Looking down at the food on the plate on the table in front of her, Lilly's nose scrunched up. The fact that the school board actually intended for people to eat this was a joke.
Pushing the plate away, Lilly looked up as she heard a pair of high heels approaching the table. "Hey Char" she said to her best friend in Charming.
Charlotte put her food down before easily sliding down into the chair, pulling her patterned skirt down as she sat down on the chair by the table. "Lilliana Marchetti, we have important things to discuss" Charlotte said sternly while picking up her fork.
Lilly's left eyebrow rose looking at her friend. "Not even a hello? Really?" she asked.
Rolling her emerald eyes at her friend, Charlotte gave her a look. "Fine, hello Lilly" she said in a fake, cheerful voice. "Now can we begin the discussing?" she asked her friend.
Lilly simply nodded and waited for Charlotte to bring up whatever she wanted to talk about. Most likely it was the fact that Lilly's birthday was this week, and Charlotte was the kind of person that always celebrated birthdays. Preferably with a big bang.
"As you hopefully can remember, this Friday is your birthday" Charlotte stated. Lilly laughed at her friend but nodded. "That means we have to celebrate it" Charlotte continued.
"Well, I really ain't in the mood to celebrate. You know, there's been a lot going on the last couple of weeks" Lilly replied.
The shooting had caused a huge stir in the club, and there had been some kind of retaliation. Since Lilly was directly involved in the event, men on her uncle's payroll had visited Charming to see what was actually going on. Lilly had sent them away as quickly as possible, however she'd been on the phone with her uncle and cousin a lot the last few days, reassuring them that Charming was a safe place for her to live in. Hopefully she wasn't lying.
On top of that she hadn't seen Happy since the event. Happy's services had been needed in Arizona and he'd left a day after everything went down. After that was done and over with, he'd gone to Tacoma to help with some stuff there. Then he travelled down to Bakersfield to visit his mother for a few days. Speaking on the phone had never been something the two of them did, well for the brief period of time they'd known each other that is.
"Oh come on, Lilly. I know you've been going through a rough time with the shooting and all that, but that is an even bigger reason for you to let go, to celebrate your birthday and have fun" Charlotte told her. "You are not even eighteen yet, you just need to let loose and have some fun" her friend advised her.
Lilly sighed. To some extent she knew that Charlotte had a point in what she was saying. A normal seventeen year old girl would want to celebrate her birthday, especially her eighteenth. If there was something she wanted more than ever, it was to be normal. On the other hand normal seventeen year olds wouldn't have to deal with a shooting while sleeping with an older man then dealing with an over-protective psycho family.
"Fine, I'll throw you a deal" Lilly told her friend. Charlotte brightened up, a wide smile on her face. "I will let you throw me a dinner, no party, a dinner" Lilly said and almost burst out laughing as she witnessed her friend's smile fade away.
"That does it. I'm going to get you a dictionary for Christmas" Charlotte stated, her facial expressions and voice completely serious.
Lilly laughed and shook her head. "Why is that?" she asked.
"So you can look up 'fun'. I don't think you know what it means" Charlotte said sourly.
Lilly sat on the stool by the bar, sipping on the Mojito she had in her hand, while looking around the club. She should have known better. Better than to believe Charlotte when the other girl had said she'd only throw Lilly a birthday dinner. Of course she couldn't settle with a simple dinner. That would be too easy.
Charlotte had managed to convince her parents to allow them to borrow their house to throw the dinner. Then she had ordered food from a catering firm in Charming. Lilly had to admit that it had been nice to spend some quality time with people her age.
Then when they'd eaten, Charlotte had presented her with her gifts. Among them had been a gorgeous dress. A dress that was made for going out in. Then came a pair of high heels. That's when Lilly had realized where Charlotte was going with the presents.
After having her friend nagging in her ear for about ten minutes, she'd agreed to come out for a little while. And here she was. Sitting a stool by the bar, looking around, as Charlotte and their friends jumped around dancing. This really wasn't her kind of music.
Even though she was caught up in her own thoughts, she felt a presence coming towards her and she looked up. Kip stood in front of her with a goofy smile. "Not your kinda' scene, huh?" he asked her with a slightly raised eyebrow.
