Today was Halloween and we are in Brook's Class, class ended a while ago and we were waiting for the bell to ring. Most people were on their phones I would be two but I was looking over my quiz from biology, I had passes but just barely. I turn in my seat so I can cross my legs, I flip the page over to see the next one. "So how did you do on the quiz?" Trafalgar asked.
I placed it face down on my desk, "Ok I guess" I shrugged, "what did you get?"
"Just an A" he said eyeing my test, "Let me see yours to see if we missed the same ones" he reached for it.
"No" I moved the paper closer to me, but he reach and grab it, "Serena this is awful" Trafalgar said.
"Serena" someone said to the side of me I waved them off, "It is none of your damn business." I snatched the paper back.
"It is when I'm your tutor, it's a reflection on me."
"Trafalgar you didn't want to be my tutor I had to ask you and you're not even a good one." Trafalgar is a good tutor when he wants to be; I don't need his help everyday only when a test is coming up and I need someone to explain it to me. "Serena" again someone said, I waved them off "Yea in a minute."
"I mean look at this you missed the first one. " Flip through the papers "This is just average"
"What's wrong with average?"
"It isn't great." I rolled my eyes at him, he is one of those who wants greatness I hope he know that it isn't easy.
I was about to ask him why does he want greatness when someone slap my thigh with a lot of force, and I knew who it had to be, "Shit Perona" I yelled at her I could see a red hand print on my thigh.
"What I wouldn't have to hit you if you paid attention to me when I talk to you."
"Well what do you want?" I asked rubbing the spot it still stings.
"You never told me what you are going as?"
"Oh that I decided to go as a pirate what about you?"
"You'll have to wait and see tonight."
"Figures" I said looking at new red make, then the bell rang. "So what time are you coming by tonight?" I asked as we left the classroom.
"I have decide to just meet you there since you are picking up Luffy and some others" my pink pigtail friend said making her way to her locker.
"Ok" I said before heading to mine. I put my books away I wouldn't need them tonight.
"What do you two have plain tonight?" my midnight hair neighbor asked.
"We're going trick-or-treating tonight you want to come?"
"Really"
"No" I closed my locker door, "just going to a new club opening tonight".
He just looked at me and smiled. "You should stay home and study since your grades are awful."
Before I could say something Penguin came up alongside me, "Serena I hate to say it but I think you're in an abusive relationship with Perona"
"I agree" Shachi said joining your little group, "I saw that slap"
"You guys are crazy Perona loves me more than anything she would never hurt me." I said playfully placing my hands over my heart as I stepped in front of them and faced them.
"Do you need a ride home?" Trafalgar asked along with being my torture he also gives me a ride home sometimes.
"No I got the car today, so I'll see you tomorrow" I stun around my dark curls hitting some of them in the face and I head down the stairs.
Later that night, Layla and I are so excited to go out but before that we have usual battle of who gets the bathroom. I just started to curl my hair when Layla decides to blow her hair.
"Leave" Layla demanded.
"What, no" I reply curling a strand of hair.
"Leave I have to get ready"
"What do you thing I'm doing."
"All you have to do is your hair. I have to do hair and make-up" she whined.
"That's why I took an early shower so I would have plenty of time to get ready."
My sister rolled her eyes and pointed the blow dryer at me, "Leave or have frizz"
I looked at the hair dryer and it would take forever to de-frizz my hair. So I held my hands up and said "You win, I'm going" I unplugged my curling iron and headed to my room. I never understood why dad picked the only house with two bathrooms. We go through this argument every day; I learned to keep half of my make up in my room just in case I go get kicked out the bathroom. As I reheated my curling iron, I checked my email. I usually get a bunch of junk mail, but now I get updates form an art website. A while back a customer was asking about the art in the café, Ann-Marie told him that her goddaughter does it. I met him later that day he asked if I had anything online, I told him no but I use to sell some painting in the art. He wonder because he was an artist and he said that he uses a website to promote his work and he thought it would help people to see my painting. Painting has been a big part in getting over what happened. Most of my works are of the city and its people. Grand Line maybe full of mobsters, gangs and everything in between, but it also has great beauty within the walls of the city. I try to show people that unique beauty.
