Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 21:59:52 -0800 (PST)
From: Nate House <extreamlucky14@yahoo.com>
Subject: Loving A Shadow

This story isn't about just about sex. It is more about the emotions and
romance that go into having a loving, sexual relationship. So for all of
you looking to score easy, read a different story.

The story does take a little while to get going, but hey, that's life. I
do hope you all enjoy this story and I would appreciate your thoughts
about it. Be brutally honest (it takes a lot to hurt my feelings so don't
be shy with you comments).

*******************************************************************************

"Misty, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. She's not worth
the trouble and besides no one even likes her. Don't waste your time!
She's not worth it!!"

"I don't care Dianne. I love her!!...."

*******************************************************************************

Chapter One: The Bitch and The New Girl

Six on Wedensday night. Anne just arrived back to the living hell she
knew to be home, having just walked the five miles from her tutoring job
at the junior high school. Thanks to the rich bitches of this town
who provided Anne with her own means of support; her mother wasn't such a
provider, nor does she care. To Kathrine all that mattered was moving up
in the corporate world by any means necessary. Anne has come home
countless times to find cars she didn't recognise parked in the driveway.
There have been occations, however, when her mother has had repeat
business. This night is such an occasion. The same silver Shelby Cobra
that has been at the house ten times, according to Anne's count. Anne
knows from experience that when she walks through the front door, her
mother has an invisible "Do not disdurb" sign on her bedroom door. Anne
heard the all too familiar sound coming from behind it accompanied by the
matching odar. The man was moaning in ecstasy and Anne could hear her
mother's screams of "Fuck me harder!!..." Being the sinically
defiant girl that she is, she knocked on the door to let her mother know
she is home. The man knew from this that he should be quieter.

Anne cooked herself a simple meal for dinner. As her usual routine
dictated, she ate while she does her homework. Having come from this kind
of disfunctional background, she is surprisingly in the lead for this
year's valadictorian. Anne always uses her alone time to keep up with her
studies, tutoring lessons and music.

The events in her life has left her with all the free time a seventeen
year old could ask for; her brother and father are dead and her mother is
a cock-needing whore who thinks of the house as nothing more than a place
to have sex. All of Kathrine's time outside of her bedroom was spent at
the law firm where she works as a legal assisstant. Anne's living
relatives could only support her finacially through money transfers to
her bank account, the only gift her mother gave her. Anne just ate and
concentrated. Given her schedule of advanced classes of calculus and
physics, she needed all the concentration she could get. This feet is
hindered by the sounds of her mother and her man of the evening fucking
in the next room; a typical day for Annebell Amera.

Nine, according to Anne's bedroom clock. She lay on her bed and counted
the seconds before the usual routine. At fifteen, her mother came
storming into her room. Anne remained on her back looking up at the
ceiling. Kathrine started to rant and rave about how Anne ruined her day
and the great fucking she was receiving. Anne remained as she lay as the
one-sided conversation continued. Outside the man with the silver car
went back to his home and wife; nothing outside the norm. Anne blocked
out the details but did manage to hear how her mother was about to cum
when she heard the tapping on the door. This made Anne smile and giggle a
bit. Hearing how she ruined her mom's day always brightened her own.
After about fifteen minutes, Kathrine stopped.

"What's with the curtousy mother? Normally you carry on for another ten
or fifteen minutes before you stop, and you were ten seconds late today.
Did he have a problem this time, I wonder?" Anne kept her expessionless
face as she spoke in her usual, coldly steady tone. She knows this pisses
her mother off something awful, but this is how she always is. The years
of loneliness and emotional isolation removed every feeling she may've
had for others that at one point in her life did exsist, but she knows
those days are over. Her only satisfation is the misery of others.

"You little bitch! Don't you fucking sass me! But I do hope you're happy.
I had to cut it short with the best fuck that I've had all week..." Anne
let the rest fall on deaf ears; she heard the joyous news she sought. She
sat up in her bed, looking at her mother.

"Yes," Anne said with a sinical grin when her mother stopped. "Hearing
that I chose your best of the week to ruin always makes me happy,
mother."

"Don't you fucking dare you little bitch!" Kathrine threw the mostly
empty bottle of rum at her daughter. Anne lifted her right arm to her
face; the bottle broke on Anne's arm, without her so much as
flinching. Anne just looked coldly into her mother's eyes.

"As easily said into a mirror, my sweet mother," she said holding her arm
by her face. This is the phrase that always makes her mother storm off to
her own room to masturbate the anger away. Anne just smiled broadly and
laid back down. Just a usual day and it ended before ten. "Mom's getting
soft on me," Anne said out loud.


The next mornig at school was nothing special. Everyone moved aside as
they passed Anne in the halls. Some did it because they fear her, others
because they don't want to be near her. Then there are those who just
plain don't like her. Everyone in every group had their own reasons for
their reactions towards her. The nerds and brainiacs are jealous of her
grades. The thug wanna-bes fear her because she could kick their asses at
the drop of a hat. The jocks and perky-prepies hate everyone outside
their group, but her especially so. This came from all the rumors (too
many to count) about her, true or false, as well as her ability to insult
them on a level they needed a dictionary to understand. The goths and
other outcasts hate everyone outside of their group as well. The band
geeks annoy everyone they come across, so Anne was the one avoiding them.

Annebell Amera, or better known as the "Bitch of Kennview High School",
the only person in the student body to have no friends going to the
school and still be in the running for Valadictorian. Anne wasn't just
shunned by the student body either. The teaching staff and other faculty
members hated her as well, though she never fully understanded why. She
always made straight A's and behaved herself (unless severely provoked),
but for some reason nothing worked. Perhaps it was because her mother had
fucked all of their husbands, or wives, or it was their social class
separation. Whatever the reason, Anne accepted this long ago as the way
things were going to be; besides she found her contentment in their
misery.

Thrid period, calculus. The usual suspects filed into the room after Anne
arrived. She always sat in the front knowing her teachers can't stand the
sight of her. She got her daily dose of the teacher's ass-kissers doing
what they do best. The bell rang the thirty second warning....Anne caught
herself staring at the door, but didn't know why. Something, some
malevalent force, was keeping her eyes fixed on the hole in the wall. Try
as she might, her eyes would not move from that spot. She had been
staring at the door for about twenty seconds when a girl came practically
running through it. Anne didn't recognise this person, but watched her as
she made her way to Ms. Warren's desk. She was a brunette, almost
black-haired, angel. Her body has been well taken care of. Her arms and
legs are well toned and their isn't a hint of flaw in her skin. Anne
noticed she has green eyes when she moved a lock of her possibly mid-back
hair from her face. "She is gorgous," Anne almost said outloud.

Ms. Warren escorted the girl to the front of the room. The girl winked at
Anne when the pair past her. Ms. Warren whispered into the girl's ear
while pointing to a desk near the back of the room. The girl shook her
head and smirked while telling the teacher something else. Ms. Warren
crinkled her nose at the suggetion

"Students, this is Misty Thomas," the teacher began the normal
introduction. "She recently moved back here from Iowa so try and make her
feel welcome," Ms. Warren looked dirctly at Anne when she spoke of
feeling welcome, something that is very foreign to her. Misty took the
vacant seat next to Anne, much to her surprise. The lesson carried on as
usual. Ms. Warren would bitch about the importance of math whenever
someone started getting out of line. Throughout the class, Anne could
feel a pair of eyes occasionally looking over her. Anne didn't know how
to feel about that, concidering that it's never happened before. Not that
Anne thought of herself ugly, she just never heard anyone's opinion
either way, besides her mother. Near the end of the lesson, the feeling
returned in full force. Anne turned her head to follow Ms. Warren as she
paced in front of the classroom to catch Misty looking at her out of the
corner of her eye. This only made Anne a bit more curious about the new
girl. Finally, the lunch bell; Anne was the first one out the door.

It wasn't five minutes into the lunch hour before Anne felt the same
ominous feeling of eyes looking over her. She sat down with her taco
salad (her favorite) to eat and study, as normal routine would dictate.
Anne felt compelled to look up from her Physics book at the body that was
about to take the seat before her. As her head lifted from the pages, she
got eyefull of someone's tits. 'Rather good looking to say the least'.
Anne rested her gaze into Misty's eyes. Without any visual emotion or
response, Anne turned her attention back to her book.

"Hi! I'm Misty," she said in a perky voice. She extended her hand, but
Anne didn't even look up from her book. Misty's hand receeded shaking
slightly. From across the table, Anne could feel the uncomfortable girl's
confidence begin to fade. "Do you have a name or do you not talk at
all?"

"I know who you are, Misty Thomas," Anne said coldly keeping her face in
her book. Looking up at the girl in her usual expressionless face,
"Though you were rather rude to me, I will give you this one curtousy:
stand up, take your food and go to where you belong. If you want any
chance of making the cheerleading squad you will heed my warning." Anne
went back to her book as if the girl wasn't there.

