Page 23 of Learning Curves

Audrey stood before the mirror in her bathroom, eyeing herself critically.

Halloween had always been an important holiday in her house.

Her parents were the sort who dressed in coordinating costumes and hosted a party that they invited not only their own friends to but any friends Audrey and Erik wanted to invite as well.

So she was used to putting more time and effort into her Halloween costumes than the average person.

Hell, many of her friends quit dressing up when they hit puberty, but not Audrey.

She’d dressed up every year of her life, and this year, she was really looking forward to attending the NU Pride Coalition’s Halloween Spooky Spectacular.

As a professor supervising a student-run party, she’d have to be on her best behavior tonight, but she was going to have fun.

The students were a great group. She’d really enjoyed working with them at the planning meetings, and as a bonus, Michelle would be there.

Audrey couldn’t wait to see her in a costume.

What would Michelle dress up as? Audrey pegged her for something traditional, like a basic witch, but oh what she wouldn’t give to see Michelle in something fun, something daring, like .

.. a Rockford Peach from A League of Their Own , or Princess Leia, or Xena, Warrior Princess. The possibilities were endless.

As for Audrey, she’d dressed up as Kate McKinnon’s Weird Barbie from the Barbie movie.

She had on a hot-pink cap sleeve dress, complete with doodles and paint splatters; a spiky blond wig; and colorful markings on her face as if a child had drawn on her with crayon.

She’d even stuffed one half of a pair of leggings to make a fake-leg accessory for herself so she could imitate Weird Barbie’s impromptu splits.

Satisfied with her appearance, Audrey applied a coat of red lipstick ... because even Weird Barbie wanted to look nice tonight. It had nothing to do with the fact that Michelle would be at the party, or if it did, Audrey wasn’t admitting it, not even to herself.

She walked to the front door, picking up her hot-pink purse and crayon-scribbled coordinating jacket on the way. Outside, she shivered as she unlocked her car. It was October twenty-fourth, a week before Halloween, and the temperature was in the midfifties, chilly but perfect for a costume party.

Her aging hatchback coughed and groaned as she turned the key. Audrey patted the dash, muttering “please, please ...” until the engine sputtered to life. She really needed this car to hold on for at least one more year. She couldn’t afford car payments yet.

Five minutes later, she strolled into the student center, which had been reserved by the Pride Coalition for the evening.

Audrey had been here most of the afternoon helping the students decorate and set up for the party, only returning to her house to get ready.

Now cheerful dance music filled the space.

Stage smoke billowed from a cauldron in the back while a variety of colorfully costumed people meandered through the room.

At a glance, Audrey saw a nurse, Supergirl, Dracula, several clowns, and a group in coordinating Star Trek uniforms. She hadn’t even consciously realized who she was looking for until her eyes settled on a distinctive figure in a sweeping black coat and top hat, dark hair neatly curled and pinned beneath.

Michelle had dressed as Anne Lister. It was as surprising as it was perfect, one fearsome lesbian portraying another. Audrey all but swooned on the spot, and then, before she’d even had a chance to fully take in the party, she was making her way toward Michelle.

She turned toward Audrey, revealing the front of the costume, a frilled white dress shirt visible beneath her black vest, and good god , she had no right to look that hot at a student event.

A full skirt swirled around her ankles. Michelle hardly ever wore skirts, and the sight of this one had Audrey’s body temperature rising.

Michelle was perfectly buttoned up beneath multiple layers of fabric.

She was covered from chin to foot, no skin on display other than her hands and face, and yet .

.. this was what made historical romance so appealing, wasn’t it?

The implied chasteness of it, the relative indecency of a brush of hands or a glimpse of collarbones.

No doubt about it, Michelle looked so sexy in that Anne Lister costume—so gay —Audrey was about to melt into a puddle of lust right here on the dance floor.

“Audrey,” Michelle said, her brow wrinkling slightly as she took in Audrey’s costume.

“ Love your costume,” Audrey gushed. “ Gentleman Jack fan? Or do you prefer Anne’s original diaries?”

Michelle quirked an eyebrow. “What do you think?”

“The diaries, of course. You’re a historian, so you’d go straight to the original source. And her diaries are fascinating. It’s such a treasure that she documented her life like that.”

There was an unmistakable sparkle in Michelle’s eyes now.

