1. Coral Party Dresses

*Ellie's POV*

"Yeah, Mom, I got it. I'm getting it!" I say into the phone. She's always so...bothering.

"Okay," I say with a somewhat fake laugh. "See you later. Yeah. I'll be home by ten."

I hang up. Jeez, she's so nervy. I mean, I get it. She sees hundreds of girls just like me everyday who get raped. I feel protected because she's my mom. And that makes me all the more vulnerable.

Whatever.

"El, are you coming or what?" Jordyn says.

"Yeah, my mom's on my case, sorry."

"She's always on your case," chimes in Ashley.

"No kidding," I say.

We walk down the city streets from Halloway High School. As we continue on our way, I notice a definite change in temperature and I shove my hands in my pockets.

"So what did she want this time?" Ashley asks.

"A couple things from the store. They're surprising Amanda for her birthday. So cupcakes, two balloons and a card."

"And why do you have to get all of it?"

"My mom gave me her card to pay for it," I reply with a smile. "And she doesn't have time with all her cases, so..."

We round the corner to the nearest party store. Mom said not to get anything too frivolous, which is easy enough.

While paying, Jordyn's phone dings.

"Oh shit," is her opening statement.

"What?" Ashley and I ask in unison.

"I have to pick my up brother from school today and I totally forgot. I gotta run. See ya guys," she quickly explains before running out of the store.

"She's always forgetting that," we say at the same time again. We laugh.

"Thank you, have a good day," says the clerk. I nod and exit, turning towards the direction of the SVU office.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I bounce up the stairs and enter through the doors that read "Special Victims Unit" like I work there. The first one I see is Fin. Munch is behind him.

"What'chu doing here? Your mom's at a case," he says, standing up.

"Hello to you, too," I joke. "Is she with Rollins?"

"No, but she's out. Why?"

"My mom told me to bring a card and stuff. I hid my friend in a bathroom in case she was here," I tell him.

"Oh well let's put it on her desk now. I've got nothing better to do."

"Isn't there a case your team is on? That seems a bit better."

"I'm waiting on calls to an Amber Alert. So far none. And Munch can handle that."

"Thanks for speaking for both of us," Munch says from his desk, as the first phone rings.

I roll my eyes bring Ashley into the room. We set everything up quickly, then me and Ashley sit at my mom's desk to do homework. I don't have much, but apparently she does.

Ashley jumps when my mom bursts through the door, but I always anticipate it.

"Laura says she doesn't know anything."

"You would think a mom would be more concerned about her child," Fin says.

"Oh she was upset alright," Mom says, sounding sarcastic.

I take a break from homework to watch them all converse. It's so cool how they can figure all this stuff out. I could never do it. I don't have guts I do it.

Ashley passes me a note so she doesn't have to interrupt the adults. It reads, "are we going shopping tonight or tomorrow before the party?"

Oh yeah! Her party is tomorrow night. I smile and write, "once Amanda comes back, we can go."

She nods while reading my words, then leans over her Algebra homework again.

It's about fifteen minutes later when Amanda comes back. And she sees me first. I get up to hug her. She's pretty much a second mom to me. Mom and her have been best friends since she joined the squad.

"What are you doing here, Babydoll?" she asks. I can practically hear my mom roll her eyes at the nickname. Apparently it was cute when I was little but now she hates it.

"Came to drop some stuff off. And do some homework."

She eyes her desk and a smile crosses her face.

"Did you do this?"

"For my mom," I say. "I'm broke."

A total lie. I always have money. Just like Mom always drilled into my head as one of her rules. Rule number...5 I think the money rule is.

"Thanks, everyone!" she announces. They all tell her 'happy birthday' and stuff. That's when me and Ashley take our cue to leave.

"Mom, I left your card in your jacket," I call out.

"Hey, how did you get here anyways?" She comes up to me.

"We walked...?" I give Amanda - who is behind her - a weird look.

"In the cold?! I gave you my card you could've used for a bus or subway pass!" I'm about to laugh at her, just like Amanda and the rest of the squad.

"And...?"

"Your lazy self didn't even think to use free money? What kind of teenager are you?"

"One you raised." My comments get quiet "ohh"s from the other detectives. Even Cragen smirks.

~*~*~*~*~*~

"The color is perfect! Logan will love it, too," Jordyn comments while I look in the mirror.

"I doubt he likes me! He probably just invited us because everyone's coming," I say.

I look at the coral party dress that contrasts with my dark brown hair.

"Are you sure it looks okay, though?"

"Girl, you've tried on five dresses already. And this one twice. Get it."

I look at my friends who already have their picks. Ashley, who has dark, olive skin and black hair, has a sky blue dress lined with glitter. Jordyn, who has dirty blonde hair and pale skin gets a red dress like always.

"Okay," I say.

After paying - with cash, so Mom doesn't catch on - we head home. Altogether until we get to the intersection where we all have to then walk alone.

I immediately hide the dress under all the clothes on my floor in the closet - flat, so it doesn't wrinkle. I keep it in the bag because black blends in way better than a bright orange-pink.

My clock reads 10:14. Thank god Mom always has to work late. Otherwise my ass would be getting it. Even though it's only 15 minutes after curfew.

I decide to go to bed even though I'm not tired. I call Mom, getting the voicemail like usual.

"Hey Mom, I'm going to bed now. I got home fine, without a bus or subway pass, thank you. Be safe. I love you. Bye."