Fire is Blazing

Confusion to confession

What the hell was that? I look over to see them walking away together my mind made up it was a stupid solution but if I can be with her and not touch her I can protect her and if I am able to use the old books at my grandmother's house I should be able to fine the spell the elders used and refuse to let me look at to make sure that I am completely cured. I follow them as they walk making sure he doesn't touch her again, I shake my head, I can't tell if being around the guards had made me suspicious of anyone that came near her or if I really am seeing a bad guy. Fighting the urge to run and beat the lights out of him, I keep following them. They walked to her dorm, and she gets inside safely but he stayed to long for my liking. Finally, he leaves, and I walk to my dorm. Inside as I walked up the stairs, I spot Clay a few steps ahead of me. Better apologize now or she'll be mad at you more. I walk up next to him as we reach the second floor I tap his shoulder. He looks at me with a bored look,

"Hey you're Clay, right?" He nods folding his arms, "Mind if we can talk?" I asked.

"Why are you here to tell me to stay away from Apheina and threaten me with fire magic cause if you are I swear..." I sigh as he starts to ramble getting annoying with every word. I look him up and down he was in mute colors with dark brown hair with a dark tan and brown eyes his features were average but what he was holding caught my attention.

"No, dirt boy I wasn't I have no say in that so can we just go talk f*ck." I said cutting him off he nods, and we move to two empty chairs by the window in the second-floor common room.

"I just wanted to start by saying that you are an ass hole." He says as he sits down, I grin and fold my arms the guy had balls I give him that,

"Thanks, I try. I just wanted to apologize for almost burning you to ashes I didn't mean it my emotion tend to get the better of me when it comes to her, I was wondering if you and I could be friends." His eyes narrowed.

"Well thank you for the apology but I don't think so you're the enemy." He speaks crossing his arms over his chest and lens back in his chair. "Why would you even want to be friends with me anyways, I thought you had some grudge against Aphei?"

"I didn't mean to almost set you on fire. Really, I am sorry I guess I was a little bit of jealousy happened which is funny cause you like Reaven don't get me wrong she's pretty, but no one is prettier than Apheina. As for Aphiena it's not a grudge I actual love her, but things are complicated, and I am trying to protect her. Which if you have a minute, I like to pick your brain about something since you're reading some interesting material " His mouth almost hit the floor,

"What how did you know that?" I'm happy that's what he dwelled on that instead of listening to all of it. I laugh silently in my head as I smile,

"Dude, you don't hide it very well good thing she's a little dense. Unless you tell her out right, I don't think she'll ever notice." I say leaning back, "So enemy? How am I the enemy? Was I too mean?" I asked curiously.

"Rea says so you hurt Aphei really bad for the last two years." He speaks like it was a matter of fact.

"Rea says so not Apheina. Look I never meant to hurt her, like I said it's complicated there's too much you guys don't know or understand and to be honest I'm not all knowing of the problem either which is why I think you can help giving your light reading you have there." There is a large chance he wouldn't understand but the small possibility was all the hope I needed.

"I am well read and have a large amount of knowledge, so lay it on me,"

"Ok well," I look around there are too many people here to have this conversation so I lean in and in a low voice ask, "If you do mind can we going to my room I don't have a dormmate and this isn't something I can share lightly in public." His brows rise and I can see that I piqued his interest after agreeing we get up and start to make our way to my room.

"For the record I can read you like an open book you just ignore Aphei or at least acting like you are but really you just want to be near her we, Ray and I that is, can see you watching her and are always close by. You pretend that you want nothing to do with her hurting both you and her. I don't get why you're going through all this just to get hurt you two could still be friends and from all the stories Aphei has told us you're a great guy and believe it or not she is a strong person if you try to explain it, she will understand." He says as we walk to the fourth floor, I grunt this was the longest walk ever.

"Look once we get to my room, and I explain it I think you'll understand I'm just being cautious." I look him over as he looked confused. Finally at my room he takes a seat at my desk, and I start telling him the problem.

"Two years I was cursed by an Ice wielder spy, whenever someone would touch me, they would turn into ice and the shatter it was called,"

"Ice necrotic." I nod,

"You've heard about," I let out a dry laugh and run a hand through my hair, "Where were you when I needed a nerd." I look at him with an apologetic look, "Sorry I didn't mean that." He shrugs,

"I proud of being a nerd I take it as a compliment." I nod with a weak smile,

"Well, nerd because I had it, I was forced by the council and elders not to contact Apheina until it was lifted which took two f*cking years. I wanted to talk to her this whole time." I stopped before I stray off topic, "Anyways they had finally lifted the curse last month and even though I have tested negative and no one I've touched has died I am still worried that there could be a chance that it would come back."

"Didn't the elders go over everything with you as they cured you?" He scoffs as if already knew the answer, but he is sitting on the edge of his seat listening to ever word I spoke with great intent to understand it was quite refreshing so feeling more at easy I continue.

"No, they just told me to trust them and that they will fix everything." He bites his lip stopping himself from saying something I can only guess was going to be a rude remark and starts to tap the arm of the chair then stands up and walked over to me and punched my arm letting his knuckles rest on my arm for a few moments.

"Ok well I'm not ice so I can assure you that Aphei will be fine that curse isn't the easiest to remove however it very clear when it is due to the mineral used in the purification process the smoke should have been a solid white to be completely eradicated from your skin and since you have been testing people here and I tested myself I can say confidently that you are no harm you Aphei." He sees my uncertain look on my face and sighs giving us some space, "I'll get your number from Aphei and when I find the book with the spell for purification I'll text you."

"You mentioned that I have been trying to stay away from her, what makes you think she has my number?" I stand up crossing my arms looking at him who laughs,

"Because it's Aphiena we're talking about if you have talked at least two times she has already put her number in your phone she's just that type of person." I smile because he isn't wrong.

"I appreciate the help." He nods walking to the door,

"You should just talk to her, was smoke white?" He asks before leave,

"It was."

"Then stop being such a chicken and talk to her, she is one of the strongest, smartest people we know trust me she would understand." With that he left leaving me alone in the room with my thoughts, by the time I was ready to lay down I could only think of bunny and holding her in my arms.

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I stood there for a minute staring off in the direction Angelo left then all the confusion, pain and frustration fell out as I shout,

"UGHHHHHHH WHAT THE F*CK!!!!!!" I start stomping off towards my dorm. "What the hell was that first he's the old Angelo then he just pushes me away what is wrong with him. Ughhhhh."

"Woah, Apheina you look scary." I look up to see Mr. Gabriel walking pass.

"Oh, I was um just letting out some steam." I stop walking and look up at him as he gets closer to me. He gave me a sad smile and I felt warmth his calming fire magic soothes the anger away.

"Thank you." I close my eyes, "I'm going to go my dorm I need to think." I start walking again.

"Would you like to talk about it I don't mind listening." He says as he follows keeping in step with me, I shake my head wishing to be alone, but I could feel him the calming warmth in my chest my body untenses clearing my head. Having him next to made it difficult to think but the look on his face he was clearly in pain thinking about something I wish he could just talk to me. I sigh as we walk in silence all the way to my dorm,

"Goodnight Apheina." I nod and go in. What is wrong with me? I need to stay calm next time. I picture his face again seeing how he looked so lost the tightening in my chest clung to me that even Gabriel's warmth couldn't get rid of. I walk up to my room and go lay down. I'm going to try talking to Angelo again, maybe we can be friends? Friends I don't want to be his friend I want more. My eyelids fall as I remembered his soft lips when he kisses me on the forehead. He never means it, but it meant so much to me, that tiny gesture that he always did, and it reminds me before, before whatever is hunting him happened.

I can hear his voice in my ears the way it hardens with a sharp edge of pain. He was in pain this whole time all alone, I just need to know what happened. I'm terrible I left him alone when he needed me the most. Tears fell onto my pillow as I drift to sleep. I'll talk to him tomorrow. I decided as I dream of his arms holding me close.

I wake up to Ray singing in the mirror as she decides on her outfit. I look at the time and it was half an hour earlier than usual. I sit up,

"What's the deal you're never up this early?" She spins holding her shirt to her chest and a wide smile on her face, she jumps onto my bed,

"Clay asked to meet early before school I hope you don't mind. Do you think he'll ask me out? Do you think he likes me. I hope this is that I've liked him for soooooo long. ..." She starts rambling on and on I smile at her and pretend to listen. As she talks, I try to figure out what to say to Angelo. "Oh, and Clay said to tell you that Angelo went and apologized." My head shot up,

"Really?" She nods. I sit up and ponder on wither or not to go to him right now in the end I decide to get out of bed and change into a pair of clean jeans and a top. I throw my hair in a ponytail and shove my feet into my shoes. I figured if I go find him now, I can force him to tell me everything.

"Thanks Ray and yes I think Clay likes you too, good luck." I say as I run out the room. I hear her squeal then ask where I was going but by then I was already running down the hall. I run down the stairs and out the front door almost running into a few people. I run to the boy's dorm and see Clay walking out looking very nervous. I slowed down as I reach the doors. As I catch my breath I ask Clay,

"Where's Angelo?" He looked shocked, "Clay which room is Angelo's"

"F-fourth floor fourth door on the left 215." It looks like I scared him.

"Thanks." I smile and go inside. The boy's dorm looks like the girls. There were the three common rooms in the back with two staircases on either side and then halls to the rooms branching off from the stairs. Walking up the left stairs my heart starts racing but not from running but from nervous I ran all the way here, yet I don't know what to say, hell I don't even know why I ran all the way over here like an i***t, girls aren't even allowed in the boy's dorms. Panic starts to set in as I move down the hall to his door I stood there for a few seconds. What should I say? I can't believe I ran all the way here just to stand in front of his door. I take deep breath and raise my hand to knock when the door flew open,

"If you want to come in, come in don't just stand there." Angelo was standing in just pajama pants and yawns really big. I didn't know what to do I stood there staring at him. His muscles perfectly displayed as he runs a hand thru his bed head. He looked so good I almost forgot why I was here, 'why am I here?' I look up to see him grinning realizing I've been staring at his body I blush and looks away. He steps aside to let me in.

"No roommate?" I asked noticing the other bed was removed. He closes the door as I go sit in his chair at his desk.

"Yeah, lucky me." He awkwardly smiles.

"Are you going to put on a shirt?" He grins more as he shakes his head,

"Nope my room and you just woke me up. Besides I don't think you mind." I could feel my face warm up as I blush even more. I look around the room before settling on him he stood on the other side of the room next to the door,

"Shut up stupid. I just came to say thank you." Dear goddess really that is the excuse you're using I mentally slap myself. He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest with a wicked grin playing on his face,

"Really that's all cause you know you could have said that in first hour. So why did you really come by so early?" I move over to the bed running here made me tired and the chair was uncomfortable.

"You should throw that chair out its terrible." I say as I lean back on the bed and stare at the ceiling. He lays down next to me his arm pressed against mine I take his hand and he squeezes it softly and a sigh escapes his lips I look over at him remembering us laying like this on his roof before I left. He looks so much older than before but at the same time the familiar warmth and safe aura surrounded me reminding of the boy I knew before I left.

"I heard you said sorry to Jason." He nods, "thank you. Angelo?" I say his name in a low whisper. He looks at me I could see so many emotions in his eyes like he's in a war against himself and I wasn't sure if I could help or if I was the cause, "I'm sorry?" His eyebrows scrunched together,

"Why are you sorry? If you haven't noticed I am the one, who has hurt you I even made you cry."

"But you were hurting more and I'm sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me you were alone all alone." A tear fell and he whips it away with his free hand. "Can you just tell me what happened? What happened to you that has made your handsome face so sad?"

"Bunny, you didn't do anything wrong. We didn't really have a choice." He must have decided to tell me everything because with a squeeze of my hand again looking for strength to say something that is clearly weighing on him. "Bunny, my parents died." The grip on his hand tightens and I hold in a sob his poor parents, poor Angelo.

"It happened two years ago when the fire happened." He places an arm over his eyes doing his best to hide the tears streaming down his face.

"Angelo." My voice comes out in a whisper I whip my eyes. "Why are you pushing me away?" I asked not knowing were the words come from, but I knew they were true I could feel it, "I can feel it here you are pushing me away, but I don't know why. If anything, you should have gotten on the phone the second you could and called me I would have dropped everything to be next to you during those hard moment after. I would have been your rock." I tap my chest where my heart is feeling the sinking ache.

"It's difficult to understand but the simple version is the fire was a ploy to curse my family and my parents were infected directly they did not have a peaceful death it was long and painful we couldn't find a cure and they passed." He stopped talking as his voice starts to shake as he tries not to cry again talking about his poor parents. Tears stream down my face, I didn't know what to say so I roll to my side and pull him in for a hug I feel him untense his sadness came out like the flood gates were opened his cries rumbled in his chest, after a few deep breaths he continues, "It had taken me two years to find a cure, I was told it would be best to cut off all connects with everyone in my life the only one given permission was my grandmother since she was a guardian. We had done many tests and there were a few things we tried that were not." He pauses so I look up to see him turn his head in regret he was holding something back. Clearing his throat, "Anyways due to the possibility of putting you in harm's way I couldn't contact you no matter how much I wanted to there is still the problem of who was behind the attack."

"The guardians haven't found who did it yet?" I ask moving to look at him better.

"Bunny it's better if you just stay away from me, you could get hurt. Jason is helping me understand the old magic that was used, I think I'll be able to understand how they think with the kind of attacks they use."

"It'll hurt more if I do that, so I won't I know you don't hate me so please don't push me away. I want to be here for you no matter how hard it gets; I know you would do the something without hesitation."

"How can you not hate me after I hurt you." I turn his head towards me and make him look in my eye.

"It hurt me yea but after all the years I will not stay mad at you especially now knowing what you went through and how you protected me besides I can never hate you I love you Angelo I always have, always will." I pull him up to sit with me making sure to never looked way. I was on fire after saying those words that I've been holding in for a whole two years. "I wanted to keep the promise." He pulls me onto a hug pressing my face into his chest. I can hear his heart beating a mile a minute which makes mine pick up.

"I love you too Bunny that's why I made the promise but I'm sorry I don't think I can keep it you will get hurt, and I can't live with myself if you die because of me." I look into his eyes sadness and worried filled them.

"I won't as long as you're next to me so just don't leave me." I bare my face into his neck. "I don't want to be without you again I was so lonely."

"What about Mr. Gabriel?" I push myself away from him enough to look into his eyes.

"What about him he's, my teacher? How many times do I have to say that?"

"You two are very close though and you seem to like him a lot he makes you smile and laugh you feel warm when you are around him."

"He makes me laugh and everything but he's not you and how did you know that he makes me feel warm? He sends some sort of heat thing to make me feel better. It's a therapeutic method that calms the nerves." I move to sit next to him again making it easy to look face to face he rubs his neck and looks away,

"Bunny there's something you should know."