Chapter Text
[1]
Well, I'm Mia Westwood, I'm 21 years old. I am a girl who lives in the center of New York, studying at a prestigious college to become a lawyer. My parents chose this profession for me, despite the fact that my heart yearned for art. Since childhood, I went to art school where I did well, but my parents cut off all my dreams in an instant, simply presenting me with a fact. They wanted me with all their hearts to follow in their footsteps. There were so many hysterics back then, but I had to come to terms with it. In fact, they are not my family, but I have known them for as long as I can remember. I never knew or saw my relatives. According to the stories that my parents told me, I was found on the threshold of their house in only a blanket, hungry and cold. Now I am very grateful to them for not leaving me there to die or handing me over to someone else. You ask, what could be better than a life where everything is arranged for you to start a career and having a lot of opportunities? Maybe, but I’m just the kind of person who loves creativity, working in the fresh air, walking under the moon and just being alone with my thoughts.
I have a best friend, Stacy. We have known each other literally since the cradle. She lives in a neighboring house, so we see each other literally every day. Since childhood, we do everything together. We went to the same kindergarten, then school, and as you probably understand, we also chose the university together. To be more precise, she went where my parents sent me. Stacy still hasn’t decided which profession is best for her to enter, so she didn’t really hesitate when submitting her documents. Our parents are the owners of a large law firm and were only for it that their daughters would also work in this field.
[2]
The doorbell rang and I immediately ran to open it, guessing who was there. The appearance of a friend appeared before my gaze; she stood in a hoodie and jeans, which looked divine on her body as always. Blonde hair fell over the girl's sharp shoulders, showing herself in all her glory. She had a bottle of wine in her hand, which she gave to me as she walked into the house.
"Well, what's the catch?" I looked at the bottle, and then at my friend.
"In what sense," looking at me, she rolled her eyes, "okay, okay, Jordan and I broke up... again."
"I want to make it clear... is this the 3rd time you’ve broken up?"
"Yes, I think so," the blonde shrugged, and then, snatching the bottle from me, she walked into the kitchen like a housewife and started looking for glasses.
Stacy took out two glass containers and began filling them with liquid that smelled pleasantly sweet.
"Well, where are yours now?" my friend’s voice rang through the whole house, where a few hours ago such a pleasant silence reigned for me.
"somewhere in Seattle. What about yours?" I looked up at my friend, realizing that my vacation plans had been ruined.
No, don’t think that I don’t like to communicate with her, I’m just having a very difficult day today. My brain is already too loaded with information from college, where I had five classes today. I usually can’t sit through three, but here there are five.
"and mine are somewhere there too, although I don’t really know. In principle, I wasn’t particularly interested in where they were going, the main thing is that the house is completely at my disposal," we both smiled.
Indeed, when my parents go on a business trip every time, Stacy and I have freedom. Eat what you want, do what you want, walk wherever and as much as you want.
"Stop. Why are you changing the topic?" the blonde looked at me with incomprehension, although I think she guessed. "I warned you about him? Did I tell you that you will break up again?"
"oh, never mind. You don't have to worry, because this time we break up forever"
"listen, mate, you said that last time and what came out of it now?" I smiled and understood that it was useless to argue with her, but since she ruined my vacation, I could help her to do the same.
Nobody knows exactly how long we sat like that over a bottle of wine. But I came to my senses when it was already almost empty. The blonde thought the same thing, so I saw her puppy dog eyes.
"What?" maybe it’s the alcohol or I really can’t understand what this look is about. But when Stace looked at the empty bottle again, and then at me..."no."
"But why? It's yours. What is the problem?" yes, indeed, I have my own club. This is my 18th birthday present.
* Memories *
I woke up to the bright sun breaking through the windows. A smile on my face appeared out of nowhere, reminding my head of a big holiday - my coming of age.
I quickly washed my face and went to choose an outfit. After thinking for a few minutes, my eyes noticed a package from a recent shopping trip. There was a nice little dark blue set with a top and pants. Delighted with my find and mentally thanking my friend for making me go shopping with her, I ran to do some makeup for myself.
I decided to draw arrows, applied lip gloss and mascara to my eyelashes.
After running my eyes over my outfit, I went down to the first floor. The kitchen smelled of pancakes that were on the table. A bowl of berries lay nearby. While I was enjoying breakfast, my eyes became covered by someone's hands.
"Good morning, sunshine,"my mother’s voice was heard somewhere from behind, and then I saw her. Her beautiful smile, as well as the happy father who stood with a small bright box.
"Good morning to you too. Pancakes, as always, are at the highest level."
"I completely agree. I demand that you cook them every day," my father hugged my mother’s waist.
