First the brand new clothes and trainers, and then the expensive watch and perfume, and now a shiny new car? Phoenix wondered exactly how her brother was making enough money to flash and show off like this. Mick walked over to the vehicle and mumbled something about wheels and plates, and the pair soon descended into boy talk. She didn't care to understand it. Once her husband and son were out of earshot, Liz turned to Phoenix with a surprised expression. "Did you know about this?"
She sighed, slightly annoyed by her mother's question. "No, Mum, and I would prefer you not to ask me about it. I just stay out of his business. He's twenty, not ten." Phoenix descended down the steps of their porch. "Now, unlike you, I have better things to do than to meet his new skank. So I just want to get this over with."
Her father and brother noticed her opening the car and slinking into the backseat without a word. They shared a glance and then quickly closed their conversation as they entered the car. Once everyone was in, Kieran began the half an hour drive into town. It wasn't long before they were at the restaurant, but the drive was awkward and quiet the entire way. Phoenix simply stared out of the window until they pulled up at the site.
Kieran led his parents and sister inside and they were guided by one of the hosts to a large table which he had already booked. As his family members found their seats at the table, Kieran glanced at his watch. She was supposed to be here already, but he supposed he didn't mind waiting a little while. It allowed him some time to make some meaningful small talk with his family. Before he could get a word out, Phoenix beat him to the punch.
"Where's your new skank?" she asked bluntly.
Kieran sighed. "Do you have to use that word?" He then looked over to the door to check if she was arriving, but nothing. "Her taxi is probably just caught up in traffic or something."
"Mm," she hummed.
"How is everything with you?" he asked, changing the subject. "Have you started looking at colleges yet?"
"I don't think I want to go to college," she said, ignoring Mick and Liz's shared glares. It was apparent that the discussion of college must have led to numerous arguments in his absence as both his parents seemed frustrated by her words yet too defeated to discuss it again.
"How come?" Kieran asked, raising a brow. "I would have thought that would be a place for you to thrive. A little freedom would do you some good, you know."
She shrugged. "I just don't want to."
When the waiter came over, Kieran had to send him away, and the rest of the family seemed slightly irritated, but they resumed their conversation.
"Did you enjoy your summer?" he asked her.
Phoenix scoffed as she turned to look him dead in the eyes. "If you bothered to show your face, you would know that it has been absolutely wonderful." Her tone was dry and sarcastic, and her lacklustre expression gave away the fact that she had not enjoyed her summer holiday at all.
"Well, like I said, you're eighteen now. In a few months, you'll be done with high school and then you can get yourself into a good college." She glared at him. "Or you can get an apprenticeship, or a job, whatever you fancy."
