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Phoenix was burning up inside.
There was a couple who just moved to one of the nicer neighborhoods that had somehow actually wanted to be friends with her. Jade and Jaune Stone, who were respectively a trans woman and a she/they enby, and both lesbians. This, of course, was great for the lonely trans lesbian Phoenix.
Jade and Jaune were open to having a third, as long as this partner could be good to their twin children.
Chip and Catie, the adorable Stone twins, were approaching their fourteenth year.
Chip was an outgoing boy with a sunny disposition, who had quickly befriended Meatwad. He seemed to also like Carl, who did not appreciate being flirted with by a young boy.
Catie, however, was shy and frightful. Despite her brother’s apraxia, Catie had a much harder time communicating.
But Phoenix was patient. Being the eldest of three autistic siblings gave her unique insight into Catie’s condition. It helped that Catie wanted very much to get closer to Phoenix.
Phoenix noticed that when she talked, Catie held on to every word she said. Her eyes were wide and bright each time Phoenix explained a scientific concept. Catie was related to some brilliant scientists, so she was likely to have a passing interest at least.
Eventually, Catie’s tongue loosened. She was able to speak in front of Phoenix. Phoenix was happy beyond words.
Catie always dressed in concealing clothes, but as she got more comfortable, she began taking off her cardigan in the house.
Catie was soft all over, with a completely flat chest. She had hairy legs, which she said was because she was terrified of shaving and waxing. She always wore open-toed shoes, which she said was because of sensory issues. She also wore glasses, which she could barely see a foot in front of her face without.
Catie was Phoenix’s type, undoubtedly. Catie was also, undoubtedly, thirteen and a half. Regardless, feelings started to blossom.
Jade and Jaune were both absolutely gorgeous, and Phoenix was very much into them. It was just that Catie was even more attractive.
It was a normal day between them. Catie had brought over some candy crystals Phoenix taught her how to make. Phoenix watched Catie eat hers. Catie’s black lipstick highlighted the exact shape of her lips, as well as her prominent overbite.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Catie began. “I’m dating someone!”
“Oh!” Phoenix’s voice cracked slightly. “Who’s the lucky b-kid?”
“A girl from my homeroom named Denver.” Catie explained. She fidgeted, her tan cheeks turning red. “She’s so pretty. I didn’t think she’d ever go for someone like me.”
“Oh, nonsense, you’re a catch.” Phoenix said. She placed her hand on Catie’s shoulder. “She’s lucky to have you.”
Catie smiled. “Thanks, Phoenix.”
The next morning, Phoenix pushed around the food on her plate. Meatwad looked at his elder sister with worry, while Shake was solely concerned with his food.
“Frylock, what’s wrong?” Meatwad asked.
“Oh, nothing.” Phoenix said. But it was a lie. She couldn’t tell anyone the truth, because why would anyone be sympathetic?
Phoenix resolved to be supportive and graceful. Catie needed someone her own age, not a middle-aged cretin like Phoenix.
But one day, Phoenix noticed something different.
“Did you shave your legs?” Phoenix asked.
Catie looked a little nervous. “Waxed, actually. Denver did it last night.”
Phoenix was surprised. “Did it hurt?”
Catie rubbed her leg. “A little bit, but I’ll be okay.”
Phoenix felt a pang of worry. But she quickly dismissed it as her sick envy.
One day, while she was working at the Powerpuff Mall, Phoenix saw Catie with a girl her age. This girl was the platonic ideal of a rich, popular girl from a cartoon. She was likely Italian and raised Catholic rather than an Anglo-Saxon Protestant, however.
Then, Phoenix noticed something else.
Catie was wearing stiletto heels, with closed toes. Catie practically had her Birkenstocks glued to her feet. Phoenix looked to Catie’s face. She looked like she was struggling to maintain her composure. There was nothing between her ears and the relentless sonic onslaught of the Powerpuff Mall.
Something was wrong. Phoenix knew it.
One day, Catie came to Phoenix, bracing on the wall and stumbling around in closed toe heels. The skin on her shins was tinted red.
“Hey, Phoenix, can you help me fix something?” Catie asked. Her eyes were unfocused.
“Sure.” Phoenix said.
Catie pulled her glasses out of her cardigan pocket. Both lenses were shattered. Phoenix gasped.
