Phoenix Flame: The Beginning [ON HOLD]

Chapter 1

"Get you lazy butt over here, Brooke!!" Snaps Kaitlyn.

"Fuck off Kate," I said coldly. I really wasn't in the mood for her whining. At least not right now.

"Ms. Diva's got sass. What the hell is your problem now?" Kailtyn said as she walked up to my desk and slammed her fist on my desk. I glanced up at her determined face as I sighed. I shook my head and refused to answer her. "Fine. Be that way. But when you need a shoulder to cry on, I swear to God Brooke, I'm not going to be there," she said as she started to walk away from me.

I grabbed her arm and whispered, "They're fighting again." Her expression softened. "I don't know what to do Kate..." She nodded her head in understanding as she slowly walked beside me. With her strong arms wrapped around me, she gave me tight hug.

"I know that life's hard, Peaches, but I know that you'll get through it. You have to deal with so much more pain than most of us have to, but I know in my heart that you'll be able to get through it. You are strong. You are brave. Just keep your head down and try your best not to blame yourself for everything." I left my head fall into her shoulder and I gently closed my heavy eyelids. "Did you sleep at all today?"

"Couldn't. The screaming was slightly distracting. Not exactly the thing I wan't to go to sleep to," I said dryly.

"Brooke stop it! I hate it when you do that. Stop acting like it doesn't affect you, cuz I know it does. I can see it in your eyes. Stop building up wall to protect yourself. I won't work. It's okay to grieve Brooke. What you're doing isn't healthy," her concerned voice echoed in my head, but I couldn't make sense of it.

"I'm okay Kate. Don't worry. I'm fine," I said as I shrugged away from her. She eyed me suspiciously.

"You're not. When are you going to learn to stop bottling up all your emotions? You don't need to protect others anymore, you need to let others protect you," Kate said with a heavy voice.

I shook my head, you think I'm so selfless, don't you? What you don't understand is that I'm not doing this for anyone, I'm doing it to protect myself. I'm not the person you think I am. I'm selfish. "Okay," I said with a sigh. "Let's go." I zipped up my backpack and followed Kate out of the room.

Kate let out a soft sigh, but continued walking. "Where'd you wanna go?"

"Don't care," I shrugged. "Anywhere but home."

"Brooke, it's the last day of school. You can't avoid your family. You're gonna have to go back home at some point," she stopped to look me over, and then shrugged. "Starbucks it is!"

Kate started to ramble, like she often does during our walks. The streets were quiet except for the buses that we came by once in a while. The bird chirped cheerfully. I wish I had your enthusiasm. I kicked the pebble at my feet trying to keep myself preoccupied. The pebble skipped down the worn down sidewalks with a series of quiet taps.

"Did you know that Ryan was giving me a look during Science?" Kate asked. "I think he likes me."

"Unh uh," I said as my mind wandered off. Images flew threw my mind. An image of a mom holding her baby, while a father looks over her shoulder with pride. The mom had ginger hair with gold highlights, and the father had blonde hair. The baby's silver eyes shone is pure and innocent love for it's parents. The family had a magical glow to them. That's not me or my parents, but why does it seem like my memories? "That's weird."

"And then you brother fell off a cliff but was saved by a unicorn," Kate said with a sarcastic tone as she ended her rambling.

"Unicorns can't fly," I said with a smirk as I finally came into terms with reality.

"Thanks for finally paying attention," Kate's eyes bore into me. I felt a tingle go down my spine, as we walked to the closest Starbucks. I felt like I was being watched.  Sensing my sudden tension, Kate asked, "What's wrong?"

"Don't look know, but I have a feeling that we're being followed," I said with a whisper. Kate ignores my warning as she spins around. "Kate!"

"What?" She asked innocently. "It's just Trent."

That did it. I immediately turned around and found Trent smiling at us. Smiling at me. My cheeks flushed with heat, and I felt my heart race. "Hey stalker!" I said with a smile.

"Hey Brunette," his smile mirrored mine as he fell in step with us. "You forgot your pen at school, I thought that you might need it."

"So you've been silently following us for the past 5 minuted without saying a word, just to return a pen to her?" Kate looked Trent over, smirked, and then pinched me.

"Stop it!" I snapped.

"Stupid I know," he said. I saw him closing in on himself again, just like the way he'd been doing for the past few weeks. Whenever we talked, and one of my friends said something to him, he'll put up his wall and refuse to talk too much.

"No!" I insisted. "It's fine. Thank you! It's my lucky pen, I might've tripped over something and hurt myself without it. You're my hero."

I felt Kate slow down and fall behind us.

Trent laughed, and I felt myself smile ear to ear. "Where you guys going too?"

"We were going to Starbucks," I said, as Kate's footsteps suddenly stopped, "but....." I turned around expecting to see my friend, only to see that see wasn't there anymore.

"But what?" Trent asked looking at my direction.

She probably left to give us privacy. I smiled softly shaking my head, "Nothing."

"So um, doing anything interesting during break?"

"Yup. Getting my first solid 10 hours of sleep in the past 3 years," I said with pride. I had to look up to Trent, he was about 4 inches taller than me. When I look at his face, I see a smile. A innocent friendly smile. I blushed, "You?"

"Dunno. I got nothing planned," he shrugged. "Umm... So... Do you want me to walk you home?"

"That's really sweet of you, but I think I'll walk home on my own," I said as guilt started to sit in. This was the third time this week that I refused to walk home with him. If he were to walk me home, he'd see what was going on at my house. He'd hear the fighting and the crying. And the last thing I want is for Trent to pity me.

"Okay yeah. Sure. I had to go to football practice, I forgot. I gotta go. Sorry," he said shyly. Sighing and rubbing his head, he walks away with a sheepish smile.

I'm sorry Trent, but it's just better this way. At least that what I wanted to believe.