"You're in Physics, too? So am I!" Misty seemed as if she didn't hear
Anne at all. "Why don't you talk like a normal person? What's your name?"
Anne didn't lift her head from her book. "C'mon, what's you name?"

"I believe I've said everything I care to say to you, Misty Thomas."

"Are you always this mean? You seem so smart, I would've thought you be
more open to talking........How did you know I'm a cheerleader?" Why did
you call me rude?" Anne raised her eyes slowly to meet Misty's.

"Is the interrogation over with, Misty Thomas? If so, please be so kind
as to rid me of your imputence and join your friends." Anne went back to
her book and lunch, Misty rose to her feet to leave, but couldn't find
the strength to move.

"Do you treat everyone this way? I'm just trying to be nice to you."
Misty waited several minutes for Anne's response.

"Your generosity is wasted. I don't need your concern. You have been
given your chance to leave, I suggest you take it, Misty Thomas. Your
friends are waiting." With that, Misty took her seat once again.

"I want to be your friend." Anne burst into a histarical laughter. She
was laughing so hard, she was on the verge of crying. She hasn't heard
that phrase in years, and didn't take it seriously then either.

"Thank you. I haven't laughed like that in a long time." Her tone
remained normal despite having a better laugh than hearing how she ruined
her mother's day. "For that I will give you a second curtousy. If you
have any sense of yourself you will take this time and leave, you have no
idea for what you are in for." Misty's head fell in dismay and sadness;
her high hopes slashed and her confidence killed. ".....and do yourself a
favor: drop every notion you have of being my friend. Consider that to be
a third curtousy, even though you are rude and insulting." Anne went back
to her book and lunch, Misty took a seat at the cheerleaders' table.
About thirty minutes later the bell rang to end Anne's favorite part of
the day. She always uses lunch to get ahead in her studies, lessons, or
music. Anne could write a poem about whatever was on her mind, take it
home to her best friend and turn it into a song, and her singing voice
wasn't half-bad.

The next two classes went by as usual. U.S. History and English were
scheduled to watch one of those boring-ass educational videos. Anne knows
they only serve the purpose of giving the lazy ass teacher a chance to
catch up on whatever. She went to work on her poetry project themed "Poe
Be Proud". The students had to write a poem that would sound like they
were inspired by Edgar Allen Poe. This feet would be easy for Anne,
however, everyone in her class expected something that would put Poe to
shame to come from her. All of Anne's known work hangs on the edge of the
dark side of human soul.

Last class of the day, Physics. Anne gave no thought to the
"conversation" she had at lunch. She figured she scared the girl off or
her friends reinforced Anne's last words to her. The warning bell rang,
no Misty. Anne felt herself looking at the doorway again. That
same unseen force kept her eyes focused on the open doorway. Misty
appeared through the door just as the tardy bell rang. "Barely made
it".........Anne was stunned; she thought that phrase just as Misty said
it aloud. The events that transpired next were a perfect, word-for-word
replay of Calculus. Again Misty took her seat, not the one the teacher,
Mrs. Boresly, pointed out, but one immediately next to Anne. 'Damn this
girl is persistant' Anne thought to herself. The lesson past away without
a single word spoken or glace stolen. The last bell of the day rang.

Anne immediately went to her locker, as usual, to get her notes and other
preparations for her tutoring lessons at the junior high school. The
students in her lessons don't know the Annebell Amera the high schoolers
know. Her students respect her as a teacher and an elder; not to mention
they don't believe the horror stories they've heard from their regular
teachers who also had Anne. She didn't care much either way. Her
students' parents would pay her the twenty-five dollars if they pass of
fail their regular classes, not that she's a bad teacher. As Anne reached
her locker, she became aware of the folded piece of paper wedged into the
door. This is definately a first. Never before had she recieved a note
from anyone like this, whether if it said "Go to hell and die" or "I love
you". Not in too much of a rush, she shrugged, 'what the hell'........

"I really want to be your friend. My cell number is at the bottom. Call
me with your answer.

                Love,

                Misty"

"Should've known. Wretched fool, though she seems to know me from
somewhere. Hmhmm, imputent wench. She must not know me as well as she
thinks she does," Anne thought over and over again. She put the note in
her pocket and left for work. All throughout the lesson, however, she
couldn't shake Misty's face from the front of her mind. Anne had her
sessions planned to have a ten minute break between the two hours.
Normally Anne would work on her poetry or music during these breaks, but
she just kept studying the note and the number at the bottom: 534-1437.
Anne felt something wash over her. A whisper of a nameless emotion long
forgotton. 'Pity, perhaps. If so, why? Sympathy, maybe? Why do I feel
this way? Could it be because she's a nice person who doesn't deserve her
fate. I think I actually feel sorry for the poor wretch." Anne pushed it
all aside to finish her lesson.

Anne's evening went by as usual. She saw a vaguely familiar car in front
of the house. She decided it best just to make her dinner, do her
homework and go to bed.

Chapter Two: "Love in the Mist"

The next day Anne was treated to a morning seldomly recieved. Her mom had
to go to work earlier than usual; no drunken, poorly-fucked mother alarm
clock. Anne's day was looking up already. She walked to school in the
sun, another event that rarely happens, though her walk seemed more like
a run with how fast she arrived. After all this, Anne did feel something
amiss. 'Today is going to be........oddly different.' Nothing went astray
from the usual routine. Calculus came at long last. Anne's first chance
to see what was different about today. Misty took her seat, turned in her
homework and all without as much as looking at Anne. 'Maybe this is what
felt strange. Is she mad at me? Why would I care about such a simple
thing like that?' With about five minutes left in class, Misty slipped
her another note. Anne took it, but noticed everyone snickering
and whispering. Lunch time.

Anne decided not to eat today. She couldn't until this mysterious and
ominous aura subsided. 'Something is not right here. Annebell Amera
doesn't feel for others. Why should today be any different? What is this
calling? Something is calling my name...' Anne unconscously took the note
from her pocket. She looked it over again and again........... and again.

"You didn't call me, but don't think I'm giving up that easy. You were
wrong about the people here. Please talk to me after school before you go
to the junior high school.     Love, Misty"

Anne didn't look up when she felt the air stir next her; she knew who it
was from the scents of vanilla and jasmine.

"Hello, Annebell Amera," such a comforting tone. Her breath is as sweet
as her hair. Anne could feel eased by the thought of her eyes looking her
over. "Can I talk to you today?"

"Free country," Anne said sarcastically, "I've already given you your
warning, but if you insist..."

"Why do you act this way? It's like you want the world to leave you
alone. Look at me please, Anne. I can see through all of that in these
eyes. I know about your condition and I know about your mother." Her
voice seemed sincere in its concern.

"Clever girl," Anne said with a sinical grin, "Gathering
personal background before engaging in conversation. I must admire your
resolve, Misty. Tell me: If you know as much as you advertise, then why
would you ask such redundant questions, Misty?" Anne held her sarcastic
grin and steady tone.

"I ask because I want you to tell it to me, you know 'from the horses
mouth'. I'm just curious to know more about you, Anne"

"That was rather insulting of you. There's no need for name calling."
Anne started to laugh a bit.

"Please just talk to me about you. Sorry if I offended you, but I'm
curiuos to know why you are the way you are."

"Curiosity is the mother of discovery, however, I am quite disinclined to
aquiest to your request." Anne's sinister grin never faded, her tone
remained as it was, even as Misty's eyes began to water.

"Why would you refuse an offer of friendship?"

"Apparently, Misty, you don't know me as well as you think you do. Use
that curious head of yours and discover more about me. Then we can have a
conversation."

"Don't look now, but we are having a conversation. Our first real one to
be exact."

"Playing on the conscousness of your conquest is normally a tactic that
works, not on me, Misty. To answer your question though, I don't own a
phone, so I couldn't have called you even if I would have wanted
to...................... Your friends are waiting."

"What are you waiting for?" she asked obviously hurt by Anne's rejection.

"If it's any consulation, you do know how to put a smile on my face. Now
I'll ask nicely. Please leave."

The bell rang as Misty stood to leave. Anne didn't follow her or watch
her go, but a felt a strong urge to do so. As Anne walked down the hall
to her next class, she felt a presense behind her--followed by a tap on
the shoulder. Out of instinct, or because she knew who it was, grab the
person's arm and threw him into the row of lockers.

Stepping back and grinning slightly and said, "It's bad for your karma if
you touch me Daniel Stour. You and your cohorts all know that."

"Hmmhmhm, I know that better than anyone, Anne," Daniel said laughing.
"We go back a while and yet this is the first time you seem distracted by
something. Could it be that new friend of yours, I wonder?"

"Friend?.......Friend? If you're referring to that wrech that sat next to
me at lunch........her name is Misty Thomas. Know her?"...... 'Did I just
say it like that?'

"Yeah, I guess, we have the same history class. I've seen her writting a
lot of notes with your name on them; depressing notes to be exact. Anne,
I think she has a thing for you...and you seem to have a thing for her,
too." Daniel had a serious concerning touch to his tone. "I think you
like her and that scares the hell out of you."

