~Brie~

I came down the stairs and headed straight for the door.

“Woah, woah, woah, hold it right there young lady! You forgot something.”

“Dad!” I whined and turned back.

“What? So now your errand is more important than the man who gave you life?”

“Don't start” I warned playfully and walked over to kiss him.

I smiled.

“Where are you going this early?” he asked.

“You said it yourself daddy, I've got errands to run.”

“But you're pregnant my love.”

“Not handicapped” I added.

"Well, what do I tell your mother when she gets back? You know you're supposed to rest.”

“Daddy, you and Mom had two children before me! You've got this” I said and blew him a kiss before exiting and quietly closing the door behind me.

I walked down the front stairs to my car and drove off.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

I looked around.

This was it. I was positive. Nothing seemed to have changed much. Even the air smelled the same.

“Okay Bee, go for it,” I said to myself and made my way up the stairs.

I was about to knock when the door got pulled open.

“Oh hey, Car—”

She screamed and shut the door in my face.

“—men” I finished and put my balled fist down.

“What?!” I heard another scream from inside. “Here?”

I groaned and shook my head. The door was once again opened.

“You know, in most countries, slamming the door in people's faces, is considered very rude,” I said.

She screamed again and closed it in my face. The two kids started to argue and talk over each other.

“Okay, that's it” I muttered and forced myself in.

They stopped and stared at me.

“Will you two just grow up already? It's been years and you haven't changed.”

They continued to stare at me.

“Why are you here?” Carmen asked.

“Yeah, how dare you show your dirty face here after what you did to your own sister?!” Sean added. “We know about it. It's all over the news.”

I frowned.

Oh, they thought I was Aubree.

I chuckled.

“Oh, it's funny?” Sean fumed.

“Okay, volcanoes listen. I'm not—”

“Wait, wait. Did you call us volcanoes?” Sean suddenly asked, cutting me off.

“So? We should probably dump dirty water on her” Carmen hissed.

“No” Sean smiled. “It's Breanna.”

I chuckled.

Thank goodness. I thought I was going to have to give you two a spanking” I said. “Now can you please stop with the screams? It's giving me a headache.”

Carmen narrowed her eyes.

“Well, I don't know,” Carmen said with a shrug. “It could be the evil twin impersonating Breanna.”

Seriously?!

“I babysat you two your entire childhood,” I said. “I was practically your mother.”

She eyed me.

“Anyone could know that.”

I sighed and shook my head at the two teenagers.

“Carmen García. Your middle name is Mirabelle. When you were eight, you stole my mom's emerald necklace and attempted to use it to bribe off those kids from bullying Sean.”

Her mouth dropped.

“You promised not to tell anyone!” she cried.

“You gave me no choice” I chuckled.

“Wait you actually did that?” Sean asked.

“This isn't about you Sean!” she snapped.

I watched his face fall and I chuckled.

“I missed you kids,” I told them.

Sean nudged Carmen and a smile crept up her face. They both hugged me.

“What are you doing back here anyways?” she asked.

“Yeah, we didn't think we'd be seeing you anytime soon with everything that's going on” Sean added.

“Well here I am and I'm back for good. I should have never left in the first place” I smiled. “After all this is my home.”

“We missed you,” they said in synch.

I laughed and hugged both of them again.

“Hey, who's shiny car's in the drive—” she trailed off.

The door slipped through her hand and closed shut.

“—way” she finished when her eyes landed on me.

I smiled.

“Breanna!”

“Hey Dove,” I said and hugged her.

“How could you tell her apart so easily?” Sean asked.

“Because my best friend is the one—”

Her eyes turned sad.

“I'm sorry, I had no idea she was going to do something this awful I swear.”

“Don't apologize for her, Dove. She finds nothing wrong with her actions.”

She smiled.

“I came to see Zach. Is he here?” I asked.

The teenagers made funny noises and Dove's expression turned sour.

“No, why would I know where he is?” she asked walking away.

I waved the kids goodbye and followed her.

“Err, the last time I was here, you two were all over each other, all over the place” I reminded her.

“So?” she asked, turning to me with an annoyed look.

“I caught you two making out in my bedroom.”

“Look, that was a long time ago Breanna. If you wanna know where he is, check the bar where he works a part-time job as a cheater!” she cried, fuming.

Trouble in paradise?

I gave her a confused look and she shook her head.

“Look, I've gotta go. It was nice to see you Breanna” she said. “You look great” she added and walked away.

Did I say something wrong?

I shrugged and turned back to my car, driving straight to the bar in town. I parked in front of the ice cream shop; Froyo Loco.

We used to come here every day after school.

I smiled at the memories. The library, Mrs. Marcel's Cake Shop, the park, and our secret special place.

I should have never left my home.

I pushed through the glass door to the bar and it was empty.

“I'm sorry Miss, but we're closed,” a girl said walking in.

Turn your signs often then.

“I see, but I'm looking for someone. Can you help me out?”

