Life of Phoenix - 2. Lyrics to a Song

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“WAKE UP PHEONIX!!” Lyric slammed open my door. “You promised me a day of shopping Mr. Russell!”

I rolled over on my bed. “And I said in the afternoon...” I hate morning people... and mornings... and some people. “What time is it?”

Lyric tossed my blanket off. It's a good thing she's seen me in my boxers before, many times, and I'm gay, so that helps. “It's 1pm doofus!”

I looked over at the clock. Sure enough 1:03 pm. “Fine, can I at least have a shower?”

She placed her hand on her hip and did her little hip bump. “You're a little shit head you know that?” She smiled and started walking out of the room. “Hurry up Lakota is waiting for us in the car!”

Every few weeks, Lyric decides we have to go shopping. By shopping, I mean her trying on outfits and us telling her if she looks good in them or not. She usually ignores us. We only go to a store all of us can enjoy every other store.

To satisfy Lyric's need to shop, I showered as fast as I could. It was mostly for Lakota since he was stuck in the car with all the corny pop music. I may be gay, but I know the difference between good music and bad. Lyric might have a music related name, but maaan does her taste suck.

We end up making to the mall, making fun of Lyric's music in the process. She got her revenge though by going into Lulu Lemon first. Lakota and I shared the expression of pure agony.

After picking out like twenty items of clothes, Lyric entered the change room. “You know you can't afford like any of those right?” Lakota yelled into the change room.

“Says the loser who lost his allowance right after getting it!”

Lakota rolled his eyes. “It's not my fault my wallet disappeared.” He probably just put it down and forgot where he put it. That's just how the Austin siblings are.

After about an hour... and a half of Lyric doing her fashion show, we made our way to West 49. Lakota and I found a couple of hoodies we liked while Lyric looked around not doing much at all.

We were in and out of West 49 pretty quickly. Right beside West 49 was a Chapters soooo. “I'm off to find some books.” Lakota usually parted ways at this point anyways. It lets Lyric, and I talk about things in private.

“See you later Lakota!” Lyric waved off her brother as we parted ways. She wasted no time to start talking. “So how do you feel about seeing Max more often?”

“I'm fine with it...” To be honest, I wasn't sure what was going to come of it anyways.

Lyric looked over at me. “Honestly Nix, how do you feel? I know you like him, you've told me way too many times.” She might have taken the blunt of my brooding when Max stopped hanging out with me... us... ya.

“I don't know what's going to happen, so I'm not worrying 'bout it.” Lyric raised an eyebrow. “Fine! I'm hoping to get back into his circle...”

“See isn't it easier to just say it? Do I have to push you all the time?”

“Sometimes I wish you didn't know me so well.”

Lyric laughed. “To bad I do though.”

We ended up stopping in a Bluenotes. Graphic t-shirts are the best thing ever. I usually end up walking out with at least four. The deals they have for them are just too good.

I took a look at the graphic tees section. “Did they not get any new ones since last time?” I either have them all or didn't like them.

“We were here two weeks ago. I doubt they got anything new.”

A sales girl overheard us. “I think we just got a shipment yesterday. Would you like me to take a look for you?”

“Yes please!” New graphic tees before anyone else? YES!

As she went to the back Lyric pressed on. “You know you haven't had anything in year’s right?”

“I am me Lyric. I think I know when the last time I had a boyfriend was.” Two years ago... Keon. He works at the EB games in the mall. It makes it hard to shop for video games. Good thing I hand Lakota a list of games every time we go shopping.

“Is Keon working today?”

I looked over at her. “Of course he's working. It's the weekend.” Mall closes as 8. If you work in here, you don't get a lot of work during the week.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, but when?”

“Why would I know?”

“Cause you practically stock him.” She is not entirely lying. I creep his Facebook page every so often... I might have a problem okay!? “Seriously though, what classes does it look like you'll be helping?”

“More than likely Math and Science. I'm pretty good at those subjects.” 'Pretty good' is an understatement... I get 98% in both of those classes.

“And Max?”

“I have no idea. He's more athletic than anything else. He's a good student. Maybe he's really good at English and Socials or something.”

Lyric looked over at me. “Seriously Phoenix, stop messing with me. You know Max better than that. He loves history, and his English is impeccable. I wouldn't be surprised if he got 100% on the English final.” He got 100% on the English 10 provincial exam... he got $100 bucks from the teacher for it.

“Ya ya ya.”

The girl came back. “I could only find two that I've never seen before. Here they are if you want to take a look.”

