Chapter 3: Things Change

Velma sat solemnly on her bed and looked out as the rain drizzled down the tinted window. Once upon a time she was looking out the window in her old apartment. She was happy and dreaming then, but now all she could do was close her eyes tightly to block out her tears. Now that the United States had decided to enter WWI, it seemed that nowhere in the world was safe. The past few months had been hard, and the war wasn't even the cause of her pain. Just knowing the war was there made it all the more difficult.

When Velma was around 12 years old, Bridget was broke and Frank was too old to work. Velma and Veronica had left school to work in a sweatshop, where there were mostly immigrants who did not speak English. They both were upset to have to leave, but Bridget was nearly bankrupt since there wasn't a working man in the house. She needed her daughters to help scrape up some extra cash.

Velma continued to work at the sweatshop with Veronica until she was 15. One evening after a long day of work she walked home with Veronica as usual. The sisters did not realize that their whole lives were about to twist around in the worst way possible…

Their apartment was burned to the ground. There was nothing left but rubble. Velma and Veronica immediately panicked; both Bridget and Frank were home at the time, well should have been. Velma could remember screaming their names within the group of the few survivors, "MOM? GRANDPA?" She continued to shout for them.

Veronica, being the older one, managed to stay a bit calmer. She went over to neighbors and asked if she had seen her family around, no luck.

They were reported dead not long after Velma and Veronica had arrived.

The cause of the fire was never officially discovered. It was suggested that it was a lighted match or maybe a cigarette, but never proven. Velma didn't care. They were dead and that was that. She almost didn't want to know the cause.

She could remember sitting on the curve of the street with Veronica after they heard the news. Velma had buried her head into Veronicas' arms and sobbed. Veronica was crying too. They both sat there crying their hearts out, their arms around each other. Velma never grew out of her embarrassment of crying in public, but she had not even thought of it on that day.

The 2 of them were left alone in the world having no other known relatives. They took the little money left behind and started a new life. They quit their jobs at the sweatshop and moved into a new apartment. Velma became a waitress while Veronica worked over the counter at a coffeehouse. They shared the work done at the apartment to keep it clean along with trying to cook meals that often didn't come out great. (Their mother often tried to teach them to cook, but neither of them was very good at it).

Everyday, usually in the evenings or on the weekends when she was off work, Veronica would go out and look to as many auditions as she could. She was looking for her break with the theatre in either singing or dancing. She didn't care which one she made it with, just as long as she could make some serious cash.

Velma continued to look out the window. It was a dark, cloudy day that happened to fit perfectly with her mood. Everything seemed so wrong in her life. She watched a raindrop slowly drip down the window. A single tear fell down her cheek and she brushed it away in frustration. She hated crying even when she was alone now. It was a sign of vulnerability while Velma liked to appear cool to the point of not caring. Part of her wished she could have been in the apartment 8 months ago when it burned down. Then maybe she wouldn't have to suffer, but another part of her told her to stay strong. After all, her grandpa wanted her to be happy.

The apartment that the Kelly sisters lived in was a small one. Velma was in the kitchen, which was infested with roaches. The wallpaper was peeled and chipped. Velma and Veronica shared a room, which they both hated.

Veronica stormed into the apartment in rage. It wasn't a surprise to Velma. Ever since their mother and grandpa died, Velma and her had shorter tempers.

"Oh, thank goodness you're home I was getting lonely." Velma said sarcastically.

"You shut up!" Veronica snapped, "I've dealt with enough shit today!"

"Auditions didn't go well huh?"

"I thought I nailed it, but they told me I wasn't experienced enough. They said I needed dance lessons. I've been taking lessons for years! Those son of a bitches." She sat on the table and rested her head in her fist in frustration. She sighed then looked up at Velma, "You did the laundry, right?"

Velma gasped, "I forgot. Damn, I'm sorry."

"Oh, so I guess you just sat around on your ass all day. Nice job, Vel."

"Better than blowing every audition." Velma muttered.

"At least I'm trying!" cried Veronica.

"Well, you obviously aren't trying hard enough."