"Thank you for your concern Daniel, but it is wasted on me. I don't need
your concern and I think that Misty girl is a nice person."

"Did you just admit to me that your are scared?!" With that Anne landed a
punch onto Daniel's rib cage. As he fell to the ground, Anne laid an
elbow into his left kidney. She headed off to the next class of the day
while Daniel lay on the ground gasping for air and trying to laugh at the
same time. "I got to her good this time!"

'Damn that Daniel Stour. He's the only person who knows how to crawl
under my skin, but he's always been right. Could he be right about this
too? Could I actually like Misty? She seems to like me a lot for some
reason, so why can I not show her in return? Why does she like me so
much? She definately knows me from somewhere.' Anne's mind couldn't stop
this bombardment of questions. She heard not a single word the teacher
spoke the whole next lesson.

English came all too soon. Anne sat at her desk waiting for her time to
present her poem. Suddenly, Misty appeared in the doorway. She seemed to
be carrying something for the teacher. Anne followed her across the room
to the teacher's desk........."Anne"........"Anne Amera.......Ms. Amrea?
Your next. Are you ready?"

"Sorry, Mrs. Willim. Yes I am ready." Anne moved to the front of the
class to present the poem, as directed by the assignment. Anne looked
over the room to find the image of Misty gone. "Guilty Conscious," Anne
labeled her work. The class eagerly awaited to Anne's work. Though the
entire school hates her, they all respect her for her artistic talents.
As with all of her other works, this garunteed not to disappoint.

"A hand of white reaches for me;
His face I cannot see,
But I know who it will be.

Through the shadow I see a sinical smirk.
Now I will disappear from the earth,
'Cause he's the one who saw me first.

Under his hood of black, his teeth of white
Are always smiling, but can never bite
And will kill all within his sight.

With a light touch, he took my soul
Into hell with others in the red bowl.
I only add to it, making it grow.

All around me, I hear my new master,
And his minions, joining him in this laughter.
Now my soul burns all the faster.

They point at me and laugh, laugh at my cries.
The others in chains and racks can't move the ties
That hold them in pain; no one dies.

The rack pulls tighter, pulling my limbs out,
The pokers burn my flesh, pain is all about.
We open our jaws, but we cannot shout.

I open my eyes to see this bright gleam.
Nothing at all was what it seemed.
It was only an ominous dream."

All of time seemed to stop for those who witnessed the reading. No
movement, no response, nothing. A mournful awe dominated the feel of the
room. Not even Anne could've expected this many people, who harbored such
disdain for her, to be so agasped by her words. Not a single mouth was
closed.

"Well, Anne.....thank you for your presentation. Always a pleasure. Next
we'll hear from Mr. Sanders."

The presentations continued. Anne drifted in and out of her daze. Most of
the poems didn't interest her, in fact most didn't even keep Mrs.
Willim's attention. Anne could feel a restlessness begin to creep over
her as the class lingered on. She felt the confusing urge to keep her
attention at the door. 'Stop it Anne. Just look
back......over....here.........NO damnit!.....at the front of the
class.....' Misty walked through the door just as Anne's attention went
back to it. 'This is fucking great, Anne...' She tried to hide it, but it
soon became obvious Anne was following the girl's every movement. Misty
simply came by to do her teacher's bitch-work. As Misty left the
classroom, her's and Anne's eyes met. Misty gave her a sly wink with a
smirk on her face. '...The hell was that about?'

'Physics, at last' Anne thought aloud. Anne took her seat next to Misty,
who surprisingly enough beat her to class today. The lecture dragged on
forever. Anne didn't notice it, but Misty slipped another note into her
bag. Misty figured she would read it when she got home. Unbenounced to
Misty, Anne had done the same.

Anne had no lessons planned for after school today. She began the long
walk home. She walked no more than ten yards from the campus when she
heard a car honking behind her. Not thinking much of it, Anne contiued
onward to her house. Another honk. Anne didn't know why, curiousity
maybe, but she felt compelled beyond reason to turn her head in the
direction of the noise. "Just as I thought."

"Need a ride?" Misty asked from her Mustang convertable. Anne noticed
the custom royal blue paintjob as it sparkled in the afternoon sun.

"No thank you," Anne's voice was surprisingly polite, "however, I must
compliment your parents' car. I don't have far to walk."

"It's no problem sweety. It's not far out of my way or anything."

"I said no thank you, Misty.........and don't call me that," Anne became
her usual self. "I have a name, so use it." Misty tried to coax her
further, but Anne quietly turned back around and was heading home.

"Diane was right, but I'm not giving up that easily." Misty said
outloud.

The next few weeks passed by in a similar fashion. Every afternoon Misty
would offer Anne a ride home, or to the junior high school, and every
time be denied.

Misty could feel the wall around Anne starting to deteriate, but
outwardly Anne remained the same. Misty's heart was strong indeed. Her
strength was breaking through to the one thing she wanted the most, but
was starting to wane with every rejection. After about three weeks of
constant rejection from Anne and some occational torment from some of the
student body (and faculty) Misty went home in tears to her parents'
loving arms. She confided in them her love for Anne and how she was being
rejected and hazed almost everyday. Her parents knew she was a lesbian
long before high school and they were okay with it, but they had no idea
what was going on when they weren't watching. The only thing that
mattered to them was their daughter's happiness, but they knew they could
not help her in this matter. They gave her all they could: confidence,
advise, a loving home, a shoulder to cry on...everything they would want
in the one whom their daughter choose to be with. The only thing her
parents could tell her was: "We've never known you to give up on
anything. We're sure she loves you just as much as you love her, only
yours has shown itself while Anne is confused and alone. Trust us Misty,
you two share the same feelings for each other..." Misty's perserverence
never waned.

Throughout the next few weeks Misty wrote countless note to Anne, talking
about nothing in particular, but two things stood out; the language she
used and the fact they all ended with "Love, Misty". Every note she
recieved, Anne thought more and more about how she knew her. All Misty
had was the one note Anne wrote to her nearly five weeks earlier:

"Stop trying to be my friend. No one desreves the treatment you're
recieving. I am sure you understand soon my concern. You are a very nice
person, Misty, and I want you to stay that way so for the sake of your
own sanity, drop the notion of trying to be my friend."

Misty must have read and re-read this one note more than a hundred times.
Everytime made her feel like she had something to live for. "She does
care about me, but how do I get her to admit it to me? She's afraid for
me and doesn't want anything to happen to me, but her pride keeps getting
in the way of her telling me that." Anne had no idea this care for her
would ever materialize.

Friday, lunch time. Misty decided to sit with her cheerleading squad
today. She already made the varsity squad and was the newly elected
co-captain despite, Anne's warnings and the typical high school political
bull shit. Diane was able to protect her to a point, but that was limited
to a handful of people.

"So how's your girlfriend, Misty?" asked Jennica. She and Misty have been
close friends since they were in elementary school and joked often of
Misty's sexual orientation. Jennica was the one who first notice Misty's
lebianism come into light. Most of the people at the school didn't care
about a person's sexual orientation, not even the faculty.

"Anne? I'm not sure really. She's been avoiding me a lot recently." It
was quite obvious Misty was not her usual, chipper self. All week, she
had to cry herself to sleep. The emotional strain of Anne's rejections
weighed heavy on her. She spoke as if something died inside her. Many a
time, the thought of giving up crossed her mind, but she loved Anne too
much to give up now.

"Why not just take the bitch's advise?" Jennica continued, rather
sternly, "She obviously doesn't want anyone in her life and isn't worth
your effort. You're too good for her."

"I don't know, Jennica. I feel so close to her......." Misty's tears cut
her off as the reality set in.

"Well shit! It's your choice." Jennica looked around the table at
everyone else. Talking as if nothing else happened, "So who else is going
to the talent show?" Everyone raised their hands with enthusiasm, except
Misty. "Oh come on girl, at least show up. Come on it'll help you take
your mind off this Anne thing. It'll be fun, I promise."

"Alright, I'll go." Misty's eyes never lifted from her lap. Her eyes were
flooded with tears and heart sank nearly into depression. A little while
later, after some Misty-less conversation the bell rang for the next
class.

Misty moped to her next class. Her dreams and hopes shattered.
Depression, loneliness, heartbreak, suicide...every emotion swept over
her mind. Her romantic thoughts about being with Anne were
quickly unbecoming. She rounded the next corner only to walk right into
Rachel, one of the school's girl soccer players.

"Sorry Rachel," the incidental contact stunned her a bit.

"Watch where you're going whore! Next time I'll put on your fucking
ass!!"

"I said I was sorry, Rachel. Please excuse me..." Misty tried pushing by
the girl only to be shoved against the lockers. By now a small crowd had
gathered around.

"I'm not done with you bi..." she was cut off by a cold voice.

"Is there a problem here Rachel?" Anne's voice. "Because if you want one,
I am more than happy to ablige you."

