuine.

It had been all Blu had needed for something hot to blossom in her chest.

She’d been so confused. Back at school in Belfast, she’d convinced herself having crushes on her girl friends was just a phase, as her ma had said, and she would grow out of it. But meeting Cheryl had made her sure that it definitely wasn’t just a phase. The crushes she’d had in Belfast came and went, like clouds on a windy day; like the boys who had entered her life but who had never felt real, and had let her go like the wisp of smoke she turned into. But Blu had never once moved on from Cheryl. Cheryl was the sky beyond the clouds. In her mind now, that was all there was.

Blu had shook when she’d told her ma she was certain now, over Christmas holidays in Year 12 - certain that she didlike girls, this wasn’t going away, and there was This Girl in her life now, and This Girl was incredible, kind, talented, gorgeous … and probably as straight as a poker. And her ma had nodded along with her confession, reassured her, let her cry at the relief.

Cheryl remained This Girl.

Incredible, kind, talented, gorgeous, and Blu was convinced poker-straight.

Blu opened her eyes, stunned to see the clock had moved on to seven pm in what felt like no time at all. She’d slept, by some miracle.

Her throat felt much better, too.

——

Three rounds of Ring Of Fire and countless attempts at Among Us later, and Cheryl was warm and drunk and swaying happily to the music from Divina’s Spotify playlist. Among Us had gone to pieces after everyone had collectively decided that Crystal was just always going to be the imposter and Crystal made no attempt to dissuade them; simply flipping her hair back and winking at them.

Cheryl felt the familiar sensation of Vivienne’s fingers at the back of her neck, tugging her hair back to braid. It transported Cheryl to being in Year 7 again, when Cheryl had had her super-long hair, and Viv had been obsessed with braiding it at every opportunity. Now, with long gentle fingers at the base of her scalp, Cheryl let herself ascend to cloud nine of relaxation.

“You having a good time?” Viv asked softly.

It was a tone she didn’t really use with the rest of the group; her own quiet way of caring. Cheryl tried to nod.

“Stop it, girl, your braid is coming out!”

“Sorry. Viv? Mum did know about this party, didn’t she, babe?”

Vivienne cackled in response to Cheryl’s tentative question. “Of course she did, like Divina would have decorated your house like that if your mum hadn’t known about us giving you a party.”

Divina spun round at her name, her red hair seeming to flare up. “Vivienne, if you don’t stop -“

But Divina was interrupted by a sharp nudge in the ribs from Crystal, and a pointed glance to Sum, who Cheryl only just noticed was lying on the ground, her hands in her rucksack. She sat back up with an impish grin.

“Do you want to play some pass the parcel?” Sum asked, her eyelids drooping as she handed a parcel wrapped in brown paper to Cheryl. Her words were slurred; Sum was the lightweight of the group, for sure. Still, Cheryl was drunk enough not to think that pass the parcel was a stupid idea.

“Let’s do it then!” Cheryl shouted above the music. “Everyone get on the floor!”

“Some of us don’t need to go far, do we?”

“Shut up, Kendall, I’m not that short!”

“Just shut up and sit down, Baga,” Cheryl pulled her down to sit with them all. “Right - who’s got the music on?”

“Me,” Divina said, holding her phone up. “I’ll do the stops.”

The parcel took forever to go round everyone, with them all having a turn to unwrap a layer. After the seventh layer was unwrapped, Vivienne realised that Divina was not stopping the music when she had the parcel, resulting in yet another argument. But once everyone had had a turn, as expected, the parcel landed on Cheryl as the music stopped.

It was a small box, big enough to fit in her hands as she cupped it. It had to be the last layer before the gift was revealed. Obviously, Cheryl thought to herself, they’ve planned all of this.

She tore the paper off, and was stunned.

“This is - guys -“

Cheryl had seen the adverts for the soulmate-finding smart watches, but holding it in her hands … it felt surreal.

“We wanted to get you something meaningful,” Sum was smiling warmly as she spoke, “and so we all got together and bought you this watch.”

Sure, Cheryl would have loved to have owned one of these watches before, but they were so expensive and so new, that she thought it would probably be years before she’d own one at least. And now, here was the small box that held one, of her very own.

“God - you must have spent a fucking fortune on me, you didn’t have to do that …”

Cheryl found tears come readily to her eyes as Baga gave her a hug.

“Chez, it’s fine. Maybe now you’ll find an American soulmate!”

“Maybe.”

“And then you can stay in America and not come back!”

Cheryl forced a smile as she patted Baga on the back, letting the tears fall now.

“We’ll need to set you up before you go so when you get there you can meet some American as soon as you land. There’s some, like, personality quiz or something they make you take so they can set you up with a soulmate. Give me your phone and I’ll set you up.” Divina reached for Cheryl’s phone.

“Hey, hey, what makes you think you’re going to be setting her up, Divina?” Viv protested. “We all bought it, so we allget to do it.”

“Why can’t you fucking -“

“Shut the fuck up! Both of you!” Crystal shouted above them both; the only one still seemingly sober. “God, you’re both being fucking childish.”

“We’re all doing it,” Vinegar announced, and her authoritative tone as always caused the rest of the group to go quiet; Divina as docile as a lamb as she handed over Cheryl’s phone and the watch.

The nine of them poured the rest of the spirits and the mixers into each other’s mugs and glasses, and gathered round Vinegar as she downloaded the app onto Cheryl’s phone and started filling in the questions on the personality test.

They’d been a group for seven years, and although they didn’t always all get along now, it was the closest Cheryl felt to anyone. Cheryl glanced round at her friends, close as sisters but loyal as family, feeling tears hot in her eyes once again. The slight unnerving feeling in her gut that she had every now and then threatened to throw her off course again, intrusive thoughts creeping back in.

Is this the right thing?

Divina and Viv weren’t staring daggers at each other for the first time in the last month; instead working in tandem and chuckling softly at each other. Vinegar, her tongue worrying her lip in concentration, tapped answers to the questions as the girls called them. Kendall motioned to Kat with her vape, and the two backed away to the door of the kitchen, Sum following them.

A Levels had been and gone, and school was officially done. Cheryl’s scholarship to the prestigious Iman Performing Arts college in New York City was secured, plus the resettlement grant which would pay for moving costs.

She was the only one leaving England behind.

Blu would get it. Blu knows what it’s like to move countries. But Blu has the flu.

She giggled to herself at the rhyming thought, the only thing she could do to keep from crying again. Baga was already eyeing her to make sure she didn’t. The last thing she wanted was for her makeup to smear any more than it already was.

But it felt so much like her bubble of school, of normal life, was ending; ready for this new world of academia and New York to begin. It was a dream come true and a nightmare rolled into one. But Blu would understand, because she’d already moved to another country.