“Thanks!” Lyric was still looking at me funny. “What do you want now?”

“Well I want to bug you more but I can't.” She used her eyes to point me towards somewhere. Rather someone, Max to be specific.

He walked directly over to me. “Hey Nix, what are you doing here?”

“Shopping with the queen herself.”

Lyric took that as a cue. “Hello, Max.”

“Hey, Lyric. Where's Lakota?”

Lyric took that question. “Book and video game shopping like always.” Max laughed. He knew how much Lakota loved video games and books, which is a weird combination this day in age.

“Makes sense. What shirts are you looking at?”

I looked down, Oh ya I had shirts. “Oh... I just got them from the back; I haven't even taken a look yet.” I opened one up.

Max read it out loud. “Just one more level... Just one more level... Just one more level... Just one more level... Just one more level... Just one more level...” He had Lyric and I both laughing with the monotone he uses.

“Sounds like Lakota playing any game.” I set that one down and opened the other one. “I like to party hard. And by party I mean sleep.”

“You always did fall asleep first at sleepovers.”

I couldn't help but blush. I would fall asleep on him, okay? “I couldn't help it... I woke up really early in the morning when I was younger.” I woke up at 7am on the dot every morning... You're lucky I'm out of bed at 7:30 for school.

“You would fall asleep at ten at the latest.”

I hid behind the shirt. “Shut up!” Don't ask what happened. One day I just started to sleep in and stay up late. A magic wand just cast a spell on me or something. “What are you doing in the mall, Max?” I revealed my eyes from behind the shirt.

“My mom says I need new jeans. Bluenotes is usually where I go to get them.”

Lyric came up with a horde of clothes in her hands. “I'll be in the change room. I expect you outside them in five minutes.” She walked off. Little devil... Leaving Max and me alone.

We were left with an awkward silence. Both of us, just kind of looked at the jeans looking for our sizes. Max has always been taller than me. In the younger years, it was because of him being a year older. Nowadays it's because my genes suck for height.

Like four and a half minutes go by. “I guess I should go help Lyric...”

“Ya. I'll see you later.” We waved to each other as I went to the change room.

Lyric was already standing outside the change room. “Seriously, you couldn't stay with him for five minutes?”

“It was awkward and we weren't saying anything...” I couldn't look at her. “I know I'm a looser.”

She rolled her eyes. “Just like in grade one. You're just as bubbly over him as you were then. You just have better control over it now.”

“Shut it.” I blushed looking for the shirts I got from the girl. “Shit, I forgot the shirts out there.”

Lyric looked at me. “Go get them; I don't like this shirt anyways.” She waved me off. If Lyric doesn't like the item, she won't have your opinion on it anyways.

I grabbed the shirts quickly and quickly returned to Lyric. She rolled her eyes. “What did I do now?”

“You still find it that awkward around him?”

“Ya, maybe a little...”

Once again, there was an eye roll. “Hey, babe.” I turned around to see Theo, Lyric's boyfriend. “Why are you here? Shouldn't you be working?” Theo worked with Keon at EB games.

“A certain little brother tipped me off to where I can find my girlfriend for my break.” They kissed, gross. “Almost done here? I want to take you out for lunch.”

She looked into the change room for a second. “Ya, let me just change into my clothes.” She hopped back into the little room and shut the door. “Hassle Nix for not talking to Max!”

Theo and Max were on a couple of sports teams together, so they knew of each other. Theo was a little taller though and has blonde hair, about the same length as Max. Last month Lyric managed to convince him to dye the tips green. I have got to say she got it perfect for his hair, just fading in to make it look cool.

“Couldn't talk to him again?” Let's face it; Lyric tells EVERTHING to two people; Theo or I. So Theo knowing about Max, and my past is a given. “All you did was kiss him.”

My face turned red, not just out of embarrassment, but that was a secret I trusted Lyric with. Like a highly classified secret. “Yes and I confessed my love to which he told me he didn't love me back. Now can we please change the topic?”

Lyric came out of her chamber smiling. “Yes, where are we going for lunch?”

“I say food court, I'll get anything my princess wants.” Blah blah blah, gross.

We walked out as Max was going into a fitting room with some jeans. I couldn't help but stare as we pass by each other. He saw me at the last second; I turned away though and hoped he didn't see me staring. If only I could take back what I said... If only I could restart meeting Maxwell Harper.

Past Time: Grade one

“But Mommy I don't wanna go to school!” A very shy Phoenix told his mother.

