Jess stood in front of the mirror hanging on the wall in hers and Lila's room admiring the way she looked. She wore the same dress she'd been wearing the night she met Leo and the memory made her smile girlishly.
Lila watched the brunette with a knowing smile but decided to not say anything. Instead she focused on lacing up her heels.
"Mama?" Andrea opened their door just enough to stick her head in looking like a zombie. "Mikey's here."
"Have fun and stay with your brother."
Andrea nodded and shut the door.
"You think they'll get into trouble?" Jess asked still fidgeting with her dress making sure it looked good from all angles.
Lila grinned and shook her head. She'd be surprised if they didn't. She stood and pulled Jess from the mirror. "We're going to be late. You look great."
Jess grabbed her leather jacket and hurried after Lila. They took a taxi to the club they were meeting Amber at. The same club that Jess did most of her old bidding.
The three ladies sat at the bar excited to get a night to themselves for the first time in years.
"—and then he FINALLY decides to get the divorce paper signed after all this time. I never should've married him in the first time."
"What a dick," Jess sneered knocking back the rest of her wine.
"How's Mira adjusting to everything?" Lila asked and waved the bartender over to refill her glass.
Amber thought about her daughter and the recent changes. "I think she's still finding her place. Afterall, Nikki and Andrea grew up together, but Mikey's been so sweet with her. I think she's happy. She's just kinda shy and I think she's finding herself so-to-speak."
A waiter came and spoke next to Jess's ear so he wouldn't have to speak over the music, "Clyde reserved a private room for you and your friends if you are interested."
Jess considered the offer. "Is he requesting anything in return?"
"No, Ma'am. He said it was a thank you."
Jess turned to meet the young man's eyes and nodded agreeing to the private room.
"Champagne also courtesy of Mr. Clyde. Please, let us know if you would like anything. It's on the house."
"Ok," Amber said sitting on the plush sofa, "You got us into one of the most exclusive clubs in New York and got us a private room on Halloween no less? Girl, you've got to introduce me to your connections."
"Me and the owner, Clyde, have. . .history," Jess explained knowing how that sounded.
Amber quirked a suggestive brow over the rim of her martini. Her thoughts shifted to her daughter after a moment. "I feel kinda bad. Mira and I always do something for Halloween and go out."
"I wouldn't worry too much. She was having a lot of fun doing Andrea's makeup."
"Oh, that's good. Are all the brothers with them?"
"I think so," Jess said while touching up her lipstick. "I know Mikey picked them up, but I think they were going to go see the parade."
"How long have you known them?"
"A little over a month, I think. Maybe less."
"Yeah, something like that," Jess agreed putting the lipstick back in her purse. She could still hear the music thumping through the thick drapes and was tempted to drag the other two women to the dance floor.
"Any more sex dreams?" Lila teased while innocently inspecting the champagne left in the room. Jess glared at Lila with pursed lips which Lila ignored. Amber smiled at the antics. "Jess has a thing for Leo," Lila explained.
"Oh, I thought that was obvious?"
Jess sputtered at the two women who were supposed to be her friends. "You guys are assholes," she flipped them off wishing there was something stronger than wine in her glass. "I don't even know if it's an actual thing, ok? I'm just tryingto be friends with him first."
"How's that working for you?" Lila smirked.
"How's that working for you," Jess mocked back. "Fuck you."
Lila shrugged, "I just call it how I see it."
Amber doubled over in laughter, "I think I'm tipsy."
"Then it's the perfect time to go dance." Jess dragged the other two women out of the room and into the crowd of bodies glowing under a black light.
The three lost themselves in the mind-numbing music. Reality shifted between the strobing lights and the moments their feet left the floor. Knocking back shots like their lives depended on it which made comprehending the werewolves and fairies around them a bit harder to do. Jess danced her heart out always loving being the center of attention. Amber was too drunk to comprehend much, her carefully done curls looking more like an unruly haystack. Lila was struggling to keep her wits about her and checked her phone cursing under her breath.
"Hey!" she yelled over the music to get Jess's attention. "We have to go! The parades over!"
"Ugh, fine!"
Lila grabbed Jess and Jess grabbed Amber. Once outside they stumbled down the street laughing and slurring their words.
"I've never had so much fun," Amber grinned leaning on Jess. "You guys are the best."
Jess hugged her back petting the mess of curls, "I know."
Lila rolled her eyes following just behind the two so she could keep an eye on them while she called Leo to pick them up.
"Are you calling Leo?" Jess accused pointing a finger at Lila.
Lila stuttered for a moment when Leo answered, "H-Hey, can you pick us up."
"No!" Jess tried to snatch the phone away, but Lila held her back easily. "He'll ruin the fun with his brooding!"
