“Sweet baby Jesus… the sexual tension radiating from you two probably has a mile radius,” Jaime shivered jokingly.

“Jaime!”

“Chill your tits, Nix,” Jaime laughed.

It was lunch and we were gathered around our beautiful willow, like any other day. Everything was normal!- Well except for the fact that Vic and I made out the night before. As much as I hate to admit it, Jaime was right. Sure, I told Vic we couldn’t be together right away but that didn’t mean that the emotional draw I have towards him just disappeared. I looked over at Vic and saw him slowly chewing on his sandwich, looking beyond the trunk of the tree.

“Just be a couple so Jaime and I aren’t pulled into this push and pull bullshit,” Mike sighed playfully.

I noticed Vic stiffen.

“Shut up,” I growled.

Mike threw up his hands in mock surrender, “Well you’re touchy today.”

I bit into my apple, my jaw clenching.

“It’s quite obvious you guys like like each other. Why draw it out?” Jaime asked with a shrug of his shoulders, his question serious.

Vic and I quietly dismissed them and continued eating our lunch. The subject eventually moved to something else…

---

I laid in Vic’s bedroom carpet, Jaime and Mike occupying the bed and video game system and Vic was at the desk writing with his headphones on.

“Lets play a game!” I announced, flailing my arms around.

Jaime went rigid and I chuckled.

“Not that kind of game Himes,” I giggled.

Mike shook his head at Jaime. The night before we watched all the Saw movies together in Vic and Mike’s living room. Jaime didn’t do too well with the mind games and gore- I’m pretty sure we scarred the kid.

“What kind of game?” Mike asked, his eyes still on the game and his fingers frantically pushing the buttons on the remote.

“I dunno,” I admitted, looking away.

“Oh! How about truth or dare?!” Jaime gasped, dropping his remote.

I scoffed, “Your originality is out of this world.”
“Any better suggestions,?” he challenged with a cocked eyebrow.

Defeated, I looked away and mumbled, “…No.”

He clasped his hands, “Then its settled!”

Jaime grabbed one of Vic’s navy blue pillows and chucked it at his head.

“What the fuck man?” Vic snarled, snatching off his headphones.

“We’re playing truth or dare,” Jaime announced, taking no notice to the death glare Vic was shooting at him.

Vic has been strangely quiet, much more absorbed in his book and…distant. Particularly around me… I brushed it off and sat up. We formed a square on the carpet and a giddy Jaime spoke up.

“Okay, I want to go first!”

“Go for it,” I shrugged.

“Okay…Mike! Truth or dare?” Jaime asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

“Dare,” Mike grinned without hesitance.

“I dare you to run down the street in your boxers screaming your head off!”

Mike’s eyes widened “What the hell man?!”

I snickered, “A dare is a dare!”

Mike stripped and angrily huffed, making his way to the front door. We watched from the open window. His skinny arms were moving in all directions over his head and his shouting bounced off the close homes and could probably be heard for blocks. I give him his props, he definitely committed to the role.

He stomped into the house and sat back in his spot, all of us still laughing.

“Don’t you wanna put your clothes on?” I asked once I could breathe again.

He shrugged, “Not really.”

Jaime shook his head, “Your turn.”
“Nix!” Mike called, clapping. “Truth or Dare?”

I knew they wouldn't but the fact that they could ask me something I wasn’t ready to speak on yet loomed over my decision.

“Dare,” I said softly.

Mike grinned, “I dare you to wear your bra on your head.”

I threw my hands up, “Really Mike? Of all the things in the world?”

“Would you like worse?” he grinned mischievously.

I sighed and undid my bra in seconds from under my shirt and hung it on my head, making a ‘ta-da’ motion at Mike. Jaime chuckled and Vic seemed pretty amused at the completion of my dare.

“Jaime, truth or dare?” I sighed.

“Truth,” Jaime sang.

I asked with an obnoxious voice six octaves higher than usual, “What’s the name of your crush?”

His eyes shot open. He stared at me for a while before looking away and scratching the back of his neck, “Well uh…Zoey.”

I was immediately floored, “Lives in the same fucking house as us Zoey?”

He looked down and chuckled nervously, “Y-Yeah.”

I tackled him, “I knew it! Gah! You guys would be so cute!”

“Too bad she doesn't care for me that way.”

“Make a move!” I immediately suggested. I’ve seen the way Zoey drools over Jaime’s blinding smile. There’s a lot of things you notice when you never say anything. Floating about had its benefits.

