Her

59

PHOENIX

Friday. 9am.

i'm outside

want me to come?

you're in school

so want me to come?

you're cute

thank you

but no, superhero

are you sure?

i'll be fine

you're breaking into a house

it's my house

sort of

be careful

i hate this

and i will

i know

i should have packed more underwear

you should have had less sex

maybe i will now

you won't

hm

gtg

hope everything goes well

call me if you need me x

i love you

i love me too

i hate you

xx

I take a deep breath. I take my backpack and get out of my car. It's cold. I take my keys out, open the front door. I step inside. It's cold outside, yet it feels colder in here. I take a few steps, cautiously, quietly, as though I'm actually breaking in. Suddenly, I hear voices. I stop. I freeze.

"Phoenix!"

"Maisie?"

I get hugged, so hard that I almost fall over.

"I missed you," she says.

"I missed you too."

My little sister smiles at me, revealing the cute gap between her teeth. Suddenly, it doesn't feel that cold anymore.

"Maise," I say, "what are you doing here? I thought you and the others were coming over next week."

"Mum and Josh are. But I wanted to go earlier with Dad."

"He's here too?"

Maisie nods. "I heard him and Mum talking," she says. "I heard him say it's an emergency. So I knew you need me, and I said I want to come."