After I finished curling my hair, I changed into my pirate costume when the doorbell rang. "Door" I yelled from my door to dad. The doorbell rang again I heard Tiger Lily barking down stairs. I turned to my full length mirror; I'm glad that I didn't go with a tacky pirate costume. The shirt was white and hugged my shoulders, and you could see the top of my tattoo, and the skirt was a black to match the boots and it was flirty but not too short. I was putting on the shirt when my name was called, "Serena".
"What?" I yelled back.
"Don't what me, get down here." The voice yelled back.
Layla pecked her head out and asked "what's going on?"
"I think the guys are here." I said heading down the stairs. I was right Ace and Zoro were leaning on the couch and Luffy was playing with Tiger Lily. Luffy was the only one in costume, he wore a gold helmet, a black cape, under that was a shirt with sun flowers and his usual short and sandals. Ace and Zoro on the other hand, "Why aren't you in costume?" I asked joining them.
"We're not into costumes" Ace said and Zoro nodded. They may not be in costume but they might turn heads. Ace shirtless as usual and Zoro had a shirt but it was yellow and open.
"Well you two suck and you're early."
"Actually we're late, Shanks was flying so we wouldn't be later" Luffy explained picking up Tiger Lily.
"When do we have to meet Nami and the others?"
"Five minutes ago" Zoro said.
"What shit, I'm not ready" I ran up the stairs, I got to the top and yelled, "Layla we got to go now".
"What"
"We're late" I said heading to my room.
"Shit" she said running to her room.
While in my room I was rushing around trying to find my things. The corset was on my bed along with the hat. The jewelry was on my dresser, I just slide them in to the hat, and I open one of the drawers to get the most expensive piece of jewelry that I own, my cross. Mihawk gave Layla and I each a cross when we moved into this house. They were inspired by his own gold cross same size but instead of solid gold our have five precious jewels with white gold entwining around them; Aquamarine for Layla and London Blue topaz for me. After getting everything from my room I head over to Layla to grab the boots she was leaning me, I got to the door and she shoved them into my arms. We head down the stairs barefoot, Layla was telling the guy to hurry and go to the car. We stop at the front door "Mihawk, we're going" Layla yelled to dad and Shanks in the kitchen. Dad waved us good bye while Shanks spun around, "Girls don't you think your dad should-".
"No" we said shutting the door.
"Ace you're driving" I said throwing him the keys.
"Why?"
"Because we have to finish getting ready." I said climbing into the back seat with Zoro and Layla climbing in behind me.
"Hey do we have to pick up Perona?" Layla asked putting her earring on.
"No she told me earlier saying that she was going to meet us there." I loosen the corset and slip on and shifted sideways in the seat then scoping my dark curls over my shoulder so they didn't get caught, "Alright Layla lace me up."
She started pulling the strings tighter and after they were already tight she insisted on making it tighter, "You're going to have to suck it in"
"Layla its fine if you pull any more I won't be able to breathe." I pleaded with her.
"Nonsense the tighter the better." She said pulling them one last time. When she let go I try to take a sigh of relief but couldn't so I shifted back into the seat and started putting on the boots. I had to stretch my leg onto the arm rest Luffy help me to wage my foot into the knee high boot. "Hey" Layla said touching my arm, "I might need your help with my boots."
I eye her thigh high cheetah print boots, "Ok but I'm going to need Zoro's help."
"What?" he was surprise, he had been fine watching the two sister but being drag into helping was something he wasn't expecting.
"Oh Zoro, I forgot to tell you but when your around these two you are going to get roll into whatever scheme of theirs." Ace explain to him.
"I don't think that's true" I said pulling over boot on and lacing it up.
"Well that's more of Layla's style but you can do it too." Ace said.
"Talking is not getting my boots on, so shut up and get to work."
