Sofia: Phoenix Rising - Fire Within! Book 1
Chapter Four

Lori and I burst through my bedroom door, giggling, and laughing as we do so. I have two windows in my room, one which faces the back yard and the other which, you guessed it, faces the neighbor’s house. This particular window is what people call a bay window and has a cushioned alcove, seating area, where when I was younger, I would curl up on the soft, maroon-colored cushions and read a book or listen to music and dream about my future.

Currently we are kneeled upon the same cushions from my youth but are crowded right up against the windowpane, watching the activity below. Collectively we sigh in appreciation as Ash bends over to scoop something up from the driveway. Yep, I knew it! The jeans fit him very well indeed. We are so acting our age right now, 17 and 17 and a half, respectively. “I think I have finally figured out who I’m going to ask to the prom!” Lori states happily.

I glance at her from the corner of my eyes and raise an eyebrow questioningly but what I really want to say is ‘hands of I saw him first!’ I am shocked at myself for feeling so territorial all of a sudden. I have never been one to be possessive of anything or anyone. My stomach twists and turns at the idea of her being with him though, and I do not know how to act. So instead, I laugh, “don’t you think you should maybe worry about the Fall Formal since it’s right around the corner and not prom which is how many months away?”

“Eh, I got that covered. Besides, we’re going stag for the fall dance, have you decided what you’re going to dress up as?” Lori looks at me waiting for me to answer.

“I have an idea, but it’s a surprise so I am not going to tell you.” She shrugs her shoulders, her attention diverted back to the view (Ash), outside.

“Oh, hey. I heard a rumor that you passed out today in gym class. Are you okay?” She looks at me with genuine concern in her eyes and any hate or jealousy I may have had a moment ago, dissipates. Instead, a blush rises to my cheeks, and I close my eyes as I recall what had happened.

“Yeah, I’m fine but utterly embarrassed!”

“What? Why? It’s not like you could have prevented the situation from happening.” Lori says looking at me curiously.

“Oh, I know that. It’s just the fact that Blake apparently became my knight in shining armor and carried me to the nurses’ office for the gym teacher. And the most shocking part of it all, he stayed until I came to.”

Her mouth has fallen open, and she is staring at me in stunned silence. “Are you serious? And you are just now telling me this! What the heck, Sofia?”

I shrug, indicating that it was no big deal, but who am I kidding. It was totally a big deal. “To top it off, I made it sound like I thought he wasn’t a nice guy and that I am worthless.” I groan as that memory comes back to haunt me.

“Wow, what did it feel like to be wrapped up in Blake’s arms?” She is grinning at me, but I know she is really intrigued to know. Why can’t she be interested in him instead? They would be perfect together. Both friendly, kind natures and popular in their own ways.

Laughing I say, “I have no idea how it feels to be held in his arms. I was out cold.” Lori laughs, rolling her eyes. My eyes, however, have drifted back to the window and the view beyond it. The person whose arms I would like to feel around me, probably has no interest in me, whatsoever.

^^^

“Ah, crap.” I mumble into my pillow as I throw my left arm out towards my nightstand, searching by feel alone to grab my cell phone and hit the snooze button on it rendering the alarm on it silent. Just ten more minutes I tell myself. But as my search fails, I become irritated and more alert which in turn causes me to grumble into my pillow that school sucks and question why it has to start so early. This is my routine every morning and honestly, after nearly twelve years of school, you would think I would be used to it, but I’m not.

I drag my body, half dead out of the bed and groggily make my way to my bathroom. Suddenly the thought of being able to see Ash again, perks me up and I smile. I am going to do something I have not done since my freshman year of high school, when I thought I could don a new persona, break out of my shell and be a new me. I put make-up on and enhance my already curly hair by adding some hairspray. As I finish applying eyeliner, I stare at myself in amazement. The black of the charcoal has heightened my eye color, making them appear almost like liquid gold instead of the natural honey color they are. I actually feel pretty! I then do something completely out of my ‘norm’ and put a jean skirt on that hugs my hips in all the right places, and from the back of my closet, I locate my black knee-high length boots.

