The Mishap

Chapter One

Characters: (I do not own the rights to these pictures these are solely to show how the main characters would look)

Liza Miller



Brandi Phillips



Case Phillips



Jackie Miller(Liza's sister)



Rome Miller(Liza's brother)



Brenton Miller(Liza's dad)



Jillian Miller(Liza's mom)



Robert Phillips (Brandi and Case's dad)



Anne Phillips (Brandi and Case's mom)



There's a quote that goes "lies will always spin out of control; little lies will gradually become bigger ones."
I was never one to lie. Not even those little small white ones. My siblings would get annoyed with me and call me a snitch growing up. Though I wasn't necessarily trying to be a tattletale. I just simply had a hard time withholding the truth from my parents, therefore always telling the truth, even if my siblings would plead and beg. I just couldn't do it. I wanted nothing more than to be in my sibling's good graces; for them to trust me. But let's just say that even though they love me dearly, they probably won't have me help with any surprises ever. And the same thing stands today at the age of twenty-four, I am still a habitual truth-teller. That is one thing about me that will never change.

"A large caramel mocha, please," I ask the barista at my favorite cafe, just a couple of blocks from my house. I love the smell of the cafe and the general laid back atmosphere. The young barista, no older than eighteen, graciously passes me the sweet beverage.  I bring the brown paper cup up to my nose taking a good long whiff of the sweet mix of the caramel, mocha sauce, and coffee. The heat brings me warmth on this cold winter day.
"Thank you, this smells amazing." I say to the young barista before taking a seat at a tiny round table near the window. Taking a long sip of my hot beverage, I glance outside at the snow-covered town, thankful that I am currently in a state of warmth and contentment. I am the happy-go-lucky type but sometimes I feel alone in this town. All of my family and friends live back home in Georgia and I live all alone in upstate New York. I do quite well for myself and don’t  necessarily mind being alone, but I can’t deny the complete and utter sense of loneliness I get from time to time. I sigh into my cup of mocha as I take one last sip. All that remains is a smidgen of coffee and clumps of sugary goodness..  I start to think to myself, if some kind of higher power or something could give me a sign, maybe it would end this empty sad pit roiling inside of my tummy. Or maybe the roiling was due to the sugary caffeinated drink that I just diminished within seconds on an empty stomach. Who knows? But something was definitely missing in my life. Suddenly, before I can leave the comfort of the plastic chair I’m sitting in at the coffee shop, my phone chimes loudly. This causes a few eyes to dart my way, as the place had been rather quiet up until now. Frantically, I dive into my purse for my obnoxiously ringing phone. This seems to take ten times as long as it would if it were on silent. Finally, after accidentally grabbing my compact mirror a few times, mistaking it for my phone, I grab a hold of my blaring electronic device. Hurriedly, I turn the volume down before answering the call.
“Hello?” I mumble into my phone, waiting for the person to answer back. But instead, the only thing I hear is the hysterical whimpers from what sounds like my best friend. I haven't seen my best friend in person in over two years and we only call each other sporadically. My heart drops immediately at the sound of my friend’s insanely strong cries on the other end.
“Brandi, sweetheart. What’s wrong?” 
Brandi attempts to stifle her sobs before composing herself just enough to utter the words, “A-April...che-cheated...on me.” Her words are a stuttery mess but I easily comprehend. 
April is Brandi’s girlfriend. Well, after what Brandi just told me, hopefully it’s her ex-girlfriend. I had only met April a handful of times on my visits to my hometown and, to be completely honest, I wasn’t that fond of her. She came off a bit uptight and bitchy. Brandi and April had been together for a few years and Brandi had been so happy. Who was I to put a damper on their relationship? I may be big on truth-telling, and thankfully Brandi has never asked what I thought of April.  Now listening to my best friend’s sadness, I wish she had.
“Oh, no, sweetie, I’m so sorry. How did you find out?”
Sighing, Brandi clears her throat before explaining.
“I-uh, caught her. I went to her apartment to-to surprise her but instead, I received the surprise of my life. Her and this redhead were grinding on each other and I wanted to vomit. I wanted to die.”
I never heard my best friend sound so weak and needy. I could kill the bitch and I am nowhere near a violent person. A lump forms in my throat as I can only imagine the pain of that image. I haven't been in many relationships, nor have I ever been in love, but I love the idea of love. Though, the idea of heartbreak, such as the one my friend is now going through, is nearly enough to shun the thought of a relationship out completely. Brandi’s words are sickening.
“Brandi, listen to me sweetie, and listen to me carefully. I don’t ever want to hear you utter those words to me again. You got that? Ever! Fuck April. She’s not worth your tears and you deserve so much better.”
It is weird for me, trying to be the stern motherly type for my friend, as it was usually the other way around, but I figure now is the time that Brandi needs it.
I freeze at the sound of Brandi lightly chuckling. “Why is she laughing?” I think to myself.
“Are you laughing?” I ask with apprehension.
Brandi laughs a bit more before answering,
“Yeah-yeah I am. Did you really just say, ‘fuck’? When did you become such a badass?”
I did say that, didn’t I? I was so angry that I hadn’t even realized. 
“I guess I did say that, but I suppose someone breaking my best friend’s heart will bring that out in me.”
“Well, it made me feel a little better. I guess I just needed my best friend.”
Guilt burns into my chest. I should be holding my best friend in my arms, consoling her in her time of need.  Instead I’m fourteen hours away from her. I cringe at the thought of my best friend going through this heartbreak alone.
We have always been there for each other; for the big things in our lives. When Brandi came out as a lesbian in our sophomore year in high school, I was the first one she told. When I decided that losing my virginity on prom night to a guy that I wasn’t even dating. Just for the sake of getting the whole 'virginity' part out of the way. I told Brandi the moment after my painful and awkward experience ended. Through first times, first crushes, family issues, and bullies, we had been through it all together. Leaving Brandi behind to go to school in New York was the hardest part about moving out of state. Brandi and I were pretty much inseparable during my last month home. Now, during the time that my friend needs me the most, I want nothing more than to be there, up close and personal. I know exactly what I need to do. 
“Brandi, I’m coming home.”
Puzzled at my sudden outburst Brandi spews out a loud,
“What? What are you talking about?”
I reply by muttering,
“Well, I never really take time off and I have a ton of paid time off just sitting there, waiting for me to use it. So, I figure I could probably come home for a few months, maybe.”
“Liza, I can’t ask you to do that. It’s just a little heartbreak. I’ll get over it eventually.”
“Well, it isn't up to you, is it?”
“Liza…I don't want you to do all that traveling just to help me mend my broken heart”
Brandi groans.
“Come on Brandi! I just want to come home and be there for you. I miss you and I miss my family, anyway.” I retort.
After a long beat of silence, Brandi finally gives in.
“Fine...When will you get here?”