Jaime looked away, “So Vic! Truth or dare?”

Vic thought for a moment, “Ah what the hell, dare.”

Jaime grinned devilishly and Mike groaned, “This is about to get really cheesy.”

“Kiss Phoenix for...10 seconds!” Jaime laughed.
I felt my cheeks grow hot and my hair stand up.

Oh…my…God!

What if he ki-kisses me in front of them? Does my breathe stink? Do I look bad? Is my hair-

“No,” he said plainly, his face stoic. I felt the blunt sting of rejection and looked away.

Vic went back to his desk and put his headphones in, opening up his book and taking up the dull orange pencil.

Mike gave Vic a knowing look and didn’t question it. Jaime, however, went to ask him about abruptly ending the game.

Before Jaime could say a single word, I spoke.

“Leave it, Himes…”

‘What the hell?’ Phe whispered confusedly.

I…I don’t know.

“I think I should go,” I mumbled, the tense mood forcing me to my feet. I knew Vic’s been quiet and distant lately but impolite was a new addition to the list. He’s never blatantly cut off anything we do together. He’s never been so…rude.

“I’ll be back home in about an hour,” Jaime smiled apologetically, glancing at Vic who had his back to us. I nodded confusedly and headed out, closing the door behind me.

---

It was the end of the day and I was getting all the books I’d need for my homework. It’s been a little over a month since I’ve been to Vic and Mike’s house to hang out. Vic has been avoiding me and hardly even talks to me. Even when he does, he’s short and makes it his mission to keep the conversation curt. It frustrated me because I needed Vic in my life; He was the calm of it all. Vic was the only thing giving me that little extra push to get better. Sure, Mike and Jaime helped a lot but Vic…I have a different attachment to him that’s hard for me to just shake off.

What do I do Phe?

‘But you never like what I have to say,’ she sighed.

Just go for it.

‘…Confront him.’

I laughed at the voice in my head.

Confront him? You do realize I’m not one for altercation. That’s completely out of my element. Meaning, my chances of fucking up will sky-rocket.

She huffed, ‘You asked for my opinion and you got it.’

I think I’ll just give him space…Wait it out ya know? Thanks anyway Phe.

‘No problem,’ she mumbled.

Why are you still so sour?

‘I ship you and Vic so fucking hard, man! You may as well have thrown me under a bus when you told Vic that you couldn’t be with him the day after you guys kissed.’

I sighed, I’m keeping him out of Tinley’s clutches. His safety comes first- I want him to live like a regular teenager, not a tortured teenager.

‘My feels,’ she groaned.

I shook my head at her. She was still upset about me not dating Vic but I have my reasons and she knows that. If everyday of my life wasn’t like some dramatic high school series I’d probably be in Vic’s embrace at the moment. His slightly built arms wrapped around my small frame, his disheveled hair hanging carelessly around his face and his lips-

‘Oh my god stop or we’re going to faint!’
“Hey Phoenix,” Tony called softly.

I jumped at the sound of his voice but quickly composed myself. I turned around and smiled shyly.

“Hey.”

He glanced to both sides of him, “What you doing after school?”

I looked down nervously. Vic’s been distant and hasn’t invited me over to the house in forever so that wasn’t an excuse. Mike has been trying to figure him out but refuses to tell me anything. It couldn’t hurt to hang out with Tony.

“Nothing, just homework I guess…why?”

He cleared his throat, “I was wondering if you wanted to go to the skate park with Mike and I.”

I looked at him confusedly.

Mike would be there?

“It’s cool if you don’t want to,” he added, “I get it. Tinley hates skate parks and-”

I laughed, “Dude, I’ll definitely go to the skate park with you. Chill.”

He smiled- and holy hell was it perfect.

“Cool, meet us at the one on Riley Road in 30?”

I smirked, “See you then.”

He jogged down the hall and I watched him disappear around the corner. I smiled at nothing and shut my locker. I was watching the tile tiles pass below my shoes when I saw a pair of red stilettos headed my way; I groaned.

“Why the hell was my boyfriend talking to you?” A familiarly shrill voice asked.

“Why don’t go and ask him?” I mumbled.

“Just fucking tell me or so help me-”

“Don’t bitch me out because you don’t know what’s going on with your boyfriend. I’m not getting involved with your pettiness so if you want answers, march your ass to Tony,” I snapped, heading in the direction of the main exit.

