Phoenix

Chapter 20

Phoenix's POV

I followed Jackson inside and headed towards the gym with him. The halls filled with students as they were directed by teachers down the halls and to the gym in an organized fashion rather than I gigantic mess. I stayed behind Jackson as we made our way to the bleachers and sat down. Luckily we got a spot on the end of the bleachers and closer to the floor. The not so lucky about being closer to the ground was that I would be closer to Blythe whenever he got to the podium.

Don't think about Blythe, don't think about him, I repeated to myself in my head.

"Hey! We got good seats, huh? Close to the players and close to the bathrooms if this takes forever," A female voice said from the left of me. I turned my head to see Jewl in the one empty seat beside me. Of course... I thought and mentally sighed. So much for this being a lucky seat. She is right about the bathrooms, though. I could escape if I needed to.

"Hey Jewl," Jackson said from the other side of me.

"Oh hey, I didn't see you there," Jewl said with a bright smile, looking past me and at Jackson. It was very clear that she had noticed him, she just pretended not to for whatever reason. I hate bleacher seats. There's no way to sink into them or move out of the way.

"Mhm. I'm sure you didn't," Jackson said in a sarcastic tone that sounded more playful than irritated. Is this flirting? I turned my head to look at Jackson, but his eyes were on the group of cheerleaders huddled up in the corner on the opposite side of the gym. They all were dressed up in their cheerleading outfits that definitely didn't follow the dress code, but for some reason the school allowed it. I watched him for a moment eyeing the girls before paying my attention elsewhere.

I don't know but watching him watch them bothered me for some reason. I had no reason what so ever, but I still felt it.

"Can we trade spots Phoenix? I don't like this seat," Jewl asked me.

"Uh, sure-" I started.

"No." Jackson butted in. "All the seats are the same, you don't need to trade spots." Part of me was relieved that he said that so I didn't have to move away from him, another part of me was afraid that Jewl was about to get really pissed off.

"Hmph, fine," Jewl said with a huff and hair flip as she faced towards the projector. I couldn't tell if she was just upset or angry, but either one she just seemed like a little brat that didn't get her way. I'm impressed with how Jackson can just stand up to other people like it's no big deal, like there's no consequence. I don't think I'd ever have the confidence to do that.

Once everyone seemed to be in there seats, the principle stepped up to the podium, tapping the mic to get everyone's attention. Everyone continued on with their conversations anyway and the principle sighed in disappointment before coughing into the mic to try again to grab everyone's attention.

"Students, settle down please, you can all chit chat once this is over. Today we have all of our sports captains here to represent their sport to gather new team members. Each one will give a brief explanation of their sport and the benefits of joining their team. If you want to join, wait till the end and we'll have sign up sheets down by the exit doors. We'll have our soccer team go first." The principle finished and the captain of the soccer team replaced the principle at the podium.

I was never interested in sports, I'm not really the sports kind of guy. Have I thought about joining a sport? Of course I have, as a kid all I wanted to do was be apart of a team that stuck together and played games all the time, but that was never an option for me. My mother wanted to keep me out of group activities, that way I had less of a chance of exposing my secret. Now I hate sports. Most of them are just a bunch of bullies that only care about themselves or their team and winning. Maybe that was just my view from my experience, but either way I never want to be apart of a group like that...

I zoned out in thought while the soccer caption was going through his slide show on the projection. I had no interest and all I really wanted to think about was going home to my sweet, sweet bed. I want to be in my room where I can use my fire as I wish and comfort myself. I can no longer go into the woods, my mother will probably never let that happen again after the wolves attacked.

Blythe reminds me of those wolves. Dark and dangerous, ready to strike and attack viciously when on their territory. He always treats me like I'm an outsider and today I've felt more of an outsider then I ever have.

And there I go again, my thoughts being brought back to Blythe. He terrifies me. I feel like his eyes are always on me and the only way they disappear is if I'm watching flames.

I felt a gentle jab to my side and I turned my head towards Jackson who was looking down on me.

"Want to join the football team with me?" He asked and I stared at him like he was dumb.

"Me? Join the football team?" I asked as I waved my noodle arms in front of his face. "Have you looked at me?"

"I have, and you seem like you can take a hit. Besides, I can toughen you up," He said with a grin. Okay, ouch. Something about that first comment actually hurt a little. Maybe cause he was right. I get hit all the time so I could definitely probably take it, but I don't know how much more I can take before I actually break.

