By May, things were just settled down nicely until a phone call came for Ariel that changed everything, and not for the better.
That phone call lead to a knock at the door three days later.
Pippi opened the door to two people, a short, sturdy looking woman with a mop of black hair that was starting to gray, and next to her was a girl who looked to be in her mid teens. The second girl was medium height with a single reddish-blonde French braid down her back, beautiful figure, flawless complexion and perfectly manicured nails. Her face was beautiful but there was sharpness and unkindness in her features. Her eyes were green and cold, and she wore a sour expression. She was wearing spiked heels, and makeup that looked as if it had been quite over done.
"Hello, I'm Sarah Brown with Family Services. Are you Ariel Dawson?" The shorter woman asked.
"No, this is her friend, Pippi. Shall I get Ariel for you?" Pippi responded.
"Please." said Sarah.
Pippi turned and headed up the steps to NT's room. But on the way up, she was having terrible thoughts of apprehention. She remembered that teenager from months before, and it didn't look as if that girl had much improvement in her attitude. She had been told about the call days before and what it might mean. Now she could just tell that worse was coming to worse.
Ariel was just about to come out of NT's room when Pippi opened the door, startling her. She uttered a small cry.
"I'm sorry." Pippi said with a grin, but grew serious again. "You have company." she said grimly.
Ariel came down with Pippi, saw who was at the door, and welcomed the two uneasily. She had been expecting them since the phone call, and dreading it at the same time.
Miranda stared back with the most hateful expression.
Sarah Brown began to summarize what she had talked to Ariel about on the phone. "Miss Dawson, since you are the only one close to kin Miranda Tompkins has since her father has--"
"Shut up about him!" Miranda spat.
"Well, Miss Dawson has to be told something," the social worker said, and continued. "Mr. Tompkins is in prison--"
"For crap he didn't commit!" the angry girl interrupted.
"Miranda, control yourself, please!" The older woman admonished, and continued. "Miss Dawson, Miranda is not of legal age, and we were wondering if you can take over her guardianship until she becomes of age, since as you know, he won't be out for a long time."
"Don't *I* get a bleepin say in this?"
Ms. Brown frowned disapprovingly at Miranda. "Watch your mouth, and no, until you are legal age, you do not. We are trying to make sure you don't--"
"Don't end up selling myself or in some juvie hall, or bleeping group home, I know."
Ariel frowned and said, "If I do take you in, you're going to have to watch your mouth same as you did at your father's." Turning to the social worker, she said doubtfully, "I don't want her ending up on the streets, or taking her chances as a ward of the government,, but I don't know how well she'll adjust living here."
Sarah Brown nodded.
"Why don't you come in and sit down for a while?" Ariel invited uneasily.
"This kicks the big one." Miranda muttered as she shuffled along at the short woman's orders to follow Ariel into the kitchen.
Ariel put on some tea and coffee, and the two older women discussed Miranda's custody as they drank. It was agreed they would give it a trial period, nothing was permanent yet, and Ariel signed as Miranda's temporary guardian/foster mother.
"Well, let's move your things in then." the social worker said, and she and Ariel went to and fro, bringing in the girl's things.
"Here's your room, Miranda," Ariel said, "You'll have to share it with Danae when she comes back from her mission--"
"What! I don't even get my own gawldemn room! And who the hex is Danae?" Apparently she had forgotten the name of the fairy who had kicked her father to the curb half a year before.
"You never talked like that before, Miranda, why start now?" Ariel looked stern. "Danae's room is the biggest next to the master bedroom, and Pippi has that one. The other rooms are mine and NT's and there's just enough room for one person in those, that's why you'll have to share. It shouldn't be so bad if you just give it a fair chance."
Ariel had not thought of just letting Miranda sleep in the basement as Ameh had done when she had been there, or converting the den off the lower landing into a bedroom. That was to happen later on. Not that Miranda would've been satisfied with either idea.
"So, move one of the others in with Danaece or whatever the wench's name is! I want my own room if I have to stay in this dump!"
Pippi had evidently disappeared for a while, now she came back, with NT.
Miranda shot a hateful glare at NT, who scowled and turned her back. Those girls remembered each other from that unfortunate "She's fine with it," Ariel replied gently but firmly.
NT only scowled.
"NT, you get a bit of a break while I help with Miranda's things. I'll continue working with you if there's time after she's all moved in."
NT nodded, then retreated to her room.
A few moments later, Miranda complained of being tired from having to bring in some of her things, and the social worker said that she was old enough and strong enough, and this was *her* stuff, she could at least help a little.
Miranda put on the sweetest expression she could manage and tried a different tactic. "But I've just treated that girl so rudely and I thought that, since I'm going to be living here, we should try to get along." She pointed to NT's room. "Couldn't I just go talk to her a little?"
The worker looked skeptical as did Ariel, but they reluctantly agreed.
Pippi shrugged, but also agreed, reluctantly.
In her room, NT startled when the door opened. She turned her head abruptly, slightly annoyed. She wanted to be left alone. And this girl was the last person she cared to see. "Yes?" NT said stiffly as she left the headphones for now.
Miranda walked in and marched over to her bed and sat down, after shutting the door, tight. "If it hadn't been for you," she said resentfully, glaring at the smaller girl, "Well, just remember, *I* was here first!"
Feeling her personal space seriously invaded, NT cut Miranda off shortly. "Who gave you permission to come charging in here? And like it or not, I'm here now, so get used to it."
"Oh, we'll see about that." Miranda sneered. "Ariel knew and loved me long before you were even a thought."
"So you're jealous." countered NT. "And this is how you treat her?"
"If you do anything to get in my way I'll get you in so deep--" Miranda glared at NT, so cold and hard, as if that would make the younger girl drop dead.
NT returned the glare. "Well, you're just gonna have to get used to sharing her attention because I'm not going anywhere. It's not like you ever loved her in the first place, so cut the crap." NT said coldly.
But Miranda ignored that. "Everything was just fine until she got pregnant with you!" She shot back, bitterly.
NT shook with rage at this. How she wanted to pitch that brat fiend into the middle of the next millennium. "That wasn't our fault and everything was *not* fine!"
