Gothic Desires

Three weeks was really not enough time to get things in order. Starfyre had never worked so hard in her life. She had to arrange internet classes and special permission to mail her papers that she got on line to the professors. Plus there was her mother, who was on her every heel step. Her mother was way more into this thing than she was. She thought the only thing her mother was dollar signs. Her friends probably agreed with her, they just weren’t saying it.

She sat down at her desk, just a week before the scheduled time to leave. Starfyre was opening another packet from the TV Show. There was another folder inside it with a couple of letters and an Schedule of events. Plus there was a rooms assignment sheet in it.

“Venessa Carte?” She turned the page. “I thought rooms were assigned by the fours.”

Starfyre placed that aside and picked up another letter. It was from the VanDrake Royal family? It was specifically addressed to her. She noted the penmanship. Whom ever wrote this letter had a beautiful hand. She couldn’t master calligraphy if she tried so she was impressed by that.

“See what this sais. Hopefully it said that they made a mistake and want to tell me not to come.”

Starfyre chuckled. She grinned at how her mother might react if she heard her talking like that. Her mother really, really wanted her to go. Starfyre pulled the wax seal away. The letter was a crisp parchment paper. The families royal seal was a dragon that wrapped around their family crest of VD. Their colors were purple and black. She couldn’t complain about that at least. She loved the colors.

“Okay, Yada, Yada. Read past all the official junk. “ Her finger trailed down the handsomely written letter. “Here we go.”

‘Starfyre Renwal’

‘It is my pleasure to introduce my self to you. I am Prince Andrew of VanDrake. I was given the chance to choose one girl to write to before the actual filing had begun. I don’t know why, but your application and information seemed to stand out to me. ‘

“Yeah right.” She shook her head. “Don’t know why my foot.”

‘I must say, that I was very impressed with your image. You present your self proudly and portray a culture that many do not understand. More so, you do not live up to the stereo type that is associated with the culture.’

“Okay..” Starfyre leaned back against her pillow. “He knows about the gothic culture?” She found it to be odd but not all together impossible.

‘I have also enclosed a photo of my self. The producers were against it but It was my choice to do. I was along the Cascading mountains in my country. My horse, Cerberus is also with me. I hope it does not seem to forward. I understand that sometimes American women find a forward man to not be to their liking. I assure you, I just wished to share a picture, as you were so kind to share yours with us. Which, it was very beautiful by the way.’

“There is ..no picture in here.” She blinked.

‘I look forward to our first meeting. Also, I feel I should Inform you that the show has been moved to my country of Tovia. It is a small country but we are a proud one. That is also another reason that I write. Another ticket has been sent to you. The other girls have received their communications from the producers.’

“Tovia?” Starfyre remembered something about that in her geography books. She didn’t think she’d ever see a place like that however so never really paid attention to it when she studied. “Back to the letter.”

‘So, As my first official act for this. I wanted you to be my first evening dinner guest. I was told that over the month, I will spend an evening with each girl. I know all of this sounds a little odd but my reasons are genuine. I wish to find love. So This show was an answer to avoid a arranged marriage. I held no desire to not be a part of the choice made for my future bride.’

‘My parents wished to seek better allies? With your country as well. Though I realize that it is hard to get to know someone in such a way, it really was the only choice I had. I do hope that you understand this. My ego or want to show off to people has nothing to do with this.’

“I haven’t even met him and he is stumbling all over him self, trying to explain things to me?”

‘I ramble, I just wish to leave you with these last few words. I look forward to meeting you in person. If you are anything like the letters from your friends say, I know I will gain great pleasure from the meeting.’

‘Until we meet’

‘Prince Andrew VanDrake.’

“Great.” She folded the letter up and replaced it in the envelope, “So now, Instead of going just to Paris, I am going more than half way across the world to a country that has limited Technology allowances.” She sighed. “There goes my internet courses.”

“What do you mean?” Stephanie sat down beside her. “Oh yeah, Hi and I am back.”

“You’re the geography wiz right?” Starfyre turned to face her.

“Yeah.” Stephanie raised a brow. “Why?”

“The country of Tovia.” She pushed the letter towards Stephanie. “As I remember..they don’t have many technology allowances.”

“Yeah, They don’t. They don’t have phones or anything. They barely allow an airplane into the country. There are no cars and yeah..wow..” She gasped. “He writes like wow.” Stephanie was almost drooling over the picture that fell out. “And double wow. He chose YOU to send the first letter to.”

“It doesn’t mean anything.” She snatched the letter and Picture away. “It just means he saw a goth ‘freak’ and wanted to talk to her. You know how guys are. They seem to think we are some kind of closet freaks.”

“Especially in bed. Think just because a girl is goth that she will jump in bed with anyone.” She giggled. “But I can still say he is Way hot. Even if it’s just an outline of a shadow against mountains.”

“Yeah, so maybe he sounds a little cute. That is just the fancy words.” Starfyre placed the envelope away and then pulled a ticket out. “Uh,”

“What?”

“Nothing,” She cleared her throat again. “Just never been on a privately chartered plane before.” Starfyre read over the ticket. “That..leaves tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow!?”

“Remind me to kill my mother and you guys again.”

