*** P.E. | Gymnasium
Today's activity was dodgeball. The class was split into two teams once again, but this time Ayden, Dakota, and I were on one side, while Phoenix and Rory were on the other. I was thankful to not be on the same team as Phoenix like I had been last time but then processed the game we were about to play, as I looked across the court to see the familiar and mischievous grin emerging onto his face.
Ah, man...
For the rest of the period I tried-- and failed -- to avoid getting hit by Phoenix's flying dodgeballs. They didn't necessarily hurt, but they left quite a sting if thrown fast and hard enough.
Both Ayden and Dakota tried to catch the balls from the other team. Kota being so athletic in the first place made her super talented at many different sports, even if she was only on the volleyball team. She effortlessly caught and threw a ball toward Phoenix, hitting him on the arm.
I also tried to catch a ball but ended up slamming straight into Ayden as we both tried to catch the same one, sending us tumbling to the ground.
"Oh, shit! Are you guys okay?!" I hear Dakota's voice yell faintly-- but almost not at all -- as she rushes towards us.
Everything around me had almost become muffled, making it hard to focus on anything but what was in front of me.
Him.
The way we landed had me lying on my back, my arms propping myself up with Ayden's face just a few inches away from me, his eyes locked onto mine. His body was perfectly in between my legs, and his torso leaned down in front of me with his hands on either side of my head to keep himself upright. I looked away embarrassed, trying not to let him see my face. I could instantly smell his cologne from being this close to him. It filled my nostrils as I inhaled it once again, wanting the scent to linger forever.
Ba dum Ba dum Ba dum
Thinking back to the day he let me borrow his hoodie; the day I kissed him... I didn't think things could get even more embarrassing.
Ba dum Ba dum Ba dum
My eyes started to trail up towards his, but he was already looking away. I was kinda glad he wasn't looking at me because the blush on my face was impossible to not notice.
Quickly he stands up asking, "Hey, are you hurt?" He was still looking away slightly as he cleared his throat, offering me his hand.
I quickly tried to compose myself as much as possible, which was now harder than ever. "Y-yeah, I mean no! I-I'm alright." I stuttered, taking his hand as I stood up.
I tried to get a better look at Ayden's face since he had been awkwardly facing away from me. Instead of looking away when he noticed me staring at him, I couldn't stop myself from admiring him. He always stared so intensely at me every time we locked eyes, almost as if he was doing the same thing to me. Before he turned away again, I noticed the faintest of blush appear on his cheeks.
Ba dum Ba dum Ba dum
A few moments went by before Phoenix groaned from across the gym-- sitting on a bench, followed by another snarky remark. "Are we done with the smooch fest yet?"
Once the teacher had clarified that everyone was okay, we continued with a final round, which I was ready for this time. The adrenaline rushing through my veins was ecstatic and I wasn't going to let it go to waste.
I dodged a ball Phoenix had thrown toward me hastily moving to pick it up, before hurling it straight at him.
The ball impacted against his face, and it made a loud slapping noise echo across the court. I felt my heart sink as I watched him look in my direction. He wiped away a small amount of blood from his busted lip.
When the bell rang, he kept his eyes glued onto me. I walked to the locker room reading his lips as he mouthed the words, 'You're fucking dead.'
Most people had already finished getting dressed by the time I made it into the locker room, including Ayden and Rory who were both already long gone. I hoped things wouldn't be too awkward again.
I walked to my locker, getting the clothes I had worn to school that day before taking my shirt and basketball shorts off. I put on my black skinny jeans and scuffed Converse.
I suddenly feel a hot breath against my shoulder.
"Wait." I hear Phoenix's voice coming from behind me; low and demanding.
Without another word, he drags me to a bathroom stall, leaving me without my shirt.
"W-what are yo--"
He roughly presses his lips against mine, his hands not hesitating to grip my waist, pulling me closer to him.
I can't help but let a small moan slip out; he was always so rough and unpredictable. It caught me off guard every time.
After a few moments, he pulls away for a second, forcing me to look up at him. "You owe me for today." He hints at his busted lip.
"But I didn't mean to--"
He cuts me off by putting his hand over my mouth.
"You said if I wanted something from you to take it, so I am." His lip curls into a smirk as he licks his lips eagerly.
I couldn't even argue with that statement... he was right.
"And... you clearly seem to enjoy it."
He keeps his hand pressed to my mouth as he leans down to kiss my neck and collarbone.
