Escaping Grace

"Are you sure?" I asked hesitantly, standing in front of my floor length mirror in the apartment Vale and I shared. We'd shopped all day yesterday, but I hadn't found a thing I'd liked. Now I was staring intently at my reflection, dressed in my average clothes that would make me look like some loser.
I cringed. "Of course," Vale said from behind me as she put her earrings in.
I glanced at her. Vale was really tall, with long black hair that fell perfectly straight from her widows peak. She kept Her makeup simple, and it really worked for her. She was wearing a shiny silver dress that clung to her in all the right places.
I wad tempted to fake sick and go crawl inside the bathtub and let her handle everything. she would knock any doubt right out of their hotcake minds.
I tried to slink to the bathroom. "Tut! Where do you think you're going?" she demanded, straightening. "You have to get dressed!"
"I suddenly don't feel so good," I muttered, but she slipped her arm through mine and pulled me to her. She grabbed my shoulders and made me look at her. "Put your badass jeans on, grab one of your band t's with some holes, and put your boots on. We have some men to sleep with."
I blinked at her. "Or convince we're a good band to open for them," she rolled her eyes and leaned away from me. "Don't be so uptight."
I smiled slightly, and walked to my closet. I pulled out my black skinny jeans with the pre-torn holes, and the knees which I had accidentally put there when I fell on the carpet in the studio,. These were my favorite, so I kicked off my sweats and shimmied them on, glad I'd actually shaved my legs and they looked smooth, if not blindingly white. I grabbed my Escape from Grace shirt (was it too cheesy to wear my own band shirt?) and pulled it on over a dark red tank, hoping I wouldn't come off too lame. I stepped back to the mirror slowly, and relaxed as I saw how badass I was starting to look. I quickly grabbed my boots and pulled them on, lacing them all the way up my shin. I was short, so any height helped in my situation.
I looked at Vale expectantly, and she gave me a thumbs up. "That's my girl," she said. I looked at the mirror again.
My blonde hair was tied back so it wouldn't sweep around my face, blue and red streaks decorating the underside. My eyes were green, and my makeup made them stand out more. Some days I would agree that I was pretty, but today I was rolling in nerves and to myself I looked like trash.
"Babes, you are one fine piece of cake," Vale told me, grabbing my hand. "Now, cmon before we're unfashionably late. Nate and Clarke were gonna meet us there."
I swallowed my nerves and hurried after her, hailing a cab for the club. It was very exclusive, so no one could get in unless you were on a list.. As long as Craig hadn't forgotten to call, we should be fine. Oh how mortifying it would be if we got stuck outside.
The cab stopped at the curb, and I steeled my nerves. I crawled out of the door to stand by Vale, and looked at the club. The line was reaching around the corner, and I hesitated as I saw Clarke and Nate waiting outside, Nate smoking heavily.
"Why aren't you guys inside?" Vale demanded the instant they were within earshot. Clarkes face was white as he turned to look at us. "We're not on the list. "
"What? But Craig said he'd called!" I burst.
Oh no, this was it. It was happening. We were going to blow it. I could feel the world crashing down already.
"Craig forgot," Nate snapped, furious. He edged from foot to foot. "We called him and he bloody well forgot."
"Well don't panic," Vale said, and glanced at the bouncer. I followed her gaze, and felt the tensions roll off my shoulders. "I got this," I said, raising a hand to calm them. They all turned to look at me in surprise.
I took a breath, and then strode forward, walking past all the lined people and to the bouncer, who I gently tapped on the shoulder. He glanced at me, and then turned.
"Liliya!" He grabbed me in a tight hug and swung me around. "Look how much you've grown!" he burst in Russian as he set me down.
I grinned up at Alexei. "I thought you left," I said, and he shook his head.
"No, I extended my visa. I work here on weekends for some extra money. How are you doing, Liliya? How is your music?"
I turned, waving at Vale, Nate, and Clarke all standing behind me. "This is them. We're supposed to meet a fellow band inside, Black Veil Brides. "
"Oh! I let them in twenty minutes ago. Here," he grabbed the velvet rope and motioned. "Go on in. And here," he fished a card out of his black t shirt pocket. "Here's my number. You call and keep in touch!" he scolded.
I nodded, slipping his card in my pocket as we walked into the club.
My bandmates hurried after me.

Notes