*Charlie's P.O.V*

"Can you tilt your head back a bit?"

"Ok," I say, obliging.

The struggling photographer thanks me. Several clicks later, the photo shoot ends.

My next destination is school, where I sit through three consecutive lectures before going to my abode.

I'm back past midnight. My landlord sees this as I slip a little on the staircase.

"Oh, good morning, Charlie."

"Hi," my voice carries less volume than his.

"How are you?"

"I'm fi-fine, please. Just a little tired," I retort, hoping he'll let me be. The older man instead leans on his door frame. "So there is something I would like to discuss with you."

I can already tell what it is, but I stay quiet as he continues. "Now, I understand you're in college, so you would like to have fun and whatnot. However, I've been receiving some complaints that the noise coming from your room at night is a little -" He shakes his hand.

Odd silence ensues.

"Oh, o-ok."

"Yes, so if you can also ask your partners to tone it down a little," he adds.

I nod, and he beams as if a heavy weight has been lifted off his chest. "Well, that's all. Have a nice rest."

Once he reverts into his room, I exhale.

There are no partners, just nightmares.

This is why I had to leave campus after my first year. My roommate had no idea what he should do, so he went to the R.A., and then my predicament got to Sydney's ears, and now that I live in a single room, I still have this issue.

Entering my room, I touch my laptop first. I scroll through my assignments and start one.

When drowsiness takes over, I get into bed and take a picture to post on the Instagram account Harry made for me.

My alarm is my phone buzzing with notifications I won't read.

I wake up to another day full of lectures and photoshoots. It almost escapes my mind, but then I include shopping for Sil's gift.

While making breakfast with my single burner stove, I call her. Sil says she's busy preparing for her birthday party.
She'll call back later.

*

My first two lectures are fine. The third, however, adds to my schedule. I have to take my time to understand the concepts.

I study during lunch, after which I board a train to the agency Halima's friend got me in.

When the train stops, the sun is high and mighty. Wearing rectangle sunglasses, I walk for some minutes. The agency's doors open. Thank goodness their reception has air conditioning.

"Someone's looking hot."

Pardon me. I turn to the door just as Tim, one of the models I'll work with, enters. He reiterates his comment, and I respond with, "Yes, climate change is beyond horrid these days."

"Bruv," he chuckles and points to the sunglasses. "Prada?"

Harry's, so I must take it off my head and check the brand name before nodding.

Tim smirks. "You know, I'll be on their runway show in Japan."

What are you talking about?

"I probably don't even need to go for casting calls. You know how superb my signature walk is."

" ... "

" You'll be seeing me all over social media by summertime."

"That's nice-ce," I gush, though still confused.

Tim shoots me a puzzled look, ending our chinwag as the hairstylists and makeup artists arrive. After decorating us, we get on the road in leather apparel. They drop us at a warehouse with a green screen backdrop and a dozen motorbikes. Since I have long hair extensions, I'm relegated to the far side, closer to the fans, while Tim sits on a bike in front. An editor for the magazine we are shooting for comes around. Seeing us, she beckons our photographer. After their secret dialogue, the photographer instructs me.

"Move closer. Tim, push the bike a bit so he gets space."

Tim obeys. Before we know it, I am on the floor, right beside the bike he's on. The photographer says, "Charlie, release the tension on your lips a bit ... Nice. Lower your gaze ... Look directly now. Smile a little ... No, less ... Nice..."

When he starts instructing Tim, my tummy rumbles loudly, causing everyone to break character. We laugh, though it's at my expense.

The shoot ends late. Someone gets me chips and fish, so I eat in the car. Tim stays glued to his phone.

When I get home, I spend hours in the jacuzzi and doze when my phone rings.

Answering it, I yawn. A voice resonates. "Dude, how are you?"

"Mm?"

"How - are you in the bathroom?" Mia gasps.

"Mmm." Absentminded, I wipe foam off my collarbone.

"I'll call later then." She hangs up.

Then the ceiling falls. Body parts rain down. Igor hovers over me as the nightmare begins.

*

I wake up on the floor. It takes me a while to stand and minutes to go about my morning hastily. I don't have time for my skincare routine, so I make do with a cold bath. My hair is not even dry when I head for campus. I try tying it in a ponytail, but the rubberband slips away. Settling for low pigtails, I huff to a hall seat.