"So this IS your bitch, Anne!" Rachels eyes glared into Misty's. Before
Misty or Rachel had time to react to the comment, Anne grabbed the back
of Rachel's head and threw her face-first into he locker beside Misty.
Rachel's nose broke immediately causing blood to smeer on the cold metal
as the unconscous Rachel fell to the floor. Misty stood frozen; numbed by
the shock. What was more traumatising was the unemotional look in Anne's
expression.

"What a bother," Anne said looking down at Rachel. Anne knelt down beside
the limp girl and whispered, "Don't ever call her that agian!" Misty was
drowning in tears by this time, especially after hearing Anne's
comments. Anne stood and looked at Misty with a much warmer expression.
She smiled at the shaken girl and proceed on to her class as if nothing
had happened. Misty slumped to the floor, hudled and shaking next to the
puddle of blood coming from Rachel's nose and head. Jennica, Tammy, Diane
and several others came over to comfort the traumatised girl, completely
ignoring Rachel. They escorted Misty to the front office to have her
parents pick her up while Rachel's friends had to carry her to the
nurse's office.

"What the hell happened?" asked Tammy, who's view was being blocked in
the crowd. Misty's face had gone ghost white. Shocked by the sound of
Rachel's nose breaking against the locker beside her and numbed by the
long emotional strain of her situation. She could hardly breathe
let-alone say anything.

"From what I could see Rachel slipped and hit her head on the locker,"
Jennica spoke up quickly. "Isn't that what you saw Diane?" Diane, shaken
by the experience as well, nodded quickly. "I'll call your dad to come
get you. You really need to go home, sweety." Calming down by this news,
Misty managed a weak "Thank you".

"Jennica, I'll stay here with her until her dad gets here. You and the
rest go back to class," ordered Diane. They agreed without hesitation.
"Thanks.....Diane,"Misty managed to get out with quite a bit of effort.
Misty's head fell onto her cousin's shoulder and the screatching crying
began. The people in the office could have thought her mom had just died.

After a long while with the help of soothing words, Misty was able to
talk. "So she...... does ha.....have feelings for me," she managed
between sobs.

"I guess she does, Misty," Diane's tone was still in comfort mode. "I
mean she broke Rachel's nose and probably gave her a concussion, not to
mention ended her year on the team because she wanted to give you some
shit. I mean damn! That's devotion."

"Sh..she di....did that for me. Anne....does....love me!"

"I've known Anne since before she became the Anne we all know now. Trust
me sweety, she does have feelings for you, but this is the only way she
could show it. She doesn't want anything to happen to you. Why do think
she doesn't want you around her?"

"I know Diane. Th..th-at's why I..I've been cr-crying. She can't o-o-open
up to me..........I love h-h-her but I'm so afraid!" The tears returned
in full force. Diane did her best to comfort her cousin.

"Why don't I stay at your place this weekend? Would that help some?"

"Yeah.....th-thanks." Misty's embrace on her cousin grew tighter by the
minute until her dad arrived.

All weekend Misty was plauged by a recurring nightmare of Friday's
events. Only in her dream Anne actually killed Rachel with a knife and
then would abandon Misty to be alone and afraid. Anne would only repeat
the phrase "what a bother" but would look at Misty rather than Rachel.
She would have to be shaken from her terrorfying state by her mom or
Diane. Every time this happened, she wouldn't give any excuse but that of
"it was just a bad dream".

Sunday night came with Misty starting to show signs of feeling better.
Her cheeks had more color and her eyes looked more lively, just like the
Misty everyone knows. She decided to go to bed early this night. She
could admit to herself she was feeling better and didn't think the
nightmare would return tonight; not to mention she wanted to get up
early to see who was performing in the talent show tomarrow. The others
decided to stay up for a while longer. Three hours passed and it seemed
Misty did get over her "bad dream". Diane and the the Thomases felt their
worries for the girl ease away. Twenty minutes passed, the screaming
began. The three of them ran up to Misty's bedroom, but arrived after she
had waken herself from the dream. She was sitting upright with her hands
crossed on her chest.

"Misty please tell me what's bothering you," her moher pleaded. "This is
the seventh time this has happened this weekend. Did something
happen with Anne that was so bad?"

"Anne killed Rachel.......she killed her in my dream," Misty's face was a
ghostly white, her body rocking back and forth as if she was in a trance,
but speaking regularly. "She cut her throat right in front of me, then
stabbed her......stabbed her a lot....." Misty's arm moved like she was
stabbing the bed; slamming her closed fist down upon the blanket.

"Diane....who's Rachel?" Mrs. Thomas asked. She wanted to keep the events
that transpired on Friday a secret from her aunt and uncle, but no longer
could she.

"Rachel tried to start a fight with her on Friday until Anne showed up
and beat the shit out of her. Anne threw Rachels face against the locker
next to Misty. Rachel had a broken nose, a concussion and minor skull
fracture.......from what I was told."

"Oh my god Diane! Why didn't you tell us about this?" Mr. Thomas said
quietly, hoping not to panic his daughter even more. "You said that you
thought she was getting depressed and she needed to go home and rest. Why
didn't you mention a fight?"

"I'm sorry Uncle John, but I thought that telling you one of the things
wrong with her was bad enough. I didn't know THIS was going to happen."

Misty was still in her trance-like state. Saying that Anne killed her and
slamming the bed. Cindy came to her daughter's side and embraced her
tightly. The fear of losing her daughter to a mental institution was too
much to bear. Misty continued to rock on her bed, but changed what she
was saying, "I love you Anne, don't go away. Don't leave me!"

Cindy looked back at her husband for what to do next. He just nodded,
telling her to play along. Cindy's grip grew tighter around her
daughter. "I love you too, Misty."

"I need you to be with me Anne. I can't live without you....I think I'm
going insane thinking about you."

Trying hard to hold back her tears Cindy replied, "You're not going
insane sweety. I'm here for you. Just let it out. I'll take care of you,
honey."

This brought Misty out of her trance, her face was flushed and her eyes
looked rested. She looked around the room, lost in her own house. She
couldn't remember why she was in her bedroom with all these people
around. She couldn't remember the dream or even falling asleep. Finally,
after five long minutes she recognized the people in her room.

"Mom, why are you crying? And why are dad and Diane in her, too?" Misty's
tone was troublesome, but not hindered with fear.

"You were having your bad dream again Misty so we all decided to come up
here this time," Diane spoke out quickly. "Are you feeling okay now
honey?"

"I guess so.....when did I go to sleep?"

"About three-and-a-half hours ago. You said you wanted to get some early
rest."

"I did? I don't remember getting changed or even coming up the stairs."

"Then try to get some rest Misty. Besides, we're gonna have fun tomarrow.
Remember?"

Misty remembered the conversation at lunch on Friday, but nothig
about what the hell just happened. Diane told her aunt and uncle she
would be staying in Misty's room tonight in case this happened again.
They agreed without any protest. They never met this Anne person, but she
sure did a fine job of fucking up their daughter. Diane took a seat at
the head of her cousin's bed with Misty's head resting on her soft
shoulder. It wasn't long before the sound of a deep sleep filled the
room, on the part of Misty anyway. Resting on her nurturing cousin's
shoulder, the malcontent she harbored deep within her brain vanished.
This would be the best night of sleep she's had in a long while; as for
Diane, her concern for her baby cousin kept her awake through the night.

Misty and Diane arrived at school early the next morning. The faint dark
blue glow of a cloudy morning was begining to reveal itself. They wanted
to get a good seat for the day's events. In terms of school work, today
is going to be easy. Only first and second period were scheduled as
normal, and that was only to allow time to set up the stage for the
show. Students involved with the event would be absent from classes all
day and several teachers as well. Many other students would get to the
theater early to "reserve" seats for their friends.

The pair of cheerleaders tried to avoid any discussion about Anne. Diane
knew this would only spark another episode of dimensia for Misty.
They walked and talked about this and that, mostly making fun of the acts
they knew were going to happen. They were just about to the door when
they noticed Anne had also arrived early this morning. She didn't seem to
notice them through the window. Along with her usual school shit, she
also had with her a guitar case. Diane couldn't remember Anne's name on
the list of acts that was published in the school's paper earlier the
previous week. Nothing in the music catagory or dance or anywhere. Anne
disappeared into the dark of the theater door.

All morning Misty spend in a world of her own. She didn't hear or see
anything but her own reality. She walked as though she was walking
through the vally of death. Her face a ghostly white, her eyes blank as
the dark side of the moon. Her worry for the the one whom she loves was
too much to bear. 'Why would she be in the talent show? Everyone hates
her........will she be booed off stage? I can't stand to see that happen.
Am I going insane......how do I tell her that I love her without it being
thrown back into my face like everything else I say to her? She doesn't
know that I know what I know. I do know the old Anne, not the one
everyone else hates. It's like.......loving a shadow...... I can look at
it and it can look at me, but I can't put my arms around it or talk to it
and it can't either.'

