Phoebe
"Stop telling me what to do" Teddy yells from dad's office. After Teddy made his winter break intentions known he and dad began arguing which quickly turned in to yelling. After the first twenty minutes grandpa Carry decided to move them into the office and mediate their conversation. I watch Joni pace back and forth in the living room chewing her nails.
"Are you okay?" I ask her slowly.
"I don't like confrontation" she answers not breaking her pace. I arch my eyebrow at her remembering her argument with Teddy earlier. "Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I can't give as good as I get" she says reading my mind.
"It shouldn't be too bad" Ava insists, but is quickly over shadowed by more raised voices. "Or maybe it will be."
"Should you be in there?" I ask Uncle Elliot. He has been standing in the doorway half listening to both conversations.
"If my dad needs me he will call" he shrugs. "Besides he has Ana and my mom for back up."
"I just can't help but feel like this is my fault" Joni says running her hands down her braid in a very Teddy like manner.
"It is" EJ says looking bored. Emma smacks him on the back of his head. "What? I am just saying."
"That's not helpful" Emma insists moving away from EJ to sit next to Ava.
"If she would just go with us on vacation none of this would be happening" EJ defends himself rubbing his head.
"So Joni has to give up her dream just to join us on one of the many vacations we take a year?" Ava asks looking like she wants to hit him too.
"I am just saying…" EJ starts only to be cut off by Uncle Ethan.
"Just stop" he advices. "Anything you say will be manipulated against you so you will sound sexist and chauvinistic. Phoebe has them reading 'Men Explain Things to Me' by Rebecca Solnit. We are lucky they aren't burning their bras." This is quickly followed by a smack on his arm from Aunt Kate.
"Isn't that the book I recommended to you last month?" Joni asks me finally sitting down. She is perched on the edge of the ottoman next to EJ rubbing the back of his head. He leans in to her touch similar to how Teddy does.
"Yes, it was so good I got them both a copy" I boast, Joni smiles and nods. I want her to be proud of me in a way I never sought approval before. It's weird, when she is around I feel like she is my big sister and everything she does is sparkly and inventive and I just want to be just like her.
"I will send some more suggestions your way" she says trying to remove her hand from EJ's head only to have him move his head to her lap seeking more attention. I roll my eyes; he can be so needy sometimes.
"EJ leave Joni alone" Aunt Mia reproaches.
"No it's fine" Joni insists running her fingers through his dirty blonde hair. "It's helping to distract me from everything."
"It's not your fault" Uncle Elliot tells her earnestly.
"I feel like ever since Christian found out about us he and Teddy has been at each other's throats" she sighs.
"Trust me they have been at each other's throats longer than this" EJ informs her as he moves her hand to the top of his head.
"NO MOM" Teddy grits out as he storms in to the living room with mom following quickly behind him. Joni jumps to her feet knocking EJ to the floor.
"Sorry EJ" she mumbles patting his head as she steps over him towards Teddy.
"NO JONI" he yells. Seeing her stricken face he softens his demeanor. He crosses the room and takes her face into his hands. "Baby, I am sorry" he says kissing her face. It feels weird to watch him talk so softly to someone outside of the family.
"I just want to help" she says softly.
"I just need time alone" he sighs tilting her face up to his. I look away when he sticks his tongue in her mouth. "I am going for a walk, nobody follow me" he says looking pointedly at mom before storming out to the back yard.
"He doesn't have his coat" Joni complains as Teddy disappears into the dark back yard. She wanders out of the living room upstairs.
"Well that was enough excitement for one night" Aunt Mia says gathering the twin's things. "Come on you two let's get going."
"But mom Phoebe and Ava said I can go shopping with them tomorrow" Emma whines dragging her feet. "We were even going to bring Joni."
"Yeah and I was going to spend the day with Teddy" EJ argues.
"Your dad is going to let you go shopping on Black Friday?" Uncle Ethan asks skeptically.
"Christian closed down a few boutiques so the girls could shop in private" mom explains. She hasn't taken her eyes off of the glass doors leading to the back yard.
"We can come back tomorrow after the full wrath of your Uncle has fallen" she compromises ushering them towards the door. "Ana, dinner was amazing as always and don't worry too much about my pig head brother he will come around" Aunt Mia says before heading out followed by Uncle Ethan and the twins.
"I think we should go to bed too" Ava says as dad enters the living room with our grandparents close behind him.
