𝘉𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘦 ⟢ 𝘑𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳

1.

A D E L I N E ' S
P O V
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"Phoebe, do you have my black sweater?" I begin to ransack through the piles of clothes dispersed throughout her room.

"Probably. I just don't know where it is." Phoebe mumbles through the toothbrush dangling out of her mouth as she walks in.

Residing with Phoebe for the last two years has been challenging. Initially, we had agreed that my stay would be temporary until I found a new place to live, but things didn't go as planned as it has been difficult to find decent places to rent. This is a home that I've accustomed myself to be comfortable with.

Phoebe sprints to the restroom to clean herself off only returning with a new conversation.

"I'm leaving in 5 minutes, I have to meet some people to discuss shit." She rants, placing an arm one by one into the sleeves of a sweater I've realized to be mine. My black sweater.

I point toward the once-missing article of clothing and huff, "That one—That's my sweater."

She looks down at the sweater, already worn in possession, "Shoot," her eyes reluctantly gaze back at me, "Do you want it back? Like right now?"

"It's fine, wear it."

"Okay bye, I love you!" She swiftly takes off and am finally left alone as I get to hear the sound of the door slamming shut.

Having nothing to do and with no work, I plop myself into my sister's bed where I meet Maxine's sleeping body resting beside me. The comfort of her bed swayed me to a soft drowse, I told myself only for a few minutes but presumed it wouldn't be until a couple of hours.

I was awakened from my nap by the sound of laughter and chatter, which I recognized to be familiar. The noise eventually became too noisy for me to resume sleeping. I sprung out of bed and followed it. I then came upon Lucy and Phoebe engaged in discussion at the kitchen island, both looking up at me as I entered the room.

I've gotten to be good friends with Phoebe's band members but not enough to know much about them as I would like to. Yet, I've noticed the shorter one wasn't there per usual.

"Hi, Elle!" Lucy chimes to greet me and proceeds to conversate with Phoebe, "I should go now but let me know what you think."

Lucy waved goodbye and left the both of us to be. I couldn't wait any second longer to interrogate and pry over the last few spoken words.

"What were you guys talking about?"

"Lucy wants to take a trip—" Phoebe's eyes enlarged, almost as if lightning stroked through her head, "Do you want to go to Nashville with us?"

"Who's 'us'?"

"Just me, Lucy, and Julien."

The last name mentioned irked me. Out of Phoebe's friends, I have favored all yet I cannot say the same for Julien. There is something about her that makes me doubt my fondness for her. Perhaps it's her demeanor or experiences I've had, it's a feeling that I cannot shake off.

"Why did you make that face? Is it Julien?"

I was startled by her sharp remark about my raw reaction when hearing the name being brought up.

"I don't think she likes me very much. There's been a few times where she ignores me."

Phoebe rolls her eyes, "She doesn't ignore you, Elle."

"Any time I try to talk to her, she doesn't say anything and moves on."

"So are you coming to Nashville or not?" Phoebe's behavior was characterized by an abruptness that left no room for delay or hesitation.

She wanted an instant answer and by pressure, one poured out of me, "I'll go but don't ever leave me alone with Julien."