The Phoenix King

My name is Axel, I'm seventeen years old and a senior in high school. I have two best friends, Sam (Samantha) and Hunter. Hunter and I were friends since 7th grade but I've known Sam since the 3rd grade. I was lucky to have the two of them but sometimes I think there's something more I need or want I just don't know exactly what it is. Hunter thinks it's just living in a small town syndrome. Seriously, a small town is saying it nicely. We kind of live in the middle of nowhere and the population is like 1,500 or so. Everyone knows everyone type of thing. I guess I am used to it but it is kind of bland and boring at times. I like to draw and I really want to go to a big city and go to art school but sometimes I feel like there is something else I am supposed to be doing. I know it's odd but I have dreams of this futuristic-looking world and this woman. I don't think it really matters. I'm just ordinary. It was Monday, and like every day Hunter came over to drive to school with me. "Dude, you have like twenty drawings of this chick," He said while holding the newest one. "I know but I see her face and I just need to draw it," I said. "Well she is hot," he said. I punched him in the arm and dragged him out of my room. We headed to my car and I drove us to Sam's house. "You know who else is hot," he said. "Hmm," I responded as I kept my eyes on the road. "Oh come on you know Sam isn't the geeky girl who follows us all the time anymore," Hunter said. I guess he was right. Sam used to wear glasses and had braces all through middle school. Then during the summer before high school started she cut her hair and got bangs, dyed her hair blonde, wore contacts and just dressed differently. She was still opinionated and independent never tried to blend in with the popular crowd but she looked more like them now. I didn't mind how she looked before but I guess now it is more noticeable. She was tall and lean. I know she hates it when I call her average looking and she always jokes about getting her boobs done before college but she is perfect as she is now. I just tend not to tell her that because she is my best friend and well that just sounds girly. "Why not ask her out?" Hunter asked. "What? why?" I replied. "No reason," he said. "It's not like she hasn't waited this long." I turned to him to scold him but we noticed Sam standing in the middle of the street. "Holy s**t," I shouted as I swerved to miss hitting her. "Good morning," she said happily. "Are you crazy?" I asked. "What you were taking too long and I was bored," she said. "So you decided to get run over," I said. "You wouldn't have hit me," she said. She winked at me and got in the backseat. "Right," I said and just continued driving to school. I hadn't noticed when Hunter had pulled out my drawing but of course, Sam noticed. "Oh, what is that," she said. "Let me see." Hunter handed her the drawing and I could feel her scowl. "Can't you draw anything else," she said. "She is all he thinks about," Hunter interjected. "Shut up," I said harshly. "She isn't even that pretty," Sam said. "She isn't even real so chill," I responded. "Well, real or not she is hot," Hunter added. Sam sighed and threw the picture at him. As soon as I parked at the school parking lot. We all got out and headed into the building. We all had homeroom together so as soon as we got to our lockers and grabbed our stuff we headed to class. It always seemed to take forever for the teacher to take attendance and for the first bell to ring. I always doodled in my notebook. Sam caught me and made a face when she noticed what I was drawing. I ignored her and continued to draw. The rest of the day is just as dull. The only class I can put up with is art. Sam and I have that class together too. We were supposed to paint a picture that showed our inner self. Mrs.Grayson didn't want us to think too much about it just paint the first thing that came to mind. I didn't even realize I was painting the woman I was always drawing until I was done with my painting. Sam and Mrs.Grayson both approached me. "Seriously," Sam said. "Axel, while it is a good use of color and your skills are top-notch, how does this represent your inner self?" Mrs. Grayson asked. I couldn't answer her but somehow I felt that this woman was everything to me. I drew her because she represents me, the real me. Mrs. Grayson said she would give me a second chance to come up with something else. I was afraid that if I tried to paint again I would just end up painting her again. I looked into her eyes and wondered if she was somehow real or if I just made her up. I closed my eyes and I had a vision of her walking towards me and taking my hands. As soon as her hands touched mine I felt a spark that caused me to jump and open my eyes. It felt so real. We had lunch next and all Sam could talk about was my painting. "Seriously, do you not want to go to art school anymore," Sam said. "You use to draw the most amazing landscapes and cartoons. Now all you draw is this woman." "Leave him alone," Hunter said. I just stayed quiet and ate my food. "No! he is throwing away his future over an imaginary girlfriend," Sam said. I was growing agitated and getting upset. I slammed my lunch tray on the table causing Sam to jump in shock. I quickly got up and walked out of the cafeteria. I stood on the grass facing the track trying to cool down. "I'm sorry, I'm just worried about you and you know I care about you," Sam said walking up behind me. I felt her hand grab mine and I knew she felt bad. "It's okay, I'll work on my project again and get it right this time," I said. "Okay, good," she said cheerfully. "Can I wait with you?" "I just need to be alone for a sec," I said. She left and I began to walk around the back of the school. I had about twenty minutes left before lunch was over. I sat down at the edge of this hill by the football field. I was just looking around at the trees and sky. "This would be nice to paint," I thought. I looked at the end of the field and I saw a woman looking all around and then she spotted me. The moment her eyes met mine I knew it was her. My heart skipped a beat and I was getting nervous. Was I daydreaming? Her long black hair and crystal clear blue eyes. She looked just like I had imagined and seen in my dreams. She was walking towards me and I quickly got up from where I sat. I wanted to walk away but I was frozen where I stood. She was so much more beautiful then I could have ever drawn her to be. She was wearing strange clothes but looked so sophisticated. She was wearing a black shirt and black shorts and a long black and red coat belted at the waist with long thigh-high boots. She wouldn't take her eyes off of me and she was looking at me as if she was happy and glad to see me. It also looked like she longed to see me like she hadn't seen me in a long time. She was getting closer and time stood still. "Alexander," she called out. "Um," is all I could get out. "Alexander?" she questioned. "My name is Axel," I said studdering a bit. "You don't recognize me? do you?" she asked. "Um, sort of," I said. "What?" she asked. "Alexander, please I need you. Your people need you." "I think you have me confused with someone else," I said panicking at her words. She looked hurt and sad. She walked over to me and grabbed my hands. "Why don't you recognize me," she said. "My love." I stepped back at her words but she just walked closer and brought her lips to mine. She kissed me and I couldn't help but be pulled to her and I kissed her back. Her lips were soft but cold. She was holding on to me so tight I brought my hands to her waist and pulled her in closer. I started to feel energy flow through me and I felt like something deep down inside me was awakening but I didn't know what. All I knew is this woman was real and standing before me. I finally let go and she stared into my eyes hoping to see something different. "I'm sorry," I said. "I will get you back, Alexander," she said. I heard the bell ring but I still couldn't move. Suddenly, I heard Sam call me from afar and I turned around to see her waving at me telling me to hurry to class. I looked back around and the woman was gone. "God I hope I didn't just hallucinate that."