I'm a 90s Babe

Alexis’ head snapped up and she looked over to the unrecognizable masked figure in front of her, with a confused look, but shrugged. Her eyes now yellow from the cat eyed contacts, as she scanned over the figure again. “Ya’ better not ‘ave poisoned it or somethin’.” She laughed, taking the shot, and drinking it back. “My cousin wouldn’ be happy, an’ he’s pretty protective.” Alexis was quite drunk, really, so she would probably have accepted it no matter what. Who wouldn’t take a free drink? 

Watching Alexis take the drink, Chloe couldn’t help but smile under the mask. Her hatred for the girl in front of her driving her actions this evening, especially driving her costume choice. Even though Chloe wasn’t entirely sure of what exactly her plan was, she knew she’d think of something soon. “The only poison I’ve had my hands on is vodka.” Putting her hand on her hip, she tilted her head slightly. “And I won’t tell your cousin if you don’t.” Chloe paused before continuing. “So what’s your story then? It seems everyone around here has a pretty interesting one.”

Imogen turned around, pulling down her hood and moving so that her bump was now more visible to the undecipherible figure in front of her. “As much as I’d love ta accept a shot off a random stranger,” she replied with a scoff, “I’m afraid I can’t. So why not keep it for yaself, eh?”

Oh fuck, was Chloe’s first thought. Because of her costume she didn’t realise it was Imogen. Her bump had gotten a lot bigger since the last time she saw her. “Smart choice.” Chloe raised the shot glass before using one hand to push the mask up enough that her mouth was out before necking the shot. She didn’t plan on getting drunk, but a drink or two always helped.

Mila crept up on the person in front of her and shouted a loud “boo!” Laughter fell from her lips when she saw the person jump. “Sorry, I had to, didn’t I?”

Letting out a small shriek, Chloe immediately turned around, coming face to face with Finn’s sister Mila. Her heart pounding in her chest, she almost forgot about her disguise and slammed her mouth shut. After a pause, she spoke with her fake southern accent. “You did give me a fright! But it is Halloween so I’ll let you off.” She hadn’t seen Mila in a while, wasn’t sure if she knew about her and Finn. But that didn’t matter right now. Her costume perfectly disguised her.

“You know in retrospect I should have assumed, but I couldn’t remember if this was a costume party or not and now I look like an unspirited fool.”

Recognising the next person she approached as a store-worker, she couldn’t help but look down at herself at his comment. “I’m definitely glad it is a costume party or people would probably get the wrong idea about me.” With her mask completely covering her face and the tight cat-suit, her fake southern accent was the finishing touch on her costume. It was all about disguise tonight.

Chloe had been waiting outside, psyching herself to go into the party. Although her outfit was simple, it did exactly what she wanted it to do – it hid who she was so tonight she could be whoever she wanted to be. Not that she was entirely sure what that was yet. Maybe she’d figure it out once she got inside. As she turned her head she noticed somebody else standing, looking at the entrance of the party. She jumped when he did. “God, sorry I didn’t mean ta be lurkin’ round ‘ere.” She didn’t recognise the guy, so speaking with her normal voice wouldn’t give the game away.

Finn had been drinking from an early stage, not ready to face pretty much anybody. Dressed as an emo, the outfit matched his mood, despite it being his birthday. Lifting another shot in the air he shouted “to Hailey”. She sas his ex, who’d now been dead a year. With everything going on with the other girls on that on top of it, he wasn’t coping, so into the drink it was. As he took another shot to his lips, his eyes noticed the person staring at him. “Dunno wha’ ya lookin’ at,” he mumbled rudely.

Chloe had slowly been making her way around the room, working out who was in attendance and what they were dressed as, somehow snagging a small bottle of vodka from someone as she did the rounds. Choosing an outfit that so deliberately disguised her was intentional – she wanted to have a little fun at this party. Instead of spending days being heartbroken and lying in bed, something in Chloe was different this time and after her fight with Alexis, she’d been feeling empowered. She wasn’t ready for people to mess with her anymore, or to point out all her flaws. It was time for her to fight back and that’s what she planned on doing tonight. The only thing she hadn’t anticipated was how it would feel to see Finn again. Stopping dead in her tracks she watched him raise a toast to Hailey. She was stuck to the spot. If he had punched her in the stomach it probably would have hurt less than the feeling overwhelming her right then. When he noticed her staring, she snapped out of it, immediately straightening up. Remember you’re not gonna let anyone get ta ya tonight. Raising her hand, she showed the bottle. After a moment, she decided that she’d put on a southern accent and just hoped the alcohol coursing through Finn’s blood was enough to stop him recognising her voice. “You definitely look like you could do with another.”

“Being here is really the worst place for me to be right now so I think I’ll just get really drunk. Oh urm, what should I drink first? The only alcoholic drink name I know is Vodka.”

