June 11: Edgar Bones Must Die: Adkins House: Phoebe

[Kyra Thatcher]

{Morning after Secrets thread, throwback xD}

Pisces, pisces, pisces...aha!

You are needed today, Pisces - while your mind is busier than usual, work to remember your real responsibilities. You can see both sides of a situation now and will swing from one viewpoint to another. Focus, and your help is invaluable.

...right, then. So where's my Leo...what's up with you today, Phoebe?

As you wake in the bosom of your family, Leo, take today to tend to your needs. Recent betrayals cause you to think of the future, and you deserve time and peace to dig deep. As things are never always as they seem, do what you need to find your truths before making a decision.

...god dammit, Ed, the f*ck did you do?

Unfamiliar regret fills you today, Aires. Just when you thought you had it all figured out, another aspect of the issue comes up and offers a completely different perspective. Take today for reflection, focusing on how to mend bridges. All may not yet be lost!

Kyra Thatcher slowly laid down the day's newspaper, hair rising on her arms after reading all that. While it was daily ritual for her to peek into the days of her loved ones through their horoscopes, very rarely did she read something that required action. Why, she didn't even have time to see what was going on in her family's days today - she had to go now if she was going to catch Phoebe! She threw up her hair, and a quick call in sick to work and heartfelt plea later (no, she hadn't actually spoken to Phoebe, but all the evidence was in the newspaper!), Kyra had the keys to her sister's car in hand, her mind buzzing - just as she'd been warned. The drive home was a bit dangerous because of her distraction, but thankfully she was leaving the city, and that was always a more mellow drive than the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the other side of the highway.

She kept looking over to the passenger side seat, where lay the newspaper opened to the damning horoscopes. Kyra couldn't believe she was going home - well, next door to her childhood home, would probably pop in to say hello to Mum before heading back into the city. But Phoebe's horoscope meant that she wasn't at her apartment - something, someone, had driven her away. The horoscope absolutely pointed to Ed being at fault, his own completely corroborating it.

"Didn't know you were having troubles," she muttered peevishly, not so much liking being out of the loop in such a mega way with her best friend. Their paths were taking them on winding journeys, it was true, and long gone were the days that they spent every hour together - but still! Surely the fight between the stalwart couple hadn't come out of nowhere - were there signs she had missed?

The drive went by achingly slowly, Kyra's impatience with the commercials - and morning talk shows, honestly who gave a damn? - on the radio evident from early on as she flipped from station to station, updating her sister's pre-programmed stations as she went. "You'll thank me later, Lizzie, dunno how I haven't rubbed off on you more yet."

The city turned into a highway, the highway turned into a suburb, and a suburb turned into a cul-de-sac. She parked in front of the Adkins' house, newspaper in hand, purpose in her feet, and gave the door a few knocks before letting herself in. "Morning, lot - it's Kyra!" Phoebe being an only child meant that, as her best friend, she'd grown accustomed to the privileges that came with basically belonging to their family since childhood as well. Lynn and Jorge poked their heads out of the kitchen, immediately pelting questions her way.

"No, no, you misunderstand," the girl explained with a wave of her newspaper, "she hasn't called, I just - I know she's here, I know something's wrong, and that's it. She is upstairs, isn't she?" The surprised nods of confirmation gave her a ridiculous amount of internal glee - and people said believing in horoscopes was foolish! - and she was shortly on her way up to Phoebe's room with a plate of breakfast for the pair of them.

"Oi, open up, it's me," she announced, giving the door a few hard raps. Kyra tried to conceal her worry, the worry that had propelled her to this point, but there wasn't much she could do to ease it until she knew what had happened to Phoebe. She and Edgar were soulmates, and while that didn't mean they wouldn't have hard times, whatever had forced Phoebe to come here...this is huge.

[Phoebe Bones]

Sleeping had been hard. She was so used to Edgar being in bed next to her, it was almost impossible for her to get any rest without the familiar comfort of his warmth. Not to mention her emotions spinning her head. Edgar could do magic, and there was this whole secret world. Heavens, what would Kyra say if she knew? You can't tell her. But she wanted to. Kyra would know what to do, and what to say. She'd always been the one posing these theories, coming to conclusions based on the most random bits of information. It had kept Phoebe from getting too stuck in her head all these years, and perhaps Kyra was only reason she hadn't simply fallen over dead last night when Edgar had told her.

