Notes: this first chapter seems really weird, but its actually a real description of a house not far from where I live, I just changed the name of the owner and sorta changed the story of how the owner acquired it. The description is difficult, I've only been there twice, but I can still describe it pretty well. Now, not all the actions in this story actually took place, obviously, so don't be all horrified. I took the truth, twisted it, added dramatic illegal activities, and mixed. This is the result.
The air smelled distinctly of cigarettes and vodka, easily overpowering the other scents in the room at first entrance; but once you were in the room for a moment more, you could also make out the lesser scents of body odor, marijuana, and beer, in that order. If you gave yourself time to look around, you wouldn't be able to pick anything odd out of the room, it looked like just another party. At least until you realized that, yes, this room is filled with destroyed couches, crappy TVs, and an old pool table now simply a table, and has a three thousand dollar sound system. The combination of salvaged furniture and top-of-the-line technology was unnoticed usually, except for those who knew the owner of the house, Tate Starter.
Tate was twenty-three, had no real talents, wasn't particularly bright or good looking. She had no family money, hardly could keep a job, and had lived in mediocre neighborhoods her whole life, never quite on the wrong side of the tracks, never with the rich kids. Nothing special about her at all. Except this house. She worked here, cleaning, for an old lady who had no family, no real friends. When the lady died, she shocked everyone by leaving the house to Tate. Tate had lived in the house since then, and was determined this house would never be empty, even now that she was often away. She left it unlocked, and let anyone who wanted to use the house, use it. For parties, for sleeping, for anything. Once, someone had stolen a TV. Four days later he was in the hospital, and as soon as he was released he bought her a better TV. Tate had more than enough friends to keep everyone in line. The sound system had been bought by Tate herself, through her numerous temporary jobs, a little less than one thousand was donations.
Jade and Ashley had both contributed heavily to the 'fund', and were regulars, given special privileges. Besides, they only went to good parties, so if anyone heard they were going to a party, they would all have to go, too, and everyone brought alcohol. Everyone shared of course, but they all had to help. The most stable part of the room was the floor, a sturdy floor that gave just enough, a great floor for mosh pits. And since at least once a week there was a concert here, dozens of people had appreciated just how great these floors were when they experienced sudden impact.
Tate's brother owned a house outside of town, where the heavier parties took place, but that was a lot more selective, so Jaden and Ashley only hit that after they spent some time here at Tate's. In fact, right now, they were laughing as they lounged around a couch, talking to a large group of people. People were dancing within a few feet of them, music so loud it seemed to make the air vibrate.
"No, listen, it wasn't even my idea!" Ashley defended herself dramatically while everyone snickered. "It was Jade's idea I swear, I just went along with it-"
"You're such a liar!" Jade interrupted, smiling and shaking her head. "You just completely butchered the story, it was all your idea, remember? You got me high and drunk and then asked me to help you!" She cried out while everyone kinda snickered.
Ashley tilted her head to the side, tapping her chin with a sheepish grin. "Oh yeah." She scratched the back of her head, giving Jade an apologetic look. "I forgot about that." She chuckled. "I really didn't even think it was a big deal, all the goats were returned the next day and the old guy got his pants back eventually."
"I know, its not like anyone was hurt." Jade scoffed, watching someone light up a pipe and take a deep hit before passing it on, she'd be up next. She hesitated, knowing Ashley didn't smoke anymore and didn't want her to, either. She glanced at Ashley, who sighed at her but nodded alright. Relieved, Jade accepted it as it was passed to her, inhaling deeply and slowly, holding it in as she skipped Ashley and went straight to the guy next to her. She was still holding it in when she glanced at Ashley, then saw the face Ashley was making and started laughing, coughing and choking. "you whore, that was a good hit!" She cried out in false outrage shaking her fist as she recovered.
"I know, but I couldn't resist." Ashley chuckled, shaking her head with mirth. "You're just too fun." She sniffed the air. "Smells strong." She commented, glancing at the pipe, feeling a hint of longing, but dismissing it. She'd promised Spencer no more drugs, only alcohol. "Trainwreck?"
"No." Jade said, watching as it circle near her again. "But it sure as fuck isn't pure." She added right before taking another hit, this time refusing to look at Ashley's humorous expressions and behavior. When she finally let it out she looked at Ashley, glancing at her watch. "If we want to spend more than twenty minutes at Code's house we need to leave." She told Ashley, finishing off her drink quickly and standing, earning cries of disappointment. "Sorry, previous commitment. See you all tomorrow?" She asked, giving hugs to those sober enough to stand, smiling and nodding at those sitting.