"Where is he?" dad yells.
"He went for a walk" mom tells him sounding icier than usual.
"Phoebe?" dad calls from the bottom of the stairs. I sigh wishing I had walked a little faster before turning around. "Where is Joanna?"
"Joni is upstairs" I say emphasizing her name. "You aren't fooling anyone by pretending to not to know her name" I say turning around to head upstairs to bed. It has been a long day.
"Wake up" I say shaking Ava. It's nearing four in the morning, but I still can't sleep.
"What do you want?" she groans.
"I am worried about Teddy and Joni" I tell her. "What f dad drives them apart? What if Joni doesn't want to be my friend anymore?"
"Well then go talk to them about it" she gripes pulling the covers over her head.
"I am going to check on Teddy can you please check on Joni?" I ask pulling the covers off of her. "Please Ava" I beg
"You owe me" she grumbles finally getting up. We go our separate ways in the hallway. I open Teddy's bedroom door only to see his bed still made. I wander downstairs walking through the kitchen and living room, but there is no sign of him. I head back upstairs to my room.
"Joni is on the phone" Ava says sprawling back across my bed. I head to Joni's room, but stop at the door hearing her o the phone.
"No mum he isn't answering his phone" she says softly. "He doesn't have his coat and it is snowing outside… No, not really snowing, but it is bloody cold…He could get sick or… He said he wants time alone…Mum; I don't know he was really mad… He and his father were literally yelling at each other… No they were proper mad…"
"What are you doing?" Ava whispers in my ear causing me to jump, effectively pushing open Joni's bedroom door. Joni looks up at us and it's obvious that she hasn't been to sleep. She is wearing her sleep clothes, but her hair is still in a braid and she still has on the makeup Ava applied earlier.
"No mom it is his sister…Yes we will facetime soon…Love you too" she says before hanging up. "I am sorry do you two need me?"
"We were just coming to check on you" I offer hopping she didn't notice my ease dropping.
"Has Teddy come back?" she asks softly. I shake my head and she sighs falling back on her bed.
"I just want to go back to Cambridge" she groans.
"What!? No you can't leave we haven't even gone shopping" Ava whines pushing pass me to join Joni on the bed.
"I know and I want to go with you, I really do, but being here is so exhausting" she sighs. "Everything is easier in Cambridge. It's just him and I being us and loving each other."
"You can do that here" I argue joining them. Joni rises to her elbows and raises her eyebrow at me.
"If Teddy so much as kisses me your dad becomes a human shield" she grunts. "I don't know why he dislikes me so much."
"I think it is more of him wanting to protect Teddy from you verses him disliking you" Ava says in a rare moment of wisdom. "What? I pay attention."
"I would not hurt him" Joni says vehemently. "I have not loved anyone the way I love him. I gave him my virginity and he is not a small man. Do you know how much devotion it takes to see him at full mast and still allow him to…?"
"Okay too much information" I say putting my hands over my ears.
"I am sorry, but it is true" she says lying down on her stomach with her face in her arms.
"How big is he?" Ava asks shyly. I kick out my foot hitting her in the side. "Ow."
"He is your cousin" I hiss.
"My man whore cousin" Ava justifies. I kick her again pointedly looking at Joni. "Not man whore, umm popular, yeah popular he is popular. No, I mean was popular."
"It's okay" Joni says rolling over to look at her. "I know he slept around before me."
"Does it ever bother you?" I ask. I know I am not Eliza's first girlfriend and sometimes that bothers me.
"Not really" she says perching her lips. "It gets tougher when they try to get in contact with him, but for the most part it's all about trust."
"Okay good" Ava sighs. "So… how big?" she asks causing us to break out in a fit of laughter.
"Baby arm big" Joni laughs out.
"Really?" Ava asks in wonder. "How does it fit?"
"Ava" I yell in disgust.
"What she is the only one I know who has actually had sex" she urges. "Everyone at school is either lying about having it or lying about how good it is." I hate to admit it, but she is right. I want to know, I have questions, but does it have to be my brother's girlfriend who answers them?
"I had it" Joni says. "Honestly, the first time wasn't good; it was painful as hell followed by barely tolerable."
"I am so happy I am gay" I say mortified by the truth. I crawl to a pillow and shove my face in it.
"But" she says smirking at us. "The second and third time was amazing."
"Oh God" I groan forcing my face deeper into the pillow.
Somethings you just don't want to know…