Chloe's hold over me and my want for answers had disappeared by the next morning, and I was replaced by that invasive feeling of not wanting to know who he was. I knew it was better if I didn't, and he was only trying to keep me safe. I was betraying his trust by employing dirty tactics to find him. And enlisting my friend's help was only making things worse. He had trust me and me only, and I was dragging others into this. Everything was blowing into a mess.

I walked into the newspaper office the next morning, where Chloe was already in her prime. She had two empty coffee cups on her desk and a third in her hand, and was typing so fast her hands were a blur.

I dumped my satchel on the ground and walked over to peek at her monitor. "What are you doing, Chlo?" I asked, as she opened a new tab on her search engine.

"Take a wild guess, Vi," she told me, and I saw her sifting through articles about the Black Phoenix's saves. She also had a document open, and she flicked between the two as she wrote down more facts about our mystery vigilante.

I leaned on the back of her chair and sighed. "Chloe, we've already scoured all of these articles. We found nothing."

"Surely we've gotta find a connection between everything," she replied. "And now we can look with fresh eyes. Something might trigger a memory. Worth a try, right?"

"Maybe we should just give up," I suggested, cringing. I slowly backed away and took a seat in my computer chair like a scared little girl. I knew the explosion that would be coming from her soon. She took fiery redhead to the next level.

She spun on me and pinned me with a glare so cold I felt like I was in Antarctica. "Don't you dare, Violet Rose. Not only did life give you the most kickass name in the world, but it also gave you a purpose. And yours is to find out who he is."

"And here I was thinking my life would be worth more than just chasing a guy," I told her.

She looked at me scornfully over the edges of our computers. "Oh, you're so funny. You know what, leave this research to me. I can't risk you backing out on me. You should focus on your article with Keeley instead."

"What article?" I murmured, typing in my username and password to access the computer.

"You know, your first piece for the column on the Voiceless Stranger you're doing?"

"Black Phoenix," I muttered, before realizing what she'd said. I looked up at her like a deer caught in headlights, remembering my promise to Keeley and the kind of pain that would befall me if I didn't follow through on my promise. Chloe smirked as the realization dawned on my face, and I dropped my head into my hands with a groan. I then uttered a very unladylike word that probably couldn't be repeated.

"That's what I thought," Chloe replied coolly, taking another sip of coffee and returning to her web pages. "Just do something easy. You've had a long week, and it's due in two days. Better get to it."

"Give me some suggestions," I begged her. "Please, Chlo. I'm clueless."

"Knew that already." The look I gave her could probably shatter glass, and she sighed. "Okay, fine. Do a profile page. Before you start a column, people have got to be kept up to speed."

"I've already done that," I told her, thinking back to the exposé that had garnered so much interest from New York. "That's what started this whole mess."

"Not what I meant," Chloe replied. "Sure, you introduced New York to the thought of him, but they don't know anything besides the fact he wears black and occasionally saves people."

"Unfortunately I don't know much more than that," I sighed, shaking my head. "It's not like I have his diary."

"You'll think of something," Chloe told me, as the bell rang overhead. "Anyway, we've got cheerleading. Our sleuthing will have to wait until break. Coming?"

~ * ~

"You're firing me from the cheerleading squad?" I asked fifteen minutes later, staring into Courtney's baby-blues imperviously. "I've been on this squad since freshmen year. I attend every football game and pep rally. You can't fire me!"

"Sure I can," she replied coolly, and I longed to smack that saccharine smile off of her face. "I'm sorry, Vi. But we need someone who is dedicated. You've just missed too many practices. Your muscles are tense and your moves are sloppy. You were one of our best cheerleaders, and we loved you for a long time, but you've just lost it."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Every Friday night was spend dutifully shaking pompoms and watching our team get their asses kicked, and just like that, I was being cut. It wasn't like the cheerleading squad was the pinnacle part of my life, but it was something I'd had with me going on four years now. From sleepovers with the squad to baking cupcakes for fundraisers to grueling 6am practices, I'd spent my whole high school career in our uniform smiling and chorusing cheers. And just like that, it was gone.

"Come on, Courtney," I whispered pleadingly, feeling my cheeks blaze. It was only the two of us here, but the rest of the cheerleaders were practicing on the field, and I could tell they were sneaking peeks. Most of them knew. In order to be cut from the squad it had to come to a vote—and eighty-fire percent had to vote me off. Which means I had maybe three people who had vouched for me. It hurt. "I love this squad. I know I haven't been the best cheerleader this year, but just give me a chance to improve."

For the first time she looked truly apologetic, and she sighed. "Look, Vi, you're an incredible cheerleader, don't get me wrong. But you lost your spirit a long time ago. You've had a lot of time off, and you've missed a lot of practices. You've got a lot going on in your life right now, and I think for the time being it might be best if you focus on... other ventures in your life."

"Ventures like what?" I replied, my voice squeaking unpleasantly as I bordered on hysteria. Cheerleading was something my mother loved to see me do; and it was something I loved to do as well. "I know it's taken a backseat lately, but if you give me a chance, I can get back into it. I'll start in basics and move back up. Come on, Courtney. After everything we've been through, you owe me one last chance."

She looked away. "The squad has made a decision, and it was almost unanimous. We can't have someone who doesn't share our passion. Maybe you should focus on journalism and school right now. I think you need some time without the squad to sort out your priorities."

"You mean the squad needs some time without me," I replied, shaking my head. "After everything we've been through... I was the one who held your hair back when you got too drunk at Timmy Westcott's party. I was the one who helped you coach your sister out of bulimia. I was the one who wrote that awareness article on mental illnesses for you so you could get your voice out there. We went to preschool together, Courtney. And this is what it comes down to?"

"I will forever be grateful for the things you've done for me," Courtney replied stiffly. "And this wasn't an easy decision to make, trust me. But as captain, I had to make it. It's not personal, Vi. We can still be friends. I just think maybe you've grown apart from the squad. And that's not a bad thing."

"Don't worry," I replied. "I'm not gonna grovel for a spot on a team that doesn't want me. I get the hint. Thank you for three years of memories. Sorry I was such a disappointment to you."

"Vi—"

I didn't wait to hear what she had to say next. I pivoted on my heel and stormed off, immediately hearing a cacophony of whispers behind me as people discussed my exit. I felt stupid in my tiny shorts and camisole, and ducked my head so no one could see my tear-stained cheeks.

Embarrassment hit me in rivulets. How long had they been planning on kicking me out? It wasn't the end of the world, but cheerleading was one normal thing I had in my life going for me when everything was a crazy mess. When things got weird, I could always trust the normalcy of chants and tumbling. There was always a certain camaraderie every practice, with all of us laughing and moving in sync. There was no doubt I'd miss it like crazy.

I ducked into a bathroom and shut the door behind me, running to a stall and locking it behind me. I felt pathetic sitting on a toilet seat and pulling my legs to my chest. I tried to hold back my sobs, and buried my face in my hands. It wasn't like me to get so emotional, but it had been a jam-packed few weeks, and the exhaustion was finally catching up to me.

I heard the door outside open, and sighed. Couldn't I get just one moment of peace and quiet? I just hoped it wasn't Chloe. I really couldn't handle her vivacious manner right now.

"V?"

I frowned and stayed quiet. My lips trembled, and I pressed a hand to it to muffle the sound of my staccato breathing. I didn't want Colton to see me like this, all puffy-eyed and emotional. I didn't need to feel any more snotty and pathetic.

"V, I know you're there," Colton told me. "I saw you run in. Everything okay?"

I looked up at the ceiling and tried to ignore the stinging in my eyes. I didn't want him to have to see me like this. It wasn't up to him to comfort me. I mean, really, it was well and good to blame everybody for what was happening to me, but ultimately it was my fault. I had taken time off of school, I had neglected cheerleading, and I hadn't turned up to a lot of practices. Courtney didn't have a vendetta against me, even if she didn't approve of Colton or my lifestyle choices. It was my own actions that had brought us here, and I couldn't blame anyone else for this. She was just being a dutiful captain and looking out for the wellbeing of her squad. It still hurt to be fired, though.

"You know, when I was fourteen, I got into a fight at school. The kid kicked my ass, but that's beside the point. Anyway, my mother—Heidi—she kept pestering me about it. Kept trying to get me to tell her what was going on and nurse my wounds. I didn't want her help, though. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just wanted to be alone to think. So I went up to my room and I slammed the door and I locked it. I didn't want to be in my room and I didn't want to leave. So for the first time in my life I went to my window, and I climbed onto a ledge. And there was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen sitting across from me on her ledge. I remember she was doing her homework, and when she looked up at me, terrified,  I saw that she had these beautiful, big violet eyes. Do you remember what you said to me?"

