Angel in My Eyes (MIW fanfic)

Chapter 7: Don't Be Blind (Pheonix's POV)

"Sooo...," I said, scratching my neck. Awkward.

"Soooo....," Skye repeated, sitting in the chair across the porch.

"Look, we need to talk, yeah?" I said suddenly.

"Okay, so talk," Skye encouraged, nodding.

"Ugh, look, what you're doing to yourself is bad, very bad. It's addicting and hurtful and dangerous," I blurted out as I looked at my feet. "Not to mention, it hurts everyone around you. People lose trust, become withdrawn, disappointed, hurt, scared and so many other things... I should know."

"And you know this how?" Skye asked angrily. I looked at her.

"Why do you think I'm in therepy?" I asked her softly.

"Because you have anger management issues?" she said seriously. I sighed.

"No one ever sees these," I said, pulling my sleeves up to reveal tightly wrapped gauze. I unraveled it in practiced movements to reveal two angry red lines dotted in black where the stitches held the healing skin back together. I heard her gasp. "I know better than anyone."

"Oh my god. What have you done?!" Skye panicked.

"Relax, these are from a long time ago. Because of these, I lost my soccer scholarship, my best friends, and my dad's trust," I said bitterly. "You've really killed your dad already, do you really want to hurt him anymore?" I poked at her verbally.

"You don't know anything. Why do you care?" Skye snapped, moving to stand in front of me. I didn't look at her as I wrapped my wrists.

"Sue me for having a heart. Uncle Chris has been trying to help my dad come to terms with what I did. Now he feels like a hyprocrite. Let's trade dads for a day, okay? At least your dad can look at you without having to feel like he's waiting for another attempt. God, Skye, I almost died!" I snarled at her. I ripped the arm warmers off. "I have scars like that all over me! I thought I had everything under crontrol! One night, my coach found my scars and tossed me off the team. I was so out of it in anger, I didn't see how deep I'd cut. My roommate found me bleeding to death. I spent two weeks in the hospital recovering, and seven months in an insane asylum being watched. Do you want that? Really?!"

"I have it under control!" Skye screamed at me. "Everything is fine, I'm fine."

"Do you know what fine is, Skye?" I growled. "F.I.N.E. Fucked up. Insecure. Neurotic. Emotional. Yeah, I'd say you fit the criteria!" That was a harsh blow to her, but I didn't feel sorry.

"Why do you even care what I do with my life, huh?" she snapped. Tears started to fall down her face. "What gives you the right to lecture me!"

"Damnit, Skye, are you really that fucking BLIND?!" I shouted, slapping the side of my head.

"What are you talking about?" Skye sniffled. "You stand there and scream at me, belittle me, and then tell me I'm blind."

"Damnit! I can't do this, I need a cigarette." I rushed passed her and down the steps to the car.

"Phoenix, come back here!" my dad called.

"I've got it, Uncle Ricky," Skye said, running behind me. "Stop running, Phoenix!"

"I am done talking, Skye!" I shouted, running to the park.

"Well, I'm not," she argued. She caught up to me. I refused to stop. She tackled me.

"Ow! JESUS, GET OFF!" I groaned, rolling in the grass.

"Not until you tell me what I'm blind about, Phoenix," Skye said. She sat on my chest.

"Get off of me," I demanded, trying to throw her off.

"No," she said, determined. "Tell me."

"Don't hate me," I said softly, gearing myself up for the next move.

"Why would I-" Skye cut off when I kissed her. She tensed and stayed still while my hands rested on her hips, and kissed me back. I pulled away.

"That's why. I have feelings for you, more than friendly," I admitted. She didn't say anything. I got her off of me and stood to walk away.

"Nix, wait." Skye stood up. "Do you... do you mean that?"

"No, I'm dicking with you," I snapped, upset.

"I like you, too, Nix, but my dad will kill you," Skye said, standing next to me. "If anything... we can try to keep it a secret..."

"One condition... this." I grabbed her wrists and turned them face up. "This stops. You'll die this way. Promise me."

"I promise, Pheonix. Now, you promise me not to tell my dad anything else, right?" Skye asked seriously.

"Done. Now put this on," I said, shrugging out of my hoodie. She wrapped it around herself and smiled at me. "Back to the house, now."