From the Streets - Chapter 11 (Patreon)

“I kinda don’t want to go home.” Sophie sighed as they got on the private company plane.  “Feels like it’s been a month, and it’s only been a week,” she giggled.

“God though,” Amanda said, “No wonder you’re so well adjusted, with a family like that to fall back on if things ever got really bad.  You really were just searching for your mum all that time.”  The accent was beginning to rub off on her.

“Aye.” Sophie nodded.

“‘Manda said ‘Mum’,” Angela giggled. Amanda stuck her tongue out.

“So, Nicole,” David said, “What were you up to while all the clan politics were upending the island?” he teased.

“Hanging with Richie.” Nicole laughed.  “By which I mean getting piss drunk and blowing off steam just like the old days.”

“Okay, quick selfie before the plane guy makes us shut off our phones,” Sophie giggled, snapping a selfie with everyone, and tweeting it out.  “Big announcement when we get back.  Watch for TMZ article, heart y’all.”

“Less than a week ago she didn’t even know what Twitter was,” Katelyn said, grinning proudly.  “We have officially corrupted our daughter.”

“Adapting is my specialty.” Sophie grinned.

Destiny giggled.  “Nice.  My twitter mentions just exploded asking me if we’re going to confirm the dating rumor.  This is going to be fun.”

“Your fans are too smart for their own good.” Sophie giggled. “Most of my messages were just telling me that they liked my last shoot, and some of the girls from school.  Oh, Casidhe texted me a dozen times too.  Apparently now they want to redo the tin whistle as bagpipes.”

“Oh lord,” Amanda giggled.  “I literally just realized Anj gave you a set of those things.”

“Aye,” Katelyn laughed.  “Good, traditional crafted set too.  I bet there’s genuine sheep bladder in the bag.”

Amanda grimaced.  “I think I’m going to go vegan for a few days.”

“Like you could live without a hamburger for 48 hours,” Katelyn laughed.

~oOo~

Back in California quite a lot had been going on, too.  Megan and Juliette had gotten a couple of their friends to fly in, including of course, Rebecca O’Hara who had built quite a career for herself since the days of Disney Australia.  But she didn’t forget where she came from.  She was as laid-back as ever and still loved to troll the tourists.

Only now, instead of bad Crocodile Dundee jokes, she was popping up in shopping malls or in the crowd at other artists’ concerts (with their permission of course), driving her security detail up a wall.  Life was grand.

When Megan told her about Casidhe and Ellen being aspiring musicians, she practically leapt at the chance to collaborate with them on a song.  Disney hadn’t approved it yet, but in true Rebecca style, that didn’t stop her from getting started recording vocal tracks with them.

Victoria and her mother had by now flown in as well, and the six of them, Cas and El, Rebecca, Victoria, and Megan and Juliette, were busy getting Megan’s old house ready to surprise Sophie when she arrived home.

“Did you see those pictures of Sophie’s friend?” Victoria asked. “The one with the body tats, and piercings.”

“It’s funny,” Megan said as they moved a new 4k TV into the living room, “We used to joke about getting body tattoos, and finding work as Tattooed Native White Woman #3.  But I would legit kill to have someone like that as an extra or regular on Lost Girls.”

Lost Girls it should be mentioned, wa sthe actresses’ current television show set in Neverland, and starring the girls from Pixie Hollow in addition to a mish mash of girls easily as wild as their Lost Boy counterparts.

“Ohh yeah.” Juliette agreed, “She’d make a good ally to the lost girls someone the pirates think are on their side.  Is it true the bagpipes were invented to scare the enemy?”

“Aye, they were meant to spook people.” Casidhe nodded.  “Make them lose nerve in battle.”

“See, that is SUCH a Lost Girl tactic,” Juliette giggled.  “OMG I’m so talking to Rob about that for Season 5.”

“You know Soph’s got tattoos too right?” Ellen asked.

“Oh yeah,” Megan said, “We saw her cool shoulderblade tattoo when she wore that cute strapless dress to dinner.  Looked like a trinity knot I think.”

“That’s what it is.” Ellen said, “A Catholic trinity.  She also has a Clan O’Brien tat, and a sidhe of Melody one and a couple others.  We just have the Sidhe of Melody,” she continued, as she helped Juliette move a sofa, using some little furniture-moving disks so they didn’t marr the polished hardwood.

Juliette laughed.  “You guys want to know a secret?  The girl who plays Periwinkle?  She’s covered in biker tats.”

“Yeah, they cover them up with makeup.” Megan giggled.  “And what they call fake skin.”

