The Mishap

Chapter Two

The same day I made the decision to return home for a few months, I immediately called my boss. He wasn't entirely thrilled but he couldn't exactly argue about it, knowing that for over the past few years I hadn’t used any sick days or paid time off. So, with a bit of reluctance, he granted me a three month leave of absence, fully paid. With that being said, I took it and ran. After booking my flight and gathering my bearings for the next two days, I was ready to go home. Like a desert wolf, I could hear the howls of my family and friends calling me back to my pack. Home is definitely where the heart is and every single piece of my heart is in Georgia. I know that not only am I going to be a shoulder for Brandi to lean on but I also need the break as well. It's been a while...possibly too long since I have taken the trip home.
After what felt like a long flight, my plane lands. The flight was only a mere two hours, but with the mixture of excitement and anxiety it felt like an absolute eternity. Pulling out my phone, I send my parents a quick text message, letting them know that my flight just landed and that I am headed to baggage claim. Similarly, I send a quick text to Brandi as well, letting her know that I have landed. It doesn't take long for me to spot my suitcase and grab it from the carousel. Rolling my bright pink suitcase outside, I am immediately bombarded by my mother before I even have a chance to see her.
"Oh my God, baby girl, it's been far too long!"
My mother, Jillian, smothers me with an abundance of kisses making me barely able to get a word in.
" Mom–mom, please, I can't breathe." I squeak as she holds me tightly in her warm embrace.
I hear a familiar voice from behind my mother.
"Mother, release my little sister immediately so I can get in on some of the love."
My sister, Jackie, spouts out playfully and, as my mom releases me, Jackie pulls me in for a bear hug. My family can be a bit overwhelming at times but I’ve really missed this. 
“Aye, don’t leave me out!” My oldest brother, Rome, says, abruptly pushing Jackie out of the way. He tugs my neck under his arm so he can rub my head with his knuckles. It doesn’t matter how old I get, I will always be treated like the baby. Rome is five years older than me and two years older than Jackie. It definitely wasn’t easy growing up as the youngest child, especially being the nark of the group.   
“Ugh, Ro, stop it you jerk!” I groan trying to push my brother off of me, but of course, with his brickhouse stature, I don’t have the strength to move him.
“Mom- tell Rome to stop nuggeying me!” I whine to my mother like a child.
“Ro! Stop annoying your sister and help her with her bag.” My mother scolds him and he releases me.
“Always the snitch,” Rome mumbles as he grabs my bag and tosses it in the trunk.
……
It doesn’t take long for us to make it to our family home, as it's only about twenty minutes away from the airport. The five bedroom, colonial style home that I grew up in stands exactly the way it was when I left. It is a white house with matching colored stones lined along the sides, navy blue shutters, and a blue door that dad painted when I was ten. The only difference is the color of the peonies planted along the bushes in the front yard. They were pink when I left and are now blue. Mom loves her garden, so I should have expected that.
My mom barely parks all the way before I spot my dad, Brenton, and run out of the car. He is standing at the front door with open arms waiting to greet me. 
“Dad!” I gleefully yell as I run towards him. I'm a bit of a daddy's girl. Always have been, always will be.
 Not only that, but people say I look most like him, with us both having brown hair and green eyes. The rest of the family has some variation of blonde hair and blue eyes.
“Baby girl! Sorry I couldn’t make it in time for your landing.”
He mutters as he holds me, while resting his chin on the top of my head.
“It's okay, daddy.”
My dad and I turn to walk inside as mom and Jackie follow behind us. Rome lags behind, grabbing my bags.
“So, baby girl, what brings you into town? I was pretty shocked when mom said that you’d be coming.”
“I just missed you guys, dad.”
He scoffs, playfully putting his arm around my shoulders,
“Sure, you came all the way here just  because you missed us. I know you are not one to lie but I’m sure there is something else.”
We make our way to the living room before settling down on the couch.
With a sigh, I answer my father back.
“Okay, so I’m also here for Brandi.”