Lilly shook her head with a small smile. "No, not really" Lilly responded. "Dance music ain't really my thing. I'm not gaga for Gaga" she explained.
Kip laughed at the comment. "I know what you mean. Shit, I'm getting a headache just by being in here right now" Kip stated.
Lilly nodded in agreement as she saw a bouncing object approaching them rapidly out of the corner of her eye. Turning around she saw Charlotte slightly jumping, slightly running towards them, a wide smile on her face as she clutched her right hand.
Kip noticed the energetic girl as well. "What the hell is up with you?" he asked her raising an eyebrow in question.
Charlotte's eyes were wide as she looked at them. "I just punched a guy and it felt really good!" she squealed happily.
"You did what?" Lilly burst out, shocked at her friend's statement. Glancing toward the guy standing next to her, she noticed that Kip looked equally shocked.
"He was so freakin' annoying, just pushing up on me, trying to kiss me and all that. So I punched him" Charlotte said. The way she said it made it seem like it was strange behavior from Lilly and Kip to question it.
Looking over Charlotte's head, Lilly noticed a red headed woman heading their way looking furious. "That guy you punched, he didn't happen to have a girlfriend, did he?" Lilly asked.
Charlotte shrugged, still blissfully happy. "No idea, why?" she asked.
"Cause that bitch is headed straight over here looking angry as fuck" Lilly commented.
Charlotte turned around just in time to receive a bitch slap across the face.
Lilly reacted instantly, sliding down from her seat by the bar and pushing Charlotte behind her. "That was quite rude" she said to the woman standing in front of her fuming with anger. "How about you apologize for that?" she suggested, smirking at the angry redhead.
"How about your friend keeps her hands off my man?" the woman suggested fiercely.
The shocked however still drunk Charlotte stuck her head out from behind Lilly. "Please, like it was me putting my hands on him. You better ask your man where his hands have been" she replied with a roll of her eyes.
"What did you say, bitch?" the redhead asked pushing forward, but Lilly easily shoved her back.
"How about some distance, huh?" Lilly suggested.
"You little bitch, you hiding behind your friend or something?" the redhead questioned.
That was the drop for the shitfaced mess that was Charlotte at the moment. Pushing herself past Lilly she stood face to face with the redhead, their faces merely inches apart. "Your man was trying to get with me, not the other way around. So maybe you should get your facts straight before you go around slapping people, because frankly that is just rude. Secondly, you might wanna re-evaluate your relationship with that douche because he is clearly sleeping around" Charlotte lectured the woman.
Kip and Lilly exchanged rather impressed glances before turning their attention back towards the fight in front of them.
Frankly, Lilly expected the woman retort with words, not by shouting and throwing herself at Charlotte pulling them both down on the floor. With an amused look on her face Lilly looked as the two tumbled around, scratching and clawing at each other. She had already stepped in once to help Charlotte out, and this time it was Charlotte who picked the battle, so Lilly figured she could fend for herself. If she seemed to get seriously injured Lilly would jump in.
There was no time for Charlotte to get seriously injured though as the police stormed through the door heading towards the two women fighting.
The two cops, one huge man and one slightly thiner one, stormed forward and grabbed one girl each pulling them apart. The thiner one grabbed Charlotte around the waist holding her back while Charlotte kicked and screamed. Compares to the redhead, Charlotte was calm though. That girl was on another level. And on something. Probably drugs.
"You take her to that corner, I'll take this one outside" the thiner one suggested pulling Charlotte towards the door. Lilly and Kip exchanged swift glances before following.
As they walked out of the bar into the fresh night air, Charlotte was still struggling against the hold. "Jesus, Char, calm the fuck down" Lilly told her friend. "Now!" Lilly raised her voice slightly when Charlotte didn't settle down. That did the trick.
After Charlotte retold the story of what had happened, the police scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry, but I gotta' bring you in. You'll spend the night in a cell and your friends can pick you up tomorrow morning" the officer told Charlotte, who looked terrified.
"What? No! Please don't, pretty please!" Charlotte begged him, tears simmering in her brown eyes.
Lilly felt bad for her friend. Stepping forward she took a hold of Charlotte pulling her into a hug. "Calm down, Char, it's not that bad. Just calm down, and spend the night there. I'll be there tomorrow to bail your drunk ass out of there, alright?" she said in a soothing voice as she stroked Charlotte's head.