"Misty..........Misty......wake up.......HELLLLOOOOO," Diane jolted Misty
out of her substituted reality. "Come on. The show starts in ten
minutes."

The girls walked to their perspective lockers and met back at the theater
entrance. Jennica, the one in charge of organizing the show, met up with
her friends.

"I noticed Anne is in the talent show," Jennica said in sarcasm, "I'm
wondering what kind of talent someone like that has. I doubt it's really
anything good."

"THAT'S ENOUGH, JENNICA!!!!" Dian ordered, slapping her across the
face. "This girl has been in hell for the last week. She doesn't need any
help from you keeping her there. Come on Misty let's get our seats."
Diane escorted her weeping cousin by the hand down to the front row. They
met up with the rest of their circle of friends gathered around. They all
knew of Misty's feelings for Anne, and the of the magnitude of Diane's
readiness to defend her cousin, they dared not to attempt a stunt like
the one Jennica just tried. They all came to have fun and support their
friend.

The show started with Daniels Stour's comedy routine. He was met with an
eager audience, as he was last year. This helped to bring Misty out of
her depression a bit. A pair of identical twins followed Daniel in a hula
dance. Misty felt her nervousness grow as the acts passed. Several swing
dancers, solo singers, a couple of piano players, but no Anne. Anxiety,
fear, every emotion fathomable crept to the forefront of the girl's
heart. The sorrowness of the aura around her resinated into everyone
else. Even her friends' nerves were being tried. Nearing what wound
normally be lunchtime for Anne and Misty, the principal announced the
next act, "The String Metal Septet".

This name is foreign to everyone in the student body. The audience
started to talk amongst themselves as to who this group is. The curtin
started to rise to the sound of an electric guitar. This
tune, which sounded like the dark side of Mozart, was met with the
haunting melody of a violin and viola. A bass giutar and cello added to
the meloncholy song which was mixed with the a bass and deep drums. The
tune carried with it the sound of a ballad mixed wih the sound of a heavy
metal band. Suddenly, all was quiet say for the violin which kept playing
it's sadness. The stage lights came on, revealing Anne standing at the
microphone at center stage. No one else in the band was recognisable,
even if they too were in the light. Anne started to play her guitar
again, in duet with the violin. The music began to carry a heavy emotion
over the hearts of everyone listining, especially Misty. Anne's voice
bellowed out, piercing the emotional barrier of everyone in the audience
as she began to sing. The rest of the band picked up with the first sung
note.

"I am here before you, here in your eyes.
I'm hiding myself, but you see through my disguise.
You see through me, you see the love in me
I feel my heart begin to say "Please let her be".

I catch myself sinking into your eyes.
My heart starts to tell me "No more lies".

I've only seen what I've wanted to see,
I denied my heart, but I want to believe."

The power chords, bass, cello and thundering drums picked up.

"I feel my wall starting to fade, I can no longer resist.
My eyes crack open, I see my love in the mist

My heart begins to open for you.
Through the mist I see yours too.
Loving you more than I do myself,
Loving you more than life itself.

Seeing you smile in the shadow, I can no longer resist.
Peering through the darkness, I see my love in the mist."

The band went into a ninety second powerful instrumental. The mornful
tunes carried over the hearts and souls of everyone in the school.

"Looking at you I see my wall ending the fade.
I look deep inside at the love we've made.

I've only seen what I've wanted to see.
My heart made it true and now I believe

Loving you more, I can no longer resist.
My eyes are open, I see my love standing in the mist......"

The song ended with the orchestra instruments playing for the last twenty
seconds. The entire audience awarded them with a long standing ovation.
Those who didn't participate in the applause were busy tending to the
girl in tears in the front row. Anne found the reward she needed  in
the tears of the girl before her. The stage darkened once again,
symbolizing to Misty some kind of omen that would change her view of
Anne's affections towards her. This was the only thought on her mind as
the show closed for lunch.

Chapter Three: The Truth Behind the Truth

Searching franticly in the mob of people in the cafeteria, Misty couldn't
find the one person she wanted to see. No one knew what happened to her,
or any of the band, after the lights went out. Through the crowd see saw
her cousin waving to her. Diane and Misty fought there way through the
other hungry students to their table.

"Can't find her either?" Misty asked with her head down.

"Nope. Where do you think she could've gone?" Diane asked. It was easy to
tell her genuine concern in her voice.

"I don't know. I don't think she went to any of the classrooms just to
avoid talking to me."

"Do you think she maybe went home, since her mom's probably at work?"
Diane's tone was becoming much more suggestive than concerning.

"Yah, and just checked herself outself out of school?!" Misty retorted
deep in sarcasm.

"Well, no attendance was taken today so we technically arn't here to
begin with and I think Anne knows that...you know how she is about paying
attention to detail."

With that Misty lept to her feet and headed for her car. No one paid her
any mind, not even the teachers, as if it was normal for a student to
just up and leave school like that. She ran through the hallways and
didn't stop until she reached her car. What she saw when she got
in scared the hell out of her. Anne was sitting in her car, waiting for
her.

"Shit, Anne. You scared the shit out of me," Misty said out of breath.

"I've been waiting here for almost ten minutes," Anne said in her usual
tone, "what took so long?"

"Why didn't you just come to the lunchroom like a normal person to meet
me?"

"Because I am no normal person, in the physical sense, not to mention the
mental. I have something I need to show you before we can go any farther
with our......situation... why arn't you driving?" Misty found her fear
growing once again. She started the car and began to drive out of the
school parking lot.

"Where are we going?" Misty asked concerned for her Anne.

"Your place. It would be a shame for you to see the abomination I call a
home. What I want to show you and my reasoning behind it......just trust
me, you'll be much more comfortable at your house anyway."
Anne's wall was fading fast. Her love for Misty is genuine in its own
right, but needed assurance. "I just hope you are prepared for what I
have to show you. While we're waiting, tell me how you knew about my
condition."

"Diane told me about how you've changed from when the two of you were
kids. As you've probably figured out by now, I am her cousin. Anyway, we
were talking and somehow your name came into the conversation. Suddenly
she started talking about the weather, or some other b.s. When I brought
you up again, she told me to change the subject. I kept pressing her to
tell me what she knew, she finally gave in. She told me that one day
everything about you was different; how you spoke, how you dressed, how
you acted, how you treated everyone, why the teachers started hating
you."

"Why did you want to know in the first place? How did you know me? I
don't think we've ever met before when I first saw you in calculus."

Misty continued driving towards her house, her mind going faster than her
car. "Through all the pictures of you and Diane and her stories about you
made me fall in love with you. No, I don't think we ever met before that
day either, but that's how I recognised you. Your beautiful face hasn't
changed much. I think true love just hit me."

"I think it hit me too," Anne confessed quietly. Her hard exterior all
but vanished; she spoke truthfully, admitting to herself her love for
this girl. "You probably don't know this, but since that day everytime we
had a class together, something was calling my name at the classroom door
and everytime you seemed to appear in the doorway. After our first
'conversation' as I remember you calling it, I kept seeing you even if
you weren't there. Everytime I got one of your notes, I tried to convince
myself this affair was nothing more than a farse to get me to break down,
something no one could do to me anymore. That's when I decided to admit
my love for you and show what I need to show you. I just thought my song
would lighten the mood."

"I was wondering about that. Who was that band?" They were nearly at
Misty's street. The houses were becoming much more like mansions, a fact
that caught Anne's attention immediately.

"It was my brother's. I called in a favor. I told them about what was
going on and they all agreed to help me without question. Those guys are
the only family I've had for a long time after my father and brother were
killed. Steven, the violinist, thought that my brother would love to here
that I have a love in my life now." Anne put her left hand on Misty's leg
and squeezed her thigh a bit, smiling at her. Her deep emotions finally
being shown to someone was like a heavy burden falling from her
shoulders. Anne could feel her entering a Utopia that would be only for
her and Misty.

"We're here. Do you want to come in? No one else is home," Misty said
grabbing Anne's hand on her thigh.

"Of course I do, Misty," Anne said holding her hand in return. Anne
brought it up to her mouth and kissed her fingers gently. Anne began to
stray into their Utopia from which there was no return. She knew once she
opened the door to this, there was no closing it.

MIsty showed Anne around for a bit to help make her feel a litle more
comfortable about telling her this secret. The sheer dimensions of this
house boggled Anne's mind. The livingroom alone was nearly the size of
her entire house. Above the marble floored foyer was a crystal chandeleir
wrapped in a mahogany spiral staircase that led to the guest wing of the
house as well as a full weight room. The first floor alone was larger
than Anne's house all together, and had more rooms. A second flight of
stairs, a split of two staircases, between the livingroom and the
kitchen, led to the bedrooms upstairs and concealed the stairs leading to
the basement, which was fully finished and furnished as an extra bedroom
and study. The upper floor split off into separte wings of their own, one
lead to the master bedroom and master bathroom, the other to Misty's.
There were two bedrooms, each having its own bathroom. It was quite
obvious to Misty that Anne fell in love with her house.

