In Your Time

*Braden's POV*

Phoenix.

The girl from nowhere.

The details of how she ended up in my life were still fuzzy, but one thing I knew is that I wanted to protect her. She seemed like a lost and scared puppy. When I mom first brought her home, I thought it was a joke, but she really didn't know anything. I could see how my mom would feel sympathetic towards her. She was kind of cute, lost, and pitiful, but she still tried to act tough. When the kids at school were picking on her, I couldn't help myself. For someone already as helpless as Phoenix, she was too easy of a target. I knew I made things awkward when I kissed her at lunch, but I didn't care. If one peck was all it took to make people leave her alone, I would do it.

When dodgeball popped up as out activity in gym, I dreaded it. It was almost like giving these kids a free pass to pelt whoever they didn't like, and I knew Phoenix was at the top of a lot of people's lists. Unfortunately, we were on different teams. No matter how hard I tried to switch teams, it didn't work. I kept an eye on her during the game. She was doing okay, before something weird started happening. It looked like she went almost transparent. I could see straight through her as she bent over. You wouldn't notice if you weren't really looking. For a second, I thought it was a figment of my imagination. I started making my way to her when a ball whizzed past me and hit her in the head. Her eyes closed as she crumbled. I ran over and shook her gently.

Phoenix, wake up!" I said. I couldn't help it. I was worried. The coach stopped the game as

time I got her on a bed in the office, she had broken out in a cold sweat. I covered her with a blanket as the nurse put a cold compress on her head before she

the blankets. It was like she really did disappear. She shot up quickly out of breath as she winced. She muttered something about going back. She looked confused. I was confused too. But whatever was

you okay?" I asked hesitantly as I touched her arm gently. She seemed to still be in one piece at the moment. She looked at me before sighing and laying back down. She almost looked disappointed as

just feeling a

you were going to go down before then," I explained, still watching her carefully. She nodded before closing her eyes. After the nurse checked her again, we were free to go back to class. When she stood, the cold compress and blanket were still laying on the bed.

to alert her to my presence when I saw what she was doing. Her shirt was raised to expose her bruises. She was almost completely black and blue. It looked painful. And it certainly looked like it wasn't getting any better. Maybe it happened when