Brooke and Winston walked arm and arm towards Casey's. The mall was closed but they allowed Joe to hold the party for his customers.
"Boy the music is loud." The music of Coco, Brooke's mom was playing. Since the mall was closed, the music echoed through the halls.
"Chocolate Kisses for my Baby, ooh, ooh." The song goes. Brooke couldn't help but grimace at the song. She tried to support her mom's music, but it was hard. Constance put her music career over her children. Even Brooke's half sister Sonya was put on the side for singing. Winston must have noticed, he wrapped his arms around his fiancée and kisses her on the head.
"My Dark Hair Goddess. Or should I say 'Chocolate Kisses' Dennis. Ow! Kidding!" When Brooke pinched him.
"Very funny Egg-Bert." She knew Winston disliked that nickname. Brooke always considered that name a compliment. Winston was on the school's honor roll all through high school, and was even nominated for the Dean's list during SVU's senior year. Winston retaliated by ticking her neck with his kisses.
They were interrupted by a cough. Both Winston and Brooke turned around. Kimberly and Denny Jacobson were holding hands and smirking at the couple.
"Egbert! Dennis! How's it been!" Denny asked with a smile.
"Brooke, wow. How's things in the movie business?" Kimberly asked. Both Kimberly and Brooke knew each other on a friendly basis, but weren't very close. By the time Brooke became a Unicorn, Kimberly already graduated SVMS.
"Stressful." She said honestly. "Congrats on your second. Boy or girl?"
"We'll find out in twelve weeks." She was wearing a purple pantsuit. Her pregnant belly showing. She looked fantastic though, she clearly did a great balancing act as a mommy blogger/interior designer.
Denny wasn't doing so bad himself, he owned his own construction company and was able to provide a comfortable life for his family.
"You look great. Shall we?" Winston gestured ahead. Ladies first, Denny and I will catch up while you ladies talk about, I dunno, girly stuff."
"Whatever Winnie." Kimberly teased. She and Brooke started talking about their lives, who would be at the reunion, etc.
Ellen and Mary were sharing a huge Casey's Special when they saw Brooke and Kimberly.
''Hey guys!" They wave them over. Both Brooke and Kimberly went over and joined them, leaving their partners at the door.
"Well, looks like we just got ditched." Winston remarked seeing Brooke and Kimberly laughing with their friends.
"Not surprised, Kim talked about nothing but the reunion." He and Winston go to the counter and order sundaes.
"So where's Mike?" Brooke asked, asking Mary about her husband.
"He's in the washroom, he accidentally spilled soda on himself." Mary's hair was tousled and teased, like the twins. She was doing her look that was popular back in the sixth grade. She even was wearing the Angel's colour, blue along with purple. Her outfit was a simple blue dress shirt as well as a purple knee length skirt.
As for Ellen, she was wearing her new outfit. A pair of dark purple leggings with a short lavender dress. She used her manager's discount at the store she worked at to buy it. She came with her date, Sam Burgess, but he had to rush home for a family emergency. He promised Ellen he'll be back in an hour.
Jessica and Elizabeth pull up to the mall's south entrance.
"I see Winston and Brooke is here." Seeing Winston's orange Beetle.
"And Kimberly and Denny." Elizabeth added. When they got out, they saw a limo pull up. "Plus Rachel."
Rachel Grant gets out with her Louboutin heels. When she got out, she was wearing her designer outfit, but that's not all she brought. She was followed immediately by her date, rock star Ryder Mitchell. Jessica knew Ryder on a semi friendly basis, they had a brief fling in high school, and even had a memorable weekend two years ago when he guest starred in Jessica's soap opera as a washed up alcoholic. But both were too busy to date full time. Watching Rachel and Ryder, she knew Lila's head will explode from jealousy. She couldn't wait.
"Rachel! Ryder!" Jessica waved. Elizabeth smiled at the couple walking towards them. But when she saw who arrived next she got distracted.
"Maria!" Maria waved to Elizabeth and Jessica. She wasn't alone, she shared a taxi with Amy Sutton's half sister, Ashley DeHaven.
