Ecstasy

Chapter 65

Calla:

  "God, is it hot up here!" was the first thing Mitchie said when I opened the front door.

I laughed and pulled her into long hug.

"I missed you." I whispered.

She squeezed me a little tighter. "I missed you too." She released me and looked into my eyes. "Everyone has."

I nodded and looked at the floor. I knew what she meant by 'everyone'.

"Mitchie?" Mum appeared beside me. "Nice to see you."

Mitchie smiled. "Yeah, you too Mrs Stevenson."

I felt Mum wince beside me.

"Come in, you can put your bag in my room."

I padded my way down the hallway. The floorboards creaked underneath my feet.
"How was your trip?"

I held the door open for her.

"Oh, you know, long." Mitchie laughed. She dropped her bag to the ground beside the bed. "Wow, this is a step down from your room."

"Mitchie!" I scolded.

"What? Well it is."

I sat down on the single bed. "It's alright, for now. I do miss my queen bed."

Mitchie sat down beside me. "When are you guys finding a new place?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. Mum really hasn't been up to doing much lately."

Mitchie fanned herself. It was hot. I stood and opened the small window. I turned to face her, leaning on the windowsill.

"We should get her out. It'd be good for you too." Mitchie's face brightened. I could see that gleam in her eyes; she was thinking up some crazy plan.

I crossed my arms under my chest. "What are you thinking?"

She tossed her curly hair back from her eyes. "We're in Brisbane. There's more nightlife here than there ever was in Tweed Heads."

I frowned. "What are you saying?"

She smiled a wicked smile. "We're going to hit the town."

***

"I don't feel right about this, girls." Mum straightened her slim black dress in the hallway mirror. She stared at her reflection and played with her short fringe. "Maybe I should just stay at home."

We both made a 'really?' face at her.

"Oh okay, then!" she submitted.

Mitchie appeared behind her and looked in the mirror. She bared her teeth and brushed a finger over them. "Don't worry Mrs S, you look hot."

Mum straightened. "Helen, please," she said for umpteenth time since Mitchie arrived. "And hot? I don't think so."

"You do, Helen." Aunt Carol appeared from the kitchen with a smile on her face. "I kind of wished I was going with you girls now."

"It's not too late," Mum said eagerly.

"You know it is," Carol said, "We wouldn't be able to get a sitter. And I'm too old for dancing. You girls go out and have fun."

***

Mitchie had sought out a latin dancing lounge in south Brisbane. It was warm, candle lit and extremely loud. The music was energetic and the atmosphere was colourful. We danced for about an hour before we began to tire. When Mum found a dancing partner more to her age, Mitchie and I found a quiet spot away from the music.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" I asked. Somehow Mitchie knew I wasn't talking about her dance partner.

"Yeah. She'll be fine." She turned to me. Her eyes were all soft. "And so will you."

I sighed. "Maybe. Eventually."

The song changed and the tempo became slower and more languid. The dancers on the floor began to sway more softly.

"How is everyone? Back home?" I'd done it again, referred to there as home. I wondered if I would ever think any different.

Mitchie didn't notice. She told me about Phoebe and Cade, and Sam, and school, and everything but Tyson. It wasn't overly obvious, but there was something missing. Something that hung in the air, something tangible that only I could feel. Something that was lacking here in Brisbane. Something that was tying me to that place; home.

I knew who it was.