Hey everyone! Here's the next chappy ...thanks for all the comments :) ~Rebecca
"How bout a little taste test of our sauce?" Patrick asked Jasmine skipping any pleasantries. It had taken long enough to pry her off her date, Liam, who she'd been stuck to like cling wrap since arriving at Stardust.
"Not on your life," Jasmine spat pushing away his advances. "And thanks for being all rude, you didn't have to maul me the moment I walked in. I don't want Liam getting the wrong impression about us."
"You can have as much time with your Liam as soon as I get Annie back. Now, you're sure she's coming tonight?"
"Oh she'll be here alright. I did my best telling her not to come so I'm sure little miss slu-...well lets just say I held up my end of the bargain you better do the same."
"She better just show is all," Patrick quickly dismissed Jasmine's worries. "This cocktail will do the rest." He said waving it in her face like a magic wand.
The two of them shared a conspiratorial smile before heading in separate directions.
"Watch it you'll wreck your dress!" Naomi called sarcastically, greeting Silver who was wrapped up in Teddy on the dance floor. Gorgeous sparkling sequined diamonds highlighted the sweetheart neckline of Silver's short cream colored strapless dress, cinched in the waist with a leather belt.
"Totally worth it." Silver grinned, shouting a little above the music. Japanese lanterns, track lighting, and even an old-fashioned disco ball spun above them. It was clear to Annie, no expense had been spared in decorating Stardust for Adrianna's birthday. Turns out getting into Stardust was meant to be the least of Annie's trouble. All Naomi had to do was flash her trademark smile that suggested everything while promising nothing and they were in. "What's up girlie?" Silver asked seeing Annie searching the crowded club.
"Who's she looking for?" Silver asked, seeing Naomi break into a knowing smile.
"Ahh...Liam."
At the mention of Liam, Annie's attention diverted back to the conversation in front of her. Liam. The love of her life. Always.
Silver laughed, "okay." Teddy lifted Silver off the ground, flexing his sexy strong arms, as the song ended and spun her in several mini-circles before placing her down. Naomi couldn't conceal the few stabs of jealously that surfaced making her miss Max.
"Heeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyy bitches!" Adrianna pushed a path through to Annie, Naomi, and Silver.
"Hiiiiiiii!" Naomi air-kissed Adrianna.
"Make-up!" Silver yelled bursting into a fit of giggles while leaning into Teddy.
"Who said you three could crash my party?!" Adrianna asked, holding up three fingers and already clearly tipsy. Silver and Annie laughed. Annie hadn't realized until that moment how much she really wanted to be there, even if it meant suffering through Jasmine trying to corrupt Liam all night with her boobs on full display for the entire club.
"Hmmm any dirt going down?" Naomi asked Adrianna.
"Ahh the usual suspects. You didn't miss anything yet," Adrianna informed her. "Well besides Dixon and Navid at each other's throats," she whispered in Naomi's ear.
Naomi rolled her eyes. "I bet...considering Dixon has been trying to sign you to a recording deal for forever and Navid wants you to have no part of it."
Adrianna shrugged trying to seem unaffected. "We gotta go do my birthday toast!" she said, hoping to change the subject.
Silver kissed Teddy passionately. "Count me in," she said pulling Annie along with the rest of their foursome. They found a little table where Adrianna already had drinks ordered to commemorate their traditional toast.
"Okay okay, tell us, is this the best birthday ever?" Naomi asked Adrianna.
"Sure is...they keep getting better and better."
"Yeah until we hit 30," Silver said as champagne flutes materialized with sparkling liquour.
"I thought that's what botox was for," Annie smirked. She couldn't believe the new lighthearted side of herself beginning to emerge being away from Kansas, her parents, Patrick, and now new friends.
"Totally," Naomi agreed.
"Alright toast time!" Silver announced. "To us being bffs forever -"
"And trading all dirty secrets -" Naomi inserted.
"And to living the life you love with the friends you love -" Adrianna added.
"With the guy you love," Silver finished.
"That did not just come out of your mouth," Naomi stared at Silver in disbelief.
Silver shrugged, smiling dreamily.
"Oh lord!" Naomi squawked.
"I feel like this is so sex and the city," Annie commented after they clinked glasses and downed their drinks. It went straight to her head, whoops she wasn't supposed to even drink with her interview tomorrow..but then again getting a little tipsy to help celebrate her new friend's birthday was worth it. She never had a sister but this seemed like a pretty good place to start her life in California.
"Ooooh I'm Charlotte!" Adrianna squealed. "Naomi is totally Carrie!"
"Hey I'm Carrie," Annie objected, and Liam is totally Mr. Big she added silently. "Mmmm Naomi can be Miranda."
"Why Miranda?" Naomi crossed her arms.
"Haha you know!" Silver said. "But then I'm stuck with Samantha."
"Yeah not such a bad fit seriously," Adrianna smiled.
