friday 2:37 p.m.
Phoenix stared up at her ceiling, lost in thought as Hazel and Trinity carried on their conversation about who knows what. Today was officially the first day of summer vacation. This also meant it was time for her to get serious before her senior year of high school. She promised her dad she would investigate summer internships as soon as the last month of school rolled around, but now it was way past that and she was still stuck. She felt as if this was an unusual roadblock for her since she has always been able to make something happen when it mattered the most.
"Helloooo Miss. Ma'am, did you even hear me?" Trinity was all up in her ear. This was the norm lately since Phoenix seemed to be up in her head nowadays. "Genesis wanted to know if you wanted any snacks from the gas station."
"Yeah sure, you know you don't gotta be so loud Trin." Hazel let out a small laugh at Phoenix's remark, but it did not go unnoticed by Trinity as she side-eyed her.
Phoenix had just recently caught on to their sometimes-tense moments a few weeks ago. They would be cool and then Hazel would do or say something, and it did not matter what it was Trinity would give some look. It usually ended with some weird little 10-second stare-down. It was an unusual response from Trinity since she never let shit slide nor does she hold her tongue.
"Hey what's up mama, you've been so distracted lately. Is it about your mom?" Hazel's comment took Phoenix by surprise a little. She has not thought about her mother since earlier this morning. It would have been a blissful break if she did not have to think about what she was going to do for the summer. Now she has both her mother and her "to be determined" summer plans fighting for headspace.
It had been a couple of days since she told her mother she would not stay with her over the summer, and she heard her mother brokenly saying okay and that she understood. She could still hear the hurt that was in her voice. She knew she was close to tears because her voice got shaky like Phoenix's voice is when she is on the brink of tears.
"I just wish life weren't so difficult. Like there is so much bullshit that comes with every decision we make or everything we say. When do we get a break?"
Hazel looked at Trinity for a brief second before looking down and thinking about her next words. "The day we get a break is when we stop being a regular human being, girl. We will never go a day without SOME type of bs. But you know you got us, mama, we're here." Hazel finishes with a hug and Trinity joins in. It makes Phoenix remember how great it felt when she had first realized that she could let other people in, other than her father and Levi. Phoenix hugs them as tight as she can and lets out a heavy sigh. She loved the feeling of knowing her friends were here no matter what.
Before they let go of each other, Trinity pipes up, " Don't think I forgot about your summer internship Miss. Ma'am. We're going to get you to straighten the fuck up this summer, have that application looking flawless." Phoenix pulled back from the hug and laughed, Trinity always made sure everybody else's life was straight in the school and job department. And Hazel always made sure everyone knew she was there to offer her unconditional support.
Outside there was the sound of a car door slamming and locking two times. All three girls jumped up out of Phoenix's bed and headed downstairs for the front door. Hazel went to the kitchen while Trinity and Phoenix opened the door and waited impatiently for Genesis to hurry up with her Tupperware full of whatever she had made the night before and a bag full of snacks.
"I made a four-cheese chicken alfredo casserole, guys!" Genesis yelled as she was getting closer to the door. She had this excited expression on her face, Phoenix loved how passionate Genesis was about her hobbies. And she had many of them.
