It wasn't every day a writer got to meet her characters, but here she was, Fallon DeMornay, slipping between the pages to do just that.

Inception, hold my beer.

And given the state of the pandemic sweeping across the globe, to say she welcomed the escape was an understatement. Here, she could do anything. Be anywhere, but it was to the heart of California she slipped to. Along the breezy, sunlit shores of San Diego.

"Thank you." Accepting the menu from the barista, Fallon turned immediately to drinks. This was going to call for booze. Both for nerves, as well as celebration. "Lets go with this." She tapped the item on the page. The Barista scribbled the order on her pad.

"Anything else while you wait?"

"No. I'll hold until my guests arrive."

"Sure. I'll get this through for now." She took off with a brisk stride, her pigtails bouncing as she wove across the patio and indoors to the main bar.

"Well, fuck me sideways."

Fallon's head popped around at that brisk, smooth voice—one she knew so well but had never heard quite so clearly until this moment. Shayne sauntered over, all lithe and tattooed, dressed in a ripped white tank covered in spray paint graffiti text, and loose-fitting jeans. Her shoulder length hair, somewhere between styled and sleep-tousled, was dyed a rich dark blue that made her eyes glow nearly gold in the sunlight.

"Hi." Unsure of what else to say, Fallon laughed. Why am I so shy? And holy, she's even more gorgeous than I remembered.

"Can't believe this." Shayne looped her in a fast hug. "You feel pretty...solid."

Fallon pulled back with a smile and a shrug, cheeks burning. "I know. Surreal." Beyond surreal. It was hard not to want to obsess and absorb every detail like a crazed fangirl. The shape of her jawline, the slight imperfect slant in her bottom tooth. The way Shayne's skin and firmness of her toned arms felt beneath her hands.

Solid. Whole.

I always knew you were more than voices in my head. You were real. You are real.

"The girls are close." Shayne pulled out on of the empty chairs, steel framed with red wire woven into a lattice. She boosted a foot up on the seat of another, her scuffed boots trimmed with chains and studded bits of metal. "It's a bit of a switch, eh? Being in our space versus us all up there." She swiveled a finger upwards. "In yours."

"Yeah, you guys were definitely a handful at times. Especially you with those three am wakeups." Fallon lanced Shayne with an arched glare but softened it with a smile. "Royal pain in my ass."

"I'd apologize, but what can I say?" Shayne feigned a wince. "I'm unpredictable like that."

"Definitely." Fallon set her arms the table, the steep top cool and rough from years of hard wear and tear. And sighed as the wind, smooth and briny, caught in her hair, tugging at her curls set loose and free. It felt good being here. Right. And already she was dreading the return to her living room. To reality.

Thankfully, the arrival of the rest of the Sisterhood banished that thought almost as quickly as it formed.

Priya reached her first, her thick dark hair longer than when Fallon had last visited her. And as the girls gathered into their section of the patio, Fallon hugged each in turn. It was almost as strange as seeing her friends off Wattpad Four girls for the first time—no longer just icons and avatars on a computer screen, but living, breathing people. And struggled not to cry in the wake of so much emotion burgeoning inside her.

How many times she'd hoped for this? Wished for this? The chance to meet her characters, facets of her heart, mind and soul. To see and hear and smell and touch and just be with them? She'd lost count, but now it was happening.

Maybe because of what was coming—the magic of dreams coming true—is what had allowed for this experience to finally take place. This shift and connection.

She didn't know how long it would hold or last, but Fallon intended to absorb every moment. Every detail. And treasure it for the rest of her life.

"Thank you for making the trip—especially so last minute," Fallon began as they sat down. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of ordering for the table." And as if on cue the barista returned with a chilled bucket of champagne and tray of glasses.

"Champagne." Cait wiggled lavender brows. In favor of the Californian sun, she had abandoned her bold, colorful suits for boho printed Aladdin pants and stretched out canary yellow t-shirt that hung off one shoulder with oversized fuchsia and gold earrings to match her stilettos. "What are we celebrating?"

Fallon stood, and lifted the bottle from the bucket. "You."

Confused glances whisked around before returning to her.

"I'm waiting for the punchline." Shayne removed a sucker from her pocket. "I'm guessing it's a good one."

"Oh, it is." Fallon pushed free the cork and, with a loud, satisfying pop, it flew clear across the sidewalk, nearly blinding a tourist on a bike. "Sorry!" She laughed, doubling over at the slew of screaming curses they fired back. "Oh wow, that was close."

"Gimme that, you renegade." Shayne rose to take the bottle, sucker tucked in the pocket of her cheek. "I'll pour. You talk."

"Alright." Fallon dropped back into her seat, and took a moment to just breathe.

Wow. Ok. Here we go.

"I wanted you to hear from me before it happened, but I was waiting...trying to figure out the right moment. For it to be official before I did because...well, I guess part of me just was too afraid to believe it was really happening. Things change all the time but now it is and—well—"

Isobel reached across the table, took hold of Fallon's hand. "You're babbling."

"You're right. I am."

Isobel's fingers laced with hers. "It's okay. It's great to see you so excited."

Fallon squeezed back. Nodded. "What I'm trying to say... is it's the Sisterhood. You guys have made such an impact with so many. Touched so many, as I'd hoped you would, and now...now you're going to be real."

"Real?" Priya leaned forward, elbows set to her knees. "As in...?"

"Print," the single word pushed out of Fallon so softly it was almost a reverent whisper. "Pages in a book that will line shelves and live in homes. Someone somewhere will own your story. Visit you in the pages. Will cry and laugh and love with you, and maybe one day, inspired by your journey, even create a Sisterhood of their own. Can you imagine?"

"Fuck me," Shayne whistled, handing out the bubbling glasses. "No joke?"

"Wow." Eshe held her champagne in both hands, eyes whisking up with a smile. "Out there. We are going to be out there...?"

"Yes." Now tears did swell in Fallon's eyes and despite all efforts they broke free with a laugh. She quickly dashed them away. "Things will be...different, for sure. Changes will have to be made, that's out of my hands, but the core of who you are, your journey, your love and passion and heart and vitality—the depths of your friendship...all of that will finally be brought to life. And it's just the beginning. Who knows what else may come next?"

Priya rocked back in her seat, a little dazed. "Holy Fuzzknuckles." Then her eyes popped wide in alarm. "Oh, not, please tell me not the...?"

Fallon pressed a hand to her mouth, capturing the bright laugh that wanted to burst out of her. "Yes, I'm afraid that little escapade stays."

"You mean pantyscapade?" Caitlin cackled behind her hand, foot stomping with devious glee. "Oh god I can't wait to see how that goes down in the real."

"Scheisse." Head falling back, Priya closed her eyes with a smiling groan. "I'll never live this down."

"Hey, we've all got our little blips of embarrassment to look forward to." Shayne nudged a limp but laughing Priya with a wink, and then raised her glass high, "but fuck, ladies, here's to us! To the Sisterhood—to dreams coming true."

"Here, here!" Cait thrust hers up to join Shayne's like a musketeer brandishing her sword.

"To my girls." Fallon joined them last, glass tinkling and bubbles erupting in little joyful sunbursts. "To the next chapter." 

***

AHHHHHH!!!!  Finally I get to scream!! I've been sitting on this for what feels like an eternity - so I hope now my extended silence on completing Book Two finally makes sense. 

THANK YOU for all your love and endless support. Our Girls are finally going to make their official debut in the world and I hope you love them as much in print as you did here on Wattpad. :)

Love always, Fallon DeMornay