“Goodness, what happened to your glasses-”
“I FELL!” Catie shouted. Phoenix knew immediately that this was bullshit.
“It was Denver, wasn’t it?”
Catie looked terrified. “I…”
“That little…” Phoenix growled. “Catie, you can tell me the truth, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I just…” Catie twisted her cardigan sleeve. “I… I wanted to be a normal girl for her.”
Catie began to cry. “She said she wouldn’t want me if I wasn’t a normal girl… And I… I don’t think anyone would ever want me. I’m never the first choice.”
Phoenix grabbed Catie’s shoulders and got right in her face. Catie’s cheeks turned completely red.
“You’re perfect just like you are.” Phoenix said. “How the hell does she think she can just… beat the disabled out of you?”
“But is anyone going to want me like I am?” Catie asked.
“Oh, I know there’s someone out there who wants you.” Phoenix wrapped her arms loosely around Catie’s shoulders. “Someone who loves you from head to toe.”
Catie’s face was completely red. She stepped back, itching the back of her head.
“Oh, wow. I wonder who that is.” Catie said.
“I’ll fix your glasses and then you can head home.” Phoenix said.
Catie hugged Phoenix. Phoenix’s face filled with blood.
“Thank you so much, Phoenix! You’re a lifesaver!” Catie exclaimed.
Phoenix embraced Catie. She wondered just what kind of sick fuck would want to hurt her.
It was then Phoenix began a campaign. She started placing bugs all over the places that Catie and Denver most frequented. She learned a lot about Denver. Namely, the fact she liked to go out far from her home at night and smoke. Awfully convenient.
Phoenix walked up behind Denver as she sat on a rock and smoked.
“Miss Denver?”
Denver turned around, frightened. “Who the hell are you?”
“Oh, a friend of your girlfriend’s.” Phoenix said. She smiled, an angry and forced grin. “I’ve heard a loooot about you.”
“Get away from me.” Denver whimpered.
“I heard you haven’t been good to Catie. I don’t like that.” Phoenix growled. “She’s a good girl, and she deserves a good girl to treat her right. That does not appear to be you.”
“We wouldn’t have any problems if she could just be normal!” Denver blurted.
Phoenix filled with rage, and before she knew it, she was seeing blue. Denver shrieked, reduced to something resembling a whole chicken in a can.
Catie was awoken by her phone ringing. It was late at night, but when she saw Phoenix was calling, she picked up.
“Hello?” Catie asked.
“Hey, Catie! I’m just calling to see how you’re holding up.” Phoenix said.
“I was asleep.” Catie said.
“Ooh, I’m sorry.” Phoenix replied. “But I can’t help but worry about you.”
Catie was silent for a moment.
“I’m actually gonna break up with Denver tomorrow. I can’t deal with this anymore. I need someone who’s actually going to like me for me.”
“That’s wonderful, Catie.” Phoenix grunted as if exerting effort. “I’m very proud of you.”
“What was that?”
“Oh, I was just taking out the trash is all.”
Phoenix smiled as she saw the garbage bag containing Denver’s remains float away.
“I just want you to know that your mamas love you, and your brother loves you, and…” Phoenix’s heart pounded in her chest. “I love you, Catie. Just the way you are.”
Catie couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, Phoenix. I love you too.”
Phoenix’s heart skipped a beat. Hearing that from Catie was a dream come true.
“See you soon, sweet girl. Sweet dreams.”
“Night, Phoenix!”
Catie hung up and quickly went back to sleep. Phoenix stared out at the full moon over the sea. Shining silvery white like Catie’s hair.
“I love you so damn bad.”
Denver’s disappearance was the talk of the town, but Catie never seemed to bring it up. In fact, she never brought Denver up again. She probably wanted to forget, and Phoenix was more than glad to oblige her.
Catie returned to her old self, glasses and leg hair and sandals abound. Whenever she went to the mall to visit Phoenix, she wore ear defenders. She felt safe and happy again.
Phoenix however, only stepped up her surveillance. She planted bugs all over the Stone house, and watched Catie frequently. While watching, she noticed… interesting things Catie would do by the basement door while her moms were having sex down there.
Phoenix knew this was risky and fucked up, but she couldn’t risk Catie ending up with another Denver. She had to make Catie hers and fast.
And soon, her plan would come to fruition.