Everything about today worries me. I haven’t been to school for a whole month. Sure it was marked as excused absences and I’ve been keeping up with my school work but it isn’t exactly the school aspect of school that troubles me. It was the social bit of it all. Would they be ballsy enough to attack me in the halls? ; it’s not like they have anything to lose. Will people have somehow found out about my schitz? Will I be able to shake Vic after school so I can handle Tinsley and her goons alone? I had more questions than answers but one thing is for sure; shit
will hit the fan. What happens when it does will be up to me.

“Phoenix?” Vic knocked on the door, his tone nervous.

“Yeah?” I called back. I let my hand fall from my face since I finally finished perfecting my winged eyeliner.

“You almost ready?”

I looked over my black floral print sweater, black tights and dark brown knee-high leather boots. I needed something light weight and easy to move in but not too suspicious; I didn’t want to look like I was going to the gym but I needed to be prepared to defend myself at any given moment. (Outfit in the Notes)

“One sec!” I sang through the door. I threw on a messenger bag and watch that matched the leather of my boots and a few beaded bracelets.

“I’ll be in the car,” Vic informed, walking down the hall.

I couldn’t help but smile at his voice. Though he's clearly worried this morning, last night was amazingly relaxing. We cuddled and talked about the strangest of things. Somewhere in there I managed to convince him to let me hear the song he’s been writing lately. He seemed to be putting so much thought into lately since he’s always strumming and humming that same nameless tune while hunched over his journal. I planned on waiting to see if he’d bring it up but I was much too excited to wait for something that may not happen. He’s only showed me that one song.

That one incredible, breath-taking song.

With a dramatic, love sick sigh I snatched up my phone, sound recorder and what Jaime calls my ‘black John Lennon glasses’ and headed to Vic’s car.

---

“Fuck,” I muttered while staring at my now opened locker.

Vic looked up from his phone, “Whats wrong?”

“I forget my damn history book.” I sighed with annoyance.

Usually something like that wouldn’t bother me so much but as I’ve mentioned before, my body is still adjusting to that damn medicine.

“You can borrow mine,” He shrugged. “C’mon”

I went to apologize when he grabbed my hand and guided me to the direction of his locker,

“Don’t worry about it.”

I smiled shyly up at Vic.

“Do you have any plans after school?” Vic asked slyly.

I rolled my eyes playfully, knowing full well where this was going.

“Vic I’m one hundred percent sure I’m going to have a hell of a lot of homework and you will too. No time for making out on your couch today,” I smirked, tapping his nose once I noticed the goofy frown etched on his tan face.

“Fine, so long as you help me with my trigonometry homework,” he huffed.

I smacked his arm humorously, “Hey! You know tutors get paid.”

“I pay you all the time,” he winked.

Fighting the blush burning my cheeks, “Well I think—

My ears perked and I twirled out of Tinsley’s way. I heard the click of her heels a bit late but I noticed none-the-less. Slightly irked that I dropped my guard, I squinted at her back as she continued down the hall. I’m quite sure she meant to bump into me since Vic and I were walking along the wall and completely out of the way. If she would have hit me I’d have dropped my books and I’d probably be in pain due to the relatively fresh bruise I have on that arm.

“Don’t depend on your eyes!” Damon barked. He had blindfolded me and ordered I get in fighting stance and prepare for attack. I immediately put myself in a defensive stance with my nerves almost making me shake.

Almost.

I heard that soft patter of feet but I didn’t let him see I knew what direction he was coming from. I heard the rustle of his shirt and immediately ducked, sweeping my feet in hopes of catching him and tripping him so that I can pin him and be done with this exercise. I felt him jump over my leg so I immediately retracted it and flipped out of the way to get a bit of distance.

“You know if I was some merciless asshole I could have stomped on your foot and broken it quite easily,” he stated matter- off-factly, once again giving me a rough estimate of where he was.

“Duly noted.”

Still standing defensively I listened desperately for signs of him; Breathing, the rustle of clothing, footsteps, anything. Then it happened, Damon attacked. I heard the distinct sound of his loose shorts and I jumped out of the way of what have been a very painful kick to the stomach in just the nick of time. Not letting up, I heard the pop of his shoulder – indicating he was swinging his arm back to punch me – I didn’t completely dodge the blow and his fist got me in the arm. The distinct sound of him jumping away distracted me from the pulsing in my arm and I immediately ran towards him like I intended to punch him. Remembering how far apart his legs are when he falls into his stance, which he does every time he completes an attack, I slid gracefully between his legs feet first, jumped up using my shoulders, still riding the momentum from the slid, turned around and hit him clean in the back of his knee with one swift kick . Once I heard the thud of his knees meeting the slippery mat I put him in an air tight head lock from behind. Everything happened so I quickly that I forgot to breath and I finally let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding. I couldn’t help the smug grin that graced my lips when I heard his confused and slightly worried chuckle. Once I released his head he clapped slowly as he stood to his feet.

