HARMONY

Part 22 "We ain't no Thelma and Louise..."

Sophia clicked away on her laptop when Claire walked into the den.

"Bring the cops with you this time?" Sophia said. "Oh ya, girl! You got your license."

"Ya," Claire responded as she flopped next to her on the couch. "And my mom followed me over here and gave some sickening like phony thumbs-up when I parked."

The two girls sat in silence and Claire laid her head on Sophia's shoulder. "It's like almost summer," Claire said. "Why am I so like, blue?"

"Look in the mirror girl," Sophia responded. "You're purple."

Claire smiled and stroked her hair. "Where's your Pops?"

"They went to dinner and a movie with Peter's parents."

"Way cool."

Sophia continued to click around on her laptop. "Can I ask?"

Sitting up, Claire brought out her phone and held it to Sophia. "Nothing. I've sent like 200 texts and emails saying everything from, like, I totally hate your guts to a totally love your guts to come home now to, like, I never wanna see your sorry ass again."

Sophia put her arm around her friend. "I know your pain."

"You're my best," Claire said. "We need some mint cc."

"None for these thighs," Sophia said. She patted her thick leg. "I got twenty to lose before I can fit into my bikini." The girls laughed.

Claire came back from the kitchen with the half gallon tub, two spoons and then resumed her place next to Sophia on the couch. "So my mom's been, like, freakn' out about our financial issues."

Sophia took a small glob of ice cream. "What issues?"

"Uncle Chad said their brokerage company like loaned all these people money to buy houses, but then the people aren't making payments, or something like that." Claire dug in her spoon. "And he thinks that it totally freaked my dad out and he, like, snapped or something."

"Sounds like they a pawn shop that paid too much for a bunch of crap that they can't move now."

"Ya, and my mother is in like total denial and just digs through the office throwing papers and crying."

"That woman's dramatic."

"The only time she really even talks to me is to remind me to be like such a phony to all these so-called friends and I'm sooo over that and---"

Sophia nodded and then squinted at the computer screen. "Oh my god, Claire, I think---"

"What?"

"Is that?"

"Is that what?"

"Your Dad......."

Claire leaned over to view the YouTube video of a Wicked Snicker concert. "Wait, go back, go back."

Sophia pulled the cursor over the screen. "What's he doing?"

The girls watched the fifteen-second clip over and over. In the back corner of the stage, at the very end of the concert—there was Steve busting out his best air guitar.

"Is he like..." Claire said, squinting her eyes, "totally wasted?"

"He's like something, girl. Something's not right."

"Does it say when this was?"

Sophia did some more clicking, found more Wicked Snicker videos and more impromptu performances of Steve.

"Okay, this is like super weird," Claire said. "I thought he was in some cave in the woods eating berries and he's like a wanna be rock star." Claire stood up and walked around the den. "What a total dick."

"Oh man, girlfriend. He's way into it. You should see him dancing, or trying to dance. Man, he's trippin."

Stopping in the middle of the den, Claire looked at Sophia. "Where's the next concert?"

"They go east and then come this way and Phoenix is next week. You better tell your mom."

"So, like, how long would it take us to get to Arizona from here?"

"Oh no girl. We ain't going on no Thelma and Louise adventure."

"No adventure. Just like a little trip."

"Oh, you stop all that right now. I don't know what you're up to, but I know it ain't good."

"You're so paranoid. Just start thinking of something to tell your pops."

"I ain't lying to my pops."

"I need you to come with me." Claire sat back on the couch, dove her spoon into the tub and licked the gooey green glob off the back. "I bet if you told your Pops the truth, they'd be totally cool with it."

"Girrrl, they's no truth here. There ain't nothing about this whole situation that's truth. It's all a house of cards."

Claire stabbed the spoon into the ice cream tub and looked at Sophia. "I don't know what the hell is going on either, but I need to go get my dad and I need you to go with me."

Sophia sighed, pulled the oversized loop earring from her ear and spun it around her finger. "I won't lie to my Pops, but," she paused. "I think you're right, if we tell them the truth, they'll help us."

Peter and Jim sat next to each other on their couch. In unison, they blinked, but didn't say a word. They stared at Claire and Sophia, who sat in front of them on the Berber carpet.

Sophia twisted her braids as Claire snapped her gum.

"I see," Peter finally said. "That seems so out of character for Steve."

"Really strange," said Jim. "And you're sure it was him?"

Sophia popped open the laptop once again and played the YouTube video. Peter and Jim leaned in to focus. Peter let out a little laugh. "It's good to see him cut loose actually. Maybe you should just let him finish the tour."

Claire stood up and paced the floor. "He hasn't even called."

"I'm so sorry Claire, but he—"

"He needs me," Claire said. "I just know he does."

Jim and Peter looked at each other. Peter winked.

"Okay," said Jim. "But, I'm going with you."

"Thank you!"