"Is she drunk?" Leo asked.
Lila chuckled still holding off Jess and her complaining. "More like wasted."
"We'll be right there."
Lila slipped the phone back into her purse. "He's coming. Deal with it."
"Traitor," Jess glared.
Amber stood off to the side swaying to music drifting out of another club nearby. She hardly registered their conversation.
Jess struggled with her words, "He—He will—He's gonna scold us!"
Lila looked at Jess unamused and grabbed her hand and Amber's leading them to somewhere less busy where Leo could pick them up.
"Come on! It's still so early!" Jess whined weakly trying to pull away from Lila's grip.
"It's 2 A.M., Jess."
"And!?"
"I think we have kids," Amber replied but wasn't sure.
"Oh, I think you're right. Wow we're really drunk!"
The two laughed stumbling after Lila.
"Heya ladies!" Mikey called to them bundled up and wearing sunglasses followed by Leo.
Lila frowned as they approached. "I thought you were picking us up?"
"Thought it would be easier to walk you home. We're not far anyway." Leo's eyes drifted past Lila to the two women taking photos and posing, specifically the brunette wearing the same short dress in near thirty-degree weather. At least this time she had a coat. "Let's get them home."
"No, I don't want to go home. I'm having fun. Not that you'd know what that is, Mr. Party-Pooper," Jess whined.
"You're going to freeze to death out here," he tried to reason.
Amber wrapped her arms around Mikey trying to get warm. The flimsy yellow dress she wore was damp from sweat and she shivered. Mikey took off his coat and put it on the blonde a little sad when she let go.
"It really wasn't smart to go out like that in this weather," Leo scolded trying to get Jess to put on his coat so she wouldn't freeze before they got to their apartment. The two bickered slowly making their way towards the apartment. Leo was finally able to get Jess to put on his coat.
"Fuck you, Leonardo!"
"You're drunk, Jessica," Leo ground out trying to remain calm.
Lila pinched the bridge of her nose wishing Leo would just carry her.
Jess's cheeks were rosy, but it was hard to tell if it was the cold, alcohol, or Leo causing it. She stormed past him intent on getting home herself.
"Where are you going?" Leo asked, arms flopping to his side.
"Home!" She snapped.
"Jess, home's this way." Lila jutted her thumb in the opposite direction Jess was walking.
She about faced and strutted passed them. "I knew that."
Jess woke the next morning with a groan still in her dress and Amber asleep beside her. "Oh God, what happened?" She grumbled and rolled out of bed. Amber rolled over slowly making her way back to the land of the living. "Amber?"
The blonde winced at the voice. "Not so loud," she whispered.
"Get up." Jess threw a pillow at Amber sleeping in her bed. "I smell bacon."
That got Amber stumbling to her feet. "Do you remember what happened after we left the club?"
"I think I picked a fight with Leo," Jess groaned stumbling down the hall and shielding her eyes from the light. She stopped in her tracks when she saw all four brothers sitting in her living room and rubbed her eyes to see if she was still dreaming. "What day is it?" she asked Lila who was cooking.
Lila set down two plates of hot food. "Don't worry. It's November 1st."
"Oh, thank God," Jess cried, stuffing her face with eggs and bacon. "It has been a long time since I was that drunk."
Amber looked down at the food feeling a little green, "I don't think I've ever been that drunk. Do you have a bathroom?"
"Down the hall. . .on the left," Jess explained through a mouth full.
Amber jumped out of the bar stool and hurried down the hall.
Jess spun around to look at the group in her living. "No offense, but what are you all doing here?" she waved her fork at the brothers.
"They stayed the night. Raph and Donnie were already asleep when you guys got back," Andrea explained not turning away from the movie they were watching.
"Oh." Jess stood with her empty plate and set it in the sink.
She went back to her bedroom to shower and change. When she returned to the living room Amber was finally eating and had changed into some of her clothes.
"I thought you guys would have training?" Jess asked, taking a seat next to Nikki on the floor.
"Not today, we're free," Mikey chimed happily.
"You totally picked a fight with Leo," Amber muttered half asleep on Mikey's arm not that the orange banded turtle minded one bit.
Jess shrugged not surprised. She avoided looking at Leo and pulled Nikki into a hug. He gave her a look but didn't pull away. "You need a haircut," she muttered into his bed head.
"Yeah, I'll get on that." Nikki leaned forward and snatched a handful of popcorn from Andrea who pulled the bowl away defensively. Mira reached over and snagged a handful when she did.
"Traitors! The both of you!" Andrea cursed holding the popcorn to her chest. "Get yer own!"
Don't you just hate it when your siblings steal your popcorn? Thanks for reading!