Chapter 24: Me and Phoenix
A week passed by and it seemed as though no one finished any of their summer work. I barely did. I was still doing it on the car ride to school. Don't get me started on Cam and Alice. Alice did half of it before deeming it as stupid and Cam spilled soup on it the second day of vacation. Phoenix actually did it but I think it was while he was on the plane. When I asked Leo how far he gotten, he responded with: "We had homework?" I'm just going to assume he thought I do schoolwork over vacation for fun.
By Friday, it seemed as if everyone was sick of school. Phoenix came to school every day exhausted, extremely tempted to sleep in class. However he managed to get through the week and he was so tired that I expected him to sleep all weekend; so when early Sunday morning came around and I get a text at one, I was more than curious to know what he wanted.
Are you awake? I was surprised to see his name pop up, but then again I shouldn't have been. He'd slept in until one in the afternoon so it only makes sense that he's awake right now.
No, sorry. Hopefully he doesn't take this response as an annoyed 'I'm trying to sleep so leave me alone.'
What are you doing? Thank goodness he didn't. I actually wanted someone to talk to. I can't sleep.
Lying in bed, what about you? Maybe he's doing something productive, like cleaning his room.
Absolutely nothing. Do you want to hang out? What? Like now?
Now?
Yes. I stared at his message. I mean, what do I have to lose? It's a Saturday night and I've done nothing all day but sit around and watch television.
Yeah. What? Is he coming over here? Or am I going over there? Or are we just going to sit outside.
Get dressed. I'll be outside in ten minutes. So I guess we're going somewhere.
I quickly got out of bed, pulling on a pair of sweatpants. I tugged a sweatshirt over my tank top, unplugging my cellphone and putting it into my pocket. I slowly opened my door, glancing down the hall to ensure that no one was awake. When I found all of the lights underneath the doors to be closed I slowly slipped down the hall.
Am I really sneaking out? This is such a rebellious teenager thing. I'm a rebel! I think my dad would be proud. I'm going to tell him tomorrow. You know what? Never mind. I think that would defeat the purpose of sneaking out. Besides, he'd tell my mom and she wouldn't be too happy with me.
I tiptoed down the steps, trying not to make noise as I arrived at the first floor landing. I reached the living room to see my brother lying on the couch with closed eyes. Is he asleep? He shifted slightly and my assumptions were confirmed. He's out cold. I reached the front door, slowly unlocking it as I stared at my sleeping brother, careful not to wake him. I slowly opened the door, cringing as it creaked loudly. Is he still asleep? Yes. I slipped out of the house, quietly closing the door. Phoenix was standing there, leaning against his car in the dark.
"You ready to go?" he asked me in a whisper and I nodded as I held my shoes in one hand. It was too dangerous to put them on and go down the steps; it'd make too much noise.
"Yeah," I answered as I walked towards him. I glanced towards the curtains to see that they were closed. I prayed my brother wouldn't wake up while I was gone.
"Let's go then," Phoenix responded as he opened the door for me. I got in the car, slipping my shoes onto my feet as we slowly drove off down the street.
"Where are we going?" I asked him as I glanced at the time. 1:12 A.M.
"I was thinking the beach," he told me.
"The water is probably ice cold," I retorted. It's January. I mean, it's not cold enough for snow but it's definitely not warm enough for swimming. Besides, I didn't even bring my suit.
"Not to swim," he responded. "I was thinking we could lie on the beach and watch a movie."
"How do you plan on watching a movie?" I asked him. "You brought your TV and cable?"
"I downloaded one on my phone, Grace," he retorted. Oh...of course.
"Okay, fine with me," I replied.
"Will we be home before my parents leave for work at six?" I asked him. "Because sometimes they check in on me before they go."
"Don't worry," he told me. "We'll be back before six without a doubt."
"Okay good," I answered. We drove towards the beach, stopping in the desolate parking lot. As I got out of the car, he jogged to the trunk, grabbing a blanket and a flashlight. He handed me the light as I led the way towards the dark beach.
