Choosing Us

Part XII: Holiday Plans And Other Schemes

As the headlights of my car illuminated my driveway, I saw Liv's car in the driveway of my home. I was overwhelmed with a variation of emotions and quickly jumped out of my car to inform Liv of my unusual and atypical dance experience. I opened the door to see my best friend in dim lighting watching what appeared to be a lifetime movie. I began laughing so hard that tears began to dance down my cheeks when I took in the vision of my best friend wrapped from head to toe in a blanket making her appear like a precious burrito. I must have startled Liv when she jumped and turned to me, "What are you doing here?! I wasn't expecting you for ..." she stopped to look at her phone. "At least like another two or three more hours," She concluded. 

"Well, that probably would have been the case, but Shane got caught drinking... so the party ended early for him." I said trying to appear like disappointed. I then grabbed the bowl of popcorn near Liv and began popping a few kernels into my mouth one at a time. "Oh, and by the way," I said with little emotion as possible. "Wyatt and I made out." I felt Liv slowly and soundlessly turn her head to reposition it to face mine. She licked her lips, eyes widened and eye brows raised in shock, "Oh, yeah, totally just a whatever statement. Totally something you just through out there like nothing..." She said sarcastically. She then lunged towards me and hugged me hard. "Tori, seriously, I am so proud of you!" She said almost in tears. "Whoa, you're proud that I made out with someone?" I said confused and excited. "No, T. I am proud that you did something unexpected. Something that you actually wanted to do-" she could have gone on forever, that I was sure, but I interrupted her, "thank you, Liv. I love you." We hugged tightly. I began to cry, but I was unsure of the emotions that I was releasing- was it relief, was it sadness, was it happiness? Honestly, I felt like it was all of them. "No, no, no. No crying. I spent too long on that makeup for you to ruin it by crying," Liv said beginning to tear up herself. We began laughing at each other. "What's going on, T?" She asked in a concerned and caring voice. "I don't really know. I think I'm just tired." I said as I removed my converses and pulled my legs up on the couch to become more comfortable. Liv put her arm around me and hugged me tight. "I know, T. I know." 

...

I woke up to an infomercial about an overpriced razor coming to the rescue of countless individuals who honestly looked fine before using the product. I rubbed my eyes and stretched. I  slowly made my way to the kitchen to begin making coffee and pancakes for myself and a still asleep Liv. Our day was filled with a few chores, homework, and watching a lot of dramatic lifetime horror movies. I was doing my best to dodge any questions about what I was going to do  about my Shane and Wyatt situation, but finally, Liv held up her hand signifying that enough was enough. "Seriously, we need to talk about this," she said looking into my eyes. "I don't know. I haven't heard from Wyatt all day... I'm worried that he thinks of it as a mistake today and that's why hasn't texted or called," I said looking down with worry. "Or.... you're just overthinking and he is just trying to give you some space after last night's intense kiss," she said convincingly. I shook my head trying to conceal my hopeful smile. "But... what are you going to do about Shane?" Liv asked with visible discomfort on her face. "I have to end it, right? ... but what am I going to tell my parents? I can't just say, 'Oh, so I made out with the substitute teacher and decided to the dump the guy that y'all love.'" I felt my heart began to race at the anticipation of such a conversation with my parents. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Easy there... you kissed someone. You didn't agree to marry anyone. He is 20, and you are 18. There is nothing illegal or wrong about this. Plus, you have a few more weeks and then, boom, the end of the semester and you won't be taking any classes that he is subbing for next semester, and you know what?! After that, you'll have graduated and y'all will just both be boring college students at that point." Liv said as we both laughed. My face then became serious and I asked, "but, what do I do about Shane?" "I think you just say that things aren't working out. ... It's not you, it's me. ... I can't handle long-distance." Both my and Liv's face began to lighten up in response to Liv's humorous rehearsal of overused breakup phrases. "Perfect. The long distance one, especially," I said sarcastically. 

My phone buzzed making me look down to see a text from my mom. I read the text:

Hey, hon. I hope you had a good dance last night. Dad is not doing so well right now. He is really having a hard time with the treatments and has been admitted into the hospital for the doctor's to keep watch over him right now. I'll let you know when I have updates. 

My phone buzzed again with another message from my mom:

Oh, I forgot to mention. Shane's mom has been reaching out to me. She's been checking on me and your father. She let me know that Shane is going to be inviting you over for Thanksgiving dinner so you won't be alone. I am so grateful that you are with that young man. His family is really showing up for us. I want you to take a look at the recipe book in the kitchen and pick out something to prepare to take over there when you go. You never know! They may end up being our in-laws one day! :) 

My heart shattered and I knew my face was expressive of my mood switch. Liv looked at me, "What is it?" She asked nervously. I handed her my phone without saying a word. Her eyes scanned my phone. Liv's eyes moved back to meet mine. "You're fucked." I puckered my lips and slowly nodded in agreement . Liv knew me well enough to know that I would go to the ends of the earth for my parents to be both content but also proud of me as their daughter. She would not waste her time trying to talk me into not fulfilling the expectations of my parents. Rather, she  finally asked, "So, what are you gonna make?" I quickly responded, "I'm leaning towards the pie from "The Help." Liv burst out with laughter. "I heard that it's Mrs. Crowe's favorite." We both looked at each other with resignation and disappointment. 

"Wait a second!" Liv exclaimed, "That's it!" "Hell no, I'm not shitting in a pie, Liv," I said with a tremendous concern that she was even considering such as thing. "No!!! God no!" Liv said shaking her head on the verge of laughter. "You, my darling, are going to make him break up with YOU. You are going to be so kind, polite.... and horribly and painfully boring. You are going to be so annoyingly dull that it will drive him crazy and he will HAVE to lose interest. I'm talking Mother Teresa purity, no more football games, school obsessed..." I interjected, "so, when do we start?" "That's my girl, T! I'll have you broken up with before Christmas!" We squealed with excitement and continued to devise our plan.