Chapter 17: The Initiation

"And you initiated it?" Camryn asked quietly.

"Yes!" I responded as I unlocked my locker. "I just said that."

"We can talk about it more in the cafeteria, I'm starving," Alice explained as she rubbed her stomach.

"Wait, I want to get my books for next period," I told them. "But I was surprised at how much I actually wanted to kiss—."

"Shut up," Alice hissed.

"What?" I asked as I turned around. Phoenix was approaching with furrowed eyebrows.

"What's up with the sudden silence?" he questioned.

"We were just talking—," Alice started.

"About you," Camryn finished.

Phoenix looked surprised that Camryn had been that blunt. "Really?" he asked.

"We're going to go get lunch," Camryn smiled as she disappeared behind Phoenix. I glared at her and she made began kissing the back of her hand grossly, pointing to me and then to Phoenix. I stuck up my middle finger and she laughed, dragging Alice around the corner in the direction of the cafeteria.

"You guys were talking about me?" Phoenix asked as he leaned against the locker beside mine.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"Yeah?" he asked. "What about?"

"Just about you," I told him.

"Specifically?" he inquired.

"You," I responded. Noticing his curious look, I sighed. "I can't tell you. It'll be weird."

"Just pretend I'm Camryn, or Alice," he suggested. "Like, girl, like, what did you, like, say, about, like, Phoenix? Like?"

I rolled my eyes at him while chuckling. "They don't say 'like' after every word, and you have to be more realistic if you want this to work."

"Phoenix is so hot, don't you think?" he asked in a falsetto voice. I stared at him and smiled.

"I can't take you seriously," I laughed. "They asked about what happened on Halloween and then they asked me some questions."

"What questions?" he asked.

"They asked if I got any candy, if we kissed, if I was going to give them some candy," I trailed.

"What'd you say?" he inquired.

"I told them I didn't get candy," I responded.

"No," he sighed. "What'd you say about whether or not we kissed?"

"I said no, that we didn't, because we didn't," I responded.

"But..." he trailed.

"We almost did," I explained. "And they asked what happened and I told them."

"I wish I had someone to tell things to," he complained as we walked towards the lunch room.

"Tell Leo," I joked and he glared at me.

"He'd kill me if he found out I almost kissed you," he muttered.

"You could always confide in Elliot," I told Phoenix. "He's a really good listener. And he gives good advice." He looked at me doubtfully and I shook my head. "Trust me, he won't tell your business either."

I entered the lunch room and got my food before approaching my table. I sat down and Camryn smirked at me. "So how was it?"

"We didn't kiss," I told her and she shook her head.

"That's your fault. You had the chance," she informed me and I scoffed, shaking my head.

"I don't know when I'm going to have another chance to kiss him," I told my friends.

"Are you going to hang out with him today?" Alice asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know. I could," I admitted. "But what excuse would I use?"

"You don't exactly need one," Cam responded.

"Yeah, but I want to have a reason. I don't want to seem clingy," I expressed. "I see him every day. And won't it seem a bit odd that I'd want to hang out with him alone at his house the day after we almost kissed?"

"Who said anything about being at his house?" Alice asked.

"We're not going to my house- no way. Leo would not allow that to happen," I told my two friends. "And he's going to be getting out of football practice. I doubt he's going to want to go out and do something at six o'clock; he's going to be tired."

"Well, let's see how things turn out," Alice anticipated.

"I wish you the best," Cam smirked at me.

+ + +

While waiting to go home, I decided to remain in the stands at the football field rather than the confines of the gym. I sat close to the bottom, near the player's water bottles. I was working on my homework, struggling to complete my Chemistry packet. I stared at the players, watching as they slowly made their way back to the bleachers.

I stared at Phoenix, identifying him by the number branding his clothes. He removed his helmet as he grew closer, running his hand through his sweaty hair and I wrinkled my nose at him. He stuck out his tongue in response. After practically guzzling the remains of his water, he approached me, looking at the work in my lap.

"What are you doing?" he inquired.

