The last week had given Iris a chance to re-assess her situation, and honestly, she was beginning to feel a sense of stability in this whole mess she'd gotten into.
While she still felt woefully unprepared for these classes, she had started to take down notes more regularly and was at least starting to feel like the material was manageable.
It helped that she could reach out to Phoenix for the occasional piece of advice. She was careful not to ask too much, (it would seem out of place for her to understand so little of her own major) but she'd been able to sneak the questions in under the guise of collaboration. Phoenix was starting law classes this semester, so he was in an equally inexperienced position.
The two would discuss the matters after completing their lunch together, which had become a regular occurrence since the two made a deal. It was funny; despite everything, there really was an authentic charm to "her Feenie."
Or rather, Dahlia's Feenie. He's not really attracted to me; just my sister. Wait, why does that suddenly matter?
Iris shook herself from this dangerous line of thinking as she approached the mailbox. She had told Sister Bikini that her sister required aid in the city for a little while and had promised to write regularly. It was a nice, gentle reminder of the real life that awaited her and who she was underneath her false pretenses and dyed hair.
She was grateful for the support, and she was even more grateful that the temple was extremely removed from the larger world. If Sister Bikini knew about her sister's connections to such morally reprehensible events, she'd likely have had a tougher time justifying helping her.
If Iris was really being honest with herself, she couldn't offer a good explanation as to why she was helping her sister cover up a crime. Maybe it was because she felt bad about her sister's life. Maybe it's because she felt like she didn't deserve the good fortune that had befallen her and not her sister. Maybe it was cowardice - a fear that she'd lose the only family she really knew at all.
But these were thoughts that could be had after her mission was taken care of. What mattered now was protecting Feenie's… er, Phoenix's life from a desperate, angry Dahlia.
She began her long walk toward Phoenix's dorm room, as they agreed to meet for food after their classes had concluded. Suddenly, she heard a cell phone ring. Dahlia's phone. When they switched, Dahlia had handed off her phone and was using an old limited-use phone she'd gotten after she went into hiding the first time. And sure enough, it was Dahlia's number.
"Hey," Iris began.
"Don't even. I thought you said you could get this taken care of quickly. What's the issue?"
"He's quite taken with you. You must have done quite a convincing job of…"
"You're lying," Dahlia said. Iris winced. She knew she wasn't exactly being forceful.
Dahlia continued. "Are you so incapable of confronting someone that you can't just grab a necklace off someone? I've done far worse; heck, I planned to do worse! Are you really that useless?"
"I- I have no excuse. I'm sorry," Iris knew this tone was necessary if only to placate Dahlia's temper. "You've always been the stronger of us, but I'm earning his trust. I should be able to make it happen."
She could hear Dahlia aubibly grumbling in the background.
"You're lucky I've got a life of relaxation to enjoy. Get it done. As. Soon. As. Possible."
And with that, Dahlia hung up. Iris took a deep breath of relief. A sole tear escaped from her eye. It was always so stressful trying to justify existing to a sister who held a deep grudge for failing her before.
She continued trying to calm her nerves as she got to Phoenix's door. To her surprise, he was already outside the door.
"Hey, Dollie! I got excited waiting and thought I'd hang around outside the… Dollie, are you okay?" Phoenix noticed the obvious state of distress she was in.
"Oh, it's nothing to worry about, Feenie. Um, if you could give back the necklace, though, I'd much appreciate it."
"You know I won't. But please don't change the subject. What's got you so upset?"
Iris really shouldn't unload this information upon him. Aside from the fact that the details could give her away, it was such a petty thing to be stressed about.
Nonetheless, something about Feenie's demeanor made her trust that he'd be a good listener. So against her better judgment, she decided to share a little.
"One of my… family members is a bit distant. The little we talk, she always brings up things I'm doing incorrectly, and reminds me of my uselessness."
"Hold on, Dollie. I have to stop you right there. You are not useless!"
"I'm sure any boyfriend would say that, Feenie, but I've let them down before, and I know how much I've hurt them by being able to find fulfillment while she struggled."
"Still, it's no excuse to give someone flack and make them feel bad for something that wasn't entirely in their control. I'm guessing you never meant to do anything wrong to her, right?"
"Well, no, of course not! But -" Iris couldn't bring herself to take the blame completely off herself. And it was hard to accept any compliment about her worth while she was literally pretending to be someone else.
Phoenix continued. "But nothing, Dollie. The entire time I've known you, you've shown nothing but great kindness and care. I thought the first day we met was incredible, but you've been a dream-come-true every day since. You bring me so much happiness that I didn't even realize I could feel. I want you to see that from everyone, and it should start with me!"
Iris wasn't sure how to process this information. She apparently was improving on the feelings Dahlia had set, so did that mean the emotions were actually toward her? Or was her Dahlia disguise the real thing?
It was becoming difficult to navigate her own feelings and separate them from the fake Dahlia that had been projected onto the world.
But whatever the answers to the many questions in her head were, the fact now was that Phoenix was directing care and worth in her direction. It was worth that she had only felt at the temple, and that she was sorely missing.
For the time being, she would have to take the good feelings for Dahlia as being ones toward her, if for no other reason than she wanted that positivity back in her life.
She turned to Feenie with a genuine smile. "I- I actually really needed to hear that. You are so sweet! Thank you, Feenie."
And with a kiss on the cheek - something she had never done before and something that immediately made her turn crimson - she turned to Phoenix's side, and they made a walk to the apartment to make dinner.