The door opened suddenly. "What's going on in here?" Pippi heard the sounds of raised voices from in the hall and decided it was time to step in before a fight broke out.
"Oh nothing," Miranda said in a silky tone with an obviously artificial smile. "I'm just trying to get NT used to the idea that she'll have to share you guys with me now."
"Oh brother." NT rolled her eyes. "I want this liar outa here!" she looked desperately at Pippi.
"See?" Miranda challenged.
"She came in here to start a fight, that's what." NT informed Pippi.
"Girls, that will be quite enough!" Pippi ordered sternly. "Miranda, go help move the rest of your stuff. NT, it's time to get back to work. We'll all talk this out later."
Miranda moved off the bed and out of the room, sneering at NT, who returned it with a glare of her own.
Pippi took NT by the arm and led her down to the basement, the furthest room in the house from Miranda, to calm down.
_________________________________________________________________
After Miranda's things were moved in, Pippi was still downstairs with NT, and Ariel was on the phone with Ameh, so Miranda went into NT's room and fiddled around with her computer. This was how she found out not only NT's email address, but also Pippi's, Danae's, Ameh's, some of their friends, and the various lists and forums NT was active in.
Danae Monroe had come back from her mission, and had been none too pleased to find her room plastered with boy band posters, and that she would be sharing her room with a teenager with an attitude. She was even less pleased when she found out from Pippi who that teenager was. For a second, she even thought of moving out, but soon scrapped that idea. She wasn't going to let some infantile little party brat decide where she lived, and if Ariel and Pippi still wanted Danae there, she would remain, and maybe help straighten Miranda out.
Miranda went crazy when she found out who Danae was. Seeing her, she remembered her as the one who had given her daddy whatfor last fall. Because of this, she hated Danae almost as much as she hated NT, but knew that Danae would give back as good as she got. Miranda sat in the living room when she was done in NT's room, and waited for Danae to come out of her room.
When Danae eventually did, Miranda yelled something to her from the living room couch.
Danae ignored her and continued on downstairs to talk with Pippi about something.
Miranda went back to Danae's room to log on to her own computer. Turning it on, logging onto the net, she discovered that the free accounts, (yes, more than one) she had created while still on NT's computer were working. One of which she had set to forward to both NT's and her main address so she would receive any mail NT would get at that address.
Miranda had also created a free email account in Pippi's name, Danae's, and Ariel's. From these, and particularly from Ariel's, she sent a few very nasty rejection notes to NT at both her main account and the one she had set up. From NT's account, she had done the same thing, sending nasty notes to Pippi, a death wish to Ariel, and a slag on Danae Monroe because of her race. She was delighted to see all the notes had apparently gone through.
But she stunk at impersonation, for she couldn't write like them. Leet-speak was her choice of typing, and she was terrible at spelling and grammar. There were times when she caught herself and made a point of writing at least some of the letters in long-hand, but it wasn't easy, especially when she wanted to get this done as quickly as possible.
Some of the rejection letters went like this:
* * *
NT
I dont want 2 hurt u like this but its better I tell u now instead of later. Mirandas really a great gal, not that u wernt, but shes just more of a dauter 2 me than you will ever bee.
Ariel
* * *
Ariel
Ur leaving me 4 that Miranda chick now, just like u left me the day I was born. I h8 u I dont want t2 here any more excuses becasue that's all they r. U r a loser & u mite as well have just died.
NT
* * *
Miranda made sure to send the last letter to Pippi's real address, since Ariel did not have her own computer, however Pippi, Danae, and NT all did.
The next thing Miranda did was take some practical joke stories and spread them all over the net as if they were true. Furthermore, she tried to make it look as if other people were sending them.
In addition, she used the free accounts, especially the one she set up in NT's name, to send out mass emails and subscribed them to a lot of disgusting groups and other questionable material she could find. She had sent the rejection notices on NT's computer, but the rest was done on her own, since NT's set up didn't have the capability of spamming on a massive scale or email spoofing to the degree this troublemaking required.
Then Miranda sent a note of fake concern to NT, about all the fake emails. _________________________________________________________________
From: "Miranda Tompkins"
To: "NT Dawson"
Subject: Hi NT.
NT
I kno u & I rnt exactly friendz, but u need 2 kno 4 urself wat a snake Ariel really is. & Danae Monroe & Pippi Longstocking r really a cuple of backstabers, if u read any of these emails, ud raelise th@. Ud best just get out of this place as soon as u can & find someware diffrent, as I will do myself.
Miranda
_________________________________________________________________
Attached was a fabricated irc chat session supposed to be Pippi and Ariel plotting to get rid of NT, and Danae Monroe making all sorts of really disgusting, tasteless remarks, often indecent in nature, with the other two doubling over laughing. - man what an idiot.
NT didn't buy it.
_________________________________________________________________
From: "NT"
To: "Miranda Tompkins"
Subject: Shut Up!
Dear Liar:
I saw that alert claiming I was abusing email, and I don't believe you about that irc chat. Was this what you were doing with my computer? No wonder it took you so long to get off. From now on, my computer is strictly off limits to you. If I need help with anything computer related I'll get it from someone else. Stay off my computer and stay out of my room!
NT
_________________________________________________________________
Then, Miranda wrote a note to Kristina, a friend of Danae's, in an attempt to make friends with her. It worked. Kristina wrote her back. Miranda gloated, thinking she had won, that Danae Monroe would lose her friend, and once Miranda got through running NT down to Kristina, that there would be no way they would be friends either.
Satisfied that her nasty gags had been sent off, Miranda went to get herself a drink. She looked in the fridge but found nothing interesting, no coke or any kind of soda, and nothing in the way of alcoholic beverages. "Shoot!" she growled and decided on a glass of water.
Pippi was up in her room by this time, talking with Danae, who left briefly to go to her own room.
Miranda saw this activity and decided to put off going back upstairs to check on the progress of her sick computer head-games until Danae either went back to Pippi's room or came downstairs as well.
To her relief, Danae wasn't long in her room, and went back to Pippi's.
Now the coast was clear for Miranda to return to her room.
She was delighted when both Pippi and Danae went downstairs in a few more minutes, and was hoping to hear fireworks from them fighting with each other soon after that.
