Infinite Ocean of Sumsa

Chapter 8 - Double Trouble

Phoenix had been under house arrest for a week after going on her little escapade with Christian Mason to Paul and Danny's house. The punishment really was for leaving the beach with a guy she just met, for a couple of hours without letting her parents in on where she was. Little did they know she was chilling with three K9ers.

She was lying on her back on the top bunk in Sylvia's bedroom tossing her soft rugby ball against the wall, back and forward, forward and back, again and again until she heard her cousins giggling feverishly outside the room.

"Briana is throwing a party at hers cause her mom and dad have gone to New York for the weekend."

"No way." Sylvia gasped in surprise, "since when was she such a rebel!"

Alejandra protested, explaining the situation, "well it's not just some random party, it's for her 18th."

"And we just got invited the day before? That's pretty lame." Sylvia didn't sound too impressed.

Alejandra pouted like a toddler hearing what her sister had just said. This was a very common expression of hers, as it would be for many other petty, pampered girls.

"I can't believe how bitchy she is, inviting me at the very last minute."

"I know right! How could you even consider her to be one of your best friends? I'd say a bunch of people canceled and now she doesn't wanna look like a complete loner by inviting us."

Phoenix let a brief chuckle slip out of my mouth as she found the pair of them extremely sad. Her opinion was that, surely an invite to a house party would be a thousand times better than being incarcerated in your own bedroom.

"Well.. Why are you so happy?" Sylvia hissed, popping her head into the room.

"I'm not, just amused."

Irritated by Phoenix's reply, she proceeded arguing, "what could be so amusing about a pink wall that you have been staring at for the past six days?"

"It keeps getting pinker! I don't understand." Phoenix replied sarcastically.

"What we're talking about is none of your business so quit eavesdropping."

Phoenix raised her voice in frustration, "just go to the party! There's bound to be loads of cute guys there - single and ready to mingle," she added in a lighter almost playful tone.

"True!" Alejandra grinned from ear to ear. "Decision's made. I'm going. Thanks cuz."

"No problemo."

Sylvia copied her older sister, "I think I'll go too cause I need a new bae.

"Um, who invited you?

Totally confused, Sylvia answered, "you told me five minutes ago that Briana did."

"Yeah, she invited me not you," Alejandra commented nastily, abasing her.

Sylvia, making an attempt to not sound bothered epically failed, "like I care. The party sounded crap from the beginning. Briana doesn't even know how to throw a party and I'm sure no-one interesting will be going." However, Sylvia couldn't fool Alejandra and Phoenix that all of a sudden she had no interest.

"Actually, Paola is doing most of the organising and we both know what a party animal she is! Her mom has the best contacts. She's been able to hire six Abercrombie models for the night. Plus, there will be a pool party and, some great DJ called James something or other is going to be playing all the best tunes at the disco after that."

Sylvia and Phoenix were speechless after hearing what a deadly night Alejandra and the other guests would be having tomorrow. They were more than jealous.

Soon after Sylvia caught her breath back she whispered slyly, emphasising the personal pronouns, "I will go sis, cause you know what? ... I have better contacts!"

Phoenix knew that she would never hear the end of this if Sylvia wasn't invited.

***

She immediately bolted upright in surprise when she heard her name being called urgently from downstairs, "Phoenix."

"Yeah?" Phoenix couldn't quite tell who was calling her. Then, Sylvia came into view, racing into the room with what looked like the house phone cradled in her arms on top of a beach towel.

"Will you do me a small favour please?"

Phoenix's heart sunk. She was expecting something interesting, not to be asked to basically be her bratty cousin's servant for the day. "What now?" She groaned.

Babbling like crazy, Phoenix only caught a few of her words, "please... phone... I.. shower.. NOW." The rest of the words were completely muffled and sounded like gibberish to her ears.

"Let me guess, you need to have a shower now,so you want me to answer the phone if it rings."

Putting on a little innocent act, Sylvia answered her in her sweetest voice, "yeah, that's basically it. Mom will kill me if I don't answer it and take a message as it could be a call about one of her many important appointments. Here's a sheet of paper and a pen in case it does ring so you can scribble down a message."

Phoenix never admitted this to anyone but she absolutely hated being in charge of answering the phone. It was like some strange phobia of hers. She guessed it was just shyness taking over her. She had no idea what to say if the caller wasn't someone who she knew well. Putting this idea aside, she genuinely felt sorry for Sylvia. She appeared to be very stressed out and in a hurry. After coming to the conclusion that she would not be going to the big party Phoenix felt that she should at least help her out a bit. "OK. And if they ask for your mam and dad?"

"Tell them they're out and they'll be back in about a half hour."

"Got it."

Sylvia leaped across the room almost tripping over a pile of dirty clothes, and hugged her gratefully, "thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Completely flabergasted, Phoenix forced a smile, "it's alright. Where are you going anyways or should I ask?"

She winked telling her, "just to see some friends who can get around."

Phoenix laughed, "still determined to go to Briana's thingy?"

"Yeah, it will literally be the talk of Ocean City for the next couple of weeks. I have to go."