My nerves catch up to me as I reach the front yard of my house. I drop my bike against the inside of the gate, walking up to the door all while twiddling my thumbs in front of me.

    I'm not sure why I'm so nervous. Rationally, it doesn't make sense for me to feel so scared when it comes to returning home. But, recent events have made this place feel a little less like mine.

    I reach the front door, rocking back and forth on my heels as I contemplate knocking. My eyes avoid the door in front of me, turning to the driveway where I notice a lack of Linus's everyday vehicle. Furrowing my eyebrows, I turn back to the door just as it swings open.

    My mother's smile can't be any bigger as she takes me in. Despite my pogue-like appearance, she can barely tear her eyes away from me as she leans forward and engulfs me in her arms. 

    "My Baby, I've missed you," She sighs into my hair, her hand rubbing down from the top of my head to the back of my neck. I feel frozen in my place as her scent wraps itself around me. But, the cold exterior melts in seconds and I find myself returning her hug. Me and my Mum have always been close, this is the most time we've spent apart in a long time.

    "I missed you too," I admit, clearing my throat as I step back from the hug. For some reason, I feel a sense of bitterness towards her for not daring to step outside her comfort zone for me.

    "What's wrong, P?" She asks, eyeing me up and down sadly. 

    "I just have a lot going on at the moment, that's all," I dismiss, watching as she steps aside to allow me inside. I walk through the threshold, listening to her close the door behind me. 

    "Like what?" She inquires further, following me into the kitchen and sitting beside me. I look around, noticing Linus's shoes are gone too, meaning he's not home at the moment. I let out a sigh of relief as she continues talking, "You can tell me anything,"

    "Just... a friend of mine is in trouble, expensive trouble," I tuck my hair behind my ears, thinking about the amount of money that's going to be involved in JJ's heroic mess. "I don't know, I just feel silly wearing all this jewellery, sitting at this expensive island when I see how they have to live in the cut. This bracelet alone could pay a month's rent and then some," I gesture towards my gold bracelet, the one matching hers. 

    She taps her fingers on the marble island, biting at the skin of her lip before getting up and turning to the drawers in the kitchen. I watch her eagle-eyed as she grabs a small book from the kitchen drawer, turning to me as she takes a pen out and scribbles on the page. She rips the paper from the navy blue book, sliding the cheque towards me.

   I look down at the paper, noticing a lack of writing in the section detailing how much the material is worth. 

    "However much you need, take it," She tells me, tucking the chequebook and pen back away.

    "Mum... I can't. Linus will-"

    "I can handle Linus. He won't mind," She brushes it off, smiling at me as I pick the red lined paper up in my hands, "Consider it an apology for recent events,"

    I feel the bitterness in me drip away, replaced by the admiration I typically have for the woman in front of me. Standing up, I wrap my arms around her in a tight hug. "Thank you,"

    "I'm glad your heart is always in the right place, Phoebe," She kisses the top of my head. I pull away from her, smiling one last time before waving goodbye and snatching the keys to my Mini Cooper from the bowl beside the door. 

    It's been a while since I've driven a car or been in anything that doesn't smell like weed. Within seconds, I'm on the road and heading down to the police station, the empty cheque tucked in the glove box. 

    I reach the station, climbing out of the convertible and locking it with the key, the cheque tight in my grasp as I walk inside and up to the receptionist. 

    No one besides a middle-aged man with silver hair and a stone-cold face sits in the waiting room, his leg bouncing as if he's anxious or angry.

    "Hi, how's your day going?" I force a smile onto my face, approaching the desk as the receptionist looks at me with an unamused face. his expression causes my smile to falter slightly, feeling intimidated, "There was a teenager brought in earlier--JJ Maybank,"

    "I can only give information out to family," He mutters, turning his eyes away from me to continue scrolling on his computer. 

    "I'm his cousin!" I spit out quickly, my tone unconvincing as the male turns to me once more with a raised brow, "I was just wondering how much his bail was-"

    My words are cut off by the sound of the older man in the room behind me snickering without humour. I turn, watching as he slightly sways in his seat, his knuckles balled together in considerable rage. Before I can say anything, the sound of a door clicking open gains my attention. 

    My stomach drops as I turn around, the sight of a depressed-looking JJ greets me as he enters the room with me and the other man. JJ looks up, his face draining of colour as he looks between me and the elder guy.

    I step away from the desk, watching the scene before me unfold.

    A lady appears behind the reception desk now, nodding to gesture over the stranger behind me. The man walks up, brushing closely past me as JJ watches him the whole way with a glare. 

    "You his guardian?" The female officer asks, quipping her head towards JJ. 

    Oh shit. So much for anonymity. 

    "Sorry to say, I'm his father," The stranger replies, turning to send a disturbingly disgusted glance JJ's way. JJ's father basically spits the words towards his son.

    "Well, hearing will be in two weeks. If you fail to show up, you will forfeit your bail. The restitution will be based on the average of three outside estimates of the cost of the damaged article," The female officer explains. It's strange watching JJ almost shrink into himself as he stands next to his father. For someone who's always larger than life, seeing him so small is unsettling. 

     I know that feeling all too well, like looking into a shattered mirror.