"Wait, you going to the show in the morning?" Asked Laina, smiling flirtatiously at Jade. "The Associates are playing tomorrow at Gage's house, about seven."
"Why so early?" Ashley scowled, also standing, albeit it a little more steadily, due to the drinks and drugs Jaden had had. She glanced at her watch, squinting in the dim light at the softly glowing numbers, frowning. "Only a few hours left, I can't go. Jade?"
Jade frowned, her thumb tracing her lower lip like it did whenever she was considering something. "I don't know, I might go. No promises, though." She answered, giving Laina a half-smile, who smiled broadly back.
"It would be great if you went, won't be much fun without you." Laina fake pouted, watching Jade for her reaction. Laina had had a crush on Jade for years, but had never had the courage to actually tell her, she would only hint. Jade was, in most people's minds, single, so Laina was flirting while she could. Jade was never for single long, right now was already a fairly long stretch.
"What can I say? I'm the life of the party." Jaden mock-bragged, striking a sarcastic 'cool-kid' pose. She glanced back at Laina. "I'll try, but I don't think I can make it." Jade told her. "Next time." She promised, making Laina light up. "Ash, lets go." They picked their way through the crowd, everyone stopping them to ask where they were going, and it took them nearly half an hour just to leave the room.
"I need to find a way to say I have a girlfriend without raising suspicions about her identity." Jade mused as she climbed into the passenger seat of her car, Ashley driving. Jaden sniffed the air. "Do I smell?" she asked curiously, not concerned but wanting to be aware.
"Yeah, there's some spray in my bag." Ashley offered, pulling out and watching Jade spray herself twice, then reach under the seat and pull out a flask. "You really shouldn't drink between parties." She commented, frowning. "You drink too much."
"How so? You're with me most of the time!" Jaden argued, cocking one eyebrow as she took a swig, reaching without looking into her glove compartment for gum. "so that means you do, too." She chugged the flask quickly as Ashley caught a whiff of tequila before Jade popped some fruity gum and closed and re-hid the flask.
"Not lately, now I'm only with you maybe a third of the time." Ashley pointed out, not really concerned about a problem, just wanting to make sure this wouldn't develop into one. "You drink even more than before."
"You're only not with me cause of Spencer. But I guess I have been drinking more." Mused Jaden honestly. Her brow furrowed as she thought about it. "Or maybe I'm only agreeing with you cause I've had a bit much to drink. Wonder what else was in that pipe." She spoke aloud, jumping form topic to topic without any transition. "I wonder if Erin's mom is at all suspicious about us. She met me before we got together, and I've spoken with her a few times since then, had dinner with them twice. But she never says anything."
"She probably hasn't noticed." Ashley commented, focusing on the road, driving slower than usual in case she had slowed reactions. She knew she didn't, she'd only had three beers and was no lightweight, but was cautious. She was fairly certain most drunk drivers thought they were all right to drive, and look at the statistics on that one. "You act fairly well, no one at school knows, and that's generally pretty hard to accomplish."
"Maybe, or she's in denial. But she'll find out about Erin eventually." Jaden nervously pulled out her coin and started flipping it around her fingers. "Erin…I don't think she's ready to tell her mom, but her mom will find out eventually, probably at the most unfortunate of times." As Jade paused, Ashley took the moment to appreciate her impressive vocabulary even while intoxicated. "but I don't want to encourage her to inform her mom, when I'm fairly certain her mom will react in a rather damaging way." She looked out the window. "I sound rather whimsical when I'm not completely sober, don't I?" She realized with a chuckle.
"Just a bit." Ashley observed, tossing a smile at Jaden. "It's quite amusing."
"You should hear yourself when you're drunk, its hilarity is unrivaled." Jaden countered with a smile.
"Not 100 percent true, you, my friend, are more amusing, due simply to the fact that you're accent becomes so much stronger. And we all know that your accent combined with notable verbal skills and alcohol is a rather comical recipe." Ashley said, noting Jade's blank stare.
"That isn't true, you do have an accent." Jade argued.
"Not this again," sighed Ashley. "I, as an American, do not have an accent, everyone else does."
"No, you have an American accent." Jade scolded. "I have an English accent, that bloke in Chemistry has an Irish accent, etc, etc." She glanced out the window. "oooh, Taco Bell." She observed, then turned to Ashley. "can you buy my a nacho? Pleeeeaaaaasssseeeee?" She begged, then jumped when her phone rang. "It's Spencer." She told Ashley, frowning. "Why didn't she call you?"