"I was doing my Chemistry homework," I told him. "I don't get it."

"I can help you," he responded. I noticed Leo a few feet away, drinking water, but obviously listening.

"When can you do that?" I asked him.

"I have to run to the store on my way home, and then I want to shower, so after that. Maybe six?" he asked. That should give me enough time to do the rest of my homework, change, and try to look pretty.

"Where?" I questioned as I finished packing my bag.

"My house," he answered. "If that's okay with you."

"Why your house?" my brother blurted from a few feet away. Phoenix turned to look at him.

"I have to babysit my little sisters," Phoenix informed him. "My mom is going out tonight, so I have to watch them."

My brother nodded slowly as he turned and began walking towards the locker rooms. Phoenix looked at me and smiled. "So six o'clock at my house?"

"That sounds good," I told him.

"Do you want anything from the store? Candy? Chips?" he questioned and I shook my head.

"No, thanks," I responded.

"Okay, well I'm going to go change in the locker rooms. I'll see you at six," he smiled and I smiled back, nodding my head.

+ + +

I got home and zoomed through my homework, leaving the Chemistry packet, as well as my binder for the class, aside. After freshening up, I walked towards my closet, thinking about how I could change my outfit without being too obvious. I removed my hoodie, switching it out for a pretty cardigan. I also switched from my usual sneakers to a pair of flats. I brushed out my hair, pulling it into a fishtail braid over my shoulder. I examined myself in the mirror and nodded. I don't look half bad, I thought to myself.

Phoenix texted me a few minutes before six and asked if I was still coming over, to which I responded positively, telling him I'd be there in a few moments. I grabbed my Chemistry stuff and my phone, leaving my bedroom to go downstairs. My sister, who was the only other person home, was on the couch eating chips. "Where are you going?"

"Phoenix's house," I told her and she made a noise, earning a look from me. "What?"

"How do you plan on bringing it up to Leo?" she asked me, "Considering you took my advice the other day."

I sighed and stared at her. "Look, I still don't know what I'm going to do. I'll tell Leo when I'm good and ready."

My sister looked at her wrist, tapping an imaginary watch. "The time is ticking."

"'The time is ticking,' shut up," I snapped.

I left the house, walking to Phoenix's house with my things. I knocked, though I probably could've just walked in. Brooke answered the door and I immediately remembered the candy I owed her. Before I could tell her I'd get it tomorrow, she smiled. "Thanks for the candy, Grace."

Phoenix was approaching the door and nodded, so I smiled in response. "Thanks for not telling your mom."

She closed the door behind me and Phoenix looked at me. "We're going to have to work on it in my room; Pipers in the living room with her boyfriend," Phoenix informed me with disgust in his tone.

"So what's my job?" Brooke piped.

"Okay, so you're going to sit in the living room and watch them. And if they do anything they're not supposed to, just shout for me," Phoenix whispered to her.

"You got it," Brooke nodded as she entered the living room, dropping on the couch between the couple. Piper glared at her younger sister while Phoenix snorted.

"They're cute," I told him as we headed up the stairs.

"They are not cute," Phoenix retorted. "They're way too young to be dating."

"Yeah, I agree, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they're cute," I replied. "You just don't think so because she's your little sister."

"She's going to get hurt," Phoenix told me. "Boys are mean."

"Don't I know?" I muttered.

"He's going to leave her for a girl he thinks is prettier and she's going to cry for a week," Phoenix explained. "And guess who's going to have to comfort her?"

"You?" I asked him.

"No, because that's not my job. But the point of the matter is that she's not emotionally ready for a relationship," Phoenix explained as he pushed the door to his bedroom open, allowing me to enter.

"Well, we live and we learn. And maybe, if her heart does get broken, she'll wait until she's older to start dating. Besides, this isn't a serious relationship. It's middle school stuff," I told her. "We all start somewhere. She could be like me and not have a boyfriend until she's seventeen."

He opened his mouth to say something before narrowing his eyes. "Seventeen?" he asked and I shrugged in response. "Who's this boyfriend going to be?"