“I am really sorry. Tell you what, I will keep all your homework together and stuff while you’re gone.” Stephanie smiled. “I’ll even do it for you. You know I make straight A’s”

“That would be dis honest. Just get it from my professors and..I’ll..get to it as soon as I get back from being sent away.”

“Okay..and you will be happy to know that they do have electricity and running water. It is run off of wind mills and solar power though. The country is way into the clean air and keep the place beautiful thing.”

“That isn’t all together bad but..”

“But what?” Stephanie stood and walked over to her closet. “You will get to breath clean air. You will get to see a country that most of us only wish we could go to.”

“Why?” Starfyre stood. “I mean..well, I..” she exhaled a sigh. “You know what I mean.”

“Not really.” Stephanie pulled out a black suit case. “You can use my luggage. I know that you only have a duffle bag.”

“I mean..why want to go there? Why can’t others go there?”

“Because,” She shrugged. “You have to be invited to go to that country. It is a real VIP thing.”

“I’ll be sent home soon enough.” Starfyre nodded. “I am hardly proper.”

“Actually,” Stephanie placed the suitcase on Star’s bed. “You’re more proper than most. Look at you, even now. Your hair is fixed. You’re in a long dress and you always look your best, even if it is just to lounge. You know more about etiquette than any of us. And you totally know about all that medieval chivalry stuff.”

“That does not make me proper. That makes me educated.”

“You are classic. Face it girl. You don’t even talk in slang.”

“That reminds me.” Starfyre turned and looked at her. “What letters did you and the others write with the application?”

“Oh! That, um” She started for Starfyre’s closet. “You know, the usual stuff. We said you were a really sweet and giving person. The fact that you were goth, really only enhanced your personality.”

“Me? No.” Starfyre shook her head. “And what are you doing now?”

“Packing your bag for you.” Stephanie grinned. “So you can go meet the cute prince.”

“I can pack by my self.”

“You won’t though. You will make an excuse to not pack and then sleep in. You will miss your flight and come up with some excuse to not go.” Stephanie pulled out some of the dresses, skirting and corsets. “And don’t say you wouldn’t. I know you too well.”

“How long have we been friends?”

“Since before you turned goth, which was on your ninth birthday.”

“I think that I am going to request you come along with me.” Starfyre smirked. “Yes, exactly. You can come. I think I read something in the rules.”

“Then I would fall behind and who would get your homework?” Stephanie blinked. “Wait, what am I saying. Yeah I’ll go! I hate school!”

“Thought you might want to. So,” Starfyre held up the extra ticket. “Already arranged it, sort of. I said I would be bringing a friend in the return correspondence from the first packet.”

“You are so cool.” Stephanie dropped the clothes into the suit case. “If I were a guy, I would be kissing you.”

“So, shouldn’t you be packing your own bags? Or do we need to scrounge up more luggage?” Starfyre placed her hands on her hips. “Hmm?”

“Got that covered. Get the other bags from my closet.” Steph grinned. “We are gonna rock Tovia. Two hot nineteen year old goths. Oh yeah...” She chuckled. “Wonder what the night life is like?”

“Lets just pack first.”

“Ohh,”Stephanie giggled. “I heard your accent.”

“No you didn’t.” Starfyre covered her mouth. “It was a trick of the ears.”

“Why are you so ashamed of it? I think it sounds like a beautiful cross between a Spanish and Russian accent. You sound totally sexy. Like one of those phone girls even.”

“Stephanie! Ew, gross.”Starfyre cringed. “I just...do not like it.”

“Because it reminds you of your father, right?” Stephanie continued to fold and pack Starfyre’s things. “Your mother said he didn’t know about you. Why do you blame him for leaving still?”

“Accents are not supposed to be inherited alright? I worked hard to train my self to not use it. I do not want anything to do with him, not even his accent.”

“Well, It happens. You sound hot so why complain? Anyways, bring me the other bag. Help me pack too. Get my things.”

“Now who is being bossy?” Starfyre stepped beside her and placed the bag on the bed. “And I do not know. I just...feel like he should have stayed around. My mother was resigned to a life alone. She raised me alone. Do you know how hard that was , is for her?”

“He had his reasons for leaving. We don’t know them so it isn’t fair for us to judge him.”

“You’re sweeter than I.” Starfyre was back at Stephanie’s closet and tossing the clothes to the bed. “If I ever met him, I would have to slap him and stomp on his groin.”

“Tres Harsh. You wouldn’t even let him explain why he left?”

“No. But I am also angry at my mother too. She should have said something about being pregnant.” Starfyre sighed as she walked back. “Maybe he would have stayed then.”

“Hey, No worries right? We are gonna go, have fun and then come home. No dads and no moms. Just you and me.”

“You and I.” Starfyre chuckled. “It is You and I. To say You and Me is improper English.”

“And you say that you aren’t proper.”

The two girls chuckled at one another. They were doing things backwards really. Starfyre packed Stephanie’s bags while Stephanie packed Starfyre’s bag. They were best friends. Starfyre really couldn’t see making this trip without her. And besides, She needed something to pass the time until she was sent home. Although, she might have problems getting Stephanie to come back. Her friend was a total green peace and nature type.