𝐔𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞, 𝙎𝙊𝙎𝙎 𝙊𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙨

Not Yours

AUSTIN

I don't usually go to my sister with my problems. Not because she wouldn't care—okay, maybe a little because she wouldn't—but mostly because talking to anyone about anything that makes you look like a complete mess is basically the opposite of fun. But today felt different. I needed someone else's take, someone who could make sense of it when I couldn't.

I knocked on Aurelie's door, my hands sliding into the pockets of my pajama pants. The door cracked open after a moment.

"You knocked!" Aurelie said, all dramatic like it was the biggest thing since sliced bread.

I gasped dramatically. "Alert the media!" I said, stepping inside. Her carpet muffled my footsteps as I crossed the room toward her vanity.

"Auri," I said, flopping into the chair like it owed me a favor. "I need to talk to you about something."

"You got Cici pregnant," she guessed, eyes bright like she'd solved a puzzle.

"No," I said. "We've never even kissed."

"Yet," she said, sliding onto her bed like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"Shut up," I said, rolling my eyes, though a small smile betrayed me.

"But seriously, I need to talk to you. It's about Cici," I added.

"She wants you to get her pregnant," Auri said without missing a beat.

"Auri, bro!" I groaned, running my hands down my face.

She laughed. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. What happened?"

"Well...something went down at the mall with her and her mom today," I said, dragging out the words like I needed her to brace herself.

Auri's eyes lit up. "Oh god," she said.

"I know. So basically..."

***

It was a cold December day, the kind where your bed basically owns you. I was fully prepared to spend it binge-watching Stranger Things for the third time when my phone rang. Caller ID said Frosted Flakes herself: Cici.

She wanted me to go Christmas shopping with her and her mom. I was up in seconds. Christmas is basically my favorite holiday, and I will never, ever pass up an excuse to be around Cici. She's...well, she's Cici. Amazing, impossible, and entirely distracting.

We ended up at Sulphur Springs Mall—chaotic, crowded, and totally festive. The three of us found ourselves in Macy's, in the Christmas pillow section, which apparently exists and is a whole mood.

"Austin, this one's scream-proof," Cici said, holding up a pillow like it was a superhero.

"Nah," I said, skeptical.

"No, seriously, look!" She pressed it to her face. I watched her mouth stretch like she was screaming—and then...nothing. Not a sound.

"Wait, really?" I said, snatching the pillow from her. She nodded, a smug little smile spreading across her face

I pressed it to my own face.

"AHHHHHHH!" I screamed.

Heads whipped around. Mrs. Frost jumped, nearly dropping a display. My cheeks burned red.

"Cici!" I said, peeking over the top of the pillow at her.

She laughed so hard she practically tackled me, hugging my chest like it was the best thing she'd ever done.