“Vodka is always a pretty good choice.” Glancing around, Chloe quickly took the mask off, revealing to her cousin that it was her under the disguise. With a quick wink, she put the mask back in place. “Jus’ don’ tell anyone it’s me under ‘ere, I’m goin’ for the element of surprise. It is Halloween after all. So what’s got you in the mood for drinkin’ then? Everythin’ alright?”

Chloe looked down at the topless guy in the pool, beads of water falling from his torso. Tilting her head to one side, she put her hand on her hip. This wasn’t somebody she recognised so she figured it was safe to talk to him. “Your costume is um….lackin’ don’ ya think?” Chloe had chosen her outfit carefully; the black cat suit and white mask concealing her identity perfectly.

its--finn:

“Okay then, bu’ wha’ makes ya’ think it was me, tha’ he kissed? Maybe ya’ should’ve been there when he needed ya’? Where were ya’ Chlo?” Alexis asked, her face full of confusion, she wasn’t scared of the girl, not in the slightest, but she didn’t appreciate her speaking to her like she did. In fact, it made Alexis’ anger bubble to the surface, her eyes blazing now. “He’s been lonely. for weeks, ever since ya’ made a scene at tha’ boat party wi’ me, an’ he’s missed ya’ like mad, bu’ where were ya? Do ya’ not know wha’ ya mean ta him? No. I don’ think ya’ fuckin’ do!” She shouted, shoving the girl back, this time getting up in her face. “I don’ give two flyin’ fucks wha’ ya’ think, or wha’ Imo thinks. Stephen kissed me, jus’ like he has ta many other girls.” When the girls hand jabbed at her shoulder, she grabbed her wrist, shoving it back. “Like I said, don’ touch me.” She spat, walking closer, her lips tugging into a smirk. “Ya’ make me laugh, ya’ really do. Ya’ comin’ an’ tellin’ me tha’ I caused all this trouble in this relationship, when all I did was be a friend ta Finn? I live wi’ him, an’ tha’s it, if I kissed ‘im, then I’d tell ya’, bu’ ya assume wha’ ya want, bu’ I ain’ stayin’ away from him, jus’ because ya’ tell me to, ya’ can hit me all ya’ like, I don’ give a shit. I’ve actually been there when he’s needed a chat, where ‘ave ya’ been?” When the mention of hurting her worse came up, Alexis laughed in Chloe’s face. “Try it, see where it gets ya’, ya’ really think I’m gonna let ya’ hit me, it’ll come back ta bite ya’ on tha’ ass. Don’ come up ta me, blamin’ me wi’ ya’ problems, when ya’ another reason why ya’ relationship’s gone ta shit. If ya’ actually visited ya’ boyfriend, maybe he wouldn’ look elsewhere. Hate ta break it ta ya babes.” 

Before Chloe had a chance to think about her actions, she raised her hand and hit Alexis hard across the face. It made her palm sting and the anger inside her rage and spill over like a volcano. How was it that this girl had almost mimicked everything Finn had said to her just a few moments before? She hated what was happening, what had happened and all she could do was blame herself. But she’d never admit that to Alexis, never admit that what she said was completely true. Chloe still believed that it was Alexis that Finn had kissed; who else was he that close to? The pieces of the puzzle seemed to just fit together, apart from the lack of this girl’s confession. Maybe Alexis was actually better for him? Did she understand him better than she did? Maybe Chloe wasn’t good for anyone, that’s what she was starting to believe anyway. Relationships had always been difficult for her, for whatever reason, but she thought this one might have worked because they’d been such good friends before. As Alexis stumbled back from the force of Chloe’s hit, she felt herself let go. It was as if all her emotions had disappeared and she was blank. Completely blank. Staring at the blonde, not caring what sort of state she was in now, she reeled off her final line in a monotonous tone before turning on her heel and walking away. “Go fuck yaself Alexis.”

Alexis watched the girls face, an utter look of confusion swirling through her own features, what was wrong? Why was she so upset? As she seen her come closer to her, she automatically took a step back, not liking how close she was getting to her. The hatred was now evident in the older girls eyes, and she felt her stomach turn, this feeling of being in boat, motion sickness came over her. “Wha’ ya’ talkin’ about? Ya’ deluded, I don’ ‘ave a clue wha’ ya’ talkin’ about Chlo! Me an’ Finn are friends. F.R.I.E.N.D.S.” She murmured, her voice raising slightly, people were beginning to look and she felt her cheeks begin to burn, she wasn’t one to be the center of attention, when it wasn’t on her terms. It clicked then. It clicked completely as she realized what exactly was going on. Chloe thought it was her who kissed Finn, and it wasn’t but Alexis also wasn’t going to drop Finn in the shit or May for that matter, the girl was her friend, her friend who meant a lot to her, they both did. “I’ve kept my hands off, I don’ know wha’ ya’ talkin’ abou’. Imo’s completely wrong.” When the girl shoved her, she laughed, out of nerves mostly, her head was only just healing from the fit, she shook her head. Leaning forward, she shoved her back. “Don’ put ya’ fuckin’ hands on me. I don’ know wha’ ya talkin’ abou’ but ya’ fuckin’ crazy! Don’ ya’ ever lay ya’ hands on me.” 