"I don't know, answer." Ashley responded, feeling around for her phone and finding it missing. "Shit, musta left it." She muttered.
"Spencer?" answered Jade, smiling happily as they pulled into the Taco Bell drive through. "Yeah, she's sober…..nope, she denied the pipe…..no, I did not deny the pipe…..she might….Well I'm not gonna hide it from her….I don't know…..Go ahead, if she doesn't want me to, then call and tell me and I'll head home….she didn't say I couldn't…I'm sexy, so yeah……No, I'm not that drunk….oh, I didn't mention that?….yeah, both….anyway, I gotta go eat Nachos, so I'll see you tomorrow….yeah I promise to keep on eye on her, bye." She hung up and glanced at Ashley. "She says be careful, don't get arrested, don't get into any fights or drinking contests, she has a surprise for you in the morning. I was supposed to say that in a sexy voice, I think, but that mildly disturbs me." She surmised quickly.
"ummm…okay." Ashley responded, chuckling softly and shaking her head. "hurry and eat, we're almost there. And you owe me eighty cents."
"you can have my first-born." offered Jaden, tapping her dashboard softly. "Where'd I put my cigarettes?" She asked Ashley, looking around blankly.
"Check your pockets." Suggested Ashley, shaking her head wryly. Jaden did and pulled out her pack, only two left. "And I'm not stopping so you can buy any more. You're gonna kill yourself."
"I won't live long enough to die from cancer." She rolled her eyes as she scrounged around for a lighter. "And if I'm ever diagnosed, I'm flying to wherever a tsunami's gonna hit so I can test out my inner tube theory."
"No, we're doing that at thirty five so we never have to get old." Ashley reminded, frowning. "And when we prove our theory right and survive, we're doing our year long trip in Thailand."
"We'll be the sexiest monks there." Jaden agreed, then frowned. "Wait, aren't all monks men? Are penises mandatory?" She wondered aloud.
"If so, we'll start our own religion. The Rainbow Monks." Ashley reassured.
"Hell yeah. I get to design the robes, you'll make them look utterly ridiculous. But you can write our bible thingy, you know, our sacred book. But you gotta make sure it doesn't restrict anyone form believing in Christian beliefs like God and Jesus. I don't want to go to hell." She said, as her dad had been a firm believer, and so had she until he and her step-mom both died. After that, she believed in Christianity but didn't practice it. At first she had cast away her beliefs entirely, but the basics had been renewed over time, and she didn't classify her beliefs with any religion. Couldn't, really, considering she was gay, which was a sin in the bible.
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Ashley waved off. "Come on, we're here." Her and Jade made their way into the house, glancing at each other as they heard the music, trying to hide their grins. Code was obviously tonight's DJ, and he knew his music. No one was quite sure where Code got his name, the few who knew had long since forgotten or had left, but somehow it stuck. His real name was unknown, but Tate always teased him about his 'alias.'
Jade glanced at Ashley. "So, how many hours you got?" She grinned.
Spencer awoke from a deep sleep, not quite sure what had woken her. Through bleary eyes she glanced at her clock, and without really viewing the time realized there was only three numbers, so she rolled back over. It was then that she heard the slight scratchy sound at her window and glanced over just as it opened, revealing a smiling Ashley. "Hey, you." Spencer sleepily mumbled, smiling softly. "What time is it?"
"Early. Go back to bed." Ashley advised, climbing in beside Spencer after locking her door. She gently pushed back Spencer's hair and kissed her forehead, snuggling up closely. "Your mom definitely gonna leave without checking on you?"
"Yeah, she's probably already left." Spencer mumbled, drifting off happily while Ashley did the same behind her. The clock hit 5:47 as they both fell asleep, at the same time Jaden was entering her house, planning on going to the concert later.
Another note: I really don't like how this chapter turned out, I might take it down and repost it later. I really had no inspiration for this, but if I don't keep working on a story I tend to drift to others, so its either a crappy chapter to get me back into this story (I've been workign on others) or the story would simply never be finished. I'll hopefully update sooner this time, I've been really busy. Sorry their behavior is so cliche rebel, but there are reasons for this. And I'm sorry if I focus a lot on Jaden and Erin, more than Spencer and Ashley. But if you're reading fanfiction I'm guessing you know more about them then I do, so I try and focus on the characters you don't really know all that well. And I can't remember if Spencer's mom walked into them the season before this story takes place, review if you know. I'll be very grateful.