"I don't know. I guess we'll find out once I'm seventeen, won't we?" I responded.

"You know, you're hard to read," Phoenix told me as I sat on his bed.

"I don't believe so," I replied. "But you know what's hard to read?"

"What?" he asked me.

"This work," I responded as I held up my packet.

"Right," he nodded as he looked at his bed. "May I?"

"May you what?" I inquired.

"Sit down," he trailed.

"It's your bed," I told him. "I'd be a bit surprised if you didn't sit down."

"I just didn't want to make you uncomfortable," he muttered.

I rolled my eyes as I placed my chemistry work between us.

+ + +

I was surprised at how easy it was once Phoenix explained it. It didn't take me very long to finish it and once I did, I was a bit upset. "Is this right?" I asked him, handing him the packet.

"Yeah," he nodded as he looked at my answers. "It's correct."

"Thanks," I smiled at him as I took my paper and tucked it into my binder. I remained on his bed, unsure of what do to next. I mean, do I go home? It hasn't even been an hour.

"Do you know what we have yet to do?" he asked me. "Buy a tie to match your dress."

"When do you want to do that?" I asked him and he thought about it.

"Tomorrow, after homecoming committee?" he suggested and I nodded.

"I'm free," I told him.

"We'll have to swing by your house to grab your dress," he reminded me. "Unless you want to leave it in my car in the morning; I can give you a ride to school."

"That sounds like a plan," I nodded.

"What do you want to do?" he asked me.

I looked at his television and shrugged. "Can we watch a movie?" I asked.

"Yeah, you can pick which one you want to watch. They're over there," he told me as he pointed to a rack filled with DVDs. "Do you want anything to drink or to eat? I'm going to go check on the kids."

"Can I have water?" I asked him as I walked to the rack.

"Yeah, sure," he nodded. "I'll be right back."

I examined the movie shelf, noticing that he had mostly action and comedy. But I didn't recognize any of the titles. Most of them were old, but I mean, I'm not really interested in watching the movie. I decided on a random film, putting the disc in the DVD player and sitting back on Phoenix's bed with the remote. He came upstairs with my drink and sat on the bed beside me. I didn't hesitate with putting my head on his shoulder, watching as the movie began.

+ + +

"Why'd you pick this movie?" Phoenix asked and I stared at the television. We were a half hour into the most boring move I've ever watched. Not only is it in black and white but the effects are horrible.

"Why do you have this movie?" I asked him as I lifted my head up from my place on his shoulder.

"It was a gift from my grandfather," Phoenix informed me. "I've never actually watched it."

"It's not a good movie," I told him.

"Which is why I'm going to ask again, why'd you choose it?" he inquired.

"I don't know," I told him.

"When you said you wanted to watch a movie, did you have other intentions?" he asked in an amused tone.

"What?!" I asked, growing red in the face. "No! I just thought that you actually liked the movies you had and figured that you'd enjoy the movie."

"Well, your assumption was wrong," he spoke.

"In my defense, I'm not a fan of your movie taste. I mean, the genres are great but your movies are so outdated," I told him.

"I'm a fan of old movies, okay, Grace?" he responded.

"So all of your movies are from the sixteenth century?" I reiterated and he rolled his eyes at me.

"The seventies and the eighties," he responded. "What kind of movies do you like?"

"Well, I like movies from this century," I told him, earning an eye roll in response. "And I like romance."

"Euch," Phoenix noised.

"What?" I asked. "I'm a hopeless romantic."

"Are you?" he smirked.

"Shut up," I retorted. "You're not much of a relationship guru either."

"I never said I was," he responded.

"Yeah, but you're making fun of me—," I started.

"No, I'm not," Phoenix replied.

I glared at him. "Yeah, you are."

"No," he drawled. "I just asked if you were a hopeless romantic. You're the one that took offense."

"You're so frustrating," I hissed at him.

"You're cute when you're mad," Phoenix announced, catching me off guard. I continued to glare at him as my face turned red. He stared down at me, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his cheeks and his large green eyes examining every inch of my face. "And when you're embarrassed."

