Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2015 01:09:10 -0700
From: kuragari 129 <kuragari129@hotmail.com>
Subject: Life Of Phoenix - chapter 9

	Life of Phoenix is a story Written and owned by the author, under
the pen-name, kuragari129. Any similarities to real life events are
completely coincidental. Although, this story may have characters, places
or events based on events of my personal life. This story will contain
graphic scenes between two males. If this is illegal to view where you
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LOP – Chapter 9 – Max's Terror

Current Time: Nix's POV

	Man, I'm so glad that Peter Pan is over now. It's all fun and good
until it takes over your life the last few weeks of the class. Now that
it's done everyone can have their social lives back and have time for
studying outside of the theater. It's a nice feeling.

	Max has started hanging out with me a little bit. Mostly on our way
from one class to another. It's been nice getting to know my old friend
again. I learned that he's really into horror movies and spends a lot of
his time playing sport video games.
	Now, is such a time where class is ending, and Max would probably
be in the hallway. When the bell went, I got up to leave but got blocked by
Keon. "Will you listen for a minute?"

	"No thanks." I tried to get by him, but he continued to block
me. "Excuse me; I'm trying to go to my next class."

	"It's lunch time right now." Keon raised an eyebrow.

	I rolled my eyes. "Keon, I need to go, can you move, please."

	"Why won't you listen to me?"

	"'Because I don't want to right now!" I yelled at him.

	The teacher coughed from behind us. "Everything okay boys?"

	"Yes," we said in unison. I glared at Keon. "Well, I need to get my
lunch, which means you two need to be on your way. Excuse me boys." I took
that opportunity to pass by Keon before he could do anything.

	I thought I got a safe distance between him and me, but apparently
I was wrong. Keon grabbed my arm and whipped me around. "Go away, Keon!"

	"What's going on?" Max! I turned around again to see Max right
behind me. This is awkward because you can't be like 'nothing, let's
go'. Max would call my bullshit out right then and there!

	"I'm trying to have a conversation with Phoenix." At least he isn't
calling me Nix anymore. To him, it may be a simple conversation but to me
it's like committing suicide. Talking to him for longer than just one word
makes my stomach want to hurl.
	Max seemed confused. "Why won't you talk to him? Weren't you two a
thing once?"

	"Exactly why I don't want to talk to him." I grabbed Max's wrist
and tried to pull him away. He resisted me. Max, for whatever reason,
couldn't take his eyes off Keon. "Max, can we go, please."

	"I actually want to know what he has to say to you." Max pulled his
arm back to his side.

	"Really? Who cares, he's been trying to talk to me for a while
now."

	Max looked directly at me. "And you haven't listened to a word he's
said, have you?"

	"No, he's been trying to get back with me." Max didn't say
anything. Why is it what he knows when I'm lying. "Okay, he hasn't flat out
said it but I'm sure of it."

	"Just let him talk Nix. What's the harm?" God damn it, Max. I can't
think of anything to say here. Like what do I say here? I can't just say
what I want to say in public. It wouldn't be fair to either of us. "Go
ahead, Keon, say what you want to say."

	Keon's eyes went back and forth from me to Max. I guess he decided
it was okay to say what he wanted to say in front of me. "I just wanted to
say that I wanted to be friends and wondered if we could hang out again
sometime. It can be with people, it doesn't have to be just us."

	"I didn't realize that who was with us stopped you," I growled back
at him.

	Keon's head dropped. "I'd rather have that conversation is
private."

	"So would I, but we're in the middle of school right now." He
didn't move; his head still dropped in shame. "We can't hang out, even with
people, until we have that conversation. And I'm not ready for it Keon."
	"What conversation?" Max was very confused. "What are you two even
talking about?"

	"We're talking about how we broke up," I told him bluntly. "It was
at the party at the end of the school year last year. I'm leaving it at
that, let's go." Once more I grabbed Max's arm and pulled him away.

	School... any public place actually is not a good place for that
conversation. It's going to get heated really fast, and that's just from my
side. I have no idea what he's going to do, but I'm not ready for it.


Max's POV
	I have decided today I'm going to hang out with Nix and Lyric at
lunch. I have no idea how my jock friends are going to react, but I'm going
to do it. Ever since just before school started this year... Nix has been
on my mind. Like that day, he flew into my head and never left.

	I mean, we used to hang out all the time. We used to be inseparable
when we were younger. Then when I entered high school the friends, I made
here would call me a baby for hanging out with Nix. He was only a year
younger than me, but they would tell me to stop hanging out with a baby. So
I did.

