I didn't open my phone immediately.
I showered first. Let the water run longer than usual. Changed into something soft. Laid my clothes out for the morning.
Six a.m. doesn't negotiate.
When I finally unlocked my screen, the notifications stacked over each other.
I blinked.
Rehearsal group chat.
Lunara: Don't forget 6:30 a.m. sharp.
Miren: I'm picking you up at 6:05. Be outside.
Sera: If she's late I'm blaming Luna.
Lunara: No excuses tomorrow girls.
A smile slipped out.
Me: I'll be ready.
Me: Don't scream at me if I yawn.
Sera: She lives!
That felt easy.
Akari.
Last message:
You disappeared.
Three days ago.
I swallowed and typed.
Me: Sorry. My phone was gone for a bit.
I stared at it.
Almost erased it.
Sent it anyway.
The three dots appeared almost immediately.
Akari: Gone?
Akari: Like stolen or like grounded gone?
A small smile slipped out before I could stop it.
Me: Just unavailable.
Me: It's fine now.
Pause.
Akari: You okay though?
Me: Yeah.
We talked for a few minutes. School. Practice. Nothing heavy.
Me: Rehearsal starts 6:30 tomorrow.
Akari: That's brutal.
I laughed quietly at that.
Then more notifications slid down.
Hey.
You back?
Missed you here.
What's your favorite song right now?
Names I barely remembered.
Theo's message was still there too.
You alive?
I didn't open it.
Instead, I tapped a new name.
Kai: You seem interesting.
Me: That's vague.
Kai: You don't talk like most people here.
That made me pause.
Another message popped up.
Jacek: Top three anime. Go.
That one made me grin.
I answered.
Three conversations overlapping now. Different tones. None of them heavy enough to mean anything.
My phone felt warm in my hand.
Then I remembered.
Dad said to remind Liam.
I slid off the bed and opened my door.
I nearly ran into him in the hallway.
He was coming out of the bathroom, towel around his neck, hair still damp.
"Were you about to knock?" he asked.
"Dad said to remind you about the car."
He smirked. "He told me too."
"Oh."
"Flight might land Friday night instead," he added casually. "He said not to tell Mum yet."
Friday.
That was closer than I expected.
"He texted you?" I asked.
"Yeah. Sounded tired."
Something about that settled quietly in my chest.
"You leaving with Miren tomorrow?" he asked.
"Yeah. 6:05."
"I have football at seven. Mind if I join you guys?"
"That's fine. I'll tell her."
He nodded once. "Set your alarm."
"I will."
"You won't."
I pushed his shoulder lightly as I walked back toward my room.
"I will."
He disappeared into his room.
I stood in the hallway a second longer.
Friday.
Back inside, my phone was still lighting up.
Akari.
Kai.
Jacek.
Theo still unopened.
For once, I didn't feel like I had to answer everyone.
The clock read 10:58.
My alarm was set for 5:45.
Me (to Akari): I should sleep.
Akari: Don't disappear again.
I didn't promise anything.
I flipped my phone face down.
Tomorrow would be loud enough.