Damon untied the blind fold with an impressed smirk, “If I was a small little teenage girl that could pull off that slide I’d ask you to teach me.”


“Tinsley is one persistent girl,” Vic scoffed with amazement.
I shook my head and stopped in front of his locker, “Something tells me she won’t be after today.”

Vic quirked his eyebrow at my mysterious prediction but knew I wouldn’t elaborate so he went to work on dialing in his combination.

---

“Can I have your apple Nix?” Jaime asked happily.
I glanced up from the book I started this past weekend and tossed said fruit to the spiky haired boy without much thought. I was leaning on Vic while he ate his sandwich and talked with both Jaime and Mike about something pertaining to the class they all had next.

“How’s the book?” Tony asked, taking a seat in front of me with a bag of chips.

“Pretty good, the protagonist is a complete asshole,” I laughed.

“Couldn’t agree more, but I find is strangely refreshing,” Tony smirked.

My eyes slightly widened, “You’ve read this?”

He nodded, “I’ve noticed we enjoy the same…dark and twisted taste for novels.”

“What’d you think of Riley’s justification for killing Ana’s drug dealer? Or when he had the prostitute kill herself in front of Michael?” I smiled. I’ve never gotten to discuss a book that was so controversial when it came to what people thought of all the morbid things that happened within the plot.

“I figured though it was extreme, it got the point he was trying to make across,” Tony smiled with a slight shimmer in his eyes. Something about the rare sparkle made me blush.

“Whats the book called,” Vic asked gruffly. I whipped around and noticed everyone was staring at us and that I was leaning towards Tony, listening intently instead of resting on Vic.

“G-Gambino Street,” I stuttered nervously.

Tony nodded at Vic slowly with a smirk playing on his lips, “Yep. You should read it.”

Vic squinted his eyes at Tone, “No thanks. I’ll just have Nix tell me all about it when she comes over to my house after school.”

Tony’s grip on his bag of chips tightened, making the plastic bag crunch.

Mike’s head was lifted upward and his eyes were closed and his face looked pained, like he was dramatically praying for something very hard while Jaime stared dead at me with knowing eyes. I knew exactly what he was thinking and it made me cringe.

His eyes seemed to have the words “You need to tell them” written right into them.

Just as Tony went to say something the bell rang and I immediately sprung to my feet with a forced smile.

“Well I’ll see you guys after school!” I added with an unusually high voice just before I quickly departed from the awkward and very uncomfortable situation.

---

It was the end of the day and I couldn’t help but feel slightly relieved and nervous at the same time. I told Vic I wanted to walk home so that I could clear my head and asked him to take my bag with him. All this lying was starting to make me feel terrible and Vic seems to grow more and more wary every time.

I have to end this

I slid the Bluetooth sized recorder into my bra and began to walk out from the same exit I used the day I got jumped and trudged towards my house. I kept my face passive so that they didn’t think I was expecting them. I had one chance to do this because if I didn’t do it right the first time, they’d already know that I’ve trained for this and they’ll return prepared. I had what is referred to as the element of surprise and I can’t afford to waste it.

I was about a block away from my neighborhood. The spot they grabbed me at the first time is about five minutes behind me.

Any minute now.

Just as the wind picked up, I heard the reckless stomping of feet and rolled my eyes.

They weren’t even going to try and sneak up on me? How thoughtless.

“Hold on a second, bitch,” a deep voice called, reaching for me. I allowed him to grab me and spin me around towards a smug Tinsley and two other muscular guys at her side. She was in a powder pink sweater vest and sky blue long sleeved collar shirt under it with a white flare skirt, tights and riding boots. I faced them as though frightened, making her smile broaden.

“Thought you could just hide for a whole month huh? We knew you’d have to come back eventually,” she cackled.

I looked up at the guy grasping my shoulders with pitiful eyes, “W-What are you going to do to me?”

On the inside, I was boiling. I was indescribably angry and impatient and just…furious. But I had to do this right.

Tinsley waved her hand dismissively, “The usual. Pin you and beat the shit out of you; Nothing too unusual.”

I intentionally glanced beyond them as if planning my escape route.

Tinsley cocked her head to the side, “Take her between these two buildings, she looks like she’s going to run.”

I had to fight the urge to smirk so instead I forced a fearful whimper as he pushed me into the alley.