She wished for Blu more than ever at that moment.

Before she could think about it too much, her phone was thrust back into her hand by Vinegar, the questions all completed.

“There you are, babes.” Vinegar pointed to the bottom of the page. “If you like what we’ve done, just hit go.”

Cheryl didn’t feel as if all the words were going in, as she looked down the page, reading descriptions of herself, answers to family questions, life, hobbies, hopes and dreams. She could see the words, but they didn’t register; and as she read them, they felt as if they were describing someone else, someone who maybe existed in a mirror rather than a physical form.

When she got all to way to the top, she blinked at the ‘looking for’ box. Vinegar had entered Men, but Cheryl hesitated. That wasn’t … quite right.

This is it, Chez. Now or never.

Vodka was great for a confidence boost. She tapped the button where Vinegar had added that she was looking for Men, and changed it to Any gender instead.

A detail that wasn’t missed by Vinegar’s inquisitive gaze.

“Wait, hold on, hold on. Chez? Chez!”

Vivienne turned to look, and so did Divina and Baga.

“Oh, finally!” Baga exclaimed, dragging Cheryl back into a hug. “We wondered if you’d admit it before you left.”

“What? How did you know?” Cheryl cried.

But none of them would tell her; just smirking at one another and alternating her with hugs.

——

Cheryl’s flight wasn’t set to leave until five, but she had to be there three hours early to get through customs - how did that make sense, Blu thought, when she could arrive forty minutes before and still get back to Belfast - and so Blu had wanted to be there early, but there were so many people on the Tube, plus a breakdown at St Pancras, meaning she had barely any time to sprint across the glistening tiles at Heathrow airport.

Where is she?

The departures board said her flight was already going through baggage check in and security. There wasn’t much time. She followed the signs to the bag drop …

“Blu!”

Crystal was coming towards her, and Blu saw behind her Divina, Viv and Baga; all presumably having come down in Divina’s cramped little third-hand Ford KA. Viv was rubbing her eyes, and the telltale mascara lines on her cheeks told no lies.

“That’s it, then,” Crystal nodded, looking gravely at Blu. “She’s putting her bags through and then - well, she’s gone until Christmas.”

“You can still catch her after she comes out of baggage check in, Blu,” Divina said gently.

Blu didn’t pause to second guess; she sprinted past them, towards the baggage drop, watching people queue with their cases, looking at the queues for any sign of her.

And there she was.

Cheryl in the flesh, coming out of the baggage drop and about to ship herself almost halfway around the world; her normally perfect blonde hair tied off her face; her normally flawless makeup not even slightly present. Just Chez in a baggy shirt, denim jacket, and a pair of leggings, ready to fly. Ready to leave this bubble behind.

Blu had never loved her more.

Before she had the chance to call her, their eyes met. Blu watched them expand, the elated grin flood her face, and her arms open as Blu ran into them. Cheryl caught her, squeezed tightly …

Time stopped.

How was she meant to let Cheryl go? They’d only known each other these last two years …

They hadn’t had the time as besties the rest of them had had, but Blu knew that Cheryl just felt like a part of her now; as if each of them were a jigsaw with one piece of each other that fit perfectly.

It’s not the end. It’s not the end.

But as much as Blu repeated that to herself, something churned in her stomach at the thought of Cheryl leaving.

When time finally flooded back into their day, as Cheryl pulled away; Blu watched her green eyes fill with tears and Cheryl hurriedly wipe them away.

“Sorry,” Cheryl muttered, “I knew I was gonna cry at some point.”

“It’s alright,” Blu whispered, her own voice breaking too much to speak louder.

Cheryl nodded, taking Blu’s hand and squeezing, gazing at the ground, giving Blu as reassuring a smile as she could muster when she was evidently breaking in two.

“I’ll be back at Christmas,” Cheryl was murmuring, meeting Blu’s eyes again, “and in summer. That’s not long. Christmas is only, what, four months away. And we’ve got Skype. Facetime. Whatever. We’ve got - we’ve got everything. We’ll stay in touch. We will. We all will. We …”

“I know.” Blu nodded back at her. “We’ll talk - every day if you want, Cheryl.”

Cheryl nodded again, hitching her rucksack higher on her back.

“I have to go through security.”

“Before you go -“ Blu had almost forgotten. Her own present. She tugged it from her bag, small as it was, wrapped in brightly-coloured paper. Cheryl would probably guess at what it was from the size and shape, but she still rattled it next to her ear for good measure, before laughing and taking off her rucksack to put it in.

“I’ll open it on the plane.”

“Alright,” Blu replied, but Cheryl was frozen, her eyes wide, pleading. Asking something that Blu couldn’t hear, couldn’t understand.

“You don’t want to miss your plane, do you?” Blu whispered.

“No.” Cheryl took a deep breath. “Thank you, Blu.” And with a shy smile, she leaned in and ever so gently gave Blu a kiss on the cheek.

It was the last thing Blu expected. She held her breath, wishing time would stop again, wishing she could hold on to this moment, or drag Cheryl back off the plane. But they’d had so much time. Over school, over summer, and nowwasn’t the right moment.

“Bye, Blu. Thanks for the present. See you at Christmas.”

Blu feigned nonchalance. “If we let you back in the country.”

Finally, Cheryl managed a laugh. Squeezing Blu’s hand for the last time, Cheryl pulled away, finally letting her go.

Blu let her, and watched her walk away to the escalator up to Security, the first steps to her new life in America.

It was only when Blu reached up to wipe the tears from her eyes that she saw the blue notification light on her new watch. She hadn’t figured out what all the notification lights meant yet, so frowning, she tapped the button on the screen.

‘A soulmate is within a 10m radius. Please press the blue button to start your timer. You have one day for your soulmate to respond. You then have 100 hours to connect. Alternatively, please press the red button to decline this opportunity.’

Blu felt her legs tremble.

No fucking way.

She was frozen to the spot, reading the message over and over.

Turning her head back up, she watched Cheryl reach the top of the escalator. About to head to Departures.

Now was the only chance she would have before she lost her.

But Blu couldn’t move.

Finally, her legs seemed to obey her as she tore to the escalator, taking the steps three at a time, and at the top - sighing with relief - Cheryl was still there, putting her liquid items into the tiny plastic bags, draining her bottle of water to the last drop.

“Cheryl!”

Cheryl spun at the shrill sound of her name, a split second before Blu launched herself at her. She opened her arms and caught her a second time that day.

“Blu? What’s wrong? What -“

“We got you a soulmate watch, didn’t we?” Blu could barely catch her breath, her heart hammering. “Are you wearing it right now?”

