Conversation between Lilla and Lizzie

Lilla: I need you to do me a favor, Lizzie. I need you to check my sisters' phones. You know, you can never be safe when it comes to them.

Lizzie: Are you sure it's a good idea?

Lilla: Trust me for once. I need you to check their phones.

Lizzie: But why?

Lilla: Do I really owe you an explanation, Liz? Just trust me.

Lizzie: I think it's a little sketchy.

Lilla: Okay, listen. I believe Liah and the others are being strange lately. I suspect they're hiding something huge. I mean, they hardly ever reply to my text messages.

Lizzie: Do you really think it's such a big deal? Wow, Lil, you must be desperate.

Lilla: I'm not desperate, Liz! I just want to find out the truth. I know, this is not exactly what you expected to do, but, come on, don't you think Liah and the others aren't being honest with you?

Lizzie: What do you mean?

Lilla: What about Lanai leaving your party earlier? And Liah rejecting your invitation claiming that she had "some unattended business to deal with"? And let's not forget that Leanne is never answering your messages.

Lizzie: Perhaps she just holds a grudge on me. You don't need to make a big fuss out of it. Chill out.

Lilla: I don't think Leanne hates you for no specific reason. But why won't she tell me the truth? I mean, I'm her sister. If anything's wrong, she's supposed to tell me.

Lizzie: Well, she's not forced to do so. She's not a kid anymore. She's 21. Perhaps you should start treating her more like an adult and letting her make her decisions on her own.

Lilla: I would, if she actually proved to be trustworthy. She's just irresponsible.

Lizzie: Why do you have to be so judgemental? She's your sister, after all, and so are Liah, Lanai and Nyla. Don't you think it's time that you all stop bickering for once?

Lilla: It would be easier if they paid more attention to what I say.

Lizzie: Lilla, to be honest I think you're exaggerating. I believe that deep down their hearts, they love you more than you think. So, stop being obsessed with controlling them and just live it up!

Lilla: I'd agree with you if we were living a different situation. I can't exactly say this is the best time to talk about how I should be more grateful to my sisters.

Lizzie: Oh, yes, it is. I want you to talk to them and sort all this shit out, okay?

Lilla: Well, I don't know if I'm ready to talk to them civilly...

Lizzie: If you promise that you'll talk to your sisters, I promise that I'll check their phones. Okay?

Lilla: Are you really sure it's worth it?

Lizzie: Trust me.

Lilla: Then it's set. Deal.

Lizzie: Deal. We'll talk later. See you. :)

Lilla: See you.

End of the conversation

***

After being tasked to check Lilla's sisters' phones, Lizzie is desperate. She doesn't know how to lure them into her trap. She must come up with a convincing plan.

She picks her phone and opens WhatsApp, searching for their phone numbers. Before actually typing, she checks that they are active. As she realizes that they are, she starts sending messages.

***

Conversations between Lizzie and Liah, Lanai and Leanne

Liah: What the fuck do you want, Lizzie?

Lizzie: I just want to check on you. Make sure that you're actually okay. I mean, I'm worried for you.

Liah: You don't need to. I'm fine.

Lizzie: Are you sure?

Liah: Stop asking. I'm fine.

Lizzie: Okay. Then, I'll go. See you.

Liah: See you.

***

A while later, Liah contacts Lanai, hoping that she'll answer promptly.

***

Lizzie: Hi Lanai, it's me, Lizzie. How are you?

Lanai: What do you want?

Lizzie: Just check on you. I mean, see how you're doing.

Lanai: You're not my sister, so stop worrying about me.

Lizzie: But Lilla is actually worried for you.

Lanai: Tell that whore to get out of my life, okay?

Lizzie: Okay. See you.

Lanai: Bye-bye.

***

One hour passes, and Lizzie is getting increasingly more desperate. She knows that she has very little time to get Lilla's sisters to spill it before having to deal with her rage.

She picks her phone again, hoping that Leanne will be more understanding and will talk to her in spite of their mutual dislike of each other.

***

Lizzie: Hi Leanne. Can I talk to you?

Leanne: Okay, but please be quick. I haven't got much time.

Lizzie: Why exactly?

Leanne: That's not your business.

Lizzie: Oh, yeah, it is. You'll tell me now or I'll keep asking.

Leanne: Leave me be.

Lizzie: I asked you a question, Leanne. Just answer, for God's sake.

Leanne: Okay, if you really insist... I have to go to work. Now, can you please stop texting me?

Lizzie: Yeah. See you later.

End of the conversations

***

Dejected for not being able to find out at all about Liah, Lanai or Leanne's meddling, Lizzie sighs, realizing that she'll most likely earn Lilla's wrath for failing to get them to open up to her.

She must come up with an idea quickly. This is why she resorts to texting Nyla, the youngest of the Duncan sisters, to lure her into a trap. While the temptation of going for something pretentious is in the air, Lizzie still remembers that she doesn't need to exaggerate. A simple party could do, for instance.

***

Conversation between Lizzie and Nyla

Lizzie: Hi, can we talk? It's urgent.

Nyla: What exactly do you want, Liz?

Lizzie: Okay, listen. Do you remember that I moved out of my mom's last month? And that I moved to a new place closer to work? Well, I thought that throwing a housewarming party could be a good idea.

Nyla: And you want me to come, right?

Lizzie: Yes. That'd be nice.

Nyla: Well, I have to ask Lilla for permission.

Lizzie: That's a great idea. Let me know what she thinks, okay?

Nyla: Definitely. See you later.

End of the conversation

***

As she finally finishes texting Nyla, Lizzie is ready to report everything to Lilla, but she decides against it. First of all, she still has to hear from Nyla about the housewarming party; plus, it's already 8pm, which means that she should probably start cooking dinner.

She glances at her phone once again, before leaving it on her bed and heading to the kitchen.