"I'm good, thanks," I replied and Jewl snickered beside us.

"You're joking, right? There's no way he could play a sport like that, let alone any sport," she said, clearly amused by the idea. Honestly, I didn't take any offense to it, she was right.

Jackson shrugged, "Only a little, I don't see him playing football, maybe soccer."

I shook my head at him. "Absolutely not."

"Next is the Volleyball Captain, Blythe." The principle announced and the energy in the room shifted to way more upbeat and excited. Some people even cheered and hooted at Blythe as we approached the podium. People love him. He's the captain of the number one team, the most well-known student.

My heart jumped into my throat as I watched him get closer, his eyes scanning the crowd with a smile. I swear when his eyes found mine, his smile became cynical. I swallowed softly and sunk down further into my seat, trying to hide. Luckily Blythe's attention turned elsewhere as he began cheering the students on.

"Thank you! Thank you everyone, my team and I appreciate all your love and support. You guys mean so much to us." Bull crap... I thought to myself as Blythe continued on. I wanted to zone out like I did with the rest of the captains, but my fear wouldn't let me. My entire body was on edge. "As you know, we only allow the best on our team. The volleyball team at Vanderhigh has been number one for the past eight years and we want to keep that streak."

I stared down at my lap as Blythe went on about how high standards him and his team have. As they should, like he said, they are the best and have been number one for years. I felt Jackson shift beside me and place his hand on the small of my back. At first I tensed, then I relaxed whenever I realized how gentle his touch was. He rested his hand there, it wasn't much, just a simple touch. But it made me feel better, even if it was only a little.

Blythe then went on to his slide show, I tried to keep my focus on Jackson's hand. His voice made me shiver as he spoke and Jackson's hand began to move in small circles my back, making me focus on him a little more. My brain was torn at who to pay attention to. Part of me wanted to listen to Blythe and stay on my toes and the other wanted to relax against Jackson. Even though I know that I shouldn't.

The slide show on the projection suddenly turned into a video and I heard a voice that I faintly recognized but I couldn't pin point it.

"Oh my god, he is so hot, I could just stare at him all day," a male voice mocked from the speakers around the gym. I turned my head up to look at the screen and froze. It was me. Sitting at my desk, with my head in my hands, staring at Jackson. Jackson's hand paused on my back just like my entire body did. What's happening? How did people get videos of me? The school cameras? Some people laughed as the video went on. "I wonder what he has under that shirt and those shorts." The voice mocked again as I watched the direction of my eyes change from his face to his jeans. I blushed deeply, flustered and panicked, but I couldn't move.

"Who is playing this!?" The principle roared. "Turn it off, now!" She yelled, but no one moved, only laughed.

The video changed to me in the hall, walking behind Jackson. "And that a*s," the voice continued as I bit my lip, making it seem like I was actually having dirty thoughts. It's just a bad habit! I screamed in my head. I bit my lip when I was nervous not when.. No! The video didn't stop and kept playing, saying more embarrassing things and taking my body language way out of context.

The video changed to when Jackson and I were in the locker room, alone. "I love you~ I've loved you from the moment I saw your smoking bod." They mocked again.

Jackson turned and looked at me, but I didn't look at him. I couldn't, this is terrible, now he probably thinks that this is what I think. I sat there, heart pounding in my chest so loud that the video became silent to me, all I could hear was my heart beat and my eyes began to tear up, blurring up my vision from being able to watch the video in front of me.

"Ew, no wonder Phoenix sticks to you like a leech," Jewl sneered and the tears from my eyes could no longer be held back. My feet suddenly found their strength again and I quickly got up and ran away from the bleachers and to the exit. I didn't want to be here anymore. I couldn't take it. The laughs, the mockery, the one person that I thought might be my friend being humiliated because of me. I ran towards the exit and one of the teachers tried to stop me but I slipped through there arms and out of the gym.

People laughed and screamed freak at me as I left. I ran as fast as I could down the hall and I thought, that maybe, just maybe I heard someone call my name, but I didn't stay long enough to find out. I ran out of the school and through the field as fast as my legs would take me, tears streaming down my cheeks. I'm tired. I'm so tired of all the hate and the bullies. I want to leave. I want to run. I want to be gone.