“Yeah, it’s here,” Cheryl nodded, and held up her wrist. Something caught her eye, and frowning, she looked at it. “Why is there a light on it?”

Blu didn’t reply; she simply held up her own watch, with the same notification light.

“You’ve got a soulmate watch too? Wait, why is yours like that as well?” Cheryl said, but Blu didn’t need to respond. Cheryl’s mouth fell open, and she turned her eyes from the watch to Blu; who watched her realisation and her every thought as it crossed her face.

Cheryl - isn’t straight either?

“You -“ Cheryl’s eyes filled with the same easy tears that she always seemed to produce; always the easiest cryer of the group of them, always the most emotional. “I can’t believe it. You did, too?”

Blu nodded, weak with relief. “Since the start of sixth form.”

Cheryl gasped. “Since we got paired up for business studies! God, two years! Two years we’ve wasted, not doing this!”

Before she could ask what she meant, Cheryl tugged Blu towards her, closing the distance, kissing her lips; and it was everything and more that Blu had dreamed it would be. Cheryl might not have been wearing makeup, but she still smelled divine, her warmth a solace, a right place to be. Blu wrapped her arms around Cheryl’s waist, hoping to go deeper, but Cheryl let her go suddenly.

Blu saw her eyes cloud over once again.

“How am I meant to get on the plane if we’re -“

But she couldn’t finish the sentence, words failing Cheryl for probably the first time in her life. Blu looked at the Departures gates, ignoring everyone else around them, and took a deep breath, swallowing hard.

“For your dream, Cheryl,” Blu whispered. “This is what you’ve wanted forever. You’ve always said that. Remember - remember that day you got the scholarship through? When we were in class?”

“God, we got so drunk that day,” Cheryl giggled.

“Yeah, well, you need to go for your dream.”

“But - “ Cheryl swallowed, her voice an octave higher than usual. “But we’re soulmates, Blu.”

Her words wrapped themselves tightly around Blu’s heart, and she thought she’d never in her life forget the ice-cold sorrow in Cheryl’s voice … but she couldn’t let that influence anything rash.

She sniffed, trying to hold her tears back. “You have to go, Cheryl. You’ll miss your flight. I’ll be here for you, when you get off it again, at Christmas. I promise.” Blu rubbed her arm. “I’ll be right here, at Heathrow. Go get your dream, girl.”

“God, we’re stupid,” Cheryl muttered, “for not realising sooner.”

Blu pressed Accept on her watch, and a new message came up.

‘Thank you for selecting. Your soulmate has one day to respond. You will be notified when they make their decision.’

“Tap yours.”

Cheryl giggled. “Why? It’s definitely me.” But she did so anyway.

Blu felt her watch vibrate again, presumably with another message, but she didn’t care; Cheryl was here, and the watch had somehow made everything they’d both hidden for two years come into the light, fall into place like the missing jigsaw pieces.

“What - what now?”

But Cheryl didn’t reply; she grinned through her tears as she pulled Blu back towards her for a last kiss; one that felt like sustainment, like life itself. Blu could do nothing now but enjoy this moment, the final one for now.

Cheryl finally let her go, and Blu had to tell her to go before she changed her mind.

“Get your flight! Go and get your dream!”

Cheryl looked at the security desks, then wistfully at Blu.

“I’ll be back at Christmas, alright, babe?”

“I’ll be here for when you land. I promise.”

Cheryl had just finish securing her basement when she heard a rapid banging on her front door.

“What the fuck is-“ the words died in her mouth as she saw a heavily bleeding Blu being carried  by a frantic looking Crystal and an equally distressed Divina, Cheryl immediately moved ushering them inside.

“We didn’t where else to take her.” Crystal said shakily laying a half conscious Blu on the sofa.

“A wolf came out of nowhere,” Divina explained running back over with a towel to put pressure on Blu’s bleeding side. It was then Cheryl noticed the witches were also bleeding from various scratches and had fresh bruises forming.

“It- it’s too early, the moon isn’t in position yet.” Cheryl said panicked while dabbing at some smaller but just as deep wounds, Blu groaned trying to turn toward her but Divina held her in place.

“Well it certainly wasn’t a normal wolf.” Crystal said still shaking. “Its eyes were glowing and one scratch made our magic useless against it.”

“It might have been feral, turned as soon as the sunset.” Divina theorized

“Or just an asshole.” Crystal said bitterly.

“Chez?” Blu slurred, eyes opening just enough to look at Cheryl.

“Hey babes.” Cheryl said softly wiping some blood off Blu’s forehead

“Hurts.” Blu croaked eyes going glassy.

“What do we do?’ Crystal said looking to Cheryl.

She bit her lip looking at the clock. “Help me get her to the basement. The moon will be in position soon, the closer it gets the faster she’ll heal. By morning she’ll be fine and I’ll have a fuck ton of explaining to do.” The other two nodded, gently lifting Blu as Cheryl led them to her den. “Go, I’ll call you tomorrow.” She said once Blu was laid out on her make shift bed

Divina and Crystal left, leaving her alone with Blu, who started to shifting uncomfortably though Cheryl could tell she was still incoherent.

Taking a deep breath to fight off some tears, Cheryl peeled the remains of Blu’s shirt off, revealing the deep bite that went from the middle of Blu’s waist to just under her hip. It was still bleeding but it had started to slow down. Cheryl felt white hot rage flood her body, causing her own body to lurch, eyes glowing yellow.  

“Not now.” She growled to herself, regaining control

“Chez?” Blu said again voice a little stronger, as scratches on her neck stitched themselves closed.

“I’m right here.” Cheryl said barely managing to keep her voice steady as she took hold of one of Blu’s hands.

“What ha-“ Blu froze as her other hand subconsciously went to her wounded side. “What?” her breathing became panicked.

“You’re going to be okay.” Cheryl said smoothing Blu’s hair. “Breathe with me.” She said gesturing for her to take deep slow breaths which Blu did her best to follow before her eyes wandered down seeing all of her blood that they were both covered in.

“Cheryl-“ Blu was cut off by a full body shiver.

Cheryl felt it to, glancing up at the clock then back down at Blu’s rapidly healing bite. “Its going to be okay. I know you’re confused and scared and it’s about to hurt a lot, trust me when I say it’ll be okay, we’ll get through this. I’m not going anywhere”

Blu whined, eyes shifting to yellow as she curled in on herself, gripping Cheryl’s hands so tightly it would bruise.

“I know sweetie,” Cheryl hugged Blu close as she shook, “I know.” She whispered, her own eyes changing as she fought off the moons effects.

Cheryl only let go when Blu started convulsing, bones cracking and reforming, skin tearing, her scream turning into a howl as in Blu’s places laid a very confused sandy blonde wolf looking around the room, growling when its eyes found Cheryl.

