Chapter 16: “You have me…”

Phoenix didn’t know why her feet were taking her toward the river, but she figured it might be good for her. She had a lot on her mind; her brother, Cole, her troops, and even home. But the one thing that continued on running through her mind was how she and the others were the only ones alive from two squads. She failed to believe it.

“Nixie?”

Phoenix stopped walking, finding herself standing near the river. She hadn’t even realized she had made it already. But she wasn’t alone, because when she looked up she had found Leif sitting on a rock. He was soaked, or at least his exposed chest was.

“Why are you here?” Leif said, standing to his feet. He soon stuffed his hands in his pockets, hiding something from Phoenix.

“I just needed to walk,” Phoenix said, walking over to him. “Before I realized where I was going, I found myself here.”

Phoenix soon brushed past Leif and sat down where he was previously sitting. Leif just stood there, looking down at her.

“Now,” Phoenix said, “you can either pretend to not be here, or leave. Your choice.”

Leif frowned and crossed his arms. “You never change, Nixie.”

“Stop calling me that,” Phoenix muttered halfheartedly.

Leif stood there a little while longer, watching the brunette play with the radio in her hands. He noticed that her hands were a bit shaky, not that surprising with what had happened that day.

Leif ruffled his wet hair and took a seat next to Phoenix. He leaned forward as his feet dangled over the edge. “Why do you keep messin’ with the radio, Nixie?”

“Because,” Phoenix answered, pausing for a minute, “I need something else to think about.” She could not help but be honest. She needed to not focus on her opposing thoughts, anything would help, even if it all ended in failure.

Leif sighed and looked at the water. The stars shined down on it, dancing across as the water rippled from the light breeze. The light shush from the small waterfall filled the air with the calming noise, making everything seem peaceful. The only thing that weighed down on Leif’s shoulders from the this peaceful environment was the tense and malevolent atmosphere surrounding him and the young brunette next to him.

Leif glanced over to Phoenix, seeing her still messing with the radio. She put it up to her face and began to speak. “This is Commander Volante of GALACTIC Squad 2. Does anyone copy?” Phoenix let go of the button and all was heard was static. She bit her lip and pressed the button again. “I repeat: Does anyone copy?” She released the button again, but there was, again, only static.

Phoenix dropped the radio into her lap, a scowl coming to show on her face. Her teeth gritted together as she tried holding in her frustration, but it did not work.

Leif smirked and leaned back. “Do you really expect to get someone on that thing?” He was lightly teasing her, but if he had seen her expression, he would have known not to.

Phoenix gripped the radio tightly and sneered at Leif.

“I know that,” she shouted, “but I have to try!” Phoenix gripped the radio tighter, seeming like she wanted to break it into pieces.

“N-Now, Nixie,” Leif said, trying to calm the girl down, “ya don’t want to break the thing.”

“What does it matter?” Phoenix shouted, looking at Leif. “It doesn’t work! No matter how many times we try getting a signal on this thing, we won’t. So what’s the point?” Phoenix looked forward, raising the radio in her hand. She was about to chuck the thing across the river, but Leif quickly grabbed her wrist, keeping her from doing the rash action.

“Let me go, Wyrick!” Phoenix screamed.

“No,” Leif sternly said. “I won’t let go until ya drop it.”

Phoenix grabbed the radio in the other hand, trying to throw it once again, but Leif stopped that hand too.

“I said let go!” Phoenix shouted again. She squirmed as much as she could, even trying to kick Leif a few times. She kicked him as hard as she could, and it did hurt, but he would not let her go.

“Drop the radio,” Leif ordered calmly.

Phoenix didn’t listen and continued to kick Leif. That just made him even more livid. He could not take her kicking anymore, if she continued they would both fall into the river. That was when he made his move, by pinning Phoenix to the ground. He pinned both her feet with his own and pinned her hands to the ground.

Phoenix didn’t stop squirming, which just made his grip on her tighten. “Get off me, Wyrick!”

“Drop the radio and I will.”

“Why does it matter anyway? It’s useless if we can’t contact anyone!” Phoenix continued to struggle for her freedom, but it didn’t help her any.

“Phoenix!”

Phoenix stopped struggling and looked at Leif quite shocked. His expression wasn’t one showing anger, but it was one showing angst. “Do ya hear yourself right now? You’re sounding like yer five with a broken toy!” Leif softened his grip on Phoenix and sighed, glad she stopped struggling and began listening to reason.

“I know this is a difficult situation right now, Nixie,” he said. “I also know you’re frightened about the things that are going on. But that doesn’t call for rash actions like this. Truth is”-Leif sighed again-”even I’m scared of what’s going to happen. But we can’t let that affect us, Nixie.” Leif smiled. “We have to be the poles holding this group together, got it?”

Phoenix just looked at Leif for a moment, not really managing to say anything. She soon found the strength to nod, getting a kind smile from Leif in return.

“Good,” Leif said, giving a chuckle. “Now, can ya let go of the radio?”

Phoenix’s hand released the radio. Leif grabbed it and got off of her, returning to sit next to her. He set the radio to the side, making sure she would not be able to reach it, just in case she had the idea of breaking it again.

“I’m sorry…” Phoenix muttered, sitting up. She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them close. “I didn’t mean to be so rash…”

Leif chuckled again. “I get why you’re doin’ these things, Nixie, but-”

“No, you don’t understand, Wyrick.” Leif looked at her. “I’m scared, that much you can understand. I’m scared about a number of things. I’m scared of what happened to us; I’m scared for what the METASOCIETY has planned; I’m scared for Cole; I’m even scared that I will never be able to find my brother.” Phoenix buried her head in her knees. “If I loss him, then I have no one left, Wyrick.”

Leif looked at her, he knew she was not crying, but she was close to it. Phoenix was never a crier, never has and never will be.

“You have me,” Leif said. He covered his mouth, thinking that same sentence, but not wanting to say it. But it slipped through and faded into the light breeze.

Phoenix looked up and to Leif, a bit surprised. She met his smile and could not help but smile too.

“You’ll still have me, Nixie. I won’t leave your side.” It was the truth, and Leif fully believe he would never leave Phoenix’s side. No matter how much she hated him, even if she told him to disappear from her side, he would never leave her alone. His feelings for her were stronger than anything else.

Phoenix’s smile turned into a smirk and her hand went into a fist. She then punched Leif in the chest, looking away.

“What the hell was that for?” Leif shouted, rubbing his chest.

“For thinking you could say some kind words and think everything will be alright,” she muttered. She looked at him, giving a sly smirk. “But thanks…”

Leif smiled and grabbed Phoenix close, wrapping his arms around her. “Aw, Nixie, you’ve gone soft!” He ruffled her hair, not knowing the girl was suffocating in his bare chest.

Phoenix pushed herself away, finally getting breath.

“Are you trying to kill me?” she shouted, still wrapped in Leif’s arms.

“Oh, I’ll be careful not to do that.” Leif smiled and leaned down. He pecked Phoenix on the cheek, still smiling. “I love you too much to do that, Nixie!”

Phoenix’s hand went into a fist and she raised it, punching Leif right in the jaw. Leif fell off the rock and into the river.

“Don’t touch me!” Phoenix shouted as she stood and stormed off.