Divulgence (Song of Sophangence Book 2)

by E. I. McAllistair

  Dan, having been used to rejection, had not really thought of what he would say next if she actually said yes. Now finding himself in a bind, he simply blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

  “Tonight?!”

  Maggie having her own internal struggles immediately responds, “Great! See you then!”

  Ending the call before she potentially said something awkward, Maggie found herself doubled over, heaving. When she finally recomposed herself, she began to unravel again. Even though it was only late morning, she had no idea what to do in preparation for a date. She even forgot to ask Dan where they were going. She remembered he said it would be fancy, which could mean any number of things in Danspeak, but she did not want to leave anything to chance. She called the first person she could think of that would be able to help her out in this sudden situation.

  “Hey girl, what’s going-”

  “Stef! I’m freaking out! It’s an emergency! Dan just asked me out on a date, and I said yes! He said we would do it tonight, and it would be fancy. I don’t know anything about fancy. Why couldn’t he say we were going hunting or something? That, I would be prepared for. What do I do?! I’ve never been in this situation before!”

  “Oh my god! Just breathe. Okay, we can do this. Did he give you a time?”

  “No! He just said tonight! Should I have asked?! I should have asked. Why didn’t I think to ask?! Who doesn’t ask what time their date is?!”

  “Well tonight could mean anything, but 7pm-8pm is pretty standard. I say we leave it open for now. We have serious work to do. Can you hold on just a second?”

  The line goes blank for a few moments, with the silence working Maggie into a state of hyperventilation. Doing her best to breathe normally, she wonders what is taking Stefani so long, and if she made the wrong decision. Stefani was a beauty queen though, if anyone could help her, she could. When Stefani finally comes back on the line, Maggie finds she was one step from fainting.

  “Ok, where are you right now?”

  “Well I’m just outside the Rack, I was on my way home-”

  About 100 feet away a portal opens up with Stefani dashing out, looking around to find Maggie. As she spots Maggie, she rushes over, and a confused looking Ripp exits the portal with it closing right after. Stefani runs to Maggie, just in time for her to grab the weakened girl, allowing her a support so she can continue standing upright. Fanning her face with her hand, Stefani tries to bring Maggie back to her senses as Ripp finally strolls up.

  “Oh wow, you weren’t kidding, I guess she really was in trouble. What is wrong with her?”

  Turning to look at Ripp with the utmost concern in her eyes, “She is in dire need of a complete makeover, right now!”

  The expression on Ripp’s face could not have been more indescribable. Some strange mixture of shock, amusement, disbelief, and anger, all while still being deadpan, all she can muster in response is a dry, “What?”

  “She just got asked on her first date, and she is so completely unequipped for this! If we don’t get her ready by tonight everything is doomed!”

  “You mean to tell me this was the emergency?! Who could possibly cause her to act like this anyway? Isn’t the meathead taken?”

  “Dan!”

  “The hillbilly?”

  “Yes! Well no! That isn’t nice! But yes, Dan!”

  “Why does she need to get dressed up to go out with that kid? Actually, why am I even asking questions? I’m leaving. There will be punishment for this.”

  Grabbing Ripp by the arm, eyes pleading, “No, wait! Sophia please! This is important! Can you please take us to Haxby, to the commercial district? It would take so much time that we don’t have to get a car to go there and come back!”

  “You know I’m not a damn taxi. You are already on thin ice for making me come out here for this.”

  Though she had been holding on to this for a time she might need it, Stefani thought it would be much better used to help someone else. “I promise to train every day, for as long as you want, doing whatever you want, until you graduate, if you help us.”

  Catching Ripp’s attention, she turns back to Stefani, flaming red eyebrow raised. “You sure you know what you are getting yourself into buttercup?”

  “Yes! I promise!”

  “Even knives?”

  “Even knives! But not the ones with the loops, those break my nails…”

  “No deal.”

  “Wait!”