I dropped my head back down but this time, in the curve of his neck, placing my hands on his chest. I felt his heartbeat as it raced in his chest and I smirked. Daringly, I laid a quick kiss on his neck before lifting my head and looking up at him. "Nervous?" I questioned quietly.

"Excited," he answered, matching my volume.

His hand rose to my face as he cupped my cheek, following the tilt of my head as I leaned into him. My eyes fluttered closed as excitement built up in my stomach. It's happening – finally. My hands, which were resting on his shoulders, tightened as I anticipated his lips on mine. He went to move forward but a scream pierced the air. "Phoenix!"

I moved backwards immediately, pulling away from his warm grasp. Phoenix tilted his head back and let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his hands down his face. "I'm going to kill that girl, I swear."

"Didn't you tell her to call if Piper and her boyfriend did anything they weren't supposed to?" I asked him and he sighed and got up from his bed. I remained there, growing more and more annoyed as I thought about it.

I heard Phoenix stomping up the steps and he came in his room and gave me an annoyed look. "What'd they do?" I asked him.

"They kissed," he told me as he stood there. "My little sister just kissed a boy."

I gave him a flat look as I sighed. "That makes one of us."

"Shut up, Grace," he announced as he plopped down on his bed.

+ + +

When Mrs. Carson arrived, I decided to leave. Not only was my mother texting me to let me know dinner was almost ready, but Phoenix still had homework to do. I got up, being followed by Phoenix. He opened the door, trailing me as I left. I prayed Leo wouldn't be in the window but as we reached my porch, I noticed that he was.

"I hate him, I swear," I groaned. "He's so nosy."

"I think he's jealous of you," Phoenix suggested.

"Hang out with him more," I told Phoenix. "Maybe that'll get him off of my case."

"Our cases," Phoenix insisted. "You're not the only one harassed and questioned."

"Well, tomorrow after we get your tie and such, come over and hang out with him. Play videogames or watch television, I don't know. Do what you guys usually do," I told Phoenix.

"I will," Phoenix told me. "Because I want to, not because you're telling me."

I grinned at him and nodded. "Sure, that's why."

"Do you think he'd mind if I kissed your cheek?" Phoenix asked.

"Yes, but I wouldn't," I told Phoenix, who leaned down and pecked the side of my face.

"I have to go bring Piper's boyfriend home," Phoenix told me as he handed me my Chemistry stuff.

"Don't threaten him," I told Phoenix who grinned.

"No promises," he responded as I opened the door to my house.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I told him.

"I'll see you," he called as he walked down the steps.

The moment I entered the house, my brother was basically attacking me. "Did he just kiss you?" he questioned with a voice of disgust.

"On my cheek," I told my brother.

"Do you like him?" my brother asked, practically gagging as the words flew from his lips. "You do like him, don't you?"

"You're an idiot," I told my brother as I tried to walk past him.

"You like him!" my brother announced. "You need to stop hanging out with him."

"You can't tell me what to do," I told my brother.

"Oh my gosh, I should've stopped being his friend when he started acknowledging you," my brother sighed as he ran his hands down his face. "I just didn't think he'd have a chance with you. I thought you would respect the boundaries I set and not date my friends and vice versa."

I stared at my brother as he overdramatically ranted. "He kissed my cheek, Leo. He didn't propose."

"Yet," my brother said as he looked visibly sick. "I think I'm going to puke."

"You're so melodramatic!" I called.

"How would you feel if I dated Alice?" he asked.

"Well, I'd be surprised because she likes girls," I told my brother.

"Okay then, how about Camryn?" he inquired.

"I wouldn't mind because if you're dating, that means you really like each other—," I started but my brother cut me off with a dry heave.

"You really like him? I'm going to be sick," he stated. "This isn't going to happen. You need to get over him. And you need to stop talking to him, delete his number, block him on everything, quit homecoming committee—," he ranted but I cut him off.

"No," I told my brother. "The world doesn't revolve around you. Just because something makes you uncomfortable doesn't mean it needs to cease to exist. You just need to either stop being bothered by it and get over it or ignore it."

