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. Miranda had a cell phone, but she always used the excuse of a dead battery to tie up the land line.
Eventually Danae 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 ya?"
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.
Pippi remained listening for a moment as Danae talked.
"Kristina, how are ya?" 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 livin 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.
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Up in hers and Danae's room, Miranda wrote a very whiny, sulky entry in her journal.
* * *
I mean geez. Between NT trying 2 play hero & get atention & that cow Danae. What a sergeant! How am I gonna get out of this stupid hole? Well Im outa here 2nite & I dont care the bleep whear, just as long as I'm away from all these stupid control freaks!~
* * *
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.
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When Kristina came to visit Danae, Pippi got the door, and welcomed her in. "Hello Kristina, thank you for coming. Danae's just bustling about in the kitchen if you want to take a seat."
Kristina smiled and followed Pippi into the living room.
Pippi smiled warmly. "I'll be right back, Kristina, we're out of coffee up here." With that, she left the room and descended the stairs to the basement to get a fresh tin from storage.
"Hey Kristina, I'm just getting some refreshments ready. There's ice-tea, hot tea, juice, pop, milk, water, cookies, ice cream, potato chips?" Danae offered.
"What kind of soda do you have?" asked Kristina.
"Uh," Danae was heard opening the fridge, "Vanilla coke, cherry pepsi, ordinary pepsi, ginger-ale, dr. pepper, orange, sprite and freska."
Kristina considered a moment. "Vanilla coke, please."
"Comin up."
When Danae came in with Kristina's drink, she asked her if she wanted something to eat as well.
Kristina shook her head but thanked Danae for asking. Then she added, "I'm almost afraid to ask, but how's...You-Know-Who?"
Danae caught her meaning and chuckled. "Well, you-know-who's got one heck of a hangover so I don't think her highness'll be wanting' much of anything right now."
At that moment, the doorbell rang. Turning to answer the door, Danae let Titania in. "Welcome here, sit yerself down and have some snacks and a drink. We have," and Danae listed them off again.
Titania Britney Ross joined Danae in the living room.
"Oh my goodness, welcome Titania!" Pippi came up with the coffee tin and glanced into the living room to greet the newest arrival. "I'm sorry I wasn't here to welcome you right away."
"Hey, not a problem!" Titania smiled broadly.
Pippi went to put the coffee on the cupboard, and soon the house was filled with the wonderful, inviting aroma as it was being made.
So the four chatted over drinks and snacks.
Miranda was still suffering the effects of the hangover and coming down off the drug high from the party the night before. For a long time, she didn't bother coming out of her room. However Kristina and Titania didn't think Danae and Pippi should have to deal with the problem of such a rebellious girl all by themselves, not now when they needed a break. So they stayed and talked, and were sometimes just sitting silently as good friends often can. Fortunately for everyone, Miranda didn't cause them any trouble, not yet. And no one felt like sleeping or going anywhere.
Suddenly, Kristina caught sight of something outside the window. She ran to look. "Oh, not again. He's doing it again."
"What's that?" asked Pippi.
Danae went to the window, and heaved a dismayed sigh at the sight.
"Paul." Kristina replied with a slight groan.
Paul loved Kristina and had devoted so many years to her happiness, only to lose her to somebody else.
Danae said nothing, hoping he hadn't seen her and that he wouldn't linger. She had nothing against him, but she didn't need to deal with Kristina and Paul's problems on top of everything else. Nor did she approve of the new boyfriend Kristina had dumped Paul for.
Across the street, Paul shook his head as he saw Danae at the window, glancing out at him, then shaking her head and turning away to take a seat. He knew Kristina was there, but probably wouldn't want to see him. Danae Monroe had always been kind to him, and he knew she disapproved of Kristina's new boyfriend. But she was Kristina's friend, and it wouldn't be fair to get her involved with their problems.
But eventually his yearning to talk to Kristina over-rode everything else. He shrugged, slowly crossed the street, walked up the driveway and front steps, and hesitated a moment at the door. Finally, he rang the bell.
Inside, Kristina made a mad dash for the upstairs washroom.