Cheryl put her head down but kept her eyes locked with Blu’s, the wolf stared at her quizzically but cautiously, sniffing her while moving slightly closer, she put a gentle hand on Blu’s muzzle and the wolf nuzzled her hand.

“I’m not going anywhere.” Cheryl whispered before lurching forward, her own body transforming painfully.

In The Morning

Cheryl woke slowly, every part of her body ached for her to stay sleep until she heard a soft yet familiar snore. Her eyes snapped open look at Blu was passed out close by, surrounded by the fluffy remains of her mattress. Her pale skin was covered in dried blood, Cheryl was too. Despite her body’s protests she went over to the younger girls side, gently placing a hand on her forehead, making sure she didn’t have a fever, which luckily she didn’t. Cheryl knew better than to move her so she just draped a blanket over her.

Cheryl made her way up stairs, scrubbing Blu’s blood of her skin in the kitchen sink and getting dressed before returning to the other girl’s side. Blu was still asleep, and Cheryl figured she would remain that way for most of the day. Blu had curled up under the blanket holding the fabric close to her face, breathing in Cheryl’s scent.

‘Blu made it through the night. I’ll keep you posted.’ She sent a quick text to Crystal and Divina before shutting her phone off.

Cheryl cleaned up the room the best she could without disturbing Blu, then she just sat next to Blu, watching her chest rise and fall.

It was around 3 in the afternoon when Blu started to stir. Cheryl tensed up as Blu’s eyes slowly fluttered open. Blu looked around confused.

“Cheryl?” she said almost as if she was unsure whether or not she was still dreaming or not.

“Hey babes.” She said softly.

“I don’t under-“ Blu paused looking at her bloody hand “I I thought it was just a nightmare.” Blu hiccupped a few tears escaped down her cheeks.

“As much as I wish it were, it wasn’t.” Cheryl said taking her hand into hers. “Tell me what you remember, I’ll fill in the rest.”

Blu let out a shaky breath “Crystal, Divina and I we were walking back from dress rehearsal, it  ran late cause Charlie threw in a few changes and… and then we heard a dog growling from one of the yards… but it wasn’t a, a dog.” Tears started coming faster now “It pounced on me, I tried to get away but it sunk it teeth in, it, it mostly goes fuzzy after that, but I remember seeing you then I felt like I was fire then it all goes dark again.” Blu was shaking, looking up at Cheryl.

Cheryl’s heart broke, “Remember when you asked me about the scar on me leg.” Blu nodded, “And I said it was cause I got bit by a dog as a kid, that last bit wasn’t entirely true. I got attacked, like you were. This is gonna sound mental, but the wolf that attacked you last night was a werewolf, and the fire you felt was… you turning.”

“Into a… werewolf.” Blu said testing the waters.

“Yes.”

“And you’re one too?”

“Yes.” Blu was silent. “I know this is very overwhelming-“

“This is insane.” Blu interrupted “But I, I trust you.”

Cheryl pulled Blu into a tight hug, the dam burst both girls sobbing into each other’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you, but I promise you, I’m not going anywhere.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Divina turns at the sound of the angry voice, barely hiding the slight shiver of hate that slid through her at the sight of the man being yelled at. She had walked away fast, wishing she had the guts to stay and hear out how it all ended. As it was she could see that the man had dressed the woman up way past how rich she was and was clearly trying to buy the woman.

She remembered exactly how she had felt with the same man, despite the fact she was rich enough to take care of herself he had always made her feel lesser, cheap even. In the end she had walked away, choosing to head home and clean up.

She had emerged from the shower to dress herself, choosing to leave the house and find her local restaurant, she needed to eat, she needed to be somewhere public, not sinking into old memories. She had ordered with a crystal clear voice, aware how posh she sounded and doing her best not to let the memories cloud over. Her attention had been taken by the woman behind the bar, she had blinked, looking down and away, picking at the food she had ordered when it came, choosing to order a drink, hating that she recognised the woman and was too scared to get any closer to the woman behind the bar. She had always known that her ex was the type of man to come here and try to make someone posh for him, purely for him.

She had paid and left, pushing down all the memories and heading home once again, the alcohol clearing her thoughts just enough that she was free to walk home. She had no idea that the woman behind the bar had seen her… had noticed her and clearly recognized her. She had gone back the next day, choosing to not eat alone at home. It had been a long time since she had any interest in keeping someone company, or even being in public. Now though, seeing her ex was not hurting, was not regretting anything, she had known she needed to face the world again, not letting memories or even fear hurt her anymore. It wasn’t easy but she needed to find a way back into how she used to be. Happy, confident and comfortable. She had not really been aware of her server sending the woman behind the bar over to serve her. She had only really looked up when she was about to order, her words dying in her throat when she looked up at the other woman. “You alright love?” “I… yes?” “You don’t sound sure…” Divina laughs then, oddly charmed by the other woman. “It’s just been a long week, that’s all.” “Sure… so, what can I get you?” The woman smirks as she adds. “Besides me…” The words are enough to startle Divina into another laugh. Her smile light as she gives her order, pausing before adding. “And your name…” “My mates call me Baga…” “Baga?” “Baga Chipz… I don’t buy my food from here, too expensive…” Baga shrugs. “I get chips from down the road.” Divina laughs again then, startled enough to find the woman’s honesty charming, her words warm and almost flirtatious for once. “Well… maybe we should go together some day?” “Are you asking me out love?” “Depends on the answer…” “Yeah, alright…” “What about after your shift?” “I finished a minute ago… why do you think Jon sent me over?” Baga had indicated her friend, the server who had served Divina the day before and had sent Baga over to talk to the other woman. He had smirked, waving at them both and indicating they should go. Baga had talked with Divina a little more to convince Divina to stay long enough for her to change out of her work clothes. She had walked out minutes later, enjoying Divina’s clear surprise at her simple black dress, smoothing the dress down and moving to join Divina when the woman rose from her seat, shrugging on her jacket. They had walked out together, Baga enjoying the slight shyness from Divina, finding herself charmed by the easy way that Divina laughed, letting her crack jokes. The two had headed down to the chip shop together, Divina insisting on paying for both of their chip bags before heading out to find a seat and talk. “So, James huh?” “Pardon?” Divina had sounded surprised enough that Baga laughed. “James… our shared ex…” “He… told you about me?” “Yeah… apparently you broke him for rich women and he decided he wanted to pick up a… less than rich girl this time.” “Asshole.” The word left Divina almost as a growl, Baga blinking before laughing and nudging Divina. “You said it, bird.” “Bird?” “Chick?” Divina laughed slightly. “Alright.” “Maybe you should tell me what he did?” “Can’t you tell?” Divina asked softly. “I can guess… same as he did to me?” “Yeah, something like that…” Baga sighed slightly. “Shame, you seem like a decent bird at heart…” “You hardly know me…” “I’d like to.” Divina had blushed slightly, smiling a little shyly. “Really?” “Yeah really.” Baga had laughed slightly, loving the blush on Divina’s cheeks. “You always so shy?” “Since… him… yes.” Baga had laughed softly, rolling her eyes. “He’s not that freaking wonderful babe, really.” “Neither am I…”

Blu fidgeted nervously, ignoring the pitying glances from the other diners. Her date would show up, she was sure. An hour late wasn’t that long, right? She was probably stuck in traffic, or got lost, or had an emergency. That dreaded waitress came over again. “Ma'am, I’m sorry, but if you don’t order now you can’t stay, we have a line out of the door.”

