Short stories that escalate into full books

Beauty is Pain Ch. 1

Chapter 1

April 12th, 2001, 4:39pm

'Hey girl!! Party at Romeo's at 6 tonight, joining?' Ashlyn read the text her friend sent. Answering, Ashlyn gets up to get ready before asking her mom.

"Another girl gone. That makes 4 just in this month!" Ashlyn's mom could be heard from the couch as she walked in.

"Hey mom, the girls and I wanted to go to a party tonight, can I go?" The tall brunette walks in the room. Her outfit was nothing out of the usual, tight crop top, jean shorts, Swimsuit showing underneath it, her school jacket, white hat, ankle high socks and white converse.

"Honey, there have been so many missing girls lately! Are you sure it's safe? Our state has had the most girls missing out of all of them! Are you sure you'd like to go?" Worried, her mother rambled about how unsafe it was for her to go out at such a time. Even if it was still the middle of the afternoon it would be dangerous as the night went on. Ashlyn wasn't listening to a word she was saying. She sighed sitting down next to her mother.

"Mom! I'll be fine, the worst that could happen is that they don't order enough food, or somebody pukes on my outfit. You're being overdramatic" Ashlyn rolled her eyes, her elbow on the arm rest as her chin rested in her palm. Her other hand was holding a handheld mirror so she could check her makeup.

"I suppose so, when will you be home? Do you need a ride there and back? I could pick up your friends as well for you if you'd like" Shrugging, Ashlyn just stared at her phone. Wanting out of her house, she stepped to the door, soon walking out.

"I'll be home by midnight probably, Fate will pick me up" Her mom opens her mouth but before she could talk Ashlyn had started speaking before her "Yes I know, no boys, no drugs, no alcohol, stay by friends, get out as soon as I get a bad vibe from anything or anyone" She sighed rolling her eyes. She had heard that every time before going anywhere. Her mom smiling, nodding that she could go, they say their goodbyes and their love for you, as Ashlyn's ride comes into view.

"Hey girl!!!" Fate yaps from the car, excited about the event coming up, another girl from the group, Harley is already in the car shushing their friend for being too loud, Ashlyn snickers as she makes it into the backseat of the car. Fate had stunning ginger hair, freckles on her face, gorgeous green eyes and natural pink toned filled lips, Ashlyn was quite jealous of her striking beauty but always knew she had her own beauties as well, so she didn't really mind. Harley on the other hand had had the clearest face out of anybody, she had a nose piercing and a beauty mark in the corner of her eye, she was a short Asian girl with perfectly long eyelashes, fluffy blonde dyed hair, her brown roots were starting to show, one side of her hair tucked behind one ear, showing off her multiple ear piercings.

Fate was wearing a gray green shirt, dark blue cuffed jean shorts, blue and white Jordan's and wearing a black headband. Harley was wearing a red tank top, white shorts, black jacket, knee high black socks and black and red high tops. Both have their swimsuits underneath like Ashlyn.

"What's up guys! I've been dreading to get out of the house, nothing interesting ever happens now that my dad's traveled to Italy" Fate from the front seat checking her minimal makeup in the mirror of the sun visor before starting to drive. Harley stared at her friend, a saddened expression on her face as she stared at her friend. Putting her hand on her back to signal reinsurance and comfort for her friend. Ashlyn stares at the girl, feeling comforted from her small gesture.

"Cheer up Lyn, you have us and an awesome party to get to! You have your matching bikini on, right?"

"You bet! If I didn't have matching swimsuits with you guys, I wouldn't know how horrendous I'd look" as soon as the girl said this, another came into view. Penelope. Penelope was a sight for sore eyes, her beautiful hypopigmentation, her curly dark-almost black hair with space buns with strands of hair shaping her face. She had gold round framed glasses and a nose septum, and had on a pale pink tight crop top, black ripped jean shorts, a tan zip up jacket and sandals with a bit of height added to them. She also brought a small purse. Likely holding feminine products for all of us, self-defense tools for anyone giving us unwanted attention.