Chapter 49

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Your POV

When Lizzie and Nadine came out of the bathroom, they seemed more relaxed and the tension between them was completely gone. Lizzie sat next to Pippa, like before and Nadine at Lizzie's other side.

"Wait, Lizzie. You have truth or dare cards. Right?" I remembered from a past birthday party.

"Yeah, we can play" she stood up and took the cards "should we play the spicy or normal version?" her cheeks reddened.

"Take just a couple of the normal ones and mix them into the spicy ones. This will be fun" I smirked.

She did so and then divided them in two, truth and dare.

"Let's play truth, dare or drink. That's better" Kate said.

"Okay" Lizzie poured the remaining vodka in the bottle into everyone's cups.

"Should we play by the bottle or do we decide who starts?" she asked.

"Let's let the bottle decide" I suggested.

"Okay" she took the empty bottle again and spun it around, landing it on her "Well, isn't this great?" she sarcastically said.

"Lizzie, truth or dare?" I asked.

"Dare"

I picked up a card from the dare pile and read it aloud.

"Hug a pillow and express your undying love for it" I laughed.

"I'm gonna need this" she gulped down a big sip of vodka and went to her bed, where she had a big pile of pillows. She took the biggest one and hugged it tight.

"Pillow, since the day I bought you, I knew you were different from all the pillows on my bed, you were warm and fluffy and I felt the need of your warmth every night. You keep me warm and you keep the bad thoughts away. I love you pillow. I love you so much and that will never ever change" she kissed it to then break character and burst out laughing, like the rest of us.

"That was fun" she said, returning to the circle.

"Should I be jealous of a pillow?" Pippa laughed and we all laughed more-

Lizzie shrugged and spun the bottle. It landed on Pippa.

"Truth or dare?" Lizzie asked.

"Truth"

Lizzie picked up a card and read it aloud.

"What's the strangest rumor you've heard about yourself?"

"Oh, this one is easy. There was this rumor going on once saying that I wasn't real. That I wasn't a real person. People thought I was just an idealized entity and the person they saw acting at the theatre was just a hologram. That one was funny"

She spun the bottle now and it landed on Nadine.

"Truth or dare?" Pippa asked.

"Truth"

Pippa picked up a card.

"I'm so sorry, these cards have weird questions" she blushed and cleared her throat before asking the question "Um... A-are you part of t-the 'mile-high' club?"

"Of course, but you knew the answer already, didn't you?" Nadine smiled and Pippa hid her red face behind the question card.

Nadine chuckled and spun the bottle. It landed on Ava.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth" Ava chose.

Nadine picked up a card and read it.

"What is the craziest dream you've ever had?"

Ava's face turned red when thinking about the answer. She looked around and then took a big sip from her vodka glass.

"Ooooh, you don't want to answer huh?" Kate smirked "So it's that kind of dream..."

Ava ignored her and spun the bottle. It landed on Pippa again.

"Again?" Pippa sighed.

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare"

Ava picked up the card and read it "Sing your best romantic song without breaking eye contact with the person on your left"

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Lizzie's POV

That happened to be me. She turned to me and smiled. Pippa's voice rippled through the air, probably causing all the dead flowers in the world to revitalize. The song choice was perfect. She sang it softly but with passion and power, making butterflies flutter in my stomach. Oh my god, Pippa. What are you doing to me? When she finished I didn't know whether to clap for her or kiss her. Kiss her? In front of everyone? Nuh uh.

Pippa spun the bottle and it landed on Marla

"Truth or dare?"

"Mm... truth"

"Have you ever lied to get out of a bad date? If so, what did you say?" Pippa read.

"Yes, I have. I was at this dinner date with this really boring guy and I was so nervous because I felt bad about leaving him alone. I ended up telling him that I had to go because... I had to walk my fish" she laughed and everyone in the room burst into laughter.

"What did he say?" I asked, eyes teary from laughing so much.

"I don't know. I just ran away" she shrugged, a wide grin still on her face.

She spun the bottle and it landed on Pam.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth"

"Tell your couple your cheesiest pick-up line. If you aren't in a relationship, tell it to the person on your right"

Pam turned to face Beca.

"Please don't leave me after this" she joked "Here it goes: I'm not an organ donor, but I'm so ready to give you my heart"

"I love you so much, Angel" Beca gave her a peck.

We all went "Awww"

"Okay! Back to the game!" Pam spun the bottle and it landed on Pippa, again.

