Year 23

Turning 23

Hi.
You already know me.
I'm Amora. Amora Storm.
Did you read that in the "James Bond" tone? You should. It's funner.
Right now, I'm gonna tell you about the most eventful year of my life. The year I was 23.
Picture us traveling back in time, to about 12 months ago.
I'm sitting at a somewhat classy lounge- I can't remember its name, to be honest.
Anyways, I'm with my best friend of approximately 5 years.
Valerie. Valerie Halee.
Okay, I'll stop that now. It's getting annoying to me too.
We're not alone though. Valerie's boyfriend, Zachary Albert is here along with his sister, Saida.
I don't really know her much. I'm meeting her for the first time.
Anyways, back to the scene.

"My birthday is gonna be in 12 minutes, guys!" I slurred.
"Hold up, cow girl. Let's enjoy my birthday to the last drop please," Valerie shouted over the blaring music with a bottle of Smirnoff in her hand and a huge grin on her chubby face.
Oh, didn't I tell you? Valerie's birthday is one day before mine.
She'd never admit it but I think that's one of the reasons we've been friends for so long.
No one else can stand us.
"Oh yes! Let's!" An audibly inebriated me said.
Gosh, how embarrassing.
The first time I've ever drank so much to be slurring all over the place. In public too.
Old me needs counseling.
Okay, no. Old me was trying to become someone she wasn't for all the wrong reasons.
I'll tell you about that later. We've got time.
Now, back to the bar.

Saida was practically passed out. If it wasn't for the random bursts of giggles, I'd have thought she was dead.
Thank god she wasn't. I don't know how I'd react near a dead body.

Zachary was slouched over in the corner. Not doing anything. Not saying anything. He was drunk though.

Valerie leaned over him as she gave him a long smooch on the lips.
Ew.
Even at this age I still think PDA is unnecessary.

"Guys, get a room. Geez," I said as I flicked a straw from one of the cocktails to them.

It was 23:59 now. One more minute and I'm finally 23.
What would this mean for me? Nothing, I guess. I'm just getting older.

Oh, how wrong I was.

As the clock striked 12, Valerie burst into screams of "Happy Birthday, Amora!!!" while showering me with hugs and kisses.

She was never this affectionate sober. In fact, had she been sombre, she'd had said "Happy drop day, bitch" and left it at that.

We were alike in that way. But I'd be a fool not to admit that she was tougher than me in more ways than one.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

I looked down at my iPhone and saw the name 'Ronan' pop up.

Oh, he's my boyfriend by the way. Ronan Smythe. We've been together for 4 years + at this point.

I knew he was calling to wish me a happy birthday, but I really didn't want to answer.

He didn't know I was out with Valerie.

Why?

Well, because I didn't tell him, obviously.

See, he doesn't really like Valerie. He thinks she's a bad influence.

But then again, he thinks everyone I talk to is a bad influence.