24.7 The Apology

Phoenix arose with a strange sensation: a heaviness in her heart. She thought she’d been fine. After all, she was Phoenix, the Pink Pixie. Life was a joke, and she laughed at her pain. But, laughter could not mask the dull ache which grew more persistent each day. Did normal families experience drama at such high intensity? Or, was it just estranged families of former millionaire heiresses whose children get arrested and who dates her exes? That last one really got to her. Ideally, their history didn’t matter. Reed was good for her, and they loved each other. But, Phoenix felt deceived. Mary was a private person. Sparing details was part of her much like that smile she always wore. But, did she ever plan on telling them? Did it matter? What other details sunk to the bottom of the Mary Jones Vault of Secrets?

Mary had not awakened yet; she took Reed‘s advice and Phoenix was glad to see it. She could make her own breakfast, but Mary seemed compelled to do it. If Phoenix could have just a fraction of Mary’s care, she’d consider motherhood a success if she ever had children.

After breakfast and a shower, Mary still lingered in the bedroom. She worried her, and Phoenix wanted to check on her. But, thinking about being a shoulder to cry on overwhelmed her. She told Reed she would take care of Mary, and she would, but who would care for Phoenix? How did she become the de facto strong one in the family? Just because she had a nonchalant attitude didn’t mean she hurt less than everyone else. For the record, she hated everything. EV-ER-Y-THING. She hated Tim for being a dumb idiot and got himself arrested. She hated her dad being an immature jerk every time he came around Mom. She hated Mary for keeping secrets. She hated Susie for being a stuck up snob and challenging Reed. He was the only person she didn’t hate. If they never broke up, he could have been her father. The idea both intrigued and freaked her out. Would she have striking blue eyes and beautiful caramel colored skin like Kaiden? Speaking of him, she hated him too. And that Kelly. And Breanne, Kori and Nick and their baby she hadn’t met yet. She hated her job and being funny all the time. She hated being a character, the world and everyone and everything in it! Maybe hate was too strong a word, but life sucked. One afternoon to be herself without everyone needing her was in order. Reed would understand. Besides, Susie needed to pick up the slack. She never called or came to visit; it was her turn to look after Mom.

Phoenix ended up at the arcade in Oasis Springs. She hadn’t been there since high school when she attempted to get Kaiden to see her as more than a friend. What a disaster. She needed to destroy something, but punching a bag at the gym required way too much work. Little digital aliens would have to do. She pounded those keys and jerked the joystick so hard she thought for sure she’d break it. After a few rounds of whooping alien plum, she felt no better. Her life still sucked, and she still hated everyone. If only she had a friend to help unload her problems. Why did Kori have to mess up?

If the truth be told, she missed her. It sucked that she only had the one friend. Kori texted her a lot apologizing; she thought the friendship was worth saving. Was it? Honestly, Phoenix didn’t understand what upset her the most. She didn’t like Nick that much. Perhaps being mad at Kori was like saying she hated everyone; it was just hyperbole. Stewing in the arcade wouldn’t solve anything. Only one solution to the dilemma would grant the answers she needed.

She left the arcade and went to the Fashion District in San Myshuno. The nicer area surely offered better apartments than the Spice District. The pipes always leaked, and if she had a simolean for every brownout she experienced, she could buy a little house of her own. And the smell! No matter how well they cleaned, that pungent odor always came back. The mice problem created material for many nightmares and haunted her still. When she inevitably wound up in therapy, she’ll lie on someone’s couch and talk about the mice. The doctor will probably find some way to link it to the source of all her problems.

“I go owside,” a cute toddler voice said from the other side of the door.

“We’re not going outside right now, baby. Stay there.”

Kori sounded well. Not depressed or angry. Just toddler mom tired. At least one of their lives worked out, maybe.

“Get away from the door, Antwan!” She opened the door probably intending to crack it enough to step out and close it quickly so the boy wouldn’t run out, but she froze when she saw Phoenix and he escaped anyway. “Phoenix?”

The little boy danced and ran around the hallway like they had trapped him in a cage all day. Their apartment must have been tiny. Made sense. What else would two unemployed idiots be able to afford? Hopefully by now one or both of them worked.