Returning to her computer, she logged on to check mail. The last notes had shown promise of a falling out between Kristina and Danae, as Miranda had planned. She snickered, thinking of the others in the house who would either be hurt or mad at their friends by the time it was all read. Miranda was hoping and counting on the others being uneducated enough about the internet to believe that NT had cracked and sent out some of the stories. Miranda was also counting on NT to believe anything sent about her was coming from people who had been her friends and that they were all turning against her, in favor of Miranda.
But Miranda was in for a shock. Her computer froze, then shut off. Then, it wouldn't start up. She cussed and tried to reboot it. Still nothing.
Storming out of her room, she looked in NT's.
The little brunette was sitting at her computer, writing a note to Kristina and had just sent it off. She looked around at the sound of the door opening and saw Miranda there.
"I told you to stay outa my room!" she warned, glaring daggers at Miranda.
"I know, but I really need to use your computer now."
"use your own!" NT snapped.
"I can't, N," Miranda protested.
NT rolled her eyes and demanded irritably, "Why not?"
"Because it's crashed."
NT's eyes went wide for a moment. "What!?" She was not quite able to keep the laugh out of her voice, and had to resist the temptation to gloat. Still, she wasn't going to be sympathetic, Miranda might not cause so much trouble this way. "Well that's too bad. Serves you right for what you've done."
"Lay off!" Miranda said in exasperation, and turned to leave.
NT called after her, "You paid yourself out, Miranda take your own advice!"
"Shut up, N!" Miranda shot back.
Once Miranda was gone, NT could hold back no longer, and she burst into a giggle fit.
Miranda wasn't through with NT yet, not by a long shot. She sat on her bed, arms folded tightly across her chest and seethed until an idea came to her. A truly wicked idea!
She started planning to go to a public terminal and setting up an email account that would forward to NT's account as well as Miranda's free web mail address. Then all she had to do was tell anyone else she needed to keep in touch with, to write her at that address. NT wouldn't be able to stop the messages from coming because only Miranda would have access to that forwarding account. Further more, she wasn't through with NT on the computer. There were still some tricks up her sleeve - she would make NT's online experience as miserable as possible. She delighted in imagining everyone else running NT down into the ground after Miranda had used the fake accounts to cause trouble in her name. Yes, Miranda would create an additional fake account for NT, one she could use to really misbehave on the internet. That account, like Miranda's other one would forward to both girls' email addresses, so NT would get all the bad reactions for the stunts Miranda pulled, and Miranda would laugh until her sides ached.
It took her only seconds to dream this up, and her fantasizing was suddenly interrupted.
Quick, heavy footsteps came up from the basement flight of stairs to the landing on the main level, then marching upstairs. Other footsteps followed, but not as urgently. Ariel and Pippi had come to investigate and break up the conflict.
Ariel reached the top level and demanded, "What the heck is going on up here!?"
Miranda came out of her room, looking cool as a peach. Even now, she was scheming against NT. "Oh, nothing, N is just upset because I made a new friend." she replied as calmly as possible, but couldn't quite get the grin off her face.
"Liar!" NT called from inside her room.
"Oh, and I suppose you went out of your way to provoke her again too!" Ariel said crossly.
"No!" Miranda protested helplessly.
But Ariel wasn't through yet. "While you girls are living in my house you are going to have to make at least some effort to get along...that means *both* of you, not just NT!"
"I didn't provoke her this time, ok - She confronted me! I was just minding my own business this time, honest!"
"Liar!" NT shouted again, and threw her room door open. "Her computer broke! Serves her right!"
Ariel looked disconcerted when Miranda explained about her computer being crashed, indicating NT.
"NT, you didn't have anything to do with that, did you?"
"Of course not! What do you take me for?" NT looked offended.
"Yes, you did!" Miranda shot back. "Ariel, NT's just mad because she doesn't want me to have any friends!"
"Liar!" NT shouted, glaring at Miranda.
Miranda continued as if she hadn't heard. "She's got friends. I dunno why she doesn't want me having any."
"Liar!" NT repeated.
"Miranda! That's enough!" Ariel raised her voice. "If anything, she's probably afraid you will take away the friends she has and discourage other people from being her friends, small wonder the way *you* treat her!"
NT nodded in Ariel's direction.
Ariel continued. "But that doesn't excuse the way either of you have been acting, and it's going to stop, right now! As for your computer, maybe this crash will make you think twice before you cause any more havoc."
"What about N? Aren't you going to punish her for throwing a fit?"
"Look who's talking!" NT shot back.
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Ariel challenged.
"I'm not the one throwing fits, Miranda! You came barging in on me, demanding that I let you use my computer! Then you got all mad when I said no!"
Miranda's temper flared again, and she snorted disdainfully, whirled around to face her room, and stormed back in, slamming the door.
"See?" said NT.
"Come on, NT," Ariel said, took her back into her room and sat with her on the bed. "I know you're upset with Miranda, and rightly so. But until other arrangements can be made, she'll have to stay here. And it'll go a lot easier if you two at least try not to fight."
"Look," NT said, straightening up and fixing Ariel with a serious gaze. "That'll never work with only one of us trying. I just want her to leave me alone, but she keeps barging in, and you don't know what she says to me when you're not around. She doesn't even try to get along with any of us..."
"Well, here's an idea, I have a little job for you and Miranda." Ariel responded.
"Wha?" NT looked baffled. She didn't like the idea of having to work with Miranda on anything, not just yet.
"I want you both to think of one good thing about each other, just one. Then write it down and give it to me when I ask. And you don't know when I'll ask, and when I do, I expect you to have something written down or else you both lose your toys for a week."
Nt looked incredulous at Ariel. "Toys? she repeated.
Your hand-held electronics," said Ariel.
"How is that going to make either of us less miserable?" NT challenged.
Ariel shrugged. "Don't worry, NT, you'll still have your computer, and your digital piano."
NT nodded, stood up and walked to the dresser. She took an iPod off its charger and sat back down next to Ariel on the bed. She handed over the iPod, saying, "There's nothing nice about her at all. I can't stand her, and she can't stand me."
"It doesn't have to be anything really big," Ariel replied patiently, "How about a complement on her clothes or her smile, or something like that?"
