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The rumble of subtle turbulence on a rather quiet flight startled me awake. Sitting window side, I glanced toward my left, feeling my cheek wet with spit. Thankfully my neighbors were dead asleep, and the drool below my chin went unnoticed. I had the worst habit of falling asleep on an airplane the minute it hummed during takeoff — and of course my gaping mouth was another attractive quality. Lovely.
Ten minutes away from landing, my eagerness grew exponentially — to see Eve would be just what I needed to push me back into normalcy.
Come to think of it, between last night to this morning, I spaced on telling Dad. I shrugged to myself, oh well.
My boss, Mitchell, told me to enjoy my trip though the tone in his voice is that of an unsure parent.Do you really want to eat candy for breakfast?I could hear it, as if my teetering promotion was dependent on my swift return. I couldn’t stay as an intern any longer, I needed to be on the staff, picture on the wall and all.
Lately, I wondered what it would be like to live alone in the city, which had been my primary goal. Could it be possible to live happily without Robbie and his meddling ways? I’d have a shit apartment again, and sure, maybe it wouldn’t be as luxurious as Robbie’s luscious penthouse on Hanover Square, but a decent life in the city was still something I would choose over my previous rural life near the creepy forest.
The anticipation of seeing Eve at the end of the airport terminal hallway rattled my chest with a vibrant buzz, and the persistent nerves amplified their presence as I saw her standing past security in the skimpiest yellow two-piece outfit. Even security couldn’t keep their eyes off her. As long as her ass was around, this airport and its passengers would be doomed.
Eve was always the striking one and was the most pursued between us two ever since she earned her boobs first. All of the boys would check out every part of her, which was why she craved every bit of attention from the male variety. I had to say, it was quite impressive seeing all those high school boys believe they had her under their control, when truly she had them under her undying spell. If her ass moved left, so did they. Morons. They followed her around like lost dogs, desperate to claim her as their own. Bromances were lost amongst her sneaky ways, but she wouldn’t even bat an eye at the damage she could cause with those hips. She was infectious to be around, her aura magnetic, and if you were lucky enough to be liked, you were in her good graces. I was just lucky enough we grew into our friendship, almost as if we had no choice, but each day we chose one another no matter what drama transpired.
In school, we were always known as the angel and devil. Although we were always together, Eve was always up to mischief, while I was the reasonable one, the tame one, the stunning, sweet nerd who couldn’t lift her head out of her books. I was a rule follower, not a heartbreaker. See, we balanced one another out.
We caught one another’s eyes from afar. It reminded me of my previous visit. I was only nineteen at the time, except now Eve had a big smile instead of a somber stare. The shuddering thought was one I’d tried to suppress.
The last time I was home was not such a parade, but rather to do what best friends do, weather one of life’s many storms. She was always there for me, so I would always be there for her, even when it meant taking a break at NYU to cheer her up after the procedure she had. Maybe I was just happy to see how glowing she was now unlike before.
I could see Eve waving at the end of the terminal. She stuck her tongue out, and I wanted to scream with excitement.
It had been so long, and our last encounter was so sad. I could only hold onto our happier memories, such as when she visited me in New York, crashing Robbie and I’s NYU parties.What a blast.
She held one hand up in the air waving like a madwoman as her blonde curls jumped up and down, while the other held a handmade sign that read, “Julia’s bitch,” written in hot pink glitter. Clever, especially since she was going to be my maid of honor; I could have her at my fingertips for once.
“Julia! Thank god, you’re finally home!” She cooed, hugging me so tight that a rib could pop.
“How are you, babe?” My cheeks smushed against hers, much like a grandmother. “Love the sign. Promise me you’ll frame it? I want to hang it above my bed.”
Eve sighed, cupping my tired shoulder. “Honey, anyone in your bed should always be your bitch. Don’t you ever forget it.”
Just like old times. There’s always that person in your life, no matter the distance or time that passed, you both could fall back into the same beat of friendship.
“Anything change since I’ve been gone? I swear, this airport seems much smaller than I remember.” I asked with a sly smirk creeping across my face.
“Hey now, I know it’s been five years since you have been home, but don’t go all, ‘I’m a big city bitch’ on me.” Eve teased throwing around air quotes, and actually it had been six years, but she might have been purposefully suppressing her last memory. “Where in the Sam Hill is your twang at?” She over exaggerated her Southern accent.
“I’m sorry, but my accent, it ran away the moment I saw a rat carry a pizza slice down the Ninety-sixth street Subway station. We just bark in New York; it’s how we get around.” My large smile wouldn’t leave me as relief washed over me, my happiness level soared. The last time I smiled like this must have been when Robbie introduced me to my boss. It was hope.
We followed the only two signs towards baggage claim, which was about a block away from the airport terminal. Yes, I speak in blocks now. I tossed my hair pompously as Eve picked up my extra bag, how generous of her.
“It is so good to have you back home. I really did miss you.” Eve said as she pinched my ass. Ow, her pinches haven’t changed a bit. They still hurt like hell! I scowled at her, but she continued. “Because making new friends that understand me was never my forte.” She shrugged. “Who would have thought nurses have ginormous sticks up their tight puckered assholes?” Eve rolled her eyes. What she meant was no other girl could tolerate her and soon enough Eve’s self-centric energy would drive a wedge between their friendship. I knew her buttons, though, and could map her ego with my own complimentary quips.
“Forget those bitches, Eve, you’ve got me here. Besides, I don’t have anyone in the city except Robbie, my demanding boss, and my overheated laptop.” Which, at that point in my life, my laptop might have been my bestie in New York.
She stopped abruptly, and when I glanced back, I saw her doing a princess curtsy in the middle of the damn airport. I wasn’t sure what was more amusing, her random act, or the vicious eyeballs that narrowed in as people huffed their way around her.
She sped up to align herself back with me. “Think you’ll ever move back? You can write from anywhere you know…” I lacked the energy to compile the perfect response, the disagreement would be sweet but stern. I vowed for silence instead. As we approached the parking lot, I couldn’t see Eve’s crappy Honda from high school. The only two visible cars were parked — both of which were not Eve’s.
She clicked her keys, motioning towards a brand-new car in front of us. It flashed its lights and emitted a small chirp. “Lookie. My brand-new car.”
“What?” I asked in complete shock. “No more rusty, spotted-looking Honda?” My eyes gleamed as I circled her car to ogle at it. The tan luxury leather inside popped, contrasting the shimmering midnight tone of its reflective black paint. “Did you finally put it down? Geez, this car is gorge.” I mirrored her excited tone.
“See, there’s something new for you.” I looked at her puzzled. “You did ask what was new in town, remember?” She slowly blinked, annoyed.
“Right.” I snapped my fingers as the memory replayed in my mind.
She squealed, “Get inside, that’s where it’s all at, and it smells oh so fucking good, like genuine leather. Straight from the lands of Italy or something. I don’t know, it sounded like a nice upgrade.” Eve blinked quickly, swatting her hands in the air, as if to shoo away the stressful sales pitch that sold her.
