There in her room was Miss Fine, but it didn’t feel quite like her room. It was still the same color a dark grey, but the darkness felt lighter from the open windows. The sunlight gave the room a whole new feel, lighter and less dire, and also around Miss Fine there seemed to be something of an aura, though she wasn’t sure it was light. She seemed of vanilla and cloves, or maybe that was just the smells from the outside. Also her room seemed cleaner than she remembered it being, everything in it’s place, put away nicely, no clothing hanging on chairs, the bed made, books on shelves, it looked like the room of a proper lady.
“What the hell are you doing here” Athena asked
“I was just stopping by to welcome you to the group.” Miss Fine gave her an appraising look.
“ I wouldn’t have pegged you for this though, then again, everybody is hiding something, people are so complex. It’s lovely.” That last line seemed to be pointed towards the black dress which Athena had dropped on the chair. Miss Fine took it up, appraised it, holding it up from a distance against Athena and then taking it to the closed closet.
Athena held back. She sensed power in this woman, and danger, she had already fallen into one “trap” and now in this presence her fight or flight instincts were on overdrive. She wasn’t sure what she should do.
“How did you get in here?”
“Doors” Miss Fine chuckled to herself, even as she opened the closet.
Athena peered in, worried at what she might see, hoping that her long worked over clothing was still there. If she could just get out of this outfit and into something more “herself” maybe she still had a fighting chance of retaining some of herself.
“Oh No! What a mess! This won’t do at all!” Miss Fine said her body blocking Athena’s view.
Athena pushed Miss Fine out of the way. She had to see, her clothes were important to her, so important…
She was relieved to find that all her old dresses, corsets, shoes, all intact, all arranged and in there proper place.
“oh thank God.” Athena whispered to herself.
“I can tell how you dress matters a lot to you.” Miss Fine observed. “It’s important to dress like a lady, it affects how the world sees you. It’s important to be seen in the best light” There seemed to be a sort of soothing rhythm to the way she said this. “Still, I’m not sure if these would do the job.” She pulled a blue and black dress off the rack. One of Athena’s favorites. “No, no…see this, this looks like something an old maid would wear.” Suddenly Athena felt a cold prickle run down her spine as she looked at the dress. “For Halloween maybe.” And Miss Fine tossed the fine dress in the hamper. She then took the hook the dress had been on and placed the party dress on it, and put it on the rack.
Athena look worried, conflicted, as if 6 conflicting thoughts were in her mind at the same time.
“Don’t fret my dear. These things have a way of working themselves out, good taste spreads you know. And look at you. Cheer Captain! Now there is a trendsetter if I’ve ever seen one. I’m sure you’ll have them eating out of your hands in no time.’ She seemed to be leaving and as she made her way towards the door she said “you’ll have to stop by my office sometime and let me know how it all goes.”
She left Athena dumbfounded in her room. Her very clean, very tasteful room. The sunlight pleasantly bouncing off the light grey walls. Athena stood confused for a few moments. Then the door shut from Miss Fine leaving and she shook as if waking up. Suddenly she realized she was sticky from her run and wearing her cheer outfit…a cheer outfit…she needed to shower and get changed, it was important to look good.
