Katherine is excited to be back from Germany after seven years. During her vacation, she's going to be living with her brother, Phil, and his roommate, Dan. After a month, she's expected back in Germany for her work. But there might just be someone...
After unpacking, I lay down on the bed and pull out my phone. I have a couple of messages from some friends that I replied to, and then I open my YouTube app. I am subscribed to Phil, but I've never really watched his videos. It's a little weird to know Phil in real life and watch him on a screen. I guess I was always just afraid that he'd have a different personality in his videos than he does in real life, so I never watched his videos while I was in Germany.
I go to his channel and open the latest video that he's uploaded, called A Hungry Sleepless Night With Phil. I smile to myself as I watch it. I should have known that he wouldn't change himself just to be more popular. Even when we were kids, popularity wasn't ever something that he was concerned about getting or having.
A little bit after I finish the video, there's a knock on my door. "Come in." I say, sitting up.
"Hello, little sister." Phil says, plopping down on the bed next to me.
"Hello, big brother." I reply. I see Dan hovering in the doorway, and I scoot over to make room for him. He sits down next to me.
"So, we were thinking about going out for dinner." Phil tells me.
"Celebrate. Have some sick bants. The usual." Dan adds. I laugh.
"Sounds delightful." I say, smiling.
"Great! Be ready in ten minutes, we're surprising you." Phil tells me. Without waiting for my response, he leaves, and Dan follows him.
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I change into a dress that could work for formal or casual, I grab my bag, and I fluff my hair a little bit. My curls look better when they're more wild. After double checking myself in the mirror, I go out into the lounge and wait. Phil comes out a few minutes later.
"Awww, my wittle baby sistew is all gwown up!" Phil says in a mock-baby voice.
I smile and push him playfully. "Says you, old man."
Phil calls up a cab and it arrives just as Dan comes out.
"Perfect timing." I tell him as we go outside.
"You know, usually we leave the house about once a month." Phil tells me.
"Oh, really now? That explains why you're so pale." Phil shoves me playfully, and Dan chuckles.
We end up going to a semi-fancy fish and chips restaurant, where I order, you guessed it, fish and chips.
"So what do you do, Katherine?" Dan asks me.
"I work for an art agency."
"An art agency?"
"Yeah. It's kind of like an art store, where people can come in and buy your work, or they can get portraits done." I explain. "It's not really like anything I've seen here in Britain."
"That sounds extremely sophisticated." Dan says. "So, why Germany?"
"Well, I was going to University there. Then I dropped out. Then I was just selling my work online, and this agency found me. I just kind of stayed there. I didn't really think about coming back after I quit school."
"You left me!" Phil fakes a pouty face.
"Sorry, Philly." I pat his head, and we all laugh.
After talking and eating for a while, we head home. The second I get inside my room, my phone starts ringing. It's Lucas. I quickly hang up, but I stay still for a while. I'm kind of shocked that he's calling. I'm kind of shocked that I still have his number in my phone. It's been seven years.
After a few minutes I get a text from him.
Hey, a little bird told me that you were coming back to London for a while. Let's meet up sometime.
I don't know what to say, but I know I can't see him.
I'm sorry. I can't.
I lay down in bed, and I suddenly feel exhausted. I can't see Lucas not now. Not ever. He's part of the reason I left, and I don't want to get caught up with him again.
I fall asleep after a few minutes, and I try not to dream.
