Phoenix's Lies

This Is A Bad Idea

(The song is for when River and Ari are talking outside the house)

River

The next evening I'm with myself and my doubts as I survey myself in a mirror. Hearing Ari's text tone sound again for the second time in five minutes. Contemplating if I should go or stay as I survey my outfit in the full-length mirror,

Dressed in a deep black low-cut top, skinny black jeans and my signature leather jacket I survey the outfit with a debating expression. My only jewellery was my topaz pendant, crystal and brass key on a golden chain, along with the bracelet that Phoenix both have but I haven't seen him wear once. He probably lost it when he lost himself, I think to myself snidely, smiling as I curl my hair and add a little perfume and a pair of knee-high heeled boots.

Grabbing my keys and phone I race to my car, having locked the door and getting into the car. Throwing it into first gear, put on some music and tear out of the drive as my phone rings in the console, Ari's name on the screen.

Swiping to accept the call I hear it pick up on her end. "Sorry babes I'm coming. I lost track of time," I shout to her over the music as soon as the call connects. Trying to hide the procrastination I'd been doing at home and hoping for once that she can't read me as well as she always boasts she does.

"Just hurry please," Ari whines and I have to bite back a laugh. "It started like an hour ago whilst you were debating all your life choices it seems." She snaps a little joyfully as the call disconnects and I laugh, indicating to turn onto the street before hers.

Pulling into her driveway I wait for her to get in. When she does so she jumps up and down like a kid on a sugar high and I have to bite back yet another round of laughter in my gut. "Why not go with Hunt and the team or even the rest of the squad since you could have just changed after the game and gone straight there? Why go home and wait for me to pick you up?" It was no secret that the squad loves their captain, as did the team, their captain's sister. So why ride with me? The girl who has made herself the popular crowd's pariah?

Next to me I shoot Ari a look and see her shrug. "To give you an excuse to come since I know if you drove me you'd have to come." She smirks then, clearly all too pleased with her master plan. She'd made it so I had to come. Clever and crafty bitch.

I roll my eyes and shake my head, "Well played Ari. between the two of you, you've both made me come so I guess you won."

But when I look back at her I can see that Ari's confused. "Between me and who Riv? Who else was asking you? Was it Nix? Did you - sorry do you - think we worked together on this? I had no idea he was saying anything. Was it him you meant when you said 'between you'?"

Shit. Facing forward I tighten my grip on the wheel and try to backtrack the conversation and avoid the one that was no doubt coming my way. Shaking my head I laugh it off. "Doesn't matter Ari, stupid slip of the tongue since I'm already regretting going." I know my words are harsh but I also know she understands what I'm not saying.

Thankfully she doesn't question me again as we pull onto the interstate highway toward the other end of town near the cliffs. Although I do catch her watching me the whole way. Something that irritates me is better than her ten questions a second. Easier to ignore. Following the directions that Ari has given me, I pull off the highway after about ten minutes, not recognising the house we've ended up at since it was on the edge of Ayrith by the cliffs on the opposite side of town from where I live. Away from where I would normally be.

TW: Dark Thoughts

Pulling up to the house I kill the engine but make no move to leave the car, suddenly overwhelmed by a string of happy memories. Both with him as much as with my family before I grew old enough to see behind the facade. Before I had to grow up way too fast in a way I wasn't sure he'd ever had to do since his whole family loves him. He didn't have an abusive and controlling, neglectful, absent, alcoholic and addict of a mother. Or controlling friends. Or a toxic partner who left him walking on eggshells around them. He had - has - a good life. Maybe not a perfect one - that was rare for any one of us - but a good one nonetheless.