Chapter 1

Happy Birthday

Leonora PoV:

Some might say that your birthday is the best day in your entire life. Well, maybe it is, but not when your friends want to drag you out to a club.

Doesn’t sound to bad, right? There is nothing that I hate more then croweded places, that’s just something I can’t stand. Still, they wanted to drag me there. They literally went on their knees and begged me to come with them.

“Comon, it’s just one night. Pleaseeeee.” Corinne begged for the millioneth time in the last few weeks. Ever since they had the idea, they just wouldn’t let it go.

Corinne was one of the, and I don’t joke, three friends I have. I met her at the libary, where I work. We got along well and she invited me over to her. That was when I met her roomates Ossie and Bryce. Two lovely guys.

“Pleaseeee?” I sighed and turned around, facing her. “I swear, if you ever want to drag me somewhere else again, I will just close the door in your face.” A wide smile apperead on her face and she jumped into my arms.

“I promise, you wont regret it.” “We will see…” She gave me a soft kiss on the cheeks, before she took the coffee, I was making for us two. A soft blush came to my face and I followed her with my own coffee.

My apartment wasn’t that big, but I still loved it. Three room, cozy and enough for me and my three cats. And no, I’m not some crazy cat lady.

The three rooms where my bathroom, bedroom, which was also my living room and kitchen, with a little table and the washing machine. I loved old book and plants, and that’s what you could see in here. Shelves full of old books and ivy growing around everywhere.

But I think what is more interesting, is who my cats are. The other three friends I have. Mirror, Patches and Rumpel. Mirror is a female Chartreux, Patches is a male burma cat and Rumpel, or better Rumpelstiltskin (that’s how I call him when he caused trouble) is a male Birma cat.

I took off my glasses, placing them on my night stand. “Now, the only thing we have to take care of now, is what you will wear.” That’s what I thought would happen. Why on earth did I say yes?

I laid back on my back and covered my face. “Don’t even think about hiding, let’s see whats hidden in your closet.” She pulled the doors open and started roaming around. This would be a long evening, I could feel it.

After what felt like two years, she finally had something that she was pleased with. “How could know that you look so damn hot in a suit!” I looked at myself in the mirror. She found and old suit of mine, a black one with some red accens which fit perfectly with my hair. Together with that, there was a red tie.

“You neeeeed to wear that.” I sighed and turned back around. “If you leave in peace now with this, then I promise I will wear this.” She smiled and jumped up and down. It seemed like someone was more excited then me for my birthday.

“Now let get you out of that and drink some wine, hm?” “Sounds perfect.” She left the room and I changed my clothes, petting Mirror on my way out.

…

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” I sat up in my bed, Rumpel and Patches hissing at the intruders. “For lords sake! Don’t do tha to me!” The two men smiled and Corinne jumped onto the bed and hugged me tightly.

“You were still sleeping and she grew impatient.” Bryce said, holding a helium balon. “Sorryyyy…” She said, smiling at me. “Your forgiven. Now comon, let me get into some clothes and then we can talk.” The three nodded and left the room.

I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror. “Tewnty-nine.” I mumbled. “Your getting old Lesso.” “Stop talking with yourself and get out here!” Ossie yelled and I rolled my eyes, chuckling to myself.

After I had my clothes on, I walked into my kitchen, taking the coffee the three had made for me. “Excatly what I need now.” They smiled at me, as I sat down.

“We all got something for you.” I looked at Ossie, which started laughing. “I said no presents.” “And so you said you would never go to a club. Seems like everything is changing today.” I sighed and leaned back.

“Okay, give it to me.” Corinne seemed more then happy, when she handed me a small box. I opened it and saw the most breathtaking ring I have ever seen.

It wasn’t a small and simple one, it was a thicker black ring, with some normal and red sand, sanded into its middle. “Wow…” I mumbled amazed, putting it on. “That’s… Thank you guys.” They all smiled at me, as I stared at the ring like a little child.

“So, what do we do now?” Bryce asked and I looked at them. “Well, I have today off, so why don’t we just do something chill, until later.” They all agreed and we sat down in the livingroom.

…

“Comon, we have to go!” Ossie yelled from downstairs, walking out of the apartment building. “Yeah, yeah, we’re on the way!” Corinne yelled back, turning back around to me.

She had a satisfied smile on her lips. “You look breath taking.” “Thank you.” I smiled back, trying not to blush to hard. She had done some make-up for me, nothing much. It woud give me the last touch, thats what she had said.

We walked down the stairs and I have to say, the heels were much more complicated then I had in mind.

After two heartaatacks, because I thought I would fall down the way to little stairs, i sat down in the car. “Ready?” We all nodded and Bryce started the car, driving us to a club, to which he said was the best in all Detroit.

When we arrived, I started to feel nervous. That would go terribly wrong, I knew it. “Come, or do yo wanna stare at the door?” “You know that I would rather do that.” She rolled her eyes and pulled me with her inside, the two boys following us.

Inside, it was much louder then I thought it would be. Corinne helped us get through the crowd towards the bar. “What do you want?” I looked at her, clueless. “Alright, then I decide.” Why did I had the feeling that I would end up way to drunk?

After she had ordered, we all waited until the bartender got us our drinks. “On your birthday!” They started cheering and we all took a sip. I smiled tomyself. Even when this was not that what I felt comfertable with, it wasn’t as bad as I imagined.

Maybe an hour or two passed, where we all just stood toegther, drinking our drinks and some shots. And lord, I could feel the effect it had on me.

“We wanna go on the dancefloor.” Corinne said, making my heart race. “Wanna join?” I shook my head, telling them I would go look for a quieter spot to sit down. “Alright, if something happens, call!” She showed me her phone and I smiled at her, watching them disappear in the crowd.

Why did they had to do this now? God, I hate being alone with that many people.

Slowly, I fought my way through the crowd and over to where I thought the seating bays would be. And I was right, the new problem now was to find one empty. For my luck there was none. There was only one bay where only one woman sat, but I would rather die then ask her if I could take a seat.

Just as I wanted to walk away again, a soft voice stopped me.

“If you want to sit down, don’t stop yourself. I don’t bite.” I turned back around, looking at the woman. She was beautiful, there was no daubt. I smiled shortly at her, before sitting down, breathing out relieved.

“The heels?” She asked and I turned to her. “W-what?” “The heels are hurting, right?” I nodded and started fiddling with my ring.

“Can I invite you for a drink?” My brain seemed to not work anymore, there was no chance that I could get out a simple yes, so I just nodded.

“Any wish?” “You, you decide.” I stuttered, mentally slapping myself. “You won’t regret it.” She called a bartender over, ordering for us.

“So now that we wait, don’t you wanna introduce yourself?” I carefully came a bit closer, not wanting to scream around.

With shaking hands, I tried to gather my voice to answer. “I-I’m Leonora. Leonora Lesso.” She smiled at me, leaning forward. “Clarissa. That’s all you get for now.” I felt myself blushing, looking away.

“I think this night just got interesting…”