Phoenix

Chapter 1

It was probably about 1 o'clock in the morning. I cannot sleep. My melatonin just will not kick in. The summertime heat was sweltering me as I lay above my bed covers in the lightest pyjamas I could find and I know I'm no scientist but I think the heat made me sweat the melatonin tablets out of my body but at least I had the company of my phone. My best friend Sierra has been texting me throughout the night to keep me company and because she could not sleep either. As I was waiting on a reply from Sierra about god knows what I decided I might try to get some sleep.

*Bing* I thought that might be Sierra replying to me on Snapchat. I rolled back around to my bedside table and picked up my phone. But the name that popped up shocked me, "The Dickhead" well that is his nickname, his name is Luke Wittenberg. Luke goes to my secondary school, Oaklands Secondary School in London but we have a backstory. Luke and I went to the same cub scout group when we were nine years old, until he ended up quitting when we were 11. In the junior years of secondary school, Luke used to playfully bully me on the bus to and from school because he enjoyed annoying me and because I was easy to get a rise out of due to my ADHD. That's how he got the nickname, "The Dickhead" but sometimes the bullying turned into us hitting each other or him putting me in arm bars which is a move he knows from the times he took Thursday night jujitsu with my former "boyfriend" from primary school. So, I have known of this boy for quite a long time.

Luke was probably sending streaks, but my curiously bored mind urged me to open his snap. I unlocked my phone and opened the snapchat. The snap he sent was the iconic black screen with the overused sentence, "someone talk." Generally, I would ignore idiots who send stupid snapchats like this because the conversations last about five minutes and I barely knew the guy enough to carry a proper conversation. But part of me was bored and wanted someone to talk to because I have a lot on my mind, and I have a feeling Sierra fell asleep.

I took a picture of my pitch-black bedroom and typed hey.

I hesitate hitting send knowing Luke was capable of twisting anything and everything into a dirty minded joke, I was not the biggest fan of that. If I am being honest, I am not his biggest fan at all. I despised the guy for years but somehow right at this moment I just wanted somebody to talk to he seems to be the only person awake...he is my only shot.

My phone vibrated. It was a reply from Luke. Wow! That was fast.

Hey, how are you?

I am good, how are you?

Been better, I am just really bored to be honest. What have you been up to?

Oh, the typical small talk. How bland. I guess it is better than staring at the colourless ceiling pondering the reoccurring thoughts I have had spinning in my mind for the past couple of months.

Well umm considering it is one in the morning what do you think I have been doing?

Snarky much. You have a fair point though.

Yeah, I knew the conversation would literally last the span of five minutes. I still was not ready to give up. I do not want to be alone with my thoughts all night.

Why are you not asleep?

Sleep is for the weak.

I rolled my eyes at that statement. I do not have words to describe how much I think of him as an idiot.

So, you are calling me weak?

Phoenix, on the bus when you hit me it does not even hurt so yeah you are WEAK.

Okay. I guess you are right.

You want to play 21 questions? If you are not too tired of course.