Therapy
Written by MarySueIsDead
Chapter 12: Inquisitor
~10 Hours Ago~
She bit into the shell of a salty sunflower seed with her back molar; wiggling the contents around in her mouth with her tongue as she watched classmates pour into the cafeteria for lunch period. The pupils either stood in the line for mystery food or found their group of friends to sit with. Phoebe picked out the empty shell from her mouth and placed it into a styrofoam cup she had set near her paper lunch sack. She crunched down into the grain and eventually swallowed the seed; repeating this process several times as she jotted down equations into her notebook.
It was probably lame; doing homework during lunch period. Lunch was for social gatherings and gossip. She hesitated at the next pre-calc problem and tapped her pencil against the lined paper. The teenager glanced back up at the students eating with each other. It's not that she and Helga had planned to eat lunch together. It was a nice thought, but they hadn't verbally arranged it.
Still, her day was moving along, and it didn't concern her that she hadn't seen the blonde at all in the past couple hours. Well, it didn't concern her...too much. She just hoped that her friend was okay. Maybe Helga had gone home sick? Or maybe there was another football accident in the field? Her mother always commented that she worried too much, and then she usually retaliated by saying Reba became perturbed too often, and then they would get into a playful argument over who worried the most. She admitted it was silly.
Phoebe stared down at her notebook paper and focused on a drawn polynomial function, getting lost in thought. Seconds passed by, not realizing she hadn't moved, delving below her surfaced perceptions. Succumbing to the graphite lines, notions of Helga Pataki lingered between the micro textures.
"Well, hey there, sunflower."
She blinked and snapped out of her bewitching thoughts, glancing up at the voice that came from beside her. Gerald stood there with a tray of mysterious cafeteria food. He smiled pleasantly.
Phoebe adjusted herself on the hard plastic bench and quickly responded unamused, but modestly attentive all the same. "That's incredibly original, Mr Johanssen."
"Even you could make sarcasm sound polite. That's an uh...interesting lunch you have there." He was referring to the containers of rice, vegetables and mixed fruit near her paper sack, as well as the hefty ziploc bag of trail mix which consisted of sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts and yogurt covered raisins.
She gestured to each item that was packed for her. "Carbs, antioxidants, vitamins and protein. My mother says it gives her something to do." Reba was fond of making five gallon tubs of trail mix. Maybe it was just entertaining mixing nuts, seeds, and raisins together. It was a snack the mother could prepare quickly, and her father seemed to appreciate the snack in his lunch every day when he went to work. Phoebe honestly pondered it was more for Kyo than for her, but she enjoyed the sentiment as well.
He sat down on the plastic seat opposite to her on the bench with his tray. "How is it that you've been back long enough to attend one of Rhonda's parties but not say 'hello' to me?" The dark haired teenager chided playfully.
She felt a blush creep upon her cheeks. Miss Heyerdahl didn't mean to not make her presence known, but several things had happened since she had arrived back at Hillwood. She mentally stumbled a sincere apology. "Please forgive me. My mind's been...all over the place recently." She sighed audibly. "It really is good to see you." The statement was genuine.
Gerald still looked like Gerald; she could recognize those hospitable facial features anywhere. Dark stubble dotted his jawline and his stack of black curls was still brushed vertically, but neatly. He always cared about his appearance. The brown skinned teenager chuckled. "No worries. Why are you sitting here by yourself? Doesn't Helga know you're back?"
The last question made her uneasy for a moment. "She does, but I haven't really seen her since this morning…" Phoebe fidgeted in her seat subtly. "Have you?" She asked back earnestly.
He shook his head. "No, sorry. If anything she's probably with Rhonda. Those two are always together." He picked up his fork and poked around the pale corn on his tray of what appeared to be food.
She nodded and glanced back down at her own lunch. "Of course."
"Things have changed a lot since we were little, huh?"
Another question that made her skin crawl. "It appears that way."
He shrugged and his positive demeanor bubbled again. "Well, is it alright if I eat with you?" He asked even though he was already sitting with her.
How could she refuse to a friend and former crush? "Of course." She responded kindly and smiled, digging back into her bag of seeds and nuts.
Gerald changed the subject and pointed his fork to her notebook after he took a bite of the spongy meatloaf from his tray. "I didn't know you drew." He stated, noticing the imaginative doodles dancing around her very logical mathematical functions.
"Oh, they're just sketches, really. I'm more of a painter, to be honest." She swept off the comment, suddenly feeling embarrassed as these drawings consisted of a pair of familiar abysmal shaded eyes. She couldn't shake the gaze Helga had given her the night before when they laid together on her mattress and stared at each other in the stillness of the night; so much that she had to physically remind herself that it had happened. Phoebe altered the conversation, "What about you? Has Arnold's artistic poise brushed off on you?"
"Well, I still sing...mostly in the shower. And he really wanted me to join his club, but with work, I just don't have much free time. I don't mean to brag or anything but, I'm the top salesman at Hoske's. You ever looking to shop for your mom or dad, you can come straight to me. I'm the perfect guy for holidays."
"I'll keep that in mind." She said as she popped a few yogurt covered raisins in her mouth. "My father is difficult to shop for. Are you still offering Wacko watches?" She slyly joked, knowing that the former business endeavor had turned out to be giant scam on a young, optimistic Gerald.
"Oh, yes! Wacko was actually bought out by a jewelry company by the name of Brine, so now they make pristine, top of the line watches. And If you buy one, I'll throw in a tie, free of charge."
Phoebe disclosed a modest laugh. "That sounds perfect."
Gerald swallowed a few softened pieces of corn as he attempted to keep the conversation going. "So, um...Dr Iron Claw, huh?" He asked gesturing to her band tee and shrugged as a smirk graced his lips. "Yeah, they're not bad."
"Not bad? You better watch your mouth, Mr. Johanssen."
He grinned as she took the bait to his comment. "They maaaay be just as good as Jinormous Jay?" He asked, luring her again into a friendly quarl.
She opened the container to her fruit and responded civilly. "Well, I love Jinormous Jay, but the two are completely different genres. So they can not be compared with one another."
"Yeah? I play his stuff all the time while working on my Trans Am. How's a country girl know about the master that is Jinormous?"
She raised a brow and altered her eyes from her meal to his jovial brown irises. "I lived in Kentucky, Gerald, not the North Pole."
He chuckled at her snarky retort. "You know, every Tuesday I usually get together with a couple of dudes and we go play The King Rules-"
"You still play that game? Is Gerald Johanssen...a nerd?" She comically responded as she took a damp cut of cantaloupe and placed it into her mouth, now intrigued at what defense he could muster.
"Very funny. You might actually like playing with us. However, tonight I have different plans. Are you...free this evening?" He asked innocently, poking around at his funky food again, a little nervous at what her response might be.
Phoebe hesitated and swallowed the chewed fruit, her guard rising as if this were some sort of sales negotiation between merchant and customer. Not that she didn't trust Gerald, but she didn't really know him anymore. Didn't mean she wasn't incredibly curious at what he had to offer. "Depends."
"Well, there's this hip place called 'The Ware' in West Brooklyn. They host all kinds of music; local R&B artists, hiphop, all the way to punk and grunge."