“She’ll only be-” Blu looked towards the door, watching as a gorgeous woman ran in, dodging past the rest of the line. Blu was surprised when the woman ran towards her.

“Sorry I’m late, babe, traffic was terrible, and- oh! You should’ve just ordered, hon, you didn’t have to wait for me! Awe, I’m so sorry!” The stranger dropped a sticky kiss onto Blu’s cheek,  slipping into the seat across from her. She turned to the waitress. “Give us one more second?” The waitress nodded, and left the two.

The woman leaned in close, so close Blu could spot the gold flecks in her deep brown eyes. “I’m Crystal, just go with it.”

Blu was left speechless by more than the situation. “Wha- how-”

“Nevermind all that. So your date was a no-show, huh? Sucks to be them.”

Overwhelmed, Blu shook her head. Crystal leaned back in her seat, stretching her legs out so they brushed Blu’s. She had a smirk plastered on her face. “You don’t even know my name.”

Crystal sunk her teeth into her bottom lip, the pink gloss staying firmly in place. “Why don’t you tell me then?”

Blu drew in a shaky breath. The things she would let this woman do to her. Crystal tucked a piece of her curly blonde hair behind her ear, and batted her eyelashes, and Blu was gone. “Blu. Without the ‘e’. Just B-l-u.” Blu cringed. She never did have the best social skills.

Crystal didn’t seem to notice, however, and picked up her menu. “Well, Blu without the ‘e’, what do you fancy?”

They looked over the menu in silence, every so often peeking over the top at the other. When their gazes accidentally met, Blu’s hurriedly returned to her menu. Crystal’s intensified, her smirk growing. After overanalysing the, frankly embarrassing, conversation (at least on Blu’s end), Blu came to a realisation which she was surprised she hadn’t noticed earlier. “You’re Canadian.”

Crystal looked up in mild amusement. “And you’re Irish.”

Blu stared on in a trance, before shaking herself. “Sorry, sorry, you’re- you’re just a long way from home.”

Crystal leaned forward, reaching her hand up to adjust the little crown clip Blu had tucked into her ponytail. She let her hand trail down Blu’s face as she moved away. “Well, now, I couldn’t be happier I made the move.”

Blu looked down at her nails. “How do you do that?” She whispered under her breath. When she brought her eyes back to Crystal’s, the woman had one eyebrow cocked. Shit. She’d heard. At that moment, the waitress came over and the two ordered, and then it was just them, once again, and Blu had questions.

“Seriously, though, how did you end up here, with me?”

“I drove here, I walked in, and I sat down.” Crystal wore that devilish smirk again. Blu hit her lightly on the arm with a laugh.

“I’m serious!”

Crystal twirled her knife in her hands. “So am I.”

Blu didn’t know how to respond to that. It took her an awkward minute to think of something else to say, but Crystal seemed to relish her flailing. “So… um… what do you do?”

“I’m a costume designer for TV shows.” Blu beamed, clapping her hands together like a little kid.

“Wow, that’s so cool! It makes my job seem so boring.” Blu broke off, but realised Crystal was looking at her expectantly; she hadn’t actually told her what her job was. “Oh, I’m a makeup artist. Pretty stupid, really.”

Crystal tilted her head to one side. “Did you do your makeup tonight?”

Blu deflated. Crystal hated it. “Uh-huh. I know it’s over the top and I probably look like a clown, but-”

Crystal interrupted before she could explain that ‘it was just her style’. “You’re good at your job.”

Blu was taken aback. She was so sure that, now she’d gotten to know her a little better, Crystal thought of her as some dipshit with terrible people skills and an affinity for ridiculously long eyelashes, but the elder seemed undeterred. “Th- thank you.”

Crystal studied her face a little more. “You’ll have to paint me one time.”

Blu’s answer came a little too quickly, embarrassingly so. “You don’t need my help.”

Crystal raised one eyebrow again. “Thanks, little one.”

“Little one?” Blu rubbed the back of her neck. She liked that nickname.

Crystal sat up straighter. “Well, you’re sure as hell not older then me, so…”

“How old are you?” Blu instantly facepalmed. Crystal chuckled, gently tugging Blu’s hand away from her face.

“I don’t mind, don’t worry. I’m 34.”

Blu’s jaw dropped, eyes popping out of her head. “You’re 34?”

Crystal laughed smoothly, like melted chocolate. “I’m flattered.”

“You look amazing!” Blu gushed. Crystal really did.

“I could say the same about you.” They stared at each other again, taking in all the stunning features of the other, and this time, Blu didn’t break the gaze. They were interrupted by the food arriving.

“Yours looks so good, Blu!” Blu dropped her eyes to her plate, and decided to be brave. She twisted some of the linguine around her fork, holding it out in front of her.

“Want to try some?” Crystal’s eyes flashed dark, and she took the end of the fork in her mouth, making a show of sucking the pasta off. She never broke eye contact. Blu crossed her legs, and Crystal hummed in satisfaction.

“That was absolutely delicious. Next time I’ll have to let you order for me.” Crystal smirked down at her steak, waiting for Blu to pick up on her word choice. It took Blu a few beats, but she gasped quietly.

“Bold of you to assume there’ll be a next time.”

“Well, you’re enjoying yourself, aren’t you?” Crystal had Blu there. Blu split into a grin, trying to hide it by taking a sip of her wine. It didn’t work.

They finished their meals, and Blu picked up the dessert menu. “You want dessert?”

Crystal reapplied her lipgloss, shaking her head. “There’s a better one at my apartment. Well, there will be in 20 minutes.”

Blu giggled. “Excuse me! Not on the first date, I have morals!”

