Persephone

I have had barely any time to process the news. 

My dad is getting married and to Miles' mom?

I'm not mad at my dad for moving on, I always want him to be happy. If Janet makes him happy then cool beans. 

What hurts is he waited a year to tell me he even had a girlfriend, and that they are as serious as marriage. 

The only thing keeping me from full blown freaking out is Miles doesn't know either. 

Of course once my dad told me the news he told me to try and keep it from Miles until the dinner in two weeks. 

Sometimes I wonder if my dad even knows me at all.

I can usually keep secrets unlike Peyton who will let it out the moment you back her into a corner.

Except its hard when its something this huge, like the fact that in a few short months Miles and I will become family. He'll be become my brother. 

Heck I don't even know his middle name and we are about to become siblings. 

I did tell Peyton right as I got home and she completely freaked saying how exciting weddings are. 

Then she went on to tell me I should tell Miles as if he won't just find out in two weeks but then she had a really good point. 

'You would be upset if he knew and didn't tell you until you.' she had said and she was right about that. I hate being the last to know things, especially things that important and life changing. 

Which is why I am so telling him. It's just news he would receive but a little earlier. 

Like when your package is supposed to arrive by a specific date but arrives earlier. 

It's still the same package just got to you faster. I guess it all depends though if he wants the news or not. I have no idea about his dad or the story behind it, dad told me that was up to Janet and Miles to tell me. Loser. 

"How are you guys going to work on your project if you aren't even speaking?" Peyton asks about Asa as I slip on my hoodie. 

I shrug, "I am speaking to him, he's not speaking to me."

It's Thursday so I am headed over there to work on our project. On Tuesday I had let him know I could do it Thursday and his one word answer 'cool' was the only thing he's said to me since Friday night. 

"So it's a one way communication right now?" She asks me, eyeing me closely. I don't like the feeling. 

I shrug again, "I guess so."

"Well, not that you asked or anything, but I took your advice and talked to Phoenix. We are all good now." She says with a smile as I slip on my shoes. 

"Really?"

"Yep, yesterday. Asa was at the house and he talked to me." She eyes me even closer if that's possible. Of course I give her the reaction she's looking for. 

I whip my head to face her, "He did?"

"Yeah, I mean he's not the most talkative but he asked how I was doing."

This guy is going to make me crazy. 

"Well he needs to get over whatever the hell is going on so we can finish this project." I say grabbing my bag and leaving the dorms. 

I like Asa, there is no denying that but he if doesn't feel the same, even on a friend level, I'm not going to face myself into his life. Once our project is done if he wants to be done with me so be it, honestly screw him. 

When I get to the house Miles is the one to open the door. 

I almost make a sarcastic comment about us becoming siblings but then refrain because he doesn't know yet. 

"Hey Seph, Asa isn't here right now." He says and the news of our parents takes the back burner. 

I laugh, "What?" He's joking with me right? Miles must have shit sense of humor because there is no way he's telling the truth, not after I told Asa on Tuesday we could work on this stupid project today. 

He looks behind him and then back at me, "Asa is out, he'll be back later probably."

"That asshole." I groan and his brows pinch together, "Was he supposed to be expecting you?"

I nod, "Yeah we are supposed to work on our project tonight, hey is Phoenix here?"

"Uh yeah, come in." He says as he rubs the back of his neck and opens the door wider to let me in. 

Phoenix sits on the couch in just a pair of jeans. 

"Hey, Asa isn't here." He says and I roll my eyes as I plop down beside him. 

"I know." I mumble. 

"So whatcha doing here?"

I click my tongue against the roof of my mouth. 

"Asa and I were supposed to work on our project but clearly he forgot."

"Ah." He says, "So you plan on sitting here and reaming him out when he gets here."

"Yes." I say bluntly, I have nothing else to do. "Oh you want to hear something crazy?" I ask when I see Miles walk up the stairs. 

Not only will Asa not get to learn the news from me but I'm going to tell his best friend first. Suck on that petty Popsicle Brookes. 

No one else is down stairs right now besides Phoenix and me, perfect timing. 

Phoenix turns to me, "What is it?"

"You have to promise not to spill the beans." I say and he imitates zipping up his lips and throwing the key. 

"So my dad is getting married to Miles' mom." I whisper and his gray eyes widen. 

"No shit, Mamma Foster is getting hitched to coach?" He says and I shush him. 

"I just found out the other night."

"Are you going to tell Miles?" He asks and I nod, "Yeah but I don't just want to spring it on him, hey, I heard you and Peyton are okay."

"Yeah, sorry about that." He rubs the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. 

"About what?" I ask, confused. 

"Punching Brendan." 

I laugh, "He deserved to get knocked out."

"True but I know I took it too far." He says and its weird to see Phoenix so....normal?

"Well at least you and Peyton are on talking basis. Asa is doing everything in his power to avoid me."

He sighs, "Truth?"

"Obviously." I roll my eyes. 

"He likes you and he's doesn't want to ruin.... well, whatever you guys have." He shrugs, not being able to find the right words. 

My brows furrow, "What do you mean?"

"You think I didn't see you two at the club all over each other?" He asks and I blush. 

"So what does he think because he danced with me that I want more?" I ask and he nods. 

Oh. 

"And he couldn't talk to me about it?"

Phoenix snorts, "He's a guy, it was easier to avoid than to talk about it."

I groan, "He's still an ass."

He nods in agreement. 

"Well he cant avoid me forever." I tell him. I'm persistent and like I said I hate being ignored. 

"He can try." Miles says as he walks down the stairs. 

"Oh hey." I say as he sits down on the seat beside the couch. 

Phoenix looks over at me and I put a finger to my mouth signaling him to stay quiet. He nods before turning back to the tv. 

So maybe I won't be telling him about our parents. I just have no idea on how to bring it up. It's a lot of pressure, ok?

I prepare to tell him though, to just rip the bandaid off but then the front door opens and shuts, Asa walks in and I am off the couch. 

"What are you doing here?" He has the audacity to ask and I scoff, "Wow I got more than one word, go me." I say sarcastically and he even looks more confused. 

"Seph-" He starts and is this how it feels to be shot in the heart?

Seph?!??!?!?

Not Percy but Seph. 

"Oh you pissed her off, Captain." Phoenix says from his spot on the couch. 

Without thinking I grab his hand and drag him up the stairs, he stumbles after me making Phoenix laugh. 

The moment we are in his room I smack his shoulder, "You are an idiot."

"What?"

"Are you avoiding me because of Friday?" I ask and he sighs before sitting down on the bed. 

I stay standing as I face him. 

"What do you want me to say?" He asks, wiping a hand down his face like I'm exhausting him. Good, if I don't get any peace neither does he. 

"I don't know because I didn't expect you to freak out and run the other way every time I'm around." I say exasperated.

"I was worried that you would-" He stops himself. 

"Would what, fall for you?" Because even if you didn't kiss me I might be falling already. 

He runs a hand down his face, "I'm sorry ok?"

"We were supposed to study today." I say and he curses, "Shit I forgot."

I kind of wish he did it on purpose, that he chose not to be here tonight because just forgetting means I'm not important. I will focus on my abandonment issues later. 

"Oh, well we were supposed to work on it. And I swear to god if you do whatever the hell you did this week again I am going to kill you." I say grit out but my voice softens at the end. 

I really just missed him. 

He nods. The sides of his lips twitching upward, "Noted. So why couldn't you work on it Tuesday?"

I snort, "You really wanna know?"

He nods and I sit beside him before spilling the whole dinner I had with my dad. 

By the end we are both laughing. 

"So we're cool?" He asks and I nod. 

"Yeah we are."

"I'm sorry by the way." He tells me and I can't explain what his words mean to me, "To be fair I missed not talking to you."

I bump his shoulder with mine, "Then do that stupid shit again ok?" I ask and he nods, "Just tell me what you're thinking, that's all I want. Deal?"

"Deal." 

So we may only be meant to be friends but that's ok, I'll take Asa anyway I can. 

______

Edited

A/N Here's a sneak peak of the first chapter of 'Loving You Freely' Peyton and Phoenix's story. ↓ ↓ ↓

Peyton

I knew the moment I looked into those gray eyes I was in trouble.

Phoenix Ridge was the most beautiful man I had ever seen, he was also the most infuriating.

In the short time I have known him he has managed to fill my bullshit meter to max.

It all started when he sat beside me and called me 'blondie'.