Phoebe's 'Big Thing'

🔮Chapter 4🔮

It was a dreary Sunday morning, two days after the party. Both mom and dad were at work so naturally, I headed over to Phoebe's house.
As I neared her front door I was about to let myself in, before I heard shouting from inside. I quickly took my hand away from the handle and made out that it was both Phoebe and her mom shouting, Phoebe the louder voice of course.

"You can't drink, especially with your condition now!" Sarah yelled.
"Oh so now I'm going to be treated like a baby?" Phoebe replied in a high pitched strain, it sounded like she was crying.
"Phoebe try to understand-"
"I DO! I just wanted one night," she screeched.
"This is scary, I'm worried honey, so worried," Sarah said in a quiet, hurt voice. What were they talking about? What was wrong with Phoebe?
"And you think i'm not scared?" Phoebe said in a whisper, I could barely hear it. At that point I couldn't take it anymore, I had to go in. These people were like my family. If there was something wrong, especially with Phoebe, why didn't I know about it?
"Hey," I called out warily, as both their heads turned on me when I came through the door. There was instant awkward silence, darting looks between the three of us. Did they think I had been listening? Do I pretend like I hadn't heard anything? More importantly, what was wrong? I cleared my throat and fixed my gaze on Phoebe's teary eyes, "is there something wrong?"
"No," she said quickly. I glanced at her mom and saw her lips tighten.
"Come on let's go to my room," Phoebe announced. Without protesting, I followed her quietly up the stairs.

When we got to her room Alex was there as always. Lying on the bed with his feet up on the wall. He was moaning in low sounds, a common past time for him.
"Alex," Phoebe called softly, "Alex can you leave?"
No response, no surprise either. Phoebe took his hands, "Alex you have to go." He started slapping her, squirming. "No, Alex stop!" Phoebe pleaded through gritted teeth, she was losing her patience quickly today. Alex started screeching in a high pitched voice, it hurt my ears.
"Alex!" Phoebe shouted, but he was out of control. In an instant he reached out with a small balled fist and punched Phoebe's face. In a fit of blind rage Phoebe slapped him back on the face. We both gasped, she had never layed a finger on Alex- even at his worst times.
"I'm sorry Alex," she mumbled, tears flying down as she tried to hug him, but Alex was in hysterics. He was screaming as he bawled. Tears and mucus sliding into his mouth. He spat out repeatedly trying to get it out, shaking his head.
"Alex I'm so sorry," Phoebe gasped, she was ashamed of herself. Alex ignored us both as he ran out of the room, his body swaying side to side. Phoebe let him go with tears in her eyes.

I plopped on to the bed beside her and hugged her hard. She wrapped her arms around me gladly, but didn't let any more tears shed.
"Phoebe," I whispered, my hand rubbing her back, "what's going on?"
"I don't know, I just, he just wouldn't calm down and-"
"No Phoebe not that," I said softly. She pulled away from me,wiping her distraught face, "what do you mean?"
"What were you and your mom yelling about?" She stiffened momentarily and then it was gone- as if I'd imagined it. "Oh nothing," she said breezily. She waved her hand carelessly, "she was just mad that I got drunk at the party."
"Phoebe I know there's something else."
"There isn't Freya," she insisted.
"What's this condition you were talking about then?" Suddenly I was extremely worried, was what she was about to tell me serious? Was there something really wrong?
"Oh nothing mom's making a big deal. I had a flu for a few days, with alcohol it got a bit worse. I'm much better now." I studied her face and knew she was lying, there was something else. Why wouldn't she tell me? We told each other everything.
"Phoebe that's not-"
"I just need space," she sighed. Her face was turned towards the window. Her now dry eyes fixed on the clouds sweeping by. She suddenly turned to me with a warm smile.
"I just need space Frey." She gave me a hug and I squeezed back hard.
"Don't worry," she mumbled into my hair, "now get your ass home, you don't want to catch this flu." She tried to reassure me with another Phoebe smile. I got up feeling guilty and left, saying goodbye to Sarah in the kitchen. After all, Phoebe wanted space right?

When I arrived home mom was cooking something, lasagne I guessed- as dad kept hovering over the oven trying to get some.
"Hi honey," mom said over her shoulder.
"Hey," I replied in monotone, "I was at Phoebe's." Mom simply nodded her blonde head and dad smiled at me, "that's nice." I didn't reply.
"Something wrong?" Mom asked, finally turning away from the counter. "I don't know," I mumbled. Should I be telling them, but then again Phoebe was like their second daughter, "it's Phoebe."  Mom and dad exchanged sharp glances, did they know something I didn't?
"What is it?" I babbled quickly.
"Nothing," mom replied calmly, "what were you going to say about Phoebe?" I watched her and dad suspiciously, who were now both staring at me.
"Well, I don't know. She's just refusing to tell me something," I said vaguely.
"Well I'm sorry to here that," dad said, turning to his newspaper. "I'm sure you'll work it out," mom smiled, with one last glance at dad. She caught me looking at her and said, "come on, let's have dinner."

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