Students trickle in until the lecturer arrives and shuts the entrance. I'm so lucky I made it before time - for accounting, no less. Usually, I am the last person allowed in the hall, coming right before the lecturer.

Hallucinating Mr. Yeltsin's teaching instead, I pay close attention. My heart sinks when the lesson concludes, as though all trafficked kids in the world are going to haunt me.

On my way to my following lecture, Mia calls.

"I'll come to visit," is her 'hello'.

I ask why, and she shrieks, "Your birthday!"

"Oh, ok."

Mia sulks. "Are you still angry with me?"

"For what?"

"I wasn't there for your birthday last year. And the year before, I missed -"

"Don't talk about that."

Her sigh is very thoughtful, so I say, "It's fine. You've been busy with school, so."

"That's not why," she retorts.

"Oh ... ok."

"It's just been strange at home, too. Like, everything seemed off. And Joe acts weird about me going anywhere without her knowledge as if danger lurks somewhere. So, ur, I didn't want to add to what you were going through."

"What danger?"

Dead air.

"Oh, you know, like when I had to leave the US."

I frown. The cartel got away, too - Joe couldn't find the evidence against them.

"But, hey, don't worry. I'm all grown up now, so I can take care of myself."

"Um, Mia, I don't think -"

"No, seriously. Joe taught me how to use a gun -"

"Mia, stop." I cut in. The line goes quiet.

"If you are not sure that it is safe coming here," I warn, "please, don't come."

"But would you want me to come?"

"Not if it puts you at a risk."

"Then, I'm coming."

"Ok, Mia, don't -"

She hangs up.

*

So, now what?

I have to get some medication, finish my assignments, and buy my sister's gift before Mia gets here. I ask my tenant for permission to let her come around. He just nods after a lengthy stare.

On Thursday evening, Mia tells me that she is nearing my vicinity.

"Wait, what?! How?!"

"By plane. Duh." She laughs. "Are you going to let me in or what?"

"Um ... wait," I say, finishing my last essay quickly. I am yet to buy the gift, but some antidepressants are in my bag.

Upon the last full stop, I shut my laptop and swallow a pill, just in time to answer her knock.

"Hey." She wiggles her brows.

"Ok, act normal, please." I shake my head.

"Dude, you are supposed to say hey back."

"And you're supposed to have learnt how to stop looking at me weirdly. This attitude may not augur well for your chinwags with others."

"Charlie. Speak English." Her eyes jump all over my room, so I mumble, "Sorry, the place is in a bit of a mess."

"What mess?" She settles on my only piece of furniture, a study desk. "It's as clean as a tiny room can get."

"My room is not tiny." I am caught off guard.

"It is." Mia gets up, pointing to the door separating the bedroom and washroom. "Unless your washroom can fit a family of five, I doubt this is fair."

I sigh, "Mia, the room is good enough for the rent I pay."

"You pay yourself?"

"My dad pays sometimes, but I can't be bothering him so much." He already paid for Sil's rehab last year and currently, her home tuition.

"What about your mother?"

"She suggested this place."

As Mia grimaces to that, I chirp, "Anyway, how was your trip?! How's Russia, school, everything!"

I tug her towards the desk chair and sit on my bed. "Come on! TELL ME! TELL ME!"

"Dude, chill," she mutters in confusion. I zip my lips as hers move.

"So for prom, I bought a silk dress with sparkly things, urm what are they called? They're like the stones on your ring -" She points to my hand.

"Rhinestones?"

"Ya, that." Then she describes the dress further. I try to listen, but my fingers start to twirl the ring, as if Leo sent them.

I blurt, "Wow, that's great, Mia! What about your family? Um, everything good with them?"

"Oh, they are something else - Shit, can I use your washroom?"

"Of course. Use nice language to ask next time."

"Agh!" Mia fake - snarks. Eleven seconds later, I hear her mumbling.

"Do you need something?"

"...So you were here."

"Pardon me?"

She speaks louder. "I thought I was dreaming for a second, but you were here when I called or?"

It takes me a moment to remember, but nothing embarrases me more than this: "Was I naked?!"

