#phoenix mcbride

[dandylion240]

Chapter 54 – Taking Chances

Slumping on the couch, staring morosely out the window “I don’t want to go.” “Why not? All your friends will be there,” Teasha said, turning

The last chapter before the Summer Social. Two more chapters to go before we reach the epilogues then we'll have reached the end of Gen 4. It's been three years in the making but I'm glad it's finally coming to an end. It's not exactly what I imagined it at the beginning but I hope it's still been a good story.

Sed Connelly was made by @legendofsim

Phoenix McBride was made by @phyrcracker93

Kaia Tovar was made by @reverieinsimlish

[dandylion240]

“Let me make one more suggestion,” he said laughing at her perplexed expression. “Take the pressure off yourself. Remove the stigma of being dateless and give yourself permission to have fun. It’s been a while since you’ve done that. Plus Unity will be there. Don’t miss out on something just because you’re afraid of being different.”

Eyes shimmering with unshed tears “thanks Daddy. I will. I’ll have fun even if it kills you.”

“That’s the spirit,” Teasha said, happy that her daughter had changed her mind. “Why don’t we go see what you have to wear.”

“I’m not wearing anything fancy,” she said following her mom “It’s not like I have anyone to impress.”

[dandylion240]

“Do you blame me?” she pulled her leg into her chest “no one wants to be the third wheel. I don’t want to be that friend.”

“What kind of friend?”

“You know,” she rolled her eyes “the needy one. The pathetic one. The wallflower.”

“You my precious daughter are a lot of things but a wallflower you are not,” he lifted her chin up. “You may even meet someone at the social that’ll change your life forever.”

“Not likely” she huffed. “I guess I am a little jealous. It’s awful being the only one without a date

[dandylion240]

Phoenix put a gentle hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “If you really don’t want to go we won’t force you. I do however recommend you figure out why you don’t want to.”

“I already told you why,” she mumbled glaring straight ahead of her.

“Sounds more like you’re jealous of your friends…”

“Jealous,” she cried indignantly “why would I be jealous?”

“You said it yourself,” Phoenix samilled gently at her, “your friends are pairing up and you feel like the odd man out.”

[dandylion240]

Slumping on the couch, staring morosely out the window “I don’t want to go.”

“Why not? All your friends will be there,” Teasha said, turning to face her daughter on the opposite couch.

“So what,” her shoulders moved in a disdainful shrug “they’ll be too busy with their boyfriends…”

“Aubrey will be there,” Teasha pointed out “she’s not dating anyone.”

Rolling her eyes, “she likes someone.”

[dandylion240]

“Does it make a difference” he asked hoping to draw her out. “Do you like girls?”

Turning to glanced out the window. The ocean was a calm serene blue. A sharp contrast to the feelings churning inside her head causing her stomach to somersault. “I don’t know. I liked Micah. I liked holding his hand and kissing him was fun. I also find girls attractive and sometimes I wonder what it would be like to kiss them.” She turned to look at her dad “shouldn’t I be attracted to one or the other? I’m so confused.”

He watched her a moment giving her question the consideration it deserved. “Not necessarily” he began noticing her shoulders sag “I’m sorry if that confuses you even more. It’s not easy trying to figure things out sometimes. My suggestion is not get hung up on trying to put a label to your feelings but to allow yourself to feel.”

“But all my friends seem to know what they are. Why am I so different?”

“Have you ever considered you might be bi” he asked.

A tiny crease formed between her eyes “that’s someone who likes both boys and girls right? I never thought about it before. I guess I could be.”

[dandylion240]

“How was lunch?” Phoenix asked London as she sat down in a chair beside him.

“It was...okay” she sighed face crinkling into a frown.

“Did something happen?” he asked quick to see the frown and hear the hesitancy in her voice.

“Well...not exactly” shaking her head as if that would clear her thoughts.

“Why don’t you tell me about it” he suggested.

Pulling at her fingers nodding “it’s kind of embarrassing.”

[dandylion240]

“You don’t have to figure it out all tonight” he reached over taking her hand “you have plenty of time.”

“All my friends are pairing off and I…” she leaned into him “It was nice going out but after everything that’s happened I don’t know if I’m ready. I don’t even know who I am anymore.”

Kissing the top of her head “sweetie take all the time you need. There’s no race or time limit. There’s nothing that says you have to have all the answers right now.”

“Thanks Daddy” she smiled up at him. “What movie do you want to watch?”

“Me” he winked at her “I thought it was your turn to pick the movie.”

“I said…” laughing she picked up the remote “let's see what Netflix has to offer.”