	Here I am, though hanging out with Nix and company. "Seriously Max,
how do you manage to get sleep?" Lyric was looking over my weekly
schedule. It's quite filled up.

	"It's pretty easy; you just get it done in class." Lyric rolled her
eyes. "It really is that easy."

	"Sure it is if you aren't the most popular girl in school." Lyric
moved her hair over her shoulder. You know that pretty girl thing to do.

	"Ah ha! You wish!" Lacey walked up with a few of her
girlfriends. "Why are you hanging out with these losers Max? You're better
than them." Lacey was a cheerleader type girl. She was self-proclaimed the
prettiest girl in the school, and definitely the "queen" of the student
body.

	She thinks because I'm viewed as the "king" of the student body we
should be together. The day I go out with her is the day I die. There is no
way in hell I'm going to go out with a person who's that far up her own
ass.

	"Oh, sorry Wendy. I forgot about you and your not lead role." Lyric
just tried to sass her. And since its Lacey, it works.

	"Whatever, want to be. I'm not here to talk to you." She shoved her
hand in Lyric's face. Lacey's face when Lyric went to bite her was... pure
fright. Lacey then placed herself on the other side of me. "I was wondering
what you were doing after the game."

	I shrugged. "I don't know, probably going to go to the after
party."

	"By yourself!? No, that's unheard of!" Lacey's group acted all
astonished. "You'll need company."

	"Lacey, I'm..."

	She cut me off. "You can pick me up at 10, I'll be ready. Make sure
you match green. See you later." She waved as she walked away, her
'friends' following her.

	Nix's face was priceless. "She needs a serious reality check. Are
you going to pick her up?"

	I shrugged. Lakota laughed. "Seriously Max, you're considering it?"

	"If I don't she'll kill me."

	"And?" Cooper jumped out of nowhere. "Who cares what Lacey thinks,
she's a nobody when it comes down to it."

	"Thanks, Cooper."

	"Anytime big bro." Cooper patted me on the back.

	Nix looked like he was thinking really hard. His eyes would go from
looking at me to looking out the window. I know I made him promise to come
to the game, but is he thinking of coming to the party? He's never been to
a mainstream party... ever.

	Just then the bell went and everyone scattered. Nix and I were the
last to leave the table. I accidentally got in Nix's way. You know those
moments where your paths cross, and you try and get out of each other's way
just to continue to be in the way.

	Nix laughed once we did that twice. "You're a goof."

	"Oh ya!" Nix rolled his eyes. I just laughed at myself. We walked
together towards our next class; they were close by. "So what were you
thinking about at the table when Lacey left?"

	"What? Nothing, I wasn't thinking of nothing."

	"That's a double negative." Nix's face flushed right up. "So what
were you thinking about?"

	He sighed. "It's dumb..."

	"And? It's can't be too dumb; you thought it. Mr. Straight A
student."

	Nix got a shy smile on his face. "I thought maybe I should go to
the party..."

	"Really, Nix? When was the last time you were at a party?"

	"Like almost a year ago... At the end of July." Wait he's actually
been to a party? "It's something I'd rather not talk about..."

	"Why?" What happened to Nix at this party? How bad could it have
been? WAIT! "Is it about Keon?"

	Nix flinched. "I said I don't want to talk about it, Max!" He was
quite stern this time. By that time, we had reached Nix's class, and he
turned into the room. He stopped though and turned around. "I will tell you
one day Max, I promise. For now just... I'll see you later."

	"Okay, see ya." I guess I got to go through one more class before
getting answers.


	After driving Nix home, I set out on my task. I'm going to get some
form of answers about this whole Pheon thing. God, did I just give their
relationship a pet name? What's wrong with me?

	Anyways, I made my way over to the neighborhood that Keon lives in
and took a look around. Rumor has it that he walks home everyday to stay
active. Rumor turned out to be true; he was walking up the street the same
way I was facing.

	I stopped my vehicle just in front of him; he stopped in his
tracks. I hopped out and walked over to him. "Hey, Keon."

	He was looking at me wide-eyed. "Hey... Max."

	"So about lunch time... What were you trying to talk to Nix about?"

	"I believe Phoenix said it quite clearly, he didn't want to talk
about it with you." So now he's going to be a good guy about this? Great...

	I sighed. "I'm not asking Nix, though. I'm asking you."

	Keon got a sly smile on his face. "Max, you're going behind Nix's
back on this. If you want what to know what happened, ask him. I'm sure
he'll twist the truth about it like he always has."

	"Well then tell me your version of the truth then?"

