Secret Sister Signs

1926: Under the Stars

 "So, who's the guy?" Siretta asked with a smirk as she watched her little sister assiduously apply eyeliner.

"Guy? What makes you think it's a guy?" She smiled with one eye closed as she continued drawing.

"Doll, I love the shebas, you hanker the fellas." Siretta lit a gasper and laid upside down on the bed with her ankles crossed on the wall, her head dangling over the edge of the bed.

"Okay, fine, he is a guy," she giggled as she watched Siretta blow shapes in the air.

"How'd you meet him?"

"Um...chance encounter," she carefully said. "Anyway, he's incredible. So bold! And so classy! You should see how he dresses and hear the way he talks! He's like a real-life prince!"

"Ugh, nothing worse than a sophisticated, self-entitled socialite."

"No, no, he's not like that. He's amazing, really," she insisted. "He's refined but genuine, he's so young but seems so smart and is so confident and gutsy..." she trailed off dreamily as she recalled how beautiful and mysterious he seemed under the street lamps the other night. She was dying to unravel his mysteries. He seemed like a different species, an enhanced species that was so rare no one else even knew he existed, and she wanted to write the book on him.

"Sure, sure, but is he handsome?"

"He's...breathtaking."

Siretta snorted with amusement and sat up at watch her sister brush her shortened curls. "You're breathtakin', doll face, " she reminded her. "Anyway, make sure you have some fun tonight, okay?"

"Oh, I will!" Thea smiled excitedly and straightened her skirt. "How do I look?" She was in a beautiful white sleeveless slip embroidered in gold with black chiffon lining.

"Like the cat's motherfuckin' meow, doll," she stood as Thea darted over to embrace her. "Oh wait, c'mere!" She pulled her back and slapped something into her hand. "Just in case he gets frisky."

"Seriously?" She scowled at the razor blade in her palm. "He's the one going out with someone from the wrong side of the tracks, sis."

"Put that in your teeth if you have to," she winked and pinched the dimple in Thea's chin.

She rolled her eyes and hurried to the door. "I love you!"

"Not as much as I love you, doll!"

A short cable car ride across the tracks took Thea to the ritzy jazz club Rubio had asked to meet at. It was a gorgeous pub -with equally gorgeous people and lively music that made it pulse with life- but the lights seemed to shine brighter when her eyes met Rubio's from across the crowded room. She smiled and gave a little wave. She hadn't registered either of them moving towards each other but suddenly they were face to face.

"You look sensational, Thea," Rubio took her hands in his.

"Thanks, you look better than a fork in the eye too," she blushed as she looked him over. She could only faintly make out his black eye in the dim club.

"Thanks, I think," he laughed and guided her to their candlelit table.

"I'm really glad to see you again. When I woke up this morning I couldn't figure out if I had just dreamed you up or not."

"Oh, I'm real," he smirked faintly.

"That's what I told myself. I dare say not even a dream could do you justice, Rubio Max."

He smiled with pleasure; his dimples deepened adorably. "You flatter me, Thea. Really." She sighed softly as she gazed at him in the soft light. "So, who are you, Miss Thea?" He purred silkily as he leaned in closer. She was rendered amazed by the solicitousness of his thrillingly pale blue eyes. "I must confess I haven't been able to get you out of my mind and I simply must know everything there is to know about you, my dear."