“If you lay a single finger on him you’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of your pathetic life!” she shrieked in my direction. I turned on my heel and showed her my favorite finger, turned back around and headed for my house to change.

---

I had just gotten home and kicked my shoes off. I bounded up the steps and threw my bag to the side of my bed, dashing to my closet. My eyes searched quickly for something loose and comfortable since I was going to a skate park- I didn’t want to wear something I cared too much about. I pulled out a graphic tank and groaned when I realized it was another shirt that fell victim to Zoey’s attempt to multitask. I glanced over at my clock and rolled my eyes. I striped and threw on the tank and a pair of blue high wasted shorts. I took my hair out of its ponytail and placed a matching beanie on my head and slid on my usual amount of bracelets and filled my fingers with rings. Annoyed at the disappearance of time, I stuffed my feet into a pair of black vans and touched up my eyeliner. Franticly, I tossed all the necessities (lip gloss, small bottle of perfume, eyeliner, mascara…) in an old black leather bag with spikes on a side of the strap. It wasn’t till I turned for the door did I noticed Jaime standing there, his face straight for once.

Uh oh, that’s never a good thing.

'Brace for impact.'

“Where you going?” Jaime asked. His tone was unusual and seemed foreign when it escaped his mouth; he’s always so playful but that didn’t seem to be the case at the moment.

“I’m going to go to the skate park,” I answered truthfully.

He frowned slightly but his eyes seemed annoyed, “With who?”

I looked at him nervously. What was going on?

“Tony and Mike,” I replied, still standing dumbly in front of my vanity.

His frown deepened, “Tony?”

“And Mike,” I grumbled, annoyed.

“Phoenix,” Jaime said plainly. I knew exactly what he meant and I rolled my eyes. He’s known about my crush on Tony since forever but what does that have to do with anything?

“I’m going Jaime. I’m a big girl and I can handle myself. Plus, Mike will be there.”

Jaime shook his head at me and headed to his room without saying another word. I scoffed at him and headed to the park, determined to actually have fun for the first time in more than a month.

---

I arrived more than ten minutes late. Tony spotted me immediately and cruised over, smirking.

“Can you ride?” he asked, kicking the board into his hands.

I smirked, “A little.”

When I first took up the whole not talking thing, I spent a lot of time on boards. I just liked the feeling of the wind licking my scalp and the adrenaline rush. My past foster mom thought I had a problem- that I was a little too infatuated with danger. I had to be sneaky but I taught myself how to ride and that’s how I get around town and the neighborhood when Miss. Riley can’t take me.

He handed me the board and put his hands in the pockets of his skinny jeans, “Let’s see what you’ve got then.”

I put my bag strap across my chest and grabbed the board and dropped it, my feet landing on it and making it connect with the ground. I glanced over at Tony as he watched me with critical eyes. I turned forward with a broad grin and propelled myself. I placed my feet in the correct position and crouched. A blink later and I kicked and spun the board in the air, stomping it back on the ground and standing tall, cruising forward for a few seconds before going for more speed.

‘Hell yeah!’ Phe cheered.

I was landing a series of tricks that I’d taught myself. The fact that Tony was watching me completely disappeared from my thoughts and I was now heading for a small ramp. With a slight tinge of courage coursing through me and Phe’s encouraging words, I skated across the ramp in what would look like a half circle if the wheels were dipped in paint. After almost ten minutes of doing whatever the hell I wanted, I proudly made my way back to a slightly stunned Tony with my hands in my pockets and my back straight.

“Woah,” he scoffed, unbelieving.

I cleanly kicked the board into my hands and handed it to him.

“Where’s Mike?” I asked as he took the board from my hands.

“Right behind you,” Tony responded casually spinning one of the wheels on his skateboard.

I turned around and Mike was grinning down at me, his own board in his hands.

“Some show you put on squirt,” Mike chuckled.

“Hey! I’m not even that short,” I pouted

“Right,” he smiled.

We hung out and skated around, daring each other to do tricks and fly off ramps. Tony and I laughed and talked a great deal and I got to know a lot about him. He wasn’t as menacing as his looks made him seem. Tony is a sweet guy that knows his way around a skate park.

‘And has a girlfriend,’ Phe coughed.

Tony skate off to to talk to a friend and I was left with Mike.

"So how's Vic? I...I miss him and-"

"Don't," Mike interrupted.

"And why the hell not? I care about him so much and he's just cutting me out of his life! That's not fair!"