“Wow,” Victoria giggled.  “That sweet girl is a biker chick?”

“Yup.” Megan giggled.

“My mum would absolutely die of a stroke if I got any kind of tattoo, even traditional,” Victoria giggled out.  “Mostly from shock.  I’m not sure I could handle the pain though.”

“Right there with you,” Juliette giggled.  “I try not to be a pain in the butt diva, but I cry when I break a nail.  Okay that’s this room handled.  What’s left?”

“I think that’s everything,” Rebecca said as she came out into the living room, licking Cheetos dust off her fingers.   Unlike the others in various states of casual dress, Rebecca was rocking a bell sleeve velvet corset-style dark red tunic dress that came to her mid-thigh, over a pair of Wild Bangarang “Platemail Armor” printed leggings, and combat boots. 

They had already hung a big “Welcome Home!” banner over the foyer and decorated it with fake flowers in vases that could be moved around the house for decor later, and brought in one or two pieces of new furniture to compliment the old.  The “old” didn’t actually look that well worn though since neither Megan nor her parents were home that often.

“You know even though Sophie’s always been a Catholic, she’s also very open minded and a proud member of the Sidhe.” Casidhe said thoughtfully, a bit out of nowhere.

“Bless you,” Rebecca said, teasing Cas.

“No Bless you.” Cas teased back

“Seriously though,” Rebecca said, “What’s a sidhe?”

“You call them Fae, Elves, Fairies, Red Caps.” Ellen answered.

“Ohhh,” Rebecca nodded.  “Gotcha.”

“We call them sidhe, Banshee are also sidhe.” Casidhe corrected Ellen.

“Oh aye,” Ellen laughed.  “How could I forget, especially... Well, you know,” she said.

“What?” Rebecca asked, very interested.

“Well, y’see,” Casidhe said, “Banshee follow the Royal Family, but they also take a liking to anyone with musical talent.”

“Oh, great,” Rebecca groaned.

“No need to worry, Banshee aren’t bad like people say.” Casidhe stated.  “Tis true they wail for the impending of death, but they don’t bring death.  They’re more like intermediaries.  It’s said Anj’s older sister heard the Banshee’s wail before their gran passed.  But she don’t talk about it, so nobody knows for sure.”

“Our Patron of the clan is an Elfin sidhe.” Ellen stated.  “Pointed ears and all.”

“Jeez you guys,” Rebecca laughed.  “I grew up in Australia, land of what doesn’t kill you just hasn’t found you yet, and I’ve never seen anything that cool.  All we get is the occasional bush lights, and you have to be way the hells out to see those.  Maybe it’s time I did a UK tour so I can sneak off and see something,” she giggled.

“You’d fit right in,” Ellen laughed.

“Aww, thanks,” Rebecca giggled and paused.  “Hey!”  Ellen and Cas both giggled.

“I hear a car!” Juliette squealed and sprang to check the window.  “Oh, it’s just the pizzas.”

“I got this one,” Rebecca said as she grabbed her small, black purse with the white skull, wearing a neon blue hair bow printed on the side and headed for the door.

“Pizza time!” The girl said, “Oh hey, this is so cool, you guys are like the 5th celeb house I delivered to today,” she said brightly.  She didn’t go fan on them like she was either used to it or she didn't care.  “$60.52.”

“Awesome, thanks.  Here ya go,” Rebecca said, handing her a $100 bill along with an Aussie dollar.  “Keep the rest.”

“Sure.” The girl said, turned around for a second, they could see her tattoo on her neck, the sidhe marking.  She paused and then turned back.  “Um, can I ask a favor?  Can I get Megan and Juliettes autograph?”

“Anything for a sidhe,” Rebecca grinned.  “C’mon in.”

“Oh you know of us?” The girl stepped in.

“Well, I do now,” Rebecca said, pointing to Casidhe and Ellen.  “Those two were just telling us about the clan.”

“We’re city, but we used to hang with the clan a lot.” Ellen said.

“Ive never met the clan. I was born into it though.” The girl said.  “Don’t think I’m shallow or anything, but I got the tattoo because I thought it looked cool,” she said sheepishly as Megan and Juliette were trying to figure out who put their photographs here.  Megan was sure she had them in her purse, but they weren’t there.

“Found them!” Juliette laughed.  “They fell out when we were cleaning up the kitchen.  That was my bad, sorry,” she said, signing it, and then giving it to Megan to sign.  It was a recent photo of the two in their Lost Girls attire, but with a couple of the pixies off in the background talking to a producer.  They loved the candid nature so much they had a bunch printed for giving away.