"Ashley!" Jessica held out her arms. Elizabeth gives Ashley and Maria a hug as well. Elizabeth and Ashley weren't close in middle school, but knew each other when they lived in London.
Maria was wearing a blue jumpsuit with a dark purple leather jacket; like Mary she wanted to honor her time as an Angel. Elizabeth looked enviously at Maria.
"Why didn't I think of that?" She was jealous of the look Maria was wearing, it was very New York.
Maria smiles at Elizabeth.
"I can lend you my backpack." He backpack was a fashionable blue purse. "I got this from SoHo. Here. Now you are a Unicorn/Angel hybrid."
"Thanks." Elizabeth puts it on. She looks at Ashley. "So how's Peter?"
"Busy. I was incredibly lucky to get a vacation. Unfortunately I can't stay the whole week, I have to go to Hong Kong with Peter for his medical seminar."
Jessica and Elizabeth didn't like Peter that much, they thought he was too pompous and aloof. Especially when he strung along both Amy and Johanna in high school.
"Ash. Where did you get that outfit?" Ashley was dressed in a tight purple club dress, but it had sparkling crystals sown on it. Her hair was tied up in a French twist and was wearing a choker.
"Paris. Remember Tamera Chase? She designed this dress. She is still unknown, but is well on her way to becoming a sought after designer. Watch out for her in next season's Runway Showcase." Naming a very popular reality show that pitted wannabe fashion designers face to face.
Just then a black Ferrari pulls up, and a sharp dressed man gets out with his date in the front seat. For a moment neither twin recognized him, but when a well dressed woman got out, she looked towards the twins and waved. Her and her date walked towards everyone, with Rachel and Ryder coming to say hello.
"Belinda. Holy shit." Jessica was looking up and down at her. Her old tomboy look was long gone, she was very sharply dressed, her dress was black, however she was wearing a purple Hermès belt, plus was sporting a huge diamond ring, along with a wedding band. Her once brown hair was now a deep red, cut with a chin length bob.
"Yeah. I changed since middle school." Both Jessica and Elizabeth didn't know what to say. Belinda kind of vanished after she graduated eighth grade. She introduced the man holding her hand. "This is my husband, Brian. Brian is vice president of his father's textile company."
"Wakefield. Even after all those years. Ms Grant, and this must be rock star, Ryder Mitchell." Brian Boyd shakes everyone's hand. "Babe, can you go without me for a minute? I have to make a call." He nods at Maria and Ashley.
"Sure." She looks towards her friends. "Sorry about that. Brian is under so much pressure right now. She looks at Rachel. "Hi, I'm Belinda." Both her and Rachel shake hands. She looked towards the twins. "You two. Wow. Jessica. Come here." They hugged. Belinda hugged Elizabeth as well. "You two. Damn I missed you. Is everyone here?" When she looked over, she greeted Ashley and Maria. "My apologies. Its been years. I'm Belinda."
"Ashley DeHaven."
"Maria Slater."
"Ashley? My goodness. Maria. Wow. Both of you are even more gorgeous than middle school." She looks at them both. "How's it been?" She hugs them.
"We just got here." Jessica gestures to the entrance. "C'mon. Let's go inside and gossip like old friends."
When Ellen saw who walked in, she jumped up and squealed.
"Twins! Rachel! Billie! Maria!" All five started hugging. "Mary! Kimberly! Brooke! Look who's here!" When she saw who was behind them, she waved. "Ashley? Wow. Hey guys, look who's here!"
Winston laughed when he saw the women laughing and hugging. It was just like sixth grade. He knew Belinda on a casual basis, she lived in Los Angeles with her husband. Wow. She looked liked Linda Evangelista with that haircut. Like Brooke, she was very focused on her career. However, owned a very successful sport themed teen clothing company. Was that Maria? She looked so different than high school. He remembered her in that small film role she had. She was a great actress. The tall brunette he didn't recognize. There was something familiar about her though.
Soon everyone was talking and laughing. When Grace walked in, she was immediately ambushed by her friends.
