Submission

Something like that

Friday was finally here!!

Maddie had thrown a little too much clothes for a two night stay-over into her suitcase, picking some items she knew Alison would like too.

After picking up both girls and some junk food from the gas station they had arrived at the Astor hotel a little past 7.

Maddie had booked the penthouse for them, three rooms and a common area with a kitchenette.

They hurriedly stuffed their luggages away after changing into cute knee length dresses.

Alison was wearing a baby pink spaghetti strap tighter-then-a-drum sequence dress, and Maddie had commented that Alison looked like a woman on a mission, and asked her to keep the noise down later, because every man would surely be begging to go home with her, wearing that dress.

Erica was wearing a white loose flowing dress, making her look almost angelic.

“Are you trying to look innocent? because you’re not fooling us” Alison had laughed, making Erica shoot her a mischievous smile.

Maddie was wearing a sage, modest high neck halter top dress, only leaving her shoulders bare.

The bruises had faded, but she had to play the part of someone trying not to get sick.

As they entered the packed restaurant, Erica was floored by the beautiful decor.

It was a far cry from the Diner her parents ran, that was sure.

Erica had already been blown away when she saw their rooms, thanking her lucky stars that she didn’t have to split the hotel bill, cause boy oh boy, she would be digging into her savings for that kind of accommodation.

They were shown to their table, it was beautifully lit by the chandelier hanging above them, and was placed with a gorgeous view of the back garden which was ordained with thousands of fairy lights.

“Now I know why you’re always paying the bar tab” Erica whispered, as she took in the scene before her.

Alison and Maddie had always only hung out with Erica when going out drinking, or to Uncle Vinny’s restaurant.

It wasn’t that they didn’t like her, but Erica had alway been busy helping her parents run the Diner, to ever hang out after school.

They got seated and ordered the 5 course special, and a bottle of champagne.

As Maddie took her first bite of their starter, the unmistakable sound of her harpy half sister shrieked her name, making Maddie choke on her carpaccio.

“Maddie!! How funny seeing you here. Seems like every time I see you you are either stuffing your mouth, or getting drunk” Bianca said while sending Maddie a smirk.

And as if on queue, the Champagne bucket was placed on their table.

“Guess you’re doing both tonight” Bianca giggled, almost making Maddie loose her appetite.

“What brings you to my fathers fine establishment?” Maddie asked, emphasizing ‘my father’

“Oh, we’re having my bridal shower here tonight” Bianca responded, stepping aside so Maddie could see the long line of airheads her sister must have chosen for her bridal party.

“Well I guess we’ll see you guys around” Maddie said through Gritted teeth, taking a large gulp of the champagne the waiter had just poured her.

“Watch your calories” Bianca said in a sing-song voice as she walked past their table followed by her bridal entourage.

“10..11..12..?” How many bridesmaids does she need, does she think she is royalty?” Erica whispered

“A royal pain in my a*s” Maddie corrected, a little too loudly, earning her a huff and a glare from the last of the minions leaving the restaurant, which made Erica snort from laughter.

Maddie turned to Alison, expecting a similar response, but she was lost, typing away on her phone, completely unaware of what had just transpired.

“Earth to Alison??” Maddie sang, waving a hand in front of Alison’s phone, catching her attention.

“Oh sorry, yes, your sister is a b***h” Alison said hurriedly, stuffing her phone into her purse.

“Was it your parents? Do they need you at home?” Maddie asked worriedly, hoping, despite her half sisters presence, that they wouldn’t have to cut their weekend short.

“Oh no, I was just checking something” Alison answered and then raised her glass and said “to an amazing weekend with the best people I know!”

The girls all clanked their glasses and continued eating the delicious food.

“I’m stuffed!!” Maddie exclaimed.

Eating hers and Alison’s desert might have been stretching her stomach lining a little too thin, but wasting food was a definite sin in the Bible of Maddie, so down it all went.

Maddie had noticed that throughout the courses Alison’s mood had dwindled, and she was now audibly sighing as the waiter removed their plates.

Erica had also noticed and was looking at her with a worried expression.

“Is something wrong” Erica asked, but Alison shook her head.

“No, I’m good, I think I just need some cocktails in me” Alison said, shooting the two girls a smile.

“And maybe a man.. in.. you??” Maddie added in a seductive tone, but Alison shook her head.

“Nope, not tonight anyway” Alison said getting up from her chair signaling that she was ready to hit the Bar.

——

The girls went up to the bar which was located on the 6’th floor and had a beautiful view of the shoreline.

They sat themselves at the bar since the music was a standard lounge type music, and they didn’t have to yell to hear each other like at The Hollow.

“Anyone interesting?” Maddie asked Erica, who was scouting the area.

“No” Erica said dejected “maybe in the back?”

“How about you Maddie? it’s been a while since you last found someone worthy of your time, right? Erica asked, hoping to find a partner in crime for the night, since Alison had made it clear that she wasn’t in the mood to find a man.

“A while??” Alison snorted “I don’t think she’s been with a single man since she bought her Rabbit” Alison giggled while she sipped her drink wiggling her eyebrow at Erica.

“So that is why you haven’t had an itch that needed scratching!” Erica laughed

“ well as a matter of fact, he’s been out of commission for a while” Maddie said, internally cursing Richard for stealing him.

“He’s broken?” Alison chuckled

“Something like that” Maddie mumbled.

“Sooo does that mean you are on the look-out for a replacement?” Erica asked, expectation clear in her voice.

She didn’t want to be the only one looking for a man tonight.

Maddie contemplated the thought, maybe finding a sweet non scary man wasn’t such a bad idea.

Maddie finally spoke “I tell you what, if I do stumble on a good looking man, I might go for it”

Making Erica jump in her seat while clapping her hands.

“One down, one to go” Erica said, turning to look at Alison expectantly.

“Ohhh no, it’s a hard pass for me” Alison quickly responded, and Erica sighed in defeat.

The girls ordered another round of drinks and Erica dragged the girls to a table next to a group of guys she had spotted sitting further in the back.

The men were in town for an IT conference and were all wearing grey suits and polos with a company logo.

Erica had stricken up a conversation with one of them right off the bat, she was definitely a woman on a mission, and likewise the men had been quick to scoot their tables together saying “the more the merrier”

After a while Maddie was actually enjoying herself, she had been talking to a guy called David, he was blond with blue eyes and looked like every mother in law’s dream.

He even had dimples!!!

“Holy moly!!!” Erica exclaimed pulling Maddie and Alison in for a huddle so the men wouldn’t hear her.

“Look at those two Greek gods trying to shake off she-who-shall-not-be-named and her covenant of witches!” Erica said, pointing towards the front of the bar.

Maddie and Alison turned around to see non other than Jason and Oliver Wall coming towards them, followed by Maddie’s step sister and her entire entourage of hyenas.

Maddie slid down the chair trying to disappear under the table, but Alison sat up straight, with a surprised smile on her face.

“You know them???“ Erica asked, seeing their reaction.

“Something like that” Alison and Maddie said in unison, making Maddie eye Alison suspiciously before asking her “what did you do??”