Sitting in the livingroom just blindly staring at each other, Anne had to
muster all she could to tell her new friend of this secret. "You remember
when we first met? What I said to you?"

"Sure. You practically told me to get lost. You said something like you
didn't want anything bad to happen to me or some other b.s." Misty was
trying her hardest to ease Anne's emotions.

"I'm sure you remember what happened between you and Rachel. Are you
prepared for that to happen over again?"

"I remember you smashed her face into the locker and that you stood up
for me. Later that weekend I started going crazy, as my mom told me the
next day, but I can't remember what exactly happened."

"I said I wanted to keep you a nice person. Do you remember that? I want
to keep you that way so atleast one of us will be. I can no longer be a
nice person and I have this constant reminder of why I can't be." Anne
started to rub her right arm. She kept her eyes on the floor the whole
time she spoke of being nice. "Are you ready to see what happens to nice
people who are too nice?"

Misty nodded her head, "What are you telling me?"

Anne threw her trenchcoat off from her shoulders. Misty fell back in her
chair in disbelief of her own eyes. "This is why I cannot be nice to
anyone ever again! Are you ready to live with this?!" Anne's right arm
wasn't that of flesh and bone, it was made from metal! From her shoulder
on down to the tips of every finger, pure metal. The shoulder of the
device was bolted into the colar bone and there was an obvious scar from
the operation.

"How did this happen sweety? When did you get this? You think this why I
couldn't love you? I will always love you, sweetheart. You mean to tell
me your own mother doesn't even know about this...." Misty's voice
trailed off from Anne's ears.

"No, my mother does know about this, but she chooses to forget about it
because of what it reminds her of." Anne took her seat next to the
teary-eyed girl.

"Tell me Anne, how did this happen to you?"

"I was walking back to my house, quite a few years ago from Diane's, when
this strange man appraoched me. He asked me for some change, which I was
more than happy to give. Back then I was like that. As I reached into my
pocket to give him some, he pulled out this knife and swung at me.
The details are a bit hazy, but what I do remember was the blade going
into my shoulder and blood running down my arm and while I was crying and
bleeding to death, he gathered all that he could and left. Someone
passing by must have grabbed me because the next thing I remember I'm
laying in a bed, my arm already amputated, with my mother in tears
outside my room. At first I thought she was crying for me, but I later
found out that the same guy who nearly cut my arm off also robbed a store
that my dad and my brother were shopping at and stabbed them both to
death. The police never did find the guy and my mother blames me for what
happened, all because I couldn't remember what the guy looked like. My
mom hates me and constantly reminds me that she would have rather have me
die, than have her husband and son get killed. This eyesore is both of
ours to remember why I am the way that I am and why my mother is who she
is." Anne was in tears before she finished her life's story. Misty was
balling her eyes out, leaning on her love's shoulder, the real one.
Anne's wall was finally broken through completely by this girl. She was
the only one who knew who actually made Annebell Amera who she is now.
Misty didn't care either way. She knew the truth behind the truth and
that was that mattered to her.

"This really is quite a secret that you had," Misty said through her
sorrow for her girlfriend. "Diane didn't tell me that you were even in
the hospital."

"I never said I was in the hospital. My uncle found out what happened and
had me fitted for this arm, from what I understand. I've had this for a
long time and everytime they have to replace it, for whatever reason, it
hurts like hell."

"...because of the pain it reminds you of?"

"Because it's connected to each one of my nerves. Think of someone
hitting you with a blunt knife on an open wound. That'll get you close to
what it feels like. The emotional part of it is just overwhelmed by the
physical pain."

"What do your uncles do for a living anyway to have you fitted with kind
of equipment? I've only heard of one other person to have successfully
been fitted with a mechanical arm before. His face was all over the news,
I'm sure you remember."

"Don't ever ask me that again, Misty. I love you, I don't want to have to
kill you. Let's just say they work for the State Department, but because
of my successful operation of this fake limb, they went public with the
knowledge and put one on that guy. That's when they came forward with
what they were doing behind closed doors. It's funny how we have already
made a breakthrough with human cyborization, but haven't figured out how
to make a flying car." Anne's tears had dried, as had Misty's. Anne could
feel Misty's warmth from her girlfriend against her chest. A
question came over her in that moment that must be answered quickly.
There would be no turning back afterward. "Misty, can I stay here with
you?"

"Of course you can sweety. You're always welcome here, besides my parents
want to meet you. Of course you can stay here tonight." Misty was
overjoyed that Anne asked the question she had been hoping to here for a
long time.

"I don't mean it like that. I don't know why, but I want to live here
with you. I need to get away from that whore I must refer to as mother."

"Are you out of your mind? Sorry...wrong way to put it....but my parents
don't even know you that well and we haven't been able to prepare your
room for........." Anne let the rest fade away.

"Call them...please Misty. I need to get away from that thing before
something bad happens. I've put up with it for far too long. Please have
your parents come home so we can discuss this. I don't want to go back to
that slut-mom. I don't know why, but for the first time in my life I can
be happy and this is my only way to be so....."

"Alright baby, I'll call them up okay?" Misty and Anne had switched
places. Anne had a death grip around Misty ,with her head buried into
Misty's chest, who was taken aback by this shift in Anne's demeanor.
"Just let me get up to get the phone."

The whole while Misty was gone, Anne sat on the couch thinking deeply
about abandoing her own mother for her life with Misty. Anne spent her
time searching for her Utopia that she once had that made her happy and
tried to make it right for her and her girlfriend. The depths of her
heart was swarmed with the conflicting battle of her deep love for Misty
while trying to forget about her mother as a living being. The whore who
reinerated day-in-and-day-out that she was alive because the guy didn't
do a good enogh job in the first place was easy to forget, but it was the
worry she harbored that her love's parents would hate for being as such.

Anne's patience were running thin. Misty hadn't returned for almost an
hour. She did make good use of her time by wondering around the house
hoping for the positive. She helped herself to the kitchen freely getting
herself a drink and some lunch. She just sat down on the formal dining
room table when Misty came bouncing in.

"They're on their way home!!! They sounded so happy too!!!!"

"Calm down sweety. Nothing has been decided yet. Don't be getting your
hopes up." They chatted mindlessly for the next twenty or thirty minutes.
They both seemed to be sure that Misty's parents would go for this plan.
They rushed to the living room when they heard the cars come up the
driveway.

"Misty, dear! We're home!" her father called out, oblivious to the fact
they were only a few feet away. Anne quickly sprang up and put her coat
back on.

"We're in the living room mom and dad," Misty said calmly to her parents.
Anyone could feel the tension and anxiety rising in the room with every
step her parents took. Anne's uncertainty of her future took full effect
on her. Her nervousness growing so much she could feel her throat begin
to dry and her breathing became horse and raspy.

"Misty dear," her mother said in a polite tone, "please go up to your
room while we discuss this 'important thing' that you told us about."
Cindy's demeanor was pleasant, yet uncomfortable. Anne knows all too
well how the rich act to your face. They tend to be sweet and nice while
condescending in being so. However, Anne knew nothing of what Misty has
been through because of her.

"So," John began taking a seat next to her on the couch with Cindy
standing behind her husband, as if she didn't want to be any closer to
her, "you must be Anne. Let me just say that my opinion of you is a bit
lessened than what Misty's is. You have put our daughter through hell.
She hasn't been able to stop thinking about you ever since before we
moved here."

"I know, she told me," Anne said in a rather spirited tone. Her usual
self in this circumstance had hidden away deep inside her. "Diane told me
that Misty was falling into a state of depression."

"Yes, she has to say the least. She's been having nightmares about you
killing someone and then turning around and saying that she can't live
without you. What the hell did you do to her anyway? Tell us your side of
the story, Anne. Please."

"Let me say that I've never killed anyone, but can you tell me about
these nightmares? I want to know something before I go into details with
my story."

Cindy spoke up quickly, "She says that you killed someone by slashing her
throat and then repeatedly stabbed her. Later on she told us about having
her arms cut off, or sometimes her legs. Why do you want to know this?"

"I would call that a preminision, by definition, almost verbatum to my
story......before I told it to her." Anne took her hands out of her
pockets, took off her coat and showed the Thomases what she showed to
Misty. Cindy nearly fainted and John fell back in his seat. Her metal arm
shining bright in the afternoon sun. "To answer your question, I tried to
protect her. Misty, as far as I can tell, has been a nice person all her
life. I was once that way as well at one point. I learned the hard way
that being nice has bad consequences. That would explain the dismembering
dream. The same man that did this to me also stabbed and beheaded my
brother and father. I was told it was the same kind of weapon that took
off my arm. My brother, my father and my own arm was the price I paid for
being nice. I wasn't about to have someone else's life taken away as mine
was because of their personality, hence my initial malcontent towards
your daughter.......when we first met." Anne sat back for a second to
think of what next to say to these people. She already almost put them
into shock just by revealing her past to them.