"Alright" I said moving to sit on the arm rest and placing my hat full of jewelry on the dash board. "Zoro you and I are going to have to push and Layla you're going to pull. Try holding it near the zipper and Zoro grab here, "I point to the bottom of the boot and I grab the rim of the shoe. "Ok when I say now, you" I pointed to my sister "are going to pull it on. Got it" I ask both of them.
They nodded, "Ok now" Zoro and I both push and Layla pulled and it worked but it took some time to get it fully on, we had to take a break before starting on the other shoe. I had made into the front with Ace and Luffy when I thought about something "Hey can we stop at the next market?"
"What you need?" Ace asked.
"Candy" I replied.
"Why"
"Just cause" I thought back Trafalgar and my talk earlier, "It is Halloween after all." It so odd but I was hoping that Trafalgar would have said that he wanted to come, it's not that I have a crush on him or anything like that. The only thing he has going for him is his look, I won't lie Trafalgar is hot, but his personality is something I don't know. I really don't know that much about him, and I guess that's why I kinda like him. What am I thinking I don't have feelings towards him, I grab my hat and started putting on my bangles. I dated a few guys, mostly Kia, but Trafalgar is the totally different than Kia. Kia was sweet, warm and fun to be around while Trafalgar is cold very cold. But if I do like Trafalgar I would have to get to know him and all the same he would get to know me, that's another thing I don't think that I'm ready to open up about what happened. I held my gem crossed looking at it closely this is the first time I've worn it, the dark blue gem reminds me of an ocean at midnight just like someone's hair color. Oh God it's hopeless, I put the cross around my neck.
"There's your market" Ace said pulling on to a side street.
"Luffy let me see your phone." If anybody has Trafalgar's number it would be Luffy.
"Sure" he just hand it over, I open the glove box and grab a ten from the stash we had in there, and hopped onto the curb. I scrolled though his contacts and found it under Traffy. I walked into the small market and headed to the candy, there was so many kinds and I didn't know what to get. So I got my phone out of my boot, no pockets, and shot a quick selfie with the candy lisle and sent a text saying 'Dividing up my loot what do you want' to Traffy. As I waited for a response I looked through Luffy contacts and this time actual seeing how he had. I walked the lisle and picked up a few packages but deciding against them. I heard the car's horn honk from outside meaning to hurry up and since Trafalgar didn't answer I'll have to get something that I like. I looked at the options nothing with chocolate, nothing gummy, hate this that are sour and I finally settled on a bag of fruit flavored lollipop and headed to the cashier and then Trafalgar decided to text me back, "I don't eat candy" I rolled my eyes at the response and texted back, "That's sucks… more for me then" I got my change and ran back to the car and hopped in.
Finally we made it to Chaos the outside of the club was crowded, I could only imagine what the inside was like, most of the people were waiting in line other hanging around the door hoping to get in. We found Marco and Izo first. "Oh my god" was all I could say about Izo's costume, all of us was surprised by it.
"What the hell are you wearing?" Layla asks "you're not a drag green."
"I'm not in drag. I'm a geisha"
Luffy lean towards Zoro and I and asked "what's a geisha?"
I got the giggles "They're like upscale hookers"
"Serena you need to be nice, they like to be referred as escorts" Ace said wrapping an arm around my waist, he knows better to touch my hair.
"Now before we let you little ones go" my sister said wrapping her arms around Luffy's neck. "You two need to fallow one rule".
"Don't do any think to embarrass us tonight" Ace finish her sentence.
"Alright" we said pulling away from the older siblings.
"Layla we're going I have my phone if you need me" I said walking towards the club. I noisiest that Zoro was going the wrong way I quickly grabbed his arm that startled him, "What are you doing?"
"Making sure that you don't get lost, I'm not to spend the night looking for you." Zoro didn't say anything but I could see a light blush on his cheeks.
We found Vivi and the others close to the door. Before I could say hello Perona pulls me away, "What are you doing" she demanded "hanging all over him like that."
"I was not"
"We agreed that Zoro was mine and you were going to go after him."
"Yes I reminder and I told you that I'm not looking for a boyfriend."
