Faster than the Night

Chapter 4

Welcome back to Faster than the Night everyone! I hope all is well and everyone's having a great day so far! We're almost to the birthday party y'all! In this chapter we see what's going on with Elaine's friends lives : their boyfriends and college life. This means more to Elaine than having a boyfriend of her own. That's something important to note about our main character. Anyways I hope you all enjoy and feel free to comment and give a follow if you haven't yet so you get a notification when the new chapter is posted! 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When we got in the jeep, Layla insisted she could have drove but I didn't want to die the day before my 19th birthday party. I had started my way down the street when I got a call from Bella.

"Where in the hell are you guys?" she asked.

"Sis I'm sorry Layla was late. And by late, she woke up 15 minutes ago" I laughed and Layla rolled her eyes. "But we're on our way and we'll be there in I think 5 minutes. Did you get the reservations?"

"Yea I did. They're getting a little upset that you guys aren't here yet though."

"Tell them to go piss up a rope!" Layla yelled and we all laughed.

"I would like to get my nails done thank you!" I said slapping Layla.

"Well just hurry and I'll see you guys soon." Bella added before hanging up.

The rest of the car ride there was spent by Layla talking to me about one of my old flames Luke and how she thinks we should get back together. I'll never forget my times with Luke, and I did end up loving him, but we broke up and I had to move on. Plus, I told her, as she knew, I am very focused on my wedding planning career. She told me how ironic it was that I want to be a wedding planner but won't do whatever it takes to get love. I'm just not that kind of girl. The kind to put her career and passions aside for some boy. Don't get me wrong, my time with Luke was great, but I can't dwell on the past and put that in front of my future. I got snapped out of my gaze when we pulled up at the nail salon, Bella waving her hands at the Jeep.

"It's about damn time!" She yelled hugging Layla and I tightly when we jumped out of the Jeep running to see her. Bella went to a college in Vermont and we never saw each other. But, like Layla and I, we talked everyday quite often. When we finished hugging we walked into the nail salon and picked out our colors. I wanted to get white nails and toes since my dress was light blue. Layla got light green, and Bella ended up getting a soft yellow. We sat down in our chairs and I ended up getting a free massage for my birthday. I was never a fan of massages. They either dig too much or too little, but this one was fantastic.

"Bella. You need to tell us about you and Aaron! You've only given us little details!" Layla said breaking the awkward silence between us and the nail stylists.

"Yes! Go every detail!" I added.

"Elaine. You set me up with him has he not told you anything?" she laughed.

"No he's been quiet. Too quiet. What's going on with y'all?" I asked.

Bella looked down and then back up at the ceiling.

"Whoa something definitely happened. You either kissed or had sex. Knowing you, you probably just kissed since you guys have only been on one date." Layla laughed.

Bella rolled her eyes and told us that they kissed.

"How was it?!" Layla and I said at the same time.

"It... it was good I guess." Bella shrugged.

Knowing Bella, it was probably fantastic and fireworks must have sparked. That was definitely her first kiss though so she doesn't have much to judge off of.

"He's cute though! Way cuter than freshman year." I said and we all laughed.

"Anything's cuter than his freshman year." Layla countered.

"Anyways," Bella said trying to switch the topic off of her to Layla "how's Justin?!"

"He's really good. You guys know how much I liked him Sophomore year, but it just keeps getting stronger." Layla said.

"Well that would definitely be reasonable since he had a girlfriend Sophomore year." I said and we all laughed.

"I told you I was gonna steal her man and I did." she added making us and the nail stylists laugh even more.

By the time we finished talking about their boyfriends I was ready to leave. I love hearing about all their experiences, but it's not the same when you don't have your own to share. That took me back to our Sophomore year when we went to Luke's football game together. He was the running back for one of the private schools back at home. Layla, Bella, and I went to public school but I knew Luke from Peter's baseball league. He asked me to go to one of his games and like the lovestruck 15 year old girl I was, I said yes. We all got popcorn and sodas and sat in the bleachers. The game was great, even though they lost. We would talk about all the football players and how cute they were, but the only one I was looking at was Luke. I told myself I would never date a football player, after one practically stalked me, but Luke was different. He did baseball, football, and track and could never decide which one he liked the most. When the game was over, Bella and Layla went to make phone calls to their parents telling them they were ready to be picked up. Luke eventually came out of the locker room and took me out onto the field. I would say that night was perfect as he kissed me at the 50 yard line underneath the shooting stars. But, I was so surprised by his act of affection, I fell back and sprained my ankle. Other than that, that was my second favorite night in all my 15 years of living. That is, until we broke up. My first favorite night will always be the night I rode in the back of a pickup driving home from my friend's church event. There wasn't enough room in the car so 4 of us laid low in the back of the pickup and stared at the stars the whole ride home. I hoped that night wouldn't end, but unfortunately all good things have to come to an end. I was snapped out of my daydream when the nail stylist told me we were done and ready to leave. Once we paid, Bella told us she took an Uber here, and reminded me she was staying at my house. We all got in the Jeep and started the drive back home. I got to thinking in the 15 minute ride. I knew tomorrow night would most likely go downhill somehow, some way, but I hoped it would be an amazing night. It's funny how all good things happen in the glistening, black night.