Chapter 2
“Leigh, you have to wake up,” Kylie screamed as I threw the covers over my face. After Brandon had brought me home, I had found Jamie’s stash of liquor and consumed my body’s weight as I proceeded to yell and scream and stomp around his apartment. Without anywhere to go, I had gone home, or at least the place I had once considered my home.
Kylie and Brandon had watched me with wild eyes as I allowed my anger to explode in the form of an angry toddler on a killing rampage. Thinking back to last night, I cringed as my head pounded within as if a hammer were trying to knock out the images and sounds that destroyed my life. Damn, hangovers suck.
“No,” I whined as I squirmed deeper under the covers. Flashbacks to the previous night took over as I tried to push aside my life and the reality of my situation.
***
“Leigh, you have to calm down,” Brandon said, as he watched me chug a bottle of tequila with one hand, and throw every picture frame containing photos of mine and Jamie’s smiling faces onto the tile floor of our apartment kitchen.
Kylie, who was watching the scene unfold with a wicked smile spread across her face, never uttered a word but allowed me to destroy the home I had created with Jamie.
“Why?” I slurred, as I turned to face Brandon. I was on shaky legs as the alcohol was taking its effect on my body. “My life just imploded and you expect me to calm down?” I raged as I continued throwing the glass to the ground.
Without thinking, I turned to walk away and lost my balance. Falling, I heard the crunch of broken glass under me as I felt the sharp pains shoot through my body. Thankfully, the liquor was numbing most of the physical pain; but was doing nothing for the internal pain.
Rushing to me, I felt Brandon lift me off of the ground and begin picking the pieces of broken glass out of my arms and legs. Insanely laughing, I just closed my eyes as Brandon set to work on me. I knew I was losing my mind, but I didn’t care anymore. My life was in shambles and I wasn’t sure who or what I was in that moment.
As the images and sounds around me began to grow blurry, I allowed myself to lean into his embrace, I pretended that Brandon was my knight in shining armor, rescuing me from my personal hell. Closing my eyes, I allowed the alcohol to consume me and sleep took over.
***
Now, waking to the annoying demands of Kylie, I felt the pain of my actions from last night. Everything hurt. It even hurt to breathe. My arms and legs were sore from the broken glass and I knew I was in Kylie’s bed.
“Leigh, you can’t just sleep all day in my bed. You need to get your ass up and decide what you are going to do,” Kylie hissed.
Finally sitting up, I gave in and looked over at Kylie who was now standing at the edge of her large, queen-sized bed. With her hands propped on her thin hips, she glared at me as if I were a teen in trouble with her mother.
“Damn, you look like shit,” she laughed as she took in my messy hair and makeup smeared face.
Glancing at the mirror across the room, I saw my disheveled reflection in the mirror, and I too wanted to scream at my own image.
“Well, I had a rough night,” I began as I felt tears threaten to escape. “By the way, how the hell did I end up here?” I asked, motioning around her room.
The last image I had was Brandon carrying me in Jamie’s apartment.
I felt the bed slump as Kylie sat down next to me. Placing an arm around my shoulder she pulled me in for a hug. Kylie had been my best friend since we were in sixth grade and while we were not usually the affectionate types, I appreciated her kindness. “Leigh, you passed out and Brandon and I drove you here. I know it is hard to understand, but this will all be alright. I know it may be hard to believe now, but maybe this was all for the best,” she finished.
Turning my head to face her, I gave her a curious glare. “How can you say that?” I began. “I just found out my fiancé has been cheating on me, I have nowhere to live, and I embarrassed myself in front of you and Brandon last night.”
Sighing, Kylie didn’t miss a beat before responding. “Leigh, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. That ass hat you were engaged to should be embarrassed. I know this sucks, but this might be the best thing that has ever happened to you. I love you, but when you were with Jamie, you were different. You were always so worried about making him happy that it felt like you lost part of yourself. And besides, you have a place to live,” she said.
“What?” I asked, raising my eyebrows in confusion. If she was referring to my parent’s home, she was crazy! I had worked too hard to prove my independence to go backward now.
“You will live here with me. I will take my desk out of the guest room and it will be yours.”
“Kylie, I can’t…”
Before I could finish, Kylie cut me off. “Stop. You are my best friend and you are going to live here.”
Standing, Kylie began to walk toward her bedroom door. Go take a shower and then meet me in the kitchen. I will make all of us breakfast,” she demanded.
Thinking over her words, I shoved the blankets aside and stopped. “Wait, did you say all of us?”
“Yes. You, me, and Brandon.”
“Brandon?” I asked, clearly confused. I thought after he placed me in bed last night he surely would have bolted and run away from the crazy girl he watched destroy his friend’s apartment.
“Yes, Brandon slept on the couch last night. He was so worried that you might get up and try to leave that he wanted to stay.”
This had surprised me. Of course, Brandon and I were friends, but never would I have imagined that he would stay over to ensure I was alright. Part of me wondered if he had stayed because of Kylie. I had always thought that Brandon and Kylie would make a great couple. Both were strong-willed and hot.
“Oh,” was all I managed to say.
Smiling, Kylie waved her hands around. Her long, red hair swayed back and forth from her rapid movements. “Don’t act so surprised,” she joked. “Brandon would do anything for you,” she said before turning and walking out of the bedroom door.
