Phoenix

Chapter 18

Phoenix's POV

"What's wrong?" Jackson asked from beside me and I jumped in surprise. 'When did he show up?' I thought to myself as I looked at the boy who I didn't realize was beside me till now. "You like kind of pale. Are you going to be sick?"

I shook my head. I don't feel sick, I feel confused, scared, and... I do feel a little sick. It's weird, I don't feel like I'm going to throw up, my stomach keeps doing flips and my skin is crawling. I feel like I've seen a ghost, but I didn't. I don't know what I saw exactly. It was terrifying and I have no clue why.

"I don't know," I responded and turned my attention back to my laptop, but I didn't pay attention to anything that was on the screen. Everything felt far away. I couldn't focus my mind on school like I usually did. My mind was lost and I couldn't get it to focus no matter how hard I tried. What happened this morning sent chills through my entire body. I shuddered at the thought of Blythe's deadly eyes. They weren't emotionless, they were full of anger and blood l**t, I could feel it. I can still feel it. Something as simple as someone's eyes shouldn't scare me so bad, but something about them stood my hair on end and sent my mind on the edge.

I've always been scared of the students here, they're bullies. Bullies or bystanders, either way, they weren't that great. Now I could sense a different aura from them, something I couldn't sense before. It's like I'm sitting inside a lion's den, surrounded by predators, trying to blend in. But they know, they know I don't belong. I was the one who didn't notice.

A shiver went down my spine as someone walked behind me. I turned my head to look and saw Nick staring me down as he went to his seat and sat down. He never took his eyes off of me. I sank in my seat and stared harder at my laptop, hoping that Nick would look away and find something better to do. After what felt like several long minutes, he did.

Jackson sighed in defeat beside me, "I give up." I tilted my head and looked at him, confused.

"Give up on what?" I asked, not knowing what he meant.

"You, I've been trying to talk to you for the past five minutes. You didn't pay attention to a single word." He said, narrowing his eyes at me, but I didn't feel anything menacing about it, just slight irritation. Has he been trying to talk to me? Was I that checked out? I didn't even notice the person beside me talking.

"I'm sorry, I'm kind of... lost," I said. I don't feel like telling him what happened this morning. At least not now, I might tell him later. Outside of school, outside of the lions den.

"I noticed, but I get it. I'll make sure to take notes so you don't get behind. Take your time on getting your focus back," Jackson said as he pulled up a new page on his computer.

I smiled sheepishly at him. "Thanks, I owe you one."

"I'll remember that later," Jackson said and started to type on his computer. My thoughts started to consume me again before I got a good look at his face, but there were traces of a smirk in his voice. I wonder what he's planning. I'll worry about that later, right now I can't shake this unnerving feeling I have. Like someone is watching me. I glanced in Nick's direction and sure enough, there he was, staring right back at me. His stare was a little different this time. They were in my direction, but they weren't directed at me, more like the person beside me. Or maybe I'm just imagining things? I couldn't tell and I wasn't going to keep looking to find out. I buried my head in my laptop, trying to pretend like I was paying attention to anything other than him and the terrifying eyes of my main problem. Blythe. 

~~

Time was torturing me. Typically days feel faster than this. I follow my usual routine of my classes, I get the constant reminder of being an outcast and deal with whatever teasing or bullying I receive and head home. Obviously Jackson has changed that schedule a little bit, but today seems to be going on forever. Nothing crazy has happened since this morning, but I keep getting reminded of it. People keep staring. That's it. They just stare. They haven't said anything, pushed me, or anything. It's strange but I almost prefer it the other way. This is confusing and I feel more of an outcast than before. 

I must not have been the only one to have made that realization earlier. 

The lunch bell rang and everyone started to get up to leave class and head to the cafeteria. Some people groaned in hunger, ready to eat, and others talked about what they were going to do at lunch rather than eat. 

It's only lunchtime? Only half of the day has gone by. I waited till everyone else was heading out before getting up myself. Jackson was already standing, ready to go. 

