After much nagging from Danielle Stacey decided she would get ready round Ronnie's flat. A night out seemed like the best idea all day,the two best friends going out together and having a few drinks,what could be better? Although Stacey felt very uncomfortable in Ronnie's flat she wanted to do it for Danielle,to show her that she could be friendly and nice to her mother. Over the past few weeks Stacey found herself warming to the ice queen,Danielle had changed the cold hearted woman and turned her into an approachable person. It seemed just a few months ago Ronnie Mitchell never even cracked a smile let alone laughed and joked.
"Which one should I wear Stace,this one?" Danielle frowned standing in front of the mirror in the spare bedroom. Whenever Danielle felt like staying at her mothers flat she would make the spare bedroom her space,eventually she dreamed of moving in permanently.
Stacey sat awkwardly on the bed,she had been ready for over half an hour and she was already beginning to feel annoyed by Danielle's slowness. "Yeah that looks fine Dan,by the time you get ready the club will be near closing time!" she moaned.
Danielle smiled at her friends impatience,"Its only half seven,dont worry im sure you will bag yourself some good looking hunk" she grinned pulling the top on over her head. Its not like Danielle minded that Stacey got all the blokes,although she couldn't help but think they just thought she was easy.
"Yeah well aslong as he aint ginger or over thirty then i'll be fine" she grunted running her fingers through her straight hair. It seemed Stacey hadn't had a proper boyfriend since Bradley,she was starting to miss having a relationship.
Ronnie could hear giggles and chatter coming from the spare bedroom,it was almost asif Danielle was five years old and she had a friend round to play. Just hearing Danielle laugh was enough to make Ronnie smile,she had longed to have her child back in her life,longed to be able to hold her baby every single day. "You girls alright? Can I come in?" Ronnie asked already turning the door handle.
"Yeah,if you can hurry her up then feel free" Stacey called watching as the ice queen stepped into the bedroom. The site of her baby was captivating,Danielle had natural beauty and Ronnie felt so very proud of her daughter.
"Ignore Stace shes in a bad mood already because she thinks all the blokes have gone and its only early" she repeated much to her friends annoyance.
Ronnie smiled at the playful banter and crossed her arms,"Well shes right,Roxy is already down the club,night off from Amy" she glanced at Stacey rolling her eyes dramatically. "You look lovely Danielle" Ronnie commented watching her apply her make up.
"Thanks,you gonna be down there soon?" Danielle asked only hoping Ronnie would come along,she wanted to feel protected and safe. With Ronnie by her side Danielle knew she could face anything,nothing could harm her whilst she and Ronnie were together,their bond felt unbreakable.
Ronnie nodded,"Someone has to keep an eye on Roxy" she spoke firmly raising an eyebrow. "Right I will leave you to it,i'll see you later babe" she walked over placing a kiss on her daughters forehead before leaving the room.
Danielle watched her mother shut the door and she sighed happily. "Great isn't it,me and Ronnie together just how it should be" she turned to Stacey.
"Yeah fantastic,are you ready to go?" she grabbed her bag wanting to get down the club already. The need to get hammered after a boring day on the stall was all Stacey could think about,and what could be better than her best friends mother owning a night club.
* *
Roxy leaned against the bar whilst she sipped her cocktail. As much as she loved Amy she loved to go out every once and a while. Being a single parent often took its toll on Roxy,there was never anyone there all the time when things got to much. With Sean gone it seemed Roxy could only turn to Jack and this was something she tried to avoid at all costs. Jack was the main cause of problems,bedding the two sisters had only caused heartache and terrible arguments. In someways Roxy regretted betraying her sister the way she did,Ronnie never deserved to be hurt like that and Roxy knew she would never be forgiven properly.
"So where is Amy then?" Jack asked appearing from the office. A second chance to become a father was the best thing in the world to Jack,of course Roxy being his child's mother wasn't exactly the plan but still. Penny was to far away in France so being apart of Amy's life was all he wanted,a chance to show he was a good bloke a heart.
Roxy grinned as a few good looking business men stared at her as they walked past,she turned to Jack. "With Aunty Peg,its nice to be out I plan on getting wasted!" she held her drink up swirling the straw around. "Looks like you could do with a drink yourself,you look abit rough" Roxy added crossing her legs and raising an eyebrow.
Jack ran his hands through his hair several times,"Yeah well I got work to do,looks like your company has just arrived" he nodded towards the main entrance as Danielle and Stacey walked through,the two linking arms and giggling at something.
Roxy jumped off the bar stall and ran towards her niece pulling her in for a suffocating yet loving hug. Danielle had become a massive part of Roxy's life since knowing the truth,sometimes it was hard to get her head around that she was actually Ronnie's daughter. The tiny little baby that her sister gave away was Danielle,the shy timid teenager working on the stall all them months."Right are you ready for a proper night out?" Roxy shouted over the music pulling her niece towards the bar.
