La Pantera

Ch.16 Let's Be Honest

Song for Chapter: (Oh) Pretty Woman by Van Halen

Tonight was going to be a fun night for Stevie Costa. This week had been long and tiring , so when filming wrapped up for the day, she knew where she was headed. She was going to go partying however she could , even if it meant sneaking into a club. She pulled on a tight black shirt, ripping some holes in it for a more rock'n'roll look before getting her ripped jeans on , finishing the look with her signature boots. She had on red lipstick and messy hair as she headed out for action. She looked around the streets of Pittsburgh before smirking as she came to the bus stop. There was a group of young 20 something year old men who looked gullible enough to do as she said , knowing she looked older. "Hey boys..", her voice crooned. She walked over with a smirk as they eyed her in surprise and attraction. "Hey hon.", the one said to her. "Yous goin' somewhere fun tonight? Partying perhaps?", she asked. "Yeah actually. We were goin' to our friend Seth's frat party if you wanted to join.", one with a baseball cap offered. "I'd love to.", she smiled too sweetly for her taste but knew most men loved a gullible girl , her point proven as they all high fived one another.

They arrived at the frat house near the Pitt campus. Stevie slipped by everyone as she came inside, watching all sorts of drinking games commence as party music blasted through speakers. She grabbed a shot herself and drank , sighing in satisfaction how it burned her throat. "Wanna dance?", a guy asked her. She gave him a once over "No.", she replied cooly. "Come on baby.", he tried to reason with her. "I said no!", she barked before walking away. Lights flashed everywhere in the dark room, slightly hurting her head as she squinted to block it out. Someone tapped her shoulder and she turned to see a young girl around 18 smiling at her. "Hi! Wanna dance?!", she asked loudly over the music. "Sure! What's your name?!", Stevie yelled back as they began to dance loosely to the music, jumping around to Van Halen. "Ashley! What's yours?!", she asked. "Stevie!", the taller girl responded. "That's a cool name.", Ashley grinned. "You think so? Most people make fun of me for it.", Stevie responded a little shyly, scolding herself mentally for being flustered. She couldn't let people know she was bisexual, not wanting to risk anything dangerous or her career. "Yeah! It's like Stevie Nicks, ya know?!", Ashley mentioned. "Yeah I guess you're right....well I think Ashley is a good name too. Ya from Pittsburgh?", Stevie asked her. "Yes are you?", Ashley grabbed Stevie's hands gently and began to do the twist which Stevie copied. "No, Jersey if ya couldn't tell!", she responded with a smirk.

Stevie and Ashley danced together most of the evening before Ashley asked Stevie to come to the restroom with her. Knowing better than to let a girl go by herself to the restroom, Stevie went with her and shut the door so it was quiet. "I just need to touch up my makeup real quick.", Ashley said. "No worries, take your time.", Stevie leaned against the wall and watched the slightly smaller girl touch up her mascara first, then pull out her lipstick. She cursed her eyes for lingering on Ashley's lips, wanting so badly to just at least kiss them for one second. They appeared soft like rose petals, and just waiting to be kissed. "Stevie...I'm going to tell you something I haven't told anyone. I just know I can trust you yeah?", she asked at the end for confirmation. "You can Ash....I always keep my promises.", Stevie firmly pinky promised Ashley before looking in her eyes with furrowed brows, curious as to what she'd be told. "I'm a lesbian....I'm afraid to tell anyone , and you just seemed like the right person to say something to.", she rambled. Stevie was surprised, and felt excited as well. "It's okay Ash...I won't tell no one. Between you and I as well... I'm what they call bisexual.", she whispered to her. "Really? I won't say anything! Oh thank you Stevie!", Ashley hugged her hard, making Stevie stumble back a bit but chuckle, hugging her back. They lingered like that for a moment before looking in each other's eyes. Stevie bit her lip for a moment before making sure no one was around. She led Ashley inside a bathroom stall, shutting the door for them before impulsively grabbing her into her arms and kissing her. One hand rested in Ashley's hair and the other gripped the back of her shirt as her lips pressed onto hers. Ashley clung to Stevie as she kissed her back excitedly. She'd never kissed a girl before so Stevie was her first time kissing one. Their eyes closed as they showed one another their attraction for a while.

Stevie soon let go of her lips, still holding on to her. "I'm sorry, but it's safer in here in case someone comes in.", she explained. "I get it. Was that your first time kissing a girl?", Ashley asked Stevie. "No. Was I for you?", she chuckled looking in Ashley's dark eyes. "Yes.", she blushed. Stevie then remembered her first kiss with a girl, staring off as it came back before shaking her head slightly. "May I get your number at least? I move around a lot so I wanna have it in case I have to go somewhere.", Stevie explained. "Why do you move so much?", Ashley asked. "I'm an actress. I got the lead role for that movie they were holding auditions for , Flashdance.", Stevie smirked a little cockily. "Oh! Alright I understand. Here I'll write it on your finger .", Ashley grabbed a pen and wrote it on Stevie's middle finger. "See ya sweetheart.", Stevie winked before leaving the stall and back out to the blaring music.

Time passed as the filming process continued each week. It was near Thanksgiving now and Adrian was giving everyone a week with their families. Since Stevie had no family to go to, she bitterly headed home after final filming for the day wrapped up. Her shoes scuffed against the asphalt , her hands in her jean jacket. She turned the corner only to see Ashley giggling and clinging onto an older looking man. Her jaw clenched as she walked over. "You and me...talk now.", Stevie growled. Ashley let go of the man and followed Stevie into the nearby alleyway. "Am I just a cheap whore on the side?", Stevie snarled quietly at her. "Don't go tellin' me you love me the night before only to be drooling and dry humping a man you probably just met!", she continued before slapping Ashley in the face hard. Ashley yelled out in surprise before Stevie barked "We're done slut!". She stormed off, shouldering the man out of her way who had come to see what happened, and anyone else who stood in this young girl's way. Bitter tears stung her eyes, feeling she had revealed too much to a stranger. Maybe her father was right. There is no such thing as love for a queer.