Tinsley marched pompously into the alley with that sickening smile once we were deep enough in the dim pathway.

Everything was going so smoothly! Almost too smoothly!

The guy went to grab me again, but this time I grabbed his hand and jerked his wrist out of place in seconds. He collapsed onto his knees screaming and holding his hand quite radically. Annoyed, I kicked him across his face to knock him unconscious. I slowly turned around to meet Tinsley’s shocked stare once I was sure he was out. I went to take a step towards her when her two body guards stomped in front of her.

“No one else has to get hurt if you just let me talk to her,” I spoke calmly, never breaking eye contact with the now angry blonde.

“Fuck no. Get her!” She barked with her manicured finger pointing at my slightly slouched figure.

I stared at them with a bored expression so that they wouldn’t know what to expect. I was trying to maintain their naivety to just how seriously I have improved. I’m sure they’re stupid enough to underestimate me. One of them grinned at me and walked over to me. I didn’t bother moving, just kept eye contact with Tinsley. Just before his fist reached my face I moved my head out of the way just enough to dodge the attack completely. He scowled and immediately went for it again…which I dodged just as easily. He went to snatch up my hair but I grew tired of his carelessness and crouched enough to miss his grip and instantly punched him in his stomach, making him lurch forward. I spun around him and kicked him in the back of his knees with my heel. I twisted around him again and immediately took the opportunity to knee him in the chin, sending him backwards.

“I’m sure you can relate to the pain he’s surely in,” I called to Tinsley casually. There’s no doubt she remembers me doing a less brutal version of what I just did to her friend. This guy wasn’t some lanky blonde though and grabbed at my feet since the blow didn’t knock him out. I stomped on his hand with my boot. My actions were quickly followed by a pained roar. I noticed two of his fingers were bending at strange angles and wrinkled my nose. I had no intention of breaking and dislocating so many bones during this little confrontation. But since his crying was much more silent then the other guy, I didn’t bother knocking him out.

“Stay down,” I stated plainly.

I then went to take another step towards the girl when the last one fell into a stance in front of her.

So he’s a fighter! I may have to actually get technical after all.

He smirked condescendingly at me once I halted.

“What’s wrong bitch? Not so tough now?” he asked teasingly.

“Doesn’t look like it huh Johnny?” Tinsley laughed snootily.

I locked eyes with both of them, the smile on my face growing as theirs shrunk.
I stood before them in my own fighting stance, hands up and feet spaced.

“Bullshit! You’re just copying him!”

“Well you didn’t have to figure that out the hard way if you’d just talk to me like a fucking adult!”
The Johnny guy growled and attacked me. I moved out of the way and went to catch his eye when he hit my hand out of the way and got me in my chin. I winced but didn’t allow myself to stagger. Using the time he spent gloating to Tinsley I slammed my elbow into his neck with a stern face. Shit got real the moment his hit me in my face. Now I’d have to try and explain the bruise I’m sure would develop. I was just going to pin him but it looks like I might actually have to hurt him.

“You bitch!” he snapped.

Johnny lunged at me with his fist winded back and went to hit me across the face when I forced his hand down with my forearm and swung my other elbow to hit the side of his face. I smirked as he stumbled back. Tinsley’s pet ran towards me again and I quickly did a back flip out of the way of a deadly kick to the ribs. The teen was visibly frustrated and decided to forget about using technique and just charged for me. In the nick of time, I kicked him in his chin. Had he been lighter, he’d probably have been lifted from the ground from all the power I put into the kick. While he was still disoriented I stooped into a cat like crouch and jumped onto him, wrapping my legs around his waist. He ignored the shock I’m sure he was in and head butted me.

Shit. Fuck. Ow.

“You know what they say about the bigger they are?” I started with menacing eyes and a deep tone, each pulse of pain in my head the blow caused building my anger.

“The harder they fall.”

With that, I stabbed the wide eyed boy on the side of his neck with two fingers for a good 5 seconds and got off of him once he began to lose his footing. He fell back without a sound, completely unconscious. I took the time to learn about nerve endings and how to use them to my advantage during that month with Damon. He said it was a bit dangerous and to only use it when it was an emergency.

Oh well. If I held my finger there another ten seconds he would have to go to the hospital. He should thank me.

Irritated, I turned to the angry looking blue eyed girl.

“All that bullshit just to talk to you… How unbelievably troublesome,” I huffed, strolling towards her. I felt powerful, independent versus the helpless and vulnerable I did not too long ago. I felt fierce and like standing on my own was as easy as breathing.

Once I was face to face with her she slapped me.

God, I’m getting tired of getting hit in the face.

But I took the blow gracefully, my face bored.