"What the heck are you doing then? All you did today was sit around and stare out the window!"

"I don't work on Sunday."

"What about the laundry? You know what? I don't care! I really can't talk to you right now." She left and went into her room she shared with Velma. Veronica looked in the mirror and began wiping off her makeup. Velma followed her, standing in the doorway. She sighed, "What happened to us, Veronica?" she asked, her voice quivering.

Veronica rolled her eyes, "We fight all the time. Since when does it bother you?"

"Not that. I mean look at us. How could everything go so wrong?"

Veronica frowned and pain was clear in her eyes, "That's just the way life is. It's been almost a year. You have to move on like I did."

"God damn it, Veronica. You know you haven't moved on."

Veronica's face hardened as she quickly changed the subject, "What do you want to eat for supper?" she asked.

Velma shrugged, "I'm really not very hungry."

The two sisters were quiet the rest of the evening. They both went to bed, not in the mood to go out.

Velma shut her eyes tightly to block out the morning sun that woke her up the next morning. She rolled over in bed and moaned. She could feel Veronica yank at her sheets, and gripped them tighter. But she eventually lost the battle as the sheets were off and the golden sunlight filled her eyes and made her squint.

"Get up. You have to go to work." Veronica ordered.

Velma moaned as she crawled out of bed. Veronica was brushing her hair in the mirror, her uniform on her bed. Velma dug through her belongings until she found her uniform and went into the bathroom to change.

"I might have someone over tonight." Veronica called from outside the bathroom.

"Like a date? " Velma asked surprised. There was never a guest at their apartment. If one of them met a guy, they'd always find somewhere to go. There was never anything to do at their apartment.

"No, a business meeting. Yes, a date! So don't do anything stupid while he's around. His name is Will. I served him last week and he's come for coffee in the morning ever since."

"Hey, Veronica…"

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to get married?"

"Hell no, and neither should you."

"Why not?"

"Because, guys are jerks and they're only good for fun and to have a good night out. I don't need guys."

"I don't know about that. It could be nice."

"Nice? Velma come on! I mean look at what happened to mom."

Velma stepped out of the bathroom, holding her nightgown, "Huh, and you blamed me all this time."

"That was when I was like 12. Now I know better. It wasn't your entire fault it was just partly your fault. Dad was an ass."

"You must take after him." Velma said with a smirk.

"I should slap you." Veronica said, but instead grabbed her coat and left.

After a day of serving people and cleaning tables, Velma came home that evening. As usual, she tossed her coat onto the couch and slipped off her heels. Veronica wasn't home yet. Good, she'd have a few peaceful moments before she came.

Not long after, Veronica barged in with Will. The two were laughing up a storm and holding onto each other like there was no tomorrow.

Velma got up and went into her room before Will and Veronica even noticed she was there. She looked at her reflection, dark hair and brown eyes. She looked allot like her sister, but younger. She wondered to herself if guys thought she was pretty. Veronica never seemed to have problems getting guys. But who was she kidding? Veronica was a whore and that's something a guy would love. Velma sighed. It would be a slow evening. She needed to find herself a guy. Velma hadn't been interested in a guy since she left school. Almost everyone at the sweatshop she used to work at were women, children, or immigrants who didn't speak English. As for her new job, there were some guys she served that she could be interested in, but Velma was overwhelmed by losing her mother and grandfather she hadn't even thought about guys. Maybe she could now.

Suddenly, Velma was knocked out of her train of thought when Veronica and Will came in. Veronica was already unbuttoning Will's shirt, "Get out!" yelled Veronica.

"What? No!" Velma cried. If Veronica thought she could throw her out so she could sleep with Will, she had another thing coming to her.

"I said leave!" Veronica yelled. She grabbed Velma's shirt and pushed her out of the room. Velma tried to open the door. Damn it! It's locked. Velma stomped her way into the living room and went on the couch. What a dirty whore. I really can't stand her. She closed her eyes and stretched herself out on the couch. She decided it was time she found a man. After all, she needed someone in her life so that she wouldn't be stuck living with Veronica all her life.