I opened the door to my childhood bedroom and leant on the door frame, admiring it from afar.

"Towels are in the bathroom already" my Mama called up the stairs.

"Thank you" I called back.

Bastion appeared from his bedroom across the hall, he was already as tall as me. His dark head of curls were cut short and wet, freshly out of the shower himself. He was freshly shaven, smiling as he saw me, with dimples that deepened in each cheek. My brother looked so grown up. I couldn't stand it.

"Adelfos... where did my little chicken nugget go?!"

"O" he greeted, moving quickly across the hall and picking me up with ease. He threw me up in the air with arms that knocked the wind out of me, there was no gentle with brothers. He put me back down just as quickly, as if he remembered his street cred. I shook my head and admired his changed features, even since spring when I had seen him last he had changed. His voice was deep, his jaw was looking more defined, his dark eyebrows were thick, and his freshly shaved skin was darker around his chin and lips. How did my brother already have to shave?!

"You're such a pretty boy" I admired holding his jaw and moving his face side to side "How many girls are kissing those lips Bash?!" I taunted, squeezing them together, before he shoved me off.

He wrinkled up his nose "Get off. None"

My eyebrows raised with surprise, he genuinely still seemed uninterested. "Boys?!" I asked curiously.

He shook his head "You guys are all obsessed. There isn't anyone" he protested "Coach says we don't need girls getting in our heads when we should eat and sleep basketball"

"So there's not anyone of interest yet?! Well that's good. You're far too young, your inferior boy brain couldn't handle teen girl. Wait until you're out of high school or you'll be tortured by one. I promise"

He frowned "Really?!"

I nodded with conviction "Abso freaking lutely... we are all psycho until we hit our twenties... and even then some of us dabble in psycho for fun... mostly it's just a once monthly thing. Teen girls though Bash... avoid!!"

"Is that why you only date guys?!" He asked curiously.

I laughed, far too loudly. He smiled, sensing he had said something absurd.

"The media machine might only ever report on my boyfriends...but there have been many...MANY....girlfriends. You should know that. I talk about them don't I?!"

"Why don't you ever bring them home though?!" He asked curiously "Moms would love to meet your person"

Your person.

I felt defensive immediately, my walls rising sharply.

Bastion witnessed it and instinctively waved his hand to signal he didn't mean anything. "I just mean... if you ever have someone... you should bring them home. I've never really seen you with anyone, only Jake, years ago, and of course Zack"

"I've never found a girl I wanted to bring home" I answered honestly.

"Not true" Mom said, appearing at the top of the stairs, having taken off her fancy trench coat "You brought one home"

She ruffled Bash's curls and kissed his cheek "Mama and I are just heading out for dinner with our friends. Pizza is ordered and on the way. One friend Bastion. Only one. I don't want to come home to the entire team again anytime soon. Mamas still finding gum on the underneath of tables and chairs"

"Fine" he grumbles briefly, before offering her a cute grin that wiped his attitude slate clean instantly. He was too cute to be mad at.

"And you" Mom asked, looking to me "Are you staying in for Pizza with your brother or are you still going to scare my engónia"

"Your grandchildren are not for the weak Mom. They can't be scared by a Bigfoot. They will be fucking ecstatic to finally see one"

"Language" Mom chastised.

I motioned with pinched fingers that I zipped up my lips.

"Can I come?!" Bastion asked, seeming amused "I know where we can get the costume"

I motioned that I unzipped my lips "oooh where"

My Mom threw her hand over her face "oh god" and she walked away from our conspiring and back down the stairs, calling back one last time before she headed out with Mama "If they have nightmares Olympia Maria and Bastion Christos...so help you god"

Bastion went off to call a friend, and I returned to my childhood bedroom.

My bed was pristinely made up with a black and white square comforter that I had had since a teenager. The bedside table still had the same photograph of Wren, Cam and I on a summer vacation in Greece. I slowly walked to the bed and threw down my cell, sitting down haphazardly and falling sideways dramatically. I reached out, running my finger down the picture, the cold sensation of glass making my fingers flinch away.