“Thanks so much,” the girl said.  “It’s a birthday gift for my sister otherwise I’d never impose.”

“Oh, heck no, don’t think twice about it,” Megan said.  “Here, let me wish her a happy birthday,” she said, adding a quick message to the back.

“I meet celebs like all the time.” The girl said, “I got desensitized to it.  Oh her name’s Tara.  I’m Fiona.”

Casidhe spoke up after a moment of texting on her phone, “Fiona, you said you were born into the clan, what was your family name?”

“Cameron, on Mom’s side,” Fiona said.

“Alice Cameron?” Casidhe asked.

“Yup!” Fiona said, bobbing her head.  “That’s my mom.”

“When’s your sister’s birthday?” Juliette asked innocently.

“Next week.” Fiona stated.

“Kewl,” Juliette said.  “Wish her a happy birthday for us.”

“Oh I will,” Fiona nodded.  “This is going to make her cry,” she giggled.  “Thank you guys so much.  Sorry for bothering you.”

“Nah, no bother,” Rebecca laughed.  “I’ve known these two for a couple of years now, and they’re always about reaching out to fans and making their day.”

“Soapy just pulled up,” Megan said casually as she looked out the front window.

“Oops, then I should get gone,” Fiona laughed.  “I think I’m double parked.”

As soon as she got out the door, she heard, “Oh, pizza!  Thank God I’m starvin’,” in a strong Irish accent.

“Sorry,” Fiona said sheepishly.  “I’ll get out of the way so your driver can park.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Sophie said, “I see you’re clan.  You got time?”

“Oh, um, sure.  This was my last delivery.”

“Cool. Come back in then.” Sophie said.  “OMG!” she looked around to see what everyone else had done. “This place is soo..  Dea-mhaith.”  Literally good, amazing, incredible.

“Surprise!” everyone shouted as they came pouring in to greet Sophie and her parents.  They had already dropped Destiny and Angela off at their place.

“You guys...  Wait, Vicky?” Sophie giggled.

“Surprise.” Victoria giggled.

“Surprise,” an older version of Vicky in her early to mid 30s said as she appeared from the kitchen.  She literally looked like someone had taken Victoria, aged her a bit, and given her longer hair.  She definitely bore a strong family resemblance to Katelyn.

“Oi sorry.” Sophie giggled, “I almost called you Mum.”

“Right behind you dear,” Katelyn laughed.

“I know.” Sophie giggled and then pointed to the woman who came from the kitchen. “But I almost called her mum.”

Katelyn’s breath caught in her throat.  “Hi sis,” the woman said, grinning.

“Heather?” Katelyn stammered.

Sophie giggled and hugged Vicky, “Thanks for coming.”

“Irish coffee?” Heather giggled.

“I think I need it,” Katelyn said, patting Victoria’s shoulder gently as she passed to let her know she didn’t forget her too, but going right for Heather to hug her.

“So,” Sophie giggled.

“So,” Cas laughed.  “This is Fiona, who I see you talked into staying.  We tried, but she’s slippery,” she teased.

Fiona giggled.  “It’s part of the training lecture not to impose, normally.”

Ellen leaned over to whisper to Fiona, “That’s our Patron, our Princess.”

“Telling on me?” Sophie giggled. “Ouch my foot.” she sighed and sat down to take her shoe off. “I cut my foot on a sharp rock. I got mad, because everyone wanted to help me to the nurse, and I was like I can still walk, I’m still alive.”

“Ouch,” Megan said as she pulled  a plush white ottoman that matched the sofa over to Sophie.  “Here, prop it up.”

“Not you too.” Sophie giggled.

“Yes, but I’m allowed.  I’m more famous than you,” Megan teased her, ducking the throw pillow Sophie chucked at her and giggling.  “Nah seriously, elevation is the best thing for it.”  She moved the coffee table closer, opening the pizza boxes.

“We got cheese, meat lovers, supreme, you name it,” Rebecca said.  “Oh, and we stocked the fridge with soda and juice, plus I snuck in a few Lipton iced tea in a can.”

“Pepsi?” Sophie asked.

“Sure thing,” Rebecca said, taking everyone else’s drink requests while she was at it, as everyone else dove into the pizza.

She came back with an armful of cans of soda, surprisingly able to match everyone with their drinks.  She sat down with her own can of Lipton and grabbed a slice of pizza.

“It’s funny how you find connections with people you’ve never met,” Fiona spoke up.  “I was just talking yesterday to a coworker who wanted to know how I got my name because it was his grandma’s name too.  Mom was a fan of this strange 90s TV show called ‘So Weird,” Fiona laughed.