"Oh my god!" She grabbed everyone one by one. "Rachel! Belinda? Wow. Both of you did great for yourselves." She looks at Elizabeth and Jessica. "Now I can tell you apart." When she looked at Kimberly, she asked if she could touch her belly. "May I?" She looked over at Maria. "Slater. I have to ask. Is the stage better than Hollywood?"
"Yes." Compared to Jessica's "No." Awhile later everyone started comparing the stage to Hollywood. Once they introduced their partners to everyone, Joe put on some classic tunes that Mary and Ellen put together. Donny Diamond's voice takes over the jukebox.
Soon everyone started talking and dancing. While everyone else was talking, Grace and Ellen were gossiping about their guests.
"Who do you think will last long?" Grace asked watching the couples dancing.
"Egbert and Brooke. Kimberly and Denny, and maybe Rachel and Ryder." She saw Ashley and Mary talking. "What do you think of Mike and Peter?"
"Mike is a pretty decent guy. He treats Mary like a goddess, and is a hands on father. I can't say anything about Peter though. I never seen him since high school." Ellen watched as Winston was making everyone laugh. "You mad about losing Winston? You and him were hot and heavy at SVMS." She teased.
"We were just kids." Grace was watching him and Brooke. "Those two are like two peas in a pod." She wondered if they would start a family. "Where's Lila and Bruce?" They hadn't arrived yet.
"Knowing Lila, still picking out her outfit. C'mon, let's dance and gossip like old times."
Mandy Miller-Jenkins walked in with her husband and was immediately grabbed.
"Mandy!" Soon she was laughing with everyone else.
"Sorry honey." She calls out regretfully to Andy. Andy just waves her away. He knew Mandy needed this. With her career and family, she was always busy. She almost canceled her trip here, claiming the hospital needed her, luckily Andy convinced her otherwise. He even wore a dark Byzantium colour to match her dress. He went to join the men who were standing around laughing and talking while drinking the alcohol that was provided.
It was just like old times. Mandy was laughing and joking around with her old friends. She got the memo to wear purple as well as blue, so she wore a blue headband with her dark purple dress.
"Remember when we split the club?" Mandy said laughing.
"Why did we split up? We ruled the school. Sorry about that." Kimberly said regretfully thinking about the Angel/Unicorn split.
"Well, as much as I loved volunteering at that daycare, I missed shopping and gossiping." Ellen loved her friends, the Angels split up after seventh grade, Elizabeth transferred to another school, Maria were too busy with her studies, Evie wanted to concentrate on her after school activities, and Mary asked to return to the club.
"Remember that lighting storm?" Jessica brought up.
"Yeah. You almost fried yourself to save a cat. Mom and Dad couldn't decide to ground you or praise you." That was something Elizabeth didn't like to remember. Jessica almost got killed trying to save the Daycare's cat from a downed power line.
"Whoa. Spill." Belinda had to hear the story behind that.
Winston was drinking a beer when he saw the next guest. Slightly drunk, he rolled up a old Sixers newspaper.
"Here ye, here ye! Make way for her Royal Highness! Queen Janet!" He bellowed through the paper bullhorn.
Janet (Howell) Bucktaski gave Winston a scathing look.
"Very funny." She looks at the women standing around. "Hiiii!" She immediately gets accosted and grabbed in hugs.
"Janet! You look amazing!" Jessica gushes. She did. Her once mousy brown shoulder length hair was now down past her waist, and was dyed black. She was wearing an purple designer jacket with black pants. She still had that air of superiority around her, however she used that for her professional career instead. As promised she brought her husband, 'Johnny Buck.'
"Not to bad looking yourself, Jess." She looked at Elizabeth. "Wow. You look so different! If it wasn't for the barrettes, I would have thought you were Jessica."
Elizabeth smiled. No one expected her to change. She did dress very modestly in middle and high school, but in college, started changing her look. She preferred to dress more stylishly these days, London and New York rubbed off on her.
"Ladies, this is my husband, Jonathan. Johnny, my friends, the ones I told you about."
Johnny shook everyone's hands. He was older now and out of show business, but was still as handsome as ever. Everyone, even Winston was star-struck. Almost everyone was back in middle school again. They were so busy gushing over Johnny, they didn't see Evie Kim walking in with her teenage daughter.