A time in our life perfectly frozen in time. The three amigos. I had missed being in this trio. My life bouncing from coast to coast, lover to lover, and travelling in between hadn't allowed for much time with the people I truly adored, and I was ashamed to say that I still had unread texts on my phone from Cam. With that thought on my mind I rolled over and grabbed my cell, scrolling past acquaintances and team mates to find his name. Just as I find it, a new text comes in and diverts my attentions once more.

Z- We are on the front covers again Beauty. Miss me?!

Zack. My last long term boyfriend. He was only just breaking out in the movies when we met, but soon after he was the new hot young thing in town and in every other movie released for the next few years. We were constantly at movie premiers. I got sick of them. I didn't mind dressing up in heels and a pretty dress, but every other weekend having to travel to another city, and be glammed up to appear on his arm... man it got a little tiresome. We were always on the front cover of a magazine, and his fans online hated me. I had endured a torrent of trolling and hate whilst I dated him, because every teen girl in America had appeared to fall in love with him all at once. They wanted what I had, and I stood in the way of all of their imaginary love stories.

I wished I could have told them that he wasn't all that, and saved them the crush, but they'd have hated me more. He was handsome, I'd give him that, but he was dressed by a stylist and fed things to say by a celebrity coach and management team. It felt sometimes, as time passed by and he got more famous, like I was dating a Frankenstein. He was parts of many people, all freakishly sewn together to create the "perfect guy". Zack never asked how my games were, and only ever showed up at the play offs knowing they were highly publicised. He told me that was his managements advice. He was always busy making movies, and we spent less and less time together. The issue was, that I didn't love him, and so I never fully cared if we spent time apart, and yet he would call me upset that we hadn't seen one another in four weeks. He loved me, I believe that, but it didn't stop him sleeping with a co star. I didn't have a great track record with guys, they often cheated, and honestly I long stopped caring. It gave me a good reason to end it. I look back and I wonder if I had had healthier relationships, whether this wall I built around myself would have come down sooner. It felt like it only got taller and more imposing. Bonnie turned up after, in fact it was the following day, and she scooped me up once again, her arms a welcome and familiar place to fall into. We hadn't been together in over a year, her scent though, and her sudden appearance again had been intoxicating, like a drug I had long been sober from. She had always arrived as my heart teetered on the edge of a break and kissed it all away. How I'd never fallen for her when she had always been the glue that held me together, I'll never know.

Just to explain, I wasn't heartbroken because I loved this guy and he cheated on me... I was breaking piece by piece, relationship after relationship, because I didn't.

What was wrong with me?! I had gotten so cold.

Bonnie and I, we were so alike, our similarities felt comforting, but if we spent too much time in each other's arms it began to feel overwhelming. We moved on quickly, leaving each other feeling ready to face the next chapter, and the next lover.

I brushed thoughts of her aside and looked back to the text from Zack. I hated to think what story was now on the front of a magazine. He had sent my celebrity into overdrive, and now I couldn't get away from the wolves that constantly stalked me with cameras. I wanted to be able to blend in like some of my fellow players were able, but my face was now everywhere. I hated that. It had been a year since we split. We had only seen eachother once since then... a couple weeks ago. He was in town, and at my apartment door with flowers. A surprise. He was in town filming, and I was a convenient distance from his hotel. We hooked up as expected, and he spent the night. Like I said, it had been a surprise, and sometimes a familiar lover isn't a bad thing. It's better than a one night stand with a questionable character from your dating app. I had thrown him out before breakfast and sent him back to his hotel. I didn't much like the idea of after sex cuddles. It was so average that the moment he left I had to hunt down batteries for my vibrator. I made a mental note to never sleep with him again. It was not worth it.

