The Boy Next Door

Chapter 8

When I woke up the next morning, I was so tired I really don't know why. I went to bed at 9:30. I shouldn't be tired.

I try to look nice sometimes, but today I really didn't want to look nice.

My mom told me a look like a slob and I have to change.

"Mom, Is today Wednesday?"

"No its Friday."

What?!

"Alright mom, I will see you later. Oh and tell Nicole I said bye."

She gave me a kiss on my forehead and said "Will do."

I was walking downstairs happily. Crap! I forgot about Phoenix and I walking today.

Phoenix is standing there waiting for me.

"Scarlett I really need to talk to you, right now."

He looked depressed. And tired, it looked like he hasn't slept in 2 days. Coming to think of it, he probably hasn't.

We started walking, we were a couple of blocks away from our houses and then he started talking.

"Scarlett, what I'm about to tell you is important, you can't tell anyone. Okay?"

"Okay."

"I 'disappeared' when we were 10 because my parents for divorced."

Oh

"Oh sorry, I really didn't understand. Then why did you go to a different middle school then I did."

He looked straight then looked at me.

"I went to a different middle school because I lived with my dad for 3 years to try something new, but I really didn't like it there. Its not that I dont like my dad its that I don't like where he lives."

"Oh. Do you live with your mom now?"

"Ya I do live with my mom."

"Do you still go to your dad's house?"

"No. I feel like he doesn't want me there anymore."

"Why?"

"Its because my dad got married again and had a son who is much younger than us."

"Phoenix, you never know that. You should go there this weekend."

His eyes lit up. I thought he was going to hug me.

"You are coming with me this weekend."

"What?"

"Oh come on, he knows you so well. You know Scarlett, even though I haven't hung out with you since we were 10 doesn't mean we are not good friends still. And I am kind of scared to see my dad."

I felt like I can talk to him forever, but we were already at the school.

Sophia was looking at Phoenix and his punk friends were looking for him too. All of his friends look like they did pot or something.

"Oh. About the going to your dads house thing, I will have to get back to you on that."

He said low enough so only I could hear. It was almost like a whisper. "I will wait for you at the end of your class 9th period."

"Okay."

Then he walked away to Sophia and his punk friends.

While I was walking to my locker, I was thinking to myself, how come he wants to hang out with me all the time now and how does he know where my 9th period class is?

When I went to homeroom I got a text. Its like everytime I go into homeroom, I get a text.

"So what do you think about this weekend?"

Wait. I text back "Are you sleeping over?"

"Ya why?"

"Phoenix, I don't think I can."

"Please! I have my own room, and I will sleep on the floor. Please!"

"Phoenix the bell is going to ring. I will tell you later."

"And when we are walking home together I have to tell you something. You would be the only person that knows. My mom and dad don't know. Sophia doesn't know. Not even my friends. Okay, you have to keep this a secret. Promise?"

"Promise."

*

*

*

First period, science. Uggh

When everyone was in their seats my teacher yelled "Today we are going to have a pop quiz!" Can you say that louder I don't think Albany heard you.

*

All throughout my other classes I couldn't stop thinking about Phoenix. I really wanted to know what he was going to tell me.

Finally, art. Art is my favorite subject. I don't know why maybe because its easy or maybe because lunch is next. I really don't know. But when I walked into the classroom, it smelt like paint.

It turns out that we actually are painting today.

So a couple of days ago we made these sculptures out of clay. And today we are going to paint them. Oh I'm sorry I stand corrected its glaze. Not paint. My teacher told the whole class that because she got annoyed of everyone saying it was paint.

Out of the clay I made a box. I am very creative.

**RING**

Okay so now I'm going to lunch. What happens if he sees me and he wants to start talking to me again. What about Sophia. Oh my cheeseballs.

Just calm down and go to lunch. See what happens when you get there.

Rachel was there before me. She looked really happy today.

"Rachel can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"Are you friends with Sophia?"

Her face looked sad now. I really have to ruin everything.

"Ya we used to until she started dating Phoenix. She really changed, she never did the stuff she does now."

"What does that mean."

"Oh nothing. I just think Phoenix is a bad kid."

How come everybody thinks that.