Beasts

20: PROgress or PROGress

Awkward. That's how it felt. Iridescent and Phoenix had woken up and Iridescent had to go and ask "How were you two?" I glanced over who Phoenix. If he dared to speak a word about last night... I would literally march up to him and bite the guy.

"It was fine. We didn't kick each other which is good." He answered for us. The universe has spared you for now, Phoenix. Iridescent looked from Phoenix to me.

"You two are weird. I should lock you two in a room and see what happens." She joked.

"I'll probably kill him." I said and turned went to get my backpack from the tent. Then I realized that both Iridescent and Phoenix put on their Councillor badges. I wish I had one. All I have is the damn bracelet that represents my near-extent race. That's it.

"Is that everything?" I asked and took one last look around the place.

"June, let's go." Iridescent nodded and continued walking. Something felt wrong. I just didn't know what. I'm just being paranoid. I told myself and got onto the path. I looked back once more and everything was calm. Like normal.

"Hey." Iridescent smiled and started walking beside me.

"Hey..." I said and continued staring at the ground in front of my feet. Left foot. Right foot. Left. Right.

"So how were you and Phoenix, really? I know there more to it than what Phoenix said." God no. I thought we were done with this.

"Nothing happened. It was like before. Two friends simply sleeping beside each other." I said and bit my lip.

"Oh really now? That's like saying if you put someone in a room and their long lost siblings there, they won't talk. Now spill." She persisted. I let out a sigh knowing I was talking to Iridescent here.

"We did talk, but that's it." Yes, there was also glowing balls of light around us and I was in his arms.

"Really? What did you guys talk about?"

"Just if my arm was feeling better." I shrugged. Technically, it was true. Technically. Technically, a tsunami is just a big splash. Technically, books are a bunch of words.

"God, you two are boring." Iridescent pouted and kicked a stick on the ground.

"What were you expecting? Us to have a heated debate on if cats or dogs are better?" I furrowed my brows. Boring? How are we boring?

"Oh! That would be so cool!" She chimed and I rolled my eyes. "You would say dogs as you are on and he would say cats because he calls you 'Kitten'! Or he could say dogs because you are one and you would say cats because he calls you that!"

"Um... What?" Those were different answers but same reasons.

"The second one is based around the other one liking something about you. Like, Phoenix will say dogs because you are one and he likes you." She said, waving her hands around as she talked.

"Hold on a minute," I raised my hand up. "First off, it's hard to understand you when you ramble. Second, he doesn't like me. Well, in that way."

"Pff. That's a lie. Think about it; if he didn't like you in that way, would he do all the things he's done for you?" She paused to let it sink in. He's the shoulder I lean on. The light in my dark hallway. There to guide me through everything. All while protecting the tribe. Yet... something in me didn't want to believe it. The part of me that still wanted Danny back.

A hand on my shoulder brought me back. "I'm sorry if I upset you." Iridescent said, her colourful eyes seeming a bit dimmed.

"It's okay. It's just-"

"Danny?" She finished for me and I nodded. "I bet either of them would understand if you didn't pick them."

"Now hold on, I never said I liked Phoenix."

"You don't need to say it." She gave my arm a pat then joined Charlie. Me liking Phoenix? Yah right. He stopped and looked back. He gave me a small smile and held out his hand. I jogged up to him and let my last step send a little pulse which rattled the bushes around us.

Hours later...

"We made a lot of progress today." I said and marked where we were on the map.

"Is it PROgress or PROGress?" Phoenix asked as he helped set up the tents. We all looked at each other before Charlie spoke up.

"I say PROgress."

"I say PROGress." Iridescent said. I placed my hand under my chin and on my knee.

"I say both." I finally said. "PROgress for situations like: Let's PROgress. Then PROGress for times like right now; we've made PROGress." The others stared at with blank faces for a few seconds. Then finally, they started clapping.

"My mind is just blown." Phoenix said and I smiled. AP English. Just want to remind you.

"Wanna start the fire?" Phoenix asked.

"Sure." I got up from my backpack and walked over to the campfire. I threw a small flame at it and it lit up. A quick sting shot through my arm and Phoenix must of noticed.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Fine. There's just a rock in my shoe." I lied. If I had a dollar for every time I lied about how I felt, I would be rich by the end of this.

For the rest of the night, I kept noticing Phoenix glancing over me. Finally, I excused myself to bed. Tent? Oh whatever. I excused myself. Done. I changed into sweatpants and a black t-shirt with a large, yellow, sad face with X eyes on it. I sat down with the blanket over my feet and grew out the claw of my index finger. I held it up and studied it. Without thinking, I held it to my face and slowly dragged it down.

Just as I did, Phoenix came in. "Kitten-" He froze and I regained self conscious.

"Phoenix I..." I tried to explain but even I didn't know what I just did. "I'm sorry." Was all I could say.