She did not bend. “You have to. Phoenix you have to go and learn. You can tell me all about it when I get home from work, okay?”

Tears began to form in his young eyes. “But mommy...”

“Phoenix!” A young Lyric ran up to her best friend, her father not far behind. “Ready for school?”

He shook his head. “No. I don't want to go to school.” Phoenix pouted to his friend.

“Please Phoenix; I don't wanna go if you're not here.” Lyric puffed her bottom lip.

Phoenix looked at his friend and shook his head. “No!”

Over the past six years, Phoenix spent day in and day out with his mother. He had become quite the mommy's boy. He enjoyed spending time away from her but not for more than a night or a few hours. He would always wake up wanting to see his mother or after a few hours he missed her too much.

“Phoenix you have to go to school.” His mother spoke sternly.

The tears Phoenix had hiding started to fall. He grabbed his mother's legs and dead weighted himself. He did everything to the best of his ability to make his mother take him home. He kicked and screamed as his mother tried to calm him down.

“What's wrong with him?” A young boy came up with his father.

His father scolded him. “Maxwell that is not how you ask that.”

“Sorry, daddy.” Maxwell apologized. He poked Phoenix's shoulder. “What's wrong?”

Phoenix turned around to see the older boy. He stopped his crying and paid full attention to the boy. He looked over Maxwell as they remained silent.

“I... I don't wanna go to school without mommy...” Phoenix told the stranger.

Maxwell's father lowered himself down. “What's your name?”

“Phoe..." He struggled in saying his own name.

His mother corrected him. “His name is Phoenix. He has trouble saying it fully though"

“Well, it's nice to meet you Phoenix.” The man messed up Phoenix's hair, who immediately fixed it. “This is Maxwell, but he likes to be called Max. Last year he didn't want to go to school either, but we told him every day he went to school he would get a gold star. If the teacher said he was good, that is. I'm sure if you’re a good boy your mom will get you something as a reward.”

Phoenix looked up at his mother. “I will get you gold stars. I'll tell daddy to ask the teacher everyday and we will make a system up for you. If that's what it takes for you to go to school.”

“We could hang out at recess too!” Maxwell smiled.

Phoenix stood up rubbing his eyes. “Okay...” With him now accepting his fate, he walked into his classroom happy. He spent the next hour and a half having fun with his new teacher and his best friend, Lyric.

When recess came, Phoenix and Lyric walked out of their classroom and out into the school yard. Phoenix looked around looking for his mother, his father, anyone else. He found no one to fit the bill.

Tears were beginning to form when Maxwell called out, “Nix!” He had already made it outside and was on the swings playing. He got off and ran over to his new friend. “What's wrong this time?”

“My mommy isn't here...”

Lyric spoke up. “Your mommy won't be here until after she's done with work Nix.” She looked at her friend. “Crying won't make her come back.”

Maxwell took over counseling Phoenix. “Come play with me, and you'll forget all about your mommy until she comes and picks you up.”

And true to his word Phoenix forgot about his problem. He enjoyed himself, spending time with Maxwell. Day in and day out Maxwell was the only thing that would stop him from crying. They spent every recess, and Lunch together. Soon the hard handoffs disappeared.

One day after school the inevitable came. “Daddy can Nix sleep over tonight?” It was a Friday, with no school tomorrow Maxwell thought it would be the perfect time to ask his father.

“If it's okay with Nix's parents, of course.”

Maxwell turned to Phoenix and his father. “Please!!” He begged.

“Would you like to Phoenix?” Father asked his son. Phoenix nodded. “How 'bout you take Phoenix with you, and someone will drop stuff off for him later?”

“Sounds good to me. I'll just give you my number and address.” After the information had been transferred, everyone said their good-byes and Phoenix went with Maxwell and his father.

Maxwell and Phoenix spent a large portion of their afternoon running around screaming and having a great time. They had become best of friends in the short time they had known each other.

Phoenix barely noticed that his mother had come and dropped stuff off for his sleep over. He said hello, good-bye and gave his mother a kiss before returning to his fun and games.

Late that night, after dinner, the two boys had calmed down and were watching a show in Maxwell's bed. Phoenix had fallen asleep leaning against his friend. Maxwell's eyes were fluttering to stay open.

They were found by Mr. Harper, Maxwell's father. “Darling come here a second.”

His wife came to the doorway and looked in. “Aww, adorable. They truly are the best of friends.” They did not disturb the boys as they turned off the TV and the lights in the room. For the first time, Phoenix had found a bond of the same caliber as the bond he had with his mother.

Chapter End.