Walking past my floor length mirror that hangs on the back side of my bedroom door, I turn back to my closet in search of a specific shirt, a long sleeve, black knit top that has a diamond heart on the front of it and angel wings made out of diamonds on the back of it. I grin as I take one last look in the mirror, my entire outfit compliments my thin frame quite well.

Dashing down the steps, I enter the kitchen where mom and dad are both sitting at the kitchen table, enjoying cups of coffee and reading the news on their smartphones. Dad happens to look up from whatever he was reading just then to tell me the pot of coffee is fresh, if I want any when his eyes go wide, and he just stares at me. “What’s wrong?” I ask, my hand frozen midair in the process of reaching for one of the many to-go coffee cups we horde in a cupboard.

“Oh, uh, what? Nothing.” He stumbles over his words as he continues to gaze at me.

“Um, ok-ay.” I respond slowly. I look at him curiously, the only resemblance I bear to him are my eyes, well normally, when they are their typical light gold/brown coloring that is. Otherwise, most are shocked when I tell them that Marco Einan, is my father. He is full-blooded Mexican, whereas I take after my mother who is German, and Dutch descended, respectively.

Just then my mom, Anna Einan looks at me and ’oh’s’ me. “No seriously, what?” I look at them flabbergasted.

“Oh darling, you look beautiful,” mom gushes. “You just took us by surprise because you hardly ever wear make-up.” She smiles but then adds, “so, who’s the guy?”

“W-what?” I stutter. I mean, I know they are both very perceptive individuals, I just didn’t think they would be so quick to put two and two together. “What are you talking about? Why does it have to be for a guy? Can’t I just decide to wear a little bit of make-up, gosh!” I know I am being a bit dramatic; I just couldn’t let them know they were right, well mom anyway. Dad seems to be a bit slower to my reasoning.

Mom, however, just continues to smile at me, knowingly. “Whatever,” I mutter as I finish filling my cup up with coffee before heading out the door. I shout back to them just before it closes, “bye, I’ll see you after school. Love you!” Running to my car, I stop short, a strangled cry falling from my lips. “Ahh, what the hell dude? You scared the crap out of me!”

Damn Ash looks good leaning against the side of my car, once again decked out in black, the only difference is that this time he is wearing black cargo pants instead of jeans. A smirk graces his lips but not in a condescending way, more humored by my reaction of him standing there than anything, I think…

“Sorry.” Ash says, looking very unapologetic.

I give him a glare, “is there something I can help you with?” I ask him, an icy tone to my voice.

“Curious, any chance I can hitch a ride with you? My Ute isn’t working proper, and I don’t want to chance being late on my second day.”

I eye him a moment, first and foremost, trying to sort out what in the world a Ute is. Secondly, I’m trying to keep my composure. I don’t want to seem overly excited at the prospect of having him sitting in my car with me, even though my heart is pounding a mile a minute at the thought! “Um, sure, if you want.” I say nonchalantly.

Starting up my car, I glance at him sheepishly, “oops, sorry.” I reach out to turn the radio down, but he places his strong sturdy hand upon mine, stopping me from doing so.

“No way! Is that Parkway Drive? Aces!” Perplexed doesn’t begin to describe my confusion at the moment. I look at him both confused by his terminology and surprised that he knows the name of the band I had been jamming out to on my way home from school yesterday.

“No way! You’re telling me you know who Parkway Drive is? No one in this small freaking town know who they are. How have you heard of them?” I glance over to him, cautious to still keep my eyes on the road ahead of me though.

Ash chuckles, a deep rumbling sound from his chest; “oy, they’re from Australia. My mates and I would often go to the boozer and play pool while jamming out to them.”

“Okay, two things; 1, you totally need to get me a dictionary. I don’t know a quarter of the words you say. Two, I’m totally jealous of you.” Just then the parking-lot of the high school comes into view, a sigh of disappointment escapes my lips. Having placed my car into park, I get out of it, grabbing my bookbag from the backseat, I risk a glance sideways at him before saying; “it was fun chatting with you. I’ll see you around.” S~ᴇaʀᴄh the (ꜰind)ɴʘvel.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Ash tips his head to the side, causing bits of hair to fall into his eyes, but instead of saying anything in response, he falls into step beside me and to my surprise, walks with me up to the entrance of the school.

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