Someone Who Loved You Wouldn't Do This

Moving on

"Are you sure? I could just move in with February." I'm telling Frances' mum, Lana.
"February?" She asks, puzzled, "Whose February?"
"My sister, Carys. Did Frances not tell you she changed her name?" I peer at Frances. An embarrassed grimace crosses her face.
"Alright, but it's really no issue having you in the house. Hell, you practically lived here already last year, for Christ's sake!"
She's right. Last year, Frances used to help me record a podcast I started when I was 16, and my sister had run away. I'd seen her art on Tumblr and fell in love with it. She eventually became her own character named after her blog Url "Tolouse." We really spent most of the time messing about, to be honest.

On my birthday she sent me all these messages which I thought were hilarious and knew she thought the same. I told her they were cringe because they were cringe.

Online, I always kept my identity a secret; going by "Radio Silence," the name of the main character of my podcast Universe City.

Me and Frances would go to cafés and walk my dog Brian. My mum killed him, though. My mum is pure evil, which is why we spent almost all our time at Frances'. I didn't want them to meet. It was bad enough she knew Daniel, my boyfriend, but over those few weeks we'd known each other, Frances had become a sort of platonic soul mate.

Luckily, she doesn't know my other friends from school. Charlie, Tao, Elle, and Nick. Nick and Charlie have been dating since Charlie was 14, and Nick was 16. They're now 18 and 19. Charles is a year younger than me and Nick. Elle and Tao have been together for quite a while, alswell. They started dating a few months after Nick and Charlie.

I feel horrible about it, but I think I'd prefer living with February because I'd be much further away from Carol. I don't even consider her a mother anymore. I haven't for a while.

"Please, Aled, if your mum tries anything I'll-"
"- We'll burn her alive!"
"No, Frances, we'll call the police." Lana says sternly.
I love Frances, but she can be a bit much sometimes.
"I'll need some time to think about it."
"Sure! You can stay here in the meantime!" Frances says.
"Actually, is it alright if I visit Daniel?"
"Of course, sweetheart, just be back before it gets too late!" Lana calls as I go to the front door.