"I guess I could try to manage that." NT smiled. "She's really pretty, even if her attitude--"
"Good!" Ariel interrupted. "Just leave out the part about her attitude and you'll do fine. Consider your job done. Here's your iPod back."
NT looked surprised, and wary. She silently but quickly took the iPod back, then walked over to replace it on the charger, without saying a word.
"No hard feelings?" Ariel asked, looking NT with concern.
"Hard feelings?" NT repeated, frown intensifying into a scowl. "You should know me well enough to know I wouldn't just go around trying to break somebody's computer..."
"Oh NT, I'm so sorry my tactic backfired. I only meant to make Miranda think she was believed. I know you're not anything like what she wants to make out. I'm sorry I had to get firm with you too, I only did that so Miranda couldn't accuse me of being unfair. I know she is going out of her way to instigate things."
"So to make it look fair to her, you make me look culpable and humiliated at the same time." NT said frankly, narrowing her eyes.
This worried Ariel. She knew that faning anger at them both was indeed unfair to NT, who wasn't the sort to be humored and placated, and shouldn't have to be. "I know, and I really am sorry about that. I know it wasn't fair."
"It wasn't." said NT. "Especially after the stunts she tried to pull. Maybe you didn't see all those letters she wrote under her fake accounts she made in all our names?"
"Letters? Fake accounts? NT, what do you mean?"
NT stood up and went to her computer. "Letters like this," she responded. Her low, shaky voice indicated she was trying to suppress how upset this was making her. She quickly pulled up an email folder that contained Miranda's Ariel rejection letter, and the fake irc chat. "This one, supposedly from you to me." Tears started to roll. "She probably wrote one like that from me to you as well."
Ariel went to stand by and read the email.
When she finished, she took NT's arm and lifted it, an indication for the girl to stand up.
When NT stood, Ariel embraced her in a warm, tight hug, and shed a few tears along with her. "None of that is true. Miranda has done and said some mean things, but this...Pippi showed me the fake letter Miranda sent me that was trying to impersonate you. I know that isn't real either."
You're scared of her, aren't you?" NT said, expression softening.
Ariel couldn't answer, uncertain of how it might make NT feel about her.
I'm not." said NT. "I don't like her, I don't trust her any farther than I could throw her. But whatever dumb stuff she tells you about me, don't you ever just believe it..."
I won't; and if any of us decides to make a show of believing her against you again, we'll let you in on it beforehand."
Thanks.
You - " Ariel began, looking away, "probably are disappointed or ashamed of me for being scared of Miranda."
NT's eyes went wide, then looked sadly at her mother. "Of course not. I wish you weren't, because I don't want that Miranda bullying anyone around here. I'm not ashamed of you, Mom, I love you."
The two embraced and shed a few tears.
NT only continued to cry quietly, unable to make a response.
"I love you, and nothing will change that, NT. Shhhhh." Ariel swayed with her gently from side to side, and occasionally rubbed and patted her back, trying to comfort her.
NT responded by nodding against her mother's shoulder and giving her a tighter hug.
After a while, the crying subsided, and the two disengaged.
"I wonder if she broke her own computer somehow?" Ariel speculated.
NT looked at her, wide-eyed. "Why would she do that? It would be one less thing she could use to make enemies, and she seemed genuinely mad."
"Yes, but she's definitely got enough money to buy another one. Maybe she wants a newer, better one anyway, and breaking this one might do it, or so she would think. She used to break toys when she was little, or tell me or the nannies, or even her father that they were broken, then her father would always order her toys that were newer and better."
"Wow." said NT. Well, - I - guess she could have, or if it was old, maybe it was just ready to crash In any case, I had nothing to do with it and any anger I showed to her she deserves."
"I know, and again I'm sorry my initial reaction coming up here was unfair to you." said Ariel. "But you'll have to be careful, and try not to react in a way she can use against you later. We'll all have to be careful."
"And she would, too. She already tried to twist things to make me look like the bad guy to Pippi, and she wants me out of this house, you know. She threatened me that would happen."
"When, in an email?"
"No, when she was moving in. I went into my room to get away from her, and she followed me in there. She acted all jealous that I was here, and I told her she'd have to get used to it because I wasn't going away, and she said 'We'll see about that.' and said some other really terrible things. When I started getting angry, I guess we both started yelling, and then Pippi walked in, and Miranda tried to tell her that I was the jealous one - can you believe that?"
"I wouldn't put anything past Miranda after tonight," said Ariel.
"So now she's trying to make me look like a brat who broke her computer, and make you and I think we actually hate each other."
"Well, you can rest assured we're not buying it, even if we have to sometimes pretend and make it look good to Miranda. So, are you going to be all right now,? Ariel asked.
NT nodded. "I'm relieved you don't believe her crap. she whispered.
"No one does, NT, not me, not Danae, and not Pippi, although she's very good at hiding her real feelings when around Miranda. Now, I have to go and talk to Miranda."
"Before you do," said NT, she walked over to her dresser, pulled out a drawer, took out a notepad and a pen and wrote something hastily on it. Then she handed it to Ariel.
The note read "Miranda has a pretty name and nice hair."
"Here," she handed it over.
"Thanks, NT. " Ariel said, and then whispered, "But it wasn't necessary, not in light of what she tried to do to you on the computer."
"Well, it's already done, and like you said about making things look not unfair to her. If she asks about my 'punishment' at least you've got something to show her."
"That's true. Why don't you forget about it all for a while and go get yourself a snack and a drink or something?" Ariel suggested.
NT nodded, put her notepad away and left her room.
Next, Ariel went downstairs, too angry with Miranda to face her. She filled Pippi and Danae in on what sort of email Miranda had sent NT in their names, all rejecting her.
In the end, it was Danae who gave Miranda the talking-to, with the same compliment assignment as NT got.
"A week!?" Miranda whined, batting her eye lashes. "I can't live without my music that long! I need it to study"
"You'll survive."
"Easy for you to say!" Miranda complained.
And it should be easy for you if you actually give it a try."
"She snaps my head off, and you're telling me to write something *nice* about her!?"
"That's the deal - and she won't 'snap your head off' if you don't give her a reason to." Danae responded, and left the room abruptly.
She joined NT in the kitchen. "Pippi and Ariel are down in the basement, and I want you down there as well, got something you all should know."