I think the medication might be actually helping me keep my cool right now.

Then her neck was in my grip.

Guess not.

“This little ‘jumping Phoenix after school’ thing is over. You can no longer toss me around like a little rag doll and if you come for Vic I will make sure you feel what those other three meatheads experienced and then some.”

Her defiant stare slowly melted into a look of fear and desperation. I released her neck and she gasped.

“How?” she cried.

I looked at her confusedly.

“How did you take Tony from me when you didn’t even want him?” she blubbered bitterly.

My eyes softened, “Tinsley I didn’t take anyone…you caused your break up. Not me.”

She chocked on her own sob once she registered what I said and I went to take my leave.

Just before I completely stepped out of the alley I slid on my shades and called Tinsley’s name.

“If you take this break up gracefully and change the ugly and spiteful bits of your personality, it’ll be nothing to find someone else to love you.”

Tinsley sniffled.

“You should also know that I tape recorded every bit of our conversation from the moment you guys caught up to me. I won’t go to the police if you back off and leave my friends and I alone,” I warned gently.

I heard her choke but she didn’t dare say anything in coherent words. I reached into my bra and turned off the voice recorder. Not bothering to look back at her or the three boys still on the ground, I headed towards Vic’s house.

---

I heard the gravel crack below slow tires about two blocks from Vic’s house. I immediately smoothed over my face and waited for the car to pull up next to me.

“Nix?”

I dropped my unsuspecting act and turned to face Tony’s car.

“Yo,” I smirked.

“Need a ride?” he grinned.

I shrugged and hopped into the car.

“Where you headed?” I asked as he pulled off and I put on my seatbelt.

“Vic’s. You too right?”

“Mhm.”

“What took you so long? You could’ve been there almost an hour ago,” he asked, glancing between me and the road.

Trying to remain passive, I leaned back in my seat, “I stopped at a sit in to eat something.”

He nodded and pulled into Vic’s driveway.

I went to open the front door, Tony in tow, when it swung open revealing a very stressed Jaime.

He had a habit of opening doors before I got a chance.

“Hey bro,” I smiled.

He glanced at Tony and shook his head at me.

“Got something to say, Preciado?” Tony challenged, swinging his arm over my shoulder.

Jaime’s eyes narrowed and I instantly threw my hands up, “Where’s Vic?”

Tony followed me through the door, eyeballing Jaime and Jaime staring right back.

“Right here!” Vic shouted happily, appearing in the living room.

I took off my shades off cause lets face it, the only people that wear shades indoor are either blind or assholes. I went to kiss Vic when he gently pushed my shoulder, staring intensely at my face.

“What the fuck happened to your face?” he barked. I’ve never heard his voice sound so…scary.

His tone made my mind go completely blank.

“I um…I had trip –

“Stop bullshitting me!” he snapped.

“Can we yell about this after I eat something, I’m hungry,” I said evasively.

Tony, whom I didn’t realize was behind me, spoke up, “You said you ate on your way here and that’s why you were late.”

I turned to look at his confused and slightly peeved eyes.

“Wait he drove you here?” Vic asked, his eyes dark. “You told me you wanted to walk so you could clear your mind,” he spat.

Everything was catching up to me so quickly – I’m sure I looked like a fish out of water trying to express words that just wouldn’t come to me.

“Are you clearing your mind with Tony?” he asked, stepping into Tony’s face with his shoulders squared and his fists clenched.

“What?”

Great job. Your first word after everything is What. Bravo.

Tony met his hostility with a tense posture of his own, “Are you accusing me of something Fuentes?”

Vic scoffed, “It’s pretty clear what’s going on here.”

“And what m-might that b-be?” I stuttered, in total unbelief.

I needed to hear him say it.

I can barely comprehend that he might think that.

Vic turned to me, his dark and hostile eyes softening.




“You’re cheating on me.”

Notes

Phoenix's Outfit: http://www.polyvore.com/our_practice_is_repetition/set?id=126542987

SPOILERS BELOW.

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AWE SHIET. xD So Yeah um I made up the book on the spot cause can aaaaand I hope you don't hate me so much for leaving you with a cliffy. Its too long as it is. Sorry for any errors! I actually tried to edit this time so hopefully its not too bad. What'd you think of the fight scene(s), it was the hardest thing I've ever written and I hope you guys get what I'm describing. Rate, Vote, Subscribe, Comment and all that jazz~~

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QOTD: Was Nix smart about dealing with Tinsley. Is it fair for Vic to assume she's cheating? Is Tony out of line?! SHOULD JAIME HAVE TOLD VIC ABOUT NIX AND TONY'S KISS?! Comment c: