Page 54 of I'll Look for You, Everywhere
Heat pours so harshly into my cheeks that I’m afraid I’ll set myself on fire. ‘We’re complete strangers,’ I breathe out. ‘You don’t know a fucking thing about me.’ Rubbing the spot between my brows, the anger has weirdly disappeared, transforming into heavy tiredness. I remember I’m holding onto the ibuprofen bottle and try to open up the lid, but my thumb slips against the child lock and it stays closed.
‘And like you know anything about me.’ His voice peters out as Anika’s flip-flops smack loudly against the floor upstairs. He looks towards the hall, judging how much time he has before needing to act civil again.
‘I know enough now,’ I whisper to the bottle that finally clicks open. I pour five little pills into my hand.
Anika flops in so loudly that she literally cuts the tension. Overpowers it. She hums along to Madonna, blissfully ignorant, and steps into the kitchen.
‘Why aren’t you changed yet?’ She slaps the island countertop. Her bangles clash against the granite. ‘Magdalen, no offence, but we are not going to get it right on the first try with your limited clothing options.’
Anika glances at Theo and then towards my palm filled with pills. ‘What are you doing now? Are you driving Maggie to drugs?’
‘Trying to tell Magdalen that that’s too much medication for her body size.’
‘And I was just saying I know just how much my own body needs.’ I smile brightly at Anika.
‘Good, so, Theo, you can help us decide which outfit is best for her!’ she shrieks, guiding him to the built-in breakfast bench that sits in the corner of their kitchen. ‘I will admit, I always tend to go too short, believe it or not, so it’ll be good to have a male perspective.’
‘Anika.’ Theo stops walking, and Anika almost crashes into his back.
‘Oh, come on!’ she whines. ‘This is fun! This is what having a sister is all about. Please, please, please, it’ll be fifteen minutes max. Scout’s honour.’
His eyeline remains on the floor. Anika’s puppy-dog eyes could guilt a butcher into veganism.
‘I’m busy, I have to go an—’
‘You’ve been in your room all day. What’s the point of coming home if you’re just going to ignore me all the time?’
Home run. Well played, Anika.
Theo closes his eyes, trying to find another excuse besides I actually just don’t want to be anywhere near Magdalen.
‘Sit. I’ll buy you a coffee tomorrow.’ Anika hops on one leg, batting her eyelashes.
‘Gee, how can I say no to that,’ he huffs, but allows her to push him back onto the bench.
‘Magdalen.’ Anika’s head whips towards me. ‘Change. Now. I don’t know how long we have him for.’
‘I can only stay for fifteen minutes.’
‘You’ll stay for twenty.’
‘Anika.’
‘I’ll start crying. Magdalen, move your fucking legs.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ I grab the pile of clothes that I see she has added to. A big lump of silver jewellery has also been thrown on top.
‘She’s taking too long,’ he says and sighs, running his hands through his hair.
I walk to the hallway connecting the kitchen to Mr Sinclair’s study. ‘Suck my dick, Theodore,’ I whisper, and hear the wooden bench squeak.
‘No, Theo. You just said you would,’ Anika whispers harshly. I pause.
‘This is fucking ridiculous.’
‘Why are you being such an asshole?’
‘Why are you making me do this?’ The last line doesn’t come out as a whisper. It’s loud and urgent. He sounds genuinely pissed off.
