Gothic Desires

Three days passed quickly. In that time, Starfyre and Stephanie had lunch with the queen, explored the castle, met the others girls as they arrived and had even been horse back riding. Stefan tried to offer his assistance to most of the girls that had arrived but they turned their noses up at him. He got one response of ‘I will only let the prince show me around’ and another of ‘You are just the help. I choose to wait until my future husband shows him self.’

Starfyre and Stephanie didn’t complain though. Stefan was fun to be around. He showed them the town, took them around the country side and showed them the mountains. Stephanie was more lively than Starfyre but she was also observant. She noticed a certain smile come to Starfyre’s lips when ever Stefan would come. The same smile would appear on his lips.

“Stephanie?” Starfyre stepped out of the room. “I have a problem.”

“What is it?” She closed her diary. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready to meet the prince?”

“That is the problem. They want me to wear one of their chosen dresses.” She looked uncomfortable. “The woman, kasey, I think, is coming up in a few minutes. I..” She frowned. “I do not think that I want to wear..”

“Huh?” The knock came. Venessa shook her head. “Ah man, brutal. They want you to not be your self?”

“I think all the girls are getting a dress but..that is not me.” Starfyre hugged her self. She had on the bracelet that she was given. “Better answer that too.”

“Right,” Stephanie opened the door. Kasey was outside and holding a white blue gown. “Ew.” It was all that Stephanie could say when she saw the gown.

“What?”Kasey blinked. “I have Starfyre’s gown. It is the official meeting. Aren’t we excited?”

“I am not wearing that.” Starfyre backed away. “No, no and no.”

“But you should It is a beautiful gown and all of the girls are wearing them.” Kasey frowned. “Don’t you like it?”

“No.” Starfyre shook her head. “I do not.”

“Hate it.” Stephanie made a face. “It is white.”

“Of course. White shows purity and properness. Besides, it has a tint of blue in it too.” Kasey let the dress reflect it’s blue in the light. “See?”

“No.” Starfyre spoke again. “I am sorry and I do not mean to appear rude but No. I have my own dress clothing.”

“Alright,” Kasey sighed. “I wish you would reconsider, or..even let me help you fix your hair maybe? The other coordinators get to do something. I want to help.”

“Alright,” Starfyre grunted. “But nothing too..too..much.”

“Thank you!” Kasey stepped in past Stephanie. “You should get into what you want to wear, then I can decide how to fix your hair.”

“I am going to go scope things out.” Stephanie waved. “Good luck Star.”

“Gee, thanks Steph. Love you too.” Starfyre whimpered. Kasey had a ‘make over, change her look’ in her eyes. “I’ll just go..change.”

“Alright, I’ll be out here.” Kasey laid the gown over the couch back. “Hurry though. We haven’t much time.”

“Be right out.”

Starfyre closed the door and sighed again. This wasn’t what she wanted. Maybe she could talk to them and convince the producers that she didn’t need a personal assistant or what ever Kasey was. She had to be here but she had decided. She wasn’t going to not be her self. They chose her because she was goth, so she was going to be goth.

“Starfyre?” Kasey tapped her foot impatiently. “Are you getting ready?”

“Almost ready.”

“I still wish that you would..” Kasey’s words stopped short.

Starfyre had stepped out in her formal gown. The one from her application picture. The sheer sleeves ran down and flared out over her hands. The sheer black material had velvet black roses over it. Starfyre also had on more dressier boots than zippered pilot boots. She looked elegant. Kasey found her self surprised.

“I told you, that gown is not attractive to me. I would feel very uncomfortable in it. This whole thing is supposed to be about the prince getting to know us. This is me. If he is going to like me than this is the me he is going to like.” She moved to the chair. “Did you still want to fix my hair or...should I do it?”

“I’ll do it.” Kasey was behind her already. “I think that I am very impressed too.” Her fingers ran through the white curls of Starfyre’s hair. “You are right. You should be liked for you and not mask who you are.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“I think something up with curls hanging down. We can use your hairs natural curly nature to our advantage.” Kasey began her work. “Maybe some purple eye shadow with soft red lip stick.”

“Soft red?” Starfyre placed the tube of black on the table. “How about black?”

“You could but you already have so much black on. You need something to break up the color without leaving the darker colors. A soft red would be perfect. Maybe we could use a darker red lip liner to go around the soft red and make it appear darker.” Kasey pulled the hair and wrapped it around. “The eye shadow should be purple or a darker pink. It would almost be red and match your lip stick.”

“How about if I didn’t wear make up? The natural look is good too.” Starfyre shifted her seat. “My friends say that I really do not need make up.”

“That could work. You have a very soft toned face with fine, almost porcelain doll like features.” Kasey slipped a set of jade green and black chop sticks into the bun to hold it. She had then began to ruffle the curls that hung down. “Your eyes stand out naturally. I think it could work with you. Besides, it would show off your youthfulness. Girls who need makeup usually are known to be hiding wrinkles or blemishes.”

“So,” Starfyre glanced up at the mirror, “natural..” Her hair was never fixed like this before. “And..whoa.”

“Hm?” Kasey flicked the last curl down before adding a bit of a feather look to the bun end. “Something wrong?”