"How am I going to ignore the fact that my best friend is trying to get with my sister?" he questioned me. "How can I just get over it?"

"It's your job to figure that out," I told my brother as I turned to leave.

"He's not coming over here anymore," my brother announced and I slowly turned to look at him.

"You're being irrational," I told him. "He's your best friend."

"I'll just hang out with him at his house," Leo shrugged.

"I'll have him over," I told Leo. "Or I might just go over there."

"Not if I tell mom and dad," my brother threatened.

"Oh, yeah? What are they going to do? They practically love Phoenix like a son," I told my brother.

"Which is why they'll feel so betrayed that he's trying to get with their daughter," my brother announced.

"So we'll have to hang out in the living room or in my room with the door open," I shrugged.

"It's your fault for liking him. He's liked you since we were 8 years old and just as he's about to get over you, you're pulling him back in," my brother blamed.

"You know what? Fine. I'll get over him. Just leave me alone," I retorted as I stormed off to my room.

I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling. I'll just have to hide whatever's going on between me and Phoenix. When I'm hanging out at his house, I'll tell everyone I'm at Alice's or Cam's. I mean, Phoenix can't walk me home after we hang out but it won't really matter. Leo will be off of our case. Homecoming will probably be the last event where we're seen together, and then we'll have to sneak around behind my brother's back. I'll have to tell Phoenix tomorrow.

+ + +

The following morning, I got up earlier than my siblings and made my way to Phoenix's house. He told me he'd be awake last night when I texted him and it surprised me when I saw him sitting on the front porch. I had my bag with my dress in it and I looked at him and smiled. "Listen, I have to ride to school with my siblings today but would you mind putting my bag in the trunk?"

"Not at all, what happened?" he asked.

"I'll explain it later," I told him.

"Are you okay?" he questioned and I sighed, shrugging.

"I'll tell you everything after homecoming committee," I responded. "Just promise me you won't say anything about it to my brother."

"Okay?" he said, with an expression mixed with curiosity and suspicion.

"Well, I have to go get ready for school. I'll see you there," I frowned.

I waved before heading back to my house, where I took my time to get ready, even sitting down to have a bowl of cereal. My brother came downstairs before Avery and gave me a quick look. I could tell he was still angry about last night. Apparently he was mad enough to eat breakfast at the kitchen counter rather than at the table alongside me.

"Morning," Avery announced as she sat down beside me. "What's wrong with you, Leo?"

"Nothing," my twin responded curtly and Avery looked at me. I simply shook my head in response.

Once we finished eating, we piled into the car and left for school, sitting in awkward, uncomfortable silence. When we arrived at school, my brother got out of the car, joining Phoenix who was looking at me curiously. I turned to my older sister and sighed. "Leo found out about me and Phoenix."

"Well, I mean, he was already curious," my sister told me and I sighed.

"No, he saw Phoenix kiss me on the cheek and he went berserk," I told Avery. "He said I can't see Phoenix anymore."

My sister snorted. "Since when do you listen to Leo?" she asked.

"I don't but I know that if I continue to attempt a relationship with Phoenix, it'll mess up their friendship," I told my sister. "I don't want Phoenix to lose his best friend over me."

"We both know Leo won't dare to part with Phoenix," my sister laughed.

"He was serious, Avery," I told my sister.

"So you're going to stop talking to Phoenix altogether?" she asked in a serious tone.

I scoffed, shaking my head. "No, I know to keep it more secretive now. I just have to get Phoenix on board," I told my sister. "Are you willing to cover for me if need be?"

"This plan is bound to fail...but I'm willing to keep it alive for as long as possible," my sister nodded.

I rolled my eyes at her. "It's not going to fail, trust me."

+ + +

"So basically, you want me to pretend that nothing's happening between us?" Phoenix asked me with furrowed eyebrows.

"You make it sound so bad," I told him.

