Besties

21st Birthday

"Scar, it's your big two-one. You can't stay home!"

It had been two months since Cheaper by the Dozen came out and just as Tom had predicted, he and I had become best friends. We had come a long way from the awkward interactions on the day he first took notice of me on set and it was honestly one of the best things to happen to me. Gone was the shy girl who didn't want anything to do with anyone. With Tom's help, I had really become more confident with myself and my acting.

"But, Tom," I whined.

"No buts," Tom insisted, fixing me with an intense look. "You and I are going out drinking tonight and you are going to enjoy it. You only turn 21 once, Scarlett. We have to celebrate."

I groaned, flopping belly down on the couch and burying my face in the cushions. I loved Tom and valued the friendship we'd developed over the past year, but I just didn't have it in me to go out and celebrate for my birthday.

"I don't need to experience alcohol. Let's just stay here. I'll make us an apple pie and we can hang out. Maybe you could finally get me to watch an episode of Smallville."

I turned my head to look up at Tom, who looked like he was briefly considering it. However, the steely look of resolve returned to his face a split second later and I knew it was a lost cause.

"Ugh, fine. When do we leave?" I groaned, burying my face back in the cushion.

"Be ready to head out in two hours," Tom informed me. "I'll be back to pick you up then."

I just grunted in response and listened to his retreating footsteps and then the door opening and closing a few moments later. I remained in my spot for a little while longer before using my hands to push myself into a sitting position on the couch. I didn't know exactly why I wasn't excited to celebrate now that my birthday had finally rolled around. For years I'd imagined what I wanted my 21st birthday to be like. Bar hopping, trying different types of alcohol, being surrounded by a giant group of girl friends.

Now it was actually here, and I didn't have any friends besides Tom, I didn't feel like bar hopping and I especially had no interest in trying a single drop of alcohol. I could die without tasting the foul substance for all I cared. However, Tom was persistent and would never drop it until I agreed to go, so I guess I was going with him and I was going to attempt to enjoy myself for his sake. Sighing to myself, I made my way into my bedroom and raided my closet for something to wear tonight.

I wasn't a big dress person, so I didn't have a bunch of fancy clothes. I had one red carpet outfit that I had worn to the premiere of Cheaper by the Dozen, but other than that, my wardrobe mostly consisted of jeans, t-shirts, sweaters and a couple nicer blouses. Just when I was about to give up, I noticed something in the very back of my closet. I smiled a little when I pulled it out and examined it more closely. It was a short, thigh length dress in maroon with a black lace overlay. It only had one strap that would lay over my left shoulder.

Laying it on my bed, I went over to my shoe rack and picked out a pair of nude pumps that would go nicely with the dress. Once that was done, I headed into the bathroom to shower and start getting ready to go out with Tom. I washed my hair and shaved my legs so I wouldn't look like a cactus all night before shutting off the still-lukewarm water. After blow drying my long brown locks, I curled it and pulled it half up and away from my face. Then I did my make up, putting in my contacts and heading back out to my bedroom to put on the dress and heels.

Just as I was slipping on the shoes, I heard the knock on my door that indicated Tom had returned to take me out. Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, I headed out to answer the door. It wasn't like this was a date. Tom and I were just friends. When I opened the door, I came face to chest with my new best friend. I looked up further until I locked onto the familiar pale blue eyes I'd come to love.

"Wow," Tom said, looking me up and down. "You clean up nicely."

"You aren't too bad yourself, Welling-ton."

That had become our little joke with each other. Our names were programmed into each other's phones as "Tom Welling-ton" and "Scarlett Pieces" as a play on the beef wellington and reece's pieces. I grabbed my purse from the table beside the door and smirked at him.

"Ready?" I inquired.

"Of course I am," Tom replied.

He took a step back, allowing me to step into the hall and lock the door to my apartment behind me. I put my keys back in my purse and together we headed out of the building and down into the streets of LA. I was letting Tom have total control and allowing him to take the lead tonight since it was his idea to celebrate and my first time going out to drink.

"Alrighty, let's do this thing," Tom grinned, flagging down a cab.

He instructed the driver to take us to the nearest bar once we were both seated in the back and pretty soon, we both were walking into a joint playing music that was so loud, I could feel the bass vibrating in my chest outside the doors and lights flashing in blues, reds, and greens. The bouncer wished me a happy birthday after checking our ID's and then Tom was guiding me through the doors. He continued to steer me over to the bar and ordered for me. I couldn't even hear what he was telling the bartender over the loud music blaring through the entire joint. This was going to be an interesting night.