“Sure” she replied. “Who are you looking for?”

“Zachary Hart,” I said. “He's a lawyer; tall, handsome. Do you know him?”

She gave me a look from top to bottom, then backed up.

“I'll be right back. Have a seat.”

She scurried off, my eyes following her till she was out of sight.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

He sat down chatting with a few of his friends, including the boss of the bar, when the girl ran in.

“Excuse me Mr. Hart” she called. “Some lady's out there looking for you.”

“Oooh, do you think it's Pink?” one of his drinking buddies teased.

“Maybe she realized she can't live without you bro!” another added.

Zach chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

“No, it's not one of those girls. I've never seen her in town before” the girl said.

“That's Zacy for you!” the bar owner laughed. “Always changing his women like my wife changes her hairstyle!”

They cracked up.

“And what makes you so sure that one's different?” the owner asked.

“Well first of all she's really good-looking and decent, and I don't think she's that type.”

“Oh please Sky, that's what they all seem like at first” Mr. Monroe, the owner said.

“Plus, she looks really rich and is driving quite the car.”

They all perked up and stared at her. She nodded.

“Well, why didn't you just start with that?” Mr. Monroe asked.

He turned to Zachary with a smirk.

“You finally got yourself a rich one.”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

~Brie~

I tapped the tabletop with my nails.

“What's taking her so long?” I murmured.

The door swung open and he walked in. I stood up. The look on his face said it all. Shock, anger, confusion, happiness. Then I smiled at him and he cracked.

“Bee?” he choked out as if he was having a heart attack.

“Zach,” I said and walked over to hug him.

“It's really you!” he said and lifted me to twirl me around.

I giggled and tightened the hug. We stayed like that for a while until a deep voice was heard and we pulled away.

“Sorry, I just—”

“Excuse me, Miss, are you sure he's the person you're looking for?” an older man asked.

I frowned with confusion.

“Cut it out Mr. Monroe” Zach chuckled. “It's Breanna. Breanna Nolan.”

“That same Breanna who used to play for the charity organization?”

I smiled.

“That same one,” we said in synch.

“Oh, Paige is going to be excited to hear her favorite customer is back in town!” Mr. Monroe said.

I smiled and hugged him.

“You have made an old man very happy, my dear.”

I smiled and turned to Zach who was just staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

Mr. Monroe excused us.

“Nothing, it's just that I can't believe my best friend's here, right in front of me!”

I smiled and he pulled me into another hug.

“I missed you kiddo.”

“Me too” I whispered back.

“You wanna get out of here?” he asked.

“Oh, I thought you'd never ask,” I said and we walked out hand in hand.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Roman, lunch is ready!” Dad shouted and walked back out into the backyard to get him.

“So, when are you leaving?” Dove asked as I took a seat at the dining table.

“She just got here and you already want her to leave?” Zach asked.

“Oh, I'm sorry, when did you change your name to Breanna because the last time I checked, you were still the same stupid, dickheaded, Zachary James Hart!” Dove fumed.

Ouuu! She said his full name.

I gave both of them a very confused look.

“Okay, okay enough you two” my mom scolded them.

“What happened to both of you? You were so much in love before I left.”

“Why don't you ask your best friend? After all, he's such a good lawyer to everyone!” Dove hissed.

I turned to Zach and folded my arms. He looked back at me.

“Well?” I questioned.

“I have nothing to say to either of you so please leave me alone,” he said and got up.

Dove groaned and got up too. I was left seated at the table alone. I sighed and grabbed my phone and keys.

“Mom, Grandpa said I'll be a star quarterback when I'm older!” Roman said running in

“Yes of course darling,” I said and ruffled his sweaty hair. “Go wash your hands.”

He runs off. I got up and headed to the door.

“And where do you think you're going?” Mom asked.

“I just need to talk to Zach, Mom” I replied.

“Breanna remember you're pregnant, you shouldn't be moving around so much. Just leave those two. They'll sort it out themselves.”

“Mom, I won't be long okay?”

She sighed and kissed my cheek.

“Hurry back.”

“It's not a thing. You're dumb!” I heard Roman yell.

I sighed and moved to the backyard.

“What's going on here Roman? Who are we calling dumb?” I asked

One of our neighbor's kids was standing there with a sad look on his face.

“Miss Breanna, Roman called me dumb.”

I turned to my son.

“Roman? Apologize to your friend. It's not nice to call people dumb just because we don't agree with them.”

He stared at me.

“Roman? Apologise right now.”

He looked at me and blew bubbles with his saliva.

“Roman?” I said firmly again.

He had an amused look on his face. He was clearly enjoying this.

“Roman Kendrick Lewis!” I scolded.

He burst out laughing.

“Okay, okay” he giggled. “I'm sorry I called you dumb” he apologized to the boy and gave him a handshake.

“Good. Now both of you go wash your hands.”

I sighed and Mom rubbed my back.

“I've got it, honey. Go on.”

Thanks for reading! ✨