Isabelle rushed out of the bar and out to her mother’s car. “Woah. What’s with the rush?” Her mother asked. “Drive and I’ll explain.” Isabelle said, placing the food on the back seat. Her mother nodded and started to back out when she saw Caden come rushing out of the car. “I’m guessing whatever you have to say has to do with Caden rushing out of the bar.” Her mother said putting the car into drive now. “Yes.” Isabelle said, watching as Caden missed the car. “So, what happened?” Her mother asked about five minutes later. “I saw Caden making out with a random ass woman and then him get all cuddly with said woman. I think one of his friends noticed me though. It worked out that was around the time that our food was ready, so I grabbed it and rushed out straight to you.” Isabelle said. “Wow. Okay. That makes sense as to why you would rush out of there.” Her mother said. Isabelle’s phone notification went off causing the two women to pause. “You bitch better not tell Haisley you saw anything.” “Is that Caden?” Her mother asked. “Yes.” Isabelle said. “I’ll give you till this next weekend. If you don’t tell her, I will.” “What did you just send to him?” Her mother asked. “He has until next weekend. If he doesn’t tell her, I will.” Isabelle said. “Do you think that this is a good idea?” Her mother asked. “I’m not going to sit and allow my friend to be cheated on. The two looked too comfortable together.” Isabelle said. “At the next red light, show me the photo of Caden and the woman making out.” Her mother said. “I will.” Isabelle said. The next red light wasn’t a long wait for the two of them. Isabelle showed her mother the pictures she had gotten. “Wow. Okay, umm they do look very comfortable with each other. I mean he’s grabbing her ass so hard.” Her mother said. “I just don’t want Haisley to be hurt more than she will be.” Isabelle said. “Well, you will always be there for her.” Her mother said. “I’ll be there for a week and then I head back home.” Isabelle said. “You and I know; you always pick up the phone for her. Even thousands of miles apart you still love and care about her.” Her mother said. “That’s true.” Isabelle said. The two then stopped talking, the quiet being accepted gracefully.

At lunch the next day, Isabelle could tell there was something off with Haisley the second she stepped out of her car. “I am going to go talk to Haisley real fast if that is okay with you?” Isabelle asked her mother. “Go do that. She doesn’t look as happy or excited about this as she had been this past week. I’ll go get us a table.” Her mother said. “What should I do if her mother shows up and sees us?” Isabelle asked. “I’ll text her and tell her to leave you two alone if she sees you both talking. Now go talk to her.” Her mother said. Isabelle nodded and went to her best friend. “Is everything alright?” Isabelle asked. “Caden broke up with me last night. He’s been cheating on me for months now. And one of the ways that he got away with it was by using his night out with his friends as a date night too. But he said you knew about it. How could you not tell me about it? You’re my best friend.” Haisley said tears forming in her eyes again. “I found out about him cheating last night. My mother and I ordered food from the bar they were at. When I walked in, I saw Caden kissing a random woman. I took photos of them to show you and told him that he had until next weekend to tell you, or I would tell you. I swear that if I knew about it before then I would have told you.” Isabelle said. “That sounds more like you than what Caden was telling me. I’m sorry I even thought that he was telling me the truth. I should’ve known to not trust the cheater.” Haisley said. “Do you want to see the photos?” Isabelle asked. “Yes.” Haisley said. Isabelle pulled out her phone and pulled up the photos. “Oh my god. I can’t fucking believe him.” Haisley said. “Wait, is that a ring on her finger?” Haisley added zooming in on one of the photos. Isabelle looked confused and looked at her phone, noticing a ring on her left ring finger. “I need to see if Caden proposed to this woman because he and I quote ‘wasn’t ready for marriage’.” Haisley said. “I don’t get why he wouldn’t want to marry you, you’re an amazing woman.” Isabelle said. “Thank you. I think I should have seen that red flag. Plus, the ones that came from how controlling he has been recently.” Haisley said. “How controlling has he been?” Isabelle asked. “Very. He hated that I was hanging out with you while you were in town. But why should I care? You’re my best friend.” Haisley said. “I wish I could be more than your best friend.” Isabelle thought. “I can show you the text he sent me if you’d like?” Isabelle asked. “No. I don’t even know why I thought that you wouldn’t tell me. We’ve told each other everything including things normal people don’t tell their friends. I’m just a bit upset that I bought that lingerie and now I don’t have anyone to wear it for.” Haisley said. “Wear it for yourself. You’re hot. You don’t need a man to tell you how hot you are. Rock the set.” Isabelle said. “You know what. That’s exactly what I am going to do.” Haisley said. “Well, I think that we should head in and not leave our mothers waiting.” Isabelle said. “Did my mother show up?” Haisley asked. “I don’t know, but she might be here. I didn’t see her pull in, so I’m not 100% sure if she is here or not.” Isabelle said. “That’s a fair point. Let’s go.” Haisley said. The two then walked off towards the entrance of the restaurant. “Oh, would you mind coming over and helping me get everything of Caden’s out of my house later?” Haisley asked as they were walking. “Yeah. Is he coming to get his things?” Isabelle asked. “Yes. I’m glad I never left anything at his place.” Haisley said. “You mean his mother’s?” Isabelle asked. “Yes. Oh my god. Let me tell you, it sucked that he still lived with his parents. We got caught getting ready to have sex many times. It got to the point that I told him we weren’t going to be having sex at his parent’s house because of the amount of times we got caught.” Haisley said. “Oh, I bet he hated that.” Isabelle said. “No, because he was perfectly fine coming and living with me without paying for anything. So, thank you for helping me get out of that.” Haisley said as they walked into the restaurant.