"What about your abs, you watch them so much," I giggled, knowing how much he really watches them.
"In general, we want to congratulate you on your eighteenth birthday. We decided that giving you a car or an apartment is very banal, and you yourself said that you want to live with us for now, and you already have a car, so... we came up with something special" that same box ended up in my hands.
Turning it over in my hands, I tried to open the thing carefully to preserve the wrapper. Yes, I have such a quirk. I love collecting little things to remember so that when you feel sad you can remember something nice. Opening the gift, I saw... keys?
"wait... you just said that you won’t give me an apartment or a car, but I still see the keys."
"Yes that's right. These are the keys to the club" you should have seen my face here. Yes, my parents know very well that clubs are my passion. Almost every security guard at these establishments knows Stacy and me. We hang out there literally every weekend, if not more often.
"sorry, what?" I came to my senses and pounced on my parents, hugging them to the maximum extent it seemed to me, "Thank you, thank you, thank you," I whispered this, while my soul was bursting with happiness.
"the documents have already been prepared, so all that remains is your signature. We can do this in the establishment itself," my mother put her hands on my shoulders, enjoying the joy of their charge.
*End of flashback*
"Understand, I’m not in the mood right now."
"So that’s it, Mia. Now get ready and let’s go, otherwise I’ll start looking for some kind of couple again, and then maybe I’ll return to Jordan..."
"Well, no, I’d rather go with you than see that idiot’s face again."
"Yeeees! I knew it would work,” the blonde hugged me and ran to my bedroom to choose an outfit."
An hour later, Stacy and I stood near the place where I had not been for a long time. Of course, this is explained by the fact that annual exams have begun in our college. From early morning until late at night, the only thing I saw were books and my friend with whom we learned everything together.
"Hi Michael." he is a security guard at the club, and also a person with whom we are friends. Once upon a time we even met with him, but then we decided that it was better to stop and remain friends.
"Hello to you girls too. I haven't seen you here for a long time. I already thought that something could happen to you."
"everything is possible. But this time it’s exams" and she was right. Maybe individually we are adequate girls, but as soon as we see each other, it feels like all the adventures for our assesfind us themselves.
"okay, if you will need anything we are inside," I opened the door and went inside, before almost hitting my friend with the door, "I’m sorry."
"Nothing! I’m already used to it," we both smiled.
Upon entering, the mixed smell of alcohol and sweat of dancing people hit my nose. There were a lot of people, considering the fact that today is Monday. The club is divided into four zones. The first is places with sofas and tables, the second is a large bar, which I, of course, remade to my taste, the third zone is the dance floor, and the fourth is the DJ’s place. Of course we headed straight to the bar. I didn’t really want to dance, and if I did, my legs would definitely give out because of today’s marathon.
"Hi Mia, Stacy," the bartender named Jack immediately provided us with a glass of whiskey. After thanking him for the drinks, we started talking about our college, and he disappeared to the other end of the bar. Yes, he’s a little strange here, but maybe that’s for the better. Otherwise, as soon as Stacy begins to voice her thoughts about everyone and everything again, his ears will wither from her eloquence.
"Um, Mia," I turned my head to the blonde, "have you seen what they write on the news?"
"no, what should I have seen?" To be honest, I rarely read or watched the news. The reason for this is the lie with which they are saturated. Slander and other nonsense that journalists like to embellish. But Stacy loves this business. She loves to read all sorts of showdowns between the stars and other nonsense.
"The Avengers have captured Loki again. Now they want to send him to trial for stealing some materials from the former S.H.I.E.L.D. warehouse."
"Lord... these Avengers again... It’s interesting, they can write about anything, but it feels like no one else exists for them except these people in suits."
"Why do you say that?"
"You yourself know perfectly well how I feel about them" and I really don’t understand what’s wrong with them? Why does everyone think they are special? Well, they have superpowers, but this in no way distinguishes them from ordinary people. Back in 2012, during the Battle of New York, one of these monsters smashed this building into small pieces, like many others. But you know, it feels like they are smeared with honey here. When I was already the owner of the club, Stark “slightly” destroyed everything here with his suit, trying to catch one of the people belonging to Hydra. Then they did something to the Hulk and he ran through the streets of New York, smashing everything in his path. And guess what? That's right, he destroyed the entire central entrance for me. Yes, they saved the lives of many and continue to do so, for this I respect them.
"okay, let’s have a drink, shall we?" I didn’t have time to say a word when Jack appeared as if out of nowhere. I adore him for this. It doesn’t hang over your soul, it simply evaporates, but when you need to replenish the drink in your glass, it’s already right there.
"two more whiskeys please..."