Her father hadn't asked when they were on the way back, the long drive full of silence and the hum of the radio to keep her awake. Her mother had been up once they had arrived, a warm cup of calming tea in one hand and Phoebe's favorite biscuits in the other. They had sat in the kitchen and talked, her father heading off to sleep. They'd talked about everything except Edgar last night. They knew she would tell them when she was ready.

But she'd heard them get up, smelt the coffee coming from downstairs. How is it already morning? It was only then that she had drifted off to sleep. A sleep that was only perhaps an hour or two before a familiar knock was at her door, followed by exactly the voice she needed. She climbed out of her bed, still dressed in the same clothing from the night before, and opened the door to see her best friend.

"I'm not even going to bother asking how you knew I was here," she said with a sigh, moving to let her best friend in. "Please say you brought coffee with that breakfast." She moved back to her bed, leaning against the wall and she patted the area next to her. "Where do you want me to start?"

[Kyra Thatcher]

Kyra gave her friend a weak smile as she was greeted, taking in the look of a dead-on-her-feet Phoebe. Oh dear. "I have my ways, you know that - but where would I hold coffees? Not like I have a secret third arm, Pheebs," she said matter-of-factly, gesturing with hands full of plate and paper before following her in and joining her on the bed. Plate of fresh banana bread and orange slices on her lap, newspaper laid on her friend's, her head fell onto the other's shoulder. "I'll get us coffee soon, promise. But you can start with explaining why the two of you are having such shite days, is what you can start with. It's never gotten so bad you've come back here." The blonde sat up again to gesture around Phoebe's childhood bedroom, which was an entirely different scheme of color and the like than the apartment the more-grown-up-Phoebe lived in. "You know you can always kip at mine, could've just called."

She looked over at her with a sigh, wholly unable to imagine the pain her friend was feeling. True, some of that was because Kyra wasn't sure what had happened, but she also had no clue what it would feel like to trust someone enough to build a life with him. Seeing as that was what Phoebe was doing with Edgar, she'd always felt out-of-place giving advice, but that didn't stop words stubborn with fire from coming next. "Tell me how hard I should kick his arse - copper-in-training or not, you know I'd still win." Because Edgar must have done something to make Phoebe retreat all the way back home. If he'd cheated? Oh holy hell, was he in for it. What else could it mean by "betrayal" - "betrayals," dammit Edgar, couldn't have stuck to the one?

[Phoebe Bones]

She gave a little roll of her eyes to Kyra's words, "Perhaps you could wave your magic wand and float it with you," she said with what she could only hope didn't sound as sarcastic as it felt. She couldn't tell Kyra about this, which meant she needed some sort of lie. She hadn't even considered talking to anyone about this yet, but she certainly wasn't getting out of this conversation without spilling the beans. As Kyra settled in next to her, Phoebe picked up the newspaper that had been put on her lap, skimming the horoscopes as Kyra talked.

It was difficult to roll her eyes when she read Edgar's, but she had to admit the two little columns were awfully correct. Probably a magic thing too. Maybe she should have listened to Kyra more. They'd always thought Edgar was slightly too perfect, wondering exactly what it was about them that they couldn't figure out. "I know Kiki, but you've got your band and your life, I didn't want to interrupt. Besides I need time to clear my head."

She felt a tad bad, as she hadn't even considered calling Kyra last night. She had just wanted to be out of that house, away from everything. And while Kyra would have been a good choice, she couldn't explain go about spilling the beans on this whole magical world. They'd probably have her head for that. "Knowing him, he's already beaten himself up enough about all of this. But I'll still let you at him, if you want."

[Kyra Thatcher]

She couldn't help but feel a tad miffed - even though Phoebe surely had all the right in the world to be snippy, so she tried to be understanding - as her best friend threw magic in her face. Usually Phoebe humored her, trying to make sense of her discoveries and appreciate her interests, not mock. You know I haven't got a magic wand any more than I've got a third arm, Kyra chose to reply with a look. While magic undoubtedly did exist in some way, shape, or form, in their world - whatever caused someone to be able to wield it had missed Kyra, which had caused quite a sadness when she'd first realized it. The girls settled in on the bed that once had seemed so much bigger, with room for both of them and more to spare, and after she said her piece Kyra's heart nearly leapt out of her chest and into her friend's hands at the other's words.

"I know, but...you're more important than any of that." You know that. Or, at least, you used to.

