Chapter 2

At 6:47 PM, she woke up from her nap as she heard the sound of ringing nearby. Realizing that was her phone, she sat up and searched for her phone. She then remembered that she left her phone in her purse, which was across the other side of the room to the door. As much as she wants to get back to nap, she got up and walked to hanger near the door and grabbed her phone from her purse. She answered her phone already knowing who was on the other side of this call.

"Hi, Tori", she yawned as she was still sleepy.

"There you are. I've been calling you for ten minutes. Where are you?", she asked. "Did you take a nap before the party?"

"Maybe. I just want to get a couple moments of peace before being drifted away to some boring New Year's Eve party which you forced me to go in the first place"

"Come on. This gig is huge for me and I could use the support. Well...that and you're really the only person I knew who's in town and has no plans.", she says.

"First of all, there is nothing wrong by wanting to spend New Year's Eve staying at home and drinking what's left from the liquor cabinet. It may seem sad but it's called the holidays for a reason", Tris exclaims.

"As much as I agree with you a hundred percent, it's about time we had a girl's night out. It's been years and I don't think I can handle being in a room alone with boring accountants and men with suits"

"Funny. Whenever we go out, you always ditch me whenever someone buys you a drink."

"Are you still mad from that St. Patrick's party from what...twenty years ago?"

"Twenty-two and I still remember it as it was yesterday. One minute, this guy was buying you a margarita. Next thing I knew, you were gone and I had to walk five miles home. In the rain! "

"I promise. Just you, me, and a bunch of free booze.", she laughed and soon, Tris did too.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you that the hotel called and are sending a car and an escort so you don't have to worry about..."

"Okay then. I'll be there around eight."

"I know you will. I may be blind, Susan, but that doesn't mean that I know you're not in the same room as me.", she said and hung up on the phone.

Flashback (June 8, 1987)

Ever since that night from 1949, Beatrice had cut off all connections to her life. She had to change her identity every couple years and repeat. Sometimes, she breaks her vow to get too attached to anyone and had made friends. She had met so many people that came from all walks of life. Eventually, she would be forced to leave them and never contact them again. However, Tori Wu was the exception. Well... sort of.

She had met Tori when she'd move to San Francisco in 1987 after a messy fallout with her previous life. She had just changed her name after her dear sister-in-law that passed away in honor of her memory. She had been working as waitress for a lounge club. Even though she had lots of money, she didn't want to waste it and cause suspicion. She had been working there for a month and that's where she'd met her.

Tori Wu was young woman who dreamed on being a great musician and pianist. She had moved to San Francisco on a student visa and even though it wasn't her idea of performing in a lounge, she needed the work. These days, work was very hard to find especially when she was born blind. But despite not being able to see, she played the piano beatifically and wasn't like any musician she'd ever met. It was one of the things she'd looked forward going to when she was going to her shift. During the first two years of knowing each other, they were only acquaintances and co-workers. Eventually, they started to hang out and became close friends.

Since she knows that Tori can't see her or the fact that she can't age, it was easy to lie that she was the same age as her. There isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't feel guilty about lying to Tori. There have been so many times where she wanted to tell her but it would only put her in danger. Tori was the person besides her daughter that she can act her real age. The real Beatrice and not Susan Black, her alias. Even though when she had to leave San Francisco, she still remained contact to Tori and would hang out whenever they run in to each other.

End of Flashback

She checked the time again, which was now 6:49 PM, and headed to her bedroom. She went into the closet and was searching for anything to wear. She heard a bark from room and saw Penny. "What's wrong?", she said as she was picking through the many clothes she had kept throughout the years.

"Let me guess, you want to come with me tonight.", she said. In response, the dog barked, meaning yes.

"Sorry, sweetheart.", she said. "I'm just going out for the night and since we're leaving in March, I might as well enjoy my last New Year's Eve in Chicago. I promise we'll spent tomorrow together and also, Raven's flight will be arriving in two days."

Penny barked again with joy and rushed to the bed. After a few minutes, she finally picked out a long black dress with long sleeves. It showed off her curves and she had been meaning to wear this dress for a long time.

Beatrice wasn't always a big fan of parties. She has been dragged to many parties throughout the years and were mostly business parties that her parents bring her to, and only to find out that they were to introduce her to potential husbands. However, this was different and she couldn't remember the last time she had fun.

As she finished her makeup, she checked the time and it was time to go. "Okay, Penny.", she said as she was putting on her coat. "I'll be home around one. Also, try not to sneak out again. You're not as young as you used to be."

She grabbed her purse and headed towards the door. As she locked the door behind her, she walked down the hallway and climbed down the flight of stairs. She was finally outside and walked her way through the cold streets of Chicago. It was times like these where she does feel like a ghost and perhaps, she is. She could see people walking past her and the cars and taxis moving around the streets. She had always be curious about people in general and had always wonder about the people around her. She could tell the difference between everybody and where they're heading for New Year's Eve. She could see those that were like her and heading off to some party and those that were heading home to their families. To her, New Year's Eve still feels like the night that anything can happen.

She calls for a taxi and gave the driver the address of the hotel where the party was held at. Couple minutes later, she paid the driver and stepped inside the Ornate Point Hotel. It was one of the hotels in Chicago and still remains one of best 5-star hotels in the world. Its doors opened in 1926 and only then where the rich and wealthy could afford to stay. She'd know because...well, she was there.

Flashback (December 18, 1926)

Her father's company had invested in the Ornate Point Hotel and since construction finished, they were all invited to attend its grand opening. It was the biggest social event in all of Chicago. All week, Beatrice had been dreading for this party. She'd overheard her mother and her friends at afternoon tea and that the party was a perfect opportunity to find her a husband. Majority of the girls of her age are already getting married and she would rather die than enter a loveless marriage. She did everything she could to get out of it including but failed.

It was 8:30 and the party was in full swing with people dancing to the Charleston, the band playing in the background, and clouds of smoke in the corner of the ballroom. If it wasn't for the fact that her mother was trying to set her up, this party was probably the most amazing event she'd ever been to. She'd notice the attention she was getting as she was wearing the black dress that showed off her arms and ankles. It had only been an hour and she'd already rejected five different men. Finally, her parents introduce her and Caleb to Robert and Susan Black, who were the children of a good friend of his. She already knew of their plan for at least one of them to get close with the Black siblings.

For the next hour, she and Robert were alone and it was awkward. He was nice but they just had nothing in common. He was just a man who wanted to settle but she wanted so much more. Can't anyone just accept the fact that maybe she just wants to be single and enjoy one night without someone trying to set her up with a husband! They rejoined with their families and saw Caleb and Susan were really hitting it off. She could see in her brother's eyes that he was in love with her and saw the same thing in Susan too. One year later, they were married and Beatrice hoped that maybe one day, she would love someone as those two.

End of Flashback

She walks towards the lobby and while she was expecting this to be another lame party, she didn't know that less in thirty minutes, she would finally find someone who would love her as she would too.

****To Be Continue****

Author's Note

I know that I'm late and this chapter is very short. However, it's better than nothing. I'm writing this chapter on the last of summer and starting tomorrow, I'll be the new kid to a school that I just transferred to. I'm scared but decided to use my last day of freedom to finally upload this chapter to you guys. I'll see you soon with a new chapter.

XOXO

-Bookatopia1227