Danielle laughed dragging Stacey along behind her,"Are you drunk already?" she asked watching her aunt click her fingers for service.
"You cheeky mare no im not but I will be,Stacey what you having?" she asked peering over Danielle's shoulder as Stacey sat herself down and pushed her cleavage up.
Stacey smiled,"G&T please,we dont have to pay for the drinks do we Dan?" she asked,the thought of getting drunk for free seemed like a good one.
Dan looked at Roxy not knowing what to say,as much as she didnt want to disappoint her friend she didnt want to take advantage of Ronnie. "Might have to pay for a few,i dont want Ronnie getting annoyed" she lent against the bar.
Roxy ordered three drinks and a couple of shots,"Just put it on my sisters tab will ya?" she nodded at the barman giving him a cheeky wink.
* *
After finding a table the three woman were sat down having a good chat and laughing at all the drunk people making fools of themselves. Danielle grinned as she watched her aunt scan the room for loaded good looking blokes,this was exactly what she dreamed about all them months ago. For the Mitchell's to accept her into the family,not having to hide her secret.
"I could get any bloke I wanted" Roxy boasted chewing her gum,the alcohol had gone straight to her head and she felt pretty tipsy.
Stacey frowned sipping her drink,"Ain't you forgetting you got a baby,blokes dont want baggage" she said not forgetting what Roxy done to Sean.
Danielle rose to her feet as she spotted her mother,"Ronnie's here" she announced grinning and waving for her to come over. Ronnie seemed so beautiful to Danielle,she wished she could be and look like her more than anything in the world.
"Great im getting another drink" Stacey got up and staggered towards the bar.
Ronnie felt her heart leap and fill with complete love as she walked towards her baby. Hoping for no trouble tonight Ronnie wanted a nice night out with her daughter and sister,although it was just an excuse to keep an eye on Danielle. "Busy in here tonight" she noted wrapping an arm around Danielle and kissing her hair.
"Do you wanna drink Ron?" Roxy asked getting to her feet and stumbling back a little. Tonight was all about having fun and not thinking about her parental responsibilities for atleast half the night.
Ronnie held her sisters arm,"I think you've had enough,why dont you grab a bottle of water?" she suggested watching Roxy flick her hair back in attempts to look irresistibly sexy. "You having a good time?" she turned to Danielle,her arm still protectively wrapped around her.
Danielle nodded,"Yeah im fine" she smiled weakly sipping on an orange juice.
"Here get that down ya" Stacey grinned shoving a drink in Danielle's face. The shots and drinks they ordered earlier had gone untouched by Danielle and Stacey noticed.
Danielle shook her head moving out of Ronnie's grip slightly,"No really im fine Stace,i just wanna keep a clear head" she replied looking around the room trying to distract herself from the conversation.
"Everything alright?" Ronnie asked watching Roxy take the drink instead.
Danielle nodded leaning into her mother,"Yeah I just dont wanna get wasted tonight,early morning on the stall remember" she laughed watching Stacey frown at her.
* *
Danielle peeled herself away and managed to weave in and out of the drunken crowds. The toilets were near to empty and Danielle shut the door to appreciate the peace and quiet. Drinking never really was Danielle's thing,living in Telford she hadn't really gone to pubs and clubs much. London was much different it seemed people went out to get wasted,everywhere you turned there was a club.
"Dan you in here?" Stacey called tossing her bag near the sink and looking at herself in the mirror. Rummaging through her bag she pulled out some lip gloss and eyeliner. "Dan!" she called again hearing a flush.
Danielle unlocked the door and stood near Stacey,"Cant I do a wee in peace without someone checking up on me?" she rolled her eyes with a smile and washed her hands.
"Im just worried about you thats all,whats wrong?" Stacey asked slowly carefully applying her make up. "Is it Ronnie,has she said something?".
Danielle sighed,"No its nothing Stace your worrying over nothing" she assured wanting to end the conversation and get back out there to her mother.
"So why aint you drinking,i know you dont like getting wasted Dan but you aint even had one!" Stacey turned to Danielle willing her to tell the truth.
Danielle rubbed at her forehead,"I just took some pills before I came out thats all,i dont want to drink just incase" she said hoping it would shut her best friend up so they could enjoy the rest of the evening.
"Your hiding something,tell me" Stacey commanded seeing right through Danielle. "What sort of pills,paracetamol?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah" Danielle replied bluntly looking away. "Come on lets just go,your missing out on all the blokes" she laughed weakly heading towards the door.
Stacey pulled her arm back,"What is going on with you,theres something not right Dan tell me before I go and talk to Ronnie" she threatened keeping a firm grip on Danielle's wrist.
Danielle said nothing making Stacey even more determined,not quick enough for her friend Stacey grabbed Danielle's handbag and began to quickly tip the contents into the sink. Stacey pulled out a box of pills,she looked to Danielle with wide eyes. How was she suppose to know her best friend was taking anti depressants?