"Are you sure we're allowed to be here?" I asked when I saw I placed the flashlight on the sign talking about the legal troubles that come along with being here after closing hours.
"Well, no, but it's never stopped me before," he answered with a grin, closing his eyes from the light I placed on him. I quickly scanned the area with the flashlight. We continued walking.
I stopped treading the sand once we reached a chain link, which went up to my mid-thigh. "Phoenix..." I trailed.
"Come on, it's fine. Nothing's going to happen to us," he told me. He held a hand out for me and I sighed, using his help to scale the oddly placed link. We walked across the sand and I felt it getting deeper, slipping into my shoes.
"Is this a good place to stop?" I asked him curiously, fearful to walk further into the beach.
"We're right near the road," he told me. "Unless you want to get caught..."
"No," I answered quickly. He grinned at me, rolling his eyes. We walked a few more feet, stopping at a considerably leveled part of the sand. He shook out the blanket before placing it down on the obnoxious granules. I removed my shoes, as did he, and we sat on the blanket.
In silence, he started the movie, pulling me closer to him as he held the phone out in front of us. About an hour later, he began getting notifications that his phone was dying. Not too long after that, his phone completely went black and he groaned loudly. "I knew I should've charged it."
"Well now what?" I asked him with a laugh. The movie was just getting good, too. We were laying down now and he slipped his phone into his pocket.
"We can stare at the stars," he suggested in a cheesy voice. "And I can list a good attribute about you for every single star lighting the sky."
"I can see three," I told him as I squinted into the dark sky.
"You don't even have that many," he mumbled, earning a slap on the arm. He laughed, smiling at me. "Okay so...you have good hair. Sometimes, you make me laugh. And you're okay at kissing."
"You're such an idiot," I chuckled, rolling my eyes.
"You like this idiot," he responded with a laugh. "Now you have to do it."
"Name some good things about you?" I asked him with a stupid grin on my face.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a nod.
"You're funny," I started.
"I try," he answered with a playful shrug.
"You're cute," I continued.
"Just cute?" he asked as he laid on his side, staring at me. I flipped on my side too, gazing at him.
"Eh, you're okay," I shrugged and he scoffed. "Alright, alright. You're very handsome."
"That's better," he nodded. "One more."
"Ugh, fine," I drawled. "You're smart-ish."
"Smart-ish?" he asked. "I think I'm very smart."
"Okay, maybe that wasn't a good compliment," I laughed. "You're very stylish."
"And?" he trailed.
"I gave you, like, six compliments," I blurted. "If anything, you owe me three."
"No problem," he retorted. "You're really smart."
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Yeah," he answered, grinning at me. "And you're easy to talk to."
"Really?" I asked, earning a nod.
"And you'd make a great girlfriend," he told me.
"Would I?" I questioned.
"I think so," he admitted.
"So..?" I asked him.
"Your turn," he grinned at me. I could only stare at him. Is he serious? He's going to just pretend he didn't say that. He suddenly laughed, beaming at me. "I'm kidding." He laughed for a few more moments and I waited patiently. "I know I put this off for such a long time and I didn't even get the okay from your brother, but I shouldn't make you wait because he doesn't give his full approval. So, I have a question for you, Gracelyn."
"Yes?" I asked, repressing a grin.
"What time is it?" he inquired. I gave him a flat look as I looked at my phone.
"2:36," I answered.
"Okay, I have another question," he replied.
"Yeah?" I asked, growing hopeful again.
"Do you happen to know what time the sun rises?" he asked me and I glared at him.
"No, Phoenix, I don't," I retorted.
"Okay, okay, one last question," he responded.
"What?" I asked him, shooting a glare his way.
"Gracelyn, will you be my girlfriend?" he replied.
My eyebrows rose before dropping and I made a sound of uncertainty. "Hm."
"Hm?" he furthered, staring at me in amusement.
"I don't know," I answered. "I'm not sure I can take anymore stupid questions."
