you're just as far in as you'll ever be out

we could find new ways to fall apart

"Are you ever getting out of this bed?"

Danielle groaned and buried her face in the pillow as Este opened the curtains and let the bright light filter through.

"No."

Este rolled her eyes and pulled the covers off her sister. "Get up, you lump. I haven't seen you in like a week."

"You haven't missed much," Danielle mumbled, rolling over and draping her arm over her eyes to block out the sun. She had a slight headache and the light was not helping one bit. "Leave me alone."

"What's wrong with you?" Este asked with a scowl, using her height advantage to pull Danielle up and out of bed. The younger girl stumbled with an annoyed moan and glared. "I brought you tacos."

"I don't want any."

Este playfully pressed her hand up against Danielle's forehead. "You don't want tacos? Wow you must be sick."

Danielle pushed Este's hand away and reluctantly followed her down the stairs. Despite her claim, she sat down at the kitchen table and looked at the tacos longingly.

Este grinned when Danielle ate them.

"So," the elder girl began, picking at her boring salad. "What's up?"

Danielle shrugged. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" Este didn't believe that. "You've been MIA since we finished that song."

"I've been busy," Danielle lied with a mouthful of food.

"Busy doing what?"

"Stuff."

"Stuff? D, come on. What's going on?"

Danielle grimaced and concentrated on picking up the stray lettuce that escaped her taco. "I'm fine, Este."

"Look, I know I've been spending a lot of time with Alana," Este began carefully, unsure of how Danielle was going to react. "I don't want you to think I like...forgot about you."

"I'm fine," Danielle repeated with a slight laugh. "I'm not Alana, E. I don't need you like she does." She immediately felt bad when Este looked hurt.

"Right," Este mumbled, chewing thoughtfully on a cherry tomato. "Well forgive me for worrying about you."

Danielle sighed and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry," she quickly apologized, reaching across the table to squeeze Este's hand. "I just have a lot on my mind."

"Like?"

Making an album without you, Danielle thought. However, she just shrugged and finished the rest of her food as a distraction.

Before Danielle could formulate a lie, Alana came bounding through the back door of her house, a black French bulldog puppy tucked protectively under her arm. Este immediately screamed and cowered in her chair.

"What are you doing with that rat?!"

Alana stopped and placed the dog down, giggling when Este pulled her legs up off the ground. "This is George!"

Danielle glanced down at the dog (who was sniffing her feet) and smiled. "Hi George!" She petted George's head and grimaced when he licked her.

"And where did George come from?" Este asked in disdain, peering under the table to make sure the dog kept his distance.

"Do we really need to have that talk, E?"

Este glared at Alana. "No. Where did you get this thing, Lans? Does mom know you got a dog? She's going to kill you."