Chapter Eight: The Ice Powers

Aesha's POV

She told me not to tell anybody. But I can't help myself. I can either tell my friends how I got angry when I'm in the flipped off mood, or I release a snow storm in the whole America.

In this case, I can't do either of them.

I wanted to tell Brent and Kennedy about Cole's powers. I wanted to tell them how irrtitated I am 'cause obviously he melted my cave. It was his fault. I don't care if my hate is because of our powers.

'Cause it just turned to real hate.

I flopped down our usual lunch table and buried my head in my hands.

"Hey, ice girl, I think something's really getting into you." Brent said.

I lifted my head up a little. Kennedy was seated beside me, her eyes full of concern behind her black glasses while Brent was seated across from us, eyebrows raised.

Kennedy held my arm. "Are you okay? It's Autumn, Aesha, you should be happy."

"Well if someone wasn't ruining everything, it'd be better." I muttered.

"Oh, it's Cole, again. Right?" Brent guessed.

I nodded by head still looking down. "Aesha, cheer up. Just forget about it." Yeah, just leave it to Kennedy to be optimistic.

I groaned softly. Nope, I couldn't tell about the powers.

"How 'bout we talk about Early Winter?" Brent suggested.

My eyes lit up. Of course that would cheer me up.

Riiiing!!!!!

My phone rung in my pocket. "Hello?" I answered it.

"Hey, do you mind getting my earphones? I left it somewhere. Classroom 143, it think." Cylene said. "Just meet me at the parking lot."

"Yeah, sure." I said.

I hung up and bade goodbye to Brent and Kennedy. Hurrying up to the said room.

~~~~~~

When I was about to open the door, I stopped instantly. Oh my God, I can really feel it. I suppose in the cold temperature/season like this, I can easily detect something that doesn't fit in, a.k.a. the heat.

That was exactly what I felt, standing in front of the door. The heat energy in that room.

Cole has to be there.

I swallowed hard and and touched he doorknob. It was weirdly warm, thanks to Cole.

Okay, he's really there.

I twisted the knob and let the door swing the open.

Inside, I found Cole's face smashed against Willow's.

Whoops.

They quickly pulled apart when they noticed me. My cheeks flamed up, I stood there, with my eyes closed and my hands firm. I wasn't sure to be embarrassed or pissed off.

Finally, Cole broke the awkward silence and spoke to his girlfriend while I slowly opened my eyes. "Hey, babe, I think you should go. Aesha and I," He turned to me, "have something to discuss."

Willow gave him a kiss on the cheek before shooting me a glare saying not to steal her boyfriend. Then she left.

"So," Cole started as I scanned the room for Cylene's earphones, "You were spying on us."

I rolled my eyes, "Yeah, as if."

"Why are you here then?"

"Cylene told me to find her earphones." I looked in the drawer of the table and I saw the purple and black earphones there. Looks like Cylene was caught listening to music while in class...

Cole snorted. "Lame excuse, Aesha."

I turned to him. He was wearing his usual smirk and those twinkling black eyes.

We were somehow closer than I expected.

My fists clenched and my face twisted into a glare, just by looking at him. I couldn't bring my anger out, even how many things I freeze. I wasn't satisfied unless...

I gathered my courage and anger to punch Cole Rogenson in the guts.

He winced a little and bit his lip. Maybe I didn't know my own strength....

I aimed for another punch but he grabbed my wrist. Seriously, stopgrabbing me like that! I yelled in my head.

His touch was hot and burning. It's like my wrist was thrown in fire. The heat slowly crept up to my whole hand, just like what coldness does with my powers. I let out a tiny gasp and wriggled free from his grasp.

"Would you really punch your crush like that?" He was saying.

I rubbed my hand and secretly cooled it. The ice was finally back to my hand. Of course, he didn't know he hurt me terribly.

And I swear I saw a hint of red in his eyes.

"Say what you want, but I'm just going to ignore you. I have to get these to Cylene." I said.

"I'll go with you." Cole spoke.

I cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

He ran is hand through his hair, probably concerned with something. "I have to talk to my sister." He said seriously and not he didn't sound arrogant this time.

"Um, okay."

~~~~~~~~

"Here, Cy. I found them." I handed Cylene her earphones.

"Thanks," she said before turning back to her phone.

She stopped and looked at Cole beside me. She raised an eyebrow. "What," she asked, "are you doing here?" I think she gave me a quick gaze then turned back to him.

"I need to talk to you," his brother said, the heat rising, "Privately."

Cylene nodded her head at me then I left them.

Well, I didn't really leave. I hid behind the school walls, eavesdropping. Whatever Cole wanted to talk about, then it was his fire powers.

"What now?" Cylene asked. She obviously doesn't want to talk about anything. Her gaze focused on her phone.

"Cylene, this is serious." Cole said. Her sister sighed, put down her phone and turned to Cole.

Cole rubbed his arm. "It's getting really cold lately."

"It's nearing Winter, Cole. Of course it's cold. Plus, you and your powers...." was Cyelen's reply.

He shook his head. "No, Cy. It's very very cold. Not like I've experienced before."

I heard a faint gulp from Cylene. Obiously, she knew the reason. Cylene may be worried for him, but I smirked. He totally deserved to feel cold.