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare"

"Let the person you trust most in the room text someone through your Instagram account"

Pippa's face paled.

"Uh... um..." she tightly gripped the vodka glass, I could tell, her knuckles turned white.

She took a deep breath.

"...Sure" she unlocked her phone and handed it to me.

Pippa's face was pale and had a thin layer of sweat, plus, her hand was shaking when she gave me her phone. Did she have something to hide? I opened her Instagram and went to the DM section as Pippa nervously fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes never leaving the screen. I scrolled through some contacts to find a good one to text but Pippa got more fidgety by the second until she grabbed her phone and drowned the vodka glass.

"I changed my mind" she winced at the burn in her throat at the big amount of vodka she drank.

"Um... O-okay" I said "Then that's a wrap on truth or dare. Let's go eat cake"

"Okay!" Everyone got up and we tidied up the room a bit throwing out plastic cups and carrying glasses and the empty vodka bottles downstairs.

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We served the cake after they sang Happy Birthday to me. Pippa had made a vanilla flavored cake. And we ate it while I absently stared out the window at the raining outside sometimes.

"So, why vanilla?" I asked her while the rest of the gang talked amongst themselves.

"I-I smelled it in your perfume so I just assumed you liked it... do you not like it? I can fetch a chocolate cake from the store if you want. It's totally okay"

"No, no. I love vanilla. It's perfect, thank you" I pulled her into a hug.

She let out a shuddering sigh, melting into the hug.

"Thank you, I was so nervous because maybe you preferred chocolate? I don't know..."

"Pippa" I pulled away and looked into her eyes "You need to calm down, both of them would have been okay, it's the intention that counts. Plus, you spent so much time on the frosting, that can't go to waste"

She cracked a small smile.

"I guess..."

"Umm..." I changed the topic "what did Nadine mean before when she mentioned the mile-high club?" maybe that wasn't the best topic but I felt curious.

"I-it's a long story. You can imagine whatever you want" her cheeks flushed and she walked away to a corner.

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The next day

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Pippa and I went on a walk. We decided that it wasn't worth it to try to hide now. It was a mistake before but now we were really something and it was Valentine's day. It was so cold outside and we held hands and walked close to each other for warmth. I put my free gloved hand covering my mouth and nose and exhaled hot breath into it, hoping to warm up my face. I could barely feel the tip of my nose at this point.

"Here" Pippa stopped walking and unwrapped the thick warm scarf around her neck to wrap it around mine, covering my mouth and nose. It smelled like her and it was so warm.

"Won't you be cold?"

"It's okay, I grew up in Illinois, the average temperature is way lower than here, I'll be okay" she smiled.

Her nose was slightly red and her cheeks were glowing from the cold.

"Thank you, Pippa" I pulled the scarf down a bit to give her a kiss.

"Mmm, that just warmed me up. I don't need that scarf, you are enough" she smiled and wrapped her hand around my waist to keep walking along the street.

We bought some roses for each other and buried our noses in them, inhaling the sweet smell.

"Pippa!" we heard someone call.

A fan was rushing towards us. She slipped on the icy floor and almost fell, we caught her together.

"Are you okay?" we asked at the same time.

"Oh my gosh, I totally bumped into you while you were with your girlfriend! I ship you guys so much. Your fans are acting like crazy for you coming out without really coming out. Everyone knew that deep down you had an attraction for women too" she giggled.

Pippa and I looked at each other, confused on how to answer to that.

"Anyways" the fan continued "Can I get an autograph and a selfie with you both?"

"If she agrees, sure" Pippa nodded, looking towards me.

"Of course" I smiled.

"Yay!" the fan squealed and took out her phone "can you take the selfie?" she asked me.

"Okay" I held out her phone and she positioned herself between us, making a heart with her hands. I smiled at the camera and took the picture of all three of us.

She took her phone back and handed a playbill of Hamilton to Pippa. Pippa signed it.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!"

"Thanks for coming to see the show" Pippa smiled, finishing her signature.

"I'll ship you guys forever. Man, this photo is gonna blow on Instagram" she walked away.

Pippa and I smiled at each other, laughed and continued our trip for some hot chocolate.

The comfortable silence we had on our way ended with classical music coming from Pippa's phone. She looked at the caller ID.

"Sorry, work. I have to take this" she excused herself with sad eyes. I bet she was enjoying our moment as much as me.