I thought about her words for a minute, but dismissed the ideas that were running rampant through my head. I was hung-over, emotionally drained, and in desperate need of a shower and strong coffee.
After a long, warm shower, I stumbled into the kitchen where I found Kylie pouring pancake batter into a skillet. I had placed my wet hair into a tight bun and wore a pair of Kylie’s Nike shorts and black tank top. I was glad she had laid them out for me. As I walked into the small space, she placed one finger to her lips as a sign for me to be quiet then motioned over to the couch where Brandon was passed out and snoring.
Slowly walking, I reached into the kitchen cabinets and began grabbing plates and glasses and then set the table.
“How long has he been sleeping?” I asked as I began to pour each of us mugs of coffee.
Not looking up from the stove, Kylie flipped the pancakes and displayed a golden brown color on each sweet pancake. “He fell asleep around four this morning. He was up all night,” she said with her back still to me.
I was glad that Kylie couldn’t see me because right then she would have seen me look at Brandon and sigh; something I instantly felt guilty for.
“I heard that,” Kylie teased as she placed the golden brown pancakes onto a large platter.
Just then, Brandon began to stir and both Kylie and I froze in place. I watched as his eyes opened and he quickly looked around the room, almost in fear when he realized he wasn’t home and in his own bed.
“Good morning,” Kylie sang cheerfully as she placed the platter on the small kitchen table where she had already set out butter, silverware, and maple syrup.
Mumbling something I didn’t understand, Brandon stood from the couch, stretched, then sauntered into the kitchen where Kylie and I were sitting down to eat. Rubbing his eyes, Brandon offered a small smile as he pulled out a chair and sat down next to me.
“How do you feel this morning?” he asked, picking up a fork and stabbing two pancakes and then placing them on his plate.
Taking a sip of my warm coffee, I allowed the liquid gold to soothe me. “I feel ok,” I lied. “Thanks for staying and helping me last night. I am really sorry you had to stay over, I acted like a child,” I admitted as I cringed inside. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
“No problem,” Brandon said as he stuffed his mouth with a large forkful of pancakes. The maple syrup dripped like golden rain from his fork and for some reason, I couldn’t explain or understand, I wanted to reach over and lick the maple and sugar straight from his mouth. Closing my eyes tightly, I shook away the thoughts and told myself I was not thinking clearly. Sure, I had always found Brandon attractive and had once, years before, thought about Brandon in more intimate ways, but now I knew those ideas were just thoughts of a crazy woman.
Remembering Brandon was my friend, I lightened the mood as I tried to compose myself. “Seriously, though, you didn’t have to stay. I feel terrible I ruined your night.”
Laying down his fork, Brandon lowered his head and stared a hole through the kitchen floor. His expression grew dark and serious, and I felt myself scooting even further back in my seat. Across the table, Kylie eyed both of us cautiously as she slowly ate her syrup-drenched pancakes.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Brandon began. “Jamie screwed up and did this. I should beat his ass for what he did to you. It makes me angry that I thought he was my friend; that I thought I knew the guy I once admired.” His voice was full of anger as he talked and I could see him clutching the sides of the table in rage. “I just can’t understand why he would risk his relationship with you because you are amazing and so beautiful. That other girl, the whore he messed with, I’m sure doesn't even compare to you.”
I sat there as if I were having an out of body experience. I had been called a lot of things in my life; loyal, honest, genuine, compassionate, but never amazing or beautiful. Those adjectives just didn’t feel right describing me; whom I imagined was plain and at the moment a complete mess in everyone’s eyes.
Breaking the awkward tension floating through the room, Kylie chimed in. “Well, I think we can all agree that Jamie is a piece of shit. However, that doesn’t fix anything now. We need to get Leigh moved into my apartment ASAP and we need to help Leigh move on from this mess,” Kylie said, her eyes fixed on Brandon.
I wasn’t sure why she was focusing so much of her attention on him, but something inside of me didn’t like it.
A smile now spreading across his face, Brandon looked up again. “You are moving out?” he asked.
Nodding my head yes, I responded. “Yes, now that I know who Jamie really is, I can’t marry him and I can’t live there anymore. Kylie is letting me live here, so I guess I at least have one plan set in moving forward with my life.”
“Let’s take today to recover and rest and then tomorrow we can get Leigh moved in here.” Kylie offered as she continued to eat. “I don’t know about you all, but I have a hangover from hell and I would be no use if we tried to do that. Plus, I think if I saw Jamie today I would kick his ass.”
Nodding, I understood and agreed. Not wanting any more drama to occur under my watch, I decided to lay low today and just allow myself to prepare for the storm that would come once I had to walk back into the whirlwind that was my life now. Besides, I knew an awkward and uncomfortable conversation with my parents would have to take place, and that would require more strength than I had at the moment.
Agreeing, Brandon offered to help us and because I didn’t have anyone else to rely on, I accepted.
Excusing myself from the table, I felt bile rising in my throat. I guess eating pancakes after filling my stomach with every type of liquor I could find, wasn’t the brightest idea.
“I have to go,” I said as I ran to the bathroom just in time to see my breakfast make a reappearance.
Want to find out what happens with Brandon and Leigh? Find this novel and more at: