Chapter 5: Like night and day

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-- since some couldnt read the note, i've changed it from script font to just italic. Just imagine it was handwritten.

Dearest stranger,

I know you have been around my house for a while now. I’ve noticed things that have been misplaced, little things that have changed. At first I thought I was going crazy, and maybe I have. But I don’t think so. I think you are real and that maybe you are thinking the same thing about me. Please meet with me tonight in the main hall, just after the sun has set.

Yours sincerely,
Joanne

I sat down on a nearby couch, the note still in my hand. It said ‘my house,’ so this must be the owner then. The owner had been around the entire time I was here, and yet I hadn’t seen a thing beside the occasional mismatch with my memory. What was going on here?

Should I tell Cathy? Hmm, I’d risk that she would pull me out before I even got a chance to talk to her, to the owner. She sounded nice enough in the note. But what did it all mean? I was going to find out tonight, I was sure of it. This Joanne person didn’t sound like she wanted me gone, did she? I’d at least want to have a chance to speak with her. And if I told Cathy I probably wouldn’t get that chance.

I hated deceiving my sister -- she always had my best interest at heart. But, I wasn’t sure if my perceived best interest and my real best interest at this time would be the same. Cathy could be just a tad bit over-protective at times.

So, I kept my mouth shut on this subject and except for an odd look or two in my direction, Cathy didn’t notice a thing. After she left I went back to my room. I’d washed my favorite outfit in the bathtub last night and they were just about dry now. I’d have to thank my Cathy again tomorrow for teaching me how to wash properly, or the midnight black of my clothes would long ago have faded to a dull grey.

All dressed up in my Sunday best (NOT), I rechecked my makeup for the umpteenth time. I glanced out of the window to check the sun. It was almost setting, just 10 minutes left. I got up and a shiver of anticipation came over me. I put on my jacket just in case, and headed down towards the main hall.

I was the first to arrive, which didn’t surprise me much. The sun was still setting, and regardless of the note I still had my doubts that this was true. Through the window I watched the sun sinking between the trees, the last rays of sunlight playing on the walls of the main hall, until those too seemed to flicker out of existence. I remained in darkness.

Knowing that I had come to meet the owner of the place, I didn’t feel as big a need to keep hidden, and I turned on the lights, although I didn’t turn it all the way up. As I sat back down on the couch I noticed her, standing silently at the bottom of the staircase, as if she had been standing there for ages.

She must have been about my age. Her skin was, if possible, even more pale then mine. But with her pale skin our comparison ended. Her golden locks curled around her face, where I had straight black hair. Her dress was white and flowery, where I a wore deep black outfit. Her makeup was light in color and enhanced her face, where mine was meant to be as obvious a contrast as possible. She was a vision.

“Are you the girl that has been here the last week?” she asked. Even her voice was beautiful and I was left breathless trying to gather my thoughts.

She coughed to gather my attention again and I quickly spoke up, “Yes, sorry, yes I am.”

The girl giggled, and asked, “Do you have a name too? I’ve already told you mine in the note, which I presume you read or you wouldn’t be waiting here.”

“Yes, I do,” I answered, and almost forget to actually tell it. “Willow is my name. I’ve… I’ve run away from home. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude on your home, but we thought that this place was empty most of the time. It wasn’t permanent, I swear, it was just till my sister gets a place of her own and I can move in with her, honestly it is.” I almost stumbled over my words trying to get them out all at once.

Joanne giggled again, “Don’t worry, Willow, I’m not going to kick you out. Relax, slow down. I won’t hurt you, I promise.”

She made it sound like that was a big thing, that this little girl wasn’t going to hurt me. She truly didn’t seem like she was capable of doing so, but then again, she was the owner of the mansion, or so she said. Her words did have the desired effect, though. I did relax at knowing I would still have a place to stay.

She came towards me and sat down next to me on the couch. “I’m sorry I haven’t met you before, Willow, but I’ve got a severe allergy to sunlight. The Latin name for it is Solar Urticaria. After my family died, I lived on a sleep by day, live by night schedule. It seemed safer. It does get lonely, though. I’m glad you’re here now.”

“So let me get this straight -- you own this mansion?” I asked incredulously.

She nodded softly, "Yes, I do. The town people think I’m overseas, though, and a bit older then I actually am. If they knew that me, a poor defenseless little girl,” she chuckled at that, “was living here all on her own, I wouldn’t get any rest at all. They’d send in social services so fast you couldn’t say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious three times in a row before I was taken away.”

I laughed at this and exclaimed, “Hey, I couldn’t say that no matter how much time you gave me, but yes, I see what you mean. Does this mean I can stay here with you? That I don’t have to hide all the time anymore from the unknown cleaning person?”
This time she broke out in laughter, “Is that what you thought I was? I assure you I can be quite a slob at times, but the place has got to at least look like a caretaker is at work, or I might become the victim of vandals and such. Those with a lot less class than you have, who might break in.” She winked at me.

“You think I’ve got class? You’re the one all dressed up to the nines!” I exclaimed.

She seemed sad at that statement. “Yes, but I wish I could pull off a look like yours,” she said wistfully.

Chapter 6: Opposites attract

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“You’re kidding me right? You’d look awesome in a goth look! Hell, you’d look awesome in anything, I bet. In fact, I’m envious of that style you are wearing. I could never look good in that.”