He furrows his eyebrows, leaning back to the couch, he asks.
“What's wrong with my Bran-Bran?”
With Brandi and I being so close, she was always a part of the family.
“Her, uh-she caught her girlfriend in the act with someone else.”
My dad audibly gasps and my mother pops around the corner, having heard the conversation.
“Oh, how awful,” my mother says as she takes a seat next to my dad.
“Yeah, it is… I should actually go upstairs to get settled in. I want to try to meet up with her later.”
“Okay, dear...Should I save you some dinner for later?”
“Yes, please! Even if I’m not here in time for dinner, I can definitely make room for leftovers.”
Like I would completely miss out on mom’s cooking. As if!
After hugging both of my parents, I head up to my room. Just like the house's exterior, nothing has changed in my room either. Literally...nothing.
“Ew…”
I groan as I step into my childhood bedroom. It looks as if someone barfed up Pepto Bismol all over the walls and plastered boy band posters on top. I guess my taste has changed a lot in the last six years. Flopping onto the firm cushion of my bed, I pull out my phone to call Brandi.
Ring...Ring-
“Hey, girl! How was your flight?”
“Ugh, it felt a lot longer than it was…I was actually calling because I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out. Maybe, get a few drinks or something to get your mind off of everything.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“What do you think? Our favie, of course!”
“Dave and Busters—
“Dave and Busters!
We bust out in hysterics as we spout out the same thing at the same time.
I've missed this…
Brandi catches her breathe before saying,
“That definitely sounds like a plan to me, bestie. Meet you at six?”
“Six sounds great, to me.”
……
About thirty minutes into a few drinks and games, Brandi and I take seats in a booth. I’m only two strawberry mojitos in and I'm already feeling the effects of the alcohol. I am such a lightweight.
“You are such a lightweight.”
No matter how many years we’ve been apart, she can still somehow read my mind.
“Oh, whatever! You are just mad that I crushed you in Dance Dance Revolution.”
“You cheated and you know it!”
The both of us let out a few schoolgirl giggles.
She has had a few more than me. It's probably a good thing that we both caught Ubers here.
“Can I get your orders?”
The waitress asks, causing us to cease our laughter.
“Steak pasta for me!”
I utter too excitedly.
The waitress jots my order down before turning to Brandi and taking her’s down.
“I’ll do the same but instead of steak...shrimp for me, thank you.”
“Okay, coming right up.”
The waitress walks away as I swirl my straw in the remnants of my last mojito.
“So, how have you been feeling, you know...with everything?”
Her face falls but as much as I hate to damper the mood I have to ask.
“Um, I don’t know how to explain how I feel but it definitely hurts like hell. I really thought she was it for m-”
She pauses mid sentence and the color drains from her face.
“Bran, what’s wrong?”
She doesn’t answer so I turn my head in the direction of her view.
“Oh, mylanta!" 
I spit out my drink as I spot the one and only queen of cheating sluts, April, walking towards our booth. The cherry on top of her slutty cherry is the redhead girl strutting alongside her, which I'm sure is the other woman. What are the odds? She has to know that this is one of Brandi's favorite places.
“Brandi…”
April mutters without a bit of remorse on her face as she and betrayal step up to our booth,
“Hey, April,”
Brandi replies timidly.
This is not my best friend; my best friend is not a timid creature. She is bold, loud and proud. Darn you April for making her seem so small!
“So, I see that you cried to your little bestie and she travelled all the way here to comfort you… How sweet.”
What a bitch! Wow, this chick really brings out my profanity.
Brandi continues looking down at her plate, not glancing April's way. I really hate this! Quick! Quick! Liza! Think of something to say. A witty comeback anything to shut the slut up. Thinking quickly on my feet, the biggest lie falls right out of my mouth for the first time in my life.
“No! I traveled all the way here to be with my new girlfriend. We’ve been secretly seeing each other behind your back.”
All three women look at me as if I have just grown an extra head.
What the heck did I just do?