"What snacks do you have today?" Jackson asked. I had almost forgotten about my locker full of- Oh. I never refilled it. 

"None today, I forgot to get more after the whole... Woods situation." I said. It felt wrong to say "wolf" and it made me slightly uncomfortable to think about. 

"Ah, right. What a shame," Jackson said with a small sigh while shaking his head. "Alright, guess we'll have to go to the cafeteria then." 

"Huh? Me in the cafeteria? No, no, I'll skip today thank you." I replied. I am not going into a wasps nest. Is he crazy? I'd much rather skip lunch. 

"What? But I'm hungry, I'm a growing boy, I need food." Jackson said, patting his tummy. 

"You can go eat, I'm not stopping you. I'm just not going in there. Besides, I'm a growing boy, too and I can skip a meal." I replied, packing up my stuff. 

Jackson chuckled. "Growing? I don't know about that," He said with a grin. 

"I am growing, I'm just a late bloomer is all," I said, trying my hardest to not pout at him. he's right though, I'm probably not growing anymore. "And I like being small, it makes it easier to hide."

"But not to fight." Jackson countered. "C'mon, let's go anyway, I want food and you can use some food." 

I shook my head, "I really don't want to cause any more trouble for myself Jackson. the cafeteria is like a minefield. Why would I throw myself into that?"

"You're not, you're walking into it with me," He said with a smile. 

My cheeks started to heat up, but I tried not to blush even though I knew it was already happening. Why must he be so cute? He's definitely good at distracting me, too. 

"That doesn't sound too much better," I muttered, trying to get him to stop trying to get me to go, but it didn't sound too convincing. Even to myself. 

"Yes it does, let's go," He said as he started leading out of the classroom. I stayed where I was and watched his back. Until he stopped and turned around at the doorway, waving for me to come over. "We can't walk in together if you don't walk with me." I sighed out my nose before following him. I know I'm getting myself into trouble by following him, but I also am hoping that having a friend with me might things a little better. At least I hope. 

"And we can head straight to the assembly after, too," Jackson said. 

"Assembly? What assembly?" I questioned, slowing my pace behind him.

 "You really weren't paying any attention in class, were you?" I shook my head in response and he went on. "After lunch today they're having any assembly to let our sports teams talk to us about their games and how much they appreciate the school's support or something like that. I didn't catch every detail because I was trying to finish up some work, but basically that's it, it should be short." 

"Is it required?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer. 

"It's a school assembly, I'm pretty sure it is." He said. I nodded and continued my walk down the hall to the cafeteria. Great, now I have to sit and watch Blythe speak... And see his eyes looking at the crowd, or me... 

Jackson nudged me from the side with his shoulder, "Don't look so bummed about it, they will probably have cheerleaders." 

"Yay..?" I responded, unsure to be excited about that or not. 

"Oh wait, I forgot you're not into that sort of thing." He said and I snapped my head in his direction, about to say something but he quickly spoke again. "Forget I said that I didn't mean anything by it. Oh look, we're here, let's go get food." Jackson headed into the cafeteria and i tried to stay directly behind him. If I'm going in here I definitely don't want to go alone. I'll stay as close to him as I can. 

I sucked in a small breath and held it in as we walked into the room filled with loud teens, talking about anything and everything while they stuffed their mouths with food. It was suffocating being in here, I didn't want to be here. Jackson got ahead of me while I was distracted and I tried to catch up to him without running and causing someone to notice. 

Once I was in line with Jackson I felt a bit better being by his side. 

"See? Coming in here wasn't so bad, now was it?" He said with a grin and I looked around nervously once more before looking at him again.

"I guess not," I said and grabbed a tray and some food. Jackson grabbed his tray and headed towards an empty table. From what I could tell, it was the farthest table away from the people I would much rather avoid. I felt a little bit of relief by that and followed his lead before sitting beside him. So far so good, maybe I could have a normal lunch for once since my last school. I hope this lasts.