  Maggie having recomposed herself enough to become aware of what was going on, enters the conversation. “Stef is doing this for me, so it isn’t fair she takes all the responsibility. If you help me, I’ll let you put me through the paces in small arms training. Whatever you want I will do. There is no one better with guns than you right?”

  Contemplating the offer, Ripp looks at Maggie suspiciously. “Don’t you already know how to use guns?”

  “Well… yes, but I could only get better learning from a master like you!”

  “Fine, let’s go. Stef I’m making your life a living hell from now on and I better not hear a single complaint. If I come back and you are slacking, there will be hell to pay. I won’t have my mentee being in the bottom of her class again.”

  Opening up a portal, Ripp gives them a shooing motion, as the two girls step through it. When Stefani turns to see Ripp had not come through with them, she gives her a questioning look.

  “You aren’t coming with us?”

  “Yeah, hell hasn’t frozen over yet. Just come back here and message me when you are ready to go.” With that, the portal closes, leaving the two girls on the bustling main street of the commercial shopping district of Haxby.

  Looking around, Maggie realizes that she has never actually been to Haxby, despite it being just outside Sophangence’s gates. The city sprung up out of necessity long ago when Sophangence was first started, and had since become a small metropolis of veritable luxury in its own right. Now that Sophangence was its own self-contained city, with most of the faculty and staff living on campus, there was little need for most people to travel into Haxby. There was even a school bus that came to Sophangence to pick up the children of faculty and staff that needed it. For those who chose the private school route, the school was very generous in their offerings, creating their own transit system for the children.

  Due to the change in Sophangence’s amenities, Haxby was also forced to change, namely so that people would have a reason to want to travel to Haxby in the first place. Though Sophangence offered everything one might need, while also having staggering variety, they were still one entity, which limited pricing and specialty. Already Stefani and Maggie could see a number of boutiques and shops that would boast items unlike what could be obtained on campus.

  “So… What do we do now?”

  Grabbing Maggie by the hands joyfully, “We go shopping!”

  Being led along almost forcefully by Stefani, they entered shop after shop looking for the perfect dress. When Maggie asked why it had to be a dress, Stefani only gave her the most exaggerated and dramatic look of pity, dragging her into the next store. What Maggie did not expect was how aggressive Stefani was when it came to shopping and fashion. Though she knew her mother had made a fortune off the beauty and fashion industry, the way Stefani made it sound, she would never want anything to do with her family’s businesses. Seeing how she dealt with the salespersons in the stores, Maggie saw an entirely different side of the meek and unsure girl she knew.

  When the store employees tried to approach the two women, no doubt in an attempt to steer them toward something that was extremely expensive, yet ill suited for their needs, Stefani was always there to immediately rebuff them, often making her extensive knowledge of fashion, both past and current known, as to prevent them from bothering again. When asking for different sizes, she would ask about specific measurements, in the bust, or hips, showing her distaste for unsatisfactory answers. Anaar had mentioned that Stefani turned into a different person when m
usic was involved, often domineering and completely unaccepting of fault. Maggie wondered if that was Stefani’s true nature, and her shyness was only a result of being completely out of her element at Sophangence.

  Each time they found a dress Maggie liked and also met Stefani’s approval, Stefani would procure the dress in Maggie’s size, and the two would then go into the dressing room together, where Stefani would help Maggie into the garment, all while critiquing it. At one store they managed to find three different dresses, which almost caused a battle in the dressing room.

  “This one is cute, but this middle is a little low. Because it is a halter, you wouldn’t be able to wear a bra, which means you would need some serious tape to make this thing pop.”

  Confused by everything that had just came from Stefani’s mouth, Maggie had no choice but to ask questions. “Why wouldn’t I be able to wear a bra? What kind of tape are you talking about? What exactly are you going to be taping? I’m not even sure I’m comfortable with something this low anyway.”

  “Girl, now you know us big chested ladies can’t be going around with no support! We may be young and cute, but gravity still affects us. If you were one of those flat chested girls, this dress would be killer, but you are going to need tape to keep the dress and your boobies in place!”

  “What’s wrong with just wearing a bra?”

  Scoffing at her, completely appalled, “You don’t ruin a dress like this with a bra! Here, let’s put the dress on and I’ll show you.”

  After getting the dress on, she began detailing every way a bra would be the wrong choice.

  Moving on to the next dress, Stefani took issue with the color and the way it did not flatter Maggie’s petite yet curvy body, causing it to be thrown to the side as well. The last dress was actually one that Stefani had picked out, that Maggie found completely unacceptable.

  “It shows way too much skin!”

  “Gorgeous skin! You’d need tape for this one too, but I think we can work with this one better than the first. You have that completely enviable flat stomach, and you are afraid to show it off!”

  “It’s short and tight too!”

  “You are short, so it is actually not that bad! This is really cute, I think you should get it.”

  “I don’t think this is me…”

  “I think you should consider it. It is like that catsuit you wore during the Melee. You are serving all kinds of body. The things I could do with your hair… Oh! And I have the perfect makeup palette to go with this!”

  “I think I’m going to pass on it.”

  “You brought me here to help you, right?! Sometimes you have to take a chance!”

  “I don’t know…”

  “Ok, I’ll tell you what. This dress is too cute to pass up. I’m going to get it, along with these absolutely fabulous shoes I saw to go with it. Just in case you feel like spicing it up we can have at least one backup.”

  “Stef, I couldn’t ask you to do that…”

  Putting her hand to Maggie’s lips, “Stop talking, this is happening. Fashion is about options! If nothing else I can send the design to my mom, and have her make something super cute that would fit my body type.”

  Leaving the store, they go to another few boutiques, but none of them are successful until finally in a one of the stores that Stefani was not interested in going into, Maggie finds a dress that makes her fall into a daze. The silky pastel purple reminded her of the Air Affinity Vizer, and somehow the fit was conforming without being tight. It had a diamond shaped cutout in the back, with a plunging neckline in the front. Stefani told her that she would still need tape for the dress because of the material, but at that point Maggie did not care because she was in love. When she had tried it on, it fit her body like a glove, and even the saleswoman was in awe when she came out in the dress.

  The next hour would be spent finding her the perfect pair of shoes that she could reasonably walk in, which was much more of a chore than she expected. Though the shoes she ended up choosing were not nearly as high as Stefani would have liked, she went on some rant about never mentioning kitten heels in her presence, she agreed that if Dan was focused on her feet, then they had failed completely.

  Now that they had the dress and the shoes, Stefani insisted upon proper accessories to complete the look. She was overjoyed to find that Maggie’s ears were pierced, even though she never wore earrings. When asked how the holes had not closed up yet, Maggie took a page from her best friend’s book, simply shrugging as Stefani continued to peruse jewelry. Since Maggie was not being ‘helpful’ Stefani made her practice walking in her new heels while she looked for accessories.

  Since the outside look was completed, Stefani told her it was time to complete the inside look. Completely floored by how much work the whole ordeal was, Maggie found herself making some of her first ever purchases. Her first breast tape, her first thong, her first set of eyelashes, as Stefani said every girl should own a pair that fitted them. Stefani took the opportunity to pick up more materials to do Maggie’s hair and makeup, as she had been wanting her chance for ages now, and their skin tones were too different to just use what she had.

  Once they had what seemed to be bags upon bags, upon bags, Stefani treated the two of them to a spa treatment, and a full manicure and pedicure. While Maggie vehemently opposed the fake nails Stefani got, she did admit to liking the hand massages, and the way her hands and feet looked and felt once they had been softened and painted with a shimmering purple.

  With their long day of preparations in Haxby coming to a close, they returned to the spot where Ripp had dropped them off, and messaged her to pick them up. When she saw all the bags they were holding, she simply snorted, opening a portal to Stefani’s room in Tempest Tower. From there Stefani had everything she needed to commence her makeover of Maggie. With untold excitement, Stefani closed the door behind her, ready to turn Maggie into the resplendent princess she knew was hiding underneath the cap and baggy clothes.

