The Date Planner

1.21.2. Interrogation

Jason didn't come back until half the day was gone and I was deep in my covers, hiding my already red-from-crying face.

I just heard the front door open and being slammed again. Though when I checked, he only came back for his clothes, probably from his whole week vacation he had here.

I really need to stop giving my spare keys to everyone I know, honestly.

Everyone just barges in whenever the hell they want.

On the other hand, Clinton didn't text me like usual for most of the day. Probably because he already told me, he would be busy in a conference for most of the day. And I'm glad for that.

I wanted to have some alone time without the boys for at least a day anyway.

Maybe this was for the better.

I think to myself as I drive over to Liza's to spring on her a much needed girl's sleepover.

It's almost 7pm right now. And I still can't get out the revelations Jason told me today. They're a bad whirlwind of storms brewing in my head.

I can't believe Jason brought his father into the matter. To use such a sensitive topic as a form of backlash is so beneath him, I almost believe he's telling the... truth.

But that can't be. Clinton would've mentioned it. It just doesn't add up. All this brain wracking will seriously give me a concussion if I don't let it out. And the best source is definitely Liza.

I finally pull into her apartment building and make my way up to her through the elevator.

As soon as the doors open to her floor, a women rushes past me into the elevator, hiding her face behind her hands as I catch her sounds of sobbing.

Oh, dear.

I turn the corner just in time to catch Liza standing with her door open, standing with a dead expression on her face and a far away look in her eyes.

I stop short as I realize where her gaze is fixed at and I turn around to the sight of the elevator doors closing with that raven haired women inside.

I turn around to Liza and frown.

That girl definitely looked familiar.

And that's when it clicked.

"She is that gala girl!", I snap my fingers in glee as the pieces fit together.

"What? No", that snaps Liza out of her daze as she fumbles with her words, hesitating.

"What the hell, Liza!", I hit her on the arm with the bag of takeout I brought with me.

"Ow!", she fliches away, rubbing the sore spot where I hit her.

I glare at her and push past her inside her apartment. She follows me inside a second later.

I place the bags on her kitchen counter and turn around to face her, crossing my arms with a stern expression on my face.

"Okay, I'm sorry", she looks away.

That further deepens my frown.

"Now I know the reason behind your workload, the avoiding and all the weirdness that you're behaving and quite honestly, this wasn't what I was expecting. I'm hurt, Liza", I pout, letting all my feelings out.

"Well, touche. You and me both, chica", she heads for the refrigerator and takes out a bottle of beer before opening it and taking a huge swig out of it.

I look at her in concern.

Her eyes scrunched up, dark circles evident beneath her eyes and the usual shine in her personality almost dimmed to none.

"How did this happen?", I ask her softly, patiently.

She doesn't say anything for a few seconds before giving out a huge sigh.

"It was just supposed to be a one night stand but I met her again a few weeks ago at a coffee house. Turns out she's an interior house designer. Her office is just a block away from ours.

We talked for a while and ended up somehow canoodling again and again and again and I... ", her voice breaks down at last as she bows down and clutches her head as if in deep pain.

"Oh my god, Liza. No", I exclaim and go to her side only to embrace her.

She buries her face in my shoulder and instantly starts to sob so hard, my heart breaks for her.

I stroke her hair softly, patting her back and trying to provide as much relief as possible.

Wondering if even one heart today will find some relief.

***

"Jason is a moron"

"Yeah!"

I join in the chorus with Liza and raise my bottle of beer up in the air with glee.

"Even Clinton is"

"Yeah!", I exclaim, again.

Clearly the alcohol has reached to my head.

We're sitting in her living room with bottles of beer and our takeout all around us.

After Liza explained her part of the story with her redhead, I got to my part and to say Liza wasn't surprised would be an understatement.

She said, she saw it all coming.

With me reverting back with, couldn't ya have given ya girl a warning?

To which she just replied, she just wanted to witness it.

Well, what do you know, she actually did.

