Faint bass filled Elaine Wolf and Eleanore Davies student apartment from a laptop sitting atop a desk filled with music equipment. Elaine's face was illuminated by the glow from her laptop screen, where she was settled at her MIDI keyboard, surrounded by scattered lyric sheets, her half-empty coffee mug sitting off to the side of her desk. She drummed her fingers to the rhythm coming from the speakers, her silver ring making contact with her desk with each tap against the wooden surface.
The golden hour light was fading through the half-closed blinds, painting her bedroom in a soft amber hue. The clock on her nightstand illuminated the darkening space with the time of 7:43 PM.
Elaine let out a soft sigh, her eyes trailing over the layers as she listened through trained ears. "Too clean..." she lifted her hand, clicking her mouse to adjust the music, "Needs friction... something that doesn't... resolve."
She dragged her mouse across the screen, and she listened as the distortion layers hummed. She tapped again, pondering, dragging her cursor across the screen to adjust the layers. Her phone vibrated; before it could escape over the edge to the rug below, she caught it, dragging a layer into place simultaneously.
She looked down at a message from her roommate, giving a faint sigh as she spun her desk chair to lean back with her phone.
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{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
Lainy, pls tell me ur NOT working again on a Friday 😭
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{Elaine} (Text)
I am. Some of us like graduating.
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{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
🙄ugh come out w me and the girls. Bar crawl night! First stop The Flying Compass 🍸
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{Elaine} (Text)
…That's a terrible name.
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{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
Exactly why we're going 💅now grab ur hat, producer girl, ur coming.
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Elaine glanced towards the clock, her head leaned towards her shoulder, pondering the idea of leaving the apartment without finishing her project. She finally exhaled, a faint smirk creasing her lips; she looked towards her reflection in the mirror hanging off her closet door. Her reflection gleams back: tired eyes, an oversized black hoodie, and a messy chestnut brown ponytail.
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{Elaine} (Text)
Fine. But I'm not babysitting you again.
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{Eleanore Davies} (Text)
luv u 😘bring ur fake celebrity disguise just in case~
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Elaine rolled her eyes, tossing her phone in front of her laptop as the song looped. By the time her phone naturally locks, she's already getting ready for a night out with Eleanore, and no doubt Kendra Bell or Maya Barns.
Her bedroom mirror captures the subtle transformation of black skinny jeans, a slim-fitted black top, and black and silver combat boots. She rummages through her makeup bag to apply minimal eyeliner and mascara before grabbing her black cap and sliding a leather jacket over her shoulders.
She pauses briefly at her desk, looking down at her ring. She sighs, sliding it off her finger, placing it next to her keyboard, and grabbing her black mask to head out.
Elaine locks up the apartment, snaking her phone from her pocket to get an Uber to the bar where Eleanore had said they would be starting the evening after getting out of the elevator downstairs. She waves to the night guard, walking out the doors to the sidewalk to await her modern chariot.
After about ten minutes, a black sedan pulls up to the curb, and she greeted the driver, climbing into the backseat. She confirms the address, watching the city lights whirl by, reflected off the windows of passing vehicles and buildings. Each cascade of colors brings its own melody to Elaine's mind: every color has a unique sound, every mixture a different vibration.
She barely registered that they had arrived at her destination until the driver called out to her. Quickly regaining her composure, she handed the driver a large tip and exited with a thank you. She takes a breath of the city air before taking in the sights of her surroundings. The sign out front of her destination flickers like it's on its last leg, causing Elaine to let out a soft chuckle, "Fittingly ironic for its name, I suppose."
She finally makes her way inside the small, dim-lit bar with wooden beams and old nautical decor. Local bands are making some noise on the platform stage while she weaves through the patrons to Eleanore and Kendra.
Eleanore stands up, cocktail in hand, sauntering to Elaine to give her a one-armed hug, "You made it!" She squeals, taking Elaine's hand to lead her to the table, grinning like an idiot. "Tell me this place doesn't sound like a failed indie band!"
Elaine takes in the surroundings, her gaze wandering over the band, the patrons, her friends, and back to Eleanore. She gives a deadpan expression, shrugging, "It sounds like a midlife crisis on tap."
Eleanore grins widely, "And yet..." She laughs as she nudges Elaine with her elbow, then twirls with her drink and arms raised, "Here we are!"
The group of three raises their glasses. Elaine relaxed as the 'tink' of glasses clattered against each other, her soda water sloshing against the colorful array of mixed drinks. They take a drink with Eleanore grinning widely as she jumps around, off beat to the music.
Kendra and Elaine watch her from their table, Kendra giggling over the rim of her Pink Lady, playfully looking to Elaine with a mock gasp of surprise when she pushed her hat up a bit, "Wait, you're Elaine Wolf, right?"
Elaine rolled her eyes, taking a drink before turning her attention to Kendra, "Nope. Just a tired college student named Ellie," she said flatly.
Eleanore had spun herself back to the table, still grinning and full of energy. "Shhh..." she looped her arms around Kendra's shoulders, leaning down like she was about to whisper, but didn't. "Don't out her, she'll vanish like a ghost."
Elaine shook her head with a faint smile, softly laughing with the girls before their conversation drifted to their classes. Elaine half-heartedly listened to them, watching the patrons around them as they drank, danced, and sang along to the songs the band was covering for the evening. Eleanore gossiped about one of the professors who had come to critique some of the outfits made by the design classes, causing her to silently chuckle at the comment made by her roommate.
"He straight up said 'shoulder pads are a personality' like... excuseme! They are in fact not!"
Elaine shook her head, tuning into the band on the stage as they began a new set. The offbeat rhythm grabbed her attention, which had her subconsciously tapping time and analyzing the beat.
After a few moments, Eleanore was snapping her fingers inches from Elaine's face, "Earth to Elaine. You're doing it again!"
Elaine blinked a few times, puzzled as she turned to Kendra and Eleanore's half-amused, half-exasperated expressions, "What?"
"The producer stare." Eleanore giggled, "The one you have when you're silently rewriting their entire song."
Elaine shook her head, amused and rolling her eyes. "Well, someone has to."
The comment had the three of them laughing. Kendra buzzed with excitement while Eleanore buzzed with energy. As she finished her Tequila Sunrise, she declared, "Onto the next!"
The three paid their tab and began their Friday night bar crawl, going wherever the night called, or rather, wherever Eleanore decided they were traveling. Elaine followed them, tapping to the music played by bands or by speakers while Eleanore and Kendra danced the night away in their carefree style.
Eleanore eventually became bored by the usual bar patrons and stood outside with her arms looped with Elaine and Kendra's, walking Downtown Hollywood's bustling streets. She hummed a tune from their last stop before checking her phone, "Hey, how about we go to Black Diamond as our final stop of the night? The bands playing tonight are well known, so it'll be a lot better than the little ones out here!"
Kendra bounced with energy, nodding, "It's not a VIP night tonight either, right? So, we should be able to get into the club as long as we have Elaine at the front door."
Elaine blinked when both turned to her with their best attempt at pleading puppy dog eyes. She sighed, "Okay, okay. This will be the last stop for tonight, got it? And you two better behave."
"Yes!" the two squealed, doing little victory dances. Elaine gave an amused chuckle. Sometimes, it was hard to remember these two were adults.
The three hailed a taxi, piling into the back to get to their destination: Black Diamond Nightclub. Unlike most nightclubs, Black Diamond was an upscale nightclub that catered to musicians and other celebrities with extremely tight security. Most of those able to enter were only able to do so by having connections with people who had access to the club, people with status, even in the underground. Elaine had that status, not that she used it often.
The ride was smooth with little delay despite the traffic. Elaine flashed her ID and Black Diamond exclusive badge to security, pointing to Eleanore and Kendra to express that they were with her and let them through the door without any problems.
Eleanore stuck close to Elaine, whistling lowly when they entered, "This place is as stunning as the last time you brought me," she exclaimed. Kendra's head bobbed in agreement, wide-eyed and enthralled by the sights she'd only ever seen photos of.
Black Diamond's club was beyond stunning, honestly, stunning didn't even cover it. Its mirrored walls and geometric lights gave the club a cinematic feel unlike most bars and nightclubs. This was not one of those types of clubs with strippers, though well-known dancers would often cater to that absence with gorgeous outfits and energy.
Kendra stuck close to Eleanore, ordering drinks. Elaine put a hand up to deny a drink when the bartender asked what she would like. She kept an eye on her friends, removing her hat for the first time during the night, and sat at the bar.
