forum "You're The Only Ten-I-See" (Closed)

Started March 26, 2020 by @Rainy_day_artist_classic group

tune

Cicada had a smile on as she tried to ignore the sick feeling in her stomach. She was so used to being the one that had to pay for everything. Everything. She hummed for a moment in thought before jokingly asking, "Any bars nearby?"

Chuckling softly, Phoenix led her out the door and down the sidewalk. "Aren't we both a little young, to be drinking?" He hummed with a raised brow, glancing around at their surroundings. "But the nearest bar is down the block, that way."

Cicada laughed in response as he pointed towards the bar. She gave him a shrug with a dorky grin, "Just a little too young. But next year I'll be able to drink so that'll be fun."

"I'll be alright for a little while, I don't need alcohol for awhile." He chuckled turning the opposite way from the bar. "But I'd suggest not going there. There's some pretty rough people there."

Cicada nodded biting her lip a little. She could handle some ruffians, that wasn't much of a problem for her. Maybe she would check it out on her own later, see if she can sneak in and get a couple of drinks. She eventually smiled again, "Okay then. Where do you suggest we go?"

"I dunno, just preferably not there." Phoenix mumbled, continuing on in a quicker pace than before. "Some of the guys have a taste for pretty girls, and I hate to break it to you, but you are in fact a pretty girl." He again mumbled, glancing around their surrounding area. Just the mention of the bar, sent him on high alert to watch out for her. Though if she was what he thought she was, he need not worry.

Cicada kept up his pace with a light smile on. She didn’t enjoy seeing him like this and had no idea what brought it on. She gave him a little bump with her elbow, “Aw, you think I’m pretty. But really Phoenix I can handle myself. We’re walking away from the bar anyways. So just forget I asked?”

"I'd love to, but as of the current moment I don't think I can." He mumbled, glancing back behind them a couple times. "And I thought you said you were just a petite track runner. Am I right on that?" Phoenix asked her softly, his hold on her hand a little tighter than before.

“Well yeah,” Cicada responded. She had forgotten she had said that earlier. It had been just a moment of teasing and false innocence, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself. In fact I’m faster than them so I could probably just run away.”

"You're faster than a motorcycle?" He asked with a raised brow, trying to make himself relax. The conversation wasn't helping though. "Anyways, I just want you to be careful. You haven't lived here long."

"No," Cicada admitted. She looked at him with a soft smile, "I'll be careful okay? If it helps you feel better I promise to be careful."

"I-it would help a bit… yeah." Phoenix said softly, his face creeping in to a soft pink color. "I just don't want to be the jerk that let's you go, and then the next thing I know you're in an abusive relationship. Because of me."

Cicada let out a bit a self-deprecating laugh. She used her free hand to rub her arm her cheeks flushing just a slight shade of pink, "You really don't have to worry about that last bit. Been there, done that."

Phoenix froze, his eyes growing just a bit. "I-I didn't know… I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry." He rambled, feeling terrible for bringing the whole thing up. Just his luck, he thought it was the end of the conversation, but now he had all the more questions.

Cicada took a deep breath and she let go of her arm. She gave him another laugh and smile forcing away the memories of him, "No, no you're fine. Like you said, you had no idea."

Stopping his mindless chatter, he shook his head with a tight frown. "No, it's not really okay. I keep saying things that clearly upset you. Be honest with me, and yourself. You know it's true." Phoenix insisted, trying to relax once again.

Cicada paused as she bit her lip. She let out a long sigh as she let her shoulders dropped slightly, "I, it's just me readjusting. I'm used to someone not caring about my well being and making me pay for everything. So your just throwing me for a loop that's all."

This threw him for a loop. He had to stop in his path, to take a moment. "So I'm the only decent human being you've ever met?" Phoenix asked weakly, looking down at her his own shoulders slowly sinking downwards.

"Heh, no your not the first," Cicada told him with a weak laugh, "I had friends before I met my ex, they just got pushed away. Well shoved away while I was in the relationship. I've been treated like shit for most of my adult life."

"I- I'm sorry." Phoenix whispered, trying to swallow the lump growing in his throat. He started onward once more, but at a much less peppy pace. "If this is bugging you, just say so."

"No, no you're fine," Cicada insisted pushing down her own emotions. She didn't need for them to come back at this moment and continued to walk with a slight smile forcing itself on to her face, "We can keep going. I'm fine."

"You don't have to lie to me." Phoenix told her, as he stared off in front of them as they walked. "This can come at its own time. I don't really care either way. I don't want to push you." He was trying his best to be sweet about it, but the whole thing had rattled him pretty good. He wasn't really sure how to act.

I shouldn't have told him, Cicada thought to herself. It was too soon to tell him, she should have waited until later. The opportunity had just presented itself so well, but it was still too soon, "No, I'm fine really. Let's just keep going and forget I said anything okay?"

Phoenix nodded softly, trying to think of something to keep things from getting awkward between them. Of course that was too late, things were about to be stiff for a couple minutes until they both forgot. "I think there's a park this way."

Cicada smiled and nodded slightly. She knew things were going to be weird for a bit and it was her fault like it normally was. She started to walk again, "Okay, let's go there then. Be a couple of college students in a park."