The Shadows between us

Eloise stared back at herself in the mirror as she applied a thick layer of red lipgloss. She was devastated. She has been devastated ever since she got that phone call from her fiance, Luca. Luca had told her she didn't seem like one he could build a life with anymore. Maybe he felt that way because she was living in the basement of her married sister's house. Or maybe he felt that way because she was a waitress with no actual life goals. Either way, she was heartbroken because he had just proposed to her. She was getting ready to meet with her wild and ecstatic friend Jade, at the club. She was more than determined to get Luca out of her head. She applied the last layer of lipgloss easily and stood up, picked up her purse, and headed for the door. She took a glance at her cramped room, it was in so much disarCaleb just like her life. She closed the door to her room and headed hastily but quietly for the front door. "Eloise," Naomi called softly while leaning on the doorframe to her room. A frown line on her forehead. "Where are you headed to? It's past 9pm." She asked. " Out," Eloise answered quickly, avoiding Naomi's gaze. Naomi was Eloise's older sister. Naomi has always been a good daughter. Went to Stanford and currently running a small time law firm. She was the perfect daughter. She was uptight, way too uptight for Eloise's liking. She has always been one to steal attention, with her hazel eyes and strawberry blonde hair, which was how she bagged such a loving and handsome husband, James. Note the sarcasm. He's probably cheating on Naomi. "Eloise, I'm done giving you advice. You're not determined to make something of your life. I don't care what you do with your life. I just want to make it clear that your half of the rent is due and I am not giving you an advance on this. We made a deal." Naomi stated. Eloise scoffed. Here we go again. " Okay." She replied softly, still not meeting Naomi's gaze. "Will you also like to clean up your room? It looks like a calculated dump. The kids could easily run in there and it's not healthy for them. If you have decided to breathe in hazardous air fine, just don't make my kids do the same." Naomi said again, picking herself up from the door frame and heading into her room, shutting the door behind her. "Hazardous air." Eloise thought out loud and scoffed again. She walked out the front door and shut it behind her. She stood outside. Eloise breathed in slowly and breathed out. She loved the nightlife in New York City. She loves the way everywhere lights up in every color known to man. She loves how all the lights reflect off the high windows of different buildings making the city sparkle more. She loves all the tall buildings in New York and how busy everywhere usually is. She loves New yo- "Addie! Eloise!" A whiny but firm voice called out forcing Eloise to take notice of her surroundings. Jade had arrived sitting in the driver's seat. Jade was Eloise's best friend. They've been friends ever since Jade shared her eraser with Eloise in kindergarten. Jade was a 5"4, red-haired, carefree woman. She was always taking Eloise out on wild adventures. " What the f**k Addie? Come on, it's almost midnight. " It’s literally 9pm. " Well, hello to you too," Eloise replied sarcastically as she got into the seat next to Jade. Jade fastened her seatbelt. " Seatbelt please," She said without acknowledging Eloise's greetings. Eloise rolled her eyes. "I can almost feel the adrenaline coming from you Jade. I can also catch a scent of alcohol." Eloise pointed out as she turns to look at Jade with a knowing look. "Duh! I'm so freaking pumped, Addie. You've been in such a phase after your break up with you know who, automatically dragging me along with you. I haven't partied in what? like 3 months?" She said, casually making hand gestures. " Hands on the wheel Jade. I'm glad you got what you wanted. And you know you can say, Luca." Eloise replied, laughing. “ Stop being so dramatic.” " Glad to know his name is no longer a trigger word. " Jade said, smiling towards Eloise. " See, you're moving on. I promise we'll have so much fun. Trust me." She said reassuringly. " I doubt that," She has never been one to socialize or party. Luca was her college sweetheart. He was her first everything. They arrived at the club a few minutes later. Loud music could be heard emanating from the club. Thumping so loud it was almost deafening. "Come on," Jade said loudly, grabbing Eloise by the wrist as they headed for the entrance to the club. They got in, Jade sighed in ecstasy then turned to face Eloise. "Okay, Addie. We're here because you're going to f*****g get Luca out of your head. You're going to get so drunk that you won't even be able to stand upright and then you get it on with a very hot guy." Jade said ever so seriously, holding Eloise by the wrists, looking her in the eyes. Eloise found it so hilarious, she burst out into a series of loud laughter. " What the f**k Jade? I'm doing none of that okay?" Eloise said, still laughing. She walked away from Jade, heading for the bar. " Okay well, if you're not going to do any of that, I will." " Can I get four shots of tequila please?” Her voice was flirty and laced with drunkenness. The bartender smirked knowingly in response and started to pour her drink. He wishes. " Four?!" Eloise half asked, half exclaimed, turning to look at Jade." I am not driving Jade." She finished. Jade glanced over at Eloise and gave her 'the' look. "Remember I'm not a lightweight like you Addie." She pointed out. The bartender handed her four shots of tequila as requested. Jade chugged them down quickly, one after the other and wiggled her body like she had just been electrified. Eloise laughed at the sight of that, shaking her head in disbelief. Jade adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder and turned fully to Eloise. "Okay, Eloise. See you." Jade said as she waved once towards her and headed for the dance floor. " What? Jade you brought me here, you're not going to leave me alone. I'm coming with you. " Eloise said, getting down from the bar stool. " No no no Addie, you're not, you look so beautiful. You'll have men buying you drinks in no time, okay? Plus..” She started and trailed off. Eloise watched her intently, prodding her to continue with her brows arched in anticipation. “ You’re such a bad dancer babe. Like two left legs type of thing, y’know?” No, I don’t know! Eloise gasped jokingly. “ That was so mean, Jade.” She added dramatically. Jade’s face scrunched up in fake pain. “ Sorry, but it’s true.” She said again before coming closer and pecking Eloise on the lips. She headed towards the dance floor again, swaying her hips while whooping. Eloise sighed loudly. She couldn’t believe Jade was leaving her by herself. But then again… it was Jade. She turned in her seat, facing the bar. She thought back to the first time Luca had brought her to this bar. He had just taken her to have dinner at his parent's the previous night. She was meeting his parents for the first time, it was such a hectic dinner for all involved. They had spent the night there and left the next morning. They were both so stressed they decided to get it all out at the bar by getting drunk. It was fun. "f**k Luca and his wrinkled, rude-ass mom," Eloise said out loud, surprising both herself and the bartender. " Can I get a shot of tequila? " She requested. She said to herself that she was going to have just one shot. One shot would make her forget about Luca for a while. She was a bad lightweight. The bartender handed her a shot of tequila. She sipped and scrunched up her face, she was hardly fond of alcohol, but that familiar burning in the chest, that she could remember. She chugged the rest of the tequila. She suddenly felt that rush of adrenaline she could feel coming from Jade earlier in the car. She hadn't felt that type of rush in such a long time. Meanwhile it was probably a typical day for Jade. Eloise chuckled at the realization. " Another one." She requested again. She didn't sip this time, she chugged the shot down in no time. She felt the rush rising. " Another one." She asked, her words slurring already. " Are you sure about that? " The bartender asked. " Can I get another shot of tequila please?" She asked clearer this time, assuming he didn't hear her. He handed her another shot which she chugged down. She was in a very drunken state. She turned her back to face the bar, and stared at the dance floor, searching for Jade. Eloise hadn't noticed it before, but as she looked around she felt a weird energy from this particular club. The men in the vvip section were all hefty, hairy-looking men. They all looked and were equally dressed corporate too. She wondered where Jade was. She suddenly wanted to leave. She searched her purse shakily for her phone. She scrolled hastily through her contact list, searching for Jade's contact. She located it and dialed it, but it went straight to voicemail. Eloise tried so many times but it kept going to voicemail. Eloise lost grip of her phone as it fell to the ground. " Damn it." She cursed loudly. Before Eloise could pick it up, she could see a very veiny hand that looked masculine reaching for her phone. She could tell from the crisp white, button-up, long-sleeved shirt peeking out from his burgundy suit, that he was one of the corporate-looking men she had seen earlier at the private lounge.