To an extent, he was right but... the reason I enjoyed it wasn't because of the person doing it, but because of the person I was thinking of doing it to me instead.
His kisses had quickly turned into biting and then into sucking. It was impossible to be quiet now, especially with how aggressive and intense he was being.
I pressed myself up against him moving my hands up his shirt, and to my surprise he allowed it. My fingers trailed along his body, feeling every inch of his warm chiseled body.
"Mmm.." He hummed against my skin, pulling up from sucking another dark hickey onto my chest.
He takes his hand away from my mouth and I look up at him, my face red with embarrassment.
All of this was so confusing to me. Obviously, I didn't like Phoenix, at all. That much was certain. I had my reasons for doing what we've been doing, but him? What are his intentions?
"W-Why are you doing this..?" I hesitated to ask.
Phoenix stared at me curiously, thinking carefully about what to say next.
"Because I'm the best you got." He shoves my shirt into my arms and exits the stall leaving me there speechless. I put my shirt on and rushed towards the cafeteria to meet up with my friends.
*** Cafeteria
Everyone had already been sitting at a table together eating and talking amongst each other. When Kota saw me she immediately stood up, waving her arms in the air like I was blind or something.
I sat down at the spot across from her and next to Ayden.
"What took you so long?" Dakota cocked her head to the side curiously. "You're always here before me." She takes another bite of her food, staring at me as she waits for my reply.
I paused for a second, taking my lunch box out of my bag before opening it up, revealing what my mother had packed me this morning before I left.
"Oh, just.. Phoenix messing with me again. Not a big deal.." I trail off, taking a sip from my apple juice. "You know how he is."
Kota's eyebrow raises in suspicion, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Yes, Ziek. I know exactly how he is which means I also know it is a big deal!" She looks at me with concern. "Look... I'm not sure what's been going on with you lately, but you know you can tell me anything, right?"
Normally in any other high school drama situation, I would agree with her but this was even too much for me to handle.
I couldn't let anyone know about this. Not Dakota, Skyler, or... Ayden-- especially him.
"We always got your back, Ez." Ayden chips in reassuringly, putting his arm across my shoulders. I blushed a little and looked down at my food.
"Oh shit-- Skyler!" My head shot up as I looked around the crowded cafeteria. "I was supposed to meet up with her so she could eat here with us!"
Ayden stood up, looking around with me. "What does she look like?"
"Weeeell-- I'm not sure what she's wearing today because I haven't seen her yet, but she has black and pink hair, and she's scene so she's probably wearing something along those lines-"
After a few minutes of aimlessly looking around, I feel a tap on my shoulder.
"Looking for someone?"
I turned around and let out a relieved sigh. "Sky-! I'm so glad you found us, we were looking for you--" My smile slowly faded into a frown. "I'm sorry I didn't meet up with you earlier, some... stuff happened."
"Don't feel bad it's okay! Besides, I spotted you guys from across the cafeteria." She laughs a little and sits down next to Dakota.
Everyone seemed to be getting along and liking Skyler which made me feel at ease for the first time in the last couple of weeks. Finally a simple peaceful moment.
When lunch ended, we had all made sure to know the plans of the party on Friday: meet up, go together, get crunk, and leave.
***
The rest of the day had gone by-- strangely normal -- which made me feel a bit tense, but nothing ended up happening, not even in math class when I saw Phoenix sitting at his desk who'd give me the occasional ice-cold stare.
As soon as I got home I had to do my homework. When mom finished dinner, she brought it up to my room which was the perfect time to talk to her about the party and sleepover.
"Thanks, mom..." I grabbed the food from her hands. "Oh also, there's gonna be this party at school that me and all my friends are going to, and then I was wondering if I could sleepover with Ayden since it'll be the weekend."
Obviously, I wasn't going to tell her the full truth. Going to a real party would've made her instantly say no.
A white lie never hurt anyone, right?
"Of course sweetheart! I'm so happy you've made some new friends!" She gives my shoulder a light squeeze, kissing the top of my head. "Just make sure to be safe and stick by your friends." She walks away closing the door behind her.
After I'd eaten and completed the rest of my homework I tried to go to sleep although I didn't have much luck-- considering the way my stomach had been stirring.
How could I sleep when there was so much confusing shit going on? What was I thinking telling Phoenix he could do whatever he wanted?!
I thought about what he said to me in the locker room.
"Because I'm the best you got."
Is that... true?
I finally drifted off after a while with tear stains trailing down my cheeks.