Sitting down with their mothers, Isabelle and Haisley sat and laughed along with their mothers. “Mom, I’m going over to help Haisley get some stuff together at her apartment.” Isabelle said. “Okay. Maria, would you want to go shopping afterwards?” Isabelle’s mother asked Haisley’s mother. “Yes, I would, Caroline.” Maria said. Everyone carried on their own little conversations. Isabelle and Haisley were talking about what they would do when Haisley came out to visit. Maria and Caroline were talking about what stores they were going to go shopping. They all stopped their conversations whenever a waiter would come by to give their full attention to the waiter. But the second the waiter walked away, their conversations would start back up and sometimes overlap.

Once the four had finished up, they all went towards the car they were driving in. Haisley offered Isabelle her keys because Isabelle usually drove the two around. Haisley hated driving. She had only gotten her license because her parents wanted to get them. “So, how much stuff of his are we getting ready for him to pick up?” Isabelle asked. “There’s a bit of stuff. Mainly clothes. Like I said, he very rarely paid for anything so it’s all mine. And if he did buy me anything, it wasn’t anything too important. Yeah, he was a super nice guy, and he was an amazing boyfriend even while he was cheating, he knew I didn’t really like gifts so the most he would get me was pieces of jewelry. There are some that I have an attachment to, and I might find it hard to get rid of them. That’s why I wanted you here so that if I find it difficult to do this, I know you’d help me. You’ve always been there for me.” Haisley said. “Do you want me to give him everything?” Isabelle asked. “Yes. If you don’t mind. I don’t want to speak to him ever again.” Haisley said. “That’s fair. Do you want to have a movie night? Because I can make a quick trip to the store after we get everything done that you want to do.” Isabelle said. “That sounds really nice. I’ll come with you because I would like to pick up some stuff for my apartment.” Haisley said. “Do I need to get a key back from Caden?” Isabelle asked. “No. I talked with the owner of the apartments and he is coming to change the locks tomorrow. I told him what had happened and he was very willing to change my locks. He has a daughter and said that if I was his daughter he’d want the owner to work with her on changing her locks just in case.” Haisley said. “Would you like me to stay until then?” Isabelle asked. “Yes. I know if I needed someone to punch anyone, you’d do it.” Haisley said making Isabelle laugh. “Well, let’s go get the asshole’s stuff out of your apartment.” Isabelle said making Haisley laugh.

Once they made it back to Haisley’s apartment, the two women made their way into the apartment. “How do you want to go about this?” Isabelle asked. “I think we can put his stuff into trash bags so that it’s easier to take in and out. And then when he shows up you can give them to him while I hide in my room. If that is okay with you?” Haisley asked. “That sounds good.” Isabelle said. “I don’t tell you this enough, but you’re the best. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend.” Haisley said. “I’ll always be there for you no matter what.” Isabelle said. “And for that, I am forever grateful.” Haisley said. “Shall we go get his stuff now?” Isabelle asked. “Let’s go.” Haisley said.