"Why don't you use your powers? Make it warm." Cylene finally spoke.

He ran his hand through his hair. "That's another problem. When I try to make it hot, the cold seems to fight it or whatever."

Cylene bit her lip. "I'm really sorry, Cole. But you have to bear with it for a while."

"It's still Autumn, Cy! Who knows what will happen to me in winter?!"

I held back a giggle. There was always karma.

"Okay, okay, fine. Um...." Cylene was stumped of ideas.

"Please, Cylene. You're the only person who knows. Help me out." Cole's eyes were begging.

That stopped my victory dance inside. Oh, Aesha, you're so cruel. I mean, what would I feel if it as summer and Cole's powers were bugging me? He'd been bearing with it since September.

Before I changed my mind, I held my hand up, absorbing the cold. Enough for Cole to be maybe a little comfortable, but also enough for me to enjoy.

"Okay," Cylene said, "What if, later at home, you can turn the heat up in the backyard, coat yourself in fire or whatever."

"Maybe it could work," Cole mumbled.

When he left Cylene to go back inside, Cylene turned to my direction and gave me a warm smile of appreciation.

~~~~~~~~

Cole's POV

As soon as I got home, I decided not to follow Cylene's advice. Yeah, sure it was helpful but it wasn't enough at all.

At least, a while ago, the cold decreased and I was able to use my powers.

I wasn't upset now. With the cold getting stronger and stronger, I have to admit, I become weaker and frightened. Afraid that I might freeze to death. Afraid that I couldn't survive through another Winter season.

Another thing to think about: Aesha.

She was almost intruding in the relationship of Willow and me. But I didn't care. I liked girls fighting over me.

Everytime I implied that she liked me, her cheeks would redden and she would stare at the ground. It was kind of cute.

The color of her hair and her eyes were warm and sweet. I liked it when I would tease her and she would blush. She was playing hard to get, obviously.

I sat on the couch, my elbows resting on my knees.  A few rings of fire circled around me, burning brightly.

As I inhaled, the flames would rise. When I exhaled, they would shrink.

I flicked my hand, twirling the rings and gathering them above me. They formed one curvy line of heat. I shaped the line into an awesome fire dragon and let it dance around the room.

Cylene was out with her band. They were practicing hard for this competition they're joining.

So these days, I was alone in the house, Mom and Dad going to a long business trip. It was weird that they trusted Cylene to take care of the house. All fire accidents I had, Cylene took the blame.

So when cooking, we were whether stuck with microwaved pizza or takeout food.

I rubbed my head and put out the fire. Everything was just painful and torture.

I suddenly got an idea. A perfect idea.

~~~~~~~~~~

I trudged through the busy streets then into a less populated area. Everywhere I went, I sensed nothing but the cold. It was always the cold.

I put on my jacket and recalled exactly where the place is. 

That cave was large enough, and made up of cement, not rock, as if it was already built a long time ago. A row of thick vines covered that covered the entrance and the moss coating the cave disguised the whole thing.

I pushed the vines aside and stepped in.

Dammit.....

Everything was extremely cold. The walls were ice and the inside was all made out of snow and water. I shivered strongly. This place was definitely fit for Elsa.

I just melted the place yesterday and somehow it froze back into its original form. Was this like....my powers?

I gritted my teeth and summoned a large fireball. Of course, that wasn't enough to melt everything. It made me feel better when I shooted fire everywhere. In a matter of minutes, the ice, snow and water was gone. All of it was evaporated.

So I started decorating my fire place. I produced a flame throne at the center of the room. Firelights dotted and was arranged on the walls. A river of fire flowed along the sides of the cave. I let out a sigh of comfort and hopped into my throne.

But it wasn't long until my relaxation was interrupted. 

She marched into the room, her eyes scanning the room. Then, her eyes landed on me. She bit her lip.

"Aesha?!" I asked.

"You melted everything." Her voice was faint. Most people would be shocked if they see me here. But Aesha wasn't surprised at all. She was furious, she looked like she was going to blow up.

"This is the only place I was never upset....and you....ruined it." Her voice firm.

"What?" What was she talking about?

But Aesha ignored my question. "Why do you have to ruin everything?! I tried, I tried..." I think she just gulped down a sob.

"What do you mean?!" I asked again, a little louder this time.

She stomped her foot, ice coming from it. It scattered along the floors. Her hands were raised and was shooting ice from them. My eyes widened and my mouth slowly gaped at the sight. So she was the weird coldness I felt. It was because of her that I suffered.

"I knew because of your powers, this season was painful for you! I tried Cole, I turned down the cold, I pitied you! And you just ruin the most important place to me! Why?! Why did you have to do this?!" She yelled.

I remained mute.

She went closer to me, her eyes unusually blue. "Get out of here fireboy. This is my place. This is my cave."

I gulped and stumbled out of the cave. I ran my hand through my hair and panted a little. Inside, I can sense Aesha rebuilding her cave.

Ice powers, I repeated again and again in my mind, Ice powers

~~~~~~~~~~~

Ooookay, Cole finally knows! heeheee!

More romantic-friendly chapters soon, 'kay? Are you all happy now?

-Vireen