The Phoenix Project

Chapter Four

Chapter Four

February 17th, 2038

James Garret

            The brown haired teenager shifted uncomfortably. His hair was messy, he was in his nightclothes- a far-too-large T-shirt and sleep pants- and his hands were quite shaky. He could tell it was going to be a weird day just from the sight situated before him; Lillian wide awake- in the morning no less- and dressed up in a more…ostentatious manner than usual. Her hair was done up, and she even had makeup on. Her eyes seemed surreal, their regularly dark tones made bright by eyeliner and mascara. Her usually sickly-looking skin was blushed and more balanced. Her usually hidden body was more refined in this tighter-fitting grey outfit than her usual initiate’s uniform.

            “What’s with the getup?” James asked, clasping his hands together in order to hide their shaking. “It’s a free day today, got plans or something?”

            Lillian paused, now halting in lacing up her left knee-high boot, and turned her head to look at James with a grimace. She stuck her tongue out at him and made a ‘harrumph’ sound from within her throat.

            “Nothing you need to know about, shaky.” She said, maintaining her grimace.

            “Whoa there, frosty, no need to put me on ice.” He said, holding up his hands in a mock surrender. “Just asking a question.” He lowered one hand and raised the other to his hair, running his hand through it in an exasperated manner.

            “Curiosity killed the cat.” Lillian muttered, finishing lacing up her boots as she straightened up- very much so an inch or two taller than James due to her curly hair- and smiled more softly at him as she hugged him. “Just going out with a friend, silly. Making the best of our free days.” James returned the hug, his hands stilling as they touched Lillian’s back.

            “Oh. Who’re you gonna be with and where?” He asked; the ever-protective brotherly traits protruding over his apathy. He held onto her as she tried to squirm away, chuckling. “Nope. No escape for sisters who don’t answer questions.”

            “You’re so mean!” She grunted, relaxing and lying limp in his arms. “If you must know I’m going out with Paul.”

            “…Define going out.”

            Lillian heaved a heavy sigh. “As in he asked me to go steady with him, doofus.” She hugged him lightly. James tilted his head, facial expressions melting away. Paul. Paul Thompson wanted to go steady with his sister…

            “Well then. When were you going to tell me about this little tryst of yours?”

            “When you decided to use words I understand, of course.” Lillian teased, breaking away and placing her hands on her hips whilst sticking her tongue out.

            “Maybe if you read a book you’d under- never mind, not important right now. ‘Elope’. ‘Tryst’. ‘Secret romantic meeting’. That help?” He stated, his patience thinning. His voice went from its usual ‘neutral with happy undertones’ to a brusquer one.

            “Ah, when you use simple English it’s so much easier to talk to you.” She giggled, playing with her hair. “And uh….afterward. After the first little ‘tryst’, as you put it. Which is today. So you would’ve found out later if you hadn’t gotten up earlier than I anticipated.” She grinned mischievously and tilted her head. “Don’t worry, bro, I won’t let him do anything too scandalous on the first date.” James blushed a bit at her last comment and coughed, looking away.