"Ur... Only saw up to your collarbone. But, Charlie, you can't be doing stuff like that."

"What stuff?"

"Answering calls while you're in here, with your face all angelic and you're in water, ur ... what if someone hacked your camera and was watching? You know, creeps around."

"Oh." I consider her point.

"You ... I'll get you, you're, premium whatever to avoid that risk. But, just be careful."

"Oh."

"Ya."

Shaking off fear, my eventual response is, "Thanks."

When she comes out of the washroom, we share a moment to think. Then, she yells, "What are all those products in there?"

"Skincare."

"Ok, the two stong-scented ones?" She pinches the bridge of her nose.

"Skincare."

"Dude, don't tell me you had a breakout that serious?"

"It was serious."

She gasps. "No. Way."

"Can't you see the little spots around here?"

Mia bends to my level, scrutinising my face as I point beneath my eyes. She simpers, " They look more like freckles. Lucky you."

"So, I should only treat the other scars like here -" I gesture to my cheeks. She pauses and then shrugs. "Can't even see them."

That's good.

Mia admits, "I would, however, like to know where you bought the others..."

*

So I take her to a shopping centre. We stroll around gift shops until we find a sound birthday card. With Mia's good eye, I get something for Sil, and then we head to a cosmetic shop for the skincare products.

"Hey, I'll pay myself," she says. "And would your sister like them too?"

I ponder a little, then nod. Mia buys double of everything, after which we find some fast food. She talks more about her graduation plans, and I pay attention this time. When she asks about my birthday preparations, I admit, "I'll just be with my sister and her friends. She's throwing a party."

"Oh, ok. Can I come with?"

"Sure."

Mia beams, dipping her chicken in sauce. "You know, it never crossed my mind that you had a sister, let alone a twin one."

"Really?"

"Mhmm. Kinda reminds me of that twin drama Anna had back then."

"Oh -" I am cut off by the sight of camera boxes on display at the store behind us.

Mia trails my gaze and says, "You want that? I got some cash -"

"No, but thank you." I turn back to my salad.

She groans, "Ok, just go and check the prices."

I don't need to; it's already in my head. Mia, however, jerks her knee expectantly. It takes a brief stare-down for me to give in.

*

On Saturday, Mia comes from the hotel she sleeps at. "Happy birthday!" she bursts at my door. I beam too.

Forty five minutes later, we are on our way to the my father's house. I doubt he's there since something is always coming up at the barracks, but Sil should be.

When we arrive, there is an inherited canopy outside outside with tables and chairs set like a little family get-together.

We enter the house, Mia gasps. "Is this where you lived before coming to the US?"

"Not exactly. When my father left, I stayed with my grandparents."

"Your dad left?"

"For war."

"Ooh," Mia hollers. I knock on the front door. No one responds though it is unlocked.

We enter and Mia asks, "Is this a library or something?"

"It's the living room. Our library is up. You'll see when we climb the ladder on your left."

"Huh?"

Whatever Mia is 'huh'-ing about, I shrug and walk to the rooms.

"Sil?!"

"Krypton?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Oh! Hold on then!"

So I wait until she pokes her head out, panting. I scowl. "Is someone in there?"

She nods.

"Does dad know?"

Silence.

"Ok. Aren't you supposed to get dressed for your party?" It starts at nine, and right now, it's 8:47 am. Sil cannot dress for less than thirty minutes.

"I'm waiting for Harry," she says, "he said he has bought me something cool to wear."

"Ok, Sil. But you'll have to get the person in there out. Grandma and grandpa are coming."

"Bruv, my birthday is at 10 pm. The things they've put up outside ain't for me." She bangs the door in my face.

I sigh, "Do it for me then. They'll question me and -"

"Then tell them you're an adult. You have your stuff to think about!"

"Ok, I'm thinking about you right now. Who is there?"

"None of your concern. Am I all up in your - whatever that shit you had in the US? Why are you invested in my biz then?!"

"I just don't want you to -"

"What? Go back to juvie? Wow, it'll be prison this time. Kill myself?"

I breathe sharply. "Sil."

"No, no, Krypton. Stop pestering me. Go away!" She bangs the door in my face.

Mia appears at the end of the hallway, wondering, "Is everything alright?"

I smile in assurance and tug her away with me.