Chapter 2 - Should've Stayed Home

The goose bumps were standing all over her bare flesh and she stomped her foot, at least partially because of the cold. Trina would claimed it was wholly because of her frustration over the length of the line and continue insisting that chain smoking cigarettes kept her warm. The law stated that people had to be at least twenty feet from the door of an establishment to smoke, and fortunately, they were much farther than that.

"This is truly disgusting," Trina grunted, flicking her cigarette to the dampened sidewalk and smashing it hard with her stilettoed boot.

"Maybe we should just call it a night," Tori suggested hopefully. Their fake IDs had not been as impressive as Trina's connection had promised, and this would be the fifth club they would be turned away from, if they ever managed to even make it to the door.

Since they were going out, Tori had reluctantly allowed Trina to dress her, so everything was ill-fitting and far too revealing for the chilly Californian night. There was a heavy mist settling over them, and she felt chilled to the bone. Trina's top was completely sleeveless, but she refused to shiver or admit that any of this fazed her. Her plan was to get crazy drunk and hook up with somebody completely random, and there was very little Tori could do to reason with her.

"No, no!" Trina shook her head shook ferociously and rolled her heavily lined eyes dramatically when she looked at her younger sister.

"I have a good feeling about this place."

"It's after midnight, Trina," The younger Vega persisted. The pair of heels she had borrowed from her neurotic sister were causing permanent damage to her feet, she she shifted her weight in hopes of easing the pain.

"I just want to dance and be stupid!" The night had begun wearing on her, so she had started whining. It made her seem much younger than 18, which made them the chance of them ever getting into a club extremely slim.

"Come on, Tori! This is what being young is all about!"

"I really hope not," Tori grumbled. Waiting in line for hours and being turned away from clubs did not sound like the way she had planned to spend my youth. In fact this wasn't how she planned to spend her night. After a hectic week at school, still learning how to transition into it's surreal environment all she wanted was to spend the weekend at home and relax. But with the parents gone to visit relatives in Sacramento, Trina (who was questionably left in charge) jumped at the opportunity of heading out and acting stupid.

And of course, Tori had to go with her.

"We can try again next weekend. I promise. It'll give us more time to find better ID's."

"I don't even have any alcohol." Her expression had gone all pouty, but the darker-haired brunette knew that she was starting to cave. Her boots could not be comfortable, and the cold mist had to be getting to her.

"I'm sure we can find some somewhere," in truth, Trina could find alcohol the way Tori found water. She had an endless stream of guys that were eager to buy her drinks and let her get stupid and dance. The Latina wasn't actually sure what she was complaining about. Wherever Trina went, a party was sure to follow.

"Fine." Sighing deeply, Trina stepped out of line and grudgingly started walking in the direction towards the nearest bus stop, away from the bright lights of the clubs and crowds of drunk people smoking cigarettes. Apparently of all days, Trina decided to pick the one when the only car they had was out of gas. Because she had forgotten to fill up.

"But you owe me."

"Why do I owe you?" Tori demanded. Barely making it a few feet from the line when she couldn't take it any longer. Stopping and ripping off the borrowed shoes, preferring to walk barefoot on the cold, dirty cement than risk any more blisters or injuries to her body. Most likely, she'd get spit or gum or something in a fresh wound and end up with typhoid or rabies, but it still seemed like a better option.

"For making me leave early." Trina cast a disapproving look down at her and shook her head. Tori was short compared to her sister to begin with, but after wearing heels and walking next to her while she still had hers on, she felt like an awkward hobbit.

"Why'd you take off your shoes?"

"Cause they hurt." The relief of being shoeless was almost painful. She could feel her feet expanding back out to their normal size and her calf stretching to reach the ground. Tori's whole body seemed confused by the sudden lack of four inches and she struggled to keep up with Trina's rather slow pace.

"Beauty is pain." For some reason, Trina felt obligated to take her sister under her wing and try to improve her status, no matter how hard she's tried to resist. It was all too comfortable being in jeans and a pair of Converse, but that was definitely not good enough for the eldest Vega. At any mention of comfort, she would spout a sermon about the essentials of beauty.

"Tori, you're never going to get a boyfriend if you don't step it up."

"I am stepped up, and its not my life's mission to find a date," she muttered. Fortunately, she didn't bother to ask what her life's mission was because she was pretty sure she didn't have one.

"Some days, I don't even know why I bother." Trina sounded completely exasperated, as if she was the one trying on her. Here she had gotten all dolled up the way she wanted and stood out all night in the cold for her, but the Latina was wearing on her.

"We should get a cab soon or find a bus stop," the younger Vega suggested. They had walked far enough away from the clubs where it was starting to feel deserted, and two teenage girls walking around in downtown Los Angeles wasn't the safest thing in the world.

"Not yet."

The problem was that they didn't have very much money, so the farther the siblings walked, the shorter the cab ride would be.

"Soon?" Tori asked plaintively, looking at her. A green and white taxi sailed by, but Trina didn't even look towards it. Tori shook her head, her feet were killing her, and the night felt too long. She just wanted to go home, put on some sweats, and curl up inside the comfort of her bed.

"We need the exercise anyway," Trina hedged the question.

"But my feet hurt." It was Tori's turn to sound like a petulant child, but she couldn't help it. It was late and she was tired. Why she ever agreed to her shenanigans was a mystery. They were always much more fun for her then they were for herself. Being the less sexy sidekick wasn't a very glamorous life.

"Beauty is-"

"-pain, yeah, yeah, I get it," the darker-haired girl grumbled, cutting her off. Trina lit another cigarette, and they walked in silence. Tori knew she was sulking about the club and trying to plot some exciting adventure to drag her into, but she wouldn't fall for it this time. By the morning, it would probably hurt to even stand, and while Tori hadn't officially checked yet, she was certain the blisters on her feet were at least the size of quarters. Even though she was mostly just concentrating on the pain, she felt them before she saw them. There was suddenly this weird sensation of being followed, and the sound of the traffic from the crowded streets had faded enough where everything was quiet ad the only sounds made were those of footfalls behind them. Trina seemed oblivious, but she didn't want to say anything.

Either Tori would let onto them that she knew they were there, or she would just once again confirm Trina's suspicion that her younger sister was certifiably insane. Instead, she just quickened her pace, which pleased Trina as she easily met it. Her constant complaint in life was that Tori was too slow and she had to spend the majority of it waiting for her to catch up. Then the footsteps behind them started to hurry up, becoming heavier and louder, and there was the sound of heavy breathing and hushed male voices. Trina looked over at her, and the panic in her eyes meant that she heard them too.

Footnotes

Sorry to all for this EXTREMELY LATE update to the story. Life got in the way and my muse went missing for quite awhile. Too long in fact. But I managed to get it back enough to write up this new chapter. So enjoy!