“Absolutely. I confess that I’ve read anything and everything I can get my hands on about the illustrious Miss Lister, but it might surprise you to know that I’m also a fan of the show.

I thought it was very well done, and of course, Suranne Jones is always fantastic. ”

“Agreed. Such a shame it got canceled.”

Michelle sighed. “The downside of capitalism, turning art into a popularity contest. Anyway, I have no idea what your costume is. Enlighten me?”

Audrey grinned. “Aww, Michelle! Don’t tell me you haven’t seen the Barbie movie. This is a travesty that must be remedied.”

“Oh my god, Dr. Thompson, she’s right,” Gia, one of the students from the Halloween-party-planning committee, said as she joined them. “It’s such a powerful commentary on feminism and female empowerment, plus ... it’s just really fun!”

Michelle looked vaguely confused. “I haven’t seen it, but ... are you Barbie, then? Why is your hair like that? And what’s with the extra leg?”

Audrey struck a pose with the leg, laughing.

Gia gave her an approving look. “She’s Weird Barbie!

It’s Kate McKinnon’s character from the movie.

She’s this old Barbie who’s been used and abused by the kids that owned her, so she’s all broken and scribbled on, and she does these ridiculous splits.

Dr. Lind, this is literally my favorite costume I’ve seen tonight. ”

Audrey grinned. “Thank you. I had fun with it.”

“You both look amazing, and very on brand for a queer party,” Gia said, motioning for them to follow her. “Come on. Arlen is at the photo booth, documenting everyone for Instagram. They’re going to love your costumes!”

“Oh, I’m not here to be photographed,” Michelle demurred, looking much more reserved than the woman she was dressed as.

“Please?” Gia implored. “We’re trying to get everyone, and it would be so great to include our faculty sponsors. We wouldn’t even be here tonight without you and Dr. Lind.”

“Come on, Dr. Thompson,” Audrey jumped in, using Michelle’s title in the presence of students. “We can pose together, as the two faculty sponsors. It’ll be fun. I saw the photo booth earlier. It’s all decked out with silver streamers and rainbows. Plus ... there are props.”

Michelle gave her an aggrieved look. “I don’t need props. But I’ll take a photo. Lead the way, Gia.”

“Yay.” Gia bounced on her toes. She had on a shiny red flapper dress, fringe dancing around her as she moved. “Arlen! I’ve got Weird Barbie and Anne Lister for you.”

Arlen peeked out from the photo booth, antennae wobbling on top of their head.

They wore a shimmery green alien costume that was so silly, it made Audrey giggle.

It fit Arlen’s irreverent personality perfectly.

They clapped their hands at the sight of Audrey and Michelle.

“Oh my god, if this isn’t the perfect pairing!

Ladies, come on in, and let me capture you. ”

“Capture us?” Audrey teased. “Is this where we find out we’re about to be abducted to your home planet?”

Arlen made a series of beeps and clicks as they ushered Audrey and Michelle into the photo booth, acting out their role as an alien. “Feel free to accessorize as you see fit, and have fun with it. We can take as many pictures as you like.”

“Let’s do a standard pose first,” Audrey suggested, noting Michelle’s stiff posture. She probably needed to ease into this. Too bad they couldn’t serve alcohol at a campus event, because a glass of whisky might have been a big help right now.

She and Michelle stood with their backs against each other, facing the camera.

Michelle crossed her arms over her chest, looking stern and intimidating as Anne Lister, while Audrey stood with one leg tucked behind herself so her fake leg took its place.

She pointed it straight up in the air, then made a ridiculous face as if Weird Barbie had just done air splits for the camera.

Arlen laughed as they snapped several pictures. “Perfect, ladies. Those are fantastic. Dr. Lind, I feel like one of those tiaras would really suit Weird Barbie. Dr. Thompson, how do you feel about Anne Lister carrying a rainbow-striped boa?”

Michelle opened her mouth as if to protest the historical inaccuracy of such a thing, but then she glanced at Audrey, who was attempting to telepathically remind her that this was a student party, and the object of the evening was to make sure everyone had fun. “All right,” she acquiesced.

Before Michelle could change her mind, Audrey grabbed the boa Arlen was holding out to her and draped it across Michelle’s shoulders.

Then she selected a bejeweled tiara and plopped it on her own head, careful not to make her wig slip.

For this photo, she and Michelle smiled first at the camera, then at each other.