"Wise men say...Only fools rush in...But I can't help falling in love with you" -Can't Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley
Scarlet's POV
Last night, to put it plainly, was hands down the best experience of my life. I could not even begin to describe the way Phoenix caressed me, kissed me, spoke to me. It was like he knew my body's every need and fulfilled it tenfold.
I went to bed feeling on top of the world. Above all, I went to bed in love with the man beside me. But I had a real shit way of showing it when I practically shoved my hand down Phoenix's throat and pulled the stories of his horrid childhood right out of him the next morning. Of all the fucked up things I'd done in my life, that had to be in the top ten.
But people fuck up. I knew it and apparently so did Phoenix. Maybe that was why it was so easy for him to forgive me yesterday in the car. And that was definitely the reason why I found myself in the men's bathroom, reassuring him. Because you would think that after seeing Phoenix beat someone to a pulp in the middle of the hall along with the fact that he practically called me an ignorant bitch that it would have me running for hills.
But yet I found myself already forgiving him. Once again.
Yes, he was broken and I couldn't imagine what he must have gone through in his life but it didn't make him a bad person. I knew it sounded cliche, but I saw it in his eyes, in the little things he did. He was just as capable of compassion, kindness, and care like any human being. He just needed to see past his mistakes.
As I exited the bathroom with tears aggressively strolling down my face and a fighting urge not to look back I found myself realizing just how much the actions of one person could affect someone's emotions and well-being.
Because at that moment, I realized it was going to be a shitty day. And God was I right.
...
Three days. Not one. Not two. But three days.
I didn't see or hear from Phoenix for three FUCKING DAYS.
The hopeful side of me expected to hear from him on Monday afternoon or even Tuesday morning but I never got the call or text. Every day after that I caught myself discretely wandering around the school grounds to see if he had shown up. But my efforts were futile.
On Wednesday I got so desperate that I found myself dialing his number but then I didn't get the chance to call because my mom shouted from downstairs to help her with something. Thank God.
My heart ached at the idea that maybe whatever he and I had going on was over. That he had his fair share of fun and now it was time to move on. Lia warned me and even I knew that this was bound to happen but some part of me still held onto hope. And I wanted to murder that optimistic son of a bitch so fucking bad.
It was now Thursday night and I had just finished Brady's eight-page assignment. Feeling exhausted and pathetically lovesick, I curled up in my bed in nothing but an oversized shirt that had pizza stains all over it and watched Ragnarok for the hundredth time with an extra large tub of cookies and cream ice cream. You'd be surprised as to how heavenly that felt.
Towards the end of the movie, the feeling of drowsiness slowly overcame my body so I decided to set my phone alarm in case I fell asleep. But when I took my phone off the nightstand all feelings of exhaustion just vanished into thin hair when I saw the name that flashed across my screen.
"My Phoenix Bear aka the sexiest man alive❤️🥵"
I never changed the name because I always found it funny but I couldn't even laugh the way how I was nervous. My sweaty, shaking palms made it longer than usual for me to open the message.
My Phoenix Bear aka the sexiest man alive: Can I come over? :)
Men.
That's the only thought that ran through my mind. There were soooo many things he could have led with but decided to say that. I was infuriated, sad, and thoroughly disappointed and I wanted nothing more than to give him a piece of my mind but instead I went with the most rational response.
Nothing.
I left him on seen and placed my phone back on the side table. If he wanted my forgiveness he had to do much much much more than that. I was in love with him not fucking obsessed. And I wasn't going to make love lower my goddamn standards.
I opened my laptop and played the movie but my previous desire for sleep dissipated into thin air and I knew it was going to be a long, restless night. So I got up and decided to make myself some cereal.
It wasn't until I entered the kitchen where I heard the voices and was met with the unusual image of my mother and Phoenix Knight laughing and conversing with each other. I eventually grabbed my jaw off the floor and cleared my throat so they both would turn around and meet my gaze.
I didn't know how a few days apart could make me miss someone this much. I missed the faint contours of his face, the occasional smirk he wore only around me, the way a couple of hair strands would flop into his face, the slight clench and unclench of his jaw he did whenever he was nervous which was rarely.
And my heart and vagina couldn't handle the fact that his torso was clad in a crisp white button-down shirt that was rolled up to his elbows exposing his veined forearms. The first few buttons were also loose to showcase his painted chest adorned with a silver chain. I really didn't know the psychology around why it was so attractive when men wore chains but I was just about ready to forget the last three days and praise the ground Phoenix walked on.
On top of that, he wore simple black slacks to complete this sort of semi-formal look he had going on for him. After assessing his outfit I found myself subconsciously covering myself feeling exceedingly underdressed.