Mike scoffed, "A lot of things aren't necessarily fair Phoenix. And example? Confessing you're feelings for a boy, kissing him and then telling him you can't be together. Fucked up right?"

I felt my rage pulsing through my veins.

He has no right!

"So Vic's talking to everyone but me huh? Since you seem to know about the night you were wasted- he had to have told you. He's definitely avoiding only me then?"

Mike looked away, realizing he was trapped, "My brother is none of your business."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" I screamed, throwing my hands up. A few people looked over at us but that was all. "Vic was my closest friend for so long and then he just disappears I don't deserve to know why?"

Mike shook his head at me, "You seriously don't get it, do you?"

I'm beyond fed up with this cryptic bullshit.

"Obviously not, I'm having this conversation with you aren't I?"

"Not anymore," he spoke gruffly. "I'm gonna go get water for all of us. Stay here."

I scrunched up my face in anger and stomped over to a bench, trying to calm down.

---

Tony and I were sitting on the park bench. Mike went to go get a few water bottles to help with the California heat before the dehydration caught up to us. We were talking on the bench about how I learned to skate when I noticed a girl dressed in really short shorts and a yellow crop top that stopped right above her belly button making her way towards us.

‘Slut at twelve o’clock,’ Phe groaned.

I should have seen this one coming though.

“Hey there,” she giggled, chewing on her gum and twirling her hair around her finger. Her eyes were glued to Tony and she didn’t seem to be aware of my presence. She reminded me a lot of Tinsley.

Tony’s smile vanished instantly and he immediately masked himself with bored eyes and a straight face, not saying anything.

“My name’s Sadie,” she introduced as if Tony’s cold stare was welcoming and friendly. “I was wondering if I could get your number so we could hang out some time,” she winked, her flirtatious tone nearly making me barf.

“I have a girlfriend,” Tony dead panned.

“Her?” she scoffed, pointing a hot pink nail at me. “You can do so much better.”
I squinted my eyes at her, my fists clenched.

‘This bitch…’

Tony grabbed my hand, “I’m perfectly fine with what I’ve got.”

His tone was curt and his grip on my hand was stiff. I felt my stomach tickle and if the sun hadn’t already beaten on my face, I’d be crimson.

She pulled a piece of paper from her shorts with curly print and neon green ink on it, “Well when you actually want to have a good time, call me.”

She walked away, trying much too hard to sway her hips. Tony released my hand crumbled up the paper, throwing it on the floor. A short period of silence passed before I finally broke.

“Why did you say I was your girlfriend?” I asked in a slightly higher voice. I’ll admit I was flustered and confused. The thought of being with Tony was something I haven’t thought about in so long that the illusion of it being true less than two minutes ago was an indescribable feeling. The feeling in my stomach was almost painful.

He shrugged, “No point in explaining that this is the first time we’ve hung out and that my girlfriend is probably out getting her hair done. I just wanted her to go away.”

I felt a tinge of disappointment, “O-Oh.”

“Well that was certainly something,” Mike whistled from behind us, my bag, which he took to carry the water in, bulging. I was still ticked at Mike but I had to just give it some time; Vic was probably fine and I should try and be okay as well.

“It was nerve wracking. She’s been eye-balling me all day with the most viscous eyes. How do you go through that every day?” I asked Tony.

Tony laughed- I’m sure I don’t have to explain how adorable it was.

“Eh, I’m blunt about it and they usually catch on to my disinterest,” He informed with warm eyes.
“But her,” he laughed, “She’s a special kind of stupid.”

I laughed and Mike shook his head, sniggering.

“Next time just refer them to me,” Mike winked, handing out the water. We laughed and continued talking about the most miscellaneous and random things.

Notes

Phoenix's Outfit at le skate Park: http://www.polyvore.com/teenage_patriot/set?id=100082172

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I MADE IT ON THE POPULAR PAGE ON MY VERY FIRST FIC ON THIS CITE OMG YES. I LOVE ALL OF YOU SO FUDGING MUCH LIKE JUST OMG.

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This is so friggen long ;-; I hope I don't overwhelm you guys but I needed to update something nice and long for the weekend since I MIGHT not be able to update. I'm not very proud of this chapter-, I sorry for any bad errors T_T I'll try and edit soon~ Loved all the comments on last chapter! You guys are awesome! Comment, Rate, Subscribe, Vote and all that jazz~~

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Topic of the Day: On the whole argument thing with Mike and Nix, who do you side with most? Why?(;