	Keon rolled his eyes. "I don't need to tell you anything." I put my
arm in front of him, pushing him back. "Seriously Max? You're going to use
physical force?"

	"Just answer me this: why won't Nix talk about it?"

	"Because he's ashamed of his own actions." Keon walked by me so
quickly I couldn't react.

	What could Nix have done that he's ashamed of? What's going on with
Nix... well what was going on with Nix, I guess. I just got to wait for Nix
to tell me then. That's going to be a long wait.


Past time: Grade 8
	Another day in the young life of Phoenix. He spent much of his time
looking after Braxton and hanging out with Keon. They had started to grow
into the best of friends even after the gay porn incident.

	On this day, though Max was staying at the Russell's place for a
few days. Max's parents had to go out of town. He and his brother Cooper
were placed in the care of Mr. and Mrs. Russell until their parent's
return.

	Nix was currently on his way to Keon's with Max in tow. "Keon is
super cool! He's into games and stuff too!"

	"Oh, cool." Max continued following his friend, fairly uninterested
in Nix's new friend. "Where did you meet him?"

	Nix turned around. "While I was looking after Braxton he came to
the park we were at." Nix felt very excited for his old friend to meet his
new one. He had hopes they would get along, and all be good friends
together.

	Max kept his eyes on the lookout for his high school
friends. Afraid they would see him hanging out with a younger boy, a 'non
high schooler.' His new friends had commonly jested towards the elementary
school students and how they are to mature to hang out with them
anymore. Nix continued on his way not noticing Max's conflict.

	When they reached Keon's place, Nix spotted Keon looking through
the window waiting for them. When Keon saw Nix, he disappeared until he
reappeared in the doorway. "Hey, Nix!"

	Max was caught off guard by someone else using the nickname he
created for his friend. "I'm Max." He waved to Keon.

	"My name is Keon."

	That was when the door opened, Keon's mother called for her
son. "Keon!" When she saw the three boys, she smiled. She recognized the
eldest boy. "Hello, Maxwell."

	Max's eyes went wide. "Hello, Mrs. Stellar." The younger boys
giggled at Max's sudden posture change.

	"I wasn't aware you knew Phoenix."

	Max began to blush. "He's been my best friend since elementary
school, ma'am."

	Mrs. Stellar noticed the boy's awkwardness and didn't want to
embarrass him further. "Oh, I see. Keon, be back for dinner or call me
before 4."

	"Okay! See ya later mom!" And like that Mrs. Stellar closed the
door waving to the boys. Keon turned to Max. "You go to the high school!"

	"Ya, I do." Max started to walk away from the Stellar home.

	Nix was confused. "Wait, how do you know he goes to the high
school?"

	Keon laughed. "Cause my mom knows him. She's a secretary at the
high school." That cleared things up for Nix. The group of 3 made their way
to the woods close by Keon's place.

	The spot was Max's idea. Mostly cause it's secluded and has a less
likely chance to encounter his other friends. But there are also tree
houses and a creek within it. Nix told Keon about it, and he really wanted
to go and see it.

	The three boys laughed and bugged one another as they walked
through the trees. When they got to the grounds, Max and Nix stared at the
trees in awe. On several trees, there were different floors in trees. There
were some with walls and a couple with ropes leading up to them. Most had
makeshift ladders going up to the forts.

	"Wow..." Nix was the first to speak. "This is amazing!"

	"I told you!" Keon spoke proudly of his find. "It's so cool here;
I'm so lucky I found it. Every time I've been here, no one else has shown
up. It's probably been abandoned." Keon skipped towards one of the forts.

	Max looked around concerned. "Are you sure it's safe to be here?
What about bears and other wild animals?"

	"It's fine!" Keon confirmed with him. "The entire time I've been
here there hasn't been a single bear. And I've been coming here for like a
week now." Max looked around still being cautious about everything.

	Eventually, he got up on one of the platforms. "See its fine!" Nix
called out to his friend.

	"Ya, I guess." The boys enjoyed their games and fantasies in the
forts. Spending a few hours there fooling around as boys do.

	After a while, they had decided they wanted to get food. They had
settled on going to a local Tim Hortons for a bite. The closer they got to
the edge of the woods the more nervous Max got. Afraid once again one of
his friends would see him.

	 The entire route on the way to the store was clear. Even inside,
there was no sign of his friends. It wasn't until they exited the shop when
Max's high school friends were in sight. They had noticed Max come out
first and then Nix and Keon behind him.

	"Hey, Max!" One of them said. "Who are the losers?"
	Nix lowered his gaze. Keon argued, "You don't even know us, you
don't know if we're losers or not."