My heart sunk as I saw the picture online of him at my apartment door with flowers in hand, a picture taken from the side angle. His handsome side profile,his smile, his arm extended as he held out the flowers for me. It looked like a set up picture to me. I shook my head and raged internally.

O- Did you set that up?! There's no way they got into my building without you, it's illegal.

Z- it's a cute picture 😍

O- Fuck you Zack 🖕🏼

Z- Please 😋

O- Why?! Why did you do that?!

Z- I didn't. I don't know how they got that pic. But it's cute. I miss you. I want you back 🥹

O- I don't.

Z- Don't what?

O- Love, miss, or want you. Fuck off!

Z- Harsh Olympia.

O- How's that new Tesla truck treating ya?!

Z- I knew that was you!!

O- no idea what you mean. Block my number and forget that I exist. 🔥

Z- 🧯Now you're just turning me on. Feisty.

O- blocked and deleted. Goodbye.

👻

***
Bastion appeared in the doorway with a grin "Ready?!" He asked.

"Where is this Bigfoot suit?" I asked.

"Down the street at my friends house. We can get it on the way"

I nodded and went to the wardrobe to get a hoody. I reached for the first one, but released it back to its hanger when I saw that it was Cam's. A stolen treasure once upon a time. I took another black one and threw it on, pulling it down over my long straightened hair.

"Let's go" I told Bash, throwing my phone into the trash bin by my door.

He observed the way I curled it like a basketball as I threw it "That's a brand new phone" he noted.

"I'm going off grid" I told him, taking the stairs two at a time.

He followed after, the pizza guy arriving at the door as we opened it. The young guy stood there stunned, like he had seen a ghost. His mouth had fallen open, and it moved awkwardly open and closed like some weird puppet.

Bastion moved around me and took the pizza from his hand "Yes that's the Olympia Nomikos...now shut your mouth Brandon and get off of my porch"

"Sorry Bash" the young guy apologised as he scattered to the wind and got back into his car looking mortified at his reaction.

"You know him?!" I asked.

Bastion lead the way to Mamas car with the pizza box balancing on one hand as he took the car keys from his jeans pocket and threw them at me.

"He's in my maths class"

We headed out of the gates, and before I had even wound the window up from talking to security, Bash had pointed to the street coming up on the right "She's down here. Number three two three"

Why did that sound so familiar?!

As I pulled the car to a stop behind a bright white Honda Hybrid I felt my heart start to beat a little off kilter.

"Who's the friend?!" I asked.

"Scout" he replied, half out of the car.

I watched him walk the few steps to the garage door ahead of us, it opened to reveal a teenage girl. A teenage girl that looked much like her sister did at the same age.

"Small world" Came a familiar voice, which made me jump in my seat, my head hitting the car roof.

"Ouch" I squeaked.

Daisy's dad was at the passenger window that Bastion had left open "Olympia" he greeted warmly. He looked ahead to observe Scout and Bash talking animatedly. "He's a good kid your Brother. He's becoming a part of the furniture"

"Has he?!" I asked "I had no idea he even knew Scout"

Mr Darling leant down on the car window and peeked inside with a smile "They've been friends for a couple years. Seems to just be friendship at the moment. Like I said, he's a good kid. I just have a good memory... and I remember like it was yesterday how another charming Nomikos came around here a lot... and then broke my dear daughter's heart. I wouldn't want a repeat with my youngest girl"

It felt like a punch in the throat. He was right though. I had.

The ache I felt from his words must have been obvious, because he was immediately apologetic "gosh honey I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you. I'm teasing, I love Bastion. How are you sweetheart?!"

I found a smile and forced it upon my face. "I'm okay" I answered "Home for the off season"

"You're a great player. I've seen many games. Just like your Mom that's for sure. Listen, I'd tell you to not be a stranger honey, but I think it's best you are... for Daisy atleast. I don't mean that badly Olympia. I hope you understand. She's just had a lot going on. She needs a good run now my girl, a good solid run at it"

"How is she?!" I asked, feeling surprisingly desperate to know the answer.