‘Typical England’ Blu thought as she stood shivering in the rain with the other queens. Filming was done for the week, leaving everyone exhausted but the van responsible for taking the cast too and from the studio was late. Tired, cold and annoyed Blu attempted to once again blow warm air into the palms of her hands in order to warm them. Without warning she soon found herself being engulfed by a layer of warmth from behind. She turned her head to see Crystal stood placing her jacket over Blu’s shoulders, the older queen noticing her discomfort.

“Thanks.” Blu smiled shyly as she pulled the jacket closer around her. “No problem, you looked like you needed it.” Crystal smiled back, before being pulled away into another one of Cheryl’s rants.

Heat rose to Blu’s cheeks as she buried herself further into the jacket and inhaled the calming sent it held.

“Thank fuck for that, I’m freezing me tits off here.” Vivienne loudly commented as the van finally turned into the car park where the group stood. - At last Blu found herself able to crawl into the back corner of the van and curl up in hopes for a quick nap. Closing her eyes, she let the sent of Crystal’s jacket wash over her and I didn’t take long until she finally drifted off. - As the van pulled up outside the hotel, a wave of tired and hungry queens piled out, all except two.

Blu roused slightly at the interruption of her sleep. Her eyes squinted open to see someone standing next to her.

“Shhhh.” Crystal hushed into Blu’s ear. “Go back to sleep, I’ve got you.” The older queen then scooped up Blu onto her arms.

Disoriented, the younger panicked, her arms frantically searching for something to grab onto. Crystal chuckled as she guided Blu’s arms around her neck and began to move the both of them out of the van and into the hotel. - Carrying someone always looks easy when shown in films but unfortunately for Crystal this was real life and the decision to take the stairs probably hadn’t been the best decision. The relief as she came to Blu’s hotel room door was paralleled to finding out she was safe after the runway. Eventually getting the door open and stumbling over a pile of clothes left on the floor, Crystal was able to place the sleeping boy on the bed without waking her. As soon as her head hit the pillow Blu let out a happy yawn, shifting as Crystal removed her shoes from the bed and pulled over the cover.

“Still cold.” Blu mumbled, half asleep into the pillow.

“Want me to find you another blanket?

“Want you.” Blu moved over to the other side of the bed and held open her arms in the hope Crystal would join her.

“Did you hear about the new singing teacher arriving today?” Divina overheard her best friend Cheryl, telling her girlfriend Blu. “I heard she used to be a singer back in Liverpool,” Blu replied as Divina walked in. “Are you excited to meet them?” Blu asked, way too cheerfully for a cold, wintery Monday Morning. “Well… not really,” Divina replied, walking over to the Staff room’s coffee machine. “How come, she sounds nice enough, she’s also a singer,” Cheryl asked this time as Divina sighed. “She’ll be just a teacher, like you’re just teachers and how I’m just a teacher, she’ll be forgotten by the end of the week,” Divina replied, her voice was laced with a mixture of jealousy and annoyance. “Whatever you say Dee,” Blu huffed as she got up from Cheryl’s grip. “I have a photography class arriving soon,” Blu sighed as she walked over to Cheryl and kissed her forehead. “See you after class sweetheart,” Cheryl cooed as Blu as she waved and walked out.

“So how’s it going with Blu then,” Divina teased Cheryl as she began to blush. “She asked me to be her girlfriend last week and it feels like I’m in heaven,” Cheryl smiled. “Well I’m happy for the both of you, it was about time you got together,” Divina chirped as Cheryl blushed a deeper red. “And is their a certain someone in your life right now?” Cheryl as Divina as she sighed. “No one right now,” Divina added as Cheryl pouted. “Well I’m sure you’ll meet someone, love comes at you where you least expect it,” Cheryl beamed. “Oh shit look at the time,” Divina announced as she quickly grabbed her bag and coat. “My class will be there in 10 minutes,” she huffed heading for the door. “I’ll see you at lunch!” Cheryl called out as Divina was already rushing down the hall.

“I can’t believe I’m gonna be late,” Divina uttered under her breath almost running down the corridor now. She had never been late to her class once, and she prided herself on her punctuality, she knew she would find herself embarrassed, which she absolutely hated. “Woah look out!” Divina heard a voice exclaim as she suddenly fell to the ground. “Oh my god I’m so so sorry!” The voice said from above her. She quickly snapped out of her trance and looked up.

Standing there was an exceptionally tall woman, with her hand held out. “Who are you?” Divina hissed as she refused the hand and got up. “Who are you then?” Divina questioned as she brushed herself of. “Well I’m Miss Cooper but you can call me Vivienne,” the woman beamed with a smile on her face. “Well Miss Cooper, because of you, I’m going to be late for my class, now goodbye,” Divina remarked and left quickly, leaving Vivienne confused and slightly irritated.

Divina hurried to her class room and saw her reflection in the windows glass, she looked a mess, and even worse the woman had spilt her smoothie on her, which Divina had only just noticed. “Shit shit shit,” she whispered as she looked down. She had left too quickly for the woman to have said anything. She looked up at the clock, realising now she only had 3 minutes before her class would arrive. She didn’t know what to do, she was going to be embarrassed either way, teaching her class with a huge stain on her shirt or cleaning herself off and being late.

Divina walked around to the class next door, luckily for her the room was empty. “Could you watch my class for me while I clear myself up-” Divina asked without even looking at the teacher on the desk. “Why the Hell are you here?” Divina asked the woman sitting at the desk. “I’m a singing teacher?” The familiar voice replied. Divina grunted and sighed. “Miss Cooper could you watch my class for 10 minutes while I clean myself up from your accident?” Divina said sharply. “Sure, it’ll give them an opportunity to meet me,” Vivienne chirped, a smile on her face. Divina groaned and stormed out of the class room to the teacher’s restroom. She couldn’t believe it. To her, the day was just getting worse and worse.

Hundreds of thoughts ran through Divina’s mind, like her brain was a damn treadmill. She wanted to know why on Earth they had suddenly decided to hire a new teacher, she was perfectly good at her job and she had never had a musical colleague before. The School was only small, since it was also a private school, only accepting the best of the best. There was the standard subjects, then the creative arts department, which was the schools pride.

Divina knew she wouldn’t be able to focus on teaching a class now, she would still have a large, visible stain on her shirt, and one of the least favourite people she had met at the school since she had began teaching there, but she also knew she would have to put aside her worries and still be professional with the woman, even though she didn’t want to be. “This is just my bloody luck,” Divina groaned as she finished off cleaning the yellow goo off her shirt.

