Torrance was in class early on Friday morning after a night at Ali's left her feeling hung over and miserable. She barely made it through her Anatomy I lab without regurgitating all over her professor's pasty white lab coat that wreaked of formaldehyde and dried mustard as he lingered near her desk during their exam. She had known better than to let Ali talk her into body shots with Everclear, but Stanton was there and without thinking twice Torrance's immediate plan of action to get his attention was to engage him in the body shot charade. He took her bait and two hours later she was throwing up in Ali's bathroom like she had so many times, with Stanton nowhere to be found. This routine had played out so many times for Torrance, she was losing track of how many weekends it had been since she'd visited home. She missed her parents, her brother, her dog, especially, and of course, she missed her friends. Torrance was lost in a daze as she drove back to her apartment, hoping her phone stayed quiet so she could take a nap, but shit, she thought, there's a philanthropy event today. Torrance was the Vice President of her sorority and she always had events to attend so she could save face in front of all the devoted freshmen pledges. She couldn't preach about participation at chapter each week and then bail on her own events.
Just as she was scheming a way to miss whatever stupid thing it was she had planned her phone rang. Torrance couldn't recall if the event was kickball or dodge ball, for a non-profit or charity, honestly who cares, she thought. Ali's voice met Torrance's ears and her energetic cadence was acting as a catalyst to Torrance's throbbing headache. Ali was the President of the chapter and Torrance could never figure out how she partied just as hard, if not harder, than most of her pledge class who now served as her board members. Ali always had her shit together to put it simply. Great grades, hot body, a charming smile, and a subtle poise that just made everyone want to spend time with her. Torrance had always been honored to serve as her VP but lately she couldn't keep up with Ali. In their tiny college town, nights were either spent drinking at a bar or drinking at a Greek mixer for "charity," or simply drinking to drink. Torrance was getting worn out quickly and she felt like Ali could sense something was off.
"Are you okay? I've been talking for like 7 minutes and you haven't said anything," Ali's voice permeated Torrance's daze.
"Yeah, sorry, I am seriously worn out, Anatomy lab kicked my ass this morning," Torrance tried to force herself to laugh a little.
Ali slightly laughed back, as if to pretend to understand having academic struggles, a foreign concept to the repeat Dean's list student. "Oh yeah, I know how those morning classes can be, I'm sorry Tor, but when do you think you'll be out on the fields today? We have a sheet sign to hang and flyers to hand out."
Torrance had completely blanked on the kickball tournament and standing around in South Georgia heat hung-over and exhausted sounded miserable.
"I'm so sorry Al," Torrance cooed into the phone, "I actually have a family emergency and I need to get home. My mom called me this morning saying my brother was in a really bad car accident. She was pretty shaken up...I think I just need to get home..." Torrance let her voice become meek gradually until it sounded as if she could cry. She could tell Ali was taking the bait and felt horrible for lying, but she knew she would get in trouble otherwise and she didn't feel like dealing with going to the Standards Board for some ridiculous attendance evaluation that would inevitably end with an all-inclusive gossip session about one of the new pledges.
"Oh my gosh, Tor, I'm so sorry I hope everything is okay! I completely understand. Go home, I'll see you on Sunday night for chapter right?" Ali sounded sincere, as always, and concerned for Kevin who she had met several times at numerous annual Parents Weekends.
Torrance was pleased but still couldn't help but feel guilt, "Yeah, I'll send you my minutes for the agenda as soon as I can and I'll be back Sunday. Have a good weekend Al, give everyone hugs for me!"
And with that, Torrance was off the hook. She had a feeling the guilt she was experiencing would only worsen when she came to chapter on Sunday with a card awaiting her and sisters ready with hugs and words of condolence. It was wrong to lie and she knew it was, but it was near impossible to get any alone time when she lived so close to campus and was on the executive board of her chapter. She had agreed to that role without comprehending just how much of her time would be taken up having pointless conversations about recruiting new girls to the chapter and how the seniors were going to be sent out that semester.
Torrance hurried home and broke out of her daze a little as the excitement of going home hit her. She texted her mom with the news and was pleased with her response – shopping plans and dinner reservations were made and Torrance, with a little pep in her step, got her car packed and hit the road. Home was about four hours away and she had some calls to make on her drive. She lit the joint she rolled for the road and searched her speed dial until she came to her brother's number.
