Addict

Lock the doors and close the blinds

As I pulled out a letter , sent supposedly from Aunt Karie , I glanced over at storm who was shifting tirelessly through the pile. It was weird to me. Having someone to share all this with. I couldn't quite decide wether I loved or hated it , but I came to the conclusion that I just had to accept it as what it was. I now had a partner.

I have to say , working with her significantly lowered the work load. She was more intelligent than I had given her credit for in the past ; she had been to a private school after all.

Slowly she began to separate the letters into different piles , and out of curiosity I carefully worked my way through the untamed obstacle course of scattered paper until I was able to sit cross-legged in front of her.

"Should I ask?"

"You're a dumbass. Haven't you noticed?"

"Condescending much. And no , care to fill me in."

I rolled my eyes. It's not her fault. She grew up in a posh family , it was bound to rub off on her slightly.

"The writing , look. Look how they're signed off. The handwriting curls slightly in four different ways. I think there is four bases. You're parents were part of something BIG Vee"

I glanced over at the piles before realising she'd hit the nail on the head. Even if there wasn't four bases, that number HAD to be relevant. It was so clear now she'd pointed it out.

I sat in silence for a while, trying to compose my thoughts , when a strange wave or de ja vu washed over me. The thought that lead to this sensation was that everything about this felt surreal, like I was still on set playing a role rather than unravelling my true life.

I tried to cling on to that feeling , desperate to know what it could mean , but it wasn't to be. If you've ever had the feeling of having a word on the tip of your tongue but you can't quite remember what it was you'll be able to sympathise. However for me it was more than just a word , I could almost feel myself deflating with a whole vicious cocktail of emotions. That could have truly meant something , but I let it slip away.

As a punishment to myself I was ready to stay up all night , going over and over everything until something finally stuck. But as much as I complained, Storm shook me out of it. She insisted that I have a break otherwise I'd drive myself crazy , and as much as I tried to protest that I already WAS crazy , I ended up succumbing to her nags.

Foolishly, I began to prepare for a night in : ice cream and hopefully binge watching Brooklyn Nine Nine if storm didn't fight me for the remote. If I heard "xoxo gossip girl" again I was sure I'd explode. However , thinking back on it , that probably would've been less trauma than what came bounding through my bedroom door just as I'd stepped into my pyjamas.

The first thing that hit my eyes was the blinding sheet of sparkle, followed by a cheesy grin that was beginning to become sarcastic. There was storm , dazzling my doorway , draped in a glitzy gold 20's style dress and dainty heels to match. She slowly began to shake her head , cursing herself as her curling rags began to droop.

"You didn't really think we were staying in did you? C'mon Vee , you should know me better than that , you need to let your hair down! Drinks on me!"

I let my whole body go heavy and flopped onto the bed in a heap , covering my head with the duvet.

"You know , I think I can feel a migraine coming on-"

"Oh don't you even dare Violet Jane Ashford. You are coming with me wether you like it or not."

With each syllable of my name she hit me with my own pillow , gradually increasing in strength. With a groan I rolled off my bed , still cocooned in my comfy duvet.

"Fine. But we're home by 12:00. No later."

We we're not home by twelve.

*************************************************

After bidding a sorrowful goodbye to Donald , which I now decided was the name of my duvet and life long best friend , I began to kind of get into it. I started to enjoy myself.

Storm let me play all my music whilst we were getting ready. I slid into a pair of fishnet tights and a fitted black dress. With it , I paired a studded black corset and chains , my favourite platform boots , a choker and some elegant pentagram earrings.

As I finished my eyeliner and touched up my matte black lipstick, I let my hair fall into sleek loose curls and turned to storm.

Her mouth fell open in a comical fashion as she looked me up and down.

"Okay I may not be gay but holy shit"

"What , I don't see the big deal?"

With that , she grabbed me by the arm and dragged me into her room , where I was faced with a full length mirror almost the size of the wall. I winced automatically, dreading the sight of me , but with another slap on the arm by storm I slowly opened my eyes.

I looked ... good. Like , really good. Wow , narcissism at its finest right? But I hadn't felt like this in a long time , I'd been so wrapped up in work that I'd forgotten how to actually appreciate things.

A grin slowly crept up my face. Tonight was gonna be good.

The club was in an unusual place , not near the centre of town. Storm told me that she'd found out about it through a work friend , and that it was one of the best clubs for miles, which is truly saying something since we live in California.

The name of the club glimmered in a deep purple above us , flashing in an almost ambient , calming matter. Marchosias. Interesting name for a night club , but weirdly appealing.

The soft thud from the bass started to pump through me as we approached , giving me a weird cocktail of excitement and tranquility.

As all this was going through my head I was simply in a world of my own. Dazing at my surroundings which were almost trance like , as if something was drawing me to this place... but breaking the moment with her usual caffeinated attitude, storm began to drag me in , grinning and whooping in triumph. Now I think about it , the triumph was probably for getting me out of the house in the first place.

Eventually I took a deep breath , and following storms lead , I stepped inside.