Were they drifting apart more than Kyra had realized? There were only so many hours in a day, at least if one followed a standard passing-of-time as dictated by their society, so with school and work and friends and boys...while Kyra had always felt tied to Phoebe, maybe that wasn't enough. You'll make more time.

Kyra gave a resolute nod at Phoebe's permission to get back at Ed - while the brunette's words were likely true (Edgar Bones, she had realized, really was a man-shaped teddy bear), that wasn't enough. Especially as she didn't yet know the "this." "Honestly though, Pheebs," she said, willing her curiosity to not get the better of her, "are you okay? What can I do to help you find your truths?" She pointed back to the horoscopes Phoebe had, thankfully, read.

[Phoebe Bones]

As they settled onto her bed, she felt bad about her comment regarding magic. It wasn't like she had specifically asked if Kyra could know, but considering the amount of time it had been kept a secret from her, it really wasn't likely. And what would they do to Kyra if they found out? She didn't keep things from her best friend, she never had. And to do so would kill her inside. Maybe she should have asked Edgar if it was okay. She could call and ask, seeing as she still hadn't kept that promise. She looked to Kyra at her words, giving a sad smile.

"I know I am. And you are too, just so you know. I just...it's a lot Kyra. I couldn't have even talked about it last night if I wanted to." She looked back to the paper, the slightest hint of amusement playing at her face. She didn't have any excuses yet, and was cursing her lack of knowledge of muggle equivalant. She didn't like to keep up on their wars, it wasn't something she enjoyed thinking about. But what choice did she have now?

"I have to decide if I'm going to stay with him or leave," she finally said quietly after a few moments. Looking over to her clock, she gave a sigh. "And I promised I'd call him this morning. Want to be on the phone with me? Might help you gather some insight on him."

[Kyra Thatcher]

Concerned friend, just be a concerned friend, she'll tell you when she's able...

And so Kyra just nodded, biting back her questions. Because what in the names of all the gods that ever were was keeping Phoebe from telling her what was really going on with her relationship? Regardless of their differences in relationship preferences, they'd always been able to talk about their own freely, from Phoebe's firsts and freak-outs with Edgar to Kyra's occasional dalliances. And today, Kyra just wanted to help her friend do what was best for her. The blonde loved Edgar too, had long ago added him to the list of her brothers, but if what was best for Phoebe was to not be with him, which was what her friend was saying she was considering...

Long day ahead of us, whichever way this goes.

"I'll be on the other line, of course I will, silent moral support and all like old times," Kyra said, her shock coming out in awkwardness as she was in quite a bit of disbelief at what she was about to do. Not listen in on their conversation - long-standing tradition, that was - but that this was the conversation she'd be eavesdropping on. A will-we-or-won't-we conversation from one of the strongest couples she knew. The enormity of Phoebe's decision wasn't something she could fully process, but what little breakfast she'd had was seeming to congeal uncomfortably in her stomach as she thought on it. What's changed with you two, Phoebe? "Do you want to talk it out first? Practice round style?" the young woman offered, giving her friend as much of a smile as she could. "I bet I can pull a pretty promising Edgar." Kyra undid her hair and gave her head a shake to get it out of her eyes, as much in the style of the bloke as she could muster.

[Phoebe Bones]

No matter what happened with her and Edgar, she needed more time with Kyra. The girl was her sister, her other half long before Edgar had ever found a comfortable place in her heart. Phoebe had felt like the worst person in the world, choosing her boyfriend over her best friend when they started University. If she had know about this secret back then, maybe she would have made a different choice. It would have been easier to end a relationship before she’d lived with him, that much she knew. But this secret magic world and magic war, how could she even begin to explain something of that magnitude? She knew the whole idea that she might leave Edgar was a big enough shock, it was clear in the way Kyra responded to her. Because if things had been bad between her and Edgar, Phoebe would have told Kyra ages ago.

Phoebe gave a smile and a laugh as Kyra shook down her hair, trying to picture Edgar with the amount of hair her best friend had. “You two could almost be twins,” she mused, another pang hitting her chest. The twins, two more people who had lied to her for years - who had lied to Kyra for years as well. Sighing, she brushed at tears that had collected at the corners of her eyes, shaking her head. “Fabian and Gideon knew about this too, this bloody idiotic secret Ed has kept from me. I’m so f*cking angry Kyra, I don’t even want to call him. I want to go shopping, and then drinking.” She’d never been alone before, always dragging Edgar to the clubs they enjoyed. She didn’t even have any idea how to be by herself.