"Do they now?" Her curiosity rose and she dropped her barriers some.
"They're hosting a band tonight called 'The Ghost Brides'; might be right up your alley. Their sound is really similar to Dr Iron Claw. Think you'd be down?" He asked casually.
Phoebe paused again and finally grinned cheekily to herself. Realizing what this offer could potentially mean. "Gerald Johanssen, are you asking me out on a date?"
His eyes widened and he paused munching on his food. He swallowed roughly. "Whaaaaat? No, no. Can't I show an old friend a good time around this remarkable city?" His cool demeanor returned and he revealed a soft smirk. "Besides, I don't get many nights off from work. Why not chill with Phoebe Heyerdahl?"
She had to admit, she was very interested. This could be an opportunity to get out there, reacquaint with an old friend, let loose a little and have a fun time. "That does sound...really tempting." She sighed faintly once the excitement blossomed in her chest. "I do want to go. I'll just have to contemplate a way to...acquire my parent's permission."
His grin widened and he lowered his voice as he leaned forward on the cafeteria bench. "Well, you might want to...embellish your story a bit. There will be alcohol there."
XOXOX
Around 3:28 pm, her mother's sedan pulled up to the curb in front of the high school where she waited. She still hadn't seen Helga throughout the duration of her day and she attempted to remain collected. If anything, maybe the event tonight would help take the edge off. Gerald did say there would be alcohol there. She mentally reminded herself it wasn't her place to worry. Helga could take care of herself, she was practically an adult...kind of…?
She deeply inhaled through her nostrils as she pulled open the passenger door and Reba greeted her offspring cordially. "Hey, how was school, baby?"
Phoebe got in and closed the door, buckling her seat belt as she responded politely and calmly. "Quite surprising, in a plethora of ways."
Before shifting the vehicle into drive, the mother altered her torso and leaned to grab something in the back seat. "Well, you'll have to tell me all about it over dinner, because guess what came in the mail today?" She said as she pulled forward a medium sized package and lent it out for her daughter.
Phoebe's features became puzzled for a moment as she glanced over the cardboard box, but once she noticed the label, the hazel color in her eyes brightened and she gasped. "It must be my brace! Do you mind if I open it now, Mother!?" She asked excitedly, taking the package into her lap, bursting with enthusiasm.
Reba switched the vehicle into motion as she drove away from the curb; delighted at her daughter's reaction. "Of course not! I know you've been waiting weeks for it."
XOXOX
Once they arrived at the Heyerdahl residence and Reba parked the sedan in the garage, Phoebe pushed the car door open and practically leaped out of the vehicle with her new brace in her arms. "I can't wait to try it on!"
The mother released a chuckle as she exited as well, and spoke before her daughter could run up to her room. "Hon', you left your box and your backpack in the car."
"Oh, right, sorry, mother!" The girl responded as she turned back to grab her knapsack and the now empty cardboard package; Phoebe then trotted to the backdoor and entered the house as Reba looked over to the passenger car door which was still swung open. She grinned to herself slightly and shook her head as she juggled her car keys in her right hand, walking around the vehicle to close the door her daughter had not.
Kyo was in the kitchen, leaning against the breakfast bar as he browsed down at the newspaper. Currently interested in the Economic section when his daughter entered the space and he stood up straight to greet her.
Before he could say anything, the teenager jogged over and pushed herself upon her toes to peck him on the cheek. "Hello, Father!" She said jovially as she then ran out of the kitchen and up towards her room.
He heard the wooden planks of the stairs creak in response to her exaggerated movements as Reba entered the kitchen from the garage. She smiled warmly at him. "Hey, Mr Heyerdahl."
"Hello, Mrs Heyerdahl." He responded in that velvety baritone voice of his. He gestured to the stairs. "She seems exuberant."
The taller woman wrapped an arm over his shoulders and tossed her keys next to his paper. "Her brace finally came in." Her grin remained, mostly because this little product designed by doctors and scientists and whoever would help give her baby some relief.
Kyo looked up at her and wrapped his arm around her waist, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "That is exciting."
XOXOX
Phoebe raced through her bedroom door, carelessly tossing the empty box and her backpack onto the ground. She set her new brace onto her desk as she took the edges of her shirt and pulled them up, lifting the fabric over her head, throwing it somewhere too. She then went to the tall mirror in her room, her stomach revealed with her modest sized bra, and wrapped the brace around her torso to get a feel for the stiff material.
It was a lower lumbar brace with a pulley system that she could adjust to her comfort level. She grabbed the straps and pulled them accordingly on each side, the sturdy fabric compressing around her spine and muscles. Once she felt like she had enough support, she attached the straps to the front of the brace; the velcro tabs assuring the fit was secure.
She would definitely have to get used to wearing it often, but that was fine. Her posture already felt much better; like she could actually sit at her desk or the dinner table without her injuries becoming agitated. Like maybe she could also be less cautious about her day to day movements; not like she was going to go out there and join the volleyball team or anything, but the potential was a nice thought on its own.
Phoebe grabbed her t-shirt off the ground and slid it back on, exiting her room to trot down the stairs and to the kitchen where she left her parents.
Reba had placed three teabags by the stove as she set the kettle on the burner and turned the knob to medium heat. She then adjusted herself to witness the 'miracles' of the new product her daughter adorned. Although happy to say, she could barely see it under the band t-shirt. "What's the verdict, little lady?"
"It adjusts perfectly! Can you see it at all?" She asked as she looked down and gave a slow twirl, like one of those fully clothed mannequins behind the glass of a ritzy mall store.
The mother crossed her arms but lifted a hand to nibble on the nail of her thumb as she speculated. "Just barely, but maybe that's because I'm aware of it. What about you, K'?" She asked her husband who now sat on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.
He stated with confidence. "I cannot see a thing. I'm just delighted it'll aid your lower lumbar marvelously, my dear."
Phoebe grinned with a faint blush and released an excited little hop at her parents response to her new brace.
Reba spoke up again in a cheerful tone. "Hey, you know what? I think we should celebrate! We could go out for dinner tonight!"
"That sounds like a wonderful idea. Where would you like to go, kiddo?" Kyo asked his daughter who's demeanor now changed into one of nervousness. "Something troubling you?"
The teenager wrung her hands together, her joy still there, but in the midst of receiving the package, she had totally forgotten about what she needed to do in order to escape that night. She had hoped this would've gone smoother, but now she felt totally unprepared. "Um, no, I just...I actually had some plans tonight...um, with Gerald."
The woman glanced at the ceiling as the name sounded familiar, but she could barely remember the face the name belonged to. "Was his last name Johnson? Oh, no...I know it started with a J."
"Gerald Johanssen. You remember, mother, stack of black curls. He wore that crimson colored shirt all the time."
Reba's eyes widened as her memory refreshed. "Oh right, yeah, I remember him! Cute as a button, as a matter of fact, my daughter, weren't you two an item for a little while there?"
"Mother, no one is an item when they're ten."
"She has a point, my dear." Kyo chimed in. "Phoebe, don't listen to your mother. Become an item with someone when you're thirty."
Phoebe snorted in response to her father's comment and Reba pouted. "Oh my lord, K'. I merely meant they there were just cute. No one needs to take what I said out of context." She said irritably as she turned around to check on the water in the kettle which was now simmering.
