I'm writing this for the sake of the Order, so that should a threat like the one depicted emerge again, we may have some means of recognizing and defeating it. This account is factual to the extent possible, with sensitive information changed or omitted insofar as doing so would not alter the overall meaning. I appear as a character below, so further data about the setting or background may be obtained with appropriate permissions from my personal file, as necessary.
Margaret moved from the coast to attend university, and we became roommates by chance. Only I had a car, a beat-up hatchback, and it was after we'd been out shopping that Russell caught his first glimpse of her. We pulled into the drive and she emerged from the passenger side in black knee-high boots and tight black jeans, with a black cotton jacket zipped up to almost completely conceal a form-fitting white t-shirt. Her dark hair was thick and curly, falling past her shoulders. I could certainly understand his attraction, which was instantaneous. It was also clear why he showed no interest in me, as I was shorter, wore thick glasses and had bangs in my stringy brown hair, which otherwise fell straight down my back. She strode beside him inspecting the awe-struck teenager as if he were some colorful variety of insect, while I bundled the groceries to my chest and kicked the door closed on my side.
"I'm Russ," he stammered helplessly. "Do I know you?" She chuckled at his impertinence, and raised an eyebrow as she mentally undressed him.
"No, I'd remember meeting you, Russ. I'm Margaret. That's my roommate over there, Samantha." I raised my head in acknowledgement as I tried to unlock the entrance to our building with my arms full of plastic bags. "Do you want to ask if we go to your college? Maybe you've seen us around campus," she said. I couldn't stand watching her toy with him, so I happily went inside.
"Do you?"
"Do me?"
"I mean, do you go to my college?" She grinned wide at him like a snake about to bite.
"Yeah," she said, peering through him. She liked his boyish good looks and wild, mid-length hair. Her stare fell again upon the t-shirt and jeans he wore. "Maybe we'll bump into each other again," she said, but he didn't hear her.
When she entered the kitchen I had put all the food away.
"That wasn't nice," I said.
"What? He's cute."
"You shouldn't lead him on." She took a deep breath as she removed her jacket and stretched her arms.
"Oh, he has potential."
"Would Tammy think so?" She leveled cool eyes at me when I mentioned her girlfriend.
"Samantha, I don't read your special books, and I trust you know when to respect my boundaries, as well." I bowed my head momentarily in apology, and she relaxed again. "I'm going to shower," she purred, and effortlessly took the stairs two at a time to the second floor.
"Make it a cold one," I muttered. As I turned past the window above the sink I saw Russ on the sidewalk, trying to stand as if he weren't loitering.
The next time they met, Margaret had removed her jacket and traded her white tee for a black one, but his clothes hadn't changed. She was bagging the last leaves from the lawn, and was aglow from her labors. He again resembled an ornament that had fallen off her and lacked any purpose until replaced.
"Oh, hey, Margaret. Hey."
"Hey," she replied, skillfully restraining a laugh.
"Doing some yard work, huh?" She nodded, and waved away some wasps.
"Just wrapping up."
"Cool. I was thinking, there's this band playing downtown tonight, and they're not very good, but..."
"Russ, listen," she said, holding up a hand to silence him. "You're nice, but ask somebody else to see this show with you. I don't go to clubs anymore."
"Oh, well, we don't have to see them. If you want to stay in and catch a movie..." The laugh at last escaped her.
"I'm a lesbian. You do know what that is?"
"Yeah, I've heard that one before."
"I'm flattered by the offer."
"Well, so what?"
"Sorry?"
"I know lots of people who are bi, it doesn't mean anything. We can still hook up." She crossed her arms.
"What if I said I don't want to?"
"Why not?"