P. H. A. S. E

Phase 3: Coping

I had been stuck in the house for a week. My daily routine of scrolling through my device, reading stories, doing basically anything to take my mind off reality. I found the last video I made with my mum and used it for my telegram profile.

I really appreciate that my butler Mr Johnson, prepared everything I needed. I promised him that I will resume dance practice that Friday. But I couldn't get up from the floor. My eyes were hurting from being glued to devices but I didn't want to stop.

I received a call from Kelly after few minutes of doing nothing.

"Please can you be my model? I have just been selected as one of the fashion designers for the anniversary. But I really want to be the costume manager for the event." She sobbed sweetly. She wasn't crying.

"How am I going to get you there?"

" A transition dance challenge. What are you up to anyway?"

"Practice."

"Have you heard from the scumbag?"

" Yeah we texted today, just few minutes ago about the elections."

"Did he tell you that Fiona is now the council's president. Melodie hasn't been herself lately so she switched post."

Alvin didn't even mention. It's really stupid. I thought we told each other everything.

I started some exercise as she told me about things going on in school that Alvin didn't even think of mentioning.

I felt betrayed. "Meet you after school." Kelly ended the call.

" What is happening?" I asked myself staring at my reflection in the mirror. I felt like I have been cut off from everyone.

Kelly and I sat in my practice room after her modelling contract. I was still in the fluffy feathered track suit we used for the video as she chatted me up about things going on outside.

"Guess the song Pedro sang at Friday's beat sync." Every Friday was beat sync.  A time were everyone displayed their instrument skills.

"Alvin said he sang Love yourself by Justin Bieber. And everyone in school finds it awkward."

"Melodie left the councilors high chair during his performance. She couldn't stay in the hall." She whispered pitifully. "He stopped singing when she left the hall. That clearly proved that it was meant for her."

"Mia and Harper had to bring up the newscasting team." Was it that bad?

" Let's shove that aside. There's a new kid in your class.  Drake Murphy... Alvin doesn't want anyone to mention it to you."

" Harper did. He says he's a lone wolf. Parks his hair in a bun. He transferred from the public high school."

Kelly drew closer to me. " The guy is so so so freaking hot. He has a Toyota truck and a motorcycle. He doesn't talk much. Fiona made him play the usual five minutes of fame game."

"she's hitting on prince charming already."  I added wanting her to tell me more details.

"I don't care about that part but he said nothing but his name. He spent five minutes staring at Fiona and her minions snubbing their every question. Then Melanie asked with her loud voice "what do you hate the most?" And he said "creepy looking girls asking me lots of questions." He turned to Melanie and said " not you, them"

"Ouch!" I clenched my chest feigning to be hurt. "Harper said the guy is an introvert. He eats alone,walks alone, paints alone studies alone. He doesn't say anything if he's not asked. Melanie is the only person who has ever summoned up courage to speak to him without being snubbed." I laughed after her statement.

"But I don't know why Alvin never told me of Drake Murphy."  She pulled me up to my feet. I knew she could sense I was offended.

" He is an overprotective as*****e. He said Murphy looked like a granddaddy who ate virgins each meal time."

"Is he that ugly? I thought you just said he was hot." I adjusted the camera behind us to be able to get a view of us and our reflection from the last video for the transition.

"What is Seth up to these days?" She asked curiously.

"He is in the tech prep team. He stopped by for dinner last night. Speaking of which, how about dinner at your place?"

"Finally, we have missed having you on the table. My big sis is back." She squeaked with a satisfied smile as we started the dance.

* * *

Alvin's house was like my second home. Most of my childhood days were spent there. Even after mum got married and we moved two streets away. I always dropped by anytime I felt like

I sat at the table with Lena, Kelly and Alvin. Dinning with them was always good. You get hot street gossip. Alvin's father is a renown fashion designer. He comes once in a month to see his children. Lena divorced him when Kelly was five.

She is an opera singer and a music composer. You can get any celebrity gist you want on the dining table.

But, dinner had been quite since we started. No one had said anything. We all had our eyes glued on nervous Alvin. "Hot sauce." I tapped him to get the hot sauce for me. He had been avoiding eye contact with anyone on The table.

He added the sauce to my meal. He always had a problem with the amount of sauce I and Kelly took.

"So how have you been doing?" He broke the silence after his attempt to not lock eyes with me failed

"Better. How is our in-law?"

"Great. It's been really hectic dating a aspiring tourist. She loves tourism. It runs in her blood. Her parents are tourists."

" Good!" I smiled. He forgot he said that to me yesterday. "How about school?" I popped the question.

"Elections, prep, Fiona is now acting school president. I was made the music organizer. You were voted for choreography organiser. Melanie is your assistant.."

" Kelly mentioned that there's a new guy in your class." Mrs Lena chipped in. "His name is..."

" Oh, Alvin forgot to mention..."

" I totally forgot, he's not really important. I think he's mute or something. But girls can't give it a rest."

"You forgot that... You even detailed the new blue and black hairstyle Havillah made to school.'

"She's the school's principal. I can see it everytime."

He lied to me. First time. "I think you are just jealous." I scoffed.

He laughed uncomfortably. " That a new kid showed up in school. He wasn't so relevant he doesn't talk to anyone except Melanie."

"Oh no! That Fi wanted his bio's so bad."

He sent me a warning glare before faking a smile. " It's nothing, I just didn't remember. Fi is the acting school president. It's only wise to know the final transfer student in final year.

"Okay." I didn't stress it. "Just curious" I shrugged. Something was wrong somewhere. I had been with him all my life. I knew that.

After dinner, Lena joined me for a video with Kelly. I hadn't even participated in my dance challenge.

It was a one minute and thirty seconds video. It was quite hilarious and fun. It reminded me of the times my mum and I danced other genres than ballet. I will be giving her pointers and teaching her complex moves. She really learns fast.

Like I said, the joy and fun was nowhere to be found after that. Everyone felt it; The emptiness of the room without Lucille.

The huge gap she left, the part of those lively hours always spent with her, could never be filled.

It was hard to believe that she was gone. Forever.