He smiled softly and leant back, gazing at the house and then back to me "She's doing okay too. She's working for the local network. Sports reporter. She's hoping to get anchor one day"

"She will" I predicted "she's perfect for TV"

"She's on regularly, check her out when you can. Her Mama always told her she had a face that the world would be blessed to wake up to. An Angel on earth, my Daisy"

I had only been blessed to wake up to that face once, and I still hadn't gotten over the suns reflection, rising in her eyes... nor the warmth of her hand in mine.

The world would be blessed indeed.

"Lost you there a moment" Mr Darling mused, watching me come back to the present.

"I'm sorry" I apologised, reaching for my lights and flashing them to get Bash's attention "It was great to see you" I added, desperate to now end this conversation and leave the driveway before anyone else departed that house. I watched the door like it might open at any moment, and inside of me swarmed with anxiety at the thought.

"Well" he said, Noting my urgency and placing his hands in his pockets and starting to walk away "see you around Ms Nomikos. Look after yourself"

Bash threw two hairy brown bundles into the backseat and joined me upfront. "Ready"

"Scout is off limits" I inform him as we back out of the driveway and drive off.

He rolled his eyes at me and grabbed a slice of pizza from the box.

"I mean it Bastion"

He turned up the radio and blared out a song that I had heard play all summer long, stick season. I always turned it off because of the story in the song, but Bastion was singing it loudly and obnoxiously to drown me out.

I reached over, changed the station, and let a more upbeat song kill his vibe.

Please let me lose him in the forest.

***

Bastion and I drove up my grandparents driveway quietly, and swung around the side so that we were not so visible. We got out, grabbed the bigfoots, taking one each as we started to walk around back and almost screamed as we came face to face with my Grandmother Alberta. She looked almost unrecognisable with a warm hat on, her red hair tucked inside her high neck jacket and what looked like war paint on her cheeks.

She placed her hand on her heart "Olympia and Bastion. I don't take the lords name in vain but For gods sake you almost killed me off. Why are you creeping around the house?!" She asked, and then she smiled warmly "My goodness I missed you" she said hugging me with one arm and kissing my cheek.

She looked down at our arms full of brown fur, and her hand went to her mouth as she stifled her laugh "You think you're gonna scare those babies?!" She asks.

I shook my head "No, I just want to blow their little minds and have them finally see one"

"I was gonna say. Those babies are not scared of anything. They are absolutely unshakable. Not that I've tried to scare them, but kids are built different nowadays. They scare me more than I could ever scare them. Alba pushed Theo off of the porch a few months back to prove to him he couldn't fly. I'm still recovering from it. They remind me of you girls as kids. I told Wren I'll babysit them, but I can't promise how I'll return them. It won't be my fault if it's not as a whole"

I gestured to the item she was clearly hiding behind her back. "What you got there?!" I asked.

"Nothing" she lied.

"Is that a paint gun?!" Bastion asked.

My grandmother slowly pulled it out from her back. "It's not loaded"

"Was it, though?!" I asked with a grin.

She hesitantly nodded "not with paint balls. I made these little water bomb thingies that can get pushed out that same way. Might get you a little wet... but no injury"

"It's a super soaker paint gun hybrid" Bastion mused "awesome"

"I love it" I told her, having a look over it "is this a revenge thing?! You know I like in on that"

She took us up the path a little and pointed to a neighbouring house "This guy next door...He's been poisoning the forest animals, and he's nearly killed off all of my birds"

"Asshole" I cursed.

"I narrowed down what time he comes out and puts down the food. So now I wait for him and shoot him. He's still not figured out it's me. He hears the shot and takes off running. I've hit him a couple times... always an absolute joy. We saw a for sale sign go up four days ago. I think I've almost seen him off"

"Gaga" Bash said impressed "You're hilarious"

"Don't tell your Mama" she asked us "she might think I've lost my damn mind"

I gave her my pinky finger "promise we won't"

She rubbed at her arm and pulled her coat tightly shut "Its cold out. Tell Willa to bring those babies in soon. I'll make a hot cocoa"

"I will" I told her, kissing her on the cheek.