"That definately is important, but I'm confused. Why do you want to stay
here insted of with your mother, your only family?"

"That whore is not my mother," Anne said in her usual tone. "For years,
this freakish reminder of that day has plagued my mind, and her's. That
thing that I live with only lives for sex. I've been raising myself since
I was in high school. I've supported myself; got a job, pay the bills,
kept my grades up only to have my mother tell me she wished that I had
died and they had lived. Call me selfish if you want, but I think I've
earned the right to get away from that thing."

"Anne," John said quietly, "would you please get Misty, but give us a few
minutes before you return?"

Anne excused herself without saying a word. The weight on her heart and
mind slowed her steps. She could vividly hear Misty's parents talking
quietly, although she couldn't make out what they were saying. She found
Misty siting on her bed, facing the wall, writing something that looked
like a poem. Misty didn't hear her come in. Anne stood by the bed,
looking over her shoulder. The scripture was very tender in it's language
and beautiful in it's tune.

"Very nice," Anne complimented surprising her girlfriend.

"Damn Anne, you scared the hell out of me." Misty looked into Anne's
troubled eyes. "What's wrong honey, what did they say?" Misty noticed
Anne wasn't wearing her coat.

"They want to tell us both the verdict. They told me to come get you and
then give them a few minutes before returning. They seemed to believe me,
but I know they don't like me....at all." Anne sat next her Misty as she
began to tear up. "I'm scared Misty. I don't want to go back to that
life. I want to be with you forever. I love you..." Misty gathered Anne
into her arms as they both began to cry. Anne felt her love for Misty
growing with each passing moment. Anne felt her happiness returning that
she had almost forgot she even had. Misty kissed Anne on her forehead as
they heard John calling from downstairs. They slowly got to their feet
and down the steps; they held hands the entire way down.

John and Cindy had gathered themselves from the shock that Anne put on
them and were sitting on the couch. Anne and Misty were standing before
them hand-in-hand with high hopes.

"Anne," John said politely, "it's quite obvious that you have been
through a lot of trauma. It surprises the both of us that you have stayed
alive as as you have. Most of my own patients would have killed
themselves by now. Misty told us about that song of yours and what it
meant to her."

 Anne's agony was growing. She was waiting to hear the "but" part any
second. She knew nothing but disappointment for her efforts. Misty
started to wince as Anne's grip tightened.

"Please take a seat you two," Cindy said. She took a deep breathe before
delivering the news. "Anne, Misty loves you and it's become clear to us
that the feeling is mutual. Anne......you can stay with us for as long as
you want." Misty jumped with excitement. Anne, however, hunched over in
tears of her own joy.

'If this is a dream, please don't wake up......stay here with Misty,
Anne....don't wake up...' Anne kept thinking over and over again.

Looking up from her hands, Anne said, "Thank you mister and misses
Thomas, but which one is my room?"

"I think Misty should pic...." before Cindy could finish Misty answered.

"MINE!!! She can stay in my room, mom."

"When can I move in, Mrs. Thomas?"

"Anne, please call me mom now. Whenever you want to. We can go and get
your stuff now if you like. John has a truck we can use."

"Okay, mom. Let's go already!" Misty was too excited for her own good.
Anne on the other hand was very subdued. She reacted to the good news the
only way she knew how. Hearing good news for once hit her like a ton of
bricks. The thought of actually leaving that hell-hole was too much to
fathom. The whole ride to her house, Anne spoke only to give directions,
while Misty couldn't shut her mouth.

They arrived at the house a little before two in the afternoon, well
before Kathrine's normal time to arrive. In the driveway, however, was a
familiar silver Shelby Cobra. Anne looked into her mother's bedroom
window from the driveway to find a familiar sight. 'Great!' Anne thought
to herself. 'This is all I need right now!'

"See what I mean dad? She won't even notice us at all. Let's get this
over with quickly, please?"

Anne entered the house first into the stench of raunchy sex. Kathrine
only recently closed the door to her bedroom. Anne noticed a few wet
spots on the floor from where they had been today. Anne carried several
large boxes to put her things in, while Misty had a complete luggage set
in tote. John and Cindy waited in the truck for the gilrs' return.

They walked passed the door completely unnoticed by either of them into
Anne's room. Misty was dumbstruck by how empty the room looked. A drab
sadness crept into the girl's heart. Anne had very little in terms of
clothing and material items. She never felt the need for more than two
weeks worth of clothes and had little use for anything else. Anne left
her bed and dresser, but took the sheets and clothes. She broke her desk
down and boxed it up. Misty found a full binder of poems and songs on
the floor by the amplifier. Most of them dark and gloomy, talking of
murder and insanity. One stood out from the others: "Freedom, At Last".

"I'm in a place where time stands still
In my head, I feel the urge to kill.
Locked up in this cage of steel;
Wake me up, this can't be real.
Kept inside this sanitarium,
Inside my head is their eporium.
Violent's will breeds violent deeds:
"You will kill" is it's creed.
It was easy how it took my life
And it only took it one night.
They keep me lock up in this hell.
I'm getting better can't you tell?

They say I'm wrong, they say I'm right
But through this hell I must fight.
When the moon is full, they say I'm changed-
Nothing that shows me I'm deranged.
Now that the world id, I'm just one.
I woun't know it 'til my sentence is done.
I'm told my head is in their hands.
I'm glad they know mothing of my plans.
They say I'm good, they say I'm cured,
But in their eyes they're not sure.
They bleed me deep, it ends my pain
And they say I'm the one insane.

They send me back into my room.
Eventually this will be my tomb.
Deathly lost, this can't be real.
I can't bear this hell I feel.
My pain and darkness filling me
To the breaking point of agony.
They say I'm right, they say I'm well,
But I'm still locked within my cell.
The man of Death, he is my friend.
All my life he always has been.
I've dreampt the same thing every night.
I can see my freedom in my sight.

Go to sleep and you will see
That your dream is my reality.
Tiny whispers within my brain
Keep me thinking I'm insane.
All I want is to be let free.
My end is all that can save me.
I'm affraid of what's out there.
I can't even breath the free air.
When I'm with them, they keep me tied.
When we refuse, we will die.
It's now time, pull the switch of death.
Now, at last, I take my last breath."

'This is how she's managed to stay alive all this time.' Misty clutched
the book in close to her chest, feeling her tears once again overflowing.
Anne continued to pack what little belongings she had.

"Finished," Anne said in joy. "I can finally get the hell out of here...
baby what's wrong?"

"I just didn't know what it was like for you back then, sweety. It's just
a lot to take in."

"Let's finish packing and get the fuck out of here. As you can here from
the other room, I want this to take as little time as possible." Anne's
voice was more rushed as she heard the screams deminishing. "Wait for me
in the truck with mom and dad. Now, sweety! I don't want you to see what
I must do." Misty could see the fury in Anne's eyes burning all the
darker. Her irises had gone black as well as her heart. Anne waited to
her the door close before she made another move.

She marched over to her mother's room with her "arm" free for all to see.
With one punch, the door fell forward into the room. Kathrine was being
fucked from behind by this oddly familiar woman. Kathrine's tits were
bouncing heavily with each heavy thrust of her hips; Anne could see the
leather harness of the strap-on around the woman's ass. She could tell by
the sheer volume of their screams they didn't hear anyone "knocking".
Several seconds went by before their attention was diverted over to the
door.

The other woman, realizing Anne had been watching them, quickly pulled
out of her mother and tried pathetically to cover herself with the
blanket. Kathrine, on the other hand, was furious.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?! GET THE FUCK OUT YOU LITTLE
BITCH!!!"

"Thank you mother," Anne replied in her usual cold voice, "that was all I
wanted to hear you say."

"LEAVE ALREADY GODDAMNIT!!" Kathrine yelled as Anne stood in the doorway
with a strange little smirk on her face. The other woman, who Anne
finally realized is the mother to one of her students, was pressing her
body against the headboard trying to get as far away from Kathrine as she
could.

"Good bye mother. I apologize for the intrusion, Mrs. Johnson. You two
have fun now..." Anne turned and walked out the door, waving her right
hand to the women on the bed. Mrs. Johnson was speechless, to say the
least.

"DON'T YOU EVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN, YOU FUCKING BITCH!!!"

Anne tapped on the bedroom window, "I don't ever plan to." Anne sinically
smiled to her mother and winked at the lover. Kathrine got up, fully
exposed, and closed the curtains.

"What the hell just happened, baby?" Misty asked her girlfriend.

"Something that I've been wanting for a long time," Anne retorted with a
much happier expression on her face. "Listen to me, I'm actually
laughing. Damn that feels good."

The two girls chated away like they have been old friends the entire trip
back to Misty's house. John and Cindy took each other's hand and smiled.
It had been weeks since their daughter was this happy. They returned
to the Thomas' house and unpacked all of Anne's belongings, what little
there was. Misty's room was plenty big enough for the two of them to live
comfortably. Misty has been waiting her whole life for someone else with
whom to share her king-size bed, she finally found her. Anne's best
friends were put in a coner nearest to the bed and her small amount of
clothes put through the laundry.