Part of her was a bundle of nerves while the other part gritted her teeth to prepare for a fight. “You feel like talking?”

Kori flinched at her words. She came on too strong. An apology was probably appropriate, but she didn’t feel up to it yet.

“Uh, y-yeah. Come in. Antwan, come back inside.”

The toddler had other plans. Phoenix stepped inside and looked around while Kori wrangled her child. The apartment was tiny with a capital T. No wonder he ran out like a bull in front of a red flag. Kori didn’t seem like the type to want to hang out at a park with other moms. She stashed a tablet in his face and told him to play until “daddy” got out the shower. It was the middle of the afternoon. Hopefully, Nick was off that day and not still unemployed.

The master bedroom had beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows which made it bright and cheery. They lived on a higher floor than Dad. The city was beautiful from up there.

“So, uh, h-how’ve you been?” Kori asked.

Phoenix snorted. “Oh. My life is wonderful! My brother apparently is a criminal and is in jail, my mom won’t stop crying, my dad is a jerk, my sister is a jerk, Kaiden is dating some beautiful girl named Kelly, annnnd my best friend slept with my crush behind my back and is now his wife and baby mama. My life is great. Thanks for asking!”

She didn’t mean to dump it all on her like that, but the words spewed out like vomit and she couldn’t stop them.

“Phoenix … I’m so sorry! About everything.”

“How could you do that to me?”

Kori sighed. “You make it seem like I did it on purpose!”

Phoenix looked askance. “Oh, so you accidentally ended up in the closet with your pants around your ankles?”

“You know what I mean! We were drunk! Really, really drunk.”

“Yeah, yeah, that part was clear. But, why? How do you go from not liking him at all to getting knocked up? There isn’t that much juice in the world.”

“I never said I didn’t like him!”

Phoenix gasped. What was this, national bomb drop week? What else would she learn?

“I’m not like you! I’m private and keep my crushes to myself. I didn’t know you liked him like that. I thought he was just a cute guy to you.”

Something zinged through her body like an electric current. Kori was right. How come she didn’t see it before? Phoenix had no real feelings for Nick. He was a gorgeous face she enjoyed gazing upon. She always said he was her second option if Kaiden didn’t work out. But, while he and Breanne dated, she never went for Nick. It was just stupid talk, and everyone knew that except her.

“Honestly? I don’t really know what I’m upset about. Maybe it’s a mixture of things … At least having a baby and a shotgun wedding aren’t one of them!” She threw her head back in laughter.

“You’re still a pain in the plum, I see.”

“Yeah, well, I have to keep up appearances.”

Kori shook her head. “You’re such a dork.”

“I am what I am. But, seriously though, why did you never say anything? All those times he hung out with us? I could have talked to him for you.”

She shrugged. “I dunno. I guess I’m just really shy sometimes.”

Phoenix’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? Well! We’ve got to keep you juiced up then.”

“Oh no, please. I never felt so sick in my life. Never again.”

Phoenix nudged her in the ribs. “Ooor, it could have been morning sickness.”

Kori slapped her hand away. “Whatever.”

“Ok, ok, I’ll stop messing with you. So, what’s it like? Was it a blessing in disguise because you’re married to your secret crush?”

“It’s weird, Phoenix.”

Poor thing. “Oh. How?”

“I mean, just because I liked the guy didn’t mean I knew him. It’s like living with a stranger sometimes. Or, like, sharing a bed with a new roommate.”

“Wow. I didn’t think about it like that.”

“But, it’s not all bad. The baby gives us something in common, so we talk more often.” She smiled mischievously. “Besides, when you make a connection like that–drunk or not–you can’t forget it, soooo …”

Phoenix gasped. “You guys are still doing it? Kori you’re so bad!”

She laughed. “Hey, we have to get to know each other some kind of way, right?”

“HA! Well, I guess if it works.”

“It’s too quiet out there. Let’s go see what he’s up to.”

They found Antwan right where Kori left him. Nick had turned the TV on, and he was engrossed in whatever cartoonish pixels danced before his eyes. He was such a cute little guy and looked so much like both of them. It was weird. But, he sure was adorable.