"And Olympia" she called as we walked away.

"Yeah?!" I turned, walking backwards.

"Come by and catch up properly soon. I need to know why you are in the magazine pile at my dentists again"

"I'll come by next week" I promised.

She looked overjoyed "Love you"

"Love you" Bastion and I called back to her.

***

We put on the Bigfoot suits and made our way through the forest, it was dark and hard to see in the suit. It felt like a terrible idea the moment that Bastion and I went stumbling through the forest like Bigfoot after a couple Vodkas.

"I can't see shit" I whispered.

"Me neither" he agreed, not too far in the distance.

A little light was visible further down the track, and it wasn't hard to make out the giggles that followed, and twigs snapping under foot.

I heard a commotion ahead of me, and then within two seconds found myself flipping through the air and landing in a net.

Laughter echoed through the forest.

"Finally got ourselves a Bigfoot" I heard Millie say.

"Two" Willa added. "What a lucky night"

"I can see Awnty O's Sneakers" Alba added, followed by the poking of a stick or two in my butt cheek.

"Hey" I protested, muffled by the suit as I wrestled to take the head off "that stick is sharp"

Alba giggled, as Theodore ran back to the safety of Willa "You look silly" she told Bastion and I, stood hand on hip, brave as can be"And anyway, big foot's smell like wet dogs... and all I can smell is uncle Bash bootiful perfume"

Bastion was already half out of his rope trap "Thanks Alba"

Millie and Willa were looking very pleased with themselves. Millie's bump was obvious now under her sweater, her singleton pregnancy was showing quicker than with the twins which was nuts. Theo was holding Willa's hand tightly, amused at his uncle Bastion stumbling toward him and playing at being a bigfoot, arms outstretched toward him.

"I might eat you little boy" he teased.

Millie walked over and flicked his chest "No he isn't Theodore. Don't listen to silly uncle Bash... he's a doofus"

Then she pointed at her own eyes and threw them back toward Bash as a warning. In other words... if he has nightmares I'm gonna come for you buddy.

Alba came to his rescue and poked Bastion with the same stick she had poked me. "Stay away from my brother you ugly hairy primate"

"She's not wrong with the description" I joked, clambering out of the rope.

Lala took my hand to steady me "Nice try" she winked.

"Who told you that we were coming?!" I asked.

"Teddy" Millie answered slightly out of breath as she lifted Theodore back into his loose green rain boot.

Bastion shook his head "Mom" he replied with surprise "she doesn't usually ruin the fun"

Lala took Albas hand "I think it was Harper, she worried you were gonna scare the kids"

"That makes more sense" Bash returned "Mama never stops worrying"

I rolled my eyes "Those same kids that ran towards us with sharp pointy sticks. I don't think she needs to worry about that"

Alba walked past me and gave me a devilish smirk "and I'd do it again"

"Oh I know you would Albuquerque " I laughed tickling her under her bright yellow jacket.

She ran up ahead away from me, and left us to walk back to the house behind her.

"Gaga has hot cocoa at the ready" I announced.

Theodore ran ahead at that and joined Alba in the race back to their great grandmothers warm and welcoming kitchen.

I stopped walking and pulled back on the head piece.

Millie and Willa stopped with Bastion "What are you doing now? Scaring Allie?!" Millie asked.

If they could see my wicked grin under this suit, they'd know. "No, I have one more thing to do. I'll meet you in five"

"Olympia" Lala called after me as I vanished back into the forest "nothing illegal"

Bastion hurried behind me "are we doing what I think we are doing?!"

"I can't stand by and let Gaga have all of the fun with this sick twisted freak"

He pulled back on his head piece too "Agreed"

***

The neighbour moved out the very next day. Apparently terrified of something that came out of the woods.

No idea what that could have been 😏