His voicemail greeting answered:
The Republic Wireless member you are trying to call is not available, please leave a message:
"Hey, it's me, I was just calling to let you know I'll be home in a few hours. Mom is taking me out for dinner as usual, but was thinking we could catch up after? I have bud and booze per usual – let me know. Love ya."
Click.
She scrolled through her contacts again, stopping at her father's number, which was accompanied by a picture of them from last summer. They were by the pool in the back yard; she was in a bikini and remembered how warm his body felt against her thighs. Her thighs felt a little warmer just thinking about his firm body underneath hers...
He answered the phone rather quickly.
"There's my baby girl, how are you darlin'?" His deep soothing voice rang in her ears.
"Hey Daddy, I am great! I know mom probably already filled you in," and a smile crept across Torrance's face.
"She said something about you coming home for the weekend on a whim, is the good news true?" She could hear him smirking a little, and pictured his deep blue eyes sparkling like the ocean on a sunny day.
"Yeah I decided to take a breather this weekend and just come spend some time with the family. I miss you guys, it feels like it has been ages since we've spent quality time together."
"Well your brother will be more than happy to see you. He won't admit it but he misses you. I have no problem admitting it, though, I do miss my baby girl tons."
"Oh Daddy, you're too sweet. Want to plan on spending tomorrow together? Mom is going out with some friends for the day and Kevin probably has plans." Her thighs still felt warm, and her chest felt the same way it did the night before when Stanton showed up at the party. She had always been drawn to her father, desiring to sit next to him at family gatherings instead of her more distant relatives or mother, and her brother had always encouraged her relationship with their father. She let her thoughts trail off as her dad went on about what they could together the next day.
"Dad likes hanging out with you," Kevin said one day to Torrance as they were walking the dog, "He just seems to be relaxed around you but in a different way than he is with mom, whatever it is, he likes his time with you and it keeps him off my back." Torrance always took pride in the bond she had formed with her father and while their relationship shifted as she matured, it was no secret to anyone in their family whom Torrance preferred to spend her time with. She let her attention come back to the conversation and her father had landed on doing some work in the garage the next day. He knew how she loved to learn about whatever project he was working on – wood working and welding were his major hobbies – and he told her after they were done he would take her to lunch. Torrance was pleased.
"Alright, Daddy, I'll see you soon, love you!" and with that she hung up the phone, set her car on cruise control and selected her favorite playlist on Spotify.
The road beneath her tires seemed never-ending but as she reached Atlanta after what seemed like days, she finally started recognizing old landmarks and street signs that reminded her she was home.
Torrance pulled up to the familiar house with its white picket fence and her father's old Camaro in the driveway. She had been raised in the same house, her first kiss happened in the front yard right under the oak tree where an old tire swing was hanging that hadn't been used in ages. She had memorized every crack in the driveway and knew where all the secret nooks and crannies of the house were. She knew where her mother hid her cigarettes and where her father hid his porn – this was home and she was happier than usual to be there. Through the glass door that led front of the house she saw her father's burly frame coming toward her. On his way out he grabbed the dog and they both hurried toward her.
"Daddy!" Torrance exclaimed and as he swopped her up into his arms she could feel the muscles beneath the perfectly pressed dress shirt he was wearing – he must've just gotten home from work, she thought. He smelled of aftershave and coffee, a combination that had always comforted her and as the dog nipped at their heels the two held their embrace for longer than usual.
"Come on, Drew, let her go so the rest of us can say hello," and Torrance realized her mother was standing in the front door watching the father-daughter reunion. Her father's grip loosened and Torrance rushed to her mother for a hug. She smelled of musky perfume and baby powder but despite the scent that made Torrance think of her grandmother, her mom still looked young and vibrant.
"Mom you look great! How much tennis are you playing?" Torrance was pleased to see a big smile sweep over her mother's face, "Oh, Tor, you're too sweet. You should give some pointers to your dad about giving people compliments," and Torrance smirked, he gives me compliments all the time, she thought.
"Where's Kevin?" Torrance was desperate to see her brother who doubled as her best friend.
"Oh he will be back later, got called into work or something but he told me to give you a hug and he promised to spend some time with you tonight," her mother answered. Her dad had wandered down the street, walking the dog and talking to the neighbors, and as her mother strolled to the car to help her with her things Torrance remembered she had smoked basically all the way home and she didn't want her mom to give her shit about it.
