Chapter Eight: The Cave

Cole's POV

"Why were you sent to the principal's office?" Cylene asked through the phone.

I rubbed my temples. Yeah, I get into trouble sometimes but I would never do anything that big.

"Jens said that I locked her in the closet." I said.

"YOU WHAT?" I winced a little at Cylene's voice.

"I swear, Cy, I didn't do anything. Promise." I pleaded her to believe me.

I can imagine Cylene hesitating right now.

"What if Mom and Dad find out?" she finally said.

"No, sis, you have to help me." I replied.

"How?"

"Jens said it was Aesha who said it was me."

Cylene took a deep breath and hung up.

I sighed and leaned against the wall. Spending 2 hours at detention meant missing hanging out with my friends or missing hanging out in my room with the flames up to the ceiling.

 I sighed again and muttered a curse under my breath.

Usually during Autumn and Winter, I'm not so angry and grumpy. Just sometimes. But this time, it's  different. It's like my anger discovered a whole new level. 

I went outside and pulled my jacket tightly. The trees took those autumn colors, red and orange. Piles of leaves gathered everywhere. 

"Nice day, huh?" A voice said somewhere. I turned to see Aesha smirking behind me.

My fist instantly clenched and my face turned into a scowl.

"Yeah, it was, until you came along." I said.

She just smiled innocent-like as if nothing could ruin her day.

"What's your problem with me?!" I asked.

She crossed her arms over her chest. "The problem is, that you fed me a spicy smoothie!"

"It wasn't that bad! Jeez, woman, everyone can handle a little spicyness!"

"Well I can't!" She yelled.

"Does that mean you're going to soak me in water and blame me for what you did?"

She rolled her eyes. "It's pointless arguing with you. Cylene's right. We should just stay away from each other."

She tried to pass by me but I grabbed her hand. "Look, if you have a crush on me, then just admit it." I said.

Aesha wriggled free from my grasp. "What?! I don't like you!" She said, her cheeks tinted pink.

I smirked. "You're blushing."

She jabbed a finger at my chest. "Listen, Cole. I will never ever in my life like you."

I narrowed my eyes. "Oh yeah."

I leaned closer and closer, grabbing her by the waist. Our faces were inches away from each other. I stared at her pretty brown eyes and my gaze dropped to her lips. She's not pretty bad, after all.

Her eyes widened. "Don't. Even. Think.About. It."

That just made me move my face closer to hers. 

Normally, a girl would've closed her eyes waiting for the kiss in this situation. But she didn't do that. 

Aesha quickly pulled away, here cheeks heating up.

She ran, ran away from me.

~~~~~~~~~~

Aesha's POV

 Wow. I actually almost kissed him. I would've let him steal my first kiss but no.

I could remember it: my heart thumping fast as he came closer and closer. I can't move, it's like I'm stuck to the ground. Sparks igniting through my spine as he wrapped a hand around my waist. His warm breath tickling my face. His dark eyes and.....

Wait, why am I even thinking of this?

I stopped, hands on my knees and caught my breath. 

I almost regret doing those things to him. If I didn't do those, I wouldn't have experienced that extremely awkward.......

 I shut my eyes tightly. That memory would never fade away.

My heart was still beating hard, I don't know whether it's because of the run or the almost kiss. I still hate him, a lot.

So this is his revenge huh?

I'd rather stop this fight rather than suddenly end up being his girlfriend....or something worse.

~~~~~~~~~~

 I ran inside of my house. Sean and Shaelon weren't home today, which means I've got time alone with just my powers.

I drew the curtains and closed the windows. I turned off the lights and crashed on the couch in the most comfortable position.

A little snowflake on my palm lit up the living room. I swung my hand causing the snowflake to multiply and create a chain. I formed a sphere with the chain and raised it up higher and higher. Then I spread my arms and it exploded into snow.

Bam!

The door burst open, revealing a really pissed off Cylene.

"Aesha," She said.

Aw, damn. Did Cole tell him......

"You locked the principal in the closet?" She asked.

I closed my eyes hoping that she'll just vanish into thin air.  When I opened them, Cylene stood in front of me, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm-I'mm sorry, okay. It was Sean and Shaelon who did it. I-I blamed it on him and....I'm sorry." I apologized.

"I told you to stay away from him! Why would you do that?!"

"He freakin' gave me spicy smoothie!"

Clearly, Cylene was sooo pissed off right now. "You think it'll make you better to go to the cave?" she suggested.

I nodded and headed out.

~~~~~~~~~~

Kennedy and I met Brent in elementary school.

Kennedy and I walked together along the hallways. We went to our assigned lockers.

"How do you think this year'll be like?" Kennedy wondered out loud.

I shrugged. I haven't told her my secret yet.

"Hey," A brunette kid walked up to us and opened the locker between my best friend's and mine. He flashed us a cocky grin.

"Hi, I'm Kennedy." Ken said shyly.

"I'm-" The boy started to reply but someone interrupted him.

"Hey Frinnate!" It was David Reckler, the jock and bully.

He grabbed the kid by his shirt and pulled him up. "Where's my lunch?" David asked.

The boy gulped and his eyes widened. Kennedy came up next to me.

"We have to help him." she whispered.

I finally gathered up my courage and stepped forward. "Put him down!" I yelled.

David put him down and narrowed his eyes at me as he came closer.

"Run!" I shouted. The kid and Kennedy obeyed.

When they were out of sight, the kid thanked us. "Thank you guys." He turned to me, "I'm Brent Frinnate by the way. I'm kinda new here." 

I beamed at him. "I'm Aesha."

He returned the smile. "Maybe I can stick with you guys? You can show me around." 

"Sure." Kennedy said.

Even when we met Brent, I still didn't tell them about my powers. Sure, they were my only friends and I trusted them but I bet they would never look at me the same again. I was scared to lose them then my secret will spread, then everybody would think I'm a freak.

Speaking of the cave....

 The cave, it was a place where I can be alone, where I can use my powers freely. It's-duh-a cave near the golden gate bridge where people can't really see you.

The cave has some great memories...of me alone. See, it's the only place I get to be lonely. Not that I don't want anyone around but it's because that place's as cold as the Arctic.

Only Cylene and I know about this cave. Well actually, she was the one who showed it to me once when I was so grumpy during summer. I loved going there ever since. I bet it's the coldest place in the whole San Francisco.

It's not that far from the house either.

~~~~~~~~~

I peeked inside the dim cave noticing it was just like as I left it. Soft snow covered the ground and layered on top was thick ice like an ice rink. The cave walls covered in ice and snowflakes stuck to them as decorations. On the center sat the bed-chair I made with ice and snow. It's bowl-shaped with the snow making it soft and comfortable and the ice keeping it together and making it shiny and crystal-like.

Around the room was cold water flowing in a circle like a little canal. In front of the entrance, there was a little ice bridge to pass the canal.

That wasn't even its final form yet. 

I was thinking of expanding it even more and making it more beautiful. Like Elsa's castle?

I quickly crossed the bridge and crashed on the soft bed. I closed my eyes, releasing a misty gust of wind.

That's better.

~~~~~~~~~

Heyyyaaaa! Do you think this chapter's a little short? Yeah, I think it is.

Dedicated to Gino, a.k.a. Son of Janus. He's different in public but you get to see a whole new him in facebook.

What do you think of the almost kiss? Romantic? (not yet the chapter, V)

-Vireen