Crown Of Thorns [ Michael Langdon ]

4 - innocent girl - 4

{Chapter Four - Innocent Girl}

~ I guess it started when you were with him
And how he never even took you out to dance
But did he fuck with any rhythm? ~

- Not Allowed

Cordelia glanced at the small child in the backseat of her car, and again at the house in front of her.

She picked up the file, and approached the front door. Ringing the doorbell, she quickly glanced back to the car, checking on the girl.

A blonde man answered the door, and smiled at Cordelia.

"May I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Cordelia Goode, and I would like to adopt your daughter."

✧

Elora drove the group downtown, with Michael in the front and the three girls in the back. They were talking excitedly, while Michael and Elora had their own conversation in the front.

"Is Nathan okay with me coming tonight?" Michael asked her. He felt weird hanging out with her and her friends while her boyfriend was not there.

"Oh, he doesn't know," Elora turned her head to him, smiling slightly. Michael's brows furrowed in worry, but Elora laughed. "Don't worry! He won't mind."

"Hey, eyes on the road!" Zoe yelled from the backseat, and Elora whipped her head back to the front, hitting the breaks just in time to avoid hitting the car in front.

"Jesus, who taught you how to drive?" Coco muttered, folding her arms.

"My mom." Elora huffed, eyes wide from their near death experience, "She's a terrible driver too."

"Why couldn't Coco or Zoe drive?" Mallory complained.

"'Cause I'm planning on getting wasted tonight!" Coco said in a singsong voice. Zoe laughed in agreement. "And plus, boring old Elora over here doesn't drink. So she's designated driver."

"Hey!" Elora frowned. "Michael, do you know how to drive?" He shook his head, and Elora shrugged. "Useless skill anyway." She said as she swerved to avoid the curb.

The stopped at a couple of bars, each one more boring than the last, until they decided to try a club. When they finally got to the front of the line, the four girls held up their IDs/fake-IDs. Madison had gotten one for Elora when she was 16, and taken her out clubbing while Cordelia was out of town for the weekend. Elora was grounded for a month. She turned to Michael,

"Do you have your ID?" Michael shook his head. "That's fine." She turned back to the group, "You guys go ahead."

After a long strain of 'are you sure' and 'I feel bad', Mallory, Coco and Zoe entered the club.

"I'm sorry, Elora," Michael said sadly, "I've ruined you're night."

"No you haven't! I don't really like clubs." Elora insisted, smiling at him, "I'd rather spend time with you anyway."

Michael couldn't help but grin, and his stomach did a backflip. The pair strolled side by side, their hands brushing against each other, until they reached a large field that exposed the night sky.