"Elaine Wolf," he smiled, mixing the two drinks ordered with skillful precision, "It's been a while."
Elaine nodded, "It has been, Maddox Keen."
"You remembered!" he grinned playfully, chuckling as he slid Eleanore and Kenra their drinks, "Here you are, one Blue Mojito and one Vampire's Kiss Cocktail."
They beamed their thanks, refocusing on chatting as Elaine rested her chin on her hand, watching them. Maddox tapped her hand with a light finger to get her attention, "Would you like your usual? I know you didn't want one when they ordered, but... it is a beautiful night and one drink won't hurt, you know?"
Elaine chuckled, "Do you even remember what I drink?"
Maddox gave a mock gasp, acting offended, "You underestimate me!" he chuckled, "Midori Spritz?"
Elaine raised a brow, impressed, "I have ordered one drink from you like four months ago, how do you remember that?"
Maddox chuckled, grabbing everything he needed to concoct the drink, "Well, you did leave an impression that night, I mean," he rolled his eyes in good humor, "It's not every day I get to watch a pretty girl yell at a man twice her size for making a girl cry."
Eleanore and Kendra whipped their heads around, "You what?!"
Elaine gently took the cocktail from Maddox, chuckling, "Yeah. Someone caused a scene and made a waitress cry. I was ready to leave when it happened."
"Ready to leave is one way to put it," Maddox snickered, cleaning a glass. "She was annoyed with someone's plus ones' flirting with her and was making a run for it. I have never seen a girl turn around faster in my life when she heard our waitress crying. It was honestly hilarious."
"What happened with security?" Kendra inquired.
"They were a split second too slow to prevent Wolf here from ripping that man a new one and making him apologize." Maddox chuckled.
"That definitely sounds like Elaine," Eleanore giggled.
The four conversed as Maddox served the other patrons. He slid away for a moment to tackle a larger order and left the girls to chat with each other.
Eleanore giggled, propping her chin on her hand. "Okay, real talk," she smiled, "If you weren't in music, what would you be doing?"
Elaine blinked, leaning back on the stool for a moment, scanning everything around them, "Something quieter. Maybe design, like you two, or track?" She tipped her head to the side, "Something where I'm not having to explain myself to everyone."
Eleanore gave a mock pout, "Too bad you're good at both."
Elaine shook her head, giving a faint smile as she took a spin of her cocktail. She was about to respond when the tone of the invited crowd suddenly changed. The murmuring, followed by ecstatic shouts and squeals, grabbed the three's attention just as a few flashes were produced from some cellphones.
Eleanore blinked before her eyes got wider, "Wait... no fucking way!" she whisper-shouted just as security parted the crowd for one very famous band to enter.
Kendra's eyes widened, standing up from her seat with wide eyes. "Oh my god, it's them!"
In walked Premise of Design, the number one band currently on loop within most households. A male group led by Lucian Gray with four other, very attractive, members who backed him. Four entered: Lucian in sharp monochrome, Rylan Butler in a subtle black and royal blue stage outfit, Casen Miller in black and orange hues, and Enzo Roth in black and silver hues. The missing member was Luca Hunt, who was, in a sense, Lucian's second-in-command when the band debuted two years ago; however, a year ago, he had taken a background role in the band to focus on producing. Or that was the story everyone knew.
Eleanore stood next to Kendra, beaming with fangirl energy, "It's them! I love them!" She jumped on Kendra's shoulder, "Okay, Lucian looks insane in person."
Elaine sighed, glancing over towards where the band was passing by, the usual recognition flickered in her gaze before her mouth pressed into a thin line. "You have got to be kidding me," she muttered to herself, mostly.
The flashes from phones reflected off mirrored walls. Eleanore cheered happily, with Kendra vibrating with excitement beside her. Elaine lifted her hat and placed it on her head, tugging it low, and pulled her mask up from her neck to cover her face.
Eleanore's split attention caught it, and she spun to Elaine as she stood, "Wait, Lainy, you're leaving?!"
Elaine nodded slowly, "Yup." She popped the 'p' as she adjusted the chair, "I've got all the chaos I need for one night, but you have fun. The tab is covered."
Eleanore bobbed her head, distracted once again by the scene before her. She waved a hand to Elaine, who was already, discreetly, slipping out a side exit of the club.