Phoenix || Malia Tate

08

Phoenix is waiting for her the next day. Though she had not expected to see him, she's not surprised, either, to find him standing there in the den, leaning against the rocky walls, waiting for her. He smiles when he sees her, bright and excited, and walks over to meet her halfway.

She doesn't waste any time with formal greetings or small talk. "What are you doing here?" She asks almost immediately.

"Hello to you too, babe," he teases.

She is not amused. "What are you doing here, Phoenix?"

He shrugs and briefly looks up at the den ceiling. "Felt like seeing you."

Malia raises an eyebrow. "So what? We're friends now?"

The side of his mouth tilts the slightest upward. "You say it like it'd be the worst thing in the world."

"I don't need any more friends," she tells him.

"Oh, really?" He mutters sarcastically. "Where's Scott, then? Stiles? Lydia? Kira? Even Scott's little wolf?" He looks amused now and it just pisses her off more.

"They're busy."

"With plans, you declined, right?"

Malia glares. She hates how well he knows her, hates it so much it's number 3 on her list of Malia's Most Hated Things (after mathematics and the smell of fish).

Phoenix picks up on the tension and changes the subject. "How was school?"

"It was school."

"Come on, Malia," he sighs. He's going anywhere with her. "You're my gateway. I wanted to hang out with my gateway. Is that so bad?"

"It's freaking weird, that's what it is." Malia bumps his shoulder as she enters.

And it is weird. Because they are not friends. They are strangers and the only reason they know each other is because he knows about the eight years. After he promised not to tell anyone, Malia had no intention of ever seeing him. Apparently, he intended the opposite.

Ignoring the painfully intense stare he is giving her, Malia waltzes over the spot he previously stood in and sits on the ground. Leaning her back against the wall, she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.

She does this every time she comes here. She comes to sit and be in the quiet, to sit and be at home. It's peaceful, and it takes her back to simpler times, times her heart misses desperately. However, it's hard to feel the peace now with Phoenix's stare not wavering from her.

Malia sighs. "Either sit down and be quiet or leave."

He's quick to move, even quicker to sit down. His shoulder is pressed against hers. He's so close she can feel his body heat, hot and warm in contrast to the coldness she constantly feels. She can sense him staring at her. "Stop smiling."

He does, but only for a second.

It's going to be a long afternoon.