  29

  Practicing his violin, Anaar finds himself lost in the flow of the music as he pours his heart and soul into his composition. Sure that Stefani was somewhere scolding him for not practicing the piece she gave him, he could not help at least starting with a piece of his own creation. Something about how it made him feel as he improvised certain areas and achieved new heights served as a warmup exercise far superior to standard warmups. Just as he was getting deep into the piece, he heard his doorbell ring. Stopping abruptly, he motions to Harston that he would get the door, as he passed the man in the laundry room.

  What in the hell is up with people just dropping by unannounced lately? I have to enact a strict call first policy or something.

  As the doorbell rings again, he quickens his pace, thinking that it may have been better if he would have at least put on some pants before answering the door. Putting it from his mind as he blamed whomever felt it was acceptable to just drop by, he opens the door to see a slightly frantic looking Dan. Without even waiting to be invited in, he pushes past Anaar, tugging at his mop of dirty blonde curls, clearly anxious about something.

  “I done fucked up man. I don’t know what I was thankin’.”

  Closing the door with some concern, Anaar looks at the pacing man as he seems to be mumbling unintelligibly to himself. “Dan, what are you talking about?”

  “Da date, man! Da date! I don’t know da first thing bout no real date! Remember I thought I was doin’ good takin’ you to da liberry?! You see how dat shit went! And I done told her it gonna be fancy! I don’t know what no fancy is! I ain’t got no fancy money! Now she gonna know I ain’t shit!”

  Okay, I suppose this was an appropriate reason to just show up unannounced since he is completely melting down.

  “Start from the beginning Dan, I don’t know how to help you if I have no idea what is going on.”

  Pacing back and forth, still tugging at his hair, he begins to explain. “Ok, so I been thankin’, all dis time I been chasin’ after you, da
t was just a excuse to keep me from goin’ after who I really want. I mean I ain’t tryin’ to say you ain’t good and all, I mean look at ya, but when ya told me I was like ya brother, I for real felt kinda relieved ya know? I mean I don’t think I’m ‘pposed to bein’ wit no dude, but somethin’ bout it jest wasn’t right when I really look at it. So I realize, all dis time, it be Mags dat I been after, but sometime I feel like she look at me wit’ pity ya know? You ain’t never look at me like dat so I guess I jest thought you was da one I was feelin’. It’s Mags though man, it’s always been Mags. I cain’t get her outta my head, and now I done told her I’ma take her on a fancy date and I ain’t got shit to show!”

  Sometimes, I forget how hard he works to keep his accent under control… Let me see if I can make sense of this. “Ok, so you like Maggie, you never liked me, and now you have asked her out, and I can only assume she said yes?”

  “I mean I cain’t say I didn’t like ya, there is still some parts-”

  Snapping at his face, “Dan, focus.”

  “Yea. That be ‘bout it.”

  “You asked her on a date, made promises, and then realized you couldn’t deliver? What exactly did you expect her to say?!”

  “I thought she was gonna say no! Or say somethin’ like we should jest be friends. Hell, she mighta said da same you said!”

  Poor guy, he was banking on rejection. Did I have a part in this? Shit, I need to help him fix this, for the sake of both my friends. “When did you say this date would be?”

  “She ask me da same thang! I din’t know what to say, so I said tonight!”

  Sighing heavily, Anaar slumps, pointing to the interior of his room, “Go have a seat in the Entertainment Room. I’ll be in there in a minute.”

  Walking past the slow-moving hapless man, Anaar makes for his bedroom where he puts up his violin, and quickly throws on some clothes. Returning to find Dan sitting, staring blankly, he thinks about what he could do to help remedy the situation. Neither Dan, nor Maggie were what one would consider extravagant people. As such, it was likely that the interpretation of ‘fancy’ could be much looser than someone like Ixnes would expect.