• Chapter Two

    "What?" Tarja laughed "Is the Arc-Angel here to scare the Hell out of us?" She joked.

    "No, I'd say he's more like the Angel of Illusion."

    "Are you drunk? If so- Put. The. Needle. Down. NOW."

    A voice cut in behind her. "Don't worry, he's not drunk. Are ya Broady?"

    "No, no I'm not." Broady answered pretending to be hurt. "Don't worry Tarja, I've been doing this since you were a little girl…not that you're that old…" He added as a warning to the man behind her. "How long have you been standing there?"

    "Long enough."

    Meanwhile Tarja was trying to place the man's voice, it was so familiar. Aggravatingly so!
    She risked a glance over her shoulder all the while hoping that moving wouldn't mess Broady up.
    Had Tarja been holding something she would have dropped it. As it was Broady accidentally knocked her book on the floor- she'd been reading it in a bid to ignore Lexi's ranting earlier on.

    Criss Angel (sans production crew, cameras, and his jewelry) moved further into the room to pick it up. He read the title "A History of Red Hair…sounds…"

    "Bloody." Tarja supplied "It's violent- usually against us."

    "Us?" Criss asked confused looking at her currently blonde and blue hair.

    "well Criss, it's like this- when Tarja here isn't dyeing her hair all colors of the rainbow, like certain other people I could mention, she's a natural copper colored, hot tempered, spoiled brat of a redhead."

    "Bite me Broady. I'm not hot tempered or a brat."

    "Spoiled though. That boyfriend of yours, he-"

    "Don't talk to me about him!" Groaned Tarja forgetting Criss was beside her.

    "Oh ho….did we lose our temper and kick him to the curb?"

    "Literally."

    "Ouch. Maybe you're a little hot tempered then?"

    "No." was her only defense, weak as it was.

    "Not since you were a teenager, huh? How long ago was that? Last month?"

    Both men laughed.

    "Why do you ALWAYS tease me about being a kid? You're driving me nuts!"

    "Because, despite the fact that you turn 24 in" Broady looked at the release form she'd signed "November, you still look like a seventeen year old. Ah, yes I know it's only 'cause you rarely straighten your hair or wear a lot of make-up." He said in response to her look of protest.

    "Bite me."

    Criss laughed. "You certainly don't back down, that's for sure."

    "I'm part Highland Scot- running away isn't in my genes." Tarja joked "freedom or death, I guess."

    "Would you sit still while I finish your tattoo! So Criss, what brings you back to New York?"

    "I came home to see Ma and the family for Christmas. I just thought I'd drop in and see you, maybe get you to do a touch up for me. But, I can see that you have a much more important and cuter customer than me." Criss laughed winked and Broady shot another warning look over the top of Tarja's head…he just wasn't getting it.

    Tarja decided to focus on her tattoo instead of Criss (*Inner Tarja*= Squeeeeeee) or the looks Broady was giving Criss that neither of them thought she caught. Then the thought occurred to her that she had "made" Lexi leave minutes before her idol walked in outta the blue….*She's gonna kill me* thought Tarja.

    "Buddy," Broady began "we've been friends since the 6th grade, I'm not going to turn you out into a New York winter."