"Good now come one we're missing all the fun."
Chaos was beautiful, the club owner kept true to the church. The pews were gone but there were booths down the aisles the bars were located in the transepts of the church. The stain glass was breath taking, they didn't add any light just use the one original to the church and there were a few up lights in green, purple and red. The D.J. was set up in the top of where the choir would be, the acoustics were so good in older churches. The only thing that was missing was go-go dancing fallen angels and then it would be perfect. We spent a lot of time on the dance floor, we girls were glad we invited the boys along cause there were plenty of jerks around. All of us can take care of ourselves but it's so much easier to let three guys and Usopp handle things. After some time Perona and I moved to a booth. "Well that was fun" Perona said plopping down.
"Don't tell me you're done" I said taking off my hat. One thing that is a flaw with beautiful old churches, no air and they many body pack in here didn't help. I did learn one lesson and this is not to wear a corset as a pirate. It looks really nice but it's really tight and very hot.
"No…Hey do you think that we could get into the VIP lounge?" she wonders pointing to the balcony where the lounge is. I didn't reply I was too busy fanning myself with my hat. "Come on, it might have air conditioning and it probably has a bird's eye view of the place.
"So" I said moving to the back of my neck.
"So we can pick out some cute boys."
"I thought you liked Zoro, are you already over him?"
"No, but I haven't made him mine so I can still look around"
"Ok you can go look" I said leaning on the table.
"No you have to come with me and we might get to use what little power we have" Perona said hopping up.
I looked at my pink hair friend and said "Alright but you had me at air conditioning."
We made our way to the VIP lounge or at least the stairs that lead to the VIP lounge. There was a bouncer at the foot of the stairs, we walked up to him. "Names."
"Mistress Perona"
"Dracula Serena"
He looked at us for a minute probably to see if we were bluffing and we showed him your VIP bracelets before letting us in, so much for using our power. We made our way our way up the tight stairs, as we headed up a group of models made their way down. Perona and I step out of their way, "Looks like some models escaped for Amazon Lily" Perona whisper to me. Once they were out of ear shot she added, "That's such a clever costume come dress like amazons." Amazon Lily was a famous modeling agency ran by fellow mobster Boa Handcock and she is somewhat my ideal. I have always been a fan of her work and she so cool, she can be classic and a hard ass at the sometime.
"Speaking of costumes, Perona what are you supposed to be?" I tried figuring it out but I would just come up with a blank.
"Oh…I'm a Princess dud." I nodded I would never have guess that princesses would be into the gothic lolitia styled.
The lounge was like the rest of the club, had old hard wood floors, black furniture and ascents of red and purple. Before I enter I fluted by hair and comb some over my shoulder and fixed my bra a little; if I was going to meet Ms. Handcock I was going to look good. I walked in and wish that she was here but I looked and only saw a Crocodile. I was crushed, but we joined him on adjacent couch. He looked at us and took a drag of his cigar before asking "This isn't a place for children." Most of the other mobsters know who we are and we defiantly know who they are.
"Good thing we're not children" Perona stated.
"Yea Crocodile we'll be graduating this year" I chimed in.
"It Sir Crocodile, how did you two get in here?" blowing a puff of smoke our way.
"Hawk-Eye owns the building" I said waving the smoke away.
"And we were invited" Perona said showing him her pass.
"That's such a waste of invitations."
"Actually it's a smart move on the owner's part."
"How?"
"Because one day we'll be in charge and people feel less threaten by us now, so they try to get in good with us. And then they will think that we will have their back's" I explain to him.
"But the only people we look out for are our family and each other's." Perona said.
Crocodile sigh and took a puff of his cigar, "You two were taught well. How many of you heirs are there?" A waitress walked up and asked if we wanted something to drink, Crocodile order a scotch on the rocks, Perona coke and rum and me glass of white wine.
"Well there's actually three of us"
"Who else has a brat like you too?" the waitress brought us out drinks.
Perona took a sip of her drink before speaking, "Your bosom buddy, Doflamingo".