Kyo looked to his daughter and mouthed inaudibly, 'She is easy to tease.'
Phoebe mouthed back, 'I know.' She then cleared her throat, her voice returning, collecting some of her courage to lie to her parents. Well, lie was such a horrible word. White lie? Did that make it better? How about, distorting the truth? "Um, he's invited me to play The King Rules, it's a card game with a few of his close friends. I was wondering if I could...attend?"
Reba turned from the stove, back to her husband and promising child while Kyo's brows rose coyly and he looked over to his wife. "What do you think, mama bear?"
Her eyebrows rose as well, although rather agitated. "Why is this decision completely upon me?"
"Because I trust Phoebe wholeheartedly, don't you?"
The teenager grinned rather too smugly at her father's retaliation and tried to suppress it before her mother could notice, but it was too late.
"Mmhmmm. It's not Phoebe I don't trust, and I'm sure Gerald is still a sweet boy, but I don't know the...other boys that'll be there." She sighed aloud so the both of them could hear. There would have to be some sort of compromise she figured. She lightly glared at the two loves of her life. "Alright fine, you can go. BUT, you have to eat dinner here first and I still want to hear about your day."
The father looked over to his daughter and gave her a wink as she nodded respectfully towards the woman. "Yes, mother."
Kyo yanked off his cell phone which was clipped to his belt, and set it onto the breakfast bar. "She can also borrow my phone for tonight, if that makes you feel better, my dear. We can all share a piece of this compromise."
Reba lightly glared at her husband; how was it that she always turned out to be the bad guy in these situations? "I want you home by eleven. And you're on dish duty before you leave."
"Of course, thank you two." Phoebe bowed courteously.
XOXOX
The short girl made her way towards the cross streets where Gerald said he'd wait for her. She supposed driving to their destination was the best option. The red shed where the boys played The King Rules was only a couple blocks east, so she left the house on foot to make it more convincing to her parents.
She stared at the setting sun hovering above the skyscrapers of New York City. A violet sky against the orange reflection of the tall buildings. Something she definitely wouldn't mind painting sometime.
Phoebe glanced down and kicked a stray pebble. She may have re-done her makeup. She may have changed her outfit a couple times before leaving the house. What did people usually wear to these things? She surmised her nicest band tee would do and a pair of black jeans. She wore purple sneakers to compliment the ribbons wound around her arms and her makeup was done modestly. She didn't want to look like she was trying too hard.
The sidewalk turned to rubble as the girl neared the train tracks. Her eyes altered to the thick metal lines that led throughout the city, and the wooden planks in between those lines. So many times in her youth she would pass the tracks to get to the small town that her grandparents lived near. She may have wondered what it would've been like to hop on one of those carriages and end up who knows where. She wasn't too much of a free spirit, but she was an inquisitor. Of course, wherever she would have ended up, she would fulfill her curiosities and head back to the place that she called home.
The teen inhaled the cool air and walked across the metal lines, continuing her trek. Eventually she met those cross streets that Gerald mentioned earlier. Finding the teenage boy leaning against an older vehicle. It was muscly, and she smiled to herself, knowing that the Johanssen boys had a knack for driving fast cars.
Gerald looked up from his flip phone as he spotted the girl walk casually towards him in the dwindling light. He closed it and embraced her in a friendly greeting. "Glad you could make it!"
She grinned and felt the fabric of the letterman's jacket he wore over his grey tee as she pulled back. "I didn't know you were on the football team."
He chuckled and placed the phone in the front pocket of his jeans. "I'm not. It's Jamie-O's old jacket." He glanced around to see if there were any bystanders and then leaned close. "And I don't really tell people this, but, it's lucky."
She raised her brow. "Lucky?"
He smirked and crossed his arms smugly. "Yep, it gives me an advantage in The King Rules all the time. Plus it's totally a confidence booster."
"Hmm." She responded quietly as she eyed the jacket. It appeared to be average. Just a red and white letterman's jacket with the Hillwood High emblem stitched on the front.
He noticed her gaze. "You want to try it on?"
She attempted to act coy in her response. "We'll never know if it's truly lucky if another person never wears it. Someone outside of the Johanssen bloodline."
He laughed as he tugged off the garment from his arms and shoulders. "Sure, how bout' you wear it for the night." He said as he then lightly draped it over her short stature.
Phoebe pressed her arms through the jacket and pulled up the sleeves. It didn't fit too loosely, it was at least warm and it did smell like Gerald, which wasn't a bad scent in the slightest.
"You don't look half bad, Heyerdahl. Should we test your luck?" He asked as he yanked a quarter from his pocket. "Heads or tails?"
"Hmm...Tails."
Gerald flipped the quarter in the air with his thumb, caught it in his palm then slapped it atop his other hand. He lifted his palm and glanced down at the verdict of the metal coin. He grinned slyly and pocketed the quarter; opening the passenger door of the Trans Am. "Tails it is."
XOXOX
The motor rumbled as Gerald pulled into the parking lot of the venue in West Brooklyn. Phoebe felt her stomach quiver in anxiousness as he rolled to a spot and parked the vehicle. The engine went quiet. He disengaged the keys and looked over at her a little concerned. "You feeling alright?"
The shorter teen nodded mousily. "Yeah, I'm great." She was glad the sun had set, hoping that the shadows could wash over her timid features.
"Don't worry, it's a really chill place. You'll fit right in!" He exclaimed as he opened his door and exited the car. She followed in suit and inhaled a fragile breath of courage as she stared at up at the large warehouse that resided before her. It's outsides appeared old and worn; most of the windows broken, like it had been abused by vandals before it became a local music scene.
In the background of the tattered building laid the grand marina. A few boats rocked here and there against the gentle current; their anchors keeping them close against the dock. The water lapped the light of the moon and the sounds of the waves crashing against the pier gave her shivers. For a moment it was all that she could hear, just those tender movements of the bay; the ripples of navy hues beckoning her imagination in.
Gerald made his way towards the entrance of the venue, when he noticed she was no longer following him. He glanced back at his companion, grinning somewhat at her visual fixation of the scenery. Grungy guitars and a deep bass began to play behind him as colorful lights beamed through the broken windows; the ancient metal walls of the building began to tremor with the vibrations of sound. He called to her. "Hey, I think the headliner just started!"
She snapped out of her trance and nodded, jogging over to him. "Coming!"
The two reached the opening where a taller man stood in a t-shirt that read 'SECURITY'. Phoebe questioned the title, especially since he didn't look older than the age of twenty one. Maybe the shirt was worn to influence good behavior of the energetic guests.
Gerald grabbed a twenty from his pocket and handed it over to the young bouncer. The guard glanced over the bill for a moment before placing it into his back pocket. "Sup' Gerald? Who's your...acquaintance?" He asked crossing his arms.
"Hey, Kirk. This is Phoebe, she's a good friend of mine." The dark skinned teen responded casually, like he knew this person well. Phoebe just remained quiet as the encounter went on.
"Is she cool?" The way he asked seemed like he was implying something further than just the simple question. Gerald nodded agreeably. "Tight. Enjoy yourselves."