Divina heard the door click from behind her and saw another teacher walk in. “Miss Campo,” the immediately recognisable voice said from behind her. “You know you can call me Divina,” she smiled, for the first time that day. “You look kinda annoyed,” the younger woman said as she pulled out her makeup bag. “Gothy you know about the new teacher right?” Divina asked as Gothy smiled. “Yeah, she seemed really nice when we spoke,” Gothy beamed as Divina threw her head back and groaned. “Am I the only one who doesn’t like her?” Divina asked as Gothy quickly nodded, causing Divina to sigh. “She seems so annoying and full of herself,” Divina began to rant, “She’s just so UGH” Divina grumbled throwing the gooey tissues in the bin. “She rubs you up the wrong way?” Gothy added. Divina nodded. “Well, I hope you figure things out so you can at least be friends, I heard she’s a singing teacher,” Gothy assured as she walked out.

Divina finished cleaning herself up and walked back out to her classroom, she realised she had been a lot longer than a few minutes and completely left her class with the teacher she trusted least. She hurried down the corridor to here the hallway completely quiet, except for a voice. Someone was singing, and Divina couldn’t believe it. She looked through the glass in the door to see Vivienne leaned against a wall, her eyes closed singing to the students, Divina had never heard them so quiet. She just walked back to her classroom slowly and began to listen to the woman.

“Dad always told me don’t you cry when you’re down,”

“But Mum there’s a tear every time that I blink,”

“Oh it’s in pieces and it’s tearing me up, but I know,”

“A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved,”

Divina knew that song instantly, it always made her overly emotional, especially since she knew what it was like to lose her mum. As Vivienne continued to sing, she heard breaks in her voice but chosen not to question it. She knew that Vivienne must have chosen the song for a reason, but Divina couldn’t figure out that reason.

Vivienne had a beautiful voice, something Divina had not been expecting. She thought that Vivienne would be mediocre at best, but she was wrong, she hated admitting to herself.

She heard her co worker finish the song and she went next door again. “I think I’ll take my class now if that’s ok?” Divina asked as all heads turned as the students got up. Her tone was laced with a strictness that not even Vivienne was going to question. “Thank you,” Divina shrugged as she left the room. A small smile appeared on Vivienne’s face as she left.

The rest of the week passed without incident, Vivienne and Divina didn’t really talk, except the odd hello or goodbye, occasionally a glare from Divina. Vivienne had gotten especially close with 2 of the other teachers, Leona, who was nicknamed ‘Baga’ and Crystal. The rest of the staff seemed to love her though, especially her wit. Divina had been right and things settled down after Vivienne first joined, 1 thing that Divina seemed to notice that Vivienne would often sing to herself every day. Sometimes for her class, sometimes on her break but usually it was in her break. Divina thought Vivienne secretly had the voice of an angel, but she would rather rip out her teeth than admit that to anyone, she still didn’t overly trust Vivienne, never mind compliment her.

The Next Week, Gothy came walking into the staff room, a huge smile on her face. “Someone’s happy,” Cheryl teased as Gothy blushed. “Did Scaredy finally ask you out?” Baga chuckled as Gothy blushed harder. “No-” she stammered, not even hiding her obvious crush. “But I am moving into a new apartment!” Gothy exclaimed proudly as everyone smiled at her. “Awe that’s great Gothy,” Vivienne chimed in. “That’s not even it! I’m having a house warming party if any of you wanted to come, since you’re all my best friends,” Gothy beamed as the girls nodded. “We’ll be there,” Blu chirped as Gothy smiled even wider. “Thanks guys!” She grinned as she walked off, a slightly visible spring in her step.

“I guess we know how we’re spending our Saturday in a few weeks,” Baga announced from the corner as Vivienne chuckled from her seat. “Well I’ve got a class to go and teacher,” Divina said, getting up from her seat. “I do as well actually,” Vivienne said getting up from hers. “We May as well walk together, we’re heading to the same place,” Vivienne smiled as she stood by the door waiting for Divina to join her. Divina reluctantly got up and joined her.

The pair began walking down the corridors, only the sound of Divina’s heels breaking the silence. “Can I ask you something?” Divina asked as Vivienne nodded. “Why have you seen so nice to me when I’ve been a complete bitch to you?” Divina asked as Vivienne sighed. “Well, I know I’m not exactly the warmest person myself, and I don’t blame you for not liking me after the way we met,” Vivienne gulped as Divina hung her head. “It’s not that I don’t like you it’s just that I didn’t like the fact that I was embarrassed in front of my class,” Divina added. Vivienne chuckled softly to herself. “I don’t like being embarrassed either,” Vivienne smiled. “Do you think we should start a clean slate?” Vivienne asked as Divina replied with a warm smile. “I’d like that,” Divina gushed as Vivienne held out her hand. “I’m Miss Cooper but you can call me Vivienne,” Vivienne chuckled as Divina grinned. “I’m Miss De Campo but you can call me Divina,” Divina smiled. “It’s nice to meet you,” Vivienne snickered before immediately bursting into laughter along with Divina. They both knew this would be the start of a hopefully long friendship.

Time began to pass, quicker than any of the teachers could process, and most tensions between Vivienne and Divina had cleared, except the the ‘sexual’ tension, that Baga insisted was there. Vivienne tried to ignore it, but Baga wasn’t the only one who insisted it was there. Gothy’s house warming party was coming up as well, which had somewhat built up some excitement over the weeks. It had now been over a month since Vivienne and Divina had made up, and both of them seemed to be a lot happier.

Vivienne would sing during her breaks and Divina would go into her room and listen to her, slowly breaks had suddenly become Divina’s favourite part of the day. Something else Divina had began to notice was Vivienne’s appearance, which she had never taken a note of before, but as their relationship developed, it became increasingly harder to deny Vivienne’s beauty. Vivienne had long, wavy honey blonde hair which perfectly rolled down her back, and gorgeous sea green eyes. She was tall and looked very feminine, she often wore a loose floral dress and always had perfect makeup. She was truly stunning, Divina always wondered how she had never noticed this before.

Divina was gorgeous herself, with long straight red hair and chocolate brown eyes, she wasn’t as tall as Vivienne, which was something Vivienne found adorable about her.

“So… are you and Divina gonna fuck at Gothy’s Party?” Baga asked Vivienne for probably the 10th time this week. It was possible that Baga was more invested in her new best friends love life than her own, but Vivienne didn’t mind as long as she didn’t cross the line. Vivienne just grinned, “She doesn’t like me like that and I’m more than positive she wouldn’t want a one night stand,” Vivienne responded, Baga clearly not taking that as an answer. “I bet she would bang you,” Baga teased as Vivienne began to turn red. Vivienne tried to muster a sentence, but she only managed to string together a list of words which made no sense at all. “I know you want her Viv but damn words” Baga teased even further as Divina went even redder than she did before. Vivienne got up of the staff couch and left the room as quickly as she could as Baga laughed.