“Actually Alexis, I’m jus’ takin’ a leaf outta your book an’ puttin’ my hands on whoever I want.” Chloe reached out and shoved the girl again before stepping towards her. She wasn’t one to ever back down from an argument, especially now. “Imogen isn’t wrong actually. You,” Chloe reach out a hand and jabbed her finger into the girl’s shoulder, emphasising her words. “kissed ‘er boyfriend so wha’ exactly would stop you from kissin’ mine?” On the surface Chloe was mostly upset, but underneath she was devastated and not actually because Alexis or whoever had kissed Finn. It was because Finn had admitted to kissing them back. So what did that mean for her and Finn? Didn’t he want to be with her anymore? Had he had enough? Got bored? All of the self-doubt was making her hate herself, but instead of turning it inward, she was projecting it all onto Alexis. She didn’t care if people were staring, all Chloe could focus on was putting Alexis in her place. Getting right up in the girl’s face, she hissed her words. “I swear ta god if I hear ya’ve gone near ‘im again, I will do a lot worse than jus’ give ya a little shove in the street, a’right?”

Imogen put her hands on her hips, at first thinking that Chloe must’ve just been in a bad mood but now seeing that she looked genuinely upset. She raised an eyebrow when she spoke. Of course, she knew exactly who Chloe was talking about without needing to hear her name, and even just thinking about her again incited anger within her. “Wha’ - ya mean… Alexis an’ Finn? Ya kiddin’!” Imogen scoffed. “Knew she couldn’t be trusted. Wonder where she’ll go next.” She folded her arms. “So… Did they kiss? Or more?”

“Hah, I’d never trust ‘er as far as I could throw ‘er. I knew she was after ‘im an’ tha’ whole ‘I’m jus’ good friend wi’ him’ act was totally tha’; jus’ an act. An act so she could swoop in an’ steal ‘im when I wasn’t around.” Folding her arms across her chest she was enjoying having a common enemy with Imogen. “’E said it was jus’ a kiss wi’ someone. Bu’ it was so obvious it had ta be ‘er. After what you said about the party an’ things, it jus’ made sense. An’ like I said I swear she’s always been after ‘im.” It was easier for Chloe to deal with the thought of somebody else kissing Finn if she thought about only that side of it. Ignoring the fact he said he kissed that person back made it easier for now at least.

Elsa was in a hurry to post a birthday card in the nearby letterbox before the postman came, so when she accidentally bumped shoulders with someone it took her by surprise and she dropped the card into a puddle. Sighing lightly, she bent down to pick it up and looked up at Chloe, whose voice she had recognised. “I’m sorry, Chloe,” she replied, trying to shake the card dry but to no avail. “I should’ve been watchin’ where I was goin’ - are ya alright, though?”

At the sound of Elsa’s voice, Chloe was brought back to reality and immediately she began apologising for what had just happened. “Is the card a’right? I can replace it. I’m sorry I didn’t mean ta knock it outta ya hands.” She ran her hand through her hair. “It was completely my fault I’m sorry I’m jus’-“ Pausing, she searched Elsa’s face and wasn’t surprised to find a look of genuine concern. Elsa had always been nothing but kind to her. “Um actually no, I’m not a’right. I’m a bit confused? An’ hurt. An’ definitely angry. S-sorry, I shouldn’t be sayin’ all this to ya.”

“Excuse me, I think it’s you that needs to watch where you’re going” she sighed, noticing the girl was actually upset “Chloe right?” She smiled softly “you look like you could do with a drink, why don’t you come to the pub and I’ll get you a drink on the house”

Chloe stared at the girl, frowning slightly, trying to place her but couldn’t. “Yeah, I’m Chloe. An’ you are?” She thought for a moment, maybe a drink was exactly what she needed right now. And a free one? It would be impossible to turn that down. She followed the blonde, chewing on her nails as she kept thinking about Finn. “Sorry, wha’ did ya say ya name was?”

Dean was on his way to his brothers when he was shoved into by a small figure. Wincing back a little, he realised who it was. “Chlo’? Ya’ alrigh’?”

“Actually no. No I’m not a’right. Your brother ‘as pretty much just stomped all over my heart an’ I don’ even know wha’ ta do abou’ it. I don’ even know if it’s my fault. I jus’ don’ know.”