NT looked worried. Her nerves were still rattled, and Danae wasn't the easiest person to read at the best of times. "I didn't do - "
"I know...C'mon." Danae said, and started down the stairs.
NT followed gingerly after her.
When the two fairies came down, "Close the door a moment." Danae said to NT.
She did, and then came down and sat on one of the chairs.
"Miranda didn't break her computer," said Danae, "I did. If she thinks she's gonna get away with misusing that machine to abuse everyone in this house and friends besides, she's got another thing coming."
_________________________________________________________________
Another day, Danae and friends were going out, and they had invited their friends, Titania Ross and Jesse Lein to go with them., and as soon as they were ready, NT transported them via magic.
During this time, Miranda opted to stay behind. No one felt good about leaving her there, but Danae was determined they were not going to put their visit and lives on hold just because Miranda might decide to be rebellious.
As soon as they were gone, Miranda called Tonya and invited her over.
Together they schemed up ways to get their kicks at NT's expense.
The next time these people go out, I'd like to know about it, so we can go along, with Jaquan and Nick of course. Jacquan sure knows how to tell it like it is, he and I almost have Nick realizing NT's just a spoiled brat and Nick could do so much better. But he's not quite there yet. And I have some plans to help him realize it if just talking doesn't work." Tonya said, grinning malevolently. "Maybe it's time he and everybody else actually saw what an obnoxious, manipulative little brat she is."
"How are you going to do that? NT never acts up until I do something to provoke her, and then I always get blamed." Miranda fumed.
Tonya grinned broadly. "There is another way, like what if she had a double? I can manage to make one using magic. for that matter, if you want to stay put all night, I can give you a demonstration of your own double to take your place until you get back. That way the other idiots living here won't know you were ever out of the house at all." Tonya chuckled wickedly. "Want to give it a try?"
Miranda thought about it. The idea of sneaking one past Ariel and Danae was very appealing, and even more appealing was the idea of what damage an NT double could eventually do to the real girl's reputation. These two things eventually outweighed Miranda's initial apprehention of the experiment. "Okay," she finally said after some thought.
"First, I'll need something from you, like a lock of hair. It's what I'll use to make your double from." Tonya explained. "I'll take it from the back where it won't show." She didn't have a scissor handy, but took out a nail clipper. "This will work."
Miranda felt her hair for a moment, then shrugged. "OK. there's no sacrifice too great for putting that stupid girl in her place."
Tonya moved behind her, took hold of a strand of Miranda's hair, and carefully cut it. Next, she bent down to place the strand on the floor. Then, she backed away, making room for what was to happen.
Miranda looked on with a grin while Tonya made some odd movements with her hands and uttered some jibberish.
There was a groaning sound, followed by a pop, and instantly, a double of Miranda appeared where the hair strand had been. She was identical, right down to the clothes and makeup.
"Sweet!" Miranda squealed.
Tonya chuckled. If the others get back before you do,...She is you. She'll act the same, talk the same, whatever."
"That is so awesome!" Miranda replied, eyes wide. "Now we can get *out* of this dive and somewhere fun."
Tonya grinned. "She'll disappear when you don't need her any more. Just touch her and, poof."
"Wow! you are so smart!" Miranda exclaimed giddily.
Tonya laughed. "Just wait until Nick gets to find out what a repulsive girl he's been wasting his time on."
Miranda chortled. "And to really mess NT up, doubles for Danae and Ariel and whoever loves that wench for real could be awesome too." She was entertaining very nasty thoughts of Ariel's double telling NT she didn't love her and just wanted her out of the house. The only thing was, how to pull it all off without the real McCoys getting in the way or finding out.
"OK, I'll keep watching out for when I can manage to pull this all off. For now, let's get outa here." Tonya said. "Have you ever been transported magicly?"
"Sure, my dad used to do that when he didn't have a car or something right when he needed one."
"All right then, hang on." Tonya took Miranda's hand, and in a moment, the two were standing outside a small club.
_________________________________________________________________
Miranda had the misfortune to make it home just after Danae, who was about to go into her room, where the double was. Pippi had dropped Titania and Jesse at their homes.
Danae was just about to go into the bedroom when Miranda pushed passed her in a frantic attempt to beat her inside.
Danae, who was already on edge, scowled and stormed in right behind her. "That's the last time you try that with me! Got somethin ta hide ya don't want me seein?"
"Get out of my face Danae!" Miranda snapped as she raced over to the bed and touched the double of herself, making it disappear. She hoped fervently that Danae didn't get a chance to notice.
"Watch yer mouth." Danae said as she shut the door and turned on the light.
There were some unpleasant words exchanged as Danae and Miranda both got ready for bed, but they settled down, and Danae hit the light switch for the last time. She fell asleep almost right away, but Miranda lay awake, fantasizing about how she and Tonya were going to destroy NT, piece by piece.
Tonya did likewise, and she was delighted now that she had Miranda's full support. The more enemies NT could have, the better it would work out for Tonya, especially when it came to trying to turn Nick completely against NT. Tonya had the biggest ego-swelling satisfaction when Nick and his brother and folks had been so sorry for her, even after she had almost killed him. It gave Tonya a rush knowing she had got Nick to begin treating her as more of a friend worthy of his love and sympathy than NT, and she was ready to do anything to hold on to that. If Nick wavered and went back to treating NT as his best girl friend, that was a defeat Tonya couldn't stand to have happen. It would mean she wasn't the only and best. She detested NT's sensitivity, point of view on just about everything, appearance, and of course, never forgave NT for being upset at her for almost killing Nick. If Nick could feel sorry for Tonya and forgive her, then NT should have too. Tonya mulled all this over, and decided she would continue to stick with Miranda since they both had a very strong hatred in common, and two heads were better than one for plotting all kinds of revenge.
_________________________________________________________________
The next day, NT and Ariel had gone out, and Danae was still asleep when Miranda started plotting again. She stole out of the room as soon as she heard Ariel and NT leave. A whole day without NT around, now if only that sergeant of a room mate of hers would clear out it would be fantastic.
She was glad that Danae was sleeping though, maybe if she was lucky, Danae would be sleeping too soundly to hear her as she got dressed.