They walked away from the bouncer and into an area where several partygoers stood around in groups and conversed with each other. It was far from the stage, but close enough where you could hear the music and vibrations well. Miss Heyerdahl rose her voice to speak over the increasing volume. "You should've told me it was going to cost money, I would've brought some."
"Wouldn't that have shaken up your parents even more? Besides, I want you to have a good time, and meet a couple of my friends!" He responded as she followed him through the crowd, glancing up for a moment, noticing the weary metal sheets of the warehouse ceiling. The multi-colored lights bounced off the shimmery surface, making her smile to herself. When she looked back down to her companion, she noticed he had reached a teenage couple.
The unknown young man glanced over at Gerald and his face brightened, he smiled wide revealing teeth covered in glistening braces. "Gerald's here!" He exclaimed to the taller teenage girl that stood next to him, she was trying to get a view of the headliner over the many heads of the people by the stage.
Phoebe took in a large breath. Meeting new people was always nerve wracking, especially when you wanted to make a good impression. She stood next to Gerald awkwardly, fumbling with the jacket's zipper; head slightly bent down as she gazed at her purple sneakers and wiggled in her brace, waiting for him to introduce her.
Gerald did a handshake with the young man as he greeted the girl. "Hey, Lex, no spikes tonight?" He grimaced. "Ooo, nice shiner."
She responded with a scoff. "You should see the other guy, and nah, I ran out of hairspray."
"Probably a good thing. Give your brain cells a break."
"Oh, you're one to talk, hairspray king!"
Phoebe finally got the courage to look up, and when she did, taking in the sight of the girl before her, her heart felt as if it had done a backflip, a cartwheel, and many more gymnastics. Those sapphire eyes, that belonged to someone she had never met before; it had felt as if she had just seen them. The teen's facial features were similar to Helga's yet she was a bit taller, and not as thin. The resemblance was...striking to say the least. Did Gerald not notice this? Was she the only one observing how much this young woman resembled Helga Pataki?
She was a brunette, by the sight of her roots and the buzzed hair on the sides of her head; her mohawk fell upon the side of her cheek and down her nape. Red and orange highlights tangled throughout her long locks, and it looked like fire against her fair colored skin. She wore a torn white shirt that had ripped sleeves and was being held together by large safety pins. Her denim jeans also appeared like they had been shredded by a lawn mower and her crimson high top sneakers complimented her hair. She adorned a large bruise near the center of her lower lip.
Gerald cordially introduced the couple. "Pheebs, I want to introduce you to some cool people, Lex, and Mo. Lex and Mo, this is Phoebe."
The young man was of middle eastern descent by his tan skin and prominent facial features. He was wearing dark eyeliner and eyeshadow, comparable to her own, with a black band tee and baggy green trimmed tripp pants. She also noticed his onyx colored fingernails and several studded bracelets.
"Pheebs, it's a pleasure." Lex responded kindly as she held out her hand.
The shorter teen's hazel eyes widened, hesitant that this could be another dream. She cautiously took the taller girl's palm and shook it. "Your name is Legs?"
Lex snorted humorously. "No, It's Lex, like, A-Lex-andria. It's just a nickname." She retorted graciously, and they released hands.
"Oh, oh my goodness. Right, of course, doi." She ended, but what exited her mouth left goosebumps upon her skin. Why was she increasing strangeness to the eccentricity she already felt? What was happening? There must've been a logical solution to all of this. It must've been all the added stimuli, rupturing her usually collected demeanor.
"It's really nice to meet you!" Mo greeted as he energetically fiddled his fingers together. "Are you new to our TKR group?"
"Um, TKR?" She questioned.
"The King Rules!"
Lex shook her head and crossed her arms. "It's all they ever talk about. I'm sure you get an earful."
The dark skinned boy grinned rather sheepishly. "I'm...kind of easing her into it." He scratched the back of his head.
The taller girl looked down at Phoebe and smirked. "Don't let them pressure you."
Miss Heyerdahl attempted to recover. "Oh, he's barely pressuring. And we actually go to Hillwood High together." Wait, why did she utter that? Did anyone ask her what school she went to? Now that she thought about it, she didn't think so.
Before she could correct herself, Lex raised her brows and Gerald wrapped an arm over her shoulders, lowering his voice but bringing his face close to her ear so she could hear him. "Oh, Pheebs, sorry, I forgot to mention. Lex and Mo go to Westlake High."
She hesitated for the moment. She had just gotten back to the city around a week ago, so she wasn't sure why that was of any significance. "So…?"
"Their varsity football team is kind of our biggest competitor in the fall. So we try not to bring up high school stuff. It's like politics."
"Go Panthers!" The red haired teen retorted confidently. "What're you guys again, was it the Rats or the Sewer Kings?" She joked and Mo chuckled to himself.
Gerald met her cocky gaze with annoyance. "Hey, I told you he wasn't made up. Arnold and I really met him! He's one of the biggest legends of our neighborhood."
She raised up her hands in comical defeat. "Okay, Ger'. Okay." She then glanced in Phoebe's direction. "Would the lady like a drink?"
"Oh, goodness yes." The shorter girl answered instinctively but then corrected her enthusiasm. "Um, I mean…" She cleared her throat anxiously. "I would...yes, um, fancy a drink, but uh...I mean don't we...appear underage? I mean, we are. But...won't we be reprimanded?"
"It's cool, my older brother actually owns the place, and my other brother is the bouncer. Greg knows me and my friends are gonna drink anyways, so, he just prefers we drink where he or Kirk can at least check up on us. Besides, a lot of the students from the local community college come here, and we blend right in. You'll be safe." She said reassuringly, her sapphire eyes sparkling under the flaring lights.
Phoebe became caught in the gaze until Gerald intervened, suddenly realizing his arm was still upon her shoulder. "And if you ever feel like you're not having a good time, I can take you home right away."
"That means no drinks for you." Lex said to the dark skinned boy and looked back over to Miss Heyerdahl. "So, What will you have?
"Um...vodka and cranberry juice would be delightful, thank you."
"Coming right up!" The red haired teen responded as she strode away from their group, over to the bar.
The three were left there and Mo smiled politely at the Phoebe. The metal on his teeth shimmering. The band continued to play behind them and the shorter girl resisted the urge to nod her head along to the rhythm. "So, Mo..." She spoke up, attempting to make small talk. "What's your favorite Stephen King movie adaptation?"
His eyes widened and he placed his polished fingers upon his mouth in thought. "Oh, that's a good question. Probably…'Stand By Me'."
Gerald finally dropped his arm from his classmate's shoulders. "Dude, how did I not know that about you? That's my favorite Stephen King movie."
The two boys began talking about films and the new expansion to their card game when she glanced over to the bar. Lex was chatting with the female bartender and leaning upon the counter; the employee laughed at whatever the teenager had said, then moved her hand to Lex's chin, gingerly rubbing her lip. She winced as she sympathized the story behind the bruise. The red haired girl spoke and the woman laughed again, preparing the drinks for their group. She continued to watch the ladies, unaware of her vacancy to Gerald and Mo, until the conversation was over and Lex picked up the tray of beverages and left the bar.
