Inception

We all ride-shared in Heather's car. The car was a midnight blue, Ford Escape. Leather lined the whole inside; it was very rich and luxurious.

I sat in the back next to Laura.

I decided to strike a conversation because the silence was drag to the point where it was a little awkward.

So … where do y'all work?

Laura looked over with a quaint laugh, like she was surprised that I assume she still does work. "I've been retired since my husband died 4 or 5 years or so, but now I just volunteer at the library every now and then".

I looked with excitement and asked her if she knew my Aunt?

She sighed slightly, "Yes I actually did, we were practically best friends, when she just randomly disappeared, it was strange".

What do you mean? I questioned further.

"Well I mean the Brookhaven police said they had satisfactory evidence to conclude she was deceased but there was never a body".

Before she continued Heather skirted to the left of the road, "Sorry everyone there was a huge pothole in the road, I don't think we want to be on the side of the road with a flat tonight".

Heather followed up and said that she worked for a company similar to Mary K, a beauty company; "I usually have parties and stuff. I make pretty good money so I've stuck with it for a while".

Evelyn, looked at the road, she was in her own world. She all of the sudden snapped out of it and we all just laughed.

What were you thinking about?, I asked.

She looked around like a lost kid. She said, "Nothing really, I just haven't had friends who I actually spend time with in a while.".

Laura kept that comforting grandma personality; but still a cool one and said, "don't worry we're glad to have you".

I smiled back at her.

(Pulling up to the restaurant)

"Wow, they . . . are packed tonight", Heather pointed out.

Laura opened her door and said she'll be back. "I'm going to see how long the wait is".

"Okay, see if they have one of those buzzer things", Heather exclaimed.

Laura rushed on out, holding her floppy sweater to her sides, otherwise she almost looked like a bird flapping its wings. She kept on running until she dropped the buzzer right out of her hands. She looked at us and just laughed. We looked at her like she was crazy, until she came into the car panting, like she ran a marathon; And then we couldn't hold it in anymore and then we just all started cracking up.

And of course, right we she started getting comfy the buzzer lit up and scared the bejeebers out of her. We all laughed again.

Laura is so clumsy but it's really funny.

All of the sudden Heather walks out, has her Chanel bag planted right on her shoulder looking like a Project Runway model. She was rich and she knew it. But her money didn't really create her personality, which I was thankful about.

We all walked in looking like one of those corny movies about the group of girlfriends going on some crazy trip. Evelyn trips up slightly walking up on the sidewalk. But she retains the composer like nothing happened.

Heather swung the heavy door open; It looked like it was as heavy as a fallout bunker door. She held it open for all of us and then I got the next door for everyone and it wasn't hard to pull open at all ironically.

Laura gave the buzzer to the front waitress and she led us to this beautiful circular booth table that had a glimmering, but dim chandelier hanging from the ceiling. I went in first, around to the middle and then Heather followed. Evelyn and Laura sat opposite of each other on the outer sections.

The waitress came over and said her name was Beatrice. She asked us all what we wanted to drink. Evelyn said she wanted a glass of Merlot with water on the side, Laura ordered a root beer and Heather ordered this funny looking alcoholic drink called a fish bowl. I sprawled over the drink section and saw crème soda so that's exactly what I got but with a twist: rum.

Everyone looked at me surprised.

I smiled and said, "I'm afraid of a good drink".

Heather pulls out her phone, after hearing a text and laughs cynically to herself. She pushes her phone on the table, "can you believe that's the ogre my husband is cheating with me on". We all look at her and pity her, but she shrugs it off. "It's okay really, I haven't had feelings for him since our third kid was born. He's rarely home and when he is he's off doing God knows what".

Laura brought some light to the table by stating, that's why she doesn't date.

We all just cackle.

The waitress came back with our drinks, Heather's was so big that Beatrice could barely carry it on the tray with the other drinks. It was bright blue, like an aquamarine color and it had ice that was so small it looked like little pebbles. It also had cherries scattered throughout the drink and green strips of something; But I wasn't quite sure what they were, it looked like kelp.

Beatrice smiled, "Do y'all want any appetizers or do you want to get straight to entrees?"

Evelyn hurried up and said, "Oooh I really want mozzarella sticks, I haven't had them in ages".

So, it's settled? I asked.

"Yes", Laura excitedly shrieked.

"Make it a double order please", Heather highlighted.

Beatrice walked back to the kitchen to put the order in.

We carried out some small talk for a little bit, first it was about getting Evelyn out into the dating world, and then it was about dog breeds.

I want a dog, but I don't know what breed I want.

"Golden Retrievers are good dogs", Laura said. Heather and Evelyn both agreed.

We then talked a little about what everyone's plans were next week, until the mozzarella sticks came out shortly after.

Evelyn rushed into the stacked plate of sticks and then swooped into the marinara like a WW2 pilot. Before she hit her target the sauce plopped right down her white shirt. She didn't even realize until I pointed it out. We all laughed.

I walked with her back to the bathroom to help her wash it off. Laura and Heather stayed at the table attacking the huge stack of the mozzarella sticks, they insisted on coming, but I told them it would be fine.

We walk into the bathroom and I immediately rush to the paper towels, and then dribble some water on it and lightly dab her shirt. The stain was a lot less noticeable.

"Wow it doesn't look as bad now haha", Evelyn laughed.

Yea, the trick is to dabble not smear. I pointed out.

We both hear a small noise and peer to the back of the stalls.

Evelyn all of a sudden projects her voice to my surprise, "Who's there".

Not a few moments later a pool of blood streamed right out of the stall. Evelyn shrieked and ran out of the bathroom and called the police. I slowly walked over the stream of blood and opened the door and a body was draped head-first into the toilet.