Joanne giggled and said, “Is that a challenge? We remake each other in our own style and see who ends up looking best? I’m sure you’d look better in a pretty dress than I would in a goth look!”

I swallowed at this. A part of the goth look was to hide what was still boyish in me. The overdrawn black lines and lipstick were a focal point for attention and people wouldn’t look beyond that. At least, that was the theory -- I never used it for anyone other than my sister before, and she already knew my secret. Joanne didn’t, however.

In for a penny, in for a pound, I gathered. I could hardly step back now, I just had to be very careful. I nodded slowly, saying very carefully, “Ok, you’re on. When do we start?”

“How about right now? Where have you been sleeping and storing your stuff by the way?” she asked. I blushed a bright red at that. “In the little girl's room. I’m afraid at home I never got the chance to be a little girl like that.” Well, it was the truth, just not the entire truth. “And, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Aww, that’s so sad. Is that why you ran away? Was it abuse?” Joanne asked.

I was silent for a moment. In a way it was. He did beat me, if only the once. Then again, he had threatened me with it often enough, and it was when he found out about the real me, that he beat me.

The silence was enough for Joanne. “I see he did. Don’t worry sweetie, he won’t be able to get to you here. He will never be able to get to you again. I promise.” Somehow her words had a force behind them that made me shiver. As small and fragile as this girl seemed to be, I had an odd feeling she’d be able to live up to her promise.

She followed me to my room, where I got a set of clothes out of my suitcase that I thought would suit her well. A pair of black pants with rings on the left and right side as if one could be hung from them, a satin shirt with leather straps, and my extra set of black Doc Martens.

When I looked up again I was startled to see her standing there in her undies. She looked every bit as divine undressed as she did dressed, but I quickly looked away blushing. I’d seen my sister naked enough often enough, as she had with me, but this was different. This girl didn’t know me, didn’t know about my birth defect. It somehow seemed wrong.

She giggled and said, “Don’t worry, Hon, it’s just us girls. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.” If only she knew. Wait. No. Scratch that. She is not to know. But god she’s pretty. I looked up again, but made sure to look her in the eyes as I handed her the clothes. She slowly pulled on the pants, almost sensually. A wicked grin played on her lips, as if she knew the effect she was having on me.

After pulling on her shirt in a similar fashion, leaving me nearly breathless, she got up and walked to the mirror. “See, I told you, this will never do!” She did look more then a bit mismatched right now.

“No silly, we’re not even half done yet! Get back over here!” I helped her put on the Doc Martens, then got out a black hair band and brush. Carefully I brushed her hair back, those gorgeous and silky soft curls got carefully pulled back into a high ponytail. Next I grabbed my black makeup, and started doing her face. Her face felt cold to my touch, and I shivered as my hand touched her cheek.

The black set off perfectly on her face, her face seemed even whiter against the stark contrast. As I worked on her face I got lost in her eyes, stalling my progress for what must have been at least a minute. She coughed politely and I was snapped back to reality. A few more strokes with the eyeliner pencil and my work was done.

“It’d look even better with a black streak or two through those blonde locks of yours, but this look will do quite well I think.” I let her admire my handy work in the mirror. She was still every bit as gorgeous as she had been in the dress, but now looked quite dangerous as well. I was falling for her fast, but it confused the heck out of me. Shouldn’t I like boys instead? Was I actually a lesbian? Or maybe… maybe… maybe I wasn’t a girl after all. God no, I couldn’t stand that.

She laughed happily at her new look, then took my hand and started to lead me out of the room. “Where are we going?” I asked her.

“It’s your turn, sweetie, now come with me.” She led me to a room I hadn’t been in before, and pulled open a walk-in closet, filled to the brim with dresses and clothes. “Now, undress!” she ordered.

My heart got stuck in my throat. Was she going to find out my secret? I was safely tucked away, so if I was careful, that wouldn’t be too much of a problem. But I didn’t have any breasts yet. My training bra remained as of yet too empty. Not seeing any other option I slowly undressed. I could feel her eyes on my bare skin, and could swear that she was looking straight through my secret.

I covered my chest with my arms in a feeble attempt to hide the fact that there was nothing that to be hidden. She smiled a sweet smile and said, “Don’t worry, Willow, you’re just a late bloomer. With time, you’ll fill out. For now you’re gorgeous as you are.”

As I sat there self-consciously, trying to figure out if Joanne really meant that last statement, she went into the closet and came back with a pretty green skirt and a white peasant’s blouse. Two black strapped ballerina’s and white knee-high socks finished the ensemble she laid out for me.

As I reached for the skirt she stopped me. “Not like this Willow, we need to get the black off of your face first. We don’t want it staining those nice white garments.”

She grabbed some cotton and dabbed them with some makeup remover. Ever so gently she started wiping my face. Her soft touch on my skin felt divine and I closed my eyes as she carefully wiped every last trace off of my face. Joanne giggled, which broke the spell.

“I could swear you were almost purring there, it was so cute! Here… Now you are ready to put these on.” Thankful for the blockers that stopped any reaction that may have been embarrassing; I got dressed in the outfit she chose for me. When I was done she ordered me to sit down again, as she got out her own make-up kit.

As her hands worked on my face I was once again in heaven, I sat there and waited, relishing every moment. When I no longer felt her hands on my face I opened my eyes and looked straight into hers, just a few inches from mine. She looked at me intensely, and asked, “Do you believe in love at first sight?”

-editing by Pippa