Vivienne virtually ran to Divina’s class room after that, not wanting to face anyone else in the state she was in. She managed to get there quicker than she had managed to run somewhere in heels before. “Are you ok?” Divina questioned as Vivienne rushed into her room and quickly pulled out the guitar Divina had hanging on the wall. “How would you feel about singing to avoid confrontation?” Vivienne asked as Divina chuckled. “You can go ahead, I’ll listen as per usual” Divina chuckled. As soon as Divina answered Vivienne began playing and singing.

“I met this girl late last year”

“She said don’t you worry if I disappear”

“I told her I’m not really looking for another mistake,”

“Called an old friend thinking that the trouble would wait”

Vivienne continued to sing and Divina listened intently as she always did, knowing that singing was Vivienne’s way of de-stressing. Even hurrying over words, Vivienne was still incredible. “I take it you’ve got a lot of things on your mind?” Divina asked, getting up and walking over to her. Vivienne put the guitar down and sighed. “Baga’s bombarding me with questions I don’t know the answers to,” Vivienne sighed as Divina pouted and sat next to her. “Well, I’m sure you’ll figure things out Viv,” Divina said placing her hand on top of Viv’s and giving it a light squeeze. “You’re a smart cookie,” Divina chucked as Viv smiled down at her.

That was the first spark Viv had felt in a long time. She felt as when Divina and herself looked eyes that they were the only people in the world. The pair had looked at each other before, but this time it felt different, there was a new level of intimacy, which was just about to become unravelled.

It was pretty clear that Divina had just felt the same sparks as Vivienne had, since her eyes had lit up while she was looking up to Viv, Divina let go of Viv’s hand and wrapped her arms around her, trying to make sure the sparks were still there,

they were.

Reluctant Divina pulled herself out of the hug, “I’ve got a class coming in 5 minutes,” she sighed as Vivienne got up and hung the guitar back into position. “I needed this,” Vivienne said, smiling softly over at Divina. “Why don’t you come over tonight?” Divina asked Vivienne so quickly that Vivienne didn’t understand a word of it. “Slow down Dee,” Vivienne chuckled as Divina began to blush. “Why don’t you come over tonight?” Divina stammered as Vivienne’s face clearly lit up. “I’ll be over at 7,” Vivienne replied as she and Divina exchanged smiles. “Fuck why do I have to have a class?” Divina thought as Vivienne left.

After that conversation, the day seemed to drag on even more, for both of them. Vivienne had never been more excited to visit a friends and Divina usually wasn’t used to having that many people over since she was usually always busy. But soon enough the day passed, and Divina was becoming more and more anxious as Vivienne’s arrival drew closer.

Soon enough, Divina heard a soft knock on her door as she scrambled to her door. She had changed into jeans and a jumper, something she’d usually never let someone see, but it was Vivienne, it somehow felt different. “Hey,” Divina grinned as she opened the door. Viv walked in, holding her guitar case. “Your apartment is so much fancier than mine,” Vivienne chuckled looking around. “I’m sure your place isn’t that bad,” Divina added as Vivienne smiled. “You’ll have to come over and see,” Vivienne teased, she winked causing Divina to blush, “I brought my guitar if you wanted to actually sing along this time,” Vivienne chimed as she put down a large case. “But your voice is gorgeous V,” Divina praised as Vivienne then began to blush. “I took singing lessons as a kid,” Vivienne said, her tone was a lot softer than usual. “The lessons definitely did some good,” divina said, curling up on her sofa. Vivienne sat on the arm of Divina’s chair and pulled out her guitar.

She knew exactly what she was going to sing.

“I’m at a party I don’t wanna be at”

“And i don’t ever wear a suit and tie yeah”

“Wonderin if I could sneak out the back”

Vivienne sang, hitting each note perfectly, Divina looked at her, and her heart began to race. She didn’t know how she was feeling at that moment. Vivienne had slowly become her best friend over time, but what she was feeling was definitely something more than friendly. Even in casual, Vivienne was still gorgeous, with her curls pulled up into a messy bun and her eyes so focused on her guitar.

“You know I love you, did I ever tell ya?”

“You make it better like that,”

“Don’t think I fit in at party”

“Everyone’s got so much to say, yeah”

Divina began to listen even more closely to what Vivienne was singing, and she slowly began to realise it was about her. Everything seemed to be falling into place into her mind as Vivienne sang the lyrics.

“Viv,” Divina whispered as she put down the guitar, Vivienne knew it had clicked in Divina’s mind, and there was no escaping the conversation about to come next. Divina got up and walked over to Viv, now standing only inches away from her. “I want you to tell me how you feel,” Divina purred as Vivienne gulped. “I- I” Vivienne just stuttered, unknowing how to respond without just kissing her. “Well?” Divina asked her, walking even closer to her, now she was standing inbetween Vivienne’s legs.

“Fuck it” Vivienne thought as she wrapped her arms around Divina and pulled her into a rough kiss. It felt like Fireworks had gone off around the pair, they had both been waiting for this moment. Divina originally tensed up but eventually melted into Vivienne’s grip.

Slowly Divina pulled away as Vivienne rested her head on Divina’s. “Is that enough for you?” Vivienne asked her as Divina nodded. “I don’t think we’re just just friends now?” Divina rasped as Vivienne pulled her head away. “Maybe we should take things slow and build it up,” Vivienne smiled as Divina grinned.

Originally running from the main stage was not in Blu’s list of things to do while at Drag Race. Yet here she was sprinting down a studio hallway after ditching her heels who knows where. 

“Blu!” Crystal’s voice echoed from behind. Blu gave no response as she ran into the bathroom and locked herself in the furthest stall from the door. The door creaked open as Crystal searched for the younger queen. “Blu?” She walked over to the closed door, her heart breaking slightly as she heard the sobs from behind it.

“I-I can’t do this Crystal. I knew it was gonna be hard but,” she blew her nose on a piece of toilet paper, “I feel like don’t deserve to be here.”

The older queen frowned.

“You deserve this Josh. You deserve the world.” Colin took a deep breath. “So many people are going to fall in love with you as I did.” “What?” Blu slowly opened the door to meet eyes with the taller queen. Crystal’s body began to radiate heat as a blush crawled up her cheeks and began to scratch the back of her head awkwardly. How could she not love Blu, the younger queen had become a ray of sunshine in the Werk room, her kindness being a short escape before another fight broke out between the other queens.

The silence between them hung heavy in the air until Blu took it upon herself to break the tension. Without a second thought she crashed her lips into Crystal’s, who immediately placed her hands on the younger queens waist. Suddenly the bathroom door burst open, causing the two break apart quickly.

“Oi, you too! Everyone’s been looking for you everywhere.” Baga announced. “Ru’s about to go off her tits, just cause you too ran off for a snog.”