Giving a sigh, she drag her old phone to the bed, tossing the second receiver she had long ago started keeping in her room to Kyra, clearing her throat as she dialed the number to her house. “Let’s just get this over with,” she whispered as the line rang, the sound interrupted by someone picking up the phone. ”Ed?”

”For f*cks sake what time is it....it’s Phoebe. No, I’m not giving you the phone Edgar, hold on. Look Phoebe, whatever he says I didn’t make him do it. Mate! I’m giving you the phone you don’t have to be an arse.”

[Kyra Thatcher]

"Oh please - I'm much more attractive," Kyra said matter-of-factly - although she was damn pleased with herself that she'd gotten Phoebe laughing - as she laid down to get more comfortable, settling in for the long haul. But she wasn't happy for long; apparently the twins were in on whatever Ed had pulled on her best friend. Kyra's brows rose, hiding under her fringe, as she took in this new layer. The blokes were close, obviously, and had been a trio for longer than Phoebe and Ed had been a duo. But even still... "Those arseholes. If we go back downtown, I bet I can get Johnny to open up early for us. Drink, then shop. You deserve it." Making connections with bar managers had been a natural step for the lively girl as soon as she'd begun at university - for connections for her future band, obviously, but it didn't hurt to have favors to call on for times like these. While she still didn't know what this secret was, and it was taking much concentration to let Phoebe go at this on her own pace, the insatiably curious blonde was doing her best. Supportive, supportive...

But Phoebe, never one to put something off for long, was shortly throwing a receiver her way and making good on her promise to Edgar. She put the machine to her ear, keeping the mouthpiece covered, eyes on her friend as the phone rang. Is that Fabian? she mouthed as the phone was answered, supposing she shouldn't be surprised to hear her occasional lover old friend on the line. She was with Phoebe, the twins would be with Ed. After a scuffle between the men-acting-like-boys, she heard Edgar clear his throat, voice hoarse as he spoke.

"Pheebs? Pheebs, it's me - f*ck off, you two - I'm glad you called. Can I see you today so we can talk this out together?"

Hard pass, Kyra said with her incredulous expression. He'd pulled something on Phoebe and expected her to grant him with her presence just like that? Hold out, Phoebe.

[Phoebe Bones]

Kyra always knew how to pull her out of every funk, even this one that she had assumed she would last forever. Her best friend jesting with her about Edgar (oh she was so angry with him) was enough to make her remember that there were plenty of ways to get over this situation. Drinking before shopping was certainly the better option, and she wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity. “Yes please, Johnny loves you there’s no doubt he will open it up for us.”

She exchanged a look with Kyra at the words on the other end of the phone. Whatever Fabian was going on about could wait until later, she wanted to talk to Edgar. She wanted him to tell her it was joke but she couldn’t deny what she had seen the night before.

“Today? Hmm,” she said, rolling her eyes as she leaned back in the bed. “I’ve got plans and it doesn’t look like I will have a minute to spare. In fact I’m leaving to meet Kyra here in just a few minutes.” He didn’t need to know anything more than that, the last thing she wanted was him showing up.

[Kyra Thatcher]

Atta girl, Kyra thought with a small smile of pride as she looked over to her friend. The occasions that she'd been used as an excuse, to her knowledge, about Phoebe getting out of something with her boyfriend were few and far between - but she wouldn't deny loving when it happened. Whatever cover story Pheebs needed, she'd happily provide - and embellish upon - if given the opportunity. Just wait till I see you next time, Eddie. Hand your arse to you on a silver platter.

"You are?" Kyra looked to Phoebe at the new and hardly concealed panic in Edgar's voice. Was it really so surprising that Pheebs would want to see her today? He'd obviously gotten up to something with the twins last night! This is what you get for being an idiot. Although she didn't know the particulars of the matter yet, Kyra knew it was only a matter of time. While the friends hadn't been spending every moment together lately, things like this were shared in full. She'd help Phoebe figure out a course of action, like they always could. But today? Today was not a day to spend with Edgar Bones. He needed to learn that whatever he'd done that had sent Phoebe home, it wasn't going to be so easily fixed. "I was hoping...How about tomorrow? I love you, Phoebe, and I'm so sorry, sorrier than you could imagine - please, talk to me."