"What are you doing here? A text wasn't enough?" I asked, feigning annoyance. No matter how hard I tried I could never actually find Phoenix annoying.
He stood slowly while simultaneously diverting his gaze to everywhere but me. And I surely didn't miss the way his left palm rubbed the back of his neck.
Am I making The Phoenix Knight nervous?
I smiled to myself feeling accomplished.
"Um I..." He began.
My mother stood from the stool interrupting him soon after. "I'm going to leave you two to it." She strolled to the opening before turning back one last time. "It was very nice meeting you Phoenix." And with that, she was gone.
Five seconds...
Ten seconds...
Fifteen...Twenty...Thirt-
"Red, I don't know where to start," he broke the extensive period of silence.
"How about with an apology?"
"That's why am I here," he replied, "I want to do this right."
He took tentative strides towards me and going against every fiber of my being I took a step back.
"I deserve that." He admitted. "But I genuinely want to fix this.
"Why should I believe you?" I wrapped my arms around my body in a gesture of protection like it would somehow shield my heart from him.
"Because I meant what I said that day on the lake and in my bedroom. And I know I have a shitty way of showing it but I'm going to try my best to make it up to you. For real this time." He closed the distance between us but this time I didn't bother moving away. Phoenix was now close enough that I was able to properly inhale the faint smell of his cologne.
God, I missed him.
However, I still held my arms around myself, not completely giving in to him. Yet.
"I'm sorry, Red for being a complete and utter dick, again. And for taking this long to apologize. But I do have a good reason for it." He finished.
Confused, I looked up at him with furrowed brows.
"I have something planned but I need you to come with me."
I gave him a weary look. God, I wanted to blindly give in but I couldn't keep doing this.
"Please Red, I need you to trust me one more time." This was the first time I've seen Phoenix beg so I assumed that he really needed me to say yes.
Fuck it. You only live once. (A common phrase said right before making a bad decision)
Not wanting him to hear the contentment in my voice, I simply nodded.
"You're always going to be the prettiest girl in the room no matter what you wear but I don't want you to look back on this night I have planned and regret wearing a T-shirt filled with pizza stains."
"Good thinking, Knight!" I fist-bumped his shoulder and ran upstairs to change into something fit for a date. Basing my outfit on his choice of clothing, I ended up putting on a black flowy knee-length sundress that was a bit too formal for the day but not too casual for the night. It had long loose sleeves and a form-fitting bodice that didn't warrant a bra and had just enough of my bust spilling over the top. The slightest wind would have lifted the tail end of the dress but I didn't care. It was perfect.
After aggressively brushing my teeth and using way more mouthwash than I needed I added the necessary jewelry. Then freed the monstrosity that I called hair from the mess I had thrown it into earlier, dampened it a little, and finger combed some product through it. And guess what? I decided to leave it out.
The things love does to one
Feeling satisfied with my final look, I briskly made my way downstairs and found Phoenix pacing back and forth with his hands resting comfortably in his pants pockets.
I stood in the entryway of the kitchen in silence but his mind was else way so I decided to clear my throat. I guess this is my new way of entering a room.
He turned around only to freeze in his position with a small grin on his face. After an eternity of standing motionless, he spoke. Well, he tried to.
"You look..." he stared.
But I didn't let him finish when a shot of confidence rushed through my veins forcing me to cross the room until only centimeters of thick attraction separated our faces. I rested my hands on his chest for balance and added tension before I rose onto my tiptoes to rub my nose along his neck. I slowly dragged the tip of my nose along the sensitive skin of his throat breathing in his overtly masculine scent.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, way closer to my ass than expected but I had no intention of telling him to remove them. Finally, I reached up and grazed his earlobes with my teeth until I felt his grip on me tighten. I smiled to myself knowing the effect I had on him. At the same time, I lazily dragged a finger through the opening of his shirt.
His fingers pressed harder into my hips one last time before he gently pushed me off.
"I would like nothing more than to have you explore every part of my body and vice versa but I have a long night planned for us and I'd hate for you to miss it." With that said, he pulled me into his chest, gave me a peck on the forehead, and lead me to his car.
...
A/N:
It has been a fucking minute y'all and i'm extremely sorry but i just got time over the summer to sit down and do some writing. also i know this chapter is shorter than what you're used to so i'm gonna post two chapters tonight.
i know Phoenix always seems to be fucking up and Scarlet just forgives him again and again but i promise this is going to be the last time. in the next three chapters or so y'all are gonna see that shit GOES DOWN.
anyways please tell me your thoughts on this chapter and your predictions for future chapters in the comments.
toodles!