Danae groaned and rolled her eyes in the direction of the stairs. "Here we go again."
Titania and Pippi looked at each other, then at Danae, who answered with a nod, then went to the door.
Danae let him in and motioned him into the living room. She was not happy about the tension this was sure to cause when Kristina could pull herself together enough to make an appearance. "I'm sorry, this just isn't a good time. They're only here to help me out with some difficulties." she explained.
"I'm sorry." Paul said, shaking his head, noting the frown on Danae's tense features. "I should've realized.
"Hello, Paul." Pippi greeted him with one of her pleasant smiles.
"And this is Titania Ross." Danae went on.
Titania said, "Hi Mr.--Mr--"
"Just call me Paul."
"Paul," Titania repeated nervously. "what do you want with Kristina?"
"I guess I'm so - concerned about her that I just candt stop."
Danae looked serious. "You've got to stop. Your smothering her and only making yourself absolutely miserable. She's only here tonight 'cause NT had an accident and is in the hospital, and we have another girl living here who's - " Danae grimaced, "not making things easy for anyone, and I'm dead tired."
"I'm sorry to hear that," said Paul, beginning to realize that he'd made a big mistake by coming here to talk to Kristina. Danae had enough to deal with, why hadn't he listened to his head instead of his yearning heart just this once? "I hope she's not badly off and that she gets better soon." he finally said. He didn't know NT, other than that Kristina might've mentioned her to him in passing when talking about friends, but thinking about Danae's situation helped ease the gnawing heart ache for a moment.
His concern earned him an appreciative look from Danae. He got similar looks from Pippi and Titania as well, but barely registered them.
"But please, can I just talk to her this once?"
Danae heaved a sigh. "I have nothing against you, Paul, but this is the last time you do that here." Fed up with this awkward situation, she walked toward the staircase and climbed them, then was heard wrapping on the bathroom door.
"Tell him to go away! Tell him I'm not feeling well, anything!" Kristina was heard pleading from inside.
Danae was not sympathetic to her. She had grown very tired of the Paul and Kristina soap opera and had no intention of letting either of them play her off against the other. "Kristina, I'm not gonna put up with this. You say you want people to stop thinking of you as a child, so stop acting like one and come out of there."
Kristina's only response was muffled sobs.
Danae wrapped on the door until Kristina finally opened it. She walked quickly into the bathroom to speak to her in private.
"Why candt he just leave me alone?" Kristina lamented.
Danae sighed. "I know - it would be a lot easier on you both if he would. I'm sorry for seeming insensitive. It's just that I don't need this on top of everything else. I didn't invite him here, you know I wouldn't do that while you're here."
"I know, Danae," Kristina sniffed. "He's been following me everywhere lately."
"I'm sorry…But now this has put me in a bad spot. If things get crazy, I might end up having to kick you both out to deal with it on your own time."
Kristina nodded. "I guess I should go out since he's not going to leave until I do."
"Thanks. I don't want you locked in here for the rest of what was supposed to be a visit And for what it's worth, I have already told him never to follow you here again." Danae shook her head dejectedly. She had done her best to make herself understood by both parties, and fervently hoped and doubted they would hold off fighting or at least have the courtesy to excuse themselves from the visit in a hurry to take their troubles elsewhere.
Back in the living room, Pippi sighed. She could just tell they were in for a fine time. Kristina and Paul were probably going to argue with each other, and that was the very last thing Pippi or Danae needed right now. Already, Pippi could tell that Danae was at the end of her patience. If worse came to worse, she would surely throw both Kristina and Paul out of the house, and if that caused their friendships to break up, it was all so needless. Pippi could only hope that Kristina and Paul would have enough consideration not to start anything, and that Danae would keep her temper.
In a few more minutes, Danae returned, followed by a visibly upset Kristina.
While Kristina and Paul fell to rehashing their pasts and old emotional wounds inflicted on each other, Titania picked up a coaster that was lying on the coffee table and pretended to be very interested in the fancy design on it.
Pippi looked uneasy, but said nothing.
The emotionally charged discussion between Kristina and Paul continued, much to Pippi's and especially Danae's chagrin, and Titania looked from one person to another, too nervous to ask, and feeling like an intruder on a matter that should've been private.
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 nothing 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.
Titania glared back at her.
"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.
"Forget it, Miranda, you don't look well. Just go back to sleep or else get yourself cleaned up a bit before you 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. Standing up abruptly, she scowled at Kristina and Paul in turn, and gave them a tirade. "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 all you wanted to do was fight! Take that elsewhere! I've had it with you!"
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 turned to follow Kristina out.
Danae stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "You'll wait here, for a decent amount of time until after Kristina is long gone, then you can leave."
"But - "
Sit…!" Danae indicated one of the empty chairs in the front room.
Paul stood, seeming to wage some kind of inner struggle.
"Pippi drew the shade and sat down.
Danae scowled at Paul. "Sit down." she said in a sterner tone, again indicating the empty chair.
Finally, he complied sheepishly. He knew for sure coming here was a terrible mistake. "I'm sorry."
"Oh shut it. the damage has already been done." Danae snapped back. "One of these days, you are just going to have to realize there is life after and beyond Kristina."
"Why did she have to do this?"
"Paul, you can ask yourself that, you can ask her that and you can ask me that a million times and you'll never be satisfied with any answer you get. You candt make her love you, so you should just accept it and carry on with life. You have no other choice."
"Well, couldn't you do something? You're a fairy, right? isn't there like a love spell or something - "
"No!" Danae's response was so severe it actually startled Paul out of his mope. He sat up straight, looking wildly ahead.
"You will not dare ask me that again if you know what's good for you!" Danae scowled at him.
Paul sat silently for a long time. He knew he had messed up in a big way. The trouble was every time he opened his mouth, he seemed to mess up even more.
Finally Danae broke the silence. "I'm not that sort of fairy. I don't grant wishes or make people fall in and out of love, and I just don't believe in using magic for that kind of meddling in people's lives. But - I will do what I can to keep you away from her if I have to unless you both leave me out of this. You'll end up causing her to literally hate you if you don't stop."
Although Danae was speaking much more gently, what she said was hurting Paul much more than the yelling had.
He shook his head. "So this is it. The end."
"For now." said Danae. "Not necessarily the end forever, as long as you don't make it that way. Maybe years down the road you two will have a future together, maybe not. But you for sure won't if you keep this up, Paul."
"How am I going to wait that long?"
"If you really love her, you'll wait. Or, you might fall for someone else."
"I'll never do that."
"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I was you. Just remember what I said. and as long as you two are on the outs with each other, I won't have either one of you lingering or spying around this place when the other is inside, understand?"
Paul nodded and stood up dejectedly. "I better get going."
"Take care of yourself." said Danae.
Paul left sadly, knowing Danae had deliberately kept him from following Kristina to wherever she was off to.
Once he was out the door, "why candt 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 helping Danae, 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 ya 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, exhasperated.
"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, yer gonna hafta do a heck of a lot more than just grovel."
"Geez Danae. I'll be the only one who candt 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 ya hafta and 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 yer age and start treating the folks around you like human beings, *no *computer *for *you. Understand?"
"Demn it, Danae!"
"Demmit nothin. This'll teach ya to mess around and hurt someone who never did anything t'you.."
"Right, poor little NT, so--" Miranda began to snarl, but Danae cut her off very firmly.
"Shut 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 tying up the phone all day, yakkin' to who knows who, who knows where. And if you ran up the bill with those calls yesterday, you'll be paying for it outa your own pocket."
"I didn't,"
"Don't lie to me!" 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 your 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. And she doesn't go around misusing her computer to spread gossip, or leave people 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 inta trouble, you can have a computer."
"You know, Danae, you really stink!"
Danae wasn't fazed. She only looked indifferently at Miranda, saying, "Well, that's just too bad for you." 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.
A little while later, Ariel and Pippi returned home with NT, who spent much of the day sleeping on the couch where she could still hear and see the familiar people going about their business. They also kept her in sight because Ariel and the doctors had been concerned about her emotional state.
Titania went back to her house for lunch and would return later that evening after dinner to visit.