"It's okay, no problem" I smiled and she gave me a sad smile back as she picked up.

"Yeah?"

The quiet murmur on the other side of the line was unintelligible from where I was standing.

"Really? Who?"

There was a short pause as the other person answered.

"No way, what?"

Pippa's face changed to express worry.

"O-okay, I'll ask her. I-I'll call you back... Yeah, thanks. B-bye" she hung up.

She took some breaths before coming close to me again and giving me a hug. I held her in my arms.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Do you know Playbill, the most popular theatre magazine?"

"Yeah, I buy every new number that comes out. I'm a theatre kid" I giggled.

"Well, I had an interview with them soon to promote Hamilton since it might be going on Broadway from summer on instead of an off-Broadway theatre... And... uh... they requested for... for you to be there with me..."

I was about to reply but she cut me off.

"But it's okay! You can say no if you want! Don't feel pressured at all! It's totally not a problem. It's just that, like all magazines do, they might ask very personal questions or stuff related to... this" she pointed at me and then at her repeatedly "And I don't know if you want to be that public. I don't even know what I'm saying! Or thinking! I'm so lost! And stressed! I have no idea what I'm doing with my life. I'm just a big disaster and-" She buried her face in my warm coat, shuddering with quiet sobs.

"Pippa" I called, holding her face in my hands to make her look at me.

Her nose and cheeks were glowing from the cold and her eyes had started to get teary, the sight broke my heart in a million pieces.

"Take a deep breath, calm down"

She took a shuddering breath, trying to follow my steady one until her little panic attack was over.

"I'll go. I'm ready to go public. Totally public... Well... if you are" I dried the single tear that slid down her cheek with my gloved thumb, a big comforting smile on my face

"I am" she smiled a smile through her tears that rearranged all the broken pieces of my heart and kept it warm and beating.

"I'll call my manager tonight" she held my arm and we continued our walk to get hot chocolate.

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Timeskip three days later (sorry but yes, I'm skipping most of Valentine's day. Just imagine an amazing Valentine's day for y/n and Ava :') Also, I barely have time to finish this chapter before it's too late and Ava's birthday irl is too far :') It's currently March 1st 3:32 am so... yeah... I'm dying inside)

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Your POV

It was finally her birthday. After school, we made a huge chocolate cake that was waiting for someone to eat it in the fridge. I checked that everything in the house was correctly decorated and we waited for the guests to arrive.

Ava checked the time.

"They'll start to arrive soon but I'll also have to take my pill soon" she wrapped an arm around her stomach with a frown.

"Don't worry, the pill stuff will be over soon. You're so much better and the wound is already healed" I comforted her, pulling her in and putting my head on her shoulder.

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Some time later, the giant bunch of people we had invited came. The vibe kind of reminded me of the party we had here while my parents were away. My parents who were... No! Y/n! Focus and move on!

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Lizzie's POV

I arrived with Pippa by my arm and looked around. I had always loved y/n's house but I wouldn't like it for myself. It's too big and I don't need that much. Pippa went to fetch us a drink and I just awkwardly stood around people I didn't know. I spotted Ava and started approaching her to wish her a happy birthday but what I saw in her hand made me freeze. It was Oxy. Just the sight of the bottle was making my mouth water.

Lizzie! No! You're trying to get better! I thought to myself.

"Are you really?"

I turned around and Carla was standing there, with her arms crossed and staring at me. She wore a red metallic dress and her blonde hair was in a simple but beautiful updo. She had red lipstick and a darker red and black eyeshadow. Really? A dead person dressed up to come and haunt me? Shut up, Lizzie. You're just crazy.

"Come on, you know you want those pills. Will Ava even notice if just a couple of them are gone?" Carla said.

I thought about it. She was right... I could take a couple. They made me feel so good... But-

"Come on Lizzie, you-"

"Stop" I cut her off "get out of my head" I blinked back tears. I felt so helpless when I heard her voice and I didn't have any way of shutting her up.

"Oh, but you killed me. You have to pay for it somehow so here I am, ready to make your life miserable" she made a little bow and chuckled.

"Leave me alone" I walked off to where Pippa was and she handed me a glass of white wine.

"Do you like this or do you want some other thing? I saw that there was my favorite wine so I wanted to give you a taste but..." Pippa shrunk into herself.

"Wine is okay" I smiled and took a big sip.