"Girls come down here!" John called out. They came running down the
stairs like a herd of elephants. They found their mom and dad sitting in
front of the TV.

"What's up?" Anne asked pleasantly.

"Anne, where do you want to go for dinner tonight? You and Misty go out
for a while and you just pick a place. Okay sweetheart?"

"Sure," Anne said, obviously a little uncomfortable. She had to remind
herself that she was in a loving household now.

Misty took Anne out to the shopping district downtown. Although it was
more than eighty degrees outside, Anne still wore her large coat and
gloves, to keep her arm out of view of the public. They shared a pleasant
afternoon together, getting a quick lunch and doing a lot of window
shopping, but not buying anything.

"Godamnit!!" Misty said dropping her head.

"What?" Anne retorted looking around.

"That girl standing over there by the pretzel shop. She's one of Rachel's
friends from the team. Let's just go before she sees us." Anne agreed.
They left the store as quickly as they could as low as they could. They
immediately turned away from the girl to avoid any confrontation, but in
vain.

"ANNE!" Lindsey yelled out to them. Anne stopped in her tracks at the
sound of her name. Misty kept urging her to keep going, but Anne wanted
to get this over with. She turned to look at the girl, who was running to
catch up with them.

"So you were the one who attacked Rachel in the hallway. Let me just warn
you to stay the hell away from us or your precous little girlfriend might
have an accident." Lindsey did her best to stare Anne down, but Anne just
kept her usual expression.

Looking directly into her eyes, she said, "I don't know you." With that
simple sentence she took Misty's hand in her left and continued on their
way. Lindsey began to run after them after several moments. As the
girl entered Anne's arm reach, she threw her right hand back as she
turned around to face her. Misty was standing behind her girlfriend.
Anne's hand found it's way onto Lindsey's jaw on the initial swing. Her
head hit the ground with an audible thud. Anne stood posed to defend her
lover. Lindsey got to her feet, but had to brace herself against the wall
for support. Her eyes were bloodshot and hazy. She looked over at the two
girls then fell to the floor again. Grapping Misty by the hand, Anne
walked over to the limp the girl and knelt down beside her.

"Let that be a warning to you. Stay away from her." Anne brought Misty to
her side as she stood back up. They left Lindsey lying there in he middle
of the crowded mall.

"Shouldn't we atleast tell someone to help her?" Misty asked.

"Let it be. Someone will come around to help it eventually." Anne said
rather coldly. They kept walking until they found a bench to rest on for
a minute, on Misty's request.

"What is it darling?" Anne said looking into Misty's troubled eyes.

"You just scare me when you get like that is all."

"I know how to control my rage. How do you think I've stayed alive all
this time. I found a place to keep it locked up and only let it out
when I need it. I would never even think about hitting you, if that's
what scares you."

"I know that sweety. But you just feel out of my reach, like I can't
bring you back when you get like that." The two girls stood up, Anne
still looking down. "Baby, look at me...."

As Anne turned to look at her, Misty wrapped her arms around Anne's
waist. Standing in a loving embrace, cheek-to-cheek. They got some
odd stares from the people passing by. The two of them didn't care either
way what those people thought. Misty turned to her girlfriend and kissed
her on her cheek, causing Anne to blush a little. They were soon locked
in a somewhat passionate kiss in the middle of the crowded mall, in full
view of everyone. Some people were ogaling, some were embaressed to
watch, but the two girls only saw each other.

The two girls pulled away from each other and headed to the nearest
bench. "So where do you want to eat tonight, Anne?" Misty sat with her
head propped up on her hand; she was quite relaxed. Anne, on the other
hand, was sitting more tense than usual. It just hit her that they just
shared their first intimate moment in full view of the public.

"Why don't you pick the place and we'll just say it was my idea? I've
never gone anywhere to eat in a very long time and I don't know what all
is around here anymore."

"How about Federalli's? It's a very fancy Italian place downtown. Sound
good?"

"How fancy are we talking here? I don't own anything fancy and I'd be
damed if I make you or your parents look like fools for taking me
somewhere special. By the sounds of things, you all go there often. I do
like Italian food mind you, but I would hate to get you all kicked
out..."

"Don't worry, honey," Misty said up beat, brushing her hand over Anne's.
"I'll get you a nice dress and then we'll go, okay?"

"Whoa! Did you just say 'dress'? I can't where a dress with this. Just
imagine the embaressment of walking through a place like that and all of
those people looking at the freak with the metal arm."

"If I cared about that Anne, I woundn't have mentioned it. It will be
alright, I promise. Yes we may get some stares, but after that no one
will even notice us there."

They spend the rest of the afternoon shopping for Anne. Misty already had
plenty of them to choose from, unfortunately they wouldn't fit on Anne.
Anne had to remind herself that she was still a woman at heart and would
try her best to atleast present herself as a lady. After nearly two hours
of 'maybes' and 'hell nos', they found a store that just might suit their
needs. Misty was looking for an evening gown type dress, while Anne was
looking for anything comfortable. Anne picked the about five different
ones she liked and headed for the dressing rooms; Misty decided to join
her.

Anne stripped down to her panties and bra, completely oblivious to the
fact there was someone else with her.

"Oh shit," she said looking into the mirror. "You could've told me you
wanted in here." Anne stood there in all her glory for her lover. "Which
one first?"

"This one." Misty picked up a sapphire blue gown with what looked like
Tiffany beading. Misty couldn't believe how fabulous her lover looked
in lingerie. They both hesitated for a second to try and shake off their
apperent nervousness. Misty made the first move. As Anne turned to step
into the garment, Misty closed the gap between them and began to fondle
Anne's breasts. Anne stood straight up immediately as Misty started
laying kisses down the back of her neck and shoulders. Misty unhookd the
clasp of Anne's bra and let it fall to the floor. She took quick notice
of Anne's nipples being fully aroused. Anne could feel her dampness in
her panties getting wetter by the second. Misty started rolling her thumb
and forefinger over her lover's rock hard nipples. Anne was in pure
heaven. She let Misty have her way with her. She wanted to be a slave to
her wishes. Misty let one drop to Anne's pussy. Anne propped one leg up
on the bench to allow her better access. Misty was getting even hotter by
feeling how wet her lover was from her stimulation. Anne could feel
Misty's hesitation moutning to go any further, however.

"It's okay. I want you to..." Anne said with some effort. Misty let go of
Anne completely. She spun around to see why and was greeted with what she
was hoping for. Misty took the liberty of getting undressed herself. "Let
me help you, baby." Anne said with lust dripping from her words. Anne
threw Misty's shirt off in one motion. Misty was standing against the
door, which was starting to creek under her weight. Anne grabbed the
front of her pants and dragged her to where she was sitting on the bench
with her lover inches away. Anne could smell the sweet arousal of her
girlfriend. Anne made quick work of dropping Misty's jeans to her ankles.
She immediately started kissing Misty's pussy from outside of her thong.
Misty was moaning and grabbed her lover's hair, trying to pry her way to
remove the rest of her clothing.

Anne got the message. She stood up and kissed her with more fire than
ever before. She reached behind her lover and unhooked her bra. Somehow,
the garment fell to the ground, leaving the girls standing there in their
panties kissing and fondaling each other. Anne took a seat back on the
bench, leading Misty to her lap. Anne immediately attacked Misty's
nipples with her mouth. Sucking on the sensative areolas while rubbing
Misty's soaked pussy. Misty couldn't control herself from letting out her
moans of pleasure. She didn't care if anyone heard them or not. She got
out of her girlfriend's lap and removed her thing in a very quick motion.
Standing completely nude for her lover to see, she went over to Anne and
knelt down. She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of her panties and
tugged them off quickly. She began to lay soft kisses on the iniside of
her legs. Starting form her knees. She gently kissed her way up to the
insides of Anne's thighs. Misty could see the sweet center of her desire
staring back at her. Anne had hold of Misty's hair. She was massaging her
breasts the whole time Misty worked on her legs. Misty needed no further
encouragment to keep going. She put her nose on the edge of Anne's labia
and started to lick her way into her slit. Anne was out of her mind high
on sexual heat. She screamed out, but tried to keep it quiet since they
were in a public place. Misty kept licking up all of Anne's girl-juice.
She soon found her way to the petruding bud of Anne's clit. Misty removed
her tongue and started to suck on it while fingering her girlfriend. This
was to much for Anne. Her orgasm hit her like steam engine. Beads of
sweat were all over Anne's body. Her breathing was hoarse. Misty got up
and sat in her lap. She brought Anne's head against her chest, rubbing
the back of her neck.

"How was that, lover?" Misty said in quiet, sexy tone.

"Amazing!" Anne said out of breath. As they sat there cuddling and
rgaining themsleves, Misty's phone stated to ring.