"Aww screw you birthday girl!" Silver gave her a shove. "I wanna be Carrie too!"
"Well then so do I, I am the birthday girl I should be the star," Adrianna insisted.
Annie, Naomi, and Silver exchanged knowing looks, "Charlotte" they agreed in unison.
"All the way," Naomi added.
"Fine time to dance!"
They all went to the overcrowded dance stage, getting lost in the atmosphere. Pink smog smoke circled down around them and loud pop music pumped out
"Hey Cinderella," two guys asked coming over. "Can I interest you ladies in a drink?"
"No thanks," Annie responded first. "I'm not drinking tonight."
Annie would nominate herself as the designated driver, Naomi thought. The girl had serious control issues.
"I have an interview tomorrow," Annie continued on; although the guys had already turned their undivided attention on Naomi's decision.
"Okay, well maybe one," she winked at Silver, following the guys toward the bar daringly. "You coming?" she looked back to Annie.
"Umm no, but you go have fun."
"What is taking so long?" Patrick seethed.
"I don't know," Jasmine replied angrily, "But I'm going to find out. NOW." She stomped toward Brad and Mike.
"Hello? What is going on? How many has she had?"
"Huh?" Brad asked.
"What is that a hard question? I realize it may be an effort to spike a few drinks but after all you were double-teaming her...now how many drinks did you get down her?" Jasmine snapped impatiently.
"Enough," Mike said apparently confused.
"Then why is she all over my boyfriend and not sleeping in the backseat on her one way trip to kansas?"
"Are you kidding?" Mike yelled belligerently. "All we've been doing is babysitting the past twenty minutes."
"Yeah, look at how dopy she is..." Brad gestured at Naomi, leaning her head on hands looking groggy.
"No you two are the dopy idiots!" Jasmine shrieked. "That's not even Annie!"
"Oh fuck!" Brad said.
"I told you," Mike said punching his buddy.
"You two are completely incompetent. You ruined my whole night!"
"And on your birthday, this is all your fault," Mike yelled at Brad.
"It's not even my birthday! Stay away from me you are both dead to me!" Jasmine screamed, attracting so much unwanted attention it was all she could do to clamp her mouth shut and return to Patrick. totally defeated and full of dread at his reaction.
"You son of a bitch. When are you going to stop undermining me Dixon?" Navid demanded. A while later after Dixon surprised Adrianna with a copy of the last song they recorded together "dreams come first".
"When are you going to start letting Adrianna make her own decision? You know how freakin talented she is." Dixon argued back.
"I haven't said one thing to stand in the way of her singing, but it's never going to be a career and you're never going to be her freaking agent so give it up Dixon." Navid gave him a hard shove.
"Yeah it's your attitude not your words that are making her give up on her dream."
"Don't you mean your dream Dixon. I've had enough of you trying to shove your opinions down our throats, so just take your music and get lost. I'm sure there's plenty of girls you could try and ruin their lives by starting in some singing "career" that will last a month and destroy their life in the process."
As Patrick watched the scene unfold, another plan began to form in his mind. Sneakily he followed Adrianna around and finally got the opportunity he'd been hoping for. He reached into her purse grasping out the cd by it's glittery ribbon.
"Okay! Cake time!"
Adrianna's triple-tiered vanilla and cappucino iced cake was wheeled out. Pretty flowers decorated the border and the center was scrolled "Happy 21st Birthday Ade! We love You!"
Adrianna smiled glowingly at the crowd around her. This had been a totally memorable night with all her friends, even if Navid and Dixon kept their fighting up she knew it was because they both cared about her and that made her feel lucky. She couldn't think of anything to wish for when the candles were lit.
"Make a wish sweetie!" Navid gave her a big hug and kissed her temple. "I love you," he whispered in her ear.
Leaning down, she wished for what she always wished for, every year since she could remember...to live the life she loved. It was kind of lame probably but kind of inspiring.
As soon as the candles were blown, the lights flickered, and then everything went pitch black. She gasped, feeling Navid's protective arms enclose her as shouts of confusion and excitement resounded around her. Then out of nowhere she heard her voice, singing "dreams come first" on her cd the one Dixon brought, start playing.
"Oh my god," she managed, feeling Navid stiffen in response.
"This is an interesting layer...you unveiling the new single and turning 21..epic babe!" A girl nearby squealed in excitement.
"Wha―no this wasn't planned." Adrianna said quickly feeling the blood drain from her face. She was happy the lights were out because she didn't want to see Navid's face.
Finally, after another minute elapsed, the lights returned.
"Lights, dancing, action!" someone called out.
"You holding out on us singing star?!" Another person whooped. There was an undercurrent of interest in Adrianna's music. As popular as she'd been at 14 her new vocals were causing a rave among her guests and as much as she never admit it to Navid, it made her a little proud.
"And what do you have to say -" Navid started in on Dixon immediately his voice escalating above everyone else. Before Teddy's deep voice cut him off and the ooooooohhhs and ahhhhhhhs became deafening.