And that brings us here as we curse our present, not-so-ex but love interests in the safe haven of her apartment.

"Camille too", she muttered after a few sips.

I blink at her.

"Now, who is she?", I hiccup, confused about this new character.

Liza sighs.

"My redhead", she gives me a deadpanned look.

"Oh"

"What? No! You're supposed to be all stupid grin and 'Yeah!' 's in my part too", Liza pouts.

I give her a smirk only to go back sipping my drink and giggling like an i***t.

That's when my phone rings and I pick it up even before checking the caller ID.

"Hello?", I call out.

"Hey, babe. I just finished with my conference. I'll be over at yours in no time. Do you want me to bring take out or have you already eaten?", the other side says.

Okay, whaaaaaaaaaat?

"Who's this?", I wonder out loud, confused as my drunken state catches upto me.

"Uhh... baby, are you drunk?", he calls out.

I draw away from my phone and look at it. Somehow my vision is blurred to the point, I can't make out the caller ID.

Liza looks at me questioningly as she gestures to my phone.

I just shrug with a confused look.

Hmm... last time I remember I was single. Who the hell is this guy?

I wonder to myself.

I bring the phone closer to my eyes and suddenly my vision becomes more clearer as I squint into the blaring screen of my phone.

Clinton.

That's when it clicks.

Uh-oh.

"Hey, babe. I'm... yeah, I'm drunk", I rub my eyes and stand up immediately, scrambling to get out of the mess we were surrounded by.

"On a Monday night?", he asks clearly appalled at the idea.

"Umm... yeah", I try to scramble for some explanation but nothing comes up.

There's silence on the other end and I wait for a few seconds before he speaks up.

"You know what, I'll just come over", he sighs and I hear the exhaustion in his voice.

"Oh, I'm not at my apartment!", I exclaim loudly for some reason as I stumble into the kitchen.

I lean on the kitchen counter as I shake my head and try to clear the fog.

"Where are you, then?", he asks and I hear the incredulous-ness in his voice.

"I'm at Liza's. We're just having a girls night. She's going through some stuff", I mutter out, softly.

After a second he replies.

"It's okay. You go have fun. I'll meet you tomorrow for lunch-", he only gets that far before I cut him off abruptly.

"Okay, see you. Bye!", I exclaim into the phone.

And hang up without waiting for a response.

A yawn escapes me as I make my way back to the living room.

"God, he's demanding", Liza groans as she looks at me with a bored look.

I take my seat adjacent to her on the couch again and exclaim, again.

"Oh My God! Tell me about it", I roll my eyes as I rest my head back on the couch.

Clearly kidding there.

There's silence for a few seconds before Liza breaks it.

"This sucks", Liza scoffs.

I lift my head and look at her.

"What does?"

"Our love lives", she waves her hand in a circular motion in the air before letting it fall down.

"I know right", I mutter softly as I let my head fall back onto the couch.

Liza's head joins mine a second later as we gaze at her ceiling aimlessly.

"We should date each other, honestly. Things would be so easy", she wonders.

I start into a giggling fit at that as I clutch my stomach.

"No way", I let out in between my giggles.

"I'm serious. Come on and join me on this side of things, girl. I'll make you see heaven", she whispers the last part in my ear huskily for extra effect.

That sends me howling in laughter as I clutch my stomach more tightly.

And she joins in after me as we laugh our hearts at the ridiculous lotion.

By the time we sober up, my eyes are welled up from tears of laughter as I try to wipe them away.

I lay my head on her shoulder and throw an arm around her shoulders, hugging her sideways. A small peaceful smile graces my lips.

"While I love the idea, I think Clinton makes me see enough of it to last a lifetime. Plus, we would be a ridiculous couple because we're always fighting", I say out loud, still smiling silly.

"And yet I still love you", she squeezes me back as her arms come around me.

That makes me smile wider as I feel the faintest shadow of sleep hitting my eyelids as I try to keep them open.

"And I, you", I say before falling into a deep slumber.