A/N: What to say...well...all I can say in advance is...don't hate me for what happens...that's about it. Enjoy. Oh and there's bad language but if you read the previous...35 or so other chapters you'll know why: ) Oh and I'm not happy with Phoenix in this, I think the way she acts in this chapter is a little (a lot) out of character but...you decide.
Ryan was more than a little surprised to see Phoenix at the pool house door and in tears none the less. She was about to say something when she heard Marissa enquiring about who was at the door.
"Sorry, I'm interrupting…I should…" she sighed and walked quickly away from Ryan
"Wait! Hey!" called Ryan, he briskly caught up with the girl and caught her by the waist
Phoenix turned to face Ryan and smiled at him faintly "I'm making a scene"
Ryan smiled back "It's not a public place, your not making a scene. Are you okay?"
Phoenix shrugged him off and wished he wasn't so kind to her.
"Ryan, I'm sorry…I think" she trailed off as Ryan kissed her cheek gently
"I'm sorry if I freaked you out earlier, I shouldn't have said that. Hey…why are you crying?"
Phoenix sighed and realised she couldn't break up with him. Shrugging her shoulders she gave him a humourless smile.
"I'm a girl, I'm hormonal"
Ryan was unconvinced but he still chuckled "That's a weird sense of humour…do you want to come in?"
Phoenix shook her head "No. I'll see you later" they exchanged a lingering kiss and then Phoenix walked back to her house, Ryan worriedly watched her go and then made his way thoughtfully to the pool house.
The last thing Seth had expected to see when he was walking back to his house was to see a red-eyed Phoenix walking or rather, trudging in his direction.
"Phoenix! Hey? You okay?" he asked cheerily, even though he felt slightly pissed off at her, he couldn't stand seeing her cry. There was something about her that made him forget everything.
"I'm fine, I'm…I was looking for you actually" she lied, although she did as it happened, like Seth, she felt affection for him that was purely platonic. She related to Ryan and how honest and real he was. How unassuming, gentle and yetstrong and stoiche could be.
Seth looked pleased about what Phoenix had said, and seemed to be naivelyconvincing himself further that it was Ryan who was pursuing Phoenix and not the other way around.
He leant towards her and kissed her, it was a sweet, lingering,kiss but Phoenix couldn't help comparing it to Ryan.
"Seth, I think…….I think I should go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow"
Seth thought her voice sounded odd, he smiled a half smile "Yeah, sure. Okay"
Phoenix gaveSeth what was meant to be a warm hug and walked away into the night.
Joaquin checked his watch and then smiled at Phoenix as she walked into the family living room. She glared at him as if he had made a disparaging comment and sat on a chair on the other side of the room.
"Where's the remote?" she muttered
Joaquin smirked at her "I can't hear you"
She flipped him off "Hear that?" she said sweetly
Joaquin clutched his hand to his chest as if he was wounded "Ouch! Ouch! You know that really hurts. What's up your ass?"
Phoenix shot him a thoroughly dirty look and made a move to get up but Joaquin got up quicker and blocked her way out of the room, folding his arms across his chest he gave her an endearing smile.
"What's wrong with you lately?"
Phoenix shrugged dryly "I don't know, I'm a girl, I'm hormonal. Go figure"
Joaquin smirked "Why don't you sit down and we'll talk. Honest, say whatever you feel and I will be completely objective"
Phoenix rolled her eyes, turned on her heel and stalked back to her seat, Joaquin joined her, squashing himself onto the small armchair on top of her. Phoenix complained under his weight and burst out laughing in spite of herself.
"There's that famous Hall smile! Now, come on, tell me what's going on with you"
Phoenix pursed her lips before speaking "You know what's 'going on', how could you not?"
"Actually I don't know, this was not something I came up with myself…you and River were steering this ship, so please, let's not take out your so called 'hormonal' issues with me. I was here to help you" he said honestly and firmly
"Well I don't want your help…I don't want any of this anymore, It was fun in New York, when everyone was just like we were, when everyone could handle us. Here, these kids may be spoilt and screwed up but they are completely defenceless against us. They trust us so much, it's not even funny how much they believe in…in what we've told them. I can't take advantage of that" she replied sadly
Joaquin snorted "Bullshit! You've never seen people's 'feelings' as a problem before! The only reason your acting like this now, is because you think you're in love with that idiot ex-con"
Phoenix shoved him hard from the chair till he landed on the floor "I'm not...you know what?…fuck you…just…stay the fuck away from me. I don't want a part of this. I don't care if I have to live in Newport...I just want out. It's over for me"
Joaquin stood up and glared at her, Phoenix stared back defiantly then she began to storm our of the room, her blue velvet heels clicking on the smooth walnut floor. It was only when Joaquin mentioned River that she stopped dead in her tracks.
"What about River? What about…you…being his sister and mine lest we forget, and what about you saying you would never betray us and that you loved us and that it was family forever and no one could stand in the way of that? You don't think I forgot your little teenage promises do you?"
Phoenix felt herself being close to tears she turned to face Joaquin, she opened her mouth to speak but no words came out.
Joaquin sat down on the armchair "Obviously, it appears Ryan is your new family. Go ahead, be with him. See how long that lasts when he finds out the truth-oh don't worry, I'm not going to tell him and I don't think you will either, but without me or River to keep Ryan's insipid little friends at bay then who the fuck is going to keep everything from unravelling? You?" he scoffed and looked at her darkly
"Good luck"
Phoenix looked at him bitterly but knew he was right. Growling angrily she stormed out of the room and Joaquin smiledhumourlesslyto himself, she'd come running straight back.
Richard glanced between his son and his daughter. Both sat at the expensive marble effect, breakfast table sullenly eating their breakfast and not looking at each other. Neither had said a word to each other and both appeared in no mood to change that fact. Joaquin however was another story, he chattered cheerfully to Phoebe after making a handsome English breakfast for the family. While Richard, Phoebe and Joaquin had tucked in heartily, River and Phoenix merely picked at their food, still not talking to each other.
"All right. What gives? What is going on with you two?" he asked wearily and looked at his youngest offspring
Phoenix's eyes flittered over to her brother who stared resolutely at his plate. "Nothing, we're fine…just tired…I'm going to start off for school then" said Phoenix with her usual charming smile but there seemed to be something weary about it.
Richard looked at River for confirmation that he was 'fine'. River looked at him with a blank expression and then matched his sister's smile.
"I'm fine, I'm heading off too" he grabbed his leather brown satchel and headed out of the backdoor, giving his mother a kiss on the cheek
Phoenix seemed to falter there and appeared unsure whether or not to follow River. "Honey, if you two are fighting I can give you a lift" offered Phoebe pleasantly
Phoenix scoffed and didn't look at Joaquin "We're not fighting. I better go, bye" she sighed and stalked out of the room, neatly dodging her father who was about to say something
"You know anything about this?" asked Richard, looking at Joaquin
Joaquin smiled benignly "I think you should start taking them on their word."
Phoebe and her husband looked at each other and wondered if perhaps Joaquin had a point. Maybe it was time for them to start trusting Phoenix and River again.