“The thing is, surnames are weird, you could have the last name Cameron, like you do, but belong to the Murphy clan.” Sophie said.

“What’ll really buzz your brain,” Fiona giggled, “Is that my parents are both Cameron, but from totally different family trees.”

“That happens.” Sophie giggled.  “It’s like there’s a billion and a half John Smiths in the world.”

“There’s a lot of name-changing that goes on even today,” Victoria said.  “Like my mum had my name as Victoria McAllister to honor my godmother, but my family name is Price.”

“Stuart’s just my stage name,” Megan laughed.  “My real surname is O’Malley.  Irish-descended Aussie like Rebecca.”  She paused to give Rebecca a fist bump.

“Aye,” Rebecca laughed.  “Our ancestors were convicts.”  She winked.

“Nicole,” Sophie said, as Nicole didn’t even set foot in the room, just passed by the doorway.

“I’m losing my touch,” Nicole said as she leaned in the doorway.  “What’s up?”

“Nothing.” Sophie giggled. “Just wanted to say Hi, after I rewrap my foot, and we have lunch and what not, can we run to the store?  I want to buy a what’cha call it.  Waterboard?  Surf sled?”  She giggled.  The house was on beach front property with its own private section, not fenced off, but the whole beach was marked ‘private’.

“Sure.  Your moms wanted me to ask you if you want to reschedule the TMZ interview for when your foot’s feeling better too.”

“No, I want to get it done.” Sophie said. “Just because it’s cut doesn’t mean I’m an invalid, I’ve had much worse.”

“How’s it looking?” Nicole asked.  “Mind if I take a peek?”

“Sure,” Sophie shrugged.  “It’s tender, but not throbbing.”

Nicole walked over.  Fiona, for once in Nicole’s life in meeting someone new, didn’t even bat an eye at the giantess as she knelt down to check under the bandage.  “Oh yeah, that’s looking great.  It’s already starting to mend,” she said, returning the bandaging.

“Ho ho holy shit you’re tall,” Rebecca said, thoroughly making up for Fiona’s lack of reaction.  “I’m jealous.”

Nicole burst out laughing.  “Haven’t heard that one before,” she said as she stood, stealing one of the pepperoni slices right off Rebecca’s pizza as she was about to take a bite.

“Hey!” Rebecca giggled.

“Nicole's one of us.” Sophie giggled.

“One of us!  One of us!” Casidhe, Ellen, Megan, and Juliette all chanted.

“I try to stay in the shadows,” Nicole said, “But Sophie just puts the thousand watt spotlight on me.  Got some business to discuss with the parental units, but just shout  if you guys need anything.”

“God I miss her,” Megan laughed.  “But when we joined AMC they insisted on providing their own full security detail.  Our current team is pretty awesome though.”

“Yeah, they’re way laid back like Nicole.” Juliette said.  “Like this one time one of them helped Silvermist return a lost little girl when we were doing the original Lost Girls promo at the park.  It was soo cute.  Sil never broke character the whole time.”

~oOo~

“Okay so before I go kill myself on this board, Destiny and I have to go meet TMZ, and we’ll be back.” Sophie said.  She knew of surfing.  She even heard of people catching waves around the Irish and English coasts, but she was determined to try it out for herself, wounded foot be damned.

It would also be worth it just to see Nicole in a swimsuit.

~oOo~

Sophie tried not to limp too much as they entered the agency office.  She grudgingly accepted the crutches up until this point, but she wouldn’t be seen hobbling into the interview.

This was her first visit, and she wanted to make a good first impression on everyone there.  They were doing the TMZ interview there because it would be home field advantage for the girls, and because if someone blabbed, they could always escape out the roof to the company helicopter or out the back into Nicole’s SUV..

“Welcome to W.P. Modeling Agency,” a very sunny blonde haired receptionist said as the girls approached.  In fact, she could almost pass for the voice actress of Barbie, she was so cheerful.

“Hi Deborah,” Destiny said.

“Destiny hey!” Deborah said.  “I heard you had gone back to using your old accent.”

“I stopped dyeing my hair too,” Destiny nodded.  “This is Sophie Dee.  We’re here for the TMZ interview.”

“Oh yeah, Drew told me you would be here.” Deborah laughed, “They’re waiting for you in the 3rd meeting room.  Knock em dead.”

“Is there something in the water I should be worried about?” Sophie whispered to Destiny as they headed for the meeting room.

Destiny laughed.  “No, she’s always that upbeat. You could give her the worst news in the world and she’d still be happy.”