"Well, I mean, it's not something I want to do," Phoenix told me. "I'm not good at keeping secrets, especially not from my best friend. I've been struggling to keep it a secret that we almost kissed. I don't know how you expect me to keep it a secret when we hang out."

"I just want you to be able to stay friends with Leo without having to be questioned or treated badly," I told him. "Leo doesn't have an eternal relationship with you. He's my brother and he'll have no choice to stop hating me at some point or another."

"What happened to make you start plotting this?" Phoenix asked as he drove us towards the mall.

"He saw you kiss me on the cheek and he went crazy. He was telling me that he wasn't going to allow this and that I needed to delete your number, stop talking to you, and block you on all social media. He was blaming me for everything," I told Phoenix.

"So he made you feel bad for being with me?" Phoenix asked.

"Yeah, but he did it in a way to make me seem like a bad person for...liking you," I told Phoenix, who whipped around to look at me. He opened his mouth to say something but I shook my head. "We can talk about it later."

He nodded and I could tell he was fending off a smile. "And how'd he do that?" Phoenix asked.

"Okay, so, apparently, Leo knew that you liked me but assumed that I wouldn't ever like you back, so when I did, he blamed me. He said that you were just about to get over me but I decided to like you and I pulled you back in," I told Phoenix.

"Pulled me back in to what?" Phoenix asked.

"I don't know," I responded.

"That's not a nice thing of him to do," Phoenix responded.

"So are you willing to do it?" I asked him. He looked at me with furrowed eyebrows and a very confused look on his face. "Are you willing to hide what's going on from Leo?"

"How long will we have to do this?" he inquired.

"Until Leo realizes how stupid he's being," I responded.

"Do you realize how stupid your brother is? It'll take him years to admit to being wrong," Phoenix reminded me and I shook my head.

"Avery's going to talk to him about it every so often," I told Phoenix. "It shouldn't take long. A few weeks- tops."

"A few weeks..." Phoenix muttered as he looked at me. I puckered out my lower lip and he sighed. "Alright, fine."

"Yes!" I cheered aloud and he smirked at me.

"So...you like me?" he asked.

"By later, I meant hours, not minutes," I replied.

+ + +

"Is this the right color?" Phoenix asked me as he held up a tie. I compared it to the dress and shook my head.

"No, it's too dark," I told him.

"Too dark, too light, too shiny, too many designs- why are you so picky?" he asked me and I rolled my eyes at him.

"We're not going to be that couple that doesn't match at formal events," I told Phoenix.

"Couple?" he asked in a tone similar to the one when he asked about my feelings for him.

"Phoenix," I stated and he sighed.

"Next time, I'm picking out a tie first and you're getting a dress to match," he insisted.

"Now we both know that's not going to happen," I responded.

"A man can dream, can't he?" he asked.

"I got it!" I spoke as I held up a matching tie. I pressed it against my dress and sighed in satisfaction. "See? Can you tell why it was so important now?"

"If yes is the correct answer, then yes," he smiled at me. I rolled my eyes at him. "Should I get you purple flowers for homecoming too?"

"That's actually not a bad idea," I told him. "As long as they're the right shade."

"Never mind then," he muttered as he took the tie to the register. I waited outside of the store for him, grinning as he exited. "Are we even allowed to go to homecoming together?" he asked in a mocking tone. "Or is Leo opposed to that?"

"Well, as far as Leo's going to know, the tickets are already paid for, even though homecoming committee members get in free. I won't tell him that," I told the boy walking beside me.

"When can we talk about it?" he questioned me about my feelings yet again.

"Sometime when we're in a more private area and not in a shopping mall," I responded. I knew he was going to mention the car and I quickly added: "And in an area where I can have your undivided attention."

"You always have my undivided attention," Phoenix smirked.

"That's a very scary thing to say to a girl who travels with you on the road," I responded.

"Speaking of traveling, we should probably get going. Leo's probably wondering where I am," Phoenix responded.

"You guys are hanging out today like I advised, yes?" I questioned and he rolled his eyes sat me.

"We are hanging out today but not because you said we should," he muttered.

"Okay, whatever you say, Phoenix," I responded.