I'm No Damsel In Distress

"OK that's everything. Including every City of New Orleans emergency number, your toll tags, and I've got the extra house key." My mom told me. I could tell her grey-blue eyes were misting over but she did a good job holding it together. Probably for my sake.

"Thanks mom, y'all really didn't have to unpack with me I would of been fine."

I hated.. HATED goodbyes with my mother. She got so emotional most times, and they took forever.

After hugging me for the one millionth time, she started towards the car leaving me with my dad. He was the complete opposite of my mom, so he basically gets down to it then leaves. Simple and fast.

"I love you, I trust you, and I left a little something on the kitchen counter. Nothing much but I figured after this past weekend with your mother you will use it 'wisely'." He winked at me and out the door he went.

I shut it and leaned against it with my back, totally not able to stop the smile forming on my face.

"Freedooommm." I sang to my empty house.

I walked into the kitchen towards the pantry and pulled out a box of cereal. Inside was a fifth of vodka I had hidden from my mom. The whole weekend I would take a swig here or there when she wasn't around.

I'm no alcoholic by any means, but a weekend with MY bat shit crazy mom, freaking out over her baby girl growing up, would drive a nun to drinking. However, it did make me feel a little better when I caught the old man sneaking a sip.

"Dad what are you doing?" I had asked him.

"Same thing you've been doing obviously." He told me taking another sip.

"Well don't drink it all! That has to last us till tomorrow. How'd you know anyway? I chewed gum." I grumped, kinda bummed out that I wasn't as sneaky as I thought I'd been.

"Darlin, I invented the 'cereal box hiding spot.' "

I laughed as he pulled another fifth of the same vodka out of his pocket and stuffed it down into the cereal box.

I laughed fondly while remembering how awesome I thought my dad was when he did that. I always had a close relationship with both of my parents. I love my mom to death, but daddy always let me be me, and told me to 'make my own trail'.

I took another sip, then thought 'what the hell?' and just carried the bottle around with me.

Glancing at the counter I saw an envelope with dads old nickname for me.

'For my little whiskey girl'

I rolled my eyes. He calls me that because when I was three I found a bottle of Jack Daniels and took it behind the couch at a Christmas party my parents had.

Minutes later I was dancing on the coffee table singing I'm Every Woman by Whitney Houston along with the radio in my Minnie Mouse panties before I finally passed out. Years later and I get to see the video once a year at Christmas time because my dear old dad taped every bit of it and its still talked about.

Parents....

I nearly squealed like a little girl when I looked inside and found five hundred bucks! He knew exactly what I was going to do with this and I bit my lip while I preached to myself how stupid it would be if I didn't save some of it.

I'm REALLY not an alcoholic, but my family does like their whiskey.

I called my lifetime bestest girlfriend ever, Samantha. She moved out here six months ago and after only one visit, she convinced me to join her. She went to the university, whereas I had already finished cosmetology school and took a job at a well known salon that was conveniently a couple of blocks from my apartment.

She immediately answered. "You got your party panties on missy?"

"Party panties huh?" I laughed into the phone and took another sip.

"You aren't starting without me are you?" She asked suspiciously and I smiled.

"What would give you that idea?" I responded.

"Whatever bitch, get dressed I'm on my way."

"Yes masta." And we hung up.

I dressed into some white shorts, with a tan off the shoulder tunic top that cinches at the waist and flows around the sleeves. After slipping on some brown leather gladiator sandals with gold spikes around the ankle, I put on gold hoops, gold and copper bangles, and stuck some brown sunglasses on top of my head. My long dark hair was already straightened so I touched up my makeup and by the time I finished, Samantha was texting me to "bring my ass outside".

Damn impatient girl, I giggled to myself.

First stop, shopping in the French Quarters. I couldn't get enough last time I was visiting. It was so relaxing just walking through the quarter stopping at every boutique and store and taking breaks in the many unique bars and quaint little restaurants. I could already tell how my 'lazy' Sundays would be spent.

By the time we finished shopping we both had some pretty good buzzes going. It was already dark out but the streets were bright and Burbon was alive with all sorts of different types of people.

The culture here was amazing and I became so excited to find out every little thing this new city of mine offered.

We stored our purchases in her trunk and partied on Burbon Street the rest of the night.. dancing, drinking, and mingling.

We flirted and pointed out all the hottest guys together even saying things that would give my mom a panic attack if she heard us.

"Wait until you meet Donnie." She told me with a shit eating grin while we were waiting on some drinks.

I raised one eyebrow. "Who's Donnie?" I asked cautiously.

"Ohhh a friend of a friend." She explained nonchalantly.

"Don't!" I warned her. I knew where this was going. 'The hook-up'. I could tell by her face.

Her match making skills, if that's what you'd call them, were less than great. Besides, I literally just got here.. no way. I wanted to be independent for a while before answering to some guy.

"Nope.. dating is against my religion, sorry." I told her innocently while shrugging my shoulders.

"Yeah.. we shall see." She said mysteriously.