Chapter 4

“Phoenix, it’s not true,” Chase said desperately. She just shook her head and turned and ran, leaving a pathway through the crowd. Chase turned back to Cheryl who had the smuggest look he had ever seen on her face.

“You planned that, didn’t you?” he asked in disbelief. “I didn’t know you could sink that low.”

He spun around and sprinted after Phoenix before Cheryl could get a word out. He ran as fast as he could but it was so crowded he wasn’t making any progress. He saw Jack at his locker and rushed over to him.

“Have you seen Phoenix?” he said out of breath.

“Yeah why?” Jack said with an edge to his voice that Chase ignored.

“I said something to please Cheryl and Phoenix heard it and it wasn’t true. I need to explain.”

“You must have said something terrible by the look of her. She was sobbing when she came running down the hall. Malone caught her and she couldn’t stop crying. They took her to the field. But I’m not so sure she’s ready to talk to you,” Jack said, turning to walk to the field. Chase ran ahead of him. He reached the field and saw Phoenix. She was passing furiously to the terrified receiver who would cry out and shake his hands vigorously after he caught the football.

“Phoenix!” Chase yelled. She looked over, as did the rest of the team. “Let me explain.”

Phoenix picked up a ball at her feet and suddenly he saw it coming toward him. He didn’t even have time to react. It hit him so forcefully, he fell to the ground. He felt as if his bones should be crushed. He lied there on the ground as he heard the team run over. They crowded around him and when he opened his eyes, Phoenix was above him, with a look of concern played across her face.

“Oh my gosh! Are you ok? I’m so sorry. I forgot how hard I throw when I’m mad. I meant it to just tap you, not knock you to the ground. I’m so--”

Her words were cut off as Chase’s lips met hers. Her eyes closed and her hands went around his neck as the kiss deepened. He pulled her into his lap and put his arms around her waist. She broke the kiss and gazed at him, dazed. The team looked on in embarrassment and confusion. Swiftly, her look of passion disappeared and fire exploded in her eyes.

“Why you--!” she screamed slapping him across the face. She got up and went to back onto the field to get her things. He called after her.

“Phoenix let me explain.”

When she didn’t turn, he said the first thing that came to his mind.

“You enjoyed that too!” he immediately regretted it.

Furious, she froze with anger. She slowly revolved on her heel and looked back at him.

“You think I enjoyed being humiliated by you?” she shrieked. She spotted Jack who had just come onto the field after being held up by a teacher. She walked over to him and grabbed his hands. She looked at Chase before putting Jack’s hands on her waist. She then put her hands around Jack’s neck and reached up, kissing him soundly. Jack melted

into her and forgot the world around him. Chase looked on in shock. The team had no idea what to do with Chase still on the ground and Phoenix kissing Jack.

They finally broke apart. Phoenix looked at Chase with hurt in her eyes, and then back at Jack.

“Let’s go. School’s over and we’re skipping practice. We’ll go get an ice cream or something,” she said grabbing his hand and pulling him off the field.

Jack just dazedly nodded and together walked off the field, leaving a hurt and devastated Chase to receive comfort from the team.

Chase couldn’t stand it. After they had disappeared he shunned the team who was trying to help him. He got to his feet and left the field. He walked to his car. After unlocking it he got into the front seat. Suddenly the pressure was too much and tears streamed down his face as sobs racked his body for the first time in a long time.

3