Phoenix's Lies

A Slow Return to Reality

River

A Month Later

A month has passed since I was honest. Since I told someone what I've been through and it's liberating. I feel so much lighter now that I know someone else knows. That someone else cares.

True to his word Nix was also honest and that seemed to bring the two of us closer before we ever left our secret spot the day after everything. Needing one day to be kids and have the freedom we've both been without before coming back to figure shit out. Something we had to dive into fairly early on given how little a time slot we have. And yet happiness was still found. Like Nix's ideas around Christmas.

"Come on, have Ari and the others over. My dad will be back by then. Christmas together like old times. You can't deny that you've thought about it." He gives me a look and I snort a laugh out at the comical expression, rolling my eyes and throwing flour at him. "Hey! Not cool South." He tries to be mad but the flour makes it hard to take him seriously. "Besides as long as you're here that's what's happening."

"Bossy one today, wake up on the wrong side of the bed North?" I tease him, unable to stop the laughter from bubbling up inside at his frown. "Aww sorry, did I stump you, sir?" I laugh before he comes over and dumps a load of flour over my head. "YOU ASSHOLE!" I screamed as I tried to chase him around the room. Except I can't see much given the flour in my eyes. "You are so paying for that. Just you wait."

"You'd have to catch me first. Good luck when you're blind." He sounds a little too arrogant and I know how to fix it since I have two people on my side willing to help. Something that has me smiling and his expression falling. "You wouldn't."

"EL! LIB! HELP ME!" I call as loud as possible before watching as he tries to leave. Smirking, I watch as he's ambushed by both our sisters before Nix's outraged expression finds mine. "Want to apologise or should I leave you there for a few hours?" Nix gives me an outraged expression then and I smile. "Tick tock. Before I go."

Never mind there was stuff unfinished I was having too much fun watching him. Something I can tell he's noticed when he gives me a pleading look. "Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" He glances pleadingly with puppy-dog eyes until I relent and offer him a hand. "Was that necessary?"

"Was what you did necessary?" I motion to where I'm covered in flour and he snickers once. I raise a brow and threaten to let go when he fixes his expression as I hear the doorbell. "Great, I'm covered in flour. Can you get it and I'll get changed?" When I look back he's smiling and I frown. What is he planning? "Hello? Can you get it?"

"Yeah, just make it quick." He sounds secretly joyful then and I notice he's watching me with an unreadable expression. "Go. I'll get them."

I do as he suggests and run up the stairs, seeing Lib and El standing in the doorway watching me for a second before they vanish into the lounge and I hear the TV sound as they settle to watch a movie. Smiling, I run the rest of the way up the stairs and disappear into the bathroom. Stripping off the flour-stained clothes I toss them into a hamper and change into a dark tank and pair of leggings. Pulling on a hoodie over it I brush the flour out of my hair as best I can before leaving.

Coming down the stairs I stop when I see a group of people I used to know in the next room. Faces I remember. People I knew. Kat. Aubrey. Izzy. Livia. Grey. Luke. Liam. Adam. Chase. Colt. Levi. Next to them, I can see a group made up of Ari, Hunt, Ash and Nix. People I knew and those I don't.

"You managed to do what I..." My words dry up then and I see Nix and Ari nodding before my eyes find the other group. The ones who look a little uncomfortable to be there. "I-I...thank you. I know we haven't been close."