Sophie giggled and opened the door, “Sorry we’re late.” she walked over to a chair.

“It’s okay, we read on twitter you cut your foot open.” The woman spoke, “I hope it’s alright?”

“Oh yeah, I stepped on a sharp rock,” Sophie nodded, “But it’s okay.  No stitches or anything.  I just have to keep some antibiotic ointment on it for a day or two.”  She proceeded to use another chair as a footstool, breathing a barely audible sigh of relief.

“I’m surprised you’re walking,” the lady photographer with the journalist said.  “I stepped on a nail in college and I couldn’t walk for three weeks.”

“Very high pain tolerance.” Sophie said.  That was half true.  She was crying on the inside, but too proud to let it show.

“Okay so I’m toldyou two had a special announcement for just TMZ?” The woman said.

“Yeah,” Destiny giggled.  “So there’s been this huge rumor going around that Sophie and I are dating, and we think we know how that rumor got started.”  Sophie pulled out her phone, and played a clip from the photo shoot for them.

“We’re modeling a new line for Karen Cross, and she asked for two girls to pose in some lesbian-like poses for the shoot for Pride.  We’ve worked together already so we were totally cool with it.”

“Ah. That explains that.” The woman said. “I’ll talk with your agents to see if we can use some of the photos.” 

“We’re really proud of this shoot,” Destiny said.  “As you know we both just came out as transgender, so we’re very pro-LGBTQ rights.”

Sophie nodded, “It was hard for Destiny to do, but since I’m a fresh face, it was pretty easy, and I was told that it was the best way to get ahead of things.”

“Smart move yeah, the media loves to eat things like that up.” The TMZ woman nodded. “So if it was a photoshoot, is there anything going on with you, do either of you have a boyfriend or girlfriend?”

“I did meet this cute girl in Ireland,” Destiny giggled.  “I’m teasing.  No, I’m not seeing anyone right now.  I’m still getting over the breakup with Johnny, but visiting the emerald isle was just what I needed to step back and reevaluate my life.”

“Me either, but if the right person came along, things might change.” Sophie said.

“You two are just returning from a four day trip to Ireland, can you talk about what you were up to while you were there?”

“Oh sure,” Sophie said.  “The first two days was actually spending time at St. Margaret’s Academy.  Destiny, her cousin Angela and I are enrolled there and take lessons either on campus or through a tutor.  The rest was doing photo shoots, but I got to show Destiny my charity’s shelter, and see how the money’s being spent.”

“You also recorded some footage for that secret project,” Destiny added.

“Oh aye,” Sophie laughed.  “But I can’t talk about that yet.  My cousins are working on a collab with Rebecca O’Hara that I’m helping with.”

“I won't pry.” The woman said.  “But do you mind if I ask you about your charity?”

“Sure.” Sophie said.

“What was it like going back there as a celebrity, knowing how much money was raised in your name just two days after you announced it?”

“It was interesting, nobody treated me any differently.” Sophie stated. “They saw me as the same Sophie they knew.  My cousin Vicky posted a vlog about the shelter actually, if you want to see what it looks like so far.  I’ll make sure you guys get the youtube link.”

“Last question, Destiny, there have been rumors that you’ve changed agents, speculating everything from that it’s because you came out and dropped your Ashleigh Brown DBA, to that you had a falling out with your previous agent.  Can you comment on that?”

“Okay it has nothing to do with my coming out or my name change back to my real name, it was the fact that my old agent  has been in the business a long time, and has too many clients, so they put me and Angela with an agent that had fewer clients. James is a wonderful agent, and I will miss working with him, but my new agent is providing some amazing opportunities, like this Ireland trip, so I’m excited too.”

“Heh,” the camera woman chuckled.  “Sorry.  Ijust won $20 back at the office.”

“What was the bet?” Destiny asked.

“Whether or not there was any drama behind you changing agents.  I knew it was nothing bad.  James is a good guy.”

“Do I really have that bad of a Diva image?” Destiny giggled.

“I plead the fifth,” the camera woman said, trying not to laugh.

“Thank you so much for your time, girls,” the woman said as she placed her notepad into her pocket along with her phone, while the camera woman packed away her gear.  “On a personal note, it’s great to hear that your mini vacation helped you sort things out.”

“Thank you,” Destiny said.  “Meeting Sophie totally changed my worldview.  When she came out it like hit me square in the face, I’m always working my butt off to keep people at arm’s length, and I was miserable and making everyone else miserable too.  Dropping the fake name, fake accent, and reconnecting with my roots was the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“Oh,” the woman said, “May I use that in the article?”

“Of course,” Destiny said.