reticent

15

• AMALIA •

I wake up to the sound of voices. I sigh as I roll out of the comfortable bed, grabbing my phone to check the time, but finding texts from Frankie too.

     FRANKIE: Did I call you last night?

     FRANKIE: I played it back. I'm sorry.

     FRANKIE: I was drunk. I didn't mean any of it. You know I didn't.

     FRANKIE: Fuck, please answer.

     FRANKIE: I'm so sorry.

     FRANKIE: Amalia?

     I pause when I see I have a text from Archer, too. I click off Frankie's name and move onto his.

     ARCHER: Wanna work on the project today?

     ARCHER: You can come to my house if you want.

I smile.

ME: I'll ask.

I stand up, forgetting completely about Frankie for a few moments as I walk into the kitchen. Mason is sitting at the counter with Elijah beside him and Jenna flipping pancakes. When one falls on the floor, Mason laughs.

Jenna picks it up, hissing because it's hot, and drops it into the bin. She looks up and smiles at me. Both of my brothers follow her gaze.

"Can I go to my project partners house?" I ask Mason.

"Did you ask dad?" He questions.

"No."

"Message him."

     I sigh and open my phone.

     ME: Can I go to my project partners house today?

     DAD: What did Mason say!

     I roll my eyes.

     ME: He told me to ask you.

     DAD: Okay. You can. But not for too long.

     "He said yes." I tell Mason.

     "Alright, then." Mason says. "When are you going?"

     "I don't know. Let me ask Archer."

     "Who's Archer?" Elijah asks.

     "The boy I'm doing a project with."

     He tilts his head, but I ignore him as I go to the fridge. "Do you have any pop tarts?" I ask.

     "No." Mason says. "Jenna's making pancakes."

     I peer over my brothers girlfriends shoulder. I grimace; they look clumpy.

     "I'm good. I'm not that hungry, actually." I say.