Chapter 22

A Chapter by Katie Wan

The sun shone in from the open window, indicating that the morning had come. It was a little overcast, as it mostly was in winter, giving the room a light glow. I woke up next to Phoenix who was still asleep. His arms and legs were wrapped around me underneath the sheets. His breath ran warm on my neck as he danced in dream land. My mind flew over the memories of last night. A smile crossed my face as I realized what had happened between us.

Suddenly, and frighteningly, Phoenix snapped up and gasped for air. I sat up next to him with my heart pounding. Terror ran across his face and it looked as though he’d seen an unfriendly ghost. Phoenix’s head turned towards me. Pain and regret ran through him. “You’re still here?” He asked carefully almost amazed that I was still lying next to him.

“Of course,” I answered. His hands rose to my face and then pulled away. A weird look crossed his face as if somehow he wasn’t expecting me to be there.

“I’m glad you are.”

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” He answered, but I didn’t believe him at all. Through the months I learned to read Phoenix pretty well. You don’t spend every minute of your life with someone and not know if they’re alright or not. His lips pressed into mine and his face softened. We both looked at the clock the same time. It read 1:00 pm. “I should be getting you home.” No you shouldn’t. My mom was probably working. Jerry could care less where I was. I needed to be here in this spot with Phoenix.

He stood and I gawked amazed at what was going on. This wasn’t going to be an ‘I banged you now we’re through thing’ was it? Panic spread through me as the situation became apparent. I began to hyperventilate at the thought of him not wanting me anymore.

His pants pulled up around his sculpted body. The room tilted and I pulled the sheets up over my mouth to, maybe, stop the hard breathing. My heart hurt as it thudded loudly and quickly in my chest. Tears welled up in my eyes and bubbled over. I sniffed trying to make them go away. Why was I having this reaction? Inside I was telling myself that this kind of thing happens all the time and it’s probably no big deal.

Phoenix turned around fast and I could see his mood completely change, “Collin, What’s wrong?”

I couldn’t even take enough air in to breath let alone talk. I tried to gulp in air to speak but the room completely twisted upside down. I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head and I was taken by complete darkness.

A familiar scene took place within my mind a top of a dark building. The same shadowy figure stood above me like it had in previous dreams. This time it took on the shape of a large man, not a man I’d seen before, but a man. I couldn’t decipher the features anywhere on his body, so I gave up. I looked ahead of me. A bloody Phoenix was lying in the same pool of blood as before. His hand was outstretched towards something. This time I looked around the scene Jazz was passed out in the corner of the building, blood running from her forehead. Suddenly a scream came from under me. “Phoenix!” I looked down to see Justin below me on the street. What was he doing here? And a better question�"why did he look like that? His eyes were bright silver and he was looking for some way up. Suddenly the shadow man again kicked me off the side of the building. I fell down spiraling when again a pain in my side hit me and I woke up.

This time there was no Jerry. No one was actually touching my side, and when the dream finished I awoke with no pain. I looked around to see the walls of my room around me. My head pounded as if I had been standing on my head for hours. I sat up. The sun was taking on an orangey tint. Silence stung at my ear drums, there was no sound coming from even the downstairs.

I looked to my right and my phone was flashing red, indicating a new message. I flipped the silver phone open to see a text from Phoenix it read:

“Collin, sweetheart I know you aren’t feeling well, but if you are up by six I’d like to take you out for dinner. I’ll drop by.”

When I closed the text the time flashed 5:15, I had awhile before he came. The sweetheart in the text really calmed the panic rising in the back of my mind. I took a Tylenol and showered before I got dressed. I had just my pants on when Phoenix jumped through the window. He was out of breath and seemed distracted. He brushed his hair back and caught me staring at him. “Hey.” He smiled at me. “You look good.”

A smile inevitably crossed my face too. “Thanks.” I answered.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” His silver eyes still looked distracted and pained. He walked over to me and ran his hands down my abs. They weren’t as defined as his but at least I had them.

“I’m sorry about earlier, a dream seemed a little too real, it kind of freaked me out.”

My mind went to the dream I had earlier today, his eyes snapped on and immediately read my mind. Again fear crossed his mind, “You’ve seen it too?”

“The dream?” I asked carefully trying not to spook him. He seemed very fragile today. He nodded and I shrugged. “It’s just a dream. I have one just about every night.”

“I suppose that’s right.” He cupped my face in his hands and kissed me. “You’re right, just a dream.” He sighed and fell face first onto my bed. I pulled out a plain blue shirt and put in on over my head. I let my hair just fall where it pleased.

“Where are we going?” I asked as I slipped my black shoes on.

Phoenix laughed, “You won’t like it.”

“Not your house.”

He sat up, “My parents insisted, it’s been four months and they’ve never formally met you.”

My eyes went huge and Phoenix laughed. “It’s alright. Jo will be there.” That did help. She was always the human that knew exactly what I was going through without reading my mind. “She’s been there a few times though.”

“Well she’s not the controversial boyfriend of the golden boy from their family.” I snapped at him and pulled on the back part of my last shoe.

“It won’t be bad, I promise.” He stood up and pulled me by the waist closer to him. “I love you.” He said once more, but it was a weird I love you. Something was missing from the sentence. It was like I love you but... A strange feeling filled the inside of my chest. The one you get when you watch movies or shows and you know something bad is about to happen. I love you, but…

But, what? I wouldn’t know�"not yet at least.

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