Phoebe blinked and averted her eyes when the young woman returned with the bottles and drinks, setting them on the nearby table. "Here you are." She said as she handed Miss Heyerdahl her drink. "I got myself a whiskey and coke. Mo, a blueberry gin and tonic, and a triple filtered water for the designated driver." She joked as she handed the two boys their glasses.
Gerald rolled his eyes as he took a meek sip from his beverage. "Thanks."
The shorter teen grinned cordially. "Thank you." She said as she placed her mouth over the thin red straw and noticed Lex's blue eyes, fixating on her for the moment. She suddenly felt insecure. "Something wrong?"
"I like your dimple piercings. They're cute. All of yours are actually. Don't you agree, Mo?"
He nodded as he sipped on his blueberry gin and tonic. "But do you have a tongue piercing?" He stuck out his tongue to show off the stud glittering in the middle of the small, wet muscle. He slipped it back inside his mouth. "Lex and I went and got tongue piercings for my eighteenth birthday."
She shook her head modestly. "Um, No, just the...ones on my face. No where else." She felt troublesome again. She usually excelled with words, and was confident in her speaking skills, but right now she felt tongue tied. Maybe as the night went on she would figure it out. Lex did look just like Helga, with minor details differentiating the two here and there. But so? So what, right? Why did that matter? She drew in a long sip of her vodka when the taller girl finished half of her drink in two large gulps.
Lex set her glass down onto the table. "Phoebe, we have to let you in on the small game we play before we head into the pit."
The shorter teen roughly swallowed the strong liquid but her face reflected curiosity. "A game?"
Gerald huffed unpleasantly as he interjected into the conversation. "She doesn't have to play."
"Well, why don't we let her decide that?" The red haired girl shot him a look for a moment then turned her attention back to Phoebe. "Phoebe, you may have noticed the bottles I brought to the table as well. First rule is, we each get a bottle, except for Gerald of course-"
Mo excitedly intervened. "We chug em' and whoever finishes last, has to lead us into the pit!"
"Exactly." Lex finished as the dark skinned boy remained uncomfortably quiet.
"What do you mean, lead?" Miss Heyerdahl thought she understood what was going on, but she wanted to be one hundred percent sure.
Mo responded up after another sip of his drink. "We all link arms, and then the loser has to...well you know, navigate through all the people."
The young woman smirked and glanced at one of the condensated bottles then back at Phoebe. Her cobalt colored eyes held a firm determination. "Not trying to scare you Phoebe, but I always finish first."
Mo snorted abruptly to himself at some inside joke, almost choking on his gin, however, the shorter teen sighed and nodded, obviously locked into Lex's ambitious gaze. She puffed out a lung of air. She wasn't too savvy with games, but she did know competition. She could do this.
"Like Gerald said, we can let you pass if you want; Mo and I can duel it out."
"I've been working on my chug!" The tan boy exclaimed as he lifted his drink and slurped the rest of the gin and blueberries down; slamming the glass against the table.
"Oh, no, of course I want to join." She responded eagerly as she took one of the bottles and angled the top against the edge table, slamming her fist down to pop off the cap. Phoebe grinned for approval as small bubbles poured over the top and dripped onto her knuckles.
They all stared at her rather stunned and wide eyed.
Her smile faded. "What…?" She asked, as if she had done something wrong.
Lex just chuckled, clearing the air, and shook her head. "Why don't we make this more interesting? We'll have you pass, Mo, just for tonight."
The boy pouted in discontent. "What? But I really think I have a chance of not being last!"
Gerald interjected. "Dude, you've kinda' been last the past four times."
"Right, and my brother is tired of you puking on the floor when you chug too fast."
"Okay…" He solemnly responded and lightly kicked the base of the table.
"How do you know I won't be last?" Phoebe pried.
The taller girl grinned smugly. "I don't. But Mo already has a pretty good track record so far." She said as she grabbed one of the bottles and placed it to her mouth, hooking the top onto her back molar and yanked down, the cap quickly coming off. She spit the metal piece to the ground and held her beer out to Phoebe. "Cheers."
They clinked the two bottles as Mo began the count down and Gerald shook his head at the childish display that he had partaken in many times before. "Alright, on the count of three. One...Two…" Mo paused for dramatic effect. "Three!"
The two girls threw their heads back as they both gulped down the liquid at record winning time. Suds drifted from their mouths, down their chins. Phoebe finished and slammed the drink down, but noticed Lex had completed hers at the same time.
Phoebe responded first and hastily looked to Gerald. "Who was quicker?"
The dark skinned teen was rather awestruck, obviously he didn't know this special skill his shorter friend had. "You girls practically finished at the exact same time."
Mo chimed in. "Yeah, maybe if there was a slo-mo replay I could tell. But, to the naked human eye it looked the same."
Miss Heyerdahl sighed as the liquid settled into her stomach. "So who leads?
Lex pulled out two more bottles from the cardboard pack she had brought from the bar, lifting one to each side of her mouth and popped them open with her back teeth, spitting the metal to the ground again. "Why don't we do one more round? You cool with that Phoebe?"
"Of course." She responded assuredly, accepting the glass container from the other girl.
"Pay close attention boys." The red haired teen stated to the two males of the group.
Mo released a chuckle at his friend's ambitious demeanor and raised his hand into the air. "Alright, on the count of three. One...Two...THREE!" He slammed his hand down onto the table and the two teenagers were at it again. Although this time Phoebe had finished her beer a mere second before her competitor. She thought she would definitely lose due to the carbonation already unsettling her stomach and throat, but no, after a couple swift seconds of chugging, much to her surprise, she had won.
Gerald commented. "Okay, Phoebe totally schooled you that time."
"So she did." She nodded agreeably and held out her palm for the shorter girl to shake. They took each other's hand, however, the red haired teen didn't let go. The was a rise in the crowd. The main band had come to the stage. "Looks like we're just in time. You boys better hold onto her, it's going to get bumpy moving to the front."
Miss Heyerdahl's eyes widened as Lex pulled her, and Gerald quickly grabbed his classmate's other wrist, also clutching the fabric of Mo's shirt, pulling the teenager along as he took a sip of one of the extra beers. The guitars and drums began to play loudly as Phoebe gazed at Lex's back while they entered the cheering and dancing crowd. The colored lights flared overhead, the bodies sweat and exuded smoke and alcohol, yet once she glanced up over their leader's head and saw the band, all of the germs and smells and yelling seemed perfect.
They finally maneuvered to the front and let go of each other and Phoebe couldn't help but grin excitedly. She stood there in awe for the moment as the singer glanced down at her simplistic but happy face and he smiled before screaming lyrics into the microphone. She then felt a nudge come from her left.
The young woman smirked at her and started rocking her head to the beat, encouraging Phoebe to do so as well. She also aggressively started to play an air guitar and the shorter girl let out a laugh that disappeared into the music. She humorously mimicked Lex as her eyes caught Gerald, surprised to see him jumping around, raising his fists in the air, and Mo stood there sipping on his beer, eagerly bobbing his head along.
XOXOX
She snuggled into the tattered sofa, getting comfy into her brace and Gerald's jacket as she sipped on her drink. There were a few couches around a small table near the back of the venue. You could still hear the band, but also listen to the company of friends. It was nice not having to scream every word to the person next to you.
Gerald comfortably wrapped his arm over her shoulders as he sunk into the worn cushions as well. They had all danced for several songs, and the two classmates had taken a break to let their feet rest. Lex and Mo wanted to rock out for a few more numbers, seeing as they were here almost every other night. She hadn't felt his touch in a very long time. It was cozy, and unalarming. Or maybe it was just the alcohol in her bloodstream.
"Do you ever invite Arnold here?" She asked aloud.
He looked over at her as he took a drink of his water, knitting his brows in thought. "Once or twice. I don't think it's really his scene. Plus I know he doesn't like The King Rules. That's actually how Mo and I met, he comes to all the meetups when he's not here. And then he and Lex are really good friends. So I come to 'the Ware' and we all kinda' hang out." He nodded at her. "It's like I'm living a double life."
"They both seem really nice. This double life doesn't seem unpleasant at all."
"Plus, Arnold, I don't like babysitting him. He downs a couple beers and then goes crazy and runs off and I can't find the goof. Sometimes, I just want to come, kick back and listen to the band."
She gazed down into her glass, the vodka almost gone. She twirled around her straw absently as she meekly responded. "I'm sorry we didn't keep in touch."
One of his dark brows rose. "What? Nothing to be sorry for. We all get busy, have our own lives. Besides, you're here now. Long distance friendships seem kind of shitty."
She shrugged and sipped the rest of the liquid. "They work for some people."
"I feel like you just miss out on all of the physical interactions."
"Sometimes physical interactions are void of intimate, mental companionships."
"Point taken." He stated and smiled at her, setting his water down to put his hand into his pocket, finding the quarter from earlier. He showed it to her. "Head or tails?"
"Heads."
He flipped it and slapped it into his knee this time since his arm was still resting on her shoulders. His brown eyes showed amusement. "Your luck is still going strong. Hey, you didn't get brutally moshed in the pit. But even if you did, I would've been there to save you."
She chuckled slowly, feeling those beers from earlier. "O-kay. Are you suddenly my knight in...sparkling black armor?"
"Well, maybe for tonight, but every other time, I'm always a King. You know, the black knight in TKR is actually a super powerful card when stacked against the red troll of doom."
She shook her head as their other companions walked over to the couches. Lex plopped down on a sofa opposite to Gerald and Phoebe, propping her sneakers upon the small table. "My legs hurt...but it was worth it…" She ended breathlessly as Mo excitedly walked to Gerald's side, he had his flip phone out.
"Ger', I just got a text from Jose, he's out in the parking lot and he brought the new dungeon booster pack, you want to go check it out?"
Gerald's eyes widened for a moment. His casual demeanor roused into enthusiasm. "Oh shit, um...well, I-" He glanced nervously over to Phoebe.
She lifted her hand up and gestured politely towards the exit of the venue. "Go ahead."
"You sure you'll be okay?"
"I'll stick with her." Lex spoke up and grinned, rather tiredly.
"Alright thanks!" He said as he stood up, following Mo through the crowd, towards the parking lot.
The red haired teen inhaled a breath of relief before speaking. "Did you enjoy the band?"
Phoebe nodded and pulled out a jewel CD case from one of the large pockets in the jacket. "I have their latest album." Gerald was kind enough to purchase it for her. She didn't want to spend his money in the first place, but he wouldn't take no for an answer, and she was grateful to add it to her collection of music.
"Nice. I'm glad Ger' brought you."
"Me too." She paused, and even though her body felt fuzzy, her thoughts were somewhat restless. "Is there, um...an outside area to the venue? I saw the marina on the way in. It was...amazing." She attempted to keep her cool, but Lex noticed her lip twitch in hopefulness.
"Yeah, we can head outside to the back if you want. It is getting kind of stuffy in here. And by stuffy I mean, it's starting to reek like a boys locker room." She ended comically.
The two girls got up and Lex voluntarily placed her palm onto Phoebe's back as they moved their way through the drunk and still dancing crowd. She noticed a large square opening near the side of the venue, as if it used to be a loading dock for the warehouse, maybe for fish or other sea creatures. They walked down the wooden ramp and into the dirt and broken concrete. There were concert goers around, talking over a beer or smoking cigarettes; a few barrels resided about, fire flickering in the cylinders. She gazed about at the scenery, taking in the scents of wood burning and sounds of the crashing waves. She excitedly skipped over to the dock as the taller girl shoved her hands into her pockets.
"Wow." Miss Heyerdahl drew in a heavy breath. "I haven't smelled the ocean in a long time."
"I take it you're not from around here?"
Phoebe strolled down the platform of the harbor, running her fingers over the sleek hulls of the boats that floated by the dock. Lex casually followed her from behind, slightly smiling as the shorter teen finally sat at the end of the platform. She hung her legs over the edge, calmy kicking her feet against the waves as her companion sat down beside her.
Phoebe grinned to herself and finally answered the question. "I'm from Paris. Paris, Kentucky. I should clarify, I was born there, lived here, moved back to Paris, and then, back here again. To Hillwood, I mean."
Lex leaned back upon her elbows on the planks of the dock. "No shit? I was born and raised in Austin." She chuckled gently. "No offense, but what the hell is there to do in Paris?
"Nothing I suppose any average person would call 'fun'. My grandparents had a farm and we settled with them for a couple years. Most of the time I was studying bio-fuels. I was distilling corn meal into ethanol and fuel for my grandfather's tractor in the summer months. Things like that."
The red haired teen was speechless for a moment at the response. "Wow. That's kind of...a great skill to have."
"In the seventh grade, I fueled one of our lawnmowers and auditioned it into the Bourbon County Science Fair." Phoebe bit the inside of her lip. "It won second."
"Second? That's bullshit. You were like, what? Twelve? That's incredible for a twelve year old."
"One student created a remote-controlled lawnmower. He won first." She giggled to herself at the disappointing memory. In retrospect, she found it amusing.
Lex sat up and leaned forward, relaxing her elbows onto her thighs. "The fuel business is dirty. Dirty, dirty, dirty. It's all about politics and big money; we'd probably all be running on water and clouds if it weren't for that. Reminds me of one my favorite Stacy Romero songs."
Phoebe found herself smiling at the comment and gazed up at the glowing moon. "'Choke Me Harder'."
"Yeah." She glanced over to the shorter girl inquisitively. "You listen to Dr Iron Claw?"
"They're...my favorite band." She responded as she squinted her eyes and tried to make out the craters in the large luminescent orb. She bit her lower lip this time and blinked, snapping out of her artistic imaginings. "Um...so, why did you leave Austin?" She asked and stared back at her companion.
"Ah." Lex entwined her fingers together and watched the continuous waves. "My mom left me, my dad and my brothers when I was little. She just packed up her shit and was gone one morning. I think Texas just reminds him too much of her. Plus he's a contractor and found work up here. Kind of how we ended up getting this place." She said, referring to the building behind them.
Phoebe was silent for a moment, her voice softened. "...I'm sorry she left."
"Don't be. If she would've stayed...it would've funked everything up. Life would've been the pits. She's a really selfish person. My dad and my brothers, we all get along pretty well. We tolerate each other at least." She laughed faintly to herself and kicked the water, making a small splash.
"I couldn't imagine life without my mother."
"Yeah?"
Phoebe hesitantly touched the side of her face, running her fingers over the bumps and blemishes. "My...my scars. It was from a car accident. I was hospitalized for a long time, but...my mother walked away with minor injuries. No physical pain would've compared to losing her."
Lex stared at her, noticing some of the old wounds and the far away gaze in Miss Heyerdahl's hazel eyes. "That's deep. And...poetic."
Phoebe grinned gently and and returned the look. "My hands are definitely better skilled with a brush than with a pen. I love reading poetry though. Do you...write?" She asked, almost worried about Lex's answer.
The taller teen shook her head. "No, that's Lance's forte, my younger brother, however, I am a pretty mediocre drummer. Me and my bros, we have a band that plays here sometimes. We're called CrapCake. You should come check us out. I can get ya' backstage pass."
Phoebe released a giggle. "That's a good band name. By the way, how many brothers do you have?"
The red haired girl rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, five." She nudged Phoebe's thigh with her own. "What about you, you have any siblings?"
"No. I'm an only child." She sighed rather solemnly.
Lex responded with a positive tone. "Must be nice, you don't have people borrowing your skateboard or your toothbrush all the time."
"Honestly. It can get pretty lonely."
The young woman stared at Miss Heyerdahl before averting her eyes forward, out to the vast bay; buildings and homes of New Jersey meeting at the opposing edge of water, miles away.
She pondered and blinked slowly before speaking up. Phoebe was gazing up at the moon again. "You want to know a deep dark secret I've never told anyone?"
The shorter girl's eyes widened in modest surprise and she glanced over to her companion; she had just recently met Lex, not asking for any kind of comradery, yet the taller teen was putting trust in her. It felt nice. She would indulge sensibly yet sympathetically if Lex truly needed to get something off her chest. "If you currently need a confidant, I am a excellent keeper of secrets."
Lex smirked and pushed Phoebe's thigh again. She looked to the New Jersey skyline as she relinquished her buried thoughts. "One time, when I was little, I was really upset at Kirk; he taped a firecracker to one of my favorite 'Yo Earnest' figurines. And completely destroyed it. That day, I ran away from home. My dad drove around for hours searching for me until he found me at one of our favorite diners. Kirk eventually apologized for blowing up the figurine, and I love all of them but, I still secretly want to run away. Maybe change my name; join the circus. Pull swords out of my throat; breath fire and all that." She glanced down at the watery reflection of the moon. Listening to the waves for a moment. Her voice cracked into a whisper. "But, I'm also afraid...that I'll end up just like my mother. Just running away from everything."
Phoebe gazed at her as the taller teen continued to stare down into the dark and navy colored bay. She wasn't sure how to respond. So she said the first thing that came to her mind. "What liberty a loosened spirit brings."
Lex glanced over at her questionly. "What's that from?"
"Oh it's...part of a poem by Emily Dickinson." She mentally cringed; the literature she had copyrighted when she was young must've stuck with her all this time. What a horrible thing to remember and probably at a terrible time.
The red haired girl inhaled, secretly relieved to release these harbored ideas out into the open. She figured she could return the favor. "What about you? What's your deep dark secret?"
Phoebe immediately thought of her dream the other night. She could disclose this information to a stranger; Lex didn't attend her school and probably wouldn't tell anyone. She could ask things like, what does it all mean? Or, should she pursue or deny these phantasmal actions? She sighed heavily, obviously she needed to let something escape. She could feel her back muscles twinge in her brace and responded uncomfortably. "I'll tell you something, but you can't tell Gerald."
Lex chuckled and scooted closer on the edge of the dock. She looked back, making sure there was no sign of their dark skinned friend. "That's why it's called a deep, dark secret. Oh, and I swear on all of my brothers lives; you can trust me."
"I...I already have my highschool diploma. I received it before the summer." It definitely wasn't the deepest or darkest secret she could think of, but it was true. Her parents obviously knew, but none of her classmates or longtime friends did.
The young woman's features became perplexed. "But you...you're IN highschool. How's it possible that they still let you attend?"
"A considerable amount of doctor's notes. My PTSD therapist thought it would be beneficial for me to still go, since I 'lost a portion of my childhood' as he put it. I guess he didn't want me to race straight to college. And my parents agreed. So, right now I attend all honors classes and I can receive another diploma if I want." She rolled her eyes and exhaled again. She knew in her gut that she should be in college right now. Maybe she was scared and hesitant. Not just about her academic career, but everything else that was happening in her life. In her dreams she felt brave, and in reality...it was another story. Which side was the true Phoebe? But then again, humans were very complex-
Her companion interrupted her intellectual tangent. "Well, is that what you want to do?"
She shrugged simply. "I think he's right. I don't...I don't believe I'm ready for college yet. Right now, I get to spend more time with my parents and…" Her throat went dry. "Friends."
"At least you'll get the full blown high school experience." Lex shivered. "I'm glad I'm almost done. High school sucks." She said as she absent mindedly rubbed the bruise on her lip.
It was Phoebe's turn to shiver as her eyes glanced to the taller girl's facial wound. She encouraged. "It seems like you're pretty popular around here."
She waved her hand. "Oh, I'm just a regular. If anything, it's kind of pathetic how often I'm here. Greg lets me do whatever I want, and his wife is really cool. She's one of the bartenders." She smirked and peered over. Miss Heyerdahl's hazel eyes didn't want to look away from Lex's lips for some reason, however she met the blue irises. "Besides, I like hanging with you, Pheebs."
The familiarity was uncanny; she could feel herself sweating in Gerald's varsity jacket, even though there was a cool breeze from the waves. Her cheeks felt hot as her eyes obsessed over the detail in those cobalt and navy colors swirling around Lex's pupils. She leapt back into the infatuating concoction of whatever fog clouded her brain when she slept. All the images and feelings burned in the pit of her stomach, intoxicating her current state of mind.
Lex was about to question the profound stare her companion was giving her, when Phoebe slowly inched her face closer. The taller teen was surprised, but her lips curled into a small smile before the proximity of their faces diminished and their mouths met in the faint light of the moon.
XOXOX
Gerald glanced down at the card his friend had loaned him when he walked back inside the venue and to the couches where he last left Phoebe. Not seeing her, his face scrunched in confusion. He quickly glanced around at the dwindling mass of people in the area. He didn't see her or Lex. He strode over to the ladies room, asking two females walking towards the facilities if they could check for his friend. She wasn't there. He breathed out nervously, the only other place she could've been was outside, by the back of the building. He walked towards the large square opening and ran down the deck. Noticing sparse people hanging around the burning barrels. It was then that he saw the silhouette of the figures down the harbor dock. He sprinted forward, rather desperately, hoping It would be Phoebe and Lex, but as he got closer and the girls two forms came into better view, his hopes faded.
A knot tied in his chest as his pace slowed and he let out a relieved but uncomfortable huff; walking down the platform he finally made his presence known. "I'm glad I could introduce you two." His voice was rough.
The two girls quickly pulled their lips apart and a deep red blush bloomed upon Phoebe's cheeks as they looked back at Gerald.
Lex was the only one to speak in the tension that now wafted around them, since Phoebe was caught up in...the heat of the moment? The horrifying awkwardness of getting caught? The fog of her persisting dream-state? Probably all of those combined.
"Uh…"
Gerald shot a mean look at the red haired teen. He then cleared his throat and turned to his classmate. "Phoebe, We should...probably get back before your parents freak." Even he was having a hard time with words right now.
She blinked, regaining some consciousness of impending reality. "Oh...yes. That's probably a good idea. I wouldn't want my mother to worry." She responded as she lifted her legs from the waves and pushed herself up from the dock. Lex did as well.
"Oh, well, if it's easier for you guys, I can take her home on the Triumph. In case you want to stay longer Ger'." The taller teen chimed in. "I, uh, know how much you and Mo love talking about TKR, and the expansions or whatever." She drew in a flushed breath of her own as she slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans.
Gerald crossed his arms and spoke bitterly. "Well, thanks for the offer, Lex, but I'm sure she'd be freezing on that bike. She'd be much warmer in the Trans Am."
The young woman's posture stiffened at her friend's response. She snapped back. "Well, if your jacket isn't keeping her warm on the bike, then she can always borrow mine."
Phoebe's eyes widened, her logical state of mind now back in the present, She moved herself between the two to prevent an escalated argument. "Look, Lex, I really appreciate the offer, but it is best if Gerald takes me home."
"No worries. There's always next time." She responded, attempting to collect her cool as she glanced down and gave a weak smile.
The shorter girl hesitated for a moment but offered a polite response. "Good night."
Gerald rolled his eyes as he turned quickly and trudged away; Phoebe followed him.
"Bye!" Lex called from behind them as they made their way around the side of the building and to the parking lot where the dark haired teen's car resided.
Miss Heyerdahl shrugged her shoulders as she slid off the jacket and handed it over to him while he pulled out the keys to the vehicle. She sighed, rather upset and embarrassed. "It contains too much power. I don't think I'm ready for it."
Gerald paused before accepting the article of clothing. "Your CD is still in here."
"I can receive it later. My mother will start asking questions anyway."
He shook his head, leaning against the body of the Trans Am. "Did she put you up to that?"
Phoebe stood there awkwardly and crossed her arms, wiggling her waist slightly to adjust her brace. She couldn't wait to get home and take it off, her stomach started feeling queasy and the compression wasn't currently helping. "Put me up to what?"
He looked off to some of the other vehicles parked in the lot, then peered down to the keys in his palm. "You know…"
She held the feelings for a moment; recollecting what had happened minutes before. She was still rather in shock. The fact that she had acted on something that was...somewhat irrational...yet wonderful... "No."
"Too much to drink?'
Now she was on the defense. "No."
"It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. Lex can be very-"
"It happened, Gerald. It happened, and I did it." She exhaled heavily and dropped her arms to her sides. "I just did it. I kissed HER, okay?" She tightened her hands into fists and breathed in calmly. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to lash out. I just don't appreciate the interrogation."
"Oh." He swallowed and tossed the varsity jacket over his shoulders; fidgeting with his keys some more. "I'm sorry too, I just...I guess I'm protective. Lex is a senior, you're-"
"Sweet, innocent Phoebe? And she is some...rebellious deviant?" She asked ludicrously.
He stared back at her gravely, deeply feeling the error in his assumptions. "I'm sorry. You're right. I guess I kind of do think that way. I shouldn't have intervened. It's your business."
"You were just acting upon your preservative nature. It's fine." She supposed she was acting upon some sort of natural instinct as well. Now she really wanted another drink.
He nibbled on his lower lip and smiled faintly to himself. "So...you and Lex, huh?"
Phoebe rolled her eyes. Hadn't she endured enough for one night? "I'm dealing with some...things right now in my life. A multitude of things. Can we please leave it at that?"
"Right. I gotcha." He gestured to his car. "Shall we?" He asked modestly.
The shorter girl rounded the vehicle and got into the passenger side. She sulked into the seat, releasing an uneasy sigh as Gerald entered the vehicle as well. He attempted to lighten the mood. "So, I'm guessing...you'll be coming back next week?"
She glanced out the window as he started the engine and reversed out of the parking spot. "Honestly, I might be more complacent playing The King Rules."
He released a stifled chuckle. "Now Lex will definitely want to play with us."
"Oh my goodness, Gerald. We JUST talked about this."
"I know, I know. I'm just sayin'." He responded with a grin upon his mouth, shifting the vehicle into drive. "Maybe she'll want to be your Black Knight."
"Stoooooop." She whined as she sat up and pushed his shoulder lightly. The dark skinned boy exhaled one more coy giggle and ceased his teasing.
XOXOX
Phoebe opened the un-locked door of the Heyerdahl house as Gerald's engine could be heard, motoring down the avenue. She noticed the light on in the living room and made her way to the quiet space; noticing her mother sitting on the sofa with her legs tucked by her side, a book in her hands and a blanket draped over the woman's torso. She glanced up eagerly to see her daughter enter the room and affectionately smiled. "Hey, baby. How was it?"
The girl reciprocated the grin. "It went well. Were you waiting up for me?"
"Of course. I wasn't worried or anything." She responded as she folded her novel and set it on the nightstand next to the couch, then placed her feet onto the floor as she patted the spot next to her.
The short teen strolled over, reaching her hands under her shirt as she released some of the pressure off of her stomach and sat down beside her mother. She curled up her legs and laid down on the older woman's lap, releasing a tired breath. Eventually, she pulled out her father's phone from her pocket, handing the cellular device to Reba to set on the nightstand next to the book.
"How did your brace work out for ya'?"
Phoebe blinked as the woman then moved her fingers into her black and blue locks, ruffling it consolingingly. She attempted to respond positivity, yet her voice was rather dry. "Splendid."
"How was the game? Did you slay any...uh, goblins?"
The girl stared at the opposing sofa in their living room. Another lie she would have to keep from her loved one. Was that her life now? Was she a liar? She would have to tell her mother all these brooding notions eventually. It left a sour feeling in the pit of her stomach. "I mostly shadowed this time. They're all experts, so, it's better if I spectate and learn terms."
"M'kay." She responded in a comforting tone. "Oh, by the way, Helga called."
Phoebe jolted upward abruptly and Reba's eyes widened in response to the motion. "She did?"
The woman nodded. "Yeah, poor girl was in a tizzy. She said something about how she didn't mean to leave you hangin' and something about Scranton, Pennsylvania and...an exploding vehicle? She seemed rather distraught."
"Is she safe? Is she alright?" The teenager asked the questions hastily.
The mother shrugged calmly. "Well, the caller ID was the Pataki house number, so, I'm assuming so. Maybe she can explain it better to you tomorrow at school."
Phoebe exhaled in relief and then nuzzled her head against her Reba's shoulder. "What a day."
The older woman lifted her arm to wrap it around the girl's upper torso. She rubbed her daughter's arm tenderly. "You're telling me. But I'm happy you're back, safe and sound, lemon squeeze."
Phoebe slowly closed her eyes as she felt the soothing brush of her mother's fingers against the scars of her skin. The thoughts dwelling on her mind most likely transfering over to her dream state. Sapphire eyes, calm moonlight, ocean waves and soft lips. Despite the calamity frenzying in her gut, the chaotic knots in her heart, and the infatuating fog clouding her brain, she was utterly content. "Me too."