"Hey, hey, hey" she stopped me from tipping the glass any further "You're supposed to enjoy it" she giggled and took a small and slow sip but her expression changed in a second "wait, are you okay?"

"Yeah... I think- I think I need something stronger. This wine is amazing but I want to lose control for a bit if that's alright with you"

"U-um, of course, s-sure" she took my wine glass and kept it for herself.

I went over to the bar to talk to the mixer y/n had hired.

"Give me the strongest thing you have" I told him, slamming my fists on the bar table.

"Oh, I don't think a fragile thing like you can take my strongest cocktail" he rolled his eyes.

"Are you testing me? Go on. Give. Me. It" I spat.

"Okay, I will, but then don't come crying for water" he mocked while starting to prepare the cocktail.

I gulped as I watched him pour the strongest booze I knew plus some liquids I had no knowledge of into a glass.

"Here you go" he slid the glass towards me and I caught it with ease.

I held my breath not to cough in front of him at the smell of the strongest drinks ever and downed it as fast as I could. My throat burnt. It was as if the drink was eating my skin from inside and I felt like screaming my lungs out but I kept it in. Pain felt nice. It was nothing less than I deserved.

"That's right" Carla answered to my thoughts.

I was going to reply but I started to get dizzy. I felt my mind slowly go numb and Carla's voice becoming a tiny murmur in the back of my mind.

Maybe what I needed to finally silence her was that pair of Oxy pills. I saw Ava setting them down in a hidden spot in the kitchen and when nobody was looking I immediately hurried there to get some pills. I found the bottle. They were pills of 40 grams. It wasn't the ideal quantity for me but it was something. I took two. I hid one in a tiny pocket of my purse and I crushed the other one right there to snort it all. I wiped my nose with the back of my hand to get rid of the only evidence left of the crime and took a deep breath, getting lost in the sensation of euphoria. All the voices in my head had been completely silenced.

I wandered around, bumping into a bunch of people until I found Pippa congratulating Ava for her birthday. I put an arm around her shoulders and leaned onto her.

"Heyyy, my lovee" I slurred.

"Lizzie? What did you drink? Why are you acting so weird? We just got here!" Pippa looked me up and down with genuine worry.

"I'mm jusst having funn! Happyyy biiirthdayy!" I said to Ava before almost collapsing.

Pippa caught me putting her hands on my waist and Ava excused herself.

"So we're in the mood huh?" I drunkenly wiggled my eyebrows.

"Lizzie, what is going on with you?" Pippa cupped my face to get a good look at it.

"Are you on something?! Your pupils are dilated..."

I looked into her eyes. Her face was so blurry, I was getting really dizzy now. I broke down and tears fell freely.

"I'm sorry! I'm so so sorry!" I fell to my knees.

"Let me take you home" she picked me up "You can't go to a party feeling like this. Get some rest and drink lots of water"

I felt warmth in my chest. Someone cared about me, I should try to be better for her... but I can't do it with voices in my head and the ghosts of people I've killed haunting me non stop! The only way to keep them quiet was alcohol or a nice high...

Pippa apologized to Ava for leaving when the party had barely started and she put my arm around her shoulder to help me walk to the car.

"What happened to her?" Nadine's voice helped me stay present. I could feel my mind slipping away.

"I-I don't know. She- she drank something, I don't know what it was and... I'll take her home" Pippa's voice was distant as I felt my body get weaker and my eyelids got heavy. I couldn't feel my legs and when I was about to fall, my other arm found another pair of shoulders.

"I'll help you" Nadine said before they carried me out. I lost consciousness before we even got to the car. At least the voices were gone. It was dead silent now...and dark.

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Ava's POV

Pippa hurriedly apologized for leaving so early and left with Lizzie. Huh, that was weird. I straightened my red dress and tossed my hair back. I want to enjoy tonight. No distractions. Music blasted through giant speakers and people started dancing. I found y/n in a corner and I took her hands making us spin.

"I love this party. Thank you" I finished leaning against the wall.

"Anything for my girl" y/n smiled.

We danced for a while, feeling the rhythm of the music and swaying our bodies to the beat but someone next to y/n got a bit too excited and ended up pushing her against me. She avoided landing on me by positioning her hands at either side of me, trapping me against the wall.

"Well" I looked her up and down "I like this pose"

Her eyes darkened a bit and she smiled but just as she was leaning down to kiss me, someone pushed her away.

"Damon?!" I exclaimed when I recognized his face.