Pulling back she looked into the brown eyes of her friend. "You'll be just fine, sweetie" Lilly said with a soft smile. Charlotte nodded in response.
Then Lilly stepped back allowing the officer to take a hold of Charlotte's arm. Lilly and Kip stood back as they watched the officer lead Charlotte towards the cop car, placing her in the back seat before driving off.
The two of them stood in silence for a moment. "Shit" Lilly breathed out suddenly.
Kip looked at her with an amused look on his face. "What? Didn't believe Charlotte was capable of fighting?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lilly shook her head. "Nah, that ain't it. Charlotte has the keys to the car on her" she explained.
"Well, shit"
Lilly woke up from the bright rays seeping through narrow sides of the curtains. Beams of light went across the room, ultimately landing on her face.
Slowly opening her eyes it took her a few seconds to adjust to the brightness. Glancing to the side to see the time, she realized that the clock that was usually on the bedside table, wasn't there anymore.
Then she felt the presence beside her in the bed. Glancing over she saw a shaved head, the tanned skin. Holy shit, last night had actually happened.
When they'd realized that they were not getting home the way they'd planned to, Kip and Lilly had begun thinking of other ways of getting home. They'd called around, but no one had answered. Kip had suggested walking home, but as Lilly was wearing heels she refused to agree to that suggestion.
Her last option had been him. Frankly, she didn't believe that he'd answer, but he did. And he came through. Even took the van that belonged to the club to be able to drive Kip home too. It had surprised Lilly.
Then they'd headed over to Lilly's. He was supposed to drop her off. Which lead to a heave make-out session in the van. Which lead to them ending up on the couch. Then the bed. Then the showers. Then the bed again. It had been a good night to say the least.
Lilly thought she'd feel bad about it. She thought she'd wake up with a heavy weight on her chest made up of guilt and regret. Instead she buried half of her face in the sheets that smelled of Happy. A small smile spread across her lips as she felt the butterflies began flying around in her stomach.
"You're awake" the murmur came from her side, and Lilly glanced up, her blue eyes meeting his dark ones.
Nodding she gave him a small smile. "What time is it?" she asked him.
"I don't know. You threw it somewhere last night" he told her with a smirk.
"Why the fuck would I do that?" Lilly asked, a confused look upon her face.
"Don't know, don't care" Happy stated as he crept closer towards Lilly.
"Shit, I know there was something I was supposed to do today" Lilly murmured to herself.
Happy slid one arm beneath Lilly, cupping her left buttock and began feeling it. "Hap, seriously, I know there wa-" Lilly had no chance to finish the sentence as Happy's hand travelled from her buttock to her inner thigh.
Lilly moaned as Happy's hand slid up her inner thigh and towards the already moist spot. Lilly arched her back at his touch.
As his hand reached the moist spot, a phone started ringing loudly somewhere in the room. Just then Lilly realized what she had been supposed to do this morning.
"Merda!" she cussed as she pushed Happy away, sitting up in the bed. The sudden movements caused some dizziness.
"What the hell?" Happy questioned exasperatedly with her actions.
"Ho fatto una cazzatta" Lilly replied, momentarily forgetting about the fact that Happy didn't understand Italian. Turning around she realized who she was talking to. "Sorry, it's just that I fucked up" Lilly explained.
Happy didn't reply vocally instead he simply looked at her, his eyebrows slightly raised in question.
"Things got outta' hand last night, Charlotte got thrown in jail. I was supposed to pick her up this morning. Shit!" Lilly exclaimed as she walked over towards her wardrobe. Putting on a pair of knickers and a bra, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a white tank top.
Turning around she looked at Happy with a raised eyebrow. "Planning on staying here?" she asked him knowing very well that he wouldn't.
"Nah" Happy replied and leaned back lazily watching her as she stressed around the room gathering his stuff.
"Then get your ass dressed right now 'cause I'm leaving" Lilly told him throwing his things at him.
Happy chuckled but listened to her and started getting ready. "C'mon, Hap, we need to get going!" she exclaimed before throwing his t-shirt at him, hitting him square in the face.
"Fine, here's the keys" he said throwing the keys to the van towards the girl who easily caught them before heading downstairs, jogging down the stairs while Happy calmly followed behind her.