"Grace..." he whined.
"I guess I will," I shrugged as I looked at my phone, repressing a grin.
"You guess?" he asked me.
"Yeah, I mean, I have nothing else planned for the next few days. I can be your girlfriend until something better comes up," I told him.
He stared at me and laughed. "I hate you."
"Is that anyway to talk to your girlfriend?" I replied. He stared at me for a moment with a smile. He can't stop smiling and I love it. And I love that I'm the one making him smile.
"I guess not," he answered me.
"What?" I asked as he continued to stare at me with the grin on his face.
"I just can't believe this is happening," he told me.
"What do you mean?" I asked, returning the smile.
"I've liked you for such a long time and I've always just assumed that I'd get over you at some point because you'd never like me back. But here we are, sitting on the beach at 2 A.M., making things official," he said, biting his lip to keep his smile a bit contained.
I didn't really know what else to say so I kissed him and he kissed me back. And for once, I felt happy. It didn't matter that Leo didn't agree with our relationship and it didn't matter that we were trespassing on a dark, cold beach. In that moment, the only thing that mattered was Phoenix and me.
+++
I returned home at 4:48, slipping inside my house as silently as possible. I was lucky that no one got up in the middle of the night and locked the door, or else I'd be stuck having to climb into my window on the second floor. I closed the door behind me, locking it quietly. Turning around, I found Leo sitting in the kitchen with a glass of water in his hands.
"Where'd you go?" he asked curiously, examining me. I glanced at the window, sighing in relief when I saw that the curtains were still closed. If they were open, I'd have to make up a reason as to why Phoenix was walking across the lawn to return to his house. My brother was still staring at me as I racked my brain for a response. "I'm not going to tell mom and dad if that's what you're worried about."
"Out," I answered simply as I began removing my shoes.
"To the beach?" he asked as my shoe slipped from my hand, spilling sand on the hardwood. I swore under my breath as I fetched the hand broom and the dustpan.
"Yeah," I retorted.
"Am I right to assume you weren't alone?" he asked, watching as I cleaned up the mess I'd made.
"Yeah," I answered him. "You're right in assuming that."
"So...what happened?" he asked me.
I stared at him as I placed the items back in the closet. "He asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes."
"Congrats," my brother muttered.
"Thanks," I answered as I looked at him. "Any more questions?"
"No," my brother answered.
"Well it just so happens that I have a few," I replied, pulling the seat opposite of him out and sitting down.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"You really don't intend to be his friend again?" I asked my brother.
"I do," Leo responded. "In due time."
"And how long is that going to take?"
"I don't know," my brother shrugged. "How long does it take you to get over a betrayal?"
I repressed the urge to roll my eyes. "Listen, Leo...maybe you should just talk to him. You don't have to hang out every Friday to play videogames or tell him about the hot girl you got with at a party, but just talk to him."
"I talked to him today," my brother replied.
"I know," I replied. "I heard it didn't go too bad."
"It went well," Leo retorted. I yawned loudly and my brother stared at me with raised eyebrows. "You should go to sleep."
"Yeah, you should, too," I told him.
"But I'm not tired," he replied.
"It's nearly 5 in the morning," I responded.
"But I wasn't out all night with my...boyfriend. That was you," my brother retorted.
I found myself grinning when he used the word boyfriend. Deciding to tease him, I laughed. "You sure you weren't the one out with your boyfriend all night, Leo?" I asked.
"You know what I meant," he retorted. "Just go to sleep, Grace."
"I will. Goodnight Leo," I smiled.
"Night, Grace," he mumbled.
As I walked towards the steps, I turned to look at him. "You're not going to tell mom and dad about this, right?"
He smiled at me. "If you're lucky."
I walked upstairs and prepared for bed. I laid down and stared at the ceiling with a large smile on my face. Maybe things won't be so bad. Phoenix and I are official now and Leo seems to be okay with it. I sighed and nodded in satisfaction. You just need a little love and a little hate.
Oh, and don't forget a touch of grace.