Miranda wanted to get some things done now that Ariel and NT were away. She only hoped fervently that Danae would either sleep the day away or get up and get out of the house.
After getting dressed, Miranda snuck out of the room and into NT's.
The problem was, the door had remained ajar, so Miranda couldn't close it or else Danae might get suspicious when seeing it had been shut should she happen to wake up.
What a drag it was, having to watch out for that tall, stern faced woman. Just the sight of her gave Miranda the creeps but she couldn't let on.
Nervous of Danae as she was, Miranda decided that sharing a room with her was better than the other alternative, sharing a room with that little tick NT, who was ultimately to blame for all of Miranda's problems. At least, that's how it was in the mixed up teenager's mind.
Miranda was just burning to pay NT out for coming into existence and ruining everything for her father. After all, Ariel would still be working for him if she hadn't had that baby, and one that wasn't even normal. She would have to find a way to make NT's life so miserable that either NT would run away or kill herself, or Miranda would be placed in some other home. She wouldn't mind that so much if the new home came with a lot of stuff and guardians that wouldn't butt in with all sorts of dumb rules. Living on the street didn't seem appealing.
Suddenly her daydreaming was rudely interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
Miranda quickly ducked into NT's closet which was open, and hid behind some dresses, silently shutting the door. Then she stood there, listening as the toilet flushed and someone was washing up.
Miranda had forgotten about Pippi. She just stood, hidden in the closet until Pippi was finished in the washroom and had gone back downstairs.
Then, she came out and very carefully and quietly went through NT's things. She was looking for a photo album with pictures of NT and her friends in it, hoping to pick out one of the pictures to give to Tonya for a double spell. There was a picture of a number of people, in a frame, standing on NT's dresser, but it was one NT had shot of her friends back in TMW a year ago, so she wasn't on it. ~Demn!~
She began to look through NT's dresser and any other place where there might be more pictures. Finally, she found a photo album in one of the drawers and began looking through it. The photos were all labeled, and Miranda was glad to find one of NT, Danae and Pippi that Ameh had taken.
Pulling it out, she put it in her pocket and put the album back.
She was curious now and decided to go through more of NT's things. It gave her the feeling of getting the upper hand on NT somehow.
There were a lot of pretty, cute ornaments, stuffed animals, and a cd collection.
Looking at Ameh's picture, Miranda scowled. That was the other rotten little brat that lipped off and gave her daddy magic heck last fall. Miranda decided she'd love to get her back too.
When she was through going through NT's things, Miranda was about to sneak out the front door when:
"Good morning, Miranda; where are you off to so early?"
~Crap! Pippi again!~ Miranda had nothing against Pippi, she thought of all the people in the house, Pippi could turn out to be the easiest to talk to. She had enjoyed the books written about her and had always admired her as a child. What a shame Pippi ended up living with this bunch of losers though. And Miranda needed to come up with an excuse to leave the house, and fast. "Oh, I just need to go out and have my cigarette. I'll be back in a while."
Pippi didn't like the look of Miranda, but she didn't let on. "What a pity. Here you are, bearly 16 years old, and you're already so addicted to smoking. That's really sad."
"I'm not addicted, I can quit whenever I want, I just don't want to right now."
"Of course." Pippi responded. "But wouldn't it be better if you quit now before you get addicted?"
"Just one cigarette, what harm will it do?" Miranda challenged. "I'd like to stay and chat but I really need to get out of the house for a while and get some fresh air." And before Pippi could respond, Miranda flew out the front door.
pippi looked after the rebellious little girl running out the door with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth. rolling her eyes, she said to herself,"How ironic is that?"
Miranda ran down the sidewalk to a phone booth. She hoped Tonya was up, she needed to see her and get that double created as soon as possible.
If only the coast had been clear, Miranda could've brought Tonya her computer as a payment. It didn't work now, but Tonya could always get it restored or find some use for it. As it was now, Miranda resigned herself to digging into her cash supply and paying Tonya at the next party.
_________________________________________________________________
In mid June, NT had witnessed a man doing something very foolish and dangerous. he had gotten mauled nearly to death. But While trying to save him, NT had fallen and got a concussion. Just before she passed out, she managed to transport herself and this man, but ended up at her house instead of a hospital.
Miranda had called emergency, and had only reported the man's emergency, totally ignoring NT, who still wasn't coming to.
When the ambulance arrived and Pippi was trying to revive NT, it came as a shock that only one emergency was called in, so another stretcher was needed. Ariel stayed at the hospital with NT, but that didn't get Miranda off the hook. She got it from Danae with both barrels for failing to report NT's emergency. Danae suspected, and was right, that Miranda had done that deliberately.
but even with NT not in the house, Miranda kept making things miserable back at home. She had been tying up the phone all day, talking with her new friends she'd met at a party, and calling numerous 900 numbers, running up the phone bill.
Miranda stayed with the phone seemingly glued to her ear. Sometimes she was conspicuously quiet as somebody must've been prattling on the other end. Other times, she babbled, squealed, sighed, moaned, whined out various things typically heard from giddy party girls her age.
"Oh, I know, that's so awesome!" and "Sweet!" "Yeah...Uh-huh...Ohmigosh, he's such a hotty! Ooooooooh!" "Yeah, wouldn't it be just the coolest thing in the world!?" "What I wouldn't do to have her job, must be nice working around those guys all day!" "I know, isn't that pathetic, and she calls herself a writer!?" "Yeah, doesn't she know Lady Une is the best and could beat up her trampy character any day!" "You don't wanna know." "No, really." "My life so sux right now."
This frustrated Danae to no end. Eventually she decided to go to the kitchen and make herself a snack. She banged cupboard doors, turned on the kettle, crashed dishes and sang loudly, hoping to get Miranda off the phone.
After about five minutes of this, Miranda rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Demn it Danae, enough with the bleepin band, people're trying to hear, you know?"
That did it. Danae threw down the fork she happened to be holding at the time and stalked over to Miranda, glaring and demanding forcefully, "Then get the bleedin heck off the phone already or do I have to pry it off you?"
Pippi came down the stairs. "what's going on? Oh dear,." She got the idea just from Miranda's and Danae's expressions and decided to talk with Miranda later about tying up the phone.
Danae returned to fixing something to eat, muttering something about investing in call waiting and call return.
Miranda shot a glare in Danae's direction, and was about to dial yet another number when the phone rang. "Danae!!! you want the stupid phone so bad you get it!!" and with that she stalked off into their room.
"Oh, that blasted kid!" Danae huffed before picking up the phone. "Hello?"
Pippi stood at the bottom of the steps a moment. She hadn't seen anyone quite as belligerent as Miranda.
Not even Ameh at her worst was so mouthy and spiteful. She was a lot more destructive and standoffish, and that, Pippi at least knew was because Ameh had been hurt so much in her life that distancing herself from people was the only way she knew to survive.
But Pippi didn't know as much about Miranda's history. From what she understood, that girl had a rather pampered life, with a father who doted endlessly on her and everything must've been ok in Miranda's life until NT came along and turned everything upside down.
At least, that was how Pippi understood it, trying to see things from Miranda's perspective.
When Danae answered the phone, she was relieved it wasn't the hospital. She had been worried that they or Ariel might be trying to get through and couldn't because of Miranda.
Instead, it was a friend, Kristina.
Pippi remained listening for a moment as Danae talked.
"Kristina, how are you?" Danae asked.
There was a slight pause, then Danae said, "Oh, I'm about to tear my hair out or do some damage to a certain teenager living here who is as easy to get along with as an electric shock!"
Pippi started heading back up to her work on the internet, nodding in agreement with Danae as she went.
_________________________________________________________________
Up in hers and Danae's room, Miranda wrote a very whiny, sulky entry in her journal.
* * *
I mean geez. Between NT's trying 2 play hero & get attention, & that amazon Indian Broad that has a name which makes her sound like a cross between a cigarette or an old car, and a Hollywood legend. What a sergeant! How am I gonna get out of this stupid hole? Well I'm outa here 2nite & I don't care the bleep where, just as long as I'm away from all these stupid control freaks!~
* * *
She did get a twinge of guilt, not remorse, mind you, when she thought of the subject of her leaving NT to die.
* * *
~Well how the hex was I 2 know that girl wasn't just passed out or even faking it? Geez. didn't know it was realy all that serious! Demn it already! Give me a bleeping brake!~
* * *
Miranda detested the thought of apologizing to NT, even if she had been in the wrong and knew it. but she was sure Ariel or certainly that Danae Monroe she had the misfortune to share a room with, would insist on it. To Miranda, the idea of NT gaining any kind of victory or control over her, and gloating about it made her almost literally sick to her stomach, and she would not give any of them that satisfaction.
She scribbled these last thoughts down on a piece of paper, got dressed and made up, and just before leaving her room, she yanked the computer plug out of the wall and closed it up. The thing had suddenly become a new enemy but at least it was one she could unplug and put away.
What was she going to do when NT came back home? The dislike for NT mixed with the feeling of guilt at the negligence toward her, made Miranda dread the thought. But for now at least, if she got lucky, she could throw off the troubles at some bar or party once she had taken the bus over to the home of a new friend.
Miranda slipped out, unnoticed while Danae was still talking to Kristina, and Pippi had gone back to work on the internet. Miranda came back much later and went straight to bed. She was in for a terrible hangover which hit during Kristina's and Titania's visit. It didn't help that she had failed to break up Danae and Kristina's friendship. Oddly enough, she blamed NT for that plan going wrong too. if that stupid little brat hadn't crashed her computer she could've messed up Kristina and Danae but good...or at least, that's what she believed.
_________________________________________________________________
Kristina and Titania came over for a visit. But it turned sour with Kristina when her ex-boyfriend, Paul, showed up uninvited, since he followed her everywhere. Danae had been friends with them both, and she disapproved of the guy Kristina was currently going with. But she also disapproved of the ex-boyfriend's behaviour and just wanted to be left out of their soap opera.
When the ex-bf showed up, Danae picked up her cell phone to text him, intending on asking him to wait with coming by until later, she found the battery had died.
So much for that.
She went and plugged it in to charge. At the same time, Paul rang the doorbell, and Kristina swore, stood up and raced into the washroom, locking the door.
Danae had no choice but get the door and let Paul in and tell him to stop smothering Kristina and making himself miserable.
When he refused to leave until he could see Kristina, Danae tried to be as tactful as she could, telling him to back off with that.
"Do you know she's seeing someone else? Do you like her new boyfriend?" Paul asked.
Danae frowned. "What I think about that, doesn't matter."
"He's just going to hurt her."
"Possibly, Paul, but you're not doing yourself or hr any favours."
"Please, Danae, I just want to say hi to her."
Danae frowned at him.
He gave her a wounded look. "Maybe - I shouldn't have come."
Danae heaved a an impatient sigh. "Look, Paul, you can come for a visit - when Kristina isn't here, okay?"
Kristina finally came out of the bathroom, and it was plain she had been crying.
Then, she and Paul really got into it. They rehashed old stuff, arguing until it turned into a shouting-match. Kristina telling Paul it was over and to stop babying her and following hr around like a lost puppy. And Paul expressing how she was breaking his heart and how all he wanted was for her to be happy because he loved her so much, but her new boyfriend couldn't possibly love her as much.
Titania had nothing to do with the conflict, and was feeling as tense as anyone else. She sat in the livingroom where everyone had gathered, pretending to be very interested in various items around her.
Pippi was tense as well, and she tried several times to steer Kristina and Paul's attention away from each other with changes in subject, but it never worked for long.
Miranda came storming out of hers and Danae's room. "Hey N, cut the bleepin noise already!"
"NT is not here, Miranda," Pippi responded firmly, "and if you don't refrain from using that kind of language--"
"You're not the bleepin boss of me! Just stop the racket! I got a splitting headache!"
"It's nobody's fault but your own, young lady," Danae responded, getting up from a chair and heading for the stairway. "Just keep outa this. It's got nothin to do with you or NT."
"Who the hex are these people? Miranda glanced at Kristina and heard Paul, and saw Titania sitting in the living room.
"Friends." was all Danae said.
But who?"
"Paul. Don't get excited, he's far too old for you."
Miranda gave Danae a dirty glare. "And her?" she pointed toward Kristina.
"That's Kristina. She came over to visit me since NT's in the hospital."
"Kristina!? The Kristina I've been writing to before my computer crashed!? wow, kewl!" Miranda put a hand to her head which was still pounding, and her excitement was making it worse.
"Miranda, ya don't look well. Just go back to sleep or else get yourself cleaned up a bit before ya decide to join us."
"Sheesh Danae!" Miranda couldn't get anywhere with her and she was beginning to realize it was a waste of time trying. So, she headed back to her room and closed the door. But she really wanted to meet Kristina, so, she spent the next while trying to clear her head and figure out what to do next.
Kristina and Paul ignored everyone else, continuing to argue. Paul kept saying how he still loved and cared about Kristina, and Kristina telling him to stop treating her like a child and let her live her own life.
The others tried to interject but were ignored or ended up being used in the arguments to make either Paul's or Kristina's case stronger.
Finally, Danae had it. "Look you two, I'd never have asked you here," she jabbed a finger in Kristina's direction, "or let you in," she indicated Paul, "if I'd known you were gonna do nothin but fight! If that's all ya wanna do then you can take it somewhere else!"
The phone rang.
"I'll get it." Pippi volunteered. "Please try to keep it down so I can hear." With that, she stood up and walked into the kitchen, annoyed.
The silence in the living room was thick with tension. Paul didn't dare say anything more to Kristina, who dared not speak to Danae.
After a little while, Pippi came back in, announcing that the call was from Ariel, who said that NT was ready to come home.
"Danae...NT won't need a crowd here when she comes in...I've got to get back home anyway." Kristina blurted out quickly as she retreated for the front door. She wanted desperately to get away from Paul, and realized she had upset Danae by arguing as well. "When she's up to it, maybe you could bring her to visit me?" she offered.
Danae frowned. "We'll see." she said abruptly.
"I thought the whole idea was for us to be here when she's about to come home...?" Titania asked.
"Kristina..." Paul started to say, but she cut him off.
"No, Paul. *it's* *finished*, understand??" she glared at him. "It's over!"
"Oh, don't start that again!" Danae cut in, getting cross.
Paul's face fell. He'd tried so hard...and only made things worse. And there was nothing, absolutely nothing, he could think to say to fix it. He looked at Danae for a long moment, "I'm sorry." he murmured softly to her, then followed Kristina out.
"why can't they just grow up?" Danae heaved an exasperated sigh, wishing she hadn't had either of them over. She was run down and tired from the stress of dealing with that troublesome brat, Miranda, NT's situation, and not having slept for a day and a night. She would've appreciated real support from both Kristina and Paul now, but they let their histories get in the way, and instead of being supportive friends, they had sat and shouted at each other like big babies all night. Danae was annoyed at them both. But later on, she did write Kristina, letting her know about NT.
Pippi said she'd go start up the car and pick up Ariel and NT. She agreed to let Titania go along and asked Danae, "What about you? Are you coming too?"
"Nah, it's all right, I'll just wait for you here. Someone's gotta keep an eye on that one upstairs anyway."
"All right then. In a few moments, Pippi and Titania had got into the car and were on their way.
_________________________________________________________________
Danae fixed herself something to eat and was just about to sit down and enjoy it when Miranda came out of her room, looking mad.
"What's the matter now?" Danae demanded, exasperated.
"How am I supposed to do my homework when school starts up again without a computer? I'm sorry about what happened to N and I'm sorry I didn't call her emergency in. That's got to count for something Danae. I really didn't know she was really hurt. I thought she was faking it." Miranda tried to look apologetic.
It didn't work.
"So all of a sudden your conscience kicked in, eh?" Danae challenged, then shook her head at Miranda. "Come on now, if you wanna new computer, you'll have to do a heck of a lot more than just grovel."
"Geez Danae. I'll be the only one who can't do the work at school properly because I'm the only one without a demn computer!" Miranda whined, batting her eyelashes and giving Danae a positively wounded look.
Danae rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right...They had school back in the days before computers. Use the one at the school library if you must, an' write out yer assignments at home." Danae stood up and strode to the bottom of the stairs as she spoke. Then, she climbed the stairs and stood just outside Miranda's room. Continuing, she said, "Until ya can act your age and start treating people around ya like human beings, *no *computer *for *you. Understand?"
"Demn it, Danae!"
"Demmit nothin. This'll teach ya to go around and hurt someone that never did anything to you.."
"Right, poor little NT, so--" Miranda began to snarl, but Danae cut her off very firmly.
"Sto it! And you lost your phone privileges too."
Miranda's jaw dropped. "Oh get off my case, Danae!" She finally said, giving the taller woman the dirtiest glare.
But Danae ignored the outburst and continued. "From now on you won't be tyin up the phone all day, talkin with who knows who, who knows where. An if you ran up the bill with those calls yesterday, you'll be paying for it outa your own pocket."
"I didn't,"
"You better not be lying about that." Danae shook a finger at her and took a step forward.
Miranda was starting to feel her nerve go, how in the world would she get out of this one? Phone bills just don't lie, unless there's a mistake at the company. But Miranda was pretty sure they wouldn't make as big a mistake as the charges that were sure to add up from all the calls she had made. There was only one other option, try to appeal to Danae for a break.
"But if I did and couldn't pay?"
Danae laughed disdainfully, "Not a chance of that, girl. You either pay up or I'll have yer nasty little carcass tossed in the slammer!"
"You'd do that?"
"You don't wanna find out, do you?" Danae threatened.
So much for that plan. So Miranda tried the same thing with Danae as she did with Ariel before. "Bet your little NT wouldn't get in trouble for running up the bill or staying on the phone all day, or spending all her time on her computer!"
"NT knows better than that. She doesn't go around misusing her computer, spreading lies and impersonating people or leaving them passed out on the floor, In short, she behaves. You just act like a spoiled brat. If you ever get over yer dislike of NT enough to act halfway human toward her and you can be trusted not to get into trouble, you can have a computer."
"You know, Danae, you really suck!"
Danae wasn't fazed. She only looked indifferently at Miranda, saying, "I don't care what you think of me." Then she left abruptly, firmly shutting the door, and went back down to finish her breakfast, leaving Miranda to sulk and try to figure out a way of sneaking out that night.