     "Restitution?" JJ's father repeats.

    "Pay for what he broke, it's part of the plea," She explains, looking and sounding disinterested by the entire conversation.

    The empty cheque seems to burn in my hands, the weight of all the problems this could solve making it weigh more than it seems. 

    "Let's go. Go, now!" JJ's father shouts at him. JJ turns on his heels like a soldier. His jaw clicks, the struggle on his face as he avoids eye contact with me and walks away. I take the step for him, grabbing his arm to stop him. 

    I grab his hand, opening the balled fist and pushing the paper into his knuckles. 

   "Phoebe, I-"

  "Take it. Pay your restituion," 

    "JJ," The man warns, his anger apparent as he waits at the door for his son. His father turns his back on us, walking outside and letting the door slam shut.

    A switch seems to click in JJ, like his father's voice is a trigger and he's a sleeper agent. He looks up at me for the first time, anger in his eyes as he holds the cheque up and rips it in front of my face.

    "Keep your Kook money," He sneers, a sadness in his eyes he's clearly trying to hide. 

    I blink, taken aback by his sudden attitude. Before I can say anything, he turns his back to me and storms out of the police station, falling into step beside his father. 

   The embarrassment heats my cheeks, my eyes avoiding the police officers as I leave the station, Peterkin looking at me with sympathy. 

   Exiting the police station, I try to gather my bearings, looking up to the sky as if it holds all the answers. A car catches my eye, the vehicle swinging back and forth as two males inside seem to be in an altercation. Bile rises to my throat as I recognise JJ as his Dad slams his fist against his son's face.

   The human in me wants to run and stop them, but the logical part of me knows from experience how much worse it can get when you call out an abusive person's behaviour. The last thing I want to do is make things worse for JJ. 

    As much as it makes me want to vomit, I force myself to turn away from the pair and climb into my car, tears welling in my eyes over what I'm forced to leave behind me.

                    My Mum finishes off curling the last piece of my hair, clicking the heat of the machine off before reaching for the sage green flower crown on the table beside us. She places it gently on my head, my eyes watching her through the mirror. 

    I look down at my dress, the sage green material to match the flower crown, butterflies sown into the hem of the dress and a matching pattern on the lace. I grimace at my appearance, feeling like a mannequin on display.

    "Mum, this isn't too much?" I question, tilting my head slightly as I brush my hands over the skirt of the dress.

    "Absolutely not. You look stunning," She grins, clasping my shoulders as she smiles at me through the reflective glass in front of us. She turns to the girl on the bed behind us, the smile directed towards her, "You too, Sarah,"

    "Thank you, Charlize," She grins, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.

    I wonder what's up with her lately? She's not as chipper as she used to be. 

    "Come on, girls. Your fathers are waiting for you downstairs," My Mum claps her hands together, brushing down her satin dress as she leads the way to the door. Sarah stands up, her lips pressed in a line as she falls into step beside me.

   "What's up with you? You seem down," I inquire, keeping my voice low as we follow my mum out of Sarah's bedroom and towards the stairs of the Cameron house.

    "Can you keep a secret?" She asks lowly. I nod, watching as she chews on the skin of her lip before sighing, "I kind of... met someone else. I just don't want to go to this stupid thing with Topper anymore,"

   I gasp, a smile on my face as I gently nudge her, "Sarah Cameron! Give me a name,"

   "Nuh-uh, no way," She grins, shaking her head. Her face falls slightly solemn before she speaks once more, "Is it stupid? Not wanting to go with him?"

    I pause for a second, thinking about what to say next, "Secret for a secret?"

   She hums, waiting for me to respond.

   "I don't want to go either, at least, not with Rafe. I get it," I confess, watching as she smiles at me. "But, I can't exactly skip it when Linus owns the company that hosts the event,"

    "The things we do for our parents," She sighs, joining me as we finish descending the steps and reach the foyer where everyone else stands.

    Rafe doesn't look at me with the same fascination that he used to, his eyes hold the same glint mine do towards him, bitterness and anger. It's as if the Cut washed away the rose colour from his lenses and he no longer saw me as something to be worshipped. 

    I can't help the relief that washes over me at the thought.

    If it weren't for the favour my Mum already gave me--although useless--I would have asked to not be forced to attend this thing with Rafe. But I know how Linus feels about appearances, and I don't want to push so many of his buttons so early. 

    "Don't you two look wonderful," Ward grins at us, leaning to hug his daughter as my Mum moves to her Husband. Ward grins at me, holding his arm out to surround me in a quick, fatherly hug. Something about Ward makes me want to cry in his arms, the warm, fatherly embrace that I have missed out on.

   Ward steps back, looking between his family and mine with a proud smile on his face.

    "C'mon now, we wouldn't want to be late to our own party," Linus pipes in, winking towards Ward. Ward's grin only spreads further, the reminder of the award he's about to receive at the party heavy on his mind. 

    As everyone heads to the door, Rafe steals one last look at me before turning and walking away without me. I sigh, not excited for the long night ahead.

   "Don't worry," Sarah whispers quietly, pressing herself to my side as she links our arms together, "We can be each other's date,"

    Her words easily uplift my sour mood, both of us now grinning as we exit the home.