	The kid got a smug smile on his face. "I don't know you, meaning
you're not in high school. Which in turn makes you a loser."

	Keon anger grew. "I'm going to be in it this year! So is Nix!"

	The kids laughed at the boy's rage. "What kind of name is Nix? And
who cares if you're in high school, you'll be a grade 8. You'll be a
nobody."

	"Then what were you last year!?"

	Max pulled the advancing Keon back. "Enough Keon lets go." Keon
pulled his shoulder away from Max's grip. "See you later..." He waved to
his friends.

	"Why? Why not hang out with us now? Who cares about those losers?"
Keon's face grew red with anger. Enraged he started to walk away.

	"Keon!" Nix called out to him. He gave no reply.

	Nix sat there confused as to whom to go with. Max or Keon... Max
had lowered his head and was watching Keon walking away. Keon was heading
off somewhere to do who knows what.

	"Just go with him..." Max said to Nix. He waited, but when Max gave
no sign of going with them, Nix left.

	Keon's anger only grew as they left them. Mad at them, but more so
Max for defending them. He walked so quickly creating an awkward silence
among the group.
	Nix was unsure of how to handle it. He wanted to believe that those
boys were not Max's friends and just people he knew... but that was not the
case, and he knew it. His best friend had sent him away, the boy who helped
him on his first day of school, who gave him his nickname.

	Keon eventually settled on a bench and began eating the food he had
bought. Nix sipped on his lemonade and took little bites of his food. When
Keon was done, he kicked the pavement. "Who the hell do they think they
are? All because they are high schoolers they are better than us?
Bullshit!"

	"Calm down, Keon."

	"I can't, I'm too pissed!" Keon got up and walked around the
bench. "Saying I'll be a nobody in high school. They have no idea who I
even am. What proof do they have!?"

	"None, that's why you should calm down."

	"And where is Max!?" Nix said nothing. "He's still with them isn't
he?"

	"Ya..."

	Keon let out a groan. "Seriously, you call that guy you're best
friend?" Nix nodded. "Why?"

	"Because we grew up together..."

	Keon rolled his eyes. "Clearly that means nothing to him." Nix
began to tear up. Hiccupping a little bit. "What's wrong Nix?"

	He tried to wipe the tears away but more just replaced them. A few
dropped onto his lap. Keon came back around and tried to wipe them away as
well. Nix couldn't explain it... betrayed was the best he could come up
with to describe how he felt.
	"I thought he would follow... he's always been a good guy and never
let me down before." Nix continued to hiccup.

	Keon wiped a few more tears off his face. "Please stop crying,
you're much cuter when you're not."

	Nix looked up at his friend. "What?" A few more tears falling down
his face. Keon was right there centimeters away from him. He could feel the
heat radiating off of him. "Why are you so..."

	Keon cut him off by placing his lips on Nix's. It was just a peck
on the lips but to the boys it felt like fireworks blasting in the
sky. When Keon backed away, Nix moved forward wanting more. Keon was too
quick, though and got distance between them.

	"I'm sorry..." Keon looked away blushing.

	Nix was equally as red. "Why'd you do that?"

	"To be honest..." Keon glanced at Nix. "I've wanted to do that from
the moment I met you."

	"Oh... I didn't know."

	"That porn stuff the other day... it was meant to see if you were
into guys or not." Keon and Nix made eye contact again. "Are you?"

	Nix thought to himself for a moment before answering. "I don't
know... what I do know is, is that I feel that that kiss was too short," He
spoke proudly. "I should go home, though. Next time, could we maybe..."

	Keon smiled. "Yes, we can do it again."
	"Okay, see you then." The boys waved goodbye to each other before
heading home.

	Max and Nix got in trouble for leaving each other. The rest of the
stay was awkward for the boys. They stayed on their makeshift beds in the
living room but didn't communicate much. Their friendship was in the middle
of a fallout, and neither one knew how to save it.


Chapter end.

	Okay, that took longer than expected. But! It's all good, we're out
now!

	LOP is only six chapters away from being completed! But I am
working on an extension of LOP. How will it work? You've got me on that!
But I'll figure out something, I promise.

	Until then thanks for reading and I hope you've enjoyed yourself!


TRIVIA TIME!!

	This trivia is about my stories in general. Every school in every
story is based on the one I grew up going to. Like every school in my
stories has the same layout, no lie. It's just easier for me that way.

	I know that's lame trivia, but next time it could be better! Just
message me, links are at the top of the page, and tell me what you want to
learn!

	Thanks again!