"There is something I want to say to someone really special," Teddy continued, kneeling down on one knee and slipping a small box from his jacket pocket.
"Erin Silver, you are my world. I think when two people belong together like we do, then their forever should start as soon as possible and I will love you forever so... will you do me the honor of marrying me?"
Silver was crying happy tears as she pulled Teddy back up into her arms, nodding and barely audible she managed to say "Yes I will. I love you!"
"Awwwwwwww," Jasmine cooed along with the chorus of applause and cheers, elbowing Liam.
"Hey, where's Annie?" Liam asked, searching their vicinity, he'd lost sight of her in all the commotion of the blackout and Ade's song reveal.
"Who cares?" Jasmine was so infuriated.
"I gotta go see that she's okay," Liam shook off Jasmine, cutting a path threw the guys that were slapping Teddy on the back and high-fiving. Girls shrieked and jumped around Silver excitedly.
Except for Adrianna and company.
"I can't believe you thought you could manipulate Adrianna's birthday to serve yourself," Navid shoved Dixon as Adrianna's single continued playing on a repeat loop over the sound system. Some people started dancing together oblivious to any of the drama surrounding the music.
"I did. Not. Do. This." Dixon said waving his hands.
"Right like this wasn't your plan all along," Navid said.
"Yeah, I brought her a copy to show how good she sounded. I never was going to play it tonight." Dixon explained fervently.
"He's clearly lying," Navid said to Adrianna.
"Leave me alone," Adrianna pulled away from them trying to conceal her tear-streaked face. She didn't even know why she was crying. She was just so sick of Dixon pushing her forward with her singing career and Navid totally opposed.
"Now look what you did! Do you even care who you hurt with all your self-indulgence?" Navid shouted at Dixon.
"No this is all your doing!" Dixon yelled back.
"I think you need to get out," Navid spat angrily.
"Screw you," Dixon said walking away. A few drunk idiots tried to clear a path and bumped into Jasmine. "Sorry," one of the idiots laughed. "When can we get at this cake?" the other idiot asked.
"This is so dumb," Jasmine stalked to the bar to drown her sorrows. She prayed Liam wouldn't catch up with Patrick before he made the getaway with Annie. Next to her Naomi was zonked on a plush sofa, with a few loners eyeing her and trading suggestive, half-incoherent remarks. Oh well, some casualties were worth the trouble to rid her of Annie.
"Hi there!" Jasmine bounced down next to Naomi. "How's my old friend?"
"We aren't frienderrrsssss," Naomi slurred.
"Well we do go way back. You remember last summer...me and you helping out the rich guys whose wives dried up?"
Naomi mumbled something about Jasmine being a bitch.
"I didn't catch that...anyway...looks like you traded way down tramp," she gave the creepy guys ogling the pair a dirty look. "But at least you still get to go to Cali U with your trust fund, while I'm stuck at that useless boutique selling junk to every guy but mine for their lovely one and onlys."
"I need a nap please Jassy," Naomi said. "find me a ride kayyyyyyy?"
"kayyyyyyyyy," Jasmine said mimicking Naomi. "I'll even do you one better."
Spying Max and Madison across the bar, she went over trying not to appear happy about what she was about to reveal. "Hey there, did you see how drunk Naomi got and she's been hitting on every guy that will buy her a drink. So pathetic. You are so lucky to have traded up for Maddy." Maybe she could have fun destroying Naomi's reputation even more, a tremendous grin lit her face at the prospect.
Max looked from Jasmine to Naomi who was looking completely wasted and making a total spectacle all passed out.
"Move," Max went straight to Naomi like he didn't have a moment to lose, as Jasmine stared sickeningly disappointed at his reaction.
"Oh my god!" Jasmine said. "What does he want with that? Is he blind..she is so crazy and unbalanced."
"You're kidding right?" Madison looked smug. "Don't you know anything from reality tv? Throwing another girl under the bus always backfires!"
Jasmine stared speechless as Max carefully tucked a protective arm around Naomi's shoulders and began guiding her away.
"You know obviously that's your m.o. But, me, I just look the other way. So I come off looking like a princess, instead of you the gossip queen because at the end of the day everyone shoots the messenger." Madison fluffed her hair. "Later, Jasmine."
Patrick smoothed Annie's mahogany curls as they boarded the freeway entrance ramp. Her pupils were dilated and glassy.
"Where are you taking me?" Annie asked in a groggy, faraway voice.
"Home."
"Patrick noooooooo."
"Annie dammit -" he snapped back his hand, "What in the world were you thinking coming here? Look at that dress! No, Annie that looks more like a slip you're trying to turn a cheap trick in." He pounded the steering wheel. When he returned his attention toward her he realized she'd become despondent. He smiled winningly at himself in the rear-view mirror before flipping on the radio.
What will happen next? Stay tuned for updates!