When Jessica turned around, she was surprised to see the stranger walking in, till she opened her mouth.
"Jessica?"
"Hello." Who was she? Jessica thought she knew every Unicorn there was, but didn't recognize her. Was there an Asian girl in their club? Her thoughts were interrupted by Maria.
"Evie! May! So glad you can make it!" Maria grabs Evie and the teenager and gives them a hug. That second, Jessica figured it out.
"Evie. Forgive me. Its been years." She looked at Evie Kim.
Evie blushed when Maria introduced her to everyone. She didn't change much, she was still short, but she had this aura about her. Like Maria and Elizabeth, her look was popular in the east coast. She was dressed in a boho look, her large colorful shirt had splashes of colour, with purples, greens, and blues. She was also sporting a large navy bag with her dark green hat. She had a unicorn necklace, with a angel riding it. Her blue jeans, were basic, but paired with her brown boots, she looked fantastic.
"Too long." She takes her daughter's hand. "This is my daughter, May. May, the Unicorns."
"Hi." May was wondering why her mom dragged her here, they hadn't been back to California since her great grandmother died. She looked around. So much purple. Man her mom was a geek. She forced herself to be polite.
"Evie. How's things since..." Maria felt awkward. Evie's husband died suddenly a few months ago from a brain tumor. Maria and Evie knew each other since Evie worked behind the scenes in several theaters as a seamstress. Unlike Maria who stayed in the Big Apple, she lived in Brooklyn with her daughter.
Evie could see how uncomfortable everyone was.
"Everyday is a new day. Anyways, tell me what I been missing over the years. Especially the twins. I'm dying to know if Victoria is going to give Britney her coup de grace." Soon everyone was talking and laughing again. Evie just wanted to have fun, just for tonight.
Tamera Chase finally walks in. Just like middle school, she caught the attention of everyone in the room.
"Bonjour!" She takes off her purple sunglasses. She was dressed in a body hugging maroon jumpsuit, and her once dark hair was now a platinum blonde pixie cut. She smiled at everyone in the room. Jessica, Kimberly and Janet wave her over.
"Tammi! How's Paris." Jessica missed the city. Hot guys, great food, and the fashion. No wonder Tamera moved there.
"Magnifique! Ladies, you must tell me about things in America. I hadn't been back for a decade."
Betsie Howell came in five minutes later with her husband Joe, Janet's brother. Like everyone else, she was dressed in purple. Her dress was long, but not too fancy. Once everyone exchanged hugs, the party started.
The small restaurant was bumping with loud music and dancing bodies. Joe Carrey had his hands full handing out ice cream and drinks, he wasn't alone, his son and his employee was helping out. All three were careful not to serve alcohol to Evie's fourteen year old daughter who kept trying to sneak alcohol.
It was after an hour when Elizabeth wondered where Lila, Bruce and Cara were. Neither one showed up yet. She tried telling Jessica, but she was too busy swaying to Johnny's voice.
Elizabeth excused herself to ask Joe if she can borrow the office phone.
"Go ahead. Phone's in the back."
Elizabeth had her cell, but the reception sucked due to the WiFi in the mall. Shutting the door, she called Cara first.
"Service is unavailable, please leave a message."
"Can't answer, I'm out shopping. But leave a message, I promise to get back to you."
"This is Bruce Patman. I'm probably working hard, call my assistant."
Elizabeth texted all three. Halfway through the party, she started to get really worried. She managed to get Jessica to try calling. When another hour passed, both asked Winston for a ride. They knew Cara was due to testify soon. Worried she was in danger, they told everyone that they had to go.
"Winston!" After both twins explained why they were so frantic, he grabbed his keys. Apologizing to Brooke, he agreed to drive them back to Fowler Manor, but when he stumbled, Elizabeth grabbed the keys.
"I'm driving." Elizabeth was the designated driver and didn't drink all night.
Once they drove towards the street where Lila and her parents lived, they saw a large orange light.
"Oh no. Please no." Jessica was afraid. Sure enough they seen smoke and flames in the air. "LILA!"
Fowler Manor was on fire.