"What are you doing Ava? You're mine and you know it" he pushed y/n further away and walked towards me.

"Um, as I recall it, I broke up with you half a year ago" I crossed my arms and gave him a bored stare.

"No! But she was- she was flirting with you! I can't have that-" he insisted.

"Damon" I cut him off "she's my girlfriend. And what are you doing? How- why are you here?"

"Some friends told me that a rich chick was throwing a huge party here and we came her to enjoy ourselves. I was bored but now that I've seen you..." he licked his lips "I am certainly enjoying myself. Wanna get out of here?"

"She just told you she has a girlfriend. Leave her alone" y/n stood between us.

"Oh, so you wanna fight" Damon cracked his knuckles threateningly.

"Um, no. That's exactly the opposite of what I wanna do. We don't need to cause drama here. Just leave the house and we'll be at peace" y/n argued.

"No! Fight like a man!"

"I'm no man, man! Men are disgusting and you are living proof of it!" y/n spat.

Oh no. Y/n, why did you do that??

Damon threw a punch in her direction but y/n dodged it and slapped him, hard. The party stopped. Everyone froze and the music stopped. Everyone looked at the source of that loud sound with wide eyes. Oh no. He was angry now...

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Your POV

I didn't even think. I leaned to the left to avoid the fist going towards my face and slapped him as hard as I could. Wow. That was not a good idea. I covered my mouth with my hands, realizing what I had done.

"I-I'm sorry man, I didn't mean to, I-" I was cut off when a closed fist punched my face, sending me staggering back.

"You bitch" he spat.

"I could say the same" I wiped my bleeding nose.

"I will kill you!" He threw another punch but I dodged it.

"Just leave me alone and I'll forgive you" I tried to calm him down.

"No thank you" he threw a right hook that I dodged by ducking.

"You left me no choice. Don't say I didn't warn you" I said.

He laughed.

"What can you possibly do tha-"

I cut him off by kneeing his crotch, earning a pained groan from him as he doubled over.

"Leave" I said before taking Ava away from there.

"That was amazing y/n" she smiled, giving me a kiss.

"He was an asshole" I shrugged "he had it coming"

A guy elbowed his way through the crowd to us.

"What did you do to my friend?!"

"He's your friend? Look for better ones, man" I calmly said.

He was confused for a short moment.

"He'll get you back" another one said.

"Just leave my property and we'll be at peace" I crossed my arms and they glared at me before getting back to help their hurt friend get out of the house.

"Do you know them?" I asked Ava.

"Yeah, back when Damon was my boyfriend, don't even ask why, I have no idea what I saw in him, they were with him all the time, they were his best friends. They would hang around at a random bar to have a drink and watch the game with him or something. They're Dan and Simon, they've been friends with him forever, they even have a bigger part of his will than his family" she explained.

"I haven't seen them before" I reflected.

"Yeah, you shouldn't have. They're from Virginia. I have no idea what they're doing in New York"

I saw her face turning into a frown and I put a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, don't worry about it, they're leaving now and it's your birthday! You have to have fun! Not be sad" I gently kissed her lips and she smiled.

"Yeah, you're right. It's my birthday"

Suddenly, the music ended. I looked at the band I had hired, looking for answers and they gave me a nod like saying "trust us" before they started playing a different song. Oh, I know what they're doing.

"Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday dear Ava

Happy birthday to you"

The Gang brought the chocolate cake we had baked this morning, filled with lit candles. Ava looked amazing under candlelight.

"Make a wish" I smiled. Nothing could ruin this perfect night.

She closed her eyes and blew the candles before we all clapped.

The previous song continued and everyone went back to partying and I cut the cake.

I was about to eat the first piece of my portion when the loud sound of a gunshot made me drop the fork.

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Heyyyy sorry for posting this so late :')

I had an enormous writer's block and I had no idea what to do...

It's a trashy chapter. I know and I'm sorry :(

I hope you liked this shorter chapter. It took me soo longgg to post it and I'm so sorry :(

PIPPA? WHAT DID U DO WITH NADINE ON A PLANE? Lol (Should I write flashbacks to Pippa and Nadine's adventures? Lmao)

Some drama at Ava's party tho hehe (sorry for skipping Valentine's day for Ava and y/n :') *leaving room for your imagination*)

Someone with a gun at Ava's party huh?

I hope you enjoyed it

Votes are appreciated but comments are the best :)

Stay happy and healthy!

Love youuu <3