I laughed, the sound thick and garbled. But I remembered as clear as if it had been yesterday. "'You're not going to jump, are you?'" I replied. "'An attractive face like yours shouldn't end up—'"

"—'splattered on the sidewalk,'" we finished together, and he chuckled.

"My point is, that day, I didn't want to talk to anyone. You were the only person who could make me smile. You're the only person I wanted to talk to. And that was the day I met the girl I'd spend the next four years crushing on."

I reached over and unlocked the door, and it swung inwards. He leaned against the doorframe and looked down at me, blue eyes concerned as he assessed me.

"Four years?" I asked thickly. "That's kind of pathetic, you know that?"

He laughed and reached over, pulling out some toilet paper and balling it into a wad. He leaned down on his knees in front of me and reached up, slowly wiping away the sticky tears. "What can I say? You're not the kind of girl a guy can get over easily. Now, why don't you tell me what's going on?"

"It's pathetic," I replied, shaking my head. "Seriously."

"I don't care," he told me. "If it upsets you, I wanna know. Maybe I can help."

"I can't believe I'm gonna say this," I replied. "But I got cut from the cheerleading squad."

He frowned. "What? But you love that squad! Why?"

"Because I haven't been giving it the dedication it deserves."

"Is there anything I can do to fix it?" he replied. The amazing thing was that he wasn't laughing at me for getting so upset over something so small, and he wasn't questioning me on why it mattered so much or why I cared so much. The only thing he wanted to do was make it better.

I shook my head. "The whole squad voted me off. Well, except Chloe and maybe, like, one other person. This is one problem even your good looks can't fix."

"You think I'm good-looking?" he replied, tilting his head inquisitively.

"Oh, you're the hottest guy at Sterling High," I affirmed, leaning closer to him.

He pulled back, frowning. "Just Sterling High?"

"Well, I haven't met every college guy yet, so I'm going to have to reserve judgment for now," I told him playfully.

"You sure know how to hurt me, Violet Rose," he whispered, leaning forward and pressing his lips to mine. My fingers curled into the supple leather of his jacket, and I breathed in his scent and the feel of his fingertips tracing the contour of my face and the soft curve of his lips. Salt tears mixed with lip gloss, and the intoxicating feel of Colton enveloped me. For a second, everything felt all right, like nothing could hurt me. He was here with me now, and that was all that mattered.

I pulled back breathlessly and rested my forehead on his. "I love you, you know that?"

He smiled. "That's one thing I'll never forget. Now what do you say we get out of this bathroom and find somewhere a little cooler to talk. Any longer and I think I'm gonna get busted for being in here. And my masculinity just can't take a hit like that."

I nodded. "Come on, macho man. Let's get out here."

He pulled me off the toilet, and we started for the door. Just as we reached it, it swung towards us, and a green-eyed redhead appeared with a sheepish smile.

I frowned. "Chloe?"

She looked between us and mused for a second. "I came here to comfort you, but I see my job as dutiful best friend has been taken."

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "Why aren't you with the other girls at cheerleading practice?"

"That would definitely be awkward," Chloe replied breezily. "Because I quit."

"What? Why?" I squeaked, eyes wide.

She rolled hers. "Because you're not there anymore, of course. And I don't want to be part of a squad that won't have my best friend. I really only did it for you, anyway."

"You really quit?" I asked, resisting the urge to hug her for her loyalty.

She nodded, and a smile tugged at her red lips. "Yup. It actually feels quite refreshing. No more bake sales or bikini car washes or tumble turns. This could be a good thing for us. A new era." She held out her spare arm for mine with an impish grin. "What do you say?"

I linked my free arm through hers and tugged her and Colton into the hallway with renewed vigor. "I say let's do it."

~ * ~

I'd been putting it off for a while, but I knew there was something I had to do. It wasn't fair on either of us anymore, and the mention of college and hot guys had brought one thing to the forefront of my mind.

"Sam, thanks for meeting me," I greeted as I met him in the park that afternoon. The sun was slanting in the sky, painting the expanse in beautiful hues of orange and lavender. A few couples wound through the oak trees and laughed, while children rode bicycles and licked vanilla ice creams. I gestured for him to take a seat on a crafted park bench underneath a beautiful tree. "Have a seat."

"Okay," Sam replied, sitting next to me and turning towards me. "I'm sorry I haven't called. Things have been hectic at school lately. Just assignment after assignment. But I'm glad you contacted me. Everything okay?"

I didn't know what to say, and decided to just cut to the chase. "Sam, I'm going to be honest with you," I told him, without preamble. "I think you're a great guy. You're smart and handsome and funny and intelligent..."

"I feel like there's going to be a 'but' in here somewhere," Sam informed me, and I could see caution lining his green eyes.

I nodded and let out a sigh. "But I don't think it's a good idea if we see each other anymore."

His jaw worked as he mulled over my words, and he turned away and scanned the horizon. Half his face was covered in shadow, and it was impossible not to notice the sharp cut of his jawline and the flawless shine of his skin. He looked like a painting.

"Why not?" he asked finally. "What have I done?"

My eyes widened, and I shook my head. "No, Sam, trust me, it's not you. It's just that some things have happened in my life lately, and I don't think us seeing each other will be a good idea."

"I thought we had something," Sam replied. "Look, Violet, I really like you. I more than like you..."

I held up a hand and shook my head. "Please don't, Sam. I think you're a really nice guy, but I don't like you that way. You're more of a friend, or a... big brother."

"Ouch," he muttered, turning away. "Just a friend, huh?"

"I'm sorry," I told him. "I really like hanging out with you, but nothing more than that."

"I'm an idiot," he muttered, standing up and turning away. He scrubbed his jaw and refused to meet my eyes. I stood up to face him squarely. "Here I thought I'd met a nice high school girl who finally got me. Someone I could share with and be myself around."

"You can still share with me and be yourself around me. We can still be friends..." I offered, though it fell flat even to me.

"I don't want to be friends with you, Violet," he replied, turning to me. The flicker of unadulterated anger in his eyes made me take a step back. "And I think you and I both know that." He stepped forward, meeting me. He took my hands, squeezing. "Come on, Vi. I know you feel something, too. You can tell me anything. You told me about your writing and about The Black Phoenix. I'm the one you come to when you need someone to talk to."

"I know," I told him. "And I'm sorry. I'm so grateful to you for being there for me, but I'm finally figuring things out..."

"So, what, you just don't need me anymore?" Sam replied. "You said everything you needed to say and now you're cutting me off?"

"No!" I argued. "That's not it at all. You've been an amazing friend to me, but that's all this was."

"Oh, so I guess the kiss in my car was just for fun, right?"

"I..." I stammered. "That was a mistake."

He let go of me and turned away, bracing both hands behind the back of his head. "So let me get this straight. You came to talk to me, but you don't need me anymore. And when we kissed, that was just a mistake. Is there anything from me you actually wanted that wasn't for your own personal gain?"

"I know how this sounds, but it wasn't like that," I told him. "I really did genuinely like you. But my feelings have changed."

"I'm not here for your amusement, you know," Sam replied, scoffing. "You can't just suddenly decide you're bored with me and throw me away like garbage. I was there for you for everything you needed me for!"

"I know," I told him plainly. "And you've been amazing. But I can't help it, Sam. If I don't feel that way about you, I just don't feel that way about you."

He reached out and grabbed my shoulders, and I yelped in surprise. "Give me a chance to show you that I can be that guy for you."

"Sam..." I muttered, surprised by the forcefulness in his touch. I tried to pull back, but he held on. "Sam, let go!"

He leaned forward. "Come on, Violet. I could make you happy, and you know it. Let me prove it to you."

"Sam, you're hurting me!" I said, feeling panic rise in my throat. "Please."

He leaned closer, and his lips almost met mine. His grip loosened on mine, and I pulled back and slapped him so hard across the face that tingles spread across the palm of my hand. I stumbled back. "Stay away from me," I told him, keeping my distance and watching wearily.

"We could've been perfect together!" he told me. "So what made you change your mind, huh? Was I just not good enough for you?"

"I found someone else," I replied. "And what you just did proved to me that he is a thousand times better than you'll ever be. Leave me alone."

I turned around and ran. He called out my name behind me, but I didn't stop for even a second to think about anything but getting the hell away from that park. Sam had always been a gentle and good-humored guy, and I hadn't ever seen this side of him before. I hadn't even realized he had those kinds of feelings for me—or at least to that degree—and the desperation in his voice had surprised me. I knew I was nothing special, and it shocked me how much he truly seemed like he wanted something more. I knew how it must seem to him—like I was using him—but it hadn't been like that. I could never like Sam as much as I liked Colt, and it wouldn't be fair to continue seeing Sam like that when I had the most amazing guy in the world living next door.

My shoulders ached from his fiery touch, and for the second time today, I could feel a fresh wave of tears coming on. I wasn't a generally sensitive girl, but his cutting words had opened wounds I didn't even know I had.

A hand clamped onto my shoulder, and immediately I turned around swinging. My father had taught me a thing or two in self-defense should I ever need it, and Sam seemed like the perfect punching bag right now.

I swung out, and Colton quickly stepped back, deftly missing my fist. "Whoa, Rocky. You okay?"

I sighed and fell into him, grabbing onto his jacket tightly and holding onto him. His arms wound around me, and I finally felt like I was safe. Like nothing could hurt me.

"Thank God," I whispered against his chest. Underneath his thin cotton shirt I could hear his heart beating. "It's only you."

"Who did you think I was?" he replied. "What's going on?"

I shook my head and looked behind me, scanning the faces of the people around me. Sam wasn't among them, and I breathed a little easier. Hopefully he'd gone home to lick his wounds and wouldn't come to see me. I had no desire to meet with him again.

"I met a guy," I told him. "A little while ago. I was just ending things because we're together now and it... it didn't go so well."

"Did he hurt you?" Colton asked, pulling me into him and peering into the crowd as if he could find the perpetrator. "Where is he, V?"

"I'm okay," I told him. "Things just didn't go the way I planned, that's all. I'm fine, though, He barely even hurt me."

"But he did hurt you?"

I reached up and framed his face with my hands, forcing him to look into my eyes. "Colt, I'm okay. Really. Can we please just get out of here?"

I knew he wanted to press me for further questioning, but one look at my face told him getting me home was the first priority. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me into him.

I breathed out a scared breath and snuggled into him, knowing no harm could come to me so long as he was here with me. Colt would protect me from anything. I didn't know how, but somehow I just knew.

I shut my eyes and let out a squeak as my vision clouded and I could feel my head spinning out of control. I heard Colton call out worriedly in the distance, but I was too lost in a vision to be able to respond. I clutched onto his jacket as my feet fell from under me, and felt his arms curl around me. This only served to spur the vision on.

I felt roof tiles pressing into my back in that familiar place that told me I was sitting on my balcony. And I wasn't alone. I saw the flash of a t-shirt, heard whispered words and the faint hum of cicadas in the distance. I felt soft hair beneath my fingertips and the lulling sound of a male voice, like a lullaby. I couldn't make out whose voice it was; only that I was not alone and that I was safe. I could feel myself drifting to sleep, warm and comfortable and reassured that everything was okay.

"You remember that I'd do anything for you, even if it's killing me. You remember happiness and calm. And you know that I'll always be here if you need me," the voice told me. It was no memory; it was real and tangible. It felt as if I was seeing it through a dream.

And suddenly it was slipping away in a vortex, and I was powerless to pull it back. I wanted to remember what was happening, to feel that comfortable touch and the hazy way everything had felt.

But reality was slipping through cracks of unconsciousness, and suddenly my eyes were opening to two large blue one staring down at me with nothing but concern. I could hear blood rushing through my ears, and my heart was pounding so hard in my chest it physically hurt.

"V!" he called, both hands cupping my face as he picked me up and carried me over to a park bench. He sat down and pulled me so I was sitting on his lap, legs dangling off the side of the chair. His arms held me around my back and curled me into him.

"I'm okay," I whispered. My head throbbed from the sudden dizzy spell, but I knew I was going to be fine. "I'm okay, Colt."

"What happened?" he whispered, kissing the crown of my head in apparent relief.

I swallowed and shook my head, wondering how much I should reveal. "It's nothing. I've just been having these weird... visions lately. Like memories, except I don't remember them ever happening."

"Well, are you okay?" he asked. "Do you need me to take you to hospital?"

"No, it'll wear off soon," I told him, smiling at how truly concerned he looked for me. "Colt, I'm fine. Really. Sorry for scaring you."

"You almost pass out, and you're apologizing to me?" Colton asked in disbelief.

"I'm okay," I whispered, curling my fingers in his hair and pecking him softly on the lips. "Really."

He sighed and relaxed, the tension slowly releasing from his broad shoulders. "Okay."

"Can we get home, though?" I asked him. "It's getting a little cold."

He nodded and slowly stood up, helping me to my feet as if afraid that the lightest drift of wind would knock me right back down. Then he wrapped his arm around me and kept walking, holding me to his side as if he and I were the only two people left in the world.