Crocodile chocked on his scotch and glared at her, "I never seen his heir who is it?"
"I don't know." Perona said trying not to hold back laughing at his reaction. "Serena you know a lot of people who is it?"
I took a long sip from my wine, "I don't know and don't care to know."
"Why?"
"I really don't care to meet little cray cray."
The club owner appeared from somewhere; "I'm so glad that you could make it" yep he is a suck up. As he praised Crocodile I took a few more sips of my drink and walked over to the glass wall, it overlooks the whole club. The place was pack I could spot some of my friends when my phone buzzed from my boot. It was a text from Layla, 'come find me'. I turned to get Perona when two ladies came from the back, one was dress as a maid and was smocking, and the other one was a flamenco dancer. The dancer look familiar, "Viola?" I ask approaching them.
She looks at me and a small smile appeared on her face. She turned to her friend, "Baby 5 why don't you go on a head".
"Ok the contest is starting and I better find the others" Baby 5 said leaving the lounge.
"Serena it's been too long" Viola said pulling me into a hug. For the two years that I ran away I live in an old apartment building, it was bad but cheap, and Viola live a couple floors above me and she would let me crash with her sometimes.
"Yea I know, I'm so happy to see you."
"How are you? I reminder the last time I saw you, you and Kia were having a big fight." She went mute and pulled me into another hug, "I'm so sorry I forgot, how as it been?"
"About a year I think" I said with a small smile.
"I'm so sorry that I never got to see you after what happen" Viola was one of the few that knew a part of what happened but not the full story.
I nodded "things were crazy back them. Are you still living in the building?"
"Oh no I moved out a while ago, you"
"No it got too hard, now I moved back in with my dad" I said when my phone buzzed again. "I'm sorry Viola I have to go and find my sister."
"It's ok" she pulled me in for another hug, "I'm so happy to see you."
"Me too" I headed over to Perona "come on Layla wants me to find her" I turned to Crocodile, "it was good talking to you Cro- Sir Crocodile."
Well Layla wanted us to come and help cheer her on and she thought that if she couldn't win she would drag us put there. She figures that if one of us won she would win to, she got Nami to go up with her. There were many types of costumes that no two were alike. I saw the maid that was with Viola with another girl, she had green hair and was dress like a Victoria Angel model with the huge wings; some of the amazons up there too. The winner was a shocker it was some pale pink hair lady dress as a slutty cop, many of them were very mad was she rubbed it in their faces.
Later that night I walked outside to get some air and looked at my phone with the reminder that today was Miguel's birthday, it's easier to honor my old friends on their birthdays. I walk around the church to find a quite spot; I found one near what used to be a small garden the church had. I lean against the large stone and iron fence, the nearby street light gave everything a golden tent. I took off my hat and place it on the stone ledge and closed my eyes, 'please where ever you are I really hope it's peaceful.' I grab my cross. "There you are," I open my eyes and saw Zoro walking down the side walk. "What are you doing out here."
"Just getting told some air"
"You should have told someone, your sister started freaking out" I could see Layla freaking out, I did tell her was stepping out but she was flirting with some guy so she probably didn't hear me. "She was worried that you ran off because you didn't answer your phone."
I just shock my head, "And you volunteer to find me."
"No I was just in arms reach. So you have a habit of running off?"
I look down at the concrete, "I used too, now not so much now".
"That's good" he said shyly.
"It is?" I asked moving closer to him. It's odd to hear someone outside of my family to say it's ok to stay in the city.
"Cause…" he trailed off closing the gap between us. Zoro and I have been speeding a lot of time together at school. And talking became into subtle flirting but I can't get involved, it's too much of a risk. I took a step back, "Come on let's go back inside". I grab his hand and surprise him by giving him a peck on the cheek, before leading him back inside.
Deep in the shadows someone was watching the two teens, "Is that her?"
"Yes, she has the same tattoo" one said to the other. He took out his phone and took a picture, "The boss will be so happy to know we found her."
Thank you for reading and please tell me what you think and we will find out who the 'boss' is in the next chapter.
