NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

CHAPTER TWO

Chapter Two
28th of May, 1997
London, England, United Kingdom

"YOU WERE SUPPOSED to leave early," Jamia complained, jumping out of the truck so that they could switch places. "Now we'll miss the opening act"

Laney sighed audibly. There was nothing she hated more in the world than being late. Still wearing her blue uniform from the dry cleaner she worked at, Laney put the car in first gear and drove off the shopping center's parking lot.

"The stubborn old crank wouldn't let me leave," she defended herself. "But don't worry, we won't miss the start of the show. There's nothing a few speeding tickets can't fix"

Jamia laughed, struggling to roll down the semi-broken window. She had a raspberry-flavored cigarette dangling off her lips, red flaming hair, and was wearing a tight-fitting black jumpsuit. Multiple beaded necklaces of various sizes surrounded her neck, matching the rings on her fingers.

"By the way, how the hell did you get my car, Jam?"

Jamia shrugged. "I used a ladder to climb through the side of your house, broke your window's latch, and got the keys from your bedroom," she explained casually, and Laney stomped on the brakes, almost running through a red light straight into London's rush hour traffic.

Jamia rolled her eyes at the terrified look on her best friend's face. "Your mum opened the door for me, don't you think?"

Laney sighed with relief and then gave a breathed chuckle. "So you got the backpack with my clothes, right?" When she received no response, Laney looked over at Jamia, finding her with furrowed brows and wide eyes. Her smile fell slowly, panic rising with the idea of wearing her work uniform to the show. "Right?"

"You didn't think to put it in the fucking car?!" Jamia shrieked and Laney whined, letting her forehead rest on the steering wheel. "Bloody hell, no wonder I'm the brain in this friendship"

"Hey now, don't be mean! We were supposed to have plenty of time—" Behind them, a car honked as soon as the light turned green. "Oh, shut up," she kicked the truck into first gear and stepped on the gas, while Jamia flipped off the car behind them.

"Unbelievable..." Laney muttered to herself.

Jamia rolled her eyes, a smirk dangling on her lips. "Don't be so dramatic, love. I'm sure Davey boy will appreciate that skirt," she teased, reaching for the hem of Laney's baby blue skirt and pinching the skin on her tight.

Laney protested, swatting her friend's hand away and trying to keep the truck from swerving into the opposite lane. "Yeah. As if you didn't get all dolled up just for the cheeky blonde one," she countered with blushed cheeks.

"I'm always down to get dolled up, honey," Jamia laughed and threw the cigarette butt out the window, despite Laney's disapproving grunt. "But I have to admit I want to see his jaw hit the ground"

"You're a tease," Laney giggled, sliding into the first parking spot available around the theater, which was a miracle because the street was filled with people, reporters, black vans, and long buses.

Oh, she thought, they're famous. Like really famous.

"Fuck yeah. The chase makes it more exciting," the red-haired laughed and reached for the backseat, throwing her black faux leather cardigan over to her friend. "Here. Wear this or you'll freeze your tits off"

Laney slid her arms into the jacket but didn't move out of her seat. For some reason, she was getting nervous. Not a negative type of nervousness, but the type that made her stomach tingle and her heartbeat as if she hadn't just run a mile.