My Brother’s Best Friend 2

CHAPTER 5

(SOLANA’S POV)

No one said another word and it was like all I could hear was Tia’s loud and vibrant voice.

“Pete and I are getting married.”

I wanted to ask her what she said but I could not. I knew quite alright that I already heard well. The silence had gone on for more than a minute but it seemed to me like it had gone forever. I had looked at Larry but he looked away, I looked at Tia and she stood with a bright smile at me. My last gaze settled on Pete and it made me feel the weakest. He did look at me and looking at him, I knew that it was true.

“Excuse me.” I finally breathed out as I could not take what was going on.

“Solana..” I heard Larry call behind me but I walked out quickly and hurried to the kitchen.

I closed the door behind me and rested my back with my eyes closed and then I opened them only to be faced with the setting of the kitchen.

I walked slowly towards the kitchen table and put my hands on it. It was just the same. Exactly the same. Memories of past times with Dad flooded in to my mind and I felt the tears flow freely down my cheek.

“Solana.” Larry’s voice interrupted me as he came in to the kitchen.

I wiped my eyes quickly so that he did not see my tears and then I turned around to face him squarely.

“I came in for some water.” I said and went towards the fridge opened it and took out a bottle of water to drink.

Larry said nothing at first. He simply watched me as I drank the water.

“You did not come for some water, Solana.” He said to me looking me directly in my eyes.

“Really? And why did I come in here then, do you care to tell me?” I challenged him.

I was trying my best to stay strong because I felt like breaking down at this moment, I felt like crying but I had to stay strong.

Larry sighed. I knew that he wanted to say that I came in here because of what Tia had just announced. He knew that I was hurt about the news of Pete.

I was very relieved when my phone began to ring. I looked down at the caller ID and saw that it was Phil who was calling.

“I have to take this, it’s work. You don’t have to bother about me, you can go ahead and have fun at your engagement party.” I said to him with a tight smile.

He did not look convinced but I wanted to be alone at this point and so I did not even wait for him to really give me the go ahead. I walked past him and to the door and then I turned around to him.

“Is it fine if I go upstairs….” I was saying

“Your room is fine.” He said to me with assurance in his eyes.

I nodded “Thanks. I won’t be in your way.” I said and with that I walked out of the kitchen.

I was tempted to check the living room, to be sure that Pete and Tia are really together and to be sure that I had not imagined the whole thing. But I knew deep down that I had not imagined it. I had heard and I was confused but I had to calm myself down now and so I headed quickly for my room.

I paused for a short moment in front of my door as if savoring the moment before I opened it and let myself in.

I gasped, as if to control myself better. My room. My room was still exactly the way I left it, just like everything in the house. My pink walls, four poster bed, my shimmery curtains, princess posters and arranged antiques.

It took me back to years ago, when I had to leave Paris because Dan had been transferred to Seoul , it reminded me of how surprised I was to see my room exactly the way I left it and how dad had told me that he had left it all because he had hope that I would return and he was also preserving my memory.

I sank to the ground and cried. I cried really hard because I missed Dad so much and the feeling of sadness was suddenly feeling fresh. I cried because I could not get Tia’s voice out of my head or the image of her clutching Pete so closely. I cried because I wished things had not changed suddenly. I cried because I felt betrayed and angry.

I was sobbing when my phone started ringing again and I picked it up. It was Phil, calling again.

“Hello.” I answered after I cleared my throat

“Finally! I thought I was going to have a fit. I have been calling you but I did not get a response. I was worried.” He said

Phil being Chatty did not amuse me at this point. I was still trying to calm down.

“Solana?” He asked when he did not hear a word from me.

“Hy Phil.” I said and before he said anything else, I sent a question his way. “How did it go with Charlotte?”

“Oh! It went fine. I mean it did not start out fine but trust me to handle it. She started going crazy about how unprofessional it was for you to just go off but I told her that you have a lot on your mind and so some time won’t be bad.” He explained. “You do have to do some distant work but that’s cool.”

“Okay. That’s great. Thanks.” I said

There was a short silence.

“Lana?” He said gently “Are you okay?”

I sighed “No Phil, I don’t think So.” I said to him and then I briefly explained what had happened.

“Oh no! Are you sure he’s getting married?” He asked me.

“Why the hell would he come to see me if he is getting married? Why? And to Tia!” I said feeling the anger burst out

“Who is Tia?” He asked me

“It doesn’t matter.” I said to him wiping my tears as I got to my feet. “I’m leaving anyway. I should have not even come here. No one wants me here. Not even my brother. I’m done for real.”

(THIRD PERSON’S POV)

The car would have been silent if Tia was not in it but she was and so that meant no quiet. It also meant that she was blabbing to Fanny and Faye about the ring she was wearing that had been given to her by Pete. Larry wished that he had driven alone but he had driven to the venue with the new couple because well, Pete is his best friend.

He was also very shocked about seeing Solana in the house, here in Los Angeles. Solana? Here?

It still shocked him. Shocked him to the bones. He peered in the mirror so that he could glance at Pete, Pete was looking out the window with a distant look on his face. Larry wondered what Pete had been thinking. The only person who seemed to be taking things well was Tia. And that was surprising.

I guess it just showed how much Tia had changed. She was not the person that she used to be because she would have not been calm with Solana being in Los Angeles.

Larry drove the car to the venue and then he parked and Pete and Tia got out. Their close friends and close came to celebrate the news of Pete and Tia’s engagement. Larry turned around and saw Chloe drive in to the parking lot. He excused himself and hurried towards her.

“Hy Larry.” She said sticking her head out of the window.

“Hey Chlo!” Larry greeted.

Chloe lifted her dark shades so that she could look at him properly.

“Are you okay?” She asked and he shrugged then he shook his head.

“Solana is back.” He said

It was like the world came to a stop. Chloe looked like she was frozen.

“Back?” She repeated

“I don’t know, men I’m not sure but she is back and she is at home and if you don’t believe you can go check at home.” He said.

He looked at her dead serious and she looked at him too.

“I’ll be back.” She said and with that she reversed her car on to the road, heading for the Wilson’s house which she had not been to in years.