“My hair has never looked like this before.”

“I love doing hair. Your hair is so easy to work with.” Kasey took a little hair spray. It was a pump style, as spray cans were not allowed. “Just a little sprits to hold everything and you are ready.” She hmmd a moment. “I have a beautiful clear lip stick. It would bring out the natural color of your lips. Could I add that?”

“That wouldn’t hurt.” Starfyre nodded to her. “That should be okay.”

“Great.” Kasey pulled it out from the container. “I usually coat this over a soft red or a pink. It brings out natural luster.” Starfyre wasn’t used to all of this. She always did her own make up. “Just a little more and there. Blot your lips.”

“Thank you.” Starfyre looked at her self in the mirror again.”I guess that I am not used to all of this pampering is all.”

“Just one last touch to your hair. I was saving this for a little purple gown that I liked but it would be beautiful against your white hair.” She pulled out a purple gemmed butterfly pin. There was soft tufts of black feathers surrounding it. “There.” She placed it just to the side for accent. “Done and beautiful, might I add.” She chuckled. “As for the pampering, that is just a perk. Think of it that way.”

“I guess.”

“Plus, If you are one of the ones sent home, you have lots of new styling ideas. But, I don’t think you will be. You are far too sweet a person to be eliminated. I have met some of those other girls and let me tell you. They are snobs. I bet every one of them is just here for one reason.” Kasey had a serious look on her face. “The money and title.”

“Technically that is two things.” Starfyre chuckled as she stood. “But I agree, mostly.”

“So why are you here?”

“I was kind of tricked into this by my mother and friends. It is a long story.” Starfyre smoothed her dress out. “It is one I will have to tell you another time, else I will be late.”

“Aren’t you a little excited to be here though?” Kasey had to wonder. “There has to be something good about it.”

“Maybe one thing.” Starfyre smiled. “Well three.”

“Oh?”

“My friend is here with me. I met some very nice people and I get to learn new styling techniques for my hair from those people.” Starfyre grinned. “So three things.”

“Ms. Renwal, it is time.” A voice from outside the door came.

“Thank you.” Starfyre looked nervous. “I will be right out.”

“You will do great.” Kasey handed her a blood red rose from a side pouch. “I heard it was your favorite flower.”

“Thanks.” She smiled and smelled the rose. “It helps.”

“Go and meet the prince.” Kasey opened the door. “Knock his socks off girl.”

“But I do not want to attract him to me.” She blinked.

“Of course you do. I want you to as well.” Kasey stepped behind her and nudged. “Just go to the top of the stairs. They will call your name and then you walk down.”

“That whole grand entrance thing.” Starfyre jumped as the door closed. “Think I would rather stay in the room.”

“No.” Kasey grabbed her hand. “Come on. I will take you.” She tugged gently. “He is a really sweet man. I promise he is.”

“Okay, I can walk.” Starfyre sighed. “I’ll go. Just..promise not to try and put me in any more gowns like that white thing.”

“Promise.” Kasey grinned as she pulled her to the stairs. A few others girls were waiting there. “Good luck.”

Starfyre was suddenly the center of unwanted attention. The other girls were all dressed in elaborate gowns and jewelry. The only thing Starfyre had was her bracelet. None of the others had one like it though. That or they chose not to wear it.

“Um, Hi?” Starfyre waved to them. “You all look..great?”

“Black? What do you think this is? A funeral?” One girl asked.

“You could have left the goth thing behind.” Another one spoke up. “Honestly.”

“Right,” Starfyre cleared her throat and turned. “If that is what you all wish to think. I can not stop you.” She tried to remain polite as she could. Starfyre was used to people not accepting her so it really didn’t bother her. “You’re next. Go on down.” She smiled in a friendly way to them.

“He is going to marry me.” A girl named Lisa smirked. “You should all just go home” She was Hispanic.

“What ever.” A girl about twenty-four laughed. “He is going to choose me.”

“Can we just go so he can choose one of you? Please?” Starfyre pointed to the stairs. “Lisa? Go..”

One by one, each girl was called down. Starfyre was the last one up there. She took in a calm breath, pondering if she should just go back to her room. That would be one way to get eliminated.

“The Lady, Starfyre Renwal.”She was called.

“Here goes.” She whispered.

Starfyre started down the spiraling stairs. The room below was full of film crew, girls and royal family. Stephanie was also down there. She smiled and waved to Starfyre as she came down. The face of friends made her feel better at least. She reached the bottom step and bowed her head to them all. The queen smiled widely, for she liked the girl. The king even found her uniqueness to be something that was appreciated.

“His highness, Prince Andrew van drake.” The Butler announced.

All of the girls looked expectantly to a set of closed doors. Starfyre looked up slowly. Stephanie turned to look at the doors as well. This was it. They were meeting the prince for the first time.

“Greetings and welcome to my kingdom. I, Prince Andrew Vandrake, welcome you on behalf of Tovia and all of the Vandrake family.”

His voice did not come from the doors. The girls gasped. Each one turned. Starfyre turned. Her eyes had grown wide. She had to grab on to the stair railing to keep from stumbling. HE was the prince?