Note: Some sexual content in this one, but nothing graphic.

Also, a reminder that the Book Club discussion is now underway over in the Sims forums! There have been some great discussion questions already! Feel free to stop by and share your thoughts too ^_^

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Phoenix tried his best to ignore the stabbing pain in his left upper arm. It had been sore for at least two days now… Had he pushed himself too hard, he wondered? Were his muscles already getting worn out so soon? But I thought this was supposed to get EASIER, not harder!

He tried his best to chase his worries away and focus on keeping up with the speeding treadmill beneath his feet. Beside him, Amna was going on and on about some Spanish football star who’d broken some kind of record over the weekend.

There’d been a time when it was cute to hear her long, passionate rants about her favorite sport. But lately, he’d found it getting harder and harder to feign interest. His favorite moments were still when they talked about animals. Or movies. Or when they made out.

But somehow, all of it always seemed to lead back to football. And it was driving him up a freaking wall.

“Isn’t that awesome, Felix?!” Amna cried, her voice calling him back to the present.

“Uh-huh… So cool.” Phoenix tried so hard to force a smile. He hadn’t even heard a word she’d said for the past minute or so.

As Amna turned off her treadmill, Phoenix reached forward to do the same. He followed her as she headed over toward the free weights, a feeling of dread already washing over him. His arms still hurt so badly. Ugh, this is gonna suck.

“So… ready for tryouts tomorrow?” Amna began doing a few warm-up stretches as she spoke. “I think it’s gonna be amazing.”

Phoenix nodded, ignoring the twisting sensation in his stomach. “Yeah. It’ll be great…”

Of course, he had no intention whatsoever of going. Tam and Jasper had already helped him come up with a bunch of escape plans…

Getting unexpectedly “sick”. One of his grandparents “going to the hospital”. Mayonnaise or Fiona “getting loose” and having to go find them. Rogue dragon attack on his neighborhood (okay, maybe Tam got a little carried away with that one).

Phoenix swallowed against his uneasiness as he grabbed one of the dumbells from the rack in front of him. It would be fine, he told himself. He’d figure it out.

No matter what the excuse, there was no way in Hell he would show up to those tryouts. He’d find a way out of it, one way or another.

And, as it turned out, he was right.

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“Ow… Ugh.” Phoenix groaned in pain as he hobbled from the desk to his bed.

Even after more than a week, his foot was killing him. But at least he didn’t have to wear that stupid walking boot anymore. The doctor still insisted he keep his foot and toes taped up though. And a pressure bandage around the muscles he’d pulled in his thigh and shoulder too. It was so annoying.

Phoenix still couldn’t believe what shitty luck he’d had. The weight he’d grabbed that afternoon at the gym had just been too heavy… More than his aching arm could handle. And definitely more than his foot could handle too.

But at least it had given him a good excuse — a real excuse — to miss those football tryouts. He hadn’t had to lie to Amna after all. And for that, he was almost grateful. It was so exhausting having to try and pretend all the time.

But that was where his gratitude ended.

He was still in so much pain. It was total hell trying to get around school when he had to limp around everywhere he went. And he hadn’t even seen Amna since he’d hurt himself. That was over a week ago now.

There was a small part of him that felt relieved to finally get a break from all the lies… And a break from having her talk his ear off about football all the time.

But part of him missed her too.

She’d made so many excuses about why she couldn’t come to visit him. Busy with school. Busy going to the gym. Busy at football practice. And now, busy at practice for the co-ed team too. She’d made it on the team, of course. Without him. And he always seemed to sense a twinge of bitterness in the messages she would send to him about it.

Could she be mad at him? Was she angry that he’d been unable to try out for the team with her? But it was an accident! A very conveniently timed accident, sure. But still an accident!

Bryce seemed certain things were doomed. They’d talked about it at school the day before. “Dude, I bet she’s already found someone else on that co-ed team. Someone who actually knows how to kick a football,” he’d told him. “She might’ve moved on already… But if you wanna get her attention back, I totally know what you should do.”

Phoenix should have known from the get-go that his friend would have something crazy up his sleeve.

But when Bryce explained his plan, well… Phoenix definitely hadn’t been expecting that.

Phoenix glanced back at his desk where his cellphone lay. Bryce’s words of advice from the day before were still echoing in his mind.

Could he seriously go through with it? And what if she didn’t wanna see it? Wasn’t that like… harassment or something?

But Bryce seemed so sure. And he had a girlfriend he had sex with like, all the time. So he had to know what he was talking about, right?

Maybe it couldn’t hurt to try?

The first thing he did was lock his bedroom door. Phoenix’s hands were practically shaking the entire time. It took him two tries before his sweaty palms managed to turn the lock.

Then he grabbed his phone, hobbled back to the bed, and took off his pants. He looked nervously around the room for a few moments. No one could see in through the window, right? And he had locked the door, hadn’t he? Should get get up and check again?

Phoenix shook himself mentally. It wasn’t like he didn’t do this sort of thing all the time. But this felt so different, somehow. Which was totally stupid, he knew.

With a heavy sigh, Phoenix finally looked down between his legs. Okay… So… what the hell do I do now?!

You weren’t supposed to take a picture of it just like, lying there, were you? It looked so floppy and small and lame. His cheeks reddened slightly at the thought. What if it was way too small? Or looked funny? What if she laughed at it?

Okay… I can’t just let it sit there. Phoenix placed the phone on the bed beside him and closed his eyes.

It was hard to focus, at first. But it didn’t take very long. All he had to do was think of the way it felt when Amna kissed him. Or the teasing of her hands against his pants while they made out. Oh, and that night with Hallie behind the bowing alley too.

Thankfully he was able to stop himself before he got too carried away. Okay, way better.

He reached for his phone once more, bracing himself. So… I guess this is it. I’m really gonna do it.

Phoenix practically jumped as the phone vibrated sharply in his hands. “What the hell?!” He muttered.

He grumbled in frustration as he hit “send”. Now was not the time for stupid texts with his friend. He needed to focus!

Phoenix hit the camera icon, and began trying his best to line up the perfect shot. His lip curled in concentration as he slowly moved his phone around.

Shit… if I do it like THAT, you can see my VoidCritter poster in the background… What about like this? Does that look weird? GAH! I don’t know!

With every passing moment, he felt himself growing more and more nervous. Was this really the right thing to do? Amna wasn’t even technically his girlfriend yet. This was totally too much, wasn’t it?

But Bryce said it would work…

What if it didn’t though? What if she got mad? What if she thought he was some kind of creep? Or what if she made fun of him? What if she showed it to all her friends and they laughed at him? How could he ever face her again after that?

As his fear and panic began to rise, Phoenix found his erection doing the opposite. He was just too distracted. Damn it! Alright, I’ll just take it and get it over with before it’s too late.

His hands were shaking slightly as he finally took the picture. The camera’s shutter went off with a soft “click”.

He cringed as he stared down at the phone screen. A small, vaguely-dick-shaped blur stared back at him, flopped against his leg. It was awful.

Oh my God… What the fuck am I doing?! I can’t send this…

Phoenix’s eyes widened. It was too late.

He already HAD sent it.

You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.

But at least it wasn’t to Amna.