[Phoebe Bones]

Was Edgar really that surprised that she would want to spend time with Kyra? This was the biggest fight they had ever had, the biggest issue they’d ever faced. She needed the advice of her best friend, even if getting that advice was going to be complicated. Her best bet was to stick to the military story she had told her parents, except that Kyra would have questions. And Phoebe was almost positive that she wasn’t going to be able to come up with answers for them. If she had more of her head about her last night, she would have called Kyra about the whole thing then.

The desperation in his voice was going to break her composure, a long look at Kyra the only thing keeping her together. She couldn’t avoid going home forever, but she really didn’t know if she was ready to see him. She still loved him of course, it wasn’t as if the past six years had been erased overnight. Life wasn’t going to pause simply because everything around her had so drastically changed. “Yeah, tomorrow works. I will come by the flat,” she managed out, hating the fact her voice cracked. She was going to cry if she didn’t get off the phone.

“Sounds like Kyra is here, so I’ve got to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

[Kyra Thatcher]

You can do this, she said with a firm look of encouragement, willing her friend not to break like Edgar's voice was. Her own curiosity was almost getting the best of her, as was her want to scream - albeit ignorantly - at the bloke on the other end of the line for whatever it was he'd done to upset Phoebe. She pressed her hand over the transmitter, giving Pheebs a nod as the brunette gathered her strength to speak. Nearly there, nearly there. Making him wait until tomorrow was more than fair, in her ill-informed opinion, and she gave her friend a tight smile as Pheebs struggled more. Goodbyes were usually funny when it came to the couple, what with Ed trying to steal last words or last kisses before running off, but not today.

There was a long sigh from Edgar before he spoke, an equal mix of agitation and fright - or was it sadness? - coming through when he spoke. "I'll be here, babe, I promise. I - I hope you have a good day, and I'll see you tomorrow." Pansying out of saying goodbye first? Hand still over the transmitter, she mouthed end it. Once it was done, she handed the receiver back to her friend and let out a long whistle. What was that all about? The twins are there, and they know. Gonna tell me what's up besides you've got to decide whether or not to leave him?

"All right, peanut, you did good," she commended affectionately. "Morning drinking or secret spilling first?"

[Phoebe Bones]

There was no way she would have gotten through this without Kyra here. There was a lot she wanted to say to him, some of it out of anger - some of it out of sadness. Life had been so simple when they were 15 and she was asking him to go to a dance with her, and now thinking back on it she couldn’t help but wonder how many lies he’d told her before they’d even started dating. It sparked another flame of anger in her chest, and she gave a nod to Kyra as her best friend told her to get off the phone.

“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said, setting the phone down on the receiver. It was the first time in ages she’d simply hung up. The whistle Kyra let out caused her to let out an uncomfortable laugh, leaning back on her bed as she tried to get the painful feeling in her chest to go.

“Oh drinking first, for sure,” she replied as she reached out to steal a slice of bread from the plate. If she was going out she would need something to wear, and she hardly even remembered what she had packed last night. “I should have brought Sadie with me, poor thing having to deal with those three. But I can’t just go and get her.”

[Kyra Thatcher]

The lack of goodbye, I love you or some other sweet drivel was conspicuous to the observer as the line went dead. You’re not okay. Neither of you. Tell me why. She gave a halfhearted chuckle at her friend’s decision, glad that at least the brunette was down for company. And whenever they day drank, secrets came. So…be patient, Kiki. Kyra lightly hit her leg at her lament, quickly scooting up to sit with her. "Not with that attitude - c’mon, we can pull that off easy. I’ll distract them and you run in and get Sadie. In and out in ten minutes tops." 

She gave a clap of her hands, moving to face her friend. "Okay, game plan - get changed, grab some coffee to-go from your folks, drive into town, get sloshed, and rescue Sadie." Even she had to laugh at the layout, but she had to do something to perk up Phoebe's spirits. And if that meant embarrassing herself in front of her ex, his twin, and their oldest friend so that Phoebe could save Sadie from them, then she'd do it. "Nothing could go wrong. You with me?" While Kyra hated that something was so wrong with the couple, she was selfishly grateful for this time with Phoebe. They hadn't had a proper time just the two of them in an age, and their falling out of touch was something they needed to repair. You do still need me, don't you? Haven't outgrown me yet?