Hey guys! Quick intro:
This story can stand on it's own, but it's a prequel to my story, This Crazy Thing Called Life. You don't have to, but I'd recommend reading that one first! Otherwise, just enjoy and let me know what you think! Thanks :)
Disclaimer: I only wish!
"Mom?" Elena called, walking in the door. There was no answer. She looked around their small apartment, then moved to pick up the scattered cigarette buds and empty bottles.
Once the living room was almost decent, she made her way into the short hallway. The door to her mother's bedroom was open, so she peered inside.
Sure enough, her mother was there, passed out on the bed. She sighed, moving along to her room.
It was opposite to the rest of the house, her small bed against the wall, her closet shut, and her clothes folded neatly into her one dresser. A mirror hung on the back of her door, her necklaces hanging off the edge of it. A lamp was on the nightstand, along with the book she'd been reading, but other than that, the place was simple and clean.
She fell back onto her bed, letting her dark hair out of it's high ponytail. Work was boring as usual. She hated the library desk, even though she liked reading. It was always quiet, and cold. Not to mention it smelled like floor cleaner.
But since her mother had quit her job, it had been up to her to keep up the rent. Luckily, the boring job paid well enough.
Her thought were interrupted by her ringing phone, and she answered it before the noise could disturb her mother.
"Hello?"
"Elena! I know what we're gonna do for your birthday!" The voice of her best friend called out.
"Caroline, no...I told you, I'm not really in the mood-"
"I know what you said," the bubbly voice interrupted, "And I don't care! Tomorrow night, we are going out! They opened this new club called Trinity, and I got us fake I.D's!"
"How did you- never mind...I don't know...We'll see, because I might have to work."
Caroline sighed, "You always work! It's your birthday tomorrow, Elena, you can take one day to enjoy that fact! You only turn seventeen once!"
"You only turn every age once," Elena laughed, shaking her head, "We'll see."
"Oh fine," Caroline gave in, "But I'm gonna blow up your phone until you agree."
"Talk to you tomorrow, then?"
"Yeah, yeah," she hung up and Elena smiled.
Caroline could always lighten her mood.
Morning came soon enough, and Elena was awoken by a text.
Good morning! And Happy Birthday! I called your boss, and you DO NOT work today, and we are going shopping. See you later, and wear something pretty :)
-Caroline
Elena groaned, not wanting to do anything, but roll over and go back to sleep, however, the insistent noise from the living room wouldn't allow that. So she got up, and made herself presentable.
The noise was the television, which her mother had turned up higher than usual, as she sat on the couch, cigarette in hand.
"Good morning," Elena told her, walking in.
Her mother nodded at her, but didn't say anything.
"I'm um, going out," Elena tried again.
"You work today?" Her mother asked, not taking her eyes from the screen.
"Um no...It's my birthday, Caroline want's to do something."
Her mother shot her a disapproving look, but didn't comment.
"I'll be back later," she sighed, walking out the door.
Caroline met her for lunch.
"I was wondering if you'd show," the blond smiled.
Elena rolled her eyes, smiling, "Yeah, as if you would let me bail out."
"Nope! So tonight, I've been promised that this place is rockin!"
"And your mom's just gonna let you stay out at a night club?" Elena asked, thinking of the sheriff.
"No, I'm staying at the dorm tonight, with a friend."
Elena laughed, "And she bought that?"
"Hey, I can be persuasive."
She shook her head, as the waiter brought their food.
After a while, Elena put down a ten, and looked at her friend, "Let's go get this over with."
Caroline rolled her eyes, "Geez, it's just shopping for a dress for tonight! You'd think I was holding you down while ripping off your fingernails!"
Elena shrugged, but followed as Caroline started walking down the boulevard.
The streets of Chicago were usually busy, but being a weekend, it was even worse. However, the two girls were able to maneuver in and out of the crowd.
Elena did end up finding a dress at one of the boutiques Caroline had drug her into.
The top was red, and tight, fitting like a corset. It even tied up in the back like one.
But at the waist, it flowed out, into a high-low skirt, made of black silk with red sequins.
"That's perfect!" Caroline declared, when she came out in it. The blond had already found her own dress, a deep green tight piece, with an open back.
"I like it," Elena admitted.
"Good, then go change, and we'll get it. I'm buying, Happy Birthday!"
Elena smiled at her friend, mumbling thanks before doing as she said.
Later that night, they were at Caroline's house, their purchases spread out onto her bed next to a hand full of jewelry and make up.
"Just sit still," Caroline was instructing, as she painted something over Elena's eyes.
"I can do my own make up," Elena reminded her.
"Yeah, but I do it better. Give it up, Elena, you're my model tonight."
Elena sighed, but smiled anyway. Caroline would never change.
"So will we be gone before your mom gets back?"
Caroline nodded, "Yeah, she didn't leave until a few hours ago, she has the night shift, so we're safe until eight in the morning."
Elena nodded, earning her a scolding.
"Don't mess me up!" Caroline insisted.
It seemed like forever, but the blond was finally done. Elena got dressed, and put on the shoes and jewelry Caroline had instructed.
Then finally, Caroline let her look in the mirror.
She had to say, she was impressed. She looked older than seventeen, and pretty hot.
Caroline wasn't bad either, her black heels working great with the dress.
"We're hot," she declared, coming up beside her friend in the mirror.
"Of course we are," Elena smiled, "And thanks for this, Care...really."
Caroline shrugged, "Hey, any excuse to dress up and flirt with hot guys, and I'm in!"
Elena laughed, as Caroline grabbed her keys.
It was almost midnight, and Elena was beginning to feel the excitement set in.
Caroline was right, it wasn't every day that you had a birthday. She should be able to enjoy it. Enjoy being young, without having to worry about bills, or if her mother was going to blow all of their food money on alcohol. She deserved this.
Caroline pulled up outside the club. There were cars everywhere, and quite a line already started. They walked over, and were patted down by two guys in uniforms.
"That was fun," Caroline smirked as they were allowed to pass.
Elena chuckled, "When it's your birthday, I'm getting you a dictionary. That way you can look up what the word fun means."
Caroline shrugged, "Oh, I know what it is. It's gonna be what tonight is all about!"
The line began to move and Elena could hear the music blaring from inside, the bass vibrating the floor.
She'd always liked dancing. In high school, she and Caroline, and sometimes some other friends, would hit up all of the any-age clubs they could. Of course, she was just going to have to trust that Caroline really could pull off the fake I.D's tonight.
Luck was on their side. When they finally made it up to the desk, the man took the I.D's glanced at them, and gave them back, moving them along.
Caroline winked at her as the next person asked them for the admittance fee.
Then they were able to pass through the final set of doors, into the club.
Elena's eyes widened. This place wasn't like anything she'd ever seen. People were everywhere. It was dark, but lights were flashing different colors, and there was smoke made from dry ice coming from random places, making it into a trippy wonderland of electric color.
"Told you it was awesome!" Caroline leaned in, and shouted over the music.
"Come on!"
She pulled Elena's hand, leading her down a short set of stairs, into the mass of people below on the dance floor.
Elena took the lead then, moving to the middle, directly under a spinning disco ball, and let the music take over her body.
It was time to let go.