Coming slightly clean.

I waited until Heather had left the room and closed the door before I was willing to say anything.

Rebecca had the same idea and started on me the second we were alone. “So, who the hell is Trish?”

“Trish is Heather's best friend,” I said.

“You went on a date, and I’ve never heard of her.”

“She was in the year above us at school. She goes to college with Heather. They’ve been best friends for ages. I’m sure you would have seen her at some point. And it wasn’t a date.” I stressed that last point.

“No. I would remember.” Rebecca wanted to argue. “So, you take college girls to concerts now?”

“I didn’t take her… well, I did, but it wasn’t set up beforehand. I only found out Trish had a ticket when she was hanging out with Heather, and there was like an hour until the concert started. She was at my house, and we were both going to the same place, so I offered to drive her. Heather wasn’t happy about it. That’s why she’s being a bitch over it now.”

Rebecca huffed. She didn’t sound happy about it either. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going with her?”

“It was all very last minute. That’s why I forgot my phone and left it here, or I would have messaged you.”

She folded her arms. “And you had a good time?”

“Yeah!” The answer came out automatically.

Rebecca noticed. “Really good time?”

I smiled.

“Yeah. It was awesome.”

“So, what’s she like? This Trish.”

“I don’t know. Cool. Fun. She wears old band T-shirts as I do.” I shrugged. I didn’t know what to tell Rebecca.

“Sounds like you don’t know much about her,” Rebecca said a little cattily.

“I don’t. She's always just been around because of Heather. I never really talked to her much.”

That seemed to calm Rebecca down a little bit. “So you’re not friends?”

“It’s the first time I ever spent any time alone with her.” And what a time it was!

“What does she look like?” Rebecca asked.

I held up a hand at what I guessed was Trish’s height. “Short. Blonde.”

Rebecca bit down quickly on the last part. “Well, if I’d known you liked blondes, I would have bothered setting you up with Kat.”

I didn’t bother arguing with her, and she wasn’t done with me yet either.

“I just think it's weird. I've known you since we were five. And somehow there's this girl I've never even heard you mention, and you suddenly go to a concert with her, and you’re having this amazing best time.”

What could I possibly say to all that? Was Rebecca being the slightest bit overdramatic?

She must have noticed how she was coming across because she quickly dropped it and changed the subject. “Anyway, you still need to talk to Kat tonight, and you need to apologise properly.”

“I will.”

“Good.” She started toward the window, then stopped. “And try not to lose your phone this time. It’s at Carla’s house. Don’t forget.”

And with that, Rebecca was gone, and I was by myself.

I stayed in my room for another few minutes after Rebecca left, staring at the ceiling and trying to work out what the hell had just happened. Rebecca had come through my window to tell me I was an asshole, then somehow spent most of the conversation asking questions about Trish. I still didn't really understand it. Eventually my stomach reminded me that I hadn't eaten any breakfast, so I got dressed and headed out to find something to eat.

Heather was already in the kitchen. She was sitting at the table with a bowl of cereal in front of her, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as I walked in.

“So,” she said.

I stopped. “So what?”

She grinned. “How was your little meeting with Rebecca?” She made pretend kissy noises.

I opened the fridge. “She came over to tell me I need to apologise to Kat.”

“What for?”

I grabbed some bread.

“I was supposed to take her to The Dance last night.”

Heather raised an eyebrow. “Huh. You were going with Kat and not Rebecca?”

“Yeah. What about it?”

“Nothing. That’s all,” Heather said, but I could see she was thinking of something, alright.

I put two slices of bread in the toaster, and Heather went back to her phone. For about thirty seconds, neither of us said anything. Then I remembered something. “Hey.”

She looked up.

“I need to borrow the car tonight.”

She immediately shook her head. “Not a chance.”

“What?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because Trish and I are going to a party.”

I knew to keep my face completely blank and emotionless after Heather mentioned Trish and not ask about her. I could feel Heather scanning my face for a reaction to her friend’s name. Hopefully I passed.

My toast popped, and I picked it up. “You're such a bitch.”

She smiled sweetly. “Thanks.”

I shook my head and walked toward the living room to eat in peace.

“Where are you going?”

“To figure out how I'm getting to Carla's tonight.”

“Good luck, dickhead.”

I turned around. “You're a terrible sister.”

“And you're a terrible brother.”

“Whatever.”

I walked away before she could come up with another insult. On the couch, I pulled my phone from my pocket and started thinking about my options. I could ask Rebecca like I normally would. The thought lasted about two seconds. There was no way I was doing that. After the conversation we'd just had, asking her for a lift would be completely ridiculous.

Michael was the obvious choice.

I opened our messages.

The reply came almost immediately.

I typed another message.

A few seconds later:

I smiled. At least one problem was solved. I put my phone down and headed back into the kitchen.

Heather looked up. “Sorted?”

“Yeah.”

“I don’t care.”

Fuck she was annoying.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. I tried watching television. I tried playing a game. I even attempted to do some homework, although I couldn't concentrate for more than a few minutes at a time. Every now and then my thoughts would drift away from whatever I was supposed to be concentrating on. First to Kat. Then Rebecca. And inevitably, to Trish. I wished I knew where she and Heather were going tonight. I could ‘bump’ into them accidentally. No, that would be weird, and Heather would instantly be suspicious.

Trish’s message was still sitting unanswered on my phone.

I still hadn't replied. I wasn't sure why. Maybe because I didn't know what to say. Or maybe because answering it would somehow make everything more real.

I pushed the thought away. Tonight was about Kat. I had promised myself I was going to apologise properly, and that was what I was going to do.

At just before seven, my phone buzzed.

I grabbed my jacket and headed out.